review: SNSD | "run devil run" (2010)

This pv (ahem, "mv") came out over a month ago! ಠ_ಠ


I love the fluidity of the dance moves and how that motion interacts with the edits, and I dig the groove. The chorus caught me pleasantly off guard.

It's a little scary just how perfectly packaged and hypnotic it is. Ancient evolutionary instincts flicking off the lightswitch of higher brain function... paralyzing!

rating: :)

The Birthday Skeleton

booksbeersandballpoints.com:

Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants

Reason:

"Today the Supreme Court agreed to hear California's appeal of a unanimous 9th Circuit decision (PDF) that last year struck down a 2005 state law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to minors."

The article is short but more lucid and informative in its presentation than the mainstream newspapers or gameblogs have managed to be.

My gut feeling about it is that something like the movie ratings would be sufficient, but it has to be enforceable and maybe that can only be done by (terrible idea alert) having players tied to an ID/credit card and logging in every time they play.

'Cos really, you don't want to have elementary school kids ingesting 24 hours of GTA each week. Books and movies are just "watching," but video games, you're DOING the killing, in a real psychological way. Not that kids are gonna steal motorcycles and throw C4 around the airports or nuthin', but... you're training them to have a worldview that will then need to be unlearned, and in the meantime you have them getting all half-assedly belligerent in the mall.

Y-Y-Y-Yogurt Y-Y-Y-Yogurt Face

New Steam

I like it.

$258mil

The Associated Press:

A man who won a $258 million Powerball jackpot says he hasn't decided yet if he'll quit his job at the central Missouri convenience store where he bought the ticket.

I'd be sad but i'd have to quit my job. Probably do charity work instead. Like sponsor Hitchens and Dawkins symposiums around the world... :)

But first, set aside enough to cover J&K's college educations.

Then, buy a decent brownstone in Brooklyn, a sleek pad in Tokyo (Shibuya, maybe? Not Roppongi!), and a decommissioned nuclear bunker somewhere not too far from a nice smaller city, maybe in the northwest US.

And flying lessons, EMT lessons, a few survival courses, open a musician's rehearsal studio in Manhattan, a gun range next to it, then I don't know what. A PhD in evolutionary psychology? A honkin' PC rig? "J-A-C-K" and "K-A-T-E" tattoo'd on my knuckles?

review: despairs ray | "love is dead" (2010)

despairs ray
love is dead
2010

We already know the title track, though catchy, is subconsciously pilfered version of that You Spin Me Right Round Baby Right Round Like a Record Baby How Now Brown Cow song from the 80s...

But even worse, it switches to the standard D.R. chorus after a couple minutes, and then by the halfway mark feels ready to fade out but then grinds on for another two-and-a-half minutes. Interminable!

However, I dig the b-sides.

"Wedicine" is an intriguing title (have they discovered the cure for marriage, or is marriage the cure? Or did they just flip the M upside down because the reversed-R is getting old?)... It's a good driving song, cruising along a little over the speed limit on dry open roads, always in control.

"Crossed Arrows" is this single's star, from the intimate verse to the epic chorus that epicly tumbles like an epic slow motion avalanche, a song whittled down to its key, core elements with no waste, no filler, no excessive repetition, parts getting played only once or twice, and if twice, rearranged a little for newness; a song crawling inexorably towards its inevitable conclusion with majesty and sagacity.

And for that this single earns a...

rating: :)

new Aural Vampire album!

Sixteen songs -- and almost four of them are new!

01. フレアスタック
02. 湘南族 -cannibal coast-
03. Freeeeze!!
04. V. マドンナスキゾイド
05. 69 Balloons
06. Transcrypt
07. Hot Blood Workout
08. Innsmouth
09. Border of the Dead
10. voodoovocoder
11. スリヰクフ
12. PNFPN
13. Economical Animal Superstar
14. Darkwave Surfer
15. カイドク
16. MAD SPORTS

WTF!?

Aural Vampire, the newest graduates from the Yoshiki School of Re-Do's and Cash Grabs?

review: "Left4Dead2 -- The Passing" (2010) & "GTA IV: Episodes from Liberty City" (2010-ish)

Reinstalled Left4Dead 2 on Thursday, when I learned of the availability of a new map with the original L4D1 cast.

Played the new content. It's a short map, ending with a gastank-fetching contest, and the L4D1 cameos were neither endearing nor necessary, and you couldn't interact with them.

I played L4D1 for a YEAR and loved it. L4D2 lasted a month, its mood and characters underwhelming or just plain weak. (Or maybe the first L4D just used up all my zombie-killing desire.)

L4D2 is being re-uninstalled as we speak. If there's a L4D3, I do not expect to buy it.

rating: :(

In other news, I'm having fun with GTA4's The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony packs, which I steamed when EA's BFBC2 servers were down, and I'm glad I did.

Started using cheats almost instantly, but for me the fun is in driving around with the music blasting, outrunning the po-po and demolition derbyizing everything in sight, so whatever. Haven't tried multiplayer because I don't think it'd be any good (I find the aiming and shooting mildly frustrating, and the races slightly less so. The only thing I *hate* is the helicopter mission in Tony, which is unplayable on the PC.)

What I love is the dialog, the layers upon layers of quality (from the radio stations to the little details on the street), and the rich overarching storyline -- so good that I look forward to the cutscenes! (I despise cutscenes in every other game!)

rating: :)

Young, Rich, Attractive Astrophysicist Metalhead Poker Ace Model is Awesome

Mail Online:

As a model, TV presenter, astrophysics graduate and former pony club member, there are many strings to Liv Boeree's bow.

But now she can add a new one - poker ace.

The 25-year-old brunette beat 1,240 contestants at a major tournament to win a cool £1.1million.

Miss Boeree -- nicknamed 'Iron Maiden' because of her love of heavy metal music -- will now play for 2.2million at the grand final in Monte Carlo, which starts on Sunday.

I am dazzled that such a specimen exists. I'm not sure how you'd make her more awesome. Mad guitar skills, maybe. Or royal Japanese ancestry. :)

Our Litte Boy is Growing Up!

Yahoo! News:

DJIBOUTI (AFP) – Japan is opening its first overseas army base in Djibouti, a small African state strategically located at the southern end of the Red Sea on the Gulf of Aden, to counter rising piracy in the region.

The Djibouti base breaks new ground for Japan, which has had no standing army since World War II and cannot wage war. It however has armed forces -- the Japan Self-Defence Forces -- which were formed at the end of US occupation in 1952.

"This will be the only Japanese base outside our country and the first in Africa," Keizo Kitagawa, Japan's navy force captain and coordinator of the deployment, told AFP recently.

"We are deploying here to fight piracy and for our self-defence. Japan is a maritime nation and the increase in piracy in the Gulf of Aden through which 20,000 vessels sail every year is worrying," Kitagawa said.

He explained that 10 percent of the Gulf of Aden's traffic comes from Japan and 90 percent of Japanese exports depend on the crucial sea lane that was almost overrun by the marauding pirates two years ago.

SDF Calendar Girls ^_^

Hulu's $9.95 Subscription Service -- Coming Next Month

Los Angeles Times:

"Under the proposal, Hulu would continue to provide for free the five most recent episodes of shows like Fox's 'Glee,' 'ABC's 'Lost' or NBC's 'Saturday Night Live.'

But viewers who want to see additional episodes would pay $9.95 a month to access a more comprehensive selection, called Hulu Plus, these people said."

It doesn't seem unreasonable -- access to Netflix's catalog of TV shows (on dvd or streaming) is about the same price.

But as long as the latest episode is free, I don't see a need to subscribe. Unless you're stuck on some internetty TV or iPad or other non-torrenting device... and stuck in a hospital bed with weeks/months to kill?

"No Fatties! For Science!"

NYTimes.com:

"...the argument of one recent study, built on data from several thousand women and children, is that mothers with lower ratios tend to produce smarter kids, because, the researchers suggest after controlling for other factors, certain fatty acids in a woman’s hip padding, delivered in the womb and through breast-feeding, are beneficial to the development of a baby’s brain, while belly fat is detrimental."

So it's not "just" personal preference or cultural bias anymore -- it's for the children!!!

Someone working with Avex emailed me...

He said:

I am currently organizing a Japan Night to be held in New York City this coming September. I was curious if you had any insights on USA-based bands that perform J-rock original music, or cover music. We'd like to reach out to a band with a strong following...

The only US-based J-rockish outfit I could come up with was Geist [myspace], but that they were heavier than Avex normally goes.

You guys got any other ideas?

But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate, and a mad-cup ruffian and a swearing Jack

Skeptical baby is skeptical

Kate's new 'do

Kate walked into the bathroom with a pair of pink scissors and walked out with the locks in front of her face shortened by half, because "she was tired of her hair falling into her food." I think she just caught the trailer for that new Joan Jett movie and liked what she saw, maybe.

Also, anyone seen my final prototype 4G iPhone? Steve Jobs gave me one and I went drinking and can't find it ANYWHERE

The Fat Controller was very cross

thx evan!

Continuing the long Japanese tradition of being five years behind the U.S. metal scene... it's Crossfaith! [myspace]

Not bad at all, just... sorta already bored by this style, and them being japanese only adds to the band's charm if they's wuz chicks. Which they's nots.

Fanta, DESU

I neither approve nor disapprove of this campaign. I am utterly ambivalent.

What's one thing you miss about Japan?

I miss be able to buy little ¥100 cans of Coffee Boss at one specific vending machine near my old office near Akihabara... (usually they were ¥110 or ¥120, so the price savings was a bonus.)

I don't *think* this is the exact machine...

I also miss the ramen shop under the tracks in my hometown, where I would often go around 1am, after the last train of the night pulled in, the dried sweat of a thousand Deg fans saturating my hair and clothes, my ears ringing... god, nothing would fortify me like a big ass bowl of chasshu ramen after a hard night. (Bonus points: whenever beer had dehydrated me, guaranteeing a hard pooping session the next day, I would drink all the ramen broth and ~voila~! no problem! Took me years to figure that out.)

What's one thing YOU miss about Japan?

Your New Gun Will Percieve Direct Eye Contact as a Challenge to Its Dominance

What I enjoy is how comically large the handgun is.

Jack Found These Growths on His Head...

Exist Trace Says Hi and Thanks

I'm kind of scared of them now, but Mally has gone from being my least favorite to my second favorite. She's got that wacky drummer personality. :)

X Japan’s "New" Album

Shattered-Tranquility.net:

"...apparently X Japan are currently in the process of recording a new album in the US which will consist of re-recording their old and new songs all in English. They started their recording in March and are aiming to finish it by the beginning of June."

thx jigsaw!

Jesus fucking christ, WRITE SOME NEW FUCKING MATERIAL YOU DOUCHEBAGS.

Has any other band in the history of the world ever re-re-re-re-re-re-re-released the same dozen fucking songs so many fucking times?! What a fucking embarrassment. Fucking hang it up, mates.

Matina Heaven

Can you name them all? (Thanks Ken! Good idea!)
(click pic for larger image at Kisaki's site)

A Note to Yoshiki: Book Small, Intimate Venues

thx kytrax!

Once you hit the highest reaches of fame, and subsequent irrelevance, in your home country, you don't join up with a bunch of shit bands in America. You're not going to recruit a single new fan.

You've already established your ability to sell out huge venues like Tokyo Dome. You've got a shitload of money.

You're looking for cred, not more money. So what you do is book small, intimate U.S. venues.

Fans in Japan will be jealous enough to book flights and come; U.S. fans will enjoy not having to deal with huge crowds and shitty bands they don't want to see.

Plus you're older, and so are we. We want to grab a bite, catch the show, and get home easily. NOT feel like we're living the musical version of The Road.

You can charge $50 - $100 a seat -- and because the experience will be warmer, more immediate, and different than every DVD you've ever released, people will flock to the show. You'll break even, maybe, and have a TON MORE RESPECT.

No opening act.

No giant spectacle.

Just five musicians playing great songs well together. Like when you loved music more than the money and attention, remember?

And if you can't do that... well, then yeah, do the 20-meters-from-the-nearest-fan, lots of smoke-and-lights-and-shit thing, sure.

How was your Easter?

mine was Japonismesquey ^_^:

Let all the Battlestars their ordnance fire; the king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath

Tennant does an excellent job but Stewart's about as stiff as the daytime-soap-opera-level directing and editing... nice sets tho. Move the bloody camera!

~

And Universal is already re-releasing The Complete BSG! (With "The Plan", without the elusive "Face of the Enemy" webisodes).

Someday I'll actually give some money to the makers of BSG to thank them, but not today. (Still having a hard time imagining even buying a bluray player or drive at this point...)

And WTF is with 2012 being out already but The Road isn't til frackin' MAY SOMETHING.

"To My Son's Girlfriend" by Michael Milburn

I like its perspective. ^_^

The Writer's Almanac:

I'm tempted to ask
what you see in him.
Although you probably
see the good that I see
I wonder if you realize
how much he is my handiwork,
or which of the qualities
you daydream about in class
are the ones that I take pride in,
his cordiality, for example,
or love of silliness.

It's uncomfortable for me
to think of anyone else
loving him the way I do,
possessing him in a way
that only his mother and I
have ever possessed him,
and I can't deny being jealous,
not so much reluctant
to share or relinquish him
as resolved to remind you
that he's been around
longer than your love,
under construction if you will,
and that each cute trait
or whatever occurs to you
when you hear his name
I feel proprietary about,
like a woodworker
who makes a table
intending to sell it
but prays that no buyer
will recognize its worth.

Go's App Roundup

The first thing to do: replace the App Store icon (taking up prime real estate on the base of the front page) with Safari.

My top eight items come with the Touch and require no explanation; the bottom eight front page apps, after three months of exploration, are:

Texas Hold 'Em - My only purchase from the App Store; I wanted a poker app that didn't plod retardedly along, and this one moves rapidemente! Cost me $5, but saved me from a dozen crappy free poker products.

Echofon - A Twitter client that lets me Tweet when necessary (rarely), and check tweets from the peeps I'm following (also rarely)...

Fluent News - Now that the NYTimes App decided to suck (I forget why already, but I think it interrupted my reading with full page ads?), this is what I use for my breakfast and bedtime quick-news fix.

Flixster - Surprisingly irreplaceable app for helping me keep track of movies I want to see, and then rating them after I've seen them. (However, the website is a convoluted mess, trying to do too much and succeeding at little.)

Settings - Comes with the Touch. Mostly need it on the front page for quickly activating/deactiviating battery-crippling wifi when I come/leave home.

iReddit - For the non-mainstream news, fun shit, and dumb memes.

Instapaper - Awesome Awesome Awesome app. Ever find a long article online that you wanted to read later? With one click you can tell Instapaper to save it for you, then when you've got time to kill, voila, read it later.

31 Seconds - Handy for sunrise times, and also nice little daily quotes and birthday facts.

Honorable mentions: Gibson's guitar app (metronome, tuner, and even video lessons -- if I'd had this when I was 15 I coulda been a contender! I coulda been somebody!) and the Lightsaber app, which you've all probably tried at least once already, right? If not, look around and ask the first iPhone/Touch owner you see if they'll show you. They gladly will.