Ooh, how I wish I had moves like this. In a lot of ways it seems more like "rapping mime" than anything else, but I've always loved dance moves that combine fluidity and sharp movements. The first girl in particular is out of sight, but check out the guy (Salah, I think his name is) from minute 4:07. Great stuff. The background song is pretty cool as well -- anything with thumping bass.
April 2012 Archives
Another fun little way to see just how insignificant (yet special! And doubtlessly to the right species, tasty!) we are in the cosmos, check out the time line of the universe here courtesy of the ChronoZoom Project. It's fascinating to look at the whole block of known time, and then to zoom in on just how everything human is just the tiniest little blip.
Again though, some of us, really tasty. Please though, hold the ketchup.
Again though, some of us, really tasty. Please though, hold the ketchup.
If you're in Kyoto for Golden Week, or just happen to be in Kyoto in general around May 3, be sure to stop by Shimogamo Shrine (下鴨神社) for the annual horseback archery competition (流鏑馬（やぶさめ））. (Japanese) You can find an English site describing the event here.
The event starts at 13:00, but based on personal experience you'll want to get there as early as you can to get a good spot. I've gone as early as 11:00 or so and it was already crowded. The event is free, although there is paid (and better) seating at the front. (What ancient spirit you have to defeat in thumb wrestling to qualify for a paid spot, I cannot say...) Standing atop of step ladders (on going piggy back) is frowned upon, if not outright prohibited.
The horses need some time to "rev up," so I suggest sitting toward the middle or end to really see them in action. It's an event of religious significance (the lead up to the Aoi Matsuri), so having the best rider first to hit all the targets is important. I usually watch the first 5 - 10 passes and call it a day; the riders aren't going to be getting any better, and it's not like later riders are switching to Gatling guns or wearing flaming sombreros.
It's pretty cool to see them in action though, flaming sombreros or not. Shimogamo Shrine is usually beautiful that time of year too, and it's a pretty impressive (and expansive) place, so come early to walk around, or go exploring when the rest of the rubes are waiting for the flaming hats.
Your best bet if coming from Osaka/Kobe is to take the Keihan Line to its terminus, Demachiyanagi Station (出町柳駅）. It's a short walk from there. There's also the Kyoto Karasuma subway line (烏丸線） -- you'll want to get off at Imadegawa and take a bus from there for Demachiyanagi. Just look around for a bus stop along Imadegawa (in front of Doshisha University would be best/easiest). Buses in that direction come fairly frequently (220 yen). You can also take a cab from Imadegawa to Demachiyanagi for maybe 800 yen or so. Not too bad. The English website for the shrine sez to take a city bus, but remember the first Golden Rule of Kyoto: Never, ever, ever take a bus from Kyoto Station. Too much traffic; you'll never get to where you're going.
Enjoy! Incidentally, skip Aoi Matsuri. Ain't worth it.
The event starts at 13:00, but based on personal experience you'll want to get there as early as you can to get a good spot. I've gone as early as 11:00 or so and it was already crowded. The event is free, although there is paid (and better) seating at the front. (What ancient spirit you have to defeat in thumb wrestling to qualify for a paid spot, I cannot say...) Standing atop of step ladders (on going piggy back) is frowned upon, if not outright prohibited.
The horses need some time to "rev up," so I suggest sitting toward the middle or end to really see them in action. It's an event of religious significance (the lead up to the Aoi Matsuri), so having the best rider first to hit all the targets is important. I usually watch the first 5 - 10 passes and call it a day; the riders aren't going to be getting any better, and it's not like later riders are switching to Gatling guns or wearing flaming sombreros.
It's pretty cool to see them in action though, flaming sombreros or not. Shimogamo Shrine is usually beautiful that time of year too, and it's a pretty impressive (and expansive) place, so come early to walk around, or go exploring when the rest of the rubes are waiting for the flaming hats.
Your best bet if coming from Osaka/Kobe is to take the Keihan Line to its terminus, Demachiyanagi Station (出町柳駅）. It's a short walk from there. There's also the Kyoto Karasuma subway line (烏丸線） -- you'll want to get off at Imadegawa and take a bus from there for Demachiyanagi. Just look around for a bus stop along Imadegawa (in front of Doshisha University would be best/easiest). Buses in that direction come fairly frequently (220 yen). You can also take a cab from Imadegawa to Demachiyanagi for maybe 800 yen or so. Not too bad. The English website for the shrine sez to take a city bus, but remember the first Golden Rule of Kyoto: Never, ever, ever take a bus from Kyoto Station. Too much traffic; you'll never get to where you're going.
Enjoy! Incidentally, skip Aoi Matsuri. Ain't worth it.
Heh, would be kinda cool. Too bad it's an April Fool's joke by Google Maps/Earth. Man, as nostalgic as some of those Nintendo games were, I'm glad games have advanced beyond that. Still, it'd be nice to have a Nintendo just as an excuse to buy this controller.
I miss old arcade games as well. Now that I'm (technically) an adult, I have the money to blow in a vain attempt to relive the glory days while shutting out the remaining 90% of bile, such as by buying an actual arcade game of my own! BMI Gaming offers stand up arcade games crammed with all your favorites from the Golden Era of arcade games! They even ship to Japan! Man, I remember playing the HELL out of Black Tiger, but I think my all time favorite, and the one I would so desperately love to own, is Crossbow. Man, that game more than any game inspired my love of video games and fantasy. Sigh... Chuck E. Cheese was never the same when they got rid of that game.
And...cue Cat's In The Cradle!
I miss old arcade games as well. Now that I'm (technically) an adult, I have the money to blow in a vain attempt to relive the glory days while shutting out the remaining 90% of bile, such as by buying an actual arcade game of my own! BMI Gaming offers stand up arcade games crammed with all your favorites from the Golden Era of arcade games! They even ship to Japan! Man, I remember playing the HELL out of Black Tiger, but I think my all time favorite, and the one I would so desperately love to own, is Crossbow. Man, that game more than any game inspired my love of video games and fantasy. Sigh... Chuck E. Cheese was never the same when they got rid of that game.
And...cue Cat's In The Cradle!
Ever wonder what's bigger: A grain of sand, or an LCD pixel? Or just wanted help visualizing how big an AM radio wave is? Then check out the Scale of the Universe 2 here! Created by Cary and Michael Huang, it's a fascinating way to learn more about the world and the universe around us, and the descriptions (when you click on something) are often pretty hilarious. They also have some more fun games and quizzes on their site, so have fun!
Drawn in...can't help...
C'mon! I mean, who hasn't wanted to be a Jedi? Although, I am rolling as an Imperial Sniper right now. Even though it's an MMORPG, it's still sparsely populated enough to qualify as a massively awesome single player game.
And seriously, watch the cinematics and CREAM YOUR JEANS wishing this was part of a movie. ("Cream Your Jeans" trademark of Kentucky Fried Movie, this website not responsible for regrettable pubescent memories that phrase may evoke.)
The 2nd and 3rd parts are the best. Just sayin'.
The following video is an extraordinarily easy to understand representation of just how powerful the March 11, 2011 earthquake to strike off the Tohoku Region of Japan was. Seriously, not to deprecate the Chile earthquake of 2010, or the huge tsunami and earthquake to hit Indonesia in 2004. But this video shows just how hard an earthquake of that size hits ANYWHERE, not just Japan.
For best effect, put on some headphones, and crank the bass wayyyyyy up...
For a more global view, check it out here.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has shed some new light on the origins of the moon, made extraordinarily easy to understand and fun by NASA. Check it out below. There's still some conjecture out there, but that's the fun of science, right? To solve the mysteries of the unknown.
How corrupt is YOUR country? How? HOW MUCH?! TELL ME!!!!!
Dunno? Well, check it out at the Corruptions Perception Index 2011.
The Kiwis come in at No. 1, meaning the least corrupt on the planet. No surprise, really -- stand up folks, each and every one I've ever met. Japan, where I live? 14. Not bad. The US, who I am? 24! Wow!
I'm guessing Chicago dragged it down a bit. Sorry, everyone, but it's a small price to pay for being the best city in America with the best pizza, sausages, hot dogs, and smoked fish. Oh, and art museum. Ever been to the Chicago Museum of Art? Them's some good art!
Dunno? Well, check it out at the Corruptions Perception Index 2011.
The Kiwis come in at No. 1, meaning the least corrupt on the planet. No surprise, really -- stand up folks, each and every one I've ever met. Japan, where I live? 14. Not bad. The US, who I am? 24! Wow!
I'm guessing Chicago dragged it down a bit. Sorry, everyone, but it's a small price to pay for being the best city in America with the best pizza, sausages, hot dogs, and smoked fish. Oh, and art museum. Ever been to the Chicago Museum of Art? Them's some good art!
Those of you out Kyoto way, don't miss the opening of the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the general public. (京都御所一般公開)
The Imperial Gardens themselves (御苑) are extraordinarily beautiful, peaceful, and one of my favorite places in Kyoto. I've spent many an afternoon sitting peacefully under an inviting tree. Normally you need to be part of a tour to enter the Imperial Palace itself, but it's open to the public twice a year, once in Spring and once in fall, and it's not to miss!
You'll find the website here. I found an English version on the ol' Information Superhighway too.
I'll try to snap some photos and post 'em later!
The Imperial Gardens themselves (御苑) are extraordinarily beautiful, peaceful, and one of my favorite places in Kyoto. I've spent many an afternoon sitting peacefully under an inviting tree. Normally you need to be part of a tour to enter the Imperial Palace itself, but it's open to the public twice a year, once in Spring and once in fall, and it's not to miss!
You'll find the website here. I found an English version on the ol' Information Superhighway too.
I'll try to snap some photos and post 'em later!
Work has finally been completed on the Dictionary of Regional American English. A five decade long project (!), it is the most thorough dictionary of regional Americanisms to date. You can see a small sample of these regionalisms here. I only knew 8 of the 100, mostly either the West Coast terms (bear claw) or northern Midwest terms (kitty corner), and a few from forays into cooking (lutefisk). Still, pretty cool. I've always enjoyed finding out that English words that I think are common place are in fact Americanisms -- I remember startling an Australian friend when I asked if I could crack her window a bit (as in to open it slightly)... Any regionalisms you're fond of? To our global readers, any Americanisms you enjoy or are stymied by?
Oh, okay, FINE! Here! The classic Weird Al Yankovic song "Dare to Be Stupid" too. That's what you clicked this entry to see all along, isn't it?! Sigh...
