Star Ocean 3

Isn't this comments that don't warrant a thread?

I can't wait 'till the playoffs start.

My goal for these playoffs is to watch more than 4 minutes of a Ducks and Sharks game. Now, if there's some streaming video on an official website, that's good, but I'll probably get that bullcrap "this is not available in your region" message. I'd hate to have to watch the road to the best playoff matchup ever a day late in clips on youtube. Maybe I'll just read the game recaps as if they were erotic fiction novelletes. A simple play by play isn't enough, I have to imagine it all unfold before me. I'll close my eyes, and see before me the strong, yet tender wrists of Teemu sneaking a steal from a Star, and then witness Cheechoo go all the way up to Dynasty Station, before falling to LA. And after every recap I'll feel guilty, but will just get that feeling back when a game has finished.

The Kings should just merge themselves into the Ducks or something. Then the LA Ducks of Anaheim can play in Staples.

Yeah, screw this. I found some site that had links to streaming episodes of The Simpsons from this season, but I forgot it. This is too hard to search for on Google.

Minutes? They can't even get to the front lobby on time.

Yes. The super old board games were awesome. You got Landslide, Rich Uncle...and then there's Fireball Island, 13 Dead End Drive...

No way, those are both girls

Yeah, I don't know any of these. More from the same day

What the- 10 in a row for the Sharks? When did this happen? I'm missing so much.

The way things are going, it'll be Ducks and Sharks in the first round. This is why Selanne returned, and will be the greatest hockey ever. http://www.richbanks.com/uploads/Cheechoo_..._Me_Feel_Me.mp3

Bugs are people, too.

I think the Ducks are finally getting over those shootout loses. That third column needs to be done away with, already. The next outdoor game needs to be in LA - Ducks vs. Kings, on Santa Monica beach. You'd see the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean, waves gently crashing...beautiful people in bathing suits, kind of watching the game, kind of playing in the sand...that's what hockey is all about.

I finally got the chance to go to a convention, and see cosplay in person. That's right...here's a taste of some authentic Japanese cosplay, taken by myself!

I woke up at 7:00 am to watch this game at 8:30. It was worth it. That's all I got.

I felt kind of sorry for Credible when they came out on Heat, and Justin started to do his "that's not just the coolest" catch phrase. As he started to say it, he paused and looked out, expecting crowd reaction, but there was just silence.

Yeah, those are exactly right, thanks. One website says tatemae is "face; official stance; public position or attitude (as opposed to private thoughts)," and honne is "real intention; motive."

I really thought she was already dead.

No, I'm not Asian, zero Asian blood, in fact. I'm mixed with a whole bunch of stuff, but basically half white/black. I've gotten people in Japan and LA asking if I'm Egyptian, European, Mexican, Morrocan...people are all over the place when they guess. About Koreans, one of my teachers here is actually full-blooded Korean, but was born in Japan. She had to go through years of hardship to be able to be considered a real citizen here. She speaks no Korean, and doesn't consider herself tied to that country at all, but because of what she says was discrimination in trying to become a citizen, she really dislikes this country and wants to leave. It was a pretty strong way to start off a seminar class here, with only 2 foreign students besides myself. The Japanese students in general don't say much in their classes; they're trained to just sit and listen, so they don't get the ability to speak their mind. I don't think they really get the ability to gather their thoughts enough to put themselves in a position to speak their mind, either. With that, there's an actual Japanese term that I forgot, which describes the action of thinking one way, but acting another. I know that's basically hypocrisy, but this term relates to tolerating foreigners, pretending to welcome them, but inside resenting them. I'm sure that relates to the not speaking their mind thing, and overall just avoiding causing trouble. But I can't say that I've really had bad experiences here. There are the looks and stares that any non-Asian foreigner would get, but not all of them are out of dislike. I've had a group of strangers on the train, from a different school, start talking to me in English and complimenting me out of nowhere. I think it's otherwise very rare for a Japanese to approach a complete stranger; the fact that they get to speak English almost puts them in another world. For the most part, the Japanese here who have studied abroad, and learned other languages, English or not, are the ones that will reach out and welcome different people to their country. They're the ones that. when they see foreigners on the street, are more likely to ignore them like they would any other passerby, as opposed to blankly staring or whispering to their friends. I guess it's easier to have a good experience here; the welcoming people will let you know it, organizing all of the parties and free tours for foreigners that are so common, and the rest will just keep to themselves. Then, of course there are those that are attracted to foreigners, and have no real problem with them. In closing, my banter about the Ducks in the hockey threads is no more annoying than giving yourself the name "Cock Ring Warehouse."

OK, now it's snowing. This is the first time I've seen snow in maybe 10 years. And to think that in the summer this town was skin-dissolvingly humid. I'm sorry, but I just had to turn dissolve into an adverb there. But, the traffic...I guess it's not a surprise public transportation is so good. The streets and everything are so small, that there has to be an alternative to driving. I'd walk down a neighborhood, thinking that it's just some back alley, then a car passes by. OK, so it's a street, but it has to be a one-way street, right? No, cars are going in both directions. And the driveways are so narrow, I don't know how people could back into those things perfectly everyday. Mopeds are pretty popular, too. That's another good alternative.

And speaking of good podcasts, Dave Dameshek's show is cool. He's part of the circle with Bill Simmons, Carolla, and the like. Maybe he's too silly for most people; the show really isn't very serious, but doesn't try too hard with the comedy, either.

I had the strangest dream last night. Now, I can't remember it perfectly, but I was observing a meeting of the Ducks. I think it was in a coffee shop. Their sitting order was arranged as if they were doing Bible study night or something. Teemu Selanne was there, wearing all black, explaining his reasons for not deciding on retiring. Then the other players started arguing with him on how his stance is detrimental to the team. I think it ended with Teemu yelling a lot. I would take this to a dream specialist here, but the Japanese don't really know hockey. Anyway, if anyone else has had some cool dreams involving the Mighty Ducks, feel free to share.

Max left ATH in part because he wanted to give his opinion. In that sense ATH wasn't really the best fit for him. I, Max was cancelled once it slipped away from its original humorous format and tried to be a serious show.

I study the Japanese language now as an exchange student at a university. The plan is to enter a music school here eventually, to learn traditional Japanese music, and continue composing classical. Most people go to Europe if they're going to study abroad anywhere for classical music, but I think there's something interesting here with the way that scene is developing. Plus, I was doing a whole lot of nothing in LA, and needed a change. I don't remember seeing any sailor suited schoolgirls, but the ones with those ridiculously huge socks are everywhere. Also, even though it's freezing, they still have to wear those skirts. Even midnight on New Year's I saw girls walking around in short shorts. It was, like, 30 degrees F. Everyone I've asked about this says it's all about fashion. I guess if you're legs have no feeling in them, then the cold doesn't really matter. But since I mentioned New Year's, the ritual for that here is strange in that it brings out how the ancient mixes with the new. It's weird enough going to some old temple, where it's quiet and feels like you're a thousand miles away from civilization, then walking out five feet into an ultra modern city. On New Year's they all go to a shrine, and are supposed to participate in a Buddhist ritual that involves clapping and praying. But the inside of the shrine is like a festival, with food booths and Wiis being given away in raffles. I don't know if even half the people that go are actual serious Buddhists or not. But at least the food's good. Japanese people also really wealky yell when the clock turns midnight. I could hardly even tell.

I remember Adam Carolla telling a story about him meeting Max Kellerman at a movie festival. Adam had a movie, The Hammer, about a boxer with that nickname. He started talking to Max about it, and Max, ever so politely, declined to watch the movie. I think it was then that Adam remembered that Max is the only person on the planet whose brother was killed by a boxer with a hammer as a weapon. Only in a thread like this will I deliver a coincidence like that.