Moving: Sometimes A Good Idea

Yeah. So. We're poor now.

Not blindingly poor, but each month is filled with uncertain ends. On average, we have about 4000 yen (Forty-something dollars, US) in our bank account by the end of the month. And that's only if I don't eat. And my wife mooches off her parents a bit. Not the finest of hours, I can tell you.

Post-Mortem: The Road Show

Welcome to Post-Mortem, a series on all the fun and interesting ways I would love my future funeral to go.



The Road Show
God. He has houses all over the world. Some are simple and some are the grandest of grand. Somewhere in the world, is a good starting point for the eventual end.

Post-Mortem: The Greatest of All Puppet Shows

Welcome to Post-Mortem, a series on all the fun and interesting ways I would love my future funeral to go.

The Greatest Of All Puppet Shows
After my soul is rendered asunder and dragged kicking and screaming to Hell like a kid being dragged kicking and screaming to a dentist's office, I'd like there to be a tent. And in this tent would be my future-dust of a corpse, laying softly in a simple, but elegantly ornate box of pine.

All about me, my friends and family members are sitting on their seats, quiet but for a few small whimpers and 'God I'm glad that wanker's dead' comments. Then when instructed, they would reach under their seats and grab the microphones taped under there. The music is queued and everyone breaks into the karaoke midi-version of My Lumps by The Black Eyed Peas.

It would be then when the wires that are attached to my empty meat sack from above pull me up and make me dance, pumping up the crowd will all the energy that can be put into making my broken and hinged joints flail. At the end of the song, the wires are cut and my rag-doll earthly existence is dropped into a hole in the middle of the floor. Everyone helps fill it in.

Then the party starts.

My Poor Amagotta

There have been very few malls I've been to around the world that aren't forts protecting the kings of the the consumer industry. Industry giants who were once very well-intentioned, but now aim to rape and pillage the average person out of cash and soul.

Fable II (Microsoft : Lionhead Studios)

Or

Never Have I Played A Game That Felt Like So Much Work

It's not really that easy to bore me to tears. I can find the good in most anything, even if it's not something that I fixate upon. When it comes to video games, I have enjoyed practically every purchase I've made, many, many times. This is why I'm very glad I borrowed Fable II.

Mirror's Edge (EA : DICE)

So, I have this friend. And this friend just happens to have a copy of the game Mirror's Edge. And this friend just happened to be willing to lend me said copy for my personal enjoyment at home. And I played it with much anticipation. And it has become the game that I hate to hate.

It's not that Mirror's Edge is a completely terrible game. It's that the hype machine caught my nether-regions and instead of massaging them gently, they eviscerate.

Gears of War 2 (Epic)

The Story
And so comes the second installment of Xbox 360's oh-so popular franchise. We continue our adventures with former flower-shop owner-turned-soldier Marcus Fenix and his band of archetypal tree trunks as they quest to return the world back to when they were their own worst enemy. These guys are the very
Fox News
definition of Patriots! Damn these subterranean invading immigrants!

A Little Dance Pop In Your Pocket

As mentioned in the post, Hip Hope, I don't like pop music all too much. It is the feces of a dying monster.

However, there are always exceptions to what is thought to be absolute, and the Pop world is no different. Take for example these musicians I have recently taken a liking to, despite my otherwise unquestionably good judgement. Let me be clear, though, I don't like most of these guys' songs. The ones I do, however, make my morning commutes just a little more happier.

Two Weeks And Being Single Again

A little over two weeks or so ago, my wife and baby boy took a trip his Grandma's house in northern Hyogo. She needed a bit of a break as raising a baby by herself during the day is quite a burden. She was also looking forward to joining a make-up class that would meet monthly for tests. This way, she could open her own little make-up money-maker part time, giving her something - that she actually likes - to do. It was supposed to be a short trip (as they all are supposed to be). They haven't been back since.

Nolan: Fetal Excitement

Move the mouse to the right or left of the picture and click on the button that appears to move to the next photo.

Hip Hope: A Bit Of Inspiration in Bleak Times

Let me talk about American Pop - or indeed, Pop music in general. I don't like it.

This is not to say that it's all bad, however, a good blanket statement is what one uses to start a conversation on what you find, for the most part, irritating. There are certain pop songs or artists that I find show us the good face of something turned ugly.

"Wait, Mike. You're post title mentions Hip Hop. Why are we now talking about Pop music?" I find that any music that makes the MTV/VH1/BET/Space Shower (etc.) scene Pop, despite the genre.

Now. Hip Hop has been Pop for more than 20 years, and in my view has gone the way of Rock and True Pop has in a much shorter span. Into the garbage. Lame lyrics and messages. Worthless, recycled beats. A focus on those who would believe that there is nothing above floor level.

However, recently, I have been fortunate to take some risks in what the Japanese CD rental sections call "Jazzy Hip Hop". Fortunate in that I've found some real gems that make me happy with Hip Hop again. Here...

An Open Apology: To Myself and Others

I never liked the idea of commenting on large sites such as the one I've been commenting, yet here I am. With my few hours in the wee morning to be on my own. Bored, unmotivated and looking interaction with people who speak English - on the Internet. Oh the woes.

Several days ago, I got into an argument. An Internet argument. Such things I have vowed never to do in the past, and yet here I am. Fighting with people, strangers, on the Internet.

Before you continue, if you so desire, please read the Kotaku post Lolita Arcade Shmup Gets Release Date. Here's my COMMENT. It isn't TOO long...

The short of it is, the post contains a photo of two young Japanese girls in costume at a game convention. There were many comments about how hot they are and how (commenter) would do naughty things to them. I understood that most people were making jokes, though I don't make those kind of comments. I, hoping to be funny, responded.