Archive for the ‘Western Pop-Culture’ category

Decade / Shinkenger

August 18th, 2009

Shinkenger_VS_DCD_by_Toku_JusticeI really don’t know why… but I really enjoy the Japanese Super-Sentai series.  Maybe it’s because I enjoyed the North American Power Rangers shows when I was younger which used footage from the older Sentai series and just replaced the voice tracks and actors.

In a way I see Super-Sentai as the more refined and for older viewers version of Power Rangers.  I guess I enjoy it, in a morbid way, when the monsters start killing civilians and you see blood and bruises after the battles.  It seems more real as people and rangers die in battle.

Anyway… because of the latest Super-Sentai, I have now been exposed to the world of Kamen Rider. I had always known that it had existed but I never watched it for some reason. But they gave me a reason to watch it this time as there was a cross-over with the two shows.

Like with most of the Kamen Rider series you do not need to watch the previous one as they are in completely separate worlds/realities whatever you want to call it.  What makes Decade unique is that Decade travels to all of the worlds.  You see Decade fighting with or sometimes fighting against that world Kamen Rider.  The only thing that I am unsure of is if they brought back the original actors to portray the other Kamen Riders as I never watched the previous series.

In closing I will say this… I think it is a safe bet that if you like Super-Sentai you will like Kamen Rider…

Kei

Dean Cain is my Hero

June 30th, 2009

It appears that Microsoft has pulled out all the stops on their ads for the new Internet Explorer 8.  Starring Dean Cain, from Lois and Clark, the ads promote the some of the new functionality of IE 8.  My favorite one is the last one shown below.

Kei

Dark June

June 30th, 2009

It has been a dark June, especially the past week as we have had to say goodbye to some of the most well known celebrities in our lives.  I honestly do not recall the last time when so many have left us is such a short period of time.

The biggest name of course is Michael Jackson.  Although his life has been marred by controversy and lawsuits, i will choose to remember him for his contributions to the music industry.  without MJ a large majority of the music and artists that I enjoy would not be here.

Farrah Fawcett, also left us last week from a lengthy battle with cancer.   A sex symbol from the 70′s which will be missed.

My earliest memories of Ed McMahon was watching him host “Super Bloopers and Practical Jokes” with Dick Clark.  He was most famous for being Johnny Carson’s right hand man and hosting Star Search.  I bid you a big HEYO Mr. McMahon.

Other celebrity we have lost this month include Billy Mays and David Carridine.

Kei

R.I.P. David Carradine

June 5th, 2009

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As most of you know David Carradine was reported dead yesterday.

As the news sites will remind us of Carradine’s career and the roles that he played, most notably  Bill from Kill Bill.  I will always remember him as Kwai Chang Caine from Kung Fu and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.

R.I.P. Grasshopper… you will be missed.

Kei

Sims 3

June 5th, 2009

Sims 3

So I picked up my copy of Sims 3 the other day and I am having issues enjoying it.

In comparison to Sims 2, which I started playing again last month, it is the little things that I don’t like about Sims 3.

Lets go thru the hits and misses;

Hits:

  • Graphics – The graphics are improved and are truly 3D now so thats all good.
  • Traveling – Now we can see your Sim travel from point A to point B.
  • Loading time – It feels as the loading time for the game has improved… I haven’t timed it or anything but it does seem faster.
  • Almost full customization -  All the important things you can customize… from the Sims clothing to the Sims car.

Misses:

  • Time management – When my Sim goes to work or to sleep it seems like it takes forever when I compare it to the Sims 2… Do I really have to sit thru 4 minutes of doing nothing while I wait for my Sim to get off work?
  • Cooking food – Does my Sim really have to put down his mac and cheese after cooking and force me to tell him to eat it?
  • Camera angles – Sometimes the camera angles are horrible… during regular gameplay it is fine as you can adjust it, but in build/buy mode it can be a pain.

Overall I think the game is good… it stays true to the Sims franchise…. Now if they would only make a new Sim City…

Kei