Trans.....what?!?

What? Who dat? How did he...? Where'd that come from...? What's in there...? What does nacho cheese have to do with anything? ...Huh?!?


Those were just a few of the questions my wife and I asked ourselves as we watched that little Spielberg robot movie yesterday that all the kids are buzzing about these days. You know the one - "Transformers". Now as a fanboy of the original 80s animated series, I was more than interested in seeing this up-to-date take on the whole concept. Overall the effects were great and I enjoyed the ride. "I was entertained and my beliefs were suspended for two (plus) hours". But like a roller coaster ride that's gone on way past the level of 'enjoyable', I left the theater with semi-permanent hearing loss, a throbbing headache behind my eyeballs, and a sore neck. The movie was LOUD (eh, what'd you say?). Plus I was really confused about some of the logistical points of the movie, too numerous to elaborate on here. But maybe I ask too many questions during movies. Shia Lebeouf holds the film together as the main character, Sam Witwicky. I think it's obvious that he's turning out to be one of the newest generation of really great actors, unless he tosses caution to the wind and pulls a 'Lindsay Lohan', who I can say with confidence everyone is more than sick of hearing about. He's definitely come a long way since the days of that mongoloid family sitcom, "Even Stevens", from Nickelodeon, and I'm excited to see him in the latest installment of the Indiana Jones series. The depth of some of the other characters is questionable. For example, Megan Fox, the actress that plays Mikaela Banes...come on! What kind of high school girl looks like that? And I think John Turturro was completely miscast as Sector Seven Agent Simmons. He's generally entertaining, but tends to ride a fine line between annoying and likeable. His best role in my eyes will always be as 'The Jesus' in "The Big Lebowski".

Of course, as a summer blockbuster, product placement was blatant in this film - Mountain Dew anybody? But, I guess, what do you expect from a movie brought to you by Hasbro, makers of the original line of Transformers toys. You know that the G.I. Joe movies can't be far behind - "G.I. Joe and the Mummy's Treasure", "G.I. Joe and the Big Helicopter Rescue", "G.I. Joe on Barbie Island" (or "G.I. Joe on Johnny Quest Island", depending on your lifestyle preference). Come on, don't act shocked! Like you didn't know that about Johnny Quest...!

Nasu, Pt. 1

Greetings all. Last week Akemi and I travelled to Nasu, a town in Tochigi Prefecture a couple hundred miles north of here. Nasu is primarily all countryside, with scattered farms and even a vast protected wildlife preserve owned by the royal family. The main attraction is hiking, enjoying nature, and a handful of cheesy, tourist-trap museums (think central Florida). Unfortunately, we're in the middle of Japan's rainy season, so hiking up into the hills was a no-go as everything was muddy and visibility sucked. Akemi's dad even slipped and broke his arm while attempting to find a good vantage point to paint from earlier on the day we arrived. Our adventure on our first day there was limited to a bus ride around Nasu, with a crusty, disgruntled bus driver sporting a perfectly-coiffed pompadour, with a stop at The Cheese Garden, where they sell, well....cheese. Following that we enjoyed some time at a very relaxing onsen (natural hot water bath). Dinner at Tokyu Harvest, next to my inlaws' rental cottage, was superb. It was buffet-style (can you believe that, in Japan?), but it wasn't your typical Shoney's grease-fest! It was all incredible Japanese cuisine. I'll split this post into multiple entries, as I have a lot of pics from the trip.



This is the shinkansen (bullet train) we took from Tokyo Station to Nasu.

Groupies

Couple funny pictures from my co-worker Steve Hargitai's farewell/karaoke party two weeks ago...

Better Living Through Chemical Brothers

The Chemical Brothers can do no wrong. And their sixth studio album, "We Are The Night", proves it. Every track is a masterpiece (with the exception of one, which I didn't load onto my iPod - and the stupid thing is is that it's the single that's currently being played on the radio! Damn you commercial radio!) This album is the soundtrack for one of those all-nighters in Tokyo (or other cool city of your choice). Known for the guest cameos they bring on board for their projects, this one features Klaxons, Ali Love, Fatlip, Willy Mason and Midlake. I don't who those people are but maybe you do. Previous collaborations have included Tim Burgess (Charlatans UK), Beth Orton (love her), Liam Gallagher (Oasis), and Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips). You would think their Big Beat/psychedelic sound would have lost its freshness by now, but it's stronger, catchier, and fatter than ever before. And it's not just "techno". What is "techno" anymore anyway really? There's something very "human" about this music. It's organic and pulsating, it's got melody and it tugs on something primordial. I haven't had the opportunity to see them live yet (hopefully one day), but I have a feeling it's not just a concert, it's a journey. Highly recommended to put this album on the top of your playlist. 'Nuff said.

That Rat Movie (And Other Musings)

So last weekend, Akemi and I saw "Ratatouille", Pixar's latest masterpiece (written/directed by Brad Bird) which is a story about a rat with aspirations to become a chef. He accidentally gets separated from his family, ends up in a once-five star restaurant in Paris, befriends a bumbling human, and saves the day by returning the restaurant to its previous grandeur. I won't go into all the details of the story, but this release, for me, rates up there with "The Incredibles", my favorite of all the Pixar movies. It has an absolute original story, likeable characters, genuine humor, and the CGI is flawless. It really is amazing how the visual effects just get better and better with every movie. They have completely mastered the recreation of different surfaces, like metal, concrete, wood, hair, etc, and the way light reflects from them. As you watch this movie, pay attention to the brass and steel surfaces in the kitchen (you can actually make out minor scratches that you would see in real life from normal wear and tear!), the rain splashing on the cobblestones in the street, and the way in which Remy's hair clumps together when it gets wet. Beautifully done!

On another note concerning Pixar, I have a (conspiracy) theory about them. I think, subconsciously or consciously, they are totally pandering to the current state of U.S. political affairs. Let me explain. The last two movies have been "Cars" and "Ratatoille". "Cars" was released in Summer 2006. Bush was balls-to-the-wall into his second term in office, his approval ratings had not yet plummeted, and the ramping-up of the war effort was in full swing. "Ratatouille" was just released this summer. Bush's approval ratings are dismal, the Democrats control Congress, there is endless banter on how we should withdraw from Iraq, and the country is already gearing up for Election 2008. Do you remember "red states" and "blue states" from the last presidential election? Well, if you didn't realize this before, "Cars" is a "red state movie" and "Ratatouille" is a "blue state movie", and here's examples to back up that statement:

Cars
* The 'Piston Cup' racing circuit is basically NASCAR (what's more redneck than that?)
* Features a character (Mater) voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour (Git 'R Done!)
* Features the catchphrase "Ka-Chaw" - that's more hick than "Shake and Bake" from "Talladega Nights" (also a red state
movie)
* Depicts a dependence/devotion to fossil fuels - I don't seem to remember any of the characters utilizing bio-fuels (How
about "Corny", the ethanol-powered hybrid??)
* The main character, Lightning McQueen, is "red"
* This was the last movie Pixar made before it was bought up by Disney

Ratatouille
* Set in France, perennially criticized and loathed by conservatives ("Freedom Fries" anyone?)
* Features a strong, independent female character (Colette) voiced by Janeane Garfalo, who is despised by the right wing
media
* Makes cracks at American fast food
* A morbidly obese character, Chef Gusteau, dies early in the movie -our liberal media constantly scares the public about the
overweight epidemic.
* Depicts the world of ultra-fine cuisine, enjoyed by culturally-elite liberals
* Features a latently-homosexual food critic, Anton Ego, who utters possibly one of the most sexually-ambiguous lines I've
ever heard in a Disney film - "If I don't like it, I don't swallow it"
* The rats justify their food thievery on the unjust treatment they have been subject to by man (or "The Man") - Does the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina ring a bell?

Now, you would think, as I did, that an animation company based out of San Francisco would be on the extreme Left of the political spectrum. So why would they produce two such movies, in perfect alignment with the political and cultural zeitgeist of the U.S. at the time of their release? Political favor (especially now in anticipation of a Democrat pres in 2008)? Approval by the mass media (or "Drive-By" media as Rush Limbaugh refers to them)? Bigger box office receipts? Who knows? Think about it, though. It's all too eerily coincidental.


Am I a nut? Yes. But if I didn't point this stuff out to you, who would?

Have a nice day!

Chihuahua Love

For anyone that's ever talked trash about chihuahuas, check out this story I found on Yahoo! News. Chihuahuas kick ass!!



Tiny dog saves baby from rattlesnake

Mon Jul 23, 9:53 PM ET

MASONVILLE, Colo. - Zoey is a Chihuahua, but when a rattlesnake lunged at her owners' 1-year-old grandson, she was a real bulldog.

Booker West was splashing his hands in a birdbath in his grandparents' northern Colorado back yard when the snake slithered up to the toddler, rattled and struck. Five-pound Zoey jumped in the way and took the bites.

"She got in between Booker and the snake, and that's when I heard her yipe," said Monty Long, the boy's grandfather.

The dog required treatment and for a time it appeared she might not survive. Now she prances about.

"These little bitty dogs, they just don't really get credit," Booker's grandma Denise Long told the Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald.

Dance, Sing, Floss, and Travel

I think that's a pretty good motto to live by, especially the 'flossing' part. It's also part of a "product manifesto" from Lululemon, a yoga clothing company based out of Vancouver that my wife really likes. It should also say "drink copious amounts of beer", but I guess that would be pretty much anti-yoga. Check out their website: www.lululemon.com.

Here's a few more. This may be pretty hippy for some of you; nothing scientific here, just common sense stuff that totally rings true:

* Sweat once a day to regenerate your skin.
* Do one thing a day that scares you.
* Breathe deeply and appreciate the moment. Living in the moment could be the meaning of life.
* Drink fresh water and as much water as you can. Water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp.
* Choose a positive thought. The conscious brain can only hold one thought at a time.

And my other personal favorite (which I see in my patients everyday):
* Stress is related to 99% of all illness.

Sorry for the short entry. More to come soon...

Aging Hipsters

Here's a photo of Uncle Moz and Iggy Pop taken this past April in Las Vegas that I downloaded from the Morrissey webzine fansite, www.truetoyou.com. It's a little scary and charming at the same time.


Speaking of Morrissey/Smiths, you have to check out this new album by UK DJ/producer Mark Ronson called "Version". Mostly known for producing newcomers Amy (Rehab) Winehouse and Lily Allen, he has put together an album of cover songs of mostly British artists done in a bombastic Motown/drum and bass style. The sound is BIG, with blazing horns and catchy vocals. All songs feature a guest singer. The most well-known track is "Stop Me", a completely groundbreaking track which combines the The Smiths' "Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before" with The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hanging On". This track has even reached #2 on the UK singles charts, higher than any other Smiths song ever did. I think this style is what the original 50s and 60s Motown was meant to evolve into, not Beyonce or Jay-Z (I'm probably going to hell for that comment on so many levels), though I think fans of both British rock and hip-hop will appreciate this album. His taste for British "alternative" is really evident in his choice of songs - e.g. "Just" by Radiohead, "God Put A Smile On Your Face" by Coldplay, "The Only One I Know" by Charlatans UK. Go have a listen, won't you.

"They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said nooo, nooo, nooo....."

I Simpson

Hi youse alls. I recently went to the Simpsons Movie website (www.simpsonsmovie.com) to check out some clips of the upcoming movie, and found this funny little program where you can create your own customized Simpsons "avatar". You can register your avatar so that when you visit the website repeatedly, you may see yourself roaming about Springfield. Mine sort of looks like a young version of my dad. That's kind of eerily coincidental! Also, I love the "Happy Little Elves" t-shirt.

Do I have too much time on my hands? Sometimes... : (

So to promote this movie, there's a big product tie-in with 7-11 convenience stores. A dozen 7-11s across the U.S. have temporarily become "Kwik-E-Marts", complete with Buzz Cola, Cherry Squishies, and Krusty-Os. I haven't heard yet about any news of a beer tie-in; so unfortunately you can't buy "Duff Beer" yet.

(From the Oxford American Dictionary - "Av-a-tar" - Computing a movable icon representing a person in cyberspace or virtual reality graphics. ORIGIN from Sanskrit avatāra ‘descent,’ from ava ‘down’ + tar- ‘to cross.’ - Isn't cool that there's a word derived from Sanskrit?)

Mystery Train

One morning last week as I left for work I noticed this rather odd but majestic train parked on the auxiliary track which runs parallel to the main Keikyu track, normally used for maintenance of older trains. Akemi happened to snap some photos of it later in the morning and inquired with some other onlookers and came to find out that it is actually a VIP train used to transport the Japanese royal family. It's rather interesting because it's a very rare train to ever see in service; I've personally never seen it before but it certainly has the familiar 'JR' (Japan Railways) logo on the side. I'm not sure if it's brand-new or just really well-kept (probably the latter), but the middle car was all wrapped up in foam like they were getting ready to ship it through the mail! (That's retarded - what am I talking about!). Anyway, it was an interesting sight to behold outside of our little podunk base housing complex.



Stella and Luna really got a "kick" out of it!

Return of the King - Chunkification of Japan

Hi all! Don't have anything new and exciting to pass on to you, but just wanted to share a segment of an article from weekly free magazine "Tokyo Metropolis" on the return of Burger King to Japan after a 6 year hiatus. It's funny and sad how the worst parts of American culture have infiltrated the rest of the world. Maybe it's all part of an insidious plan to remain a dominant superpower by slowly killing everyone off with arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes. You be the judge...

If you're interested in reading the rest of the article, go to: http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/692/feature.asp. There's always interesting stuff about current events in Tokyo at this site. By the way, do you think that regular frequenters of Burger King look like this little cutie model??



Battle of the Burgers (reprinted without permission...hey, at least I'm honest!)


As Burger King returns to Japan after a six-year absence, fast food restaurants are pulling out all the stops to attract more customers


Names like Whopper, MegaMac, Double Straight, Big Triple and Shin Mos Burger can only mean one thing: big is back for the fast food business, which is reshaping itself after years of drastic price wars. The latest entry into the market is Burger King, the world’s No. 2 hamburger chain after McDonald’s. The Miami-based fast food giant, which quit the Japanese market amid cutthroat competition in 2001, returned this month, opening two stores, in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.

No one knows how many hamburgers are consumed in Japan each year, but the fact that McDonald’s Japan achieved record sales of ¥441 billion in fiscal 2006 gives some indication of the size of the market. McDonald’s is clearly dominant (with over 3,800 stores), followed by Mos Burger (1,462), Lotteria (587), Freshness Burger (193), First Kitchen (133), Wendy’s (75) and Becker’s (28).

All companies are trying to carve out a niche for themselves through marketing campaigns and signature products. McDonald’s has had tremendous success with its MegaMac, featuring four beef patties, but had to limit sales. “We couldn’t keep up supply because the serving capability of the whole menu is limited when you are preparing four patties for one burger,” said Shotaro Shimizu, director of McDonald’s corporate relations division. “We sold 3.32 million over four days from January 12-15. It was on the menu again in April and May.” Building on that success, the company has introduced the Mega Teriyaki burger, which will be sold until July 19.

As the newest entrant in the market, Burger King is counting on its Whopper for success. But has it learned the lessons from the past? Yes, said Burger King Japan President and CEO Shinichi Kasa, who spent 29 years with McDonald’s and 1 ½ years with Wendy’s before joining Burger King last September. “I talked to many former Burger King Japan staff. Ten years ago, all companies in the food industry were doing big discount promotions. Not just hamburger outlets, but Yoshinoya, Mister Donut, everybody. Burger King came to Japan as that was happening. Its prices and food costs were a little bit higher than its competitors. It didn’t cut prices and suffered as a result. This time, the economy is different; it is showing signs of a recovery. All hamburger chains have started to sell higher-priced burgers, some costing more than ¥300. Nowadays, customers are prepared to pay for quality hamburgers.”

Shimoda Surf City

Last weekend we took a little surf trip down to Shimoda on the Izu Peninsula (Shizuoka Prefecture), west of Miura Peninsula, where we live. It's about a five hour drive - not bad. Shimoda, if you remember from history class, is the port where Admiral Matthew C. Perry arrived in 1854 and opened Japan to trade with the outside world, ending hundred of years of Japanese isolationism. It's a breathtakingly beautiful coastline, completely with rocky cliffs and scattered islands, not unlike the California coast. The beaches have incredibly clear blue water, and are relatively uncrowded compared to Shonan area (near us). Unfortunately, the surf was not as good as we had anticipated, but we had a fun time nonetheless, and stayed at a great little ryokan (Japanese inn) called "My's", which was dog-friendly. So Stella and Luna got to accompany us this time! We opted for breakfast and dinner at the inn, which was an additional ¥4,800 per day for the two of us, which sounds like a lot, but completely worth it as the master of the ryokan put out an incredible spread of food. Plus it saved us from having to drive into town to find a place to eat. Enjoy the pics!



Reststop along the way (or is it Cannes?)


Hey Dumb Donald, where's the rest of the Fat Albert gang?




One of the two dinners we had; that plate of sashimi was worth the price of admission alone!

Our room - notice that ghost hiding under the tv?






Luna's pooped - too much sun, surf, and sand!

Green and red... must be Christmas.

Stella has a new best friend - the master of My's.