olympic spirit
Categories: anime, fanservice, life, manga, moe
Tagged: birdy the might:birdy, haruhi suzumiya:lol fang-tan, macross frontier:klan
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I’d light her torch, IYKWIM…
I probably won’t be posting as much as I’m watching the Olympics. But let me rant about how Comcast Bay Area provides something like 7 HD channels… but not NBC!!! Why do I have CBS, FOX, ABC, 3 PBS, and some FOX Spanish station in HD, but not NBC?! I wasn’t happy I didn’t get Heroes in HD… I wasn’t thrilled when I didn’t get the Winter Classic in HD… but… the Olympics? Worst part is my terrestrial antenna only gets FOX and ABC in HD so that’s not even an option. (And I’ll probably slice myself and/or watch Moetan rather than order DirecTV’s HD package.)
HD notwithstanding, the opening ceremony was excellent. I loved how everytime something noteworthy happened, the camera would pan to the London organizing committee members. They must be thinking, “Damn, how are we going to top a few billion dollars worth of production made possible by cheap Chinese labour? I hope the mini-bar is well-stocked with whiskey.” Because I enjoyed that so much, I’ll ignore the fact that they made Taiwan march under “Chinese Taipei” and made them use that Olympic flag instead of the national flag. I wonder if making that comment will get this blog banned in China. I also enjoyed how whenever an EU nation popped up, the camera showed Sarkozy.
(Still, it doesn’t beat out the Chevy Silverados doing doughnuts for Atlanta’s opening ceremony back in 1996. That was just the ultimate “God Bless America” move.)
My second favorite part of the Olympics right now is how President Bush hung out with the beach volleyball team. For whatever reason, footage of Bush trying to return a hit from Misty May cracks me up. Though I have to give him credit as being one of the few presidents who could toss a half-way decent first pitch, foreign policies be damned.
My third favorite part are all the Morgan Freeman Visa ads. They’re fantastic. I hope he recovers soon— he just has too unique of a voice, and his voiceovers from Shawshank still hold up well. I wanted him to dub Ginko for Mushishi. (I do find it disgusting that I see a lot of ads for oil companies trying to make themselves look less evil. Come on, how dumb do they think we are?)
I’m wondering if it’s time to weight the medals. For example, if you’re a basketball player, you can only get one medal, but if you do swimming or track, you can get multiple in multiple events. At the very least, team sports should get medals weighted by the number of players per team. For example, winning basketball gold means it counts for twelve, not one. I’m also wondering why the hell is something like synchronized diving an Olympic sport. I mean, is it that different from normal diving?
But while Phelp’s quest or other traditional NBC set pieces on heart-warming atheletes might dominate the Olympic coverage right now, I’m much, much more intrigued by the “Redeem Team.” Maybe the NBA-led USA men’s basketball team is a symbol of American power and then losing it because of complacency and bad decisions and now the humbled superpower is back in force. This would be a great idea for an anime… we’ll call the US “Britannia” and have them rocked by some upstarts from “Area 11” before the fun really begins…
Seriously, as for anime, I’m enjoying Birdy the Mighty Decode a lot. The fight scenes are fun to watch, and Birdy bath scenes never disappoint. They actually play up the crime fighting and action aspect and play down the genderbending aspect. I am disappointed that Senkawa isn’t enjoying himself when he has a first row view of a nubile female body. But it’s a fun series, and it’s serial, so I recommend to go marathon a few episodes rather than following it weekly. Haruka Nogizaka’s Secret has been getting better, but the male leads gets a huge “must improve” from me. I vote for a swap of him for Code Geass‘s Gino.
(And for people who want a fun summer series, I suggest Umisho. In fact, I even put together sixty reasons to watch it.)
The Klan vs. Klan poll is going well. I noticed that about 75% of votes for Macro Klan are from visitors from the United States. Almost all of the international visitors are voting for Micro Klan, Europeans especially. I think it just means that Americans like everything big: houses, cars, melonpan.
As for manga, The World God Only Knows and Mirai Nikki are still as awesome as always. But you knew that already. I have to admit that I’m enjoying the current Nodame Cantabile arc where Nodame asks Chiaki to marry her. Though To Love Ru manga is exceeding my expectations. Mikan is awesome, everyone hates Lala, and a new challenger appears.
And, finally, the Emo Facial Distortion Pantheon returns. Starting at noon and running throughout the week, the pantheon is reborn.
43 Responses to “olympic spirit”
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So, female Rito makes his appearance. I’m actually surprised that he’d look hot as a girl, and I guess only in anime/manga can you find the lead of a harem get turned into a girl and dates his friend.
FEMALE RITO IS HAWT!!!!!!
tl;d-OH GOD RIKO IS HOT.
I don’t think that the Harem Master can be considered an entry to his own harem. That and you obviously haven’t read the most recent chapters which do show two possible entrants.
Oh, and not everyone hates Lala – just the rich girl does, that and Run. Everyone else likes Lala, and given how Rito’s mother looks, it’s no wonder that Mikan and female Rito look the way they do.
On top of the genes, the ray in question was designed to make whoever got hit look hot and busty as well as matching most peoples’ ideas of beauty. The fact that Lala wanted to use it to look prettier for Rito is overshadowed by the fact that his best male friend fell for him (a la Mahoraba) with one chapter focusing on how Rito has to fix the situation. Think of the Ryoko solution of the manga.
I have no idea why (as I don’t even like swim suits that much), but watching the Olympics’ women’s beach volleyball gives me a boner like no other… wait… I’m sharing too much aren’t I?
Is there a particular reason you want to watch the Olympics in HD? Dare I ask?
Oh yeah, what was up with the American delegation’s choice of attire? Berets? That’s the best we can do?
It’s a pity the British didn’t adopt that Gurren Lagann flag- the Olympics would be the perfect place to unveil it. That and the team outfits would be awesome.
I’m eagerly anticipating the unveiling of the new Emo Facial Distortion pantheon. Is the old one still going to be available, and are people going to argue endlessly over which “era” was better?
I was hoping you would bring up the Olympics.
Some of the commentators for the gymnastics events were questioning the ages of female Chinese athletes. 16 is the minimum age to compete, but some of them looked a lot younger.
Apparently 12 is the new 16 in China.
Protip: Oil companies aren’t actually evil. They are amoral, not immoral.
Plus, given that you travel much more than the average member of the population…
“I noticed that about 75% of votes for Macro Klan are from visitors from the United States. Almost all of the international visitors are voting for Micro Klan, Europeans especially.”
How am I not surprised by this? This is why America never gets along with the rest of the world.
Female Rito… gnn…. huuh… feel myself… breaking…
“Emo Facial Distortion Pantheon returns”
All hail.
(And I’d like to light her torch as well. My butterfly to her breastroke.)
Rahhh, don’t remind me of Chiaki, that idiot… And you can’t play boob trampoline with a micronized Klan. :\
>> most all of the international visitors are voting for Micro Klan,
I’m proud to say I voted macro.
Klan vs. Klan?
Americans like them legal. At least in most places.
And trampoline action on Klan sounds like fun. Either on her or her on a trampoline works.
No Olympics in HD? I have Comcast Bay Area and I can get NBC in HD. o.o
Have you tried channel 11-1? Even though NBC in analog is channel 3, it’s HD on channel 11-1 for me.
“I think it just means that Americans like everything big: houses, cars, melonpan.”
I think is time Americans learn the power of lolis… unleash the lolis now!!!!
We need some hawt lesbian incest with Rito and Mikan, stat! Add some GD for more awesomeness.
What does our fair blogger Jason think of the pantheon of off-the-record adorable dancing Chinese girls in mini skirts and gogo boots that formed a circle of moe around the stadium during the Parade of Nations? I want one!
You’re not alone. For whatever reason, our local CBS station has refused to give DirecTV the rights to rebroadcast their HD feed, so I get every other station in HD except for them. Unless I decide to put up an external antenna, that’ll suck once football starts up in earnest.
At least you have heartwarming championship caliber athletes. I live in Canada. My newspaper today had a thing that said “Boxer beaten, lonely” about our only Olympian on the boxing team getting his butt kicked 20 – 1 (I have no idea how the scoring works, but I’m guessing 20-1 is a pretty bad margin).
Micro-Klan’s face has something weird going with it. Cuz she looks like she’s 8…. If Macro-Klan wasn’t the size of a building, she’s way hotter, so that’s how I vote, dammit.
“We need some hawt lesbian incest with Rito and Mikan, stat! Add some GD for more awesomeness.”
that is so wrong… yet it feels so right…
Dude, I’m in the Bay Area. I watch the Olympics in HD.
I get it on channel 703.
Also on a slight tangent, in my locker-making days, I made the lockers for NBC 11 for their dressing rooms and general employee shoe lockers.
Things I learned: The Telemundo newsdek is right across from the NBC 11 newsdesk, separated only by a bank of computers tapped into Reuters.
TELEVISION IS A LIE.
Behold! Rito’s mom, Ringo!
http://img186.imageshack.us/im.....6m7ef4.png
It’s not faith, it’s genetics.
Ahh it is good to see a breakdown on the polls for the discerning readers of Derailed by Darry lol.
If only for one episode, let us replace Yuuto with Kogarashi. The drunk sister and Yoshinoya-wannabe-sensei could use a crash-course boot camp.
Then again, what series wouldn’t be improved by substituting a male lead with Kogarashi?
Going off on a tangent – speaking as a native of Taiwan the entire Chinese Taipei thing is funny, especially the semantics that make it palatable to both sides. In Chinese, the NOC on Taiwan translates it as “zhong hua taibei” versus the PRC’s “zhong guo taibei”. I remember that when my mother went to see relatives on the mainland, she put down “zhong hua ming guo” (Chinese Republic, aka ROC) as country on the visa form and the consular dude made her change it to “zhong guo” (China).
You know, Jason, I was getting NBC HD from Comcast for the longest time, right up BEFORE THE OLYMPICS! I was looking forward to watching it in HD and all of a sudden couldn’t find the channel anymore! The other broadcast channels still had their HD equivalent but NBC just disappeared. This made the opening ceremonies rather boring b/c I could no longer be amazed by 1080i (although my parents enjoyed themselves b/c they had a small party to celebrate). And you can go online to view the stuff in widescreen but will need a fast connection, the resolution is limited to around 800×480 max, and you can only watch what was broadcasted.
But I still watch b/c there are moments like the 4×100 Mens freestyle relay. That race was AMAZING!
Almost forgot to do this…*saves Tsuruya image to hard drive*
>Because I enjoyed that so much, I’ll ignore the fact that they made Taiwan >march under “Chinese Taipei†and made them use that Olympic flag >instead of the national flag. I wonder if making that comment will get this >blog banned in China.
They did that as far back as the Olympics in Canada:
“Also in 1976, due to pressure from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Canada told the team from the Republic of China (Taiwan) that it could not compete at the Montreal Summer Olympics under the name “Republic of China”, despite a compromise that would have allowed Taiwan to use the ROC flag and anthem. The Republic of China refused and as a result did not participate again until 1984, when it returned under the name “Chinese Taipei” and used a special flag.[24]”
Also apparently they made North- and Southkorea use different flags … I dare to guess it is because they are pro-North and don’t want the people to see such a symbolic gesture between the two countries?
Seriously, I was shocked with that big applause when the northkorean team entered … it was to be expected, but still shocking to actually hear. Poor Northkoreans trying to escape their country and then being caught and send back by the Chinese gouvernment (sending them back almost equals a death penalty I guess).
I give credit for your Britannian “Redeem Team” beating the Chinese Federation by a landslide.
As for synchonized diving as a sport, It’s diving from either 3 or 10 meters with 2 people and you have to match movements perfectly. Right now, it’s just more of an excuse for China to get more golds. XD
/a put Riko and Mikan in their GOD tier. Goes to show anything that’s genderbent ends up being more popular than the originals.
On a more slightly disturbing note, this proves that 1. Brokeness is spreading and 2. There are other ways to break you than reading this blog.
Three best moments so far…
1. THE RELAY. Not as epic as USA 4, USSR 3 but only a tad lower.
2. The opening ceremonies.
3. Prez Bush trying to return a volleyball serve.
>> You know, Jason, I was getting NBC HD from Comcast for the longest time, right up BEFORE THE OLYMPICS!
I bitched to Comcast… and today when I got home… NBC HD! Too late for the opening ceremony, but at least I can enjoy Heroes in HD later this year. I’m watching the fly over of Beijing right now in HD, and it’s fantastic.
>> Is there a particular reason you want to watch the Olympics in HD? Dare I ask?
Because the overhead shots and opening ceremony were awesome? Though it’s also fun trying to figure out if Bob Costas has hair plugs… I’m debating this with a friend right now.
>> Apparently 12 is the new 16 in China.
That probably explains why all of the Chinese gymnasts look like Tian-zi.
>> Oh, and not everyone hates Lala
She’s as beloved as Fuko. I’m not talking about in the manga; I’m just talking about by fans in general. One of the least compelling female leads out there.
>> What does our fair blogger Jason think of the pantheon of off-the-record adorable dancing Chinese girls in mini skirts and gogo boots that formed a circle of moe around the stadium during the Parade of Nations? I want one!
I was commenting on this during the opening ceremony to my friends. I basically said that all the white businessmen in Beijing are sad because all of the comfort women are dancing for the opening ceremonies and weren’t available. (If you are a white businessman, you get treated a lot different than an Asian businessman in a Chinese hotel. I’m not talking about tourists hotels… I’m talking about high-end ones.)
If only TLR’s writing wasn’t so generic/romantically unreactive, and if only the duo could dedicate at least 30 more chapters on a Riko or Rito/Mikan angle… OH GOD
RIKOMIKANRIKOFACE SKIRT IS HOT.“(I have no idea how the scoring works, but I’m guessing 20-1 is a pretty bad margin).”
From what I know about boxing, it sounds like the judges thought they might have seen the guy try to defend himself while he got his shit wrecked, but weren’t completely sure.
And Re: ToLoveRu… I’m still holding out for my Mikan/Risa/Kotegawa lesbian romp.
So unimaginative – you should look forward to more Mikado-sensei as well as… well, everyone else.
god, jason..
i know you don’t mean it but ur offending a bunch of people with your meek comments. let’s just stick to anime gao shall we?
Macro Klan FTW!!! big is best!!!
and satalexton, jason been making these comments for a looooonnnng time
and she will continue to make these comments as long as she blogs so if you don’t like it i think you should leave (if you want to)
(i was going to type “fable 2” but i some how type “rito” is this a bad sign)
too bad i’ve dropped TLR from my watchlist…
guess i’ll just satisfy myself with Rito-ko in the manga…least thats better satisfaction.
By the way, there is an event called the trap (and double trap) at the Olympics. (It’s shooting.) Wonder if the double trap deducts tenths of a point for a failed symmetrical docking…
“The World God Only Knows and Mirai Nikki”
I must thank you, i was running out of anime to watch. and these 2 made my day.
Specially “Mirai Nikki”, it was amazing.
I know is out of context, but i have always been lurking around, so decided to show that you have support from south america, im a fan from venezuela, that enjoy a lot your blog.
@minikui:
north and south korea just marched under their own flags this time. during the last two olympics, they just marched under a unified flag (but competed as two different countries). they just couldn’t agree on it this year, from what i recall.
oh yeah, i’m canadian, ZERO MEDALS FTW! even tajikistan kicks our collective ass!
I wouldn’t stress over the no-medals thing. If you factor in the Winter games, everything evens out, right?