Friday, August 19, 2005

   ready to go...maybe not
Listening to: "Picture" - Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock

Well I'm almost all packed up and kinda ready to go. Even though this summer seemed really short, it seems like forever since I was at school. I don't remember what it was like.

Yesterday Eric and I finished watching his Ayumi Hamasaki concert DVD. It included some bloopers. I wish I knew Japanese b/c it'd probably be funnier. We also watched this preview disc of Divergence Eve I got a long time ago. I knew that the whole anime was about fanservice, but it was just ridiculous. Practically every female had gigantic boobs that jiggled when they turned. Other than that, it didn't seem so bad. A bit slow-moving, but I can see it getting good especially w/ an ending that goes "Am I dead?" There's some cool 3-D sequences too. I'm in no hurry to watch it, but if I ever do come by it, I may check it out.

I changed my facebook pic and wallpaper. Just figured it was time to do something new. This is the 1st time my desktop has featured something that's not anime, J-rock, or fantasy/sci-f- art. What else could have the priviledge of gracing my desktop? Freestyle motocross, duh! I've got a pic of my favorite rider Drake McElroy.

Random quote of the day: "I just suddenly want to make plans with you." - Kanagi Kinuga (that's never a good thing to hear) in Bloodhound by Kaori Yuki
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Wednesday, August 10, 2005

   my poor goldfish!
Listening to: Fanboy Radio (a local program about comic books; I think it's also on-line. Sometimes they mention manga, but I think it's just cool that there's a radio show about comics.)

I'm so bummed out about my goldfish. All the old ones, which I've raised to be several years old from birth, are dying. :( For the past 4 days, I keep burying them. My dad thinks that b/c they're the inbred grandchildren of goldfish I had when I was 11, they're immune system is bad. If there was a problem w/ the water, then our new goldfish (which I bought a few days ago) would die first. It's just sad b/c I don't have any big ones anymore. We've literally got a goldfish graveyard now. The good news is we did get new ones so we'll introduce new varieties in the gene pool and I found some baby fish too.

On a different note, a part of me feel empty now that the X Games are over. I was left a bit unsatisfied, but skateboard vert and BMX best trick were the best! I took Eric's BMX bike out for a spin, and I forgot how fast it went. It was scary at first, but I forgot how good it feels to ride around.

I have officially 10 days before I move back on campus. This summer has flown by, and I'm bummed that I can't finish The Sound and the Fury, which I have to return to the library. However, I'm glad that my orgo textbook came in the mail today. Boy am I nerdy. ^^

Random quote of the day:
"In the simple trans cycloalkenes, it is also the eight-carbon compound that is the first molecule stable at room temperature." - Organic Chemistry 3rd ed. by Maitland Jones, Jr.
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Monday, August 8, 2005

   X Games XI recap 4
Listening to: "Mother" - Danzig

I missed the 1st half of Skateboard Big Air, but they did show a repeat of Danny Way's sick frontside 360 into a Christ air. Bob Burnquist did his magic by landing a seemingly impossible backside kickflip, but it wasn't enough to medal. The contest was like deja vu b/c the medalists were the exact same as last year's. Before Way's 4th run, Pierre-Luc Gagnon seemed to have snagged another gold w/ a huge mute 360. Andy MacDonald came close too w/ a backside 360 judo air to a "thread the needle" (Tony Hawk's term for wrapping the board around your body). However, Way proved why he inveted this contest. I have so much respect for him. This guy jumped over the Great Wall of China! :o He also didn't need to take a 5th run, especially w/ an injured ankle, but he did it anyway.

Results:
1) Danny Way
2) Pierre-Luc Gagnon
3) Andy MacDonald

Random skater quote: "I wanna go fishing." - Danny Way on how he's gonna relax now.

This year held the 1st ever BMX Vert Best Trick contest, and man was it insane! There was a lot of hype about Kevin Robinson's double flair (2 backflip 180s). He came very close to making it but had to stop before hurting himself badly. Dave Mirra snagged for medal #20 w/ a gigantic tailwhip flair. Chad Kagy had already wowed audiences and judges w/ the 1st flatspin tailwhip over the channel, but he wanted to do a triple tailwhip. Unfortunately, he knocked himself out but later walked off the ramp on his own. Phew! However, the man of the night, again, was Jamie Bestwick. He took another gold w/ the 1st ever double tailwhip flair. 2 years ago, he had unveiled the tailwhip flair, which entails spinning the bike while doing a backflip 180. Now he's spinning the bike twice! :o Bestwick is having the best week of his life (he also recently became a dad). This event definitely showed what was in store for the future of BMX Vert.

Results:
1) Jamie Bestwick
2) Dave Mirra
3) Chad Kagy

Random BMXer quote: "A lot of history is going to go on tonight." - legendary rider and event organize Mat Hoffman before the contest

The X Games concluded w/ SuperMoto. This race gets the best riders in motocross, flat track, and road racing to compete in one all-terrain event. Throw in pit stops, and anything can happen. The moto guys proved that they had the endurance take over the podium, keeping superbiker Eric Bostrom from succeeding his brother Ben (who was competing in Europe) as the gold medalist. Retired motocross/Supercross racer-turned-farmer Doug Henry led 33 out of 40 laps, leaving the more recent Supercross champs Jeremy McGrath and Chad Reed to duke it out for 2nd. McGrath showed why people call him the "King of Supercross" as he took his skills to work his way up to 2nd from the back of the pack. He was also the only rider to fully clear the gnarly triple that entered the stadium (the track went in and out of it).

Results:
1) Doug Henry
2) Jeremy McGrath
3) Chad Reed

Random interviewer/racer quote:
Jamie Little - "Why are you so fast?"
Doug Henry - "I don't know."

Despite some gripes, it was still a great year of X. Now I gotta wait until 2006 for Winter X...
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Sunday, August 7, 2005

   X Games XI recap 3
Listening to: "Ignited" - T.M. Revolution

BMX Freestyle Dirt must be the most unpredictable event of the X Games. The top pros can wind up in last, and new guys can steal the gold. Before last night's finals, no rider has won 2 years in a row. It seemed to be the case last night. The big names, like Ryan Nyquist and T.J. Lavin, were crashing, and 2 alternates had to be brought in. Inconsistency plagued just about everyone. If you had a solid run, you could place. Chris Doyle was sitting comfortably at the top w/ his smooth style and killer 360 tailwhip. Things changed in everyone's 3rd run. Ryan Guettler busted big w/ a front flip, followed by a 720! :o However, he couldn't beat Doyle, and neither could Nyquist who let the pressure prevent him from clearing all the jumps. Finally it was all up to Australian Corey Bohan, and the guy delivered w/ a barspin tailwhip, one-footed tailwhip 360, and front flip! He became the 1st dirt jumper in history to win a 2 consecutive gold medals.

Results:
1) Corey Bohan
2) Chris Doyle
3) Ryan Guettler

Random BMXer quote: "Hold my tooth for me." - Corey Nastazio to his team manager after knocking it out in a big crash

Before I get into the drama of Moto X Freestyle, I have to talk about the Metal Mulisha. They're a group of rowdy riders lead by Brian Deegan, and they don't give a damn about what anyone thinks. Ronnie Faisst and Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg were representing, but only Twitch made it to the finals.
I'm disappointed in the judging b/c some of the riders didn't score as big as they deserved. There was definitely favoritism. Adam Jones might not have had the biggest back flips, but he had huge extension on right-side up tricks like the cliffhanger and the dead body. On the other hand, Twitch was a bit sketchy on some of his normal tricks, but he was 1 of 2 riders who back flipped over the 100' jump. Kenny Bartram had an early lead; he saw the chance to snag the gold and whipped out a running man (where he's "running" on the side of his bike w/ no hands) to side-saddle lander and then straight to a side-saddle back flip. However, his buddy Travis Pastrana beat him out w/ a wall ride transfer and saran wrap back flip. He capped his 1st run off w/ a flip dismount for the fans. Nate Adams (IMO the best rider out there), whose broken toe looked very purple, tried to defend his gold medal. Alas, even w/ a very scary holy grab (where you let go completely to grab the back of the bike) and a 360 followed by a flip, he could not beat Pastrana's panache. See, this is where I get upset b/c the judges seemed to have favored flashiness over precision. Meh. I think Twitch summed up my opinion w/ his eye roll after seeing his low score. I'm officially a big fan of his now after he mocked Pastrana and Bartram in his 2nd run by pulling knock-off tricks: a can-can back flip to side-saddle landing and a flip dismount which destroyed his bike (he had to walk all the way back to the platform). That is how you end things Mulisha-style. \m/ ^_^ \m/

Results:
1) Travis Pastrana
2) Kenny Bartram
3) Nate Adams

Random FMXer quote: "Every time my scores came in this weekend, here and at Best Trick, I thought, 'What more do I need to do?'... Everyone always thinks they should have done better and I don't want to be that guy who always complains about getting screwed." - Nate Adams, who handled his low scores a little more graciously than Twitch (but you can't deny that he went out w/ style)
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Saturday, August 6, 2005

   X Games XI recap 2.5
Listening to: "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)" - Chevelle

Halfway through my time on-line, I forgot that they were showing the X Games on ABC this afternoon, in addition to tonight's showing. Sadly I missed BMX Park, but I did find out that Dave Mirra won. Perhaps I'll post results tomorrow. I did however catch the Freestyle Moto-X finals, part 1 (I think they should've called it the prelims).

The back flip remains a controversial trick b/c what should be rewarded: going big or technicality? The 2 non-flippers, Dustin Miller and Drake McElroy, were at the bottom. Miller should've been scored higher w/ his innovative combos, and McElroy didn't even get much face time on TV. Now I may be slightly biased b/c he's one of my favorites, but he always has a great smooth style and big extensions. The one trick of his that they did show (after cutting back from commercials *rolls eyes*) was his nac-nac, a basic trick that was so beautifully executed. Adam Jones has proved that he's not a rookie anymore by securing a spot in tonight's final round ("Rookie" was his nickname back in the day). Big Air champ Jeremy Stenberg, crazy as always, set a new world record for back flipping over the longest distance, 100'! The dedication/insanity of these guys is mind-blowing. Proof: despite feeling ill, Travis Pastrana threw down some big back flips. More proof: last year's winner Nate Adams broke a toe from a botched landing of his no-handed back flip, but he comes back in his 2nd run to throw a 360 AND a heelclicker back flip over the 100' gap! :o I couldn't believe it b/c he couldn't rev his bike w/o feeling a lot of pain.
Riders who have made it to tonight's final: Adams, Pastrana, Stenberg, Jones, and Kenny Bartram. I can't wait!

Random FMXer quote: "It hurts! Ow, ow!" - Nate Adams can still joke about a broken toe (even though there's some truth behind this).
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   X Games XI recap 2
Listening to: "Mirror" - Gackt

I had to miss some of last night's Skateboard Vert contest 'cuz I was shopping for cheap textbooks. When I tuned in, I knew I had missed out. Underrated Canadian skater Pierre-Luc Gagnon was tied for 1st w/ snowboarder-turned-skater teen sensation Shaun White. Sandro Dias wasn't far behind after throwing down a 900. Ah, that trick means so much to me: the 1st time I watched the X Games was when Tony Hawk did this 2.5 rotation trick for the 1st time in history. In the 3rd run, Bob Burnquist showed why many call him the ambidextrous skater by pulling a switch-stance, one-footed ollie. Skating switch is hard enough (it's like writing w/ your non-dominant hand), but taking one foot off the board? I swear, Burnquist has some weird mojo going. He always manages to land the most impossible looking things. White had the chance to snag the gold, but he crashed, letting PLG break the tie w/ a nollie heelflip indy 360 and switch heelflip frontside air . I was wondering where last year's winner Bucky Lasek was; he was down in last after crashing on his 2 previous runs. This was his 2nd time going for a 3-peat, and he could do it, considering how he beat PLG in last 2 years on his last run. Man, I bet PLG was nervous, but alas, Lasek fell again. Not that he seemed too disappointed; he just wanted to pull a switch frontside rodeo 540.

Results:
1) Pierre-Luc Gagnon
2) Shaun White
3) Sandro Dias

Random skateboarder quote: "I live in an airplane." —Sandro Diaz, when asked what country he calls home. (He's from Brazil.)

Moto-X Step-Up must be the least controversial event b/c no judges are needed. It's basically high jump w/ motorcycles. This event has exploded in the past 2 years thanks to its crazy competitors. In 2003, new guy Matt Buyten beat out 3-time champ Tommy Clowers. In 2004, Jeremy McGrath went from being Supercross king to the new Step-Up king, but Buyten put in a good fight, continuing to jump despite popping out his shoulder twice. :o This year, some of the big favorites were knocked out early after being unable to clear 31'6"; the group included Brian Deegan, McGrath, and Ronnie Renner (who had something to prove after scoring an invite only after another rider got hurt). McGrath and Renner were really bummed b/c they had the height, just not the "forward momentum" (last night's key word). Anyway, it was another great head-to-head contest w/ Buyten and Clowers, new school vs. old school. Clowers cleared 32' (the record height he set a couple years back) w/ ease. Buyten clipped the bar on both attempts and injured himself again. Poor guy he's already had 2 surgeries.

Results:
1) Tommy Clowers
2) Matt Buyten
3) tie-Deegan, McGrath, Renner

Random FMXer quote: "Nobody really talked to me or did interviews with me before the event. I didn't mind because it took some pressure off me." - Tommy Clowers on why it pays off to not be so popular
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Friday, August 5, 2005

   X Games XI recap 1
Listening to: "Points of Authority" - Linkin Park

We kicked off X Games XI w/ BMX Vert. Only 3 people have ever won gold: Mat Hoffman, Dave Mirra, and Jamie Bestwick. It seemed to be another Mirra vs. Bestwick show-down, but Kevin Robinson, Jay Miron (Eric's favorite rider besides Kevin), and Chad Kagy, who pulled the 1st triple barspin, were also contenders. I have to give mad props to Dennis McCoy b/c he's 38 and still going strong. It' hard to believe that he inspired a young Dave Mirra. Anyway, the showdown didn't occur. Mirra, who rode a gold-plated bike, crashed and was a bit delirious afterwards. He pulled out, leaving Bestwick (my favorite) to dominate w/ his smooth riding style. Everyone got a reality check on the sport's danger level when John Parker got knocked out and sent to the hospital.

Results:
1) Jamie Bestwick
2) Chad Kagy
3) Kevin Robinson

Random BMXer quote: "This is a WTF contest." - Mat Hoffman

If you thought that was insane, Moto X Best Trick will change your mind. You never know what to expect, like Travis Pastrana (one of my favorite riders) coming out on a motorcycle that lets you spin the bars around. Unfortunately his plan bombed as did Chuck Carothers' attempt at a repeat gold w/ a body varial. Carothers had a big crash but walked away from it. Pastrana did come back w/ a candy bar to saran-wrap back flip to no-handed lander. ESPN did a nice analysis of the 360 back flip and revealed that Nate Adams got his bike the flattest. Kenny Bartram pulled the 1st side-saddle back flip, and you would've thought he had the gold secured. However, my prediction was right, and Jeremy Stenberg won w/ a no-footed turn down back flip over the 90 foot jump, throwing in a one-handed lander at the end.

Results:
1) Jeremy Stenberg
2) Travis Pastrana
3) Nate Adams

Random FMXer quote: "My strengths and weaknesses are the same. I have the willingness and stupidity to try anything." - Travis Pastrana
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Thursday, August 4, 2005

   X Games time!
Listening to: "Kasou Heisei Juu Nananen" - P'unk~en~Ciel

Yay, the X Games are here! It's the 11th year they've been hosted and the 7th year I've watched. I'm always excited to see the new stuff these crazy athletes throw down. I am pissed about one thing. B/c it's not as popular, ESPN has decided to get rid of the aggressive in-line competition. I hate how in-liners have a bad rep even among other extreme sports athletes. Just b/c the wheels are attached to your feat doesn't mean that it's not as difficult. In-line was what got me into the X Games b/c when I was younger (and didn't know that there was a competition for such things), I used to attempt tricks on my skates. Another reason I'm pissed about this is the fact that aggressive in-line vert is the most international of any of the X Games contests. You've got skaters from the US, Australia, Europe, Japan (go Yasutoko brothers!), and Brazil. I'm beginning to dislike how corporate the X Games have become. Everything is about catering to the public so some good competitors that deserved recognition aren't invited in favor of the bigger names.

Okay, that's my little rant. If you haven't checked out the questions from my previous post, do so. I wanna see some more answers. ^_~

Random quote of the day: "Were you trying to pick a fight with him were you?" - The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (I'm doing a crazy English major thing again and reading this for fun.)
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Friday, July 29, 2005

   fairy tales and plastic surgery
Listening to: "Ain't Afraid to Die" - Dir en Grey

Kaori Yuki strikes again w/ her twisted characters and suspenseful plot that's punctuated w/ some dark humor. Ludwig Kakumei actually resembles Count Cain in some ways (IMO, there's a lot less angst in Prince Lui which makes me favor Cain more). I will never look at fairy tales the same way, especially Snow White who is portrayed as the wicked vixen I have ever encountered in manga. Of course, she gets what she deserves in the end. If you thought Yuki-sensei's former works were controversial w/ their references to homosexuality and incest, this one tops it all w/ medieval torture, an Electra complex (the female version of the Oedipus complex), necrophelia, and sadistic children. I predict that Prince Lui will wind up w/ his attendant Wilhem b/c the homoerotic tension is too great (and it seems like his obsession w/ boobs and dead women are a cover for his real feelings). Who knows though. Yuki-sensei always surprises us w/ the end.

My brother probably has already gloated about his new Ayumi Hamasaki DVD (a gift from his Japanese friend who's visiting). Apparently, Ayumi has gotten so much plastic surgery that you can see the bones in her face when she doesn't have make-up. The past and present pictures are so drastic. It seems that BoA has also gotten plastic surgery. I've realized that it only seems like Americans get more cosmetic surgery b/c it's so publicized and often over-the-top (can we say Pam Anderson?). A TON of Asian pop stars and actresses have gotten work done, and it's accepted. I mean, my own mother has recommended that I get the infamous double eyelid surgery to make my eyes look bigger. It's so common that even my aunt's gotten it. Double eyelid surgery is not like breast implants here; people don't make a big deal about it. Now I feel like Asians are more obsessed w/ beauty b/c practically all the female celebrities have tiny figures and flawless faces. We just don't notice it as much b/c their make-up and plastic surgery isn't done to make them look fake.
Sometimes I wonder how far I'll go to achieve the perfect look. I'm always getting heckled by my mom about my eyes, crooked teeth, and weight/lack of a waist. It's like the book by supermodel Janice Dickinson, Everything About Me Is Fake...and I'm Perfect. However, I have to ask myself: would I suddenly be satisfied w/ myself w/ just a physical change?

Random quote of the day: "I can't believe you! Lech! Pervert! You're a walking sexual harassment case!" - (I just had to include the entire speech bubble ^_~) Idike to Prince Lui in Ludwig Kakumei by Kaori Yuki
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Wednesday, July 27, 2005

   another Full Moon fanfic update
Listening to: "Ageha" - w~inds

For the past 2 days, I've been really antsy b/c I had this really good idea for "Past Regrets and Future Hopes," my Full Moon wo Sagashite fanfic collection. Anyway, I spent all of last night writing it, and this morning I've put it up. How I got inspired was kind of backwards when you think about what song-fic is. I had just wanted to write the story and was trying to think of a title when suddenly, Hikaru Utada's "First Love" came on. I found translations to the lyrics and thought this would be a perfect fit to my story. See for yourself Just a side note, I've finally written something a little more upbeat (at least compared to the previous 3 chapters).

It's a shame that fanfiction writing cannot be an occupation and that I don't work as hard on my original stories. I guess fanfics are easier to write b/c the characters and plot are already there. For someone who likes doing character-centered pieces, I don't have to worry about motives and background stories. I've been told that I have a knack for getting inside the character's head, but I think that's only b/c I can relate to them. Still this gives me a reason not to hate my sensitive and sympathetic nature.

Random quote of the day: "I'm putting you on a diet." - (This is so dirty, but funny, if you know the context it was in.) Kaikan Phrase by Shinjo Mayu (forgot which volume...I was reading it in Barnes and Noble).
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