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Thursday, May 23, 2013 5:01PM / Members only

I kind of feel sorry for Bieber, everyone's kind of ganging up on him... Sixtheeth Chapel, that Anne Frank guestbook thing, the monkey quarantine stories.... He's definitely going through an awkward period in his career for sure.... but I can't resist a good cheap shot once in a while:

Fox News, Fair and Balanced!

While I'm on the subject of media fails and entertainers,

The other day I saw a very interesting interview by Charlie Rose with Bono. Actually increased the respect I have for Bono quite a bit. It also reminded me of this clip where one of those conservative 'attack dog' guys tries to corner Bono at an event to admit his hypocrisy on taxes:

There's one important and hilarious thing to note. That's not actually Bono, just a professional impersonator who happened to be at the same event. Oops! (they took the original video down quickly after someone pointed out that they.... Still Haven't Found What They're Looking For..... Or maybe it was Even Better Than The Real Thing! (insert other U2 song title here...)

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When the Music's Over...

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 7:26PM / Members only

Sad to hear about the passing of Door's keyboardist Ray Manzarek.

Video: http://youtu.be/B61ZUu48-58

Although the above song has a more ironically meaningful title, I'll instead link to a few of my more preferred Doors classics -

Video: http://youtu.be/JORk0MQzqoM

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JskztPPSJwY

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US Movie Review: Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Thursday, May 16, 2013 11:37AM / Members only

Watched the new Star Trek movie last Sunday (I guess it opened a week earlier here than most other countries?) I was not a fan of the first 'reboot' that much and this one is not much better…. or I guess you could say its just as bad. It's OK as an action movie that happens to take place in space. The slick sets and visual effects are pretty decent, but unfortunately, like the first one, its high on style and low on substance. (one small positive, it has LESS annoying yet superfluous lens flare than the last movie... but still more than any film needs!)

I challenge you when you get out of the theater to recite the plot in any sort of accurate fashion (without bursting out laughing at how convoluted and absurd it all is… especially the part about the torpedoes!) unfortunately it strips a lot of the humanity out of the original series plot from which it is derived.

…. and for that, the writers, director and producers deserve to be…… "buried alive!" (insert menacing echo here…)

5/10.

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Para Para never dies!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 1:54AM / Members only

Long time etchy blog readers will recall that when I lived in Japan I managed to infiltrate one of the more bizarre subcultures, the "Para Para" dance scene... For those who don't know, Para Para was a Japanese dance craze popular in the first part of the 2000's.... by the time I moved to Japan at the end of '04 it was already well on the wane, but I managed to find people who were still quite into it. I attended a lot of their parties, which were a LOT of fun, even as the scene slowly morphed into following newer electro 'trance' music more than focusing on the Para Para dancing.

As I haven't attended any events in a number of years although we did manage to find some here and there, I figured the Para Para scene must have completely died out by now (the original practitioners would all be well into their 30s by now, which in Japan means you're probably married with kids... and hopefully not still frequenting dance clubs!)

So I was surprised to find this video on YouTube tonight. Not only is a brand new Para Para video, but its from a Hong Kong based group! (so maybe Para Para is dead in Japan but staying alive here?) This being alivenotdead.com, of course I have to share!

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raf3PkVRcwU

I like that they tried to localize it a bit with the various local backdrops. I also like that they didn't even bother to try to dress in any sort of similar pattern... you have guys in suits along w/ knit cap t-shirt guy. :-P

Anyway, give them an A for effort... but still missing something from the hey day!

Video: http://youtu.be/aTBlKRzNf74

I wonder what every happened to Koriki?

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Send me to Monaco! Courtesy of #InfinitiHK 's #TripToMonaco !

Friday, May 3, 2013 5:02AM / Members only

Hey guys,

I just found out that I'm a finalist for a photo contest by Infiniti HK, the prize is a free 'dream trip' to the Monaco Grand Prix with 3 friends. I'd be totally awesome if you guys could help vote for me (and if possible, me spread the word on your social media!)

The contest prize is pretty awesome. Trip with 3 of your friends to attend the Grand Prix in Monaco courtesy of Infiniti HK!

Here's the details of the prize:

How to vote -

Go to http://monaco.infiniti.com.hk/ and vote for the entry for "Etchy McEtchy", its a shot I took of a cruise ship passing in front of IFC last month. You can vote once a day between now and May 5th!

Other ways to help -

Share this on your facebook by posting this -
https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?app_id=309437425817038&sdk=joey&u=https://www.facebook.com/infinitihk?sk=app_110757442456648&app_data

with the text "Please vote for my friend Etchy McEtchy's photo so he can take a group of us to Monaco!"

Share this on your twitter -
https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Please vote for my friend @Etchy McEtchy's Photo so he can go to the %23MonacoGrandPrix!! http://monaco.infiniti.com.hk

Share this image on your instagram:

and in the text put "Please vote for @etchymcetchy at http://monaco.infiniti.com.hk !"

(Since its a facebook promo, it won't work on Weibo unfortunately!) :-(

I totally haven't thought about who I would pick if I win I don't know any way to possible do it fairly either.... :-P

Thanks in advance!

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Ines Laimins
posted on Thursday, May 23, 2013 1:07PM [Report]

It's really a great production, see it if you can!!
Shann Larsson
posted on Saturday, May 18, 2013 4:41AM [Report]

thank you!
WUFUKO
posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:11PM [Report]

Hello friends. We need your help
WUFUKO
posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:11PM [Report]

Hello friends. We need your help
WUFUKO
posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:11PM [Report]

Hello friends. We need your help
jasmineT
posted on Monday, May 6, 2013 5:44PM [Report]

really? If I had more time, I would ask her to show me around.
jasmineT
posted on Monday, May 6, 2013 12:11AM [Report]

She appears in new SFX　drama series.
http://garo-project.jp/TV3/index.html#/top/

enjoy your Kyushu trip, Raffi,
will go to Kurume,Fukuoka, on business this week.
MUMS
posted on Monday, Apr 29, 2013 4:05PM [Report]

oh ok
MUMS
posted on Monday, Apr 29, 2013 4:05PM [Report]

oh ok
MUMS
posted on Monday, Apr 29, 2013 4:05PM [Report]

oh ok
MUMS
posted on Monday, Apr 29, 2013 4:05PM [Report]

oh ok
Buck Mok
posted on Sunday, Apr 28, 2013 2:37AM [Report]

Glad that you like it. Thanks!
Ines Laimins
posted on Monday, Apr 22, 2013 9:40PM [Report]

ok cool!! I'll take a look at your footage of the Beijing press on Man of Tai Chi!!
Vivek Mahbubani
posted on Sunday, Apr 21, 2013 1:53AM [Report]

Ahahah it's just a matter of time, someone will be googling info about you and see a caption somewhere of this comment and quote you on it and write a big psycho-analysis of your ignorance on "roller things" :P
Vivek Mahbubani
posted on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013 2:30AM [Report]

Yeah, its one of these things that don't make sense until you try it and go "ooh I get what's going on".. kind of like an intense chinese massage. While they're doing it, nothing in your brain agrees with what's going on and why you need to bear all this pain, but when you sleep well that night...you'll understand..
jiushi
posted on Monday, Apr 15, 2013 10:53PM [Report]

Thanks for your comment!
I found his photo when I was seeing a lot of places on the Internet before. I'm not so sure if that is recent photo because he looks younger !!! :-P

Yeah that's really beautiful place ! You should visit Murin-an Villa when the occasion permits. :)
Rachel P
posted on Monday, Apr 15, 2013 11:00AM [Report]

oh wow neat trick!! gonna use that!
Rachel P
posted on Saturday, Apr 13, 2013 10:46AM [Report]

HAHAHA I know right?! I'm kind of going retro by scribbling numbers on my arm before my phone batt dies :p
Rachel P
posted on Saturday, Apr 13, 2013 10:43AM [Report]

Hahaha yes #ridiculouslylongtags and #smarttags are the best!
MUMS
posted on Friday, Apr 12, 2013 3:34PM [Report]

where r you?
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