K-ON!

I was finally able to track down a few episodes of K-ON! on YouTube yesterday. They weren't subtitled, so I wasn't able to understand the majority of what they were saying, but I was still able to follow along with what was happening thanks to the smattering of Japanese words I do recognize, and from the summaries I've read of the show online.

I really do hope this show makes it over here, or that I will be able to track down a fan-sub copy of the show. A-HA! I found someone on YouTube who's uploaded several subtitled episodes of the show! Yosh!

Finally, people have started posting the full version of the K-ON! opening song, so I've embeded a copy below. Enjoy.

Swine Flu Outbreak

The big news this week is the recent outbreaks of Swine Flu in the US. It apparently started in Mexico, but this isn't the first time that Swine Flu made headlines as seen in this 1970s Public Service Announcement.

Here is the statement from Dr. Richard Besser from the CDC.


Here are a couple recent news stories that have been circulating since the recent outbreak began.
CNN


CBC

And, of course, the conspiracy theorists are hard at work looking for ways to turn this event into the next 9/11.

Office Pantry

I've been trying to cut down on the amount of money I spend on lunch by eating at work. So I've gotten into the habit of shopping for microwaveable meals (usually noodle cups and soups) and crackers, and storing them in one of my desk drawers.

Here are the current contents:

Hard At Work

Jeesh, those guys are still at work on the roof at my apartment. They have moved on, for the most part, to the lower roof over the business, which is just out my kitchen window. It's still an awful racket in the morning too.
To add to the inconvenience, workers have started working on the front of the building. Last night a guy was working until around 9pm grinding out the old mortar around the brickwork. The front is where my entertainment room is, so you can understand that I was pretty miffed at all the noise while trying to watch a movie and then going online to do some gaming.

This morning there was a guy (maybe the same guy?) working new mortar into the brickwork.
Fortunately, I'm a ways removed from a lot of the other work that's going on downtown. A few blocks over, they have been tearing down buildings to make way for the new Justice Center. I think here are six blocks that were scheduled for demolition.
They have also finally torn down one house that was gutted by fire over a year ago. I've had to pass by the house on the way to work most every day, and I'm glad to see it go. Today, there was nothing more than a hole in the ground to signify where it once stood.

Fallout 3: The Pitt Review

I've been a fan of the Fallout series of games since I was introduced to them. So when Fallout 3 came out I was very excited. It was the only reason I finally broke down and bought the XBox360.

The game itself was great, but not as awesome as the originals. It was awesome in it's own way though. The wasteland vista and the ruins, were visualized in a way that was pretty disturbing. The people and the creatures that called the Capitol Wasteland home were a combination of new and familiar faces.

After spending over a hundred hours, over three play throughs, in the game I was pleased to hear that Bethesda was planning on releasing three DLC (DownLoadable Content) packs to add some more play to the game.

The first, Operation Anchorage was okay, but nothing spectacular. It did bring a few new weapons into the game, but didn't really add anything substantial.
The Pitt, however, added a substantial side-quest story line to the game in addition to new weapons and gear.

In The Pitt you are called upon to rescue the save the slaves from the radiation poisoning that will turn them into trogs (kinda like the wasteland ghouls) by stealing a cure from the leader of The Pitt. The question is, will you help the slaves or will you side with the slave master?
If this is any indication of the quality of the next DLC, Broken Steel, I'll be delighted.

I really hope that Bethesda is planning on publishing another game in the Fallout universe.

Warmer Weather

It may not look it, but it actually felt like spring today. Temps were in the mid 60s.

I took this picture on the way to get lunch at Arby's (Fish) after checking on my apartment and my cat. She is not at all amused by all the commotion that's going on atop the apartment. Neither am I.

Rude Awakening

I woke this morning to the crunching sound of books on my roof followed by the ripping sound of the roofing being torn from it's surface. Not exactly the best sounds to wake up to in the morning.

As I walked out the front door this is the image I met.

The land lord never called me today to let me know how long this work is expected to continue, but the other lawyer in his office told me that he thought it would be another two days, at least.

7 Megs of Internet Mana

I just signed up for Qwest 7Meg DSL service and expect to have it running by Friday. I did have to up my phone service to include a few bells and whistles I know I'll have little need for, but the overall price was worth it.

I'll be interested to see how my XBox360 likes the 7Meg for XBox Live gaming.

K-ON!

If there's one person I usually look too to find interesting anime before it ever leaves Japan, it's Jeff Lawson. Earlier this month in his blog Jeff mentioned a new TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) TV Anime series, K-ON! It's a series based on a manga series about a group of school girls who form a band in order to save their schools light music club. The twist is that none of the have any experience playing music instruments or reading sheet music.

It doesn't sound exciting, but the shows like this always find ways of grabbing your attention and becoming awesome shows. Be it the music, voice acting, writing, or just the art, Anime can take just about any idea and turn it into a thing of beauty. Or just milk it for money... *cough*Naruto*cough*

If, by some twist of fate, this anime series actually makes it to these shores, I'll have to remember to pick it up.

Promises of a Warm Weekend

So the station meteorologist says it's supposed to get into the mid to upper 50's this coming weekend. I very much hope that this is not one of those wishful thinking forecasts. I am so very ready to throw open the windows again and let some fresh air into the apartment.

Cricket is also wanting to be let out once again. I can't blame her. I want to drag my bike down the stairs and ride around the snowless streets and bike paths again.

Kung-Fu Clowns

Yeah, so I'm back to posting YouTube videos. Bite me :P