Words Of Wisdom

Godzilla 2014 2nd Trailer

Do College Age Children Understand Reality

As many people throughout the South was hit by a major snow storm a college basketball game between Duke University and UNC was postponed to a later date.

Many UNC students took to the internet to attack the Duke coach for cancelling the game. Even though it was the ACC officials with the coaches from both Universities that concluded that the severity of the storm was the main reason for postponing the game.

UNC backetball player Marcus Paige stated to the local media that the snowstorm wasn't horrible as all. Even though one person in the Raleigh area died and many were injured. Below is the article and link to this story plus news coverage after the snow and ice had stopped.

WRAL news story link

Disappointed students who walked away without seeing the Battle of the Blues last Wednesday may disagree, but the North Carolina Tar Heels said the snowstorm wasn’t a horrible thing.

“A week off didn’t hurt us,” said James Michael McAdoo. “The game being cancelled definitely gave us time to rest and catch up with schoolwork. And off course it gave us time to be kids and play in the snow.”

And believe him, people played in the snow.

“Yes, I played in the snow, why wouldn’t I?” McAdoo said. “I didn’t go sledding because the coach wouldn’t like to hear ‘McAdoo out for the season.’”

“We went outside and threw snowballs around with the students on campus. It was a good time,” Marcus Paige said. “I didn’t think it could snow that much down here. I’m from the Midwest so I’ve seen this much snow. For me it’s no problem but I didn’t think North Carolina was capable of getting this much snow.”

The cold of that winter blast provided Carolina a chance to keep heating up, adding two more wins since the postponed game against Duke. Carolina bolstered its battle of the blues resume and has now won seven straight games.

“It gives us a little more confidence,” said Marcus Paige. “The game against Pittsburgh was a really big game for us. We taught we really got better that game.”

“You don’t have to psych yourself up, if you do, you’re not breathing,” said Coach Roy Williams. “And I know I’m alive.”

That’s for the snowstorms side effect of four games in eight days. Marcus Paige is looking at the silver lining of that storm cloud and calls this week a great preparation for next month’s ACC tournament.

Why I Hate the Power Rangers and Loving It

It took many years but I have finally come to terms with Power Rangers. Originally I regarded it as a joke and insult to the original version still being broadcasting in Japan known as Super Sentai. What made it worse for me was my two boys fell in love with the show. Forcing me to listen to countless stories about the shows episodes and toys they wanted to buy. But now I am beginning to understand it in a better light.

A little history:

Zyuden Sentai Kyoryugers

Ressha Sentai ToQger marks their entry as the 38^th Super Sentai show just starting up this February 2014. Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger has just finished there series run as the 37^th Sentai show with the traditional two Super Sentai movies shown in the movie theaters. Plus the usual specials, music CD’s and the live action stage shows. The theme of the Kyoryuger’s is dinosaurs as ToQgers are trains.

My kids became fans of the Power Rangers during the Power Rangers series call Jungle Fury. The American version of the Sentai show called Juken Sentai Gekiranger. Were as Gekirangers was set inside a martial arts school, a pizza parlor was the headquarters for Jungle Fury as the owner built their equipment in the upstairs loft in-between making pizzas for the customers.

My kids continued to watch the Power Rangers as I eventually found a few links to watch the original Japanese version with subtitles. I didn’t think my kids would like it but they ended up loving the Japanese version so much that they stopped watching Power Rangers. Their response was that Power Rangers looked stupid.

The nail in the coffin was Power Rangers RPM. A Terminator theme as the machines had taken over the world except for a small human colony. The Japanese version of Engine Sentai Go-onger theme was humans and machines from another world working together to stop an invasion into the human world.

Bandai makes all the toys for both Super Sentai and Power Rangers. We have been buying all the Japanese toys from Go-onger to the new series ToQgers.  They are larger, made of metal and stronger plastics making them well-built and more durable. These toys make the Power Ranger toys look in comparison to a McDonald’s kid’s meal toy. 

For some reason Bandai made sure every Power Ranger toy set have motorcycles. Even if no one in the show drove one.  That might change as the Kyoryugers use motorcycles that were basically comprised of two dinosaur transformers.

The current Power Ranger show is called Power Rangers Megaforce loosely based on Tensou Sentai Goseiger. In the Japanese version the Goseigers are Angels from Heaven who guard the Earth. The Power Ranger version is five teenagers chosen to fight the invading forces. The second season of Megaforce is called Power Rangers Super Megaforce based on Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger.

In the Japanese movie Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle, all the Super Sentai unites to stop the invading army called Zangyack. They lose all their powers which are transformed into keys that a group of space pirates called Gokaigers find and use them for their purpose.

Saban is skipping over Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters to make Power Rangers Dino Charge based on the Sentai show Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger. In Kyoryugers the ones that killed the dinosaurs are unfrozen and threaten to kill the Earth as originally planned. A group of people are chosen for their bravery by the dinosaurs to stop the bad guys. The last two episodes of the series was really an emotional ride that I doubt the Power Rangers would not dare show on American TV.

Episode 37 part 1 was, in my opinion, taken from the movie called ‘Legend of the 8 Samurai’ starring Hiroyuki Sanada. An actor you may remember from the 2013 movie ‘The Wolverine’ and the Syfy show called Helix. In it eight people were chosen to protect a princess. In doing so all but one died in holding back the invading armies so the Princess could escape.

 And in Kyoryugers each one is helping the rest get into the fortress to stop it from destroying the planet. And not everyone walks away from it alive. What sets this show apart from the future Power Ranger version is that two and eventually one more of the Kyoryugers are spirits. And to fully protect the Earth they have to destroy Hell in order to keep the bad guys from resurrecting. A story line from a country that has less than 1% Christianity in it.  But will never be broadcast in a country founded on the freedom of religion.

But what helped me to begin tolerating Power Rangers was due to a 1969 movie called ‘Support Your Local Sheriff!’ staring James Garner. A Western comedy that more than inspired Mel Brooks when he made 1974 movie ‘Blazing Saddles’. But the sequel to ‘Support Your Local Sheriff’ was called ‘Support Your Local Gunfighter’. Using the same actors from the first movie and based on the 1961 Japanese movie ‘Yojimbo’.

American remakes of Japanese movies and TV shows have opened up for more people to experience Japanese entertainment and culture.  With Power Rangers my boys were able to connect to current TV shows in Japan such as Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Garo as well as many of the Japanese animation shows that are yet shown or unlikely in being shown here in America.

And as I look back on TV shows and movies that I grew up watching; many of which originated from Japan has showed me that my negative attitude towards Power Rangers is hurting more than helping. As bad as it may be, it is causing kids and adults to research more on these shows and to explore more quality entertainment outside of America. Whether it is coming from Japan or other nations has taught me that Hollywood is running dry on TV and movie ideas for American audiences.

Many shows are simply being changed in character names and language to appear as if was originally from America. But in fact Hollywood has been plagiarizing for decades with blessings of the original creators or not. Dragonball Evolution is one example. As is the DreamWorks movie ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ which is loosely based on an old Japanese cartoon called ‘Vicky the Viking’. As ‘Vic the Viking’, a German live action version, is one of the few movies to truly honor the original Japanese works. But Disney’s The Lion King plagiarized nearly frame by frame from Kimba the White Lion and still refuses to admit it.

The list goes on and on but from an old Western movie I have opened up to loving the Power Rangers for what it is. And in the process has caused my two boys to delve deep into other cultures and lifestyles. They are joining others in breaking down stereotypes and dissolving racial and bigotry thoughts and actions that many older generations still cling to. I just wish they would stop using the same opening song for every freaking Power Ranger show.

10 minutes and 30 seconds into the movie below is when Goseigers and Gokaiger meet for the first time. Just before they start fighting each other. Roll call is at the 50 minute mark.

Ressha Sentai ToQger ( last 10 minutes of the 1st episode)

Why Kit Kat's Are Popular in Japan

RocketNews24        Mirror News       Different Flavors

Japan takes customer service very seriously, something that’s easy to see when even convenience store clerks are so dedicated to their job they’ll ask if you want your hot and cold purchases bagged separately, or else build a protective barrier between them. Hospitality standards are no joke, either, as illustrated by the tasks traditional innkeepers are expected to perform, such as carrying the dishes and utensils for full-course meals into and out of guests’ rooms.

One woman recalled the impressive service she received while she was in the midst of taking college entrance exams. Many schools have their own proprietary test, which must be taken at the campus. If an applicant is taking multiple exams in the same city over a period of days, it’s often easier to simply book a hotel for the duration rather than waste precious studying time going back and forth between home and the test sites, which is just what this woman did.

The staff of her hotel picked up on the reason for her prolonged stay, and seeing how hard the young lady was working, decided to give her a couple packs of Kit Kats. Ordinarily, free candy in and of itself is something to be happy about, but there was a reason for the specific brand. The Japanese pronunciation of the popular chocolate sticks sounds similar to kitto katsu, or “I believe you will succeed.” Kit Kat are a popular good luck charm for college applicants to carry with them on test day, and the woman was moved by the sweet sentiment shown by the hoteliers.

Global Warming Experts Are Hiding Science Facts

I have heard the constant speeches about the rising oceans caused by the melting polar ice caps. Events caused by the greenhouse gasses produced by an assortment of mankind’s lifestyle, factories, cars and an army of farting cows.

As the United States takes the lead of being blamed for every form of destruction to the planet, those same people and/or groups do not acknowledge the laws and regulations the U.S. has in regards to keeping the environment clean and pure. Many if not all of those said laws and regulations that other countries like China and India do not have.

Another possible casualty of science is an upcoming program called ‘Strip The City’ on the Science Channel.  Here is a summary of the program below.

Strip The City Season 2

Episode 3: SINKING CITY – VENICE

Premieres February 12th at 10:00 PM

Sitting in a lagoon on the edge of the Adriatic Sea, Venice is made up of 118 islands, connected by over 400 bridges. More than 16 million visitors are drawn to this Italian destination each year – but the city is under siege. With rising sea level it is gradually sinking and parts of the city flood 250 times every year. How did Venice come to thrive in such an inhospitable place – and how will it survive today? This film looks beneath the city’s skin to discover the engineering wonders that allowed the city to grow.  Stunning CGI animation peels bricks and stone from its historic buildings and drains its waterways. The city’s leading engineers and geologists reveal the secrets that keep Saint Mark’s bell tower from toppling.  We join a team of divers on the first underwater inspection of the 400 year old Rialto Bridge and explore how Venice’s new flood barriers are being built.

Venice is a doomed city. As are many other cities along the Mediterranean Sea that are located on the Eurasian Tectonic plate. The Eurasian plate and the African plate have been butting head for nearly 30 million years now and have created mountain ranges such as the Alps, Caucasus, and Zagros.

Links 1 2 3 4

Expert scientist and geologist who are trained in dealing with tectonic plates are now saying that the Eurasian plate is beginning to sink beneath the African plate, creating a abduction zone between Algeria and Sicily. That means in time Sicily/Italy would be the first major landmass to fully go beneath the oceans waters as it is dragged beneath the Mediterranean waters to a slow death and burial underneath the African plate.

All the while chanting global warming activist push their countries leaders to change laws and impose major fines and multiple regulations to prevent the spread of more damage to the Earth. A planet that has continually changed and adapted to its own wobbling orbit around the sun, tectonic movements, volcanic activity, high levels of radiation at its center core and constantly changing surface weather systems as it defends itself from solar storms and meteor showers. 

Not to mention that the moon is slowly rotating away from the Earth about one centimeter a year. The moon has slowed the rotational speed of the Earth to a 24 hour cycle. Without it the Earth would wobble so greatly the day time would last for only a few hours as we see a different starry sky at night. The weather systems would be chaotic as every area of the planet would experience all four seasons in a matter of days.

An army of middle-aged over-weight men sitting in an idling car eating a Big Mac as they are lip syncing AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’ will not destroying the planet.