Thursday, July 31, 2014

10 Second Anime - Majimoji Rurumo - Episode 1

Majimoji Rurumo - Episode 1

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Rurumo, a shy, clumsy witch in training, must convince Kouta to use up all his magic tickets in granting his wishes to graduate. Unbeknownst to her, using each ticket shortens Kouta's life. This magical gag comedy focuses on school life, fan service, and a bit of romance.

Heh.

This little cat black cat Chiro is going to steal the show.

Kouta flipped girls' skirts a little longer than the other guys in his class, and got the reputation of being the Ero King. I like that even though he hates that reputation because it prevents him from getting any female friends, he can't quite give up on it either because it feels nice to be recognized.

Rurumo is a really slow learner, and she doesn't think fast on her feet either. Dude wishes for panties, and she just gives him her own, even though it's against the Witch's Code to give mortals any of her belongings. She's going to need a lot of training...

Just how did Kouta get roped into the Occult Research Club anyway? Because his friends joined? They're all normal guys wanting to meet girls, so I'm confused on how they thought this club would help in that way.

Kouta can't escape his Ero King reputation because almost all his buddies from middle school followed him to high school. Even worse, the disciplinary committee leader has known him since grade school.

Why would a talking cat have a Kansai accent?

Okay, Kouta has to admit that being trusted with all the other boys' stash of porno mags has affected his attention span.

Omake Gif Anime - Sabagebu! - Episode 4 - Momoka's Mom Reloaded

Sabagebu! - Episode 4 - Momoka's Mom Reloaded

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Momoka's mom keeps all sorts of interesting things in her apron pockets.

Platy gave Momoka another kind of surprise: pushing back the Teddy Bear she won in the crane game!

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

10 Second Anime - Locodol - Episode 1

Locodol - Episode 1

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Full title "Futsū no Joshikōsei ga Locodol Yattemita," (Normal High School Girls Tried Being Local Idols) is a gag comedy about exactly that. Follow Nanako and Yukari as they promote civic events around their city.

Heh.

It's summertime, and you want to watch cute girls doing cute things? Get you some Locodol!

20 dollar swimsuit gives you 20 bucks worth of material? I don't see the problem here...

The Japanese take their local civics seriously. I never learned my hometown's anthem. I don't even know if we have an official song... These kids know the Nagarekawa song by heart already!

Omake Gif Anime - Barakamon - Episode 4 - Bubble Gum Crisis

Barakamon - Episode 4 - Bubble Gum Crisis

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Never mind the mess Hina made of her face. Praise her for blowing a bubble the size of her head!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

10 Second Anime - Akame ga Kill! - Episode 4

Akame ga Kill! - Episode 4

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Akame and Tatsumi hunt for the serial killer who uses one of the Imperial Arms. Tatsumi holds his own, but Akame finishes the kill.

Heh.

We're still in the middle of world-building, so we're still doing Big Bad of the Week. That's okay, since the target is a serial killer using one of the Imperial Arms each of the Night Raid members have. This makes for a good vehicle to explain their origins and a bit how they work.

It looks like the Emperor and the Prime Minister are ultimately responsible for the serial killer. The executioner went insane from all the new massive amount of capital punishment he had to dish out.

Akame must have a very high metabolism. She never stops eating!

Omake Gif Anime - Momo Kyun Sword - Episode 3 - Peach Pudding

Momo Kyun Sword - Episode 3 - Peach Pudding

Omake Gif Anime - Momo Kyun Sword - Episode 3 - Peach Pudding photo OmakeGifAnime-MomoKyunSword-Episode3-PeachPudding_zps7d3873fa.gif 

Momoko accidentally gets jiggly with it.


The pheasant god says not to worry so much about her boobs falling out of her outfit. Yeah, that'll calm Momoko down...

Monday, July 28, 2014

Omake Gif Anime - Sabagebu! - Episode 3 - Don't Dare Insult Momoka-sama

Sabagebu! - Episode 3 - Don't Dare Insult Momoka-sama

 photo OmakeGifAnime-Sabagebu-Episode3-DontDareInsultMomoka-sama_zps44d969c4.gif 

That dirty brat called Mistress Momoka an old lady? She deserves to die!


Momoka and the Survival Game Club had more than dirty brats to handle.

10 Second Anime - Sword Art Online II - Episode 4

Sword Art Online II - Episode 4

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Kirito enters GGO, looks like a girl, wins a bunch of money, gets a sword, and rides a motorcycle. Sinon helped.

Heh.

Kirito is already learning which rules to break in this new game. The bullet trail system is supposed to be a defensive assist, but most of the players rely on it too much. Kirito's broken rule number 1: When you see the prediction lines, it's already too late. Years spent inside a melee game with your life on the line definitely honed Kirito's reflexes and his own battle sense.

Okay, he looks like a girl, but his avatar is not actually a girl. Run away Sinon! It's a trap!

With how often he was hit on just walking around, I can understand why Kirito opted to let Sinon keep thinking he was a girl. He wasn't some big macho guy to begin with, but now he has to remember to speak more politely. Good call with not going ultra feminine with using "kashira" all the time. Using "desu" instead of "da" is good enough.

Still, it's true, Girls don't gravitate toward gun-oriented games. Freud had some things to say about that, but since his theories on psychology can, at best, be used as analogies for why people do things, let's just say women generally have different motivations for playing games, and gun-oriented shooters are geared towards more object and tool manipulation, which generally attracts men. Sinon has her own therapy related reasons for playing with guns, but she picked up the jargon awfully quick.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

10 Second Anime - Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Episode 17

Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Episode 17

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The gangsters get desperate trying to cover their bad bet. Don't make Tatsuya mad by picking on his sister. The Fairy of 1st Magic Specialty School flies to victory.

Heh.

This show is like a mystery series, except all the clues are about where the plot is going and how the main character gets out of a locked room. My bro described it perfectly: it's MacGyver set in a magic high school. From the first episode of this arc, we were presented with all the objects and scenes necessary to fill out the story. Sustained flying spell, ancient magic, human experimentation leaving an almost emotionless shell, and a magic toy that can separate into different parts. This all gets thrown at you, and you put together a story with these flying parts within the context of a tournament. All that's left is to let Tatsuya get really serious about protecting Miyuki at the gangsters' hideout.

I thought Masaki's almost lethal spell in the last episode was sabotage, but it looks like it was just the full strength setting because Tatsuya shocked the hell out of him with how close he was getting.

Nice continuity. Tatsuya has to wear a cover on his right ear when he's out and about.

Do not mess with Tatsuya's sister. Just don't.

Leave it to Mayumi to defuse the tension about Tatsuya throwing down in the Inspection Area, and also planting a plausible story to hide the details about sabotage. Although, I don't see Tatsuya getting all that bent out of shape over someone hitting on his little sister...

Erika is shipping Mikihiko and Mizuki hard. Nothing wrong with that.

Tatsuya's Original BAMFsters are just as casual with each other as he is when he's in hunter-killer mode.

Tatsuya wasn't even concerned when "Silver's" flying spell leaked out to the other schools. He already knew you need a big ball of magic stamina to use it for long periods of time, and the safety protocol on it would effectively ground anyone from using any other kind of magic. All according to plan /Aizen.

I'm glad the gangsters think killing a few hundred people for 100 million dollars is the right price. If it were yen, that would be pretty cheap on their part.

Geh.

I thought for sure Tatsuya was going to rip that guy's throat out. He does say that just about the only emotion he has left is getting angry for the sake of his sister. Makes you think that maybe he was an experiment in making a Generator that still had a personality. But they don't seem so tough compared to the crew Tatsuya used to hang out with.

Omake Gif Anime - Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - Episode 4 - True Galge Experience

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - Episode 4 - True Galge Experience

 photo OmakeGifAnime-GekkanShoujoNozaki-kun-Episode4-TrueOtomegeExperience_zpsedcc54c9.gif 

Oh, Mikorin. If you think 2D girls are that infuriating, you're a thousand years too early to talk to 3D girls.

Tour Tidbit du Jour - 7/27/2014 - Finale

With Vincenzo Nibali's Tour de France victory, he becomes only the 2nd active professional rider to win all 3 Grand Tours, following Alberto Contador. Only 6 riders in cycling history have won the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España in their careers. Contador and Nibali join legends Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi, and Jacques Anquetil.

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Tour de France 2014 - Stage 21 - Evry / Paris - 27/07/2014 - The four Jerseys of the Tour de France 2014 - Thibaut PINOT, white jersey - Vincezo NIBALI, yellow jersey - Peter SAGAN, green jersey - Rafal MAJKA, polka dot jersey © ASO/B.Bade | See more at LeTour

SchmoBlog 60,000!

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Only 3 months ago, this blog reached 50,000 unique visitors, so that's quite an improvement over the 7 months it took to reach that number from 40,000. Thanks to the new readers and commenters who liked reading my posts, and liked looking at my gifs, photos, and video. Keep coming back, and keep sharing your comments!

Weekly Ride Report - 7/21/14 - 7/26/14

Date
Route
Course
Ride Time
Total Time
Distance
Avg Speed
Altitude
Max Altitude
Max Speed
Odometer
07/21/14
Huntington Loop - CW
Rolling
00:51:40
00:56:01
15.1
17.5
737
927
34.1
33363
07/22/14
Huntington Loop - CCW
Rolling
00:52:43
00:55:46
15.2
17.3
749
927
29.1
33379
07/23/14
Huntington Loop - CW
Rolling
00:50:48
00:53:05
15.1
17.8
737
927
34.1
33394
07/24/14
Huntington Loop - CCW
Rolling
00:52:08
00:57:22
15.2
17.5
754
927
29.1
33409
07/25/14
Huntington Loop - CW
Rolling
00:51:16
00:52:53
15.1
17.7
737
927
34.1
33424
07/26/14
Inverness - Normandy Loop
Climb
01:45:22
01:47:11
26.5
15.1
2716
1716
33.1
33450
Total Time
06:03:57
Total Distance
102.2
Total Climb
6430

I ended up doing a lot more climbing than I planned on this week. The rolling loop I did has one longish climb no matter which way you go around it, but I have to climb back up home from it. It was a good way to hurt the legs before the climbing ride on Saturday, which was also a good way to earn my extra day of rest after this 3 week block. At the end of June, I was in the best form of my year so far, so this first 3 week block after a week off didn't present any new records, but a lot of the results are near the top end, giving me confidence that I have produced a new base fitness level.

I'm happy about that climbing loop on Saturday. I've climbed Inverness many times, but I decided to try a little detour on Normandy, and that was a nice little street compared to the last section of Inverness before it meets up with St. Katherine. Newly paved, much more consistent grade, and even a nice view of Altadena and Pasadena.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

10 Second Anime - Naruto Shippuuden - Episode 369

Naruto Shippuuden - Episode 369

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After the Uchiha and Senju become allies, Madara and Hashirama build their village. Madara can't forgive Tobirama for his little brother's death, and leaves the village.

Heh.

Madara can't win. Even when he helps a little girl up, she gets scared from his stern face. With how stern Tobirama was, he would have made a great 2nd Hokage.

All the other nations were copycats of Hashirama's Hidden Village allied with the feudal lord system. Even the little countries wanted a hidden village. Ninja villages are the strategic nukes of the Narutoverse.

Madara was right. If Tobirama became the next Hokage, the Uchiha clan would eventually be wiped out. Danzo inherited his stern paranoia for sure.

It looks like Madara's Susano'o was originally created to be the armor for 9-tailed beast. But Hashirama's "Sit" command still works even in the present day.

Hmm.

Madara makes an interesting point: cooperation is just a quiet form of conflict. And it still fits the Uchiha prophecy on the tablet that only opposing forces working together can bring about true happiness. Except Madara eschewed that quiet part and decided that noisy conflict would bring about the reunion of the one god. We've seen Itachi and Obito read this tablet too, and they came away reading different things into the prophecy, but at least the story of the Sage of the Six Paths' origin was same each time. The details on how to reunite the parts of the one god is where things got tricky.

One thing I'm not sure of, but I suspect, is that when the loss of a certain kind of love awakens a type of Sharingan, that Uchiha can never feel that kind of love again. Perhaps this is why Madara's friendship toward Hashirama feels forced after their truce. The loss of their friendship when they found out they were from warring clans awoke his Sharingan, and trying to get that friendship back feels like a dream to him. Itachi never lost his love for Sasuke, but he never formed another close friendship after the death of Shisui. If this is how the Sharingan works, and to make it stronger the user must obsess on that loss, no wonder the Uchiha seem cursed. This may also explain why Madara pursued the Infinite Dream plan, to regain his friendship with Hashirama. What a twisted and tragic path Madara started on.

Tour Tidbit du Jour - 7/26/2014

The last time two Frenchman stood atop the podium at the Tour was in 1984, when Laurent Fignon won over Bernard Hinault. Greg Lemond was 3rd that year. The last time any Frenchman was on the podium was 1997 when Richard Virenque placed 2nd to Jan Ullrich. This year, provided no mishaps happen on the last stage, Jean-Christophe Péraud of AG2R-La Mondiale and Thibaut Pinot of FdJ.fr will be 2nd and 3rd to winner Vincenzo Nibali of Astana.

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Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon accompany Jacques Chirac on the podium of the Tour in 1984. (Pichon/L'Equipe) | See more at Yahoo Sports French

Finds from the Grind - Boring Ride


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Just another boring Joe Morris ride, going over the same loop 3 times. Oh, that part with the 2700 feet of climbing in 26.5 miles? Never mind that part...

Friday, July 25, 2014

10 Second Anime - Rail Wars! - Episode 4

Rail Wars! - Episode 4

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Public Safety Crew 4 plays bodyguard for a popular idol promoting the rail system. Creepy fans and obsessed stalkers keep them busy. Beach and hot spring episode combined!

Heh.

I think the Station Chief would be ecstatic if Aoi and Haruka joined Noa-sama in a Railways Idol Group.

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Fan club member No. 7 should have some pull, no?

Aoi even makes sure to wrap a towel around her to give her someplace to put her baton. Otherwise, where would she put it... Oy, this is not that kind of show!

It's just a given that idols will have pushy fans and stalkers who make physical threats. What kind of society has Japan devolved into? For shame!

The T n A show continues to impress. Even Noa's manager makes a boring pantsuit very interesting.

Tour Tidbit du Jour - 7/25/2014

Of the 198 riders who started the Tour, only 164 remain after 19 stages. Most have withdrawn due to injury or illness, but two have been left behind by official rules. Alexander Porsev of Katusha finished outside of the time limit on the mountainous Stage 13 to Chamrousse. The other rider was disqualified. Jose Joaquin Rojas of Movistar was thrown out of the race on Stage 18 for sheltering too long behind his team car. The team car was also thrown out of the race, leaving Movistar only one car to manage 8 riders on tomorrow's long time trial.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Omake Gif Anime - Rokujouma no Shinryakusha - Episode 2 - The Right Card

Rokujouma no Shinryakusha - Episode 2 - The Right Card

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"Pick this one, this one, no, no, no, yes, yes, yes, no, no, no..."


Yurika may be a clumsy magical girl, but other people are interested in her charm points.

Tour Tidbit du Jour - 7/24/2014

A child makes a painting of cyclists as the pack passes by during the 16th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday. The race spans over 147.6 miles, beginning in Carcassonne and finishing in Bagneres-de-Luchon, France. Australia's Michael Rogers finished first in Tuesday's stage.

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Christophe Ena / AP | See more at NBCNews

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Omake Gif Anime - Jinsei - Episode 2 - Rino the Target

Jinsei - Episode 2 - Rino the Target

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Rino is just asking to be teased by being calm and collected all the time. And the other girls have the perfect weapon in Yuuki.

Omake Gif Anime - Free! Eternal Summer - Episode 4 - I'll Feed Your Muscles!

Free! Eternal Summer - Episode 4 - I'll Feed Your Muscles!

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You want me to perfectly feed your muscles? Very well. I accept your challenge!

Tour Tidbit du Jour - 7/23/2014

Polish rider Rafal Majka of Tinkoff-Saxo won his second stage, grabbed a bag full of mountain points to build a bigger lead over Joaquim Rodriguez, and felt so good on the last climb that he revealed to the world that he can wink with both eyes. Talented!

Tour Tidbit du Jour - 7/23/2014 photo TourTidbitduJour-7-23-2014_zps642fb78d.gif 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

10 Second Anime - Sword Art Online II - Episode 3

Sword Art Online II - Episode 3

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IRL Shino had a traumatic experience with a handgun. Kirito joins Gun Gale Online. Is Shino's friend Death Gun?

Heh.

Shino needs some real counseling for PTSD, not playing with guns in a video game.

Sucks to be her friend. Invites her into the game, and she ends up being way better than he is. He's also complaining about his agility stats being overspent. Is that really a good enough motive to start killing better players? I guess we'll find out, and whether that guy is actually Death Gun or not.

That guy Kirito is going to bring in his overpowered stats into another game? Oh well. I still like seeing him smack other players around with his crappy gear. It reminds me of the WoW episode from South Park, where the OP player killer was running around pretty much naked except for a helmet and a little dagger.

At least the Virtual Division is taking the investigation seriously, having Kirito play the game while being monitored. Of course, the nurse has to be his rehab nurse who knows every inch of his body. Eek!

Tour Tidbit du Jour - 7/22/2014

After 10 years and 200 stages of the Tour de France since his first one, Australian Mick Rogers of Tinkoff-Saxo finally won one after breaking out of the last riders' group of the big breakaway on the descent of the last climb on Stage 16.

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Monday, July 21, 2014

10 Second Anime - Akame ga Kill! - Episode 3

Akame ga Kill! - Episode 3

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Tatsumi begins to fit in with Night Raid. Partnered with Mine, he learns more about her, their weapons, the emperor, and the bad people they kill.

Heh.

Lots of exposition with Tatsumi killing people with Bulat and Mine. Night Raid appears to be special among the assassin organizations because they have Imperial Arms, which people no longer know how to make.

No hesitation in calling Bulat "aniki" versus "handsome." Better to have a big bro than have a vague relationship with uncertain boundaries, right Tatsumi?

Speaking of big bros: