10 Second Anime - Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Episode 22

Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Episode 22

The Asian Alliance's plans to steal the Relic appear to fall apart. The collaborators are safe and captured, along with the main henchman. It's not over yet.

Heh.

Even the Shiba siblings know how important it is to pay attention to a character who opens his eyes, when he usually keeps them closed.

Lots of blushing going on this episode. That Fujibayashi looks like a man-eater!

Pretty smart to have two collaborators, but neither of them were very competent.

Roboto Meido... did Tatsuya chuckle at entering the robotics lab because he thinks it funny that club uses that robot as their security measure?

Mari really likes her fiance. All that tough chick exterior goes straight out the window when she's with Erika's older brother.

Omake Gif Anime - Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - Episode 9 - Shared Umbrella

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - Episode 9 - Shared Umbrella

Sakura may be excited about the shojou manga cliche of sharing an umbrella, but Nozaki is getting a bum deal.

Nozaki's neighbor also draws shojou manga, but unfortunately has a weird editor who insists on putting raccoon dogs  in every panel.

Omake Gif Anime - Sabagebu! - Episode 9 - Momoka and Kamo

Sabagebu! - Episode 9 - Momoka and Kamo

Momoka nicely pleads for "Josephine's" continued cooperation to get fancy food at a dog cafe.

Our random gag comedy show offered more random comedy gags. This time the Survival Game Club got to use the school pool, but they began to panic after they got locked in.

Weekly Ride Report - 8/25/14 - 8/27/14

Date	Route	Course	Ride Time	Total Time	Distance	Avg. Speed	Altitude	Max Altitude	Max Speed	Odometer
08/25/14	Rose Bowl Laps - Detour	Flat	00:54:50	00:57:44	16.7	18.3	594	965	28.0	33876
08/26/14	Glenoaks Blvd	Climb	00:52:10	00:58:08	13.6	15.6	921	1421	31.3	33890
08/27/14	Rose Bowl Laps - Detour	Flat	00:56:19	01:01:17	16.9	18.0	640	993	28.0	33906
		Total Time	02:43:19	Total Distance	47.2	Total Climb	2155

This was a frustrating week. The bike needed repairs, so there went the training. My shifting cable for the rear derailleur popped right underneath the brake hood. After my flat tire last week, the shifting had been horrible. I should have known something was wrong with the cable, because I couldn't get the rear mech all the way down to the smallest cog before I changed the inner tube. Before that, the shifting had been a bit mushy towards the smaller cogs, but I figured I could ride out a worn out cable until I took my break at the end of the year. That bad bump ended that idea.

I was going to bring the bike in on Wednesday anyway, because I could not adjust the cable to get any kind of consistent shifting, but on my way home from my ride, I felt a prick on my right hand. A sharp sticker was popping out of the brake hood. I wondered if I had run into a cactus at some point, but then I saw the sticker looked like a staple. Oh. It was a strand from the cable. Pieces of it were actually piercing the rubber of the brake hood. I brought the bike to the shop to replace all the cables, since they were all the same age anyway, but I didn't get the bike back until Saturday. So, I got another shortened week. Oh well. At least the bike shifts like butter now.

10 Second Anime - Locodol - Episode 9

Locodol - Episode 9

Nanako wants to know why they were chosen as locodols. Yukari gets a fever at an event. She remembers first meeting Nanako and why it was fate they became the Nagarekawa Girls.

Heh.

Oh, Nanako. Never ask for the full reason why you got any job. The harsh truth may be harsher than you're prepared for. Like being the safe choice includes not being very feminine...

I thought I was watching Rail Wars! for a couple of seconds there. Especially when Uogokoro-kun said that he wanted to protect everyone's smiles and safety.

It takes a strong fever to knock Yukari down. Thankfully Uogokoro-kun is a ゆるキャラ (yurukyara), so he's nice and soft in the head. Yui didn't escape unscathed, however.

Omake Gif Anime - Maken-ki! Two - Episode 3 - Cat Fight

Maken-ki! Two - Episode 3 - Cat Fight

You can tell who the selfish kitties are. They fight first before pouncing on their target.

Any ecchi show can have their sexy characters turn into sexy cat people, but leave it to Maken-ki! to do it when the local cats are in season.

10 Second Anime - Rail Wars! - Episode 9

Rail Wars! - Episode 9

Public Safety Crew 4, after some harrowing incidents, safely delivers the organ donation. Aoi comes to respect Takayama's goal to be a train engineer.

Geh.

 They sure have a lot of sudden showers near those railway stations.

Also, while Haruka and Aoi are still beautiful whatever they wear, those nice dresses aren't really meant for physical adventure.

10 Second Anime - Majimoji Rurumo - Episode 8

Majimoji Rurumo - Episode 8

Rurumo's "friend" Harulily comes to visit. She sees how hard Rurumo is working and that she has grown a little as a person too.

Heh.

This wasn't a typically outrageous episode, mainly because we were following clumsy Rurumo instead of Ero King Kouta. More like taking stock, to see how far Rurumo has come from the perspective of someone who knew in the Underworld.

Harulily's familiar wasn't very expressive. Did she pick this quiet cat because it reminded her of the expressionless Rurumo?

Frenemy was what we were supposed to think of Harulily when we first met her, but she's more like an exasperated friend trying to provoke a reaction out of the clumsy quiet Rurumo and got into a rut playing pranks and forgetting why she was trying to provoke Rurumo in the first place. She remembered when she saw Rurumo blush a little as she responded to Kouta and that brought out a bit of jealousy as well.

Hmm.

Harulily was a good friend after all, who cares for Rurumo. She's also surprised that Rurumo doesn't know that granting Kouta's wishes shortens his life, and with Kouta knowing this caveat for the magic tickets, she may be training for many years. That fits Rurumo's pattern since she's always been the slow one, and she's already spent several years in prison too.

When Rurumo told Harulily that she finally had an idea about the first thing she would do when she became a witch again, and that it was to thank Kouta for his help in finishing her training, I got that almost-everything-but-not-quite feeling that Japanese story telling likes to invoke. Perhaps Rurumo's story is a special case where she can become a witch and Kouta gets to see that happen. Harulily knows, just like Chiro does, that Rurumo would rather get stuck in a holding pattern instead of killing someone to achieve her goal, so all she can do is root for her to find a way to happiness. Bittersweet, tinged with regret, is where the story would normally go, but with Kouta involved, and all the strange things that happen around him, Rurumo may just find that bizarre path to the impossible.

10 Second Anime - Naruto Shippuuden - Episode 373

Naruto Shippuuden - Episode 373

The Shinobi Army attacks the trapped 10-tailed beast. Sakura shows her Tsunade level power-up, while her former classmates show their own. The new Legendary Three emerges.

Heh.

Now it's Madara's turn to make Hashirama wait. No fighting wood clones. I guess he learned how to recognize those things after he implanted Hashirama's cells into his body. Won't get fooled again!

Sakura has shown that crazy pinpoint accurate chakra strength before, but now that she has the healing mark, she can fight on the front lines, instead of holding back like a medical ninja should. She can even hit harder than she did before because she's constantly regenerating.

Hinata heard you, Kiba. Such a good girl, that Hinata.

With all three teams from the chuunin exam fighting on the same field, it felt just like that whole arc, except much more compressed. All those guys have been busy for the last 3 years too. The portrayal of the new and improved Shika-Ino-Cho combo as a giant throwing around a very dangerous yo-yo was fun to watch.

Nice to see fatherly pride from Minato as he saw the rasengan in its completed form.

Hashirama has such charisma. As soon he speaks, everyone snaps to attention. It really is no wonder that the whole ninja world followed his example with the shinobi village system.

Shino's long wind up for the huge beetle attack was nicely done.

Hey, it's that Sai guy. He appeared just in time to tell Team 7 that the battle's specific problems appear to exactly match their largest summons' abilities to solve. Oh, he didn't say that last part.

Yup, Sakura is now scarier.

Omake Gif Anime - Momo Kyun Sword - Episode 8 - Momoko and Kijigami

Momo Kyun Sword - Episode 8 - Momoko and Kijigami

Women of all ages and backgrounds like the "medicinal" effects of hot springs! Even Pheasant Gods!

A summer show still needs its Episode 8 fan service, so let's go to the hot springs that make wild claims about health benefits, such as soft skin, looking younger and increasing bust size.

10 Second Anime - Akame ga Kill! - Episode 8

Akame ga Kill! - Episode 8



Bulat and Tatsumi prevail over Esdeath's Three Beasts. Tatsumi gains his own Emperor's Tool at the cost of Bulat's life. Tatsumi's introduction to the assassin's world is over and a new chapter begins.

Geh.

The dying and the killing never stops in this show. Bulat dies in front of Tatsumi, bestowing on him his Emperor's Tool Incursio. At least his death was in the middle of a fight, instead of being shot in the back like Sheele. However, the method by Liver was still sneaky, because he got him with poison (iocane powder that he had an immunity towards?) he injected into his blood. The hint about compatibility with the Emperor's Tool and first impressions wasn't if the Tool liked you, but if you liked the Tool. With how Tatsumi thinks all the Night Raid members' Tools are cool, he might just be able to use all of them. They better not be killing Leone in two episodes, because I don't know if I'd keep watching.

If all it takes for former General Liver to become the enforcer to a very odd, sadistic woman is a boot ground in his head, a peek up her skirt, and the promise of going back to army life, I'm not so sure Bulat should have been admiring his former commander.

10 Second Anime - Sword Art Online II - Episode 8

Sword Art Online II - Episode 8



The Bullet of Bullets tournament starts, and Kirito has 3 suspects to confirm Death Gun's identity. Sinon and he witness Death Gun stun a player before taking the kill shot.

Heh.

Of the 3 Death Gun suspects, Sterben (German for "to die") and Pale Rider (Death, one of the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse, rides a pale horse) are good names, but Gunner XXX, ah, no.

I don't know why Kirito was so shocked at drinks popping out of a table, but it looks like something he can't get used to.

Omake Gif Anime - Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - Episode 8 - Rodeo

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - Episode 8 - Rodeo



This isn't Hori's first rodeo dealing with Kashima. Well, figuratively, not literally...

Kashima thinks she knows what makes Hori tick.

Omake Gif Anime - Sabagebu! - Episode 8 - Maya Loses Her Shirt

Sabagebu! - Episode 8 - Maya Loses Her Shirt



Maya's obsessed fans are very good shots. I guess I can't be too mad at them...

Even Maya loses her temper sometimes. Too bad it doesn't improve her accuracy.

Ver de la Vuelta 2014 - Brailsford Meme

Hey, there's another Grand Tour going on. pic.twitter.com/XCwcZSvzZq
— Joseph Morris (@joeschmo1of3) August 25, 2014



10 Second Anime - Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Episode 21

Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - Episode 21



The other students left off the Thesis Competition team start to make problems. Love is in the air for two couples. Or is it?

Heh.

Well, the two students the leader of the Thesis Competition was worried about became obvious about their interference. Tatsuya took over the place of the girl who was sabotaged in the Nine Schools Competition, and it's her little sister who is the collaborator trying to take revenge on Tatsuya. She even knows none of her attacks will work, because of "what he can see," but she still wants to harass him. The other student is on the Discipline Committee with Tatsuya, but was passed over by the original members. He's trying to pull rank on the assigned bodyguards, who tell him to pound sand.

Honoka is shipping Leo and Erika hard!

Weekly Ride Report - 8/20/14 - 8/23/14

Date	Route	Course	Ride Time	Total Time	Distance	Avg Speed	Altitude	Max Altitude	Max Speed	Odometer
08/20/14	Rose Bowl Laps	Flat	00:55:02	00:59:23	16.4	17.9	590	964	31.3	33801
08/21/14	Rose Bowl Ramps	Climb	00:52:28	00:57:00	15.3	17.5	712	975	31.3	33817
08/22/14	Rose Bowl Laps	Flat	00:53:01	00:56:24	16.4	18.6	588	964	28.5	33833
08/23/14	Inverness - Normandy Loop	Climb	01:45:26	01:49:12	26.5	15.1	2777	1717	36.9	33859
		Total Time	04:25:57	Total Distance	74.6	Total Climb	4667

This was a break shortened week, and after brushing the cobwebs off the first day, I quickly found my plateau. How do I know it's a fitness plateau? That Inverness-Normandy Loop I did yesterday only had a 4 second difference from last month. The rest of the year, I'll work on some cadence stuff and different positions on the bike. I'd like to get my standing cadence faster on the climbs, because right now, that stance is the slowest way I can climb a hill. Oh, and if someone can tell me what I ran over, which was truly beating the odds that my front tire missed it but I slammed my back tire on it, please let me know.





Piece of a car is my guess.

Omake Gif Anime - Barakamon - Episode 8 - Hero

Barakamon - Episode 8 - Hero



Handa Sensei can go from Hero...

10 Second Anime - Locodol - Episode 8

Locodol - Episode 8



Nanako tries to get friendly with Mirai. Mirai tries to fit in with the Nagarekawa Girls. Uogokoro-kun jiggles, fwooshes, and slouches with Mirai.

Heh.

One of Nanako's friends thinks they're already trying to replace her in the Nagarekawa Girls locodol unit. No, she's teasing, I think. She belatedly realized that short Mirai could fit inside the Uogokoro-kun costume.

10 Second Anime - Rail Wars! - Episode 8

Rail Wars! - Episode 8



Noa notices Takayama's harem. A landslide delays an organ donation. Defense Crew 4 takes the old rail line on an old rail engine.

Geh.

Even though this episode is about a landslide up in the rainy hills, this is still a Summer show that has fun at the water park.



Aoi can't seem to stop getting her clothes wet in the rain.

10 Second Anime - Majimoji Rurumo - Episode 7

Majimoji Rurumo - Episode 7



The beach episode offers fan service and laughs. The legendary swimsuit makes Rurumo bold enough to make a move on Kouta. Kouta loves motor boating.

Heh.

Of course. The Legendary Swimsuit that emboldens young maidens has to be a school swimsuit.

This episode seemed to be about nothing, but it confirmed Rurumo's feelings for Kouta, as she shoved the club president out of the way and chased after Kouta like the Terminator.

10 Second Anime - Naruto Shippuuden - Episode 372

Naruto Shippuuden - Episode 372



The Hokages arrive just in time to subdue the 10-Tail beast. Madara has to wait his turn. Sasuke returns to reform Team 7 with Naruto and Sakura.

Heh.

Squee! Minato and Naruto meet! And Naruto has to brag to Kurama about how cool his Dad is for being able to go into 9-Tail Sage Mode too!

"Hashirama!" Madara yells in excitement. "You come later," points Hashirama. "The 10-Tails needs to be stopped first," Hashirama points at the 10-Tail. Madara pouts.

Maybe Naruto should have told Sakura she was his girlfriend before he told his dad... Well, it seems father and son have the same taste in loud, tough women.

Speaking of tough women, it's about time Sakura starts showing that she was a student of one of the Legendary Three Ninjas too. Crack some heads, Sakura!

Hmm.

The big reveal this episode is finding out what Minato did with the other half of the 9-Tail's chakra when he sealed the first half into newborn Naruto. The Yellow Flash of Konoha isn't just quick at teleporting, he's quick at learning to fuse 9-Tail chakra with Sage Mode.

Because of the Third Hokage's orders, a whole generation of Konoha kids grew up not knowing that Naruto was the son of the Fourth Hokage and the previous jinchuuriki. Their parents knew, which is why they feared and shunned Naruto as he grew up, transferring that fear and hatred to their kids. But now seeing one of the guys whose head is on a mountain doing the same stuff that Naruto has been doing cements what those kids saw when Naruto defeated Pain and saved the village from destruction. They got a hint when Shikamaru's father said that the best teamwork for Sage Mode is to stay out of the way. If all the adults know what Sage Mode is like, then they knew who perfected it, and what to expect. With the kids seeing two heroes fighting the same way at the same time, it can only add to Naruto's mystique and their respect for him.

The less said about Sasuke the better. His wanting to become the next Hokage was always a pipe dream, because as Itachi told Naruto, one doesn't become the leader to be acknowledged by the village. The one who is already acknowledged by the entire village becomes the next Hokage. This is where Hashirama was wrong about Madara ever becoming Hokage, and this is what Itachi hoped Naruto could teach Sasuke before he goes down the wrong path again. The other kids have the right reaction: Sasuke becoming Hokage is a lame joke.

10 Second Anime - Akame ga Kill! - Episode 7

Akame ga Kill! - Episode 7



General Esdeath begins her operations against Night Raid. Night Raid targets her squad back. Bulat meets his former commander now working for Esdeath.

Heh.

General Esdeath wants to know passionate love... The shocked looks on the Prime Minister and the Emperor were classic! The Emperor recovered quickly, even offering his close advisor as a candidate. Hah! Besides the comedic value, the little exchange shows the emperor is more than a puppet for the Prime Minister.

Aw. Akame has a soft gooey center when it comes to mourning Sheele. She explains it as turning on a switch to go into kill mode. This was a good humanizing moment for our kuudere assassin.

And then she goes back to strange cool girl chomping on Lubbock's hand when offered a Calorie Mate Block, er, some kind of fantasy land food bar in a wrapper.

Hey Bulat, why you gotta hit Tatsumi so many times while you're invisible?

Finds from the Grind - SchmoBike Clean Again

SchmoBike Clean Again



It's been years since I changed the color of my tires and bar tape, but with Vredestein discontinuing the Fortezza Tri-comps as progress marches on, I have to start using up my stash of tires. Yellow tires means I have to match the tape. It's in the rules!

Omake Gif Anime - Ao Haru Ride - Episode 7 - Indirect Kiss

Ao Haru Ride - Episode 7 - Indirect Kiss



If it's shoujo anime, you know somebody is going to worry about an indirect kiss. Futaba is no different.

Futaba has a wide range of expressions, especially for layers and layers of embarrassment.

10 Second Anime - Sword Art Online II - Episode 7

Sword Art Online II - Episode 7



The day after Kirito's first GGO game, the players take stock. Shino has IRL issues, while the ALO girls notice Kirito's absence.

Heh.

This is the hug-it-out episode.

Also, girls talk to each other. Gah, don't main characters know this?

Spiegel in real life doesn't like how mad Shino is with Kirito. It means she's thinking about some other guy, instead of the perma-friend-zoned beta male.

Shino pushed Kyouji away with much more authority than Sinon pushed Kirito away. The harem grows.

Kyouji also noticed Shino making a gun with her hand without freaking out. This sparks more jealousy since it seems it was because of this other dude that she's bringing the strength of Sinon back to the real world for Shino.

Sugu still knows how to tease her older brother. He needs to stop trying to look cool and strong in front of her already. She saw what he was like when he first popped out of SAO, as did his rehab nurse.

The counseling session with the nurse was good stuff. Kirito's feelings of committing evil by killing people still haven't been reconciled with his knowing that he did those things in self-defense and survival. He also tried to forget those things since his escape, which wasn't all that long ago, but now that he is mostly healed and is starting to have a normal life, it's not surprising to see these psychological traumas start to spring up. Very old-fashioned story-telling.

Hey, people still play videogames for fun!