End of the Month Review: September (Day 53)

Review. September was a month of change. The weather got cold and then warmish again. I went from no job to working the fullest week possible. Some people told me they were pregnant, or rather, one did. Sewing came to a stand still. The internet went poop and then came back. Super Junior is doing SMTOWN in New York in October. There was a lot going on.

And now to pick the best music video of the ones that I posted in the last month. Thanks to a week's lack of internet, there may be less than 30 music videos to pick from. Let's see what they were.

Billie Piper - Because We Want To
Billie Piper - She Wants You
B2st/Beast - Say No
B2ST/Beast - Shock
DBSK/TVXQ - Mirotic
DBSK/TVXQ - Before U Go
Hangeng - Queen
London Boys - Harlem Desire
MBLAQ - Stay
New Kids on the Block - Step by Step
SMTOWN - Only Love
Super Junior - A-Cha
Super Junior - Don't Don
Super Junior - Marry U
Super Junior - Mr. Simple
Super Junior M - Super Girl
Super Junior T - Rokkugo
UKISS - Neverland
UV - Itaewon Freedom
ZE:A - All Day Long
ZE:A - Watch Out! (two of three versions)
2AM - I Will Love You, Even If I Die
2NE1 - I Am The Best
2NE1 - Ugly

Indeed, there are only 24. How fortuitous. There are some strong contenders here. Rokkugo, while a personal favourite, cannot win simply because I have seen it so many times. A-Cha isn't amazing enough either. Harlem Desire is best seen after watching Itaewon Freedom several times, and so cannot win. Neverland and Watch Out! may be the contenders; Neverland because of the good quality dancing, and Watch Out! because of the baby chicken dance. Both music videos, ironically, make use semi transclucent white trousers.
And the winner is... ZE:A's Watch Out!. This makes them winners two months in a row. Congrats to them.

MVOTD Other Stuff (Day 52)

First off though, I shall confess that I didn't watch the entire music video before posting it yesterday. It was Super Junior's A-Cha, and I enjoyed many parts of it. However, I had some issues too. First and most irritating of all, they made Sungmin look like Ryeowook. Sungmin is the guy my cousins and I like to call "the guy who looks like everybody else". Therefore, as soon as the stylists dyed his hair orange and gave him square bangs, BOOM, he instantly turned into a Ryeowook lookalike. Ryeowook on the other hand, is actually kind of manly now. Both he and Shindong blend in very well with the other dancers, so it is hard to spot them dancing. The dance is also a little uninspiring, but that's okay. My only other complaint was the pants with stripes down the sides. Ever since track suits adopted the stripe, I have associated the stripe with sports and decided that it does not belong on 90% of trousers...ever. Plus it makes it look like they are wearing sweat pants a little bit. Other than that issue, the costumes are pretty solid, the editing is interesting, and they are all as beautiful as they normally are. Plus, the first 15 seconds rock.

Today's music video is Before U Go by TVXQ(the two members left in it) of SMENT. Don't bother watching the whole thing (unless you like TVXQ) since it's a five minute storyline song. Just watch the first two minutes. Then you get all the butt kicking action and ridiculous fur lined suits you want without feeling that the song is too long. Featuring U-Know Yunho and Max/Changmin(sic).

The Interweb is Back (Day 51)

The end of September is approaching, and thanks to a little hiccup...whole week of no home internet, my fingers get to take a break when I right out the month's song list. I have to say that the winner of this month is not very clear. I haven't posted that many epic videos.

On another note, I am super excited that my internet works again. The only issue now is that our anti-Malware software thinks my favourite Korean drama site is out to get us. Thus, I am being blocked from going to it.

Today's music video will be A-Cha by Super Junior. I just found out about it, it being a mere two days old with two million hits. You go E.L.F.'s. I am just in the process of watching it myself. Will Ryeowook continue to become more manly? Will Heechul be in it (he went into the army on the 1st)? Answer: 15 seconds in I had a silly grin on my face, and yes Heechul's in it. So some of the outfits have weird glitter on them. So what? I have a feeling this movie will be Super Junior gold...and I've seen 23 seconds so far.

The only other news pertains to how great swing dancing is. More people should try it out. Not only do you gain confidence in your movement and social interaction (or rather, I do), but it is also a workout and you can show off afterwards to all your friends.

Expect pictures of my sewing tomorrow. That is the current plan for tomorrow's topic.

I Miss The Internet

Last Tuesday my internet ceased to function. It is now Monday evening...er, night. Tomorrow the phone cord repairman is supposed to come and repair it. I don't believe that he will. I think that they'll show up, see that no one is home, and leave, making us wait another week before we can have functional phone or internet. This is probably a pessimistic view point, but so it is. I have watched a lot of Stargate SG-1and gone outside a lot more since the incident though. It really helps that we've had great weather. However, I can't help but feel quite bored at home, since the books I'm currently reading are depressing and we only have one television channel. There is only so much sewing one can do in a day. On the positive side, no internet may or may not mean taking more vitamin C.

Today's music video is Mirotic by DBSK/TVXQ of SMENT. I picked this song because I couldn't think of any others off the top of my head, plus I don't know how to get two tabs on the explorer I'm currently using at my friends house. She will laugh at me later. Mirotic's plot is that some lady captured DBSK and was torturing them, but they escaped and made her explode. I'm not sure what the song is about. Enjoy.

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Recovering Yesterday (Day 49)

I am feeling grumpy. Unreasonably so I think. Yesterday it rained. It rained and rained and rained...and rained and then rained somemore. Usually this is no biggie. It rains here. It happens. However, yesterday, that rain may or may not have caused both my household internet and telephone to cease functioning. Last night it was fine that they didn't work. It was just the storm. This morning however, it was another story. It was very alienating and lonely to be without a fast way to contact people, not to mention that I got called in to work today (I knew because of the time they called) but lost a day of employment because I couldn't hear a thing they said. And then there were the questions of 'did this affect anyone else' and 'is the phone company working on it'? Therefore, today, I spent the time refreshing my memory on Stargate SG-1 and working on a music video. I currently sit in my neighbour's house typing away, because their internet works.

What this lack of internet means for you.
No blog for a week. Take it as you will.

The music video for today is Super Junior's Don't Don. This is partly because I was frazzled and frustrated but a moment ago, and partly because of my deep affection for Super Junior. Don't Don is a serious song about the ills that love of money creates...or something. Hankyung looks like a manga character in it. The best parts, other than Hankyung and Henry being in it, are that everyone looks so badass (I can't think of any synonyms or else I'd have used them). Enjoy.

Review of El Cid (Day 48)

Unfortunately, the only things I have watched recently are Super Junior music videos and the first part of El Cid, that 1961 classic. So, I will give my impression of the movie thus far.

Good things: Romantic face squishing, better ethnic casting than West Side Story, passionate characters, nice costumes.

Bad things: Pacing, characterization, pacing, lack of use of the antagonist, pacing, unlikable protagonists, pacing.

I give El Cid 2.5 out of 5. I wouldn't suggest it to anyone, but it is still a well crafted movie.

Today's music video is All Day Long by ZE:A, and yes I am on a ZE:A kick. They rock. Since All Day Long had fighting in it, I thought it was appropriate for the movie, which had lots of fighting. Lots of slow fighting.

How to Get Your First Super Junior CD (Day 47)

Exactly as the title says, this is a functional way to get your first Super Junior CD. Atleast, I should say, it has worked once thus far by total and complete accident.

The Steps:
1) Like Super Junior
2) Convince someone to develop a crush on you. This can be a bit tricky as you are not supposed to know that they have a crush on you.
3) Have them take a road trip where they house veeeerrrrry close to a cities' China Town/Asian area. A lot of cities only have China Towns and do not have areas that represent South Korea, Japan, etc.
4) They need to be gift givers for this, but have them go to that area and look around for a present for you. They should know already that you are a Suju fan, so they will look for Super Junior stuff.
5) Have them purchase said Super Junior CD and give it to you.

For this one, unlike my 'How To Be Pretentious' lessons, the first step is the only easy step. The rest are really quite hit and miss. An easier and more sure path would be to buy one online or on iTunes, but that way isn't as interesting.

Today's music video, in keeping with the Super Junior theme, is Super Junior-M's Super Girl. This one has Hankyung, who is a very attractive man. It is an addicting song.

BBB - Bush, Boys, Beast (Day 46)

Do you ever just feel wrong? As if there was something you were supposed to be doing, or a way you were supposed to act different? I felt like that walking in my backyard bush today. It's something you can't place, but it makes you feel bad, because you are not where you should be. But then, the feeling doesn't answer where you should be either. It is confusing.
                                                                                                                                                                   

Update on the boy situation. I hung out with the guy I talked about several days ago recently and have decided some things. First, in my head, rationally, I don't like him. He doesn't want children. I want four or more. He likes playing musical instruments. I do not. He is embarrassed of being a nerd and makes it sounds like he doesn't like nerds or nerd things. Meanwhile he knows about all the current nerd things. I am very aware of my nerdhood and wear it almost proudly, yet I am clearly lacking in some nerd aspects. Despite how my head feels, in my heart, I still treat him like I like him. I get all blushy and can't look at his face. However, I think this is latent attraction from when I did like him. It's not current like of him. Now all there is to do is get used to treating him like all the other guys I'm not attracted to. I'm not saying that I am closing all the possibilities, but for now, that is where it's at.
                                                                                                                                                                  

Today's music video is B2ST/Beast's Shock. Beast is with Cube Entertainment, a company many would consider the fourth largest in the recording/entertainment industry. Shock is a pretty average music video.In it I like the way the cords are "attacking" Yeseob. It's both cool and creepy at the same time. I also appreciate that due to the low lighting, the outfits look almost understated, despite the fact that a lot of them are bejeweled.

Pretty and NKOB (Day 44)

What was I going to write about today? I was going to write about my dream last night where I and my younger brother were actually Steve Nash's kids but he and mother got divorced and she got remarried and never told us. Other than the obvious logical flaws in this dream, I think that Steve Nash (famous Basketball player) is not old enough to be able to have sired me. And that was to be the topic. Instead, the topic is New Kids On The Block. That is because I just listened to them whilst dancing in a toque. I got hot headed, as in my head was hot, and I thought that it was a fun pun.

New Kids On The Block. They were, according to my older brothers, the first boyband. They had wonderful gymnastic dance moves, and did lots of flips on stage. They also sing the wonderful song Step By Step. I was just a babe when this song came out, but it has inspired me to pursue an interest in boybands for years after NKOB broke up and later got reunited in order to tour with the Back Street Boys. Peace!

                                                                                                                                                             
I wrote this yesterday, after once again finding a topic to write about that I missed during that day's blog, and maybe it should be left for another day, but here it is. I find this song to be a sad song, with a twist at the end.

My favourite female K-pop stars are 2NE1 and they recently came out with the song Ugly. This is a song about how they think they're ugly and they want to be pretty. It is also about effort and trying for the things you want. To me, this song is powerful in that the ladies of 2NE1 are saying they are ugly. To me, while they may not be the top 10% of prettyness in South Korea, they are all beautiful ladies. Bom is elegant, CL is confident, Dara can wear pretty much anything, and Minzy is still growing up. I like their style, that they are "real", and that they seem to get along with each other. Character is a large part of beauty. While some of them may not be the ideal Korean body type because they are not twigs, I think they are the truly pretty ones, because they are relatable, confident, and role model material (except when they vandalize stuff in music videos).

If they think they're not pretty, what does that say about the rest of us and how we feel about ourselves? How are our views of ourselves wrong in that respect?

People Parts (Day 44)

This kind of turned into verbal diahrrea again. Apologies.
                                                                                                                                                                    

Today I write about value. It's something everybody has. Humans are intrinsically valuable. Even those stylists who failed on that Super Junior photoshoot have value. Or rather, even creeps have value. You probably still want to avoid them though. I sure do. And as far as the stylists go, I hope they got a second chance to do something well. As people with value, we should treat each other respectfully and patiently, even though it's really quite hard.
                                                                                                                                                                   

I'm not sure where this is going, but last Christmas, someone said some very dehumanizing things to me. They made me feel unclean, and it took a good friend to help me deal with that. Seeing this person who tried to dehumanize me will always be an awkward and stressful thing. I am still paranoid of white trucks and of meeting this person in the street. But my pastor made a good point in church the other week about forgiveness. I have to forgive this person. Jesus took all my sin, all my junk, all of them, and forgave me. So why is it so hard to forgive this fellow for this one wrong thing he did to me? I should be able to do it. I probably won't be able to forgive him on my own strength, but with God's help it is possible, in time. And I think, once I have forgiven him, my heart will be calmer, and his potential presence with bother me less. I still will not trust him or respect him, but atleast I will have forgiven him and let my heart breathe better. And heart calmness means less stress, atleast for me. I look forward to it, and kind of fear it at the same time.
                                                                                                                                                                   

Yesterday's music video was Itaewon Freedom by UV. It turns out, Itaewon Freedom is based on 80's band, the London Boys' song Harlem Desire. Harlem Desire is just as good, if not better than Itaewon Freedom, just for it's 80's wondercheese. Check it out.

The Day Where I Complain About The Word "Shambling" (Day 43)

Let's make this short and sweet.
1) The DM (Dungeon Master) in one of my D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) groups loves to use the word "shambling".
2) He overuses it, using it on zombies, wolves, orcs, etc.
3) He uses it multiple times per encounter (fight), maybe even for 90% of enemy movement.
4) Shambling is only appropriate for zombies, and not other types of enemy creatures.
5) Shambling is not a real word.
6) The word he is looking for is ambling.

Now you cannot see how much it truly bothers me, and the points were short. Ta da! Goal of shortness achieved.
Today's "feel-good music video of the day" is Itaewon Freedom by UV (J.Y. Park and friends) from the company JYP Entertainment. It is especially feel-good today, as it is the third cold cloudy day here in a row. I hope you enjoy 80's cheese.

Side note: J.Y. Park seems like an amazing boss to have. It is not every boss who would do ridiculous music videos and self-embarrassment.

Mind Overhaul (Day 42)

My mind is both full and empty. It is pumping out lots of tiny thoughts, but those thoughts amount to nothing because there is no one coherent thought. Thus the sum is less than the total of the parts. And why is it like that? I will blame it on a guy. A guy who once upon a time I had a crush on. The crush that keeps on going, even though a lot of it's reactions have changed, changed so much it might not be called a crush anymore. He talked to be today, and once again I am wondering if I actually like him, and does he like me like my friends think, and if I do like him, why don't I find him physically attractive, and will we be like my older sibling and his wife who liked each other for nine years before dating and getting married, etc., etc. The only thing I do know is that he appreciates me enough to initiate contact, and he enjoys watching the cheesiest horror movies ever (which are indeed the scariest).

At the same time as all of this, I have been wanting to do a review of Super Junior's Mr. Simple photoshoot, Version A. I would call it one of the most botched photoshoots they have ever done. Botched not because they didn't pose well, or work well with what they were given, but because what they were given was so...wrong. The wrong colours, the wrong emphasis, the wrong clothes, and the wrong underpants. This is probably an appropriate time for an example.

See the lime green underpants matched with lime green sports socks and lime green sneakers? Or the guy with the two jackets on (Leeteuk). What you can't see is that those are not pants. He is wearing patterned nylons over briefs. And then there are the boas held over the yellow bicycle shorts which somehow look like fantastic peacock pants from far away. Or the way almost every pair of pants in the photoshoot both emphasized the crotch and didn't match the shirt. They, Super Junior, did a really good job considering all of this. So the summary is: Super Junior good, stylists bad. In my narrative of what happened, the stylists were down two pair of pants so they were like, "Just pose in your underpants", and Leeteuk was like "Umm.....I'm not comfortable with that", so they scrounged up some nylons for him. Siwon on the other hand, decided to give it a try, and now his crotch is printed on who knows how many fan t-shirts worldwide. And that is the photoshoot for Mr.Simple, Version A.

In accordance with the topic, today's music video is Mr. Simple by Super Junior of S.M. Entertainment. I already used it, but it seems appropriate. Be warned, the first 30 seconds have nothing to do with the song. Enjoy! 

Monday Review. Review of What? (Day 41)

Yesterday night I watched a wonderful ZE:A music video. It was shot in only one location (a cheesy cruise-esq scene with waves and a boat), and the guys wore sailing outfits. They danced around while smiling. I was convinced it was wonder-cheese in the first 30 seconds. Turns out that that was not the official version. the official version is even better, and has the lead female character from You're Beautiful, the show that introduced me to Super Junior. The song is called Watch Out!!. It has funny chicken/airplane dance moves and the cutest hipster dufus glasses you ere did see. Plus, there is a shirt grabbing scene (very reminiscent of David Bisbal). In addition, there is also a version where they are dressed in animal pajamas (see below). There's even a Piccacho(sic). It give it a 4 out of 5. Or rather, I give ZE:A a 4.5 for being amazing.

Sunday's Pretentious Lessons Continue (Day 40)

Some things.

1) Yesterday I wrote that the only difference between myself and a 13 year old girl was that I had a college education. Yesterday I also met a 13 year old who proved that statement. Why was she so comfortable chilling with adults? And she didn't like pop music? I think this young person will grow up to be cool, but right now she's just making me feel immature.

2) This summer I have been inspired in church to write about certain topics in this blog, and then backed out of them, because I don't like looking like a hypocrite. I don't want people to hate me, and I have an irrational fear that being spiritual is one of those things that makes people hate you. I have since forgotten said topics, but I shall try to post them when I feel they are pertinent.

3) How To Be Pretentious
Today's lesson is about how to drink hot beverages. First remember the all important pinky. It should stick our when you hold a mug or tea cup. So hold it out. Practice this for five minutes a day. It has to look natural when you pick up a mug and your pinky sticks out. Second, if you are drinking tea, you might have a tea cup. These come with saucers. The saucer should leave the table with the tea cup, aka. you hold the saucer, and then take the tea cup with your other hand, pinky outstretched, in order to drink. There should never be more than a foot between the tea cup and the saucer. Practice this as well. You should be natural at being hoity toity, otherwise it is not worth bothering. Then, if people ask why you are being hoity toity, you can condescend them and tell them that this is the proper way to drink tea/coffee.

4) Feel Good Music Video of the Day
Today's video is Billie Piper's She Wants You. This music video has two different versions, each a fabulous time. However, I personally think the dance version is better.

Verbal Diarrhea Time (Day 39)

Actually, verbal diarrhea time is just about every day, so thank you readers for putting up with me.

Today, like most days, I'll write first and come up with a better topic later. Last night I had a dream. Myself and another person, most likely my cousin, were hanging out, when who showed up but Leeteuk from Super Junior. The three of us got onto a swinging bridge, and then I started to tell him about my dream to go to a Super Junior concert before the year is out.(Aka. he goes into the army). Even in my dream that was embarrassing. It was embarrassing to have a life dream of seeing a concert instead of something cool like build a rocket ship or become a high powered business woman. Then Leeteuk jumped off the bridge, not replying to my lame admission, and into the library below. Why was there a library? Who knows. Anyway, I traipsed down there, looked at some books, and then woke up. And what do I remember from it? The embarrassment. From this I have learnt not to admit your dreams to people who are directly related to them, because you will scare them off. I have also learnt that the only difference between myself and a 13 year old girl is a college education. Sigh.

Random notes:
-Most libraries in my dreams are a version of my elementary school library.
-Yesterday I sewed half of my hockey rink blanket top together. Yay! It looks like a hockey rink.

Today's music video is Marry U by Super Junior, mostly because I don't have much to say about it.

I remembered a better topic, and then thought I should replace the dream talk with this new topic, but I want someone with red hair to read it, so maybe I'll edit this later...

Yesterday we had guests over. Yesterday Dad went through our freezer. Our large deep freezer. Now, if you had any questions as to whether or not vegetables existed 30 years ago, there is proof that they existed. Dad went through our deep freezer, found peppers from 1989, and brought them out...to SHOW to our GUESTS...!!! And not just that.

Dad: "Hey look at this. I wonder what it is. It's from '89 as well".

Mom: "It looks like carrots. Shredded carrots."

Dad: "Yes, it does. It must be carrots."

Guests: They are too agog to say anything.

This was followed by Dad showing the guests chokecherries from '79, which it should be noted, looked fresh. Does this mean that chokecherries, like McDonalds' fries, are not good to eat? Or, the ultimate question, how did those stay in our freezer with their labels on for sooooo long?

The Movies of the Future (Day 38)

I am looking forward to two movies which are totally and completely unrelated.

The first is Attack The Block, which is about South London thugs fighting off an alien invasion of their area. I read the review of it in the newspaper and was like, "Yeah!!! An alien movie where gangsta's save the day by fighting off the aliens. It'll be so Step Up, but instead of a dance challenge, it'll be aliens. Yeah!!!". I also expected it to be in all the normal theatres since it was a review featured in the newspaper. False. It turns out that it is showing at one theatre (downtown) every night at 9:15, when it is dark. I don't really have the expendable income to even drive there, let alone pay for parking, plus it will be all scary at night. So...maybe I will wait for it to come out on DVD. I know Death of a President did, so there's no reason Attack the Block shouldn't as well.

The second movie I am looking forward to is My Kingdom. I don't know anything about the plot, and I don't know the language (Mandorin) so I am hoping that there are subtitles (there probably will be). It is coming out in theatres in Mainland China on September 9th, which is today. But why do I want to see it? What is so great about this movie that I know so little about? Well, it is because I am letting my teenageness (although I am not a teenager) to decide this for me. My beloved Hankyung (Hangeng) is in it, and I want to see what he is up to. I want to see his beautiful face and hear his voice and know that he isn't being all depressed like he seemed when he left Super Junior. I want to see him doing well and being cute (although he is just naturally cute, so that isn't hard).     

Those are the two movies I want to see, two harder to find and actually plan to see movies. Sometimes I ask myself why I don't redevelop my North American tastes so that things will be easier to find or people easier to talk to. Then the other half of me tells me that I'm North American enough and I should develop my world knowledge.
                                                                                                                                                                    
Today's music video (which is mildly funny) is Queen by Hangeng. They do the robot...alot. And Hangeng does the robot in a giant bird cage. Then they put on funny outfits and lipstick that is too pale and do more of the robot. As far as Hangeng music videos goes, this one is light and breezy and kind of funny. And, even though he's trying to look cool, there are still those adorable moments of awkwardness.

Day 37: Need to Rename The Titles/When You're Feeling Down

It's hard on a person to have no social status in your area, especially if you are not having a fun time. And, by not having a fun time, I mean things are not going well for you.

For myself, I used to work at a college, and there I felt normal. I had an education, similar or less than everyone else. No one expected me to be in a relationship. I played foosball with the IT guys. It was chill. Now that I don't work there anymore, my social norm has changed and I don't feel valued like I used to. Now my education is worthless as far as social status, and not being in a relationship means that I'm lacking somehow. Also, I feel worthless because I don't have a job, even though I keep busy sewing quilts and have tried my hand at the farmer's market. Now having money (no matter the job that procures it), and relational status matter more than being interesting or having an education. Now my life seems directionless. I don't like these societal norms.

Also, how do I stop feeling arrogant about knowing stuff? I know that I don't know everything. In fact, I don't know alot, but I feel so self-important and knowledgeable when talking about world/local issues with certain friends. How do I change this so that I can get to actual learning and bettering myself? If I focus on that, will I stop worrying about fitting in with my area's social expectations? Can I become a better person?

On the positive side, things are going okay for me. I didn't recently have my heart broken or my purse stolen. No awkard young man is confessing their love for me. My car does work. It has gas in the tank. I still have money in the bank...ish. I'm enjoying the television shows I'm currently watching, and some of the books that I'm currently reading. My sewing skills are expanding, and I just made a hairthing that says "I love you " in Hangul (Korean). I also am enjoying the lovely weather outside, the wonderful fashion book I read today, and the wonderful food that I get to eat. I am blessed in many ways, even as I ponder on how it sucks to have little to no social status. Maybe it is a good thing to think about these things once in awhile, to keep the dark thoughts of failure balanced and at bay. I sure feel alot better for it.
                                                                                                                                                                 
And now for the music video.  It should be Itaewon Freedom by "UV" of J.Y.P.Entertainment, but no, it will be I Am The Best by 2NE1. Essentially, they say "I am the best/you are the best" over and over again. I don't actually like this song, but the outfits and sets rock, as they usually do for 2NE1. I am a big fan of a lot of their fashion, or rather aspects of it, like CL's red jacket in Can't Nobody. Other style highlights include chainmail hood, lego vest, huge braids/dreads, hair that defies gravity, and lots of non-skanky outfits. It can also be noted that the youngest member of 2NE1 is younger than the Bieb's (Justin Bieber) while the oldest is older than myself (somewhere near 27). Can you spot which one is which?

Day 36: Hockey

I wrote before that Canadians love hockey, and I think that it is true. Where I live, the Winnipeg Jets are being reborn, and I get to hear about it weekly in the newspaper. Just yesterday the new jerseys came out. I read the article about it, even though I "don't like hockey". The jerseys look okay, if a bit awkward.

Winnipeg went crazy over the Jets returning after 16 years, even though it wasn't even the Jets returning. It was us buying the Atlanta Thrashers, a friend's favourite team (she who also "doesn't like hockey"). When we bought Atlanta's team, people were partying in the streets, or rather, major street intersections. When they went on sale, the season tickets for the next three years sold out in under six minutes. Whenever there is an article related to the Jets in the newspaper, it is featured on the front page. And the team hasn't even played a game yet. I wonder how it will go. They may play well, and they may play poorly, but I can be sure that their efforts will be splashed across our local news excessively for the next year. And strangely, I don't mind very much. This must be hockey love.

Today's music video, although not a happy campy video, does feature hockey, which is what I just rambled about and is thus plot related. The song name is actually in Hangul (Korean letters) but in English it is something like I Will Love You Even If I Die or Even If I Die, I Will Love You. It is by 2AM, a four member ballady group. Their most famous member (to me) is Jo Kwon, because he does this funny dance on every variety tv show he's on. He is so skinny and his dance so goofy.

Day 35: Slow Like Dial-Up

For some reason (I couldn't think up a good topic to write about) I waited to blog today until the internet was super-de-dooper-extra-super slow. So slow that I was able to make stove-top hot chocolate while waiting for pages to load. This slowness is reminiscent of dial-up. Except dial-up was faster back in the day due to smaller page/file sizes. The internet here, tonight, is in fact so slow, I tried to load a Youtube video and it sat at zero seconds for over five minutes. I'm not sure why Blogger would work so well (almost normal speed) on such a night, but it does. Good for it. Today was also a slow day as about the only thing that got done was me making hash marks (those lines on American football fields) for a blanket. I suppose that is actually relaxing.

Today's "feel-good music video of the day" is Rokkugo by Super Junior-T of SMENT. I really enjoy this music video. Heechul dresses up as a woman and gets hit on by Leetuek. Eunhyuk and Shindong fight in school. There are random animals and dancing watermelon. They wear sparkly suit jackets. There is also a less good Japanese version of this song if you are so inclined. Unfortunately, the official official video doesn't come up when searched for, so you can now see how ridiculous this song is with english subs? Maybe. Maybe not. Try it out.

Day 34: Singing in the Rain

Sing in the Rain has nothing to do with today's topic.

Do you ever feel like you shouldn't do something, but do it anyway because it's what you were planning on doing? Or the other option: feel like you shouldn't do something, analyze why, not figure out any reason why not, and not do it? I do both. That's why today I am not reviewing MBLAQ's Oh Yeah.

Also, have you ever witnessed someone playing Knock Knock Ginger on you? Because I just did. I opened the front door instead of the side door when I heard the doorbell and there was a tween speeding away down the driveway on his bicycle, heading to meet his buddies who were hiding behind our fir tree. Why children? Why? Do something constructive with your time, like building a fort or something.

There's no review today so straight to the music video. Today's is Say No/Take Care of My Girlfriend by B2ST/Beast. This song is the original reason that I like Beast. It sounds romantic, plus has randomly floating lightbulbs. This is also where two Beast members look their most like G.Dragon and T.O.P. from Big Bang, being all gangstafied and what not.  

Day 33: How To Be Pretentious Part "3"

Being pretentious is all about knowing everything and having definitive opinions that no one can shake. If your favourite automobile oil is by Motomaster, then you, in your pretentiousness, stick to your guns and cannot be swayed. You also have several reasons why it is the best, all of which are fantastic reasons. If you can argue confidently enough, having logical reasons won't even matter. So this week, start deciding what you like and remember that you cannot be swayed. Also remember that you know everything. If you feel the desire to stick your nose and chin in the air because of this, do so. That lets everyone know that you know everything.

Today's "feel-good music video of the day" is Billie Piper's Because We Want To, by Emimusic. Billie Piper had a pop career full of dancing and singing and then she acted on Doctor Who. Having seen her first in Doctor Who, this music video was kind of a shock to me. Watch the whole thing. It is worth it.

Day 32: The Realities Of Aging

One of the realities of aging is that you start to act like your parents. I notice myself doing this just last night, as I bragged about how cool my younger brother to my friends while he was there. In normal circumstances, this would be Dad bragging about his garden to dinner guests, but in this situation it was me. But it wasn't just me either. My younger brother started in on this too (bragging about other stuff). Later, after we left, I analyzed what had happened and mentally kicked myself. The bragging in social situations thing is something that annoys me. I don't want to be doing it too. I shall have to think on how to change this behaviour.

Today's song relates to parents and is Only Love by SMTown. SMTown is what happens when all the SMENT artists get together and sing. Only Love has all the handsome Super Junior guys, TVXQ guys, and the beautfiul BOA, as well as a bunch of other people. Here is it. You may have to crank up the volume.

Since I was originally going to put an MBLAQ song on, here it is as well. MBLAQ's Stay. MBLAQ is with JTune Camp because they all got chosen by (Bi) Rain who is in theory the coolest guy in South Korea. All the celebrities treat him that way. So that makes them chosen by the coolest guy in S. Korea. Their music videos are often lame, but Stay was promising since there is a guy wearing an animal pelt on his back. It is also an enjoyable song. I have the album and so would know that sort of thing. Enjoy.

Day 31: How Much Wood Could a Woodchuck Chuck If...

a woodchuck could Chuck Norris. Answer: Dead woodchuck. I feel like something important and interesting to write about will come up later today. Also, I just sharpied my sweater to cover up a bleach stain.

Today on Youtube, U-KISS was a suggestion in the Music category. Since I check out K-pop stuff whenever it shows up on Youtube's general suggestions, today is a review of said video. It's called Neverland. I don't know about you, but I like boyband's for their dancing, outfits, and songs. U-KISS really pulls it out for this video. It has it all.

First off, U-KISS's silhuettes reminded me of aliens. Why? Too much sci fi? It is at that point revealed that really they are just abnormally skinny men in chainmail muscle shirts from the 90's (who didn't forget their chainmail fringes). And... is that a chainmail tassle? Why yes it is. Once one has absorbed all this information they then decide to sing and dance in a freezer. If I were a boyband, that is naturally where I would dance as well. Plus I would fall in the fake snow too because it is so slippery. The only thing needed now is to dance in water while wearing transparent shirts and white trousers. Oh wait, they have that. Whoever directed this video was smart. I have to say that this music video rocks. It has all the desired cheese and ridiculousness that is pop, plus good quality dancing. I give it 4.9 stars out of 5.

Day 30: It's Been A Month.

There are too many things to write about today, so this will be a bit long.

1) If you are the only one who likes something, do you like it harder to make up for others who don't like it and who don't support your liking of it? My theory is yes, partly. You can like things because your friends/family like them, and you can like things because you like them. If someone you know likes it, in some cases your affection for that person can be applied to your affection for it. Example: someone with red hair liked Farscape so I tried very very hard to like it too. Now I like Farscape for its own credentials, and not just the claim of a friend's affection for it. Stuff that everybody likes become kind of obvious and thus unnoticeable. Example: spaghetti. It's more weird that someone wouldn't like it. There are also things that you and few others, or in some cases only you, like. Example: niche market things like old school Battlestar Galactica, or K-pop. In such cases, I think people are determined to like it no matter what other people say, so they build an extra layer of like which is artificial to protect that preference. For myself, I listen to K-pop almost everyday, but when I visit my relatives who also like it, I almost don't like it because their exuberance is so great. I begin to feel like, "Okay, we all like it. It's fun for awhile but let's chill and do something else." Or maybe that is just a desire to be balanced and semi-normal. Any thoughts on it?

2) I would like to select a best music video of the month. The music videos this month were;

• Adele - Rolling in the Deep
• Allie Geortz - Tonight (D&D)
• Big Bang - La-la-la
• Beast - Bad Girl
• Chi Chi - Don't Play Around
• David Bisbal - Digale
• David Bisbal -Silencio
• David Bisbal - 24 Horas
• David Bustamante - No Soy Un Superman
• Kim Mitchell - Go For A Soda
• Kim Mitchell - Patio Lanterns
• NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye
• NSYNC - Tearin' Up My Heart
• MBLAQ - Cry
• SHINee - Replay
• Sistar - Shady
• Super Junior - Mr. Simple
• Super Junior - No Other
• Super Junior - One Love
• Super Junior - Sorry Sorry
• Super Junior - Sorry Sorry Answer
• Super Junior - Superman
• Super Junior - Wonder Boy
• Super Junior M - Perfection/Too Perfect
• TVXQ - Balloons
• TVXQ - Mirotic
• TVXQ - Wrong Number
• ZE:A - Here I Am
• ZE:A - Mazeltov
• 2NE1 - I Don't Care
• 2NE1 - Hate You

The strongest contendors in the selection are: TVXQ - Balloons, ZE:A - Mazeltov, and Kim Mitchell - Go For A Soda. Each are sufficiently cheesy, embarrassing, and entertaining. Since I can't decide, both TVXQ and ZE:A win this month. Here they are.

3) Heechul (of Super Junior) officially enlisted in the army today. While I will not miss his dancing, I will miss his personality and the completeness he lends to Super Junior. Indeed, he was not liked for his dance, he was liked for his naughty personality, pretty face, and voice. ...Maybe mischievious would have been a better word. He has a special spot in my heart because he was Hankyung's best friend in the group and he visibly suffered when Hankyung, Kangin, and Kibum left. According to some fan site he likes metal and horror films, so in honour of Heechul here is one of my favourite glam metal bands, Nightwish with I Wish I Had An Angel. While I personally think the guitarist trying to look demonic is lame (yes it's a metal thing, but overdone), the movie clips that were inserted are fantastically cheesy. The only reason the humans don't get eaten is that the monsters have A.D.D. and spend half the time chasing their tales and looking cool.