visions from a steep hill

TWO WORDS: ANIME CENTRAL. TODAY. OH, GOD...I CAN'T COUNT.

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:43:46 -0500

TWO WORDS: ANIME CENTRAL. TODAY. OH, GOD...I CAN'T COUNT.

SCIENCE. IT’S (emphasizing expletive of your choice)...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:16:47 -0500

SCIENCE. IT’S (emphasizing expletive of your choice) COOL.

BE CURIOUS. CHANGE THE WORLD. TODAY.

HOW WILL YOU CHANGE/CHERISH/NURTURE/PREPARE/CARE FOR/LOVE THE...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:14:04 -0500

HOW WILL YOU CHANGE/CHERISH/NURTURE/PREPARE/CARE FOR/LOVE THE WORLD TODAY?

AMEN, BROTHER LINUS. #startthemwhiletheyareyoung

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:14:41 -0500

AMEN, BROTHER LINUS. #startthemwhiletheyareyoung

THIS IS A MISSION. A MISSION FROM #GADD. #drums

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:10:00 -0500

THIS IS A MISSION. A MISSION FROM #GADD. #drums

ERMAGHERD! GHRRRBLI! MAH NERBER TERTEREH...

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:09:00 -0500

ERMAGHERD! GHRRRBLI! MAH NERBER TERTEREH HERSTERK!

(Berklish-English translation: Oh my God! Ghibli! My Neighbor Totoro Haystack!)

IT’S A TRAP, PT. 2. Art by the awesome Kevin Bolk...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:04:01 -0500

IT’S A TRAP, PT. 2.

Art by the awesome Kevin Bolk (http://www.kevinbolk.com; http://kevinbolk.tumblr.com)

IRONY: HIS NAME IS ADMIRAL ACKBAR Without belting a familiar...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:53:12 -0500

IRONY: HIS NAME IS ADMIRAL ACKBAR

Without belting a familiar Alanis Morrissette tune (although I reeeeally want to right now), I will state that it is indeed ironic that I host a game show called Anime Trivia Trap and clearly associate one nerdy entity with another one—and a magnanimous one at that, hence the above video. Every time I push “play” = 14 seconds of LOL joy. This nerd is warmly embraced.

#knowyourmeme and stay proud, peeps.

ROAD TO ANIME ST. LOUIS 6:25am: Boarded the Megabus to STL....

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:26:44 -0500

ROAD TO ANIME ST. LOUIS

6:25am: Boarded the Megabus to STL. Super-quiet and peaceful ride thus far. So happy that their Wi-Fi works smoothly so I can…well, post stuff like this on Tumblr. Ah-hyuck.

Blatant self-plug for the wired otaku out there: Come check out Anime Trivia Trap this weekend at Anime St. Louis at the LaSalle Ballroom at the Gateway Center in Collinsville! Tryouts at 3:00pm and the game begins at 4:00pm. Connect with me on Twitter at @AnimeTriviaTrap for trivia, updates from the road, photos, convention highlights, and more! See you today, friends!

Video

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:15:29 -0500

CAN WE PRETEND THAT AIR-A-PLANES IN THE NI-EE-T SKY ARE LIKE SHOOTING STARRRRS?

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 11:45:00 -0500

(I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right no-o-ow. God, I heart you, Hayley Williams. OK—on to the post.)

I rarely talk about my dreams—let alone, I rarely remember them. Today is different, as I strongly and vividly saw myself riding on an airplane in my dreams last night. I don’t remember where I landed, but there were at least two takeoffs and two successful flights. I just had to Google it and make a blog about it, y’know?

Here’s what Dream Moods describes about the mighty airplane:

Airplanes To see an airplane in your dream indicates that you will overcome your obstacles and rise to a new level of prominence and status. You may experience a higher consciousness, new-found freedom and greater awareness. Perhaps you need to gain a better perspective or wider view on something. If the airplane is taking off, then it suggests that an idea or plan is about to “take off” and be put into action. It may also represent your need to get away and escape from your daily life.

To dream that you are flying an airplane suggests that you are in complete control of your destination in life. You are confident and self-assured in your decisions and accomplishments.

Yeah…I’m pretty excited about this too. Being a person who has been slowly working toward his dreams (save for another blog entry about my bucket list), this is nothing short of awesome. Here’s the funnier and more Alanis Morissette-ironic part: I’ve never flown on an airplane before. Ever. Call me whatever names you like, but that’s the truth. On top of that, I received my passport last year, which has not been stamped in once.

So, this dream was most likely a foreshadowing of the truth that my dreams are coming to pass, and that I may be getting on a plane to some exotic destination soon. Like, maybe Texas.

Time for me to fly the friendly skies. Just, not in my dreams.

(photo from Robert Weaver: A Pedestrian View: The Vogelman Diary from the blog post “A Street Walker Views The Street” by Steven Heller; click titles to view linked pages)

Sade. Don’t call her “say-dee,”...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:01:05 -0500

Sade. Don’t call her “say-dee,” “sahhhde,” or even on her cell phone for that matter. It’s “sha-day,” and she has rocked my musical world—and others—for decades.

Have two hours to kill? Watch this 2011 concert in full. As a musician and behind-the-scenes person myself, I cannot tell you how much I loved every aspect of this performance. This is how you do a concert. Right.

I normally don’t say this, being the good Christian boy...

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:51:23 -0600

I normally don’t say this, being the good Christian boy that I am, but…this shit is crazy-epic. Danke to the German geniuses of creative film effects at The Marmalade. Visit them here: http://www.themarmalade.com/news

The man on the keys is mega-talented jazz composer and pianist,...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:47:34 -0600

The man on the keys is mega-talented jazz composer and pianist, Greg Spero. The man on the drums is the equally adroit Makaya McCraven. Together, they are a world-class, one-two punch of syncopation, rhythm and delight. These artists know how to paint an atmosphere with a minimal, yet robust arrangement of keys, synths, electronics, and percussion. And passion? Fugetaboutit. I need to borrow a cup or two from my musical neighbors, here. The pictures above are from their stellar performance at Chicago’s City Winery (1200 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607) during the 55th Annual Grammy Awards Telecast and Viewing Party. (We came for the awards. Secretly, we stayed for them.)

Listen and learn about Greg at gregspero.com and Makaya at makayamccraven.com. Your ears will just love you.

…and part two of my first Urban Outfitters adventure. And...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:18:09 -0600

…and part two of my first Urban Outfitters adventure. And it’s always a worthy adventure in this cool store.

This post is titled: “My First Trip to Urban...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:07:07 -0600

This post is titled: “My First Trip to Urban Outfitters,” or “My Wish List For Stuff Is Bigger Than My Butt.” Part One. :)

The Urban Outfitters in question is located at 20 S. State St. here in Chicago. Yes, you should visit sometime. And take me with you.

TOKYO OTAKU MODE: AN INSPIRING OTAKU STORY

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:25:00 -0600

TOKYO OTAKU MODE: AN INSPIRING OTAKU STORY:

Remember when Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a dream?”

The Japanese were listening. And so was this awesome and inspiring crew of Nippon natives. If you’re a fan of the pop and otherwise culture of Japan, definitely read this story. And get to work on your dreams.

(Courtesy of Facebook Stories — www.facebookstories.com)

Oh. My. Goodness. For two thousand, Alex. As a game show host,...

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:40:00 -0600

Oh. My. Goodness. For two thousand, Alex.

As a game show host, fanatic, and mini-aficionado of the genre, I was completely floored with this video. Not to mentioned cheering and singing along as if I have seen this for the umpteenth time. What you’re about to see is a clip from the 1983 Daytime Emmy Awards of eleven of the most fabulous and well-known emcees in the spotlight singing a musical-type number about…what else? Being a game show host.

If you’re a fan like me, one watch and you will agree that epic is an understatement. I’ll take “simply amazing television that they don’t make anymore—and should” to win, Peter.

THERE'S A 55th TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:18:00 -0600

THERE'S A 55th TIME FOR EVERYTHING:

Three words: Best. Grammys. Ever.

I’m totally digging this new cut from one of my favorite...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:54:00 -0600

I’m totally digging this new cut from one of my favorite bands, Fitz and the Tantrums. It’s not the soulful, heartful, let’s-go-back-to-Motown motif as with their debut album (“Moneygrabber” won me over in less than ten seconds of listening ), but this song evokes a time familiar to me, full of synths, digital claps, Michael’s generically perfect pipes, and an infectious, happy beat. Definitely worth a listen and definitely worth getting pumped about their sophomore album and the new direction they’re bravely going.