Sunday, August 31, 2008

Thailand's Sport Ranger

Found it via Youtube, Thailand's local super sentai, 2006.


Aside from seemingly out-of-place CGIs, looks quite corny (reminded me of super sentai series in early 80s), but at least it's original, unlike the stupid Power Rangers.

On the bright side, there is a rumor that Power Rangers is going to be animated, alias a cartoon. That could mean no more super sentai bastardizations! AWESOME! Alas, there is another thorn growing, the Kamen Rider Ryuuki copycat, stupid Kamen Rider Dragon Knight.

Go-Onger Ep27 Funnies


Well, cross-dressing is commonplace in Japan entertainment/cosplay, so I guess it's time to teach the kids. LOL!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Sushi 4 dinner


Sushi 4 dinner, originally uploaded by pika2000.

Sushi 4 dinner

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Lunch, seafood noodle


Lunch, seafood noodle, originally uploaded by pika2000.

Lunch, seafood noodle

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Tropic Thunder Viral Video Promo

Everybody seems to like Tropic Thunder. I've seen the regular trailer, but this one is funnier, although it got "urrgh" in the end. So warning, the first half or so is pretty funny, but beware of the end.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

iMovie 08: Further Impression

I've been using iMovie 08 quite a bit lately in making music video and video clips.

Stuff that I like:
-Audio fade-out bug fixed. In iMovie HD, whenever I want to do an audio fade-out (during transition, in the end of the video, etc), for whatever reason, iMovie HD frequently chokes and the audio stutter. At first I thought this is only on the project/preview, but the stutter is permanent, included in the final video. Highly annoying. I have yet to have this issue in iMovie 08, and iMovie 08 handles audio fade-outs almost automatically most of the time.
-I love the youtube uploading automation a lot. Makes things much easier and more straightforward.
-Adding and editing the duration of transitions feels easier and more straightforward. Again, iMovie HD sometimes chokes on transitions for whatever reason.

Annoyance:
-iMovie 08 doesn't recognize non-native videos (xvid) after importing, even if you cut them using QTpro and have .mov container and/or installed the codec support for Quicktime (ie. perian). I had to export the xvid clips to H.264. A way to promote QTpro? QTpro IS useful in cutting down xvid videos and exporting the clips to H.264, so you don't have to wait iMovie 08 transcoding the whole large xvid video.

Stuff that I missed from iMovie HD:
-Effects! There are TONS more effects and transitions in iMovie HD, even advance effects like faster/slower video speed. iMovie 08 has no advance effects, and only basic transitions.
-Editing texts feels easier and more straightforward in iMovie HD. It's confusing to edit the text in iMovie 08 outside the preset ones.
-Timeline view. One time I want to start working on a video clip in iMovie 08 starting from the end of the backgroud music and working towards the beginning. No can do. iMovie 08 snap the video clips in ascending order from the beginning of the backgroud music, and I can't find a way to snap them to the end of the music. The timeline view of iMovie HD gives more flexibility in creating a project.

In short, I wish Apple improved and fixed the bugs of iMovie HD instead of making iMovie 08. Sure, iMovie 08 makes editing videos more user friendly, but once you get the hang of it, you start feeling limited and wanting more (transitions, effects, timeline view, etc). I guess that's Apple's way to sell Final Cut express/pro.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Michael Phelps' Sportsmanship


Obviously this is a joke, but still, LOL.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

iPhone is out in Singapore

The key point, an FAQ at Singtel's website:
"Will my iPhone work with a StarHub or M1 SIM?
It may work but you may not enjoy the same iPhone experience as SingTel only supports iPhone 3G devices that are connected to SingTel’s network"

So, iPhone 3G in Singapore is probably unlocked out of the box. More proof that cellular business in the US is ancient and backward with all the locking crap.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Super Rider: Kamen Rider Kiva MV

A eurobeat MV of Kamen Rider Kiva that I made.

Online Videos by Veoh.com
Edit: Youtube blocked the video due to ID match by Avex police, even though there are plenty of others doing the same thing, and the fact that Avex does not distribute the music in the US.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Go-Onger Ep25 silliness


Hiroto cried, hilarious! LOL

Go-Onger Ep24

There are times when I felt sympathy, or even rooting for the bad guys in super sentai shows, simply because the heroes are simply too powerful. This Go-Onger clip shows exactly that. 1st, instant G9 formation. 2nd, the monster's attacks barely pushed Engine Oh G9. 3rd, the monster is supposed to be a strong one from Samurai World combined with Hiramekimedes, one of the most powerful generals, but Go-Onger defeated them in one shot. All in less than 2 minutes! LOL.


Here's a funny scene from the episode.
Points:
-Sousuke's reaction to the blank-faced Hiroto & Miu
-Gunpei touching Hiroto's face, and Hiroto looking at him in disgust
-Hiroto running form the ghosts. LOL

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Calpico Aloe


DSC00015, originally uploaded by pika2000.

Calpico Aloe

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Human skateboard


LOL

Time Maching Hints/Tips

Time Machine is Apple's backup utility included in Mac OS X Leopard. It has a straight forward setup and automatically works. Still, there are several tips I found on the web while searching a way to move my old Time Machine backup from an external hard-drive to my new drobo. I found 2 blog posts that are quite useful.
1. From Ryan Block's blog: a tip to save some space on your Time Machine drive. By default, Time Machine backs up everything on you Mac. There is an option to exclude certain folders/drives, and Ryan has a list of certain things that Time Machine can skip to save some space, things that are easily recoverable from other sources.

2. From Stephen Foskett's blog: Time Machine is great, but what if you want to upgrade your Time Machine drive to a newer/larger drive? There is an option to change disk in system preferences, but it doesn't move your old backup. This tip uses Disk Utility to "restore" the old Time Machine drive to the new one. One note, make sure you don't need anything on the new drive, since I can only make this work if I check Erase Destination option.

My lunch


My lunch, originally uploaded by pika2000.

My lunch

Friday, August 15, 2008

Go-Onger Ep21 Funny Clips

Another Go-Onger hilariousness. All they can think of is food. Hiroto's and Miu's expressions are priceless.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Kamen Rider IXA: Fight for Justice MV

Another proof that Kamen Rider is blurring the line between idols and tokusatsu, which is why it's so cool! :D Nago-kun, don't forget your Biore!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Momotaros-tachi funny scene

The 4 hilarious imajins from Kamen Rider Den-O will be coming back in the summer crossover movie between Kamen Rider Kiva and Den-O. For the last couple episodes of Kamen Rider Kiva, they are showing Momotaros-tachi promoting the new movie. The funny part is that they also did a crossover with Go-Onger. this time, from Kamen Rider Kiva Ep27, Momotaros-tachi are copying Go-Onger poses. Hilarious!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Moroccan food

Chi's flash game


She can get mad and scratch you.