Philanthropy At Best December 26, 2007
Posted by Crea in Everything & Nothing.1 comment so far
U.S. teen brings new school to rural Cambodia
BANTEAY SREY, Cambodia – Hundreds of Cambodian villagers welcomed the arrival of a new school Wednesday, a gift from an American teenager who raised $52,000 after reading about the hardships of growing up in Cambodia.
To raise money, Rosenfeld sent out hundreds of fundraising letters, sold T-shirts and offered naming rights for several structures in the school, a statement said. The $52,000 she raised was supplemented by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, which contributed $10,000 and $13,000, respectively, said her mother, Lisa Rosenfeld.
これは本当に凄い…
“(don’t) Leave me alone” – Ayumi Hamasaki December 26, 2007
Posted by Crea in Music.Tags: Ayumi Hamasaki
3 comments
Truthfully, I had to bite my lip from laughing out loud at this song title. But hey it’s Ayu and I had to give it a try. So for those who haven’t already seen it, here’s her new PV (at least before beloved avex removes it).
Ayumi Hamasaki – “(don’t) Leave me alone”
Hm. Ayu is…annoying here, to say the least. Haha.
Okay let me rephrase to, the video is annoying. The hair and make-up are annoying. The strut is annoying. The fighting/dancing is annoying. The changing color tie is a nice touch though, haha. But the song…the song.
After three listens, I still can’t recall the melody. Not that that’s how I judge songs, but it’s just overall unmemorable, like I’ve heard the same thing from her a million times already. And that’s the feeling I’m getting from all her recent work. 
What happened to the Ayu I used to love? She being the main entry point for me into Japan and all its craziness, I don’t want to be bashing any of her work. I want to be obsessing over her like I used to. But really, this is just…like, pretty bad.
I’m probably the one who changed more than her, but still, I think anyone can agree that this is miles below her 2001-ish era. I haven’t lost faith entirely yet. Fingers crossed.
*EDIT: Her tour schedule for next year is out. It says “ASIA TOUR” but I only see Japanese venues for now. Looks like she plans to make the Asian destinations a permanent leg of her tours from now on? Well she should, after years of deprivation, Asian fans are probably crazier than her Japanese fans. Ahh, despite her recent form, ライブ行きたいなーー！
“HO!” x3 December 25, 2007
Posted by Crea in Everything & Nothing.comments closed
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
No Pain, No Gain? December 22, 2007
Posted by Crea in Dear Diary.2 comments
You know those cliché motivational quotes that teach you that pain is an integral part of life meant to help you grow? No pain, no gain? What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? Hm, oh yeah, people can’t hurt you unless you let them?
All Wrong. So Wrong.
I just came back from the second session of my first root canal experience. And WOW, it hurt.
The pain was gripping. I was really jolting and curling up every few seconds, you’d think someone was sending me electrical shocks or something. It’s like your usual toothache’s sour sensation, sharp and sudden, except that heightened and excruciatingly magnified by 100.
Halfway through the first session, the tears spilled out. It was embarrassing to say the least, but I just couldn’t help it. I couldn’t even stop crying (it was more like sobbing uncontrollably, but anyway), after it was over. Grr, I don’t know why they didn’t use any anesthetic…
And it especially sucks when I see videos like this that seem way different from my session.
I’ve had two different dentists for each session, and they both gave me attitude. “Oh, it hurts? You’re supposed to TOUGH IT OUT.” or “Gosh your molars are grown so curved. Makes my job a lot more annoying.” Like, I’m sorry? And apparently I still have to go back for two more sessions before this whole root canal business is over. SIGH.
Ugh, 自業自得かな？
歯科医から帰ってきて二回の根官治療をやってきました。
本当に、いや…もう、本当に痛かったです。みんなの前で大泣きでした。
もう…
一回死んでしまいました。
今の私は、鬼です。
コンニチワ。鬼リューです。
The Great Firewall of Ch*na December 20, 2007
Posted by Crea in Dear Diary.2 comments
Just got back to the motherland a few days ago. And as usual, I’m hating it. While it’s nice seeing family, whenever I come home, it feels like my body starts breaking down slowly, one facial orifice at a time.
Seriously, I don’t know if it’s the pollution, the water, the lack of things to do, the obscene spitting, the difference in attitude to manners, or my own stubbornness, but my mind and body just seem to resist this place.
There’s just something so stagnant about this city. When I come back, I feel like I’m returning to the life I led four years ago, or rather the self I was four years ago, which I loathe. Well hold on, let me backpedal before this gets too retrospective.
Now don’t even get me started on the Internet in this country. Being the otaku that I am, nothing frustrates me more than slow Internet, but in addition, half of the web is censored (my dearest Wikipedia, nooooo).
Now it looks like China blocked WordPress, which is fairly upsetting for me, since I planned to spend my uneventful, hikikomori days at home posting random stuff.
Nevermind, problem SOLVED. HAH! (Thank you Ry*n!)
And what’dya know, now that WordPress is back online, my motivation to blog has just plummeted.
“Mayday” – Bump of Chicken December 13, 2007
Posted by Crea in Music.Tags: Bump of Chicken
1 comment so far
キターーー！！
Bump of Chicken – “Mayday.”
10/24/07 release.
Didn’t think they were going to release a video for this…But it’s finally here.
And it’s horrible haha. But I kind of like it.
Either way, easily one of the best songs of this year.
Just Can’t Help It. [pHASE 2] December 8, 2007
Posted by Crea in Music.Tags: Tokyo Jihen, Shiina Ringo
5 comments
Tokyo Jihen – Marunouchi Sadistic (Self-Cover)
Ah, Tokyo Jihen, Tokyo Jihen…where do I even begin?
I’m so deeply addicted I don’t know what to say anymore.
Well, let me resort to quoting another blogger.
I’m drowning in Shiina Ringo.
Don’t send help. I’m hoping to grow gills.Is there anything better than finding an established artist of whom you know nothing, but whose sensibilities so completely click with your own? I want to listen to every single track on repeat. I want to hear everything she’s ever done. I want to swallow the sea while treading water. I’m getting gushy, and have lost all perspective.
Check out more at Heart On A Stick.
Really, I couldn’t have voiced my own thoughts any better.
Except, of course, with replacing Shiina Ringo with Tokyo Jihen. But who am I kidding, most fans, and probably even the band themselves, know that Jihen is really Shiina’s bitch brainchild. Okay, wait, I didn’t mean that. They’re much more than just back-up band members, but she’s a fucking genius and deserves being the center of attention.
It’s hard to pin down Tokyo Jihen’s brilliance in any musical genre, since they play anything from jazz, emo rock, syrupy pop, to enka (she defines their/her music as “Shinjuku-kei,” which only makes me love it even more). They aren’t an easy listen, but neither are they off-the-wall avant-garde style. But Tokyo Jihen is certainly an acquired taste, especially Shiina’s voice. And once you’ve acquired that taste, good luck shaking it off.
The closest thing I can compare their music too is actually their namesake city, Tokyo. For me, their music really personifies the city: diverse, eclectic, quirky, funny, amazingly dynamic. My fascination with the band really parallels my fascination for the city. Hm, I don’t even know if that makes sense.
There’s so much more I want to say, but I guess that’s enough cheesy gushing for one post. More later (I know you can’t wait).
These two clips are the last two songs of TJ’s 2006 concert dvd, JUST CAN’T HELP IT. I downloaded it two days ago, and am currently on my fourth watch and going strong. Absolutely Mindblowing. And lovely cover, no?
Tokyo Jihen – Rakujitsu
So. Fucking. Good.
Just Can’t Help It. [pHASE 1] December 5, 2007
Posted by Crea in Dear Diary.1 comment so far
I’m going craaaaaaaazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
