TV – Isuraeru

September 24, 2022March 23, 2023

Thoughts about History Channel’s Alone

I watched only the first three seasons of the History Channel’s “Alone”. I think binge-watching three seasons is more than enough, and anyway, that’s all I could find on Prime Video.

While watching, I was thinking about the lessons I could learn from the series to convince myself that I’m not just wasting my time. Here are the lessons I wrote to myself:

Surviving alone is difficult (duh!). We are social creatures and need not only interaction but also support from others.

What separates the winners from those who decide to retire? I couldn’t completely grasp it, but it seems to be a lot about willpower and focusing on surviving the day. The third season was a bit more interesting as some players were forced to retire so as not to hurt themselves. They had the willpower but not the fat reserves and luck (?) to catch food.

Mistakes in nature are costly, such as falling while climbing, cutting yourself, or suffering hypothermia after falling into cold water. Even some of the most talented players who built amazing boats and tools failed to survive due to mistakes.

In our normal lives, this is actually less relevant. Mistakes can be costly, but much less so. Medical care and support from others (and the government) can help our survival. We should worry less about mistakes nowadays.

There is a scarcity of food these days. Not only were the players limited in what resources they could consume, but resources were also limited due to pollution and extinction of species.

All players went back really appreciating their lives and families and understanding that they can survive whatever may happen to them. They can work in jobs they do not enjoy, but at the end of the day, they go back home to their families and dinner. It is sometimes important to disconnect from day-to-day lives to rediscover it.

September 20, 2021

Netflix Binge – Fast Forward or why do I even bother

Some films are good, some TV series are great.

But I find myself quite often fast forwarding through TV series and even movies. Is it the format, lack of interest or the ability to Fast Forward?

Was watching the “Money Heist”, which I feel is weaker than the first story. More explosions, shooting and trying to create more tensions, but overall it is less exciting and less “refreshing in format”.

Which meant “Fast Forward”. I do not need to watch a 5 minutes shooting scene. I don’t need to see all details as these do not really make sense anyway. Human drama is great, flashbacks are interesting.
So, do I miss something “Fast Forwarding” or do I get exactly what I need ?

January 6, 2018

君の名　Your name on Japanese TV

The movie “Your Name” was on TV during the new year vacation and attracted a lot of attention and sponsors.

As I am not a big fan of Manga and Anime, I will ignore the movie and story.

What was mostly interesting for me are the TV Commercials that were created especially for the time slots.

The CM that shined in my opinion was from Softbank:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foy6IDCguOg

November 29, 2017

Netflix “The Sinner” – Frustration (Beware Spoilers)

While I enjoyed most of “The Sinner”, and definitely liked the atmosphere and acting, the last two chapters left me really frustrated.

Totally agree with the comments in “What Started our Strong ended All Wrong” .

While in 5 or 6 chapters we are dragged into a dark world of uncertainty. Of mystery, we are left with a simple story with huge holes in the plot.

Want to add some more frustrations:

When listening to the song, Cora attacks and inflict injuries in the same pattern as the murder. Does not make sense, so why the script spent so much time around it. She was not repeating a previous pattern, as there was no such pattern
Frankie’s parents – You just can’t drop it out of the blue. At least give us a scene of which the parents are confronted with Cora in a way that gives a hint that they know her.
Why was JD limping ? No reason? – no connection to that night ?
Maddie disappeared , but not really as JD kept in touch with her

September 29, 2017September 29, 2017

Japanese Television – fluff

Watched FujiTV this morning. Every Saturday morning they have their regular show which has a “travel abroad” corner. It is usually a way to promote a specific airline or travel services. This time it was Polish Airlines, destination Amsterdam.

Let’s ignore the fact that there are direct flights to Amsterdam, and focus on contents.

Amsterdam – What comes to mind?
Kracht, boat tour, museums, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Anne Frank and more.

Now what did the TV show presented. Steak Fondue, Sweets, and Miffy (which is actually in Utrecht).

Make me wonder who is the target audience of this TV show and are they so shallow that Art and history is not important, just Instagram opportunities.

TV shrinks your brain.

May 11, 2009

Racist Comments on E-Online

For those of you who watch “The Amazing Race”, you probably know by now that Tammy and Victor (my favorites) won.
E! Online published the story, and one racist reader decided to write a comment (#3). I reported it, and I am sure many other did while other responded.

But, it takes E! online FOREVER (more than 10 hours) to remove the comment.

September 8, 2008

Mysoju

Not sure this is legal, but these guys has many streaming videos of Japanese/Korean/Chinese Dramas and Movies.
Link

August 29, 2007

SMAPxSMAP 2007.08.20

If you know SMAP, there is no need for an introduction. If you do not, why bother?
This week’s SMAPxSMAP:
1) Kusanagi’s Batsu Game
2) Bistro guest Sato Eriko (佐藤江梨子) – images
3) Song (awful one)

Let’s start with the bistro. Wasn’t that interesting, Sato Eriko certainly looks nice, and talks nicely, and sooo boring.
She asked to eat whole rice and Cheese desert, and explained the many ways of keeping a beautiful face and body.

I just found a video on you tube showing Eriko as Cutie Honey. Is there really a reason for her to run around wearing her underwear?
Eriko Sato:

Shingo as Cutie Honey, as part of the Oishii usual Shingo impersonation.

Winners were Kimura and Katori:

And to the more interesting part: Kusanagi’s Batsu game. During the last SMAPxSMAP love awards, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi lost, and was subjected to a game selected by Goro.

Kusanagi had to dress up like one of Goro’s characters, and go shopping on Omote Sando Hills.
Kusanagai Tsuyoshi feeling embarrassed:

Buying a Necktie for himself:

Buying wine for Goro, he had to talk in Samurai Style:

Kusanagi was asked if this is a Batsu-Game, which he answered: “Chigau de gojaru”, still in Samurai style:

Buying Sexy underwear for Nakai, talking like girl:

Dondake-:

Kusanagi buying glasses for Kimura speaking Korean. (If you don’t know Kusanagi can speak Korean fluently):

Buying Bonsai for Katori Shingo to make him relax after his recent hard work. This specific Bonsai cost about 1000 Dollars:

Kusanagi then had to sing a song to the audience which they enjoyed very much and asked for more
That’s is. I enjoyed the Batsu-game very much. Kusanagi did it wonderfully!
(And then SMAP sang a very stupid song).

August 23, 2007

London Hearts 2007.08.14

Two parts:

1) Under 30 (U-30) female participants who discussed “Which one is considered better for love?”

2) A visit to the beach, measuring waists. Aoki Sayaka (Miss angry face) was there too.

First part:

Participants this week, top to bottom, left to right:

1) あびる優 – Abiru Yu

2) マリエ -Marie – 玉木パスカルマリエ

3) 磯山さやか – Isoyama Sayaka – Gravure Idol – her blog , images .

4) ギャル曽根 – Gyaru Sone – Video link – Can eat a lot!

5) 堀越のり – Horikoshi Nori

6) 鈴木紗理奈 – – Suzuki Sarina

7) 熊田曜子 – Kumada Yoko – Gravure Idol – images

8) 安めぐみ – Yasu Megumi – Gravure Idol – Official website

9) ほしのあき – Hoshino Aki – Gravure Idol

10) 森下千里 – Morishita Chisato – Gravure Idol – images
Atsushi opened a big mouth:

Hoshino Aki was selected (draw) to explain her ranking, with the prospect of winning 1,000,000 YEN, if her ranking matches the survey’s.

Hoshino’s ranking below:

Hoshino believes Yasu Megumi is the best for a relationship/love.

Then, Atsushi went berserk:
And Kumada was labeled as having a “liar’s face”:

Following are the survey results:

Observations:

– Yasu Megumi was also selected by the survey. (I still don’t like her face).
– Top 3 are Gravure idols
– Worst is Morishita Chisato

And to the second part:
A very simple game. A couple is selected from the crowd. The guy has to guess his girlfriend’s waist size. If he is right, he gets some money. Aoki is also guessing, and supposedly she is good at that.
I have learned something very important: The average Japanese female waist is 70cm!
Beach:

Measuring waists: The guys were ALWAYS wrong and guessed a lower figure. Now, if you were in this situation wouldn’t you do the same. It is better to lose money than angry your girlfriend!

What men guessed on the left, actual on the right:

London Hearts also asked for weight, which provided the same results: The guys and gals always guessed reported lower weights. Surprising, isn’t it?

Almost done, Aoki was surprised that her measurements will be taken. The result: Waist: 70cm, Weight: 54.6!

August 13, 2007

London Hearts 2007.08.07

London hearts is a TV show aired every Tuesday on Asahi TV. The Official website

The show is hosted by Tamura Atsushi and Tamura Ryo. Not Related! Atsushi is the rude guy with big teeth. Ryo is the pretty boy with dyed hair, who doesn’t talk much.

As I watch it once in a while, I have decided to write a summary to some of the episodes.

In this week’s show (7^th of August, 07), the participants (all female) went shopping. The rules are simple: they shop for whatever they want, but cannot see the prices. If together, they manage to use between 950,000 Yen to 1,000,000 Yen, then they can get what they bought for free. Otherwise, they have to pay for everything from their own pocket.

Sounds like fun, but, before that: “オシャレゲート” -> the fashion gate. Through the gate this week walked:

Suzuki Ami – A singer which releases a new single on the 22/8. I wonder how they timed her new release with this appearance. The god of marketing works in mysterious ways.

In a few words – Fashionable, but not over the top. Reasonable prices.

Issa – A fashionable guy from DA-PUMP.

In a few words – who cares what guys wear? – I don’t. Oh, there were two interesting bits: 1) The guy has nail polish! Very masculine, don’t you think?

2) Wears a Rolex Daytona – cost 3,000,000Y (about 25,000$)

And back to the main event:

Participants:

1) 青木さやか – Aoki Sayaka – Announcer turned TV personality. – Over exposure, she is everywhere!
2) ほしのあき – Hoshino Aki – men’s favorite, a few links for a quick reminder: Official , Google Image Search
3) 近藤春菜 – Harisen Kondo – Comedian (?)
4) 森下千里 – Morishita Chisato
5) 熊田曜子 – Kumada Yoko
6) 青田典子 – Aota Noriko
7) 夏川純 – Natsukawa Jun
8) 磯野貴理 – Isono Kiri – The “loud” one
9) 杉田かおる – Sugita Kaoru – The “older” gal.
10) 安めぐみ – Yasu Megumi – I don’t like her. Difficult to explain why. Just annoying, I guess.

Venues:
1) Bic Camera in Shinjuku (Odakyu) – I have so many pleasant memories from this place. I don’t understand how come I didn’t go there during my last visit to Tokyo.
2)Tokyo Pacific in Omote sando – Love the street, the shop is not for me. Brands for women.

Before they started, the “rude” Atsushi went through their wallets. Let’s play the game, how many Louis Vuitton wallets can you spot in the following image?

I don’t want to review their shopping. I found out a few brands I have never heard of. So, let’s do it in another way, award style:

The winner of the most unusual purchase: Kumada Yoko for buying a CDJ.
The winner of “why the hell did you buy it?”: Natsukawa Jun – Refrigerator. Do you think she really needed that?
And the winner of “Come on, you are on TV, try to be more interesting”: Yasu Megumi – Electric bicycles.

Summary:

They lost, as they bought for 1,014,700 Yen. Just 14,700 over. And why? because Aoki Sayaka offered to buy 10 alarm clocks priced 2200 Yen each!!! Is it her fault? probably not, as they all agreed to it, but it brought another set of yells, and Aoki’s astonished/angry face. (yawn).