Otokichi

Here's a little Christmas season present, an "I need you" song from Crimson Apple.;)

Songs about toxic love are the norm in Blues songs, but then, so are "I need you" songs, too. This is the latter, just in time for the Christmas season...

Some years back, Pure Heart (Jake Shimabukuro, Jon Yamasato, and Lopaka Colon) recorded a Christmas CD and this track was on it. Hawaii doesn't have "leaping lords" nor "milk maids,and the " the pear tree" is Alligator Avocado, the composers figured out some local stuff to stand in. Pidgin English lyrics

Have you got a baby genius who goes through toys like Garfield goes through Lasagna? Fear not, in 1985 there appeared a figure with glowing eyes that would take your messages and play them back for an unsuspecting world. It's amazing what "Techmoan" finds on these Japanese websites, though they aren't guaranteed to work "out of the box."

From the earliest days of sound film to the present day, here's a salute to the one character who could outdo "The Grinch" during the Christmas season. God bless us, every one...;) BBC Two, 12/24/1977

It's been a while since September, but here's something else by Earth, Wind and Fire.;)

It's early Tuesday morning, so it's the perfect time for a song about yesterday's "Cyber Monday." It isn't by "Weird Al" Yankovic, but you get the idea.

Submitted for your approval, a "four strings" instrumentalist plays a tune made famous by Freddie Mercury's band.

An heir to an upper class title returns to Melbourne, Australia after some time abroad and is at loose ends on what to do next. A murder, a wayward maid, a couple of "Red" dockworkers, and the Police thrust her into a unique career. Made by ABC TV (Australia), this witty/brainy 1920's detective series had a 3 season run and a movie is rumored to be in the works. (The exact opposite of "Murdoch Mysteries.") Currently, this is an "East coast afternoon/Hawaii early morning" TV show on the otherwise-commercial-dense Ovation network.

"Good morning/afternoon/evening, Mr. Briggs/Mr. Phelps, a foreign spy agency has compromised a music discussion website and turned it into a "Spam Zombie." Your mission, if you choose to accept it is to identify and neutralize the agency and to prevent the invasion of other websites. As usual, if any member of your Impoosible Missions Force is caught or killed, The Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This recording will self-destruct by the time Tom Cruise puts his shirt back on. Good luck, Dan/Jim." And now, select your team from your IMF dossiers and brief them on The Plan. Get a "GAZ" or "Elektrik" van over the border to serve as a mobile base and getaway vehicle. Be quick, before Tom Cruise and his team report for work at the Sergei Eisenstein film academy!

OMG, it's that time of the year again, when Christmas shopping season crashes into retail outlets like a green Tsunami! Stay Away From The Mall! Search out and find the most obscure store far from Macy's or Target.

Submitted for your approval, a film from India about a blind, deaf girl and her teacher. On the other end is the need for a bridge, when the teacher's memories are gone and the pupil has to reach him. What would Hollyweird do with such material these days? (Said to be based on "The Miracle Worker" and the life of Helen Keller.)

Outside, there's a full moon for Thanksgiving, but here's a different kind of moon for the love in your life.

So you've got an "out-in-th-boonies" workshop/gardening shack and you'd like to stay in contact with the "Noble house"/ Fear not, "Techmoan" has a retro solution to gladden the heart of any Steampunk Hipster or ex-military person who's cell phone has a dodgy battery. Why would you want "to be wired" in the wireless age of cell phone? "Techmoan" thinks it would be fun; imagine re-enacting scenes from TV's "Combat" series of the 1960's. ("Checkmate King Two to White Rook, is the beer cold yet? White Rook to King Two, it's frosty, but your buddies are drinking it up at the CP, Over. King Two to White Rook, tell those layabouts to save one for me! I'm returning to the CP toot suite!")

Will Evans says that this was his first try at Looping. (Funny, it sounds like he's a veteran "one man band.";)

"Under the Double Eagle" (Austin City Limits)

What does Turkey Day look like to folks from other countries? Here's a "cheeky Brit view" of our next Thursday national holiday and just-before-Black-Ink-Friday stuffing.;)

Turkey Day is coming, so here's a disparate playlist of songs associated with/celebrating Thanksgiving. Now where did I put that "Deli-Sliced Turkey"?;)

This TV movie answered the question: "What did Rod Serling do after 'The Twilight Zone"? It's a suspense/drama with a....oh wait, that's a Spoiler. Oh well, submitted for your, a hair-curling tale on an ordinary airliner.;)

So you wanna play your "Mantovani Plays Van Halen" on the bus to tweak off Punks? The Sound Burger is too expensive, you say? Fear not, "Techmoan" to the rescue: a cheap, er "inexpensive" portable turntable from 1990's Japan! It even has a see-though case so you can ogle/show off your low tech innards. It runs off as many "D" cells as that annoying Punk's Ghettoblaster, and has a "vertical play/hang it up on a wall" adapter. How does it sound? Glad you asked...say, "The Moan Family Puppets" are back with their take on ASMR.. Yessir, get your affordable "beach baby" portable turntable at semi-reputable Interweb merchants and blast the bus!;) A short ASMR video...

Region codes have been a problem for DVD and Blu-Ray movie fans since day one. Seeking an "all region" DVD player got around the original 7 region blocks. Blu-Ray currently divides the world into 3 regions, which "Techmoan" found messed up his search for obscure movies from other regions. The hardware approach was a permanent solution for the run-of-the-mill DVD player. But there was a "hidden menu" solution for the deluxe Blu-Ray player.. Bonus: "The Moan Family Puppets" are back!;)

If "Black Rain" has left you feeling kinda Blue, try this director's cut version of a 2001 Korean Romantic Comedy. The action in this tale may leave you as black-and-blue as the protagonist, even if you can't fit into your high school uniform and can drink more than 3 unmixed shots without blacking out. Also, "visit your Aunt, she hasn't seen you in a long time!";)

And now for something completely different. I could say that it's kinda New Age, but...

Hawaii musicians do indeed go to exotic locations as they play their music at venues featuring World or Native music. Put your Ruby slippers on, and say...;)

The 1989 by-the-numbers-cop-movie-in-Japan has surfaced on the premium movie channels. This ISN'T that movie, but something more interesting. (These "premium movie channels" haven't shown ANY foreign films to date--which is why I have Turner Classic Movies.) It's the Summer of 1945 in Southern Japan, ordinary folk are trying to get by as The Pacific War grinds on. But something completely different is about to turn their lives upside down...