TOPLESS ROBOTEER COSPLAY EXTRAVAGANZA!

Go on! Click it! You know you wanna!

Evenin' All!

This is gonna be one of those less-wordy, more-picturey-type posts.


This weekend, our dear friends at Topless Robot ran a Best/Worst Cosplay Experience Contest.

It was jam-packed with anecdotes ranging from the triumphant, to the hilarious, to the tragic, to the absurd. And a fair number of the entries included visual aids for the enjoyment of their fellow readers--photos of Topless Roboteers, and occasionally their friends and families, in some truly awe-inspiring ensembles.

I took it upon myself to compile my favorites, and share them with my beloved Taoists.


So...To the Jump we go!





In no particular order:


Sneetch as The 10th Doctor, with Grant Imahara of Mythbusters



Crimsongypsy and Friends as Dana/Zuul and The Ghostbusters



Marjorie2 as The Joker

Sketchy as Lego Man

Mittens and Friend as Sora and Riku from Kingdom Hearts

Bibliophileemily as Raven from Teen Titans

Unknown as Mr. B Natural, Photographed by Steve Bunche

Hanyaan as Giorno Giovanna from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Suzume as Ashe in wedding dress, from Final Fantasy XII



Stareyed and Daughter as Zatanna and Black Canary



Hanyaan (again) as Death from Sandman

Sistercacao as...I Don't Have A Clue--seriously, if anyone knows this character, please comment! It's driving me nuts! (cute, thoughXD)

Dancore's Wife as a Succubus

Muffy Stopheles as a Twi'Lek

The Pirate Star (our own Joltess!) as She-Ra

Red Stapler as Chiana from Farscape



Guess I lied--I saved my favorite for last XD


'Night, Peoples!



Not Scoot, But A Very Convincing Costume!

WTOS IN WAUKEGAN: YOUTHFUL MALE CUTTING IMPLEMENT, PART ONE (Expanded, now with pictures!)

Oi!

I's got music for da peoples today!

That right there, is the logo of Shonen Knife (少年ナイフ or Shonen Naifu in Japanese--literally "Boy Knife")       .

If you've never heard of them, there's really only one way I can think to describe them: Remember the origin story for The Power Puff Girls? Sure ya do! Well, imagine if after adding Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice, instead of Chemical X, Professor Utonium tossed in a copy of the 1978 Ramones LP Road To Ruin.

Instead of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup--you'd get Naoko, Atsuko, and Michie. (and later Etsuko, Ritsuko, and Emi)


Not a J-Pop band (nothing against J-Pop), SK (occasionally known as the Osaka Ramones) put a distinctively Japanese spin on American Old-School East-Coast Punk...The driving guitars and infectious, bare-bones rhythms are there--but the lyrics are about food, cats, bicycles, fish, candy, and rocketships...To describe the band in their own unique terms, they are--and I quote: "oo-oo-ultra-eccentric-super-cult-punk-pop-band-shonen-knife!"

Imagine if someone put Hello Kitty and Iggy Pop in the Brundlefly machine....

That's the original line-up: Michie Nakatani (Bass, left), Naoko Yamano (Guitar and vocals, center), and her sister: Atsuko Yamano (Drums, right). The photo is circa 1994. Here they are in 2009:

The line-up changed over the years (They formed in 1981, but were all but unknown stateside until '85--and didn't get a deal with a major label until 1992) Michie left the band in '99, Atsuko moved to bass, and Etsuko "Ettchan" Nakanishi became the new drummer (left, short hair) when temporary drummer, Mana Nishiura (not pictured), left the band in '04 (Tragically, Mana died a year later in an automobile accident while touring with Japanese Metal band DMBQ). In 2006, Atsuko quit the band after marrying and moving to L.A. (though she still plays whenever SK is in town) Touring bassist Ritsuko Taneda was then promoted to full member (Right, long hair). Naoko Yamano (center, duh) is the only founding member to have stayed with the band for its full 30 year lifespan (and one can't deny: she's remarkably well-preserved for a woman who'll be 51 this year!)

This lineup was maintained until last year, when Etsuko left (what is it about drummers?) and was replaced by Emi Morimoto (left, ponytail):

(EDITOR'S NOTE: It was 4 in the freakin' morning when I posted this originally--so it was a bit sparse. Thought I'd go back and juice it up a bit...Sorry for any inconvenience!)


Anyway, they're wonderful, magnificent, and adorable...Here in the States they've never had the success they deserved, and are best known as Kurt Cobain's favorite band:



Cobain sought them out after falling in love with their 1983 cassette, Burning Farm, which he first heard about when it was picked up by the indie label K records. (Later, Shonen Knife would also be distributed by the legendary grunge label SubPop) Amusingly, SK not only had no clue who Nirvana was, but also were a little afraid of Cobain and his cohorts. Later, Naoko would describe him as "very nice, but quiet".

SK became one of those bands that audiences didn't know (American audiences, at least), but other musicians loved...In 1989, a compilation album of SK covers by many of the biggest alternative acts of the late 80s and early 90s called Every Band Has A Shonen Knife That Loves Them was released. 20 bands contributed songs.


Bah! Time for me to stop wasting your time with mere words... hit the jump!


A serious note before you do: Our thoughts are with the people of Japan as they struggle to recover from the recent 8.9 magnitude Earthquake and the following Tsunami. Anyone wishing to assist can do so at http://www.redcross.org/




This is Tomato Head off of 1994's Rock Animals, probably the best known SK video in the States due to its appearance on Beavis and Butt-Head...FYI, this is about as "Dark" as Shonen Knife gets.




Here's a fan-made video for I Am A Cat from 1991's Let's Knife, SK's major-label debut. It's also my favorite SK tune, and may be the cutest thing ever to rise from the hand of man (3 words: SAMURAI. PIZZA. CATS!!!)



I'll have more videos for you folks soon, but I'll end tonight on a strong note with this vid for the title-track to 2009's Super Group. I Am A Cat may be my favorite song, but this is my favorite SK video by far! And try to wrap your head around this: The lead singer, Naoko Yamano, was 49 when she made this video...That's a 49 year old woman!

You always hear about how the Japanese are so much healthier than Westerners...How much more proof do you need?XD


More Knifey Goodness to come! I leave you with some lovely pictures of Ettchan:

Scoot-san

THE TTOS BEST OF 2010

Happy New Year, Peoples!


I have no idea what Playboy bunny costumes have to do with New Year's--I only know they show up in nearly every Anime/Hentai pic that has a New Year's theme. Must be a Japanese thing.

(FROM THE FUTURE:  My girl informs me that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, and even though that's from the Chinese Zodiac, it's apparently "trendy" to recognize it in Japan--Thanks Scout! (^3^) )

I know I've been away a little while--my fault. I've been lazy. But the Holidays are over, and I'm resolved to bringing you lucky people the best Nerd/Comedy/Current Events material a free, not-for profit blog can offer in 2011!

Arright, now I know I haven't technically been here for an entire year, and I didn't build up any signifigant momentum as far as readers go until late September. Regardless, I thought I'd share with you the top ten posts of 2010 (okay, technically the top ten posts of 9 months of 2010 and 4 days of 2011, but close enough, dammitXD)

I was as objective as possible: I personally did not choose any of these, instead, I just looked at the Stats. So these are the ten posts you folks visited the most often, for whatever reason.

Yes, I'm afraid most of these are mine--just worked out that way. and there are a lot of great writers here who aren't mentioned at all. Unfortunately, most of them are either too new, haven't written very much, or both--I'll give them their due in another post soon--Promise! <3

Follow me to the Top 10--after the jump!




Ok, for perspective's sake, the website itself has received 31,281 views since it started. These are the individual posts which have received the largest number of views, starting with #10...But first, have another one of these:

I just like 'em is all...^///^
(my girl taught me Asian Emoticons--wonder if I can list them on a job application as a second language)

10. SCOOTER'S HALLOWEEN MEMORIES: THE COSTUME SHOP 226 Pageviews

This was the first post I ever left the house to get pics and info for--almost like real journalism!XD

God, I love this place!

9. A FIELD GUIDE TO COMMON FANFICTION AUTHORS, PART ONE 240 Pageviews

The first in my series of exposes (imagine the accent my keyboard can't provide: ex-poe-saays) on the various bizarre species of writer that populate Topless Robot's weekly Fan Fiction Friday segment

8. Know Your Meme? Lighten The Fuck Up! 245 pageviews

One of the very first things I wrote for this blog was this rant against KYM for their sanctimonious rejection of the Topless Robot spawned meme: WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS? It was relatively ignored until recently when KYM's snubbing was brought up on TR, and I offered the Roboteers a link to this diatribe.

7. CONGRATULATIONS, COLLEEN! 328 Pageviews

Frankly, this is nothing more than me showering accolades on TTOS contributor/babe Colleen Seelke after her very first post, back on the old SOHB.

I'm guessing the popularity involves the pic of a semi-shirtless Robin Dunne I posted as a way of thanking her.

6. SCOOTER REVIEWS SOMETHING! A LOOK AT COMEDY CENTRAL'S UGLY AMERICANS 359 Pageviews

The first review I ever wrote...That is all.

5. Anti FFF "The Kikyo Effect" 359 pageviews (5 and 6 are technically a tie)

The first of Dr. Abraxas' brilliant series showcasing the other side of fanfiction (the well-written, mature, and interesting side...yes, there is such a thing)

4. A FIELD GUIDE TO COMMON FANFICTION AUTHORS, PART THREE 415 Pageviews

Apparently this series has been fairly popular, and there are more entries coming in the new year. Some of you may be interested to know that this very post is where I christened the TR Superfriends!

3. POLL RESULTS: TTOS SETTLES THE INTENSE, DIVISIVE DEBATE CONCERNING EMMA WATSON'S HAIR!  612 Pageviews

Multiple pictures of Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame are likely the source of this post's popularity...Sure, I can pretend it's my acerbic wit or superlative vocabulary--but why live in denial? I'll ride the wave of folks who want to bang Hermione Granger--doesn't bug me! XD

2. COMICSNIX! WISDOM FROM BEYOND TIME! 662 Pageviews

My insane theories about insanesier fanfic scribe ComicsNix.

1. Chuck's Mom Kicks Ass 772 Pageviews

Yep...Numero Uno ain't one o' mine! This is Colleen's synopsis of the first episode of Chuck, Season 4. And I actually haven't read it!

Now everyone here knows how much I love Colleen and her work, but I'm a Chuck fan and I've been unable to see any of it since the end of Season 2--ergo, I don't want any spoilers. So the most popular article on my blog is an article I can't read!XD


Thanks to all my lovely readers and contributors for making all this (such as it is) possible.

Have a great 2011, Peoples!

Scooter's Shiny New Year

SOHB PRESENTS A NEW PAGE/RELIGION

All Hail Yaya!


There's not much I can say here that isn't said better over at the Cathedral.

Really, this post is just here to remind those who haven't yet to visit SOHB's new house of worship.



My other pages, while certainly spiritually enlightening and uplifting, lacked a central focus of adoration--something to believe in, something to love.




I'm about 55% serious here--I figure people have worshipped far less worthy things for far stupider reasons. Nerds already adore Hot Asian Cosplayers, why not build a religion around arguably the best?

If you'd like, you can compose sermons, homilies, or prayers to The Heavenly Yaya, and post them at the comments section in The Cathedral.

Now I just have to wait for another geek to form a Church around the worship of Belle Chere, and my work will be complete.


Yaya's Peace Be Upon You,



Pope Scooter the First

No Sir, I don't like it.

I like to think I am a well rounded nerd. When I was younger, I enjoyed reading anytime I could (and still do), and I would pick up sci-fi, fantasy, horror and the Classics, I would avoid the 'fluff' books. I'm interested in history, science, archaeology, literature, and mythology. I love cartoons, and still watch them to this day like most of us. I absolutely love Batman. I have started subscribing to comic issues and picking up trades. I enjoy collecting things way too much. My DVD collection boasts classic Sci-Fi and Fantasy with a sprinkling of cult classics. I dress up for Hallowe'en every year despite that I am 25 years old. I go to RHPS screenings. I love musicals. I love Star Wars for its science fantasy. I love Star Trek because of its science fiction. I watch a lot of television shows that appeal to the nerdy population. I own a lot of geeky t-shirts. I am proud of my nerdy and geeky lifestyle and embrace all that it is.

However.

There is one thing I just cannot get into.

Anime.

I've tried, really I have. I've dated several guys who loved it and would show me what they considered the cream of the crop of the genre. I've watched a few episodes of animes on Canada's Cartoon Network, Teletoon. I loved Flight of Dragons, The Last Unicorn and Lord of the Rings (the cartoon version) and they were all early styled animes.

There a few animes that I liked. Hellsing for one. I can't really remember anymore than that. I love Avatar: The Last Airbender but I'm not even sure if it would be considered anime since it is American. I watched Pokemon before school because it was the only thing on and I didn't actually mind it at all. I also watched Yu-Gi-Oh for awhile (I like monsters). My cousin would make me watch Sailor Moon and while I didn't exactly hate it, it wasn't something I went out and watched on my own, or bought the DVDs for.

I wouldn't go as far to say I hate anime. I don't. It just doesn't appeal to me. It's just one of those things in the nerdy world that I just haven't been able to get myself into. Anime seems like one of those things a lot of people like myself are into, and I almost feel like I should like it. Like it is just one classic nerd genre. And I do appreciate the form. I know quite a few people who draw in that style, and usually people who can draw in that style are very good at it as well (with some exceptions I am sure). I have found myself liking a lot of anime inspired art.

Anyways, that's something I don't like. How about the rest of you? Is there something that people tout as a nerd staple that you just couldn't find yourself liking?

- The Joltess

THE MOST AWESOME THING I'VE EVER SEEN, PERIOD.

Hi Boys and Girls!


No, the title doesn't mean I'm not going to continue trying(and failing)to bring you a new piece of awesome eye-candy each week, but I'm truly at a loss for how I can ever possibly top a Japanese dance troupe ripping off Janet Jackson while singing the praises of The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past. My God, just look at this buffet of wonderfulness (and could they have found a cuter girl to play Link? Honestly, Japan, you confuse me enough as it is.):





Japanese video game commercials tend to be weird even by Japan's standards, but WOW. I wish there were a way to properly express my feelings about this masterful achievement, but I'm struck dumb. So instead, I'll throw a bone to the patriotic crowd and show you the psychotic American advertisement for the original Legend Of Zelda which burned itself  irrevocably into my memory back in '88 and made acquiring the game an obsession, even though the ad itself tells you little or nothing about the actual game. All I could gather is I'm looking for someone or something called Zelda, and I'll be surrounded by things like Octoroks, Tektites, and Leevers which I should be scared shitless of.





That's all for now, but stay tuned--I've some interesting things planned for the near future...