Nick Cave: Best mustache going in the world today? I'm thinking yes. *brought on because he bought Nick Cave's new album Tuesday, and it rules, and Nick Cave actually does have a kickass 'stache*
Anyway.
Today's topic that will allow me post quickly is - guilty pleasures. We all have them. What are some of yours? I will start.
- Synthpop: Any of it, even the really horrible shit that's used as the theme song to 1) Every TV show in the 1980s and 2) Every movie on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Something about synthpop just gets me giddy. I don't know what it is. Obviously the best of it (New Order, Depeche Mode, Eurhythmics, etc.) is good, but I enjoy even the bad in some bizarre way. I probably would have died of joy had I actually paid attention to anything in the '80s.
- Pro Wrestling: Always been a fan, and I probably always will be, although I don't watch WWE very often these days, mainly because it's on at a bad time for me. For a while now, I've turned to Japanese wrestling to get my fix. (This is actually what I was going to write about a while back before I realized it would take hours of my life, which I don't have available, before I would be able to restrain myself.) It's definitely different, and there's obviously a culture gap because I have no clue what anyone is talking about, but there are a few things that make up for this:
1) Random sprinklings of Engrish. There is nothing more enjoyable than an overexcited announcer shouting out the names of moves. "LARIATO~~~" is the classic example. When I watch WWE now, I find myself wishing Jim Ross were a Japanese announcer. How great would that be? It would have been incredible during the Attitude era. Can you imagine him screaming about Stone Cold Steve Austin? I'm getting goosebumps.
2) Storylines are relatively simple to understand. They basically boil down to Wrestler A wants to beat the shit out of Wrestler B because he wants to move up in rank and prove how awesome he is. There will be different themes and varying levels of hatred involved, of course, but that's essentially how it is. Kind of nice to be able to jump in and get the gist of the story through the interactions of the wrestlers without having to wonder if one of them killed the other's dog or snatched his baby or something.
3) Grumpy old bastards vs. cocky youngsters. Probably my favorite story type in Japanese wrestling. Nothing beats an old, grizzled veteran with obvious disdain for the new generation licking his chops at the opportunity to beat some respect into some young punk. It's even better when the young'un is an utter prick to the old guy and treats him with no respect whatsoever, humiliating him every chance he gets. I could watch these matches all day and never get bored.
4) Hiroshi Tanahashi. He's my favorite young punk in wrestling today. Everything about him rules. He looks and carries himself like a rock star (he even poses arrogantly before every match just to remind people how much better he is than them, which is wonderful), he can be such a fantastic douche when he wants to be, and he is great at taking an ass kicking. Plus, who else could rock an ascot like that? Nobody, that's who. I'm going to stop myself right now before this gets any creepier.
*works to regain the 95% of his audience he lost during all that*
- Absurdly soapy stories. Fruits Basket, I'm looking in your direction. Seriously, though, the last, like, third of the manga is completely ridiculous, and I enjoyed every second of it. Kyo was at the crosswalk when Tohru's mom was run over, and he didn't save her so he put himself through years of mental anguish? Count me in! The logical part of me says, "None of this makes sense! You shouldn't be enjoying this!" while the trashy, emotional part of me says, "ME LIKE CRAZY PLOT TWISTS WANT MORE." What can I say - I am easy to please.
WHAT SAY YOU, GOOD READER.
