Grass misrepresentation

While mowing the yard, I had a funny flashback to when I was in lad mags. A fellow subeditor was castigated for clumsily cutting/rejigging a reader-submitted sex story. I can still hear the ed's exasperated, "You've turned him into a premature ejaculator!"

Another exciting thing in my life, besides lawn care and daydreaming, is that I've grown a moustache. When I was 30, a beauty columnist advised me to shave off my then-mo' because, "It makes you look 40." Now I'm 50, I'm hoping that's still the case.

(Yes, of course I shaved it. She was a tall, attractive blonde with the bearing of an empress.)

It was Seul-ki all over again

"Sentenced To Be A Hero" reminds me of "Fullmetal Alchemist", "Suicide Squad", "Game Of Thrones" and other dark fantasies. Heinous criminals are magically forced into a servitude where they must fight for the religious-military state. If they refuse or mess up, their heads are blown off. They then get resurrected to continue fighting. But the more times this happens, the more chance their minds will become muddled and their memories lost. Protagonist Xilo is one such hero, with a hella-bad attitude, a shameful past the viewer instinctively knows wasn't his fault, and combat skills for days. As a result of a dubious deed by an offsider, he's reluctantly teamed with a cute li'l "goddess", Teoritta - essentially a living magic-generating weapon - and thrust into the forefront of the worldwide battle against demon lords and their "faerie" minions. A battle which might not be so black'n'white as it first appears, appropriately enough for a show stocked with noble crims, corrupt officials, thrill killers, kleptomaniacs, and all kinds of deception and manipulation. The weakest aspect for me is the generic enemies - faceless, voiceless, mutated animals and insects sporting brightly coloured bulbous growths. However, I gotta admit their demonic masters are way cooler in design, and that even the grunts are becoming slightly interesting as of Episode 5...which features a shocking plot development. The supporting cast of characters is well above average, with a personal favourite being a resurrection-scarred hero named Norgalle who thinks he's a king and is constantly making rousing speeches or issuing royal commands. Is "Sentenced" trying to say something about PTSD in soldiers? Or the effects of long-term incarceration? I'll have to ponder those questions further while I continue watching.

Nix the nexus

Vehicles I remember our family owning and a random recollection associated with each one - 

* Holden Kingswood - 'Twas light green, like a pale frog.

* Honda Scamp - Seemed to be always in the garage. Mechanical problems or maybe a "project car"? I was too young to know.

* Mini - Sister AC slammed the door on my thumb and ripped off the fingernail. At school, I would lift up the Band-Aid to gross out my classmates!

* Secondhand milk truck (signage removed) - Dunno the marque. Dodge? I discovered two magnets in the glovebox that I played with for months.

* Daihatsu twin-cab truck (custom canopy) - Had a beast of a sound system, with speakers in each door.

* Daihatsu Charade - We didn't own this very long, before Dad upgraded to...

* Daihatsu Charade (special-edition sportier model) - We put an incredible number of miles on this little pocket rocket.

* BMW 3 series - Mum's first car. Some dickhead crashed into the rear at an intersection. No-one was injured, luckily.

* Ford Laser - Her next car, and the vehicle in which I learnt to drive.

* Secondhand Porsche 928S - Dad's dream ride, bought as a gift to himself when he thought cancer might soon claim him (glad to say he survived many more years).

* Ford Falcon - Still going strong today!

Quantum jiggle physics

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By EM Gist. The sinister Egyptian-mummy vibe. (Different pose for a superhero!) The use of light and shadow. The glowing blue eyes.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Do You Know The Five Virtues?" by Leenalchi (Korea).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QuYb4ImSuw

Commended >>> "Wasting Time" by Kraftklub (Germany), "Glade Lords Of Athel Loren" by Power Paladin (Iceland).

BEST PHOTO OF A NOODLE BOWL I TOOK THIS WEEK

My fave kimchi ramyeon, sliced ham (take it from me and Ponyo), bean sprouts, unsalted peanuts, extra fried onion and garlic.

My joke was an homage to your joke

Am reading this. It's hit and miss. Not sure if I should praise or diss.

Publisher blurb:

"In this exciting collection, you’ll find all-new stories spinning off from some of your favourite Doctor Who moments across the history of the series. Learn what happened next, what went on before, and what occurred off screen in an inventive selection of sequels, side trips, foreshadowings and first-hand accounts – and look forward, too, with a brand-new adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor.

"Each story expands in thrilling ways upon aspects of Doctor Who’s enduring legend. With contributions from show luminaries past and present – including Colin Baker, Matthew Waterhouse, Vinay Patel, Joy Wilkinson and Terrance Dicks – The Target Storybook is a once-in-a-lifetime tour around the wonders of the Whoniverse."

Shelf fighter

Had been wanting a Chun-Li figure for eons. (Already owned a pair of Cammys.) Saw this fig reduced by $30 and that was that.

So Chunners is your main, right? No. Not that I've ever been a good or serious player, but I've mostly used E. Honda and Blanka.

D.E.A.R.

Who remembers the Drop Everything And Read initiative in junior high?

I wouldn't drop everything and watch "Drop" unless you just want a popcorn flick. It's all about the concept: single mum on first date in years starts receiving anonymous phone messages threatening her babysitter and kid if she doesn't co-operate in a dastardly scheme. The world of the movie never feels quite real, despite the main character's all-too-common trauma from an abusive past relationship, but there's enough mystery, suspense and, eventually, action to keep you merrily munching in between sips of cola. Or shots of tequila :-)

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More Cancon moments:

* Cabbie telling me about her collection of 55 different - and still sealed - "Monopoly" sets.

* Fellow player showing us a vid of the sweet Viking-themed bar and game room he'd built under his house.

* Tales of wild home-game characters (e.g. based on that person's drag alter ego) or ignominious deaths from earlier sessions at the convention. 

* Trying three yummy types of mead from a keen brewer at SC and J.'s barbecue.

* Seeing people's geek tattoos, 3D-printed spell trackers, elaborate dice-rolling towers, wicked cosplay daggers tucked into belts... There was even a dude walking around with some sort of lyre.