Toys Am Me.

When I went to the movies on Monday, I had time to kick around the Toy store at the mall. What is it about being in a Toy Store that it makes you feel like you're 10 again, except this time with disposable income...a dangerous combo!

(Beware, the last image is a tad disturbing. You have been forewarned!)












I refrained from buying any Beetles (tough to tote on my bike when I already had all my books from work to carry.)












or Gegege fireworks (I don't think there is any age restriction on buying high explosives here!)


How could I resist this Speed Racer vehicle (2-in-1 vehicle, hidden weapons, pop-up launcher, escape vehicle, poseable Speed Racer figure) for only 3 bucks! Much to my surprise, it is imported by Mattel Canada Inc., from Mississauga, Ontario, next to my hometown!








I thought this Yatterman mascot would be cool, it turns out that it really isn't! Near as I can figure, the little characters spin around like a top. Yawn!










A little movie called ターミネーター 4 opens soon, so I got myself an inexpensive preview ticket that comes with this mini-Droid skull.











And biking home, I came across a dead ハクビシン or hakubishin... how cool is that? I thought it might be a Tanuki, but it is more of a weasel than a badger and in actuality is a civet (and was probably hit by a Civic!)

I'm In A Chitty Mood!

I'm getting ready to head to Tokyo tomorrow and I've been procrastinating the cleansing of my apartment all day. Periodic bouts of tidying interspersed with longer periods of lazing around. If I ever get anything done, I may post something more profound, but for now...Here are several versions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

The Japanese version:





These fans have a lot of enthusiasm, but not much else going for them!



Now it's 90's J-Poppers ゴーバンズ (Go Bang's) singing an odd version called チキチキバンバン:



Finally, Speed Racer gets in the act!



Thanks to Mark Evanier for pointing this out.