Rocky as Pocky!

Today is "Pocky Day" in Japan. (In case you hadn't noticed, Pocky are long and could be used as a 1.)

Ages ago, I scored an inflatable Pocky and use it annually to bonk students on the head when they get an answer wrong. (And I'm still getting away with it!)

Once at Sendai station, they had a giant Pockage (Pocky Package) and I became a best selling snack, "Rocky Pocky"!

It is also of course "Poppy Day" and I read the poem "In Flanders Fields" to one class that feigned interest and the other that didn't give a hoot. At least this year, I discovered a Japanese translation so maybe they'll learn something. My Poppy ha seen better days, I've lost the pin.

I also handed out some freebies that were appreciated and a few gals returned the favour and gave me snacks.

The Pretz were for those who don't like chocolate.

 I saved this one for myself.

I took the weekend off from blogging, but not from Govembering. I watched 2/3 of the Mothra trilogy and a cool documentary. Here is part 1, I'm sure you can find the other parts as well.

I'm nearing the end of another mini-marathon of truncated 60/70s movies that excise most of the talky bits and only show the action. Check out Toho Champion Festival for details and a few trailers. The fine folks at DaiKaiju TeeVee are showing most of the movies.

To wrap up, here is a Chibi-Godzilla that I won at UFO Catcher today. Adorbs!*

* I promise to never use the term "adorbs" again!

Happy Remembrance Day!

I Remember Mothra.

11/11 has a couple of meanings today. For starters, it's Day 11 of Govember.

It's also Pocky Day! because a 1 looks like a Pocky stick. See:

 

I look forward to bonking people with my long rubber Pocky. Alas, I didn't have any lessons today and it's considered rude to bonk strangers on the noggin.

It's Dog Day! In Japan, because of 11/11. One One One One (or Wan wan Wan wan, the sound a dog makes here.)

It's the Day my Twitch channel decided to show 3 Mothra movies. HERE is a short video featuring Mothra and here are several Mothra to flit around your lit candle.

Yet, most importantly, it's Remembrance Day (Veteran's Day for the US) and I sported my poppy for the occasion.

I never paid much attention to my family’s history so that necessitated an inquiry to my brother. He learned by digging through my father’s papers that dad had an older brother who was killed in Italy in WW2. Further inquiries to my aunt years ago brought the revelation that Uncle Charles had a young family in England that died in a bomb attack late in the war.
Pretty grim. So now that I know that story, Remembrance Day has even more meaning to me.

Finally, a trivial pun for you. Can anyone decipher the title of today's post? Hint: It's Dunne.

Poppy and Pocky and Pretz, Oh My!

11/11 is Pocky Day or Pretz Day or Poppy (Remembrance) Day depending on who you ask. For Pocky Day, there was a photo opportunity set up at Sendai Station as I passed by there early in the morning.

Upon return, there were several Pocky boxes on display.

Including some unique monster-sized Pockys (Pockies?).

I bought the Snoopy a while ago and the Almond Crush today. I also gave my Wedding gals some Coconut Pocky but didn't snap a pic.

As a result of my purchase, I won two chances at Pocky-Roulette. I lost the first time though the second time, I won the top prize!

I also scored an inflatable Pocky Bonking stick.

For the Pretz enthusiasts, one can buy Edamame-flavour.

I opted for Gyuton (Beef Tongue). It'll either be incredibly awesome or terribly disappointing.

I wore my Poppy all day in honour of Remembrance Day.

I'll finish off with Leonard Cohen reading "In Flander's Field".

The Torch Be Yours To Hold It High.

In the past on 11/11, I usually post something about Pocky Day (the long chocolate covered pretzel sticks look like the number one), but this year I haven't made any Pocky purchases lately. (Click the Pocky label and go to 11/11 to see previous posts over the years.)

Instead because today is also Remembrance Day, I'll go that route instead. One person that I'll never forget is Leonard Cohen who passed away today. Here he is reading "In Flanders Field":



"Hallelujah" is an amazing tune that has been covered by almost everyone and my friend Yvonne does a kick ass version of it at karaoke.



We really need some actual "Democracy coming to the USA" these days.



Speaking of the USA, I've had my Grade 6 students prepare little presentations about different countries using the phrases, "I want to see...I want to eat...,etc." Most of them look something like this.

Yet wait a sec, when I looked at this poster last week, these characters in the lower left corner weren't there.

One of the lads drew in portraits of Obama, Hillary and Trump. The message in the word balloon from Trump is 暴言です (Bougen desu) which means "Reckless or Rash Words". Rather fitting, I must say.

On a more pleasant note, another group spoke of Canada including a famous Canadian landmark.

The house of Mister Michael. Not a bad likeness, I must say.

RIP Mr. Cohen and Happy Pocky or Poppy Day to everyone.

Remembering Remembrance.

My tongue in cheek Pocky Day post in no way diminishes the sentiments felt by myself and others on Remembrance Day.

I taught "In Flander's Fields" to my students yesterday and I wish I had a Poppy to proudly wear today. An old university colleague expressed it best on FaceBook and I'm going to scam his post.

"For anyone out there playing "Call of Duty." My dad, Ted Harris, answered the real call of duty and served with distinction in WWII and for 30 years in the forces. He was proud to do so, but unlike a video game, war was never fun and never "awesome." He wanted the horror he experienced in the war to be remembered, but not romanticized or glorified. He left behind a request to be buried with the blue beret he wore as a U.N. Peace Keeper, one of his proudest moments in uniform. His wish was that some day the brave men and women of our armed forces would not have to make the sacrifices his generation did. This year, I wish to honour their service and also my father's desire for peace."
Thanks Paul.

Keep the peace everyone!!

Happy Pocky Day!

I posted tried to post this on 11/11/11 at 11:11:11 according to my often-incorrect PC clock, times may vary internationally.
(PC froze at the last minute...Sigh!)

In order to get ready for today's event, I ran out to the local Conbini and bought a few boxes and I got a couple of Glico badges of Robin & friends. I forgot to photograph the badges, so you'll have to wait for a later update or I'll miss my 11:11 deadline. (Stupid blogger is taking forever to upload again so several pictures will have to be delayed...Sigh.)

Zombie Pocky:

Zombie Pocky extended ad:



The above are Halloweenish, the following-not so much. Here is a picture of Toppo who haven't jumped on the 11/11/11 band wagon.

Tex Avery Pocky:

Skinny Pocky:

Realistic Pocky:

Morning Musume Pocky:

Ubiquitous Pocky:

Pretz (For some reason, pronounced "Pritz" in Japan) did get in the act, I'm not sure what these characters are on the box, but they're kind of cool.

Best laid plans and all that, I missed my deadline thanks to a frozen computer and got it in at 11:12. I still had a few things to add, so it's even later. I'll update with the badges later.

Happy Poppy Day!

In Flanders Fields












In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

—John McCrae

I don't need to add to the above, except to mention that when I was listening to the Leafs/Rangers and the Oilers/Flames games, they read the above accompanied by bagpipes. Too bad the Leafs lost in a Shootout, but the Oilers kicked the Flames collective butts.

"Just give me the aspirin. I already got a Purple Heart."
Bill Mauldin, Stars and Stripes (1944)


For Canada's southern neighbours who celebrate a Vet Day (veteran not veterinarian) as well, I recommend you check out Blogger-Bully's entry on the cartoonist, Bill Maudlin. To check out more info on Snoopy's Root Beer quaffing pal, check out Bill Maudlin.










By the way, in Japan, the Poppy is known as the けし (keshi) and there are several different colours and varieties, other than the red ones that the Royal Canadian Legion sells today.


I actually had a few uncles who died in WWII, but darned if I can remember their names. I'm not very good at paying tribute, am I?