04/21/2006 Entry: "New Dr. Pepper, Old Battle Royale."

While traveling from one workplace to another this afternoon, I stumbled into a street vendor selling homemade jellies and Japanese DVDs. More out of appreciation for the fact that a person specialized in jellies and movies than anything else, I was determined to buy something, and succeeded by handing the friendly jelly guy a crumpled up ten dollar bill in exchange for Battle Royale on DVD. I know I'm way late to the game on this one, but if you haven't seen Japan's Battle Royale, I think it's about time you changed that.

Based on a book of the same name and design, the 2000 film provides an "alternate universe" Japan where society have gotten so CAH-RAZZY that random classes full of high school kids are forced to compete in a "Battle Royale" -- a deadly game of survival staged on a deserted island. Each kid is armed with a weapon (ranging from cool stuff like guns to shitty stuff like trash can lids) and sent out to fight for their lives. At the end of three days (or sooner if everyone else is dead), the sole survivor is declared the winner and sent home. If there's still more than one student left breathing by the end of the game, their remote-operated collars will explode, and yes, we get to see an example of a head explosion at least once during the film.

Whether it lives up to its cult hype in the States is immaterial. Battle Royale is way engaging and way entertaining if not wholly affecting or effective. Despite the film's bare-all brutality and twisted themes, there's an underlining sense of fun to the fantasy: It's got good guys you like, and bad guys you have to really try hard not to like. If you leave any desire to soak up the messages and symbolisms within at the door, Battle Royale is just a heck of a lot of fun to watch. Not Big Momma kind of fun, but not quite Korova Milk Bar kind of fun either -- somewhere more in the middle, where you can feel naughty for enjoying yourself but not terribly perverse.

This site tells more about the story, which became a full-fledged franchise with movie sequels, books and tons of merchandise. Here's another recommended site. And another. And another.

In celebration of spending a weeknight doing something that didn't fall under the category of "work," I made, burnt and threw away about 600 pounds worth of Chex Mix. I suck. I even picked up special drinks for the Chex Mix / Battle Royale event -- new Dr. Pepper Berries & Cream soda. I picked it up because I am magnetized by new soda brands, but I really didn't expect to like it. I knew I'd be writing something about it before bed tonight, but I figured that "something" would be akin to, "Man, this here soda fuck shit piss sucks." Nah, it's good. Real good. The berries and cream are really subtle, and you'd almost need to see the can to realize you were drinking something beyond normal Dr. Pepper. While the flavor isn't remarkably different (and thankfully not overly sweet), whatever they added seems to tone down the unmistakable "sting" one feels after each sip of regular Dr. Pepper. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, I leave to the committee.

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 04/21/2006 02:50 AM EST

I read the whole Battle Royale book and own both movies on dvd, as well as the first 6 volumes of the manga. You might say I'm a fan.

Chestnuts roasted by Stormdragon @ 04/21/2006 03:01 AM EST

Hahaha that bulbasaur interview had me cracking up

Chestnuts roasted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 04/21/2006 03:16 AM EST

http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/649.html

Wow, I don't remember this, but it is off-the-charts hilarious. Add it to your next "random links" attempt....

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 04/21/2006 03:53 AM EST

Battle Royale is an awesome film. It's never been given a formal release in the States though has it? Does anyone know, or care to speculate why that is?

Chestnuts roasted by Scott @ 04/21/2006 04:17 AM EST

Dang. Well I will try to follow that with a bit more Friday Joy!
I am very anxious to try the berries and cream Dr. P. Is there regular too or just Diet? Either way I like the can. Not many sodas choose butter yellow as the dominant color, and now I think they should.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 04/21/2006 07:43 AM EST

hey battle royale sounds tite. def gonna check out..

but dr pepper berries and cream - that just sounds fuckin nasty!

Chestnuts roasted by doc bong @ 04/21/2006 07:46 AM EST

I had a friend who was always trying to get us to watch Battle Royale With Cheese in high school, but we never did. Because she was under five feet and thus physically incapable of enforcing her will upon us. Except through ferocious biting. And since she was a vegan, that was easily overcome by my patented Armor o' Pork.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 04/21/2006 07:46 AM EST

That Diet Berries and Cream Dr. Pepper is the bee's knees. I mix it with my protein shakes at night for xxxtreme vanilla flavor.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 04/21/2006 08:05 AM EST

bleh! Me no likee diet Dr. pepper. It tastes like styrofoam had an affair with a pack of "Splenda."

Chestnuts roasted by Road Block @ 04/21/2006 08:19 AM EST

Battle Royale sounds pretty awesome. I'll have to give it a shot, thanks!

Chestnuts roasted by Spooky Muffin @ 04/21/2006 08:42 AM EST

Saw Battle Royale 2 years back or so, it *is* interesting. If not for the brutality than to see how everyone reacts differently to the situation. Some characters are a bit unrealistic, but eh.

I think we can all agree the best characters are the hackers.

Chestnuts roasted by Aristobulus @ 04/21/2006 09:17 AM EST

In regards to that Skeletor/Pepsi Blue article linked above, I've noticed this several times in various articles and it always bugs me - why does your Skeletor have Moss Man's arms? I'd assume this is the aftereffects of some childhood traumas inflicted on Skel, but SURELY O SURELY a man of your stature has a non-fuzzy Skeletor around somewhere. Maybe you just like the idea of Skeletor having fuzzy arms. Hell, it's growing on me.

Anyone ever notice Dr. Pepper 20 oz. bottles have a different shape depending on where you're at in the US? (And sometimes it's a Coke product, other times it's a Pepsi product.) For example, here in SW Missouri, the Dr.'s 20 ouncers are in the same type of generic bottle used for every other Pepsi product. Go 50 miles in any direction, however, and you'll find it loitering amongst the Coke items and brandishing a dope tapered bottle that's entirely unique to Pepper and has the logo stamped into it. Something's fishy.

And on a semi-related note, what's the difference between plain old Mr. Pibb and that "Pibb Xtra" that they switched to a few years back? I'll be damned if I can tell by taste. But then, Pibb and Pepper pretty much taste identical to me too.

Chestnuts roasted by lugnut @ 04/21/2006 09:28 AM EST

Matt,

You are totally right on with the berries and cream DP. It has just a hint of additional flavor without killing the great DP burn! The wife doesn't like it because she is a DP purist but I think I would almost sell my soul for a lifetime supply of berries/cream and cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper.

PS Mr. Pibb is not a sutiable substitue for DP!

Chestnuts roasted by Tigerfan @ 04/21/2006 09:29 AM EST

KB, Dr. Pepper berries and cream comes in leaded and unleaded. I suggest you try the regular first.

Chestnuts roasted by Tigerfan @ 04/21/2006 09:33 AM EST

I have only tried the Diet DPB&C, and I was pleasantly surprised... pretty damn good, I'd have to say. I like it a lot better than that cherry vanilla cough supressant shite.

Chestnuts roasted by Michael @ 04/21/2006 10:02 AM EST

I think Skeletor wearing Moss Man's arms *was* explained in one of the articles. Something about him getting beat up and needing new arms, can't really remember, but Moss Man definitely showed up to complain at one point. Can't find these in the search though.

Chestnuts roasted by Curiously Strongbad @ 04/21/2006 10:09 AM EST

lugnut-
Coke has dr. p on one side of the mississippi and pepsi on the other, so I've been told. I have noticed that in Canada, Cokes flavor is noticably different.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 04/21/2006 10:30 AM EST

I found battle royale pretty dumb. For Better shock cinema, check Salo. For better Asion notorius cult ihgoahl movies, Check za ginipiggu series and Koroshiya 1.

Chestnuts roasted by dudefromfinland @ 04/21/2006 10:30 AM EST

I have wanted to see Royale since it was hyped up during Kill Bill's run at the picture show but I've never seen it around anywhere.
Do people really buy homemade food treats on the streets of New York?
Travel Guide to Maine! I love that one!

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 04/21/2006 10:36 AM EST

There's a indie movie called "Series 7." It's about a reality show where random contestants are picked and told to kill the other contestants in various ways. It's VERY good.

I have yet to find and try B&C DP. I like their Black Cherry Vanilla flavor.

Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 04/21/2006 10:47 AM EST

Can't find these in the search though.

Actually, I'm an idiot, it's right there in said aforementioned Pepsi Blue article, I just hadn't read enough of it when I first posted.

Yet still, you know, the real reason nags at me. God I wish I had fuzzy green arms too.

Chestnuts roasted by lugnut @ 04/21/2006 10:55 AM EST

I loves me the Japanese film. My favorites are probably the same as most everybody that's interested in it. Audition will blow you away. Highly recommended. You might not think it's going anywhere at first, but it pays off big time. Ju-On was remade as The Grudge in the US, but the Japanese version is far superior and a lot scarier. And Pulse is about to get a major remake release in the US starring Veronica Mars. It looks a lot different that the Japanese version, even if they use clips from the original in the trailer for the new US version.

That's three. That's enough.

Chestnuts roasted by Chris Martin @ 04/21/2006 11:03 AM EST

I have not tried the diet variety, but the regular Berries & Cream isn't too shabby--although more as a novelty, as I couldn't picture myself actually drinking it with dinner, or anything..

I have an idea--I think they should put out a limited edition line of "mix" sodas; like Dr. Pepper/Pepsi and Mountain Dew/Sierra Mist, etc. Rad?

Chestnuts roasted by Review the World @ 04/21/2006 11:05 AM EST

kb--Coke also puts out a Passover-edition each year. It tastes less sweet, and I actually prefer it. It's about $.20 more per 2-liter, and I've never seen it in any other packageing, but we always stock up this time of year. It looks like normal Coke, but with a yellow cap with Hebrew written on it.

Maybe it's just an east cost thing.

Chestnuts roasted by sal @ 04/21/2006 11:18 AM EST

rad!
I am avoiding work in all forms today, anyone else with me?

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 04/21/2006 11:19 AM EST

I'm with you every step of the way kb

Chestnuts roasted by Scott @ 04/21/2006 11:22 AM EST

I've been on the BR bandwagon for many years and am proud to admit to owning both sets of incredibly rare kubricks, mass market and theatrical releases, however the elusive one packaged with some t-shirt still taunts me...

As to why it will never get released in the US of A...IT'S GOT 14 YEAR OLDS KILLING EACH OTHER, SOME FOR SPORT.

Of course, you can buy foriegn releases and bootlegs EVERYWHERE. If you do, and enjoy it, then please for fuck's sake, stay away from the Sequel.

Chestnuts roasted by Wonton @ 04/21/2006 11:23 AM EST

God, I love those random articles from X-E's past, especially the ones with the action figures starring in them.

If anyone watched yesterday's (4/20) ep of People's Court and during the crowd portions, you would've noticed the group of guys on the right-hand side. That's me + my 7 pledge brothers that happened to be in NYC on 3/11 because of a scavenger hunt for a pledge event. I was the one in the blue shades. At first you just see us walk by in the backround, and by the end, all 8 of us are hogging the camera.

The 2 guys that gave their $.02 during the case of where the guy had his car on his lady friend's property for a year and it got taken away (2nd case), were 2 of my pledge brothers.

It's kind of interesting on how they get these "on the street" interviews, they just find a group of people with 15 minutes to kill and put them in front of a camera and see if they have anything random to say. The guy that suggested eBay was Tom and the guy that agreed was Chris.

I just wanted to post this because I waited a month to see myself on TV for the first time, especially on a nationally syndicated one, and I didn't get dissappointed. I just wonder if anyone else watched this one.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 04/21/2006 11:24 AM EST

Just saw the Dr. article and if any one is interested click my name where you can still play LORD. makes a fun few minutes out of the day.

anyone else think of super puzzle fighter II turbo when they come up with these ridiculously long soda names?

Chestnuts roasted by RAS @ 04/21/2006 11:32 AM EST

sal - Jewish Coke? Definitely an East Coast thing.

Well, it might be elsewhere, I dunno, but it damn sure ain't in Missouri. Then again, so far as I'm aware, neither are any actual Jewish people either.

Chestnuts roasted by lugnut @ 04/21/2006 11:46 AM EST

Invader
That was totally playing yesterday at the gym. And because it was that or Dr. Phil, I watched it. I have to be honest, I have no idea if I saw you.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 04/21/2006 11:47 AM EST

Has anyone seen Ichi The Killer?

Chestnuts roasted by Scotty Flamingo @ 04/21/2006 11:53 AM EST

Diet Berries & Cream Dr Pepper Extra Special Turbo Tournament Edition V6 Chojin Monkeyslapper ain't all that bad. It's no Killer Shrew, but I'd drink it on a semi-regular basis.
My brother-in-law likes to buy the occasional bootleg DVD. They make for very intersting viewing experiences sometimes. Especially the ones recorded in the theater. Matt should have bought some jelly. Unless he uses Vasoline, Vaaaaasoline, Vaaa-aaa-aasoline....

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 04/21/2006 12:21 PM EST

I don't like Japanese films much, I am sad to say. Call me a 21st Century American, but if they're not speaking English then I get bored pretty quick.

I did like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the movie Hero enough, but you could kinda follow the plot.

That's why the language of the future is English! Heck, there are more English Speakers in Japan then there are Japanese Speakers in America. That used to be able to be said about Mexican Speakers in Mexico, but no longer.

Hmmm...

Chestnuts roasted by Dixon Deeper @ 04/21/2006 12:50 PM EST

Sorry to all if that was offensive. It wasn't meant to be.

Anyway, uhm, I like Dr. Pepper too.

I also have a stash of Vanilla Coke in my laundry room since they stopped selling it last year in the USA.

Chestnuts roasted by Dixon Deeper @ 04/21/2006 12:52 PM EST

Watching that film is like listening to Meloncamp songs, they are just "there", good but not impressing to much upon you.

The soda I have never heard of until now, and probably will not try it due to the fact that I hate to drink soda.

Chestnuts roasted by The80sruled @ 04/21/2006 02:20 PM EST

let me just say, it's well worth your while to find Battle Royale 2... I paid like 25 bucks for it from some site, but it's an awesome movie...

it took me a couple viewings, but I think part of me loves the second one more than the first... it was just soo much more dramatic...

Chestnuts roasted by gino @ 04/21/2006 02:37 PM EST

Have you tried Coke Blak? It's delicious!

Chestnuts roasted by Tiare @ 04/21/2006 03:24 PM EST

Battle Royale sounds a bit like King's The Long Walk, except instead of killing eachother, the kids who stop walking are shot point blank by the soldiers traveling w/ them on the sides of the road. I've heard rumors of a film. Kidneyboy, any idea?

" Has anyone seen Ichi The Killer?"
Is that the one w/ the guy who swings the poodle around by it's leash to kill it in front of the big glass window to a restaurant? I think I saw some of that. I can't really get into movies I have to read along to enjoy. Takes the sting out of things when you know what someone is going to say way before the listener actually hears it.

I've also been dying to try Dr. Pepper Berries & Cream. How's the commercial for this one? I don't think they can top the Manna-manna one w/ Dr. Pepper Cherry Vanilla Twist It To The Left, Whoo! that they still show on The Game Show Network like 100 times a day.

Oh, yeah. I have to mention the deal I found at Wally World the other day. I was perusing the craft section (like always - their scrapbooking stuff is all on clearance to make way for a new line, and I can't resist the sales). Anyway, I stumbled across this lone Tub O' Adhesive Spongebob Foamies hiding in some cloth remnants. It's supposed to be Christmas, but the characters don't have anything actually Christmassy on them (you have to stick them on seperately), the kiddos and I can slap them all over everything year round. The best part - they were originally $6, but they were on clearance for a buck. Woohoo! I think I was more excited than the young'uns.

I also wanted to mention that Renee Zellweger was in town again recently. Mr. Traj saw her at Walmart (again!), and my sister saw her at the local package store(liquor store, to all of you non-New Englanders) w/ a carriage full of wine bottles. I actually figured she'd sell the house when she broke up w/ Jack White, but she's still here. I keep hoping to run into her at the library or something, although I have no idea what I'd say to her.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 04/21/2006 03:26 PM EST

trajeal

For as long as I've been posting here, I never knew you were a woman. :o

Or maybe I did and just plain forgot and I haven't seen you around in a while.

Anyway, I really really really dont like Dr. Pepper at all. Diet Berries & Cream Dr. Pepper kind of sounds very similar to Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, which I abosolutely hated but it seems a bit better now that I've tried Coke BlaK. And I heard that Coke is going to team up with Godiva to produce an even more heinous concoction of Coke, Chocolate, and Mocha flavorings.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 04/21/2006 03:41 PM EST

YES THAT MOVIE IS AWESOME.

Chestnuts roasted by Connor @ 04/21/2006 04:01 PM EST

Scotty Flamingo,
seen and own Ichi. The movie is a curiosity to say the least. But when the guy cuts off his own tongue as repentance--I can take a lot of gore, but that I still have trouble watching.

Trajeal,
I don't recall any scene like that in Ichi. Must have been a different messed up flick. Ichi is about sado-masochistic assassins and other stuff our mommies told us not to watch.

JLAJRC,
Series 7 was one of the biggest disapointments I've experienced. I guess for two reasons. A) The filmakers just couldn't get the tone right. They were spoofing for laughs when they should have been ironic. Some scenes were played too straight and serious upsetting audience empathy. B) The ending was just a total mess, especially the whole "Re-created" sequence. Just a mess. I'd like to see, though, other filmakers try to do the film again, Series 8 and 9 etc, in different locations with different characters. The idea was great given the public's perverted need for "reality" television, but beyond the idea--eh, I'm through ranting.

Let's bring on some junk food and cartoons.

Chestnuts roasted by inkmage @ 04/21/2006 04:11 PM EST

Norbert:

Is that "Chocolate" or "Mocha" Coke deal for serious? I would die for a chocolate-flavored soda.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 04/21/2006 04:14 PM EST

It's a good soda. You could get sick of it pretty quickly, but it's not bad. Soda these days seem to have more variants than a Mattel toy though. HIYO!

Chestnuts roasted by Dragonrider @ 04/21/2006 04:19 PM EST

Matt-

Holy shit. I love Jpanese stuff and want to teach English in Japan, so why haven't I heard of this film? I must either rent or purchase this film. It sounds awesome.

Thanks for the info, Matt. I never even knew you liked Japanese stuff at all.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 04/21/2006 05:04 PM EST

mtrox

I believe it is the real deal, and it's not "Chocolate" OR "Mocha" it's "Chocolate AND Mocha," along with the Coke.

Either way, ick.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 04/21/2006 05:38 PM EST

I think the Dr. Pepper Berries & Cream tastes like Dr. Pepper mixed with YOGURT

Chestnuts roasted by Brandon @ 04/21/2006 05:38 PM EST

ichi is some sick sh!t!

when he forms the title sequence with his cum, well u just know the rest of the movie's gonna b a treat..

for any1 that can't find battle royale do a search on mininova.org, i'm currently downloading..

i've drank dr pepper since birth but can't bring myself to add berries & cream to the equation.

coke and pepsi still taste like they're missing something to me, dr pepper seems so much thicker like they add maple syrup or some sh!t.. but maple syrup made out of sweet, delicious crack!

Chestnuts roasted by doc bong @ 04/21/2006 07:10 PM EST

To do a little carry-over from the last thread: After seeing the newest Big Love I see more how it fits in with Sopranos, what with the fringe subcultures and their conflicted but charismatic leaders and assorted whatnots...I also decided that in addition to Carradine, the shoulda casteds include Maria Bamford as sister-in-law Wanda. I still wish they'd paired Sopranos with Rome, though it might be a little overwhelming for one night.
I'm really surprised people haven't heard of Battle Royale, but then I forget that not everyone was as obsessive on Kill Bill as I was. I'm even still sporting the KB2 layout on my LJ, despite it being pathetically outdated.
I spent the morning goofying off, reading the Maine guide...hooray for Fridays!

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 04/21/2006 07:38 PM EST

No kidding, Norbert. I guess I'm not the object of femininity that I thought. Heh. Oh, well.

I found that Dog Being Smashed Outside Of Restaurant movie - it's Gozu. No one writes out monologues in cum, (b/c they have no tongue, apparently) though, so I guess it wasn't nearly as "wacky" as Ichi. Oh, well.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 04/21/2006 07:59 PM EST

lugnut-

It depends on who the bottler is. Beyond the fact that Dr. Pepper is USUALLY (but not always) a Coke product in the west and a Pepsi product in the east, there are many bottlers. Each region has a different Dr. Pepper bottler, and those bottlers use different bottles.

Personally, I travel to Pittsburgh for business a couple times a year. It's ultra-annoying to go to a McDonald's and not be able to get Dr. Pepper with my McNuggets or Quarter Pounder with cheese. Dr. Pepper is just so... RIGHT with McDonald's, and the food there just isn't as good with Coke or root beer.

mtrox-

If you live in a major metropolitan area, see if you can find a real old-fashioned soda fountain. I used to work at a soda fountain, and we made all sorts of flavors- chocolate, strawberry (with chunks of strawberries), vanilla, etc. Chocolate soda really wasn't as great as it sounded. Heck, try putting some Hershey's syrup in a Coke.

Chestnuts roasted by spaz307 @ 04/21/2006 08:20 PM EST

I don't know how common Sonics are around the country, but, according to their commericials, they make any flavor soda combination you want. I think they're even set up like the old fashioned drive ins, w/ meals delivered to your car. Or am I thinking about an A&W? Ahhhkk, now Ive confused myself.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 04/21/2006 08:49 PM EST

I've bought Dr. Pepper Berries and Cream several times at work, both in the regular and diet varieties. I'm not normally a soda fan, but as I mentioned a while back, I can't resist a new flavor that's on sale. It is really good, really does taste like berries and cream soda, so if you like the two and Dr. Pepper, it's recommended.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 04/21/2006 08:59 PM EST

Also: I am not a committee.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 04/21/2006 09:40 PM EST

trajeal,

We have Sonics here in Florida, and they do make your soda "any way you want" Basically, you can get a flavor shot added (from their slushy flavors). But I think you can add several flavors or mix different drinks too. Personally, I stick with the Lemon-berry slush.

Does anyone else LOVE the Sonic commercials? When one comes on, I stop what I'm doing and watch it.

Chestnuts roasted by LuLu @ 04/21/2006 10:06 PM EST

If you want to make your own flavored sodas you should get some Torani syrup. Coffee shops and specialty food stores have it, and you can put it in just about any kind of beverage, and it comes in a whole bunch of flavors. I've impressed kids with "apple pie" soda (seltzer + apple syrup + cinnamon syrup) and I like a nice glass of coconut flavored chocolate milk myself.

Chestnuts roasted by Welsh Rabbit @ 04/21/2006 10:08 PM EST

Inkmage: I'm surprised you didn't like Series 7. Are you planning on seeing American Dreamz since that spoofs/satires American Idol.

I remember when I was younger my mom had a make your own soda machine. We would make root beer, orange, and strawberry/cherry sodas in these little bottles. They were good.

Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 04/21/2006 11:45 PM EST

sonic not only brings the food to your car, they roller skate up to your window with it

but word even 7 11 has the soda flavors now, get a big gulp and u can add any flavor u want to it

Chestnuts roasted by doc bong @ 04/22/2006 12:19 AM EST

I only scanned through the comments sorry I apologize if this has already been covered. I believe they were in High School not Junior High.
Secondly, I really HATED the sequel. All the stuff that made the first one great was either rehashed poorly or lost all together the second time round. Really a shame a sequel was ever made. I'll always see it as a stand-alone.

Chestnuts roasted by rockasoo @ 04/22/2006 12:19 AM EST

You are correct - high school. I'm dumb. And editing to make myself look less dumb now.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 04/22/2006 12:22 AM EST

isn't Easter Island an environmental nightmare? At one time it was lush and full of plants and stuff, but in came man and trashed it. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Chestnuts roasted by Mike the Great @ 04/22/2006 12:42 AM EST

hooray for Fridays indeed, squee
I heard one time Dr. P is meant to be plum flavored, is that a bunch of hooey? I'm gonna go wiki it.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 04/22/2006 12:46 AM EST

Unlike Coca-Cola and Pepsi, Dr Pepper is not marketed as a cola. Dr Pepper's flavor is allegedly derived from a mixture of soda fountain flavors popular when the drink was first devised. A partial list of these flavors can be seen at the bottling plant in Dublin, Texas; although the formula itself (with its twenty-three ingredients) is a closely-guarded secret. Contrary to a popular urban legend, Dr Pepper does not and never has contained prune juice.
I'm going to go try to have a life now. Night X-E!

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 04/22/2006 12:49 AM EST

What do you know, I was right about Easter Island. I skipped ahead to the end of the article. I remember reading about the stuff that happened there when I was a senior in high school in 1998. I know, nobody cares. lol.

Chestnuts roasted by Mike the Great @ 04/22/2006 12:53 AM EST

trajeal I've not heard about a Long Walk movie, but that would be one of the ones I'd most like to see. As a matter of fact, the three Bachman books that are not movies are the ones I'd most like to see...IF they were done right, instead of butcher jobs like Thinner and The Running Man.

anybody who was talking about those crazy ass Japanese films...I've never seen any of those. But the one I have seen is Tetsuo/Iron Man. Ring any bells? It's about a guy with a metal fetish who gets raped by this lady with a big metal schlong, and then eventually turns into metal. There are some pretty disturbing scenes in there. I'm more of a "humorous gore" type person, a la Troma. Gore for the sake of pure shock is pretty much a one-note trick. I don't know. Maybe I've seen enough gore and horror in my own body to be bored with it on the big screen.

I've had all kinds of tubes coming right out of my body through the skin, crazy shit...and good thing I wasn't squeamish. I could sometimes see around the gap between the skin and the tube, it was like looking right into my body, I could see wet flesh and dark crevices...but it never got infected. I've seen some posters with those pics on, where people didn't take care of their tubes, and they were designed to scare you into making sure your's was cleaned around and stuff. It had to be cleaned every day, with antiseptic solution, betadine and alcohol wipes. It was a process I'm glad I don't have to deal with anymore.

Ok, back to your regularly scheduled "middle of the night".

Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 04/22/2006 02:50 AM EST

JLAJRC
no, I have no current plans to see that film. Why satirize a show that's already a parody of itself? The only "reality" show I can think of is Cops. Everything else is fabrications upon fabrications. There was this great article in Radar magazine (RIP) interviewing the writers of reality shows. Yes, in case you're not aware, "reality" shows are scripted like everything else. But in Cops, that stuff can't be made up, it's just too weird and nasty most of the time.

Oy, I needs me some sugary cereal and some Samurai Jack.
And Yacko Warner said, "Goodnight everybody."

Chestnuts roasted by inkmage @ 04/22/2006 03:19 AM EST

I'm hooked on DP Berries N'Cream now, and I don't think I'm alone; the local stores can't seem to keep it stocked.

And while I've always liked DP, I fecking HATED DP Cherry Vanilla Whatever. That tasted like...chemicals. But DP B&C is a homerun, baby.

Chestnuts roasted by Happenstance @ 04/22/2006 03:49 AM EST

Alright, wanna hear something weird?? We have lots of 7-up fountain machines here in Washington, and Dr. Pepper is ALWAYS on them! It seems that DP is owned by 7-up, but I know that it has been owned by both Coke and Pepsi in the past, so I'm not really sure what the deal is with them on fountain machines... here in Spokane though you can find DP on Pepsi machines often but on Coke machines less often (it's usually Mr Pibb) but honestly quite a lot of places with either of those machines don't have them (for example, in Oklahoma, where I'm from, at Taco Bell they always have DP on their fountains but here in WA they never do). Wow that was a lot of rambling about soda.

PS I think cherry vanilla DP tastes just like regular, maybe just a little sweeter. Am I the only one who thinks so?

Chestnuts roasted by Suzanne @ 04/22/2006 05:12 AM EST

Oh and one more thing... Go to the grocery store if you want chocolate soda, Shasta makes it.

Chestnuts roasted by Suzanne @ 04/22/2006 05:15 AM EST

There should be a nationwide holy war to place the Dr. Pepper brand under one bottler once and for all. Not that I have anything against either Coca-Cola or Pepsi, I just think it'd be a hoot. Most hyperactive crusade ever.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 04/22/2006 07:01 AM EST

as far as i know 7up/dr pepper have always been the same company..

dr pepper may occasionally make deals with coca cola or pepsi bottlers in regions where they aren't as popular, but that doesn't mean they are or were ever owned by coke, they're just using coke as a distributor

in fact coke is a direct competitor with their imitation mr pibb, which is offered in substitute for dr pepper at some places (although dr pepper is still offered at the taco bell's down here which are otherwise dominated by pepsi products)

dr pepper's headquarters is probably bout 5 minutes from my house, here in plano tx (suburb north of dallas).. when i was in grade school we used to take tours of the dr pepper bottling company

Chestnuts roasted by doc bong @ 04/22/2006 07:30 AM EST

Inkmage:

To be fair, the article wasn't about "writers" per se. The actual people are not given scripts. Instead, the article was about editors who take the real footage and mold it, sometimes disingenuously, into their own story arcs.

And now I'm off to the grocery to find some Diet Chocolate Shasta (can't do the syrup things because of the calories...I did have a "chocolate coke" years ago at Hershey's Chocolate World though--a place that is heaven on earth, might I add).

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 04/22/2006 07:35 AM EST

While most of the ants have retreated from my apartment, there is one crawling on my monitor. As soon as I saw it, my first instinct was to click on it in order to kill it. I don't know what that says about me, but since I'm pretty sure it's some preachy moral about getting off the computer and spending more time in the real world, I'm not going to dwell on it.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 04/22/2006 08:24 AM EST

oh and anybody into torrents def check out www.myspleen.net.. Matt u could do years of reviews off that one site they have everything on there, even hours blocks of saturday morning 80s tv to download

Chestnuts roasted by doc bong @ 04/22/2006 09:14 AM EST

www.myspleen.net

^ my bad!

Chestnuts roasted by doc bong @ 04/22/2006 09:15 AM EST

Jedoc:

What that says about you is OMG CLICK ANT TO WIN FREE IPOD!!!11

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 04/22/2006 09:20 AM EST

Just woke up in the living room at the house party I slept at last night...now I have snuck into the host's room to check XE as he sleeps....hardcore? Oh yeah.

We wound up celebrating 4/22 at 4/22 AM since we couldn't get together before. Wicked good time. I came in second in a big poker game...Texas Hold 'Em no limit.
Sorry, KIDNEYBOY- we play the 'trendy' kind of poker, although I wouldn't be opposed to other types. Anyone else on XE hooked on poker, too? I didn't think I would be...although I got some mega huge propes since I'm a chick, and can still play a little. Whoot!

Ok, this blog has made me hungry. I'm out in search of food and good pop.

Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 04/22/2006 10:16 AM EST

lol, mtrox

Chestnuts roasted by LuLu @ 04/22/2006 10:28 AM EST

I want to know...what was the first movie on DVD??

I'm bored on this Saturday morning, and I'm too lazy to spend hours researching it! Does anyone know?

I tried googling it, but didn't come up with anything useful.

P.S. I think it's funny how we commonly use words as verbs that weren't originally intended to be verbs, like "I googled it" or "I'll Paypal you the money". Also "I'm gonna go wiki it" was used earlier in the comments today. I dunno, the evolution of the English language fascinates me.

Chestnuts roasted by LuLu @ 04/22/2006 10:48 AM EST

The first commercial U.S. release of DVDs consisted of a selection of four IMAX films. Tropical Rainforest, Antarctica, Africa, and, interestingly, Animation Greats. However, the first film ever recorded on a DVD was Twister, which was a proof-of-concept test of both the recording technology and the 2.1 digital sound format.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 04/22/2006 11:15 AM EST

Tragically, I did not google that particular factoid, or at least not recently. I gave a speech on the history of home video players for my COMS 111 class four years ago, and ever since then the "first DVDs" bit has been my second-favorite random tidbit of knowledge. Right after "The chocolate layers of Andes mints actually contain more mint flavor than the green layer." They help to fill the gaps in conversation, and also prevent all those irritating invitations to social events.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 04/22/2006 11:22 AM EST

Muppet Baby-

I play poker quite a bit. Usually at least twice a week and sometimes four times. There's not much else to do in Idaho Falls, even though it is technically illegal to play for real money up here.

Personally, I prefer Hold'em. I drank my short term memory away in college, so I'm useless at stud games. Since I play Hold'em so much, my thought process is all screwed up for Omaha. I'll be looking at trips and thinking I have a good hand, when in Omaha it's really not. And don't even get me started on how fracking complicated Omaha hi/lo is.

I prefer tournament style because I play with these people so regularly. I consider them my friends, although I'm still ruthless at the table. That said, I don't want to see anyone go crazy and lose more than they can afford playing a cash game. At least with tournament style, you can only lose so much, assuming the host doesn't allow rebuys.

I loathe rebuys because even though they sweeten the payouts, they encourage poor play. They just let people with no skill at figuring pot odds or reading opponents just keep playing until they get lucky. While luck is an undeniable part of the game, it should only be a major factor in how many opening hands you get that are worth playing. After the flop, you shouldn't be in the hand unless you've got good pot odds, a monster hand, or you've got position and are going to bluff (unless you're one of those psychos who likes to bluff from early position). Yet at the one game that I play at that allows rebuys, time after time I see idiots chase a long-shot draw with only one other person in the pot and get lucky.

Yeah, so I like poker. A lot. Lucky for me no one plays for high stakes around here, or my wallet would be in trouble. Mostly I play in $5, $10, or $20 buy-in games.

Oh, and the game that I play on Saturdays is pretty tough. All the players are good, and one guy brought back $20,000 from a World Poker Tour event after his son won a seat using his dad's account at an online poker room.

Chestnuts roasted by spaz307 @ 04/22/2006 12:59 PM EST

I like poking things with sticks.
Poke.. poke.. poke..

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 04/22/2006 01:44 PM EST

Wow, Jedoc, thanks a lot!! Also thanks for the tidbit about the Andes mints. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle!!

Chestnuts roasted by LuLu @ 04/22/2006 03:56 PM EST

This is random, but has anyone read the new Friday the 13th comics put by Avatar?
They are fuckin horrible. The Jason vs Jason X comic is hands down the single worst comic Ive ever read, and that goes back 17 years at this point.
Now, I know, I shouldnt expect much, but they're bad enough where I want to mention it here.

Chestnuts roasted by jesse @ 04/22/2006 07:06 PM EST

Here is my shamless plug for my video I made using Battle Royale and a Radiohead song. Enjoy. Also check out the others I made. Hey, I gotta advertise my sorry ass somehow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YugSdP79W4

Chestnuts roasted by Razor Blade Dream @ 04/23/2006 02:31 AM EST

The best place to buy Battle Royale,(and any other Asian films) is HKFlix.com. Here's a direct link to BR1: http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.527266/qx/details.htm

The movie itself was never released here in the U.S., so this is the best way to get your hands on a copy. It's a Region 0 NTSC version. I bought it a while back. There are English subs for the movie itself but, unless you speak Japanese, the 2nd disc of bonus features is pretty worthless. Still, it's worth it for the movie itself.

Chestnuts roasted by Chris @ 04/24/2006 02:53 PM EST

I saw he movie version of Battle Royale, then read a few volumes of the manga, then finally decided to read the book. After reading the book, I started to dislike the film.

My main problem with the film is the way they ruined certain characters. Kiriyama for example. In the book, he was a cold, cool, calculated killer. So much to the point that he was similiar to many classic horror characters. But in the movie, he was just crazy. He did not come off as interesting.

I also hated how they changed the head of the program, giving him a past, and changing his attitude. He was so much better in the book.

Anyone who has seen the movie, definitely go get the book.

Chestnuts roasted by Rattwap @ 04/25/2006 12:40 AM EST

I just got into Battle Royale last month. I'm currently on page 458 of the novel. It's definitely one of the best books I've ever read. I never would have come across it if I wasn't writing a book myself. I was searching the 'net to see if my idea had been done before, and one link led to another, and BOOM! It's definitely a must read. I picked my copy up at Barnes & Noble.

If you get tired of the DVD, I'll buy it off you, Matt.

akajohnnyx@yahoo.com

Chestnuts roasted by akajohnnyx @ 04/25/2006 01:24 AM EST

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Chestnuts roasted by viagra @ 05/05/2006 12:30 AM EST