May 2011

All articles posted in May 2011.

Watching the Canucks outside

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 31, 2011 • Local
TransLink bus with Canucks wrap

Follow the Canucks bus to Rogers Arena!

In a true hockey nation, the City of Vancouver is setting up two large screens to broadcast the Stanley Cup Finals between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.

The first screen will be setup to compliment the existing one outside the CBC building on Hamilton Street between Georgia and Robson Streets.

The second screen will be placed on Granville Street, also between Georgia and Robson Streets. Food carts and portable washroom facilities are also being made available to make sure fans are well fed and looked after.

Georgia Street will be closed off between Richards and Cambie Streets

There’s also a display on the south-side of the Pan Pacific Hotel at Canada Place.

The Burnaby Public Library just west of Metrotown at the corner of Willingdon Avenue and Kingsborough Street is also bringing in a big screen for fans to watch.

If you don’t feel like travelling into the city for the party, Surrey is also showing the series at Central City Plaza on 10153 King George Boulevard. The City of Surrey web site mentions the first four games (which means they’re favouring a Canucks sweep).

TransLink will be offering increased SkyTrain and bus service to help get fans to and from the party zones.

All locations are free to attend.

Game 1 is on Wednesday at 5:00 pm PDT.

The Stanley Cup Finals

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 26, 2011 • Hockey

Both the Vancouver Canucks and their fans have waited 17 long years for a third trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. While the Boston and Tampa Bay series goes to game 7, Vancouver has time to prepare for the what are arguably the most important games in hockey. The Vancouver Sun has made available a copy of what the final schedule looks like.

  • Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 5:00 pm PDT Boston or Tampa Bay at Vancouver
  • Saturday, June 4th, 2011 5:00 pm PDT Boston or Tampa Bay at Vancouver
  • Monday, June 6th, 2011 5:00 pm PDT Vancouver at Boston or Tampa Bay
  • Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 5:00 pm PDT Vancouver at Boston or Tampa Bay
  • Friday, June 10th, 2011 5:00 pm PDT Boston or Tampa Bay at Vancouver (if necessary)
  • Monday, June 13th, 2011 5:00 pm PDT Vancouver at Boston or Tampa Bay (if necessary)
  • Wednesday, June 15th, 2011 5:00 pm PDT Boston or Tampa Bay at Vancouver (if necessary)

Anime Central 2011

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 25, 2011 • Conventions

It’s hard to believe another weekend of partying in Rosemont is over. As usual, I had a blast at Anime Central, with this being my fourth year attending. However, this convention wasn’t without its ups and downs – some stuff that carries over from previous years, along with the new. Anime Central 2011 took place at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, just on the edge of Chicago. As always, photographs are available on Gallery. Read the rest of this article…

Photographing Anime Central 2011

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 23, 2011 • In Pictures

Now that Anime Central has finished and everyone has headed home, it’s time to reminisce over all the colourful costumes and events. Of course, a recap of the entire convention will be available in the coming days. Until then, pictures!

Saiyuki's Goku Hungry Pit Vincent Valentine

Fighting Rin and Sesshomaru Cloud Strife

More photographs…

Canucks vs Sharks in Western Conference finals

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 13, 2011 • Hockey

It’s been 17 years since the Vancouver Canucks have been to the Western Conference finals. After battling the legendary Detroit Red Wings, the San Jose Sharks will be hungrily chasing the Canucks to advance to the Stanley Cup round. However, orcas are known to attack sharks, so it should be an interesting and close series.

  • Sunday, May 15th, 2011 5:00 pm PDT San Jose at Vancouver
  • Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 6:00 pm PDT San Jose at Vancouver
  • Friday, May 20th, 2011 6:00 pm PDT Vancouver at San Jose
  • Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 12:00 pm PDT Vancouver at San Jose
  • Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 6:00 pm PDT San Jose at Vancouver (if necessary)
  • Thursday, May 26th, 2011 6:00 pm PDT Vancouver at San Jose (if necessary)
  • Saturday, May 28th, 2011 5:00 pm PDT San Jose at Vancouver (if necessary)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Part 5 DVD

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 10, 2011 • Anime

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Part 5The Promised Day has arrived and the siege on Central has taken a turn now that the troops from Briggs have completely captured the military headquarters. However, the celebration is cut short once the Fuhrer King Bradley makes a return. Can Lin, Buccaneer and Fu defeat Bradley and his Ultimate Eye?

Meanwhile, Hohenheim squares off with Father just as Ed, Al and their teacher, Izumi Curtis make their way into the underground lair. Will Hohenheim and his sons be able to defeat Father and stave off his goal of activating the largest transmutation circle in the country?

This is the exciting animated conclusion to Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist manga series. The two-disc set contains the episodes 53 through 64 and is set to be released on July 26th, 2011. A Blu-ray edition will also be available on the same day.

Canucks 2 – Predators 1

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 9, 2011 • Hockey

In a nail-biting six game series, the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators was a battle of the goaltenders: Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo and Nashville’s Pekka Rinne. Game six was no different as only a single goal was the deciding factor in the Canucks’ 2-1 win over the Predators in the Music City.

Mason Raymond opened the scoring for the Canucks early in the first period, followed by Daniel Sedin a few minutes later. However, the Predator’s David Legwand would get his team up within one shortly after the start of the second period.

Rinne and Luongo would both shut the doors for the rest of the game making some great saves. Were it not for Rinne, the series would’ve been over long before.

The Canucks now wait for the outcome of the Detroit-San Jose series which goes to game six on Tuesday.

Fullmetal Alchemist body pillow

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 7, 2011 • The Otaku Culture
Fullmetal Alchemist body pillow - Alphonse

Fullmetal Alchemist body pillow featuring Alphonse Elric

Unlike most body pillows, or dakimakura as they are called in Japan, the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood edition doesn’t feature a sexy girl on it. Instead you have a stern-faced Edward Elric on one side and a cold stare from Alphonse Elric on the other. Both are fully dressed (I’ll leave the rest to your imagination). Instead of featuring the characters full length, the image only goes to the top of their heads to above their knees and are about 13½ inches wide and 42 inches long (or 34.29 cm wide and 1.06 meters in length). I’ll refrain from making a joke about the size.

This fully licensed pillow is pretty comfortable and easy to wrap your arms around and quite flexible, so don’t worry about squeezing Ed or Al to death.

Most body pillows come with a cover that can be removed and washed, but strangely enough the graphic design can’t be removed on this one. I couldn’t see any care instructions on the tag, just that it’s made with cotton and polyester. There’s also a warning stating that it’s not suitable for children due to small parts, but I believe that’s in regards to the stuffing inside.

I picked mine up at Sakura-Con for $30 USD, but speciality anime stores should carry them.

Fullmetal Alchemist body pillow - Edward Fullmetal Alchemist body pillow - Edward's face
Fullmetal Alchemist body pillow - tag obverse Fullmetal Alchemist body pillow - tag reverse

Naruto Shippuden Box Set 7

Frederick Linsmeyer • May 1, 2011 • Anime

Naruto Shippuden Box Set 7 Asuma and Team 10 continue to fight two of the most disturbing members of Akatsuki: Hidan and Kakuzu. However, Hidan reveals his most frightening ability – a technique that could spell the end for Asuma.

Naruto continues to work on perfecting his rasengan, which he may be using sooner than later after Tsunade gives Team 7 a new directive.

The Naruto Shippuden Box Set 7 contains episodes 78 through 88, which seems to be going decreasing, across three discs and will be available on July 12th, 2011.

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