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Tag: Jimmy From NASA

Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 73 – Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie’ | Ft. The Cel Cast

Re-listening to this episode is bittersweet, to say the least. It was broadcast before the tragic death of actor Jason David Frank. This discussion would’ve been much different if it happened afterward. (Listen to the charity livestream [link] to hear that). Regardless, I had a surprising amount of notes on episode 73, which is partly due to my history with the cheeky AI Drew and Jacob have on their show. Can she generate art now? I’m sure she needs a job. Anyway, my notes are:

  • Alliteration or not, you worry me, Nate. (Whatever it was that worried me).
  • You only say I suck at it because my mic is broke. That will be fixed soon.
  • It wouldn’t be the first restraining order I’ve gotten. (D-Let). Some past guests, who shall remain nameless, may have filed some.
  • The “Yes, quite” habit still concerns me, Nate. It still does.
  • I, too, have roommates I don’t like to talk about, Nate.
  • Ninjor is blue, not purple. Get it right, Power Tripper!
  • I also wasn’t a kid when MMPR came out. And yes, Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies. I could rave about it for long enough to travel to the Moon in a standard-issue NASA space capsule.
  • Cutting me off and telling me to call my sidekick?! Your new power has gone to your head, Marchand!
  • Nate always assumes I know nothing…like Schultz. (If you got that reference, I’m impressed).
  • I met the Stepford Teenagers once. They’re the children of the Stepford Wives, naturally, and just as creepy.
  • I met Snoggle once. It might be why he never got to Dulcea. Just saying.
  • I used to use “I’m a frog” as a pickup line. But that was when I was a frog for a while. I don’t want to talk about it.
  • But “Ivan’s Ooze” is real! (beer image) I may have to switch to it in light of recent controversies with certain alcohol companies.
  • First, you’re disgusting, Marchand. Second, they’re “Oozemen,” not “Oozlets.” That’s what Michael incorrectly called them on The Power Trip episode you did on this movie (link).

Now for the mandatory sharing of Nate’s research on the movie in question—much of which was taken from his Power Trip notes.

I’m inching closer to the episodes where I was forced to take a prison time hiatus. It didn’t stop me from being intrepid or a producer. We all know Nate needs me.

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 72: Record All Monsters vs. ‘Colossal’

Nate was already doing, what, five jobs at that point? I saw Nate guzzle Kaiju Energy drinks like I do Jack Daniels. (Well, I’ve switched to a new favorite alcohol now). This was when my notes and on-air corrections became even more important. Speaking of which, here are my notes from episode 72 with first-time guests Robert and Courtney from Record All Monsters:

  • Nate says his new position hasn’t gone to his head. I don’t believe him.
  • Colossal was released in 2016, not 2015, Nate.
  • I don’t know what Nate is insinuating about husband and wife team. Actually, I do, but it isn’t “PG,” to say the least.
  • Traumatizing Gloria was a joke! That woman has been through enough! (Kinda like my new lady friend…).
  • It may not be slander that I turned into a sailor, but I don’t appreciate the insinuation. I’m a “space sailor” (astronaut). Get it right!
  • It’s pronounced, “Soo-day-kus.”
  • You can’t call me “Jimbo,” Marchand!
  • You’re still wrong, Nate. It’s New Jersey. (link)
  • I’ve actually sketched my projected robot. I’d post it here, but I already dealt with Michael Hamilton stealing my annotated Godzilla Compendium.
  • There are reasons my age is top secret…so I can’t talk about them even if I wanted to…which I don’t.
  • I “master” myself every day…(ahem).
  • (double check inner demon name)
  • Listen, buddy…it has come to this! (Whatever “this” is!)
  • You promoted the wrong upcoming film and episode, Marchand! (But I didn’t correct you…oops…).
  • I have a case pending with Raymund, too…because reasons. It’s since been settled out of court.
  • Playing guitar live in studio. Impressive, Robert.
  • Never underestimate us adult Kennys. We’re a wily and resourceful bunch. You should’ve saw what we did during our last reunion on the Island during the “Year of Gamera.”

Here’s all of Nate’s research on this film:

I’m slowly catching up. I’m in the homestretch now! Slowly but surely the Gamera wins tehr ace!

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Jimmy’s Notes on Bonus Episode 13 – I Hate ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising,’ Change My Mind | Ft. Jack ‘GMan’ Hudgens

This bonus episode was an interesting one. Nate has been outspoken with his disdain for Uprising for a long time. He even trashed it on a GFEST panel before coming to the Island. Personally, I’m indifferent. I prefer the gloriously beautiful mecha from the first film (plus, Gipsy Danger is a better name than Gipsy Avenger), but I can’t deny the new technology in the film intrigued me. I’m amazed those kids passed piloting school, though. But I don’t have much room to talk because I couldn’t cut in Jaeger school. I guess surviving the infamous War in Space makes your brain drift incompatible.

Anyway, I jotted down a few notes from the “debate.” Here they are:

  • In my defense, Nate was certain in his wrongness about Amara and Newt. It was funny to watch him embarrass himself.
  • I did fight Jack once…I don’t want to talk about it.
  • The Bandai Mandates are a good band.
  • The Jaeger with the whip was Guardian Bravo.
  • The Mysterians perhaps makes Jimmy too happy…I’m not at liberty to say why.
  • Obsidian Fury’s original name, Black Mariah, is the name of a Marvel Comics character. Interesting, “Black Maria” is the name of a character in the popular manga One Piece.
  • I’m all for getting Nate stoned. It’d be our highest-rated and most downloaded episode ever of all time.

Nate didn’t have a bunch of research for this episode since he wanted Jack to carry most of it, but here’s what he had.

All right, I have a lunch date with my cellmate in the detention center. More blogs to come!

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 71: ‘Invasion of Astro-Monster’ | Ft. The Dapper Man

After dealing a crazy half-Scotsman for months, a crazy Irishman was easy. And a welcome change. All that to say, Kevin was the cherry on top of what was a favorite episode for me. No surprise, right? Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka the superior title, Monster Zero) features the man who trained me (Glen) played by my man-crush/spirit animal (Nick Adams). Not to mention my real crush (Kumi Mizuno). It’s why when I heard that a lost Xilien saucer was discovered, I requested that it be brought to my garage for examination. Let’s just say I found some…interesting things in it. I’m still preparing a report on my discoveries. At least I was before I was sent to jail!

Anyway, I wrote more notes for this episode (naturally) than I had for the last few. These were:

  • I do have a dirty mouth—I can out-cuss any Irishman!
  • I normally nitpick the guest’s speech flubs—but Kevin is Irish, so I lost track.
  • I approve of the long segment on my man-crush and real crush. I’d almost start a whole podcast about them…but I need a new microphone. I don’t want to repeat an infamous bonus episode.
  • I don’t appreciate Kevin’s tone—I’m not a robot! I just may love a robot…maybe…. She assures me she was just connected to a machine for a while.
  • I call everyone “stinkin’ rats.” Because man-crush.
  • I’ve built up an immunity to the Lady Guard noise. But that’s mostly because I’m an engineer by trade and human.
  • Fun fact: Tetsuo was able to sell the Lady Guard to Bandai, and I had one as a kid. And yes, I did use it to annoy my parents. Sadly, the toy didn’t catch on. No “Bandai mandate” could help that one.
  • I went to Nessie’s Brasserie once. I drank too much and did the shie dance on the bar top.
  • “Plan 9 from Planet X.” I like the sound of that.
  • Keiko Sawai wasn’t in the next Godzilla film (Ebirah, Horror of the Deep), but she did play alongside my man-crush the year before in Frankestein Conquers the World.
  • Good job catching that note about Robbie the Robot. I got an e-mail from him saying he appreciated that.
  • I loved Watangi and the Fabulous Empire of Monsters back in the ‘70s! They’re on a reunion tour right now. They should play a show on the Island—especially when Kaiju Kim visits. 😉
  • I’m still not sure you know how to do your job, Nate. Especially the new one.
  • I recorded a scream for a Lady Guard mark 2. Lost my voice for three days.

And now for Nate’s complete research document:

With this, I’m in the homestretch for catching up on my blogs! Stay tuned for more!

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 70: The Drifters vs. ‘Pacific Rim’

We had yet another semi-chaotic episode. That’s what happens when you have multiple guests on the show for as huge a film as Pacific Rim (episode 70). I was surprisingly silent because I was taking notes and enjoying the conversation. What can I say? The Drifters are some of my favorite guests we’ve featured. So, here are my notes:

  • My opinions on Nate’s promotion…are not safe for public consumption.
  • Reb is a queen who slays. I don’t normally like using that phrase, but for her, I’ll make an exception.
  • I WILL rant about that Bouncing Betty! Reb’s design is excellent. It’s rare that such a large number of influences could be combined into one machine without looking like an ugly mess. The Pan-Pacific Defense Corps should definitely hire her for future designs to combat the Kaiju menace. While I will say Vulcan cannons are a classic and a standard mecha armament, additional weapons would improve the design. Overall, it’s not as beautiful as Gipsy Danger (because, yes, I’d marry that robot, if it was a woman—although, probably not now), but it’s a piece of work in the best possible way.
  • I was remarkably silent for reasons I’ve already outlined above.
  • You caught it, Nate, because I trained you well. And no, J.R., you will hear more from me!
  • #CancelTheApocalypse
  • I knew how to say it…whatever it was. It’d been too long since that broadcast.
  • Those “Yes, quites” did concern me.
  • I want what J.R. has…whatever that is.
  • It’s not a rhesus monkey but a rhesus macaque, which has six to nine subspecies native to South, Central, and Southeast Asia. You can read more about them on Wikipedia. Here’s a link.
  • At least I don’t read comics all day at work like J.R.! I prefer technical manuals.
  • I had some Clonaid once. I don’t want to talk about it. It’d make Nate’s “transporter accident” look like a traffic ticket.
  • The answer to which U.S. states have anti-cloning laws is a bit more multifaceted than I expected. Let me explain:
    • Federal law doesn’t prohibit human cloning. (Don’t tell Cameron Winter).
    • Eight states prohibit cloning for any reason: Arizona, Arkansas, Nate’s home state of Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Virginia.
    • Four states prohibit state funding of human cloning for any reason: Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Louisiana.
    • Ten states have “clone and kill” laws, which prevent clones embryo implantation for childbirth but allow these embryos to be destroyed (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Rhode Island).
    • Two states include “human cloning” as a practice health professionals can’t be force to participate in because of healthcare rights of conscience laws (Idaho and Louisiana).
  • Watch your mouth, J.R.! I take slander about my SCIENCE very seriously! I do not engage in cloning experiments…as far as you know….

Here’s Nate’s complete research document for your reading and studying pleasure:

There’s more blogs where this came from! (Namely, Monster Island’s detention center).

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 69: ‘Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster’ | Ft. Luke and Jason Jaconetti

“Sixty-nine, dudes!” That’s the first thing that comes to my mind reflecting back on this episode. I thought Nate’s personality was huge. Having the Jaconetti brothers on overwhelming. I was amused watching poor Nate try to keep up. That might explain why my notes are short for episode 69: I was too entertained to write as much. Regardless, let’s see what I have.

  • Nate was thinking of a Blue Hawaii, not a Blue Mountain. He doesn’t drink coffee. (This was pointed out by Luke).
  • Venus does trigger me…but I can’t complain about Wakabayashi. What (straight) man would? But obviously, I’m more partial to Kumi Mizuno…because reasons.
  • I used to watch Everyone Loves Mechani-Kong every week as a kid. His “brother,” Mechagodzilla, was always jealous of him because his father, Dr. Who, liked the robo-ape more. 😛
  • I knew I’d need the dump button (aka Jet) for this episode with them Jaconetti boys. Sometimes the muzzle slips off their mouths.
  • MY BROTHER IS DEAD!!! (I was PTSD-ing a bit at the time).
  • I’m definitely playing “Fazers” in the Monster Zero episode. (Except I didn’t. Oops).
  • My off-air language? SLANDER! No, it’s true. People think sailors are foul-mouthed. You should hear space sailors (that’s what “astronaut” literally means) like me. We’d make seamen blush.

Here’s Nate’s research. As you’ll see, the Jaconetti brothers dominated the conversation so much, he didn’t get to a lot of it.

Slowly but surely, I’m catching up! At least it’s faster than Nate with the episodes. 😛

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 68: Nick Hayden vs. ‘Cloverfield’

Cloverfield is a film that is gaining more of my interested because of the theories that Clover is a space monster. Or at the very least extraterrestrial. (Contrary to popular belief, those aren’t quite the same things). As for the episode itself, Nick needs to be on the show more often; he’s a pleasant guy. All that to say, I didn’t have many notes on this episode, and none of them pertained to Nick. But correcting the guests is secondary to me keeping Nate honest. Ha! So, here are my additions to episode 68.

  • Yes, Rob Hawkins was offered a job by Monster Island in 2008. The Island was in the early stages of rebuilding and reopening at the time, and Rob was hired as its first director of public relations. Obviously, that didn’t work out. (By the way, I got this directly from the Board, so take that with a kaiju-sized grain of salt).
  • I had a MySpace page once. And don’t let Nate fool you—so did he! (Believe it or not, the site still exists!)
  • Nate, you’re worrying me with that “Yes, quite.” I remember an old…adversary of ours saying it a lot.
  • Blue Harvest” was actually a fake working title for Return of the Jedi. And the title of a Family Guy Star Wars parody.
  • From what I can tell, the tie-in manga, Cloverfield/KISHIN, wasn’t officially translated and published outside Japan, but there is a fan translation available here (ch. 1-3) and here (ch. 4).
  • Oh, the senseless things Nate does every day. Don’t get me started on the infamous “cockroach” incident involving Elijah Thomas and Daniel DiManna. That audio will stay buried.
  • Sometimes I don’t want to be Nate’s “people.” Especially at this time with him climbing higher in the Monster Island corporate hierarchy. Just saying.

Speaking of Nate, here are his notes for the episode so you can see what he didn’t get to:

That’s all for now. I have a mecha in desperate need of a tune up. Later!

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 67: ‘Little Shop of Horrors (1986) | Ft. Damon Noyes & ‘5th Wednesday Bonus Episode #12: ‘Beware! The Blob’ | Ft. Travis Alexander

I’m giving you a double dose of the Jimbo Notes today since we had a bonus episode right after “Damon Noyes Month.” It’s hard to compete with the Giant Claw episode, but these two were worthy efforts. It’s funny how Damon took a throwaway comment from a livestream and made it into an episode. Little Shop of Horrors remains one of the few kaiju musicals, at least on film. There’s a King Kong Broadway show, but the music is mediocre and you stay for the life-size animatronic ape. So I hear. I haven’t been able to visit home in New York to see it…mostly because I was in jail, and now I’m globetrotting as a kaiju wrangler. Yep, my storied life continues.

So, about that tiny store filled with scary things:

  • I have firsthand experience with alien plants. You know how Biollante dissolved and flew into space? Well, I followed her trail in an FTL ship I’d…borrowed from the Garogas (long story; I don’t want to talk about it). This led me to an unknown planet a few hundred lightyears away. Biollante had since spawned several generations of seedlings and was living peacefully with her “children.” (Don’t tell Dr. Dourif. I refuse to be that weirdo’s space Uber). I landed to take some photos, but some of her offspring attacked me and broke my camera. I barely escaped.
  • I do a lot of secret tours, Nate…ones I can’t talk about (not “don’t want to”). Double-hush-hush-top-secret stuff. I don’t want to have to kill you. Or maybe I do? 😛
  • My life is now complete: I gave a badge of honor to Damon. May he wear it well.
  • You are crazy, Nate. I’ve known this since we met.
  • I’ve taught you well, Damon, correcting Nate like that. Just call me Jimbo Kenobi.
  • I have to sanitize the mics after every broadcast. That’s why no one ever gets sick from COVID or Nate’s cooties when they guest host on the show. You’re fine, Damon.
  • “Frank Oz is frankly…” Ha!
  • The other optical effect was in the theatrical ending, Nate. It’s when Seymour kills Audrey II.
  • Apparently, I need to get Nate noise-making toys for him to use on the show for his birthday. But I’m not sure our listeners are prepared for that.
  • Or are Damon and Raymund the same person?! (Dun-dun-DUN!)
  • I don’t want anything cooked up by Dr. Dourif, let alone eat it. I’m already a “fun guy.”
  • Clover makes me and others sick because he’s UG-LY! He might be the worst-looking kaiju on the Island!

And now for my notes on S.O.B., er, Son of Blob, er, Beware! The Blob (Bonus Episode 12).

  • I still think both of you have cases. For what, I don’t remember. I’ve slept once since this broadcast.
  • Travis, the original film was shot in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and the towns of Chester Springs, Downingtown, Phoenixville, and Royersford.
  • 14 years, Travis. That’s how long after the original this was (1958 to 1972).
  • The kitten’s name is Sam.
  • Making a citizen’s arrest is both less complicated and more complicated than I thought. Read about it on WikiHow.
  • Ice rinks are a bit of an engineering marvel, as I read here.

As usual, here are the documents with Nate’s research on both films.

All right, time to keep this Jimmy train a-rollin’ (all night long!) What? I couldn’t resist.

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 66: Damon Noyes vs. ‘The Giant Claw’

I wasn’t sure, given how Nate barely survived “The Year of Gamera,” if he could handle The Giant Claw for episode 66. But he insisted that its infamy and not its quality necessitated we cover it. Besides, Damon jumped at the chance to discuss it. “Crazy Bernice,” as we call this kaiju, is known for her strange behavior, as you heard when Nate and Damon commentated on H.E.A.T. narrowly escaping the Beta Site with the creature chasing them down. Good thing Zilla Junior is a loyal son…guard dog…. Anyway, here are my follow-up thoughts (finally) on that episode.

  • I double checked. Dirty Harry said, “Go ahead. Make my day,” in 1983’s Sudden Impact.
  • Actually, Nate, it’s not Mitch Marrow. The actor’s name is Jeff Morrow, and he played Mitch MacAfee. I know, your alliteration-loving brain conflated the two. This is why you keep me around.
  • Really, Damon? You’d die defending Reptilicus? Speaking as someone who has died once and seen that movie…there are worse causes for which to give one’s life.
  • “Protoplastic”? You meant, “Promoplasmic”!
  • It’s a book, not a movie, Damon. (Now if I could only remember what he was talking about…).
  • Giant Claws in space? Let me tell you, they’re far more terrifying in their natural environment. Well, in the antimatter galaxy, anyway. You see, a few years ago, I stumbled upon a wormhole between Jupiter and Saturn. It led to the antimatter galaxy. Like the proverbial curious cat, I flew my ship into the wormhole and barely survived my exit into that dangerous part of space because, as you know, I’m made of regular matter, which doesn’t mix well with antimatter. As my ship’s instruments screamed at me, the giant maw of, well, a Giant Claw filled my windshield. I barely dodged its bite and escaped through the wormhole. This is why I don’t visit the Beta Site much.
  • I looked at a couple sources (Wikipedia and the Romanian Culture Institute) that both discussed the origin of the word/name Nemesis. It’s meaning as a term for an enemy is more a recent development. The Greek goddess did punish mortals for hubris (i.e. arrogance before the gods), but she was also seen as a dispenser of justice; a judge who maintained order in the universe. In other words, she has a dualistic nature. So, Damon was correct.
  • It’s a good thing I can math. It’s a requirement to work at NASA. That’s another reason Nate keeps me around. He can’t math his way out of a paper bag.
  • What? I like hot dogs! Antimatter hot dogs! They used to serve them at parties in NASA!

Finally, here’s the obscenely huge file with all of Nate’s notes on this movie. I still can’t believe they spent 2.5 hours discussing it. The antimatter segment was fantastic, though. But again, I’m a NASA guy.

All right, time to get tomorrow’s blog ready! I’m catching up, baby!

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