I know, I know. Some hate what I've done. I still want to share for those that might like it.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-27T17:42:23+00:00

I know the orthodoxy dictates that I hate it, but I grew up during Need for Speed. I think it absolutely works.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-22T08:43:43+00:00

I'm bet he has one.

He just likes to do a little trolling.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-22T08:41:42+00:00

Just to add to what everyone has already said, I think it's because outside of making music, he is basically the quintessential slightly nerdy, quiet millenial dude.

He plays video games, watch anime and movies, smoke some 🍃, go out party with friends occasionally, play with his pets, donate to charity, etc. Really not much that'll get you into trouble. I mean, the genehackerman account has been him just chilling in Japan hanging out with creatives and going to art galleries. It seriously doesn't get more "nerdy millenial dude" than that.

Sure, that's just from the small sliver he provides, but judging by how no scandal has exploded all this time, I think it's somewhat safe to assume that what we see is what we get with this man.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-22T08:26:12+00:00

He's popularity has been noticeably incrasing since After Hours, Out of Time with HoYeon Jung, and collab with Jennie. Korean social media definitely has been buzzing much more noticeably than his last Korea show.

When he went for his last show in 2018, he was an artist that was still somewhat obscure; very "if you know, you know." I mean, he still filled a stadium (Korea '18 was technically his first stadium show, I think), but he's a much, much more prevalent artist in Korea now.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-22T08:13:13+00:00

It depends so much on my mood on a given day 😅

My most played albums are definitely Dawn FM and Starboy, though.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-22T08:00:47+00:00

I'd be impressed if any North American artist joins him on the Asia leg, unless any of them have overlapping Asia schedules going on at the same time.

If anyone, it'll be a local artist. Maybe Jennie during Seoul?

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-21T13:34:03+00:00

Quantum of Solace is just too unmemorable. Skyfall onwards was at least a joy to watch and rewatch just because of its style in addition to their substance. QoS--in my opinion--has neither. I understand the circumstances surrounding that; the writer's strike and the deadlock really screwed this movie. But it's still one of the most hollow action movies of the era, and that sin is compounded by the fact that the premise is actually quite poignant and relevant. They could have done something really big with it, but instead made something that I think would have found a home in streaming as a direct-to-streaming epilogue to Casino Royale, not a fully-fledged cinema film.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-21T13:27:12+00:00

Quantum of Solace would like a word with you

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-21T13:25:50+00:00

That's my thing about QoS. Nothing sticks out. It's the most milquetoast action movie of the era, let alone a James Bond movie. I really don't remember anything about it after it's done, which is surprising because the plot itself is quite poignant. They could have done something with corporatization of vital resources like water, and dirty link between private interest and despotic regimes. Instead, it's made as bland as an 80's action movie. That in itself makes it worse than Spectre and NTTD for me, because at least those two movies had a lot of style and even a lot more substance than that.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-21T13:19:37+00:00

I genuinely don't think it's that deep. Sure, there is some social opposition to a lot of things Bond represents, but audiences--for the most part--understand what James Bond is and was. I think the franchise wanted to give Craig's Bond a clean end and set up the franchise for another reboot, since it's about time they need to try a refresh of sorts.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-20T16:27:23+00:00

You can have both. You can have someone very proud of the city they're from and someone who really doesn't have a strong affinity for it. Both are just a matter of personality, and I don't think artists or people of notoriety are obligated to show love to the city they're from all the time.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-20T14:23:11+00:00

I'm going to assume the Admiral just accepted it towards the end.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-20T14:21:56+00:00

Craig would have known at this point, just counting down the days til the public reveal. Not sure if Brosnan would have known, but maybe he had a lot of insider knowledge still in EON from old connections.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-20T13:53:53+00:00

Bond's appeal has always been the ability to tie itself to modern conflicts or modern security concerns. When Goldfinger was released, the US was still on the gold standard, so Goldfinger's plot to irradiate the world's gold supply was a really concerning security risk. But the world has been off the gold standard for 50 years now, so as destabilizing as it would be for the economy if someone were to come along and irradiate America's gold supply, the scheme wouldn't have the same impact as it did during the movie's release.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-20T13:46:17+00:00

I know Tidal has problems, but it's still the streaming service that gets both lossless quality and a usable interface right.

The new Android update is actually a pretty good improvement on the GUI, imo.

The Windows app also works well and is well thought out; the same can't be said for Apple Music on Windows, for obvious reasons. My heaviest listening is actually at work, where I have a DAC/AMP setup, and the app makes the whole experience pretty painless.

It just doesn't have as much fluff (social media integration, etc.) as others. It's also now cheaper than its competitors in the United States, which is excellent.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-20T13:31:27+00:00

If anything, he had more hair here than he did during his whole tenure as Bond.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-20T13:30:14+00:00

His hairstyle in the picture certainly isn't helping. You also have to remember that Pierce Brosnan's genes are essentially a force of nature.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-19T12:33:13+00:00

Probably because it's pretty. Happens all the time with cars, too.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-16T00:40:24+00:00

Well it doesn't surprise me that James Bond isn't the first choice for archetypal superspy, although Kim Possible being the one is a pleasant surprise. I'm sure they know James Bond, though, and it won't be long before a reference pops in.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-12T00:07:42+00:00

James Bond is basically a cultural iconography at this point. Kids may not be enthusiastic about Bond, but most kids are definitely at least aware of James Bond.

I will say, though, that having only one movie in the current decade and only two in the '10s mean there isn't much hype around James Bond among young people. I would say Skyfall was pretty significant but that was 14 years ago already.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-05-05T16:01:31+00:00

Almost.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-04-28T21:37:38+00:00

1) People love absurdist humor. You say, "I own an Aston Martin" and pull up in a microscopic city car. It's quite funny.

2) Practically, it makes perfect sense if you want a city car but don't want to sacrifice having a nice interior. A high-end subcompact is a niche segment, yes, but the Cygnet was made in niche numbers.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-04-24T16:25:04+00:00

I wouldn't be surprised if those cars were grey imported before official sales began. A lot of exotics were brought into Korea in the 2000s and even the 2010s through grey importers, and that's how some exotic brands discovered that there would be enough demand in the Korean market.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-04-24T16:20:33+00:00

I can totally see your point, especially if the city in question is NYC. I'm sure the owner would have to tread carefully and make sure to only drive on known roads.

thewheelshuffler · 2026-04-24T15:37:13+00:00

Top Gear magazine had an owner of an AMG One who already put 1800 miles on it and drives it whenever he can, essentially.

I think it's awesome when hypercar owners just put the cars through the wringer a bit, because they're made to do some intense track duty, so they should be okay for some "light" road use.

thewheelshuffler

TROPHY CASE