Thursday, October 29, 2009

October 29, 2009 - Blazblue update/trailer goodness




Arcade Intro Trailer is out for Continuum Shift,yay ^^; I can't wait til its in my hands.I guess this will have to suffice(well, next to playing calamity trigger,heh)

Arcade Intro-



and some gameplay vids,yay. :) -



ah, noel, you rock of awesomenmess....and plenty of moe -



And don't forget Tao. -





Sources from Banzai effect & Blazblue.com

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Oct. 27, 2009 - Gundam 00 movie teaser trailer finally shows up...

Its not a full trailer really, but no more screen caps, yay ^^;




sources from Ngeekhiong & SRW Hotnews

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Oct. 14, 2009 - 75 pieces of awesomeness.Canon Rock



75 vids fitted together in a really cool canon rock video. Damn.makes me wanna go to nico nico douga more.that and practice.(I'm sooooooooo lazy.)

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Oct. 11, 2009 - 10 japanese travel faux pas(what not to do)


So I saw this post a few days ago and noticed its been multi-posted numerous times, but hey- its a really good post.I just had to continue its spread. especially #4,heh. And I DO plan on a trip so this is somewhat interesting...anyways,enjoy some "interesting travel tips" for when you go to the land of the rising sun.

Original article:

10) Misuse Your Shoes



Thresholds at businesses and all homes and apartments in Japan have a convenient place for you to store your shoes and don borrowed slippers for your journey. However, did you know you should never wear slippers on tatami mats? It's also a huge cultural faux-pas to come out of the bathroom still wearing toilet slippers, as they've been rubbing on dirty linoleum (although this even slips Japanese minds from time to time).

9) Bathe in the Bathtub
The bathing culture in Japan is unparalleled. Even if I soak in a mineral pool in the backwoods of New Zealand, nothing will make me feel more cleansed inside and out than a soak in a traditional Japanese hot spring resort. Ignoring the fact the water is still hotter and contains more minerals than most hot pools abroad, Japanese bathing etiquette dictates one should shower thoroughly before entering the steaming bath; if you were to do otherwise in Japanese homes (as a guest you would be given the honour of bathing first) the family would have to completely drain the tub, clean out the ring, and refill. You'd probably just be kicked out if you brought soap and shampoo into the pool at a public bathhouse.

8) Fumble with Chopsticks



You don't have to be able to pick up an individual grain of rice to use chopsticks properly. Rather, just be aware that there are a few things for which they were not meant to be used. First, even if you're sharing dishes with a group, do not pass food from one set of chopsticks to another, as this is considered in bad taste. Second, when not using them, set your chopsticks across your plate or bowl as you would a knife; poking them out of your rice resembles two sticks of incense commonly used for a certain death ceremony... and why would you want to be reminded of that over a fine dinner?

7) Grope on a Train



Obviously this isn't a mere misunderstanding of cultures if such an act were to occur, but even when visiting Japan and having nothing but pure intentions, one should be aware of the dangers. Women (and even men) have been fondled on crowded trains and often cannot trace the hands back to their owners. This has lead to women-only subway cars during peak travel times, and the police giving advice to young girls: seize the arm of your attacker and don't let go until security sees his face. I only mention this because if you're a foreigner riding a train in the land of the rising sun who knows absolutely no Japanese, and when disembarking you find a man or woman screaming "shijou!" or "chikan!", respectively (the terms for female and male perverts), you're essentially at the mercy of one individual who may have mistaken your desire to get a little bit of room on the car as blatant groping.

6) Choose the Wrong Seat
There's a somewhat antiquated custom when it comes to eating out in groups. If you're with some business colleagues, it's better for a junior member (in terms of hierarchy, not age) to take the seat closest to the doorway or access point, the senior member the farthest away. The belief is that should an attack occur, the least experienced (thus the least valuable) will be killed first, giving the others time to mobilize and protect the higher-ups.

5) Show Strong Emotions
One of the most common mistakes a foreigner makes upon entering the Japanese business world is to openly express his frustration when the unexpected comes along... and it always comes along. Showing strong emotions like anger is a social death sentence in Japan; the only time someone might get away with it would be if he were seriously inebriated, or at least making the effort to get there. Tears, especially those of happiness, can be forgiven (even from men), but take care to keep your temper in check.

4) Blow Your Nose
Even out on the street when it's sub-zero degree weather, blowing your nose in Japan is probably one of the rudest things you can do, even more so if you're talking with someone face-to-face and take a moment to pull out your handkerchief. It's the equivalent of asking someone to watch you use the toilet.

3) Yawn
This is a good policy for conversations around the world, but it really hits home in Japan. Whereas in the States or other countries one might dismiss a tired expression with a certain nonchalance or a chuckle (e.g. "crazy night on the town?"), in Japan you might as well slap your superior in the face to completely prove your desire not to listen.

2) When Listening...
I had an interview with an English school in Akita Prefecture not too long ago. As I was listening to the manager speak via Skype, I realised how out of practice I was at listening by Japanese standards. He spoke for only a few seconds at a time, each time taking my silence as an indication that the call must have been disconnected. Why? Because I failed to provide the appropriate guttural sounds: when speaking one-on-one with someone in Japan (group meetings can be an exception), it's best to utter a few words every now and again to show you still have the speaker's attention. A simple hai (yes), or so des ne (ah, I see) can work wonders.

1) Respect Yourself
Modesty is a virtue. I cannot count the number of times as an English teacher I gave high praise to certain young Japanese students, only to have their parents contradict me by saying something like "yes, but she's terrible studying at home" or "no, you must be mistaken". Disregarding or refusing complements in Japan is the only way to accept them graciously:

(in Japanese)
Me: Excuse me, but could you tell me the way to the nearest train station?
Japanese: Ooohhh! Your Japanese is so skillful!
Me: No, no, it's nothing really.

By claiming you have no skills or any life experience exceeding that of another, you in fact raise their impression of you. If I were to refer to myself as "Turner-san" or respond to such praise of my language skills with "Thank you very much! I have been diligently studying for nine months!", then I might be forgiven as an ignorant foreigner... but more likely marked as arrogant.


Interesting indeed, anyone with any additional thoughts?

Sources from - CartoonLeap Anime Blog, Keeping pace in Japan, Iloho
Image from The where blog

Friday, October 9, 2009

Oct. 09, 2009 - Vegi's & Meat.

It's been a little bit since I've done a food related post so I figured I do one. That and I happened to be too poor to go eat out today so I had to make due at home :(
Today is one of the few instances where I actually have a good amount of vegetables.(what can I say? I'm typically a basic meat and potatoes kinda guy...less it be curry. ^_^)

First we have Phở, actually its vegi Phở. Lots of vegi-health-conscious people out there and can't have them missing out on Phở now,can we? Its cooked the same way as normal Phở is without the beef bones or meat related ingredients. Everything else,pretty much stays the same. Served with vegi-meatballs,tofu, and other non meat toppings.For slight comparisons, this is regular Phở.

With it is a quick fry up of some leftover beef I had (usually used in Phở) with some vegetables ala wannabe salad style. I actually really don't eat salad.like at all. This is the closest I get. If I do start getting more on the eating healthy binge, all my salads will probably have plenty of croûtons,cheese, and lots of meat. For now, I do it for saving money.meat can be a bit pricey sometimes here.(my poor wallet,ah my poor wallet.)




Thursday, October 8, 2009

Oct. 08, 2009 - GANTZ MOVIE????WHA???

Surfing the Otaku.fm Rss feed, I stumbled across this. WHOA. I don't really know how to respond. I saw Gantz and read some of the manga. Making it "ok" for general audiences? I dunno bout that. Its nihilistic theme is best "shock delivered" with gratuity and violence.It's really quite the series. I really enjoyed it,but I also know that its probably not for everyone. Also, another Manga/anime made live-action? One part of me is a little worried and conflicted and another excited since I'm a fan of Gantz. We can only wait to see the results and try to have an open mind to fully enjoy the newly presented medium.(least that's what I tell myself,HaH!)Thanks to the Blogger's RSS for this post, INTERESTING!

Original article:

Hiroya Oku's sci-fi action manga "GANTZ" is being adapted into two live-action films planned to be released in 2011. The movies will star Arashi's Kazunari Ninomiya and actor Kenichi Matsuyama. Shinsuke Sato is directing the film and will use lots of CG and the producers are aiming to make the film suitable for general audiences, which means that it may likely lack the violence of the original manga.

Although Kei and Masaru are high school students in the manga, their characters will be older in the movie. Kei has been turned into a college student looking for work, while Masaru is already working and taking care of his younger brother. The two childhood friends happen to meet again on a subway platform.

Oku's manga is still being serialized, but the two movies will tell a complete story with an original ending.

Filming is scheduled to start next month. The first movie is expected to hit theaters in winter 2011, while the second is slated for spring 2011.

Kazunari Ninomiya as Kei Kurono


Kenichi Matsuyama as Masaru Kato


I just started watching Gantz few days ago and there`s too much violence in it! Will post my first impression some other time!^^

"GANTZ" has been serialized in Young Jump since 2000. Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato are two young man who should be dead after a train accident, but they are summoned back to life by an entity known as GANTZ. Under GANTZ's orders, the two are repeatedly sent on missions to fight against alien beings. So far, 26 volumes of the manga have been released in Japan, selling more than 10 million copies combined. Read more
here.


Sources from Tokyograph, ANN, Hobby Chaos

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Oct. 07, 2009 - Oldie,but a goodie.



Bored, I surfed youtube and stumbled on this. Its pretty old,but I still like it. Never got to play it though. I don't think alot of really really awesome mech-related games end up in the states. I do like a few that are here though- Zone of the enders,armored core,super robot taisen(Srw to you oversea fans)to name a few. I really would like to play some of the games that are usually reserved for overseas. What are some of the mech-related games you like?




image from paperbots

Monday, October 5, 2009

Oct. 05, 2009 - Bakemonogatari Ep. 13 to stream on Oct. 28th


Its been announced that Bakemonogatari's continued web-streamed episodes will begin streaming on October 28th.

Original posting-

Bakemonogatari’s official website announced today that the 13th episode, part 3 of Tsubasa Cat, will be available online on Wednesday October 28th. That’s the same day that the second DVD/Blu-ray covering the Mayoi arc will be out, and I suspect demand will be very high and that their online streaming might be swarmed on the first day. In fact, the first Bakemonogatari DVD/Blu-ray volume came out last week and sold out instantly, and Patrik tells me that a big reason for the remarkable popularity is the inclusion of a secondary audio track where Hitagi and Tsubasa comment on what happens on-screen, in a completely original in-character conversation written by NisiOisiN himself. In any case, mark your calendars for October 28th if you like Bakemonogatari.


Man, I can't wait.Ah,the waiting!

-source from Random Curiosity Blog.

Oct. 05, 2009 - The Guild - Do you want to date my avatar?



HAHAHAHA,I thought of nhk ni youkoso when I heard this song.It's catchy. I think since Aion's taken over the internet for a little bit , this song is totally good timing.Enjoy.

The Guild - Do you want to date my avatar?




hahahahahahaha(>_<)



-source screepcap snagged somewhere from google.

Oct. 05, 2009 - New Site Look is DONE!...for now.


New site look is done!!!!!!!RAHHHHHH!!!!!!........at least until I wanna add to it or I get bored with it. Well, better than the old one or what?

Resources links

Resources links - Links to places to help you here and there.

-Babel Fish Translator - For your language translating needs
-Free Translations - For when Babel fish is failing you(just in case ;))
-W3 Schools - Stop by for some HTML "learnage."
-Photobucket - For all your photo-hosting needs.
-Flickr - For when you've reached your photobucket limit,heh.
-Blogger - Make a blog.Go.Go now.
-Youtube - nuff said,everything's on youtube.EVERYTHING.


Thanks to all who helped spread info of sites/links to keep everyone in the "know." If anyone would like to further add to this link in any way,feel free to drop a URL in the comments or Email me.Thanks.

News and Updates Links

News and Updates Links - Links for general info on anything and everything.

-NgeeKhiong - Plenty of info and updates
-DannyChoo - King of Otakus(no,really.) Otaku bloggers,mass blogging unite!
-Otaku.fm - Mass updates,all the time.
-SRW Hotnews - Not as many updates,usually mech related only.
-Ga Graphic - Up to date intel from current to upcoming things to events.(translation may be needed)
-SuperHeroHype - C'mon, geek out. You know you want to.
-Comingsoon.net - General film/entertainment updates.
-Gametrailers - Not just trailers for games.


Thanks to all who helped spread info of sites/links to keep everyone in the "know." If anyone would like to further add to this link in any way,feel free to drop a URL in the comments or Email me.Thanks.

Figure Info links

Figure Info Links - Links for Figure Info,reviews and more. Some sites may require some translation.

-Good Smile Company - Great site for Figma,max factory and way more!
-DannyChoo Figure area - Great area for reviews,photos,upcoming and more!
-Max Factory - Max Factory's main page. Check out the upcoming products!
-Kaiyodo - I frickin love revoltechs! That being said, Kaiyodo's also another Fav to many.
-Kotobukiya's main Page - Not just anime stuff, Also great work in general(pricy at times though.ah, my wallet!!)
-GA Graphic - Useful place to check out news before everyone else :p
-Ngee Khiong - Wonderful Resource to stay updated.
-Dalong - Frickin Massive collection! plenty of reviews of Plasmo
-Collection DX - Toy Review site
-Michael Crawford's Reviews Another Review Site
-Figure Realm Customs - Many impressive customs here.
-ActionFigure Customs - not as much as figurerealm,but still some really impressive work
-TFW2005 - For the TF lover in you.
-Tformers - Plenty of TF reviews.
-Seibertron - For if TFW2005 isn't enough for you.
-Ignitionmode - Good place to look for links to reviews all around the web for figures.


Thanks to all who helped spread info of sites/links to keep everyone in the "know." If anyone would like to further add to this link in any way,feel free to drop a URL in the comments or Email me.Thanks.

Anime Links

Anime Related Links - Links for all your anime,music, and fansub needs.

-Random Curiosity Anime Blog - Anime Blog & discussion
-Anime News Network - General news network for anime related
-AniDB - Anime Datebase
-Anime Suki - Anime/Fansub torrent Tracker
-Baka-Updates - Anime/Manga info/DL Network
-Fansub Wiki - Wiki for Fansub group info and projects
-Anime Eden - DDL for manga/anime,etc.
-The Hylia - DDL for Anime
-AnimeBreaker - Large network for Anime,manga,music,etc.
-AniKat Network - Same as Animebreaker
-Cyber 12 - DDL/small size streaming for anime
-GetFansub Wiki - Wiki for Fansub Anime DL
-Thai-Fansub DDL - Useful for Anime DDL and music
-Nipponsei - For all your Anime/J-tunes needs
-Anime Paper -Anime related wallpapers and scans
-Moe Imouto - Tag based search engine for Anime related images(*NOTE* -this site has no age filter so enter at your own discretion.)


Thanks to all who helped spread info of sites/links to keep everyone in the "know." If anyone would like to further add to this link in any way,feel free to drop a URL in the comments or Email me.Thanks.

Merchandise links

Merchandise Links - Links to shops for all your hobby,figure,anime, memorabilia needs. If you can't find what you're looking for on most of the links here,try again on the last 2 links. They've always worked out for me ;)

-Hobby Search - Large site for anime goods (Shipping can be a pain if you live in the states)
-Hobby Link Japan - Like Hobby Search, but not as large a selection.(more shipping options though.)
-ImageAnime -New York based Anime Store.
-ToysLogic - Great for Figurines and pre-orders.
-KidNemo - Not just Anime goods.
-Kotobukiya Store - Kotobukiya goods.from comic book characters to SRW model kits.
-Gundam Store and More - Great for your gunpla and general gundam wants.(great shipping if you're in the states.)
-G-System-Shop - Expensive(but incredible) resin kits.
-EntertainmentEarth - Large selection of everything.
-BigBadToyStore - For the kid in you.
-FigureRealm Store - For the kid in you that likes the old stuff or just wants to kitbash like crazy.
-Cospa - Pretty much one of if not the largest group for anime/cosplay clothing related goods.
-Ebay - When you can't find it anywhere else and price starts to matter less, just gimmi gimmi!
-Amazon - Can't just use Ebay,gotta cover all your bases now, gimmi gimmi!

Thanks to all who helped spread info of sites/links to keep everyone in the "know." If anyone would like to further add to this link in any way,feel free to drop a URL in the comments or Email me.Thanks.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

massive re-theming/skinning-finish later...ugh,hungry.

I spent a few hours stumbling around and juggling around with xml scripts...so hungry. Its been a pain most and pretty much the whole time, I'll fix the new scripts and codes later. I apologize for any issues with any links and such.

Oct. 04, 2009 - Superman.Batman.Public Enemies Review.



You thought Bromance was really something? Try superhero Bromance-DC style.hahaha,got enough attention? good. I'll try not to spoil anything in this review. SBPE is I believe the first film with this much inspired Ed Mcguiness & Dexter Vines art style in it. Although that's not necessary a bad thing. All your big bads and goody goods look like the super stylized steroid induced supers you'd expect. The art style works out really well for the action sequences and there are plenty of them. Sound was fine,nothing stood out in my mind.

While It appears to be maybe more Superman than Batman(luthor,no joker), there are still plenty of baddies on both sides coming out of the wood work. Some are more known and popular and some are more of a b-type class of thug/villain. You'll see many from Grood to Hush,bane to the freeze crew, all in a frickin battle royale.However,cool superhero Foil occurs between superman and batman at one point which was kinda cool.

That being said, there's not much more. The story isn't as deep as some would like,but how deep can you go with a setup like this: Economy sucks,Luthor buys presidency, Luthor doesn't suck at it, superheroes get bored since crime is down, Giant planet killer rock flinging toward Earth, Luthor has Superman lookin like a bad guy, bats rescues supes, manhunt ensues,BATTLE ROYALE.(as can be shown on trailer.) Hahaha,still really enjoyable to watch. One thing that bothered me was what was supposed to be the mutual respect between 2 awesome superheroes and their friendship....nay,it was brokeback metropolis all over that place,heh. Seriously though, there were some parts here and there that just seemed alittle too much Bromance for a story like this. Oh and an interesting "side effect" apparently when batman is around others- Ol' bats is generally a dark character.he's a brooder. Supes normally is more Anti brooder. Put bats next to him in a film, and he's more smashy smashy than talking anything over and kinda a stubborn A-hole.little bit. heh, least he's not campy though ^^;

Overall, I enjoyed SBPE; I had a general idea of what was to be expected and it did what it was supposed to do for me,entertain. If you're alright with with minimal story pushing,massive action throughout, and the reason why power girl broke toyman's goggles(rofl),then you'll be fine. IF, you want a more super, intense, dramatic, suspense, crazy interwoven story involved film,maybe your expectation from the Dark knight to here are wee bit high(especially since this is a more kid friendly pg-13 animated feature)If you liked green lantern-first flight,you'll probably enjoy this.




BATTLE ROYALE.
Oh I just can't quit you,Clark.(Bahahahaha,superheroes are gonna super beat me.)

Oct. 04, 2009 - PG OO gundam images,yup yup.

Special thanks to Vandalier from Figure.fm for these pics of upcoming PG 00 gundam kit. I think this might've been at that demonstration display I read about earlier last month.. Or Vandalier is actually an awesome secret spy who busted into Bandai to show who's boss.Or I'm wrong on both counts. Regardless, nice to see something thats not covered in a drape or line art. Its lookin good right now. It should be due out soon. no pics of the clear parts,big close ups, or the special stand yet. I hear that normally, not alot of PG kits actually get stands so this model actually having one is sort of a big thing,especially since its sorta a dynamic "winged/binder/more space than land" kit so those in air poses will definitely benefit from a stand. Plus, with an inner frame,some electronics,sometimes metal parts/screws, I bet not just any stand will do. (not sure if that kinda price still justifies it though).Will look forward to more pics later as the release date approaches.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Oct. 03, 2009 - Meat bun,meat bun,Kare,kare,CuRRy!!...bread.

Ah, the pain the pain, I had some bbq pork buns picked up from my local Asian bakery a few days ago and I totally forgot about it! I suddenly remembered them when I got really really hungry; to my disappointment however, they're were bad by then. mold had sprouted by then, and leaving meat out like that...don't even wanna think about it. what a waste! :( that bakery is on the other side of town. I usually have to rack up reasons and excuses for travelling all the way out there.) Not a good way to start my day, not at all. The only thing left at my place was cup ramen(I'm only human, I can't live on just ramen alone!!!(>_<)!!!) and leftover curry(its been almost a week,maybe a few days past a week.day & night, more curry????). I was about a few steps away from the unthinkable...search out and risk the contents of the mystery tubberware.cringe*

Luckily, it didn't come to that. I noticed my cupboard still had some panko crumbs and yeast left......processing,processing,ba-chinG!!!-CURRY BREAD. That's what I'll do to change it up.yes,kare kare. and so I spent the next 4-5 hours(most of it was for dough rising and playing ninja gaiden sigma 2) making curry bread. Unfortunately, it seemed I didn't quite have enough leftover curry for enough buns and I didn't wanna waste the leftover buns or just make bread exactly. So I did what seemed like a good idea at the time: knead,ball up separately,fry, and roll in enough cinnamon sugar it'll scare you into getting some insulin just in case,heh. what kinda sucked is by the time I was done with everything, I wasn't reallly hungry anymore.oh well I guess, snack for later on today.




I think I did alright,considering its either this or the moldy bbq pork buns.
gasp*,shimatta! its not just fried pan,its KARE PAN!


Which one to eat first,curry bread or cinnaball thingys??so good...



I will have you later,rah!!!(why yelling?no idea,let's just stay excited anyways and yell for kare pan?yeah?ok,rah!) KARE!!!!


Oct. 03, 2009 - Japanese alcoholic vending machines.


So if you don't know by watching the discovery,science,or travel channel,you'll probably see it in movies and in anime. Vending machines.and quite a bit of em. Not just for small daily bento lunches or soda and tea. Also there are beer vending machines.However, unlike a cigarette vending machine, no need to swipe or scan your ID for proof of age(although there's no camera atm style so if you had a friend/older sibling/parent's ID,it wouldn't really stop you from cigarettes either.)Also, they're usually located outside of big major cities and such. So one can expect to see this sorta thing in say, Okinawa?
Similar, there's also an alcoholic beverage thats usually served in festivals.It's alcohol concentration is quite low and the drink is said to be very healthy so its served without an age restriction.(least this is what I read about) With all this, it seems that there are many opportunities for underage drinking and such,yet America is still actually seen higher at risk of alcohol related incidents.interesting. Could this be an effect to exposure freely of such things? There are plenty of European countries with a low drinking age or very liberal enforcement of such laws.Then again, the legal blood alcohol content in america is 0.08 while japan is 0.03 and some places like the czech republic are said to have a zero tolerance law about it.(so its written.) Hmm, interesting. Is there any interesting vending machines in your neck of the woods? and what are your thoughts about this sort a thing?


Thursday, October 1, 2009

Oct. 01, 2009 - Tamashii Nation's VF100 Vf-27y Lucifer for autumn 2009

Not an undate on a plasmo of it but an update nontheless which gives somewhat an idea how the plasmo might look later.



VF-27y Lucifer,Brera's unit - Autumn 2009 release(price TBA)






Images from Ga Graphic

Followers