Daicon 2009 in 10 Days!

The Daicon 2009, a magnet for otaku or fans of Japanese animation (anime) is coming in 10 days. This giant expo of modern Japanese visual culture will be held in Multimedia University in Cyberjaya, Malaysia.

Highlights of the event (11th to 12th July):

1. Minori Chihara(茅原実里), best known for being the voice of Nagato Yuki in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya anime series. Long time fans might recognize her from her guitar playing days in Akihabara (秋葉原).

2. A customary cosplay competition will be held with cash and goodie bags to be given away for the individual and group winners.

3. Undiscovered talents can try their throats at a karaoke competition.

4. A figurine (or figma) exhibition will be held by Figure Mall (which originally began at Lowyat.Net forums)

5. For mecha lovers: an exhibition of Macross fans personal stash of collectibles and a Gundam Constructors championship.

6. Try your hand at Go game sessions with seasoned players from the Malaysian Weiqi Association and other board games, card games and miniatures provided by Toybox.

7. Fans of Johnny's Entertainment (which manages News, Arashi, Kanjani8, Kat-Tun, Hey! Say! Jump! will be putting up rare J-Pop merchandise.

8. A doujin market and a character design competition for the artistically inclined.

9. Play Moe Moe Janken (a type of rock paper scissors game) by Kareshi Kanojyo no Mise!
The game being played:


Via Daiconnews

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RSS Explained

A short explanation on what RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is and how to use it.

How to subscribe to Through Eyes From Afar RSS:
1. Click on the FEEDBURNER box on the top of the sidebar to the right. (alternatively click this)
2. That will take you to this page. Now click on the reader you want to use from the top right box (for example: Google) and follow the instructions or choices given.

3. You will then be updated on your chosen RSS reader the whenever there is a new post on this site.


Video by Chris Pirillo explaining how to use RSS:


Some notes on RSS from Wikipedia:
RSS (most commonly translated as "Really Simple Syndication") is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format.

An RSS document (which is called a "feed", "web feed", or "channel") includes full or summarized text, plus metadata such as publishing dates and authorship.
Web feeds benefit publishers by letting them syndicate content automatically. They benefit readers who want to subscribe to timely updates from favored websites or to aggregate feeds from many sites into one place.

RSS feeds can be read using software called an "RSS reader", "feed reader", or "aggregator", which can be web-based, desktop-based, or mobile-device-based. A standardized XML file format allows the information to be published once and viewed by many different programs.

The user subscribes to a feed by entering into the reader the feed's URI – often referred to informally as a "URL" (uniform resource locator), although technically the two terms are not exactly synonymous – or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process.

The RSS reader checks the user's subscribed feeds regularly for new work, downloads any updates that it finds, and provides a user interface to monitor and read the feeds.

Read more here.

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The Past

Steamboy (スチームボーイ) by Katsuhiro Otomo is a poster film for steampunk, set in Victorian England.

Released in Japan in the middle of 2004, it is the most expensive full length Japanese animated movie made to date (initial production cost = USD26,000,000). Not unsurprisingly, it was in production for 10 years and utilized more than 180,000 drawings and 440 CG cuts.


The world of Steamboy is set in an alternate reality: features several geopolitical and industrial circumstances that developed differently or at a different pace, sometimes as a result of advanced technological paradigms that were accomplished via the science already present in the 19th century.
However, this film also showcases the choices on the use of technology made by its owners:

• To use it solely for one's profit without regard for the consequences?
• To "underutilize" for more innocent purposes?
• Or to use it yourself for the sake of others?

In the closing credits of the film, we see the possible outcomes of such decisions:
1. Ray becomes a superhero via the use of his jet pack to help others.

2. His father, Eddy, becomes a powerful villain through his knowledge of steam machines.

3. Ray's grandfather introduces Ray to electric energy via a light bulb on his deathbed.

4. World War One being fought with zeppelins due to the introduction of advanced technology.

As the race car of technology speeds faster and faster along in the 21st century,
such questions are pertinent to humankind more than ever.

*Screenshots were taken from a DVD-Video format video

Footnotes on steam power and steampunk:
Steam power was the forefront of the energy industry during the Industrial Revolution.
The first steam "machine" which was in existence by the 1st century, is the aeoliphile (picture below): which was more for diversion rather than for any practical uses.


The first steam engine developed for industrial use by the English engineer Thomas Savery in 1698, who constructed and patented in London the Miner's Friend, which was used to pump water from mines. Steam power was subsequently taken to greater heights in industry by inventors such as Thomas Newcomen and James Watt.

Steam engines remained the dominant source of power well into the 20th century, when advances in electric motors and internal combustion engines replaced steam engines in many areas of the the machine world.

Drawing inspiration from this chunk of history is the steampunk sub-genre.
Steampunk media is often set in the Victorian era where steam powered machines are still widely used; and often portrays the technological development of these machines to be much more advanced than in reality.

Steampunk in media includes the comic book series and movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen; as well as computer game titles like Arcanum, Siberian and Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends. A good example of steampunk anime apart from Steamboy is Howl's Moving Castle (Studio Ghibli) by Hayao Miyazaki.

Similar questions linger in the future.
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Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, died of a cardiac arrest yesterday. His music videos, Thriller being one of them, transformed music videos from mere promotional tools to short movies: starting a new art form in the music and cinematography world.

Thriller seems to have attracted similar videos from parts of Asia.

Michael Jackson's Thriller by the inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Cebu, Philippines:



An Indian version of Thriller (with an Indian Michael Jackson):


The original:


On Thriller (via Wikipedia)
Thriller was less a conventional video and more a full-fledged mini-film: a horror film spoof featuring choreographed zombies performing with Jackson. Co-starring with Jackson was former Playboy centerfold Ola Ray. The video was choreographed by Michael Peters (who had worked with the singer on his prior hit "Beat It"), with Michael Jackson, and directed by John Landis.
The music was re-edited to match the video, with the verses being sung one after the other followed by the ending rap, then the main dance sequence (filmed on the 3600 block of Union Pacific Avenue in East Los Angeles) to an instrumental loop, and finally the memorable finish: the choruses in a "big dance number" climactic scene.
During the video, Jackson transforms into both a zombie and a werecat; familiar territory for Landis, who had directed An American Werewolf in London two years earlier.

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Internet Musicians: xBextahx and Tinkerchel

Youtube has been an catalyst for launching talented musicians into the eyes of the world: Beckii (xBextahx) and Tinkerchel being two prime examples:

Beckii: Dancer
Beckii from the Isle of Man is a Youtube dancer to Japanese dance music. She joined in July 2007 and debuted in January 2008 with her first dance.
Danjo Dance (one of her later works):


Miku Muki Ni Shite Ageru Para Para:


An earlier video (Caramell Dansen):


Her latest video (LOVE&JOY):


Beckii's Official Channel

Tinkerchel: Singer and Cosplayer
Tinkerchel is a Youtube musician who sings and creates music videos featuring herself doing cosplays and in various clothing styles.

She joined Youtube in 2006 and debuted in June 2007 with a Final Fantasy X cosplay music video.




She also does drama music videos. This one is from the Taiyou no Uta (タイヨウのうた) J-dorama, originally sung by Kaoru Amane (Erika Sawajiri):


The original:


She also sings in Cantonese and Mandarin:


Tinkerchel's Official Channel
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Asian Gestures

Although all humans essentially share the same basic emotions, body language varies between the different cultures of our world. A gesture that can mean something in one country can be something completely different in another. Learning this would be infinitely helpful for survival in a foreign land.

The OK sign:

In the United States and most of Europe, it means things are okay, well or good. In Japan it can mean 0 (zero), or money. In Brazil however, it is an offensive reference to the anus.

Pointing:

In Western culture, pointing directly with the index finger at a person is considered rude. A more polite way of pointing to a person would be to direct the hand in their direction, as if holding a plate. Malaysians point with the thumb, often when referring to something behind the speaker. Others use lip pointing, like in the Philippines. This should not be mistaken with

Bang!

Pointing your index finger at the target to show them who’s boss.

Nyan nyan:

Unique to the otaku sub-culture, this is the classic anime and manga cat girl pose, where they put their paws up to their cheeks.

Daydreaming:

Pose used in classes or meetings where people are bored out of their minds.

Salute:

The salute gesture is used worldwide, most of which are used to denote respect for an authority.

Clenched fists:

Usually considered hostile, but can also show determination.

Surprise:

Hey! Pose:

A cute way of drawing attention to oneself.

Giant Heart:

Air Kiss:

Air kisses are often associated with celebrities: a tongue-in-cheek explanation is that unlike regular kisses, air kisses don't disturb their makeup.

Prayer:
Hoping for the best.

Louder:

Although it is debatable whether you will get louder, you will surely get people’s attention with this cute pose.

Pleading:

The results depends on who pleader is.

Frame:

Denotes a picture perfect moment.

Claws:

What is both ferocious and cute at the same time?

Adjusting Glasses:

A mild indicator of interest in something, usually written material.

Shush (silence):

V Sign:

The V sign, which is commonly known as the victory sign or peace sign is most commonly associated with Asians.

Nose picking:

Amongst the older generation in China, nose picking is considered acceptable in public. In most other places (and for the younger generation in China), this is a no-no.

Via Asian Poses.
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Salaryman By Day, Otaku By Night

It has been some time since I graduated college and joined the work force. In contrast to my previous inclinations, I find myself drawn increasing deeper into the world of the otaku, IRC and the blogosphere.

Otariiman.

An interesting recent phenomenon is the otaku salaryman, called otariiman (オタリーマン). He appears perfectly ordinary at work, but is actually an intense otaku in his private life.

One example is featured in the Boku, Otariiman (ぼく、オタリーマン。, “I, Otariiman”) manga. The Densha Otoko is also such a character.

School seems more tempting as time passes by however:


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For Malaysians going to Japan for a vacation

Visa Requirements
Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur
No.11, Persiaran Stonor,
Off Jalan Tun Razak,
50450 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.




Required documents:
1. One filled out visa application form

2. One tentative itinerary

3. One 4.5x4.5cm photo of yourself and your passport

4. Material showing your capacity to bear staying expenses in Japan (e.g. Bank statement)

5. （For working adults）A letter from your company or an official document (using the company letter-head) stating the items such as your position and department in the company, your period of service, your purpose of journey, period of stay and how expenses will be borne.

Flight Costs
A flight from KLIA to Tokyo's Narita Airport with Malaysian Airlines System(MAS) would typically be in the range of RM3900.

Strict visa regulations, are a barrier to budget airlines flying to Japan from Malaysia (read comments).
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Kim Jong Il on Time Magazine Front Page

Kim Jong Il (김정일), Dear Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea and loli connoisseur, had the deserved honor of gracing the front page of Time Magazine's June 22nd edition with his superstar looks.


The second in the Kim dynasty seems to tire of the burdens of stardom of late, and rumours have it that his son, Kim Jong Un, a growing basketball star, will succeed him as North Korea's next supreme leader.

Official North Korean releases report that it is the sincere hope of the Dear Leader's children that his heir would join him in his father's legacy of providing quality entertainment.

Hosting his own show:


Music video director:


Documentary maker:


Links:
Fan blog

Fangirl

Join the fanclub!
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Father's Day

I wish every father out there a Happy Father's Day! My pictures from Naminara Republic Island in Korea illustrates his roles:

Father is the most important person for the mother and child(ren)

Father is a husband

Father is at once a son-in-law and a parent

Being an online father to Tako Luka myself,

I have experienced joy in her music that makes her so happy:

and shock when she suddenly announced her marriage to this man.

Notes on
Father's Day: Celebrated on the 3rd of June (today) in most countries.

Naminara Republic:
Naminara Republic is an imaginary country on a tiny half-moon shaped island located in South Korea, formed as it was inundated by the rising water of the North Han River as the result of the construction of Cheongpyeong Dam (청평댐) in 1944.
Its name originated from General Nami (남이장군), who died after being falsely accused of treason.
It declared itself a self-governing country in 2006 as acceding to General Nami's natural greatness of soul and has its own passport, currency, stamp and telephone card.
The Naminara Republic is famous for being the filming location of Korean love drama Winter Sonata (겨울연가).

Tako Luka: My daughter as of April 2009.
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