#if anyone has a bootleg or two…my inbox is open…

[daisyachain]

Looking up clips around the place, it seems like on-stage interpretations veer towards straight and straight-up comedy for The Undifferentiated Duo. It is a comedy, yes, but the movie’s got a stifling air to it that verges on the horrific. Even the continued bit of Rosencrantz (if that’s the one he is) choosing the wrong moment slips from slapstick to painful as you go on. By the time Guildenstern crushes the paper airplane it’s actually sad. Not to mention the bit of lying down on the tomb to monologue. The play is about two people going to deaths they can’t avoid, foresee, or even understand as they’re happening.

Taking into account that the movie’s directed by the playwright, the sinister aspects seems to be as true a part of it as the jokes. Filmdenstern is constantly screaming at random, the straightman/wiseguy routine verges on domestic abuse black comedy (I know what I sound like at this point but I’m sticking to it). The film version is so wincingly uncomfortable that it feels like you’re talking about Ros and Guil behind their backs. The audience is made complicit in their deaths moreso than if the tone is ‘look at these fools bumbling graveward. Lmao’

[megatownac]

Hmmm, guess my Blaster Master post didn't go over very well. Not that that's a shock, of course, but it is a shame.

My inbox remains open if anyone wants to talk to me. Nobody does. It's a bit of a downer, to be honest. I'm either not very interesting, or I'm plenty interesting all on my own without people wanting to suggest anything.

Yesterday, I didn't ride any trains at all, so I didn't write anything. As they say in Japan, 申し訳ありません. Don't worry about what that means. It's something appropriate.

I'm making my second trip to Tokyo today. I say that only because it is relevant to today's story, which is about how I have a fairly sizeable figurine collection that I don't talk about much. I saw two figurines on Tuesday that I really wanted, but I didn't have the cash and was also already carrying a giant doll that was rather heavy and cumbersome. Folded up as it was in it's bag, it was a bit easier, but it was still a 60cm (24 in) doll. Too big. Stupidly big. But I'd seen it nearly two years ago and wanted it slightly more each time I thought of it since, so I took the plunge and bought the most expensive doll of my life.

It cost less than my monthly mortgage payment, is all I'll say about the actual cost. Well, once insurance and taxes are included, at least.

The second most expensive figure I own, and the difference to me between dolls and figures is minor enough that I consider them in the same category when comparing prices (to me, figures are solid single pieces that may have removable parts, dolls and action figures can be posed, dolls have soft clothing and/or hair), was a bootleg I bought on eBay for around $250. I don't regret it, but the third most expensive I've bought is under $200.

Most really good quality figurines are about $100-150. I own a number of those. They're usually 1/8 to 1/6 size. Part of why the big doll was so expensive is that she is 1/3 size. Apparently, she is based on a six-foot tall woman. I'm okay with that.

Smaller figures, like what you might find in a crane game, might be $80 on the high end and $25 on the low end. Sometimes, smaller figures can still be expensive, like a couple of Inkling Figmas I found that were $90 despite only being three or four inches tall. Supply and demand, I guess.

If you're lucky, you can find boxless figures for really cheap, like $10 or less cheap. I own a lot of those. The box isn't very important to me. The figure is. Last night, I spent 700 yen on a figurine of Shinobu from the Monogatari series because she was unboxed. Or boxless. Whatever. One of the two I want to buy in Tokyo today is of Shinobu's other form, Kissshot Acerolaorion Heartunderblade (let no one say it is not, deep down, a very silly series), for about 2400 yen even though it has a box. Both are small. Maybe 1/8? 1/10? I'd have to measure.

Figures take up a lot of space and cost a lot of money no matter what, so it's important to me that I only buy ones that really resonate with me. Someday I want to go really nuts and buy some actual display cases for them all, especially my dozens of Amiibo, but it probably won't happen soon.

I don't have a stinger or a point here. I just like figures. I know a fair amount about them and try hard to take it seriously as a hobby. I'm not big into comic books, for example. Or books, generally, really. I mostly buy ebooks these days. But I keep buying video games, boxed whenever I can, and figures, regardless of box.

Do I think other people should take up the hobby? Not really. It's pretty pointless. I can't spend a lot of time doing stuff with them. They aren't toys. They're art pieces. It'd be like recommending someone take up buying paintings. Do it if you want! But I won't say you should. Especially since, deep down, part of what determines what figures I buy is the fact that I'm secretly a huge perv. Don't tell anybody.

Not that that's the whole reason, or the biggest. But while I can say that I love how shamelessly Crypton and Nitroplus sell out the characters of Hatsune Miku and Super Sonico (given name "Sonico," family name "Super"), maybe the fact that I can take off Sonico's top in so many of the figures I own of her means something else.

I can't strip Miku in any of her figures. I'm fine with that. She's supposed to be 16, after all. At least Sonico is perpetually 18. That's only two years, but they're important ones.

There's a bunch of figures I don't own that I want to, but that's fine. I have patience, and if I die with an incomplete collection, that's fine, too. As it is, my figurines are already going to make for a strange estate sale upon my demise.

I guess the big question everyone wants to know, me included, is why I keep buying them. Maybe it's true that "once you get into figures, you never go back." If that's the case, I definitely say you shouldn't start. But I like it, and I'll keep at it, even when it means buying Satan as a sexy anime girl because I think it's hilarious (my current beliefs aren't important, but I did become a born-again Christian as an adult). A $100+ dollar joke? Sure. I can do that. I did do it, in fact. And I'll do it again. Just you wait and see.

[neglectedrainbow]

8,30,42 but for 42 instead of how do you figure out their personalities how do you take the characters especially Evan Jared and Alana and make them your own. Because I tend to agree with your characterization of them. Like will Roland once said that he doesn't believe Evan and Jared would ever make up. But I believe they would from breakdowns of the script and your writing. Also I really like the way you write intimacy. Because I wouldn't be able to just insert anyone into them. It's not pwp.

8. Favorite trope to write?

Probably unrequited pining because it hurts So Much but makes it all the more fun to write (sorry). I just really enjoy writing complex and engaging dynamics between two specific characters.

30. Favorite line you’ve ever written?

Oh my gosh I have no idea! I’ve written over one hundred thousand words throughout my various projects, so it’s really really hard to choose. I’m just going to pick one from the most recent chapter of YKTGTYLR because that’s the easiest to find. Right now, my favorite thing I’ve written is the entire last section of the most recent chapter of YKTGTYLR because I think it’s incredibly rich in both in-depth characterization, inner termoild, and luscious imagery. It’s not a specific line, I apologize, but you can find it right here!

42. How to you take characters and make them your own?

Oh, that’s actually an amazing question. A lot of my time is spent watching and rewatching and rewatching the bootleg and analyzing every single little action. I spend so much time thinking “Why would they do that, why did they do that, would they do that again, what were they thinking when they did that…” and so on. The most important thing, for me, in developing characters is determining how they think. Really getting in their head. As someone who’s also an actor, I actually have a very easy time doing this, thinking like a character, talking like a character, etc.. (Also, that my writing has any effect on your personal thoughts about the musical is a wonderful, wonderful compliment!) 

And intimacy! I, personally, think that’s one of the hardest things to write! It helps, for me, if you don’t really focus on making those scenes sexy or whatever, but rather on making them realistic, for the specific characters mentioned. I believe intimacy is one of the greatest ways to push forward plot and to reveal the deeper sides of characters. A continual dialogue of “Why” and “How” is vital to make that happen, I think. (Why are they doing this, how are they doing that, what are they thinking about while they’re doing this, etc.)!Thank you for all of your lovely questions, and my inbox is open for more!!

[mymusicalnostalgia]

The Little Ebayer Who Was Stupid Enough To Unintentionally Buy A Fake CD

I am a music collector. I am also a very, very, very big fan of Sia Furler as I may have mentioned more than once on this blog. For yonks, I have been trying to find her ultra rare album “OnlySee”, which only was released in Adelaide, and only around 1000 copies. 

Want is a funny thing, and when it came up on ebay for the first time ever, I was pretty excited. Never have I ever seen it on ebay before, in an op shop or a junk store. So I pounced onto the opportunity, like an idiot of course.

The seller “tommiesunshine_9″ is from the Russian Federation. That should had been my first tip off, how in the hell would a Russian guy have a copy of such a rare Australian CD, only to put it up for sale on Ebay when Sia finally becomes uber famous? The second tip off should had been that all his listings looked dodgy, he only had 1 good feedback and his account had only opened in November, 2016.

He was very nice, answered all my questions and even told me that he received the CD 18 years ago from a friend and put it in the cupboard and just forgot. Referring to this copy of this CD, he assured me not to worry, that the CD works fine.

I recently created an account on Discogs.com and put “OnlySee” into my wishlist. I didn’t know why, but I did, not realising that the website emails peopel to inform them when a CD they “want” is for sale. A listing from “A_CD_sale” who lives in the Russian Federation was up on the website.

This made my tummy turn, but I told myself that maybe it meant the ebay page and didn’t realize the listing had ended.

On Wednesday morning, things hit the proverbial when I received my CD in the mail.

Instantly, I knew it was a fake. There were printer lines on the front cover, on the inside of the insert was photocopied crease marks, the label on the CD looked stuck down as opposed to being part of the CD and, I admit it was weird to do it, but it smelt like it was straight from the press and not as musky CD from the 90s. The audio worked fine and didn’t sound too compressed for a bootleg but most people don’t clock onto that.

In some sort of pang of hope, I turned to a very great facebook community “Vinyl and CD Hoarders United” who were extremely willing to help and support me through the process, even going out of their own way to chase the ebayer around online to find out more.

I emailed him right away. 

Me: 

I received my CD today. I am a bit concerned that the CD maybe a bootleg copy. I have noticed you are selling the same copy on another website, when you told me you had a copy in the cupboard for the past 18 years. The CD also looks a bit photocopied and the disk label looks stuck on. I'm just a little bit confused and just wanted to check with you first to see what is going on.

He replied:

Hello Holly. I sold my CD. I also buy around the world the same CD cheaper and sell more expensive. I buy them at different radio stations, as there are a lot of friends. They all look the same. If you still have questions, I will gladly answer them. Thank you

Oh, as this was contradicting what he told me earlier, I certainly DID have questions and learnt that he actually wasn’t glad to answer them.

Me:

Hi Alexander, I'm just giving you the benefit of the doubt. You didn’t say that you had more copies of the cd. I thought I was buying the only copy that you had- you did say that CD (the one I was led to believe was your only copy) is in good condition. As for finding multiple other copies of the cd- I think this a bit hard to believe. The cd is extremely rare in Australia, how it could have made its way to you more than once and how I could never have found a single copy for the past 6 years I have spent searching for it is is bit interesting to me. I am just a little concerned that my CD is a copy of your original CD,  instead of an original pressing. In the description it says that the CD is in its original form but there are many signs that the CD is not an original. I am just not very convinced I have been sold an original pressing and just want to see if you can help me make sense of this all. I am happy to email you photos of why I believe this. Kind regards, Holly

His response: 

Hello Holly. You will be surprised, but this CD edition of 1,000 copies. I don't know how many of them in Australia, but you can buy them in the US and in Europe. Expensive, but you can buy. I sometimes buy on the site Discogs and other. I bought 3 of the CD. you can ask these users: Sasha_V john_kowacs VincentSound The price is different: from 90 to 120 euros. When I sell, I have only 1 CD on the purchase of the other I'm negotiating. This is my business work. I later write a history of this release. Best regards. Alexander

He kept ignoring why I thought it was a bootleg, or rather why I knew it was a bootleg. He was so insistent that eventually I came to believe that perhaps he was in some sort of belief that these CDs he was buying were real. It went like this for a bit, eventually I emailed back an apology and his response to that was:

"Thanks" for the feedback :( I bought 3 CDs in different countries and they all look the same, but not all were new. I sold you my CD that I bought in US in 1998 and immediately put on the shelf in the closet. I wrote to my friend, who worked in Treehouse Studio. I showed him your pictures. He said part of the printing were exactly the same quality. In 1997, they had little money and half the copies were printed at a cheap printing factory. So your doubts are vain. Thankyou very much, Alexander.

I tried googling Treehouse Studio’s for any trace, but to no avail. Under the advice of my boyfriend, I then emailed the producer of OnlySee Jesse Flavell who was very nice to respond, but couldn’t fully validate the CD. If he had been able to see it in person, he would have known right away it was a fake.

Now I was going to leave it at that, then I remembered that he had sent me those usernames to message on Discogs.com to validate the purchase of my CD. Two of the names weren’t registered, but “Sasha_V” was. As soon as I clicked onto “Sasha’s” profile, I noticed something was a miss.

Sasha had been nice enough to post their email address onto their profile for anyone interested in their music collection. I was interested in why this person who was apparently a whole other person to Alex had the same email address that Alex uses to receive paypal funds. Smuggly, I emailed “Sasha” pretending I thought they were a different person and of course  he replied and signed off as Sasha.

After emailing paypal, ebay and discogs, I sent him a message:

There's nothing vain about the paypal claim I have sent you. Let's cooperate with this one, please. All my evidence is in the message on paypal. I am tired, disappointed and just want my money back. H.

When confronted about this, Alexander deleted the email and then proceeded to try and tell me that it is his personal profile because “Sasha” is a nickname for Alexander. Yet again, ignoring the fact that he told me that was another persons page.

The message I sent him via paypal:

I am requesting a refund as I feel that you have sent me a bootleg copy of  the album OnlySee and have not been truthful about this.

I received a CD that appears to be a fake as the insert has a crease  photocopied, and there are two black boarders- one inside the other which  is noticeable in the shininess of the glossy paper, the label on the disk  seems to be stuck down, as opposed to being part of the CD and there are  printer marks all over the front cover.

Look, you have contradicted yourself many times through this lengthy and  exhausting process. All I wanted was for you to admit that my copy of the  CD was a fake. However, I did then convince myself that maybe you  bought them believing they are the real deal from other sellers.

Luckily you sent me through the names of some users on the website  Discogs who I could ask to validate the CD for me. Now I am more than  CERTAIN that you have been knowingly selling fake copies of CDs. Yet  again conveniently for you, the two other profile names you sent me  weren’t on the website but one was. “Sasha_V”. You have posted the same  email address on the profile of “Sasha_V” that you use for your own Paypal  account, proving to me that you have a fake profile to convince me the CD  was fine.

You also replied to me on discogs and signed off as Sasha, lying to me yet  again, under a different name to yours, Alexander.

Are you going to continue to lie to me when this proves exactly what I  suspected in the first place?

I paid $258.59 AUD ($180.00 USD) for a CD that you mislead me into  believing was an original pressing. I have screen shots of your fake profile  on discogs (including a listing of OnlySee that mysteriously disappeared  when I questioned my purchase), copies of our correspondence, and finally  I have been emailing the producer of the album to check it’s validation and  guess what? He was kind enough to email me back.

To semi quote you, are my doubts still “in vain”?

I would like my money back please.

He eventually gave me a partial refund. It was more the principal than the money for me. He also sent me an additional $6.00 and links to a drop box which holds Sia’s disography. I deleted and blocked his email and sent back the bribe, not wanting to find out if it was riddled with trojan viruses or not.

He never did admit that the CD was not real.

All websites are currently looking into his accounts.

His only follower on ebay also lives in the Russian Federation. 

If you feel that you have been stung by this same ebayer, or would like some advice, hit me up in the inbox. 

You aren’t alone, even the smartest of people get screwed over. 

Remember that you have all the power.