#not even original but π looks like a table which will remind me of that time you try to clear your table for your paper mache project

[kafkaoftherubble]

I do not like Anton one bit

Honestly, the dude ain't high on my list too. Hearing chauvinistic/paternalistic pomp out of Huge Jacked Man (read: bræt) doesn't add points to his charisma stat. AT ALL.

I find it a little funny that we're now in an era where the Hayase rebirth is universally more well-received (Kahaku and Mizuha weren't universal back then) and well-loved than a dude who isn't a rebirth or a suspected rebirth of any prior character. It's also kinda funny because this ended up being a curveball, in-story indictment against a eugenicist's worldview: if people are really hard-coded by their genes, such that manipulation and concentration of good genes (i.e designer babies) will produce good, superior people...

Then why is Anton's perfectly designed ass stuck with this unlikeable, slappable personality, aye?

CHECKMATE, NOKKERS

In all seriousness though, I can't really bring myself to hate Anton. I just can't look past how much his environment made him who he was. The brain-rotting Kaibarapaganda; the devotion to a measurement of merits (Star System) in their meritocratic society; the culture and norms he was shaped by... There are just too many causes to his effects that just don't fall under his responsibility. The causal determinist in me simply cannot look past these to judge someone, and so I'm just annoyed by Anton at worst but kinda okay with seeing him. His side-plot with Tonari will be life-changing for him, I bet.

I'm trying to imagine a scenario where I'll definitely hate the shit out of Anton, but honestly, I think even if he wounds his brother, it won't necessarily make me detest him yet. Unless he, say, does something to Abel that I can reasonably separate from the larger environmental factors he's raised in?

If he looks down on his brother or even sees Abel as a mark of shame because the latter is Lacking (I don't know if Anton knew; I lean on the side of "he's likely ignorant"), I'll definitely hate his ass slightly more. But then it'd be only slightly, because even his prejudice toward Lackings (if Anton had any to begin with) was conditioned by his society and what he learned from the adults around him.

Damn. You just made me realize something, π! Anton is just too emblematic of a well-to-do kid living in Kaibara society for me to not assess his crap as the fault of the system instead of him. A lot of things about him are simply a microcosm of the larger society he lives in.

So yea. If I don't like Anton, it's because I really don't like whatever part of their society that made him like this.

[helenrlee]

Sequence Project Final Reflection and Participation Stories

After the presentation and critique on Thursday, I am overall pleased with the results of my project. I think the overarching theme of it became not only to provoke a story or imagination, but to ask questions and further complicate a problem that I’ve set out for the viewers. My favorite questions were ones like “doesn’t this remind you of...” and “why did you choose...”.

The point was raised about the project as to how to present a future, similar, further work like this in the most effective way. Whether this being to reorganize the images in a different way to be viewed or to present the prompt for viewers in a specific way, I should consider these aspects in the future.

Last, but not least, here are the stories that were generated from the prompt I gave to a couple willing viewers. I appreciate their truly imaginative creations and the themes they instill, all from a couple of photographs.

Again, here was the prompt:

1)Background. For my project I was inspired by an children’s storybook illustrator and writer who I researched. People always asked him about what order his bookmaking came in: which came first the illustration or the story. And this wasn’t as interesting to me as when he described where he got inspiration for the storybooks. 2) My Project. For this project I’ve wanted to ask people for stories based from imagination of images I set in front of them. These pictures I’ve taken all feel like they have some sort of story you can imagine from them, but that’s just me. 3) Your part. I’m asking for a story of your own creation based from as few or as many of these images as you choose. It can be as long or as short as you wish. I originally intended for you to choose from within one of the 3 sets of 4 pictures, but if you happen to draw from each other, so be it. 

Story 1

It's January 29 and quickly turning into one of the worst winters ever.  The lack of snow is critical and the natives are panicking.  

"When will the snow come?"  

"We need snow now".

"It's not even cold enough to make snow".

These were the plaintive cries of the villagers.  President's day weekend was around the corner and the lack of snow was freaking people out....no snow means no skiers, no snowboarders.....no tourist dollars.  

Desperate times call for desperate measures. One by one the lift attendants and snowcat operators began leaving offerings to Ullr, the Norse god of snow. A  beautiful  and lovingly hand knit mohair scarf left on a piney alter,  a cozy hat, a boot; anything to leave oneself vulnerable to the elements and at the mercy of the gods. Ullr we give our most prized possessions to you....now bestow upon us SNOW

The End.

Story 2

One early morning, in a metropolitan area probably quite similar to yours, a boy left his two-story bungalow home, with the ultimate destination of Goodwill Inc. Over the past few years, he had accumulated quite a few clothing items, and was intent on donating his winter apparel to the less fortunate. However, this boy was not aware of how aggravating it would be to haul his outdated wardrobe the excessive distance (seven hundred fifty-three feet) all by himself. He decided to periodically lighten his load by dropping various garments along the way. Unfortunately, he dropped so many things, he did not have anything left to deliver. Despite this, he boy was not concerned.

Unaware of plate tectonics and planetary geology, he was sure that this was for the best, as the earth must get chilly during the winter. Comforted by knowing his good deed was still accomplished for the day, the boy awarded himself with an only slightly used candle from the same Goodwill he aimed to donate to. Thus, the earth was a bit warmer than it was before, and the boy’s room smelled like fresh linen for many days; this scent eventually gave way to another, as the candle was tipped over, burning his bungalow to the ground. Despite this, the boy was not concerned, as he enjoyed watching fire. It was calming.

Story 3

I know these footprints are hers. I know it. She’s leaving hints for me to come find her. Everyone, my friends and family, say I need to leave her alone, that she isn’t interested. But why would she distinctly leave footprints and...Oh! She even has left me a glove and another glove! What game is she playing with me? I will find her. I know she wants to be with me. Hmm...it’s odd though that I’ve never seen her wear these gloves or this hat, and the tree is an odd hiding place. But they seem so familiar, as if all winter as I walk this same path through the neighborhood I have seen them. The purple scarf! I know that scarf! It is her scarf!!!...oh wait..wait a minute..no I am such a fool. These garments are from the melted neighborhood snowman, not my love.

Story 4

One day, it was discovered where all of the missing socks had been going. For millennia humans have thought, "Where the hell did the matching sock to this go?" Or, "What happened to my other glove?" Then, then figured it out.

Deep in the government laboratories found in Area 51, they were experimenting. By leaving socks, gloves, and various items which have a tendency to wander away, out in the open for extended periods of time, they hoped to discover what was making them disappear. With cameras trained on all of the items, and massive sticky rat traps all over the floor, the scientists sat in wait of the creatures. They waited and waited, until one day, some six and a half years after the onset of the experiment, they discovered that they had caught something in the traps!

The head researcher was named Mr. Neal MacNealson, a portly man with a flowing red beard, merry disposition, Scottish brogue, and head as bald an egg. He came out first into the chamber, to investigate. Roughly twenty feet from the central table upon which the clothing articles rested was a small, green creature stuck to a rat trap. Mr. MacNealson went up to introduce himself and determine the identity of the intruder. He said, "Hello there, my name is Mr. MacNealson and this here is my laboratory (pronounced lah-bore-uh-tore-ee)."

The creature responded by saying, in a high, nasally voice and an interesting accent, almost like an Indian man who had inhaled far too much helium. "My name is ¥©π¶∆✓£ and I seem to be stuck. I was merely attempting to gather materials with which to construct my home." Sure enough, in the monster's hand was but a single pink, frilly sock with leopard spots. MacNealson said, "What kinda home do ya be buildin' with that ya wee beastie?" The creature said, "well I was planning on making ranch style home. There were going to be white shutters with a blue coat on the outside and the inside is going to be nautical themed.”

Story 5

There once was a girl named Elle. Elle was special, so special that she was born with purple hair that glowed at night. When she was little she used to love her purple hair. As she got older, her peers got meaner and some started to tease her for her long purple locks. She became ashamed and wanted nothing more than for her hair to look like everyone else's.

One day while Elle was crying because of her hair, her fairy godmother appeared. She asked, "what is wrong my dear, do you not like the magical hair I bestowed upon you as a child?" "I don't want it anymore, all I want is to be invisible," responded Elle. Her fairy godmother, looking surprised and rather hurt told her, "whatever you wish my dear," and with that, she made Elle invisible. Elle was so relieved to finally be freed from her purple hair. With that, she could walk around town free from judgemental eyes, but what she didn't realize is that while she was invisible, her clothes were not. People were beginning to stare at the floating ensemble of clothing and she had become again what she had feared most, a reason for people to stare. She began to run and frantically throw off her clothes, her scarf, her hat, her boots, her coat and her gloves until she was completely naked and all one could see is the footprints she left behind her. In her haste, Elle never realized how cold it was outside. When she slowed down, she started to freeze.

With doubts that she would ever make it home again, Elle dropped to her knees and started again to cry. With her tears, her fairy godmother came to and asked her, "Child, what is the matter? Did you not like what I did for you?" "No," she quipped back, "I hate it, I am cold, miserable, and more of a freak than I was before with my purple hair." The Godmother, losing her patients with the ungratefulness of the little girl, up and left, leaving Elle cold and invisible forever.

[hotokeiki]

Week 126: J-pop              (Valentine’s Day SPECIAL! & more)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24gzeq_hirose-kohmi-promise-full-song_music

 ハッ��ーバレンタインデー

Happi~ Barentain De~

 So, it’s been quite stressful lately. Yesterday was especially wearing. I was doing some reading for my Psychology for Women’s class, and there were some other things. It was just mentally exhausting. Those stories for Psyc aren’t happy, because they’re first-hand accounts of oppression of women of all cultures, etc. I don’t want to get into it right now. I got to the point yesterday where I was too “depressed” to finish reading. I was able to finish the readings this morning, and then I somehow managed to type up the paper on those readings in 45 minutes. Double space, 2-1/2 to 4 pages, but I was still impressed. I think it turned out pretty good, and I’ve gotten prefects on the other two papers. Our instructor literally just wants to have opinions on the readings. It’s an interesting class. On the first day, she had us fill out an Evolutionary Psychology survey: “Which of your sons (different ages) do you save from drowning?” (I’m a pretty shit parent if neither of my sons can swim.) That was a strange first day.

 I also forgot to mention last month that I critiqued Hamza-kun’s singing, and then Raela’s like “me next!” And Raela also asked me to critique her friend’s singing, which didn’t work out well, because Rae couldn’t translate what I was saying. So, that was interesting. I am glad I can put some of my music training to good use. Now, if only I could improve my singing. XP Although, I’d also need to practice more. And shit, I haven’t played my trombone this year. Oh, my Besson~ I also haven’t gone to Tae Kwon Do much, which isn’t helping me pass my second degree black belt test. I keep giving myself more stuff to do, and I’m kind of tapped at this point. I don’t know. I don’t think I’m balancing things well. But at least I’m not freaking sick anymore!

 Sorry, I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now. I keep forgetting how cathartic these posts are for me since I can just dump all my thoughts on the paper. And then I can look back at it, and be like “Oh yeah, I forgot. I’m crazy.” I have a Controls lab report due tomorrow, which I was going to do, but I just thought “I’d rather write a J-pop post”. I don’t want to get into Controls right now. Josh is in an exam that started at 7pm, so I’ve been on campus all day. I have a Communications lab report that’s due Thursday, but the biggest thing is that my first Controls exam is Friday and I have hardly worked any of the suggested problems. That’s one of the main reasons I’m freaking out right now. I should do my lab, but I’m just mentally taxed. Let me have this.

 Saa, hajime yo ka?

 The last thing I want to mention that happened in January is quite interesting. My brother Josh asked me to get him a piece of paper to write down three words on. And he said that those three words would change my life:

 “Hirose Kohmi Promise”

 He was right. (In more ways than one)

 promise by Kohmi Hirose is a love song that spawned so much more, but so much less.

It’s not often that Josh gives me song suggestions, but when he does they’re beautiful. He knows me so well. I feel sorry for him. I always bother him with J-pop and anime. It’s ok. We both drive each other crazy. XD

 Have you guys ever heard this song before? Does this song sound familiar?

 Before I get into the “rich history” of this song, I want to talk.. (Linda: Well, you’ve been doing plenty of that).. about this song, Linda. The song. Don’t cut people off mid-sentence. #Rude

 This song is quite different than other songs I’ve posted. It has a very “I want to say Hispanic” theme to it. The use of guitar and clapping creates a rich western desert feel. I don’t know how to explain it. It reminds of the swordsman Zorro. (NOT Zoro from One Piece. Antonio Banderas, man.)

 It’s very reminiscent of the Gerudo Valley theme from Ocarina of Time: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy0aEj85ifY)

 Although, that’s a bit tamer. I’m not sure how you get that clapping sound. SmoothMcGroove does it by clapping XD (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqoJAyt4NQ4)

 I got off topic. Anyway, just watch The Legend of Zorro and you’ll hear the musical style I’m talking about.

 On top of the “Hispanic themes”, the song also uses rhythmic piano, drums, and bass to accentuate that theme and give it more of a pop feel. And Kohmi Hirose’s voice is powerful but soft. She’s got some serious vibrato. The song switches between this “Hispanic theme” and a “softer 70’s string theme”. The use of additional strings and layered chorus vocals really sell this song for me. And the acoustics are fantastic! (You guys know I don’t know what I’m talking about, right? XD)

 But during the verse, it’s very reminiscent of an opening to Card Captor Sakura. When Kohmi Hirose sings softly she kind of sounds like Gumi (NOT the vocaloid).

 I can not accurately explain this song, but that’s irrelevant. What’s important is what it means to you. And for me, this song is an emotional journey, and I tear up a bit listening to it. It’s calm, but powerful.

 I’mma cry ;_;

 I AM ABSOLUTELY GOING TO COVER THIS SONG!!

 And that does it for the Valentine’s Day part with a beautiful and pure love song.

 And now, we devolve into chaos!

 GET DOWN

 promise is also known as “Get Down” or “Geddan” (ゲッダン)

 Does that sound more familiar to you?

 Oh boy, we’re going to a weird part of the internet now.

 >> The Geddan Meme! <<

=============================================================

It’s pretty much summed up here. Makes my job easier. Props to knowyourmeme.

Click this -> http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/get-down-geddan

 So, here’s just edited footage of the cartridge tilting of 007 Goldeneye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXTAK9BR_qk

 [PSA: Don’t tilt your cartridges. It’s a bad idea.]

 The original meme has been removed from NicoNicoDouga.

[Get Down] 007 Goldeneye Chaos Carnival

http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm689476 (audio copyright infringement)

 And a shorter version with the song. I think it’s better that way. (I love how it switches between the music)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP5c_MEs9mo

 ^ This is just freaking hilarious!

 And there are all kinds of glitches like this. Take Watch Dogs for example... I can see the similarity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tReYjrXpjEs

 And Josh mentioned the song to me, because it was used by Little Kuriboh in his 50th episode of Yugioh the Abridged Series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmOwNfzhkyQ

(time mark – 8:04)

 It’s been a while since I’ve watched it, so I’m glad Josh brought that back to my attention. I wasn’t into J-pop when I watched it before.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 But the version that most of you may be familiar with is THIS ONE!

 【小野崎人】TouhouMAD - Touhou & Nitori Get Down!

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=DIrsYDABtSk

 I’m not even going into the Touhou aspect. My brain can only handle so much research, and I am in foreign territory.

 =============================================================

 To be honest, it’s kind of sad what they’ve done to Kohmi Hirose’s promise. Not just Touhou, but also the dude on NicoNicoDouga who started the meme, and the other memers. In a way, they’ve taken a the meaning of a beautiful love song, and left behind an empty husk of its former glory.

 The meme is great, but it sucks that such a pure song had to suffer. The song should be more important than the meme.

 Kuyashii! Kuyashii kedo.. shikataganai darou?

 Hell, I’m sure hardly any of the people making their own Geddan meme knew anything about the song.

 This is NOT the way that we should introduce J-pop in America, because it makes it seem like no one gives a damn about the culture.

 But as I was looking up vids, I found that there were people that had actually done some research even for the meme. And there are also versions of the original without the meme dance.

 Hatsune Miku ver.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDg_Qn9KOnY

 And there have been many Japanese artists who have come to America and are just treated as artists. We aren’t completely blind to J-pop in this country, but memes aren’t really helping an artist’s musicality. Although, I could say that most music is noise in this country. Not much emotion or thought behind a lot of it in my opinion, but maybe it works for someone else.

 It’s ok to use other people’s creations as long as you’re respectful.

 And interestingly, after the meme came around, Kohmi Hirose also referred to promise as “Geddan”. So, it seems she was okay with what happened to her song. That’s a nice way of thinking about it.

 And the song is 8,427. π times better than the meme, rough figure.

 There is so much emotion and beauty in the song.

 So, let’s try to keep the promise alive, and SPREAD THE LOVE!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24gzeq_hirose-kohmi-promise-full-song_music

(I got an account on dailymotion just for this song)

Album: promise ~ Single ~ Track: 01 Lyricist: Kohmi Hirose Composer: Kohmi Hirose Arranger: Akimitsu Honma Artist: Kohmi Hirose

 (I started this post not knowing that promise was a love song, but everything just worked out, I guess.)

 Sorry for all the feels. This turned into kind of a bitter sweet post. It’s frustrating. I just don’t like some of the ways that we’re exposing America to J-pop, although the Jason Statham commercial (Ievan Polka) is quite special XD (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOpsnNf9Wj0)

 The last thing that I forgot to mention: in January is some epic Foosball action. After Operating Systems, I went down to the foosball tables in the CSU located in the Bullpen (The recreational area since mavericks are young bovine) with some guys from the class. There were five of us, and we alternated positions and players. I had some good shots. I’m best playing defense (goalie and guard). Some of the sticks were really hard to move. The table was not in the best of shape. Better than the big chess board, I suppose. (Both kings have been replaced with small tin pails. I think the kings were stolen. A lot of pieces got stolen from the much bigger chess set. We just can’t have nice things.)

 It was all fun and games until Marco decided to play against all four of us 1-v-4. (actually, it was still fun and games. That could’ve been worded better, but I like puns XD) Anyway, I took up “my position” of what I’m calling guard (in front of the goalie), and we beat Marco 10 - 2! Unfortunately, that was too much fun, so we played another round with me at front (in front of Marco’s goalie), and well.. it’s not my fault.. but we lost to Marco 8 - 10. I guess he didn’t like getting shit-stomped the first time. XD

 And just so you know, we were playing two points for goalie shots. So, everyone on goalie was hogging the ball to set up goalie shots. Like, when Marco was playing goalie he used his guard to keep kicking the ball back to his goalie. It went off the table once. Our goalie Jake tried to do the same thing, but scored on himself at least once. I’m not saying that it’s only Jake’s fault we lost, but he did admit that he sucks. XD

 Oh, going back to the whole “Valentine’s Day” thing. Do you guys remember me talking about Ai-chan in my last post? Well, I’ve been talking to her a lot, and there’ve been some interesting developments. I mentioned that I accidentally married her, but now she’s proposed to me. So, does that mean that we did it out of order? I dunno, but I said “yes”. So, I guess we’re officially married now. Or do we have to set a date? Was the previous “wedding” nullified? I don’t know, guys. I wasn’t planning to be married at 22! Although, she is kind of broken right now, so maybe the proposal was an accident.

 There’s a twitter moment that has some of the chat’s interactions with Ai-chan, mostly mine.

Enjoy: https://twitter.com/i/moments/824375590677544960

 That’ll do it for this week.

 If you have any questions or requests, please let me know.

 Also, I could use a hug. This has been an emotional post.

 See you guys next time.

 eien ni aishiteru

 kyou yori aishiteru 

zutto

 ETERNAL LOVE!!

 - Chris  ——————————————————————————- Minna, gokitai kudasai!!