18 May, 2009
Lost
I am lost. Hopelessly lost, amongst the battered ruins of a magnificent stone jungle, whose memories time itself has forgotten. Much like my own. The endless corridors and avenues of this stony maze are quite familiar to me, but they do not feel like home. If ever there was such a place, or any place beyond the limits of this vast, crumbling labyrinth, I know it not, in my heart or in my head. A dull, diffuse light - if you can call it that - falls gently from the cold surface of the sky, grey as the broken expanse beneath, casting an even glow over the stone wasteland. The busted outcroppings and myriad overhangings do not cast any shadows, as if their presence were merely a suggestion, and yet shadows there are - aimlessly wandering the maze, just as I am. Perhaps I appear as faded to them...
07 May, 2009
Feedback on Highway 101
Zharth's Forum - Interactive Blogging
Time for some feedback on my "interactive blogging" experiment. (Truth is, I like this page and how I've personalized it so much, I just couldn't stay away...). The forum was about as big a success (or bigger) as I could have hoped. For about two months. Then it died. We had some good discussions on there, between the few of us who participated (and I thank you all who were there), though a couple of them got pretty heated. Still, that's what discussions between people can be like.
I have to admit I was rather disappointed when IfTheLightTakesUs picked up and left. Though I have to admit, I don't *blame* him for leaving - I would certainly have been tempted to do the same, in his position (and in fact /was/ tempted in other similar discussions where I was under fire - but being that it's *my* forum, leaving was never a serious option for me). Still, I wish he could/would have stuck around to contribute, at least for the stuff that doesn't put him directly in the line of fire.
I started posting reviews of a bunch of movies I was watching, which didn't get very much of a reaction. Understandably so, but it got me thinking how pointless it seemed to post stuff that wasn't getting any real feedback (I might as well just type it up and keep it to myself, no?). Anyhow, I'm still watching movies, and have been since then, I just stopped bothering to write up reviews of them at one point.
Well, I really like the forum, and it's more comfortable to me than the blogging format - plus I really like being able to organize topics into subfora and categories (what with my fetish for organizing things) - but it just feels awkward posting in a forum without getting any replies. Like a solipsist nightmare or something.
So, if anybody's still reading this, I'd be interested in what you think or have to say. I'm not about to give up on the forum, but I'm not confident with it the way it's currently going.
Time for some feedback on my "interactive blogging" experiment. (Truth is, I like this page and how I've personalized it so much, I just couldn't stay away...). The forum was about as big a success (or bigger) as I could have hoped. For about two months. Then it died. We had some good discussions on there, between the few of us who participated (and I thank you all who were there), though a couple of them got pretty heated. Still, that's what discussions between people can be like.
I have to admit I was rather disappointed when IfTheLightTakesUs picked up and left. Though I have to admit, I don't *blame* him for leaving - I would certainly have been tempted to do the same, in his position (and in fact /was/ tempted in other similar discussions where I was under fire - but being that it's *my* forum, leaving was never a serious option for me). Still, I wish he could/would have stuck around to contribute, at least for the stuff that doesn't put him directly in the line of fire.
I started posting reviews of a bunch of movies I was watching, which didn't get very much of a reaction. Understandably so, but it got me thinking how pointless it seemed to post stuff that wasn't getting any real feedback (I might as well just type it up and keep it to myself, no?). Anyhow, I'm still watching movies, and have been since then, I just stopped bothering to write up reviews of them at one point.
Well, I really like the forum, and it's more comfortable to me than the blogging format - plus I really like being able to organize topics into subfora and categories (what with my fetish for organizing things) - but it just feels awkward posting in a forum without getting any replies. Like a solipsist nightmare or something.
So, if anybody's still reading this, I'd be interested in what you think or have to say. I'm not about to give up on the forum, but I'm not confident with it the way it's currently going.
05 April, 2009
Tekkoshocon VII (Second Day)
Note: This review was originally posted on a message board forum in a conversational format. It is being re-posted here for posterity, and has been backdated to the date of its original posting. You can read the discussion in its original format here.
Second Day:
Went a little later today since I could stay as long as I wanted. Still, there were things I wanted to see in the afternoon, so I didn't take too long getting out there. I was on the road by 1, and in the convention center by 2. Parking appeared to be more readily available today, but instead of risk it, I just went to the same place as yesterday - if it works once, it'll work twice. Turns out they have a flat weekend rate of only $5 which was a nice surprise at the end of the day. Also, lucky for me, I discovered that the road the garage is on curves around and if you follow it for 5 or 6 blocks, it takes you right to the front of the convention center! Weather today was still chilly, but decidedly less rainy, and perhaps not as much wind.
First on my schedule was the Naruto photoshoot. I ended up deciding not to bother taking any pictures (for complex but logical reasons), but I watched the group for a bit. Lots of Akatsuki members, including more than one Hidan. It seems that Kisame (crocodile face) is the new Zabuza in terms of the Naruto series' huge sword wielder. There was one Jiraiya - when he showed up, half the group glomped him (orz); two Rock Lees - one of which actually had that "Bruce Lee"-ish look; and most of what all else you'd expect. I noticed a conspicuous lack of Kakashis, though. And I didn't see an Orochimaru (although there was an Orochimaru-subordinate-style version of Sasuke) - not that Orochi's necessarily a popular cosplay choice, but I thought he'd be cool to see.
After I finally got bored of watching the Naruto group, it was about time for the kendo demo. Just then I bumped into Audrey, daughter (or whatever kind of relative she is) of the Primatives, who I've seen at countless Open Stages and Primatives gigs over the recent years. Last night at the Open Stage, Lila told me she was at the con, but I didn't actually expect to bump into her, considering the crowds and whatnot, so that was nice.
The kendo demo was really cool. It was the best part of the con, and I'm really glad I went. It was hosted by the kendo group over at Pitt, and there was about - well actually exactly - seven kenshi demonstrating, of various degrees of proficiency (the sensei is a fourth dan; the junior-most member has been practicing for less than a year). The first session was informational, then they breaked for about 5-10 minutes before going through a makeshift practice and quick mock-tournament. It was very informative from all sides, and gave us a chance to see kendo in action, up close.
Afterwards, it was getting towards 5:00, and I had to visit the Dealer's Room again (which didn't close till 7), so that was next. I had a real hard time deciding on what to buy. Let me tell you, I was this close to buying a C.C. body pillow ($40), just for the hell of it, but as I was browsing the wallscrolls adjacent, a couple of girls walked by and said, "hey look, body pillows! Now you can feel more like a pedo than ever before!" Regardless of the accuracy of their statement (or rather, the lack thereof), I decided against going for the purchase.
I was also seriously considering buying one of those Asuka figures I saw/mentioned yesterday ($45), but instead, I ended up taking the cheaper route and getting a few smaller figures and an issue of Megami magazine with Hayate no Gotoku! featured on the cover. The figures I got from a really cool booth with a really cool guy who had a really cool figure display, such that I feel bad that I don't remember what store he represented. He had a policy on the "blind box" figures, that if you buy more than one of a series, and get duplicates, you can return it, which is pretty cool. But I didn't feel like gambling this year, so I went with some individual miniature figures on display. All Eva figures, incidentally. I'll show them to you later. Oh yeah, there was another booth offering a 50% discount on their manga, but when I asked them if their expensive Chobits art books were included in that discount, the guy said no; otherwise, I would have bought one of those...
After the Dealer's Room, I was planning on getting some dinner, but I spent more time in there than I had planned, walking up and down the aisles, trying to decide what to buy (aside: there was a really good looking Asuka cosplayer behind one of the booths), and the Fate/Stay Night photoshoot was coming up, so I stuck around (also, upon my exit from the Dealer's Room, there was a group of dancers in the main hall, including a surprisingly convincing Haruhi - who was actually - wait for it - more attractive, I think, than the 2D version :shock:). I had a little extra time to kill, and from what I could tell, the Masquerade was just letting out, so I found myself a seat on the ground and watched countless cosplayers march past, as they came out of the Masquerade in droves. Saw a really cute Cammy cosplayer, who was surprisingly taking more pictures than I saw her posing for. There was also a C.C. with a slightly different outfit than the other(s) I'd seen - it was all white, and actually looked quite sexy. It's amazing how many attractive people there are in a group like this. You expect the fat, smelly nerds - and they certainly represent - but there are a lot of attractive girls there, too. And the costumes speak for themselves. It's enough to make a ronery man cry.
I bailed on the Fate/Stay Night photoshoot, because I saw the Ilya, and for a younger sister character, let me tell you - in the most delicate terms I care to conjure - to describe the cosplayer as "small" would be a stretch. I also saw a Rider in the Dealer's Room, but she wasn't quite up to par with the 2D version. So I just broke for dinner, instead. I left the convention center and walked around the corner, to a Subway I located on the restaurant map included in the con book. Lots of congoers there, which is a neat atmosphere in a regular place like that, but luckily it wasn't to the point that it was crowded, and I couldn't get a seat/service. So no problem there.
After dinner, I sat in on a few episodes of Higurashi in one of the video rooms. I keep hearing about that series, and how good it is, so when I saw it on the schedule, I figured it'd be the perfect introduction, to decide if it was worth watching. It was pretty good. Very creepy. Murder mystery type of vibe. I'd like to see more.
After that, I finally, mercifully, had the chance to sit in on some AMV's. I caught the top 6 of some Top 25 AMV Countdown, which was generally good viewing. I actually had seen most of those Top 6 - included were I Wish I Was A Lesbian, the Right Now video, Memory Dances (the Ghibli video), Euphoria (I think it's called - the RahXephon one). But good viewing, nonetheless. Then they aired a "Short Attention Span" special, consisting of 30 minutes worth of 30-seconds-or-less AMV's created to entertain those of "differently-advantaged" attention spans. The quality ranged from crappy to quite good, so it was generally a good watch. Though the two Berserk clips that were used were godawful, unfortunately.
After that, I ended up watching a crappy Naruto parody dub (though short), as the result of a dreaded schedule change, which then left me wandering at around 11:30pm. I was thinking about heading home, when, as fate would have it, I bumped into Audrey & her gang again. I let her convince me (with very little resistance) to check out "the rave". I didn't exactly do any raving, but it was a neat atmosphere. Except that, for me, being in an atmosphere like that is incredibly depressing. Being so close to that world just amplifies the metaphysical distance between me and everybody else, while reminding me of those things in life that I so desire and yet lack. The feeling is awfully similar to heartbreak.
I followed "the gang" up to the roof, and then hung out at their hotel room for a little bit - being in a hotel room really ramps up that vibe of "being at a con". Then we hung out in the parking garage a bit before going our separate ways - each of them home, in one form or another, but obviously different homes. It was a pretty good end to the con, and I'm glad I bumped into Audrey because it added a whole alternate perspective to the experience I wouldn't otherwise have had.
::exhausted::
Second Day:
Went a little later today since I could stay as long as I wanted. Still, there were things I wanted to see in the afternoon, so I didn't take too long getting out there. I was on the road by 1, and in the convention center by 2. Parking appeared to be more readily available today, but instead of risk it, I just went to the same place as yesterday - if it works once, it'll work twice. Turns out they have a flat weekend rate of only $5 which was a nice surprise at the end of the day. Also, lucky for me, I discovered that the road the garage is on curves around and if you follow it for 5 or 6 blocks, it takes you right to the front of the convention center! Weather today was still chilly, but decidedly less rainy, and perhaps not as much wind.
First on my schedule was the Naruto photoshoot. I ended up deciding not to bother taking any pictures (for complex but logical reasons), but I watched the group for a bit. Lots of Akatsuki members, including more than one Hidan. It seems that Kisame (crocodile face) is the new Zabuza in terms of the Naruto series' huge sword wielder. There was one Jiraiya - when he showed up, half the group glomped him (orz); two Rock Lees - one of which actually had that "Bruce Lee"-ish look; and most of what all else you'd expect. I noticed a conspicuous lack of Kakashis, though. And I didn't see an Orochimaru (although there was an Orochimaru-subordinate-style version of Sasuke) - not that Orochi's necessarily a popular cosplay choice, but I thought he'd be cool to see.
After I finally got bored of watching the Naruto group, it was about time for the kendo demo. Just then I bumped into Audrey, daughter (or whatever kind of relative she is) of the Primatives, who I've seen at countless Open Stages and Primatives gigs over the recent years. Last night at the Open Stage, Lila told me she was at the con, but I didn't actually expect to bump into her, considering the crowds and whatnot, so that was nice.
The kendo demo was really cool. It was the best part of the con, and I'm really glad I went. It was hosted by the kendo group over at Pitt, and there was about - well actually exactly - seven kenshi demonstrating, of various degrees of proficiency (the sensei is a fourth dan; the junior-most member has been practicing for less than a year). The first session was informational, then they breaked for about 5-10 minutes before going through a makeshift practice and quick mock-tournament. It was very informative from all sides, and gave us a chance to see kendo in action, up close.
Afterwards, it was getting towards 5:00, and I had to visit the Dealer's Room again (which didn't close till 7), so that was next. I had a real hard time deciding on what to buy. Let me tell you, I was this close to buying a C.C. body pillow ($40), just for the hell of it, but as I was browsing the wallscrolls adjacent, a couple of girls walked by and said, "hey look, body pillows! Now you can feel more like a pedo than ever before!" Regardless of the accuracy of their statement (or rather, the lack thereof), I decided against going for the purchase.
I was also seriously considering buying one of those Asuka figures I saw/mentioned yesterday ($45), but instead, I ended up taking the cheaper route and getting a few smaller figures and an issue of Megami magazine with Hayate no Gotoku! featured on the cover. The figures I got from a really cool booth with a really cool guy who had a really cool figure display, such that I feel bad that I don't remember what store he represented. He had a policy on the "blind box" figures, that if you buy more than one of a series, and get duplicates, you can return it, which is pretty cool. But I didn't feel like gambling this year, so I went with some individual miniature figures on display. All Eva figures, incidentally. I'll show them to you later. Oh yeah, there was another booth offering a 50% discount on their manga, but when I asked them if their expensive Chobits art books were included in that discount, the guy said no; otherwise, I would have bought one of those...
After the Dealer's Room, I was planning on getting some dinner, but I spent more time in there than I had planned, walking up and down the aisles, trying to decide what to buy (aside: there was a really good looking Asuka cosplayer behind one of the booths), and the Fate/Stay Night photoshoot was coming up, so I stuck around (also, upon my exit from the Dealer's Room, there was a group of dancers in the main hall, including a surprisingly convincing Haruhi - who was actually - wait for it - more attractive, I think, than the 2D version :shock:). I had a little extra time to kill, and from what I could tell, the Masquerade was just letting out, so I found myself a seat on the ground and watched countless cosplayers march past, as they came out of the Masquerade in droves. Saw a really cute Cammy cosplayer, who was surprisingly taking more pictures than I saw her posing for. There was also a C.C. with a slightly different outfit than the other(s) I'd seen - it was all white, and actually looked quite sexy. It's amazing how many attractive people there are in a group like this. You expect the fat, smelly nerds - and they certainly represent - but there are a lot of attractive girls there, too. And the costumes speak for themselves. It's enough to make a ronery man cry.
I bailed on the Fate/Stay Night photoshoot, because I saw the Ilya, and for a younger sister character, let me tell you - in the most delicate terms I care to conjure - to describe the cosplayer as "small" would be a stretch. I also saw a Rider in the Dealer's Room, but she wasn't quite up to par with the 2D version. So I just broke for dinner, instead. I left the convention center and walked around the corner, to a Subway I located on the restaurant map included in the con book. Lots of congoers there, which is a neat atmosphere in a regular place like that, but luckily it wasn't to the point that it was crowded, and I couldn't get a seat/service. So no problem there.
After dinner, I sat in on a few episodes of Higurashi in one of the video rooms. I keep hearing about that series, and how good it is, so when I saw it on the schedule, I figured it'd be the perfect introduction, to decide if it was worth watching. It was pretty good. Very creepy. Murder mystery type of vibe. I'd like to see more.
After that, I finally, mercifully, had the chance to sit in on some AMV's. I caught the top 6 of some Top 25 AMV Countdown, which was generally good viewing. I actually had seen most of those Top 6 - included were I Wish I Was A Lesbian, the Right Now video, Memory Dances (the Ghibli video), Euphoria (I think it's called - the RahXephon one). But good viewing, nonetheless. Then they aired a "Short Attention Span" special, consisting of 30 minutes worth of 30-seconds-or-less AMV's created to entertain those of "differently-advantaged" attention spans. The quality ranged from crappy to quite good, so it was generally a good watch. Though the two Berserk clips that were used were godawful, unfortunately.
After that, I ended up watching a crappy Naruto parody dub (though short), as the result of a dreaded schedule change, which then left me wandering at around 11:30pm. I was thinking about heading home, when, as fate would have it, I bumped into Audrey & her gang again. I let her convince me (with very little resistance) to check out "the rave". I didn't exactly do any raving, but it was a neat atmosphere. Except that, for me, being in an atmosphere like that is incredibly depressing. Being so close to that world just amplifies the metaphysical distance between me and everybody else, while reminding me of those things in life that I so desire and yet lack. The feeling is awfully similar to heartbreak.
I followed "the gang" up to the roof, and then hung out at their hotel room for a little bit - being in a hotel room really ramps up that vibe of "being at a con". Then we hung out in the parking garage a bit before going our separate ways - each of them home, in one form or another, but obviously different homes. It was a pretty good end to the con, and I'm glad I bumped into Audrey because it added a whole alternate perspective to the experience I wouldn't otherwise have had.
::exhausted::
03 April, 2009
Tekkoshocon VII (First Day)
Note: This review was originally posted on a message board forum in a conversational format. It is being re-posted here for posterity, and has been backdated to the date of its original posting. You can read the discussion in its original format here.
First Day:
I was in the city by noon, but it took me almost an hour to find a place to park. I suppose it was naive of me to think the Convention Center would have enough parking space to accommodate. I did a sweep and all the parking garages I found within a few blocks were also full. I eventually found a place that was within about 15 minutes walking distance, provided you know which direction to go - something I wasn't entirely sure of, but I did get off in the right direction, and was able to find my way without trouble (getting back to the garage was slightly trickier, though).
The Convention Center is huge, and nice. Plenty of room for the con. Plenty of room for the congoers. Panel rooms, video rooms, everything is huge. Except the Dealer's Room, which is about the same size if not bigger than it's ever been, yet when all the other rooms have so much extra space, it makes the Dealer's Room feel small, because it's supposed to be the biggest room at a con, right?
I caught the Claymore panel after orienting myself and checking out where everything was. There were less than twenty people at the panel, and it was basically a casual chat/question-and-answer session with Stephanie Young, the English voice of Clare. Naturally, the subject of the discussion focused more on voice acting (obviously from an American perspective) than Claymore itself, but I still stayed and listened in. You could tell Stephanie was very excited about getting the role, and loves the series. I learned that they call the boy "Rocky" in the English version. I think "Lucky" would have been a better choice, but hey...not like I'm ever gonna watch that version anyway. ^^ Stephanie, as I presume many voice actors do (for anime in America, at least), had a pretty laidback and charismatic personality.
And after the panel ended, one person there commented on my Behelit. ^^ When I originally got it, it was like, "cool, but I got it so easily, everyone's gonna be wearing them". But, with Suncoast not around anymore, I guess it's even rarer than ever before.
I saw a few cosplays that caught my eye. There was a good looking Gaara, complete with sand gourd, at the Claymore panel. I wanted to get a shot of her, but she picked up and left in the middle of the panel. :| I also saw a good-looking group consisting of Tsunade, Sakura, and Naruto. There was also a couple C.C.'s (unless it was the same one on multiple occasions, which is possible), accompanied by a Zero. Saw some Sailor Senshi. Even a Hidan (from Akatsuki). And a Saber. I have to admit I wasn't feelin' the whole camera thing, though. I did take some shots from the roof of the convention center, however, during a lull in the rain (did I mention that it was cold, windy, and rainy?).
I was happy to hear some Japanese anime in some of the video rooms, though other ones were sportin' English. That show Doug likes to see at cons was playing, the one with the hand-girl. I saw a Trigun AMV (not the "45" one) in the AMV room but didn't stick around long enough to see more. When I came back later, they were doing an AMV Creation Panel, which was somewhat interesting. I'm rather disappointed, because one thing I'd really like to see is the "R and NC-17 AMV Contest", but two out of three sources say that it's scheduled tonight at midnight, so I'm gonna have to miss it... :| Too bad they have to section those AMV's off from the main exhibition. Why can't they hold an adult anime convention? :(
Dealer's Room had this weird mood lighting. Made it kind of hard to see the merchandise terribly well. I'm not sure if it's entirely the fault of the room itself - that that's the only lighting that room has - or if it was the decision of the staff. Lots of neat weapons for sale, including a lot of steel replicas, like the Sword of Omens, and a miniature version of Zabuza's cleaver (and by miniature, I mean that it's about the size of a regular sword :lol:), those were two that caught my attention.
I saw a number of figures of interest. A couple Asuka's I've had my eye on (this one and this one), as well as a number of others I wouldn't mind having. A few of those "blind box" sets caught my eye, but I hate that I don't know what I'm getting. I don't want to end up with a stupid Shinji, when I could have a hot Asuka, or even a cool Rei! :cry:
That's it for now. Might add more if I think of it later.
Second Day
First Day:
I was in the city by noon, but it took me almost an hour to find a place to park. I suppose it was naive of me to think the Convention Center would have enough parking space to accommodate. I did a sweep and all the parking garages I found within a few blocks were also full. I eventually found a place that was within about 15 minutes walking distance, provided you know which direction to go - something I wasn't entirely sure of, but I did get off in the right direction, and was able to find my way without trouble (getting back to the garage was slightly trickier, though).
The Convention Center is huge, and nice. Plenty of room for the con. Plenty of room for the congoers. Panel rooms, video rooms, everything is huge. Except the Dealer's Room, which is about the same size if not bigger than it's ever been, yet when all the other rooms have so much extra space, it makes the Dealer's Room feel small, because it's supposed to be the biggest room at a con, right?
I caught the Claymore panel after orienting myself and checking out where everything was. There were less than twenty people at the panel, and it was basically a casual chat/question-and-answer session with Stephanie Young, the English voice of Clare. Naturally, the subject of the discussion focused more on voice acting (obviously from an American perspective) than Claymore itself, but I still stayed and listened in. You could tell Stephanie was very excited about getting the role, and loves the series. I learned that they call the boy "Rocky" in the English version. I think "Lucky" would have been a better choice, but hey...not like I'm ever gonna watch that version anyway. ^^ Stephanie, as I presume many voice actors do (for anime in America, at least), had a pretty laidback and charismatic personality.
And after the panel ended, one person there commented on my Behelit. ^^ When I originally got it, it was like, "cool, but I got it so easily, everyone's gonna be wearing them". But, with Suncoast not around anymore, I guess it's even rarer than ever before.
I saw a few cosplays that caught my eye. There was a good looking Gaara, complete with sand gourd, at the Claymore panel. I wanted to get a shot of her, but she picked up and left in the middle of the panel. :| I also saw a good-looking group consisting of Tsunade, Sakura, and Naruto. There was also a couple C.C.'s (unless it was the same one on multiple occasions, which is possible), accompanied by a Zero. Saw some Sailor Senshi. Even a Hidan (from Akatsuki). And a Saber. I have to admit I wasn't feelin' the whole camera thing, though. I did take some shots from the roof of the convention center, however, during a lull in the rain (did I mention that it was cold, windy, and rainy?).
I was happy to hear some Japanese anime in some of the video rooms, though other ones were sportin' English. That show Doug likes to see at cons was playing, the one with the hand-girl. I saw a Trigun AMV (not the "45" one) in the AMV room but didn't stick around long enough to see more. When I came back later, they were doing an AMV Creation Panel, which was somewhat interesting. I'm rather disappointed, because one thing I'd really like to see is the "R and NC-17 AMV Contest", but two out of three sources say that it's scheduled tonight at midnight, so I'm gonna have to miss it... :| Too bad they have to section those AMV's off from the main exhibition. Why can't they hold an adult anime convention? :(
Dealer's Room had this weird mood lighting. Made it kind of hard to see the merchandise terribly well. I'm not sure if it's entirely the fault of the room itself - that that's the only lighting that room has - or if it was the decision of the staff. Lots of neat weapons for sale, including a lot of steel replicas, like the Sword of Omens, and a miniature version of Zabuza's cleaver (and by miniature, I mean that it's about the size of a regular sword :lol:), those were two that caught my attention.
I saw a number of figures of interest. A couple Asuka's I've had my eye on (this one and this one), as well as a number of others I wouldn't mind having. A few of those "blind box" sets caught my eye, but I hate that I don't know what I'm getting. I don't want to end up with a stupid Shinji, when I could have a hot Asuka, or even a cool Rei! :cry:
That's it for now. Might add more if I think of it later.
Second Day
20 March, 2009
Tekkoshocon VII (Preliminaries)
Note: This review was originally posted on a message board forum in a conversational format. It is being re-posted here for posterity, and has been backdated to the date of its original posting. You can read the discussion in its original format here.
Posted: 090320 11:00
Tekkoshocon
This is a head's up, since the con's only two weeks away. For the first year, it'll be held in a real convention center, in the actual heart of the city. Kind of exciting, because it's starting to feel like a real anime convention. Still, though I am biased, it seems odd that anyone would drive hours and book hotels for this particular con, but then again, I live here, and if I wanted to go to that much effort, I'd go to a bigger con like Otakon. Yet, this con seems to be growing year after year. I only found out about it last year (well, I found out just after it was held two years ago, so I've only attended last year). The first five years of its existence, I was wholly unaware that it had even broken off from the local Comicon it used to be affixed to, back around the end of the previous decade.
Well, now that the history lesson's over, is anybody planning on checking out the con, or am I gonna have to go alone? It's too convenient an opportunity for me to pass up, and I'm sort of hoping I can maybe get some good pictures. But, you know, cons aren't really fun without friends...
Posted: 090328 23:09
IfTheLightTakesUs wrote:
It'll have to work around my work schedule though...
I don't know what your work schedule's gonna be like for next weekend, but here's my generic tentative plan: Since Friday is an Open Stage, I'm thinking about going early to check out the place, get the lay of the land, get registered, see where everything is, maybe attend a few panels depending, and get back home before dinner. Then, on Saturday, which is the big day for any con, it'd be nice to spend a lot of time out there. I dunno how early I/we'd go, but it'd be cool to stay late. As for Sunday, Sunday's a pretty big non-day for a con, so I'm not sure if there's even any point in going. Depends on how the other days go, and if there's anything interesting to see on that day. All of this is, of course, modifiable depending on your schedule.
Posted: 090402 19:32
I was starting to think I'd have to wait till I actually got to the con, but a schedule has finally been released. You can also take a look at the map, if you are so inclined. I've been trying to get information and do some planning, but the Tekko site keeps going down... :|
Not a terrible lot of interesting panels/events/etc. that I can see, but then again, the main fun of a con is the cosplay, and the dealer's room. Still, I hope the schedule doesn't get shuffled *that* much at the last minute... :|
There's a Claymore panel on Friday in the afternoon that might be interesting. Apparently it'll be hosted/feature as a guest the English voice actress for Clare. Which brings up one of the things that bugs me about cons - the English fandom. On Saturday there's a Kendo Demo in the afternoon which should be most interesting, I hope. Also a "J-Rock Shock" panel in the evening, which may or may not be of any interest. Sunday looks to have very little to offer, confirming my suspicion that there won't be much point in going that day.
As for the video rooms, I wish they would make it a little more obvious what's being played in English and what's being played in Japanese - as that's kind of really important to some people. On the schedule, one of the video rooms is marked "(sub)" and one is marked "(dub)", but I have no idea what that means, as it leaves the question of what the other three video rooms are playing, and it's not something I'm confident enough to rely on.
Anyhow, I saw a bunch of titles that'd be fun to watch a bit of, provided they are shown in my preferred language. I'm surprised Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is airing in the middle of the night (Saturday, 3:30-5:30am), though it's nice that it's scheduled for two whole hours. But it seemed to be a fairly decent hit at the con last year, it seems odd for them to schedule it that late...
Ultimately, it'll be good to watch some AMV's in the AMV Room, which, hopefully, will be big enough this year to accommodate more than twenty people. :|
I've heard about three photoshoots of interest. There's a Code Geass one, which I'd love to see (C.C.!), except it's scheduled for Friday evening... But there's a Naruto photoshoot Saturday afternoon, and I'm hoping to see a lot of Akatsuki, which would be cool. :ninja: Also, there's a Fate/Stay Night photoshoot Saturday evening, and I have reason to believe there will be an Ilya cosplayer. :shock: In any case, I hope I get to see some good cosplay - and better yet, get a few decent pictures for once.
But perhaps the thing I'm looking forward to the most is the Dealer's Room. Just gotta try to keep myself from spending a lot of money. Always good to find a couple cool souvenirs though. Like my Primula blind box figure I got last year! ^^
Posted: 090402 23:41
Kashi wrote:
Imo, if you're paying for a con (which is already a scant 2-3 days), you go the whole time. There's gotta be something on Sunday. There was stuff at Otakon that I remember, but we bounced because we had a lot of road time ahead of us.
And what the hell? The con goes on until 5:30am each night?!
Sunday is a non-day for a con. I think it's kind of silly that there's more activity on Friday morning than there is Sunday evening, considering that some people still have work/school/whatever during the day on Friday, yet Sunday is a vacation day. Sure, I suppose people have to get back home on Sunday to be ready for work/school/whatever on Monday (but then what did they do during the day on Friday?), and the staff or whatever has to close down the con and clean up and all that. But it still seems funny to me.
The con ends by noon on Sunday. There are no especially interesting panels or events, and nothing in the video rooms that I can't see elsewhere. The thing is, I'd have to get up super early, to be at the con at like 9, instead of by 12, and I'd rather sleep in. You know? If I was staying at a hotel next door or down the street, sure, I'd go just because I was there. But the payoff for going out there on the last day isn't really worth the effort, when I can do everything I want to do on Friday/Saturday.
And if you don't think Sunday really is dry, go ahead and take a look at the schedule. It's just closing ceremony and crap. 'Sides, Tekkoshocon is growing, but it's still a lot smaller than Otakon.
Oh, and technically, the con doesn't go until 5:30 am each night. All the events and stuff end by 2am, I believe, and the convention center itself closes at a certain time of night, but the hotel it's connected (?) to stays open all night, and one of the video rooms is scheduled to go 24 hours a day, so...
Kashi wrote:
PS - Save your money don't buy stuff lol
Well, yeah, that's the plan, but when you're surrounded by posters of bishoujos and plastic loli figurines and whatnot, it's impossible not to pick up something. Besides, it'd be a waste not to get a souvenir. It's just a matter of utilizing the proper amount of restraint (which I'm usually pretty good with when it comes to spending money, I think).
First Day
Posted: 090320 11:00
Tekkoshocon
This is a head's up, since the con's only two weeks away. For the first year, it'll be held in a real convention center, in the actual heart of the city. Kind of exciting, because it's starting to feel like a real anime convention. Still, though I am biased, it seems odd that anyone would drive hours and book hotels for this particular con, but then again, I live here, and if I wanted to go to that much effort, I'd go to a bigger con like Otakon. Yet, this con seems to be growing year after year. I only found out about it last year (well, I found out just after it was held two years ago, so I've only attended last year). The first five years of its existence, I was wholly unaware that it had even broken off from the local Comicon it used to be affixed to, back around the end of the previous decade.
Well, now that the history lesson's over, is anybody planning on checking out the con, or am I gonna have to go alone? It's too convenient an opportunity for me to pass up, and I'm sort of hoping I can maybe get some good pictures. But, you know, cons aren't really fun without friends...
Posted: 090328 23:09
IfTheLightTakesUs wrote:
It'll have to work around my work schedule though...
I don't know what your work schedule's gonna be like for next weekend, but here's my generic tentative plan: Since Friday is an Open Stage, I'm thinking about going early to check out the place, get the lay of the land, get registered, see where everything is, maybe attend a few panels depending, and get back home before dinner. Then, on Saturday, which is the big day for any con, it'd be nice to spend a lot of time out there. I dunno how early I/we'd go, but it'd be cool to stay late. As for Sunday, Sunday's a pretty big non-day for a con, so I'm not sure if there's even any point in going. Depends on how the other days go, and if there's anything interesting to see on that day. All of this is, of course, modifiable depending on your schedule.
Posted: 090402 19:32
I was starting to think I'd have to wait till I actually got to the con, but a schedule has finally been released. You can also take a look at the map, if you are so inclined. I've been trying to get information and do some planning, but the Tekko site keeps going down... :|
Not a terrible lot of interesting panels/events/etc. that I can see, but then again, the main fun of a con is the cosplay, and the dealer's room. Still, I hope the schedule doesn't get shuffled *that* much at the last minute... :|
There's a Claymore panel on Friday in the afternoon that might be interesting. Apparently it'll be hosted/feature as a guest the English voice actress for Clare. Which brings up one of the things that bugs me about cons - the English fandom. On Saturday there's a Kendo Demo in the afternoon which should be most interesting, I hope. Also a "J-Rock Shock" panel in the evening, which may or may not be of any interest. Sunday looks to have very little to offer, confirming my suspicion that there won't be much point in going that day.
As for the video rooms, I wish they would make it a little more obvious what's being played in English and what's being played in Japanese - as that's kind of really important to some people. On the schedule, one of the video rooms is marked "(sub)" and one is marked "(dub)", but I have no idea what that means, as it leaves the question of what the other three video rooms are playing, and it's not something I'm confident enough to rely on.
Anyhow, I saw a bunch of titles that'd be fun to watch a bit of, provided they are shown in my preferred language. I'm surprised Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is airing in the middle of the night (Saturday, 3:30-5:30am), though it's nice that it's scheduled for two whole hours. But it seemed to be a fairly decent hit at the con last year, it seems odd for them to schedule it that late...
Ultimately, it'll be good to watch some AMV's in the AMV Room, which, hopefully, will be big enough this year to accommodate more than twenty people. :|
I've heard about three photoshoots of interest. There's a Code Geass one, which I'd love to see (C.C.!), except it's scheduled for Friday evening... But there's a Naruto photoshoot Saturday afternoon, and I'm hoping to see a lot of Akatsuki, which would be cool. :ninja: Also, there's a Fate/Stay Night photoshoot Saturday evening, and I have reason to believe there will be an Ilya cosplayer. :shock: In any case, I hope I get to see some good cosplay - and better yet, get a few decent pictures for once.
But perhaps the thing I'm looking forward to the most is the Dealer's Room. Just gotta try to keep myself from spending a lot of money. Always good to find a couple cool souvenirs though. Like my Primula blind box figure I got last year! ^^
Posted: 090402 23:41
Kashi wrote:
Imo, if you're paying for a con (which is already a scant 2-3 days), you go the whole time. There's gotta be something on Sunday. There was stuff at Otakon that I remember, but we bounced because we had a lot of road time ahead of us.
And what the hell? The con goes on until 5:30am each night?!
Sunday is a non-day for a con. I think it's kind of silly that there's more activity on Friday morning than there is Sunday evening, considering that some people still have work/school/whatever during the day on Friday, yet Sunday is a vacation day. Sure, I suppose people have to get back home on Sunday to be ready for work/school/whatever on Monday (but then what did they do during the day on Friday?), and the staff or whatever has to close down the con and clean up and all that. But it still seems funny to me.
The con ends by noon on Sunday. There are no especially interesting panels or events, and nothing in the video rooms that I can't see elsewhere. The thing is, I'd have to get up super early, to be at the con at like 9, instead of by 12, and I'd rather sleep in. You know? If I was staying at a hotel next door or down the street, sure, I'd go just because I was there. But the payoff for going out there on the last day isn't really worth the effort, when I can do everything I want to do on Friday/Saturday.
And if you don't think Sunday really is dry, go ahead and take a look at the schedule. It's just closing ceremony and crap. 'Sides, Tekkoshocon is growing, but it's still a lot smaller than Otakon.
Oh, and technically, the con doesn't go until 5:30 am each night. All the events and stuff end by 2am, I believe, and the convention center itself closes at a certain time of night, but the hotel it's connected (?) to stays open all night, and one of the video rooms is scheduled to go 24 hours a day, so...
Kashi wrote:
PS - Save your money don't buy stuff lol
Well, yeah, that's the plan, but when you're surrounded by posters of bishoujos and plastic loli figurines and whatnot, it's impossible not to pick up something. Besides, it'd be a waste not to get a souvenir. It's just a matter of utilizing the proper amount of restraint (which I'm usually pretty good with when it comes to spending money, I think).
First Day
25 February, 2009
Interactive Blogging
I keep adding trinkets and things to the sidebars of this blog - and that's a good thing. I like to personalize my space (have you seen my room irl?). But I was looking at it recently, and I thought to myself, 'this page - this is my new myspace'. That's not a good thing or a bad thing, just an interesting observation I made.
Anyway, on to the idea of interactive blogging. Following from my previous entry, I'm thinking that it might be interesting to try some form of interactive blogging. I'm not talking anything *too* revolutionary, just a resurrection of my personal message board. Although I'm considering starting over and getting a brand new one.
But the basic idea is, it'll be like a semi-personal space for me and the few people that I know and interact with online to post about the things in their life with slightly more of an expectation of interaction and the promise of being able to start up some potentially interesting discussions.
Bottom line is, there's no point if I'm the only one doing it - in that case, I'd may as well just keep posting here. So, you few people who would be included (and you know who you are), what do you think of the idea?
Anyway, on to the idea of interactive blogging. Following from my previous entry, I'm thinking that it might be interesting to try some form of interactive blogging. I'm not talking anything *too* revolutionary, just a resurrection of my personal message board. Although I'm considering starting over and getting a brand new one.
But the basic idea is, it'll be like a semi-personal space for me and the few people that I know and interact with online to post about the things in their life with slightly more of an expectation of interaction and the promise of being able to start up some potentially interesting discussions.
Bottom line is, there's no point if I'm the only one doing it - in that case, I'd may as well just keep posting here. So, you few people who would be included (and you know who you are), what do you think of the idea?
The Phenomenon of Blogging
Don't expect an internet-wide report on blogging standards and heavyweights here, I only want to mention a *personal* revelation I discovered recently. It came to mind while searching for backup info for my previous blog entry (the one just before this one), when I happened upon a discussion on my currently defunct personal message board that was similar in topic to that entry. The difference between that discussion and the blog entry is just that - there was an actual exchange of opinions between two people.
And then I realized the difference between posting on a message board and blogging. (And lest you fault me for making such obvious discoveries, there's something to be said for coming to a full and active realization of something that you've been taking for granted). On a message board, discussions occur freely, while on a blog, it's not so easy. Although items can indeed be discussed in comments and taken up in other people's blogs to present their own opinions, the medium doesn't seem optimized for that kind of equal back and forth discourse. When you blog, you're making a bold personal statement, to which you can expect people to agree or disagree in varying quantities, but you don't really expect it to be the catalyst to a great discussion - it's more or less the final say on the topic, or at least that particular spin of the topic - even when it's also the first say.
I used to have philosophical discussions and discussions about life on various message board forums, but recently I've shrunk away from that, my thoughts finding their place unopposed on the pages of a one way blog. Part of that movement is obviously due to my discovery/acceptance of blogging. Though even before I had a 'real' blog, I had been using a page on my website to put thoughts - thoughts that I wanted to share, but didn't particularly care to have feedback about.
However, there's also my declining faith in the power of debate. What's the point of arguing with people? You have an opinion, they have an opinion, and no amount of verbal torture is gonna force those two opinions to be the same. And why should they be? Blame for my disillusion can also rightfully be placed on the fact that most people are idiots when it comes to intelligent discourse, forgetting the not so subtle differences between friendly discussion and heated bitchfest.
But on the other hand, tossing ideas and beliefs and theories off of people can be a very fruitful endeavor, and when handled maturely, can also be quite enjoyable. So I wonder if maybe I'm selling my ideas a little short by just stating them and not expecting any interaction or reformulation.
Only problem is, I'm not about to walk up to a message board, and go, hey guys, what do you think about this and this philosophical quandary? There was a time when I could, but I've lost that ability. I can't even remember the last time I started my own topic. Maybe I should find a philosophy board or something. I dunno, the internet is so vast, and there's so much out there, that you can never find that one specific community you're looking for, or when you do, it's either inactive or populated by the wrong type of people.
And then I realized the difference between posting on a message board and blogging. (And lest you fault me for making such obvious discoveries, there's something to be said for coming to a full and active realization of something that you've been taking for granted). On a message board, discussions occur freely, while on a blog, it's not so easy. Although items can indeed be discussed in comments and taken up in other people's blogs to present their own opinions, the medium doesn't seem optimized for that kind of equal back and forth discourse. When you blog, you're making a bold personal statement, to which you can expect people to agree or disagree in varying quantities, but you don't really expect it to be the catalyst to a great discussion - it's more or less the final say on the topic, or at least that particular spin of the topic - even when it's also the first say.
I used to have philosophical discussions and discussions about life on various message board forums, but recently I've shrunk away from that, my thoughts finding their place unopposed on the pages of a one way blog. Part of that movement is obviously due to my discovery/acceptance of blogging. Though even before I had a 'real' blog, I had been using a page on my website to put thoughts - thoughts that I wanted to share, but didn't particularly care to have feedback about.
However, there's also my declining faith in the power of debate. What's the point of arguing with people? You have an opinion, they have an opinion, and no amount of verbal torture is gonna force those two opinions to be the same. And why should they be? Blame for my disillusion can also rightfully be placed on the fact that most people are idiots when it comes to intelligent discourse, forgetting the not so subtle differences between friendly discussion and heated bitchfest.
But on the other hand, tossing ideas and beliefs and theories off of people can be a very fruitful endeavor, and when handled maturely, can also be quite enjoyable. So I wonder if maybe I'm selling my ideas a little short by just stating them and not expecting any interaction or reformulation.
Only problem is, I'm not about to walk up to a message board, and go, hey guys, what do you think about this and this philosophical quandary? There was a time when I could, but I've lost that ability. I can't even remember the last time I started my own topic. Maybe I should find a philosophy board or something. I dunno, the internet is so vast, and there's so much out there, that you can never find that one specific community you're looking for, or when you do, it's either inactive or populated by the wrong type of people.
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