Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Purple haze. I was watching "The Book Show" just now. It's a show that I very rarely watch, because most of the interviews relate to books that I have no interest in (ie: books about teenagers and finance or something). But today I saw an interview with an ex-stripper, who has written a book entitled "Peepshow". Now, this woman's book has been published. And she's writing a second one. But she came across as a complete air-head during the interview. Interviewer: "What did you really want to express with the main character?" Author: "Oh you know, I really wanted her to be a ballsy, kick-ass chick! HAHAHA!!!" *flicks hair* Interviewer: "Erm, okay. This novel has various underworld elements to it. Do you think that these elements are always linked to this field of business?" Author: "Oh well you know, I guess that those guys just like to feel like they are on The Sopranos or something, so they go to the clubs. But that could happen in any industry, not just the sex one!!!! HAHA!!" *flicks hair in other direction* Interviewer: "Do you plan to release another book?" Author: "Yes. My next book will be called RUB DOWN. I'll leave that to YOUR IMAGINATION!! HAHA!!" *flicks hair and jumps up and down, in an effort to bounce breasts for the camera* Ahem. Now...if this woman can get a novel published, then surely someone with at least half a brain can. So I'm going to start writing a novel today. And if I happen to finish it within two years (her first book apparently took two years), I'm going to see if I can get it published. And if I can't, I will conclude that the world sucks and that non-ex-strippers simply aren't meant to have any luck. Phew, got that out of my system. I've had a good day today. I managed to have some great discussions, which is always nice. I also got quite a lot of online work done, which always makes me feel good, because I like to see things progressing. On that note, has anyone noticed the updated Jukebox buttons on theOtaku.com? Try hovering your mouse over them now. ~_^ I think you guys will like the new myOtaku.com update (specifically, the new backroom system we're planning at the moment). I imagine that it will have a refreshing taste. Also, if you get a little time, please do me a favour. Please visit Lady Katana's myOtaku page and send her some positive vibes via the comment box. Edit: I changed my song, to another Michael Andrews tune, from Donnie Darko. This time, the song is called Manipulated Living. I think that's my custom title over at OtakuBoards at the moment. This track plays during one of Donnie's more devious moments. I imagine this track would be playing when I'm banning someone who is particularly annoying. ~_^

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Sunday, October 10, 2004

Ensurance Trap Well, here's my new (and slightly unfinished) myOtaku style. I enjoyed doing something a little dark for Alan recently (for his Dead-Seraphim.net site) and so I thought I'd do something a bit different here; at least, as far as theme goes. I really love the music track that I put up there. Michael Andrews did most of the tracks in Donnie Darko and they are all really amazing. I may put a different one up now and then, just to show you what they're like. Anyway, the weekend has been relatively uneventful except for a couple of pretty minor things. The most significant of which relates to that enormous cardboard cut-out that I had of Uma, from Kill Bill: Volume 1. Remember that thing? Well, I now have a similar-sized cut-out of Uma from Volume 2! It's really amazing...I love it. It has her walking forward, holding the sword behind her...with her hair blowing around a bit. I'll try to take a photo (if I can get my camera recharged... -.-). I wish I had an image of that pose, as it's very funky. Other than that, I bought two games (which is very rare, particularly on console). Ace Combat (with some subtitle that I'm not remembering) and Star Ocean Till the End of Time. Ace Combat's wonderful; I remember renting AC2 back on the first PlayStation and finding it surprisingly enjoyable. The newest game is just as fun, but it obviously has all of the audiovisual enhancements. Star Ocean is very hard for me to rate, for one reason. I got up to the very first "training fight" and guess what happened? My PS2 decided it would take control of my character and make them walk into the corner of the field, where the entire game then froze. Actually, it half-froze. Certain animations still played but the whole thing wouldn't respond. I thought it may have been an issue with the actual disc, but I was told that some other games do it too. So there you go. We just bought this new PS2 not a couple of months ago. And it's already crumbling before our very eyes. Way to go, Sony. I sure as hell hope that PSP has a superior build quality, because I'm sure people don't want to be replacing those expensive little items every few months. Edit: Funny you mention that, John. I had a friend who's PS2 fizzled on him. I own a second PS2 because my first decided that it wanted to tantrum and be bratty (ie: stopped being able to read discs and started making bizarre noises). I also know several OBers who are on their second (and in some cases) third PS2s. I believe it to be a widespread problem, albeit in a minority of systems. Believe me, I love PlayStation. I'm so happy I bought my PS2 -- it's got tons of awesome titles. But man, it's the one Sony product to consistently have quality control issues.

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Thursday, October 7, 2004

I have my three meals right here. Thanks to everyone who responded to my last update. I think I've cleared the confusion that I had about Donnie Darko's ending. I'm glad, too. It was playing on my mind a little. ~_^ Anyway, I haven't updated in recent days because I've been really busy. In fact, right now I'm writing a really late night/early morning update. But it's Friday and I don't have class in the morning; I'm going to the dentist. It's actually a welcome thing; I don't mind the dentist at all. In fact, I'm usually so relaxed that I start to fall asleep (which is no doubt frustrating for the dentist ~_^). In unrelated news, I recently watched Requiem for a Dream for the very first time. It's the kind of movie that I had kept telling myself to watch, but I simply never did. I read a couple of reviews about it a week ago and that really made me decide to just go out and get it. For the most part, the movie didn't shock me in the same way that it seems to have shocked the rest of the population. Seriously, many of the reviews say that it's really a horror film and that it's incredibly difficult to watch. Eh, I don't know, maybe I'm just used to movies with gruesome or depressing aspects...but Requiem for a Dream didn't really make me gasp in shock or anything. But having said that, there's no doubting that it's as sad story. And I think it's definitely the type of movie to watch if you want to see a clear demonstration of how drugs can negatively impact your life. Still, it was good, but not amazing. The "MTV" style cutting wasn't as frequent or as jarring as I'd been lead to believe; for the most part, it was done quite well and to good effect. The main problem I had was really just that I was pretty disinterested in the overall story, or should I say, the characters. The big saving grace for me was Ellen Burstyn, who was amazing in the movie. I really felt bad for her character...there was something incredibly depressing about the fact that she lived alone and did nothing but watch game shows. I just felt really sorry for her. I know I'd hate to be in that situation when I'm old. But in terms of the other characters, I just felt pretty indifferent. Not to say that the outcomes (and the downward spiral) of those characters wasn't at all upsetting, I just wasn't very affected by it. But perhaps that's simply because I'm so far removed from drugs (and drug abuse) that it's irrelevant to me. All-in-all, I liked the movie, but primarily for Ellen Burstyn's performance. Had she not been in it, I'd not have really cared one way or the other. But I think it's worth watching if only for her story. Although, it's kind of refreshing to see another film with a "bad ending". In that way, it really does reflect real life; these characters don't recover, they don't seek any help and they continue to pay for it as a result. Not only that, but the price gets higher and higher -- and their dignity erodes further and further. So many movies seem to be unwilling to simply make a statement like that, without prettying up the ending or making it somehow politically correct or acceptable. The truth is, Requiem for a Dream probably isn't palatable for a mass audience. And that's probably a good thing, considering the subject that it deals with (and how prevalent that subject is in today's world). If you're like me and you have gone for a long time without seeing the movie (it was released in 2000), I think I'd still recommend it. It's just one of those films I guess...it was very acclaimed when it was released and it certainly makes a strong statement. If you haven't got a strong stomach, you are especially ripe to see this movie. In all honesty, I think it's the type of movie that is really designed for people who haven't been exposed to that kind of material. If the movie doesn't really hit you and make you consider the issue of addiction more closely, then it really has little value, other than some of its artistic approaches to film.

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Saturday, October 2, 2004

Sounds like a superhero or something... There have been three threads about Donnie Darko on OtakuBoards and I'm not sure if I posted in any of them. (And I should warn you, before you go any further, that there might be spoilers in this post.) I remember looking at the largest thread and finding it a little disappointing. A few people were picking up some strands and noting some important things, but mostly, that movie just wasn't being appreciated. I think the low point came when someone said something like "oh man I need to get that bunny suit for Halloween". That comment would be fine, if it wasn't the only thing the member in question said. Donnie Darko is a lot like The Matrix. It was a movie that, when critiqued in America, was largely misunderstood. Many American critics (moreso than in Britain), viewed it as a kind of "car crash of a film, with no point". In the same way that Donnie Darko was called a car crash with no point, The Matrix was erroneously labeled as a special effects extravaganza, with a wafer-thin plot that merely attempts to appear philosophical. I have actually gone to some length here on myOtaku to actually explain several points about The Matrix; points that I feel most people in the audience miss. And I've explained why I think they miss them and why it's kind of inevitable in some ways. Donnie Darko is essentially no more complicated than The Matrix, but it is complicated and unlike The Matrix, it's not supported by cool action sequences and funky costumes. Therefore, the cool reception by many critics might be understandable. My question is, what makes these people professional movie critics? Surely it's your job to try to understand the film -- or at least, to recognize that there's something there, but you don't necessarily understand it. I had a long discussion with one of my colleagues at N-Sider about Donnie Darko the other day. I told him that it reminded me of The Matrix (both due to its critical reception, as well as its indirect nihlist elements). I half expected him to say "Yeah, but the fight scene in Reloaded had shitty effects" or some other such superficial comment. Instead, he started to make many of the same points that I'd made about those films. He actually understood the multiple aspects involved in the Oracle's conversation with Neo, in Reloaded. He understood the Oracle's dual role, the sheer irony of her telling Neo the absolute truth on the one hand, but him not being in a position to understand that truth (and therefore, allowing the process to unfold). And so much more besides. In the same way that The Matrix deserves to be understood, Donnie Darko not only deserves your attention, but also the effort to dig a little deeper. The fact that both movies were met with similar reactions (in many quarters) somehow seems to say more about the way audiences work (or what levels of complexity they are willing to take), rather than saying anything about the qualitative nature of the films (in terms of whether they suck or not). I've seen Donnie Darko three times. Once was ages ago...the second time was on Wednesday. And the third time was tonight; I watched it with my mum. She'd only seen fifteen minutes of it before and she'd lost interest. Now, generally, she's not "one of those people" who will fall asleep during a movie that goes over their head. In fact, I have my most mind-bending Matrix conversations with her -- she's very interested in discussing those things at length. The first time I saw the movie, I thought it was good. Just good. I had a basic idea of what it was trying to tell me, but I honestly didn't understand it to its fullest extent (and I still don't). Much like The Matrix trilogy, it required multiple viewings to truly appreciate. It also required a little reading after the fact (which is what I've done extensively with The Matrix, in an attempt to better understand it). Before I go further, I should tell fans of the movie that you can actually view Roberta Sparrow's The Philosophy of Time Travel online, should you so desire. I can send you a link if you don't have it already. Reading the excerpts of that book will help you to understand the "spine" of Donnie Darko to a higher degree. When I say "spine", I'm talking about the more literal elements of it. In The Matrix, I'd regard the spine as the war with man and machine and man's attempts to overcome oppression (and the various twists and revelations involved). In the case of Donnie Darko, I would say that the spine relates to the concept of the "artifact" (the jet engine) and its impact on time and space (ie: the fact that it's an anomaly without explanation, which has no reason to exist and which presents a threat to the universe by its very existence). I'd also say that the spine relates to the tangent universe, where a series of events occur that ultimately result in Donnie's death (as in the "real universe", or at least, the "first universe"), but where a number of things change (the way Cunningham is uncovered and so on, but primarily, the fact that Gretchen dies and that Donnie does not die alone). In the case of both films, I don't believe that every audience member is necessarily grasping these "spines". The spines are the things that will give the viewer satisfaction, in my view. My mum was telling me that she felt that Donnie Darko was unsatisfying, because it offered no answer -- it didn't offer a sense of hope, nor did it offer a specific explanation or outcome. I think that's partly true, but still, there's at least a basic spine there that you can grasp, to give you some satisfaction about the overall film. But the spine is still a small part of it. There's so much more there. One of the things that I love about Donnie Darko is the way that it communicates several messages without being so explicit all the time. In some ways, I feel that the movie is speaking to me directly; communicating with me in a way that isn't necessarily tangible, where I can't necessarily put that dialogue into words. Does that make sense? It's like...having a universal understanding between you and your soul mate. You can't necessarily put it into words and you can't necessarily describe the dialogue that is going on between the both of you. But you can feel it, and you can completely empathize with that person, even if the language itself isn't quite clear. I think that Donnie Darko has several of those moments. The running thread about an apathetic system, which doesn't address real issues (ie: the teacher and her passion for the whole "fear versus love" tripe), the thread about the cynical manipulation of more complex issues (Cunningham's attempt to "cash in" by over-analyzing issues and playing on people's fears, whilst he simultaneously profits and manages to indulge in child pornography all at the same time). Although there are literal aspects to all of these things, there's also a kind of unspoken communication...a kind of acknowledgement. It's as if the writer is saying "We've both seen this and we both understand it -- I can feel what you can feel." That type of experience is something that very few movies have ever given me. It's really refreshing and it shows a degree of thought and imagination that many movies seem to lack. I tried to explain some of these things to my mum; to explain to her why I felt that this movie was so important to watch. I told her that although I experience some frustration at not being able to answer various specific questions -- most of them literal, rather than metaphoric or otherwise -- the movie satisfies me, because I can find various threads within it that speak to me personally. For those of you who have seen Donnie Darko (and have read The Philosophy of Time Travel), I have a question for you. And I really feel that this question relates to the core of the movie in a literal sense -- it relates to the outcome and what the movie is ultimately trying to say. We have a situation where the jet engine has travelled through a portal from the tangent universe to the "real universe". At this point it is known as an "artifact", as in, it has no reason to exist in the "real universe". Its very existence apparently threatens everything (all universes) and will result in the end of all things. Frank comes along and saves Donnie from the crash. By keeping Donnie alive, he's able to order him to do specific things. So, Donnie floods the school, which allows him to go out with Gretchen. He finds the wallet, which allows him to know which house to burn down. The house burns down, which reveals Cunningham's child porn stash. Cunningham is arrested as a result and the teacher (I am forgetting her name X_X) spearheads a defense group for Cunningham rather than taking Sparkle Motion on their trip. This allows Donnie's mother to take them and this provides a reason for the jet to be flying over his house (which eliminates the fact that the jet engine has no reason to exist; the engine came from the plane that carried Donnie's mother). As well, Frank's existence and coaching of Donnie ultimately leads to Gretchen's death, which then ultimately leads Donnie back to his house where he dies too (as with the "real universe"). Now, here's what I don't understand. In the "real universe", the jet engine didn't exist as such; it came through a portal from another universe (the tangent universe, presuambly). What we saw, with Frank (the manipulated dead) and Grandma Death and others (the manipulated living), all took place in the tangent universe. My first thought was that Donnie had created an environment that would kind of create an explanation for the engine to exist in the real universe. But that isn't true -- that plane would have been flying overhead in the tangent universe, regardless of whether or not his mother had gone on the trip. So that isn't the answer. My next thought was that Donnie had somehow traveled through time and done things in a different way, in order to "merge" the two universes (and therefore to ensure that the engine was no longer an artifact and that it was, in fact, supposed to be there). But I'm not quite sure about that. My final thought was that the point of the tangent universe was that Donnie didn't die alone; that he died with Gretchen, in a sense. Remember that Donnie doesn't seem to feel a connection with other people, even his parents. He confesses to Dr. Thurman that he feels alone, or at least, we're given the sense that the only person he has a connection to (other than Gretchen) is Frank. But once Gretchen appears (and because of her own past turmoil), he manages to find a strong connection -- a fundamental empathy -- with her. Therefore, because he now has a connection with another human being, he hasn't died alone. And therefore he hasn't realized his greatest fear (which is possibly why he's laughing before he dies, in the tangent universe). Of course, in order for him to feel this way, Gretchen had to die. And that's a pretty cruel and harsh concept. In The Philosophy of Time Travel, we are told that the manipulated living will wake up and have some vague memories of what had happened in the tangent universe. That's why we see Cunningham crying and distressed at the end...and it's why we see Frank looking shocked, touching his eye. So I guess that my question relates to the end and specifically, the overriding point. I understand the various specific dynamics that are going on, but I'm having difficulty drawing them all together. Is the end goal to literally save the world? To somehow correct things in the tangent universe and therefore make things right in the real universe? I don't know. I do know that the writer had said that there were multiple "points" and multiple interpretations -- and that this was deliberate -- but on a literal, functional level, I am grappling with that point. If you've suffered through my entire post, you are amazing. ~_^ I probably won't post something this long again, but tonight, I needed to spill these thoughts out onto my little space here.

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Thursday, September 30, 2004

Dark City I watched Dark City on DVD last night, which was quite an event, considering that I'd never seen it on DVD (only at the cinema, all the way back when it was released). For those who don't know, Dark City is an Australian film, written and directed by Alex Proyas (who did The Crow and most recently, I, Robot). If you've seen The Matrix, you'll already know more about Dark City than you would probably imagine. I remember Quentin Tarantino saying that The Matrix was inspired by Dark City. From what I remembered of it, that was true. But having watched Dark City again, I have concluded that The Matrix is heavily based on Dark City. It's a bit difficult to describe unless you've seen both films. While The Matrix is still an incredibly innovative movie -- both in its actual story and in its film techniques -- it is nevertheless clearly and obviously inspired by Dark City. Dark City is one of those rare movies; it's filled with fantastic dialogue, gorgeously morbid imagery and some very cool concepts. As an Australian, I am often proud of the achievements of Australian film makers (who themselves are often making larger projects successful, like The Matrix or Lord of the Rings). However, many local movies tend to fall into two typical genres -- either they are quirky Aussie comedies, based around our unique sense of humor, or they are highly dramatic films that revolve around specific character relationships. Now, that's all fine and good; most of those movies are great, and many of them are critically acclaimed. However, I am disappointed that more writers and directors in Australia don't attempt to do something outside those genres. Dark City is a great example of Australian film making, but it's also a great example of film making in general. If you like the truly twisted, you'll actually find that there are quite a few Australian films (and Australian creators) who can satisfy you. When I look at local movies that don't fall into the two above genres, I never really find typical action movies, horror movies, and so on. Instead, I find incredibly bizarre and twisted stuff. Dark City is probably the most visible of them, but there are certainly plenty more out there. It's unfortunate, then, that the local industry often relies on American money. And in that sense, a lot of local creative talent is erroneously attributed to American directors and producers. But moreover, when you look at what Australian film creators can do with Hollywood-style budgets, you often see some very groundbreaking things. While watching Dark City, I was actually kind of amazed that Alex Proyas also did I, Robot. The two are so very different. With Dark City, you can almost feel Proyas's love for what he's doing -- the movie has some absolutely stunning shots and some of the most twisted and wonderful imagery I've ever seen in a movie. It's as though Dark City was really a labor of love for him. I, Robot is nice, but that kind of love and personality just doesn't come through. So, for those who haven't seen it, I strongly urge you to check out Dark City. And remember that it was made before The Matrix. Even the "end battle" in Dark City is very reminiscent of the final battle in The Matrix Revolutions, which I found interesting. Does this mean I like The Matrix any less? Not really. All films have some kind of inspiration -- Kill Bill could only exist based on inspiration from other films. So I'm not worried about that. The main thing is, so many people know The Matrix and so few (comparitively) know Dark City. And that is a great shame.

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Monday, September 27, 2004

A Jeh for All Seasons I often talk about "various online projects" and how they take up large chunks of my time. So I thought I'd write a post that actually talks a bit more specifically about what I'm working on and what I'd like to work on. Like many people, the work I do online is a hobby that I enjoy. But at the same time, my online work often has a direct financial impact on me. For example, I make a lot of contacts via N-Sider, which can then translate to "real world" situations (ie: magazine work and so on). By the same token, my online work ends up becoming a continuously moving portfolio, which I can show to potential employers. For those of you who question whether or not it's worth building a site, I can tell you, it's definitely worthwhile. Had I not involved myself in various kinds of work on the web (everything from design to writing to management), I definitely wouldn't have been able to jump into the job of my choice. And even more than that, I'd have had a lot more difficulty building a portfolio for school; in many ways, my online work has really benefited my life. And that is partly why I'm still so committed to it (apart from the fact that I still get a kick out of it). Obviously, since you're reading myOtaku, you already pretty much know what I do at this network. My role here is pretty varied and I'd venture to say that I probably do a lot of things here and there that you wouldn't know about unless I told you. But I like it, because Adam, Justin and I are able to work together so cohesively. The fact that the three of us are somewhat versatile means that we can quickly leap from task to task, without any worries. I really enjoy it, because my work at this network is never static; there are always plenty of new things to do. Lately I've been doing my part on theOtaku.com's new version. Lucky for me, the bulk of my work ended relatively quickly -- I was responsible for the layout and once that's done, it's up to Justin and Adam to translate that to code on the Internet. I play a role after that, but it's mostly in an advisory and editing capacity (ie: editing images that need updating or fixing and making sure that things are translating properly). Right now, my biggest online task would have to be N-Sider. That site is kind of in the middle of a major change right now. Various staff have been promoted to new positions and the entire leadership has essentially changed. It's a long story, but in terms of workload, it means that I probably have more pressure on me than ever. The reason there's more pressure is because the guys over there want to do three things. They want to edit the current design of the site, to accommodate certain principles; they want to design an N-Universe (more on that in a moment) and they want to design a new N-Sider itself. If you're at all familiar with N-Sider, you'll have heard of N-Universe. Basically, N-Universe is a seperate site from N-Sider. It's an art-based site, where you can browse through different character "universes". If you enter the Mario Universe for example (which is the first one we'll be developing), you can kind of visit all of the locations within that franchise, you can explore all the characters, you can read all sorts of information about the games, etc. The unique thing about it is that it'll be very art-intensive and it won't be like a traditional gaming site. It'll have its own unique layout and it will be written in a creative way (ie: you'll have pieces written by photographers who were paid to travel with Mario, and take photos of his journeys). There will also be a Zelda Universe, which will have its own layout and features (and it'll have articles written by an archaeologist who studies the various locations from the games). All in all, it's going to be highly impressive...once it's finished. In truth, N-Universe has been plagued by delays for about a year. A year-long delay sounds bad, but really, it was always a very ambitious project. And when you consider that it took us two years to create N-Data (which is the world's largest and most comprehensive index of Nintendo games, personnel and companies), you start to get an idea about the kind of work that goes into that type of thing. But we achieved N-Data and I think we can achieve N-Universe as well. It will be my responsibility to design these individual "universes", as well as the overall N-Universe design, which will encase the seperate mini-sites. At the same time, we are going to be working on a new version of N-Sider, which will be radically different from what you see today (and radically different from any gaming site that currently exists). It will essentially be a digital magazine, with actual pages that you can turn. Articles will be presented in large, two-page spreads, and the entire site will be designed specifically for 1024x768 resolution and above. The layouts will be very art heavy and everything will integrate with N-Universe. As you can imagine, such a project is enormous. The scope is so large that we've had to push everything back and do an interim facelift of N-Sider to accommodate certain changes. Some things that we want to do aren't even possible at the moment, they can only be done with the upcoming version of CSS, which presents a number of issues in and of itself. I have to say, the prospect of these two ventures is both exciting and very daunting. I had originally thought that I'd only have a couple of months' work in there. But as it turns out, this whole thing is probably more like a year's work, all up. But there's nobody else to do it, so...there you go. Apart from N-Sider, there are two other major things for me to do online. The first is to make my next major revision to OtakuBoards. Previously, version updates at OtakuBoards meant a new default skin and some other minor changes (usually staff and forum updates). But as I mentioned with Version 7, we won't be moving to a Version 8 until something major happens (either a new version of vB, or a new Site Director, or something like that). vB2 lasted from 2001 to early 2004, so...vB3 can probably last a similar length of time. However, this doesn't mean that my next update won't be significant. On the contrary, Version 7.1 (or 7.5 or whatever) will be quite significant. You'll see at least one additional skin, a new postbit design and you'll finally see our comprehensive new arcade (with a cool new feature to accompany it). Those are the cornerstones of the upgrade, but I'm sure there will be even more involved. And finally, there is my own new site, KILLING-BILL.com. In truth, this site could already have been online now, today, had I not been so busy with other projects (both online and offline, but predominantly online). But having said that, I am absolutely determined not to let this site fall by the wayside, like ShineGet.com did. There are a few people who are supporting me in my effort, because they are strong believers in the concept. And I definitely won't be letting them (or myself) down. Apart from anything else, this is a project that I feel very passionate about and I feel that it deserves my attention. The only problem with all of this is that there are only 24 hours in a day. For me, that means two things. One, a constant juggling act; I'm always having to push certain things back and bring other things forward, in order to have things completed in a reasonable time. But secondly, it means that there are certain sites and projects that I physically can't work on, even though I'd love to. In fact, there are quite a few things I'd like to do online, which I simply can't do right now. The first is a portfolio site of my own. I was working on one a while ago, but I wasn't satisfied with it and I scrapped it. As my online and offline work develops and as I begin to create a cohesive brand of my own, I would really like to create a destination for people to visit, which archives and indexes all of my stuff. But I don't want "james.killing-bill.com" or something. It would have to be a proper site in and of itself, with as much of my work presented as possible. This would be incredibly useful for me, not just in terms of employment, but also with education and other things. But right now it's impossible. No time, no money. What else? Well, a while ago, GCAdvanced.com approached me, wanting me to run their new PSP site. I said I'd only do it if they let me design it myself, because (just between you and me), GCA's site layouts are absolutely awful. I can spot that newbie-like heavy-bevel a mile away. Yuck. Of course, they said that my conditions were a bit too much, as I expected. Had they said yes, I may have considered it, but really, I think I'm too close to N-Sider to dump it for something else. However, I would still like to start my own gaming media site at some point. And even then, there are so many options. For example, I've always wanted to make a site dedicated to SEGA arcade games (there's something about the flashy/silly menus and the totally cheesy music that I adore). I'd also like to do a retro gaming site, or a site based specifically on handhelds. Too many options. I could keep going, when it comes to web projects that I'd like to do. I'd really love to make a Sims-based site, with all my own objects and skins. That'd be a lot of fun, especially since many Sims sites have become pay-only lately. I'd also like to make a music site, particularly something that allows artists to submit their own music for review and distribution. I'm very keen on the idea of new music communities and sampling of new works. I'd really like to create something with a wealth of options, where people can create individual riffs to share online (and use via sound mixing programs like SoundForge and Peak), or where people can search for other artists in specific fields (perhaps by instrument), so that they can collaborate or start a band of their own. That would be a really fun type of project, I think. There's so much more, too. But I should probably stop, because I can already feel this post being too long. ~_^

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Sunday, September 26, 2004

Return of the Jehdi Well, here I am, back from Phillip Island. It was a short vacation, but fun. It was nice to relax, although I did find myself feeling a little bored at times. I think I'm just too much of a city person or something. Anyway, it was nice. It's great to have drinks on the beach at night, especially when the weather is nice (and it was gorgeous over the last two nights). The moon was also really bright...it was very pretty. I should have taken my camera with me to snap some new pictures. Apart from lounging around, we sampled some of the restaurants there, which was great. All of the food was very fresh (particularly the seafood, although I'm not a huge seafood fan). Everyone did a little shopping, too. I bought myself a new necklace (my old one broke years ago and I've never replaced it). They have some insanely awesome ones down there; the Rip Curl and Billabong ones are fantastic. I also bought some trinkets for Miss Juu, so that I may begin making a funky gift to send her. I think she's really going to like what I've chosen, although I won't spill the beans on it here. ~_^ The only unfortunate thing is that I have a whole lot of work to get done over this coming week. Bleh. I'll knock it all over though. ^_^

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Monday, September 20, 2004

In the beginning... The two week break is finally upon me. Though I must admit, it doesn't really feel like a holiday/vacation. I have two projects due on the week that I return, which means that I have a lot of ground to cover over the next two weeks. But still, it's nice not to have classes. I'm also going to be able to finish up a lot of online things, and focus on my next two big online projects (N-Sider.com and Killing-Bill.com). I'm also going to be going to Phillip Island this Thursday through Sunday, which will be great. I'm definitely going to enjoy having a few days to just refresh and relax myself. Even this weekend has been kinda nice, since I've not had to worry about doing a huge amount of schoolwork for the coming week. I've had the opportunity to just spend time going out with friends and stuff, which has been nice. There's a cafe just near where I live, which I'd never been to until a week ago (despite it being there for about six or seven years now). I finally went there last week, and again yesterday. I really enjoyed it. And the alcohol is a lot cheaper than in many of the clubs and pubs out there. I don't drink much alcohol at all, but when I do, it's nice not to have to spend a fortune on a tiny little bottle, simply because you're at some little club that thinks too highly of itself. ~_^ I was also thinking about a few other things in recent days. Remember when I mentioned the lovely package that Juu-chan sent me? Well, I was considering some ideas that might be fun, when it comes to that sort of thing. Obviously, I want to send a package back to Juu, but I was thinking about something else a little broader. For example, I've been toying with the idea of designing t-shirts with OtakuBoards/theOtaku logos/graphics on them, to send out as awards or something. I was thinking that this might be useful and fun when it comes to Anime Expo and various events like that. Depending on the cost, it wouldn't simply be a boring t-shirt with a logo on it. I'd probably do some funky image for it or something. The thing is though, is this something that anyone would actually want to wear? I figure, if I can make something that looks cool (and not uber-dorky), it might actually be worth producing and sending out. What do you guys think about that? If I were able to get some really cool gear made up, would you actually want to wear it to an event or something? It's definitely worth considering, I think. I've actually been planning something similar with N-Sider, for events like E3 and such. Anyway, other than that, there isn't a whole lot to talk about really. Maybe I'll have something a bit more juicy to tell you in my next update. By the way, if anyone wants to contact me via email, please use the following address: desert.taipan(at)gmail.com I'm going to be using this instead of my James@theOtaku.com account.

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Thursday, September 16, 2004

Straight Ahead Well, the last couple of days have been very tiring. On Tuesday, we had the large screen installed here, which pretty much took the entire day to do. But I think it was worthwhile. I was able to watch Kill Bill: Volume 2 on the big screen yesterday, which was nice. It was surprisingly sharp and colourful; these were my two biggest worries about getting a projector. But I think the cost of the thing was well worth it. DVDs in particular are beautiful to look at, especially when they cover 2.2 metres of width on your wall. ~_^ Wednesday was...okay. I mean, the morning class was incredibly boring and the current project (writing a radio script and actually recording all of it) is possibly one of the most difficult projects I've ever had to do. They've given us quite a specific brief, but we still have to be innovative with that. Sometimes I can come up with ideas for things, but it's difficult to just sit there and force myself to come up with a good idea. Usually, my best ideas hit me at totally unexpected times. I've never thought about doing radio scripts or anything before, so that experience will be interesting. The one really cool thing, though, was today, when I received a beautiful gift from the lovely Juuthena. It had lots of personal touches and it includes some very cute items from South Korea and America. It's lots of fun! I'm going to have to lay everything out and take a photograph for you. Juu has put a lot of work into this gift, so I must show you the awesome result. This also means that I have to start work on my own special package for Juu. I've thought about what I might include, and Juu has said that she'd like kangaroos. So, I'm going to do my best to find some uniquely Australian things. I'm probably going to Phillip Island within the next couple of weeks, too. And that place is ripe for all sorts of awesome local stuff (you can buy some beautiful boomerangs there, with traditional painting all over them...they're expensive though, eek). In any case, I'll do my best. I'll try not to let Miss Juu down. ^_^

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Saturday, September 11, 2004

*is gently nudged* Yeah, so...not a whole lot to report since I last posted I guess. Tuesday's the day that our new screen/projector arrives, so, I'm really looking forward to that. Thankfully I'm going to be here when it gets installed. Normally it wouldn't matter, but my dad tends to be pretty impulsive with certain purchases (especially audiovisual stuff). So I try to put myself in there and act as a buffer against rash decisions. ~_^ Actually, I did some research on the projector he has chosen and it's a great model. But I still have a few questions for the people who install it. Other than that, this week is going to be my final week of school for the term. I've got a two week break after that. Of course, I still have work to do during the break (two projects are due on the week back), but still, it's nice to have no classes. Also, we should be going down to Phillip Island for about three days, which is going to be great. I always enjoy it down there. The great thing is that Kill Bill 2 is available here on Wednesday, just one day after the screen is installed. So that'll be nice. And it'll be great to watch all of my DVDs again, on the big screen. In other news, I'm a bit concerned about my Kill Adam RPG at the moment. Sweetreyes doesn't seem to be around very much and she doesn't seem to have been following it (though I could be wrong, but who knows). I hope that she hasn't quietly dropped out. I've sent her a PM anyway, just to check. There's also ColourDeaf, who seems to have vanished off the face of the planet. Perhaps he's having Internet troubles or something. Unfortunately, this may mean that I'll have to replace him (I believe he had signed up as Hattori Hanzo). I may ask another Hanzo applicant to post in his place, to keep things going. In any case, I am very pleased with Kill Adam: Volume 2 so far. Already, even at this early stage, I've seen some incredibly cool posts. I think my favourite is still Tony's post. That really set a major benchmark in my opinion. But it's all been good. I loved Charlie's post and I adored Tori's. This is what makes Kill Adam fun to read, as well as fun to write. I hope that I am able to see that kind of talent in Fox Force Five (and with Arcadia on board already, I have absolutely no doubt that it'll be awesome). Edit: Two weeks of not using my @theOtaku.com email account and what do I find? Exactly 1,407 spam emails. Yay.

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