• xjaymanx’s crash course in quantum theory ~ lol, don’t be afraid, i’ll do the best i can from high-school and college memory…

  okay, on the common everyday macroscopic scale, matter and existence could be considered “absolute”… in other words, if we see a ball bouncing along the street, you can turn around and reasonably expect it to continue bouncing behind your back… and conventional Newtonian laws (as well as extended Einsteinian/relativistic laws) of physics would apply without fail…

  however, on the subatomic or quantum level, matter and existence are not so absolute… for the simple reason that any attempt to observe them affects the outcome… that is, since the act of observation (where light is made up of photons) is on the same subatomic scale as the bouncing particles you are trying to observe in the first place, those photons would hit/interfere/affect the “certain” outcome of those particles (hence, the “uncertainty principle”)…

  using the “bouncing ball” metaphor, if you tried to see the ball, this time, you would only observe an infinite fog of possible bounces and paths, where nothing would be certain… since direct observation is impossible in ascertaining the absolute state of particles, they are described (for lack of a better way) in terms of mathematical “probabilities”… in other words, if one outcome/existence cannot be ascertained, then ALL outcomes/existences must also exist (in terms of probabilities)…

  inevitably, such a titanic contradiction between these two contradictory descriptions of the universe (macroscopic vs. quantum) even rattled Einstein and gave birth to his famous anti-quantum exclamation: “God doesn’t play dice with the universe”… consequently in the decades since, one attempt to resolve this seeming contradiction is the “many worlds” or “parallel universe” theory/interpretation…

  in a nutshell, it allows for the “certainty” of an outcome on the “observable” macro scale, while simultaneously permitting the “uncertainty” of probabilities on the “unobservable” quantum scale… in other words, while we live in one “ascertainable” universe, ALL other parallel universes must also exist as probabilities…

  but one thing that most profoundly emerges from this interpretation, is that the nature of the universe is suddenly and undeniably dependent upon the role of human observation/consciousness/awareness and its power to define an outcome/existence/reality…

• noein ~ i bring this up because i just finished watching the anime series “noein”… and it uses quantum and parallel theories with such incredible story-telling skill!… there are many references to quantum theory including Schrodinger’s dead (and also simultaneously NOT dead) cat, as well as Einstein’s dice quote… and all without bogging the story down… on the contrary, along with its symphonically-epic soundtrack, the warm nostalgia of childhood memories, and the emotional pain of possible realities, “noein” earns FIVE STARS…

• DONE LIST - ANIME:

  May-June
  +++++ Ah! My Goddess (Season 1: 1-24) - Finished.
  +++++ Gankutsuou: Count of Monte Cristo (1-24) - Finished.
  ++++ Midori Days (1-13) - Finished 6/10.
  +++++ My HiME (Mai HiME) (1-26) - Finished 6/14.
  +++ Mahoromatic (Season 1: 1-12) - Finished 6/15.
  ++++ Fate Stay Night (1-24) - Finished 6/18.
  ++++ Samurai 7 (1-26) - Finished 6/18.
  ++++ Mahoromatic (Season 2: 1-14) - Finished 6/20.
  +++ Please Teacher! (1-13) - Finished 6/22 via Netflix.
  +++++ Trinity Blood (1-24) - Finished 6/25 (Marathon Sunday!).
  ++++ Full Metal Panic (Second Raid: 1-13) - Finished 6/28.
  July
  +++ Speed Grapher (1-24) - Finished 7/4.
  +++ Fushigi Yuugi - Season 1 (1-26) - Finished 7/8.
  +++++ Shuffle! (1-24) - Finished 7/16.
  ++++ Kasimasi (Girl Meets Girl: 1-12) - Finished 7/22.
  ++++ Ikki Tousen (1-13) - Finished 7/22 via Netflix.
  +++ Haibane-Renmei (1-13) - Finished 7/30.
  August
  +++++ Mai Otome (1-26) - Finished 8/8.
  ++++ Onegai (Please) Twins (1-13) - Finished 8/9.
  ++ F3 (Hentai: 1-3) - Finished 8/9.
  +++++ Negima! (1-26) - Finished 8/11.
  +++ To Heart (1-13) - Finished 8/20.
  ++++ You’re Under Arrest - S1 (1-26 of 52) - Finished first half 8/29.
  ++++ To Heart - Season 2 (1-13) - Finished 8/30.
  September
  ++++ Tenjho Tenge (1-24) - Finished 9/4.
  +++ Paradise Kiss (1-12) - Finished 9/9.
  ++++ IGPX - Season 1 (1-13) - Finished 9/12.
  ++++ Sunabouzu (Desert Punk: 1-24) - Finished 9/16 via Netflix.
  ++++ Scrapped Princess (1-24) - Finished 9/19.
  +++++ You’re Under Arrest - S1 (1-51) - Finished 9/19.
  +++++ Solty Rei (1-24) - Finished 9/24.
  +++++ Blood+ (1-50) - Finished 9/25.

• DOING LIST - ANIME:

  [watching an incomplete series or download]
  +++++ Ah! My Goddess (Season 2: 1-18 of 24?) - Thru Ep. 15.
  ++ Air Gear (1-3 of ?) - Thru Ep. 1.
  o Black Blood Brothers (1-2 of ?) - Not yet.
  +++++ Ergo Proxy (1-21 of ?) - Thru Ep. 21. *Active*
  +++ Hellsing Ultimate (1-2 of 10) - Thru Vol. 1.
  ++ Karas (1-3 of 6) - Thru Ep. 3.
  +++++ NANA (1-21.5 of ?) - Thru Ep. 21.5.

  [watching a completed series and download]
  o Azumanga Daioh (1-26) - Not yet.
  ++++ Black Lagoon (1-12) - Thru Ep. 3.
  +++ Daphne in the Brilliant Blue (1-24) - Thru Ep. 4.
  +++ Densha Otoko (Train Man: 1-12) - Thru Ep. 2.
  +++ Eureka Seven (1-50) - Thru Ep. 6.
  +++ Fushigi Yuugi - Season 2 (27-52) - Thru Ep. 27.
  ++++ Fruits Basket (1-26) - Thru Ep. 10 via Netflix. *Active*
  +++ Ichigo Mashimaro (Strawberry Marshmallow: 1-12) - Thru Ep. 1.
  +++ Jigoku Shoujo (1-26) - Thru Ep. 2.
  +++ Jinki Extend (1-12) - Thru Ep. 2.
  ++ Madlax (1-26) - Thru Ep. 4 via Netflix.
  ++ Mars Daybreak (1-26) - Thru Ep. 3.
  +++ Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (1-14) - Thru Ep. 1.
  ++++ Noein (1-24) - Thru Ep. 18. *Active*
  ++++ Planetes (1-26) - Thru Ep. 2.
  o Rozen Maiden - S1 (1-12) - Not yet.
  o Rozen Maiden - Traumend (1-12) - Not yet.
  o Shakugan no Shana (1-24) - Not yet.
  o You’re Under Arrest - S2 (1-26) - Not yet.

“saya & hagi” from BLOOD+

• BLOOD+ ~ i finished watching this anime a couple days ago… but last night, after burning/archiving the last two episodes 49 and 50 of “BLOOD+” onto disc, i tested them on the big TV like i always do, but then i let myself be transported back to its world by watching parts of them again… such a tearful yet hopeful conclusion…

  in fact, the entire 50-episode series was such an utterly well-crafted and sublime anime, visually, musically, emotionally… so much so that it has become my #1 anime, even above “ghost in the shell” and “wolf’s rain”… and as its overall idea, nankurunaisa! (everything will work out in the end!)

• visit to my old job ~ yesterday, before work, chatted with vanessa… how she’s still swamped as always, still looking for another job, and how the others are depressed as their boss piles more work onto them… so i decided to visit and maybe cheer them up, despite her “warning” that it wasn’t worth the trip, LOL…

  well, i did, got there at about 10:30am, and the cramped old office has hardly changed, hahaha… kiyomi and don were still there, the main developers who’ve been there since before i started there 3 years ago… plus even more wires, cables and instruments growing on their cubicles!

  hahaha, tried out my japanese with kiyomi… she asked how, and i said tons of anime!… “tadaima” (i’m back!), “baka” (idiot, fool), “itadakimasu” (i will receive! said before meals) and “itekimasu” (i’m leaving, i’m off!) and “ja ne” (see you later!)… so that was fun… talked with the others, how things were going, met the new tech writer (another new one!)…

  when vanessa finally off the phone, we chatted about the upcoming birthday for her soon-6-yr-old son tristan… showed her the ZipZaps radio-controlled matchbox car i was thinking of giving, but she said there were too many parts! and it would quickly get broken! haha… so she suggested a DVD like “curious george” or “cars” or “ice age” or something with dinosaurs or astronomy… typical smart kid!…

  i also pointed out how the others were smiling, didn’t seem depressed, but she said they weren’t trying to be, but you could tell in general… talked about the filipino food planned for the party: “lumpia” (kinda like mini egg rolls), “adobo” (like a chicken stew/gumbo), but LOL, no “balut” (cooked duck embryo still in its eggshell) which i loved as a kid… lastly, i offered to help with any document-related stuff, she could email the office guidelines draft to me if she needed to… and sadly, at about 11:30am, it was time for me to go to work, lol…

• nankurunaisa! ~ i’ve told vanessa and morgaine how some things seem to be a battle of “guilt” versus “regret”… the “guilt” of NOT doing enough for others… and the “regret” of NOT doing the things you want for yourself… sometimes you can’t let family or friends or bosses or coworkers or others become too much of a responsibility that you feel so guilty not doing things for them… sometimes you gotta live for yourself…

  yeah, easier said than done, but “regret over oneself” can be much WORSE than the “guilt over others”… the key idea is: can you TRUST others to be able to take care of themselves? without having to look over their shoulder?… if you can, then you can smile more easily and happily in life…

  nankurunaisa!… everything will work out in the end!

• p.s. the “unfair” issue at LasVegasOtaku.org has also been straightened out… just a simple matter of word choice and individual differences in etiquette…

If you’re a figure collector, or even if you’re not, you’re probably tired of seeing the seemingly endless versions of Rei and Asuka from the classic anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. But that feeling may soon change!

Coming this November, a stunning new GothLoli Rei Ayanami will be available for your collecting pleasure. Sculpted by Suzu (Atomic-bom) and manufactured by Amie-Grand, this eye-catcher depicts a demurely kneeling Rei in a frilly white choker and top, as well as a leathery black skirt and stockings. At an impressively detailed 1/6 scale, Rei kneels at nearly 7-inches tall.

However, the sturdier polystone resin pushes her price to a blue-hair-raising $110-120 USD. Is she worth it? Well, if you’re a die-hard fan of Evangelion, GothLoli culture, or both — and can maybe skip meals for a few weeks — Rei might very well be!

• (1) 1/7-scale “asuka as gothic-lolita” ~ from the classic epic psycho-drama “evangelion”… for me, after accepting for ages that she was unavailable or sold out at all my favorites figure sites, i recently widened my search, and finally found her at a finnish website! it was like finding the “holy grail”!

• (2) 1/6 “saber in swimsuit” (from last month) ~ from the action-fantasy “fate/stay night”

• (3) 1/8 “seras victoria as vampire” ~ from the horror-favorite “hellsing”

• (4) 1/6 “ryofu in rags” ~ from the sexy martial-arts “ikki tousen”

• (5) 1/8 “saki in cosplay” ~ from the college-otaku-geek comedy “genshiken”

• (6+7) 1/8 “lumiere” (blue) with “eclair” (red) ~ from the sexy dramedy “kiddy grade”

• (8) 1/10 “motoko as part-clear” ~ from the legendary cyber-punk saga “ghost in the shell”

• (9) 1/10 “motoko as not-clear” (not shown)

damn, definitely have tons of figure photoshoots ahead of me!… hmmm, maybe i’ll try some backyard outdoor-lit shots for my next LVO-Sabarashii blog/zine review… and maybe get more shelf space!… we’ll see…

• ear test ~ well, yesterday, had my wednesday ear appointment… recently, i seemed to have noticed that my right ear feels maybe 5% less perceptive than my left… so if my left was 100%, then my right felt like 90-95%… small but noticeable… besides, haven’t had my ears checked since my mom the doctor checked mine as a little kid!
  • well, the main doc checked them out… he said it looked like i had some draining tubes inserted as a child, and “tubes” did sound familiar to me… but overall, they looked fine…

  • so next was the sound booth, with the secondary doc named lisa… she was maybe my age, maybe older, plus/minus 5 years, but was also attractive, petite-height, shoulder-length hair, wore a pink outfit, including a low-cut shirt that highlighted her cleavage… now the reason i bother to mention this, is that when she fitted the special metallic headphones over my head, there was no choice… her low-cut cleavage was literally in front of my face… i mean, i tried to look away, but it was still in my peripheral vision… not that i minded…

  • so the wobbly sound test… click a button when i hear something loud or soft… left ear, right ear… repeat the list of words she says… left ear, right ear… and so on…

  • but then, there was a second sound test… and this time, when she fitted the next set of headphones, i was less shy about peeking… i mean, she must know she’s wearing a low-cut shirt, and she must know she’ll be fitting headphones at her job… so, why not? i guess i was braver…

  • so the next sound text used an intentional white-noise hiss or static, through which i would hear the same wobbly sounds… click when i hear the wobblies through the hiss/static (like a silent ninja in the rustling forest, lol)… loud or soft… and in a few minutes, that was it!

  • afterwards, we sat down to discuss the results, i still tried to avoid her cleavage, lol… apparently, my right ear does, in fact, have a slight 5% hearing loss in the lower audible range… most likely since i was a kid, i agreed… but now i know i wasn’t imagining anything… pretty perceptive, huh?

  • interesting though, when i took the main doctor’s business card from the pay desk, not only was he an ear-nose-throat specialist, he was also a facial-cosmetic and breast-enhancement surgeon!… damn!… coincidence?

• more figures??? ~ double-damn!… today, thursday, just got an email from Twin Moon (tmpanime.com) that 6 more figures have shipped out today!… damn, all at once?
  • 1/10 ghost in the shell ~ motoko kusanagi
  • 1/10 ghost in the shell ~ motoko kusanagi (clear)
  • 1/8 genshiken ~ saki kasukabe (standing)
  • 1/8 hellsing ~ seras victoria
  • 1/7 kiddy grade ~ eclair & lumiere (bome set)
  • 1/6 ikki tousen ~ ryofu housen