Dec 5 | Angsty Momo – Zazzle T-Shirt | Enlarge

Holy crap! I’ve got so much crap to talk about that I may not fit in any anime crap, lol. But I’ll try. From old layouts to new readers, from post updates to blog widgets, from shiny iMacs to blazing Zazzles, and maybe some random tunes too. But what else? Anime mascots? Seems like every anime blog is caving in with their own new mascot~ not only Mimi, but Koshiko, Dancing Queen and the latest Meimi132 too~ inspired by DC no doubt, lol. Fortunately, I haven’t succumbed to peer pressure… yet, lol. But we’ll see.

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Angsty Momo | Angry Mimi Mascot | Click for 1680px wallpaper

Yup, Angsty Momo. If you’ve visited Mimi’s blog last week, you’ll recognize her pink-haired teen mascot, lol. In a nutshell, her name is Momo. An angsty 17-year-old only-child with some curious tastes. And an interstellar genius in the year 2409 EYE (Earth Year Equivalent), lol. Here are the 750×750 square and 1680×1050 wallpaper versions. ^_^

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Halloween | Punk Trooper at the Office | Click to enlarge

Are you sick and tired of Imperial Stormtroopers who can’t aim or blast the side of a barn to save their lives? Are you sick and tired of Jedi Apprentices who can’t find peace without a Master? Well, enter the Stormtrooper drop-out, Jedi outcast, and bounty-hunter-in-black~~ “Punk Trooper”, lol.

Like I first explained in my second audio broadcast and teased again in my last post, I dressed up (or God-forbid “cosplayed”, lol) in my original character for the Halloween lunch at work. And as my video hopefully shows, it was a “blast”, pun intended, hehe.

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Halloween | Punk Trooper, Frankenhooker & Guiness the Menace | Click to enlarge

Just a teaser, lol. Full post coming soon… So how was your Halloween?

Audio Broadcast | MP3 Length 13:33 Minutes | Click to play

xJAYMANx_broadcast
Saturday, 9:15pm, 11 Oct 2008
MP3 Length 13:33 Minutes

• OP – “Into the Battlefield” from Crows Zero [2007].
• Stuffy nose, cold weather, Miko sick, hope u feel better
• Rearranging house, plasma TV soon, remove old wood shelves, TV stand, sit on floor
• Behind on blogs, website to design
• Mimi‘s comment on high-school classroom, feng shui?
• Lisa is home, Guiness the dog is there
• Danny’s blog, Mimi’s comment on hikikomori vs. otaku
• Behind on TV shows and anime, Harry Potter 5
• Lucky Star OVA, Sayonara Mr. Despair (Zetsubou Sensei), WTF LOL, 4 of 5 stars
• Star Wars (Clone Wars) TV, Roughnecks (Starship Troopers), good formula for kids, Yoda!
• Crows Zero, 8 Mile, Eminem, Lose Yourself, D12
• Treadmill, hours editing a blog post, pain in the butt, life of a blogger, too lazy to write up
• ED – “Lose Yourself” from 8 Mile [2002] by Eminem.

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Yoda and Maxi in Soul Calibur 4 | Click to enlarge wallpaper

“You will know… when you are calm, at peace, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack… No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I teach you today. Clear your mind of questions.”
~ Master Yoda, Star Wars Episode V.

Previously in Part 2 [Link]

• Mish [waves]: Hi Katt!
• Katt [waves back]: Hey Mish! Wow, I like the red!
• Mish [touches her hair]: Thanks. Just had it done. Hi Takeshi.
• Tack: Hey Michelle. Looks really good!
• Mish [smiles]: Thanks… So what’s so funny? I could hear u guys all the way from the library.
• K: Haha, it’s nothing. Just some stupid guy talk.
• Mish: U sure?
• K: Yeah, we’re sure.
• T: We’re stupid. Can’t u tell?
• Mish: U guys aren’t stupid. Just “otaku”.
• K [shocked]: Hey! When did u learn to use that word?
• Mish: What? Otaku? U guys taught me that just the other day!
• K and T [look at each other]: …
• T [turns to Mish]: Really?
• Mish: U forgot already?
• T: Ahhh, wait… Oh yeah! The mall!
• K: Hmmm, that’s right.
• Mish: Yeah! U know, sometimes I think u two are hopeless.
• K: Yeah.
• T: Well, u just missed Jimi. She practically yelled at us.
• Mish: Hehe, but Jimi’s too cute.
• K: If u say so.
• Mish: Anyway… I meant to ask u, since you’re the experts.
• K: Sure. Go ahead.
• Mish: Do u know where I can find some cute cat-ears?
• K and T [look at each other]: …
• K and T [together]: Hahaha!
• Mish [confused]: What? What’s so funny?

• Tack [laughs]: Haha, so u haven’t seen Jimi yet?
• Mish: Ummm, nooo. Why? What? She isn’t wearing cat-ears around campus, is she?
• Katt [smiles]: Yup, u got it!
• Mish: Nooo wayyy! You’re joking, right?
• T: Would we joke?
• Mish [thinks]: But now that I think about it, it definitely fits her. Hopping down the hall. Skipping up the steps…
• T: Scratching our eyes out.
• K: Haha, no question. Unfortunately…
• Mish: Unfortunately?
• K [turns, winks at T]: You’re right. We were joking.
• Mish: What!?!
• T [nods at K, turns to Mish]: Haha, yeah, you’re such an easy target!
• Mish [smacks K's shoulder]: I can’t believe u guys. Really, I can’t believe u.
• T [laughs]: What? Didn’t u just say we were hopeless?
• Mish: I was just being polite.
• K: Haha, polite? How is that being polite?
• T: Hahaha!
• Mish [looks down]: Forget it. I’ll ask somebody else.
• K: Hey wait, wait.
• T: Come on, Mish, we’re just teasing. So why do ya need cat-ears?
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Yoda and Tira in Soul Calibur 4 | Click to enlarge wallpaper

“But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”
~ Master Yoda, Star Wars Episode V.

Previously in Part 1 [Link]

• Jimi [points]: I think you’re both wrong.
• Katt [surprised]: Oh shit! Where’d u come from?
• Jimi: Huh? I was sitting right there. U just didn’t realize it. As usual.
• K: Yeah, whatever.
• Jimi: Hmmm, wasn’t Tack here a second ago?
• Tack [runs back, blushes]: I’m here! I’m here! Hey Jimi.
• Jimi: Hey Tack.
• K [annoyed]: Christ, are u cosplaying again?
• Jimi [sighs]: Why do guys always ask me that? Just because I’m wearing cat-ears doesn’t mean I’m cosplaying. I just couldn’t find my other hair-band, okay?
• K: And the mini-skirt?
• Jimi: So now I can’t wear a mini-skirt? It’s the only thing that matched my outfit. Jeez!
• T [blushes]: I think it’s cute.
• Jimi: Thank u, Tack. I think so too.
• K: Wait a second.
• T and Jimi: What?
• K: You said we’re “both wrong”? How’s that?
• T: Both wrong about what?
• K: She said we’re both wrong about Danny. Right?
• Jimi: Exactly.
• T: What? How can we be BOTH wrong?
• Jimi: Because I’m right.
• K and T [look at each other]: Huh? Explanation please?

• Jimi [sighs]: You guys were talking about popularity and enjoyment and sensitivity…
• Tack: What’s wrong with…
• Katt [shrugs]: Yeah, so?
• J [sits]: Oh god, u guys sound like old ladies. Did u exchange apple-pie recipes too?
• K and T: …
• Jimi: Reality is much darker than that.
• K: You’re wearing cat-ears and you’re gonna talk to us about reality?
• T: Hahaha, good one.
• Jimi: Who else? Because like every other guy, you’re too distracted, or too stupid, to figure it out. Playing with your little dolls. Lifting up their little skirts. And peeking at their little panties. Awww, how cute.
• K [annoyed]: Christ, here she goes again.
• T [blushes]: They’re called figures…
• Jimi [ignores them]: But since you’re not as stupid as other guys, I’ll tell u anyway. Because u…
• Jimi and K [at the same time]: …don’t have a choice.
• K: Yeah, we got it, we got it. Are u gonna tell us?
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Bamboo Fun | Click to enlarge

Yeah! After Puppy-Chun’s blog post triggered my long-time Amazon wish, I finally received my silver “Wacom Bamboo Fun” tablet on Thursday (21 Aug 2008), lol. Then with the artsy addition of Orange-Mimi’s blog post, I started playing around with the tablet on Friday. Unfortunately, my digital efforts were so pathetic, they weren’t even worth saving. T_T;

Hence, after years of using my trackball mouse, I finally came to the realization that *before* I could pursue experiments on the tablet, I needed to re-acquire at least *some* of my lost pencilling skills. So what did I do? I started from scratch. Doodling. Sketching. Practicing. With pen on paper. With a bit more focus than I’ve had in years. Not much, but a bit more. As u can see (at the bottom), I’ve got a long way to go…

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Darth Vader in Soul Calibur 4 | Click to enlarge wallpaper

“I’m taking an awful risk, Vader. This had better work.”
~ Governor Tarkin, Star Wars Episode IV.

Part 1

• Tack [smiling]: Hey Katt! What’s up?
• Katt [lazily]: Hey, not much…
• T: What’s wrong? U sound bummed…
• K: I just visited DannyChoo.com this morning. He had another figure post…
• T: Sounds cool!
• K: …mixed with some of his inspirational wisdom again.
• T [confused]: What’s wrong with that? U like those, don’t u?
• K [nods]: Yeah, I do. Usually I do. But something bugged me this time…
• T: Oh, really?
• K: Yeah…
• T: What’s that?
• K: Well, u know that Cosby quote that Danny always likes to reference?
• T: Oh yeah, something like “…the secret to failure is trying to please everybody.” Yeah?
• K [nods]: Yeah… Actually, it’s pretty similar to that Lincoln quote “… can’t please all of the people all of the time”, yada yada.
• T: Hey, that’s true! So what about it?
• K: Well, I got to thinking about it… If Danny isn’t trying to please everybody, why does he keep on floating his polls and requests for opinions, et cetera. Isn’t he trying to please everyone?
• T [laughs]: No way! Come on, Katt! Wait, you’re talking about his new portal design, right? He’s definitely not doing that.
• K: Are u sure?
• T [nods]: Yeah! He’s just trying to design the best experience for regular and potentially-regular visitors. But not ALL his visitors.
• K: Huh? Potentially regular?
• T: Sure! Why would Danny want to keep new readers who didn’t like figures or anime?
• K: Yeah, that makes sense.
• T: Not only that, if he wanted to please ALL his readers, he’d design his site for IE6, IE5, IE4… But that would be stupid.
• K [nods]: Yeah… Or he could just be lazy, and not make the time to be backward-compatible.
• T: Hahaha, good one. I guess that makes us ALL lazy, hahaha.
• K [laughs]: Hahaha, yeah… I dunno.
• T: What?
• K: It still bugs me.
• T: Really?
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Lelouch commands you to jump… | Click to enlarge

“Jump complete!” Well, after a Saturday of exporting XML data from my old WordPress 2.0 “Toybox”, installing the latest WordPress 2.6 “Toybox”, duplicating the template, importing the XML into the new template, then a Sunday of (category, link and post) cleanup, I’ve finally upgraded to the newest version of WordPress.org! So hopefully, this blog will feel a little less glitchy and a little bit quicker. ^_^;

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Operation Woodstock | Photo taken Feb 2008 | Click to enlarge

Hey all, pretty big news!… After 6 long uncertain months (since Feb 2008), 2 different agents (Toni then Angie), and over $100K drop in value (from $360K down to $249K), I finally emailed Angie the Realtor my decision to *NOT* sell the house after all. And guess what? When she called, she was laughing because *THAT* was what she wanted to hear! She couldn’t or didn’t want to tell me that, because she wanted it to come from me, my own decision. Can you believe that? Although she lost a client, she hasn’t lost a friend… or a possible blind date for one of her girl friends, haha. ^_^;

Here’s the email I sent her on Friday (July 25th).

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“Team Kaibigan” Logo | Click to enlarge

Another unusual story… So on Tuesday, 03 June 2008, my friend Melánie asked me out-of-the-blue to design a couple of logos for her friend Christine Toledo, the #1-ranked Muay Thai fighter in the USA and #3-ranked in the world. So for a free Thai-food lunch and a free T-shirt, why not? LOL ^_^; And so…

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SOS Danny – A Wikipedia Tale | Click to enlarge

For the humble readers of DannyChoo.com, I’ve got a short-lived (March 2nd to April 9th) tale which I’d forgotten to tell till now… Several months back on March 2nd, I was writing a blog entry quoting Danny, and wanted to reference him without citing his blog. Instinctively, I searched Wikipedia. But nothing. No Danny Choo. So what did I do? I decided to create an entry for him.

From that point on, 95% of the credit goes to *DOSGuy* (thanx dude!) for developing the Danny Choo article to its fullest. However, despite attempts to reinforce the entry over its several-week history, the article was speedily deleted on April 9th for failing to meet the guidelines of “notability”. Which, I admit, is understandable. Self-advertised popularity doesn’t necessarily equal encyclopedic noteworthiness (and vice-versa).

Luckily and incredibly, *DOSGuy* saved a copy of the article and still hosts it under his user page here.

So months later, the question remains: Do we have anything to add to the article that might make it good enough (notable enough) for resubmission? Should we care about Wikipedia or “notability”? After all, if indeed we have something, we can still edit it. In other words, S.O.S. = Save Our Stormtrooper Danny. ^_^;

P.S. Thanx *Chun*, I hope I can borrow your “seal of shock”. ^_^;

Photo 2698 by xJAYMANx | Click to enlarge

Vinyl bowls?… Yup, once more, just one day (Feb 10th) after her gun photoshoot in Blog 126 (Feb 9th), Lisa appears in yet another impromptu photoshoot! This time, she’s in my kitchen, heating old vinyl records in the oven to mold them into funky-looking bowls for gifts… Not only that, thanx to Lena and her amazing night-club photos, I was inspired to attempt my own HDR (high-dynamic range) photo-editing experiments… What do you think? Enjoy the rest of the vinyl-inspired wackiness, lol.

P.S. Yeah, I know, it’s been ages since my last anime-oriented entry. Unfortunately, more life-important work-editing, friend-helping and house-hunting activities have shifted my priorities around into a routine 5 hours of sleep per night… But hopefully, I can cram a figure photoshoot sooner than later. ^_^;

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