[94] OO! - 2006/08/25 (Fri)

Thi, this, is Froggy-chan...,
Awesome, I got it!
Thank you!

P.S. Good thing an adult didn't buy this. (^_^)


[yayness for replacement AC adapters!]

forced hiatus

hey minna-sama, just wanted to give you a heads up, my computer broke, so i won't be able to do any more updates until i can get a replacement part. it shouldn't really be too long, but if you don't hear from me until next week, don't get too worried. i'll try and catch up as quickly as possible, so fret not, my loyal fans (both of you...) i shall see you again.

(^_^)-b

daiikkai fotocon kekka!

the first YOU photo contest winners were announced the other day, and so here's a run-down of what they said. you can see the winners and their pictures at the official page. just a note about names, as they didn't put any furigana, i'm not positive on all the romanizations, but i am fairly confident. all my comments [will be in brackets]

First YOU Photo Contest Theme 'sora' Results!

Thank you all for your participation in the First YOU Photo Contest. We received quite a few masterpieces, and judging continued right up until the last minute.We await even more entries next time as well.

Grand Prix
Prize: signed TSUTAYA limited edition clothes used in photography [yeah, i think] + autographed entry photograph [as in YOU-kun is going to autograph their photo and send it back, i think. damn i wish i'd entered...]
contributor: Maako-san

contributor comment: "At the beginning of fall 2 or 3 years ago, my family went to a plaza near our hose and my father took some movies - Me and Sky. He snapped a shot with everyone laying down in the lawn and me standing above them. It was a very peaceful day, with good feelings."

YOU comment: Her face is completely hidden, but you can imagine the big smile. Tell your dad thanks (^_^) for such familial affection.

---

Artist Award
Prize: Signed Entry Photo
Contributor: kami-san

Contributor comment: [whatever language delightful kami-san is writing in, i'm pretty sure it's not japanese. instinct says chinese, but as i do not know chinese, i can't be sure. from what i can tell, kami-san talks about going to meet some friends at dusk and being struck by the uneasiness caused by the confined spaces and changing colors.]

YOU comment: Great colors, great composition, it's flawless. (^^;) Will you be my photography teacher? (^_^)

---

Monochrome Award
Prize: Signed Entry Photo
Contributor: sugi sugi-san

Contributor comment: "One day 2 years ago... It was HOT."

YOU comment: Art explosion!! Reminds me of when I went to ExpoLand, a long time ago.

---

Chimaera Award [chimaera being YOU's web design crew... DARTS's too if i remember correctly]
Prize: Limited Edition DartsxYOU Select Bracelet [i don't know about you, but this is the one i'd want to win. although... YOU's autograph would be sexy...]
Contributor: kinako-san

Contributor comment: "Hide your belly button--!!" [um... yeah.]

YOU comment: Just at the decisive moment! The Chimaera Staff votes this for NO 1.

---

Honorable Mention
Prize: Pick1 [the counter for sheets is used here, so i'm assuming it's pick a photo?]
Contributor: Gon-san

YOU comment: The ghost is pretty, huh. The dazzle spreads.

---

Honorable Mention
Prize: Pick1
Contributor: Marry-san

YOU comment: A single seagull that danced down from heaven..., maybe the temporary form of an angel...?

---

Honorable Mention
Prize: Pick1
Contributor: Ray-san

YOU comment: Who~ a peeping tom? (^_^)

---

Honorable Mention
Prize: Pick1
Contributor: wished to remain anonymous

YOU comment: This sky looks sort of like my homepage.

---

Honorable Mention
Prize: Pick1
Contributor: Midzuki-san [i'm really unsure of romanization on this one]

YOU comment: Huh...!? This is maybe... the entrance to the underworld? Aa- Scary~


[so there we go, sorry for so many comments. congratulations to everyone who entered and to those who won! next time, i am SO entering. (^_^) ]

[92] I didn't win, but..., - 2006/08/23 (Wed)

When the staff went to judge to photographs,
when they looked at mine,
they rejected it.
'Ye-ah, that's no good, hm.' (^^;)
I got so many requests, though, so
here's a little version.

For some reason, I thought,
'When you say sky, I think Mt. Fuji,' and so I went to take a picture,
but unfortunately, it rained that day from early in the morning.
The moment I had decided to give up and go home,
there was a break in the rain
and a nice sunset...
Hurriedly, I clicked the shutter,
and flung my camera every which way.
As the clouds flew down to Mt Fuji, looking like
some kind of god-beast, I tried to capture it.
Soon, the wind kicked up, and the cloud instantly collapsed
and my shutter chance was
truly an instant.

Honestly, this sort of thing doesn't happen every day,
but next time, I will not lose~ Every day I'll try harder (^_^)


[ok, finally freaking two weeks later, i finish this post. good lord, he needs to stop abusing that poor japanese language... (^_^) ]

[91] Result Announcement!! - 2006/08/22 (Tue)

Thank you for the many many entries.

They were of a higher level than I expected,
actually, it was kind problematic.

For the people who were selected for an award, please keep at it, even after this.
I await more works that make my heart tremble.

The people who were chosen for prizes
were selected with my individual judgement and biases,
so even if I didn't select your work,
doesn't mean that the photograph was bad!
Please keep at it and aim for a prize next time.

Hopefully this chance will allow new talent to sprout,
and new dreams to be drawn.

Well then, enjoy the next photo contest.
Thank you for the beautiful 'sora'.



[ i'll have the winners page translated here probably by tomorrow. there really are some amazing shots that won. in the meantime, you can check it out here. ]

[90] Foul Play (^_^) - 2006/08/21 (Mon)

The camera crew's new friend 'Hana' kun.
We're raising him in the office. (^_^)

The dog is half chihuahua and half pomeranian,
and he's still only a three month old little toddler-kun.

Already, he's so small, fluffy,
rolly, wiggly, and
he's just so cute!

I should document his growth. (^_^)


[ok, this is like the third post in a row w/ notes, but the sheer amount of onomatopoeia used in that paragraph about hana-kun's cuteness makes me want to run in fear. here's the japanese: mou, chikkokute, fuwafuwa de, marumaru de, purupuru shitete, honto kawaii desu yo-. you can almost hear his voice getting higher and higher with each word. really, no one should be allowed to use that much onomatopoeia in one paragraph, no matter how cute he is.]

[89] Size Comparison (^_^) - 2006/08/20 (Sun)

It's called Sonny Angel, you see.
Beyond a doubt it's a kewpie. (^^;)

And of course since he's an angel, he's got feathers growing right on his back.

It turns out you can even mail order them, so anxious people should try them out!

Of course, fully realizing..., it's an adult purchase... (heheheh)

P.S. A rush of rushes on indecency... GRIN (^_^)


[ ok, well, this is the post that was causing the most problems, but at least i learned a new word. shimoneta, which literally is 'under material' which means 'to talk dirty' or 'indecent material.' now, go forth, minna-sama, and use your new-found japanese word! (^^;) ]

[88] Oo! - 2006/08/19 (Sat)

It's small, but super lucky. (^_^)

A post to say Thank You.










[oh my freaking lord, i bet you thought you'd never see me again, hm? well, sorry, i had a bit of trouble w/ this series of entries, so there might be a slight delay... m(._.)m gomennasai]

[87] DARTS post - 2006/08/18 (Fri)

'DARTS' does bracelets!! *

At first, I chose amethysts for the stones...
Beautiful and suspicious, they are my favorites, but,
they're precious stones, so their price was too high,
and that idea had to be abandoned...

As one would expect, if we stuck with the amethysts, the bracelet would've been some 10,000 yen... (^^;)
Still though, they seem to have gotten as many people as possible to wear them, haven't they?

For these kinds of reason, I ordered it with other stones. (^_^)

I ended up with these, and I tried to imagine 'sky,' my normal style.
But maybe their name is 'Earth.' (^_^)

There are plans for a sale from 'DARTS' in a few days, so enjoy!


[ * the word he uses here is 'juzu', which actually refers to a buddhist rosary, but i'm sure that's not the sense he means it in, and the other dictionary definition (string of beads) is kind of ungainly to say a lot, hence 'bracelet.']

[86] Oi-Oi..., - 2006/08/17 (Thu)

Akibakei, you say...,

That MANMAYAN-! (^_^) *

I didn't want to, but the moment I saw it, I laughed...
Also, Kuma-san is an AkibaKei. (^_^) **

I got this T-shirt as a present,
but usually I just look at it. It's just so nice.
Well, thank you for supplying a writing topic. m(._.)m

Speaking of, I've got some more otaku material.
In an echo of my Mac talk from the other day,
If I were to talk seriously, I was extremely charmed. (^^;)

Really, I'm interesting in PC audio stuff, camera stuff,
as long as it's mechanical, I'll take it...

Ah, that's why I'm the robot, mm?... (^_^)


[ * i'm not really sure what this means, but instinct says it's some kind of creepy akiba-slang for "cool"
** Kuma is the japanese word for Bear and AkibaKei is a) a shortened word for the Akihabara section of tokyo and b) a term for the fashion maniacs that hang out in akihabara.]

[85] A brief moment... - 2006/08/16 (Wed)

'Yuzumitsu' (^_^)

Do you know what that is?
Actually, it's a kind of lip cream.

This 'Yuzumitsu', it's a gift from someone,
and well, the taste of yuzu certainly is good.

It's just lip cream, but the moment you put it on your lips,
it's so 'Mm~~ Wonderful~' (^_^)
You wouldn't want to eat it,
but it sure does taste good.

People who's lips dry out easily really should give it a try.
Incidentally, I even in summer KAPIKAPI, * yeah, it's really bothersome.
Of course, I'm always on standby with lips moist enough for a man. (^_^)


[ * i'm not really sure what kapikapi means. it's onomatopoeia obviously, but for what, i can't seem to find out... probably some kind of dry lip thing... ]

[84] I took another photo... - 2006/08/15 (Tue)

A rose from the underworld, please have a look. (^_^)

P.S. If I sneak too many shots,
sooner or later someone'll get me...


[meredeth's postscript: yeah, let's get that blasphemy post off the top page as soon as humanly possible, shall we? (^^;) ]

blasphemy

holy christ. if you scroll on down the page ... ok, rather, if you check on the archives over there to the left, you will see entry [75]. finally. at last. after i recovered from some kind of temporary frontal lobotomy. i would like to take this opportunity to apologize like a mad fiend, and also to give a crazy loud shout out (gawd how 90s is that phrase...?) to the chaps over there at sci.lang.japan, without whom this translation simply would not be possible. mad lovin' to phil, ito-san, andreas, paul, mr. breen, and all those other lovely boys.

entry [75]

[83] Someday... - 2006/08/14 (Mon)

Setting off on a trip to the other side of the sky, beyond the sky,
the sun arrives, gazing at this earth from space...

When I was a child, things like space travel
were only for the worlds of cartoons and movies,
but in this era, things like that are feasable.
Mankind is really amazing. (^_^)

Of course when you say something is feasable,
that doesn't mention anything about the cost (between 12,000,000 yen ~ 12,000,000,000 yen),
so it's no different than 'A dream about a dream' but...

At this rate, by the time I'm an old man, *
space travel should be a big hit, mm?
Thoughts like that make every day fun. (^_^)

What about if we could produce a time machine?
Maybe something like, 'After space travel, time travel' ...

Surely, it'd be the world of Do--emon. (^_^)

Aa... How fun... Do--emon... WHAT (^_^)


[ * i don't really have any notes here, i'd just like to point out that when YOU talks about himself as an old man, he calls himself ojii-chan, which i think is really adorable.]

[82] Night Watch - 2006/08/13 (Sun)

Because this film had a reputation as the Russian "Matrix"
I tried to see it right away.

It is a fantasy with a lot of 'light' vs 'dark' elements,
but there are also many expressive shots to see. It's quite artsy.
Of course, that is only compared to 'The Matrix.'

The production costs [of the two] varied widely. It seems this movie cost a mere 4 million dollars (about 500 million yen)
(The Matrix, by comparison, cost 63 million dollars (about 8 billion yen)),
so even lower budget movies seem to have become models for producing excellent visuals.

Incidentally, the 'prison break' speech recorded at the end of the DVD fit splendidly....
Everyone take care... Don't go to sleep. (!) *


[ * can't you just hear him laughing maniacally at this point?]

[81] By Ones and Twos... - 2006/08/12 (Sat)

Seen any good sky?

There is 'sky' everywhere,
but one day's 'sky' is not the same as the nexts, you know?

365 days in the year, and every day is different.

Even on the same day,
if there's clear weather in the morning, the color of burning in the evening...
According to the time of day, you can see various expressions of 'sky'.

Speaking of taking good photos,
if you look up at the sky,
thinking something,
feeling something,
what does it do for you?

Whatever it is, when you learn it, it is a blessing.

P.S. Is the world having a good O-Bon holiday...?

[80] Huuu, - 2006/08/11 (Fri)

I'm packing stuff like this,
so no material today...

If I don't take enough photos,
eventually I'll go crazy (^_^)
so today it's my own property.
It's like some kind of catalogue, hm?

P.S. Taken any good photos? *


[ * well, i changed this sentence, too, in light of the next day's post. added context is so lovely.]

[79] Involuntarily - 2006/08/10 (Thu)

I snapped a picture. (^^;)
Not that this is my property, don't get me wrong... *

However, it is super heavy, this sword...
When I first picked it up, I was suprised at how heavy it was!
There's no way I can hold this up at the end of a live...

unless my arms and legs were trembling. (^^;)

Just so you don't have to inspect the DVD. (^_^)

P.S. The moon today is mysterious and beautiful...

[note-o-rama: * i have edited this since yesterday. it turns out my first assumption was right. i changed it when i posted the thing, but the next's days post proves my first instinct correct, hence the edit. also, i'm going on the assumption that this sword is from the diabolos tour (having never seen any footage from that), otherwise, i have no clue why the heck he would mention holding it up at the end of a live or looking at DVD footage.]

[78] Awawawa... - 2006/08/09 (Wed)

I went and did something stupid. (^^;)

Yesterday, I went out for some Thai food,
but while I was there, I spied this Elephant pot. (^_^)

I went and tried to order a mild tea, but
That Elephant pot, it must be terribly expensive, mm?

And right there, I decided to be a regular cutomer at this store!

Oh- of course their cooking was great, too. (^_^)

[the title means... well, i don't know exactly what he was talking about, but the word AWA means bubble or froth, so i'm thinking it could be titled in english... "Bubble bubble"]

[77] Speaking of - 2006/08/08 (Tue)

Lately, I haven't been playing darts at all...
I used to practice every day, but...

Billiards, darts,
these stylish adult games,
if you can master them, they're great,
but somehow I can't seem to stay with these kind of games for long.

Actually, I don't want to play very much...
I think right now I'd like to try something you play by yourself.

Mm? ...Mess with the Daikon? (^_^)


[hey minna-sama, sorry for the delay, more "i had to ask the sci.lang.japan gods" type of language barrier problems... m(._.)m ]

[76] Elegance - 2006/08/07 (Mon)

Yeah, well, again I had some urgent plans...,

After a little while, there was a clacking noise,
but a decent update failed to materialize.

However, today wasn't that hot...

[75] Whew - 2006/08/06 (Sun)

The tea water... WHAT (^_^)

The pain of that day, relieved on that day. *

Speaking of,
I'm still suffering from yesterday's ultra-violet rays. (T_T)

Huu, let's relax.


[15.aug. holy bleeding lord, i cannot BELIEVE i simply FORGOT about this entry. the problem is that i had no idea what the word hokkori was, and YOU uses it twice in this one entry. so i posted a thing on sci.lang.japan, and a MASSIVE discussion ensued. i read, i pondered, and i apparently then LOST MY MIND because the whole thing slipped from my radar until about five minutes ago when i said to myself, damn i'm bored, let's browse sci.lang.japan... ... ... =(>_)>

* this is apparently some kind of saying meaning basically that it's best to relieve the pain of a day on that very same day.]

[74] Fine Weather Today - 2006/08/05 (Sat)

Eh, it's sudden, but he collapsed and died in the street. (^_^)

Ugh, it's so hot~
I only went outside for a little bit,
and already my skin hurts... (T_T)

My whole body is soaked in the direct rays of the sun in the boiling heat,
and so of course it was easy to find material for today,
but I am seriously dizzy (^^;) yabai yabai...*

Everyone, when you go outside, wear a hat,
and then when you sweat, it'll replenish a little bit of moisture.
Taking the heat lightly is dangerous. (Seriously.)

We don't want you collapsing while you're out taking 'sora' photographs,
so please be sure to be extra careful. (Speaking from experience.)

I think tomorrow is supposed to be hot too, but have a nice weekend.

P.S. Shaved ice has become quite dear to me.


[ * yabai is a slang term that means either dangerous or amazing, in this case probably both. (^_^) ]

[73] Heroes... - 2006/08/04 (Fri)

Constantly broke,
an outcast at school,
not well liked by women,
this is a young man far far removed
from the modern idea of a hero.

This movie
uses plenty of CG,
and of course, as an action movie,
the visuals are amazing,
but it paints the hero's suffering and conflicts perfectly,
and ends up being a respectable human drama.

Along with great strength comes great responsibility...
It will make you think about a hero's fate.

Oh yeah, also, this movie's director's Sam Raimi,
he's the director of the 'Evil Dead'
series of famous horror movies.*

An unexpected combination, huh? Heroes and horror...,
but, they're not entirely dissimilar. (^_^)

Whether he's making you cry from fear, or making you cry from being deeply moved,
he's an amazing director.

It's already a big hit, but for people who haven't seen it yet, please do!

P.S. When I re-read yesterday's diary, it looks like I was flying pretty high.
Such hideous use of the Japanese language... Hm, always? (^_^) **


[ * in japanese, this series is apparently called 'Guts of the Dead'. don't ask me why. ** i really can't tell you how much i laughed at this line. i can almost hear him saying this. aa- itsumo? YES. ALWAYS. but we still love you. (^_^) ]

[72] Today Might be The End (^^;) - 2006/08/03 (Thu)

Last week, I slept funny on my neck or something,
and at first, I couldn't even turn my head to the left,
but I just ignored it, and it hurt every day,
and finally, turning my head to the right started to hurt as well.

Well, I said, I just won't turn my irritated neck,
but of course, actually not turning your head
is such a pain (^_^)
and so it was straight back to the hospital.

The essential medical examination results,
said it was only an inflammation of the muscles in my neck,
but the letters on the prescription medicine they gave me worried me...

'Voltaren Tape?' Huh!? Maybe this is
Voltaren from that 'Nearly-Lost Leg Affair'?
There certainly was a suppository in that episode... maybe some tape, too...?

Mm, I detest bringing up the past,
but, if the pain doesn't let up...

... I thought, and slaped a sheet onto my neck w/ a smack.
Then, this amazing thing happened!
Exactly 30 minutes after I stuck it on,
I was twisting this way and that (^_^)
The pain had been smashed into little bits.

Then again, it might have been a little too effective. (^_^)
As soon as the pain disappeared, I pulled the thing off,
and now the pain's really dreadful...

I couldn't even update my diary for a while...
Can't sleep...
I'm writing on a semi-natural high. (^_^)

Aaah, I wanna re-do... (-_-) zzz

[71] Kya-! - 2006/08/02 (Wed)

Darth Vader attacks!!

...In the Monkey office...

...Wonder what they're doing together. (^_^)

[70] Chibi Daikon - 2006/08/01 (Tue)

Seems the thing to call him.
He's so famous that
I had to put him up. (^_^)

This Chibi Daikon has a blue/green spot exactly on his bottom,
and at first, i thought, well that's probably a little dirt,
but the blue spot is actually a Mongolian spot.
Chibi = something with a Mongolian spot, but

even though he doesn't have many accomplishments,
he's done really well for someone with a Mongolian spot. (^_^)

Please welcome my new friend. (^_^)

[69] Flabby Daikon - 2006/07/31 (Mon)

Today marks the end of the month...
Time to say, has it really been one month?

To a person I met recently, I was saying, 'I got thin, huh?' but
that's not exactly the case. (^^;)

I'll be rid of this flabby alien by summer!
I intented to be obstinate about my vow...

Reality is harsh. (^_^)

[68] Good Weather! - 2006/07/30 (Sun)

It's been so long since we had a truly good day, hasn't it.

At last, some summer action, huh?

It's a splendid reprieve, I can even go out for a little bit at noon.

Also, everyone please take care of yourself in the direct rays of the sun. (^_^)

P.S. Again with the backlit photos on my cell phone.

[67] Sumidagawa Fireworks Display - 2006/07/29 (Sat)

I wanted to go... in a yukata...

A fan in one hand, and a camera around my neck. (^_^)

P.S. Maybe if I try really hard, I can get the same feeling from the TV.

'Oo, pretty~'



[oh. my. lord. with those damned last two lines of this post, i feel like it's been a week since i posted here. gomen guys... m(-_-)m ]