Rubenerd

This post originally appeared on the Annexe.

nevver:

Happy Monday

This post originally appeared on the Annexe.

IMHO the ANZAC bridge is much cooler than the Sydney Harbour Bridge… cable stayed bridges just look awesome, and they’re super intriguing. That just might be me though.

This post originally appeared on the Annexe.

Here’s a quick tip if you need to cut some onions… don’t! Put them whole into your food processor and pulse on and off for fifteen seconds. DONE! Saved a ton of effort, the pieces are very uniform, and I didn’t cut myself or get juice in my eyes!

Why didn’t we think of this before?!

The interwebs are reporting the K-On! Movie has been announced for the 3rd of December. I predict it will be about eating cake, performance anxiety and eating cake. Can't wait :D

As for those rolling their eyes, haters gonna hate.

I love Borders. I spent a ridiculous amount of my childhood there, not to mention my money. I know its not politically correct to admit to liking retail chains, but if they go I really will miss them.

The Book is The Word

If you've been living under a rock, or a rather large hardcover book about geology, you may not be aware of the recent news that Borders has entered chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States. A favourite amongst American airline companies that defaulted on their commitments after airline deregulation (thank you Carter and Reagan), chapter 11 protects businesses from their creditors and allows them a chance to reorganise themselves in the hopes they'll be able to return to profitability at some point. Theoretically.

According to Wikipedia, a site that perhaps reduced Border's profits on printed manuals, encyclopaedias and self serving autobiographies:

On February 16, 2011, the company announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing $1.275 billion in assets and $1.293 billion in debts in its filing

Ouch. According to the same article, all of their superstores will be shut down and the number of smaller stores drastically reduced. Presumably if they can make it through the chapter 11 period they'll continue to operate.

Singapore

Of course being heavily influenced by childhood nostalgia, my first thought was whether Borders in Australia and Singapore would be affected.

My sister, parents and I moved to Singapore shortly before Borders opened their now iconic store in Wheelock Place, and as I said at the beginning of this pointless post I spent much of my childhood there. Kinokuniya across the road in the Takashimaya complex had more stuff, but Borders had carpet and nicer lighting. It was huge but felt cozy. I spent many a happy afternoon after school school sitting in their IT section deciding which O'Reilly programming books took my fancy. I loved that they were open so late even on weekends so when other people had social lives and were exploring alcohol and nightclubs, I could go somewhere with my good buddy Felix and just explore. I liked the place, you get my point.

It turns out though that much like Borders UK, Borders in Singapore has no business relation to the presumed parent company in the US. Writers in Singapore acting like the true PR spokespersons that they are were quick to assure readers that the operations in the city state were safe:

Feb 15, 2011
SINGAPORE – Borders Singapore is not closing down its operations here.

Although The Wall Street Journal has reported that Borders Group is preparing to file for bankruptcy in the United States, book lovers need not fret because, since 2008, Borders stores in Singapore, as well as Australia and New Zealand, are owned by Redgroup Retail – an Australian book and stationery retailer – and not the US chain.

Nothing to worry about right?

Australia

Well, maybe not. On the 17th, RedGroup Retail that operates Borders and Angus & Robertson bookstores in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore reported that the were dire straits themselves. Again from Wikipedia:

On 17 February 2011, RedGroup Retail (including the Borders, Angus & Robertson as well as Whitcoulls chains) were placed into voluntary administration with Ferrier Hodgson appointed as administrators.

So it looks as though Borders may be shutting down in Australia after all, and along with the parent company we can presume the stores in Singapore will also be closing. Right? RIGHT?

Well, maybe not. Again from that bastion of journalistic integrity in Singapore known as TODAYonline:

Feb 21, 2011 SINGAPORE – Go ahead and flip those pages at Borders, for this bookstore is unlikely to close anytime soon […] staff said customers have no cause for concern. The employees believe that the latest reports suggesting financial woes at RedGroup Retail, which oversees Borders here as well as in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, will affect stores located Down Under only.

So it seems we can expect Borders in Australia to go, and many of the Borders stores in the US to go… but not New Zealand or Singapore? Can we trust the here-say of staff being asked in their place of employment? Would the powers that be have even informed them yet?

Clear as mud. Oh well, I need a coffee. At least the Borders in Singapore had the Borders Bistro in store to serve coffee and snacks while I sat there in delight flipping through my Programming In Perl book; in Australia they peddle the wares of the Hillsong Church which is creepy to say the least.

Hey wait… Malaysia?

One other point that I've found scant information on: what about Borders Malaysia? Granted I didn't go there as much because I only lived in Kuala Lumpur for a year, but I did go to their branch at The Curve in Damansara several times. The staff there were super nice, and they had a super impressive manga section, I reckon maybe even bigger than the one in Wheelock Place.

From what I can tell, Borders Malaysia is licenced by the Berjaya Group, which means its also unrelated to Borders USA and to the RedGroup Retail outfit. I think.

Do all dream daemons have epically awesome hats?!?! Yumekui Merry #03: "From Beyond the Dream".

Compared to episode two, this one was was more linear and paced a little slower. The previous one I had to watch twice just to comprehend all the different things going on… perhaps I'm just derpy! Come to think of it, on account of my current illness I am somewhat derpy and slower than usual.

We start with Yumeji deciding to go looking for Merry again, with some highly sophisticated flowchart designs that put mine to shame. He uses a pencil, that's probably got a lot to do with it. Later that day while helping Isono with her groceries as she heads to work (being a man… his words!) he lets her know his intentions. Naturally she looks a little jealous!

Oh yeah and that anime-cliche exchange student we met at the end of last episode? We saw her hanging out in her apartment thingy, inexplicably in her gym bloomers and shirt. Hey wait, just like in the opening credits. We're onto something. We suspect she may be a dream daemon herself. Her lightbulb blows, which causes her to cock her head and point at it. As you do. All terribly surreal.

Back in that giant room with the blue ceiling and green carpet, we're introduced to the socially awkward Minato Kisaragi who's reluctant to make friends. She stands in awe of Merry's ridiculous vantage point on top a huge tower, but eventually they meet on the awesome park playground. I used to love playgrounds. They were awesome.

And how do they break the ice? OMG DONUTS! SO MANY DONUTS! I can sense a theme here.

Meanwhile, we're introduced to anime cliche number… wait what number are we up to again for this series? I forget. Its a lot! Of all the thousands of square kilometres of Japan, Yumeji just happens to stroll into the park where Merry is, and of course they're reintroduced by her dropping from a tree… on top of him again. Its just like how they met, aww ;).

She recognises him for his "antenna"… the question is whether or not its a sentient, super intelligent antenna like the one Koyomi has. I'm inclined to believe it must be.

What proceeds is an adorable game of kicking the can between Yumeji, their new friend Minato and Merry. Needless to say they're overwhelmed by her energy XD

The salami hits the fan though when Yumeji offers to read Minato her fortune by using his fabled ability to read the colours of people's auroras with just the looping of his fingers. It doesn't take him long to realise that she's possessed by a dream daemon herself. Apparently even Merry didn't realise this!

In Yumekui Merry style we're instantly transported to a daydream, though curiously so is Yumeji. Minato's dream daemon "friend" doesn't approve of the fact she's broken out of her shell as it were and begins issuing demands, though fortunately Merry is on hand. In the name of the Moon, she shall punish you!

Oh yeah and speaking of Yumekui Merry style and of sensing themes… the episode wouldn't have been complete without a shot like this. Actually I counted only three shots like this this time around, they're restraining themselves! :P

Unfortunately, even with the whooping of some serious dream daemon arse, Minato's body possessor returns to the dream world, but much to Merry's agitation… without her. Merry is now aware than Yumeji can spot dream daemons though, so her potential future search will be much easier. Not that she's ready to admit that though ;).

Will we see more of Minato? Will she give Merry's hat a run for its money with her equally awesome one?

So far I'm enjoying this series more than I thought I would, even with the alarmingly high cliché and midriff frequency. Its passed the three episode test, I'll keep watching the rest now!

This post originally appeared on the Annexe.

-reuel:

xforeverfaithful:

Singapore (by Jesse)

I don’t love this place, but I really like this picture.

I love this place… *sigh* :(

This post originally appeared on the Annexe.

shityes:

THIS IS THE GREATEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN

OH

MY

GOD!!!!!!!!

What do Merry Nightmare and Homer Simpson have in common, other than being drawn and animated in some fashion? Yumekui Merry #02: "Dreams and Hopes".

We were left last episode (Yumekui Merry first impressions) with Merry passed out on the street after that bizarre daydream with Yumeji who's first name and last name both have "ji". That's pretty cool. But I digress.

After passing out like that, allegedly Yumeji had taken her home to where he lives with his childhood friend Isana and her dad. No kidding, in this series there's actually a parent involved! Oh yeah, and Isana's room has a lot of pink!

While I'm on this cliches-in-anime train of thought, have you ever noticed how often parents are conspicuously absent from stories like this? Obviously they only serve as a distraction when characters want to be close and all that stuff, plus they're not adorable like siblings so they serve no practical purpose. How they get rid of them ranges from elaborate excuses (they're archaeologists or they go on business!) to simply not being there at all. I'm looking at you K-On!

But I digress. Yumeji took this complete stranger home to where he lives which may scare some people in the real world, but here its just a sweet thing to do, so we'll let any lingering creepiness slide ;). Even Isana makes the comment that it would have made more sense to have been taken to a hospital!

Speaking of the cliches-in-anime train (there's a pun about Cat Stevens and Yumeji's dreams there, but I won't make it!) no sooner has Isana consoled Merry after waking up in a complete stranger's house than we're treated to them bathing in a shower together and Yumeji catching them out… which of course necessitated the use of forceful revenge in the form of bottles and whatnot being hurled at his head. Serves him right!

Is that pedobear shampoo?!

At this stage I was mostly into the story even if I did roll my eyes a few times, but the next scene sitting around the dinner table and talking was just adorable. Merry comments that its the happiest meal she's ever had because she's eating food and with friendly people. Awwwww ^^. It's also the first time we meet Isana's dad, who's much more caring and far less creepy than that random screencap I took suggests.

Dream daemons wouldn't need to eat in dreams, would they? Or drink! I suppose you could merely dream stuff into existence. But then again, physical things like that wouldn't be nessisary to sustain you, so there'd be no point!

On Yumeji's balcony we learn a little more about who Merry is and where she comes from, both questions that were left pretty much open in the first episode (though not in the manga!). She's a dream daemon (sorry, I'm a FreeBSD guy and "daemon" somehow just looks cuter than "demon") who for some reason is stuck in "what we call reality". She desperately wants Yumeji to summon John Doe in one of his dreams again (the chainsaw wielding Phantom of The Opera we saw previously) so she can ask him for help in returning. Poor girl.

Just when things seem to be getting a little more serious, Isana appears with… wait for it… donuts! Doughnuts? Donuts? Are they doughnuts or donuts? The anime has them labelled as donuts, so we'll go with that. Suffice to say, Merry's reaction is absolutely priceless (#01, #02) XD. Oh yeah and she didn't like carbonated drinks either… too fizzy!

Despite these friendly exchanges and despite Isana's dad trying to convince her otherwise though, the next day she's back by herself searching for any other daemon who can help her return to her own reality. I'm not too sad because I've read the manga up until this point and know what comes next, but it was still some pretty sombre stuff.

If anything though, it served to show just how gorgeous the art is in this series, JC Staff have really outdone themselves with the colours and scenery. When the Blu-Ray release comes out for this series I will be all over it.

Oh yeah and because this is Yumekui Merry, we needed another shot like this which was justified this time by her being hungry :P. A hint that she'd want to be back with the other again, and/or that she's becoming used to being a physical entity in "reality" perhaps? That reminds me, I haven't had any lunch myself.

This review has already gone on FAR too long and I should be wrapping it up, but we only got into one of the story arcs! Seriously, if this had the pacing of a KyoAni show, we'd be up to episode 10 by now with all this stuff ;).

Another person we're introduced to separately is Yumi (the red head below) who allows a dream daemon to possess her to learn about humanity. She has glorious ambitions of being a registered nurse and is highly cute. Unfortunately her dream daemon friend Serio is killed in a daydream (I believe that's what it was) and poor Yumi leaves us dazed and confused. Clearly in this universe being in a dream doesn't make you invincible.

To end on a higher note though, I want their sensei's clothes! And his glasses! That guy has style! Oh yes and finally… we have an awkward exchange student! Tick another event off the anime-cliche list. At least she's not sitting next to the window ;).

Forgive the hurried ending of this post, but I could have just kept going on and on and on. Obviously I need to learn a thing or two about brevity if I'm going to be talking about each of these episodes!