022: Review 君に届け From Me To You (Reaching You)(Anime)

Spoiler free.

I'm beginning to believe I wished I was a Japanese high school student.

Years: Oct 2009 - Mar 2010, Jan 2011 - Mar 2011

Media: Manga, Anime, Live Action

Release: Production.I.G.

S/D: Subbed

FanService: None

Where: Hulu+

Episodes: 25, 12

Seasons: 2

Synopses: Misunderstood Sawako is commonly confused with her striking resemblance to Sadako from the Ring. Her social flaws lead her to remaining alone and unsure of her feelings toward others. After meeting Kazehaya, by chance, on the way to school she finds a role model in him and eventually becomes friends with him and others who sit around her upon seat change in her class. The friendships blossom as the mismatch crew grows closer throughout the year. Through troubles and misunderstandings, everyone manages to make it through the year.

The second season opens with the friends scattered around the classroom, yet still in the same class. A new male figure appears in Sawako's life, shaking up the foundations of her previous relationships and threatening Kazahaya. Will she ever get her true feelings across?

Overall: I don't know why but I really gravitate to liking the simpler animes that are centralized around young people finding their place in the world and making friends. Maybe it is a reflection of my inner feelings about my own life. Whichever way you look at it, this is one of those animes. Girl doesn't have friends, is outcast for some reason or another, girl meets this guy who likes her instinctively and makes friends along the way. The slow pace love is easiest for me to watch now 'a days and I get super involved with the characters.

Sawako "Sadako" Kuronuma has to be one of my favorite characters of for this type of anime series. It makes me smile every time she makes her "heh heh heh"-scary-Japanese-horror-story look instead of a regular smile.

Future: Manga is 2005 - ongoing, Yatta!

W/N: Watch!

021: Hack Google glass, Let's hear it.

Blog blurb, Tech stuff
Ever since I heard about Google glass, I thought it was finally time for something like it to exist (NerveGear from SAO, Eden from Eden of the East come on guys); IT EXISTS IN ANIME, WHY NOT REAL LIFE?

The same picture on NPR.
LULZ HE IS HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE!!!!

Haha. Apparently it cost $1,500 to try it out originally.¹ Apparently the kid who is hacking it is trying ti get it work with a different OS other than through Google.² The backlash for Glass comes from the loss of privacy but users have to use voice commands to do things like take pictures (so you know when to make dem duck faces). It would be super-spy-cool if the hackers can make glass take pictures by a series of blinks or some other secret spy move but also scary. I think the idea of looking at something and being able to bring up information on it (look at Eden³) is a really cool idea.

Sure it's in Japanese and you have no idea what is says but it's basically a server devoted to facial or other recognition and gives you information on the subject that exists on the server put on there by the users.

Listen here: NPR!

Watch it: cool demo.

Watch it: released by Google.

Check it out: on NPR here.

020: Review エルゴプラクシー Ergo Proxy (Anime)

Spoiler free.

Bad ass with blue make up, gonna mess your shit up...

Years: Feb. 2006 - Aug. 2006

Media: Anime, Manga (spinoff)

Release: Funimation

S/D: Started dub but switch to sub, Sub is better.

FanService: 

Where: Download

Episodes: 23

Seasons: 1

Synopses: Post apocalyptic Romdeau and its inhabitants, both human and AutoRevis (androids), is monitored by a group of elite humans including Re-l's ("REAL") grandfather. In this new world people are unable to reproduce naturally and are produced in artificial wombs with future purpose in mind. An already threatened city, by infected murderous AutoRevis, is further jeopardized with the cover up the escape and escapades of project Proxy (elite killers). Re-l encounters the Proxy and delves deep into investigation of Proxy against all leaders' advisement. After she shakes her monitored AutoRevi, Iggy, Re-l begins to learn the real truth behind the Proxy project.

Overall: Each episode is like its own mini movie, the quality and production is awesomesauce. The story follows through the episodes though. I tried watching this a long time ago, before it got popular; I don't remember if I ever finished it but I really like it. The insertion of robot companion and infection of those companions is kind of a new idea for an older anime.

It reminds me of Witch Hunter Robin, Ghost in the Shell and Speed Grapher.

This is a very dark set series so make sure to watch it with low or no lights.

You don't get an opener until the third episode and it is in English; it's alright and befitting the series but nothing special. Also the closer is Radiohead, how could it get better? These could have been changed upon Dub remake.

Future: I don't remember how it ends but there hasn't been anymore since so it must be finished.

W/N: WATCH

I can't help it, I love how she looks. I would so want her as a girlfriend.

019:Movie Review: Despicable Me 2

Movie Review

The minions make it worth it.

Tagline: "When the world needed a hero, they called a villain."

Synopses: A super top secret serum is stolen in the middle of no where and the villain behind it is both unknown and in hiding. After adopting his new daughters, our master villain is contacted by the Anti-Villain League to help save the world. Gru takes on a new partner and a new job to sate his need to feel the thrill of being super secret.

Best Quote: I don't remember any really...

Overall Review: I think I was a bit off the day I went to see this. There were tons of kids in the theater which made the experience less enjoyable. But overall it was funny. I would have laughed more had I been in a better mood. I did manage a chuckle every so often. It definitely had some adult humor in it that I was able to pick up on. I'm glad they are making that more standard. However, I was a little disappointed in the amount of "lovey dovey" junk they managed to jam pack into the entire story line (which truly took over the main plot). Without giving more plot away I can't say much more...

WATCH, it was cute and funny. I giggled a few times.

018: Tutorial: Pleated pouch (But moooommmm! I want to sew!)

Bag lady
Lately I have been sewing again in my free time between jobs (waiting to hear back from a company this week). A friend of mine doesn't know how use a sewing machine so she kicked started my sewing obsession by coming over to use it and making a great excuse to go to Jo-Ann's and pick up supplies. I started cutting out a pattern but ended up following a youtube tutorial after a botched (and not inner lined) bag. Bags are wonderful, glorious and just down-right useful!

First, my botched non-pattern/tutorial bag:

What went wrong? No lining or structure to it! Looks boring.

Second, my botched first attempt at pleated pouch style sans pleats:

What went wrong? Used felt instead of interfacing and didn't pleat!

Third, a great success even-though-I-didn't-follow-the-pattern/didn't-have-a-pattern-had-to-eye-ball-it bag:

My mom saw it and actually asked, "Did you buy another bag?" And I was like, "NOPE! I made it!" I am so proud.

Now for the tutorial part:
What you need:

zipper not pictured

1. Lining: I suggest a thick canvas like lining or something with weight on it but you can use a cute/simple pattern lightweight if that is all you've got. 
2. Interfacing: For the interfacing, get a medium-weight NON FUSIBLE interfacing.
3. Zipper: Size of zipper will determine the size of your bag, use 12" or more for a bigger bag. 7" makes a very small bag.
4. Outside: Choose three complimentary kinds. I suggest a solid, simple pattern (eg. stripes, dots or a two-toned style) and a cute pattern style.
5. Accents: You can add accents like ribbon or trim, especially to the seams or on the solid top part.

Measurments:

I eye-balled everything from the youtube video. This is the measurements from the bag I am picturing:

1. Lining: ~6.5" h x ~8"w
2. Interfacing: ~6.5"h x ~8"w
3. Zipper: 7"
4. Outside solid: ~6.5" h x ~8"w
5. Outside simple pattern: ~6.5" h x ~8"w
6. Outside cute pattern: ~6.5"h x~ 8"w (messed up on this one; the panels in total should match the width of the zipper with extra for seam allowance [hence my extra 1"])

My simple pattern                                       

My main cute pattern

Step one: sew your panels together.

Three panels sewn together

All the panels sewn together.

Step two: iron the seams flat.

Step three: pin the panels at the middle of the inner pleat fabric.

All the panels pinned to make the pleats.

Step four: add the topper to the outer pleated fabric.

Step five: sew the zipper face down onto the outside pleated fabric.

Step six: sew the inner lining and interfacing to the other side of the zipper. 

Repeat for other side.
Be careful to match your wrongs and rights sides unlike me who did it wrong three times on the second side of the zipper.

Step seven: sew the right sides together. Make sure to leave the zipper half unzipped when you do this AND leave a hole at the bottom of the inner lining for pulling the pouch inside out.

Step eight: sew the corners together to make the bottom of the pouch sturdy.

Step nine: Make sure to cut the excess to the corners.

Step ten: pull the entire pouch inside out.

Step eleven: sew the hole left in the lining for pulling through shut.

Last, the tutorial outcome:

I'm thinking about what other type of patterns I can make just by watching a youtube video. The pleated bag is so simple, I could probably make and sell these. I actually might. If anyone wants a commission I can do it for a reason price (materials not included, but I will make a trip to the store if I include that in the price too). :)