The newest visual combat book from Queen’s Gate series was released on November 28! Titled Seikyuu no Ite Majikina Mina (Archer of the Holy Bow Majikina Mina), this new book features the skimpily dressed exorcist from the Samurai Spirits/Showdown series.

The illustrator is Shinozuka Atsuto from the doujin circle Makuugundam. The artist has worked on many eroges, including Shin Koihime Musou ~Otome Ryouran Sangokushi Engi~ among well-known others. His personal homepage is the now-sinozuka [link].

Samples taken from the blog Moeyo.com [link]:

You’re in the way, Chample! OTL

Be sure to visit the original source for more samples!

Cya!

Source: Moeyo.com.

The latest Queen’s Blade Rebellion visual combat book with the nun Siggy was released on November 28.

The translation of her profile is here: http://fiwasaki.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/queens-blade-rebellion-itan-shinmon-kan-siggy-profile/

The illustrations were drawn by Oda non, who is well-known for his talent in drawing gorgeous mature women.

Samples taken from the blog Moeyo.com [link]:

Samples taken from Akiba Blog [link]:

Holy Poses FTW! Go to the respective sources for more samples!

There are also two wallpapers available for download until December 28 at Hobby-Channel [link].

Cya!

Sources: Moeyo.com, Akiba Blog.

Declaratia candidatului PNL la alegerile prezidentiale, Crin Antonescu, care, in cadrul dezbaterii de vineri seara, l-a numit pe Tudor Chirila drept un reper de moralitate, l-a facut pe artist reactioneze.

Astfel, la doar cateva ore dupa incheierea marii confruntari electorale intre principalii contracandidati pentru functia suprema in stat, artistul a postat, pe blogul personal, un raspuns in care se arata sceptic vizavi de pronuntarea numelui sau intr-un astfel de context.

“Poate ca pasiunea domului Antonescu pentru Scrisoarea catre liceeni si pentru modul in care gandesc, despre care sustine ca i se pare corect, sa fie adevarata, insa poate fi, in acelasi timp, un instrument de marketing electoral”, spune artistul.

“Stiu ca afirmatia domnului Antonescu m-a facut subiect de dezbatere. Pentru inceput, trebuie sa spun ca, in cadrul intalnirilor din licee pe care le fac in aceasta perioada, una dintre primele propozitii adresate elevilor suna asa: Nu ma aflu in fata voastra in calitate de reper moral. Nici nu as putea”. In sustinerea acestui lucru, martori sunt cei care participa, sustine cantaretul.

“Am incercat mereu sa raman in afara asocierilor politice atat cu grupurile Vama Veche si Vama, cat si in nume propriu, iar in seara asta, unul dintre candidati mi-a folosit numele incercand sa-si defineasca o reprezentare. As fi preferat sa nu se intample acest lucru pentru ca nu doresc sa devin un instrument electoral. Or, afirmatia domnului Antonescu exact asta propune”, continua Chirila.

Mai departe, solistul trupei Vama declara ca nu sustine oficial pe niciunul dintre cei doisprezece candidati inscrisi in cursa pentru un mandat de cinci ani la Cotroceni.

“Prin urmare, trebuie sa rostesc inca o data ceea ce am mai spus aici pe blog. Nu ma alatur nici unui mesaj politic si nu sustin oficial pe niciunul dintre candidatii la presedintie. Mai cred ca daca domnul Antonescu este incantat, sincer probabil, de indemnul pe care il propune Scrisoarea catre liceeni ar trebui sa-si asume sa faca mai mult decat o mentiune. Din pacate, ultimii ani ne invata ca acordarea creditului nostru a atras dupa sine nerespectarea promisiunilor lor”, incheie acesta.

Confruntarea organizata vineri de Institutul de Politici Publice i-a adus in fata alegatorilor pe trei dintre candidatii cu sanse reale la Presedintie – Traian Basescu, Mircea Geoana si Crin Antonescu.

Dezbaterea publica, moderata de jurnalistul Robert Turcescu, a avut noua teme de interes general: politica externa, criza morala a societatii si reforma statului, criza economica, model prezidential, educatie, agricultura, sanatate si guvern.

La capitolul modele de moralitate, cei trei au numit persoane publice diferite: Traian Basescu a nominalizat-o pe sotia sa, Mircea Geoana a precizat numele Patriarhului Daniel, iar Crin Antonescu l-a adus in discutie pe cantaretul Tudor Chirila.

Sunday April the 7th 1974, you could read an importan news in the daily news  Abba won the songcontest. This newspaper is from the BIG moment…

Tudor Chirila, solistul trupei Vama, a obtinut un profit de aproape 100.000 lei (20.000 euro) din vanzarea actiunilor BVB, pe care le-a cumparat la jumatatea lunii iulie, si spune ca se gandeste sa investeasca din nou pe piata americana considerand ca piata locala este tinuta pe loc de disputele politice.

Artistul a devenit actionar al operatorului de piata in urma cu trei luni, cand a cumparat un pachet de 14.540 de actiuni BVB, la un pret de 25 lei/titlu. Chirila a detinut direct un pachet de 7.

280 si indirect 7.320 printr-o firma pe care o controleaza, Firma lu’ Tudor. Dupa o luna si jumatate, in septembrie, el le-a scos la vanzare cerand un pret de 31 lei/titlu, mai mare cu 24% decat pretul de achizitie.
“Am vandut intregul pachet la actiuni, mai putin cateva sute, la pretul de 31 lei/unitate. Cumparatori au fost o persoana fizica si o societate. Cred ca am facut afacere buna, avand in vedere ca in doar cateva luni am obtinut un profit de 24%”, spune el.

Artistul spune ca se va sfatui cu brokerul Cristian Sima, presedintele societatii de brokeraj WBS Romania, in ce va investi profitul obtinut, marturisind ca se gandeste sa investeasca in actiuni din sectorul tehnologic de pe piata americana. Investitia in actiunile BVB, singurul plasament local din portofoliul lui Tudor Chirila, i-a adus acestuia un randament de 24% in mai putin trei luni.

Daca ar fi investit in actiunile societatilor de investitii financiare (SIF-uri) sau in titlurile BRD, randamentul obtinut in acelasi interval ar fi fost de peste doua ori mai mare. Investitia in actiuni Petrom i-ar fi adus insa un randament mai mic, de aproximativ 15%. Tudor Chirila nu investeste insa in actiuni romanesti, acuzand piata locala de lipsa de transparenta.

Intrebat de ce nu a asteptat listarea operatorului de piata pentru a-si vinde actiunile, Chirila a raspuns ca “nu am vrut sa ma lacomesc. Sunt multumit cu profitul obtinut”. Mai mult, artistul este interesat sa mai cumpere actiuni BVB, daca se va ivi o oportunitate si pretul cerut va fi mai mic de 31 lei/unitate.

“Nu vad Bursa romaneasca in sus in urmatoarele luni. Lumea asteapta sa vada daca avem un guvern si cine va fi ales presedinte. Aceasta nesiguranta alaturi de lipsa de interes a mediului politic pentru situatia economiei au un impact negativ asupra bursei”, explica el.

Mai mult, artistul este de parere ca primele luni ale anului viitor vor fi extrem de dificile pentru economia Romaniei.

“Din luna ianuarie, va veni potopul. Cine va supravietui pana in aprilie se va putea numi un castigator. Vor fi niste luni grele pentru economie”, spune Chirila.

Tudor Chirila si-a inceput cariera de investitor in urma cu aproape doi ani si cu 5.000 de dolari, investind in actiuni de pe piata americana.

In prezent, artistul si-a inchis pozitiile pe actiuni americane, ultima tranzactie fiind cea de lichidare a detinerilor la Yahoo!.

“Anul acesta sunt cu portofoliul pe plus. Fata de finalul anului trecut, am castigat 15-18%. Eu am fost insa un norocos, pentru ca l-am avut alaturi pe Cristian Sima care stie sa castige si atunci cand piata scade”, conchide el.

Tudor Chirila a investit in ultima perioada si pe piata derivatelor de la Sibiu, pariind pe aprecierea monedei europene.

“Si acum as investi in euro pe piata de la Sibiu. Nu stiu care este adevarata valoare a leului in raport cu euro, pentru ca actualul curs se datoreaza mai curand abilitatilor guvernatorului BNR de a tine cursul sub control decat rezultatelor economice”, spune el.

Via three month-old Scientific American article:

Fifty-seven years ago, Nobel laureates Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley came up with a model to calculate the power behind electrochemical currents in neurons—a great step forward in understanding how the brain worked and how it divvied up resources. The only problem was that their subject was not a person, or even a rodent, but a squid. Today, researchers announced that they have found a more accurate model for mammal brains, which elevates some of their transactions to three times more efficient than that of the squid-based equations.

To carry information, chemical signals fire across trillions of brain-cell synapses (connections between neurons). A 50–50 energy use split between action potential propagation and synaptic transmission has been proposed in some energy budgets of the brain (which did assume that the part contributed by action potential propagation is four times the theoretical minimum, as suggested by the Hodgkin-Huxley mode—but only if you know what the contribution of synaptic transmission is you can conclude about a 50–50 split, for example; Hodgkin and Huxley’s model does not tell us what the energy cost of synaptic transmission is), Roth notes.

The new work, reported online today in Science, proposes that in mammalian brains, the split is actually closer to 15 percent for spikes (action potentials) and 85 percent for the subsequent synapse change. Although the total energy usage appears to be the same, the division may have important implications in the understanding of how modern brains developed.
How are mammals able to save so much energy on the front end? Hodgkin and Huxley’s squid brain fired more ions that overlapped, requiring more energy to reestablish an electrochemical differential. Mammals’ brains, however, appear to space out the movement of the ions, lowering the amount of charge differential restorations needed after the action. “The less charges you move across, the less energy you have to use to reestablish the gradient,” says Pierre Magistretti, director of the School of Life Sciences—Brain Mind Institute at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, who wrote an accompanying perspectives article in Science.

The stiletto is rear! By now, this statement is old information, as we predicted the travel of the super sky-high stiletto months ago, but we can’t eff a fashion discernment round-up without mentioning it. If you seek with the ergonomics of a stiletto, sensing for those with invisible platforms that the fix superlative, as this is also a big perceptiveness reactionary now and exclusive flared in popularity as we act into the New Period.

Read more at: 2009-2010 Shoes Fashion

Another 2009-2010 Shoes Fashion Gallery

The stiletto is posterior! By now, this is old tidings, as we predicted the bring of the caretaker sky-high stiletto months ago, but we can’t hit a make round-up without mentioning it. If you attempt with the ergonomics of a stiletto, for those with invisible platforms that alter the doctor degree, as this is also a big disposition ethical now and maximizing in popularity as we move into the New Assemblage.

Read more at: 2009-2010 Shoes Fashion

Another 2009-2010 Shoes Fashion Gallery

Alter and lace-up. Lace-up booties prefab their fashionable unveiling endmost , but 2009 is where they will rattling . for bootie and ankle-height boots that lace from the top of the restore to the top of the gibe. Lace-ups rise in a variety of styles from frontier boots to school-girl oxfords. Fortify is added future discernment, screening the vamps and quarters of few of the seasons prettiest styles. This taste, suchlike the lace-up, also takes a writer from the Empress name enchiridion and instrument be featured in galore a specialiser aggregation, from Manolo Blahnik to McQueen.

Read more at: 2009-2010 Shoes Fashion

Another 2009-2010 Shoes Fashion Gallery

Hola a todos, últimamente, Club Penguin ha estado sacando noticias acerca del próximo aniversario de Club Penguin que cada vez está más cerca.

La mayoría de nosotros, tiene las ansias de conocer el nuevo color del Party Hat de éste año, y sólo hemos encontrado una pista, que no es muy clara, vean.

Y la única pista oficial de Club Penguin, la dió Happy 77 en su Última entrevista.

Yo estoy ansioso por que sea éste aniversario, y como extra, les dejo algunas imágenes de la fiesta que será éste sábado y… ¡Sólo durará un día!.

¡Sigan visitandonos!

Hasta la próxima

NEWS! – 2009-09-25

Welcome to the opening of “OLD NEWS” at Malmö Konsthall on the night of the Malmö Gallerinatt. Old News is a non profit and free newspaper organized by Jacob Fabricius and it will be possible to pick up the newspaper and view Old News #1-6.

Participating artists in Old News #6 are:
Jude Anogwih, Annika Eriksson, Emeka Ogboh, Tamar Guimarães, Uchay Joel  Chima, Olof Olsson, Jelili Atiku, Janine Sack, Washington Uba, Cornelia Sollfrank, Soibifaa Dokubo, Ólafur Gíslason, Ato Arinze, Unnar Örn Auarson, Chiaka Nnodi, Karlotta Blöndal, Ephraim Ugochukwu, Örn Alexander Arnarsson, Kola Kosoko, Annika Eriksson, Adama  Collins – Ibe, Johan Tirén, Abdullateef Yussuf, Alexander Gutke, Bolaji Ogunwo, Runo Lagomarsino, Peju Layiwola, Dave Allan, Victor Ehikhamenor, Terje Östling, Richardson Ovbiebo, Kajsa Dahlberg, Ndidi Dike, Imri Sandström, Chinwe Uwatse, Nadia Mazzoni, Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo, Beata Berggren, Ibe Ananaba, Kristina Kvalvik, David Bamishile Richards, Emma-Lina Ericson, Kunle Adenmosun, Simon Möller, Adolphus Opara, Jakob Eklund, Tuoyo Omagba, Stina Wirfelt, Israel Ophori, Anders Moe, Ete Ayida, Patrik Aarnivaara, Folarin Shasanya, Johan Furåker, Enimien Etomi, Cedric Bomford, Azu Nwagbogu, Ditte Ejlerskov, Bob Aiwerioba, Verena Kaminiarz, Chinenye Olugazi, EvaMarie Lindahl

26. September – 9. October 2009
Malmö Konsthall

5. December 2009 – 9. January 2010
CCA, Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos

8. January – 14. February 2010
Den Frie Udstillingsbygning

For some people it’s spending too long in front of the TV, for others the mirror, and for others the computer…  

Learn this, and learn it good! You can see me and I can’t see you right now, but I’m not talking about this type of situation (well actually, I’m not talking at all – I’m typing yeah. But that’s an issue for another time (or maybe not because that’s what I’m doing right now (ooops did I use the word “but” after a full stop? Oh well, never mind.)))

Does the above paragraph contain parentheses of a Microsoft Excel nature? Is there a difference? I just cannot remember anymore. (when I say I can’t remember, I’m not talking Excel – I don’t think I will ever forget my crafty formulation skills – believe it or not I do potentially have a flair for that kind of thing).

Anyway, back to the real issue. For some people it’s because they spend to long in front of the mirror. For others it’s because they spend too long in front of the TV. Further more, for the “Others” it’s because they spend far far too long sat at their computer screens, be it work or home. I’m talking about people losing a fundamental aspect of human communicational skills – the observation of the person(s) they are talking to. Go for walk, go to sleep, go to the cinema(or maybe not), go for a drive, go away. Not you because I’m talking to you…

Hey, did you know I have a form of Dyslexia with respect to the word “Because”? It’s the A and the U, I get them reversed although you can’t see that because I always notice and correct it. It may not be Dyslexia, it may just be me…

I suppose the likes of social networking are to blame. I suppose I’m talking about the re-wiring effect. I’m not talking about Dyslexia. “Re-wiring childrens brains” to phrase the neuroscientist in question. Was she being coded here? Of course It’s more of a concern with children – higher plasticity combined with juvenile behaviour, not a good mixture. The reason I ask of coding is because adults, with their brains freshly Facebooked, tend to behave like children. I really have noticed that.

I’d just love to think she was taking the piss out of someone when she said “re-wiring childrens’ brains”. I remember the story on the news and I remember the interview. It made me laugh.

In September 2009 John Humphreys (HCP President) was joined by Kristin Tan (HCP Secretary) and Joseph Clark (HCP advisory board) in the annual Cambodia trip to arrange the next student intake and pay the university fees. The trip was a great success, with the number of HCP students rising from 10 to 25 and Kristin & Joseph having a great first trip to Cambodia.

Full details in the trip report: HCP 2009 trip report (PDF)

The 2008 annual report is now available online as a PDF document: HCP 2008 annual report (PDF)

The 2007 annual report is now available online as a PDF document: HCP 2007 annual report (PDF)

La finele lui septembrie, Vama a acordat un interviu celor de la HotNews.

E un usor sentiment de claustrare cand intri in sala voastra de repetitie. Nu va deranjeaza acest aspect, nu va infraneaza energiile? In club va miscati foarte mult, aici sunteti statici.
Raul: Repetitia are un rol clar, bine definit, sa treci peste piesa, sa-ti revizuiesti partitura, sa reimprospatezi lucrurile pe care le-ai facut. De exemplu, la Cerb am facut tot felul de modificari, am adus noutati in playlist, in piese, in continuturi si in structura pieselor. Tot felul de lucruri pe care trebuia sa ni le reamintim. Deci nu facem show aici, nu e de energie. Sigur ca exista energii, dar focusul este pe partitura, vrem doar sa ne reamintim.

Cam cat dureaza o repetitie Vama?
Tudor: De obicei repetam 3-4 ore. E mult, daca n-ai repetat o perioada, dar cand compui si-ti si iese, trei ore pot trece ca nimic.
Raul: Depinde ce repetam. Daca repetam pentru un concert, e una, daca e sa lucram la niste piese noi, e cu totul alta.

V-ati gandit sa introduceti coveruri in playlist-ul trupei?
Tudor: Rolling Stones, dar ne chinuim de doi ani sa facem. Nu toata lumea e foarte dornica. Raul, de exemplu, nu e chiar nerabdator sa cante un cover. Sau asa l-am simtit eu.
Raul: Ba da, as vrea, dar intr-o maniera absolut personala. Nu un cover pur si simplu, ci o reinterpretare.
Eugen: Asta e si ideea, sa personalizezi o piesa. Trebuie sa te intrebi si pentru ce il faci. Una e sa il faci pentru club, “just for fun”, sa te distrezi. Alta e sa scoti un cover pe care sa il bagi in “heavy rotation”, de obicei se intampla asta cand esti in pauza de creatie, adica nu mai ai idei pentru o piesa noua. N-ai cu ce intra pe piata, e momentul sa intri cu ceva si atunci te folosesti de un cover.
Raul: …dar nu e obligatoriu.
Tudor: Cred ca toti cei din camera asta au mai mult de exprimat decat sa aleaga formula cu aceste coveruri. Sunt unii care au facut turnee de coveruri. Dar eu n-as putea sa ma duc intr-un astfel de turneu.
Clopo: Noi avem momente de improvizatie totala. Daca e tare atmosfera in club, trecem printr-un medley de coveruri, dar mai mult in gluma. Si lumea reactioneaza, dar nu cantam o piesa intreaga.
Tudor: Ca nu suntem in stare. Si ale noastre-s neterminate (rade).
Clopo: Oricum, daca stau bine sa ma gandesc, cantam un singur cover – Hotel Cismigiu.

Totusi, ati pomenit de Rolling Stones. De ce ei?
Tudor: Intr-o perioada ne placea Rolling Stones foarte mult, ne dadea energie multa inainte de concerte. Ne uitam la DVD-ul Shine A Light, al lui Scorseze.
Clopo: Avem un DVD in microbuzul de turneu. Ne uitam tot timpul, pentru ca ne da energie.

Vama este recunoscuta ca o trupa care canta mult. Va impuneti sa fie lungi concertele? Exista momente cand nu aveti chef si cantati mai putin?
Raul: Un concert de club dureaza doua reprize a cate cel putin 60 de minute, de obicei mai mult; depinde de stare. Oricum, la club nu exista “nu am chef”. Ca de-aia facem concerte in cluburi, ca sa ne relaxam si mai mult decat de obicei. La club cantam intotdeauna mult, pentru ca atmosfera este absolut fenomenala.
Tudor: Exista o perceptie a publicului, care crede ca pe scena se afla o masina de cantat, care poate canta la nesfarsit. E putin gresit. Nu e chiar asa.
Clopo: In trecut Vama Veche si Vama, acum, nu pot fi suspectate de zgarcenie in cantat. Se canta mult.
Tudor: Din momentul in care ai doua discuri, deja e un material enorm. Discul nostru dureaza 56 de minute. Probabil urmatorul disc va dura tot atat. Asta inseamna 112 minute. Deja nu mai prea poti sa canti tot. Intotdeauna va fi o piesa pe care lumea o mai vrea.

Este obositor, dupa cateva ore de concert, sa fii asaltat de fani?
Tudor: Nu spun, e o bucurie sa dai autografe, sa fii “no. 1″, dar e un moment, dupa concert, cand oamenii vin si te iau de bun, de nou. Ar vrea sa si bea bere cu tine, sa mai stai si tu sa socializezi, lucruri absolut normale. Dar nimeni nu se gandeste ca acest consum fizic e enorm, pentru fiecare dintre noi, ca sa nu mai vorbesc ca exista si un consum intelectual – trebuie sa ma concentrez, sa cant bine, sa fiu un performer bun, sa am un mesaj coerent, sa cant corect, sa transmit etc. E un consum incredibil. Si lumea zice: “e simplu, fac si eu”. Fa si tu daca poti! Dar lumea nu ar trebui sa zica asa. Si noi am cantat la Cerbul de Aur o ora si jumatate. Si la final nu mai puteam sa ne miscam. A fost un consum enorm.

Mai e vreo piesa pe care ati vrea sa o scoateti in fata? Poate un nou videoclip?
Tudor: Cred ca la discul asta au fost mai multe clipuri decat orice disc din trecut. Avem vreo sase extrase pe single.
Raul: Mai avem putin si terminam discul.

E rau, e bine ca v-ati promovat mult?
Tudor: Noi avem publicul nostru. Si lumea, unde te cauta, te gaseste. Internetul este foarte puternic. Aici nu ai cum sa dispari. E un moment in care, in Romania, se practica un alt tip de informare sonora. Eu as face totusi ceva la “17 ani… infinit”. Si as face un clip foarte frumos, cu noi cinci, in Vama, alb-negru. Cu filmari largi. Dar cine iti difuzeaza, in ziua de azi, un cantec de 5 minute?

Vi s-a parut ca lumea nu a inteles mesajul piesei Dumnezeu nu apare la stiri?
Tudor: Eu nu am cunoscut pe nimeni care sa nu inteleaga ca Dumnezeu nu apare la stiri este un protest impotriva unei explozii mediatice fara precedent si impotriva exacerbarii orgoliului rasei umane. Nu vorbim de comentariile de pe internet.
Eugen: La Vama versurile sunt destul de clare.
Tudor: La piesa asta sunt doua variante de versuri. Am venit cu ele la colegi si le-am comentat. Era o piesa despre un copil care exploda sfartecat, aparea ideea de terorism. Am discutat si ne-am gandit ca poate nu e foarte clar. Si am ales varianta pe care o stiti. Dar niciodata nu am avut problema sa nu fie inteles mesajul.

Aveti piese noi?
Tudor: Idei exista si ar trebui sa ne grabim. Ca sa nu mai astepte lumea foarte mult. Sa ne grabim incet, dar sa ne grabim. Sper sa dezvoltam partea asta de sunet, desi nu stiu cum o percepe lumea. Unii o vad bine, altii sunt speriati. Oricum, noi tot libertate transmitem. Cred ca spiritul asta, al ideii de libertate, ar trebui sa mearga mai departe.
Asta e si invitatia noastra catre publicul de joi. Vino, relaxeaza-te, bea o bere, simte-te bine si stai doua ore jumatate cu niste oameni care vor sa faca o chestie. Si mai e ceva. Te uiti in jur: toata lumea se hahaie. E o veselie in tara… E predispozitie la mici si hahaiala. Noi cred ca facem niste adunari unde avem un mesaj de spus. O trupa poate sa capaciteze oameni care gandesc social la fel. Care au aceleasi ganduri sociale. Am incercat sa spunem niste lucruri prin muzica noastra. Nu pot sa ma apuc sa fac ONG-uri si sa preiau puterea si sa intru in politica. Recunosc, nu am atata tenacitate, nici muschi, nici nervi, nici obraz atat de gros ca sa devin politician. Dar la un concert se pot aduna oameni care au preocupari comune. Trebuie perceput un concert si ca un fel de adunare sociala, nu neaparat ca un miting in care ne ducem sa daramam Palatul Victoria.

Sunteti multumiti de scena underground din Romania?
Eugen: Ai sa razi: e mai interesant underground-ul decat trupele de mainstream. Eu am mers prin cluburi care m-au dat pe spate. Am vazut cativa supertalentati. Pusti de 18-20 de ani, care canta de rup. Un exemplu: Calin Grigoriu, canta cu Loredana. L-am vazut intr-un show cantand cu trupa lui. Are un super repertoriu. Deja a ajuns la o tinuta suficient de inalta ca sa cante cot la cot cu noi sau cu trupe de varf. Si mai sunt si altii.
Tudor: Underground-ul se va dezvolta atat de mult, incat va ajunge mainstream. La un moment dat, o sa fie mai mult underground, pentru ca in Romania intotdeauna vor fi conditii pentru underground.

Cum vi se pare, ca varsta, publicul Vama?
Eugen: De doi-trei ani, am remarcat ca tot mai multi adolescenti vin la concertele noastre.
Tudor: Poate ca prezenta pe internet a fost “de vina”. Eu ma intreb: oare generatia noastra ce mai asculta? Mai merge la vreun concert? Am senzatia ca oamenii, cand trec de 30 de ani, intra intr-un fel de viata dintr-asta pe banda rulanta.
Publicul trebuie educat, dar cat sa-l mai educi? Eu, daca nu cant ce simt, devin fals. Nu sunt dispus sa fac ceva ca sa ajung intr-un mainstream. Sa fii diamantul pe noroi?
Eugen: Asta, de fapt, e o drama. Sunt foarte multi muzicieni care au o cariera in spate si care s-au oprit din a crea ceva, pentru ca au ajuns la concluzia ca n-au pentru cine.
Tudor: Eu cred ca in muzica nu ai voie sa te opresti. N-ai voie sa te opresti! Si daca ai doi ascultatori, trebuie sa faci muzica. La fel cum la teatru trebuie sa joci pentru sase oameni. Un om care s-a oprit din a face muzica nu mai e muzician.

De curand, Roman Polanski a fost arestat pentru un viol cu zeci de ani in urma. Trebuie disociata arta de om?
Tudor: Da, n-ai cum sa nu disociezi. Filmele lui raman mari. Nu cred ca ma preocupa foarte mult caracterul lui Roman Polanski. In Romania se face o mare greseala: oamenii judeca un artist dupa caracter foarte mult. “E baiat bun, e talentat”. Nu stiu, nu ma intereseaza. Eu nu citesc biografii! Nu ma intereseaza biografia lui Roman Polanski. El livreaza niste rezultate cu filmele lui. Tarantino – habar n-am cum e Tarantino. A facut insa Inglourious Basterds, care este un film excelent.

Ce pregatiti pentru show-ul din Jukebox?
Tudor: Playlistul de la Cerbul de Aur si in prima auditie un cantec de pe viitorul album Vama.

I have been out of the loop for a while. Between school, sickness and two little children, it seems there never is enough time or energy. A few weeks ago, I wanted to write about the Serena Williams and Kanye West incidents. Now, those stories are old news. Sadly, as I perused comments about Williams and West, I found out that racism is anything but “old” news.

Now, I have not been a supporter of Barack Obama as President. This has nothing to do with the color of his skin and everything to do with his policies and attitude. While he did not receive my vote because of our divergent stance on many issues, part of me was happy to see America elect a black man president. I thought this proved that racism was becoming old news in America. I was so wrong.

Racism reared its ugly head again in the Williams and West debacles. I was completely blown away.

I read so many comments on Kanye West’s inane stunt at the Video Music Awards that seemed to indicate that his actions had something to do with him being black.

Kanye West is not an idiot because he is black. Kanye West is an idiot because he is an idiot. This has nothing to do with race. Every race has its share of them. If there is anything that is colorblind it is this — idiocy draws no color lines. Really, it is about as simple as that.

The Serena story is something else entirely. I am not a follower of tennis, so normally I would not care. But, I read the story about what happened at the U.S. Open and I watched the video. Then, I began to read the comments. I could not believe it.  Nearly half the people blamed her actions on her being black, while another 15 percent just posted blatantly racist comments. I was stunned by this.

Do I think Serena was wrong? Yes, I most definitely do. She acted in a totally inappropriate and unprofessional manner. Do I think it had anything to do with her being black? No, I do not. It has everything to do with her being a highly competitive individual who does not accept defeat easily.

In most things I do in life, I expect to win. I go in with the attitude that I am going to be the victor, even if it takes me 20 times. If I make a mistake, I get angry at myself. Do I sometimes take this anger out on others? Yes, I am sorry to say I do. I work on this and strive to not allow it to happen in the future, but sometimes it comes back, especially when I become frustrated with myself.

Luckily for me, I am not a professional star athlete like Serena Williams. My bouts of competitive anger are not international news. I honestly believe Serena was just so angry and frustrated at herself. She was not playing at a level of which she knows she is capable. She showed her frustration at her play when she broke her racket.

While I am in no way attempting to excuse what Serena said or did to that line judge, I do not think Serena’s anger was really with the official. Serena’s anger was with herself. The line judge was just unlucky enough to get in the way.

Competitive people play life with a fire and a passion that sometimes burns hot. It does not matter what color skin we have — the temperature is still the same.

A fantastic new billboard campaign for The Green Party by Glue London.  The campaign reminds Brighton constituents and visiting Labour Party activists about the Green Party’s recent victory over Labour in the EU Parliamentary elections.

The use of collaged newspaper to create images of Labour’s big beasts and the headline copy of ‘Labour is old news’ is very smart and beautifully executed.

The first Queen’s Blade Rebellion visual book with Drama CD was released on September 24.

Like in the Bitoushi Retsuden series, this new visual book comes with a Drama CD. The Drama CD features the voice talents of:

• Endou Aya as Hanran no Kishi Hime Annelotte;
• Chihara Minori as Renkin Gunshi Huit;
• Mizuhashi Kaori as Kiba wo Suberu Mono Elina and
• Toyosaki Aki as Chou Shindou Ikusa Otome Mirim.

Samples and information taken from E.M.D. 2nd [link]:

Thundercloud Queen Claudette

Claudette looks like she came back from a trip from Mai-Otome world. It’s not visible in the photo, but if the character design is from Hisayuki Hirokazu, the similarity was to be expected.

Phantom Warrior Maria

Looks like Leina. Hmm… Leina’s deceased mother’s name was Maria. Anway, it seems that this misterious Bitoushi is cursed and has to sleep 16 hours a day.

Kensei-Miko Tomoe

Tomoe leveled-up to Kensei (sword saint) and now wields two Kuchinawas (duping?). Her eyes are blind by a curse.

Samples taken from the blog Moeyo.com [link]:

It seems that the visual book has illustrations drawn by different artists.

A quick preview of more Rebellion characters:

Inquisition Official Siggy

More Holy Poses! Sigi (not sure about the romanization) is designed by Oda Non.

Moonlight Dancer Luna-Luna

The new character chosen by votation is looking great! The artist F.S surely knows how to do his thing!

In short, more story and new characters. Without doubt, the Rebellion series is looking very promising!

Cya!

Sources: Moeyo.com, E.M.D. 2nd.

The latest Queen’s Blade Rebellion visual combat book with the twins Tanyan and Sainyan was released on September 24.

The translation in English for the profiles of the characters is in this post: http://fiwasaki.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/queens-blade-rebellion-taima-shi-tanyan-sainyan-profiles/

The illustrations were drawn by Nakano Tomokazu, known for the character designs of the last few Power Instinct (Gouketsuji Ichizoku) games.

Samples taken from the blog Moeyo.com [link]:

So what was the Sainyan’s “big secret” after all?

It’s a trap!

The series is really inclined to fulfill all kind of fetishes, huh?

The older sister still have “them” blocked from our sight.

Samples taken from Akiba Blog [link]:

I’ll probably have to wait a few weeks before my copy arrives from HobbyLink Japan [link].

Cya!

Sources: Moeyo.com, Akiba Blog.

your art.  your music.  your words.

Birmingham has too many hidden artists and too few outlets.  So we at Mosaic Birmingham–being lovers of art–have created one.   The first Thursday a month at Urban Standard is called POUR.  It is an open-mic and art forum for artists, musicians, poets, videographers, photographers of Birmingham, AL.

Come display your stuff, sing, paint live, whatever you’ve got.  It’s always free and everyone is welcome.  Hope to see you there.  The next POUR will be October 1 at 7pm.

For further information or to sign-up to perform, contact Lacey

Rome’s 2009/10 website dropped today, and, as expected, there are posts on websites and blogs across the Internet to back up this fact.

“Well, why the hell are you posting about it too?”  is the thought that’s probably crossing your mind right now.

This is my reply…

In the new ShredTV section, Rome has released a series of video Trick Tips to get you thinking about some of the things you may want to try yourself this season. A bunch of these videos feature French-Canadian rail assassins Will Lavigne and LNP, and that is the Canadian connection I’m using to spin this story.

So check out all the Trick Tips with LNP, Lavigne, Bjorn Leines and Eiki Helgason right here, and I guess you can check out Rome’s new line while you’re there as well.