I’ll start with a loose follow-up to last post’s Marxism/liberalism issue. I finished reading Zizek and came across a brilliant quotation from Samuel Beckett’s ‘Worstward Ho’:

“Fail. Try again. Fail better”

In the context of Zizek’s book it is understood as ‘call to arms’ for Marxists to continue the effort to once more rise from the ashes. Time is important, as financial crisis opened the window of opportunity for radical change and for Marxists to try again – despite a probable failure. But hopefully a better one. I’ve put the quotation as my facebook status (without any context) and the reply I’ve got is quite symptomatic. A friend countered with corporate humour – Dilbert:

“If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a fool about it.”

I found it ominously intriguing. When Marxism says “Try again. Fail better.” corporate culture says: “Try again. Then quit.”

It may seem that the ‘Fail better’ part is defeatist and shows hopelessness of the situation. But it is not. As Dupuy says: ‘[a catastrophe’s] actualization – the fact that it takes place – … retroactively creates its necessity’. Therefore to be prepared and avoid another catastrophe we need to act as if it was inevitable. One needs to think beyond ‘now’. Interestingly, there’s a strong parallel with bushido – samurai’s code. The main tenet of the way of the samurai is to live as if one was already dead – nicely showed in Jim Jarmusch’s ‘Ghost Dog’. As a side note, Jarmusch in his other movies was inspired by Beckett. Coming back to bushido, dying without achieving one’s aims is regarded as cowardice and is therefore the worst sin. So while ‘Fail better’ is about constant reinvention and struggle, ‘Then quit’ is a call for immediate seppuku of ideas contrary to corporate capitalism.

Since Samuel Beckett seems to be a sponsor of this post I have to mention a brilliant commission for Tate’s Turbine Hall by a Polish artist Miroslaw Balka.

How It Is – a giant box filled with almost complete darkness. An absolute must-see, or rather must-can’t-see. Check out the photo and you’ll know what I mean.

What does this work have to do with Beckett? It’s titled ‘How It Is’ – the title taken from Beckett’s novel as according to Balka they share a similar sense of minimalism.

I have taken these shots on a recent walk along Thames and was thinking of temporal inconsistency – breaking away from ‘now’, not only in the context of a catastrophe – at least not a world-threatening one – but more prosaically in the context of peeing.

Peeing is, of course, very important when you walk a lot and the ever-present issue is ‘where?’. I always have reservations before walking into a pub/restaurant to pee. Even if I have been there before. Assuming you have the same, I find it interesting that we struggle to break away from ‘now’ and feel it’s not appropriate to use a toilet without being a customer ‘now’. But what if you’ve been a customer before? And probably will be one in the future? I think we struggle to see ourselves in the totality of time and put too much emphasis on ‘now’. So in a radical spirit I say: let’s stop! Past actualization and future probability means we have paid our toilet dues and will continue to pay them in the future! Let’s take our moral reservations and flush them with vengeance! In my personal call to arms I say:

If you have ever ‘Failed’ your bladder because of misguided morality fuelled by limitations in perception of time ‘Try again!’. As if you knew next time you’ll ‘Fail better’.

This is the true way of the walking samurai.

Naruto, Chapter 473

WOW. Kishimoto wasn’t playing this week. Killer Bee and Kisame have been tussling for weeks, and today put an end to the madness.

Kisame was pushed into quite a corner last week, with Samehada, his key to invincibility, switching sides and leaguing up with Bee. This chapter opens with Kisame holding one of  Bee’s blades, and preparing to take out the fallen rapper. Too bad it wasn’t gonna work out this way.

One of my favorite aspects about manga/anime is seeing the rawest people participating in battles together. We’ve already witnessed the pure power of the Raikage during the Kage/Sasuke battle, and because of his strength, he quickly climbed my list of the most exciting characters. When he showed up during this fight to help Bee … I got hype. As if seeing Killer Bee and the Raikage on the same page isn’t exciting enough, they took it to the next level as soon as the Raikage showed up. The mighty Hoshigaki Kisame, wielder of Samehada, and called the “Monster of the Hidden Mist”, was defeated in mere seconds by a double-team attack, courtesy of the Kumogakure brothers. I literally almost dropped my coffee on my computer. CRAZY.

The rest of the chapter was pretty much a wrap-up: the Hokage’s switch-a-roo technique was concluded, Suigetsu and Juugo were inconveniently discovered as/by samurai in the Land of Iron; and Sai is going to tell Naruto the full truth of what Sakura was trying to get across a few issues ago. Overall good week — pour one out for Kisame cuz that dude is GONE!

C’mon next week!!

^Favorite Moment: Not even a question — when Killer Bee and the Raikage double-dragoned Kisame and promptly took this dude’s head off. Probably one of my all-time favorite Naruto moments, actually — glad to see such a jerk go the great sharkbowl in the sky! Peace out!!!

——-

Naruto Shippuuden, Episode 137

Another great episode in the pivotal fight between Sasuke and Itachi. Last week left us with an image of Sasuke’s eye being torn out by Itachi, and that’s exactly what it turned to be — an image.

The entire conflict was another genjutsu by Itachi to show Sasuke his death … the thing is, though, this wasn’t just any genjutsu — Itachi broke out the Tsukuyomi for this. Amazingly, Sasuke broke out of this — the most powerful genjutsu in Naruto — with only his regular Sharingan against Itachi’s Mangekyo. As Sasuke stands, (both eyes intact and in his head) genjutsu is rendered irrelevant, and a straight ninjutsu battle ensues. Sasuke has the upper hand, partially due to Itachi’s shock at having his most powerful illusion rendered useless, and partially because Itachi is actually going blind. After a brief stand-off, Sasuke blows the ceiling off the place (literally), and the brothers find themselves on the roof, face to face.

Looking at each other, they both unleash the basic (but still powerful) attack of the Uchiha clan, the Great Fireball technique. Flame to flame, the clash reaches a standstill … until Itachi reveals the next secret of his Mangekyo Sharingan — the almighty black flame, Amaterasu. I don’t even want to get started on explaining the raw power of this technique. The black flames burn through Sasuke’s fireball, and eventually succeed in burning him to a crisp — or so we think. Sasuke has another trick up his sleeve, and uses Orochimaru’s patented body regeneration technique to save himself from a fiery death.

As the episode ends, Sasuke unleashes a mighty flame attack into the air, and the brothers stare each other, out of chakra, waiting for each to make the next move — which Sasuke seems confident will work out to his favor, of course.

A very good episode and great animation — looks like the Naruto creators finally got the message. C’mon next week!!

Favorite Moment: Right after the Tsukuyomi is broken, Sasuke goes into ninja-mode and unleashes a Shadow Shuriken technique on his older brother. Itachi dodges it, but is tricked, as the shuriken is rigged, and at the tug of a wire by Sasuke it explodes shrapnel-style and pierces Itachi square in his leg — and this wasn’t an illusion. Trickery at its finest!

じゃあまた!

——-

Oh, and since I cheated ya’ll out of neglected to put up a Girls, Girls, Girls post yesterday (it was Thanksgiving, give me a break), here’s a young lady to enjoy. Go ahead and start Googling (is that a word…?)!

Marlene Favela

Indeed.

_Reverend Zombie 14.09

Humanzee … is that you?

Ono Natsume, the author of Ristorante Paradiso, now has two manga that have anime adaptations on his resume. The latest is House of Five Leaves (Saraiya Goyou), a period piece about a gang of kidnappers, headed by the silver-tongued and inscrutable Yaichi, who hire a timid ronin named Akitsu Masanosuke as their bodyguard.

According to the ANN article on the announcement, House of Five Leaves will air on Fuji TV in the Noitamina programming slot, which has hosted such popular anime as Nodame Cantabile, Paradise Kiss, and Moyashimon. Viz has been posting translated chapters of House of Five Leaves for several months now on their SigIkki website, and I have to say that in spite of the strange-looking art, House of Five Leaves is a fascinating read so far. I’m looking forward to 2010 more and more, after a dry spell in 2009!

Main Title_Kurozuka
Official Title_黒塚
Type_TV Series, 12 episodes
Year_07.10.2008 till 23.12.2008
Categories_Action, Dark Fantasy, Dystopia, Fantasy, Genetic Modification, Gunfights, Horror, Human Enhancement, Martial Arts, Ninjas, Post-apocalyptic, Samurai, Seinen, Super Power, Swordplay, Thriller, Violence
Main creators_Yumemakura Baku, Araki Tetsurou, Shino Masanori, Yoshida Kiyoshi, Madhouse
Resources_Official page, ANN, AnimeNFO, Allcinema, AniDB

Download_
[Brazilian Subs]
+ 1The Plain of Adachi-ga-hara
+ 2 The Tomb of Karma
+ 3 Asuka
+ 4 Haniwa Man
+ 5 Saniwa
+ 6 Miitsu
+ 7 Kagura Village
+ 8 The Screeching Ivy
+ 9 Fire Whirlwind
+ 10 The Phantom Castle
+ 11 Endless Struggle
+ 12 The Black Tomb

[English Subs]

http://hotfile.com/dl/18551952/89af2…9E30B.mkv.html
http://hotfile.com/dl/18552113/1383d…ACAC9.mkv.html
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http://hotfile.com/dl/18552235/91499…972A9.mkv.html

Once thought to be a passing fad, the maid cafe has actually become somewhat of a cultural mainstay in Japan, deeply rooted in its media and fetish culture. From the sexually suggestive french maid fantasy featured in anime to the nurturing maid that will also administer reflexology, the role of the maid seems to be evolving both inside and outside of the maid cafes.  Typically, one can go to a maid cafe and be greeted with “Welcome Home, Master” and enjoy the sort of pampering comfort one would find in a wait staff at home. But now maid cafes offer services such as card-game playing, face-slapping, emotional manipulation/play-acting, conversing, and praying for the souls of guests. Increased competition amongst the 217 maid cafes requires constant evolution, new hooks, and new gimmicks — and so maid cafes seem to be stretching the services traditionally provided by the role and as such, redefining a cultural icon.    via

Enter: Samurai Maid. Bookmark this for Halloween 2010… via

Jina with her Thanksgiving turkey

On this cool autumn day before Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think about how giving thanks for all the wonderful blessings in our lives is universal.

It became so real to me when the heroine in my upcoming novel, The Blonde Samurai, is in 1874 Japan celebrating Thanksgiving with her samurai family.

Check out my blog at NAUGHTY AUTHOR CHICKS and see what my heroine, Katie O’Roarke, wrote in her memoir.

Best,
Jina

Every so often I’ve updated the list of films that I have already seen with brief reviews.  Call it the complete-ist in me, but when I’m done with reviewing each of the films in the book, I’d like to have reviewed every single film in the book.

Anyhow, here’s another batch for you to read.

Enjoy!

Shichinin No Samurai AKA Seven Samurai (1954)

The Seven Samurai is the first movie that I had the pleasure of seeing from the master director Akira Kurosawa, and it is also one of his most praised works. Without a wasted frame, the story takes place over the course of almost 3 hours. Kurosawa, as he does in each of his movies, explores more than just the action and injustice featured in the plot. He is a humanist first and foremost, training his lens on the interpersonal relationships of the characters, tracking growth across this epic. As good as this film is, I would have to say that Kurosawa has numerous films that are even better, check out Stray Dog, Rashomon, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and my personal favorite High and Low.

The Ladykillers (1955)

Existing as a special combination of dark humor, and slapstick farce, The Ladykillers is exceptionally funny and unsettling. Alec Guinness stars as the leader of a group of criminals staying at the home of a hardy, vivacious older lady under the guise of being musicians. The plan is simple, rob a bank, and utilizing the trusting nature of the kindly old lady, and the remoteness of her home to their advantage, get away with it. Easily my favorite of Alec Guinness’ films (thanks in part to the Star Wars prequels that is), The Ladykillers features a solid cast of great actors, including a very young Peter Sellers.

Bob Le Flambeur AKA Bob the Gambler (1955)

My introduction to the fantastic Jean-Pierre Melville, I was captivated immediately by the cool as ice gangster come gambler Bob. This film is filled with signature Melville-isms. Glorious post war street scenes in Paris. Trench-coats. Honor among thieves. And who could forget the caper. To talk too much about this film is to give too much away, and to do that is to ruin it for those who haven’t seen it. Other classics by Melville: Le Cercle Rouge, Le Samourai, and the recently released in the U.S. Army of Shadows. All are fantastic, and deserve to be in this book! Incidentally, Bob le Flambeur was recently re-made into The Good Thief starring Nick Nolte and directed by Neil Jordan, and while I’m not generally a fan of re-makes, I really, really liked this film. Not quite as good as the original, but it was one of my favorite films of 2002.

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

The ultimate in hardboiled private eye crime stories, Kiss Me Deadly is a full on assault on decency. Kiss Me Deadly proudly presents itself as a grimy PI story, littered with bodies and intrigue. If you even have a passing interest in film noir, this should be your first stop. Violent, misogynist, brutish, and glorious, Kiss Me Deadly begs to be watched and dares you to look away. I myself, loved it!

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Apparently based on a book, The Ten Commandments is an epic in every sense of the word. Colored in bright explosive candy hues, and featuring huge sets, as well as a cast that number in the thousands, The Ten Commandments is more spectacle than great movie. Certainly not a waste of time, but not my first choice when choosing something light to throw in.

Det Sjunde Inseglet AKA The Seventh Seal (1957)

A classic, and well-loved film by Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, The Seventh Seal stars an extremely young Max von Sydow as a knight who faces Death at a game of chess to decide his fate. This film is filled with themes that find their way into each of Bergman’s works, ranging from courage in the face of death, religion, and humanity. The Seventh Seal still holds up to this day, with luminous black and white photography that, thanks to Criterion’s Blu-ray edition, has never looked better.

Note: Don’t be fooled by the similarly themed, but much worse, “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey”

Kumonosu Jo AKA Throne of Blood (1957)

Kurosawa’s retelling of Macbeth set in feudal Japan. Shakespeare has never looked better as it does in the stark black and white, twisting shadows and swirling mists as seen through Kurosawa’s camera. Toshiro Mifune doesn’t disappoint in the lead role, but the real stand out is Isuzu Yamada in the as Mifune’s opportunistic, poisonous wife. The plotting and scheming starts right from the get go, all the way up till the frenzied end of the film.

Touch of Evil (1958)

One of the many trouble spots on Orson Welles’ resume due to studio interference, and financing issues, still Touch of Evil remains as possibly the best B-Movie ever made. Iconic (and sometimes hilarious) performances by Janet Leigh, Charlton Heston (as a Mexican) and Welles himself as the crooked cop willing to do almost anything to ensure justice prevails (just so long as it’s his justice). The movie is almost as famous for its long tracking shot opening as it is for any of the performances, featuring a nearly 4 minute shot done in one take which travels around cars, actors, and buildings. The film The Player, payed homage to it by mentioning it a few times during a similarly complex shot in that film.

Vertigo (1958)

Flopping on its initial release, Vertigo didn’t gain the acclaim it deserved until much later after it was released on video. Vertigo visits themes present in each of Hitchcock’s other works, including the obsession with blondes, innocence tainted with corruption, and the schlub who get in over his head. Jimmy Stewart plays the schlub, Kim Novak plays the blonde, and gloriously technicolored San Francisco plays the innocence and the corruption. Vertigo has a twisty convoluted story with elements of surrealism, an interesting watch.

Mon Oncle AKA My Uncle (1958)

My favorite of Jacques Tati’s Monsieur Hulot films, Mon Oncle was also the first of them that I had seen. Tati, playing Hulot, is a master of visual comedy, and not in the same way as the Three Stooges, or even Buster Keaton. Tati is an artist whose work is appreciated the longer you watch. The plot of the movie is not so much important to the film as it is simply a guide to get our characters into interesting situations so we can watch them get out. If you liked this film, check out other films featuring the bumbling Mr. Hulot, including Trafic, Playtime, and Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot.

Les Quatre Cents Coups AKA The 400 Blows (1959)

My personal favorite of the French new wave movement was this small-scale film, personal piece from Francois Truffaut. Featuring the director’s alter ego, Antoine Doinel, The 400 Blows is the first in a series of movies, each about a different stage of life and the challenges that go along with them. The period from childhood to young adult is covered heart-breakingly here, following Antoine through the rough waters of his home life and his interaction with the outside world. Later chapters deal with finding love, getting married, having children, and growing old, but Les Quatres Cent Coups remains the directors most personal and his best.

North by Northwest (1959)

One of Hitchcock’s best, North by Northwest features Cary Grant, suave as ever, being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies. Just like in Hitchcock’s most famous works (of which this is one), the witty one-liners, suspense, and drama are heaped on generously. I can’t help but feel sad that a similarly themed, but better film featuring Cary Grant was left off this 1001 list. Charade, also featuring Audrey Hepburn, James Coburn, and Walter Matthau, is one of my favorite movies ever! Check out both Charade AND North by Northwest as a double feature! You won’t be sorry.

Some Like it Hot (1959)

Now this is an example of a classic, well-loved film, with actors that I really love (Jack Lemmon I’m looking at you), a premise that is more than suitable, yet the finished product never really caught me. It’s sort of like Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief. I never really saw what all the hype was about. That being said, I didn’t hate it either. It never made fun of me when I had braces, or turned me down for a date, my affections and this film have just always been mutually exclusive. Perhaps it deserves another watch…then again maybe I should just watch The Last Boyscout again.

A Bout De Souffle AKA Breathless (1959)

Jean-Luc Godard is nothing if not a sacred cow of French cinema, and while I have loved some of his other films (Le Mepris, Bande A Part, and Masculin Femenine), Breathless or A Bout De Souffle never really did it for me. I can still rationalize why it was so revolutionary (use of jump cuts, editing, non-actors, and subscription to the aesthetic of the French new wave style), and see it’s importance, but I prefer other examples of New Wave cinema. If you are interested in seeing a Godard film, try Masculin Feminine, it is just as revolutionary and a bit more accessible.

Psycho (1960)

A prime example of Hitchcock in his prime. Psycho was so good, and so affecting that some of its actors were type cast just on the strength of this one film (Anthony Perkins, and Janet Leigh), so much so that without a little research it’s hard to think of what other films either of them has been in. Psycho may not be as visually shocking and gory as horror films of today, but it still manages to hold up over time and be just as unsettling as it was back in its day. Hitchcock has always excelled at making the comfortable un-comfortable (motels, birds, tea, dreams, the list goes on…), and the subtle touches in this film work perfectly. Consider for a moment that Perkin’s Bates is an amateur taxidermist of birds, and then that Janet Leigh’s name is Marion Crane a type of bird, or the fact before the crime Marion is wearing a white bra and a white purse, while after it she is wearing a black bra and purse. His attention to detail, and knack for foreshadowing is demonstrated in full force in Psycho and remains one of his best films. Despite all the uproar over the Gus Van Sant remake, I thought it actually did some justice to the original film and if nothing else brought it a little more deserved attention.

Note: This film also has the distinction of being the first American film to ever show a toilet flushing on-screen.

Peeping Tom (1960)

Released the same year as Psycho, and dealing with similar subject matter, Peeping Tom wasn’t received with the same acclaim and attention that the former was. On the contrary, Peeping Tom was seen as subversive, perverted, and generally too shocking. The story revolves more around the killer than the victim in this one, whereas Psycho is presented more from the victim’s point of view. Either way, Peeping Tom is a fine film, one worth watching, however it is so similar to Psycho that I’m not sure it needs to be on the list of 1001 films.

The Apartment (1960)

As far as light-hearted, touching movies about someone recovering from a bout of depression, this one is my favorite. Billy Wilder directs Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon in a sweet touching comedy without losing any of his trademark cynicism or the pointedness of his dialogue. The Apartment is another chance for me to champion the somewhat maligned talents of Mr. Fred MacMurray as Lemmon’s boss. MacMurray plays a fantastic creep who really defines the term “heel”.

Spartacus (1960)

Containing almost none of the trademark elements that make up a Stanley Kubrick movie as we know it (Kubrick apparently dis-owned the film before it’s release), Spartacus remains an interesting movie that isn’t great. It is, however, another example of a film that enabled an up and coming filmmaker to gain his voice, and define himself later on in his career. If only for that reason, Spartacus is a great film, but luckily for the studio, it has some other things going for it. Kirk Douglas plays the title role of Spartacus, and despite all the lavish set production, and concentration on spectacle, brings some heart to the slave who defied Rome.

Jules Et Jim AKA Jules and Jim (1962)

One of director, Francois Truffaut’s most well thought of films, Jules and Jim may be the Lost In Translation, or Juno of its time. Viewed from a certain angle, the plot is a completely moving and emotional story that you believe, so much so, that you can see yourself and those around you in the roles that these characters embody. Viewed from another perspective, it can seem a little precious or purposefully manipulative. Depending on what is happening in your life (I’m mostly thinking about whether or not you are in a relationship, and if you are happy), this movie can preach the glory of love and the pain of rejection. On the flipside, if you have shaken free the angsty, teenager-esque feelings everyone has had in their youth, you may feel like you’re being talked down to.

Cleo De 5 A 7 AKA Cleo from 5 to 7

Taking place, as the title suggests, from 5 to 7, we get a slice of the life of Cleo played out before us. Sometimes we, along with Cleo herself, are a voyeurs into the lives of people around her, and other times we are focused on her as she roams around Paris. By and large Cleo lives a carefree, spoiled life, yet we still sympathize with her when times are hard, and cheer for her when they are good. This is a small film in a lot of ways, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t impacting and beautiful.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

I have to admit.  I didn’t like Lawrence of Arabia that much.  Perhaps I was too young to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of Lean’s desert panorama camerawork, or just maybe it was the epic length that decided it for me.  One way or another, I didn’t appreciate it as much as everyone else seems to think I should. 

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Overly reliant on gimmicks and quick editing techniques, The Manchurian Candidate doesn’t flesh out the story nearly…wait, no that was the terrible re-make that came out in 2004.  The original 1962 version, is just as taught, and well executed today as it was at its release.  While the story between the two versions remained virtually the same, the consistent building of tension and anxiety, combined with the pitch perfect acting of Lawrence Harvey, Frank Sinatra (yes…Frank Sinatra), and the devilish turn of Angela Lansbury as the Queen of Hearts, makes for a fantastic film.

Lolita (1962)

It took me forever to finally see Lolita.  I have known the basic story (older man, younger girl) but had just never gotten around to seeing it.  And while I’ve been told that the book is much better, I thought the film was pretty good.  Not great, mind you, but definitely solid.  The shocking and controversial nature of the relationship was toned down a bit for the screen, and maybe as a result doesn’t seem all that shocking in today’s day and age.  Memorable turns by Peter Sellers, and Shelley Winters, not to mention it’s an early film of Stanley Kubrick.

The Birds (1963)

Despite being one of Hitchcock’s most popular, I actually think that The Birds is one of his most over-rated.  I think I owe it to myself to give this one another look someday, but right now I feel that it was too heavily based on the gimmick that had to rely on special effects.  Though it is not necessarily the fault of the movie, but the special effects seemed particularly dated and old fashioned.  Worth a watch, but not my favorite by a long shot.

8 1/2 (1963)

Federico Fellini is, by most accounts, a master of cinema.  One, that I have always had a little trouble getting fired up over.  It’s not that I don’t like his films once I’ve seen them, the problem comes in when it comes to motivating myself to see them.  I couldn’t tell you why, but his films consistently get pushed off when they come up on my Netflix Queue or when I see the one or two I have on my shelf.  I shouldn’t feel this way, considering I really loved the moving poetry, and soul baring passion in 8 1/2, yet it still happens.  One very definite reason to watch this film is the man-crushable Marcello Mastroianni, swaggering through as the alter-ego of Fellini himself.  Dealing with all the reservations with women, making movies, childhood, and the future that the director very famously dealt with himself, Mastroianni embodies a certain cool, yet believable character that begs to be watched.  Combined with imagery that leaves the audience wanting more, 8 1/2 is a fantastic film.

Well, that’s it for this time.  Thanks for reading!

Jina with her Thanksgiving turkey

On this cool autumn day before Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think about how giving thanks for all the wonderful blessings in our lives is universal.

It became so real to me when the heroine in my upcoming novel, The Blonde Samurai, is in 1874 Japan celebrating Thanksgiving with her samurai family.

Check out my blog at NAUGHTY AUTHOR CHICKS and see what my heroine, Katie O’Roarke, wrote in her memoir.

Best,
Jina  

The Sword of Doom is one of my favorite samurai films.

The last ABAA meeting for the year is nearly upon us — 8 Dec 2009. The topic of conversation will be ‘what is a business analyst’s role in an agile world’?

At first I thought this would be a very interesting conversation but the more I thought about it the more I thought it was a little naive to be asking the question in this way. Is there an actual role? … see for yourself . . .

Kanban

• Prescribes no formal roles

ZenAgile

• Samurai – the defender of the project
• Roshi – the project lead, teacher and mentor
• Sensei – the team’s mentor, leader and users’ champion
• Team – multi-disciplinary where its members are chosen based on need

Scrum

• Scrum Master – protector and champion of the team from The Powers That Be
• Product Owner – customer representative and stack prioritiser
• Team – multi-disciplinary based on need

Extreme Programming (XP)

• Tracker - measures and communicates the team’s progress
• Coach – like the Sensei in ZenAgile this is a supporting role that helps a team stay on process and help the team learn
• Tester – helps the customer define and write acceptance tests for user stories in the same way a Product Owner might do in Scrum
• Customer - defines what is the right product to build, determines the order in which features will be built, and makes sure the product actually work
• Programmer - implements the code to support the user stories
• Programmer administrator - manages the programmer environment

DSDM [1]

• Executive Sponsor – commits appropriate funds and resources
• Visionary – initialises the project by ensuring that essential requirements are found early on. The Visionary has the most accurate perception of the business objectives of the system and the project. Another task is to supervise and keep the development process in the right track.
• Ambassador User – the knowledge of user community into the project, ensures that the developers receive enough amount of user’s feedback during the development process.
• Advisor User – the one who represents important users’ viewpoints
• Project Manager – manages the project in general
• Technical Coordinator – designs the system architecture and controls the technical quality in the project
• Team Leader – ensures that the team works effectively as a whole.
• Developer – interprets the system requirements and model it including developing the deliverable code and build the prototypes
• Tester - checks the correctness in a technical extents by performing some testings. Tester will have to give some comments and documentation.
• Scribe – gathers and records the requirements, agreements, and decisions made in every workshop
• Facilitator – manages the workshops progress, acts as a motor for preparation and communication.

RUP

• Well, it has over 30 roles … so let’s not go there

If the essence of agile is simplicity then there’s certainly something wrong with some of these ways of working. The most striking thing in all of these is the lack of an actual, dedicated, business analysis role. There are certainly elements of a standard BA in DSDM’s Scribe and Facilitator roles. The Tester and Tracker roles in XP could also be done by someone with a BA background. Craig Brown of Better Projects has even suggested that a BA could undertake the role of the Product Owner in Scrum. But Scrum, ZenAgile and Kanban essentially take the most appropriate people with the most appropriate skills in order to acomplish a specific task or activity. In these, there is obvious room for a BA role to lead or follow, but no defined role for a BA to play as it’s task dependent.

So what is a business analyst’s role in an agile world? Just like there is no PM role in agile there is also no actual BA role either. In some areas that focus more on software engineering there aren’t even any standard analyst roles but moreover a focus on eliciting customer needs directly. It means that in some agile projects there may not be a perceived need to involve an analyst at all.

In reality, though, someone needs to assist with the following:

• Understanding users’ needs, wants, expectations, capabilities and attitudes
• Communicating and documenting those needs
• Translating those needs to those who will implement the project
• Ensuring that the output meets the needs of users and the strategic goals of the project and, moreover, the organisation as a whole

This reinforces that skills in business analysis are important for everyone in the project and not just a single role as is prevalent in traditional waterfall projects. It suggests that everyone, from the project lead, samurai or scrum master, should have these skills.

So what is a business analyst’s role in an agile world? There is no BA role. But everyone should definitely have a business analysts skills.

M

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1. http://www.businesspme.com/uk/articles/rh/49/Roles-of-DSDM.html

Even more than flowers

With every new film, Koreeda Hirokazu (After Life, Nobody Knows) shows himself to be one of the giants of modern Japanese film. He seems to have inherited the space left behind by Itami Juzo (Tampopo, Supermarket Woman) telling Frank Capraesque tales of kindness and affection overcoming insurmountable odds, creating a world where life’s bitterness is always tempered by the sweet and simple joys that life can provide.

Koreeda is definitely a stylist, and it should come as no surprise that his take on the samurai genre, “Hana” (Japanese title “Hana yori mo naho,” or “Even more than flowers.”) has this same bittersweetness. With this film, Koreeda has taken one of Japan’s most recognizable stories, a tale told for more than two hundred years and always with a fist pounding the chest and a grim face, and turned it into a sweet love story.

The story is Chushingura, known in English as the “47 Ronin.” The real-life tale of the loyal 47 Ronin who avenge the death of their Lord Asano has been re-told and filmed countless times since the incident occurred in 1701. The title of this film is actually a reference to the event, being a snatch of a poem recited by Lord Asano before his enforced ritual suicide. “Though we may regret the scattering of the flower petals in the wind, even greater is the regret in my heart.”

Koreeda has used Chushingura as the decoration for his main story, of a samurai named Soza (Okada Junichi, who appeared in an early made-for-TV adaptation of “Chushingura”) who has been charged with the vengeance-killing of the man who slew his father. Soza’s father, a proud samurai, was killed not on the battleground but in a dispute over a game of Go, and the clan looks to Soza to reclaim his father’s honor and to prove himself as a samurai. Soza, however, is not a violent man, and has whiled away three years pretending to seek the killer while actually whiling his time away in the dire poverty of a series of row houses, and getting to know the people living there.

Life in the row houses allows for an ensemble cast, including a few of the 47 Ronin who are hiding out and plotting their revenge. Soza strikes up a friendship with a neighbor named Osae, (Miyazawa Rie, who had also appeared in a previous adaptation of “Chushingura.”) and her orphaned son, who looks on Soza as a father-figure. A three-stooges like trio of comedy relief try to figure out how they can increase their excrement, which is sold to farmers and pays for the New Year’s mochi. In a plotline straight out of The Goonies, a cruel landlord plans to evict all of the tenants of the row house unless they can come up with the back-rent all of them own. Cue the wacky plan and let the hijinks begin.

The only film I can really compare “Hana” to is Kurosawa Akira’s The Lower Depths. This is a story of love and life amongst the lower classes, and of those who face the demands of their station as opposed to the whispers of their hearts. It is a peaceful, quiet film with no action and no dramatic conclusion. And it is beautiful. The music is especially delightful. I am not sure what kind of instrument is playing but I love the sound and it fits perfectly with the tone of the film.

If you like Koreeda’s films and the message that he sends, then you will fall in love with “Hana.” I certainly did. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that all samurai films need heavy-hitting heroes and bold drama to make for a great film experience.

From Toy Story to Bolt, animation has brought us an array of wonderful characters to cherish and enjoy. This roundup highlights a selection of simply awe inspiring 3D characters.

Stunning 3D Characters

Captain Jack Sparrow

Created using 3DSmax, Zbrush and Photoshop, the attention to detail and expression are fantastic.

Bobby, The Little Octopus

Textured using ZBrush and decorated with Blender, taking 5 days of work. Bobby is a unique and fascinating piece of work.

Harlequin

Hauntingly realistic, Harlequin is truly a spectacular piece of art. At first glance, one might think this was a well lit photo.

Science Doc

Modeled in maya and rendered in Mental Ray, Science is an excellent character, with matching production values.

Goblin Mechanic

Inspired by Max Cant’s soldiers when modeling the furnace on his back he is full of expression and crammed with an array of wonderful details.

Will Smith Caricature

Hilarious and superbly created using Cinema 4D, ZBrush and Photoshop. It has a warmth and charm that make it stand out.

Jelly Spider Friend

Realistic and a little creepy, this is beautifully crafted with amazing colors and textures. The lighting adds to the freakish feel of the piece.

Cloud Tribute

A tribute to the popular Final Fantasy character Cloud, the emotion behind the eyes is extremely powerful.

Beautiful Vanadisa

Created in Daz Studio with a rendering time of over 22 hours, this is a simply breathtaking 3D portrait.

Isabelle

Modeled using a combination of Poser, Vue, Cinema 4D and Photoshop CS, she has a real sense of mystery and magic.

Art Ventura

A wonderful caricature, Art Ventura solves mysterious CG cases. The behind the scenes of its creation is worth viewing.

Ogryn Stare

The artists first project using ZBrush with the entire piece taking over two days. It makes great use of textures.

Rose

A beautiful pose and composition, great use of light and a thoroughly captivating expression make Rose a compelling piece.

Emocionado

A funny and charming piece with great attention to detail on the cloth patterns and the stubble on the chin.

Aztec Priest

Inspired by Mel Gibson’s movie “Apocalypto”, this Aztec Priest is detailed, imaginative and original.

Cyber Goth

Created using a combination of Poser and Photoshop, the design on her scalp and the eye markings really draw the eye.

Samurai Troll

The texture work in the armor plates and skin are amazing given that the artist views this as a work in progress.

Smoking Creature

I don’t what’s more frightening, the hideous character or the amazing amount of realism he possesses.

Kai

This is Kai, Nariko’s dedicated friend (from Heavenly Sword). Created using Poser, Vue and Photoshop.

Shadow Conscious

Absolutely incredible detail, the artist really captured the emptiness in her eyes and created a character deep in thought.

Female Vampire

Inspired by the vampire film 30 Days of Nights, this female vampire looks really realistic and deliciously evil.

Arwen

Created using Cinema 4D, Poser, Vue and Photoshop with an obscene render time, Arwen is a pearlescent beauty.

Fries With That

Fantastic modelling, texturing and shading make this utterly realistic, you will think it’s a photograph. An amazing achievement in 3D realism.

Suspicious Minds

An incredibly striking, beautiful, realistic and moving portrait with an interesting story behind it.

The Worlds Enemy

A superb model of Sephiroth from Final Fantasy with the rendering taking 3 hours and the post production taking 6 hours.

Chris In 3D

An absolutely stunning combination of Poser and Photoshop work. Do yourself a favor and check out this render’s immaculate details.

Cyborg Head 01

The level of detail is nothing short of amazing, enhanced by the textures and lightning that give this 3D render superb qualities.

Ethereal

Artwork based on the W40k universe, it’s an Ethereal from the TAU empire, taking 2 days to complete using Cinema 4D, ZBrush, VRay and Photoshop.

Knight of the Temple

A lone knight of the Temple, standing guard. The chainmail and stone are particularly brilliant in detail and texture.

Grandma

Just awesome detail, amazing textures, superb blending and the befuddling expression on the woman’s face make this a wonderful piece of work.

Am 21. November 2009 fand unser diesjähriger Lehrgang mit Peter Mixa (6. Dan) in Schwarzenbek (Compe Halle) statt.

Mit Karateka aus Gastvereinen, z.B. Reinbek und Kiel erlenten wir viele neue Techniken aus dem Wadoryu Grundschul-Programm und eine neue Kata”Jitte”.

Unter Anleitung von Peter Mixa wurden die in der letzten Stunde einige Kumite-Grundtechniken perfektioniert.

Nach der Schulung absolvierten einige Karateka erfolgreich ihre Gürtelprüfung. Allen, die bestanden haben unser “Herzlichen Glückwunsch”!

En cierta ocasión, un belicoso samurai desafió a un anciano maestro zen a que le explicara los conceptos de cielo e infierno.

Pero el monje replicó con desprecio:

—¡No eres más que un patán y no puedo malgastar mi tiempo con tus tonterías!

El samurai, herido en su honor, montó en cólera y desenvainando la espada, exclamó:

—Tu impertinencia te costará la vida.

—¡Eso —replicó entonces el maestro— es el infierno!

Conmovido por la exactitud de las palabras del maestro sobre la cólera que le estaba atenazando, el samurai se calmó, envainó la espada y se postró ante él, agradecido.

—¡Y eso —concluyó entonces el maestro—, eso es el cielo!

La súbita caída en cuenta del samurai de su propio desasosiego ilustra a la perfección la diferencia crucial existente entre permanecer atrapado por un sentimiento y darse cuenta de que uno está siendo arrastrado por él.

Extracto del libro Inteligencia Emocional de Daniel Goleman.

Que tal lectores, navegando por la mar de información que es internet (y taringa en específico) me encontré con algo que tal vez les sea interesante, es el código Samurai, conocido comúnmente como Bushido, el cual está basado en los principios (valores) que todo guerrero Samurai debió cumplir, para los interesados en leerlo un poco más detallado, aquí.

Una versión de samurai estilo manga.

Bueno, después de esto me salté a lo que es el lema de la Revolución Francesa, que a mi parecer es una pauta a los principios de cualquier constitución política.

Y finalmente, como el bushido está relacionado con diversas vertientes filosóficas, terminé leyendo acerca del Ying y Yang. Interesante la manera en que toman la dualidad para representar todo lo que nos rodea.

Como veŕan mis atrofiadas neuronas trabajan de manera aleatoria (LOL). Vale, la entrada fue espontánea. Espero comenten. Hasta la próxima entrada.