Main Menu
Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - Haruka

#1
Things in the Universe / Re: Ani-Jam 2011
August 02, 2011, 08:16:54 PM
BUMP
#2
Ani-Jam
Aug. 20-21, 2011
Fresno, CA
www.ani-jam.com
#3
People under 25 wouldn't be able to Google survival instructions.
#4
Things in the Universe / Ani-Jam 2011
May 31, 2011, 09:59:58 PM
Hey, Fanime-goers! 
     Post-Fanime depression got you?  Yeah, me too.  What to do?  Come on down to Ani-Jam 2011, August 20-21!  It's a small Con just gaining its footing and it needs all the support the Con community can provide!  So join us in Fresno for 2 days of fun and fandom!

http://www.ani-jam.com/Registration/tabid/61/CategoryID/1/Default.aspx

#6
This will be my third Swap Meet and I ususally get some great hagglers!  However, I developed a system.  When people ask how much something is, I ask them what they would like to pay.  I also promise them I will not be offended by whatever they offer.  If I agree w/the number they offer, they get the item.  If not, I offer a second or sometimes third number until we agree or the buyer walks.  It's resulted in the sale of most of the items I bring and at pretty reasonable prices, too.
#7
I cannot describe just how much I love that idea.
#8
Yeah, the train thing is totally true.  We tried to avoid rush hour(s) and only timed it badly, like once.  I ended up with this very embarrassed-looking man completely pressed against me from behind.  If you have personal space issues, avoid rush hour.  If not, do it once.  It will give you funny stories for later.

Venture south, though, seriously.  Suck up the dirty looks and curt clerks.  Tourists generally avoid places in which they don't feel welcome and you might see a few things you didn't expect.  I asked for trouble.  I'm a history teacher so I went to Hiroshima.  Oooooh, got the dirtiest look from this tiny old lady (not that it was unexpected), but it was totally worth it.  That place, aside from being a fantastic city choc full of cool stuff (including the coolest arcade ever!) but the Peace Park still haunts me.  It was cool.

@Pyron:
I did not know that.  I wore my hair in a bun or a braid the whole time and most of the time, so did my blonde friend.  This just happened to be one of those rare occassions when she didn't.  Now we know better for next time. ^,^
#9
Unfortunately, Pyron is right about the xenophobe thing.  The further north we went from Tokyo, the more people were just fascinated by us.  The further south we went (s. of Kyoto) we were not welcome.  We were a nuisance to be put up with only because we had money.  It was a strange dynamic.  However, even in Tokyo we ran across some predjudice.  Our first night there a friend of mine treated us to dinner in Shinjuku and as we waited, this young couple came in and asked to be seated right away becasue the girl didn't want to wait near the "smelly foreigners."

That actually segues pretty nicely for the hair-ripping story.  Basically, my friend has extremely long blonde hair ( at the time, it was to her butt, now it's at the back of her knees).  She was wearing it in a looped ponytail.  As we were walking through the train station, this GAL went past her wearing a wide-lappelled jacket that had brass caps on the corners.  My friend's hair got caught on one of the lapels of this lady's jacket and instead of simply unhooking it, this chick just straight up tore it out and said something really rude (I didn't catch it).  All of the sudden, my usually quiet friend explodes!  She started flinging every cuss word she knows in Japanese and when she ran out of those, she just started yelling random sh1t!  Even the police looked scared!  It was funny as hell.  And that chick RAN!  I have never seen somebody run in 6 inch heels before.  It took all four of us to get my friend outside, but once she calmed down, we all laughed so hard, I couldn't breathe!
#10
  Foreigners are treated like visitors.  Half-Japanese (or vaguely Asian-looking people) are treated as though they were Japanese. In other words, you will be expected to know the language, rules, etiquette, and how everything works.  Basically, you look like them and they will assume you know everything they know, therefore their patience with you may be limited.  Whereas, my friends and I were white, we were looked upon as cute little gaijin who are clueless as the day is long, so of course we don't know anything.  The people we encountered were shocked we could even understand basic Japanese, especially this chick my friend cussed out in a train station for intentionally ripping some of her hair out (long story).

     So my advice would be to do your research.  Know the language (if you don't already), work on your pronunciation, and read up.  There are tons of books on the subject and you can usually get them through the library for free.  You'll be amazed at how far a little research will take you and the people you come across on your travels will appreciate the obvious effort you've put forth.  Plus it reduces your culture shock and makes integrating into the society a little faster and a little easier.  If you would like, I can suggest some books titles to get you started.
#11
Video Programming / Re: Nostalgia Room ideas
April 24, 2011, 12:03:45 AM
Go Lion
Tenchi Muyo (Universe series)
Sailor Moon (all seasons)
Angelic Layer
Ronin Warriors
#12
Things in the Universe / Re: Pet Peeves
April 23, 2011, 11:43:04 PM
* Inexcusably obnoxious a-holes
* People who text and drive
* All things Adam Sandler
* All things Kanye West
* poor personal hygiene
* people who push their beliefs of others (expecially religious beliefs)
* Facebook games
* crappy drivers
#13
PyronIkari- "It's understandable to be upset that you didn't get a table, but seriously, you're trying to push blame on others instead of just accepting you made some bad choices. Even if you didn't make those bad choices you're not guaranteed a table. Like seriously, what would you want have been done? If you are serious about getting a table, you'd do everything you can to make sure all your info is in as early as possible, organized, nice cut and clean. That's how others felt, and that's how they acted. You just assumed things and put it off thinking "Well they didn't specifically state that it is first come first serve therefore I can put this off as long as I want". Submissions are looked at as they come in(when time is available). If they got x amount of passable before you even submitted, sorry that is no ones fault but yourself."

Do me a favor.  Don't respond simply for the thrill of seeing your "name" on the internet, especially when it's clear you have next to no idea what you're talking about. 

First of all, my information WAS clean cut, clear and organized.  For another, I registered Saturday morning, 3/26, when I was finally able to get the page to load properly (aka, as early as possible).  I have no idea what "bad choices" you are referring to, other than rookie ones you assumed I made.  And the employment anology was cute, except for several problems: a.) I don't pay my employer a registration fee for the privaledge of attending work and b.) I've actually run a HR dept and I collected all applications, then made decisions about who was qualified, not who sent theirs in first.  So, despite your own opinion, you don't actually know everything. 
Thanks!
#14
Since this is the first year I tried to sign-up, how would I know that?  It was not clearly stated.  The message that popped up after account submission gave the impression that registration would be accepted until the 15th at which time accounts would be reviewed and accepted.  Nowhere was FCFS even implied.  And if it was FCFS, why have a two week registration period when it appears all the places were spoken for and then some by 12a 3/26?  Like I said, a little more clarity and realism at the beginning of the process would have been appreciated.
#15
I, too, need to register my extreme dissatisfaction with how Artists Alley sign-ups were handled this year.  When the registration first appeared on the website, the message was basically, "It's not first-come-first-serve, we'll be going through the applicants one by one and choosing who gets in based on whether or not they meet the requirements."  Therefore I was not in a rush to sign.  I had an account in the 400s but was again reassured that the account number had nothing to do with my place in the registration process as it wasn't a first-come-first-serve situation...until the rules got changed in the middle of the process, I suspect because there were not enough volunteers to handle the amount of applications, which should not have been a surprise since Artists Alley is like this every year.  Then, all of the sudden it was first-come-first-serve and your account number pretty much let you know whether or not you were in before registration even closed. 

Now I don't have a problem with FCFS, but I would have appreciated a little more honesty and realism at the beginning the process and not have chances dashed because someone decided to change the rules in the middle of the game.  I was also never directly contacted regarding my registration status for better or worse.  The only reason I found out I was not accepted was by checking my account.  So, again, we are being told one thing only to be shown something else.
#16
Ditto.  I have quite the back-up of inventory.  I've been sewing since LAST Fanime.  Hope I gate in.  #486

~Willow's Closet~
#17
I'm getting out of cosplay and I have the following plus sized cosplay costumes to sell:
-Seiryuu no Miko (Fushigi Yuugi) w/jewelry and flesh-colored bodysuit
-Katy the Kitty Witch (Unico) w/petticoat and shoes
-Plaid Sailor Fuku (custom)
-O-ren Menshi (Excel Saga + Kill Bill vol.1) **AWARD WINNING**
-Scottish folk dancing outfit w/shoes

For details, contact me at: [email protected]

I also make clothes for the Asian Ball-Jointed Dolls: http://willowsclosetcom.ipage.com/store/index.html

All these items are still for sale and I will also be bringing all or most of the cosplay items to sell at the Swap Meet at Con.
#18
To those of you wondering how early you can get a Seller's Permit, I do not believe there is a date deadline.  I applied for mine at the end of January and the permit and tax paperwork has already arrived.
#19
Link for Seller's Permit FAQ and Application:
http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/boe400spa.pdf

What is the deal with sharing tables?  Can my friend help me sell?  I would like to be able to enjoy the Con, too.
#20
Hey, all!
    This is a head's up to all you ABJD owners and fans.  The second annual Central California Asian Ball-Jointed Doll Convention will be held this April in Fresno, CA!  This year's event will be bigger than last year's, with an expanded Dealer's Hall, panels, how-to demos and more!  Pre-reg is now open at:
www.ccbjd.org

Hope to see you there!