XSp.

Souvenir Landmarks – Michael Hughes

xsportseeker — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:40:54 +0000

Michael Hughes’ photography idea is simple yet very entertaining…

Souvenir Landmarks - New York Yellow Cab

…using perspective to place cheap souvenirs just in the right place to superimpose it’s real counterparts.

I don’t have much to say about the series, so I’ll just post all the images in sequence.
If I get some of the landmarks wrong, just correct me in the comments!

Souvenir Landmarks - London Big Ben

Souvenir Landmarks - London Red Phone Booth

Souvenir Landmarks - Egypt Sphynx

Souvenir Landmarks - Paris Eiffel Tower

Souvenir Landmarks

Souvenir Landmarks - San Francisco Golden Gate

Souvenir Landmarks

Souvenir Landmarks - Egypt Pyramid

Souvenir Landmarks - Statue of Liberty

Souvenir Landmarks - Abbey Road

If you liked the photographs, pay a visit to Michael Hughes official webpage.

Source: Toxel

Publicado emFotografia, Photography Tagged: br, en, souvenir landmarks michael hughes photography

Hatsune Miku – Who’s that Girl?

xsportseeker — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:17:53 +0000

I’ve been posting tons of Hatsune Miku and Vocaloid content, so it’s natural for people to ask questions like:
“Which anime is she from?”
“Who’s that girl?”
…and stuff like that.
LOTS of people ask and get asked that question everyday, so someone decided to make a video explanation:

Hatsune Miku IS NOT an anime character (there’s no official manga or anime… yet), she’s actually a character developed to represent a specific voice on a voice synthesizer app called Vocaloid, which also has tons of other characters and voices.

For those who don’t know, voice synthesizer apps are computer softwares used to create voices for determined purposes… be it to replace singers in music, or to dictate text.
Vocaloid is famous because, at least for japanese lyrics, it has reached the closest resemblance to human natural speech ever, something extremely hard to achieve.
And it’s an incredibly positive thing because it allows music composers to create music without the need to find a talented singer (a controversial issue, I know).
Here’s a very thorough video explaining the phenomena… use the YouTube menu to turn the closed caption english subtitles on:

Back to Hatsune Miku, people liked her design so much she eventually spawned a huge ammount of products (like posters, games and figures) and fan made music videos, animations, doujinshi, etc… reaching a fame status few other anime characters have.
Probably due to her not having an “official” personality, so people can spin it the way they want.
I hope this helps those who were in doubt, and that it also spreads the trend.. I realize there are tons of talented composers out there that ends not having their value recognized because of flawed musicians performing their stuff, so it’s really amazing to see composers like ryo getting attention and being able to show the world their work.

Publicado emOtaku, Otaku Related, Videos, Videos-br Tagged: br, en, quem e hatsune miku vocaloid, who is hatsune miku vocaloid character

Discussão Anime: Haibane Renmei

xsportseeker — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:14:34 +0000

De um dos meus criadores favoritos, Yoshitoshi ABe, Haibane Renmei é o anime que vamos falar sobre neste post da série de Discussão Anime!

Haibane Renmei

A série Discussão Anime é focada em temas complexos ou adultos (não no sentido erótico ou violento), um pouco para servir de recomendação para
The Anime Discussion series is focused on animes with temas mais sérios da animação japonesa, e um pouco para que você possa mostrar para amigos/pais/parentes que animes não são só para crianças.

Os três títulos possíveis são: Haibane Renmei, Ailes Grises ou Charcoal Feather Federation… todos fazendo referência a cor cinzenta das asas das protagonistas.
E mais uma vez, a razão pela qual estou escrevendo o post é o trabalho de arte, e a história.

Haibane Renmei

A primeira coisa que chamou minha atenção foi o trabalho artístico. Yoshitoshi ABe é o mesmo autor de Serial Experiments Lain.
A impressão que tive foi de uma pintura daquelas renascentistas animada, com cenários que não podem ser comparados com nada que eu já tivesse visto antes.

Haibane Renmei

E então, quando comecei a assistir, a trama provou ser tão singular quanto o trabalho artístico.
A história é centrada em Rakka, e o anime começa com seu “nascimento”.
Ela é a nova Haibane, e uma das poucas coisas que sabemos é que as Haibanes nascem em casulos, com idades diferentes, e elas não sabem nada a respeito de sua vida prévia.
Aqui está o episódio zero, prelúdio ou promo:

Haibanes são nascidas na Old Home, que parece ser um complexo de apartamentos bem antigo, localizado na cidadezinha de Glie, que é isolada do resto do mundo por muros gigantescos.
Dentro desses muros moram basicamente 3 “classes” diferentes… as Haibanes, humanos normais, e os Toga, os únicos que tem acesso para fora do muro, só que eles nunca falam e nunca revelam seus rostos.

Haibane Renmei

Apesar de todo o mistério, o anime segue um ritmo bem lento, com Rakka tentando encontrar uma forma de viver com as novas amigas e a nova situação. Pode levar um tempo para se acostumar, assim como outros animes complicados.
Religião nunca é explícitamente abordado como tema, mas pode ser considerado como um dos… já que as Haibanes tem asas e auréolas, de forma que quem assiste acaba pensando sobre isso.
Mas da forma que eu vejo, os temas principais são: Um pouco de política, tentar viver em harmonia mesmo com várias regras e dificuldades, a adaptação a um novo lugar, as escolhas que fazemos em vida, sentimentos como amizade, culpa e arrependimento, e finalmente a morte.

Haibane Renmei

É verdadeiramente uma obra de arte em todos os níveis. Uma daquelas histórias que você vai poder assistir quando for mais velho(a), e então analizar o conteúdo novamente, tirando novas conclusões a respeito.
A trilha sonora é outro ponto alto, mas vou deixar pra falar mais sobre em outros posts já que também faz parte da série permanent playlist.

Ok, chega de escrever tanto, aqui está a abertura:

Publicado emAnimes, Discussões, Originais, Série, Videos-br Tagged: br, discussao anime haibane renmei, en

Anime Discussion: Haibane Renmei

xsportseeker — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:13:41 +0000

From one of my favorite creators, Yoshitoshi ABe, Haibane Renmei is the anime I’ll be talking about on this post of the Anime Discussion series!

Haibane Renmei

The Anime Discussion series is focused on animes with adult or really deep themes (not meaning erotic or violent content), a little to serve as recommendation to more serious themes in japanese animation, a little so you can show to your friends/parents/relatives that animes are not for kids only.

The three possible titles actually are: Haibane Renmei, Ailes Grises or Charcoal Feather Federation.
And once again, the reason I’m making a post about it is both the art and the plot.

Haibane Renmei

As you probably noticed, the first thing that got my attention was the artwork. Yoshitoshi ABe is the same author from Serial Experiments Lain.
The impression I had was of an animated painting, with scenarios that couldn’t be compared to anything else I had lay my eyes to.

Haibane Renmei

And then, when I started watching it, the plot proved to be as unique as the artwork.
It’s centered on Rakka, and the anime begins with her “birth”.
She’s the new Haibane, and one of the few things we know is that they are born on cocoon, at different ages, and they know nothing about their previous selfs.
Here’s the episode zero, prelude or promo:

Haibanes are all born in Old Home, which looks like a really old apartment complex, located in the town of Glie that is isolated from the rest of the world by huge walls.
Inside the walls basically 3 different “classes” live together… the Haibanes, normal humans and the Toga, the only ones that can have access to outside the walls, only they never speak and never reveal their faces.

Haibane Renmei

Despite the plot surrounded in mistery, the anime follows a slow pace, with Rakka trying to find her own way of living with the new friends and situation. It might take some getting used to, just like most complex animes.
Religion is never explicitly raised as a subject, but it can be considered as one of the themes… since the Haibanes have wings and halo, and people are bound to think about that.
But as I see, the main themes here are: some political content, trying to live despite hardships, trying to adapt to a new place, choices we make in life, lots of feelings like friendship, guilt and regret, and finally death.

Haibane Renmei

It’s truly a masterpiece. One of those stories you’ll be able to watch when you get older, and then analyze it’s content once again, taking new conclusions from it.
The soundtrack is yet another major point, but you’ll hear it later on since some of it is on my permanent playlist series.
Ok, enough of me talking (typing), here’s the opening:

Publicado emAnime Related, Discussions, Originals, Series, Videos Tagged: anime discussion haibane renmei ailes grises charcoal feather federation, en

Exploding Water Bubbles

xsportseeker — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:50:19 +0000

A neat scientific experience showing how to create hydrogen using electricity, salt and water only.
And since hydrogen is a flammable gas, you get exploding bubbles on water.

This could be the very basic principle of making a car fueled with water.
Of course, tons of obstacles and energy efficiency issues to solve before getting there… but still.

Source: YouTube Browsing

Publicado emVideos, Videos-br Tagged: br, en, exploding water bubbles

Roll Roll Pirate! (Browser)

xsportseeker — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:01:01 +0000

Roll Roll Pirate! by DevilishGames is an obstacle course game in which you are a ball pirate(?) trying to recover your tresures which were scattered through several islands.

So, what’s different on this game? The control scheme!
At first, it looks awful to control… since you mainly have a foward and backward movment, but the left and right arrow rotates the whole island!
But when you get past the tutorial island and start playing, you’ll understand why the controls are made that way!

Try it out at CandyStand’s Roll Roll Pirate! webpage!

Source: IndieGames

Publicado emGames, Independent, Independentes, Jogos, Videos, Videos-br Tagged: br, en, roll pirate devilish games candystand browser game

Li-ON Laptop Battery Explosion

xsportseeker — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:45:48 +0000

Here’s a very interesting demonstration of what could happen with your laptop in certain conditions (faulty battery, extreme heat or intense physical damage/puncturing), given it uses a Lithium-ion battery:

This was a controlled experiment where the battery was “prepared”… probably overheated.
If you follow the news, you probably already heard of at least a couple of cases where laptops suddenly caught fire and exploded. And this is why.
The contents of a Li-ON battery, a common type of battery for mobile devices, are extremebly flammable and can ignite (start a fire) or even explode if they are violated or overheated.
But don’t panic… you don’t need to throw your laptop and cellphone off… it’s still a very very rare occurance. I myself only heard of about 5 cases involving laptops and cellphones, which is nothing if you consider how many of them are out there.
Still, if you wanna play it safe, just DON’T buy cheap chinese pirate batteries, and if some weird accident happens with your mobile device… like it being punctured by some sharp pointy thing or you dropping it in a fireplace, keep your distance for a while… just to make shure it won’t explode.

Source: YouTube Browsage!

Publicado emVideos, Videos-br Tagged: br, en, lithium ion laptop battery explosion fire

Hatsune Miku – The World is Mine

xsportseeker — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:19:52 +0000

Among all Vocaloid musics and adaptations, some has reached fame with dedicated artwork, figure and others.
I’ll be posting some of them here since it’s obligatory on otaku curriculum to know them… xD

The World is Mine is one of them!
Pay attention to the lyrics! xD

Here’s an animated cute version:

Composition and lyrics by ryo.
Aaand, this is the closest thing we have to a Hatsune Miku anime yet… and it’s pretty good.

Publicado emMúsica, Music, Otaku, Otaku Related, Videos, Videos-br Tagged: br, en, hatsune miku vocaloid the world is mine

Cosplay Series – Kipi 1

xsportseeker — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:16:16 +0000

This is a series featuring cosplay, cosplaying and cosplayers!

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Asuka swimsuit ver) - Kipi

Over the years, I have collected tons of anime, games and general cosplaying photos, so I decided to share them here.
Identification goes like this: “Anime/Game/Source Name” (“Character Name”) – “Cosplayer Name/Nick”.

I’ll try my best to identify the cosplayers and the characters, but since most of my collection is really a bunch of pictures randomly picked from forums, blogs, image boards, Google Images and researches for other projects, for most of the pictures I’ll need your help.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (Suzumiya) - Kipi

Also please forgive me if I got the source (anime/game), character or cosplayer wrong… I don’t have much time for the research, so I have to do it really fast and mistakes are to be expected. Just correct me using the comment system.

? (?) - Kipi

(Something to do with Ichigo or Strawberry?)

Take notice this is really a random collection… sometimes I might post really amateur stuff, sometimes professional cosplayers with full photoshopping treatment.

? (?) - Kipi

(This one is kinda hard, since she’s using a very standard sailor fuku… if I had to guess, it’d be Zetsubou Sayonara Sensei)

Since I don’t know the source, I might sometimes get some AV stuff mixed, some non-cosplay fashion like Gothic Lolita or Visual Key and even non-cosplayers who got photoshopped.

Alice in Wonderland? (Alice?) - Kipi

(best guess)

10 pics tops (but oftenly less) for each post so it doesn’t get too tiring. Specially for series of random characters and cosplayers like this one.

Kanon (Shiori) - Kipi

I also have collections of pics from specific cosplayers in specific characters, which I’ll post later on. We’ll probably have some repeated pics, but I don’t think this will be a major problem.

There are also several cosplaying pics I took myself on several anime conventions in Brazil… but most of them need selection, photoshopping and conversion, so I’ll post them when I have more free time.

Death Note (Misa) - Kipi

About this post: Exclusive post of Kipi cosplays. For those who don’t know her, Kipi is one of the (if not the) most famous japanese cosplayer.

? (?) - Kipi

(this time I have absolutely no idea, though it seems pretty easy for fans to identify)

Kipi was the first pro cosplayer I saw on the Internet, and she made numerous characters so far. And she is still an active cosplayer, so expect more posts of her.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Asuka) - Kipi

Source: Google Images, Image boards, forums, and several blogs! I can’t list or credit all sources because my collection goes back over 5 years.

Publicado emCosplay, Cosplay-br, Série, Series Tagged: br, cosplay cosplaying cosplayers kipi, cosplay series xspblog, cosplayer japonesa profissional kipi, en, kipi japanese professional cosplayer

I Can Has Cheezburger – Window Cleaning Cat

xsportseeker — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:23:09 +0000

When windows needs some cleaning, call WINDOW CLEANING CAT!

Kinda look like he’s dancing or something too… xD

From I Can Has Cheezburger YouTube Channel.
Also visit I Can Has Cheezburger website!

Publicado emSérie, Series, Videos, Videos-br Tagged: br, en, i can has cheezbuger window cleaning cat