Stealing Intellectual Property?

Lol the title is a little bit of an exaggeration but I googled myself (tohukyo) which is a little narcissistic BUT I did it because I wanted to check what accounts I made over the years using the username to ensure personal info isn't revealed. Turns out I've created a number of accounts that don't do that (found one that did but changed it) and I happened upon a DEVIANT Art account that isn't mine WITH my username. NOw I'm not sure who created it is since it isn't me (I use a standard date of birth for this username usually for accounts or my real one May 22). It's quite ironic that it's on Deviant art because I consider the person who is using my username a deviant. It's a name I consider quite precious to me since I CREATED THE NAME and it brings up wonderful memories of relationships I've formed online using this username--the online game RF for example which is what I originally created it for). I of course could be flattered that someone is using the name however it's nothing flattering if the person doesn't ask. Of course it is the internet and the internet is kind of anarchist but come on, why didn't you just ask? I obviously would have said no but I would be flattered of course but now it's kind of irksome especially since it's very sentimental to me. =l As annoying as it is, I used to always say "the internet is anarchy"where even the government can cross lines. Sigh...I'm disappointed.

Quick Post--MF Forums down?

Simple as the title is. I haven't been able to access Mangafox Forums in the last few days so I can't post any commentary on any mangas I have. I use batoto as well but still, Mangafox is my go-to place for manga discussions. Batoto has a comments section so it kind of becomes the unofficial forum for things like "latest chapter discussion thread"s. Anyway, I tried it out on three different browsers, all say "Server Error" and I can't check to see if it's my DNS I'm not tech-savvy enough. I also did one of those internet website status things (the sites where you paste the url of a site to see if it's just you and not anyone else who can't access it), according to that site I checked on, the forums aren't working for everyone. I don't know if that's true though. Well not such a big deal since I should be studying....

Tata...

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UPDATE--Jan 26 (noon-ish)

MF forums are back up. It took like 2 or 3 days just to update the server format I guess. They added an activity log like on facebook which is lame because I don't need to know every single detail of what other people are doing and I don't need some person going to my profile seeing my activity (hence why I'm always in invisible mode on MF). The fact they brought down the server just for that is lame. "Dislike!"


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UPDATE #2--Jan 26 (nearing midnight)

So according to the announcements, the server down for the forums was due to ridding of malware stuff (about time, chrome was high on alert for those) and for changing the forums (again-lame). So earlier this evening, I checked in on MF forums again (my profile) and not so much to my surprise, the activity log was removed. Wonder if that'll be permanent...But now, geez, they're still trying to fix things. If it's for the malware, go ahead but it seems like they're still messing with the formatting because now I'm seeing the customize profile stuff on my profile when I haven't even clicked on customize profile.


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Update #3-Feb 6

It's ridiculous how much they screwed up the forums in the last couple of weeks.

The Exclusivity of Projects Rant-ish

I'm not going to get too into this because I have other things I should be doing but I can't help but make note of this. Months ago, I blogged about the Exclusivity of Projects and the basics of that whole "private property" notion that scanlators adopt (those who respect it that is). I also made note of how people can abuse that. Now this post is about one group (whom I shall not name but you may speculate from the details).

This group has really been a thorn I'd say but in another respect they are quite notable for "good" scanlating work. This group is one of the oldest I'd say (relatively), they've been going at it for quite awhile and produce HQ scanlations. HOWEVER, the thing that irks me the most and also displays the abuse of the exclusivity "phenomenon" is the freaking fact that they keep taking up new projects and not bothering to actually complete old ones. Ok so I've done a count and here are the numbers:

Totaling "active" projects are about 120 (+/- 5)!! 

Projects that they've set their sights on (therefore other groups may not touch them unless they contact the group for "permission") totals to 170 (+/- 5).

AND "future" oneshots add up to about 130!!

Now I suppose I can just counteract that by observing what their completion ratio is so here are the numbers: 75 (+/-5)

I get it, the amount of man power it takes and I get that I'm not taking into consideration the amount of chapters and differences in terms of quality of work required for each manga as well as the fact that they may not have listed every single project they've completed but still...This number of active projects is quite excessive and the future ones that they have their sights on (it's good to look towards the future but it's obviously gotten out of control) is quite outrageous (somewhat of an exaggeration on my part i suppose). Now, they certainly turn out great work and I absolutely praise them for that but when I just see on whatever manga site I"m on and on the updated page, a manga with their group name on it saying "Chapter 1" as an update, it just pricks at me with annoyance.

I"m actually making it a bigger deal than it is and I actually don't care that much as it sounds like I do here but seriously it's like WTH right? Mmmm...yeah, that's all I wanted to say.

Lol first time I posted something related to manga on this blog in awhile. And a tangent from this blog but still related to the whole exclusivity thing, I just wish that people would take it in strides as in if some low blow scanlator picks up a project without any consideration for the HQ scanlator, I wish the HQ scanlator will just be the bigger person and still release despite less numbers reading the HQ scans =l I surely prefer it over low blow quality (especially when they butcher the english langauge)

Well until next whenever that may be...midterms are coming up x0

TV Marathoning

Hi blog visitors,

So...things obviously didn't go as planned. The holidays have come and passed and now I'm starting a new quarter at school that's why more hectic than ever!! (why do I do this to myself...) ANYWAYS! There were a couple reasons why I didn't update the blog and such. 

One was because as soon as I got home, I somehow decided that I had to go out almost every single day. I'd say about 70% of my holiday consisted of shopping. Original objective since November was to buy sweaters and I ended up buying a bunch of knit "kind of" cardigans as well as shoes AND A NEW LAPTOP. A tiny notebook actually. My main laptop's motherboard F-ed up so I'm using a replacement laptop with all my stuff in a portable hard drive and my mini laptop serves as my lecture notes laptop. Also got around to watching the Catching Fire movie which I felt stayed pretty true to the storyline compared to the prequel (that was a disappointment to me but then again I've only watched it once so maybe I'll have a different opinion later on). 

The other reason why I didn't get to blogging was because, (other than the fact I was celebrating the holidays). I entered into a TV marathon-ing phase where I watch the whole half season of supernatural for this year, the whole 2.5 seasons of suits, all 2.5 seasons of 2 Broke Girls (Hilarious!). I think that's all I watched....RIP Kevin, you will be missed. It hit me when you died....OH and like 1.5 seasons of Arrow (rewatch actually because my brother and I already were following it but my sister just started watching so we watched it with her). Of course it's no fun watching on a small screen laptop. HDMI+Flat Screen+laptop, who needs DVR? =)

Anyways, that about sums up most of my holiday in a go. I don't feel like sharing my actual holiday celebration since that's too long of a story and no one wants to read that (then again I don't know who would want to read the contents of what I've posted here in this post anyways).

Well new year, new classes, bigger work load as well but I still feel the same ambivalence about my future.....

I"m actually still in my TV marathoning phase (not so much of course considering how I'm in school again) watching Merlin. I haven't read much manga to report on and to talk in the forums about. I'm taking a break I suppose and simply reading the ones I find worth following (ie whatever I decide to follow on batoto and even then I don't read every single one of the updates on the follows).

Bye and 'til next time..................................

Status Report

Greetings blog visitors,

I haven't done anything in the last few weeks for my blog (well I just post something up but that's been sitting there for quite awhile). This is a status report on my situation here in relation to the blog.

First, in the last few weeks, I haven't been able to get anything done. Why? Well for one, I got sick. One Saturday evening after eating a full dinner, my stomach didn't settle and that night I got up from bed and hurled up my dinner a few times. Thereafter, I felt like shit (excuse the language). Now it doesn't help that everyone around me in class is sick and I was feeling very weak as well so a few days later, I was felt sickly with a cold. Anyways, I got better but I still have that annoying cough that lasts forever as well as occasional return of a sore throat...I should probably go see a doctor about that. Secondly, I also had my second round of midterms. Crammed like heck, aced the first and totally bombed the second (I felt like I got kicked in the stomach).

Second, in the coming days and weeks although Thanksgiving break is coming up and winter break will soon arrive in a few more weeks, I'll be busy. I have a paper due and then a midterm on the week before finals (yeah, it's the quarter system alright). Then finals week will roll in, while there are exams going on, I will have to go to work still (more like a personal obligation) since my supervisor has deadlines to meet (and without me, she'll be totally helpless since it's a demanding job in which an assistant is necessary).

I have little time to write anything fresh and thought provoking (not that I've done that in the last few months either). Alright, if anyone cares, I won't be back until the holidays.

Best,
tohukyo

Quick Post--Cynical Orange

Hi everyone, this is just a copy of a post from a thread I created about the ending for Cynical Orange by Yoon Ji Un. It is my explanation for why and how the manhwa ends. I wrote it on the 4th of September, 2012. I just want it to be here because MF has this rule about NECRO posting which is kind of annoying since someone doesn't have enough of a life to go around different threads and closing all the threads that have relavence no matter how long ago the last post was made. This is the lack of efficiency for the forum rules on MF. No one really cares that much about necro posting for forgotten completed mangas. tsk....I might dig up some old thread posts as well from here on to give some insight on some mangas/manhwas. oh and FYI, this is a SPOILER if you didn't get that already.

Bittersweet Ending?
09/04/2012

I recently read the whole series, all 9 volumes from my local library. (I would scan it but I don't have that time nor can I keep the books for long since I'll be leaving home in a few weeks). 

Also, I don't know if people care but for every volume of the translated manhwa (idk if raws have it), Yun Ji Un (the manhwaga) has colored pages for the first few pages of the volume which usually provides some sort of insight about what was going to happen. This is what the last volume, volume 9 said in its colored pages:

The prince stayed true to his promise with the princess and tore down the tall and might tower.
In that instant, the princess realized she had nowhere left to live.
The princess grew so sad and confused that she wept.
The tired prince stood there speechless, then turned around and left.
With the tower a crumbled ruin and the prince nowhere to be found, the miserable princess was left alone.
But then the princess said, "Oh, now I can go anywhere I want."
The princess stopped crying and stood up.  

Metaphors: prince=Ma-Ha; tower= Shin-Bi; princess=Hye-Min

Many people see the ending as a tragedy however, I wouldn't call the ending a complete tragedy just b/c of what happened to Shin-Bi (his death). I thought that with Shin-Bi's horrifying pitiful and undeserving death, Hye-Min would punish herself forever by breaking up with Ma-Ha. Not only was Shin-Bi's death undeserving but if the manhwaga left the end with a true tragedy (Ma-Ha and Hye-Min breaking up), I would have been devastated because I didn't think Ma-Ha deserved to leave the manhwa in that state. (It made me tear up). But in the end they reunited =) Even though Shin-Bi died, it gave Hye-Min the opportunity to make a clean start and live/survive on her own. The memory of his death will haunt her on random days of her life probably but it gave her the push to truly enter the world and live among people. 

I think Ma-ha deserved to be with Hye-Min. It was explained as clear as day at the end. During the funeral, Ma-Ha says he'll wait for Hye-Min but Hye-Min rejects him because of the raw pain and grief of Shin-Bi's death. He knew that if he ignored Hye-Min's wishes and just remained by her side, she'd eventually return to him and lean on him for survival, much like the relationship between Shin-Bi and Hye-Min. However, in a way, he proved to be a good man by letting her live her life on her own for once. It seems like it's most logical for Hye-Min to have ended up with Ma-Ha because he wanted her to be independent whereas Shin-Bi wanted to isolate her/make her dependent on him. That's not living. Yes Hye-Min had a role in manipulation but when all is said and done, it doesn't change the fact that Ma-Ha=independence and Shin-Bi=isolation/dependence. So...yeah it's terrible the way Shin-bi died and the graphic explanation that So-Ryu gave made it a more undeserving death but it gave way for all three of them to move on and be free from stagnant loneliness and darkness.

Quick Post--the Hilariousness of Laziness

Very short quick post in praise of a new hilarious manga that I picked up a month ago. It's titled Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge aka Tanaka-kun Always Seems Listless (I've linked it to batoto). It's an ongoing manga but it's just so funny. First of all, this character isn't exactly "lazy", he's "listless" and he just exudes it in his whole being. That and his hard working friend make a great duo for this manga. You might feel tired reading this manga though because it really stresses on listless-ness but for me, again, HILARIOU!! Just try it out yourself, I can't do justice to this manga so just experience it for yourself.

That aside, have you guys ever noticed that during quizzes and exams in a room with at least 30 people let alone a large lecture hall of 300-400, in the quietness you begin to hear a symphony of coughs, sniffles and other sickly noises? It's not always but I've always noticed this for some reason especially when it's quiet and there isn't a symphony of noise. I find it oddly amusing b/c once one person goes, the room erupts in the sound of the sick one after the other. I wonder if the Professor and T.A.s think it's somewhat amusing as well (when I should be concentrating on my exam). Anyways....hope you enjoy the manga!