I used an Australian based importer called Tamarket. Usually I will order off Ebay, through a seller actually based in Japan, however, I thought I should test out someone local, mainly to encourage the local stores, but also to test out whether ordering locally makes things easier. IT DOES.

I managed to send out the order for the two figures on first morning of the trip, the order had arrived, via express post, when I got home the following day. A one day turn around, something impossible when ordering overseas. Tamarket’s prices were fairly reasonable as well, so I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone in Australia wanting to order anime figures.

Anyway, to the figures:

I am absolutely looking forward to the release of Valkyria Chronicles 2 later in the year, it is on my list of the four ‘must buy’ games for this year (others being Bioshock 2, Final Fantasy XIII and Gran Turismo 5, if it is ever released…).

“The Scheme took 25 years to build and was completed in 1974. More than 100,000 people from over 30 countries came to work in the mountains to make true a vision of diverting water to farms to feed a growing nation and to build power stations to generate renewable electricity for homes and industries.”

Whilst the above quote does contain just an ounce of spin (it doesn’t mention the environmental/cultural impacts the water diversion has caused), it pretty much sums up the scheme. Despite visiting some of the largest renewable energy (Hydro) sites in Australia is definitely interesting, having just returned back to studies, the trip wasn’t exactly well timed. Regardless, I did find Snowy Hydro Limited to be quite a welcoming company, very family themed, and very welcoming to us as visitors.

Essentially, the scheme has diverted flows from the Snowy River, which ran east from the Mountains, and flooded each year with the snow melt. The water is now captured and damed, then diverted west towards the Murray-Darling Basin, where a lot of Australia’s food/agricultural production is based. At the same time, the water releases are used to generate electricity through the Hydro Power stations.

There has been a lot of fuss about the impacts of diverting the Snowy west, mainly due to the fact that it now flows at just a few percent of its original capacity, severely impacting the communities and environment along its length. However, the diverted flows now support a significant proportion of Australia’s economy, both food and energy wise. This a prime example of the Utilitarianism idea of ‘the greatest good for the greatest number‘.

To make up for the lack of recent updates, I can share some of the photos taken over the two day period:

The last photo is of water being released into the original Snowy river, this amount of release was to continue for a couple of days, but I think thats about the maximum amount that is ever released

Did I accomplish all of the goals I wanted to complete before uni restarted? Well… kinda. I managed to save as much money as I was expecting to (ignoring the fact that the car Rego came up this month, which was a kick in the balls in itself). I have lost some weight, not as much as I was hoping, but I have been eating better and exercising way more than I used to (nightly exercises and switching from regular coke to coke zero have been effective). At least I’m losing weight instead of putting it on, thats a success in my book.

My photography has steadily improved and I’ve started exercising my brain by reading Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. Combined with steady growth in my anime consumption and acquisition. I think thats 3 out of 4 goals satisfied.

The only fault was through finding a place to live, which I contend only failed due to a technicality, having been rejected from a place after initially being accepted. The search still continues, having lodged a new application for another place today. Hopefully, the fulfilment of this goal has been delayed just temporarily.

I will definately be attending SMASH this year (the Sydney Manga and Anime Show) this year, the date for which was announced recently. SMASH 2010 . I may hold off ordering a Cosplay piece for this year, as an incentive to continue the search for a place to live.

As I mentioned earlier, studies restarted again this year, with my first lecture for a course in Nuclear and Particle physics this morning (nerdy nerd stuff…). However, as of tomorrow afternoon, I’m out of town again for work. It kinda sucks, having looked forward to the resumption of classes for the year, to be leaving again, heading south to look at some Hydroelectric power stations this week isn’t what I had in mind.

As bad as it sounds, I would much prefer to stay in town and focus on studies rather than look at the hydro power stations (once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all…), but I guess paid work dictates my life. Hopefully it will serve as a good opportunity for some more photography, so I should be able to provide a photo update later in the week.

So, no photos to share this time round, to make up for it, I give you Kirsten Dunst in Akihabara

The dead line is just 10 days away. I think I have managed to progress at least two, possibly three of the goals I set in the Transitions post. With the final (fourth) goal dependent on be finding a place to live. Again, so far, so good.

My new Figma Saber figure arrived today. I must admit, I am very impressed with Japan Post. Ordered the figure on Sunday, sent Monday, arrived Thursday morning. That’s between Shibuya Tokyo and Canberra Australia. Not bad, especially with tracking the whole way…

Here is my makeshift miniature lightning studio for my miniature figures. I knew my semiconductors would be useful for something…

One more figure and I think I get deemed a collector.

I did find the Figma Saber a lot more delicate compared to the Revoltech Saber I’ve posted earlier. It’s a little more fiddly to get Saber into the poses that I wanted, but Figma does give you a lot more flexibility in how she can be moved around, even before being able to interchange faces, hair, hands and swords. Whilst I do like the facial expression from the Revoltech figure better, I would highly recommend the Figma version just due to the options it gives.

Anyone looking for an excellent Cosplay of Saber should check out the work of Maridah. Her website can be found here. If anyone can claim to be a flesh and blood rendering of Saber, it’s her.

This really is a great event, each year on the Saturday of the event, a massive food and drink fest is held in the Canberra city centre, drawing probably the biggest crowd of any event held in the city.

Usually a very beer focused event (this is where I discovered pretty much every nation has its own brand of beer), a nice introduction was the handing out of free, branded, bottles of water. Last years event was held in ridiculous heat, with little access to free water, so this was a pleasant improvement.

Most of the stalls are organised by the relevant embassies that are dotted around Canberra. A lot of international community groups contribute as well, particularly to dance and musical performances.

The merry-go-round is a permanent fixture in Canberra, but I don’t think it’s ever quite as busy during the rest of the year, than as it was today…

I got a call Friday afternoon from the real estate agent to let me know that the owner of the apartment we had been approved for had “changed their mind” and given the apartment to a member of their own family. Whether that is due or not, I’m not sure, but either way, I’m still no further out the door of the family home. The search continues…

Regardless, at least one of my goals is continuing strongly. For the last 7 days, I have been able to maintain my “healthly” streak, either dedicating almost an hour each night on an exercise bike, weight training or playing a game of soccer at work. I haven’t lost any weight, but am feeling really good. The next two days are looking good. To make up for games lost due to weather or lack of numbers, the work team has a double header, tomorrow and Wednesday, to finish of the “departmental” soccer competition. We are yet to win a game yet, but hopefully, with a little luck, we’ll be able to pull something off.

My standard picture update… more flowers are gradually making an appearance in our garden, so today’s update comes from the same court-yard the majority of my other recent shots have come from.

I’ve continued my pursuit into the world of the anime/manga/cosplay culture. So far this week, I have taken delivery of 2 more copies of the Fate/Stay Night series of manga, I now have volumes 1, 3, 4 and 5, with volume 2 still on order (I love how Saber is the central character to the TokyoPop series covers…). I have also purchased the first 7 DVDs of the Fullmetal Alchemist series, of which I’ve watched just a few episodes and am looking forward to getting into the series when I have the time.

So far I have just a modest collection of anime/manga, mainly centred around Valkyria Chronicles, Fate/Stay Night and the Ghibli Collection. I don’t think thats a bad way to start, but now that I am more open to pursuing my interest in this culture, hopefully I’ll seek out some good series.

In a related note, if you want to check out the posts I made during my trip to Japan back in August last year, just click: Japan Posts –  I really think that trip opened my eyes to a massive culture packed into just a few Islands, and through that, I discovered the massive, worldwide community that supports it.

• Increase my fitness
• Save money
• Find a place to live – move out of the family home
• Continue to produce work and study that I am proud of (not specified originally, but should be mentioned). This includes Work (capitalised to denote actual employment), Photography, reading and generally seeking knowledge.

I have specifics to these goals, that I will keep personal, to use as a measure and ensure that I meet these goals. It’s only been two days, but I have already crossed on of them off the list. Today I received confirmation that an application for my first apartment! It will be shared with a mate from Uni, located much closer to work and Uni itself, plus providing the freedom and excitement of moving out of the family home, which I have been living in ever since I was born (22+ years…). Point 3 taken care of. A first.

Last night I attended a Climate Change Forum at my Uni, being one of the very few “young people” to attend. Surprisingly, interesting events like this, whilst hosted by a University, attract very few student attendees. Before and after the forum, with a little spare time at hand, I sought out some chances to take some photos (see below). Combined with a a reasonably busy week at Work, I think I’ve made a pretty good go at meeting Point 4. Notably the first image, which represents my first decent capture of lightning in an image, learning technique as I went. Another First.

Oh, with almost daily exercise, Point 1 is being addressed too, but as most fitness attempts, lapses are easy, I’ll be conservative and delay claiming success just yet.

The last two pictures are of a couple of the many sculptures that have been installed around the Canberra city centre, the first is part of the ‘Icarus’ series, the second is called ‘Relic’. There has been some criticism of the amount of money spent by the ACT Government to bring these art pieces into Canberra, mainly due to their obscurity. I do like them however. I believe public art brings character to a town centre. If they stand out, to the point that people are debating whether they are aesthetically pleasing or not, I think the goal of their installation has been achieved. Art needs to stand out and be noticed, otherwise you may as well not have them. Over time, people will grow accustomed to their presence, and will form a part of the city scape.

I suppose I should start off with my standard photo updated. I’m really hoping to be able to take a lot more, higher quality, photos in the near future. I’ve made the investment in the equipment, so I may as well, but I discovered that I really am quite limited at the moment. I am still waiting for a 14-45mm zoom lens to arrive. Whilst the 20mm pancake lens I have currently is producing blow-my-mind images and DOF effects, it’s not that brilliant at the landscape architecture shots that I like to do [I believe in a good balance between landscape and close photography]. The prime lens is a little limiting when trying to shoot objects further than, say, 20 meters away. I don’t know if this is standard, but its probably just my technique. I noticed this especially when I went to shoot Parliament House.

On a separate note, I think I may finally make my first venture into the world of Cosplay… I have been a bit of a closeted fan of the anime/manga culture, and it had only been recently that I have really actively entertained that interest. I don’t know why I haven’t earlier, I think I may have had the idea that there was some sort of stigma attached to, particularly Western, fans of anime and cosplay, as though it was something weird. I have resigned myself to the fact that I am myself rather weird, I really dislike following the mainstream.

I have a bit of a soft spot for the PS3 game Valkyria Chronicles, made by SEGA. I was the first anime style game that I really enjoyed, so fittingly, the cosplay I am considering would be as a member of Squad 7. Such as this costume produced by Cosplay Station.

I’ve made the pledge to myself, that in the time between now and when University restarts for the year, if I look after myself, i.e. increase my fitness, save some money and find my first place to live, I’ll organise a Squad 7 cosplay in time for this years SMASH.

It’s been so hot here in Canberra, around 35C for the last three days. Not much you can really do when it’s so hot and seeing that my car doesn’t currently have air conditioning, I’m pretty limited to where I can do and test out my new camera.

Oh yeah, as I mentioned, I’ve finally done a test run to see how the Lumix GF1 goes with HD video. Whilst not entirely convinced with the quality of the actual picture (I do find there is still a reasonable amount of noise in the picture), I am impressed by the camera’s ability to utilise the 20mm pancake lens. I just enjoyed using it to shoot video and play with deep-of-field effects for the first time. I know these might be old-school tricks for some, but there is a certain novelty in it to me, that’ll probably soon wear off, but will enjoy nonetheless.

Again, due to the heat, I was pretty much stuck at home today, so the same test subjects (flowers, fruits and vegetables from our garden) make yet another appearance. Feel free to watch it in 720HD as I went to the effort of uploading a proper HD sample to review.

The video is supposed to have a soundtrack, but due to copyright issues and YouTube’s audioswap having issues, it may be disabled at the moment.

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I’ll leave you with a thought:

By not being specifically addicted to either of Coca-Cola, Red Bull or Coffee, but using each to feed a more general addiction to Caffeine and Sugar, am I able to get away with saying that I have a rational addiction rather than a problem?
Or it is worse that I have gone to such lengths to justify to myself that I’m functioning normally despite not being able to function properly without consuming at least two of the above daily?