Blogging, Podcasting, and Playing for Japan

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Relief efforts are in high gear from all over the world while Japan holds its breath as they watch the nuclear reactor and brace for continued aftershocks throughout the country. The fan communities of anime, manga, and video games have been coming out in droves to give back. More and more causes are popping up all the time.

The newly started Anime and Manga Bloggers For Japan page is a gathering place for encouraging donations to Doctors Without Borders and Shelter Box. They are about 70% towards their goals and hopefully can exceed them. We are joining the call and you can too by simply posting to get the word out on your own blog. Over at IGN they are taking pledges for their 24-hour marathon of Japanese video games taking place right now. And The 24-hour Anime Fans Give Back to Japan podcast has already raised more than $7000 before the show begins on Saturday. We will be at 8:30AM on Sunday chatting it up and showing our support.

Remember, every little bit helps!

Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.

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I have said in the past that we can be drawn to characters who are similar to ourselves or have the qualities we admire. In contrast we are often most annoyed by the characters who have the same flaws we hate about ourselves. On that note Saori Chiba is a fascinating character to me and a highly personal character. In the Wandering Son anime other than a few flashback she comes off as an outright little monster up until very recently. I find her behavior detestable and pointless as it only hurts herself and those around her. That said I can’t say that I could not easily see myself doing the things she is doing in the show. In fact I have done some of the nonsense that she does so it makes it all the more pertinent, powerful, and painful.

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The Speakeasy #015: The Geneva Convention, For the love of cons.

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Anime 3000 presents The Speakeasy Podcast:
Drink #015: The Geneva Convention, For the love of cons.

This is the second podcast in a row with a guest. Tom Langston aka Calaggie of the Nigorimasen! blog and podcast joins us to talk fondly of convention experiences. We also continue our mailbag segment, the Interrogation Room, so feel free to send in your questions and comments so we can discuss them on the next podcast!

In this episode, we look at the unique experience that is going to an anime convention. It can often be surreal if you have never been to one before and even old timers can learn something new. We look at the ups and downs of of being surrounded by your fellow anime fans for a weekend. We provide a brief overview of our feelings on conventions, some tips for anyone attending a con, and some changes we would like to see. Also check out our written con survival guide for all the nitty gritty details of surviving your first con.

(Listen) (Show Notes)

And now your helpful bartenders at The Speakeasy present your drink:

The Geneva Convention

2 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Goldschlager®
1/2 oz. Everclear®

Fill half a shaker with ice. Add the ingredients. Shake. Strain into a cocktail glass.