Zombies!

Well, I know this isn't really reflecting on my own activities, but this is a small article I wrote through the study of current technology. This is a personal interest of mine, and it's also a university study :)

Technology...
Is it allowing us to bring the deceased back to life?!

Zombie Loan (Anime)

...Of course, I don't mean this literally. Sorry to disappoint you, but this doesn't mean bringing real corpses into play. What I'm actually talking about is live holographic images and scenarios with artists that have passed on.
I've been researching the evolution of technology online and in university, and I've come across a most extraordinary piece of footage. I'm sure you've all heard of Vocaloids yes? Well, in Japan, the vocaloid team developers (Crypton Media) have created something unique. It's a live rock concert with Hatsune Miku singing on stage for an audience as a 3D Hologram.

Here's a quote from Aaron Saenz "Everyone gets a little obsessed with famous musicians now and then, but things get really weird when the famous musician is actually just a piece of software. Hatsune Miku is a rising star in Japan and abroad, singing catchy J-pop that matches her blue-green hair." Below is some footage of the concert. (Watch through to the chorus, it gives us a visual concept of how realistic this is, and can be with new developments in the near future).

Okay so how does 'bringing the dead back to life' come into this? Well if we look at this from a future development perspective, then there's a broad amount of areas we can study and design using this technology. It has been suggested that our next step could include bringing holographic images of artists like Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley to a real audience.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Yes it means we can still gain the experience of seeing famous icons live, but won't this hinder some peoples views? People that follow the opinions along the lines of "when people die, they should stay dead". I think this also includes some religious views. Following the other side of this argument, these events could enlighten new artists, and it'll help a great artists legacy live on, rather than eventually withering and fading away. My personal opinion is that it's a great idea, because all the hard effort and time an artist puts into his music shouldn't be left to eventually die out and be forgotten, it should live on and be remembered for many years ahead. So what's your views on this matter?

Here are a few videos of some other technology developments I've found that I find very interesting:

Androids.

No matter how we look at things, in a good or a bad view, these machines are being designed. Developments on Lifelike human computer will exist, the question is whether it'll be useful state of the art technology, or could it mean the destruction of our developments? Will these machines ever create, or imitate a consciousness of their own?
Another topic, will we as human beings ever gain the ability to attach electrical icons to our own bodies? Like chips in the brain for example?

3D Graphic Image Mapping.

This video is just to show some of the extraordinary developments that currently exist. The video is based on a projection shown on a building, with graphical changes throughout the screening process.

Head tracking.

It's more advanced than in-screen 3D technology, this actually make the images appear to come out of the screen.
Your welcome to watch the whole thing, the visual effects however come in at 2:30.

References:
Vocaloid
Android

Thanks for reading this, let me know what your views are, I find these developments very interesting :)

The.MCM.Expo... !!! Review :)

Okay so let me start by saying this...
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FREAKING AMAZING!!!!!!

...Feel much better now :cool:
So the convention was great, and I'm determined to go again next october. I've decided to cosplay Agito from Air Gear next time, so I can skate everywhere :) Plus a mate of mine already attends as Ikki so it makes sense.
This time however I went as a Soul Reaper from Bleach, which was fun, but there was an awful lot of Soul Reapers about the place. Bleach is too popular. So if you go to a convention like this, I suggest going as a cosplay from something less popular, it sparks peoples interest a lot more :angel:

The hotel I stopped in was the Premier Inn, which was good accommodation, but me and my mates were never really there except for nighttime. Next time I think I'm going to get something cheaper and less luxury, because you only need the room to sleep and shower, I though I'd be spending more time there, but even after the hours of closing the expo, people still linger about and have a good laugh. I spent most of my day, Friday, Saturday and Sunday there, from like 6am until 8/9pm, and it was totally worth it!
I brought like 20ish new anime's, some box sets and some films.

Heres what I got:
Complete Series -
Ouran High School Host Club
Otogi Zoshi
Tokyo Underground
Jyu-Oh-Sei
Devil May Cry
Heat Guy J

Films:
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Origin: Spirits Of The Past
The Sky Crawlers
Naruto Movie: Guardians Of The Crescent Moon Kingdom
Blood: The Last Vampire (Anime)
Ghost In The Shell 2.0
Ghost In The Shell Innocence

Volumes:
MAR: Marchen Awakens Romance (1 to 4)
Noein (1 to 3)
Astro Boy: Volume 1 (Free)

I also brought Volumes 1 & 2 FMA Manga, and I got the Avatar: Activist Survival Guide free.

I met some pretty awesome actors, I met Colin Ferguson who plays Jack Carter in A Town Called Eureka, I also met Jordan Hinston whom plays his daughter Zoe Carter.
I also met Chris Gauthier, who's acted in many things! Including: A Town Called Eureka, Sanctuary, Smallville, Supernatural, Watchmen, Stargate, Freddy vs Jason, Dark Angel, 40 Days & 40 Nights, Insomnia, Agent Cody Banks, Scooby Doo 2, Dead Like Me  and Need For Speed Carbon!
As well as these I met three people from 'Haven'. The main character: Lucas Bryant who plays Nathan Wuornos, and the two directors of the show.

There was loads of people doing dances and games, and lots of skilled people showing off their talents too. I video'd tones of this stuff, so take a look. Click on my Youtube link at the bottom of this post =]

All in all I can't really think what else to write about right now, there's so much that went off, it was really epic. Please ask me questions or something, I'd be happy to answer as best I can :)

Visit my Youtube account for videos: Tony2une
Visit my Photobucket account for Pictures: Photobucket

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/Tony089

What's your favorite food?

Defiantly Spaghetti Bolognese! I Love it! =)

Ask me anything

Hurawr!

Yellow! No not the color, I mean Hello! ;]
So you might be wondering where in the world has my website disappeared too? Google? OMG! LOl.
Well basically It was a pain in the butt to keep up and running. It cost money, and it took maintenance. Also all I really used on it was the blog, so I thought, why not just get rid of the website, and use an ACTUAL bog? It's free and easy, and everyone else seems to use blogger too. So it was decided, I went ahead with my blog instead :]
I hope you all enjoy following it! I'm going to keep it updated. I'm determined to! Heh :)

So then! What's happened in my ever so adventurous life recently?
Well on Saturday I went ten-pin bowling. Which I haven't done in a LONG time. I went with a couple regular friends I usually go out with most weekends. We played two games, to which I kicked there butts the first game! Then, like the moron that I am, I bet on the second game, and lost by ONE POINT! ONE POINT! Lol. Typical eh? It really wasn't my week for gambling. I guess that says I just shouldn't do it eh? lol.
We then went back to a bar and got very drunk + karaoke! Darn, I should never attempt being a vocalist, but I guess it gave the girls a laugh ;) Heh.

Sunday was a typical relaxing day, I finished my final book in the 'Night World' series. So I'm currently reading 'Dead Witch Walking' by 'Kim Harrison'. It's pretty cool, keeps me up and reading more till silly hours in the morning lol.
The rest of the day I relaxed, had a KFC with the father, and watched more Vampire Diaries. Always a good day :) Did I mention my dads been working on the house again?
We're finally getting a shower! Yey! My dads got some friends in whom are COMPLETELY redesigning the bathroom, and It's already looking mint. I'm really looking forward to it being finished.

Monday was a typical day back to university, the evening I had an unexpected visit from my mates Jaz and Greavesy. They came round to relax and we ordered Pizza and Chicken, NOM! Really good value too, for me I had popcorn chicken, 3 pieces of southern fried chicken, a large bag of chips, and a can of coke for a fiver. Also I tasted great! So I aint complaining :D

Tuesday was a very LONG day, From nine in the morning until seven at night, with two one hour breaks. Then my typical two hours at the gym in the evening, along with a lot of work on one of my university assignments when I got home.

Finally today, again it's been fairly tiring today. With a kick start of maths from nine till eleven this morning, an hour at a food shop with hot sausage cobs, two hours of lighting and video technology, where me and a friend took shots on camera of me looking like a plonker presenting our university. Then and hour and a half at the students bar with a pint and finally this current lecture I'm in right now. I know I should be listening but we're currently watching a video about tomato sauce? Lol! It's quite funny actually, the guys a comedian.

Okay, so there's one more thing I haven't mentioned. One thing I absolutely cannot wait for, I'm officially moving into a fully detached house in Derby! (Above) With a couple friends from my university course. It's cheaper then my halls of residence address, and It's right next to my university! Literally, it's like a one minute walk! I timed it! Lol.

Synth-Physc!

Friday 26th February

Awesome past two days!

Thursday I’ve had a good assignment set & I’m looking forward to taking it head on. It’s a module named sonic applications and the assignment is to make a live performance using synth, sequencing and key-mapped based tools. So It encouraged me to go ahead and buy the sound equipment I’ve been wanting for a very long time. I wasn’t going to purchase then considering it’s royal amount of cash!, But now they’re the perfect tools for this assignment, as well as my future music creation techniques :)

So what is it I’ve brought you ask? I’ll show you!

The first product is the Korg Kaoss pad 3 (KP3). It’s a touch pad/midi controller which controls anything from frequency to tempo variations, it can use ANY instrument including voice and make your production sound unique. So here’s a video to show you more:

(I can’t wait to receive this!)

The original cost is priced at £295. Pretty costly for a midi-controller. However, many DJ’s out in the industry use them, because of how incredibly effective they are.

Also I was able to hunt down a cheaper price at ‘nova musik’ of £240. £55 isn’t a bad cut I reckon. =)

My next piece of handy hardware was a new midi 25key keyboard. This however, isn’t like any ordinary midi keyboard. It’s got a side pad for swipes (similar to the KP3), it’s got a 9 track mixer, which many many functions to change your synth sound. You can also map your own created sounds to each key to make it completely unique, and of course you can plug it into a computer to design your sounds in a sequencer. So the original price for the x-station is £369. Hefty again eh? Thankfully once again to ‘nova musik’ I’ve purchased it for £269!

So in total I’ve knocked off £155! Happy me =) Now I’m just eager to get them and play away!

So, now my excitements been spilled about my new instruments, I can explain the rest of the days, ha ha. In the daytime on thursday I went out with a buddy from university, and played pool with a nice pint. I know I should really cut that out, but ever so often it’s really nice to chill out with a drink and a game of pool. It helps relieve tension on assignments I guess, or maybe that’s just my excuse for being lazy =) I never really get stressed so I can’t blame it on that hah. Thursday evening, as typically usual I went to the gym, and I’m beginning to enjoy it a lot more. The more work-outs’s I go through the better a feel about myself because I can physically feel and see the changes, making me happy and eager to keep going.

Today I’ve had another good chill-out day. After university from 9-11 I went out with my buddy James again, to town and did a little shopping. I brought myself a new pair of converse! I was eager to get some low back ones, and the ones I picked up have a little more style than the originals.

We then went and played pool again. Though this time I was silly enough to gamble on it ha! Usually I kick his butt, but this time we put money on the table, and kept playing for double or nothing. The games ended at 5-3 to james. So I lost a tenner! Hah but never mind, it’s a one off and it was brilliant fun =)

The rest of today I’ve been relaxing. Had a chinese for dinner, and watched the ‘Vampire Diaries’ again. I love that show! That’s about it for today =)

For the past two days I’ve also been OBSESSED with this song! It’s been on the radio no-end of times so you’ve all probably heard it.

It’s called Fireflies by Owl City. It goes like this =>

Off to read my book now I think, now my rants over.

Goodnight =)

Catch up! (2011)

Wednesday 24th February

‘OK’ so I know I haven’t posted for almost a week, but as per usual I’ve been very busy with, well... a lot. I’ve no idea how I’m supposed to keep up with this, It’s impossible with my lifestyle, but I’ll try my best ~smiles~.

Thursday:

Well, like I said the night before, I went on the trip to London for a show entwining ‘broadcast media’. It was pretty groovy, only it was mainly based around video and lighting. Considering I’m all about the music, it was a little boring at some parts. It also took so long to get there! The M1 was closed and so we had to take the A40 instead, 5 hours later at 1’ish we arrived (after missing half the show!) Then we had to leave at 3:30! At least we got a few hours I guess.

The food was brilliant, A friend of mine was on some sort of diet, and couldn’t eat pies. So we all went to the pie restaurant and pigged out! It was cruel but so darn funny too!

Then me, Nick and Elizabeth (two colleagues) joined a competition... Scale-electrics! I’ve not played on one of them since I was a kid, but they had one on show bigger than my bedroom! (and that’s pretty darn big). So me & my mates teamed up against 3 others for 25 laps of mini car racing, it was good fun and we did pretty well, although we didn’t win unfortunately. I came second, Nick came third and Ellie came last (but her car broke).

After the race we went round plenty of stalls to see what was on offer (and grabbed lots of freebies! Well what else would you go for?) Lol! We all got a free 512mb Memory stick and I got a free copy of Friday 13th, still haven’t watched it though, I’m a wuss! ~laughs~

So they day played out well, except I didn’t get chance to go to the gym in the evening because we arrived back home so late! Never mind, as long as I keep it up one session doesn’t matter, and I have to say I’m starting to see improvements with myself (woo!).

Friday:

Okay so on Friday I decided to meet up with my good old pal Scott, and go to the cinemas. We went to watch ‘Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief’. It was awesome! Very entertaining and I’d recommend you go and see it! Although I seem to say that about almost every movie I see, lol.

We then had a Mcdonalds (traditionally) and came back to my place. Then he asked me to show him some more parts to the song Bella’s Lullaby by Carter Burwell. Hilarious, because he was the one whom ended up showing me parts to the song which I’d not taught myself. It seemed he already knew the whole song, and simply couldn’t play the chords along with the melody. So I helped him out with the double hand thing, whilst he taught me the remainder of the melody which I’d not figured out myself. My dad came along later in the evening and picked us both up, dropped Scott off home and then we pigged ourselves with a bargain bucket from KFC! Whilst watching my recent favorite TV Drama ‘The Vampire Diaries’. Nom! It was a good day :)

Saturday:

Saturday was a day for the family. I decided to go and visit my mum. As usual it was a pleasure to see mum and everyone there, I also got a gift from my little sister Lina! It’s brilliant, I was well impressed. She made this plastic shaped T which said 'Tony' on it, and it flashes lights and everything! It was created for me in her technology class at school. I shall treasure it and put it on my wall as soon as I get something I’m able to hang it on.

I also got my hair dyed back to black, yes ‘OK’ some of you think it’s boring, but the majority of people have always told me it suits me, and I really like it. So I went ahead and changed it again (thanks mum!).

After a nice time at my mothers I went home, on the last bus. Unfortunately (I didn’t realise) that this bus brought me home a little too late. I arrived in Alfreton after all the busses had finished. So I called a taxi, no luck there. Saturday night meant all the taxi’s were fully booked. Bummer! My dad had also been out drinking and therefore couldn’t give me a lift home. So I was left with the lovely satisfaction of walking home! I guess it helps towards the issue with my converse though. Since I’m used to big bulky trainers keeping my feet warm, converse make my feet freeze!, but I’m gradually getting used to them, and the extra exercise isn’t a bad thing eh?

I also spent some of my remaining cash for the day (given by my ever lovely dad ~lol) on some chips and chicken. Nom! The final interesting thing was whilst walking home, I got stopped by a girl and got offered ‘good business!’ (Of course I told her “maybe another time” and rushed off) But it was a funny event.

After all that, I’d still say it was a good day. It takes more than a cold walk home to dampen my spirit! ~big grin~.

Sunday:

Sunday was a lazy day. I like lazy days. I slept for the majority of it, did a couple chores (washing the pots and my clothes), then lay on the sofa and was lazy for most of the day. I watched lots of my favorite shows like Smallville, Heroes, Vampire Diaries and lots of back-to-back Legend of the Seeker. Whilst adding many items to my wish list on amazon (go see for ideas on occasions! http://www.amazon.co.uk/wishlist/3O62J4BUT26YN Love you all ~grins~)

I finished my day by visiting my grandparents before heading back to Derby. This was a funny occasion, my Grandma never liked ‘black’ hair, she’s a very colorful person. So when I walked in I should have took a photo of the look on her face! My dad was laughing about it for ages! Meanie! lol. Thankfully she turned around and said “it’s your hair, do what you want with it” so I was like ‘phew’ and then she went on to say how my dad used to be scared about what she’d say too, cause she can be evil! (but we still love her ~laughs~).

Monday:

Today was my dad’s birthday! He’s a 52 year old fart! Ha-ha but I love him very much, and he still looks darn good for his age ladies! ~wink-wink~. So I got up with my usual routine, had a lovely shower (I love showers! They’re heaven! lol). Went to university, then went out for a very lovely meal with my dad at the Dolphin in Derby.

He loved his present and birthday card, the present was an all time complete collection of ‘only fools and horses’ (every episode!) which he was immediately pleased with. The card was classic, it said “if anyone asks your age, just tell them it’s a two digit number. If they ask further... show them!” ~sticks fingers up~. Typical humor and he loved it :)

After the meal we went to Primark (my favorite shop!) for some clothes where I brought more Polo-shirts and my dad brought anew jumper. He was lucky, when we first looked, they only had medium and small, no large. Then my dad tugged about and found a large hiding at the back of all the others. So that ended well and I believe he said he had a good birthday.

What came next was more university, then a night out on the town with my buddy Husein and university friends celebrating Elizabeth's birthday.

I got extremely drunk!, and ended up staggering back at a stupid time in the morning, but it was a brilliant night and it was an occasion. I rarely go out and get drunk nowadays, I’ve got too many other things to think about! Another good day I’d say!

Tuesday:

Okay so yesterday was a pretty ordinary day, Apart from me unfortunately missing my first lecture in the morning because I had a real groggy hangover. My tutor didn’t mind because I make up for these things and I don’t do them often (lol). The day was good though.

I got a grade back from my music Theory work, it was A-! So I’m really pleased with that. We had to take a score (music theory sheet) and incorporate it into our own work. Basically make a song out of the notes and chords given to us.

In the evening I went and did my usual routine at the gym. Although silly me put uneven weights on my bar for dead lifting, which my tutor noticed and so I had to work unevenly on my opposite side to gain a correct balance. (oops! It was funny though). It’s all going well though.

Today:

Another typical day today, I slept for the first half of the day, went to university from 3pm till 6pm to study website development and visual practice. I then went out afterward with one of my colleagues James, went to the bar and had a pint alongside playing a few games of pool. Both games were very close and even, and we each won one of them and therefore drew.

After that I walked home, ate my favorite dish (spaghetti Bolognese), then watched ‘Jennifer’s Body’... the movie! Which I have to say was pretty awesome, certainly funny at some parts and lots of girl-on-girl action (lol).

And so there we are, I’m currently writing this and about to go to bed and read my book (Night World) before another thrilling lecture about video production at 9am sharp. Oh... joy. Goodnight.