Why did I start this site? My blog needed expanding. Let's just say that my nerding was far exceeding the capabilities of a mere web blog to host for me. And so, with a few software training classes, the acquisition of Dreamweaver, the help of the University of Wisconsin, and some adventures in html.....here we are. I'm a grad student as we begin, so I really have very little else to do with my time, but that doesn't mean much as I'm really quite bad at prioritizing my time anyhow. Besides, this website is entirely driven by how much time I devote to the finer things in life such as "the study of the modern visual culture". 'Genshiken'?? I think it's already taken! But that's what we do here....study the modern visual culture. We're nerds. We watch anime and read manga and play video games. And we like it. I wasn't always this way, but I've embraced the culture and ways of the so-called 'dark side' wholeheartedly. I attribute this to many things, not the least of which are Spike Spiegel/Cowboy Bebop and sheer boredom while living in a dorm, and, in conjunction with this, my partner in madness who will be contributing his musings (which are usually a lot wankier than mine since he's an english major who actually cares about deeper meanings of things beyond how the world relates to him) periodically. You can find most of his thoughts in his corner which is linked on the side and also in the link to "The Asteroid Blues" which is found below. I don't know if anything we say here will be of any use to anyone or of any amusement to anyone, but we'll try. Hey, we amuse ourselves. Feel free to browse the links. Roll over them to make the names make sense....there is a method to our madness around here, I promise. I don't promise that you'll ever understand the method, I just promise that there is one. I'm trying to update the links systematically on Mondays (manga scans), Wednesdays (anime reviews/comments), and Fridays (manga reviews). No promises, I'm a procrastinator with low ambition.

UPDATES!!

09.02.08 The summer kinda got away from me, as did updating the website as often as I planned. I hope you managed to catch the periodic updates, especially the Bishounen of the Month for June as he's a cutie (and definitely WAY up there on the list of manga boys I'd like to date in real life). We've got the next Bishounen of the Month picked out, but I have to find the time to get his stuff posted. I've been busy getting ready for 4 SPARKLY PANELS at the second annual Geek.Kon held at the University of Wisconsin on September 27 and 28. Very exciting. Mayama and I will be making repeat appearances with our Japanese music panel and our Yaoi panel....and this year I'm adding two exciting new panels to the docket, one on CLAMP and one on Ecological Disasters in anime. Lots of work to still be done, but I have faith that they will come together nicely. Come to the con if you can....it's COMPLETELY FREE and promises to be a good time. Also...to get ready for my CLAMP panel, I've been reading a LOT of their works, so hopefully that means there will be new manga reviews to come soon (either before or after Geek.Kon)! That's all for now. I'm furthering my education, so I've got class two nights a week that are getting in the way of my website updating....but hopefully I can still stop in and throw you all a little content every once in a while. Until then, take care! --Yukino out!

05.12.08 Making good on some of my promises. Bishounen of the Month has been updated. I made a main page for the RG Veda manga review , but I haven't gotten any of the reviews up yet. However...the Prince of Tennis AMV is on AMV.org and YouTube , so watch that, comment, laugh a little. That's it for now, but I'll keep working on stuff as time permits. I also updated like a ton of Saiyuki quotes, most of which are vulgar yet hilarious. So there's another thing to look forward to reading. We try to keep you happy around here! That's all for now....it's time for me to go to work. Yukino out.

04.28.08 Lots going on in the world lately.....especially the last 3 days. I know I promised you all a new Bishounen of the Month for April, but with April being Convention season I just didn't get the time to squeeze it in. I do promise that now that it's about to be May, I'll get the BotM page updated. I'll also actually put the NoBrand Con Prince of Tennis AMV on the web, and I'll try to upload our cosplay/convention pics onto the photo hosting site. I'd do a convention review, but it's not really my thing, so if you want to read a good review of NoBrand Con, please visit 1st Agent's Con Blog. For now...I added some new quotes yesterday, namely in the H's and Fushigi Yuugi. I'll also be posting manga reviews for Honey Mustard and RG Veda (when I finish reading it). And hopefully an anime review for Cyborg 009 if I can find where I put it when I wrote it out on paper. That's it for me for now....be sure to keep checking back!!! Yukino out.

04.03.08 Well well....long time no talk. I've been busy lately....getting things together for Detour AND NoBrand Con. AMV's are in (the FLCL one and a brand shiny new Prince of Tennis AMV to be revealed on April 21 after it goes to NoBrand), costumes are done (Kei and Sho (Hyde and Gackt) from Moon Child and Ichiko and Momoko from Kamikaze Girls for Detour; Kunimitsu Tezuka and Sadaharu Inui from Prince of Tennis for NBC)...mostly, travel/hotels are arranged, things look good. Tonight I will go to the Ramada (down the street) to help set up for Detour (and meet the guests!!!!!! Yay!), and then tomorrow the "End of the World" will commence. To those of you who are going, I'll see you there (I've got another yaoi panel for you!!) to those of you who aren't, it's probably my favorite anime con of all, so if you're even remotely in a position to attend next year, I'd recommend you do. Other than that....Bishounen of the month updates will come after Detour, as will an update to the list of yaoi manga/anime to check out. I'm hoping to actually start doing some manga reviews, but I say that all the time and then don't do it. The cosplay photo site is in the works though....so as soon as I can get all the updated pics on there, I'll link it for cosplay goodness. Other than that...it's spring, so everyone make sure to take some time outside! To anime conventions I go------Yukino out.

02.07.08 Happy Year of the Rat to one and all. To celebrate, I've added a new Bishonen of the Month. He's very special to us, and today is his special day. I've also added a new manga review, and since I've been reading a few series that I think should get reviewed, I'll try to keep those coming. I've been meaning to do some anime reviews too, but those will be a longer time coming I think. I've been watching some interesting new series though, and they should get discussed. As always, there are new quotes, so keep checking those out. I read manga a LOT....so quotes are constantly being updated for all the series on the list. Also in the news....our first AMV is posted on YouTube and AnimeMusicVideos.org, so check that out. It's FLCL and Grace Cathedral Hill by the Decemberists. We're working on the next AMV for Anime Detour...so hopefully that will be up sometime after the con. Details about Detour to follow....since this update is getting long. Thanks for sticking around....keep checking back for more exciting fun!--Yukino out!

11.04.07 I've been consuming vast quantities of manga lately, so there are a bunch of new quotes for you to peruse. I'll try to write some reviews, but I generally spend my time NOT updating stuff. I've also been watching some anime, so hopefully there will be anime reviews in the near future too. Again, if I get to it. What we do have, however, is a new Bishonen of the Month for November. He's a real hottie, so be sure to pay him a visit. His series is the one I will watch next, and you can bet that there will be a review after that. But ok....that's all I have for now. Keep checking the quotes, cause I'll keep updating them at random and hopefully you'll find something you like. That's all for this month...Yukino out.

10.08.07 So, a lot has gone on in the lives of Yukino and Mayama since I last wrote 4 months ago. Doesn't seem like that long!! I also haven't made good on a lot of my promises. No surprise, most likely. Regardless....the awesome entity that was Geek.Kon has now finished year #1 with absolutely, mind-blowingly overwhelming success. And I was on the news.. You can find that here. Pretty neat, eh?! In other news, Mayama and I are relocated to TC officially (and I have a real job). I totally miss Sconny and I'm trying desperately to find a place to fit in here, but things are what they are. This means I will help with AnimeDetour, and THAT will be amazing! In other news, as per a request by the attendees of our Yaoi panel at Geek.Kon, I have created a page with a list of BL manga we think people should read, and I will work on a page with BL anime we think people should watch. That may be a bit forthcoming. The pages will be linked to the manga reviews and anime reviews pages. Ok...that's it for now. I have today off, and I intended to use it to update the webby, but I think instead I will take a short break and have some lunch and see if I feel like coming back and staring at a computer screen for a few more hours. Otherwise, well, things are crazy around here right now, so I'll do my best to update when I can. Geeks rock!! Yukino out!

06.08.07 At long last!!!! Bishounen of the Month has been updated, and this one is a YukinoABSOLUTE FAVORITE. Matter of fact....he's currently the desktop wallpaper on the compy I'm typing on, his picture is on the poster directly above my wallpaper, he frequently appears on my calendar image, his picture is on the poster outside my room, AND....he's secretly hidden away in a LOT of doujin that I acquired in Akihabara. THAT, my friends, is how much I love him. The first of a set of super sexy, formerly super-secret, military man crushes of mine. That said....GO HERE FOR HOTNESSAlso, Mayama has moved into headquarters, which means a lot of things. Mostly that his presence in tandem with summer means that things aren't getting updated. His job "distributing manga to the masses" helps though, in that we have no shortage of manga to read/review/quote, etc. It's just finding the time to get it up here. Coming up though...stay tuned for reviews of the new Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya super awesome fun box and DVD...cause I have a lot to say on the English dub and the order in which the episodes ought be viewed (yes...that matters, it will all become clear when you see the show). For now though.....go to this site to see what else we've been up to. Sadly...no pictures of cosplay at Anime Central, but there are rumors that you might see us around town in some awesome cosplay action to pimp our own convention. Stay tuned!!
--Yukino out

05.01.07 Well. Apparently we're popular. OR....I need to shrink down all the images on our pages. For the first time since it's inception about a year and a half ago, the website went over its allotted 1.5 gigabyte bandwidth. Now...I know that Mayama and I spend a lot of time looking at the website, and the quotes page in particular, but I find it hard to believe that we're the only ones using up the bandwidth. SOOOOO....if you drop by.....say "hi" on the guestbook or the forum. And see about getting us some monies????? It doesn't cost a lot per MONTH to get more bandwidth....it's that we have to pay it all up front.
Anyway......up this month is a trip to Anime Central just outside of the reasonably near metropolis of Chicago. Mayama, Yukino, and our new friend The KMK are going to be Blood+-ing it up at this one, and hopefully someday we can get more bandwidth or an external image hosting site so that we can provide you with pictures of our awesome. That's it for now.......post if you want to give us money.....or just to say hi. --Yukino out

04.05.07 Lots of exciting things happening around here. The first and foremost is that it's FINALLY turning to Haru around here. Well...except for the biting cold 30mph wind. But whatever. In reality, the most exciting thing is that Yukino and Mayama have recently returned from a delightfully wonderful anime convention in Mayama's hometown. It was well attended, well put together, and with the exception of a few obnoxious high school nerds an all around pleasing time. There will be some discussion of it on Yukino's blog (which might look weird cause it's getting a revamping) in the near future. Also of interest is that Yukino and Mayama along with some of our nerd cohort from the University are planning a convention. It will be called "Geek Kon" and is a place that you can go to "get your geek on". There's a link in the link's space below as well as here. In news about links, I added one for my radio show and one for our favorite Tomodachi. Quotes and Reviews are coming in, and bishonen of the month for April will be announced soon. Make sure to take some time to go out and enjoy the weather, cause this time of year is beautiful no matter where you live. Until next time, Yukino out!

01.05.07 Well. My previously mentioned Yukata and fireworks didn't happen, but the good news (good news??) is that it IS in fact winter in some parts of the midwest, and has made me less nervous that the apocalypse is pending. Meaning it snowed at Mayama's on the eve of the New Year. But I did get to go to dinner in my Yokohama Chinatown butterfly dress!! Oh, and I broke my toe on the marble table. That's toe #3 on that foot now!! Yukino ichiban! Anyway...I've been re-reading Kaikan Phrase a lot lately (remembering why I got so obsessed with it in the first place) so there are new quotes and a new Bishonen of the Month. So, check that out. Mayama is writing some anime reviews (Kamichu is the latest as of now), so take a look at those too. I've made a New Year's resolution to get better at updating (I know...you've heard that before) so hopefully things should be coming along in the next few months. Irasshaimasen to 2007 minna!!!--Yukino out

12.21.06 Ok....living up to my promises, things are getting updated. I've got the manga review page going and there are some reviews of the Beck manga up there. I've also done some series prelim reviews of 3 shows now: Fate/Stay Night, Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok, and Serial Experiments Lain. I'm hoping that there will be time for more in the coming weeks. I'm really trying to prioritize my time, but now I'm also practicing 2 (soon to be 3) instruments (synth pop band here we come) and I've got new toys in the form of TV's and video games to play with. I've been super motivated to finish FFIV so that I can move on to FFVII and then FFX and then start my Samurai Game on the Wii. But....I'm still watching anime and reading manga, and all the series that I've done the prelim reviews for were so good that I want to see more, so that helps my motivation too. I'll be in various places that aren't headquarters starting on Friday and going until January 3rd, but Casper will be coming with me, so if there is time when the rest of folk are sleeping then we will certainly be watching and reading as best we can. Other than that......have a good new year. I'll be in Mayama's headquarters wearing a yukata and watching the fireworks!!!--Yukino out

11.21.06 Despite the fact that I don't do anything, I've not really been updating as I should. There are some new quotes to be had, but that's about it. I think that I will make it my New Years resolution to regularly update all the pages. I mean to make the manga reviews page, because I have manga that can be getting reviewed. All in good time, I hope. Ever since the return of Mayama we've been ACTUALLY doing things instead of doing things via internet proxy where I could talk and still update the website. Plus...thanks to the coming of Netflix, I've been watching *gasp* real TV more than anime. I don't know what's wrong. Hopefully I can snap back to my old self again sometime soon. Until then, bear with me and keep reading the new quotes. And check out the radio show stuff at www.wsum.net which I occasionally remember to update. What is it with me. Where did my ability to spend vast amounts of my life wasting time on the internet. I've got to re-learn the art of watching TV WHILE playing online I think. Yukino cry for help!!!!!!!! Alright, those are my updates for now. Everyone have a good holiday season if I don't update again, and BUY MORE ANIME!!!!!!!!!!!!! --Yukino out.

9.25.06 Welcome Yukino back to the internet. I've added a forum where we can talk about stuff like what everyone is watching/reading/listening to/whatever. So that's exciting. Follow the "The 256th Today's Kujian was the Best Meeting" link in the sidebar. Soon there will be new quotes, and we'll have an October bishounen of the month after a rather long absence. I'll also start trying to get the new manga scans in and keep working on the things that need to be worked on. I hope you keep checking back and don't lose patience with us. We don't have a TON of time, but the return of the internet has made me excited for updates!!!!!!
Yukino out

8.21.06 Well everyone, we've returned from a pilgrimmage to the great land where we payed our homage, admiration, and money at the shrines of Akiba. There will be photos as soon as they get organized into some fashion, and the most fun thing will be the PHOTO CONTEST where the person correctly guessing which anime we are referencing in our pictures will be awarded amazing prizes straight from the homeland itself. Don't expect this any time soon, as things are currently afoot like no other (and Yukino has no internet at home yet because of moving). Here's what's happened recently and why updates are so behind.

• Yukino moves to new headquarters
• Yukino and Mayama go to Nippon on magical adventures
• Yukino now has only one month to finish a major gigantic real world OMG graduate school project to sell herself to the great state of Ill-annoying.
• Due to move, Yukino has no internet at HQ and even less contact with Mayama
• Mayama is making a triumphant return to the US of A (Hooray Mayama!!)
• Yukino and Mayama are making a pilgrimmage to the great nerd convention known as PAX in the mini-Tokyo city of Seattle, where we hope to someday reside

There....now you know what excuses we have. We'll at least try to get a new Bishounen of the month up as soon as internet returns at HQ, as it's been quite a few months. That's all for updates this month: Yukino out

Links!


Here are some links to the sites of my friends or sites I like. Visit them, say hi, love them as I do.

• Mitae Mitae: Suteki Rajio no Nippon
• Dragon Slippers
• The Asteroid Blues
• A Journey to the Unknown
• Tomodachi no Tomodachi
• Gravitation Fanfic (the best of!)
• It Feels Good to Be Bad
• Celebrate the Pirate King
• The 10K Commotion
• The Source Behind the Nerds
• Boys on Boys on Film!
• Japan's Best Music Mix
• Kumagoro!!!
• Teach Yourself Japanese
• Genshiken Fan Listing
• "Get Your Geek On!" A Yukino and Mayama sponsored event