Welcome to otaku journalist 2.0

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It’s June 6 and I’ve kept my promise. Now, let’s never leave each other for that long ever again!

Welcome to the new Otaku Journalist. Same as the old Otaku Journalist, I’m happy to say, but with a few upgrades for the better. For one, we’re now running on a completely custom WordPress theme that I have creatively named, “Otaku Journalist.”

Otaku Journalist’s theme is based on Sandbox, a great skeleton theme for anyone who is learning how to build their own WordPress theme. I spent nearly two weeks hunkered down on my localhost with Sandbox, MAMP, and my handy list of WordPress tutorial links… but eventually I realized I needed some help. Luckily, Mara K. came to the rescue! As you can tell by her fully custom blog theme, this lady knows what she’s doing. Thanks again, Mara, for helping me make this happen on such short notice.

The origin of the design is a hand drawn wireframe in my Moleskine. It went through a few iterations on paper before I got brave enough to test it out on the computer. (This is one of the later versions.)

Next, I built up a design concept using Adobe Illustrator. I knew I wanted to keep the blog’s signature bright blue, but I wanted to make everything bolder. I used 960.gs to design it so I wouldn’t have to worry about it looking good on a variety of screens and browser windows.

Then, I spent some time ruining CSS divs. They can be pretty tricky, and I’m totally self taught in all things computer. While I learned a little more every day I worked on the site, I knew there was no way I was going to meet my June deadline going at it alone.

Here’s the site starting to take shape under Mara’s skillful hand. Starting to look familiar!

Finally, here’s a screenshot of how the website is intended to look, give or take — we’re still fixing a few last minute snafus. (If it doesn’t look this way to you, send me an email ASAP and I’ll do my best to troubleshoot!)

Now, let’s go over some of the new features:

  • Big ol’ content space, perfect for more in-depth articles and bigger, sharper pictures.
  • A welcome page that lets you know just what this site is about.
  • A projects page. If you’ve ever been interested on working on a collaborative fandom-driven project with me, check here.
  • New copy on all my existing pages, too! Check out my bio* and archives.

*I’ll update this post when the bio is up.

Let me tell you what else this means: regular updates three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! I’ve had over a month to write up sparkling new content so I won’t be falling behind anytime soon, even if I do sprain my ankle again! It feels so good to be back on track.

What do you think of the new Otaku Journalist? Let me know in an email or the comments.

Otaku Links: Super cool people edition

Otaku Links

Gooood morning! I have a lot to be happy about this Saturday — I’ve been playing Spyro the Dragon all morning, the weather’s looking up, and I’m seeing some real improvements in my foot injury! So I’m going to share the love with some great shout-outs to some cool people. This is not even close to a comprehensive list of cool people I know, but it’s definitely the ones who’ve sent me links most recently:

1) That gorgeous Peach illustration is by Megan Lara. Read Fan to Pro‘s interview with her here, or buy her Zelda Nouveau shirt here.

2) Speaking of Fan to Pro, I discovered it a month ago and it has become my go-to spot for geeky career advice, so much so that I asked author Steven Savage if I could write a few columns there! My second guest post about finding a job the geeky way is up. You can read the first one, too.

3) Check it out – Charles of Beneath the Tangles put up his Anime and Religion Survey results, illustrated with infographics by me! It was a really fun project, and I’m looking for more people with anime related data to collaborate with.

4) Another Charles, the Anime Anthropologist, has been seriously getting me back into Gundam Wing with his post on Duo as an ideological shinigami and his GW live-tweets. Follow him on Twitter to join in the fun.

5) I am reviewing Disgaea for Japanator, and — spoiler alert — it is the worst anime I have ever seen. However, Patches tells me that he’s reviewed worse — Itsudatte my Santa! If you’ve seen both, which is worse? Or do you have a new challenger to suggest?

6) I forgot to link to the third episode of O-talk, the podcast I do with Otaku Dan. Or I should say I did do, but I’ve been swamped with my job lately. He ended up doing episode 4 by himself, so give him some love!

7) And last — have you ever thought the product placement in anime is a little fishy? Check out It’s a SOMY! (via the_patches)

P.S. I started updating my Tumblr again, so if you’re interested in posts about my personal life and want to be Tumblr friends, come visit. Have a good weekend!

Katsucon from a wheelchair

Fandom

Remember when I said I wouldn’t miss Katsucon for anything? It looks like I was put to the test. On Thursday night, I injured my foot on a Metro escalator (an MRI today will let me know whether it’s a break or a fracture), and have been confined to an air cast ever since. But I still made it to Katsucon on Saturday, even if I did have to limp there!

I’ve been a proponent of disability rights for a long time, but being temporarily disabled myself really gave me a new perspective on how we run anime conventions. I went to Katsucon to interview artists and staff members on the new fanart policy, but I ended up doing a lot of firsthand reporting on what Katsucon is like for somebody with limited mobility. I am happy to say that Katsucon was especially disability-friendly! Here are some photos I took from a wheelchair point of view:

After getting my press pass, the first place I stopped (well, that John wheeled me to) was the Anime USA booth! It looks fantastically patriotic, in light of our 2011 theme: “Service and Duty.” In my opinion, Theo’s astronaut suit and Kevin’s poster art are the best parts. Plus, they gave me a balloon to tie onto the back of my wheelchair.

After seeing Kevin’s gorgeous poster art, I had to stop by and visit with Kevin at his Artist Alley booth. It’s especially apparent in this shot how low to the ground I am.

Lots of cosplayers were extremely accommodating when I wanted to take photos of them. They posed low to the ground so I could get a good shot.

At lunch time, we went to a place called Freshii where the only seating was in high-up bar stools. My friends sat up there and handed me my food and drink from the table.

And because I brought my own chair, I got front row seating, both at Charles’ “Dead Like Us” panel on Shinigami…

…and at the masquerade!

I bought myself a Lolita inspired headband from my friend Bune, who was selling at Artist Alley. You can see it in this photo, which we took with a bunch of friends from my alma mater, the University of Mary Washington.

I was too low to see most stuff in the Dealer’s Room. After taking this photo, I cheated a little and stood on one leg to get a better view.

My only real mobility problem at Katsucon was when it came to elevators. (Isn’t that the case at every con?) But since I was in a wheelchair, people always made sure to let me on the elevator, no matter how crowded. Later, John and I found a “secret” elevator and never had to wait again!

For more photos, visit my Flickr page. And stay tuned for my followup on fanart at Katsucon!

Otaku Links: Xenogears music, jobs for geeks, and Internet miracles

Otaku Links

Can’t… not… post…!

1. I was interviewed on Fan to Pro, a great site for geeks who want to make something more of their hobbies! Watch for my column starting there next week.

2. The Xenogears orchestral CD will be out in February. What great videogame music!

3. You’ll be glad you took out 13 minutes of your day to watch this amazing short film: Lazy Teenage Superheroes.

4. Thing a Day 2011. What a good way to get back into drawing, making, or finally tackling that 28 page doujinshi!

5. I really enjoy fellow weeaboo Catherine’s blog, See Creatures. Except in her case, “weeaboo” means something more like “girl who dresses really well.”

6. Why the Internet chose cats. I’m a poodle person myself.

‘people who are dog people are probably doing things like throwing a Frisbee outside, painting a fence in suburbia, driving to a relevant chain restaurant or giving birth to children in a hospital setting , not going online creating Tumblrs.’

7. And last: stories like this one about 5-year-old Noah are why the Internet will never lose its magic.

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my anime giveaway!

Mega Otaku Links: train bentos, geek movies and my new religion

Otaku Links

I was a lazy blogger last Friday and didn’t post my regularly scheduled links. So that means you get a double helping today. Here’s everything I loved about the Internet these past two weeks.

1. The Chrono Trigger fan-made sequel has arrived. Will you play it?

2. I wrote about Katawa Shoujo again over at Japanator. It’d mean a lot to me if you took a look at it.

3. I wish I knew the top 55 geek movies to look forward to in 2011… oh wait. Here they are.

4. Meeting your favorite web-comic artist at a convention and not sure how to act? Zach Weiner is here to help. His list of “don’t”s are especially unfortunate!

5. All about eki-ben, the bento boxes available at Japanese train stations. I was researching this after seeing the delicious-looking train bentos in Summer Wars.

6. Startlingly beautiful post-apocalyptic dioramas. I especially like the one of the abandoned library.

7. A geek’s 1976 journal posted as a blog. Fantastic idea, and very brave for Steven to put himself out there like that!

Only watched the first few episodes, but I would wear this in a heartbeat.

8. The dumber something is, the funnier I find it. Lately I’ve really cracked up at Troll Foods and The Monkeys you Ordered.

9. Do gamers have the most vivid dreams? Signs point to yes.

10. Kotaku calls this video “The Secret Lives of Cosplayers,” but I would call it, “The Wacky Personalities of Cosplayers.” This guy must be a great interviewer!

11. How your website looks… under the influence. According to this, Otaku Journalist looks best when you are sufficiently drunk.

I know I’ve linked before, but this tumblr is so good!

12. I think I would have really enjoyed Boring Con 2010 in London. After all, one person’s boring is another person’s awesome.

13. I was very moved by this short story from The New Yorker called The Dungeon Master. I found it on The Essayist, which is a great Tumblr to go to for long reads.

14. Might I convert you to my new religion? I have joined the Gropagas and become a disciple of Lord Inglip. If you’ve ever believed that Captchas were sending you holy messages and/or have a good sense of humor, you may want to consider this way of life.

15. Are you guys on Anime Planet? I just joined and it is pretty neat. Check out my profile.