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The Popular Exercise That Tears Down Your Muscles Rather Than Building Them Up: By Ori Hofmekler
One of the most common fitness approaches has been failing miserably. Most people typically attempt to get "less fat" or "less unfit" rather than lean and fit. Most aim at getting "less unhealthy" rather than healthy. Perhaps you too have become accustomed to accept failure as the norm?
Our society is now getting fatter and sicker than ever in spite of the ever growing number of dieters and people who exercise regularly. Something is very wrong with our physical state and most of us aren't even aware of it.
The purpose of this article is to expose the misinformation and fallacies associated with common fitness strategies and present the true fundamental principles upon which human physical conditioning should be based.
My point: human fitness is not a random collection of exercises and it isn't about eating less junk food or popping megadoses of vitamins. Your fitness is created and maintained by a well-defined system. It is rooted in your biology and it's programmed in your genes. Human fitness is based on specific rules, and you need to know how to follow these rules.
Please understand that you possess genes that preserve and develop your muscles, and incredibly, these same genes also extend your life. Your body has an inherent muscle building mechanism that can be activated at any age. And there is no need to force your body to do anything that it isn't programmed for.
The truly exciting news is that there is no need for:
But to turn on your muscle building mechanisms, you need to know what to do. You need to learn what the real triggers of your muscles are, and you need to know how to use these triggers.
So what are these triggers?
What are the facts, and where is the truth?
Facts: Certain nutrition and training protocols have been shown to build muscle, sustain health and promote longevity, whereas other protocols have shown to waste muscle, shatter health and shorten life. But due to a lack of true knowledge, most of us have no clue what to do.
We're largely unaware of what we're doing wrong and we don't even know what we're doing right.
Truth: Cutting through the misinformation and false theories which are so prevalent today, it's becoming more and more critical for us to know who we really are as a species.
You need to know what triggers your body to thrive, what triggers your muscles to develop and what causes them to degrade. When you know how to use the right triggers, you can unleash innate mechanisms that can literally transform pain to power, weakness to strength and sickness to health.
Your body is equipped with a highly sophisticated metabolic system, committed to one single mission: keeping you alive. And especially keeping you alive during times of adversity. It's amazing how well we're programmed for adversity. Your body is like a "stress converter". It turns pain to power.
Hunger, hardship and pain are the real triggers of your body. This may seem quite alarming for most people today, but nevertheless it's the truth. Challenging your body with these primal triggers is what forces it to adapt and improve. That's the premise of the Pain to Power principle.
Accumulating evidence indicates that your body thrives when challenged with nutritional and physical stress. Indeed both hunger and physical hardships have shown to benefit human survival. And the benefits you get from hunger and hardship seem to be deeply rooted in your biology.
The lack of food apparently triggers a survival mechanism that helped humans endure times of food scarcity. And along similar lines, intense exercise bouts benefit you by triggering a primal mechanism that enabled early humans to endure extreme physical hardship.
These inherent mechanisms are part of the human survival apparatus. When triggered, they help you compensate by increasing energy production efficiency, improving body composition, increasing strength and increasing the capacity to resist fatigue and stress. Your survival requires challenge and action. The biological rule is as plain as it's bold:
It is now known that the human body evolved to better survive when challenged properly. Both your brain and muscle develop only when adequately stimulated. Yes, we often need to go through painful experiences to develop a skill. That's how soldiers, athletes, doctors and musicians are made. Pain comes with the territory. And the lack of mental or physical hardship can lead to stagnation and degradation.
Indeed, when passive, sedentary or "moderately" challenged, your body goes into waste. And the consequences include muscle degradation, excessive fat gain, chronic disease and a shortened life span.
Aging for instance, is a tissue wasting process.
Can you block this process?
You're certainly equipped with the means to counteract aging, but modern lifestyle and fitness systems are not designed for that.
Nowadays, we don't need to hunt, fight or flee to survive, and hardly do we need to endure hunger. Virtually everything your early ancestors had to struggle for is now readily accessible. But this is the core of the problem.
We have been shifting away from our species' original program, and away from the necessity to actively survive. Typically our bodies are inadequately challenged. And the very stressors that had made our species thrive in the first place, don't apply to us today. These days, humans live "safely" like farm animals. And most of us are overfed and overweight.
To reclaim your fitness you need to know how to trigger the biological mechanism that preserves and builds your muscles.
Muscle retention is the most critical element of human fitness. Skeletal muscle plays key biological roles in keeping you strong, functional and healthy. Besides force production for physical movements, the muscle participates in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. And it protects you against obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Muscle wasting such as due to lack of adequate exercise, disease or aging, leads to the loss of physical capacity, loss of physical shape and increased risk for chronic disease.
So how do you turn on your muscle building mechanism?
To trigger your innate muscle building mechanism you need to apply the appropriate physical and the nutritional triggers. Both of them are important. If you overlook one of them (by applying the physical triggers, say, without the nutritional triggers), your progress will be compromised.
To understand how all this works in practice, let's first take a look at the body's innate muscle building mechanism.
New developments in the field of human muscle biology have begun to unravel cellular mechanisms that regulate muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. The key muscle building mechanism in all mammals is a complex protein, part of the insulin pathway, called mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin).
When activated, mTOR signals your muscle to increase protein synthesis. And when it's inhibited, your muscle protein synthesis shuts down, and protein breakdown increases. Note that it's the ratio of protein synthesis/protein breakdown that dictates whether you build or waste muscle.
There are three primary activators of mTOR in your muscle:
- Growth factors and insulin
- Amino acids
- Mechano-overload (such as with weight lifting)
During exercise your mTOR is totally inhibited, but it's reactivated right after exercise and further enhanced by amino acids and insulin. With proper nutrition after exercise, mTOR boosts your muscle protein synthesis to a level that exceeds the rate of protein breakdown, leading to a positive protein balance in the muscle and a net gain of muscle mass.
Interestingly, mTOR responds to fasting in a similar way.
When your body is in a fasting state, mTOR is inhibited and upon feeding, it's reactivated and your muscle shifts from a catabolic to an anabolic state. Accumulating evidence indicates that both exercise and fasting initially cause muscle protein breakdown, but both stimulate protein synthesis after exercise and after feeding, respectively.
It seems that the same mechanism that inhibit protein synthesis during exercise and fasting, contributes to the stimulation of muscle protein anabolism right after.
mTOR is highly receptive to hormonal stimulation, particularly to insulin and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1). Note that IGF-1 production is stimulated by growth hormone and intense exercise but it needs insulin interference to finalize its actions. And all this comes into play during the recovery period after exercise.
Right after exercise, insulin can potentially kick in while IGF-1 is already at a peak level. That's the perfect time to feed the muscle and promote muscle gain. Indeed, the post exercise period has been recognized as "the window of opportunity".
Now that you know what triggers the mTOR, let's see what disrupts it.
Since mTOR is part of the insulin pathway, it can be seriously disrupted due to insulin resistance. That's why diabetes is typically associated with muscle wasting. And that's why high glycemic diets (with their insulin shattering effects) are potentially detrimental to muscular development.
You can see why our typical Western diet that is largely based on refined carbohydrate food, has been failing to support your physique. Other disruptors of mTOR include caffeine, nutritional deficiencies and myopathy (muscle inflammatory disease). Note that caffeine inhibits mTOR in a similar manner to exercise.
Meaning: you can have your coffee before exercise but not right after.
So what kind of physical and nutritional triggers activate your mTOR?
Researchers have been finding that the main physical trigger for your mTOR is mechano-overload. Mechano-overload is a physical impact that can be achieved by "killer" strength, speed and push & pull drills. Intense killer drills turn on your mTOR to increase protein synthesis in your myofibrils (muscle fibers) and eventually lead to increased muscle size.
In technical terms, the mechano-overload impact on your muscle triggers the release of a cellular compound called phosphatydic acid, which in turn activates your mTOR. Note that moderate exercise and aerobics can't do this. They lack the intensity needed to yield this impact.
Aerobic training affects mainly your mitochondria (the cellular energy facility) but hardly affects your myofibrils. And even though aerobics yields some cardiovascular benefits, it fails to build muscle mass. And quite often, chronic prolonged aerobics drills can actually lead to loss of muscle size and diminished strength.
So is aerobics bad for you?
Researchers in the area of muscle biology and aging have been finding growing evidence that prolonged aerobics training increase the risk of oxidative damage in the muscle. This type of training causes overwhelming accumulation of free radicals in your muscle, which eventually increase the risk of oxidative damage in your tissues (myofibrils and mitochondria). And this risk of oxidative damage becomes increasingly higher as you get older.
On the other hand, intense exercise protocols which are inherently short, have shown to lower this risk. The short intense exercise protocol gives the muscle the time it needs to recuperate and counteract oxidative stress without depleting its antioxidant pool. And again, short intense exercise yield the right impact needed to trigger your mTOR and increase muscle mass.
But there is more to it.
The mechano-overload impact of intense exercise works directly on your fast muscle fibers, the type IIB and the type IIA. It's the fast muscle fibers that enable you to be strong and fast, and they have the largest capacity to generate force and gain size.
You need them when you climb stairs, carry heavy grocery bags, chop wood or move furniture. And if you lose that physical capacity, you lose your ability to live independently.
But the fast muscle fibers are most prone to damage and wasting and they're particularly prone to degradation during the aging process. And only intense exercise can trigger the mechanism that keeps these fibers intact.
Note that the physical triggers are only part of the equation. To build muscle, the physical triggers must be combined with the right nutritional triggers. Inadequate nutrition may lead to loss of muscle size and power regardless to how we exercise.
So what kind of nutritional triggers are needed?
The main nutritional triggers for mTOR are essential amino acids and particularly the amino acid leucine. Studies reveal that intravenous administration of amino acids increase the rate of muscle protein synthesis after exercise and simultaneously lower the rate of muscle protein breakdown. Dietary protein seems to be the primary factor in muscle nourishment.
Researchers worldwide believe that the diet protocol that benefit human fitness most, is the high protein low carbohydrate diet.
Recent studies have been reporting substantial benefits of the high protein low carbohydrate diet on muscle conditioning and weight loss. A key element in this diet regimen appears to be the high intake of the amino acid leucine, which is part of the branch chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine).
Besides the stimulation of muscle protein synthesis, leucine has also shown the capacity to modulate insulin and blood sugar. But to further understand how leucine and amino acids regulate muscle buildup, we need to briefly review the role of dietary protein.
The role of dietary protein is to provide the 20 naturally occurring amino acids and especially the nine indispensible/essential amino acids.
Each amino acid has a unique requirement as a building block for body proteins. But some amino acids participate in additional metabolic roles. Most notable among them are the branch chain amino acids, and particularly leucine. Note that besides stimulation of your mTOR, leucine serves as a substrate for your muscle fueling when dietary carbohydrates are not available.
Let's take a closer look at leucine's actions.
Unlike other amino acids, which serve mainly as building blocks for muscle protein, leucine also signals your muscle to increase protein synthesis. Incredibly, leucine has shown to stimulate your muscle protein synthesis, even during times of food restriction or after prolonged physical hardship.
It is the sheer increase in circulating leucine concentration which triggers the mTOR.
On the cellular level, leucine stimulates phosphorylation of an inhibitory protein 4E-BP1 (4E-binding protein 1). And the removal of this inhibitory protein activates initiation factors to induce muscle protein synthesis.
Researchers believe that this unique role of leucine in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis is consistent with the sparing of lean body mass seen with high protein diets during weight loss.
Note that the highest concentrations of leucine and branched chain amino acids (BCAA) are found in dairy products; particularly quality cheese and whey protein. And even though leucine is relatively abundant in our food supply, it is often wasted as an energy substrate or used as a building block rather than an anabolic agent.
This means that to establish the right anabolic environment, you should try to increase leucine consumption beyond maintenance requirements.
But beware that only FOOD BASED leucine can benefit your muscles without side effects. Using leucine as a free form amino acid can be highly counterproductive.
Intravenous administration of free form amino acids including leucine has shown to cause severe hyperglycemic reactions and insulin resistance. Apparently, when free form amino acids are artificially administrated, they rapidly enter the circulation while disrupting insulin function, and impairing your body's glycemic control.
This proves again that we're programmed to benefit from whole food nutrition only.
So how much leucine in the form of foods, NOT supplements, do you need to consume for getting results?
Based on nitrogen-balance measurements, the requirement for leucine to maintain body protein is 1-3 grams daily. And to optimize its anabolic pathway, it has been estimated that leucine requirement should be about 8g - 16g daily.
The following chart presents leucine content in common foods:
Leucine Content in food / per 100g
|Whey Protein Concentrate
|Raw Cheddar Cheese
|Lean Beef
|Chick Peas
|Raw Eggs
|Egg Yolk
|Sheep Milk
|Cow Milk
This means that to get the minimum 8 gram leucine requirement for anabolic purposes, you need the following amounts of food:
- a pound and a half of chicken
- three pounds of pork
- over a pound of almonds (over 3000 calories)
- over a pound and a half of raw eggs (16 eggs)
- half a pound of raw cheddar cheese
and remarkably, only 3oz of high-quality whey.
As you can see, whey protein supplementation can effectively allow you to get the minimum leucine you need to build muscle without consuming freaky amounts of food and calories.
Note that the anabolic impact of leucine is proportional to its availability and is dependent on its circulating levels. In other words, the more leucine you consume from food, the better chances for anabolic impact you get.
But there is one more factor that can dictate whether you gain or lose muscle mass. And that's the glycemic factor.
As noted, the triggering of your mTOR to increase muscle mass requires healthy insulin and glucose homeostasis. Any impairment in the regulation of blood glucose and insulin activity could inactivate your mTOR and jeopardize your muscle protein synthesis.
Studies have reported that dietary protein has beneficial stabilizing effect on insulin levels when entering the circulation from ingested food. In other words, protein food benefits your body's glycemic control. And furthermore, protein serves as a perfect fuel during times of fasting and intense physical hardship.
Amino acids can serve as the ideal muscle fuel during intense exercise. But note that your body uses only certain amino acids for muscle fueling.
As a general rule, a large percentage of dietary amino acids are oxidized before even reaching your circulation. Nearly 100 percent of dietary glutamate and glutamine and nearly 40 percent of phenylalanine are removed during the absorption process, largely by oxidative degeneration.
But the exception to this pattern of protein degradation are the branch chain amino acids (BCAA), with over 80 percent of dietary content of leucine, valine and isoleucine reaching circulation.
It seems that the body spares these amino acids for one purpose: Muscle fueling.
Scientists now know that BCAA and leucine reach your muscle directly to serve as emergency fuel. BCAA contribute carbon to synthesize glucose via the alanine glucose cycle. Called gluconeogenesis, this process converts BCAA into alanine and glutamine which then serve as carbon donors to the production of glucose.
And all this without spiking insulin.
It has been reported that the alanine-glucose cycle accounts for 40 percent of endogenous glucose production during prolonged exercise. Gluconeogenesis occurs mainly in the liver and it grants a perfect supply of glucose to the muscle tissues during fasting and exercise. Your liver releases to the muscles exactly the right amount of glucose needed.
This fueling mechanism is so efficient that it persistently keeps blood sugar from overspiking or overplummeting. In other words, amino acids serve as PRIMARY FUEL during times of intense physical or nutritional stress. They could be the ideal fuel for athletes engaged in non-aerobic drills including weight lifters, wrestlers and mixed martial artists.
That's the right fuel to prevent "hitting the wall".
It's plausible that we evolved to possess this perfect protein fueling mechanism during primordial times when humans were engaged in extreme physical hardship while being on a frugal diet that was primarily low glycemic, devoid of grains and sugar. In fact, this fueling system benefits us only when we're deprived of dietary carbs.
High carb meals shut down this primal fueling mechanism and your body shifts instead to the less effective carbohydrate fuel.
Endurance athletes such as long distance runners can certainly benefit from complex carb loading. For aerobics training, complex carbs are certainly a viable fuel. However, there is growing evidence that the human body has not evolved to do well on a high carbohydrate diet. And as we age, we tend to further lose our tolerance to carbohydrate food and particularly to the glycemic load.
Recent studies reveal that the addition of simple carbohydrates to protein supplement negated the anabolic impact of the protein, and blunted muscle protein synthesis in a group of healthy people over 60. These are the facts and we can't afford overlooking them.
One of the major problems with today's fitness is the ignorance towards muscle fueling. We have been shifting away from the primal low glycemic fat/protein fuel into the high glycemic carbohydrate fuel and again, we pay the consequences with ever growing rates of diabetes, obesity and related disorders.
To retain and improve your physical shape, you must shift back to the low glycemic fuel foods you were originally programmed for. And by all means, you should minimize the consumption of high glycemic foods and avoid all sport nutrition and diet products (bars and powders) that are high in sugar or refined carbs.
More studies are needed to fully elucidate the role of nutrition and exercise in supporting your health and physical condition. As for your fitness, there are obviously additional topics which must be addressed.
- How should you combine food?
- What's the right meal timing?
- And how much should you eat per meal?
- When do you need fast assimilating protein?
- And when do you need slow assimilating protein?
- What is the best protein food for your muscle?
- And what's the best protein blend?
- How does the muscle fueling system work?
- Who needs carb fuel?
- Who needs fat fuel?
- Why is training complexity so critical?
- What training regimen protects your neuro-muscular system from degradation?
- How long and how often should you train?
- Can you improve your muscle fibers quality?
- Can you possibly develop a hybrid super muscle fiber?
- And could you adjust our diet/training protocol to counteract aging and prevent muscle wasting?
Obviously there isn't enough space here to cover all this. Nonetheless, we can still draw some important conclusions based on the information in this article.
Following are practical guidelines to the right physical and nutritional protocols.
Train intensely in short intervals. The short intense exercise intervals protocol has shown to improve body composition (build muscle, burn fat) more than the prolonged moderate exercise and aerobics. It has also shown to help counteract muscle aging by retaining fast muscle fibers and increasing the capacity to perform intense, physical tasks.
Avoid long aerobic cardio sessions.
- Incorporate strength and speed exercises with intense push and pull drills to maximize the mechano-overload impact on the muscle. Keep increasing your exercise intensity (weight load, speed and complexity) as you progress to keep your muscles adequately challenged.
- Work your whole body rather than body parts. Isolation exercise have a limited and often limiting effect on your progress.
- Incorporate minimum rest between intervals. This will force your body to improve its durability and strength at the same time.
Remember to keep challenging your body. To do that, rotate your exercise routine; change the order of your exercises and add new elements to your drills.
Incorporate drills that mimic fight or flight activities, such as punches, kicks and sprints. Like other species, we're inherently programmed to improve our physical capacity and resiliency to stress by unlocking this primitive survival apparatus within us.
Avoid moderate exercise. Moderation is fatal to muscular development. High intensity programs like and are ideal to help improve your fitness level.
Follow a high protein, low glycemic diet. Keep a high ratio of protein/carbohydrates to improve body composition.
Here are a few other key points:
- Increase your intake of leucine rich foods such , raw cheese and organic, pasture-raised eggs.
- Increase the gap between meals to potentiate the anabolic effect of each meal. Remember, fasting stimulates a substantial peak in muscle protein synthesis when feeding is resumed.
- after exercise. Make sure the whey protein is derived from grass fed cows and is cold processed. Note that whey protein is the fastest to assimilate among all protein foods. Its anabolic impact after exercise is unmatched. Whey protein is also ideal for muscle fueling before exercise. It has the highest content of leucine and BCAA among all foods.
For best results, incorporate at least two recovery meals after exercise / 20g-30g protein per meal. 20g is about the threshold amount of protein needed to grant maximum utilization efficiency without wasting nitrogen.
Keep 1-3 hours gap between meals (depends on meal size).
Make all your muscle meals low glycemic. Avoid protein bars and powders made with added sugar. Note that mixing whey protein with low glycemic fruits such as berries is ok. This will not cause a substantial increase in the glycemic load of your meal.
- Increase your intake of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables to support your muscle antioxidant defenses and allow recuperation and buildup.
- Stay away from any product made with added fructose. Fructose is the worst fuel for your muscles.
- Start your morning with a whey protein meal to cover your minimum leucine requirement. This will allow all additional protein meals to become increasingly anabolic (by releasing extra leucine for anabolic purposes).
- Use whey meals as a primary source of protein during the day to grant maximum protein/leucine loading efficiency with minimum digestive stress.
- Have your slow assimilating proteins (eggs, cheese, fish or meat) at night to grant a steady release of leucine and a long lasting anabolic impact during the sleeping hours.
- One way to spare leucine for anabolic purposes is by adding coconuts' MCT (medium chain triglycerides) to a whey protein meal. MCT has shown the capacity to swiftly convert to energy without spiking insulin and without the need for bile acid digestion. MCT can help shift leucine's pathway from fueling into muscle building.
- Keep your diet clean from chemicals, pesticides and preservatives to minimize the metabolic stress on your body. Accumulated metabolic stress and toxicity present major obstacles to muscle recuperation and buildup.
Life isn't just about looking hard and feeling strong. And often you get too busy to pay attention to how you eat or exercise. Nevertheless, with the right knowledge and practice, you can become increasingly efficient in restoring and improving your physical shape even when your available time is scarce.
The protocols suggested here can fit any lifestyle. Even 10 minutes of intense exercise can still yield positive results while you're on a super busy schedule. And you can easily pre-pack whey protein in your bag or case and bring it with you anywhere you go. Life requires you to act.
The choice is now in your hands.
Ori Hofmekler is the author of , , , and the upcoming book Unlocking the Muscle Gene/North Atlantic Books.
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All False statements involving Ron Johnson
For the first time in U.S. history, a personal inaction will be deemed unlawful -- not purchasing a health-insurance plan
Says Russ Feingold voted to give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants
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Russ Feingold "has not worked anywhere outside of politics."
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For more shows throughout the weekend, check out our New York Concert Calendar, which we update daily.
For more shows throughout the week, check out our New York Concert Calendar, which we update daily.
We're hearing yes. Earlier this month it was announced that weirdos (Flaming Lips), jocks (Imagine Dragons), legends (Ms. Lauryn Hill), and the recently released from prison (Pussy Riot) will take the stage at Barclays Center on Feb. 5th for Amnesty International's Bringing Human Rights Home concert ... More >>
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Arif Lohar w/ Arooj Aftab Asia Society Friday, April 27 Better than: Watching a certain very popular video obsessively. As another occasionally devotional songwriter once sang: "The band in Heaven plays my favorite song. They play it once again, they play it all night long." Pakistani folk singer ... More >>
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It's hot as hell, so here's a guide to surviving the dog days this weekend (it's supposed to cool off Sunday, but we planned just in case...) without breaking the bank.
Lady Gaga.Today the radio behemoth Clear Channel announced a festival celebrating the relaunch of its online service iHeartRadio, which currently allows listeners to tune into the chain's terrestrial-radio outlets from all over the country (as well as about 150 digital-only stations) and whic ... More >>
Classic albums get the Cathyland treatment
Condé Nast is turning some of its best-known magazine names into restaurants in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Can a Vanity Fair Café here on U.S. soil be far behind? [Wall Street Journal] The recent closure of a Key Food in Flushing has led residents to ask a new Asian market i ... More >>
Photos by Puja PatelMI21: Mother India 21st Century Remix with DJ Tigerstyle and Falu Celebrate Brooklyn/Prospect Park Thursday, July 29 "Some of you already have the Bollywood thing down, wearing your sunglasses at night," teased Falu singer Gaurav Shah, as he donned his own pair. "T ... More >>
Morgan Spurlock's nerd-awaited Simpsons 20th anniversary special aired last night. Highlights: Dr. Ruth praising Marge and Homer's sex life, a visit to an actual Duff Brewery in Argentina (who currently have a pending copyright-infringement lawsuit from FOX), and the third-hardest working man in N ... More >>
F2K is a countdown of the 50 worst songs of the decade. Track our progress here. America: A Tribute To Heroes was a true television feat--put together merely 10 days after the 9-11 attacks, presented without commercials on over 35 channels, raising millions of dollars for the families of WTC vict ... More >>
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The most commendable political compilation of a watershed year for official liberalism
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At Limelight, my friend was screaming 'Tacky!' through our entire five minutes there, but the place was surprisingly mobbed.


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Join 500,000+ Artists
Its' free and it takes less than 10 seconds!
Hello, long time lurker, first time sketchbooker!
I'm an animation student. I'm a bit shy about showing my stuff to people, so I've decided to just do it. Comments and criticism appreciated! I'm really hoping to improve.
I'm not that good at shading with pencil, and I have trouble with tonal stuff, so I decided to take a 5B and do some still lifes. I admit, I get quite impatient! As a result some of these don't really... turn out clearly.
Hi There,
Great to see you put some work up, nothing to be afraid of
If you're fighting the pencil a bit, have you ever experimented with toning the paper with some graphite shavings? Sometimes it's a little less daunting than the white of the page, I know it loosens me up.
Give it a shot!
keep it up,
I would agree with Mike L... tone the paper first, or draw on a mid-gray charcoal paper (with charcoal, obviously )
You'll find that charcoal is easier to control, value-wise, than graphite.
Thinking connects desire with creation.
How good are you?
The Road to Perdition
Thank you two!
Mike L: I've never come across toning paper with graphite shavings. I'll definitely try that!
p sage: I didn't know that charcoal was easier, having never really used it. I'll give it a go!
As for toned paper, I actually found some light grey sheets in my closet, so I tried that out. Heres a sheet draped over a chair:
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SpringOfSea's Sketchbook


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COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - H.C. Starck donated a valuable piece of confined space equipment to the Coldwater Fire Department (CFD). The new Yates Spek Pak will serve as a patient packaging and extrication system that combines the backboard immobilization of a short board with the suspension and support of a full body harness.
The tools main purpose will be for confined spaces in which vertical elements are encountered (industrial tanks and machine rescue) all while maintaining limited immobilization. The capabilities will also allow for the instrument to be used in high angle rescuing (wilderness extraction of a hunter from his tree stand).
"We are thankful for the donation that H.C. Starck has presented to the Coldwater Fire Department," said Lt. Jack Trayling. "The versatility of this one piece of equipment will allow us to perform certain tasks at a higher level of efficiency while displacing the need for multiple extrication devices."
The proposed idea for the donation came about during a routine inspection, in which it was noted that the tool could be very useful in the case of an emergency at H.C. Starck's operations. "We are glad that we could provide a tool that is not only beneficial to us, but that can be utilized elsewhere in the community as well," said Brian Olson, Engineering and Maintenance Manager, H.C. Starck.
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of technology metals and advanced ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as engineering companies and tool manufacturers.
The Coldwater Fire Department provides fire prevention, fire suppression and responds to medical emergencies within the City of Coldwater. In addition, the fire department also provides fire suppression and emergency responses for the townships of Coldwater and Girard.


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text:
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Photographed by Hedi Slimane
Antonia Wesseloh for Mixte Fall/Winter 2012 by KT Auleta.
Ivy League - November 2012 / Beauty Director: Carlene Higgins / Assistant Art Director: Jessica Hotson / Photographer: Andrew Soule
Azealia Banks by Inez & Vinoodh for V Magazine
(via modelspersonal)
Constance Jablonski
'Simply Elegant' Nastya Kusakina photographed by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue China Collections, Fall 2012
Jessica Stam at Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2007
(via fairest-smile)
One Direction shot with Edie Campbell by Patrick Demarchelier for the December 2012 issue.
Kristina Bazan (Kayture) wearing: Zara coat, gloves, and hat, Minusey dress, LuLu Frost necklace and Michael Kors bag.


text:
A traditional Kerambit.
|Concealed blade
|Place of origin
|West Sumatra, Indonesia
|Service history
|Used by
|Minangkabau people
|Blade type
|Single or double edged, crescent curve
|Hilt type
|Water buffalo horn, wooden, ivory
|Water buffalo horn, wooden
The karambit or kerambit (Minangkabau language: Kurambiak or Karambiak) is a small Southeast Asian hand-held, curved knife originating in Indonesia. The karambit spelling is mostly used in the Philippines. In Western literature it is occasionally misspelled as "korambit".
As proven by its etymological roots, the kerambit originated from Minangkabau people of West Sumatra[citation needed], Indonesia where, according to folklore, it was inspired by the claws of big cats. As with most weapons of the region, it was originally an agricultural implement designed to rake roots, gather threshing and plant rice. As it was weaponised, the blade became more curved to maximise cutting potential. Through Indonesia's trade network and close contact with neighbouring countries, the karambit was eventually dispersed through what are now Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand.[1]
Culturally the kerambit was a subject of condescension in Java because of its history as a weapon of the agrarian peasantry, as opposed to the kesatria (warrior class) who were trained in the keraton or palace. European accounts tell that soldiers in Indonesia were armed with a kris at their waist or back and a spear in their hands, while the kerambit was used as a last resort when the fighter's other weapons were lost in battle. Nevertheless it was popular among women who would tie the weapon into their hair to be used in self-defense. Even today, silat practitioners regard it as a feminine weapon. The renowned Bugis warriors of Sulawesi were famous for their embrace of the kerambit. Today it is one of the main weapons of silat and is commonly used in Filipino martial arts as well.
Superficially the kerambit resembles the jambiyah but there is no connection. The jambiyah was always designed as a weapon and serves as a status marker, often made by skilled artisans and jewelers using precious stones and metals, whereas the kerambit was and still remains an unadorned, modest farmer's implement and useful utility knife.
While it is primarily used in a slashing or hooking motion, kerambits with a finger ring are also used in a punching motion hitting the opponent with the finger ring, as well as some kerambits are designed to be used in a hammering motion. This flexibility of striking methods is what makes it so useful in self-defense situations. The finger guard makes it difficult to disarm and allows the knife to be maneuvered in the fingers without losing one's grip.
Generally, the short Filipino karambit has found favor in the West with some martial artists because such proponents allege the biomechanics of the weapon allow for more powerful cutting strokes and painful "ripping" wounds, and because its usability is hypothesized as more intuitive, though there continues to be debate about this matter.
There are many regional variants of Kerambit. The length of the blade, for example, could vary from one village or blacksmith to another. Some have no finger guard and some feature two blades, one on each side of the handle. Traditional Indonesian forms of Kerambit include:
- Kerambit Kuku Bima: Bima's nail kerambit, endemic to West Java
- Kerambit Kuku Hanuman: Hanuman's claw kerambit, endemic to West Java
- Kerambit Kuku Macan: tiger's claw kerambit, endemic to Sumatra, Central Java and Madura
- Kerambit Sumbawa: larger, sturdier kerambit made specially for battle. From the Sumba Islands
- Kerambit Lombok: larger, sturdier kerambit made specially for battle. From Lombok
- Lawi Ayam: chicken's claw, created by the Minang community
Additionally, modern Kerambit may have spikes or spurs on the front or rear ricasso, which may be intended for gripping clothing or horse tack, tearing flesh or for injecting a poison, such as the upas.[2]
Modern forms[edit]
The modern Western interpretation of the karambit is far removed from the original agricultural tool. They may have folding blades (more dangerous to utilise in agrarian contexts) and finished to very high standard, as opposed to being rudimentary and makeshift. As they are made from expensive materials, the Western variation is beyond the financial means of most South East Asian peasants. They also are generally larger to accommodate larger hands and the sheath is usually made of modern materials rather than wood or leather.
The West has recently found the karambit to be useful for self-defense. Most of those produced in the West for use as weapons are based on the small Filipino variety, which features a short blade and index finger ring. Both fixed blade (generally double-edged) and folding (generally single-edged) karambits are produced by a number of makers, including Warren Thomas, Mantis Knives,[3] Emerson Knives,[4] Strider Knives,[5] Spyderco, Cold Steel,[6] Craig Camerer, United Cutlery, Rich Derespina,[7] Cutters Knife and Tool,[8] 5.11 Tactical,[9] Kramer Custom Knives, Tom Ferry Knives, Mike Snody, Quartermaster Knives, Tindle Knife Works, and Fox Cutlery.[10]
In popular culture[edit]
- Father Rhun Korza, one of the Knights of Christ, a team of specially trained "ex-vampire priests" that act as vampire hunters for the Vatican in James Rollins' The Order Of The Sanguines (starting with Blood Gospel) series, uses as his only weapon an ancient Karambit that is made of silver. For a single karambit, across three novels it piles up a staggering body count of the undead.
- China White from CW "Arrow" uses two karambit knives in combat.
- A fighter wields two karambit in the Thai movie Ong Bak 2.
- The famous Javanese playwright Nadiputra titled one of his three plays Awang Kerambit.
- A folding Emerson Karambit is briefly seen in the Thomas Jane film, The Punisher.
- The opening scene of the film Merantau shows a silat routine with a kerambit.
- In the movie Taken, Liam Neeson fights Sheik Raman's guard who uses a karambit.
- A karambit is used by Lazlo Mourne in the Mushashi Flex novel by Steve Perry.
- A folding Emerson Combat Karambit is used by Michael Westen in the Television Series Burn Notice.
- An Emerson Karambit Fixed Blade is used by Alex Mason and Frank Woods in the level Executive Order in the 2010 video game Call of Duty: Black Ops.
- A Cold Steel Steel Tiger Karambit is used by a gang Thai member in The Man from Nowhere.
- A folding Emerson Super Karambit is used by Roan in TV series Nikita.
- A karambit is used by the antagonist Alphard in Canaan.
- The character Valmet wields a Karambit in episode 12 of the anime series Jormungand.
- A karambit is used by Katya (Sam Phillips) a mute female terrorist working with Simon Gruber in Die Hard with a Vengeance.
- The Emerson Karambit Fixed Blade also resurfaces in the mission "Old Wounds" from the video game Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2, it is used by Sgt Frank Woods in order to interrogate Lev Kravchenko.
- A kerambit is included in the crest of the Royal Malaysian Police.
- Sam Fisher (portrayed by stunt actor and International Combat Systema founder Kevin Secours) in Splinter Cell Blacklist is armed with a modern westernized karambit[11] for close quarter combat.
- A hitman in the film Bullet to the Head kills Stallone's partner with a folding karambit.
- A Karambit is an exceedingly rare special item in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- A Karambit was used by Hannibal Lecter in the film Hannibal to kill a hitman and cut open Chief Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi's gut.
- Screaming Mantis in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots uses multiple Karambits during her boss fight.
- "The Assassin", a cold blooded killer character from The Raid 2, uses a pair of Karambits as his weapons.
- The main character of the video game Alpha Protocol wields a karambit
See also[edit]
- ^ Proyek Pembinaan Permuseuman Jakarta (Indonesia). Koleksi pilihan museum-museum negeri propinsi. Proyek Pembinaan Permuseuman Jakarta: 1989. 65 pages
- ^ Sheikh Shamsuddin. The Malay art of self-defense: silat seni gayong. North Atlantic Books, 2005 ISBN 1-55643-562-2, ISBN 978-1-55643-562-1. 247 pages. pp234
- ^ [1] Mantis Knives
- ^ "Emerson Combat Karambit". Emerson Knives Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Model HS Karambit". Strider Knives Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Steel Tiger". Cold Steel. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Custom Knife Gallery". Derespina Knives. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Bengal folding Karambit". Cutters Knife and Tool, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "5.11 Tactical Knives". 5.11 Tactical. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ [2] Fox Cutlery
- ^ "Sam Fisher's Karambit". Unfinished Man. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ "The Tactical Knife Ultimate Guide".
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Adityawarman.jpg Adityawarman king minangkabau and karambit or kurambiak or karambiak
|This Indonesia-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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Japan Matsuri in London Saturday 27th September 2014
Date: 2014 September 21st Sunday [5:57] | Posted By:
Category: >
In London on Saturday? Looking for something Japanese Culture related to do? Well don't forget about the
Japan Matsuri in London
. The Traditional Japanese festival returns to Trafalgar Square. It's set to run on Saturday 27th September 2014 from 11am until 9pm. As expected, they'll be lots of food stalls, along with stalls selling all sorts of Japanese related goodies plus shows on the main stage. There is no entry fee, it's open to all.
Regular readers would have
first heard about this years event
on the
Otaku Calendar
as it's the best way to organise your otaku lifestyle! ^_^
Japan Matsuri
Attack On Titan Part 1 UK Blu-ray Competition
Date: 2014 September 17th Wednesday [15:30] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK based anime fans will be pleased to hear that the good folks from
Manga Entertainment UK
have given us one copy of Attack On Titan Part 1 on Blu-ray to give away.
Read More...
| Source: Otaku News
Gekiga: Alternative Manga Exhibition in London
Date: 2014 September 16th Tuesday [16:27] | Posted By:
Category: >
London based readers looking to discover a different side of manga will be very interested to hear about the
Gekiga: Alternative Manga From Japan
. This will run at
Cartoon Museum
on Little Russell Street (which is near the British Museum). It's set to run from Tuesday 23rd September to Saturday 29th November 2014.
It's not every day you get a chance to see manga like this on exhibition, so go and visit it while it's on!
The Japan Foundation
will also be hosting a
talk on Gekiga
in London on Thursday 25th September 2014 (we've had this
on the Otaku Calendar
for a while).
Thanks to the good folks at
The Japanese Gallery
for telling us about the exhibition.
Read More...
| Source:
Cartoon Museum
Attack On Titan Part 1 Out Now in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray
Date: 2014 September 15th Monday [15:28] | Posted By:
Category: >
Today's the day many UK anime fans have been waiting for. The good folks from
Manga Entertainment UK
have released Attack on Titan. It's out today (Monday 15th September 2014) on
Collectors Edition Blu-ray
. It is indeed epic.
You can also pre-order Attack On Titan Part 2 on
Last year
we caught up with WIT Studio
the company behind the anime hit at the
MCM London Comic Con
As you can expect, we'll post a review soon. In the meantime, don't have nightmares about scary giant naked people eating you (please don't).
Manga Entertainment UK
Psycho-Pass Complete Season 1 Collection UK Blu-ray Competition
Date: 2014 September 11th Thursday [16:56] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK based anime fans will be pleased to hear that the good folks from
Manga Entertainment UK
have given us one copy of Psycho-Pass Complete Season 1 Collection on Blu-ray to give away.
Read More...
| Source: Otaku News
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Category: >
Kickstarter anime project Under The Dog receives highest ever funding for an animated project on the crowd funding website.
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| Source:
Under The Dog Kickstarter Campaign
Under The Dog Anime Project Achieves Its Funding Goal
Date: 2014 September 7th Sunday [13:25] | Posted By:
Category: >
project from anime director Masahiro Ando,
Under The Dog
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. Project will be a first episode in a planned series.
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Under The Dog Kickstater Campaign
Top Anime Director Shinichiro Watanabe to star at MCM London Comic Con October 2014
Date: 2014 September 5th Friday [16:50] | Posted By:
Category: >
MCM London Comic Con
returns this October 2014. As always UK based anime fans are in for a treat.
The good folks running MCM London Comic Con got in touch with us to tell us that this time around the Anime Guest of Honour is renowned
anime director Shinichiro Watanabe
. The man is well known for fusing anime with different musical styles. His work is highly regarded (and rightly so). He's the force behind Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Kids On The Slope. More recently, he's also directed Space Dandy and Terror In Resonance.
He'll be appearing on stage, plus attending the
Anime Limited
stand to sign autographs (exact times will be announced closer to the date), he's also here to promote the UK home video launch of Space Dandy and Terror In Resonance.
We were lucky enough to
interview him
last year at the MCM London Comic Con in May 2013.
Read More...
| Source:
MCM London Comic Con
MCM London Comic Con October 2014 Exclusive Pre-order T-shirt from Genki Gear
Date: 2014 September 5th Friday [16:20] | Posted By:
Category: >
It's that time of year again! This October from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th geeks will descend on London for the MCM London Comic Con. 3 days of fun for all the different kinds geek spectrum, otaku, gamers, film fans, cosplayers, will all be well represented. As is tradition the good folks at Genki Gear will have an MCM London Comic Con Exclusive Official T-Shirt. It will be available for pre-order and features a sweet monster design.
The t-shirt is available from
or the official
MCM Store
Read More...
| Source:
Genki Gear
Hyper Japan Christmas Market 2014 Details
Date: 2014 September 3rd Wednesday [15:23] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK fans of Japanese culture will be pleased to hear about
Hyper Japan's next event
. The Christmas Market is set to run from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th November 2014 at National Hall, Kensington Olympia in London. We visited
their last event in July
and had lots of fun. So it's worth setting a date in your calendar or even
your Otaku Calendar
, as it's a great place to get some Christmas shopping done in advance.
Read More...
| Source:
Hyper Japan
Haruki Murakami Book Signing Report
Date: 2014 August 31st Sunday [11:23] | Posted By:
Category: >
Yesterday cult best selling author
Haruki Murakami was in London
for a book signing. Being fans of his work the Otaku News Team decided to go along and see if we could get a signed copy of his book. It turns out, we're not hardcore Murakami fans.
Waterstones were running the book signing and advised fans that they would be giving out wrist bands for the event at 8:30am. The first 200 people would be able to buy a copy of the book and get it signed by the man himself. The next 200 would get a pre-signed copy. We got to the Piccadilly branch of Waterstones at 7:30am, already the queue had hit the 400 people capacity. The security guard for the event was politely turning people away. It was inevitable if you cap the number of people at an event, that there will be some people disappointed.
Read More...
| Source: Otaku News
Haruki Murakami London Book Signings - August 2014
Date: 2014 August 29th Friday [16:58] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK based fans of cult writer
Haruki Murakami
will want to head to
Waterstone's Piccadilly Circus Branch
on Saturday 30th August 2014 at 11:00am where the author will be
signing his latest book
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage.
Sensibly due to the authors huge popularity Waterstone's are advising people to turn up early to avoid disappointment. They will be operating a wristband scheme. Customers will receive their wristband for this event when they purchase Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage on Saturday 30th August at 8.30am, or when they bring a valid Waterstones receipt/Waterstones.com despatch note with their copy on the day of the signing. They'll be limiting the wristbands to the first 200 people, and they are non transferable. Those who are not lucky enough to meet Haruki Murakami on the day, will be guaranteed the opportunity to buy a rare pre-signed edition. These will be limited to 200 copies only, one per person.
Hello Kitty Is Not A Cat
Date: 2014 August 28th Thursday [17:36] | Posted By:
Category: >
Freaky Things
Every so often in the news you hear something that takes you by surprise. This week
The LA Times found out that Hello Kitty is not a cat
While researching Sanrio's super star character for a
museum retrospective
at the
Japanese American National Museum
in LA Christine R. Yano an anthropologist from the University of Hawaii (and currently a visiting professor at Harvard, as well as a Hello Kitty expert) discovered that Hello Kitty is not a cat.
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| Source:
LA Times
Psycho-Pass Complete Series One Collection DVD and Blu-ray UK Release Details
Date: 2014 August 27th Wednesday [14:52] | Posted By:
Category: >
A quick reminder to UK based anime fans who will be excited to hear about
Manga Entertainment UK's
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You can pre-order Psycho-pass Complete Series One Collection from Amazon.co.uk on
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| Source:
Manga Entertainment UK
AmeChibi Sells Out In 6 Hours
Date: 2014 August 25th Monday [14:51] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK anime fans will not be surprised to hear that Mini Anime Convention
AmeChibi 2015
has hit it's registration limit of 500 people in 6 hours of opening their website for registration. The website enabled registration at midday on 25th August 2014, and by 6pm on the same day the limit had been reached.
We did say to book early
to avoid disappointment. Those who have not yet registered can be added to the wait list, and put in the queue for any cancelled registrations.
The convention is going to be a smaller less crowded affair, with the event highlighting "the smaller size means a cosier venue, with less of that pesky walking around".
AmeCon Website
Howl's Moving Castle Today's Google Doodle
Date: 2014 August 16th Saturday [7:55] | Posted By:
Category: >
Fans of Ghibli will be pleased to note that today's Google Doodle in the UK is
Diana Wynne Jones
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Google UK
AmeChibi 2015 Registration Details
Date: 2014 August 16th Saturday [7:21] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK based anime fans will be pleased to hear the news sent to us from the good folks from
. They've already announced that AmeChibi will be running from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th April 2015 in Nottingham. Now they've
just revealed
when registration will be open/
On Monday 25th of August 2014 at midday, they'll accept registrations. So get ready, as with events like this once they've sold out, that's it. We advise on booking early to avoid disappointment.
AmeCon have confirmed
the mini con will be limited to 500 places. So do book early.
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| Source:
Hyper Japan 2014 Report
Date: 2014 August 7th Thursday [15:04] | Posted By:
Category: >
So Japanese Culture event
Hyper Japan
was the 25th -27th July 2014 this year, a few of us went & this is a run down of the goings on at this awesome event!
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| Source: Otaku News
Studio Ghibli Forever screenings throughout the UK in August
Date: 2014 August 5th Tuesday [13:32] | Posted By:
Category: >
In conjunction with film distributor Studio Canal, there will be a selection of Studio Ghibli features playing at cinemas throughout the UK in August. Including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Arrietty, Ponyo, Earthsea, Cat Returns, Porco Rosso and Princess Mononoke. There will even be a 'Draw Your Own Studio Ghibli Character' workshop!
Screenings will be all over the UK
, including Glasgow, Sheffield, London, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham.
Not only that, but tickets are at great value starting from £4 for children and £7.50 for Adults.
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| Source:
Studio Ghibli Forever
Studio Ghibli to close down (or is it?)
Date: 2014 August 3rd Sunday [17:16] | Posted By:
Category: >
Studio Ghibli
The internet has lit up with the news that Studio Ghibli is to close down. Being the internet it's also full of misinformation. According to sources, Studio Ghibli producer
Toshio Suzuki said on the MBS Channel
that they're restructuring Studio Ghibli. They are considering closing animation department.
Many speculators
in the industry are not surprised by this.
Kotaku have a good analysis of the story
and it's details. As they correctly point out, an event like Studio Ghibli closing down would be all over Japanese News sources. Currently it is not.
: We've changed the source of this article to Kotaku, as they have a great analysis of what's going on.
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| Source:
Bryan Lee O'Malley Seconds UK Book Signing Details
Date: 2014 July 29th Tuesday [15:14] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK based fans of Scott Pilgrim will be very pleased to hear about Bryan Lee O'Malley's new book Seconds. To celebrate it's launch Bryan will be in the UK for
some book signings
Gosh! Comics
in London on Thursday 14th August 2014,
The British Library
in London on Friday 15th 2014, plus
Forbidden Planet
in Edinburgh on Sunday 17th August 2014.
We've already updated the
Otaku Calendar
with these details.
: More details the
signings have been announced
including, Leeds, Manchester and Dublin.
If you can't make it to the signings, you can always
pre-order Seconds from Amazon.co.uk
Raidomaru.com - Bryan Lee O'Malley's Website
The Daiwa Scholarship - Spend 19 Months in Japan
Date: 2014 July 28th Monday [15:45] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK readers will be very interested in a
scholarship offered
by the
Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation
"The Daiwa Scholarship is a unique 19-month programme of language study, work placement and homestay in Japan. Daiwa Scholarships offer young and talented UK citizens with strong leadership potential the opportunity to acquire Japanese language skills and to access expertise and knowledge relevant to their career goals. No previous experience of Japan or Japanese is necessary."
So if you're a British Citizen about to graduate, or have graduated and are aged between 21 and 35 years of age as of 1 September 2015
you should investigate further
The Daiwa Scholarship
Ghost in the Shell UK Cinema and Limited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook Release Details
Date: 2014 July 28th Monday [15:09] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK Anime fans will be pleased to hear the news that Manga Entertainment UK have sent us. We've been told as it's the 25th anniversary since the original Masamune Shirow manga was released, the film will receive a limited theatrical run at select
Picturehouse Cinemas
from 27th September 2014. Following on from that on Monday 29th September the movie will get a HD Blu-ray release with a bonus 22-page booklet, in a limited edition steel book. Fans will note that this the first time the original movie has had a high-def release in the UK.
The limited edition Steelbook is
available to pre-order now from the Amazon.co.uk
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| Source:
Hyper Japan Event Reminder - July 2014
Date: 2014 July 24th Thursday [17:04] | Posted By:
Category: >
Fans of Japan looking for something to do this weekend will want to head over to Earl's Court for
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we've mentioned before
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Hyper Japan
New Directors From Japan - third windows Films Kickstarter Campaign
Date: 2014 July 21st Monday [15:25] | Posted By:
Category: >
The good folks from UK based Eastern movie distributor
Third Window Films
have got in touch with us to tell us about their
Kickstarter Crowd-Funding Campaign
. They plan to fund a Dual Format 3-disc Limited Edition release of New Directors from Japan. Basically this release will cover up and coming talent from Japan, with a unique and entertaining edge.
At the time of writing the goal has been met, and the campaign has been closed. We want stretch goals!
Read More...
| Source:
Third Window Films
Anime director Shingo Natsume to be guest of honour at MCM Scotland Comic Con 2014
Date: 2014 July 18th Friday [15:47] | Posted By:
Category: >
We've already mentioned that the
MCM Manchester Comic Con
is about to start, but planning ahead anime fans will be interested in the
MCM Scotland Comic Con
set to run at Glasgow's SECC from Saturday 6th to Sunday 7th September 2014. Otaku will pleased to hear that anime director Shingo Natsume will be the guest of honour at the September event. Director has an impressive CV and is currently directing Space Dandy alongside
Shinichiro Watanabe
As always, we've added
details of the event
to the
Otaku Calendar
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| Source:
MCM Scotland Comic Con
MCM Manchester Comic Con July 2014 Details
Date: 2014 July 16th Wednesday [15:41] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK based anime fans and geeks in general will want to head to Manchester this weekend for the
MCM Manchester Comic Con
. The event is set to run from Saturday 19th to Sunday 20th July 2014 at Manchester Central. Popular anime companies will be there including
Manga Entertainment UK
Anime Limited
will be there selling their wares.
So head over to stand number 811, to find
Manga Entertainment UK
Anime Limited
titles on sale.
They'll also be some voice actors at the show including Bryce Papenbrook (who'll be voicing Eren in Attack on Titan), DC Douglas, along with Vic Mignogna who is best known as voicing Edward from Fullmetal Alchemist (he's voiced loads).
Plus the MCM Manchester Comic Con will play host to the EuroCosplay Championships where on Saturday one talented person will be selected to represent the UK for the 2014 finals.
You can download the
official show guide here
Read More...
| Source:
MCM Manchester Comic Con
Manga Jiman 2014 Competition Details
Date: 2014 July 12th Saturday [15:06] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK based artists should get drawing as the
Embassy of Japan in the UK
just announced details of the 2014 Manga Jiman competition
. The manga competition is now in it's 8th year. The theme this time around is "ichi-go ichi-e", which can be translated as "once-in-a-lifetime meeting" or "a chance encounter".
We've covered
previous Manga Jiman competitions before
. The top prize this year is 2 return tickets to Japan, second prize is a laptop, and third a rather nifty digital camera.
They've also got an interesting category for 11 to 13 year olds, Yonkoma Manga covering 4 panels.
Read More...
| Source:
The Embassy of Japan in the UK
An interview with Japan Camera Hunter
Date: 2014 July 9th Wednesday [14:15] | Posted By:
Category: >
Normally on Otaku News, when we talk about otaku we mean fans of anime and manga. There are plenty of other areas worth exploring. Today, we'll introduce you to someone who loves cameras.
With the world going increasingly more digital, the photography scene around the world is seeing a resurgence of film and there is a demand among amateur and professional photographers alike for good film cameras. Film photographers enjoy the tangible nature of the photos and the fact that film slows the whole process down. Developing the picture is something to look forward to, it doesn't give instant gratification like a digital camera.
Certain cameras are now regarded as classics of their era. Japan is the natural place to go if you want a nice film camera because the country is ubiquitous for photography and cameras with so many camera brands being Japanese. While in other countries things are going on-line, physical camera shops both for new and second hand goods are a thriving business.
Bellamy Hunt lives in Tokyo. He runs a website called
Japan Camera Hunter
. He's passionate about photography and film. If you want a decent camera sourced from Japan, he's your man.
Our editor Joe caught up with him over a coffee in Shinjuku.
Read More...
| Source: Otaku News
Ambassadors of Cute
Date: 2014 July 6th Sunday [4:43] | Posted By:
Category: >
What are these strange cute mascots, who are they, and what do they do?
Read More...
| Source: Otaku News
Hyper Japan Event Details - July 2014
Date: 2014 July 3rd Thursday [15:28] | Posted By:
Category: >
UK based fans of Japanese culture including anime, manga, food, J-Pop, cosplay and more traditional things will want to head to London on Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July 2014 for
Hyper Japan
The annual J-culture event returns promising to be it's biggest Hyper Japan yet.
It'll have all sorts of fun things to see and do. Including a
game and anime park
fringe market
, a section of
pure kawaii
, plus much more!
Read More...
| Source:
Hyper Japan
Fairy Tail The Movie: Phoenix Priestess UK DVD and blu-ray release details
Date: 2014 July 1st Tuesday [15:15] | Posted By:
Category: >
Press Releases
UK Anime fans of the Fairy Tail series will be pleased to hear the news from
Manga Entertainment UK
. They've sent us details of the upcoming movie release on DVD and blu-ray. Fairy Tail The Movie: Phoenix Priestess will be released on Monday 28th July 2014.
You can pre-order the
Read More...
| Source:
Manga Entertainment UK
Artist talk: Seiichi Hayashi in conversation with Ryan Holmberg in London July 2014
Date: 2014 June 15th Sunday [13:30] | Posted By:
Category: >
The good folks from
The Japan Foundation in London
have got in touch to tell us about an up coming event that'll be of interest to manga fans. They'll be hosting
Artist talk: Seiichi Hayashi in conversation with Ryan Holmberg
on Tuesday 1st July 2014 from 6:30pm at their London Office.
Seiichi Hayashi is know for his highly regarded alternative manga. If you think manga is all shonen and want to expand your horizons. There is so much to manga and different forms of sequential art.
The talk is free to attend but booking is essential. To book e-mail
Read More...
| Source:
The Japan Foundation, London
Transformers x Evangelion - Optimus Prime with Eva Unit 01 Colours
Date: 2014 June 9th Monday [14:53] | Posted By:
Category: >
Fans of giant robots will be pleased to hear the news from the
Big Bad Toy Store
. Takara Tomy Toys the folks behind Transformers in Japan have teamed up with Gainax to produce an
Evangelion Unit-01 coloured Optimus Prime
. This forms part of the Transformers x Evangelion project.
Optimus' trailer comes with NERV branding too.
Optimus himself sports the distinct purple and green
colour scheme. While the Autobot Matrix of Leadership has been made to look like an S2 Engine.
Only 1,000 will be sold in Japan.
Fans of transformers merchandise will know that this is essentially a repaint of the MP-10 Masterpiece Optimus Prime figure. Big Bad Toy Store are taking pre-orders at $314.99 (USD).
Read More...
| Source:
Takara Tomy
An interview with Blue Exorcist Movie Staff Takamitsu Inoue and Atsushi Takahashi
Date: 2014 June 4th Wednesday [16:59] | Posted By:
Category: >
A few weeks ago two of the production staff behind the Blue Exorcist Movie were visiting the May 2014
MCM London Comic Con
. They were there to promote
Manga Entertainment's
UK release and catch up with fans. We were lucky enough to meet and interview Takamitsu Inoue the film's Producer and Atsushi Takahashi the director.
Read More...
| Source: Otaku News
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text:
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 6 Months
Dainius Zubrus had three goals this week as he broke out of a long slump.
Zubrus had only two goals and two assists in his previous 38 games heading into action on Monday and now has 13 goals this season to go with 13 helpers. He is now seeing second line action with Damien Brunner and Michael Ryder on his wings.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 6 Months
Dainius Zubrus scored his 11th goal of the season during a 3-2 shootout loss to Buffalo.
Zubrus notched a point for the first time in 13 games, as the 35 year old now has 24 points through 76 games. Zubrus played 19 games in Buffalo during the 2006-07 season, where he scored eight points in the short stint.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 8 Months
Dainius Zubrus returned to action on Monday February 3.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 8 Months
Dainius Zubrus (knee) plans to participate in the Devils' warmups before deciding if he will play on Friday.
Zubrus left Thursday's contest after being struck by a slap shot during Thursday's contest. His knee is bruised, but he feels lucky that it wasn't worse.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 8 Months
Dainius Zubrus was struck in his left knee by a slap shot during Thursday's game.
The incident occurred midway through the third period and ended Zubrus' night. It wasn't immediately clear if Zubrus would be available for Friday's contest.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 8 Months
Dainius Zubrus is projected to play with Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr on New Jersey's top line Thursday.
He has recorded one goal and one assist in his last 17 games and both of those points came on Jan. 14 against Montreal. Zubrus has contributed 21 points in 54 contests this year.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 8 Months
Dainius Zubrus suffered a broken nose on Sunday, but he'll still play on Tuesday.
"I got sandwiched between two guys as they were coming together for a hit," Zubrus said. "It happened in the first period." Zubrus returned to the game after having his nose reset. He has 21 points and 26 penalty minutes in 53 contests in 2013-14.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 8 Months
Dainius Zubrus had a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Montreal.
That ended Zubrus' 10-game scoring drought. He has nine goals and 21 points in 48 games in 2013-14.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 8 Months
Dainius Zubrus doesn't have a point in his last eight games.
He hasn't made his mark on the scoresheet since he picked up a goal and an assist on Dec. 21 against Washington. Zubrus has eight goals and 19 points in 45 games this campaign.
Dainius Zubrus C NJ 9 Months
Dainius Zubrus skipped the Devils' Friday morning skate due to a minor injury.
This isn't the first practice Zubrus has missed due to an ailment he sustained on Saturday, but he's been playing through it. "It's just something that has been kind of there for a week or so and I'm trying to take care of it and give it a rest when I can," Zubrus said. He still expects to play Friday night.


text:
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Make this Homemade Holiday Gift:
Hand-Sewn, Printed Tea Towels
Homemade Holiday Gift Idea Exchange: Project #4
Skill Level: Easy
Time Required: 3 hours
Project Cost: $30
Last year, in an effort to minimize the cost of Christmas shopping, Stephanie and her boyfriend James decided that all their gifts would be handmade by them. Stephanie sewed up some hand-stamped tea towels to give alongside some cutting boards made by James. Here's how she did it:
- Absorbant cotton fabric in white/cream
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Acrylic paint
- Fabric paint medium
- Stencil (you can use your own or buy one)
- Sponges
- Tape
- Cut your cotton fabric into rectangular shapes, using other tea towels as a guide for size.
- Sew a 1/4 inch border around the edges.
- Choose your paint color and mix with fabric paint medium to ensure easy application and washing.
- Place your chosen stencil on the fabric and secure with tape so it doesn't move around. Or, use some tape in place of a stencil to create stripes.
- Dab paint on with a sponge.
- If given with a cutting board, tie them up using some twine and you are all set to give as a gift!
All this month, Apartment Therapy is featuring homemade gift ideas made and submitted by you, the readers. Check back every day for a new project, or head over here to see all the DIY gift ideas.
More posts in this series
Homemade Holiday Gift Idea Exchange 2013
9 Comments
I wonder how durable they are if used like dish towels. How does the paint hold up to repeated washing?
I'm curious about @sbalman's question, too. Love the towels, but want to make sure they stand up to washing.
I've spilled acrylic paint on my clothes many times, it doesn't really come out. I had some success once using Goof Off and lots of scrubbing.
Hi! The fabric medium makes them stand up to quite a few washes time and time again. I'd say after a few years you might see the colour fade, but so far so good (I gave this gift last year).
I love the stencils used. Where could I find something similar?
Home Depot usually has some really nice Martha Stewart stencils by the paint section.
I have done something similar in the past and they have stood up really well to repeated use and washing. I use fabric paint (as opposed to mixing acrylic with a medium); in the UK Dylon paints are easily come by, are quite reasonably priced and last for ages.
I also regularly use freezer paper to make my stencils (which I learnt about by reading American crafting blogs!) Transfer your design to the freezer paper (print it or trace from a printout) then just cut it out. Iron the freezer paper to the fabric (plastic side to the fabric) and iron on firmly but not for too long. This will then seal the edges of the stencil and minimise bleed-through from the paints. Once you have applied the paint (two coats if necessary) remove the freezer paper carefully. Once the paint has dried then I usually iron to fix as per the instructions on my fabric paints.
A couple of my examples - http://bygaenor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/and-some-of-other-stuff.html and http://bygaenor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/christmas-round-up.html
Hope that's not too wordy!
I bought these at Michaels and yes they are Martha Stewart :)


text:
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Drake Universitys Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) and Colleens Dream Foundation have donated $10,000 to support ovarian cancer research conducted by Michael Goodheart, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Iowas Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Holden Cancer Center.
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) August 21, 2014
Drake Universitys Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) and Colleens Dream Foundation have donated $10,000 to support ovarian cancer research, according to Billy Cundiff, President of Colleens Dream Foundation.
Cundiff, who is also the kicker for the Cleveland Browns, says the money raised by the FIJIs Kicking Cancer Event was matched by Colleens Dream Foundation and will fund research to be conducted by Michael Goodheart, MD, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Iowas Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Cundiff says the Drake FIJIs were instrumental in making this donation possible.
"The FIJIs did a great job this year with their Kicking Cancer Event, says Cundiff. We wanted to maximize the impact of their efforts by keeping the money in the state of Iowa and we can do this by making this donation to the University of Iowas Holden Cancer Center."
FIJI representative Andrew Bell says this was a wonderful community event inspired by Billy Cundiff and Colleens Dream Foundation.
"It was a profoundly rewarding experience to see FIJIs, other Drake undergrads, alumni, and community members come together behind such an important cause, says Bell. Billy truly embodies what it means to be a persistent leader and a poignant example of selfless service."
This is the second year Colleens Dream Foundation and the Drake FIJIs have teamed up with the Kicking Cancer Event to raise money to fund ovarian cancer research. Cundiff says its great to be able to keep the money raised in Iowa, by supporting the excellent research being conducted by Dr. Goodheart.
"Dr. Goodheart is performing valuable ovarian cancer research, says Cundiff. At Colleen's Dream Foundation, we want to continue to support cutting edge research, so we are excited to match all the funds raised by the Drake FIJIs Kicking Cancer Event and keep the money in Iowa."
According to George Weiner, MD, the Director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, the donation by the Drake FIJIs and Colleens Dream Foundation will in fact support important cutting edge research being conducted at the center.
"The standard approach to treating many cancers has changed dramatically over recent years based on cancer research, says Weiner. Recent research discoveries in ovarian cancer suggest we should be able to develop new, more effective, and better tolerated ovarian cancer treatments, but this will only happen if we continue to invest in research. Support for ovarian cancer research, such as that provided by Colleen's Dream Foundation, is essential if we are to make this 'Dream' a reality.
Dr. Goodheart agrees with Dr. Weiner and says donations like the one from the Drake FIJIs and Colleens Dream Foundation are key for advancing ovarian cancer patient care, and for preventing ovarian cancer.
"Gifts from partners like Colleen's Dream Foundation bolster our efforts to discover more about the origins, prevention, development, and treatment of cancer, says Goodheart. Most important, they help us speed progress toward translating research advances in the laboratory to advances in patient care.
For more information about University of Iowas Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Holden Cancer Center visit these links:
Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the silent killer because many women do not discover their disease until it is in the late stages, which leads to many women succumbing to the disease within a short period of time. Unlike cervical or breast cancer, ovarian cancer does not have a standardized early detection procedure. When it comes to womens health, ovarian cancer proves to be one of the deadliest diseases.
Colleens Dream Foundation started in 2012 and supports research for early detection and improved treatment for ovarian cancer. The story of Colleens Dream started in 2007 when Colleen Drury Nicole Cundiff mother and Billy Cundiffs mother-in-law- was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer.
The family became aware of a new world that was filled with invasive surgery, harsh chemotherapy, and lots of uncertainty, and realized they needed to help others who were dealing with ovarian cancer.
Colleens Dream Foundation believes it is important to raise money for research that will lead to reliable early detection testing and improved treatment for ovarian cancer. Because so little is known about ovarian cancer in proportion to other womens health issues, there is an incredible opportunity for research and education.
Colleen's Dream Foundation is a qualified 501 (c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona.
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