2nd of Blaugust - B - Bronies are people too, unless they want to be Ponies...

A few weeks ago I was in Melbourne to play at a chip music show (which went really well) and while I was there I stumbled upon Minotaur, a pretty large shop full of pop culture stuff that people wet their pants over to buy. I had looked through and stumbled upon a shirt that I thought was kinda cool but not too creepy. But I couldn’t go as far as to buy one. As I was discussing about it at AVCon I was told, “But you couldn’t buy it because you would then become ONE OF THEM!”

So what was the shirt of? Why, it was a cross between Nyan Cat and My Little Pony.

In case you didn’t know about the Brony culture let me take you on a history your as to why a 27 year old guy would contemplate buying something to do with My Little Pony.

The My Little Pony line of toys originally came out in 1983 and have been marketed by various means. One of the popular ones have involved TV shows. To keep the toys current they have gone through different revisions throughout the toys lifespan. For the latest generation of toys they decided to create a new TV series to base the new line of toys off. They decided on getting Lauren Faust as the Creative Director and Executive Producer. She has previously worked on The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Because she was given a lot of creative control she decided that the show had to have more depth to the characters and not play on girly stereotypes as well as appeal to the parents that would also be watching the show with their kids. Well it turned out to be success outside of its target audience of 3 to 10 year old girls. Especially to teenage and adult males.

These fans of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic call themselves Bronies, and go nuts about it on the Internet. They have spawned Memes, fan fictions and even Conventions. When someone comes out to openly show their appreciation of the show they become, “a part of the herd,” and try to spread the message love and friendship across the web.

Right now I am partway through watching the second series and I’m actually finding it entertaining. I even have a favourite character (which is Fluttershy in case you were interested). Yet I wouldn’t tell my family or people I didn’t know well enough about it. Possibly because Bronies tend to be seen as the butt of most geeks jokes a bit like how Furies are.

I try not to take the whole thing too seriously to be honest. I have a good laugh when I watch them and joke about it with my friends. But if I do go far as to buy that shirt then I will wear it with pride. It’s only because I like watching a show. That’s all there is to it.

1st of Blaugust - A - ASMR Videos

Every so often my hair grows long and I have to get it cut. So I go and book an appointment at my hairdresser of choice. I choose them not actually because of how well they cut my hair (which they do) but because they give it a shampoo beforehand using a basin where I get to sit in a comfy chair. While this is happening the hairdresser also gives my scalp a massage (which I guess is for the shampoo to go all the way to the roots of the hair or something) and every time I get this amazing tingly sensation from the scalp massage.

So imagine how I felt when I discovered you could experience the feelings of a a scalp massage based solely through the power of YouTube.

I know what you’re wondering. What the hell was that I just saw? 

This was just one of many videos trying to produce an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response or ASMR for short. It’s meant to be that tingly feeling you experience on the back on you neck. Turns out there is a whole bunch of people (mostly girls) who make all these sorts of videos to induce ASMR. As far as I know there is no scientific basis or research on this and even the name “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response” is made up by the community. That’s right, community. There’s even a sub-reddit.

Common ASMR triggers include whispering, tapping sounds, clicking sounds and light scratching sounds and crinkling sounds. However there are also visual triggers such as the dusting of feathers on skin.

Here is a massive video that hopefully sums up all the types of triggers.

But then we get to the weirdest of the ASMR videos. The role-play videos. The most common role-play involves a trip to the hair salon where the whispering hairdresser tells you how brilliant your hair is and gives you a pretend haircut. There are also makeup sessions, spa retreats and doctors appointments. 

Here is one where noodle packets are being crinkled a little too sensually.

Ever wanted a tingly feeling from an unboxing video? Here you go!

Here’s one for all you weaboos out there!

...and another one...

...and another one...

Well that ended up in Japan-land way to easily. Finally for all you gamers out there...

I get the feeling that most people who make ASMR videos are mainly doing it for the attention though. Still, if this is what they want to do on the internet then all credit to them. As bizarre as it may seem, I found some of them were actually quite relaxing.

So that’s one post down for Blaugust. I'll be writing all my posts by going through the alphabet. Sundays, will be letter free so I can stretch it out though. It also gives me a day to catch up if I miss a day for whatever reason.

So tune in tomorrow where I will progress to the letter B. You don’t even want to now what I have in store for that one. I mean, you DO want to now what I have in store for that one and you will read and enjoy it. Just trust me...

Blaugust 2014 - This blog rises from the ashes!

A few of my friends have done this before, and I admire their enthusiasm. And I decided last night whist catching up with them that I would join in on the shenanigans.

So what the hell is this all about?

The aim (and I mean it loosely) of Blaugust is to write a blog post every day for the month of August. You could say that I'm starting this prematurely by doing one on the 31st of July. But you've gotta be informed. Right? That and I did also need to choose what platform I would use until I realized this blog still existed.

What will I be blogging about? Right now you're guess is as good as mine.

How can you follow Blaugust? Do you want to be a part of Blaugust? You can follow all the hilarity at the Blaugust facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/blaugust/. Even if you start late or don't do every day that's all good too.

Wish me luck and happy blogging.

K-ON! Episode 1 - The Moe-Music begins!

Kyoto Animation has a new Moe-Blob show. Sure, it may not be the new series of Suzumiya Haruhi but it's still worth watching for the studio alone. KyoAni's shows have been known for their huge success, and K-ON! is another of those (judging from the first episode anyway).

Well, K-ON is about a high school music club that's just got enough members to avoid suspension. Only problem is, they aren't exactly any good at their instruments, one girl can't even play anything at all.

This scene made me scream out in laughter!

Episode 1 pretty much introduces us to the four main characters. Yui is the main girl. She's forgetful, energetinc and constantly daydreaming (kinda reminds me of Osaka form Azumanga Daioh). She only wants to join the light-music club because she thinks it would only be whistling and playing the castinets. Instead she's going to play the guitar.

The other three girls. Mio on Bass, Ritsu on Drums and Tsumugi on Keys.

So far the show hasn't deveolped, it's only the first ep. But the concept is definitely there. I'll keep watching and reviewing too. KyoAni always delivers reliable shows. I'll be in Sydney next week with no internet, but I'll definately be back on sunday night to catch up. Hopefully you'll read my ramblings next week.