AURA Creations

Bay Area Chocolatiers

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:26:46 -0800

I volunteered at the Singles Chocolate Salon at Fort Mason, San Francisco yesterday and wolfed down a whole lot of chocolates from many local chocolatiers while enjoying the chocolate-inspired fashion show. I particularly liked the ones from XOX Truffles, Rushburn Toffee, and L'estasi Dolce. Andre Crump, the event organizer, also gave me a copy of his book I Know About Dating I Learned in Business School: How to Succeed in Dating by Using Basic Business Practices. A fun read definitely.
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Singles Chocolate Salon

Urban Dare San Francisco

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:21:24 -0800

My sister and I participated in Urban Dare in San Francisco yesterday. It is a team race that's part photo hunt, part trivia and part dares. We had to solve clues to find checkpoints throughout the city. We covered more than 10 miles by foot! We finished the race in 5 hours and 48 minutes.

For more information about the race, check out www.urbandare.com.

Route Map

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Photo Gallery

Urban Dare

Like Puzzles?

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:46:28 -0800

Favorite Shopping Sites

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:28:55 -0800

Cool Programs and Scripts

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:56:12 -0800

Power Management Recognition Issues

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 08:15:03 -0800

If Windows is not recognizing your power management/power scheme settings, try the following command: sfc /scannow Windows will verify that all protected Windows files are intact and in their original versions. The Windows installation disc will be required. The power scheme setting should work properly after the scan.

Sea Prince and the Fire Child

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:36:23 -0800

“If only fire and water can be as one like the reflection of fire on water.” Released by Sanrio films in 1981, Sea Prince and the Fire Child (Shiriusu no densetsu) is a beautiful retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Created and produced by Shintaro Tsuji, the founder of Sanrio, the film proves that Sanrio is not only a company that makes great Hello Kitty paraphernalia, but also touching animated films that cater to the young at heart. Unlike the Little Mermaid, which pleases the American audience by turning it into a lighthearted comedy when the original story is a tragic one, Sea Prince and the Fire Child tells the story like it is. Love, friendship, jealousy, honor, and courage are all central themes to the story. The siblings Oceanus the God of Water, and Hyperia the Goddess of Fire, used to live together in harmony until one day Algaroc the God of Wind, split them apart by turning them against one another. After this incident, the fire and water people are forbidden to see each other. Syrius, a young innocent sea prince, ventures out to the edge of the ocean, meets Malta the fire child and eventually falls in love. A water child cannot survive the bright sun light. Similarly a fire child cannot be touched by water. The two young hearts find themselves isolated from their friends and parents, only longing for the night where they can see each other by the seashore, far away from suspicious eyes. The audience is never quite sure if the forbidden love will succeed in the end. There always seems to be a turn of events in the most desperate of times that keep the audience’s hope up. In the age of computer graphics animation, it’s a delight to see hand drawn animation cells in action. All characters move with fluidity and have great facial expressions. The background scenery is colorful in a style similar to the Disney film Fantasia that debuted in 1941. The water and fire worlds contrast each other greatly, further showing that there is no middle ground for the young couple. Besides the wonderful animation, the music works exceptionally in capturing the mood of the different scenes. The main music theme is unforgettable. It’s been stuck in my head ever since I’ve first watched the film in childhood. In our jaded society where divorces are frequent and friendships are few, Sea Prince and the Fire Child is a film for adults and children alike, and reminds us of the importance of friendship, love, and doing what’s right. Unfortunately the film is out of print. Good luck in getting yourself a copy!

Azuma

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:27:01 -0800

As I opened the two glass doors to the restaurant, I could immediately smell the wonderful aroma. The restaurant was packed. I spotted quite a few tables with Japanese diners. It’s Sunday night. That’s a good sign. One quick glance at the menu revealed a wide variety of traditional Japanese dishes like tempura, teriyaki, sukiyaki, and shioyaki. Nothing special really until I started looking at the appetizer menu. There were a nice selection of namamono (raw items), agemono (fried items), and yakimono (grilled items). These were the real gems of restaurant. The seaweed salad ($4.30) was cool and refreshing. Mixing in cucumber strands was a nice touch. The dish really made my stomach juice flowing. The soft shell crab tempura ($6.80), along with some spicy radish bits mixed in with a special tempura sauce offered a sharp contrast to the seaweed salad. I particularly liked the way the crab was cut which made it very easy and enjoyable to consume. The dobin mushi or soup in the teapot ($10.80) was a fun alternative to miso soup. It reminded me of pouring hot sake into little cups, only it’s soup instead. The soup was very flavorful, thanks to the pieces of chicken and mushroom hidden within the teapot. It’s not often you see amaebi ($5.20) on the nigiri sushi menu, I made no hesitation in ordering it. The sushi included two pieces of raw sweet shimp on rice along with the giant shrimp heads deep-fried placed on the side. I loved the crisp and silky texture of the amaebi. The deep fried shrimp head were done well. I ate the entire head in one gulp. When I ordered the Alaskan black cod kasuzake ($9.80), the waiteress immediately smiled with delight. I knew I ordered something good. The fish came in two large pieces. One bite into the cod and the buttery meat just melted in my mouth. It was the best cod I’ve had in ages. I finished off with the unagi don or eel teriyaki over rice ($9.98). The unagi was thick unlike most places. There was just enough sauce to not overpower the flavor of the eel. After the meal, I sipped some green tea and enjoyed the remainder of the night knowing it was one of the best Japanese meals I’ve had in the south bay. Azuma 19645 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 257-4057

CLONO:bypass (C:b)

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 08:31:43 -0800

Title	CLONO:bypass (C:b)
Artist	Hakura Ugetsu (YELLOW TAG)
Copyright	2/17/2002
Content	24 pages in total; 2 one-sided color prints; 6 pages color illustrations; 8 pages monochrome illustrations; 2 pages black & white sketches; 4 pages text with images; Softcover
Size	B5 (176mm x 250mm)
Extras	None
Cover Price	N/A
ISBN	N/A
Rate	Average
Purchase	Mandarake
Comments	N/A

人工天使 Lebensvolg

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 08:17:28 -0800

Title	人工天使 Lebensvolg
Artist	Hakura Ugetsu (YELLOW TAG)
Copyright	11/18/2001
Content	22 pages in total; 2 pages color illustrations; 6 pages monochrome illustrations; 14 pages black & white sketches; Softcover
Size	B5 (176mm x 250mm)
Extras	None
Cover Price	N/A
ISBN	N/A
Rate	Average
Purchase	Mandarake
Comments	N/A

Stealth Phone

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 08:39:53 -0800

Title	Stealth Phone
Artist	Hakura Ugetsu (YELLOW TAG)
Copyright	9/2/2001
Content	24 pages in total; 12 pages monochrome sketches & illustrations; 12 pages black & white sketches & illustrations; Softcover
Size	B5 (176mm x 250mm)
Extras	None
Cover Price	N/A
ISBN	N/A
Rate	Average
Purchase	Mandarake
Comments	N/A

Artists' Personal Sites

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 09:53:33 -0800

YELLOW TAG	Ugetsu Hakua (白亜右月) YELLOW TAG
	Range Murata (村田蓮爾) PSE WEB
	Jun Tsukasa (司弾) Kacchumusume No Aburaziru (甲冑娘)
	Shunya Yamashita (山下しゅんや) RICK-O-SOUND

Hakua Ugetsu (YELLOW TAG) Information

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 10:25:23 -0800

Official Sites:

Published Titles:

Magical Girl Ai [3 book set] - 11/30/2004
Flamboyant - 4/25/2005

Doujinshi Titles:

UH (PICTGRAPH) - Summer 2000
ウエ (Drawing Chop)
Stealth Phone - 9/2/2001
人工天使 Lebensvolg - 11/18/2001
CLONO:bypass (C:b) - 2/17/2002
UE (2002)
Six Sigma - 08/11/2002
Novella - 12/30/2002
Signall Signalless
PSION - 12/30/2003
Redframe [First Edition] - 8/15/2004
Redframe [Second Edition] - 12/30/2004
Blueframe - 12/30/2004
Glyphgram (4+) - 8/14/2005
Parhelia flagment - 2/19/2006
Parhelia flagment 2 - 5/5/2006
Lith - Summer 2006
Orbital - Summer 2006

Covers:

Range Murata (PSE) Information

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 17:10:17 -0800

Official Site:

Range Murata Official Homepage

Fan Sites:

Fundamental Knowledge of Range Murata [Japanese]
An Eye for Detail
Long Range Bullet

Published Titles:

Like a Balance Life
0.5 Like a Balance Life [2nd Mix Edition]
futurhythm Preview
futurhythm [2nd Drawing Works Limited Edition]
fa documenta 001+002 collection catalouge
re: futurhythm
rule
form code: 3rd drawing works collection

Published Contributions

FLAT - Printed collection of 30 graphic products
Blue Submarine No. 6 Graphical World
Bitch's Life
Psikyo Visualworks Poster Book
Last Exile Aerial Log
Kikan S Anime Magazine Issue 1-15
Character Design Bible (CDR) Volume 3, 4
Robot Volume 1-5

Doujinshi Titles:

Racten [First Edition]
Racten [Second Edition]
Futsutsuka [First Edition]
TEMPAO [First Edition]
TEMPAO Reversal Version
Futsutsuka [Second Edition]
Wildfrowers (Wildflowers) [First Edition]
Wildfrowers (Wildflowers) [Second Edition]
Racten 1826 [Third Edition]
Life Like Biew [Aug.1996 Collection]
Concurrence
Marion and Company Special Remix 1997
World of Wachenröder
The Missing Special Remix 1998
TEMPAO [Second Edition]
Fault Lines
Fault Lines [Private Version]
Futsutsuka [Third Edition]
Azure: Blue Submarine No. 6 Character Filegraphy
Spheres: 1st Last Exile Character Filegraphy
Spheres: 2nd Last Exile Character Filegraphy
Spheres+ [plus]
Spheres Pre ++ [Pre plus plus]
Spheres++ [plus plus]
Synchrotone

Calendars

Deformer Largo 1995 Calendar [First Edition]
1997 Calendar
1999 Calendar
2000 Calendar
2001 Calendar
2001 Calendar [Private Version]
2001 PSE Perpetual Calendar

Goods

PSE Collection Poster Summer 1999
Range Murata Telephone Card Set
0.5 Poster
0.5 Telephone Card Set
PSE additional card package U.S. limited edition version
Pasta's Estab. 10th Anniversary Bibliography
futurhythm leather binder cover
Pinky:St Postcard Collection
Last Exile Poster Book Collection

Tokyo Central (AniChara)

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:31:27 -0800

Tokyo Central is an excellent online anime shop that offers rare doujinshi and anime goods. The Tokyo based store consistently has the latest anime paraphernalia from artists like Range Murata, Jun Tsukasa, Hakua Ugetsu, and Masamune Shirow. The folks who run this store are the most considerate and caring people I know of. They also take great care in packaging the items! For the otaku(s) out there, check out the Zero-Type forums for up to date news on anime and manga developments!