tchno.blogspot.com

2007-08-16T01:57:00.000+08:00

Anime fans unite. Its time to speak up even if you were not enlisted into the donate-to-odex list.

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.
-- Martin Niemöller

AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE FROM A TPJC Student:

Liberty of choice is one prerogative of the consumer.

You fully understand, thus, that the removal of this right is a complete aberrancy of business ethics.

Human nature is afflicted with this absurd conception that misfortune can never exist as the culmination of an individual’s actions – no; there is an inexplicable urge to apportion blame to a multitude of scapegoats: other people, electrical malfunction, the weather, and perhaps even divine intervention.

Make no mistake; this failing is readily apparent in the realm of commercial enterprise. There can be an infinite number of culpable parties that are cited to address the issue of meager demand for products. However, there is a convenient oversight of personal guilt that all too often proves to be the undoing of us all.

If there is a party that should bear this unfortunate distinction for dipping sales – well, how should I put it? Perhaps the firm should reassess their directives of production.

It is a terrible misrepresentation of consumer rights if say; a particular unnamed firm controls a monopoly over a burgeoning market. But heaven forefend that the firm is utterly incompetent, no, that could not possibly be the rational assessment.

Then, I say, Caveat Emptor!

Suppose I purchase a product from this distributor in question. More specifically, suppose I purchase a Japanese anime box-set in DVD format that literally extorts the consumer of $29.90. I use the word extort to highlight ill intent, for the quality of the purchased product is so repugnant that consumers could not possibly want it even if it was handed out gratis.

The distributor may subsequently ask why.

Well, let’s put it this way. For the exorbitant price we forfeit, isn’t it a travesty if the quality of the paid-for product in question is totally outstripped in every aspect by amateur fansub groups who publish their work without charge?

Why should consumers shell out money for inferiority?

Here are my personal justifications as to how this is the case.

Let’s make an objective comparison through use of a graphical presentation.

Fansub Group
High resolution,
available in multiple formats: DivX, avi, mkv
Convenient; able to be downloaded directly off the internet.
Accurate English translations.
Feedback taken into account by amateur fansub groups.
Free.

Distributor
Poor resolution.
Requires trip to video store.
Horrific English dubbing/subbing with the least eloquent of casts.
Monotone dialogue.
Does not appear to have a customer relations department.
$29.90

An individual’s opinion may be lopsided. However, I reside in complete confidence that my claims will be corroborated by the overwhelming majority of the community.

Perhaps, then, the case is a little more difficult to argue against.

The distributor is subsequently faced with two very different courses of action.

The first (and foremost) solution would be to address the numerous shortcomings of their product(s). This recourse is undoubtedly the most logical, but it may also seem trifling to a firm that does not wish to display genuine concern for consumer welfare and product quality.

However, the consumer is forced to draw the inexorable conclusion that since $29.90 is defined as “about as low as we can go” when modern DVDs in Japan retail for a comparable price but have treble the quality and promotional extras to boot (fanware), competing with substitutes is most definitely not in the firm’s grand scheme of profiteering.

The second solution, as the firm has already publicized for better or for worse, is to legislate their way out.

Prosecution, however, does not equate to a boost in sales, short or long term.
There is still zero incentive to purchase flawed goods, even though there is a compelling reason to abandon “illegal” methods of obtaining them.

Put simply, the consumers can do without.
The firm cannot do without.

When this particular distributor seems hell-bent on stirring up the ire of the community by wildly (mis)wielding the hand of justice to smite juvenile offenders, it would be imprudent to assume desire for their (still flawed) products would see any significant increase. Contrariwise – it may even lead to a greater dip in sales as the community vows to boycott them!

As to alternatives, they will always exist. Youtube, DivX 6 encoding and live streaming sources are all able to evade or make onerous the task of scanning for illegal viewing.

Perhaps the only winner would be the advertisers on Youtube.I have declined to mention the most glaring inadequacy of the products, but no longer. The primary reason why the distributor has generated almost zero demand for their products, contrary to their belief, is not price. Price does play a very significant role, but this travesty is so abominable that it even outstrips the price difference factor!

I know of no one that is looking forward to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’s DVD box release in Singapore.

Why? Excellent question.

Dayummmm, could this be because it’s more than ONE YEAR since the series premiered in Japan?

Absolutely nobody has any incentive to pay $29.90 for products that are a year late in arrival.

In summary, there is NO substitute offered for the “illegal”, yet up-to-date and free fansub groups. If it’s ONE YEAR late, then it isn’t a substitute at all.

One then wonders why the firm deigns to complain about poor sales in the media.

I cite an excerpt from the Copyright Act that the law has to consider:
Quote:
the possibility of obtaining the work or adaptation within a reasonable time at an ordinary commercial price.

My offered solution is simple in theory, but could be presumed as too much hassle for this particular company in question based on their unspectacular track record.

Nevertheless, I will not deign to conceal it, praying that by some spectacular turn of fate it will one day be implemented.

The 3 driving forces behind demand for Japanese animation are:
1. Up-to-date downloads on demand
2. Price
3. Quality

I will now draw attention to Apple Inc., which has taken active steps to curb online piracy of music, not only through ratification and prosecution, but through offering a better alternative at a nominal fee.iTunes is a roaring success.

I’m done with Limewire and illegal music downloading. iTunes has successfully improvised technology to sell tracks at lowered prices. I do not run the risk of viral infections when I purchase my tracks through iTunes.

Additionally, I can sample tracks through online streaming, and if I wish so, I can purchase them individually for 99 US cents.Singaporeans are not an impoverished lot, and the majority of them can certainly afford to pay if the price is right.

Of course, some misers will still exist, but then the company would have a valid reason to prosecute them.What I’m suggesting is the introduction of a revolutionary client that allows us to pay, say, a dollar for individual episodes, and perhaps 15 dollars for a 24-episode series.

These purchases made through credit, and are legally distributed through an enhanced torrent client that has dedicated servers (“seeds”) to download from.This client also sorts the episodes into organized folders for easy browsing.

This client should also feature an online browser much like iTunes where you can search and read up on all the latest releases to hit the market.The bottom line is that the episodes must be up-to-date and accurately subbed.

If fansub groups do a decent job for free, why can’t commercial firms do even better?What are the social benefits?It reduces plastic waste from DVDs.

It is simply more economical to download files through the internet.How does it benefit the consumer?

It is convenient in more ways than one.
It allows for speedier downloading.
It allows for browsing. It organizes the desktop.
Perhaps, most crucially, it is legal.

And, of course, the most anticipated question of all, how does this benefit the firm?

If the popularity of iTunes is anything to go by, a drop in price will generate a greater than proportional increase in demand.

It is imperative that the firm takes steps to erase the taint of poor marketing and wild prosecution if their business is to be salvaged.

This, along with greater community interaction, is the key to creating a booming business. If the firm makes an effort to market their products, consumers are that much more likely to purchase them.

If the firm interacts with the community through conventions, they are that much more likely to build up a loyal customer base (see Japan for details).

If the firm builds up a loyal, ever-expanding customer base, the firm is that much more likely to be profitable.This particular firm has none of the above.

I realize that I raise very big “ifs”.Will the distributor take active steps to make progress in the consumer market, or will they be content to wallow in the regression cycle of poor customer relations, violation of privacy, inferior products and indiscriminate court orders?

Will they only be able to manage a comment such as “It’s very sad” when questioned about the state of the market for Japanese Animation in Singapore?

I leave that to the distributor to answer.

Most anime fans are responsible and wish to appreciate the work of the Japanese studios by purchasing their products.

Make it worth our money.

- Yours Truly

J.S.

2007-04-21T23:13:00.000+08:00

now the shop is losing money 5 days STRAIGHT in a row

2007-04-17T14:03:00.000+08:00

studied dammn hard for my maths paper
and the questions are so easy today
but just cant score
somemore make a lot of dumb mistakes
so dead this time confirm C or even D already

2007-04-15T00:18:00.000+08:00

premonitions, warning and signs

do you believe in it?

for years i have slept like a pig
the moment i lie down i sleep
just like during duty can sleep anytime and wake up haha

the first time that i could not sleep at all was the night before it happened
i could not sleep the entire night
tossing from 2 am to 6 am
i din know why and felt that it was dammn weird

then it happened

but even there are signs
what can i do ?
what am i supposed to do ?

2007-04-12T02:35:00.000+08:00

hey guys

thanks for being there all the time for me even when i was unreasonable and rude and inconsiderate lately

thank you

2007-04-12T01:22:00.000+08:00

An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Jamaican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Jamaican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Jamaican replied only a little while.The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Jamaican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The American then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time?The Jamaican fisherman said, "Me sleep late, fish a likkle, play wid me pickney, mek love wid me wife, tek a stroll ina de village each evening where me drink rum and play domino wid me bredren. Me have a full and busy life, sah."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats and instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move toKingston, then LA and eventually New York City where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Jamaican fisherman asked, "But sah, how long will all dis tek?"The American replied, "15-20 years."

"Den wha' next me a' do, sah?"The American laughed, smiled, and said "that's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions, sah? Den wha'?" asked the Jamaican.

This made the American pause........ then he humbly replied...................."Then you would retire, move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, make love with your wife, take walks into the village in the evenings where you could drink rum and play dominoes with your friends....................................

2007-04-08T00:07:00.000+08:00

recently i discovered and actually understood the true meaning of death
and life is really short

i also found sth called grief
its a combination of feelings

more of it here:
http://home.att.net/~velvet-hammer/grief.html

current symptoms are:
Out of emotional control - feel good one minute; in the pits the next
Can't cry
Sigh a lot
dwell on it every moment
Fantasize about the past
Have lots of guilt about things you did or didn't do
Have a huge hole in your heart and soul
Think you will never recover from your loss
See no reason to exist

2007-03-26T22:05:00.000+08:00

all the emotions now feels really fake

everything has been overcoated by an underlying layer of sadness

dammn. bloody. lost.

2007-03-20T21:59:00.000+08:00

its almost 10 pm
for the past 2 years she would call me ard 10 and ask me about my day
i always looked forward to talking to her

now i do not have that privellage anymore

the only way to move on is not to think about it and pretend everything is normal
how long can it last sia

2007-03-19T20:07:00.000+08:00

its the 1 week anniversary

and i am missing her so badly i cant even describe it
and i cant express it too

2007-03-19T20:02:00.000+08:00

tentative perspective

2007-03-19T01:21:00.000+08:00

The worst regret one can get is to lose someone whom you treated unfairly. yet that someone acknowledges it and still dishes out her uncompromising treatment to u. And when she's gone, you started feeling lost only when you realised that treatment is not an entitlement but love that you are burning away with her silent anguish. ...

2007-03-16T22:55:00.000+08:00

she was my angel

2007-03-16T22:51:00.000+08:00

today is scary friday
when the clock hit 3pm i was dammn nervous and scared la

anyways studied (and dreaming) the most of today at kap

after that supposed to meet ivan to watch movie
but at 8 plus really no mood sia
in the end went to buy a tv to put in daddy's room and also bought so vcds for him too

2007-03-15T23:54:00.000+08:00

feeling better now
feels the worst in the morining everyday
then it gets better
at night is the best
feels super at peace

when we collected the ashes today,
my mums remains had many many pink patches on them
the monk said that its a very good sign

i hope she is doing well now up there
she has done so much and its time that she takes a good rest.

2007-03-15T22:42:00.000+08:00

basic stuff like dinner is becoming a problem

my dad came back from the clinic (cos of the high blood pressure)
but no food sia
he insisted on eating bread but bread got no nutrition la
so in the end we tried to steam egg and cook rice
not very good i would say

2007-03-15T18:23:00.000+08:00

my dad is having high blood pressure again
i cant even study without worrying about him

gone are the days where i can study and work without worrying
now the entire burden of the family falls right on to me
its so heavy i cant breathe

2007-03-13T11:25:00.000+08:00

its so true la

i never realised how much i missed my mum till its too late

and how I took sososososo many things for granted till its too late

these, I heard so often but it din mean much ever before but now ...

the day before, I NEVER saw her smiled SO happily before, my dad too ...