J Adventures

Friday 26 January 2024

waffle January 26, 2024

2024 Update: New Journey Once Again

Artist: Axle (pixiv)

It's been a while since I posted anything, but I felt bored so I just wanted to write a short post for old sake times. For myself, I started this blog because I felt a void in my heart and mind after I switched university degrees numerous years ago. Looking back, it was an experience where I learned a lot about myself and opened my eyes to the realities of the world - that everyone is going through a series of struggles. In addition, working experience made me even more humbled.

Now I am on a new journey. It will be a long and arduous process, but it will be worth it. I hope I can cope with the challenges that await me. I say this because my mental cognition and focus is not good as it used to be, but perhaps getting back into the routine will help me reawaken some of my innate capabilities.

I have started watching some anime sporadically when I'm bored, but I'm always too busy or tired after work haha. I still read manga weekly and that is one of the few pleasured I have left as I age. I hope I can still enjoy these blissful days where I am still relatively young.... (and I hope everyone embraces that mindset too). You can do it if you have the will and shrewdness... until next time....

JSan 0

Friday 20 November 2020

waffle November 20, 2020

Week 155 - 166: Hiatus... perhaps for a while longer

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to make a brief update that I am still here, but I haven't been posting because I have been focusing a lot on university, particularly since it was an important point of my life. I also haven't been watching any anime during this period, and I probably don't plan to for a while as I want to rest up. I may also need to start preparing early for next year. I hope everyone is doing well during this tumultuous period, and keep on persevering until the end of the year. See you next post.

JSan 0

Sunday 2 August 2020

Manga August 02, 2020

Guide to Madman Winter Sale 2020

Like many others, I was disappointed at this year's winter sales compared to the previous mega sales that occur during Summer (at Jan-Feb) and the usual winter sale around this year. This year's winter sale's maximum discount is up to 70%, which is comparatively lower to previous sales (80% in this year's Summer Sale, 85% in last year's Winter sale and 75% in last year's summer sale). However, there is one major difference compared to previous sales. In previous sales, a particular discount will apply to all volumes of a specific series (other than the newly released volumes). However, the discounting is all over the place for this year's winter sale, and this was very disappointing. I doubt it's a glitch in the system, but it doesn't really make sense to have different discounts for volumes of a specific series, especially if you are not trying to clear out stock for a specific series.

If you are looking to buy manga, the maximum discount for manga is 60%, so if you are a frugal buyer of manga, I recommend holding off as better prices have been observed from Madman before. Generally, the current offered prices are about 10-20% away from the lowest price Madman has ever offered. However, these is a perilous and unpredictable period and Madman is one of the only sellers that can deliver manga relatively fast to Australians at a comparatively low price when you compare it to other sellers.

If you are looking to buy anime, the maximum discount is 70%. I'm not really the type to buy blu-ray/DVD copies of an anime since I rather just subscribe to AnimeLab/Crunchyroll or view through other means to watch a series. Therefore, I can't really comment on the price trend.

If you are looking to buy anime figures, the maximum discount is 50%. There are some decent discounts if you are looking to buy anime figures/merch. If it's 50% off, I would buy it since I usually never see more than 50% discount on an anime figure (unless it is stock that they want to get rid of asap).

Overall, this winter sale is disappointing when you compare to previous sales, and I'm sure many other "seasoned veterans of Madman sales" would hold the same sentiment. However, you have to factor in the impact of COVID-19 on businesses. Perhaps it's worth it for you.

JSan 0

Saturday 25 July 2020

waffle July 25, 2020

Week 148 -154 Update: An Arduous Path

Hello everyone. I apologize for the lack of updates. I have been busy trying to sort for the next university semester since the break is short and I had to fix things around the house with my dad. Whilst I have been watching anime, I haven't been watching too much of it. Furthermore, I have writer's block so I can't really find the motivation to write a review. This lack of motivation also applies to other aspects of my life. I feel lost and lack of purpose, but I don't feel "depressed" either. I think it's because of the COVID-19 situation that has made me demotivated, and I'm sure it has also done the same thing to many other people.

Anyway, I think I may be switching to monthly updates since there's not really any point to write weekly updates since there's nothing exciting in my life and it would just make me regurgitate the same things over and over again. Hope everyone is healthy and staying safe and sane in these tumultuous and unpredictable period.

JSan 0

Wednesday 3 June 2020

waffle June 03, 2020

Week 144 - 147 Update: Prudence

I have always been a prudent individual and try to take the safest path as possible, whilst always having a backup. In life, I always believe in having a backup, even if it means "sacrificing" your desire. Reality is a cruel mistress and most people will most likely never do what they truly want. Currently, I think I'm in a good path, where I am trying to venture in the health field. I always wanted to be an artist/streamer, but I knew that I wasn't going to do well because I lack certain qualities that makes one successful/well off. At least in the health field, I can somewhat excel....

The COVID-19 situation in my country is good right now. Many things are already open so that's a good thing. A lot of people are already walking around like no care in the world. Whilst there is no need to worry, vigilance is still needed because the state I am in has relatively low testing rate (tests per million people) compared to other tests. Some smaller states even have way more tests than us, and I found this extremely puzzling. Hopefully nothing goes wrong. On another note, many anime unfortunately has been delayed but that's to be expected. It's better to have the studio employees to be safe and healthy. Short term pain, long term gain.

Anyway, apologies for the lack of posts in this blog. I have been concentrating on an important exam that could change my life, so I had to really focus on it. I still have my final exams for this semester, so this lack of posts will continue until at least Mid July as this period is possibly one of the important periods of my life, other than my high school final exams. Until then, stay healthy and hope everyone can strive on continue striving on forward...

JSan 2

Tuesday 5 May 2020

waffle May 05, 2020

Week 138 to Week 143 Update: Frustration and Stagnation

Sorry for not being active on this site, but I had to keep up with university work especially since everything had shifted online due to COVID-19. It wasn't a major change for me since I usually watch lectures online anyway. I do this because I can watch it at my own pace, usually 1.5x speed because the lecturer is talking too slow. What is frustrating is that it's almost impossible to order from overseas now without either waiting for an extremely long period of time or paying perhaps exorbitant prices for the faster deliveries. Fortunately, it's not too bad in my country, and I feel lucky to not be embroiled in worse situations like we see in Europe and USA.

During this period, I have periods where I feel extremely demotivated to do anything, but I am doing some basic exercises to help relieve some of that frustration. I also became more anxious about my study, and always double, triple checking my notes and sometimes even doubting my notes. I found ways to decrease this like playing games to help keep my mind off etc. Anyway, I'm probably going to be much more occupied by the university workload from here on out, so these updates are going to be irregular again. Apologies in advance, and stay healthy and safe everyone. We will emerge a stronger world (hopefully) from this situation.

JSan 0

Thursday 26 March 2020

waffle March 26, 2020

Week 135, 136, 137 Update: Reticence

I'm sure many people are nervous in this period of uncertainty and unrest. My university has now switched everything to online from last week, and I don't feel that it changed that much for me. This is because I usually watch lecture recordings anyway. It allows me to speed up the recording, pause, rewind or slow the recording, and this just makes learning more efficient compared to being in the class. However, not having practical experience from labs is definitely a downside, and it's very disappointing that I still have to pay the same amount of university fees, but have less experience. Furthermore, lecturers are also uploading previous years' recordings, instead of conducting a lecture. Disappointing that they would do that. Nevertheless, the general life is definitely more hectic. Supermarket stalls are still running out of toilet paper, etc. in my area. I live a bit further out from the main city, so imagine the city stores. Probably out within 1-2 hrs of opening.

Anyway, cooperation is needed at a time like this to curb the spread of this virus. But it looks like some people won't listen. Short term pain is much better than dragging it on for longer. For me, I can comply with these demands since I am somewhat of a recluse. Furthermore I'm reticent in nature and I like to conserve my energy to only speak if I have to. On another note, I've been playing Overwatch again, and it's so fun. Even though I haven't played Hearthstone for a few months, I can't wait for the new Hearthstone expansion to come out so I can try out the new class and new cards in arena. It looks so good. Many things to look forward in these dire times. Whilst we may not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, we must continue moving forward.

JSan 0