Hey everyone, Grin here. So you may have noticed a long dead space in my post dates. Sorry about that. Grinning Studios is still here and I have a new website for my YouTube channel.
http://youtube.grinningstudios.com
So, if you have not watched any of my videos and are wondering where my gaming posts are, then here is a short explanation.
I'm a father now! Here's my insanely photogenic baby Malukah Smiles!
Being a father now, means that my priorities kind of changed a bit. I'm still doing videos and such, but my writing on all of my websites has gone down extensively. I will be doing more writing soon and bringing some more interesting content as well in the next few weeks and I have a lot planned for the next few months.
First, I am going to be hosting some videos from friends, this includes Time Lapse Japan and a documentary by Linh Vien Thai about Mongolia! My video game series and Let's Plays will be available as well of course.
Soon I will be posting a lot of information about the Larian Studios game "Divinity: Dragon Commander." This will include tips, let's play video, and Strategy and Tips videos. I sent an Email asking for permission to make the videos and Larion Studios accepted. Not only do they make awesome games, but they are a team of equally awesome people who love their fans!
If you don't own the game Divinity: Dragon Commander, I highly recommend adding it to your collections. You can find it on Steam, Here.
Some other great "Living in Japan" videos are also coming and more. I have over 1TB of video to edit and will get to it when my daughter isn't hogging all of my attention. Seriously, check out that Malukah Smiles video, you'll totally love it!
Sincerely,
Grin
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Stay Creative, It's good for you.
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Getting a Japanese Driver's License.
Here is my story about how I managed to get my Driver's License in Japan.
These videos include scenery and places in Japan while I tell you stories or explain something about my life in Japan, or experiences in Japanese culture. Get yourself some popcorn and enjoy the story and insight into life in Japan.
First thing I talk about is the Subaru Stella's Echo Idle. The 2012 Subaru Stella has a feature that saves gas by shutting off the engine while you are stopped at lights and in traffic, then seamlessly starting back up when you let go of the brake pedal.
After the echo idle tangent, I go into explaining how I got my driver's license in Japan. Getting a driver's license in Japan if you are from England, New Zealand, Australia or many other countries is easy. You just translate your driver's license and take a written test. Pass the test and you get a Japanese driver's license. Getting a Japanese driver's license if you are American is not so easy.
If you want to be successful in Japan, having a Japanese driver's license is a great tool to use on your road to climbing the success ladder in Japan. You should do it, but if you are American, expect a difficult path. Americans must take the practical driving test in order to get a Japanese driver's license. Depending on what Prefecture in Japan you live, This test can be quite difficult to pass. Here is my story about my six failed tests to get my Japan driver's license, and how I was lucky to even get it on my seventh attempt.
Hope you enjoy.
Please like and subscribe to support my 4 hours of video work per month.
Thanks for watching. If you like these videos even a little, Please spread the butter on the bread! and by butter I mean the videos, and by bread I mean the social network of your choice. Share it wherever you share things, like it when you do, post your comments and show me your Nerdswagger.
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
These videos include scenery and places in Japan while I tell you stories or explain something about my life in Japan, or experiences in Japanese culture. Get yourself some popcorn and enjoy the story and insight into life in Japan.
First thing I talk about is the Subaru Stella's Echo Idle. The 2012 Subaru Stella has a feature that saves gas by shutting off the engine while you are stopped at lights and in traffic, then seamlessly starting back up when you let go of the brake pedal.
After the echo idle tangent, I go into explaining how I got my driver's license in Japan. Getting a driver's license in Japan if you are from England, New Zealand, Australia or many other countries is easy. You just translate your driver's license and take a written test. Pass the test and you get a Japanese driver's license. Getting a Japanese driver's license if you are American is not so easy.
If you want to be successful in Japan, having a Japanese driver's license is a great tool to use on your road to climbing the success ladder in Japan. You should do it, but if you are American, expect a difficult path. Americans must take the practical driving test in order to get a Japanese driver's license. Depending on what Prefecture in Japan you live, This test can be quite difficult to pass. Here is my story about my six failed tests to get my Japan driver's license, and how I was lucky to even get it on my seventh attempt.
Hope you enjoy.
Please like and subscribe to support my 4 hours of video work per month.
Thanks for watching. If you like these videos even a little, Please spread the butter on the bread! and by butter I mean the videos, and by bread I mean the social network of your choice. Share it wherever you share things, like it when you do, post your comments and show me your Nerdswagger.
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Dumb Ways To Die - parody, just as cool as the original.
Recently a public service video for Australia's Metro Railway service titled, "Dumb Ways to Die," has hit the internet and gone viral in a big way. But but less than a week later, parodies of this catchy, morbidly entertaining PS announcement have also gone viral. Here are some notable parodies worth looking at. Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Cool Things To Find
This parody takes the less appealing topic of death on a railway and spins it into a more upbeat promotion of the Mars Rovers. The voice is uncanny and the theme is entertaining and geekily creative enough to have me singing it to myself when I'm in a good nerd-mood. Check it out, and your nerd level will raise one up!
Dumber Ways To Die
This Parody is more like a non-metro oriented extention to the original. The male voice really makes it stick out, though it is well done and also entertaining.
Dumb Ways To Die Song: Battlefield 3 Edition
For the gamer, or more specifically, the Battlefield 3 gamer. This parody features many dumb ways to die while playing the game... in game, not in real life.
Dumb Ways To Die (in Video Games)
Another gamer parody, though not as good as the Battlefield 3 in my personal opinion. Still, this one is worth a mention as it touches on many games and almost any gamer can relate to it at some point.
Dumb Ways To Die
The original. Very entertaining and has an important, albeit morbid, message. Such a catchy tune.
If you find a video worth adding, please contact me with the contact Grin link above, or post the address in a comment below. Remember to like these videos on YouTube, subscribe if you want to see more from the creators, or favorite if you really like them.
Cool Things To Find
This parody takes the less appealing topic of death on a railway and spins it into a more upbeat promotion of the Mars Rovers. The voice is uncanny and the theme is entertaining and geekily creative enough to have me singing it to myself when I'm in a good nerd-mood. Check it out, and your nerd level will raise one up!
Dumber Ways To Die
This Parody is more like a non-metro oriented extention to the original. The male voice really makes it stick out, though it is well done and also entertaining.
Dumb Ways To Die Song: Battlefield 3 Edition
For the gamer, or more specifically, the Battlefield 3 gamer. This parody features many dumb ways to die while playing the game... in game, not in real life.
Dumb Ways To Die (in Video Games)
Another gamer parody, though not as good as the Battlefield 3 in my personal opinion. Still, this one is worth a mention as it touches on many games and almost any gamer can relate to it at some point.
Dumb Ways To Die
The original. Very entertaining and has an important, albeit morbid, message. Such a catchy tune.
If you find a video worth adding, please contact me with the contact Grin link above, or post the address in a comment below. Remember to like these videos on YouTube, subscribe if you want to see more from the creators, or favorite if you really like them.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Steam Sale - My wallet isn't ready.
SOURCE: http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/steams-autumn-sale-starts-tomorrow-winter-sale-dated-too/
Reposted from the Luftahraan forum; http://luftahraan.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=554&p=5323#p5323
What is it?
For those of you that don't know, Steam has been kind enough to offer wonderful and cheap deals off many games within its library. For many its a time of joy, of wonderful things, of mystique and wonder, with each day a new deal popping up. Indeed, the Steam sales are perhaps the true version of Christmas.
It isn't uncommon to see popular and AAA games at near bargain cuts like 75% or even up to 85%! Many games such as Dishonored, Borderlands 2, and The Elderscrolls V: Skyrim, are all expected to be at very low prices. Currently we are at Valve's equinox, a time that is followed by three sales. We have just experienced the first passing of the Halloween Sale, a minor appetizer to the main courses to come. Within the week, the annual Autumn Steam Sales is to come, and after that comes to greatest of all sales: The Winter Steam Sale.
Can I afford it?
The short term answer? Absolutely yes!
The long term answer? Nobody survives the Steam Sales, especially the behemoths of the Winter and Summer sales. Just recently a man by the name of John Doe reported the following after the Summer sale:
However, other people have found wonderful and productive means of achieving money for the sales! Many have completely changed living styles and converted to the masterrace of PC gaming completely!
So why a megathread?
Because the Steam Sales are a horrendous monster, a terrible plague that seeks to destroy all of our wallets. Many will suffer with these sales, losing money, and most importantly, their lives to the amount of amazing games that go on sale! We can see this through several photographic pieces of evidence:
Dated back to 1932 CE, somewhere in New York.
A painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Commissioned by the USSR against the Sales, 1972.
What's on your wishlist?
FOR ME? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I'M BROKE, TAKE THAT VALVE! Oh but...
Well ok, but I really don't have any...
No, I really-really don't have any...
NO! NO! I CAN'T...
What's the result of the Sale?
Probably these:
Or this
In Conclusion?
A true Santa heralds in a real holiday, with tangible gifts and wonderful toys.
I mean- the only way to win is not to buy. Save yourself!
Written by Vizard38, Honorary Consul of the Luftahraan Skyrim Mod Project. http://www.luftahraan.com
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Pepsi Energy Cola - How does it taste? Where to buy?
Pepsi Energy Cola (ペプシ エナジーコーラ) is back, and it's bigger than last year, with a big bad sith lord endorsement.
This is year two of the Pepsi Energy Cola drink and the second time it has made a debut in Japanese convenience stores. The Endorsement of the most famous sith lord in the Star Wars universe, Darth Vader, is a dark and nerdy touch. Last year (2011) it started it's debut in 7/11 stores, and then migrated to SaveOn stores. While 7/11 sold their last stock, SaveOn had it for a few months after. Then it disappeared from all stores until October of 2012. This year, again, it has debuted at 7/11 stores, but can also be found at Lawson and possibly many other convenience stores (conbini). You won't, however, find this drink in the supermarkets.
The can is 250 ML this year (2012) where it was only 200 ML [apparently, my memory is bad and last year it was also 250 ML (2011). So this year the price has gone up from 150 yen to 200 yen for the same amount.] A unique part of the drink this year is the can's art design featuring Darth Vader and the caption "Give yourself to the dark side." I downed this drink with pleasure as it is one of my favorites, and couldn't feel any actual "dark side" taking over me, but I did have a good feeling of drinking something I truly enjoy.
How does it taste?
The flavor inducing Ingredients include; Royal Jelly, Panax Ginseng, Guarana, Arginine. and a Cola Base.
The flavor is cola with a bit of smarties/guarana flavor to it. Half the people that I have seen drink it say it tastes wonderful! The other half say it tastes like (insert something you don't like here that might have a similar flavor i.e. Dr. Pepper.)
KEY POINT on flavor. If you have congestion and can't breath through your nose well, this drink will have a more medicine-like flavor. The smell that you get from the mouth up the back of the throat to your nose really adds to this drink and makes it wonderful. So I suggest avoiding the drink when you have a cold or allergies.
Overall, it is quite nice and priced better than a cup of Jo. It is the size of a large Red Bull (250) ML but costs 200 yen instead of 275 yen. This drink is currently, (October 2012,) only available in Japan.
Where to buy it?
Pepsi Energy Cola can be found at 7/11 and some other Convenience stores in Japan. You can also buy it online, but only in Japanese. Here are some links.
Rakuten: ペプシエナジーコーラ
Amazon: ペプシエナジーコーラ
Apita Super Markets also had Pepsi Energy Cola on their shelves, but after one week they went on sale for half off. That's right 100 yen per can. They may have sold out by now.
This image was taken on November 10th 2012.
This may be a telling sign that Pepsi Energy Cola is not as popular as they had hoped, and may be going away again as a seasonal item, or that it will no longer be sold in the supermarkets. Either way, catch your chance to snatch them up for cheap.
This is year two of the Pepsi Energy Cola drink and the second time it has made a debut in Japanese convenience stores. The Endorsement of the most famous sith lord in the Star Wars universe, Darth Vader, is a dark and nerdy touch. Last year (2011) it started it's debut in 7/11 stores, and then migrated to SaveOn stores. While 7/11 sold their last stock, SaveOn had it for a few months after. Then it disappeared from all stores until October of 2012. This year, again, it has debuted at 7/11 stores, but can also be found at Lawson and possibly many other convenience stores (conbini). You won't, however, find this drink in the supermarkets.
 | |
| Can art; top 2012 - bottom 2011 |
How does it taste?
The flavor inducing Ingredients include; Royal Jelly, Panax Ginseng, Guarana, Arginine. and a Cola Base.
The flavor is cola with a bit of smarties/guarana flavor to it. Half the people that I have seen drink it say it tastes wonderful! The other half say it tastes like (insert something you don't like here that might have a similar flavor i.e. Dr. Pepper.)KEY POINT on flavor. If you have congestion and can't breath through your nose well, this drink will have a more medicine-like flavor. The smell that you get from the mouth up the back of the throat to your nose really adds to this drink and makes it wonderful. So I suggest avoiding the drink when you have a cold or allergies.
Overall, it is quite nice and priced better than a cup of Jo. It is the size of a large Red Bull (250) ML but costs 200 yen instead of 275 yen. This drink is currently, (October 2012,) only available in Japan.
Where to buy it?
Pepsi Energy Cola can be found at 7/11 and some other Convenience stores in Japan. You can also buy it online, but only in Japanese. Here are some links.
Rakuten: ペプシエナジーコーラ
Amazon: ペプシエナジーコーラ
This image was taken on November 10th 2012.
This may be a telling sign that Pepsi Energy Cola is not as popular as they had hoped, and may be going away again as a seasonal item, or that it will no longer be sold in the supermarkets. Either way, catch your chance to snatch them up for cheap.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Foot sugery, Nose surgery, and recovery. *Graphic Pictures. If you are squeemish, don't look.*
WARNING!
Graphic Pictures are included in this post. Please be aware and don't read further if you are squeamish.
Have you had a bad month? Well my bad month began in September, and ran in to October.
First, I learned a lesson on the dangers of using topical steroid cream. If you have a blister, and you are using steroid cream, if that blister pops, you are in danger of having a bad infection. How bad? Check out the pictures.
Started to hurt and swell up. By day 3 my wife took me to an urgent care clinic. It was a holiday so there were few choices of where to go. The clinic was not able to do anything for me, so they sent us to a hospital. At the hospital, they gave me an IV of some form of antibiotic. The swelling went down a little bit for a day, but then came back worse.
Finally we went to a different doctor who gave me some Kurabito antibiotics. There was no change so he decided to surgically clean my foot. He poked me with a needle for general anesthesia and it was torturous. A few minutes later he cut my foot open and cleaned out the bacteria as best as he could. This was a very traumatic experience.
I went back to the doctor every day for a week. He would give me an IV of antibiotics, refill my pain and oral antibiotics, but it was not getting better. On the third visit, He changed my antibiotic to Minomaicin by my request. He had not before then because I had taken the stuff before and had stomach problems. I was willing to take the risk this time.
After a three or so days of Minomaicin, my foot began to heal. The swelling started going down and the surgical cuts were able to heal as well.
Almost a month later, this is what my foot looks like.
As if that was not enough. I was to have surgery to correct a deviated septum (that's the cartilage of the nose,) and remove palyps in my sinuses from years of asthmatic allergies.
My foot was not 100% yet, but the doctors decided to go ahead with the surgery as it would be impossible for me to reschedule my days off from work.
They removed a portion of my septum that was crooked and cut out the palyps while I was under general anesthesia.
The palyps were huge! It is amazing I could use my nose to breath at all. Here is one of the palyps they removed.
I was in the hospital for a week after. Each day I would walk to the doctors room at the hospital and he would pull gauze out of my nose. The pain was intense, but after a few days and who knows how many pounds of gauze removal, I was able to breath through my nose.
My voice was raspy from having a breathing tube in my throat during the operation, but it went back to normal after a week.
Final result?
My foot is doing much better and I can wear socks and walk on it for a short while before it becomes painful.
My nose is very clear, and my breathing has improved greatly. Now, maybe I can get back to work!
Thanks for visiting my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel. I will get more posted and uploaded as my time permits. I am also writing for a Skyrim Mod called Luftahraan, so look forward to something cool soon.
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Grin Isobe.
Graphic Pictures are included in this post. Please be aware and don't read further if you are squeamish.
Have you had a bad month? Well my bad month began in September, and ran in to October.
First, I learned a lesson on the dangers of using topical steroid cream. If you have a blister, and you are using steroid cream, if that blister pops, you are in danger of having a bad infection. How bad? Check out the pictures.
 |
| Day 3 |
 |
| Day 7 |
Finally we went to a different doctor who gave me some Kurabito antibiotics. There was no change so he decided to surgically clean my foot. He poked me with a needle for general anesthesia and it was torturous. A few minutes later he cut my foot open and cleaned out the bacteria as best as he could. This was a very traumatic experience.
I went back to the doctor every day for a week. He would give me an IV of antibiotics, refill my pain and oral antibiotics, but it was not getting better. On the third visit, He changed my antibiotic to Minomaicin by my request. He had not before then because I had taken the stuff before and had stomach problems. I was willing to take the risk this time.
 |
| Day 12 |
 |
| Day 25 |
Almost a month later, this is what my foot looks like.
As if that was not enough. I was to have surgery to correct a deviated septum (that's the cartilage of the nose,) and remove palyps in my sinuses from years of asthmatic allergies.
My foot was not 100% yet, but the doctors decided to go ahead with the surgery as it would be impossible for me to reschedule my days off from work.
They removed a portion of my septum that was crooked and cut out the palyps while I was under general anesthesia.
The palyps were huge! It is amazing I could use my nose to breath at all. Here is one of the palyps they removed.
I was in the hospital for a week after. Each day I would walk to the doctors room at the hospital and he would pull gauze out of my nose. The pain was intense, but after a few days and who knows how many pounds of gauze removal, I was able to breath through my nose.
My voice was raspy from having a breathing tube in my throat during the operation, but it went back to normal after a week.
Final result?
My foot is doing much better and I can wear socks and walk on it for a short while before it becomes painful.
My nose is very clear, and my breathing has improved greatly. Now, maybe I can get back to work!
Thanks for visiting my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel. I will get more posted and uploaded as my time permits. I am also writing for a Skyrim Mod called Luftahraan, so look forward to something cool soon.
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Grin Isobe.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Kahjiit, Damn Dawg!
Here's a funny Gif I put together recently. It stems from the guys at Elderscrolls Off The Record always using the word Kahjiit as an cuss word, and saying weird things like "Do you poop in the sand?" Haha! They keep me laughing! This is for you guys!
Click the image to see a larger version.
 |
| From Grinning Studios |
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Dr. Who plot holes fixed with one swipe of the Sonic Screwdriver.
A lot of people are writing about, posting about and fanaticising (my new word) about Doctor Who. Hell, Yeah!... well, I watched about 4 seasons worth. It was somewhat enjoyable, especially Amelia Pond, sizzling ginger, but I am wholly disappointed. I learned one thing very important. Sonic Screwdrivers can mend plot holes.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Surgery for a deviated septum and past open skull surgery for brain hemorrhaging.
 |
surgeon with headlamp © Lisa Eastman #52450 |
For those of you that don't know. I was going to have surgery in September, to hopefully fix my deviated septum and obstructed sinuses, but that has been pushed to October. The surgery is a fairly big deal and I will be in the hospital for 10 days to a week. Afterwards, there will be some time before it all heals. I might not have the ability to sing again for a few months, and I am not even going to talk about worst case scenarios.
Before going under the knife, there are a few things I want to do.
First, I am going to sing and record my heavy metal version of "The Dragon Born Comes." Well, only the vocals for now because I don't have time to do the entire thing.
I have been practicing how I want the song to sound and will be ready to start recording tracks on Saturday. Hopefully the mix will be finished by Sunday and I will post it to YouTube in some fashion. I intend to include lyrics, of the dragon speech and enunciation for those that may want to try to sing it, but get tripped up by the tongue twisting dragon speech.
Second, I want to say how terrified I am of surgery. I have had surgery once before for a brain hemorrhage in the back of my skull. If you want to know what it was like, Google Bret Michaels, the past lead singer of Poison. He had a similar brain hemorrhage and was treated the same exact way as I was, at the same hospital, by the same doctors, and had the same recovery. 1 in a million. or 2 in a million really.
I don't take this surgery thing lightly. It is a big deal no matter how "simple" the procedure, but the doctor has told me he has so far had a 100% success rate, and many hundreds of surgeries. That is comforting, even if he does stress the risks very plainly. I like his honest straight forward approach.
So wish me luck! You won't be seeing me much in October, and now you know why. We'll see you From now until October and more in November.
Sincerely,
Grin
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Show me your nerd swagger, and leave a comment.
surgeon with headlamp © Lisa Eastman #52450 acquired from Microsoft Office Images.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Hello Kitty Merchandice Give Away - Grinning Studios Vlog 08-29-2012
The contest is in motion! I have purchased all the Hello Kitty merchandise and sent it off to TheLily1077 in the UK. She will be running the contest from here! So please check out her channel to find out how to win the contest!
If you would like to do a collaboration with me, I am very much open to working with more YouTubers for anything in Japan. Tell me what you want, I will find it, take video of it and the pricing and post it. If you want it, we can hammer out the details in PM.
The only rules I have are 1. Nothing illegal of course. and you must make a YouTube video of you opening the package after you receive it.
If you have a Hello Kitty request, please visit the main video and tell me what you liked from it and at what time you saw the item you liked. I will post a video for you with more detail. The video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq5ZYmBPZIA&feature=g-upl
The music in the BGM is Try 2 B written, played, recorded and produced by me 2010. I own all rights to this song.
Thanks for watching. If you like these videos even a little, Please spread the butter on the bread! and by butter I mean the videos, and by bread I mean the social network of your choice. Share it wherever you share things, like it when you do, post your comments and show me your Nerdswagger.
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
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Friday, August 24, 2012
Going to be at the 35th 24 hour television event: 24時間テレビ35 - Extra points if you spot me on TV.
Hello Everyone! Here's an awesome update and contest!
The 35th 24 hour Television Telethon in Nagaoka Japan (24時間テレビ35) is this Sunday. This telethon is a charity event raising money for various causes every year since 1978. Before I was even born. Last year, I was lucky enough to go and sing on TV a Japanese song I only just learned. I was also in pictures and got to shake the hands of three of the Ultraman Actors, in costume.
This year, the English school division, PKE Mega Bluebird, of my company, Alpha Bright, has asked me to make another appearance at the 24 hour television event and represent our company! It is a great honor for me and I am so happy and excited to do it!
I will be dressing up as a cowboy this year and should be on TV a few times, maybe in the background. The event is live, so if you have a recorder, I will be there from 10 AM until 6 PM Sunday the 26th Japan time. Between those eight hours, there is a chance you might see me on TV. Maybe I will sing a song, maybe I will rope a bull. Not sure yet, but it will certainly be a lot of fun!
No doubt I will meet some really interesting people and characters. I will take as many pictures and videos as I can and post them as soon as I can.
Contest! If you recorded this event and found me on the video, post it on Youtube as a response to my post. The first 480P good quality or better video will get a gift of 5,000 yen from me!
For more information about 24 hour Television, please click the link.
24 Hr. Television: English.
24時間テレビ35: Japanese.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Podcast episode 6: Japan Blog List Webmaster, Jonathan Allen
He also talked about some of his favorite blogs and here is the list of the blogs he mentioned.
http://www.tokyoreporter.com/: The slightly seedy side of Japan.
http://greeneyedgeisha.
blogspot.jp/: Sadly seems to have stopped posting.
http://JapanProbe.com
http://muza-chan.net/: She doesn't even live in Japan , but posts
something interesting everyday.
http://www.ourmaninabiko.com: The British guy who put together the book 2:46
http://shibuya246.com/: Combini's and travel.
http://yonasu.com/
http://www.wordpress.
tokyotimes.org/: A photo blog.
We also talked about monetizing our blogs, the steps we have done to monetize, and how other people have monetized. We talked about Adsense, adwords, and more.
There is a possible chance for a collaboration between Japan Blog List and Grinning Studios. Jonathan Allen and I spoke about possibly doing a feature blog interview promotion. We'll hopefully keep in touch about that and see where it leads.
We talked about Jonathan's life in Japan, his hobbies, his wife's hobby/job as a yoga master, and things that he likes and enjoys In Japan. One of these likes was a program for people that want to study Sake (Japanese rice wine) and his experience drinking Sake's to earn a good appreciation of good sake. The link for that is at http://www.sake-world.com/html/about-john.html
Jonathan Allen's Wife's website is http://yogasan.net.
Hope you liked the show and enjoyed the interview with the creative, Jonathan Allen, webmaster of www.japanbloglist.com.
(OFFLINE!!) Go to http://grinningstudio.blogspot.jp/p/podcast.html
Listen to the podcast:
On iTunes:
On Grinning Studios Blogcast:
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Networking your blog with other bloggers in Japan
The premise of this page is to help bloggers of Japan connect and network with other bloggers. Make partnerships, exchange links, find like minded people, make friends, and enjoy a rich community of bloggers and website owners that all have a creative interest in Japan. Here you can find musicians in Japan, meet people that teach in Japan, find writers in Japan, get tips and ideas for your blog or website and grow your reader base.
How To:
To join this bloggers page and get your page listed there are a few simple steps. Items with an asterisk (*) are optional.
1. Go to Japan Bloggers on Facebook and like the page.
*2. Send a message with a link and description of your blog as you would like it to appear on Japan Bloggers.
*3. When your page is added, like the picture and write a message. This way, people that want to network with you, can do so at your blog picture and you will get an alert that someone posted to it.
*4. Spread the word.
RULES:
1. English Only.
2. Spamming will get you permabanned.
3. No link promotion! You can talk about something you posted on your blog and link to the picture of your blog, only!
4. Posting links to blogger's resources is acceptable spam links will get you banned. Spam links are links to ad heavy sites for the purpose of getting sales, clicks, or exploiting the Japan Bloggers good nature.
5. The rules may change, please keep up to date with the rules. All changes will be posted on the timeline.
Networking just got a little bit easier for creative people in Japan. Become part of this great community and start growing today.
Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Website networking: bloggers in Japan find their audience from Jonathan Allen's, Japan Blog List.
Veteran bloggers know the value of Internet marketing and networking. Every link to their blog is plated with a golden opportunity to grow audience, and search engine ranking. Exposure is needed for growth and the search for that exposure never ends. For bloggers in Japan, one of your first back-links should be Japan Blog List.
Japan Blog List is a monthly list and summary website for blogs in Japan. Submit your blog and summary and the web master, Jon, will post it on the list the next month. The only stipulation is that your blog be something about Japan. The original site was started in 2007 by a man named Gary living in Vancouver Canada. Gary is a lover of all things Japanese, but didn't have the time to keep up with the website. Jon took over the website August, 2010, and it has been growing quickly ever since.
Jon is an IT man with a creative pension for blogging. His first Blogger blog was "I'm A Seoul Man in Tokyo," but now he spends his creative free time blogging and tweeting for The Japan Blog List. He has worked in IT for companies such as Goldman Sachs and lived in London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Seoul South Korea and now Japan. He is an interesting and creative person, and I will be welcoming him on my podcast, to talk about his creative projects and life in Japan, this weekend.
Stay tuned, and Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Japan Blog List is a monthly list and summary website for blogs in Japan. Submit your blog and summary and the web master, Jon, will post it on the list the next month. The only stipulation is that your blog be something about Japan. The original site was started in 2007 by a man named Gary living in Vancouver Canada. Gary is a lover of all things Japanese, but didn't have the time to keep up with the website. Jon took over the website August, 2010, and it has been growing quickly ever since.
Stay tuned, and Stay Creative, It's Good For You.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Into the Wild: Wild Time Radio Show w/host Thomas Janak
Recently I was contacted by a very creative musician, radio host, and blogger, Thomas Janak. He expressed interest in promoting his music, and other creativity in Japan. I was actually sad to tell him that I promote talents in Japan to the western minded audience.We had a few e-mail exchanges and talked a bit. I find him and his work fascinating! So, who is Thomas Janak?
Thomas Janak is a Holistic Animal healer, animal rights activist and host of the Wild Time Radio Show. He is also an avid blogger and musician.
There is so much I could say about this amazingly talented person. He's got his hands in so many creative, philanthropic and charitable works that I haven't been able to catch up with everything he has done yet.
The Wild Time radio show is an animal rights / world conservation show on air globally every first Thursday of the month on TCR FM 106.8 FM. Their online version includes everything else that doesn't make it on the show.
I'm really looking forward to chatting with Thomas and hope you all check out this awesome radio show.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Adventures with Linh Vien Thai
The newest podcast is up! Episode 3: Adventure with Linh Vien Thai.
Linh Vien Thai is a prolific adventurer struck with wanderlust. He's been all over on expeditions, and documentary filming. Linh is the most interesting character I have met in Japan to date. He has been an intern at Saturday Night Live, He's been all over Asia, North America, Africa and Europe. Linh is a Kung Fu master, "Combat Monkey," and has been in a hilarious Kung Fu movie where he gets his ass handed to him by a woman. HAHA! a must see below:
A part of Linh's Documentary can be seen below: This part of the documentary is about the Mongol Archers.
Linh's Blog is The Life of Me.
Linh's photography can be found at Flickr: linhvienthai
Linh's IMDb director page for, The Heart of Asia: documentary.
Linh's Youtube Channel.
There's just too much to list! If you find something with Linh Vien Thai in it, post it up! He's everywhere. You've probably met him and never knew it. Stay Creative, It's good for you.
Other links from the podcast:
Linh Vien Thai is a prolific adventurer struck with wanderlust. He's been all over on expeditions, and documentary filming. Linh is the most interesting character I have met in Japan to date. He has been an intern at Saturday Night Live, He's been all over Asia, North America, Africa and Europe. Linh is a Kung Fu master, "Combat Monkey," and has been in a hilarious Kung Fu movie where he gets his ass handed to him by a woman. HAHA! a must see below:
A part of Linh's Documentary can be seen below: This part of the documentary is about the Mongol Archers.
Linh's Blog is The Life of Me.
Linh's photography can be found at Flickr: linhvienthai
Linh's IMDb director page for, The Heart of Asia: documentary.
Linh's Youtube Channel.
There's just too much to list! If you find something with Linh Vien Thai in it, post it up! He's everywhere. You've probably met him and never knew it. Stay Creative, It's good for you.
Other links from the podcast:
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