M Dash 27 - Blog by Hecko X » Celebratory

Happy Chinese New Year 2012

Hecko X — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:31:01 +0000

This video goes out to all my Asian friends; hope y’all had an awesome new year.

The art in the video was drawn/painted by marydoodle, an absolutely amazing artist whose videos you should subscribe to right fucking now.

I’m waiting…
…
…
…
Close enough – enjoy.

P.S. Yuan, you still owe me committee cakes, FFFFFFFFF.

2011 Stats and a Happy New Year!

Hecko X — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:59:16 +0000

Source: http://purrduedvm.blogspot.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I hope y’all have had an awesome year 2011 and will all safely enter 2012 with your friends and loved ones!

I decided to make a 2011 stat post like Idid back in 2008 and 2009 (the 2010 one was deleted…).

General Stats

Up-time: Since January 1st
Total amount of visits: 31,061
Total amount of unique visits: 29,112
Total amount of pageviews: 43,081
Highest amount of visits in a day: 198 (January 7th)
Lowest amount of visits in a day: 0 (January 19th – Februar 8th; site down)
Highest amount of pageviews in a day: 273 (January 7th)
Lowest amount of pageviews in a day: 0 (January 19th – Februar 8th; site down)

Top 5 Most

Amount of Visits from a Country

United States of America: 7,836 visits
Indonesia: 2,427 visits
United Kingdom: 1,807 visits
Brazil: 1,604 visits
Canada: 1,391 visits

Viewed Articles (amount of visits, main page not included)

How to Make Fried Noodles: 4,753 visits (Post)
Grand Fantasia: 3,394 visits (Review)
Robot Unicorn Attack; Play It, But Not Too Much…: 2,379 visits (Post)
Doubt: 2,378 visits (Review)
Koka Noodles: 1,377 visits (Review)

Viewed Articles (time on page)

Fan Art and Gifts: 01:28:14
Music of the Moment #8: 00:26:44
How to Make Fried Noodles: 00:20:20
Grappler Baki Chapter 8: 00:15:41
Fut-Fut-Fut Freestylo: 00:14:59

Visits from a Source

google: 25,000+ visits
(direct): 2,771 visits
facebook.com: 518 visits
yahoo.com: 350 visits
mangaupdates.com: 336 visits

Merry Christmas 2011!

Hecko X — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:21:34 +0000

Photo of Nash on my desk

A very merry Christmas from M Dash!

I spent my Christmas with Nashayla and her family, having my first Danish Christmas since childhood, when my grandparents were still alive, and trying certain foods for the first time ever! :D

The day consisted of us going to church, singing, coming home, eating a feast of a Christmas dinner, singing some more, and then opening some presents.

I got a gift certificate for 10,000 Japanese yen (for books) and a framed photo from Nashayla of herself, which is now sitting on my work desk ♥

CAESAR THE GUARDIAN KITTY!

I gave a lot of gifts this year, totalling roughly 2,000 DKK! owo

I gave my mom a “best mom in the world” medal and money.
I gave Nash’s dad the album Flash Gordon by Queen and two beers from Sarajevo.
I gave Nash’s mom the book 1Q84 (the first one in the trilogy).
I gave her sister a pair of breakfast bowls, since she recently moved out.
I gave Nash two pairs of white gloves and a joke gift.

Our presents were well protected by the guardian cat of Hell’s gates, Caesar! >:3

All in all, a pretty awesome experience, and I’m really grateful that they let me take part. Apparently, it’s a first for her parents to let outsiders join ^^’

Nash's joke gift: hat and gloves of Tony Tony Chopper from One Piece; her favourite character

1 Year Anniversary

Hecko X — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:43:25 +0000

'Sup, brah? Whatchu lookin' at?

Not much to say; it’s our – Nashayla and I – one-year anniversary today, the day before Christmas Eve~♪

I had wanted to take her out to her favourite restaurant, but it was unfortunately closed for the holidays, so we went for a sushi place where I’ve gotten in good with the owners ;P

We then came home and exchanged gifts – she gave me a penguin game and I gave her a penguin sweater to keep warm during winter – and watched the animated Pixar film, Ratatouille. She fell asleep halfway through while hugging me, it was so adorable ♥

So yeah, short post, but I just wanted to share my happiness for tonight ^-^

Four Months with Nashayla ♥

Hecko X — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:49:30 +0000

OHOHOHOHOOOOO~, today is my four month anniversary with Nashayla! ♥ (SHUT UP, TRINI!!! FOUR MONTHS!!! >.<)

“Oh, you poor fool,” you may think, “only four months, and you’re celebrating it, tsk tsk tsk /in relationship for years” BUT BUT BUT four months is pretty much what some of our friends thought would be the limit for us, as I’d otherwise die or something (looking at you, Kurikku…).

Anywho, I had originally wanted to celebrate this in Sweden by going on a double-date with Heavy-licious and Trini-rino, which you mushy readers may remember from our Valentine’s Day double-date. Unfortunately, Heavy had to work today, so we went to Sweden yesterday instead.

So today, to celebrate, I took her to the Zoo, since she said she hadn’t gone since she was like 4-5 years old and was pretty excited by the idea of going sometime. We were originally supposed to also have a kick-ass English breakfast, but we woke up kinda late and weren’t really feeling up for it, so we skipped it ^^’

The Zoo trip was awesometastic, and I even bought an awesome wallet shaped like a penguin, since I needed an extra wallet to keep my foreign money in (mainly Swedish Kronor and Euros), since I don’t feel like lugging it around on a daily basis. Nashayla spotted it with her eagle eyes, and I was all like HOMG!! and bought it. It’s pictured somewhere on the top right (points in general direction).

We’re technically still celebrating; we just made and ate lasagne and she’s currently making me a surprise cake of some kind. I thought it would be my favourite sponge cake, but seeing that she’s using some kind of sprinkles, it must be something else. We’re gonna eat it while watching the movie of my choice (How to Train Your Dragon) and just have a yummy time ♥

I hope the rest of you have had as awesome a day as I. Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NIJIDONO, YOU IS TEH KEWL!! :D

EDIT: HA!! I KNEW IT!! It WAS my favourite sponge cake she made, the sprinkles were just a diversion!! Well played… /squint

Teh Gurlfriend

Hecko X — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:35:40 +0000

Being Valentine’s Day, I thought it’d be appropriate to choose today to introduce my new love ;P

As some of you may recall from yesterday’s post, this is my first serious relationship since KAIKI. I had been very opposed the entire relationship concept after she and I broke up; not so much because I felt sad about the break-up, but because we stopped talking for so long (we just started again a few months ago), which was heartbreaking to me, since I considered her one of my closest female friends at the time.

So because I was unwilling to jeopardize another friendship, I’ve kept away from entering into relationships, until I was damn sure I loved the other person to insane amounts. And since I’m in a relationship now, I guess you can all figure out how I feel about her :D

She’s wacky, funny, beautiful, and the biggest nerd I know, and I’m head over heels about her ♥ If I try to put into words how lovely she is, all I come up with is SJFNXK;GXFZFMLejo. She makes me so happy, I just want to hug the world and everyone in it~ ^-^

Just to add to my apparent gheynes from being so mushy mushy, here’s a picture of us together when we went on a double-date with Heavy and Trinirino; note me actually having dressed up for the occasion for once :D

We went to Wagamama, a Japanese restaurant, where we exchanged gifts; I gave her a lion plushie, since she loves lions and a card saying mushy stuff on it. She gave me a Naruto night cap, since my ears get cold at night, so I was like, “yay~ ♥” And then, DUN DUN DUN, a super duper mushy note that almost made me tear up in the restaurant from how sweet and lovely it was ;3;

We all had a smashing time and are so totally gonna go on a double-date together again, JAN JAN JAAAAAAAN!! *A*

Job with Alpha Entertainment

Hecko X — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:41:49 +0000

I recently got a job with Alpha Entertainment, a small publishing agency here in Denmark that publishes the upcoming comic and manga magazine, Comic Party. I got the job after the founder, a buddy of mine who helped organize the Artist Alley for Genki 2010, heard about me being a scanlator and asked if I was interested in helping out since he needed staff members.

When I originally accepted the job, it was just as the typesetter, and I figured I’d earn maybe 500 DKK per month (around €68) if I was lucky. I ended up underbidding the other English to Danish translator and got that job as well, so now I’m raking in a lot more than I thought I would; approximately 3000 DKK per month. I could actually be raking in an extra 1000 per month on what he was actually willing to pay me for my services, but I felt like I would be ripping he off then, so I offered my typesetting services for a significantly lower price.

The selection is pretty good, though most is aimed at an older female audience (17-22), I think. Not a lot of seinen-type manga yet, unfortunately, but I’ve tried pitching Kenji and Grappler Baki. The selection, that I know of, is currently:

Fana’s Snow Story (manga, one-shot)
Lost Heaven (manga)
Ojousama in Ooedo City (manga)
Usagi Yojimbo (comic)
Faux Pas (web comic)
Girl Genius (web comic)

But as nice as this job is, I still need another part-time job to make things go round, since this wouldn’t even cover rent. I’m still hoping for the night-shift at a 7-Eleven, so fingers crossed!

So, Today is Apparently My Birthday ^^’

Hecko X — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:35:44 +0000

As four people reminded me in asking if I had any plans for my big day, to which I graciously responded “… Wtf are you talking about?“, it is apparently my birthday today. This of course DOES explain the giant, floating “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” thing I have floating over my head, but I’m a little dense when it comes to these kinds of subtle hints.

Anywho, it’s my birthday; that magical day of the year where people give me free stuff and I get to be a douche and get away with it 8D I’m turning 23, I think, so I’m supposed to be all mature and stuff, yet all I’ve been able to think about for the last 10-12 minutes is how badly I want to get my hands on a tongue depressor, so that I can make a giant ice pop for myself ♥

Anywho, if I get any cool presents, I’ll post about it later 8D Later, as in, a few days, since I’m spending my birthday on meetings with the Japanese embassy and Genki, the latter of which lasts the entire weekend… OTL

Happy Valentine’s Day~

Hecko X — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 03:45:58 +0000

Your love, I nom it~ <333

Merry (Serbian) Christmas!

Hecko X — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:49:56 +0000

Traditional cakes and a česnica.
Image from babamim.com

Today is Serbian Christmas~♪ How can that be, you may wonder? Well, Serbs are, for the most part, orthodox and the Serbian Orthodox Church therefore uses the Julian Calendar.

In the Julian calendar, Christmas Day (December 25th) falls on January 7th in the Gregorian Calendar (the one internationally used today), hence we celebrate Christmas Day on January 7th =3

In the spirit of today, I thought I would talk a bit about the Serbian Christmas traditions. Note, however, that different regions have different traditions and that many traditions have been lost or changed from the time that my mother was a child (45 years ago) to the time I was a kid (14 years ago), when I experienced it for the first and only time, and then again until now.

It is also important to note that households in Serbia are generally multi-generation households, i.e. children, parents, and grandparents all live together.

Greetings

First off, Serbia is a very religious country and while we do have a way of saying “merry Christmas” (srećan Božić), we have a special way of greeting eachother on Christmas which we use instead.

One is to say Hristos se rodi (Christ is born) to which the other(s) is to respond Vaistinu se rodi (Truly, he is born). After that, you can usually add “merry christmas.” While I don’t believe in God or Christ, I still honour traditions and say the greetings.

Gift exchange

We do not exchange gifts Christmas Morning. Rather, we do that on the three consecutive Sundays leading up to Christmas, which I suppose is kinda like Advent. The three Sundays leading up to Christmas are called Detinjci (Children’s Day), Materice (Mothers’ Day), and Oci (Fathers’ Day), respectively. The name of the days tell who it is that are the gift givers. But it’s not like they just ‘give’ the gifts, they are given as ransom XD

E.g. on the morning of Materice, the children will wake up early in the morning and tie together the feet of mothers (doesn’t have to be their own) and the mothers then give gifts in order to be untied by the children. The best gifts are usually kept within the family while those outside usually receive candy or fruits. The same applies to the two other days ^^

This tradition has unfortunately mostly died out today, and instead, gifts are given on the 7th of January and only to the children; parents and grandparents receive nothing =[

Church

The church (and mass) plays a central role on the first Christmas Day and is attended extremely early in the morning. As I recall, I was woken up at about 3 AM, we were at the church at 3:30 AM, and the church was aready jam-packed by then. Today, the church has also taken over some of the traditions that were performed by the head of a household, such as the burning of the badnjak log.

Badnjak/Veseljak

A priest throwing a badnjak on the fire
Image from babamim.com

The Badnjak is a log of oak (the oak is considered a tree representing Christ in Serbia) that is cut on the morning of Christmas Eve, is burnt through the night until Christmas Morning and then plays a role with the visit of the Polažajnik (later section).

There used to be many traditions associated with how and when to bring in the log, but all died out by the time I was a kid, so I don’t know any of them except that you are supposed to enter right foot first.

Sometimes, leaved oak branches replace the log (they did when I was a kid). Christmas Eve is actually named after the tradition of the tree, being called Badnji Dan (lit: “Day of the Badnjak”) and Badnje Veče (lit: “Eve of the Badnjak”). The burning of the Badnjak is said to symbolize the fire made to keep the newly born Baby Jesus warm through the night.

Christmas Straw

This is a tradition that has simply died out because kids these days only care about money and technology >___> But long ago, the head of the house would gather straw from the stables tie it up in a bundle and carry it into the house. He would (in some regions) then cluck as a hen and the children would (in all regions, as far as I know) then imitate chickens and pick at the straw.

The straw would then be spread out on the floor and money, walnuts, candy, and whatever else would be thrown in as well. The children would then dive in and search for all the goods. This was obviously far more fun back when my mom was a kid, because a family would usually have several children.

Strong Water

The tradition of collecting water differs from region to region, but in all instance it is water collected from a well or stream before sunrise on Christmas Day and that it is later used for making the Christmas Loaf. What is done in-between differs greatly, but in our case, nothing was done.

Česnica

A baked česnica.
Image from blogoye.org

Česnica is the Christmas Loaf made early Christmas morning by usually the woman of the house. The dough is made using the strong water and symbolic items are inserted before the bread is baked. The items are different from place to place and sometimes the same item may symbolise one thing in one region, but something else in another.

In our village, it was customary to use a coin, a small twig from the Badnjak (in some places, it is the first splinter that falls off while felling the tree), and a small, cleaned bone from the foot of the roasted Christmas Pig.

When breaking the bread, it was generally believed that getting one of the items meant that you would be especially beneficial in whatever the item symbolized, e.g. if you got the coin, you would have a good economy for that year, if you got the bone, you would have good health, and if you got the twig, you would be exceptionally lucky. It is actually possible for the head of the house to purchase the item, and the luck assiciated with it, if he so wishes.

This tradition is still carried out today, and I just got a call from one of my cousins in Serbia 1½ hours ago, wishing me a merry christmas and informing me that she got the piece with the coin XP

Položajnik

The Položajnik (goes under MANY other names as well) is the first and usually only outside guest on Christmas Day, as this day is usually spent with the family alone. The visit by the Položajnik (who is typically male) is usually pre-arranged and he is meant to be the bringer of good fortune for the following year.

Like with the Badnjak, much of the tradition with the Položajnik had died out by the time I was a kid, such as poking at the Badnjak that had been burning overnight with a firepoker in order to produce sparks while reciting a verse (the verse equates the number of sparks with the amount of different livestock and prosperity the household will have that during the next year).

By the time I became the Položajnik, the only traditions left alive was to enter the home right foot first while saying “Christ is Born, Merry Christmas”, to which the family responds “Truly He is Born”. Also, the Položajnik dines with the family and breaks the Česnica with them. I’m actually on my way out now to fulfill my duty as such.

Final Words

There are many more traditions than those explained here, but many of them have either died out completely, weren’t celebrated in my family, or I simply didn’t bother cover them (such as the Christmas Dinner, cause it’s a bit mundane). But yeah, crazy stuff, huh? XD

Merry Christmas to All~!

Hecko X — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:59:21 +0000

Merry Christmas (or whatever you celebrate ;3 ) to all M Dash readers with lubz and hearts~ ♥♥♥

Being Serbian, I don’t get to celebrate Christmas until January 7th, i.e. I get no presents nau :( But that’s ok(?), since I won’t be getting anything then either… Therefore, LET ME LIVE THROUGH YOU!! T^T

Write what you got for Christmas (when you actually get it) in the comment section so I can share your joy or your “I WANTED A PS3, BUT ALL I GOT WAS A SWEATER!! >:3“-ness.

With nothing more to say, I leave you with my favourite Christmas song (Winter Wonderland) sung in a barbershop style, BECAUSE BARBERSHOP IS EFFIN’ AWESOME!! >:3

TOEFL Results

Hecko X — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:35:24 +0000

And so, the results for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) that I took about two weeks ago are finally in! The result? I’m in the top 1%, baby~ ;)

Total score of 663; 66 in listening comprehension (max 68), 68 in structure & written expression (max 68), and 65 in Reading Comprehension (max 67). Score is calculated as ((66+68+65)*10)/3 :D

With this, I’m pretty much a shoe-in for whatever university in Japan offering lessons partially in English, even the high-end ones that require a minimum score of 600 points, so I’m pretty happy about it. If nothing else, I can use it as a reference for applying as an Assistent English teacher job with the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme, in case I get tossed out of my university.

New Art Blog

Hecko X — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:48:51 +0000

NB!! A few weeks after writing this post, I killed off the art blog and moved everything to the new on-site gallery here. I’ve kept the post for archive purposes.

Rather than sulking about not being allowed to post at the Daily Draw anymore, after having been asked to leave, and not being able to find another place that seemed just as much fun to be part of, I decided to just start up my own art blog. Like with joining the DD, making the art blog was done mostly because I don’t feel like limiting M Dash to only art posts.

Being a poor student and all, I used what little resources I already had. For that reason, the art blog can be found at heckox.wordpress.com, a blog I made ages for testing stuff out and had no use for since. I’m currently in the process of uploading some of the stuff I’ve already made (should be done sometime tomorrow, since I have to study for a test), after which I will begin the daily drawing process.

Anywho, I hope people will follow it and give feedback on the drawings, as it is always nice to know where to improve and how.

Hecko turns 22! =D

Hecko X — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:13:44 +0000

Oh yeah, it’s my birthday, I’m teh awesome, so show me some birthday lubz in the comment section! =D

And yes, I’m still in Serbia somewhere, probably doing hellish physical therapy again; this is an automated message, but I still rock!! See you laters! Hearts ♥

M-27, One Year Anniversary!!

Hecko X — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:44:11 +0000

The current incarnation of M Dash has been up for a year today!! BANZAI!! BANZAI!! Have a 1 Year Anniversary cupcake and write your lubz and best wishes in the comment section! For added fun, also write if something special happened to you today and what that thing was =D

Another One Bites the Dust!

Hecko X — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:31:15 +0000

Year 1 Project successfully defended!! Exam pass!! While I did get a lower grade than the three other members of my group, which is kind of suckz because it was because I was too reactive, as opposed to just acitve, a pass is still a pass, so yay me!

Now, just have to get Genki over with this weekend (hopefully without any major problems), get a visit from Nemu before she goes to Japan (aaaw, she comes to visit me, hearts hearts hearts ^^), and then the written exam on Monday, and then I can FINALLY go to sleep and not have to worry about the next morning.

SO PENGUIN BANZAI!!

Yet Another Ace

Hecko X — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:55:21 +0000

With this many aces up my sleeve, I should be playing poker! >:3 Anywho, despite all expectations to the contrary, I somehow manage to raise my Japanese assessment test average enough to NOT fail the year. So yay for me! =D

All that’s left for me to do now is to finish my year 1 project and to pass my written Jap exam. I passed the mock written Jap exam with a pretty high score, so hopefully, I’ll do well at the real thing as well.

Rather Lucky Than Good?

Hecko X — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:44:09 +0000

As some of you may know, I took the JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test), Level 3, in December of 2008. Yesterday the results were in, and contrary to all expectations, I passed. I am however fairly certain that I just got lucky on some of the questions, which is why I passed in the end, but a pass is a pass, I guess…

My stats were:

•Writing-Vocabulary: 76/100
•Listening: 78/100
•Reading-Grammar: 131/200
•Total: 285/400

The passing grade is 240. For passing, I got a very nice, official certificate (pictured on the right). I will be able to use this certificate if applying for a long term visa in Japan, which I will probably have to do in a year or two, when I have to go there for my third year internship or if I have to negotiate my salary if I find work there. So yay to me? =3

Four in a Row!!

Hecko X — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:13:45 +0000

Found out that I passed my second Economics assignment, making it my fourth passed exam/assignment!! *does a victory dance*

All I’m missing now is to pass the 4-hour written Japanese and Economics exams, and to raise my average on the bi-weekly assesment tests in Japanese. If I manage that, I’ll be one year closer to ♫ MAI SHINY, SHINY LOVE!! ♫ Err… I mean to my bachelor degree in international business administration and Japanese language and culture…

♫ Chicken an’ buscuits! With a side of gravy! ♫

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Hecko X — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:25:16 +0000

恭喜发财!! I’m suspecting that it was a combination of various Chinese New Year greetings that led to Spock’s “Live long and prosper :3“, but who knows? XD

Lubz goes out to Yuan-chan in Australia, Chrissy in London, Kaiki in Henan, Martin whereever the hell in the world he is at the moment (I think he’s in Pisa now, lulz XD), my Asian peepz here in Denmark, and of course to everyone else celebrating this holiday!! :3

Also, Yuan-chan, I want those itty-bitty piggy committee cakes, chikushouuu!! >_< Send me ooooone (of each flavour) D= Make sure that you made at least one of the ones you send :3 And Kaiki, if you're reading this, I wanna see pictures from the parades :3 And don't forget my Chinese candy!! D=