It's very faint in my memory but I remember a time when I felt uneasy to know behind the scenes information about anime. I guess I wanted to, as far possible consider those worlds to be real, or at least a realistic simulation that I could learn something from and apply it in my life, rather than a contrived scenario whose every-step was a deliberate choice of the creator to get a desired effect from an audience.

Today, I watched the first episode of the remastered version of Detective Conan/Meitantei Conan/Case Closed, and it's bringing me back to my memories as a seven year old reading the first volume of conan. I was around the same age as conan, so much time has passed but the feelings are still the same, which is a pleasant surprise. If there is something different, it's that I feel a lot free-er as an adult.

Anyway to focus on one thing which struck me is how Shinichi says he doesn't want to be a mystery writer like his dad, but wants to live out the life of characters like Sherlock Holmes. Was Gosho Aoyama projecting his own feelings or the feelings of 5-12 year old boys who were his audience? In any case, as fantastic an ambition it is to be a real life sherlock holmes, I do not think it is wrong.

So many young children get discouraged to do anything by a "realism" which dooms everyone to their lowest expectations of themselves? The cure to stoic presenting "realism" is to realise that it's just a front for cowardice, a mask of "reason" for an abject fear of failure.

Yes, the naïve teacher that told you that you could be anything that you wanted, if you were lucky enough to have such a teacher, was actually telling you the truth. Well it's only part of the truth, because you would have to do a lot of thinking, planning and acting but it is essentially true that you can just do things.

came across what looks like a cherry blossom tree near to the uni library #HFL

Exams are a good method for learning but they are not a good way to test and assess knowledge. This is because they cause unnecessary stress, so if it was unto me I would let people do exams to learn the material but I wouldn't give them a test to ultimately judge their ability. Google notebook llm is surprisingly good at generating multiple choice questions. The podcasts are okay too as long as you keep them medium to short. The exams also might be better when they are short as well. When I say 'better' I mean better at learning rather than 'testing as much knowledge as possible.'

"TWO FORMS OF IMAGINATION
The imaginative faculty functions in two forms. One is known as “synthetic imagination,” and the other as “creative imagination.”

SYNTHETIC IMAGINATION: Through this faculty, one may arrange old concepts, ideas, or plans into new combinations. This faculty creates nothing. It merely works with the material of experience, education, and observation with which it is fed. It is the faculty used most by the inventor, with the exception of the who draws upon the creative imagination, when he cannot solve his problem through synthetic imagination.

CREATIVE IMAGINATION: Through the faculty of creative imagination, the finite mind of man has direct communication with Infinite Intelligence. It is the faculty through which “hunches” and “inspirations” are received. It is by this faculty that all basic, or new ideas are handed over to man." - Napoleon Hill, #TGR

What Hill calls the creative imagination in my opinion is just forgetfulness. In other words when the mind cannot recall the connection between old concepts, it just makes up connections which are not necessarily true, and if you (i.e your mind) keeps on guessing enough times, then eventually you will come up with a new useful connection between concepts. This connection itself will be a new concept.

Another way to understand this view of creative imagination, is to look at how random mutations in our genes, which are mostly harmless and occasionally useful, have led to our evolution simply based on what works in that environment. I imagine that forgetfulness fills a similar niche. It is not that there aren't people who have near perfect memory of their pasts but if they can't forget past ideas and events, then that leaves less space for mistakes in thinking and therefore less potential for growth. This is probably why such health conditions are rare despite not being impossible.

I suppose you could also draw a similar parallel to the way that AI hallucinations work as well, although frankly I don't know enough about AI to make that connection with any certainty. Not that I know much more about how the human mind works. This is just a theory of mine based on my own personal experience as a very forgetful individual. I feel like because I am forgetful I am constantly forced to think on my feet, and so it helps me to make new connections which may not always be the most intuitive but which are creative. The main way that my thinking evolves is by asking questions upon questions, and the reason why I have so many questions is because I often forget what is obvious to others.

#MamoruOshii Lectures on Anime and Film Making. Surprised by the emphasis he puts on delusion. didn't know he was chuuni-pilled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJFrCxm2Lro

Visited Cake or Dice Cafe in Dundee. Had a nice chat about Soul Eater.  #HFL

"There is something to the idea that hero worship is helpful, provided one worships a WINNER."

"Knute Rockne's spirit of "All the world loves a  winner and has no time for a loser." - Napoleon Hill

This is not a nice sentiment but it's basically true. Nobody really cares if you are a loser, unless they can use you as some kind of tool for their own aggrandizement. Beware of that. As for hero worship, I am aware of survival bias but I don't think there is an alternative, or at least what would emulating failure lead you to? Other than failure? #TGR

Four Instructions for the Organisation of Your Master Mind Group from Think & Grow Rich Chapter 7: Organised Planning  #TGR

(a) Ally yourself with a group of as many people as you may need for the creation, and carrying out of your plan, or plans for the accumulation of money-making use of the “Master Mind” principle described in a later chapter. (Compliance
with this instruction is absolutely essential. Do not neglect it.)
(b) Before forming your “Master Mind” alliance, decide what advantages, and benefits, you may offer the individual embers of your group, in return for their cooperation. No one will work indefinitely without some form of compensation.
No intelligent person will either request or expect another to work without adequate compensation, although this may not always be in the form of money.
(c) Arrange to meet with the members of your “Master Mind” group at least twice a week, and more often if possible, until you have jointly perfected the necessary plan, or plans for the accumulation of money.
(d) Maintain PERFECT HARMONY between yourself and every member of your “Master Mind” group. If you fail to carry out this instruction to the letter, you may expect to meet with failure. The “Master Mind” principle cannot obtain where PERFECT HARMONY does not prevail.

Even if your goal is not necessarily to make money, I feel like this list is true.

Template for Building Character Through Auto-Suggestion

In Chapter 14: The Sixth Sense, of Think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill talks about he pretends to talk to people he admired (dead or alive). I took out the names and accomplishments of the people NP used in his version to make a reusable template:

[Name], I desire to acquire from you the [specific quality, skill, or understanding] which distinguished your life. I ask that you make an impression upon my subconscious mind of whatever qualities you possessed that enabled you to [specific achievement or capability]. I ask that you assist me in reaching and drawing upon whatever sources of knowledge are available to this end.

[Name], I request that you pass on to me the knowledge which enabled you to [specific accomplishment or transformation]. Grant me access to the understanding that allowed you to [expand on achievement or impact].

[Name], I desire to acquire from you, by emulation, the ability to [key strength or trait]. Help me develop the spirit of [faith, persistence, courage, etc.] which enabled you to [overcome challenge or achieve success]. [Optional: Title or symbolic description], I acknowledge and learn from your example.

[Name], I desire to acquire from you the [mental trait, philosophy, or approach] which defined your work. Grant me the [freedom, courage, clarity, patience, etc.] to think, act, and express myself as you did.

[Name], I wish to acquire from you the ability to [core method or discipline], especially your capacity to [study, create, lead, or endure] without [bias, fear, hesitation, etc.].

[Name], I desire to build into my own character the qualities you exemplified: [list of traits, e.g., justice, patience, humor, understanding, tolerance]. Help me embody these in my actions and decisions.

[Name], I am grateful for the influence you have had on my path. I wish to acquire a deeper understanding of the principles you used, particularly [organized effort, creativity, leadership, etc.], so I may apply them in my own life.

[Name], I wish to acquire your spirit of [persistence, determination, confidence, etc.], which enabled you to overcome [obstacle or limitation]. Guide me in using these qualities to achieve my goals and help others.

[Name], I place you among those I learn from most closely because of your [specific contribution or influence]. I wish to acquire your spirit of [faith, innovation, resilience, etc.], and your dedication to [effort, discovery, mastery], so that I may turn challenges into success.

Here is the original passage btw:

“Mr. Emerson, I desire to acquire from you the marvelous understanding of Nature which distinguished your life. I ask that you make an impress upon my subconscious mind, of whatever qualities you possessed, which enabled you to understand and adapt yourself to the laws of Nature. I ask that you assist me in reaching and drawing upon whatever sources of knowledge are available to this end.

“Mr. Burbank, I request that you pass on to me the knowledge which enabled you to so harmonize the laws of Nature that you caused the cactus to shed its thorns, and become an edible food. Give me access to the knowledge which enabled you to make two blades of grass grow where but one grew before, and helped you to blend the coloring of the flowers with more splendor and harmony, for you, alone, have successfully gilded the lily.

“Napoleon, I desire to acquire from you, by emulation, the marvelous ability you possessed to inspire men, and to arouse them to greater and more determined spirit of action. Also to acquire the spirit of enduring FAITH, which enabled you to turn defeat into victory, and to surmount staggering obstacles. Emperor of Fate, King of Chance, Man of Destiny, I salute you!

“Mr. Paine, I desire to acquire from you the freedom of thought and the courage and clarity with which to express convictions, which so distinguished you!

“Mr. Darwin, I wish to acquire from you the marvelous patience, and ability to study cause and effect, without bias or prejudice, so exemplified by you in the field of natural science. “Mr. Lincoln, I desire to build into my own character the keen sense of justice, the untiring spirit of patience, the sense of humor, the human understanding, and the tolerance, which were your distinguishing characteristics.

“Mr. Carnegie, I am already indebted to you for my choice of a life-work, which has brought me great happiness and peace of mind. I wish to acquire a thorough understanding of the principles of organized effort, which you used so effectively in the building of a great industrial enterprise.

“Mr. Ford, you have been among the most helpful of the men who have supplied much of the material essential to my work. I wish to acquire your spirit of persistence, the determination, poise, and self-confidence which have enabled you to master poverty, organize, unify, and simplify human effort, so I may help others to follow in your footsteps.

“Mr. Edison, I have seated you nearest to me, at my right, because of the personal cooperation you have given me, during my research into the causes of success and failure. I wish to acquire from you the marvelous spirit of FAITH, with which you have uncovered so many of Nature’s secrets, the spirit of unremitting toil with which you have so often wrested victory from defeat.”

Here is a version based on people I admire:

Osamu Tezuka, I desire to acquire from you the boundless creativity and storytelling mastery which allowed you to create a new world for yourself and a new universe for those after you. I ask that you make an impression upon my subconscious mind of the organisational qualities that enabled you to pioneer manga and anime as a narrative art form. Assist me in drawing upon the imagination and discipline required to create stories that resonate with my generation.

Christopher Hitchens, I request that you pass on to me the eloquence in speech and the fearlessly masculine commitment to your truth which defined your voice. Grant me access to the intellectual rigor and rhetorical precision that allowed you to challenge ideas and people boldly and to articulate convictions with confidence and wit.

George Orwell, I desire to acquire from you, the ability to write clearly and with power. Help me develop the courage and moral clarity which enabled you to confront injustice with almost no partisanship, and to warn against tyranny and slavish obeyance to authority through your writing.

Khatzumoto, I desire to acquire from you the lackadaisical discipline, immersion mindset, love of true learning as opposed to the torture which passes for higher learning, the humour, salesmanship and prolificacy of your blogs. Grant me the persistence achieved through changing my environment rather "motivation," to master first the Japanese language, and then everything else I wish for, through consistent exposure.

Napoleon Hill, I wish to acquire from you the ability to understand and apply the principles of success, particularly your mastery of desire, belief, definiteness of purpose, and organized effort. Help me develop unwavering faith through auto-suggestion, and grant me the mindset necessary to turn my optimistic thoughts into reality.

Hideaki Anno, I desire to build into my own fictional characters the introspection, emotional depth, and the cuteness plus sex appeal  which your bishoujo characters exemplified to the point where thirty years later your viewers are still mesmerised and infatuated. Help me gain your artistic and organisation skills to create my creative work with honesty and courage.

Friedrich Nietzsche, I am grateful for the influence you have had on my philosophy for having allowed me to bring back an appreciation of masculinity into my thought. I wish to acquire your skill at writing to achieve self-overcoming, rebuff my enemies, achieve individual masculine strength, and the courage to question established values even if I may have to stand alone, so I may think independently and shape my own path.

Naotaka Hayashi, I wish to acquire your skill in crafting intricate narratives and scenarios, which enabled you to create deeply engaging visual novels and one of the greatest heroines, romances, and main character at the same time. Guide me in weaving complex plots and meaningful character arcs that leave a lasting impression.

Gosho Aoyama, I place you among those I learn from most closely because of your mastery in constructing long-form mysteries,  memorable characters, and a wide ranging image of Japan which moved my heart and those of millions. You created hopeful characters with heart, with a genuine sense of right and wrong unbound by convention, and some very cute heroines and cool characters along the way, I wish to acquire your creativity, consistency, and ingenuity in storytelling which allowed you to craft one of the greatest and longest continuous adventures in manga and television history.

#TGR

"A mind dominated by positive emotions becomes a favourable abode for the state of mind known as faith. A mind so dominated may, at will give the subconscious mind instructions, which it will accept and act upon immediately."- Think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

Our actions are driven by our emotions which are driven by our thoughts, which in turn are driven by our environment. And our 'environment' often consists of what people around us say, and what kind of words go into our mind. So, honestly, I have been curating the content I read and watch a lot more carefully. I have stopped reading news, even if that makes me less informed, because it's just depressing, and there is nothing I feel like can do about it. I have set up redirects from websites like the bbc to other sites in Japanese. The same goes for discussion forums and youtube comments. The problem with these is that they are like gambling, you might come across a good thread once in a while, which is what keeps you coming back, but there's just too much demoralising content.

I have always worried about being delusionally positive like cult members are, but the opposite problem is far more common, becoming unable to take action due to pessimism. It's just much easier to do things if you fill your mind with positive thoughts, and that's what matters. Just like nobody has tears for a coward, no one cares for someone who just complains about their life. #TGR

"All achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin with an intense, BURNING DESIRE for something definite. Through some strange and powerful principle of “mental chemistry” which she has never divulged, Nature wraps up in the impulse of STRONG DESIRE “that something” which recognises no such word as impossible, and accepts no such reality as failure." - Think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill.

Don't accept failure as final.

Homework for Life: I went out into town at about 10 pm to grab a cola. In a passageway came across some #graffiti that read, "The Truth" with no context.

"Barnes won his goal, because he wanted to be a business associate of Mr. Edison, more than he wanted anything else. He created a plan by which to attain that purpose. But he BURNED ALL BRIDGES BEHIND HIM. He stood by his DESIRE until it became the dominating obsession of his life-and-finally, a fact.
When he went to Orange, he did not say to himself, “I will try to induce Edison to give me a job of some soft.” He said, “I will see Edison, and put him on notice that I have come to go into business with him. He did not say, “I will work there for a few months, and if I get no encouragement, I will quit and get a job somewhere else.” He did say, “I will start anywhere. I will do anything Edison tells me to do, but before I am through, I will be his associate.” He did not say, “I will keep my eyes open for another opportunity, in case I fail to get what I want in the Edison organization.” He said, “There is but ONE thing in this world that I am determined to have, and that is a business association with Thomas A. Edison. I will burn all bridges behind me, and stake my ENTIRE FUTURE on my ability to get what I want.”

He left himself no possible way of retreat. He had to win or perish!

A long while ago, a great warrior faced a situation which made it necessary for him to make a decision which
insured his success on the battlefield. He was about to send his armies against
a powerful foe, whose men outnumbered his own. He loaded his soldiers into
boats, sailed to the enemy’s country, unloaded soldiers and equipment, then gave
the order to burn the ships that had carried them. Addressing his men before the
first battle, he said, “You see the boats going up in smoke. That means that we
cannot leave these shores alive unless we win! We now have no choice-we win-or
we perish! They won." - Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich

Nostalgia is contagious.

I came across the opening to #Haruhi for the twentieth anniversary of the anime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbDnGNzP5cs.

And even though I didn't watch anime when it aired, I still felt a pang of nostalgia... but how much of that nostalgia is real or simply because of those comments sections on videos like this, talking about how they can't believe it has been 20 years, or how they remember being in middle school when this aired. Or people making the point about how they are high school aged, like the characters, implying that it is unusual for someone so young to be watching Haruhi. I see the same kind of comments on videos related to #SteinsGate. One comment read: "Future generations should make sure this anime is not forgotten!"

For some reason this rubs me the wrong way, like I didn't really learn anything except waste my time reading nostalgic posts by a bunch of people who have decided they are on their way out, so I have in turn decided to block all youtube comments on my laptop for now to contain this contagion of nostalgia everytime I visit somewhere related to an anime I like which was not released in the last few years. When I open a comment section on anime, I want to see thoughts on that anime, not some autobiographical detail about the commenter's life when they watched the anime. Personal blogs like this are a better medium for that, but maybe the death of blogging/personal sites explains why people tell their life stories on topic discussion sites like YouTube.

In any case, as I was rereading TGR today, I came across this passage I have quoted above, about the necessity to burn all bridges behind you in order to have the requisite desire to move forward. Nostalgia is one of those bridges that prevents people from moving forward. I have observed that certain anime appealed to me at certain times in my life. Basically, it is impossible to recapture those feelings because even if the anime has not changed, I have. And yet it is possible to overstate this change, to pretend you have moved so far forward that you are beyond your previous self.

I rewatched the #Akira movie, and finished reading the manga last night (or this morning, depending on what 3-4 am counts as). The manga has its issues, mainly that the last two volumes are kind of drawn out, but out of curiosity I decided to read the reviews for the manga on MAL. It was full of people who originally read it in the 1990s being shocked, that on re-read, the manga wasn't as good as they remembered, praising the artwork, and yet faulting the story with very vague and meaningless criticism like the characters have no depth/don't change except for Tetsuo, the power-scaling makes no sense etc... I will not deign any of these with a response but has it not occurred to them that rather than the manga not being as good as they thought that they are no longer as good, or discerning as they were in their youth? Or perhaps is it that Akira glorifies the youth which they no longer have which ticks them off, leading them to accuse the manga of pandering to youth (i.e. why doesn't this thing not aimed at me anymore, not pander to me anymore?). It is quite sad to see the decline in people's tastes preceding even cognitive decline with age.

If blocking comments doesn't work then I am willing to stop paying attention to old anime altogether, as I refuse to be dragged down, but let's hope it doesn't come to that. Although I don't think I can get onboard with JuJutsu Kaisen and Frieren, there is still much good work that is being done, and where it isn't then that is just an opportunity for us to do it ourselves now rather than being passive observers of a passing timeline.

Went to watch Akira at the Cinema. It was nice hearing that other members had plans for the society. It was definitely worth going.

#HomeworkForLife

"That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat. Perhaps this is why  so many fail to recognize opportunity." - Napoleon Hill.

"The spirit of determination to live through tragedy by transforming contradiction into a new set of values—instead of letting it ruin you." -  Tow Ubukata, creator of Le Chevalier D'Eon.

Many people complain that education has failed to teach young people useful skills that prepare them for later life, but the skill it has most failed to teach is a positive, resilient, and independent mindset, which can find opportunity in every failure. Perhaps this may be somewhat incompatible with a standardised form of examinations based on credentialism. Still, perhaps the two ways of thinking could be balanced. You wouldn't need to remove the standardisation, which makes mass education possible, if schools focused more on teaching kids how to maintain a positive mindset conducive to success in the face of hardship. I think that it is seeking this hope that people become engrossed in anime and video games rather than any kind of "escapism," however due to a lack of guidance to start their thinking they sometimes fail to put that hope into action, and fall to the propaganda that they are just engaging in escapism, concluding that dreams and ideals are just unrealistic (at least for the likes of them). It is natural for things and people to often follow the path of least resistance; conscious animals have the potential to outwit this tendency at least temporarily, as one may observe when a cornered animal fights back. However, a human, and above all, a man, is dependent more on his thoughts and learning rather than direct instinct for survival, which is why the cultivation of positivity and action is necessary, as opposed to a low resistance rationality, which is just abject despair and fear masquerading as cool reason.

"When a man really DESIRES a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his entire future on a single turn of the wheel in order to get it, he is sure to win." - Think & Grow Rich, #NapoleonHill

I started two episodes of #TatamiGalaxy today... I remember almost nothing except the ending and the fast talking. Oh, and the ending song, of course. I believe that I will find this anime a lot more satisfying this time.

I think I didn't really understand this anime the first/last time I watched it because I watched it towards the end of my high school years, and it's set in college. It's the same: I can no longer enjoy ecchi anime like MM! in the same earnest way that I could when I was a middle/high schooler. There are works like that which are aimed at a certain demographic, and to have an emotional effect, I have to watch them at the right time, at the right age. Gender plays into this as well, of course, although I think those ecchi romantic comedies had something in them for girls up to high school age as well, because of the romance. I wonder if I will come to be unable to earnestly enjoy "evergreen" works which I have always thought were good, but it doesn't really matter. I will just keep on finding new works of art that I find relatable and enjoyable.

I have also become a lot more amenable to the idea of time loops thanks to Steins; Gate. I think as a high schooler, I became dogmatically obsessed with the idea of character development, that the whole point of watching a story is to see the characters develop themselves from the beginning to the end to become better, and to be inspired to do the same and emulate what we saw on screen as viewers. Perhaps I was reacting to accusations by persons of low intelligence that implied that art escapism prevents people from living fulfilling lives by by allowing them to live vicariously through fiction. I do not want to waste any time refuting this but I will just say that this is to put the cart before the horse, to blame fiction for reality, is truly a delusional mind's way of escaping from responsibility. Or in other words, they are so bitter about their own lives that seeing happy, uncynical fictional depictions hurts them.

#SteinsGate was also probably the first anime about college aged adults which I enjoyed.

I don't know whether to dread or look forward to it yet, but I guess the next stage would be to get into anime about middle aged "ojisan/obasan" characters. As Japan's demographics get older there will undoubtedly come a time when there is a market for anime like this. While it is sad of course that I and Japan are getting older at about the same rate, I am happy that I will be able to experience new types of works, new experiences.

Of course, there are also stories which start with the protagonist as a child and end with their death... but that feeling of eternity, of endless summer, is unique to youth... Of course, if I were to objectively measure my early youth, it was more boring because I was less free, but would I go back if I were given the opportunity? I know I would, because experiencing so many things for the first time is what made that time special to me, even if my experiences do not exactly fit into the mould of youth set by others, they were undoubtedly precious to me. But rather than to sorrow about what is gone now, I take it as a sign that I can find more precious things to me now, today, and tomorrow.

When I slow down the Japanese audio to x.045, I can kind of understand a word here and there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu65RbKCguA

Watched the first 28 episodes (first proper arc) of Magi. Didn’t expect to get a lesson about an evil empire using fiat currencies to dominate and impoverish a smaller nation. That was some good world building.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/14513/Magi__The_Labyrinth_of_Magic

In #Kinonotabi one of the dystopia's kino visits is one where everyone can read each other's minds and so everyone has become reclusive. I think that's a lie, and things wouldn't turn that way if everyone could read each other's minds. Most relationships problems are caused because of our inability to be honest with each other. Everything would be simpler if we could read each others' minds.

Social media is the opposite of this, because there are so many thoughts around but you can never know if anyone really means or if they are saying it for some other motive. There are other innacurate ones like the one where people end up voting to kill each other until only one man is left, but in reality democracy leads to coalition building and sloooow decision making because that "51%" to make an absolute majority is actually based on a bunch of different groups with differing interests.

I don't blame the author or anything like that, he was just writing a story, but if someone were to take all the dystopias seriously as accurate then the conclusion to not take any drastic measures.