For the past week or so, I have been spending the majority of my time catching up on the White Album anime. For those of you who are familiar with my habit, you are probably aware of what I am doing here. My quest to understand the storyline for 森川 由綺 Morikawa Yuki and 緒方 理奈 Ogata Rina after their Dollfie Dream announcement. Up to about episode 3-4, I am already completely captivated by the performance of Ogata Rina, whom I consider as one of the most awesome and attractive characters in my recent memory! Needless to say, my 11th Dollfie Dream Daughter has already been decided, and it’s none other than Dollfie Dream Rina! I am putting my name in the super early pre-order as soon as it’s up, despite the fact that I won’t see how she turns out! You may also find the Dollfie Dream Rina banner in the side bar of my blog since a few days ago 
Why am I making such an effort for this new girl Ogata Rina? It’s simple, she is just that awesome! “Most” anime in the past few seasons put too much emphasis on fan service and over emphasize on the “moe” factor and it’s getting very annoying for me to have to watch anime that lack a proper story, characters lack a proper personality and “progression”. It’s very refreshing to see a buckle in this “moe” trend and see a character that literally captivated my heart from the beginning and continued to impress me every time she graced the screen (She is voiced by Nana Mizuki, I am sure that helped kicked it up a few notches there). I think I might devote a topic to talk about her later. In my personal opinion, Ogata Rina is beautiful, elegant, intelligent, talented and have more balls than all the men combined in the show! You can read about how other people feel that “Why Anime Should Have More Female Characters Like Ogata Rina“.
I actually have a lot of trouble watching White Album anime myself, the main protagonist, Touya Fujii, rated as the worst male lead in an eroge game before Makoto of School Days came along …. it’s not easy to be compared against Makoto… but Touya definitely deserve that title…. But despite the short coming of the show, I continued to watch White Album. Because White Album has always been about the girls (all of the guys are just pricks), and how they cope with the circumstances around them.
During the past week, I have also made some an important decision regarding my PVC figure pre-order. I have decided to send Alter Fate to the chopping block! I know what you are thinking, have I gone insane? It’s Alter Fate we are talking about, people were lining up to try to get on her pre-order and here I am canceling her?
Replacing Alter Fate in my pre-order list is new comer Ogata Rina from GSC!
The decision to cancel Alter Fate probably has to do with the fact that new comer Ogata Rina is literally replacing Fate in my harem lineup, and on top of that, I see little reason to continue collecting Fate PVC figure since I already have her in Dollfie Dream form. No, I am not dumping Fate from my harem lineup but rather bumping her down a few notches in favor of Ogata Rina. It has nothing to do with how good the figure the figure look, one can argue the Alter Fate looks better than GSC Rina, but for me, it’s more about how I feel about the figure rather than the quality of the figure.
I have already completed the Rina arc from the PC version of the game from 1998 and got her “happy end”, but I am also planning on getting the PS3 version which is due out this winter.
I can’t wait to see Rina chan in the High Definition glory that she so well deserves!
Enough talking about Rina chan, let’s take a look at the Black Friday loot! The day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday in United States, is the kick start of the holiday shopping season. Most stores, brick and mortar or online all try to put forth their best effort to attract customers. I usually don’t participate in such an event because I tend to just get what I need when I need them. However, since the majority of my funding has now been allocated for taking care of my Dollfie Dream daughters, I have to learn to spend my money wisely going forward.
It just so happen that I am not interested in any of the Dollfie Dream coming out in the Dolpa 22 next month and I have been wanting to build a file server as a backup storage system due to my ever increasing storage requirement. Since I have already acquired a spare power supply, motherboard and chassis from a few months ago when my main computer went down, I decided to go through with the exercise to build out that system. Since it’s only meant to be a storage/backup server, I don’t intend to spend a lot of money on the processor so I picked out a nice little Wolfdale E6300. The E6300 is a Core 2 Duo Wolfdale CPU similar to the E8000 series. As a matter of fact, every CPU Intel currently manufactures are Core 2′s. This means that you can achieve beyond E8600 specs very easily with this CPU!
A few hard drives to satisfy my desire for massive storage!
I picked up three of these!
And as an experiment, I decided to give the Hitachi “Deathstar” DH3200 IDK/7K 2TB 7200RPM a chance to redeem itself.
The Hitachi Deskstar acquired it’s nickname “Deathstar” some time ago because it was notorious for making ticking sound and eventually fail. I don’t plan on putting anything critical in this drive, just to see if Hitachi has improved their quality. (As of the writing of this post, this hard drive is already sold out!)
So effectively I am adding a total 6.5 TB toward my total storage capacity. After it’s all said and done, I think I will have roughly 10TB of storage capacity.
Besides shopping online, I have also made the pilgrimage to the local Fry’s Electronics to hunt for a almost free after rebate video card! I arrived at the local Fry’s store about 4:00am (an hour before they open for Black Friday) and there were already a few hundreds people lining up in front of the store, the weather was kinda chilly so standing outside the store wasn’t exactly a fun affair (but all in the name of saving $40!). I have never lined up in front of a store waiting for sale to start so it’s a brand new experience for me. Not long after I arrived at the store along with my 2 brothers, who came along with me to bargain hunt, a Red Bull mini pulled up next to us and two ladies jumped out of the car and start giving out free sample Red Bull!
Since I already slept before so I didn’t need to drink it and decided to save it for rainy day when I actually do need an extra boost!
After an hour of waiting outside the store, I finally got inside and acquired the video card effortlessly!
And here is the rebate form! If everything goes well, I should be getting this video card for about $3 USD!
It may not be a top of the line video card but I hardly need anything powerful for my file server and on top of that, it’s almost free!
That’s a lot of shopping in a day! Well, for the sake of my file server, this much shopping is needed. Hopefully I will be able to start building it up sometime in December. As the ultimate protector of my valuable data, I have decided to name this file server “Mazinger Z”, what better name can be suited for my file server other than the grandfather of all super robots in the modern era?!!!
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- Xenosaga III KOS-MOS & MOMO Dollfie Dream Detail Specs
- PVC Figure Activities Spring 2013
- Dollfie Dream Fate T. Harlaown Easter Bunny Version
- Xenosaga III Dollfie Dream Pre-Order Schedule Update
Cool stuff! I didn’t buy a lot for myself today but I’ve ordered a bunch of stuff recently, including a new computer since my current machine is just about on its deathbed. I also recently paid $500 for car repairs, which wasn’t much fun.
I thought about trying to enter the lottery for Mai Shiranui but I probably won’t … it’s a ton of money and near-nakedness and big exposed ball joints don’t really go together all that well.
.-= Tier´s last blog ..Kanu Uncho from Ikki Tousen (Project Dynamite #001 Extra Color Version) (NSFW) =-.
It is the right time to start building my storage server as I am getting close to run out of space again. I am nearly the limit on both of my main computers as far as the number of drives is concerned, plus the lack of a backup solution to my existing network never sit right with me. Building a brand new storage server with some sort of a diversified structure seems the most logical choice to me. What kind of computer did you get?
As far as DD Mai is concern, she just failed miserably in my opinion. The overly large size butt of DDDy body and her skimpy loincloth just doesn’t go well together in my opinion.
It’s a mid-level gaming system, it’s going to have a Core i5 and a Radeon 5770. I’m still waiting for the parts to get here so that I can put it together.
I’m only interested in Mai because she’s Mai; if Volks made her a generic original ninja girl, I probably wouldn’t have given her a second look. If they held the lottery sometime early next year rather than in a couple of weeks, I’d be more tempted, but it’s probably more important that I get new tires for my car since winter’s coming up.
.-= Tier´s last blog ..Haruhi Suzumiya from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Bunny Music Version) =-.
Ah, an i5 I see, have fun with the build.
Hmm, I just don’t like Mai’s too simplistic outfit. You can say I am still not a huge fan of seeing all the joints, especially at the waist line.
Ah, see you passed on Alter StrikerS Fate as well. Like you, I also had different priorities. With all the Nanoha the Movie figmas/nendoroids and with so many Touhou figures coming out, she just got thrown on the backburner.
As far as your 11th Dollfie Dream, she is a cutey but I couldn’t get past the first episode of White Album, so I can’t speak beyond her looks. Hopefully she is as cute as the promotional artwork.
Well it didn’t help that Alter Fate is way too large, I am running out of display room for PVC and have to start considering to retire some PVC to begin with. Plus I wasn’t a big fan of the way Alter had her mouth opened. I had her in pre-order before I got into Dollfie Dream, but now it’s becoming obvious that I shouldn’t waste money on figure that I barely like just for the sake of collecting.
White Album is difficult to get into, it did start slow but drama started to happen mid way of 1st season. As a man, I can’t help but feel very sorry for the girls and what they had to go through. Rina is one of the most refreshing characters I have seen in recent term, very intriguing character, knows what she want, and not afraid to speak her mind! Girls like that are very attractive to me!
I think I would’ve dropped Alter’s Fate too if I knew shipping for her is 6,100 yen. :\
Anyways, are you planning to get the matching pair? Or just that Rina figure?
Ouch, you got charged 6100 yen for shipping too? I am guessing you ordered her from HLJ? I ordered her through E2046 and had about $35 shipping in the pre-order stage. I would have flipped if I saw that much for shipping alone, I personally don’t like the way Alter had her mouth opened that way like
, not my preferred choice in a bishoujo figure.
I am probably going to pass on Yuki, not really into her character, a little too passive but very dedicated girl.
My god, I knew u will hit the 2 digit mark before the end of the year but already decided on ur 11th dollfie is a big surprise. Choosing Rina as ur 11th is a more bigger surprise instead. lol
Dropping Alter Fate means to me, u have a bigger passion to dollfies compared to PVC’s now. I guess it comes naturally as many ppl move on to different hobbies overtime and funding both hobbies is always hard. It’s not like money grows on tree. :S
I’m still tempted in getting GSC Rina but I really really don’t like the series and the main reason I’m continuing it is for Nana Mizuki. lol
.-= Optic´s last blog ..Singapore Loot =-.
Why is Rina a surprise? She is very charming and she is most definitely attractive to men who would rather not deal with woman that don’t speak their mind!
I never liked Alter Fate even before I got into Dollife Dream, I hated her mouth open like that; but I decided to pre-order her anyway because… well she is Fate and why not? But the reason is fading away fast because she is getting bump down a few notches in my harem and Rina is moving up and fast!
White Album is not for everyone, its not your typical harem happy happy anime. White Album is always about the girls and their struggle to cope with their circumstances, at least that’s the way it feel to me. I am taking a liking in Rina and her song (Nana Mizuki) because she is representing the type of bishoujo I like most, straight forward and get to the point. And most decidedly, because she is NOT what I hate most, which is moe and weak.
@Tommy
Got a notice that HLJ shipped Alter Fate out to me and shipping was a whopping 700Yen! Aoch! That elevated shipping fee actually required me to drop on getting GSC’s Canaan that’s due out in January.
@Wolfheinreich
I seriously need to create a file server or NAS device with RAID 1 or 5 myself. Currently I just have 1.5TB in JBOD discs which is both too little and way too insecure.
Wonder what I’ll do though, get a NAS device like a Qnap or Synology with a bunch of 1TB discs, maybe a Western Digital MyBook device… or just convert my heavy rig with larger discs in RAID 1 config? (Though that seems overkill for an E6750 C2D with 4GB Ram to make it into such a fileserver…)
I thought about getting a NAS but majority of the NAS out there only have 2 slots (some with 4 but not cheap) and I know I will grow out of that sooner or later with all the video and CD images I am storing (and since I have a case, power supply and mobo already). I don’t like DVD writable as a storage medium because they can go bad without me noticing it. I have studied a bit on RAID configuration myself but I also heard that it is possible to have problem rebuilding a RAID after a disc failure. At this moment, I am planning on building a Windows Home Server, I have heard some good things about it.
Even if I don’t want to: I always end up looking at Rinas tighhighs. (^^;)
Would really like to get that figure unfortunately there’s no money left for this.
As for the fileserver: Would need one too but I guess upgrading my two year old main system would come first. I still can play the latest games on 1920×1200 but not with maxed out AF & AA. Unacceptable!
I’m not so sure what I should say about the Hitachis… cause I’m a WD fanboy. Yes, they are cheaper but the warranty is 2 years less too. But I guess they should do the job too.
Wondering why u got an stand alone graphics card though. I would go with an µATX board with integrated Geforce 9 for example. Enough GPU power for a fileserver, doesn’t need that much power (it’s running 24/7 after all)and you can use a smaller case.
.-= hikky´s last blog ..Introducing the Apple ReiPhone =-.
I can understand why you look at Rina’s thigh high ^^; She is very charming.
Well I don’t game a lot on my PC so my Quad core is still very much adequate for what I need to do, but I am running out of storage capacity and that’s a problem. It’s a bit overdue and I want to start a fresh install for Windows 7, etc etc. So I am going to build my file server first and backup everything that’s important to me and start the install in the holiday season.
I understand what you are saying about micro ATX with integrated video, but I have the motherboard already and it would feel like a waste to buy a new board …. I am getting the video card cheap anyway and I want to have maximum number of expansion slots because the server will most definitely grow beyond 6 SATA devices.
so she already available for pre-order ??
Not yet but I imagine we are not far away from super early pre-order start now.
so its official 11th daughter! i havent been keeping up with Dollfie news, gotta say away from temptation lol but now i cant wait to see how these two will turn out.
i didnt pick anything up anything this year for black friday, seeing the amount of HDD you got for your server reminded me i should have gotten a new HDD too XD but thats a nice storage space upgrade!
Yup, it’s official, as soon as super early pre-order is up, I am going for her. Rina chan is a rising star among my harem daughters!
I would be in a big bind I had wanted any of the DD from Dolpa 22, good thing that I didn’t want any!
I never heard of that so called Black Friday before you mentioned it in your post.
Its actually quite interesting that they lower theyre pices before the holiday instead of bumping them up.
Youre 11th Dollfie?Mamamia!
So what are you doing with all those dollfies?Are they scattered across your home? All neatly lined up somewhere or what are you doing with them?
.-= Blowfish´s last blog ..Di:Stage Review =-.
Haha Black Friday is a US tradition! Most retail store in US loses money until the Black Friday, the day they turn a profit!
Well the key is cash flow here, the movement of goods is more important to keep cash flow positive!
Yup, Rina chan is so brilliant, it didn’t take very long for me to fall for her performance, she is everything that the current anime industry need!
I kept them in their room most of the time but they have been sitting right next to me in the past couple of weeks!
I can’t wait to see Rina doll I’ve decides i’m also going to get her ^^ but the only thing they showed about her was her shoes -_- I want to see more T_T
the PVC of Rina is really beautiful might get it as well XD
Am I glad to have seen your post on the White Album DD, and someone who also likes the series and the characters as much as I do. This will be a brilliant choice and I’m going for it too!
.-= Ian @ Anime Figures Toys´s last blog ..Nendoroid Mio Akiyama PVC Figure K-On Good Smile Company =-.
I didn’t find a “Contact Info” section of your website, so I’m asking here. Perhaps you’ll be able to contact me via the e-mail address I used to comment here.
Did you ever get a copy of the PS3 White Album game? I’d like to know some of the story from it. I was a little disappointed with how the anime was written, and I’m sure that the game is better because it focuses on one character at a time. Yayoi’s and Rina’s characters greatly intrigued me in the anime and I’d like to know how the games handled their stories.