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Gone are the days when you won’t mind how your site loads. Google has just made Website Optimization a priority. Google has this measurement called Core Web Vitals. This is Google’s unified guide to a better user experience. Core Web Vitals guides webmasters what they need to improve upon. Just recently, Core Web Vitals have been added to Google’s measurements to determine who will be on the front page of a Google search. This means a lot for webmasters - so much that Google representatives have to explain further. ...

It’s been a while since I wrote my last Desk Diary. I found some time to write another one while feeling kind of weak from all the meetings and tech runs I had to take. It’s also been a while since I collaborated hand in hand with Anime Corner, and now I’m helping them push more stories out. It’s safe to say that I’ve become much busier. On one hand, I have spent more time on the screen, but on the other hand, it helps me get distracted from feeling down. ...

If you’re a sucker for watching great anime, whether it’s because of the intricate storytelling, the beautiful art style or even the lore in the anime, anime has got that special something in it that just happens to tickle any anime fans’ fancy. Image courtesy of Nick Romanov on Unsplash It doesn’t matter whether you are a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s work or whether you are more into Satoshi Kon’s work. Anime doesn’t discriminate as there are plenty of genres that will fit your liking. ...

On this special two-hour podcast episode: I spoke to my good friends in Indonesia, Halimun Muhammad (Senior Editor at KAORI Nusantara’s The Indonesian Anime Times) and Luthfi Suryanda Atmojo (Podcaster, LUTALK / Collaboration Manager, Ghosty’s Comic) to discuss Anime, Manga and Japanese Pop Culture in Indonesia. I’ve been talking about Indonesia on the blog before, so this is a great opportunity and a step forward towards more interaction with one of the largest consumers of Japanese pop culture in Southeast Asia. ...

It’s been 5 years since I joined the events industry. At first, I was not sure if I can survive being on the other side of the coin. The last time I had been involved with an event is when I’m active as part of the local otaku media. I’ve already closed a chapter in my life, and move on to the next… and then some. Over the last five years, I’ve seen how things changed - like that one corner near our office. It was once a warehouse. It was demolished, and turned into two condo towers. ...

I had time to read in full a memoir I purchased three years ago. It’s Mari Okada’s From Truant to Anime Screenwriter: My Path to “Anohana” and “The Anthem of the Heart”, set in rural Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture. I’m glad that I am able to read this in full, as it talks about her experience growing up. On this book, she opens up about her truancy in her high school days, her mother, and her work experience. ...

It’s been a long time since I saw a local event related to the anime culture, so when I saw this on my Facebook news feed, I didn’t hesitated to sign up. At all. Especially if it’s about VTubers. Bias aside, this is a good way to start weekends. Ateneo de Manila University’s Touyou no Shinju (Toushin) Organization will hold its “Fandom February” talks featuring relevant topics such as VTubers, Gundam, UTAU, Isekai, Idol Culture and 3D Modelling. ...

Before January 2021 ends, we saw the boom that is GameStop - aside from that, we saw another discussion within the VTuber community unfolding. “Make content, don’t just tweet.” Hololive English’s Calliope Mori, during a Q&A stream, answered this question: “Do you have any tips for people who want to become VTubers?” Here’s my transcript of her answer: Make content. Do it. You know, I see a lot of young, aspiring VTubers that really want to do the VTuber thing, and I’m really excited for them. I want to see them succeed. I want to see them do their best. I see them on Twitter and I want them to do something. ...

Last year, the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) was held online with a recap of the past events as they tread through the pandemic. This year, they will proceed with holding the Summit in Nagoya, Japan - but this time, the participants won’t be coming in person. The WCS Executive Office issued a statement January 29 providing details on how this year’s summit will be conducted. Considering the current situation of the spread of the pandemic, which globally does not seem to come to an end any time soon, and as a result of a careful consideration at many levels, including consultation with the organizers of the affiliated events in 40 countries and regions, we have determined to carry out the 2021 edition as a special one with the new format of “World Cosplay Championship Video Division.” ...

Man, this week had its highs and lows. Just yesterday, I was reeling away from the stress of handling simultaneous online events. Today, I was relieved of that stress and got myself back into shape. Also today, I learned of the term “meme stocks.” This, after investors at r/WallStreetBets (with its official Twitter Handle @wsbmod) rallied GameSpot’s stock and keeps holding it until now as we speak. GME stock price by TradingView The stock has blown up so much that I’ve been informed of controls in pushing for the said stock. Call it anything you want, but I understood that this is a story of the people - individuals, more so gamers (I’m confident I got this one right) - are fighting the establishment. ...