curious1. Reply to this post with 'Icons!', and I will pick five of your icons.
2. Make a post (including the meme info) and talk about the icons I chose.
3. Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.
I thought about posting direct to the responses, since I'd posted this once already, and opted not to because, well, Fun!
So
aineotter wanted to know about these icons:Several folds for me. Back in the days when I played in the 'Current Middle Ages" also known as the Society for Creative Anachronism, I played a bloke from the late 1500's Japan. Now, the SCA rules are to create a 'persona' that could of lived in the time period one chooses, give them a name only it can't be anyone truly historical, nor from historical or fantastical fiction of the era. So I needed a name. So happens I knew a Japanese family name because one of my best friends married into one. Also, where I lived and played, the name of the SCA group, was (still is, the group is still active) An Crosaire which is Gaelic for Crossroads.
So is my friends family name, Tsuji using this particular kanji. Thus my SCA name became both a pun and place-name (which is one of the means by which our various family names come to be). Plus, all our life we are at a Crossroads. Which choice to make, which direction to travel.
I made this icon by photographing the kanji in the Japnaese-English Character Dictionary in macro mode, then manipulating the image to higher contrast to eliminate any bleed-through from the page.
No, Srsly, there is! Wow, you thought earlier explanations could get long. Well, this is one of the images selected by both individuals, so maybe I should split the explanation into two parts. Let's see. OK, short version first, think Puppet Theatre, think Photo Graphic Book (comic book), think Otterz. In 2006 a very good friend (more later) handed me this stuffed toy otter designed by Lou Rankin and made by Dakin, and said, "Make photos at monuments" because my Nursing Association held our annual meeting that year in my nations capitol. So I did, and the stories I told were not exactly which my friend thought she was asking. Here we have Mini-Fred Otterz at the National Zoo, protesting the unjust incarceration of his relative Otters.
Actually, I should think this one could be self-explanatory. Here's someone armed with a sword and telling you (the viewer) that you really should proceed 1st... um, where-ever you are going. Since this is another one which was selected by both parties, more of the explanation follows.
And
dianavilliers wanted to know about these icons... and yes, there's some overlap here. *G*:Now, that elevation? That is quite close to the altitude at which the Federal Aviation Administration here in the States (and their correlary agencies elsewhere) require pilots operating aircraft to be wearing oxygen or in pressurised cabins. And it is very noticable, particularly if one drives up and when one first steps out of the vehicle. You are no longer at sea level, Toto.
Mini-Fred we posed in front of the Otter Display at the National Zoo. Another artist friend came up with the materials to make his protest sign, and we lucked into one of the live otters swimming laps in the enclosure. So a series of photos of that otter combined with Mini-Fred in place served to create the animated gif. Usually, when the Otterz pictured in the icon is seen in the blog, it's the Otterz speaking in the entry.
Pertinent to this discussion, my interests in Japan and Japanese Culture, Language, and Philosophies are what led to my choosing to play a Japanese in the S.C.A. Quite a bit of creative expression outlet as well. One does not find 16th Century Japanese clothing on the racks in most clothing stores. I learned to make reproductions thereof, so much of what is visible in the picture is something I made, except the setting. Another very good friend introduced me to the study of Chanoyu (Boiling Water for Tea, Tea Ceremony). The setting for the self portrait is the corner of his home set aside for that study and the properties are his.
Om nom nom.
Used for food-related, and specifically sushi/sashimi related posting. I nicked this image for it, from a public use space.
