Blogger Central Steemians #6

Blogger Central Steemians #6 - @musingsltd

As part of or community outreach we're launching a series of interviews with our members.

This week we talk to a Niigata, Japan Steemian, @musingsltd .

In the short biopic you attach to the end of your posts, you describe yourself as “just a dude living in Japan”. Do you mind embellishing upon this a little?

I suppose I just never pictured myself being in Japan before I found myself living here and then eventually settling down, if that makes any sort of sense. I’m often asked, “Why did you come to Japan?” And to be honest I don’t have a great answer. I knew a friend who was here. I hated my job I had so I applied for job’s in a few different countries and I wound up here.

I’m a pretty simple guy and I take things day by day, I don’t always know what I want, but I usually know what I don’t want. I was sitting in a cubicle at work staring at the grey in front of me and knew that wasn’t the answer.

I didn’t plan on sticking around forever but getting married and liking what I was doing through a proverbial wrench in my original plan of getting back quickly. I’ve always felt there doesn’t need to be a purpose or answer for most things. I guess that’s why I feel I’m just a dude doing my thing.

One of your interests lies in the intermingled realms of comics, manga, satire, and commentary. Can you tell me about how you got started writing comics and a little about your current process?

The simple answer is out of necessity. I’ve always liked telling stories and originally I had always wanted to make a movie. I still hope to at some point but for financial and logistical reasons that is very difficult.

A few years ago a friend of mine and I had begun to film a short film. I was so stoked about the script and our lead man was just nailing it. I mean, he was good. My friend and I were in the second or third day of “production” and we were like holy shit, the script is coming to life we are seeing what we wanted to portray. Well long story short, our actor backed out. He had reservations and no one could blame him if you read the script. I’d need to be paid a lot of money to say and do those things too.

“Hey dude, do you mind totally making an ass of yourself? I just need you to come off like a total perve and and there is a toilet scene as well. There is no cash and it certainly isn’t a career builder.”

“Sure dude! Sign me up!” Said no one ever.

At that point I decided to learn to draw. By learn to draw, I mean I watched a couple youtube videos and started drawing. I’m a hack no doubt but it is a way to tell stories. I’ve never been a fan of my own writing, I don’t feel it captures the mood I’m trying to set. I figured I might be able to capture some sort of human emotion through comics. I loved them as a child so figured I’d take a shot at it.

Building on question 2, have you found an active and receptive comic/manga/illustration community on Steemit? If not, is this something you would like to see grow?

In my infancy on steemit I found I had a really hard time getting responses to comments I would leave on art and comics of posts I really liked, which I found strange and disheartening. That was one drawback for me early on. I still feel it a lot. Maybe I leave terrible comments? Anyway, I’m sure I am not the only one in the steemit community who feels that way.

I’ve heard some people don’t want their asses kissed, but I tell you what, if you wanna come kiss my ass and tell me how great I am I would be so happy.

There are more and more contests popping up and that has been exciting. I’ve probably talked to more people through contests than on any one person’s blog. That’s not to say there isn’t good stuff to follow.

@drwatson is a great guy to follow. Process of his comic “Ithaqa” which varies from his process and work to trying to get published. I really enjoy that. @fukako is another person I follow and check on almost daily. Not sure why, but their work, for whatever reason, attracts me.

I love steemit and I love that people can see my work on the platform. I do not feel it is well set up for webcomics or things of that nature though. I’d love to see it grow, not so much among artists though but those who come to read and check it out. I know comics and stories aren’t for everyone.

The short biopic at the end of your posts also states that you are interested in sports and gambling. A not-so-distant post that you made described an online betting site that accepts Bitcoin and credits Bitcoin users with betting funds. Can you tell us about how you like to gamble, and do you have a wild gambling story that you can share with us?

betonline.ag has been a great resource for me for sports gambling. The reason I use that site is I can use it from Japan. Some of the other big sites that are trustworthy and accept bitcoin are not available in Japan. Also, the site matches up to $2,500 on you first deposit with bitcoin which can be used in what is called “free play” you can’t get it and instantly pull it out, but you are free to use it to place bets. If you win, you win. If you lose, well you didn’t really lose anything.

You can also do traditional poker from the site in addition to sports betting if you are into online casino stuff. ALSO! There is a $100 refer a friend bonus, so, uh, want to join?

I mainly only gamble on football these days. I’ll traditional money line (pick the winner) if I feel the risk on the underdog is worth the reward, it can be a hefty payout. Mainly I just picking against the spread and game props, such as rushing yards for a certain player.

I first started betting in elemntary school. My friend and I both collected baseball cards and we would bet baseball cards (we didn’t have money to bet) on card games. It was a blast, those are still some of my clearest memories as a child.

As for a story, I got in trouble at recess for betting on a game of bump. You know the one where two people shoot in succession of each other from the freethrow line. If the second person makes it first the first person is out and you can knock their ball as far as possible with your ball? Anyway, the recess lady caught wind of what I was doing. It was a big deal because my dad was a pastor and gambling was shunned upon.

My mom made me write like 100 sentences or something, “I will not bet on bump at recess.” The next week I got busted for betting on dodgeball. So, yeah, there’s that.

Seeing as how a new year is upon us, do you have any goals for the upcoming year?

I’m going to start taking classes on coffee and how to make drinks. I’ve always wanted to have a coffee shop. Hope to stick to it.

Success takes many shapes and forms and many people have different ideas of what success is. How would you describe success? Or, what definition do you use to define yourself and the various things that you do as being successful or not?

Success has changed for me over time. Ask me last year it’s different than this year, and I would say that every year. Now, what is important to me, if my kids know they are loved everyday and feel safe everyday, I’ll feel successful.

On a more independent level when my head hits the pillow at night, I want to be able to go to bed happy. Day at a time. That’s really all I’m shooting for.

L-R @boxcarblue @musingsltd @kafkanarchy84 @maxinpower

What are some your favorite things about Japan?

Favorite things about Japan? Convenience stores for sure. Paying bills is a breeze and I can buy most necessities at any hour. Not so important now, but I loved when I moved here that bars closed at 5, 6 or 7 am. That was a shocker and the night was very enjoyable.

I still really enjoy how warm it stays at night in the summer. You can go out on your deck or front porch and enjoy a drink in a T-shirt. You might still be wearing a jacket at 2am in Seattle in August if you ain’t lit.

Since you appreciate and are good at humor, how would you rank and/or compare Japan's TV comedy with America's?

I’ll admit I’m a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to Japanese comedy. New years is very famous for an all day extravaganza – people I know love it – I just can’t get into it. What is on basic TV I am not much of a fan of. I’ll say this though, I can watch Naomi Watanabe shake it any which way and enjoy myself (in a humor sense) and I like watching “Terrace House” for the comedy.” Unscripted – those commentators (comedians here in japan) are pretty good.

I think in the states there is a lot of garbage as well, but it’s much easier for me to navigate since I know what I’m looking for. I like sophisticated humor, which of course Japan has, but Japanese is difficult for me, so it goes over my head. The Wes Anderson’s of the world will always have a special place in my heart.

Check out @musingltd 's latest post here:

https://steemit.com/photography/@musingsltd/50-days-of-grey-part-i-day-4-hazelnut-coffee-and-a-dirty-life

Thank you very much to @musingltd for agreeing to this interview. Please head over to his page, give him a follow, upvote and re-steem!

See you next Saturday!