(As seen on Kotaku, via MaximumPC)

“Wild Pikachu appeared!
Go Metapod!
Metapod used Harden!
Enemy Pikachu used Flash!
Metapod used String Shot!”

(Comment by Kotaku User: DJC89, 29 July 2009)

As a self-confessed Pokémon fan, I could not resist sharing the above photograph with all of you.

I may not be into costume role-playing (cosplay) but if Miss Pikachu is anything to go by, or her friends for that matter, I may very well have to re-evaluate my stance on the subject… *loses focus and drools slightly onto the keyboard*

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For those who do not know; Cosplay, short for "costume role-play", is a type of performance art whereby participants outfit themselves with an elaborate costume of some kind, which is often adorned with theme specific accessories, that represents a specific character, idea or theme.

Cosplay participants ("cosplayers") form a subculture centered around wearing their costumes and re-enacting scenes or inventing likely behaviour inspired by their chosen sources. In some circles, the term cosplay has been broadened to include simply wearing a costume, without special consideration given to enacting characters in a performance context.

(Wikipedia, 2009)

So you see, having nerdish tendencies is not all bad. Admittedly a little strange, but not as bad as the stereotype would have you believe.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

Have you heard the news? In a recent discovery made by a Japanese journalist,a secret lab was found that has begun genetically engineering animals to resemble the cute critters of the world renowned Pokémon brand. Apparently they wanted to create a Pokémon Zoo to help increase Japan’s dwindling tourist economy. CNN.com had the following to report:

"In a startling discovery, made by the infamous Japanese reporter Ms. Yoshiko Sakurai, the evidence of an advanced experimental gene splicing and cloning facility was found in Saijo within the Chugoku Sanchi district of Hiroshima. The facility was said to be experimenting with animal DNA, through a new genetic process that incorporates the peptide bonding of nucleic acids; and the dismantling of RNA chains through the use of a revolutionary restriction endonuclease called Moniseraze. Through this new process, the Japanese scientists were able to splice genes from different animals to create new biological organisms. Although this is a tremendous breakthrough for modern medicine, it is in direct violation of the Genetics Act of 2001. The organisms created offer striking resemblances to that of the famous Japanese Pocket Monster concept, Pokémon".

I hope you all enjoyed that piece of well written and semi-believable balderdash… LOL ! I’m sure most of you figured out that it was a false news story that I made up. If not… then I hope you have/had a good laugh at it !

So, do any of you Milieu Pals out there like Pokémon? For those who know me quite well, you’ll know that I’m really into collecting Pokémon cards, among other kinds of card collections. I have been a Pokémon fan for… gees… its been so long that I can’t even remember when it started in South Africa . Regardless I really enjoy playing the card game and the suspense of not knowing what cards you will be receiving when you buy a new ‘booster’ pack of cards.

Some of you, who are reading this, are probably thinking the following… "Pokémon, did he say Pokémon… HA HA HA HA"; "That’s for kids man, you’re twenty already"; and so on and so forth. I have only the following to say to those with such a narrow minded perception of individualism: when I started collecting the first series of Pokémon cards I was fortunate enough to obtain 2 Charizard Holographic cards. Both of those cards (in near mint condition) now have a collectors retail value of $160 dollars each, which equates to R1 040 (at time of currency conversion) and that’s only for a single card. My collection is now regarded as an investment, not just a child’s game .

Okay, the point of this entry was to actually discuss something that I found with regards to Pokémon. I can’t remember how I stumbled onto the site; I think it was from clicking on a link in the TeamXbox.com forums. Basically I was redirected to a site, called Worth1000.com, and onto a page for a Photoshop competition revolving around Pokémon. The aim was to create Life Like Pokémon.

I was amazed at what I had seen! Some of the people who submitted entries are really talented. So, I’ve decided to share the photographs with all of you. You may find the photographs of the ‘Real Pokémon’, with their names, in the album entitled: Breaking News: Pokémon Exist! For the website I got the photographs from, please click here.

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I should actually be studying now… considering the fact that I have two theory intensive exams for next week Wednesday; Psychology: Organisational Behaviour and Integrated Marketing Communications.

Wish me luck!

*Update* – I found this fan made video on Youtube which has even more pictures of ‘real’ Pokémon.