I've been trying so hard to find the right words, but maybe whatever I have to say is enough. JDF was far from perfect, but he was the best part of some of our childhoods. He exuded a charisma and energy like no other. Truly the most iconic power ranger. I had the pleasure of meeting him back in 2018 and he was just, so much fun. None of us from the outside looking in could've guessed what he was going through, and I can only wish that he knew how much he's missed right now. Wherever you are, rest in peace, Jason, and may the power protect you.
And, to anyone out there who's struggling and feeling hopeless, please remember that you have a space in so many hearts. You are loved and your absence will be palpable. Please reach out. If you're on the other side of the fence and see someone else struggling, please reach out to them.
In front of the Journalists' Syndicate, Cairo, Egypt, on 15th January 2024.
The crowd chants:
مصر مشاركة في الحصار
معبر بيننا و بين اهالينا
الصهيوني متحكم فينا
طول ما الدم العربي رخيص
يسقط يسقط اي رئيس
عملوها احفاد مانديلا
و احنا ��خوف و فعار و مزلة
عايزين المعبر مفتوح
Translation:
Egypt participates in this siege!
A crossing between us and our people!
Controlled by Zionists!
As long as Arab blood is seen as cheap,
Any and every president must fall!
Mandela's grandchildren have done it,
While we are seized by fear, shame, and humiliation!
We demand Rafah Crossing open!
Chiho Saito's Illustration Collection artbook is the highest-quality visual media in the Utenaverse. Oversized, single-sided, heavy pages with extremely high quality printing. It is the first artbook I ever scanned.
In 2001, the average screen resolution was 800x600, and I delivered a 1250px wide collection that for a while, took $60 A MONTH to host, because no normal website was hosting images of this ludicrous size. It took my scanner almost an hour to capture a third of each page. I spent months piecing the scans together in Photoshop. It was one of my first true Utena labors of love, and the result is that for decades, these copies have been the definitive copies of Chiho Saito's artwork on the internet. For a very long time, even kinda now, if you see these images, they're probably my scans.
But decades have passed, and I've never been happy with these results, because they couldn't capture the fine details, the paint spills, the sketch beneath poking out, the brilliant use of gradients of dark color to pop the image but drive me insane. What I am finishing up now is a true, archival copy of the artbook. One that delivers such high resolution, that these can print posters larger than the originals, and thanks to some truly brilliant descreening tech, (Thank you Sattva) I've been able to dig up fine details in the work that the printing obscured, but undeniably included.
It's been over 20 years, and it shows. 1250px? Nah, my archive copies are 15,000px wide. I can't wait to finish this and share it with the world. <3
"We met next day as he had arranged, and inspected the rooms at No. 221B, Baker Street, of which he had spoken at our meeting. They consisted of a couple of comfortable bed-rooms and a single large airy sitting-room, cheerfully furnished, and illuminated by two broad windows."