Just a quick note to let you all know that reviews will be undergoing a significant slowdown for the forseeable future. I’ll do my best to keep ’em coming regularly, but if you don’t see me for a few days at a time, don’t worry. Work is taking up a lot more of my time than previously, and I have less time to read and watch, and to write reviews. I’ll try to get something in tonight, and then as often as I can manage.

Thanks for understanding!

I pretty much dropped the ball entirely in terms of promptly posting congratulations for the Millionth Visitor and 1000th post contests, simply because life got complicated. I apologize for that. However! I did not forget these fabulous people – their prizes have gone out and hopefully some have arrived and are being enjoyed even as I type. :-) (Kyle and Ariel, your prizes are going to go out shortly, with extra apologies for the delay.)

I’ve got a few seconds right now, so let me take a moment to congratulate all of our winners!

1000th Post Contest winners were: Kiarashi, Kyle, Yeo and Sheila!

There was no consensus on my best post. :-) It’s still up for grabs. lol

Millionth Visitor Contest winners: Michelle and Ariel, with a special thanks to Morina for sending a picture way back when Okazu turned 5 years old! Here are the winning pictures! (Click on the picture for the full size.)

Thanks Michelle for this fabulous picture! I always get a thrill when talented people send me art, because I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler. But especially so when it’s a couple this attractive. ^_^

I just love these punky girls by Ariel, don’t you? If one of them had those East Village uber-hip, thick-framed glasses, I think I might swoon. lol

Morina sent this to me back in August, when Okazu turned 5…only she left it to *me* to write something clever on it. Sorry morina, I never had a chance to do that. ^_^;

I hope everyone enjoys the pictures – I know I did. And my genuine appreciation for everyone who entered one of the contests!

It dawned on me yesterday that I’m about a month and half or so away from my 1000th post here, and probably about three days or so away from my 1 millionth visitor since I started using this stats package, so the last couple of years.

Even though it isn’t really, it seems kind of important; all those zeros, you know? And I want to do *something* to recognize these milestones. Plus I have a lot of fun crap sitting around the house that I can give away. So, I am announcing two contests for readers of Okazu.

The 1 Million Visitor Art Contest:

It’s sort of traditional on Japanese blogs to get “Thank for XXX number of hits” pictures, but I never even check my hits, since most people hit more than one page at a visit. So we’re going with “Thanks for 1 Million Visitors” here.

There’s no rule other than this – a pretty Yuri-themed picture with “Thanks for 1 Million Visitors” on it. The top 7 get posted here – one a day for a week – and prizes. Fair enough? I don’t care if it’s fan art or original, but I’ll probably be biased for original. :-) And nothing explicit. We’re going for “Yay, Yuri!” not “Hawt lesbo sexxors.” ;-)

Send entries to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com with the subject line “1 million.”
Include the following:

Your name
Contact info so I can get an address to mail you stuff if you win.

I’ll accept entries until… let’s say March 31.

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1000th Post Contest:

This one is even easier. Just vote for your favorite post here. That’s all you have to do to enter. I’ll draw names at random from all the entries for prizes. Winners get announced on my 1000th post. :-)

Send entries to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com with the subject line “Favorite Post.” I’ll accept entries until Post #990. I don’t know when that is yet, so don’t ask – I’ll announce it. (This is post #954, if that helps.)

Include the following:

Your name
Contact info so I can get an address to send you stuff if you are a winner
The URL of your favorite post here on Okazu
The Title of that Post
Why you like it best

If we get any kind of majority, I’ll name that the best post evar. LOL Otherwise, you all just be entered for prizes.

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If you have questions, use the comments field, but assume the simple and obvious. I’m not trying to make it hard – I have a loads of small silly fun stuff to give away. I look forward to your entries!