Category: Humor and horror
Miscellany
Some odds and ends while I download Moyashimon:
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I’m not a fan of Star Wars, but this was uncalled for. (Caution: causes severe ear pain. Blame the LLamas for this one.)
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Here’s an alternate history story: if MGM had said “yes” to Bob Clampett in 1936, would the Japanese now be fansubbing American animation? (Via Aliens in This World.)
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I may be wrong, but as I understand it, the “sei” in “seifuku” is short for “sailor.” I.e., its distinguishing characteristic is the sailor collar. Consequently, I think only one of the outfits in this poll qualifies as a proper seifuku. (Update: I was wrong — see Andrew F.’s comment. Never mind.)
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I’ve added Yumedamaya Kidan to my to-investigate list.
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The next self-help bestseller: Aerophobics: The Easy Six* Step program to end your exercise addiction. It could be helpful in maintaing a proper otaku lifestyle.
*”’cause let’s face it, twelve steps is WAAAAAAY too many.” —SR
Without giraffes
Fred‘s current exercise is writing the openings to SF stories. The first one is here. They get worse, or better, depending on how you reckon such things.
On a very different note, here’a a haiku, courtesy of dylan, who recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of his weblog’s inception.
Resistance is futile
It’s like having to go through rehab without having a drinking problem.
(I’d explain why I’m quoting TSO today, but who knows who might read this.)
Tuesday morning miscellany
One of the pleasures of Dai Mahou Touge is watching Punie and Paya-tan, her mascot, instantly transform from cutesy and playful to utterly ruthless, and back again. Paya changes seiyuus when he makes the transition. I thought Dark Paya sounded familiar, and I was right; he is voiced by Jouji Nakata, who is Giroro in Keroro Gunsou.
I’m surprised at how little attention DMT has received, despite its being one of the better examples of animated black humor. Once again, if Steven hadn’t spotted it, I’d have missed it. Why has this been ignored, while Dokuro-chan, which you couldn’t pay me to watch, has been endlessly discussed and now has a sequel?
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Not anime, but geeky: U.N. Secretary General or Star Wars character?
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Also not anime but still geeky: A new idea for a first-person shooter.
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And finally, a word from Shunpei:
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Bonus link: Put down the duckie. (Via the LLamas.)
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Update: Congratulations to Avatar.
In April one seldom feels cheerful
An inevitable development
Truly viscous
The DM of the Rings reached its not-exactly-epic conclusion today. Shamus is now at work on another comic, Chainmail Bikini. Enjoy it now before the DRM kicks in.
Classical CD covers you can’t forget …
… no matter how you try. Click and regret.
(Blame Frëd for this one.)
Character Death Bingo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the condensed version:
CHAPTER TWO: DURSLEYS’ HOUSE
HARRY does some room-cleanin’, some bleedin’, and some reminiscin’. He picks up the newspaper and gets a nasty shock.
RITA SKEETER: (in the interview) I’ve just completed a 900-page book on Dumbledore!
READERS: 900 pages? Jeez. She must have the same editors as Rowling.
By the same author: The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
Update: another condensed version.
LOL VINCIT OMNIA
Robot folk music
Protect your ID
Spy style. Shamus tells you how.
Length, width, height …
Brined Opossum with a Turnip-Infused Gravy, and other lunchtime treats
Toward more picturesque speech
From Thog’s Masterclass:
`Big boogers of uncertainty were beginning to form.’ (Vernor Vinge, Rainbows End, 2006)
Also from Ansible:
Martin Morse Wooster was deeply thrilled by junk mail from `a company called Hawthorne Village, which has the Official Lord of the Rings Express Diesel Locomotive. This heirloom quality train — richly adorned with scenes and characters from the movie trilogy including Elven text and a working headlight on the diesel locomotive — will have you reliving this epic saga every time the train journeys around the tracks. You know, when I mentally visit the rugged, primeval landscape of Middle Earth, I think to myself, “You know, these trees and rocks are OK. But WHERE are the toy trains?”‘