Odds and ends

I noticed recently that Funimation is now streaming a couple of essential anime series, Serial Experiments Lain and Haibane Renmei. The latter will finally be available again on DVD next month, and for a very good price, but as far as I know, there are no plans to reissue Lain.

Update: As Mikeski mentions in his comment, Lain will be available again in November, possibly in much higher quality than the original release.

*****

Quotes of the week:

… I do wish the media would stop calling Leonardo da Vinci just “da Vinci.” It’s like calling St. Francis just “Assisi” or me just “New Jersey.”

Pro tip: when framing your opponents as intolerant hate-filled bigots, try not to showcase your own hatred, intolerance, and bigotry.

*****

Hollywood is the wrong place to look for heroes worth emulating. Try anime, instead. Seirei no Moribito is a good place to start.

*****

Jack Vance’s novel The Chasch is free for the downloading during August. (Via Aliens in This World.)