Gregory pointed me at the link to a translated manga Bleach.

I read the first three volumes licketysplit last night. It definitely feels like a Shonen Jump comic. Perfect for little boys to read. I enjoyed it very much.

It was weird reading it translated into English. It came across as being more juvenile than I think it may have if I were reading it in Japanese. I’m not really sure. Reading it translated also helped me realize that dialogue is pretty sparse and what an impact the illustrations have on if I like a series or not.

I was very impressed with the quality of the way the translation was applied to the pages of the comic. I don’t know how good the translation is, but the writing flowed well.

I have an issue with subtitles in videos as well. They are great for getting meaning out of the dialogue but my eyes keep flicking towards them whether I want to read them or not.

I always fight with myself whether to get the Japanese DVDs for a video right away which is expensive but immediate, or wait for it to come out to the U.S. which would include subtitles and maybe extras, and best off all, much cheaper.

The times I have waited, my interest has petered out to the point that I don’t usually pick up a U.S. version unless I had missed hearing/watching it during its Japanese release, or until after all the volumes come out and I can get it for a discount or I happen upon it at some store as an impulse buy. Guess I’m more the type that better strikes while the iron is hot.

Following in the footsteps of the commentary on Fellowship of the Ring from a few weeks ago, McSweeney’s now gives us an Unused Audio Commentary By Dinesh D’Souza and Ann Coulter, Recorded Spring 2003, For Aliens Special Red-State Edition DVD, Part One. Truly amazing.

ANN COULTER: I agree. I think it’s basically endemic of the hegemonic leftist control of all forms of media expression — burying conservative subtexts beneath a lot of lefty cuddling. Now, as the titles come up, perhaps we should talk a little bit about the first Alien movie. I see that film as evidencing the insidious effects of a creeping, dangerous worldview slowly infecting a small group of people, and then one by one destroying them. Not unlike, say, liberalism.

D’SOUZA: I see your point there, and I don’t disagree. I think there’s an interesting thing going on in Alien . I like to think of these movies as reflections of the presidents who were in office when they came out. As I’m sure you remember, Alien provides an impotent response to an unknown threat — that threat being, of course, the alien. A single alien, with the help of a quisling android, murders an entire crew.

COULTER: With the exception of Ripley, let’s remember. She’s independent, strong, and tall.

D’SOUZA: Extremely tall.

COULTER: A very Phyllis Schlafly-like figure. [McSweeney’s]

I’ve posted on this subject before, but every once in a while something happens to make me think about it again. This time it was Tim Bray’s recent post on Spirited Away got me thinking a bit about anime and how it is perceived here in the United States. I know a lot of people who have rented the movie and been very impressed by it. In many cases I’ve heard things like “I’ve never really ‘got’ anime, but I saw Spirited Away and it was breathtaking.” As someone who has become more of a fan of anime in the past few years it’s cool watching this happen. I’m glad that people are getting to see the other sides of anime (the side that isn’t all Pokemon and Dragonball Z). And I’m hoping that it means good things for the anime import industry in America. And for those who are looking for some of the same magic that’s in Spirited Away, two other of Miyazaki’s movies have been released recently on DVD: Castle in the Sky (aka Laputa) and Kiki’s Delivery Service. While the first isn’t one of my favorites of Miyazaki’s, it’s quite a good movie. The second is the first movie by him I saw. It’s the story of a young girl who is a witch. And she must spend a year on her own as part of becoming a witch. It’s a wonderful little story that I’ve been able to watch many many times (and that I love recommending to people).

Mark Twain: “When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” [Quotes of the Day]

I just got an email with the latest announcements from TechTV. They’ve got some cool shows lined up for the coming months. Starting on June 24th they’ve got The SoulTaker, then on July 16th, they’ve got GateKeepers 21, and July 28th they’ve got Boogiepop Phantom. Not bad, they’re definitely showing some cool stuff. I haven’t seen SoulTaker, but I’ve seen the other two and they’re both quite good.

Thanks as usual to Free Will Astrology:

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

In 1991, hikers in the Italian Alps discovered the largely intact body of a man who died 5,000 years ago. He’d been preserved in a glacier that had recently begun to melt. Since then, many women have asked to be given some of the iceman’s frozen sperm so that they might become pregnant by him. (The director of the museum where his body is kept has so far turned down all requests.) While I don’t recommend that you become one more seeker of this prehistoric insemination, Scorpio, I do suggest you pursue a metaphorically analogous quest in the coming weeks: Try to fertilize yourself through an intimate encounter with the past.

Uh. Okay.

A neat site with other people’s stories.

other people’s stories
>>  “These stories have been overheard and misheard, told and re-told and sometimes refined over time.”  [Coolstop Daily Pick 5/28/03 via pixelsurgeon< stereot] [jenett.radio]

Some of these are really great, and quite well told. I’m slowly working my way through them.

Apple released an update to iTunes 4 last night. The biggest (and most annoying) news is that they limited the playlist sharing to the local subnet. This doesn’t surprise me in the least. I wish there was some way to handle sharing out to one or two remote systems though. Either through a password or something. I’d love to have access to my music wherever I am on the net. Though, I guess I can use my iPod for that.

Now for The Good. Applescript programs are now able to get access to the currently playing song if it is being played from a remote machine. In the past iTunes just wouldn’t report it at all. This is one of the big features I’d been looking for. So, now I think you’ll see what I’m listening to over on the left column more often.

P. J. O’Rourke: “A hat should be taken off when you greet a lady and left off for the rest of your life. Nothing looks more stupid than a hat.” [Quotes of the Day]

We’ve had way too many days without sunshine, and so I think it’s time to party some to relieve the blues. So come on out tonight and have some drinks and dance away the cloudy blues.

Changmian and Dubcoast present

*~The Analog Lounge~*

The relaxed side of things. Join us every Wednesday for a mix of
music styles in the lounge at Vertigo, with lots of mellow mixed in.
This week we bring some more Boston’s up and coming talent:

Chris VanWart [Boston, MA]

The Analog Lounge with resident dj’s
Gregory Blake (Changmian) Boston
Special Pete (dubcoast music) CA
Peter Ellis (ttb) Boston
Pete Yagmin (Changmian) Boston

Wednesdays
@ Vertigo (upstairs)
126 State St. Boston, MA
617-723-7277
10pm – 2am
21+ with ID
$5 cover (gets you into both the Lounge and Anitya)
No dress code
www.changmian.com
www.dubcoast.com
www.vertigoboston.com
www.mapquest.com (directions)

Upcoming Guests:
6/4 – Residents Night
6/11 – Paul Dailey [Boston, MA]
6/18 – Brynmore
6/25 – Qi

To view our calendar online (with support for you iCal and Mozilla
calendar folk):
http://ical.mac.com/gblake99/The32Analog32Lounge

This week at Anitya: VADIM (SubtleChaos) NYC

Are you a DJ in the Boston area? Are you interested in playing out some Wednesday night? If so, drop me a line at lounge@ezoons.com.