I posted about Audioscrobbler ages ago. It is a service that tracks what music you play on your computer so that you can see what artists/songs you listen to the most. It also tries to recommend music to you based on what your profile (here’s mine). An added bonus is getting to listen to a radio station based on other users with similar profiles, or one with your profile at last.fm.
So, I’ve added a link to listen to my radio on the left that looks like this: 
. So give a listen and enjoy.
Sequential Tart has a nice article with pointers to various retellings of fairy tales. I was happy to see it included one of my favorites, which is Sheri S. Tepper’s Beauty. And now I’ve got a few more books to add to my book list.
I’m just a bit over halfway through the season season of this show and I’m still really enjoying it. This episode was a stand-alone episode that focused more on character development and history. In this one we find out how the sniper (whose name I’m spacing on at the moment) first met the Major. It’s an interesting little story that is supposedly true, though since it is told through the eyes of the sniper there is definitely room for some interpretation.
Of course, now this makes me want to blow off sleep and go watch the second disk of Stand Alone Complex in DTS.
The other week i wrote complaining about the iTunes Music Store. After going back and forth with support a few times I finally got a nice note from their technical support team saying to check back in a few weeks while they fixed the tracks I wanted. I just went and checked the store to see if they were still listed and Lard – Last Temptation of Reid isn’t even listed anymore. Also, they’ve removed the short version of Original Sin from INXS – The Swing.
Good job so far. Now we’ll wait and see if that Lard album ever comes back.
Vladimir Nabokov
“My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music.” [via Quotes of the Day]
SFGATE.com has a nice article about some of the history of Ghost in the Shell in its various forms. Definitely an interesting read that seems to be fairly accurate.
Masamune Shirow, author of the original “GitS” manga, is one of the most popular — and most enigmatic — names in the manga industry; the creator of such best-selling series as “Appleseed” and “Dominion: Tank Police,” he is famous for having a love of technology that borders on fetishism, and also for being so intensely private that he does not employ assistants (he letters and shades all of his artwork personally), refuses to be photographed or to appear in public and won’t even reveal his real name: the one he goes by is a pseudonym some have suggested is inspired by the famous 13th-century swordsmith Masamune, or perhaps by the Kiku Masamune sake brewery, located in the artist’s hometown of Kobe. (Typically, Shirow himself refuses to say.) [SFGATE.com]
Reason #5 Katamary Damacy rocks: You can roll up cows. They Moo. Reason #4 is the music for the game.
If you haven’t seen this game, check out this clip of the gameplay.
Lately, whenever I find myself humming Magical Trevor (which is way too often as it is) I find myself inserting Clow for every occurrence of cow. Though I really want to figure out some alternate lyrics for what he saw in the parallel dimension.
Honey Flash! I’ve got to say I’m really enjoying this OVA. It’s silly, over the top, has tons of fanservice (oh my the fanservice!), and just plain fun. I’ve seen a bit of Cutie Honey before, but this is a new take on it. I believe it is at least someone influenced by the recent movie (which I really hope someone brings over here since I still haven’t seen it).
The second gives us lots more action, with some pretty kickass fight scenes. As well as a little character development thrown in for taste. Oh yes, and did I mention the fan service? Honey-chan and Nat-chan fan service even! Overall a fun ride and I can’t wait for the last episode (btw, can someone license this once I’ve seen it? I want this one on DVD too).
I was just looking at Amazon.com and noticed they had a little ad up for the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2. I loved the first collection, it was a great start to them releasing many old old cartoons that I hadn’t seen in their entirely in ages. This one looks to continue the trend with a lot of early material. And even better, it comes out on my birthday next month (November 2nd)! I’ve added it to my wish list, anyone wanna pick it up for me?
