Very Good News
Not 'Great News' mind you. Certainly not the great news that we were all waiting for. However, there is news and it is, indeed, very very good; good enough to indicate that the great news all of us so long for is forthcoming!
All that money that companies are spending to develop self-driving trucks so they can do away with truckers may not actually be worth it. (Via Isegoria)
The last post at Declination and today's post at Z-Blog both deal with the thorny problem of our current crisis in trust, and difficulty in finding truth when the gatekeepers of Palo Alto are so powerful. Give them both a read.
After a period of self-reflection, I am relieved to discover that I was not the only person recommended a tactical cat harness.
Over at Zoopraxiscope, Don has found the quote of the year.
If you ever wondered what you would have done in 1930s Germany, you’re doing it right now.
In Lieu of Content
I'm going out of town for a few days to see the folks. Internet access will be diffident at best, so here are a collection of random video links.
Thus we have met our federally mandated requirements for educational content.
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I recognize that last video because it was the last thing Tom Tjarks (Sanity Check) posted on his blog... in 2016!
(I make heavy use of "open all in tabs", and for the longest time I didn't want to take things out of the mee.nu folder.)
Posted by: Mauser at Thu Jan 6 00:16:11 2022 (Ix1l6)
The Levels of Quislingry are Being Exaggerated
One of the things that has been reported in the news is how the people of Australia have just followed the recently reinstated COVID restrictions without protest (save a few outliers) and enthusiastically begun snitching on any compatriots who diverge from the government mandates.
I decided to ask one of the Brickmuppet's Crack Team of On the Ground Sources in Australia about this and after gaining confirmation that opposition to the policy is quite broad was given the following reply from the utterly mysterious BCTOOTGSIA#000001......
The current protests are mostly construction workers that the state government abruptly put out of work.
Since it's a Labor government with close ties to the unions, they are desperately spinning it as anything other than jobless union members.
BCTOOTGSIA#000001 also recommended checking out two Twitter channels which have documentary footage of the large protests and the government response.
Melbourne has imposed draconian restrictions (which has been reported) and has undergone massive civil disobedience (which is not being widely noted, at least here in the U.S.). I should note that the results of the 15 days to flatten the curve have, in Melbourne been 235 days locked down and the highest daily case rate yet.
The main reason I post this is because the reporting from Australia has been largely unanimous in saying that Aussies are taking this lying down or even enthusiastically. That does not seem to be the case and it does a disservice to the Australians and only serves to demoralize the rest of us.
A special thanks to our totally anonymous man on the spot who is enduring deadly spiders, boxing kangaroos, IT woes, and a shortage of chicken nuggets while trying to survive in a cyberpunk dystopia.
In completely unrelated news you should check out Ambient Irony daily.
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While Victoria is still going full Health Nazi, New South Wales plans to phase out almost all restrictions by December 1. No vaccine mandates, no vaccine passports, no checkins or contact tracing. Masks still expected to be required on public transport though, so I won't be doing that.
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"Masks still expected to be required on public transport though, so I won't be doing that."
You monster, gratuitously contributing to glueball wormening!
Posted by: Rick C at Mon Sep 27 09:26:35 2021 (Z0GF0)
Dispatch From the Department of Duck Data
I have not been able to contact Wonderduck by phone for
several days, but he did reply to a text and indicated that he had made much progress in therapy and can now do bendy and move-y things he could not do before. However, the rehab facility will not release him until he clears one final hurdle.
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Thanks for the update.
I think he should be fine. I knew several people who were done to death by the hospital environment, but the only thing that can do him in while in rehab is a real infection (more real than Wuhan Corona).
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Wed Jun 16 16:03:15 2021 (LZ7Bg)
After several attempts, I finally was able to reach Wonderduck today. He is having issues interfacing with his blog via his phone, but is still alive. He is still in the re-hab center but is making progress. He's now tackling that transition between sitting and standing without using the hands. Those of us who have been in re-hab know what an unpleasant surprise the existence of that hurdle is, but it's among the last.
His spirits are good and the prognosis is encouraging.
For those of you who support artists via patronage services, Pixiv Fanbox, (which is Pixiv's rough equivalent ofPatreon and SubscribeStar) is moving from pixiv.net/fanbox/ to Fanbox.cc. The creator's individual sites will also change url's for some reason.
Back in November, Pixiv forked off their microblogging site Pawoo. This might lead to some speculation that dreadfulness is afoot, but Pixiv is saying that this is to facilitate marketing for the artists by simplifying the URLs and making them more artist centric. Anyone who has tried to use the Deviant Art shop might find this argument compelling.
However, the artists are responsible for submitting their own URLs by the end of April so I predict some confusion.
Anyway, shorter version:
In about a month some people who follow artists on Pixiv Fanbox are going to have to update their bookmarks to new urls, which are yet to be determined.
CopyPasta of the message to users is below the fold, and the surprisingly good Giggle Translate of said missive is below that.
...(Aythya americana) is a diving duck that is native to the United States and Canada, it is most commonly found in or near reservoirs, lakes, playa wetlands, freshwater river deltas, coastal marshes, estuaries, bays, and (in northern Illinois), small apartments. It is an omnivorous species, eating both plant (pondweeds, wild rice, wild celery, wigeon grass, doritos, bulrushes, muskgrass and shoal grass) and animal matter (in the form of gastropods, mollusks, insects, their larvae, pepperoni and other meats mostly from ruminants), occasionally they consume these simultaneously in the form of a Chicago Pizza. The redhead is 37 cm (15 in) long with an 84 cm (33 in) wingspan though their height can occasionally exceed six feet, in which case they tend to be non-migratory. One of these rarer examples of this branch of the Anatidae family spent several years supporting himself as a disc jockey and now graces us with tunes from around the world.
A Few Unconnected ObservationsLog Horizon, a low budget anime which was cancelled six years ago, had a dumb as rocks premise, diffident animation, and some of of the best characters, concepts and plots of the last decade. It has been renewed for a third season and will air in October. The first two seasons are still on Crunchyroll, so you've got 9 months to catch up.
Niche Gamer is crawling out of the hole they got themselves in after one of their founders was caught plaigerizing, rather spectacularly. Niche-Iban seems to be their remaining writers attempt to start fresh.
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"I can quit any time... as soon as I catch all the poké-waifu!"
-j
Posted by: J Greely at Mon Jan 27 09:56:44 2020 (ZlYZd)
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The thing I appreciate about Log Horizon is that the story was clearly planned out, but isn't drawn out. It doesn't leave open questions hanging around unanswered, but there are tiny details that you don't even realise were questions until the answers arrive ten, twenty, thirty episodes later. You see a character in the background of a scene for about two seconds, and don't realise half way through the next season that those two seconds encompassed his entire backstory.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at Mon Jan 27 10:05:16 2020 (PiXy!)
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Yeah, it's like reading the Claremont run on X-Men. Part of the reason the pacing is so good is that when one story is winding up, one or two others have already started.
Based on absolutely nothing, I wonder if the so-so animation is because the show didn't get a lot of attention and the associated executive meddling...thereby contributing to a show that flows much more organically than one constantly second-guessed by focus groups and marketing.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Mon Jan 27 16:13:15 2020 (5iiQK)
Posted by: Rick C at Mon Jan 27 16:39:57 2020 (Iwkd4)
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Ah, but since they're not in the game yet, I can't quit yet! Hopefully in the DLC they add the ability to catch Marnies and Nessas (I hear Melony already gigantimaxes...).
(actually, what I think they really need to do is add more NPC trainers to the Wild Area with a variety of leveled-up stables, so you have more to do there; also more age-inappropriate clothing choices for Gloria)
-j
Posted by: J Greely at Mon Jan 27 17:12:30 2020 (ZlYZd)
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Log Horizon does benefit from being both better written than a lot of the other dreck like that Other Big Name 'Trapped in a MMORPG' dumpster fire, and having an author that seems to have done a fair amount of research - which is something that Other Big Name 'Trapped in a MMORPG' seems completely divorced from. A person I know who is big into MMORPG said that Log Horizon is probably the closest depiction of how a MMORPG works in anime.
Posted by: cxt217 at Mon Jan 27 19:31:23 2020 (LMsTt)
Unintended ConsequencesThat Star Wars Girl does media reviews and has been a fairly pleasant channel. The blog linked to her earlier with regards to tragic circumstances and its only fair that we do so regarding hilariously cringy ones.
First off, Anna is really enthusiastic and talks at about 240 beats a minute which is generally amusing. What she really doesn't do is cuss....until recently. A short time ago she did a video on Star Wars TROS that was...colorful, in its language. It managed to use the "F" word at what someone worked out to approximately 5 times per minute. Alright...It was, reportedly, a very bad movie and she's passionate about Star Wars and has had a very bad year. I've seen the rant in question described as a meltdown and I did not get all the way through it because it was not up to her usual standards and, well, no harm no foul.
Fast forward to today, I started getting recommendations from YouTube for videos describing her as a sociopath. The basis for this dubious psychoanalysis is apparently that sincethe aforementioned Star Wars video she's been cussing up a storm. It's like the movie gave her a stroke and she developed Tourette's Syndrome. Today, I clicked on her latest video and it has the word "Mansplaining" in the title, which in this fraught age is a warning sign...and quite not in keeping with Anna's image or professed outlook on political correctness. So I clicked on the link and learned a few things. 1: In a pinned comment she explains that she's using the term "Mansplaining" in a different way than it is used by the perniciously woke. 2:Due to childhhood surgery to correct a congenital defect, Anna has an inconspicuous third nostril that allows her to breathe while talking...which explains soooo much about her speech style. 3: She's cussing because of COPPA to be as non-kid-friendly as possible. Because YOUTUBE's handling of COPPA drives nice girls to cuss.
For some reason I found this whole thing both sad and amusing
And Now, For A Truly Earth-Shaking Development
Don, he of the Zoological Practical Scooper has, after 7 years, finally been proven wrong about something.
Joshiraku — Nobody is ever likely to license this.
Now he notes this. Yes. Joshiraku has been licensed and is for sale.
He has thoughts on the show, several other shows, and the translations thereof, but you'll have to go there to see them.
The Rakugo girls have thoughts on the matter...
"Ha!"
Yes ladies. Mock the poor man's error, dance upon his failure, but know that in time your celebration will surely taste like ashes. You see, the takeaway from all this, is that today, November 21,2019, Lord Don of Shuffly, usually such a reliable gauge what gems might be found in the vast proof of Sturgeon's law that is the current anime industry, was wrong about something in a review of his.
No. Not Solomon Kane, That Other Guy
Mauser has been re-reading Conan, and has extensive thoughts.
The other image that comes to mind from those who have never read the originals is that as a barbarian, Conan is a simple brute. Again, not true. His Barbarian nature keeps his reasoning clear and unadorned with the gilding more civilized minds use to gloss over the cruder realities. Conan sees to the root of the matter, and cuts through the lies, sometimes literally...
Well, it's getting close to Halloween and there's been a cheesecake
deficit around here, so we'll kill two birds with one stone by posting a
SUCCUBUS!
Satou Sensei is drawn by Oda-Non, and is completely non-representative of his body of work which is quite NSFW and can be purchased here. He can also be supported on Pixiv Fanbox.
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Fri Oct 25 11:55:02 2019 (LZ7Bg)
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It just occurred to me that Shamiko is technically a succubus too, if not occupationally. Her ability to manipulate dreams is established. She made Momo desire Cola. Later, Momo expresses a concern
that Shamiko may brainwash a billionaire. She can't fly, but neither does Sakie-chan.
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Sun Oct 27 19:49:27 2019 (LZ7Bg)
UPDATE 9/8: This was posted in the comments thread linked above..
Two of us went to the hospital last night, and I’m afraid the results
are inconclusive. He was sedated, and no family members were there, so
we couldn’t get information about his status. He was lying there in a
neck brace. I think he will not be posting for a while.
I will try to find out more, over the next few days.
This is not looking good.
I'll post any info on crowdfunding or such as I get it.
Hobby Space News of the commercial space industry A Babe In The Universe Rather Eclectic Cosmology Encyclopedia Astronautica Superb spacecraft resource The Unwanted Blog Scott Lowther blogs about forgotten aerospace projects and sells amazingly informative articles on the same. Also, there are cats. Transterrestrial Musings Commentary on Infinity...and beyond! Colony WorldsSpace colonization news! The Alternate Energy Blog It's a blog about alternate energy (DUH!) Next Big Future Brian Wang: Tracking our progress to the FUTURE. Nuclear Green Charles Barton, who seems to be either a cool curmudgeon, or a rational hippy, talks about energy policy and the terrible environmental consequences of not going nuclear Energy From Thorium Focuses on the merits of thorium cycle nuclear reactors WizBang Current events commentary...with a wiz and a bang The Gates of Vienna Tenaciously studying a very old war The Anchoress insightful blogging, presumably from the catacombs Murdoc Online"Howling Mad Murdoc" has a millblog...golly! EaglespeakMaritime security matters Commander Salamander Fullbore blackshoe blogging! Belmont Club Richard Fernandez blogs on current events BaldilocksUnderstated and interesting blog on current events The Dissident Frogman French bi-lingual current events blog The "Moderate" VoiceI don't think that word means what they think it does....but this lefty blog is a worthy read nonetheless. Meryl Yourish News, Jews and Meryls' Views Classical Values Eric Scheie blogs about the culture war and its incompatibility with our republic. Jerry Pournell: Chaos ManorOne of Science fictions greats blogs on futurism, current events, technology and wisdom A Distant Soil The website of Colleen Dorans' superb fantasy comic, includes a blog focused on the comic industry, creator issues and human rights. John C. Wright The Sci-Fi/ Fantasy writer muses on a wide range of topics. Now Read This! The founder of the UK Comics Creators Guild blogs on comics past and present. The Rambling Rebuilder Charity, relief work, roleplaying games Rats NestThe Art and rantings of Vince Riley Gorilla Daze Allan Harvey, UK based cartoonist and comics historian has a comicophillic blog! Pulpjunkie Tim Driscoll reviews old movies, silents and talkies, classics and clunkers. Suburban Banshee Just like a suburban Leprechaun....but taller, more dangerous and a certified genius. Satharn's Musings Through TimeThe Crazy Catlady of The Barony of Tir Ysgithr アニ・ノート(Ani-Nouto) Thoughtful, curmudgeonly, otakuism that pulls no punches and suffers no fools. Chizumatic Stephen Den Beste analyzes anime...with a microscope, a slide rule and a tricorder. Wonderduck Anime, Formula One Racing, Sad Girls in Snow...Duck Triumphalism Beta Waffle What will likely be the most thoroughly tested waffle evah! Zoopraxiscope Too In this thrilling sequel to Zoopraxiscope, Don, Middle American Man of Mystery, keeps tabs on anime, orchids, and absurdities. Mahou Meido MeganekkoUbu blogs on Anime, computer games and other non-vital interests Twentysided More geekery than you can shake a stick at Shoplifting in the Marketplace of Ideas Sounds like Plaigarism...but isn't Ambient IronyAll Meenuvians Praise the lathe of the maker! Hail Pixy!!