Pilot's Log

#2) Binge-Read A Webcomic.

In my case, it was Star Blazers: The Bolar Wars Extended.

If that's a scale model I have serious scale model skillz envy.

Kaoru Shintani, the creator of the mangas Area 88, Cleopatra DC, Sonic Deserter, Alice 12, Desert Rose, Hidari no O'Clock, Futari Taka, Phantom Burai, Christie Hightension and others--and model for the character Yattaran in Leiji Matsumoto's Captain Harlock, turns 60 on Tuesday.

The shopping-without-buying-anything habit of mine only goes so far.

I was in Knoxville overday, checking on the availability of knockoff anime toys at an independent discounter. There were people in the toy aisle already when I showed up, so I went to the books aisle--and found something that I would never have expected! An obscenely-cheap copy of Tim Eldred's masterful graphic novel Grease Monkey!

I knew I would fall in love if I saw it, and I did, and I bought it. If the store had a stack of them I would have gotten copies for all my friends--but they didn't so I can't. Sorry.

* Bro visited early and we all had breakfast together. He's working three jobs, two with the Asheville city parks service (maintenance of the sports facilities and umping/reffing sporting events) and selling phones at a U.S.Cellular branch. His finances are still very dicey and I don't know what we can do for him if I don't get the job he arranged for me.

* Went to the Job Fair in Knoxville and only left my resume with the News Sentinel paper. There were about 50 participating companies, but 10 were schools and a good number of the rest were things I can't do. Supermarkets. Fast food. Factory work. Telemarketing. Medicine.

* Sent a little gift to Ted Nomura (manga artist, creator of the Families of Altered Wars series). More about it once he receives it.

FP

I was coming out of K-Mart after aiding my brother's effort, and saw that one of the vending machines was loaded with robot figures.

I didn't get one but may go back for one. The problem with vending machine toys in the US is that it's nigh impossible to find out who makes them or from what intellectual property they come. In a previous issue, there were mecha from Macross, Xabungle, and Vifam:



(Shown several times magnified from actual size; Neofam here is 2 1/2" {60mm} tall not counting the antenna atop the head.)

But the current issue is more Battletech-ish, with blocky features and egg-crate missle launchers. I wonder if they're knockoffs from Mechwarrior Dark Age...or from some other game I don't recognize.

I'll find out soon enough.

FP

PS: Producers Are Money-Grubbing Scum.

Sempai Mike called last night. Among the things discussed was something he wanted: the Masamune Shirow Calendar for 2004. Anybody know where one can be found? Not that I really expect that somebody out there already has one, but perhaps in a comics or anime store somewhereish?

FP

One of two stories concerning Japan's Otaku, and
another, both presented on NPR today.

My mother and I talked at length about the underlying situation that leads to such lost generations. I said, "If you set your standards too strict, you only breed more misfits." That and "the only test that really counts is how well you get along with others." We both agreed that it is the one failing of No Child Left Behind...the concept enforces thinking within-the-box, when it was thinking-outside-the-box that made America a great invention culture for so long. We need to be better creative thinkers...and we need to be better citizens. No Child Left Behind doesn't address either issue.

I was one of the withdrawn, introverted types...and I guess I still am, with good reason. I've been a misfit pretty much all my life. Why should I go out all the time and try to impose myself on strangers? Why should I believe that there is somebody out there for me, when all the evidence I see is to the contrary?

But at least I have more slack here to work with than somebody in my same situation in Japan. They have a load more social baggage to carry. Americans don't have that problem because we're mutts. We're the people bred from those kicked out of everyplace else. America is at its best when we remember this and tolerate our differences, recognize that being diverse is a strength.

Did I mention that in Sci-Fi, I hate homogenized alien societies? I guess that's one thing that keeps me from being a Trekkie.

More to come.

FP

Hey.

I want to talk to my regular readers about someone I just reconnected with. Their LJ handle is theidolhands...( Read more... )

FP

Hey.

I joke about how little I actually impulse purchase. I do try to put as much thought into buying something...so tonight, with a full moon and the stars aligned--I bought something sight unseen.

Two packs from the new Space Cruiser Yamato Cosmo Fleet Collection series of random-packed ship model miniatures. Yes, exactly the same kind of product that I was talking about in the Area 88-related post a couple weeks ago. The ships are 3" long, prepainted but still needing a little assembly.

Well, I wanted the Yukikaze...and maybe the Yamato itself. I got the Yukikaze (YEAH!) and a Gamilon Destroyer, which I remember is one of my sensei's favorite sci-fi ships. So for once, my impulses serve me fine.

FP