Encounters of Life
Dec. 17th, 2009
12:03 pm - We could fax applejuice to each other
The audio is NSFW, but the video is STNG.![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
godzillamom sent this to us, AND it's been on Attack of the Show already. How did N. and I become such squares?
Dec. 16th, 2009
05:52 pm - Best and Worst Manga of the Year
Over at popcultureshock we've done our year's best list.
Here's a short version of my list, you can read my comments at the above link.
Best New Series: Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, by Naoki Urasawa, Viz
Honorable Mention: Oishinbo, by Tetsu Kariya and Akira Hanasaki, Viz; Little Fluffy Gigolo Pelu, by Junko Mizuno, Last Gasp; Moyasimon, by Ishikawa Masayuki, Del Rey; 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa, Viz; Detroit Metal City by Kiminori Wakasugi, Viz
Best Oneshot/Anthology: A tie! Between:
A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Drawn and Quarterly
Gogo Monster, by by Taiyo Matsumoto, Viz
Best Manga for Kids: Happy Happy Clover, by Sayuri Tatsuyama, Viz
Best Continuing Series: Black Jack, by Osamu Tezuka, Vertical
Honorable Mention: Black Lagoon, by Rei Hiroe, Viz; Kitchen Princess by Natsumi Ando and Miyuki Kobayashi, Del Rey; Hikaru No Go, Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata, Viz.
Best Yaoi: Ôoku: The Inner Chambers, by Fumi Yoshinaga, Viz
Best Re-release: Yotsuba&, by Kiyohiko Azuma, Yen Press
Honorable Mention: Aria, by Kozue Amano, Tokyopop
Best Manga That You Thought You Would Hate: Clover Omnibus Edition, by Clamp, Dark Horse
Best Guilty Pleasure: High School Debut, by Kazune Kawahara, Viz
Biggest Disappointment: Mixed Vegetables, by by Ayumi Komura, Viz
Worst Manga: Vermonia, by YoYo, Candlewick
Dec. 15th, 2009
01:24 pm - Heheh, Christmas Radio
I hate it when Christmas music plays in stores before December, and I hate being forced to listen to it, but I do actually voluntarily listen to Christmas music on my own. As I get older, I've gotten particularly sick of some classic recordings, so last year I found this album of techno/electronic Christmas remixes (itunes link). It's uh... pretty bad? But I like some of the songs on it.
This year maybe I will purchase A Toolbox Christmas (itunes link) - it's the classics played out on tools.
When my own collection of anime Christmas songs isn't torturous enough, I turn to internet radio. I like the Christmas Lounge on SomaFM, but I don't like actual lounge music that much, and Xmas in Frisko, which plays more ironic Christmas music. Here's a site with a big list of Christmas radio on the net.
Hilariously, I found this station that only plays covers of Blue Christmas.
Dec. 10th, 2009
12:38 pm - The Horrible Pain of Too Many Holiday Parties
December 12th
- Matt P.'s Tree Trimming Party*
- vermilionsun 's Winetastic Birthday/Holiday Party
- Whiskey Meetup
- Thanskgivingish (was delayed because of a wedding)*
- feiran 's 30th Birthday party (declared well in advance!)
- goawayplease 's Birthday Party
- K & E's Holiday Party (aka "Oatmeal Muffin Day")
- My wedding dress designer's band is playing in Shibuya (well, I couldn't go, but...)
- Parents Arriving in Town (My brother is going to handle them until the next day)
- Japanese party I was invited to by my Japanese tutor
It's tough, because I really want to go to all of these parties. I can't really go to two on the same day because of the remote locations of some of them (Hoboken, or Kings Highway in Brooklyn). It's gotten so December 19th is kind of a joke.
Thanksgivingish has been a tradition since 2002, when N. and I went to the first one. N. is the only guest to have attended every single Thanksgivingish (I missed one because of NYAF once), so we feel really pressured to go to it to continue N.'s winning streak, eat delicious pie, and see friends whom we pretty much only see at Thanksgivingish nowadays.
Many of the parties are being held by old and dear friends who I don't have as much time to hang out with as I get older and busier. Several of these parties feature expensive/rare whiskeys and/or a wine expert in attendance who is bound to provide awesome wine selections.
It breaks my heart to miss so much stuff. I hate having to choose!