Archive for June, 2008
Japanese light-rail train being stuffed with passengers
Having spent some time living on the East Coast, I can honestly say that if anyone squeezed commuters onto a New York City subway train the way these Japanese railworkers manhandle their clients - riots would ensue.
addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fyellow-menace.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fjapanese-light-rail-train-being-stuffed-with-passengers%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘Japanese+light-rail+train+being+stuffed+with+passengers’;
addthis_pub = [...]
Shaolin Temple opens online store - Chinese not pleased
The OG (that’s ‘Original Gangsta’ for those not acquainted with urban patois) Shaolin Temple in China has launched an online outlet where fans can drop their hard-earned loot on a wide array of Shaolin goodies. The site, located at www.taobao.com, doesn’t look very Shaolin (let’s just say austerity is not the site’s prime design [...]
Leiji Matsumoto works to appear on WiiWare
Ookay - enough sadness. Let’s talk about something fun. Like - video games. Well, not videogames specifically, but about the Nintendo Wii. I don’t have a Wii (although I do occasionally go Wii Wii, particularly after a few beers) but it looks like lots of fun. And it’s about to get fun-er, thanks to Sunsoft [...]
Akihabara stabbings inspire would-be copycats - 12 arrested
What is it about the human race, that when confronted with a sensationalized tragedy it inevitably follows that a number of wierdos will step up to plate hoping to replicate it? Isn’t life shitty enough without everyone constantly wanting to add to the misery? Seriously?
“I will commit a massacre that will go down in history,” [...]
PIQ magazine 2008-2008
Damn, three obits in one day. That’s some sort of record, for sure. Thankfully, however, this one is for a magazine, not a person - the magazine in question being PiQ, which was supposed to carry the torch for the late, lamented Newtype USA.
A recent post on PIQ’s website sadly proclaims that the July issue [...]
Model/Actress Miyuki Kanbei dead at 24
Hate to be a bummer with all the obits, but I just found out that Battle Royale II, Kamen Rider, and Sailor Moon actress Miyuki Kanbei died of heart failure at the all-too-young age of 24. Unless she was doing an Amy Winehouse, it sounds like something congenital. At any rate, it’s a damn shame.
From [...]
George Carlin 1937-2008
We’ll miss you, buddy…
addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fyellow-menace.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fgeorge-carlin-1937-200%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘George+Carlin+1937-2008′;
addthis_pub = ”;
Astro Boy going ‘open-source’?
This article takes a look at Tezuka Productions efforts to energize interest in the late Osamu Tezuka’s signature character, Astro Boy.
Among these efforts are a new SoftBank mobile phone featuring a decidedly overweight Astro Boy by artist Lily Franky and a new online anime series Yawaraka Atom.
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Tezuka’s death. [...]
Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Kagemusha’
God Bless the internets:
addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fyellow-menace.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fakira-kurosawas-kagemusha%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘Akira+Kurosawa%26%238217%3Bs+%26%238216%3BKagemusha%26%238217%3B’;
addthis_pub = ”;
Japanese manga industry facing creator-rights crisis?
Reading this Daily Yomiuri piece (’Through Otaku Eyes / Lawsuit exposes mangaka-editor relations‘), I’m reminded of the creator-rights squabbles that erupted in the 80’s and 90’s, leading to more formal declarations of responsibilities between comics creators and their publishers.
Mangaka (manga artist) Mokoto Raiku alleges that Shogakukan, Inc. is offering him sub-standard compensation for artwork the [...]
