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SMOF News, volume 4, issue 32
More Ohayocon/Sekaicon developments. I'd complain about how much I'm covering court cases these days, but looming ahead is the possibility of having to write about US tax laws before this one is over.
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SMOF News, volume 4, issue 31
Possible end in sight for the Gen Con heist saga! Plus a happy ending for Wild Wild West, and a lawsuit over the 2023 Hugo... trophies.
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Winter 2025 anime and looking ahead
I managed to watch all of four shows the past anime season.
Aquarion: Myth of Emotions was the clear winner for me. Somehow it did manage to do justice to its combo of reincarnation plot, a quirky interpretation of quantum mechanics, and mecha fighting action, all while putting on an absolute masterclass in misdirection. It could still have used two cours rather than one, but it nailed the landing and I'll be remembering it when it's time to come up with the best shows of the year.
Tasokare Hotel was pretty good, although not at all the sort of story it first looked like. The laid-back exploration of people's pasts turned into a dark plot about trying to outmaneuver a serial killer. The last episode featured one of my least favorite twist tropes ever but then immediately recovered. I won't strongly recommend it, but I don't regret the time I spent watching it.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun season 2 was very disappointing. Too many predictable developments, and a final arc that felt like it went on forever.
And The Apothecary Diaries, which I can't complain too much about because it was already showing all the signs of Cozy Mystery Disease by the end of season 1, so I knew what I was in for. The visuals continue to be lovely, but the mysteries keep getting solved faster and faster to make room for more character-focused storylines like the one where one character tries to drop a big revelation about his identity, one which has been clear since late season 1, to another character, and after trying for two whole episodes still hasn't managed to spit it out somehow.
I will probably still watch the rest of season 2 out of sheer inertia.
Looking ahead, I have a longer list than usual of shows I want to check out: Sword of the Demon Hunter, Miru, Your Forma, Lazarus, The Mononoke Lecture Logs of Chuzenji-sensei, Zatsu Tabi, and Apocalypse Hotel.
Aquarion: Myth of Emotions was the clear winner for me. Somehow it did manage to do justice to its combo of reincarnation plot, a quirky interpretation of quantum mechanics, and mecha fighting action, all while putting on an absolute masterclass in misdirection. It could still have used two cours rather than one, but it nailed the landing and I'll be remembering it when it's time to come up with the best shows of the year.
Tasokare Hotel was pretty good, although not at all the sort of story it first looked like. The laid-back exploration of people's pasts turned into a dark plot about trying to outmaneuver a serial killer. The last episode featured one of my least favorite twist tropes ever but then immediately recovered. I won't strongly recommend it, but I don't regret the time I spent watching it.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun season 2 was very disappointing. Too many predictable developments, and a final arc that felt like it went on forever.
And The Apothecary Diaries, which I can't complain too much about because it was already showing all the signs of Cozy Mystery Disease by the end of season 1, so I knew what I was in for. The visuals continue to be lovely, but the mysteries keep getting solved faster and faster to make room for more character-focused storylines like the one where one character tries to drop a big revelation about his identity, one which has been clear since late season 1, to another character, and after trying for two whole episodes still hasn't managed to spit it out somehow.
I will probably still watch the rest of season 2 out of sheer inertia.
Looking ahead, I have a longer list than usual of shows I want to check out: Sword of the Demon Hunter, Miru, Your Forma, Lazarus, The Mononoke Lecture Logs of Chuzenji-sensei, Zatsu Tabi, and Apocalypse Hotel.
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SMOF News, volume 4, issue 28
Ohayocon/Sekaicon lawsuite update, SDCC licensing its name, and ReedPOP found an interesting growth metaphor. Fan convention... World's Fair... why does that ring a bell...
George Lucas tried to warn you
I've been thinking a lot recently about Revenge of the Sith, and all the reactions at the time about how dumb a plot twist it was to have people just voting to hand their semi-democratic government over to a dictator, because obviously people would never do that!
Well, it turns out that Revenge of the Sith is getting a 20th anniversary re-release. One week, starting April 25. So I'm curious to see if anyone will be rethinking their reaction on watching the movie again.
I also expect that Jar Jar Binks will not have improved with age.
Well, it turns out that Revenge of the Sith is getting a 20th anniversary re-release. One week, starting April 25. So I'm curious to see if anyone will be rethinking their reaction on watching the movie again.
I also expect that Jar Jar Binks will not have improved with age.
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SMOF News, volume 4, issue 25
Ohayocon gets its restraining order. Two weeks ago, actually, but this story is moving at the speed of updates to a county court's site.
Worldcon cross-border links
For anyone planning to attend this year's Worldcon but nervous about the effect that indiscriminate firings at the FAA may have on US airports, I wish to point out that Amtrak runs 2 trains and 4 buses per day between Seattle and Vancouver, BC.
For next year, there's no cross-border rail service, but Greyhound/FlixBus does have a route that will take you between Anaheim and Tijuana, and I'm sure there are additional bus options.
For next year, there's no cross-border rail service, but Greyhound/FlixBus does have a route that will take you between Anaheim and Tijuana, and I'm sure there are additional bus options.
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Notes and Queries
I'm currently reading Origin Uncertain, a book about etymology (mostly about the process of investigating etymology, as most of the words covered have no definitive explanation). It has made multiple references to a publication called Notes and Queries, which I had never heard of before, and I have finally reached a section that explains it:
Sort of like an open thread in print! Or, given the back-and-forth polemics that Origin Uncertain details occasionally, maybe Victorian Usenet.
I have read a lot of books with Victorian or Victorian-like settings, and I can't think of a single one incorporating a publication like this. Now I'd really like to read one that does.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, word origins were discussed widely not only in learned journals but also in popular periodicals. Among the contributors, many were amateurs who knew several languages, studied Latin and Greek at school, and often suggested the solutions that still stand. One of the main outlets for such letters to the editor was the London biweekly Notes and Queries, established in 1849. In its pages, subscribers from all over the English-speaking world asked questions and received quick answers about practically anything: history, economy, politics, archaeology, geography, numismatics, literature, genealogy, and language, to name a few popular areas.
Sort of like an open thread in print! Or, given the back-and-forth polemics that Origin Uncertain details occasionally, maybe Victorian Usenet.
I have read a lot of books with Victorian or Victorian-like settings, and I can't think of a single one incorporating a publication like this. Now I'd really like to read one that does.
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SMOF News, volume 4, issue 23
Big new revelations about the damage to Ohaycon, and Substack still looks like the least awful place to publish this newsletter. I sure am finding new reasons to be glad its inbox is hosted by a company in the EU, though.
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SMOF News, volume 4, issue 22
The balkanization of social media isn't just a geographic analogy anymore.
Bonus Mastodon vs. Bluesky stat I was reminded of when posting the link to them: I have gone "wait where is the post button again" and had to hunt around for it exactly 0 times when using Mastodon, but more than 0 when using Bluesky.
Bonus Mastodon vs. Bluesky stat I was reminded of when posting the link to them: I have gone "wait where is the post button again" and had to hunt around for it exactly 0 times when using Mastodon, but more than 0 when using Bluesky.
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SMOF News, volume 4, issue 21
Costume-Con in trouble and Vic Mignogna somehow not in trouble. If you're looking for some relief in a terrible week, maybe skip this one...
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White-collar prepping
The SO and I had been planning to get a new desktop computer one of these days, and I spotted a good deal at Costco last week when I was there for my COVID booster. Normally there would be gradual movement toward "huh, that seems good, maybe we should get that at some point," but with tariffs possibly coming tomorrow that could raise the cost of electronic devices significantly, we decided very quickly to go for it.
With the likely incoming health secretary being both very pro-milk and anti-seed oils, and my immune system still very negative on dairy, I've started stockpiling margarine.
And I'm ready to listen to my friends and my immigrant coworkers if they have something urgent to say. I realize I'm pretty lucky in only having to worry about collateral damage (probably), while some of you may be directly targeted.
With the likely incoming health secretary being both very pro-milk and anti-seed oils, and my immune system still very negative on dairy, I've started stockpiling margarine.
And I'm ready to listen to my friends and my immigrant coworkers if they have something urgent to say. I realize I'm pretty lucky in only having to worry about collateral damage (probably), while some of you may be directly targeted.
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Winter 2025 anime premieres
I seem to be getting back into the rhythm of anime viewing. Shows I have checked out so far:
Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective is about a genius medical professional who, you guessed it, also solves mysteries. The first one was weird enough to get me to stick around for episode 2, but all the writing around it was terrible and I don't like a single one of the characters, so that was enough.
Momentary Lily is the latest from GoHands, done in the distinctive GoHands style which doesn't bother me one bit, since I am largely immune to animation style (and actually, I thought the mysterious enemies looked kind of cool). But it is also a show assembled entirely from overused tropes and I stopped after episode 1.
Tasokare Hotel is another mystery show, set in a place between our world and the afterlife where spirits go to try to remember who they are and whether they're supposed to be alive or dead. I've seen some negative reviews of it which seem to start from the assumption that it must necessarily be a detective show, and it's terrible from that standpoint, because it isn't a detective show. The main character is there to serve more as a therapist, finding clues to prompt the spirits to tell their own story. I wouldn't normally expect to enjoy a show quite this chill, but I am.
Aquarion: Myth of Emotions is a mecha show trying to go big or go home. So far we've got a big ball of New Age stuff like ancient high-tech civilizations, past lives, and maybe a ghost; quantum weirdness; elemnts from the wilder end of the mecha spectrum including improbably technology, shouted attack names, and ludicrously complicated launch sequences; and all this wrapped up in a most un-anime-like look. Currently it's all what I believe the internet haters call Cal Arts style, but the trailers have promised substantial content with character animated in CGI.
I worry that this series has bitten off more than it can chew (and, apparently, previous Aquarion series have established a tradition of falling apart and disappointing) but man, this is sure not going to be boring.
The excellent if unfortunately named Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun is back for a second season at last, and it's good to see the old gang again, even if I did see the first episode's twist coming a mile away.
And The Apothecary Diaries is back and... I'm not sure if I'm going to keep watching it. I do like historical fantasy costume dramas, but I hate cozy mysteries because the mundane details of the characters' lives tend to start crowding out the parts I find interesting after a while, and the first episode of the new season is 100% slice-of-life hijinks. There are supposedly actual mysteries coming soon, so I don't know, I'll give it another couple episodes.
Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective is about a genius medical professional who, you guessed it, also solves mysteries. The first one was weird enough to get me to stick around for episode 2, but all the writing around it was terrible and I don't like a single one of the characters, so that was enough.
Momentary Lily is the latest from GoHands, done in the distinctive GoHands style which doesn't bother me one bit, since I am largely immune to animation style (and actually, I thought the mysterious enemies looked kind of cool). But it is also a show assembled entirely from overused tropes and I stopped after episode 1.
Tasokare Hotel is another mystery show, set in a place between our world and the afterlife where spirits go to try to remember who they are and whether they're supposed to be alive or dead. I've seen some negative reviews of it which seem to start from the assumption that it must necessarily be a detective show, and it's terrible from that standpoint, because it isn't a detective show. The main character is there to serve more as a therapist, finding clues to prompt the spirits to tell their own story. I wouldn't normally expect to enjoy a show quite this chill, but I am.
Aquarion: Myth of Emotions is a mecha show trying to go big or go home. So far we've got a big ball of New Age stuff like ancient high-tech civilizations, past lives, and maybe a ghost; quantum weirdness; elemnts from the wilder end of the mecha spectrum including improbably technology, shouted attack names, and ludicrously complicated launch sequences; and all this wrapped up in a most un-anime-like look. Currently it's all what I believe the internet haters call Cal Arts style, but the trailers have promised substantial content with character animated in CGI.
I worry that this series has bitten off more than it can chew (and, apparently, previous Aquarion series have established a tradition of falling apart and disappointing) but man, this is sure not going to be boring.
The excellent if unfortunately named Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun is back for a second season at last, and it's good to see the old gang again, even if I did see the first episode's twist coming a mile away.
And The Apothecary Diaries is back and... I'm not sure if I'm going to keep watching it. I do like historical fantasy costume dramas, but I hate cozy mysteries because the mundane details of the characters' lives tend to start crowding out the parts I find interesting after a while, and the first episode of the new season is 100% slice-of-life hijinks. There are supposedly actual mysteries coming soon, so I don't know, I'll give it another couple episodes.
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Five Years On
It was approximately this date in 2020 when I read a New York Times article that followed up up its initial report on a mysterious new pneumonia that was filling up hospitals in Wuhan, China. It was believed to be due to a novel virus that might have an incubation period of up to 2 weeks and might be able to spread asymptomatically. And I remember thinking, if either of those turns out to be the case, there was probably no hope of containing it.
I meant to get a COVID booster last October, but the run-up to Orycon and the onset of the SO's health crisis immediately after Orycon got in the way, and then COVID levels were very low in the US for a while. Now they're on the upswing, and I had a weekend free, so I got vaccinated yesterday and am staying home and doing some cooking while I ride out the comparatively mild side effects of Novavax.
I meant to get a COVID booster last October, but the run-up to Orycon and the onset of the SO's health crisis immediately after Orycon got in the way, and then COVID levels were very low in the US for a while. Now they're on the upswing, and I had a weekend free, so I got vaccinated yesterday and am staying home and doing some cooking while I ride out the comparatively mild side effects of Novavax.