Learn to talk like a pirate

This video is funny, and looks like one of those educational films from the 60's and 70's.

Good explanation of scanlation

Now that I've finally entered the world of manga (at least one series), I started looking into various kinds of terms for that subculture, and came upon scanlation: "the scanning, translation and editing of comics from a foreign language into a different language." And since Japan produces a lot of manga, there are a lot of scanlations out there, especially into English.

I found a very good explanation of scanlation at Inside Scanlation. Even if you have a basic understanding of what it is, this site will help you understand the history of it as well.

Manga helpers

I came across a site called MangaHelpers that encourages people to translate manga for others to enjoy. I can't believe how much has been translated into English, and they have lots of other languages, too. The FAQ page is funny as it explains why someone should become a volunteer translator:

Face it, if you know Japanese you have a skill that MANY people would die to have. Why not "save the world" by using it. Tons of people are grateful for the time you take to translate (even though sometimes they don't say it) so if you do take the time to translate, you are taking the time to make TONS of people around the world VERY happy. And, earning yourself some fame too.

I found a translation of a chapter from the first Young Shima Kosaku. I actually just got the fourth book in that series, but I don't know if I'd want to spend the time translating it, especially since I've been so busy lately.

I wonder if there's been a halt to posting Shima translations because there aren't many there, and at one point, the publisher Kodansha told the site to stop posting manga there (scroll down towards the end of this interview for the cease and desist letter they were sent).

Anyway, I know that this site has been around for a while, but I just discovered it now because I was really looking for something else, and just stumbled upon it.

Canese

Here's a word I haven't heard, which was just invented, actually: Canese, which means "Canadian Chinese". That was how Rebelx described the food he was having: Chinese food made in Canada. As an afterthought, he also thought of "Chinadian" as well.

Finished!

I'm very happy (or "chuffed", as the Brits would say) because I finished another 島耕作 (Shima Kosaku) manga. It's a big deal to me because it was 220 pages, and I managed to read it pretty consistently, though it took me a few months. I bought it after I finished reading the other manga.

It was very good, and included some interesting situations that you wouldn't see in the typical salaryman's life, but that's why it's fiction :D

I'm planning on getting another one, probably next week. I'm thinking of reading the very first one of the series, when he first enters the company, which was over 20 years ago.

Meanwhile, I'm still working my way through a Japanese book about Twitter, which seems totally dry compared to the manga I've been reading.

What gets passed around? Survey says...

This is hilarious because of the guy's response to the question "What gets passed around?". Steve Harvey's response is funny, too.

Chuffed in context

I mentioned "chuffed" before, but I want to mention it again because I just saw that word used in an online article, which made me realize that I wasn't reading an American site.

The sentence was: "Radio stations and TV channels are unlikely to be too chuffed."

In case you don't recognize the word, it means "pleased".

If you're studying English, let me tell you that Americans *never* use that word. But maybe I should start using it, to introduce it into our language and confuse people all around :D

Texans trying to pronounce Wisconsin names

Here are some Texans trying to pronounce names of Wisconsin towns at the Super Bowl.

The Chicago Code sent me a pizza

I've written about TV at Gapers Block, which is a Chicago site, so I was sent some press info about the upcoming TV show The Chicago Code. It's not my type of show, and I'm not thrilled with their choice of the city's first female police superintendent (she seems like a lightweight and sort of girly), but I think it will be popular with a lot of people. I especially like how they feature a lot of Chicago neighborhoods and sites instead of showing a few still shots and then filming in New York, LA, or Canada.

Anyway, the show sent me a pizza, which they probably sent to various press around town, and I just ate it. It's also from my favorite pizza place, which is also from Chicago :D So thanks, Hollywood, for the delicious pizza, and thanks for filming a show in my city without being fake about it.

Kisaragi is here

It's February, aka 二月 (Nigatsu) in Japanese. But thanks to the Japanese Consulate, I found out via an email that they sent out about Japanese culture that 衣更着 (Kisaragi) is "the old Japanese name for the month of February" and "is a contracted form of kinu sara gi, which means 'wear still more clothes'." And since there's a horrible thundersnow going on right now, I'd say that we definitely have to keep wearing more clothes :o