AzureWolf

[font=Georgia][color=blue]Alright, I'm going to be kind of vague ([plug]I might do a more thorough walkthrough in my myOtaku sometime with pictures[/plug]), but here goes...[/color][/font] [list=1] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Get [url="http://download.com.com/3000-2194-10249735.html?tag=lst-0-1"]VirtualDub[/url]. a free, open-source program that'll handle most of the video editing parts of the process.[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Next, open the clip in VirtualDub. Select the starting point of what you want by using the black arrow that points to the left. Get to the end of the sequence and click the black arrow that points to the right. There should now be a darkened area in the timed area.[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Now, you'll probably want to crop the selection (if you want to do it, this point is usually the best place to do it). To do that, you go to Video --> Filters, and add a "null transform," at which point the "cropping" option becomes available. Now, crop.[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]When you are done adding any filters and effects (you could use other video editing programs for effects, but come back to VirtualDub when you have [i]EXACTLY[/i] what you want as your GIF), go to file --> Save Image Sequence...[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Lastly, if you have Adobe ImageReady, you can simply go to File --> Import --> Folder As Frames. You've got your primary GIF.[/color][/font] [/list][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I imagine other animation programs have an option to load multiple pictures, but I'm familiar with only ImageReady and GIF Construction Set.[/color][/font]

[QUOTE=Altron]Could anyone make a balmung banner? if it could say Altron in a corner (discrete) That would be great! Just ask if you need more info for designing it...[/QUOTE][font=Georgia][color=blue]Well, it's not the best, but I used up all my other Balmung pictures. ^_^; [/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=blue]Changes, fixes? Just ask.[/color][/font]

[quote name='Shadow Wolf']Sorry to bug you all, but I can't do banners very well and I have a nagging obsession with Witch Hunter Robin, but Robin and Amon love in particular. If possible, I would like a banner with Robin and Amon in Chibi form and Can it say: "Robin and Amon Shipping. The Only Way to Go."? I'd like this very much and I would give you FULL CREDIT wherever I am, I guarantee it! Any takers at all? Pretty Please?[/quote][font=Georgia][color=blue]I was wondering why no one was filling this request. Shadow Wolf, I would recommend that you find and attach these chibi pictures, because any and all chibi pictures I searched for were - to say the least - not very chibi. I don't think WHR can be chibi-ified.[/color][/font]

[quote name='QuincyArcher']i watched the fansubs a while ago and i loved the series, and they've started showing the english dubs on anime unleashed on TechTV but the english voice acting is downright horrible it almost makes it unwatchable.[/quote][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Haha, that's so true. Last Exile has a terrible english dub. You win some, you lose some. I bet there's some kind of reason for this tragedy, such as all the good voice actors were busy or something. ^_^[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Anyone have interesting interviews or inside information about the dubbing of Last Exile?[/color][/font]

[QUOTE=ScirosDarkblade]Has anyone played Ninja Gaiden for Xbox yet? I bought the game a few days ago, and man does it ever rock. It's really hard, though, and I die all the time, but it's so fun I keep on playing even though I'll be stuck on some boss for forty-five minutes. Anyway I'm just gonna say that it's one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a long time, and I'm going to play it non-stop until Doom 3 comes out.[/QUOTE][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Yeah, I've played Ninja Gaiden for the XBox (and all the previous ones :p). It's basically the Devil May Cry of XBox (which is a great thing). You have to get used to the fighting in the game, especially because your many skills are suited to different situations and responses (and the oh-so varied enemies). Really cool stuff.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I'm currently on chapter 11, with full (blue) upgrades for the Dragon Sword, Vigoorian Flail, and Diahala (that Vigoorian Sword); and I have the true (yellow) version of the wooden sword, which is called [spoiler]Unlabored Flawlessness[/spoiler]. I've mastered using the Dragon Sword; I'm moderate with the Diahala and the wooden sword; but I have trouble using the flail properly. :-/[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]The story's not half bad - I just wish it was related to the previous games. My friend speculates that the big bad boss dude (forgot his name) is actually [spoiler]Ryu's dad[/spoiler].[/color][/font]

[quote name='maladjusted][color=firebrick']Seriously, more than half the population in the US probably can't read fast enough to watch using the subtitles. No offense, but it's really true.[/color][/quote][font=Georgia][color=blue]In this forum, I've been noticing quite a few bogus statistics, so I'm just wondering: is that from personal experience or an actual fact?[/color][/font]

[quote name='Gelgoog Pilot']As is the way with and acid and a base, they would cancel each other out. They would then no longer be matter and anti-matter anymore. They would be a completely different nuetral substance.[/quote] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]While they would be an [i]overall[/i] neutral substance, each molecule would still express its philicity. Take a look at the mechanisms of hydrogen fluoride in a crown solvent.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]While I've heard of anti-matter, that's as far as my knowledge of it goes. Keeping with the name of this thread, someone care to tell me what anti-matter is? Particularly, I'd like to know what makes it different than matter, and why it has the "anti" prefix.[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]Wait, I'm confused. What are we talking about? Are we talking about language preference, or what changes are made to an anime when they air on foreign (foreign to Japan) television?[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Yeah Solo! 'represent'! I also enjoy a good dub. :) The thing is, they are hard to find. Even when you find a good one, you tend to get testy if you saw the series in Japanese first. I'll use Hellsing's Alucard as an example since I talked about it today. Alucard's english dub is perfectly good. In fact, if you never heard the Japanese version, it would be impossible for you to say that the voice doesn't suit Alucard's character. On the other hand, when you put the english dub side-by-side with the Japanese dub, you notice that the english voice actor is missing that [i]hint[/i] of maniacal semblance.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]It'd be interesting to hear some preferences for particular series, and which dubbing you heard first.[/color][/font]

[QUOTE=Dagger IX1]That's exactly the kind of misunderstanding that I was referring to. If a closed thread has absolutely no instructional value, then there's little reason to keep it around. Those which show people what not to do are probably most useful when they're kept in the forum where they were created. ~Dagger~[/QUOTE][font=Georgia][color=blue] Sigh... I'm getting misunderstood a lot these days...[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I don't think it would matter if people misunderstood what that forum was for, since[b] it would mirror the anime archives[/b]. I challenge any normal member to post in the anime archives - [b]I dare them[i].[/i][/b][/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Dagger, Semjazza, I get the idea: it's a bad idea. I thank you for pointing that out - I really do.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff].:[size=1]Close this thread, please:.[/size][/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]The general ideology you are raised with here in New Jersey follows [color=blue]Baron Thomas Babington McCauley's words:[/color][/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=blue]"[i][size=2]The measure of a man?s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out."[/size][/i][/color][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff]I would just crumple and throw the check in the garbage. I'm lazy, so I'm not going to go out of my way to find the person, and I'm sure as hell not going to give it to anyone who might have inclination to do wrong.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff]I have a wallet, but it's pretty much empty of anything valuable. I do have some money and my ID, but that's all I carry most of the time. Anything of greater value stays at home unless there's a chance I might need it. I would recommend everyone to do the same when they are going out for a normal day.[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I wouldn't say you are afraid... just nervous. For me, the idea that I'm going to strongly influence another person's life - even for just a day - would freak me out. I recommend getting some indifference to the situation. For practice, try being indifferent to something you know is negligible but you put emphasis on anyway. For example, casually comb your hair and then ask your friends if they notice anything different. They'll most likely say "no" and it will help you to stop noticing things that'll just distract or detract from other things.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Did that make sense? ^_^;[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue][color=blue][quote name='densuke][/color][color=#000000]GAINAX to some extent has worn out its welcome with its hype of everything it does and its constant efforts to keep Evangelion in the public eye ([/color][color=blue]a new Evangelion manga title with a new storyline is being serialized and published in Japan[/color][color=#000000]). Evangelion is no longer universally praised among fans.[/color'][color=blue][/quote] Oh, that was beatiful. *cries* Just for that, you are my new favorite OBer, even if you just joined (welcome, btw).[/color][/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff][quote name='Dagger IX1][color=#000000]FLCL may be packed with all kinds of subtle (or not-so-subtle; much of it is clumsily obvious) symbolism, but I think its creators included this simply for the sake of being surprisingly complex.[/color'][color=#0000ff][/quote] The same can be said of Evangelion: it had Biblical references [i]soley[/i] for the sake of having Biblical references. That is, religious symbols within Eva served no purpose and could have been removed with no impact to the story. What's even funnier about this vain aspect is the fact that the references made are closer to Jewish Mysticism than the Bible. It's ridiculous when you see an Eva fan running around, "OMG! OMG! Deep, Biblical references!" and even sadder when this fan is a follower of the Bible. Talk about gullible...[/color][/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff][quote name='Dagger IX1][color=#000000]Peace Maker Kurogane and Last Exile, Full Metal Panic and Chrno Crusade were mildly disappointing.[/color'][color=blue][/quote] Ok...[/color][/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]As a general rule, parents know more than you and are usually right about things. You may not understand where they are coming from, but they are coming from somewhere and have reasoning behind their decisions. Kids, on the other hand, probably have little reasoning besides their curiosity, and we all know what happened to that cat - yes, [i]Schrodinger's[/i] cat...[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]The case of external stimuli within an internal environment (i.e., TV and video games) is a relatively new phenomenon, and that's where special exception [i]might [/i]exist. The concept is very similar to that of a child going outside unattended, seeing and experiencing everything without actually being a part of it. Here's where parents step in and use their best reasoning and decide that TV isn't all that. It's not that parents don't have faith in their kids, but they are more universal than you and know that the world has very few places to put faith in. They are using secondary references to try and determine what is right with respect to TV.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I believe we'll hear a lot less complaining about TV restrictions when a generation of kids who grew up on TV raise kids. We've been raised alongside TV, know its flaws, its limitations, and its potential. So, it's safe to say that those people who are showing kids as young as six that movie probably grew up on TV, and know that it'll have little effect/significance at such a young age. Trust me, when things don't make sense to you, you don't tend to remember them. ;)[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]Oooo, now it's my turn to play grandfather and tell a story...[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]It has been my experience that your best friend is a more valuable asset than a girlfriend or boyfriend. Case and point, I had a best friend in High School that become overly eccentric (I wasn't interested in his girlfriend or anything, but he just started acting stupid). We broke off ties for quite some time, and finally, we made up only [i]after[/i] he discovered that his girlfriend was selfish and snotty (which was apparent to me and others when first meeting her).[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]The right person will be the one where no compromises will need to be made. Rather, it will be your honor to sacrifice for them.[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]I played the Ninja Gaiden demo just this Monday, and I must say, I couldn't stop playing that one stage over and over. Granted, I did keep freaking out at the boss, but I'll give my thoughts of the overall game first.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]The opening area is very similar to the DOA stage with the waterfall, except now you have full control and can navigate around. The controls are a little funny when you first start, but they are a dream after you get used to them. Ryu's a little too fluid with his environment, but when you get into closed quarters, you figure out why. He's [i]Prince of Persia[/i] with a [i]DMC[/i] feel.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]You have three weapons, all of which have a moves list, and all the moves have lvls (I haven't figured out what the levels do). Ryu's signature Dragon Sword is a intermediate weapon: you need to get used to it a little before you can kick major butt. The nunchakus are beginner level: just press buttons and be amazed at your awesome butt-kicking skills. Even when you are getting your butt kicked, you look seriously cool. What's great about the nunchakus is that they deflect shurikens[i] AND[/i] can hit opponents around you. The last weapon, a huge, heavy, treasure-like sword, is just raw power and requires the most experience: the ninja's are fast, so you have to time your crushing blows properly.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]As I said before, this game has [i]PoP[/i] written all over it, except the emphasis on puzzle/exploration and fighting have switched. The fighting is so much fun in this game. I had one of those Rouroni Kenshin-style showdowns with one of the white ninja's, which was all-too cool. Oh, and now, Ryu's magic attacks are more along the lines of Shonibi from Genesis. You only have one at the beginning, and it's a mass-kill attack (i.e., kills everyone in the room). Additionally, there are some surprise throws from DOA cameo's.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Haha, the boss is really cool. I thought I'd be fair by making it Nunchukus vs. Nunchukus, but little did I know that the boss didn't need that handicap. He deflects shurikens and is better than you with the nunchukus. O_o I freaked out so many times at this guy, and finally figured out that there's a trick to him (I won't say what, because I don't want ot spoil this game).[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]The difficulty in this game is not half bad, so it's not a boring walk in the park. I'm very pleased with the difficulty. You can't just mash and get through: you have to fight with some concentration and attention.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I love the controls. The game is tight, and there's more ninjas than you can shake a stick at. Variety of fighting styles for your character, and... well, this game has everything you'll want. Trust me. ;)[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Oh, one last thing: the only time you fight in a open-spaced area is against the boss. I wonder how fighting would be like in open fields. Granted, you do use the walls a lot for motion, so it could be worse. I don't know, haha.[/color][/font]

[QUOTE=Dagger IX1]As for your suggestion, AzureWolf, I'm not sure whether having a spam/closed threads forum would send the right message. I've encountered message boards that had sections devoted specifically to spam (supposedly so people could get it out of their system, or something to that effect). While a "spam" forum would clearly have a different purpose at OB, some people might interpret its name the wrong way. ~Dagger~[/QUOTE][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I was thinking more along the lines of mirroring the Anime Archives. You can't post in closed threads anyway (except for mods), which is what the forum would consist of.[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]I was just thinking... There are far too many SPAM and/or closed threads bogging up a few of the forums, pushing down some of the real, noteworthy threads. So, I was thinking that threads closed or right-out SPAM could all be moved to a separate forum. That way, the person could go and see why his thread was closed, [i]WHILE[/i] still keeping the forums clean. That entire forum could serve as an example of what to do and what not to do.[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]As Hells Fire's post points out, and as James' post implies, the bias in the educational system is really [i][b]only[/b][/i] in history, and, afterall, "History is written by the winners." Never forget the strong distinction between "the past" and "history."[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]It's harder to tell the difference between noise and logic when more people are shouting. Basically, if you get a big enough backing, it doesn't matter what you are saying, just that it's louder than what anyone else says. Of course, as a T.R.-ist, this code of imperial conduct goes against every bone in my body.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff][i]~AzureWolf, speaking softly and carrying a big stick - a REALLY big stick.[/i][/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]I remember this book. The author was in her mid/late teens when she wrote this book. I was fairly impressed that she could write about such things at such an age. Maybe it wasn't so much that as it was getting herself noticed and published.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I can't say I have much else to say, since I don't remember much of the book anymore.[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]The Hippocratic Oath was an oath that doctors took upon entering the discipline of medicine. It's been a time-honored tradition that has been upheld by doctors and their apprentices. In recent times, however, the Hippocratic Oath is only an optional oath doctors can take upon graduation. It's also worth noting that 100% of the medical schools in the US offer this option today.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]So, what exactly does the Hippocratic Oath say? [QUOTE][i][size=1]From [/size][/i][url="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_classical.html"][size=1]http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_classical.html[/size][/url][size=1]:[/size][/color][/font] [b][size=1]The Hippocratic Oath, as Written by Hippocrates:[/size][/b] [font=Arial][size=1]I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant: To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else. I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice. I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art. I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work. Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves. What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about. If I fulfil this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.[/size][/font][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff][/QUOTE] [QUOTE][font=Arial][color=#000000][i][size=1]From [/size][/i][url="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_modern.html"][i][size=1]http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_modern.html[/size][/i][/url][/color][/font][/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff][font=Arial][size=1][color=#000000][b]Most Popular Modern Oath, Lasagna's Version:[/b][/color][/size][/font][/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff][font=Arial][size=1][color=#000000]I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow. I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism. I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug. I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery. I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God. I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick. I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure. I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm. If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.[/color][/size][/font][/QUOTE] To put it simply, the Hippocratic Oath contains a "code of ethics" that a doctor must comply with. Now, here are some points I'm curious to hear about_:[/color][/font] [list] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Do you think the original Hippocratic Oath has any meaning left today? Do you think the revised version has meaning?[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Theological references are made in both versions. Do you think these are vital/necessary, or creating a bias against those who do not believe in God?[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]How a doctor "relieves" the sick isn't clear. Does that mean putting someone to rest is within the capabilities of a doctor? Should it be?[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]The abortion part of the original has been removed in the revised edition. Comments?[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I thought it was interesting how the Oath contains a humanistic part (about treating a human, not a disease), since most people stereotype Science as a cold, calculated thing.[/color][/font] [/list][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Those are the points I found the most interest in. However, feel free to comment about whatever aspect of the Hippocratic Oath you want.[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]PoisonTongue, in as much the way you were enlightened to how competitive SSB:M can be by meeting better players, I think the same can be said about SCII. Try the presets and see how they fare in an official tourney, where all the players have memorized every characters' moves, down to that useless up-down combo.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=blue][QUOTE][color=#696969]I remember one level where you're in a bar and you can kick tables at one another. You can kick the tables and chairs in any direction and you can even jump up and hang from the rafters. It's really insane and [i]so [/i]much fun. It works so well because of precise collision detection and superb controls. While the actual movement isn't as fast as SSBM, the game is still incredibly fast-paced.[/color][/QUOTE][color=blue] If you liked the first one, you should try your hand at at the second one, where two players do the same thing as you did in the first one. Not only that, but the stages were very dynamic: you actually had to keep up with them![/color][/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]As Powerstone testifies, a four player fighting game can be done in 3D. I myself am not a big fan of SCII. For one, my favorite character is not in the game, and it feels stiffer than the first one on DC. Nonetheless, if you want competition, SCII is the game to play. I don't know why no one ever gives the Virtua Fighter series a shot, even after almost every review said it was the best fighter out there. The reason might be along the lines of what you said, PT: that there's peer pressure preventing people from enjoying a game because of others' biases.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]SSB:M, however, I do not see as one of those games. It was designed as a party game, and that's what it is best used for. What you have to take into consideration is that, although player X is capable of beating player A and player B separately, that does not mean player X can beat player A and player B at the same time. Additionally, player X and player Y, both better than player A and player B in a one-on-one, may not necessarily mean that team XY would beat team AB. There's an exponential difference in skill that occurs, or it might be that new, complex variables are introduced as more players are factored in. Whatever the case - multiplicity/splitting of skills, or additional variables - an individual's skill becomes less and less an influence on the outcome. We can all agree on this through experience, if nothing else, right?[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff][i]So, what about one-on-one's?[/i] Well, there lies the mechanics of the game. SSB:M was designed to be a party game, not a deep, complex fighter. That means that balancing the characters and other factors were targetted towards group playing. SCII, on the other hand, attempts to balance versus matches, where everything is balanced so that the only variable for all match-ups are the skill of the players. Obviously, neither truly succeed, but just looking at what each game aims to accomplish, and the fact that both games were made from very experienced and talented video game companies, can we agree to say that, at least with respect to artful fighting, SCII comes out on top?[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]As avid manga readers, I'm sure some of you have come across the strange "top-right" direction of manga reading that's commonplace in Japan. Basically, panels that are in the top-right position come before everything else, and upper positioning take precedence over down and the other dimension (i.e., something [i][b]above[/b] yet to the left[/i] comes before something [i]down yet to the [b]right[/b][/i]). That's quite a bit different from how US comics progress, so I'm wondering:[/color][/font] [list] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]Do you think that manga should take the form of US comics and lose their original form?[/color][/font] [*][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]What are the benefits or negative aspects of dropping the original version of the manga for a more foreign-friendly version?[/color][/font] [/list][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]I think it would be a good idea to change all manga into a form that flows like US comics do. At least, if not in the long-run, just until manga becomes a bigger thing in the US. I think the top-right way of reading would shy away new readers, so the manga fanbase would lose a good portion of its everso important initial growth.[/color][/font]

[font=Georgia][color=blue]This series is still sitting on my computer. The first episode scared me, so I'm not sure if I want to watch any more. I don't know why I still have it, since it's really useless to me.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]The reason why Texhnolyze reminds you of Haibane Renmei and Lain is that they are all made by the same person. However, the first episode consists of nothing but action (action in the sense of motion) - not a single word is spoken until the last third of the first episode. That's quite different from Lain and Haibane Renmei since those series grab you with dialogue.[/color][/font] [font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]There's one disturbing scene during the uncomfortable silence: (not a big deal spoiler) [spoiler]a woman is licking the main character here and there[/spoiler]. O_o To say the least, I'm not enthused about this series. Then again, I have quite a different taste in anime than most people...[/color][/font] [i][font=Georgia][color=#0000ff]From the one-and-only Eva Hater[/color][/font][/i]

[font=Georgia][size=2][color=blue]pbfrontmanvdp, for a small sacrifice (your mailbox, thrown into the fires of massive[/color][color=blue] spam), anime DVD prices online can get pretty cheap... Hey, you give a little, you get a little (most of the spam gets caught by filters anyway)...[/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff][QUOTE][font=Georgia][size=2][color=#000000]1. Regardless of whether or not you download anime, do you believe that doing so is wrong?[/color][/size][/font][/QUOTE] [/color][/size][/font][font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff][b]Yes/No[/b][/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff][font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff]Neither from an legal nor ethical standpoint is downloading unlicensed anime wrong. Do you know how hard it is to go overseas and sue someone who lives under a different goverment and legal system? A little easier than Senny getting a date - just [i]a little [/i]easier.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff]Ethically, you have to ask yourself if you are truly "stealing" anything, which also depends on the source. Is this show airing on Japanese TV? Would it be illegal for you, a foreigner, to go over to Japan and watch anime? Is downloading anime that is on Japanese Television any different from you sitting next to a Japanese friend and him/her translating the show to you as it airs? "Certainly, this is nonsense."[/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff]Also, even when it is licensed, do you want to wait a year (or more) to complete an entire series? The distribution time for a 26-part saga is ridiculous. Additionally, making a DVD backup takes forever, and your computer goes into cardiac arrest while the ripping is in progress. Ripping an entire series could take well up to two weeks (if you want it done right and with a fair retention of quality). So, it's a welcome thing when fansubbers create DVD backups free for distribution.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2]There is an evil side to fansubs, though. It's called elitism, and it's more frequent in people who watch fansubs than those who buy or watch official versions. In the sense that fansubs are indirectly responsible for creating this elitist ideology, fansubbing is wrong.[/size][/font] [/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff][QUOTE][color=#000000]2. Do you think that you'd buy more DVDs if you didn't download any shows?[/color][/QUOTE] [b]No[/b][/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff]The only DVDs (not just anime DVDs) I've purchased as of this writing are .hack//SIGN, Noir, and Last Exile (1st DVD). I plan to purchase Hellsing and Haibane Renmei in this year, and the rest of Last Exile next year. What do these anime's all have in common? I saw them on fansub first.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff][QUOTE][font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff][color=#000000]3. Do foreign (not Japanese) anime companies pay attention to the popularity of various fansubbed series?[/color] [/color][/size][/font][/QUOTE][b]Yes[/b][/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff]Well, they certainly aren't pulling anime out of a hat.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Georgia][size=2][color=#0000ff][b]EDIT[/b]: as for anime music and OSTs, I prefer buying the domestic version for two reasons: 1. it usually holds a greater $$$ value than it's imported counterpart (although I'm not sure why), and 2. Having OSTs with a domestic presentation gives it a more official feel. So, I'm not going to buy import soundtracks if there's a good chance they are going to be brought over, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit and wait. [/color][/size][/font]