Monte_Kristo's recent activity
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Comment on US Federal Aviation Administration reducing air traffic by 10% across forty ‘high-volume’ markets during government shutdown in ~transport
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Comment on Dick Cheney dies at 84 in ~society
Monte_Kristo Link ParentWhile he was evil, he wasn't really a part of the Trump apparatus in that way. Insulting him isn't an attack on Trump, because he was not a representative of the Trump regime.While he was evil, he wasn't really a part of the Trump apparatus in that way. Insulting him isn't an attack on Trump, because he was not a representative of the Trump regime.
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Comment on Is anyone here in or familiar with Tokyo? Going on a trip and have zero idea what to do as a non-tourist... in ~travel
Monte_Kristo LinkI think a distinct thing about Japanese cities are the gachapon machines. It's those things you insert a coin into which dispenses a plastic ball that has a toy/figure inside. They are everywhere,...I think a distinct thing about Japanese cities are the gachapon machines. It's those things you insert a coin into which dispenses a plastic ball that has a toy/figure inside. They are everywhere, and I think they are worth looking at because of the absurd variety of things in them. Tons of them are gonna have garbage you don't want, but if you look at enough of them, you will find something that's cool, or funny, or related to your interests in some way. I found a machine that had miniature versions of the brand of American work boots I wear. They get ultra niche and specific, and make a good souvenir. You may ask yourself why you would ever want a shitty 50 yen key chain, and the answer is because there is actually one tailor made just for you. If you do decide to get one, look around because there is probably a place to return the plastic balls to, as they reuse them.
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Comment on Is anyone here in or familiar with Tokyo? Going on a trip and have zero idea what to do as a non-tourist... in ~travel
Monte_Kristo Link ParentYou are thinking of the imperial palace gardens.You are thinking of the imperial palace gardens.
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Comment on Looking for movies that combine religion mythology and supernatural elements in ~movies
Monte_Kristo LinkThere is a Korean horror film called The Wailing which mixes Christian themes with Korean folklore. I'm a big fan of it.There is a Korean horror film called The Wailing which mixes Christian themes with Korean folklore. I'm a big fan of it.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump has begun demolishing the east wing of the White House, without approval in ~society
Monte_Kristo Link ParentWe somehow found a more poignant metaphor than the clown's own mugshot.We somehow found a more poignant metaphor than the clown's own mugshot.
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Comment on ‘Predator: Badlands’ officially rated PG-13, meant to be “boundary-pushing” in ~movies
Monte_Kristo Link ParentI don't really care for Mortal Kombat, so I don't frequent channels who specialize in it, but I've heard that exclusively killing D'Vorah or the T-1000 isn't even a sure thing to prevent someone's...I don't really care for Mortal Kombat, so I don't frequent channels who specialize in it, but I've heard that exclusively killing D'Vorah or the T-1000 isn't even a sure thing to prevent someone's channel from getting demonetized, so the hand wringing nonsense isn't a film exclusive thing.
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Comment on ‘Predator: Badlands’ officially rated PG-13, meant to be “boundary-pushing” in ~movies
Monte_Kristo Link ParentThe Samurai Jack method.The Samurai Jack method.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 labels common beliefs as terrorism “indicators” in ~society
Monte_Kristo Link ParentNot to mention that they will probably use this to exert pressure on social media platforms. Can't have the algorithm showing people posts that support the "terrorists" or allow your website to...Not to mention that they will probably use this to exert pressure on social media platforms. Can't have the algorithm showing people posts that support the "terrorists" or allow your website to link to "terrorist" literature.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 labels common beliefs as terrorism “indicators” in ~society
Monte_Kristo Link ParentI think it is also going to be used to target anyone setting up a mass demonstration or protest. “The Attorney General shall issue specific guidance that ensures domestic terrorism priorities...I think it is also going to be used to target anyone setting up a mass demonstration or protest.
“The Attorney General shall issue specific guidance that ensures domestic terrorism priorities include politically motivated terrorist acts such as organized doxing campaigns, swatting, rioting, looting, trespass, assault, destruction of property, threats of violence, and civil disorder,”
With how they portrayed by the administration, a planned protest is really just a premeditated riot and looting.
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Comment on Motion inputs in ~games
Monte_Kristo Link ParentI think one of the first responses referencing an eight year old video essay (from a person whose work I actually enjoy) about a game people do not regularly play does set some sort of precedent.I think one of the first responses referencing an eight year old video essay (from a person whose work I actually enjoy) about a game people do not regularly play does set some sort of precedent.
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Comment on Motion inputs in ~games
Monte_Kristo Link ParentYou don't need to condescend to me about fighting games, I'm already "Anyone who's played a fighter before". A thing can be good and scrubby, not every game is equally fun to play. Not every move...You don't need to condescend to me about fighting games, I'm already "Anyone who's played a fighter before". A thing can be good and scrubby, not every game is equally fun to play. Not every move is healthy to the meta it contributes to. I'm calling Jinx's super scrubby whilst maining her and shooting people with it
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Comment on Motion inputs in ~games
Monte_Kristo Link ParentI don't think Jinx's super is as good as AHVB, but I do think it is scrubby, and I think having to tiger knee it would make it way less so a the lower level.I don't think Jinx's super is as good as AHVB, but I do think it is scrubby, and I think having to tiger knee it would make it way less so a the lower level.
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Comment on Motion inputs in ~games
Monte_Kristo LinkI find that replacing motion inputs with special move buttons almost exclusively has the effect of making the opponent less interesting to fight against. I think the aspect of attacking your...I find that replacing motion inputs with special move buttons almost exclusively has the effect of making the opponent less interesting to fight against. I think the aspect of attacking your opponent's inputs is very interesting, and one button specials and supers just straight up give you less to attack. I've been playing Jinx in 2XKO. Her beam super is really good. It is probably pretty frustrating for my opponent that I can just delete anything on the screen in an instant because reacting with super is really easy. A lot of people seem to want to get rid of motion inputs to remove the punishment they feel when there is slop in their play (not being able to anti air, dropping combos), but if you give your opponents really good stuff like easy anti airs and full screen supers at the touch of a button, much more is being demanded of you to not get your teeth kicked in. Slop is getting punished either way.
To me the breaking point is that people want to make Street Fighter II, but every successful fighter with no/significantly less motion inputs throws the Street Fighter blue prints in the garbage. Platform fighters and 3D fighters either have no motion inputs or have significantly less motion inputs. Jinx's super is the way it is because they wanted to put Cable's Hyper Viper Beam from Marvel vs Capcom into 2XKO. That is baggage that was never considered when Smash Bros was made. Tekken didn't have the concept of a shoto until 7. I think games should just accept the baggage they are self imposing upon themselves, or they should kill their masters.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Monte_Kristo Link ParentI feel that if you don't like it by Drum Island, I don't think anything is gonna turn the needle for you. It's common consensus that stuff that's 200 or 300 chapters in is better than the stuff in...I feel that if you don't like it by Drum Island, I don't think anything is gonna turn the needle for you. It's common consensus that stuff that's 200 or 300 chapters in is better than the stuff in the beginning, but the opinion is that it gets better as it goes along, not that it starts off bad and makes some sort of miraculous change up.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Monte_Kristo Link ParentI started reading Dai Nana Joshikai Houkou a while ago and stopped for some reason, should probably get back to it at some point. It's obviously much more sci-fi oriented, but I'd agree with the...I started reading Dai Nana Joshikai Houkou a while ago and stopped for some reason, should probably get back to it at some point. It's obviously much more sci-fi oriented, but I'd agree with the stylistic similarities between it and Soremachi, and I'd also recommend the parts that I did read.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Monte_Kristo LinkI read Masakazu Ishiguro's Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru/And Yet the Town Keeps Turning, which I've seen a few people shorten to Soremachi. It's a slice of life coming of age story about a girl...I read Masakazu Ishiguro's Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru/And Yet the Town Keeps Turning, which I've seen a few people shorten to Soremachi. It's a slice of life coming of age story about a girl named Hotori Arashiyama, who is a high school student who works at a small local restaurant, whose main hobby is reading detective mysteries. It is very cool, because it is told non linearly. Each chapter is a small slice of her high school career, but they are not in chronological order. The backgrounds are a littered with pieces of continuity, so you can actually place them in a timeline, but doing so isn't necessary to understand the story. The main theme is that her growth into an adult is built brick by brick. She becomes a new person through small incremental changes over a long period of time.
Hotori is a very compelling protagonist. She is an infectiously good person. She is a very kind and nurturing older sibling, a reliable friend, and an ardent supporter of her local community. But it's not like she's some perfect saint of a character. Her goodness is shown through small consistent acts of kindness in between her moments of failure.
Spoilers
I think she has a very strong arc of going from a foolish and naive child, to being a rational but still whimsical adult. This is most strongly shown through her relationship with detective novels. At the start of the series she literally wants to be a Sherlock Holmes style detective. Several chapters are dedicated to her trying to solve mysteries, some successfully and some not. Through those experiences, the series culminates into her becoming a writer, which allows her to experience the things she loves about mysteries in a more realistic and achievable way.
Overall it gets a big recommendation from me. Probably a top 3 SoL for me. I don't think anything will ever beat Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! for me, but this puts up a good fight and depending on the day, it may beat out my other favorite series, Hitoshi Ashinano's Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. I'd also heavily recommend Ishuro's currently ongoing series Tengoku Daimakyou. They are dramatically different series, with TD being a violent sci-fi action series, but they both use the non linear story telling formats, so if you enjoy that aspect in one of the series you'll probably enjoy it in the other.
Soremachi has an anime that I have not watched. It's animated by SHAFT, so I assume the visual quality is fairly high, but I don't know how good of an adaptation the story is.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Monte_Kristo Link ParentSpoilers Yeah, the Helck Vermilio friendship is great. I think it hits a rare combo, because not only does it not turn romantic, but it also feels like the "culture" agrees with that decision....Spoilers
Yeah, the Helck Vermilio friendship is great. I think it hits a rare combo, because not only does it not turn romantic, but it also feels like the "culture" agrees with that decision. There are a few series that end in with male female friendship, that the fans almost entirely ignore, I'm even guilty of it myself, but basically everyone seems to be on board with Helck and Vermilio just being friends. -
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Monte_Kristo Link ParentI love Helck in a B movie sort of way. It's like a platonic ideal of a shonen series. It's nothing but tropes, but they are all used correctly. Just a nice simple 8/10.I love Helck in a B movie sort of way. It's like a platonic ideal of a shonen series. It's nothing but tropes, but they are all used correctly. Just a nice simple 8/10.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Monte_Kristo LinkI got caught up to date on Yasuyuki Kosaka's Houkago Teibou Nisshi/Diary of our Days at the Breakwater, and I completed Aki Irie's Ran and the Gray World Houkago Teibou Nisshi is a fairly standard...I got caught up to date on Yasuyuki Kosaka's Houkago Teibou Nisshi/Diary of our Days at the Breakwater, and I completed Aki Irie's Ran and the Gray World
Houkago Teibou Nisshi is a fairly standard contribution to the "cute girls do cute things" genre, it is about a group of high school girls who are a the members of a fishing club in a small town in Kyushu. It's one part slice of life comedy, and one part in depth exposition on the intricacies of angling. I've spent most of my life hating fishing, and I'm coming to the conclusion that a part of it was caused by being "taught" how to fish by people who don't know much about fishing. So this series going in depth on different types of knots, lures, rods, reels, line materials, and techniques was all informative and engaging for me. I'm also appreciative of the series being pretty on point about the environmental impact fishing has, and the responsibilities one has to uphold to ethically participate in the hobby. For example, pretty much every episode is at the beach, but the SoL token "beach episode" was about the cast cleaning up trash on the beach. All in all nothing crazy, but fun if you have any sort of passing interest in fishing.
Ran and the Gray World is a fantasy coming of age story about a young girl named Ran living in a family of sorcerers. Her parents are loving, but burdened with responsibility (they guard a gate that entombs a swarm of demon bugs), and her older brother is caring, but suppresses his magical ability and actively prevents Ran from using her's. Ran is a little spoiled, and because of her ignorance about the world she acts up. She has a pair of shoes that she casts a spell on to transform her into an adult when she wears them, and she sneaks out of the house to get into misadventures.
Ran has a larger overarching arc about learning responsibility, but both her and her brother Jin have arcs exploring the "gravity" of sexuality. Jin is essentially a werewolf and Irie uses it as a metaphor for male puberty, and how it is not a thing that can be suppressed but can be controlled. For Ran, the message is clearly about how girls get acknowledge for their bodies far faster than they should. I think the most contentious plot point of the series is that she essentially start dating an adult man (in her mind she's just hanging out with a friend), and the guy isn't really reprimanded by the cast for this after he finds out she is a child with magical powers and decides that it is not a deal breaker for him...
I think it is a thing that I'm fine with given the full context of the story, but it's something that starts off weird and may stop someone from reading the whole thing. Which would be a shame to me, because overall I think the story is quite good. Also the art is fantastic. I can't perfectly describe it, but it uses a lot of long thin lines that makes everything wavy and gestural. It's cool looking.Spoilers
He gets killed by demon bees in a tragic way after learning how to be a better person and Ran starts dating a boy here age at the end of the series, so the narrative side steps that issue.
I'm supposed to be going to Hawaii on the 25th. I'm so screwed.