I just finished rereading The Hobbit last night

I can't count how many times I've read that book. So I think it's interesting that it's taken me over two decades to realise that there are no female characters anywhere in the story.

And that kind of says something, right there.

In fact, the only two times women are mentioned at all are during discussions of Bilbo's Took relations in the very beginning, and I think a Sackville-Baggins aunt is mentioned at the end.

Interesting that someone who can write great works of literature can essentially forget (ignore?) the gender of about half the people on the planet. Just food for thought.

That will be all.

Silver Diamond Part IV (Translated)

How much do you love me? After a two month hiatus, the fourth chapter of Sugiura's Silver Diamond ran in the February 2004 Ichi Raci and I have taken the time to translate it for you! Sugiura continues to reveal one main plot point per chapter, and there are also some really cool sight/vocabulary gags thrown in as well.

And without further ado:

( Silver Diamond: Part IV )

That will be all.

Woah! Fandom rambling follows...

Today I tracked down the latest Zero Sum (it having been released while I was stateside). Due to the facts that: Saiyuki Gaiden hasn't been printed in ages; the Saiyuki Reload chapters are seldom over twenty pages; and aside from Saiyuki, most of the serialised manga it contains are crap, I rarely buy ZS, but rather participate in the venerable Japanese tradition of 立ち読み, or reading my favorite bits in the store without actually buying.

This month, even though the cover price went up by a dollar, ( I may actually buy the ZS: )

That will be all.