(no subject)

Dec. 6th, 2025 02:09 pm
tropicsbear: Prince Heinel from Voltes V with a disgusted expression (Voltes V: Disgusted Heinel)
[personal profile] tropicsbear

This was also discussed over at [community profile] anime_manga, but I wanted a link here for mirroring reasons as well.

Crunchyroll is destroying its subtitles for no good reason

There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from that: the Funimation-turned-Crunchyroll executives still do not have any respect for anime as a medium. In addition, they seem to be treating Crunchyroll and its ways of doing things as the ways of pirates – which isn’t entirely incorrect, as Crunchyroll’s use of Aegisub and ASS did originate from the ways of pirate fansubbers. But fansubbers deeply care about anime as medium (they wouldn’t be illegally subtitling it for free as a hobby otherwise), which in turn means that the ways fansubbers have developed to subtitle anime are in fact extremely efficient for the job – much better than basically any “industry standards” for subtitling, even.

Like the [community profile] anime_manga OP says, I do remember a time when Crunchyroll was a piracy site. It's why I made an account over there in the first place 😂 (An account I promptly forgot about in favor of torrenting, only to log in again after so many years and be surprised to see that the site was now legit.)

If I were running Crunchyroll, I'd hire a bunch of fansubbers and have them use their preferred software to make high-quality subtitles then use that as my selling point versus other streaming platforms.

Worcester Christmas Fayre

Dec. 6th, 2025 12:33 am
loganberrybunny: Christmassy stuff (Bunny Bauble)
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Inside Worcester Cathedral (taken before the service began)
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I wanted to go into Worcester today to experience the Christmas Fayre for a bit. Unfortunately a signalling problem on the railways meant I had to go by road, which took longer. (The buses were running; they're just slower.) I had a muffin – apple and cinnamon flavour – and two or three coffees during the day. I also popped into Worcester Cathedral for the Shoppers' Carol Service. I'm not religious, but I do enjoy these: four popular carols,¹ a few Bible readings and a prayer or two, all packed into about half an hour. It started raining just as we filed back into the open, so I chose to come home not long afterwards.

¹ O Come All Ye Faithful, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watched, O Little Town of Bethlehem.

(no subject)

Dec. 5th, 2025 11:47 pm
tropicsbear: Close up of a pair of lips wearing golden lipstick with a few fingers wearing golden nail polish visible (Fashion: Makeup)
[personal profile] tropicsbear

✒️ I know I've said multiple times that I want to delete my FF.net account ... but now I also want to start cross-posting stuff between AO3 and SqWA because of the fear that one of them might suddenly disappear one day. The urges directly oppose one another, but I think the main difference is that AO3 and SqWA give me control over my account—I can delete it if I want—while FF.net doesn't. I'm holding off for now because I'm not even done emptying my FF.net, but we'll see.

❓ Is the tiny AO3 username icon not working for anyone else? Or is it just me?

💄 I've cleaned out all my expired lipsticks (donated them to a funeral parlor) and now I don't have a nude lipstick anymore. I poked around the department store for a replacement and decided to try GRWM's lip booze sheer balm in the shade Whiskey and omg. It's so good! Not sticky, made my lips feel super hydrated, and it looks so nice! Now I want to nab the Weng-weng shade.

🐏 I decided it was time to switch up my journal layout again. There's some things I'm trying figure out with the spacing of list items, but other than that, I think it's the perfect layout for TadaAi. Creating the custom layout layer wasn't as difficult as I thought it'd be. Opens up a whole new avenue of layouts for use. (I've been avoiding the ones using custom layers because I was scared of the implementation 😆)

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307/365: Bewdley bypass
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Because I'd been occupied with necessary but boring work, I didn't get out of the house today until well into the afternoon. When I did manage it, I walked out to the south of the town, towards Ribbesford but then veering off along Heightington Lane until I got to the bridge over the Bewdley bypass. This is a pretty boring walk in drizzly conditions, but it did at least let me take a pretty boring photo to go with it! :D

Misty (then sunny) Redditch

Dec. 4th, 2025 12:05 am
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306/365: Paolozzi Mosaics, Redditch
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I was in Redditch largely for boring reasons today, but I did have time for a coffee and a little wander. Sadly the previously relaxingly roomy Starbucks in Sainsbury's has been cut in half by a new Specsavers and it's nowhere near as pleasant now. So I went to the Royal Enfield (the town's Wetherspoons) and had coffee there instead. Later I pottered around the Kingfisher Centre, which isn't the most thrilling place but does have this quite interesting wall art at one end of the mall. They're the Paolozzi Mosaics, unveiled in 1983 and created by Eduardo Paolozzi.

At 25:00 in Akasaka Season 2 (2025)

Dec. 3rd, 2025 07:56 pm
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[personal profile] reviews_and_ramblings
 At 25:00, in Akasaka Season 2 is exactly what I expected after watching Season 1: the events of the manga series have been readapted and mixed differently to fit four books into two seasons. The series currently has five books, but the fifth book covers Asami's experience filming a movie in England while Shirasaki stays in Japan—which is exactly what the two protagonists agree upon in the final episode of Season 2. Therefore, I can confidently say that if there is a Season 3, it will start with Book 5. Now, let's get back to the drama itself: as I mentioned, my feelings from Season 1 are reconfirmed and even amplified in Season 2. I continue to surprise myself with how much I am drawn to the character of Asami. Let me explain: aesthetically, I don't like him at all. In fact, sometimes when I see his close-ups, I wonder how they expect us to buy the idea that he's a sex symbol loved by the masses. I find his features to be extremely angular, he's too thin, and that fake blonde hair clashes too much with his Asian features... in short, I'm not a fan. Yet, he acts his part so well that, paradoxically, when he interacts with Shirasaki, I feel the chemistry, and yes, I find him extremely sexy. I truly don't know how this is possible, so I have to give credit to the actor for successfully conveying these emotions. In contrast, Shirasaki is the classic tsundere uke of Japanese manga—small and cute in appearance, but with a clearly rebellious nature. Shirasaki cannot keep anything to himself, neither positive nor negative, and sometimes he doesn't realize how much his words can hurt. In particular, there is a moment in Season 2 where he gets angry at Asami, and the only thing I could think was, "Why are you meddling? The decision is not yours, and Asami doesn't have to take your negative feelings into account when making it." In short, Shirasaki may be cute, but I find him unbearable. That said, if two actors can engage the viewer in this way, it means they are truly talented. Shirasaki and Asami, as portrayed by Taisuke Niihara and Kiita Komagine, are perfect. I rewatched Season 1 multiple times, and I believe I will rewatch this season multiple times as well. Another positive note is that the production overall is perfect: the set designs are beautiful (though I preferred their apartment in Season 1 compared to Season 2), the outdoor scenes are well-set with a perfect light, and the music is spot on. HEA. You can watch on GagaOOLala. Heat Level: 5/6.


Manga: amzn.to/48x8K9g

Heat Level:
1/6: glances, caress, hugs, no kisses
2/6: kisses, closed mouth or camera angles
3/6: full kisses, clothes on
4/6: full kisses, some clothes off, hands above the waist, pants stay on
5/6: most clothes off, they have sex, but it’s masked, no sexy sounds
6/6: full nudity mostly hidden by camera angles, they have sex, sexy sounds

Stourport

Dec. 2nd, 2025 11:35 pm
loganberrybunny: Drawing of my lapine character's face by Eliki (Default)
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305/365: Hartlebury Common
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I was in Stourport today, which despite its being only a few miles away isn't a town I visit very much. I had a nice English breakfast in the Open Kitchen in the centre, had a quick look at the river, then walked out to the edge of Hartlebury Common – see photo above. For early December it was a really nice day, with even a little warmth in the sunshine. I only saw a couple of other people in twenty minutes or so of walking. Then it was back to town to do a little bit of unexciting shopping. In all honesty, I've had plenty of worse days. :)
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304/365: Newsham Fire Engine
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Another very quick post tonight. This is a Newsham Water Engine in Bewdley Museum, dating from the eighteenth century. This kind of engine was developed by Richard Newsham early in that century and remained dominant for fifty years. Some examples seem to have still been in use in the early nineteenth century, a hundred years on from their introduction.

Not much to say, so have a photo

Dec. 1st, 2025 12:48 am
loganberrybunny: Drawing of my lapine character's face by Eliki (Default)
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303/365: Restored building, Bewdley
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Nothing special, just a nicely restored building in Stourport Road. The River Severn is a few metres out of shot to the right.
denise: Image: Me, facing away from camera, on top of the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome (Default)
[staff profile] denise posting in [site community profile] dw_news
Hello, friends! It's about to be December again, and you know what that means: the fact I am posting this actually before December 1 means [staff profile] karzilla reminded me about the existence of linear time again. Wait, no -- well, yes, but also -- okay, look, let me back up and start again: it's almost December, and that means it's time for our annual December holiday points bonus.

The standard explanation: For the entire month of December, all orders made in the Shop of points and paid time, either for you or as a gift for a friend, will have 10% of your completed cart total sent to you in points when you finish the transaction. For instance, if you buy an order of 12 months of paid time for $35 (350 points), you'll get 35 points when the order is complete, to use on a future purchase.

The fine print and much more behind this cut! )

Thank you, in short, for being the best possible users any social media site could possibly ever hope for. I'm probably in danger of crossing the Sappiness Line if I haven't already, but you all make everything worth it.

On behalf of Mark, Jen, Robby, and our team of awesome volunteers, and to each and every one of you, whether you've been with us on this wild ride since the beginning or just signed up last week, I'm wishing you all a very happy set of end-of-year holidays, whichever ones you celebrate, and hoping for all of you that your 2026 is full of kindness, determination, empathy, and a hell of a lot more luck than we've all had lately. Let's go.

In the rain

Nov. 30th, 2025 01:12 am
loganberrybunny: Christmassy stuff (Bunny Bauble)
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302/365: Empty fairground rides
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I had to miss a meetup with friends today owing to an earlier commitment, so I consoled myself with a trip into town in the afternoon. Today was the switch-on date for Bewdley's Christmas lights, so naturally it rained half the time! I didn't feel like staying for the actual big moment, but I did wander around the stalls earlier and had a pistachio... well, it was basically a Berliner, but called by a Polish name I can't remember. Very nice, though. Have a photo of the rides in the car park before they'd actually opened. :P

Present and correct

Nov. 29th, 2025 12:06 am
loganberrybunny: Christmassy stuff (Bunny Bauble)
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301/365: Gift-wrapped building, Bewdley
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I had a lot going on today, although very little of it involved me doing things that are actually interesting and relevant to post here! I also got wet when it rained earlier than it was supposed to. Ah well. Have a photo of Merchants (the chippy in Bewdley) gift-wrapped for the season! I haven't seen the place do this before, but it's really effective considering the fairly minimal decoration used. Those picnic tables are a bit of a triumph of hope over experience, though!
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When one prince seeks to defeat the Demon King, he discovers that the demon is actually a huge wimp! A Boys’ Love enemies to lovers manga with a rom-com twist.

To defeat the notorious Demon King, Prince Ike bravely storms the castle, ready for a fierce battle—only for the demon to run away?! What should have been a fight to the death quickly turns into an unexpected game of chase, as Ike discovers that the feared villain is actually timid and despises conflict. And when Ike gets injured, it's the Demon King who cares for him more than anyone else, even going out of his way to understand Ike's feelings. Ike arrived determined to defeat his enemy, but now he finds himself wishing he could spend more time with him...?

My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/4pwrYCC)

As the plot suggests, Haruo Natsuno's Wimpy Demon King and Tsundere Hero is a cute and sweet story. Nothing dramatic happens, and in fact, many charming and funny elements—like the dog Rudy, a white ball of fluff—make the whole thing lean more towards comedy than romance. Even the sexy scenes between Ike and the Demon King Noah are barely sketched out, as if to avoid lingering too much on the erotic details, which keeps the overall tone light. If I'm being honest, this story is perhaps a little too light for my personal taste, but it is nonetheless a quick and enjoyable read.
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Long ago, a wolf and white deer fell in love, becoming mates for life. Deep in the mountains lies a land of people who live in harmony with wolves. Among them, those who are born with white hair are called ”white deers”, said to have descended from the white deer of their legends. Those with black hair are called ”wolves” and the royalty of these wolves will mate with white deers for life. One day, a golden-eyed white deer is discovered locked up in the basement of a village. The Soldier who found this white deer, Ylwess, and Alta slowly begin to grow close to one another. He knows he wants to protect Alta, in all of his innocence and beauty. However, Alta is destined as a white deer to marry into royalty... how can the two confront this problem...?

My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/3KnbL3F)
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[personal profile] reviews_and_ramblings
 

Deep in the mountains lies a land of people who live in harmony with wolves. Among them, those who are born with white hair are called ”white deers”, said to have descended from the white deer of their legends. Sara, a ”white” deer raised to marry into the royal family, has always been infatuated with Prince Alaxy, well aware that the two will become ”mates”. However, it seems that the one Prince Alaxy has always loved is her twin brother, Nara. She tells herself that she does not mind being even his substitute. This is but one of multiple stories taking place in the world of this mystical kingdom.

My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/3Xkuq3c)

Starve Me of Love by Arinco

Dec. 6th, 2025 10:19 am
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[personal profile] reviews_and_ramblings
 

"I can't think when I hear your words..." In a society where people are categorized into Doms and Subs, Ichiya, a college student, has been diagnosed as a Sub. Feeling aversion to this disposition, he spends his time hiding the truth of his diagnosis from those around him. One day, he runs into an underclassman, Sena, a Dom, and for the first time, he feels an irresistible desire to obey him.Though Ichiya is bewildered by and resistant to the pleasures of obedience, he gently and calmly draws closer to the man who wants him and him alone...

My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/4pqIlBj)

The strength of Starve Me of Love by Arinco is the artwork. In a way, it's a bit "dirtier" or rougher than most yaoi manga we are used to reading, and this is what makes it intriguing. That being said, the story falls into the norm for Dom/Sub plots, a genre that is developing as an alternative to the ever-popular Alpha/Beta/Omega (ABO) Universe. If I have to be completely honest, I personally prefer the ABO Universe. However, Starve Me of Love is romantic and sexy enough to still be a pleasant read.
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This volume comes with an exclusive Animate Bonus and ComiComi Studio Bonus!

Three best friends—a handsome prince-like guy, an airheaded princess-like girl, and a snappy punk—have been together ever since elementary school. Sunao, the punk, has been doing his best to keep the one-sided feelings he has for Hiroomi, the popular prince, a secret. But recently, tons of blush-worthy situations keep happening to him, making it hard to keep his feelings under wraps...

Turns out, Hiroomi's been the one orchestrating all these encounters! He's head-over-heels for Sunao, and ready to win him over!

Don't miss this youthful rom-com with all the (spicy) thrills of first love. ♥

My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/4p0Fsqq)

Shoma Koi: This Ain't Some Shoujo Manga! by Howako is a classic high school boys' love romance. It features the familiar trope of childhood friends where the tall, dark, and brooding Seme is secretly in love with his friend, an outgoing and seemingly rebellious Uke who, in reality, is super jealous of his childhood friend and can't stand that all the girls at school are head over heels for the handsome heartthrob. Even the third wheel—the mutual female friend who is secretly scheming to get her two guy friends together—isn't a new element. So why should you read this yaoi manga? Because, just like all the others in the genre, it's cute and fun, more tender than you might imagine, and actually less sexy. Truth be told, the author has "relegated"—and, yes, "gifted"—all the sexy scenes to the bonus story, making the main manga itself quite innocent.

Our Family, Now and Forever by Hasake

Nov. 28th, 2025 10:17 pm
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An endearing Boys’ Love story about changing ways, love, and family.

Naguru once lived a rough life as the leader of a gang, getting into fights in order to protect his friends. His loved ones all admired his strength and kindness, but also worried that his dangerous lifestyle would get him killed. When Hirao first met Naguru, he didn’t know about the man’s gang affiliation: all Hirao knew in that moment was that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Naguru.

Thanks to Hirao’s love, Naguru found a new path—and a new future. Now, the former gang leader is a devoted father, raising their adorable son, Towa, alongside the man who changed his life. Join this heartwarming family of three in an all-new BL series!

My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/4rsz7FY)
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Mikage is a jobless graduate from an underperforming high school leading a boring life. A handsome stranger suddenly comes to visit him, hugging and saying ”I've come to be your lover”. Naturally, Mikage panics! The handsome stranger turns out to be Mikage's high school junior named Amatsuka. He says he's come because he's fulfilled the conditions Mikage set to become his boyfriend at Mikage's graduation ceremony. Puzzled by it all, Mikage is taken over by Amatsuka's enthusiastic approach which winds up with the two living together at Mikage's place?!

My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/3XXb3gI)