Sorry for not giving news in so long. Just been busy really *s* Between work, crossing fingers for Federer at Wimbledon (try typing while you do that, I dare you! Oh, and while I'm at it: Dear Roger, thank you for the wonderful fortnight and for this great victory but please, no more 4 hours+ thrillers in finale, I had stomach cramps the whole evening and my nerves were all but shot for the following days. Thank you.) and getting somewhat back at Ancient Worlds (sort of, really, I'll see where this whole thing gets me). Oh yeah, and I'm back in the saddle for the FF XII walkthrough which I have abandoned somewhat over the last couple of months....

Anyhoo, a few things that I am about to/ have ticked off my list:

- I'm almost done with scanning the latest issue of Shel'tter which should be online this weekend

- The review for Red Cliff part 1 is online (thank you Beth for the beta-reading!), along with the picspam (here for the complete - but access-restricted - one and there for the somewhat smaller, but public one)

- Just posted the picspam for the second installment in the Sasori (Female Prisoner: Scorpion) series here (I'll make a smaller, public picspam alongside the review when I have that one ready)

- Started translating the first book in an illustrated history of Japan series. I am still wondering if it will be worth making longer summaries of what's in there, but at any rate, I'll posting short notes in English about it and the first one, on Paleolithic Japan, is here; threads will change according to the period, but I'll post links here anyway

- Am currently posting Masaya Kato picspams from the KiraKira Kenshui series over at a chinese discussion board dedicated to him. But the access is public so I'll post the complete list of links (there's one thread per episode) here if anyone wants to have a look ;-)

Oh yeah, one of the other things I've been busy with IRL is that I found out early this month that Nara (Nara Prefecture, Japan) will celebrate next year its 1300th anniversary of becoming capital of Japan. They will hold events throughout the year. And since it's been a while I've been thinking of going to Japan within the next few years, I thought I might just change my plans and go a bit earlier than first planned *g* : Nara was definitely a place I wanted to visit (I am a history geek, after all) and it will be easy to travel to Osaka and Kyoto from there. I will probably stay in that area for a week and in Tokyo for another one - at least that's the early plans I have in mind

Ok, finally managed to post that review of Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion, which you can find here. It is both more detailed than planned yet very frustrating because the more I was writing, the more I was thinking "Oh yeah, there was that too....". It's such a rich movie, both visually and thematically, that from the moment you start detailing some aspects, it becomes very hard to know where to stop. At any rate, I hope curious minds will give it a go, because that's definitely an experience like few others....

Oh, and I am currently uploading pictures to add - hopefully they will already be available when you get there - if not, please give it a try a little later on ^-^

I have received, among others, the Goemon OST and am being completely hooked. I won't be seeing the movie before a while yet (I will have to wait for it to come out on DVD in Japan), so I really can't comment there except that reviews are, once again, very mixed. Still, I can't wait to see music and images brought together now *g*

And, because I know some people would probably get very upset at me if I didn't post it now, here is another Masaya Kato photoshoot, this one from Uomo of December 2008, which is pretty much a promotional shooting for a Swiss luxury watch brand (they were holding an event at their new shop the following month and Masaya Kato was their main guest, so I guess this explains that).....yeah, yeah, I know, Swiss have great taste like that *cough cough*

( Warning: highly handsome man under the cut )

Already posted the screencaps of Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion here. It is however for members only: if people are interested, I might post them somewhere where everyone could have access though

I am currently writing the movie review which I'll probably have up by tomorrow; I'm also looking forward to watch the following movie in the series, Female Prisoner #701 - Jailhouse 41, which is the movie that got me started on the series in the first place. And of course there's also Red Cliff part 1, now that I've got it with English subtitles (as well as the Japanese guide book, he!)

As for other news, I was sad to learn that David Carradine had passed away; I've never actively followed his carrier but I've certainly enjoyed everything I've seen of him....also giving me pause of course is the anniversary of Tiananmen Square, or rather the way the Chinese government is trying its hardest to supress the memory. Not that it is surprising in any way, but it is a sad reminder that, while a growing part of the population has access to the "capitalist" way of life, some things will not change as easily. More than the issue of democratization though, what pains me the most is the way parents and family of those who've died must suffer in silence, and that's just not right

And because I want to end this post on a lighter note:

Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman and James Bond together on Broadway - this time it's confirmed!