Letters

The JavaScript debate continues...

Ok. I guess it's about time I wrote since I've been following the two subjects closely in your letters section. I'm a graphic design major in college. To be more specific, I'm more proficient in web design than print design, since that's what I do most of the time. And out of all the designs I've done I have only used JavaScript once, which was the classic mouseover technique, and that's when I was just beginning to make pages. I have since ditched Javascript, saving it for rare occasions (which will probably be only a mouseover script again), since it is possible to make great pages with just HTML and some graphics expertise. That's all you basically need.

As for interactivity, I have a certain preference for Macromedia Flash (which I will eventually start using), in that it can be viewed on older browsers, looks the same on every browser, yet still provides some dazzling effects. The only drawback is that it uses a plug in, but better to download a small plug in than a new browser. The only thing at Flash's level is dynamic HTML, but it is standardless and doesn't work on anything lower than 4.0.

Now for the fansub debate, which I don't really like getting into in the first place. I'm not really a fansubber, but I have friends who are, and they work hard on their projects, slaving away for hours on Friday nights to get a title done. If I could rig a fansub so that when a commercial version comes out it erases itself I would. But I see promise in a growing market out there known by three simple letters: DVD. DVD can be helpful to fansubbers since there's no way a subber can make DVD copies (yet), so fans usually end up buying the commercial version if they want it on DVD. And the quality of DVD is superior to that of a VHS tape so as long as the subbing is competent (or dubbing if you prefer. yuck.). DVDs are also at a reasonable price (usually running about the same price as the VHS version). And being able to turn the subs on and off makes them great for doing music videos or learning Japanese. ^^

What really bothers me, however, is what Leo Sutic wrote in your letters section. Fansubbers do not try "to bring down a company with their illegal copies." They provide knowledge of an anime title in Japan so that it can be brought over commercially to the US. And while not all fansubbers are saints, they are surely not "parasites."

Chris McDougall trowa@jps.net
"I'll build my own Escaflowne site, with hookers and black jack."
The result: http://gaea.tierranet.com =P
escaflowne - the movie: http://gaea.tierranet.com/escamovie

(sniff) Why did you have to mention DVD? I can't take it anymore!! I wanna see Lain! I wanna see El-Hazard! GIVE ME MY PLAYER BACK, YOU INCOMPETANT REPAIR BOOBS! ARRRGH!! [sticks bodily part in desk drawer, slams it] Okay, I'm done. No, really, I'm fine! See? I'm reading the next letter!

On the topic of annoying otaku in the video rooms at cons who laugh loudly at inappropriate times:

Nothing much to say, just wanted to know that you to know that there are others who share your pain with those damned otaku. I can especially relate to that part about Tenchi Forever because I was sitting right in front of some idiot who kept going "oh man Tenchi is finally getting some." Good god, I wish there were some sort of otaku ray gun that could lower the otaku hormone level a couple of notches. sigh.

Jack Sun dockaos@earthlink.net

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Finally someone who agrees with me. In Brazil some stores that specialize in anime products reserve viewing rooms for fans to show and watch anime every saturday, but most of the people who go have no clue what the anime they're seeing is and are only mildly interested in anime at all. Hence, as I watched "The End of Evangelion" during one of Shinji's many monologues and I began to understand what the movie was about I kept hearing comments and seeing gestures like "let's get outta here, this movie sucks" from the people who had never seen the Eva TV series. Its extremely annoying and ruins the entire moment of the movie.

Keiichi keiichi@routevenus.com
http://www.routevenus.com

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I must agree wholeheartedly with this months rant, but as you mentioned it's not necessarily only a problem in video rooms. Having been there opening day for every Trek movie since I was little (number six was my first), as well as being there 12:01 AM opening day for Phantom Menace, I can tell you people dont know when to shut up. At Phantom Menace some moron laughed when Qui-Gon Jinn died. It's hard to believe, but someone actually cheered when Kirk met his reward. Then on the flip side there are some points when I wish people would cheer/laugh/whatever.

W.V. LittIeMai@aol.com

Okay, so you've been every Trek since you were "little", and movie number VI was your first? That make four movies. Star Trek II came out when I was in high school. Man, am I old...

Do you think you could have the topic be anime fanartists sometime? There are so many pages, it's hard to find the ones worth visiting *_* A good site for fan artist links is http://carp.simplenet.com

~Jasmine jas_chan@yahoo.com

People have asked me this before. There's two problems with tackling fanart sites. First, there are so many of them. Secondly, image galleries tend to take a long time to load, even with thumbnails. I don't know if there'd be enough free time in a month for me to fairly review the category.

Mr Mathews, Here is what I would like to see for a Last Exit subject: Big Anime Space Battles. You know, "Star Wars"-style anime. Macross, Genesis Climber Mospedea, Gundam are ones I can name off the top of my head. I would like to know about other good ones, too. Well you asked for ideas and this is all I can think of. Thanx. James

(email address withheld since I highly suspect it belongs to his parents)

Consider your suggestion noted.