Robyn Paterson's Blog, page 19
July 14, 2016
The key elements of a bestselling novel
The Independent newspaper had an interesting piece today about a pair of researchers (Penguin UK editorJodie Archer, and associate professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Matthew Jockers) who have spent the last 5 years using computer algorithms to analyze 20,000books looking for patterns that make best sellers stand out. The result is a system they claim can predict bestselling books by an 86% margin, which is pretty good.
Naturally, they’re releasing what they learned in...
July 9, 2016
Thunderbolt Fantasy
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Kung Fu puppetry of Taiwan, but little did I know that I wasn’t the only one who’d taken an interest in Taiwan’s Wuxia puppetry- Japanese writing star Urobuchi Gen (the man behind Madoka Magica, Psycho Pass, and Fate/Zero) had also taken an interest in Pili Puppetry form. In a twist of fate, Pili was also looking to work with him, and as a result of that partnership- Thunderbolt Fantasy (Toriken Koki), a Japanese-Taiwanese hybrid TV series was born! (You ca...
July 2, 2016
DNA Podcast 019 – Ghosts of Saturday Mornings Past
In this episode, Don and Rob discuss North American TV animation, tracing it from its roots in the 1950s to the rise of Saturday morning television and its eventual evolution in the age of Netflix. Along the way, they spend time with Huckleberry Hound, The Flintstones, Josie the Pussycats, the Micronauts,and Goober and the Ghost Chasers. All this, and why Fred and Barney sold cigarettes on air is waiting for you in this, the 19th episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.
June 17, 2016
DNA Podcast 018 – Edd Vick and MU Press
In this episode, Rob and Don sit down with Edd Vick, founder and publisher of MU Press and Comics F/X magazine, to discuss Edd’s history in comics and the independent comics scene of the 80s and 90s. Former guest Jeff Wood, one of Edd’s friends and contributors also stops by, and the four of them discuss comics culture, convention culture, and what they see as the future of comic books. All of this, and the real story of why the comics industry collapsed in the 90s are coming to you in this,...
June 16, 2016
Volton: Legendary Defender Review (Very Lite Spoilers)
I just finished watching the first season of Netflix and Dreamworks’ new attempt at rebooting Voltron, and I have to say I was impressed. This is no surprise, since the people behind the reboot are the same team and studio behind Avatar: The Legend of Korra, and they bring their trademark style of character, action, and humor to the project. So what did I like and didn’t I like?
Likes
The animation is beautiful, and they’re not afraid to mix different styles together and do tricks like drop...June 15, 2016
How to watch Ultraman
After I posted our recent episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs about Ultraman, I got to thinking about what Ultraman series would be best for people watch as their first one. After all, your first exposure to a show can make a big difference in how you react to it. So, after giving it some thought, here are my recommendations: (click on the posters to check out the shows)
If you’re the type who loves the 60’s era Godzilla movies, then you should watch….
If you’re the type who loves ea...
June 7, 2016
The Kung Fu Puppetry of Taiwan
Pili Puppet show at Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan. Picture by Harris Tsam
As far as I know, Taiwan is one of the few places where puppetry is not only appreciated, but where puppet shows are shown on national television. In particular, the Pili programs of gloved puppetry shows have continued to capture the imaginations of young Taiwanese with their creative and colourful puppet storytelling.
The credit for upholding the long lasting popularity of Hand Puppet Shows in Taiwan, no doub...
June 3, 2016
DNA Podcast 017 – All About Ultraman
In this episode, Rob and Don do an overview of the Japanese media titan Ultraman, delving into the concepts behind the series, doing an overview of Ultraman’s long history, and talking about their personal connections to the character. All this, and a trip into the world of 80’s independent television, are waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs
May 20, 2016
DNA Podcast 016 – Exploring the Pulps with Gregg Taylor
In this episode, Don and Rob are joined by Gregg Taylor of the Decoder Ring Theatre podcast to talk about a subject that’s near and dear to Gregg’s heart- Pulp Heroes! We talk about the original Batman v. Superman- The Shadow and Doc Savage, how a pulp hero is made by their choice of hats, and why the world of pulp hero The Spider would be an awful place to live! All this, and a discussion of what’s next for Decoder Ring Theatre, is waiting for you in this, the 16th episode of the Department...
May 13, 2016
Xiao Gou’s Blog
After reading online how helpful blogging in languages you’re learning can be, I’ve decided to start a separate blog in Chinese so I can practice my limited grammar and vocabulary and maybe learn a bit too. The blog, Xiao Gou’s Blog, will only be in Chinese, and contain my simple random posts each week. I will try to only blog with the vocabulary I actually know (rather that fill it with dictionary Chinese) and will write it in Traditional Characters because those are what I’m studying. I hop...
