Jocelyne Allen
@brainvsbook.bsky.social
アレン・ジョセリン
I write. I ramble. I translate. And interpret.
筆者／翻訳・通訳家／取り留めの無い人
(she/they)
brainvsbook.com
kaikatsu.ca
I write. I ramble. I translate. And interpret.
筆者／翻訳・通訳家／取り留めの無い人
(she/they)
brainvsbook.com
kaikatsu.ca
Pinned
Jocelyne Allen
@brainvsbook.bsky.social
· Jun 19
Don't call it a Substack. - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
www.anildash.com
Since people have asked why I don't start a Substack:
I have one; it's called a blog and it's at brainvsbook.com. Why would I let some company slap its brand all over my writing?? Especially when that company is fascist and transphobic! (Great summary of why Substack sucks in case you're unaware)
I have one; it's called a blog and it's at brainvsbook.com. Why would I let some company slap its brand all over my writing?? Especially when that company is fascist and transphobic! (Great summary of why Substack sucks in case you're unaware)
As a lady of a certain age, I'm honestly appreciating the menopause explainer on NHK E right now. Tell me what the hell is going on inside my body, adorable freckled doctor with a teeny salt and pepper mohawk!
November 30, 2025 at 10:14 AM
As a lady of a certain age, I'm honestly appreciating the menopause explainer on NHK E right now. Tell me what the hell is going on inside my body, adorable freckled doctor with a teeny salt and pepper mohawk!
I have such a deep-seated grudge against a manga artist whose terrible series I once had to translate that I walked right by an art show of their older work, which I really like. Translators never forget.
November 30, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I have such a deep-seated grudge against a manga artist whose terrible series I once had to translate that I walked right by an art show of their older work, which I really like. Translators never forget.
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
Let me give some insight on this, as a producer in the dub industry who worked with major streamers, who's witnessed first-hand where this push for AI is coming from.
tl;dr: Only CEOs want this. Tell them how much you hate it. Be loud, email, call, @, post. You will kill this.
🧵⬇️
tl;dr: Only CEOs want this. Tell them how much you hate it. Be loud, email, call, @, post. You will kill this.
🧵⬇️
The only thing less human than these AI dub performances is the decision to sign off on them
A company this big can pay human actors a decent wage, not produce slop that intentionally removes the human element.
A company this big can pay human actors a decent wage, not produce slop that intentionally removes the human element.
November 30, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Let me give some insight on this, as a producer in the dub industry who worked with major streamers, who's witnessed first-hand where this push for AI is coming from.
tl;dr: Only CEOs want this. Tell them how much you hate it. Be loud, email, call, @, post. You will kill this.
🧵⬇️
tl;dr: Only CEOs want this. Tell them how much you hate it. Be loud, email, call, @, post. You will kill this.
🧵⬇️
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
I was alerted to this profile of me on some random book site I've never heard of, and "Type: Person" combined with "Gender: Other" is sending me. Going to make this my new business card.
June 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I was alerted to this profile of me on some random book site I've never heard of, and "Type: Person" combined with "Gender: Other" is sending me. Going to make this my new business card.
How come none of you told me Mei Ehara has a new album out?? Or that it's great??? #AmListening
All About McGuffin, by mei ehara
10 track album
meiehara.bandcamp.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:33 AM
How come none of you told me Mei Ehara has a new album out?? Or that it's great??? #AmListening
Brain vs Firefly!
Hotaru no Yomeiri: Tachibana Oreko
One of the great pleasures of travelling for me is—unsurprisingly—finding cool bookstores and checking out the books inside of them. Most bookstores are more or less along the same lines, a balance…
brainvsbook.wordpress.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Brain vs Firefly!
I love that the new Jimbocho used bookstore guide has 本なら売るほど as its cover! This love letter to used books is the perfect face for the town of used bookstores.
November 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I love that the new Jimbocho used bookstore guide has 本なら売るほど as its cover! This love letter to used books is the perfect face for the town of used bookstores.
Freelance friends, advice apropos of nothing: When negotiating a rate for a job, the best thing is to let the client say a number first. It will often be higher than what you would've put forward bc we almost always undervalue ourselves.
November 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Freelance friends, advice apropos of nothing: When negotiating a rate for a job, the best thing is to let the client say a number first. It will often be higher than what you would've put forward bc we almost always undervalue ourselves.
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
If you're a Canadian who lived outside of Quebec and purchased bread from Loblaw's between 2001 and 2021, you can get compensation AND stick it to the Westons if you submit a claim before December 12th.
www.canadianbreadsettlement.ca
www.canadianbreadsettlement.ca
Canadian Packaged Bread Class Actions Settlement
This website has been established to provide general information related to the proposed settlement of the case referred to as Canadian Packaged Bread Class Actions Settlement.
www.canadianbreadsettlement.ca
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
If you're a Canadian who lived outside of Quebec and purchased bread from Loblaw's between 2001 and 2021, you can get compensation AND stick it to the Westons if you submit a claim before December 12th.
www.canadianbreadsettlement.ca
www.canadianbreadsettlement.ca
As the owner of terrible teeth and frequent visitor to the dentist, I recommend slapping one of those breathing strips across your nose before being uncomfortably reclined in the chair. It keeps your nose open and makes it easier to breathe when there are a bunch of hands in your mouth.
November 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM
As the owner of terrible teeth and frequent visitor to the dentist, I recommend slapping one of those breathing strips across your nose before being uncomfortably reclined in the chair. It keeps your nose open and makes it easier to breathe when there are a bunch of hands in your mouth.
If you're in Okinawa, I recommend this exhibit! On top of loads of great art well contextualized by the curator with notes and commentary, it also highlights how Okinawa and Vietnam have similar histories of being colonized and used as proxies in larger wars, and asks some big important questions.
沖縄戦後80年・ベトナム戦争終結50年祈念「ベトナム、記憶の風景」
沖縄県立博物館・美術館（おきみゅー）では2025年11月22日から2026年1月18日まで、沖縄戦後80年・ベトナム戦争終結50年祈念「ベトナム、記憶の風景」を企画ギャラリー1,2で開催します
okimu.jp
November 27, 2025 at 1:54 AM
If you're in Okinawa, I recommend this exhibit! On top of loads of great art well contextualized by the curator with notes and commentary, it also highlights how Okinawa and Vietnam have similar histories of being colonized and used as proxies in larger wars, and asks some big important questions.
My new mantra in the face of impossible deadlines and other hardships
November 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
My new mantra in the face of impossible deadlines and other hardships
Goodbye Okinawa! I have enjoyed your warm weather, your incredible vegan restaurants, your bookstores, and your local delicacies!
November 26, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Goodbye Okinawa! I have enjoyed your warm weather, your incredible vegan restaurants, your bookstores, and your local delicacies!
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
Don’t pirate books! And if you do, stfu about it and stop pretending it’s some kind of moral or Marxist or revolutionary stance. Just be brave and own the fact that you don’t care that you are a thief who doesn’t care about artists.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Don’t pirate books! And if you do, stfu about it and stop pretending it’s some kind of moral or Marxist or revolutionary stance. Just be brave and own the fact that you don’t care that you are a thief who doesn’t care about artists.
Still cry-laughing at this video every day
It exists!! The pelican trying to eat a capybara is real!!
I have good news for you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZpf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZpf...
November 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Still cry-laughing at this video every day
Splurged a little in the Okinawa section of the bookstore. And I want to go on the record as saying that all bookstores should have a local book section. Some of us love to pick up books by authors from and/or about the areas we are travelling to!
November 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Splurged a little in the Okinawa section of the bookstore. And I want to go on the record as saying that all bookstores should have a local book section. Some of us love to pick up books by authors from and/or about the areas we are travelling to!
Friends, if you are in Naha, you really need to go to Tamatebako. We ate most of the food on the menu and every single dish was shockingly delicious. I love tofu and I was still surprised by how incredible their tofu dishes were.
タマテバコ (牧志/オーガニック)
★★★☆☆3.09 ■予算(夜):￥3,000～￥3,999
tabelog.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Friends, if you are in Naha, you really need to go to Tamatebako. We ate most of the food on the menu and every single dish was shockingly delicious. I love tofu and I was still surprised by how incredible their tofu dishes were.
Happened upon the new-to-me word 通い婚, the existence of which makes perfect sense in a language that also gave us 卒婚 and 単身赴任. #AmReading
November 24, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Happened upon the new-to-me word 通い婚, the existence of which makes perfect sense in a language that also gave us 卒婚 and 単身赴任. #AmReading
Finally free of the plane and celebrating with the local brew!
November 23, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Finally free of the plane and celebrating with the local brew!
First my flight was delayed bc every school trip in Tokyo was boarding it, and now we have to go back to the terminal bc someone is sick. I think I live on the plane now.
November 23, 2025 at 3:04 AM
First my flight was delayed bc every school trip in Tokyo was boarding it, and now we have to go back to the terminal bc someone is sick. I think I live on the plane now.
I was sceptical but Family Mart’s edamame and cheese onigiri is surprisingly tasty. If you happen to be in the mood for a conbini snack!
November 23, 2025 at 1:37 AM
I was sceptical but Family Mart’s edamame and cheese onigiri is surprisingly tasty. If you happen to be in the mood for a conbini snack!
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
豆腐に鎹 might be the best idiom I’ve ever come across for “wasted effort”. Imagine it, putting a staple in some tofu. Nothing but a mess of bean curd to show for it. #TranslationIsLearning
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 AM
豆腐に鎹 might be the best idiom I’ve ever come across for “wasted effort”. Imagine it, putting a staple in some tofu. Nothing but a mess of bean curd to show for it. #TranslationIsLearning
I love travelling, but I've done so much packing and hotel booking and going over the last month that I want to set down roots and become one with my apartment. And yet I must pack and book and go once again. When I get back, though, I'm going to grow moss. I'm going to get so *dusty*
November 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
I love travelling, but I've done so much packing and hotel booking and going over the last month that I want to set down roots and become one with my apartment. And yet I must pack and book and go once again. When I get back, though, I'm going to grow moss. I'm going to get so *dusty*
Actually typed “free dial” just now as totally normal English that everyone uses all the time. #AmTranslating
November 22, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Actually typed “free dial” just now as totally normal English that everyone uses all the time. #AmTranslating
The war on drugs has reached Japan at last, and they are battling it with clear files featuring a municipal VTuber, sure to set the hearts of the kids on fire and keep them on the straight and narrow.
November 21, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The war on drugs has reached Japan at last, and they are battling it with clear files featuring a municipal VTuber, sure to set the hearts of the kids on fire and keep them on the straight and narrow.