EL-CO
@el-co.bsky.social
Scientist, Mild Abibliophobia, Contemporary Big Band Lover, Tabletop Gamer & Translator, Agnostic.
The Japanese ver. of Matlab 2025b now translates NAME as 氏名, which means 'family name and given name'. The 2024a ver. just says 名前, which means 'name'. It's not a big deal, but it's quite uncomfortable. Why did they change it for the worse?
November 27, 2025 at 3:59 AM
The Japanese ver. of Matlab 2025b now translates NAME as 氏名, which means 'family name and given name'. The 2024a ver. just says 名前, which means 'name'. It's not a big deal, but it's quite uncomfortable. Why did they change it for the worse?
I listened to the songs listed for the event tomorrow, and Skittish is my favorite. Yes, I am biased because this is the only song I've played by myself. Long ago.
September 10, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I listened to the songs listed for the event tomorrow, and Skittish is my favorite. Yes, I am biased because this is the only song I've played by myself. Long ago.
Three versions of Samurai by Reiner Knizia, coming this year or next.
- Hanami, rethemed English edition from Keymaster Games
- Thai edition from Lanlalen
- Mexican edition from Lighthouse Games
Which one do you like the best? I'm still waiting for the component images of the Mexican edition.
- Hanami, rethemed English edition from Keymaster Games
- Thai edition from Lanlalen
- Mexican edition from Lighthouse Games
Which one do you like the best? I'm still waiting for the component images of the Mexican edition.
September 10, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Three versions of Samurai by Reiner Knizia, coming this year or next.
- Hanami, rethemed English edition from Keymaster Games
- Thai edition from Lanlalen
- Mexican edition from Lighthouse Games
Which one do you like the best? I'm still waiting for the component images of the Mexican edition.
- Hanami, rethemed English edition from Keymaster Games
- Thai edition from Lanlalen
- Mexican edition from Lighthouse Games
Which one do you like the best? I'm still waiting for the component images of the Mexican edition.
A report of the "Gollum effect" in scientific research, published in One Earth.
It's surprising that so many scientists love LotR (including me, obviously).
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
It's surprising that so many scientists love LotR (including me, obviously).
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
June 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
A report of the "Gollum effect" in scientific research, published in One Earth.
It's surprising that so many scientists love LotR (including me, obviously).
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
It's surprising that so many scientists love LotR (including me, obviously).
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I made this figure a few years ago, and you can see that CMON is one of the most influential publishers that built the tabletop game crowdfunding scheme.
June 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I made this figure a few years ago, and you can see that CMON is one of the most influential publishers that built the tabletop game crowdfunding scheme.
This Google search result makes me smile. Very intriguing name for the author (spoiler: Google missed to pick the author's name).
BTW, I enjoyed the article very much and am interested in the book it reviews.
BTW, I enjoyed the article very much and am interested in the book it reviews.
May 8, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This Google search result makes me smile. Very intriguing name for the author (spoiler: Google missed to pick the author's name).
BTW, I enjoyed the article very much and am interested in the book it reviews.
BTW, I enjoyed the article very much and am interested in the book it reviews.
It's great to see a new international English version of Rumble Nation from Asmodee. However, the card texts look pretty hard to read to my Japanese eyes. Are they OK for English readers?
Asmodeeから出る『天下鳴動』のカードテキスト読みにくくないのかなあ……新たに英語版が出るのは大変喜ばしいのですが！
store.asmodee.com/products/rum...
Asmodeeから出る『天下鳴動』のカードテキスト読みにくくないのかなあ……新たに英語版が出るのは大変喜ばしいのですが！
store.asmodee.com/products/rum...
April 8, 2025 at 4:09 AM
It's great to see a new international English version of Rumble Nation from Asmodee. However, the card texts look pretty hard to read to my Japanese eyes. Are they OK for English readers?
Asmodeeから出る『天下鳴動』のカードテキスト読みにくくないのかなあ……新たに英語版が出るのは大変喜ばしいのですが！
store.asmodee.com/products/rum...
Asmodeeから出る『天下鳴動』のカードテキスト読みにくくないのかなあ……新たに英語版が出るのは大変喜ばしいのですが！
store.asmodee.com/products/rum...
One of the most challenging attempts to incorporate a time paradox into tabletop games.
(Pea Ridge; SPI, 1980 designed by Eric Lee Smith)
(Pea Ridge; SPI, 1980 designed by Eric Lee Smith)
March 26, 2025 at 11:04 AM
One of the most challenging attempts to incorporate a time paradox into tabletop games.
(Pea Ridge; SPI, 1980 designed by Eric Lee Smith)
(Pea Ridge; SPI, 1980 designed by Eric Lee Smith)
After years of searching, I finally got a 2-CD album of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Live in Paris 1969. What a fantastic album! Sir Roland Hanna on "Mean What You Say" and Pepper Adams on "Once Around" are the best of the best. So Good!
March 2, 2025 at 1:24 PM
After years of searching, I finally got a 2-CD album of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Live in Paris 1969. What a fantastic album! Sir Roland Hanna on "Mean What You Say" and Pepper Adams on "Once Around" are the best of the best. So Good!
Crossbills are often used to represent discrepancies or mismatches in Japanese. I learned that medieval legends in Europe tell that crossbills tried to pull the nails from Jesus, which changed the shape of their beaks. Interesting.
Photo by Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com CC BY-SA 3.0
February 25, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Crossbills are often used to represent discrepancies or mismatches in Japanese. I learned that medieval legends in Europe tell that crossbills tried to pull the nails from Jesus, which changed the shape of their beaks. Interesting.
Photo by Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com CC BY-SA 3.0
日本で“イスカの嘴”といえば、食い違いや齟齬があって物事が進まないことの喩えですが、中世ヨーロッパの伝説では、イスカは磔刑となったキリストから釘を抜こうとしてあんな形の嘴になったと言われているそうな。
Photo By Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo By Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com CC BY-SA 3.0
February 25, 2025 at 3:57 AM
日本で“イスカの嘴”といえば、食い違いや齟齬があって物事が進まないことの喩えですが、中世ヨーロッパの伝説では、イスカは磔刑となったキリストから釘を抜こうとしてあんな形の嘴になったと言われているそうな。
Photo By Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo By Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com CC BY-SA 3.0
Footprints, probably of some kind of wild animal, on thin snow.
薄雪の上の足跡。近くに人の足跡はなかったので飼い犬ではなく、野犬の話は聞かないし近くに猫もいそうにないし、あるいは狐狸の類であろうか。生き物についてもっと知っていればねえ。
薄雪の上の足跡。近くに人の足跡はなかったので飼い犬ではなく、野犬の話は聞かないし近くに猫もいそうにないし、あるいは狐狸の類であろうか。生き物についてもっと知っていればねえ。
February 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Footprints, probably of some kind of wild animal, on thin snow.
薄雪の上の足跡。近くに人の足跡はなかったので飼い犬ではなく、野犬の話は聞かないし近くに猫もいそうにないし、あるいは狐狸の類であろうか。生き物についてもっと知っていればねえ。
薄雪の上の足跡。近くに人の足跡はなかったので飼い犬ではなく、野犬の話は聞かないし近くに猫もいそうにないし、あるいは狐狸の類であろうか。生き物についてもっと知っていればねえ。
Warbling white-eyes on a persimmon tree.
The warbling white eye, called Mejiro (literally "white-eye"), is one of the most common birds in Japan. So adorable.
The warbling white eye, called Mejiro (literally "white-eye"), is one of the most common birds in Japan. So adorable.
February 2, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Warbling white-eyes on a persimmon tree.
The warbling white eye, called Mejiro (literally "white-eye"), is one of the most common birds in Japan. So adorable.
The warbling white eye, called Mejiro (literally "white-eye"), is one of the most common birds in Japan. So adorable.
The Search for Lost Species (O'Malley, Rosset; Renegade Game Studios／数奇ゲームズ; 2023)
As an indoor scientist close to the field of biology, I prefer this over The Search for Planet X. The game is really good as expected, but this kind of auto-generating app is a nightmare for Japanese localizers.
As an indoor scientist close to the field of biology, I prefer this over The Search for Planet X. The game is really good as expected, but this kind of auto-generating app is a nightmare for Japanese localizers.
January 27, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The Search for Lost Species (O'Malley, Rosset; Renegade Game Studios／数奇ゲームズ; 2023)
As an indoor scientist close to the field of biology, I prefer this over The Search for Planet X. The game is really good as expected, but this kind of auto-generating app is a nightmare for Japanese localizers.
As an indoor scientist close to the field of biology, I prefer this over The Search for Planet X. The game is really good as expected, but this kind of auto-generating app is a nightmare for Japanese localizers.
Tower Up (Crittin, Largey, Pauchon; Monolith Board Games; 2024)
Simple rules, quick and interesting turns, not too mean interactions, and very pleasant components. I think I need to play a few more with different player counts, but I'm sure that this will be one of my favorites.
Simple rules, quick and interesting turns, not too mean interactions, and very pleasant components. I think I need to play a few more with different player counts, but I'm sure that this will be one of my favorites.
January 27, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Tower Up (Crittin, Largey, Pauchon; Monolith Board Games; 2024)
Simple rules, quick and interesting turns, not too mean interactions, and very pleasant components. I think I need to play a few more with different player counts, but I'm sure that this will be one of my favorites.
Simple rules, quick and interesting turns, not too mean interactions, and very pleasant components. I think I need to play a few more with different player counts, but I'm sure that this will be one of my favorites.
ここ数年、確定申告の時期になるとこれを思い出す。 After I saw this cartoon, it kept popping into my mind every time I'm working on a tax return. @tomgauld.bsky.social @newscientist.bsky.social
「あんたは何をやらかして刑務所に？」
「私は数学者なんだが、虚数に関して画期的な研究をしてね」
「それで捕まったのかい？」
「いや、それを確定申告の時に使ったら捕まった」
www.newscientist.com/article/2339...
「あんたは何をやらかして刑務所に？」
「私は数学者なんだが、虚数に関して画期的な研究をしてね」
「それで捕まったのかい？」
「いや、それを確定申告の時に使ったら捕まった」
www.newscientist.com/article/2339...
January 13, 2025 at 12:21 PM
ここ数年、確定申告の時期になるとこれを思い出す。 After I saw this cartoon, it kept popping into my mind every time I'm working on a tax return. @tomgauld.bsky.social @newscientist.bsky.social
「あんたは何をやらかして刑務所に？」
「私は数学者なんだが、虚数に関して画期的な研究をしてね」
「それで捕まったのかい？」
「いや、それを確定申告の時に使ったら捕まった」
www.newscientist.com/article/2339...
「あんたは何をやらかして刑務所に？」
「私は数学者なんだが、虚数に関して画期的な研究をしてね」
「それで捕まったのかい？」
「いや、それを確定申告の時に使ったら捕まった」
www.newscientist.com/article/2339...
Probability scale by UK Defence Intelligence.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
January 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Probability scale by UK Defence Intelligence.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
The first play of Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze ( @restorationgames.bsky.social ), in which Sherlock and Golden Bat tried to stop Mothman invasions. Very much enjoyed. I'm really happy to see that CMON Japan has restarted the localization of Unmatched. Hope to see more to come!
December 14, 2024 at 1:13 PM
The first play of Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze ( @restorationgames.bsky.social ), in which Sherlock and Golden Bat tried to stop Mothman invasions. Very much enjoyed. I'm really happy to see that CMON Japan has restarted the localization of Unmatched. Hope to see more to come!
Ostia reprint and Pirates expansion are now reaching Japanese backers. I hope the games will reach foreign backers before the holiday season. This time, I helped with the translation of the expansion rules and the revision of the base game rules. Let me know if you have any comments. Have fun!
December 3, 2024 at 12:42 PM
Ostia reprint and Pirates expansion are now reaching Japanese backers. I hope the games will reach foreign backers before the holiday season. This time, I helped with the translation of the expansion rules and the revision of the base game rules. Let me know if you have any comments. Have fun!
Wrath of Fire Mountain is a fun area control game and I can feel both @ericlang.bsky.social and @philwh.bsky.social from the play. It's a family game for sure, but I think gamers can also enjoy it as a starter. Another hit from Gamewright along the line of Forbidden Island/Desert.
November 23, 2024 at 12:57 PM
Wrath of Fire Mountain is a fun area control game and I can feel both @ericlang.bsky.social and @philwh.bsky.social from the play. It's a family game for sure, but I think gamers can also enjoy it as a starter. Another hit from Gamewright along the line of Forbidden Island/Desert.
Left: Standing Virupakusa (replica), Tokyo National Museum (Original: Todaiji temple, 8c.) modified from ColBase: colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_i...
Right: Saint Anthony Abbot, The MET (German ca. 1500) www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Right: Saint Anthony Abbot, The MET (German ca. 1500) www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
September 29, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Left: Standing Virupakusa (replica), Tokyo National Museum (Original: Todaiji temple, 8c.) modified from ColBase: colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_i...
Right: Saint Anthony Abbot, The MET (German ca. 1500) www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Right: Saint Anthony Abbot, The MET (German ca. 1500) www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
This is an interesting part of English. It's a mixture of several languages, which makes it difficult for foreigners to learn. But at the same time, I think it gives the language some flexibility even today. BTW, some sources say that etymologically, disclose has a negative prefix.
August 23, 2024 at 1:10 PM
This is an interesting part of English. It's a mixture of several languages, which makes it difficult for foreigners to learn. But at the same time, I think it gives the language some flexibility even today. BTW, some sources say that etymologically, disclose has a negative prefix.
Quite interesting short report about AI from Nature. The top picture is very fascinating, but they are playing Connect 5, not Go. It's unfortunate that the caption for the image is incorrect, as Connect 5 and Go are far different in complexity.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
May 3, 2024 at 12:32 PM
Quite interesting short report about AI from Nature. The top picture is very fascinating, but they are playing Connect 5, not Go. It's unfortunate that the caption for the image is incorrect, as Connect 5 and Go are far different in complexity.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
"Soliloquy" is one of the best songs by Toshiko Akiyoshi, but unfortunately not very well known. The song is only included in "Road Time". The album is a live recording in Japan, which may be the reason why the song is not popular. Toshiko Akiyoshi has so many hidden gems!
February 26, 2024 at 12:42 PM
"Soliloquy" is one of the best songs by Toshiko Akiyoshi, but unfortunately not very well known. The song is only included in "Road Time". The album is a live recording in Japan, which may be the reason why the song is not popular. Toshiko Akiyoshi has so many hidden gems!