Hosts: Evan "Vampt Vo" Minto, Mitchell "MitchyD" Dyer
Topics: Playstation Home beta and Christopher Handley's manga obscenity trial

As if last episode's mind-bending advance recording didn't confuse you enough, this episode was recorded a full twelve days ago. That means that we're not even thinking about Christmas or our end-of-year top-10 lists, because this was recorded on the 14th. We manage to have some pretty focused discussion in this episode about PS Home and Christopher Handley, so have a listen. For next episode, we might just be doing a big end-of-year episode with Mitchy, Max, and Karl.

Show notes and links can be found after the break.

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[0:00:00] Intro (this link is for people who are about to ask me who Walter Amos and Rob Fenelon are)

[0:00:10] Opening Song: "R.O.D Theme" by Taku Iwasaki (R.O.D. OVA opener)

[0:00:21] We couldn't find a specific topic, so we decided to talk about the latest posts on the blog. This meant that we pretty much just discussed the Playstation Home beta and Christopher Handley's manga obscenity trial.

[0:00:42] Evan does the whole introduction thing, then pimps an episode of the Anime Jam Session podcast. Our very own staff member and occasional podcast host Uncle Yo appeared on episode 20 of the AJS podcast, where he performed a bit of his comedy act. Apparently the AJS site is down at the moment, but when it's working again you can find it at this link.

[0:01:35] What'cha Been Doing? We've been reading Black Jack, watching Gurren Lagann and Appleseed, and playing Far Cry 2 and Valkyria Chronicles. This segment also contains Battalion Wars and unintentional video game racism.

[0:16:55] Break: Clip from Battalion Wars 2 cutscene. Engrish ensues.

[0:17:26] Discussion. We start with the Playstation Home beta launch, and Mitchy talks about how much he is bored by Home. Then I talk for a few minutes about the viral marketing campaign for F.E.A.R. 2. Next is a long rant about Christopher Handley, manga obscenity, and why the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund needs to change into the Comic Book Legal DEFENSE FORCE.

[0:46:46] Break: "Kaeshite! Knee Socks" by Hirano Aya, Katou Emiri, Fukuhara Kaori, & Endou Aya

[0:47:26] Links of the day: Right Now, Someone Is Reading This Title (Evan) and Katamari on your iPhone (Mitchy)

[0:53:09] Ending Song: "WORLD END" by FLOW (Code Geass R2 second opener)

Links:
Anime Jam Session podcast
Playstation Home open beta to launch this month
PS Home beta launches amid... no hype whatsoever
Urgent Message from "Case Man"
Carl Horn, Jason Thompson respond to manga obscenity case
Right Now, Someone Is Reading This Title
Katamari on your iPhone

Iowa resident and manga fan Christopher Handley has been having a rather unpleasant two years. In May of 2006, Handley ordered a package from Japan containing "inappropriate" manga (namely yaoi and lolicon). When the postal inspector intercepted his package and applied for a warrant, Mr. Handley was followed home by police, who searched his home and found a handful of "obscene" images among his collection of more than 1,200 comics.

Now Mr. Handley, 38, is being tried in the Iowa court system for supposed violations of the PROTECT Act, which provides for up to twenty years in prison for obscenity violations. The Comic Book Defense Fund, known for their vigorous protection of the First Amendment rights of comic book retailers and creators, have agreed to help defend Mr. Handley in the first recorded case in which a private citizen has been accused of obscenity in the privacy of his own home.

Carl Gustav Horn (of Dark Horse) and Jason Thompson (of Otaku USA), two of the most respected names in the manga industry, contacted Anime News Network regarding Christopher Handley's trial. They have published two lengthy editorials begging manga fans to understand the implications of a guilty verdict in Handley's case and, if possible, to donate to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The articles are great reads for all manga fans who are interested in their industry's continued survival - which is hopefully each and every one of you. Please read these fantastic articles, and consider a donation to the CBLDF.

"20 Years in Prison for Buying a Manga" by Carl Horn
"Manga, Censorship and Obscenity" by Jason Thompson