“All your content are belong to us.” - AltJapan, on Mixi’s new TOS (via Japan Probe)

Mixi– Japan’s most popular blogging/social networking service –is starting a new user agreement on April 1st that proclaims that anything users post is, in effect, owned by Mixi. They say they have the unrestricted right to use the information, which means they could sell it, or publish a book of your online journal, or use your comments as a script for a TV commercial, without your permission or paying you or anything. Which is LAME LAME LAME!

JapanProbe suggests that English-speaking users who joined Mixi (which, by the way, is invite-only, which is why I never joined) to practice their Japanese might instead try out lang-8 as a “less invasive” alternative. So, I am! If you want to practice Japanese with me (or want me to make fun of your English), my username on lang-8 is “giapet” (natch). Look me up! ♥

ComiPress has some interesting news about a unique webmanga…it’s apparently based on the real-life experiences of a guy who posted about his various doings on Mixi, Japan’s premiere social-networking website. These doings apparently included cheating on the subway fare and impregnating a junior high school student, or at least so he said (and no one would lie on Mixi, right?). Anyway, the postings apparently got him into trouble at school and he eventually got kicked out. And then someone made a manga based on it. Thus:

Dear Japan,

How’s about a manga about a crazy American fan? I hear you guys love making fun of us, and I happen to know that I’m a great target for mockery. How about it?

Love,
gia