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)
Reposting for the North American crowd! lmk all your hot Malaysia tips!
Related: If you know places I should go in KL (especially delicious vegetarian food and great bookstores!), you should let me know!
January 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Reposting for the North American crowd! lmk all your hot Malaysia tips!
Unearthing a Google Translate classic from the vault (my screenshots folder)
January 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Unearthing a Google Translate classic from the vault (my screenshots folder)
Brain vs Femme!
Fatale Game: Battan
The new year! We made it! I hope you had time off to relax and do the equivalent of watch the Kohaku Utagassen, eat mochi, and lie about under a cosy kotatsu! I did two of those things and I would …
brainvsbook.wordpress.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Brain vs Femme!
Every time there's an earthquake, I look around and wonder if this is the one I need to hide under my desk for. And every time, I simply sit at my desk until it's over. When the big one comes, I am doomed.
January 9, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Every time there's an earthquake, I look around and wonder if this is the one I need to hide under my desk for. And every time, I simply sit at my desk until it's over. When the big one comes, I am doomed.
If you love the shogi trauma of March Comes in Like a Lion and the chess drama of the Queen’s Gambit, might I recommend to you Miss King on Netflix? #AmWatching
January 8, 2026 at 12:53 PM
If you love the shogi trauma of March Comes in Like a Lion and the chess drama of the Queen’s Gambit, might I recommend to you Miss King on Netflix? #AmWatching
For the first time in my life of staying in many hotels and travelling to many countries, the hotel I booked in Kuala Lumpur emailed me to say hey, we're excited you're coming and here are guides to our hotel and the surrounding area. More hotels should do this!
January 8, 2026 at 11:07 AM
For the first time in my life of staying in many hotels and travelling to many countries, the hotel I booked in Kuala Lumpur emailed me to say hey, we're excited you're coming and here are guides to our hotel and the surrounding area. More hotels should do this!
Someday I will write a book, and it will be called "Do owls have eyelids and other translation questions". #AmTranslating
January 8, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Someday I will write a book, and it will be called "Do owls have eyelids and other translation questions". #AmTranslating
Finally reading this great essay on what translators do and what language is! This part in particular hit home for me.
January 8, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Finally reading this great essay on what translators do and what language is! This part in particular hit home for me.
Baffled to learn that a single person developed the bias cut and that we could even know who that was. Like finding out someone "invented" the reverse stitch on a sewing machine. Haven't we just always done these things??
January 8, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Baffled to learn that a single person developed the bias cut and that we could even know who that was. Like finding out someone "invented" the reverse stitch on a sewing machine. Haven't we just always done these things??
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
I got my spicy gift from @brainvsbook.bsky.social when she told me she spotted a book I had been looking for FOR WEEKS!
Finally have a copy of TaroNige!! 😭💕
BL is the gift that keeps on giving!
Finally have a copy of TaroNige!! 😭💕
BL is the gift that keeps on giving!
January 7, 2026 at 1:13 PM
I got my spicy gift from @brainvsbook.bsky.social when she told me she spotted a book I had been looking for FOR WEEKS!
Finally have a copy of TaroNige!! 😭💕
BL is the gift that keeps on giving!
Finally have a copy of TaroNige!! 😭💕
BL is the gift that keeps on giving!
Good friends give their friends spicy What Did You Eat Yesterday doujinshi, at least if your friend is @khursten.bsky.social and you are me.
January 7, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Good friends give their friends spicy What Did You Eat Yesterday doujinshi, at least if your friend is @khursten.bsky.social and you are me.
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
The next semester of our Japanese-to-English Media Translation Course starts in April 2026! You can sign up for a free consultation at any time to learn more about our fun, informative course :)
Sign up here (scroll down to リモート個別相談): jvta.net/tyo/kobetsu/
Sign up here (scroll down to リモート個別相談): jvta.net/tyo/kobetsu/
December 8, 2025 at 6:44 AM
The next semester of our Japanese-to-English Media Translation Course starts in April 2026! You can sign up for a free consultation at any time to learn more about our fun, informative course :)
Sign up here (scroll down to リモート個別相談): jvta.net/tyo/kobetsu/
Sign up here (scroll down to リモート個別相談): jvta.net/tyo/kobetsu/
Went and saw my friend's kid's band play their very first live show tonight, and dang, baby punk rockers rocking out honestly gives me such hope. Sometimes, we *can* have nice things!
January 6, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Went and saw my friend's kid's band play their very first live show tonight, and dang, baby punk rockers rocking out honestly gives me such hope. Sometimes, we *can* have nice things!
No. Absolutely not. Eguchi Hisashi needs to pay for his manga crimes. He must stub all of his toes on every piece of furniture he walks past for the rest of his days. #AmTranslating
January 6, 2026 at 3:29 AM
No. Absolutely not. Eguchi Hisashi needs to pay for his manga crimes. He must stub all of his toes on every piece of furniture he walks past for the rest of his days. #AmTranslating
A balaclava is a 目出し帽 and honestly, that is absolutely the most perfect name for it. I propose we start calling it the eyes-out hat in English, too. #TranslationIsLearning
January 6, 2026 at 2:56 AM
A balaclava is a 目出し帽 and honestly, that is absolutely the most perfect name for it. I propose we start calling it the eyes-out hat in English, too. #TranslationIsLearning
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
NEWS WEB EASY publishes simplified Japanese news stories designed for international residents, learners of Japanese, and school-age children. Articles feature a text-to-speech option to aid listening and reading comprehension.
news.web.nhk/news/easy/ar...
news.web.nhk/news/easy/ar...
地震が起こったら | NHKやさしいことばニュース | NEWS WEB EASY
「NHKやさしいことばニュース」は、日本に住んでいる外国人の皆さんや、子どもたちに、できるだけやさしい日本語でニュースを伝えるサイトです。
news.web.nhk
January 6, 2026 at 1:41 AM
NEWS WEB EASY publishes simplified Japanese news stories designed for international residents, learners of Japanese, and school-age children. Articles feature a text-to-speech option to aid listening and reading comprehension.
news.web.nhk/news/easy/ar...
news.web.nhk/news/easy/ar...
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
At least you have a smorking room! You can't smork anywhere around here.
January 6, 2026 at 12:39 AM
At least you have a smorking room! You can't smork anywhere around here.
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
If you need me, I'll be in the smorking room.
November 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
If you need me, I'll be in the smorking room.
Japan Post is out here doing the Lord's work, and while I salute their efforts, given the number of "A happy new year" greetings I still receive, they are fighting a losing battle.
January 5, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Japan Post is out here doing the Lord's work, and while I salute their efforts, given the number of "A happy new year" greetings I still receive, they are fighting a losing battle.
Reposted by Jocelyne Allen
Wifey just informed me about this Japanese gem 草草草
January 5, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Wifey just informed me about this Japanese gem 草草草
Spell check offered “cashew” as a correction for “cishet”, and I am not necessarily opposed to calling cishet people cashews from now on. #AmTranslating
January 5, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Spell check offered “cashew” as a correction for “cishet”, and I am not necessarily opposed to calling cishet people cashews from now on. #AmTranslating
*sigh* I see the US is Doing Things again. Time to update my muted word list.
January 4, 2026 at 2:43 AM
*sigh* I see the US is Doing Things again. Time to update my muted word list.
The Existential Angst of a Book Nerd, a story in one page
January 4, 2026 at 2:35 AM
The Existential Angst of a Book Nerd, a story in one page
My bookmark is trying to make New Year's resolutions for me. Getting a little big for its britches tbh
January 3, 2026 at 9:33 AM
My bookmark is trying to make New Year's resolutions for me. Getting a little big for its britches tbh