From a Land of Books and Other Diversions

"Classification of fantasy and reality is itself a fantasy that humans created, my dear motorrad. Life... It begins when you first make distinction between yourself and others. From that moment on, the world becomes a stage for the story in which you are the main character. All people live in a fantasy in which they are the main character."

"I see."

"But the world doesn't recognize you as the main character at all. What nonsense! Everyone lives their entire life tormented by this confusion! There is only one way out of this hell."

"To place yourself in a position that is neither the main character nor a supporting role. In other words..."

"Yes. The Author."

--Kino no Tabi, Land of Books

Some things can be summed up in cute cut and dried segments. The brief moments in time lend themselves to Twits, Tweets, FaceBook, and G+ among many others. Yet they lack any form of depth and do not lend themselves easily to longer posts.

Life has been full of many random distractions - many times thoughts are formed and lost like mist before the heat of the sun. Which has been driven home in the idea I'm now confident in my lack of ability to distill some thoughts in to a coherent form long enough to share them before the need forces me to move onto the next perceived process.

Maybe it's time then to dust off DI and set aside time for a mental swim instead of just splashing through the puddles between destinations...

Why Pay Twice? or Hulu in a Torrent of Enjoyment

Two posts in one day... not sure what this bodes for the future but here it goes.

With all the lousy television programming today, and the needed rain falling outside I was once again thankful for the folks that take the time to fan-sub the many various shows I've come to enjoy from over seas. Hulu has also been a rather enjoyable shift from the regular programming. So much so I still question why people pay so much for satellite and cable stations that seem to enjoy making you pay for the service then make you pay again with more commercials, and home shopping stations.

Just a quick update as it's been awhile since my last anime update. I'm still waiting for the next season of Spice and Wolf, and I wouldn't mind another season of Jigoku no Shoujo. Bleach is still kicking along and at some point may who knows may even beat out olde Dragon Balls which must be close to over 500 episodes, if not more.

As for current addictions a couple of the shorter series I'm currently enjoying are Senkou no Night Raid and Eden of the East. (opening for Senkou and trailer for Eden below)









Other anime series over the past bit have been able to catch over the past year or so are Death Note, Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom, Hayate no Gotoku (Combat Butler Hayate), The Tower of Druaga, xxxHolic and Devil May Cry - I think there may have been others but none come to mind. If they do I'll try to remember to list them later.

*speical note: doesn't look like blog search does the whole post as much anymore as searching for old post to make sure I don't duplicate any rambling seems a bit problematic at best, as terms I know that I've used in the past are unsearchable... new feature?*

Stories for All Hallow's Eve

Two tales for the season. The first for those still young at heart a ghost story named Frosty the Gourdman. Here's the trailer from youtube. (The story is much better than the trailer. With a quick pace though parents are sure to enjoy the ride. Just take a test drive before giving the keys to those who have never read a ghost story before :)





The second tale for those much older who seek a bit more horror in their celebration comes the tale of  Jasper Morello A nice mix of Jules Verne, Edgar Allen Poe and maybe a touch of HP Lovecraft.






I've heard tell that there are two other parts to Jasper's tale that have been written but have yet to be made and released. One day I hope they complete their trilogy - until they do enjoy this first installment.

BONUS:
Tales of dragons are good year round and Sintel is an amazing movie short from Blender. -- Enjoy --




Honestly this bonus is more for me as i didn't want to lose the link in the mix.

Anime Link Shuffle Update

Due to technical difficulties it looks like Bleach 7 is still having a few connectivity issues. However I was able to find the group they were using for their Fan-Sub service.

I've also added Mazui-Subs along the side - as I found they have been working on the Spice and Wolf series. Which has been quite enjoyable - not to mention if you pay attention there is usually a free economics lesson buried inside, under all the alcohol, misunderstandings and playful banter.

Ippen Shinde Miru?

It's been awhile since I looked at my current addictions... at the moment I can only think of two or three, the image above is from one of them on the anime front. It's from Jigoku Shoujo - I think I stumbled in at the second season: Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori, and became hooked not so much in the formulaic plot, but in the subtleties within each of the stories. I've got high hopes for season three: Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae.

Another show that has really stood out over the past few months is The Last Exile - also well done, I'll let the those who take the time to watch decide on the ending though as I'm still torn on this unique sci-fi.

A special thanks to all those out there who for what ever the reason continue to provide fansubs to the world.

As for music - - the pendulum forever swings. Lately I've felt pulled to a little faster beat and back away from the American market of music. This seems to happen in cycles with the last major draw back to the U.S. being Breaking Benjamen, and Blue October. Currently the Japanese have my ear, with Ellegarden, and Muramasa keeping me going... Elle has become quite addicting to say the least reminding me a bit of Blink 182

Even with all these shifts it took Dragon Age: Origins to finish burning World of Warcaft out of my system. Currently even with all it's faults I can say my once strong desire to jump right back in to WoW has been cut substantially, and the best part is I'm now I've a little extra cash in my pocket.

Vid' a'la Claymore

It's been a while since i thought about Claymore. I don't ever expect to see a second season - - but if they ever did :) These are both the full songs, vs. their abbreviated counterparts used in the show, enjoy.

Opening by: Raison D'etre - Nightmare

Ending by: Riyu Kosaka - Danzai no Hana Guilty Sky

Might be worth going back and enjoying again. . .

Two Sides

I see. A very human, and somewhat tragic, resolution. It's easy to say things, but do you have the strength for that?

The weak always cling to words, and those with power die for those without it. It's an often told tale. . .

Easley, Silver King of the North

There are always two sides to every creation, every soul. One that desires to create, and protect. The other seeks it's own destruction and everything around it. Each soul learns the challenge of balancing the two - but few realize that sometimes to protect one must destroy. . .

To seek the status quo, maintain balance in the equation - defend what is or what was - or watch it change into something different. For good or ill, this is our choice. . . our agency.

In the end the fight comes to us, either literally in one of the many forms of an earthly hell - or turned within in hopes of finding our own enlightenment, to the trials we face. The interesting thing is how often external hell forces thoughts internally in hopes of finding a solution to end it.

Prepare for Battle

I don't know how it will end - only that the pieces are in place and if this series holds to anime tradition there will only be a couple more episodes left. . . and the next/final battle will be massive to say the least.

Either way it has been an enjoyable ride, having downloaded the series as fast as the nice folks at Eclipse Productions have translated Claymore I have been there waiting for the next to arrive.

In the end though you can already read the writing on the volcanic sides of the mountain, with lava boiling all around inside and the storm raging outside, survival is doubtful, to say the least.

It has been interesting to see how the writer and the artist have shown the human psyche spit and retain it's cohesion. The killer and the protector mixed with the rules of society and the desire of the recluse who wishes to shun it all and just walk away.

If it wasn't for a sense of duty and honor that keep us walking a path that continually teaches us there are somethings we may not wish to do, but must need to be done.

Reality 101

The world is not beautiful: And that, in a way, lends it a sort of beauty.

~ ~Kino~ ~

Detox

Today is attempted detox - from the chaos of the week, allowing for a chance of uninterrupted thought process undisturbed by the ringing of phones or of continual questions re-occurring. . .

I have to admit it's kind of nice to string together a few thoughts - - stuff for many posts ahead. . . until then I think I'll let Wolf and cub wander Nippon a bit longer and visit WoW while I have the chance.

Until the next post please enjoy the following video from Haruhi, not sure if it's the lyrics or just the tune, but it's damn addicting - -

Update: Feb 08 - original video is now missing, but did find this nice replacement :)

Tsukurimashou Tsukurimasho

While feeling like the opening song for Azumanga Diaoh I stumbled on to another song I went looking for this a while back when I had the tune stuck in my brain: And Now For A Little Something Different. Now I can actually test the addictive nature of this little jingle through the power of YouTube. . . Either way enjoy the escape :)

Oh for those interested here is the opening song from Azumanga Diaoh:

Principle of Equivalent Trade and the Screaming Cynic

Principle of Equivalent Trade

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's First Law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth. [However] the world isn't perfect, and the law is incomplete. Equivalent Exchange doesn't encompass everything that goes on here. But I still choose to believe in its principle: that all things do come at a price. That there's an ebb, and a flow, a cycle. That the pain we went through did have a reward and that anyone who's determined and perseveres will get something of value in return, even if it's not what they expected.

—Alphonse Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist

My inner cynic has been screaming recently, all I hear is various forms of "Amor fati!!", it's damn near deafening at times. I too choose to believe in concept of Equivalent Exchange - that if I work hard something of value will come of it. However in the chaos of life though I have lost nearly all belief in the altruistic - everyone gets a payoff and karma cannot be denied.

I have also come to the conclusion that I am a compatibilist, there are somethings that will happen no matter what we do, the question is what part will be play in them when they happen. A good example of this might be the atomic bomb - the determinist in me says that discovery was bound to happen, while the libertarianist leaves what we do with the discovery in the hands of freewill.

Shakespeare felt that the world was a stage, I just allow players to exit from time to time without dying. In the end we are the improv character we play in life - to the cheers, jeers, and taunts of the critics we play on until the final curtain call.

The play goes on, and all my contribute a verse, however if one bows out of destiny or fate another will be placed in that location in their stead. Many things will proceed with or without us, they need to happen, with or without an agenda - - it's the agendas though that seem to get us in the most trouble :P

In the end though we all still negotiate our own trade. . .

Up Coming Starfreeze

In other news other up and coming addictions that I will try to add links to along the side in the near future are brought to you by Mr. the Tiger and Starfreeze.com - - for reawakening my need for a good anime fix.

Current series I've grown quite fond of at the moment are:

Darker than Black, I've only seen the first few episodes of this one and I'm still trying to figure out the over arching plot - I think it has something to do with what's called the 'hellgate' will need to watch more to confirm :)

The second is Kaze no Stigma (Stigma of the Wind), a little bit more tongue and cheek with a good shot of elemental magic, supernatural events, and closer to our reality mayhem - it's hinted at a greater plot but generally it's just fun.

However the greatest addiction in my anime category has got to be Claymore. Based on the manga by the same name it's both simple and complex, and not for those who can't handle bloody violence on par with a couple of Die Hard Movies where swords are the weapon of choice.

Still Preoccupied With 1985

Azumanga Daioh AMV by Suberunker (Kevin Chiou) For those who know Azumanga Daioh this should be rather enjoyable, almost makes me wonder if you can ever really forget those highschool adventures. Either way one of the better manga/music videos I've seen in a long time :)

Kino's Pachelbel

I'm not sure why this song seems to linger in my mind - - I may never fully understand it and to tell you the truth there are much worse songs to have crammed in my cranium.

For some reason though I went to the tune tonight and felt the need to copy down the English lyrics - - hopefully I'll be able to track down the Japanese version, but so far I've had no luck - - may just pull what I can from the show it's self but I can only how badly I screw that up.

Anyway here's what I was able to get so far from episode 4: Land of Adults

Opening:

Far off memories of birds flying through the air
My desires fly on wings of my dreams
All thoughts from the heart of a spring day
I send to the other side of that rainbow

I can see the world's reflection in your smile

Later when Kino sings while working on Hermes and later as the episode ends:

Your eyes are a mirror in which
I can see the world's reflection
Without ever forgetting your kindness
Even if my heart is full of sad words
I will stare long and hard at the stars

Pachelbel has always been haunting, I guess the lyrics (especially when heard in the original Nihongo). This song also added a strong anchor for the series for me - a reality cross over so to speak :)

This is also the episode that the following quote comes from:

Though I did not know the place,
I set out for the land of my dreams.
Having arrived at the land of my dreams,
I found I did not know the place.

And that quote alone could easily become a posting of its own - - but that is a different story.

Will It Last?

Customers/Users are fickle and addicts are a little bit closer to the zealot and insanity than the rest. Yep and that's one step away from the classic epithet of 'Humans are Stupid' (paraphrased wizard's first rule - hmm I should really do a post on those)

Anyway, my current addiction is WoW - or- World of Warcraft, and they have finally provided more information about an expansion that has been in the works now for what seems like an epoch or two. The question is how long will it last -- is this the ..//Hack of my time? With the current level and loot races going on it's hard to tell how long it will remain an addiction.

On the plus side with the new expansion new lands will open up and the chance to explore them - I may not be one for massive raids to try and get items for the hardcore, but good armor and a few tricks up my binary sleeve will work just fine to go see new virtual lands.

Makes me wonder how long until Google enters the world and you can visit GMain or GBritian from your virtual desktop an live a true digital existance. It might not be as far in the future as we think.

Until then I'll enjoy my current addiction for now and see what the future holds :)

Haruhi

Haruhi: "Normal humans don't interest me. If anyone here is an alien, from the future, from a different dimension, or an esper, then come find me! That is all."

Kyon: (...Eh?!)

For one of my regular readers this post should come as no surprise - it was just a matter of time, especially when they were nice enough to provide a translation site for the project they had recently become addicted to. Hell after the first few lines I joined them in the addiction.

WARNING: This series of books is VERY Japanese, and due to it's original writing and publishing in Nippon there are not explanations about the cultural aspects experienced.

Now if this hasn't scared you off and you can handle reading off the screen enjoy :)

Suzumiya Haruhi

The first book has recently been completed as of the writing of this post but there is much more to go - - Due to my lacking skills in translation I'd like to leave a continuing thanks to the folks at www.baka-tsuki.net - doing the project. (and hope they really do like all those fools out there)

Edit: Incase of further addiction I've added a link along the side for Haruhi underneath "Escape Artist" Enjoy - -

And Now For Something A Little Different

*singing*

Tsukurimashou tuskurimashou sate sate nani ga dekiru ka na

Tsukurimashou tuskurimashou sate sate nani ga dekiru ka na

Hai Dekimashita!!




Ano, kore wa chotto. . . hen

Greener Grass

This one has been playing around in the back of my mind for the past week or so. A conformation of that all the cliques I have heard since I was a kid are not true.

So next time Virginia asks if the Grass is Greener on the other side you can 9 times out of 10 say 'No'.

This has been repeatedly shown not only in the new server I've been playing on (PVP Alliance this time), and have felt the cold blade shock of the Horde this time, compared to my previous experience with PVP where I was playing Horde characters.

One thing is for sure, with realities like this its no wonder that many peace processes seem to fail in real life, and short of the population issues that may occur that whole res thing would be quite nice though.

However I saw a really good Anime series called Kino no Tabi that says how are you supposed to know the color of the grass without going to take a look. Definitely worth the watch, but not really for the kids, not sure how little Jimmy would handle seeing a rabbit take a bullet to the head and then bleed out a bit, however the story-lines are engaging for the older viewer and raise some interesting questions along the way.

.Hack//Sign

This is going to be a messed up post I can just tell. . .

Even as I think what to write the imagery blooms from what is reality to MMORPGs, the matrix and Plato's Cave. It might even pull out some of the forgotten "Lost Post" I referred to earlier. . . who knows. As for .Hack//Sign, a quick google search will tell you more than I can in this limited blog space - for now it's a good blurring of reality for anyone that's been caught up in an MMORPG.

As we fight though it all there seems to be a thread that keeps asking the question "what is real?", and just how much faith and perserverance does one need to keep their core together?

It's scary but I've seen it happen - - it's strange how typing brings back memories sometimes. Like this quote from a 'Batman' cartoon when on the aniversary of his parents death Batman meets with a close friend at the site where the robbery/murder took place so long ago:

Dr. Leslie Thompkins: You seem quieter than usual tonight.

Batman: Every year I come here and wonder if it should be the last time, if I should put the past behind me, try to lead a normal life.

Dr. Leslie Thompkins: Santayanna says, "Those who forget the past are condemed to repeat it."

Batman: He also said a fanatic is someone who redoubles his efforts while losing sight of his goal.

It is amazing though to watch how people will cling to a reality or shun it depending on perspective, and even more amazing the human spirit and will - how we can be destroy'd so easy and yet survive so much.

I guess in the end it just depends on what you've anchor'd your reailty to, and where you keep the madness hidden inside and what form it may take later. . .