So well, Politics are sure happening darlings.
So we have the guy who ran away from North Korea making us understand even more the squalid conditions of North Korea and surprisingly survived after being shot, in bad health, and having tapeworms inside him. It's a surprising story but yet it shows that the Cracks are showing in the foundation of N. Korean society but not all stories are happy. Recently Japan has gotten a few ghost ships. Supposedly they are from North Korea but it is unknown if they are and for what. Supposed theories suggest they are defectors who were unlucky from escaping the horror of North Korea. All 8 people in the ghost ships could've been trying to survive but sadly starved in the ocean but we won't know til further DNA evidence shows us.
And Trump is killing Net Neutrality. Though the hot button Topic of 2015 and once again with death. So the internet regulations are dying. Well, I'm kinda happy. But not fully happy. I guess it's because we don't have the variety of providers for this situation. I can only name 3: Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T. That's not good and with the recent add-ons with the possible fee levels for basic internet kind of sucks when monopolies like this can get away with this. If the FCC really wants to kill Net Neutrality, then President Trump and the Congress should start killing legislation that makes it difficult to start a business because when you rely on saying "The Market will take care of things" It's pretty lazy thinking. I myself am a capitalist but it requires individual people interested in such a product or service idea to make it happen and then all the basic complications of organizing, funding, advertising, etc. It's not easy making a business and Donald Trump should know that because of risk and reward scenarios. If you want to do this, make it easier for the rest of us to have better than this.
OK. Now for the Pope. He went to Myanmar. And boy is that country in trouble. There is the whole persecution of the Royhinga minority to the point of genocide. But it seems everyone is silent and knowing the terrible history of violations of people's right, this isn't too surprising but what is more surprising is one of the politicians who had constantly advocated for peaceful reforms, isn't doing much. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi hasn't taken actions to stop the persecution and seems to be silently allowing it. It's understandable as to why the Burmese people don't want to accept them since they are living on the boats and non-citizens escaping Muslim countries for freedom but if there is a genocide going on, this is unacceptable! But with the Pope's apathy for the Royhinga people is a let-down for this could've been a good time for showing acts of peace among people of different religious backgrounds working together. (Catholic, Muslim, and Buddhist) But I guess some things just can't be requested.
But in some good news, Prince Harry is Engaged. Engaged to American Actress Meghan Markle, she will be next year, married to the Prince but she herself can't technically be a princess because she is not a royal but the interesting first is that this will be the first time in a long history of Protestantism vs. Catholicism that a royal family member is married to a Catholic especially since her majesty Queen Elizabeth, per the tradition of Henry VIII, is the head of the Church of England though more ceremonially as Republican Power (not the political party, the idea of Power coming from representative voting over a divine right of Kings) has formulated the reforming of English Politics from the days of William and Mary of Orange, onward. None the less, us across the pond will no doubt be watching for the future wedding date.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Soon, the 25 blogs of Christmas will be here!
It's almost Cyber Monday, it's getting closer to the Christmas and soon will come the 25 blogs of Christmas. (Shameless advertising, Right Darlings?) But trust me, I'll just give my own spin on our beloved holiday with some holiday anecdotes, some of my favorite things, what I do on Christmas, etc. So expect some love, hot cocoa, a little blasphemy, (Just a little and it's tasteful.) and just some Christmas Magic.
And now for some Thanksgiving stuff to talk about. I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving. I know I did. Kind of a smaller crowd this year but I sure love a good meal and it was sure big. Too much food for such a few people. (13 came I believe) And trust me, the desserts were the best part. But I wish I could've tried my step-mom's version of stuffing, which sounded pretty good to me. (It was stuffing with Italian sausage and olives and more celery.) And then I went back to Pasadena to be with my cousins, Tori and Bobby, (sadly Kaya and Kiedas didn't go due to celebrating with their dad and my aunt had to work at the Hospital).
Also, I hope everyone survived Black Friday. To think the most evil and psychopathic of all days of the year ironically reminds us of our primal instincts and anti-Christian views preparing for a holiday that's about salvation and anti-materialism. But I'm not going to moralize too much because I like the commercialism of Christmas, just not Black Friday because everyone goes insane then. Besides, I just hope you, like me, are hoping to take advantage of Cyber Monday deals (Thank you Gods of Amazon!).
Ok. That'll do it for me, stay tuned tomorrow for me talking about some of my favorite hidden gem video games.
And now for some Thanksgiving stuff to talk about. I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving. I know I did. Kind of a smaller crowd this year but I sure love a good meal and it was sure big. Too much food for such a few people. (13 came I believe) And trust me, the desserts were the best part. But I wish I could've tried my step-mom's version of stuffing, which sounded pretty good to me. (It was stuffing with Italian sausage and olives and more celery.) And then I went back to Pasadena to be with my cousins, Tori and Bobby, (sadly Kaya and Kiedas didn't go due to celebrating with their dad and my aunt had to work at the Hospital).
Also, I hope everyone survived Black Friday. To think the most evil and psychopathic of all days of the year ironically reminds us of our primal instincts and anti-Christian views preparing for a holiday that's about salvation and anti-materialism. But I'm not going to moralize too much because I like the commercialism of Christmas, just not Black Friday because everyone goes insane then. Besides, I just hope you, like me, are hoping to take advantage of Cyber Monday deals (Thank you Gods of Amazon!).
Ok. That'll do it for me, stay tuned tomorrow for me talking about some of my favorite hidden gem video games.
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Now for some good news.
With the recent news of North Korea now being added as a terrorist threat (Why hasn't that happened ever since they tried breaking treaties and threatening everyone?), Net Neutrality Dying (I don't support net neutrality personally but the way that they're doing it is pretty bad when the market for internet providers is low, I can only name 4 companies that provide internet), and more scandals out in the open (Rurouni Kenshin's creator arrested for Child Porn, More accusations against Franken) Oh and the Death of former Icon David Cassidy (Never watched The Partridge Family but hey, Americana Slice of Life right?) you really wonder where the good news is darlings.
Well, Good News kind of knocked on my Door. So GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! I just got into another meet up with Amazon and they are interested in hiring me for a seasonal post at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Buena Park as a Sortation Associate. It's part time only but they still seem to have a similar fast paced environment. As of right now, I only have that I passed the background and drug tests so I'm still excited about this. Once they email me about a date, I can head out to work for them.
Now in other news, there was a new mobile game released, Now I know that I don't usually go crazy over mobile games unless I have a reason. And this reason is that Nintendo has just released their latest game. With the successes of Super Mario Run, they have decided to release Animal Crossing: Pocket Campers. And it's just as adorable and so ... well happy, you can't not be happy playing this game. It's about you, the one of the humans who lives alongside a world with anthropomorphized animals all with their own personalities. And in this game, you make your own camp settlement while collecting resources to trade, create, and sell, similar to other Animal Crossing games. (I have only played New Leaf but it's nice and peaceful. It's a good starter for the casual gamer who isn't into gaming.)
And since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I'll just update you with letting you guys know that I'll be celebrating with my dad, Stepmom, and sisters. And trust me, there will be a lot of pictures. OK, I better head off right now Darlings! Have a happy day OK. Cheer up for me because today is going to be good.
Well, Good News kind of knocked on my Door. So GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! I just got into another meet up with Amazon and they are interested in hiring me for a seasonal post at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Buena Park as a Sortation Associate. It's part time only but they still seem to have a similar fast paced environment. As of right now, I only have that I passed the background and drug tests so I'm still excited about this. Once they email me about a date, I can head out to work for them.
Now in other news, there was a new mobile game released, Now I know that I don't usually go crazy over mobile games unless I have a reason. And this reason is that Nintendo has just released their latest game. With the successes of Super Mario Run, they have decided to release Animal Crossing: Pocket Campers. And it's just as adorable and so ... well happy, you can't not be happy playing this game. It's about you, the one of the humans who lives alongside a world with anthropomorphized animals all with their own personalities. And in this game, you make your own camp settlement while collecting resources to trade, create, and sell, similar to other Animal Crossing games. (I have only played New Leaf but it's nice and peaceful. It's a good starter for the casual gamer who isn't into gaming.)
And since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I'll just update you with letting you guys know that I'll be celebrating with my dad, Stepmom, and sisters. And trust me, there will be a lot of pictures. OK, I better head off right now Darlings! Have a happy day OK. Cheer up for me because today is going to be good.
Monday, November 20, 2017
Readables: Current Reading List (I just hope I get to them with my schedule)
I know some of you Darlings are somewhat interested in my reading list. Well, it's kind of varied but mostly my to read list seems to be piling up. Some I have to read immediately. Some I need to take my time on. It's not pleasant when you can only read about 1-5 pages. I know some people say I should definitely use Audible but I personally prefer having the book in my hands and read from it. Keeps me focused, I'm sure you understand Darlings. But anyway, here's my current to read list. Also, sorry it took so long as well as how I haven't been posting much. I've been busy but I'll be back on it again now.
The Vampire Lestat: (Status Update: Currently Reading) After Interview, my boo had said I should at least read the main vampire chronicles. (That also includes Queen of the Damned (not the movie), The Tale of the Body Thief, and Memnoch the Devil.) This sequel will get the readers learning about Lestat and his role in Interview as well as parts we didn't get to see due to the story being Louis centric.
CTEC and other boring Tax Stuff: (Status Update: Began and currently still reading.) Every Week, I must follow this and pass it the tests they give me and also other things. And I have 3 things to read to prepare myself as a future tax accountant. It's a lot but I'm reading as I go. Slowly but surely. As long as I get it done by Dec. 31st, I'm good to go though I still need to call the school about some key info with the recent changes and startup registration.
Wuthering Heights: (Status: On Reading List) Well since Crimson Peak and Interview, I wanted to start reading some classical Gothic Stories so I've found a good list to read. Now I have to find out more about it. All I know is just general plot with main character Heathclifhfe falling in love with a woman and the general spiral of Gothic tales. So I just got a basic Idea.
Nicomachean Ethics: (Status: Stopped on beginning of the first chapter) Still It's important that I read this, just to see the ethical importance of the Aristotlean system. Since he is the father of modern science and the scientific method, I know I at least have to read him before death and other things. So better start now.
We The Living: (Status: First Page and stopped) So, I'll admit, despite my enthusiasm for the Objectivist Movement, the only Rand fiction book I ever finished was Anthem because well it was short. I can't read everything and sometimes I can't have the full patience to read long books with some exceptions. (Need to get back to The Pillars of the Earth but that's on hold.)
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty: (Status: On Reading List) This is an interesting one. It's an erotica novel by Anne Rice. She used a pseudonym for it and I can see why. I read the first chapter and my, there was domination and sex right at the beginning of the story so I know exactly what I signed up for but I enjoyed it. I'm not going to review though for obvious reasons. Sorry Kiddies. Maybe if decide, a different NSFW blog might be in the details but probably not.
Euripedes' Medea: (Status: Began reading) I decided to get something new with my library and I also have playwright George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion too. But for a basic synopsis, Medea is the story of what happens after the adventure of the Argo and collecting the Golden Fleece. She's betrayed by Jason because he cheats on her with another woman and she let's her wrath fly turning into the cruel witch later portrayed in myths.
Primarily this is what I'm going to be reading about. So what are you planning to read or will read in 2018 everyone?
The Vampire Lestat: (Status Update: Currently Reading) After Interview, my boo had said I should at least read the main vampire chronicles. (That also includes Queen of the Damned (not the movie), The Tale of the Body Thief, and Memnoch the Devil.) This sequel will get the readers learning about Lestat and his role in Interview as well as parts we didn't get to see due to the story being Louis centric.
CTEC and other boring Tax Stuff: (Status Update: Began and currently still reading.) Every Week, I must follow this and pass it the tests they give me and also other things. And I have 3 things to read to prepare myself as a future tax accountant. It's a lot but I'm reading as I go. Slowly but surely. As long as I get it done by Dec. 31st, I'm good to go though I still need to call the school about some key info with the recent changes and startup registration.
Wuthering Heights: (Status: On Reading List) Well since Crimson Peak and Interview, I wanted to start reading some classical Gothic Stories so I've found a good list to read. Now I have to find out more about it. All I know is just general plot with main character Heathclifhfe falling in love with a woman and the general spiral of Gothic tales. So I just got a basic Idea.
Nicomachean Ethics: (Status: Stopped on beginning of the first chapter) Still It's important that I read this, just to see the ethical importance of the Aristotlean system. Since he is the father of modern science and the scientific method, I know I at least have to read him before death and other things. So better start now.
We The Living: (Status: First Page and stopped) So, I'll admit, despite my enthusiasm for the Objectivist Movement, the only Rand fiction book I ever finished was Anthem because well it was short. I can't read everything and sometimes I can't have the full patience to read long books with some exceptions. (Need to get back to The Pillars of the Earth but that's on hold.)
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty: (Status: On Reading List) This is an interesting one. It's an erotica novel by Anne Rice. She used a pseudonym for it and I can see why. I read the first chapter and my, there was domination and sex right at the beginning of the story so I know exactly what I signed up for but I enjoyed it. I'm not going to review though for obvious reasons. Sorry Kiddies. Maybe if decide, a different NSFW blog might be in the details but probably not.
Euripedes' Medea: (Status: Began reading) I decided to get something new with my library and I also have playwright George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion too. But for a basic synopsis, Medea is the story of what happens after the adventure of the Argo and collecting the Golden Fleece. She's betrayed by Jason because he cheats on her with another woman and she let's her wrath fly turning into the cruel witch later portrayed in myths.
Primarily this is what I'm going to be reading about. So what are you planning to read or will read in 2018 everyone?
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Marcos' Mementos: Thanksgiving. What did I do?
Darlings, I know I haven't addressed you directly much but Do you remember any fond memories of Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I don't have a very pivotal moment that spoke volumes to me. It's not that I didn't enjoy my thanksgivings. It's just there wasn't a very popular event that made it whole for me for the better or for the worse. But no doubt some of you have.
Well, there was one small difference of my thanksgivings from the norm. One was just my cousins, Sister, Aunt, Oma and Opa, my great Aunt and great uncle and I. So that's 9 maybe 10 if Max was there too. Maybe he was but I have to ask. It was at a resort in my Seinor Year if I recall. It was the first time after a long string of Thanksgivings that I didn't go celebrate with my dad and his family. But the resort was lovely. It was the WorldMark Indio Resort if I recall. Nice lazy river and pool with a waterfall. Definitely suggest going there. Indio doesn't have much but the resort is a lovely escape from Urban Life. But yeah, it was just a more intimate family experiece. Kinda fun and we suprisingly had many beds but we all had 2 suites for each family. Opa and Oma and my cousins, aunt and maybe Max in one and Me, Mishi, Oma Eta, and Opa Leo, Or maybe did Jonathan join us making the total 11? I'm unsure. My memory isn't as it is. But then again the main issue with that Thanksgiving was my stupid English Homework. (Thanks Mrs. Henry)
But for my dads Thanksgiving, I'd say since I was around 13 or a little younger but no more than 11, I usually celebrated Thanksgiving with my Dad and his family. It's pretty much the same thing. We go to my stepmom's family in San Gabriel and we hang out with her grandma, sweet lady. She was so loving towards me into welcoming me into the family. We got all of Vanessa's cousins, family friends, and well it was a nicely sized group with a lot of good food there. (I'd say my best feast to look at) And then as usual, we said grace and dug in. Pretty simple and loving. Sadly, it won't be the same this year. Vanessa's grandmother has passed away earlier this year and so with a heavy heart, I have to say that Thanksgiving won't be the same as any other year. But we will miss her dearly for what kind of lady she was and what she has done. Rest in Peace.
Not to bum you guys out with a sad end but Thanksgiving is a great holiday. For being Thankful, family, food, football, and other things starting with the letters T and F, Thanksgiving is just only a week away.
Well, there was one small difference of my thanksgivings from the norm. One was just my cousins, Sister, Aunt, Oma and Opa, my great Aunt and great uncle and I. So that's 9 maybe 10 if Max was there too. Maybe he was but I have to ask. It was at a resort in my Seinor Year if I recall. It was the first time after a long string of Thanksgivings that I didn't go celebrate with my dad and his family. But the resort was lovely. It was the WorldMark Indio Resort if I recall. Nice lazy river and pool with a waterfall. Definitely suggest going there. Indio doesn't have much but the resort is a lovely escape from Urban Life. But yeah, it was just a more intimate family experiece. Kinda fun and we suprisingly had many beds but we all had 2 suites for each family. Opa and Oma and my cousins, aunt and maybe Max in one and Me, Mishi, Oma Eta, and Opa Leo, Or maybe did Jonathan join us making the total 11? I'm unsure. My memory isn't as it is. But then again the main issue with that Thanksgiving was my stupid English Homework. (Thanks Mrs. Henry)
But for my dads Thanksgiving, I'd say since I was around 13 or a little younger but no more than 11, I usually celebrated Thanksgiving with my Dad and his family. It's pretty much the same thing. We go to my stepmom's family in San Gabriel and we hang out with her grandma, sweet lady. She was so loving towards me into welcoming me into the family. We got all of Vanessa's cousins, family friends, and well it was a nicely sized group with a lot of good food there. (I'd say my best feast to look at) And then as usual, we said grace and dug in. Pretty simple and loving. Sadly, it won't be the same this year. Vanessa's grandmother has passed away earlier this year and so with a heavy heart, I have to say that Thanksgiving won't be the same as any other year. But we will miss her dearly for what kind of lady she was and what she has done. Rest in Peace.
Not to bum you guys out with a sad end but Thanksgiving is a great holiday. For being Thankful, family, food, football, and other things starting with the letters T and F, Thanksgiving is just only a week away.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Polituesday: Hmm. Not to much to say.
On today's Polituesday, I really got nothing to say due to not much I've seen due to all the obvious sex scandals that have happened (Louis C.K., Brett Ratner, and Roy Moore are starting to be popular and George Takei is also finding himself among there.) and isn't really surprising us at all though we still need to have a strong conscience to judge upon others. And the fact we're all kind of distracted on it.
But in recent news, Donald Trump has recently finished or actually suddenly ended his tour of Asia. I know he has finished Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. 5 major countries in the pacific Asian area and how we have currently had the issues of North Korea and Trade in favor of the US, (Personally I prefer free trade for all countries between businesses at buyer beware risk but that won't happen.). But also we had talks with current Prime Minister of Australia. This is pivotal as we'll need an extra ally in this especially since no doubt North Korea could attack Australia and having them as allies can help us. But still, the last thing we all want is any attack and the process of denuclearization will no doubt be difficult and time consuming. The 3 major powers against N. Korea, (South Korea, Japan, and the US) have done naval exercises and training near the Korean Penninsula.
Also, we got boycotts on Keurig and Jim Bean with Sean Hannity supporting Roy Moore and Mila Kunis sending donations to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence's name. You all know where this is going.
So other than that and the noise that the mainstream media seems to make on every Trump scandal whether be actually bad or nothing at all makes it just hard for me to decipher which is actually real news to cover because they always go upon it. It's just difficult for me to find out when there's so many accusations but little time and information to find to back up because once one is done 3 more seem to pop up. I can't really handle it.
Sigh. Oh well, join me tomorrow for some Marcos' Mementos The part of the week on my personal life and what's on my mind.
But in recent news, Donald Trump has recently finished or actually suddenly ended his tour of Asia. I know he has finished Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. 5 major countries in the pacific Asian area and how we have currently had the issues of North Korea and Trade in favor of the US, (Personally I prefer free trade for all countries between businesses at buyer beware risk but that won't happen.). But also we had talks with current Prime Minister of Australia. This is pivotal as we'll need an extra ally in this especially since no doubt North Korea could attack Australia and having them as allies can help us. But still, the last thing we all want is any attack and the process of denuclearization will no doubt be difficult and time consuming. The 3 major powers against N. Korea, (South Korea, Japan, and the US) have done naval exercises and training near the Korean Penninsula.
Also, we got boycotts on Keurig and Jim Bean with Sean Hannity supporting Roy Moore and Mila Kunis sending donations to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence's name. You all know where this is going.
So other than that and the noise that the mainstream media seems to make on every Trump scandal whether be actually bad or nothing at all makes it just hard for me to decipher which is actually real news to cover because they always go upon it. It's just difficult for me to find out when there's so many accusations but little time and information to find to back up because once one is done 3 more seem to pop up. I can't really handle it.
Sigh. Oh well, join me tomorrow for some Marcos' Mementos The part of the week on my personal life and what's on my mind.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Gamers Galore! Upcoming and released games I have my sights on (and maybe you too)
Ok. Since we have a lot of games to go through, let's make it simple as I can. A couple of lines and some video game play footage if I can find it. But no spoilers.
So as we know, there are a lot of games coming out for consoles each. So let's take a look at some I have my eyes set on.
The Fractured But Whole: The Latest South Park game, it does change the battle system a lot and yet still uses the fake social media accounts to increase popularity and media franchising since this game parodies the structure of the Superhero mass marketing done as well as the usual insanity South Park delivers with Politics, General Culture, Yaoi, PC and those who enforce it, religion, etc. Oh and did I forget to mention the hilarious way the made the difficulty setting.
TFBW gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzXFFEuJraE
Cuphead: This game I was excited for the first time I saw this game. This is truly a great aesthetic they used for this game. I love the 1930's cartoons (Specifically it's more similar to Fleischer Studios' animation rather than Disney's earlier cartoons) look and despite being difficult (which can be quite welcoming for gaming, Look at Dark Souls) seems like a rewarding experience and my boyfriend has the game too. It's already out for PC and XBOX (sadly no PS ... hopefully it's just yet but I don't know. I kinda doubt it but we all want to have some fun.).
Cuphead Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI3J9PGcEjM
Kingdom Hearts III: Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, It's finally coming. I've been waiting for this as I got patient with all the damn rereleases of the old games but I'm happy that I did get the final mix games to add difficulty to the situation. And it did keep me on my toes a little but back to the game. This game will come for PS4 and XBOX so everyone, REJOICE! And now with the latest news of the following worlds coming to play: San Fransokyo of Big Hero Six, The Corona Kingdom of Tangled, Andy's Bedroom from Toy Story, original KH world Twilight Town, and Olympus Coliseum and Greece (Hercules), we have some good info and Intel on where the Seekers of Darkness wish to plan their dark plans. Also Sora gets some new abilities to summon attacks based on Disney Rides.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4y7UK4nqnQ
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux: This is another game that's been remade by Atlus since they have made a lot of remakes with remaking the Persona Series, The two Devil Summoner Games for 3DS, and with another game on our list not related to SMT, Strange Journey Redux is on my list due to never being able to play the game and its rarity at game stores. It seems the main pantheons with focus are Greek, Zoroastrian, and Christianity as usual but there is a new demon to possibly unlock and summon, Maria. Jesus' Mother will be involved in this plot so it's very exciting since only one game featured her and now she will get a spotlight along with Demeter, Zeus, Anahita, and Amon (all in new redesigned forms).
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJR2yIVr8Jo
Radiant Historia (Perfect Chronology): I haven't played this game enough the first time due to the remake coming but it's in the RPG Style so It's something I personally enjoy. Also, unlike the first game, there will be animated cutscenes and voice acting for the game. However, if you don't like the new design you can go for the old designs for the characters. It's a nice game aesthetic choice for those who are old fans of the games. I just wish they kept that for Strange Journey for the looks of some of the character designs.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gPSbziUdmU
Ni no Kuni 2 (Revenant Kingdom): This is the awaited sequel of Ni no Kuni but follows its own story which I like. Like most JRPGs, they often are in similar worlds with different casts but have similarities with the other characters. This story focuses on King Evan who wants to reclaim his own kingdom from the Mouse tribe as far as we know. And it looks like they changed the mechanics of the battle system. Instead of using familiars, a la Pokemon and SMT, you must instead rely on spirits to help fight in battle. Also returning to this game are the wonderful animation team of Studio Ghibli and composer Joe Hisaishi.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj1yvXAc5TI
The Wolf Among Us: Season 2: I loved watching The Wolf Among Us. The best part about this game is that you could watch people play this game and it would still feel like a film. It's a film neo noir inspired story based on the Fables comic strip. Fables focuses on the lives and mysteries of our favorite fairy tale characters stuck in the real world. (Not Once Upon a Time!) Trust me, The Big Bad Wolf is the main focus as the main protagonist. A guy with no future. But the storyline was what made it so great and the morality matters choices made it extra important as you can be reformed or the Big Bad Asshole you always were. Bibgy, we know, wants to change but it's difficult for him. There is not much known but this annoucement trailer does seem promising. The story however, is separate from the comics and the first season.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyxVaTmDjkw
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night: This game is the spiritual Successor to Castlevania developed by leader Koji Igarashi. The Metroidvania style finally comes into 3D and boy does this game's look not only captures the nostalgia of Castlevania and the classic backtracking, which is scandalous in modern gaming, but it no doubt makes it look fun again and the add-ons with the horror monsters, Gothic Aesthetic, and the fact if you don't free yourself from a curse, you turn into a crystal adds to the mechanations of this game. Also listening to this segment of the music also captures classic Castlevania scenes in the mind.
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohvkb3F-hqY
Good Gaming!
So as we know, there are a lot of games coming out for consoles each. So let's take a look at some I have my eyes set on.
The Fractured But Whole: The Latest South Park game, it does change the battle system a lot and yet still uses the fake social media accounts to increase popularity and media franchising since this game parodies the structure of the Superhero mass marketing done as well as the usual insanity South Park delivers with Politics, General Culture, Yaoi, PC and those who enforce it, religion, etc. Oh and did I forget to mention the hilarious way the made the difficulty setting.
TFBW gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzXFFEuJraE
Cuphead: This game I was excited for the first time I saw this game. This is truly a great aesthetic they used for this game. I love the 1930's cartoons (Specifically it's more similar to Fleischer Studios' animation rather than Disney's earlier cartoons) look and despite being difficult (which can be quite welcoming for gaming, Look at Dark Souls) seems like a rewarding experience and my boyfriend has the game too. It's already out for PC and XBOX (sadly no PS ... hopefully it's just yet but I don't know. I kinda doubt it but we all want to have some fun.).
Cuphead Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI3J9PGcEjM
Kingdom Hearts III: Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, It's finally coming. I've been waiting for this as I got patient with all the damn rereleases of the old games but I'm happy that I did get the final mix games to add difficulty to the situation. And it did keep me on my toes a little but back to the game. This game will come for PS4 and XBOX so everyone, REJOICE! And now with the latest news of the following worlds coming to play: San Fransokyo of Big Hero Six, The Corona Kingdom of Tangled, Andy's Bedroom from Toy Story, original KH world Twilight Town, and Olympus Coliseum and Greece (Hercules), we have some good info and Intel on where the Seekers of Darkness wish to plan their dark plans. Also Sora gets some new abilities to summon attacks based on Disney Rides.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4y7UK4nqnQ
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux: This is another game that's been remade by Atlus since they have made a lot of remakes with remaking the Persona Series, The two Devil Summoner Games for 3DS, and with another game on our list not related to SMT, Strange Journey Redux is on my list due to never being able to play the game and its rarity at game stores. It seems the main pantheons with focus are Greek, Zoroastrian, and Christianity as usual but there is a new demon to possibly unlock and summon, Maria. Jesus' Mother will be involved in this plot so it's very exciting since only one game featured her and now she will get a spotlight along with Demeter, Zeus, Anahita, and Amon (all in new redesigned forms).
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJR2yIVr8Jo
Radiant Historia (Perfect Chronology): I haven't played this game enough the first time due to the remake coming but it's in the RPG Style so It's something I personally enjoy. Also, unlike the first game, there will be animated cutscenes and voice acting for the game. However, if you don't like the new design you can go for the old designs for the characters. It's a nice game aesthetic choice for those who are old fans of the games. I just wish they kept that for Strange Journey for the looks of some of the character designs.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gPSbziUdmU
Ni no Kuni 2 (Revenant Kingdom): This is the awaited sequel of Ni no Kuni but follows its own story which I like. Like most JRPGs, they often are in similar worlds with different casts but have similarities with the other characters. This story focuses on King Evan who wants to reclaim his own kingdom from the Mouse tribe as far as we know. And it looks like they changed the mechanics of the battle system. Instead of using familiars, a la Pokemon and SMT, you must instead rely on spirits to help fight in battle. Also returning to this game are the wonderful animation team of Studio Ghibli and composer Joe Hisaishi.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj1yvXAc5TI
The Wolf Among Us: Season 2: I loved watching The Wolf Among Us. The best part about this game is that you could watch people play this game and it would still feel like a film. It's a film neo noir inspired story based on the Fables comic strip. Fables focuses on the lives and mysteries of our favorite fairy tale characters stuck in the real world. (Not Once Upon a Time!) Trust me, The Big Bad Wolf is the main focus as the main protagonist. A guy with no future. But the storyline was what made it so great and the morality matters choices made it extra important as you can be reformed or the Big Bad Asshole you always were. Bibgy, we know, wants to change but it's difficult for him. There is not much known but this annoucement trailer does seem promising. The story however, is separate from the comics and the first season.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyxVaTmDjkw
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night: This game is the spiritual Successor to Castlevania developed by leader Koji Igarashi. The Metroidvania style finally comes into 3D and boy does this game's look not only captures the nostalgia of Castlevania and the classic backtracking, which is scandalous in modern gaming, but it no doubt makes it look fun again and the add-ons with the horror monsters, Gothic Aesthetic, and the fact if you don't free yourself from a curse, you turn into a crystal adds to the mechanations of this game. Also listening to this segment of the music also captures classic Castlevania scenes in the mind.
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohvkb3F-hqY
Good Gaming!
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Happy Late Veteran's Day, and some media things to look forward too.
Sorry for not posting this yesterday. I was but things kinda got late at work last night and I didn't have time in the morning to do it. So here is some of the things I want to just blog about with.
Yesterday I made the mistake of calling out Veterans Day too early but I fixed that easily.
Now for some news stuff in general entertainment.
So we've got some movies I'm excited to see. We've got Murder on the Orient Express which came out earlier. I'm excited primarily due to my love for Agatha Christie and it was the first Hercule Poirot Novel I've ever read. However, I've never seen Sidney Lumet's adaptation of the film. There have have been 3 known famous adaptations with Lumet's 1972 adaptation, a 2001 made for TV version with Alfred Molina, and a 2010 version from the series Poirot with David Suchet solving this caper. So far we have a pretty solid cast with many great actors like Kenneth Branaugh as Poirot, Josh Gad as Hector MacQueen, Willem Dafoe as Prof. Hardman, Derek Jacobi, Dame Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Lamar Odom Jr., Penelope Cruz, Michelle Pfeifer, Lucy Boyton and others. And me being a good mystery fan, I do want to see it to see the actors portrays of one of my favorite Christie stories. Also, I'm wondering if there will be sequels due to Branaugh's interest especially since I've noticed since 2015 that Agatha Christie is being revitalized with Matthew Pritchard (Agatha Christie's Grandson) quite well with 2 books back in 2014 and 2016 that gave permission to author Sophie Hannah to write 2 new Poirot Mysteries (both a risk but I want to see if there is a reward due to it being easy enough to write in her style but difficult in reaching the same logical and mental conclusions of her stories.) Also there was And Then There Were None in 2015, Witness for the Prosecution in 2016 and this year will feature as a Christmas Christie tradition Ordeal By Innocence. Also, another film coming from Agatha Christie Productions is Crooked House with Gillian Anderson and Glenn Close, I've never read Crooked House but now I better put it on my list.
Links to trailers
Murder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KJvofh4vFw
Crooked House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So0CVMmv8dA
Also, we have one of my new growing favorite directors, Wes Anderson, for his second venture into stop motion once again making Animation just as serious a storytelling medium as anything else. With my love for The Grand Budapest Hotel solidified and also featuring Willem Dafoe, I'm quite excited to see Isle of Dogs. It also features a very well known Cast with F Murray Abraham, Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray (He's been a longtime regular for Wes and it works so well, Look up Life Acquatic with Steve Zissou to understand) Ed Norton, and cameos and major roles played by Yoko Ono, Scarlett Johanson, Akira Takayama, Ken Wantanabe, and others. The premise is simple that Mayor of Japan Kobayashi decrees all Dogs to be abandoned on an Island and one boy decries this decree in search of his missing dog. A simple premise but Anderson's attention to detail with Symmetry, Balance, Color Pallet Coordination with this film emphasizing hued grays, blacks, and whites in contrast to the colorful presence of the dogs seems like a good choice in a symbolic take of Japan's Industrialization Post War so that's my guess on era.
Isle of Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt__kig8PVU
Ok. Now for talks of The Shape of Water. I found it as an interesting retelling of The Little Mermaid/Beauty and the Beast with an aesthetic kind of similar to the world of Rapture in Bioshock, (Definitely try it out. play it at least. Oh and btw, don't listen to the Objectivists who decry how wrong the Objectivist philosophy is portrayed as. I feel its inconsequential to the overall point of how radical dogma philosophies can ruin the human experience as well as seeing an interesting take of the human condition. Besides I feel it did do something right but that'll be another time to say.) But the overall aesthetic is intersting but the plot doesn't seem to disappoint too. In a current Hollywood Market of Remake after Remake, after Sequel, after ReBoot, usually pretty unnecessary most if not all the time, This film seems pretty original. And that's a good thing and I hope many people see it to show the power that we really want is more individually good original filmmaking. They're letting TV win. But anyway, the film focuses on Eliza, a mute lady who works as a cleaner in a secret base holding a merman like creature. As she falls in love with him, she must escape the dogmatic Colonel Strickland and his want to destroy and scientifically examine him. But also the film adds on more difficulty with the fact the era is Cold War America and some rooted problems still exist with Zelda, played by Octavia Spencer, who is Zelda's friend, co-worker, and African American during this time. No doubt a struggle for her in feeling inferior at the base. I've heard this film came out to critical acclaim so I'm really pumped for this movie.
The Shape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFYWazblaUA
And now for some honorable mentions due to my need to go to work. I apologize.
Coco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvomHFZO0mk
The Disaster Artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMKX2tE5Luk
My Friend Dahmer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX8ajObK81A
Tomorrow, I'll be talking a little on the video games I can't wait for. Thanks
Yesterday I made the mistake of calling out Veterans Day too early but I fixed that easily.
Now for some news stuff in general entertainment.
So we've got some movies I'm excited to see. We've got Murder on the Orient Express which came out earlier. I'm excited primarily due to my love for Agatha Christie and it was the first Hercule Poirot Novel I've ever read. However, I've never seen Sidney Lumet's adaptation of the film. There have have been 3 known famous adaptations with Lumet's 1972 adaptation, a 2001 made for TV version with Alfred Molina, and a 2010 version from the series Poirot with David Suchet solving this caper. So far we have a pretty solid cast with many great actors like Kenneth Branaugh as Poirot, Josh Gad as Hector MacQueen, Willem Dafoe as Prof. Hardman, Derek Jacobi, Dame Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Lamar Odom Jr., Penelope Cruz, Michelle Pfeifer, Lucy Boyton and others. And me being a good mystery fan, I do want to see it to see the actors portrays of one of my favorite Christie stories. Also, I'm wondering if there will be sequels due to Branaugh's interest especially since I've noticed since 2015 that Agatha Christie is being revitalized with Matthew Pritchard (Agatha Christie's Grandson) quite well with 2 books back in 2014 and 2016 that gave permission to author Sophie Hannah to write 2 new Poirot Mysteries (both a risk but I want to see if there is a reward due to it being easy enough to write in her style but difficult in reaching the same logical and mental conclusions of her stories.) Also there was And Then There Were None in 2015, Witness for the Prosecution in 2016 and this year will feature as a Christmas Christie tradition Ordeal By Innocence. Also, another film coming from Agatha Christie Productions is Crooked House with Gillian Anderson and Glenn Close, I've never read Crooked House but now I better put it on my list.
Links to trailers
Murder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KJvofh4vFw
Crooked House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So0CVMmv8dA
Also, we have one of my new growing favorite directors, Wes Anderson, for his second venture into stop motion once again making Animation just as serious a storytelling medium as anything else. With my love for The Grand Budapest Hotel solidified and also featuring Willem Dafoe, I'm quite excited to see Isle of Dogs. It also features a very well known Cast with F Murray Abraham, Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray (He's been a longtime regular for Wes and it works so well, Look up Life Acquatic with Steve Zissou to understand) Ed Norton, and cameos and major roles played by Yoko Ono, Scarlett Johanson, Akira Takayama, Ken Wantanabe, and others. The premise is simple that Mayor of Japan Kobayashi decrees all Dogs to be abandoned on an Island and one boy decries this decree in search of his missing dog. A simple premise but Anderson's attention to detail with Symmetry, Balance, Color Pallet Coordination with this film emphasizing hued grays, blacks, and whites in contrast to the colorful presence of the dogs seems like a good choice in a symbolic take of Japan's Industrialization Post War so that's my guess on era.
Isle of Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt__kig8PVU
Ok. Now for talks of The Shape of Water. I found it as an interesting retelling of The Little Mermaid/Beauty and the Beast with an aesthetic kind of similar to the world of Rapture in Bioshock, (Definitely try it out. play it at least. Oh and btw, don't listen to the Objectivists who decry how wrong the Objectivist philosophy is portrayed as. I feel its inconsequential to the overall point of how radical dogma philosophies can ruin the human experience as well as seeing an interesting take of the human condition. Besides I feel it did do something right but that'll be another time to say.) But the overall aesthetic is intersting but the plot doesn't seem to disappoint too. In a current Hollywood Market of Remake after Remake, after Sequel, after ReBoot, usually pretty unnecessary most if not all the time, This film seems pretty original. And that's a good thing and I hope many people see it to show the power that we really want is more individually good original filmmaking. They're letting TV win. But anyway, the film focuses on Eliza, a mute lady who works as a cleaner in a secret base holding a merman like creature. As she falls in love with him, she must escape the dogmatic Colonel Strickland and his want to destroy and scientifically examine him. But also the film adds on more difficulty with the fact the era is Cold War America and some rooted problems still exist with Zelda, played by Octavia Spencer, who is Zelda's friend, co-worker, and African American during this time. No doubt a struggle for her in feeling inferior at the base. I've heard this film came out to critical acclaim so I'm really pumped for this movie.
The Shape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFYWazblaUA
And now for some honorable mentions due to my need to go to work. I apologize.
Coco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvomHFZO0mk
The Disaster Artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMKX2tE5Luk
My Friend Dahmer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX8ajObK81A
Tomorrow, I'll be talking a little on the video games I can't wait for. Thanks
Friday, November 10, 2017
Game Review: Layton Mystery Journey: Katrielle Layton and the Millionaire's Conspiracy
Katrielle Layton, the daughter of one of my favorite fictional characters in video games, takes the stead in her fathers place in the anthology game Layton Mystery Journey: Katrielle Layton and the Millionaire's Conspiracy.
However, the conspiracy doesn't happen until way later in the game. In fact, the story itself doesn't focus on the overall plot but rather the character interactions with each other and the mysteries of London.
Plot: In the game, Katrielle Layton and her partner Ernest Grevees, meet a mysterious talking dog they name Sherl O. C. Kholmes. (an obvious omage to Sherlock Holmes and is even referenced in the game.) As soon as they have this meet up they are called to main mystery but it's the second one that is the more pivotal due to referencing the title millionaires or rather The Seven Dragons (Dragons are multimillionaires in England and they have a show called Dragon's Den there which you might better know as our American Shark Tank though that show was originally Japanese But that's enough trivia for now.) And you solve mysteries they ask you to be involved in leading up the finale. Overall there are 12 mysteries going around in London. Seems easy right? WRONG! Because you better have a good head on your shoulders because there are PUZZLES! That's right. This is a puzzle game.
Gameplay: Although the puzzles you'll find aren't critical to solving the game, some puzzles are intertwined with proceding through the game. It's pretty traditional of Layton games to do that where if you're stuck on a puzzle, you just need to have some time to go back. However, these games have hint coins to allow you to play but be warned. There are a limited supply of hint coins and there are 4 hints for every puzzle: 3 basic hints and a super hint worth 2 coins. (In the original 3 Layton games, there was no Super Hint until Professor Layton and the Last Specter) And the game allows you to search all around London tapping on either the citizens or the areas around to find hint coins and puzzles. And sometimes you'll find these souvenirs for you collection. They're mostly there for fun kicks. And also there are 3 mini-games included which are also puzzle themed but they're often range from basically simple to overtly complex. And this games mini-games are a deduction game where you must guess certain characters' favorite meals, finding your way through a maze in as few turns as possible, and making sure all customers order jewelry by following specific paths. And once you solve all the games, you can unlock the Puzzle Houses where more puzzles abound. In this game, there are 185 puzzles not counting the Special Puzzles which can be a total of 15 depending and downloadable Daily Puzzles which makes the total a whooping 565 puzzles which I believe is the most puzzles in a Professor Layton game ever. And unlike the last two Layton games, this game doesn't come with a 3DS compatability setting due to being released on IOS. Oh and before I forget, this game also has voice overs and animated cutscenes and I must admit I do like the voice cast for this game, especially kudos to Rosie Jones for her portray as our titular protagonist Katrille. (Capital!) But I must give a dishonorable mention for the voices belonging to some of the minor characters in some of the mysteries. Sometimes it's a hit and other times it's a miss and it can be a little awkward to imagine some voices on some characters but overall, there isn't that much voiced dialogue in this game.
Characters: One of the strongest aspects of the game other than the variety of puzzles to solve, are the characters and their designs. The uniquely cartoonish and quirkly looks of the characters make it similar to both Western and Japanese animation with the standard traditions of Japanese anime for looks, references, and form but the Western side takes over for style, aesthetic, and tone. (I mean after all, this is a game based in London.) All the characters have quite exaggerated looks but still all feel pretty human and are designed fully to make them look distinguishable from each other as well as give them a sense of their own personalities. But the only main factor that every character has in common is the love of puzzle which they all have. But the most development would come from the main characters, Inspector Ercule Hastings, Felicity Hastings (his wife), Analyst Emilia Perfetti, and and the Seven Dragon predominantly though some background characters are also given a little background in some random post-scenes at the end of each mystery as a Congratulations for solving puzzles. Overall, the most interesting are main the main cast due to growing up and showing more parts of themselves in the overall game so everyone feels more stock rather than substance though it is fun seeing their interactions and quircks act upon our protagonist.
Minuses: Overall, my main disappointment is the mysteries them-self due to the issue that they aren't interesting and the answers are pretty anti-climactic. But it sure is fun to see Katrielle solve them. However, another things I have with it is the ending. Due to acting more as an anthology game rather than a plotted game, it does make problems with continuity. For in the original Professor Layton games, the overarching mystery was presented early on but other mysteries would need to be solved in order to understand the full scope of the entire game. For this game, the ending is kind of rushed due to having a scope of smaller mysteries to solve. But the puzzles and character interactions make up for it. However, this game isn't for young kids. Not because of subject materials but because there are hard puzzles they won't understand. So best to give it to someone 11+.
Overall: Primarily Katrielle Layton is a good game but some of the main parts of the game might not make it a fully fun experience in comparison to the original Professor Layton games. I'll review them one by one in comparison next time. But it's a good standalone game with their mysteries especially the one surrounding Katrielle and her missing Father Professor Hershel Layton himself.
3.5/5
However, the conspiracy doesn't happen until way later in the game. In fact, the story itself doesn't focus on the overall plot but rather the character interactions with each other and the mysteries of London.
Plot: In the game, Katrielle Layton and her partner Ernest Grevees, meet a mysterious talking dog they name Sherl O. C. Kholmes. (an obvious omage to Sherlock Holmes and is even referenced in the game.) As soon as they have this meet up they are called to main mystery but it's the second one that is the more pivotal due to referencing the title millionaires or rather The Seven Dragons (Dragons are multimillionaires in England and they have a show called Dragon's Den there which you might better know as our American Shark Tank though that show was originally Japanese But that's enough trivia for now.) And you solve mysteries they ask you to be involved in leading up the finale. Overall there are 12 mysteries going around in London. Seems easy right? WRONG! Because you better have a good head on your shoulders because there are PUZZLES! That's right. This is a puzzle game.
Gameplay: Although the puzzles you'll find aren't critical to solving the game, some puzzles are intertwined with proceding through the game. It's pretty traditional of Layton games to do that where if you're stuck on a puzzle, you just need to have some time to go back. However, these games have hint coins to allow you to play but be warned. There are a limited supply of hint coins and there are 4 hints for every puzzle: 3 basic hints and a super hint worth 2 coins. (In the original 3 Layton games, there was no Super Hint until Professor Layton and the Last Specter) And the game allows you to search all around London tapping on either the citizens or the areas around to find hint coins and puzzles. And sometimes you'll find these souvenirs for you collection. They're mostly there for fun kicks. And also there are 3 mini-games included which are also puzzle themed but they're often range from basically simple to overtly complex. And this games mini-games are a deduction game where you must guess certain characters' favorite meals, finding your way through a maze in as few turns as possible, and making sure all customers order jewelry by following specific paths. And once you solve all the games, you can unlock the Puzzle Houses where more puzzles abound. In this game, there are 185 puzzles not counting the Special Puzzles which can be a total of 15 depending and downloadable Daily Puzzles which makes the total a whooping 565 puzzles which I believe is the most puzzles in a Professor Layton game ever. And unlike the last two Layton games, this game doesn't come with a 3DS compatability setting due to being released on IOS. Oh and before I forget, this game also has voice overs and animated cutscenes and I must admit I do like the voice cast for this game, especially kudos to Rosie Jones for her portray as our titular protagonist Katrille. (Capital!) But I must give a dishonorable mention for the voices belonging to some of the minor characters in some of the mysteries. Sometimes it's a hit and other times it's a miss and it can be a little awkward to imagine some voices on some characters but overall, there isn't that much voiced dialogue in this game.
Characters: One of the strongest aspects of the game other than the variety of puzzles to solve, are the characters and their designs. The uniquely cartoonish and quirkly looks of the characters make it similar to both Western and Japanese animation with the standard traditions of Japanese anime for looks, references, and form but the Western side takes over for style, aesthetic, and tone. (I mean after all, this is a game based in London.) All the characters have quite exaggerated looks but still all feel pretty human and are designed fully to make them look distinguishable from each other as well as give them a sense of their own personalities. But the only main factor that every character has in common is the love of puzzle which they all have. But the most development would come from the main characters, Inspector Ercule Hastings, Felicity Hastings (his wife), Analyst Emilia Perfetti, and and the Seven Dragon predominantly though some background characters are also given a little background in some random post-scenes at the end of each mystery as a Congratulations for solving puzzles. Overall, the most interesting are main the main cast due to growing up and showing more parts of themselves in the overall game so everyone feels more stock rather than substance though it is fun seeing their interactions and quircks act upon our protagonist.
Minuses: Overall, my main disappointment is the mysteries them-self due to the issue that they aren't interesting and the answers are pretty anti-climactic. But it sure is fun to see Katrielle solve them. However, another things I have with it is the ending. Due to acting more as an anthology game rather than a plotted game, it does make problems with continuity. For in the original Professor Layton games, the overarching mystery was presented early on but other mysteries would need to be solved in order to understand the full scope of the entire game. For this game, the ending is kind of rushed due to having a scope of smaller mysteries to solve. But the puzzles and character interactions make up for it. However, this game isn't for young kids. Not because of subject materials but because there are hard puzzles they won't understand. So best to give it to someone 11+.
Overall: Primarily Katrielle Layton is a good game but some of the main parts of the game might not make it a fully fun experience in comparison to the original Professor Layton games. I'll review them one by one in comparison next time. But it's a good standalone game with their mysteries especially the one surrounding Katrielle and her missing Father Professor Hershel Layton himself.
3.5/5
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Book Review: Interview with the Vampire
OK Darlings. Time to relax on this beautiful Thursday with a review of Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.
Plot (Spoiler free) : The Plot focuses about Louis as he recounts his life as a vampire in his most important aspects that changed his life forever. He talks primarily of his life as the head of household for his siblings and mother before being turned by the vampire Lestat. Then the story focuses on their life together in New Orleans for the main duration of the story and his infatuation with his daughter Claudia. But then a trip to France makes them end up meeting the Theatre d' Vampires and their de facto leader, Armand. And thus a whole new world of vampire opportunity and questions awaits them.
Characters: The story focuses on 5 main characters and their interconnected feelings and relationships among them.
Louis de Pointe du Lac: He's the main focus of the story. Primarily he's a tortured soul struggling over his existential lifestyle of balancing his humanity with becoming a vampire and sucking the blood of his victims he regrets having. He constantly blames Lestat for being his damnation.
Lestat de Lioncourt: A Hedonistic Vampire and the creator of both Louis and Claudia. He primarily cares mainly about his fashion and lifestyle of appearances. He's both their teacher and mentor on how to live as a vampire but he often berates Louis over his sympathy. But when it comes to the next novel, The Vampire Lestat, he's more than just this.
Claudia de Lioncourt: Lestat and Louis' daughter. Created after her mother died and she was just around 5 years old. She's been five for over 65 years but she regrets how she can't grow up.
The Boy: The Mysterious recorder of Louis tale who can't believe that he's in the presence of a Vampire. He records all of Louis' story.
Armand: The Mysterious de facto leader of the Theatre d' Vampires. He seems to be inquisitive of our protagonists but seems to have a bond with Louis.
Pluses: The story is very detailed. Anne Rice loves describing her period piece with the elegance of eras that we have never witness but she paints a beautiful picture that we can Enjoy the story. Rice clearly loves setting and presentation as the main aesthetic to get us into the world of the vampire as being as elegant in past iteriations of the time but then also, one of my favorite scenes is when the vampires (Minor Spoiler alert)
...
You there? Ok here it is. Don't say I didn't warn you. ... kill a girl onstage. Just the dramatic tension as she knows what will happen and seeing the performance played out just chilled me so and I was hooked around that part. It's very dramatic to be sure and that's a main thing I love with the details and descriptions.
...
Another thing Anne Rice does is with her characterizations with what is happening with their lives is despite their immortality, it seems there are some unaccomplished desires and longing for more with purpose that drives them out. Primarily we see this with Claudia and Louis with Louis trying to restore his humanities by appreciating humans still and trying not to kill them and Claudia with her wish of being able to grow older and being turned later in life. Even Armand shows this with Louis trying to maybe reclaim a part of his humanity when it came to love. It's these flaws that makes us sympathize with the vampires that ironically makes them more human than before.
Minuses: On the other hand, there is one thing I really disliked about the story. It's Louis. I know what you're thinking, but he's the main character, you're supposed to sympathize with the loss of his humanity. I know that but he kept doing it so much, I started to lose sympathy just noting how much of a crybaby he was with all this "I'm damned, I'm forsaken and you did this to me." It's done a lot of times and maybe too much. It's one of things I dislike and often has me preferring Lestat despite his side of the story not being told until the Sequel.
Overview: Overall, Interview with the Vampire is an enjoyable gothic tale of the education and experience of actually being a vampire told directly from the source. Enviornments that feel so real, you can immerse yourself into them, characters that despite a hedonistic lifestyle want to gain something more beyond narrow pleasure and feeding, and at times, a look at what does make us human and damned in a way, Interview is an enjoyable experience.
4/5
Plot (Spoiler free) : The Plot focuses about Louis as he recounts his life as a vampire in his most important aspects that changed his life forever. He talks primarily of his life as the head of household for his siblings and mother before being turned by the vampire Lestat. Then the story focuses on their life together in New Orleans for the main duration of the story and his infatuation with his daughter Claudia. But then a trip to France makes them end up meeting the Theatre d' Vampires and their de facto leader, Armand. And thus a whole new world of vampire opportunity and questions awaits them.
Characters: The story focuses on 5 main characters and their interconnected feelings and relationships among them.
Louis de Pointe du Lac: He's the main focus of the story. Primarily he's a tortured soul struggling over his existential lifestyle of balancing his humanity with becoming a vampire and sucking the blood of his victims he regrets having. He constantly blames Lestat for being his damnation.
Lestat de Lioncourt: A Hedonistic Vampire and the creator of both Louis and Claudia. He primarily cares mainly about his fashion and lifestyle of appearances. He's both their teacher and mentor on how to live as a vampire but he often berates Louis over his sympathy. But when it comes to the next novel, The Vampire Lestat, he's more than just this.
Claudia de Lioncourt: Lestat and Louis' daughter. Created after her mother died and she was just around 5 years old. She's been five for over 65 years but she regrets how she can't grow up.
The Boy: The Mysterious recorder of Louis tale who can't believe that he's in the presence of a Vampire. He records all of Louis' story.
Armand: The Mysterious de facto leader of the Theatre d' Vampires. He seems to be inquisitive of our protagonists but seems to have a bond with Louis.
Pluses: The story is very detailed. Anne Rice loves describing her period piece with the elegance of eras that we have never witness but she paints a beautiful picture that we can Enjoy the story. Rice clearly loves setting and presentation as the main aesthetic to get us into the world of the vampire as being as elegant in past iteriations of the time but then also, one of my favorite scenes is when the vampires (Minor Spoiler alert)
...
You there? Ok here it is. Don't say I didn't warn you. ... kill a girl onstage. Just the dramatic tension as she knows what will happen and seeing the performance played out just chilled me so and I was hooked around that part. It's very dramatic to be sure and that's a main thing I love with the details and descriptions.
...
Another thing Anne Rice does is with her characterizations with what is happening with their lives is despite their immortality, it seems there are some unaccomplished desires and longing for more with purpose that drives them out. Primarily we see this with Claudia and Louis with Louis trying to restore his humanities by appreciating humans still and trying not to kill them and Claudia with her wish of being able to grow older and being turned later in life. Even Armand shows this with Louis trying to maybe reclaim a part of his humanity when it came to love. It's these flaws that makes us sympathize with the vampires that ironically makes them more human than before.
Minuses: On the other hand, there is one thing I really disliked about the story. It's Louis. I know what you're thinking, but he's the main character, you're supposed to sympathize with the loss of his humanity. I know that but he kept doing it so much, I started to lose sympathy just noting how much of a crybaby he was with all this "I'm damned, I'm forsaken and you did this to me." It's done a lot of times and maybe too much. It's one of things I dislike and often has me preferring Lestat despite his side of the story not being told until the Sequel.
Overview: Overall, Interview with the Vampire is an enjoyable gothic tale of the education and experience of actually being a vampire told directly from the source. Enviornments that feel so real, you can immerse yourself into them, characters that despite a hedonistic lifestyle want to gain something more beyond narrow pleasure and feeding, and at times, a look at what does make us human and damned in a way, Interview is an enjoyable experience.
4/5
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Thanksgiving, Why is it that we skip right over it for Christmas though it's just as important?
I know it's so clickbaity a topic darlings but it's true. I feel Thanksgiving gets no love. We just want Christmas to come and I know we all want to start over. Trust me, we all do. Especially with dumb politicians, annoying celebrities, nosy neighbors we want out, and other such distractions and nuisances from us. But I want to life blog about something on my mind. Why does Thanksgiving get the boot from those who want Christmas?
I mean we all enjoy Christmas but I think we don’t give enough time to Thanksgiving due to the commercialization of Christmas. Not that it's a bad thing but you don't usually see someone selling Thanksgiving Decorations. The only thing might be well, dining room sets with a cornucopia and a turkey serving plate. Yeesh, right? It seems every time, Thanksgiving is overshadowed with only a lame holiday sale and then Black Friday comes to town and that's what we all care about. (Me I prefer staying at home going on Cyber Monday to enjoy Amazon prices.) But pretty much it's all about the sales which is what I'm just a little sick of and I know people are either just as sick or excited but kinda also bleeds into Halloween which is my holiday too. So from now on I propose a new idea. Halloween is to be Celebrated on Sept. 1st through October 31st to make up for lost time with the pushing of Christmas into November. But yes Thanksgiving just needs a little more love.
And yet Thanksgiving means so much more than just a feast. It's a harvest festival. Like most festivals, they always mention or are symbolic of the joys of life. For harvest festivals, its the end of the harvest seasons and feasts and carnivals are abound to celebrate the fruits of our labors for food (or in our modern society, production and service making in general) and letting everyone have a piece of that pie. (Or just those who you prefer deserve the pie.) It's a symbol of the beginning of winter and the beginning of the end of a good year. And doesn't that deserve not to be overlooked? Sure we say what we're thankful for, but lets not forget the holiday that reminds us of it.
So let's make Thansgiving great again and make a really good Thanksgiving meal, enjoy some football, and be with those who make Thanksgiving what we're thankful for.
I mean we all enjoy Christmas but I think we don’t give enough time to Thanksgiving due to the commercialization of Christmas. Not that it's a bad thing but you don't usually see someone selling Thanksgiving Decorations. The only thing might be well, dining room sets with a cornucopia and a turkey serving plate. Yeesh, right? It seems every time, Thanksgiving is overshadowed with only a lame holiday sale and then Black Friday comes to town and that's what we all care about. (Me I prefer staying at home going on Cyber Monday to enjoy Amazon prices.) But pretty much it's all about the sales which is what I'm just a little sick of and I know people are either just as sick or excited but kinda also bleeds into Halloween which is my holiday too. So from now on I propose a new idea. Halloween is to be Celebrated on Sept. 1st through October 31st to make up for lost time with the pushing of Christmas into November. But yes Thanksgiving just needs a little more love.
And yet Thanksgiving means so much more than just a feast. It's a harvest festival. Like most festivals, they always mention or are symbolic of the joys of life. For harvest festivals, its the end of the harvest seasons and feasts and carnivals are abound to celebrate the fruits of our labors for food (or in our modern society, production and service making in general) and letting everyone have a piece of that pie. (Or just those who you prefer deserve the pie.) It's a symbol of the beginning of winter and the beginning of the end of a good year. And doesn't that deserve not to be overlooked? Sure we say what we're thankful for, but lets not forget the holiday that reminds us of it.
So let's make Thansgiving great again and make a really good Thanksgiving meal, enjoy some football, and be with those who make Thanksgiving what we're thankful for.
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
The Political Cacaphony: Spacey, Arabia, Pyongyang, and Taxes
Well Darlings, ...
When will this stop.
I’m going to have to gloss over Kevin Spacey and other actors and actresses and anyone else in Hollywood who did this because now we’re at the point where we can’t really be surprised about the whole sex scandals in Hollywood. They know better and they should. No more excuses. Enough is enough. And this is just one of the factors causing Mainstream Hollywood to lose big money. Talk about draining a swamp, maybe we should actually start with the Hollywood elisits on their hypocrisy with moralizing us.
And I learned one of the Saudi Arabian Princes is dead, with many of the Royal Families' council being arrested for corruption and the country saying some attacks with the crashed helicopter and airport are acts of war from Iran and Lebanon. Of course this mean all sorts of chaos that adds up even more from the insanity of what we can't seem to fight in the war which sucks for us all because this means more of the sacrificial lamb ordinance in our war effort instead of focusing our efforts against Islamic Totalitarianism. And even there is a purge that was just announced yesterday about how the Crown Prince Mohammed is trying to order a purging of his enemies to try to rule as head of state in Arabia. Either way, the two Arabian Penninsula Powers are being even more threatening to one another and no doubt will try to fight one another. But maybe this could be in our favor depending. Both countries have strongly supported State Sponsored Terrorism from funding organizations like Al-Qaeda, The Taliban and ISIS but us having sides with Trumps slightly favoring Saudi Arabia says big things when we shouldn't be supporting evil regimes like these at all. But sadly time will tell who shoots the first bullet on the actual country if the attack is from Iran.
In Pyongyang, we have now started saying the only way we can take out the regime is through ground ops forces. But to also put it into perspective, I remember some articles noting small signs of rebellion against Kim Jong Un's agenda. And with a country who tries to keep on shielding the citizens of the outside world, no doubt some cracks are made into the walls. You can't keep the modern world out for long and the 4 remaining communist countries are stuck with a market economy, much to their ironic joy (due to the fact that communism generally believes it's one step back to go two steps forward with the next step being socialism and they'll always hate capitalism) But Un is still a threat with what weapons he has but let's not get scared by him but knock him down if ever he does threaten us. He does have weapons but we can stop them and we still need to promote the policy of allowing South Korea and Japan to be allowed to have nuclear technologies as both our allies and in respect of protecting their own interests in case China does go full warfare on them. (Sorry but I still don't trust the Chinese government with their secret funding of North Korea out of fear and having a hand in Global Politics.)
Lastly, Lets talk about taxes. Though Trump put up the new tax brackets recently, It's kind of a disappointment to me. Us Californians can't write off our State and Local taxes and other high tax states makes it harder for the rest of us to pay taxes. Even though our new tax bracket has created a large gap between those making a flat tax alternative instead. But the chocies they made are very high. The lowest bracket must pay 12% and the highest still doesn't go down from 39.6% if you are single and make more than $500,000 or married and pay $1,000,000. The medium brackets have flat rates of 25% and 35% and all in all doesn't fully help get people into the middle class or help preserve a middle class with such high tax bracket percentages. And the wealthy still are taxed at a considerable rate. We need a lower federal tax percentage bracket for all Americans if we want to prosper. To make a more radical move in the right direction, make a tax plan to make the poor gap lessen by well obviously taxing the poor less, make the middle class prosper by reducing a tax bracket and making a more easier flat tax rate for them to enjoy and put more into the economy, and allow the rich to keep what they make. Personally if I was president, I'd like to just have a basic flat rate for all Americans but let's face it. I won't be president because everyone will hate my ideas. Trust me, If Republicans can't fully embrace a true tax reform plan, don't count on making anyone truly get up unless we can come up with the tax plan first. (my suggestion would be 5% for those under $100,000, 10% for those making from $100,001 to $499,999, and finally 15% for those making $500,000 or more which will definitely make it easier to pay our regular bills and allow people to enjoy the fruits of their labors too.) And before I go, I want to call out someone in California.
FUCK YOU JERRY BROWN! Now we all have to suffer with the gas taxes that increased our gas payments not by 12 cents but rather 23 cents for regular gas. Nice going because I'm gonna have to pay more for gas because of your stupidity and negligence to understand that prices were going down and that they only got up because of the hurricanes and over time, we could've had it go down but no you fucked up and I as well as 55 million others are mad (or at least a majority of the 55 million) way to go. And as Much as I really wanted to impeach him, it's too late. I can only hope those in California wake up to the insanity going on here and destroy this stupid tax and promote reducing taxes and eliminating useless ones like the gas tax because that will surely get us going in a somewhat right direction.
When will this stop.
I’m going to have to gloss over Kevin Spacey and other actors and actresses and anyone else in Hollywood who did this because now we’re at the point where we can’t really be surprised about the whole sex scandals in Hollywood. They know better and they should. No more excuses. Enough is enough. And this is just one of the factors causing Mainstream Hollywood to lose big money. Talk about draining a swamp, maybe we should actually start with the Hollywood elisits on their hypocrisy with moralizing us.
And I learned one of the Saudi Arabian Princes is dead, with many of the Royal Families' council being arrested for corruption and the country saying some attacks with the crashed helicopter and airport are acts of war from Iran and Lebanon. Of course this mean all sorts of chaos that adds up even more from the insanity of what we can't seem to fight in the war which sucks for us all because this means more of the sacrificial lamb ordinance in our war effort instead of focusing our efforts against Islamic Totalitarianism. And even there is a purge that was just announced yesterday about how the Crown Prince Mohammed is trying to order a purging of his enemies to try to rule as head of state in Arabia. Either way, the two Arabian Penninsula Powers are being even more threatening to one another and no doubt will try to fight one another. But maybe this could be in our favor depending. Both countries have strongly supported State Sponsored Terrorism from funding organizations like Al-Qaeda, The Taliban and ISIS but us having sides with Trumps slightly favoring Saudi Arabia says big things when we shouldn't be supporting evil regimes like these at all. But sadly time will tell who shoots the first bullet on the actual country if the attack is from Iran.
In Pyongyang, we have now started saying the only way we can take out the regime is through ground ops forces. But to also put it into perspective, I remember some articles noting small signs of rebellion against Kim Jong Un's agenda. And with a country who tries to keep on shielding the citizens of the outside world, no doubt some cracks are made into the walls. You can't keep the modern world out for long and the 4 remaining communist countries are stuck with a market economy, much to their ironic joy (due to the fact that communism generally believes it's one step back to go two steps forward with the next step being socialism and they'll always hate capitalism) But Un is still a threat with what weapons he has but let's not get scared by him but knock him down if ever he does threaten us. He does have weapons but we can stop them and we still need to promote the policy of allowing South Korea and Japan to be allowed to have nuclear technologies as both our allies and in respect of protecting their own interests in case China does go full warfare on them. (Sorry but I still don't trust the Chinese government with their secret funding of North Korea out of fear and having a hand in Global Politics.)
Lastly, Lets talk about taxes. Though Trump put up the new tax brackets recently, It's kind of a disappointment to me. Us Californians can't write off our State and Local taxes and other high tax states makes it harder for the rest of us to pay taxes. Even though our new tax bracket has created a large gap between those making a flat tax alternative instead. But the chocies they made are very high. The lowest bracket must pay 12% and the highest still doesn't go down from 39.6% if you are single and make more than $500,000 or married and pay $1,000,000. The medium brackets have flat rates of 25% and 35% and all in all doesn't fully help get people into the middle class or help preserve a middle class with such high tax bracket percentages. And the wealthy still are taxed at a considerable rate. We need a lower federal tax percentage bracket for all Americans if we want to prosper. To make a more radical move in the right direction, make a tax plan to make the poor gap lessen by well obviously taxing the poor less, make the middle class prosper by reducing a tax bracket and making a more easier flat tax rate for them to enjoy and put more into the economy, and allow the rich to keep what they make. Personally if I was president, I'd like to just have a basic flat rate for all Americans but let's face it. I won't be president because everyone will hate my ideas. Trust me, If Republicans can't fully embrace a true tax reform plan, don't count on making anyone truly get up unless we can come up with the tax plan first. (my suggestion would be 5% for those under $100,000, 10% for those making from $100,001 to $499,999, and finally 15% for those making $500,000 or more which will definitely make it easier to pay our regular bills and allow people to enjoy the fruits of their labors too.) And before I go, I want to call out someone in California.
FUCK YOU JERRY BROWN! Now we all have to suffer with the gas taxes that increased our gas payments not by 12 cents but rather 23 cents for regular gas. Nice going because I'm gonna have to pay more for gas because of your stupidity and negligence to understand that prices were going down and that they only got up because of the hurricanes and over time, we could've had it go down but no you fucked up and I as well as 55 million others are mad (or at least a majority of the 55 million) way to go. And as Much as I really wanted to impeach him, it's too late. I can only hope those in California wake up to the insanity going on here and destroy this stupid tax and promote reducing taxes and eliminating useless ones like the gas tax because that will surely get us going in a somewhat right direction.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Postmodernism is a Dead Philsophy
For those of you Darlings who follow my blog, I have told many times of my repulsion of Postmodern Philosophy.
But what is Postmodernism? And how has it effected our culture? And is there a way to fight it?
(I say yes we can but we all have to come together and individually call out the naked emperor in the room if we wish to make a good start.)
So what is Postmodernism? But it's that question that is the main problem. Postmodernism is, in itself, undefinable by its own nature but yet has premises that are definable. (Irrational, isn't it?) And yet Postmodernism is a very irrational philosophy by it's nature that it's all cryptic and masquerading on its true intentions.
But basically, Postmodernism is pretty much, in a nutshell, a philosophy of nihilism. Of Zero. There is nothing to gain and nothing to lose but individual will. And how bad has it effected the culture? Well, just looking outside, very badly and is in need to be cured. So let's get into explaining some of the tenants of Postmodernism.
Postmodernism is verily characterized by the destruction of language to make it devoid of meaning and create supposedly intellectual ideas by only using a large vocabulary, willingness to irrational emotionalism over rationalism, the fact that Truth isn't Objective, and that everything is political rather than moral. It sound pretty distinctive right? But the fact that it was able to be evasive for around 75+ years makes it more dreadful.
It maneuvered itself to adapt to all sorts of philosophically bad and irrational ideals in order to pursue a political agenda rather than examine how the world is and what is the way of life we should follow. Postmodernism has many children including but not limited to Cultural Marxism with the very controversial and poisoning Frankfurt School of Thought, Feminism, especially 3rd wave, Reverse Racism and Racism, Affirmative Action and Cultural Appropriation, Guilt mongering (not really an ideology but they he sure pisses everyone the fuck off with making people feel guilty for no reason of their own fault), and Deconstruction (deconstruction of everything whether be family, society, religion, language, science (yes even science), philosophy, art, etc. without actually critiquing it and wanting to improve on ideas that are good). It's a lot I know but the first step in stopping your enemies is naming them down and they are all guilty of trying to make us feel like we are the villains.
But our main focus will be on the tenants as they are the principles (or rather the lack hereof) that motivate the Postmodernists.
1) The Destruction of Language: You see all those Social Justice Warriors constantly say all this trigger word censoring which is a primary and basic example of how they want to destroy language. We can't say this for we'll upset someone or it's not polite to say even if it's true or if it's wrong. It doesn't matter. If they think you can't say it, it's moral to censor it. But how does that fit into the whole postmodern thing? Thank Jean Baudrillard and Jacques Derrida. Although these two fit more into deconstruction, their main works of philosophic inquiry is extremely had and punishing to even go through because of the language of choice to make it hard to fully understand anything. Here's an example from Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation in which he describes Disneyland as a simulation. Try to follow. If you can't, I totally understand.
"Whence the possibility of an Ideological Analysis of Disneyland: Digest of the American way of Life, Pangyric of American Values, Idealized Transportation Of A Contradictory Reality, Certainly."
Did you get it? Kind of? I had to discuss the full quote about the whole reality thing.
But notice how Baudrillard uses confusing and elaborate language that really doesn't get to the full point unless we think about it rather than explaining in a very specific and non-confusing way. The point is to confuse the reader rather than make a focus on, in this case, about how Disneyland is a variation of reality and how, in Baudrillard's opinion, Disneyland adds on to how reality is faked with hyperactivity. If it's confusing but oddly makes sense, you might've seen The Matrix trilogy with all the situations of reality and what is reality and the whole Allegory of the Cave metaphor. (In fact, Simulacra and Simulation makes appearances in The Matrix Revolutions.) But we wouldn't know this until someone else translates it for us even though Baudrillard is saying all forms of reality are fake no matter what we perceive as real when we differentiate Disneyland from actual Reality. Baudrillard makes it clear that reality itself isn't to be trusted even if it's just a vague notion of what can be understandable of his words.
2) Emotion vs. Reason: No doubt I support reason but that we should allow emotion to convey our most powerful of reactions to the world and the events of our lives (Kinda like Opera does), but Postmodernism allows reaction without reason to guide it along the way. As we see with groups like SJW's, Antifa, ISIS, Neo-Nazis, and other similar styled groups, they all are founded on raging and violent emotions, often of a ressintement type to enforce dominance over others. It doesn't care to argue, illuminate, even THINK but would rather allow justification for violence for violence's sake. And it's this emotion that allows them to fight against the grain and sometimes get the upper hand in the bad and criminal aspects of the world. Their envy and jealousy gets to them to destroy anything if it doesn't benefit them in the long run.
3) Truth is Subjective: The truth is an enemy of our goals is what the postmodern philosophers cry out. So false leads, lying, and other consequential actions are justified when truth can't be verified and scrutinized under the microscope or anyone who, dare I say it, judged someone. (That's another perk of being an atheist in my opinion. I can judge and unlike all other religions which decry judging, I can still judge against those who say I can't do that.) Very similar to the Existentialist philosophers like Soren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sarte (another of the postmodernists), Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Friedrich Nietzsche, (the last two I do want to research more of though I have little of their works), truth is subjective but unlike the Existentialists who wish to find meaning in the world whether be religious like Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky or atheist like Sartre and Nietzsche, and make it meaningful to people's lives to address either a need to turn back to religion or to find value in a godless age (despite also believing truth is subjective), the Postmodernist doesn't want to find truth in values. It is the absolute destruction of Objective Truth is Liberation to them and regression to the "others."
4) Deconstruction of everything: This isn't more focused on any philosopher other than French Postmodernist Jacques Derrida. Famous for his philosophy of deconstruction of all things even language, Derrida focuses on that there is no way to possibly understand the objective truth by trying to any well to use a quote from the YouTube Channel Wisecrack "Is a Cat "A Cat?"" He'd say no. Anything goes with what to call it without any standard and even goes to say all standards are frivolous to any meaning given to such a thing as language. And it goes further, art is given standard for "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Philosophy isn't great because of "Cis-gendered white guys got to make the call" instead of pointing out the merits and flaws of specific philosophies. Politics isn't noble and thus can't do anything til a democratic mob goes into it. The list goes on and on.
Thus Postmodernism doesn't really stand for anything other than a political purpose of power and control. It's a cause of anxiety and distress in an age of where not only anything goes, but it's all a quagmire of confusion and depression. But is there a way to fight it?
Yes there is. If we know it to be bad, Don't be afraid to judge it. Silence only adds on to evil deeds and as the quote goes, "The only necessity for evil to win, is for good men to do nothing." And the thresholds of such postmodern demagoguery is falling little by little. Colleges with ties to SJW's and Antifa are losing funding, Hollywood is losing creativity and fans with constant moralizing, The political left is trying hard but failing in being strong but being the beginning of a former shadow of itself, and there is a beginning revival in Enlightenment philosophy and Western Values of Merit, Individualism, Reason, and Freedom. But let's not forget that we ourselves must go into retrospect and examine the values we want to replace with the postmodern standard. Let's not go down a path of dogmatism lest we all get destroyed again.
Thanks for reading.
If you want to read a more detailed version with noting more on the disintegration of American Culture and What to do to reclaim it read Lying as A Way of Life by Alexandria York. She's a colleague of mine who writes Novels, Poetry, Songs, and has acted before she became a novelist. She also writes non-fiction dedicated to those who want to write for a better culture and lifestyle especially on making good art though I don't think she has a positive feeling about my personal favorite medium, video games. Here's the link to the Book below but it's in Kindle form. But don't worry about it being long as it's 62 pages long and a fast read. And it only costs one dollar. Not a bad investment right?
Here's a link to her Amazon page for the book.
https://www.amazon.com/LYING-WAY-LIFE-Corruption-Collectivism-ebook/dp/B01F27QF0O/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
If you want to see what sources I used to reference, here's the Works Cited.
The Madness of Postmodern Philosophy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTUq5qxwwOs&feature=share
Truth to Power: The Postmodern Nightmare: https://charlieroberts223.wixsite.com/radicalpromthean/single-post/2017/08/20/My-new-office
The Transformation, Destruction of American Culture: http://www.newsmax.com/AlexandraYork/individualism-america-united-states-culture/2017/09/26/id/815832/
Objectivists Discuss: Postmodernism W/ Dr. Stephen Hicks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZxU-9KZo2E&list=PLEZByVyr3iAJw3PbBrrIsd5ND6YRr8Oha
Is A Cat A Cat? (Derrida+Double Dragon) 8-Bit Philosophy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zw04hraCVo
The Matrix Revolutions: What Went Wrong? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27rhHfBugnc
But what is Postmodernism? And how has it effected our culture? And is there a way to fight it?
(I say yes we can but we all have to come together and individually call out the naked emperor in the room if we wish to make a good start.)
So what is Postmodernism? But it's that question that is the main problem. Postmodernism is, in itself, undefinable by its own nature but yet has premises that are definable. (Irrational, isn't it?) And yet Postmodernism is a very irrational philosophy by it's nature that it's all cryptic and masquerading on its true intentions.
But basically, Postmodernism is pretty much, in a nutshell, a philosophy of nihilism. Of Zero. There is nothing to gain and nothing to lose but individual will. And how bad has it effected the culture? Well, just looking outside, very badly and is in need to be cured. So let's get into explaining some of the tenants of Postmodernism.
Postmodernism is verily characterized by the destruction of language to make it devoid of meaning and create supposedly intellectual ideas by only using a large vocabulary, willingness to irrational emotionalism over rationalism, the fact that Truth isn't Objective, and that everything is political rather than moral. It sound pretty distinctive right? But the fact that it was able to be evasive for around 75+ years makes it more dreadful.
It maneuvered itself to adapt to all sorts of philosophically bad and irrational ideals in order to pursue a political agenda rather than examine how the world is and what is the way of life we should follow. Postmodernism has many children including but not limited to Cultural Marxism with the very controversial and poisoning Frankfurt School of Thought, Feminism, especially 3rd wave, Reverse Racism and Racism, Affirmative Action and Cultural Appropriation, Guilt mongering (not really an ideology but they he sure pisses everyone the fuck off with making people feel guilty for no reason of their own fault), and Deconstruction (deconstruction of everything whether be family, society, religion, language, science (yes even science), philosophy, art, etc. without actually critiquing it and wanting to improve on ideas that are good). It's a lot I know but the first step in stopping your enemies is naming them down and they are all guilty of trying to make us feel like we are the villains.
But our main focus will be on the tenants as they are the principles (or rather the lack hereof) that motivate the Postmodernists.
1) The Destruction of Language: You see all those Social Justice Warriors constantly say all this trigger word censoring which is a primary and basic example of how they want to destroy language. We can't say this for we'll upset someone or it's not polite to say even if it's true or if it's wrong. It doesn't matter. If they think you can't say it, it's moral to censor it. But how does that fit into the whole postmodern thing? Thank Jean Baudrillard and Jacques Derrida. Although these two fit more into deconstruction, their main works of philosophic inquiry is extremely had and punishing to even go through because of the language of choice to make it hard to fully understand anything. Here's an example from Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation in which he describes Disneyland as a simulation. Try to follow. If you can't, I totally understand.
"Whence the possibility of an Ideological Analysis of Disneyland: Digest of the American way of Life, Pangyric of American Values, Idealized Transportation Of A Contradictory Reality, Certainly."
Did you get it? Kind of? I had to discuss the full quote about the whole reality thing.
But notice how Baudrillard uses confusing and elaborate language that really doesn't get to the full point unless we think about it rather than explaining in a very specific and non-confusing way. The point is to confuse the reader rather than make a focus on, in this case, about how Disneyland is a variation of reality and how, in Baudrillard's opinion, Disneyland adds on to how reality is faked with hyperactivity. If it's confusing but oddly makes sense, you might've seen The Matrix trilogy with all the situations of reality and what is reality and the whole Allegory of the Cave metaphor. (In fact, Simulacra and Simulation makes appearances in The Matrix Revolutions.) But we wouldn't know this until someone else translates it for us even though Baudrillard is saying all forms of reality are fake no matter what we perceive as real when we differentiate Disneyland from actual Reality. Baudrillard makes it clear that reality itself isn't to be trusted even if it's just a vague notion of what can be understandable of his words.
2) Emotion vs. Reason: No doubt I support reason but that we should allow emotion to convey our most powerful of reactions to the world and the events of our lives (Kinda like Opera does), but Postmodernism allows reaction without reason to guide it along the way. As we see with groups like SJW's, Antifa, ISIS, Neo-Nazis, and other similar styled groups, they all are founded on raging and violent emotions, often of a ressintement type to enforce dominance over others. It doesn't care to argue, illuminate, even THINK but would rather allow justification for violence for violence's sake. And it's this emotion that allows them to fight against the grain and sometimes get the upper hand in the bad and criminal aspects of the world. Their envy and jealousy gets to them to destroy anything if it doesn't benefit them in the long run.
3) Truth is Subjective: The truth is an enemy of our goals is what the postmodern philosophers cry out. So false leads, lying, and other consequential actions are justified when truth can't be verified and scrutinized under the microscope or anyone who, dare I say it, judged someone. (That's another perk of being an atheist in my opinion. I can judge and unlike all other religions which decry judging, I can still judge against those who say I can't do that.) Very similar to the Existentialist philosophers like Soren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sarte (another of the postmodernists), Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Friedrich Nietzsche, (the last two I do want to research more of though I have little of their works), truth is subjective but unlike the Existentialists who wish to find meaning in the world whether be religious like Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky or atheist like Sartre and Nietzsche, and make it meaningful to people's lives to address either a need to turn back to religion or to find value in a godless age (despite also believing truth is subjective), the Postmodernist doesn't want to find truth in values. It is the absolute destruction of Objective Truth is Liberation to them and regression to the "others."
4) Deconstruction of everything: This isn't more focused on any philosopher other than French Postmodernist Jacques Derrida. Famous for his philosophy of deconstruction of all things even language, Derrida focuses on that there is no way to possibly understand the objective truth by trying to any well to use a quote from the YouTube Channel Wisecrack "Is a Cat "A Cat?"" He'd say no. Anything goes with what to call it without any standard and even goes to say all standards are frivolous to any meaning given to such a thing as language. And it goes further, art is given standard for "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Philosophy isn't great because of "Cis-gendered white guys got to make the call" instead of pointing out the merits and flaws of specific philosophies. Politics isn't noble and thus can't do anything til a democratic mob goes into it. The list goes on and on.
Thus Postmodernism doesn't really stand for anything other than a political purpose of power and control. It's a cause of anxiety and distress in an age of where not only anything goes, but it's all a quagmire of confusion and depression. But is there a way to fight it?
Yes there is. If we know it to be bad, Don't be afraid to judge it. Silence only adds on to evil deeds and as the quote goes, "The only necessity for evil to win, is for good men to do nothing." And the thresholds of such postmodern demagoguery is falling little by little. Colleges with ties to SJW's and Antifa are losing funding, Hollywood is losing creativity and fans with constant moralizing, The political left is trying hard but failing in being strong but being the beginning of a former shadow of itself, and there is a beginning revival in Enlightenment philosophy and Western Values of Merit, Individualism, Reason, and Freedom. But let's not forget that we ourselves must go into retrospect and examine the values we want to replace with the postmodern standard. Let's not go down a path of dogmatism lest we all get destroyed again.
Thanks for reading.
If you want to read a more detailed version with noting more on the disintegration of American Culture and What to do to reclaim it read Lying as A Way of Life by Alexandria York. She's a colleague of mine who writes Novels, Poetry, Songs, and has acted before she became a novelist. She also writes non-fiction dedicated to those who want to write for a better culture and lifestyle especially on making good art though I don't think she has a positive feeling about my personal favorite medium, video games. Here's the link to the Book below but it's in Kindle form. But don't worry about it being long as it's 62 pages long and a fast read. And it only costs one dollar. Not a bad investment right?
Here's a link to her Amazon page for the book.
https://www.amazon.com/LYING-WAY-LIFE-Corruption-Collectivism-ebook/dp/B01F27QF0O/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
If you want to see what sources I used to reference, here's the Works Cited.
The Madness of Postmodern Philosophy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTUq5qxwwOs&feature=share
Truth to Power: The Postmodern Nightmare: https://charlieroberts223.wixsite.com/radicalpromthean/single-post/2017/08/20/My-new-office
The Transformation, Destruction of American Culture: http://www.newsmax.com/AlexandraYork/individualism-america-united-states-culture/2017/09/26/id/815832/
Objectivists Discuss: Postmodernism W/ Dr. Stephen Hicks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZxU-9KZo2E&list=PLEZByVyr3iAJw3PbBrrIsd5ND6YRr8Oha
Is A Cat A Cat? (Derrida+Double Dragon) 8-Bit Philosophy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zw04hraCVo
The Matrix Revolutions: What Went Wrong? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27rhHfBugnc
Sunday, November 5, 2017
A Little Notice for You All and what could change with my blogging schedule
Hi Darlings. I want to make a little PSA for you all. And I ask this because I know it's the holidays coming but please DON'T FORGET THANKSGIVING! I mean, we really need to be thankful and enjoy the bounty of the harvest before we get right into all the winter solstice festivities of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Saturnalia, 3 Kings Day, Navidad, Diwali, and all other pagan and religious or secular Winter Festivals. Let's tone it down til Cyber Monday. Only because that's the day I do Christmas Shopping and then I'm like "Ok. It's Christmas Time!" So Please be nice to your Turkeys as we either pardon them or bless them for our tummies.
Ok. Now that I got that out of the way, I just want to interrupt your Sunday for another small PSA of my own when it comes to my blog. I'm thinking of posting on Saturday but it's more of a maybe. Let's see where it goes first then we go do it.
And for this upcoming week's Schedule.
Monday: Talk about why you should stay way from Postmodern Philosophies
Tuesday: Politics and Scandals of why Kevin Spacey disappointed me, the death of a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family, slight signs of a possible rebellion in Pyongyang and the death of 200 in a recent testing, and these God Damn Tax Boosts to our damn gas prices.
Wednesday: Updates on Life about what's going on with Thanksgiving with me.
Thursday: Review of Interview with the Vampire: The Book
Friday: Review of Layton Mystery Journey: Katrielle Layton and the Millionaire's Conspiracy
Saturday: Talk about some of the games I would like to play/look at one day and a lookback review of Kingdom Hearts 358 Days/2
Ok. Thanks for tuning in despite the non blogging for a bit.
Ok. Now that I got that out of the way, I just want to interrupt your Sunday for another small PSA of my own when it comes to my blog. I'm thinking of posting on Saturday but it's more of a maybe. Let's see where it goes first then we go do it.
And for this upcoming week's Schedule.
Monday: Talk about why you should stay way from Postmodern Philosophies
Tuesday: Politics and Scandals of why Kevin Spacey disappointed me, the death of a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family, slight signs of a possible rebellion in Pyongyang and the death of 200 in a recent testing, and these God Damn Tax Boosts to our damn gas prices.
Wednesday: Updates on Life about what's going on with Thanksgiving with me.
Thursday: Review of Interview with the Vampire: The Book
Friday: Review of Layton Mystery Journey: Katrielle Layton and the Millionaire's Conspiracy
Saturday: Talk about some of the games I would like to play/look at one day and a lookback review of Kingdom Hearts 358 Days/2
Ok. Thanks for tuning in despite the non blogging for a bit.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Crimson Peak Review (Spoilers)
Sorry For the late photo Darlings. I did want to surprise you but it was difficult due to time. But I’m happy I did it. And now as I promised, my review of Crimson Peak.
Crimson Peak is a film directed and mainly written by Guillermo del Toro, director of Pams Labyrinth, Chronos, Devil’s Backbone, Hellboy, Blade, Pacific Rim, etc. I think you can tell I’m trying to emphasize his work on monsters and horror. But Crimson Peak is the only film on here which doesnt fit with the rest. This is because unlike the horror he generally portrays with the horrors of childhood and other types, Crimson Peak is Gothic Horror.
Gothic Horror is a genre of stories told in the Romantic style of fiction so it’s often called Gothic Romance. And many great authors also wrote in the general Gothic sense like Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray, Bram Stoker, etc. But the Gothic Romance genre deals with the ghosts. And as explained in the film, ghosts are metaphors of the past. So I hope that goes into the idea of what Gothic Romance is so lets get on with this review.
In Crimson Peak, Edith Cushing is the daughter of an entrepreneurial magnate, Carter Cushing who has the ability to see ghosts most prominent after her mother's death. Upon meeting the charismatic Sir Thomas Sharpe, Baronet, Edith begins to fall in love with him and after her father's untimely death agrees to marry and go to Allerdale Hall, the ancestral home of the Sharpe family. Over time, Edith starts seeing ghosts in the house and they lead her down dark halls and dark secrets.
Ok, here are the spoilers.
To be honest, this film isn't scary per say. But it is a suspenseful thriller. I admit, I'll relay fault along the promotions of the film. But that doesn't mean Crimson Peak isn't enjoyable. I admit, I love this film. It's a beautifully made film too. Del Toro uses what he knows in the past and his love for Gothic Romance novels to synthesize this story for us and entertain the audience with a combination of also a fairy tale, a dark morality tale, and a ghost story. For the suspense lies in the secrets that Thomas and his sister Lucille have kept over the years. I admit the plot is predictable but it's still a solid experience and that comes primarily with the characters.
I always felt characters drive their story more than plot and that plot is to keep everyone's power in line and in check from overpowering the story and making sure that we have development in a story. For Edith, its discovering herself as a woman in a new time and also uncovering her personal fears with the prophecy her mother gave her. Thomas is motivated by his sister primarily with seducing the women he makes fall in love with him for their inheritances. But with Thomas falling in love, it ruins his sisters plans. Lucille is motivated by her incestuous love for Thomas and reclaiming their dead family's past as wealthy aristocrats instead of penniless land barons. However, it's her forbidden love that eventually leads down to her ruin. This haunting love triangle focuses upon each of their motivations and the problems that each leads down upon whether it being Edith not listening to the ghost of her mother, Lucille driven by lust and revenge, and Thomas motivated by his cowardice towards his older sister.
But lets get to the most important character of the movie, the house. Allerdale Hall was an actual built set and it's such a shame that it eventually had to be destroyed and both Johnny and I agreed we'd love to have lived in a home like that. (Of course with more modern renovations like gas heating, circulation, and such but preserving the main foundation and structure of the home as much as possible.) The symbolism in the house is not only its loneliness in the world but mainly the clay that Thomas hopes to use as a foundation part of his fortunes. The Clay is the foundation of the house and it ruins the house and gives an eerie bleeding effect on the place representing how the Sharpe siblings were bled dry of wealth, influence, and everything. And now the house is but its own ghost of what once was a former grand estate.
The movie is heavily dealing with symbolism with butterflies and moths, the ghosts, the house but also it melds so well into the set designs. Del Toro has an eye for these details and really wants to get us into a Gothic tale with all the aesthetics put in place especially in Allerdale Hall.
And my main praise goes to the main three actors, Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing, Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas, and Jessica Chastain as Lucille. All three of them breathe so much life into these characters and I just love seeing them act together as their scenes are priamrily focused on them and also are the main acting pillars and hold the film so well. I especially love Chastain's work as she goes from Sweet sister in law with questionable motives to raging psychopath with reclaiming her lost identity.
Also I wish to add that I do love the designs of the ghosts and Edith's mother with their red skeletal frames coming from being caked in all that clay and Edith's mother being all in black symbolizing her death with Black Chlorea.
Overall, I give Crimson Peak a 3.75/5. It's a predictable plot and not really a horror story but it's a very beautiful Gothic Romance.
Crimson Peak is a film directed and mainly written by Guillermo del Toro, director of Pams Labyrinth, Chronos, Devil’s Backbone, Hellboy, Blade, Pacific Rim, etc. I think you can tell I’m trying to emphasize his work on monsters and horror. But Crimson Peak is the only film on here which doesnt fit with the rest. This is because unlike the horror he generally portrays with the horrors of childhood and other types, Crimson Peak is Gothic Horror.
Gothic Horror is a genre of stories told in the Romantic style of fiction so it’s often called Gothic Romance. And many great authors also wrote in the general Gothic sense like Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray, Bram Stoker, etc. But the Gothic Romance genre deals with the ghosts. And as explained in the film, ghosts are metaphors of the past. So I hope that goes into the idea of what Gothic Romance is so lets get on with this review.
In Crimson Peak, Edith Cushing is the daughter of an entrepreneurial magnate, Carter Cushing who has the ability to see ghosts most prominent after her mother's death. Upon meeting the charismatic Sir Thomas Sharpe, Baronet, Edith begins to fall in love with him and after her father's untimely death agrees to marry and go to Allerdale Hall, the ancestral home of the Sharpe family. Over time, Edith starts seeing ghosts in the house and they lead her down dark halls and dark secrets.
Ok, here are the spoilers.
To be honest, this film isn't scary per say. But it is a suspenseful thriller. I admit, I'll relay fault along the promotions of the film. But that doesn't mean Crimson Peak isn't enjoyable. I admit, I love this film. It's a beautifully made film too. Del Toro uses what he knows in the past and his love for Gothic Romance novels to synthesize this story for us and entertain the audience with a combination of also a fairy tale, a dark morality tale, and a ghost story. For the suspense lies in the secrets that Thomas and his sister Lucille have kept over the years. I admit the plot is predictable but it's still a solid experience and that comes primarily with the characters.
I always felt characters drive their story more than plot and that plot is to keep everyone's power in line and in check from overpowering the story and making sure that we have development in a story. For Edith, its discovering herself as a woman in a new time and also uncovering her personal fears with the prophecy her mother gave her. Thomas is motivated by his sister primarily with seducing the women he makes fall in love with him for their inheritances. But with Thomas falling in love, it ruins his sisters plans. Lucille is motivated by her incestuous love for Thomas and reclaiming their dead family's past as wealthy aristocrats instead of penniless land barons. However, it's her forbidden love that eventually leads down to her ruin. This haunting love triangle focuses upon each of their motivations and the problems that each leads down upon whether it being Edith not listening to the ghost of her mother, Lucille driven by lust and revenge, and Thomas motivated by his cowardice towards his older sister.
But lets get to the most important character of the movie, the house. Allerdale Hall was an actual built set and it's such a shame that it eventually had to be destroyed and both Johnny and I agreed we'd love to have lived in a home like that. (Of course with more modern renovations like gas heating, circulation, and such but preserving the main foundation and structure of the home as much as possible.) The symbolism in the house is not only its loneliness in the world but mainly the clay that Thomas hopes to use as a foundation part of his fortunes. The Clay is the foundation of the house and it ruins the house and gives an eerie bleeding effect on the place representing how the Sharpe siblings were bled dry of wealth, influence, and everything. And now the house is but its own ghost of what once was a former grand estate.
The movie is heavily dealing with symbolism with butterflies and moths, the ghosts, the house but also it melds so well into the set designs. Del Toro has an eye for these details and really wants to get us into a Gothic tale with all the aesthetics put in place especially in Allerdale Hall.
And my main praise goes to the main three actors, Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing, Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas, and Jessica Chastain as Lucille. All three of them breathe so much life into these characters and I just love seeing them act together as their scenes are priamrily focused on them and also are the main acting pillars and hold the film so well. I especially love Chastain's work as she goes from Sweet sister in law with questionable motives to raging psychopath with reclaiming her lost identity.
Also I wish to add that I do love the designs of the ghosts and Edith's mother with their red skeletal frames coming from being caked in all that clay and Edith's mother being all in black symbolizing her death with Black Chlorea.
Overall, I give Crimson Peak a 3.75/5. It's a predictable plot and not really a horror story but it's a very beautiful Gothic Romance.
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