Review: Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul

This is season one of Tokyo Ghoul. This show is apparently based on a very popular manga, but i have not seen any of the manga. 

The basic premise is that there is a race of creatures living beside humankind. These ghouls are indistinguishable from humans (except for maybe via blood test) and the general public know of their existence. 

Ghouls can only eat human meat, anything else (mostly) makes them ill. They need to eat once a month but some called binge eaters kill and eat a lot more humans.
There are also gourmand who like to experiment with their diet, i think.

There is a group of government sponsored humans, some obviously psychotic, that go around killing suspected ghouls with impunity.
I have no idea why blood tests and ID cards are not a thing in this world, some ghouls wear masks sometimes to hide their human faces.

Oh the ghouls can also produce kagune from their body's, which range from energy looking things to insect-like appendages. I was reminded of Parasyte by this aspect.

So in this world we have a human who gets turned into a half-ghoul, sort of. I wont say this season is about him as such, but he is in most episodes a lot.

 The art is really nice, the music is cool. The premise is interesting, but everything seems a little glossed over, i kind of felt like i was missing large pieces of characterization and exposition.

There is some fan service for those who want it, but other than a boob shot in the first episode most of it isn't gratuitous.

There are some amusing moments and some horrible ones. There is a torture scene that goes on and on and seems like its never going to end, which was probably the point but still.

Also there are a lot of characters, most not fully developed, characterization seems to be a major flaw with this series.

This is classed as a horror anime and i suppose it is, but the only time i was scared was when my cat sat up, and i jumped.

While i enjoyed this series, it is flawed. I wanted more. I want to actually know the characters and care about them. There also seems to be a lot of plot holes, and i hope that season two addresses these issues.  Also you should be aware that none of the many plots seem to be resolved this season, the series ends on a cliff hanger.
I will be watching season two, i have hopes for this show.

Book Review: La Santa Muerte

La Santa Muerte

Unearthing the magic & Mysticism of Death 

 

 

Author:                                Tomas Prower
Cover Design:                      Ellen Lawson

Interior Photography:       Anthony Louis of Twenty-Deux

Publisher:                            Llewellyn Publications       

Type:                                    Soft Cover

Pages:                                   230

Genre:                                  Non-fiction

Published:                            2015

ISBN:                                   978-0-7387-4551-0

The book itself is nice, the text clear and without obvious errors. It is about nine inches tall and six inches wide. The cover is  colourful and the back has all the information you would need to make an informed purchase. There are not many pictures in the book but a four pages of colour photographs. Also there is a photo of the author and he is quite handsome ;)

This is my personal shrine

 

 This work seems to be devotion to Santa Muerte  filtered through witchcraft traditions. I was reminded in particular of a lot of my Wiccan training. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing at all, i personally believe that Wiccan practices are a great base and a great system of devotion. I wouldn't necessarily call this a Wiccan book really, i am just saying that i got a general Pagan vibe from it.
 I think its along the lines of comparing modern Egyptian eclectic Paganism with the re-constructionist Kemetics who try to worship the Egyptian Gods as the Ancient Egyptians did.
 
This book very much seems like La Santa Muerte religion through a modern Pagan eye.
As an example of this "hexing" is discouraged in this book. In an almost Threefold law kind of way, this book claims that harm has a way of coming back to us. Being that i have always striven to do good and never harm, i can say i feel this is not true. I now believe we have spiritual power for a reason and that we can be the tool that the universe uses to right wrongs.
I am no expert but my experience has been, that La Santa Muerte hears our pleas with a sympathetic ear, and offers us a shoulder to cry on before straightening us up and saying "lets get the bastard!". She is the sympathetic mother, but also the protective mother who will help eliminate the threat to her children.

The book covers death mythology and lore from Ancient Egypt, Greece-Roman, Aztec, Paleolithic and of course Catholic sources.
The author gets bonus points for using the correct BCE-CE terms. It also covers the modern history of the cult.

There is an explanation of the names, colours, tools, and symbols of many death deities. As well as information about Altars and offerings. A decent 101 style guide to spellwork is a nice addition for those beginning their path. 

The book has an extensive bibliography (and a look through that that shows the Pagan influences here as well where to look for more "authentic" devotional practice) and an index, In addition to a list of Santa Muerte locations in the US, which isn't quite as useful to me in Australia.

I can recommend this book if you wish to explore La Santa Muerte from a modern Pagan point of view. I do feel that some of her mystery is lost when she is separated from her Mexican roots and catholic accouterments. 
This book wasn't really for me as i already had ifo on La Santa Muerte from Andrew Chesnuts book, and i have a decent amount of Pagan knowledge.

This is La Santa Muerte from a different view point and i would recommend getting a copy of  Devoted to Death-  by  Andrew Chesnut first. 

As a minor quibble while it may be the standard "pop-science" view, i have to disagree that only humans know we are going to die.

As an example I had a very old dog and she couldn't do all the things she used too love doing. She lost strength in her legs and became terrified of the stairs, and couldn't jump up on the bed anymore or go for walks.
A few days before she died, i caught her sitting on the back stairs, where we used to sit and watch the birds, i sat beside her and had a nice moment. She also whined to get up on the bed, so i lifted her up and she rolled around and lazed there for a few hours. She grabbed her leash and brought it to me, and i put it on (she had lost all interest in walking) she didn't walk far, just in front of the next house and back. It was really like she was doing all the things she loved one last time, i am sure she knew.




 

When the government endorses bigotry.

Scott Morrison supports the ACL

 You will remember Scott Morrison from when he was immigration minister.

He was asked in an ABC interview:

" Three days ago an Indian student took his own life at a detention centre in Melbourne. He was in that centre because he overstayed his visa. Could that have been avoided?"

Scott Morrison smugly answered:

" Could he have avoided overstaying his visa?"

The ACL (Australian "christian" lobby) is a hate group that is for bullying children and against LGBT rights. They are a group of lying, bigoted, hypocritical, anti- constitutional, homophobes.

Scott Morrison attended and spoke at the ACL's annual hate group meeting, despite the fact he is Australia's current treasurer.

Scott Morrison has defended his endorsement at this hate rally by saying:

 "I respect everybody's opinions, I just hope and wish others would do the same,"

 Which is ironic considering he was speaking at the ACL hate group who are against equal rights, children and the Australian constitution.

One of the views he respects is the claim (by Eric Metaxas) that the recognizing of  equal rights is somehow like the rise of the Nazis in Germany. As you will be aware comments like that are extremely offensive as it was the Nazis who were homophobic. With the Nazis persecuting over 50,000 gay people during the Holocaust. For the ACL to associate such victims with their Nazis oppressors is disgusting and an opinion that should not ever be respected.

 To the best of my knowledge Scott Morrison has not been charged, he has not even been disciplined by the Prime Minister. He was promoted to the Treasurer of the Australian government after his behavior as immigration minister, one can only hope that common sense prevails and the PM at least distances himself and his party from this homophobia and bigotry.

Review: Free! Eternal Summer Review

Free! Eternal Summer

review

This is season two of Free!, season one was titled Free! Iwatobi Swim Club. Sadly season one hasn't been released in Australia yet. Free! is an anime about a group of high school friends who create a swim club, and follows that summer. 

The story also deals with the rivalry between the Iwatobi swim club and their rivals the Samezuka Academy swimming group.

It should be pointed out that this anime is a story about friendship and rivalry. 

There isn't much action as such, no not expect giant  robots or alien symbiotic parasites.

 Expect a beautiful story about friendship, love and rivalry. I don't mean that to sound boring at all, the show if far from boring. It also left me with a smile on my face almost the entire time.

The story is amazing but the art is utterly beautiful. The use of shadow and darkness to aid in the mood of a scene is brilliant.

Light is used to equal effect and some of the night scenes are simply breathtaking.

 

Perspective is also used to great effect. 

It may be a slight SPOILER but there are some really terrible Australian accents, so much cringe.

I have to say i loved this season, other than it being too short, and the guys seeming to be missing some nipples i have no complaints. It was quite expensive though.

The Australian DVD set is released by Madman. I have a few Madman DVDs in my collection and they are usually good quality.

The inside cover of the DVD case has a cool picture of the club.

The spine of the DVD case says it includes four disks, while the front says it contains only two.

So my biggest issue with the DVD set is that it is missing the majority of the extra features. These features were listed on the Madman web store as well as on the back of the DVD case. I have crossed out the features that are missing, in the photo above.

 I have contacted Madman ans am still awaiting a response, i will update here with the outcome.
Also the copyright warning is long, a Madman video which is  yet another copyright warning thing and you cant skip any of them.

I will give this DVD set 3 1/2 out of 5, but the show itself would be 4 1/2 out of 5, i am lowering the score based on the missing features from the disks. 

I would not recommend buying this DVD set at full price until the issues are sorted out.

Does Telstra support equality?

Telstra supports marriage equality again

...maybe...

Back in May of 2015 a group of Australian businesses large and small stood up to bigotry and declared their support for Marriage Equality. 
Telstra One of the largest telecommunications company's in Australia was part of this group. Sadly Telstra admitted they are no longer fighting for equality. Telstra in fact claimed that the anti-gay bigots views are equal to the simple desire of LGBT people for equal rights, going so far as to describe equal rights as merely an ideology.

Telstra has now double back flipped and has announced that it will actively support marriage equality.
In this announcement Telstra did try to blame unspecified "misunderstandings" but admitted they should be stepping forward and actively supporting marriage equality. 
Though to Telstras continued shame they claim that they continue to "recognise and respect" the anti-gay bigots misinformation, discrimination, violence and terrorism.

Sorry Telstra while i apreciate that this is a step in the right direction, it really isn't good enough. You cant back away from equality and then reaffirm your on the right side of history, but also keep the bigots placated. No you cant hedge your bets on this important issue. Telstra should completely denounce the evil that these homophobes endorse.
Time will tell i suppose just how committed to equality Telstra really is. Or if we will see Howard getting worried of Telstra breaking his back flipping records.
I expect to see major ad campaigns in favor of equality, and massive donations to the cause.

To contact Telstra, and let them know you support equality,  please follow this link. 
Also please remember that there are other telecommunication company's that are consistently standing on the right side of history, that would appreciate your business.

Review: The Shannara Chronicles

The Shannara Chronicles 

Season 1 Review

 

 This review may contain minor spoilers, but i will try to avoid any major ones.

 The story begins with An elven princess and a magical tree that imprisons demons or something. 

Wil Ohmsford (Austin Butler- Arrow), a half elf being given blue balls from his late father.

The blue balls are actually magical elf stones.

  Will meets Allanon (Manu Bennett - Spartacus, Arrow )

a human druid, and adventuring ensues as the group travel the land trying to imprison demons and avoiding those who would want to relieve Will of his blue balls.

 The scenery is fantastic and the eye-candy is delightful with some notable actors being; Aaron Jakubenko, Daniel MacPherson, Mattias Inwood and Marcus Vanco. 

 Having said all that, there are also some strong female characters or whatever.

 The show is definitely fantasy but there is a backdrop of sci-fi in that the story is set in the far future. Where humans have caused some kind of cataclysm and magic has resurfaced and diminished since then.

This history isn't really important to the story and its pretty much summed up, in my mind, by one scene where two of the main characters are riding past a rusted ute and one mentions in passing that he wonders what this stuff was all used for. Its just kind of there, it could just have easily been an ancient ruined fantasy civilization.

The fantasy races existing in our Earths far future seems to be a bit silly, its not really a major issue though. Some of the demons look cool but most just look like armored humans, which was a bit disappointing. There are a few races in this world and one, the gnomes are by far the most interesting.

I'm giving it 3 out of 5 because while the world isn't the most engaging, where that let me down the eye-candy kept me coming back for more. Long enough to actually enjoy the story, there isn't enough fantasy on television and i did enjoy this.