Long time no talk - well as I'm sure some of you know (and many do not) this past year has been a crazy whirlwind. Going into my final year, writing a thesis, plus an assortment of family things has forced me to place many things on the back burner.
But... now that I am almost finished with my thesis, the rest of my classes are finished and that I have a little bit of free time I can now go back to what I love... writing, reading for fun and of course all those other crafty things.
So to ease my way back into blogging once again I'm going to talk to you guys about some of my all-time favourite cartoons and animes.
Let's start with the cartoons.
Mummies Alive
This is the show that not only brings me back to my childhood but I'm also pretty sure it started my love of cartoons and myth! The show is about the reincarnation Prince (the son of a Pharaoh) found in a modern day 1990's stereotypical boy.... pretty much the bad guy goes into the future to search for him, and so the Prince's ancient bodyguards awaken (they're the Mummies bit) to protect.
It's too bad the show only ran for one season.
I've also attached the wonderful theme opening for the show because everyone should listen to it - it's pretty much a rap telling you what I just did...
Beasties (aka. Beast Wars)
Anyone else remember this nugget?
Beasties has got to be my favourite of the "Transformers" series. This is another cartoon that brings me back to my childhood - it had consistent and excellent story-lines and better graphics (at the time)... even if many of the people into Transformers disagreed at the time... you know who you are.
The cartoon itself is centred around that all time favourite "good vs.evil" but instead of "Autobots vs. Decepticons" it's "Maximals vs. Predacons" or in other words Beasts vs. Carnivorous Dinosaurs... a concept I am glad to see in the promos for the newest Transformer movie I might add.
X-MEN: Evolution
I absolutely love this show - it's what got me started on comics and X-Men in general. While some may not consider this show as amazing as the original X-Men, I think it played towards a younger crowd, the majority of the X-Men in this show were in high school in this show... and it worked. Most of the episodes of this can be found on You-Tube and I encourage you to go watch at least one of them - like the very first one I've placed here.
Now on to some anime.
As a sort of disclaimer... I am not telling anyone which I prefer, whether I watch these episodes in their english dub or in english subtitle with the japanese lang... that is up to you to decide. I've will say that I have watched many of these episodes both ways and oftentimes I like both for different reasons. I'll just say that I'll leave it up to you to decide.
Kamisama Kiss (Kamisama Hajmemashita)
The story of a human girl with no place to go becoming a god of the land and as a result she ends up meeting and needing the help of a kitsune (fox spirit/demon). In order for him to willing assist her though he needs to form a contract with her - and to seal it - well you need to seal it with a kiss. Making these two an unlikely pairing that somehow works. This anime and manga for that matter are a shojo (so it's stories are based on the relationships that the main character builds - romantic or not). You can watch the first couple of episodes on Funimation youtube- below is a nice little clip....
D.Gray Man
Do you enjoy, fighting evil? Protecting the innocent from danger and being an all around good guy, do you work well in a group and by yourself ... well then you might want to consider becoming an Exorcist! Hunt akuma (demons) and find "Innocence". This anime follows a young boy/teen, Allen, in his search on finding his way, facing his fears and protecting his friends. Allen has a parasitic arm and a cursed eye that allow him to find and attack Akuma, and gather "Innocence" which the Akuma use to become stronger. Together with his friends he faces newer bigger evils than just Akuma - but also the ones who created them to begin with. Not to mention season one has one of the greatest opening songs I've ever heard...
D.N.Angel
Perhaps one of the very first animes I ever watched in it's entirety. This anime (along with Pokemon and Inuyasha to be fair) are what started my love anime. D.N.Angel tells the story of a family of thieves who steal art work in order to protect the magic that is attached to it... and sometimes just for fun. In order to do so, males are trained from a young age to evade traps, and the like... and when they become of age well then their DNA comes to it's fullest potential - and Dark their bloodline's alter ego emerges. Problem is once they fall in love Dark or his host turn into the other. Making this story an amusing and fun, never quite sure of what will happen next kind of story.
Last one for this list today (there are many more but it would literally take me another hour or so to compile it all so I'll just do a part two another day)
Fairy Tail
This one has it all, adventure, magic, fighting, friendship and best of all a band of wizards out to fight the evils of the world. What more could you ask for. This anime follows the many tales of the Fairy Tail guild of wizards... a ragtag, fighting, heavy drinking bunch of no good hooligans that you can't help but love. The stories focus around one band of wizards in particular led by Natsu a -fire eating Dragon slaying wizard, and Lucy - a celestial-key wizard (her powers pertain to the constellations), along with their talking cat Happy, Gray - an ice wizard and Ezra - a weapons/armour wizard and the third most powerful wizard in the guild. Together they do jobs and kickass, getting into all sorts of trouble along the way.
Hello again :D
So recently I've been wondering about Ghosts,
strange I know - but at the same time understandable considering my classes this semester. Death in Antiquity and Persia... that's a whole lot of ghosts walking.
Some ghosts harm, some prophecy and others well others just want to stay dead.
For the people in antiquity ghosts often asked to stay dead, when they were called upon for help. This idea intrigues me - the dead wanting to stay dead.
The idea of 'letting the dead lie' is true in more ways than one.
A simple thing to do and yet still in death you have people who blame others for a death, some who call upon the dead to look over them (I know I've done this one), and some who wish that the dead were still with them.
So naturally this got me to thinking from the Greek and Roman point of view, I suppose. How do the dead feel about the living calling on them so often. Wouldn't these peoples be shocked to see the modern world?
Calling on the ghosts every which way.
But hey it's only an idea - and it intrigued me ... perhaps an interesting idea for a paper later???
As some of you may know I am currently working on my thesis - Modern (Adaptations of) Myths. I've been focusing on the Persephone and Hades myth - the one you learn in middle school (at least you do in Canada)- about the girl who is whisked away to the Underworld in Greek/Roman myth because Hades/Pluto falls in love with her on sight.
The thing is, is that a lot of the language being used, paints Hades in a bad light; the 'Kidnapping of Persephone', the 'Rape of Proserpina'. Yet in reality we're only really getting this story from Demeter - the story is literally coming from the 'Poem of Demeter'. So if we're only getting one side is Hades really as bad as he made out to be?Or have we simply as a society imposed an idea of what we think a ruler of the underworld should be and act?
What do you think?
Let me know?
So, as I am sure many of you are wondering is where has Arielle disappeared too... or maybe you're more like me and you just don't care... but either way I'm going to tell you, because I'm just that egotistic to think you all care.
What to tell you? This month, much like last month has been crazy!
I officially became one of the consuls (this is just a fancy Latin word for president) of my University's Classics Student group - which I am hoping I don't utterly mess up.
Other things... well my thesis has started. I'm working the Persephone and Hades myth - all ...50 something pages of it.
If I die from this process, ya'll know why!
As for youtube, I know some of you are coming from there- and I'm trying, but last month my computer that I was using to make videos for my channel, went up and died on me. My netbook - which I have aptly named 'Dinky Little Shit' is only good for typing and the occasional gander at the internet, anything else upsets it's delicate sensibilities and it dies! Thank goodness for slightly out of date and gross, computers in the university library. Essentially this just means I probably won't be making any videos till January when I A) get a new and better computer and B) a camera.
Till then sit tight, and expect several more overtly sarcastic and annoying posts about how awful life will be till it gets here... or me just ranting about random stuff, as usual.
Anyoung!
Hello, everyone.
So I am sure many of you are thinking how does is this blogger not going to die?
They've been talking about doing this stupid thesis for a year and a half and they've been complaining that death will likely occur.
Well I've decided to live... and this is how I'm going to do it.
1. Become even more of a hermit than I already am!
2. When hermit-ting becomes to much, and the words, the pages start blurring - have someone kidnap you and take you away from yourwork
3. Unless you are two pages away from finishing - in which case have the kidnapper stand over you menacingly and force you to eat/drink sustenance.
4. Relax after a long hard day - read a book not related to your thesis for an hour - hell you deserve to treat yourself. Watch an episode of television.
5. If you're feeling really mean - watch a single episode of a drama that's on your list and tell yourself you can't watch another till you've met your deadline.
6. Listen to your adviser - if they tell you to check something out or offer to help - for the love of all that is good - do it.
7. Do not forget to eat/ sleep or drink.
8. Don't forget to drink ... no seriously the other kind - drown your sorrows when it gets to much - more less than two should help... then have a bit of caffeine persuasion
9. Get the required word count down early and chill for a bit
10. No seriously just finish it - procrastination is not thy friend.
Saule - Dusty Men An amazing song that brings you right back to the Old West. The chorus of the song reminds you more of a song you'd hear your parent listening to and has a definite 70's feel. The big selling point for me is it legitimately has a French and English singer and it is fantastic, so naturally it has both languages.
Xia (Junsu) - Incredible Junsu/ Xia already made it on to this list last time so it comes as no surprise that I am a huge fan of his music. This song is pure perfection. My summer jam and it makes me feel great. It's like a caffeine boost and an anti-depressant in one for those drab-bad days. This dance track makes you want to get up and move and really why wouldn't you? Sadly I have not found a way to play this as my theme song for whenever I do something equally amazing - but I'm working on it.. Warning: The rap is a bit out of place but the rest of it is so perfect you end up not caring in the end anyways. P.S. I totally recommend listening to more of his music. The man does the Korean equivalent of Broadway Musicals - he has some different stuff on his new CD - ballads, soul, songs that make you want to cry and some more upbeat stuff. You should listen - if only to give your ears the best vacation they will ever have.
Granville - Le Slow A French band with the most adorable singer as the front woman. The group itself remind me of a more French-folky and a more eighties version of Zooey Deschanel and her group. The song itself is laid back and is obviously meant for (in opinion) a country stroll or for a leisurely drive in the car with the windows down.
The Green Children - Dragons (Part II) This electronic-pop song sounds like it came from my children-hood (I'm a 90's baby) and it's all about the fears we had about the things in our closets ... and in our room. Great video and song that just seems to get stuck in your head.
Jeffree Star- Love to my Cobain Admitedly I'm sure some of you won't like Jeffree's style and that's okay in fact he'd probably say don't like it who gives a f@$k, you don't need to listen. But... I recommend you at least give this song a try. Jeffree produces, mixes and writes most of his own stuff and it's amazing - slightly edgy, a bit emo and usually very dirty :D This song slows it down a bit and it's a great listen. Love this song!
Vixx - Hyde This song and video are the perfect combo. The dance is amazing and the vocals are right on point...slightly dark and brooding but that's just what a girl or guy likes in another girl or guy, right? A little Mystery? The video has everything to do with Mr. Hyde... and Doctor Jekyll. Sung by Korean Pop group VIXX, have the boy group are Hyde and the other half Jekyll. Guaranteed if you aren't singing 'Just Can't Control' with the head swaying dance step or 'Nappa anden saranghiaye' with the hand waving along with the video by the end of it... you don't know what you're missing.
Exo- Growl Yes, you just watched that video - yes it was a smooth and R&B/ jazzy as you thought is was going to be... and yes I understand you want to learn that dance. I do - I really do. Two big thumbs up for the combined forces of the two EXO's. EXO-M (The Chinese sub-group) and EXO-K (The Korean sub-group) teamed up for promotions = one huge awesome group. While I have no real preference for which version you watch (the songs all come in Mandarin and Korean) - I have picked the Mandarin one for kicks. And yes I suggest you listen/watch EXO - Wolf as well. The choreo for that song is off the chain! I already know you're going to mention the annoying 'Saranghayo' I know you and the rest of the world - but the rest of the song is superb. (I put the Korean version up this time for some variety)
EXO - Wolf
Ke$ha- Crazy Kids 'Hello, where ever you are...' I love this song - it's another one of those catchy songs that aren't overtly annoying and it's so good. She sings in this one people... and even with the strange featuring of WILL I Am.... it was still really good - just ignore is mumbling.
SISTAR - Give it To Me. No the song is not as dirty as it sounds. This song has all the singing talents and big extras that a awesome musical has (nothing new to these lovely ladies). The ladies in this song are singing about all the men in their life giving them what they don't need and the only thing they do want and need is their love - so they say ' Give it to Me'. Okay so it still sounds dirty, but that doesn't stop this song from being brilliantly sexy and a great tune to be blaring in your car ride home.
Till we meet in the Next .... blog about songs :D - Ari
Hello, lovely readers... if you really are reading this :D
So this weekend in Canada it's a long weekend and close to my neck of the woods is the start of one of Canada's biggest Cultural Festivals
I am excited! (Now prepare yourselves for some patriotism)
Multiculturalism is what makes Canada whole, we are a combination of Cultures and I enjoy that. It's what makes life interesting. Different foods, different practices... different music (you all figured that was coming didn't you?), even the different cultural practices that we witness in the different parts of our cities, from our friends and in foreign films make life that much more exciting.
As a budding Anthropologist, watching a Festival that celebrates this diversity of cultures and showcases them makes me smile. Makes me glad to live here!
I bet you're wondering 'what's the big deal'. right? Well the thing is it's utterly amazing. Each culture that is showcased displays their cultures foods, drinks, clothing, special ceremonies, artwork, language, music, dancing and sometimes fighting or strategical moves. The people who do so are mostly volunteers who do something like three shows a night for a week - that's a lot of things to do - and it's always spectacular. I love every minute I get to go.
Naturally I'm going to see as many different cultural displays as possible- and I'll post pics here if I get any good ones - I promise.
