Dusting off

…And then, I say to him, “But the turtle was already there with the weasel!”

Oh, hello there, didn’t notice you sitting there. Well. Suppose I have some explaining to do, eh? What? The turtle? No no, nevermind, more important things.

So, I sit here, typing this blog-like thing, on a new computer. Because I can, that’s why. Because I have finally made enough money, by myself, that I can buy more own computer. It’s an empowering feeling, to say the least.

I’ll let Yvonne Strahovski express how it made me feel.

Why did I buy this computer, you ask? Surely a good reason, like my old one blew up or was stolen by a mob of Germans screaming about conspiracies run by Wonderbread, right?

Nope. Chuck Testa.

It was Guild Wars 2.

I played in the first beta weekend. And, while the game was utterly amazing, my old computer simply couldn’t handle it. It chugged, it lagged, it was terrible. Panda, on the other hand, had a computer that ran it just fine. Oh, it was the network, you say? Yes. I’m sure that the network that both of our computers were on magically runs better on here computer.

So my solution was to get the newer version of her computer and customize it.

So now I have a Vaio C Series, Sandy Bridge i5, upgraded RAM (8g), an ATI GPU (because integrated Intel GPUs, as I have found, are simply a crime against mankind), an upgraded screen for the GPU that’s 1920x1080 true HD, a numpad (because every keyboard needs one), and backlit keys. Oh yeah, and when the computer is idle, it donates the unused raw processing power to things like cancer research and trying to find more efficient ways to get clean water.

But enough about that, you want reviews. It’s why I like to imagine you come here.

Let’s start with Chuck. Oh, Charles Bartowski. You were a great character. You evolved over five seasons, and they were all amazing.

I’m just sad it had to come to an end. The end, however, was pretty good. Fitting, I’d say. Also, Yvonne Strahovski, who played Sarah, wrote on her Twitter what she thinks happens after the credits roll. And I’m inclined to agree with her.

How good was Chuck? I watched seasons 2-4 within 2 months. All while going to a new job. And then, I had to wait, because season 5 was not out on DVD. And when it finally arrived at my door, I spent the rest of the evening watching it.

That good enough for you? Hope so, because we’re moving on!

Community. Ah, man, another good show. It’s like Internet: The Television Show. The show is very meta - that is, half the time, they seem to know they are on a show without straight out saying it - and the characters, while a little…trope-y, shall we say, work perfectly together.

I ran through the two seasons on DVD in less than 3 weeks. Actually, it was more like 2 weeks.

It’s quirky, though, and the humor is most certainly not for everyone. I’d say give it a try, though, especially if you are a denizen of the interwebs.

One last mention: The IT Crowd. It sounded funny, and the internet seems to like it, and I’ve even used a GIF from the show.

Well, I watched the first episode. I wasn’t impressed. The bit that particularly irritated me? The laugh track. Maybe it was a studio audience, but either way, I found it highly, highly annoying. I don’t remember the last show I watched that had one. Community? Nope. The Office? Negative. Chuck? Nyet. Not a one. And it was a dealbreaker. Combined with the style of camera, it just…wasn’t that great. The jokes were…okay, at best. Again, wasn’t impressed.

And that’s all I feel like writing for now.

Aces, Charles. You’re aces.

Whargarbl.

Well, the good news, I got a job. Hence me not posting in over a month. So both Panda and I are now working stiffs (or, she sort of is, at any rate).

And I never have time to do, like, anything anymore. Especially write long things after work. My job, you see, is to write for a newspaper. So I write. A lot.

So, I’d love to write about Mass Effect 3’s ending, how how little sense it made in the context of the other games.

Or I’d love to talk about SSX or Bayonetta, which I also bought.

Or Chuck seasons 2 and 3.

But I just don’t have the willpower to. Maybe later.

In the meantime, the only real thing I have is that, sadly, I did not receive a beta key for this weekend’s Guild Wars 2 beta event. Sad Moose.

Rose’s disappointment mirrors my own.

No quote this time. Can’t find one I like.

Moose out.

I’m sure there is a witty title here somewhere…

…but I just can’t think of one.

So anyway, I’m in the newsroom, waiting for panda to get out of class and magically create her section of the newspaper on a computer. I say magic, but I’ve done it myself, with my old section. Then again, I have a wand that I flick in the air and it turns my TV on and off, and rolling it turns the volume up and down. So…guess I’m a wizard.

Right, so, it’s Monday, yesterday was Sunday, and I guess there was a football game or something.

HAHA WRONG FOOTBALL BECAUSE I’M AN AMERICAN. Yeah. That’s…alright, alright, that wasn’t really that funny. But hey, I’ve been watching a lot of BBC America lately.

Anyway, let’s get to the reviews, shall we? As per usual…

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First up, since I promised it over a week ago, Doctor Who. Well, see, I was supposed to review the season 4 finale, but…uh…I’m kind of already into season 6. Whoops.

So let’s take it a step at a time.

Season 4 finale - Whoa. All the previous companions. Donna Noble getting mind-wiped after saving the universe from the Daleks, which two Doctors couldn’t do. I have to admit, I cried like a baby when that happened to Donna. Manly tears were shed.

Season 4 gets 4.5 future sonic screwdrivers out of 5.

The Specials which followed were, for the most part, pretty good. The Next Doctor was amazing. Planet of the Dead was ok, if only for foreshadowing the end of the Doctor’s “song.” The Waters of Mars was on par with The Next Doctor.

And then there’s The End of Time.

While the End of Time is awesome - The Master comes back - it was the end of the Tenth Doctor. David Tennant was out.

To which my response was…

When I had finished season 1, which ended with Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor regenerating into Tennant’s Tenth Doctor, I was skeptical. I greatly enjoyed Eccleston’s tenure, and wasn’t sure Tennant was going to do as good a job. Tennant not only did, he exceeded Eccleston - not an easy feat by any standard. For me, Tennant was THE Doctor. I was extremely sad to see him go.

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On the bright side, Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor has been pretty good so far.

He isn’t as good overall as Tennant, but he definitely has his moments. I’d say he’s probably on par with Eccleston. Season 5 was, overall, pretty good. It was jarring, though, changing the opening credit sequence, showrunner (Russell T. Davies to Steven Moffat, writer of the insanely popular episode “Blink”), producer, Doctor, and companion. I’ve been pleased with Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, but she’s no Rose or Martha. Also, there’s been almost no mention of previous companions, likely due to Davies leaving and Moffat taking over. But like I said, season 5 was pretty good.

Season 6, though… Oh man. Season 6 is insane so far. The season opener, a two-parter that deals with The Silence, was incredible. Possibly one of the best storylines so far, and that’s saying something.

Season 5 gets 4 weeping angels out of 5.

Season 6 doesn’t get a rating yet, since I’m not done. Too bad.

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And since I’m totally not avoiding sending out more resumes (Did I mention that I got a job as a court reporter, which isn’t exactly what I was looking for, so I’m still looking? No? Whoops.), one mo’ review!

And since I’m on a BBC kick, it’s time for Sherlock.

I’ve seen the first two episodes, and…just…wow.

Sherlock Holmes, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is amazing. He’s brooding, dark, and exactly what a modern Sherlock should be. In his owns words, he’s a high-functioning sociopath.

When Holmes is investigating, text is overlaid on the image the viewer is seeing, as if peering into Holmes’ head. It’s an excellent way to show the viewer what they should be seeing vs. what they are seeing. It’s brilliant.

Watson, a veteran medic in the war in Afghanistan, is played by Martin Freeman, better known as Arthur Dent in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy movie and Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming Hobbit movie. He is smart, but clearly overshadowed by Holmes. The dynamic between the two is played perfectly.

As for the series itself, there are currently two seasons each with 3 episodes. Each episode is essentially a mini-movie, clocking in at an hour and a half each. The first two episodes have been utterly amazing, and I can’t wait to watch more.

Sherlock gets 4.5 cell phones previously owned by an alcoholic out of 5…so far. Yeah, Sherlock gets a rating and Season 6 of Doctor Who doesn’t. Deal with it. (I’m saving gifs for now, look at how many I already dropped for you up there.)

Fun parting fact: Matt Smith auditioned for the part of Watson. He got The Doctor instead.

Shut up everybody, shut up! Don’t move, don’t speak, don’t breathe, I’m trying to think. Anderson, face the other way, you’re putting me off.

moose.

…and two for the show.

If you couldn’t take a guess, today’s review is going to start off with One For the Money.

BOOM POSTER SHOT.

Last night was date night, and I had a coupon for two-for-one (geddit? Two for the…oh just…nevermind) for the movie, so Panda and I went and saw it. Now, I’ve never read any of Janet Evanovich’s works - me being the manly man who reads manly things like Dexter and A Song of Fire and Ice - but I liked the movie. It was funny, and perfect for a date night.

Except one thing.

One horrible, horrible thing.

Katherine Heigl, who I loved in all her movies and in Grey’s Anatomy, cannot fake a Jersey accent to save her life. It was that terrible. Without a doubt, the worst part of the movie, at least in my mind.

Sure, the plot was a little corny and all, going through tropes like nobody’s business, but I had a good time, the acting was pretty good (except the accent), and the jokes made me laugh.

In other words, I would likely go see a sequel.

The critics, on the other hand, are bashing the movie.

Mila Kunis’ expression mirrors my own when I found that one out.

I’m not entirely sure why, I thought it was a fun movie, especially to take my girlfriend to. Chick flick? You bet. Still a good movie? Indeed.

One For the Money gets 4 bullets through the same hole out of 5.

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What? Another review? Hold on there, skippy, I have to think about…eh, sure.

We’ll make it short, though, Doctor Who ain’t gonna watch itself.

I’m behind the times, so I’ve been playing catch-up with the Assassin’s Creed series. I got the first one near when it came out, but stopped after that. I’ve been borrowing the rest from my now ex-boss.

Brotherhood is, so far, the best of the series (with the exception that I haven’t played the newest, Revelations, yet).

It takes the concepts that were introduced in the first and second games, and elevates them to new heights. Using the gun from the ACII in actual combat in ACB is awesome, and is especially a thrill with the new execution system. Just killed a guy? Highlight another before the kill is done, and he’s next. Auto-kill. Hold down the attack button while holding a sword, use the gun. Do the same with your dagger, and throw a knife, instead. The combat system just became epic.

Also new is recruiting assassins. While both Altair from the first game, and Ezio, the previous and current protagonist, were both fairly lone-wolfing the assassin gig out in the field in the first two games, you can now recruit and train people you save in Rome, the game’s setting. After saving and recruiting, you can send them on little side-missions around Europe, gaining them experience and netting you some cash. As they level up, they gain access to better weapons and armor, until they become a fully-fledged assassin.

The best part of the recruiting system is using them in combat. As long as there are assassins available and not on side quests, you can call them in to assassinate a target for you, and they will stick around to kill any guards you are in combat with. They come in sets of two (unless there is an odd number available, in which case it’ll only be one), with a maximum of six assassins in the field for you. The cooldowns for the three sets seem to be independent, so putting all three sets in the field is no big deal.

And, if you have all three sets available, you can send in a rain of arrows, killing all guards in the area almost instantly. It has a giant cooldown, though, as your assassin signals regenerate one after another instead of simultaneously.

As for the story, it follows the same vein of the second game, but the game is almost entirely set in Rome. I must say, I wish Leonardo da Vinci had played a bigger role in this one, like he did in ACII. Otherwise, the plot is filled with intrigue that won’t really leave you guessing, since it’s pretty easy to figure out how the game is going to end…for Ezio, at least. Desmond, Ezio’s descendant in modern times who is reliving his ancestor’s memories, has an ending to the game that will throw you for a loop.

I haven’t tried the multiplayer yet, though, because I’m still hooked on Battlefield 3.

I give Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood 4.5 hidden blades out of 5.

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AND ONE MORE THING.

I’ll review Season Four of Doctor Who when I finish the Specials tonight, since I’m grouping them together. But just know this: The Season Four finale made me cry like a little baby. Many manly tears were shed.

So keep a lookout for that review coming up sometime this week.

…Wibbly-wobbly…timey-wimey…stuff.

moose.

…and holy sweet mother of pearl, I just realized there is an insert image button, when I have been doing it in HTML the entire time. Yeaaaah.

A bunch of small reviews

Alright, so, because I’m indecisive, it’s time to do a bunch of shorter reviews of some things I’ve recently played.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

So, I was a bit disappointed with MW3. MW2’s storyline was amazing, and MW3’s was a pretty good continuation. Not quite as good (I think they could have done a lot more along the lines of fighting in residential areas…big cities didn’t quite do it for me), but good enough. It was pretty cool, the set pieces were, for the most part, entertaining, and it felt like a big thrill ride.

The multiplayer…well, it was more of the same. There was not enough innovation. It feels drastically different than Black Ops, with more in common with MW2’s multiplayer. Except, MW2 had places to snipe from. The maps in MW3 are underwhelming. It’s really sad, considering I really liked the new killstreak system. I haven’t really played it much, since I normally play with friends, but I’ll probably play more in the coming months. Is it still fun? With friends, yes. By myself, having played CoD since CoD 4: Modern Warfare, I’m a bit burned out.

On a side note, I played some of the Spec Ops missions with a friend of mine, and they were pretty awesome. They succeeded in continuing the fun experience from MW2 that was lacking in Black Ops. This is where the multiplayer exceeds in spades.

Battlefield 3

What didn’t disappoint was BF3. Oh, no. The maps are sprawling and sniper-friendly, have vehicles that you don’t have to get a certain number of kills in a row to get (which, don’t get me wrong, in CoD it’s an accomplishment and reward, which is fine…it’s just much harder), and has, in general, the better multiplayer. My major gripe is that, unlike CoD, where you can have an entire team of friends and it’s no problem, you can really only have 3 other friends play with you in BF3. Otherwise, more friends have to be in their own squad. The purpose of a squad is so that you can work together and spawn on each other when you die. Friend in another squad needs help? Too bad, none of your squadmates are near him.

The single player campaign is…acceptable. It feels like they were trying to do something from Call of Duty. It was fun, but nothing terribly innovative. The set pieces were hit and miss. For me, where shooters are concerned, play BF3 for multiplayer, and MW3 for single player.

There is also the co-op mode for BF3. It’s enjoyable, if a bit short. It doesn’t compare to MW3’s Spec Ops mode. The two best missions of the lot are the ones where you sneak and snipe. The helicopter one is not bad, but the rest are just stupid or devilishly hard. Also, you have to play them multiple times to get guns for multiplayer. And considering there’s a small selection of missions, compared to large selection of Spec Ops missions in MW3, it falls short of what it could have been. Now that I have the guns, the only reason I would go back and play the co-op would be for achievements.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Ah, what can I say about Skyrim? How about the fact that I’ve been playing for over 100 hours and I still have tons of quests to do? Tons! I still haven’t even explored half of the major cities. The game is THAT big. It certainly deserves all of the Game of the Year awards it is getting. I mean, how else could I play a single-player game for that long and not get bored? So much left to do in the game…

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

I haven’t progressed too far into the game, but it seems to be the old Assassin’s Creed. This is a good thing, considering I love free-running all over Rome and assassinating random guards. There’s new stuff to do in the game that wasn’t in AC 1 or 2, but I haven’t gotten to those parts yet. It promises to be fun, though. I’ll do a proper review (if I remember) when I’ve finished the game.

And that’s it for now. I have a ton of movies on my Netflix list to watch, but Doctor Who: Season 4 is taking most of my designated movie/TV show-watching time.

In the meantime…

FUS RO DAH!

moose.

Anticipation

Alright, so, it’s now 12:22, so I was going to say I’m posting a review tomorrow, but then I realized it IS tomorrow! Ha! Imagine that.

What am I going to review? Good question. You might think I’m doing Game of Thrones. Maybe I will. There’s only 73 more days until season two starts, after all. And I’m 50ish pages into the first novel.

But then there are things like Battlefield 3, the almighty Skyrim, and first impressions of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. So many options, so little time.

And the winter review is coming.

moose.

A Return and a Doctor

Well hello there! I’m betting you missed this blog. All four of you who follow it. Sadly, one of them is…myself. My other blog, also fallen into disrepair. Yup.

Anyway, I’m back, at least! Panda? No idea. She’s pretty busy, but I’ll see if I can’t coax her into coming back and posting things.

But for now, the Moose is loose! On the hunt, you see. For jobs.

In the meantime, I’m taking this blog and using it.

Ok, enough of that. Time to get professional and do a review.

And thus…

Doctor Who

Before I start, ye be warned - spoilers up to the third season finale abound.

About a month ago, while I was at a weekly D&D night that turned into a drinking and Doctor Who night, I watched the two-part first season finale of the revived series. It was amazing, and I was a bit peeved no one had forced me to watch it before - especially since the show is now six seasons in.

So I came away with the first season on DVD, and started watching it in my free time. And thus I was introduced to the Ninth Doctor, portrayed by Christopher Eccleston.

His tenure was short, but packed full of action, excitement, and sarcasm. Traveling through time and space, the Doctor and his companion, Rose (Billie Piper), solve problems and make sure time itself stays mostly on its track. Its ball-shaped, time-y wimey track.

Having skipped ahead - not by choice - I knew that at the end of the first season, the Tenth Doctor would start his tenure. But, like a time traveler, I am skipping ahead.

How was the first season? In a word, amazing. A mixture of puppets and CGI brought fantastic aliens and creatures to life. The characters were interesting, full of emotion - a mark of excellent acting - and really seemed human. Well, except the Doctor, who, after all, isn’t a human in the first place.

For instance, Rose’s father died when she was a baby, a result of a car accident. The Doctor offers Rose to go and see his last moments, so that Rose can know exactly what happened, and actually see her father.

Only Rose screws everything up and saves her father from death, creating a rift in time. Paradox much? Everything goes to hell in a hand basket, otherworldly creatures come to forcibly clean up the time mess, and the Doctor has to save everyone. Oh, and Rose has to watch her father die. Again. I would be lying if I said I didn’t cry like a baby at the end of the episode.

Speaking of excellent episodes, the two-parter “The Empty Child”/”The Doctor Dances” was spine-tingling. I watching it in a dark room, with the only light coming from my computer screen, well past midnight. I kept thinking I would look to the other side of the room to see a child in WWII garb and a gas mask asking “are you my mummy?”

The episode did, however, introduce the world to Capt. Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), bisexual time-traveling con man and future employee of Torchwood, the Earth’s intergalactic defense force. He’s akin to a Don Juan/Han Solo character, and I wish he had more time as a companion on Doctor Who before getting his own spin-off. Capt. Jack is an amazing character, and really the only reason I might give Torchwood a try.

Fast forward to the season finale, which is epic. Although I warned about spoilers, I’m not going to give too much away about the finale, other than it’s the end of Eccleston’s tenure as the Doctor. The future, reality game shows where losing means death, and Daleks. Oh, and the recurring “arc word” is finally explained.

Starting into season two, I was highly skeptical. I greatly enjoyed Eccleston’s portrayal of the Doctor, and was unsure I was going to like David Tennant filling the iconic shoes (which were now Converse All-Stars of various colors).

The first episode proved my doubts right. Tennant was a terrible Doctor.

Just kidding. He was even better than the incredibly fantastic Eccleston - and that’s really saying something.

The second season saw the new Doctor fighting werewolves, televisions and, in my personal favorite two-part episode, the creature that is the basis for the devil.

The two-part season finale saw an emotional farewell to Rose, who would be leaving as the Doctor’s companion. It also formally introduced the world to Torchwood, soon to be getting a spin-off series starring Capt. Jack.

After a special episode with a companion who would not continue traveling with the Doctor, Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) joined the Doctor on his journeys.

Meeting Shakespeare, fighting off alien hunters, more Daleks and the return of one of the Doctor’s greatest foes all made season three a whirlwind of suspense and death-defying action. And the great mystery of who the Face of Boe really is may have been solved after three seasons. I was betting it was an elderly version of the Doctor, but I was wrong. Who was it? Well, I’ve barely said anything about season three purposefully, so you will have to watch and find out.

But before I end, I’ll into detail on one episode of season three: “Blink.” The episode is one of the top-rated of all Doctor Who episodes, old and new. I knew about it before I started watching the show, it’s that well-known. Angel statues that only move when you are not looking; blinking could be the death of you. It was a “Doctor lite” episode, with the Doctor and Martha not the focus of the episode, but it was a very well-done episode. I’m not entirely sure it’s quite as deserving of the praise it is given (it was rated one of the scariest episodes by a panel of children who are shown each episode before it airs; I found “The Empty Child”/”The Doctor Dances” far scarier), but it was an excellently scripted episode regardless.

I have no reference point to the old Doctor Who series, so I can’t comment on how close it is to the old series. But if it was anything like the revived series, I definitely wouldn’t mind watching it at all.

I now stand ready to start season 4, eager to see what new hijinks and paradoxes the Doctor gets himself into. It’s been a thrill ride so far, and I doubt it will be letting up.

I give Doctor Who 5 sonic screwdrivers out of 5.

Allons-y!

moose.

Edited 1/14 - Turns out I derped. It wasn’t “The Unquiet Dead” but “The Empty Child” that I meant to reference. All instances have been fixed.

Edited 1/16 - You know what is awesome? Realizing you spelled someone’s name wrong every time you use it.

The Decline of Manga

Cross-posted from my deviantArt because we need some content and I haven’t done anything in like 3 months.

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I randomly decided that I was going to read through all my old Initial D manga the other day, having recently finished reading through all of Trigun and Trigun Maximum. I was reminiscing on how I started reading Initial D, with my mom getting me volume 8 for Christmas one year. She had, of course, not known that manga tell a story, and are not stand-alone.

But thinking of that got me thinking about something else. In my opinion, manga has been in a decline for a while. The Golden Age of Manga has long since been over in America. The Japanese comic books used to sell like hotcakes. Now, not so much. To add insult to injury, Borders is closing some 300 stores and declaring bankruptcy. Manga used to pull in a good amount of money.

And when I think about it, the reason seems pretty obvious: Manga these days really does not have the quality it once had. Simply put, a lot of new manga sucks. I haven’t seen much that has kept my interest in ages. Sayonara, Zetsubo-Sensei looked interesting, but its obscure Japanese jokes that required flipping to the back of the manga every other page to understand became grating. Gurren Lagann…I just couldn’t put myself through what happens after the timeskip again, especially after having watched the anime. Tegami Bachi got rid of the character I bought the first volume for halfway through the first volume, and switched to another character as the main character.

And don’t get me started on manga like Naruto and One Piece. They are Energizer bunnies, going and going. I’m not going to spend over $400 on Naruto. I stopped paying for it after 3 volumes, and then looked to scanlations. Bleach…Well, Tite Kubo seems to be squeezing every last drop of milk out of that cash cow’s teat. I thought for sure it was over after the Aizen arc, but no. It just keeps going. I’m not even sure if it’s good anymore, but I keep reading it. I wish it would end so that Kubo would go back and finish Zombiepowder, which had a wayyy more awesome premise than Bleach ever did. Too bad he only made 3 tankoubans, and then just up and quit. Didn’t finish the story. Left it on a cliffhanger. What’s going to happen next?!?! Oh, Bleach. Whoops. Sorry about that.

At this point, I’m just looking to finish out a few series. I still need the last few volumes of Battle Royale. I’m 5 away from owning every Tenchi Muyo manga under the sun. Hellsing keeps marching on, one of the last few great manga, and I need to catch up. Luckily, a new volume seems to come out like once a year. Which reminds me - volumes seem to either come out once a year, or like every month *coughNarutocough.* Didn’t really used to be that way, except in a few cases. Although, I do distinctly remember waiting a year between the last few Trigun Maximums.

Which leads in to the great mangas. What happened to the Love Hinas, the Triguns, the Cowboy Bebops, the Tenchi Muyos? I’m not even sure that Trinity Blood is still in print, which is a shame, I liked that series. Need whatever is still out. GTO: Shonan Junai Gumi was given the axe before it was finished, thanks to Tokyopop deciding to stop producing a shitton of manga. I’ll never find out what happens, unless I find a scanlation. Great. I can’t take that on plane trips, now can I?

Speaking of GTO, I was looking in GTO vol. 25, the epic conclusion to the story. I vividly remember walking into Borders, finding it, and buying it. Funny thing is, that was 6 years ago. Six. Years. It’s been about that long since a great, and I mean truly great, series came out. A series that all otaku knew to be awesome. The only recent one that I can think of is Genshiken, especially with the limited second run going on in Japan, with the mini-sequel.

Maybe my tastes have changed in the past six years. I’ve since graduated from high school, and I graduate from college next semester. Even just my first two years of college made me mature at an incredible rate, become a different person almost. Do I just no longer like manga? No, that can’t be the case. After all, I just read Scott Pilgrim and loved it. Sure, not a manga, but in the same vein enough to remind me that yes, I still like graphic novels. I think it may be that society’s tastes may have changed. In a world where Twilight can make girls squee with reckless abandon, maybe I’ve become a dinosaur. Maybe my type of manga is out of style. I can’t really imagine that’s the case, but there is still the chance. Maybe the world changed, not me.

Which brings me back to my original point. The Golden Age of Manga is over. Manga as a whole in America is declining. I don’t think the readers’ tastes have changed mostly because they don’t sell as well anymore. I think all the good mangas were lightning strikes - Negima, Ken Akumatsu’s follow-up to Love Hina, was meh. Tohru Fujisawa’s followup to GTO, Tokko, was meh. The industry has changed, and where it once struck gold, it’s now striking dirt. And it’s certainly not getting my money nearly as often anymore.

———

Can’t stop the signal.

Moose

random update

So I tried to make those necklaces for Christmas gifts on like, Christmas Eve, and it didn’t work out too well because I had no time or suitable needles or glue. F#@!$.

Anyway, I am sorry for not being a good panda updater because work and everyday life has been crazy. I have little time alone anymore that isn’t being spent with mom or my work families or anything else. Speaking of which, I better set my alarm for tomorrow morning.

Moose bought RockBand 3 this week and we have a band…well, really we have 2 bands and we don’t know how that happened…but anyway, the band is appropriately named Panda.Moose. and it’s really fun. I sing and Moose plays guitar and now we’re skilled enough that we have a van to travel around in. My only complaint about the game is that some songs they said they have available, they don’t. And I’m running out of ways to get my voice to hit those lower pitches without singing like a damn barbie doll. Maybe I should turn pitch correction off and see what happens.

So, one of the great things about my job as a nanny is that I get to meet and play with and interact with all kinds of kids of all ages from all around the area. One family in particular is one I really like and really enjoy working with now, even though that first day had me thinking, “Oh, no.” Dennis is 12 years old and has Down Syndrome, and he is by far the most cheerful, happiest and nicest child I have encountered during my time with my nanny agency. He is always happy to see me and gives me hugs, and I absolutely adore him and his mom. She had me come over one day so she could run out and buy me a Christmas gift. and it made my heart swell three sizes to think that I had done something that made these people, who three months ago didn’t know me from Adam, get me a Christmas gift for the sheer fact that I take care of their son a few times a month. Other families got me a few gifts, an itunes card and a lovely set of magnets and notepads, and while they mean a lot to me, they don’t mean as much to me as those two scarves that Dennis and his mom gave me on Christmas eve.

Their love gives me hope.

panda.