Monster

Title: Monster (Manga)
Categories: anime, drama, mystery, psychological, seinen
Author: Urasawa Naoki
Artist: Urasawa Naoki
Chapters: 162

Summary:

Monster weaves the riveting story of brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a famous surgeon with a promising career at a leading hospital. Tenma risks his reputation and promising career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy. Unbeknownst to him, this child is destined for a terrible fate. A string of strange and mysterious murders begin to occur soon afterward, ones that professionally benefit Dr. Tenma, and he emerges as the primary suspect. Conspiracies, serial murders, and a scathing depiction of the underbelly of hospital politics are all masterfully woven together in this compelling manga thriller.

Source: www.onemanga.com/Monster

Invitation to Anime and Manga Writers

“Great anime and manga mirror and color one’s life, more so, one’s dream. Do you see or wish yourself moving, acting, feeling and thinking like one of the characters in your fave anime and manga stories? How has this medium shaped your habits, imagination, character and lifestyle? To what extent anime and manga have affected you?  Feel free to share your anime and manga experiences and impressions. Do send us your story and we’ll post it at www.animeandmanga.net.”

BECK

What sets this series apart from other anime was the choice of a rare theme (Music) and a naturalistic, almost realistic story plot and interplay of characters led by a protagonist whose personality evolves in each passing episode.

Summary:

It’s mainly about Koyuki’s slow yet amusing metamorphosis from a typical middle school student with no exceptional characteristics or talents to a popular and passionate musician of a band founded by musically gifted U.S.-raised Japanese, Minami Ryuusuke, whom he met when he saved his patched dog named BECK. His mundane lifestyle was transformed by the band and inspired by Maho, Ryuusuke’s sister, who never fails to get the best of him.

Appeal

• Original hit songs like “Moon on the Water” and “Slip Out”
• distinctive characters- their development and intertwined stories
• showcased a life-based drama of failure, success and struggle

Downside

• These attractions are downplayed by the shoddy animation.

Noraebang

Unlike in Western countries, Korean karaoke does not take place in big rooms with a lot of people listening. Instead, Koreans sing in places called “norae bang”; these are establishments with a few individual rooms for singing. These rooms are equipped with sofas, microphones and a screen on which music videos are displayed, subtitled with the songs’ words. In norae bang, or Korean karaoke, it is possible to choose between Korean, English, Japanese or other Asian songs.

Many Asians, from Thailand to Japan – view the singing room as a way of letting your hair down, getting to know new people, and making friends.  If you refuse, you might even be considered unfriendly. No one is going to laugh at you; everyone is just having a great time.

The Karaoke or noraebang arrived in Busan in 1991 as this city is close to Japan and has been the first to receive Japanese influence and convey Japanese culture to Korea. Since then, the Korean government promoted noraebang as one of the most healthy-minded and economical entertainment establishments in the country.

Facial Expression

Just breaking the lengthy posts.

Pictures edited through www.picnik.com.

TOWARDS SELF-RENEWAL

How many times did you promise yourself that you will be better or that you will do better?

We’ve all said it before. “This time, I will do better. This time, I will learn to relax. I will have less stress, eat healthier, spend smarter and create more time for my family.” But most times, not long after we’ve committed our minds to the journey of self-renewal and all the joy it brings, we fall back on our well-intentioned plans and revert to our old habits and the rut that has stumped us for so long.

Renewal is the principle and process that empowers us to move on an upward spiral of growth and change, of continuous improvement. I really wanted to give myself the gift of a new “me” as soon as I realized that I needed improvement, development, and correction.

I really yearn to cut out my old habits, bad relationships as well as unhealthy attitudes as they are success saboteurs. I had to admit the deficiencies in my character, my skills, my habits and my lifestyle. Hadn’t I identify these enemies that stopped me from growing, I wouldn’t have figured out the steps I should take to overcome these obstacles.

Learn to break the cycle of stagnation and embrace the new opportunities that true self-renewal brings. Start this by looking in a mirror and see what you really are, nothing could be more satisfying than this!

Welcome What Comes or Run?

I heard some people say “welcome whatever comes”. We must accept whatever comes, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant they are. It could be a criticism from a supervisor, or compliment from a superior. It may be a bad news or good news. Sometimes the best way to deal with these things is to absorb them. If we can digest whatever hits us then we can handle anything.

I’ve heard someone said: “life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we react to what happens to us”. Do you find it hard to smile when your professor asked you a question you weren’t able to answer? Would you take away your life if you fail a major examination? Would you cry out loud after a defeat in a hardly fought game? Would you say “I can’t live anymore if my love one leaves me”? Life is really made of battles, and we can only win if we have the right attitude- the ability to face things- no matter how difficult they are.

Truth is, it’s much easier said than done. I haven’t seen a person who has never worried about anything. I’ve been surrounded by people bothered by other people’s remarks, burdened by life’s concerns, and beaten by poverty, depression, and fear. How simply it is to talk about facing challenges! People’s words are far from their actions!

Perhaps it would be better to come up with a different approach to life events. Why don’t we just think that “everything shall pass”? In such a way, we will learn to bend low when we get a blow, but not too low as not to be able to rise. On the other way around, we should stay humble when good things happen to us, as we should acknowledge that things we have at present are temporary. It is just like going back to the basic; keep a balance view of life, live it, love it and thank yourself you did!

Ratatouille -Mini Review

Its simple plot left me UN-amazed but the script is certainly useful. Remy is the most eloquent and ambitious rat I’ve ever heard and seen.

While watching this movie, my Grade V pupil sent me an IM: “Maam, that’s for kids only.”I replied: “I’m still a kid.”

I doubt if a kid can really understand the truest moral of the story. The genius could be hiding in a rat-like existence, it’s one of life’s greatest moment to meet their kind.I have a sort of envy for Linguini upon his unusual meeting, eventually friendship, with Remy.

It challenges one’s character to give credit to the least known beings, but it sure is a brave act that can sustain friendship and inspire the continuity of artistic outputs. Linguini, despite his humble beginnings, still struggled to give Remy the proper recognition. He was actually forced to let the secret out as it’s the only means he could save Remy.

Nice twist of fate for both Linguini and Remy. I’d like to commend the strong characterization for other casts in the story. Well, for it’s UNboring way of telling a seem to be old tale, as well as its highly informative script, I give this movie two thumbs up.If you want good listening discourse and lots of kitchen and Paris’ scenes…you’d better rent it.

Scribbling Neurons

Never Wince at Pain

ACCEPTANCE IS…

When u bother to find out what causes her fear,

When u see her with respect and deep concern,

When nothing else matters more than the present,

And the past has been erased like it never occurred…

Acceptance…

is probably a fantasy.

or an inch higher than reality.

Yet what is heaven for?

If not to keep us reaching? aiming? hoping?

Wet your eyes with delight, chuckles and heartbreaking moments…

Bitter Virgin is one of those manga works you’ll keep admiring. (or dreaming about)