KNCT PBS Station to Shut Down

http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/Central-Texas-College-Board-Votes-to--475363913.html

I'm somewhat concerned since my parents watch a lot of PBS shows, and I know someone on church who works for the station.

Art of the Day, 28 February 2018

Unbirthday Ranger Anjel by jmg124 on DeviantArt

This is a birthday gift for one of my earliest friends in the furry fandom.

Commission by May825

 

This piece is in the style of the game Cuphead. I haven't played it or intend to in the future since I'm not a big fan of "hard" games, but I like its classic toony style.

Adventures of Mana Original Soundtrack

A compilation of tracks from the second remake of the very first Seiken Densetsu / Mana game, titled Final Fantasy Adventure in its initial American release (and it Japan it had been pitched as a gaiden game of the Final Fantasy franchise), with Kenji Ito providing most of the tracks and Nobuo Uematsu supplying the chocobo theme. The OST covers a range of emotions such as the energetic overworld theme to the dreary dungeon themes, not to mention the intense battle pieces. Definitely recommended listening.

Art of the Day, 27 February 2018

Year of the Dog - Songshiquanshen Aoding Shengwang by jmg124 on DeviantArt
A reminder that this and other works of my original characters are for sale at my DeviantArt Print Store.

Blood of the Fold

The third main Sword of Truth novel begins with Sister Ulicia and others aboard a ship, talking of Emperor Jagang, leader of the Imperial Order and the main antagonist for the first main plot arc of the series. Meanwhile, Richard dines with his gar friend Gratch when mriswith attack the city of Aydindril, the two seeking to counter them. Several sections deal with the Lord General of the titular Blood of the Fold, Tobias Brogan, and his sister Lunetta, on the march, with several at the Palace of the Prophets in Tanimura between the Old and New Worlds ready to receive them.

Throughout the novel, Richard tries to consolidate his power as Lord of D’Hara, seeking to integrate the Midlands into his Empire, while Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell, First Wizard Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander, and Adie go about their business, with plenty of alternation between their third-person viewpoints. All in all, this is another solid entry to the series, though there is some homage to the Star Wars franchise with mention of the Han, a power similar to the Force. Even so, the third book definitely moves brisker than Stone of Tears, and from then on, it’s smooth sailing for readers of the series.

Mute

A weird science-fiction film directed by Duncan Jones (son of David Bowie), where for some reason a few Americans live in Berlin, Germany, and the main character is mute, having lost his voice during his childhood. The atmosphere was decent, but the plot was a bit of a convoluted mess, and I wouldn't really highly recommend this film.

Symphonic Suite from Actraiser

A 16-bit soundtrack reimagined in orchestral form, which is superb for the most part from composer Yuzo Koshiro, with pretty much every track being solid, such as the peaceful "Birth of the People." Highly recommended.

Art of the Day, 26 February 2018

Felinebruary - The 1900s Border Patrol Mission by jmg124 on DeviantArt

Unlike yesterday's art, this is actually for sale at my DeviantArt Print Store since he's an original character.

Riviera ~The Promised Land~ Full Arrange Soundtrack

I didn't think much of this game's music when I originally played it on the GameBoy Advance, although I ultimately heard a few samples of rearranged tracks that made it sound much, much better, and this album as a whole is excellent, encompassing a variety of genres, such as the peaceful theme for Elendia and the battle theme "Fierce Fight!" Definitely recommended listening.

Fullmetal Alchemist

I think it would have been better with European actors since the settings are obviously in Europe, with the casting of an all-Asian cast instead. It's somewhat the Japanese equivalent of The Last Airbender (which I didn't think was that bad, although it did try to cram a season's worth of events into a hundred-minute movie, which is almost always not a good idea), especially with regards to the casting, but it's an okay film.

Art of the Day, 25 February 2018

Febrooary - Calamity Kangaroo by jmg124 on DeviantArt 

This one isn't for sale since it's fanart of a DA user's character.

Romancing SaGa 3 Original Sound Version

Another solid Kenji Ito soundtrack, with each of the playable protagonists having their own theme, and definitely being one of the best 16-bit game soundtracks, rivaling even those from titles such as Final Fantasy VI.

Tom Sawyer (2000)

It's been over a decade since I last read the book, so I can't tell if it was loyal to it or not, but I thought this was a good anthropomorphic version of the literary classic, with voices and songs mostly by country music stars.

Stella Deus Original Soundtrack

Another joint venture by Final Fantasy Tactics composers Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata, with plenty of excellent epic sweeping themes, such as the Indiana Jones-esque main battle theme, and a nice ending theme song (which has an English version, although it's impossible to find on the Internet). Definitely recommended listening.

Romancing SaGa 2 Original Sound Version

Kenji Ito is definitely one of my favorite Japanese RPG composers, and doesn't disappoint in this soundtrack, although there are a few composed by Nobuo Uematsu as well, such as "The Legend Begins," actually a remix of the main theme from the original SaGa trilogy (initially released as Final Fantasy Legend in America). Another recommended listen.

Black Panther

Sort of feels at first like it's going to be a modern blacksploitation film, but mercifully evolves into something better and enjoyable by any ethnicity, and has its thought-provoking moments.

Final Fantasy Tactics Original Soundtrack

One of the first joint ventures between composers Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata, this soundtrack features plenty of sweeping epic tracks, with many characters having their own themes, with "Thunder God Cid," for instance, definitely sending shivers down this reviewer, and several remixes of central themes that make the music more memorable. Definitely recommended listening.

The Adventures of Brer Rabbit

Somewhat borders on blacksploitation, but is somewhat cute, and in away as close to getting Song of the South in America as we'll get.

Romancing SaGa Original Sound Version

One thing I definitely prefer in Japanese RPGs as opposed to Western RPGs is their music, with a great many Japanese composers I like, such as Kenji Ito, who composed the soundtracks of most of Square's SaGa games, and did a fine job for the most part, with not a bad track on this album, each character having their own theme (which I think central to any roleplaying game soundtrack), solid battle themes, and so forth. This whole album can be listened to on YouTube, so definitely give this a listen if you have the time.

Dragon Ball Super

This anime is a midquel to Dragon Ball Z, occurring a few months after Goku's defeat of Evil Majin Buu but years before the final time skip in the series. The first plot arc focuses on Goku and friends squaring off against the destroyer Beerus, the second on an old villain being revived and battled, and the third on a tournament between contenders from two universes, including Goku's. There's a mini-plot arc involving clone water, and overall, what has been broadcast in the series in English has definitely been good, with some really epic battles and occasional humor.

Chicago III

Consists mostly of instrumentals, with little memorable music, although there are some interesting tracks such as "Progress?" that incorporate real-life sound effects such as jackhammers.

"Siamese Cat"

This is a sonnet I wrote since I was paired with an artist who will depict it in her painting sometime this summer:

Siamese cat from the land of the Thai

Born white as snow with brown indication,

I shall love you until the day you die,

More than a mere pet in subjugation.

In age black and brown overtake whiteness

And sometimes upon the lap you do rise.

Under mistreatment you bite and you hiss,

And in the sunlight, photosynthesize.

I love cold kisses from your button nose

Though you sometimes struggle to flee my hugs.

I further love how you on my bed doze

And make mincemeat out of roaches and bugs.

O frisky feline of ancient Siam,

Sometimes fitful, but gentle as a lamb.