Author Archives: Merlin
Sunday’s Wisdom #443: A Wonderful Mother
“A mother, a real mother, is the most wonderful person in the world. She’s the angel voice that bids you goodnight, kisses your cheek, whispers, ‘Sleep tight.’” – Wendy Moira Angela Darling, Peter Pan Wendy says this to the Lost … Continue reading
I Used to Enjoy Monster Rancher
This was one of the first anime I ever watched, back when I was barely even learning what “anime” was. I’ve had recent cause to look back at those days, and those first anime that came to me mixed with … Continue reading
Sunday’s Wisdom #442: Brother My Brother
“Brother my brotherTell me what are we fighting forWe’ve got to end this warWe should love one anotherOh, can’t we just pretendThis war never beganYou should tryBrother my brother” – from “Brother My Brother,” by Blessid Union of Souls From … Continue reading
Ranking My Favorite One Piece Movies and Specials
I recently watched and reviewed the latest – and quite possibly final – film in the One Piece franchise. Afterward, I took a moment to pause and reflect how One Piece really is a massive series to behold, with several hundred hours of … Continue reading
Book Review: Gun Runner
“What’s cool?” The genesis of Gun Runner, by Larry Correia and John Brown, begins with that question. They insist that they asked it throughout the creation of this novel, and it shows. This might not be the ripest or highest-hanging fruit … Continue reading
Uncle From Our World is Back From Another World
Netflix made an anime. First thought: a dread-filled, “Oh boy.” But it turned out not so terribly as one might have feared. It’s not a masterpiece or anything, but it’s not bad. (and not in the same way as Westley … Continue reading
Sunday’s Wisdom #441: Life is Not a Dream
“Don’t wanna try Don’t wanna cry Wanna forget Just let me live inside a dreamland I wanna be free.” – From “New Genesis,” by Ado Translated to English by Brina Palencia This is the first song in the anime movie, … Continue reading
Japanese Bathing and a Cross-Cultural Modesty Issue
Fair warning: there are not-entirely-safe-for-work images in this post. There is nothing more elusive than an obvious fact, said a particularly famous detective once. It’s true, but that doesn’t make it any less staggering when we finally realize the truth … Continue reading
One Piece: Red is Beautiful
Eiichiro Oda began his world famous manga epic in 1997. Twenty-five years, over one hundred volumes, over a thousand chapters, over a thousand anime episodes, a dozen specials, a few dozen games, and fifteen movies later, One Piece will go … Continue reading
Merlin's Musings 