On the Verge of Lunacy

This version of the world's oldest military treatise is translated and annotated by Lionel Giles. Giles provided not only a translation but also included the different interpretations of various commentators in explaining the passages. This version begins with an introduction of Giles' work. Sun Tzu, the commentators of his work, and The Art of War's influences are also included. The comments from the translators may be a bit distracting but without them, some parts will probably not make sense to the modern readers. Moreover, the commentators also give their interpretations of Sun Tzu's maxims as well as cite examples of battles and historical figures. The Art of War is divided into thirteen chapters. In the introduction of the book, there is a mention of speculations on how many chapters the original manuscript was made up of. The following are the 13 chapters of The Art of War: I. Laying Plans II. Waging War III. Attack by Stratagem IV. Tactical Dispo...

Manu. Born December 9, 2005. We named after Manu Ginobili of San Antonio Spurs. Very sweet and smart... and maybe a bit spoiled. Eldest of late Timmy's (she was one of our dogs too) litter and the only surviving descendant.                                                   Tonia. Born June 14, 2012. We named her after Tony Parker of San Antonio Spurs. She has huge appetite and loves to snuggle. She looked starved and lonely when we bought her from a guy selling half-breed puppies on the street. Hachi. Born May 29, 2012. Named after Hachiko of the movie of the same name. Extremely energetic (and a bit destructive if left alone at home) and loves to kiss and snuggle family members. We got her from my sister's friend who breeds dogs.

History of the Incas is a product of the collaboration of the author's research and interviews and the natives' cooperation. The author made it clear in the first part of the book that the contents have been verified and are considered authentic by the natives. Although the book discusses the mythical origin, movement and settlement, succession of rulers, and the wars of the Incas, its goal is to prove to the then King of Spain, Philip II, that the lands occupied by the Incas belong to the King and not to the natives. This will be explained in the later part of the book after describing the downfall of the last Inca ruler. The first few chapters describe the peopling of the continents after the Flood. The descendants of Atlas divided the lands amongst themselves. This part may be irrelevant but I don't suggest skipping this. There is however an account of the mythical origin of the land of the Incas and its people that was provided by the native correspondents. Next is...

The book can be divided into several parts which discuss the sources, application, and influence of Bushido. According to Nitobe, Bushido is a "code of moral principles which the samurai were required or instructed to observe." It is made up of maxims which are discussed thoroughly in the book. Before proceeding to the discussion of the maxims, Nitobe cited the possible influences in the development of the codes. He then goes on to tell the reader of the maxims by citing examples and comparisons. There is also a section on the education and training of the samurai, the samurai's sword, and the training and position of the samurai woman. The first two are just overviews and do not elaborate the training of the knights. Finally, Nitobe contemplates the status of Bushido and its uses in the future. The book is very easy to understand, however, Nitobe cites names and events that may not be familiar to the average reader. Still, his other examples will suffice. Alth...

A collection of mystery and adventure stories, Anting-anting Stories and Other Strange Tales of the Filipinos, takes the reader into the colorful world of Filipino folk beliefs and superstitions. The word anting-anting's closest English equivalent is talisman, which is an object that gives supernatural abilities and protection to its owner. The anting-anting, however, is mainly for protection and it can be anything from a pendant to a piece of paper. Although most of the stories are set in some regions in the Philippines, the majority are told from the perspective of non-Filipino characters. As a Filipino, it is interesting to read what other people think of some of our beliefs. The following are the stories included in this volume: The Anting-anting of Captain Von Tollig The Cave in the Side of Coron The Conjure Man of Siargao Mrs. Hannah Smith, Nurse The Fifteenth Wife "Our Lady of Pilar" A Question of Time The Spirit of Mount Apo With What Measure Ye Me...

This is how I visualize Froth Wolf, Tavore's flagship. I was going for Silanda but I forgot it didn't have sails.

Jubei Yagyu of the Onimusha 2 game. I'm not happy with this drawing. His eyes look weird.

I'm having art lessons with my youngest sister as my instructor. This is the first still life  lesson we had.

My drawing of the Aztec gods Ehecatl (left), one of Quetzacoatl's forms, and Huitzilopochtli (right). I didn't make up their appearances. I based these on the drawings I found from various sources.

Note: I don't claim to be an expert in the mythology and religion of the six tribes featured here. My source for this information is Fay-Cooper Cole's The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao. This entry is solely a list for future references. The deities and mythological creatures here are from Fay-Cooper Cole's The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao . This is a list of the gods, goddesses, and spirits/spirit classes of the Bagobo, Bila-an, Kulaman, Tagakaolo, Ata, and Mandaya. I retained the spelling of the names found in the book. For full accounts of the myths and customs of the tribes, I recommend reading the book. BAGOBO Eugpamolak Manobo/Manama/Kalayagan  - first and greatest creator whose home is in the sky. Offerings for him should be white. Tolus ka balakat - name means "dweller in the balakat"; loves blood but not the flesh of humans and is one of the three deities for whom the yearly sacrifice is made. Mandarangan and Darago - husba...

This volume is a record of Cole's study of the six tribes from Davao District, namely; Bagobo, Bila-an, Kulaman, Tagakaolo, Ata, and Mandaya. Each section describes the laws and customs, religion, arts and crafts, physical appearance and measurements, warfare and medical practices, and the mythology, religion and accompanying ceremonies of the tribes. There is also a section concerning human sacrifice which was observed in almost all the tribes mentioned. The important chapter on the Bagobo is the most extensive and also serves as the point of comparison with the other tribes. All six tribes have a lot in common and differ only in specific details. Of their similarities, the most prominent is the appearance of the deity Mandarangan/Mandalangan in the myths of the tribes and the importance given to the warrior class and the medium/healers/midwives. There are separate sections on the creation myths and lists of important deities and spirits. A description of the soul and its r...

Jake Turnet is stuck in a world destroyed by nuclear holocaust after an overdose of PBT, a psychic chemical that opened the doorway. This world, unlike his own is populated by warlocks and witches and all manner of mythical creatures. He has to find a way to get back to his worldline but he would have to get past an ambitious ruler and his minions with the help of witches, Kell and Cheryn, and a vegetarian dragon, Kaliglia. This book, published in 1972 (now out of print), is a mix of fantasy, sci-fi, and romance. It wasn't stated how Cheryn, the Crimson Witch of Eye Mountain, met Jake. How their relationship developed wasn't explained either but Cheryn finds herself madly in love with Jake and ended up helping him. The battle scenes using magic weren't bad but repetitive. The best part of this book for me was when Jake, Cheryn, and Kaliglia passed through the gate to get to Jake's worldline. The ending seemed like it was rushed. Cheryn suddenly gained so much...

This book gives an overview of the Irish myths and legends and the existing problems in the  study of this field. O'Grady proposes the creation of a book that will cover both epic and annalistic/genealogical literature. He claims that although bardic literature constitutes the glory of early Irish history, it is also the stumbling block in its appreciation. There is a short introduction to bardic history as well as an overview of the five ages that should make up his proposed book. He also gives an account of the evolution of the pantheon and how important it is to include the cycles in the proposed book. A section on the deification of heroes and kings is informative. The mythological record of the bards according to O'Grady is as follows: Age of Keasair Age of Partholan and the Earliest Fomorian Gods Age of the Nemedian Gods and Second Cycle of the Fomorians Firbolgs and Third Cycle of the Fomoroh Last Cycle: Tuatha de Danan I don't recommend th...

This volume can be divided into two parts. First is the introduction of the Popol Vuh; second, the translation of the work itself. It is important to read the introduction as it provides a detailed background of the work of the author and the explanation of the events mentioned in the Popol Vuh. The translation, although not a very difficult read, wouldn't make sense without the exhaustive work of the author. The Popol Vuh highlights the following: (1) The creation stories, (2) the exploits of Hunahpu One and Hunahpu Seven and Xbalanque and Hunahpu, and (3) the first four men and the stories of their descendants. There is a section describing how the Popol Vuh might be used either as a historical narrative or a store of myths that will provide insights into the life of the Quiche Maya. Readers need not be versed in Maya mythology to appreciate this book. The writing is easy to understand and the author did a good job in providing additional information about difficult episo...

Ryoma Echizen and the rest of Seigaku are back and go head to head with the best middle and high school tennis players in the country in the U-17 selection camp. The middle schoolers, which includes most of Seigaku's rivals from other schools, soon find that U-17 is full of talented players and wily coaches who want to test their limits. Players are grouped in several courts depending on their abilities. Shuffle matches let courts move up or down the ranks. In the preliminary matches, several players are eliminated while Ryoma is disqualified for not showing up when he goes looking for Tokugawa, a player from court one, for a match. He has to leave the camp along with the losers. They were not leaving however. They are sent to a drunkard coach, Nyudo, and undergo extensive and difficult training. Meanwhile, the middle schoolers who won, are slowly moving up the court ranking, led by the powerful Jujiroh Oni. It seems like the middle schoolers can't get along with the coach...

A troublemaker with seemingly extraordinary physical abilities named Okumura Rin finds the source of his unusual gifts. He and his twin, Okumura Yukio are the spawn of Satan and a human woman. This discovery came at a price when Satan possessed their foster father, Shiro Fujimoto, a priest, exorcist, and to Rin's surprise a paladin. Shiro's death made him decide to train as an exorcist to defeat Satan. His twin already knew about their parentage and this caused a misunderstanding between the brothers. Nonetheless they both have the same goal in mind: to protect the people they care about, and decided to work together. Rin and Yukio The pace accelerates near the end of the story and the mystery behind their parents, how they were conceived and why thy ended up in the care of a priest were explained. The supporting cast helped in Rin's training and the refining of his character as well. His short temper and recklessness was complemented by Ryuji Suguro's and S...

Dean Koontz's take on the aftermath of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus novel takes the reader into the darkest corners of one man's insane and grand design to rid the world of humanity. Two hundred years after Victor Frankenstein's death, his first creation who now calls himself Deucalion, sensed that Victor was still alive somewhere and that he must stop him. His worst fears were confirmed when he finds out that Victor has been working secretly for many years refining his techniques and perhaps had achieved immortality. Prodigal Son introduces Deucalion who has changed profoundly through the years. Calmer and wiser now he nevertheless feels that he is still the monster Victor created him to be. But he learned that he has gifts which made him question the purpose of his existence. His discovery of Victor's whereabouts strengthened his conviction that he survived because his mission is unfinished. He is not alone in this quest. Ca...

Instead of just focusing on the narration of events, this classic horror highlighted instead the emotional and psychological trauma of the characters. Victor Frankenstein went on a frenzied creative episode and lived to regret it. His creation (he didn't have any name) was so hideous that even the hands that created him found him so repulsive. The creature left. Since then Victor wallowed in misery and found nothing joyful in life although he came from a loving family and had good friends. After a while he forgot about his creation but every time he felt happy, he is reminded of what he did. He could not tell anyone about it too because it would be like admitting a crime and he did not want to put his loved ones in danger or reject him when he confessed. He felt like the victim of what he did. The creature, according to his version of the story in the later part of the book, does not seem like he is the monster that Victor made him up to be. Yes, he had reflexes and streng...

This volume presents the history and mythology of the Aztecs, Maya and the surrounding communities and their predecessors in writing that is easy to understand. Even within just a few pages the author was able to explain the records and artifacts existing at the time of the book's publication very clearly. He begins by providing the common cultural traits of the peoples occupying the areas in what is now Mexico to the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica. He also gives brief accounts of the Olmecs and Zapotecs and an outline of the different periods of Mesoamerican history. There is a separate chapter about calendrics which is important in religion and sciences. Then he provides and compares the various sources of what we currently know of the customs and religion of those people. Finally, the two separate sections for Aztec and Maya mythology. The similarities and differences in the myths are provided early in the last two chapters before the recounting the stories. I didn...

Ryuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka ended up helping each other win their love interests when Taiga made a mistake by leaving an empty love letter in Ryuji's bag. Ryuji is in love with Taiga's energetic friend Kushieda Minori, while Taiga likes the student council vice president who loves to parade his body, Kitamura Yusaku. The situation is further complicated by Minori's dodgy attitude, Kitamura's other love interest, and the arrival of Kitamura's childhood friend Kawashima Ami who likes Ryuji. Ryuji and Taiga got used to having each other so often they don't notice their feelings have started to change. It seems like chasing Minori and Kitamura has become a habit; but having each other seems to have become a habit that is hard to break.This romantic comedy shows that falling in love with your closest friend and sacrificing your feelings for someone else's happiness still isn't out of style. This 25-episode series did seem like all the others of t...

This is a collection of 17 epics each of which is condensed into its simplest form making them accessible to readers who do not have enough time or resources (or have difficulty reading some of the translations)reading or finding the epics. Each epic is introduced by providing the background of the author and the story and why it is included in this volume. The following is the list of the epics included: THE RAMÂYÂNA THE MAHÂ-BHÂRATA of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa THE ILIAD of Homer THE ODYSSEY of Homer THE KALEVALA, collected by Zacharias Topelius and Elias Lonnrot THE AENEID by Vergil BEOWULF THE NIBELUNGEN LIED THE SONG OF ROLAND THE SHAH-NAMEH of Firdusi THE POEM OF THE CID THE DIVINE COMEDY of Dante Alighieri THE ORLANDO FURIOSO of Ludovico Ariosto THE LUSIAD of Luis de Camoens THE JERUSALEM DELIVERED of Torquato Tasso PARADISE LOST of John Milton PARADISE REGAINED of John Milton The epics are contracted and the author left only the narration...

The series is set in the events that followed the aftermath of Ryoma Sakamoto's assassination. The hero of the series, Akizuki Yujiro, carries a sword which glows when it is near its supernatural quarry. The target which is known by the name of the "Lord's Head" apparently has something to do with the conflicts at the close of the Bakumatsu era. It is Akizuki's task to seal this head using the sword. Along the way he meets a theatre group led by Yuyama Kakunojo. The group's quest for revenge against one man inevitably ties up their destiny with Akizuki. Their playwright, Ibaragi Soutetsu, plays a key role in the series when he reveals his true motives. The series is riddled with historical events that might confuse viewers who are not knowledgeable about this period in Japanese history. Granted, there is a narrator and the events don't weigh heavily on the outcome of Akizuki's quest. The building up of the tension is slow (for me at least...

The book is divided into 15 chapters discussing the literature of ancient Egypt, or at least those still extant. The bulk of the material here are writings related to the afterlife and the legends of the gods. The first part introduces the forms of writing (hieroglyphic, hieratic, and demotic). Most of the texts are taken from inscriptions in and the scrolls from the tombs. The Pyramid texts, which has spells to ensure the deceased lives in the Tuat, are discussed. The other chapters include the following: stories of magicians, the book of the dead (the objective of which is to help the deceased reach Sekhet Aaru and Sekhet Hetep), books of the dead in Graeco-Roman period (substitutes for book of the dead), historical literature, autobiographical literature, tales of travel and adventure, fairy tales, hymns to the gods, moral and philosophical literature, poetical compositions, and miscellaneous (mostly about the other world, spells and magic, etc.). Two important chapters a...

Manji and Asano Rin are unusual companions. Nicknamed Killer of 100, Manji possesses a technique that makes him nearly invincible, thus the title of the series. While Rin, though strengthened by her will to avenge the murder of her parents, has no combat skills and always finds herself in trouble. She's seeking for the leader of the Itto-ryu Kagehisa Anotsu. Rin is admirable enough in her determination to kill although several scenes tend to portray her as a sexual object when she's overcome by her opponent. The fight scenes are not bad and at least they try to show the movements of the fighters instead of just blurred, one-hit, slow-mo encounters. Manji however isn't exactly a skillful fighter. He loves to boast and provoke the enemy but unfortunately, he can't always back up his words. He's still lucky though because he's almost impossible to kill. The outcome of their quest seems uncertain so I don't recommend this to those who don't like ...

This book discusses briefly the contents of the "doors" or chapters of the Book of the Dead. The descriptions of the 190 chapters are just overviews however . Readers who want to read them will find this book helpful only as an introduction. Before the summaries of the contents are given, Budge introduces the reader to the Egyptian belief in the afterlife and judgment. There is a chapter describing what goes on when the deceased is given judgment by Osiris (the weighing of the ab or heart and interview with the gods) as well as a chapter about Thoth and his many functions. Budge's writing is very easy to understand and the chapter on the Judgement of Osiris is the most interesting. I recommend this book  to those who are interested in mythology in general  and as an introduction to the Book of the Dead.

This is not exactly a collection of stories and can instead be treated as an introduction to Babylonian and Assyrian history, culture, and religion. Several important subjects are covered which the student or casual reader might find useful in understanding the myths of the people sustained by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. In summary, the book discussed the following: the peoples and movements in the area collectively called Mesopotamia, these include emphasis on the Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, Kassites, Egyptians, and the Hebrews; possible origins and ancestry of the different peoples and their customs and laws with emphasis on Hammurabi's laws; summary of the wars and succession of kings in different regions; evolution of the pantheon from "monsters" to anthropomorphic deities and their parallels in other myths; nature of ghosts, fairies, and other minor creatures; and the development of astrology and astronomy. There are separate chapters as well for t...

Two versions of the Deluge Legend is given in this book. One is taken from Berosus' account in which the name of the survivor is Xisuthrus. The other version is related to Gilgamesh by Utnapishtim and was included in the tablets of Epic of Gilgamish. The circumstances do not differ much but the details vary. The Utnapishtim version, for example, gives the number of days it took for the water to recede. The introduction given by Budge is sufficient for casual readers and students alike. He gives an account of the discovery of the tablets; description of the palaces of Nineveh and the library; physical description of the tablets; and a brief introduction of Ashur-bani-pal, to whom the famed library was credited. Budge's writing is easy to understand. The Gilgamish epic is also retold here in the last part of the book. He does not give a transliteration of the tablets but divides the story by tablet and informs the reader which parts of the narrative are undecipherable...