Jake Jeffries's Blog: Dark Watchman
March 31, 2022
Top Ten Favorite AmaLee Songs
Greetings friends,
AmaLee has quickly risen to one of my favorite artists. She is an extremely talented individual with a wonderful voice. She is mostly well known for her anime covers, which is what comprises most of this list. If you have not listened to her yet, I would highly recommend that you check her out. Starting with, but not limited to the list. Although the list is comprised of anime songs, I will not go into detail of the plot of the anime’s themselves. There is however a chance that some of the videos could contain clips or spoilers.
10. Hacking to the Gate
Steins;Gate is an anime that I watched in 2021 and I was blown away by how fantastic it was. It is rooted in science fiction and has elements of time travel. The opening song is amazing I am ecstatic to have found a great version in my native language to enjoy. This song is cerebral and catchy. The song takes you on a journey that is the perfect prelude to the deeper philosophical journey that is the show itself. I love the line, “before our eyes are many futures and dreams expanding infinitely.”
9. Gurenge
Demon Slayer’s opening is another that sets up the show well, originally by the infamous and avid anime collaborator LiSA. I feel AmaLee has done the closest job of capturing the essence of the original. LiSA is LiSA and there is no topping her originals. However, AmaLee’s take on the song sends similar chills down my spine when I listen to it. The song is a reminder to stand strong, “despite the past mistakes we can’t erase”.
8. Golden Time Lover
Taken from the ever-popular Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. I have seen the original show, but not Brotherhood which I hear follows the manga closer. This song is a catchy one for me and lifts my mood whenever I hear it. The groove of it hooks me and reels me in. I would love to hear a cover of it by Night Flight Orchestra. I love the line, “throw away your doubt there’s nothing to fear now.”
7. One Hell of a Team
This is a song inspired by the webseries Hazbin Hotel. I was unfamiliar with the webseries until hearing the songs by AmaLee. This song also features Divide Music. I did decide to check the series out, and it is intriguing. The first episode is pretty good but I have not watched further yet. I really like the radio demon character that acts as the male part of this duet. The characters do absolutely make, “one hell of a team.”
6. True Light
This song is from an anime I have not seen called D.N. Angel. I know next to nothing about it. I love the song though and am interested in in the show if for no other reason, than the song is amazing. I love the line, “my soul threw away the mask that hides the deeper me.”
5. Again
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood makes the list, again! That tells me that I need to watch it even more. This song to me is about persistence and resilience. Traits that the Elric brothers exhibit on a regular basis. Traits that we should all strive to exhibit. In time maybe we will discover, “all the love is worth the pain.”
4. Anna Ni Issho Datta No Ni
Another anime I have not watched is Gundam Seed. One day I would love to sit down and watch all of the Gundam shows. This song has planted a seed in my heart to make this show a priority. It is as beautiful as it is catchy. I love the line, “we once were as one, but now nothing remains.”
3. A Cruel Angel’s Thesis
One of the best anime intros of all time is Yoko Takahoshi’s ‘A Cruel Angel’s Thesis’ from Neon Genesis Evangelion. This is AmaLee’s version. It captures the heart of the original and does it justice although nothing tops the original. I have yet to watch the anime but it is still on my list to remedy. I love the line, “this was all a cruel angel’s thesis from the start” and the philosophical implications it entails.
2. Guren No Yumiya
This is a badass ballad that makes you want to march to the front lines. I am a huge fan of Sabaton. I feel like this is the closest anime intro that feels like it could be in their catalog. Their songs and this song paint a picture of the battlefronts they reference. Attack on Titan is not a light-hearted anime. This song prepares you and lets you know, “this is the moment for war!”
1. Homura
This is a hauntingly beautiful song created for the ending of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. The song fits the tone of the of the movie and has skyrocketed to one of my favorite songs of all time. LiSA the original artist captures the soul of love and loss. AmaLee conveys the same emotion in her version. This song is on a short list of songs I would like to be played at my funeral.
“Goodbye for now, I thank you loud, from the bottom of my heart.”
Which song would you like AmaLee to cover next?
Here is a link to a larger playlist on Spotify that has all of these songs and more:
https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/0fCdqNwGpjcY9K8cYuOqf7?utm_source=generator
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
P.S. Coming next month, The Legacy of . Currently many of his films are available to stream for free online as part of a retrospective. If you would like to watch the films between now and April 10th, please go here: The Legacy of Satoshi Kon
February 28, 2022
10 Life Lessons from The Wire
Greetings friends,
The Wire is arguably one of the best crime dramas…no scratch that. One of the best shows…period. The characters, the plot, and the setting are all top notch. Needless to say, I highly recommend the series for any that have not watched it. Along those lines, allow to me to go ahead and issue a spoiler warning. These lessons are of course a matter of opinion and serve to highlight some of my key takeaways from the show.
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10. In General – The City
The city is the point of the show. A microcosm of the world and the human condition. Racial tension has always been present and is highlighted in the show along with the changing times. The duration of apathy has only served to create more apathetic woes as the new cancer (drugs, prejudice, politics, corruption, etc.) continues to eat away and block the arteries of civilization. Heroes rise and fall and to paraphrase Harvey Dent from The Dark Knight, “some live long enough to become the villain.
9. Brother Mouzone – Fear an educated man.
Brother Mouzone is an enforcer. It is clear from his articulation that he is well educated. He makes the comment about the power that lies within a library card. The old adage says that with great power comes great responsibility. I feel that we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves, especially in regard to matters we may not be well-versed in. I am a huge advocate of continuous improvement. If you think that you are the smartest person in the room, think again. As Socrates was once credited with saying, “I know that I know nothing.” Since I know nothing, then I strive towards a life of learning.
8. In General – It is never too late to change.
Many characters show signs of improvement throughout the show. Most notably in my opinion Dennis “Cutty” Wise, Jimmy McNulty, and Namond Brice. Cutty is known as an enforcer and is incarcerated when we first meet him. He eventually gets out and finds that a lot has changed. He decides that he himself needs to change and starts a gym in the neighborhood which reaches out to some of the kids that are on the street. Jimmy McNulty is often shown struggling with alcoholism, asshole-ism, and infidelity. He cleans up his act for a while, dips in again, but then starts to show signs of improvement again. He lives his life on a spectrum. Namond is first introduced to us as a corner kid selling drugs for one of the kingpins. He goes from corner kid to outstanding student by the end of the show.
7. Hamsterdam – Case study of a lesser of evils?
Hamsterdam is the brainchild of Howard “Bunny” Colvin. He devised the plan to cordon off parts of the city and legalize most of what would be considered criminal activity. Referencing the city of Amsterdam where the law is much more lax for certain activities. Prostitution and drugs were legalized in these areas. Community outreach was setup in these areas which is a good thing. Crime rates dropped dramatically. This was done in response to trying to improve statistics. I am not saying all of the activity in those areas should be considered for actual legalization. All of the drugs that were legal there would probably not be good to legalize nationally. However, one does have to wonder if compromises or legalization of some of the stuff that was legal in Hamsterdam would be a societal improvement.
6. In General – Family can be an enemy.
All of us probably have that “one” or more member of the family that could be considered an enemy or purveyor of drama. Russell “Stringer” Bell and Avon Barksdale considered themselves family even though they were not blood. By the end, they fell out and were enemies. Bugs parents were completely horrendous people to their children. Joseph “Proposition Joe” Stewart (Prop Joe) had a nephew named Cheese who was constantly a pain in the ass and ultimately ended up being a bullet to the head.
5. In General – Don’t have to be blood to be family.
Before their falling out, Stringer Bell and Avon were tight. A lot of the officers have a comradery that rivals family despite not being blood relation. I would venture to say that a lot of us have friends that are closer to us than our actual family, at least extended family. I’ll take a friend that is family over family that is an enemy any day of the week.
4. Omar – All in the game.
If the city of Baltimore is a gameboard with police officers and drug dealers as game pieces, then Omar would be king. Sometimes his emotions get the best of him, but overall he is one of the toughest players and commonly comes out on top. Even in court when being cross examined, Omar holds himself in kingly stature when the lawyer would try to make of him a jester. One of my favorite exchanges in the show is as follows:
Levy: “You are amoral, are you not? You are feeding off the violence and the despair of the drug trade. You are stealing from those who themselves are stealing the lifeblood from our city. You are a parasite who leaches off the culture of drugs …”
Omar (interrupting): “Just like you, man.”
Levy: “Excuse me?”
Omar: “I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase. It’s all in the game though, right?”
3. Freamon – All the pieces matter.
Lester Freamon is one of my favorite characters in the show. I love his quote, “all the pieces matter.” It is simple, yet profound. You would not want to put a puzzle together only to find that one of the pieces is missing. I love the double-meaning of the quote as well, it goes to show that when you are working up a case that all of the details matter for investigation. I feel that it also goes on to mean that the people or reason that you are working the case for (the victim or victim prevention) matters as well. Another common quote I will paraphrase from the show is, “Don’t go giving a fuck, when it is not your turn to give a fuck.” Often times, those characters continue to go on giving a fuck. Why do they give a fuck? Because of the pieces matter.
2. Butchie – Conscious comes at a cost.
Butchie is a blind barkeep that is one of Omar’s trustworthy inner circle. He says that, “conscious do cost.” And he is not wrong. I love how they tied it in full circle with his character and Omar’s character. Butchie is unfortunately tortured to death at the hands of Marlo’s people. He is able to keep a clear conscious by not snitching on Omar. In turn, Omar looking to keep a clear conscious by avenging Butchie comes gunning for Marlo’s people only to meet his untimely end. In life sometimes it is also true that our conscious comes at a cost.
1. Bubbs – Ain’t no shame in holding on to grief.
Reginald “Bubbles” Cousins speaks out about his lost friend Sherrod and says, “Ain’t no shame in holding on to grief. As long you make room for other things too.” I lost my father in 2012 to a car accident. It has taken me a long time to come to terms, that indeed there is no shame in holding on and likewise there is no shame in letting go. Often times we are told that grief comes in stages. Personally, I do not care for it being called stages myself, as it implies a beginning and an end. In my experience I have found that grief is more of a cycle, or a spectrum. I may be angry one day and want to hold on to that grief and fight it in a cage match. The next day I may want to let go of that grief and allow the waves of acceptance to wash over me. Although our loved ones may leave us, we are left behind and must move on to the best of our ability. Some days are easier than others. I would like to share a song from the anime Demon Slayer that has helped me with grieving recently. Just in case it may be of comfort to anyone else.
Have you watched The Wire? If so, what was your biggest takeaway? If not, are you planning on watching it?
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
P.S. Coming next month, Top 10 Favorite AmaLee Songs.
January 24, 2022
Happy New Year! – Challenge Accepted
Greetings friends,
2021 was a tough year for a lot of people. Myself included. There were good things and bad things, such is life. A lot of changes occurred, including on my end a change of career. That aspect of my life has been an interesting journey in the last year but a great one. I am confident that it was a good move. Only time will surely tell. I am looking forward to what the future has in store and I am more at peace with my past than I have ever been. There is no better time than now to enjoy the present. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “The past and future aren’t meant to be a prison that holds us frozen in time.” With that out of the way, I am excited to share my choices for the PopSugar reading challenge this year! Below are the choices with their category and the reason(s) for choosing. In order to save time and space, not every cover will be featured.
1. A book that’s published in 2022 – Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Having read Darker Shade of Magic, I know to trust that V.E. Schwab will be a reliably great read. When this was announced, I knew instantly that it would be my pick for this prompt.
2. A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship – The Midnight Meat Train by Clive Barker
My foray into Clive Barker has been primarily with films based on his works. Hellraiser, Hellraiser II, Hellraiser: Bloodline, Nightbreed, and the movie based on this story are some of my favorite horror films. It has been a goal of mine to remedy not having read any of his works. What better time to start than now?
3. A book about or set in a nonpatriarchal society – The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
This book keeps popping up on lists for this prompt. The description sounds amazing, so I went ahead and followed suit along with many others.
4. A book with a tiger on the cover or “tiger” in the title – The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
It is a goal of mine to read more Asian authors. I cannot help that I was born and raised in a Western society. However, I can choose to dive headfirst into works that are more Eastern in nature. Ken is on my radar for The Dandelion Dynasty series of his and I was happy to see that I could fill a prompt with one of his works.
5. A sapphic book – The Rise of Kyoshi by F. C. Yee
This popped up as an option for a sapphic book so I immediately pounced on it. It fulfills my wish to read more Asian authors and is set in the world of Avatar. My Avatar experience is not great, but I have enjoyed what I have come across.
6. A book by a Latinx author – The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho
After watching the movie Extraction on Netflix, this shot up on my interest list. The quote, “You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it” resonated with me and if the rest of the book is as profound, then I am in for a treat.
7. A book with an onomatopoeia in its title – The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Another Asian author, with the start of a series I have heard great things about. This is one of the ones that I am looking forward to the most.
8. A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid – The Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
I have read Six of Crows and thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the main characters Kaz Brekker uses a cane.
9. A book about a “found family” – A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
This is the follow up to Darker Shade of Magic. The first book impressed me enough to make me add most of the rest of her bibliography to my to-read list. If the other series are as good as this one then she will find herself ranked high on my favorite authors list.
10. An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner – The Old Drift by Carla Namwali Serpell
This is one I just looked up award winners and stared reading synopses for. I have not read many books based in Africa so I am excited to broaden my usual reading locations with this book.
11. A #BookTok recommendation – The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab
I do not frequent TikTok. However I remember the hype for this book ringing out all across social media. Thankfully I was able to Google and find that it had indeed been recommended on booktok. This is one that I was gifted the exclusive Owlcrate edition for so I am excited to finally read it.
12. A book about the afterlife – Limbo. by Marko Pandza
This is a Goodreads giveaway win for me. I find books about the afterlife interesting and look forward to checking this one out.
13. A book set in the 1980s – Darkness on the Edge of Town by Adam Christopher
Who doesn’t love Stranger Things? Sheriff Hopper is one of my favorite characters in the show so I am really looking forward to a story that features him heavily and explains some of his past.
14. A book with cutlery on the cover or in the title – Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce
Swords are cutlery. Anyone that disagrees can swordfight me in the street. This is the final book in the Song of the Lioness quartet. I have read the first two already and plan on the final two this year.
15. A book by a Pacific Islander author – Stoicism for Inner Peace by Einzelgänger and Fleur Vaz
Fleur Vaz happens to fall under the category of a Pacific Islander author. This is one of the books I am most excited to read this year. I am a huge fan of the Einzelgänger YouTube channel. When I found out books had been released too, I could not resist.
16. A book about witches – Skin Game by Jim Butcher
The Dresden Files is my favorite book series of all-time. Book one single-handedly reignited my passion for reading at a time when I was in a dark place. I fully credit Jim Butcher with helping me through that tough time. Molly is one of the main characters and happens to be a witch.
17. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2022 – Absolute Sandman by Neil Gaiman
My wonderful wife got me the Absolute Sandman for my birthday one year. It still ranks as one of the best and most thoughtful gifts I have received. The story my wife provided me about the amount of work that went into obtaining it only adds to the thoughtfulness of it. It is a series that I have long wanted to read in its entirety and now I can at least finally start it.
18. A romance novel by a BIPOC author – Legend by Marie Lu
Marie Lu fits this prompt and her Legend series is one that I have been curious about for ages.
19. A book that takes place during your favorite season – The Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow
My favorite season is fall. This book is set during that time frame and is highly recommended on many lists. I won a Goodreads giveaway for another Alix Harrow book and want to pay it forward by reading that one and continuing with this one.
20. A book whose title begins with the last letter of your previous read – IQ84 by Haruki Murakami
This is a book that I will have to read directly after Rise of Kyoshi in order to fulfill the requirement for the prompt. I loved 1984 by George Orwell and this book sparked my interest since the title is close. Whether or not they have anything to do with one another, I will have to find out. Haruki Murakami is one of my favorite authors of all time which has been fairly recent. It started with his book After Dark. Every subsequent book has been a though-provoking work of art as well.
21. A book about a band or musical group – Lacuna Coil: Nothing Stands In Our Way by Mark Eglinton
Thankfully a book about one of my favorite bands has been published! I pre-ordered this one back when it was announced. In my opinion Cristina Scabbia is one of the best vocalists of our time and I look forward to this look into her life and the lives of the rest of the band.
22. A book with a character on the ace spectrum – No More Heroes by Michelle Kan
This book popped up on lists for this prompt and was one of the most interesting sounding ones. I am also excited that she is an Asian author!
23. A book with a recipe in it – Peace Talks by Jim Butcher
There is a recipe for a spell in this book. It is a part of my favorite series that I really need to get caught up on.
24. A book you can read in one sitting – How to Relax by Thich Nhat Hanh
I have read How to Fight. It was a short collection of profound thought bubbles that inspire one to find their center. How to Relax I am hoping is a continuation of calm techniques and thought-provoking anecdotes.
25. A book about a secret – Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
This book has shot up towards the top of my to-read list by being highly recommended as a cornerstone of philosophy. My first discovery of Aurelius was in an Einzelgänger video about being calm. I love studying philosophy and going down that rabbit-hole has led to quite a few discoveries. This book is said to contain the secret to living a good life.
26. A book with a misleading title – Trying Not to Try by Edward Slingerland
In true Taoist fashion, the title of this book appears contradictory. That is why I chose it for a misleading title. How can one try not to try? Isn’t trying by default an action towards an end? I discovered Edward in an interview with George Thompson who is a YouTuber that I follow quite a bit.
27. A Hugo Award winner – Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu
I looked up winners and found this gem. Translated by another author on this list, Ken Liu. The synopsis of this book sounds fantastic. The fact that is also an Asian author is icing on the cake.
28. A book set during a holiday – Haunted Nights by ed. Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton
The only thing I know about this collection is that it is supposed to be stories set during Halloween which is my favorite holiday. I wanted to stick with Halloween since I am drawn to spooky stories. I was ecstatic to find a collection with a story by Garth Nix. He is one of my favorites and has authored quite a few series that I have loved through the years, most notably The Old Kingdom Series.
29. A different book by an author you read in 2021 – Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
I read Kafka on the Shore in 2021. So I am excited to continue with the works of Murakami with Men Without Women.
30. A book with the name of a board game in the title – Arkham Horror: Ire of the Void by Richard Lee Byers
This is an interesting prompt and I had quite a bit of fun brainstorming and looking up options. Finally, I settled on a book with Arkham Horror in the title and inspired by the board game to boot.
31. A book featuring a man-made disaster – Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami
On March 20th 1995 a terrorist attack was carrying out in a Tokyo subway. Several packages containing sarin gas were released. Twelve people were killed and over 5,000 were injured. Haruki Murakami investigated the attack and interviews victims in this novel. I cannot say that I am looking forward to this book due to the atrocity, but I do feel that it will be a powerful thought-provoking piece that will honor the victims and will chronicle an event in history that will hopefully not be repeated.
32. A book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover or Amazon page – Cursed by Benedict Jacka
A recommendation by the man Jim Butcher himself. This is actually book two in the Alex Verus series, book one of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Alex is a great character and I look forward to more exploits set within this world. The magic is interesting and worldbuilding is on point.
33. A social-horror book – Unoffendable: The Art of Thriving in a World Full of Jerks by Einzelgänger and Fleur Vaz
Throughout my life I have struggled with anxiety, at times in particular social anxiety. I feel this book fills the prompt due to it being about a world full of jerks.
34. A book set in Victorian times – The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder
This book fits the prompt and is one that I own but have never read. It is said to be a steampunk novel as well which is intriguing since steampunk is an interest of mine.
35. A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title – Velocity Weapon by Megan O’ Keefe
There is a cluster of stars on the cover so it fits. This is also a Goodreads giveaway win of mine. I look forward to finally reading it and being able to provide a review. It is said that this book is a space opera which is of great interest to me.
36. A book you know nothing about – Atomic Habits by James Clear
This was recommended in a Ryan Holiday video I watched about Stoicism. I clicked on the video because he was wearing an Iron Maiden shirt and stayed for the Stoicism. The following week I found in my local library book sale. It was meant to be. I feel like the universe was directing me towards it. I know nothing about it.
37. A book about gender identity – The Woman Who Rides Like A Man by Tamora Pierce
Song of the Lioness book three. I will read this one before Lioness Rampant. Part of the story in this quartet deals with the main character being female and hiding her identity to become a knight.
38. A book featuring a party – Birthday Stories by Haruki Murakami
Sometimes I am a simple man and just love to read me some Murakami. This is a book about birthdays and as such contains birthday parties.
39. An #OwnVoices SFF (science fiction and fantasy) book – Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow
This is a Goodreads giveaway win for me that I have been meaning to read for a while. I am excited to finally get to it. This book has shown up on quite a few lists for fulfilling this prompt.
40. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge – The Anxiety Code: Deciphering the Purposes of Neurotic Anxiety by Dr. Roger Di Pietro
One of my favorite prompts from a previous challenge was reading a self-help book. This is a book that I won from a Goodreads giveaway and I look forward to finally crossing it off my to-read list.
41. A book with a reflected image on the cover or “mirror” in the title – Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami
The cover has a mirrored image of a lady on the front. Another potential banger from Haruki Murakami. I made sure to specifically buy this version of the novel to fulfill the prompt, since it has quite a few alternate covers.
42. A book that features two languages – A Bond Undone by Jin Yong
This book contains English and Chinese. It is also a Goodreads giveaway book that I won. I absolutely loved the first book in the series and look forward to continuing it. It is book two of The Legends of the Condor Heroes series.
43. A book with a palindromic title – Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami
I tend to dance every time I get to read a Haruki Murakami novel. Thankfully this fits the prompt due to being able to repeat the same words backwards.
44. A duology (1) – An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Hank hosts Crash Course Philosophy and Psychology. I love those videos and have learned a lot from them. I was beyond excited to find out that he had written a book. I am stoked to finally check this one out.
45. A duology (2) – A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
This directly follows An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.
46. A book about someone leading a double life – The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts
My interpretation for this prompt is that we are all living a double life…or multiple lives for that matter. Alan Watts is amazingly thought-provoking and I recommend any of this lectures or books.
47. A book featuring a parallel reality – Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
The cover of this book is so beautiful it hurts. Set in a parallel Japan it fits this prompt. Described as a dystopian steampunk novel, it has my complete attention.
48. A book with two POVs – Prodigy by Marie Lu
When looking up books with more than one POV, this came up. Since I already had book one on here, I decided to add book two.
49. Two books set in twin towns, aka “sister cities” (1) – Battle Ground (Chicago) by Jim Butcher
The man, the maestro, Jim the badass Butcher makes it on the list again!
50. Two books set in twin towns, aka “sister cities” (2) – The House of Shattered Wings (Paris) by Aliette de Bodard
I started by picking The Dresden Files because I knew it was set in Chicago. Then I looked up sister cities and discovered Paris. I began looking at my favorite genres and trying to find books set in Paris that fit them. I settled on this book which I know pretty much nothing about aside from the city.
What books are you looking forward to reading in 2022?
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
P.S. Coming next month, 10 Life Lessons from The Wire.
December 25, 2020
Happy Holidays and Goodbye 2020!
This year has been a dumpster fire. Don’t forget to pick up your commemorative ornament.
Credit belongs to
Suffice to say, I am glad that 2021 will be here soon. When the architects were designing 2020 it is like someone spilled an ocean sized glass of Murphy’s Law into the mix. My hope for all of you is that you are safe and healthy with everything going on. If you have lost loved ones, I offer my deepest condolences. If you are sick, I hope you get well. If you are struggling, I hope it gets easier. To sum it all up, death to 2020…
In honor of the holiday season and my birthday coming up in the near future I have decided to run a free book promotion. Consider it my gift to you. Hopefully those that have gotten new devices, readers looking for new content, individuals stuck in quarantine, or participants preparing for an upcoming reading challenge can take advantage of the promotion. The promotion will run from December 25th until the 29th.
Bad Blood Rising (Dark Watchman, #0)
Vampires plague the streets of Indianapolis, Indiana. The city is a hub for the supernatural. The majority of humans unknowingly live amongst vampires, wizards, witches, and various forms of otherworldly creatures. There is a struggle in the paradigm of power between the forces of good and evil. The Legion of Light have been at war with the Order of Darkness since the beginning of time. The recent gathering of magic is evident on both sides. Vangetsu is a vampire that has been hunting the vampire that turned him for over two millennia. Now, the time has come for their paths to cross and the blood feud to come to a head. He is captured by the Legion of Light and turned into an agent to fight against the evil within the city. Will Vangetsu save the city and enact his revenge against his maker, or will he die trying?
Grim Bureaucracy (Novelette)
A soul was taken before its time. The Grim Reaper is tasked with retrieving the soul from Hell. Lucifer refuses to play nice and give the soul back. The Grim Reaper is forced to suit up for battle and traverse the levels of Hell in order to free the soul from Lucifer’s hold. Armed with his strength, his scythe, and his wit he must take on the legions of Hell. If he fails, he must face the wrath of God.
An Attempt To Fill The Void… (Poetry book)
Personally, I will be taking part in the 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge.
Credit belongs to POPSUGAR
I would like to share the categories that my current books could work for.
They are as follows:
Bad Blood Rising
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign (Capricorn)
A genre hybrid (urban, fantasy, horror, magical realism)
A magical realism book
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
Grim Bureaucracy
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign (Capricorn)
A genre hybrid (heroic, fantasy, mythic)
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
An Attempt to Fill the Void…
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign (Capricorn)
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
Credit belongs to Bays & Thomas Productions 20th Century Fox Television
Here are my choices with links for anyone interested:
A book that’s published in 2021 – Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long
An Afrofuturist book – The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover – Harleen by Stjepan Šejić
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign – A Descent into the Maelstrom – Edgar Allan Poe
A dark academia book – Vicious by V.E. Schwab
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title – Goldenhand by Garth Nix
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job – The Art of Project Management by Scott Berkun
A book that has won the Women’s Prize For Fiction – 26a by Diana Evans
A book with a family tree – Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima
A bestseller from the 1990s – Absolute Sandman by Neil Gaiman
A book about forgetting – The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab
A book you have seen on someone’s bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.) – The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
A locked-room mystery – Doubt by Yoshiki Tonogai
A book set in a restaurant – Café Occult by Oh Rhe Bar Ghun
A book with a black-and-white cover – If You Meet the Buddha On the Road, Kill Him! by Sheldon Kopp
A book by an Indigenous author – Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
A book that has the same title as a song – Beyond the Wall of Sleep by H.P. Lovecraft
A book about a subject you are passionate about – The Culture Question by Randy Grieser
A book that discusses body positivity – Limitless by Jim Kwik
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list – Born A Crime by Trevor Noah
A genre hybrid – A Bond Undone by Jin Yong
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors – Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
A book with something broken on the cover – Breaking the Rules by Kurt Wright
A book by a Muslim American author – We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
A book that was published anonymously – The Occult Technology of Power
A book with an oxymoron in the title – Trying Not to Try by Edward Slingerland
A book about do-overs or fresh starts – Permission to Screw-Up by Kristin Hadeed
A magical realism book – Clariel by Garth Nix
A book set in multiple countries – Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
A book set somewhere you’d like to visit in 2021 – A Summer Beyond Your Reach bu Xia Jia
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality – Axiom’s End by Linday Ellis
A book whose title starts with “Q,” “X,” or “Z” – Zed by Joanna Kavenna
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child) – The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser
A book about a social justice issue – The Conductors by Nicole Glover
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels) – Memoranda by Bit Byterz
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads – Velocity Weapon by Megan O’ Keefe
A book you think your best friend would like – Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce
A book about art or an artist – The Art of Greg Capullo by Greg Capullo
A book everyone seems to have read but you – Follow the Learner by Dr. Sami Bahri
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge – Presence by Amy Cuddy
Advanced
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list – The Stand by Stephen King
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list – Tell Me the Odds by Scott Hartshorn
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover – Tau Zero by Poul Anderson
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover – The Book by Alan Watts
The book that’s been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time – Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn’t – Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow
A book from your TBR list you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing – The Woman Who Rides Like A Man by Tamora Pierce
A book from your TBR list chosen at random – Hua Hu Ching by Hua Ching Ni
A DNF book from your TBR list – Tomie by Junji Ito
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library) – Limbo. by Marko Pandza
Before purchasing any books for your list, I of course recommend checking out your local library. Unless you just really want to own the book(s) anyway.
What books are you planning to read in 2021?
I’ll leave the last post of this year with a message from our pal John Oliver.
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
September 7, 2020
Top Ten Favorite Anime Intro Songs
Greetings friends,
It should come as no surprise that I am a huge fan of anime. My weeb beginnings can be traced back to my elementary school days when Pokémon was released on Gameboy and the card game was originally taking the world by craze. Shortly after, I also discovered Yu-Gi-Oh and Dragonball Z. Dragonball Z was life changing. I am still a huge fan to this day. Since then I have also discovered many other anime series that I enjoy. In honor of that, I would like to share my top ten favorite anime intro songs! I am limiting it to one per franchise and limiting it to the original Japanese intro song. That means no “Rock the Dragon” from the English version of Dragonball Z, even though I love it so much. It also rules out the Pokémon theme song that a lot of us know and love and the iconic “It’s Time to Duel” from Yu-Gi-Oh.
Honorable Mention. – Attack on Titan – Feuerroter Pfeil und Bogen by Linked Horizon
I love how this song starts out. It dives hard into progressive metal and then switches gears to a more alternative sound once it gets going. It keeps shifting between the two throughout but is not jarring. I have not watched this anime but from what I know of it, I think the song fits the content. The vocalist does a great job of providing clean vocals and inspires us to want to join the war against the titans.
Honorable Mention. – Samurai 7 – Mangekyo Unlimited by Nanase Aikawa
This is a beautiful song that I feel captures the heart of the series. It is more of a pop/rock ballad. This is the first song on the list that is from an anime that I have actually watched and really enjoyed.
I felt that the albums above deserved a mention even though it did not make the official list. Without further ado, I present the top ten favorite anime songs!
10. Demon Slayer – Gurenge by LiSA
This song has a haunting beginning that shifts into hard rock. I felt the song fit the imagery of the opening very well. This is another anime that I have not watched yet. The vocals are amazing and the guitar riffs and beat of the drums flow perfectly. I love the sound of the vocals and plan on checking out more from the artist.
9. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Inner Universe by Yoko Kanno and Origa
I feel like this song starts out almost operatic and then really hits its stride about halfway through. It is hauntingly beautiful and I feel captures the philosophical nature that has always drawn me to the anime. The drumming sound the beginning is almost distracting, but it actually does a great job of leading you into the rest of the song and sets the beat.
8. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – Again by Yui
This is another song with a haunting melody and blends a slow buildup with an explosive crescendo. I have watched the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime but have not watched brotherhood yet. When the tempo picks up you want to imagine yourself as an alchemist joining the Elric brothers on their journey.
7. Darker than Black – Howling by Abingdon Boys School
This is a heavy alt-rock track that starts out swinging heavy and continues to kick ass throughout. This is another anime that I have not seen but it is high up on my to-watch list. The guitar riff melts your face off. It’s time to go, “Howling in the shadows!”
6. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing – Just Communication by Two-Mix
This entry is primarily a pop song, but a damn catchy one. Good luck getting it out of your head. The sound of the mechs fighting I think adds to the song and helps it fit the tone of the show better. After all, part of how the mechs and the pilots communicate it by fighting one another.
5. Cowboy Bebop – Tank! by The Seatbelts
“3…2…1…Let’s jam!” This entry has a little bit of everything. Rock, jazz, pop, etc. The Seatbelts is led by Yoko Kanno who is also responsible for the previous entry Inner Universe from Ghost in the Shell. The Seatbelts was assembled by Yoko Kanno in order to perform the soundtrack for Cowboy Bebop. The show takes it’s soundtrack seriously. There is not a more fitting song that could have been the intro. Tsuneo Imahori is responsible for the guitar throughout. Spoiler alert, it is not his only entry on the list either.
Here is another virtual session of the full length version that I feel is worth a watch.
4. Outlaw Star – Through the Night by Masahiko Arimachi
Outlaw Star is one of my favorite anime of all time. I always loved hearing the intro because I knew I was about to travel through space with the crew of the Outlaw Star. This intro fits the show perfectly. The show and the intro have a fast pacing but not fast enough to detract from the content.
3. Trigun – H.T. by Tsuneo Imahori
This is the second entry to feature Tsuneo Imahori. This time he is without the rest of The Seatbelts. Trigun is another one of my favorite anime of all time. The tone shifts match up with the tone shifts of the scenes in the intro, and the show itself. I feel this is another riff that begs to try to melt your face off.
2. Bubblegum Crisis – Konya wa Hurricane (There’s a Hurricane Tonight) by Kinuko Ohmori
This entry shocked me the most. It is from an anime that I have never seen, but cannot wait to check out once I find the means to do so. The intro is beyond amazing and is one of the most 80’s things I have ever seen or heard. When doing research for this list, this song came in like a hurricane and found itself earning the second slot.
Here is a live action version.
1. Neon Genesis Evangelion – A Cruel Angel’s Thesis by Yoko Takahashi
This entry probably comes as no surprise to those that are fans of anime. What might be more surprising, is that it comes from anime that I have never seen. I am pretty familiar with what the anime is about though. I do look forward to watching it and will probably end up watching the subbed version on Netflix. Anyways, the song is fantastic and I believe fits perfectly. Yoko’s voice is beautiful. The way the song builds up is amazing.
Here is another live version that I feel is worth a watch.
I am not the first one, nor the last that will ever make an anime intro list. As more anime gets released, there are also more contenders. However, some of the songs on this list have already withstood the test of time. If you are interested in checking out another list, here is a link to Comic Book Realm. Below is the video for Watchmojo’s list.
What are your favorite anime intro songs?
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
P.S. Part of why I have not yet watched Neon Genesis Evangelion is because of the previous lack of availability and after hearing the outcry of fans after the Netflix release. After doing some research, in particular the articles listed below, I have decided that it will be at least worth watching the subbed version in the near future. Like Shinji, it is time for me to get in the robot.
August 9, 2020
Top Ten Favorite Albums Of The Last Decade
Greetings friends,
Music has become a large part of my life ever since I discovered Linkin Park back in the year 2000. Before that, I had some CD’s but my music interest was not that great. Like a lot of people, I had Britney Spears …Baby One More Time and Shaggy’s Hot Shot. Both of which I promptly got rid of after discovering Linkin Park and having my music taste changed forever. The video for Crawling sucked me in and I went out and bought Hybrid Theory as quickly as I could.
This led to an alternative rock/nu-metal/classic rock phase of my life. I still like a lot of bands I discovered in that phase, but nowadays I gravitate towards heavy and progressive metal. The metal phase of my life begins with the purchase of Iced Earth’s The Blessed and the Damned. The song Question of Heaven which was originally released on The Dark Saga rattled my soul and continues to be one of my favorite songs to date. If you have not heard it, I encourage you to go check it out.
The albums on this list had to have been released in North America between August 2010 and August 2020. I originally started this post two years ago and lost it. I recently found it and of course had to make some changes so that it would be up to date. These are also albums that I personally enjoy and from genres that I normally listen to (if you looking for a collection of rap or country albums you will be disappointed). I limited each artist to one album so that certain bands would not populate the entire list (stares intently at Sabaton).
Honorable Mention. The Night Flight Orchestra – Skyline Whispers (2015)
My favorite tracks off this album are I Ain’t Old, I Ain’t Young, Living for the Nighttime, Roads Less Traveled, and Stiletto. It is a groovy album that invokes nostalgic feelings of the 80’s.
Honorable Mention. Evergrey – The Atlantic (2019)
My favorite tracks off this album are A Silent Arc, Weightless, A Secret Atlantis, and End of Silence. Evergrey tends to always release a solid album. My favorite albums of theirs are from before 2010, but this is still a great album to check out.
I felt that the albums above deserved a mention even though it did not make the official list. Without further ado, I present the top ten albums of the past decade!
10. Amaranthe – Amaranthe (2011)
My favorite tracks off this album are Amaranthine, 1,000,000 Lightyears, Enter the Maze, Call Out My Name, and Serendipity. Elize Ryd is absolutely beautiful. There are quite a few female led metal bands but Elize still stands out above some of the others in my opinion. I love the alternating female/male vocals. They do a fantastic job of incorporating both even though they are not the best at it.
9. Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)
My favorite tracks off this album are Weak Fantasy, Élan, Edema Ruh, and The Greatest Show on Earth. This is the first Nightwish album with singer Floor Jansen. She is an amazing vocalist that I have had the opportunity to meet when she was touring with Revamp. She is a very nice and down-to-earth person.
Nightwish overall is probably my favorite band of all time. They made it on this list but this album still does not touch Dark Passion Play which I feel is their magnum opus. I absolutely love that they decided to add Floor to their lineup and she can more than adequately handle the old songs that came before her as well. The concept for Endless Forms Most Beautiful is a great one that explores scientific themes.
8. Ayreon – The Theory of Everything (2013)
My favorite tracks off this album are The Prodigy’s World, Diagnosis, Quid Pro Quo, and Mirror of Dreams. This album features Tommy Karevik of Kamelot, Marco Hietala of Nightwish, and Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil. This is a concept album that depicts mental science and mental illness. I would listen to this album on repeat while studying algebra. Believe it or not, it helped. Some of the songs about solving equations would indeed help me solve equations.
7. Amorphis – Queen of Time (2018)
My favorite tracks off this album are The Bee, The Golden Elk, Amongst Stars, As Mountains Crumble, and Brother & Sister. I feel like this is one of more unique album releases in the past five years. I am not the biggest fan of bands that have a growling vocal element but Amorphis blends growls and clean vocals well. Tomi Joutsen has a voice that stands out. Good luck getting The Golden Elk out of your head after listening to it.
6. Delain – We Are the Others (2012)
My favorite tracks off this album are We Are the Others, Generation Me, Are You Done with Me, Get the Devil Out of Me, and Not Enough. We Are the Others is inspired by a case where a young woman named Sophie Lancaster was brutally beaten to death in a senseless act of violence just because her appearance was gothic. I’ve been a victim of bullying in the past and feel like We Are the Others is an anthem for those who feel like they are outcast and a rallying cry to unite together in our uniqueness and sameness alike.
5. Gloryhammer – Tales from the Kingdom of Fife (2013)
My favorite tracks off this album are Angus McFife, Quest for the Hammer of Glory, Magic Dragon, Silent Tears of Frozen Princess, and Hail to Crail. Imagine the bard in your D&D group being a member of a symphonic power metal band and you get the gist of Gloryhammer.
4. Blind Guardian – At the Edge of Time (2010)
My favorite tracks off this album are Wheel of Time, Curse My Name, Road of No Release, and Sacred Worlds. The Wheel of Time is a book series by Robert Jordan and the inspiration for my favorite song on the album. The song is a masterpiece throughout. The entire album is a solid album and enough to earn it the 4th spot on this list. Blind Guardian has a history of writing songs that are inspired by works of literature (see my old blog post here). One day I will read The Wheel of Time books, I swear.
3. Lacuna Coil – Dark Adrenaline (2012)
My favorite tracks off this album are End of Time, Trip the Darkness, Kill the Light, I Don’t Believe in Tomorrow, and Losing My Religion. This is Cristina Scabbia’s second entry on this list. She has a distinctive and fantastic voice. I love the alternating female/male vocals that Lacuna Coil bring to the table as well. End of Time is my favorite track and has a haunting beginning that eases itself into a catchy chorus. Lyrically it is one my favorite songs that I have talked about so far.
In case you wondering, Losing My Religion is an R.E.M. cover. I believe that Lacuna Coil is able to capture the heart of song and have managed a worthwhile tribute.
2. Sabaton – The Great War (2019)
My favorite tracks off this album are Fields of Verdun, 82nd All the Way, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, and Great War. I am not sure if it is possible for Sabaton to release a bad album. This album almost lost out to Carolus Rex but The Great War ultimately took the lead. Sabaton tends to do concept albums and this is an album that was inspired by the events of World War I. Sabaton has a way of taking serious content and spinning out masterpieces of metal. You will have songs of war stuck in your head for days after listening. Hopefully the work they have done will help future generations remember the atrocities of war so that we do not repeat them. Sabaton has won an award from the state of Michigan for using their medium to tell the stories of history. I can honestly say that I know more about the history of wars across the globe thanks to them. Their lyrics page is fantastic. It goes into the background of every song.
This album I felt was also unique in that there were other bands that released two cover songs from the album before this album was even released. I like the original version of 82nd All the Way, but I have to say I actually like Amaranthe’s cover of it better.
1. Powerwolf – Blessed & Possessed (2015)
My favorite tracks off this album are Dead Until Dark, Armata Strigoi, Let There Be Night, and Higher Than Heaven. This album is a beast to behold throughout its entirety. Powerwolf is one of the best discoveries I have made in the last decade and they have more than earned the top spot on this list. Some tracks are haunting, others are brutal, and all are amazing. Their albums tend to carry themes about werewolves, vampires, and religion.
Blessed & Possessed was released with a bonus disc called Metallum Nostrum that contains cover songs that the band members selected to cover. My favorite covers off that disc are Edge of Thorns originally by Savatage, Out in the Fields originally by Gary Moore, Shot in the Dark originally by Ozzy Osbourne, and The Evil That Men Do originally by Iron Maiden.
Below is a list of my most anticipated albums for the rest of 2020!
Amaranthe – Manifest
Ayreon – Transitus
Sevendust – Blood & Stone
Assemblage 23 – Mourn
A special thank you to Wikipedia, Songfacts, and Dark Lyrics for the research assistance.
What were your favorite albums of the last decade?
What albums are you looking forward to being released in the near future?
Also, if you would like to listen to a compilation of some of the tracks listed here on Spotify, please check out my Best of Top Ten Albums of the Decade playlist:
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
June 22, 2020
Superman Smashes the Klan Review
Greetings friends,
Superman Smashes the Klan written by Gene Luen Yang and drawn by Gurihiru is a timely addition to the Superman catalogue. The art style is superb and reminiscent of manga. The story holds your attention throughout. The story is full of growth and acceptance which is in stark contrast to the beliefs of the antagonists that go by the name of The Klan of the Fiery Cross (KOTFC) which are based on the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). I love how the story depicts the acceptance of identity of the protagonist and Superman.
Due to the timely nature of the content I wanted to take the time for a more in-depth review than normal. Suffice to say, a spoiler alert will be in effect from here on out.
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The story opens with Superman taking a Nazi to task. Although the KKK and Nazi’s are two separate groups, they do share some similar ideologies and both empathize furthering their idea of bigotry.
The heart of the story revolves around the lives of a Chinese family that moves to Metropolis and is targeted by the KOTFC. It is up to the family, their friends, and Superman to thwart the attempts to scare the family into fleeing Metropolis. The acts of hatred are led by a Grand Scorpion that happens to be the uncle of a kid who is the same age as the kids from the Chinese family that moves into town. The Grand Scorpion states the KOTFC’s label of being hateful bigots is just lies perpetuated by the media. It makes me think of the fake news label that is perpetuated today.
The main protagonist is the daughter of the Chinese family, Roberta Lee. She stands up to the Klansmen and has to navigate through the unfortunate presence of systemic racism. The story focuses on Roberta’s coming of age in a world that is unsafe and highlights her struggle to accept her identity in a world where it is not accepted freely. Roberta calls the Klansmen bigots in bedsheets which is a criticism that I love. Superman calls them the same thing and adds goons to the mix.
Superman tosses one of the Klansmen up into a tree, a move that I felt was symbolic of taking out the trash.
One of my favorite scenes in the comic is where the Klansmen believe that together they can take down Superman. Superman responds with a simple, “Doubt it.” Much like Roberta, Superman struggles with accepting his identity as an outsider. Still he believes in his abilities enough to know that he can handle dealing with the KOTFC. Superman stands tall as a symbol of hope against the symbol of hate.
Once Superman has comes to terms with accepting his identity he shows up for the final confrontation with the Grand Scorpion with some new abilities. Superman had been holding back in order to try to fit in better with society. The actions of the KOTFC push Superman to the point of not holding back in order to overthrow their hatred.
I live in Central Indiana where the KKK has been active as recently as 2019. The Klan is not as prominent as they once were but it was still disappointing to find out that they are still around at all.
Twitter friendly video from when we chased the KKK the fuck out of Madison, Indiana today.
cc: @4th_march @AntiFashGordon @MW_Unrest @IGD_News @antifa_ne pic.twitter.com/P6HDtCJhjl
— Gamms for NY27
April 12, 2020
Happy Easter! Free Goodies!
Kenpachi after looking everywhere for the Easter bunny…
Greetings friends,
I would like to take to time to wish everyone a happy Easter! These are currently unprecedented times we are living in and I hope that everyone is safe or at least doing everything to be as safe as possible. In order to celebrate the holiday and to encourage social distancing (along with giving those stuck in quarantine something to do) I am making all of my books free on the Kindle today through Thursday April, 16th. There is no need to hunt eggs or dig through any baskets, I have done the searching for you, just click on the book cover images below and download.
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A soul was taken before its time. The Grim Reaper is tasked with retrieving the soul from Hell. Lucifer refuses to play nice and give the soul back. The Grim Reaper is forced to suit up for battle and traverse the levels of Hell in order to free the soul from Lucifer’s hold. Armed with his strength, his scythe, and his wit he must take on the legions of Hell. If he fails, he must face the wrath of God.
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Vampires plague the streets of Indianapolis, Indiana. The city is a hub for the supernatural. The majority of humans unknowingly live amongst vampires, wizards, witches, and various forms of otherworldly creatures. There is a struggle in the paradigm of power between the forces of good and evil. The Legion of Light have been at war with the Order of Darkness since the beginning of time. The recent gathering of magic is evident on both sides. Vangetsu is a vampire that has been hunting the vampire that turned him for over two millennia. Now, the time has come for their paths to cross and the blood feud to come to a head. He is captured by the Legion of Light and turned into an agent to fight against the evil within the city. Will Vangetsu save the city and enact his revenge against his maker, or will he die trying?
My journey in writing began in the year 2005. This book compiles all of the poetry since that journey began until the day this book was published. Inside, you will find an undiluted look into the psyche of my mind. Poems fueled by frustration, love, nature, human-nature, and general interests. I can tell you that some poems will be better than others but all were born from a little piece of my soul. An artist does not start out painting masterpieces but an artist’s style can sometimes be seen in both their finger paintings and masterpieces alike. With words as my paintbrush and my heart as my guide I bare this book, my soul, for all to gaze upon. Do not be afraid to immerse yourself in the un-tempered chasm and allow your thoughts to wander in between the lines themselves.
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If you like the book(s), please consider leaving a review on Goodreads.
Please feel free to leave me a comment below!
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
October 28, 2019
Free Treats!
Greetings friends,
There are no tricks, only treats!
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Kenpachi “Did somebody say treats?!”
This is a short announcement post. Starting today and running through Halloween I am happy to report that Grim Bureaucracy and Bad Blood Rising will be available for free on the Amazon Kindle.
A soul was taken before its time. The Grim Reaper is tasked with retrieving the soul from Hell. Lucifer refuses to play nice and give the soul back. The Grim Reaper is forced to suit up for battle and traverse the levels of Hell in order to free the soul from Lucifer’s hold. Armed with his strength, his scythe, and his wit he must take on the legions of Hell. If he fails, he must face the wrath of God.
Vampires plague the streets of Indianapolis, Indiana. The city is a hub for the supernatural. The majority of humans unknowingly live amongst vampires, wizards, witches, and various forms of otherworldly creatures. There is a struggle in the paradigm of power between the forces of good and evil. The Legion of Light have been at war with the Order of Darkness since the beginning of time. The recent gathering of magic is evident on both sides. Vangetsu is a vampire that has been hunting the vampire that turned him for over two millennia. Now, the time has come for their paths to cross and the blood feud to come to a head. He is captured by the Legion of Light and turned into an agent to fight against the evil within the city. Will Vangetsu save the city and enact his revenge against his maker, or will he die trying?
If you like the book(s), please consider leaving a review on Goodreads. I enjoy receiving treats too!
I hope to be able to post more regularly from now on, but it is a struggle with working full time and going to school part time. I appreciate your patience and understanding and thank you all for being such great fans whether you are new to the page or have been following from day one.
Please feel free to leave me a comment below!
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
May 10, 2018
Social Influence Film Analysis of They Live (1988)
Greetings friends,
An extra credit assignment in my social psychology class was to do a film analysis of any movie of our choosing on any topic that was studied in class. I chose to analyze the role of social influence in They Live by released in 1988. It is one of my favorite films of all time.
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They Live was inspired by the short story ‘Eight O’ Clock in the Morning’ written by Ray Nelson and first published in the November 1963 issue of ‘The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction’.
The short story can also be found in the short story compilation book ‘Reel Future’.
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The short story was also adapted into comic form and published as ‘Nada’ in the sixth issue of the anthology comic ‘Alien Encounters’. The ending of the comic is slightly different than the ending of the short story. Both end on an impactful note but the comic has more of a fade.
They Live is about a drifter named John Nada that goes to Los Angeles to look for work. He finds work at a construction site but also ends up finding much more. The ruling class are revealed to be aliens in disguise that actually look like a zombified version of humanity in their natural state. Billboards, products, and advertisements are stripped down to reveal words such as obey, consume, and conform.
There are two main cases of social influence prevalent in this film. The relationship between John and Frank and the relationship between humanity and the aliens. Frank has a wife and kids and just wants to work and keep living as he is. John does not accept this, he believes that it is important for Frank and the rest of the world to know about the existence of the aliens. Frank tries to plead his case by saying, “I’ve walked a white line my entire life, I’m not about to screw that up.” to which John replies, “White line’s in the middle of the road, that’s the worst place to drive.” Frank tries to walk away but John is able to persuade him and they both work together to achieve a common goal of getting rid of the aliens. The aliens rely on common principals of social influence in order to keep most of humanity oppressed. There are some humans that the aliens have converted over to their cause. When someone finds out about the truth, they are usually hunted down and eliminated. John decides to return this violence with violence and at one point enters an establishment and says iconically, “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass… and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
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John fights Frank in an alleyway and establishes his authority over him. Afterwards, he forces him to put on a pair of sunglasses in order to see what he sees. The lower class is comprised of humans and the higher class is comprised of aliens and a group of selected humans. The aliens have inserted themselves into positions of authority. Scarcity plays a major role in getting the lower class to comply with the higher class. The aliens control politics, law enforcement, and the media. The resistance is able to form a large cohesive in-group with the common goal of eradicating the aliens. However, some aliens are able to provide humans extrinsic rewards such as a higher social status or large sums of money in order to persuade them to their cause. These humans are more susceptible to persuasion due to their current status and pressure to conform to the social norm which is currently controlled by the ruling class. This also feeds into humanities need to affiliate with others. The resistance plays the role of nonconformity in a world where conformity is expected. Failure to conform could result in voiding your life. Since the aliens are in disguise, humanity blindly complies with the orders of the ruling class to obey. Eventually the curtains are drawn back and the aliens are revealed as they truly are. In my opinion, it is implied that humanity bands together as an in-group and overthrows the aliens that had subdued them for so long.
Have you seen They Live? If so, what are your thoughts on the film?
Thank you,
Jake Jeffries
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