In the afterlife, it is the Judgment Bureau’s job to make sure every death is accounted for, organized, and filed away. But sometimes deaths are sudden, abnormal, and tricky. It’s Tsuzuki Asato’s job to find out why. The problem is, all shinigami, even ones like himself who’ve had this job for seventy years, must work in pairs. And with his quirky personality and knack for getting into trouble, he can’t manage to hang onto a partner long enough to make one stick, until Kurosaki Hisoka—a sixteen year old boy looking for information on his murder—comes along. Together they stumble across evil secrets and countless dangers, all of which leading to one man: Kazutaka Muraki.
Review:
First and foremost, it must be mentioned that this anime easily qualifies as Retro, the animation style standard of the late nineties, a little shaky and occasionally reminiscing of Speed Racer in frozen facial expression or disjointed limb movement. But that aside, there are enough good qualities within this anime that it would be worth recommending, though only to a mature audience with an open mind. Objectionable content swarms Descendants of Darkness, from themes like rape and murder to an astounding amount of visual violence. But, strangely enough, it only adds to the atmosphere, making the plot seem heavier and more concrete, when there IS plot, at least. Some transitions from arc to arc are lost and the sudden attempt to create back story for Tsuzuki in the final arc is just disappointing, but the scenes it manages to to do right, it does really, really right.
While the music borders on forgettable at times, it actually manages to add a decent amount of tension or relief for many scenes, staying simple and most likely synth-composed, but still offering an added emotional feel for various deaths throughout the series. The relationships between the characters span quite a range, from barely there at all—which makes their sudden desperate need to protect one another hard to believe—to very present and heartwarming, growing as the characters grow. Hisoka and Tsuzuki go from hating each other to dealing with each other to caring about each other and maybe even loving each other, making the ridiculously slapped together ending almost bearable. In the end, I can’t see this being worth more than a 3/5, but for a thirteen episode series, it doesn’t do too poorly for itself. Worth a watch on many levels. Beware of some yaoi.
Putting the “ass” back in “Procrastination”. If you misspell “procrastination” with an extra ‘s’. Y’know … ’cause otherwise it wouldn’t make sense … not that … oh forget it.
Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari, or Saint Knight Story in an Alternate World (or The Tale of the Holy Machine Wielder from Another World), is a 13-episode series about Masaki Kenshi. I honestly couldn’t come up with a decent summary, so I instead went to Wiki. Here:
“Kenshi Masaki is a 15 year-old boy that unwillingly traveled from his home on Earth to the alternate world of Geminar. In Geminar, the countries wage wars using Seikijin, humanoid weapons that were originally discovered within ancient ruins. After being tricked by a mysterious organization into participating in an attempt to assassinate Lashara Earth XXVIII, the young princess of the Streya Empire, he ends up captured after he chooses not to kill her. When Lashara hears the truth, she decides to help.
Disguised as her servant, Kenshi moves with her to the Holy Land, a virtually impregnable fortress that serves as an academy to train Seikijin pilots. With his kindness, tenacity, and skills that vary from cooking to advanced techniques of survival, Kenshi eventually becomes a celebrity in the academy, becoming the object of affection of many female students and making some of the male students envious. However, the same organization who deceived Kenshi is secretly working inside the academy, and a widescale conflict is about to begin”
I think I missed something before Isekai, because the Wiki article refers to a lot of people who never once appeared in the anime. As I mentioned, there are 13 episodes, and each episode is 45 minutes in length (including OP, ED and teaser). Unfortunately, I would say that almost half of the show’s air time is spent with near pointless filler. I suppose it’s supposed to be character development and give the viewer a sense of the world, but personally I found some of it to be annoying. There were no beach episodes, but there was a bath house episode.
However, despite all that I haven’t said, Masaki Kenshi is damn near a god. He can go unarmed, toe-to-toe, with multiple armed opponents and beat them all. He can outfight a sword master with a blade, he’s athletic beyond normal and knows what to look for when foraging. He’s also a god in a Seikijin cockpit, held back only by the limits of the machine itself.
The machines are quite interesting: they start out as skeletons surrounded by an energy bubble. When a pilot (normally female since males with piloting abilities are extremely rare) enters the bubble to activate the Seikijin, it takes on an armoured form unique to each pilot. I’m talking colour schemes and all the little extras like pauldron spikes or a fluffly tail, elbow blades, you name it. Thus each Seikijin can be identified almost immediately since no two are alike when piloted.
Despite all the uniqueness to the mechs, all of the characters are surprised when a white Seikijin and a black Seikijin appear on the scene. Turns out they are portents of things to come, and in this case it could be the apocalypse. It’s interesting to hear that particular story explained, but by that time there isn’t a lot of screen-time left, and what should be an epic fight is merely a great fight.
Of course, watching Kenshi fight inside or outside of cockpit is always rewarding. At one point, Kenshi forms a sword out of a stone relic and uses it to fight the big bad.
Normally I don’t watch new anime. I rely a lot upon the advice of friends and podcasts. Isekai is a bit special in the fact that I decided to watch it based solely on a fan-made Isekai trailer.
Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari joins Wolf’s Rain and Outlaw Star in the category of shows I started watching due to YouTube.
I give this show 3.5 Seikishi of Light out of 5. Less “look at everyone fall for the protagonist” and more “look at the protagonist fight in his white Seikijin” would have been better. I will say that despite everyone liking Kenshi, he does deserve most of the attention everyone gives him. He is no wuss, boy, NO WUSS!
One rather ordinary, if not completely dull, school day, Light Yagami—a good looking, academically excelling high school student—stumbles across a notebook that seems to have fallen out of the sky. Written across the top are the words Death Note, and inside, a list of rules to follow in order to kill a person, the most basic being to simply write their name inside. After some deliberation, Light decides to use this “gift” to clean out the filth and disappointment from humanity and become the god of a new world. Of course, for every world re-ordering plan, there are those determined to fight against it.
Review:
Coming from the manga to the anime, I can say that this is one of the most direct, accurate and well done adaptations I’ve ever seen, scenes literally replicated a good 80% of the time. The most impressive aspect of the anime itself, however, can be found in moments that were created solely for the show, moments that hold either artistic influence or thematic impact. For example, the first instance of the anime shifting away from the manga offers an unseen development for Light and L—listening to the “bells chime” as they stand on the roof in the rain—as well as plays with practically literal religious symbolism—L washing Lights feet. It adds a certain amount of abstract creativity and difference that every anime adaptation can use, especially when coming from a manga that was already so plot sound and character driven.
Both the animation and the music manage to add a touch of extra flare, the art staying true to the manga’s crisp and realistic style while the music manages to embody the dark and violent atmosphere without delving too much into the realm of screaming heavy metal. It’s not an impressive orchestra score by any means, and they do have a few instances of screamo, but it handles itself well and makes an impact when necessary.
Probably the most drastic change in the transition from manga to anime was the ending. Certain moments and aspects were kept similar enough, but overall, it was a brazen move that for many, including myself, wasn’t nearly as satisfying, and possibly even a little too much. It’s easy to understand why the changes were made—an attempt to offer one last bout of drama—but it was unnecessary and seemed almost out of place after so much in depth, detail oriented, fact to fact thinking. However, despite this slight disappointment, Death Note is probably the most brilliantly done mystery/thriller anime I can recommend. The twists and turns are beyond thought out, and the characters make each moment real and powerful. If it weren’t for that ending, and some creative license I didn’t agree with, I’d be giving it more than a 4/5.
Tanaka Yukio is your average 14 year old boy, and he knows it. Everything about his life is average from school to home and back, and it’s because of this that he begins to yearn for something more, a purpose and dream to follow. That’s when he meets Ryuusuke, and all at once his life starts to change. He starts learning how to play guitar, winds up in Ryuusuke’s band, learns what it means to strive for something, desire it more than anything else in the world. And that’s not even counting what Ryuusuke’s sister Maho brings to the table.
Review:
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad is a masterpiece, hands down. Not only does it take something as simple and powerful as music and break it down in a way that’s almost commendable, but it follows the journey of someone everyone can relate to, a normal, everyday someone experiencing that power for the first time. Music can be a difficult thing to express well in anime, easily brushed off on the one hand or taken too seriously and leaving the viewer feeling intimidated on the other. BECK manages to show the passion in both musician and music while still staying connected to the very real, very present theme that it takes more than just that passion to make it big. It takes hard work and more than your fair share of failures. The characters all learn it in their own way, and grow from it in a way that’s very genuine and awe inspiring to behold. And while the animation style is a little old looking and can be hard to get used to at first, it is easily ignored for that very reason. The characters make themselves real, unusual animation style or not; you love them because of who they are, not the way they’re drawn.
But, as expected, the beauty is in the music, both audibly and visually, the melody and rhythms getting under your skin while each note or guitar riff is intricately drawn out well enough that it looks almost like you’re really watching it being played. Whether you’re subbed or dubbed, the music is bad ass and powerful, pumped full of a certain rock and roll something that makes you want to listen to it all on repeat for days. And even after, it lingers. Though, for reference, if you ARE watching it subbed, much of the music is in Engrish, so be prepared. And the dub for BECK is fantastically done, but it’s only fair to mention that much of what makes this anime great is lost in communication. Which is ironic considering that one of the main themes of BECK is just that: miscommunication/language barriers and how music can overcome it.
This anime is one of the best, possibly THE best in my opinion. Or at the very least, my favorite. It handles delicate teenage issues with a realistically harsh care while still managing to make what could have been a very dry slice of life continuously enthralling, inspiring, and amusing. The characters become friends you can learn from and relate to, while the situations become ones you root for and cry for. All and all, BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad is worth no less than a 5/5.
Set in 1930’s New York, Baccano! follows various characters through a decade or so of six degrees of separation, showing their own lives as well as those of the people they come in contact with. The story can be broken down into many different plot lines, from the general inner workings of the city, Mafia, bootlegger and civilian alike, to the dangerous occurrences aboard the Transcontinental Flying Pussyfoot, to the adventures of many an immortal introduced throughout the series. All fates intertwine, each character’s fate practically in the hands of the stranger in the next car.
Review:
Practically a work of art, Baccano! manages to pull of something only ever rarely done well: time jumping in a coherent and entertaining manner. Though it still may need to be watched a few times to truly comprehend and appreciate the little nuances of theatrical time travel, it is a re-watching that would be both willing and utterly well worth it. The plot manages to stay practically 100% sound throughout its leap from year to year, answering questions at the same time that new ones are asked, coming full circle and tying up any loose ends in the final episodes. It’s a pleasure to follow and a treat to watch, dubbed OR subbed—thought the dub does make use of some brilliantly acted 1930’s New York accents that I would recommend taking the time to listen to. Each and every character is addicting in their own right, from the lovably eccentric pair of robbers to the criminally insane acrobatic assassin with the god complex. It’s as though everyone has their own life that begs delving into more fully, their quirks making them human as their deaths make them immortal.
And to match their effortlessly woven personalities, the animation style is fantastic to behold, suiting the style perfectly. It’s easy to watch, the violence maintaining a quality of surrealism that makes it entertaining rather than uncomfortable, which is good because there’s quite a bit of it. Even the smallest detail is held in artistic importance, it seems, every effort put into making sure this adaptation is well presented. And it most certainly is.
Even the music manages to stick with the 1930’s atmosphere, embracing the sounds of smooth jazz and speak easy blues that’s just a pleasure to listen to, keeping the viewer locked in their world as it drifts along in the background. Everything about this anime is brilliant. Baccano! is a timeless story that hits on various themes and emotions that can easily be forgotten in a standard anime, and were it not for the very few questions that went unanswered, I would have given it the 5/5 my heart says it deserves. But, as a fair critic, it still deserves no less than a 4.5/5, everything else easily making up for its minor, minor blemishes.
Alternate Titles: Genesis of Aquarion, 創聖のアクエリオン (Japanese)
Original Japanese Release Date: 2005-04-04
Episode Length/Run-time: 26 Episodes
Summary:
Humanity suddenly finds itself battling a dangerous foe called the “Snow Angels”—mystical beings that, for the last twelve thousand years, have lied dormant—who are kidnapping earth’s populace to drain their “prana” or vital energy. Those with certain abilities have banded together to fight using “vector machines,” robotic weapons that can merge as one to create the ultimate machine, “Aquarion.” The story mainly follows a teenager named Apollo who shows unbridled and untapped power, leading many to believe he is the reincarnation of Apolonius, a fallen angel who, during the last war, fought against his own kind to protect humanity.
Review:
A lot about this anime was handled very well. It maintained a decent balance between humor and seriousness while still holding true to a plot that could have been either completely overplayed or disappointingly under developed. The characters were likable and relatable, their back stories—of those who received them— seemed thought out and generally well placed within the time frame. A certain amount of filler was present, but not enough to take away from the plot, even the filler holding a semblance of progress in and of itself. All and all, it moved fluidly and with enough action and presence that moments of boredom were a rarity. The animation style was gorgeous to behold. Which makes sense considering that it came from many of the same brilliant animators that did Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Outside of the slightly CGI altered “vector machine” fight scenes, the animation itself was detailed and crisp, giving life to the well thought out character designs. And the music is equally as breathtaking, composed by the untouchable Yoko Kanno, her ability to mold to any style adding a touch of uniqueness and depth to each moment. While it felt as though there could have been more details elaborated upon here and there, Aquarion did a good job of making sure all the big questions were hit upon and the main plot accomplished. It did well for itself to end where it did, the anime settling into the finale rather than running head first or tripping accidentally into it. From beginning to end, flaws and all, it was a joy to watch and deserves a 4.5/5.
One day, shortly after losing his sister to suicide, Satsuki Kakera finds himself transported into a terrifying and unnatural world later called the “Red Night.” Together with his friend Minase Yuka, they find others from their high school and vow to discover the secret of the Red Night and why they were forced into it. Magical powers, dark secrets and reluctant heroes are revealed in their desperate journey for escape.
Review:
This anime left quite a bit to be desired, the plot development starting off slowly only to grow slightly before slamming to a sudden and, like I said, underdeveloped end. Back stories found little opportunity to be revealed, and when they were, it felt forced or rushed, all attempts at characterization belittled in the effort. The characters themselves, outside of that, are average at best, from the squeaky voiced, first sort-of and then completely annoying moe love interest, the boy who tries too hard to be the hero and is completely oblivious to the love interest’s plight, and the girl with all the power but the inability to love… until HE comes along, to the badass rule breaking hot guy and the girl who switches personalities every time she takes off her glasses. Verbatum. And that was just the protagonists.
The animation style is decent, standard for its genre, and the fight scenes, as few as there turned out to be, weren’t poorly done, but in the overall scheme of things, it did little to help its score. While on the other hand, the music was apparently mediocre enough that it was forgettable. Nothing much can be said about 11 Eyes outside of the fact that it held some interest. I didn’t find myself waiting for it every week, but when it came down to it, I wasn’t bored or dying to claw my eyes out, just wishing for a little more of this or a whole lot more than that. As for the ending, like the rest of the anime, it left more to be desired than I’d hoped. But it WAS an ending, unlike some anime are cursed with, so for that at least, I applaud it, letting it slip into the 2.5/5 range.
Due to the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami that recently hit Japan (described here) the A.A.A. is reaching out to their greater anime community to stand together and support Japan. We are collecting money until the end of the month (March 31st) which will be donated to a charity of your choosing. Our goal is to collect information and post it here for you so that way we all can make an informed decision of where the money will do the most good. This post will be updated as time goes on and the efforts of the charities progresses. The key here is to do the most good.
Discuss charity selection on our forums or in the comments below.
“Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.” (read more)
How much money do the people who need it get?
An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. (read more)
What are they doing in Japan Now?
“On Sunday, the American Red Cross will deploy a disaster management expert from its Washington, DC headquarters to Japan for a week-long mission. She will serve on a seven-person, international team focused on providing high-level support and advice to the Japanese Red Cross, which continues to lead the local earthquake and tsunami response.
To date, the Red Cross has not received any requests for blood from the Japanese Red Cross, the Japanese government or the United States State Department.
In the first 24 hours, the Japanese Red Cross dispatched 62 response teams. These medical relief teams – made up of about 400 doctors, nurses and support staff – are already providing assistance in affected areas through mobile medical clinics, as well as assessing the damage and needs of the communities affected.” (read more)
Do they offer a way to donate specifically to Tsunami Relief? – Yes
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971.
Today, MSF provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. MSF reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, to challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to advocate for improved medical treatments and protocols. (read more)
How much money do the people who need it get?
“MSF strives to operate efficiently and to minimize fundraising and administrative costs. Between 1995 and 2009, MSF-USA allocated more than 85 percent of its expenditures to MSF’s social mission–programs and public education activities. Maintaining this standard is a high priority for us.” (read more)
A simple way to put this is a little more than 0.85 cents of every dollar goes to the programs Doctors Without Boarders engages in.
What are they doing in Japan now?
“The Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) team sent to the area devastated by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in northeast Japan continues to assist in the massive government-led relief effort. The team has expanded to 10 people working in Miyagi Prefecture, and additional personnel will head towards the area on Monday.
“On Sunday, we conducted mobile clinics and assessments in two evacuation centers,” said Mikiko Dotsu, the coordinator of the MSF team. “It appears that medical needs are increasing in evacuation centers.”” (read more)
Do they offer a way to donate specifically to Tsunami relief? – No
“Save the Children serves impoverished, marginalized and vulnerable children and families in more that 120 nations. Our programs reach both children and those working to save and improve their lives, including parents, caregivers, community members and members of our partner organizations. We help save children’s lives, protect them from exploitation and assist them in accessing education and health care.
Through disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, rapid humanitarian relief and long-term recovery programs, Save the Children also assists millions of girls and boys at risk of or affected by natural disasters, conflicts and ethnic violence.” (read more)
How much do the people who need it get?
“In fiscal year 2009, 90 percent of all expenditures went to program services. That percentage is an average for all of Save the Children’s programs worldwide; the percentage spent on in any particular program may vary.”(read more)
A simple way of saying this is that 0.90 cents of every dollar goes to programs they are engaged in.
What are they doing in Japan now?
“Save the Children has sent emergency response teams to assess the needs of children and their families in the worst affected tsunami areas between Miyagi Prefecature and Tokyo in Japan.
“We’re looking to set up child-friendly spaces in the worst affected areas. These spaces provide children with an opportunity to play safely with other children while freeing up their parents to work on the recovery,” added McDonald.
Save the Children has been operating in Japan for 25 years.” (read more)
Do they offer a way to donate specifically Tsunami relief? – Yes
“International Medical Corps focuses on the delivery of community-based primary health care. We emphasize training and education, and prioritize hiring local staff – in fact, 96% of our field-based staff and health professionals are recruited from the local community. This helps to ensure that skills and knowledge are passed on and remain long after our programs have ended. Through the integration of specialties like emergency medicine, women’s health, nutrition services, water and sanitation, and mental health into the primary health care setting, we ensure that those we serve receive holistic, comprehensive care. The value of International Medical Corps’ integrated approach to community health and well-being and our emphasis on capacity building through training are critical for the long-term growth of conflict and natural disaster-affected communities and fragile states.” (read more)
How much do the people who need it get?
Another way of saying this is that 0.92 cents of every dollar goes to their efforts.
What are they doing in Japan now?
“International Medical Corps has deployed an emergency response team to Japan, following an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s coast, triggering a tsunami that devastated northern parts of the country and put a tsunami warning in effect for much of the Pacific.
“We are putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities,” said Nancy Aossey, President & CEO, International Medical Corps. “While Japan has a large capacity to manage a disaster of this scale, we will respond as needed.”” (read more)
Do they offer a way to donate specifically Tsunami relief? – Yes (This one is slightly tricky, they offer a way to donate to their emergency response fund and imply that it is going to Japan, but don’t specifically say it is.)
“GlobalGiving is changing the way people give, offering donors a transparent, high-impact giving experience. You choose where you want your money to go, and we get it there, quickly and efficiently.
GlobalGiving enables you to fund the underdog. We give access to new sources of funds to creative ideas and projects that might never be funded through traditional structures and development and philanthropy approaches.” (read more)
How much do the people who need it get?
Global Giving says that they take a 15% “fulfillment fee” meaning the cost of operations. This means that 0.85 cents of every dollar goes to the charities. But it’s important to remember that since global giving is only re-distributing each charity will take their own operating cut as well.
What are they doing in Japan now?
“This project will disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. GlobalGiving is working with International Medical Corps, Save the Children, and other organizations on the ground.” (read more)
Global Giving currently has a goal of:
Total Funding Received to Date: $544,075 Remaining Goal to be Funded: $305,924 Total Funding Goal: $850,000
By my understanding they will redistribute this to other charitable organizations as needed.
Do they offer a way to donate specifically Tsunami relief? – Yes
You’ve all most likely heard about the 9.0 (now the official magnitude) earthquake that rocked Japan Friday. You’ve probably all heard about the tsunami that followed, the warnings that the West Coast of North America received, a nuclear reactor being damaged in Japan, the rising death toll, the relief of anyone with friends and family in Japan as they receive news about their well-being, the idiotic remarks about this being karma for Pearl Harbour, and the plea for donations.
If you haven’t, then you’re probably also living under a rock and thus aren’t even reading this blog post.
It is a shame that I choose my first post on the new AAA site and new blog to be about this tragedy. So to compensate I’ll keep this short.
Friday was a horribly slow day at work which made waiting unbearable for certain minutes. Waiting for news is a grueling trial of patience and not letting your imagination run away. I figure that with 2.5 million homes without power right now, there’s a chance that the last people we’re waiting to hear on are alive and just without power. Believing that is certainly better than being pessimistic.
So I implore all you fine people reading this: please donate anything you can. Check out https://www.aaapodcast.com/archives/1509/tsunami-relief for more deets.
Thank you all for letting me have my piece, I promise the next post will be more upbeat and more fitting for the launch of the new site.
“SOMA, Japan – Radiation is spewing from damaged reactors at a crippled nuclear power plant in tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan in a dramatic escalation of the 4-day-old catastrophe. The prime minister has warned residents to stay inside or risk getting radiation sickness.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Tuesday that a fourth reactor at the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex was on fire and that more radiation was released
Prime Minister Naoto Kan warned that there are dangers of more leaks and told people living within 19 miles (30 kilometers) of the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex stay indoors.” – Associated Press (full article)
Original Post:
At 2:46pm on Friday, March 11th an 8.9 earthquake just off the coast of northern Japan (Nearest to Sendai) shook the country to it’s core. Following the earthquake a 23 foot, seven meter, tsunami washed over the Miyagi prefecture. Following the quake the earth continued to rumble for more than four hours of aftershocks and over 130 smaller quakes, 111 of which 5.0 magnitude or greater
The earthquake shook the country all the way down through Tokyo, almost three hours south of Sendai and over 190 miles from the epicenter, so hard that the top of Tokyo Tower has been bent and the NHK had to cease broadcasting operations from it’s point.
As of today, over 563 people have been confirmed dead. There are an additional 600 to 800 bodies who have yet to be identified. There are hundreds still missing.
In the coastal town of Minami-soma alone over 1,800 thousand homes have been destroyed. Train operations have since resumed in Tokyo, but the infrastructure of most of the northern Japan remains in shambles. Communications have failed, and most of the people in this area are without cellular service or a means to contact their loved ones. Beyond that, the essentials have been lost. Despite the loss of homes there are also problems with the administration of fresh water and electricity. Approximately 4.4 million people are estimated to be without power. This is due to both damage to lines as well as two nuclear power plants having been shut down.
The plants, in Fukushima were damaged in the quake and following tsunami. Specifically, their cooling systems were damaged and forced to shut down. As a result the reactor’s nuclear core is heating at a dangerous rate and a nuclear meltdown is becoming a greater concern. Everyone within a 20km radius of the plant has been evacuated, three have been hospitalized for leaked radiation poisoning. The reactor employees are resorting to using sea water to try to cool the reactor slowly.
As the death toll continues to rise, and more people begin to find themselves refugees in their own country the world looks on with a single question, “What can I do?” The addicts of the A.A.A. Podcast are no exception.
Join us, this Sunday at 8:00pm EST for our fundraiser show. If you cannot, donate to the A.A.A. Tsunami Relief fund via the paypal donation buttons. We will be collecting donations through the end of March Thursday, March 31st. Donate what you can, every dollar will make a difference. We will give 100% of the donations to a charity specifically targeted at Relief Efforts.
Which Charity? Well the Addicts will be doing research all through to month to what each charity is doing, what impact they are having on the country to those who need it most, and their reputation for donations going to the people they say it will. The addicts are considering the following charities:
The American Red Cross: Tsunami Relief
Save the Children
Doctors without Boarders
International Medical Corps
Global Giving
Since Japan has already expressed they want limited foreign aide (which can change as the full scope of the disaster is understood) we will look at who is really getting in, and who is really making a difference. Please post your thoughts or knowledge on these charities or others here or on our forums. The key here is to help.
Let us all stand together and show our support in Japan’s time of need.
Despite all the uniqueness to the mechs, all of the characters are surprised when a white Seikijin and a black Seikijin appear on the scene. Turns out they are portents of things to come, and in this case it could be the apocalypse. It’s interesting to hear that particular story explained, but by that time there isn’t a lot of screen-time left, and what should be an epic fight is merely a great fight.
“MSF strives to operate efficiently and to minimize fundraising and administrative costs. Between 1995 and 2009, MSF-USA allocated more than 85 percent of its expenditures to MSF’s social mission–programs and public education activities. Maintaining this standard is a high priority for us.” (
