Fifty Shades of Assault

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

As most of you believe, “Fifty Shades of Grey” promotes abuse and violence. After reading the book, I completely agree, especially when there are crimes inspired by the filthy franchise.

On February 21^st, 2015, Mohammad Hossain decided to re-enact “Fifty Shades of Grey” in his dorm at UIC. He invited someone who he was intimately familiar with to his dorm where he asked her to strip, tied her to his bed, and even blindfolded her using a knit cap. Afterwards, he proceeded to whip his partner with his belt, punch her, and sexually assault her despite her protests. Hossain claimed that he was re-enacting “Fifty Shades of Grey” and also admitted to doing something wrong.

However, this isn’t the first crime triggered by “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

In 2013, Steven Lock and a woman went to court because of how far he took their BDSM session. The two met through an online dating site and wanted to perform a “slave and master” session sparked by “Fifty Shades of Grey.” They agreed to a safety word (red), lashing, and what they were going to do to each other. They even went as far as creating a sexual contract consenting Lock to enforce pain upon her. But no sooner the woman received severe markings on her buttocks and heard the whistling of the rope, she began to regret everything. She started screaming in pain and refused to get into bed with Lock, causing him to angrily give her the key to her restraints and telling her to get out.

Both parties of these acts knew what they were getting to, having seen the movie or read the book(s). However, the books and movies are works of fiction that do not properly illustrate relationships or BDSM culture.  Yet this didn’t stop either party because they pursued with their actions, thus proving that life imitates art.

However, both cases have their differences. Hossain’s partner repeatedly yelled at him to stop, but he kept going. There was no consent of beating or sexual activity other than tying up and stripping down. Lock and his partner did have consent; they wrote it in a sexual contract and she agreed to what would occur. The woman did not know what this man was like and immediately regretted her decision when she felt how hard he was whipping her. Lock could have stopped the BDSM session, but chose to fulfill the contract (and possibly his own sexual need), and continued. He even claimed that he felt bad for hurting her; why did he not stop if he knew he was hurting her? Was he enticed by her screams and the contract they both agreed to?

While I’m sure there are many other crimes and corruptions caused by “Fifty Shades of Grey,” these two stuck out to me the most. There are two demographics here that are affected by this franchise: young people who are becoming more sexual and experimental and older people who have enough experience to determine what’s right or wrong for them. Their judgments do not excuse nor justify what they have done. Rather, it just shows that a horrific franchise promoting abuse and violence can have such dominance over judgment, experience, and sexual activity.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it feel free to comment, reblog, and offer feedback.

So tell me, how do you think “Fifty Shades of Grey” is affecting our society? 

Hey There, Cthulu

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical  Mystery Blog.

H.P.Lovecraft is creeping his way into society and appearing in all sorts of ways. For those of you who don’t know, H.P. Lovecraft is the horrifyingly fantastic writer behind Cthulu. Cthulu is a winged, bipedal octopus who dwells in the ocean waiting for the perfect moment to destroy the world and consume everyone. Together, Cthulu and Lovecraft have managed to slip into various forms of entertainment and cause quite a following.

One form of entertainment Cthulu has managed to weave its way into is tabletop roleplays. Tabletop roleplays are usually related to Dungeons and Dragons, if not something else similar to that nature. It’s when you take on a character you design with the use of dice and imagination.  Of course these games only get more fun when you toss a certain dark, aquatic overlord into the mix. Enter Call of Cthulu, a tabletop roleplaying game. The best thing about this game that you can incorporate the great, deep one himself as well as many other deities from other Lovecraftian works. Usually, this game is set in the 1890s, 1920s, or can be accelerated to modern day depending on what stories you would like to tell.

Here’s three places that would be cool to use in a Call of Cthulu game.

3. Coney Island

Coney Island first opened in 1895 and was America’s first amusement park situated by the beach. It was entitled “Poor Man’s Paradise” because of how people could get so much for so little.  There would be thousands of people who visited the popular tourist attraction if not more. What if there was a haunted house attraction that was secretly a trap for some sort of Lovecraftian monster? Ride attendees would enter the house and go missing for a while only to emerge as either cultists for a Lovecraftian deity or never emerge as all, being food for some horrific, unseen force. If the beast should ever roar or growl, the one who hosted the particular attraction would pass it off as a special effect.

2.  The Great Gatsby

What happens when you cross The Great Gatsby with a Lovecraftian tale? One amazing crossover consisting of eccentric weird billionaires accidentally summoning a horrific beast while completely smashed. Or owning a private dance club that only strange, wealthy cultists can enter and make sacrifices to the monster. There’s tons of ideas for sacrifices: suicidal persons (suicide rates were high due to The Great Depression during this time), trespassers, thieves, and so many other people.

1. Modern Day Japan

Ah yes, Japan. The home of tentacle hentai and an island created by a volcano not too far from it. What’s on this island? Possibly some Lovecraftian beasts that use the island as their base and whenever people venture upon it, they instantly devour them.  After a while so many people go missing before a special group of people are sent to investigate the land. What they find is not of this world, but rather the stuff of their nightmares.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, and reblog.

So tell me, what would be your ideal Lovecraftian adventure?

Take My Revolution: Kill la Kill

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Having been away from most modern day animes and thinking I finally escaped; I was dragged back in by one of my friends. I used to love anime as a teen and grew up with the classics: “Dragonball Z,” “Dragonball,” “Sailor Moon,” “Pokemon,” “Wolf’s Rain,” “.hack//SIGN,” “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” “Lupin the Third,” and so many others. But I found that the more I transitioned into modern day animes like “Black Butler” and “Soul Eater,” the more I realized I just couldn’t do it anymore because it was hard to keep up. Life was what mostly blocked me from pursuing more programs, but it was also the fact that these new shows lacked something for me. What that something was, I still have no idea to this day, but it just felt wrong and incomplete.

And so my friend decided to drag me back into anime by recommending “Kill la Kill.” I had heard about this anime before on many web sites and from my other friends. I think his recommendation was the final nail in the coffin for me to give this show a shot and so I sat down not too long ago and began my binge. I literally finished my binge watching of this anime a half hour ago.

What followed was a series of references, insane (and logical) plot twists, lovable characters, and an addictively fun art style. I was not expecting any of this and immediately found myself caught up in the story of a young lady (Ryuko Matoi) wanting to learn about her father’s death and secrets. With nothing but a scissor blade and a talking uniform (Kamui Senketsu) by her side, she transfers to Honnouji Academy where the story begins.

After watching the series it was at then this anime made me realize two things.

1.  Not all modern anime lack that certain something for me. When I was watching “Kill la Kill,” it reminded me of how I used to feel when watching anime; completely excited, curious, and hanging on the edge of my seat.
   
   
2. “Kill la Kill” is a modern day “Revolutionary Girl Utena.”

The second note made me realize this because of the show’s premise and details. There’s the main protagonist (Ryuko Matoi) who wants to achieve knowledge to understand a fragment of her past. She is a tomboy, very unfeminine, and rough; much like Utena Tenjou, the protagonist from “Revolutionary Girl Utena”.  Ryuko has something (Kamui) that only a select group of people have and this is what entices them to fight; they also issue each other challenges (sometimes by paper, but mostly verbally). In “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” those with the rose crest ring are the only ones that can fight each other and often challenge each other with words or paper.

The challengers in “Revolutionary Girl Utena” consist of five student council members (Kyouichi Saionji, Juri Arisugawa, Miki Kaoru, Touga Kiryuu, and Nanami Kiryuu). Touga is the president and leads them, while receiving orders from the director of Ohtori Academy. The challengers in “Kill la Kill” are also five students (including Satsuki) who entitle themselves the Elite Four, but act as the overall student council; they consist of Hoka Inumuta, Satsuki Kiryuin, Sanageyama,Nonon Jakuzure, and Ira Gamagori. Satsuki is the president and leads them, while also receiving orders from the director. Each take on Ryuko in a single battle that brings her closer to fighting her rival, Satsuki. They each battle her on a platform similar to the platform from the movie, ”The Adolescence of Utena” which ties in with the “Revolutionary Girl Utena” program. Both platforms are a flat surface connected with a bridge that drops down onto the area.

The protagonist’s best friend (Mako Mankanshoku) even acts a lot like Wakaba from “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” being completely supportive, hyperactive, and even being taken over by the antagonist’s intentions. Wakaba was taken over by the black rose issued by Mikage and fought Utena. In “Kill la Kill,” the antagonist (Satsuki) allowed Mako to be overtaken by club status and a greedy lifestyle so that she had to fight Ryuko.

Ragyo Kiryuin, the very villain of this series also shares some tendencies with Akio (the ultimate antagonist from “Revolutionary Girl Utena”). They are both presented as tall, God like figures, looking down upon those who are beneath them in luxurious towers. Both Ragyo and Akio are very incestuous when it comes to their family; Akio and Anthy (his sister) have an abusive, yet sexual relationship. Ragyo and Satsuki (her daughter) also have the same type of relationship.

There’s also a matter of Ryuko’s weapon, the scissor blade. In “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” the main protagonist (Utena) has the sword of Dios. Though later on, we encounter its counterpart in the hands of a villain – much like in “Kill la Kill”, the other half of the scissor blade is in the hands of an enemy, Nui Harime. Even the ending itself is similar to “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” in which the protagonist is impaled with thousands of sharpened items (in “Revolutionary Girl Utena” swords, in “Kill la Kill” Ragyo’s wings) and falls to Earth after the battle.

I heavily enjoyed “Kill la Kill” and I love “Revolutionary Girl Utena” to death. To find such similarities between the two filled me with delight. Not only did the series rekindle my love for “Revolutionary Girl Utena,” but it also made me realize that I just can’t leave my love for anime.

Thank you for taking the time to read tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what’s your favorite anime and why? 

Sweet Treats Are Made of This

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Browsing the Internet for simple recipes has never been more fun. What’s even better is discovering recipes that could be altered to fit special occasions and holidays. Thanks to the magic of the Internet, here is a recipe that can be used for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Halloween, or any time of the year. The beauty of this recipe in particular is that it allows you to create many different flavored treats all the while using the same exact measurements.

Cream Cheese Candy (20 min prep)

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese softened

• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar

• ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract (this could easily be substituted with other extracts like almond extract, strawberry extract, pumpkin spice extract, blueberry extract, the list goes on)

1. Beat the cream cheese and extract in a small bowl, then toss in half the confectioners’ sugar until it’s smooth.
   
   
2. Proceed to knead in the remaining confectioners’ sugar until it’s fully incorporated.
   
   
3. Shape the dough into 1/2 balls (or hearts or stars or any shape you can think of; yes even the Adipose) and place them on baking sheets. You can roll them around or sprinkle them with colored sugar; it’s not required, but it’s optional. Besides, it’ll give these little treats a bit of flare.
   
   
4. Flatten them with a fork.
   
   
5. Allow them to stand for an hour so they can harden.
   
   
6. Eat.
   
   
7. When you’re done, store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
   

Thanks for reading today’s entry and if you enjoyed it, feel free to comment and reblog. As always, feedback is welcomed.

So tell me, what shapes would you make with this simple recipe?

2/14: Just Another Day

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

With Valentine’s Day a few days away, some of you may or may not have someone special in your life. The media advertises this particular day as a day for lovers and targets gifts towards them. Husbands and boyfriends should buy their partners jewelry and in return, partners should purchase sexy lingerie to present themselves in. But I’ve learned with the passing years that this advertisement is nothing more than bologna.

First off, Valentine’s Day is a day commemorating the massacre of St.Valentine. St. Valentine was revered as the Saint of Love because he rebelled against Emperor Claudius’ edict prohibiting marriage among young people.  Claudius was against their marriage because he believed unmarried men made better soldiers and could easily focus on combat more as opposed to a wife or family. However, St. Valentine decided to wed young people behind Claudius’ back. Eventually he was captured and imprisoned, and later given a three part execution which entailed beating, stoning, and beheading. Sounds like fun, no? Just like Thanksgiving!

Secondly, you don’t need anyone but yourself on this holiday. If you do have someone, then celebrate your love with them. If you don’t have anyone, then don’t sweat it. The greatest love is not the love you receive from a partner, but rather, from yourself. You must love yourself before you can love any other. You can love yourself in any way you please, especially on Valentine’s Day.

Thirdly, don’t let the stereotypes depress you. Yes, you will probably see couples on Valentine’s Day. Yes, you will see endless ads for flowers, chocolates, and anything romantic. Yes, you will see slews of sentimental shows on television, but do not let any of these things bring you down. These stereotypes are a part of everyday life and will always be found on television and society. By taking these stereotypes to heart, depression and loneliness will overcome you easily (trust me on that). So instead of being saddened by just another day, go out. Have fun, hang out with a friend, go on a shopping spree. Do what makes you feel good and don’t let another overhyped holiday bring you down.

Thank you for reading today’s entry and if you enjoyed it, feel free to comment and reblog. As always, feedback is welcomed.

So tell me, what are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

Steampunk to Go

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

As a gamer I’ve played different types of games, but always found my way back to hidden object games. Hidden object games are a nostalgic part of my life that still carry with me to this day. What I love even more is when the game incorporates elements I adore, like Steampunk.

Steampunk is a popular topic revolving around Victorian elements, distinct fashion, steam powered devices, clockwork, and metalwork.  With its fame on the Internet, the trend is now seeping its way into movies, literature, and now, even video games.

I’ve had the pleasure to play my first Steampunk hidden object game on the Ipod.  Entitled Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink, the hidden object game oozed with Steampunk based on the character designs, their outfits, modes of transportation, and even a mechanical crow that accompanies you.  Your objective is to free your friend (Dr.Ink) from the evil clutches of Barber Engineer, a wealthy general who is causing massive earthquakes for the town of Hochwald.

The casual mode could easily be completed in one hour with the help of Hint and Skip features. Advanced and Expert took a little longer, with the elimination and slower recharge of those two features. It’s a fun little game with great graphics produced by Big Fish Games for $2.99 and is available on most mobile devices. They are currently working on a sequel for the game simply titled Clockwork Tales II. There is no word of when it will be released.

I give this game an 8 out of 10, because I wish the casual mode lasted a little longer. I usually play hidden object games on casual and find that they’re more than just an hour. Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink had the shortest casual mode gameplay I’ve ever seen and I honestly wish it was a little longer, if not as long as the other modes.

Thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, reblog, and/or critique.

So tell me, do you enjoy hidden object games? If so, what’s your favorite one?

Readers Request: School

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Not too long ago, I asked what you would like to see me discuss on my blog. Today, we have a request from an anonymous reader who asks:

Do you mind writing about school? I'm someone who gets really anxious about my grades, and it'd be cool to hear some tips, or something of the sort. Xx

School is an obstacle course that teaches us lessons we will need at some point in our lives. We hurdle through classes and are flung through buildings until we have completed every grade possible. Through these school days we strive to be the best because grades define our very status. This is a concept that follows us from kindergarten to college and even in the career world, where we are examined for high Grade Point Averages based off those grades. This is a stressful idea, to know that your career or class choices rely on five letters of the alphabet and numbers.

At times it can be too much and often lead to anxiety, depression, or even considering dropping out. However, there are some methods that can help you relieve any stress about your grades.

1. Join a Study Group

Study groups are students or friends that study together. There are specific types of study groups so it should be easy to find what you’re looking for. Trouble in Biology? There’s a study group for that. Don’t understand Math easily? There’s a study group for that. Can’t quite grasp Art History? There’s a study group for that. By being in a study group, you’ll not only understand the material better, but also make friends which will help remedy your stress. Also trade numbers, Facebooks, and whatnot that way if you need to ask someone a question, they’ll be there for you.

2. Remember to Relax

Yes, you have four papers due tomorrow. Yes, you have three worksheets, a powerpoint project, and an essay due soon. Yes, you have so much work due in the very near future. Take some time to yourself, even if it’s just for a few moments and breathe. Go get a snack, walk around for a bit, meditate, drink a cup of tea, and watch that hilarious Youtube video. Everything will be completed because you are a powerhouse and the victory will be sweet when it’s all done.

3. What Can I Do Better


Always ask yourself and your teachers this question. What can I do better to get the major I want? What can I do better to improve my grades? What can I do better to understand the material? In return, teachers will help you to not only understand the work better, but to show you different ways of grasping the subject. Also by asking yourself this question, you think of different ways of achieving what you want, and make those ways your plans for something better. This question also eliminates the notion of ‘doing your best’. ‘Doing your best’ is a concept that can lead to anxiety about your grades. It will make you wonder if your best isn’t good enough and will greatly stress you out.

4. Ask for Help/Extra Credit

Most teachers understand that not every student is the same. I’ll use myself as an example: I am terrible at Math. I can do the basics, but nothing extreme like calculus. My strongest suits are English, History, Creative Writing, and Art. When I was having trouble in my last Algebra class of high school, I asked the teacher for help. This led her to create an extra credit project for anyone in the class who believed they had terrible grades, myself included. Another time I was struggling in a Public Relations course and the teacher created an extra credit project to help her students. It may seem embarrassing to ask for help or extra credit from the teacher, but if you know it will help you, then swallow your pride and ask away.

Also, whenever a teacher offers extra credit, take it. If your grades are at the top of the class, do not stray away from it. I say this because at the time your grades could be excellent, but what if you fail a test or forget an assignment? What if you mess up on a project? That extra credit could greatly help you.

5. Get a Tutor

Never, ever be ashamed to ask for help. Asking for help does not mean you are an unintelligent idiot. Rather, it means that you want to do better for yourself and expand your knowledge. That’s where tutors come in. Like study groups, there are tutors for everything. French, Astronomy, Calculus, History, there are tutors for just anything you can imagine. It’s also easy to find a tutor, just check postings around the school, your local paper, and the Internet.

6. Organize Your Work

This actually helped me during my college years. What I would do is take a notebook, put my schedule in it, and then make a list of my assignments. Example:

Work                                             Due                                Do It
_______________________________________________________________

2 Worksheets (Math)                  2/10                              2/8

Powerpoint (History)                  2/13                              2/9       

Study Guide (Biology)                 2/11                              2/10

Book questions (English)            2/12                             2/11

The key is to spread your work out and focus on one thing at a time. You’ll also be able to easily manipulate the workload and schedule. This will eliminate any stress from assignments and you’ll concentrate on each one; thus putting forth your best effort and ensuring a good grade. Plus if you’re still uncertain of anything, you have time to text your friends or ask the teacher. Organizing your work also reminds you of what’s due and what to do. However, there will be days where you might have to multitask, such as finals period and the end of the semester. Do not worry, the schedule will help you.

Thank you anonymous reader for suggesting today’s topic. If you would like to see me discuss something in particular, send me a message and I’ll be more than happy to write about it. Also, thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment and reblog.

So tell me, what do you do to feel less anxious about your grades?