North Republic Industries
Issue #30
Milestone for The Messenger - 30th Issue!
Here we are after all this time, finally reaching that grand milestone - the 30th Issue, being only the second newspaper in The Allied Republics to have done so. I find it to be a grand honor to finally say that The Messenger has reached that number, and with faith I hope to say that it won't be our last either. So here we are at the big number 30!
As I said we are only the second newspaper here in The Allied Republics to have reached this big milestone, so you might ask who else reached it? Well I am sure that some of you know which newspaper that was, and I am sure that some of the newer people don't know, heck even some of the older ones might have forgotten. Well that was the Allied Republican published by Citizens Cooperative Corporation and written by Trook. They published their 30th issue on December 20, 2013 and then published their last issue #32 on May 2, 2014. They were a big rival of The Messenger, but we did get along and it is sad to see them not publish any more. So a moment of silence not only for the Allied Republican, but all businesses who have gone inactive and whom we once liked.
Alright now on, The Messenger published their first issue on July 25, 2012, later on I was asked to put it on a blog and I said I would but I would keep posting it on the forums just like always. Then later I got in trouble for "spamming" it on our allies rmbs. That was around the time that I really cut back on how much I published. Looking back I seemed to publish much more regularly. I do regret not publishing as much but then I think it got to be it was taking me a good hour I think maybe more to write a full issue. I tried to get help but it didn't work out, and sometimes when I would write it just didn't feel worthy of being published leading to many issue drafts being out right pitched or completely redone. I have also thought of publishing The Messenger's Scout if there is only one or so articles or shorts that I would want to write. So I can't say what the future holds, but I do hope that it is bright, and what ever it is I do hope that you will be there to experience it with me.
Miyazaki!!!
Well I decided that I would just tell you some of the things that I have heard about Miyazaki lately and Studio Ghibli. It's going to be a fun little article, just you watch... or read. I'll try to cover what I can remember, haha.
Well first off I will start with what I know to be true and what some of you may already know, Miyazaki was awarded an honorary Oscar for his work in anime films, the Academy states that award is "to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences..." This comes as Miyazaki's Second Oscar. His first was for Best Animated Film in 2003 for Spirited Away, in which he did not attend the event in what I remember was his way of protesting the American invasion in the middle east. Miyazaki has been nominated two other times for an Oscar once in 2005/2006 for Best Animated Film for Howl's Moving Castle (as some know my favorite movie) and then again in 2013 for The Wind Rises again for Best Animated Film. So congratulations to Miyazaki for his hard work for anime.
As most of you know, or perhaps don't. in 2013 after he released The Wind Rises Miyazaki said that he would retire from making full feature productions. This however leaves him time and the ability to do many other projects. From what I have read that includes a manga, short films for the Ghibli Museum, and other stuff. However that being said I have read around on less trust worthy sights that on new years Miyazaki said that he would retract his retirement, however after reading on Wikipedia after checking my more trust worthy sights that had nothing, it said that it was a radio person who was speculating that Miyzaki would retract his retirement. As I have learned this wouldn't be the first time he would have taken back his retirement. But as I said this merely speculation right now.
Now what else is I read around town how Studio Ghibli was to close its doors. Some people took it as they would be disbanding, however I read where they were merely re-evaluating themselves and would soon re-open. This seems to be the case as they have been working on these and hopefully will continue to have a long life.
Nintendo to Quit on Brazil?!
I have read that Nintendo will stop selling its games and consoles in Brazil because of the high import taxes that the country has placed on them. This has made the price of a Wii U $530 in the country when it is only about $300 here in the USA and something like 240 pounds in the UK. The Article I read reports that Nintendo has seen decreasing profits in the country past year compared to previous years and has seen enough.
As I heard last year this is also problem for Microsoft and Sony who are seemingly still selling in the country despite high import costs which drives up the costs for the customers. However I believe that one of them either Microsoft or Sony and I can't remember what struck a deal where they were able to sell it for less, still expensive but less.
When I asked FS about this last year he confirmed that prices for games and consoles is very high in Brazil and that the country is stupid for placing high taxes on a industry that could really help the country.
Controversy in the Map
That's right you heard it here first, actually you probably read it first in the thread but who's taking score? We are! Not really.
We are here to report on some news that was or is going down with the map. On January 29, 2015 Map Editor Obito announced a new proposal to the general public on map regulations. It included capping the number of plots to 10, taking back plots from those who have over 10, limiting the number of times one can make major moves to 5, not allowing countries to be spread out in many different areas, along a few other rules. However this was meet with serious criticism and dislike from a majority of Roleplayers. Leading the those against the measure was Northern Timpetotia who in response to the issue has asked that he be taken off the map all together. Other responses included turning over map editing to Brick, and displeasure in the announcement.
But that is not the whole story as Imperium soon came on to say that the several of the new rules are entirely legal, such as taking away plots from people. Then Hunt and Mytzonia came together to say that the Directorate of Role Play hasn't endorsed these new rules and that they will instead be reviewed from many different stances and a decision made on them.
The majority of the displeasure was placed in Obito, Map editor and announcer of the new proposal. He has said that he knew people would be happy however it is a necessary thing that it be carried out to remove issues, make the map more realistic, and improve role play. A few people have even jumped to the aid of Obito in light of the announcement and support him and the new proposal.
However with a seeming majority not favoring the proposal and with legal issues facing it, it is unclear if the proposal will be accepted by the Directorate in part or in full. Even then people might challenge it in other ways. The fate of this proposal is very uncertain and unclear as are many people's future roleplay plans.
Advertisement
Stalking Kastros
Our team worked hard to capture this picture of the man
Our Stalking Team is once again employed! We hired them all back to go out and look for some dirt on Kastros, newly elected Speaker, and boy did we find it! Our team hid in trees, behind bushes, in mailboxes, in Kastros' van, behind the old man on the corner that is always talking about his feet. What did we find! That he spends most of his time behind the local comedy club! Apparently he gets kicked out every day. The owner of the club, Mr. TNR, said - well he didn't say it but one of his workers did - that Kastros is a threat to him and his comedy reign.
So what does Kastros do every day after getting thrown out! He buys a barrel of whiskey, he then drinks all the whiskey so that he can use the barrel to stand on and do his comedy on the street corner, which is known for always making people stop at its red lights. Well Kastros all ways seems to get hounded by some mysterious girls who drive up and honk at him and hold up some money. We think that they want him to go with them for who knows what?! Perhaps a private comedy show!
Well it wasn't too long before our reporters fell into a river and almost got killed so now they are suing us for workers compensation, but the jokes on them since we don't officially employ them!
NRI Offers!
After looking at the state of our businesses and remembering a golden era, the CEO of North Republic Industries the currently oldest (semi)active company Lewis and Daniel has launched a new refreshed version of an old plan. CEO Lewis and Daniel, who has recently been considered a generous guy is making a deal to all businesses, new, old, inactive, and those that have yet to come.
The offer may vary from business to business, but NRI is willing to invest upwards of $10,000, perhaps even more, in businesses that promise to be active and for a stake in their company and profits. This also comes with some additional help from NRI including discounted ads when The Messenger runs, experienced advise, discounts on legal services, and other things as well offered by NRI such as additional investments on down the line. Lewis and Daniel hopes that this will provide enough incentive for businesses to get active and help a new golden age of the economy. Lewis and Daniel said that "activity in the economy helps all businesses. I hope to spark that activity with this plan."
Interested businesses may contact CEO Lewis and Daniel through PM or by posting in the comments below. For legal reasons there will be a contract signed by both groups.
Additionally Lewis and Daniel is also thinking creating a Merchants Guild, where businesses can help businesses, along with working to make solutions to real problems in the economy. However he fears that just many other plans in the economy it will fall through, not just the merchants guild but his other plans as well.
Culture/Opinion/Good Anime Section - Wintertime Edition!
Hello, Hello, Hello we are once again back for another addition to my favorite section. Remember that the names of the new ones are links to MyAnimeList were you can find more information, Synopsis, reviews, average score, Voice Actors, and more! Also I would be happy to talk about any series or movie that you might want to discuss. Also I have found out about a new anime site. Once again I shall list the names of those I have done. Also Lewis and Daniel is always happy to talk about anime with you. Or if you need to know some anime sites just ask! This time you will also be getting a Winter time edition! I usually just copy and paste this part of the article. Tell me what else you want to see here! Please know that as we go back and look at some or if I have on my blog, I will be putting a (R) after it to show that I have already written reviews on, it is not apart of the title like (TV) or (2005) might be
Spice and Wolf (R)
Nodame Cantabile
Code Geass
School Rumble (R)
Honey and Clover
Clannad (R)
Great Teacher Onizuka
Eden of the East
Kimi ni Todoke (R)
Mushishi
Ah My Goddess (R)
Full Metal Panic
Trigun
Kino's Journey
ef - a tale of memories
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Toradora
K-On!
One Piece
Guin Saga
Sekirei
Rec
Glass Mask (2005)
Durarara!!
Cowboy Bebop
Angel Beats!
Usagi Drop (R)
Itazura na Kiss
Kobato.
Ouran High School Host Club
Princess Jellyfish
Genshiken
Hanasaku Iroha
Skip Beat!
Kids on the Slope
Eureka Seven
Death Note
Black Lagoon
One Outs
Princess Tutu
Fullmetal Alchemist
Love Hina
Hyouka
Cross Game
Waiting in the Summer
Psycho-Pass
--
Sword Art Online
Mirai Nikki (TV)
Crest of the Stars
Attack on Titan
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
Beck
Tari Tari
Kemono no Souja Erin
Gin no Saji
Maoyuu Maou Yuusha
Tokyo Godfathers
The Irresponsible Captain Tylor
Nodame Cantabile
Space Battleship Yamato 2199
Log Horizon
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
The Wind Rises
Gingitsune
Gingitsune --- A show that's only just about a year old. I can't say how I found this show and decided on watching it. But I did, it looked interesting and I decided that I would give it a go. So here we go as I talk about this show for a short while.
The story, mainly slice of life and supernatural, involves Makoto who is a person with the sight, one who can view the shrine heralds, those mystical beings that are sent from the Shinto gods to the shrines. The ones with the sight are a sort of bridge and the heralds are also sort of a bridge. One such herald is Gintaro or Gin for short. The Story involves the interactions between Makoto, Gin, the Shrine, the people around them and their friends. It is calm and funny at times but also takes on some deeper issues such as heralds living forever while those humans with the sight don't, a very real issue that could possibly also be translated to some of our relationships and the world around us. It is a nice story when you get down to it. I also liked learning more about Shinto shrines. The story is good, I liked it.
The Characters, there are some interesting characters I really do enjoy watching Gintaro the most but also I like Makoto, and everyone else. They are good characters. There is good development in most of the important characters. Not a lot in some but you can see the progression of more than just the main characters. So the characters and their development was good, some was lacking such as we never find a lot about Gintaro or his mysterious partner who disappears a century or so before hand. It would have been nice to know.
The Music, the opening was fairly good both in sound and animation. Additionally the ending was good too in the same ways. As for most of the background music I can't specifically recall any one song that struck me or was very memorable. Perhaps though if someone was playing a song from it I might recall it in my memory. However I don't remember the music being terrible or bland. So for the most part the music was good. the Voice acting was also good, it was subbed I don't think it is dubbed yet. No complaints on the Voice acting here.
The animation is good, it isn't earth shattering but is solid work and looks good - what more can one ask for in a show?
The ending, well it doesn't end per se. As it is slice of life it is like we are getting a glimpse at a moment in time and then we leave when it is over. I wasn't pained by seeing it end, it left pretty good. That being said there are some things it could have resolved, a second season could do this but it isn't needed per se. Some things are like what Makoto plans to do in the future after high school, what happened to Gintaro's partner, while we do get a glimpse of what happened to Gintaro it isn't gone into a lot of detail. So it could have done more, but while it was around it did good, I thought.
Overall it was an enjoyable show, and I was entertained. I liked it, it wasn't earth shattering and I am sure there are probably some issues that others will point out. It wasn't probably a masterpiece but it was a nice little show to watch. One might make the argument more romance should have been involved which I probably would have enjoyed. Overall a good show.
Nana
Nana --- I came across this show because of its big reputation and the such so I decided to watch it. Well for several reasons to took me about 2 years to finish it. Yeah, I know, I know. So let's try to take a look at this anime.
The Story involves two girls both named Nana, who meet each other by chance as they are both moving to Tokyo. Nana
Komatsu who would be nicked named "Hachi" is following her boyfriend and wants to gain the life she always dreamed of, while Nana Osaki is moving to Tokyo so that she might become a professional vocalist. Because of their circumstances they end up becoming roommates and that is where their futures become tied together, as they live together in this new world.
The Story has a lot of good points, and can really draw you into these characters situations. However the story has been called realistic and can be quite cruel at times heading in places that you don't want it to go, but there is also some light in that as we watch them in their world it might better relate to ours. The story is nice at parts.
The Characters, a variety of characters and a lot of good characters. From Hachi to Nana to all of their friends. There are some of those characters that you probably just want to hurt but you know. Character development is big in Nana and Hachi, by the end they have grown for better or worse. Along with other characters also getting development as well, realizing what they want and what's about, for the most part I believe. You too might want to hurt Nana and Hachi at points because of their decisions, but then people would point out that it is realistic. There interactions at points are also very cool and well done.
The Music is very well done, as Nana is the vocalist in a band! It is punk, but I enjoyed it. The OP and the ED are both well done. The background music was also good. Most of all some of the OP and ED are rememberable, and you might want to listen to them over and over. The Voice acting for the dub was well done, and I had no problems with it and thought that the voice fit well with the characters they played.
The Animation wasn't amazing. The people do take some getting used to, and the art as well. It is a unique artwork though and it might grow on you after a while. Additionally though the scenery was well done, perhaps not breathtaking for most of it but it was nice to look at.
The Ending, the ending. It leaves something up in the air and you don't know all that happened and do wonder a lot and can be hard to swallow. Personally I wasn't fond of it too much. Some people say it will have a second season but it's already been about 7 years so who knows.
Overall it was a decently good anime. It can be brutal at times yet good at others. I can't say I will watch it again but I was thankful when I finally finished it. It was an experience. It totally might depend on you, you might love it through and through from open to end.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion -- Considered a must for all anime fans, as it is a big thing in anime called the most influential anime of the 1990s. With those words and its reputation I just had to watch it.
The Story starts around 2014 and/or 2015 after a great disaster named "Second Impact" happened in 2000 which killed half of the worlds population and human kind was first exposed to the Angels, beasts with a seemingly unknown origin who are disastrous. To combat this a secret organization named NERV is launched aided with the newly build Evas (mecha) who are used to destroy the Angles. Only able to be operated by those who were born after Second Impact.
The Story is very well done, it is dark, complicated, philological, and you could probably go very deep with this, and it can get crazy but I usually don't go too deep unless the story takes me there and all that. It involves drama, action, sci-fi an I am sure you'd imagine. I personally liked the story, though it has its faults in parts. For me it took me in and kept me and I was interested. Sure there were a couple times when I wasn't all there but for the most part I liked it.
The Characters, everyone seems to have a problem. From Shingi who has been called a weakling, annoying, and wrong at times, the like however if one looks at him and realizes what he is going through. That he is only a kid of 14 who has to pilot a mecha to save the world with a terrible father, one realizes why he is how he is. Along with the other characters almost always have a reason why they are what they are. They aren't perfect and have flaws, and are realistic to a good point. One can feel them. As for character development, I'd say it is done well. There's development and all that and it is done well. One also can't forget the Gendo pose!
The animation is old, I can tell you that right now and that might put you off. However at time it was very well done and looked good for what it was. After a while it grows on you and looks pretty good for the most part. I liked it, however if one knows towards the end the company ran out of money and so it doesn't hold up in the final episodes.
The Sound is great. I loved the OP it was wonderful and catchy. It is right now my ringtone on my phone and I don't have plans to change it for a while. It is one of my favorite anime. The ending was also good and I liked it. Both are fairly rememberable and you will probably go to listen to them long after. The background music was good, can't remember it specifically but I'm pretty sure I was pleased with it. As for Voice acting, I did the English dub, and it was good I thought it to be good. No real or big complaints that I can think of.
The Ending, the ending in the anime is well. Confusing and just weird, but also not. It isn't the best I didn't like it. I don't even really know what to say. Most consider the final episodes controversial and unsatisfying. To make up for this Anno, the creator, went and made a movie - The End of Evangelion to do a better ending. I personally haven't seen this yet but I will one day.
Overall I really liked the anime, it did have its flaws to be sure, I don't know if I got everything too somethings may have went over my head, and there was one "shipping" that I just wanted to get together but didn't. It was nice anime and I am glad to have watched it. I hope to watch the End of Evangelion and then watched I want to watch the remakes which some consider better done. However this is a classic and I agree that it is a must watch. That's not to say that you will like it as some don't (as is the case with most things) but I for one liked it and think you should give it a chance.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
This ends Issue #30 of The Messenger!!! We have come a long way because of your support! We thank you for reading and hope that you will read the issues to come. And Thanks to all of you who have said that The Messenger is a great paper, and we hope that you will continue this support forever and always. We are right now the #1 News out there!
If you have any comments please feel free to post. If you would like an advertisement in The Messenger the please contact NRI and we can work something out. Also if you want to write your own article in The Messenger then contact NRI or the Chief-in-Editor
Also thank you all we now have had almost 3000 page views on our blog! Really thanks a lot, it means a lot. I'm just stunned by this, really. It is amazing that we have that many! Thanks for all your continued help and support!
