#136 arena day 1

[denverneumann]

It had been years since Denver had seen an Arena with snow in it. Most Arenas, if nature-based, tended to feature hot and humid areas. But this...it was a mountain, just like the ones people used to try and climb before the Dark Days. She had to call her father later, and get his reaction. Maybe he'd tell some of his old stories.

And then a gnawing settled in her gut, and Denver looked around, the fairytale excitement fading as the expressions of the others watching the screens didn't match her awe. They were worried instead, and of course they were. So many of those in the Arena this time were friends, were loved ones, were victors who had already sacrificed for the promise of peace. Children and the elderly were expected to fight adult athletes in their prime.

"What do you think?" she asked, quietly, not particularly caring who she was talking to when she was so unsure of every single one of her emotions.

[notverybrighton]

blood upon the snow; a self-para

As he stumbled through the snow, away from the Cornucopia and away from the Bloodbath, Damien tried to refuse to think about what had just happened, but found he couldn't think of anything else.

Damien's vomit froze before it hit the ground. He considered himself lucky that he had managed to pull his balaclava down in time. She'd been just a child, a child, and he had killed her. For all his work over decades of smuggling, he'd never killed anyone. And his first kill was a child.

He fell to his knees.

For all Damien had been involved in smuggling, for the purposes of general crime or rebellion, he had never been in a fight, not a true one. He'd seen them, of course, in Hunger Games of years past, and the aftermath of them, when compatriots came stumbling into the room where Damien was standing over a map. He'd noted, then, while others tended to the injuries, that he'd need to move the routes he sent his trucks.

Then the wind whipped across his face, the only silence in between a metallic countdown, and true fear gripped his heart for the first time in his life. He wasn't being sent into a fight; he was being sent into a battlefield.

And then he'd been stabbed. Damien had been stabbed, and if he didn't retaliate, he was going to die. He was going to die in seconds or minutes. He needed to act and he needed to act now. He'd lost the firewood. He would not lose his life.

When a figure approached from behind, he pulled the dagger out of his flesh and threw his body around, painfully, screaming, and sank the dagger into --

No.

No, no, no.

It was not Kedzie that stood before him, shocked, a cry tangled in his throat. It was Eve Rest. District Three.

Twelve years old.

Her breaths came fast, the only sounds escaping her while her youthful eyes screamed in agony. Damien hadn't thought about it, had lashed out, had twisted the knife in her gut before he knew who it was he was fighting. Blood poured from the wound, and the warmth of it soaked through Damien's glove. It was the first warmth he'd felt since they zipped him into his snow suit.

Damien stared in horror as tears fell from her eyes, crystalizing on the rim of the balaclava. It would be a slow death, bleeding and in pain, this child struggling to breathe, if Damien didn't act.

He didn't want to. To anyone who could possibly hear him, he didn't want to.

He pulled out the dagger and slashed her throat.

Eve's blood splattered onto Damien's face as she slumped to the ground before him.

What had he done?

He had to keep moving, had to get out of there before someone came for revenge, for opportunity, for anything. It was his life or theirs. He had no choice. He had to run.

He stumbled, fell to his knees, pushed himself up, and kept moving.

[tired-gage]

Gage sprinted when she saw the tents. It was everything she had been looking for. She could get her bearings away from the wind, and then go find Wiley. She could take Wiley back here, and they might be protected enough to sleep.

It was more than she had hoped for when inside the first tent she opened was supplies. Not much - duct tape, an oxygen tank, and a compass, but it was perfect. The wilderness survival textbook she'd read wouldn't help her much in the snowy mountains, but she had refreshed her memory on how to use a compass. She stepped inside reached for it, not even realizing that she had cornered herself in the tent until a shadow crossed her and, weaponless, she turned around.

@neptune-akoya

[denverneumann]

Denver smiled. She might not know what she was feeling these days, but she knew history. This was a question she could answer.

"I'm guessing it's a yeti," she clarified. "Bigger than a gorilla. Sharper teeth. And I'm sure this one is even more deadly than the one from the legends." It was an Arena muttation, after all. She wondered if Holland had worked on it. She wondered how Holland was doing overall, and if her tributes were okay. A quick inventory of the various screens showed the teacher and the angry girl both alive.

Colt was watching an overview of the arena breaking down the specific areas shortly after the Bloodbath just glad that both of Ten's tributes made it out, when he noticed several campsites that seemed to just be absolutely totaled, by what looked like a massive animal ??? That definitely had sharp claws, and a lot of fur. Furrowing his eyebrows together, he turned to the person next to him, and just rambled out his thoughts.

"I.....I think they have a big angry snow gorilla in the arena?"

[pathfinderunlocked]

Lord of the Revel - CR13 Kami

How our hearts sing in the chaos!

Artwork is official concept art from Final Fantasy XIV, copyright Square Enix.

This creature is based on Susano, a boss from Final Fantasy XIV. Susano is a primal, a recurring type of boss from Final Fantasy XIV that's essentially a summoned artificial demigod, created from the imagination of those that believe in it, and often a recreation of a real historical figure or other powerful monster. This stat block isn't meant to be a primal, though; it's a stat block for the original creature that the primal was an imitation of. I've previously also made a stat block for Ramuh, another primal from FF14, plus several other classic Final Fantasy summons that you can find by searching my blog for the final fantasy tag.

You could absolutely use this creature in the Final Fantasy D20 system, which is based on Pathfinder rules.  However, I did create some lore for this as an actual Pathfinder creature.  I think that’s helpful to people who aren’t familiar with the source material, as well as to people who aren’t running their game in a Final Fantasy setting but want to use this creature anyway.

A lord of the revel is an ancient kami spirit. Each kami has a ward - a type of creature, object, or location that the kami's purpose is to watch over and protect - and a lord of revel's ward is a gladiatorial arena. They have water and electricity themed powers, and especially tend towards watching over arenas in oceanic or coastal civilizations that understand and respect the power of storms. Such civilizations sometimes worship and commune with lords of the revel, and it's become a tradition to invite them to be the host and/or the final battle of a gladiatorial tournament. The trophy of such a tournament - traditionally a powerful magic weapon - can be used in the ritual to summon a lord of the revel, and if summoned, it will immediately begin challenging anyone it sees to face it and revel in the glory of combat. The winner earns the right to take the prize weapon and have it empowered by the kami's essence.

If you decline a lord of the revel's challenge, but you appear to have martial prowess, it sometimes won't take no for an answer. Lords of the revel love combat, and constantly shout both challenges and encouragement to their opponents during combat, as well as invitations for onlookers to join the fight.

Lord of the Revel - CR 13

Standing twenty feet tall and wielding an electrified blade, the massive frame of this swordsman is completely hidden by its decorative armor, but the sound of a thunderstorm can be heard echoing from within the plate mail.

XP 25,600 CG Huge outsider (kami, native) Init +5 Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17 Aura lightning blasting aura (DC 26; 60 ft.)

DEFENSE

AC 26, touch 11, flat-footed 24 (+12 armor, +1 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural, -2 size) hp 229 (17d10+136) DR 10/cold iron Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +14; +12 vs. water effects Immune electricity, wind effects

OFFENSE

Speed 35 ft. (50 ft. without armor) Melee +3 shocking burst bastard sword +26/+21/+16/+11 (3d8+13/19–20 plus 1d6 electricity) Special Attacks dark clouds, part the seas, part the skies, rasen kaikyo

Spell-like Abilities (CL 13th; concentration +16)     1/day—storm prison (DC 18; see text)

STATISTICS

Str 24, Dex 13, Con 24, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 16 Base Atk +17; CMB +26 (+30 bull rush); CMD 37 (39 vs. bull rush; +12 vs. water effects) Feats Armor Focus (full plate), Dodge, Greater Bull Rush, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will, Toughness, Weapon Focus (bastard sword) Skills Acrobatics +4, Climb +15, Diplomacy +5, Knowledge (local) +9, Perception +15, Swim +22 Languages Aquan, Auran, Common; telepathy 100 ft. Gear Huge +2 moderate fortification full plate, Huge +3 shocking burst bastard sword

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Dark Clouds (Su) Once per day as a free action, a lord of the revel can summon two dark clouds which appear within 100 ft. of the lord of the revel. The dark clouds have the statistics of huge air elementals, except that they cannot use the whirlwind special ability or attack in any way, except for the line attack described below. They roll initiative rather than acting on the lord of the revel's turn, but share the same initiative as each other.

While the dark clouds are no more than 100 ft. from the lord of the revel, and have line of sight and line of effect to each other, they can both use a full-round action to blast all creatures in a direct line between them, and within 5 ft. of that line, with electricity and wind. Creatures on this line and within 5 ft. of it, other than the dark clouds and the lord of the revel, take 8d6 electricity damage, and the area of this effect is treated as severe wind for 1 round, moving in a direction from one dark cloud to the other (the dark clouds' choice which direction). This acts as the gust of wind spell. A DC 19 Reflex save halves the damage, and a DC 19 Fortitude save negates the wind effect. The save DC is based on the average Constitution bonus of the dark clouds.

The dark clouds last for 10 minutes. If one dark cloud is destroyed, the other is immediately destroyed as well.

Storm Prison (Sp) Once per day as a spell-like ability, a lord of the revel can encase a target within medium range (typically 230 ft.) in electrified stone, functioning as the icy prison spell (caster level 13, DC 18, 39 hp) except that the damage is electricity instead of cold.

A target completely encased in this electrified stone is capable of withstanding the tornado created by a lord of the revel's Part the Skies ability, and takes no effect from it. The electrified stone itself takes 8d8 damage from the tornado.

Spell resistance applies. Treat this as a 5th-level evocation [electricity] spell.

Lightning Blasting Aura (Su) When below half hit points, a lord of the revel gains a lightning blasting aura. Each round at the start of its turn, enemies of the lord of the revel within this aura take 1d8 electricity damage with no save.

Moderate Fortification A lord of the revel wears moderate fortification armor. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on the wearer of this armor, there is a 50% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally.

Part the Sea (Su) Twice per day as a standard action, a lord of the revel can perform a melee attack against a target against its reach and follow it up with a special bull rush made with an extra +30 bonus (typically for a total of +60).

If the bull rush is successful, then immediately afterwards, a massive hurricane of wind and water fills the entire battlefield within a 300 ft. radius of the lord of the revel, counting as difficult terrain and creating partial concealment (20% miss chance) everywhere except for the line of spaces that the target was pushed through by the bull rush. These spaces are the "eye of the storm," and are safe.

A lord of the revel's turn ends immediately after using Part the Sea, even if it has actions remaining. On the following round after using Part the Sea, if the bull rush was successful, a lord of the revel can use Part the Skies.

After using Part the Sea, a lord of the revel cannot use it again for 5 rounds.

Part the Skies (Su) As a full-round action on the following round after using Part the Seas, a lord of the revel can create a massive tornado that lasts until the start of its next turn, affecting all creatures within 300 ft. that are not in the "eye of the storm" created by its Part the Seas ability, except for itself and its dark clouds. Even creatures outside of the lord of the revel's line of sight and line of effect are affected by the tornado, unless they are in a completely enclosed space capable of withstanding the tornado's winds.

The tornado destroys nonfortified buildings and uproots large trees. Ranged attacks, including normal, siege, and even those produced by evocation spells, are impossible in the tornado. Huge or smaller creatures must succeed a DC 20 Strength check or be sucked up by the funnel of the tornado; this deals 8d8 points of bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing lethal damage to the creatures. This damage ignores all but DR/epic, DR/—, and hardness. Once it deals this damage, the tornado flings the creature it has sucked up 1d20×10 feet up and away from the eye of the tornado, dealing 1d6 points of falling damage per 10 feet that the creature is flung. Gargantuan and larger creatures take the 8d8 points of damage but are not moved by the tornado.

Rasen Kaikyo (Su) As a standard action, once every 1d4 rounds, a lord of the revel can place five visible magic circles on surfaces within 100 ft. of itself. Each circle has a 20-ft. radius. At the start of the lord of the revel's next turn, each circle erupts into a conjured whirlpool of torrential water, dealing 6d6 bludgeoning damage to targets within the area. A target in the area of multiple whirlpools is affected by each of them. A DC 21 Reflex save halves the damage. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Stormsplitter (Su) As a full-round action, while below half hit points, a lord of the revel can make a melee attack at its highest base attack bonus against every opponent in a 60-ft. line, supernaturally reaching its targets with a shockwave from its weapon. It must make a separate attack roll against each opponent.

[hotarutranslations]

Up To Boy!

Evening

Everyone, I'm late to make this announcement!

Released on December 22nd, "Up To Boy"

Ishida Ayumi, Oda Sakura, Nonaka Miki

its been published😌💫

Creating two looks, one natural, and one sharp and snappy, is what was photographed! By all means!

This shoot was,

the day after the Yokohama Arena performance🩷

the day after Fukumura Mizuki-san's graduation performance,

In the evening of that day, I didn't write a blog so!

Before I wrote my thoughts for the blog, In this interview we talked about, How is it after YokoAri~✍️

I feel like this hasn't happened before, doing it the next day~

I'd be happy if you enjoyed, the photos and interview🫶🏻

M-line Music #123

The other day I performed as a guest, at an M-line live,

Within that,

I sang with Sato Masaki-chan🐣🐣 "Watashi ga ite Kimi ga iru"

It was uploaded~~~

It was made into a video~~~! lol

Thank you very much😌✨ Please definitely check it out😌✨

In the first BMelo, I'm smiling and waving but, Maa is making a face that matches the lyrics, At first I didn't notice it,

Ah, I noticed it, it shows even the moment her expression changed, that's a highlight👏🏻

lol

I thought it'd be fun to stir up the excitement in the intro, and then at the last minute to do the choreography~ you can see thats how it is with the 2 of us

By all means!🫶🏻

Please tell me what you liked too

⋆͛📣~December 25th 12:00PM deadline

Ishida Ayumi's Birthday Event on January 9th Same-Day Ticket Preorders

For those that didn't make it to the ticket lottery, For those that lost the lottery the first time, Please don't miss this opportunity!

⋆͛📣December 27th 5:00PM~ January 2nd 12:00AM "Morning Musume '23 FC Event ~Musume xFANxFun!x Christmas~" Stream

Merry Christmas----🎄.*

December 29th COUNTDOWN JAPAN 23/24

1:15PM~ EARTH STAGE set🌎💫

📣December 31st~January 1st CDTV Live! Live! New Years Special Morning Musume '23 will be performing!

⋆͛📣Around New Years…… It seems Sendai Broadcast's "Sugo! Job" will be rerun👩🏻‍💻

Definitely read the serialization, ok

#136 Excellent Jacket Play✍️

Sendai Broadcast "Ara Ara Kashiko" If you missed, "Ishida Ayumi Goes!" its being streamed on,

OX VIDEO STORE

#Ishida Ayumi Goes!

see you ayumin <3

[busghost]

I posted 1,299 times in 2022

198 posts created (15%)

1,101 posts reblogged (85%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@cloud-ya

@flyingfudgenuggets

@caydencrypted

@valliass

@snow-n-cream

I tagged 1,195 of my posts in 2022

Only 8% of my posts had no tags

#honkai impact - 1,082 posts

#raiden mei - 149 posts

#kiana kaslana - 138 posts

#fu hua - 120 posts

#herrscher of the void - 76 posts

#senti - 61 posts

#murata himeko - 57 posts

#bronya zaychik - 48 posts

#bianka ataegina - 48 posts

#hi3 lore - 43 posts

Longest Tag: 136 characters

#and i feel bad cause new players don't get all the events that were so fun and really made the 6 st. freya characters feel like a family

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Pardo in lore: I cannot fight, I am weak like a small baby

Pardo in gameplay: I have replaced half the elemental supports in Memorial Arena

231 notes - Posted April 28, 2022

#4

Happy Pride Month to Honkai Impact

Kiana and Mei

Bronya and Seele

See the full post

248 notes - Posted June 1, 2022

#3

I dislike that the recent reveal has led to some people calling Kiana K-423, so they can call Bianka Kiana instead. They both already have names you know?

252 notes - Posted February 4, 2022

#2

do we know what honkai beast each flamechaser has in them?

Not every single one but for quite a few!

Kevin has genes from the Emperor-class Honkai beast Parvati, the boss in MA and the Honkai beast Theresa killed when she was only 1 year old. Parvati has ice powers thus all the red/black ice Kevin uses and the -30°C body temperature.

See the full post

257 notes - Posted August 24, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

You know about those? I have so many questions...would you be willing to expand on that chart?

The post in question, in case anyone missed it.

I'll just go down the list and start explaining every one I know in a sentence or two.

Welcome everyone to busghost explains the joke.

The first box is pretty self explanatory. Lobby 1 belongs in hell though. I once saw somebody say "use my tongue as your toilet paper" and that's the quality of statements said in Lobby 1 NA.

The Second Box begins getting a little more interesting.

Brilliant Light Fu Hua: there's a scene in the bunny girl video where Senti temporarily takes over Hua's body and feels up her own ass.

Dvalin: has a cameo in chapter 17 when Otto looks across the multiverse.

I dunno daily accounts, maybe it means playing every day.

LE/HoT/HoF Armada support: You always set your friend support as one of them because they give MASSIVE starting sp to people, unconditionally in LE's case.

Theres'a creation: This is just the Theresa Chronicle. She's a clone of Kallen with genes from the Honkai beast Vishnu. Otto was trying one of his many schemes to get Kallen back.

Genshin Appropriation: Genshiners™ only care about Honkai for the bare minimum it can provide them with Genshin Theories, don't actually know/care about the story, and treat it like a stupid little side game to the Holy Relic that is Genshin. "DAE HIMEKO IS DILUC'S MOM???" "OMG DILUC IS A COOLER HIMEKO" You've probably heard these phrases before.

Idk what the Otto homophobia is, probably people who think that Otto wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with Kallen and ignored the fact that she's gay. That opinion kinda misses out on all the nuance of Otto and Kallen's relationship.

Kiana flies herself to the Moon: I mean, she does. Characters do it a few times actually. Also Fly Me 2 the Moon was Mihoyo's first game and it's main character is Kiana.

The Day You Vanished with the Stars: The event that has broken everyone's hearts by making you watch the Captain try to save Kongming over and over and endlessly failing. A really good event, most people's favorite in the Captainverse.

"She will never forget the promise to go to the beach with her friend": Bronya promised to take Seele to the sea but then Seele got quantized and trapped in the Sea of Quanta. Very sad, won't be fulfilled for years.

The Third Box

A-303: Theresa is clone serial number A-310. Otto made her fight A-303 but Theresa refused to kill her. A-303 grows up to become Amber. (idk why she grows up and Teri doesn't, or why Amber is a cyborg)

Fu Hua's taxes: this a great meme from tumblr where somebody asked how/if Fu Hua would pay taxes all the way at Mt. Taixuan. https://busghost.tumblr.com/post/665322989875806208/well-the-answer-is-simple-does-fu-hua-legally

APHO Project Bunny: Project Bunny 19C has retired in APHO so Bronya gets a new gun from Theresa and she names it Project Bunny 0019

Schicksal is the Catholic Curch: I mean that's exactly what it says. The leader is an Archbishop, the Valkyries used to dress like nuns. There are crosses everywhere and Kallen mentions that they're supposed to follow the "Good Book" a name for the Bible. They also talk about "holy" this and that and there are churches everywhere. This makes it VERY funny that Schicksal's cover story in the modern day is as a religious charity/ idol company that calls their idols Valkyries.

Unfinished stories is to general for me say anything about, I'm certain there are unfinished/abandoned plots in Honkai.

Lesbian Jesus: After Kallen dies people start regarding her as the Holy Maid who died for our sins to save everyone... Sound similar to certain Christian religious figure?

Joachim Nokianvertanen: The name Welt Yang was given by his parents. He adopted the Name Welt after taking up the responsibilities of being the Herrscher of Reason. Yang is his mother's maiden name.

Honkai Tumblr: You are here.

Fetus Mobius: not 100% sure but Mobius spoke her first words minutes after being born, so that's pretty funny. The question is also posed that if Mobius died enough times will she revert all the way back to a fetus?

Adam x Mei/Bronya shippers exist: self explanitory and gross! they really did go "unlesbians your gays". Also Adam is a minor.

Durandal's Age: the origins of Bianka are known now but before the only thing we knew about Bianka's age was that Jan 1st, 2000 was a placeholder since she had no memories. This led to plenty of people calling Rita a pedophile for being in a relationship with, even though Bianka is clearly not 16-17. It's over now, We know how old she is, 19 nearly 20.

Fourth Box

Kiana B: Bianka is the original Kiana. Rearrange the letters in Bianka and it spells Kiana B. The other Kiana...

See the full post

262 notes - Posted February 12, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[whgmasterofceremonies]

WHG 17 - Day 1

36 pedestals rise up onto shallow islands of grass amid a sea of mud. In the center, a giant cornucopia rests, overflowing with resources and weapons. Beyond the clearing, it looks like an ecologist tried to explain the differences between swamps, marshes, fens, etc. and the bored game designer responded with, “Why not just put them all in?” Dozens of rivers crash from higher grounds, leading to false oceans with vicious waves. The arena is huge, oblong and confusing in shape, and ridden with mutated plantlife.

As the first sixty seconds tick down, a fine mist begins to fall. Distant thunder rumbles. As if in echo, the horn sounds as the countdown reaches zero, and it’s time to get bloody.

Finn gets the first ofishal--sorry, official kill of the Games with Julian keen to keep up! One Oliver Rook comes out swinging and Deacon makes a bit of an ignoble move. A few other tributes decide to take the moral high ground and work together, while others like Anton Ward and Caelum Chen look to make themselves dangerous. I am particularly concerned about Ward.

And by “concerned” I mean totally excited! And that was just the first five minutes! Let’s see how our now 34 tributes fare for the rest of their first day!

Nico unfortunately discovers a new talent in trap detection! File that one under “failure.” Fernando kills one Stone with...whatever she had on her at the time. That’s it for the deaths for now, despite Caelum’s best efforts! Now, that’s what I call a game of fast chess.

In the meantime, Bastian Smyth gets homesick a whopping 6 hours into the Games, a bunch of folks rob an android, and we see some generous sponsors!

As the artificial sun sets on this watery wasteland, the cannons fire four more times and the faces and names of the day’s fallen tributes light up the holographic sky.

And then the fun begins afresh!

Caelum sets off for heaven and Aidan bows out...get it...bow...like in archery...fletchers make arrows...Anyway, Evelyn Haskell succumbs to gravity, Charlie spills his guts, a local deer god gets back at management by sticking it to Orville Violet-Verduzco, whose boss also dies along with Danica Vesrani. (I was really looking forward to seeing Ward use those explosives, too.)

Some people didn’t die, though! It’s a narrow miss for Lara Aigua, and Ferret also seems to be having a problem, plus some general crying and failure. Good on Chrissy for keeping it positive.

Thanks for tuning in to Day 1! We’re just warming up, folks, and I’ll see you here tomorrow for more!

District 1

Deputy Buzzkill (she/her), @ratracechronicler ​

Danica Vesrani (she/her), @alannaofroses

Meilan Liu (she/her), @starryeve88

District 2

Adrestia/“Drest” (she/her), @concealeddarkness13

Oliver Rook (they/them), @pen-of-roses

Kito Faraji (he/him), @starryeve88

District 3

Neuron (he/him), @knmartinshouldbewriting

Ad Lib (she/her), @knmartinshouldbewriting ​

Safia Sauda (she/her), @starryeve88 ​

District 4

Avanda Alistairion (she/her), @scribbles-to-feed-the-void ​

Evander Moore (he/him), @pen-of-roses

Jack (she/her), @onthetipofmyquill ​

District 5

Aidan Fletcher (he/him), @alannaofroses ​

Bastian Smyth (he/him), @alannaofroses ​

Vonnie Stone (she/her), @sparkles-and-hens ​

District 6

Charlie (he/him), @very-bi-giraffe ​

Jack (he/him), @very-bi-giraffe ​

Carsen (he/him), @onthetipofmyquill ​

District 7

Caelum Chen (he/him), @scribbles-to-feed-the-void ​

Mica (he/him), @maple-writes ​

Julian (he/him), @onthetipofmyquill ​

District 8

Fernando (he/him), @written-in-gold ​

Finn (he/him), @crazy-like-us ​

Deacon Noble (she/her), @childrenoflight-darkness-nothing

District 9

Amara (she/her), @written-in-gold ​

Lara Aigua (she/her), @crazy-like-us ​

Tyde Westbrook (he/him), @childrenoflight-darkness-nothing

District 10

Chrissy (he/him), @written-in-gold ​

Jasper Perle (he/him), @crazy-like-us ​

Evelyne Haskell (she/her), @childrenoflight-darkness-nothing

District 11

Nico Talent (she/her), @spacebrick3 ​

Orville Violet-Verduzco (she/her), @spacebrick3 ​

Anton Ward (he/him), @spacebrick3 ​

District 12

Chess (she/her), @concealeddarkness13

Zazu Hodkins (he/him), @vermontwrites

Ferret O’Connor (he/him), @scribbles-to-feed-the-void ​

[theheightofdishonor]

So I was going to post about my top 3 Metal Saga ships (which in order is Gingka/Kyoya, Masamune/King/occasionally Chris, and Dashan/Julian) but then I got sidetracked when thinking about one of my favourite Masamune and King scenes which is in Metal Fury Ep 128 .  This is hella longer than I expected but oh well

Context: Gingka and co believe Masamune could be a Legendary Blader and join a tournament to awaken the Star Fragment in Striker. In the final battle of the tournament, Chris is revealed to be the Legendary Blader and Gingka urges him to join their cause however Chris refuses because he is a blader for hire and doesn’t care for friends. 

In the scene, King is very hostile towards Chris and can’t comprehend why Gingka wants a guy like that on his side and the others’ attempts to explain the importance of recruiting Chris goes unheard. When Chris responds to Gingka’s pleas with derision and an insult to Masamune, King loses his temper and forces Chris to battle him. During the battle, he gives an impassioned defense of his friend which is centered around the idea that although Chris beat Masamune, he’s not better than him. 

As stated above, it’s one of my favourite moments for this ship- something about it just really speaks to me. Part of it’s that i’m a fan of public declarations. The other part’s just that there’s an emphasis in this episode about how no one else can or does prioritize Masamune’s feelings in regarding the situation. Gingka, Yuki, Madoka, they all understand how important the Legendary Blader situation is and whether they want to or not, they have to prioritize convincing Chris to join them because the fate of the world is at stake. It’s understandable. King however, let’s his emotions think for him and can’t focus past the fact that his best friend is hurt and it’s this guy’s fault. Also, just general outrage that this arrogant asshat beat his friend. He lashes out, at Chris, at Gingka, and honestly, everyone there because he can’t get why the rest of them don’t seem to care as much as he does about Masamune. 

Most of this is because Masamune’s arguably the first close friend King’s ever had. Unlike Chris, who was thrown away by his friends, King was rejected by his entire community. It’s implied he didn’t have any significant friends. So when he meets Masamune, it’s a total game-changer. Masamune’s the first person to challenge him, to not shy away from his strength but rather welcome it, the first person that gets him. Masamune’s the most important person in his life, important enough that he’d easily chose to stay rather than go with Gingka and discover other very strong bladers. (which he states was his biggest desire, meeting bladers who can challenge him). Of course he’d welcome other challenges and battles with delight but not at the sake of losing Masamune. 

The Beyster Island Tournament takes place anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks after Destroyer Dome. When it comes down to it, of course he’s going to pick Masamune’s side. Of course he’s going to care more about what’s essentially everything he’s ever wanted wrapped up into (1) person. Sure the abstract idea of saving the world and doing the right thing is appealing but when it takes place in the form of begging a guy that not only hurt his best friend but is also an asshole- well, King’s not that selfless. 

There’s also this other scene that i’m going to talk about here because it’s in the same episode. It’s at the end of the episode after this shitshow of a battle is over. Masamune pretends like he’s OK except he’s not because Masamune’s awful at handling his losses in battles like this where there’s a lot at stake. He dwells on his mistakes and it takes him a long time to get over it- just look at his response to losing to Nile in Masters. King picks on this despite knowing Masamune for a very short period of time and pulls him out of his slump in mere minutes- which canonly, he’s the only person to have that ability. Gingka’s multiple attempts throughout Masters and Fury have proven wildly ineffective and I’m sure others have tried but they’re not successful either. It’s a very sweet, emotional scene between these two and also like 60% why I ship them. 

All that to say, I genuinely love their dynamic, whether it be translated platonically or romantically. And one of the things that I love is that King’s unapologetically on Masamune’s side before anything else. It doesn’t matter if Masamune’s wrong or there’s another problem to focus on, he prioritizes Masamune. It’s why the helicopter scene in Ep 136/137 always surprises me because I expect King to resist the idea Masamune can’t come along and he doesn’t and it always surprises me a little bit because that’s the only time in the series that King’s #1 priority isn’t Masamune. It’s not a bad thing- he’s maturing and choosing the right thing/practical thing/only thing to do but it surprises me nonetheless. 

Sidenote: Let’s briefly discuss Ep 132 & 134 in regards to these two. The Legendary Bladers are all lured into battling in special arenas that siphon off their power to Nemesis- all except Ryuga and King. Ryuga because he’s not there and King because King chooses to battle with Masamune instead- come on, it’s adorable. Even when Johannas tries to seperate the “unimportant bladers”, Masamune still makes it through and the “evildoers” don’t even try to get King to battle in a special arena. Oh and King and Masamune have a joint special move like wHaT. And this isn’t even a Masamune&King thing but the evil dudes send out not one but TWO people to battle Masamune cuz they know my boy is strong af and honestly, i’m here for it

[trugolfsimulator-blog]

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[phroyd]

TULSA — Six members of the advance team preparing to staff President Trump’s rally here Saturday tested positive for the coronavirus, underscoring concerns about holding a massive indoor event in a city where cases are spiking.

The campaign made that announcement, saying quarantine procedures had gone into effect for the infected staff members and those in “immediate contact" with them, as hundreds of supporters filled downtown streets in anticipation of the president’s rally — his first since the virus brought much of public life to a standstill in March.

Upon entering the rally grounds, attendees were handed blue face coverings and directed through a maze of metal fencing, which led to a touchless temperature screening conducted by volunteers in purple smocks.

City police erected black fencing and other barriers around the 19,000-seat BOK Center, a private venue leased by the Trump campaign. Shortly before noon, the campaign directed officers to arrest a protester who had sat down within the barricaded zone, according to the police department.

The protester, Sheila Buck of Tulsa, said she had a ticket to the event. She was wearing a shirt that read, “I can’t breathe," among the final words uttered by George Floyd as a police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck.

Adding to the fortified atmosphere, about 250 National Guard soldiers were on hand to supplement local authorities. Some were armed after the threat level was elevated, said Lt. Col. Geoff Legler, a spokesman for the Guard. Initially, the plan was to equip them only with batons, shields and pepper spray.

The president is heading to Tulsa at a precarious moment for his presidency. Recent polls show him trailing former vice president Joe Biden nationally and in a number of critical swing states, suggesting he has suffered politically from his handling of the coronavirus — which has killed more than 120,000 Americans — and his response to roiling demonstrations over racial injustice and police brutality triggered by Floyd’s killing last month.

The protests and the pandemic collided with Trump’s visit to Tulsa, where the number of new coronavirus cases continues to mount. The county reported 136 new cases on Saturday — marking another high for both single-day and average cases — while the state as a whole reported 331 new infections.

Most police officers, National Guard soldiers, food vendors and the vast majority of people in line chose not to wear face coverings, though Trump-branded masks dotted the crowd. The Confederate flag also appeared — all the more striking because Oklahoma was not a state at the time of the Civil War.

Margene Dunivant and her son Christian Lynch, both of Tulsa, sat on the edge of the crowd, taking in the scene.

“Everybody here is just full-on American and American Dream and hard-working, and just believes in everything America,” said Dunivant, 52. “Nowadays, it’s like you put on a Trump shirt and you’re considered racist, and it’s just wrong. We’re good people, and we love everybody."

A clashing view was also on display in Tulsa, where counteractions were planned with such names as “Dump the Trump Rally” and “Rally Against Hate.” Antipathy to the president — and objections to his insistence on gathering thousands of people indoors for a campaign event — fused with the outpouring for Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating freedom for enslaved black people.

“It’s irresponsible to say the least,” said Mareo Johnson, a pastor and the founder of Black Lives Matter Tulsa. His organization was involved in organizing a Saturday demonstration at John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, less than a mile from the president’s rally.

His message to the city’s black residents, he said, was, “Stay focused on what Juneteenth represents.”

The commemoration held added significance in Tulsa, a city scarred by racist violence in 1921, when a white mob killed an estimated 300 black residents and devastated an area of the city known at the time as “Black Wall Street.” The Tulsa Race Massacre unfolded in the Greenwood neighborhood, where the words “Black Lives Matter” were painted on a road in bright yellow paint on Friday.

The events — freighted with political and historical meaning — turned the city into a magnet, leaving epidemiologists and public health officials fearful about the spread of the virus.

Susan Schoonover and her husband Brian said they woke up at 3 a.m. to drive the 15 miles from their home in Glenpool, Okla. Standing in line to see Trump, Schoonover sparkled in a tutu, tube socks and a red, white and blue head piece, clad for her first Trump rally. The pair purchased a cardboard cutout of Trump from Amazon to display in line, and they said it has been a hit with other attendees.

The parents of four left their children at home “just in case,” they said, citing recent unrest in cities across the country. As for the pandemic, they did not discount the threat of the coronavirus and planned to take some precautions. If they were to contract the virus, however, “it’s not a death sentence,” they said, because both are in their early 30s. Older people with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable, but young adults have also been badly sickened, including by an inflammatory syndrome linked to covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Robin Wilson, 64, said she was not concerned about contracting the virus inside the stadium despite a heart condition that put her in a wheelchair two years ago.

“I’m here because I love my president,” said Wilson, who used to work in insurance, “and I feel that he’s misrepresented by the mainstream media. And I believe that this is history in the making today, and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Brian Clothier, 61, found a more eye-catching way to illustrate his view of possible risks from the coronavirus. He wore an adult diaper over his pants, where he placed a sign saying the underwear would “stop the spread,” in a reference to the disputed notion that flatulence can be linked to coronavirus transmission.

By early Saturday, lines had formed around three major entrances to the arena, and state troopers and tactical teams in military-style fatigues were massing at the conference center across the street on the southwestern side of the downtown stadium.

The event was able to proceed after the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday rejected a bid to require the BOK Center to enforce social distancing guidelines spelled out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and endorsed by members of the president’s own coronavirus task force. The campaign said it would hand out masks but not require them.

The Trump campaign had originally scheduled the rally for Friday, Juneteenth, but postponed a day following an outcry. The president, after admitting not to have known about the significance of June 19 for many African Americans, claimed in an interview with the Wall Street Journal to have made it “famous.” Some feared the one-day delay would not prevent conflict.

“My fear is that we will see Charlottesville 2.0 in Tulsa,” said Karlos K. Hill, chair of the African and African American studies department at the University of Oklahoma, referring to the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in 2017.

In addition to crowds gathered for the rally and Juneteenth activities, an estimated 4,500 people were expected at an exposition space across town for the Oklahoma Gun Show and the Spring Home and Outdoor Living Expo. Discover Tulsa advertised the chance to see more than “70,000 square feet of guns this weekend."

Trump on Friday threatened protesters preparing to greet him in Tulsa, warning on Twitter: “Any protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes who are going to Oklahoma, please understand, you will not be treated like you have been in New York, Seattle or Minneapolis. It will be a much different scene!”

The Trump campaign has repeatedly touted figures suggesting as many as 1 million people have signed up for the event, vastly outstripping the arena’s capacity.

A curfew that had been in place Thursday was rescinded for Friday night after discussions between Trump and Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum (R), who has called the president’s decision to hold the event in his city a “tremendous honor” while declining to attend it. The state’s Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, has embraced the president’s move, saying of concerns about the coronavirus, “We’ve got to learn to deal with this,” while his health commissioner warned in a statement this week that “individuals looking to attend Saturday’s event, or any other large-scale gathering, will face an increased risk of becoming infected with covid-19 and becoming a transmitter of this novel virus.”

Though there was no curfew in place Friday, a “secure zone” was established around the site of the rally to “keep the area clear of individuals that are only present to break the law and disrupt the rights of people assembling peacefully,” according to the Tulsa Police Department.

Andrea Anderson, an FBI spokeswoman in Oklahoma City, said the Bureau was supplying investigative resources to state and local partners to “ensure public safety and security.”

Phroyd

[notverybrighton]

Damien was still bleeding. He needed to find shelter. But the Gamemakers had chosen a color for their wardrobes that made shelter seem impossible, particularly from the distance that he was able to stagger, bleeding, away from the Cornucopia.

Perhaps he deserved to die like this.

He'd managed to get himself behind a cliff face of some sort, but it wasn't covered so much as just out of the way, and the trail of blood Damien had left behind him did him no favors. He was unsurprised when he looked up and saw another tribute. He clutched the bloody dagger in one gloved hand, leaning against the freezing rock, and waited.

@abel--evans

[tired-gage]

Gage was so struck by the vast expanse of clean snow, something never seen on the dirty streets of her neighborhood in Six, that she nearly missed the countdown, and nearly missed Wiley leaping from the platform in the wrong direction - right into the bloodbath. Oh no. Gage had sworn she would protect Wiley, so she scrambled off the platform after her. But there were too many bodies clashing and Gage ducked around a falling tribute and lost sight of Wiley in the fray.

Gage craned her neck, searching, but Wiley was on the other side of the Cornucopia when Gage spotted her. She was of no use to the girl now. No, she refused to let that be true. If Gage couldn't protect Wiley, perhaps she could aid her, and find something helpful now that she was trapped here. Gage looked quickly down, nothing within arm's reach save a pair of socks - but that could be useful, certainly, in somewhere so cold as this. She bent down to grab them.

@cowpokecole

[djbcadventures]

March/April 2019 Networking Calendar

Spring forward with opportunities to grow your business, look for new job opportunities, or to learn skills.  Here are some events to network at in March and April in the Columbus area.

MARCH

March 1 - CYP Cares Networking for a Cause Panel (7:30AM; Rev1 Ventures: 1275 Kinnear Rd., Northwest Columbus; http://www.cypclub.com) PPD to March 15 due to Scheduling Conflict with Venue - Whitehall Career Fair - previously rescheduled from February 1 (2-3:30PM: Whitehall-Yearling High School students ONLY; 3:30-6PM; Students and Adults; Whitehall-Yearling High School: 675 S. Yearling Rd., Whitehall; http://www.whitehallareachamber.org) (Closest Bus - # 2 East Main/North High) 

March 5 - DANG Networking Social and Pie Throwing Contest (6PM; Dublin Entrepreneurial Center: 565 Metro Place South, Dublin; http://www.chrisborja.com) (Bus - # 33 Henderson/Dublin Metro)

March 6 - Hilliard Women in Business Luncheon (11:30AM; The Reception House at Raymond Memorial by Schmidt’s: 3860 Trabue Road, West Columbus; http://www.hilliardchamber.org) (Bus - # 5 W 5th-Trabue/Refugee) - Bexley State of the Community (6PM; Cassingham Elementary School: 250 S. Cassingham Rd., Bexley; http://www.bexley.org) - Tri-Village Women in Business After Hours (6PM; Hudson 29: 1600 W. Lane Ave., Upper Arlington; http://chamberpartnership.org) (Closest Bus - # 3 Northwest/Harrisburg)

March 7 - AMA Happy Hour (5:30PM; Grass Skirt Tiki Room: 105 N. Grant Ave., Discovery District; http://www.columbusama.org) (Bus - # 7 Mount Vernon, 10 East/West Broad, or # 11 Bryden/Maize)

March 12 - NetworkDublin! Business Breakfast (7:30AM; Panera Bread: 875 Bethel Rd., Northwest Columbus; http://www.dublinchamber.org) - Westerville Quarterly Membership Luncheon - City of Westerville Update (11:15AM; The Medallion Club: 5000 Club Drive, Westerville; http://www.westervillechamber.com) - Bexley Women in Business (6PM; Piccadilly: 2501 E. Main St., Bexley; http://www.bexleyareachamber.org) (Bus - # 2 East Main/North High)  - Grandview Heights State of the City (6PM; The Grand Event Center: 820 Goodale Blvd., Grandview Heights; http://www.grandviewheights.org) (Bus - # 3 Northwest/Harrisburg, # 22 OSU/Rickenbacker, or # 31 Hudson)

March 13 - Whitehall State of the City (5:30PM; Wasserstrom: 4470 E. Broad St., Whitehall) (Bus - # 10 East/West Broad) - Diversity Chamber of Central Ohio (6PM; White Horse Vapor: 35 E. 5th Ave., Italian Village; http://www.diversitycolumbus.org) (Bus - # 1, 2, or 2L)

March 14 - Tri-Village Luncheon (11:30AM; La Tavola: 1664 W. 1st Ave., Grandview Heights; http://chamberpartnership.org) (Closest Bus - # 5 W 5th/Refugee or # 31 Hudson) (NOTE: Seating LIMITED to 60 People) - GETDOT Networking (5:30PM; Fado Irish Pub and Kitchen: 6642 Riverside Drive, Dublin; http://www.getdotnetworking.org)  - Westerville Business After-Hours (5:30PM; Adena Corporation: 774 Park Meadow Rd., Westerville; http://www.westervillechamber.com) - CYP Club Networking Night (6PM; Worthington Gardens: 5146 N. High St., Clintonville; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 2, 2L, 11, 33, or 34) - Dublin State of the City (6PM; The Exchange at Bridge Park: 6520 Riverside Drive, Dublin; http://www.dublinohiousa.gov) (Bus - # 33 Henderson/Dublin Metro) - Gahanna State of the City (6PM; Olde Gahanna Sanctuary: 82 N. High St., Gahanna; http://www.gahannaareachamber.com or http://www.gahanna.gov) (Bus - # 25 Brice; next closest bus is # 24 Hamilton)

March 15 - Breakfast with Business First, hosted by the Greater Columbus Sports Commission (7AM; Otterbein University Clements Center: 180 Center St., Westerville; http://www.columbusbusinessfirst.com) - CYP Cares Networking for a Cause Panel (7:30AM; Rev1 Ventures: 1275 Kinnear Rd., Northwest Columbus; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 31 Hudson) (NOTE: SOLD OUT/At Capacity) - Creative Mornings Columbus: Water (8:30AM; Franklin Park Conservatory Wells Barn: 1851 E. Broad St., Franklin Park; https://creativemornings.com/cities/clb) (Bus - # 10 East/West Broad) - Hilliard Chamber Annual Meeting (11:30AM; Heritage Golf Club: 3525 Heritage Club Drive, Hilliard; http://www.hilliardchamber.org) (Bus - # 32 North Broadway/Hilliard)

March 19 - CYP Club Conversations and Coffee (7:30AM; Crimson Cup Innovation Lab: 700 Alum Creek Drive, Near East Side; http://www.cypclub.com) (Closest Bus - # 2 East Main/North High or # 11 Bryden/Maize) - Westerville Lunch & Learn (Noon; Westerville Chamber: 99 Commerce Park Drive, Suite A, Westerville; http://www.westervillechamber.com) - Dublin Business After-Hours (5:30PM; Columbus Marriott Northwest: 5605 Blazer Parkway, Dublin; http://www.dublinchamber.org) (Bus - # 21 Hilliard-Rome) - Westerville Area Networking Group (6PM; Meza Wine Shop: 48 N. State St., Westerville)

March 20 - Get It Done Day! (8AM; Sparkspace: 300 Marconi Blvd., Arena District; http://www.sparkspace.com) (Bus - # 3, 5, 6, 8, or 9) - Marketing Mastery Club (8:30AM; Hopewell Works: 136 E. Chestnut St., Downtown Columbus; http://www.marketingfunwithmike.com) (Closest Bus - # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 2L, CBUS, or CMAX) - Dublin Women in Business Luncheon (11:30AM; Fado Irish Kitchen and Pub: 6642 Riverside Drive, Dublin; http://www.dublinchamber.org) - Bexley Networking Luncheon (12:30PM; Home2Suites: 412 E. Main St., Discovery District; http://www.bexleyareachamber.org)  (Bus - # 2 East Main/North High) - CYP Club Entrepreneurs and Innovators (6PM; North High Brewing: 1288 N. High St., Weinland Park; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 1 Kenny/Livingston or # 2 East Main/North High)

March 21 - Dublin Lunch & Learn (11:30AM; Dublin Chamber of Commerce: 129 S. High St., Dublin; http://www.dublinchamber.org) (Closest Bus - # 33 Henderson/Dublin Metro) - Franklinton Board of Trade Luncheon (11:30AM; Station 67: 379 West Broad Street, Franklinton; http://franklintonboardoftrade.org/) (Bus - # 10 East/West Broad or # 12 McKinley/Fields) - Westerville State of the Community (6:30PM; The Point at Otterbein University: 60 Collegeview Rd., Westerville; http://www.westerville.org or http://www.westervillechamber.org) (Closest Bus - CMAX to Polaris/Africa) - Cover Letter/Resume Workshop (7PM; Bexley Public Library: 2411 E. Main St., Bexley; http://www.bexleylibrary.org or http://www.jfscolumbus.org) (Bus - # 2 East Main/North High)

March 26 - Job Transition Group: Maximizing Library Resources in Your Job Search (6:30PM; Improving: 1 Easton Oval, Suite 175, Northeast Columbus; http://www.columbusama.org) (Bus - # 7 Mount Vernon/Easton, # 23 James/Stelzer, or # 32 North Broadway)

March 27 - Hilliard State of the City (6PM; City of Hilliard Municipal Building: 3800 Municipal Way, Hilliard; http://www.hilliardohio.gov) (Bus - # 21 Hilliard-Rome or # 32 North Broadway/Hilliard)

March 28 - Dublin YP Lunch Bunch (11:30AM; Amaze Escape Games: 989 N. 4th St., Italian Village; http://www.dublinchamber.org) (Bus - # 4 Indianola/Lockbourne, # 12 McKinley/Fields, or the CBUS) - Bexley Chamber After-Hours (5:30PM; G. Michael’s: 595 S. 3rd St., German Village; http://www.bexleyareachamber.org) (Closest Bus - # 1, 4, 5, 8, or CBUS)

APRIL

April 2 - Dublin YP Coffee Connections (9AM; Barry’s Bagels: 5760 Frantz Rd., Dublin; http://www.dublinchamber.org) (Bus - # 21 Hilliard-Rome) - DANG Networking Social and Pie Throwing Contest (6PM; Dublin Entrepreneurial Center: 565 Metro Place South, Dublin; http://www.chrisborja.com) (Bus - # 33 Henderson/Dublin Metro) 

April 4 - AMA Happy Hour (5:30PM; The Crest: 2855 Indianola Ave., Clintonville; http://www.columbusama.org) (Bus - # 4 Indianola/Lockbourne) 

April 5 - CYP Cares Networking for a Cause Panel (7:30AM; Rev1 Ventures: 1275 Kinnear Rd., Northwest Columbus; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 31 Hudson)

April 10 - Volunteer UA Expo (10AM; Upper Arlington Public Library Main Branch: 2800 Tremont Rd., Upper Arlington; http://www.ualibrary.org) (Closest Bus - # 3 Northwest/Harrisburg, and during PM drive only # 13 Arlington/1st) - Diversity Chamber of Central Ohio (6PM; Ohio History Connection: 800 E. 17th Ave., Linden; http://www.diversitycolumbus.org)

April 11 - Gahanna Business Builder Luncheon with Michael Rudd (11:30AM; LaNavona: 154 N. Hamilton Rd., Gahanna; http://www.gahannaareachamber.com) (Bus - # 24 Hamilton or # 25 Brice) - Tri-Village Monthly Luncheon (11:30AM; Marshall’s: 1105 W. 1st Ave., Grandview Heights; http://chamberpartnership.org) (Bus - # 31 Hudson) - CYP Networking Night (5PM; The Diamond Cellar: 6280 Sawmill Rd., Dublin/Northwest Columbus; http://www.cypclub.com (Bus - # 33)

April 13 - The Free Press Backyard Fundraiser (Noon; Columbus Free Press: 1021 E. Broad St., Olde Towne East; http://www.columbusfreepress.com) (Bus - # 10 East/West Broad) - The Free Press Second Saturday Salon (6:30PM; Columbus Free Press: 1021 E. Broad St., Olde Towne East; http://www.columbusfreepress.com) (Bus - # 10 East/West Broad)

April 16 - CYP Club Conversations and Coffee (7:30AM; Crimson Cup Innovation Lab: 700 Alum Creek Drive, Near East Side; http://www.cypclub.com) (Closest Bus - # 2 or 11) - Westerville Lunch & Learn (Noon; Westerville Chamber: 99 Commerce Park Drive, Suite A, Westerville; http://www.westervillechamber.com) - Dublin Business After Hours (5:30PM; Civista Bank: 6400 Perimeter Loop Drive, Dublin; http://www.dublinchamber.org)

April 17 - Marketing Mastery Club (8:30AM; Hopewell Works: 136 E. Chestnut St., Downtown Columbus; http://www.marketingfunwithmike.com) (Closest Bus - # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 2L, CBUS, or CMAX) - ABC6 Job Boot Camp (11AM; The Columbus Metropolitan Library - Main Branch: 96 S. Grant Ave., Discovery District; http://www.abc6onyourside.com) (Bus - # 10 East/West Broad or # 11 Bryden/Maize)  - Westerville Women in Business Luncheon (11:15AM; Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center: 100 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center; http://www.westervillechamber.com) - Bexley Networking Luncheon (12:30PM; Grain + Grape: 2780 E. Main St., Eastmoor; http://www.bexleyareachamber.org) (Bus - # 2 East Main/North High) 

April 18 - Dublin Lunch & Learn (11:30AM; Dublin Chamber: 129 S. High St., Dublin; http://www.dublinchamber.org) (Bus - # 33) - Franklinton Networking Luncheon (11:30AM; The Jubilee Museum: 57 S. Grubb St., Franklinton; http://www.franklintonboardoftrade.org) (Bus - # 10 or 12) - GETDOT Networking (5:30PM; The Bogey: 6013 Glick Rd., Dublin; http://www.getdotnetworking.org)  - Westerville Business After Hours (5:30PM; First Commonwealth Bank: 6156 Highland Lakes Ave., Westerville; http://www.westervillechamber.com)

April 19 - Breakfast with Business First  (7AM; Revolution Group at High Bank Distillery: 1051 Goodale Blvd., Grandview Heights; http://www.columbusbusinessfirst.com) (Closest Bus - # 3 Northwest/Harrisburg) - Creative Mornings Columbus: Inclusive with “Rock Doc” Dr. Randhir Sharma (8:30AM; SmartColumbus Innovation Center: 170 Civic Center Drive, Downtown Columbus; https://creativemornings.com/cities/clb) (Closest Bus - # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, or the CBUS)

April 23 - NetworkDublin! Business Breakfast (7:30AM; Vine and Tap: 55 S. High St., Dublin; http://www.dublinchamber.org) (Bus - # 33 Henderson/Dublin Metro) - The Path to Homeownership (5:30PM; BrewDog Franklinton: 463 W. Town St., Franklinton; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 3, 6, or 9)

April 25 - Clintonville Business After Hours (4:30PM; Lineage Brewing: 2971 N. High St., Clintonville; http://www.clintonvillechamber.com) (Bus - # 2)  - CYP Club Entrepreneurs and Innovators (6PM; North High Brewing: 1288 N. High St., Weinland Park; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 1 or 2) April 26 - 6 Secrets to Building a Stronger Brand (8AM; The Nest Co-Working: 1245 S. Sunbury Rd., Westerville; http://www.columbusypweek.com or https://nawbocbus.org)

April 29-May 4 - Columbus YP Week (Click here to view the week-long schedule)

May 1-4 - COSI Sci-Fest (Click here to view the week-long schedule)

April 29 - Columbus YP Week Kickoff Party (5:30PM; Columbus Idea Foundry: 421 W. State St., Franklinton; https://www.columbusypweek.com) (Closest Bus - # 3, 6, 9, 10, or 12)

April 30 - The Diversity and Inclusion Panel (7:30AM; Crimson Cup Innovation Lab: 700 Alum Creek Drive, Near East Side; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 2 or 11) - Speed Networking with the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio (7:30AM; Rev1 Ventures: 1275 Kinnear Rd., 5th by Northwest; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 31) - Easton Job Fair (12PM; Columbus Marriott - Airport: 1375 N. Cassady Ave., Northeast Columbus; http://www.jfscolumbus.org or http://www.eastontowncenter.com) (Bus - # 7 Mount Vernon/Easton) - LINC Headshot Happy Hour (5:30PM; Seventh Son Brewing: 1101 N. 4th St., Italian Village; http://www.columbusypweek.com) (Bus - # 4 or 12)

May 1 - Waffles, Women, and Work: Navigating Careers in Public Work Like Leslie Knope (8AM; Leadership Education Center - Room 130, Page Hall at The Ohio State University: 1810 College Road North, University District; http://www.columbusypweek.com) (Closest Bus - # 1, 2, or 31) - Whitehall Networking Lunch: A Safer Whitehall (11:30AM; Victory Ministries: 3964 E. Main St., Whitehall; http://www.whitehallareachamber.org) (Bus - # 2) - Margarita Mixes and Website Fixes (3PM; Buckeye Interactive: 8000 Walton Parkway, New Albany; http://www.gahannaareachamber.com)  - The Path to Homeownership (5:30PM; BrewDog Franklinton: 463 W. Town St., Franklinton; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 3, 6, or 9) - From this Moment On: Navigating Purpose to Your Process (6PM; Blockfort: 162 N. 6th St., Discovery District; http://www.femergy.org or http://www.columbusypweek.com) (Bus - # 7 or 11)

May 2 - The Executive Luncheon (11:30AM; J.Liu: 6880 N. High St., Worthington; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 2L North High/Polaris Parkway) - AMA Happy Hour (5:30PM; Cosecha Cocina: 987 N. 4th St., Italian Village; http://columbusama.org) (Bus - 4 or 12) - Columbus YP Week CYP Cares Volunteer Expo (5:30PM; Dave & Buster’s: 3665 Park Mill Run Drive, Hilliard; https://www.columbusypweek.com or http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 32 North Broadway/Hilliard)  - Everyone Starts Somewhere (6PM; Jeffrey Mansion: 165 N. Parkview Ave., Bexley; http://www.bexleyareachamber.org)  - Taste of Westerville (6PM; The Lakes Golf and Country Club: 6740 Worthington Rd., Westerville; http://www.westervillechamber.com) (Note - Event May Be Sold Out)

May 3 - CYP Cares Networking for a Cause Panel (7:30AM; Rev1 Ventures: 1275 Kinnear Rd., Northwest Columbus; http://www.cypclub.com) (Bus - # 31 Hudson)

April 29-May 5 - Columbus YP Week (Various Locations; More Information Coming Soon; https://www.columbusypweek.com/)

May 1-4 - COSI Science Festival (Various Locations; http://cosiscifest.org)

[taurus888]

3

I am the #1 barrel racer in all of Canada on my way to the Nationals Final Rodeo in Las Vegas. I will perform in front of millions of people in the arena and on national television. Frenchie and I have been working very hard for this day to come, and we are ready to win this. Finally, we arrived in Las Vegas and coming from a small town; everyone is deeply invested in my accomplishments to get this far to race against other professional women worldwide. 

There are three days of barrel racing, and it is the day of my first National Finals race. Frenchie and I are warming up in the back of the arena. Tension is built up between me and the other barrel racers. My mom and dad notice, and all they do is give me a smile and thumbs up. I feel confident in myself, and walk over to my parents with Frenchie and say, “I don’t want to use the helmet. I am going to be on national TV. Can I please use my cowgirl hat” they both reply with “No! Like we said before it is better to be safe than sorry”. 

I ended up winning first place on my first day of racing and placing third on my second day. At this point of the Nationals Finals Rodeo, I am reflecting on my life of barrel racing, and it is mind-blowing how I started off being petrified of this sport. Now, I am competing for first place in the world. My last and final race will determine this though, and to get first place, I need to win today. This time instead of my parents standing at the gate with me before I take off, they are sitting in the crowd because I told them I was confident enough not to have them there. I walk to my horse trailer just before the announcer calls me to enter the arena for my race. I am shaking because I know my parents may be angry with what I am about to do, but I need to experience this at least one time, and this time is special. 

The announcer calls Frenchie and me to the arena, and I am petting her neck and telling her, “we got this,” as I can literally feel her heartbeat in sync with mine. I feel the adrenaline rush, and it is the same feeling I have been chasing since my first-time barrel racing when I was 11. I kick her sides, and we take off faster than ever that. I feel like I am once again holding on for dear life. Wearing my cowgirl hat going this speed feels extraordinary. I see the clock at 10 seconds while turning the last barrel. We got this. I am kicking with my hands reaching to Frenchies ears allowing her to run the fastest we have ever gone. 

As we reach the timer at the finish line, going the fastest speed Frenchie and I have ever gone, the gate to run out of the arena is closed, and the rodeo workers are not opening it for us fast enough. Frenchie had nowhere to go, so she slit off to the right, and BANG, my life flashed before my eyes. When people say “life flashing before your eyes,” you see the things most important to you. I saw Beauty lying in the open field, my first horse, who started me on my journey to becoming a professional barrel racer attending the biggest rodeo in the world. I am suddenly in the back of the ambulance, and my head hurts as well as my body, and my parents are crying. The paramedic is holding onto parts of my body while assuring my parents I will be okay. The last thing I remember is Frenchie turning and the metal fence I was falling headfirst into. I can barely speak, but I utter, “how did I do,” and my parents frantically look back and say, “Sweetie, you did it, you are the #1 barrel racer in the whole world, but if you ever get on a horse without a helmet again we will kill you ourselves!”. I know they are joking, so I faintly giggle, and even though I do not look so good at this very moment, I happily think to myself how amazing my life is. 

[mariacallous]

The Kyiv Independent Ukraine Daily: Thursday, November 3

Russia resumes its participation in grain export deal. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said Russia was resuming participation in the deal because it had received guarantees from Ukraine that the grain export corridor would not be used for military purposes.

New York Times: Russian military bloggers criticize Putin for rejoining grain deal. Russia's war hawks took to social media on Nov. 2 to criticize the Kremlin after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's decision to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal to allow grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, the New York Times reports. The paper reported one Yuri Podolyaka as telling his 2.8 million followers on Telegram that “this weakness will have a negative impact on everything: at the front lines, in the rear, in the international arena."

Zelensky: Russia threatens grain corridors as it demands guarantees. In his daily evening address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian missile strikes from the Black Sea endanger grain corridor routes, even as Russia demanded security guarantees from Ukraine to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal. "This morning a Russian aircraft launched cruise missiles near Snake Island that flew through grain corridor routes. These launches, which are almost daily, directly threaten food exports," Zelensky said.

Zelensky, Erdogan discuss grain export deal, prisoner exchange. President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Nov. 2 for “his active participation in preserving the grain deal." Zelensky also said that they had discussed the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war captured by Russia.

NYT: Russian military leaders reportedly discussed use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Russian military leaders have discussed how and when Moscow might use tactical nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine, the New York Times reported, citing anonymous U.S. intelligence officials. "The conversations alarmed the (President Joe) Biden administration because they showed how frustrated Moscow had become over its battlefield setbacks in Ukraine," the NYT wrote.

Official: Kamikaze drone hits energy infrastructure in Kryvyi Rih. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the military administration of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, said that the damage was "significant." Several areas of the city were left without electricity and water due to the attack, he added.

Air Force: Ukraine downs 12 kamikaze drones overnight. The Ukrainian military downed 12 out of 13 Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones that Russia launched overnight on Nov. 2, according to Ukraine's Air Force. On Nov. 1, Ukraine's Air Force said it had already downed over 300 kamikaze drones fired at Ukraine by Russian forces.

Russia bans civilians from crossing Dnieper in Kherson Oblast. Russia attributed the ban to increasing military threats. The Russian occupation government stepped up the deportation of local residents from Kherson Oblast on Nov. 1 amid Ukraine’s continuing counter-offensive.

UK intelligence: Wagner Group advancing up to 200 meters daily, missing Russia's 30-kilometer goal. Head of Russia's military Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, says his forces are making advances of 100-200 meters per day, which he says is "normal in modern warfare," while Russia's military doctrine determines Russian forces plan to advance 30 kilometers or more daily, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on Nov. 2.

ISW: Financial incentives for Russian soldiers likely to put strain on Russian economy for decades. Russian officials have been promising lucrative salaries to volunteers and mobilized men that are more than twice the average Russian civilian salary, the Institute for the Study of War wrote in its latest update. The Kremlin will likely have to tap into the federal budget more heavily in the near future to cover the costs of salaries, the ISW said.

Medvedev wants to reintroduce capital punishment in Russia, kill 'traitors.' Dmitry Medvedev, acting deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, claimed on Nov. 2 that "yellow-blue" saboteurs who oppose Russian state policy on the invasion of Ukraine had begun operating in Russia, carrying out terrorist attacks. Medvedev said, during WWII, there was only one sentence "for such wretches – execution on the spot, without trial."

Propagandist who called for killing Ukrainian kids back on air. RT, a Kremlin-run TV channel, has published a sports documentary authored by propagandist Anton Krasovsky and later deleted it. The release of the documentary followed RT chief editor Margarita Simonyan's claim that the channel had suspended cooperation with Krasovsky due to his recent statements. Krasovsky, who was in charge of Russian-language content at RT, claimed that he had not been reinstated at the channel despite the release of the film.

The human cost of Russia’s war

Russia's attacks kill 4 civilians in Donetsk Oblast, injure 7 in Kharkiv Oblast. In the past 24 hours, Russian forces have wounded 10 people in Donetsk Oblast, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, the oblast governor. Seven people, including two children – a 4-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl – have been injured in Kharkiv Oblast, said Oleh Synehubov, the oblast governor.

Eight journalists killed in Ukraine since Feb. 24. At least eight journalists have been killed while reporting on Russia's war in Ukraine since Russian forces started their all-out invasion in February, according to Ukraine's Journalists' Union. "Russia should be brought to justice for war crimes, bloodshed, and the deaths of tens of thousands of people, including journalists," the union's statement reads.

General Staff: Russia has lost 73,270 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Nov. 2 that Russia had also lost 2,714 tanks, 5,525 armored fighting vehicles, 4,153 vehicles and fuel tanks, 1,733 artillery systems, 387 multiple launch rocket systems, 198 air defense systems, 277 airplanes, 258 helicopters, 1,438 drones, and 16 boats.

Ukrainian military: Russia has lost over 1,402 officers in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Senior officers make up 26% of the total number, Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Nov. 2, citing open-source intelligence. The number includes two lieutenant generals, eight major generals, 44 colonels, 98 lieutenant colonels, 193 majors, 279 captains, 471 senior lieutenants, and 235 lieutenants, Ukraine's military said.

International response

Spanish minister arrives in Kyiv, donates 30 ambulances to Ukraine. Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares arrived in Kyiv on Nov. 2 to deliver 30 ambulances to Ukraine, the ministry's press office told CNN. During the visit, Albares is also expected to meet with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Spain sends air defense systems to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares during his visit to Kyiv on Nov. 2. Ukraine received four Hawk air defense systems, an Aspide air defense battery, anti-tank missiles, guns, and ammunition.

Ministry: Western allies to allocate over 25 million euros to support Ukraine's energy sector. The European Union and other western allies, including the U.S, Japan, and Britain, will provide 25.5 million euros to cover Ukraine's urgent energy needs, the Energy Ministry reported. "Ukraine's energy sector needs not only financing but also the best world experience, technologies, and solutions that would allow it to withstand Russia's attacks," the statement reads.

UK sanctions four Russian steel, petrochemical oligarchs funding war in Ukraine. The U.K. has imposed sanctions against four Russian tycoons "who have enabled (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to mobilize Russian industries to support his military effort," the British government reported on Nov. 2. The measures targeted Alexander Abramov, Alexander Frolov, Airat Shaimiev, and Albert Shigabutdinov, who are thought to have a total estimated net worth of $8.75 billion.

North Korea accused of hiding ammunition supplies to Russia. U.S. officials said North Korea was trying to hide the shipments by making it appear as if the ammunition is being sent to the Middle East or North Africa, according to newly declassified intelligence quoted by CNN. Two months ago, U.S. intelligence alleged Russia was buying rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for use in Ukraine, CNN reported.

In other news

Regional development minister resigns. Oleksiy Chernyshov, the minister for the development of communities and territories, is expected to replace Yuriy Vitrenko as the CEO of Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas monopoly Naftogaz, according to sources cited by Ekonomichna Pravda and Forbes Ukraine.