#April 2005 Releases

[nfr-reviews]

NFR Reviews #4: San Francisco Earthquake & Fire: April 18, 1906

Released 1906 / Inducted 2005

Watch film here

There’s a clear progression here, a gradual tone shift that begins around the four-minute mark. At first, the camera pans slowly over the razing of giant destroyed walls and billowing clouds of smoke that sometimes obscure half the frame. When people appear, they’re either far in the distance or hurrying offscreen as soon as they can. By the end, people are the camera’s main focus, not an accidental scattered presence. They eat together in the streets and pose with mugs of some drink, fill the streets with horse-drawn carriages (complete with a joke about those newfangled automobiles), overstuff themselves into trollies, and pack boats as refugees to Oakland. 

The land that became San Francisco sits atop the San Andreas Fault, the meeting point of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. Earthquakes are inevitable whenever a lateral motion between the plates occurs. On April 18, 1906 at 5:12 AM, an earthquake was felt from Oregon to south of Los Angeles. The quake is tied to San Francisco in collective memory due to the three-day fire it caused. There were roughly 3,000 deaths and 225,000 left homeless. A central tension of both the film and wider earthquake recovery was whether to downplay the extent of the damage for the sake of the economy or to share the full knowledge in order to improve long-term safety. 

The film’s vast isolation gives way to a cramped togetherness that almost resembles normality–at least until a title card shows soldiers stationed outside the bank with a shoot-to-kill order in the event of looting. Their presence communicates that the normal operations of law and order are prevailing over the chaos of the earthquake, people’s life savings protected. Military, police, and firefighters provided the city with relief at rapid speed, tearing down buildings to prevent fire spread after destroyed water mains prevented typical firefighting methods. The “kill looters'' order was issued by the mayor, Eugene Schmitz, despite him not having the authority to declare martial law and thus suspend normal operations of civil law (that authority fell to the California governor or US president). Confusion ensued over which forms of laws were even in effect. Due process fell to the wayside. Homeowners retrieving their own belongings and people seeking help were mistaken for looters, including one instance of a man being shot exiting his own home. Authors writing about the disaster chose to emphasize the city’s quick recovery and portrayed the military as saviors, but their presence brought both relief from earthquake-caused fires and civilian deaths from gunfire.

San Francisco’s leadership downplayed the severity of the disaster on multiple occasions. They undercounted death rates to the point where the San Francisco Bulletin’s editor joked that the death count of sunstroke during a typical East Coast summer killed more people than the earthquake. Their quick rebuild didn’t implement as many long-term earthquake safety measures as there could have been, only adding new regulations if they didn’t cost too much time or money. They minimized the earthquake in favor of calling the disaster “fire-based” because fires can start anywhere but San Francisco’s propensity for earthquakes might scare off investors. Even after the earthquake, city officials didn’t declare a 1907 plague outbreak a public health emergency and antagonized the Board of Health until Edward Taylor became mayor and took action against the disease. This was to protect the still-ongoing economic recovery. 

Which reveals the reason for doing this: the city was a key hub of business in the western US, and their leaving would cost the city desperately needed money and jobs. However, not all San Franciscans had the same chance to take advantage of economic opportunities or even post-earthquake emergency services. Working class people, who lived in crowded wooden housing, were hit the hardest by the quake and fire. Chinese people were segregated, generally unable to find work outside Chinatown, and scapegoated as disease carriers before the quake. After the quake, they were frequently relocated away from white survivors by officials and barred from relief efforts. 

Despite efforts to downplay the disaster, scientific research laid groundwork for future generations of earthquake safety policy. The governor appointed a State Earthquake Investigation Commission, the first government-backed earthquake investigation in the US. Their 1908 final report contained extensive coverage of seismographic records, photos and maps of damaged locations, and explanations of how building construction and underlying soil/rock type affected how damaged buildings became. It was still being cited in earthquake safety proposals a century later. Measurements from triangulation surveys (showing how much angles changed in fixed lines on the ground) lead to the development of the elastic rebound theory. The US Geological Survey defines the theory as “how the earth's crust gradually and elastically distorts with accumulating plate motion until it is suddenly returned to its undistorted state by rapid slip along a fault, releasing the years of accumulated strain and, in the process, generating seismic waves that produce shaking.” The idea of fault ruptures creating earthquakes instead of the other way around only gained wide acceptance after the 1906 quake research. Generations of scientists built on knowledge shared in the wake of 1906. Predicting the timing of future earthquakes is still imprecise, but experts can tell which areas will be hit hardest by fault rupturing. Engineering, zoning, and building codes are all influenced by this data to protect from future disasters the best they can. 

So where does the film fit into all this? The people-focused sections, especially the bit about troubles vanishing at mealtime and the shots of bustling horse-drawn carriages add to the "extremely quick recovery” narrative that the government was also projecting. The film avoids the most egregious crisis-downplaying, though. There’s no effort to hide the fact that an earthquake occurred and not just a fire. They do mention Chinese people in this while discussing refugees who had to leave belongings behind; they refer to them as an offensive term, but don't engage in the scapegoating rampant among residents at the time. The coverage isn’t super detailed, but it was more comprehensive than many of its filmic predecessors. Nonfiction filmmaking up to this point was dominated by actualities, which were rarely over two minutes long and lacked editing or structure. This film’s edited intertitles attempt to educate viewers, add context for the images, and give specific names to places like Market Street and St. Patrick’s Church. Nowadays, many more in-depth sources are available who utilize information discovered after this film was released. The film functions as one of those Registry entries where its greatest importance comes not from narrative or filmmaking craft but from needing to preserve footage of a major historical event. At the time, while somewhat playing into the dominant “we’re fine, we swear” narratives, it offered a decent overview of the topic to viewers far away from the damage.

Sources

https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/san-francisco-earthquake-and-fire.pdf

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/revolution.php

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/why-are-there-so-many-earthquakes-and-faults-western-united-states

https://www.moma.org/collection/terms/actuality

https://hazards.colorado.edu/uploads/observer/2006/may06/may06.pdf

https://www.cairn.info/revue-annales-de-demographie-historique-2010-2-page-217.htm?contenu=article

https://escholarship.org/content/qt00f913xm/qt00f913xm_noSplash_2a0a8269463659626adcab8d09b6366f.pdf?t=p0tadq

https://www.nps.gov/prsf/learn/historyculture/1906-earthquake-law-enforcement.htm

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

ABBA - Waterloo 1974

"Waterloo" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA, with music composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and lyrics written by Stikkan Anderson. It is first single of the group's second studio album of the same name, and their first under the Atlantic label in the US. This was also the first single to be credited to the group performing under the name ABBA. The title and lyrics reference the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, and use it as a metaphor for a romantic relationship.

In 1974, "Waterloo" represented Sweden in the 19th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest held in Brighton, winning the contest and beginning ABBA's path to worldwide fame. The song differed from the standard "dramatic ballad" tradition at the contest by its flavour and rhythm, as well as by its performance. ABBA gave the audience something that had rarely been seen before in Eurovision: flashy costumes (including silver platform boots), a catchy uptempo song and simple choreography. It was the first winning entry in a language other than that of their home country; prior to 1973, all Eurovision singers had been required to sing in their country's native tongue, a restriction that was lifted briefly for the contests between 1973 and 1976 (thus allowing "Waterloo" to be sung in English), then reinstated before ultimately being removed again in 1999. Watch the performance in Swedish here. Sveriges Radio released a promo video for "Waterloo" that was directed by film director Lasse Hallström, whose first notable English-language film success was What's Eating Gilbert Grape in 1993. ABBA recorded the German and French versions of "Waterloo" in March and April 1974; the French version was adapted by Alain Boublil, who would later go on to co-write the 1980 musical Les Misérables.

The song shot to number 1 in the UK and stayed there for two weeks, becoming the first of the band's nine UK number 1's, and the 16th biggest selling single of the year in the UK. It also topped the charts in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, West Germany, Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland, while reaching the Top 3 in Austria, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. Unlike other Eurovision-winning tunes, the song's appeal transcended Europe: "Waterloo" also topped the charts in South Africa, and reached the Top 10 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Rhodesia, and the US (peaking at number 6, their third-highest-charting US hit after number 1 "Dancing Queen" and number 3 "Take a Chance on Me"). In 2005, at Eurovision fiftieth anniversary competition Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest, "Waterloo" was chosen as the best song in the contest's history.

"Waterloo" is featured in the encore of the musical Mamma Mia!. The song does not have a context or a meaning. It is just performed as a musical number in which members of the audience are encouraged to get up off their seats and sing, dance and clap along. The song is performed by the cast over the closing credits of the film Mamma Mia!, but is not featured on the official soundtrack. It is also performed as part of the story in the sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, by Hugh Skinner and Lily James.

The Australian film Muriel's Wedding (1994), features "Waterloo" in a pivotal scene in which lead Toni Collette bonds with the character played by Rachel Griffiths. The film's soundtrack, featuring five ABBA tracks, is widely regarded as having helped to fuel the revival of popular interest in ABBA's music in the mid-1990s. "Waterloo" features prominently in the 2015 science-fiction film The Martian. The song plays as the film's lead, played by Matt Damon, works to ready his launch vehicle for a last-chance escape from Mars. In "Mother Simpson", the eighth episode of the seventh season of The Simpsons, Mr. Burns plays "Ride of the Valkyries" from a tank about to storm the Simpson home, but the song is cut-off and "Waterloo" is played, to which Smithers apologizes, advising he "must have accidentally taped over that".

"Waterloo" received a total of 89% yes votes!

(the video is posted by ABBA's own account, not Eurovision's = safe to watch)

[reasonsforhope]

"The sleeping giant of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stirred.

In the past month, an avalanche of anti-pollution rules, targeting everything from toxic drinking water to planet-heating gases in the atmosphere, have been issued by the agency. Belatedly, the sizable weight of the US federal government is being thrown at longstanding environmental crises, including the climate emergency.

On Thursday [May 18, 2023], the EPA’s month of frenzied activity was crowned by the toughest ever limits upon carbon pollution from America’s power sector, with large, existing coal and gas plants told they must slash their emissions by 90% or face being shut down.

The measure will, the EPA says, wipe out more than 600m tons of carbon emissions over the next two decades, about double what the entire UK emits each year. But even this wasn’t the biggest pollution reduction announced in recent weeks.

In April, new emissions standards for cars and trucks will eliminate an expected 9bn tons of CO2 by the mid-point of the century, while separate rules issued late last year aim to slash hydrofluorocarbons, planet-heating gases used widely in refrigeration and air conditioning, by 4.6bn tons in the same timeframe. Methane, another highly potent greenhouse gas, will be curtailed by 810m tons over the next decade in another EPA edict.

In just a few short months the EPA, diminished and demoralized under Donald Trump, has flexed its regulatory muscles to the extent that 15bn tons of greenhouse gases – equivalent to about three times the US’s carbon pollution, or nearly half of the entire world’s annual fossil fuel emissions – are set to be prevented, transforming the power basis of Americans’ cars and homes in the process...

If last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with its $370bn in clean energy subsidies and enticements for electric car buyers, was the carrot to reducing emissions, the EPA now appears to be bringing a hefty stick.

The IRA should help reduce US emissions by about 40% this decade but the cut needs to be deeper, up to half of 2005 levels, to give the world a chance of avoiding catastrophic heatwaves, wildfires, drought and other climate calamities. The new rules suddenly put America, after years of delay and political rancor, tantalizingly within reach of this...

“It’s clear we’ve reached a pivotal point in human history and it’s on all of us to act right now to protect our future,” said Michael Regan, the administrator of the EPA, in a speech last week at the University of Maryland. The venue was chosen in a nod to the young, climate-concerned voters Joe Biden hopes to court in next year’s presidential election, and who have been dismayed by Biden’s acquiescence to large-scale oil and gas drilling.

“Folks, this is our future we are talking about, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real climate action,” [Michael Regan, the administrator of the EPA], added. “Failure is not an option, indifference is not an option, inaction is not an option.” ...

It’s not just climate the EPA has acted upon in recent months. There are new standards for chemical plants, such as those that blight the so-called "Cancer Alley" the US, from emitting cancer-causing toxins such as benzene, ethylene oxide and vinyl chloride. New rules curbing mercury, arsenic and lead from industrial facilities have been released, as have tighter limits on emissions of soot and the first ever regulations targeting the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkylsubstances (or PFAS) in drinking water.” ...

For those inside the agency, the breakneck pace has been enervating. “It’s definitely a race against time,” said one senior EPA official, who asked not to be named. “The clock is ticking. It is a sprint through a marathon and it is exhausting.” ...

“We know the work to confront the climate crisis doesn’t stop at strong carbon pollution standards,” said Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club.

“The continued use or expansion of fossil power plants is incompatible with a livable future. Simply put, we must not merely limit the use of fossil fuel electricity – we must end it entirely.”"

-via The Guardian (US), 5/16/23

[lostshots]

huh? it's real?

context: varwolf was one of the many potential new neopets shown for april fools 2005

people caught it in the styling studio for a bit before it was removed. i guess this is related to the plot, but wild that they're finally releasing a new pet

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family - Happy 20th Wedding Anniversary to King Charles III and Queen Camilla! (m. 09 April 2005)

Three photos of the King and Queen have been released to mark their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, taken by photographer Chris Jackson, outside Villa Wolkonsky, next to the Neronian spur of the Aqua Claudia, just hours after they touched down in Italy for the start of their 4-day state visit. The Queen is wearing a white and beige coat dress by Anna Valentine and a Lily of the valley brooch - a symbol of enduring love. | April 07, 2025

Behind-the-scene of their photoshoot:

"As we begin our first visit to Italy as King and Queen, we are so looking forward to celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary in such a special place – and with such wonderful people! A presto, Roma e Ravenna!" - Charles R & Camilla R.

[uniteds]

stuff that happened in the 2022/2023 football season that should send us into a coma but we’re too desensitized:

1. the whole ass world cup in the middle of the season. what was that

2. manchester united sacking ronaldo and announcing a sale of the club in the middle of the world cup

3. ronaldo getting dropped at the world cup and his replacement scoring a hattrick immediately after

4. keeping up with the belgians (world cup edition)

5. keeping up with the belgians (courtois saying he doesn’t respect kdb after stealing his missus)

6. ronaldo stans beefing with a little moroccan girl

7. the kingdom of saudi arabia buying newcastle united and then telling the premier league that they didn’t and the premier league going “oh okay if you say so”

8. megan thee stallion being romelu lukaku’s date to lautaro martinez’s wedding

9. pique cheating on shakira and then shakira releasing a diss track about it

10. shakira figuring out pique cheated on her because someone ate her strawberry jam and pique doesn’t eat strawberry jam

11. apparently the girl pique cheated on shakira with (clara) cheating on pique with pep

12. wagatha christie libel case

13. real madrid dropping a video accusing barcelona of fascism and the government of cataluyna getting involved

14. the pope coming out as a manchester united fan

15. the one napoli fan that basically made zielinski strip on the pitch

16. mount vesuvius park shutting down because napoli fans wanted to fake an eruption as a celebration

17. frank lampard taking everton into a relegation battle, getting sacked, and then taking chelsea into a relegation battle

18. on that note: chelsea were in a relegation scrap and finished 12th

19. mourinho lost his first ever european final to sevilla europa league black magic

20. whatever the fuck borussia dortmund did on the last day of the bundesliga season

21. anthony martial’s ex wife chasing his first wife down a french motorway with a baby in the passenger seat

22. psg suspending messi because he took an unsanctioned trip to saudi arabia and then unsuspending him two days later because they didn’t want people talking about geopolitics

23. the absolutely bizarre messi apology video released by psg

24. spurs refunding their fans’ tickets after being embarrassing

25. pep’s heartbreak over the fact julia roberts is a manchester united fan

26. chelsea scored one goal in the month of april

27. chelsea and spurs had six managers between them and won one match combined between march and april

28. mourinho fighting anthony taylor after the europa league final

29. milan derby in the ucl for the first time since 2005

30. luis enrique saying he’s cool with the spanish players having sex during the world cup as long as they’re not having orgies

31. luis enrique saying he doesn’t have sex anymore unless his wife wants to

32. man city charged with 115 counts of financial doping and trying to get the barrister in charge disqualified because he’s an arsenal fan

33. mourinho wire-taping himself to catch referees being corrupt

34. ryan reynolds and mac from it’s always sunny in philadelphia buying a football club and that football club getting promoted

35. pele died rip

36. women football awards sponsored by shein and klarna having a category for “male football ally of the year” and it’s just random men that went to one (1) women’s game

37. barcelona negreia case (how do you say calciopoli in catalan?)

38. infantino saying he feels gay, african, like a migrant worker, disabled, arab, and qatari

39. infantino saying he was oppressed as a child because he was ginger and italy is not safe for gingers

40. david alaba’s father in law getting arrested for being one the leaders of a far right group plotting to overthrow the german government

41. richarlison being tumblr’s it girl for a month and then not scoring a goal for the next four

42. juventus being in the middle of another corruption scandal and being docked points because of it

43. two teams getting investigated by the british government for playing football the weekend the queen died

44. gavi getting a yellow card in the first minute of a football match

45. pogba’s brother was arrested by french authorities for being part of a group-organized extortion attempt against pogba

46. richarlison getting a tattoo of neymar’s face and neymar paying him 30k to get it removed

47. iker casillas coming out, puyol implying they had a thing, and both of them retracting it in the most misha collins way possible.

48. sane and mane fight

49. zlatan retired from football

50. barca withholding about 50 million in wages from their players and somehow frenkie still didn’t want to join manchester united

[project-sekai-facts]

Only one date is ever mentioned in-game, that being 2021. Considering that the Virtual Singer Fan Festa seems to be a stand-in for Magical Mirai 2021, we can assume that the Scramble Fan FESTA! event takes place in September 2021 (the real-life MM2021 was delayed to November due to covid-19, but the pandemic doesn't exist in-universe and MM Tokyo usually takes place at the beginning of September). There are Leo/need Daily Life social media posts that show them attending Magical Mirai, and do state the year of the event, but these can be considered promotional material for the event itself rather than canon material, especially since the characters address in-game that only one year has passed since the start of the story (despite the fact they have celebrated new year's day 4 times now. Timeloop things).

Based on this date, we can actually place exactly when every main character was born. The cutoff date for Japanese schools is April 1st, making Ena the oldest main character, being a 3rd year with a birthday of April 30th, followed by Tsukasa on May 17th, so on so forth all the way down to Kohane, a 2nd year with a birthday of March 2nd.

Considering when Scramble Fan FESTA is set, Ena, who was a 2nd year at the time, would be 17 years old. That would place her date of birth as April 30th, 2004. Additionally, while Kohane, a first year at the time, should be 15 during the event, the game considers her to be 16 due to using a set age for every grade bracket. Regardless, the event setting places her date of birth as March 2nd, 2006.

Based on this, we can conclude that:

Ena, Tsukasa, Rui, and Shizuku were born in 2004

Mafuyu, Kanade, Airi, Minori, Saki, Toya, Nene, An, Ichika, Mizuki, Emu, Haruka, Honami, and Akito were born in 2005

Shiho and Kohane were born in 2006

This also means that Ena, Tsukasa and Rui are all older than the MEIKO software (released November 5th 2004), and everyone except Kohane is older than the KAITO software (released February 17th 2006). Every main character is older than Miku, the Kagamines, and Luka based on this information.

Using the information around set ages*, we can also work out rough estimates for when the side characters were born. For example, Arata, who was 19 during the first 3 years of the game, is 3 years older than the members of VBS who were all considered to be 16. Since the members of VBS were born in the April 2005 - April 2006 school year range, Arata was likely born in the 2002-2003 school year range.

* based on how characters like Youta and Miu, who are said to be the same age as Leo/need, were both confirmed to be 16 years old before the 3rd anniversary age-up. Also Haruka's age is confirmed as 16 at a point in time when she shouldn't be 16. Timeloop things.

Based on this, the oldest living side character, Kounosuke, who was 55 pre-3rd anniversary and 39 years older than Emu, was probably born between April 1966 and April 1st 1967. On the younger side of things, Hanano, who was 14 pre-3rd anni, was likely born between April of 2007 and 2008. I've put the rest of the estimated side character DOBs under the cut.

assumed age as of 3rd anniversary in brackets (literally just pre-age-up age + 1)

Rakunosuke Otori - April 2nd 1922 ~ April 1st 1923 (98 (at time of death. would be 100 if still alive))

Hinako Arisawa - April 2nd 1956 ~ April 1st 1957 (66)*

Kounosuke Otori - April 2nd 1966 ~ April 1st 1967 (56)

Jean Riley - 1967~1968 (55)

Harumichi Aoyagi - 1968~1969 (54)

Shin'ei Shinonome - 1973~1974 (49)

Mr Yoisaki - 1975~1976 (47)

Mr Asahina - 1976~1977 (46)*

Ken Shiraishi - 1978~1979 (44)

Taiga Kotaki - 1978~1979 (44)

Mrs Asahina - 1980~1981 (42)*

Yoshiki Shindou - 1982~1983 (40)*

Shuichi Hiiragi - 1983~1984 (39)*

Yuuka Kazamatsuri - 1990~1991 (32)

Keisuke Otori - 1991~1992 (31)

Shousuke Otori - 1994~1995 (28)

Daigo Kijima - 1994~1995 (28)*

Tatsuya Okazaki - 1999~2000 (23)

Yuuki Akiyama - 1999~2000 (23)*

Ayaka Saito - 2001~2002 (21)

Hinata Otori - 2001~2002 (21)

Iori - 2002~2003 (20)

Mio - 2002~2003 (20)

Arata Tono - 2002~2003 (20)

Souma Miyata - 2002~2003 (20)

Asahi Genbu - 2003~2004 (19)*

Reki Bakuno - 2003~2004 (19)*

Kotaro Mita - 2004~2005 (18)

Sakurako Seiryuin - 2004~2005 (18)

Nanami "Nanamin" Hayakawa - 2004~2005 (18)

Futaba Natsuno - 2004~2005 (18)

Arisa Higure - 2004~2005 (18)*

Ayumi Tabata - 2004~2005 (18)

Hibiki Miyake - 2004~2005 (18)

Shuuta Hayashi - 2004~2005 (18)

Ibuki Taniyama - 2004~2005 (18)

Yuu Hagiyama - 2004~2005 (18)*

Yuina Uchiyama - 2005~2006 (17)

Shouta Hayashi - 2005~2006 (17)

Miu Takagi - 2005~2006 (17)

Youta Yoshizaki - 2005~2006 (17)

Riho Hasegawa - 2005~2006 (17)

Saku Kousaka - 2005~2006 (17)

Akari Enosaki - 2005~2006 (17)*

Chiharu Tsubaki - 2005~2006 (17)*

Mai - 2006~2007 (16)

Hanano Yoshizaki - 2007~2008 (15)

Additional notes (mod is rambling atp):

Rakunosuke died when he was 98 years old. In the WxS main story, Emu says that he died a year ago. Assuming Emu was 15 at the time, they have an age gap of around 83 years. The year of birth listed here was based on that assumption.

We know that Kanade's mother died aged 30, but we do not know when she died. She is still alive in flashbacks set roughly 10 years prior to the events of game.

Characters marked with an asterisk had their ages officially given as one year less than they are given in this post. The reason for me adding a year on is because of the confirmation in a livestream of Daigo's age being 27. Daigo is meant to be the same age as Shousuke, whose age was given as 27 prior to the 3rd anniversary. Based on this we can assume that NPCs from the Brand New World era have their ages taken from the same time frame as characters from the Journey to Bloom era, i.e, pre-3rd anni (and this also confirms that NPCs inexplicably don't age but we'll ignore that for continuity reasons).

We do not have confirmed ages for Nagi, Sakaki, Ohara, Cedric and Slade, Natsuomi and Shuji, or Byakkomachi yet. Shuji is in university so is likely in his early 20s.

Nagi's age is left blank in the fanbook due to it not being revealed that she was dead at the time of publication. She is younger than Taiga, but we don't know by how much, but nonetheless she was likely born in the early 1980s. It is unlikely we will ever know her exact age.

Ohara is stated to be in his mid-30s, placing his birth year as somewhere in the 1980s, likely around 1986-1989. Sakaki is an old college friend of Ohara's, so he is likely a similar age.

No NPCs are given exact birthdays

[tellius]

On April 20, 2005, Path of Radiance was first released in Japan. We're counting down to celebrate!

The countdown begin next week with weekly prompts (for all your fan creation needs), plus some fun facts and history. There may also be liveblogging, since I haven’t played this game in an age.

More details to come!

[tsuna]

May 24, 2024 is the 20th anniversary of Reborn!

Shonen Jump covers primarily featuring the series:

June 7, 2004, Issue No. 26 - New serialization

November 8, 2004, Issue No. 48 - 1st volume release

July 4, 2005, Issue No. 29 - 1st anniversary

March 20, 2006, Issue No. 14 - Beginning of the Varia arc

September 11, 2006, Issue No. 39 - TV anime announcement

October 23, 2006, Issue No. 45 - TV anime debut

November 20, 2006, Issue No. 49 - Beginning of Tsuna vs. Xanxus

July 9, 2007, Issue No. 30 - 3rd anniversary

September 10, 2007, Issue No. 39

November 19, 2007, Issue No. 49

February 18, 2008, Issue No. 10 - 18th volume release

July 14, 2008, Issue No. 31 - 4th anniversary

November 3, 2008, Issue No. 47 - 3rd anniversary of TV anime

June 22, 2009, Issue No. 28 - 5th anniversary

October 19, 2009, Issue No. 45 - Reborn Month event

November 2, 2009, Issue No. 47 - Reborn Month event

February 1, 2010, Issue No. 7 - 27th volume release & TV anime 7th season

April 12, 2010, Issue No. 17 - Beginning of the Inheritance arc & REBORN Colore! release

June 14, 2010, Issue No. 26 - 6th anniversary

September 12, 2011, Issue No. 38 - Beginning of the Curse of the Rainbow arc

[lovecomedy]

If you need any convincing that Noel and Liam Gallagher are incestuous freaks (affectionate), here's the basic information you need

First of all. The kisses

Loch Lomond kiss, where they just... made out on stage in front of cameras. Cool. There's a gif with every photo from every angle.

Another kiss, this time in Japan. Here's the actual video.

And here's the same video but together with nice quotes from their 2016 documentary:

Here's a 2005 award event where they kiss again and also look quite in love

And here's Liam straight up groping Noel during concerts:

General stage antics and more groping:

Just one more groping

Ok. Let's talk about the music, then

Oasis has a song that Noel wrote called "My Sister Lover". The title speaks for itself, really. It includes amazing lyrics such as "You're my lover, I'm your brother"

But there's more! Noel used the same chorus of this song (with different lyrics) for a song he released in his solo album, 20 years later. It's called "Lock All the Doors". The very first line says: "She wore a star-shaped tambourine, prettiest girl I’d ever seen". And guess... guess who famously played a star-shaped tambourine? Liam! And Noel was the one that gifted him the fucking tambourine!!

Liam wrote a song for Oasis called Guess God Thinks I'm Abel

I'll just link everything that's been said about this song, because it really is batshit insane that this song exists

(It's common in the north of England to refer to things and people as "our". When either Liam or Noel say "our kid", they're talking about each other)

Liam has the tendency of thinking every song Noel writes is about him, including the love songs

Here he says "I'm his muse", along with some other interesting quotes

Ok, now we're on to suspicious quotes!

They had sex last night, according to Liam

This one is my favorite:

Of course this one is just all the weird quotes jammed in one post, you can feel yourself going crazy as you read it

Noel assures us that Liam knows about his arse

Other people confirming that they act like a couple. And them being fucking weird about each other’s marriages.

This one has Noel saying Liam is deeply in love with him. At the bottom, Liam's tweet.

Actually Liam always tweets things that basically confirm they're relationship. Like when somebody asked him if he ever rimmed Noel. Yeah.

This radio interview is where the most lovely quotes come from. Only Noel was supposed to be interviewed but then they both showed up PISSED DRUNK. Transcription in the same post

Even More weird quotes

This one involves the word impregnate

Noel making a suspicious comment about his daughter and son, Anais and Donovan

I think to be convinced you really just need that, but I'd like to add some niceties.

Just genuinely enjoying each other’s company

This is from the Oasis; 10 Minutes Of Noise and Confusion documentary. As Noel is kissing Liam's cheek, Liam is saying "He’s a fucking cunt and I hate him and I love him and he twists my melon, man. He’s the best songwriter in the fucking world.”

Some sweet quotes, and some less sweet ones as well

From the Supersonic documentary

Hugging after playing football

Just being silly

To finish off, two wonderful video edits with endearing moments

[chlochette-sunde]

Know your Destiel/Cockles history: a calendar 

As a newcomer on Tumblr and on the Supernatural fandom, I first had trouble following all the past events that were regularly reminded and celebrated.

On this very special day (December 14th, European time), the following post is an attempt at listing those events, focusing on Destiel and Cockles (with a hint of Jenmisheel). Feel free to advise me for more (or less) dates!

Acknowledgement: The idea came from @youchangedmedestiel who also contributed to the content. The present post would never have been possible without @livebloggingmydescentintomadness 's Cockles masterlist. Color code: Destiel / Cockles

Honorary periodic event: FIMMF (Finger In My Mouth Friday)

January

12th: "Mish. Dee." (2021) - 1

16th: Broadcast of 15x09 “The Trap” (2020) - /

17th: ‘Isn't the season you met Misha?’ ‘Taste the rainbow’ JaxCon (2016) - 1

18th: The abandoned Jenmisheel podcast (2022) - 1

24th: Dean's birthday + ‘Jensen's the horse’ HousCon (2015) - / + 1

February

2nd: Broadcast of 12x10 “Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets” (2017) - /

14th: Destiel wedding anniversary (2021)

16th: Broadcast of 12x12 “Stuck in the Middle (With You)” (2017) - /

26th: ‘Which is funny, because so do I’ JIB11 (2023) - 1

28th: ‘Misha's been working out’ ‘He has though, hasn't he?’ NashCon (2016) - 1

March

1st: Jensen Ackles' birthday (1978) - 1 2 3 4

18th: Danneel Ackles' birthday (1979)

20th: Broadcast of 8x17 “Goodbye Stranger” + Gag reel (2013) - / + 1

23rd: Broadcast of 7x17 “The Born-Again Identity” (2012) + Broadcast of 15x13 “Destiny’s Child” + Gag reel (Jensen's infamous fart joke) (2020) - / + 1

April

1st: Mishapocalypse (2013) + Mishapocalypse 2.0 (2023) - 1 2 + 3

10th: “When Harry Met Sally” JIB2 (2011) - 1

13th: Season 15 EW Photoshoot (2020) - 1 2

15th: Broadcast of 5x18 “Point of No Return” + Gag reel (blowjob+‘we’re missing the gay angel’+‘confetti it’s a parade’) (2010) - 1 + 2 3 4 

15th: Bishagate 2.0 NJCon (2023) + Misha’s Cas essay (2022) - 1 2 + 3

23th: Bishagate ‘I’m all three’ NJCon (2022) - 1

25th: ‘I happen to be straight’ (2022) - 1 2

27th: Broadcast of 12x19 “The Future” (2017) - 1 2 3 4

28th: ‘Balls deep’ CR8 (2024) - 1

29th: Broadcast of 6x19 “Mommy Dearest” + Gag reel (2011) - 1

May

6th: Broadcast of 6x20 “The Man Who Would Be King” (2011) - /

7th: First release of 'Watching Over Me' (2021) - 1

19th: Straddlegate JIB10 (2019) - 1 2 3 4

21st: Jensen's bear underwear reveal JIB8 (2017) - 1

23rd: ‘Okay babe’ (2021) - 1

24th: Misha tenderly rescuing Jensen+’We like you the best’+Hitch scene JIB5 (2014) - 1 2 3

26th: ‘It’s not a subtext. It was clear text.’ PurCon8 (2024) - 1

27th: ‘I talked to Jensen and Danneel this morning because I couldn’t sleep’ PurCon7 (2023) - 1

June

July

1st: ‘I miss my blanky’ + ‘I love you’ VS ‘I need you’ (2021 (yes, on the same fucking day)) + ‘Also, Cas is gay.’ (2023) - 1 2 3 + 4

14th: 'Destiel is Cockles Fault' Day SFCon (2024) - 1

24th: ‘Wow, that was really informative. Thank you.’ SDCC (2011) + ‘How do you know’ SDCC (2016) - 1 + 2

August

9th: Destiel fanfics first ship to reach the milestone of 100,000 stories 'I have to admit, I like being on top' (2021)

13th: ‘I’d love to do a Western…slash romcom with Misha’ VanCon (2017) - 1

17th: Cockles day at sea (2015) + ‘I would probably choose to be the car, because Dean would ride me all day’ SPNDEN (2018) - 1 2 + 3

18th: Destiel winning TV Choice Best Chemistry (2015) - 1

20th: Misha Collins' birthday (1974) - 1

September

8th: Release of "Some things I Still Can't Tell You", poetry book by Misha Collins - Men in the Woods (2021) - 1

13th: First broadcast of Supernatural (2005) - /

18th: Broadcast of Lazarus Rising, first appearance of Castiel (2008) + First release of Jensen publicly singing 'Angeles' (2012) (+Bonus: Jensen serenading Misha at JIB11 (2023)) - 1 + 2 3 4

24th: Broadcast of 5x03 “Free to Be You and Me” (2009) (Bonus: reference of ‘personal space’ at SFCon (2024)) - 1

October

11th: Danneel Ackles, sharing a picture of Jensen, reading "Some things I still can't tell you" by the fire, Misha tagged on his heart (2021) - 1 2 

13th: Broadcast of 12x01 “Keep Calm and Carry On” + ‘You're poking me’ Gag reel (2016) - 1

16th: ‘He’s like an angel plushie’ DenCon (2021) - 1

20th: ‘I can say whatever I want because Danneel is in love with you' HCCB (2024) - 1 

21st: Broadcast of 10x03 “Soul Survivor” + ‘Aloha cowboy’ Gag reel (2014) - 1 2

23rd: ‘I should have said ‘I love you too’ and hugged him’ VanCon (2022) - 1

28th: Broadcast of 11x04 “Baby” (2015) (Bonus: reenactment of the CasDean scene at JIB7 (2016))

November

5th: Broadcast of 15x18 "Despair" - Destiel's anniversary (2020) - /

8th: ‘Homosexual declaration of love’ Darklight Online Con (2020) + 'I live it' (2021) - 1 (no official proof because the panel has mysteriously been deleted from social medias around the 26th) + 2

11th: Broadcast of 10x05 “Fan Fiction” (2014) - /

12th: Broadcast of 9x06 “Heaven Can't Wait” (2013) - /

16th: Broadcast of 13x06 “Tombstone” (2017) + ‘Release the tapes!’ Day (2020) - / + 1

19th: Broadcast of 15x20 "Carry on" -> Last episode of Supernatural (so far 🕯🤞🏻) (2020) + Misha sharing by mistake (?) “The epic love story of Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins” blog (2013) - / + 1 2

24-25th: 'y yo a ti' (2020) - 1 

24th: ‘His ferret goes other places’ (2024) - 1

26th: Misha having to live stream and do PR during Thanksgiving, in mid divorce, following 'y yo a ti' (2020) - 1

December

1st: Danneel sharing a post to promote "The Adventurous Eaters Club", featuring Jensen and their kids (2019) - 1 2

5th: ‘I love you, not like a brother, but like a lover’ CCXP (2024) - 1 2

6th: ‘Cas was supposed to have his arm around Dean in the bar’ CCXP (2024) - 1 2

14th: Cockles anniversary (2009) + Introduction of 'Eyes Like The Sky' beer (2020) - 1 2 3 + 4

19th: Jenmisheel holiday package (2017) - 1 2

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz - La Tortura 2005

"La Tortura" is a song by Colombian singer Shakira, featuring Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz, from Shakira's sixth studio album, Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (2005). The song was written and produced by Shakira, with additional writing and production from longtime collaborators Luis Fernando Ochoa and Lester Mendez, respectively. It was released on 11 April 2005 as the lead single from the album. "La Tortura" is a pop, reggaeton, and dancehall track, which lyrically tells the story of a woman who has been emotionally "tortured" because her boyfriend cheated and eventually left her for another, and has now returned begging forgiveness.

It was well received commercially, reaching number one in several countries worldwide, including Hungary, Spain and Venezuela. In the US, the single reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 (giving Sanz his only entry on said chart), while topping the Hot Latin Songs chart for 25 non-consecutive weeks. "La Tortura" is one of the best selling singles of all time with more than five million copies sold.

At the 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2006, "La Tortura" won the awards for Record and Song of the Year. That year, at the 13th Billboard Latin Music Awards, the track won all four categories it was nominated for; Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Duet Hot Latin Song of the Year, Duo or Group Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, and Latin Ringtone of the Year. "La Tortura" was recognized as Pop Song of the Year at the 18th Lo Nuestro Awards. At the 2005 Premios Juventud, Shakira and Sanz won the award for Dynamic Duet while the song was nominated for Catchiest Tune. It was recognized as Song of the Year and Latin Ringtone of the Year at the 2007 BMI Latin Awards. "La Tortura" won Latin Song of the Year at the 2005 Billboard Music Awards and Best Latin Dance Track at the 2006 International Dance Music Awards. The music video won the prize for Video of the Year at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamerica. It also received three nominations at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, in the categories Best Female Video, Best Dance Video and Viewer's Choice Award, becoming the first time a Spanish music video was up for a nomination at the awards. The next year, "La Tortura" was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video at the 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.

"La Tortura" received a total of 81,6% yes votes! Previous Shakira polls: #75 "Ojos Así".

[pmdcollector]

Apologies for taking an extra week to get this to you all-as promised, here is the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon interview featured in the April 6th, 2007 issue of Weekly Famitsu with Tsunekazu Ishihara and Koichi Nakamura!

I'll have another Pokemon Mystery Dungeon interview translation in the works soon so stay tuned 👀

Page 1:

Pokémon x Mystey Dungeon = ∞ Infinite

A new world view thought of by Tsunekazu Ishihara and Koichi Nakamura

Pokémon and Mystery Dungeon... The two completely different worlds were merged to give birth to an unexpected monster of a game. I was able to interview the two key figures about the popularity and secrets of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, which has exceeded 5.5 million in sales worldwide.

On November 17th, 2005, the Pokémon released Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team (Nintendo DS) and Red Rescue Team (Game Boy Advance)*1, exceeded total world-wide shipments of 5.5 million. The meeting between Pokémon, beloved by children all over the world, and Mystery Dungeon, known for its hard, unforgiving gameplay, caused a powerful chemical reaction, giving birth to a new world known as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. But how did these two games, which should surely reject each other, manage this miraculous fusion?

I was able to have a long talk with the father of Pokémon, Tsunekazu Ishihara, and Koichi Nakamura from Chunsoft, who created Mystery Dungeon, and hear their secrets. Eventually, our conversation even extended to the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon sequel!

Altering the world to match the core of the game

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon has now exceeded 5.5 million. This really is an incredible number. Have you analyzed the reason for its success?

Ishihara: There is a pattern when it comes to Pokémon titles that are a hit worldwide. The sales ratio for Japan, North America and Europe start at 1:1:1. This time, we were able to replicate this pattern very well with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. If it starts with this ratio, then the ratio for North America and Europe will increase, as there is a greater tendency for software to continue selling in those places compared to Japan. And so I think this 5.5 million number is a single waypoint.

And how do you view it, Nakamura-san?

Nakamura: I have also been involved in the production of Dragon Quest, but even then, I have never had the experience of selling 5.5 million copies worldwide with a single title before. It is a big number that really shows that people around the world are playing it. So as a creator, I could not be more happier.

For people currently in their 30s and 40s, I think that Dragon Quest would be the first game that showed them the ‘impact of a story.’ But these days, a child’s first game with a story would be Pokémon. The Dragon Quest phenomenon that occurred in Japan is now happening on a worldwide scale with Pokémon. I believe that creating games that ‘appeal to every market’ has been your lifework, Ishihara-san. What is your secret?

Ishihara: North America, Europe, Asia and other regions… I think that every market is incredibly unique and different in terms of what is accepted. With that being said, if we were to remake every game for every market, I doubt we would have been able to circulate this far and wide. For instance, the Pokémon called Pikachu is also Pikachu all over the world. The gameplay elements, the Pokémon trading system, the parts that are the core of the game are all shared. If we tried remaking them for each market, it would have crumbled eventually.

Previously, you have said, ‘There is no point in being fun if it is not fun all over the world.’ I suppose that applies here.

[← Pokémon Mystery Dungeon has sold an astonishing 5.5 million copies worldwide, and continues to sell.]

Page 2:

The Pokémon Company President and Ceo

Tsunekazu Ishihara

If Game Freak president Satoshi Tajiri is the ‘birth parent,’ then Ishihara would be the ‘foster parent,’ whose work as producer allowed Pokémon to grow into the title it is now. He is the representative of the Pokémon Company, which single-handedly deals with the multidirectional development of Pokémon on a worldwide scale.

Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd. Representative director

Koichi Nakamura

The creator of Mystery Dungeon and the sound novel, who is a representative of the Japanese gaming industry. His numerous games are created with perfect balance and always receive high praise.

[Front Feature]

Glossary

*1 Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team

Released on separate hardware, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. The system of the player becoming the Pokémon and exploring a ‘Mystery Dungeon’ with other Pokémon attracted a lot of attention. The ‘Help a Friend’ system that allowed you to use an internet connection to help friends who fell in the dungeon was also quite innovative.

*2 Diamond and Pearl

The ultimate Pokémon games that were released on the Nintendo DS and sold nearly 5 million copies in Japan alone. While they came out on September 28th, 2006, momentum has not slowed down for these monster titles.

*3 Global Trade Station

A system from Diamond and Pearl that allowed players to trade Pokémon with other players around the country through Wi-Fi, even if they were not registered through friend codes.

(Interview continued)

Ishihara: I’ve operated with the mindset of, ‘What should I do to have the finished product be something that can be enjoyed all around the world?’ With Diamond and Pearl, *2 you were able to trade Pokémon with other players around the world through the Global Trade Station *3. However, if the content of the software that was circulating in each market was too different, it would not allow for any proper trading. On the other hand, I do think it’s important to enjoy ‘small differences.’ Just like with the first generation Pokémon, where different Pokémon appeared in Red and Green. But if the differences become too big, then it no longer feels like you’re enjoying it with everyone. This feeling is the same as an internet browser. The basic OS is the same, only localized for every territory. But we can use the same browser to see the same sites.

It was then that you encountered Mystery Dungeon. It must have looked quite strange, coming from the world of Pokémon.

Nakamura: Just as he’s said already, Ishihara-san is very particular when it comes to the world of Pokémon. But first and foremost, Ishihara-san is a genuine game fanatic. What I mean to say is, even with such a fixation on the world, he still allows the gameplay to be the priority. He prioritizes the essence of what makes a game fun, and is very tolerant of certain rule changes in regards to the Pokémon world. For instance, you know how the Pokémon talk, or how the player is a Pokémon in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon? This had not been done in the series before, and is a very big change to the rules, but he reacted with incredible flexibility.

These rule changes. Were they ‘acceptable’ with the Pokémon world?

Ishihara: The things that others might say should not happen, are not really that big of a problem for me (laughs). Instead of that, I think it’s much more important to be faithful in conveying the fun of computer games, or rather, the ‘structure of fun.’

I see…

Ishihara: In Mystery Dungeon, the map is automatically generated, you can write what you want on scrolls and use them. It is a game with a very traditional computer game structure. Pokémon is the same. After all, the foundation of networking and trading was demonstrated 10 years ago. These two series have proven that ‘Playing with a computer is so fun!’ And if the two were combined, then it would result in a game that is even more fun. And so even if Pikachu starts talking, I don’t mind it at all (laughs). If anything, it’s fun to think of how you can make such an idea ‘acceptable.’

That’s an incredibly flexible way of thinking.

Ishihara: When it comes to great ‘gameplay’ that is along the lines of the traditional, I would very much like to increase the fun through multiplication. Because of that, there was meaning and value to creating something new with Mystery Dungeon and Nakamura-san.

[← Tsunekazu Ishihara and Koichi Nakamura…

With exceptional talent as producers and creatives, the two are treasures within the Japanese game industry. What lies ahead of where they are looking… What new ‘experience’ will it be, that uses that catalyst called ‘gaming’?]

Page 3:

Pokémon and Mystery Dungeon exist as a mechanism to create fun…

Ishihara: I think there is also compatibility. Between games.

Was that something that you had already felt? That Pokémon and Mystery Dungeon were compatible?

Ishihara: Indeed. Also, I just happened to like them personally (Laughs).

I heard that you are a big fan of Mystery Dungeon.

Ishihara: After all, I consider myself a Mystery Dungeon professional (Laughs).

Everyone (Bursts into laughter)

Nakamura-san, do you also feel the same way as Ishihara-san?

Nakamura: When the possibility was first brought up to me, I did feel that they were greatly suited for each other, as Pokémon has a lot of characters, a lot of tools and different kinds of skills. But on the other hand, Mystery Dungeon has a high difficulty level, and a game system that is quite hands-off with the player. Would it really be able to fuse with a game that is beloved by children…? I did have some doubts.

Ah, that’s true…

Nakamura: But judging by the surveys gathered from people around the world who have played the game, while many had the opinion that it was ‘difficult,’ they were all able to finish it. I’ve always believed that the ideal form of a game is when you have a person who thinks they are the only one in their class who can beat it, but actually everyone can… It is that balance. And I think that with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, we were able to get incredibly close to achieving that balance.

It seems like a difficult adjustment to make…

Nakamura: In Japan, there might be certain immunity or a foundation for playing, due to Torneko and Shiren. But they don’t have those in other countries, so I was anxious about whether it would be well-received or not. But the results were… Well, that’s the power of Pokémon for you (Laughs).

They were a good match in the end.

Nakamura: Looking back, I really do think it was a wonderful encounter.

The sequel is also in development!

2 games on Nintendo DS

After the game has become such a worldwide hit, I cannot help but ask about the next game…

Ishihara: We’ve actually been working on the next game for quite some time. It will be for Nintendo DS hardware.

Ohh! Previously, you released one game for DS and Advance respectively. How will it be this time?

Ishihara: 2 on the DS.

Ohhh! When did development begin?

Nakamura: A very long time ago (Laughs).

Ishihara: We are developing it with the hope of releasing it in 2007.

That is not very far away!

Ishihara: Yes. So we wouldn’t finish it in time if we had just started now, right? (Laughs)

Well, that is what Ishihara-san says, but how are things at your place, Nakamura-san…?

Nakamura: The situation is quite hectic, of course (Awkward laugh).

Did you always plan to make sequels?

Ishihara: No. It would be difficult to do until you felt confident in the first game. A big part of it was that the reception abroad was better than expected.

What was the reason you chose to release both games on the DS?

Ishihara: When the previous game first went on sale, it was the perfect time, as the leading platform was switching from the Game Boy Advance to the DS. But the situation has changed completely in just one year. When deciding to release two different types, we had to discuss which hardware to choose, and there were even some suggestions of ‘Why not DS and Wii?’ (Laughs). But considering the current market and development environment, we felt it would be best to have both released and played on the DS.

How was it as a creator? Releasing only on the DS.

[Check ‘Pokémon Mystery Dungeon’ anime to be streamed!

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon became an anime in North America, and recorded incredibly high viewership. Since Pokémon Mystery Dungeon plays differently from previous Pokémon, and it takes place in a new setting where the Pokémon can talk, Ishihara explained that it was made with the intent of being an ‘orientation.’

In fact, this anime is to be released in Japan as well. It will commemorate the release of the new sequel mentioned in this interview, and be available on March 23. The episodes will be streamed exclusively on Yahoo!. Let’s enjoy the unique world of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series through the anime.

↑ You are guaranteed to be able to see a new side to these Pokémon. Fans should not miss it!]

By combing the two

You can play in this many new ways

Page 4:

Nakamura: With the previous games, we were forced to create them in a way that accommodated the inferior capabilities of the Advance. But since both will be on the DS this time, we can incorporate ideas involving the dual screens as much as we wish.

It sounds like there will be a lot of new elements.

Nakamura: That’s right. In particular, as we can create it on the basis of there being Wi-Fi support, aside from the ‘Help a Friend’ system from the previous game, we are putting even more effort into having that feeling of ‘playing with everyone.’

Specifically, what kinds of elements are being added?

Nakamura: I can’t say (Awkward laugh).

Will Pokémon from Diamond and Pearl be included?

Ishihara: Of course, they will be. Not only that, as simply being put in without a solid role would be meaningless. So please look forward to that. Also, one thing that I can say is in regards to the question of ‘releasing two types?’ If there are two dungeons, then the two games will be slightly different… Well, I am still discussing various things with Nakamura-san (Laughs).

Wh-what do you mean?

Nakamura: For instance. This is an example, alright? Even if it’s the same dungeon, if the items you pick up are different, then it would affect the way you finish the game, or what strategies you use. …Well, that is just an example (Laughs).

It would be a very big difference for Mystery Dungeon!

Ishihara: Originally, in Pokémon games, the gap between Pokémon was a gap in playing. In other words, it dictated the direction of the game. In Mystery Dungeon, the acquiring of items has been added to that. I think that things like that will become the great difference between the two sequels.

With the sequel, as far as you are able to say at this time, can you tell us what point you want players to focus on the most?

Nakamura: For the previous games, we received a lot of feedback about how the scenarios and story parts were incredibly interesting. And so we are consciously trying to create a game with a substantial story that surpasses the previous games and be a more enjoyable adventure. An even longer story is waiting for you.

Ishihara: In regards to the amount of story, there were many different opinions. We thought that we had incorporated a great amount of it, but there were still people who said there ‘wasn’t enough.’ And so we thought, ‘what wasn’t there enough of…’

In the previous game, after you see the ending and closing credits, quite a lot of elements are unlocked. But expanding on things like controls and character selection may have made the partner relationship between the player and the Pokémon feel a little more distant. That was the conclusion I reached after analyzing it. This time, we mean to create the story while taking that into account.

Always be bold towards things that seem traditional!

Lastly, in regards to future developments. It seems like Pokémon will continue to develop in many different directions.

Ishihara: There are plenty of ideas when it comes to simply expanding the license. However, when you find themes or mechanisms that make you wish to collaborate in some form, like Mystery Dungeon, it is very helpful. In fact, there is no meaning in making something new without that relationship. Once you realize you can combine two things to create a new way to play, as we did with this game, it makes you want to try out many other different things too. When it comes to things that are considered traditional with video games, I would like to be bold at all times.

Nakamura-san. Mystery Dungeon turned out to be an incredibly good game. Has this experience made you want to try out anything in the future?

Nakamura: The DS has complete network capabilities now, so I believe that it’s time to start focusing on that. With Wi-Fi taken into consideration, I think some interesting things could be done with Mystery Dungeon. I have all kinds of ideas.

Ishihara: There is something that both Pokémon fans and Mystery Dungeon fans can look forward to the most this year, and that is these two games. Whether it's the gameplay or the expanding world of Pokémon, I hope that they are looking forward to it.

Nakamura: I feel like I’m being pressured (Laughs). As Ishihara-san said, we will create something that won’t disappoint fans, so please look forward to it.

[Notes after editing]

The moment that I saw Tsunekazu Ishihara and Koichi Nakamura sitting together, I felt goosebumps all over my body. And then the two spoke directly of the worldwide hit, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. I could not help but think about how it was such a privilege, and somewhat forgot about my work.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon was created from this meeting between the two, and while listening to them, I nodded with an ‘I see,’ many times. At a glance, the two worlds might seem to oppose each other, but with Ishihara’s flexible stance, and the technical ability of Chunsoft led by Nakamura, I think that the creation of a balanced game that was a hit on a worldwide scale was not so much ‘miraculous,’ but ‘inevitable.’ I have great expectations for the sequel, which is said to be released in 2007. Geniuses don’t stop. (O)

[icanseethefuture333]

The Astrological Observation of Gen Z, (a series)

Part II 👶🏽🩷:

The birth of Gen Z children👩‍🍼:

Now what is described as a Gen Z baby is different depending on what method you use, but since we are using astrology, we determine that by looking at Pluto. Pluto is one of the slower moving planets and typically lasts in the same sign for over 12 years. In tropical astrology, what all Gen Z babies share is a Sagittarius Pluto (and it is in Scorpio if you fancy Vedic astrology 😎), Which begins in mid to late 1995 and ends in early to mid 2008. Some other placements that are shared for early 2000s babies is a Aquarius Uranus & Aquarius Neptune, While mid to late 2000s babies share a Pisces Uranus & Aquarius Neptune.

The most populated birth years of the 2000s in order were 1. 2000, 2. 2009, 3. 2008, 4. 2007, & 5. 2006. The least populated birth year being 2001. While the amount of births stayed consistent in 2002-2003 with only a slight increase by a million in 2004-2005.

00: 143.01 million

01: 133.88

02: 134.02

03: 134.40

04: 135.23

05: 135.80

06: 136.91

07: 138.56

08: 140.16

09: 141.20

The year 2000 was the start of the 21st century, so parents being excited for the new millennium and having lots of babies in the celebration of the new year makes a lot of sense. If we use January 1st 2000 as an example for a baby's birthday. That would mean that the parents would had to conceive / the mother to get pregnant around in April (9 months). In 1999, Jupiter was in Aries and Taurus was in Saturn. Prince wasn't lying when he said "we gonna party like it's 1999 (all night long)" - because y'all parents were doing the *Raven Symone voice* NASTY 😭. Aries is action oriented and hasty. So I believe the collective during this time actually made new year's resolutions that they could accomplish. I always associate Taurus with fertility, abundance, & pleasure. So when the sign rules over saturn, it creates the need to be focused on security, comfort, & protecting personal possessions. Add a Scorpio Lillith to the mix and yeah... 🥴 The song sums it up pretty well (fun fact it was also released in the year 2000 LMFAO)

Now let's see why there was such a decrease of babies being born in 2001.

Jupiter moves from Aries into Taurus/Gemini, Taurus still remained in Saturn, & then there was a Capricorn Lillith. So things got less hot and heavy 😅 (they got tired out from all that fucking huh LOL 💀). I believe that parents were too nervous to have any more children in this year. Also there was so many earth placements, so I believe there was more of a focus on finances, creating structure, and coming up with ideas/plans for a better future. Parents could of seen how crazy things got (The Y2K crisis, people acting out of fear thinking the world was ending, 9/11, etc) and just decided not to have as much children. The libido or sex drive could of died down for some couples as well. There was a lot of resistance from couples in this year for getting pregnant. Parents were more worried about business. The babies that were born in 2001 were most likely by accident or needed to be under the supervision of a doctor in order to help the parents conceive (also there could of been possible complications during the pregnancy 🤔?). The women were just over it during this year 😭

Now let's talk about the rise of babies being born in 2007-2009 when there was LITERALLY a god damn financial crisis going on 💀! It was so bad it got compared to the great depression and parents were just like "huh... yeah, I think this is a great time to have a baby" 😂. Guess what sign Lilith was during this time...? ("BITCH YOU GUESSED IT! HO! You was right"😈) FUCKING SCORPIO LILITH 💀 with a Virgo Saturn, Sagittarius Jupiter, and then Uranus finally transitioned from Aquarius to Pisces. Soooo it was giving anxious attachment, it's giving "I'm scared but aroused", the parents' idea of a coping method during this time was "let's use a baby as a way to have hope during such troubling times" 😭??? Couples during those years were not thinking clearly at all and with Pisces being the dreamer that she is 🙄... ("you're a dreamer, you dream a lot") as well as Sagittarius tryna act like they're mr. philosophical over here but instead is really just thinking with their dicks. It just made the parents overall act really delusional and they thought having a kid would give them hope for the future (like why would you do that to late Gen Z's and set them up like that omg 😭???). The financial crisis during 2007-2009 was described as: "The collapse of the housing market — fueled by low interest rates, easy credit, insufficient regulation, and toxic subprime mortgages — led to the economic crisis." So overall it was a period of parents only being intimate to try to find comfort in each other while also dealing with anxiety and not being able to see past their own illusions.

[homenecromancer]

Where were you twenty years ago?

Today is the twentieth anniversary of Maximum Ride: on April 11th, 2005, The Angel Experiment hit the shelves. The intervening decades have seen the publication of eight sequels and a two-book sequel series, as well as the release of a movie adaptation.

It’s been a long road from 2005 to 2025, but I’m happy to have spent it with Maximum Ride in my life.

[deathnotewiki]

April 7, 2004:

Light Yagami and L play a game of tennis.

Soichiro Yagami collapses due to stress.

April 7, 2005: Aiber (real name: Thierry Morello) is killed by the power of the Death Note.

(text in official English release) Light: So far, neither of us has brought up the Kira case. It would be weird to talk about it when we don't even know each other. As if we'd really "get to know each other" by playing tennis. This is just a pretext for us to say "now we're friends."