#Author: Richard Ashley Hamilton

[toa-archive]

There's been a bit of clamour about the graphic novels recently so figured do a post for those. Much like the fiction books they are wiggle canon as tends to be the nature of tie ins and quite often contradicts things as a result like uh Nomura being at Killahead is a pretty big one. They're becoming harder to track down as they go out of print now so if you do see them, grab them.

First up is The Secret History of Trollkind! Bill Sienkiewicz created the cover while the inside art is by Timothy Green II. The author is Richard Ashley Hamilton, same as the fiction books.

As it so happens, Bill uploaded the inks to twitter so you can see them as they were!

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Interestingly back in 2019 what is titled a character sketch of this image was up for auction for an extra bonus :)

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Timothy Green II happens to have a couple of the uncoloured pages for this issue on his DA which you can find below. This caused a bit of panic as misplaced my own copy of the book who knows where and couldn't double check. Thankfully found some preview images online.

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The second of these graphic novels is The Felled. This time the cover and artwork is done by Omar Lozano who also designed the past trollhunters and Orlagk, while Edgar Delgado was the colourist.As before the author on duty is again Richard Ashley Hamilton.

As before, the original pencils happen to be online via Timothy's DA page!

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You can find some of his pages and his character designs on artstation though in keeping with this post, here's a couple:

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As a fun bonus to all this, squirreled on Timothy's DA page is what he describes "two test pages before starting so they could see how I'd approach the book." Shows what you can find with a bit of digging!

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[ulkaralakbarova]

A Los Angeles journalist befriends a homeless Juilliard-trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Steve Lopez: Robert Downey Jr. Nathaniel Ayers: Jamie Foxx Mary Weston: Catherine Keener Graham Claydon: Tom Hollander David Carter: Nelsan Ellis Adam Crane: Michael Bunin Jennifer Ayers: LisaGay Hamilton Leslie Bloom: Rachael Harris Curt Reynolds: Stephen Root Flo Ayers: Lorraine Toussaint Cheery Lab Tech: Jena Malone Troubled Woman: Octavia Spencer Young Nathaniel: Justin Martin Bernie Carpenter: Kokayi Ampah Paul Jr.: Patrick Tatten Marisa: Susane Lee Mayor Villaigosa: Marcos De Silvas Harry Barnoff: Ilia Volok Julliard Conductor: Mike Nowak Angry Homeless Man: David Jean Thomas Uncle Tommy: Lemon Andersen Homeless Transvestite: Kevin Michael Key Barely Dressed Woman: Moya Brady LAMP Homeless Guy: Orlando Ashley Leon: Artel Great Shouting Woman: J.J. Boone LAMP Advocate: Annie McKnight Homeless Lady: Bernadette Speakes Leeann: Anna Levin Steve: Steve Foster Teresa: Vivian George KK: Kevin Cohen Courtney: Courtney Andre Detroit: Teri Hughes Linda: Linda Harris Bam Bam: Albert Olson Melissa: Melissa Black Mama Grouch: Valarie Hudspeth Darryl: Darryl Black St. Kiana: Kiana Parker Hazard: Hazard Banner Russell: Russell Brown Jackie: Jacqueline Sue West Ashley: Joyre Manuel Singing Woman: Lorinda Hawkins Annette: Annette Valley Patrick: Patrick Kelly Quiana: Quiana Farrow Globe Lobby Guard: Tony Genaro Atheist: Charlie Weirauch Cop with Tents: Wayne Lopez EMT #1: Joe Hernandez-Kolski Winston Street Cop: Noel Gugliemi EMT #2: Paul Cruz Homeless Man: Wil Garret EMT #3: Halbert Hernandez Construction Worker: Alejandro Patiño Homeless Woman #1: Karole Selmon Neil: Rob Nagle Cello Donor: Patricia Place Enraged Homeless Man: Ralph Cole Jr. Reception Nurse: Gladys Khan ER Nurse: Palma Lawrence Reed Laid-off Employee: Isabel Hubmann Homeless Woman #2: Bonita Jefferson Winston Street Prostitute: Eshana O’Neal Young Jennifer Ayers: Myia Hubbard Miss Little John: Iyanna Newborn Beauty Shop Girl: Bronwyn Hardy News Editor: Troy Blendell Jennifer’s Son: Nick Nervies Editor: Paul Norwood Sign Spinner (uncredited): Wally Lozano Film Crew: Screenplay: Susannah Grant Unit Production Manager: Patricia Whitcher Casting: Francine Maisler Art Direction: Greg Berry Producer: Gary Foster Author: Steve Lopez Director: Joe Wright Editor: Paul Tothill Costume Design: Jacqueline Durran Production Design: Sarah Greenwood Makeup Department Head: Ve Neill Producer: Russ Krasnoff Still Photographer: François Duhamel Production Coordinator: Robert Mazaraki Hair Department Head: Gloria Pasqua Casny Music Editor: Dominick Certo Director of Photography: Seamus McGarvey Set Decoration: Julie Smith Script Supervisor: Kerry Lyn McKissick Original Music Composer: Dario Marianelli Post Production Coordinator: Adam Cole Stunts: Shirley Smrz Stunts: C.C. Taylor Stunts: Hannah Kozak Hairstylist: Lisa Marie Rosenberg Stunts: Allan Graf Stunts: Jim Wilkey Stunts: Aaron Toney Stunts: Gregg Smrz Stunts: Todd Schneider Stunts: George Marshall Ruge Stunts: Chad Randall Stunts: Robert Nagle Stunt Coordinator: Scotty Richards Stunt Driver: Ed McDermott II Stunts: Marilyn Miller Stunts: Sean Graham Stunts: Jalil Jay Lynch Stunts: Kevin L. Jackson Stunts: Kofi Elam Stunts: John T. Cypert Stunts: Greg Wayne Elam Stunts: Chino Binamo Stunt Driver: Michael Caradonna Stunt Driver: Norman Epperson Stunts: Daniel W. Barringer Stunts: Greg Fitzpatrick Stunt Coordinator: Mickey Giacomazzi Stunts: Peter Weireter Stunts: Hollis Hill Stunts: Keith Woulard Stunts: Angela Meryl Stunts: Danny Wynands Stunts: Kortney Manns Stunts: Michael Maddigan Stunts: Kofi Yiadom Stunt Driver: Allan Padelford Stunts: Thomas DuPont Stunts: Jason Cekanski Stunt Driver: Scott Alan Berk Movie Reviews:

[otakunoculture]

What's the Scoop on Richard A. Hamilton's SCOOP With A New Publisher Handling Distribution?

@MadCaveStudio's is all Maverick about getting @regardsrichard SCOOP to press! Info about the reprint and when to expect volume 3 & 4 #supernatural #ya #adventure at:

Preorder SCOOP! #BreakingNews here on Amazon USA Richard Ashley Hamilton‘s SCOOP is being reprinted, and for those wondering when there will be new adventures, this author said it’ll be after these two volumes are released! What’s changed are mostly new covers, updated colour scheme and editing those things that got missed in the rush to get this graphic novel to press. That includes lettering,…

[diakena]

My Things

Here is an unofficial list I’ll try and keep updated of things I’ve done. I have a YouTube channel, but increasingly things are being spread elsewhere, so I want a page that tracks them all. Writing are whatever essays/talks I manage to get done and find a home somewhere. Interviews are episodes I’ve recorded with the New Books Network podcast, where I interview authors about their books.

Writing “Mythic Individualism - Stephen Dozeman on Jordan Peterson.” Talk at a Conference at Boise State, Oct. 2018. Link. “Premium Emotions.” 3288 Review 5.2 (Autumn 2019). Link. Being Possible. Resource Publications 2020. Link. “Education and Accessibility.” Lumpen 7 (Spring 2021).

Interviews Adorno, Theodor., et al. (with guest Charles Clavey) The Authoritarian Personality. Verso 1950 [2019]. Link. Adrian, Kim. Dear Knausgaard: Karl Ove Knausgaard’s My Struggle. Fiction Advocate 2020. Link. Aronoff, Battistoni, Cohen & Riofrancos. A Planet to Win: Why We Need a Green New Deal. Verso 2019. Link. Azmanova, Albena. Capitalism on Edge: How Fighting Precarity Can Achieve Radical Change Without Utopia or Crisis. Columbia University Press 2020. Link. Banerjee, Schwartz and Young. Levers of Power: How the 1% Rules and What the 99% Can Do About It. Verso 2020. Link. Bardawil, Fadi. Revolution and Disenchantment: Arab Marxism and the Binds of Emancipation. Duke University Press 2020. Link. Burgis, Ben. Give Them an Argument: Logic for the Left. Zero Books 2019. Link. Burgis, Hamilton, McManus & Trejo. Myth and Mayhem: A Leftist Critique of Jordan Peterson. Zero Books 2020. Link. Callison & Manfredi (eds). Mutant Neoliberalism: Market Rule and Political Rupture. Fordham University Press 2020. Link. Christman, Phil. Midwest Futures. Rust Belt 2020. Link. Coggan, Sharon. Sacred Disobedience: A Jungian Analysis of the Saga of Pan and the Devil. Lexington 2020. Link. DeLay, Tad. Against: What Does the White Evangelical Want? Cascade Books 2019. Link. Drucker, Peter. Warped: Gay Normality and Queer Anticapitalism. Haymarket 2015. Link. Dumez, Kristin. Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. Liveright 2020. Link. Erickson, Jonathon. Imagination in the Western Psyche: From Ancient Greece to Modern Neuroscience. Routledge 2020. Link. Estes and DiCarlo. Aging A-Z: Concepts Toward Emancipatory Gerontology. Routledge 2019. Link. Finkelde, Dominik. Excessive Subjectivity: Kant, Hegel, Lacan, and the Foundations of Ethics. Columbia University Press 2017. Link. Flisfeder, Matthew. Algorithmic Desire: Toward a New Structuralist Theory of Social Media. Northwestern University Press 2020. Link. Fontelieu, Sukey. The Archetypal Pan in America: Hypermasculinity and Terror. Routledge 2018. Link. Fusaro, Lorenzo. Crises and Hegemonic Transitions: From Gramsci’s Quaderni to the Contemporary World Economy. Haymarket 2020. Link. Johnston, Adrian. A New German Idealism: Hegel, Zizek and Dialectical Materialism. Columbia University Press 2018. Link. -. Prolegomena to Any Future Materialism Vol. I: The Outcome of Contemporary French Philosophy. Northwestern University Press 2013. Link. -. Prolegomena to Any Future Materialism Vol. II: A Weak Nature Alone. Northwestern University Press 2019. Link. Knowles, Adam. Heidegger’s Fascist Affinities: A Politics of Silence. Stanford University Press 2019. Link. Lopez, Daniel. Lukács: Praxis and the Absolute. Haymarket 2020. Link. Losurdo, Domenico. Nietzsche, the Aristocratic Rebel: Critical Biography and Balance Sheet. Brill 2019. Link. Lucas, Ashley. Prison Theatre and the Global Crisis of Incarceration. Bloomsbury 2020. Link. Luxemburg, Rosa. The Letters of Rosa Luxemburg (with guest Peter Hudis). Verso 2013. Link. Maitra, Ani. Identity, Mediation and the Cunning of Capital. Northwestern University Press 2020. Link. McManus, Matt. The Rise of Postmodern Conservatism: Neoliberalism, Postmodern Culture, and Reactionary Politics. Palgrave Macmillan 2020. Link. -. A Critical Legal Examination of Liberalism and Liberal Rights. Palgrave Macmillan 2020. Link. Milner, Andrew. Again, Dangerous Visions: Essays in Cultural Materialism. Haymarket Books 2019. Link. Modonesi, Massimo. The Antagonistic Principle: Marxism and Political Action. Haymarket Books 2019. Link. O’Brien, Dave. Culture is Bad For You: Inequality in the Cultural and Creative Industries. Manchester University Press 2020. Link. Polt, Richard. Time and Trauma: Thinking Through Heidegger in the Thirties. Rowman and Littlefield 2019. Link. Read, Jason. The Politics of Transindividuality. Haymarket Books 2017. Link. Rose, Marika. A Theology of Failure: Zizek Against Christian Innocence. Fordham University Press 2019. Link. Shandro, Alan. Lenin and the Logic of Hegemony: Political Practice and Theory in the Class Struggle. Haymarket 2015. Link. Stolze, Ted. Becoming Marxist: Studies in Philosophy, Struggle and Endurance. Haymarket 2021. Link. Tari, Marcello. There is no Unhappy Revolution: The Communism of Destitution. Common Notions 2021. Link. Vallega-Neu, Daniela. Heidegger’s Poietic Writings: From Contributions to Philosophy to The Event. Indiana University Press 2018. Link. Winborn, Mark. Interpretation in Jungian Analysis: Art and Technique. Routledge 2019. Link. Zabala, Santiago. Being at Large: Freedom in the Age of Alternative Facts. McGill-Queen’s University Press 2020. Link. Zalloua, Zahi. Zizek on Race: Towards an Antiracist Future. Bloomsbury 2020. Link. -. Being Posthuman: Ontologies of the Future. Bloomsbury 2020. Link.

[angrylizardjacket]

self-same mettle

Summary: "I love my sister more than anything in this life; I will choose her happiness over mine every time."

A/N: BIG WARNING; August Reid, who you may remember from the main story, child groom tw, though nothing comes of it he's still creepy and predatory. Okay so I just wanted to write a little something from Oscar's perspective in the High School AU. Let me know what you think!!

{AYDTD}

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Oscar's always been a romantic at heart, always wanted to be the star of his own Mills and Boone novel ever since he was sixteen and found his mother's stash while hunting for Christmas presents. It had been painfully straight, right when he'd been discovering the delightful world of loving men, but he was invested enough in the romance that he didn't care.

In 2017, at the tender age of 19, he discovers the author Chuck Tingle, and despite the fact that he's technically now a literature student, this ridiculous, gay erotica makes his heart happy in ways he can't quite articulate.

The point is, he knows August Reid, because he's his dad's drinking buddy and fellow professor, but Oscar doesn't think of him much until he takes the man's class. Ash, who's fifteen and who spends weekends at the local art gallery down the road, has always been far more artistically minded, Oscar's always been more drawn to words, but he takes August's Art History class on a whim.

There's a certain draw to the whole teacher/student fantasy, and August looks kind of like an older Richard Madden, still angular and defined, but greying at the temples, the prelude to an extraordinary silver fox. So Oscar let's himself daydream, and take the follow up class, and look forward to the weekends where his dad's friends would come over to smoke cigars and play cards. August Reid was nothing if not polite, always smiling and kind and happy to see Oscar, answer his questions. Oscar knew he was married, thinks he probably has a kid, and so he was happy to keep his daydreams to himself. He thinks there's something romantic about quietly unrequited love.

However, it takes a year, once Ash has matured more, not a lot, but enough to catch August's interest, for the rose-coloured glasses to be ripped off. August takes an interest in her; when he and the rest of their father's colleagues came over, he would make a point to stop and check in with Ash, encourage her interest in Art, both physical and theoretical, and even suggest research for her, or upcoming exhibits he thought she might like. It's harmless, at first.

Talk of art turns to compliments, her taste in things, her outfits, how she wears her hair, the colour of her eyes. Ash seems to start looking forward to his visits, and something about it doesn't sit right with Oscar.

"He's just, Oz he's so cool," she was smiling, blushing a little; she had a crush, it was plain as the nose on her face, "and he said he could get us tickets to the Renaissance exhibit in Glasgow next month, how awesome is that?"

August starts calling her Miss Ashley, a joke that started since she still had a habit of calling him Mr Reid - because she's a fucking highschooler, it's how she's been taught to address teachers - Ash delights in it, straightens her posture a little when he says it. August makes a habit of petting her head fondly when she does. It makes Oscar's stomach turn just a little. August shouldn't be looking at his little sister like that, she's just a child.

Their father seems blind to it, tells Oscar 'don't be ridiculous, he's just being kind' and when he goes to mum, she just brushes him off, insisting that August is lovely, that he's so in love with his wife, and that Ash is just excited to have someone who understood her.

"A little schoolgirl crush is harmless, Oscar, dear; weren't you singing his praises not too long ago?" It's meant with a wink and a nudge, like perhaps Oscar's jealous, but his mother can be so dense; it's not the same at all. He's an adult, and Ash is a child, and yet he's not the one August is giving leering looks to when he thinks no-one's looking.

It's not that their parents don't love them, it's just that they don't particularly care. They're trapped in a loveless marriage, too self absorbed to care about those that can take care of themselves.

So Oscar takes it upon himself.

Oscar's never understood art like he's understood literature, never been able to make it make sense in the same way, but that doesn't matter. The point is, on Sundays, when his father's colleagues come over for tea and cigars and cards, Oscar's started taking Ash to art galleries across the country.

"But August is-"

"It's the impressionists, Ash," Oscar takes her hand with a grin, practically begging her, "come on they have the Water Lilies," he enthuses, and Ash's expression softens.

"I do love the Water Lilies."

Because he can't tell her what he's really doing, because she's sixteen and thinks she knows everything and the idea of telling her that August has any sort of feelings towards her, even if he explains why that's creepy and wrong, is probably the worst thing he can do to discourage her. So he distracts her, and is careful to never mention him if he can help it, or steer the conversation away if she brings him up.

She's his best friend. She's always been his best friend, but in an abstract, sibling sort of way, but it doesn't take long for the two of them to become legitimate best friends. He listens to all the drama of her highschool career, and her ideas for sculptures, and anything else she wants to talk about, and in turn he tells her about whatever he's reading that week, whatever poetry ideas he's been riffing with lately, and complains about pretty straight boys in his lectures.

Oscar may be a poet, but neither he nor Ash could hold a tune to save their lives, and so of course they sing along to Ash's Spotify playlists at the top of their lungs whenever they're driving. There's three weeks where she plays the Hamilton cast recording on repeat, and Oscar finds himself muttering it under his breath in class.

He works nights, and Saturdays, to afford all these day trips, and his family think he's so diligent, studying and working so hard, and on his day off he spends it with Ash. He keeps local for a few weeks, a few months actually, and surprises her with a trip to the West End for Christmas.

She talks about August less and less as time goes on. Though she does ask about it, in a roundabout way.

"Why're you spending so much time with me?"

They're having lunch in the park across from a gallery somewhere in Ireland. Oscar packed jam sandwiches.

"I don't understand this art shit like you do, but it's good to find inspiration from all mediums, you know?" Oscar smiles, takes a big bite of his sandwich, and watches Ash wrinkle her nose.

"You sound so pretentious," she snorted, shaking her head, "but whatever, I'm not gonna complain, you're the one paying."

"And I like spending time with you, biscuit." His voice turned overly sappy, as did his grin, "I love you." Oscar reached out and ruffled her hair, and Ash squawked, batting his hand away.

"I love you too, ya muppet, but if you wanna hang out we can just do something lowkey, or like, close to home."

She takes him at his word, which is good because he's being honest, but she seems content with their routine. Sometimes they go bowling, or to the library, sometimes they go op shopping, or to the movies, but they never miss a week.

She's his cheerleader at poetry readings, his tour guide at art galleries, and his favourite person at all times. His father's a literature professor who stopped truly engaging with her about her love of art once he stopped understanding her, and his mother was a Type A accountant who was just disappointed she wasn't interested in something employable. So Oscar was her cheerleader at art competitors, her enthusiastic student at art galleries, and ends up being her best friend and quietly, her favourite family member.

August asks about her, according to their father, but Ash's brief infatuation with him seems to have died down.

"Do you have a problem with me, Oscar?" August asks almost a month after Oscar's started spending Sundays with Ash, and maybe their father's told August what's happening, maybe he's noticed Oscar glaring at him whenever he saw the professor, but either way, he's so painfully kind when he asks that it's a dead giveaway; August knows something's wrong.

"Stay the fuck away from my sister," Oscar, kind-faced, bright eyed Oscar, snarls. He's 6'3" and never more thankful for his height as he towers over August.

"I'm simply showing an interest in her, she's an art enthusiast, I'm an art professor, don't worry-"

"I don't give a shit; look like the innocent flower but be the fucking serpent under it, right?"

"I don't understand what you mean? Does your father know you feel this way? Does Ash?" And it doesn't sound like a threat, it sounds like a very genuine question, but Oscar wants nothing more than to punch him in his stupid, angular nose.

"Does your wife know you spend weekends ogling underage girls?" Oscar fires back, and August's expression sours considerably, his mouth closed in a tight, humourless line. "Yeah, dad knows, not that he gives a shit," Oscar sneered, "but if you go near my sixteen year old sister again, you smarmy creepy -" his voice dropped very low, expression dark, his hands balling into fists by his side.

"If your father's not bothered by it I don't see why you should be, I haven't done anything wrong, but you're throwing around some serious implications here," August gives a blithe smile, "Ash is an incredible young woman I'm simply encouraging her passion."

"August Reid, I need you to know that I'm not threatening you," Oscar said calmly, "I'm promising you; I'll fucking kill you."

And maybe he doesn't believe Oscar would legitimately harm him, but he sees it's not a fight he's going to win. August leaves Ash well enough alone after that.

At the start of their Summer break, before Ash is due to start her second last year of high school, their father gets a job in England, their mother gets an excuse to leave her loveless marriage, and Ash and Oscar get a choice. Oscar knows without even having to ask that Ash will stick with him. He also knows that in two years, if she's still here, she'll end up studying under August and his father's other creepily complicit friends. Oscar's playing the long game to keep his sister safe when he announces he'll be going to England with their dad.

He lies, says he doesn't mind transferring courses and maybe retaking some classes at this new university, makes sure he's nothing but positive when he talks about the move, and Ash, add expected, joins him. It hurts to leave the life he's building himself, but he knows it's what's best for Ash.

Adjusting to a new life is difficult, and some weeks they don't end up spending Sunday together. Oscar let's himself relax, takes time for himself, and starts to build new relationships, new connections in this new situation he's found himself in.

Here, he didn't have to worry about Ash so much. She was still his best friend, but now she could just be a teenager without a creepy professor leering at her and grooming her. Though quietly, Oscar was just glad she still wanted to spend time with him; she still goes to his poetry readings, still wants to go on day trips with him, and she's starting to get to know his new friends little by little.

Meeting Freddie is like getting hit by a freight train; they're both taking a Creative Industries subject as an elective, and they get partnered together. Freddie is intense and warm in equal measure, a lover of cats judging by the pins on his bag, he's always drawing or doodling something on his notebook, and he writes songs. Oscar adores him from the moment he meets him. He's always busy, always on the move or at band practice, but he seems to like Oscar well enough, so the two of them start having lunch together a few times a week.

Freddie thinks Oscar's selfless when he learns about everything that had happened back in Scotland.

"Picking up and moving your whole life just to make sure she's safe," Freddie shakes his head, "you're a Saint, you know that?"

"She's my sister, I couldn't not do it," Oscar laughs a little self consciously, but Freddie just seemed endeared.

They're messaging almost every day. Freddie sends draft song lyrics and selfies with his cats and Oscar will send bits of poems and shitty angled selfies or photos taken by Ash. They both live busy lives, but they keep up with each other without even trying.

[I've got a cat named Oscar, you know?]

[I didn't actually. You really like me well enough to name a cat after me 😂😜]

[har har I've known the cat longer. sorry to disappoint. 😘]

He's so caught up in his new life and his new friends, and Ash seems so happy with her new school, especially their art program, that it takes Oscar a while to realise how painfully lonely Ash was. She's always been introverted, always focused more on her projects than on the people around her, but when Oscar realises that person she talks most about is her physics tutor, it hits him that she doesn't actually have any friends her own age here. She likes his friends well enough, one even got her a fake ID if she might ever need it, but she had none of her own.

"How was school?" They've been here for about three months, and finally things have maybe started to look up.

"Fine; we're starting sculpture making in art," Ash said offhandedly, rolling her eyes; she already spent time outside of school making sculptures, the idea of being graded on it now seemed trivial, "this one dumbass spent like twenty minutes negotiating with a teacher about whether he can also make a second sculpture for fun." Ash's voice was flat, unimpressed.

"Sounds like someone you'd get along with-"

"He wants to make a dick."

Dick Sculpture Guy turns to Fucking Roger, and Oscar starts to hear more about him, because Roger's always seemingly causing a scene and Ash is endlessly annoyed with him, though she once let it slip that she thinks he's rather hot, and Oscar, though he's never brought it up, will never forget it.

Until he gets a call on Friday afternoon, from Ash, in tears, asking him to come to the school.

She's surrounded by the pieces of her broken major work when he arrives, and there's a tall, dark haired guy checking up on her. This is Brian, the tutor he's heard so much about. He's thankful, but comforting Ash is his first priority.

Brian leaves, and together the siblings piece together her work. The school gets locked at five, and they're there until the very last minutes. Once the bust is sitting up on one of the desks at the edge of the room, Ash sniffles only a little bit.

"I'll paint the cracks gold."

"Kintsugi," Oscar adds, nodding sagely and Ash actually beams at him, "see, I listen to you, biscuit."

He suggests they go to Freddie's gig to take her mind off of it, though it's also because she's been asking to meet Freddie for a while now, but he's always been busy. However, things don't go as planned when not only is Ash's tutor part of the band, but Fucking Roger is too. Fucking Roger who's sculpture exploding made Ash cry.

Ash is adamant she's going to kill him. Oscar doesn't stop her. She disappears around the end of the bar after Roger, while the rest of the band - Freddie, Brian, and some kid called John - hang back.

Ash decidedly doesn't kill Roger, and actually ends up enjoying her night, which Oscar's glad for. That being said, he's a little bit distracted; he's quickly discovering that Brian might be the loveliest person he'd ever met. Brian's an astrophysics student, a guitarist, a tutor, and he took the time to check up on Ash; Oscar hasn't been seriously romantically interested in anyone since high school, and he's only met Brian today, but damn if there wasn't definitely a crush forming.

They play good music, and Ash seems to have a good time, and he tells himself that that's all that matters.

Days go by, weeks go by, the siblings keep going to Queen's gig's, and Fucking Roger turns to just Roger. Oscar messages Brian and Freddie that Ash might have a crush and Freddie sends back a wheezed voice message saying that Roger probably does too, but that he's stubborn as hell and would never be the first to admit it. Something warms in Oscar's heart at that. Slowly but surely, between Roger and John, Ash is finally making friends her own age.

Ash deserves a normal-ish crush on a normal-ish boy, and Oscar will do anything to encourage that crush. So they go to gigs, and Oscar wiggles his eyebrows at her when Roger's got an arm around her between sets, and Ash turns as red as her hair. But Brian's got a hand on his thigh where they're sitting near the door, and it feels weirdly normal, and kind of the best.

To see Ash smiling and happy, everything was worth it. It's all worked out, though he knows he'll never stop worrying about her, not that he'd want to.

[tomeandflickcorner]

Star Wars Day- A Memorial

Happy National Star Wars Day, everyone!

Last year, I commemorated this day by beginning a 14 week-long project, in which I reviewed all existing Star Wars movies.  Of course, since Episode 9- Rise of Skywalker won’t be out until December, it will be a while longer before I can review that one.

So this year, I decided to take a moment to look back and remember all the Star Wars cast and crew we have lost throughout the years.  Because without their time and talent, the timeless saga might never have become the phenomenon it has become.

Leigh Brackett- Writer of the First Draft of Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1915-1978)

John Barry- Production Designer for Episode 4- A New Hope and 2nd Unit Director for Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1935-1979)

Graham Ashley- Gold Five in Episode 4- A New Hope (1927-1979)

Russ Manning- Writer and Penciller of the Star Wars newspaper comic strip from 1979 to 1980 (1929-1981)

Eddie Byrne- General Vanden Willard in Episode 4- A New Hope (1911-1981)

Richard Marquand- Director of Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1937-1987)

Barry Gnome- Kabe in Episode 4- A New Hope (1914-1988)

Alex McCrindle- General Jan Dodonna in Episode 4- A New Hope (1911-1990)

Vince Colletta- Inked Marvel’s Star Wars #64: Serphidian Eyes(1923-1991)

Anthony Lang- Sim Aloo in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (?-1992)

Peter Cushing- Grand Moff Wihuff Tarkin in Episode 4-A New Hope(1913-1994)

Tarik the Bear- Primary source for the voice of Chewbacca, as well as Lumpawaroo ‘Lumpy’ in the Star Wars Holiday Special (1977-1994)

Sebastian Shaw- Anakin Skywalker in the original version of Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1905-1994)

Pat Welsh- Voice of Boushh in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1915-1995)

Morris Bush- Dengar in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1930-1995)

Brian Daley- Author of The Han Solo Adventures and the Star Wars radio dramas (1947-1996)

Jeremy Sinden- Dex Tiree in Episode 4- A New Hope (1950-1996)

Don Henderson- General Cassio Tagge in Episode 4- A New Hope (1931-1997)

Jack Purvis- Chief Jawa in Episode 4- A New Hope, Ugnaught in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back and Teebo in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1937-1997)

Archie Goodwin- Writer for the Star Wars newspaper comic strips and the Marvel Star Wars comics (1937-1998)

Declan Mulholland- Stand-in for Jabba the Hutt in Episode 4-A New Hope (1932-1999)

Mary Kay Bergman- Voiced multiple characters in the Episode 1- The Phantom Menace video game (1961-1999)

Edvin Biukovic- Penciller for X-Wing Rouge Squadron: The Phantom Affair and The Last Command (1969-1999)

Gil Kane- Illustrator for the Marvel Star Wars comics (1926-2000)

George Roussos- Illustrator for the Marvel Star Wars comics (1915-2000)

Alfredo Alcala- Illustrator for many classic Star Wars comics (1925-2000)

Chic Stone- Inker for Marvel’s Star Wars #45: Death Probe (1923-2000)

Sir Alec Guinness- Obi-Wan ‘Ben’ Kenobi in the original Star Wars Trilogy (1914-2000)

Shelagh Fraser- Aunt Beru in Episode 4- A New Hope (1920-2000)

Tom Chantrell- Designer of the Style C posters for Star Wars in 1977 (1916-2001)

Ted Burnett- Wuher the Bartender in Episode 4- A New Hope (1926-2001)

Heinz Petruo- Voiced Darth Vader in the German dub (1918-2001)

Claire Davenport- Yarna d’al’ Gargan in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1933-2002)

George Alec Effinger- Writer of The Great God Quay: The Tale of Varada and the Weequays (1947-2002)

Des Webb- The Wampa in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (?-2002)

Art Carney- Saun Dann in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1918-2003)

Peter Diamond- Stunt Coordinator for Episode 4- A New Hope and  Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back.  Also assisted with stunts in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi, as well as portrayed stormtroopers, Tusken Raiders and a snowtrooper throughout the original Star Wars Trilogy (1929-2004)

Bruce Boa- General Rieekan in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1930-2004)

Alf Joint- Stunt Performer in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1927-2005)

Brock Peters- Voiced Darth Vader in the Star Wars radio adaptations (1927-2005)

Michael Sheard- Admiral Kendal Ozzel in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1938-2005)

Hamilton Camp- Voice of Rune Haako in Galactic Battlegrounds (1934-2005)

Charles Rocket- Voice of Nym in Star Wars: Starfighter and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter (1949-2005)

John Hollis- Lobot in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1927-2005)

William Hootkins- Jek Porkins in Episode 4- A New Hope (1948-2005)

Phil Brown- Owen Lars in Episode 4- A New Hope (1916-2006)

Paul Gleason- Jeremitt Towani in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1939-2006)

Tim Hilderbrandt- Designer of one of the original theatrical release posters for Star Wars.  Also credited for the artwork in the Shadows of the Empire project (1939-2006)

Lykke Nielsen- Voiced Princess Leia in the Dainish Star Wars audiotapes (1946-2006)

Dave Cockrum- Artist responsible for several covers for Marvel’s Star Wars comics (1943-2006)

Christine Hewett- Shada D’ukai in Episode 4- A New Hope (1943-2007)

Larry Ward- Voice of Greedo in Episode 4- A New Hope and Jabba the Hutt in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi.  Also helped develop the Huttese language alongside Ben Burtt (1944-2007)

Mark Haigh-Hutchinson- Project leader for Star Wars: Rouge Squadron and Shadows of the Empire video game.  Also worked on other Star Wars games (1964-2008)

Dwight Hemion- Executive Producer of The Star Wars Holiday Special (1926-2008)

John Alvin- Artist for various Star Wars posters, book covers and video covers, including the covers for the Jedi Acadamy trilogy and poster for Celebration IV in 2007 (1948-2008)

Harvey Korman- Krelman, Chef Gormaanda and Dromboid in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1927-2008)

Stan Winston- Visual Effects and Makeup Artist. Worked on the new Wookiee costumes for The Star Wars Holiday Special (1946-2008)

Don LaFontaine- Voice Actor who narrated the 1995 VHS release of The Making of Star Wars (1940-2008)

Bea Authur- Ackmena in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1922-2009)

Don Ivan Punchatz- Science Fiction writer who created the first Star Wars poster (1936-2009)

Mark Jones- Commander Nemet in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1939-2010)

Gareth Rigan- Executive Producer for Episode 4- A New Hope (1931-2010)

Richard Devon- Voice Actor for Star Wars: Ewoks (1926-2010)

Al Williamson- Comic Illustrator for various Marvel Star Wars comics and Classic Star Wars comics (1931-2010)

Alan Hume- Cinematographer for Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1924-2010)

Jackie Burroughs- Voice of Morag in Star Wars: Ewoks (1939-2010)

Irvin Kershner- Director of Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1923-2010)

Grant McCune- Chief Modelmaker for Episode 4- A New Hope (1943-2010)

Bob Anderson- Swordmaster who played Darth Vader in the fight scenes of Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back and Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1922-2012)

Ian Abercrombie- Voice of Palpatine/Darth Sidious in Star Wars: The Clone Wars film and TV Series (1934-2012)

David Anthony Pizzuto- Voice of Tanno Vik and Sedyn Kyne in the Star Wars: The Old Republic video game (1951-2012)

Ralph McQuarrie- Concept Artist for the original Star Wars Trilogy (1929-2012)

Bill Weston- Stuntman in the original Star Wars Trilogy (1941-2012)

Winston Rekert- Voice of Mungo Baobab and Sise From in Star Wars: Droids (1949-2012)

Colin Higgins- Wedge Antilles in Episode 4- A New Hope (?-2012)

Stuart Freeborn- Makeup artist for the original Star Wars Trilogy (1914-2013)

Carmine Infantino- Artist for many of the Marvel Star Wars comics (1924-2013)

Richard LeParmentier- Admiral Motti in Episode 4- A New Hope (1946-2013)

Gilbert Taylor- Cinematographer for Episode 4- A New Hope (1914-2013)

A.C. Crispin- Author of the Han Solo Trilogy and various short stories (1950-2013)

Christopher Malcolm- Rouge Two in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1946-2014)

Malcolm Tierney- Shann Childsen in Episode 4- A New Hope (1938-2014)

Aaron Allston- Author of thirteen Star Wars novels and several short stories (1960-2014)

Meshack Taylor- Voice of Wedge Antilles in the Star Wars radio Drama (1947-2014)

Joe Viskocil- Crew Member who worked on miniature explosions in Episode 4- A New Hope and miniature pyrotechnics for Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1952-2014)

Khan Bonfils- Saesee Tiin in Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1972-2015)

Keith Swaden- Stuntman for the original Star Wars Trilogy (1949-2015)

Richard Bonehill- Snowtrooper, stormtrooper and Palo Torshan in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back and a stormtrooper, a Mon Calamari, an X-Wing pilot, a TIE pilot, Nien Numb, Ree-Yees and Mosep Binneed in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1949-2015)

David Esch- Voiced Han Solo in the Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds video game (1948-2015)

Sir Christopher Lee- Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus in Episode 2- Attack of the Clones and Episode 3- Revenge of the Sith (1922-2015)

George Coe- Voice of Tee Watt Kaa in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (1929-2015)

Jason Winreen- Original voice of Boba Fett (1920-2015)

Bill E. Martin- Voice Actor in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Episode 1- The Phantom Menace video game, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter and Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance (1945-2016)

Joe Alaskey- Voice Actor in Episode 1- The Phantom Menace video game (1952-2016)

Alethea McGrath- Jocasta Nu in Episode 2- Attack of the Clones and Episode 3-Revenge of the Sith video game (1920-2016)

Drewe Henley- Garven Dreis in Episode 4- A New Hope, as well as Rouge One: A Star Wars Story through archive footage (1940-2016)

Ray West- Re-Recording Mixer for Episode 4- A New Hope (1925-2016)

Erik Bauersfeld- Original voice of Gial Ackbar in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi, Episode 7- The Force Awakens and the Star Wars X-Wing video game.  Also was Bib Fortuna in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1922-2016)

Ian Watkin- Voice of COO-2180 in Episode 2- Attack of the Clones (1940-2016)

Ronald Falk- Voice of Dexter Jettster in Episode 2- Attack of the Clones (1935-2016)

Kenny Baker- Largely known as the man inside R2-D2.  Also was Paploo in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1934-2016)

Ian Liston- Wes Janson and an AT-AT gunner in Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1948-2016)

Peter Sumner- Lieutenenat Pol Treidum in Episode 4- A New Hope (1942-2016)

Carrie Fisher- Princess Leia Organa (1956-2016)

Chris Wiggins- Voice of Mon Julpa in Star Wars: Droids (1931-2017)

John Forgeham- Gunnery Captain Bolvan in Episode 4- A New Hope (1941-2017)

Margaret Towner- Jira in Episode 1- The Phantom Menace (1920-2017)

John Cygan- voiced several Star Wars characters in video games and audio dramas (1954-2017)

Andy Cunningham- Mime Artist and Puppeteer for Ephant Mon in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1950-2017)

William Hoyland- Commander Igar in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1943-2017)

Barry Dennen- Voice of King Ramsis Dendup in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (1938-2017)

John Molio- Costume Designer for Episode 4- A New Hope and Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1931-2017)

Alfie Curtis- Doctor Cornelius Evazan in Episode 4- A New Hope (1930-2017)

Jim Baikie- Inked, penciled and colored Empire’s End (1940-2017)

Allison Shearmur- Executive Producer for Rouge One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story (1963-2018)

Debbie Lee Carrington- Romba in Episode 6- Return of the Jedi and Weechee Warrick in Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1959-2018)

Michael Ford- Set Director for Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back and Episode 6- Return of the Jedi (1929-2018)

Bong Dazo- Penciled many Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comics and the Star Wars:The Force Unleashed comic adaptation (1962-2018)

Marie Severin- Colorist for several issues of Star Wars, Droids and Ewoks (1929-2018)

Gary Kurtz- Producer for Episode 4- A New Hope and Episode 5- The Empire Strikes Back (1940-2018)

Marty Balin- Lead Singer of Jefferson Starship, which was featured in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1942-2018)

Carlos Ezquerra- Penciled and Inked the comic book series Mara Jade: By the Emperor’s Hand and the short comic Boba Fett 1/2 Salvage (1947-2018)

Stan Lee- Editor of Marvel Comics who wrote the introduction of The Marvel Comics Illustrated Version of Star Wars (1922-2018)

Willard Huyck- Script Doctor for the first draft of Episode 4- A New Hope (1945-2018)

John Wreford- Lieutenant Hija in Episode 4- A New Hope (1943-2018)

William Morgan Sheppard- Voice of Heavy Gun Trooper and Ruulian Strip Miner in Star Wars: Force Commander (1932-2019)

Bronco McLoughlin- Stormtrooper in Episode 4- A New Hope (1938-2019)

Shane Rimmer- Rebel Crew Chief in Episode 4- A New Hope (1929-2019)

Vonda N. McIntyre- Author of The Crystal Star (1948-2019)

Frank Henson- Stormtrooper, skiff guard and a rebel guard in Episode 6: Return of the Jedi (1935-2019)

Peter Mayhew- Chewbacca (1944-2019)

Thank you, all.  Even though you are no longer here, your legacy will live on forever.  As Luke himself  once stated, no one’s ever really gone.

[quietpagan]

The Way of the Wizard and why I’m freaking out

I love how the cover looks like Merlin’s handing out drugs. Be careful, chirren, those bath-bombs ain’t Lush

- not going to get over the image of big, tough Kanjigar cradling baby!Draal while his bigger, tougher wife takes Gunmar on in single combat

- apparently Kanjigar was the nerdy husband to Ballustra’s boss. I like this.

- trolls apparently made babies by chipping off bits of themselves and putting it in a crystal for THIRTY YEARS. How the hell did they figure out this method? Put the chips in some random rock and just fucking forget about it and then thirty years later some kid burst out and they were like, oh yeah, hey i totally forgot about it but cool

- Dictatious throwing shade at Draal before he’s even five minutes old y’all

- Draal’s mom Ballustra throwing it right back

- Draal is ten minutes old and he takes down Bular, because even as a newborn he has to be that extra

- They picked Glastonbury Tor as the place for Trollmarket, which is a hilltop rich in Arthurian legend and is rumored to be the legendary Avalon. There’s even a Fata Morgana seen there. Draal was born in fucking Avalon.

- JIM GOES BACK FOR DRAAL

- Draal is 1200 years old. what

- Toby is the best

- YES I WILL KICK THE WIZARD WHILE HE’S DOWN, THANK YOU

- AAARRRGGHH is everybody’s best friend. Because he’s the best. He and Jim have a moment and it’s the best.

- Merlin’s tomb is in Europe?? The Ardennes mountains??

- they actually described Strickler as ‘debonair’ AH HA HA HAH HA

- Barbara being a BOSS ASS BITCH and reminding us that this is the lady who tried to take on two Gumm-Gumms with fists only

- They couldn’t have just left Merlin in the cave?

- he literally bitched about nobody rescuing him when he was PERFECTLY ABLE TO SLITHER OUT OF HIS SHACKLES AT ANY TIME

- Oh, No

- trolls have tanks??!

- Porgon’s a fucking dick

- ‘And it would appear that I’ve found something to hit’ grief!Jim is sassy

- MERLIN IS A FUCKING BAG OF DICKS even if he had a point

- NotEnrique trolling the parents and having a moment with Enrique, I’m so glad that they gave us this

- TWINS

- Strickler recruited Steve and Eli to protect Barbara. How did he know about the Creepslayerz?

- Apparently Kanjigar wasn’t a warrior, he was a scholar, enough that both Draal and Ballustra thought he needed protection before he became the Trollhunter

- Gunmar and Bular’s relationship will always get to me, no matter how evil they are. Here’s Gunmar trying to piece together Bular’s body and it gets destroyed by the earthquakes he himself released. Why.

- I didn’t read the whole book previous but Eli wore a Grit-Shaka and mooned Gunmar? Where the hell is this legendary passage?

-  only Strickler could make ‘earning some extra credit’ sound that creepy

- Draal goes down swinging one last time

- I’m not crying you’re crying

- Steve being amazed at Eli’s skating skills

- how does nobody in this garbage town notice eight enormous troll snakes slithering through the streets??!

- they did the goddamn ‘cows 1, 2, and 4′ joke i swear

- Toby continues to be the best

- Merlin did ONE NICE THING and it was the nicest thing ever but Draal earned it himself, dammit. Merlin’s not off the hook. 

- Well that was a damn feel-trip. The author, Richard Ashley Hamilton, is fantastic with getting the characters down well and I can totally see anything in this book as an actual part of the show. Good read.

[iwriteaboutfeminism]

Cecile Richards, president, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Erika Andiola, activist

Ilyasah Shabazz, activist

J. Bob Alotta, activist and filmmaker

Janet Mock, activist, writer, and television host

LaDonna Harris, activist

Maryum Ali, activist

Melanie Campbell, activist

Rabbi Sharon Brous

Rhea Suh, activist

Sister Simone Campbell, attorney

Sophie Cruz, activist

Zahra Billoo, activist

America Ferrera, actress

Angela Davis, activist, scholar, author

Gloria Steinem, activist

Ashley Judd, actress and activist

Scarlett Johansson, actress

Melissa Harris-Perry, television host

Michael Moore, filmmaker

Amanda Nguyen, activist

Randi Weingarten, attorney

Van Jones, television host

George Gresham, activist

Mothers of the Movement (Sybrina Fulton, Lucia McBath, Maria Hamilton, Gwen Carr), activists

Hina Naveed, activist

Judith Le Blanc (Caddo), activist

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, author and activist

Aida Hurtado, psychologist

Melissa Mays, activist

Raquel Willis, activist and writer

Rosyln Brock, activist

Sister Ieasha Prime, activist

The Honorable Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, D.C.

Ai-jen Poo, activist

Wendy Carrillo, activist

Dr. Cynthia Hale, pastor

Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez, Linda Sarsour, Bob Bland, Women’s March co-chairs

[journalofsportsmedicine]

Theory and Experiment in the Science on Human Motor Behavior | Juniper Publishers

Juniper Publishers- Journal of Physical Fitness, Medicine & Treatment in Sports

Introduction

The Experimental Bias

Let us start from the quotation from N.A. Bernstein of 1947: “The overflowing stream of new information in all the branches of natural science and, directly to its growth, the increasing differentiation of scientific and scientific-practical professions, create an increasing danger of turning their representatives into narrow specialists lacking any general horizon, blind to anything except the narrow path that they have chosen in life… it emasculates creative thinking, impoverishes their work with respect to fresh ideas and wide perspectives. Jonathan Swift, also about 200 years ago, predicted the emergence of such “Gelehrters” with blinkers on their eyes, blind, confused cranks; Swift sharply ridiculed them in his description of the Academy of Sciences on the Island of Lagado [1]”.

Typical Experimental Paper A Specific Rationale for Experimental Paper        

In 1963 Bernard K. Forscher of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, published the paper entitled “Chaos in the Brickyard” [2]. It is easily available in Internet; hence I will not describe it in detail. Its “take home message” was that we observe the excessive bias towards experimental research while compared with theoretical works. Such a phenomenon slows down the real progress in science yet does not impair the feeling that producers of “new, original, experimental data” are “genuine” scientists. Symptomatically enough, the paper has been written more than half a century ago…

Guy Sorman interviewed Karl R. Popper, who stated: “universities, completely foolishly, have fragmented the knowledge into different, specialized branches; each of them, without any necessity, has been closed into its own ritual and terminology [3]”.

Richard Schmidt and Timothy Lee, while commenting the achievements of Edwin A. Fleischman, wrote: “Fleishman’s work leaves a legacy for future efforts on solving problems of prediction” [4]. What seems worth emphasizing: not “for solving problems”, but “for future efforts on solving problems”.

While comparing with these quotations, the following statement by Gerd Gigerenzer sounds rather ominously: “Some years ago I spent a day and a night in a magnificent library reading through issues of the “Journal of Experimental Psychology” from the 1920s and 1930s… What depressed me was that nearly all of this meticulous work has been forgotten. Most of it involved collecting data without substantive theory. Data without theory is like a baby without a parent: Its life expectancy is low. Are these the kind of babies we want to produce?” [5].

The “limited applicability” (it is for sure understatement) of rough or merely slightly statistically processed “new, original, experimental data” may originate in the phenomenon which Peter Medawar described with the words: “theory destroys facts” [6]. Moreover, only the theories make the science, and not the facts themselves. They may only serve as shapeless ashes, fertilizing the ground on which the theories grow.

However, the “intellectual environment” of the contemporary science is being characterized by two important factors:

I. Easiness of data collecting, especially while using modern technological devices; then quotation of “learned” references and simple statistical processing endows the whole with some “scientificity”.

II. Naïve belief that the quantity of data will “by itself” transform into science quality.

As the “intellectual daughter” of the latter might be regarded the “big data” technique. Cathy O’Neil has shown how dangerous or even disastrous might be thoughtless application of simplified–or even primitive, while compared with the complexity of reality–mathematical algorithms in the regions, where they are hardly useful or not applicable at all. She has even coined the ominously sounding term “weapon of math destruction” [7]. However, the mathematical equations work “by themselves”; hence, they release scientist from thinking. In addition, already in 18th century Joshua Reynolds remarked. “There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking”.

This is why Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart argue that “At least 999 out of a thousand scientific papers are about complex details, but the one that we treasure and for which we award a Nobel Prize is the one that reveals a new simplicity” [8]. Still further went Paul Feyerabend, who argued that the society should be protected against science-apparently dignified, with nearly liturgical rituals, but in fact often worthless [9].

To sum up, one might state that the experimental results belong to reality, whereas science resides in the sphere of abstraction. There is no one-to-one relation between them. The gap between worlds of things, phenomena and processes on the one side, and words, statements and theories on the other, has to be bridged by reasoning and concluding, which by no means is clear and unambiguous. Nevertheless, it makes one and only way to science creation. Especially in disciplines, which nearly completely rely on reasoning and concluding, and to very limited extent on experimental data. Like, e.g., the science on human motor behavior.

Let us take as an example a properly elaborated, precisely written, peer-reviewed, solid experimental paper. In 2018 Satoshi Unenaka, Sachi Ikudome, Shiro Mori and Hiroki Nakamoto published in “Frontiers in Psychology” the article entitled “Concurrent Imitative Movement During Action Observation Facilitates Accuracy of Outcome Prediction in Less Skilled Performers” [10]. It bases on results of researches into outcome prediction in two basketball players groups: skilled and less-skilled one. In abstract, they wrote: “The results showed that skilled group had degraded accuracy of outcome prediction in the self-motion condition compared to the observation condition. In contrast, accuracy in the less-skilled group was facilitated in the imitative-motion condition compared to the observation condition”.

In fact, the authors presented the results of their experiments, supported by observations of other scientists (references). They associate, in some places of the paper, their results with the different theoretical findings of other scientists and have processed their results statistically. However, the statistics may make an image of reality sharper, indeed, but it is not able to explain “by itself”, what namely is being presented on the image. In this respect, instructively sounds the following, slightly malicious, reflection of unknown author. “Statistical Analysis: Mysterious, sometimes bizarre, manipulations performed upon the collected data of an experiment in order to obscure the fact that the results have no generalizable meaning for humanity. Commonly, computers are used, lending an additional aura of unreality to the proceedings”.

More detailed, and very instructively, the potentialities and limitations of statistics–and even some “dictatorship” of this discipline in modern science – have been described by Garland O. Ashley [11]. He argued, “The statistical method has become used in altogether too many inappropriate and wholly inapplicable places in our professional life.”

Hence, statistics is a discipline of science for statisticians, but only one of many tools for non-statisticians. It does not build a science “by itself”. Here inevitable is an interpretation (by definition – subjective) and creation of a hypothesis. Unfortunately, Unenaka and his colleagues do not invent any coherent, conceptual rationale for their findings. Let us try to invent a specific rationale. To deserve the noble title “scientific”, it has to be prone to critics and modifications.

At first, let us categorize the “self–motion” as a motor operation controlled with the feedforward mode, and the “imitative-motion”-as a motor operation controlled with the feedback mode. The latter is by far more time-consuming and “intellectually expensive” [12]. However–not without reason–the feedback control mode is being regarded as one of the greatest achievements of evolution. Because it enables learning and perfecting the operations (also motor ones) under consideration. Nevertheless, the final aim of the feedback control mode is… elimination of the feedback loop. One might say that its mission is in fact suicidal. Hence, a skilled performer uses swifter and “intellectually cheaper” feedforward control mode. S/he does not need any extrinsic cue, and-to protect the “intellectual cheapness”-s/he blocks and rejects such cues.

By the way: Already in 18th century historian, Edward Gibbon remarked (very aptly) “the power of instruction is seldom of much efficacy, except in those happy dispositions where it is almost superfluous [13]”.

While analyzing control modes of a motor operation, one might build a specific “control space”. On its one border, we have the “hit-or-miss” method, typical for novices. It relies fully on feedback control; hence, it uses the extrinsic cues. Therefore, it is fully opened to learning process. On the other border of such a space, we have routine, which relies fully on feedforward control mode and ignores any extrinsic cue. Consequently, it is tightly closed to learning process.

In this respect, telling might be such a comparison. My driver’s license is by far older than, e.g., that of Lewis Hamilton. However, he is no doubt much better driver than I am. Because I have attained some level of experience long ago and it is enough for me. It has already transformed, to great extent, into routine. I have only to learn, what mean the warning lights and indicators on the dashboard of my car, which did not exist in 1960s, when I have got my driver’s license–long before Hamilton was born. However, to protect his title of champion, Hamilton has incessantly apply the TTL–i.e., “testing the limits”–technique. He has to be open to incessant improvement of his driver’s competence. In other words, while driving a car I can use the “intellectually cheap” feedforward control, whereas Hamilton is forced to apply the “intellectually expensive” feedback control mode.

The other problem is that the “imitative–motion”, as by Unenaka and his colleagues, needs visual information processing, whereas the technique of free shot in basketball bases on contact stimuli (player’s hand – ball), which cannot be observed from outside. However, a detailed analysis of this problem would need another theoretical paper. To great extent, it has been described in [12].

One more remark. Richard Schmidt wrote: “Since laws are the product of human creativity, different laws can be formulated by two different individuals who are examining the same observations. Laws do not automatically spring forth from the facts [14]”.

Thus, “new, original, empirical data” evoke no doubts, whereas the theory is always ambiguous. Nevertheless, the Science (with great “S”) consists of theories.

Symptomatic are the following statements of Uneneka et al., “In contrast, although learners accumulate knowledge about kinematic-outcome associations during perceptual training via perceptual experience, several recent studies have indicated the importance of motor experience for enhancing prediction abilities of athletes… Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that perceptual and motor experience develop different prediction mechanisms namely visual- and motorbased prediction, respectively. Motor experience more greatly improves prediction abilities based on kinematic cues than does perceptual experience such as observation of other’s action”.

Such a relation between visual and haptic aspects of a motor operation is coherent with the system-theoretical perspective of motor control in humans (1; 12; 15; 16; 17). Accordingly, such aspects are not separated from each other, but they form a single, coherent-yet not homogenous-system. In other words, it is possible to invent a system-theoretical, scientific model which will account for such phenomena. Already in 1852, William B. Carpenter postulated close connection between mental and motor aspects of movements in living beings, sometimes even independent of current physical stimuli [18]. This phenomenon makes a basis for mind-to-muscle and muscle-to-mind techniques [19].

The reductionist analysis of such an aspect cannot explain the mechanism of human motor behavior. Because it “kills” probably the most elusive – and powerful as well – product of a system: the unpredictable, qualitatively new, emergent system effect. While seen from system-theoretical perspective, the science on human motor behavior consists mainly of system effects. This is why in this discipline mathematics seems to be hardly applicable.

              Conclusion

The presented paper may be regarded as a comment to only several, arbitrarily chosen aspects of the typical, proper, solid experimental work by Unenaka and his colleagues. In conclusion, the authors of this paper wrote: “Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of enhancement in prediction through concurrent imitation because it is unclear from the results whether the less-skilled participants were actually using a type of motor-based simulation process”.

Instead of a long exegetical analysis of this statement, let us remember the following anecdote about Albert Einstein: “During his stay in Zurich, the woman doctor, Paulette Brubacher, asked the whereabouts of his [Einstein’s] laboratory. With a smile, he took a fountain pen out of his breast pocket and said: “here” [20]”.

It seems more and more evident that in the science on human motor behavior we need like an oxygen the Einstein’s fountain pen rather, and not new, original, experimental data.

Last (but not least) remark. Contemporary science is not a noble searching for objective truth, but simply business. Here applies the rule “publish or perish”. However, to publish a paper, an author has to pay a publication fee. As a result, nowadays the “scientific strays” like, e.g., the young assistant examiner, III level, in the Federal Office for Intellectual Property in Bern, Switzerland, named Albert Einstein -with no financial support from any institution, have no chances to make their ideas known to wide auditory. No matter, how valuable such ideas might be.

For more Open Access Journals in Juniper Publishers please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com

For more articles in Journal of Physical Fitness, Medicine & Treatment in Sports

please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com/jpfmts/index.php

For more Open Access Journals please click on: https://juniperpublishers.com

[toa-archive]

I was linking a friend this yesterday to find it had disappeared. In the name of stopping a very niche bit of Trollhunters additional content vanishing into the ether I'm uploading this here as well.

While out of print now there were a series of additional non-canon Trollhunters stories released by Richard Ashley Hamilton. If you're after them ebay is your best bet though the prices can be horrendous. There's also a rarer 3Below book called Arcadia-Con which is even harder to track down if you're in the hunting mood.

ANYWAY one of those books was this one, Angor Reborn:

While unsure about Arcadia-Con all the Trollhunters books had the same cover artist, Patrick Ian Moss. Angor Reborn is unique in that we know of not just one but two versions of a rejected cover and is the only one of the series that is a match timeline wise.

This is the version that still exists on his instagram:

Source

And this one used to be on his website that by coincidence I downloaded a few months back just to be safe.

His website where it used to be is here.

Can't save everything from being lost to time but just occasionally we manage to save the odd thing :)

[lifebooksloves]

Beaus & Arrows Release Blitz!

Life, Books, & Loves Presents: The Release Blitz of Beaus & Arrows!

Flowers are fun, but diamonds and forever win our hearts. 22 authors have come together to bring you everything you want in an anthology. From first kisses to botched proposals, boss crushes to rockstar lovin’, these fun novellas will give you the happily ever afters you crave.

This amazing collection packed full of romance to help you through that delicious box of chocolates will also give some love back. All profits from Beaus & Arrows is going to Pennies-4-Paws!!

NOW AVAILABLE for ONLY $0.99!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2linG5X Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2lnQhDu iBooks: http://apple.co/2kJTMEg

**Additional Retailers to follow**

Anthology Description

Perfectly Us by Abby Brooks: A secret Valentine’s Day proposal almost ruins everything for this small town couple.

Right For Love.by Aria Cole: One night, one dress, him and her. But can one swipe right really lead to love?

Pinnacle – A Destined Series Story by Ashley Suzanne: A sexy, NYC getaway weekend for Mira and Skylar lead them to altar … just not their own!

The Wedding-Night Stand by Ava Harrison: When one night of passion turns into forever.

One Night by Callie Anderson: Landon Winthrop walked into my life and consumed my mind, body, and heart. The only problem–he’s my boss.

All Wrong by Callie Harper: From spilling hot coffee all down her shirt to getting locked in a closet at a party, Sarah’s Valentine’s Day is going all wrong. But when an insanely hot crush gets involved, can some things go so wrong they become just right?

Love on a Plane by Ilsa Madden-Mills: Spider didn’t mean to fall for the uptight girl he sat next to on the plane. But once they kissed, all common sense went out the tiny window next to her. Too bad she was his future stepsister…

Taking My Shot by Jen Frederick

Someone Not You by Jessica Hawkins: Justin’s dazzling smile and wit have never failed him in the dating department—until his boss challenges him to win a date with the one girl who might be immune to his charms.

A Very Locklaine Valentine by Jessica Prince: The story of Richard’s epically disastrous proposal to Delilah.

What Love Built by JL Berg: The entire Cavenaugh family reunites for what is sure to be a very memorable Valentine’s Day.

Special Delivery by Liv Morris

Mr. First Time by L.J. Shen: A real-life story about first love, first kiss and all the things that make your heart beat faster.

Rhythm by Mandi Beck: Grab front row seats to Wrecked’s Valentine’s Day show and see just how sexy loving a rock star can be. Especially when he’s got a stash of lollipops.

Livi’s Love by MJ Fields: A Caldwell Brothers novella. Hendrix Caldwell loves his woman hard and his dog, too. Livi Caldwell is surrounded in a new world full of love, devotion, and a man who will do anything to keep her from stressing. Floyd, the couple’s pit bull has found herself in a predicament. What lengths will Hendrix go to for Livi and Floyd? In the end, Livi teaches her man once again there is always more love in this family to go around.

Yes, Yes, Yes by Nicola Rendell: A chocolate tasting gets dirty.

Game For Two: A Valentine’s Staycation by Rachel Blaufeld: Drew & Jules escape the madness for a romantic night at the beach.

Backfire by Rebecca Yarros: Bash’s perfectly planned proposal goes awry when he’s called away for a fire.

Entwined by SE Hall: My Valentine’s Day gift to all of you who asked for it- the wedding of Dane Kendrick and Laney Jo Walker.

Love and Latte by Sharon Hamilton

Beauty Knot by Stephie Walls: From marks and scars to joy and triumph, Callie and Liam finally get their fairytale. After nine years, this shotgun wedding goes every way but smoothly.

The Brightest Star by Yessi Smith: A story about two souls who continue to fall deeper into each other every day, as life unravels around them.

Disclosure: This information was provided by TRSOR Promotions. This is NOT a compensated post.

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On this SUNDAY, January 15, 2017, the date of Martin Luther King’s birth, over 75 Chicago authors will join writers in 90 cities and communities across the United States and worldwide, coming together for #WritersResist a “re-inauguration” of compassion, equality, free speech, and the fundamental ideals of democracy. 

True to the spirit of our city, Chicago #WRITERS RESIST is embracing a City of Neighborhoods theme, with a central reading in the Loop and same-day events in Pilsen, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, River West, Albany Park/ Old Irving Park, and Evanston. 

THE LOOP READING starts out the day from noon to 3:00PM at Open Books, in the West Loop, 651 W. Lake St., two blocks west of the  Clinton L Stop/ Green and Pink Lines.

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All events are free and open to the public. Chicago #Writers Resist community events will run from midday into the evening on Sunday.

Here is the Sunday January 15th event schedule, beginning with the noon Loop event:

••• Noon-3:00PM—LOOP at Open Books in the West Loop, 651 W. Lake St. (Pink and Green  L Lines/ Clinton stop.) 20 Readers!  Social Justice and Citizen Organization Speakers! Silent Literary Raffle! See this blog page for the author line-up.

••• 1:00-3:00PM—RIVER WEST at Woman Made Gallery, 685 N. Milwaukee Ave. “Inauguration: Affirmation, Empowerment & Resistance." Featuring vocalist Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, along with poets Susanna Lang, Dipika Mukherjee, Kee Stein, Kimberly Marie Ousley, Dina Elenbogen, and Freesia McKee. In addition, we'll have activist Dr Patricia O'Brien, on faculty at UIC school of social work. Curator: Nina Corwin.  More details on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/1623873551255294/

•••2:00-4:00PM—PILSEN, at Flor del Monte, 1951 West 22nd Place. Featuring Melissa Duprey, Tara Betts, Aisha Davies, Graciela Gonzalez, Isabel Reyes, Zenia Ruiz, Dan Godston, and Ydalmi Noriega.

•••2:30-4:30PM —ALBANY PARK/ OLD IRVING PARK, at Café Urbano, 4176 N. Elston Avenue. Featuring  Elizabeth Marino, Cynthia Gallaher, Ruth Goring,  Richard Vargas, Raul Niño, Mike Puican, Eduardo Arocho PLUS an open mic.

••• 4:00-6:00PM—EVANSTON, at Bookends and Beginnings, 1712 Sherman Avenue, Alley #1. Featuring Osama Alomar, Veronica Arreola, Virginia Bell, Dina Elenbogen, Pamela Ferdinand, Aricka Foreman, Ralph Hamilton, Emilie Hogan, Maudlyne Ihejirika, Parneshia Jones, Bennett Johnson, C. Russell Price, Bill Savage, Megan Stielstra, Michele Weldon, and John K. Wilson. More details on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/events/1802049823393747/

••• 6:00PM —LOGAN SQUARE, at Cole’s, 2338 N Milwaukee Ave, 21+, SPEAK UP/WARM UP to Benefit the Logan Square Neighborhood Association. Featuring Diego Baez, Doro Boehme, Violet Gallardo (LSNA), Aide Hernandez (LSNA), Nathanael Lee Jones, Britt Julious, Jami Nakamura Lin, Heather McShane, Sarah Meyer, Ashley Miranda, Jose-Luis Moctezuma, Jennifer Nelson, C. Russell Price, Dawn Reiss, Kenyatta Rogers, Jacob Saenz, Erika L. Sánchez, Suzanne Scanlon, Tara Stringfellow, Dawn Tefft, and Zoe Zolbrod. Books and special printed matter will be available for donation from partners Curbside Splendor, Meekling Press, and Red Rover Reading Series. This is event is also partnered with MAKE Magazine and CHI PRC/Wasted Pages. 

••• 7:00PM—HUMBOLDT PARK #Writers Resist with the Guild Literary Complex at La Bruquena, 2726 W. Division, featuring poetry by Eduardo Arocho, Carlos Cumpián, Nina Corwin, Isaac Galvan, J. Evelyn and Yolanda Nieves. The night’s MC will be Mary Hawley. Come early and sign up for an open mic slot! More details on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/events/357587911277647/?active_tab=discussion.