#Engaging Radio Programming

[bookishscrolls]

Innovative Content Ideas for Engaging Community Radio Programs

Creating captivating and engaging content is the lifeblood of any Community Radio Station (CRS). It’s the magic that transforms your station from a simple broadcast into a beloved community staple. But what keeps listeners tuning in and, more importantly, feeling connected to your station? The answer lies in continuous innovation and deep community involvement. From educational programs to…

[delicatelysublimeforester]

A Heartfelt Thank You to CFCR: Fostering Community and Conservation

[news4dzhozhar]

Yasmin Porat, a survivor of the bloodshed at Kibbutz Be’eri, near the boundary with Gaza, says many Israeli civilians were killed by Israeli forces.

An Israeli woman who survived the Hamas assault on settlements near the Gaza boundary on 7 October says Israeli civilians were “undoubtedly” killed by their own security forces.

It happened when Israeli forces engaged in fierce gun battles with Palestinian fighters in Kibbutz Be’eri and fired indiscriminately at both the fighters and their Israeli prisoners.

“They eliminated everyone, including the hostages,” she told Israeli radio. “There was very, very heavy crossfire” and even tank shelling.

The woman, 44-year-old mother of three Yasmin Porat, said that prior to that, she and other civilians had been held by the Palestinians for several hours and treated “humanely.” She had fled the nearby “Nova” rave.

A recording of her interview, from the radio program Haboker Hazeh (“This Morning”) hosted by Aryeh Golan on state broadcaster Kan, has been circulating on social media.

Notably, the interview is not included in the online version of Haboker Hazeh for 15 October, the episode in which it apparently aired.

It may well have been censored due to its explosive nature.

Porat, who is from Kabri, a settlement near the Lebanese border, undoubtedly experienced terrible things and saw many noncombatants killed. Her own partner, Tal Katz, is among the dead.

However, her account undermines Israel’s official story of deliberate, wanton murder by the Palestinian fighters.

Although it no longer appears on the Kan website, there can be little doubt about the recording’s authenticity.

At least one Hebrew-language account posted part of the interview on Twitter, now officially called X, and accused Kan of functioning as “media in the service of Hamas.”

Porat also gave her account to the Israeli newspaper Maariv.

However, the Maariv story, published on 9 October, makes no specific mention of civilians being killed by Israeli forces.

And in a half-hour interview with Israel’s Channel 12 on Thursday, Porat speaks of intense gunfire after Israeli forces arrived. Porat herself received a bullet in the thigh.

Not only does Porat tell Kan that Israelis were killed in the heavy counterattack by Israeli security forces, but she says she and other captive civilians were well treated by the Palestinian fighters.

Porat had been attending the “Nova” rave when the Hamas assault began with missiles and motorized paragliders. She and her partner Tal Katz escaped by car to nearby Kibbutz Be’eri where many of the events she describes in her media interviews took place.

According to Porat speaking to Maariv, she and Katz initially sought refuge in the house of a couple called Adi and Hadas Dagan. After the Palestinian fighters found them they were all taken to another house, where eight people were already being held captive and one person was dead.

Porat said that the wife of the dead man “told us that when they [the Hamas fighters] tried to enter, the guy tried to prevent them from entering and grabbed the door. They shot at the door and he was killed. They did not execute them.”

“They did not abuse us. They treated us very humanely,” Porat explained to a surprised Golan in the Kan radio interview.

“By that I mean they guard us,” she said. “They give us something to drink here and there. When they see we are nervous they calm us down. It was very frightening but no one treated us violently. Luckily nothing happened to me like what I heard in the media.”

“They were very humane towards us,” Porat said in her Channel 12 interview. She recalled that one Palestinian fighter who spoke Hebrew, “told me, ‘Look at me well, were not going to kill you. We want to take you to Gaza. We are not going to kill you. So be calm, you’re not going to die.’ Thats what he told me, in those words.”

“I was calm because I knew nothing would happen to me,” she added.

“They told us that we would not die, that they wanted to take us to Gaza and that the next day they would return us to the border,” Porat told Maariv.

In the Channel 12 interview, Porat elaborates that although the Palestinian fighters all had loaded weapons, she never saw them shoot captives or threaten them with their guns.

In addition to providing the captives with drinking water, she said the fighters let them go outside to the lawn because it was hot, especially as the electricity was cut.

[morbidology]

Howard Dully’s story is one of resilience in the face of horrific medical malpractice and the complexities of mental health care in the mid-20th century. He had born in 1948 and was just 12-years-old when he was subjected to a transorbital lobotomy by the notorious Dr. Walter Freeman.

Dr. Freeman was a neurologist known for popularizing this invasive procedure in the United States. He had managed to convince Howard's stepmother, Lou, that the procedure would “cure” her stepson of what she perceived as troubling behavior. Without Howard’s father fully understanding the severity of the operation, Freeman performed the lobotomy by inserting an ice pick-like instrument into Howard’s brain through his eye sockets. As a result, Howard suffered lifelong physical and psychological scars from an operation performed without just cause.

For years after the procedure, he struggled with behavioral issues, homelessness, and challenges in maintaining relationships, all likely exacerbated by his lobotomy. His behavior, which Freeman had diagnosed as rebellious and defiant, was no more than typical for a boy his age, yet it was labeled as a psychiatric disorder. The lobotomy left him emotionally numb and unable to engage in life fully. Howard's life became a series of hardships, as he was institutionalized and shifted from place to place, largely without a stable or supportive environment to help him manage the trauma inflicted by the operation.

Decades later, Howard embarked on a journey to understand the details of his past and confront the trauma of his youth. In 2005, he documented this journey in the radio program My Lobotomy, which aired on NPR and captivated listeners worldwide. The program detailed his search for his medical records, his interviews with family members, and conversations with psychiatric experts to piece together what happened.

This process of discovery allowed Howard to finally understand the profound impact of Freeman’s actions and find a sense of closure. He went on to write a book about his ordeal, titled My Lobotomy.

[allastoredeer]

My Hellaverse Writing & Drawing Resources (Masterpost) & Blog Tags

(A lot of this is for me, but feel free to use if you want.)

(Is updated as I stumble across more or make my own resources)

Blog Tags

#Undercover Angel AU (for my Angel Alastor au)

#allastoredoodles (my art tag)

My World-Building, Character Analysis, and Lore

The Hierarchal Power Structure in Pentagram City + Royal Family Character Analysis

Lucifer's Religious Trauma - Character Analysis

Why I Don't Include Dante's 9 Circles of Hell in my Hellaverse World-Building Lore

More About Dante's 9 Circles + Imp City and the Goetia

Hellborn and Sinner Similarities and Differences + Classism

Hellaverse Canon Lore Tidbits

Note: Some posts may have repeated canon lore

Post 1

Post 2

Post 3

Hazbin Hotel Facts Part 1

New Information Revealed By The Hazbin Playbill

Art Resources

Alastor

Alastor Drawing Guide

Alastor Cane Drawing Guide & Hand Reference Sheet

Alastor 3/4 (right) Expression Sheet

Alastor Side Profile Breakdown

Full Body Breakdown/Poses

Lucifer

Lucifer Drawing Guide

Demon Form Lucifer Drawing Guide

Vox

Vox Drawing Guide

Husk

Husk Drawing Guide

Rosie

Rosie Drawing Guide

Angel Dust

Angel Dust Drawing Guide

Character Designs

Sinners From the Show (Collection 1)

Backgrounds

Heaven Embassy (Exterior)

Post-Extermination City-Scape

Writing Resources

The 5 Senses

75 Words That Describe Smell

Descriptive Words for Scents: List of Smell Adjectives

200+ Words to Describe a Voice

How to Describe a Smile in Different Ways

600+ Words to Describe Smiles

What a Decomposing Body Smells Like

300 Creative Words to Describe Hair

General Writing Help

How to Write Immersive Stories Using Description

World Building Tips: Writing Engaging Settings

Writing Action Scenes

Adjectives for Description

Dialogue Tags to Use Instead of Said

6 Seconds, 6 Months - Writing Advice/Challenge

100+ Architecture Terms to Help Describe Buildings

Body Language Cheat Sheets

23 Essential Body Language Examples and Their Meanings

Writing Sex Scenes: How to Heat Up Romance

Miscellaneous

How to Write Realistic Injuries

Explosives and Blasting Agents

BOM: The Next Generation of High Performance Explosives

Burning Points of Various Fabrics

English to Shakespearean (Perfect for Zestial! Thank you @witch-of-the-writing-desk)

English to Old English (Perfect for Zestial! Thank you @witch-of-the-writing-desk)

Fantastic Post About Louisiana and New Orleans (Great for writing Alastor!)

The Complete Butchers Guide to Different Cuts of Meat

What Are the Different Sections or Areas on a Casino Floor?

Casino Design - The Sneaky Tricks That Make You Spend More

A Walk Through the Casino

Radio Scripts from the Golden Age of Radio

Golden Age of Black Radio (Part 1)

Glossary of Early 20th Century Slang in the United States

Historical Slang For Having Sex, From 1351 To Today

Collection of Clothing References for Writing

Portraying Mixed People

Sexual Intimacy During Cancer Treatment

Helpful Websites and Writing Programs

Random Character Generators

Websites For Writers (Collection)

Pacemaker Planner

Hiveword: The Search Engine For Writers

StimuWrite Desktop

OneStopForWriters

LibreOffice (Free Microsoft Word Alternative)

Scrivener

Fighters-Block (Designed specifically to combat writers blocks)

MyNoise (Immersive and customizable soundscapes to help with focus or creating a specific writing atmosphere).

WorldBuilding.StackExchange (A website for answering specific world-building questions)

WordsNStuff (FANTASTIC blog for your all your writing needs)

My Ko-Fi

You know. If you wanna (◕‿◕✿)

[probablyasocialecologist]

An Israeli woman who survived the Hamas assault on settlements near the Gaza boundary on 7 October says Israeli civilians were “undoubtedly” killed by their own security forces. It happened when Israeli forces engaged in fierce gun battles with Palestinian fighters in Kibbutz Be’eri and fired indiscriminately at both the fighters and their Israeli prisoners. “They eliminated everyone, including the hostages,” she told Israeli radio. “There was very, very heavy crossfire” and even tank shelling. The woman, 44-year-old mother of three Yasmin Porat, said that prior to that, she and other civilians had been held by the Palestinians for several hours and treated “humanely.” She had fled the nearby “Nova” rave. A recording of her interview, from the radio program Haboker Hazeh (“This Morning”) hosted by Aryeh Golan on state broadcaster Kan, has been circulating on social media.

[bestosunglass]

Hello, I love your Media Husbands AU! Questions I have:

Do Alastor and Vox flirt unintentionally? I mean, they think they're bantering but to everyone else they're just being disgustingly flirtatious with each other.

Does Vee Tower still exist, just under a different name? Maybe even a different design? If so, I imagine Alastor having the entire top floor for himself, a radio broadcasting room, an apartment-like area for himself, etc.

Vox works on the commercial for the hotel, doesn't he?

Have a good time and please stay amazing!

They really don't. They take great care of their image in public so that only if they are within four walls (or in the Cannibal city, the only public place where they can act carefree), regardless of whether there are onlookers, will they be found arguing over trivial nonsense or making comments to each other.

This is why, despite the fact that they have not hidden their engagement, it's not entirely clear to many denizens of hell if they are really a couple or why they got married when in public they act no different than any work colleagues would.

Regarding the Vees I think that's the question I get most often kkkkk. If I'm completely, I haven't given them much thought or consideration as to what will become of them. That Velvett and Valentino continue to be allies is a given as they both get a benefit from working with each other, plus it's a bit more underground business, territory that is easier for them to control as they move in the shadows.

And Vox does have his tower! Alastor, for his part, also has a comfortable sector within it, very big on the inside tho. Despite Voxtec promoting more advanced and innovative technology every year, Vox has maintained a somewhat vintage aesthetic in his business and products while respecting his partner's silent desire to maintain some of the essence that he loves and represents, even though Alastor is not involved in anything that involves Vox's new technological projects.

For Vox it's like silently saying "Hey, look! I haven't forgotten that the two of us are a team in all this!" and also feeling a little shameless triumph as he knows perfectly well that this has pleased Alastor.

Initially they had considered having Vox promote the hotel in commercials in his programming but that was when the first strong differences between him and Charlie arose because while he obviously planned to use his hypnosis to attract more guests to the hotel, Charlie didn't consider that an option at all and wanted something genuine, which Vox refused to do because he was much more direct with his opinion that it would only make the hotel look like a laughingstock. In the end they never came to an agreement so they had to stick with Alastor's plan, much to Alastor's delight.

He, of course, knew it was going to be like that.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Matthew Chapman at Raw Story:

President Donald Trump's new chair of the Federal Communications Commission is launching an investigation into National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, accusing them of illegally engaging in business advertisements, NPR itself reported on Thursday — a move that could lay the groundwork to yank federal funding from public broadcasting. Chairman Brendan Carr, a longtime GOP commissioner who was previously appointed by Trump as the FCC's general counsel and was involved in drafting Project 2025, wrote in his letter to NPR and PBS, "I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials. In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements." NPR and PBS, which are not directly run by the government but are regulated in such a way as to keep their content free and open to the public, cannot under law run commercial advertisements; they can obtain corporate sponsorships but are not allowed to specifically endorse the products or services from those companies on air. [...] A majority of NPR and PBS funding comes from corporate sponsorships, but they still rely substantially on federal funding. A lot of federal funding for public broadcasters comes not in the form of direct payments from Congress, but rather grants disbursed from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to local affiliate stations, who then in turn use the money to pay for programming from the public broadcasters.

Authoritarian FCC Chair Brendan Carr opens politically-motivated probe into PBS and NPR by falsely accusing them of “illegally” engaging in business advertisements. Carr is one of the many writers for Project 2025, a right-wing policy book by The Heritage Foundation.

See Also:

NPR: Trump's FCC chief opens investigation into NPR and PBS

[homoquartz]

you guys, this is serious. i don't know who it is, but you gotta STOP leaking our secret gay agenda to the press.

it's not funny anymore. they're getting wise and dismantling DEI programs. how are we going to brainwash the public into engaging in our perverted satanic sex rituals now? subliminal messages on the radio waves again? get real! like, THINK before you speak!

[astroismypassion]

✨PART OF FORTUNE IN SIGNS AND HOUSES SERIES: 9TH HOUSE✨

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

ARIES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aries and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You would do well as a personal trainer or fitness instructor since you have great energy and motivation that can inspire clients to achieve health and fitness goals. You feel abundant when you are inspired and inspiring others and when you can experience the childlike joy and share it with those around you.

TAURUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Taurus and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via teaching about practical skills, business, economics or the arts, via creating and selling educational content (online courses, e-books, instructional videos), by becoming a travel writer or blogger, starting or managing a tourism-related business (travel agency, boutique hotel or guided tour company), via international law.

GEMINI PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Gemini and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via developing or working with educational technology platforms that facilitate online learning, via work in international business/trade, via diplomacy, engaging in media production, creating content for TV, radio or online platforms.

CANCER PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You can feel the most abundant when you have Cancer and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via selling home-brewed beer or offering brewing classes, via media content (podcasts, videos) connected with family relationships, emotional health, cultural traditions, life coaching, via real estate related to family homes, community housing, vacation properties that provide a sense of home and comfort, via non-profit organizations that focus on family support, emotional well-being and cultural preservation.

LEO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Leo and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via providing high-end services, such as image consulting or bespoke travel planning, via engaging in theatre, film, directing, producing, via creative arts (music, painting, dancing), via sharing your experiences by storytelling, via teaching, arts, philosophy or leadership.

VIRGO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Virgo and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via nutrition counselling, naturopathy, wellness coaching, preventative care, via writing for technical and scientific publications, via developing or managing programs that facilitate cultural exchanges and study abroad opportunities. You feel abundant when you are focused on service and when you have clear communication.

LIBRA PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Libra and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via becoming a make-up artist, creating tutorials or selling beauty products. You feel abundant when you travel with your loved ones, your partner or as a part of the team. You find wealth via becoming a teacher in subjects like art, design, law or philosophy. You find abundance in starting a business in art (art gallery, design studio, fashion brand).

SCORPIO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Scorpio and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via esoteric studies, sociology, spiritual transformation, via energy work, shamanic healing, transformational coaching. You feel abundant when you dive into transformation, healing and deep psychological insights. You can also offer consulting services in areas, like crisis management, organizational transformation or deep personal development. You feel abundant when you promote healing and transformation via self-help books, wellness products or spiritual tools.

SAGITTARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via offering tailored travel plans, starting a business in adventure tourism (offering hiking, trekking and cultural tours), offering spiritual counselling or coaching, helping others find their path and purpose.

CAPRICORN PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Capricorn and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via import/export, global consultancy, multinational corporations, via offering historical tours, archaeological digs, via eco-tourism, via international law or corporate law. You feel abundant when you are disciplined, patient and persistent.

AQUARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aquarius and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via writing or speaking about progressive philosophical or spiritual ideas that align with modern, futuristic or humanitarian values, via online courses, workshops or alternative education methods, via technology, social sciences or futuristic studies.

PISCES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Pisces and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via producing media content (podcast, video, documentary) on spiritual, artistic, cultural topic, via creating educational programs/workshops that blend traditional learning with holistic or spiritual perspective, via spiritual coaching, astrology or psychic readings.

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

[bookishscrolls]

Technical Aspects and Infrastructure for Running a Community Radio Station

Behind every captivating broadcast from a Community Radio Station (CRS) lies a complex and well-maintained technical setup. It’s not just about having the right equipment; it’s about creating a cohesive infrastructure that keeps your station running smoothly and your community engaged. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your setup, this guide will walk you through the…

[technofeudalism]

north korea bad is popping off on reddit again. top post on the CIA-controlled subreddit with 43 million subscribers masquerading as a news community. i was intrigued by the source being NZ Herald but when i clicked on the article, my questions were answered.

now. for those of you unfamiliar. Radio Free Asia is basically a US propaganda organ that masks its intentions by attempting to appear objective.

although many will suggest that they no longer have direct affiliation with the CIA, and that may be true, it does not change the fact that they are funded by the US government and have been spreading blatant lies with literally no source to their extremely over the top claims for many years.

that being said, these perpetual lies happen to include misinfo regarding China's versions of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Some of the RFA articles reviewed lacked key context in describing purported issues with Chinese-made vaccines. This could enable the spread of anti-vaccine misinformation at a time when research suggests that exposure to online misinformation about vaccines can increase rates of vaccine hesitancy.  In one example, a November 10 article on RFA’s Cantonese website, headlined “Clinical trial of Chinese vaccine halted in Brazil after causing serious incident,” lacked important context from local authorities. A serious incident had indeed occurred: the death of a participant in a local trial of the Sinovac vaccine. But Reuters reported November 9 that the death had been deemed a suicide and that an official had denied any link to the vaccine, a detail not noted in RFA’s article.  The article, presented as a news story, also contained editorial comment dismissing China’s approach to vaccines. “This accident not only renews criticism of the ��Great Leap Forward’-style of vaccine research and development, but also presents a serious setback for China, which is devoting all of its resources to this Covid-19 vaccine competition,”  the first paragraph reads. RFA continued to describe the trial’s suspension as owing to “severe adverse effects,” not mentioning the participant’s reported cause of death, in at least two subsequent articles.

there's a lot more at the source. it's a great read. but there's one more piece to this that is important to understand.

it has also been confirmed that, from spring 2020 to mid-2021, the Pentagon and by extension the US Government itself engaged in misinformation campaigns in Southeast Asia regarding Chinese vaccines.

The U.S. military’s anti-vax effort began in the spring of 2020 and expanded beyond Southeast Asia before it was terminated in mid-2021, Reuters determined. Tailoring the propaganda campaign to local audiences across Central Asia and the Middle East, the Pentagon used a combination of fake social media accounts on multiple platforms to spread fear of China’s vaccines among Muslims at a time when the virus was killing tens of thousands of people each day. A key part of the strategy: amplify the disputed contention that, because vaccines sometimes contain pork gelatin, China’s shots could be considered forbidden under Islamic law. The military program started under former President Donald Trump and continued months into Joe Biden’s presidency, Reuters found – even after alarmed social media executives warned the new administration that the Pentagon had been trafficking in COVID misinformation. The Biden White House issued an edict in spring 2021 banning the anti-vax effort, which also disparaged vaccines produced by other rivals, and the Pentagon initiated an internal review, Reuters found.

what a coincidence that Radio Free Asia just so happened to be engaging disinformation campaigns against the same exact vaccines as the State Department during the same exact timeframe. very strange.

obviously none of this information matters even a little to anyone on the shithole of a website that is reddit. xenophobia is dominating the convo as always. you could post literally anything about north korea on reddit and it will instantly shoot to the top of any decent sized community. but i had to post this somewhere or i was going to lose my mind.

[blueberrypancakesworld]

She is my pretty Sun - Saltburn 2023

Michael Gavey x fem!reader

warning : fluff, comfort, Michael being Michael, implied/mentioned obssesion, jealousy, flirting

Summary : A few years after graduation, after marrying his partner and moving into the perfect house, he suddenly receives a letter. Oliver Quick, Michael's "friend", gets in touch and is now the owner of Saltburn. A simple dinner invitation or something more than it seems at first glance.

Info : So my secon piece for Saltburn but the obsession is strong so yeah have this piece whitch was inspired by an idea of @ateliefloresdaprimavera . So as always have fun reading;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bells were already waking them up again. Bells. The sound of the bells always reminded them both of the moment when they stood opposite each other.

The dark suit nestled against him, the bright red rose matching her lipstick, the red dress against her body. It was the sound of his smile as she told him a joke, math of course, as always.

She smiled at the warmth on her cheeks as he complimented her back. The bells of the small town woke them up since they had graduated. The graduation from the university, leaving everything behind, the rich, Oliver, the fake news.

They had all left it behind. To end up belonging only to each other through bells served in the church of the village with the gold on their hands. ,,Good morning, my pretty wife," she heard his voice, still slightly dark from sleep, but still as charming as ever. Before she felt his warm hand move up her side.

He left light circles on her before his darling pressed closer to him, her leg leaning over his and her hand clasping his. He still likes to be the little spoon, she thought and gave Michael a good morning kiss on the cheek, hearing his grin and knowing that he would once again get up before his wekcer.

Her little nerd had always done it, ever since they'd nearly run over each other in the library when they were about to reach for the same book. ,,Good morning, my sweet husband," she quipped, slowly rising and wrapping the blanket around her torso, seeing the sun's glow against the curtains. It was peaceful and quiet here.

A small town of not even ten thousand inhabitants, but the large house was not only suitable, it was also perfectly situated. Michael had his short commute to work and she herself could concentrate on her little store, which was right below them.

It was perfect not knowing that things would be different today. ,,My sun," she heard Michael mumble as he turned to her, his eyes running over her. Although he didn't have his glasses on, the satisfied grin on his lips said something else. He enjoyed watching his darling.

And she enjoyed that he adored her so much. She curled up in the sun was his goddess, his beloved wife saw him lick his lips before he crawled over to her and his fingers played with her hair. ,,Ohh so needy" she joked knowing he knew what it meant and he was slightly ashamed to engage her in a kiss. She sensed very well that they both remembered the night. He was as devoted as ever to pleasing her, to giving her everything he wanted.

She let him take the leash and also met his needs. ,,For you, of course," he mumbled and after a few moments he let go of her and put on his glasses, watching as she slipped into her robe that made her look like a queen. He, on the other hand, put on his oversized T-shirt with the period pattern and disappeared into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

He had insisted on making breakfast while she showered. So she could hear him shouting the answers to the math programs around the house and she tried to concentrate on the radio. It gave them both exactly what they needed.

,,Darling! I take it you've got everything right again?" she called through the house and came out to him in her bathrobe in the kitchen. She saw that he was drinking his tea as usual and eating toast with a fried egg. ,,Here, my sweetheart," he said kindly and pushed her plate and coffee over to her before shouting at the radio presenter again to read out the formulas more quickly.

,,Thank you...I know you can do it every time," she commented, taking a sip of her coffee and stroking his hand reassuringly. ,,Of course I can do it, darling," he said, a hint of self-assurance in his voice before he gave her a kiss and the two of them continued to eat. Until the beautiful morning peace was interrupted by a ringing doorbell.

There was a questioning look on her face as she looked at Michael. ,,On a Saturday?" Michael murmured and got up to give his darling a little more rest. Sacrificing himself for her was his life, as he used to say. She heard the door open and then Michael closed it again, seeming to struggle to keep his composure when the letter carrier didn't do as he wished.

But only an amused shake of her head later and he was back with her, adjusting his glasses. ,,Who's the letter from?" she asked, but rose from her chair when she saw him change from annoyed to uncertain.

,,Michael baby?" she asked, coming to his side and putting her hand on his arm, knowing that he was looking for physical contact, that he didn't always want it and that she was giving him space. But this time he almost seemed to have stepped away.

,,Oliver Quick-Oliver he wrote to me...I mean he invited us to dinner...at the Saltburn estate," he mumbled and handed her the letter while he leaned against the kitchen counter, his hands running over the table and trying to control himself and not freak out. She read the letter, she knew about their past, she had had brief dealings with Oliver herself and knew that he was actually Michael's friend.

With the emphasis on true. ,,Michael, we don't have to go there, I know how you feel," she said and walked over to him, put the letter aside and stroked his slightly tousled hair, which he always paid meticulous attention to. She saw him nod but she also saw that he wanted to form his own opinion.

He always wanted to form his own opinion. ,,It's been a long time... well, he used to be my friend, but why not? If you are there my heart will be fine" he said and smiled a little at her, trying to convince her that it was a good idea. An idea that they hoped would turn out well, but neither of them knew how much Oliver had changed.

Quicker than they would have liked in the end, the two of them were in their car and on their way. ,,The whole thing was a tragedy, everyone died one after the other," she heard him say and looked away from the road for a moment to see him looking at the newspaper in his hand.

He had immediately printed out all of the articles about the cases and picked them out. ,,One after the other? And Oliver in the middle," she mumbled, concentrating on the road again and seeing the hill behind her. She tried to concentrate on the radio while Michael continued to look through the articles. They had only met Oliver back then, but that was almost a year or more ago.

Just driving through the gate and stopping on the gravel road to get out seemed unreal. ,,Unreal," she mumbled and hooked up with Michael, who had put the artiel in the car and walked with her to the entrance. She saw him nod in the corner of her eye before he knocked and they waited for Oliver.

It seemed to take minutes before the door opened and Oliver stood in the doorway with a broad grin. ,,Michael Gavey and his beautiful... wife! Welcome to my humble home!" he announced, pulling them into a hug that was almost suffocating. His glasses were gone, his dark hair slightly tousled, a rather open shirt on his upper body gave a hint of what his body looked like and the golden glasses on his wrist were just a sign of the wealth he now possessed.

,,Oliver Quick, so we'll meet again," the bespectacled man said, giving him a cautious smile before carrying Oliver aside and inviting them in. ,,Thank you Oliver...it's interesting to be here on Saltburn, a tragedy the deaths you had to witness," she said as he closed the door behind them and moved next to her. She had seen the way he looked at Michael, had seen his dislike, almost arrogance, towards her.

She saw that his look had changed, almost like a self-assured predator. He was the predator on Saltburn and they were both his guests or prey. It was strange, as if they were intruders in a house that didn't belong to them.

As the two exchanged glances, she saw her husband pull himself together, unsure of how to behave. ,,I took the liberty of having the food prepared already," Oliver said, pointing to the large wooden table where the candles were lit, the hot food was steaming and Oliver sat down at the head of the table and Michael sat to his right and his wife to his left.

,,Please help yourself, I've made it extra nice," he said deliberately and took a big sip of the wine he had poured for them all. ,,Thank you Oliver...it's good to see you again," she said and began to cut the steak while Michael still seemed to be thinking about what had happened. However, it was mainly silence that passed between the three of them.

The scratching of the cutlery on the plates, the wind on the windows, the sound of music from a record somewhere in the distance. ,,Bootlicker...that's what you called me back then, Michael," Oliver began and she looked at the two guys and saw that Michael was gripping the cutlery tighter.

He doesn't like it, he doesn't like anything about this she realized and she tried to calm him down with her gaze. She wanted to avoid an auraster, but something told her that Oliver would no longer just stay quiet. She dared him to become aggressive.

,,Yes I did Oliver you used to be my friend and now you're the Lord of Saltburn...isn't it really funny" Michael said and put down his cutlery, a knowing look in his eyes as he looked at Oliver who gave him a grin. ,,Michael Gavey the nerd and mathematician with such a beautiful woman...you know Saltburn can get lonely on her own," he said, seeming to ignore the other, the older man's eyes more than obviously on her.

She saw how he lingered briefly on her ring before wandering over her upper body. ,,Michael, could you fetch us the wine from the kitchen?" he asked suddenly, turning hastily to his former friend and seeing Michael biting his tongue to stop himself from making any comments.

She nudged him lightly under the table, letting him know that it was probably better this way. Michael just smiled at him before standing up, adjusting his glasses and disappearing into the kitchen.

As soon as the door closed, Oliver got up from his seat and came over to her. ,,So sugar, what's keeping you with our favorite psychopath and math genius Michael?" he asked, his hands resting on the back of her chair as he seemed to be circling her. not letting her curse. ,,Oliver the genius is my husband and you're a terrible host," she warned him, turning slightly to face him but seeing, to her regret, that he was grinning back at her.

,,Tragic yes yes...you know one word and I'm all yours here forever" he whispered and she got goosebumps when she saw him like that. This was no longer the Oliver she had once known. The shy nerd, a bit socially retarded and perhaps in love with her, but he had left her behind.

He had gone to Saltburn after Felix and not her. Which was why Michael was with her now and forever. ,,Oliver, I don't know what happened but obviously we've all grown apart...besides, I'm married so it would be better if we left now," she said and rose hastily, walking past him towards the kitchen to fetch Michael. She didn't want to admit it but Oliver somehow scared her.

That self-confidence, the smile that knew so much more, as if he knew exactly what was happening. He seemed to be feasting on her right now. Like a vampire.

But before she could reach the door, it was ripped open and an angry Michael stood in the doorway, his hand gripping the bottle tighter than necessary. ,,Oliver Quick, I suggest for a bootlicker, a rich man's toy who has somehow taken up residence here, you get off my wife," he began and stood in front of her, she gave him a look and saw his expression soften for a moment, he looked to see if she was hurt.

,,My darling has made it clear that she doesn't like them so let's go and let's go now" he said and she hacked at her husband giving him a kiss on the cheek soothing him for a moment but his grip on her was more possessive, clearly more holding.

He was protecting her from Oliver, who didn't like this at all. ,,She's mine Oliver not yours" he warned him one last time and gave her a gentle smile. A smile of devotion for her.

Something Oliver didn't have, he could only take but not give. ,,A bootlicker or a thief? Whatever Michael, one day you'll understand," he said, and with a warning look he went back to his seat where he turned to his food while Michael went out with her and the wine still in his hand. Out of the place that frightened them, that housed corpses and where Oliver could rot in peace.

They had each other and the past was over, and at the latest when they saw each other again in the car with the wine between them and they kissed, they knew that they had each other. That Oliver was behind them and that he would always protect his beloved wife. No matter what would come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[petervintonjr]

"As black America approaches the 21st century, our capacity or our failure to build a solid bridge . . . of works will determine whether millions of young blacks already with us or yet unborn will cross over into the new century, or fall into the abyss."

Another name you almost certainly didn't know: M. (Moses) Carl Holman, civil rights activist, writer, and poet. Born in 1919 St. Louis, Holman showed an early gift for writing, and at the age of 19 won a scriptwriting award from a popular syndicated radio program. He graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University and went on to acquire Master's degrees from the University of Chicago and from Yale. While at Yale he published his first collection of poems, and began regularly writing articles for various newspapers and magazines on income inequity, urban poverty, literacy, and other issues important to Black Americans. In 1962 he taught English at Clark College in Atlanta, giving him a front-row seat to key events in the earliest days of the civil rights movement. As some of his students participated in sit-ins and the Freedom Rides, he found himself appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, of which he eventually became deputy director in 1966.

In 1968 Ebony magazine named Holman as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans. That same year Holman published what is probably his best-known work: The Baptizin', a play which won first prize in the National Community Theater Festival. In addition to multiple collections of poems, Holman also published a definitive overview of the civil rights movement in the U.S., from 1965 to 1975.

Perhaps most significantly, in 1971 Holman was named Vice President of the National Urban Coalition. This organization had re-formed in 1967 in the wake of the so-called "long, hot summer" of racial strife and injustices. During this time Holman's singular talent for delivering quiet and polite, but still powerful, speeches came to the fore and he jumpstarted a great many local housing, education, job training, and economic development programs aimed at disadvantaged Black and Hispanic communities.

In his later years Holman forcefully addressed the issue of "dual literacy" for Black children --emphasizing that such students not only needed to be well-versed not only in the fundamentals such as reading, writing, and public speaking; but also in math, science, and technology. His 1988 obituary notes that Holman "had an uncanny ability to form a coalition out of the most diverse elements, and it was often said that the key to his ability to do this was the fact that he never appeared to have an agenda for himself."

(Teachers: Need some resources to engage your students this Black History Month? I'll send you a pile of these trading cards, no cost, no obligation. Just give me a mailing address and let me know how many students in your class. No strings attached, no censorship, no secret-relaying-of-names to Abbott or DeSantis or HuckaSanders.)

[yurimother]

Kadokawa and Bandai Namco Attempt to Walk Back Lesbian Marriage in Edited 'Gundam: The Witch from Mercury' Interview

In statements made regarding discrepancies in a Gundam Ace magazine interview, Kadokawa and Bandai Namco Filmworks appears to deny the widly accepted interpretation of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury's finale that female characters Suletta and Miorine are married, saying, "We would like to leave its interpretation up to the perspective of each individual viewer who has seen and enjoyed the story."

On July 30, Bandai Namco Filmworks (previously known as Sunrise) addressed differences between the print and digital versions of an interview with voice actresses Kana Ichinose and Lynn. Ichinose and Lynn voice Sulleta and Miorine, respectively, in The Witch From Mercury, the latest entry in Bandai Namco's long-running Mobile Suit Gundam franchise.

In the interview's print version, which was published in the September issue of the Gundam Ace magazine, Ichinose refers Sulleta and Miorine's union:

I liked the epilogue scene where Miorine rests her head on Suletta's shoulder. After three years, I could feel that they were much closer, and seeing the two of them get married really touched my heart.

However, fans noticed that as of July 28, the digital version was edited to exclude the line about the characters' marriage.

In a statement released on the Witch From Gundam website and Twitter account, Bandai Namco apologized and explained the situation in their statement, saying, "In the article, there was a statement based on the speculation of the Gundam Ace editor, and despite requesting revisions during proofreading, the corrections to the passage were not reflected in the July 26 release."

Kadokawa, which publishes Gundam Ace, released a similar statement that likewise attributed the discrepancy to an editor's speculation, along with management and proofreading errors. Translated copies of both statements are available below.

The relationship between Miorine and Suletta garnered praise for its LGBTQ+ representation. A scene from the first episode where the two become engaged after Suletta wins Miorine's hand in a duel went viral online in 2022. Their relationship became a central part of the narrative, and they remained engaged for the majority of the anime's two-season run, which concluded on July 2.

The anime also gives copious evidence that the two are now married. After a time skip, the two women are seen sitting together while wearing matching wedding rings on their left hands and say, "Let's go home," implying that they live together. Additionally, Eri, Suletta's sister, refers to herself as Miorine's "sister-in-law."

Given this evidence, most took it for granted that Suletta and Miorine were now married, including their voice actors, who spoke about their relationship in the Asticassia Radio Committee program (Majo Raji). They became outraged by the apparent censorship and accused Bandai Namco and Kadokawa of homophobia.

Bandai Namco Filmwork's full statement (translated):

Thank you for your continued support of Mobile Suite Gundam: The Witch From Mercury. Regarding an interview published in the September 2023 issue of Monthly Gundam Ace, some of the descriptions in the paper magazine and digital versions differed, confusing everyone who supported the work. We are genuinely sorry. In the article, there was a statement based on the speculation of the Gundam Ace editor, and despite requesting revisions during proofreading, the corrections to the passage were not reflected in the July 26 release. Regarding the work, we would like to leave its interpretation up to the perspective of each individual viewer who has seen and enjoyed the story. Once again, we would like to sincerely apologize for causing so much trouble and worry to everyone who supports the work. Thank you for your continued support. July 30, 2023 Bandai Namco Filmworks

Kadokawa's full statement (translated):

Regarding the Mobile Suite Gundam: The Witch From Mercury interview published in the September 2023 issue of Monthly Gundam Ace, some of the descriptions differ between the paper magazine and digital version. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience we caused to everyone. During the proofreading process, there was a statement based on the editor's speculation, and although Bandai Namco Filmworks pointed out the error, the correction was admitted due to a mistake, and it was released on July 26. This incident was caused by management and proofreading errors by the editorial department. After consulting with Bandai Namco Filmworks, which owns the rights, the digital version was edited with the correction it had initially indicated. Once again, we apologize for causing confusion and misunderstanding. We will strive to prevent this from happening again by strengthening the editorial department's confirmation system. July 30, 2023 Kadokawa Corporation Monthly Gundam Ace Editorial Department

Sources:

Gundam Ace September 2023 No. 253 (digital edition)

Gundam Ace September 2023 No. 253 print edition (as captured by Twitter user zeonicscans)

Mobile Suite Gundam: The Witch From Mercury official website

Gundam Ace official Twitter account

[dubiouslyacquiredmilkteeth]

The intro I wrote for my very first VTM campaign

word count: 837

The year is 2035, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell fiction from reality.

Fact is falling to the rise of misinformation, exasperated by the muddying of artificial intelligence and flat-out lies fed by news websites and spilling from the mouths of politicians. It’s near impossible to tell if any image or video is real, now that they can all be generated with a few sentences of prompting, the visages so life-like that a new study of determining the validity is quickly becoming a highly lucrative career path, especially now that a recent supreme court ruling has determined that all video and photographic evidence must be analyzed by a professional before it can be submitted in a court of law. Colleges and trade schools clamor to create programs of study, since the utter lack of practitioners has essentially brought the entire American judicial system to a grinding halt - trials are delayed indefinitely as defense lawyers and prosecutors alike struggle to find someone to validify evidence.

Which is why no one knows what, exactly, to make of it when videos of apparent vampires begin to appear online.

Of course, these videos of throats ripped out with teeth in shady parking complexes, of women in glittering dresses moving at inhuman speeds, of figures with twisted faces summoning masses of rats or crows or cats, are quickly written off as some sort of ARG or prank. Hobbyist physical media analysts claim en masse that the videos are legit, unedited and ungenerated, but who would really believe that? They must be in on the joke. No real professionals have weighed in on the matter, although the government puts out numerous statements claiming that the videos have been analyzed and determined to be fake (but they never disclose the names of the people who have allegedly done the analyzing, despite the fact that the few respected analysts are well-known enough to practically count as celebrities, given the fact that the country relies upon them so heavily).

And besides, most of the videos come from San Antonio, a city known for its vampire cults, groups of teenagers running around the streets at night, engaging in blood play and calling themselves creatures of the night. At worst, those videos must just be kids messing around, a new generation of amateur filmmakers playing with special effects and AI video tools. And if there are reports of attacks, people stumbling into hospitals with twin pricks on the neck suffering from major blood loss, reporting that they were pinned down and force-feed the blood of their attacker, it was only someone taking the bit too far. Someone off their Abilify who read too much Anne Rice and Stephanie Meyer.

No one takes it very seriously until the CDC quarantines an entire 200 square mile stretch of the city, nearly half of it, erecting 400 foot walls of concrete nearly overnight, pulling thousands of officers from border patrol to stand guard at this new barrier. The electricity was cut to the quarantined zone, devices set up to disrupt the connection between cell phones and satellites, and what little communication has gotten out has been over staticky radio frequencies, a nearly obsolete technology.

Social media accounts pop up overnight on places like X and Twitch, 24/7 feeds of radio output picked up by the seldom few who still own traditional radios and broadcasted for the world to hear, screenshots of the occasional text message allegedly sent from hot spots where satellite connection is still, unreliably, available. The occasional grainy video somehow smuggled out of the city.

The information is incomplete and contradictory, slippery at best and outright outrageous at worst. But there’s generally a consensus: whatever is going on behind those walls seems to be some sort of outbreak of vampirism. Or at least something that looks like it - fangs and hunger for blood, aversion to sunlight and sharp lengths of wood (although, as many on the internet are quick to point out, a stake to the heart would kill anyone, undead or otherwise).

The CDC calls San Antonio a quarantine zone, although they are achingly unforthcoming with what exactly it is that they’ve contained within the walls. People online who think themselves comedians call it a Dead Zone.

All of this is why, when you’re snatched off the street in Houston, a mere 200 miles from the Dead Zone, thrust into an unmarked van after sundown, pinned down to the plastic floor and bit by a cold, dead mouth, razor sharp canines cutting into soft flesh like a serrated blade, you understand to some extent what’s happening to you. When fingers dig into the tender point where your jaw meets your skull hard enough to bruise, forcing your lips apart, and cold, syrupy liquid tasting of iron and rot drizzles into your mouth, when you feel as your heartbeat slows and eventually stops, you understand suddenly, horribly, that every video you saw, every rumor you heard, was true.

Vampires exist, and now you’re one of them.