#February Cruise Savings

[realengaporahi]

Sail into Savings: Score the Best Cruise Deal During the Upcoming 2025 Wave Season Next Month!

Black Friday 2024 brought incredible deals on cruise vacations, making it the perfect time to book your dream getaway. But if you were undecided and missed these deals, don’t worry—you still have time! With the upcoming Wave Season in January, you can take advantage of even more fantastic deals and perks. Wave season is the cruise industry’s prime booking period, offering the best discounts and…

[flotheory]

Finally, Norton has managed to save enough money to treat himself to his first holiday destination since Camp Plumbob when he was sixteen💸

Our challenge will take place on a cruise ship 🛳️

applications are open until the 1st of February still waiting for a third participant 🤙🏽

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[aaliyahunleashed]

#OnThisDay October 2, 2000

Principal photography, which is the phase that involves actively shooting the scenes in the script, begins for Aaliyah’s 2nd and final film; Queen Of The Damned.

Filming started October 2, 2000 and wrapped up February 27, 2001 in a former biscuit factory, converted into a studio in the Melbourne suburb of St. Albans.

Australian, Michael Rymer, was confirmed to direct the film. Rymer suggested the film be shot in his home city of Melbourne, which would save considerably on production costs. The first actor cast was R&B singer Aaliyah as Queen Akasha, the eponymous Queen of the Damned. The search for an actor to play Lestat took much longer—the idea of Tom Cruise reprising the role was considered but dismissed—although front runners included Wes Bentley, Josh Hartnett and Heath Ledger. Irish actor Stuart Townsend assumed the role in 2000.

Location filming took place around the city of Melbourne, although some filming was done in Los Angeles.

Queen of the Damned was released on February 22, 2002 in the United States and Canada.

[mostlyinthemorning]

20 Qs for Fic Writers

Thanks to @blackandwhiteandrose for the tag!

How many works do you have on ao3?

136

What's your total ao3 word count?

868,092

What fandoms do you write for?

Schitt's Creek

Top five fics by kudos:

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Second Best 

Saved to Voicemail 

Stick Handling 

Sometimes, Home Is a Person

Do you respond to comments?

I do my best but I've fallen off a bit lately. But I love and appreciate every one!

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Nearly every fic I write has a happy ending, but I guess It's Better This Way is maybe the angstiest.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

They're all pretty happy?

Do you get hate on fics?

No, thankfully.

Do you write smut?

Mmhmm.

Craziest crossover:

I've only written one crossover, but The Feelings Closet is a Schitt's Creek/RPF crossover where David Rose meets Noah Reid, so I guess that's pretty crazy.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but that would be amazing!

Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

I've done group writes, but not an actual co-write.

All time favourite ship?

"David & Patrick is always my big cruise ship." - @stereopticons (I'm also keeping this.)

What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Oh yikes. There are a few, but especially the bakery reno reality show fic and the one where David is a magical street artist who is slightly out of control. Alas, there they are, in my WIP folder, unfinished.

What are your writing strengths?

Plot and worldbuilding.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Commas and keeping track of body parts.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

I think it's fun when done well, but I've never done it.

First fandom you wrote in?

Here we are.

Favourite fic you've written?

Fic-wise, my favourite will always be Sometimes, Home is a Person which is me basically writing the post-canon future for David and Patrick that I wanted to see.

Original writing wise, I'm very proud of This Sweet Magic, which I published this February. A whole actual book!

Tagging @chelle-68, @dinnfameron, @missgeevious, @flowertrigger

[y2klostandfound]

Space Channel 5 Part 2 on Dorimaga Magazine Vol.1 (2002-01) (Video game Magazine) (11-25/01/2002)

Translation in English:

(Page 66)

Dorimaga Special Report - DC PS2:

Video Game Consoles : Dreamcast / Playstation 2

Scheduled to be released: February 14th

Completely: 100%

Price:

Dreamcast: 6,120 Yen Dreamcast(Special Edition Pack): 9,900 Yen Playstation 2: 6,800 Yen

Genre - ETC (Musical Action Adventure) Manufacturer:Sega/United Game Artists Players: 1-2 Number of discs: 1 URL: http://www.u-ga.com/ Controllers/Memory Cards PS2: DualShock 2, trance vibrator compatible, memory card 161KB. DC: 5 blocks of memory used (VMU), Purupuru pack support

Online Shop:The DC version is exclusive to D-DIRECT.

Is there something wrong in the galactic universe!?

After seeing this screen, "Mexican Flyer" came to my head! Are you ready to dance? "Space Channel 5 Part 2" scheduled to air on two platforms has finally started! Let's all enjoy the full polygon SHOW together!

Greetings to the 30 million "Channel 5" viewers nationwide, it's finally here! "Space Channel 5 Part 2" from UGA, which has been silent since the Tokyo Game Show in autumn, is finally on air!The memorable day is February 14, 2002, Valentine's Day.and it will be broadcast simultaneously on DC and PS2 as planned! I can't wait to see how Ulala, who has crossed the century, will come back!

Popular characters from the previous show, as well as new characters, will appear one after another! They will make the program even more exciting!

The basic rules seem to be the same, but new elements have been added, such as singing and playing! I have a hunch that it will be fun!

The next enemy is the "Dancing Troupe(Rhythm Rouges)"! ?

The next enemy is the "Dancing Troupe(Rhythm Rouges)" who appeared out of nowhere. Innocent people are made to dance one after another, just like the Morolians last time! Their purpose is completely unknown. Ulala will report on their true identity!

The mysterious dance group "Dancing Troupe (Rhythm Rouges)" has arrived! A person who looks like a captain and robots attack people one after another!

(Page 67)

What happened to the Jaguar! ?

An evil hand approaches Jaguar who has discovered something somewhere in the universe...! ! Meanwhile, the "Space Symphony," a ship cruising around Neo-Pluto, is attacked by a mysterious group! "Space Channel 5" quickly caught the information and sent Ulala to the scene to report the incident. The spirit of Director Fuse enters. "Come on, let's start!!"

I'll charm you, Ulala Seven Changes

This time Ulala will be reporting in even cuter and cooler outfit! There will be a "Ulala's Costume Room," so stay tuned!

ULALA

A reporter for Space Channel 5, she was born on May 30 and her blood type is B. The other day, she tried to save the galaxy  with great energy, but she's still a newcomer and spends her days being yelled at by her boss Fuse. Her goal is to become a galactic reporter.She is the only person who can fight back against the "mysterious dancing group" that has appeared.

Prologue

The time is the 25th century.

The "Morolian" suddenly invaded, causing people to dance one after another with their "Dancing Beam"! The space broadcasting station "Space Channel 5", which caught this catastrophe, dispatched a new reporter "Ulala" who is good at dancing, selected by the director "Fuse", and report the incident. She fully opens her mysterious dancing puff, sometimes fights and cooperates with Channel 42's "Pudding" and the Space Pirate Broadcasting Station's "Jaguar" to uncover the true nature of the evil that hides behind the Morolians' intentions. Thus, this ascension case was resolved.........

In this galaxy where the memory is fresh in our minds, a new evil is rising.......

Although "Ulala" had solved the "Morolians Attack Case" by dancing with her miraculous performance, there was no change in her role as a reporter, and she is cheered on by a director "Fuse" every day.

Such a daily life suddenly changes with a report from "Chief Space Michael ". A "mysterious dancing group" has appeared, making people dance and taking them away one after another!

Now, Ulala's dancing report begins again.

Come on, Let's start!

SPACE CHANNEL 5 Part 2 - First Implession!

A little impression of the sample unveiled at the recent PS Party! The game is very busy with more things to do such as singing and playing, not to mention the increased power of the graphics and presentation. Compared to the previous game, which was a bit monotonous, this one is even more fun. The storyline is also very exciting!

[g0ttal0ve101]

Valentine’s Day Special

Note: (1/4) Eviolet my beloved….TW: none!

“So how much did this all…cost?”

“What do you mean?”

Sitting up from the luxurious poolside chair, Violet lifted her sunglasses off her face to examine her girlfriend properly. She looked heavenly in that designer bikini; The green matched her eyes perfectly. Violet forcibly peeled her eyes off her and peered into the blue waters of the ocean instead.

“Going on a VIP cruise in February across the country. I figured it would leave a dent in your bank account.” Violet playfully suggested. She had a feeling she knew the answer all too well.

Evelyn lifted her sunglasses from the brim of her nose and dusted the hair from her face. “Not much, really. When I was much younger, my family tended to board these ships almost every month.” She politely clapped to gain the waitress’s attention from across the deck. Without even asking, the young woman scurried over and refilled both their drinks. “Why, are you worried that this will indebt you to me in some way?”

Subconsciously that surely could be the reason for her overwhelming feelings of discomfort. In a way, Violet felt as though she would never be able to repay her girlfriend for experiences such as these. This was a simple Valentine’s Day date — Violet could never muster up a present worth as much as this no matter how much money she saved up. Falling short like that bothered her.

Taking a sip of her drink, Violet tried her best not to express these negative thoughts that were circulating in her mind. After all, there would be nothing Evelyn could do to ease her worries. “No, not at all! I’m really enjoying it. I’ve never been on a cruise before.”

A smirk rose up on Evelyn’s lips. “Then you’ve never experienced a jacuzzi before, correct? Come on! It’s the best part of this whole trip!” Her eyes glowed like stars in the night sky, collecting her belongings in her arms to ensure she had them during their stay at the hot tub. Violet’s amusement only grew when seeing her struggle to carry everything in one go.

“Need any help, beautiful?”

Nearly dropping her bag of sunscreen, lotions, and various ointments for the skin, Evelyn let out a nervous giggle. “Maybe…”

After sorting everything out between the two of them, they wandered off in the direction of the jacuzzi. Violet was amazed by the sheer size of the ship. The fancy architecture, the wonderful services, the serene atmosphere of the other guests, everything was simply tranquil. She felt as though she was in pure heaven even before they arrived at their destination.

Violet realized almost instantly that they were the only ones who were occupying that side of the boat. No guests, no staff, nothing. Heat rose to her face from the thought of spending any sort of intimate time together, although she knew that it would be nothing close to physical. [Evelyn was still discontent with any physical affection at the time. The most they’d ever done was hold hands and kiss each other on the cheek.]

Surprisingly enough, Evelyn didn’t seem too frightened about any kind of grime or germs that could be inside the water. She gave the outer deck a close inspection to assure herself that it wasn’t contaminated with any sort of worrisome bacteria before standing beside Violet and patiently waited for her approval of the tub. Seeing this, Violet dipped her feet into the water to show her authorization.

“I don’t believe it’s all too dirty. Violet, are there any viruses that could kill me if I enter a public jacuzzi? Well, I should mention that it’s a VIP jacuzzi…” she rambled onward, puzzled on whether or not to be anxious. “There haven’t been any sort of disease infested children in here.”

“It’ll be alright. Since it’s at such a high temperature, it should kill the majority of bacteria anyway.” Violet reassured her with a loving smile. She absolutely doted on the way Evelyn’s expressions shifted and wavered while she was deep in thought. “Do you want me to go in first?”

“Would you?”

“Mhm! I’ll test it out.”

Evelyn’s brows furrow with worry from the suggestion that this was a mere experiment. “Do be careful. I don’t want you to be infected by any lethal bacteria…”

A ridiculous statement, of course, but Violent knew better than to blame her. She was dealing with her fear shockingly well compared to other recent instances anyhow. She considered herself lucky to be able to watch such beautiful growth in such a short amount of time.

Entering the warm water, Violet instantaneously felt like all the burdens on her shoulders had been uplifted. She made sure to display her visible relaxation on her countenance to further convey her point of safety. Evelyn watched like a starving hawk.

“It’s all good!” she bubbled, allowing her hair to soak up all the moisture from the bubbly water.

Evelyn swallowed hard. Gradually lowering her feet back into the body of water, she inhaled as if it were acid. When nothing caused her pain or distress, she allowed herself to let out a deep breath and loosen up her tense shoulders. “I’m scared…”

“It’s okay. I got you.” Violet assured her gently, raising her arms to gesture that she’d be willing to assist her in submerging the rest of her body into the water. When she realized how silly it was to expect Evelyn to trust in her touch, she swiftly shoved her hands back into the water with a hue of pink dust rising on her cheeks. “Just take things slow. Don’t force yourself.”

By the time those words escaped her lips, the waterline was up to Evelyn’s knees. Even a blind man could see how nervous she was. Violet was in awe and a spiral of confusion while trying to understand what it was that inspired her girlfriend to take such sudden risks. Any other day, she would’ve passed by the time the water touched her toes.

Pulling her hair up into a neat and tight bun, Evelyn was seemingly preparing herself to completely devote herself to the part. Violet couldn’t resist the instinct to keep her hands out just in case she needed assistance getting in. “You’re doing great, Ev. Just d—!”

Before she could say anything else, Evelyn was in her arms with a huge splash. Violet had assumed she had fallen in and crashed into her on accident. That’s why she was beyond stunned to feel her soft arms wrap around her shoulders purposefully. Blush erupted on her face in less than a second.

“E-Evelyn!” she gasped, unsure of what to do in such a situation. While her heart begged her to reciprocate the physical affection by embracing her, her brain clashed against doing so. She sat there like a deer in headlights, eyes wider than saucers when realizing just how close Evelyn’s face was to her own. Her heart thrashed against her ribcage like a drum.

“I’m scared about putting my feet on the ground…” Evelyn confessed, explaining why she was grasping onto her girlfriend for dear life. “I-I can’t see it.”

Understanding the situation now, Violet felt as though it was only fair to ask permission before touching her anymore. “Okay, okay, don’t be scared. Do you want me to hold you?”

Evelyn’s soft hands met the back of her girlfriend’s bare neck. The skin to skin contact sent waves of revitalization that she didn’t know existed. Blush rose to her face just as it did to Violet’s. “If it’s not too much trouble…”

So that’s how Evelyn ended up on her girlfriend’s lap for a whole hour. Violet sat down on the designated ledge submerged in water, resting her chin on Evelyn’s shoulder while assuring her hands were frozen in place. She didn’t want to frighten her more by caressing her back or rubbing her skin the wrong way, so she was sure to be as still as a statue. Evelyn, on the other hand, was curious about her girlfriend’s physical attributes. Her scent, her touch, her looks — Everything was different up close. Anxiety was eating away at her, sure, but she knew that Violet was someone she could trust to be clean. She hadn’t trusted someone to be clean in years. In fact, Violet was the first person to have ever touched her in eight years.

“…You okay, Evelyn?”

“Y-Yeah! Yeah, I’m okay.” Evelyn exclaimed with flushed cheeks. “I’m just…thinking. I haven’t touched skin in so long. Maybe that’s a weird thing to say or rather simply odd? I’m unsure. But it makes me feel happy.”

Violet laughed a little, finally gathering the courage to stroke her back. “You’re doing so well, Ev. I’m proud of you.”

Her words engraved themselves into her mind. And although her heart was racing out of her chest like a little rabbit, she wasn’t afraid. Not at all.

[firefighterkinard]

Made this Tommy Kinard timeline for a fic that I'm writing, but I figured that I'd provide a very stripped down version with the basics for anyone who wants to use it.

• Date of birth: February 11th 1984 (he has an early birthday because it's easier to work shit out) • Age 18 – May 2002 - enlists in army “streets to seats” program after graduating high school. • Age 18 – August 2002 - Completes Basic • Age 18 – September to mid-October 2002 – Warrant officer candidate school • Age 18/19 – Oct 2002- Jan 2004 – goes through the training at Fort Rucker, Alabama • Age 20 – Feb 2004 – deployed • Age 20 – June 2004 - Hardship or dependency discharge. • Age 20 – July 2004 – Tommy joins the LAFD. Does his 18 weeks of training. • Age 20 – end of 2004 – Tommy joins the 118. • Age 21 – end of 2005/Jan 2006 – Tommy finishes his probie year. Chimney joins the 118*. • Age 25 – 2009 – Hen joins the 118**. Gerrard is transferred. • Age 30/31 – late 2014/early 2015 – Bobby becomes captain*** • Age 33 – 2017 – Tommy leaves the 118 for Harbor/217. Buck replaces him near the end of the year. • Age 35 – 2019 – Howie calls him for the water drop. • Age 39 – March 2023 - Tommy meets Evan • Age 40 – June 2024****

Notes:

There are about five different versions of how you become a pilot through the streets to seats method, and some says there's an extra year in there, some count it combined with the other stuff, and I'm just sick of trying to work it out, so this is how it's gonna go.

*We know that the karaoke bar fire happened at the end of June 2005, so by the time Chimney did his training at the academy, it would have been either the end of the year or the beginning of 2006.

** Does the script apparently say 2010? Yes. Do I refuse to accept that because Hen can't have saved her life coach, done the training at the academy, been there while Gerrard was ousted, split with Eva, start a long-term relationship with Karen, and end up with Denny before the Senate okayed the repeal of DADT in December in less than 12 months? YES!

*** Bobby's timeline is also a mess, but there was time for an investigation into the fire, and him going through rehab before he hit Los Angeles.

**** Season seven's seven timeline is a train wreck but it's apparently been seven years since Buck joined the 118, and the cruise is referred to as being "last March" so I kind of gave up.

[libertyreads]

February TBR--

It's Girl Scout cookie season AND I get to finally read the next book in The Empyrean series? It's going to be a good month. I'm also continuing on with the Sci-Fi series I started last month. Plus I'm diving into a translated High Fantasy novel that I found a few months back while browsing in a book store.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean #2)-- Year two at Basgiath War College for Violet Sorrengail is destined to be more grueling and brutal than the first. Now the real training begins and Violet must contend with a new vice commandant who has made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is--unless she betrays the man she loves. But Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

Iron Wolf by Siri Pettersen (Vardari #1)-- This is a Fantasy Mystery built on a foundation of Norse Mythology about blood, desire, and addiction. Juva knows all about blood readers. Praised for their Sight, they are nothing but swindlers preying on people's fears. Born by blood readers herself, she knows only too well and has vowed never to become one of them. Then her family is threatened by vardari, the eerie lasting ones, who never age. Juva is entangled in a desperate hunt for the blood readers' legacy: a dark secret that once changed the world and may do so again. I don't know a ton about this one. It was translated somewhat recently so I'm excited to get to it. The second book in the series has come out but has not been translated yet so hopefully I'm not setting myself up for heartbreak here.

The Exiled Fleet by J.S. Dewes (The Divide #2)-- The Sentinels narrowly escaped the collapsing edge of the Divide. They mustered a few other surviving Sentinels but with no engines they have no way to leave the edge of the universe before they starve. Adequin Rake has gathered a team to find the materials they'll need to get everyone out.

The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer (Vancouver Storm #2)-- In this one, we follow a girl who decides to get back at her horrible ex but fake dating his rival. But fake dating hockey star Rory Miller is fun and addictive. He's sweet, funny, and protective. He teaches her to skate, sleeps in her bed, and convinces her to break her just-one-time hookup rule. He kisses her like it's real. Which makes her wonder if Rory was ever faking it to begin with. There are just so many things here to make my heart happy. I liked but didn't love the first book in this series so I'm excited to see how I feel about book two.

Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis (NetGalley)-- Welcome to the Grand Abeona, home of the finest food, the sweetest service, and the very best views the galaxy has to offer. All year round it moves from planet to planet, system to system, pampering guests across the farthest reaches of the Milky Way. The last word in sub-orbital luxury--and a magnet for intrigue. I'm excited to see what kind of take on a Sci-Fi Mystery we get with this one.

Cursed Cruise by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren (Horror Hotel #2; NetGalley)-- We rejoin our group of teen ghost hunters as they're invited to travel onboard a haunted historic cruise ship. They'll record onboard the RMS Queen Anne, a transatlantic ocean liner with a colorful past of violent deaths. I'm excited to enter this world again. It's been about two years since I read and enjoyed the first one.

Such a Lovely Family by Aggie Blum Thompson (NetGalley)-- This one almost didn't make it to this list before it posted. I got approved for it late in the day while at work yesterday. But if I've got the time I'm going to read it before the end of the month. The Calhouns are in the midst of hosting their annual party to celebrate the cherry blossoms being in full bloom when a brutal murder transforms the yearly gathering into a homicide scene and all the guests into suspects. The family has secrets and drama and I'm sure they're stupidly rich. Who doesn't want to read about rich people drama?

I didn't realize how many second books in series I'm going to be reading during the month. I'm glad I'm making progress in these series. I know a lot of people in the bookish spaces are focused on reading series this year.

[usafphantom2]

Phantom pregnancies: F-4 variants that never were

Hush KitSeptember 15, 2017

February 13, 2019

mcdonnell_f-4fvs-06-680x536Everyone loves the F-4 Phantom, a brutal smoking Cold War monster that polluted the sky in an apocalyptic belch of black sooty thunder. As thrilling as the actual Phantoms that entered service were, there is a tantalising family of F-4s that almost made it into the real world. Several of them were cancelled for being too good and threatening sales of newer aircraft — and one succeeded in its role as a unique test aircraft. Here are some of the Phantoms that never were.

RF-4X Mach 3 Hellraiser rf-4x_3.jpg In the 1970s, the Israeli air force wanted a reconnaissance aircraft capable of carrying the extremely impressive HIAC-1 camera. The F-4 was considered, but the G-139 pod that contained the sensor was over 22 feet long and weighed over 4000 pounds – and the Phantom did not have the power to carry such a bulky store and remain fast and agile enough to survive in hostile airspace. One solution was to increase the power of the engines with water injection, something that had been done for various successful F-4 record attempts. This combined with new inlets, a new canopy and huge bolt-on water tanks promised a mouth-watering 150% increase in power. This would have allowed a startling top speed of mach 3.2 and a cruising speed of mach 2.7. This level of performance would have made the F-4X almost impossible to shoot-down with the technology then in service.

rf-4x_4.jpg The F-4X would also have been a formidable interceptor – something that threatened the F-15 development effort, causing the State Department to revoke an export licence for the RF-4X. Even with the increase in power, the Israeli air force was still worried about the huge amount of drag, but a solution came in the form of a slimmed-down camera installation in a specially elongated nose. This meant the interceptor radar had to be removed, which assuaged the State Department’s fears and the project was allowed to continue. However worries from the F-15 project community returned (as did worries about how safe the F-4X would have been to fly) and the US pulled out. Israel tried to go it alone but didn’t have enough money, so the mach 3 Phantom never flew.

f-4x03.jpgF-4E(F) ‘Ein Mann’

RAF F-4M-GA PHANTOM FG3.02_zps0yrydewe.jpg The Luftwaffe are cheapskates: historical examples including their desire to procure a Eurofighter ‘Lite’ with no sunroof, stereo or defensive aids — and the fact they kept the F-4F in service until 2013! To be fair, their less than zealous desire for free-spending militarism is probably a good thing considering the 20th century. Their Deutschmark-saving instincts for poundshop versions of popular aircraft applied to the Phantom, and a simplified single-seat F-4E was considered. This intriguing option was passed up for a simplified F-4E, dubbed the F-4F (which later became formidable). I couldn’t find any illustrations of this variant so have included a mock-up of a speculative RAF single-seater.

The Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes will feature the finest cuts from Hush-Kit along with exclusive new articles, explosive photography and gorgeous bespoke illustrations. Order The Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes here

RF-4M ‘Big nosed Brit’ McDonnell Report B617 RF-4M When the RAF ordered Phantoms they considered a dedicated reconnaissance version. McDonnell (it being 1966 — a year before the merger with Douglas) proposed a F-4M airframe with internal reconnaissance equipment. Known as the RF-4M (model 98HT), the longer camera nose would have made the aircraft over two and-a-half feet longer longer than a F-4M. Range would have been greater than a Phantom with an external recce pod, as this left the centreline station free for a drop-tank — and the removal of the Fire Control System and AIM-7 related hardware reduced weight. After considering the cost of such an undertaking, the RAF instead opted for an external recce pod meaning that any airframe in the fleet could perform the reconnaissance mission without sacrificing a beyond-visual-range weapon. Fascinating interview with a British Phantom pilot here. F-4T Phantom ‘Not a pound (or Deutsche Mark) for air-to-ground’

c65d7712966b318e30b0a7f82f03b1be-img00002.jpg In the late 1970s McDonnell Douglas proposed a dedicated Air Superiority variant of the F-4E, the F-4T. More spritely performance was expected as all systems associated with the air-to-ground role were to be removed, making a significant weight saving. It was to be armed with M61A1 cannon, four AIM-7 Sparrows and four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, or an alternative war-load of six AIM-7 (as seen in this computer generated image). Additionally, a new digital computer would have been at the heart of its weapon system. It is unclear who the intended launch customer for this variant was — Iran, Britain, Israel, Japan or West Germany may all have found the type useful. No customer went for the T as either a new-build or an upgrade — as those air arms requiring a high level of Air Superiority could turn to the F-15 Eagle which was already in production (and was significantly more capable the proposed F-4T even its it early iterations).

Read why the F-4 was the world’s best fighter in 1969 here.

F-4 (FVS) The Phlogger and the Phitter mcdonnell_f-4fvs-06-680x536

The US Navy’s F-111B project was looking distinctly shaky in the mid-1960s. It was too heavy and too sluggish, so the Navy looked around for alternatives, a search which would eventually led to the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. The McDonnell company offered an unsolicited solution, a variable geometry wing variant of the hugely successful F-4 Phantom II. An assessment of this proposal, given the provisional designation F-4 (FV)S, revealed that this it was lacking in several key areas, notably combat effectiveness: the AN / AWG-10 radar and AIM-7F missiles would be a significant downgrade from the desired AN /AWG-9/AIM-54 combination. Scorned by the Navy, McDonnell offered the aircraft to Britain as a cheaper alternative to the Anglo-French AFVG then under consideration. This aircraft would have been powered by the British Rolls-Royce RB-168-27R and given the designation F-4M (FVS). This promising project never left the drawing board.

mcdonnell_f-4fvs-08-680x576Boeing PW1120 Phantom/IAI Super Phantom

0996160.jpg

Enter a caption

By the 1980s, the Phantom’s geriatric J79 powerplant was a liability — its poor thrust-to-weight ratio, mass of smoke and Oliver Reed-esque thirst did not belong in an age of efficient powerful turbofans. Replacing the J79 with the Pratt & Whitney PW1120 (a derivative of the F-15’s F100 for the abortive Israeli Lavi) was an obvious solution – offering a massive 25% increase in dry thrust and a whole 30% greater thrust in reheat. The new Phantom would have been a hotrod: capable of Mach 1+ speeds in dry thrust alone. The aircraft would also have an 1,100 US gal (4230 litre) conformal fuel tank under the fuselage, offering an increase in range. The proposal was cancelled early on as some thought it was a threat to F/A-18 and F-15 sales. Despite this, Israel Aircraft Industries liked the idea of PW1120s in Phantoms, partly as this promised parts commonality with the Lavi and partly because Israel had a big Phantom force. IAI’s F-4 Super Phantom or F-4-2000 was displayed at the 1987 Paris Air Show, but, like the earlier US concept, was also quashed. YRF-4C PACT demonstrator CCV ‘You canard handle the truth!’ fbw_phantom

Aircraft 62-12200 was a very important airframe, after life as the RF-4C prototype it did the same for the cannon-armed F-4E project. Its testing life was still not over — in 1972 it became part of a fly-by-wire (FBW) research effort. A FBW system was fitted to what was now known as the Precision Aircraft Control Technology (PACT) demonstrator. Following the successful completion of the FBW tests, it was fitted with a set of canard foreplanes mounted on the upper air intakes. In order to shift the centre of gravity to the rear and to destabilise the aircraft in pitch, lead ballast was added to the rear fuselage. It is not known if this aircraft was the source of the continued American distaste for canards!

[youaremusic1900]

FACTS!!

Webber: Learned today that 1) Valentine's Day came to pass, because an emperor outlawed marriage, thinking it would motivate more men to go to war. A priest, Valentine, was marrying people in secret. Eventually he was caught & thrown in prison. A guard's daughter brought him food, water, & news every day, & over months they fell in love. On his execution date, February 14th, he wrote her a note of thanks & goodbye, signed your Valentine! 2) We have cruises, because in the 1930's, a passenger ship line owner was trying to come up with a way to save his business; eventually he decided to sell affordable tickets for people to get on one of his ships, sail 3 miles out into the water, & safely drink out of range of the prohibition laws!

[filthforfriends]

We have to talk about these MÅ covers

On February 17th 2018, Måneskin performed at the Afterlife Live Club in Ponte San Giovanni. They played a medley of "Prisoner" by James Arthur and "Watch Me" by Jaden Smith. Måneskin performed the first minute and 42 seconds of "Watch Me." That section of the song includes the n-word twice and Damiano said it both times.

“Watch Me” starts at 2:26. The n-word is said at 2:43 and 3:44.

Below are the lyrics from the section Måneskin performed. Since Damiano defers from them, I’ve put all the lyrics he recites as they were written in bold.

Watch me (x3) do this / Watch me (x3) do this

Can't find me up up and away / I give a fuck bout your wave / My n@#$% I surf everyday / Drownin' my soul in the basement, aye / I ain't got much in the bank / I got a lot I could say / Tied up with goddesses, hey / I hope you forgive my mistakes

Yeah, ride around with a renegade / You should take a seat, save your energy / I try to heal the gods with a band-aid / And in time of need, you call your enemies

I landed in Ibiza and I need a visa / I ain't playin' with you this no Mamma Mia / Need a Hottie Tottie with a body, yeah / I just spit the knowledge then I'm out of here

That's what they yell when we come around / (Yeah!) This is your town? Well we run it now / (Yeah!) How big is your army, a hunnit thou? / (Yeah!) If you want the rain then we comin' down

I stumbled it cool / I'm awesome, kick flip in the Carsons / We should run for the pool / I got the fire flow, the department exhausted / I owe nothing to you / I'm in the Tahoe, man you making me nauseous / Pullin up with the crew / You such a hypebeast, man you making me vomit

Look / Watch me (x3) do this / It's always been more than the music / You riding waves in the back of my cruise ship

Look, watch me / Watch me (x2) do this / Since 2012 I've been the coolest / If you do not get it, my n@#$% you foolish

That's what they yell when we come around / (Yeah!) This is your town? Well we run it now / (Yeah!) How big is your army, a hunnit thou? / (Yeah!) If you want the rain then we comin' down

The Context:

This video was filmed during the first concert of Måneskin’s first tour. Creatively named Tour 2018, it ran from February to June. It's also been referred to as the "covers tour" or "X factor tour." For the sake of this post, I'm ignoring TV and radio gigs because those performances only have one or two songs. The only relevant dates are actual concerts (because the entire setlist was performed).

I found this image of the Tour 2018 setlist on Twitter. I can't locate its source, but I assume it was posted by Maneskin then deleted because of spelling errors. "Watch Me" is misspelled "Eatch Me," (hence the typo in the video title.) This spelling error is why theres conveniently no record of "Watch Me" being in a Maneskin setlist.

The setlist from the Afterlife Live Club 2/17/18 falsely credits "Catch Me" by Yellow Claw instead of "Watch Me" by Jaden Smith. As we can see in the video, Damiano clearly isn't singing the lyrics to "Catch Me." Because this was a relatively small tour, there are only setlists available for four other dates. Casa della Musica 2/24/18, The Cage Theatre 3/8/18, Vox Club 3/11/18, Santeria Toscana 31 4/20/18. Since the subsequent setlists were based on the first one, each make the same mistake of crediting "Catch Me" by Yellow Claw instead of "Watch Me" by Jaden Smith.

With so little evidence, I can't definitively say how many times Damiano used the n-word, but I can make an educated guess. I estimate Maneskin performed “Watch Me” about 22 times from February to April of 2018 on the following dates: Ponte San Giovanni 2/17/18, Naples 2/24/18, Modugno 2/25/18, Palermo 3/2/18, Catania 3/3/18, Livorno 3/8/18, Florence 3/9/18, Nonantola 3/11/18, Bologna 3/15/18 & 3/17/18, Parma 3/18/18, Milan 3/21/18 & 3/23/18 & 3/25/18 & 4/20/18, Roncade 3/24/18, Bassano Del Grappa 3/26/18, Turin 3/30/18, Genoa 3/31/18, Rome 4/6/18 & 4/7/18 & 4/22/18. Unless he got educated, that'd mean Damiano said the n-word 44 times in about two months.

Remember that Maneskin profited off this tour where the n-word was sang twice a night. They made their first album and started their career with that money.

Four Years Later:

"Watch Me" wasn't the end of Maneskin using racial slurs in their covers. Damiano sings the c-slur twice in Manskin's cover of "Black Skinhead" by Kanye West, but avoids the n-word. This means Maneskin are aware that "Watch Me" was a mistake, but can't be fucking bothered to didn't google a list of racial slurs when covering another Black artist.

The c-slur is said at 1:05 and 1:21.

Maneskin performed "Black Skinhead" from 2019 to 2021. Above is the final rendition on June 16th during a TikTok livestream from Berlin. Damiano received minor backlash for using the c-slur on that occasion and issued an apology on Twitter. Notably, Maneskin have never acknowledged using the n-word in "Watch Me." Hypothetically, that could lead a person to believe that Damiano's primary motivation for apologizing for using the c-slur was that he got called out. Considering his support for Black Lives Matter, the perception that Damiano prioritizes marketability over genuine remorse looks like some lazy ass, token allyship that only a white dude would get congratulated for hypocritical.

Maneskin performed an abridged version of "Black Skinhead," from beginning to 2:16 on the original track. Let's take a close look at which lyrics Damiano censored.

For my theme song / My leather black jeans on / My by any means on🔎Reference to Malcolm X’s speech at the OAAU’s founding, where he repeats that Afro-Americans will find equality in the following sectors: 1. Establishment 2. Self-defense 3. Education 4. Politics & Economics 5. Social “by any means necessary.” 

Pardon, I'm getting my scream on / Enter the kingdom / But watch who you bring home / They see a black man with a white woman / At the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong🔎 Originating with slave traders, there is a long history of Black Americans being characterized as apes. The dehumanization is used to justify Black suffering. Notice the initials KKK, as in Klu Klux Klan, which are also present in the titles alternative spelling, "BLKKK SKKKNHEAD."

Middle America packed in / Came to see me in my Black skin 🔎In this version Damiano avoids the phrase "in my Black skin," but in past performances he sang the lyric.

Number one question they asking / Fuck every question you asking / If I don't get ran out by Catholics / Here come some conservative Baptists / Claiming I'm overreacting / Like them black kids in Chiraq bitch 🔎 “Chiraq” is a reference to the extremely high homicide rate in Chicago. According to BBC, more Americans have been killed in Chicago than in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Most victims are young Black men.

Four in the morning, and I'm zoning / They say / I'm possessed, it's an omen / I keep it 300, like the Romans / 300 bitches, where's the Trojans? / Baby we living in the moment / I've been a menace for the longest / But I ain't finished, I'm devoted / And you know it, and you know it

So follow me up cause this shit's about to go / I'm doing 500, I'm outta control / But there's nowhere to go / And there's no way to slow / If I knew what I knew in the past / I would've been blacked out on your ass 🔎In this case, "blacked out" isn't necessarily a racialized term. It refers to a dramatic moment of anger so intense that the speaker doesn't remember their actions.

Stop all that c*%& shit 🔎This term comes from C*%& Songs, which were played at minstrel shows. Kanye is telling someone to stop acting out a caricature of blackness for the consumption of white people.

Early morning cartoon shit / This is that goon shit / Fuck up your whole afternoon shit / I'm aware I'm a wolf / Soon as the moon hit / I'm aware I'm a king / Back out the tomb bitch / Black out the room, bitch 🔎 Damiano repeats the line above to avoid singing this lyric, which actually isn't offensive. In this case, "black out" refers to making a room completely dark by closing curtains etc.

Stop all that c*%& shit / These n@#$%* ain't doin' shit (x2) / Come on homie what happened / You n@#$%* ain't breathing you gasping / These n@#$%* ain't ready for action / (Ready) Ready for action (Action)

In Conclusion:

Damiano censored each lyric with the word "black" to avoid being offensive. In addition to those three instances, the world "black" is repeated in the background 14 times. If Damiano thinks it's offensive to say the word "black" in a song that contains it 17 times, is titled "Black Skinhead," and is about the Black experience, he shouldn't be singing it at all. He censored lyrics that don't reference race because he doesn't know what the song is about. That ignorance is the same reason he didn't know that c*%& is a slur.

Yes, Maneskin should have educated themselves about a song they didn't understand with words they didn't recognize before performing it in front of thousands. Yes, they should have learned their lesson since racism is literally the consequence. Yes, this mistake is inexcusable from BLM allies. However, in reality, Maneskin shouldn't have performed "Black Skinhead" at all. The fact that this song wasn't made for white people's consumption is obvious from the inflammatory title. Lyrically, Kanye is describing his nuanced and complex lived experience as a Black American surviving the intersection of oppressive colonialist forces. "Watch Me" may not have substantive lyrics, but "Black Skinhead" and its subject matter is not to be repackaged into a catchy little rock song by four white Europeans for their mostly white fanbase. It's not our cultural experience and it's not intended to be adopted it as such. I don't know how else to explain it.

"we have artists who are geniuses...When you and I begin to support the black artists, then the black artists can play that black role...when he can sing and dance to please black men, he sings a different song and he dances a different step. When we get together, we’ve got a step all our own. We have a step that nobody can do but us, because we have a reason for doing it that nobody can understand but us."

-Malcolm X

[stormcrow513]

Hagging Out December: Winter Solstice 2022

As always thanks to the lovely @graveyarddirt for hosting these,

December started out strong for me and kinda crapped out towards the end of the month.

I began with a few goals some of which were continuations of work begun in October,

I started trying to tie my physical self into my craft in a better way, in October I started LTZs Witchual Workout series I'd done some of the videos picking through in the past, but I'd decided to start at the beginning and work all the way to the end adding some offerings to whatever energy that is being worked with that day at the beginning, I found a lot of pleasure with this and that it useful in lots of ways both magic and mundane,

At the beginning of December I decided to do Yoga With Adriene's Breathe 30 day yoga challenge to cap off the year I'd done it in February of 2022 and thought ending it with it would be a good way to end the year and then I could start the year with her new series, yoga may not be great for everyone but from the first time I tired it I've found it extremely beneficial to me, I do have a problem with consistency as well as a problem finding videos where the person taking you through the moves doesn't irritate me, and I need the videos cause I tend to move to quickly on my own, I found YWA a while back and saved a few videos, she has a nice clear voice, with clear instructions, doesn't tell me to smile every five secs, and has a cute dog 🐕 so, I started shifting through her videos more at the beginning of 2022 wanting to get back into working out after being sick all of January 2022 I found her 30 day challenge and smashed it outta the park,

So I was cruising through December when around the 15th I did something to my shoulder, not sure if I did a yoga move wrong, shoving Jazz off my face while doing yoga pulled something, or I was fish flopping in my bed trying to sleep that night and I've hurt myself that way before, either way I was absolutely not finishing out the month,

So that ended the physical side of my practice til I healed, and it did knock my Psychic Witch exercises out for a few days due to sitting up straight ouch🤕

Though I overall got really far into my book in the last months of 2022 and am proud of that, I really think I'll finish the book by the end of 2023 and it's really been improving my practice,

❄️ So taking us into Winter Solstice ❄️

I lit Candle as the light was fading, typically I do this outside facing the sunset, though after the assholes dropped a house basically in my backyard I can't SEE the sunset anymore, this year though the wind was working on blowing in a storm and there was no lighting that bitch outside, so I stode at the back door where it has a window and lit it in the fading light there, not gonna lie I actually almost forgot to, but I didn't forget so all good,

A while later storm did blow in

I pull vigil hours for the Solstice, for a long time I wasn't doing so consistently, but the very first Winter Solstice I ever celebrated at 13? 14 2005/2006 I started a wiccan practice at 13 but I can't remember if I'd read up on the holidays before solstice that year pretty sure I did but, anyway I had no real understanding of 'shepherding in the sun' or 'protecting the light' it was all pretty vague all I understood was stay up all night, so I stayed up all night playing Super Mario Brothers 3 on my Nintendo and I mean old school Nintendo,

Anyway I've slowly in starts and stops gotten a better understanding of what the hell I'm doing, and the first year in this house 2017 I read somethings about using a candle in place of a fire and got a nice sized beeswax candle, and set out to perform vigil, I decided to try an meditate on the Winter Solstice all night in just the light of the candle, I may have fallen asleep, but hey I didn't start a fire in my house so... all good, the next year I used the last of the wick to light the new candle, and only shut the the lights off long enough to perform some ritual then turned em back on,

I kept a little wax from each candle so when I finally got around to making my own I was able to use wax from previous years in it, last year's candle funneled down in a way that I was basically able to just reforge it, and this year's spilled all over so I should basically be able to do the same come June,

My Psy. Witch book had a little spell for melting obstacles involving a candle and ice cubes so you bet your ass I did it on the Solstice,

I had meant to come up with a Mother's night thing but the closet I got was lighting a candle on Hekate's altar, and I started a new magic book and the first entry I put a poem that very much captures the essence of who I am that has lines referencing mothers,

I also did some work in my Black Book Hyper Sigil (Weaving Fate Aiden Watcher) and some of the other practices,

I had five candles going at this point, so I popped the lights off to do some scrying,

That all took sometime the rest of the night I mostly read and kept a weather eye on Candle,

My next big day was the New Moon where I give offerings to Hekate, for three years I've done a ritual shower then taken her offerings to the corner of my property for the first time it was below zero on the night of the New Moon like twenty below, I hmmed and hawed and thought about just skipping the shower and still going out, in the end I had to concede that it was dangerously cold that I'd have to do my offerings inside at her altar, it was okay I did my normal cleanings and did a ritual dance in her honor, I put fresh water and olive oil and salt, as well as garlic blub on top of bay leaves and lit candle and incense,

Into January I was able to start up my Witchual Workout and start Center 30 day yoga challenge, I also started back into Psy. Witch, and begun reading my new books ma got me for gifts this year, at the Wolf Moon I'd had plans to do something for old Chirstmas but my period started up just before and it's been making me a bit woozy this month so I just did my stand by of the Moon Spell in Psy. witch, I added somethings to it like gifting Selene some incense and calling on her directly, it's basically taking out a glass of water holding it to her and asking her to bless it then drinking it there in the moonlight, simple but I've found it a profound experience,

Later letting the dogs out I looked up again and the clouds that had been fogging her up moved around a bit and I got this

I just want to say before concluding this post last of my first year doing Hagging Out, thank you, thank you @graveyarddirt for doing these, and to @pagan-stitches for hosting the October hallow tide one,

for as long as I can remember even as a small child ageing and my own birthday has given me profound anxiety, ma likes to tell me how when I turned 6 I told her I was staying 5 forever and had a complete meltdown til she removed the candle shaped like a 6 from my cake and put on last year's 5 candle that she'd still had, she said she also stuck one regular candle on to add it up to 6 without me realizing,

It's just always something that's freaked me out I've never been the kid who couldn't wait to grow up, some of my oldest memories of birth days is waking and closing my eyes back tight wishing it away, I've gone into each new year of life like walking the gallows,

But when I first saw Hagging Out I was like oh this is cool maybe I'll try it out when I hit 30, then had a little freak out about the idea of hitting 30

and all of 29 I would have screaming fits in my brain about how I've got nothing I wanted to have done by 30 done, it was the worst I've ever had going into the next age except when I was hitting 26 the year my eldest sister died,

Two things and only two things helped calm me down, one knowing that I was hitting an age my eldest sister never got to be which while saddening also ment I beat her at something finally,

Second I would be able to participate in Hagging Out, it was something to look forward to, and it didn't disappoint, I've had so much fun with you guys, you've all been great, and it gave me something to dive into to distract myself from Shy, for those of you who don't know one of my cats I've had since she and her brother and sister were babies and I was a teenager, she developed a tumor and since she didn't seem in a lot of pain (again thank you everyone who helped with that) the vet recommended we let her go on her own, and she fought for a good few months before passing the same day the Queen did, which was absolutely her,

So thank you all 💕 I'll leave you with some Shy from years past

This was her being a little freaked out of the new house after we had moved in the past they'd been restricted to one room, due not getting along with a couple dogs who'd passed so they got the run of the joint but she preferred staying in the one room and going into the bathroom to stare at me while I peed, cats

[aaliyahunleashed]

#OnThisDay October 2, 2000

Principal photography, which is the phase that involves actively shooting the scenes in the script, begins for Aaliyah’s 2nd and final film; Queen Of The Damned.

Filming started October 2, 2000 and wrapped up February 27, 2001 in a former biscuit factory, converted into a studio in the Melbourne suburb of St. Albans.

Australian, Michael Rymer, was confirmed to direct the film. Rymer suggested the film be shot in his home city of Melbourne, which would save considerably on production costs. The first actor cast was R&B singer Aaliyah as Queen Akasha, the eponymous Queen of the Damned. The search for an actor to play Lestat took much longer—the idea of Tom Cruise reprising the role was considered but dismissed—although front runners included Wes Bentley, Josh Hartnett and Heath Ledger. Irish actor Stuart Townsend assumed the role in 2000.

Location filming took place around the city of Melbourne, although some filming was done in Los Angeles.

Queen of the Damned was released on February 22, 2002 in the United States and Canada..

[bjsmall]

10.04.23

We watched DreamWork's Puss in Boots (2011). IMDb link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448694/ Puss in Boots is a 2011 computer animated adventure comedy film produced by DreamWork's Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is a spin off of the Shrek film series rather than a version of the fairytale Puss in Boots. Puss in Boots is directed by Chris Miller with the screenplay by Tom Wheeler. The film follows the origin story of Puss in Boots on his adventures years before the adventures of Shrek 2 (2004). Puss in Boots voiced by Antio Banderas, is accompanied by his friends Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) to battle against Jack and Jill for the ownership of the magical beans and the fortune of the golden eggs. Puss in Boots is named after his signature pair of black boots. He is a fugitive on the run from the law seeking to clear his name. Humpty is Puss in Boots long lost childhood friend who tricked him into committing a bank robbery in his hometown of San Ricardo. Puss in Boots is reluctant to join him again but Kitty Softpaws persuades him. After many adventures, the double crossing Humpty meets his fate and Puss in Boots is hailed as a hero for saving San Ricardo, although the military still regard him as a fugitive. Puss in Boots and Kitty Softpaws share a dance and kiss at the end. For the full plot, see wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puss_in_Boots_(2011_film) The idea for Puss in Boots was first mentioned in 2004, initially as a direct to video film. But by October 2006, the film had been changed to full release when DreamWorks realised its full potential. During the films production, the team struggled for a long time to include the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk. The results didn't work well and in the end the giant never makes an appearance. Puss in Boots is the first DreamWorks Animation film to be partly made in India. This not only reduce labour costs but also helped as at the time DreamWorks were making three films a year in the US. The film is incredibly action packed as demonstrated in the planting of the beanstalk beans. This includes swirling clouds, erupting ground and huge gusts of wind. Puss in Boots, Humpty and Kitty Softpaws are shown swirling up on the beanstalk as it raises into the sky. Here is an in-depth article about this complex sequence: https://www.fxguide.com/fxfeatured/puss-in-boots-head-in-the-clouds/ Another standout feature of the film is the excellent dynamic shadow animation work during the lengthy night scenes.

Also the cat dance fight scene where Puss in Boots challenges the Masked Kitty (Softpaws) to a dance fight. This scene is fast paced and is very funny!

Puss In Boots is shown in the 2.39:1 (Cinemascope) aspect ratio. The music for Puss in Boots is composed by Henry Jackman. He used folk instruments traditionally found in Latin music. Lady Gaga's song 'Americano' also features in the film. The score was released in October 2011. The premiere for Puss in Boots was held on October 16th 2011 aboard the cruise ship Allure of the Seas in Florida. Puss in Boots was a big box office success and the third highest grossing animated film of the year behind Kung Fu Panda 2 and Cars 2. Puss in Boots was critically well received with an approval rating of 86% and an average rating of 6.9/10. It grossed $70.4 million and was a great success. It included a short animated film called 'The Three Diablos'. Puss in Boots was released on Blu-Ray, DVD and Blu-Ray 3D on the 24th February 2012. Interestingly, Puss in Boots was never released on 4K Blu-Ray in the UK, however the US version is region free. The sequel to Puss in Boots was released in December 2022 and called 'The Last Wish'. I will definitely watch and review this film in future, watch this space! I first saw Puss in Boots when I bought it as a Triple Play Blu-Ray, DVD & Digital Copy in 2012. Puss in Boots is available to stream in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Netflix. I bought it on YouTube in High Definition. Although it is not a film I regularly watch, when I do I really enjoy the visual effects, voice acting and the storyline. Puss in Boots has a quirkiness about it that reminds me of Rango which was released in the same year.

[y2klostandfound]

Now on Sale (New Game Express) - Space Channel 5 Part 2 on Game Players Vol.28 (Video Game magazine)(Hong Kong, 2002)

Translation in English:

PS2

February 14, 2002

SEGA ETC

5800 yen DVD-ROM / GD-ROM

161kb

Singing and dancing to save the universe

SPACE CHANNEL 5 , the second episode of the new sensory music beat genre game developed by SEGA and UGA, is now available on PS2 and DC during the Chinese New Year. In the game, the player plays a TV reporter, using her singing and dancing skills to stop aliens from invading the universe, and the enemy of this episode is a mysterious organization leading a group of small black machines "Dancing Troupe (Rhythm Rouges)".

REPORT 1 - The crisis reignites

One day, a cruise ship called Space Symphony was passing over Pluto when a giant black unidentified flying object suddenly approached the ship, and then a group of small robots appeared and walked inside the ship, emitting some strange lights that made the passengers dance. The television station "Channel 5", which received this event, immediately asked the reporter ULALA to go there to make a live report. ...... When it comes to the gameplay, it is basically the same as the previous episode. At the beginning of "Dance Battle", the opponent's Icon will be seen at the bottom left of the screen, then the player needs to write down the opponent's movements and rhythms, and then when the Icon changes, she needs to make the same movements and rhythms as the opponent, With the same action and festival, you will hear a special sound if you succeed, and of course you will hear the sound of "blowing soda" if you fail. Just repeat this action until everyone is rescued and you will pass the game.

The mysterious enemy "Dancing Troupe" has spotted the target...

Passengers enjoying space travel still know something is going to happen...

Make the same movements and rhythms as the other party

Those who are successfully rescued will join the ULALA train to help save the remaining passengers

The First characters

JAGUAR

The reporter of Space Pirate Broadcasting, who appeared in the previous work, but this time he was found in the opening, what is the relationship between him and ULALA?

FUSE

This spaceship floating in the air is actually a satellite broadcast by the TV station "Channel 5". There is a broadcaster visible at the bottom of the ship.

SHADOW & (RHYTHM) ROBOT

Captain SHADOW leads a group of robots that emit strange light from their eyes. They are part of the dance team. Their main task is to attack and capture humans everywhere. What is their purpose...

NOISE

He looks like a rookie from the outside, but he is actually the technical development director of "Channel 5". In the development of the new broadcaster, he is responsible for the technical support. Having a super low waist is his characteristic.

PURGE

The leader of the "Dancing Troupe (Rhythm Rouges)" who appeared at the beginning of the story. Why does he want to catch humans to dance? All this will be left to the player to solve in the game.

"PART 2" full of new elements

n the new episode, how can there be some new elements missing? In this episode, the input of length and strength will be added first, and the lyrics will be added below the dancing process. In addition, ULALA will play with the band during the dance, which greatly improves the atmosphere.

Press the button to play the guitar!

Added lyrics display when dancing, more like watching TV

[seabreeze2022]

Bahamas 2023. Pre departure. We leave March 5 to the Bahamas

Lots of work before we go play in the Bahamas. In January we took the boat 10 miles north to a marina in Key Largo. The primary goal was to replace a Dripless Shaft Seal as preventive maintenance. This can only be done out of the water. The bottom paint was holding up pretty well. But now was the time to go ahead and redo the bottom paint. Previous paint was an ablative paint colored black. We used the same brand of ablative paint but changed the color to blue this time. Changing color helps you tell how far you might be sanding or how much paint has been scrubbed off over the years.

Nancy cleaned and waxed the hull once the bottom paint was done.

Due to tides we spent two nights at anchor waiting to get into the marina. I used this time to periodically spray PB Blaster on the rusty bolts holding the prop shaft to the transmission.

Here I have decoupled the prop shaft in preparation of removing the old Dripless shaft seal.

Nancy shines up the prop.

The boat has a new bottom paint and is shined and ready to splash.

We spent two nights on the anchor. Yoga on the foredeck in the morning.

The big addition this year for cruising the Bahamas is a water maker. We bought a Schenker 30 Zen water maker. It should make 30 liters an hour, or 7.9 gallons an hour. We were very frugal with our water usage last year. But our hygiene suffered, and the boat would not get salt washed off unless it rained. It was getting pretty crusty. You will never get a watermaker to be cost effective. But it will allow you to cruise in places where water is not available. Getting older this will save some wear and tear on us. “Jugging water” is strenuous and can be dangerous during the transfer from dinghy to boat.

Checking the dinghy engine which has not been run since last year in the Bahamas. It does run but is rough. Changed spark plugs but that did not fix the issue. Next thing to check is the carburetor. Starting with the easiest and least invasive, then digging deeper. After tearing down the carburetor multiple times and putting it back together before testing. I got it down to 20 minutes start to finish. It seems to be working but until we use it for a day locally, I will not have any confidence in it.

I needed professional help getting the electrical lines run for the watermaker. My mechanic Marcel finished that up Sunday February 26. By that evening I had lowered the actual watermaker down the hatch and laid it in place. Very little remains to be done now. Until we test run the watermaker and check for leaks the boat is completely in disarray. To access the bilge area for the intake and waterpump the aft cabin mattress has to be pulled out into the main cabin. Once we pressure test the watermaker and put the mattresses back, then we can start doing the final provisioning of the boat.

The Schenke Zen 30 is bolted down and pressure test on March 1. Now we can put the mattresses back into the aft cabin. Which allows us to start moving around the cabin and putting in all the provisions.

Nancy is drinking the out put from the watermaker. Our little multimeter tester shows great water. Nancy does the ultimate taste test, and the lagoon water passes the test. Absolutely amazing that we can turn yucky harbor saltwater into fresh drinking water.

While we are getting ready to leave March 4 (Saturday), Nancy’s relatives are dealing with a blizzard in Fargo N.D.. This time of year we are in the middle of “Spring Low tides”, we could not leave if we wanted too since the channel depth is so low.

A local friend and his wife, left a few days earlier in their Catamaran but a navigation component failed. So they had their replacement AIS shipped to our house on Wednesday. We will try and meet up with them south of Georgetown Exuma a week or so after we leave.

Saturday morning at daybreak on the 4 th, we navigated out the channel at our house. Very leisurely sail 5 miles at 3 kts. where we anchored on the back side of Tavernier Key.

While at anchor I set the “Jack lines” in place. Our Jack line is a web belt 3/4” wide rated to 4,200 breaking strength. It runs from the very back of the boat to the very front of the boat down both sides. If we have to go on deck ANY time when it is dark while underway. We tether ourselves to the boat. If we are underway and seas are rough we will also tether ourselves, via the jack lines to the boat. Nancy has an Inflatable Life Jacket and a Kong tether. Since I will be the one to handle any problems on deck. I wear a foam life Jacket that served me will in Water Tribe events. It has 2 knifes, flares, signal mirror, VHF radio, whistle, multiple lights, strobe and a Personal Locator Beacon. I wear a Kong tether and a sailing harness under the life jacket. If sailing at night we both tether into short jacklines that I installed in the cockpit.

Alarm is set for 0400, we will depart the anchorage and head perpendicular to the reef. Hopefully avoiding all of the lobster trap buoys and lines. Once we hit 250’ depth we will be clear of all traps. Then we will head for South Riding Rock. So about 70 miles across the Gulf Stream on a rumb line of 078 degrees. It would be nice cross on to the Bahama Bank during daylight but not mandatory.

Seas are predicted to be 1 foot with a 10 sec. period between them. Which makes for a calm crossing but not great for sailing. I assume we will motorsail the majority of the way. Another 56 miles puts us at the mouth of North West Channel. Great place to anchor Monday night. Then a quick 20 mile run to Morgan Wells, Andros Island Tuesday.

After clearing customs we will work on getting a Wi-Fi hot spot device and can then pick up internet. Till then don’t expect to get any updates until Wednesday at the earliest.

SV Sea Breeze, Tavernier Key, Florida Keys.