#National High Performance Center

[paulpingminho]

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1987 Buick GNX

1987 Buick GNX: A Rare Muscle car That Showed How Awesome GM Could Still Be

Let's talk about one of the most iconic cars from the 1980s – the Buick GNX. This car wasn't just a vehicle; it was a statement, a powerhouse, and a collector's dream even when it was new.

Here's What Made It Special

Ultimate Performance: In 1987, the GNX stood at the pinnacle of Buick’s turbocharged lineup. Its 3.8L V6 engine, enhanced with a Garrett T3 turbocharger and a larger intercooler, produced a formidable 276 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. Those were BIG numbers for the time.

Limited Edition: Buick produced only 547 GNX units, each transformed by ASC McLaren Performance Technologies.

It Wasn't Just a Hopped-Up Engine: The GNX included numerous performance upgrades like a reprogrammed engine management system, a performance suspension with a torque bar, and a unique GNX rear differential cover.

It Was Lightning Fast: This car could rocket from 0 to 60 MPH in under five seconds and complete a quarter-mile in just over 13 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars of its time, and capable of running with the Big Block Muscle cars of the late 60's.

It Looked Cool: The GNX had a menacing exterior with vented fenders, a lack of hood and fender emblems, and 16-inch aluminum mesh wheels with blacked-out faces and GNX center caps.

The Car Pictured Here is an Unrestored Gem: GNX number 155 of the 547 built remains unrestored with an incredibly low 12 miles on its odometer, showcasing its pristine condition. Still, too bad nobody has ever really got to enjoy driving it.

Luxurious Interior: This GNX featured a six-way power adjustable driver's seat, GNX-badged front carpet savers, and a special instrumentation package, making the interior as impressive as its performance.

Rare Documentation: It includes the ASC McLaren GNX window sticker, listing all the unique features that made it a Grand National Experimental.

It's a Sought-After Collector Car: With its unmatched performance, limited production, and unique features, the GNX has become a highly sought-after collectible in the classic car world.

The Buick GNX wasn't just another car; it was a high-performance marvel that left a lasting legacy in automotive history.

When it comes to the grand national the GNX is the holy grail

[dilfl0v3rss]

baseball player!connie

baseball player!connie who is one of the top pitchers in the country. ever since he was young his family and friends knew he would be one of the best and they were right.

baseball player!connie who had been working the hardest on the team from his freshman year of college all the way to his junior year right now.

baseball player!connie who decided in high school that he wanted to get a degree before taking baseball to the next level and has stuck with it.

baseball player!connie who despite his 6’3, strong figure and prodigious talent in almost every sport, only took an offer for baseball, seeing that sport as his true calling since he was little.

baseball player!connie who would’ve never thought he’d be going to college with you, his high school sweetheart. you’ve been together since his freshman year of high school, always at his varsity games with pretty bows in your hair as you cheered on his team. you’d sit front and center, school colors painted in two lines on your cheeks as you sat in his opposite jersey with a bright smile on your face.

baseball player!connie who never leaves for a game without getting a pep talk from his favorite girl, your serious face always turning him on as he thinks about how you value these games just as much as he does.

connie’s wide hands were outstretched on your ass, rubbing and squeezing as he stood in his team warmup. he had an important away game today and you could tell he wasn’t feeling good about it, him and his team’s poor performance during the last few practices filling his brain with doubt. “ion wanna lose mami” he groaned, his neck tattoos peaking from his collar as he averted his gaze to the living room. you brought your hands to his cheeks, slowly moving his head back towards you as you spoke. “you been workin hard?” he nodded, hands giving your ass a squeeze as he thought back to some of his better pitches he threw during practice. “you still think you the best?” he nodded again, making you smile as you moved to your tippy toes to leave a soft kiss on his lips. “then stop worryin, the team feeds off you. if you go out there actin unsure of yourself then they gon be unsure of themselves too. you the captain ain’t you?”

“yes ma’am”

you smiled at the name, moving from his hold to pick up his bag from the floor. you slid the strap onto his shoulder before giving them a light squeeze.

“then lead em”

baseball player!connie who does phenomenal every game, but really excels when you’re there watching him. your pretty face and voice always bringing a small smirk to his face as he listens to you cheer after striking his opponent out.

baseball player!connie who is still in college, but is pretty famous since his games are broadcasted on espn and his highlights are shown all over sports pages. he even got sponsored by nike and did some commercials for them with other stars his age.

baseball player!connie who despite his age and profession, has friends everywhere. he’s had rappers, singers, pros, and even the nations best in other sports attend his games. showing their support for their friend. his closest friends are the nations finest volleyball and basketball players aran and ony. they were all around the same age and absolutely dominated in their respective leagues. the three men would always make time for each other regardless of their differences and busy schedules. the media liked to call them the three stooges for their funny personalities and when they’re around each other.

baseball player!connie who has different women in his face everyday, trying their very best to get the athletes attention, but they never got far. always getting brushed off with an “i’m married” before he’d walk off and look for you in the room.

baseball player!connie who doesn’t care that the two of you aren’t actually married or even engaged, during every interview he labels you as his wife since he’s vowed to love, honor, and protect you since the two of you started dating, no ring or wedding required.

“jesus christ c.p i gotta give it to ya. you’ve got to be one of the most talented players i’ve seen in a long time. you bat wonderfully, you run faster than a running back, and when your opponents think they have time to breathe they are plagued with your bullet like pitches. what do you have to say about your wonderful performance tonight?” the reporter said, a smile already forming on connie’s face as he looked down towards the ring tied in his laces.

“well first i wanna say hey t’my wife. she wanted t’be here but she’s a lil sick.” he said, a small frown on his face as he looked towards the camera as if he were staring at you. “i love you tho and i’m always gon thank you cause i wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all those nights you’d encourage me and get on the field wit me t’work on my pitches. uhh what else? oh yea my performance!”

you giggled from your seat on the couch, nothing but put joy and pride filling your heart as you watched your man go on about how much he loved and adored you and the sport he was blessed to play.

baseball player!connie who to isn’t allowed to wear the promise ring you bought him during games so he ties it in the lace of his left cleat, always leaning over to rub it during games to let you know he’s thinking of you.

baseball player!connie who already pitched great when you’re there, but does even better when he’s angry. the sight of some random guy hitting on you in the stands made anger rush through his veins. his arm moving as if the ball were on fire in his palm.

“strike one!” the umpire said, the batter standing straight up in surprise as if he didn’t even see when the ball was released. connie wasn’t paying attention though because he was counting his own strikes for you, the first one being you letting this man touch your hair. ‘strike one’ he thought.

as his anger built up so did the speed of the ball as connie threw this second one as if it weighed nothing. “strike two!” the umpire said, the commentators going crazy as they watched your man throw another record breaking pitch. the crowd was going nuts but connie’s eyes stayed on you. your pretty teeth bare to the man next to you as you let him take your phone for something, probably to put his socials in it. ‘strike two’

your last strike nearly costed the catcher his hand, the force of the ball so strong that he felt it through the glove.

‘strike three’

“strike three! out!”

both connie and the umpire were in sync as the pitcher moved from his place. connie wasn’t paying the game any mind anymore, his anger at its highest peak as he watched the bastard bring his lips to your ear, whispering things to you with a smirk on his face as your eyes widened.

‘you’re out’

baseball player!connie who didn’t even let you explain that the man in the stands was a friend you invited from class before taking you home and having you face down in the sheets of your shared bed.

“got me fucked up furreal” he grumbled, his big hand colliding with your ass three times as connie deepened his thrusts. your cries and begs were muffled into the sheets, his other hand squeezing the back of your neck as he pushed your face down into the silk fabric. “got me staring into the stands every ten seconds cause you think it’s okay t’be all buddy buddy wit men ion know. tch….cuero grande mami” (such a slut)

you tried to move your hand towards his abdomen to soothe him, but connie roughly rejected you. slapping your small hand away before spanking you again. “don’t touch me. youn get t’touch me when you be letting randoms do it so easily” you cried loudly, your tears soaking the sheets under you as you tried your best to pull your wet face from the cushion so you can speak. “papiiiiii! s’not l-like that, p-promiseeee!” your beg fell on deaf ears as connie flattened his free hand on your back, pushing your stomach to the mattress as he fed you every last inch of his dick at a breathtaking speed. “uhh huhhhh. s’not like you was letting some lambón (ass kisser) be all in your face, right? not like you was letting him touch your phone and whisper shit in your ear, right mami?”

now that he put it that way you did look a little guilty, but you and the guy were strictly friends and you were determined to let your boyfriend know that. “i love youuu! o-only you daddy i swear” connie knew you’d never cheat on him, the love the two of you carried too strong for either of you to even think of being with someone else, but he couldn’t stop himself from becoming this jealous, possessive lover as his fame began to grow. when more people recognized him the more they began to recognize you as well. your pretty face and kind personality driving many men crazy to the point where connie had to keep a a close eye on your choice of “friends”. your easily gained trust making you prone to getting tricked into being friends with a man that only wants one thing from you.

connie knew for sure that was the case when it came to the man he saw today, his wandering eyes and lingering touches giving him away completely to your boyfriend, but you were naive, too innocent to understand that this man wanted only one thing from you. just thinking about it brought connie’s anger back up to a ten, his hips slamming into you as he lifted your back to his chest with one hand. “how yall meet, huh? he came up t’you after class didn’t he?” you nodded your head, earning you a hard slap on your clit from connie’s rough fingers. “que mama? respóndeme la pregunta” (what mama? answer the question) his hand snaked around your throat, giving it a tight squeeze to let you know he wasn’t playing, but you could already tell he wasn’t given the situation you were in right now.

“y-yes, he came up t’me after class” connie nodded as you spoke, already knowing he was correct. “and being the kind little lady you are, you invited him t’come sit wit you at my game, correct?” you replied wit a small “yes” coaxing him to continue. “and f’course he came, probably asked for your instagram on your phone so he could follow himself, said y’all should take a lil selfie to save the moment and begged you t’post it and tag him, right?” your eyes widened at how spot on your boyfriend was, his thrusts doubling in power as he listened to you agree to everything he said. “but you a my good girl so i know you ain’t post it, but he ain’t let it go did he? nahhh…he leaned down and whispered in your ear some stupid pickup line that made your eyes widen, and since you rejected him i know for a fact he ain’t follow you back, and he doesn’t plan on talking t’you ever again”

you couldn’t stop the little whine from escaping your throat as you listened to the wise words of your boyfriend. “m’sorry p-papi i didn’t knowwww” connie quickly shushed you, leaving light kisses on your wet cheeks as he pushed you back down towards the bed. he laid both of his hands flat on your back before pushing your arch so deep you almost screamed.

“you too nice mami i been tellin you this, but it’s coo tho. papi gon make sure you understand by the end of the night.”

baseball player!connie who spent an entire night fucking his lesson into your poor little pussy, making sure his sweet girlfriend didn’t fall victim to the bad, clout chasing, drama filled people you’d encounter everyday at college.

[mbslost]

Another yapping session with MB yipeee!

nah in all seriousness i would like to talk about some things, now that my temper is gone.

we still remember the post on twt made by @/renhanasgf about Gato not being more inclusive, oorrrr that her poc character are ignored. (i wont talk about the real stuff from discord in this post since proofs are still gathered.)

well here i am! (sadly)

1.How many poc characters?

7 well known (or maybe more). who are those? well we'll start with Raven(tinr) or known as Selin as well, Chet Ichpujani(tinr/tpof), Strade(btd/tpof), Thomas(tpof), Jaqueline(tpof), Machete(tpof) and fucking Derek(tpof)

some of them dont have a full name (besides an alias) either because story wise it didnt mattered or because of their lore (Strade and Machete are criminals, doubt they would want a victim that escaped to expose their identity, no?) Also another detail, even some white characters do not have a last name,such as Sid(tinr), Dragon/Jace(tpof), Komodo/Mike(tpof), Chamomile(tpof), Richard(tpof) and probably some from 'Facility'.

their ethnicities are indeed unknown, either because it wouldnt really affect their story or it was avoided in case it could cause a conflict. dunno. about this i cant really talk a lot since her blogs are gone, thus i cannot dig into this matter anymore. although i believe having a hc on them is fine. ''- It is 100% okay to have ANY headcanons about my character!''-her website)

Raven was one of the well know character from Gato that is poc. her nationality is unknown due to the story (which i would recommend you to read tinr, pretty cool tbh). since her story goes deeper i would suggest you to also read her wiki (fanmade). sadly lots of stuff are now gone about her. still a lover character.

Strade. Strade is Strade. (kind of forgot what she said in the answer about his name but the wiki says ''Strade is not his actual birth name. It's similar to a placeholder name like John Doe. His birth name is unknown." still you can check out more here)

Chet Ichpujani is another character involved in tinr, a manager (i believe) at a semi-restaurant thing? in the end he offers to help Farz with his problem. pretty cool guy since he and Anthony Shore re-appeared in tpof. (picture below)

Machete, ''Machete is the newest member of the desert group. He had to prove himself worthy by performing various criminal tasks to be allowed in. Despite his recent acceptance, the rest of the group remain wary of him. His quiet demeanor and decisive actions tend to unsettle the other members. He regrets everything he's done to be admitted into the group, but he chose to stop at nothing to get revenge for his sister. He feels as though he's completely lost his identity and humanity to his "purpose"." -wiki (also a small detail, he did everything to revenge his sister)

Tom/Thomas, ''Tom is a college student, taking a media development course centered around sound design. He took a few years off high school, kind of meandering through life without an aim for a while. However, he eventually found a passion for making music. Despite tons of research and hard work, he was never really able to get his brand off the ground, so he decided to head to college to get some formal education on the subject. Late one night, as he was about to head home, he was abducted by Komodo and Dragon.'' -wiki

Jaqueline, "Jaqueline is a young trades worker learning to paint houses. She takes pride in her work and also frequently goes to the gym. Her mother pesters her to get a higher education, but she loves her current career path. Due to the friction with her family over her job, she tends to choose to spend time with friends instead. She was violently abducted by Jack in broad daylight, unlucky to have no witnesses." -wiki

therefore, there's plenty of information, plus that lost from her blogs.

2.Model minority

must agree, her work from 2016 looked alike yet, in the last years she actually showed more bodies (like types)

here are some examples:

also Strade's new model as well:

quite diverse, is it not? i am aware i didnt show others as well but if you wish to (and i actually encourage to) you can view the rest here! Lawrence, Ren, Celia (or on pinterest!)

3. Conclusion

i still believe everyone can create whatever they wish, whatever character. the details are on their part. now i could understand Gato for being upset when someone doesnt draw their character as they are (such as changing the body type, skin colour, etc) but also cant blame those who feel like being ignored (trust me, had to survive the genshin fandom).

so the characters exist, thus i dont see the problem of not being inclusive (also, as she often said, you can hc her characters, thus i believe their ethnicities are free to chose for yourself)

that's it. as for the real deal (the discord stuff) i believe it's the best more proofs come. rn i dont see her as a racist artist, but that comment in spanish does sound in fact xenophobic... well, until more context is posted, we'll see

stay safe!

[tsuchishima]

❀ — A GUIDE TO BOKUTO'S MOODS ๋࣭ ⭑ ❁

WARNINGS | none

GUIDEBOOK | types of bokuto's moods, problems and solutions, bokuto in conclusion (will be continued after making a new acc)

WC | 0.5k words ~ GENRE | fluff / slight crack

A/N | this is slightly rushed. why? i'm making a new acc! i got tired with my current theme and decided to switch to a new one. ENJOY READING READER !

NOTEBOOK COVER + PAPER (visual reference)

๋࣭ ⭑ ⚝ — PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS !

𓏲 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖ PROBLEM & SOLUTION 1 // VOLLEYBALL MATCH problem context : a perfect set was tossed to him, and he ran up to spike the ball. his hand perfectly aimed at the center as he jumped and spiked it, only to be blocked by one of middle blockers of the opposing team. he groaned and as the next few more rounds started his performance started to go bad. and you guessed it. he's in his emo mode, and he yells out his very expected line "don't toss to me anymore!" he says, pointing to akaashi. possible solution/s : start thinking of solutions that could help uplift his mood. and make sure to imagine all of the possible outcome when you try to do something, whether it's bad or good. also, if he does say his infamous line then just don't toss to him anymore. it's would seem wrong but it would work. his desire to spike will only grow more as he watches getting ignored by his setter. after a few rounds of tossing to other players you can now set to him again, making him get a point—his mood now being back to a cheery one. make sure to praise him afterwards too.

𓏲 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖ PROBLEM & SOLUTION 2 // VOLLEYBALL MATCH problem context : he's playing in the nationals, and he starts to get frustated as he realizes in the court he's playing in is small compared to the main court hinata is playing in. his mood is starting to go downhill. he's in the edge of going emo mode. some of his team members starts to notice this as his hand accidentally slipped on his hands—causing for them to lose a point. he then feels defeated. his shoulders sloping as he looks at the not so high ceiling of the court. he feels terrible. possible solution/s : it's very simple to resolve this problem. just explain that because the court is much smaller more attention is on to him, and that in the main court only 1/4 of the people will be watching him. he will definitely start contemplating at the explanation and would start to look at the loud cheery crowd. he would then start to agree with you even though what you said was half-true, that's bokuto for ya'

𓏲 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖ PROBLEM & SOLUTION 3 // A BAD MOOD problem context : he's feeling downcast. by what? who knows. but all you need to do now is to comfort him. he's probably hiding in a enclosed and dark place. tables, chairs, random things he squeeze in-between he hides in those objects just to feel secure. but it doesn't help him with feeling unhappy. possible solution/s : praise him. just literally praise him, or help him with what he's having trouble with. just a praise from someone that means to him can take his mood to a whole turn. you can also try to ask to practice volleyball with you to try and 'improve' your skills but in reality you're just trying to cheer him up. this may work since he just loveeesss spiking. he quite literally has an endless amount of stamina when it comes to practicing.

_ → m.list

tsuchisama © — please do not copy, steal or translate.

[nasa]

Comin’ in Hot: Seven Things to Know About our New Heat Shield

What goes up, must come down, and from space, without burning up in an atmosphere. That’s why we’re pumped for the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator, or LOFTID. Launching on Nov. 1, 2022, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Joint Polar Orbiting Satellite System-2 (JPSS-2) mission, this technology demonstration marks the next step in advancing an innovative heat shield design that could one day be used to land heavy payloads – including humans – on Mars!

Here are seven things to know about this innovative re-entry system: 

1. LOFTID is the first-ever in-orbit test of this technology. 

Inflatable heat shields, called Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerators (HIADs), have been in the works for more than a decade. In 2012, the third of the Inflatable Re-entry Vehicle Experiments (IRVE) launched on a suborbital sounding rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility, demonstrating a 3-meter (10-foot) diameter inflatable heat shield.

But the LOFTID re-entry vehicle, at 19.7 feet (6 meters) in diameter, will be the largest blunt body aeroshell to ever go through atmospheric entry. Designed to withstand temperatures as high as 2900°F (1600°C), this first-ever in-orbit test of this technology will prove if it can successfully slow down large payloads – such as crewed spacecraft, robotic explorers, and rocket components – enabling them to survive the heat of re-entry at planetary destinations with an atmosphere.

2. You can find out how this tech works in real-time.  

LOFTID is unique in that all operations will happen within a few hours of launch. After the JPSS-2 satellite safely reaches orbit, the LOFTID vehicle will separate from the upper stage of the Atlas V rocket and begin re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. If all goes as planned, the technology will help the vehicle decelerate from hypersonic (more than 25 times faster than the speed of sound) down to subsonic flight, less than 609 miles per hour for a safe splash down and recovery from the Pacific Ocean. 

While in flight, engineers at NASA’s Langley Research Center will receive location data every 20 seconds and onboard sensors and cameras will record more comprehensive data about the technology’s performance. You can get a behind-the-scenes look at Langley’s Flight Mission Support Center where the LOFTID project team will be monitoring the flight test at NASA.gov/live following the launch.

3. A lemon-sized capsule ejected into the Pacific Ocean will hold key flight data. 

The LOFTID re-entry vehicle will record both sensor and camera data during its flight. The data will include the temperatures and pressures experienced by the heat shield and will illustrate how well the technology performed during the demonstration.

Although the goal is to retrieve the LOFTID re-entry vehicle after it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean, the team wanted a back-up option just in case they can’t recover it. Enter the tiny yellow package called an ejectable data module (EDM) which will also record flight data. The EDM will be released from the spacecraft at an altitude of about 50,000 feet. It will free fall into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii and should land within 10 miles of the spacecraft’s splash down location. A recovery team, that has practiced hide-and-seek of the EDM on land and sea, will use GPS to search an approximately 900-mile area of the Pacific Ocean to find their “lemon.”

4. This heat shield packs a punch. 

Although NASA has historically relied on rigid aeroshells, parachutes, and retro-propulsion (rockets) to decelerate people, vehicles, and hardware during entry, descent, and landing operations, a benefit of inflatable heat shields is that they take up less space in a rocket, allowing more room for other hardware or payloads. LOFTID’s aeroshell has been folded and tightly packed down to 4 by 1.5 feet for launch and stacked in the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket payload fairing.

5. LOFTID is dedicated in honor of one of its innovators.  

LOFTID was developed as a partnership with ULA and is dedicated to the memory of Bernard Kutter, ULA manager of advanced programs, who passed away in August 2020. Kutter was instrumental in advancing the inflatable heat shield design and developing the plan to test the system on an Atlas V rocket. He was an advocate for both space technology and expanding access to space. Kutter’s NASA and ULA counterparts agree that LOFTID is unlikely to have made it to space without his vision and passion.

6. LOFTID is made of tough stuff. 

Synthetic fibers make up the inflatable structure, braided into tubes that are, by weight, 10 times stronger than steel. The tubes are coiled so that they form the shape of a blunt cone when inflated. The thermal protection system that covers the inflatable structure can survive searing entry temperatures up to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers used the same heat-shielding materials to create a fire shelter prototype for firefighters battling forest fires.

7. You can make your own LOFTID Halloween costume! 

Still looking for an out-of-this world Halloween costume? With a few commonly found materials, like orange pool noodles and duct tape, you can create your own LOFTID costume. However, we make no promises of protecting or slowing you down from becoming the life of the party.

Follow @NASA_Technology for the latest updates on LOFTID. Don’t miss our live coverage leading up to launch from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The NASA Edge JPSS-2 Tower Rollback Show airs live on NASA TV and YouTube on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 12 a.m. EDT, and NASA TV live launch coverage will begin at 4:45 a.m. EDT. 

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[mtaartsdesign]

We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Faith Ringgold (1930-2024). A painter, mixed media sculptor, performance artist, activist, writer, teacher and lecturer, Ringgold’s impact on American art cannot be understated, and her legacy is especially felt in New York City. Born in Harlem, Ringgold attended City College for both her B.S. and M.A. degrees in visual art before travelling the world, which would inform the rich narratives in her work and the development of her iconic story quilts. She revolutionized notions of craft in fine art with her unique style of narrative quilt paintings while centering African American and feminist voices. The distinguished artist received more than 80 awards and 23 Honorary Doctorates throughout her prolific career. Ringgold’s work has been exhibited internationally and belongs in the collections of numerous institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Ringgold’s mosaic artwork “Flying Home: Harlem Heroes and Heroines (Downtown and Uptown)” (1996) at 125 St (2,3) station honors Harlem notables and makes them fly. Ringgold has said of the work: "I love every one of these people. I wanted to share those memories, to give the community - and others just passing through - a glimpse of all the wonderful people who were part of Harlem. I wanted them to realize what Harlem has produced and inspired." Faith Ringgold herself is certainly a Harlem heroine who has inspired and will inspire many for years to come.

📸1: MTA A&D/Cheryl Hageman, 2: Trent Reeves

[sapphireclawe]

So this is a fully random question, with a fair amount of context.

You see, I wanted to try making a video game, and I have some uh.... high ambitions. Each game is set in the capital of a nation called Ashfell, Sparkway City. All are set as different stories within the city, some centering around the Starlight Square (a small town built within the city that's all centering around a single franchised entity: for any world building fans, I'm adding this here, it interacts with the rest of the city quite well since they funnel that money back into the local economy via local sourcing. Plus it's an experiment to build more jobs by zoning a large city into microtowns with free housing and ease of getting jobs in the location), some centering around the concept of life and death, and more. I have 4 games I want to make, each one having different mechanics and styles.

Most of the games will have queer elements as well. Also populated by humans and furries.

Game 1: Nexus (title in progress)

This game is a 3D open world game, set around depression as a whole. It would have survival and psychological horror elements in it, especially after dying in the game a few times. Most early deaths would be self inflicted.

Things to note: there may be more than one game mode involved. Inspired by some free roam horror games (can't think of any)

Game 2: Dream Guardian

This game is a Metroidvania, inspired by Hollow Knight in some design choices. Weapons, spells, and traversing abilities unlockable of course. Follow the main character as she goes on quests to defeat evil throughout Sparkway City!

Things to note: an optional mechanic may be added that may cause psychological damage to the player. The mechanic will be OFF by default, and the player will have to go through 3 layers of "are you sure" before turning it on.

Game 3: Rhythm game (title in progress)

Starring the audition attempts of Trixie and the Tricks (a fully queer band trio) across Sparkway City as they try to get a permanent gig to perform with, this game is based on Guitar Hero and Rhythm Heaven Fever, lol.

Things to note: either I'll have to compose the music myself or someone may have to help here...

Game 4: Carved (title in progress)

A survival horror game that starts off nice enough, but quickly goes south as you have to escape the area you spent your whole life in. Inspired in design by Into the Pit. Yes I watched a playthrough, hush. The style fits what I'd be going with.

I'm working on the game design document for the four as it is, don't worry about it

[mirai-e-jump]

Duet November 2023 Issue ft. Ikeda Masashi Mini Interview (translation below)

Publication: October 6, 2023

Ikeda: It was fun to kick a ball around for the first time in a long time! I played soccer from the first year of elementary school to my third year of high school, and still do sometimes, but I haven't run around like this in awhile. I love to move my body, it's an exhilarating feeling. For me, Soccer = "Youth."

Kicking the ball like this reminds me of the days when we worked hard to win the National High School Soccer Championships. My position was Forward and Midfielder, and I loved the sense of accomplishment I got when I scored a goal. I participated in club activities after school every day. I went on an expedition the day before a test, so my student life was really centered around soccer.

Although I didn't have many opportunities to participate in school events, being able to play in the National Tournament with #10 on my back, which was my dream, made me really happy! In between club activities, I also formed a band, and we were chosen to perform on stage at the cultural festival. However, due to the expedition…I barley fit it into my schedule, and somehow managed to make it in time. I still remember the excitement. The loud atmosphere was fun and also had a "youthful" feel to it.

When I was a student, I studied hard, aiming to excel in both my studies and sports. I'm the type of person who, once I decide to do something, will do it to the best of my ability, so I worked hard and competed with the students that had the highest grades in my class.

Of course, I didn't want to neglect soccer either, so in order not to lose practice time, I listened to my lessons without dozing off in class, attended cram school, did supplementary lessons, and reviewed things while on the bus, so I got used to it. I was able to do my best in this way because of my friends. In my studies, I became friends with the top student in my class and worked hard, and my soccer teammates, who were both my rivals and friends, also gave me emotional support. There were times where I struggled, but every day was a fulfilling and happy one!

(Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger)

The scene where Jeramie, who I play, pretends to be a bad guy for everyone else's sake was tough. It was my first time playing a villain, so it was difficult to find the right balance of making it look like I was playing the bad guy for the sake of my friends…It was difficult, but taking on a new challenge was alot of fun! It turned out to be a great scene, so please be sure to watch it. The story has entered a new chapter, and the developments each week will make you think, "I can't wait to see what happens next!" Please enjoy these rapid and exciting developments!

[pomefioredove]

As the president of VilYuu nation what are your speculations for manga!Yuu for Pomefiore installment, considering the manga version of each Yuu serves as the foil for the overblot boys ✨️

(Or they should be, but tbh I only Yuuta who served this purpose the most clearly as he looks like how Azul was in the past yet he is happy and content, unlike Azul. I wished we could have seen Yuuken's and Yuuka's backstories explored more to mirror Riddle's and Leona's.)

For Vil's Yuu, I'm thinking of child actor whose fame is rapidly vanishing but is still dedicated to their work until they're tossed into twst 🤔 But again manga Yuu has all been average high school students so idk, maybe they're in some clubs which involve performing arts? Or the average fan who is fond of innocent type of idols like Neige hot idols like Vil? Anything's possible and I'm not sure if I can contain my excitement until the Pomefiore manga is finally out 💕 (which will happen in 2 years if we're lucky, considering how long it took Heartslabyul manga 😭)

admittedly I don't keep up with the mangas so I am reading this all as you explain it to me, but if they were a foil, they would contrast him more so than not, yes?

so it actually would make more sense for yuu to just be an average high school student. even more than that. make them a nobody, a complete introvert, someone who hates being looked at

I think the most effective character foils are ones who contrast the main character's superficial qualities (which, in this case, would be vil's elegance, style, fame, talents, etc), but mirror their repressed thoughts and feelings. make this yuu someone who struggles with feeling inferior, make them insecure about their morality, make them someone who is a loner, not by their own hand, but by being villainized and isolated by their peers

I guess I would go for a backstory that's more like, yuu as a young child who wasn't socialized properly (I think this would parallel the film industry in vil's background well). but they're a terrible actor, and thus can never lie about anything. they're blunt, they don't fake smile, they express disgust and contempt often and easily... others call them mean and scary and they were othered, and so they grew to fit the role of the villain. almost unashamedly so.

they avoid people, they hate being the center of attention, and they hate feeling judged, which creates a lot of conflict between them and vil for a long time. "don't talk to me, don't look at me, I hate you" type of edgy. lots of self-hatred, and a deep bitterness towards others they think of as perfect. what they feel for vil is almost what vil feels for neige

but yeah idk lol. I was imagining a fem yuu for all of this because I feel like this sort of personality is way more interesting for a female character to have, but as far as I know all the manga yuus are male. just some speculation!

anyway tldr since this is mostly just me babbling

yuu is a terrible actor who can't so much as fake a smile

their bluntness and lack of expression makes them come off as mean and judgmental

they grew up being isolated and villainized by their peers because of it

they began isolating themselves as a counter measure, avoiding people, becoming introverted and lonely and hating attention/being looked at

they develop a deep hatred of "perfection" and people they consider perfect, which includes vil

[paulpingminho]

[viiixs]

!! Far east Wind Scenario/Drabbles :3

FEW! Xie Bi’an + FEW! Fan Wujiu x reader insert

Reader is Gender neutral. + note at the end of post.

5. stages of love with them 🍃

« SCENARIO »

Living life in the Imperial Palace as a Servant, was it a blessing or a curse? it seems like a dream to work in such a gorgeous yet safe environment, and in return you only offer your services to clean. unbeknownst to them, life isn’t as “dream-like” as expected. It was a matter of survival living in the Palace, whether it’d be one small mistake, you could potentially risk putting yourself at harm. its even worse for the Imperial Concubines and Consorts, as they fight for the favour of the Emperor.

yet what choice did you have? you’ve been selected to be a Servant for the Noble Consort, to attend to Her needs, and take care of Her. It was hectic at first, yet as Time passed by, you’ve gotten used to your busy life in the Palace. growing friendships and trying to avoid punishment- it was the norm.

and despite having a good friendship with alot of Servants, there was one in particular that was rude to you. it was one of the several Eunuch’s working for the Emperor. and due to His Status, He takes advantage of it by bullying the others into doing what He wants. and Today was unfortunately your unlucky day as He chose you as His victim.

yet fortunately, before He can get even more Turbulent, Two men helped you and sent the Eunuch away, You were thankful and wanted to return the Favour, yet they declined and soon left, Their appearance and attire was different from the Usual attire of servants and guards. curiously, you asked about them to some of your co-workers, you soon found out those Two men are no more than the Emperor’s most trusted body-guards.

you were curious about them, yet knew your place as a palace servant. but you didn’t expect this twist to your palace life.

they were said to be smart and strategic Generals who bore no weaknesses, yet who knew that weakness would be you?

HCS/DRABBLES

no. 1 ~ first meeting 🍃

you were assigned with assisting the Noble Consort in the Palace, She wasn’t the brightest in terms of Personality, yet she wasn’t as self-centered as the others were. so it made the job more bearable, She was indeed a beauty, no wonder the Emperor graced Her with the fortunate role of Consort, and as the favourite, He must also grace Her a trustworthy servant, and that Servant was you.

One spring afternoon, The Consort wasn’t in high spirits. To try and Compose Herself, She tasked you with the job of getting Her some silk for embroidery to cool off her mind. as you were in the middle of doing what you were tasked with, you noticed a man surrounded by palace maids, Judging by his Facial Expression,It seemed like He was irked by the crowd, while the other was trying to stay composed. upon taking a few steps for closer inspection, it was no other than Fan Wujiu and Xie Bi'an who was the limelight.

~~~~~~~~~~

no. 2 ~ getting to know🍃

» Fan Wujiu along with his Partner, Xie Bi’an. were the most Trusted Imperial Body-guard of the Emperor, who showed utmost Loyalty to His Grace. They were also Generals who won countless battles against the Enemy Nations.

» They are also Known for their contrasting personalities despite the Noble Upbringing, it was rumored that Xie Bi’an was said to be much more ‘merciful’ while performing his duties as a general, yet still strict. while Fan Wujiu was known to be more strict and Imperious with the Soldiers. This made them more attractive in the eyes of the servants in the palace, and everytime they returned from a trip, They’d always be surrounded with a crowd.

» You knew a trick that can get the palace maids to scatter, Those Guards once did you a favour before with an Incompetent Eunuch, so why not return the Favour back to them?

» “The Emperor has returned!” you yelled, trying your best to Mimic the voice of the announcer. after hearing this, you’ve never seen a person’s face go pale so quickly, let alone a crowd, it was amusing. yet your trick worked, as the aforementioned crowd quickly scattered back to their stations, afraid to anger the said ‘Emperor’ from whatever shenanigans they were doing to disrupt one of His most trusted men from performing Their duties. and after They scattered, you were now left alone in the halls with them.

» “ You there.”

» “I have to say, that was quite smart. though aren’t you afraid you might get in trouble for falsely announcing the Emperor’s Presence?” Fan Wujiu exclaims, He doubts that you’ll even get caught anyways, and even if you did, Him and Bi’an can reason with the Emperor for your sake.

» “Not really, if anything you should be thanking me for helping you out.” you reply, “and besides, i need to return back the favor you both did for me, if it weren’t for you both, that Eunuch would’ve pestered me to no end.”

» “ It was nothing.” Xie Bi’an smiles “He wasn’t doing His Job properly, and it was the Bare minimum we could do. besides, you looked so annoyed with Him you might strike at Him soon.”

» “This is the only time we ever interacted decently, must you joke?”

» Your Conversation with Bi’an and Wujiu lasted longer than anticipated, from a small joke to multiple ones, moving from the Halls to the Garden. your mind completely engulfed in their Company as you forgot about the task-in-hand. one of the Eunuch’s that work for the Consort told you about Her now irritated state and immediately asked for you to deliver back the silks.

» undeniably, you did get punished by Her, it wasn’t severe yet it was enough to drop your good mood for the entire day. though that was a few days ago, its not as serious. yet after returning back to your headquarters, you notice a bag of treats along with a Letter from both Bi’an and Wujiu on your table. after reading the note with curiousity, it turns out that the news of the Noble Consort punishing you reached them, and out of guilt They bought you a bag of snacks that they’d think you’d enjoy as an apology for distracting you from doing your duties.

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

no. 3 ~ growing relationship 🍃

» After the punishing Incident from the Noble Consort, you and both Guards have made a friendship, or a bargain somewhat. that said bargain is you luring away the crowd of palace maids that surrounds them, and their offer to take care of those who are mean to you.

» It was going well for both sides, yet later on your relationship with them gradually improved. you got to know them far more better and understood them more, and the reasons for them being so popular. as well as Hidden sides you would’ve never known if you weren’t acquainted with Them.

» Xie Bi’an is into drawing, and usually draws landscapes or sometimes portraits of those He finds kind or intriguing. while Fan Wujiu has a hidden soft side for those He truly cares about, a contrast to His Domineering and Strict figure He was known for in the Palace. These were the only ones you knew. yet you felt like there were more hidden secrets you have yet to see for them, yet surely enough today nor tomorrow isn’t the right time. maybe soon, as time passes, you’ll get to know them more.

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

no. 4 ~ recognizing feelings 🍃

» as seasons pass by, who knew things would drastically change in the Palace? let alone feelings for a servant?

» Xie Bi’an feels as if He’s enchanted, as all His sketches of Landscapes became sketches and portraits of you.

» Fan Wujiu feels as if Hes confused, rather than the feeling of delight when He sees you, its replaced by the feeling of butterflies in His stomach.

» They both truly didn’t expect to catch feelings for you, yet after several more interactions and time spent with you, They confirmed their feelings weren’t in the impression of a friendship with you, rather in the aspect of a romantic interest.

» and in the scenario of their profound feelings for you, it also took a toll on the way they treat their Soldiers. rather than the usual commanding and strict persona They use when training, They became suspiciously more lenient with the Soldiers. even they were suprised themselves with the Sudden change.

» It’ll take a considerable amount of time until the Guards can fully accept the growing love and adoration they feel for you. and after they confirmed their Interest, They’ll start treating you a little differently, by showing small subtle signs of their Love for you, until they’re ready enough to finally Confess to you.

» and those subtle signs of affection are in the form of Letters and Gifts. since They can’t always be there in the palace, They’re Generals for a reason. yet what they give you are sometimes too precious to wear in palace walls. such as a Jade ring or Jade Pendant. you once told them that its okay and you didnt need these expensive gifts- yet did you think they listened? yes and no. as the gifts and Letters they give represent something, and They hope you can atleast recognize the value of their feelings that they’re trying to convey.

» yet sometimes, the feelings can be too unbearable to bottle up, and it leads to an unexpected opening of feelings in a Tavern.

» as they were commemorating their victory against the enemy nations, they were given a vacation and a feast from the Emperor to Celebrate, yet after a little while, They invited you to join them at a Tavern for drinks. you asked why go to a Tavern when theres a literal banquet for them on-going, they only said they wanted to spend some time with you.

» and you accepted the Invitation, it was going well, you had fun laughs with them. it gave you nostalgia to when this Friendship blossomed, yet as time went by, Fan Wujiu had too much to drink. and unexpectedly confessed to you in behalf of Him and Bi’an.

» “so… what do you say?”

» “ Wujiu!”

» You were shocked, to say the least. it was Quiet on your side as the lively chatter from the background ensues. Xie Bi’an was pulling on Wujiu’s ear at this point now– they were planning on confessing, yes. but not this soon!

» Your quietness didn’t help the anxiousness from them, nor even answered the lingering question whether if you reciprocated. Bi’an quickly spoke up just in case you felt uncomfortable about the sudden exchange.

» “Ah– don’t mind Wujiu… He isn’t like Himself when Hes drunk.”

» “but… i wanna know, was that true?” you ask, him going quiet for a second, and then opening his mouth to speak with an evident blush

» “…well, I don’t think it’s worth it to lie to you about it.”

» that answer didn’t even help to hide the fact your face was practically burning at this point, whether it’d be the embarrassment or them admitting that they bore feelings for you. maybe both?

» yet soon enough, the silence fades from you, and soon enough is replaced by acceptance.

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

no. 5 ~ Imperial Lovers

» You have no idea how happy you made them that night, Xie Bi’an was ecstatic while Fan Wujiu was still embarrassed about his Wasted state during that time– yet the feeling of happiness was enough to counter that.

» You can also tease Fan Wujiu about it, yet beware this man will not speak to you for the entire day out of embarrassment

» Your palace life changed alot too after the exchange, and at this point in time you were getting spoilt rotten from them.

» whether it would be sneaking out the palace at night, to small yet meaningful suprises.

» You also noted some new factors about them, such as Wujiu immediately melting when you comb His hair while He lays his head on your Lap. its one of the things that relaxes him alot.

» and speaking of combing, Bi’an loves combing your hair and putting it up in styles you want, whether it would be braided or just a regular style, He’d happily do it.

» Their ways of showing affection, from subtly gifting you valuable yet meaningful gifts, from spending your time with them alone away from the Palace noise.

» Yet all good things come to a short end, as They have to go back to the frontier to train and protect the country oncemore. yet they always make sure you’re okay and know that they’re still thinking of you despite being so far away.

the Frontier is also an unpredictable location. who knows what would happen to them? the rumors that spread out don’t help aswell. after they found out, they send you letters from time to time, to reassure you that they’re alright and for you to not worry too much.

» everytime they come back from the frontier, They always make it up for the time you and them lost. and apologize for making you worry.

» without their knowledge, their soldiers actually know about the relationship you three share due to the letters they receive from you, and they see you as the Palace Servant whom the Two Generals Love.

note: damn i didnt know wtf i was going for when writing this?? but im suuuper sorry if i misuse some things here, l was rlly writing this with the knowledge i remember from watching some old stories ab ancient palace life in china on yt and wanted to incorporate it in this post. anyway it feels great to write for this man once again and i beg for netease to bring back far east wind no matter how useless my begging is i WILL beg just for this man. 💔💔 also its been a hot minute since i last wrote, probably last year? so im sorry if this sucks or smth

also btw yk i had some plans to transform this into an angst, bc reader is a servant, and Wu is a general… i thought of them keeping their relationship a secret from the Emperor cause the Emperor feels as if you’re too lowly to be with them. (smth like that) or maybe forced marriage? wooo idk anymore ‼️

[sitp-recs]

Anime Recs Pt 2

Any BL fan knows that sports anime is all about the homoerotic tension between the MC, his team players and his rivals 🤌🏼 trust this genre to serve in both aesthetics and feels - which means it deserves its own list! I tried to include a little bit of everything from hidden gems like Ryman’s Club to big hits like Haikyu. Most of these have 🌈 vibes if you squint (sometimes not that hard) with YoI being more intentional about it. And for those who love found family like me, you can’t go wrong with 1, 2 or 6. I hope everyone can get something for their tastes and find catharsis as they cheer for these pretty boys. This is the second part of my anime rec series, you can find the first list here. Enjoy!

1. Backflip!! 🤸🏻‍♂️

Summary: Shotaro Futaba loved sports, but was never good enough. But watching a group of gymnasts in the park and seeing them in a gymnastics tournament, he decides to join their school and become part of the gymnastic team. With new members, Shotaro and Ryoya Misato, the team aims for the upcoming Inter-High tournament.

2. Big Windup! ⚾️

Summary: The story follows the story of Ren Mihashi, a pitcher who was blamed by his middle school team for their string of losses, and as a result suffers from low self-esteem and transfers to a different high school. There, the school's first baseball team is being formed and Mihashi reluctantly joins as their Ace Pitcher.

3. Free! 🏊‍♂️

Summary: Free is set in the town of Iwatobi, Japan, which is based on Iwami, Tottori. The story is centered on high school student Haruka Nanase, a gifted swimmer. After encountering his childhood rival, Rin Matsuoka from Samezuka Academy, he and his friends revitalize Iwatobi High School's swim team.

4. Haikyu!! 🏐

Summary: Junior high school student, Shoyo Hinata, becomes obsessed with volleyball after catching a glimpse of Karasuno High School playing in the Nationals on TV. Of short stature himself, Hinata is inspired by a player the commentators nickname 'The Little Giant', Karasuno's short but talented wing spiker.

5. Kuroko no Basket 🏀

Summary: The story follows Kuroko's journey to success with his team, with most of the episodes being based around one or part of one challenging game, in which Kuroko and his teammates, most notably Taiga Kagami, perform plays and have short conversations with opposing players in the heat of the match.

6. Run with the Wind 🏃‍♂️

Summary: After abandoning competitive running back in high school, Kakeru Kurahara has no desire to return to the sport during his college years. But when an impromptu shoplifting-related sprint brings his talent to the attention of Haiji Kiyose, he soon finds himself wrapped up in an adventure he never imagined.

7. Salaryman’s Club 🏸

Summary: The story follows Mikoto Shiratori, a recently unemployed badminton prodigy who has the ability of foresight. After getting fired from Mitsuhoshi Banking for losing a match for their company sports badminton team, he gets recruited by Sunlight Beverage to play for their team and become a sales rep.

8. SK8 the Infinity 🛹

Summary: In Okinawa, a group of hardcore skaters participate in a secret, no-holds-barred competition after midnight known as "S", racing each other on skateboards down a winding road carved out of an abandoned mine. Reki, a high school sophomore and hardcore skater, takes new transfer student Langa to S one night, and ends up pulling him into the world of skateboarding.

9. Tsurune 🏹

Summary: Minato joins the Kazemai High School Archery Club and along with his old friends and new teammates, Nanao Kisaragi and Kaito Onogi, they aim for winning the prefectural tournament while trying to overcome their doubts and shortcomings.

10. Yuri!!! On ICE ⛸️

Summary: Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki faces a crushing defeat during the Grand Prix finals and heads home, unsure of whether or not he wishes to continue his skating career. After a video of Yuri mimicking Russian figure skater Victor Nikiforov's routine goes viral, Victor decided to become Yuri's coach, much to the dismay of his coach, his fans, and his fellow Russian skater Yuri Plisetsky.

[shewhoworshipscarlin]

Walter Franklin Anderson

The grandson of formerly enslaved people, Walter Franklin Anderson, classical pianist, organist, composer, jazz musician, community activist, and academician, was born on May 12, 1915, in segregated Zanesville, Ohio. Walter was the sixth of nine children of humble beginnings.

Information regarding his parents is not available. Anderson, a child prodigy, began piano studies at age seven, and by 12, he was playing piano and organ professionally while still in elementary school. He was the only Black student to graduate from William D. Lash High School in Zanesville in 1932. Although a talented musician, Anderson was not a member of any of the school’s music ensembles, including the Glee Club or orchestra. Afterward, he enrolled in the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio, 100 miles north of his hometown, and received a Bachelor of Music in piano and organ in 1936. Anderson continued his studies at Berkshire (Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra) and the Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, Ohio.

From 1939 to 1942, Anderson taught Applied Piano, Voice Pedagogy, and music theory at the Kentucky State College for Negroes (now Kentucky State University) in Frankfort. In 1943, Anderson married Dorothy Eleanor Ross (Cheeks) from Atlanta, Georgia. They parented two children, Sandra Elaine Anderson Mastin and David Ross Anderson, before the marriage ended in a divorce in 1945.

In 1946, Anderson was appointed the head of the music department at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, thus becoming the first African American named to chair a department outside of the nation’s historically black colleges. Two years later, Anderson was a Rosenwald Fellow in composition from 1948 to 1949, where his variations on the Negro Spiritual, “Lord, Lord, Lord,” was performed by the Cleveland Orchestra. Moreover, John Sebastian, the conductor of the Orchestra, commissioned him to write “Concerto for Harmonica and Orchestra” for a performance with the same orchestra. In 1950, Anderson’s composition, “D-Day Prayer Cantata,” for the sixth anniversary of the World War II invasion, was performed on a national CBS telecast. In 1952, Anderson received the equivalent of a doctoral degree as a fellow of the American Guild of Organists. He left his administrative post at Antioch College in 1965.

In 1969, Anderson was named director of music programs at the National Endowment for the Arts, where he created model funding guidelines and pioneered the concept of the challenge grant. In addition, he spearheaded numerous projects and developed ideas at the then-new agency for supporting music creation and performance, specifically for orchestras, operas, jazz, and choral ensembles and conservatories.

Anderson was the recipient of four honorary doctorates in music over his professional career, including one from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, in 1970. He retired from NEA in 1983. During this period, he became a presidential fellow at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies and a recipient of the Cleveland Arts Prize for Distinguished Service to the Arts. In 1993, the American Symphony Orchestra League recognized Anderson as one of 50 people whose talents and efforts significantly touched the lives of numerous musicians and orchestras. He was also a member of the Advisory Council to the Institute of the Black World at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center.

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/people-african-american-history/walter-franklin-anderson-1915-2003/

[berniesrevolution]

IN THESE TIMES

COLUMBUS, OHIO —The event was billed as ​“Holi-drag Storytime” and the electronic flyer asked would-be audience members if they were ​“ready for a family-friendly, LGBTQ+ holiday tradition?” It was going to be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church and tickets were $10, which included hot chocolate, a goody bag and a candy cane. The school sponsoring and hosting sold about 1,000 tickets and raised thousands of dollars for a local LGBTQ charity. The event was canceled mere hours before it was set to begin.

That Saturday morning, more than 50 people, including members of the Proud Boys and the Patriot Front, stood along the road leading to the church in tactical gear, holding guns and wearing face masks. They chanted ​“life, liberty, victory” and ​“reclaim America.” Some gave the Nazi salute.

“They showed up with army weapons for an event that was for kids from kindergarten through fifth grade,” recalls Mikayla Denise, one of the drag queens scheduled to perform. ​“They were trying to induce fear into our hearts by coming around wearing that army gear, making us feel unsafe, making us feel like they want to hurt or kill us.

(Drag Queen Story Time Reading Held In Austin, Texas on March 11.  Texas Republicans have introduced several bills that seek to deem any affiliation with drag shows as sexually oriented businesses.)

“These people are coming to spew hate when we are creating a positive, beautiful space for kids with the support of their parents and teachers. I always wanted to be an educator. When I perform in the schools, I can use my art form to connect with young people. I didn’t grow up seeing folks that look like me living truthfully and honestly, and that’s why I do the story hour.”

Cheryl Ryan, manager of Red Oak Community School, the elementary school hosting the event, blamed Columbus police for forcing organizers to cancel the show. ​“I spent a week calling our police department and leaving voicemails about the reports we had seen,” Ryan told The Nation.

According to Ryan, the police presence was minimal, while police Sgt. Steven Dyer was recorded high-fiving a member of the Proud Boys and saying, ​“I’m here to support their right to protest.”

“In the end, our performers felt unsafe without a police presence, while our [community] safety team felt unsafe with a police presence,” Ryan said. This situation has played out more and more in cities across the nation this past year. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, in the first six months of 2022, the Proud Boys showed up to 28 separate LGBTQ and reproductive justice events. In June 2022 — celebrated as Pride Month — the activity increased.

(Continue Reading)

[fatherfigurefusion]

AU where I give the DRDT cast original talents (plus my reasons for these talents)

Teruko Tawaki, the Ultimate Police Officer

(NGL: In addition to my theory of Wolfgang Akire getting a Teruko arc and my mental association between Teruko and Tsurugi Kinjo, the other reason I made Teruko a police officer was because of a Paw Patrol DRDT AU that had Chase as Teruko.)

Xander Matthews, the Ultimate Graphic Novelist

(He'd honestly write some pretty awesome graphic novels, probably centering around awesome adventures of rebellion and vigilantism.)

Eden Tobisa, the Ultimate Petsitter

(I only really gave her this talent due to that one remark she made in the prologue: "Do you think I walk dogs, silly?")

Hu Jing, the Ultimate Kickboxer

(I just love the mental image of a buff yet still chubby Hu who can and will beat someone up.)

J Moreno, the Ultimate Chess Grandmaster

(Just have the Rosales be a high-grade military family with J being groomed to be their best military strategist, only for her to just want to chill and play chess.)

Veronika Grebenshikova, the Ultimate Dollmaker

(She just has "dollmaker"/Jane Doe from "Ride the Cyclone" vibes.)

David Chiem, the Ultimate Part-Time Worker

(Customer service voice. Can also swap the XanVid dynamic by having David be a massive fan of Xander's graphic novels.)

Arturo Giles, the Ultimate Caterer

(Spending his whole life catering to and being surrounded by celebrities? That is Arturo's dream. Would cook the most elaborate and expensive dishes ever.)

Levi Fontana, the Ultimate Undertaker

(Maybe the indifference that comes from years of dealing with dead bodies could tie into both Levi's struggles with being seen as "heartless", despite wanting to be helpful, and Levi's friendship with the talentswapped Ace.)

Ace Markey, the Ultimate Paranormal Investigator

(A cowardly yet competent paranormal investigator is a character prompt that's too much comic gold to pass up. Also, see Levi's prompt above.)

Min Jeung, the Ultimate Archer

(I decided to swap Min's academic talent for an athletic talent, and found that archery would fit the focused and stoic Min. Also, Mafuyu Asahina.)

Whit Young, the Ultimate Model

(It's the Adrien Agreste energy. Also based around my theory that Kai and Diana would act like Whit figures for Damon, and decided to give Whit a talent that combines both Kai and Diana's talents.)

Charles Cuevas, the Ultimate Debater

(It's the Damon Maitsu energy.)

Arei Nageishi, the Ultimate News Reporter

(What better way to ruin people's lives then to dig up dirt on them and then put them on blast, on national television?)

Nico Hakobyan, the Ultimate Robotics Engineer

(Just swap out their love and understanding for animals with a love and understanding towards machines. Possible Entrapta kin.)

Rose Lacroix, the Ultimate Street Performer

(She would most likely take up busking, in order to support her family. I could easily picture her pulling multiple party tricks out of nowhere, wowing everybody around her.)