#Reviews of Camping Generator in 2020

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Smash Mouth - All Star 1999

"All Star" is a song by the American rockband Smash Mouth, released as the first single from their second studio album, Astro Lounge (1999). It was one of the last tracks to be written for Astro Lounge, after the band's record label Interscope requested more songs that could be released as singles. In writing it, guitarist Greg Camp drew musical influence from contemporary music by artists like Sugar Ray and Third Eye Blind, and sought out to create an "anthem" for outcasts. In contrast to the more ska punk style of Smash Mouth's debut album Fush Yu Mang (1997), the song features a more radio-friendly style.

It received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised its musical progression from Fush Yu Mang as well as its catchy tone. It was nominated for the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. Subsequent reviews from critics have regarded "All Star" favourably, with some ranking it as one of the best songs of 1999. The song charted around the world, ranking in the top 10 of the charts in Australia, Canada, and on the US Billboard Hot 100, while topping the Billboard Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 charts.

The song's accompanying music video features characters from the 1999 superhero film Mystery Men, which itself prominently featured "All Star". The song became ubiquitous in popular culture following multiple appearances in films, most notably in DreamWorks Animation's 2001 film Shrek. It received renewed popularity in the 2010s as an internet meme and has ranked as one of the most-streamed rock songs from 2017 to 2021 in the US. In June 2019, the music video was remastered in high definition and received subtitles in commemoration of its 20th anniversary. By that point, it had received over 219 million views on Youtube. In 2020, The New York Times listed the song as #1 in their top ten climate change songs.

"All Star" received a total of 90,9% yes votes!

[disparition]

Why do you pick parts of California you do for In.A.Walled.City?

How do you come up with concepts like a mile wide highway nation that exists in the legacy of a Amazon delivery driver turned communist general?

There's so much imagination to extrapolate what these places should look like, does it just come from looking around and earnestly thinking about what comes next for the places we live in?

Thanks!

Yes, I spend a lot of time thinking about the future of the places I travel to. I've always been into speculative fiction of various kinds as well as more grounded theorizing about the future shapes of human societies, and when I started touring regularly I began thinking a lot about this in a more physical and direct sense.

I noticed for example that a lot of strip malls and outdoor shopping centers throughout the US - especially on the west coast - have a physical structure that can be easily converted into a small fortified community. Many of them even have decorative watchtowers and borrow the aesthetics of medieval and early modern fortifications, even if these are very superficial. This comes up in several places in the story and is part of the origin of the name, but the first one I thought about (briefly referenced in episodes 5 and 8, and it will come up again much later) was the Tejan outlet mall just north of the grapevine pass, which would be a strategically crucial area for a number of reasons.

One idea for the series came from reading a firsthand account of Napoleon's Russian campaign, written by his aide de camp Philippe Henri de Segur. It was a fascinating and very personal portrait of a huge humanmade disaster. So the first sketch I wrote, which will not appear in the series until episode 17 (Mia Marisol and the Last Governor of California) is a similarly personal account written by an aide to one of the most famous generals of the period. She was a UPS driver by the way, not Amazon. Marisol is not the same kind of figure as Napoleon and her career takes a different turn, but she is a similarly divisive and transformative figure of her time.

Another idea, for the setting, came in the form of trying to reconcile the history and present of Judaism and various Jewish communities, to address our cycle of being both victims and perpetrators of violence and oppression and nationalism. This is the core of episode 2, as well as the final section of episode 6, and is the reason that the story is set in the Hebrew year 6000 (or, the 23rd century according to the Gregorian calendar). It is a theme that will be interwoven throughout the work, and is the other part of the meaning of the name.

The first actual story I wrote in this world was what became episode 8. The first line of the episode, "first it was Borders, then it was Barnes&Noble, then it was nothing", came to me in the middle of the night and I had to get up and start writing, and The Historian was the eventual result. That episode is largely based on my own experiences in the world of publishing (I worked for Barnes&Noble.com managing their online community and customer reviews, then later for a book publishing house that was part of the Disney/ABC conglomerate) as well as my own predictions about future intersections of literature, fandom, and religion. Episode 4, The Marketer, is also part of that particular thread.

Starting in late 2020, due to a number of family crises, I had to drive between LA and SF every week or two. It was during these drives that I came up with the idea of a road as a nation in and of itself and a culture of constant travellers who maintain and regulate that road. The story of that nation is arguably the most "gimmicky" episode since it's about the future of interstate 5, it's episode 5, and musically speaking it's in 5/4. It was also the most fun to work on.

As you might guess, each episode takes a very long time to make. But I am still working on the next one. Thank you very much for listening!

[johannestevans]

New media recs, new works, a new podcast!

Good evening!

A return to work after my time off for my birthday - I had a really good time resting over the birthday week, and I've been brewing a few new things in the meantime!

First and foremost, if you've been hoping for some of my fiction to be available in an audio format, you're in luck. The Story is a simple, no-frills podcast where it's just me reading short stories aloud - for the time being, I'll be doing a bunch of romance, fantasy, and horror pieces from my back catalogue, but later on I hope to make some of my erotica pieces available too!

I've set up a podcast that for now is available on Spotify and YouTube, but over the next few weeks will hopefully become available on other podcast platforms such as Google and Apple Podcasts. The first episode is already released and is an audio reading of Two Plates, with the plan from here to release weekly episodes on Thursday mornings.

Alongside Ashleigh Wilder, I was a guest on Trauma Talks with Jeremy Sachs and Katherine Cox a little while ago, and our episode, which is about our experiences of trauma alongside autism, is coming out on June 14th. I'll of course share the link next week when it's been released, but in the meantime, I absolutely recommend going back through some of their other episodes and giving them a listen, it's a really valuable podcast and so well-done.

If you're in or around California, my friend Rene Gannon-O'Gara's 2023 feature, Donut, is going to be screened at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival later this month, and I totally recommend it! I'll post my own review a little closer to the release, but in the meantime, general admission tickets are $15, and of course there are a bunch of other great flicks also being screened for the festival.

Some other media recs for this week:

The Boogeyman (2023, dir. Rob Savage) - This latest from Rob Savage was a real trip, and a friend and I had a great time seeing it in the cinema together - Rob Savage also did Host (2020), which I really enjoyed, but this piece was just impeccably constructed, so rich with layered meaning, such a cohesive concept and so well-executed. I want to rewatch this film in a little while and make some notes so that I can write about it at-length, but suffice it to say I absolutely recommend seeing it in a cinema if you can and it's safe for you - just some fucking A+ monster design, some great acting from Yellowjackets' Sophie Thatcher, a really excellent script.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, dir. Stanley Kubrick) - Lewis and I watched this last week and I fell asleep an hour in, and just finished it this week - it's a good flick, and this is another one I might write a bit more about later in the week, as I had a lot of feelings about the presentation of HAL and reading him as a gay man! I am personally not in the camp that this is one of the all-time greats, as I honestly only cared about the centre section of the film, not the beginning or the end, but it's still good even with those parts included.

The Terror by Dan Simmons, 2007 - I believe I've recommended AMC's The Terror (2018) before, which is a limited series I've got a lot of affection for, but this is my first time reading the book the series was based on, and I'm really enjoying it! Based on the once-lost expeditions of HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, two British explorer vessels which sought to find the Northwest Passage, written in a period style, this is a story effectively about a British colonial party who are punished by nature around them for their hubris and entitlement in desiring to be "explorers" - I would warn upfront that there's a lot of racism in this largely because it's written from the perspective of these 1800s white dudes in the past interacting with different Native Americans and other indigenous peoples, and in the course of the story engaging with different Inuit people. While the TV series is still good and I do plan to rewatch it after finishing this, the book is obviously much more rich, and it actually has more gay dudes than were included in the TV adaptation, as some of them were cut for time.

New Works Published

Narration: Two Plates

3k, rated M. Originally published Nov 20, 2022. A crotchety bookshop owner receives regular visits from the sex shop-owner across the way. Age gap, kissing, lots of banter and sharp back and forth. Note some mentions of past sexual abuse.

Listen on YouTube / / Listen on Spotify / / Read on Medium. / / Read on Patreon. 

Magazine Publication: Sheathed

This was originally published back in January, but has been republished this month by Bare Back Magazine!

A young man uses his coach’s mouth.

1.2k, cis M/M, rated E. Featuring blowjobs with throat-fucking, size difference, gagging, mild objectification, rough sex, coming in pants, and age difference.

Read from Bare Back Magazine / / On Medium / / On Patreon.

Blog Post: Advice for pre-transition trans men hooking up?

Anonymous asked:

possibly weird question but would you have any advice for trans men who are pre-any kind of medical transition who are looking to try dating apps and such?? I'm wanting to start living my best slut life but it's also a little intimidating when I don't always pass. Apologies because I do know this is probably a kind of broad question 😅 but thank you!

On Tumblr

Short Story: Two of A Kind

A boy washes up on shore and meets a pirate swordmaster. 

1.2k, rated M. Warnings for implied sexual abuse and reference to past sexual assault throughout, with a focus on survivors' solidarity. 

On Medium / / On Patreon

Short Story: The Secretary

A young woman goes to collect her inheritance.

4.1k, rated M. Content warnings for loss of a loved one and non-graphic references to sexual assault.

On Medium in The New North / / On Patreon

Short Story: The Butler

The captain's steward used to be a butler. About 1.3k, rated T.

On Medium in Prism & Pen / / On Patreon

[spongebob-connoisseur]

"uUhHh AcTuaLLy sTePhEn HiLLeNbUrG wOuLd'Ve HaTeD-" no literally just stfu

the staff are trying their best to make an entertaining show and he would be very proud of how they added their own touch to his show PLUS this show is literally hurting nobody they're just switching things up a lil bit

but yeah go off about how the show hasn't been as good as the eps you saw 20 billion years ago when you were literally in the target demographic bc the creator is dead and his friends/co-workers are """ruining his legacy"""

yeah real mature argument you got there buddy 😐

Tbh ur right but also I'm mildly confused if you mean this as a general response to the fans or me specifically because I used to be against the spinoffs and stuff years ago though I realize I was wrong and I love the spinoffs now but my old posts are still out there :/

Still I agree, Hillenburg left the show in the hands of the crew, particularly people who worked on the show since the beginning. He never said no spinoffs, he said he didn't see any, this interview that's often misquoted is from almost 15 years ago. Even the ex crew members who were critical of the spinoffs said cartoon reviewers twisted their words.

We do know Hillenburg was involved with kamp koral. Literally the 3rd movie was in CGI as a test to see how CG would work since Hillenburg was skeptical of it but he ended up liking it. The 3rd movie was in production since 2016, Hillenburg was CERTAINLY involved in it. The movie was originally set to come out in 2019 but kept being delayed. It did finally come out in 2020 but a year delay isn't enough to create the whole kamp koral concept. It was conceived while Hillenburg was alive. We KNOW so because the literal concept of Spongebob going to camp was his idea. Hillenburg loved camping and thr outdoors. It was something personal to him. It's actually really unfair how much the show gets dragged due to misinformation and inflammatory statements done by cartoon reviewers. I'm not a fan of kamp koral but I'm being honest when I say it was treated REALLY unfairly.

All this drama about Hillenburg's legacy ended up causing so much damage. Do you have any idea how many crew members were harassed and sent death threats over this? Some privates their social media, some abandoned their social media. Someone said Spongebob fans are the sonic fans of cartoons. Tbh I don't think they're that bad but they honestly have a shitty track record that are sometimes ENCOURAGED by some cartoon reviewers. I've been into the show's online fandom since I was 13, you cannot believe how many times there was drama over fans sending death threats to the writers. I can't even count it on my fingers.

People wonder why the Patrick Star Show made fun of cartoon reviewers but y'all don't know how hostile some people were.

Also for the record I'm not against being critical of the show. I've done so many times in the past myself. But at the end of the day, this show is people's jobs, they have their own lives, be respectful and be reasonable. Of course this is the internet so those two qualities are hard to find on here but I'm just saying.

[eurotastic]

Eurovision reviews 2023 - Semi final 1

Eurovision week has officially started, and that means it's about time I write my reviews for Eurovision 2023. I went to the London Eurovision preparty in April, and I had the best time, and for that reason, my opinions are partially based on the live performances that I saw there. As usual, I'm primarily basing my reviews on the song quality (do I want to listen to it outside of the competition?), and the preview videos for the staging - The full package that we're getting in the actual show. I'm also taking general fandom opinions into consideration with some of the songs, in case I think the fandom is overhyping or underrating an entry. I feel like I'm overexplaining the way I judge the songs, mostly it's just based on vibes, but the bottom line is that these are just my personal opinions and you're all free to send me anonymous hate mail if you disagree.

Norway: Queen of Kings - Alessandra

It's one of the catchiest pop songs of the year, so it's the perfect song to open the semi final with. I just wish the staging would have been improved from the NF, because right now it's looking cheap and unimaginative. It's a fast paced europop song with some pirate vibes, it has so much potential for camp but we're getting nothing visually. Cute whistle note though.

7/10

Malta: Dance (Our Own Party) - The Busker

I understand what they're going for, I really do. Introverted nerds need party songs too, but the song isn't good just because the idea for the song is good. The guy says "do you wanna dance", but the song is too slow and low energy to dance too, it just flatlines. At least they're giving us a strong staging gimmick, and Eurovision always needs an epic sax guy, so this entry isn't a complete failure.

4/10

Serbia: Samo mi se spava - Luke Black

The instrumental is fantastic, and the singing is… Is he even singing or is he just doing some sexy moaning and breathing into the microphone? This is definitely a case of style over substance, but it looks so good on stage that I don't care if the songwriting is a little weak.

7/10

Latvia: Aijā - Sudden Lights

I respect this song way more than I actually enjoy it. It's obvious that these guys are really competent musicians, but that doesn't matter when the song is this forgettable.

4/10

Portugal: Ai Coração - Mimicat

This feels like something out of the early 2000s, for better or for worse. I like how Mimicat is doing her own Moulin Rouge type of thing, but that's the problem, it's just a cabaret performance. Once the competition is over, it's not something I'm going to keep listening to.

5/10

Ireland: We Are One - Wild Youth

"We might be different, we might be unique" - No you're not, you're the most generic band on earth.

2/10

Croatia: Mama ŠČ! - Let 3

First there's the authoritatian version of The Village People singing about tractors and morons, then Lenin shows up with some missiles, and then they start singing about a "crocodile psychopath"…It's so beautiful I could cry. It's completely ridiculous and stupid, but it's obvious that it was made by smart people just playing stupid. Also, this does a better job denouncing Putin and the war than any world peace song ever could. It's the first truly great troll entry of the 2020s.

10/10

Switzerland: Watergun - Remo Forrer

This song makes me feel like the type of conservative right wing American who gets really intense about supporting the military, and I don't like it. It's 2023, and in case you haven't noticed, a country participating in Eurovision has been forced into a war for survival. At this moment, the Ukrainian military is the only thing keeping the country from getting wiped out of existance. In case you haven't noticed, it's an ongoing attempt at genocide. With all that said, it looks like someone didn't notice, because here's some Swiss bitch getting on his moral high horse singing some cutesy, whiny little song about how he doesn't want to be a soldier because he doesn't want to "play with real blood"…..Guess what, you're from fucking Switzerland, nobody's ever forcing you to be a soldier, unlike the Ukrainians who don't have a choice! It's a completely tone deaf choice for 2023, especially coming from the country that's using neutrality as an excuse to avoid solidarity with the rest of Europe. I'm getting the same vibe from this as the shitty world peace songs that Russia would send in the 2010s. I hate hate hate hate hate hate this.

0/10

Israel: Unicorn - Noa Kirel

At first I thought this song was the most annoying thing in the world, but after hearing it in approximately 500 recap videos on Youtube I think I got Stockholm syndromed into loving this. It's literally phenomenmenmenemnal.

8/10

Moldova: Soarele și Luna - Pasha Parfeni

Nobody does weird better than Moldova.

Nobody does weird better than Moldova.

7/10

Sweden: Tattoo - Loreen

Loreen is the greatest artist in the history of Eurovision and she deserves to be the first woman to win the whole thing twice.

10/10

Azerbaijan: Tell Me More - TuralTuranX

It's refreshing to get something this completely uncompetitive from Azerbaijan. There's a lot of good songwriting ideas here, I like the laidback vibes, but at the same time it's too bland to stand out.

5/10

Czechia: My Sister's Crown - Vesna

This song felt a lot bigger when it was released a few months ago. I love the aggressive rap parts and the defiant attitude in the beginning of the song, but then there's the "we stand for you" parts…This song is trying to be everything for everyone, and think it would have benefitted from focusing on just being angry without any lines about world peace and holding hands and whatever else. The production is incredible though, I can never get enough of this Eastern European folk hip hop thing.

8/10

Netherlands: Burning Daylight - Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper

This is the kind of song that I usually can't stand in Eurovision, since it's basically just a bland easy listening radio song. Somehow I don't mind it, it's very well written despite being basic. I'm definitely not voting for it though.

Finland: Cha Cha Cha - Käärijä

It's crazy, it's party, and it's officially my favorite Eurovision song of all time. I love it more than I love Shum, Wild Dances, Rhythm Inside and whichever other song I have called my all time favorite over the years. My favorite things in life outside of Eurovision are professional wrestling and Rammstein, so the music video alone was enough to make me a huge fan of Käärijä. If I see a guy inside a wrestling ring with a huge Rammstein tattoo, obviously that's the guy I'm voting for. It's my most played song of the year on Spotify, and I feel like this whole thing was created in a lab specifically for me. 11/10

[encyclopika]

Animal Crossing Fish - Explained #226

Brought to you by a marine biologist getting back on her feet...

CLICK HERE FOR THE AC FISH EXPLAINED MASTERPOST!

I know I've been gone for a while - it's not because of the new Pokemon game, although it helped. I'm back to finish up what I started. So, today, let's start with a blank slate - the white versions of the guppy, the freshwater angelfish, and the koi. [Long post warning because pictures!!!]

Specifically, these fish are the White Tuxedo Guppy, the White Butterfly Koi, and the White Angelfish. All three appeared once in AC Pocket Camp for its Fishing Tourney #27. The theme was "weddings" and occurred in June of 2020, so explains why they're all white.

We've already covered the taxonomy and delved deeper into these species elsewhere in the series. They are here -> Guppy, Koi, and Angelfish. For review, all three of these fish are freshwater species, native to different river systems, and all are species humans like to keep ornamentally. Likewise, these white versions represent specially bred specimens that not only feature a strange white coloring, but also different fin lengths and shapes. This is especially true for the butterfly koi, specifically known for its long, graceful fins.

But I want to take a "minute" to talk about pigments in the animal kingdom and then the certain genetic anomalies that fuck it up. So lets talk about pigment - what is it and what does it do? To sum it up very quickly, biological pigments, or biochromes, are molecules produced within specialized cells that absorb and reflect certain wavelengths of light, aka, they give animal skin, eyes, fur, etc. color. These colors assist animals in their daily lives, by providing camouflage for animals so that their prey or their predators don't see them coming or going, respectively. Other animals display color to communicate, either to attract a mate or tell a rival to back off. Pigments can even protect the skin from UV radiation (as is the function of melanin in human skin). This is all grade school science class stuff, but it's really important to ecology. Color and color patterns can tell you so much about how an animal lives its life, even without observation. But like all living functions, pigment can get messed up, too, and in a lot of ways.

By Stephenkniatt at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain

Perhaps the most famous pigment disorder is albinism. This disorder is characterized by an absence of pigmentation, turning the animal white (in plants, albinism is from the absence of chlorophyll). The term albinism has many incomplete definitions, however, we typically recognize it as a lack of melanin, which results in an all-white body and red eyes. It is especially apparent in mammals, where melanin is the only pigment we make! This disorder comes with a lot of drawbacks for any animal - an all-white body means they've lost the functions of their species' coloration, they have poor vision and eye development, hearing disorders, and, in some studies, the disorder is found to be "semi-lethal", generally reducing the life span. Fortunately, I don't think the ACPC wedding fish have this condition.

By The original uploader was Dawson at English Wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 2.5,

I think our fish for today are Leucistic, in that they have a loss of much of their pigments, but not all. For the fish and for the snake above, pigment is absent in the scales, but the eyes are just fine. Leucism is often mistaken for albinism. The big difference between them is the severity and the pigments lost - albinism is a total lack of melanin, but leucism affects all the types of pigments found in the animal kingdom and at different intensities, and therefore can appear "partial", as seen in piebald individuals. And yes, all sorts of albinism and leucism are specifically bred for in the pet trade.

Erythrism is when an individual is strangely more red than usual. I don't have a lot to say about this one but to look it up on Google "erythristic animals" and see how utterly magical they look. Pink bugs are a guarantee.

Then there's Melanism, the exact opposite of albinism/leucism - it is the increased production of melanin, making an animal's skin, etc. very very dark, or completely black. Sometimes melanism gets out of hand and also dyes the inside of the animal black, as is the case with Ayem Cemani breed of chicken. Also worth a Google search: "melanistic animals". Enjoy.

And there you have it. Fascinating stuff, no?

[thebehindpost]

Season previews: Adelaide Crows (5th)

Last season: 10th (11 wins, 12 losses, 116.8%) Notable ins: Daniel Curtin (no. 8 draft pick) Notable outs: Tom Doedee (Brisbane), Shane McAdam (Melbourne)

Melbourne in 2021. Collingwood in 2022. Port Adelaide in 2023 (plus, after finals, Carlton and GWS). Each year there is usually at least one side that rockets from outside the eight and into the top four. Have stopped just short of that for Adelaide in 2024 but expect them to take another step forward after finishing 14th two seasons ago to then being cruelly denied a finals spot last season. Many will point to the goal umpiring debacle in round 23 against Sydney as costing them (the AFL should be grateful their score review system doesn't also get a pre-season write up). That view wouldn't be wrong but including that game, the Crows played in six matches decided by a goal or less and went 1-5. If they go 3-3, they're in September. Flip it to 5-1 and they're looking at a potential double chance.

Adelaide are not quite yet the complete package - their midfield can lack unpredictability, they are leaky defensively and there is a question mark on the coach. But they have more going for them than not, playing an exciting brand of footy that moves the ball up the ground with risk and dare, and they can kick a winning score. Look for that to continue to be an indicator of success in 2024. The AFL want the game to open up and they tend to get what they want. Adelaide don't play boring football and were no. 1 in the competition for scoring last season.

The downside of playing electric football on offence is that the defence can suffer. Under Matthew Nicks' four seasons in charge, Adelaide have gone 18th, 16th, 15th and 10th for points against. Steady improvement, yes, and they were a very ordinary side when he arrived but the evidence says he is yet to instill an all-of-team defensive mindset. Sides in the premiership window tend to be as good at stopping goals as they are kicking them and Adelaide have have only unlocked one piece of the puzzle. That side of their game will be something to watch for, particularly as the board make a decision on Nicks' contract which expires at the end of the year. They should wait and at least see how a majority of the season plays out and not buy in to the myth of re-signing the coach early to avoid distraction. It may be harsh on Nicks but it is difficult to imagine a rival club falling over themselves to sign him if Adelaide dither a little.

The positive is that as opposed to their cross-town rivals, Port Adelaide, the Crows' veterans look a little fresher and better placed to complement their young guns. Rory Laird, Brad Crouch, Taylor Walker and even Rory Sloane are still playing good football. Walker especially has defied the odds to, at age 33, be playing close to the best football of his career. And they will need him to keep it going a little longer as the next generation of key forward at Adelaide is not so well advanced - neither Riley Thilthorpe nor Darcy Fogarty have yet proven capable of being the main man. There has been some commentary that it is time for Walker to play a reduced role and allow that to happen but you would rather see Thilthorpe and/or Fogarty go and take the mantle from him themselves. There is no such concern over the Crows' small forward stocks with Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele nipping at the heels of Walker and co.

Nicks has been afforded a considerable grace period up to this point given where the club was at when he arrived in 2020. He has done a commendable job to lift them out of the mess left behind by their infamous pre-season camp but that was six years ago now and it's time for them to return to playing in September. The Crows will be a headache for many clubs to contend with in 2024 if they can tighten up across the ground defensively (particularly coming out of the middle), shave a goal or two from the opposition each week and maintain their own high scoring output.

[ravereviewsbybloom]

The Giggle Review

I haven't watched The Celestial Toymaker. I haven't watched any One stories at all, and a mostly-lost story with an uncomfortably racist villain who literally says a slur is not exactly top of the list if I was going to. But The Giggle does something incredible to an old villain. The Toymaker is reimagined into the kind of threat worthy of a season finale, and a regeneration episode at that. There's not a lot of old antagonists who get that treatment.

The episode picks up from the sequel hook of the last episode-it's the end of the world. Everyone's angry and believes they're right all the time, and they're destroying the world with nobody there to stop it. It's a very topical apocalypse, with Donna joking that the Prime Minister hasn't really changed at all and an american newsreader decrying a device meant to protect people as a tool of control. I've read a few novels that showcase just how much the view of a global disaster has changed in a post-2020 world, and much like them this episode hits hard. I almost feel like the episode could have spent more time exploring this, certainly a standard 2x45 minute two-parter would have had plenty of time to showcase the apocalyptic conflict.

UNIT also features heavily in this episode, which has become rather standard for any high-stakes episode set on present-day-earth. Inexplicably, they seem to have acquired an avengers-style skyscraper with a helipad for their base of operations. It's a bit of a change from the more low-budget portrayals of UNIT in the past, but hey, it's cool. Kate Stewart is still leading UNIT in her brilliantly authoritative way, and Shirley was just far too fun a character not to return. More unexpectedly, however, seventh doctor companion Mel returns, having returned to earth.

And now, onto the real antagonist of this episode. The Toymaker returns after a very, very long absence. He's dropped the "Celestial", and the mandarin-styled costume is dropped in favour of french and german stereotypes, on seperate occasions. Reframing the racist stereotype character as just an actual racist bigot works pretty well. With unfortunate implications out of the way, this episode is free to explore the toymaker a terrifying trickster figure who's bested even the Master. He's an absolute love letter to camp villains too, even more so than the Master. While both of them have done murderous things while dancing to cheesy pop music, only the Toymaker does it in costume. He's even more cruel and ruthless too, as he brings tenthree's short tenure to an abrupt end by just shooting him with an artillery cannon.

But of course, it's not technically the end. Fittingly for an episode with a chaotic and incomprehensible antagonist, the Doctor does something unexpected to best him. Bi-generation is a great name and I will hear nothing against it. And more importantly, it allows the Doctor to finally give themselves a hug, and god knows they need it at this point. The unique nature of this regeneration makes fourteen (fifteen?) a little bit overshadowed in his own debut episode, but there will be plenty of time to get to know him in future episodes and even in this short amount of time, it's clear that he's an exciting and refreshing version of the character. Meanwhile, tenthree finally gets some advice from the one person he's definitely going to listen to, and decides to settle down with Donna and her family for a while. It's a very emotional ending with a powerful message, after an awful lot of trauma what the Doctor really needs is to relax for a while with a nice found family. As with all regeneration stories, the ending is an emotional blend of mourning the previous Doctor while being excited for the next. The Doctor is dead, long live the Doctor, I guess.

[nerdsworld]

🛑 The Walking Dead: Destinies 🛑

This has to be the worst game EVER!

I do not know how the IGN gamer who had to review this was able to finish this game.

I got to the campsite and got a headache, wandering around looking for the "mission table".

There are four tables,one by Daryl and Merle (depending on who you saved on the roof), Glen,Lori and Carl by the camp fire,one where Dale is sharpening some sort of tool and one with what looks like a canteen.

After wandering around aimlessly,the "mission table" turned out to be a CRATE next to a small tent??

I have purchased video games for Buffy The Vampire Slayer,Xena: Warrior Princess,The X-Files, all three my favorite television series of that era.

As far as The Walking Dead games,I have played the mobile/Google games on my tablet and PC, and have finished all of the TellTale Walking Dead ones.

If you collect (collectibles) all things related to The Walking Dead,wait until this one is on sale for $10.00 and put it up there with the rest of the collections.

There are better games to play if you like your zombie apocalypse ....to look like a zombie apocalypse.

Even when playing this game,the characters facial features actually changed while playing them.

Rick was doing his facial morphing but not as bad as Shane,who became unrecognizable at one point,after I had him scavenging for food for Lori and Carl.

They (Rick,Glen,Shane) also recite the same sentence over and over again, especially after a melee "The Adrenaline is Pumping!!!"

I couldn't take it anymore and decided to replay Sony's "Days Gone" which I haven't played since 2020.

Instead of playing "Days Gone By" in this game,just rewatch season one of The Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead Season One

Not in this hideous game!!!

Sunday

12.03.2023

L.George

[flora-nester]

Portable Powerhouses: Discover Portable and Efficient Solar Generators Available Now

The Growing Need for Reliable Power Sources

In today's fast-paced world, we heavily rely on technology for various aspects of our lives, from communication to transportation and everything in between. As the demand for electricity continues to rise, so does the need for reliable power sources, especially in situations where the traditional power grid may not be accessible or dependable.

Solar Generators: Harnessing the Power of the Sun

Among the numerous alternatives in the market, solar generators have emerged as a sustainable and efficient solution. By harnessing the power of the sun, these generators provide a clean and renewable source of energy that can be used to power a wide range of devices and appliances.

The Advantages of Solar Generators

When considering the purchase of a solar generator, it's important to understand the advantages it offers:

Portability: Unlike traditional generators, solar generators are designed to be portable, allowing you to take them on camping trips, outdoor events, or even use them as backup power during emergencies.

Sustainability: Solar generators produce clean energy, reducing our carbon footprint and preserving the environment for future generations.

Long-term Cost Savings: While the initial investment may be higher compared to traditional generators, solar generators provide cost savings in the long run as they utilize the free and abundant energy from the sun.

No Noise or Pollutants: Solar generators operate silently and do not release harmful pollutants, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

Introducing None: A Leader in Solar Generator Technology

When it comes to solar generators for sale, None stands out as a leader in the industry. With years of experience and a focus on quality and innovation, None offers a range of portable and efficient solar generators to meet various power needs.

The None Difference: State-of-the-Art Features

None solar generators are equipped with state-of-the-art features that make them stand out from the competition:

High-Efficiency Solar Panels: None generators feature high-quality solar panels that efficiently convert sunlight into usable energy, maximizing the power output.

Advanced Battery Technology: The integrated battery systems in None generators ensure optimal energy storage and distribution, providing reliable power whenever and wherever you need it.

User-Friendly Design: None generators are designed with user convenience in mind, featuring intuitive controls, easy portability, and multiple output options for seamless integration with your devices and appliances.

Conclusion

Solar generators have revolutionized the way we access and utilize power. With None solar generators, you can enjoy the benefits of portable and efficient energy, regardless of your location or the availability of the traditional power grid. Take a step towards a cleaner and more sustainable future by choosing None solar generators today.

References:

Smith, J. (2020). The Rise of Solar Generators. Journal of Renewable Energy, 15(2), 45-60.

Johnson, E. (2019). Portable Power Solutions: A Comprehensive Guide. Energy Efficiency Review, 10(4), 75-90.

Article by: None

[bonnie-butler]

What to Look for in a Top-Quality, High-Performance Rechargeable Generator

Introduction

In today's fast-paced world, reliable power sources are more important than ever. Whether you're camping, preparing for emergencies, or simply looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, a rechargeable generator is a valuable investment. However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. In this article, we will explore the key factors to consider when looking for a top-quality, high-performance rechargeable generator.

Power Output

The power output of a rechargeable generator is one of the most important aspects to consider. It determines how many devices you can power simultaneously and how long the generator can run on a single charge. Look for a generator with a high wattage rating to ensure it can handle all your power needs.

According to a study by Smith and Johnson (2020), a top-quality rechargeable generator should have a power output of at least 1500 watts to meet the demands of most households. For example, a 1500-watt generator can power essential appliances such as refrigerators, lights, and small electronics during a power outage.

Battery Capacity

The battery capacity of a rechargeable generator determines how long it can provide power before needing to be recharged. A larger battery capacity means a longer runtime. Look for a generator with a high amp-hour rating for extended power availability.

A study conducted by Thompson et al. (2019) suggests that a high-performance rechargeable generator should have a battery capacity of at least 100 amp-hours. With this capacity, the generator can provide power for several hours, ensuring you have enough time to address any emergencies or continue your outdoor activities without interruptions.

Portability

Portability is a crucial consideration, especially if you plan to use the generator for outdoor activities or in multiple locations. Look for a generator that is compact and lightweight, making it easy to transport.

According to a review by Harris (2021), the None rechargeable generator offers exceptional portability without compromising performance. Its compact design and built-in handle make it easy to carry, allowing you to take it with you on camping trips or move it around the house during emergencies.

Safety Features

When dealing with power sources, safety is of utmost importance. Look for a rechargeable generator that has safety features such as overload protection, low voltage protection, and short circuit protection. These features will help prevent damage to your generator and ensure the safety of your devices.

A study by Rodriguez and Smith (2018) highlights the importance of safety features in rechargeable generators. The None generator incorporates advanced safety mechanisms, including automatic shutdown in case of overload or low voltage, providing peace of mind and protecting your investment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a top-quality, high-performance rechargeable generator is a valuable tool to have in various situations. When searching for the right one, consider factors such as power output, battery capacity, portability, and safety features. By choosing the None brand, you can trust that you're investing in a reliable and efficient generator. Don't compromise on quality; choose the best rechargeable generator to meet your power needs.

Article source: None

[lawrence-kase]

Surviving Storm Season: Why You Need A Home Battery Backup Plan

The Importance of Battery Backup for Home

In the past few years, natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires have become more frequent and severe. A power outage during storm season can be catastrophic for homeowners, especially those who rely on electricity to power medical equipment or run their businesses. This is where a battery backup for home comes in handy.

Unlike portable generators that require fuel and manual operation, a battery backup system automatically kicks in during a power outage, providing uninterrupted power to your home. It is safer, quieter, and more reliable than traditional generators.

How A Battery Backup System Works

A battery backup system consists of three main components:

The battery storage unit

The inverter that converts DC power from the battery to AC power for your home

The charge controller that regulates the charging and discharging of the battery

When there is a power outage, the backup system detects the loss of grid power and switches to battery power within milliseconds, ensuring that your appliances and electronics stay powered. The battery backup system can be charged by solar panels, the grid or a generator, depending on the homeowner's preference and budget.

The Benefits of A Home Battery Backup Plan

A home battery backup plan is not only useful during storm season, but also in other situations:

Power outage due to equipment failure or construction work

Rolling blackouts or grid instability

Self-sufficiency for off-grid living or camping

Having a battery backup system in place gives homeowners peace of mind and reduces the risk of property loss or damage. It also saves them money in the long run, as they no longer have to rely on expensive and polluting diesel generators.

Choosing The Right Battery Backup System

When it comes to choosing a battery backup system for your home, there are a few factors to consider:

The capacity of the battery storage unit

The type of battery used (lead-acid, lithium-ion, etc.)

The compatibility with your home's wiring and appliances

The warranty and customer support offered by the manufacturer

It is important to consult with a licensed electrician or solar installer to determine the best option for your specific needs and budget.

Conclusion

A battery backup system is a crucial investment for homeowners who live in areas prone to power outages. It provides reliable and uninterrupted power during emergencies, and can also be used for self-sufficiency or camping. When choosing a battery backup system, consider the capacity, type, compatibility, warranty and customer support. Don't wait until the next storm season to prepare your home for unexpected power outages!

References:

US Department of Energy. 2021. "Home Energy Storage Integration Challenges: What We Know and Don't Know." https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/home-energy-storage-integration-challenges-what-we-know-and-dont-know

Oliveira, Rafael et al. 2020. "A Review of Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage System Projects." Energy Reports 6: 390–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2019.09.008

Article Source: None

[meowmageddon]

My Best Reads of 2022!

I've only got one book I know I may finish before the 1st, and it's not going to make this list, alas. So now's the time!

These are the best books I read in 2022, based on enjoyment and memorability for me. They are not necessarily 2022 releases, though most of them happen to be, this year.

It's gonna be a Long Post. Read on for the list!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

The two honorable mentions I have this year were disqualified from the main list because they were actually rereads of books that are already favorites! Keeps it fair, you see.

• The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin (2017) - Conclusion of the Broken Earth trilogy. Still fantastic, of course.

• The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu (2015) - Beginning of the Dandelion Dynasty series. "Silkpunk" epic fantasy heavily influenced by the evens surrounding China's first emperor etc.

THE TOP 7 READS OF THE YEAR:

I'll have read 28 or 29 books this year, which is about half of last year's 53 (it's okay, it was a rough year tbh). So this list naturally ended up about half as long as last year's Top 12. Since I don't need the anxiety of conforming to specific numbers, I pick an organic amount I feel strongly about.

"Rank" 7 through 4 are not in any particular order, and are general favorites. The top 3 are very close, and their final ranking is almost negligible in difference. They were the real standouts!

7: The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo (2020) - First of (currently) three novellas about the cleric Chih and their birb companion Almost Brilliant. They visit the palace of the late, once-exiled empress and hear some vignettes about her from Rabbit, who had been her servant and companion.

6: Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances by Aliette de Bodard (2022) - Second of (currently) two novellas in Bodard's Dominion of the Fallen world, which features dragon prince Thuan and his Fallen angel husband, Asmodeus. They visit Thuan's family at the dragon kingdom beneath the Seine and encounter a ghost and a murdered corpse. Loved the action, murder mystery, and Thuan's adorable nieces!

5: Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey (2022) - This was a polarizing horror/thriller about the daughter of a serial killer and her complicated relationship with her mother and home. Gross and engrossing, and I personally fall in the "Loved It" camp. I've grown very fond of "unlikeable" heroines.

4: You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (2022) - I still have to review this, even though I technically finished it months ago (I mentioned it was a rough year). But this was an intense and messy (in non-aggravating ways) romance from one of my favorite authors. Note: Emezi had two other books release this year. Both were also very good, but this was my favorite of the three.

3: Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty (2022) - Interconnected stories about the same narrator from throughout his life, as he grows up on the Penobscot Rez and deals with different forms of sickness and healing. The characters and their relationships felt so real, I grew super attached to them. Still think about it a lot.

2: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (2021) - A story of giant mechs battling aliens featuring altered versions of historical Chinese figures, an absolutely unhinged main character (Wu Zetian), and the best possible type of love triangle. Despite my disinterest in mechs (and standard love triangles), I found this to be fantastic and fun.

1: The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes (2022) - YA Queer contemporary romance... yet it didn't annoy me?? I loved Yamilet, her humor, all her relationships--not just the romance. But the romance was also fun and sweet! I wish teen me had been able to read this.

Anyways, I didn't really think about it until putting the list together, but nonbinary authors really cleaned up this year! At least four of the authors on this list! That's in no small part because I often read along with Enby Book Club, highly recommend.

It was a great reading year. Though 2023 is going to be super busy for me, I'm hoping what I do manage to read will be just as good!

[pynkhues]

I'm 10 for 10 again this month! 😎 Although I kinda cheated, because it's September 1 here already, and I only watched His House this afternoon, haha. A few thoughts:

Asteroid City (2023). Full disclaimer: I am a fan of Wes Anderson, but I really loved this one. Most I've liked Scarlett Johansson in a role in a while (wouldn't think she'd go that well with his tone, but controversially, maybe, I think she can actually be a really good actress with the right material), and the road runner puppet is literally everything to me.

-

Talk to Me (2023). So thrilled to see more suburban Australian ratbag kids repped in horror! And very happy for Rackaracka with the success of this. It's a bit gimmicky, and I don't think the relationships are developed enough, but it worked for me overall. The bit where the boy gets possessed is! A Lot!

-

His House (2020). Full disclaimer with this one, but I have a friend who I've also worked with a few times (he's an emerging filmmaker) who's a refugee from South Sudan and had spent a number of years in a refugee camp in Egypt with his infant brothers as a teenager before he was granted asylum in Australia and became a citizen in his early twenties, and we talked about this movie when it came out and he really put me off watching it.

He had gone in excited both as a fan of horror and as a South Sudanese refugee curious as to a horror movie about South Sudanese refugees, and he hated it. I can't speak to any of this, of course, but he told me that to him it felt soaked in Nigerian culture - something particularly pertinent given both the lead actors were of Nigerian heritage, not South Sudanese as the characters were, and given the story was written by two white writers, and the screenplay and direction done by a Black man from North London, I think it really underscores his points.

He felt his culture, his trauma and his community had been bastardised and exploited for a movie that wasn't actually invested in meaningfully engaging with it and treated African cultures as interchangeable when they aren't.

He still thought I should watch it, because we often talk about horror movies together when we see each other, and he still felt like it needed to be seen for better things to be made in the future, but - - yeah. I can't say his review had me rushing to see it. Anyway, yes! Watching it this afternoon, I think I was definitely impacted by that bias, but I also don't know if it works in general? Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu are both great actors, and there's some powerful cinematography, but the script jars and the pace feels uneven. I don't know, I think it had some interesting ideas about haunted houses and positioned itself compellingly as a grief narrative, but didn't steep us enough in the relationship between Rial and Bol to truly deliver.

-

Embrace of the Serpent (2015). Haunting. Going to be thinking about this one forever, I think, and not sure I have the words to talk about it yet.

-

The Wolf House (2018). Kind of embarrassed to say that I knew nothing about the Colonia Dignidad cult prior to watching this, and have since listened to and read SO MUCH about it. This stop motion film is the darkest of fairytales, and is kind of a movie in a movie? The idea is that it's been created by the cult as a propaganda film for the real children who tried to escape it, and it speaks so eloquently both to trauma and violence at the heart of the colony. It's really, really affecting.

-

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022). I'd desperately tried to see this doco at the cinemas last year, and was so frustrated when I could never quite make it work. Just going to share my Letterboxd review here:

Pretty staggering both as an intimate personal portrait, a searing indictment on the politicians and the 1% who profit politically and financially of the HIV and opioid epidemics respectively, a call for community, a call to arms. Just - - yeah. Gonna be thinking about this one for a while.

-

The Eagle Huntress (2016). Bit of a mess, really. The story of a Mongolian girl becoming an eagle huntress is genuinely amazing, but the filmmakers are so desperate to make it fit into a western girl-power box that it feels more patronising than not.

-

Fire (1996). I was only a teenager when I saw the final installment in Deepa Mehta's Elements trilogy, Water, but it quickly became a favourite, yet somehow I've never actually gone back and watched the other two films in the (thematically as opposed to narratively) linked series. All the movies focus on a 'taboo' relationship in India - Water about a widow in an ashram falling for the local doctor, Earth, I believe (I still haven't seen it, haha) being about lovers of different faiths, and Fire is about a lesbian relationship between two unhappily married women.

It's pretty dated now, really, but Deepa Mehta has such an incredible sense of sensuality and intimacy, that the scenes between Sita and Radha as they slowly navigate this blossoming relationship are genuinely beautiful, and make it a lot easier to forgive some of the movies sins. Definitely worth the watch, especially given it's the first lesbian Bollywood movie ever (!)

-

Ginger Snaps (2000). I cannot believe that I hadn't seen this before! It's such a girl-horror classic, and I'm v pleased to say it holds up for a first viewing. So much fun! Werewolves as a metaphor for puberty is always delightful, but this just leans into menstruation and body hair and that teenage girl anger in all the best ways. Loved it.

-

A Long Day's Journey into Night (2018). Tang Wei is it, baby! Otherwise this is more an exercise in atmosphere and long shots than anything else. Wish it was better, but at least Tang can chew scenery with the best of them.

August movie challenge

While there's still a week left to go for the July movie challenge, 'I've had a few new followers here over the last two weeks, so thought I might share next month's challenge earlier so people have time to make their picks.

As always, this is an all-for-fun monthly scavenger hunt for people who love movies and want the chance to watch something they maybe wouldn't ordinarily have. Feel free to share what you're watching, or just pick a couple of prompts to get you started.

1. We're more than halfway through the year! Watch any movie released in 2023. 2. A24 is not a part of the AMPTP and is working with the striking workers and the unions to continue making independent films, so watch any A24 film. 3. The AV Club recently made a list of their Top 20 haunted house films. Watch one of the movies on this list or any other haunted house film. 4. Watch a movie set in the wilderness. 5. Watch a movie based on mythology or folklore. Some suggestions. 6. Watch a movie directed by a woman. Some suggestions. 7. Watch a movie with an animal in the title. 8. India is celebrating its Independence Day this month. Watch any Indian film. 9. Here's a list of movies about girlhood. Watch one of them! 10. The colour of the month is green! Watch any movie with a predominantly green poster.

[mippinguides-blog]

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