#Scout Membership Card

[natalieironside]

Hey, I want to read The Last Girl Scout and wanted to ask what the "X number means" when you mentioned "message me your email address and X number"

Your X number is the ID number on your IWW membership card. Just asking is a good way to verify membership b/c nobody who isn't a wobbly knows what an X number is or what it's supposed to look like.

[wynterrolls]

Arcana Twilight and Obey Me (OG) Comparison

Background: Obey Me (OG) was officially released on December 11, 2019, while Arcana Twilight was released on August 25, 2022 for worldwide audience. People have said that Arcana Twilight have similar mechanics with Obey Me (OG), but to what extent? I've played both games, so I'll write this comparison.

Disclaimer: The things I would write here would be based on my observation of the game mechanics and features present in both games. I did this post to list down the similarities and difference between both games, and not to cause dissonance between two fandoms.

Similarities

I'll list down the similarities in this format:

[Arcana Twilight feature = Obey Me (OG) feature]

MP = AP

Gold = Grimm

Crystals = Devil Points (DP)

Magic Tickets = Demon Vouchers (DV)

Visit = :D Jobs

Milky Way = Devil's Tree

Sorcerer Cards = Demon Cards

Wish Cards = Memory Cards

Scout = Nightmare

Constellation Room = Chapter A

Wish Room = Chapter M

Possession Room = Chapter G

Dressroom = Majolish

Chat = Chat

Calls = Phone

Diary = Devilgram

Mission = To Do

Shop = Akuzon

Magic Academy = Contacts

Stage = Your Tasks

Arcana Club Membership = Akuzon VIP Membership

Amplifier Stone = Glow Stick

Summon of Sorcerer = Surprise Guest

Unicorn = Raven

Differences

a. Amount of ads

The very first thing that will greet you when you open the Arcana Twilight is an ad. Both games have ads to support their game mechanics, but the amount of ads you could find in Arcana Twilight is more than those in Obey Me.

The Obey Me ads are mostly there to help the players gain more chances to battle the stages - thru gaining more AP or gaining more battle chances in hard stages or event stages.

The Arcana Twilight ads, however, are mostly found everywhere, since the ads can be used to double the resources drops/gold and to obtain materials and gold if you don't have MP to farm battle stages. You could even use the ads to reduce the time for Visits, which then you don't have to wait long to get gold to upgrade your cards. The ads in this game is like a massive cheat to progress faster thru the game. All you have to do is watch ads and you'll have your resources as reward.

However, there are times wherein forced ads would sometimes pop out after you complete a battle stage in main story or when you'd open the app. If the player wants to opt out of the ads, unfortunately, they can't do so. I'm not sure if the Arcana Club membership implements a "No-Ads" perk though.

As for why are there so many ads in the game? There's a speculation that the reason might be because of this. The link discussed about the reason for why it looks like they are in need of money. Since ads is an option to gain money in a game, they utilized it in order to make money because they are constantly on red. This is actually a good way for free-to-play (F2Ps) players to support the developers if they can't shell out money or buy the Arcana Club membership in the game.

b. Crystal Rewards in Main Story Stages and Daily Missions

One thing you'd notice right away is that in Arcana Twilight, each battle stage rewards 50 crystals for first-time 3-star clear. Then, after you clear out the whole chapter, you'll receive another crystal reward for 3-starring all stages in the chapter. The daily missions give out 50 crystals each day, so it pays the effort to open the game daily and clear out the dailies.

It is completely different from Obey Me (OG), wherein completing each stage in the main story, you'll only receive devil's tree items in the missions and occasionally, you'll get DP for the boss stage you've cleared for the chapter. The daily missions only give out a total of 18 devil points.

c. Events

Obey Me constantly push events every time in the game. There are times when there would be downtime, but it is pretty minimal. The events have story stages and reward ladders that players could opt to grind if they want the UR cards in the event. There are also event cards that is only available in time-limited event banners, which can boost the points for the reward ladder grind.

However, the Pop Quiz or Celestial Blessing events are mostly for spending players and not for F2Ps because of how much resources you need to put into the event just to get the desired rewards from the ladder. F2Ps could join the Birthday event grind but with proper preparation first. But the good news is that the past Pop Quiz and Celestial Blessing events do come back in Lonely Devil and you could rerun the event for a limited time to grind for the rewards as F2P.

Arcana Twilight, on the other hand, has event cards but there is no event story stages nor reward ladders to grind for. The event story is locked behind the event cards from the limited-time banners.

When it comes to limited-time event banners, Obey Me only have demon cards in the banners, whereas in Arcana Twilight, the event banners include both sorcerer card and wish card in the roster. The Obey Me event memory cards are only available in the event reward ladders.

Both games have event banner reruns and Obey Me rerun banners also retain the pity/total summons done from before, so that players could continue their pulls the next time the banner reruns. As for Arcana Twilight, I have no idea if the rerun banners also retain the pity/total summons from previous banner run.

d. Main Story Chapter Updates

There's this joke in the fandom that while Obey Me updates their main story chapter every week, Arcana Twilight gets update every year. It sounds like a joke, but it's not really far-fetch from what happened.

To start off, I'm not a day 1 player. I only started recently so the things I'm writing here are from what I understood in my research. I snooped around the archives of the official Tumblr account of Arcana Twilight and sub-Reddit and found their posts about the chapter additions in the game and noted their timestamps.

Their very first chapter addition is Floor 10, which means that on its initial release, the game has until Floor 9 only. Floor 10 was announced to be added on September 2022, Floor 11 on April 2023, Floor 12 on late October 2023, and recently released, Floor 13 was added on December 2023.

I still haven't reached Floor 13 yet. I stopped at Floor 8 at the time of this writing, because of the requirement needing me to be at least level 30 to proceed to next floor, which I'm currently low-leveled yet for that, so I could only bid my time and make my team stronger for the next floors.

But from what I could tell, the players feel as if they were left with a cliffhanger with the recent addition, with many of them thinking that a lot of questions were left unanswered. They could see the potential of the story in the game but, a lot of lore details weren't really touched on in the story.

I'm not really sure what happened in Floor 13 since I tried to avoid the story spoiler, but this image below is what I saw mostly talked about.

People are either thinking that this ending credit means that the main story of the game is completely finished or that this credit is saying that this floor is the end of Season 1 of main story.

In my opinion, I'm not really sure how to react to this kind of news. I just recently started the game and wrote the newbie guide and card mechanic guide posts just a few days after playing the game, only to find out that the game is probably on it last leg. I'm not really sure what would happen next for this game and I could only wait it out.

e. Inventory

Obey Me (OG) doesn't have an inventory, while Arcana Twilight has one.

f. Friend list

Obey Me (OG) has friend list where you could gain 50 AP by exchanging with friends daily, while Arcana Twilight doesn't have one.

Sources

Reason for the lack of new content by u/No_Economist_7447

10th Floor: New Additional Stage Notice

11th Floor: New Additional Stage Notice

12th Floor: New Additional Stage Notice

13th Floor: New Additional Stage Notice

➥ Back to my otome game masterlist.

Update Log

12/17/2023 - Uploaded the post.

12/17/2023 - Added additional info about ads, events banner, inventory and friend list in Differences

01/29/2024 - Added the reminder line at the top

[satoshi-mochida]

Dungeon Travelers 2 and Dungeon Travelers 2-2 for PC launch June 9 worldwide

Gematsu Source

Dungeon RPGs Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library & the Monster Seal and Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings will launch for PC via Johren (Dungeon Travelers 2, Dungeon Travelers 2-2) in English and Chinese on June 9, publisher Shiravune announced.

All of each game’s original downloadable content will also be available, including collaboration dungeons with other Aquaplus titles such as the Utawarerumono and White Album series. The full list of downloadable content is as follows:

Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings Downloadable Content

-“Dungeon: Hojo Prep feat. White Album 2“ – Adds a dungeon themed around White Album 2 to Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings. Featured characters include Setsuna and Kazusa.

-“Dungeon: Imperial Capital feat. Utawarerumono“ – Adds a dungeon themed around Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth to Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings. Featured characters include Nekone and Anju.

-“Dungeon: Fortress City of Tartessos feat. Tears to Tiara 2“ – Adds a dungeon themed around Tears to Tiara 2 to Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings. Featured characters include Kleito and Tarte.

-“Dungeon: Tsurugiya feat. Kizuato“ – Adds a dungeon themed around Kizuato to Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings. Featured characters include Hatsune and Chizuru.

-“Costumes: Swimsuit Set + Bonus Double EXP Membership Card” – Adds new costumes for all characters to the Clothes Shop in Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings. These costumes consist of swimsuits and beachwear.

Bonus Item: “Double EXP Membership Card Platinum” – Membership card which grants double experience points.

-“Costumes: Alt Class Set + Bonus Great Luck Fortune” – Adds new costumes for all characters to the Clothes Shop in Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings. These costumes include an alternate class outfit for everyone. What if Irena were a fighter instead of a magic user?

Bonus Item: “Great Luck Fortune” – Fortune that says you’ll be more likely to collect equipment.

-“Costumes: Fallen Set + Bonus Double EXP VIP Card” – Adds new costumes for all characters to the Clothes Shop in Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maiden & the Book of Beginnings. These costumes are based on the “dark” version of each character.

Bonus Item: “Double EXP VIP Card” – Even more exclusive experience-doubling membership card.

Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library & the Monster Seal Downloadable Content

-“To Heart 2 Character Pack” – This bundle set contains the following items for Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library & the Monster Seal:

“To Heart 2 Character: Fighter Tamaki”

“To Heart 2 Character: Fighter Sasara”

“To Heart 2 Character: Maid Haruka”

“To Heart 2 Character: Magic User Nanako”

“To Heart 2 Character: Maid Ma-ryan”

“To Heart 2 Character: Magic User Konomi”

“To Heart 2 Character: Fighter Yocchi”

“To Heart 2 Character: Scout Ikuno”

“To Heart 2 Character: Magic User Charu”

“To Heart 2 Character: Magic User Manaka”

“To Heart 2 Character: Scout Yuma”

“To Heart 2 Character: Maid Yuki”

“To Heart 2 Character: Spieler Mio”

“To Heart 2 Character: Magic User Lu”

“To Heart 2 Character: Magic User Sango”

“To Heart 2 Character: Magic User Ruri”

“To Heart 2 Character: Scout Karin”

“To Heart 2 Character: Scout Ilfa”

“To Heart 2 Character: Maid Silfa”

“To Heart 2 Character: Fighter Harumi”

*Items in this set are also available separately.

Shiravune also published a new interview with Tsutomu Washimi, who leads development at Aquaplus’ Tokyo studio. He has been involved in many of the company’s releases, starting with Comic Party and including To Heart 2, Utawarerumono, and Aquapazza. He currently serves as the director of the Dungeon Travelers series.

Here is the full interview:

Interview With Dungeon Travelers Series Director Tsutomu Washimi

■ A Bold, Challenging Dungeon Crawler to Grab Fans Old and New

Please tell us about the development history of the Dungeon Travelers series.

Washimi: “Dungeon Travelers originated from one of the games included in Manaka de Ikuno!!, a spinoff title to To Heart 2. It was a dungeon crawler where the cast from To Heart 2 were trapped inside the world of a video game. Encouraged by the positive reception that this got, we decided to work on another dungeon crawler concept that would become Dungeon Travelers: To Heart 2 in Another World, released on PlayStation Portable in Japan in 2011.”

Why did you go with a dungeon crawler?

Washimi: “I had always played a lot of dungeon crawlers, and many members of the development team were big fans of the genre, too. We also thought fans would like to see the cast of To Heart 2 wearing fantasy costumes in an isekai setting.

“There was actually some opposition to the idea at first, because designing all the monsters and the different costumes for each character class was going to be a big undertaking, but once we got started on development, everybody got invested in the challenge of tackling a new gameplay genre and setting, and we ended up completing development much faster than I’d expected—and with a better game.”

What was the reception to the game like from fans at the time?

Washimi: “It was the biggest spinoff project we’d done for the series, so it garnered a lot of attention prior to release. To our surprise, not only did To Heart 2 fans enjoy it even more than we’d hoped, but dungeon crawler fans did, too. Players praised how underneath its cute, light-hearted aesthetic, the game itself was actually tough, and had all the appeal of a hardcore dungeon crawler.

“I like to think that since we had fans of the genre working on the game, we were able to cut to the core of what makes dungeon crawlers so much fun. The whole team was very honored by the high praise for the game.”

What aspects of the game systems did you focus on the most?

Washimi: “There was a lot of trial and error involved in balancing the game and adjusting the difficulty to keep that core dungeon crawler fun alive. For example, there’s the tension of delving deeper into a dungeon, maintaining your party’s HP and MP, managing items and so on. You can’t make it too easy or too difficult. The true essence of a dungeon crawler lives in that moment when you think, “this is getting dicey, but I can go just a little deeper,” so we were fine-tuning the game balance right until the very end.

“By the way, every game in the series includes extra dungeons after you beat the game. Not only are they tough, but they’re packed with our most brutal tricks, so players who relish a challenge should find plenty of ways to extend their enjoyment.”

The sequel, Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library & the Monster Seal, was released for the PSP in 2013, but unlike the previous game, this one wasn’t another spinoff to To Heart 2, but a completely original standalone title.

Washimi: “That’s right. As the first game was well received by players beyond the To Heart 2 fandom, we began planning for a sequel that would appeal even more to fans of dungeon crawlers. To do so, we decided that the sequel would focus on an all-new cast of characters.

“Although this was now a new IP, we still founded it on Aquaplus’ strengths—attractive character designs, stories and world-building—and built on them with even more refined dungeon crawling gameplay mechanics. As with the previous title, the sequel was a huge hit with the fans.”

■ The Shocking Inception and Loving Creation of Dungeon Travelers 2-2

In 2017, you released a sequel to Dungeon Travelers 2 for the PlayStation Vita in Japan, Dungeon Travelers 2-2: The Fallen Maidens & the Book of Beginnings. It starts with a surprising twist, where the cast from Dungeon Travelers 2 are defeated by the Demon God and fall to the darkness.

Washimi: “From the beginning of development, we decided to start the story of Dungeon Travelers 2-2 with Fried (the main character) and co. falling to the darkness. By the time you reach the final boss of Dungeon Travelers 2, naturally, your characters are high-level and powerful. But in order to start a sequel from that position, we needed a premise where the characters would have to start over from zero, for gameplay’s sake.

“That’s why we came up with the idea of the cast being defeated and falling to the darkness. That way, it made sense for the characters to need to level up all over again, and justified Fried needing to rescue each of the heroines again one by one.”

The drastic shift from the previous game was fresh and surprising.

Washimi: “One interesting thing is that, with this premise, we were able to adjust the order in which the characters join your party. When we looked into which characters players tend to use in their parties in Dungeon Travelers 2, we noticed that most people stick to the initial characters that join your team at the beginning of the game—the main reason being that those are the characters they’ve leveled up the longest, have grown fond of and find easy to use. Then, an additional gulf develops in levels between them and the characters who join later on, and most players end up sticking with their party from the first half forever.

“That’s why, for Dungeon Travelers 2-2, we jumbled up the order in which you encounter characters. We thought it would give players of Dungeon Travelers 2 a chance to try out some party members they might never have used much, and also help to make the story feel fresh.

“The development team has a fondness for the game’s whole cast. Not only are the character designs great, but all the heroines have unique costumes for each and every class, so we really hope that players will check out all the various illustrations. We also hope that Dungeon Travelers 2-2 will encourage players to discover each character’s distinct appeal, and form all kinds of different party combinations.”

It seems like Dungeon Travelers 2-2 was born out of the dev team’s love for all the characters.

Washimi: “That’s right. As Dungeon Travelers 2 featured an all-new cast of characters, we weren’t sure how players would respond to them, but once we unveiled them, they became extremely popular. Our team also wanted to make another game with these characters, so instead of titling it Dungeon Travelers 3, we felt Dungeon Travelers 2-2 was more appropriate.”

The PC release of Dungeon Travelers 2-2 will be the first time this game is released overseas.

Washimi: “Yes, this PC release will be the first time that international players get their hands on Dungeon Travelers 2-2. I hope the story will surprise you, and that you’ll find new charms in characters that you may have overlooked before through the gameplay. As I mentioned before, the different order in which the party comes together could even lead to some unexpected characters becoming new fan favorites.”

■ The Artistic Freedom Behind the Series’ Character Designs

Could you tell us how you went about producing the character art?

Washimi: “The illustrations for the first Dungeon Travelers game were handled, not only by our main internal artists at Aquaplus, but with a full staff effort. For Dungeon Travelers 2, we wanted to step things up even further, so we had many external artists helping out on the project, too. I don’t know exactly how many illustrations we ended up with off the top of my head, but if we include all the color variations, we must have over a thousand different pieces of art in the series.”

What kind of details or specifications did you give to the internal and external illustrators when you requested their help on the game?

Washimi: “I didn’t actually give any special orders. All the artists were very comfortable with the genre, so when it came to the character designs, they fully understood our intentions, and work went really smoothly. With the monsters, all I’d say is ‘this general vibe, with these kinds of attributes,’ and gave them the freedom to interpret that how they wanted in their design.”

So you didn’t say, ‘You can’t do this or that’?

Washimi: “No, not really. It wouldn’t be any fun if we laid out all these restrictions and all we got back were cliche designs. We trusted in the illustrators’ creativity, which is how we ended up with such richly varied visuals. Though we did have to draw the line occasionally with illustrations that came out a little too risque. (Laughs.)”

Are there any characters or monsters that are particular favorites of the development team?

Washimi: “The series has a whole lot of lovable characters, but the Therian characters are particularly popular, especially the comedy duo of Peggy (a penguin) and Beard (a bear), who are favorites among the dev team and fans alike. They pop up as you explore the series’ many dungeons and give gameplay hints via their conversations, so first-time players should keep their ears open.”

■ Venturing into High-Def on PC: Glorious Fan Service in Intricate Detail

Now Dungeon Travelers 2 and Dungeon Travelers 2-2 will be coming to PC in June 2023. In Japan, they will be releasing on the DMM GAMES storefront, but could you tell us about the process of porting the games to PC?

Washimi: “We have had a long relationship with DMM GAMES, and have released numerous Aquaplus titles (as well as Leaf titles) on their platform.

“Development on these PC versions began with the person in charge on the DMM GAMES side, who was a really big fan of Utawarerumono. We released three titles in the series (Prelude to the Fallen, Mask of Deception, and Mask of Truth), and when we were considering where to go from there, we proposed porting the Dungeon Travelers series.”

Have there been any changes made for the PC version?

Washimi: “We haven’t made any significant changes, so you’ll still be able to enjoy the games the same way you did back when they first released. Because Dungeon Travelers 2 and Dungeon Travelers 2-2 originally came out on PSP and Vita respectively, those versions did run at a lower resolution. However, the assets were all drawn in a much higher resolution to begin with, so in porting the games to PC, we haven’t needed to upscale the art—just present it in its original glory. We hope you’ll enjoy seeing all the intricacies of the illustrations (fan service included) in high definition.”

You can see a lot more detail in the art than before. I’m sure people who played the original releases will be delighted to hear that too.

Washimi: “Yes. Apart from a few things like store-exclusive promos, please rest assured that everything else, including the downloadable content, has been preserved.”

What sort of player would you recommend Dungeon Travelers to?

Washimi: “Aquaplus fans will enjoy these games, of course, but dungeon crawler fans are going to have a great time too. We’ve crafted some pretty challenging dungeons that might even test dungeon-crawling veterans, especially if they want to 100 percent everything, so by all means, please come put your skills to the test.

“I should also mention that the first Dungeon Travelers has no connection story-wise to Dungeon Travelers 2, so you won’t be lost if you haven’t played the first game. Feel free to jump into the series with Dungeon Travelers 2 on PC. As for Dungeon Travelers 2-2, it opens with a synopsis of the events of Dungeon Travelers 2, so if you want to start from Dungeon Travelers 2-2, you’ll still be able to follow along. But if you want to enjoy the story and events to the fullest extent, then I recommend you play Dungeon Travelers 2 beforehand.”

I wonder where the Dungeon Travelers series is headed.

Washimi: “First, we hope players will enjoy the new PC versions of Dungeon Travelers 2 and Dungeon Travelers 2-2. In order for us to make Dungeon Travelers 3 a reality, please support the Dungeon Travelers series.”

Read more about each game here.

[caps-clever-girl]

Pat Butcher 3, 13, 20 for the ask game hiiiii

PAT BUTCHER MY BELOVED <3

3: a song that reminds me of them: the classic sweet caroline. most songs in that range tbh, like come on elieene and walking on sunshine. also ANYTHING from mamma mia reminds me of pat and kitty in equal measure - as does the cha cha slide.

13: fave friendship: im torn between him and thomas and him and kitty. as much as i adore him and kitty, i think ill have to go with tom. tom is definately the ghost on the outside of the group, and its nice to see him have a genuine friendship with another ghost. pat encorages him a lot which is cute and their lil low-five in s4??? incredible. give me 1000 takes of that please.

20: a weird headcanon i have: pat is one of the ghosts that died with the most amount of items. (other is julian)

car/house keys. keyring of daley. keyring flint strike. (seperate to van and scouting keys which were in the van when he died, in the ignition) robin plays with his keys often, fascinated. especially by the flint.

wedding ring; on a chain around his neck. safety reasons when scouting! and he doesn't want it damaged. when he died he laments its not visible at all times and often takes it out and puts it on each morning, but after he finds out about carols cheating hes glad.

compass

swiss army knife

short pencil

hankie/pack of tissues

watch

wallet; some notes and a handful of change. credit card, debit card etc. membership cards. some little pictures that he treasures; carol and daley, daley as a baby in pats arms, daley at scouts with pat.

[bungou-stray-dogs-archive]

Motojirou Kajii card - Port Mafia

Leader skill - The academic+ Reduces enemy dmg 10% Active skill - Mad bomber+ Get (M) marble blast for 1 turn Sub-skill - Just a little science experiment+ Activates when 10+ Light orbs are cleared in 1 turn (7+ at lv.5) Increases atk by 50 for 1 turn (75 at lv.5) Memo Member of the Port Mafia. An infamous bomber, headhunted for membership after his attack on the Maruzen Building. Considers himself a researcher in the "greatest scientific field - Death." Quotes "Two, maybe three people were goners after that." "The drop of pulse rates! The asphyxiation of nerve cells! The beauty of lactic acidosis!" Affiliation: Port Mafia Light affinity Atk: 1142 (Max) | 139 (Base) Hp: 3853 (Max) | 608 (Base) Offensive type

He's available from pretty much every scout (EN & JP)

[dot-mirror]

Unlocking Travel Opportunities: Finding Cheap Business Class Flights

Traveling in luxury while saving your hard-earned money might seem like an elusive dream. However, the world of affordable business class flights is not merely a fantasy. Savvy travelers have learned the art of finding cost-effective yet luxurious air travel options. Unraveling the secrets to securing cheap business class flights involves a blend of strategies and a keen eye for the best deals available in the market.

Understanding the Dynamics

Business class flights promise enhanced comfort, superior service, and various amenities. The cost, however, often presents a significant barrier. But here’s the catch: with a bit of exploration and knowledge, affordable business class flights are within reach.

Timing is Key

One of the key factors influencing the price of business class flights is timing. Booking in advance or capitalizing on last-minute deals can make a substantial difference. Often, purchasing tickets several months in advance or taking advantage of sudden sales or promotions can significantly reduce the fare. Flexibility in travel dates can open doors to unanticipated discounts, allowing you to snag that coveted business class seat at an unexpectedly low price.

Leveraging Rewards and Loyalty Programs

Frequent flyer programs, credit card rewards, and loyalty memberships are powerful tools in the quest for economical business class travel. Accumulating miles or points through credit card purchases, airline partnerships, or dedicated loyalty programs can grant access to reduced fares or even the chance to upgrade to business class without exorbitant expenses.

Comparing Multiple Platforms

Exploring various travel platforms, including online travel agencies, airline websites, and specialized fare comparison tools, is vital. The same flight might have different prices on different platforms. Investing time to compare options across multiple websites can lead to substantial savings. Some platforms might offer exclusive deals or discounts, making it imperative to scout through different channels.

Remaining Alert to Special Offers

Subscribing to newsletters and alerts from airlines or travel agencies can be a game-changer. Often, flash sales, limited-time offers, or exclusive deals are communicated through these channels. Setting up price alerts for specific routes or destinations can be advantageous, as it allows you to be notified when the fare drops, enabling you to seize the opportunity immediately.

Consider Alternative Routes and Airlines

Flexibility in the choice of airlines or routes can significantly impact the cost of business class flights. Sometimes, opting for a slightly longer route or being open to flying with different airlines might lead to substantial savings.

Final Thoughts

In the pursuit of affordable luxury travel, finding cheap business class flights demands a combination of timing, exploration, and flexibility. The exact match keyword "cheap business class flights" is not just a phrase; it embodies a possibility waiting to be explored. With the right strategy and a bit of patience, securing cost-effective business class flights is a tangible reality for the discerning traveler.

In conclusion, the quest for cheap business class flights is an art that requires diligence, research, and a dash of flexibility. It's not solely about saving money; it's about unlocking a realm of luxurious travel that's more accessible than commonly perceived. The right approach can transform the once-unattainable dream of affordable business class travel into a delightful reality.

[sumiyarezasuchana]

Unleashing Excellence: Introducing the REEBOK Floatride Energy 5 Women's Running Shoes

Hey there, fellow fitness enthusiasts and fashion-forward individuals! Buckle up because we're about to dive headfirst into the coolest innovation in the world of running shoes: the REEBOK Floatride Energy 5 Women's Running Shoes. It's like science fiction met style and decided to take your running game to a whole new universe. So, let's lace up and explore what makes these shoes so darn special, and of course, I'll also let you in on a little secret about snagging these babies at a price that won't make your wallet shed a tear.

Stepping into the Future: The All-New REEBOK Floatride Energy 5 Women's Running Shoes

Hold up, folks! REEBOK is a name that rings bells louder than a cheer squad at a championship game. They've been trailblazing the athletic footwear scene, and their latest star player, the Floatride Energy 5 Women's Running Shoes, is here to prove why they're a household name for a reason. So, saddle up as we unpack all the nifty features that make these kicks stand out from the crowd and then spill the beans on how to make them yours without maxing out your credit card.

The Marvels of Floatride Energy 5 Women's Running Shoes

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Precision Fit: Ladies, these shoes are made with you in mind. They snugly embrace the unique shape of your foot, hugging it just right for that stability you need. Say goodbye to annoying slips and wobbles during your runs.

Breathable Mesh Upper: No more sweaty feet ruining your stylish running moments. The Floatride Energy 5 shoes come with a mesh upper that's all about keeping your feet chill even when you're breaking a sweat. It's like having a built-in air conditioner for your feet!

Durable Traction: Whether you're taking on the urban jungle or venturing into the wild, these shoes have got your back... or rather, your soles. The rubber outsole is built to handle all sorts of surfaces, so you can conquer any path you choose.

Snagging a Discount on Floatride Energy 5 Women's Running Shoes

Alright, so you're probably wondering, "How can I score these awesome shoes without burning a hole in my pocket?" Well, grab your favorite snack because I'm about to lay down some savvy shopping strategies that even your wallet will high-five you for.

Newsletter Subscriptions: Listen up, bargain hunters! Subscribing to REEBOK's newsletter isn't just about inbox clutter. It's your golden ticket to exclusive updates and promotions that could save you some serious dough on those Floatride Energy 5 shoes.

Seasonal Sales: Picture this: You, cruising through a virtual shopping spree during Black Friday or Cyber Monday, snagging these shoes at a fraction of their original price. Sound like a plan? Keep an eye out for those irresistible seasonal sales.

Online Coupons and Promo Codes: It's like a treasure hunt, but for discounts. Before you hit that "Buy Now" button, scout around for online coupons and promo codes. Websites like Brand Coupon Mall are like your secret agents for uncovering hidden savings.

Student Discounts: Hey, students, you're in for a treat! Verify your student status through platforms like UNiDAYS and let those exclusive student discounts work their magic. It's like getting rewarded for hitting the books and the track.

Social Media Promotions: Grab your phone and hit that "Follow" button on REEBOK's social media accounts. Brands often drop sneaky promotions and contests that could lead you to some major discounts. It's time to befriend those hashtags!

Membership Programs: Membership does have its perks. Check if REEBOK has any loyalty programs up their sleeve. You might just find yourself enjoying sweet pricing and early access to the coolest deals.

Outlet Stores and Clearance Sections: Last but not least, the treasure trove of deals awaits at REEBOK's outlet stores and online clearance sections. It's like a sale within a sale, and you might just score a hidden gem from the previous season.

Conclusion

Alright, my fellow adventurers, we've covered all the bases. The REEBOK Floatride Energy 5 Women's Running Shoes are ready to rock your world, from the science-infused technology to the style that's ready to strut its stuff. With these tips in your back pocket, you're all set to nab these game-changers without sacrificing your hard-earned cash. So, get ready to run, jump, and conquer with REEBOK's Floatride Energy 5 Women's Running Shoes – the ultimate fusion of performance and panache. It's time to make those strides in style!

[steve-rogers-new-york]

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Boy Scouts of America In the 1930s

I have had the idea of looking into the costs and popularity of the Boy Scouts during Steve and Bucky’s childhood, so when I found this very neat membership certificates, I finally had the push!

Brief Overview of the Boy Scouts in the 1930s

After a decade of growth in the 1920s, following the end of WWI and a related wave of patriotism, the Boy Scouts of America were a well established organization in American culture. While the Great Depression did slow growth, it still reached 1-million members by 1935. For the most part, Scouts was attended by middle-class boys, and was a “virtual rite of passage” in the eyes of many. The 1930s saw a number of large-scape events and activities, including food and clothing drives for the needy initiated by President FDR, the Scout-O-Rama held in Madison Square Garden, NY, and the first National Jamboree in Washington, DC. They also played a large assisting role in the 1939 New York World’s fair, at Flushing Meadows. At the Fair, nearly 4,000 scouts acted as ushers, guides, and honor guards; and participants were issues special participation patches for the occasion.

Could Steve or Bucky have been Scouts?

So this is the real questions. What I think it comes down to is a question of money. There is a reason most scouts came from middle-class families, and that is because there was a significant cost that came with membership. Between uniforms and equipment, not to mention time, the cost would easily be too great for some families. Below is a list of costs collected from the 1911 edition of the ‘Boy Scout Handbook’ by the Boy Scouts of America (and some newspaper ads):

Uniform

Hats 

Boy Scout Hat — $1.15 - $2.00

Boy Scout Summer Hat — 50c

Shirt

Boy Scout Shirt — $1.00

Summer Shirt — 75c

Knickerbockers — 75c

Breeches — $1.00 - $1.25

Shorts — 50c

Trousers — $2.00

Belt — 40c

Sweater — $1.30

Coat w/ Boy Scout Emblem — $1.35 - $1.60

Lanyard — Handmade

Leggings — 55c

Stockings — 30c (cotton) $1.25 (wool)

Ponchos — $2.50

Shoes — $2.50

Troop Colors — $1.00

Equipment

Axe — 35c 

Axe Scabbard or Shield — 25c

Camp Knife, Fork and Spoon — 8c per doz.

Mess Kits — 50c - 75c

Canteen — $1.79

Compass — 30c

Folding Drinking Cup — 10c

First Aid Kit — 25c

Haversack — 60c

Pocket Knives — 50c - $1.00

Patrol Flag — Handmade

Whistle — 10c

Additional Optional Items

Bugle — $3.75

Hospital Corps Medical Pouch — $1.00

Telegraph Instruments — $1.30

Toilet Kit — 98c

Flashlight — $1.34

Duffle Bag — $1.24

Hunting Knife — $1.98

Fishing Kit — $3.49

Handbook — 50c

Conservatively, to be a scout, the up-front cost would be around $15.90 for the uniform (only one of each item) and around $3.00 for the basic equipment. For reference, after inflation, it comes to around $300 and $50 today. This doesn’t account for multiples of uniform items, materials for handmade items like tents and flags, future costs, travel costs for events, and time spent not working. Beyond the items listed in the official manual, a local Brooklyn ad (and more) printed in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle suggested even more outdoors items. It was not an activity for families without disposable income, and as an ex-boy scout there is a certain want to have all the items to take part in activities.

In Steve’s case, it would be easy to see how these costs could make being a Boy Scout out of his reach, with a single mother. Depending on how you view Bucky’s family life, it may or may not be an option for him — I’d be interested to see scout Bucky with non-scout Steve.

Hope this was interesting to you as it was to me!

If you want more in the topic, my full research notes on all topics are available for all $3+ Patreon patrons!

This post comes to you thanks to Patreon supporters at the  ‘Ephemera Club’ level. Those subscribed in October 2020 received EITHER A) ONE Boy Scouts of America Membership Certificate, OR B) ONE Type-C (1932-1941) Embroidered Merit Badge; along with ONE postcard featuring a Brooklyn location! If you would also like to receive neat, period-appropriate items in the mail each month, you can join the ‘Ephemera Club’ for just $15!

If you join before the end of October 2020, you too will receive these items!

[ Support SRNY through Patreon and Ko-Fi ] And join us on Discord for fun conversation! I also have an Etsy with up-cycled nerdy crafts

[richardnixonlibrary]

#Nixon50 #OTD 2/1/1972 President Nixon met with 15 Boy Scouts and national leaders of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to receive the BSA Annual Report to the Nation. The President also received an honorary BSA membership card and a set of 12 "Spirit of Scouting" medals. designed by Norman Rockwell (Image: WHPO-8360-08)

[collectorscorner]

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ABLAZE Maria Llovet’s Ero/Psyche #2 (Cover A Adam Gorham), $3.99 Maria Llovet’s Ero/Psyche #2 (Cover B Maria Llovet), $3.99 Maria Llovet’s Ero/Psyche #2 (Cover C Kajo Baldisimo), $3.99

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ONI PRESS Jonna And The Unpossible Monsters #1 (Chris Samnee 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99

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TITAN COMICS Doctor Who Missy #1 (Cover A Cynthia von Buhler), $3.99 Doctor Who Missy #1 (Cover B Photo), $3.99 Doctor Who Missy #1 (Cover C Claudia Caranfa), $3.99 Doctor Who Missy #1 (Cover D Roberta Ingranata), $3.99 Minions Volume 5 Sports #2 (Cover A Renaud Collin), $3.99 Minky Woodcock The Girl Who Electrified Tesla #1 (Cover A Robert McGinnis), $3.99 Minky Woodcock The Girl Who Electrified Tesla #1 (Cover B Dani Strips), $3.99 Minky Woodcock The Girl Who Electrified Tesla #1 (Cover C Photo), $3.99 Minky Woodcock The Girl Who Electrified Tesla #1 (Cover D Cynthia von Buhler), $3.99 Minky Woodcock The Girl Who Electrified Tesla #1 (Cover E Robert McGinnis Virgin Variant), $3.99 Star Wars Insider Fiction The Fiction Collection Volume 1 HC, $24.99

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[settledthingsstrange]

Davis has spent the last thirty-seven years engaging with members of hate groups, including Klansmen and neo-Nazis. Growing up, he said, he would have agreed that the ship had sailed. When he was ten years old, Davis, who is Black, was carrying the flag during a march with his otherwise all-White Cub Scout troop when spectators began throwing rocks and bottles at him. That was when he first started to ponder the question that would end up shaping much of his life: “How can you hate me,” he wondered, “when you don’t even know me?” He began to read books about racists and hate groups, but none could answer his question. In 1983, Davis was playing with a country band at a truck-stop bar called the Silver Dollar Lounge in Frederick, Maryland, fifty miles west of Baltimore, when a White man walked up to him during a break in the show. He put his arm around Davis and told him he was the only Black man he’d ever heard play the piano like Jerry Lee Lewis. “Where do you think Jerry Lee Lewis learned how to play?” Davis asked. When Davis said that Lewis learned his style from Black blues and boogie-woogie players, the man did not believe him. He was fascinated by Davis, though, and invited him to his table for a drink, the first time, he said, he’d ever had a drink with a Black man. In their ensuing conversation, the man said that he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Davis didn’t believe him, he told me, until the man showed him his membership card. At the end of the conversation, the man gave Davis his phone number and told him to call whenever the band was in town. He did, and the man came every time, sometimes bringing other Klan members along to see the Black man who played like Jerry Lee. In 1987 or ’88, it occurred to Davis that the answer to the question that had plagued him since childhood – how can you hate me, when you don’t even know me? – had fallen into his lap. “Who better to ask that question of,” Davis thought, “than somebody who would join an organization that practices that kind of thing?” He got back in contact with the man from the Silver Dollar Lounge and asked him to put him in touch with the Klan leader for the state of Maryland. Then Davis traveled around the United States, meeting with members of the Klan to find the answer to his question. “I never set out to convert any of them,” Davis said. He had been raised to know that a tiger cannot change its stripes. But within a few years, people started leaving the Klan because of him. “I never expected some Klan leader I’m talking to to decide to quit based on some of the things that I’ve been saying to him,” Davis told me. “He quit. I got his robe and hood. It was a shock to me.” Davis said that, like the woman in my Lyft, his thinking had been wrong. “She was thinking like I was… The thing of it is, that’s right. A tiger cannot change its stripes and a leopard cannot change its spots, because they were born with those stripes and spots. A Klansman or White supremacist is not born with that robe and hood.” Davis now has over fifty sets of robes and hoods, and more than two hundred men have left racist hate groups either directly because of him, or because of someone he helped. Davis said that the mistake anti-fascist activists make is to try to deny someone’s reality. “Whatever somebody perceives becomes their reality,” he said. “Whether it’s real or not, it’s their reality because that’s what they perceive.” He used the example of crime statistics. “They see more Black people in prison than White people. And that’s a fact: there are more Blacks in prison than White people. So their perception is Black people are more prone to crime than White people.” But they are not looking at all the data, from poverty to educational differences to imbalance in the justice system. Instead of yelling at them that they are wrong, Davis tries to fill out the picture. “I offer them different things to look at. And then they put it together themselves. And that is a lot stronger than trying to compel somebody’s behavior. When you try to force somebody to do something, you’re going to have resistance. You might get them to do it, but it’s going to be short-lived. But if they come into it themselves, it’s going to last a lot longer.” For Davis, this is no armchair philosophy. He has had guns pulled on him, and stood next to fiery crosses. He has seen conversion happen hundreds of times, and many of the men who have left violent hate groups because of their friendships with him have gone on to help others leave.

Patrick Tomassi, “Behind the Black Umbrellas”

[hsavinien]

Thanks, @rupzydaisy for tagging me!

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favourite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favourite authors!

Favourite Opening Line:

Niklo expected it to feel like fire, like a sunburn eating at his skin, but it’s only a roiling nausea, weakness, dizziness overtaking him in waves as he stumbles out of the darkness of the tunnel to the waiting aid shuttle, another small body slung across his shoulders. - "Deep in My Bones, Straight From Inside" The Old Guard, multiple pov

I really like the descriptive, lyrical quality of this for something so objectively awful (nuclear radiation exposure)...

Patterns:

A lot of my opening lines are quite short, mood-related as much as scene setting. I tend to work linearly, so many of them are (a variation on) the first inspiration I had for the story. And, obviously, there's a whole lotta Old Guard going on.

My sister’s children do her honor. - "Poetry for the Homesick" The Old Guard, Joe pov

Niccolò was told many times that he was a greedy child. - "Gluttony" TOG, Nicky pov

The thing is… The thing is that Scorpia’s really good at fighting. - "Meditations on Fighting" She-ra and the Princesses of Power, Scorpia pov

Joe’s the one who catches her. - "More Than What You Can Do" TOG, Nile pov

Nile pulled down her mask to gulp lukewarm water, then tucked it back up over her nose and sanitized her hands. - "Deep Freeze" TOG, Nile pov

“And that’s why Andy shouldn’t go to Canada for the next fifty years until the chance of positive ID drops,” Joe finished. - "Travel Restrictions" TOG, 3rd person pov

They make things, Nile notices. - "A Gift Given in Secret", TOG, Nile pov

There is a hum in Niccolò’s ears as he comes back in, like a beehive. - "A Reflection Bereft, Not Dark" TOG, alternating Nicky & Joe pov

Sera cackled, pounding Adaar on one muscled shoulder as Dorian slid into the seat across from them in the Herald's Rest. - "An Unfortunate Incident" Dragon Age Inquisition, Dorian pov

Agatha had never enjoyed the original decor of her bedroom. - "Agatha Heterodyne and the Bedroom Routine" Girl Genius, Agatha pov

Andy had bought meat. - "In Which Andromache the Scythian Ruins the Kitchen and Niccolò di Genova has a Good Day Anyway" TOG, Nicky pov

The sons of Fundin volunteered to scout around the first camp they made after leaving Hobbiton. - "It Is a Wise One That Admits the Truth" The Hobbit, 3rd person, Balin, & Dwalin pov

Above the quarry, the Them have The Tree. - "A Tree With Strong Roots" Good Omens, Wensleydale pov

Lykon gasps, reviving, which cracks his parched lips. - "Waking Isn't Hard" TOG, Lykon pov

Niccolò is, to Yusuf’s mind, the nearest a human can be to a feral cat. - "Brisking About the Life" TOG, alternating Joe & Nicky pov

TZ-1719 was here. - "TZ-1719 Was Here" Star Wars, Finn pov

"Here," Joe said, passing over an ID and a handful of credit and membership cards. - "A Suit of Armor in Which To Battle the World" TOG, Nile pov

Nicky stands on stone, the cool of the slate making his toes curl even as a bead of sweat slides down the inside of his forearm from below his linen sleeve, following the vein. - "The Quiet Scorches Still" TOG, Joe pov

Bofur curled into the smallest possible crack in the rock, clamped his ears between his knees and his hands over the back of his neck, and breathed until the crashing rumble of the orc army was no longer a sound so large it made up the entire world. - "The Orcs Go Marching" Hobbit/LotR, Bofur pov

Tagging @notfromcold, @burritosong, @wheremermaidsdwell, @kitty-dorkling, @rubynye, @intosnarkness, @saviobriion, @pasiphile, @degenizidje, @thorinsmut… Feel free if you wanna.

[honourablejester]

Faction Notes: The Iron Carillon

(Some random D&D inspired worldbuilding notes for a homebrew faction built around a homebrew deity, riffing strongly on the idea of the Blood War between fiends)

A semi-secret organisation with widespread activity built around three main missions:

to fight slavery, both as an institution and incidentally

to fight the forces of the Abyss 

to recover dangerous weapons and artefacts, particularly those made by the god Weyloun in his captivity, and destroy them

The faction is a lay organisation (the Iron Carillon) built around a core of a religious order (the Order of the Bell/Bells of Weyloun). While its mandates are divine in origin, direct from the forge god Weyloun himself, no particular religious devotion is required to join the lay orders, only a true devotion to any of their missions and a willingness to help with the others.

Sections to Follow:

Weyloun (Deity)

Order of the Bell (Religious Order)

The Iron Carillon (Lay Organisation)

Other Notes

Weyloun (Deity):

Weyloun is a neutral good deity of forgecraft, freedom, and secret battles. Known as Weyloun the Forge God, Weyloun the Unshackled, Weyloun the Bell-Founder.

Aeons ago, when metalworking was only beginning as a craft, he wandered the world in mortal form to help inspire and do the work in person. At this time, the perpetual war in the lower planes between demons and devils had sparked to fresh and all-out battle, and a powerful and treacherous demon lord realised that Weyloun’s mortal wanderings presented a great opportunity. Taking the god by force and magically binding him in his mortal (elven) form, the demon lord successfully dragged him down into the Abyss and held him in torturous captivity there for centuries, forcing him to forge great weapons for the blood war. These weapons were of such power that after time the demons began to win, and the demon lord began to set his sights a little higher – to the mortal plane, and the celestial ones above it. He demanded that Weyloun forge weapons powerful enough to kill celestials and even gods. In return for this, he said, he would finally allow the forge god the freedom of death.

Weyloun balked, and realised that he had run out of time to perfect his secret project. For years in his captivity, he had been working on a new technique as a ‘hobby’, as much as a slave could have such a thing. It was a harmless technique, or so the demons thought, so they had allowed it. Weyloun had invented the art of bell-founding. When presented with this demand of the demons, to turn against his own people, mortal and divine alike, he hastily finished his greatest design: an inoffensive iron bell, small and light enough for even a mortal to wield.

The Bell of Sundering. Not a weapon, but a tool. A bell that could break any bond, of metal or stone or magic or power. Any bond.

Such as, for example, the one keeping a god in his mortal form.

Not much is told of how the freshly-divine Weyloun tore himself free of the Abyss, for demons do not speak of it, and neither does Weyloun. He emerged to the Celestial Planes scarred, baring the marks of shackles around wrist, neck and ankle, and tormented by the knowledge of what he had done in his captivity. Weyloun could not forget the terrible weapons he had forged in the Abyss, the monstrous power he had put in demon hands, and vowed to regain them and destroy them or die trying. He vowed, too, that never would he nor any servant of his ever countenance slavery or the keeping of a captive workforce.

To this end, while his main priesthood continued the work of his craft, inspiring the work of mortal hands to shape metal, another order was formed among his celestials and later mortals. This one, to do that other work, to free slaves, to fight demons, and to destroy that which should not have been forged. Named for Weyloun’s most sacred art, that of bell-founding, and for the artefact that had won his freedom: The Order of the Bell.

(Note: Yes, I am basing this about half-and-half on Wayland the Smith and IM1 Tony Stark. Because the enslaved smith is a whole thing with me, blood and iron and building your way out. It’s a thing. So very much)

Order of the Bell (Religious Order):

Also known as the Bells of Weyloun, the Order of the Bell is an order of clerics, paladins, monks and holy artificers devoted to Weyloun, both in his main aspect as a Forge God, but also in his lesser-known aspects as a god of trickery, knowledge, and divine tempest. It is a lesser known monastic order, most strongly associated with bell-foundries, since it runs several of the most famous in the world, supplying bells and carillons to many cities and towns. It is also known to act as support for several of the more martial religious orders of other gods, forging primarily defensive equipment such as armour for them. Relatively few people are aware that the order fields forces of its own, since the battles they fight are usually much smaller and more secretive.

The bell is the holy symbol of the order, often in the form of a grey bell on a black field, and many of its members carry iron bells that they have forged themselves as a symbol of their devotion. Famously among those who know of the order’s existence, some of those bells are magical, echoes of their parent artefact, the Bell of Sundering, and are known to break bonds and open locks (note: see Chime of Opening). These bells are usually only found among ranked members of the order.

A particular tenet of belief and behaviour for the order is that penance is not carried out through pain but through work, and that even those who have done the enemy’s work, as Weyloun was once forced to do, may redeem themselves through honest work for the order.

Classes often found in the Order of the Bell:

Clerics (of Weyoun, mostly Forge, Trickery and Tempest, with some Knowledge and War)

Paladins (primarily the Oaths of Devotion, Redemption and the Watchers)

Monks (any Way, but a surprising number of Way of Shadow)

Artificers (heavier emphasis on defensive rather than offensive disciplines, with Armourer as the pinnacle)

The Iron Carillon (Lay Organisation):

Around the core of the Order of the Bell, a wider organisation of lay agents and operatives has accrued, sharing the three missions of their parent order. As a general rule, the Iron Carillon tends to be a much more eclectic collection of individuals and operatives than the Order of the Bell, and is generally formed of those with a personal reason to object to slavery, demons or destructive artefacts, or any combination of the above.

The Iron Carillon often serves as the main information gathering organ of the Order of the Bell, scouting out slaving operations, demonic cults and rumours of artefacts. It usually functions as a collection of small cells or local teams, connected through a larger information network to both each other and to the main outposts of the Order. Large operations involving multiple cells are usually routed through the Order, but there are several high-ranking and central lay operatives as well, and it is possible for large operations to be fielded without any of Weyoun’s blessed present. Missions against cults of the Abyss, however, almost always involve the Order.

The Iron Carillon shares the symbol of its parent order, that of the iron bell, and operatives who are not undercover often carry a patch with the grey bell on the black field. Havens and guild houses of the Carillon may also have actual, functional carillons as well, usually as something bordering on a joke, though they also work well as alarms too. If a guild house or haven is compromised, they will sound the full carillon as cacophonously and discordantly as possible to signal to local operatives that the house has fallen (and maybe deafen some attackers in the process). However, since bells and carillons are so strongly associated with Weyloun, and known by many of his primary enemies, more deep-cover cells will usually eschew them.

The Iron Carillon is significantly more secretive than the Order of the Bell. Because many of their activities involve scouting out and infiltrating extremely dangerous enemies, from slavers to cults, the Carillon tends to play its cards significantly closer to its chest.

As stated, membership for the Iron Carillon is much more broad than for the Order of the Bell, and requires no particular religious devotions at all. Classes found in the Carillon can honestly be just about anything, but rogues, rangers, wizards and bards are very common, given the Carillon’s emphasis on scouting, infiltration, and the uncovering of lore and activity concerning demons and artefacts. Repentant warlocks are more uncommon but very much a feature, although they may face a more difficult reception depending on the make-up of the local cells.

Other Notes:

The Iron Carillon can be involved in anything from relatively small-scale adventures vs slavers to god-level adventures vs the demons of the Abyss. It’s very probable that they make an effort to build connections to centres of learning and knowledge, to treasure hunting guilds and organisations, and to many criminal organisations that might be even tangentially involved with the slave trade, leaving a lot of avenues open to bump into them (or be part of them).

Magic items associated with or made by the Order of the Bell will be strongly defensive and utility in nature, with emphasis on the bells and armour, since they have a complicated relationship with weapons due to Weyloun’s history and the fact that one of their missions is to destroy several magical weapons. However, they might well have a lot of stealth and/or divination focused tools as well, especially for the Carillon more than the Order.

They possibly have a lot of interest in the Underdark, hotbed of racial slavery that it is, and home to several unholy portals as well.

There’s a lot of nasty room for counter-infiltration and betrayal with the organisation. Several demon lords, as well as many mortal slaving empires/organisations, would have a lot of reasons to want to slip inside and wreak havoc. Or, in the case of the demon lords in particular, to try and make the organisation betray itself. Dark artefacts to poison minds seem like a fun option. The One Ring, setting out to subvert those who wish to destroy it.

Conversely, it’s possible that several devils might be interested in helping the Order. Purely for their own gain, of course. Helping Weyloun, too, since his dramatic escape once upon a time both slowed the demons’ dominance and did enough damage to them to let the devils claw their way back in the blood war. Helping Weyloun take more demonic weapons off the table could be a useful thing for several dark forces.

(So could capturing him or his celestials and making them forge devil weapons instead)

The Order of the Bell likely also has an unspoken side mission of making sure Weyloun himself does not ever need to return to the mortal or lower planes save for apocalyptic emergencies, precisely to prevent history from repeating itself. You walk into the pit yourself if you have to, but you don’t drag anyone else down with you, especially when it could cost the world so very, very much. It’s an interesting little dynamic, to have the mortal servants be protective of their infinitely more powerful deity.

The Bell of Sundering itself should probably never go anywhere near the mortal plane, because I feel like that would be bad. So, yeah, a semi-to-fully-apocalyptic bad guy goal could also be getting a hold of the thing, as much as getting hold of Weyloun himself. Lots of apocalyptic shenanigans to get up to with a celestial artefact that can open any lock or seal in the universe …

The thing I love with forge gods and maker deities is that they then have to juggle the impact of the things they create. All the fun of mad science, on a mythic scale. Gotta love it!

[indieephemera]

Membership card for “Club Rhino,” the loyalty program for the Rhino Records Westwood store in Los Angeles, circa 1989.

This week on the blog, I’ll be focusing on record stores that, while gone (sniff!), live on in our memories... and the various business and other cards that I’ve managed to collect.

Well before it became one of the best-known reissue specialist record labels in the music industry, Rhino Records was a humble record store. I learned this on my first trip to California, in 1989, when visiting there with my family. While my parents planned outings to the standard tourist stuff—Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the La Brea Tar Pits—I was busy scouting for record stores.

To help in my quest, I’d picked up that week’s copy of local alternative paper LA Weekly. (The main feature that week? The artwork of Andreas Serrano, with a picture of his infamous Piss Christ on the cover.)

I remember hitting Aron’s and the other stores on Melrose on a blissfully parent-free break at one point. And I also ended up at Rhino Records on that trip. That’s where I must have gotten this membership card, since it would take me over 25 years to make the return trip to LA... as an adult who would plan entire days around record shopping. (Yeah!)

Alas, I never got to use my membership card for any discount, as the store closed in 2006.

[daggerzine]

Sohrab Habibion from SAVAK (and Obits, Edsel, etc.) fills in the gaps.

I first noticed the name Sohrab Habibion in the Sub Pop band Obits nearly a decade ago. He’d then gotten in touch with me a few years back when he sent me the last Savak record, Beg Your Pardon (the band’s 3rd). I did some backtracking and realized he was in the old DC post hardcore band Edsel, whose music I enjoyed. We got to talking and I realized this guy’s had a pretty interesting career and I needed to find out more. He was more than agreeable to an interview on the DAGGER site. Oh and dig this....he recently he began posting some videos that he took of shows in the DC area in the mid-80’s, which is discussed below. Let’s all thank our lucky stars that someone was there with a video camera at shows back then.

Back to SAVAK, they have recently released their fourth full-length, Rotting Teeth in the Horses Mouth (on the Ernest Jenning Record Co label, like the last few) and it’s a terrific record. The kind of post-punk that’s not afraid to pOp! and vice versa. So needless to say Sohrab had plenty to talk about. Let’s take a trip both down memory lane and back to the future as well.

Sohrab.... always pushin’ the hair products.

 Did you grow up in the DC area? If not how did you end up there?

I moved to the suburbs of DC in 1979. My mom and I drove through Hurricane David from my grandfather’s house in Leonia, New Jersey to Annandale, Virginia with all of our possessions in the back of a Chevy Chevette. We had just left Iran because of the Revolution and, after a short stay in Bergen County to gather ourselves and do some research, my parents decided that we would resettle in the DC area.

Do you remember what the first record you ever bought was? First concert?

First record: It was a cassette of Love for Sale by Boney M. Actually maybe that was a gift from a friend. Either way I think of it as my first-owned album. I quickly had the lyrics to “Ma Baker” memorized and never gave a second thought to just how weird the cassette cover art was. If you’re not familiar, perhaps imagine an S&M dungeon version of Ohio Players? As a 7-year-old I think it just didn’t register. More interesting is that the producer, Frank Farian, was also the guy behind Milli Vanilli. If you’re up for it, I recommend doing some Googling about Mr. Farian, who was born Franz Reuther just after the start of World War II in a German valley settlement once known as the “Town of Leather.” It’s good stuff, I promise.

First concert: A friend’s older sister drove us to the old 9:30 Club to see one of the club’s 3 Bands for 3 Bucks nights. I remember feeling pretty excited about being in a part of town I didn’t know and seeing all kinds of people I didn’t ordinarily see. This was probably 1983 or 1984 so it was heavy on the New Wave look. In the basement of 9:30, once you’d squeezed down the narrow flight of stairs, there were bathrooms as well as a small counter that sold records and tapes. I bought The Halloween Cassette—a WGNS comp with Gray Matter, United Mutation, Velvet Monkeys, Malefice, Bloody Mannequin Orchestra and others—and the Minor Threat record that compiles the first two 7”s. On our drive home the DJ on WHFS played the song “Minor Threat,” which we literally had in our hands, and the whole thing felt tremendously serendipitous.

During his tryout with the Washington Bullets (Elvin Hayes beat him out). 

At what age did you pick up the guitar?

One night my mom came home from a school fundraising auction with an acoustic guitar that she’d won in the raffle. I actually think it might be the only time anyone in my family has ever won a raffle. I was 13 or 14 and discovering that I was not as good of a baseball player as I’d hoped or wanted to be and the guitar felt more connected to my interests, so I started to teach myself chords and rudimentary scales. It wasn’t long before I was able to get an electric guitar and make a complete mess of sound in neighborhood basements with friends.

How old were you when the punk rock bug bit you?

Thirteen, I think. I’m pretty sure it was 7th grade. I didn’t know a lot about rock music. Having spent a chunk of my early life in Iran, I missed the boat on a lot of big, American rock’n’roll moments. I was 9 when I was first exposed to KISS by neighbors who were also in the Boy Scouts and so I kind of lumped all that costuming together and the whole thing seemed silly. Special badges and membership cards and various allegiances you were supposed to declare. I felt disengaged from a lot of things in the suburban culture around me, so punk made sense upon its arrival. It took some time to sort things out, like what made the Dead Kennedys good and The Exploited bad, but once that initial door opened, I never turned back. If anything it just opened additional doors to other subcultures and underground movements and marginalized artists and thinkers. Punk helped me recognize that my sympathies will always be with the disenfranchised, the unheralded, the amateur, the wandering tinkerer.

How and when did Edsel get together?

I met Nick Pelliocciotto and Geoff Sanoff (who wouldn’t be in Edsel for a few years) at a Government Issue show at the Hung Jury Pub. Nick and I briefly played in a band with Jim Spellman (Velocity Girl, High Back Chairs, Foxhall Stacks), but that fizzled out. So Nick and I were looking for a bass player when we saw Steve Ward play a cover of “White Rabbit” at a high school talent show. Nick and I agreed that Steve looked cool (he really did) and, when we ran into him in the parking lot, he passed our test by answering that his favorite DC band was Happy Go Licky. We started practicing in the basement of the house Nick, Jim Spellman and I lived in off Reno Road in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of DC. We didn’t know what we were doing. Nick played me a bunch of records I had never heard before and we would talk about various details in the music. He made me aware of the way certain things interacted, like the bass guitar and the kick drum. I’d never considered that. I was also unfamiliar with singing in a band, so was starting from scratch. A lot of it began as rhythmic sing-song-speak-howling that could be heard somewhat above the volume of the band. I’ll never forget recording our first demo at Inner Ear with Michael Hampton. When it came time for me to do the vocals we were all surprised by what they sounded like and Michael nicely said, “Why don’t we call it a day and you go home and work on some melodies that we can record tomorrow.” Ha! When Nick and I got back to the house we listened to a bunch of albums to get ideas for vocal melodies. The one that resonated with me was Midnight Oil’s 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and it helped me understand how you could take a simple line and move it around with chord changes. I didn’t figure out what phrasing was for some time to come, but that was the start. Thank you Michael, Nick and Peter Garrett.

How/when did you end up in NYC?

Well, it’s a circuitous story, but . . . Edsel toured a lot between 1993 and 1995. So much so that I moved back into my parents’ basement to avoid paying rent for a place I wasn’t going to be spending any time in. My folks are lovely and it was a fine arrangement, but I missed having an apartment of my own. On tour in Chicago I was presented with the opportunity of a cheap living situation in a city that I liked, so I moved there. I had this fantasy that the band could keep it together while being in 3 different cities—Geoff had moved to NYC and the two Steve’s were in DC. Not a chance. I had a good year in Chicago, working at the Empty Bottle and playing with different local musicians, but Edsel basically succumbed to inertia and I decided to move back to DC to make a solo record. My parents had a cabin in the Shenandoah Valley and I went there for a period of time with my 4-track and the hopes of discovering whatever my version of Leonard Cohen and Brian Eno might be. That didn’t happen, but I learned a lot about recording myself and making mistakes and stumbling on things I liked that I hadn’t intended. Around this point I got a call from Michael Hampton, who’d moved to New York City a few years earlier. He said his neighbor in the West Village had moved out and he wondered if I might want to take the apartment. I was feeling pretty untethered and the idea of giving Manhattan a shot was exciting, so in November 1997 I packed up my books and CDs and headed up here. I’ve since crossed the bridge over to Brooklyn, but have no plans of leaving. I love this city and all of its flaws.

How about Obits? I know Alexis was in Edsel….had you known Rick already?

Alexis played in Edsel for a few reunion shows we did in 2013, but he wasn’t in the original lineup of the group. I first met Alexis in 1985 when Lünch Meat, his band, played with Kids For Cash, my band, at my local community center. He and I also share a birthday and a similar sense of humor, so when he joined Obits after the departure of Scott Gursky, our original drummer, it was an effortless transition. I’d also played with Alexis in Girls Against Boys on a 2002 European tour that Eli couldn’t do. I was Fake Eli and got to play bass on some of my favorite GvsB tunes, which was a blast. Alexis has a humorous diary from that tour: http://www.gvsb.com/euro_diary/index.html

Here’s an excerpt just so you know it’s worth the clicks:

“scott has determined that we should get rid of all the equipment and excess drummers and bass players and just travel with a painted sheet (we in the biz call this a scrim). that way he could have a band painted on it and just cut out the head of the singer and stick his own head through. this would reduce overhead and be a whole lot less of a hassle than having squabbling bass players and drummers with no IQ whatsoever.”

Rick and I met at an art show of his in the summer of ‘99. In fact, in looking to clarify the year I came across this email I sent to a friend:

“Last night my friend Hiroshi took me to an opening of his friend Rick Froberg’s work in some unknown Lower East Side apartment/gallery. I was shocked at how incredible his stuff was. His etchings like Goya’s, his prints like a German expressionist and his paintings like a weird amalgam of Raymond Pettibon and Norman Rockwell. But everything was very original despite its familiarity. He gave me one of his prints and I actually ended up buying one of his paintings. I’m really excited about it.”

Funny thing is that on that European GvsB tour I was wearing a Hot Snakes shirt. Little could I have guessed that I’d be in a band with Alexis and Rick 10 years later. Or maybe I could’ve? Our behavior and patterns are probably more predictable than I’d like to admit.

Anyway, long and short of it is after meeting Rick we started hanging out and as Hot Snakes was winding down in the early aughts he proposed we get together and strum our guitars. We had a good time and kept at it until things started to take shape. Fast forward a bit and our friend Speck browbeat Rick into playing with her band, Orphan, at Cake Shop. That was early 2008 and the internet did us a favor by sharing a bootleg recording of our gig, which led us to signing with Sub Pop. Seems just as weird now as it did then, but so it goes! The band was a hoot to be in and we had a grand time, particularly touring. The trips we made to Europe, Australia, Japan and Brazil were fantastic. I never thought I’d be able to do that playing scrappy rock’n’roll music. All the people that we met, the local specialties that we ate and drank . . . and drank . . . and then ate some more. Unforgettable. Until I forget them. Then I’ll refer to the documentation.

Obits.....always ready to rumble (notice the switchblade comb in Froberg’s pocket). 

Tell me about the end of Obits and the beginning of Savak? Who came up with the name?

The end of Obits was a little unexpected. At least the timing of it. All bands end, so it wasn’t surprising in that regard, but we had a French tour planned and had been offered some East Coast dates with Mudhoney, so it was a bummer not to be able to do those. But it had been a cold and miserable winter and Rick had some family stuff to marshal, so it felt best to call it, which is what we did on April 1st, 2015. The April Fool’s part wasn’t intentional, but I liked that it happened that way, what with being in a band often feeling like a cosmic joke anyway. But we’re all still good friends and very much in touch with each other. Funny thing is we’d actually written a fourth record with two drummers, as Matt Schulz had started playing with us as well (we did one show with both Alexis and Matt, which was fun), so on my hard drive somewhere are the demos and jams for that, including covers of “The In-Crowd” (https://youtu.be/KYbwk26mYJA) and Beasts of Bourbon’s “I Don't Care About Nothing Anymore.” (https://youtu.be/IpWi4OxhJXY)

Towards the end of Obits I’d started getting together with other friends to make noise. I was playing with Greg Simpson and Matt Schulz, doing instrumental versions of Hooterville Trolley and Shadows tunes, and separately with Michael Jaworski and Benjamin Van Dyke, just bashing out riffs. I asked all involved if they would want to combine the two and everyone was into it. The nice thing was Michael and I got to write with two different drummers, which opened up new ideas, and for a band that was just getting the swing of our internal vocabulary, it helped jumpstart the mojo.

I can’t remember at what point we were talking about band names, but when Viet Cong couldn’t take the heat for their name and decided to change it I made a joke about calling our group SAVAK. Then the more I thought about it the more I liked it and the group was on board, so we ran with it. The Iranian side of my family was a bit perplexed and bemused, but they all understood that this was a rock’n’roll outfit and not some creepy tribute to the former secret police in Iran. I’ve come to appreciate how that type of band name is a good litmus test. With a moniker like SAVAK you can see who actually knows anything about global political history, but more importantly you immediately know that anyone who takes issue with it isn’t likely to be interested in or even be familiar with punk rock or underground culture. So that person’s opinion on the subject doesn’t hold weight for me and I’ll attempt to redirect to a different subject that could be entertaining to chat about, like food or wine or bicycle maintenance or John le Carré books or, I dunno, HTML/CSS?

Savak has been recording pretty consistently…how did the new record come together so quickly? Who came up with the title?

Michael Jaworski, the other guitarist, singer and co-songwriter, came up with the title of Rotting Teeth in the Horse’s Mouth. Apparently it appeared to him in a dream and, well, I just liked the way it sounded. Both in that it reminded me of the DK’s classic Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables and as a play on the idiom “hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth,” since the current mouth we hear more often than is good for anyone’s mental health has enough proverbial rotting teeth to fill the mouth of a giant armadillo.

We worked on the album over a period of months. Sometimes we would get together with Matt Schulz, our drummer, and hammer stuff out. Other times either Michael or I would start something at home and build it from there. The main thing was to keep it feeling like a band had cut it together live, regardless of how accurate that may be on any given song. We started with 16 tunes, ditched 2 of them that weren’t as developed, and recorded the remaining 14. Then we picked the 10 that sounded the most cohesive for the album and the others will come out as singles later in the year. We spent many intensely focused hours editing, overdubbing and trying to really hone in on what each tune needed. I like discreet events in music and subtle details that may not make themselves evident for a few listens. A keyboard that only appears in the second verse or a backing vocal that’s buried deep in the right channel of the outro or a flanged cymbal crash at the top of the chorus. Stuff that doesn’t have to happen in the live version but makes the recording a little richer without being overbearing.

SAVAK, just before diving in. 

In Savak, re; the songwriting process, is it both you and Michael together or do you write independently?

There’s always a collaborative element. We each add or edit the other’s songs to some degree. That’s one of the things I really like about our partnership. We actively try to keep our egos out of the way. And while we may not share the exact same taste about every little thing, we trust each other’s sensibility. I think that willingness to let go of our own ideas makes them more interesting and strengthens the working relationship.

Tell us about working with Arto Lindsay?

Rick Froberg was employed as an illustrator at a web-based, digital media shop in SoHo called Funny Garbage and he helped get me a gig making music for cartoons and video games they were producing for companies like Cartoon Network. I had access to a recording studio on a floor above our office which was run by an incredibly talented musician/producer named Andres Levin. One day ‘Dre asked if I could work on a session with a friend of his for a gallery installation. It seemed interesting, so I agreed. The guy showed up with two pillow cases that he wanted to put on his arms and flap wildly in front of a mic. His idea was to pitch the pillow case recording down a few octaves and add a lot of reverb so it would sound like a giant bird was flying. I don’t remember if he was pleased with the results, but we had a blast trying, and it turned out that fella was Arto Lindsay. He got in touch with me soon after about recording his next album. I was direct about the fact that while I was brisk with the ProTools and could run sessions efficiently, I was not a real engineer who knew about microphone placement and how to apply compression, etc. He said that was fine and arranged to rent a recording rig for his apartment and we got straight to work with Melvin Gibbs, who is Arto’s writing partner, co-producer, and bass player. We made Invoke in 2002 and two years later we made Salt, once again doing the whole thing in his Chelsea living room. Arto’s a wonderful guy, as is Melvin, and we had a terrific time together. I also learned a lot. He has such a deep knowledge of avante garde music and art and a whole world of Brazilian culture that he can tap into. And Melvin is an incredible musician, so getting to see how he approached assembling Arto’s ideas was fascinating. He was also forgiving with the fact that a punker like me was trying to edit Brazilian rhythms when I was having an impossible time even identifying the first beat of the groove. There was a lot of, “Please just tell me where the ONE is.” Arto knows a wide array of people and the process of making a record with him was very much about getting it done, but not at the expense of the vibe, so if someone dropped by you’d just have to roll with it. Sometimes that person would bring their instrument and overdub on a song or two, so I had to figure out how to be flexible about the recording process to make sure it was gonna be smooth for all involved, regardless of if it was a violin player or a guy doing a percussion track using a cardboard box. I ended up calling Geoff Sanoff for advice quite a bit—to the point where Arto would joke, “Is it time to call Geoff?” Ha! But he knew the deal going in, so all was fine. The experience of making those records was great and I got to meet some interesting folks. Also my appreciation of Brazilian music completely exploded. An unexpected and super cool project with Arto, Debbie Harry and Mikhail Baryshnikov also came from that. Another side note: when we were recording Invoke there was a song which Arto wanted to get Animal Collective involved in. This was 2001 and they were still more of a record store employee kind of band, but Arto had a couple of their CDs (Spirit They’re Gone Spirit They’ve Vanished and Danse Manatee, I think) and was really into them. We arranged to go into Stratosphere Sound, the studio that was owned by Adam Schlesinger, Andy Chase, and James Iha, where Geoff Sanoff worked, and do the session there. They had an interesting way of working—they would manipulate all of the instruments, including live drums, and have everything run through their PA and then have Geoff mic the PA speakers. So the final thing was this gauzy, mushy, blur that was like a sonic paste. They totally knew what they were doing and I was particularly impressed with Noah/Panda Bear as a musician.

Speaking of legends, how did you begin collaborating with Michael Hampton?

First we should be clear that we’re not discussing “Magic” Mike Hampton AKA Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton. According to Discogs, the Michael Hampton I know is “Michael Hampton (3)” of Brief Weeds fame. He’s a few years older than me so I missed his days in SOA and The Faith, but I was a fan and saw him in Embrace and One Last Wish. I attended American University in DC and ran into him on campus, told him I also played guitar and suggested that we “jam sometime.” Knowing him now this detail cracks me up because I’m positive I freaked him out and that he was horrified by the idea of “jamming” with an arbitrary, long-haired frosh. Some time after Edsel started we asked Michael to help produce our demo, as we were clueless about the studio. And when he was in Manifesto our bands played together and we got to be better friends. After he moved to New York, it was he and his wife, Monica, who encouraged me to move here. They also introduced me to my wife. And for the last 15 or so years we’ve worked together on soundtracks for indie films, documentaries and commercials. I can’t recall how that collaboration first started, but I love working with Michael. He’s got a quick wit, so there’s lots of yucks involved, but he also has a remarkable knack for music composition and knows how to layer ideas for perfect cinematic effect. As a guitar player he remains one of my favorites. Michael’s distilled Bob Andrews from Gen X and Captain Sensible and George Harrison and all these choice rock’n’roll and punk players into something distinctly his own.

Somewhere in Madrid, Spain (Spain Radio Nacional) 

Tell us your top 10 desert island discs?

That’s tough. I’d like to ensure a bunch of different moods are covered, so let’s see . . . how about:

Hamza El Din - Music Of Nubia

Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou - Éthiopiques 21: Piano Solo

Mark Hollis - s/t

Skip James - Today!

Charles Mingus - The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady

Mission Of Burma - Vs.

The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers

Television - Marquee Moon

The Velvet Underground - s/t

Wire - 154

Who are some of your favorite current bands?

Bed Wettin' Bad Boys, Cable Ties, Contractions, FACS, Gotobeds, Grey Hairs, Hammered Hulls, Hot Snakes, Light Beams, METZ, Mint Mile, Modern Nature, Patois Counselors, Pays P., Rattle, Skull Practitioners, Slum of Legs, Sunwatchers, Tanning Bats, TK Echo, The Unit Ama.

I know I’m forgetting stuff. There’s a ton of excellent music being made right now.

What’s next for Savak? Once the lockdown is over will you guys tour?

It’s hard to be certain about anything these days, but I do know we’re eager to play once the Javel water has cleared. My hope is that we reschedule our UK tour as well as the shows we had on deck with Archers of Loaf. We were also trying to coordinate a Japanese tour, which we’d love to do, so I’ll add that to the list.

In the meantime we have a couple of non-album singles coming out later in the year.

I love making music, so whatever form it needs to take to make it work given our circumstances I’m fine with. Wanna jam on our phones? Hit me up!

SAVAK’s new one- Rotting Teeth in The Horses Mouth

BONUS QUESTION:  Tell us about all of those shows you recorded in the 80’s and have been putting up on the Dischord page? Great stuff!

Thanks! My mom bought me a Sony Betacam in 1985. I honestly had no inclination towards videotaping anything prior to this, but I think she may have thought it was a positive thing for a teenager to get involved in instead of playing Atari or hanging out at the Orange Julius at the mall or whatever. So I had this camera and I started taping what I was doing, which was basically going to shows. I didn’t think much about it and I never watched the tapes afterwards, so just slowly built up a collection of recordings that sat in a box at my parents’ house for years. It wasn’t until James Schneider started working on what eventually became the Punk the Capital movie that the tapes were unearthed. Then Scott Crawford wanted to use them for Salad Days and had the genius idea of getting Dave Grohl’s production company to digitize them, as they wanted footage for that Sonic Highways show. So at Scott’s suggestion I sheepishly asked if it was something they could do and they immediately said yes. I was pretty stunned by their generosity. The tapes themselves are now part of the Punk Archive in the DC Public Library, which is both cool and hilarious. The idea of random stuff I videotaped when I was 15 being part of an institutional archive is pretty absurd. Now that I’ve got this extra pandemic time to spend in front of my computer, I’ve been editing down each set, adjusting the light balance so the footage is less murky and also remastering the audio so they sound better. The timing of the Dischord Records Fan Page on Facebook is fortuitous, as it provides a reasonably eager audience for what might have otherwise just been a few additional gigs of server space being cooled in a Google data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

“Who you callin’ a low life?” 

www.savakband.com

www.savak.bandcamp.com