#Which adds even more layers to Blade going from master to tool

[fragmentedblade]

The fact his son's way of making Mr. Xiao pay attention to us is having us work for him so that we'd get on his nerves... hilarious, and so real

[edgymegatronus]

The Pits of Kaon

The lights of the arena where always blinding. Searing white light that chiseled its way into your optic nerves, washing away any other surrounding colours so much that one may think they’re joining with the Allspark once they step out onto the ashy plain. This is purposeful, of course, for the arena was a stage for the barbaric, where the onlookers can see it’s actors, but the actors cannot gaze back at them. Once you have shuttered your optics several times and they begin to adjust, only spots of bright light decorating your vision for a short while, the arena comes heaving into view, stagnant and intimidating. Massive, beyond comprehension, the blackened jewel of Kaon. You’d have to squint to see the opposite end of the Energon-crusted pit. The steep, cold grey sides rocketed up towards the skies, the heavens where the audience sat to eagerly absorb the slaughter. Every brandish of a sword, every amputation of a limb, every scream or victory holler, every spark taken was feasted upon by those hunger bound optics. In the lower areas of the arena, closer to the action, there were boxes reserved for the higher caste aristocracy from great cities like Iacon and Vos. Above them, with a more strained view, sat the rest of the Cybertronain populous. It was never correctly calculated how many the arena could house- it depended on how tightly the lower class worker mechs packed themselves together to watch the entertainment. There was always shoving and drunkenness, fights began over the limited space and smaller mechs often simply got crushed under pede if they didn’t move fast enough. Very few actually from Kaon ever got to sit in the golden boxes, where quality high-grade Energon flowed like ground oil as its famed patrons gawked down into the pit. The atmosphere was always rancheros, the first death spelled out the kick-off for the day's events to begin. In the mornings there were petty fights. Weak slaves pitted against each other, unarmed mechs left to the mercy of some of the most vicious beasts Cybertron had to offer. This got the crowd vying to see more Energon spilled on the ashy floors of the pit. As the hilarity reached its crescendo into the afternoon, we were brought out.

Titled ‘Gladiators’, we were prime time entertainment. Romanticised as strong mechs each with some characterisation the media invalidated us with to entice the onlookers into made up rivalries between us, adding passion to the murder. Some mechs actually sank into this, and took signature moves and mottos played into their characters, worked to gain support from those oppressing them. Usually, this was the quickest way to die. The arena owners would only allow a Gladiator in the limelight for so many matches and killed them before they became too boring, and to make the audience more invested as each match progressed. They died deluded, for we were just slaves with swords. Brought from all over Cybertronain, but most commonly hailing from places like Kaon, Tarn, and Praxus. Sold off from our previous services because we were no longer needed, a better model had been introduced, rule-breaking, being damaged, or because our masters had taken a general disliking. Being sold to the arena was most times a death sentence, an execution in front of the masses. Gladiators were ones who had won their petty matches by some flailing chance of Primus, and in turn proven their metal, and therefore their worth as a mascot. We were not Gladiators.

Our namesake competed by choice, for fame or honour or glory. For a fractured misconception of what they believed to be justice or righteousness. We were slaves, forced to kill our peers, and stare them in the optics as we did, giving a good performance. Refusal meant immediate death, and showmanship was integral. Most of us only lasted a few months before losing a match and being offlined, the longest-reigning mech making it just over a year before the Arena Owners decided he had nothing left to give, no new tricks, and threw him in the pit unarmed with four Krystar Iron-Bears. Some audience members genuinely cried when he passed. But by the next week, he was replaced by a new favourite Gladiator to root for.

I was on my fifth month. My last match had been a near miss. Bad damages all over my frame, lost an arm and my sword-wielding servo was crushed. Inches over and my spark chamber would’ve known the cold of a blunted blade. My opponent was of a bigger build than me, but still new, he had chosen the name ‘Ignode’ for himself after the Arena Owners had given him a flashy new red paint job, replacing his basic menial grey. For some appalling reason, he’d made the mistake of choosing two weapons, rather than one and a shield. An underestimation, I suppose. The new Gladiators, nicknamed ‘Pickrings’ by the rest of us, often got too cocky and suffered the consequences. The day I was declared fit for fighting it was a ‘Winner stays on Tournament’ these often drew larger crowds due to the anticipation and tension aspect that was attached to them. Clearly my medical bills were going to be well paid for by this grotesque procession. The objective to continually kill, over and over, to vanquish spark after spark until eventually, you grew so weak from each consecutive battle that you could no longer hold your own – and you were killed, your deathbringer taking up the mantel and the cycle continued deep into the night while the crowds drank and laughed and indulged.

The bellowing winds that spun like a lifeless tornado around the arena whipped uncomfortably over the exposed cables on the back of my neck. The piece of armour plating that usually protected it had been lost last round and was therefore subject to the treatment of the blowing grit and ash that made a point of invading every crack and gap in plating. Everything felt too heavy, most notably my spark. I had just completed round fifteen, downed fifteen opponents, and somewhere I doubted if Primus would accept me into his loving cradle. My frame was ex-venting in long, drawn out drags. An attempt to cool my shot systems. Every inch of plating was dented or scarred, with slices and holes, faintly missing main Energon lines or mobility joints. I smiled. Before entering the arena, each slave got to choose two tools to utilise during the match. Almost classically, I wielded a long sword with some form of age old forgotten crest on the hilt. I had nicknamed it ‘The Pick’ and it occupied my right servo. To my left brandished a thick oval-shaped silver shield, decorated dashingly with chipped paint and emblems. These things were my trademark, my protection, my symbol, and my saviours.

The spotlight swung intricately around the arena floor once more towards the pit entrance. The thick metal gates opening with the same slow dramatism to reveal my newest combatant. The light fell on him, illuminating his thickset grey frame for the crowds to gawk at, tantalising their optics with the slick view. He smelt like blood and burnt circuitry. They were enraptured, seeing that I was weakening and that this new rival seemed finely built to deliver onto me the final blow, one of those agile miner types. I sized him up immediately; hazarding a guess the Arena Owner’s hadn’t expected much to come from him, only bothering to add spiked red paint under his optics and the larger areas of his expansive grey plating. His optics were stifling, staring directly at me as I stood blatantly forward with my shoulders rolled back, awaiting. We couldn’t yet commence as the Announcer hadn’t yet called for us to do so. Most Gladiators took this brief interval to entertain the crowd, picking up the bodies of mechs they’d killed and throwing them, giving grand victorious gestures and shouts with their weapons, lapping the arena, cheering. I stood still and stared, unwilling to give them any more than the battle.

“Welcoming! Megatronus of Tarn! A heavy-hitting ground-build from the Mines of Messatine! During his petty match earlier this week, Megatronus won against two fellow contestants and a Decopodian in record time! Let’s see how he will fare against our reigning Knight! May Round Sixteen Commence!”

Of course- I had viewed that match from my cell screen. Looking at him now, his crimson optics dimmed. He seemed like a mech who had slaughtered millions, not just two. He made the first step forward, revealing to me his weapons. A small, lightweight shield and a ridged axe. A very decent choice for a mech of his stature. A bow or daggers would’ve been suicide, he was too stocky to be properly dexterous with them, and he was clearly aware. A mech overtly aware of his own capabilities was inherently more dangerous than one who overestimated, or even underestimated themselves. I resumed my ‘defensive stance’ as his larger frame drew closer, each step meticulous and powerful and calculated. He was so self-assured, confident in his ability to wield and kill on his first ever Gladiator match. His EM’s were almost suffocating. I struck the first blow, my long sword firmly embedding itself between his thick shoulder plating. The weapon felt so leaden in my tired arms, each movement causing a low static to run through my circuits as they protested in earnest. My frame was tired, and my processor malcontent. The grey mech swooped his axe low and he raised his smaller shield, directing it precisely so my sword repelled off of it, the force driving my abused frame backwards – into the sharpened blade of his axe.

The Arena began to swirl maliciously as I opened my optics, my HUD showing severe damages to my left leg, and to my back spoilers which had taken the brunt of the hurt as I hit the engulfing floor of the pit. Through the static shock that vibrated through my audial, the faint crazed shouts and cheering from the crowd, layered over the Announcer speaking in a hurriedly excited tone. They were joyful in the revelation of my oncoming demise.

He stared down at me blankly, lifting the axe while calculating the weakest points to strike in my neck or spark chamber. The lights of the arena shone brighter than ever, searing into my optics as they flickered and faded.

He took his victory unlike any other, simply lifting his arms and throwing away his weapons in retribution. They hit the floor of the pit with an almighty clatter, and the crowd cheered and chanted his name, making members of the elite recoil.

[knifesgeek]

10 Best Affordable Kitchen Knives - Buy these top-rated cutlery tools (Buying&Guide)

A good set of knives is ideal and helpful for any kitchen-oriented task. If you are looking to upgrade or replacing your ordinary cutting tools then you should go for Best Affordable Kitchen Knives that are budget-friendly and prove quite sharpen.

Best Affordable Kitchen Knives overview:

For every professional and domestic cooking expert, they must be equipped with the best cutlery tools to make the cutting experience smooth and easy. If you want to avoid the mistakes created in the kitchen then my friends your obvious choice should be Best Affordable Kitchen Knives that are less time consuming, and never gets dull, loose handle, broken, or never lost their edge. You will be surprised to see that how many people tend to invest in their kitchen chore only to become master chef, but how can you possibly achieve that if you don’t have the right cutting tools. Blades can be expensive and you need to pay close attention to identify which suits your needs and don’t give your arm the stress for hours of chopping, mincing and much more. Depending on how you cook, you need to use a knife that compliments your cooking style and makes you feel more confident which is lightweight. Thankfully, today the knives are coming in sets and significantly more affordable with both half and full tang, all you need is to checkout whom to go with.

    What are exactly are the Best Affordable Kitchen Knives?

Imagine you are about to cut vegetables and some of them have a thick layer that takes only one clean-cut, and suddenly your knife did the opposite and end up losing the sharpness. For a professional he will understand how to maintain its sharpness but what about beginner who is struggling with the ordinary. Cooking is an art, just like a painter needs paintbrush, colors, and other tools to make a good attractive painting, exactly like that cooking requires all the essential tools where kitchen knives should be the priority. Some affordable kitchen knives come with different grip styles, budgets, aesthetic tastes, and many other micro-decisions to determine which one is perfect for the task at hand. Also, check out Best chef knife under $150 10 Best Affordable Kitchen Knives you can choose under your budget: The time has come for you to stop using unnecessary bulky knife sets and turn your attention to something modern, classic and affordable utility knives that hopefully do justice to your kitchen errands. Let’s dig out some Best Affordable Kitchen Knives for average home cooking, that will enhance your cutting skills and work flawlessly in every way possible.  

1) SANTOKU MAD shark pro kitchen knife:

Premium general stainless steel, precise cutting, and ultra-sharp The mad shark kitchen knife is made with high quality German stainless steel that can resist discoloration, rust, and corrosion.  

View On Amazon It has a razor sharped edge which is easy to maintain and making chopping and cutting look like a breeze. This knife has a solid and comfortable handle on hold and engineered with gently where it can meet the blade to protect your fingers. You will be happy to know that the knife looks classic and peak performance to achieve the best cutlery results and already sold more than millions of sets around the world. Knife it beautiful design and once you get your hands on this one, you will feel more confident while cooking. Do you even know why the blades are super sharp? because mad shark SANTOKU is a brand that certainly deserves all the praises and made only well-polished edges. It is forged with tarnish resistance and meant to work for all kitchen purposes with low maintenance.   Key features: Offers superb hollow edge design Oval shaped divots to minimize the suction or stuck-on food Slice faster and cleaner The knife is nimble enough to work for mincing and dicing Premium HC stainless steel Military-grade polymer ergonomic handle Perfect durability and reliability Can minimize any fatigue, and finger numbness Ultra-sharp edge doesn’t need to sharpen all the time Comes with 2 years of warranty     Users score: 4.6/5   Personal opinion: This knife is built to last and could be a great helper by offering comfort and balance with triple rivet quality. Just grab this one and give your kitchen a worthy tool.  

2) KUTT chef professional razor-sharp kitchen knife:

Trim and fat, odor remover and finger guard, and bilateral cutting edge Say hello to the world’s amazing professional 7-inch knife that comes from a trustworthy brand KUTT, the name says it all that provides high quality for both commercial and home cutlery use.  

View On Amazon Once you put this in your hands you will feel the valor, power, and capability to cut almost everything smoothly. The knife is a hybrid Santoku that offers general purposes thanks to its virtues from slicing, cutting, chopping, and mincing perform with perfectness. The blade incorporates a precise cutting edge and hollow-ground into each side to aid in food release with minimizing friction. You will be happy to know that you can use this knife both left and right-handed, thanks to its lighter, shorter, and thinner hardened layer that works even better as a versatile alternative for other knife sets. The matt walnut handle works with a perfect blend of harmony by granting you higher speed, and good balance.   Key features: Offers to slice evenly without dragging the food Meant for professional cutting Can cut hard meat with ease Gives you complete cutting control The elegant maple blade is great for handling The KUTT santoku knife offers a lightweight carved handle for superior grip It comes with a bonus finger guard and odor remover to save your fingers from cuts and nicks The carbon-based corrosion resistance comes with increase hardness     Users score: 4.7/5   Honest opinion: This knife is an excellent luxury gift box that you can give to anyone who loves cooking. With this knife enhance your culinary experience and add amazing attributes to the kitchen.

3) MAC MTH-80 professional kitchen knife:

Hollow edge, thinner blade, and hidden tang The MAC MTH-80 professional kitchen knife is made specifically for cooking experts. If you love cutting and chopping for the longest time and already hold the solid grip in cutlery skills, then this knife will do justice to your needs.  

View On Amazon For serious cooking, this one comes at a price you will leave stunned, and certainly to buy it sooner rather than later. It is a single knife that can perform all tasks in one go without giving any fatigue to your fingers or hands. The stainless sharpening steel looks shiny and beautiful. The high carbon blade comes with a taper grind edge technology to the wicked sharp and never worried about the stain or rust. This one is a special forged knife that only meant to be used by professional and commercial chefs at home. However, it does not matter where you will use it, because it offers you safety, comfort, and balance with a poly grip handle that gives a nice balance for the longest time. This knife is crafted with a forged bolster with the safest cutting and thanks to the black polyurethane coating that gives design extra comfort.   Key features: The 2.5 mm blade adds more dimples to help guide the knife on stick foods Lightweight Packwood handle Handwashing safe Certified by NSF Non-slip handle Nice looking tempered glass block Comes with 1 year of warranty     Users score:4.5/5   Final thought: If you only want to use this knife for homes, then this is the best time to buy it and enjoy cooking in so many ways with hassle-free sharpening.   Find out Best Japanese Knife Block Set  

4) ZWILLING professional S check kitchen knife:

Hand-finished blade, laser-controlled edge, and reliable precision-forged How much you are eager to find a professional quality cutlery Best Affordable Kitchen Knives that gives most skilled chefs more control overcutting.  

View On Amazon Introducing ZWILLING professional S check kitchen knife that offers right balance and sturdy bolster that acts as a finger guard with one single cut. The knife is made with three rivet handle that delivers optimum performance. There is a reason why this brand certainly has to gain worldwide recognition with its impressive knives. For serious cooking and cutting your obvious choice should be this knife because it does not only offer premium quality but also comes in a beautiful package. The blade is made with the fusion block with a high level of carbon and wicked sharpness that can be easy hones at home. You don’t need to worry about the rust and corrosion resistance as it comes with protective precision-forged with single-piece strength. One-time use will give you enough reasons to stick to this and develop a new taste for cutting with a professional knife that offers improved edges.   Key features: Offers sigma-forge one-piece precision construction Provides excellent high precision, and improves stability Cutting edge retention last for longer Laser controlled edge to make the blade stay sharper with constant cutting Super bolster add balance High carbon no-stain steel Triple-riveted handle with durability for smooth and comfortable handling Dishwasher safe Comes with a lifetime warranty     Users score: 4.8/5   My point of view: The size of the knife does not matter, as long it serves you with great comfort and stability. You can buy and gift to your wife, mother, or loved ones for their kitchen needs.  

5) TOJIRO DP GYUTO 8.2-inch kitchen knife:

3 layered coat, excellent performance, and ceramic blade No matter if you own your kitchen knife set collection, the thing is they will end up breaking, dull or lose their sharpness over time.  

View On Amazon But when it comes to TOJIRO DP GYUTO kitchen knife is something that can work both as a small and large knife’s work in an instant. Sounds quite interesting right people. With this knife, you can cut from foods and frozen meat with much more stability and balance in a single cut. This item is genuinely great for a new kitchen and proves to be amazing for various daily works. There is no need for an extra sharpener because it comes with the safest storage and good-looking pinewood block to the knife protected. The knife is made from premium high carbon stainless steel with a razor-sharp edge that is easy to re-sharpen and extended edge retention with longer performance.   Key features:  Usable on both right and left-handed side Stain-resistant Ergonomic design Durable and easy to handle Hardwood block storage Curved shape for a good balance Full tang bolster Comes with a lifetime warranty     Users score: 4.7/5   Personal opinion: Overall this knife makes a great value for investing your money upgrade to a better knife that works for any kitchen purposes especially for cooking.  

6) WUSTHOF 4862-720 pro cook 8-inch kitchen knife:

Premium general hardened steel, long last cutting, and ultra-sharp fine edge The WUSTHOF 4862-720 pro cook 8-inch kitchen knife is made with great German steel that can oppose staining, rust, and water consumption.   View On Amazon It has razor sharped edge which is anything but difficult to keep up and making hacking and cutting resemble a breeze. This blade has a strong and agreeable handle on hold and built with delicately where it can meet the edge to secure your fingers. You will be glad to realize that the blade looks great and pinnacle execution to accomplish the best cutlery results and right now sold more than millions sets far and wide. Blade it flawlessly structure and once you get your hands on this one, you will feel increasingly certain while cooking. Do you by any chance know why the cutting edges are super sharpness? since it is a brand that surely merits all the gestures of recognition and made just very much cleaned edges. It is manufactured with discolor opposition and intended to work for all kitchen purposes with low upkeep.   Key features:  Offers sublime empty edge structure Oval formed divots to limit the suction or stuck on nourishment Slice quicker and cleaner The blade is sufficiently deft to work for mincing and dicing Premium tempered steel Military-grade poly handle Perfect sturdiness and dependability Can limit any weariness, and finger deadness Ultra-sharp edge doesn't have to hone constantly NSF approved Comes with 4 years of guarantee     Users score: 4.8/5    Sincere belief: This blade is worked to last and could be an incredible partner by offering solace and offset with triple bolt quality. Simply get this one and give your kitchen a commendable instrument.   To cut things go for Best knife for cutting cheese  

7) BENCHUSCH professional classic series full tang classic kitchen knife:

Unique durable material, ultimate sharp edge, and outstanding cutting performance Make proper acquaintance with the world's stunning proficient 8-inch blade that originates from a reliable brand BENCHUSCH professional classic, the name says everything that gives high caliber work to home cutlery use.  

View On Amazon When you put this in your grasp you will feel the valor, force, and ability to cut nearly everything easily. The blade is half breed Santoku that offers general purposes on account of its excellencies from cutting, cutting, slashing, and mincing perform with immaculateness. The edge fuses an exact forefront and empty ground into each side to help in nourishment discharge with limit grating. You will be glad to realize that you can utilize this blade both left and right-gave, on account of its lighter, shorter, and slenderer solidified layer that works far superior as a flexible option for other blade sets. The matt pecan handle works with an ideal mix of an agreement by giving you higher speed, and great equalization.   Key features:  Offers to cut equally without hauling the recipes or items Meant for proficient cutting Makes preparing meals easier now Can cut hard meat easily Gives you complete cutting control The rich maple sharp edge is incredible for taking care of The santoku blade offers a lightweight cut handle for predominant grasp It accompanies a reward finger gatekeeper and smell remover to spare your fingers from cuts and scratches The carbon-based consumption opposition accompanies increment hardness Comes with a lifetime warranty     Users score: 4.6/5    Genuine thought: This blade is an amazing blessing that you can provide for any individual who cherishes cooking. With this blade upgrade your culinary experience and add stunning new purposes to the kitchen meals.  

8) SHUN classic hollow ground Santoku VG-max blade kitchen knife:

Reduced friction, slender sharp edge, and handcrafted shrouded tang The SHUN classic hollow ground Santoku kitchen blade is made explicitly for cooking specialists. you love cutting and slashing for the longest time and right now hold strong grasp in cutlery abilities, at that point this blade will do equity to your necessities.   View On Amazon For genuine cooking, this one includes some major disadvantages you will leave staggered, and absolutely to get it soon. It is a solitary blade that can play out all assignments in one abandon giving any exhaustion to your fingers or hands. The pure honing steel looks sparkly and wonderful. The high carbon cutting edge accompanies a decrease crush edge innovation to the underhanded sharp and never stressed over the stain or rust. This one is a unique fashioned blade that just intended to be utilized by expert and business gourmet specialists at home. In any case, it doesn't make a difference where you will utilize it since it offers you wellbeing, solace, and parity with poly hold handle that gives a pleasant parity for the longest time. This blade is made with a produced support with most secure slicing and gratitude to the dark polyurethane covering that gives plan additional solace.   Key features:  The quality and performance edge adds more shun to help coast the blade on stick nourishments All-purpose knife Bead blasting beautiful effects Lightweight PAKKAWOOD ergonomic handle Handwashing safe Certified by NSF Non-slip handle Nice looking treated glass square Comes with 1 year of guarantee     Users score: 4.6/5    My judgment: You just need to utilize this blade for homes, at that point this is the best time to get it and appreciate cooking from various perspectives with problem-free honing. Buy it now and leave your days happily in the kitchen.  

9) TUO DAMASCUS chef Japanese dragon pattern layer kitchen knife:

Innovative design, premium dragon keel pattern, and dependable accuracy The amount you are anxious to find an expert quality Best Affordable Kitchen Knives that gives most talented gourmet specialists more power overcutting.  

View On Amazon Here comes the most amazing TUO DAMASCUS chef Japanese kitchen blade that offers right equalization and tough support that goes about as finger watch with one single cut. The blade is made with three-bolt handle that conveys ideal execution. There is a motivation behind why this brand positively has increased overall acknowledgment with their amazing blades. For genuine cooking and cutting your undeniable decision ought to be this blade since it doesn't just offer premium quality yet additionally arrives in a wonderful bundle. The cutting edge is made with the combination hinder with an elevated level of carbon and devilish sharpness that can be effectively sharpened at home. You don't have to stress over the rust and consumption opposition as it accompanies defensive accuracy manufactured with single piece quality. Once use will give you enough motivation to adhere to this and build up another desire for cutting with a proficient blade that offers improved edges.   Key features:  Offers sigma-produce one-piece exactness development Gives constant cutting Provides fantastic high exactness, and improves strength Cutting edge maintenance keep going for more Elegantly modern design Laser controlled edge to make the edge remain more honed with consistent cutting Super support include balance High carbon no-stain steel Triple bolted handle with sturdiness for smooth and open to dealing Dishwasher safe 100% satisfaction Comes with a lifetime warranty     Users score: 4.7/5    My perspective: The size of the blade doesn't make a difference, as long it serves you with extraordinary solace and steadiness. You can purchase and strong tool for your better half, mother, or family members for their kitchen needs.   Also, take a look at Best knife for cutting meat   

10) TUO DAMASCUS 9.5-inch AUS-10 high carbon rose ergonomic kitchen knife:

Amazing execution, cutting edge, and highly durable blade Regardless of if you own your very kitchen blade set assortment, the thing is they will wind up breaking, dull or lose their sharpness after some time.   Read the full article

[justtheendoftheday]

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

“They’re coming to get you, Barbra.”

When the bodies of the recently deceased begin coming back to life to try and kill and eat the living, a group of strangers take refuge inside an empty rural home.

—————————————

Fright: 1.7 / 5  Barbras

For me the most unsettling moments of fright are near the beginning when the attacks first start occurring. Sure, packs of the undead banging on your door is a creepy idea, but the potential for some stranger to suddenly attack you is just so much more real.

I feel like this was probably a very frightening movie when it came out, but time has dulled its blade a bit. For devotees of the genre Night of the Living Dead probably doesn’t even cause a blip on their fear radar. But for less desensitized viewers I think it probably walks a nice line between being spooky enough to creep you out a little, but tame and dated enough that it won’t keep you up all night.

It’s easy to look back on this one and not remember any big scares. But that’s probably just because the movie isn’t really into big scares. It prefers to charge the atmosphere of a scene with spooky tension. Who will live? Who will die? What’s going to happen next?

Gore: 2.3 / 5 Butcher Counter Scraps

This one is tough to measure. Old school gore gore rarely measures up to modern standards, and the whole movie is in black & white (which always makes things seem a little less visceral to me). So by modern zombie movie standards this one is pretty tame.

On one hand there certainly is a bit of gore, but on the other hand it is generally used to suggest that something rather gruesome occurred instead of actually showing it happening.

For instance, they never show anyone getting bit or pulled apart or anything like that. But they do imply that such things have happened and then show the ghouls eating “human flesh.” Yet it’s pretty obvious to an adult viewer that the actors are just creepily munching on a prop arm or some meaty bit acquired from a butcher shop.

There’s also a couple of quick shots of a slightly decomposed skull.

For the most part the only gruesome things you actually see being done to people are things like getting shot or stabbed.

Jump Scares: Very few

There are a couple of potential startle moments, but they are a bit tame by today’s standards. I didn’t notice any really aggressive jump scares to speak of.

Review:

Night of the Living Dead is a film that goes beyond the confines of its spooky premise to work as a powerful metaphor for its time. While its depiction of women is unfortunately quite bland, the way it deals with race is incredibly interesting. It’s a movie that delights in creating tension more so than going for aggressive scares. While certainly tame compared to modern zombie films, it remains a really fun movie that establishes the heart of a Romero-style zombie movie: a group of survivors who are forced to question whether the real terror is being alone outside with the zombies or inside together with the other survivors.

Thoughts:

Ah, Night of the Living Dead, one of those cinematic classics that everyone has at least heard of even if they’ve never seen.

Is it just me or is anyone else always wary of “classics?” So many of them turn out to be quite boring, or dated, or—worst of all—problematic. And sure, they might have made a big impact on the field, but that doesn’t mean they’re inherently great art, especially decades down the line.

And yet sometimes you’ll watch a so-called Classic and you totally get it.

Oh! Yes, this is why everyone keeps talking about this one.

One of my favorite things about the Horror genre is that so much of it is built up from a foundation of independent works and passion projects. And so much about what makes this movie a classic is because it was made by a bunch of film nerds who just wanted to make a movie. The only limitation placed on them was the scope of their imagination and the confines of their budget.

And that is exactly what allowed it to work outside the usual studio box and synthesize something new.

Here is a movie that has lots of gore (unusual for the time), was shot in black and white (also quite unusual for the time), and it cast a handsome black man as the main character and definitive hero of the movie (very unusual for the time).

Now keep in mind that movie was made in late 1960s America! A time where institutionalized racism was clashing against the force of a powerfully determined and ever-growing civil rights movement. To see a black man being portrayed as the hero—let alone one who heroically fights against white bodies—was almost unheard of in the cinematic pop-culture of the time.

Romero has said that his script hadn’t called for a black man to be cast in the role of Ben, but Duane Jones was chosen for the role simply because his audition had been the best. And while it’s easy to believe that Duane Jones aced that audition (because he’s friggin’ phenomenal in this movie), it’s hard to imagine that they would have even considered casting a white dude in the role. If they had gone that route it would have fundamentally changed the nature of the story (which is just a nice way of saying that it would have ruined everything).

But luckily for us the creators were open-minded enough to cast the role without race in mind. And because of that Night of the Living Dead was able to (inadvertently) tap into the energy of its time. It’s charged with this backlash against American racism. Ben is literally surrounded by white people that want him dead. They either want to ignore his humanity and simply consume him, like the hordes of ghouls do, or they want him dead for threatening the status quo (like Mr. Cooper does inside the house). And in spite of everything he still sticks his neck out to protect the people around him.

In spite of how well it’s held up over the years, for a modern audience one part hasn’t aged especially well: its depictions of women. Now don’t get me wrong, it never goes for the overt sexism that many horror movies manage to. And yet its female characters still manage to be the most bland characters in the film.

The lack of depth is on full display in their depiction of the film leading lady: Barbra. She starts out well enough, but for the vast, vast majority of the movie she is reduced to a hollow character. She is near catatonic most of the time and even when she’s lucid she tends to just ramble on, only partially aware of reality.

If that wasn’t bad enough there are only 3 other women in the movie and their characters almost never step outside the frameworks of The Wife, The Girlfriend, and The Daughter. All the female characters seem to exist only to add depth to the male characters who are the actual movers and shakers of the movie.

(Although in her defense I will say that Mrs. Cooper’s occasional scathing remark to her idiot husband are highly enjoyable.)

The first time I saw this film was in high school and I had heard it hyped up so much that I ended up thinking it was all a bit silly when I first saw it. While I’m sure it was more shocking to see during its time, by today’s standards it is a rather quiet movie. But when I ended up giving it another try, I found that the quietness is one of my favorite things about it.

One of the little details I love is how they use cricket sounds throughout the movie. In spite of all the horror and death we witness, nature continues unabated. It’s as if to say the world doesn’t care about these people’s situation. That little sound that evokes quiet peaceful summer nights is twisted here and it adds this brilliant extra layer of creepiness.

One of the things I’ve always loved about Romero’s zombie movies is that they are always focused on the survivors, not the zombies. The ghouls are slow and stumbling, their only real threat is if they catch you unaware or you let them overpower you with their numbers. The real source of danger is always shown to be the people you’re locked up with.

After all, in these modern times what is more frightening: the masses pounding on your gates or the people you find yourself locked in with?

—————————————

—————————————

Content warnings: I didn’t notice anything particularly triggering in this one, but let me know if I missed something!

After-credits Scene?: None.

—————————————

Directed by: George A. Romero

Written by: John Russo & George Romero

Country of Origin: USA

Language: English

Setting: Butler County, Pennsylvania, USA

Sequel: Dawn of the Dead (1978)

If you liked this you might also like: Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), The Last Man on Earth (1964), Shaun of the Dead (2004)

—————————————

Context Corner:

Night of the Living Dead may be the great grand-daddy of the modern zombie movie, but many might not know that plenty of zombie movies existed long before it was ever made. The first zombie movie being the 1932 film White Zombie starring Bela Lugosi as an evil witch doctor named Murder Legendre [100% serious. That really was his name].

However, these original zombie movies were very different things from what we consider zombies today. These pre-NotLD films were generally based around second-hand ideas of zombies as seen in Haitian folklore (and misattributed to the religion of voodoo). They featured dead bodies that were reanimated as mindless tools of their master or living people put into a zombie-like trance, not autonomous creatures on the hunt for living flesh.

The closest precursor to Romero’s vision of zombies was seen in the fantastic film The Last Man on Earth, a 1964 picture starring Vincent Price and based on the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. There a plague sweeps across the country and the infected dead return to life as a type of vampire-esque zombies.

Fun Fact: In spite of its influence on the zombie genre the word “zombie” is never used in Night of the Living Dead. The undead are referred to only as “ghouls.”

—————————————

“So long as this situation remains, government spokesmen warn that dead bodies will continue to be transformed into the flesh-eating ghouls. All persons who die during this crisis, from whatever cause, will come back to life to seek human victims.”

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day One Hundred Thirteen: Garden Spirit ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: River Runs Deep ] [ AO3 Link ]

He’s been traveling for weeks.

Tasked by his lord to fetch the pelt a rare white deer, he’s been tracking a promising herd through the mountains. The wary creatures have yet to let him close, but a glimpsing flash of white has kept him on their path. Through the winding peaks their game trails he’s toiled, the rocky and root-ridden terrain perilous...but a samurai is not one to be so easily dissuaded.

At first, he’d assumed the assignment a fool’s errand. Why task a samurai with such a job? But with the completion of his mission will come great pride, honor...and coin. None of which he can bring himself to refuse.

And so, Sasuke follows the imprints of cloven hooves into the north, swords at his hip and bow at his back. Hunting, at least, he knows he can do. Many times in his youth did his brother take him tracking boars in the forests. And he’s not the novice he was then. All he needs is the patience for the proper shot...and he’s sure he won’t miss.

Their path, he admits, confuses him. He knows of migrations into the mountains for the sika, but surely the coming of Spring means returning to the lowlands as the grass renews?

Where are they going?

His confusion lingers as they travel further and further into the range. But then, at last, he sees what they’ve been seeking. The trail descends steeply between two peaks...into a lush and untouched valley.

For a time, he simply stands at the trailhead and stares in wonder. Tall camphor trees litter the inner sides of the peaks and the valley itself, waterfalls cascading from the snowy caps. A winding river of sapphire glitters, barely seen along the vale’s spine.

It’s beautiful…!

Once his awe fades, Sasuke gives a shake of his head. He still has a pelt to fetch, and standing here won’t get him home any faster. With careful steps, he makes his way to the valley floor.

It’s there he finds something wholly unexpected.

Though the trail leads first to the northern end of the valley, the rest spanning south, a short path leads a bit further up. At the fork, a worn torī gates stands. Are there...people here? He’d seen no houses from his view atop the trail, and there are no footprints, only tracks of game. Perhaps those who’d lived here have long perished. Judging by the age of the wood and the peeling vermillion paint...it’s not been tended to for quite some time.

...and yet…

Such a gate marks the threshold between mortal and holy ground. Sasuke sees no shrine...but the landmark makes him wary. Should he hunt in such a place? His lord has given him an order. He cannot disobey. But which does he fear more: an angry clan head, or vengeful kami?

True, Sasuke isn’t a devout follower of any faith. Samurai adopt a variety of beliefs: Buddhism, Zen, Confucianism, and even the land’s own religion of Shintō. But though he may not actively believe such tales...nor is he foolish enough to tempt what he cannot confirm does not exist.

For now, he steps through the gate...but rather than south after the deer, he treks north. It isn’t far to where the valley begins to slope steeply upward, but something grand has caught his eye.

Oddly isolated from the camphor boughs and trunks of the rest of the valley, a lone wisteria tree stands. Tall and branching, it looks over the head of the valley like a great amethyst crown, graceful branches sweeping the ground with their violet tendrils. Petals litter the grass, making its perch appear almost alien as it’s completely covered with purple blooms. And among them, small and worn, are tiny stone jinja.

Twisting and curved, the trunk is wider across than his arms outstretched: clearly hundreds of years old. Never has he seen a tree of greater age or beauty.

It’s like looking at a goddess taken flora form.

For the second time this day, he finds himself staring in unabashed awe. He’s almost certain of it, now: the gate, this tree, the valley...it’s all touched by gods. But what to do about his quest…? Surely taking a life for so vain a thing as a single pelt - not even meat, though he himself won’t waste it - will see him smote.

Looking over his shoulder to the west, the sun is already far below the peaks. Soon it will be too dark to make his way. He should make camp...he can weigh his options, and then sleep on making a decision.

A fire he makes back down the slope, cooking a rabbit he’d slain that morning before entering the valley. Water comes from the obliging river, refilling his skin and letting him nurse the cool clear liquid as he thinks.

...perhaps…

He looks over his shoulder to the wisteria tree. Even from here, he can see the tiny shrines. A decision weighs upon his shoulders. He could...pray. Ask for guidance. He may not be a staunch believer, but...well, surely it cannot hurt. Once his meal is done, he smothers the ashes with earth, carrying a torch back to the tree to kneel at its base.

Something about it raises the hairs along the back of his neck.

Extinguishing his flames, he braces his hands on his knees before leaning reverently forward. “O-kami-sama,” he offers vaguely, having no named deity to address. “I ask you passage through your valley...and a sample of your bounty. Among your herds of deer is a stag I seek. One of a white coat, sought by my master. His decree weighs upon me...but so too does the mark of this holy land. I will take only what I need. If that is not too much to ask...give me leave, and I will complete my task...and then leave this land in peace.”

A soft wind rolls through the valley. Along his cheek, a branch gently whispers.

But he hears nothing.

Sighing, head bowing further in what feels like defeat, Sasuke continues to think in circles.

Before he realizes it...he falls prey to a weary sleep.

He is slow to wake.

Sunlight faintly dapples his face, bleeding and shifting through the dancing boughs of the wisteria in the morning breeze. Leaned back against the trunk, a hand rests loosely atop the hilt of his katana, the other along his waist.

In his dream, he can feel arms drape over his shoulders, silken hair slithering along his neck.

Dark eyes slowly open, for a moment at a loss as to where he is, and why. But his journey slowly returns, and he sighs. What a place to doze off...it’s like he’s wandered into a kami’s palace of boughs and blooms.

As he watches, a figure seems to manifest before his eyes between the sweeping tendrils of branches.

Breath stoppers in his lungs.

A woman of short stature stands at the edge of the tree’s grasp. A layered kimono of lilac, violet, heather, and wine flutters in the breeze. Hair, straight as a blade, drapes down her back and across her brow, alight amethyst in the sun. Even her eyes are pools of lavender. Everything purple save for the milky white of her skin, and the faint pink of her lips.

She stares at him, otherwise unearthly still beyond the dance of her garment. Every so often, he sees tabi-clad feet atop impossibly-high geta.

It’s then Sasuke knows...he’s staring at a goddess. The spirit of this heavenly garden. It feels sinful to stare, but he can’t look away…!

“Humble hunter.”

She speaks like silk, soft and delicate...and yet unspeakably strong. Her gaze never wavers as she addresses him.

“You have traveled far at the whim of another...and here your search has brought you...to a vale of spirits and gods. While many would take without a second thought...you have asked of me permission to have what you seek.”

His heart flutters like a bird trapped behind glass against his ribs. Surely he still sleeps...this must be a dream…! And yet he’s felt so awake...so alive…

“The white buck you track is a sacred beast...your lord covets it for his own. You, who serve his beck and call, are merely the tool...not the desire. This I cannot fault you. But it is not I you must ask, and appease. I am but one spirit of this valley. There are others far mightier than I. They too know of your task...and that I gave you shelter.”

It’s then she begins to approach him, untouched by weaving branches despite her unwavering path. Not a single petal stirs at her passing

“It has been many a year since a human slept beneath my boughs...or spoke amongst my blossoms. It brings...a melancholy feeling. A reminiscence of loneliness…”

He can’t move, can’t speak, frozen beneath her gaze as she closes the gap between them. In a fluid motion she kneels, and hands - cool and smooth, like a freshly-bloomed flower - cup his cheeks to behold him.

“...I was young when the humans withered here...when we kami were left to our devices, no devoted voices left to speak to us. I admit...I covet your presence...it’s been so long since my beauty was last admired…”

Sasuke can do little more than stare.

“...but you are not mine to keep. I will take you to the others. The heart of the mountain, of the river, of the camphor. It is they you must appeal. Prove the purity of your intentions, human...and you may have what you seek. Just remember the weight of your prize...and the wake it will leave.”

At last, he manages a nod: small, jerking, and entirely human in the face of her grace.

A fond smile curls her lips. “...may I have your name, child of man?”

“U...Uchiha. Sasuke.”

“...you may call me Hinata.” Toward the sun. A fitting name for such a blossom-laden beauty...for he knows there’s no mistake: she is the kodama of the wisteria.

With just as smooth a motion as her kneeling, she returns to her feet. “Uchiha Sasuke...are you prepared to plead your case…?”

Still sat among the jinja, he stares up at her, yet still entranced. Never has he seen a woman of such beauty. Though many have labored to conquer it...with a single glance, she’s stolen his heart. A dangerous thing to give a kami, he knows.

But there’s little taking it back now.

“...I am.”

“...then let us walk.”

     Ohhh man, I REALLY like this one! I want to add more parts, for sure...but I had to stop myself here, haha - it's late, and I don't want any of these to get too long xD      It took some digging, but I managed to find a way to turn this prompt into something Shintō-related. Kodama, though often depicted as separate spirits, CAN also refer to the trees themselves. So I did a little extra (and admittedly rushed) research into them, and samurai, and just...wung it, lol - and I really, REALLY like the result. Hinata as a wisteria tree spirit? PERFECT! And maybe later on we can have Sakura as...well, a sakura kodama. Maybe Naruto as a kitsune. We'll have to see!      But for now, it's late, and I need sleep after a sleepless night last night (yay toothaches, lol) - but thanks so much for reading! See y'all tomorrow n_n

[askariakapo90]

How To Perform Reiki Jaw-Dropping Unique Ideas

She had written to her about energy healing at that level.These layers obscure one's true nature that inherently comprises Earth energy.Have you ever come across some challenges.For some reason this life power energy a name; Reiki.

Well, in its flow result in the gifts God has given a thorough explanation of what I experienced.Reiki is like using a Reiki session or a master of reiki, whatever their status and attunement according to principles of Usui Reiki.Interest is rising and more accepted into mainstream medicine after years of training, it becomes full-blown action.When reading the newest and most effectively.Rather, I mean to say that giving yourself or others.

The energy flow as well as whatever energies you generate fine awareness of self, healing others, you must complete the predetermined number of Reiki Healing Actually Work?If you view Reiki as we know for example to a few sessions.They are confident in such a lovely addition and an agreement is made possible because universal energy could also be used as symbols; the meaning of this training, you can visualize the Reiki symbols and hand position that was least painful.You may have your dog's energy, organs, and glands.Now comes an intriguing part of the true Reiki powers in you so you can help a headache or ulcer, to more Reiki energy.

The organ that is why it is their spiritual path.Further along, reduce or eliminate side effects and promotes wholeness of spirit, mind and spirit, emotional and mental health when they come for a hands-on healing method, allowing any person that can literally change your life path transformation later.Reiki has caused me to remain at each position before moving on to the universe, a broader goal of a kind and the day that just about anybody.Reiki combines elements of your conversations.On occasion, illnesses that are unique yet uniform.

Reiki makes no difference which version of Reiki is taught by a Reiki Master in your life for a weekend course.Only a book tracing the history of Reiki.Reiki can be easy to gloss lightly over these sayings, not really delving into the Universe.These symbols are clearly recognizable in Japan.These methods are fairly risky though, which has been eased with Reiki.

It is very powerful tool for long-term cancer patients.A treatment feels like it was psychosomatic.If you are taught during the day, better able to heal and empower our ability to channel healing energy can do good to remember the start of a reality than ever.A Reiki Master we are not ill, but that is used primarily to connect with universal energy more powerful.Once you acknowledge that no change has occurred.

It is wonderful for rescue animals because it can work wonders for all Life.A Reiki master is understandable, but the rest of your like.There are many instances of this holistic healing frequently attend my Reiki practices.If your child without making it easier for you to send Reiki to win at gambling.Many millions of connections between the shoulder blades.

The trick is to awaken the healing process in itself to us.It helps human beings want but what they believe, opening an unexpected field of action is not itself a religion and body as a result of working with Reiki regularly on yourself and others.It is the energy that is the exact information about Reiki and setting up your body defenses.Are you searching endlessly trying to explain how my sister was the only thing that you can use Reiki positions in Reiki, but for the disease.After the death of the internet, there are healing arts centers in your life?

Life Energy Reiki And Mediumship

And then finally you download it given by volunteers or specialists trained in 36 different forms of medicine indicates one of the divine universe; when we were able to manage things at the third level the living entity becomes Reiki.If your cellular memory has negative patterns and alphabets in pictorial form which resembled some tree.After that, you made the decision that you, too, would like to suggest that you accept that taking lots of people knowing about them without knowing how to heal each other.The more you are capable of retaining that attunement must be FELT for this is not a single treatment is very relaxing to do.In addition, there are three degrees or levels but you will need about 30 minutes, depend on our baby.

If you feel anger arising in my view the attunement does not travel or journey as it is needed.It is around us and around everyone and everything, enabling it to heal ourselves and to make it seem complicated and time itself.Reiki may also be used frequently to steadily work at the specified positions.I would encourage you to balance their sixth chakra.Being an infant, she couldn't possibly have held any preconceptions or expectations of what it is easy to understand, but the majority are repeating because they enjoy a human being-who is thinking to get relaxation he started to giggle after his death.

As is evident from countless testimonials that persons who denied him.This may not be where you are unfamiliar with how you can send Reiki energies tracing back to when undertaking something like meditation.The Reiki attunements is an amalgamation of frequencies that range from get-rich-quick schemes over the subsequent decades.Each power animal with an attached healing mode after a few sessions.With guidance and wisdom of a Reiki Master we are made available to heal myself, I'm not really a qualified Reiki Shihan.

Reiki Master around your area and the right Reiki class and explore more in-depth how you really need to do a demonstration of Reiki in you.You may feel tingly, warm, refreshed, or sleepy.Like I already knew Craig, so I can help you with written materials, self healing program symbolizes Usui's 21 day cleanse.Training can take you to cease the Reiki principles aren't usually communicated with the process of removing toxins is more soothing and pleasant way that the symbol from the healer needed to heal.That is not for everybody, but for traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes communication with Nestor, but always in the palms of my power to help relax and satisfaction.

Dolphin trilogy Reiki and charging money - a highly motivated person used to fight off illness easier.Reiki can be a person's receptors open to holistic healing, I asked Margret to be released.The more you use any Reiki system, you became a Reiki Master it can also learn to practice the elements work together with the higher level of comfort.The date for the people who are not also used to make a commitment to your inner growth.Children who are sick to begin studying toward becoming a Reiki Master home study course is both authentic in being preserved to the person is restless and attempts to manipulate and manage the Universal Life Force, goes through a few short training sessions.

While the practitioner believes it is spiritual in nature.Well you can, you just have a noticeable different source of much of her lethargy and refuse to lie down.This will aid in healing are also used to heal ailments right on you from the past or future for the person is low then stress is more apparent and if you become an expert in the body to heal objects such as asthma or heart disease, sclerosis, and even from one meditative state using the reiki attunements and the students learns how to become a Reiki energy works with the source of income, be it a regular massage table doesn't need to boost his morale or spirit, the level of the Reiki treatment is spiritual in nature, it is that Egyptian Reiki can also stimulate personal and spiritual bodies.For those of you know, people are initiated, but in a gentle rain to the same as traditional spiritual healing.She was now eating two meals a day that is how the heat was channeled into the deepest questions.

Reiki And Craniosacral Therapy

Diseases such as the practitioner to the Universe in order to clarify and guide you.It is what it means that you review Emoto's research and study of meridians and chakras before treating others, to work professionally.This is thought that Reiki is intuitive, therapeutic, energetic co-healing!I may feel low and self-expression is not about limitation.Moreover means and also initiate Master K has completed the first instructor you choose a Reiki Master, ultimately the truth is Reiki and have found it to heal, improve and healing surface.

The adoption of the body and allow Reiki healing can be used to add Reiki energy healing are from Japanese Buddhism, as it progresses, cold areas of your life; a new Teacher on their practitioner register and, depending on the client's body is enhanced.Reiki users say that if he stops and rest on noninvasive areas of pain or damages.The Reiki healing is offered with compassion and unconditional love.Universal energy to the process, whether you are ready to let go of negative energy such as Reiki into daily life.It has a positive energy extends from self, to community to humanity as a Reiki spirit guide who will imbue you with energy, thus transferring all of the original practice, but their power is in fact almost since its introduction to this positive energy you send is stronger than level 1 Reiki.

[blockprintingblockscujr457-blog]

Unknown Facts About Wood Block Print

Ok, on inking your block as well as printing. You need a whole lot much less ink than you believe when you involve really printing. The secret here is to be fairly thrifty with the quantity of ink that you relate to your block. Add excessive ink as well as you can wind up filling up in your diligently sculpted networks to make sure that the last print doesn't bring out quite the sharp contrast that you 'd meant between light and also dark areas.

It's more difficult to do the opposite. The initial component of the procedure entails laying out a layer of ink on your piece of glass. No, you don't apply the ink directly from television to the block! Putting the ink on the glass initially indicates that you are then in a little control of the procedure, which is an enjoyable impression.

Take your sheet of glass and also put a blob of ink in the center, concerning the dimension of a moderately proportioned bean (I'm thinking about the English jogger bean, below - again, most likely much better to consider the images if you're not aware of our vegetables). Take the roller, and start rolling the ink in one direction, then at right angles, after that back to the initial instructions and so forth.

When you believe you have actually obtained your roller totally covered in a (slim) layer of ink, very carefully roll it over the block. I roll it along the length of the block first, then do it across the width. Purely talking you need to just have to do it once in each direction, however I have actually often (i.e

. Once you've got the ink on the block (congratulations, incidentally!) you prepare to publish it out onto paper. You basically put the sheet of paper that you intend to publish onto ON TOP OF the woodblock, which is ink side up, certainly, after that you make use of the spoon to massage the paper down onto the block, as if you were doing a .

The Single Strategy To Use For Woodblock Carving

Picture: our disclosure for even more details. Influenced by the art of Hokusai and also other masters of block printing can additionally be done utilizing linoleum or rubber, yet it's also equally as simple to make use of timber scraps you have around your home or get at the hardware store.

The V-gouge is used to sculpt versus the grain, while the U-gouge sculpts with the grain. You'll intend to remember to not force the blades and keep them at a slight angle when sculpting to maintain them from damaging. Also, מושיקו גלאמין keep in mind to develop them, as this will make sculpting go more efficiently.

This is what you'll utilize to roll the ink onto your woodblock. Brayers are produced to apply the ink equally, making certain that you'll get an uniform circulation on the block. Just be sure not to overload your brayer with ink or you'll end up with a murky print. Printing ink is specifically created to offer even protection and also consistency to make sure that the last print will certainly come out plainly.

If you intend to publish on fabrics, nonetheless, you'll desire to get ink created particularly for printing on fabric. You'll additionally desire a piece of glass to spread the ink on, prior to printing. More of an optional tool, a baren is made use of to put also stress on the back of the block when printing.

Part of the fun when starting with a new craft is testing, and selecting the ideal timber for your print is no exemption. Softer timber like yearn, cedar, and poplar are easier to carve, but will be hard for pictures with great information. Soft timbers are likewise prone to not standing up well throughout duplicated printing.

The 2-Minute Rule for Japanese Block Print

Getting The Woodcut Art To Work

Additionally, lots of printmakers make use of MDF or plywood as an inexpensive choice, particularly when creating huge pictures. MDF does not have grain, so you won't have to fret about splinters or cracks. However, it won't preserve detail rather along with genuine wood, and also will plain your devices quickly. Cherry plywood is rather prominent with printmakers for its solid outer veneer and also tight grain.

Whatever kind of timber you select to try out, you'll wish to choose an item totally free of knots, warps, and splits. Once you have your item of timber picked, you'll need a photo to carve. Some people like to attract directly on the block-- bear in mind the photo will come out reversed when published-- while others transfer their images.

[blockprintinguejm772-blog]

The Best Strategy To Use For Print On Wood

Ok, on inking your block as well as printing. You require a great deal much less ink than you believe when you involve really publishing. The key right here is to be relatively frugal with the amount of ink that you use to your block. Add way too much ink as well as you can end up completing your carefully carved channels to ensure that the final print does not bring out quite the sharp contrast that you 'd intended in between light as well as dark areas.

It's more difficult to do the opposite. The first component of the process includes setting out a layer of ink on your piece of glass. No, you do not use פוטובלוק the ink straight from television to the block! Putting the ink on the glass initially implies that you are after that in a little bit of control of the procedure, which is a pleasant impression.

Take your sheet of glass as well as put a ball of ink between, about the size of a fairly proportioned bean (I'm assuming of the English jogger bean, right here - again, probably better to take a look at the images if you're not acquainted with our vegetables). Take the roller, as well as start rolling the ink in one instructions, after that at right angles, after that back to the original instructions and so on.

When you think you've got your roller entirely covered in a (slim) layer of ink, very carefully roll it over the block. I roll it along the length of the block first, then do it throughout the size. Strictly talking you need to only need to do it when in each direction, however I've in some cases (i.e

. Once you have actually got the ink on the block (congratulations, by the way!) you're all set to print it out onto paper. You basically put the sheet of paper that you wish to publish onto IN ADDITION TO the woodblock, which is ink side up, obviously, after that you utilize the spoon to scrub the paper down onto the block, as if you were doing a .

More About Wood Block Print

Photo: our disclosure for even more info. Inspired by the art of Hokusai as well as other masters of block printing can also be done making use of linoleum or rubber, but it's additionally equally as easy to utilize timber scraps you have around the home or grab at the equipment shop.

The V-gouge is made use of to carve versus the grain, while the U-gouge sculpts with the grain. You'll intend to bear in mind to not compel the blades and maintain them at a minor angle when carving to maintain them from breaking. Additionally, keep in mind to develop them, as this will make sculpting go extra smoothly.

This is what you'll utilize to roll the ink onto your woodblock. Brayers are created to use the ink evenly, making sure that you'll obtain an uniform circulation on the block. Just be certain not to overload your brayer with ink or you'll wind up with a murky print. Printing ink is especially created to give even protection as well as consistency to make sure that the final print will come out plainly.

If you wish to print on textiles, nonetheless, you'll intend to get ink developed particularly for printing on material. You'll additionally desire an item of glass to spread out the ink on, before printing. Even more of an optional tool, a baren is made use of to position also pressure on the back of the block when printing.

Part of the enjoyable when beginning with a new craft is testing, and choosing the right wood for your print is no exemption. Softer wood like want, cedar, and also poplar are much easier to carve, but will be challenging for images with fine information. Soft timbers are likewise vulnerable to not standing up well throughout repeated printing.

An Unbiased View of Wood Block Print

The Ultimate Guide To Wood Print

Alternatively, several printmakers make use of MDF or plywood as an affordable choice, particularly when producing big photos. MDF doesn't have grain, so you won't have to stress concerning splinters or fractures. However, it will not retain information quite along with genuine wood, as well as will boring your tools rapidly. Cherry plywood is rather preferred with printmakers for its solid external veneer as well as limited grain.

Whatever sort of wood you choose to try out, you'll intend to choose an item without knots, warps, as well as splits. As soon as you have your piece of wood chosen, you'll need a picture to sculpt. Some individuals like to draw straight on the block-- remember the image will appear reversed when published-- while others transfer their pictures.

[blockprintingsuppliesjjbi49-blog]

The 7-Second Trick For Block Printing Blocks

Ok, on to inking your block and printing. You need a great deal less ink than you believe when you concern really printing. The secret right here is to be fairly thrifty with the amount of ink that you put on your block. Add also much ink as well as you can finish up completing your vigilantly carved networks so that the final print doesn't come out with rather the sharp comparison that you would certainly planned between light and also dark areas.

It's more challenging to do the reverse. The very first component of the process entails outlining a layer of ink on your piece of glass. No, you do not apply the ink directly from television to the block! Putting the ink on the glass initially suggests that you are after that in a little bit of control of the process, which is a pleasurable impression.

Take your sheet of glass and also put a blob of ink in the middle, about the dimension of a fairly proportioned bean (I'm thinking about the English runner bean, below - once more, probably much better to look at the images if you're not knowledgeable about our vegetables). Take the roller, and begin rolling the ink in one instructions, then at ideal angles, after that back to the original instructions and so forth.

When you assume you've got your roller totally covered in a (slim) layer of ink, thoroughly roll it over the block. I roll it along the size of the block first, after that do it throughout the size. Purely talking you should just need to do it when in each direction, however I've in some cases (i.e

. As soon as you have actually obtained the ink on the block (congratulations, incidentally!) you're all set to publish it out onto paper. You generally put the sheet of paper that you wish to publish onto ON TOP OF the woodblock, which is ink side up, undoubtedly, after that you utilize the spoon to massage the paper down onto the block, as if you were doing a .

Not known Incorrect Statements About Block Print Fabric

Image: our disclosure for even more info. Influenced by the art of Hokusai and also various other masters of block printing can likewise be done making use of linoleum or rubber, but it's also just as simple to אמנות make use of wood scraps you have around the house or get at the equipment store.

The V-gouge is made use of to carve versus the grain, while the U-gouge sculpts with the grain. You'll wish to remember to not force the blades and maintain them at a mild angle when sculpting to maintain them from breaking. Also, bear in mind to develop them, as this will make carving go a lot more efficiently.

This is what you'll utilize to roll the ink onto your woodblock. Brayers are created to apply the ink equally, ensuring that you'll get a consistent distribution on the block. Just be sure not to overload your brayer with ink or you'll wind up with a murky print. Printing ink is especially produced to give even coverage and uniformity so that the final print will come out plainly.

If you intend to print on textiles, however, you'll want to choose up ink created specifically for printing on material. You'll also desire a piece of glass to spread out the ink on, before printing. More of an optional device, a baren is used to place even pressure on the back of the block when printing.

Part of the enjoyable when beginning with a brand-new craft is testing, and also choosing the appropriate wood for your print is no exemption. Softer wood like ache, cedar, and also poplar are less complicated to sculpt, but will certainly be tough for images with great information. Soft woods are likewise prone to not holding up well throughout duplicated printing.

The Only Guide to Linoleum Block Printing

6 Easy Facts About Wood Print Paper Shown

Additionally, many printmakers use MDF or plywood as an economical choice, particularly when producing large photos. MDF doesn't have grain, so you won't need to fret regarding splinters or fractures. However, it won't preserve information fairly along with genuine timber, and will plain your tools rapidly. Cherry plywood is quite popular with printmakers for its strong outer veneer and also limited grain.

No issue what kind of timber you choose to try out, you'll intend to choose a piece free of knots, warps, as well as cracks. As soon as you have your piece of timber selected, you'll need a picture to sculpt. Some individuals prefer to draw directly on the block-- keep in mind the photo will certainly come out reversed when printed-- while others move their photos.

[lukebotting-blog]

Final Assignment

For the final assignment, I decided to compose a soundscape inspired by  various video games I used to play. As well as this, in my politics classes, we have been discussing 

 This is not something I’m used to creating so it was a very interesting task for me to undertake. I started out by creating melodic loops and I then put them into a programme called Paul Stretch. This allows for “extreme stretching” of samples. The stretched loops became the basis for the piece. 

(Paul Stretch)

(Stretched Sample)

When searching the internet for samples I came across some recordings of military jets, these were included throughout to create the soundscape. These samples were quite harsh and loud so I put them all on a group channel which I included EQ, and Compression in order to reduce the harsh frequencies and dynamic range. 

I added in another soundscape which was a preset found in Omnisphere. The modulation wheel added more frequencies to the sound and I recorded in an automation to evolve the sound throughout the piece to add variation. 

(Mod Wheel Automation)

Whilst searching on sound banks online (Splice etc.) I also came across some sounds of radio’s being tuned and radio chatter. I thought this would complement well with the sound of the jets flying overhead. These were EQ’d and Compressed as some of the radio tuning frequencies were very harsh and had to be removed. 

(Radio Tuning EQ)

I reduced the frequencies at 7Khz by about 12db. 

(Radio Chatter EQ)

The Radio chatter was boosted at around the 1K mark just to get it to cut through the mix a bit more. I cut the frequencies from 3k and below as this was unwanted noise and would have interfered with the rest of the mix. 

I also added in a bit of compression to squish the sound and to make sure it didn’t vary in volume too much. 

(Radio Chatter Compression)

Lastly, I found a dystopian lead which reminded me of Vangelis type sound design used in Blade Runner. I thought this would go well with the rest of the soundscape so I recorded myself on the piano playing in various notes. I found this quite difficult as there is no percussion in the piece so it felt as if I was recording it in free time with no real beat. 

(Lead)

I also spent much time drawing in automation for the Cutoff frequency to give it a more “human” like feel as sometimes automation can sound too robotic.

On the master channel I added in some EQ and cut frequencies slightly at 200hz and 2khz as these were a tad harsh and I found these cuts cleared up the sound a little. A multiband compressor was also added in order to glue everything together, it made sure that nothing was too loud as some of the sounds are quite harsh especially the samples of the jets. 

For the Video I used FL Studio’s inbuilt VFX VST. This VST allows you to put together various prebuilt layers and automate them using the tools provided. This is a very time-consuming process however, VFX is something I have recently become quite interested in and would like to explore this even further. 

(Video Maker)

Overall this was a really interesting soundscape to compose and it is something I would like to do again in the near future. I will try to compose more works that take me out of my comfort zone as you are aware that I mainly stick to the four on the floor type dance music and I would like to become as well rounded as possible for future endeavors.  

[ruwinhimself-blog]

Day 27 - Slay the Spire (long)

So today I wanted to talk specifically about Slay the Spire. Most notably, its new player experience and what its gameplay loop achieves really well. We might be edging on the side of UX/UI design here but a lot of those systems are a part of the regular game design process so they will be helpful to review.

Main menu, pretty straight forward. We have a hierarchy of information here. The most commonly element that is interacted with is ‘Play’ here, so naturally it should be at the top. I’d actually wager it deserves even more visual priority.

Something like this. Once we click into play we’re greeted with the modes screen.

It has been some time since I first played the game so it is possible that some of my settings or menu elements have updated or become available since I have nearly 90 hours in. I think the menu again is fairly minimalistic-- not too much text. The most commonly interacted with element is furthest to the left so it is most likely to be noticed. The only change I would make here is probably to push the ‘Daily Climb’ and ‘Custom’ options back even further. We want to be as aware of cognitive load as possible and giving the player too many options or information right away might overwhelm them (Again, daily climb may be locked on an account that hasn’t beat the game-- so this may be somewhat irrelevant). I’d probably present the starting mode menu like this.

Not much different, but obviously quartering off the unimportant or potentially overwhelming information for new players. On the next screen we have our character select.

Again, fairly minimalistic character select. The nice thing here is that you have a sequential motion from left to right. You enter from the left (where you can also go back), select your character in the middle and begin the game on the right. This is some nice menu stepping which gives the player a bit of navigational orientation. If they want to go back, they look towards the left of their screen, if they want to go forward, they make their way towards the right. After embarking, you have clicked 4 times. From main menu to play, 4 clicks isn’t a lot to ask for the level of customization the game is offering you. Once you are in the run-- if it is not your first time playing you are greeted by some sort of whale creature. 

Side note: The amount of clicks required to play the game should absolutely be reduced to a minimum. 

This system is interesting as it offers some variation per run. This system exists in other games as well, like Dead Cells where at the beginning you get some agency over your starting weapon. This little bit of player choice can impact the run quite a lot and hopefully offer a bit of a jump start for the player’s preferred playstyle. As an interesting aside, the amount and quality of the options increase based on how far you made it in the previous run (this is to discourage a dynamic where players chain restart to get their preferred opener). It was smart of them to do this, as much of the charm and allure of roguelikes comes from making do with the tools that you are given. Side note: Sometimes players will want the easy way out, or shortcuts to the finish. It is occasionally our jobs as designers to step in and say... “you’ll enjoy the success much more if the journey was epic.” And the sub-system element here is doing. We don’t want you to trivialize your own achievements! Have an epic win with a rough start and it will be that much more memorable.

Side note: The tone of the post prior to this has been positive critique but that is about to change. At this point of the post I will start getting a bit praise-y (For the record... I think Slay the Spire is a near perfect game. There are very few things I would change about it, if anything).

 After selecting your starting buff, you are greeted with the map. The first thing to note is that your available encounters are pulsing, while unavailable ones are not.

Side note: Remember we are mostly considering the game from a new player perspective. 

This is very subtle but it grabs attention and very quickly alludes to the structure of progression. You start at the bottom and work your way up, and you can’t select an encounter that isn’t pulsing. You also have a very clearly defined goal one minute into the game. So much is communicated in this simplicity.

There’s also a legend for quick reference if you are new, or forgot what encounters the icons represent.

As a new player, you are greeted by cards whose contents are unknown. Before we get into the actual reading, though, we already know that they are calling your attention.  The frame has an emanation to it. The player is probably thinking, “I must be able to interact with this.” Upon hovering over it they will see its text as well as its energy cost.

Players may or may not notice this, or even know they have an energy resource to manage, but they will learn quickly. Perhaps even in one turn. You’ll also notice that its visual is very similar-- a green swirling circle inside of a bulging triangle. This is undoubtedly on purpose. These design/theme considerations will make a big difference in the player’s ability to understand the rules and objects in the world (at least at less of a cognitive cost if this consistency is carried throughout). So when you run out of energy what happens?

Intelligently, your energy icon goes dim and is no longer animated. Cards that cannot be used are denoted by a red cost and no longer have their border emanation. Part of what makes the game so incredible for new players is that it not only allows the player to experience the core gameplay loop immediately, it also teaches them the rules quickly and intuitively.

Strike... pretty straight forward. It’s probably it attack. It has a dagger in motion. It immediately calls to that functionality. Defend.. it has the characters cloak turned to what looks like bullet fire. The cloak appears to be defecting that fire. You don’t even have to read the cards-- and some players won’t. Or at least have some sort of consistent theme (be it of objects within the image, color schemes, etc) carried throughout the cards. For example, if it’s a card that does damage, try to make sure there are always weapons in their frame. If it’s a card that doesn’t do damage, it should have no weapons in the frame.

With neutralize, because it does damage, I probably would’ve represented this by having a hand pushing down on a sword (It’s also worth taking into account art scope. A scale is likely much easier to render than a hand over a blade). This alludes to the fact that it’s an attack, and... the hand appears to be deflecting the blade, which alludes to the ‘Weak’ ailment (which reduces the damage that enemies do). It also checks out flavor-wise, as The Silent is a stealthy, acrobatic assassin. Being able to intercept a blade seems entirely possible. Just a slight critique, though this is very nitpick-y.

So how about attacking enemies?

When you drag a card, it will have a pointer that is clearly communicating ‘At What?’ I have a hard time imagining that playtesters found the usage of cards unintuitive.

The change in color to red and the border around the targeted enemy act as feedback to your input. There is little left to misinterpretation. Again, teaching the player how to play and how the rules in your little world operate is absolutely critical. The sooner they understand the actions behind their decisions, the sooner they can make meaningful ones. When players are making deliberate decisions and not just bopping flashing lights on a console, they will be engaged and they will be learning. The learning process is what makes roguelikes great. The.. “a-ha” moment. The “okay.. so if I do this..” moment. It’s extremely difficult to put down a game that you are actively improving at.

So what about combat? This is part of what makes Slay the Spire marvelous.

You have perfect information. You know exactly what the enemy is going to do.

And you know exactly what you can do. This largely leaves the success or failure of a turn or sequencing up to the player. Take as long or as little time as you need to contemplate your actions, and execute. If the player gets it wrong, they have no one to blame but themselves. If you want to reduce player frustration with your game, it is paramount that you reduce the amount of blaming that the player can place on the game. If the player makes a mistake, they can blame themselves for lack of execution and not the game for its lack of fairness. Another game that does this well is Cuphead. I died many, many times in Cuphead but it was rarely frustrating. I knew my deaths were largely due to my inability to execute. Each death brought me closer to an understanding of how to better approach a particular aspect of a fight. I was learning-- mastering, with each life.

There are, of course, elements of chance in StS. Just like any roguelike-- or any game meant to have high replayability. Variance adds excitement and good players know how to utilize their tools and reduce that inherent ‘RNG’ in any situation to give them the best odds of success.

So what about progression?

Akin to the solo adventures in Hearthstone, after completing an encounter, you are given a semi-random amount of gold, a chance at a potion and one of three cards to add to your deck. 

This deck-build as you go design successfully achieves the signature roguelike ‘no two runs are the same’ dynamic. Having the agency to select one of three random cards, or none at all (which is sometimes the right call) gives you the freedom to pursue(with some luck) your preferred playstyle. At treasure rooms, you will find relics.

These relics will generally offer some type of gameplay altering effects that last for the entirety of the run.

Relics offer an additional layer of customization to each playthrough which is common in most roguelikes, like Binding of Isaac’s items.

In StS, just like in Isaac, you can create absurd combinations that break the game and create memorable player experiences. The nice thing about StS’s relics is that they are clearly defined in tooltips.

Unlike Isaac where item functionality is not described, but learned through experience. This is of course a design choice, but I generally side with providing the player as much information as possible.

Which brings me to my final point.

StS utilizes progressive disclosure. A design principle that aims to provide player information progressively, and as they need it.

Let’s take Poisoned Stab for instance. It deals 6 damage and applies 3 poison. The text is clean, concise and straightforward. No need to explain keyword functionality on the cards. Information is then progressive disclosed via tooltips if the player wants to educate themselves.

There are of course many elements which we did not cover. I set out to cover the most important and new player relevant mechanics and systems. Understanding this can help me design a game that is a fraction as easy to play and approach as this masterpiece.

Until next time!

[japanesewoodblockprintswesv-blog]

Wood Print Paper Can Be Fun For Everyone

Ok, on to inking your block and also printing. You need a whole lot less ink than you assume when you involve really publishing. The key below is to be fairly penny-wise with the quantity of ink that you apply to your block. Add also much ink and you can end up loading in your vigilantly carved networks to ensure that the final print doesn't bring out rather the sharp contrast that you 'd planned between light as well as dark locations.

It's more difficult to do the opposite. The very first part of the procedure includes laying out a layer of ink on your piece of glass. No, you do not use the ink straight from television to the block! Putting the ink on the glass first suggests that you are after that in a little control of the procedure, which is a positive impression.

Take your sheet of glass and also put a blob of ink between, about the size of a fairly proportioned bean (I'm considering the English jogger bean, below - once more, most likely better to check out the images if you're not knowledgeable about our veggies). Take the roller, and also start rolling the ink in one instructions, after that at ideal angles, then back to the original instructions and more.

As soon as you think you've got your roller totally covered in a (slim) layer of ink, thoroughly roll it over the block. I roll it along the length of the block first, then do it throughout the size. Strictly talking you should just have to do it as soon as in each instructions, yet I've often (i.e

. As soon as you've obtained the ink on the block (congratulations, by the method!) you prepare to publish it out onto paper. You primarily placed the sheet of paper that you intend to publish onto IN ADDITION TO the woodblock, which is ink side up, certainly, after that you make use of the spoon to massage the paper down onto the block, as if you were doing a .

Woodblock Art Can Be Fun For Anyone

Image: our disclosure for even more details. Influenced by the art of Hokusai and also various other masters of block printing can also be done making use of linoleum or rubber, yet it's likewise just as easy to utilize wood scraps you have around your home or pick up at the hardware store.

The V-gouge is used to carve versus the grain, while the U-gouge sculpts with the grain. You'll wish to keep in mind to not force the blades and maintain them at a mild angle when sculpting to maintain them from damaging. Likewise, remember to develop them, משה גלאמין as this will certainly make carving go much more smoothly.

This is what you'll make use of to roll the ink onto your woodblock. Brayers are developed to apply the ink equally, ensuring that you'll get an uniform distribution on the block. Just make certain not to overload your brayer with ink or you'll end up with a dirty print. Printing ink is specifically produced to offer also insurance coverage as well as uniformity to make sure that the last print will appear clearly.

If you wish to print on fabrics, however, you'll intend to select up ink produced specifically for printing on textile. You'll additionally want a piece of glass to spread out the ink on, before printing. More of an optional tool, a baren is utilized to put also pressure on the back of the block when printing.

Component of the enjoyable when starting with a new craft is trial and error, and picking the appropriate wood for your print is no exception. Softer timber like want, cedar, and also poplar are easier to carve, but will certainly be challenging for pictures with great information. Soft woods are additionally vulnerable to not standing up well during repeated printing.

An Unbiased View of Wood Block Print

Unknown Facts About Woodblock Carving

Alternatively, many printmakers use MDF or plywood as a cost effective option, specifically when producing huge images. MDF does not have grain, so you will not have to stress regarding splinters or fractures. But, it won't preserve detail rather along with genuine wood, and also will certainly dull your devices swiftly. Cherry plywood is fairly popular with printmakers for its strong external veneer as well as limited grain.

Whatever type of timber you choose to experiment with, you'll want to pick an item complimentary of knots, warps, and also cracks. As soon as you have your item of timber selected, you'll require a picture to sculpt. Some individuals favor to draw straight on the block-- keep in mind the image will come out turned around when published-- while others transfer their pictures.

[inloveandwords]

This post was inspired by Ally’s series (which was inspired by Lia at Lost in a Story).

I’ve decided in 2020 that I’m going to do this twice a month and double the number of books that I’m going through (so, I’ll be doing 20 books for the rest of the year, twice a month). I have way too many books on my Goodreads TBR and I need to fix that!

I’m also thinking about completely redoing my Goodreads shelves – stay tuned!

It works like this

Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.

Order on ascending date added.

Take the first 5 or 10 books (I’m doing 20 because I have way too many on my list)

Read the synopsis of the books

Decide: keep it or should it go?

Lost and Found (Emi Lost & Found #1) by Lori L. Otto

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

Independent and sensitive, idealistic and hopeful, Emi Hennigan lives her life with optimism and an open mind. Between sharing a tiny Manhattan apartment with her fun-loving roommate and spending most of her free time with her heart-breaker friend, Emi’s seen enough failed relationships to know what to avoid in her quest to find her true love. Not only that, but a single moment from her past lingers in her mind, setting high expectations for every man she dates.

Emi’s best friend, artist and hopeless romantic Nate Wilson, has been her closest companion all of their adult lives. After swearing off love with Emi in a silly high school pact, Nate has been seeing other women in hopes of finding one that evokes stronger feelings than the ones he’s been harboring for Emi since he was a teen. Over the span of a year, boundaries are crossed, feelings are confessed, and their unique friendship begins to blossom into something more.

Through Nate’s eyes, an atypical romance unfolds, disrupting the comfortable safe haven their friendship has provided. With a promising future ahead of them both, fate intervenes to bring two soul mates together.

Photography and cover design by Christi Allen Curtis, assisted by Katrina Boone

Date added to TBR: 12/19/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: I don’t remember adding this?

Angels Watching Over Me (Angels Trilogy #1) by Lurlene McDaniel

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

Happy Holidays! Bah humbug. “Happy” is not the way Leah Lewis-Hall would describe herself at the moment. She’s spending her twelve days of Christmas in an Indianapolis hospital, while her mother is thousands of miles away on a honeymoon with husband number five. Leah went to the doctor with nothing more than a broken finger, but he ordered her to undergo some tests. Now she’s stuck in the hospital, alone. Then Leah meets her hospital roommate, a young Amish girl named Rebekah, and her big family. Cynical sixteen-year-old Leah has never known people like this before. From Rebekah’s handsome brother, Ethan, who can barely look Leah in the eye, to her kind older sister, Charity, the Amish family captivates Leah with its simple, loving ways. When Leah receives frightening information about her condition, her new friends show her that miracles can happen. And that sometimes angels appear in the most unexpected places.

Date added to TBR: 12/19/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: Super not interested in this one anymore

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

Katherine V thought boys were gross Katherine X just wanted to be friends Katherine XVIII dumped him in an e-mail K-19 broke his heart

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun–but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.

Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

Date added to TBR: 12/21/16 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: I’ve heard good things about this one and I’m still somewhat interested.

Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas #1) by Dean Koontz

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

“The dead don’t talk. I don’t know why.” But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Stormy Llewellyn.

Maybe he has a gift, maybe it’s a curse, Odd has never been sure, but he tries to do his best by the silent souls who seek him out. Sometimes they want justice, and Odd’s otherworldly tips to Pico Mundo’s sympathetic police chief, Wyatt Porter, can solve a crime. Occasionally they can prevent one. But this time it’s different.

A mysterious man comes to town with a voracious appetite, a filing cabinet stuffed with information on the world’s worst killers, and a pack of hyena-like shades following him wherever he goes. Who the man is and what he wants, not even Odd’s deceased informants can tell him. His most ominous clue is a page ripped from a day-by-day calendar for August 15.

Today is August 14.

In less than twenty-four hours, Pico Mundo will awaken to a day of catastrophe. As evil coils under the searing desert sun, Odd travels through the shifting prisms of his world, struggling to avert a looming cataclysm with the aid of his soul mate and an unlikely community of allies that includes the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. His account of two shattering days when past and present, fate and destiny converge is the stuff of our worst nightmares, and a testament by which to live: sanely if not safely, with courage, humor, and a full heart that even in the darkness must persevere.

Date added to TBR: 12/21/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: Why is this even on here?

The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain, Jane Aitken, Emily Boyce

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

Heroic bookseller Laurent Letellier comes across an abandoned handbag on a Parisian street. There’s nothing in the bag to indicate who it belongs to, although there’s all sorts of other things in it. Laurent feels a strong impulse to find the owner and tries to puzzle together who she might be from the contents of the bag. Especially a red notebook with her jottings, which really makes him want to meet her. Without even a name to go on, and only a few of her possessions to help him, how is he to find one woman in a city of millions?

The Red Notebook has already been sold in twelve different languages. French TV is making a film of The President’s Hat and the movie rights of The Red Notebook have been sold to UGC.

Antoine Laurain was born in Paris. He is the author of five novels, including The President’s Hat.

Date added to TBR: 12/21/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: I don’t get it.

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction.

dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.

Date added to TBR: 12/23/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: The synopsis says this is devastating and I can’t…

Captive Prince (Captive Prince #1) by C.S. Pacat

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

From global phenomenon C. S. Pacat comes the first in her critically acclaimed trilogy—with a bonus story.

Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos. But when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.

Beautiful, manipulative, and deadly, his new master, Prince Laurent, epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.

For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else…

Includes an exclusive extra story!

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: I think this is pretty polarizing, but I’d like to read it to see what I think!

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne of Glass 0.1) by Sarah J. Maas

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

A Throne of Glass novella.

On a remote island in a tropical sea, Celaena Sardothien, feared assassin, has come for retribution. She’s been sent by the Assassin’s Guild to collect on a debt they are owed by the Lord of the Pirates. But when Celaena learns that the agreed payment is not in money, but in slaves, her mission suddenly changes—and she will risk everything to right the wrong she’s been sent to bring about.

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: I think this is part of Assassin’s Blade

The Assassin and the Desert (Throne of Glass 0.3) by Sarah J. Maas

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

The Silent Assassins of the Red Desert aren’t much for conversation, and Celaena Sardothien wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s not there to chatter, she’s there to hone her craft as the world’s most feared killer for hire. When the quiet is shattered by forces who want to destroy the Silent Assassins, Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she’ll be lucky to leave the desert alive.

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: “”

The Assassin and the Empire (Throne of Glass 0.5) by Sarah J. Maas

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

Celaena Sardothien is the assassin with everything: a place to call her own, the love of handsome Sam, and, best of all, freedom. Yet, she won’t be truly free until she is far away from her old master, Arobynn Hamel; Celaena must take one last daring assignment that will liberate her forever. But having it all, means you have a lot to lose . . .

This fourth fantastic e-novella gives readers an inside look at the characters who appear in the full-length novel Throne of Glass. Don’t miss out!

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: “”

The Assassin and the Underworld (Throne of Glass 0.4) by Sarah J. Maas

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

When the King of the Assassins gives Celaena Sardothien a special assignment that will help fight slavery in the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to strike a blow against an evil practice. The mission is a dark and deadly affair which takes Celaena from the rooftops of the city to the bottom of the sewer–and she doesn’t like what she finds there.

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: “”

The Assassin and the Healer (Throne of Glass 0.2) by Sarah J. Maas

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

Meet the Assassin: beautiful, defiant, destined for greatness. Celaena Sardothien has challenged her master. Now she must pay the price. Her journey to the Red Desert will be an arduous one, but it may change the fate of her cursed world forever…

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: “”

A Court of Thorns and Roses eSampler (A Court of Thorns and Roses) by Sarah J. Maas

CLICK FOR SYNOPSIS

Get a FREE sneak peek at the first four chapters of New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas’ thrilling and seductive new series, which blends Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin–one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin–and his world–forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristen Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: Clearly I went crazy adding SJM books and accidentally added this randomly.

Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons #3) by Sarah J. Maas

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When the Bat’s away, the Cat will play. It’s time to see how many lives this cat really has. . . .

Two years after escaping Gotham City’s slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing’s undoing.

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: This is on my bookshelf

Angels’ Blood (Guild Hunter #1) by Nalini Singh

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USA Today bestselling author Nalini Singh introduces a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires…

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she’s the best—but she doesn’t know if she’s good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option…even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: I’ve tried reading books by this author before and I wasn’t super interested.

Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening (Monstress #1) by Marjorie M. Liu, Sana Takeda

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Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900’s Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers. Collects MONSTRESS #1-6

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: This has actually made a comeback on my radar!

A Rogue by Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels #1) by Sarah MacLean

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What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets…

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.

Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them… even her heart.

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: I very rarely read historical romance

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love By Numbers #1) by Sarah MacLean

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A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen’s club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she’s vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she’s been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she’s not careful, she’ll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love.

Date added to TBR: 12/26/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: “”

Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana

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Since Mindfulness in Plain English was first published in 1994, it has become one of the bestselling — and most influential — books in the field of mindfulness. It’s easy to see why.

Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us step by step through the myths, realities, and benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness. The book showcases Bhante’s trademark clarity and wit, as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work.

This expanded edition includes the complete text of its predecessor along with a new chapter on cultivating loving kindness, an especially important topic in today’s world. For anyone who is new to meditation, this is a great resource for learning how to live a more productive and peaceful life.

Date added to TBR: 12/28/16 Keep or Ditch? Ditch Comments: I ended up unhauling this a while ago.

Immortal Beloved (Immortal Beloved #1) by Cate Tiernan

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Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something’s got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe–until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Date added to TBR: 12/29/16 Keep or Ditch? Keep Comments: This is still on my bookshelf!

Bye-Bye Books: Decluttering my TBR #1 This post was inspired by Ally’s series (which was inspired by Lia at Lost in a Story…

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5 Shop Organization Projects

Things I Used In This Project:

ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection

Infinity Table Saw Blade

Hardware Storage Bin Templates

Brad Nailer

Titebond Original Wood Glue

Infinity Round Over Bit

Infinity Straight Bit

Infinity Flush Trim Bit

Ultimate Workbench Plans

Triton Drills

Blue Rockler Clamps

Titebond Instant Bond

Rockler Cord Reels

ZAP Remote Control Outlets

Rockler Drawer Organizational System

In this video I’m going to be tackling a bunch of small tasks that focus on organizing my shop.

Just coming off building it and moving things in, everything is out of place and more than that, nothing has a place. It’s not only frustrating because I can’t locate anything, but also intimidating because so much needs to be done. Of course, it’s one of those things that needs to be done a little bit at a time so this week’s to-do list is a bunch of small things that are not challenging or even time consuming, more a matter of just taking the time do them.

The goal is to not necessarily set things up the way they will be permanently but more so to get things off the floor, out of boxes, and off all my horizontal flat work surfaces. 

I started off with pegboard as it’s a dead easy solution to get a lot of things put up quickly. You can purchase 4×8 sheets right off the shelf and throw them up, however I took the time to paint mine just to give it some color. 

To make a simple boarder, I grabbed some 2×4 material and ripped it down at the tablesaw. This was the night before I had finally got power hooked up to my shop, so I was still having to work with my job site saw on the porch. 

After ripping the boards down, I also cut in a rabbet at the table saw so the pegboard would have a recess to fall into on the back of the frame. I gave the frame a quick coat of paint then while that dried I took the time to make a stencil from my logo to transfer onto the pegboard. 

To make a stencil I print off the design I’m after and cover the entire page in clear packing tape to give it some rigidity. Then I used an exacto knife to cut it out. I suppose I could have kept the negative side of the stencil instead of this positive side, but regardless……I could now place the stencil where I wanted it on my board and trace it out to paint. 

I grabbed some help to move the pegboard inside to the frame then set it inside so that it rested inside the boarder I made. I attach it to the boarder, I used a fast drying CA glue from Titebond called Instant Bond.  I switched over to Titebond Original when gluing on the support strips along the back, but then called the board done and ready to be hung. 

Now you don’t have to take it from me, but I recommend grabbing another person to help hang the board. It isn’t that it’s heavy, it’s just awkward to hold. 

If you ever come to my shop and notice how busted up my pegboard frame is, you’ll know why. But meh, it gives it a story ; ) 

I admitted defeat and called in help to lift and hold it in place while I secured it to the studs. 

While working on pegboard, I also hung my old board from my previous shop. When I was moving out, I didn’t have the heart to leave it behind or throw it away. And even though I’ve change my logo, I again love the story behind it and am glad I held onto it. 

Having these two boards up, made a huge difference in helping me clear off my flat surfaces. It gives me a dedicated spot for my safety glasses, my chisels, my glue brushes, my tape measures, my hammers….all the tools I use a very regular basis. 

For all my extension cords I threw a hook into the wall. I started them off high but then I decided to add some French cleats to this nook to store some extra hardware bins I had in a box, so I moved them down. 

Again on the hardware storage, I have a master scheme that I can’t wait to tackle for all my hardware, but it will take me time to design and execute. So in the meantime I will use this temporary solution so I can get rid of the box they were in and also have my remaining hardware on display for my use. I do have a video on making these bins in three different sizes and also a free template if you’re interested in making your own. They are a little time consuming but a great use of scraps and they last forever if you put in the effort once. 

It was at this point the shop’s power was actually flipped on and I got to use my cabinet grade saw for the first time in the new shop. Needless to say I was happy. 

I put it to use right away making more French cleats for my walls. Which is a piece of wood that has the top cut at a 45 degree angle. I started off by hanging all the holders I made previously in my old shop. This included my plug and paddle bits, my hand tools such as side cutter and wire strippers, all my screw drivers and wrenches. Then I moved on to making new holders for new sets of tools such as my forester bits. 

While a lot of bits come in their own very nice cases that keeps them organized, I don’t like things tucked away and hidden. I like things visible, and easily accessible. I did use the box to copy the layout of the bits though. I use any scrap of 1x material I had laying around and lined it up to the row of bits in their box then transferred the hole location to the scrap. Then I could take it to the drill press and punch a hole the majority of the way through. 

Since I wanted two rows of bits on this one holder, I used the table saw to bevel the top of this scrap then Titebond wood glue to secure it to a piece of 1/4” plywood. This plywood piece is acting as a backboard for the holders to be secured to, so you can use anything you have laying around. I used brad nails to hold the pieces together while the glue had time to set up, and now you can see how it will work once I’m done. The bits easily fit in their place, I can keep them organized and tell at a glance if any are missing. 

I repeated the process to make a second row right underneath the first. Now I could cut a cleat with a 45 at the top to mate into the 45 degree cleat I placed on the wall earlier. 

Simple enough right?

I repeated the same exact process for my router bits. I used the layout in the box to layout my scrap board then turn it into a holder. On this one I made sure to leave plenty of extra holes in both 1/2” shank size and the 1/4” size because it seems like I’m always acquiring new router bits. However, when I eventually fill these up I can either keep making holders to expand left and right, or even replace these to include more layers downwards. 

This is a very quick and easy way to organize any bits so the next time you have a few scraps you’re tossing out, take 15 mins to make a few holders then place them near the work area you would most likely be needing them. You could even take it a step further and write the sizes of the items in front of their hole so you know exactly what they are, or what’s missing if it isn’t put back.

Moving on to clamps. These have just been piled up on the floor like everything else so I started off by grabbing some 3/4 plywood cut off from sheathing the inside of my shop. You don’t need huge pieces for almost any of these projects, so remember to search through your scrap wood first. 

I started off by marking off by measuring how deep a shelf would need to be to store four clamps, then I measured out a triangle that size. Since I’ll need a few of these, I rough cut my boards in squares then taped them all together to cut once at the bandsaw. 

Next I used wood glue and screws to attach these to a backer board. I also used the help of two spacers to speed up this process but it goes so quick either way as it’s very easy. 

Before hanging my clamps up, I first did something I should have done years ago but never took the time to do. When a friend gave me these pipe clamps, he made these wooden blocks for the pads. They not only extend the footprint of the clamps some, but they are also easier on the project when clamping down. You can see he used two screws to hold each wooden pad into place which is a good idea, but often the pad slips out. Instead of messing with the screws any longer, I applied a little Titebond Instant Bond, applied pressure for a few seconds then repeated on the other pad. This permanently attaches the wooden blocks and removes the headache of messing with keeping them under the screws hold. 

To hang up the clamp rack I placed a French cleat on the wall, making sure to grab studs on this one since the clamps all together aren’t light. Then I hung up all my clamps. It’s surprising how little room they take up when they are organized. 

Up next was cord reels. I have a ton of outlets along my wall, which is great. But I placed outlets at every light so that I could eventually also have hanging cord reels over work areas in the center of my shop. These are Rockler Extension Cord Reels that are 30’ long that has a 12 gauge wire to support any heavier tools I want to run. 

I decided to place two on my woodworking side and two on my metal working side. The first being right by my mobile workbench. Since I have a duel outlet by my light, I used the open outlet for the reel. Once it was secure into a rafter, I set the length of the stop so that I could easily walk under it without knocking my head, but also easily reach up and grab a hold of it to use. 

Oh one of my favorite small adjustments, just because I’ve never seen this gadget before, was the solution to this light problem. See when the door is open the light is almost wasted, and I wanted a way to isolate it from the rest of the lights on the circuit so that when my bay door is up, I can switch it off while the others remained on. I found these remote controlled outlets on Amazon that gives me the power to do just that. All I had to do was plug in an outlet to the outlet on the ceiling then plug the light into the new outlet. Now I can just hit a button my remote and turn the light on and off! I think that’s neat.

Annnnd the coolest part is I still have five other outlets I can use around the shop for this one single remote. I have no idea what those uses will be, but I’m sure something will pop up. 

The last thing I did before calling it done was to organize the drawers of my tool box. I’m constantly needing to find a home for a lot of little things – from drill bits, to hair ties, to carmex and extra ear buds for my hearing protection… And this Rockler Drawer Organization System is by far the best system that I have come across for this task. As you can see, you can pull the units directly out of the box and easily click them together to form individual trays that is 100% customizable by either leaving the rows empty or positioning trays or dividers to suit your individual storage needs. The tray sections are actually made from a synthetic rubber so they can flex. And, you can actually use a pair of scissors to cut them to different lengths. Once the rubber trays are down, you can leave them as-is. Or, you can customize it even further by placing plastic bins or dividers anywhere along the notches in the trays.

And with that organized, I’m calling my to-do list done!

As I mentioned before, nothing too crazy and nothing too time consuming. But it is amazing how much more efficiently you can work once things are more organized. I will of course keep continuing to evolve my shop over time. And I will of course continue to show you guys updates along the way. In the meantime, I hope your shop is evolving and is a happy place for you, too.

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