#already thinking i might omit 22-28 ha

[qpr-kersuma-week]

Alright, so since the week will be happening in December based on the interest check results,

[nekomittchi]

My Disney Fab 50 Statues

This is my version of the Disney Fab 50 statues for the WDW 50th Anniversary, and why I picked each one. My list aims much more to park history than the official list does. I'll note which ones are official statues by underlining them. These are in no particular order, but organized by park they'd be in. Magic Kingdom 1) Mickey - Obviously, Mickey, being the park and company mascot, needs to be here, and he's on the official list as well. I chose to put my version in his Philharmagic costume. It's got the hat from Fantasia/Sorcerer's Apprentice, which is well known, but tailored more to the park attraction. 2) Daisy Duck - One of the Fab 6, Daisy is also along for the ride. But unlike the official's "standard" outfit, I'm putting Daisy in a safari outfit to represent Jungle Cruise. Since Jungle Cruise doesn't really have any characters, I'm using outfits, like with Mickey, to represent attractions that otherwise would be left out. 3) Goofy - Another of the Fab 6, Mickey's best friend needs to be represented. Like Daisy, he's also repping a character-less ride. This time he's repping Big Thunder Railroad. As an added bonus, if they put him in a conductor outfit, it could also rep Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, but that's at another park. 4) Pluto - The last of the Fab 6 in this park (the other two I'm placing elsewhere), Mickey's dog Pluto. And since the Park Wishables already put Mickey and Minnie in space suits for Space Mountain, let's give Pluto an astronaut helmet to represent it! And, as an added bonus, it doubles as a take-that at Universal, since Disney can't have Marvel in the WDW parks, and Pluto would be a joke on Cosmo (the space dog in the Collector's museum from Guardians of the Galaxy). 5) Sonny Eclipse - The first statue of mine that's not only unique to my list, but also represents something 100% in the park. I haven't been to Cosmic Rays myself, but from what I hear around WDWNT and WIGScord, it's pretty popular. Or at least Sonny is. So he gets a statue. 6) Merlin and Archmedes - Second statue unique to my list, and the first that's for the history of the park. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom was a scavenger hunt-type game that closed down early this year, and Merlin was kinda your guide for it. The game apparently had a lot of problems, but it looked really fun at the same time. 7) Genie - A surprising omition from the official list, and, unlike DLR, WDW actually has an Aladdin ride. The official list does have Abu, but I feel Genie is much more iconic and representitational of the movie. I'm also surprised that Carpet wasn't with Abu. 8) Pirate Dog - The Pirate Dog holding the keys is my representation of Pirates of the Caribbean. The dog might not be the most obvious pick, but as I'm trying to steer away from realistic-looking human characters, the dog was picked. Plus, they also made a Tsum Tsum and a Wishable of him, so... 9) Big Al OR Henry- This one's a toss-up. Either bear would do, and it's surprising to me that Country Bear Jamboree isn't represented. Of course, we know that it's a "less popular" attraction, so... 10) Madame Leota - The hitchhiking ghosts would also work to represent Haunted Mansion, but I think that having a gold statue inside of an ornate glass orb would look cooler. Plus, it only takes up one character slot, rather than 3. 11) Dumbo - One of the original rides from Disneyland, this classic has to be represented, and Disney agreed. Although I cut out Timothy. Didn't wanna take up another slot. 12) Stitch - Another statue to represent a past attraction, Stitch is here to represent Stitch's Great Escape. He's also, like the official statue, in his 626 form, because there's not nearly as much merchandise for him that way. 13) Winnie the Pooh - Piglet is with him on the official statue, but I think Pooh can stand on his own. Or, at least, eat hunny on his own. I mean, the ride is called "Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," not "Pooh and Friends." Also, Tigger is way better than Piglet. 14) Mr. Toad - Another surprising omition from the list. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride might not be in Magic Kingdom anymore, but he's still fondly remembered, and they even made a Wishable of him (from the Disneyland 65th Anniversary set, but whatever). 15) Maleficent (Dragon) - The first of my statues that's not for an attraction, but a show (okay, Philharmagic is kinda a show, but shush). And she's also considered the "leader" of all of the Disney Villains, who are not represented at all in the official list, which I think is a shame. Sure, we all love the heroes, but who would those heroes be without their villains? 16) Face Clock - The only non-character in my list, the Face Clock is iconic enough for the World's Fair-turned-park ride. Because if you picked one of the dolls, which doll would you pick?! 17) Elliot - I've never seen the Main Street Electrical Parade myself (unless it was when I was 5), but I'd recognize the dragon float from Pete's Dragon anywhere. Bonus points if they could do the statue in such a way that it looked like the float, too. 18) Tinkerbell - The last of the revealed statues, Tinkerbell has come to represent Disney magic, both within and outside the parks, just as much as Mickey. Officially representing Peter Pan's Flight, I'd like to think that she also represents the Castle, like in the company card at the start of the movies. 19) Jose, Michael, Pierre, and Fritz - Yes, I know I've been trying to avoid "wasting" slots with multi-character statues, but... How could you pick just one of the Enchanted Tiki Room birds?! 20) Cheshire Cat - Cheshire and Mad Hatter both made the list (as separate statues), but I feel that Alice in Wonderland can be represented by Cheshire on his own. Plus, cat. 21) Boo - Monster's Inc Laugh Floor is an attraction that I wish was at DLR, so I could go on it, but even better than Sulley or Mike is the adorable Boo. 22) Jimminy Cricket - Yet another surprising omition from the list, Jimminy is almost as iconic to Disney Magic as Tinkerbell is. The official list has Pinocchio, but Jimminy is so much more "Disney" in general than Pinocchio. 23) Dopey - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train represent, as well as Disney's first animated feature. EPCOT 24) Donald Duck, Jose, and Panchito - Mickey's other best friend, here represented with the other two of the Three Caballeros, as represented in the Gran Fiesta Tour ride in the Mexico Pavillion. Like with the other members of the Fab 6, I chose to put him in an attraction outfit, and since I did, the other two had to come along for the ride. 25) Figment - Journey to Imagination (or whatever the current name of the attraction is) might be "meh" as a ride, but everyone loves Figment. Even Disney, who included him. 26) Olaf - I love Bruni. Bruni is probably my favorite character from all of Frozen. But Bruni isn't even named in the movie, he doesn't need to be on a statue. Olaf can represent Frozen Ever After by himself. 27) Remy - I'm shocked that Remy's not on the official list, given that his ride [officially] opens on the first day of the 50th Celebration, and represents the future of the parks. 28) Orange Bird - OB is on the official list, though in MK rather than EPCOT. All of the merch and such I've seen for him has been for the EPCOT festivals, so I'm sticking him here. 29) Rocket Racoon and Groot - Another statue to look to the future, for whenever Cosmic Rewind opens. Also, unlike the official statue, we are not using the realistic style from the official statue. The fur on Rocket looks so bad. Nah, instead we'll do him smooth, like the cartoons. 30) Mushu - Mushu was left out of the live action Mulan movie, but he's designed after traditional Chinese dragons, so let's put him over by the China Pavilion. 31) Marie - Did you really think that this list was not going to have my favorite character on it? I mean, really? Plus, we've got THREE mice/rats on the list, AND a dog, so we need another cat. Hollywood Studios 32) Minnie Mouse - And here we have the last of the Fab 6, Mickey's gal Minnie! Why is she in Hollywood Studios? Because she's representing Tower of Terror, wearing a cute outfit, of course! 33) DJ-R3X - Remember all those Fab 6 characters representing multiple characters? Yeah, R3X here is doing the same. Not only is DJ-R3X the DJ at Oga's Cantina in Galaxy's Edge, but he was originally RX-24, the pilot for the original version of Star Tours. Much better representation than BB-8 or R2-D2 from the official list. 34) Kermit the Frog - One of the more offensive omitions from the official list. MuppetVision3D is great fun, and the Muppets don't get nearly enough love, even with the Haunted Mansion special coming. 35) Chuuby - Okay, so sue me, I'm obsessed with the little merchandising bird. He's just too cute. 36) Woody and Buzz Lightyear - I know the official statue is Woody and Bo-Peep. But I haven't seen Toy Story 4 (or 3), so I want Buzz there. Disney's Animal Kingdom 37) Chip and Dale - Ya gotta have the little buddies! And who better to be wearing cute little Wilderness Explorer outfits? 38) The Yeti - So, the real Yeti might not work in Expedition Everest, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be represented as a statue! Just make sure it's not realistic fur like that horrible Rocket statue. Stylized only! 39) Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa - Simba is separate from his friends in the official statue, but the trio (Simba as a child) should stick together. Festival of the Lion King is amazing to watch. You'll note a few things on my list: 1) There are no princesses. This was a specific omition on my part. The princesses have their own line of stuff, and are fairly over-used as it is. I wanted to get away from that. 2) As I mentioned with the Pirate Dog, I wanted to avoid realistic human characters. They either look good, or they don't. And I wanted a bit more of a similar style to everything, hence why I'm noting that Rocket should be done in the cartoon style, and the Yeti should be stylized. 3) Everything is tied into an attraction, land, or Disney Magic. Nothing is there solely from a movie. 4) My list only has 3 statues more than the official list. 5) For reference, here are the characters that are on the official list that are missing from mine: Timothy the Mouse (with Dumbo) Piglet (with Winnie the Pooh) Bruni (with Olaf) Bo-Peep (with Woody) Lumiere and Cogsworth Mad Hatter Pinocchio Gus and Jaq Lady and Tramp Abu Dante Miguel Pua and Hei-Hei Joe Gardener Edna Mode Frozone R2-D2 BB-8 Sebastian and Flounder Nemo and Dory Bambi and Thumper Of these, there are no major parks connections for Lumiere and Cogsworth, Lady and Tramp, Dante, Miguel, Pua and Hei-Hei (yet), Joe Gardener, Edna, and Frozone. Edna and Frozone especially bother me, as they're not even the main characters. Why couldn't we get a Jack-Jack instead? And Mr. Mittens and 22 over Joe Gardener? 6) And, finally, here are my statues that are new to my list: Sonny Eclipse Merlin and Archmedes Genie Pirate Dog Big Al Madame Leota Mr. Toad Maleficent Face Clock Elliot Jose, Michael, Pierre, and Fritz Boo Jimminy Cricket Dopey Remy Mushu Marie DJ-R3X Kermit the Frog Chuuby Buzz Lightyear The Yeti

[klein-archive]

Memories in feelings

8th June 2021

This will be my (Jane Milton’s) last blog post before handing over to the new Melanie Klein Trust archivist, Christine English. I know that Christine has already identified some very interesting archival material that she will be sharing on the blog - which I am certainly looking forward to reading.

So, to round off my always stimulating, fruitful time exploring the Klein archives (though I will continue to refer to them) here are some clinical notes I came across recently, which I hope will be thought-provoking.

Klein discusses what she calls ‘memories in feelings’ several times in the third and fourth volumes of her Writings. For example, an important footnote to page 180 of Envy and Gratitude reads:

All this [referring to early phantasies concerning the breast] is felt by the infant in much more primitive ways than language can express. When these pre-verbal emotions and phantasies are revived in the transference situation, they appear as ‘memories in feelings’, as I would call them, and are reconstructed and put into words with the help of the analyst. In the same way, words have to be used when we are reconstructing and describing other phenomena belonging to the early stages of development. In fact we cannot translate the language of the unconscious into consciousness without lending it words from our conscious realm (Klein 1957).

In archive file PP/KLE/D.11, I found a detailed and complicated example of a ‘memory in feeling’, together with Klein’s interpretations of and reflections on it, in the analysis of a man in his late forties, whom she calls ‘Mr X’.

In the second half of file D.11, Klein discusses the difficulties that the patient is having, in integrating feelings towards his parents with the analytic transference situation. The analyst is sometimes spared the complex and contradictory negative feelings felt towards the primary objects, while, at other times, the situation with the parents is idealised, and the analysis and analyst denigrated. The following material appears in the digitised collection as images 18, 20 and 22-28 (omitting some pages which are crossed out and do not appear to belong to the sequence):

---

I could give you many more instances of attitudes, which have all in common the attempt on the part of the patient to avoid a synthesis between the various aspects of figures and relations, which have come to focus on the analyst. The point here is that the synthesis, which the patient has not been able to establish sufficiently in the past is bound up in the various anxieties coming to the fore. The analyst is loved and hated, as other people in the patient’s life were earlier on, and the patient resorts to all sorts of defences and among them the process of splitting figures and situations, in order to avoid the relations that these various aspects represent, the various aspects of the mother and father. It is, therefore, our work to help him to experience again and again - and this is a slow process we know - the realisation, that he has only divided up, split his ego, his relations with people, and the people themselves, in the attempt to avoid conflict, anxiety and guilt. Our interpretations aim at synthesis, but the synthesis can only be achieved piecemeal, and again and again the patient has to be confronted with experiencing conflict and suffering, which he has tried to avoid in the past.

Re memories in feelings: (to George)

[George is a child Klein saw between the ages of 3 and 8, in the 1930s, who appears in two of the ‘restricted’ files B.39 and B.40]

This brings me to a point which applies to adults as well as to some extent to children. We know how important it is to revive in our patients[’] memories. We however also know that such memories can be extremely falsified. This is included in the concept of cover memories. So while it is beneficial to get as many memories as possible, it is in connection with emotions, desires, anxieties which partly led to these memories, and which these past experiences were connected with, that we have to understand any situation in the past as well as in the present. We should never rest content with just having past experiences as it were reconstructed in the analysis, because we must not treat them as it were as isolated events. Only if we are able to bring out the whole situation of feelings, anxieties, fitting into the development as a whole, we can feel that we have benefitted sufficiently from the revival of memories. Now there would probably be no difference of opinion on that point. I still think it is worthwhile mentioning, for there are stages of development of which we cannot get memories in the full sense of the word, expressed by words, and in the clear-cut way in which memories of a later stage may appear. And yet they are memories of feelings.

Refer back to Mary in this connection - reproducing the situation of the baby (lamb) with all the oral details attached to it [it is not clear to whom Klein is referring here]

A VERY EARLY MEMORY IN FEELING

Man Patient X (age: just under fifty) 8th February 1946

In identification with the little child who was teething and woke at night repeatedly crying, the father felt suddenly, having just woken from sleep, what an ���awful thing was going on in the child”. He had a vision of something growing out of the soft mouth, flesh being contrasted here to something very hard like spikes which were somehow thrust on him (because by now he felt it happening to himself and not to the child) and being forced to push these spikes together. (this was shown by a gesture). And a terrible feeling how awful that must be. At this moment, when visualising the spikes coming together, he had a vision of these hard things outside him, and “death-head” was the next association to it. The feeling of grievance that he could not stop that happening, that this whole thing had been thrust on him, that something had made these spikes come out, and that he had no more control over these spikes because again something forced him to push these spikes together.

Now these feelings he found extremely difficult to put into words, while he was otherwise very vocal. It seemed as if they just could not be put into words. And he fully agreed when I suggested that this incapacity was due to the fact that such things may be felt but not thought of in words at a very early stage. The one stimulus for experiencing what quite obviously was a memory in feeling was the identification with the little daughter. Another is the transference situation at the moment.

In the preceding hour some guilt about leaving the responsibility all his life too much with other people, or rather a tendency towards that which was very much controlled, had come up. Facing that, a very high appreciation of the value of the analysis and the effects, and a feeling of unworthiness in having it, had become quite clear. A particular association was leaving the responsibility for sweets (tuck at school) with the mother. He would not take sweets with him after the holidays, but she should rather send them. They were packed into a tin, and there seemed something very wrong about that, an inexplicable feeling that it was not, as it were, her job to send them in a way which left some responsibility with her which she should not have. This had connected with feelings that however valuable the analysis might be, he does not make the best of it, or won’t do in the future.

My suggestion in the preceding hour had been that he would use the interpretations, and the analysis, in the wrong way, that he would not make the best of it. Now an association produced on the 7th was that after having left me, at the moment of going out of the room, he had suddenly had an association that in fact he would make use of the analysis in such a way that it would improve his earning capacity, and he disliked the thought that he would use it to make money.

Now there are here two trends of thought which became quite clear in the present hour: The good thing, the milk, the nipple, taken in would be changed into faeces and thus be completely destroyed – money making – bad purposes.

This is the way in which the nipple, and now my interpretations, would be treated while being taken in. The object would be destroyed, the “death head”, which himself felt was a later elaboration of what was felt dangerously destroyed in those early days, is the object- in this case me. Therefor the tin in which the sweets were packed is not only his inside in which he should not take the sweets, but it is more specifically the mouth and the teeth (the edges of the tin).

The very strong feeling that it was not his fault, because it was pushed, thrust on him, seems to connect with the nipple being pushed into him. And here the object itself becomes the teeth, a condensation of what is being done to the object and reflected in his attitude towards him. Also why was the nipple given to him? But there seemed to have been in fact at the very beginning of feeding great difficulties because the mother had been very ill, and X has a feeling- not supported by what he had heard- that for some time she could not have fed him. In his view, since she was so ill at his birth, some weeks could have elapsed before she could feed him. A view which seems rather phantastic when he was going over it in this hour, because what would have happened to the milk?

He had been told that his breast feeding otherwise had been normal up to about 8 months but with the strong feeling that to begin with there had been a long gap, a very long time before he started on it. The present impression was that he might have had very great difficulties in taking the nipple, perhaps because of a break in the beginning or perhaps because of fears, as the mother, who was on the whole affectionate and patient, was apt to be erratic and if things did not go well, impatient. The possibility appears that if at the beginning of the feeding there had been difficulties due to starting a little too late with the breast being given and to his difficulties, she might have been impatient and thrust the nipple into his mouth.

Very fundamental attitudes seem to be connected with this. Incapacity to make use of very great gifts in him, of choosing, or trying to get the best thing, to make use of opportunities – against that in the same way a tendency to thrust responsibility on to others which was in fact not carried out. A very strong drive to get the best opportunities and also to make use of them, but with a constant conflict over these two attitudes which no doubt had to some extent a paralysing effect.

An interesting point is the vision of the “death head” in front of the mouth, outside. It seems to show so closely the process of the object still outside and at the same time already internalised and again externalised – on the boundary. As well as the actual external object, the nipple, changed into this destroyed object.

Memories in feelings are not an unknown fact. But this should be put versus what is called “memories”. I find them in such ways also with adults, that the whole situation becomes alive. All this shows in attitudes and is connected with the transference situation.

--------------------------

References:

Klein, Melanie (1957) Envy and Gratitude. In Envy and Gratitude and Other Works, The Writings of Melanie Klein Volume III. London: Hogarth 1975.

[thecrenellations]

Return of the Thief Notes, Part One: The Book of Pheris, Volume I

Notes from my first read, October 2020. (Part Two | Part Three | TaT)

Contents:  "So, so, so” watch, Costis watch, swearing, trashing the king’s attendants, being objectively wrong, boundless enthusiasm and love 

I promise I’ve had more developed thoughts since these often incoherent ones, but I’ve enjoyed having these notes to refer to - for sentimental reasons and for  entertainment, so here they are, for others who enjoy liveblogs and/or being whisked back in time to their first read of this wonderful book.

Format: Page number. My thoughts (Context?)

Dedication, Table of Contents, Exordium:

There it is – to Sounis

Exordium – vocab #1

Interregnum?!? Alyta?

Pheris!!!

Yeah I love him from the first page

MOIRA

MOCKING COMMENTS HELP! Gen lives!

A new level of unreliable narrator

Moira, messages of Gods, Pheris, messages of __

Wtf is going on in this study? A zoo?

high king vs great king vs annux?

okie dokie dude

Chapter 1

1. Susa – Costis

2. Infirmity – who gets to be hero/tell story (I started reading right after the book launch, in which mwt spent some time talking about her writing influences and decisions connect to this question - Pheris isn’t her first disabled protagonist and storyteller, of course, but it was lovely to meet him properly directly after hearing her talk about it. Book launch foreshadowing part 1...)

Melisande?

Is this why he wasn’t taught to read?

3. Always the summer

Bees!

4. Hunting cat… hm…

Ok … shrine … 😬

5. Once again we start with a disaster or having to flee

Which Eugenides precipitated

Bite!

Little monster :(

6. Falling…

:(

7. :( :( :(

His purpose? D:

8. YIKES

Chapter 2

9. Hello there! (Gen!)

Massive chair?

10. CRACKED WATER JUG (amphora motif???)

11. Triangle from seal!

Gen that’s rude to Pheris :( (“He will fit in very well with my attendants”)

Wait. This must have happened before ACoK! (nope)

12. :(

Xikander … never made an impression before

How old is Pheris? (lol)

13. Philologos come thru!

Royal closet reappears!

14. Hello weird secondhand scene!

He is Eugenides

Marina…

15. Petrus? GALEN? OH SHIT! 

Is this why Galen was called? (nope)

16. Hell yea Petrus

Miras’ golden balls oh no

All these previously unnamed sucky attendants!

17. Ula – goddess of hearth and healing

Ok … Galen … or a god? Eugenides????? (why did these options occur to me before Mr. Shows Up At Your Bedside At Night himself)

18. Finally the attendant floor plans I crave + hunting scenes!

19. EXCUSE ME he slept through Sounis + Eddis wedding!!!

Again – high king!

20. So Ion is beautiful … hmm.

Yeah … Sejanus has facets. I like it.

21. Clearly no one would know what king would do … lol

Don’t mind me just sorting the attendants on a spectrum of awfulness!!!

22. SO SO SO – ION!!!!!

How many fucking attendants are there and how many are on my hit list!

Is “the necessaries” bathrooms or like … him stealing? (just the bathrooms ... the Gen-Pheris parallels were really getting to me at this point)

:(

23. OH MY GOD THE UNIFIED CREST

Also … frogs. Frogs.

24. Big day for Gen huh

Definitely an aura of Something as he writes about Gen

25. HELLO EVERYONE

26. Sorry Kamet, Pheris does the physical descriptions better. They’re beautiful

I’m blacking out at Eddis and Sounis

27. Jesus Christ. The bear.

Cousin time!

Under the table is the new up on the roof!

Uh… twin imagery ….

Gen’s feet!

Jesus. The matching

28. Cleon … wtf? A cousin?

A trial for Sophos?

Show! Us! Sophos’s! Shoes!

29. If u throw things out the air shaft you might hit the king

Was it a chicken?

Lol nvm the guy at night is Gen. That is … very sweet

- Showing up at night

- Accent

- Complaining about Petrus

- Swearing

- One hand

I am judging Costis and Sophos for not describing the paneling in Gen’s room!

Chapter 3

30. Was it a chicken?

An earring huh, good hand huh

31. Literally screaming “NO!” at Gen. Don’t joke about dying! I am killed by Gen on annux day. This is. My boy. Yes he is perfect. Yes he will refuse to get up. I love him. I died on page 31

Philologos is still the best of them

32. Dancing bear indeed

Always the powdered gold

Ruby!!!!! <3

Aww a smile!!! <3

Pheris he likes you!

33. They both love invisibility and lost it … I cry

Erupt like the sacred mountain excuse me!

OR WORSE return to bed! Lol

34. He’s Eugenides when he’s talking to Attolia

Ouch hero talk

! from Irene!

My queen!

Hey Phresine!

They way we do <3 he’s hating it but he’s so comfortable with her

Sister and bro mention! C’mon!

I love them

EYEBROW

35. Honestly that’s a yes (“I have no idea what you mean, my queen”)

It’s so cute they hang out in the morning … like how long was it even since they’ve seen each other lol

:( tough walk for Pheris

Is it prophecy time?

Lol how long does this construction take?!

Also … she’s pregnant, huh? but no one knows (nope)

Is befriending someone weaponized as a prank count for Gen’s enemies to friends list?

Also SHOW ME the magus. I know he’s here!

36. Pheris excuse me, why not recreate this!

Lol cast off language of history indeed

Feel the thrum of the goddess!

EXCUSE ME… a minor goddess? Mystery goddess? Or Philia?

Oh Gen

37. Well, Gen, someone is having a worse day than you.

Damn, how far we come.

Aww Sounis, babe, I love you and so does Gen

[drawing of the four of them sitting in a row]

38. Artadorus???? Pomegranate?

39. HEIRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A friend! Also lol. Two smiles, for Pheris and Heiro..

40. Yesss Melheret joke in action.

Costis has left tho right?

Jesus, Melheret

SHE GAVE HIM A HORSE (I COULD NOT DEAL with this entire conversation, but then again I could not deal with this whole book.)

41. I love them all so much

“on that horse, you will look like a king” I can’t with her sense of humor

He sure did say that

I feel like I’m missing something with the fight on foot thing … remembering battles?

Helen called him Gen!

Sophos stop talking about yourself and bringing apricots into everything lol

Lol these bystanders don’t know how lucky they are. Nor does Pheris, yet

42. She’s protecting him

Also … Gen … you didn’t want to be a soldier.

43. Guards have capes

2 startled men … hm …

Oh Gen. The fucking brutal echoes…

44. :( :( :(

Gen tell your wife you’re sick!

The attendants are so dumb

45. So, so, so :(

Tell who? Petrus?

Wink!

Yes?

46. Bleeding! Salt! Lemon! Heck no! What is he, a piece of meat?

Oranges?

47. “savoring each bite as if it were my last” ... Same … but with this book

Hmm… Alyta! Goddess of the gentle rain! (despite this “hmm,” I did not put the pieces together)

48. Oh no Teleus! And someone?

Aw he realized <3 lemon water

49. Gen eat your broth lol

50. I love them.

Ion’s really trying to make up for what he did that one time

51. Without the approval of the great goddess HAHAHA

I love them. Cousin time! Growl?

Idk whether or not to be reassured, Gen.

Wow Cleon I do not like that. Also didn’t he die? (...)

Comma (“I am not, Eddis”)

Go smack him!

52. Gen I love you.

Helen I love you.

He’s so bad at self care but I love him

Chapter 4

55. love that our narrator just disappears and reappears

56. Attolia’s brother’s bedroom? Yikes. Ominous. A detail in a story we’ve already gotten, different every time <3

57. fucking attendants. 3 good ones. Medander you were beneath Costis’s notice before but I hate you. Costis didn’t have time for you or Xikos or Xikander and nor do I

58. interesting pawn talk!!!

59. <3 Pheris :(

The Gen comparisons though

:( :( :( :(

60. flamboyance <3

Cemphora bush

Bees

61. I love him

62. I love them

Also lol “Your majesty?”

63. Name … hm … (“I have deliberately omitted [my tutor’s] name here”)

64. more twin imagery I swear

WAIT … it was his birthday! Not just Annux day?!! Gen was born in late summer???

Attendant list thank you

65. laying it all out there, huh … (that one Gen quote)

Lol they’re the same but Pheris likes horses

66. Insellia! Hello nice to meet you

67. Gen that’s mean. (“He is hardly even half of one.”)

68. Coleus leves???

“I am Eugenides.” <3

Gen why

69. Gold cups???? Hmmmmm. Also lioness. Def invoking Costis. (they’re probably not the cups, but STILL)

Earth….

70. Moira! Hi!!! Rainbow shawl!

Like a rabbit!

Pester!

I’m … very sad he uses his Attolian accent with Helen

71. Aaah so good

Mortals

Moira knows another messenger?

Does he think he can’t die in battle?

72. hmm are they WRANGLING?! (Galen and Petrus and my Fire and Hemlock word association)

Kill that pastry Irene I love you

morning training with his … guard? (Is that the whole guard or a guard? Costis senses tingling once again.)

73. Oh gen.

Ouch! (“to send people to their deaths and not risk my own is contemptible”)

Is she implying he’s paying Therespides?

74. Interesting Cleon plan. So many doubles

OUCH. (“Only if he comes back from the dead.” I assumed Lader had died in the war; it’s a different ouch now. I love that they both accidentally say things to each other that poke old wounds, and it’s not a big deal but it’s also not dismissed! Their relationship has come so far, and I love them so much.)

75. Verimius – Lavia – Celia??? Somebody is queer in there!

A GUARD

This scene confuses me. Xortix? Layteres? Aris! but dice thing is less political … so maybe? (just wait....)

76. So many reasons to hate Medander

Hey Costis! You exist! KoA happened!

Gen is just … still so uncomfortable and miserable. He chose, he has people, but still.

RIP Clopius also WHAT

77. Lol Hilarion’s grand statements

78. Yorn Fordad Hello!

Luxurious mustache

The mighty Pents?

Besin Quedue – she’s coming 4 you watch out

79. RIP Baron Hippias

Chapter 5

80. Spring! Plays! Cenna!

81. Oh dear

Oh dear

At least they said he was pretty

83. ?!? :( wine

Uh oh. Stockpiling

85. What even.

AAAAAAAAAH COSTIS

86. Omg Irene. Hissing. I love her.

Also … Gen’s the viper

Also this scene was written by Pheris.

Damn.

87. oh no.

What better man

She fucking quoted Howl. I love them.

Also, bees (this scene killed me)

90. Falling?

Oh shit

Also … Juridius and Pheris, Susa and Costis (comparing demands for information)

93. oh my god (IT’S THE WINDOW SCENE)

Oh my god

Uh

94. She! Called! Him! Gen!

I love this and it scares me

Lol Chloe

Irene you learned from her though

95. D:

96. :(

97. water stuff

98. what the heck

OH NO (Quedue scene)

Hm

100. yikes

Omg

Wow.

102. yikes yikes YIKES

103. a blade has protruded from his chest (tbt to The Thief)

jesus

106. shit

Did Gen hit him?

108. lol Phresine

109. lol

I want genuinely every character’s reaction to this shit

Chapter 6

111. what the heck Gen.

112. like a god [crown doodle]

114. Perma?

116. Gen. Gen. Gen. Do not.

117. AAAA (god intervention)

122. Juridius to Dite

124. bye Iolanthe and Ileia! Tell us about Caeta and Silla.

125. did not expect so much Ion

Chapter 7

127. Fryst god of winter

She laughed!

They’re so married

128. OH SHIT (Costis ship is sighted and I remember what’s about to happen next)

Interesting timing

He rode the horse home?

131. Beauty and good, beauty and kind

134. The gods’ goodwill

Keep them safe <3

135. Is that his MOM?!! Wtf (it was!)

Pheris steal those earrings!!!

RING! SMASH BOX!

137. AMPHORA EARRINGS (and flowers)

138. I love Phresine

139. Why do I feel like all the game birds are pigeons

140. meanwhile Gen’s been hanging out with Kamet. Shit. I cannot.

WELCOME HOME BOYS!

HELL YEAH KAMET ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS!

RELIUS COME THRU

141. lethium soup! The reversal

Safe for you

142. of course he knew <3

143. Kamet time! I love him. We get to see Kamet!!!

Also … echo of Gen’s notes on Mede

145. very handsome. … gaycostis vindication (referring to @costis’s url at the time and this post. Little did I know what else was to come in the next chapter and then a few months later with the adaptation news...)

Do you know who I am?

Chapter 8

147. Of course he’s a cartographer

A favorite huh

148. of course she didn’t tell us his age!

149. the angsty window staring I crave

Music!

151. adventure, huh

I do have a soft spot for Melheret

152. concerned about amphora gift

153. Glad they can be well and united in spite!! (Gen and Melheret)

154. Pheris loves math and I love him

155. Hello Teleus. Hello olives

Lol Relius is not into math

156. pigeons. Inkpot!

157. yeah honestly. He tortures people. He was NOT tortured by the king

159. lol (“I have noted the elective nature of certain behaviors” ... I love Relius and Pheris.)

160. The Invitation! I <3 it

161. EXCUSE ME WHO

Legarus!

FOLKS HERE WE ARE (I cannot overstate how wonderful it was to read this page. I did not know who the poem was from, and “Someone loves me very much, even with all my faults” is even sweeter to reread, but it’s just ... his confidence is so different from the tentative consideration of a new philosophy of trust and love we see in KoA. And there is subtextual queerness in the books before this one, some more apparent and some more subtle (and what is obvious to one reader may be subtle or invisible to another, in these books especially), and there is the attendant love triangle a few chapters back, but HERE - here, Pheris acknowledges the real feeling and love in Legarus’s disastrous relationship and tells us directly that his lover was a man, here he seamlessly makes it clear how bi and poly Relius is, and he quietly ties these relationships and realities to his growing understanding of the world. It’s not subtext. And there’s a lot more to come, but this page really hit me, and sort of promised the “more to come” while assuring me that what had come before, more subtly, was there. I used to have heteronormative readings of both these books and myself, and when Thick as Thieves brought them crashing back into my heart after years away, I knew better about myself, and I saw that - or the possibility of that reading -  reflected in the new book, and it was such a good surprise. It meant a lot, and this page meant a lot, and that is why I’m writing a small essay to accompany this note.) 

Lol wow

162. Where are you traveling, man (this question remains)

163. Fuck you, Orutus

164. Stole an inkpot!

165. the map!!! (Kamet’s)

166. I love them!

167. The Math Master hmm

Am I an oracle (Nope! :) )

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Mon., Feb. 17, 2020

Greatmartyr Theodore

The Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (Tyro) was a soldier in the city of Alasium of the Pontine district (northeast province of Asia Minor, stretching along the coast of the Euxine, i.e. the Black Sea), under the command of a certain Brincus. They commanded him to offer sacrifice to idols. Saint Theodore firmly confessed his faith in Christ the Savior in a loud voice. The commander gave him several days to think it over, during which time Saint Theodore prayed.

They charged him with setting a pagan temple on fire, and threw him into prison to be starved to death. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him there, comforting and encouraging him. Brought to the governor, Saint Theodore boldly and fearlessly confessed his faith, for which he was subjected to new torments and condemned to burning. The martyr Theodore climbed onto the fire without hesitation, and with prayer gave up his holy soul to God.

This occurred in about the year 306 under the Roman emperor Galerius (305-311). Unharmed by the fire, the body of Saint Theodore was buried in the city of Euchaita, not far from Amasium. His relics were afterwards transferred to Constantinople, to a church dedicated to him. His head is in Italy, in the city of Gaeto...keep reading

Hieromartyr Ghermogen Patriarch of Moscow

The Hieromartyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus, was born in Kazan around 1530, and was descended from the Don Cossacks. According to the Patriarch’s own testimony, he served as priest in Kazan in a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas (December 6 and May 9), near the Kazan bazaar. Soon he became a monk, and from 1582 was archimandrite of the Savior-Transfiguration monastery at Kazan. On May 13, 1589 he was consecrated bishop and became the first Metropolitan of Kazan.

While he was the priest at Saint Nicholas, the wonderworking Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (July 8) was discovered in Kazan in 1579. With the blessing of Archbishop Jeremiah of Kazan, he carried the newly-appeared icon from the place of its discovery to the Church of Saint Nicholas. Having remarkable literary talent, the saint in 1594 compiled an account describing the appearance of the wonderworking icon and the miracles accomplished through it. In 1591 the saint gathered newly-baptized Tatars into the cathedral church and for several days he instructed them in the Faith.

The relics of Saint Germanus, the second archbishop of Kazan (September 25, November 6, and June 23), who died at Moscow on November 6, 1567 during a plague, were transfered and buried in Saint Nicholas Church in 1592. With the blessing of Patriarch Job (1589-1605), Saint Hermogenes reburied the relics at the Sviyazhsk Dormition monastery.

On January 9, 1592 Saint Hermogenes addressed a letter to Patriarch Job, in which he asked for permission to commemorate in his See of Kazan those Orthodox soldiers who gave their lives for the Faith and the nation in a battle against the Tatars. In the past, it was customary to enter into the diptychs the names of all Orthodox warriors who had fallen in battle, and to commemorate them...Keep reading Orthodox Church of America OCA

1 John 2:18- 3:10 NKJV

Deceptions of the Last Hour

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the[a] Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you[b] know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Let Truth Abide in You

24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to [c]deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you [d]will abide in Him.

The Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that [e]when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

The Command to Love

3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of [f]God! Therefore the world does not know [g]us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Footnotes:

1 John 2:18 NU omits the

1 John 2:20 NU you all know.

1 John 2:26 lead you astray

1 John 2:27 NU omits will

1 John 2:28 NU if

1 John 3:1 NU adds And we are.

1 John 3:1 M you

Mark 11: 1-11 NKJV

The Triumphal Entry

11 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to [a]Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

4 So they went their way, and found [b]the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”

6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread themon the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes [c]in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Footnotes:

Mark 11:1 M Bethsphage

Mark 11:4 NU, M a

Mark 11:10 NU omits in the name of the Lord

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. From Biblegateway.com

[poppytheorist]

American Kids

1. I had “American Kids” on the August list. Sorry for the delay, “I was busy,” “better late than never,” etc. Already straying from my schedule, looks like September is off to a great start! Also, this one’s both dense and obtuse, my bad. Anywho, here are some words:

2. As is typical, let’s gush first: “American Kids” is easily the most thematically interesting song on Bubblebath. The production is also the tightest. I mean, do you hear this instrumental? You know what? I’m just gonna say it: “American Kids” is the best song on Bubblebath.

3. If you take some time to look at the lyrics, you’ll see that “American Kids” is actually a super weird song. Half the lines seem like their own random tangents, so it’s left up to listeners to piece everything together themselves.

4. When listeners are challenged to consider the connections between seemingly unconnected ideas, they are forced out of worn ruts and must instead open themselves up to possible associations they had never considered. Poppy challenges listeners this way all the time.

5. Genius tells me that “American Kids” is Poppy’s take on the ‘blame the millennial’ movement. Partially true, but that omits elements of Poppy’s disenchantment with the world and her struggle to break free of the music industry’s commercializing squeeze.

6. You’re best off analyzing lyrics yourself rather than using Genius. Genius readings are watered-down so they can be easily digested by anybody and everybody. So, they’re usually devoid of anything interesting. See also: fast food, Marvel movies.

7. Perhaps it’s best to think of “American Kids” as Poppy’s worldview presented as a mosaic, with each piece being one of Poppy’s thoughts crystallized in time. Or think of the song as Poppy Splatoon-style painting a picture of her worldview. Whichever analogy works best for you.

8. In “American Kids,” Poppy lays down a foundation for her future work to build off of. By looking at the underlying foundation, we can see how Poppy’s views have changed as she’s matured. “American Kids” lays a lot of groundwork, so it’ll take a bit longer to get through.

9. Since “American Kids” is so random and bizarre, we will first start by picking out specific threads. These are chains of ideas that link together. At the end, we will weave all these threads into one fabric. If your reading is good, each piece should mesh together nicely. If not, then-

10. “American Kids” kicks off with Poppy acknowledging the limitations of her worldview. She knows she is only exposed to specific information (“I live under a rock”), and she only has certain tools to process said information (“with a blacklight”).

11. From these lines we get a sense of Poppy’s self-awareness. She recognizes there is much she doesn't understand. Honestly, this self-aware hedging is pretty refreshing, especially considering the abundance of people these days endlessly blaring opinions that aren’t even theirs to begin with.

12. Poppy’s introspection continues with the line: “I’m a dumb pop star in my own right.” Again, Poppy understands how she appears. This line also relates an element of disgust, almost as if she has been forced to become something she grew up hating.

13. Reinforcing this notion is: “Sold my soul to the man with a handshake.” However, Poppy expresses her determination to still #DoSomething with her platform, to use it for Good (“Lost control but I don’t think it’s too late”). This idea is explored further by “In A Minute.”

14. Poppy also gives us the fun line, “Forever 21 is cool if I make it,” where she expresses the necessary fluidity of a pop star’s values. In such a role, she has to make sacrifices to succeed, like promoting products she doesn’t really believe in. If she doesn’t, someone else will.

15. Later in the song, Poppy mentions: “It never happened like they say.” In what ways do expectations differ from reality? The lines, “Started life at age 15, got ahead with fake IDs,” and “We’re dying young on broadcast news,” provide insight.

16. To even have a chance as a singer, Poppy had to get a headstart on the competition by starting at “age 15” and by finding ways to ‘break the rules’ (“fake IDs”). This adds to the sacrifices necessary to succeed in the ferociously competitive rat-race that is the music industry.

17. Overall, the first verse tells of the compromises Poppy has made to ‘make it’ as a pop-idol, and of the self-dissatisfaction she feels after making said compromises. The second verse expands on these ideas, telling us how she has separated herself from her old life to make her new life possible.

18. Poppy tells of how she has put distance between herself and her parents (“Last time I told mom that “I love you””), how she has given up aspects of her past life (“last time I ate food from a drive-thru”), and how she has abandoned her old possessions (“burned all my shit”).

19. Poppy also explains how she has forsaken her “teen regrets,” referring to them as a “trip wire.” Basically, any old emotional attachments or ‘what-ifs’ would only distract her and slow her down, so out of mind they go.

20. “I think my father might be gay but I don’t know” is a weird line. It does add to the idea of separating from the past, but it may seem odd that Poppy would even be concerned with her father’s sexual orientation, especially if you’re coming from AIAG.

21. This isn’t the first time Poppy touches on this topic. In “Software Upgrade,” there’s the line: “So come on, baby, tell me, are you gay?” If you compare Poppy’s old use of language to her more recent work like AIAG, you can see a clear progression of her views on identity and gender.

22. With the line, “Boys aren’t even boys anymore,” we see a concern with the absence of structure from the dissolution of traditional gender roles, but Poppy’s newer work (notably “Am I A Girl?”) embraces the freedom of increased individuality instead of decrying it.

23. Poppy ties the second verse to the first with lines like: “I should be everything you hate” and “I should be higher now than space but I’m static.” Again, Poppy emphasizes the self-loathing she feels after abandoning her values to succeed as a pop-star.

24. Before the first chorus comes, “Girls, let’s put on all of our clothes,” where Poppy plants the seeds for her later work on the objectification of celebrities. This became Poppy’s most prevalent theme. See: her videos, her fashion appearances, and “Girls In Bikinis.”

25. On the chorus, Poppy reiterates her desire to remain ‘apart’ from American kids these days. She emphasizes her abstinence from using drugs, and says (hilariously) that she doesn’t “care about your party.”

26. Not only does Poppy reject young peoples’ lifestyles, she is baffled by how and why people adopt such vapid and empty lifestyles to begin with (“I just don’t get American kids”).

27. Credit where credit’s due: there’s one interpretation I actually liked from Genius. It’s a reading of the line, “Drugs don’t work like they did for my parents,” where Poppy points out how the use of drugs has changed over time.

28. In the past, drugs used to be used as a mind-expanding substance. Substances that freed the individual. Nowadays, drugs are almost a necessity, a toll for living in modern times. Drugs are now a crutch, a fix to get people through another day of crushing monotony.

29. Sewing time. Picking out associations elicited from the song is important, but anyone can do that. The hard part is tying these associations together into a cohesive whole. We ask ourselves: what is the overarching narrative? What does the bigger picture look like?

30. Consider the meta-narrative of “American Kids.” A self-aware pop star reflects, with a pinch of disgust, on the compromises she’s made to succeed. That she has distanced herself from her peers, her parents, and her past self to ‘make it.’ How would this someone feel?

31. “American Kids” leaves us with a feeling of alienation, of exasperation, of someone who is disenchanted with modern society, yet has been forced to exist within its boundaries to succeed. “Liberty isn’t cheap and it ain’t free.” Huh, guess Poppy’s right.

32. Poppy’s final slash is delivered with: “I’m a millennial, blame it all on me.” It’s easier to point fingers than find solutions. But, in the words of Sum 41: “When we all fall down, who will take the blame?”

33. There’s one last part of “American Kids” I mentioned, but didn’t explain. Remember the instruments? Yeah, turns out those are kinda important. They’re harder to ‘read’ than lyrics, but if you’re analyzing music, it’s folly to ignore them.

34. Throughout “American Kids” are snippets of sound, flurries of voices that seep into the track. As Poppy closes the track, repeating “American kids,” her voice becomes increasingly distorted and muddied by other chatter until her signal is swallowed by a sea of noise.

35. At the end of “American Kids,” the gale of noise abruptly ends and we’re left with a final, echoing cry from Poppy, one that slowly fades into the background. “Is that symbolism?” Yeah, something like that.

[sarah-bae-maas]

A Court of Hearts and Darkness Chapter Thirty Two

It’s been over a century since the epic and bloody war against Hybern, but a new, unprecedented horror lies in wait to threaten everything the Inner Circle holds dear.

At a mere 17, it seems that the only one who can save them is the Heir to the Night Court, Feyre and Rhysand’s daughter Eleana, but as a creature so vile promises to kill everyone she loves, she must combat the urge to succumb to the darkness herself. The key to success lies hidden within her mate, the bastard born Kaden, who is as oblivious to the bond as her Court is oblivious to the war on the horizon.

With the help of her cousin and warrior Felix, the son of the famed Nesta and Cassian, they will try to save everything they hold dear, hopefully before the darkness takes them all.

(This fic was written pre-acowar, so please bear in mind there are some small differences but it can still hopefully be enjoyed!)

Link on Ao3 Masterlist

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***

-Chapter 32-

“Shh, you have to be quiet,” Kaden laughed as he kissed Eleana, the woman enveloped in his arms as he walked them to his room.

“You won’t be saying that in five minutes.” She pushed him against the wall in the hallway, kissing him fiercely as she undid the buttons to his shirt, running her hands up and down his chiselled chest as she did.

His breath hitched as her hands wandered further, but he was still conscious of waking the others in the house. He bent down, picking her up like she was his bride and carrying her to his room. He slammed his door behind him, noise suddenly not an issue when Eleana was whispering such filthy things in his ear. He threw her onto the bed, stripping off the rest of his clothes before he joined her.

He was on top of her, her legs around his waist as he gently grinded into her, teasing her. Her moans were ethereal, and the feel of her warm body under him had him melting into her. He worked his tongue and teeth over her jaw, then her collar bones, and then pulled down her strapless dress so that her breasts were exposed to him.

Before he could completely undo her, she flipped them. Her undergarments had long been discarded, and her dress was of no interference when she lowered herself onto him with a groan. Kaden’s breathing nearly stopped in surprise and pleasure, and as she moved her hips perfectly against him he threw his head back, moaning her name.

Still riding him, she bent down and pressed her teeth, her lovely fae fangs, against his neck. Anticipating the bite, his heart started to race, and his hands squeezed her hips hard.

She kissed his jugular first, and then delicately bit him. Pulling back, Kaden drowned in her golden eyes.

Wait, no.

He tried to get away, but the strength of the queen and the darkness that didn’t belong to her pinned him down. No matter how he screamed, there was nothing he could do as she snarled and tore into his flesh again, devouring him alive.

____

Kaden was startled awake by Felix pinching him hard enough to make Kaden cry out in pain. He hissed as he rubbed at the hurt and glared confusedly at his best friend.

“What the fuck.”

“I tried calling your name and it didn’t work. Time to get up sunshine, we have work to do.”

Kaden sat up with a groan, and sluggishly walked to his window to peer out the glass. The sun was high – it was the afternoon – and he turned away from the bright light as his eyes burned.

It has been four days since Felix’s return. Four days of the pair staying awake at night and pouring over any and every text that might pertain to helping Eleana, four days of Felix staying close to the candles and avoiding the encroaching darkness at all costs. Four days of Kaden staying at his side, awake when he was and asleep when he wasn’t, and that had led to times such as now.

Kaden quickly washed, trying to be only slightly more presentable than usual.

“Now, Kaden, I must warn you,” Felix’s voice was grave as he appeared behind Kaden, but the withheld smirk on his face gave away his true intentions. “High Lord Helion is one of the most attractive men in Prythian, but he isn’t interested in us younglings. I would know, I’ve tried many a time.”

“Maybe he’s just not interested in you.”

“Not possible.”

Kaden huffed a laugh and pushed past Felix to gather the few texts he had on veilsingers, shoving them into a bag. “Is Mor ready yet?”

“Has been for hours. We’ll leave for the Day Court when you’re prepared.”

“Then let’s leave now.” Kaden swung the bag over his shoulder and followed Felix out of his room and downstairs. Mor was waiting in the hallway, undoubtedly having heard them talking. Kaden noticed, very quickly, that any magic designed to sound proof does not work with the doors open.

He greeted Mor with a kiss to the cheek, and she looked delighted at his appearance. He was wearing one of the suits she had bought for him and left for him in his closet. It wasn’t as decorative as the one Felix bought him all those months ago for his cousin’s wedding, but the deep blue, fitted fabric was still fine enough for a lord. He wanted to look nice – trick the High Lord of the Day Court into thinking he was something he wasn’t. Respectable.

Mor grabbed Felix and Kaden’s by the arm and winnowed them away.

Kaden had to close his eyes the moment they landed. The sun was blinding, not a single cloud to interrupt the beams, and Felix quickly walked them both under the shade of a large balcony.

Kaden was awed by the palace in front of him. Tall, white marble beams gashed with green and gold greeted him. The palace just rose higher and higher, and spatted along were mirrors reflecting the crystalline blue of the sky. Mor and Felix didn’t take note of the place. It was sometimes hard for Kaden to remember that places such as these were the norm for them. Even if he wasn’t a bastard, Kaden never would have seen such structures in Illyria.

What was more notable though, was the debris around him that was still being cleared from the queen’s attack. The chunks that were missing from the buildings, and the heavy feeling from the sentries around him that spoke legions of the people now missing from their forces.

Helion was tall in front of them. The High Lord’s arm was still in a sling, but it didn’t affect him as he stood imposingly.

“Come this way.” No welcome, but Kaden didn’t expect one, nor did he expect the strange glances Helion kept shooting his way.

They followed him through his home and to his personal library. He started talking on the way.

“Of the five recorded veilsingers in written history, three have been from this court, and the other two hailed from ancestors who did. We’ve never been able to find a tangible reason as to why, but with magic such as this no origin is ever found.” He peered at Kaden. “You’re an abnormality, it seems. Everything we have, whole books just on those five persons, three females and two males, is in my personal collection. You think a shadowsinger is coveted? Some of the things these fae could do will blow your mind, and make you understand why they’ve always been hunted by whatever ruler or daemati knew of their existence. You were smart, boy, allying yourself with the Night Court. You may fair easier than those who have come before you.”

Kaden smiled slightly at the thought – to even think that he had this life for any reason other than Felix and Eleana was laughable. Felix, contrary to Kaden, looked bothered by the High Lord’s words, as if he might interject that Kaden’s life had been hard enough already, and that Felix had no plans to let anyone hurt him again.

They reached the doors to the library, and Helion stopped with his hands on the door knobs and turned to them. “We also have a fae named Den who said she would talk to you. I will warn you though, she has had trauma in her life that makes her… difficult to understand, and to get answers from. I suggest two of you speak to her – I recommend you Mor, she might like the presence of another woman – and one of you go through the texts.”

“Den… isn’t that your famed historian? I thought she went missing decades ago,” Mor said slowly.

“She’s back now,” was Helion’s explanation.

Mor didn’t question him further, just looked at Kaden and Felix. “Felix, you come with me to speak to Den. Kaden, you’ll recognize more about the veilsingers than we can.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. “You come find me if you need me, okay honey?” She patted him on the cheek.

Helion quickly guided Kaden into the study, directly to the pile of books he’d accumulated since High Lord Rhysand had requested some of his Inner Circle come to do research.

Because soon, so soon, Kaden would have to try and draw the queen out, and he would have to know as much as possible about his magic before he could.

_____

“This Den, she is not only a historian, but also your personal seer,” Mor mused. She wasn’t curious as to why he had omitted that fact in his description of her, but she needed a subtle way to warn Felix of what was to come.

Den. A fae she had heard of but never had met. The most powerful seer ever recorded, she had vanished without warning.

“Her being a seer is irrelevant. She no longer gives prophesies,” Helion replied.

“Why not?” Felix asked.

Helion sighed deeply through his nose. “You’ll see soon enough.”

He led them through the palace, taking them higher and higher until they were climbing the spiral staircase of a giant turret – quarters fit for the finest noblewoman. Helion had done her well. Mor skimmed her hand against the smooth rock as they went up, needing the coolness to centre her. Eventually, they stopped at a red, thick door. Helion knocked four times, and then opened it just a smidge.

“Den?” he called.

“Helion, lovely, do come in. You’ve brought me guests?”

Her voice was what flowers in bloom would sound like it they could talk. It was whispy but sure, lighter than a petal falling in the wind. It was beautiful.

The door opened, and Mor saw that the beauty of that voice was probably once reflected in the woman before her.

Her skin was a shadow of tan and grey, and the bones in her hands and face cut her they were so jagged. She was the thinnest person Mor had ever seen, thinner than Feyre even, after Rhys first brought her to the Night Court. Her hair was the brightest thing, even with decorations of all the colours of the rainbow lining her walls. It was the colour of spun gold. Her eyes, the darkest black she had ever seen, we sunken and marred with bags beneath them. There was no balcony, but there were wide windows that let her overlook the court. She was sitting on an arm chair with a blanket thrown over her, her hands resting in her lap.

Mor looked at the woman and felt like she knew her.

“Den, this is Lady Morrigan and Lord Felix of the Night Court. They are the people that wished to speak to you about veilsingers, and about a creature in Prythian and some symbols we’ve been seeing. Do you remember?”

“Yes, lovely Helion, God of the sun and all the burns bright in the day. I remember.”

Felix stepped forward and bowed to the lady. “It is nice to meet your acquaintance.”

She stared at Felix, and the small smile she had given Helion turned to a beam brighter than her hair. “A baby with wings!” she proclaimed. “How was it, the first time you flew? Your mother was scared to death, but you never went far. And then your warrior father would fly with you, and all was well. Do you sing in the sky?”

Felix foundered. “Pardon?”

“Did it scare you when your little sister didn’t have wings? When you learnt that she would never know the taste of wind?”

Felix looked at her curiously. “You can see the past?”

“I can see everything.”

Helion cleared his throat. “Den has the ability to see the future, past, and present, in all realms.”

“So, even all the way across the continent?”

Helion’s face turned dark. “Much, much further than that.”

Mor stepped towards the woman and sunk to her knees in front of her. “We beg for your aide, Den. My niece is in grave danger, and your knowledge might save her life and many others. Can you help us?”

Den opened her mouth in shock, her hands moving to Mor’s cheeks. “Why of course! I would do anything for a friend.”

A friend. Mor accepted the term and put her hands over Den’s, so she could gently remove them from her face. She did not let go, though, and instead clasped them tightly. “Felix, would you be kind enough to show Den the sketches of the symbols?”

“Of course.” He walked over and presented one of Glaslane’s sketchbooks to her.

She started flipping through the pages, making noises of surprise and concern as she did. All the while, Helion leant against the closed door and Felix stood over them. Mor stayed crouched beside her.

“This creature, she has kidnapped your niece?”

“Can’t you already tell?” Felix raised a brow.

In response, she giggled lightly. “Oh no, sweetest boy. I rarely choose what I see. Once upon a time, I used up all the stardust that was inside my blood to see the future of my favourite boy, so that I might live his life with him. I can no longer choose.”

Felix didn’t have a response to that.

“The creature has taken my nieces mind and body from her, so that she might use her magic,” Mor said after a long pause. The whole time, the delirious smile never left Den’s face.

“She took your niece for her magic?”

“Yes.”

“Then she is no queen.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because if she was a queen she would not need another’s magic. She might a princess, but never someone who could take a throne in her own land.”

“Her own land?”

“These are not symbols in the way you suggest, rather a written language that can be used in any world. I have seen things that would baffle you, that you would likely deny. It is not the first time a creature, a creature I suspect I may know what is, has used the magic in this language to break through the unseen barriers that separate our world from others.”

Den’s tone had completely changed, her face had become contemplative. It was if she went from being delirious to being a lecturer. It was as if stepping into her old role, as a teacher, as a wise woman, brought her closer to reality than what she normally was.

“The good news is they can be defeated and expelled. It’s difficult, and usually ends in death for both parties, but the life of your niece isn’t necessarily forfeit. You would need someone with a certain type of fire, there’s never been one recorded in this land though. Other than that…” Her eyes lit up. “A veilsinger.” Her face fell. “But the last living veilsinger died over 600 years ago.”

“What is this creature?” Felix finally asked a question. His voice was thick, but his shoulders are more relaxed than they had been in days.

Mor wondered if this whole time he had been guessing that Kaden could help Eleana. If a large part of him was just putting on a front so his family could be held together just a little longer.

“The word isn’t one I can say in this language. I can write it though, write everything I know down. “

“That would be of great help. I – I would be forever thankful,” Mor said sincerely.

With the topic coming to a conclusion, the far-away look started to return to Den’s face. She turned her head to Felix.

“I wanted to watch him as a cloud. I assume you’re here to bring him back to me.”

Mor looked at Den in confusion, and Helion stepped forward, as if to drag Felix and herself from the room.

“Bring who?” Felix asked.

Den looked down at her hands, still entwined with Mor’s and snatched them back. She jolted out of her chair and scampered to the edge of the room, where she slammed open a desk drawer and pulled out a long knife.

Mor was immediately on her feet, and Felix drew a sword she didn’t even realise he had. Helion raised his hand and called her name, trying to calm her.

“Who are you?” she shrieked at Felix.

“Den, that is Lord Felix of the Night Court, remember?”

“No. No he is not! He is here to take him away from me. He wants to take my baby away from me! No, no no no no no no noI won’t let him!”

“Woah, hold on there Den. No one’s here for that. You’re in the Day Court. You live here. This is your room. You know it is, that’s how you knew where to stash your knife,” Helion said slowly and delicately.

Her eyes, the colour of aged charcoal, raced between Felix and Helion. Mor stepped towards Helion, ready to demand an explanation but not in front of this female.

Triggered by Mor’s movements, the woman looked at her, and one again, her whole demeanour changed. Mor had seen four versions of this woman in an hour, and this seemed like a new one.

“Oh.” Den had tears in her eyes, but her smile had returned. She dropped the knife to the floor and wiped her hands on her green dress. “You’ve returned to me.”

Mor looked behind her, not sure who Den was talking too. When she glanced back, Mor flinched with the intensity of Den’s gaze on her.

“I knew you would come back. I knew you heard me call to you. The dust told me so as it wiggled into my ears.”

“I’ve been here the whole time, with you.”

“I mean before.” She rang her hands. “In my cell, with the other Forgotten lives. I called to you, I told you. I remember the exact words. My baby. I can’t find my child.”

The boy she kept referring to was her child – her baby? – and Mor didn’t think it was a coincidence that Den had used the word Forgotten.

As in the Forgotten of Hewn City, where prisoners were left to rot for their crimes. The Forgotten, who she had passed while looking for Kaden’s mother, disregarding the things the prisoners said to her as she did. Is it possible that this woman was one of those people? She certainly looked the part, and she had seen many break at the harsh conditions and act in such a jarring manner.

“You were – were you in Hewn City?” Mor breathed.

“Mor, outside, now,” Helion interjected before anyone could say a word.

He practically dragged Mor out by her arm and down the stairs, enough so that they were out of hearing distance.

“Helion, who the fuckis she? Tell me that woman hasn’t been rotting in Hewn City this whole time.”

“Mor.” He could barely meet her eyes, and he slumped against the wall and slip down, putting his head in his hand. “We looked for her for years. She is invaluable to this court. Or she was. Until we found her in Hewn City. She’s been like that ever since. Sporadic, dangerous, it’s why she has this turret to herself.”

“How did you find her?”

“By complete accident. There’s a young boy, he’s only seven, that was born with the ability to see where people are by touching different objects. He can’t pinpoint a location, only see what they see. If a person’s dead, he sees where their body is, if they’re alive, he can give a completely accurate description of where they are. He found some textbooks that Den had written, her personal first editions, and started babbling on about what he was seeing. It was concerning to the librarian, and after a chain of fae it eventually came to me. The only place I could think of that matched what he was saying was your prisons in Hewn City. I didn’t bother asking for permission, knowing it was better to instead seek forgiveness if I was caught.”

The images of the prison in Hewn City flashed in her mind, and Mor felt sick. What could Den have done to end up there? That dank, lifeless place meant for those who were criminally insane but not dangerous enough for their other prisons.

“And her baby?”

“A healer came in. She says there are signs that Den may have had a child, but it would have been decades ago. He wouldn’t be the infant she keeps referring to. She wasn’t pregnant when she disappeared, so he could be anything from fifteen to thirty years old. If he even exists.”

“If an illegitimate baby of another court was born in Hewn City, it was likely left to the wolves to die.” Mor joined him on the steps, deflated. “You knew, when I came here, you knew I would eventually recognize her. Her voice… I can’t forget that voice. Why would you do this? Why would you put this on me after everything my family has been through?”

“Once, she was one of the most revered fae in Prythian. And now look at her. She was in the dark for so long, and I don’t know whether it’s that or the shock of the sun that has made her this way. Her skin burns and peels. She incessantly insists we find her baby. She’s been back for a few months, and she has shown no sign of progress.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Isn’t it obvious, Mor?”

Before she could reply, they were abruptly interrupted by a panting sentry, weapons drawn and sweat coating him.

_____

Felix watched Mor and Helion leave. He awkwardly tapped his foot and tilted his lips upward in an imitation of a smile while whisking his sword back to the in-between pocket of this world.

“Have you seen him? I could’ve sworn you brought him with you.”

Felix gulped, and subtly backed away from her. It’s not that he was scared, but…

There was still something scary about her – about someone so unhinged.

“How old are you?” he asked. He had heard of her and read her books in class when he was a child, but knowing her teachings and her as a person were two different things.

“I stopped counting after two thousand.”

He raised his eyebrows. “When did you stop counting?”

“Before the war.”

“With the King of Hybern?”

“The one before that.”

“The slave wars with Amarantha and Miryam?”

“No, before that one too.” She paused, her smile so gentle it was shocking. Felix hadn’t seen a look so pure many times.

On Eleana, when she was Quathryn’s age, on Quathryn, who had yet to learn the hardships of the world.

It was the look of innocent hope, and Felix didn’t understand how this woman had it.

“Did you bring my son with you?”

“No, ma’am, I did not.”

“Are you sure? He’s small, but strong. His hair is lovely and fluffy and looks like the sand at the beach on a bright day. He’s like an itty-bitty sun.”

Felix could smell her from where he was standing. She smelt like paper, the kind you find in ancient books, and, somehow, she smelt like the wind.

“They took him from me, but you brought him here,” she insisted again.

Felix walked to her and handed her the book she had discarded when she had forgotten who Felix and Mor were. He reminded her, as kindly as he could, that she said she would write down everything she knew about the creatures, what that could mean for Eleana, and the veilsingers.

In an instant, she changed again, and Felix was struggling to keep up with the gaunt woman’s moods.

She started methodically documenting everything she knew for him, occasionally speaking her thoughts aloud, in an authoritative, clear voice.

When she was finished, Felix was impressed by how quick she was, she started floating away again.

Felix couldn’t stand the silence.

“Den is an unusual name,” he said.

“It’s one of many I have.” She started moving around the room, tiding things that were already perfectly straight. She picked up her knife and hid it in the pockets of her skirts. She remade her bed.

“What other names do you have?”

“Annaliese is my middle name. My father was from the Winter Court and wanted to make sure I had something to tie me there even if I lived my whole life here. Sometimes I lie and say it’s my first name. Den is also a shortening.”  

Felix was about to ask more, when Helion and Mor burst into the room, both red faced and fuming.

Felix was immediately alert, summoning his sword back as well as a battle axe – he was just as good with both arms, let them both hold deadly weapons.

“What?” he demanded.

“The queen has marched on the mortal realms. Humans are being slaughtered as we speak by the thousands. We don’t have any more time to plan – it’s now or never, and we just have to pray to the Cauldron Kaden can do it. Do you remember the plan in its entirety?” Mor spoke succinctly.

Felix nodded, knowing every inch of the plan the Inner Circle had made two days before to hopefully save Eleana. But it was a draft, and it needed refinement.

It would have to do.

“Kaden’s already in the Night Court preparing to leave – I’ve winnowed him there, and we’ll go straight to the Spring Court, where your father and the Elite will be waiting.”

Felix wasted no time and strode to Mor. He was about to grab her hand so they could winnow away, but just before he could Den said one more thing.

“Please bring my baby back to me. His name is Dimitri.”  

****

A/N since this fic has been posted over such a long amount of time, rereading chapter twelve and eighteen wouldn’t hurt

[worldcakecakecake]

Feliciano and the King of Hearts

Chosen by the gods as the Queen of Hearts from the moment of birth, we follow Feliciano’s story as he grows into royal life, learns to rule, go against age old customs, and his relationship with his husband to be, the King of Hearts.

Chapter 1 I  Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5 I Chapter 6I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 IChapter 9I Chapter 10I Chapter 11I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15 I Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19I Chapter 20 I Chapter 21 I Chapter 22 I Chapter 23 I Chapter 24 I Chapter 25 I Chapter 26 I Chapter 27 I Chapter 28I Chapter 29 I Chapter 30 I Chapter 31 I Chapter 32 I Chapter 33 I Chapter 34 I Chapter 35 I Chapter 36 I Chapter 37I chapter 38 I Chapter 39 I Chapter 40 I Chapter 41 I Chapter 42 I Chapter 43 I Chapter 44 I Chapter 45 I Chapter 46I Chapter 47 I Chapter 48 I Chapter 49

I’ve had this chapter done for a week, but it is only now that I managed to find a computer (one of the few working ones in the university) to actually post. There’s still no electricity where I live, no signal and water is limited...we might not have most of these until December (And sometimes I think February). My time to write is still very limited and worst when classes started as well as dealing with matters about my move. Still on hiatus, but I do try to write when I can, just continue to be patient. For those who read The Society of Romulus and Remus and Good Luck Friedrich, I am also in the process of working on the next chapters for them so expect it soon. Hope you enjoy!

                                                Chapter 50

What a bliss that innocent night had been, what a rest, what a waking, what a meet of shinning eyes and smiles, even if the darkened brick around them, even if the raging blizzard outside, even if in Khaos’s castle. All that could be ignored, all that can be forgotten when Feliciano could freely let his fingers linger all throughout Ludwig’s face, when Ludwig could thread his own over Feliciano’s arms, their legs still between each other, chatting, laughing as if they could be in some kind of normality back in Berlin or even in Barga.

 “Are you still using those shampoos Mrs. Palmieri made,” Ludwig chuckled against his hair, taking that very familiar scent that had remained just the same as it had been in their childhood.

 “I can’t possibly use any other, none can treat my curls as well. I had her give me an entire box of her bottles before leaving to Berlin,” Feliciano smiled, finding safety in the crook of Ludwig’s neck.

 “The scent fits you really well, plus your hair is still as soft,” he complimented in earnest.

 Feliciano giggled and wrapped his arms strongly around his neck, letting him have as much of his hair as he wanted.

 “When we return to Berlin-” he still hoped, he still believed- “we’ll be staying at Barga on our way, I can have her make you some as well,” he chuckled, letting his fingers trace his lips.

 Ludwig pondered it, before revealing in a smile his acceptance, “how many scents does she have available?”

 “You don’t have to worry about that, Mrs. Palmieri has several, she even has strawberry milkshake.”

 They laughed, wondering how it would seem on Ludwig, joking as things as having Birds flying above his hair trying to take a picking from whatever fruits they thought would be there. One of their fits was interrupted by a quickened knock, having them both sit instantly, with a still secure hold that didn’t let them leave.

 “Your highness, King Khaos and the servants will soon check on you, we have to get going.” There was great urgency in Angela’s voice, one Feliciano knew needed to have immediate heading, no matter the regret in his eyes or how he had slowly released himself from Ludwig, already slumping him into his despairs.

 “I’ll do whatever I can to come here tonight,” Feliciano promised as he stood, stretching and riding of any wronged fold in his clothes.

 Ludwig could only sit, taking Feliciano’s hands, giving him one last grasp of himself and an assurance. “If not, I completely understand, don’t fret so much, I want you to be safe more than anything.”

 Feliciano smiled and nodded in acceptance to his words, giving him one last kiss upon his forehead before settling off, the touch upon the door the signal enough for Angela to omit the keys and give him exit. A last wave and the sun disappeared once again from the room, Pookie giving a meow of miss, extending his paw wanting to have him back. Ludwig petted him, with just the calm he needed himself.

  Back to that room of darkness, even with riches, even with slight colors, even with the largeness and the views. It was gloom, it was death, Feliciano could feel constant shivering that had him holding to himself, trying to call out for Augusta within himself as some leaning. Nothing, nothing of her as he had felt before. He sighed and settled off to the bed to try and find some rest before whatever Khaos would ask of him. As he came to that reach, there was a sudden knock that interrupted. Without waiting for his permission, a group of servants made their way inside, stopping in a perfect align to give him a bow to then place the clothes they had brought over one of the near low tables, each by turn leaving the room until Feliciano had the room for himself once again. Hesitant, he made his way to the presented robes and could already feel himself be driven by disgust. All of them were the dark of Khaos’s reign, some tight enough to reveal much of his form, others his own Ace power, as well as others that would reveal too much of his skin, a couple of reds to go along with him and so he knew they were made with himself in mind. Feliciano recoiled, afraid of them as if the king himself was there mocking him, forcing the wear on him. He looked upon his own white robe, still clean, still with Ludwig’s lingering warmth and declared that it was good enough to use, decided, sending glares to what he had brought.

 That afternoon he was asked to join Khaos in one of his study rooms. He was going through some plans of attack he had made with his men’s last mission, adding and fixing, ruin that would surely bring devastation to Feliciano’s people if it worked. Khaos dared to do this while the very arising queen of Hearts was sitting in the very room, taking seating as far from his desk, close to the door, to take his immediate exit as soon as Khaos decreed it. Feliciano could see hinted anger in his eyes once he saw him in the same robe from the day before, clearly showing a disobedience and disapproval in wearing the sickness he had given him. He didn’t mention it, he went on chatting about the strength of his men, their cunning and the power he had given them. Feliciano wanted to mention that if it had all been true, then they wouldn’t have escaped or defeated them as they had done many times, as the very kingdoms subdue them and claimed their victory, but he remained silent, only sending daggers with his eyes, weak ones, none capable of his sweetness, which only made Khaos smile and Feliciano more fearful.

 He was told he would have dinner in his own room for the night, just as Angela came picking him up to take him once again there. On their way, she promised that once he was done eating, she would take him to Ludwig for the night. In the silence that later continued, Feliciano found himself thinking about the books that were in Khaos’s study, useless ones surely, perhaps records or information about the kingdoms he already knew about. If they held any real importance, perhaps he would have felt Augusta nudge at him somehow from within. He gazed to Angela before him, who he supposedly knew as Khaos’s must trusted servant. Perhaps she knew, perhaps she could help.

 “Are there any libraries here?” He asked, trying to sound as if it was a mere curiosity for leisure.

 “Technically three if you count the study room, there’s another one quite close to your room, mostly full of stories and novels, and then there’s the king’s private one.”

 It had to be.

 “Do you know where that private one is?”

 “No, the king doesn’t allow anyone to go there, something about what Augusta had done long ago,” she informed easily.

 “Any hints, any ideas to where though?” He still wondered.

 “None, he doesn’t even talk about it unless he pays it a visit. Whenever he does he locks himself upon his room, so surely he has an opening from there,” she guessed as much, which gave enough of an idea for Feliciano to pin point.

 As scheduled, he had a dinner of ginger noodles, loaf, ricotta, and biscuits, as rich, as fresh as anything he would have in any castle, making Feliciano wonder for a moment what kind of growing or casting the castle was doing to get these ingredients like those of any kingdom. Once he had shown to be done, Angela took him once again to the deepened rooms where Ludwig was imprisoned, both coming to the usual embraces of miss. Angela left them to their privacy and as soon as her footsteps died across the hall, Feliciano removed from the embrace to speak what he had found out.

 “Angela doesn’t know where it is, but she has an idea that it might be somewhere hidden in his room,”

 “His room?” Ludwig seemed insulted, mostly thinking of where Feliciano would have to go, where he could convince and how in such a private room. Feliciano had to shush him, for an angry fire started to burn in Ludwig’s eyes, along with strength and a harshened grip.

 “I told you I can manage it,”

 “Feliciano, it’s his room, who knows what kind of spells are there, what he could do to-”

 Feliciano had to lay a finger upon his lips to shush him. “Just…trust me,”

 “It’s not that I don’t, I’m worried he would lay a single finger on you and I wouldn’t be there to stop it, I can’t let him do anything to you if I’m here.”

 “I’m just as capable of protecting myself.”

 There was a sudden doubt in Ludwig’s eyes, memories of the many times Feliciano depended on him for a save…but then he remembered the times Feliciano did well just by himself, without his guidance, power and being. He took a defeated sigh, looking down to the floor as he kept a tighten hold of Feliciano’s grasp, letting himself accept, truly trust as he knew he could give to him.

 “When are you thinking of coaxing him as you’re planning?” He was beginning to go along. Feliciano alighted as this sudden chance of command, of the plan being his, one he could be confident in.

 “Three days, it’s enough for him to think that I’ve accepted my prison here, as well as some sort of loyalty to him.”

 How Ludwig hated that, shown in the way he grasped harsher at Feliciano’s arms, ever slightly pulling him much closer to himself.

 “I still won’t let him do anything to me,” Feliciano confided, coming into his lean, into his wrap, into the tightening of Ludwig’s arms.

 “As soon as I have the information, I’ll come for you, I can unlock this door and we can go there together,” he promised, a sureness that Ludwig could easily confide in, swaying, kisses upon their heads, distracted then in their fall against the bed, in their rest, away from any doubts, any insecurities.

  In the coming three days, Feliciano let himself the routine Khaos had placed for him. It was the same pacing and wandering around the room in the mornings. The afternoons Khaos will find his presence, sometimes to just walk around the halls, letting the dark king point and explain all the architectural and artistry details, which in honesty had Feliciano interested and he listened even if the décor of this place was one he would never prefer or try to create. Others they would sit by the throne room or in the study room, Khaos commanding and speaking about whatever sparked his fancy while Feliciano just remained in his faraway spot, glaring and speaking all the battles in his mind. The nights, it was Ludwig, it was times of speaking that they let lost in the last year, it was caresses, it was leans, it was that love of their dreams, needed to recharge, to survive.

 “I love you,” Feliciano had said once again in a fleeing, both at the brinks of dreams. Ludwig had awakened as if the whole room was shaking, having to convince himself for a while that it was real, that he said them, that he could reply his own “I love you”, that he could hold him closer, that he didn’t have to fight with his own self against this, that he could smile and sleep, knowing, trusting.

 The next day, Feliciano would put his plan into play. As expected, he was called to join Khaos in his study room, so he decided to head on wearing one of the robes the dark king had given him. He settled on a tight one with a long soft cape, his form shown uncomfortably so for the eyes of King Khaos. He had to admit that it was beautifully decorated, with symbols, sewn designs, buttons and fabric that were of riches and wealth. This one had slight touches of red, one Khaos had simply thought would look exquisite on the young arising queen, while Feliciano convinced himself that he wore them because of his kingdom, as a form of reminder of his people and what he would do to assure them a future. When he headed down the halls, following behind Angela, the servants starred on surprise to see that Feliciano had accepted to the wear, confiding in a soon join perhaps, but the fierceness that he tried to keep in his eyes made some think otherwise. He was suddenly nervous when they presented themselves before the doors, waiting for Khaos’s approval of entering, having to settle a breathing pattern, to strengthen his goal and belief that he could persevere, focused on the mission and on the limits. The doors departed and Angela could only give him but gazes of comfort, a smile that was enough of a push to bring him inside once again, all for the gaze of the owner of this castle. He was looking over a map of the entirety of the world, of the four kingdoms, his hand with the high presence of a rich glass, filled well with wine that he took constant sips from, refilling on and on, leaving him ongoing in his drink. He smiled, eyes tracing all over his in delight.

 “How gorgeous,” he complimented, not for a moment leaving his gaze as Feliciano moved forward, hips swaying, graceful, eyes focused on the king, but with a spite that he could not hide easily.

 He took his seating, a close one this time, clear enough as to take every detail of Khaos’s own robe, his glass and his surrounding of strange items.

 “Thank you,” Feliciano at least said gently, hands on his laps, trying to keep his inner stability.

 “What made you decide on this?” He finally placed his glass upon the desk, trying to keep his more forceful focus on the arising queen.

 “It was…pretty and I wanted to test it out…it’s really soft,” Feliciano managed a smile, spreading his hands over him tightly, as part of his play but also because he was nervous and he needed to relieve himself somehow.

 “I’m glad, I hope I get to see you in more of my own outfits,”

 “We’ll see,” he smirked.

 Khaos moved slightly closer, taking sitting on his desk, crossing his own legs while his gaze fell obviously on Feliciano’s, and to his working, he began swaying them.

 “A different one each day,” Khaos suggested.

 “You only gave me five,”

 “I’ll have more made, I have many seamstresses.”

 “And they can make all you wish?”

 “Of course.”

 “What about what I wish?”

 It took Khaos by surprise but he was quite accepted to it, leaning to him with quite an interest.

 “What is it that you wish?” He tempted.

 Feliciano wished many things, all of them exploding through his mind, distracting and clenching as if holding from wishing it all. He wished to get out, he wished to be with Ludwig forever, he wished to be crowned, he wished to be the queen his people wanted and needed, he wished to know more of the ace power he recently discovered, he wished Ludwig wouldn’t be affected by a surge that would change him and Feliciano wished he or anyone else could defeat Khaos.

 As he pretended on a smile while they shared a stare, Feliciano  made sure to himself that he would defeat Khaos, that he would see him dead, in honor of all he killed and destroyed, for the other Aces, for Romulus and Augusta.

 Back to the plan, back to the playing.

 “I could…make some designs myself,” Feliciano suggested.

 “Really, what do you have in mind?”

 “Something…powerful, something…seductive and…free,” he practically sang, he lulled, a dreamy haze that he watched proudly as Khaos was caught in. Another lean, closer, he was now right before Feliciano and he knew that from there he had to be careful.

 “I like these ideas,” Khaos smirked.

 “Yet…there needs to be more…I wished I could know more…I wished I could add something to match along with my stay here, to perhaps something of your own magnitude.” Feliciano wore that dashing smile that would have all he wanted swaying and loving, to fall to his belief and his want.

 “I am here to offer it,” Khaos confided.

 “What can you offer?”

 “All the information you need…symbols, spells, power, design, even color, it’s all at my fingertips.” He knew he could omit it surely.

 “It…can’t be so easily conjured like that…”

 “It can, I know everything,”

 “Do you really?”

 “Of course, my mind is a powerful one, it can hold it all,”

 “Can it truly?” Feliciano bit and licked his lips, exalting their glow, their softness, holding down from Khaos angering, from assaulting at such doubts.

 “It can…as well as I can call on it whenever I wish,”

 “How so?”

 Khaos hesitated for a moment, but it was forgotten when Feliciano blinked those big bright brown eyes with shimmering long eyelashes.

 “A library, not just any from your castles or public halls, no, this one, was given to my sister and I by the very universe,” he played out to wonder and Feliciano feigned into it, showing interest as if it was the very first time he was hearing about it.

 “Everything, absolutely everything about the very creation of existence, of magic, every secret, every detail that you didn’t think possible. The universe didn’t leave anything without my knowing,” he smiled proudly, he relished in it, as if the very universe was currently embracing him.

 “It…cannot be real…the Aces, our kings, queens, jacks and people should have held this as well, we…deserved this knowledge,” Feliciano slipped, disobeyed, uttering an inner annoyance.

 “I wasn’t going to accept it.” Sudden darkness, fierce anger, like he was calling upon shadows to strengthen his stature. Feliciano had to hold himself from shivering, trembling, from screaming out a new wish to leave.

 “I don’t believe such things should be handed to just anyone, it’s only right the first ever entity that was created should hold it and decide its wish of it. Perhaps it’s better, perhaps it avoids having the very universe collapse.” He rubbed his hands as if erasing his anger, bringing back his seductive calm, his walk, his circling around Feliciano.

 “Like you wouldn’t do the same,” Feliciano dared once again, but to his surprise, Khaos only smiled, turned to him unperturbed.

 “I have use for this world, Feliciano, I wouldn’t harm it so harshly.” He showed a sadistic smile that Feliciano grew weak to.

 “What could possibly be in there that could help you take such power and control?” Feliciano rolled his eyes, leaning back into the cushion, extending his legs, up and down, the form and movement one Khaos couldn’t ignore, couldn’t avoid the licking of his lips and his approach.

 “I told you…everything,” he whispered with a breath as he leaned, close enough for Feliciano to feel every tingling, every alert.

 “Show me,” Feliciano whispered back, softly and enchanting, daring that closeness that brought their faces inches of clear details. It was beauty that Khaos couldn’t stand, that he wanted, and if meant giving him this for a chance of having him in his grasps, he obeyed.

  Khaos’s room was all the imperialized darkness that Feliciano was expecting, a largeness, an intimidation that seemed to hide openings to more than whatever Feliciano’s mind could extend of what this place was. Luxury, richness, only the best, only the outmost beauty, Khaos smiled, knowing that Feliciano would make a nice addition when the time came. For now the arising Queen kept his space as Khaos reached a large empty wall, with nothing but the usual dark curtains that framed every area. He extended his arm, he chanted words of his language that Feliciano did his best to remember well, along with his movements, along with the design of lights that appeared until a single line appeared, the one that Khaos pulled until a new dark space opened for him. He smiled in finality, like everything was already cleared while Feliciano was still finding some kind of hint of what he wanted to see.

 “Come,” he offered his arm for Feliciano to take, but he refused, instead just offering closeness, with a nod and a smile that was enough for Khaos to start the embark that he followed.

 Much like the descend of the ruins where Augusta’s relics were kept at the bottom of the Clubian castle, it was a dark tunnel of nothingness, steps that went deeper down, the only sound being the echo of the steps they took. Even if he was with Khaos, Feliciano felt deeply alone, craving for a hold, one he knew that Khaos could give, but he rather not, in this moment he rather depend on himself, a show he did by wrapping his own arms around himself as he felt the air become more humid. It was not the kind of air he expected, especially from a library. Intricate columns soon carved the space, a turn around that welcomed them into the official entrance. It was smaller than what Feliciano was expecting, a squared space that he could walk around in a small instant, but it did pile high, the bottom cushioned quite well, homey and inviting. Feliciano honestly did not seem to mind the thought of having a nice cup of coffee here, especially since it wasn’t so foreboding with the various colors that decorated. Its heights ended at a top light at the ceiling, surely from the white of the snow outside, helping in illuminating along with the torches that lite the books that reigned down, ancient, old, seeming to shine with the most precious jewels or even stars.

 Feliciano did not expect to actually be wondered by it, nearing, the first book he spot being one that explained all kinds of Ace symbols, their meaning, power and why were they imprinted on an Ace. Feliciano had to hold himself from taking it out of its shelf, as Khaos obviously kept a sharp eye on him, instead letting his eyes swim across all kinds of topics. How the passing of spirits worked after death, how to control the very seasons, how to time manipulate, how to create life, even how to reestablish a world that has gone through ultimate destruction. All excellent things, but not exactly what he should be looking for, what he should take.

 “Like I said, everything,” Khaos made clear once again, pointing to even the ones at the very top. He surprisingly let Feliciano in his wandering, feigning impression and curiosity, hiding his determination to find what he was looking for. He tried to keep his exaltation when he found one of powers that passed by generation, remembering well where it was located before he found another one explaining all kinds of bursts that could occur during a universal alignment. There was a volume of four books, Feliciano seeing that it was written by Pisa herself, for all kinds of powers Aces held and their explanations. There was another collection of books about universal power, the largest of the hand of creation, another of dark curses, surely for what Ludwig held. Truly everything was here as Khaos had said…and as Augusta had said.

 He had one part, he knew where it was, it was a matter of looking for an escape, of running, of heading out. The expectation, that coming glow was enough to alight him in a shine, one Khaos found irresistible, that brought him close, an extending of arms, in a reach, knowing what it wanted and how to grasp. Feliciano felt him loomed, moving just in time, in a quick swift, trying to pretend that he was interested in the red scale of a book that had to do with the creation of all the animals and creatures. Feliciano kept smiling to him as if to show no wrongness, his usual innocence that didn’t beg for explanation and thus Khaos fell into, not asking.

 “This is truly wonderful,” Feliciano complimented, with honest awe, moving away, finding whatever book in the furthest reach to keep finding his escape.

 “I’m glad for your fancy, have you seen enough?” He still had other plans and at least he had shown him what he wanted, hoping as a form of coaxing for a soon opening.

 “More than enough, thank you so much,” he had some decency to at least tell him, the only time he brought himself closer willingly.

 Khaos smiled, coming close to his own reach expecting, but as quickly did Feliciano move and turned towards the exit, with smiles of normalcy that would be compliant to whatever new turn Khaos would bring them into. Khaos still craved for that chance, still knew it would appear sometime and thus he was calm, he accepted, he moved along. The darkening clutches would soon wrap themselves around the arising queen’s figure and he would soon enjoy every grasp for himself.

[cardamomoespeciado]

"Sender is China" Surprising purpose of "Mysterious Seed" sent to private home

Motomi Sakai

In the United States and Japan, there are many cases in which seeds of unordered plants arrive from China. Who is sending it and for what purpose? Motomi Sakai, a journalist in the UK, said, "The sender was a company in China. If you guessed the aim of sending it, you might have targeted a country that conflicts with China."

Image provided by US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Seeds Seen to Be from China, Released by USDA-Image courtesy of USDA

"Mysterious seeds" that arrived in the United States and Japan

As the new coronavirus infection continues to spread, strange problems are emerging in countries such as the United States. It is said that unsolicited plant seeds will be sent to individuals by international mail from countries suspected to be China.

"Mysterious seed" that I don't know who sent it for what purpose. Even if you get a mysterious junk e-mail with an attached file in your e-mail inbox, you may feel more anxious than if you get an envelope with your address and name. ..

A parcel that contained seeds. "CHINA POST" is written [Image provided by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)]

In the United States, we have already confirmed arrival in all 50 states. Cases have been found in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and it is known that they have reached Japan. On August 4, Japan Post warned on its website that it refused to accept a series of mail items without opening them.

It is undeniable that if this seed is planted, a highly toxic plant may grow, and if it is mistreated, it may destroy native species or have a great impact on the human body.

As with the new Corona, the inflow of "Nazo Seeds" into Japan must be firmly stopped by "Countermeasures at the waterfront." But who exactly is the Lord who sends them to? What is the purpose of seeding major countries?

The US asserts that "14 species of plants have arrived from China"

The coverage of this "Nazo Seed" has been gradually spreading around the US media since July 27.

The Japanese report, which seems to have been relatively early, would be CNN's Japanese version, "Watch out for suspicious mail with seeds, US states call out to ship from China" (July 28). Or? According to the report, in each state in the United States, a series of reports were received from the residents that they received mail containing seeds that they did not order. Seeds are believed to have been shipped from China, and state authorities warned against sowing seeds and opening bags as they could be an invasive alien species.

Around the same time, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s International Plant and Animal Quarantine Division (APHIS) set up a site entitled "Agricultural Department's Unwanted Survey of Seed Packages from China." We are making announcements to the public. Although the point of interest is to say "from China," anyway, the following is a summary of the situation that APHIS knows so far.

USDA Announcement on "Mysterious Seeds"

・On the Web, write "Postal items containing suspicious seeds that may be from China"

・Delivery to 50 states, UK, Australia

・The seeds that arrived in the United States have been confirmed to be "14 plant species" so far.

・As a result of the inspection, "It is unlikely to directly affect the human body", explained

・APHIS will collect the data. Received samples from 22 states

The contents are cabbage, morning glory, various herbs...

Even in the United States, bringing plants and seeds is "strictly regulated by the Plant Protection and Quarantine Program under the Ministry of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Quarantine Service (CNN article)." Against this background, many of the seeds that arrive as "small packages" with the "China Post" invoice are sent by falsifying the contents as "rings" and "accessories" to the customs authorities. There is.

Image provided by US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Seeds stored at the US Department of Agriculture-Image courtesy of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

But before these problems came to light, a woman in Kentucky had already planted the seeds sent from China in June, thinking they were coming from a local gardener club. Say. On the website of the local station, there are photos of the flower pots that actually sprouted.

Among the "puzzle seeds" that have arrived all over the United States, APHIS has been able to recover from 22 states, and 14 seeds have been investigated. So far, he has declared mustard, cabbage, morning glory, herbs (mint, sage, rosemary, etc.), lavender, hibiscus, roses, etc. However, since it will continue to arrive even after this, the possibility of finding dangerous plants cannot be said to be zero.

Sender is a Chinese company that undertakes overseas transfers

The US Department of Agriculture is asking the public, "If you receive suspicious seeds, put the envelopes in the ziplock and send them to APHIS or contact them." It seems that there is also an intention to investigate that the envelope comes from China. On the other hand, China's reaction is as follows.

"A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said in a press conference held on July 28 that he insisted that the voucher was counterfeit and that the information on the voucher was not accurate." The article argued that the unidentified seed was not mailed by China Post, and pointed out that it might be a scam that cheated on China Post (Searchina, August 4).

Based on the invoice photograph of "Nazo Seed" that arrived in the United States and Japan, I tried again to find out where it was sent from. Using the telephone number (+86-17727553512) on the invoice as a clue, I found that "Taiji Logistics Co., Ltd.," which is one of the companies that receive overseas forwarding service from an e-commerce vendor in Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong. It turned out to be The company undertakes a service to collectively transfer small packages for overseas at a bargain price, and in Japan, it operates as a third-class mail discount agent. Considering that, it is very likely that the invoice itself is genuine.

However, when I read the guide of Taiji Logistics, it says "animals and plants" in the prohibited items, and seeds are not listed, but it should be seen as one of the restricted items that should be expanded.

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture and Water "Do not plant in gardens or planters."

Regardless of who sent it, even in Japan, there was a demand for measures against the edge of "mysterious seeds," but the responsibility is the plant quarantine station, a division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Below is a summary of the current impacts in Japan.

"Mysterious Seeds" Impact on Japan (Summary of the author)

・According to reports from domestic companies, there are examples of arrival in Kanagawa prefecture, Aichi prefecture, etc.

・Recipient's address or name may be stolen by a third party

・The contents are misrepresented as "rings" and "accessories".

・Voluntary collection by the Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Plant Protection Station website recommended on August 4 under the title "Please contact the Plant Protection Center if you have mailed a plant that you have not ordered from abroad."

"It seems that there are some cases where seeds have been sent from overseas even though we have not placed an order recently. According to the Plant Protection Law, seeds and other plants must be imported unless they are inspected by a plant protection officer. If you pass the inspection at the time of import, a stamp (plant inspection pass certificate) will be stamped on the exterior.(Omitted) Even if you receive seeds that you do not know, do not plant it in the garden or planter etc. Please"

Do you not collect or analyze

As mentioned above, the writing is done without any trouble. Furthermore, there is no tone that asserts "comes from China" as in the United States.

However, unfortunately I don't feel like actively doing analysis, etc. "If you can pay the shipping fee, please send it to the nearest plant quarantine station. Masu”.

There is no certainty that this will not affect the human body itself, as well as concern about what to do if it affects native plants. To reassure the people, I think it's okay to show an attitude of positive collection. Is it too much to say that it resembles the passive response in Japan when the new Corona became a problem in China?

I thought about three reasons "for what purpose?"

Even if the sender is known, there is still the question of who and what purpose is being pursued in regard to the "puzzle seeds".

Several scenarios are possible. The summary is as follows, but the third is probably the most serious.

1. Possible brushing fraud

The Japanese media also quote the possibility of "brushing fraud" by citing American media. "Blushing scams" are a type of online scam where you can send your own product at a low cost and write a good review online using that person's name as if he or she wrote it.

2. Highly dangerous plants grow

This is a scenario in which a plant with extremely high risk is growing and it is expected that handling it will cause serious damage to the human body. Although it is unconfirmed information, there is also a story that "Giant Hogweed seeds have been sent" which may cause blindness when sap gets into the eyes. In addition, there was speculation that radioactive substances might be mixed (so far, there has been no specific detection).

However, it is necessary to pay attention to what is true for a while, as some testimonies say that when the moss was planted together in the same flowerpot with the seeds sent from China, that was the only thing that died.

Is the target "a country" rich in nature?

3. Derange the habitat of plants and animals in the destination country

A scenario in which it is expected that the seeds of a certain species will be germinated and propagated, resulting in the elimination of plants of the native species and cutting the habitat of animals. Invasion of alien species is a major threat to countries with many natural heritage sites.

Australia is one of the most famous countries that completely refuses the inflow of various foods including seeds, plants and meats. When I spoke to a friend in Australia again this time, he said, "I scan all incoming mail and thoroughly check it, and I do not think that the seeds will arrive at my private house." Can be taught well at school, and I will never plant it just because I received it."

If something goes wrong with harvesting crops in one country, "a few grams of seeds" could be a powerful weapon for attacking another country.

Although they are in conflict with China due to the Hong Kong and corona issues...

The truth of these scenarios cannot be known at this timing. However, the two countries of Australia and China are in direct conflict with China, in addition to the problems concerning the national security law introduced in Hong Kong and the demand for information disclosure of the new coronavirus.

Australia was very dependent on China for its economy, not only for inbound tourists visiting Australia, but also for exporting mineral resources and accepting Chinese students, but Australia has hardened its attitude to return to the palm of the hand. I'm buying a slump. The anger of governments, including Australia, would increase further if "dangerous seed delivery" was defined as a new operation that was tactically lacking.

"The seed of mystery" which became a big problem across multiple countries. Without the spread of the new coronavirus, it would have been "direct mail came from somewhere." I was reminded that the incident suddenly poses a risk that somebody's personal information is leaked to some country, and unidentified goods are at hand.

Even if it isn't an attack on a certain country, a single letter may cause disaster. It should be regarded as an incident that has brought awareness to a new danger.

[63824peace]

Tuesday, 29th of november 2005

When I left home this morning, I saw that someone had repainted the pavement's white lane markings. The newly lettered STOPs covered the old and faded characters like freshly fallen snow.

The icy new lines sat slightly off-center the old ones, and the two STOPs blended into double-vision. I felt as though I had astigmatism when I looked at them. The painters hadn't traced the old edge-lines very well either. I could see traces of the old and over-trodden markings beneath the newly painted lines.

They should do better work when they try to renovate the area. Even so, the repainted lane markings made me feel as though the roads had renewed their vigor.

I walked to the train station and thought about roads. Roads and the ground that they pattern form much of our perception of a town. We need them to comprehend something as simple as a row of houses along a street.

An unpleasantly warm wind slipped across my face.

I noticed the blurred STOP letters on the ground and then I noticed other lines and figures that I usually ignore. Though it sounds odd, the lettered STOPs made it impossible to stop seeing new things!

I observed the pavement while I walked, and the act felt natural. I had paid enough attention to notice two species of STOPs on the road: one written in kanji, and the other written in hiragana. Had someone placed the hiragana STOPs for younger school children who might rush into traffic? And, if that's so, had someone placed the kanji STOPs in traffic lanes for kanji-literate drivers?

No... I decided against my explanation. I saw hiragana STOPs for drivers too. What standard does the city use to determine where hiragana and kanji STOPs go?

I continued walking with my head bent toward the ground. I saw so many painted figures such as squares, plusses, and perpendicular Ts. I noticed numbers and letters on speed limit signs... I saw Emergency Parking signs in front of the hospital. I even noticed the commonplace median markings, stop lines, and crosswalks.

I gave the pavement's surface more and more attention. I saw grounded dashes, marks, numbers, and letters fill the pavement. All countries paint this kind of national graffiti on their roads.

I hadn't realized so before, but different types of roads serve as navigation media that carry a lot of information. The asphalt symbols define a sort of program to describe the way everything should move... people, bicycles, motorbikes, and cars.

I didn't see a single naked road during my walk to the station. Well… I didn't see anything in the alley where I take my shortcut. No cars travel there.

We'll see our roads painted with more and more symbols in the future. We'll walk around looking at the numbers and road signs on the ground.

We should look at the ground more often while walking. Our postures will worsen, but perhaps we'll discover something from our new perspective. Our tears will drop straight down our faces though, so we'll need to take care when we cry.

I ate an Agedori Lunch at the restaurant Hana Goyomi. Gucci ordered Ishiyaki Kaisen.

I met with Mr. Muraoka at the bookstore. He recommended that I pick up The Day Yukio Mishima Died (Vol. 2). I got Joseph Finder's new novel, Paranoia, instead.

People are holding many festivals in honor of the thirty-fifth anniversary of Yukio Mishima's death. The movie Spring Snow has become a big hit recently too; Mishima wrote the film's source material. Maybe I'll read Mishima's books again after I've taken a long break from them.

My father ardently admired Mishima's writing. I remember his shock when he learned that Mishima had committed harakiri.

I stopped by Shin-chan's work booth after I had returned to KojiPro. I found him with a Mishima biography.

Shin-chan, Murashu, Rettsu, and I received our flight suits for OOOO Training from Phantom. Murashu tried his on first. He posed flamboyantly when I took out my camera.

We had arranged to get identical flight suits. We bought them used from a military base. We don't need brand-new materials this time because we plan to incorporate them into our self-made camouflage outfits.

Each suit's color differs from the others', but they all were once identically green. The colors of the Nomex fibers blush when over-exposed to the sun. The tincture of the new colors depends upon the circumstances and length of exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Each suit outwardly bears the record of its military career.

Microsoft has recently released the Xbox 360 in the United States. I played a bit of Project Gotham Racing 3 and drove a white Lotus Esprit through London. I felt like Roger Moore as 007.

I parked the car on the side of the road and then manipulated the camera to view the onlookers behind the wire frame. The people aren't in 2D - they're in 3D! It's a next-generation system, so that's really expected.

I played the U.S. version, and I found that the options include Japanese and even Korean subtitles. Incredible... does this mean that the system is region-free? If that's true, then I can play foreign games too. I definitely want to play King Kong, but I should watch the movie before I play the game.

I gave an interview in the early evening with Mr. Hamamura for Famitsu's December 22 issue. Mr. Hamamura's interviews always turn into pleasant conversations.

Enjoyable interviews don't happen very often. No matter how many interviews I give, I always feel apprehensive. I especially become more cautious whenever I interview with newspapers or general interest magazines. Some of the nastier interviewers schedule an appointment just to bring up their ideas about the immorality of video games. Other wily interviewers try to talk me into a corner. I actually get a stomachache after enough of those.

Mr. Hamamura is totally different. We have both worked in the industry for a long time, and he has a lot of experience in games. Mr. Hamamura loves games, and he shares my concern for the future of the gaming industry.

I actually started to enjoy today's conversation so much that I forgot it was work! I dropped my guard and I accidentally mentioned our new PSP project.

I'll apologize to Okamura before they publish that issue of Famitsu.

I went shopping in Ginza later in the evening. I hadn't been there in a while. Ginza's department store closes early at night, so I only had an hour. I had to shop so quickly that I didn't have a lot of time to deliberate.

I automatically rush out of a department store whenever they play Auld Lang Syne. They only use the chime to announce that they will close soon. They don't mean to throw me out, but I rush out anyway. I wasn't able to buy a lot, but at least I had the chance to shop.

I saw a huge Christmas tree in front of the Chanel boutique. It would light up only in fixed intervals, probably to save energy. All the nearby girls started to photograph the tree with their cell phones when it lit up. They treated the occasion like a red carpet affair for a film star.

I pulled out my camera, too, for HIDEOBLOG. I was the only man there-but at least I had the best camera.

I wonder... who will they show their pictures to? Will the girls send them to their peers or boyfriends by cell phone email? I don't think that many women take photographs to preserve their subjects' beauty. I think they take them to show other people.

Of course, I took my photograph to include in HIDEOBLOG. Widespread cell phone usage has really changed the purpose for photography.

I passed in front of the lottery ticket seller with the reputation for selling the most winning tickets. Unfortunately they had already closed for the day.

I was surprised to see guards standing around the front of the booth. I suppose they had received a lot of daytime business.

It was the legendary booth where they sell the most winning tickets in Japan. The booth's front sign proclaimed in large letters: "Our billionaires were born here! Three hundred people have won 42.1 billion yen during the whole Heisei Era! Fourteen people won 2.6 billion yen in Heisei-16 alone!"

The booth gave me a strangely strong feeling that I could win. I would have bought some tickets had the booth stayed open. I stepped closer and noticed that its windows had been assigned numbers from 1 through 7, with the exceptions of 4 and 6.

I can understand why they omitted 4 - it’s an unlucky number. I wonder why they left out 6 though. What's wrong with 6?

I mused quietly to myself about these things, and Kenichiro called the Chance Center to ask about it.

They had seven numbered windows in the beginning. "Vox Populi, Vox Dei" had mentioned on November 28 that people would wait in line at Window-1 for three and a half hours. The window gained a reputation for selling many winning tickets. News of Window-1's fortune spread, and its business increased.

After a while, Window-1 couldn't handle its number of clients. They wanted to create a second Window-1 to resolve this. They would renumber the windows 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 – but then 7 would have disappeared. They couldn't just do away with lucky number seven. They decided to discard the number 6, so that's why the booth appears as it does today.

Even lottery shops outwardly wear their histories.

I would have bought lottery tickets from Window-3. I haven't aggrandized the number 3 like the hero did in Stealth. It's just an attractive looking number, and I've always liked it because of that. Number three is also another lucky number.

At the HMV in Ginza, I listened to the album With Love & Squalor by the band We Are Scientists. I decided to go ahead and buy it. It's the New York based trio's first album.

Their style sounds a lot like British rock, and their sound coheres with the in-vogue Post-New-Wave movement. The Bravery and The Rapture came from New York too. Perhaps British rock fans should pay attention to New York.

I ate a late dinner at Toridori in Ginza San-cho-me. "San" means three, so there's another number three! It took me a little while to realize that I had been there before.

I settled for a couple of glasses of draft beer since I wasn't in top physical shape today.

I left Ginza on the Hibiya subway line. It was already late, so I just descended at the transfer station and passed Roppongi Station. I didn't go back to the office.

I only bought a ticket for the trip between Ginza and Roppongi since I already have a commuter pass. I wouldn't have been able to pass through the automatic ticket gate outside the transfer station without that ticket. The alarm would have activated if I had only inserted my Roppongi pass. They use these measures to prevent people from cheating on their fares.

I have always taken the gate with an actual stationed employee to solve that problem. I could simply show him both my commuter pass and my ticket. I went to the last gate on the row and presented both to the employee.

"Oh, right," he said casually. "Put both of them into the automatic gate's slots, please. Then you can pass with no problem!"

"Really? I haven't heard of this before."

I half doubted what he said, but I inserted both into the machine as he had advised. It's the same method used when boarding the Shinkansen bullet train. They require us to insert both the regular ticket and the special express pass at the same time.

The gate opened just like he said it would.

"Wow!"

That was convenient. How long have they used this? Was I the only one who didn't know about it? Or had they recently revamped the automated gates?

I later considered it rationally, and I realized that it shouldn't be too difficult. From both technological and financial perspectives, machines ought have the ability to accept a ticket and a pass pretty easily, one laid atop the other. What have they been doing all this time?

It's such a trivial matter, but I can't stop thinking about it.

I suddenly remembered when I first passed through an automatic ticket gate. I had boarded the Hankyu Line in the Kansai region. That was over thirty years ago.

Not many people know this, but Kansai used automatic ticket gates long before Tokyo. They installed the mechanized gates one day without any warning. I was a boy in elementary school, and I felt as though the door to the future had opened.

"Now, wait just a second...."

Thirty years have passed. The ticket-reading technology and its speed have surely improved since then. It can now recognize the doubled-up SUICA Pass.

But can we really call that progress? We've only modified our machines to read two passes at once after thirty years. Nothing about the ticket gates has really changed, unless we count the advertisements stuck on them. Other technologies advance quickly, but ticket gate technology has moved as slowly as a turtle. Even the game consoles have advanced rapidly within only ten years.

What will the next-generation ticket gate look like? The idea seems kind of strange.

I'm sure that the very concept of ticket gates will disappear in the future. We'll soon enter into the age of digitized personal identification. We won't need to carry anything with us. We'll shop with digitized personal IDs, and we'll even use them to pay for transportation and food. The fees will automatically withdraw. A time will come when personal IDs will handle all of our living needs-food, clothing, and even shelter.

It will be convenient, but I still can't shake the suffocation that comes when I think about it. We may even see a society so controlled that we'll need personal IDs just to breathe fresh air. We will exchange that freedom for 21st century security.

I wrote HIDEOBLOG after midnight with the television running in the background. I saw Mr. Tokoro's commercial several times: "The End-of-the-Year Jumbo Lottery: Three Hundred Million Yen!"

The absent Window-6 haunts me.

[marcusssanderson]

Romantic Couple Quotes To Inspire More Love and Affection

Looking for inspirational romantic couple quotes for the ones you love, that remind you love is really all that matters in life?

Love and affection are two things that mean very different things to each of us. As a couple, it is important to know what your partner’s needs and views of these are, as well as to express your own thoughts and feelings to have your needs met.

Most importantly, it is essential to always make an effort to express and inspire love and affection towards each other as a couple, as this is what keeps the love alive, and keeps the two of you emotionally intimate.

Below you’ll find our collection of inspirational, cute, and romantic couple quotes, couple sayings, and couple proverbs, collected from a variety of sources over the years.

Heartfelt Romantic Couple Quotes for Him and Her

1.) “You can talk with someone for years, every day, and still, it won’t mean as much as what you can have when you sit in front of someone, not saying a word, yet you feel that person with your heart, you feel like you have known the person for forever…. connections are made with the heart, not the tongue.” ― C. JoyBell C.

2.) “I wasn’t actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

3.) “Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.” ― Christopher Hitchens, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever

4.) “We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him.” ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

5.) “I had not intended to love him; the reader knows I had wrought hard to extirpate from my soul the germs of love there detected; and now, at the first renewed view of him, they spontaneously revived, great and strong! He made me love him without looking at me.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

6.) “I knew you’d kiss me.”

“How?” I say. Because I didn’t know myself.

“Because I am in pain,” He says. “That’s the only way I get your attention.” ― Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

7.) “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.

Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.

Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged, healed and rare.”

― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

8.) “You know the reason The Beatles made it so big?…’I Wanna Hold Your Hand.’ First single. Fucking brilliant. Perhaps the most fucking brilliant song ever written. Because they nailed it. That’s what everyone wants. Not 24/7 hot wet sex. Not a marriage that lasts a hundred years. Not a Porsche…or a million-dollar crib.

No. They wanna hold your hand. They have such a feeling that they can’t hide. Every single successful song of the past fifty years can be traced back to ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand.’ And every single successful love story has those unbearable and unbearably exciting moments of hand-holding.”

― David Levithan, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

9.) “We were not a hugging people. In terms of emotional comfort it was our belief that no amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well-made cocktail.” ― David Sedaris, Naked

10.) “I like the scientific spirit—the holding off, the being sure but not too sure, the willingness to surrender ideas when the evidence is against them: this is ultimately fine—it always keeps the way beyond open—always gives life, thought, affection, the whole man, a chance to try over again after a mistake—after a wrong guess.” ― Walt Whitman, Walt Whitman’s Camden Conversations

Inspirational Romantic Couple Quotes About Love and Respect

11.) “Oh, Lizzy! Do anything rather than marry without affection.” ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

12.) “He wasn’t the type for displays of affection, either verbal or not. He was disgusted by couples that made out in the hallways between classes, and got annoyed at even the slightest sappy moments in movies. But I knew he cared about me: he just conveyed it more subtly, as concise with expressing this emotion as he was with everything else.

It was in the way he’d put his hand on the small of my back, for instance, or how he’d smile at me when I said something that surprised him. Once I might have wanted more, but I’d come around to his way of thinking in the time we’d been together.

And we were together, all the time. So he didn’t have to prove how he felt about me. Like so much else, I should just know.”

― Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever

13.) “There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection.

As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection IS the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted.”

― Judith Martin

14.) “We are not people who touch each other carelessly; every point of contact between us feels important, a rush of energy and relief.” ― Veronica Roth, Allegiant

15.) “If equal affection cannot be,

Let the more loving one be me.” ― W.H. Auden

16.) “Love is made up of three unconditional properties in equal measure:

Acceptance

Understanding

Appreciation

Remove any one of the three and the triangle falls apart.

Which, by the way, is something highly inadvisable. Think about it — do you really want to live in a world of only two dimensions?

So, for the love of a triangle, please keep love whole.”

― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

17.) “Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly.” ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

18.) “True friends are those who came into your life, saw the most negative part of you, but are not ready to leave you, no matter how contagious you are to them.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson, The Infinity Sign

19.) “First love is only a little foolishness and a lot of curiosity.” ― George Bernard Shaw

20.) “I wonder if you know yet that you’ll leave me. That you are a child playing with matches and I have a paper body. You will meet a girl with a softer voice and stronger arms and she will not have violent secrets or an affection for red wine or eyes that never stay dry.

You will fall into her bed and I’ll go back to spending Friday nights with boys who never learn my last name. ”

― Clementine von Radics

Inspirational Romantic Couple Quotes From Poets and Authors

21.) “I have been used to consider poetry as “the food of love” said Darcy.

“Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is

strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I

am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.”

― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice                              

22.) “There is nothing like wounded affection for giving poignancy to anger.” ― Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives and Daughters

23.) “I touch her cheek to slow the kiss down, holding her mouth on mine so I can feel every place where our lips touch and every place where they pull away. I savor the air we share in the second afterwards and the slip of her nose across mine. I think of something to say, but it is too intimate, so I swallow it. A moment later I decide I don’t care.

“I wish we were alone,” I say as I back out of the cell.

She smiles. “I almost always wish that.” ― Veronica Roth, Allegiant

24.) “Laughter is more than just a pleasurable activity…When people laugh together, they tend to talk and touch more and to make eye contact more frequently.”

― Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

  Cute Couple Quotes About Love and Respect

25.) “I’m telling you this for one reason and one reason only: No matter how sure you are of someone’s love, it’s always nice to hear it.” ― Mike Gayle, Turning Thirty

26.) “Oh, I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus so I could hug 10 people at a time!” ― Drew Barrymore

27.) “Love — not dim and blind but so far-seeing that it can glimpse around corners, around bends and twists and illusion; instead of overlooking faults love sees through them to the secret inside.” ― Vera Nazarian, Salt of the Air

28.) “It is a severe cruelty inflicted upon women…that we should be the ones who so desperately need love…affection…acceptance.And yet, we suffer…many of us, for lack of it throughout our entire lives.”-Shackles of Honor” ― Marcia Lynn McClure

29.) “The very condition of having Friends is that we should want something else besides Friends. Where the truthful answer to the question “Do you see the same truth?” would be “I see nothing and I don’t care about the truth; I only want a Friend,” no Friendship can arise – though Affection of course may.

There would be nothing for the Friendship to be about; and Friendship must be about something, even if it were only an enthusiasm for dominoes or white mice. Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow-travellers.” ― C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Inspirational Couple Quotes About Looking For Love

30.) “Most women go through life looking for love, and looking for someone to treat them like a queen. For some women finding real love seems to be something that will never happen. I believe that finding love is not as hard as people make it seem. The reason that some women can’t find real love is because they look for more than just real love.

A lot of women know what they need in a relationship, and thats for a man to love that woman with all of his heart, and to treat her real good. Most women have guys in their life or guys that try to get with them that could really love them and treat them real good. Those are usually the guys that get forced into that friend zone or rejected upfront.

See those guys could give them what they need, but not what they want. “Wants” can be anything from a woman wanting a man to have certain materialistic things, or she could want him to look a certain way, those are a few examples of the things that some of them want, but they vary depending on the female. What some females don’t understand is that none of the things that they want has anything with love or how that person will treat you.

You could find a man that looks perfect, has a house and car, he can be a college graduate with a good job, and you could still end up being with a person that doesn’t truly love you, and will treat you like shit. What I am trying to say is that the person who could treat you good and really love you could already be in your life, but you could have been blinded by the things you want in a man so you overlooked the person that you were really looking for. And by the way there are men that do the same thing; I just wanted to be clear on that.”

― Taisen Deshimaru

31.) “[L]asting love is something a person has to decide to experience. Lifelong monogamous devotion is just not natural—not for women even, and emphatically not for men. It requires what, for lack of a better term, we can call an act of will. . . . This isn’t to say that a young man can’t hope to be seized by love. . . . But whether the sheer fury of a man’s feelings accurately gauges their likely endurance is another question.

The ardor will surely fade, sooner or later, and the marriage will then live or die on respect, practical compatibility, simple affection, and (these days, especially) determination. With the help of these things, something worthy of the label ‘love’ can last until death.

But it will be a different kind of love from the kind that began the marriage. Will it be a richer love, a deeper love, a more spiritual love? Opinions vary. But it’s certainly a more impressive love.” ― Robert Wright, The Moral Animal: Why We Are the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology

32.) “People who throw kisses are hopelessly lazy.” ― Bob Hope

33.) “It’s true that nothing in this world makes us so necessary to others as the affection we have for them.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther

34.) “I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences, or tasks. It happens sometimes when you are lost in a hard challenge, or when an artist or a craftsman becomes one with the brush or the tool.

It happens sometimes while you’re playing sports, or listening to music or lost in a story, or to some people when they feel enveloped by God’s love. And it happens most when we connect with other people. I’ve come to think that happiness isn’t really produced by conscious accomplishments.

Happiness is a measure of how thickly the unconscious parts of our minds are intertwined with other people and with activities. Happiness is determined by how much information and affection flows through us covertly every day and year.”― David Brooks

35.) “It was a lesson most people learned much earlier; that even friendship could have an undisclosed shelf life. That loyalty and affection, so consuming and powerful, could dissipate like fog.” ― Jennifer Haigh, The Condition

36.) “When I heard about these lessons, I thought they would be a dreadful waste of my time. I pictured two very silly girls uninterested in any sort of instruction.

But that describes neither Miss Gray nor yourself. I should tell you, I used to train younger Shadowhunters in Madrid. And there were quite a few of them who didn’t have the same native ability that you do. You’re a talented student, and it is my pleasure to teach you.”

Sophie felt herself flush scarlet. “You cannot be serious.”

37.) “I am. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I came here and again so the next time and the next. I found that I was looking forward to it. In fact, it would be fair to say that since my return home, I have hated everything in London except these hours with you.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

Inspirational Romantic Quotes To Uplift Your Spirits

38.)“I have found it is surprisingly difficult to remain sad when a cat is doing its level best to sandpaper one’s cheeks.” ― R.L. LaFevers, Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh

39.) “Intelligence and education that hasn’t been tempered by human affection isn’t worth a damn.” ― Daniel Keyes

40.) “If the guy likes/loves you, he won’t care if you are a good kisser or not. He should like you for what you are – not how you kiss.” ― Meg Cabot, Princess in Love

41.) “My lovers suffocate me! Crowding my lips, and thick in the pores of my skin, Jostling me through streets and public halls…coming naked to me at night, Crying by day Ahoy from the rocks of the river…swinging and chirping over my head, Calling my name from flowerbeds or vines or tangled underbrush, Or while I swim in the bath….or drink from the pump on the corner….or the curtain is down at the opera…..or I glimpse at a woman’s face in the railroad car; Lighting on every moment of my life, Bussing my body with soft and balsamic busses, Noiselessly passing handfuls out of their hearts and giving them to be mine” ― Walt Whitman

42.) “[I]t is not by being richer or more powerful that a man becomes better; one is a matter of fortune, the other of virtue. Nor should she deem herself other than venal who weds a rich man rather than a poor, and desires more things in her husband than himself. Assuredly, whomsoever this concupiscence leads into marriage deserves payment rather than affection.” ― Héloïse d’Argenteuil, The Letters of Abélard and Héloïse

43.) “A true friend doesn’t have guts; they beat you up and later plead with you to beat them back.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson

44.) “I am not sure if women are attracted to genius. Can you imagine the wise wizard winning the woman over the gallant swordsman? It seems rather otherworldly in more ways than one.” ― Criss Jami, Killosophy

45.) “Then stay with me a little longer,’ Madame Olenska said in a low tone, just touching his knee with her plumed fan. It was the lightest touch, but it thrilled him like a caress.” ― Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence

46.) “Outwardly, other than her hair, she had not changed much. She was still more or less the same cool, aloof w

[wheelhousehockey-blog1]

Hockey Promotions Mid-Season Power Rankings

FAN SUBMISSION

Check out this mid season power rankings by one of our fans!

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (Preseason ranking: 2)  The Lightning are on pace for an astounding 130 points in the regular season, which would be the third-best mark of all time. They’re loaded up and down the board and boast the league’s top power play. We expected them to be good, but probably not this good. It really is hard to find a legitimate weakness with this group. Until the real test starts in the spring, it’s unlikely they’ll be bounced from this spot.  2. Pittsburgh Penguins (Preseason Ranking: 5)  The Penguins looked nothing like the cup contender they were labelled as for the first two months of the season, and then flipped the proverbial switch, going 15-4-1 since the start of December. Kris Letang is quietly putting together a Norris-Caliber season, Sidney Crosby is back to his old self, and the depth is pulling some weight finally. The scariest thing could be that they’ve made these drastic improvements without Justin Schultz and with Evgeni Malkin mired in a slump of poor play. Cutting down opponents’ shorthanded opportunities will be a priority going forward; they’re on pace to give up 18 this year.  3. Washington Capitals (Preseason Ranking: 1)  What Stanley Cup hangover? The Caps have picked up right where they left off last season and look hungry to repeat. There isn’t much to say about this team that we don’t already know. The league-worst faceoff percentage is a little concerning, but they make up for it in the other facets of their game; if it’s a huge issue, their play doesn’t show it. Todd MacLellan will be looking for this year’s Michael Kempny at the deadline.  4. Toronto Maple Leafs (Preseason ranking: 6) Toronto is just as good as everyone expected. JT and the kids are scoring at a torrid pace, Morgan Reilly is making himself known as a true no. 1 defenseman (if he wasn’t already) and Freddy Andersen has been playing at his usual high level. The perceived problems on the blue-line haven’t materialized and the Leafs are getting solid contributions from their depth forwards, as well. Everything’s in place for them to take the next step forward. Oh, and we’ve gone more than a month now without hearing about William Nylander!  5. Winnipeg Jets (Preseason Ranking: 3)  The Jets sit here despite a couple of concerns. Connor Hellebuyck has been more pedestrian this year after being the Vezina runner-up, but he hasn’t played poorly enough to sink the Jets. Patrik Laine’s inconsistency is a little alarming, but a goal is a goal and he’s got 24. It also helps having two of the league’s top-10 scorers to go with Laine. And a top-5 power play. Yeah, they’ll be just fine. 6. Nashville Predators (Preseason Ranking: 4)  I really struggled picking between Nashville and Winnipeg, but two things made it a little easier: special teams and discipline. Nashville’s power play only connects at a 15.1% clip, 26th in the league, and they’re penalized at the second-highest rate in the league. The good news is they still have half of the season to address those warts either internally or with a trade, and their defense-first style helps negate a lot of the bad stuff. Could Nashville-Winnipeg be the new Pittsburgh-Washington type playoff matchup that we look forward to every year?  7. Boston Bruins (Preseason ranking: 7) This just about does it for the “well what did you expect?” section of the rankings. Through a rash of injuries and some inconsistent play, the Bruins are still positioned to challenge for home-ice in the first round of the playoffs. Their “big line” of Bergeron, Pastrnak, and Marchand is finally reunited and back to wreaking havoc on opponents. I don’t see the Bruins as being as good of a team as those above (the top-6 is really a toss-up outside of Tampa), but they’re close.  8. Columbus Blue Jackets (Preseason Ranking: 9)  Panarin and Bobrovsky’s contract situations be damned, the Jackets look good. They seem to be in that purgatory of “always good enough to make the playoffs, but after that who knows?” Regardless of what transpires with their Russian stars, they look poised to make this an all-in season and make the answer to the “who knows” part of my question better than “eliminated in the first round”. A lot is riding on this year for Columbus, and they’re playing like it.  9. San Jose Sharks (Preseason Ranking: 13)  Just another season in sunny San Jose. The old guard is playing well. The young guys are stepping up. Erik Karlsson has found his stride (even if the puck isn’t going in for him). The Sharks might be the ultimate “call me when the playoffs start” team, and this year doesn’t look very different. The most curious aspect of this team may now be how things work out with a Karlsson extension, until April at least.  10. Calgary Flames (Preseason ranking: 24)  Some of these bits will have moments of silence built in for you to make fun of my preseason rankings, and this is the first. Good? Alright. Much like Winnipeg and Nashville, my ranking between Calgary and San Jose hinged on a couple factors, this time goaltending and, again, discipline. I expected Bill Peters approach to make the Flames more disciplined, and it has in some ways, but they take by far the most penalties in the league which doesn’t help anybody. Their goaltending duo of David Rittich and Mike Smith doesn’t inspire much hope, but they’ve been solid, albeit inconsistent. An upgrade in net and staying out of the box could work wonders for a team that has probably already exceeded expectations.  11. Vegas Golden Knights (Preseason Ranking: 11)  In a shocking turn of events, the Knights are what everyone expected them to be. They’re doing it without the fanfare from a year ago, but they’ve played solid hockey and have kept themselves in a good spot in an open Pacific division. Marc-Andre Fleury is putting together another great season and the forward group is getting it done with the “by committee” approach. It got them within a series of the Cup a year ago; it wasn’t broke so they didn’t fix it.  12. Buffalo Sabres (Preseason Ranking: 22) I think it’s fair to omit the moment of silence on this one. Most people expected the Sabres to be better, but not this much better. The youth movement is in full swing, being led by Jack Eichel and Casey Middlestadt. Jeff Skinner has found another gear, and Jason Botterill’s depth acquisitions are proving to be valuable. They’ve hit a skid over their last 10 or so games, but the early season boon has the Sabres positioned to make a run at a wild-card playoff spot, maybe even better. Does this finally mark the end of the rebuild?  13. Dallas Stars (Preseason Ranking: 21) Stars’ president Jim Lites’ expletive-laden tirade about his best players was perhaps the most entertaining thing to happen to the Stars this year, but it did have some truth to it: they are heavily reliant on their, ahem, stars. This team will go as far as they can carry it, and lately they’ve picked it up, helping Dallas to win 6 of their last 10 and breathe new life into their playoff push. Getting healthy will help them, but as the deadline gets closer, an addition to the forward group could prove essential, even if Lites’ press release for that isn’t as entertaining.  14. Colorado Avalanche (Preseason Ranking: 14)  Two weeks ago, the Avs may have been as many as 5-6 spots higher on this list, but a lot can change in that time. A lot has changed, with Colorado losing 8 of their last 10 and their seemingly-unstoppable top line cooling down dramatically. Make no mistake, this is still a good team, but a very top-heavy one that needs its stars to get back to (or start playing to) a very high level if they want to prove that last season – and the first half of this one – weren’t aberrations.  15. Montreal Canadiens (Preseason Ranking: 27)  The Habs have been another surprising turnaround this year, and they’ve only gotten better since Shea Weber returned to the lineup. Their young, fast lineup is challenging every opponent they face. Carey Price looks more like Carey Price lately. Jesperi Kotkaniemi looks like the center Marc Bergevin has been waiting for. They don’t look like a serious playoff threat, but they certainly could get there, which would be a win for a team that had such low expectations after last season. *Insert Bergevin cheering gif*  16. Minnesota Wild (Preseason Ranking: 15)  In the midst of a roller coaster of a season, the Wild find themselves in a competitive position at the halfway mark. They’re not lighting the scorecard up in any certain area, but they’re a solid team with good options at every level and some enviable depth. That’s been enough for 6 straight playoff appearances, and it could very well be 7 this season. The big question is when will new GM Paul Fenton make a move? And will it be the one that gets them out of the first round?  17. New York Islanders (Preseason Ranking: 28)  Barry Trotz is making his presence felt on the Island in a big way: without a stud goaltender or elite defense corps, the Islanders are leading the league in goals against and that has them within striking distance of a wild-card spot. Even with this, they could be sellers at the deadline with a couple attractive pieces on expiring contracts. They probably won’t make much noise the rest of the year, but they’ve done well to calm some of the post-Tavares anxiety.  18. Anaheim Ducks (Preseason Ranking: 18)  The bad news: The Ducks are the league’s most injured team, and they’ve lost 10 straight, the most recent being a heartbreaker where they squandered a 3-0 lead. The good news: the West is wide open in terms of Wild-Card spots and the Ducks could still get there. A 10-game skid would sink most teams, but Anaheim has the good fortune of still being in the hunt in spite of it. They have the star power to get out of this; their guys have been here and done this before, as bittersweet as that may sound.  19. Carolina Hurricanes (Preseason Ranking: 26) *Checks document title* No this isn’t the “most shots” power rankings, so the ‘Canes find themselves at 19th. They’ve made some strides in the right direction, but this is still a young team trying to find its way with a new coach, and it shows. At the very least, they look to be responding to Rod Brind’Amour’s message and having fun doing it. With that, the successful incorporation of Andrei Svechnikov into their lineup, and the young talent they have, they’re set up for a bright future, maybe starting in the second half if the puck goes in a little more for them.  20. Vancouver Canucks (Preseason Ranking: 31)  Another preseason ranking that was completely wrong, albeit pretty fair. Vancouver’s young players are showing the future is now for this team and that while they’re not going to make any noise this year, they could do so sooner than most expected. Elias Pettersson is electrifying to watch and gives this franchise its cornerstone and poster-boy. In the up-and-comer power rankings, Vancouver gets a much more favorable spot.  21. Edmonton Oilers (Preseason Ranking: 20)  After a decent start to the season, and another surge when Ken Hitchcock took over as head coach, the Oilers haven’t been able to gain any positive traction. Pete Chiarelli’s recent dearth of depth trades seemingly equates to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic: you’re addressing the wrong issues on a sinking ship. Hitchcock looks to have them playing better under his tutelage, but they have yet to turn those efforts into consistent wins. They’re still within striking distance of a playoff spot, but the push has to start now if they don’t want to be on the outside looking in for the third time in four years.  22. Florida Panthers (Preseason Ranking: 17) From a pure talent standpoint, the Panthers may be hockey’s most disappointing team. Their lineup was already playoff-caliber before they added Mike Hoffman. He settled in quickly and the Panthers got off to a hot start, but they’ve played uninspiring hockey since then. They continue to struggle at even-strength and the goaltending has been mediocre. With the playoffs looking more and more like a fantasy with each passing loss, it’s do or die time for the Panthers. They came awfully close in a similar situation last year so it’s not out of the question, but the East is loaded and the top teams continue to separate themselves from the pack.  23. New York Rangers (Preseason Ranking: 25)  In the midst of a full-blown rebuild, no one expected much from the Rangers and they’re living up to it. But they’re doing the rebuild thing immaculately, and deserve credit for it. Sticking to your guns isn’t always easy, as evidenced by their spot in the standings, but it should pay dividends if they can make some savvy decisions along the way. This is a bridge year for them, nothing more, and nothing less.  24. Chicago Blackhawks (Preseason Ranking: 19)  The ‘Hawks fall from grace continues this season, and if it weren’t for the heroic pre-injury efforts of Corey Crawford, things may be worse. They’ve made tweaks around the edges of the roster and, more notably, to the coaching staff, but nothing has given them the spark they need. With playoff position slipping away, perhaps the most pressing issue for this team is now to pick a direction going forward. Here’s to hoping Crawford can return from his latest concussion in good health and give them something positive for the future.  25. New Jersey Devils (Preseason Ranking: 15)  After being one of the league’s pleasant surprises a year ago, the Devils have regressed in a major way. Taylor Hall is no longer playing at an MVP level, but he’s still better than a point-per-game, and Nico Hischier is set to eclipse his point total from last year while improving his two-way play. That’s all well and good, but when you lack any real forward depth – especially at center – and your young players regress, the results suffer. Last year they were a playoff team, this year they’re a basement dweller. Would the real New Jersey Devils please stand up?  26. Philadelphia Flyers (Preseason Ranking: 12) The moment of silence for this one is probably replaced with a mix of boos and expletive-laden chants; it is the Flyers, after all. A new GM and a new coach haven’t been the fixes this team had hoped for, and their promising young players have stagnated or regressed in big ways. Combine all this with the fact that they can’t find solid goaltending – outside of a few good starts from promising youngster Carter Hart – and they’ve floundered their way to 30th in the league. With the talent they have on board, that’s unacceptable. With the playoffs seemingly out of sight, the focus for them should be getting the youngsters ample playing time and getting them back on track. 27. St. Louis Blues (Preseason Ranking: 8) Take your moment of silence. I could write an entire novel on how disappointing the Blues have been and how many things are wrong with them. The most unsettling aspect of this depressing first-half of the season is how they just can’t carry any momentum from game to game. Jake Allen, the defense, and the forwards all seem to be on different pages except for one or two nights when they put it all together, and then lay an egg the next time out. The Blues are so good on paper you’ve probably been waiting for the time it all clicks and they turn it around, but it hasn’t happened and, now past the halfway point, it doesn’t look like it will any time soon.  28. Ottawa Senators (Preseason Ranking: 29)  There hasn’t been much to write about the Senators in the “good” column, on or off the ice. They continue to struggle and do so in vain this season, with their first-round pick belonging to Colorado. They play hard every night, but they don’t have the talent or depth to turn the effort into wins consistently. If any good comes from this season, it has to be that Brady Tkachuk looks promising and Tomas Chabot has stepped into Erik Karlsson’s role almost seamlessly. The Duchene/Stone negotiations will have great bearing on how this team moves forward.  29. Arizona Coyotes (Preseason Ranking: 23) The Coyotes again had a great offseason, and again have followed it up disappointingly. I didn’t expect them to compete for the West, but a wild-card berth didn’t seem out of the cards for a team that tore up the league in the second half of last season, made some good additions and found its starting goalie. Perhaps an even more disturbing trend: only 5 of the Coyotes last 12 Coyotes drafted in the first round are still with the team, and only 3 – OEL, Clayton Keller, and Jakob Chychrun – are contributing in the NHL this year. Rick Tocchet looks like the coach this young team needs, but the bad draft trends need to change if the Coyotes want out of the basement. Unfortunately nothing they can do this year helps that cause.  30. Los Angeles Kings (Preseason Ranking: 10)  Take your final moment of silence. Part of me can’t believe the Kings are this bad, and then the other part of me reminds that part that the Kings barely made the playoffs on the back of a herculean season from Anze Kopitar, and then their only major change was adding 35-year old Ilya Kovalchuk. So it makes some sense, but probably not to this degree. The Kings are old and slow, and the league’s new emphasis on speed literally has other teams passing by them with ease. A hasty retool seems to be in the cards as they still have some good pieces, but they’re just not built to compete in the new NHL as currently constructed.  31. Detroit Red Wings (Preseason Ranking: 30)  The final juncture of these power rankings is perhaps the most predictable. Like the Rangers, the Wings are in the midst of a roster rebuild and their play and record shows it. There isn’t much to say about them; they’re a bad team playing for the future. That future looks bright, with young talent playing at every level of the club. The Wings will look to be the next version of the Avalanche or Maple Leafs, and have the pieces to make it happen. Another could be on his way this summer, depending on how the lottery balls fall.

[thrashermaxey]

Is the Sophomore Slump for Defensemen for Real?

Although there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to fantasy hockey, some recurring outcomes or tendencies can – and should – form at least part of the basis for evaluating players you might draft or those already on your teams.

Dobberites are familiar with the “fourth year rule,” where past data has suggested that a player is more likely to break out in his fourth full season at the NHL level versus his second, third, fifth etc. There’s also the so-called “rookie wall,” where a first-year player not used to the rigors of an 82-game campaign will often see his stats drop in the second half of his debut season.

Another observation which has received considerable fantasy attention/speculation of late is the defenseman sophomore slump, which supposedly suggests that rearguards who are productive as rookies tend to do worse in their second (i.e., sophomore) season. But is the defenseman sophomore slump for real? If so, are there common traits shared by those most negatively or non-negatively affected which would allow us to better predict who might be most vulnerable to sophomore slumping? These are questions I’m tackling this week in a special Cage Match.

Definitions and Line Drawing

Before we gather and dissect data, we first must decide (1) how we define a rookie defenseman, (2) how many points a rookie defenseman must score in order to be a candidate for a sophomore slump, and (3) how far back to go in examining data.

I think we should look at only d-men who were true rookies in their first season, meaning they could not have previously played in any regular season games. My reasoning is any regular season action provides invaluable experience which makes someone perform differently both as a rookie and sophomore than someone who’d never taken the regular season ice before his rookie campaign.

Additionally, I excluded anyone over age 26 in his first season, since they don’t qualify as NHL rookies. Beyond that, I omitted those who were rookies in 2003-04 because that meant they would’ve been two years older for their second season due to cancellation of the 2004-05 campaign. Similarly, I excluded anyone who was a rookie or sophomore in 2012-13 due to that season only having a total of 48 games.

I debated what to do about d-men who, for whatever reason, didn’t play 60+ games as a sophomore, since I didn’t want that to possibly throw off the data. Ultimately I decided to keep in those players since injuries or scratches are part of the game. But I did eliminate one player (Erik Johnson) who would’ve otherwise qualified but missed his entire second season due to injury.

In terms of a points threshold and range of years, I went about things backwards by first deciding how many defensemen I wanted to analyze. I figured a number less than 20 would provide too few data points, but anything more than 30 would make it too difficult for me to crunch numbers. With that in mind, I settled upon rookie defensemen who played from 1997-98 onward and posted 29+ points in their first year, since that yielded a total of 24 qualifiers.

Why go back to 1997-98, rather than more or fewer years? Two reasons – the early to mid-90s was a much higher scoring era that is not as ripe for comparison to today, plus 1997-98 was the first season that nhl.com tracked ice time data, which I think that is a useful component for analysis. And although drawing the line at 29+ points might be a bit low for shallow fantasy leagues, that’s still enough of an output to place a rookie d-man on most everyone’s fantasy radar.

Summary of Rookie Season Data

Five of the 24 were rookies from 1997-98 through 2001-02, while 11 played their first season between 2005-06 and 2011-12 and the remaining eight had their first season between 2010-11 and 2016-17. The age breakdown of the 24 during their rookie campaign was as follows: 18 years old (one), age 19 (six), 20 (six), 21 (two), 22 (four), 23 (two) 24 (one), 25 (one), and 26 (one).

Among the 24, the highest rookie point total was 49 (Dion Phaneuf in 2005-06). Only five others posted 40+ as a rookie, while among the remaining 18 there were nine who landed at 36-39 (none had exactly 35) and nine with 29-34. Eleven had a double-digit goal total as a rookie, yet only five averaged 2+ SOG per game in their first campaign. Power-play scoring was widely varied, from a low of three to a high of 33; but only six accumulated below ten power-play points, with an equal number tallying 20+ and the overall average number of rookie power-play points being 14.7.

In terms of rookie ice time, 14 averaged at least 20:00 per game, and only three averaged less than 2:00 per contest with the man advantage. Shorthanded duty was widely varied, with slightly more first-year d-men logging 2:00+ per game (a total of ten) versus those who saw less than 0:30 of penalty-killing duty per game (a total of eight). But as rookies, only four of the 24 saw less ice time per game with the man advantage than while shorthanded.

As far as their teams, the most goals scored by one of the squads in a player’s rookie season was 314 (2005-06 Senators), with the next highest being way down at 266 (2013-14 Ducks). The lowest total was 211 (2005-06 Blackhawks), with only four other teams being under 220.

Year-to-Year Comparisons

What follows are the relevant individual and team statistics for each of the 24 players as a rookie, and then in his second season. These will be in reverse chronological order, with the most recent qualifying rookies and sophomores listed first. Note that when I refer to a gain or drop in production (in bold after each table) it is based on an 82-game scoring pace for each season.

Zach Werenski (rookie in 2016-17 for Columbus)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

19

78

11

36

21

2.41

251

20:54

2:47

0:45

Second Season

20

77

16

21

10

2.68

242

22:34

2:25

0:45

Result = drop in production of 10 points

Ivan Provorov (rookie in 2016-17 for Philadelphia)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

20

82

6

24

5

1.96

219

21:58

1:41

2:49

Second Season

21

82

17

21

5

2.47

251

24:09

1:46

2:34

Result = gain in production of 8 points

Nikita Zaitsev (rookie in 2016-17 for Toronto)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

25

82

4

32

12

1.29

251

22:01

2:00

1:43

Second Season

26

60

5

8

0

0.90

277

22:13

0:14

2:56

Result = drop in production of 19 points

Colton Parayko (rookie in 2015-16 for St. Louis)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

22

79

9

24

7

2.08

224

19:23

1:37

0:58

Second Season

23

81

4

31

10

2.32

236

21:11

1:45

2:06

Result = gain in production of 3 points

Aaron Ekblad (rookie in 2014-15 for Florida)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

18

81

12

27

13

2.10

239

21:48

2:48

0:25

Second Season

19

78

15

21

9

2.33

210

21:40

2:50

0:44

Result = drop in production by 1 points

John Klingberg (rookie in 2014-15 for Dallas)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

22

65

11

29

12

1.50

261

21:50

2:56

0:09

Second Season

23

76

10

48

22

2.25

267

22:41

3:11

0:05

Result = gain in production by 12 points

Jacob Trouba (rookie in 2013-14 for Winnipeg)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

19

65

10

19

3

1.86

227

22:26

1:58

2:55

Second Season

20

65

7

15

6

2.04

230

23:18

1:56

3:21

Result = drop in production by 9 points

Hampus Lindholm (rookie in 2013-14 for Anaheim)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

20

78

6

24

4

1.48

266

19:25

2:05

0:24

Second Season

21

78

7

27

6

1.37

236

21:45

1:37

1:57

Result = gain in production of 4 points

Cam Fowler (rookie in 2010-11 for Anaheim)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

19

76

10

30

23

1.62

239

22:07

3:37

0:22

Second Season

20

82

5

24

11

1.50

204

23:15

3:40

0:42

Result = drop in production by 14 points

Kevin Shattenkirk (rookie in 2010-11 for Colorado and St. Louis)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie Season (with Avs)

22

46

7

19

10

1.45

227

19:50

3:05

0:17

Rookie Season (with Blues)

22

26

2

15

5

1.57

240

19:50

2:42

0:36

Second Season

23

81

9

34

18

2.19

210

21:36

2:51

1:55

Result = drop in production by 6 points

Tyler Myers (rookie in 2009-10 with Buffalo)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

19

80

11

37

16

1.30

235

23:44

2:58

3:04

Second Season

20

80

10

27

14

1.52

245

22:27

2:47

2:41

Result = drop in production by 11 points

Michael Del Zotto (rookie in 2009-10 with Rangers)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

19

80

9

28

22

1.01

222

18:58

3:49

0:28

Second Season

20

47

2

9

7

1.18

233

19:29

3:45

0:31

Result = drop in production by 19 points

Toby Enstrom (rookie in 2007-08 with Atlanta, i.e., Winnipeg)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

23

82

5

33

26

1.28

216

24:28

5:44

3:07

Second Season

24

82

5

27

14

1.04

257

23:31

3:18

3:23

Result = drop in production by 6 points

Dion Phaneuf (rookie in 2005-06 with Calgary)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

20

82

20

29

33

2.95

218

21:43

5:19

2:12

Second Season

21

79

17

33

31

2.91

258

25:39

5:34

1:58

Result = gain in production of 3 points

Andrej Meszaros (rookie in 2005-06 with Ottawa)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

20

82

10

29

24

1.67

314

18:10

2:40

2:20

Second Season

21

82

7

28

10

1.79

288

21:40

3:42

2:32

Result = drop in production by 4 points

Chris Campoli (rookie in 2005-06 with New York Islanders)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

21

80

9

25

13

1.53

230

18:32

3:20

1:46

Second Season

22

51

1

13

4

0.80

248

14:49

1:58

0:36

Result = drop in production by 13 points

Keith Ballard (rookie in 2005-06 with Phoenix, i.e., Arizona)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

23

82

8

31

16

1.24

246

19:58

2:37

3:23

Second Season

24

69

5

22

11

1.14

216

21:59

2:01

3:44

Result = drop in production by 7 points

Ryan Whitney (rookie in 2005-06 with Pittsburgh)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

22

68

6

32

16

1.66

244

23:49

4:32

4:20

Second Season

23

81

14

45

33

1.59

277

23:56

5:59

2:16

Result = gain in production of 13 points

Brent Seabrook (rookie in 2005-06 with Chicago)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

20

69

5

27

16

1.65

211

20:01

3:50

2:31

Second Season

21

81

4

20

4

1.77

201

20:46

2:06

3:32

Result = drop in production by 14 points

Lubomir Visnovsky (rookie in 2000-01 with Los Angeles)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

24

81

7

32

14

1.29

252

16:58

2:38

0:12

Second Season

25

72

4

17

6

1.32

214

16:14

3:26

0:06

Result = drop in production by 15 points

Brad Stuart (rookie in 1999-00 with San Jose)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

20

82

10

26

14

1.62

225

20:24

4:32

1:33

Second Season

21

77

5

18

7

1.54

217

20:05

4:54

2:03

Result = drop in production by 12 points

Brian Rafalski (rookie in 1999-00 with New Jersey)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

26

75

5

27

7

1.70

251

18:50

2:10

0:16

Second Season

27

78

9

43

22

1.82

295

21:40

3:05

1:03

Result = gain in production of 19 points

Derek Morris (rookie in 1997-98 with Calgary)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

19

82

9

20

12

1.46

217

19:22

2:54

1:39

Second Season

20

71

7

27

10

2.11

211

20:44

3:04

1:17

Result = gain in production of 10 points

Mattias Ohlund (rookie in 1997-98 with Vancouver)

  Age

Games

Goals

Assists

PPPts

SOG per game

Team Goals

TOI per game

PPTOI per game

SH TOI per game

Rookie

21

77

7

23

9

2.23

224

22:42

3:23

2:44

Second Season

22

74

9

26

17

1.74

192

26:03

4:35

4:17

Result = gain in production of 7 points

*

Looking at the Data and the Apparent Effects of Different Factors

Overall Data

Among the 24 rookie rearguards, and based on per-game scoring, 15 fared worse as sophomores, while only nine fared better. Moreover, the reduction in scoring rate ranged from 19 points to just one point, with an average drop among the 15 of 10.66 points. Meanwhile, the highest scoring rate gain was 19 points, and the lowest three points, with the average gain being 8.77 points. Therefore, according to this data it is indeed more likely than not a defenseman will fare worse as a sophomore than as a freshman, and the drop is usually more than the increase in those who see scoring gains.

Rookie Age

Looking just at ages, among those who were either 18 or 19 as a rookie five of the six fared worse as a sophomore, and the one who fared better did so twenty seasons ago. Both the age 20 and 21 groups were a mixed bag, with half seeing their stats improve as a sophomore and half seeing a decline. Age 22 was the only group where more members (three) saw their scoring output increase than decrease (one). Among those 23 or older as rookies, a mere one of five produced better sophomore stats than his rookie output, and that too was quite a while ago (Brian Rafalski in 1999-00 and 2000-01).

If we’re to draw a conclusion, it’s that – on paper – the younger or older a rookie d-man is the more at risk he becomes for enduring a sophomore slump. But beyond that, even those in the age 20-22 group are roughly 50/50 bets to play better as sophomores versus doing worse. Of course there are other factors at play, so let’s look at those as well.

Team Scoring

There was an exact 50-50 split among players in terms of improved versus worse team scoring output from their rookie season to their sophomore campaign. Of the 12 players whose teams tallied more goals in their sophomore campaign than when they were rookies, only five had improved production. Moreover, nearly as many (four) players saw their scoring improve in their second season compared to when they were rookies despite playing for teams who tallied fewer goals as did (five) whose team saw its goal total improve. As such, whether a player is or is not vulnerable to a sophomore slump does not seem to be significantly based on the scoring of his team as a whole.

Shots on Goal per Game

In all, 13 of the 24 rearguards fired more pucks on net per game in their second season than they did as rookies, yet eight of the 13 saw their scoring drop notwithstanding the per game SOG increase. Among the five who topped two SOG per game as rookies, three fired fewer SOG per game as sophomores yet two of the three ended up scoring more as sophomores whereas only one of the two who topped two SOG per game as a rookie but saw his SOG per game increase season-to-season saw his production likewise increase.

If we look at just those rookies who fired 1.75 or fewer SOG per game then saw their SOG per game rate drop, we come up with a total of seven, of which five saw their scoring rate drop as a sophomore. So if there is a takeaway it’s not too surprisingly to be concerned about lower shooting defensemen whose shooting rate as a sophomore drops even further.

Ice Time

Of the 24, 11 saw their average PP Time per game drop as a sophomore, and ten of those 11 saw their scoring (or scoring rate) drop as a sophomore. In terms of overall ice time, fewer saw losses there, as only six took the ice for less average time per game, yet all six saw drops in scoring. Not surprisingly, therefore, ice time does appear to play a large part in determining whether a sophomore slump will or will not occur.

PP Scoring

As noted above, the average PPPt output of these players in their first season was 14.7, and among the 11 who bested that average, nine tallied fewer PPPts as a sophomore, with all but one also seeing his point total fall as well. Among d-men who saw scoring gains from their first to second year were those who had higher PP outputs, yet four of the nine who saw an increase didn’t tally more than ten PPPts as a sophomore, so a large PPPt output is not a prerequisite for scoring gains as a sophomore.

Conclusions

I’m sure there’s even more data that can be crunched, but at nearly 3000 words already I need to start to wrap up this column. I certainly welcome readers to share their own calculations and observations in the comments sections below.

In terms of what we learned, if you have to bet one way or the other on whether a first year d-man will see his scoring go down as a sophomore, the pure numbers suggest the safer wager is on a drop. But what about factors that will allow us to decide who will or won’t slump as a sophomore based on more specific – and measurable – information?

Unfortunately there apparently aren’t many data points which, going into a sophomore season, will allow poolies to make reliable predictions as to whether a specific d-man will fare better or worse in his second season. That’s because the major factors that seem to matter are ice time and PP scoring, which, although influenced to some degree by one’s rookie season and/or offseason transactions, will depend far more so on what unfolds during that second season itself. This all having been said, if you had to make some generalizations based on the data we saw here, you’d want to watch out for teen rookies or rookies who were older than 23, as they seem more vulnerable to slumping as sophomores. So too do those didn’t have many SOG to begin with.

What about 2018-19 Sophomore Defensemen?

What does all this mean for the two 29+ point true first year d-men from 2017-18, namely Charlie McAvoy and Will Butcher? McAvoy was a bit young and had low SOG totals despite a better than point per every other game average, while Butcher, although three years older, wasn’t a SOG machine despite likewise averaging more than a point per every other game.

Who were the past rookies with outputs most similar to these two? Not really anyone exactly, although for what it’s worth John Klingberg only fired 1.50 SOG despite better than point per every other game scoring and then broke out as a sophomore. But also there was Tyler Myers, who put up major points a rookie despite only firing 1.30 SOG per game and then never hit the 40-point mark again.

No one else both fired few SOG but scored 0.5 points per game or better; however, the ones who didn’t have more than 1.5+ SOG per game as a rookie and came closest to 0.5 points per game included one slumper (Nikita Zaitsev) and one gainer (Hampus Lindholm). Long story short, there’s no consensus on whether McAvoy or Butcher will endure a sophomore slump or not; however, with more d-men doing so than not, best to tread lightly when drafting either one for this season.

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-home/cage-match/cage-match-is-the-sophomore-defenseman-slump-a-thing/

[robertkstone]

2017 Honda Civic Type R First Test Review: World’s Greatest Hot Hatch

Thinking of clever ways to describe cars pays my bills, so rarely does a car leave me struggling to find words to describe it—yet that’s the situation I found myself in after driving the new 2017 Honda Civic Type R. I settled for three: “Holy s—. Wow.”

There’s not any one thing that makes the Civic Type R so special, but rather it’s Honda’s holistic approach to building what’s not only arguably the greatest hot hatch the world has ever seen but also the best front-wheel-drive sports car ever.

I know I sound crazy, especially to anyone who’s driven a Civic Si in the past decade or so. On paper, the Civic Type R’s competition—the Ford Focus RS, Subaru WRX STI, and Volkswagen Golf R—would all seem to blow the Honda out of the water, just by the virtue of all three offering up performance-enhancing all-wheel drive. And yet the Civic Type R works—and so incredibly well at that.

The magic starts in the English city of Swindon, on the very same production line that produces run-of-the-mill Civic hatchbacks for worldwide consumption. The base Civic hatchback body, already significantly stiffer than the previous-generation Civic Type R, gets adhesive joints in a few key areas to increase torsional stiffness. As the Type R makes its way down the production line, the British workforce buzzes around it, fitting it with a dual-axis strut suspension up front, a multilink unit in back, and unique electronically adjustable dampers at all four corners. Under the hood goes a hot-rodded version of the new Honda Accord’s 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4, making a class-competitive 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a Springfield rifle-slick six-speed manual and a mechanical limited-slip front diff. The package is rounded out by racing buckets inside, a revised rear bench omitting the middle seat in favor of formfitting outboard seats and a center console, and functional styling add-ons that could’ve only come from a country that created Gundam and Initial D.

With our Vbox and test gear hooked up, we lined our Championship White Civic Type R up for its first launch. Thanks to its limited-slip diff eliminating torque steer and a lack of turbo lag, the 306-hp Type R accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. That’s less than a second slower than the 350-hp all-wheel-drive Focus RS’ 4.5-second time but more tellingly quicker than both the 305-hp WRX STI and six-speed manual-equipped 292-hp Golf R, both of which benefit from grippy all-wheel-drive launches and need 5.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. The Civic Type R maintains second place through the quarter mile, too. It’s 14.0-second run at 102.5 mph trails the Focus RS’ 13.3-second run at 103.3 mph, but the Civic still just beats out the WRX STI (14.1 seconds at 98.5 mph) and the Golf R (14.1 seconds at 102.7 mph). In braking tests, the Civic Type R manages to tie the Focus RS’ 104 foot stop from 60 mph, beating the WRX STI’s and Golf R’s 109 foot stop. The overall trend continues on the figure eight; the more powerful Focus RS (24.0 seconds at 0.81 g average) manages to just beat out the Civic Type R’s 24.7 second at 0.78 g performance, while the WRX STI and Golf R fall behind, at 25.1 seconds at 0.75 g and 25.4 seconds at 0.77 g, respectively.

Even more important than how the Civic Type R drives at the track is how it drives on the street. More often than not, high-power hot hatchbacks are beset with compromise—peaky engines, punishing rides, and poor fuel economy are the rule of the day. Not the Type R. The Civic Type R is an absolute sweetheart, no matter what you throw at it. On a good back road, it’s a precision instrument; around town or on the highway it is an easy-going cruiser. The Honda turns in on a knife’s edge, absorbing bumps and bruises from the road without upsetting the driver or chassis no matter what drive mode you’re in. Steering is crisp and quick, and throttle response is linear. The Civic Type R’s engine is a little monster, with tons of power, little lag, and a sky-high 7,000-rpm redline, backed up by a Ryan Gosling-slick six-speed gearbox topped by a brushed aluminum knob. “This is the most impressive new Honda I’ve driven since the original NSX,” said international bureau chief Angus MacKenzie. “The Type R delivers utterly remarkable performance and handling, yet it’s impressively refined to drive. It’s the best-front drive chassis in the world. Period.”

Although the Civic Type R drives phenomenally no matter what’s thrown at it, what’s arguably more impressive is how livable it is on a day-to-day basis. The Type R is comfortable and quiet on the highway, doesn’t beat up you on rough pavement around town, and it still retains the Honda Civic hatchback’s trademark versatility. Up front, the driver and passenger get to sit in what are arguably the best racing seats ever fit into a street car. “The seats are among the best sport buckets I’ve ever sat in—holding monsters that don’t pop you in the jewels when you get in or out,” said editor-in-chief Ed Loh. The backseat retains the huge, adult-friendly dimensions, albeit at the expense of the middle seat. The Type R’s trunk is huge, too, retaining the standard Civic hatch’s ingenious cargo cover, which retracts into a mount on the right side of the cargo area, meaning you can drop the rear seats flat without having to worry about where to store a cargo cover.

Also notable is the Honda Civic Type R’s fuel economy and sticker price compared to the Golf R, Focus RS, and WRX STI. On the former front, the Civic Type R’s 22/28/25 mpg city/highway/combined EPA rating is among the best in the segment. It tops the Ford Focus RS’ 19/25/22 mpg and the WRX STI’s 17/22/19 rating while nearly matching the VW Golf R, which is rated at 22/31/25 mpg with the manual and 23/30/25 mpg with the optional six-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Where the Civic Type R most easily beats Volkswagen, Ford, and Subaru is in sticker price. Although a cheaper version is reportedly coming, the Civic Type R currently comes in one spec, the loaded, no-options-available Touring trim, which stickers for $34,775 in the limited-run 2017 model and $34,990 for the 2018 Civic Type R. The next cheapest competitor is the Subaru WRX STI at $36,955; the Golf R and Focus RS cost considerably more. The Golf R starts at $40,195, and Focus RS prices start at $41,995.

Although words might have ultimately failed me, the Honda Civic Type R doesn’t need ‘em. This is a car that speaks for itself, and one that’ll be the performance benchmark for both front-drive cars and hot hatchbacks for years to come.

2017 Honda Civic Type R (Touring) BASE PRICE $34,775 PRICE AS TESTED $34,775 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD, 4-pass, 4-door hatchback ENGINE 2.0L/306-hp/295-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3,114 lb (62/38%) WHEELBASE 106.3 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 179.4 x 73.9 x 56.5 in 0-60 MPH 5.4 sec QUARTER MILE 14.0 sec @ 102.5 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 99 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.99 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 24.7 sec @ 0.78 g (avg) 1.6-MI ROAD COURSE LAP 1:25.07 sec EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 22/28/25 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 153/120 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.80 lb/mile

[pamphletstoinspire]

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO ST. John, FROM THE LATIN VULGATE BIBLE

Chapter 12

PREFACE.

St. John, the evangelist, a native of Bathsaida, in Galilee, was the son of Zebedee and Salome. He was by profession a fisherman. Our Lord gave to John, and to James, his brother, the surname of Boanerges, or, sons of thunder; most probably for their great zeal, and for their soliciting permission to call fire from heaven to destroy the city of the Samaritans, who refused to receive their Master. St. John is supposed to have been called to the apostleship younger than any of the other apostles, not being more than twenty-five or twenty-six years old. The Fathers teach that he never married. Our Lord had for him a particular regard, of which he gave the most marked proofs at the moment of his expiring on the cross, by intrusting to his care his virgin Mother. He is the only one of the apostles that did not leave his divine Master in his passion and death. In the reign of Domitian, he was conveyed to Rome, and thrown into a caldron of boiling oil, from which he came out unhurt. He was afterwards banished to the island of Patmos, where he wrote his book of Revelations; In his gospel, St. John omits very many leading facts and circumstances mentioned by the other three evangelists, supposing his readers sufficiently instructed in points which his silence approved. It is universally agreed, that St. John had seen and approved of the other three gospels.

Chapter 12

The anointing of Christ's feet. His riding into Jerusalem upon an ass. A voice from heaven.

1 Now six days before the Pasch, Jesus came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life.

Notes & Commentary:

Ver. 1. On the tenth day of the month the Jews were accustomed to collect the lambs, and other things in preparation for the ensuing great feast. On this day, likewise, they generally had a small feast, or treat for their friends, at which time Jesus coming to Bethania, joined his friends in their entertainment. This was most likely in the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Martha served at the table herself, thinking herself happy in waiting on Jesus, whom she considered as her Lord and God. Lazarus was one of them that were at table, to shew himself alive, by speaking and eating with them, and thus confounding the inexcusable incredulity of the Jews. And Mary too shewed her loving attachment to Jesus, by anointing his feet with her precious ointment. (Theophylactus, St. Augustine, and St. Chrysostom)

2 And they made him a supper there: and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him.

Ver. 2. No explanation given.

3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Ver. 3. No explanation given.

4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said:

Ver. 4. No explanation given.

5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Ver. 5. No explanation given.

6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried what was put therein.

Ver. 6. Judas did not then begin to be wicked: he followed Christ, not in heart, but in body only. This our Master tolerated, to give us a lesson to tolerate the bad, rather than divide the body. (St. Augustine, in Joan. tract. 50.)

7 But Jesus said; Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial.

Ver. 7. No explanation given.

8 For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.

Ver. 8. Me you have not always with you. He speaks of his corporal presence; for by his majesty, by his providence, by his ineffable and invincible grace, he ever fulfils what he said, (Matthew xxviii.) Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. (St. Augustine, tract. 50 in Joan.)

9 A great multitude, therefore, of the Jews knew that he was there: and they came, not for Jesus's sake only, but that they might see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

Ver. 9. No explanation given.

10 But the chief priests thought to kill Lazarus also:

Ver. 10. To kill Lazarus. A foolish thought, says St. Augustine, as if Christ who had raised him to life from a natural death, could not also restore him to life, when murdered by them. (Witham) --- O foolish thought, and blinded rage! As if you could, by putting Lazarus to death, take away power from the Lord; as if Christ, who had already raised one that had died, could not as easily have raised one that was slain. But, lo! he has done both. Lazarus dead, he hath restored to life, and himself slain, he hath raised to life. (St. Augustine, tract 50. in Joan.)

11 Because many of the Jews, by reason of him, went away, and believed in Jesus.

Ver. 11. No explanation given.

12 And on the next day a great multitude, that was to come to the festival day, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem;

Ver. 12. No explanation given.

13 Took branches of palm-trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried: Hosannah, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!

Ver. 13. No explanation given.

14 And Jesus found a young ass, and sat upon it, as it is written;

Ver. 14. No explanation given.

15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy king cometh, sitting on the colt of an ass.

Ver. 15. No explanation given.

16 These things his disciples did not know at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things to him.

Ver. 16. No explanation given.

17 The multitude, therefore, gave testimony, which was with him, when he called Lazarus out of the grave, and raised him from the dead.

Ver. 17. No explanation given.

18 For which reason also the people came to meet him: because they heard that he had done this miracle.

Ver. 18. No explanation given.

19 The Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves; Do you see that we prevail nothing? Behold, the whole world is gone after him.

Ver. 19. Do you see that we prevail nothing? Thus said the Pharisees, being vexed that so many followed Christ, even after they had ordered, that whosoever owned him, should be turned out of their synagogues; and after they had employed men to apprehend him, but to no purpose. (Witham)

Note:

Ver. 19. Quia nihil proficimus. In most Greek copies, and also in St. Chrysostom, we read: you see that you prevail nothing; as if these words had been spoken by some of Christ's friends, to make his adversaries desist. Theoreite oti ouk opheleite ouden.

20 Now there were certain Gentiles among them, that came up to adore on the festival day.

Ver. 20. Gentiles ... came up to adore. These either were proselytes who had been Gentiles, and now had embraced the Jewish law: or they were such among the Gentiles, who owned and served the one true God, as Cornelius did, (Acts, chap. x.) but did not submit themselves to circumcision, and all the other Jewish rites and ceremonies. These could only enter into that part of the temple, called the court of the Gentiles. (Witham)

21 These, therefore, came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida, of Galilee, and desired him, saying; Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

Ver. 21. No explanation given.

22 Philip cometh, and telleth Andrew: again Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

Ver. 22. No explanation given.

23 But Jesus answered them, saying; The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified.

Ver. 23. No explanation given.

24 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground, die,

Ver. 24. Unless the grain of wheat. The comparison is this, that as the seed must be changed, and corrupted in the ground, before it fructify, so the world would not be converted but by Christ's death. (Witham) --- By this grain of corn our Saviour means himself, who was to die by the infidelity of the Jews, and be multiplied by the faith of the Gentiles. (St. Augustine, tract. 51. in Joan.)

25 Itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life, shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life everlasting.

Ver. 25. No explanation given.

26 If any man minister to me, let him follow me: and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour.

Ver. 26. We must minister to Jesus by seeking not our own things, but the things of Christ; that is; we must follow him, we must walk in his footsteps, we must perform the corporal works of mercy, and every other good work, for his sake, till we come to put in practice the most perfect act of charity, the laying down of our lives for our brethren. Then will he crown us with this greatest of rewards, the happiness of reigning with him. And where I am, there shall my minister be. (St. Augustine, tract. 51. in Joan.)

27 Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour.

Ver. 27. Now is my soul troubled. Christ permitted this fear and horror to come upon his human nature, as he did afterwards in the garden of Gethsemani. Father, save me from this hour; yet he presently adds, but for this cause I came unto this hour; that is, I came into this world for this end, that I might die on a cross for all mankind. In like manner, when he had said in the garden, let this cup pass from me, he presently joined these words: but not my will, but thine be done. (Witham) --- Lest the disciples, upon hearing our Saviour exhorting them willingly and courageously to suffer death, should think within themselves, that he could well exhort them to these things, being himself beyond the reach of human misery, he assures them in this place, that he himself is in agony, and yet does not refuse to die for them. (St. Chrysostom, hom. lxvi. in Joan.)

28 Father, glorify thy name. A voice, therefore, came from heaven: I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it again.

Ver. 28. Father, glorify thy name, by my sufferings and death, as well as by many miracles that shall follow. A voice came from heaven, and so loud, that some there present compared it to thunder: and at the same time these words were heard: I have glorified it, thy name, and I will glorify it again, by a number of ensuing miracles at Christ's death, at his resurrection and ascension, as well as by all those miracles, which the apostles and disciples wrought afterwards. (Witham)

29 The multitude, therefore, that stood and heard, said that it thundered. Others said; An Angel spoke to him.

Ver. 29. No explanation given.

30 Jesus answered, and said; This voice came not for mine, but for your sake.

Ver. 30. As the soul of Christ was troubled, not on his own account, but for the sake of the people; so this voice came from heaven, not for his sake, but for that of the people. What it announced was already known to him; the advantage and instruction of the Jews was its end, object, and motive. (St. Augustine, 52. tract. in Joan.)

31 Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Ver. 31. Now is the judgment of the world: Their condemnation, says St. Chrysostom, for not believing. --- The prince of this world, that is, the devil, shall be cast out from that great tyranny, which he had over mankind, before Christ's incarnation. (Witham) --- By these words Christ informs the Gentiles that wished to see him, that soon he would punish the incredulous Jews, and cast off their synagogue, for their malice and insatiable hatred against him; and that the prince of this world, that is, the worship of idols, should be destroyed, and all called to the true faith. (Calmet)

32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself.

Ver. 32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth: that is, on the cross. See the same expression, John iii. 14. and viii. 28. --- I will draw all things, all nations, to myself by faith. (Witham)

33 (Now this he said signifying what death he should die.)

Ver. 33. No explanation given.

34 The multitude answered him: We have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?

Ver. 34. How sayest thou the Son of man must be lifted up? By these words of the people, Christ, in this discourse must have called himself the Son of man, though it is not here mentioned by the evangelist. The people also tell him, they had heard that their Messias was to abide for ever: which was true as to his spiritual kingdom of grace, not as to such a glorious temporal kingdom, as they imagined. (Witham)

35 Jesus, therefore, said to them; Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that the darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in darkness, knoweth not whither he goeth.

Ver. 35. Yet a little while, that is, for a very few days, I, who am the light of the world, am with you. (Witham) --- How much do the Jews now do, and yet they know not what they do: but like men that are walking in the dark, they think they are in the right way, when alas! they are quite the contrary. (St. Chrysostom, hom. lxvi. in Joan.)

Note:

Ver. 35. Adhuc modicùm lumen in vobis est, eti mikron chronon, to phos meth umon esti. They mistake, who take modicum for an adjective, that agrees with lumen.

36 Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things Jesus spoke, and he went away, and hid himself from them.

Ver. 36. No explanation given.

37 And whereas he had done so many miracles before them, they believed not in him:

Ver. 37. No explanation given.

38 That the saying of Isaias, the prophet, might be fulfilled, which he said; Lord, who hath believed our hearing? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Ver. 38. No explanation given.

39 Therefore they could not believe, for Isaias said again;

Ver. 39. They could not believe, that is, they would not, says St. Augustine, or it could not be, considering their wilful obstinate blindness. (Witham) --- But where then is the sin, if they could not believe? They could not believe, because they would not. For as it is the glory of the will of God, that it cannot be averse to its own glory, so it is the fault of the will of man, that it cannot believe. (St. Augustine, tract. 53. in Joan.) They could not believe. Since the prophet has foretold it, and he cannot but say the truth, it is impossible that they should now believe. Not but they had it in their power to believe; and had they believed, the prophet would never have foretold the contrary. (St. Chrysostom, hom. lxvii. in Joan.)

Note:

Ver. 39. Non poterant credere. St. Augustine, (tract. 53.) Quare autem non potuerunt, si a me quæratur, citò respondeo, quia nolebant.

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Ver. 40. He hath blinded their eyes, &c. See Matthew xiii. 14. (Witham) --- God blinded the Jews, not by filling them with malice, but by refusing them his graces, of which they had made themselves unworthy, and which they before abused and despised. It was their perverse will, their pride, presumption, and obstinacy, that brought on them this judgment. (St. Augustine)

41 These things said Isaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.

Ver. 41. No explanation given.

42 However, many of the chief men also believed in him: but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess it, that they might not be cast out of the synagogue.

Ver. 42. No explanation given.

43 For they loved the glory of men, more than the glory of God.

Ver. 43. For they loved the glory of men. This was one of the chief obstacles of their belief: yet many even of the chief of them believed in him; but durst not own it for fear of being disgraced, and turned out of their synagogues. Do not human considerations, and temporal advantages, hinder men from seeking out, and embracing the truth?

44 But Jesus cried out, and said; He that believeth in me, doth not believe in me, but in him that sent me.

Ver. 44. No explanation given.

45 And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me.

Ver. 45. He that seeth me, seeth him that sent me. In what sense these words are true, see John xiv. ver. 9. where they are repeated again, and with other expressions to the same sense. (Witham)

46 I am come a light into the world; that whosoever believeth in me, may not remain in darkness.

Ver. 46. No explanation given.

47 And if any man hear my words, and keep them not, I do not judge him: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Ver. 47. I do not judge him. To judge here, may signify to condemn. St. Augustine expounds it in this manner: I do not judge him at this my first coming. St. Chrysostom says, it is not I only that judgeth him, but the works also that I do.

48 He that despiseth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Ver. 48. No explanation given.

49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak.

Ver. 49. No explanation given.

50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. The things, therefore, that I speak, even as the Father said unto me, so do I speak.

Ver. 50. No explanation given.