#and thank goodness we didn't have to wait outside in -40 degrees like it was last week

[fandomtransmandom]

When there's a fire in your building (no worries, everyone is okay!) during a 10-15 inch snowstorm.

Unfortunately they didn't send delicious and dramatic Bryce, so...

[why-rock-look-tasty-if-no-eat]

I was a good and obedient kid, though I did have an imagination and a small mischievous streak. (Keep in mind, all of the examples were when I was under 10)

I was told to eat something? Already ate it, thanks for the food, can I have some more please?

Told to stop doing something? Are you sure I can't keep doing it? No? Alright, I'll stop.

Go be quiet and wait for the next hour? Looks like it's time to play make believe with any small objects around me and keep the game in my head.

Do your homework/hand write the essay? Already did it during school lunch/recess/class

Pick an instrument to play? I wanted flute and piano but the clarinet is perfectly fine to

Do (competitive) ballet, modern dance and baseball? How come I can't do gymnastics? Or why not both ballet and gymnastics? I don't want to do dance but alright. Though why can't I do soccer instead? Because you said so? Well, alright

When it came to concerts, theaters, movies, and plays I would sit still the entire time and pay attention to it without a fuss

But gods forbid that I get upset about having to wear clothes (literally only overalls and skirts) that I hated. Or just acting like a kid in general and not a miniature adult. As a seven year old I was doing the families dishes, laundry, and cleaning inside and outside the house. I also had to mediate between my family and grew up catching food to eat when we ran out money. During clothing store trips I used to hide in the clothing racks because I rarely got to go shoping, but I got yelled at everytime that it wasnt cute and is bad behavior.

Later on my 'teenage rebellion' was literally just me going to college during my last two years of HS and walking through the woods to get home. I never left the house after curfew and I never snuck out, simply because I never wanted to. The degree I was working on? It was science related and would have given me a strong foothold into my dream job, forensic science. The reason why I didn't get my associates before I graduated HS like I was supposed to? My mother didn't want to drive me to the second year campus, even though it was free college paid by the HS. Literally paid in full by the HS, and all that was needed was transport on my end.

Every school year I'd place in the top percentile of national tests; 1% English, 18% science, and 27% math. Those were my last test results because I remeber crying about my mothers response. Her response? An eyeroll and the papers being tossed aside and told that could do better at math. My Senior year I just gave up because I did all of that to get her recognition, and experiencing that broke me.

I got reccomended for scholarships when I was in Sophomore year. I was taking AP, Advanced, Band, Choir, and college classes while working 35+ hours part time with little to no transport for the last two. To get to my job I'd walk 40+ minutes or take the bus and waste money for an easy walk. The busses stopped after 10 pm so I would have to walk home, after midnight, by myself in a city that had plenty of nightlife. I also (unpromted) paid for my own food, entertainment, school supplies, and clothes since my Junior year.

For almost my entire school life, I'd go straight home and just learn more from NatGeo, encyclopedias (I ran out of books to read), science journals, KhanAcademy, hell I even watched college classes on YouTube, back when Berkeley still had them up, during middle school. I wouldn't go outside after curfew or sneak out, I'd be watching documentaries. The most trouble I got into was staying up watching documentaries at 1 am, I had headphones on to.

Then I got into a small job industry that's highly competitive, and I scored among the highest applicants and could pick from hundreds of jobs except for two? I must have cheated, because there's no way I'm that smart. My mother to my older sibling, almost verbatim.

Now what would my mother do when she was my age? Go out with her friends and get into trouble, eat as a group, sleep over at each other's places, and not take school seriously. She didn't get a job during HS, she wasn't in any AP or advanced clases, and most certainly didn't have a job during HS or college because her parents paid for it all. Which didn't matter since she dropped out of college to take care of my older sibling.

My mother went back to college during my Sophomore year and was complaining about how hard her classes were. I ended up helping her with her homework because I already did those classes during MS or Freshman year.

She would get impatient if I took more than three minutes to get out the door, but then I would have to wait fifteen for her to get everything. I found it easier to just run a checklist before we left so we wouldn't have to waste more time by turning around.

I would have a city/state/tristate competition for marching/choir/jazz band/ballet/modern dance/baseball (last three were droped before MS, but I still did compitions for ballet and dance) and if it had provided transportation then it was a toss up on if my family would be there. But if my mother or older sibling had a public event? Then I was dragged along and scolded if I complained about it.

Meanwhile my older sibling was staying over at friends houses, skipping school, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, sneaking out at night, smoking cigarettes, and not helping six year old me clean the house. But it was alright for older sibling to do it because they were older than me. OS didn't have to worry about curfew, and OS didn't worry about helping me out around the house.

OS got to eat as much food as OS wanted, but yet I got yelled at for asking for more food. Like I wasn't a growing kid and one serving was enough to tide me over. OS did have to get a job during HS though, because by that point our mother was raising us without child support. Even with OS helping with money we were still below the poverty line, and I had to stop doing many extracurriculars to save money.

Because my family were in dire straights monetary wise for my entire life, I was also worrying about money my entire life. When I was eight I was worrying about losing our home, which did happen a few years later so it wasn't unfounded lol. By the time I was twelve I was cutting back on my allowance to save money for food since catching it wasn't an option anymore at that point.

Suffice to say, whenever my mother talks about her childhood it's like getting whiplash. The differences are so crazy. I don't think my mother truly understands just how easy and nice she had it. Like, what do you mean you had a happy childhood that wasn't spent doing everything but what you actually wanted?

What do you mean you got to hang out with your friends whenever you wanted? What do you mean my MS math class was your HS class? What do you mean you didn't have to think of family before you even as a kid? What do you mean your parents went to every event you and your siblings had? What do you mean you didn't have to catch food for your family as a kid? What do you mean college's didn't require a 3.5 GPA, 25+ ACT score, and four years of foreign language?

Nowadays my mother is just pestering me about why I'm not in college and making a big fuss about how I can't be burnt out from my old job because I'm still college age. My old job where I would work up to 18 hours for two weeks. Every other month. For years.

TLDR: The stark difference in two generation's childhoods is real and it's really depressing

Maybe this is the wrong platform to pose this question given the average tumblr user but

Is it just me or did our generation (those of is who are currently 20-30 ish) just not get the opportunity to be young in the 'standard' sense?

Like, everyone I talk to who's over 40 has all their wild stories about their teens and 20s, being young and dumb, and then I talk to my friends and coworkers and classmates, and we just... dont.

[bobbyshaddoe80]

Liberated Audio Reviews

Introduction:

The cult Sci-Fi series Blake's 7 has seen great admiration and appreciation in the 40 plus years since its initial broadcast in the UK., continuing to enthrall audience old and new alike. Despite its rather low budget, it possessed some pretty impressive writing and acting from its rotating cast of characters. Despite it being yet another Terry Nation brainchild, the series would evolve beyond the initial proposal/concept of 'Robin Hood in Space' under the direction of Chris Boucher to become something more than just a Star Wars clone.

Over the years, the show's devoted fanbase have poured over the show's 52 episodes and have long clamored, demanded, begged and pleaded with the Powers That Be for some sort of continuation or revival... In spite of the show's rather unorthodox and controversial ending.

After numerous rumors and false starts, which even included a full on audio reboot/reimagining by B7 Media back in late 2007/early 2008, it would be Big Finish Productions that would take up the daunting task of reviving and expanding the Blake's 7 universe starting in February 2012 with the Liberator Chronicles and the Classic Audio Adventures in January 2014.

The Liberator Chronicles are essentially enhanced audiobooks often told in the first person by whichever character is chosen to be the focus of the story. Often they are supported by one or two other cast members in order to help keep things from falling completely into standard audiobook monotony. Before tackling the full cast audios, I shall endeavor to present my thoughts and views on all twelve volumes of the Liberator Chronicles.

Please bear in mind that these reviews are based on my own opinions and no one else's. While I shall endeavor to be as fair as possible, I am not claiming that my opinion is the only one that matters and you are free to agree or disagree with me as you see fit. Just try to keep it civil. So, without further ado, let's get started by examining volume one.

Blake's 7 - The Liberator Chronicles Vol. 1

RELEASED FEBRUARY 2012

Recorded on: 23 September, 11 and 14 October 2011

Recorded at: Moat Studios

Review By Robert L. Torres

The Turing Test by Simon Guerrier

'After evading an attack by Cassini Pirates, the Liberator heads to the rogue moon of Quentil, where Avon and Vila infiltrate a top secret Federation science facility. 

Vila assumes the guise of Dr. Yarding Gill, an expert in digital memory. And Avon is his "creation" - a super-advanced android that could pass for human. In fact, he does...

Can they maintain the ruse long enough to complete their mission? And will the Cassini Pirates catch up with them?'

Chronological Placement:

Series A - set after the events of LC Vol. 7's Disorder, between episodes Mission To Destiny and Duel.

This is a very well written story starring the late Paul Darrow as Kerr Avon, ably supported by Michael Keating as Vila Restal.

I love how the story is structured with Avon recounting these events AFTER the fact, like he was recording then for posterity into a dictaphone. I loved that Guerrier's writing didn't fall into the trap of having Avon try to do other voices or say 'said Blake', 'said Jenna' and so on. Nothing felt disruptive to the narrative and having Vila around never felt intrusive.

Kudos to Michael Keating for slipping back into the role of Vila Restal with relative ease. He will be quite reliable in a support capacity during many of these audios, and even get a chance at the spotlight... Which we will examine in due course. Right now, he lends his exceptional charm in this undercover mission posing as the scientist responsible for "creating" Avon.

Still, this story belongs to Paul Darrow, and he does a great job. It was a great story about what it means to be alive, what it means to be human and even serving as an examination of Avon himself. It was a nice inverse of the usual sort of questions regarding machine life wishing to be more human. Here we have a human considering himself to be more machine than man.

That is the interesting thing about Avon. Most scifi programs that deal with space travel tend to have an archetypical character known as the 'royal smart person'. For Star Trek TOS it was Spock, for Star Trek TNG it was Data, for DS9 it was Dax (and to a certain extent Bashir), for Voyager it was Seven of Nine, for Enterprise it was... Who the hell knows since everyone on that show was an idiot. As for Discovery... I honestly don't know cuz I haven't watched Discovery yet, but that's beside the point.

Avon is exceptional in his characterization only in that his desire to focus on pure logic and suppress his emotions does not come without its own drawbacks. Despite his intellect and skill with computers, he is someone that is also socially and emotionally cut off from others due to an inability to trust. He is also someone that sees the futility in giving over to emotional and irrational hysterics in order to showcase that he cares. Avon's intelligence also comes with a certain amount of ego, as he knows that he is smarter than many of his contemporaries, and much of the logic he embraces stems from a certain degree of self-serving self-interest.

His desire to assist in the situation with the AI android 14 stems from having an affinity with another creature of pure logic, and not wanting such a creature to be exploited and corrupted to further the aims and agendas of the Federation. This story is a great reminder of why Avon is a great antihero, as he is still willing to do the right thing in spite of himself.

Final Score: 8 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

Solitary by Nigel Fairs

‘Vila is in solitary confinement. His friends have abandoned him, his only contact with the world outside is Nyrron, a scientist from the planet Auron.

Amnesiac and confused, Vila attempts to piece together recent events... A mission to Dulcimer 4. An important meeting. And a visit to the jungle world of Terrulis Major.

In the depths of the foliage, the truth is waiting. And it's more terrifying than Vila could possible have imagined...’

Chronological Placement:

Series B - between episodes Redemption and Shadow.

I really do not have much to say about this story as it is profoundly unremarkable and is a major clunker in terms of execution of its concept, as well as the first person narration.

It has some interesting ideas, there is a central mystery that is interesting, with Vila finding himself in solitary confinement and abandoned by his friends, and we are introduced to a semi recurring guest character in the form of Auron scientist Gustav Nyrron, played by Anthony Howell ('Dr. David Keel' of the The Avengers: Lost Episodes range). 

Nyrron himself is an interesting character as an ally for Blake and the Resistance, which begs the question why Cally wasn’t involved in this story as well.  Because for an Auron scientist, he actually spends most of the time acting like either a reasonable interrogator or a benevolent psychiatrist for the imprisoned Vila. 

The whole story itself is not executed terribly well.  The Vila character spends a good chunk of the first few moments talking to himself, and then when Nyrron comes into the narrative, Vila spends the rest of the runtime being asked if he remembers certain events, and then goes on to basically recount events that lead up to meeting Nyrron and then goes on to tell Nyrron things that he already knows about. 

As a Vila centric story, its also not terribly good, not even with certain unexpected revelations made. This story does Vila no favors and we don't learn much about Nyrron either.  Fortunately, those are issues that would end up being rectified in later stories.  Definitely give this one a miss.

Final Score: 4 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

Counterfeit by Peter Anghelides

‘The Bovee Mining Facility: A Federation slave camp worked by disgraced scientists.

The planet shouldn't be of interest but it is: Avon's investigations reveal that it's rich in Illusium, a mineral that can change from one substance to another. With it, the Federation could be invulnerable...

Blake teleports down to Bovee, but gets more than he bargained for. There's another visitor to the facility - and his presence changes the whole game...’

Chronological Placement:

Series A - set after the events of LC Vol. 1's The Turing Test, between episodes Mission To Destiny and Duel.

This is not a bad Blake focus story, with added support from Avon. However, what we get is a pretty standard adventure with Blake hoping to obtain certain materials and destroy the means of that material being reproduced in another effort to cripple the Federation's power. We even get in an appearance by Travis, Blake's personal nemesis, to lure him into a trap.

There isn't a whole lot to say about the story because of how standard and basic it all is. The fact that the story is done on audio does play in well into certain revelations and surprise twists made within the narrative. Many of which I will not speak on as it goes into spoiler territory. Other than that, the story itself is not bad, it is definitely worth a once-over. Its just unfortunate that it is also pretty average and fairly unremarkable.

Final Score: 5 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

Final score for Volume One of The Liberator Chronicles in its entirety is 6 out of 10 Plasma Bolts.

It isn't the best start to the Blake's 7 audio range as it really only has one story out of three to recommend it. Its great to hear the original actors back again, and thankfully they will be served better stories in the volumes to follow.

Special thanks to Craig Brawley of the Big Finish Listeners Facebook Group for his tireless efforts in mapping out the chronology of the audios and determining how they fit in with the established TV continuity.

[ghost-hyunjin]

Witness Statement: Roseanne Park

Officer: Please know that you are being recorded for official police business regarding a possible homicide. Do you agree?

Roseanne: Yes.

Officer: Good, thank you. Please state your name, age, occupation, and relation to the victim.

Roseanne: My name is Rosanne Park, but a lot of people call me Rosie. I'm 23 and I'm studying Hospitality in Business for a graduate degree. I was Sam's RA or Resident Advisor.

Officer: Thank you Miss Park. About what time did you find the victim?

Roseanne: (folds hands and quietly recalls what time it was) I think it was 12:14 in the morning. I left the front desk around midnight to do my regular sweep of the floors.

Officer: What usually goes on during these sweeps?

Roseanne: I'm supposed to make sure everyone is being courteous of their neighbors, like no loud music or shouting, and that if there are any outside guests over, that they've been checked in prior to coming up with their friends.

Officer: What made you stop by the victim's room? Had he ever been a problem with the management?

Roseanne: (shakes head violently) Sam? No Sam was a sweetie! He was probably one of the few well-behaved fourth years I had to manage. Actually, I worried about him a little – he had friends, but he kept to himself a lot, especially if it was midterms or finals. I stopped outside his door because it was sort of propped open? Wait, I wouldn't say propped – let me rephrase that. It was open a crack and I thought that was odd. Sam's pretty good about making sure his door closes properly every time he comes and goes.

Officer: So you knocked?

Roseanne: I knocked and asked if he knew his door was open. No answer. I was going to close it for him, but then his neighbor stuck her head out and asked if everything was all right.

Officer: Neighbor?

Rosanne: Two doors down – her name is Aisha. She said she thought she heard shouting around 11:40, then a bang. But she looked out in the hallway and didn't see anyone. She thought it was some of the guys coming back drunk and banging on the walls.

Officer: (makes note of Aisha's name for later) Thank you. So you went inside?

Roseanne: (nods) I pushed open the door – I didn't touch the handle. I don't know why, but I just pushed the door open above the handle. I called his name a couple of times and then out of the corner of my eye I see...(trails off as she starts to sniffle)

Officer: (passes over a box of tissues) You found the victim lying on the ground?

Roseanne: (taking a tissue and dabbing at her eyes) I worried he collapsed due to a lack of sleep. I know that sounds stupid, but sometimes he was running on little sleep and more caffeine, due to his workload. But then I came closer and I saw...the blood. I tried taking a pulse but I wasn't completely focused. I was trying to call 911 for help and take his pulse at the same time. (sniffles) I can't believe someone would want to hurt him!

Officer: (rests index finger on the tape recorder) I think I have everything we need. Thank you again Miss Park.