#but we can treat our veterans better

[atomicradiogirl]

since veteran’s day is coming up i want to share a story. my dad used to work in a VA hospital and he told me about how there was an incompetent surgeon that would kill hundreds of veterans and get away with it. this concerned him, as it would anyone with a moral compass, and he collected evidence and went to the administration with it. instead of firing the surgeon who was killing veterans long after they’ve come home, surviving war, trauma, just to die on the operating table, they told my dad to stay quiet about it or they’d fire him. so my dad quit. he said he couldn’t work in such an immoral place. he always said that this was proof that this country will never care about their veterans. they send these men to die, get injured, suffer trauma, to kill them in a hospital meant to care for them. we should do better.

[jaythelay]

Don't press Dump on his PTSD as it'll push average people with PTSD away. Instead capitualize upon it.

Start by discussing school shootings and other similar events, discuss how it affected the surviving victims, how it has long term effects for even the survivors. Really butter this up because I can't with my brain rn.

Then, point out how it's affecting politics. How it's affecting Dump's rallies because people are too scared to go to his anymore, how even Dump himself appears to have PTSD from his own party trying to assassinate him, that he's sending Vance out as a meatshield.

That Dump is living proof we need Point-and-Click Kill Tools to be regulated. That we need better healthcare for those suffering PTSD, that we need to treat our Veterans, like Tim Walz, with more respect than the VA or Republicans has ever given any one of them.

You can tell I both hit a nerve and am dead on accurate, because R's immedietely got defensive and upset at just about every aspect of this. That means it works.

[hestzhyen]

Chapter 55 Stress Posting

Greetings, dear void. It is time... FOR A HAKURI PoV CHAPTER! And more JP-EN yapping from me than usual because honestly, this chapter was cool, but it was mostly set-up for whatever's going to happen next week. There's not much to muse on without trending towards pure speculation rather fast. Plus I finally got access to the JP version so I've been despairing at how far I have to go to actually learn the damn language...

But hey! Another color page next week! Hokazono-sensei's really suffering from success isn't he? Kagurabachi's getting the top-tier marketing push now that it managed to get over 1M copies in circulation with only 4 volumes out. Maybe we'll start to see the same level of CPs as Akane Banashi soon!

Samura and the Makizumi

Who the hell are you?

Does whatever he's got going on explain the female bearer's super young appearance...? The EN TL leaves it vague here, but JP is pretty specific that his body is that of a child but he isn't one in truth.

Why the adult in a child's body thing at all though? Why mimic Samura like that too? And why are we getting that packaged with a lazy-yet-competent commander archetype? Something about the combination of traits for this character just rubs me the wrong way. The cognitive dissonance worked -I'm interested in him and his situation- but it's unpleasant to deal with. This introduction felt unexpected in a bad way. I bet I'll be a minority on that though so I'll keep my rubbish opinions about him to myself. Maybe.

I have a theory on why Mini Samura is copying our favourite blind fighter guy at least. The official name for the squad in Japanese is 神奈備御庭番-座村親衛隊 [Kamunabi oniwa-ban - Samura shineitai]. The professional EN TL will parse all that much better than I can, but I just want to point out something fun. The last word (親衛隊) means "elite guards"/"bodyguards". Most of the time. It can also mean "groupies" or "ardent fans". So take that and stuff it in your back pocket in case the squad doesn't job here.

Anyway, this chapter is why we met the Makizumi [巻墨] a few weeks ago in chapter 50. Yes, it's the same kanji as "Masumi" that they were introduced as. I'm not sure why since my Japanese is, uh, not great. But it's not an EN translation error. The original JP indicates that Uruha says ますみ [masumi] in Ch. 50 via the Ruby next to the kanji. This time, however, the Ruby over their name in the spread says まきずみ [makizumi]. At least it's not truly a new name I suppose? The meaning -Rolled Ink- stays the same regardless.

At any rate, these guys are definitely all going to live and fight another day. Because named teams full of elite personnel formed for a specific purpose have great survival and success rates in this series. Yup. (Maybe being ninja will make the difference? Somehow???)

Who trained these guys, I wonder... Samura's hella scary for an "assistant master".

Samura getting annoyed that his disciple joined the fight...! It's sweet of him to care and still treat Uruha like an apprentice in some ways. They're both war veterans who have seen and experienced too much, but some dynamics don't change with the passing of time.

I appreciate that the villains and their tactics are well-thought out. Adjusting to fight a blind man with super senses isn't done as well as one would like in many series, sadly. They often get to style all over their enemies because they're underestimated, then are treated like a sighted person with a gimmick thereafter. But the Hishaku ain't about that and have actively planned against him by scrambling his smell and hearing while also sending Mr. Hatshaku and his undetectable trees. Very smart on Hokazono-sensei's part!

This is just so awesome! The spreads of Chihiro and Hiyuki meeting and parting again in ch. 29 are two of my absolute favourites in the series so far, so to see it again (kinda) makes me happy.

Samura cut part of Uruha's topknot here. He played it that close, huh. It's pretty cool that Samura has a wild fighting style that his allies have to adjust around. Normally blind fighters are super precise but Samura's just slicing and dicing anything that's living and ready to kill! But if you're that good then I guess it's worth training a few people to be able to compliment your moveset so they can safely support you.

Samura and Uruha aren't in perfect sync, and Uruha's still willing to take risks and throw himself into danger. But he's more than capable of being an asset in this fight without guaranteeing he'll become a burden later (unlike a certain someone...).

Uh Oh

He's so cute with his big ol' eyes and pensive expression.

Did Chihiro whip out his phone while keeping Hiruhiko pinned to the seat with his foot!? Anyway, this is only the second time in the series where he hasn't appeared in even a single panel. So we get to spend a whole chapter getting exposition via Hakuri!

I'm gonna take some time to yap about him because it's been nearly three weeks since he showed up a lot and I missed him terribly.

Stop, stop, STOP!!

Note: Hakuri's line in the panel before (...俺だけじゃないか" ["I'm the only one."]) doesn't directly match up to Kyora's final line from Ch. 43 (私だけだ... 私だけが全うできなかった ["I'm the only one... who failed to fulfill my duty."]), so it's not a direct reference even if the TL makes it seem like one. Hakuri's sentiment is different- his is "I can't be the only one" vs. Kyora's "I'm actually the only one". There are just a lot of characters who are convicted in their beliefs in this manga!

So much for getting to recover in 30 minutes, I guess.

Really cool that we see the mask "assembling"! It's only been shown intact when he activates the storehouse sorcery up to this point. So it's a neat visual representation of his resolve coming together during the time crunch as well. Hakuri is nothing if not dedicated to hurting and throwing himself into danger for the sake of others. Even after Healer Lady set up a flag for him to become useless or worse if he does so here. Oh, Hakuri...

He's helping Chihiro because he wants to make the world a safer place. Plus his whole thing after Ice Lady is that he'll "never let a life slip through [his] hands again". It's exceptionally noble and heroic of him! But is it worth potentially derailing the plans via brain damage or permanent ability loss?

Hakuri's not gonna die, obviously. I'm also 50/50 on him losing access to his sorcery at all, much less permanently. But something's going to get fucked up here and it'll probably be his fault. Again. He's gotta learn how to value himself the hard way, apparently. All we can do is wait to see what price will be paid for Hakuri's reckless disregard for his own well-being. (I'm not sure how I feel about this, but what if Hakuri gets Healer Lady killed? He could go 2/2 on women who were kind to him dying because of his actions right in front of him. Man that would suck.)

This is looking to be like one of the developments I was hoping for at the end of the Rakuzaichi arc. Hakuri does NOT chill when it comes to saving lives. Being borderline suicidal about this is his way of atoning for his and his family's sins, in my mind. But is it better to risk your life every time, or let people get hurt -possibly die- to keep doing greater good in the long-run? It's a common question raised in super hero comics, and I hope we get to see it explored with Hakuri (and Uruha) here. I'm really interested in what Hokazono-sensei has to say about it and the dissonance it would cause in Hakuri's character.

Arc Soothsaying

This is just a supposition, and I've been wrong so many times that I'm kind of hesitant to put this out there, but here goes. I know I can be as cringey as I like in your ambivalent embrace, kind void.

I think... I think... Hakuri's growth this arc will be specifically learning to value himself enough that he's able to act against his ideals.

Recall how Hakuri was the one to point out that Uruha knew the value of his life in Chapter 48 when he would have charged right in. And now he's with Samura, the guy who fights and kills to preserve himself despite it going against his Buddhist beliefs. Hakuri's constantly pushing himself to the limit, refusing to let other people get hurt for his sake. He won't let himself be the only one risking his life even if there's no strategic value for him to act- even if it would most helpful for everyone if he ran to safety. So I think he's going to have to put saving his own life above anything else later this arc and it's going to be terrible for him.

It would compliment the theme of negative self-image that's been set up with Chihiro too. They're both heroic, though it usually comes across in completely opposite ways (Chihiro's in his villain era right now, for one). And both of them have a lot of work to do when it comes to learning how to love themselves. Hakuri to understand his own "value", Chihiro to understand he's not a monster.

Learning more about the Bearers, Kunishige, and what happened in the Seitei war will almost certainly help Chihiro to realize he really isn't so different from the heroes he idolizes. As for Hakuri, it's hard to say right now. Uruha's going to be important to his growth I'm fairly certain. But we haven't even met all the Bearers yet so I don't want to start thinking in absolutes about who will help who and in what way.

We also have to wait and see what becomes of Hiruhiko after this encounter. He's obviously meant to be a counter to both Hakuri and Chihiro; how that manifests, exactly, is something I'm looking forward to seeing. It'll give more insight on how we can expect them to develop. Chihiro and Hiruhiko are pretty blatant right now with their outlook on what it means to kill and such, and there's set up for Hiruhiko to clash with Hakuri over what it means to be an equal and a friend.

For Chihiro and Hakuri... too early to say. Need to see what happens at Senkutsuji. My instincts are saying a rift of some kind will form between them over killing, equality, and/or their self-sacrificing tendencies but I'm always wrong, so. Just waiting and watching on that for now.

Anyway. Thanks as always, void. Here's hoping our boys don't have to suffer too much in the coming weeks/months. Except Hiruhiko. He can suffer enough for all of them.

[staar5384]

Our Secret Moments

levi ackerman x reader

It was unusual for Captain Levi to end training early. Typically, he would push his cadets until they were almost too weak to stand. Today was different, however, as he approached his Scouts, telling them traning was done today, and then disappearing.

Armin stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought. Everyone was trying to figure out what on earth possessed Captain Levi to end training so abruptly. That's when Armin had an idea.

Eren shook the blond gently, "Hey, Armin, you still in there?"

He nodded, looking at his group of friends. "I think the Captain ended training to go see Y/N."

Jean snorted and crossed his arms, "Sure he did. I'm pretty sure Levi hates them."

"Definitey not. Those two are practically attached at the hip," Eren interjected. It was safe to say if anyone knew how the two veterans interacted, it would be him.

"You've gotta be joking. There's no way that cold bastard would let someone like Y/N around him that much," Connie said in disbelief.

"Eren is the only one who sees how those two are. We gotta trust his judgment."

"Why is it any of our business anyway?" Christa looked at them. "I mean, if you were them, would you want people prying into your business?"

"Because this is the kinda shit we can us against the Captain!" Jean smirked. "He will never treat us like second-rate soldiers ever again!"

Connie and Sasha both nodded in agreement. Eren gave the idea some thought; on the one hand, Christa was right. Whatever was happening between Captain Levi and Y/N was none of their business. On the other though, Jean was also right. If they had some leverage against him, maybe he would start treating them a little better.

"You guys seriously can't be considering this," Christa gave them a small frown. "I know Captain Levi is strict, but we shouldn't invade his privacy like this!"

"I say we just go see what he could be up to," Eren shrugged. "What's the worst that can happen?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Armin's suspicions were proven right as they found Levi's horse out in the middle of an open field not far from the Scout's base. Across the field, Levi and Y/N were laying in the grass.

"Let's try to get closer and hear what they're saying," Jean whispered as he began to sneak closer to the two. The others quietly followed his lead until they were at the perfect spot to sit and listen.

"You've been overworking yourself Levi," You turned over on your side, tracing lines across Levi's arms. "Don't feel bad about cutting one training short."

Levi sighed, relaxing into your gentle touch, "I just know Erwin has a deadline for when he wants those brats trained, and this break could really hurt my chances of meeting it."

"Well, this was much needed. For both of us," You gave him a smile. "Besides, we don't get much alone time anymore. It's truly a tragedy," You exhaled dramatically.

Levi snickered and rolled his eyes. "You are really something else, aren't you?" He glanced at you, an unusual softness in his eyes.

The cadets watched from afar and were practically stunned to silence. This was nothing like the Levi they knew. He was being.. nice? He was laughing, smiling. It was an extremely strange sight to see.

"Tell you what," Your voice rang through the field, which brought the hidden Scouts back to their mission at hand. "Let's dance," You threw yourself up off the ground.

"Excuse me?" Levi said in disgust. "I am not dancing."

"Oh come on it'll be fun!"

"You know what else is fun?"

"Getting up and dancing with your best friend," You said smuggly.

"No. Laying here and doing nothing sounds way more fun."

You decided to completely ignore Levi's protest and dragged him up off the ground. You pulled Levi against your chest and wrapped your arms around his waist.

"You are absolutely insufferable," Levi scoffed, a blush forming on his face. "How are we going to dance to no music?"

You didn't reply, just started humming softly. He swayed gently as he waited for Levi to give in.

Against Levi's better wishes, he joined you in the gentle sway. Once you knew he was into it, you picked up your pace. Unknown to Levi, you were actually an incredible dancer.

Levi took a glance up at you, and your eyes were fixed on the raven-haired man you held tightly in your arms. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Levi was getting more and more flustered by the second.

You shrugged, tightening your grip on Levi's waist, "You're just nice to look at," You dipped him towards the ground, your hair falling into your eyes.

The two stayed like that for a moment, both unsure of what to do now that they seemed entirely entranced by each other. Levi's heart was pounding as you held him tightly. You felt the same way, taking a glance at Levi's lips every so often. It was an insatiable urge, wanting to kiss your best friend.

On the opposite side of the field, Eren and the gang were extremely invested in this moment. "They're totally gonna kiss," Connie said quietly.

"Oh definitely. I'd be surprised if they didn't," Jean replied, his eyes fixed on the scene in front of him.

Eren was entirely stunned. "I knew the two were close, but I never thought they were in love."

"I think it's so cute!" Sasha was barely able to contain her excitement, her hands flapping back and forth in an attempt to release some of that energy.

You leaned in closer, your lips just barely touching Levi's, "You make it so hard to resist you."

Levi gulped nervously, his body now aching for you to kiss him, "Then stop resisting."

That was all the approval you needed. You crashed your lips together, kissing Levi deeply. Levi returned the kiss, his hands finding their way around your neck.

You stood Levi upright as he carefully pulled away, "I've been waiting to do that for so damn long," You chuckled quietly.

Levi was breathless and his face was a bright shade of red. "I agree," He tried to compose himself.

"I knew it!" Connie yelled, immediately realizing his mistake after.

Levi spun his head toward the group, who was poorly hidden behind a few bushes, "What the hell are you guys doing here?" He started to move towards them.

"Shit, run!" Eren called out as the group scattered in different directions.

Levi growled in annoyance, getting ready to chas after them, but you stopped him, "It's not worth it. Let's leave them be right now, yeah?"

Levi hesitated, but agreed, "I hate those kids," He leaned his head on your chest, taking a deep breath.

You laughed and hugged Levi tightly. There was something so comforting about being able to hold him like this, even given the current circumstances. "Yeah, I hate them too."

[thedinanshiral]

The Missing

Having read the latest Dragon Age comic there's really not much i have to say about it. We follow Varric and Harding on their mission to find Solas, and get to see them meet some characters from previous comics like the Crows Viago and Teia, and some Tevinter Nights characters as well. The premise is simple: there's an artifact somewhere and everyone's trying to get it -Solas, the Venatori-, and our party is trying to find Solas so there they go. We get to see a little bit of Tevinter, and a little bit of the Arlathan Forest which only made me wonder how certain things could be made in the next game (distorsions in the very fabric of space-time are always interesting to me, there's a lot that could be made with that setting, gameplay wise).

As i think i've mentioned before, these side media are often made in preparation for the next installment in the series, the Dragon Age comics have rarely been lore-heavy for newcomers and hints for veterans are few and cute but not exactly groundbreaking (they better leave that for the actual game!)

Only one frame caught my attention:

In this scene out party has arrived at the temple lost in the Arlathan Forest where they expected to find the coveted artifact and Solas himself. Alas, both are gone already, but we as the readers are treated to these murals, one familiar and one not.

I'm not saying Solas was the only elf capable of making such murals but he's been practically designated as the artist behind nearly every elvhen mural seen so far, and that wolf one is no exception.

Is the location in the comic the same as in the trailer? We can't tell for now.

But it's the other part of the mural that i have to focus on. I had seen it before -spoilers can be unavoidable sometimes - and it bothers me considerably that it wasn't until i saw it on my own copy that i realized something.

People almost immediately interpreted the figures to be Ghilan'nain and Andruil, particularly because the one standing has a headpiece that very much resembles one of the upside-down figures in the trailer's mural

This, coupled with some previous concept art led people to believe the figure should be Ghilan'nain..

...or is she?

You see, the recent Dragon Age vinyl came with gorgeous cover variants, depicting the city of Arlathan before and after Solas' action, and the latter shows what seem to be the faces of most of the other Evanuris

Their headpieces are the same as shown in another part of the trailer

The moment this one came out everyone tried to guess what design corresponded to which Evanuris. I tried it too but didn't take notes so excuse me i'm not trying again now,maybe later

When i looked at that panel in the comic, it hit me. The sitting figure, with the half-moon headpiece, the same as in one of the gods on the trailer mural, the same as the grotesque sea monster...might not be Ghilan'nain. Despite all possible readings covered so far, it may actually be..Andruil.

"Whaaaaaat??" you may say, but hear me out. Check the body language in that mural. It's loving, tender, one is lying on the other's lap, they look like lovers. As Andruil and Ghilan'nain are presumed to have been. With Andruil being the senior one, i think it makes more sense for her to be the one sitting, looking down at the other resting on her lap. If the headpieces the Evanuris wore were in any way related to their name or atributes, that alone changes how this scene can be understood. The resting figure's headpiece looks like two horns; which Evanuris was related to anything with horns...antlers...halla? Ghilan'nain Mother of Halla. She was so proud of the halla, the creation that granted her godhood, the one that still roams the land, why wouldn't she reference her finest work with her crown?

Whereas the other figure, seemingly more imposing, stronger perhaps, has a headpiece that closely resembles..a halfmoon, people thought. But let me offer an alternative: a bow. Andruil, goddess of the hunt. "Sister of the Moon, Mother of Hares, Lady of the Hunt". Her preferred weapon? Bow and arrow. We know Andruil hunted in the Abyss, that it drove her mad, tainted, and apparently Horror of Hormak distracted us all because we thought it had to be Ghilan'nain, with her experiments, her monstrous creations, her underground labs of lyrium-induced genetic disasters. But what if it's not her, but her lover? What if it's Andruil? She "put an armor made of the Void and made weapons of darkness. She brought plague to her lands and howled things meant to be forgotten". She could very well be the giant sea monster in concept art. Monsters so massive don't need weapons, and that one is holding a spear. The devs note mentions "evil gods", and ok sure, Evanuris being evil is kinda debatable but the one we know for sure lost her freaking mind was Andruil.

Besides asking who's who, i think we should also consider why they're depicted like this in a mural, specially if we consider the very likely possibility that Solas made it. We know very little of his relationship with the Evanuris, other than Mythal. He didn't approve of them for sure, but he also still holds a deep love for all his people. We have at least one story that connects him with Andruil and Ghilan'nain, which is a bit odd, to say the least.

That's all i have for now. I think i'll read all the pre-Dreadwolf comics soon and work with that. Thanks for reading :)

[militarymenrbomb]

Hi guys, most of you who follow my blog know who ricky wiggins is. He was almost killed last year by an attempted carjacking. He is a retired marine. He does much to help our veterans. I'm going attach a correspondence I've had with him. Please visit his blog and show him your support. @rickywiggins

(Following per Ricky) I'm not certain if you're aware, but I have made it mandatory to Volunteer my weekends helping veterans in the V.A & other local veteran charity's, so they stop feeling neglected by the very government that promised so much, yet failed miserably to deliver when we returned home. Being there & making a difference is more rewarding than words can express. I also stay on my Congressmen to do everything in their power, to ensure ALL Service Personnel are treated fairly and afforded every opportunity they have earned through selfless actions & Honorable service to a Country that routinely makes excuses rather than granting veterans their due diligence. It's been a struggle over the years but doing nothing is worse than capitulation to the enemy.

I didn't fight, see my friends die or be permanently disabled & forgotten so others can throw away their hard won & earned freedoms in a second. It's infuriating that the country is eager to enjoy everything afforded to them by our sacrifices, yet turn a blind eye to our suffering to make their lives more comfortable.

I could go on but it's pointless at this moment to beat a dead horse, for simply not caring or having the drive to change things for the betterment of others.

@rickywiggins

[asordinaryppl]

A3! Main Story: Part 4 - Act 14: DREAM CATCHER - Episode 9: Vigor

Kumon: Excuse uuus.

Misumi: Ah, thanks for coming, everyone~

Madoka: Good evening.

Izumi: You came too, Madoka-kun.

Misumi: Because I invited him~

Tenma: Here, some treats.

Misumi: Yay~! Triangle yatsuhashi and triangle flowers~!

Madoka: We were talking about MANKAI Company just now. You’re about to begin preparing for the Summer Troupe performance, aren’t you?

Kumon: Yup. How’s GOD-za doing?

Madoka: Just like MANKAI Company, our rank rose in 1Q, but we’re still far from the top 10.

Madoka: Kamikizaka-san cannot get involved in GOD-za’s activities due to being part of the Board of Directors…

Madoka: Haruto-san has been taking the lead on the production side, and we’re all simply doing our best under the new system.

Izumi: I see…

Madoka: I also need to make sure my scripts’ quality is better than ever….

Misumi: Madoka’s doing his best. I have to do my best too.

Announcer: “Thank you very much for coming today.”

Izumi: Ah, the show is about to start. We should go back to our seats.

Tenma: Good luck.

Kumon: We’ll be looking forward to seeing you~!

Madoka: Good luck, Nii-san.

Misumi: Thaaanks!

-

Misumi: …

Misumi: “My reason for being, my goddess. My body is bound by your laws.”

Misumi: “Why must we endure this disease called customs and abide by this country’s rules?”

Misumi: “Is it because I am 12, 15 months younger than my brother? Is it because I am an illegitimate child? Is it my origins?”

Izumi: — —

Izumi: (Misumi-kun has amazing vigor. He’s not intimidated, despite being surrounded by veterans.)

-

Kumon: Sumi-san was amazing! He was completely different from our usual Summer Troupe performances! I was so shocked! 

Tenma: Seeing him like this in a different theater really made me remember how amazing of an actor he is.

Kumon: Sumi-san can act just as a good on a stage aside from ours.

Kumon: I wonder if I can also become like that if I grow as an actor…

Kumon: No, I have to become like this… But, I still have a long way to go…

Izumi: Is something wrong?

Kumon: Nope, nothing! When we get back to the dorm, I’ll tell everyone who hasn’t seen the play all about it!

previous episode | masterpost | next episode

[omegaremix]

Record Store Victory Tour, 2018.

Having three shoulder operations to beat cancer has been the ultimate life victory thus far. It was the most amazing and largest outpouring of support ever. Friends, family, allies, co-workers in good-standing, and even names whom I haven’t seen or heard from in years came to congratulate me and wish me onto a speedy recovery. I don’t know if nine months is what you call “speedy���. Nine months of shoulder replacements, ten weeks of in-home nurse visits, a MRSA infection, six weeks of in-home intravenous antibiotics, and missing two label showcases were balanced out with staying up until 4AM every morning finding endless music (Negril, Robert Ashley, and Steve Khan to name a few), daily postings, heavy amounts of sleep, and Dad’s daily deliveries of free food full of steak, sushi, pizza, chicken, egg rolls, and pasta. With a nine-month blackout period of not leaving the house ever, you had to make the best of it. I knew that after this I would never ever answer to any random nobody about my shoulder. And looking back at it, I say to myself as to why I even let it go so far.

Working for a great company and playing your cards right, you could sit and collect benefits while staying at home doing almost next to nothing. I now had more money in the bank when I last left work. So I promised myself that after I fully recover, I’d treat myself like I never had before. I decided that I would go on a record-store victory tour. I would hit up each and every independent record place, go crazy, and buy up everything I can. After nine months of being bed-ridden and staying home, I needed to treat myself with retail therapy. I needed to get out there and be myself again. Of all I been through and endured, I deserved it.

I didn’t immediately do it, however. It took me a few months to earn back the $2,000 I lost in savings when the benefits ended. While that happened, I enjoyed hot August days walking from my house to the veteran’s park and back, witnessed my ex- Yenny get married, attended Hospital Productions’ 20th Anniversary showcase (a day I will never forget), had a night out in my neighborhood Dave & Busters with my co-workers, and started getting in touch with a Brooklyn witch. I made two label orders with Italians Do It Better and RRRecords which help things get started. As you see, it only got better.

February came and we got a surprise $1,000 from our company. Tax refunds and a third paycheck of the month sealed the deal and all systems go. My first stop was at Patchogue’s Record Stop, their new location since moving from their Shirley warehouse, and thumbed through whatever old-school hip-hop, 12” singles, and other small easy victories I could find. It wasn’t until places like West Sayville’s Vinyl Paradise was when spending three hours minimum searching in stores and $200.00 a visit on music was normal. I can also count West Babylon’s Looney Tunes, Mineola’s Mr. Cheapo’s, and Amityville’s High Fidelity who could’ve matched the totals I had from that store. It’s all about finding the most for less. Whether it’s Seventies’ jazz / fusion on vinyl, discount 12” singles, used CDs, dollar hardcore / punk 45’s, or other long-awaited finds, amassing history and style points is the most self-serving and exciting hunt I take part of. Other stores such as Northport’s Record Reserve, Massapequa’s Infinity Records, Riverhead’s Sunday Records, and Rosie’s Vintage (the smallest of them all) allowed for tidier spaces and friendlier prices for me to walk out with, with smaller receipts ranging from a mere $30.00 to $100.00.

Of course, with many victories come disappointments. Plainview just opened a new store called Vinyl Bay 777. It’s one of the cleanest and shiniest stores on the island, but also the most expensive. With a penchant for ambition and grading, their selections are anywhere from three to five times the price of what you’d find in others store. It was the only experience of the tour that I left feeling poor and let down. The other disappointment? Innersleeve Records all the way at the East End / Amangansett. Why? I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to go.

And almost every store have their own legacy. Record Stop’s been around since 1974 starting in Ronkonkoma, then shuffling to a warehouse in Shirley before finally settling in Patchogue. The family-owned and highly-awarded Looney Tunes had survived a summer fire and took them 90 days to rebuild. This year they’ll celebrate their 50th anniversary. Mr Cheapo’s has two locations, the only store on the island to do so. High Fidelity moved to larger and cleaner digs which solved their storage issues. Record Reserve just moved again; their fourth time in ten years of operation. Infinity Records was the only store on the ropes during the pandemic relying on crowd-funding to make up for the rent. Rosie’s Vintage isn’t owned by Rosie. In fact, Rosie doesn’t exist. It’s a rockabilly wife named Thea who owns an antique store. And you can’t get any literal than Sunday Records, which is only open on Sundays. It’s the only store I know who classified their records not on genre but radio stations and chart positions.

The entire experience was great and I looked to do it again the year after. Unfortunately, I had lots of traffic tickets, fees, and violations to pay. With a vehicle in disrepair and an expired inspection, driving out in daylight without the police spotting me was not ideal. Then I looked to do it last year, and we all know what happened. The pandemic paralyzed and killed businesses left and right. With immediate closures and stop of life, everyone stayed home for their lives.

Next time, it’s going down.

Essential money was saved all throughout the pandemic. Two stimulus checks later, a third on the way, tax refunds, a third bi-weekly check in April, and a bank transfer means I’m ready to do it all over again. In fact, it’s already started! Rough Trade announced it’s relocating from its’ Williamsburg spot. With 25% off books, merchandise, and CDs, it was an incentive to get to it. With me waiting forever to go, now was the chance. I found the perfect March Wednesday to do it and I finally made it happen. What you’ll read later on became the most expensive purchase I ever made at a record store, and also the greatest.

Most locations (except Vinyl Bay 777, replaced by any given one New York City store) are on the list for the next record-store tour. I healed mostly from last summer’s depression and I had a trouble-free winter. With a day out at Williamsburg’s Rough Trade, the spring euphoria and hope came back like it did the first time around. With money in the bank, vaccines, and everything coming back into play, it’s time to have fun again like I want to.

For those who can’t be harassed by looking up our series and reading our visits one-by-one, here’s the final results of 2018’s tour:

Record Stop:

Sugarhill Gang “The Lover In You” 12”

Grover Washington Jr. Mister Magic

Carmen McRae In Person

U.T.F.O. “Roxanne, Roxanne” 12”

Ahmad “Back In The Day” 12”

DJ Yella “4 Tha E” 12”

L.A. Style “James Brown Is Dead” 12”

Knucklehedz “Hed Rush” 12”

Flatlinerz “Live Evil” 12”

Blondie “Rapture” 7”

Chemical Brothers Come With Us

Royal Trux Thank You

Delerium ft. Sarah McLachlan & DJ Tiesto “Silence”

Prime Minister Pete Nice & Daddy Rich “Rap Prime Minister & Daddy Rich (Rat Bastard)” 12”

Vinyl Paradise:

Laura Nyro Christmas And The Beads Of Sweat

Genesis Invisible Touch

Clash, The Black Market Clash 10″

Delegation The Promise Of Love

Herbie Hancock “Rockit”

B-52’s, The Wild Planet

Blondie Parallel Lines

Spyro Gyra Catching The Sun

Brecker Bros. self-titled

Herb Alpert Rise

Heart Dreamboat Annie

Tom Scott Blow It Out

Pat Metheny American Garage

Martha Velez Escape From Babylon

Stanley Turrentine Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Bob James & Earl Klugh One On One

Sister Sledge All-American Girls

Black Moon “Who Got The Props?” b/w “Fuck It Up”

Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock “It Takes Two”

Shannon Let The Music Play

Jellybean “Wotupski?”

Fu-Schnickens “Sum Dum Monkey” b/w “Visions (20/20)”

Tortoise & Autechre “Adverse Camber” b/w “To Day Retrieval”

Shirts, The Inner Sleeve

Freedom U.S.A. Hardcore

Coke Bust Confined

Ressurection I Am Not: The Discography

Spit It Out self-titled

Vice Flawed

Terror The Walls Will Fall

This Is Hell Bastards Still Remain 

Subterfuge Fight Back 

Bikini Kill self-titled single red 7″

Hangman A Vile Decree 

Dead Kennedys “Nazi Punks Fuck Off!” (with lyric bag and armbands)

Until Your Heart Stops We Are Not Coming Down

Corrective Measure self-titled

Soft Cell “Tainted Love”

Kraftwerk “Pocket Calculator” b/w “Dentaku” clear yellow 7”

Six Weeks label America In Decline CD

Tear It Up The December 2000 Sessions CD

Dee Cracks “Be My Valentine” red heart-shaped flexi

This Means War “Use It Up” flexi

Broadcaster b/w Aspiga (Secret Audio Club Wax Pack)

Marathon b/w Fire When Ready(Secret Audio Club Wax Pack)

Looney Tunes:

Up In Arms / Eternal Youth split 7”

Defiant Trespass / Cold Like December split 7”

Make Or Break Down For Life! 7”

Arcadius / 7654 Stories split 7”

Pissed Jeans demo 7”

Search Bloc Life, By The Code 7”

Proud Youth Nothing’s Changed 7”

UN Bodies Unremarkably Mortal 7”

Force Of Change The Bond We Share 7”

Self Defense Family “Indoor Wind Chimes” b/w “Cottaging”

Tolerate self-titled 7”

Joe South & The Believers “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” b/w “Trespass”

Bread And Water / Reason Of Insanity split 7”

Stigmata There Is No Mercy Here 7”

Degenerats, The 7”

Monster X 1993 demo 7”

Last Dead Word 7”

Let It Burn From Jersey With Love 7”

Slak Another Disaster 7”

Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These” 7”

Toni Basil “Mickey” 7”

Squeeze “853-5937″ 7”

Nena “99 Luftballons” 12”

Staple Singers City In The Sky

Unsung Heroes “What Would You Do?” 12”

White Mystery self-titled

D.S. 13 Vad Vet Vi Om Kriget?

Killing Joke Brighter Than A Thousand Suns

Marc Hurtado & Vomir 2011 / Sang+

Razed In Black Shrieks, Laments, And Anguished Cries

No Future Plan Of Attack

Die Krupps & Front Line Assembly Remix Wars

Maldoror She

Self Defense Family Heaven Is Earth cassette

Unholy Archangel The Wrath Of Kosmostistis cassette

Tod Hate Campiagn, Hymn To The Death cassette

Krieg Blue Miasma cassette

Hekseri The Atrocity (Early Demos) cassette

Crebain Under Black Wigs Of Night cassette

Riddle Of Meander End Of All Life And Creation cassette

Black Flame Torment And Glory cassette

Xasthur self-titled cassette

Krieg Songs For Resistance cassette

Striborg A Procession Of Lost Souls cassette

Tod Black Metal Manifesto cassette

Cheapo's (Commack):

Blackbyrds, The Action

Deodato 2

Jon Lucien The Best Of…

Bob James 2

Hubert LawsRomeo & Juliet

Deodato Love Island

Rolling Stones Undercover (stickered)

Bob James 3

Deodato Whirlwinds

George Benson White Rabbit

Bob James 4

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth Mecca & The Soul Brother

Jedi Mind Tricks Legacy Of Blood

Naughty By Nature self-titled

M.I.A. Arular

P.O.S. Never Better special edition disc

Unseen, The Explode

Richard Hell & The Voidoids Blank Generation

M.I.A. Kala

All Dogs 7”

Last Shop Standing DVD

Katt Williams The Pimp Chronicles Vol. 1 DVD

Jerky Boys, The Stop Staring At Me cassette

Paula AbdulForever Your Girl cassette

Record Reserve:

Cars, The Shake It Up

Rolling Stones, The Some Girls (cut-out)

Peter Gabriel Melt

Weather Report Heavy Weather

A Clockwork Orange motion picture soundtrack

Genesis Abacab

Laura Nyro self-titled

Stranglers, The IV

Samantha Fox I Wanna Have Some Fun

Spyro Gyra self-titled

Cars, The Candy-O

Peter Gabriel Scratch

Debbie Gibson Out Of The Blue

Spent Idols “Chinese Suicide” b/w “Gacy’s Gone” 7″

Out Cider D.C. label Raise The Flag: DC Hardcore Vol. 1 7″

High Fidelity:

Prurient & Kevin Drumm  All Are Guests In The House Of The Lord

KMD  Mr. Hood

Sonic Youth   Evol

Algiers  self-titled

ESG  A South Bronx Story deluxe disc

No Age   Nouns

Greymachine Disconnected

Killing Joke   Hosannas From The Basements Of Hell

Television   Marquee Moon expanded disc

Esther Phillips  Capricorn Princess

Severed Heads  Cuisine With Piscatorial

Elastica  self-titled

Sonic Youth & Mats Gustavsson & Merzbow  SYR8

Killing Joke  Pandemonium

Eric Gale  Multiplication

Front Line Assembly  Echoes

Wavves  King Of The Beach

Strawberry Switchblade  Since Yesterday 12”

Bjork   Telegraph

Public Image Ltd.  Second Edition

Esther Phillips  Performance

Hatebreed  The Rise Of Brutality

Killing Joke  Night Time

Wilbert Longmire  Champagne

Grover Washington, Jr.  A Secret Place

Young Black Teenagers  “Tap The Bottle” 12”

Sagat  “Funk Dat” 12”

Crash Crew   “Breaking Bells (Take Me To The Mardi Gras)” 12”

Prurient   Pleasure Ground

Victory Records  Victory Style II

Esther Phillips & Joe Beck  For All We Know

Sonic Youth  Confusion Is Sex + Kill Your Idols

Swell Maps  A Trip To Marineville

Severed Heads   Rotund For Success

Whodini  Escape

Killing Joke   Revelations

Stop The Violence Movement, The  “Self-Destruction” 12”

Eric Gale  Part Of You

Professionals, The   “The Magnificent” 7”

Guyana Punch Line  self-titled 7”

Heart   self-titled cassette

Infinity Records:

Self Defense Family “Self Immolation Family” b/w “World Virgins” 7”

Peter Gabriel Security

Mantronix The Album

Eric Gale Forecast

Arsonists As The World Burns

Beat Street motion picture soundtrack

Kool & The GangLight Of Worlds

Dire Straits Making Movies

Shirts, The Street Light Shine

Belinda Carlisle Belinda

Makers, The Rock Star God

Bug, The Infected

Peter Gabriel Car

Filter Short Bus

Warzone Fight for Justice

Mood Doom

Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking

Depeche Mode Ultra

Curve Cuckoo

Rosie's Vintage:

Genesis Abacab

Nice & Wild “Diamond Girl” 12″

Shabba Ranks “Mr. Loverman” 12″

Dire Straits self-titled

Mad Skillz “Nod Factor” 12“

Boogiemonsters “Recognized Thresholds Of Negative Stress 12″

Blahzay Blahzay “Danger!” 12″

Harold Faltermeyer “Axel F” 12“

Spyro Gyra self-titled

Malcomb McLaren & The World Famous Supreme Team “Buffalo Gals” 12″

Sunday Records:

Cabaret Voltaire  The Arm Of The Lord

Nitzer Ebb As Is

Strawberry Switchblade  Who Knows What Love Is?

Steve Jones  Mercy

Patti Smith ��Easter

Ramsey Lewis  Tequila Mockingbird

Doors, The  Greatest Hits

Cabaret Voltaire  Drinking Gasoline

Utah Saints “Something Good”

Image In Vogue self-titled EP

Steely Dan  Pretzel Logic

No Age  Losing Feeling

Dead Or Alive “Brand New Lover”

Cabaret Voltaire  The Drain Train

Public Image Ltd. “Home”

Gary Numan “Cars” / “Metal”

Malcomb McLaren “Soweto” b/w “Zulu’s On A Time Bomb”

J. Geils Band “Centerfold” b/w “Rage In The Cage”

Fad Gadget “One Man’s Meat” b/w “Sleep”

Tony Basil “Mickey” b/w “Hangin’ Around”

Stray Cats “(She’s) Sexy + 17” b/w “Lookin’ Better Every Beer”

Madness “Our House” b/w “Cardiac Arrest”

Todd Rundgren “Hello It’s Me” b/w “Cold Morning Light”

No Age  Eraser 7”

Suzanne Vega “Luca” b/w “Night Vision”

Siouxsie Sioux & The Banshees “Hong Kong Garden” b/w “Night Vision”

Mr. Cheapo’s (Mineola):

Mic Geronimo “Masta I.C.”

Jemini The Gifted One “Funk Soul Sensation”

Hi-Tek “Hi Teknology”

Schoolly D “Livin’ In The Jungle” b/w “Gucci Again”

Richie Cole New York Afternoon

Dott & Night School Carousel split e.p.

Joe Beck self-titled

Chick Corea Return To Forever

Hank Crawford Hank Crawford’s Back

Steve Khan Tightrope

Tappan Zee label Best Of…

Shabba Ranks “Ram Dancehall” b/w “Original Woman”

D&D All-Stars “1, 2 Pass It”

Rayvon “No Guns, No Murder”

Doug E. Fresh & Beenie Man “Hands In The Air”

Black Moon “Black Smif-N-Wesson” b/w Smif-N-Wesson “Headz Ain’t Redee”

Goats, The “Burn The Flag” b/w “Typical American”

Little Shawn “Don Perignon”

Specials, The More Specials

Lee Ritenour The Best Of…

Steve Khan Arrows

Genesis Invisible Touch

Vacancies, The Tantrum

Nobodys, The Generation XXX

Easy Action Friends Of Rock & Roll

New Bomb Turks Scared Straight

Roots, The Do You Want More?!!!??!

Eric B & Rakim Don’t Sweat The Technique

Boogie Down Productions Edutainment

X Clan Xodus

Lords Of The Underground Here Come The Lords

Buckshot LeFonque self-titled

Channel Live Station Identification

Funkdoobiest Brothas Doobie

Method Man & Mary J. Blige “I’ll Be There For You” / “You’re All I Need”

GZA / Genius Liquid Swords

Milk Never Dated

Naughty By Nature19 Naughty III

Das EFX Straight Up Sewaside

Grand Puba 2000

Naughty By Nature Poverty’s Paradise

Ol’ Dirty Bastard Return To The 36 Chambers (dirty version)

George Michael Faith

Vinyl Bay 777:

(No purchases.)

[mephinomaly]

[TL] BIOHAZARD/Chapter 2

[ This post uses Ois~su ♪ ]

Koga: Stop givin’ out lectures like we’re newborns or somethin’~.

I get it, I know all that! That’s why I hate it and I hate even more that there’s nothing I can do. All that happens is I keep goin’ on those stupid shows with a stupid smile on my face!

Rei: Hm. As a result of that, we’ve become a unit that completes activities terribly half-heartedly.

We were unable to specialise in hardrock nor being playboys therefore other units were able to monopolise that gap in the market.

Well, the world is in recession. If you are struggling financially and want to go out to eat, it’s better to go to a restaurant that specialises in what you want to eat rather than a family restaurant that serves a variety of dishes.

Our fans have made themselves clear via numbers. It’s only human nature to want to eat something more delicious if the price is the same.

Therefore in our current state, we are struggling in comparison to units that have specialised in something. The difference between effort and experience is being laid bare for all to see.

Koga: Yeah. It’s like that story where the bat keeps messin’ around who’s side they’re on and then both the beasts and the birds don’t wanna be friends with him.[1]

Rei: Quite. Whilst the foundations are still stable, it will only be so long before it begins to shake.

One day, we will be alone and have nowhere to go. We will end up standing in solitude in a trap of our own design.

We’ll be at rock bottom, we’ll be idols that don’t sell anymore.

Koga: Then, then what do we do? If we understand what's happenin’, we can actually do somethin’ ‘bout it, right?

But we can’t just give up ‘n pretend everythin’s fine.

Rei: Indeed. We must fight against this, we cannot lay in wake, waiting to be destroyed.

Kaoru: Yep, we need to do something, definitely.

Rei: Mhm. Of course, Rhythm Link is getting antsy and, as always, is trying to interfere.

Koga: Those guys are so fuckin’ conceited… That’s what I hate ‘bout them.

They’ll always treat us like we’re newbies that can’t do anythin’.

Rei: Though in the past, they would have left newcomers like us to our own devices.

A while ago, at the idol industry’s biggest festival, SS, all of the veteran units that RhythmLink boasts about failed to produce any meaningful results.

As a result of that, the value of youngins like us has increased. As well as that, we are RhythmLink’s main breadwinners so if we were to crash in popularity, it would create a massive problem for management.

Consequently, in order to break this deadlock, they have requested we participate in a “certain experiment” that ES seems to be planning.

Adonis: Experiment…? That’s a rather disconcerting word.

Koga: Haa? What kinda experiment do they want us as guinea pigs for then?

Rei: The project is top secret, so we will be kept in the dark until we accept—

The name of the experiment is “Artificial Intelligence Idol Experiment”, abbreviated to AIIE.

Koga: Huh? Artificial intelligence…?

Kaoru: Seems to be a pretty popular topic nowadays. AI, I mean.

Adonis: Ah, artificial intelligence is something that can create images and pieces of text with skill.

I am still not good at writing in Japanese, and when I was struggling with it, Yuuki, who is very well informed on the topic, introduced it to me.

The AI was really good at drawing pictures, so when I patted and praised my phone, Yuuki looked shocked.

Koga: Oh yeah speakin’a which, I like that four-eyed bean sprout. Haa, what a nerd.

Adonis: In Yuuki’s case, he’s really good at what he does. You can’t ridicule him for that.

To be honest, using AI was very convenient. My previously clunky sentences had been transformed into beautiful Japanese prose.

It was so convenient that I almost felt as if I had lost any motivation to learn to write or draw myself.

Rather than struggle with Japanese, wouldn’t it be better if I allowed AI to do it all for me?

Kaoru: I’ve heard that AI scours the internet and uses images without the artists’ permissions, leading to issues to do with copyright and stuff. I don’t think it’s a good idea to rely too much on AI, you know~?

If everyone else is doing it, you shouldn’t feel guilty, but it’s still a crime at the end of the day, right?

Adonis: I understand. Even a kitchen knife can be used to kill someone. I suppose it depends on the moral values the user has and how they intend to use it.

Rei: Hm. Since the exact details are unclear, I cannot say this for sure, but is AIIE about AI versions of idols that can… draw well?

I am an old man, I do not really understand newfangled technologies such as that.

Koga: You’re still pullin’ the grandpa card… Anyway, pisses me off if RhythmLink is tryna order us around but guess there’s nothin’ we can do ‘bout it.

Do we seriously hafta take part in an experiment called AIIE?

Rei: If we try our best and it doesn’t work out, we can pull out. This is just a trial.

Since we cannot come up with anything else to escape this situation, I suppose there is no issue with taking advantage of this.

[ ☆ ]

koga references one of Aesop's fables “the bats, the birds, and the beasts”. Basically the birds and the beasts declare war against each other. When the birds ask the bats who’s side they’re on, the bats say “i have wings, so i am on your side.” but when the beasts ask too, the bats say “i have sharp teeth and fur, so i am on your side.” later, once peace had been negotiated, the beasts and the birds realised how deceitful the bats had been and turned on them. Now bats live in fear, and only come out at night

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

[veny-many]

If I'm right, Plo was one of the few Jedi who witnessed Clone troopers earlier than others, and noticed that they were individuals not just soldiers.

I really want to see what was like Plo's reactions toward those young boys in the first meeting.

Kaminoan: These squads are the perfect outcome of our training. They don't fear death or pain, they perfectly fight as soldiers.

Plo: But in this simulation, they have grave casualties as a result.

Kaminoans: Since they're Clones, casualties are not a great loss. They succeeded the goal, so you only need to focus on that.

Plo: ....

Kaminoans: But you might have some defective that slightly have more individuality that doesn't well mix with battle strategy. We tried to solve problems with them, but it was way too hard task since they had to have more flexibility than Droids. Now, you can see this squad, while they're focused on protecting their batchmates as a result, they failed to get objective in time. So what we wanted to say...

Plo: They all survived until they fully evacuated.

Kaminoans: Yes, but they-

Plo: It's perfect.

Kaminoans: But sir, this is war. You don't know what is important here?

Plo: I was a war hero. And I know what is truly important in war.

Now let's see what was important in war to Plo Koon, the war veteran even before the Clone wars.

He knew what is truly precious in most violent times.

+) Actually, I don't think all the Kaminoans are evil. They would have trained different clones differently, I guess?

Kaminoan:

Kaminoan: (whispering) Actually, I trained that squad. I hope you Jedi could treat them better than here.

Plo: :)

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

America THIS is UNACCEPTABLE: Every VETERAN deserves unlimited acess to medical care, including oral health care and psychosocial services. We can do better. 🇺🇸

Veterans access better oral health care via non-military employers and non-profit organizations than through our government. 🤕

If you want to understand BUREAUCRACY and misplaced priorities, then look no further than how America mis-TREATS our veterans. NYC is shelling out BILLIONS to provide for (non-working) "migrants," while our VETERANS lack access to oral health care. 🤦‍♀️

Everyday American citizens form non-profit organizations to provide dental care to Veterans.

Smile Faith Dental (2022) bankrupt as 95% of Bay Area Veterans lack access to oral health care.

Orange County Dentists Step Up in 2018 to "fill" in the gaps.

Smile4Vets •Got Your 6 •The Healthy Mouth Movement (Aspen Dental)

Veterans rely on independent citizen journalists to EXPLAIN benefits lack of coverage.

A (2014) three (3) year national PILOT Program "to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing a premium-based dental insurance plan to ELIGIBLE individuals." 🥴 #do better

Yet Another REMINDER: We're Broke & Busted 🥴

[beevean]

I think you nicely encapsulated the issue I have with Lanolin. She's basically among the newest fighters of the Restoration and the Diamond Cutters' mission with her as leader in Urban Warfare was a disaster which she even admits herself... yet she bosses the far more experienced fighters and heroes around as if it is her who's been fighting Eggman for years, not Sonic. You would expect the fact Urban Warfare put her, Tangle and Whisper in massive danger would have knocked her attitude down a peg, no? Though maybe the comic will justify her cutting into the heroes like that through stating that's just her trying to keep her control over a situation that's going out of hand or something, I dunno. I feel like there's better ways to convey that than her mouthing off at characters like Sonic and Silver, who both have managed to protect the world far more times and clearly seem to know better what they are doing than Lanolin does as leader of the Diamond Cutters.

I know that in our "fans don't look" circle we jokingly call Lanolin "Sally Sheeples", but I have to wonder in all honesty why Flynn thought this character would be appealing (and it was him, because clearly ABT had a whole different personality in mind for her). Girlboss is one thing, but she's for all intents and purposes a new character, and she's already bossing around game characters? Who are you?! Why should I like you? What did you do to earn this authority?

Would you read a fanfiction where the author's OC treats canon characters this way? I know I wouldn't. I'm attached to them and I appreciate what they've done.

Even in universe it's mind boggling. Sonic and Silver are not some randos that you've picked up, Lanolin. They're heroes. Sonic is Sonic. I'll give it to her that she couldn't know that Silver kickstarted a chain of events that lead to the Avatar to save the world, but still, he is a veteran fighter.

And yeah, I forgot that she had a whole weakness moment in #58! Sorry, I was distracted by Tangle getting away with stealing the name of Whisper's dead comrades :P didn't Lanolin angst that she didn't feel confident at all in her new role as a leader? I guess that her being a #girlboss is supposed to be proof that she's still immature as a leader, then? That's the most generous interpretation I can give.

But I still think that she's very unpleasant - there's a part in #62 where Tangle insists on playing with a paddle ball and Lanolin keeps snatching it away from her with an annoyed expression, and I thought "wow, I really don't like either of you, Tangle has been reduced to an hyperactive child and Lanolin is the no-fun-allowed only-sane-woman mommy". And as you pointed out in your post, I'm not sure if we are meant to see her as having a bad attitude that she needs to grow out of, or as being badass and stronk.

tl;dr whisper is the only likeable oc in idw, and the canon characters deserve more respect

[winke77e]

hi guys!

life update: got a seriously awesome surprise two days ago. I've been trying to get in contact with a reliable social worker to help me with my Veteran Disability Claim. It's my first claim and I wasn't able to keep a Worker to keep helping me.

Put the claim in back in Dec 2023 but then couldn't figure out how to check on it or anything. Finally got a letter for three evaluations in April 2024. Had to retake an eval in August but other than those letters/emails, I was in the dark.

New boss introduced me to the App to check on my claim status. Logged in and found it at 100%! Holy shit! I actually panicked because after almost 2 years of struggling with money and homelessness, I was terrified that this was a mistake or something.

Funny thing is, I logged into the app on Oct 9 and the decision had literally been made on Oct 2.

For information regarding Veteran Disability Claims? They're treated more like a UBI or allowance. It is a set amount of money awarded to US Veterans based on the disability % associated with military service. It's paid monthly and unlike Social Security Disability Claims, there is no time limit or money limit/restrictions. The only way to lose the Claim is to be found of fraud. Even getting arrested merely warns of a 'reduction' of benefits.

My new job is in the Government and I'm very angry -in a protective way- because so much of what employees are fighting for and are being shamed for in Private Sector jobs, is 'obvious' and already applied in Government jobs. Or, at least, in the Department I work in.

The US already has the system set up to provide for employees. To protect employees. Private companies have just fought and bribed really hard to deny their own employees everything.

My new job is "entry-level" in the way 'entry-level' jobs are originally supposed to be. Which means, I showed the 'moxy' during the interview and now I'm being taught everything to do the job while on the job. The job alone doesn't pay a lot, but it does pay enough to be just above the Living Wage minimum that MIT's Living Wage Calculator says I would need to be able to live in my County. So it's enough to be the bare minimum or slightly above. Much better than being paid $5 under what I need to live. Adding in my new disability pay, I can finally have a sense of safety in my financial situation.

I finally have the peace of mind I have never had before in my adult life.

But everyone deserves this too. I will continue to fight for American Workers. Even more now because I see that what we had always been demanding for our jobs, has been applied already, just not for Private companies.

[blessed1neha]

What is the scientific evidence that chanting mantras helps you achieve your goals and protects you from evil powers/spirits?

Yes, there are many scientific evidences to prove that chanting is effective. Let us see few of them.

Research carried out by Alfred Tomatis, the hearing expert from the French Academy of Science and Medicine, who pioneered the Electronic Ear and championed sound therapy, found that chanting sounds have a therapeutic effect on the body. It soothes all our bodily systems and activates the body’s natural healing process. It also plays a part in reversing heart disease.

According to a study at the Cleveland University, USA, the rhythmic tones involved in chanting create a melodious effect in the body called the neuro-linguistic effect (NLE). When we know the meaning of the mantra we are reciting it creates a psycholinguistic effect (PLE) on the body. The NLE and PLE effects are byproducts of the production and spread of curative chemicals in the brain. The research concludes that this is the real reason why chanting provokes curative effects in us.

A study by Dr Alan Watkins, senior lecturer in neuroscience at Imperial College London, revealed that while chanting our heart rate and blood pressure dip to their lowest in the day. Doctors say that even listening to chants normalises adrenalin levels and brainwave pattern and lowers cholesterol levels.

Using chants as part of our exercise regimen helps facilitate movement and body flow.

Neuroscientist Marian Diamond from the University of California found that chanting helps block the release of stress hormones and increases immune function. It also keeps our muscles and joints flexible for a long time.

Studies prove that making chants a part of our daily yoga can help achieve greater weight loss in a shorter span of time.

Another study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2018, found that "mantram" repetition therapy — which involves silently repeating a spiritually-related word or phrase selected by each individual from a recommended list — was effective in treating veterans diagnosed with military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Other research has found that chanting increased cerebral blood flow in areas of the brain known to deteriorate in Alzheimer's patients.

Dr Alan Watkins says when we chant the vibration of the sound calms the nervous system and a profound sense of peace is obtained. It also de-stresses and facilitates better concentration and memory power. Further, according to Dr Watkins, chanting promotes a sense of well-being and helps us bond better with people around us, especially when practised in a group.

Chanting eliminates negative thoughts so we can enjoy whatever we do and achieve success easily.

Alfred Tomatis highlights that chanting aids in getting over addictions like smoking, alcohol and drugs. Another study done by Sethi, Golechha, Deshpande, & Rani, in 1991 showed that those who were affiliated with alcoholism who did chanting every morning and evening for 6 weeks had a significant decrease in delta and alpha brain waves which created feelings of mental tranquility.

One study by Lavretsky in 2011 showed that when people did chanting they actually had an increase in cellular telomerase activity… which slows our cellular aging process. That is pretty amazing!

A study done by Gupta and Bhatt in 2013 showed that those who did chanting on a regular basis had more feelings of well-being, less stress, and they had a better mental aptitude.

According to the results of a 2016 study by Perry, Professor Bill Thompson and Dr Vince Polito, also from Macquarie University, chanting the universal mantra "Om" for 10 minutes improved attention, contributed towards a positive mood and increased feelings of social cohesion. The study also found that a positive effect and altruism increased more following vocal chanting than silent chanting.

Professor Bill Thompson says "Vocal group chanting provides more opportunity than silent chanting for deep connection with other people, and this might help to explain the enhanced impact on altruism." Thompson further stresses that while chanting can bring a range of psychological and cognitive benefits, it will only work if people are genuinely interested in the practice, and enjoy it.

Dedicated research on Chanting (Published in International Journal of Yoga)

The research was published in the International Journal of Yoga. They took two groups and had one group “OM” chant whilst the other group made an “ssssss” sound. Whilst making the sounds they performed a functional MRI (fMRI) which monitors brain activity. They could then see what effect the sounds have on the brain compared to a normal resting state.

It was found that, in the group that chanting “OM”, there was significant deactivation seen in the amygdala, anterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus and thalamus. These are part of the LIMBIC SYSTEM which has roles in motivation, emotion, learning, and memory. It operates by influencing the endocrine system and the Autonomic Nervous System.

The “ssss” group, however, did not produce any significant activation/deactivation in any of these brain regions.

The researchers suggest that these effects are caused by stimulating the Vagus nerve. The Vagus nerve (also called Cranial Nerve 10) interfaces with the parasympathetic control of the heart and the digestive system. The Parasympathetic Nervous System is the “rest and digest” nervous system. It calms the body and allows healing and digestion to occur. (The counter to this is the Sympathetic nervous system which is the stress and fight or flight portion of the Autonomic Nervous system).

The Vagus nerve has a branch called the auricular branch which is by the ear. It is thought that when done properly, “OM” chanting causes a vibration in the ear that stimulates this branch of the Vagus nerve causing the above mentioned findings in the brain and the calming nature in the body.

There is also another interesting observation. It has been found that the vibrational frequency of everything that occurs naturally is 432 Hz, which is the same frequency of ”Om’’ when chanted. Hence, when we repeat “Om”, we are able to create resonance with the nature, and our mind reaches the exalted state, where it realizes a state of equanamity and peace.

In this way, there are many scientific evidences to prove that chanting is effective at the bodily, mental, and social level.

At the ultimate level, all Vedic scriptures declare the glories of chanting of holy names of Lord Krishna, especially in this age of Kali Yuga, as the only means of deliverance. Holy names act much beyond the bodily, mental, and social level and directly stimulates our spiritual nature. The main purpose of chanting of holy names of Krishna is to revive our dormant love of God, others are only the concomitant benefits.

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam

‘’Glory to the sri-krsna-sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.’’- Shikshastakam Verse 1

nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ

‘’O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krsna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.’’ -Shikshastakam Verse 2.

[mariacallous]

As the often-quoted sentence goes, “The first casualty of war is the truth.”

I would argue that “casualty” is not merely an innocent byproduct of war but deliberately targeted.

As a twenty-year veteran of the journalism industry—two decades spent mainly covering war and violence—I can attest to that and how each “side” is trying to lure and manipulate with their messaging—what some might even call propaganda. I can attest to how each “side” will lie or try to cover up the truth, even when a “side” claims to have a higher moral standing.

I can also attest to just how hard it is to navigate through the many pieces of information hurling themselves in your direction, coming from sources on the ground, eyewitnesses, officials, and social media, which is a beast of its own with its trolls and state-sponsored cyber armies. Add to that journalists’ emotional reaction to the images the world sees and the words heard from survivors.

As the media, we need to realize the role we play in the trajectory of events. Our role can either inflame or educate and explain by building bridges of empathy and understanding.

Looking at the coverage of what is happening between Israel and the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attack by the militant group Hamas, it feels like we’re catapulting ourselves toward this abyss of sheer and utter inhumane madness.

The events take me back to the drums of the Iraq war after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks—a runaway train where many Western, especially American media, cheered this effort and the US narrative of “good versus evil.” Oversimplification is so dangerous.

I was in New York City on September 11 and not yet a journalist. My body trembled in fear and confusion as I witnessed the second World Trade Tower come down. I remember how the streets were so eerily deserted at first; the only people out were those looking to donate blood or somehow help. At the time, I thought, “This is how we should treat each other. This is the sort of kindness I want to be a part of.”

But then it all changed.

I remember the hatred and vitriol spewed towards Muslims and people of Middle Eastern and North African descent. It was something that I was spared being a direct target of, despite being an Arab-American of Syrian heritage, simply because I am blond with green eyes.

I also remember watching how, somehow, all Arabs and Muslims got painted with this terrorist brush; watching coverage that lacked nuance and understanding. It was what pushed me to become a journalist.

I remember how Arab rage at the Iraq war was somehow twisted by many in the media as Arab support for al-Qaeda, which could not be further from the truth. How the calls of the few compared to the entire population of the Arab world of “death to America” and “death to Israel”—for the two are magnetically connected in the minds of Arabs—somehow ended up being the loudest voice. The reality was that Arabs did not want an American war in Iraq; not because they supported al-Qaeda; not even because they supported Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein—for most did not—but because they did not support war. Back then, the Western media played a role. It aided and abetted the United States and its allies in their campaign to villainize and dehumanize Iraqis, Arabs, and Muslims.

Despite being so deeply reminded of the past, this present that we are living in is very different and arguably even more dangerous. Military commanders and even President Joe Biden are warning of the lessons of the past; of the point in time when “victory” will be declared and how there needs to be a plan for “peace.”

I fear that, in that planning, based on everything I am seeing and hearing now from heads of state to people on the street, the intense impact of the emotions generated now is not being planned for at all. Or even more disturbing, it is being planned for: a complete and total meltdown of humanity, which we will all be complicit in bringing around. 

For it is not quite the same as the post-9/11 era. This juncture we are in is potentially more divisive, dangerous, and destructive. There is a much deeper, darker history here with a deeply embedded generational trauma, all of which makes the emotional component of this even more intense. Make no mistake: emotions play such a big part in warfare. There is a reason why there’s an “information war.” It’s because a significant component of military strategy is not just troop movement on the ground nor striking strategic targets but psychological operations. These psychological operations target not just the population against whom war is being waged but all of us.

We need analysts to break down the information war and how it plays and preys on emotions and trauma. I am not talking about military or other analysts who talk about the mechanics of the information war or state that it’s a big aspect of war, but rather psychological analysts who can explain how that impacts our psyche and thinking towards each other. We need to show and analyze the human reaction to hearing words like “human animals,” “rats,” and “children of light versus children of darkness,” and break down how that can dehumanize an entire population and what the risk of that is.

No armed entity can gather support and power without being able to point to pain in the past and say, “Look what has been happening. Look at the pain you suffered. I am the only one who can protect you from your biggest fear.”

No nation can gather support for war within its borders or from its global allies without painting its enemy as “less than.” A life worth less than yours. A life that is not human; not human in the way that you are. A life that doesn’t love like you, laugh like you, hurt like you. This is how we end up, consciously or not, accepting the significant loss of civilian life.

We cannot allow this to happen again. As the media, we cannot let ourselves be a pawn in a dehumanization campaign.

As the media, we need to dive into the emotional aspect of all of this as part of the coverage. Every one of our actions is driven by an emotional reaction—a desire for revenge, anger, hatred, and fear. We need to include emotional analysis, experts who can talk about collective and generational trauma, and the impact that that has had on getting us to this point. It is one thing to analyze events that lead us to a certain point, and it is another, deeper, and necessary thing to talk about how emotions drove the actions that led us to that point.

The polarization that I see is frightening, whether it’s antisemitism on the rise or growing Islamophobia. It is utterly appalling to hear about a six-year-old Palestinian-American child being stabbed to death in a hate crime. It cuts me to listen to an Arab friend tell me about her relative living in the West spat on and told, “You should all be killed.” It is sad to see a Jewish mother post on social media that she is losing followers because she posted about her son’s Bar Mitzvah, a celebration of their faith. It is wrong to hear about some Jewish schools in London closing because of fear.

The Western media needs to give more space to Palestinians, and we all need to really listen and treat their words as if we are hearing them for the first time. There is this very wrong “normalization” of the “plight of the Palestinians”—perhaps because it has been going on for so long—for more than seven decades—and the media “spotlight,” being as limited as it is, kept moving on. Palestinians are right when they question why the outcry and the coverage of their pain is muted. To those networks who do think they are covering “both sides” because they have the one package out of the Gaza Strip and one guest, it’s not enough when the rest of your coverage is leaning so heavily into military operations or, even worse, consists of a lineup of mostly older white men who have not tasted, smelled, nor felt what war feels like on the other end of an American or an Israeli bomb. They are experts who have not lived or experienced, in this scenario, the “Arab” side of it.

On the flip side, non-Western media—especially Arab and Arab-owned media—should not continue to bypass the pain and trauma of the survivors of the Hamas attack and the parents, friends, and family of those taken hostage. I have watched a lot of different networks’ coverage of these events, and while I might have missed it, I did not once see the pain that the Hamas attack caused in Israel reported on. Space needs to be made for Jewish and Israeli voices on such outlets. Not all Israelis support their government’s policies, the illegal settlements, or the oppression or occupation of Palestine. And not all Jews across the world support Zionism or what Israel has done.

We cannot abdicate our fundamental responsibility as the press: to question, confront, and probe all sides; to call out lies and crimes no matter who is committing them. All media outlets need to rise above this notion that, if you cover a person’s pain, you somehow take a “side.” Pain is pain. We must be allowed to see the pain of our “enemy.” For some—and I do believe it is the few; I want to believe it is the few—it will bring them joy and a sense of vengeance to see the pain of the “enemy.” But, for the majority, perhaps, it will make them question and probe why they reacted a certain way, hopefully leading to more understanding.

We need to be allowed to see that the “enemy” is not monochrome. I believe that, for the majority, it will make them realize that perhaps what they have been conditioned to believe might not be the whole picture.

The media needs to realize and recognize the role we can play in fueling polarization and hate, whether that be through simply negating or disregarding a person or a population’s pain. We did play a role in fomenting the deep hatred post-9/11 that ultimately led to a more violent world. We need to be hyper-conscious not to play that role again.

I can see the trajectory we are on—this spiral of animosity and the growing monster that fuels a madness we will not be able to control. I can see a world filled with more hate and violence that will impact not just our generation but generations to come. And I can see the media’s role in preventing that. There are many aspects of this that we cannot alter, but we can ensure that we are not pushing divisions. We need to be stronger and better than the pressures on us—be it pressure from our government, our bosses, and even our own emotions.

We must build a world with more power in the truth than in the lie.

[cetrouz]

Okay, I remember that I didn't share the little thing I wrote of Jun's letter to Grey, two years after his departure. Because there are some new PTSD fans, it would be fun to share it.

Jun's Letter to Grey

Hello Grey. How are you doing from up above?

It's been two years now, I know. A long time, but I can't help but remember you sometimes. It's like I can still feel your presence some days, like you're watching over me. Whether you are or not, I wanted to let you know how things have been going here.

I've been taking good care of Red. He is still as daring and gentle as ever despite his age. He is good company, not just for me, but anyone. He also misses you dearly, he gives me company whenever I come to visit you. I've also been visiting your old place to check on your animals… although most of them left after your disappearance. Anyways, I did my best to take care of them for you. I thought you would enjoy knowing that.

Oh, I've improved and now I'm working as a medic, traveling around the city and treating other vets and others in need… I should have realized sooner that fighting and isolating myself for survival wouldn't bring me anywhere. But I found my humanity by treating and taking care of people. They were the ones who brought me hope. And I wanted to redeem myself by offering them the help that the drug dealers weren't offering before. Things aren't perfect, of course, but… it's largely an improvement. I feel much better than before, and without Sam's help, another kind veteran that helped me get out of the hole I was digging, it would probably be more difficult. I opened a clinic, right by Leona's shop, where I settled in.

Oh, and Leona… I wish you had met her… She was the kindest soul that still held onto me even when I was at my lowest. She was eager to help me and anyone she found that were struggling. I tell her about you, and she wishes she had met you as well. She would have tried to help you if she knew you before. Without her kindness and help, I wouldn't be the same as I am now. I owe her a lot… Really, I… I wish you could have met her. Sometimes I wish I could take you to her restaurant so you can have a taste of her unique cuisine… Her stews are the best.

Everyday… I feel more satisfied with this life. But as always, the memories of the war still haunt me. The nightmares are constant, and I'm reminded of the scar that marks it all. But… I'm not alone. I guess all of us veterans are left with this haunting scar of our past. I… still have a lot to do, to redeem my own person. I don't think I can grow out of this scar, it's just part of me. But, it's growing on me the fact I'm not alone in this. That's why I want to retribute the kindness others gave me, and to give them hope. It's the only way we can grow out of this constant pain we live in… Even if the government gave up on us, there's others willing to take us in and help us. And I wanna be there and do the same too. It's only fair… to let them know we are stronger as a community.

I still wish to live long years achieving to do what I'm doing. It's saddening that not many live long enough to meet the kindness of strangers and fellow vets willing to help each other… I wish you were here to see it. I miss you alot, Grey. The world wasn't fair to us, but you kicked the bucket too early. I also wanted to show you the hope I saw, and that was given to me. We could have gone back and lived normal lives to the most possible extent. You would be happy like this. Sometimes I feel lost and I think about you… A fellow vet who understands the pain of war. We could have held up each other together and followed on with a more satisfying life. But… I understand now you're finally at rest, away from all the pain, all of the scars. I guess you deserved a rest after all of this. I still have things to do while I'm still standing.

Anyways, the future seems brighter and more lively than before. I thought you'd be happy to know that. I've figured out what I want to do and what I need. And now… I'll help others to figure it out too. Like you, Red, Sam, and Leona helped me. And many others too. I'm doing what I can. I've been out of meds for two years, and there's no more bloodshed and fear on my path anymore. A strength I did not harvest alone. So, thank you Grey, thank you so much for everything.

We will meet again some day.