#enriching the weapons manufacturer

[inspectorspacetimerevisited]

As it turned out, the crusaders were part of the military-industrial complex,

cogs in the machine that was simply helping control human population across the cosmos and generating money for HieroRelm.

[magmas-stuff]

Virtual Reality weapon: The Phantom Ruby

The Phantom Ruby is one of the coolest gizmos in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. This post aims to analyze the properties and history it has demonstrated throughout the series.

Powers

The Phantom Ruby is a mysterious object that first came into Sonic’s world after a sudden dimensional breach in the atmosphere, bringing down with it the entirety of Angel Island and sparking interest from several parties. From the get go, this artifact already demonstrated an unprecedented amount of power the likes of which even Eggman sought to replicate (to varying success).

As Tails explains in Sonic Forces, the Phantom Ruby is able to feed false information to the brain and trap its victims in extremely lifelike illusions that can draw from their own thoughts and imagination. This includes Phantom Copies, which can look and act like pre-existing individuals, albeit without "souls."

Perhaps its most interesting property, however, is its ability to react to the sense of being and will of others. Paralleling the Chaos Emeralds' “power enriched by the heart,” it can be said that the Phantom Ruby possesses "power enriched by the mind." This is perhaps better demonstrated in Sonic Mania, where the Hard Boiled Heavies suffer radical changes to their appearance and mannerisms based on the minds of the animals powering them as a result of exposure to the Phantom Ruby.

This trait of the ruby is explored to its extreme in Sonic Channel's Otherworldly Comedy, where Dr. Eggman engulfs the planet in various illusions that reflect the people's own impression of themselves, erasing their memories and having them live out alternate lives and scenarios until then only possible in their dreams. This is done by utilizing a weapon still charged with the aftermath of the Phantom Ruby’s energy. The doctor also uses a modified leftover prototype to power himself up to a form akin to Super Sonic, being able to manifest alternate worlds in a whim and create Phantom Copies of creatures as powerful as Perfect Chaos, seemingly having no limitations in regards to energy consumption like Infinite did, although it's unclear to what extent this prototype was modified.

History

The Phantom Ruby's first chronological appearance, Sonic Mania, has Tails convince Sonic to go and check the unique energy signature detected in Angel Island that caused it to fall to the ocean. Dr. Eggman, who detected that very same signal, has also deployed his elite Eggrobo squad to retrieve its source. The Hard Boiled Heavies, granted new powers and greater freedom of thought by the Phantom Ruby, attempt to escape with it, and thus begins the adventure to prevent the gemstone from falling in the wrong hands.

After Sonic and friends, who are in possession of the seven Chaos Emeralds, wreck Eggman and his Phantom Egg, a mech designed to make use of the Phantom Ruby's energy, the group is taken to what appears to be a dimensional void created by the ruby. There, Super Sonic gets caught in the middle of the conflict between Eggman, riding his Klepto Mobile, and the Phantom King, who at this point has long since betrayed his maker, both fighting to get ahold of the gemstone. In the end, Sonic leaves victorious, being teleported to the future alongside the Phantom Ruby.

In the aftermath of this battle, the Phantom Ruby winds up in front of one of Eggman's facilities. The doctor begins to study it closely, learning how to make use of its abilities after his base is attacked by the Jackal Squad. He performs his first real test on Angel Island, creating copies of Pachacamac's village and Chaos, god of destruction. Seeing it in action, Robotnik deems the jewel even more powerful than the Master Emerald itself.

Beholding the Phantom Ruby's incredible power, Eggman aims to replicate it. In this pursuit, he manufactures various faulty prototypes in Mystic Jungle until he can finally perfect it, gifting the final product to the new leader of his army, Infinite.

Eventually, six months after taking over the world, Eggman orders Infinite to dispose of those prototypes, seeing as he had no need for such liabilities. The jackal does a poor job, however, leaving a few unattended. One in particular, the one he dropped while fighting Silver in Mystic Jungle, is discovered by the Avatar, whose heroism would prove enough to activate it.

At the climax of the Eggman War, Infinite uses his Phantom Ruby's power to summon an illusionary sun above the battlefield, aiming to wipe out all of the resistance. The Avatar manages to dissipate it, however, losing his own prototype in the process. Weakened from spending much of his energy to create that sun, Infinite tries to take on Sonic who, aided by the Avatar, beats the mercenary one final time. This causes him to lose control of his powers and be pulled into the Eggman Empire Fortress' decoy reactor, ultimately being consumed by the original Phantom Ruby.

After Infinite's defeat, Eggman reveals he has incorporated the Phantom Ruby into his new Death Egg Robot, claiming to have surpassed Infinite as the ultimate form. Just as the Phantom Egg before it, however, this mech is destroyed by Sonic, his classic self and the Avatar, ending the war and sending both the Phantom Ruby and Classic Sonic back to the past.

Classic Sonic, returning from the future after aiding the Resistance in winning the war, is still chasing after the Phantom Ruby. The gemstone falls into the hands of Heavy Magician, who uses it to reassemble her fellow Hard Boiled Heavies. Thus, Sonic is forced to go on his earlier adventure again, though this time accompanied by Mighty and Ray as well.

As Eggman's plan once again fails, he is sucked into a Phantom Ruby portal, presumably finding himself stuck in Egg Reverie Zone. This is the original Phantom Ruby's last appearance, leaving its fate ambiguous.

Meanwhile, back in the future, the modern Dr. Eggman has yet to give up on his Phantom Ruby exploits. Seeing as how he still had a weapon charged with Phantom Ruby energy, the doctor decides to put it to good use and begins another world conquering plot. By covering the entire planet with the Phantom Ruby's energy, he used what Tails calls "cognitive frictional energy" to generate extreme amounts of energy from the discrepancy between the world's original reality and the new reality overwriting it. By absorbing this resulting energy, Eggman created his ultimate weapon, the Egg Field, a mech capable of reshaping the world around it to erase all of his past failures.

Sonic manages to destroy the weapon by turning into Super Sonic, forcing Eggman to transform into "Super Eggman" by making use of his modified Phantom Ruby prototype. The doctor attempts to persuade Sonic by arguing that these fake scenarios cause harm to no one, but the hedgehog refutes this by saying that the thoughts of Earth's denizens should not be forced out of their minds, and to do that would be to inflict suffering upon the planet. Eggman also attempts to create a fake world tailored to Sonic's every whim, but he manages to see past it and defeat Robotnik, allowing things to return to normal, even if slowly due to how massive the scale of the illusions were.

Eggman, beneath the wreckage of Eggmanland, contemplates fixing his modified Phantom Ruby prototype and using it once more, but Infinite, who was briefly able to leave the Phantom Ruby during the whole event, snatches it from his hand. Initially seeking revenge, he instead accepts his fate as his body disappears once more, dropping the prototype into the lava.

Conclusion

And that was essentially my write-up of the Phantom Ruby! It's a topic I learned I really like, so I hope this was enjoyable to read.

[mariacallous]

On a spring day in 1978, a fisherman caught a tiger shark in the lagoon surrounding Enewetak Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands in the north Pacific. That shark, along with the remains of a green sea turtle it had swallowed, wound up in a natural history museum. Today, scientists are realizing that this turtle holds clues to the lagoon’s nuclear past—and could help us understand how nuclear research, energy production, and warfare will affect the environment in the future.

In 1952, the world’s first hydrogen bomb test had obliterated a neighboring island—one of 43 nuclear bombs detonated at Enewetak in the early years of the Cold War. Recently, Cyler Conrad, an archeologist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, began investigating whether radioactive signatures of those explosions had been archived by some particularly good environmental historians: turtles.

“Anywhere that nuclear events have occurred throughout the globe, there are turtles,” Conrad says. It’s not because turtles—including sea turtles, tortoises, and freshwater terrapins—are drawn to nuclear testing sites. They’re just everywhere. They have been mainstays of mythology and popular culture since the dawn of recorded history. “Our human story on the planet is really closely tied to turtles,” Conrad says. And, he adds, because they are famously long-lived, they are uniquely equipped to document the human story within their tough, slow-growing shells.

Collaborating with researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory, which was once directed by J. Robert Oppenheimer, Conrad was able to use some of the world’s most advanced tools for detecting radioactive elements. Last week, his team’s study in PNAS Nexus reported that this turtle, and others that had lived near nuclear development sites, carried highly enriched uranium—a telltale sign of nuclear weapons testing—in their shells.

Turtle shells are covered by scutes, plates made of keratin, the same material in fingernails. Scutes grow in layers like tree rings, forming beautiful swirls that preserve a chemical record of the turtle’s environment in each sheet. If any animal takes in more of a chemical than it’s able to excrete, whether through eating it, breathing it in, or touching it, that chemical will linger in its body.

Once chemical contaminants—including radionuclides, the unstable radioactive alter egos of chemical elements—make their way into scute, they’re basically stuck there. While these can get smeared across layers in tree rings or soft animal tissues, they get locked into each scute layer at the time the turtle was exposed. The growth pattern on each turtle’s shell depends on its species. Box turtles, for example, grow their scute outward over time, like how humans grow fingernails. Desert tortoise scutes also grow sequentially, but new layers grow underneath older layers, overlapping to create a tree ring-like profile.

Because they are so sensitive to environmental changes, turtles have long been considered sentinels of ecosystem health—a different kind of canary in the coal mine. “They’ll show us things that are emergent problems,” says Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist who was not involved in this study. But Conrad’s new findings reveal that turtles are also “showing us things that are distinct problems from the past.”

Conrad’s team at Los Alamos handpicked five turtles from museum archives, with each one representing a different nuclear event in history. One was the Enewetak Atoll green sea turtle, borrowed from the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii. Others included a Mojave desert tortoise collected within range of fallout from the former Nevada Test Site; a river cooter from the Savannah River Site, which manufactured fuel for nuclear weapons; and an eastern box turtle from Oak Ridge, which once produced parts for nuclear weapons. A Sonoran desert tortoise, collected far from any nuclear testing or manufacturing sites, served as a natural control.

While working at Los Alamos, Conrad met isotope geochemist and soon-to-be coauthor Jeremy Inglis, who knew how to spot even the most subtle signs of nuclear exposure in a turtle shell. They chose to look for uranium. To a geochemist, this might initially feel like an odd choice. Uranium is found everywhere in nature, and doesn’t necessarily flag anything historically significant. But with sensitive-enough gear, uranium can reveal a lot about isotope composition, or the ratio of its atoms containing different configurations of protons, electrons, and neutrons. Natural uranium, which is in most rocks, is configured very differently from the highly enriched uranium found in nuclear labs and weapons.

To find the highly enriched uranium hidden among the normal stuff in each turtle shell sample, Inglis wore a full-body protective suit in a clean room to keep his uranium from getting in the way. (“There’s enough uranium in my hair to contaminate a picogram of a sample,” he says.) Inglis describes the samples like a gin and tonic: “The tonic is the natural uranium. If you add lots of natural uranium tonic into your highly enriched uranium gin, you ruin it. If we contaminate our samples with natural uranium, the isotope ratio changes, and we can’t see the signal that we’re looking for.”

The team concluded that all four turtles that came from historic nuclear testing or manufacturing sites carried traces of highly enriched uranium. The Sonoran desert tortoise that had never been exposed to nuclear activity was the only one without it.

They collected bulk scute samples from three of their turtles, meaning that they could determine whether the turtle took in uranium at some point in its life, but not exactly when. But the researchers took things a step further with the Oak Ridge box turtle, looking at changes in uranium isotope concentrations across seven scute layers, marking the seven years of the turtle’s life between 1955 and 1962. Changes in the scutes corresponded with fluctuations in documented uranium contamination levels in the area, suggesting that the Oak Ridge turtle’s shell was time-stamped by historic nuclear events. Even the neonatal scute, a layer that grew before the turtle hatched, had signs of nuclear history passed down from its mother.

It’s unclear what this contamination meant for the turtles’ health. All of these shells were from long-dead animals preserved in museum archives. The best time to assess the effects of radionuclides on their health would have been while they were alive, says Kristin Berry, a wildlife biologist specializing in desert tortoises at the Western Ecological Research Center, who was not involved in this study. Berry adds that further research, using controlled experiments in captivity, may help figure out exactly how these animals are taking in nuclear contaminants. Is it from their food? The soil? The air?

Because turtles are nearly omnipresent, tracing nuclear contamination in shells from animals living at various distances from sites of nuclear activity may also help us understand the long-term environmental effects of weapons testing and energy production. Conrad is currently analyzing desert tortoise samples from southwestern Utah, collected by Berry, to better relate exposure to radionuclides (like uranium) to their diets over the course of their lives. He also hopes that these findings will inspire others to study plants and animals with tissues that grow sequentially—like mollusks, which are also found in nearly all aquatic environments.

The incredible migratory patterns of sea turtles, which sometimes span the entire ocean (as anyone familiar with Finding Nemo may recall), open up additional opportunities. For example, sea turtles forage off the Japanese coast, where in 2011 the most powerful earthquake in Japan’s history caused a tsunami that led to a chain reaction of failures at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. With lifespans of up to 100 years, many of those turtles are likely still alive today, carrying traces of the disaster on their backs.

Recently, the Japanese government started slowly releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the Pacific Ocean. Scientists and policymakers seem to hesitantly agree that this is the least bad option for disposing of the waste, but others are more concerned. (The Chinese government, for instance, banned aquatic imports from Japan in late August.) Through turtle shells, we may better understand how the plant’s failure, and the following cleanup efforts, affect the surrounding ocean.

The bodies of these creatures have been keeping score for millennia. “For better or for worse, they get hit by everything we do,” Nichols says. Maybe, he adds, “the lesson is: Pay more attention to turtles.”

[redfish-blu]

Gravel Gertie’s Orphanage: Danger Days

Don’t know if this will be interesting to anybody, but this is what an actual Gravel Gertie is:

I don’t know why every photo sucks, but it is “a type of bunker designed to provide containment during the nuclear weapons assembly process, when the plutonium or highly enriched uranium "pit" is mated with the high explosive components and wired into the electronics (the "physics package") of the warhead.” (Wikipedia)

Gravel Gertie was also a character in the Dick Tracy comic series appearing for the first time in 1944.  She has nothing to do with the manufacturing of nuclear weapons.  Though she was raised in an orphanage.

Conclusion?  I don’t know.  Gravel Gertie’s was first mentioned in Dr. Death Defying’s Listening Party (which I have never listened to), then on his twitter.  Coupled with what an actual Gravel Gertie is, it leads me to believe Gertie isn’t an actual person, rather the name of one or more zones orphanages.  But that’s just my perspective.  Bottom line: that’s an interesting name for an orphanage?

[hiddentrails7]

This took me longer than it should've tbh

I simply just. Like associating characters with songs and this is very Nero coded (with a bit of Weiss and a smidgen of Tsviets in general)

Hope you enjoy my ramblings of why I associate Nero (and somewhat Weiss) w/ Tiny Gods by Shayfer James

My crooked back

was built for teeth and claws

The bloody wrath

of Tiny Gods

Tear at me, tear at me

Until I'm tame

This is what I was manufactured for

The dirt, the dark, the art of war

Punish me, punish me, until I'm saved

Nero's “wings”, literally edged with blades?? Those “wings”, that were implanted into him via scientists, who DEFINITELY play God in Deepground.

UH?? THIS IS THE MOST NERO-CODED SET OF LYRICS I'VE EVER FUCKING READ

And of course, this applies to Weiss and the other Tsviets: though the first few not as literally. They're made to be weapons.

Then you have the last four lines, which could clearly go with the fact that Nero was experimented on. There are various restraints on his body to keep him tame.

[Chorus]

The night is mine, mine, mine

And I will worship as I please

I will worship as I please

I will worship as I please

The night is mine, mine, mine

And I will worship as I please

I will worship as I please

I will worship as I please

“The night is mine” could ofc refer to his darkness, but I'M more interested in “I will worship as I please”. Nero does this: he doesn't worship those scientists, he willingly worships Weiss (say that five times fast).

Then there's Weiss; who doesn't worship shit. He is the one being worshiped by the others of Deepground.

Guide me from this hell of hope

and bind me with your holy rope

Look at me, look at me

I'm nearly there

Cut me with your vicious tongue

Make me taste what I've become

The violence, the violence

The perfect prayer

While kinds looser in comparison to others, I think of their hunts. Nero and Weiss, as well as the other Tsviets, being set loose to do something… be it an incredibly violent activity, it's something they're used to. It's enriching, and better than being contained.

[The Chorus repeats twice, slowly becoming louder]

The repetitive, strengthening chorus is just ugh <3. The world is falling apart. I think of Nero in DoC, just doing everything he can to help Weiss. Nero has nothing else! If Weiss is struggling or unresponsive, Nero is likely freaking the fuck out– the world might as well be ending.

[And then the outcome is much softer in comparison]

The night is mine, mine, mine

And I will worship as I please

I will worship as I please

I will worship as I please

Fuck the ending of Weiss and Nero in DoC pulled at my heart tbh. DoC is a fucking mess and I hope they handle it a little differently in a DoC remake or even in the future two main games but it's good to see Weiss and Nero in INTERmission. They've been shown really well so far and I am in love with them.

[the-intellectual-journal]

Leila and The Wolves: Revolutionary Feminism and the Importance of Third Cinema

Image by Cinema of Women Presents

Leila and the Wolves created in 1984 by Lebanese filmmaker Heiny Srour follows the story of a young woman named Leila. Leila lives in London and can travel through different points of Middle Eastern history through the collective memory of women a part of the 20th-century Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements. The film is framed through a radical and feminist lens and highlights the women central to the Palestinian liberation struggle, serving as a testimony to their revolutionary spirit.

Srour’s approach to the film's formal elements solidified her status as an innovative filmmaker — reflected through the film’s radical political commitments through challenging dominating structures of occupation and colonialism. The film reflects these commitments through Leila’s ability to travel through time and space. Leila’s power bridges the gap between the past and present, giving agency to the Arab women often erased in historical narratives. Srour employs Leila's ability to time travel offers a transformative approach to interconnecting various periods of a collective history — contributing to a richer and textured narrative.

At the beginning of the film, Leila is transported to the West Bank in the 1920s. While Leila is there, she witnesses a violent demonstration and the cruelty inflicted on the Palestinian people. She is shortly taken back to the present, and the brutal imagery remains etched in her memory. During a conversation with her partner, Leila questions why he exclusively selected photos of men in the exhibit showcasing the Palestinian struggle. 

He responds, claiming he doesn't recall any images featuring women and that they had no role in politics back then. This scene is juxtaposed moments later when Leila is transported back to the West Bank in the 1920s, and the viewer witnesses how the women resist colonial subjugation. The women are strategic in their resistance — flinging rocks and pouring boiling water at the unsuspecting colonial officers from the balcony. 

Film scholar Vivianne Saglier expands on this theme, “My argument navigates the tension between historical continuities and ruptures intrinsic to disenchantment by re-articulating the relationship between historical projects of decolonization and later decolonial feminist approaches, which materialize in Srour’s “post-Third-Worldist praxis”. 

Srour’s filmmaking style in Leila and the Wolves resonates with the principles of third cinema, which disrupts conventional American narratives. As mentioned by Saglier, “Srour’s cinema of liberation experiments with myth-based historiography to establish connections between distinct epistemic worlds across time, space, and gendered groups—what Lugones calls “world-travelling,” the realization and negotiation of the plurality of epistemic worlds that enrich the construction of collectivities” 

With this framework in mind, the spectator immerses themselves in the gendered collective memory of the Palestinian liberation struggle. These instances are witnessed through Leila, as she acts as the viewer's guide. The viewer can observe the women gathering to manufacture bullets out of old residue, strategically concealing weapons to bypass checkpoints, and taking up arms to resist the 1948 Deir-Yassin massacre. These acts of resistance reflect how Leila and the Wolves stand as a tribute to the revolutionary and feminist spirit of Arab women.

Leila’s ability to serve as a historical witness in combination with archive footage enables the viewer to tap into the collective memory and shared trauma of the Palestinian plight. The archive footage often shows the violence occurring on the front lines and the heartbreaking display of Palestinian refugee camps. 

While Srour's methodology enhances the depth and authenticity of the story, many Arab male filmmakers during Srour's time, often fell short in this respect. Srour comments on Arab men’s films such as Borhane Alaouie´’s Kafr Kassem (1968), Youssef Chahine’s Al-Asfour/The Sparrow (1972), or Tewfiq Saleh’s Al-Makhdu‘un/The Dupes (1973) often represented women in a one-dimensional perspective—typically relegating Palestinian women into symbolic representations that mirrored patriarchal narratives such as passive beings or the docile mother identity. 

Srour’s decision to integrate archive footage while displaying women’s political role in liberation struggles contrasts with this traditional narrative. This approach to storytelling not only adds a layer of historical context but underlines that the efforts and struggles of Arab women are not fictitious or symbolic representations but are grounded in historical authenticity. 

In doing so, the film paints a broader picture of the Palestinian liberation struggle and illustrates its feminist principles. In a world that often erases the contribution of women’s historical efforts, Leila and the Wolves is a groundbreaking form of media that commemorates the revolutionary commitments of women at the heart of the Palestinian liberation struggle.

Heiny Srour gives us more than just a story; she presents a lesson, a memory, and a call to not forget the sacrifices made by Arab women at the forefront of the Palestinian liberation movement. Although Leila and the Wolves was released nearly 40 years ago, the depiction shown in the film reflects the material reality of Palestinians today, from having to navigate checkpoints in their own land to being displaced from their homes to live the rest of their lives in refugee camps. Srour’s approach to storytelling is a reminder that the struggles of the past continue to echo in the present, urging the viewer to reflect on the challenges Palestinians face today.

Saglier, Viviane. "Decolonization, Disenchantment, and Arab Feminist Genealogies of Worldmaking." Feminist Media Histories, vol. 8, no. 1, 200.

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 6/11/2023 | The Libertarian Institute

Here is your daily roundup of today's news:

News Roundup 6/11/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

US News 

A group of Republican senators on Thursday introduced a bill to repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) that was passed in the wake of the September 11th attacks and is still being used to justify wars today. AWC

Russia

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said Thursday that Russian forces repelled a Ukrainian attack in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast as Western media outlets are reporting Ukraine’s counteroffensive has officially begun. AWC

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev said Thursday that Ukraine was ready to sign a peace deal with Russia in the early days of the war but gave up on negotiations due to US pressure. AWC

Two recent reports have uncovered billions in trade between members of the North Atlantic alliance and Russia since the Kremlin ordered the invasion of Ukraine last year. The Institute

The Department of Defense announced on Friday it will purchase $2.1 billion in weapons for Ukraine, including munitions for Patriot and Hawk air defense systems. AWC

Stockholm plans to send a “signal to Russia” by allowing NATO troop deployments in Sweden before the country is admitted into the alliance, according to top officials. Turkey is holding up Sweden’s bid to join the bloc. AWC

As part of a “deepening” military partnership between Iran and Russia amid the war in Ukraine, US intelligence officials believe Tehran is assisting Moscow in building a drone manufacturing plant that may be operational next year, the White House said on Friday. American officials claim hundreds of Iranian drones were transported to Russia via the Caspian Sea last month. AWC

China

The Pentagon on Thursday dismissed a report from The Wall Street Journal that claimed Beijing and Havana have reached an agreement in principle on China establishing a secret spy facility in Cuba. AWC

The US, Japan, and Taiwan are preparing to share real-time data from naval surveillance drones in a move sure to anger China, Financial Times reported on Thursday. AWC

Middle East

According to a report from Middle East Eye, the US and Iran are near a deal that would reduce Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, although it’s not certain that a final agreement will be reached. AWC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Secretary of State Antony Blinken that no deal the US makes with Iran would prevent Israel from attacking the country over its nuclear program. The Institute

Read More

[kevinsreviewcatalogue]

Review: The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers (2012)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference

<Originally posted at https://kevinsreviewcatalogue.blogspot.com/2023/04/review-avengers-2012.html>

Score: 5 out of 5

Eleven years and dozens of movies and TV shows later, The Avengers still stands as arguably the greatest achievement of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even more than its best standalone films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther, this was the movie that demonstrated what the "idea" of the MCU could produce and accomplish, a shared universe that brought together characters from different popular movies for a big crossover in which they all got a chance to shine as a team. Looking back, the legacy of the MCU on Hollywood as a whole has been mixed, such that it's increasingly come in for backlash in the last few years to the point where hating the series is no longer necessarily a contrarian take, the genuinely divisive reception to recent movies and shows in the franchise not helping its case. (I've been nicer to Marvel's recent output than most, and even I can't help but feel that there's a bit of malaise there.) Which makes it all the more impressive to see that, watching the original Avengers again with a group of kids who were either in diapers or not even born yet when it came out and experienced the series mostly through home video and streaming, it still absolutely holds up, and moreover, it reminded me of what Marvel's strengths were back in its 2010s imperial phase when it was firing on all cylinders. It's got an all-star cast, probably the best direction of Joss Whedon's career, and a use of continuity that enriches the experience for those who've seen the prior films in the franchise but doesn't detract from it if you haven't -- the secret sauce that, if you ask me, allowed the MCU to succeed for so long where other, similar attempts at big, modular franchises failed, and something that it's lost sight of recently. Once we're past the backlash phase and old enough to be nostalgic for the MCU (won't that be something), I think that this movie and "Phase One" more broadly will get its due once again.

The plot feels like it could've been lifted out of any number of Big Event crossovers from the comics. An alien race called the Chitauri, led by the Norse trickster god Loki (the Norse gods in this universe being aliens themselves) with a chip on his shoulder, is planning to invade Earth, and Nick Fury, director of the secret government agency S.H.I.E.L.D., has a plan to stop them: assemble a collection of exceptional individuals with unique skills to lead the fight. They include: Tony Stark, the egotistical billionaire CEO of a weapons manufacturer who built a suit of high-tech "Iron Man" powered armor to fight terrorists; Steve Rogers, the product of an American World War II scientific program to create a superior fighting man who wound up frozen in ice for decades and thawed out in the present day; Bruce Banner, a brilliant physicist who, thanks to an accident during an experiment with gamma radiation, developed a monstrous Jekyll-and-Hyde alter ego called the Hulk that comes out when he's angry or stressed; Thor, the Norse god of thunder seeking to stop his adoptive brother Loki's warpath and return him to Asgard for judgment; and Natasha Romanoff; a deadly spy codenamed "Black Widow" who defected from Russia and is now one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top agents. Unfortunately, Loki, using his own supernatural gifts, has seduced a number of humans to his own side, most notably Erik Selvig, a physicist who was researching an alien artifact called the Tesseract that Loki needs to open a portal to bring his army to Earth, and Clint Barton, another S.H.I.E.L.D. agent codenamed "Hawkeye" who knows his employer inside and out.

The underlying theme of most of the first two acts of this movie is a reflection of what people in real life, from critics to comic book fans to much of the movie's audience, were thinking in 2012: "can this actually work?" Can you do this kind of superhero team-up in the movies the way they do it in the comics? It's here where you see why Marvel producer Kevin Feige sought out Joss Whedon to write and direct this movie, and not just because he was already a geek media legend by then. Whedon's style has unfortunately been caricatured over the years as revolving around jokey, flippant dialogue, thanks in no small part to the many filmmakers and TV show runners who've tried to imitate it, and the man's own personal controversies in the last several years have made him an easy punching bag. That said, anybody who's watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, or Firefly knows that his real strength as a writer, the thing that separated him from the countless writers making jokey, flippant Shane Black ripoffs back in the '90s, was working with large ensemble casts in which there often wasn't a singular protagonist.

Whedon tackles the question of whether this will work head-on by making the real "arc" of the movie revolve less around stopping Loki than around having Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the Incredible Hulk, the four marquee superheroes who each had their origin stories told in prior movies, learn to put aside their differences and work as a team. They each bring their own larger-than-life personalities to the table, and while Tony and Bruce hit it off immediately over their shared love of science, Tony's ego and gung-ho attitude clash with both Steve's Boy Scout values and military code of honor and Thor's own ego as a superbeing of ancient legend, while Bruce's volatile temper and the end result of such threatens to get them all killed if he can't control it. Loki knows all of this, and for much of the film, a good chunk of his plan, as befitting a trickster god, is to play mind games with the heroes and convince them to tear each other apart so that he can move on and conquer Earth in their absence. Black Widow and Hawkeye, the relative newcomers to the MCU (the former had been a supporting character in Iron Man 2 but wouldn't get her own movie for nearly a decade), serve as surrogates for audience members who know what superheroes are but may not have seen every (or even any) prior movie in the series, while Nick Fury, the authority figure looming over them all, is the ringmaster who introduces us to them and brings them all together.

It helps when you've got a bunch of A-list (or soon-to-be-A-list) actors at the top of their game, the kinds of people who feel born to play these sorts of figures. Robert Downey, Jr.'s great gift as Tony Stark was making him just unlikable enough that you want to see him humbled but not so much that you want to see him lose, Chris Evans always knew how to make Steve Rogers feel like a good-hearted average Joe given extraordinary abilities but never forgetting who he used to be, Chris Hemsworth was exactly the kind of chiseled, Ahnold-style hunk you'd need to play the mighty God of Thunder, and Mark Ruffalo, replacing Edward Norton after some complicated backstage politics, brought an almost Jeff Goldblum-style energy to Bruce Banner, a squirrelly nerd who's visibly hiding a shameful secret. Scarlett Johansson, meanwhile, made her scenes in this movie as Natasha a demo reel for her as both an action hero and a femme fatale, while Samuel L. Jackson brought his usual BAMF energy to a PG-13 version of such as Nick Fury, a man who most of us would happily take orders from. Last but not least, Tom Hiddleston as Loki is exactly the kind of classy-yet-subtly-off-putting British theater actor you want playing a hammy, egomaniacal villain straight out of mythology, like a young Alan Rickman, standing as one of the best villains the MCU's ever had to this day and only failing to steal the show out from under everyone else because, again, this is a Joss Whedon ensemble piece where everybody gets a moment in the sun.

(And Hawkeye seems cool, like a really nice guy. Okay, I kid, Jeremy Renner was alright in the part. He was much better in later movies, though. There's a reason why people used to make fun of him so much.)

The quality of Whedon's work here doesn't stop at his writing, either. The MCU has never been known as a visually inventive series, and a lot of people blame Whedon for that, accusing him of bringing a flat visual style straight out of network television to the biggest blockbuster franchise in Hollywood and relying on his writing as his main creative thumbprint. I'm convinced that they got Whedon mixed up with the Russo brothers who handled the later Avengers films, because Whedon actually does a lot that's interesting behind the camera. Noting that scenes in superhero movies look like they were pulled straight out of a comic book is practically a cliché at this point, but in this case, it's a perfect description, as Whedon seemed to understand exactly how to bring a comic book splash panel to life on the big screen. This movie looks and feels epic, with action that's not only well-shot and easy to follow but also downright massive in scope, often having several things going on at once in the bigger sequences like the attack on the helicarrier and the climatic third-act battle in the streets of Manhattan. The effects were top-notch and felt like they had all the love and care in the world put into them, especially in comparison to some of the rush jobs that more recent Marvel movies have been guilty of. This was the kind of movie they make movie theaters for, and even watching it at home, I was consistently enthralled by its action sequences. There's a reason why so many sci-fi blockbuster action movies in the 2010s had their villains shoot big beams of light into the sky as part of their plan, or featured armies of faceless alien monsters for the heroes to fight without feeling guilty about killing people, and that's because this movie did it so amazingly well that everybody else couldn't help but copy its notes.

The Bottom Line

The Avengers is a movie that still holds up even after countless superhero movies, including in its own franchise, that tried to top it. I don't know if I'd call it the best movie in the MCU, but it's certainly the most impactful, the one that everyone's gonna remember above all else (barring maybe Black Panther) years from now as the movie that made the whole enterprise worth it.

[allthenewzworld]

For the first time, North Korea has offered a glimpse into a uranium enrichment facility which produces material for its nuclear weapons.

Photos showed its leader Kim Jong Un, who had earlier vowed to "exponentially" increase the country's stash of nuclear weapons, inspecting the area.

Enriched uranium is essential in the manufacturing of nuclear warheads.

Although it unknown how many nuclear weapons North Korea has, one recent estimate puts the number at 50, with sufficient material to produce another 40.

The tour of the facilities site comes just a couple of days after he visited a training base of North Korea's special operations armed force - where he was seen aiming a weapon.

Tap the link in bio to find out what South Korea's Ministry of Unification had to say about the latest photos.

(📷 Reuters/Korean Central News Agency)

#NorthKorea #KimJongUn #AlltheNews

[blaze-papers]

North Korea Unveils First Weapons-Grade Uranium Facility

North Korea has revealed its first-ever facility for manufacturing weapons-grade uranium, marking a significant escalation in its nuclear weapons program. The disclosure, which was broadcasted by state media on Friday, features North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the newly unveiled centrifuge plant—a crucial element in uranium enrichment.

During his visit, Kim Jong-un urged the facility’s engineers to ramp up production to significantly expand the country’s nuclear arsenal. This announcement comes amidst rising global tensions and the upcoming U.S. presidential election, highlighting North Korea’s ongoing defiance of international regulations and United Nations Security Council resolutions aimed at curbing nuclear development.

The centrifuge facility, previously shrouded in secrecy, was shown to the international community for the first time through state media photos depicting long rows of centrifuges designed to enrich uranium to weapon-grade levels. Although a similar plant was briefly disclosed to a U.S. delegation in 2010, this is the first time such a facility has been revealed to a broader audience.

North Korea’s nuclear program has faced widespread condemnation and numerous UN sanctions intended to halt its progress. The country has conducted six nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017 and is estimated to have around 50 nuclear warheads, with sufficient material to produce an additional 40.

In recent months, North Korea has also tested a range of ballistic missiles and increased its production of short-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Kim Jong-un has stressed the importance of boosting production to enhance North Korea’s tactical nuclear capabilities, particularly with short-range missiles.

The timing of North Korea’s announcement aligns with intensified U.S. presidential campaign debates, where North Korea’s nuclear threat has become a focal point. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have both addressed the issue, with Trump reflecting on his previous interactions with Kim and Harris critiquing Trump’s approach to the North Korean threat.

In response to North Korea’s latest development, South Korea has condemned the continued advancement of its nuclear program and pledged to fortify its alliance with the United States. Joint defensive plans are being developed to counter potential nuclear aggression from Pyongyang.

As the international community closely examines the implications of North Korea’s newest move, global leaders remain focused on managing the escalating nuclear threat posed by the regime.

[grizzlygunwork]

Advanced Developments in the FN 502 Compensator: An In-depth Review of Recent Upgrades

The firearm industry is perpetually advancing, with manufacturers consistently endeavoring to augment the user experience by introducing innovative features and improved designs. A noteworthy example of such innovation is the FN 502 compensator, an essential accessory designed to enhance the functionality of the renowned FN 502 Tactical pistol, favored for its adaptability in training and recreational shooting. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the recent enhancements made to the FN 502 compensator, elucidating how these improvements facilitate greater accuracy and refined shooting dynamics.

Introduction to the FN 502 Compensator

The FN 502 compensator is intricately designed for the FN 502 Tactical, a .22 LR caliber pistol acclaimed for its versatility. The compensator’s principal role is to mitigate muzzle rise and the recoil experienced by the shooter. It achieves this by redirecting the gases emitted upon firing, which conventionally push the muzzle upward. Through effective management of these forces, the FN 502 compensator aids shooters in maintaining enhanced control, thereby enabling quicker successive shots.

Significant Upgrades and Their Implications

1. Enhanced Material Quality: Recent upgrades to the FN 502 compensator have incorporated the use of superior materials. The latest model utilizes a high-grade aluminum that not only diminishes the firearm's overall weight but also exhibits remarkable durability against frequent use. This material improvement ensures the compensator’s long-lasting effectiveness and reliability, providing consistent performance that both enthusiasts and professionals can depend on.

2. Refined Gas Deflection Design: A pivotal enhancement in the redesign is the improved gas deflection mechanism. The updated FN 502 compensator is equipped with strategically positioned vents that more efficiently direct the gases sideways rather than upwards. This modification significantly curtails muzzle rise and also minimizes the lateral displacement of the pistol during firing. Such advancements bolster the shooter's capacity to remain on target and render the shooting process more manageable and comfortable.

3. Aesthetic and Functional Congruence: Beyond performance enhancements, the latest iteration of the FN 502 compensator also features an aesthetic design that complements the FN 502 Tactical’s appearance. The compensator’s sleek, modern design integrates smoothly with the pistol’s overall aesthetics, appearing as a natural extension of the barrel. This integration not only enhances the firearm's visual appeal but also maintains the balance and handling of the weapon, ensuring no negative impact on its functionality.

Conclusion: The Refined FN 502 Compensator – Elevating Shooting Standards

In summation, the recent enhancements to the FN 502 compensator represent a substantial progression in firearm accessory development. These improvements not only elevate the performance of the FN 502 Tactical but also enrich the overall shooting experience, permitting shooters to achieve heightened control and precision. Whether for training purposes, competitive shooting, or leisure activities, the refined FN 502 compensator provides a discernible advantage, making it an essential upgrade for any firearm enthusiast’s collection. With these advancements, FN continues to demonstrate leadership in firearm innovation, affirming their commitment to delivering high-quality and functional products.

[christinamac1]

Australia: Opposition’s nuclear power plans open the door for nuclear weapons

Barely mentioned is the potential of a nuclear power industry to provide a pathway for the development of nuclear weapons: first, by providing a large pool of nuclear scientists, engineers and technicians and, second, by creating the means to manufacture the fissionable material needed for a bomb. The latter would require further heavy investment in either a uranium enrichment plant or a…

[shockwaveheatshield]

Black Aces Heat Shield – What Do You Need To Know About This

As for firearms accessories built-in and ergonomics should go hand in hand. The Heat Shield as a magazine extension and handguard could very well be seen as an appealing modification as it can cater to the functionality and looks of the weapon.

For folks who shoot regularly as well as the first time users, there are some features in this,Black aces heat shield product that can be of immense help. When choosing any accessory as a part of the firearm, you must do your proper research and find the best product, so that you are safe while using the product.

The heat shields of black acesare a versatile product manufactured to be used primarily on shotguns as a firearm accessory. Its main purpose is to shield grip of the firearm from the heat that the barrel produces especially when firing numerous rounds. Manufactured from high quality steel or aluminum these heat shields not only serve the purpose and functionality of a heat shield but they also give guns an extra edge to its cosmetic appeal.

Heat Dissipation - In its essence, the heat shield of the black aces serves two primary functionalities, protection of the barrel of a shotgun and reduction of heat. This helps the shooter avoid hand fatigue or burns, particularly when firing aims lots of rounds or definitely not a break.

Improved Grip - Most of the black aces heat shields model that are available in the market are headed with textured or ergonomic features to enhance grip and control on it. This is especially useful during bad weather or when handling objects using the bare hands due to some reason such as gloves on.

Aesthetic Appeal - Apart from serve their utility of protecting the barrel from heat, these heat shields are often preferred by shooters in that they can choose to enhance the appearance of their gun. This could be a variation in the finishing, or in the engraving or onboard motifs and personalization, to the tastes of the customer.

It is also important to note that the black aces heat shields can be applied across different models of shotgun and their configurations. Regardless of whether you have a pump-action, semi-auto, or even a good old fashioned break-open shotgun, there is a heat shield out there for you. This adaptability means that whether you own a particular make or model of firearm, it is possible to get heat shield that complements your gun in the best way possible.

Applying a black aces type heat shield is typically simple and may not require the services of a professional. Instructions are usually included with most models and the tools needed are easily accessible. Maintenance usually involves washing away debris that may hinder the proper functioning and longevity of the equipment. The materials applied in these heat shields are selected in such a way that they would not wear off easily and are capable of withstanding pressure. black aces heat shieldsare not merely a protective gear for shotguns, it is an addition that is as useful as it is fashionable. If you are in need of shooting comfort, wanting a better grip, or if you just want to modify your gun, then the black aces type heat shield is a compelling product. Because of its effectiveness in resisting heat, offering a firm grip and enhancing the look of your shotgun, it is a useful addition to every shooter’s collection.

Whether you are seeking to change the stock of your shotgun, the Black aces heat shield is a good extension that can meet your requirements on performance, durability and aesthetics. Take a look at the available choices and try for yourself how this accessory can enrich your shooting sessions.

Author’s Bio:

Shockwaveheatshield.com is the best place online to buy top quality firearm accessories including Black aces heat shield.

[infiniumglobalresearch123]

Savory Surge: Yeast Extract Market Set to Sizzle in the Coming Years

Yeast extract, a culinary workhorse, is a concentrated ingredient derived from yeast cells, most commonly Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Through autolysis (self-digestion) or enzymatic treatment, these cells are broken down, releasing a treasure trove of flavorful and nutritious compounds. Amino acids, nucleotides, vitamins, and minerals come together to create a powerful savory punch – the essence of umami. This umami essence is why yeast extract finds its way into a vast array of foods, from soups and sauces to snacks and processed meals. It deepens and enriches flavor profiles, making food taste simply more delicious. But yeast extract isn't just about taste; it also boasts a nutritional profile worth celebrating. Packed with essential B vitamins and protein, it adds an unexpected layer of nourishment to our favorite dishes.

To Get More Business Strategies for Request Sample Report @:  https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample-request/739

Yeast ingredients are like culinary chameleons, finding a home across various industries – food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and even animal feed. Their versatility stems from their unique properties. Packed with vitamins and minerals, they not only boost the nutritional value of products but also act as flavor enhancers, fermentation superstars, and texture refiners. Think of them as the secret weapon that elevates everything from your morning toast to your pet's food.

The rise of convenient, ready-to-eat meals in urban areas has fueled the demand for yeast extracts, while the growing trend towards non-animal protein sources in animal feed has created another avenue for yeast ingredients to shine.  Furthermore, government initiatives and targeted marketing campaigns promoting the benefits of yeast ingredients in packaged foods, animal feeds, and beyond are expected to propel the market forward in the coming years.

Market Trend

Recognizing the growing trend of health-conscious consumers, the food industry is embracing ingredients that offer a delightful flavor boost alongside valuable nutrients. Yeast extract perfectly fits this bill. Packed with B vitamins, protein, and minerals, it not only elevates the taste profile of various dishes but also provides a hidden layer of nourishment. This unique combination of taste and health benefits positions yeast extract as a valuable tool for food manufacturers catering to today's informed consumers.

Market Driver

Forget the "big four" – sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Savvy chefs and food manufacturers are turning to a secret weapon: yeast extract. This ingredient unlocks the power of umami, the fifth taste sensation known for its rich, savory depth. By incorporating yeast extract, they can elevate flavor profiles, adding complexity and richness to everything from soups and sauces to snacks and processed meals.

Market opportunities

Beyond its delightful umami magic, yeast extract holds a hidden potential – a superhero in the world of functional ingredients. Packed with B vitamins and protein, it can be leveraged to elevate food not just in taste but also in its contribution to health and wellness. This opens exciting doors for food manufacturers. Imagine – fortifying everyday products with yeast extract, transforming them into silent warriors quietly providing essential nutrients that contribute to overall health. It's a win-win for both taste buds and well-being.

Market Segmentation

By Application:

Food & Beverages: This segment is the primary driver, with yeast extract used in various products like soups, sauces, and bakery goods for flavor enhancement and nutritional fortification.

Feed: The growing demand for non-animal protein sources in animal feed is fueling the use of yeast ingredients.

Pharmaceuticals: This segment utilizes yeast extracts like beta-glucan for their potential health benefits.

Other Applications: Yeast extracts may find applications in various other sectors depending on their specific properties.

By Type:

Baker's Yeast: The traditional workhorse for leavening bread and other baked goods.

Brewer's Yeast: Essential for the fermentation process in beer production.

Wine Yeast: Specific strains used for fermenting grapes into wine.

Feed Yeast: Tailored for optimal nutrition in animal feed.

Bio-ethanol Yeast: Plays a role in the production of biofuels.

Other Yeast Types: The report may also acknowledge additional yeast types with specialized applications.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific: This region is expected to be a frontrunner in market growth, driven by several factors:

Urbanization and Rising Disposable Income: The growing urban population with increasing disposable income fuels the demand for convenient, ready-to-eat meals, often utilizing yeast extracts for flavor and nutrition.

Shifting Dietary Trends: The growing awareness of health and the trend towards non-animal protein sources create opportunities for yeast ingredients in both human food and animal feed within the Asia-Pacific region.

Europe:  Europe represents a mature market for yeast extracts, with a strong focus on:

Quality and Innovation: European consumers generally prioritize high-quality ingredients, and manufacturers in the region are known for innovation in developing new yeast extract applications.

Regulatory Landscape: Strict food safety regulations in Europe influence the type and usage of yeast extracts within the market.

North America:  North America is another established market for yeast extracts, characterized by:

Convenience and Functionality: The demand for convenient and functional food products creates a strong market for yeast extracts offering both flavor and nutritional benefits.

Diverse Applications: Yeast extracts find application across various food and beverage categories in North America, from savory snacks to bakery goods.

Rest of the World:  While not explicitly mentioned, the report likely acknowledges other regions with potential for market growth, such as:

Latin America: A growing middle class and increasing urbanization in Latin America could lead to rising demand for convenient food products that utilize yeast extracts.

Africa and the Middle East: As these regions develop economically, the demand for processed and convenient food products is likely to rise, potentially creating opportunities for the yeast extract market

Request full Report: https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/global-yeast-extract-market

Competitive landscape

Angel Yeast Co., Ltd

Biospringer

DSM

Lesaffre Group

Lallemand Inc

Hansen

Kerry

AB Mauri

Alltech

Leiber gmbh

Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd.

Synergy Flavors

Future outlook

The future of the yeast extract market looks bright, with analysts predicting steady growth in the coming years. This growth will be driven by factors such as increasing consumer demand for convenient and flavorful food products, as well as a growing awareness of the health benefits of yeast extract. The report also identifies key trends that will shape the market, such as the rise of organic and clean-label products, and the increasing popularity of ethnic cuisines. By understanding these trends, companies in the yeast extract market can develop targeted strategies to capitalize on these opportunities.

[foebender3dminiatures]

The Rise of 3D Printed Miniatures in Tabletop Gaming

Tabletop gaming has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with players immersing themselves in intricate worlds filled with epic battles and heroic quests. One of the key elements that enhance this immersive experience is the use of detailed miniatures. FoeBender3D, a leading provider of 3D printed miniatures, is at the forefront of this revolution, offering high-quality figures that bring games to life.

The Evolution of Miniatures

Traditional miniatures have been a staple in tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) and wargaming for decades. Typically made from metal or plastic, these miniatures required hand sculpting and mold creation, processes that were both time-consuming and expensive. However, the advent of 3D printing technology has transformed the industry, allowing for greater detail, customization, and accessibility.

Why 3D Printing?

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, builds objects layer by layer from materials such as resin or plastic. This technology enables the creation of highly detailed miniatures with intricate features that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional methods. FoeBender3D utilizes state-of-the-art 3D printers and the finest materials to produce miniatures that stand out for their precision and quality.

Customization and Detail

One of the most significant advantages of 3D printed miniatures is the ability to customize designs. Players can now have miniatures that perfectly match their characters or armies. Whether it’s a fierce Wereshark Warrior or a valiant knight, FoeBender3D offers a diverse range of models to suit every player’s needs. The level of detail achievable with 3D printing ensures that every scale, weapon, and facial expression is rendered with stunning clarity.

Enhanced Immersion

The detailed miniatures provided by FoeBender3D enhance the immersive experience of tabletop gaming. Players can visualize their characters and adversaries more vividly, making the game world feel more tangible and engaging. This heightened realism adds depth to the storytelling and strategy elements of games, enriching the overall experience.

Quality and Craftsmanship

At FoeBender3D, quality is paramount. Each miniature is meticulously designed and printed using advanced techniques. The process begins with a detailed digital model, which is then printed with high precision. After printing, each miniature is carefully cleaned and cured to ensure durability and optimal appearance. This commitment to craftsmanship results in miniatures that not only look impressive but also stand up to the rigors of regular gaming use.

Community and Support

FoeBender3D is more than just a store; it is a community of gamers who share a passion for tabletop adventures. Founded by Andrew Nally in 2018, the company has quickly become a trusted source for miniatures, earning a reputation for excellence in both product and service. Customers can expect a seamless shopping experience, with attentive customer support and reliable shipping.

The Future of Tabletop Gaming

The integration of 3D printing in miniature production is just the beginning. As technology advances, the possibilities for customization and detail will only expand, offering even more opportunities for gamers to enhance their tabletop experiences. FoeBender3D is poised to lead this charge, continually innovating and expanding their offerings to meet the evolving needs of the gaming community.

Conclusion

3D printed miniatures have revolutionized tabletop gaming, bringing unparalleled detail and customization to the hobby. FoeBender3D stands at the forefront of this exciting development, providing gamers with high-quality miniatures that enhance immersion and bring their gaming worlds to life. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or new to tabletop gaming, FoeBender3D offers the perfect miniatures to elevate your adventures. Discover the difference that high-quality 3D printed miniatures can make and join the growing community of satisfied gamers at FoeBender3D today.

[powertrumpeter]

Root Causes Of Ethnic Conflicts And Civil Wars.

Tribalism, nepotism, and religious bigotry of country’s rulers, are the major causes of ethnic conflicts or civil wars. For instance in African, puppet rulers are discriminatory in their style of governance. They use divide-and-rule tactics. They focus much more attention to their tribesmen, and people of same religion. These they believe will perpetuate them in power, even if they are empting the treasury. They do the bidding of their so-called colonial masters, who thrive in conflicts.

It’s a well known fact that these self-imposed colonial masters, fuel crisis in their former colonies, for their selfish reasons. Through crisis or wars, they supply arms and ammunition; making millions, and plundering the natural resources of those countries. Colonial masters like Britain and France, aid and abet; tribalism, nepotism, and religious bigotry, of mostly aging civilian dictators in African countries. Some of them have been in power foe decades. They wipe up tribal and religious sentiments to rig elections, and remain in office perpetually.

Colonial overlords are war mongers. They stir up and magnify crisis in other countries; in order to enable them export their deadly weapons, to the country rulers to kill their own citizens. Britain is not known to have mineral resources, or a major manufacturer of goods. It relies mostly for its survival, on stealing by tricks of other countries’ natural resources, and supply of killer weapons at exorbitant prices. It makes gains by cheating on others. That imperialist nation will go bankrupt, if there’re no wars or conflicts in other nations.

This has given impetus to dictators, and ill-educated rulers across the continent, to oppress their own people. They are assured of military support, in case of any rebellion against their government. Therefore, they divide and rule the people along ethnic and religious lines. That’s why in Nigeria, authoritarian rulers oppress and subjugate minority tribes with impunity. The latter are scarcely represented in governance. Civilian dictators and military juntas, are also religious fanatics. They condone religious and ethnic cleansing, terrorism, banditry, and killings all over the place. They have confidence of support from Britain, the traditional supplier of weapons to them, will suppress any opposition to their authority. Those opposed to their high-handedness are tagged rebels or guerillas.

They shuttle London for one flimsy excuse or the other. Britain is a safe haven, for African dictators who loot their countries’ treasuries and kill their perceived enemies with impunity. They flee there to hide their stolen wealth, in the guise of medical treatment. These rogues can spend millions to treat common ear problem or stomach pain; while their people a dying daily of hunger, related ailment, and lack of medical care. They are partners with that imperialist country, in siphoning our purse.

Our tribal and illiterate rulers, have devised another means of siphoning our oil money. They enrich their idle and lazy kinsmen, through ransom paying in kidnapping business. These unscrupulous Presidents, back proliferation of ethnic-based terrorist groups. The latter adopt innocent and law-abiding citizens, and demand for ransom running into millions. Government officials promptly pay the millions to their kinsmen, and the captive are released. Many of them suffer a lot in the hands of their captors. Some get raped and killed. Those terrorist officials, are in the business of negotiating, and sharing of ransom, with those kidnappers/ritual killers. None of them has ever been arrested, prosecuted and convicted. Terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, are essentially conflicts between Fulanis the terrorists, and the rest of the country.

Fulani terrorist/Jihadists, are in the business of invading and taking over people’s ancestral lands. They invade Plateau, Benue and other places in Middle Belt States regularly. And nobody does anything about it. As well, they have taken over some forests in Yoruba land. But, they are finding it very hot and difficult in Biafra land. They have practically been chased out of our forests.

Those disguised Fulani cattle rearers, are on primitive Jihad war. Of course, they are being financed by their Northern elite; who have fifty percent share of their ransom money. Most of their sponsors are top government functionaries. They are on a mission to take over people’s land, after killing and displacing them. They will fail in their expansionist mission.

The conflict going on in Biafra is multi-dimensional one. The immediate past, Fulani illiterate dictator and impostor, introduced religious dimension to it. He gathered terrorists, including the ones from neighbouring countries like Niger and Chad. Then, he armed and sent them to Biafra, on a killing spree. Also he massively recruited terrorists into the Armed Forces, and sent them Biafra land to fight us. Their mission was to capture our land, kidnap, kill and receive ransom. Part of the ransom will be used to purchase sophisticated weapons. Then, they will fight and conquer Biafra; and turn it to Fulani colony, with the backing of Nigerian Armed Forces.

That is why terrorists, Jihadists, and other criminally minded gangs, work hand in hand with the armed forces. But, they are not finding it funny in Biafra. This is because our people have organized themselves into formidable self-defence against our enemies. Our people have learnt their lessons from the previous civil war. No amount of assistance from Britain and others, will enable them to turn our land to Fulani colony, and refugee camps…https://powertrumpeter.org/blog1/the-lord-of-host-watches-over-earth/