#i am the number 1 yan fan

[ayavanni]

The 1000 tweet yan thread!!!!

[water-lemon-alex]

GUYS YOU DONT KNOW HOW NORMAL I AM FOR BEATYAN IN THE YEAR 2024

Needlestar posting + shitpost

[ayamisc]

new addiction

So yes.. I still go "ga ga" over Naruto, BLEACH, Vampire Knight, Ouran High School Host Club, and Full Metal Alchemist… the 5 periodic mangas i read that are still "ongoing"

demo.. [wahahaha… oopsies… i mean.. BUT…]

I have recently discovered.. or rather… ADMITTED and ACCEPTED to myself.. this NEW addiction i have..

ASIAN DRAMAS…….

japanese and taiwanese ones at that..

and to think i HAVEN'T delved into the korean drama world yet.. at the present time…. my most recent explorations on that being the ones 5 years ago..

so….. i began watching around december….. and it was just that. watching..

but then…. it became more often.. i mean.. it is still controllable.. but.. i suppose i'm watching.. in an UNHEALTHY rate.

and so… with watching these dramas.. i found new favorite actors and singers..

and now.. it's a habit of mine to SEARCH youtube every night.. before i sleep [like what i'm doing right now..] of videos of these asian celebrities OUTSIDE of their dramas.. aka… guest shows and variety shows..

and so….. apparently.. yes. I'm a fan.

wow. in the past i could never bring myself to say that so casually.. because let's face it..

you know me. if you ask who my fave actor is.. i probably won't give you an answer..

now.. i can still confidently say i do not have a favorite FAVORITE actor.. but there are now ones i can call… my… "favorite" .. the ones i'm interest to at the moment..

so.. because i HAVE to LET IT OUT… I will name them here in this blog. [wow. this is the first time i've referred to my writing as a blog]

Fahrenheit [Fei Lun Hai]

they're Taiwanese.. consisting of Wu Chun, Calvin Chen, Jiro Wang, and Aaron Yan. I like Aaron Yan [Yan Ya Lun] and Jiro Wang [Wang Dong Cheng] ….yes they're… cute and they appeal to me.. but it's not the "OMG ILOVEU" kind of thing. it's just…. a simple admiration.

Danson Tang [Tang Yu Zhe]

Taiwanese. he is often confused to be a member of Fahrenheit….. but he's actually a solo artist. uhm…. i dunno what to say about him….. i don't go "ga ga" over him.. i just like him.. and i think he's either my number 1 or number 2 taiwanese celebrity… i'm not too sure who i like more: him and aaron yan..hahahaha

Arashi

Japanese. OFFICIALLY my favorite japanese boyband… because…. their songs are AWESOME. it's like.. when you hear it you go…. "wow.. it's a nice feeling" kind of thing. hahaha… so anyway.. a LOT of girls [and i mean A LOT] like MatsuJun of Arashi.. but.. meh.. he's OKAAAAY… hahaha.. i mean, he has appeal all right. like… sex appeal. haha… but.. he's okay.. hahaha As for the leader Ohno Satoshi.. he's a GREAT actor. AWESOME!

KAT-TUN

Japanese honestly, when i first saw their poster i was like "they're all ugly" but….. can't deny they have APPEAL.. and they tend to grow on you so now.. In Kat-Tun I like.. Kamenashi Kazuya and Akanishi Jin yep….. they're funny. hahahaha… but yeah.. they're still ugly though.. but i think they're hot. yes, hot. i DID say that….. uhm… yeah..

NEWS -Japanese. ok.. so maybe NOT the whole of news.. just their leader Yamashita Tomohisa… Yamapi.. for short. He's.. COOL. Again, like kame and jin.. when i first heard about him.. i said "I WILL NEVER LIKE HIM!" because my cousin is CRAAAAAAAAZY for him and it's annoying to hear her talk about him 24/7….. but.. after watching one of his shows…. WHOOOOOO. i like him too. hahahaha….. if kame and jin are HOT.. this one is SIZZLING. hahahaha

Ikuta Toma

Japanese. Sadly, this guy has NOT debuted as a singer yet…. stupid company of theirs.. [same company as the other japanese mentioned above] BUT….. he's a GREAT ACTOR. and… i think he's my favorite japanese actor…. because… i don't go "ga ga" over him like the others… ok so maybe i do….. but in a shallow level… instead.. i am ELATED when i watch him. it's a.. different type of fangirlism.. i suppose you could say.. haha.. so yeah.. toma-kun is awesome.

Eita -Japanese Unlike all the other Japanese guys i mentioned above.. this guy is from a different talent agency and not from Johnny's Entertainment.. uhm.. i' ve only seen ONE of his shows.. and i think he's cute like a child.. haha

Horikita Maki -Japanese

I LOVE HER! she is AWESOME. i've seen TWO of her shows and one movie… and.. yeah ^__^

so there you have it. comment as you please kudasai. WAHAHA

PS. This blog was originally posted on DeviantArt.

[freifraufischer]

Elite WAG Video Performance Finding Aide Project: An Update

I posted about this project last month (and I likely still have months to go before it's finished) but I thought I'd post the work in progress for people to look over and spot any errors (given the size of the document and the number of entries I'm bound to have made several).

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E5xO-lfdYnK-vls4WC6K9lLj_AmReXWFbt3pQ-vLwnI/edit?usp=sharing

So what is this? Well I have gone through every elite meet on youtube that I could find through 2000 put an entry under the name of a gymnast if they appear in that meet video. It will give you a link to the video on youtube (not time stamped because this is already insanity) as well as the language the commentary is in if it has commentary and in some cases the broadcaster.

Here is an example of a relatively short entry:

Li Yan (CHN)

1989 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships TO. Part 2. English Commentary. Eurosport. 1989 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships TO. English Commentary. ESPN. 1989 DTB Pokal AA. German Commentary. 1991 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships EF Day 1. English Commentary. Eurosport. 1991 Chunichi Cup EF. Japanese Commentary. 1991 Tokyo Cup. Japanese Commentary.

And here is another example of an entry that includes NCAA:

Leah Homma (CAN) / UCLA

1989 Canadian Gymnastics Championships. English Commentary. CTV. 1989 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships TO. Part 1. English Commentary. Eurosport. 1989 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships TO. English Commentary. ESPN. 1989 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships AA. English Commentary. Eurosport. 1990 USSR vs The World. English Commentary. CBC. 1995 Pac-10 Conference Championships. English Commentary. ESPN. 1995 NCAA National Championships. English Commentary. CBS. 1996 Pac-10 Conference Championships. English Commentary. 1996 NCAA National Championships. English Commentary. CBS. 1997 NCAA National Championships. English Commentary. CBS.

The goal would be two fold: First for fans to be able have a location to find all the meets their favorite gymnasts were in and follow their career even in smaller meets they may not know existed or didn't know were available. The second is to give a place for gymnasts who may not know bits of their elite careers survived to find it. The example I've been giving is that during the Spanish broadcast of the 1982 World Cup they aired a floor routine of a Yugoslav gymnast (it was held in Yugoslavia and she was the highest placed local gymnast though she finished far down in the standings). When I cross referenced her name to make sure it was spelled correctly I didn't find anything about her as a gymnast but I did find her as a Slovenian philosophy professor. There is no reason to think she'd have any idea that a tiny bit of her teenage sport was preserved in Spain and then put up on youtube.

With that second goal in mind I have tried to use the most correct spelling of names I could (with the understanding that this is an English document) including the dialectic marks that are often stripped off names by foreign broadcasters and the FIG. I've used what I believe is the most common transliterated spellings but offer alternatives in the "aka" line so that someone can search the document for a gymnast and still find their entries.

What do I need help in? Well I'd appreciate it if people (especially non english speakers familiar with your country's gymnasts) could check and make sure I have people's names spelled correctly. This is really important to me.

I am particularly worried about Chinese gymnasts who even through the 1980s often had their names spelled wildly differently by different broadcasters. The document uses family name first for Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Hungarian gymnasts but some of the broadcasts I was using were very inconsistent about figuring out what that might be.

I am additionally very worried that I've simply listed South and Central American gymnasts by the wrong family name. I have had family who lived in Mexico so I know in general how at least Mexican family names work but I very much do not trust the various international gymnastics meets to have used the correct names (I'm looking at you 1999 Pan Ams that I know massacred Latin American names).

If you are just looking to use the document you are welcome to do so, gymnasts are listed first by their name and country code, a line with alternate names for that gymnast such as marriage and hyphenated names as well as including alternate transliterations if they appeared at major championships under that spelling. There are NCAA post season meet entries (conference championships, regionals/nationals) but only for gymnasts who were already in the document from elite meets. The idea of the NCAA entries is a bonus so that people can follow a career and I have some Bundesliga meet video that I will use the same way.

The goal of this project will be to reach the current time. After I'm done in data collection I intend to put things into a spreadsheet form so people can download and sort it however interests them but for now it's easier for me to compile in this form.

[karismaganda]

Hi baby, My Babu! My Happy Pill!

By the time na matanggap mo 'to, for sure hindi na tayo magtatawagan ng "by". Bye na pala kasi hahaha charot. I am writing this from the moment you turned your back to me. Ang dami kong narealize. Ang dami ko ring nalaman at natutuhan.

To begin, gusto kong paulit ulit magpasalamat sa pagdating mo sa buhay ko. Meeting you made me so happy and let me feel how to love and be loved. Maraming "first time" na ikaw lang nakapagparamdam sa akin. Sa maikling panahon, minahal kita agad dahil sobra sobra mo akong alagaan at pag effortan. It was a love so pure na first time ko mafeel. First time ko ngang maligawan e. First time kong makipag date sa tagaytay, first time kong naging vulnerable and honest if I can't handle my emotions anymore.

Tinuruan mo akong hindi naman masamang maging mahina, umiyak paminsan minsan, lalo na andiyan ka naman para patawanin ako pagkatapos kong umiyak. Tinuruan mo akong magkaroon ng "sweet escape" kasi sabi mo toxic sa trabaho ko, ilalayo mo muna ako, isosoli rin pag okay na hehe. You've taught me to do everything para sa pangarap. Naniwala kang kaya kong maging reporter. Naniwala kang magaling ako at malayo mararating ko at palagi kang magiging number 1 fan ko.

Super sarap sa pakiramdam na hindi lang pag push yung ginawa mo sa akin, parang pangarap mo rin kung ano yung pangarap ko. Sobrang excited ko nga nung tumirik mrt di ba haha tas pangalan ko nandon, nakita ko gaano ka kasupportive non kasi inabangan mo sa tv. I know, i made you proud pa rin naman, naging proud ka at some point na ako ang girlfriend mo.

First time kong magdala sa bahay ng jowa hehe first time kong maipakilala jowa sa buong angkan ko, first time kong umuuwi na kasama jowa para magbakasyon. You were my everything. Ikaw naging pamilya ko, kaibigan ko, mentor ko, boyfriend ko. Ikaw nga yung pahinga ko di ba? Tanda mo ba non kahit ilang oras lang ako makakatulog, basta katabi kita narerecharge na ako. Sayo ko naranasan lahat lahat by. Sayo ako naging masaya ng sobra sobra.

Thankful ako for the good and bad days. Super mabuti kang tao, sa pera ka lang talaga nagkakaproblema kaya kinakailangan mo magsinungaling o nakakagawa ka ng di tama by, and i dont blame you for that. Lahat yun by tanggap ko sayo.

Hindi ako perpektong girlfriend, i wronged you many times din. Inaamin ko lahat ng pagkakamali at pagkukulang ko bilang girlfriend mo. Pinipilit kong bumawi, sana nakita mo rin yon. Alam mo naman yan lagi kong niyayabang di ba harapan ko pang sinasabi sa ex ko na ikaw at ikaw yung pipiliin ko. Na walang papantay sayo.

First time ko tumira sa inyo hehe 3 months yon na puno ng pagmamahal. Umuwi ako, okay tayo. Nagulat na lang ako nakikipag hiwalay ka na. Pero naaalala mo rin ba yung panahon na akala ko di ko na kaya? Sabi mo sa akin wag kitang iwan. Hindi kita iniwan kasi mas nananaig yung pagmamahal kaya gusto ko lumaban di ba?

Hanggang sa ayan na nagkaroon ng iba, sabi mo wala lang, may atraso ka lang tinanggap kong harapan di ba? Na dalawa kami wag ka lang mawala sa akin. Tinanggap ko lahat hanggang sa nalaman kong mahal mo na pala talaga, na may nangyayari na pala. Tinanggap ko lahat kahit ang sakit sakit, na sa kabila ng lahat ng yon hangad ko pa rin di ba na maging okay lahat? Lalo ka na. Nag aapply ka non kasa kasama mo ako di ba? Lahat ng pwede ko maitulong, ginawa ko para maramdaman mong di kita sinusukuan. Na kahit tinalikuran ka ng mundo, may RC na tanggap ka ng buong buo.

Nung gabing pinili mo ang ibang tao, hindi ko alam saan ako magsisimula. Saan ako nagkulang? Na bakit nagawa mo yon kahit hindi kita tinalikuran?

Lumipas yung mga araw na tanong ako ng tanong sa sarili ko kung bakit hindi ko naipanalo yung laban? Kung bakit mo ako sinuko? Masakit na yung taong naging mundo ko, tinalikuran ako ng ganon ganon lang. I tried moving forward kahit ang totoo para kong pinapatay ang sarili ko araw araw, umaasa na baka kausapin mo ako. Sagutin mga tanong ko. And you did, message ka ng message pero di para kausapin ako. I tried ignoring your calls, and messages kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na may nagpapasaya sayo e.

Not until nagmessage ka gamit account ng papa mo. Dito ako umiyak ng sobra di ba kinekwento ko sayo na kung paano ko sinusurvive yung araw na yon, tapos nabasa ko message mo. Hindi ko rin alam anong nangyari, eventually nag-uusap na tayo, feb 18, tumawag ka umiiyak ka. Na ako iyak na rin ng iyak kasi humihingi ka ng tawad sa tawag. Na pinagsisisihan mo sabi mo yung nangyari nung gabing pinalayas mo ako.

Nagkita tayo for the first time ulit. Strong strong pa nga ako non biruin ka na nung ako ang girlfriend mo alaga ka sa akin tanda mo pa ba? Sa popeyes tayo nagdinner, tumambay sa centris, pinag usapan lahat nung nangyari nung gabi. Humingi ka ng tawad. Yung mga tanong ko binigyan mo ng sagot.

Hanggang sa naging maayos na, sumama na ako pauwi sa inyo di ba kahit ilang beses mo akong ayain, di ako sumasama? Okay na tayo, pero may kausap ka na agad. Pinapili kita, sabi mo wala na yon, kausap lang. Nangyari na ang mga dapat mangyari, wala naman akong pinagsisisihan kasi wala naman akong ibang gugustuhin pagbigyan ng sarili ko kundi ikaw lang.

Halos live in na nga tayo sa loob ng 1 taon na nagbalikan tayo e. Mahirap sa part mo pag nag aaway tayo dahil sa kakaisip ko naiintindihan ko naman. Pero sana, sana naiisip mo rin na may part ka rin kung bakit ako naging paranoid. Kung bakit ako natatakot pag may kausap ka. Na pag lalabas ka gusto ko sumama, kasi gusto ko mafeel na happy ka na ishow off ako.

Sobrang daming nabago by. Iba kasi yung sinasabi mo sa pinaparamdam mo e. Gustong gusto ko laging kasama ka, gusto kong kasabay kang kumain. Kilig na kilig pa ako pag pinaghihimay mo ako ng isda.

Totoo naman by, wala akong ibang alam kundi prito lang. Walang wala akong panama sa kanila. Pero di ba sumusubok naman ako? Nag eeffort akong pagsilbihan ka. Hindi mo na ba talaga nakita yon? Hindi mo na ba talaga naappreciate yung effort ko?

Bago ka ma-hire sa cnx, minessage kita di ba na natatakot ako, na paano ako pag may work ka na? Kasi baka ipagpalit mo ako. Lahat ng worries ko sinabi ko sayo, sabi mo sa akin wag ako mag isip. Kasi di ka naman mawawala.

Anong nangyari? Anong nangyari sa atin? Bakit ang bilis bilis mong sumuko? Bakit ang bilis bilis mong magmahal ng iba? bakit hindi ka naghanap man lang ng kahit isang rason para lumaban? Ang dali para sayo by e. Naiwan ako sa ere. Naiwan ako na mas maraming tanong. Naiwan akong lumalabang mag isa.

Akala ko masakit na yung una, hindi pala. Wala palang mas sasakit dito. Kasi sabi mo naman hindi ako kulang. Kaya hindi ko rin alam saan dapat magsimula. Kahit nga sana kausapin mo lang ako ng maayos same sa kanila, makakabawas na sana ng sakit e. Di naman ako ang kalaban mo by. Nagmahal lang ako. Mahal lang kita. Nasaktan at nasasaktan pa rin ako by. Sana marealize mo rin yon. Wala ng natira sa sarili ko, kasi lahat binibigay ko sayo. Ikaw lagi inuuna ko pero di ba para sayo, selfish ako? Gusto ko na nga lang maging selfish by e. Yung akin ka lang. Kaso kahit naman anong laban ko, talo na ako. Kasi matagal mo na akong isinuko. Sana may maganda rin akong nagawa bilang girlfriend mo. Sana i made you happy and proud.

Alam ko naman kasing pinagsisisihan mong binalikan mo ako. Pati nga ata pagkakakilala natin pinagsisisihan mo, di ba sabi mo non sana si e... na lang at hindi ako. Sana siya na lang unang nakilala di ba? Hindi ko na talaga alam kung ano naging lugar ko kung ganon naiisip mo. Paulit ulit mo naman akong pinipili. Kaya sobrang hindi ko alam anong nangyari. Ako yung kasama mo sa bahay pero di naman ako yung mahal mo. Kaya ang sakit sakit na binubuo ko pangarap ko kasama ka, out na pala ako sa buhay mo. Masakit lahat ng nalaman ko at nangyari. Masakit na sinukuan mo yung laban. Masakit na talikuran mo ako habang binubuo kita. Never kong pagsisisihan lahat sa atin. Kasi Im at my happiest years of my life when im with you. I apologize sa lahat ng shortcomings ko bilang girlfriend mo. Sana mabigyan mo rin ng chance na patawarin ako sa lahat ng pagkakamali at pagkukulang ko. Gusto kong sabihin na iintayin kita, pero kasi alam kong hinding hindi na kita makakasama, hindi mo na pipiliin pang makasama ako. Mapapatawad din naman siguro ako ng sarili ko for wanting the best for you.

I'll be happy for you. I'll continue rooting for you. Ipagdadasal pa rin kita palagi. Proud ako sayo by sa lahat lahat, kinaya natin. Kinaya mo. I'll be okay, I promise. Di lang siguro agad agad pero pipilitin ko.

Thank you for everything. Thank you for the love and memories na babaunin ko for life. Hangad ko ang kaligayahan at kung ano ang makabubuti para sayo kahit hindi na ako. I want you to be happy even that doesn't include me. I love you by! So much! Mahal na mahal kita Dexter Ian. Palagi mong tatandaan na may RC na maniniwalang kaya mo lahat, mahal na mahal na mahal kita ha. You will always have a special place in my heart, in my life. Sayang nga lang di na ako ang kasama mo mawitness lahat na natutupad mo na goals mo. Tatandaan mo lagi, isa ka sa mga naging best decisions ko sa buhay ha. I love you so much! Hindi ko kayang magalit sayo, mas nangingibabaw lang talaga yung sakit. If God permits, I would love to see and be with you again. I love you. Im sorry.

Letter that I can't send to him.

[chopsticksjungle]

June 11, 2022 (Day 1)

Yesterday I read a tumblr post which recommended to write a diary of your study steps. I think this fits well for my self studying bc sometimes I wonder if I‘m making any progress at all. I don't know if I can do it every day but for now it is a great thing to write down the most important new things I learned the day before.

Fun fact: I also noticed that it is not easy to write the Chinese characters with a normal keyboard :-). So I used my smartphone with diverse keyboards, its very simple now but a little bit time consuming. Additionally there are a lot of tones signs which should be also shown if you write in Pinyin too. First I want to use the numeric technique which I found in diverse sources in the internet. This technique is used to indicate which of the 4 tones is being used and indicated each tone with a specific number:

tone = (1) example -> yi (1)

tone = (2) -> yan (2)

tone = (3) -> ni (3) 

tone = (4) -> shi (4)

Luckily I found a “Pinyin Typist” App in my AppStore. This is surely more comfortable. I love the intenet, yesss.

But important is I learned something new! ;-)

These are the results from the German Jury…. No! Wait… wrong… (I am a self-confessed fan of the ESC. You didn't even notice, did you?..) 

THESE are the result of my yesterday’s study:

Radical 一

used in

一 yī (1 stroke) -> one

一年 yī nián -> one year

一月yī yuè -> January 

二 èr (2 strokes) -> two

二年 èr nián -> two years

二月 èr yuè -> February 

三 sān (3 strokes) -> three

三年 sān nián -> three years

三月 sān yuè -> March 

I always watch a lot of short insta videos daily. I have a handful of people which I follow. They present nice and helpful little videos with new vocabulary or phrases. 

Here are my latest phrases which I learned yesterday. I'm waiting for the day when I can use them ;):

(If you want to know which “老师 I recommend please DM me.)

1.

太离谱拉。-> Tài lì pǔ la 

-> Its going to far!

2.

不关你的事。-> Bù guán nǐ de shì 

-> Non of your business! 

3.

请问你叫什么？-> Qǐng wèn nǐ jiào shèn me? 

-> May I ask your name? 

That’s all for today. May see you soon! Happy learning! 

[dangermousie]

And we have gotten to the infamous cliffhanger ending of the end of the season! I have spoiled myself going in (because I always watch the ending first if I can) and even I started screaming. I do have to say finishing this way, airing the drama in 2019 and not giving us the second season until 2022 is the height of evil.

But now, let’s get to the plotty stuff aka my theories.

Well, Fan Xian is obviously not dead. You do not kill your protagonist halfway into the show especially since he makes it to the end in the novel you adapted. Which leads to three possibilities:

1. He dies but they bring him back somehow using modern tech in the temple or some other timey-wimey handwaivy stuff.

2. Yan Bingyun is the worst swordsman in the drama and despite being trained by the investigator’s office that doesn’t allow incompetence and being able to battle a super competent fighter like Shen Zhong for a while even while still barely recovered from torture somehow can’t do a kill strike point blank from zero feet.

3. Yan Bingyun and Fan Xian orchestrated this, YBY is in on it, and hence this is not a kill strike.

My money? Is on number 3.

One is possible but this would require the drama to go more scifi than this drama has previously been willing to go. It would change up the tone a bit. Not impossible, of course, but not super likely.

Number two is absurd. If YBY wanted to kill Fan Xian from this close in, Fan Xian would be dead, or YBY should be fired from his job and sent to a farm upstate somewhere. I did not see Fan Xian sneak kevlar under his robes or anything.

That leaves number 3. Not because YBY is a great humanitarian and a new best buddy for Fan Xian because he’s neither of those things. Sure, he’s thawed an infinitesimal amount (he was quietly freaking out about Lady Shen in the carriage) but he’s still 99.9% ice and the 0.1% is all for Lady Shen when she’s unconscious. But because otherwise it makes no sense. Why would Fan Xian, who is neither a dummy not a bad judge of character, allow a man who says “I made my choice who to side with” but doesn’t say what it is to be literally at his back in an impossible fight. That’s not just Fan Xian is too smart for it, it’s an amoeba is too smart for it. So they had to have talked things out.

Then also, Wang Qinian, Fan Xian’s right hand man, is notably absent. Why? Because Fan Xian had to have sent him out as part of a plan to get out of it. I mean, it is possible Fan Xian realized YBY was going to betray him and sent for help but the fact remains help or not, that would not solve the immediate problem of “a good proper stab and you are dead, much too late for any help“ so that can’t be it.

And yes, Second Prince is appealing to YBY “hey, if you side with me, there will be peace, if not I will revolt” sense of duty BUT. YBY is obsessed with protecting the country and viewing the emperor and Chen Ping Ping as the incarnations of God on earth. And Second Prince is going against both of them - he subverted the investigator’s office for his private purposes, he is going against the Emperor, who didn’t make Second Prince his heir and he is THREATENING REVOLT. That is literally all the things YBY loathes. Not just that, but YBY is not a dummy and allowing a royal prince to run amuck and plot takeovers and kill an Inspector-General and Royal Envoy (and thus become his creature easy to control and blackmail) because otherwise he’d revolt is the dumbest thing ever because yay, you have prevented possible revolt in a month and ensured a giant revolt and a possible regicide and a bloody civil war in a few years.

We are not even going to get into the fact that if he wanted to kill him to help Second Prince, he could have done it during the night when Fan Xian was sleeping not waited dramatically.

So yeah, that’s my theory. But I guess we will find out in 2022. I hope I am right or Little Robot Boy is dead to me (I don’t know if Xiao Zhan would be back for the role because he’s too big for supportings now, but even if they recast, they should obviously keep the character.)

[camellia-salazar]

Fandom DrawingMashup #2

Another one of these. Like before I'm going to post the characters by number.

1. Tattletail

Who wouldn't see our favorite snitch? Baby Talking Tattletail is loud when I comes to mama popping out of nowhere, but I still love this fuzzy furry ... Tattletail thing :).

2. Yan-Chan

Ayano is a character I decided to draw because I was starting to become a fan of Yandere Simulator again. I stopped being interested in the Fandom 4 years ago. After we moved and all that, I finally got my dad to get the game. so seeing a whole bunch of newbies all at once when I started playing it for the first time surprised the heck out of me. That and all the new clubs, New methods to kill people, also rivals who I heard of a little bit, but not much. I missed A LOT of this fandom, because now I am hearing drama between the creator, YandereDev, and the fans. Apparently the game couldve been developing in two weeks, but it didn't, and he threatened to kill himself, which I don't believe he would do that. But it's stuff I don't really want to be involved with. But I do feel sorry for YanDev. Working endlessly for 6 years trying to satisfy the players and try to make a great experience for them in the game. So into the next character.

3. Applejack

AJ is also a character I wanted to draw because I hardly draw her, like at all. And I was lazy so I didn't want to draw her with her braids in her hair. (Or mane, whatever). So I wanted to draw her running with her hat flying of. (Totally not from Yandere Chan and her knife).

4. Timas

Tim was one of the 5 children you will have to encounter in a game called Wick. I just felt like drawing him again. Also I kinda want to beat the game, but I feel like I can't until my parents are in the mood to. After all, we started the game together, might as well end it together, too.

5. Reed

The Twelve fandom is way to underrated. It needs more love, and so does Reed. Reed is a sad, hopeless boi (kinda like Cypress :'D), and he has been abused by his dad, so he became abusive towards his ex, Ivy.

He needs love. Also this is him hunting or something.

6. Yellow Guy

Also known as Doi, or Manny to fans. But I prefer to call him Yellow Guy until his name is announced. But I get the fannon names. Also I draw him a lot for some reason. Doi is good boi. (I regret nothing)

7. Fone Bone

I'm pretty sure that the BONE fandom isn't a well known fandom (or if it is even a fandom) but I put Wick in here and nobody knows the fandom, either. (I'm not even sure if Wick is even a fandom, but I've seen fanart enough to think it is, so). I still like the book series even after my middle school years. So yah, great book series, hope people will read it. They don't have to anyways but I'll be glad.

8. Cub

Cub and Pop were really... Interesting characters in Happy Tree Friends. I remember this one episode where Cub was stuck in the garbage disposal because he was taking a bath and his father flick the wrong switch in the kitchen and instead of turning on the light, he shredded his baby's bottom half of his body. Death happens and such, maybe watch the episode just to see what happens. Now as I type about it, kinda reminds me of What Remains of Edith Finch when Kai leaves her baby in the tub just to answer the phone, which was ringing. And for some reason, the bath water started to run and fill up the tub with the baby in it still, and... Well.... You'll know what happens next. Anyways let's just continue.

9. Everyone's favorite sociopath who wants to blow up the school for love.

That's right, Yander- I mean... JD. Yeah, that's who I meant. Apparently he had a gun, because... oh that's right, he shot ran and Kurt for raping veronica. Man this musical is jacked up. But it's thrilling and I love the fandom. He is also my favorite. Not because I'm fallen for him or anything (like literally every girl or possibly guy who does). I'm not into fictional characters. I just feel sorry for him because of his past. And because he seems cool. (Shut up.)

10. Leafy!!

My all time favorite character from BFB. She is trying her best to be friendly and kind. She is having a hard time being wanted. So I feel bad for her. But that's not the reason why I like her! Before I posted this, I watched BFB 22 and I ABSOLUTELY loved it! Her and Firey FINALLY talked things out and I'm happy that they're proper friends again! So yah, I like her! It's because she had it ruff. Kinda like MapleShade from my last post. (Note: I drew her here before bfb 22 came out).

Hope you like this! (Sorry I posted later than expected) :3

[tearsofthemis]

Tears of Themis : Chapter 1 “Social Snobbery” Part 10 [Investigation Stage]

[Previous Part] | [Masterlist] | [Next Part]

▌Location- QingPing Restaurant, First Floor

(Xia Yan and I have narrowed down our list of suspects to someone who has had a run-in with the restaurant, and has deep ties with Fang Yuan himself. I thought of Lu HaiYang, who had been briefly mentioned by XinRan, who tried to promote MeiWeiKa and was refused by Mr. Fang. Surely this counts as a form of “bad blood”.)

Xia Yan: “What if… there’s a connection between the QingPing case and another one that I’m currently investigating?”

MC: “Which case is it? I was thinking about Lu HaiYang, MeiWeiKa’s sales manager. Xue XinRan mentioned him in passing when she came to present her case.”

Xia Yan: “...”

MC: “What? Did she not mention him during your debriefing? Unless, there’s some other entity that we’re not aware of?”

Xia Yan: “Have you heard the news that MeiWeiKa has secured funding from PAX Investment Group and are planning their platform launch?”

MC: “I have. I’ve also heard that other smaller financial groups plan to follow suit.”

Xia Yan: “Yup, one of those financial groups hired me to run a background check on MeiWeiKa and investigate the company’s legitimacy. During the investigation, I uncovered that MeiWeiKa has not only hired a bunch of people to falsify data, but has also been obtaining illegal funding.”

MC: “What?! But MeiWeiKa is just a review app, why would they do something like that?”

Xia Yan: “I didn’t understand their motives before, but after taking on this case, I think I have a good idea where I can find my next lead. The competition between rating apps on the market is already quite fierce. Although MeiWeiKa is able to support itself through regular operation, they’re far from meeting the profit margin required for them to compete with already existing apps. However, if the restaurants registered with MeiWeiKa run into operating accidents, their PR service that’s offered at an inflated price would sound enticing to their clients.”

MC: “You’re suggesting that MeiWeiKa is purposely causing trouble for restaurant owners? For example, purposely lowering restaurant ratings by writing fake reviews, thus pushing owners to purchase their PR services in order to fix their reputation?”

Xia Yan: “It’s only a theory. I haven’t found any evidence that would support the claim.”

MC: “I would’ve never thought detectives today would be able to deduce something like that just by comparing two cases…”

Xia Yan: “What else should we be doing then? Invading the privacy of the young, rich, and famous? Or perhaps, catching infidels in action? Gimme a break.”

MC: “Your words, not mine. I wasn’t even thinking in that direction. I always thought all private detectives did were run cold cases that the police have dropped. It was sheer luck that Lu HaiYang turned out to work for MeiWeiKa. Let’s see if we can find something in the restaurant that’ll support your theory.”

~~~Investigation starts!~~~

▌[Examine photo frame on the bookshelf]

MC: “This photo is…? Mr. Fang’s family portrait?”

(I came across a photo frame nested between countless cookbooks.)

▌[Examine boy in the photo]

MC: “Is this Mr. Fang’s son?”

Xia Yan: “During my debriefing with Xue XinRan, she never mentioned that Mr. Fang had a son.”

MC: “She’s only been in Stellis City for a month, it’s only natural that she wouldn’t know too much about Mr. Fang’s familial status. I think… the boy in the photo looks kinda familiar.”

Xia Yan: “Familiar? Is it someone that you bumped into recently?”

MC: “Not that I can recall.”

▌[Examine woman in the photo]

MC: “This must be Mrs. Fang, she’s so pretty.”

Xia Yan: “Judging by how close she’s sitting to Mr. Fang, it must be.”

MC: “Her smile is so gentle, I think she must have been a kind person. It’s a shame that…”

▌[Examine man in the photo]

MC: “Mr. Fang was quite the looker when he was younger. But now he’s in such a deplorable state… I really hope that once this case is settled, he can start fresh again.”

▌[Examine photo behind the frame]

(As I was about to remove the photo frame backing to check the date of the photo, I found a second picture stuck between the frame.)

MC: “This man is… Lu HaiYang!”

Xia Yan: “There’s a date for the photo, March of 2028. This photo was taken last year.”

MC: “Why would Lu HaiYang’s photo be kept with Mr. Fang’s family portrait?”

Xia Yan: “Judging by Mr. Fang’s age, if he had a son, his son would be older than Lu HaiYang.”

MC: “I guess this could be a point of interest when we interview Mr. Fang.”

▌[Examine photo frame on wine rack]

MC: “That’s so impressive! Mr. Fang was last year’s Stellis City fishing champion.”

Xia Yan: “He looks so bright in the photo, but his current state…”

MC: “This case will ultimately determine whether or not his restaurant can stay open. Experiencing emotional stress is to be expected, unfortunately.”

Xia Yan: “Speaking of fishing, I remembered that you really liked seafood, are you still a fan?”

MC: “Of course I am, I love it more each passing day! Seafood is low in fat, so I won’t have to watch my weight that way!”

Xia Yan: “Nothing wrong with gaining a bit of weight. In fact, I don’t think you’re eating enough.”

MC: “No thanks, I want to be able to fit into the new skirts I bought.”

▌[Examine surveillance camera]

(Xia Yan found the restaurant’s surveillance camera which was tightly tucked away in the corner of the room, close to the front door.)

Xia Yan: “It looks like the security camera lens was shattered. Lemme take it down for a closer look.”

(The camera was mounted high up. Xia Yan stood atop a chair and was barely able to reach it. The chair shook as he worked, it looked dangerous.)

MC: “I’ll steady the chair, just be careful.”

Xia Yan: “Don’t worry, I work fast.”

(Xia Yan was as dexterous as he claimed to be, and he dismounted the camera with ease. I watched anxiously. The moment he got down from the chair, I left out a sigh of relief. My neck was strained after looking up at him for so long.)

▌[Examine shattered camera lens]

MC: “The lens is broken… how did they do it when the security camera is installed so high up?”

Xia Yan: “Judging from the shatter pattern, it must have been broken by something thrown at it.”

MC: “What if the culprit noticed and broke the camera to cover his tracks?”

▌[Examine camera’s wifi signal]

Xia Yan: “The camera’s wifi adapter is broken, there’s no way for it to connect to a network.”

MC: “Even if it’s connected, it’s not much of use to us. The cloud only stores surveillance footage up to fourteen days ago. The date of the incident falls beyond this window of time.”

▌[Examine camera’s SD card]

Xia Yan: “The security camera must have been hit by something. The card ejector got stuck from the impact, so I can’t remove the SD card. Nothing I can’t fix though! We’ll be able to retrieve the footage once I fix the ejector.”

▌[Examine the restaurant’s guest book]

MC: “It’s not often that you see a traditional guest book. XinRan had mentioned that after Mr. Fang had refused Lu HaiYang’s PR service, the restaurant had started receiving a lot of bad ratings on MeiWeiKa. All I see are glowing reviews from customers in the guest book. This is proof that MeiWeiKa is running some sort of smear campaign.”

Xia Yan: “Each handwritten review is filled with sincere praise. It’s clear that Mr. Fang’s dishes are celebrated.”

MC: “This…”

(There was an advertisement sandwiched between the pages of the guest book.)

MC: “It’s a flyer advertising MeiWeiKa’s PR services.”

Xia Yan: “There’s a handwritten price discount on the flyer, and even Lu HaiYang’s business card is here. It looks like MeiWeiKa was adamant about pushing their services to Mr. Fang.”

▌[Examine computer by the front of the restaurant]

(We opened the computer connected to the cash register in order to check the restaurant’s finances.)

MC: “Restaurant’s expenditures appear ordinary; most of their monthly spending is used to purchase foodstuffs. There’s also a monthly membership cost for MeiWeiKa. There’s also records of funds allocated to support students in need.”

Xia Yan: “Even though MeiWeiKa wrote fake reviews slandering the restaurant, Mr. Fang is still one of their members?”

MC: “His monthly membership payments are constant and date back all the way to March of last year. Huh? Wait, Xia Yan. Look at this, Lu HaiYang’s name is mentioned here!”

(I was browsing through records from the last couple of years when I came across Lu HaiYang’s name. Every month, FangYuan would transfer Lu HaiYang two thousand dollars.)

MC: “Lu HaiYang was one of Mr. Fang’s past benefactors?”

(On the record, FangYuan had started sponsoring Lu HaiYang a long time ago, and his payments stopped June of last year. That should correspond with when Lu HaiYang graduated from university.)

Xia Yan: “Can you pull up Lu HaiYang’s checking account number?”

MC: “I can! The first and last four digits… corresponds with the bank card from the Insect Repellent 330 transaction.”

Xia Yan: “Ah, I believe Lu HaiYang is our prime suspect.”

~~~Investigation ends!~~~

(After a second round of investigation, we had uncovered a clearer lead on the food poisoning case.)

MC: “Now we can confirm that MeiWeiKa, more specifically, Lu HaiYang, has pitched their PR services to Mr. Fang. Unfortunately, we still cannot indict Lu HaiYang based on one measly receipt. He can play around with the timeline and claim that he wasn’t here on the day of the incident.” Xia Yan: “What if he was caught on the surveillance footage before the incident happened? Then it would be really difficult for him to claim innocence.” MC: “But the security camera is…” Xia Yan: “From a quick inspection, the camera can still be fixed. I have all the tools I need in my bag.”

MC: “As expected from my most trusted detective, detective Xia-lock[1]!”

Xia Yan: “Just watch what I can do!”

(Xia Yan pulled tool after tool out of his bag and started to repair the broken security camera. Just as he started to make headway, XinRan helped Fang Yuan down the stairs.)

Fang Yuan: “There’s no need to fix it, I was the one who broke the camera.”

(Fang Yuan… smashed his own security camera?!)

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Translator Note:

[1] 夏洛克 Xia-lock : Xia Yan’s last name, 夏 Xia, is the same character used in the Chinese translation of Sherlock (夏洛克, Xià luòkè), as in Sherlock Holmes. MC is making a (bad) pun by calling him her Sherlock (Xia-lock).

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[Previous Part] | [Masterlist] | [Next Part]

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《CREDIT》 Translator: @humi-and-co Editor: @hallowsivy 《未定事件簿》Tears of Themis is a 2020 Chinese otome game by 米哈游Mihoyo. All original credits go to 米哈游Mihoyo. 

《 VOICE ACTORS 》  Xia Yan | Jin Xian: https://weibo.com/riceranger Xue XinRan | V17-Su Wan: https://weibo.com/u/2925530143 Fang Yuan | Zhao Yang

[wcuenglish]

The next faculty member under the Spotlight is Ron Rash, a distinguished professor in the Department of English. He has been teaching for a  total of about 41 years. Of that time, he has spent the  last 17 years here at WCU.

In this interview, you’ll hear about his patronus, what fish he would be, some of his favorites, how he would spend $1 million, the picture on his office door, who his hero is, advice he has for students and aspiring authors, and more.  

His requested use of his time in the spotlight: bragging about this semester’s class!

Below the cut is a shortened version of his answers to student questions and other information:

What do you usually get at Subway?  

The largest cup of tea that they serve.

Do you believe in Bigfoot?  Have you ever seen Bigfoot?

Not sober

What is your "patronus” or kindred spirit?

Speckled trout. It’s the native fish of Appalachia.

Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?  

Sunsets

Would you rather drink coffee or tea?  

Coffee in the morning; tea in the afternoon.

If you were a fish, what kind of fish would you be?

Speckled trout

If your personality was an ice cream flavor, what would it be?

Probable vanilla

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?  

Pistachio

What is your favorite place to eat in Sylva?  

That’s tough. Mad Batter, certainly; Guadalupe Cafe; Lulu’s. I’d have to narrow it to those three.

What's your favorite movie?  

Oh wow, that’s such a tough one. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is one of my favorites; Cool Hand Luke is one; and The Tree of Life, written and directed by Terrence Malick.

What is your favorite Star Wars movie?  

Unfortunately, I do not have one. Not a big Star Wars fan.

What is your favorite time period in history?  

The period of the French Revolution because I think so much of what happened since then is tied into what happened in that revolution, both the good and the bad.

What is your favorite month of the year and why?  

September, particularly late September

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Does it have to be healthy? Fried okra.

If you could eat dinner with any 3 people you wanted, who would you choose and why?  

Samuel Johnson, William Shakespeare... I would say William Faulkner, but he wouldn’t talk. Who would be a third one? There’s a writer named Jean Giono, from France, and he’s always been very interesting to me, so maybe those three.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?  

Well, I’ve been there. France. I really feel a connection to the French, their literary tradition, but I’ve actually been there. I would like to go to Brazil.

If you were given $1 million, how would you spend it?

I don’t know. I’d probably just give a lot of it to a worthy cause, some kind of conservation area. Something to do with parks and buying land up for land conservation.

What do you like to do in your spare time?  

I’m a very boring person. I like to listen to music, read, walk, fish. Those are the main things.

What are your top 3 favorite books?  

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky because that book was the first one that made me want to be a writer, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and either Moby Dick or The Sound and the Fury.

What is your favorite book you have written?  

As far as novels, I’d say Serena. As far as short story collections, I’d say Burning Bright.

Tell us about the picture on your office door!  

It’s a photograph of logging in Appalachia, actually near Brevard, during the early part of the 20th century. And it’s just a reminder of how huge those trees were, and anyone who sees it recognizes that. One reason I think Serena is the book I feel best about is that people forget that if you had driven through the Smoky Mountains in, say, 1910/1920, you would’ve been surrounded by mountains that had been raised, almost as if they’d been skinned, and I think we tend to forget that. That particular photograph is a good reminder of that particular virgin forest that we lost.

Who is your hero?  

Well, I’ve got a number of them. I think Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian who stood up to the Nazis, is certainly a man that I view that way. I admire people who are brave when it really costs them to be. It’s easy to pretend to be brave, but those people such as that show us what we’re capable of as human beings. As far as writing, certainly Shakespeare as far as the excellence that I go back to and can’t imagine writing that way, but it’s just nice to know that a human being can do that.

Why did you decide to teach at WCU?  

Well, they invited me. I certainly wanted to teach here, and for several reasons. One, because my family is so deeply rooted here, actually in this very county. I had relatives here in the 1700s. The location, the fact that it was rural. I’ve always been more comfortable in rural areas. I’ve never lived in a city, and I’d never want to. And it gave me an opportunity that I hadn’t had to do more writing.

What's your favorite thing about teaching?  

I think it’s connecting with the students. The great thing is it’s allowed me to, at least on some level, believe I’m younger than I am. Just the idea that what I think is important, the aspect of literature, is something I think has a great worth for us as human beings... that I can transfer some of that, maybe some of that appreciation (I hope), to encourage my students to read and write. Teaching literature is an act of communion.

What’s the hardest part about being an author?

It never gets easier. Each time, it’s, for me, like starting over. I mean, all the doubts, all the sense that it looks hopeless, how will this thing ever cohere... going through that. You know, I just feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to do what I’ve wanted to do with my life. I’ve had some success, and I think that even if I hadn’t, I’ve gained so much from writing that I would not have regretted it, even if I never published. I think it’s a worthwhile endeavor just to understand ourselves and understand the world around us by trying to observe it.

What advice do you have for students/aspiring authors?

For any writer, if you want to be a really good writer, you have to read. I mean, you have to study people who are better than you are. I do not know a first-rate writer who is not a veracious reader. One should also read widely. Read the writers from South America, read Márquez, read Borges. Read Achebe from Africa, read Baudelaire from France, read Mo Yan from China. I think that’s really important, but also read writers from the past. Great writing remains great writing. Anyone who’s writing today is going to learn a lot about how to create a minor character from Shakespeare. I think just reading from your time period... you’re not really learning the tradition, and part of what you want to do is to break away from that tradition, to create your own way of perceiving the world, but I think it’s hugely important to learn from the past as well as the present.

Anything else you would like to share for your time in the spotlight?

Well, I’m just grateful to be here. I’ve had great students. Actually, one of the best classes I’ve ever had in my life is this semester, and that’s really nice to know that as long as I’ve been teaching, I can still go into a class and feel like I’m connecting and also being challenged because the group I’ve got this semester, they’re so smart and so talented that they keep me really pushing. I have to bring my A game with them, and that’s good for me, too.

[dreamingsushi]

Eternal Love - Episode 1

So I have already seen Eternal Love before, but watching Eternal Love of dream made me want to watch it again since I loved it so much and even though I already know the story and plot I thougt why not make reviews of this one too? So here I am, waiting fore the last episodes of Eternal Love of Dream, getting some Yang Mi feels. I love her as Bai Qian and can’t wait for Mark Chao too as both Ye Hua and Mo Yuan. Plus another good point is that the OST for this one too is just so good! So yep. There are so many shows on my list (and I am still not done with I want to hear you song) but oh well!

The series starts in Kunlunxu, Moyuan’s residence. His disciple are chasing a really powerful magic weapon that their master just got. It’s a fan, but none of them manages to catch it. When Mo Yuan himself puts his hands on it, it still wants to go around and he wonders if he’s not about to get new disciples.

Zhe Yan sends Bai Qian to the Kunlun mountains so she can become Mo Yuan’s disciple. Since he only guys as his disciples, Zhe Yan gives her the appearance of a man. I didn’t remember that at the beginning she had such a weird way of dressing up, I only remember how elegant she is after that. Anyways, it’s probably to make her look younger (even though Yang Mi already looks so young, she’s so gorgeous). Another guy is also there to become Mo Yuan’s student and seems a little snobbish. Then the fan comes in flying and stops right in front of Bai Qian, now Si Yin, as it chose her as its master. Mo Yuan is a little surprised and notices almost right away that she’s a girl. The war lord can’t be fooled that easily. Since the fan is a very powerful weapon, Mo Yuan decides it’s better if it doesn’t go outside of Kunlunxu and accepts her as his disciple, pretending that he didn’t notice that she’s not a man : it seems it was fated to happen.

Oh wait! Guys! That other dude! It’s the same actor as Yan Chiwu! How come? Well on wiki it says Chiwu is Zilan’s twin brother? How come would Mo Yuan accept as his disciple someone from the Mo clan? It’s supposed to be only celestials on that mountain? And it doesn’t say anything about it in the book, which I just finished reading. Oh well. Zilan is really different from Chiwu, it’s weird. It shows Liu Ruilin’s acting ability though which is nice! I like to see actors in different kinds of characters!

Then having two new disciples at the same time, Mo Yuan asks Zhe Yan’s opinion on who should be shixiong (that would designate an older training student) and who should be shidi (so the younger training student) Zhe Yan suggests that Si Yin should be the shidi and Bai Qian doesn’t really like it that way and she says that then she’s not becoming her disciple, she’s tired of always being the little one. However Mo Yuan bribes into being the shidi, to even things out he’s going to give her the fan. She thinks it’s fair then and sits back down, ready to bow to him.

Now that I have seen the Pillow Book, I think they had less money for Eternal Love. The Nine Heaven’s court is... it looks like it’s out of a 1990′s drama. Even Donghua... I like his hairstyle better in the Pillow Book. The man bun is not for him. Anyways, I was going to say that it seems that the Celestial Emperor isn’t that happy that Mo Yuan gave the Yuqi Kunlun fan to a little spiritual fox that we know nothing about.

It’s been 20 000 years (oh god I just hate so much to translate numbers from Chinese to English or French... just ugh, so complicated when I already hate maths) since Bai Qian became Mo Yuan’s student. She oftens goes to the mortal realm with another disciple to tell people’s fortune. The scene shows them hurrying back to Kunlunxu after men start fighting over a beautiful woman. If they wait for too long and come back too late, they might get scolded by their master. Well they still get scolded anyways, even though Dashixiong (eldest of the disciple, not in terms of age, but of the time he came in as Mo Yuan’s student, so he has been there the longest) covers up for them. Then Mo Yuan dismisses everyone except for Si Yin, who’s known to be his favorite disciple. He brought him back some peach liquor from Zhe  Yan since it’s her birthday. Okay, just to mention that it’s confusing, but I am switching between masculine and feminine to talk about Bai Qian/Si Yin and I really don’t do it on purpose. So the look on Mo Yuan’s face though. When I first watched the drama, I never realized that Mo Yuan had feeling for Bai Qian, but it actually shows very much. He looks at her so lovingly. I love Mark Chao so much <3

But Si Yin doesn’t get to enjoy his liquor as he gets kednapped by Yaoguang, an immortal in love with Mo Yuan. They took her in to become Yaoguang’s disciple, but Si Yin won’t agree since he’s already Mo Yuan’s disciple. Because he won’t agree, Yao Guang orders to take Si Yin to the water dungeon and let him rot there three days or until he agrees.

The disciples look for Si Yin everywhere, but can’t find him. Well, because he’s not there.Some of them think it could be the Yi’s doing, but Dashixiongsays that unless for Qingcang none of them is powerful enough to climb Kunlunshan to Kunlunxu. Also it had to be someone very familiar with Kunlunxu to be able to leave as quickly. So they guess it would be Yao Guang. Dashixiong and Lingyu go tell Mo Yuan while the others keep on looking.

So basically, Yao Guang wants Si Yin to get away from Mo Yuan because Mo Yuan likes him too much. One of the maids asks wether it is because Si Yin is that handsome which gets her a killing look from Yao Guang, probably out of jealously, but also because that would imply that Mo Yuan is gay. As she gets out of the water dungeon, Mo Yuan arrives asking if his disciple is in there. She says of course not, but Mo Yuan has no time to fool around, he doesn’t like speaking for nothing. He tells her to make way, but she won’t and points her sword at him, but Mo Yuan is too powerful for her and gets in taking Si Yin out. He’s really unhappy and doesn’t want to hear what Yao Guang has to say. She says she did it so he wouldn’t be criticized just because of a disciple. He convokes her for a duel on February 17, so they settle accounts. She’s really shooked.

Si Yin is in a really bad state, in his sleep he cals out for Mo Yuan and only calms down. When he takes her hand. Then he says that Yao Guang doesn’t deserve Mo Yuan. He looks so happy hearing that.

Shenye, the celestial emperor’s son comes to convince Mo Yuan not to fight with Yao Guang. The situation with the Yi isn’t stable and Qing Cang might look for any reason to start a war so the relationship between Mo Yuan and Yao Guang should remain good. Now isn’t the time to be divided. But Mo Yuan says that for the sake of Kunlunxu that battle has to be fought. But he promises that both Kunlunxu and Yao Guang fu would help the celestials in the war with the Yi. The celestial emperor wants to see Si Yin and understand why Mo Yuan cares so much about that disciple.

Yat! Fighting scene hehe! They are so bad ass! You wouldn’t see that in an American series. Mo Yuan wins rather easily. He asks her to move out of Kunlunxu and rejects her.

Si Yin finally wakes up and wants to go and see Mo Yuan. Then Yuling tells him that he has to copy some text 3000 times and that a girl came to see him. Si Yin can’t seem to think of who that could be. It’s Xuannü. Ergh. I so dislike her. I didn’t remember she came in the story so early.

When she sees Si Yin, Xuannü doesn’t recognize him as Bai Qian, but thinks that oh wow, there’s even somebody who looks like Bai Qian even more than that. Xuannü is Bai Xuan, Bai Qian’s big brother’s wife’s sister. She was sent by Bai Zhen. He didn’t come himself because Bai Yi,s daughter was just about to be born, so everyone went there to celebrate. Anyways, he sent Xuannü to Kunlunxu because her mom wants to force her into marriage and it felt improper for a girl to live with only two men which is why he and Zhe Yan don’t hide her in the Peach Blossom Forest, at least Bai Qian is a girl and they knew each other in childhood. Xuannü starts crying when Si Yin says that keeping her is a little... but seeing she’s crying, he runs to ask permission to Mo Yuan so Xuannü could stay at Kunlunxu. Mo Yuan agrees and says she should stay at Siyin’s place. Si Yin complains that he’s also a guy, it would be improper but the way Mo Yuan looks at him so means: did I hear something now? No? I thought so.

Si Yin goes to see a golden lotus flower to tell it he won’t be able to come and take care of it while he’s punished to copy, but he will come back as soon as he’s done. Just wait for him. The lotus flower glows at Si Yin touch. Seems it likes him.

In my memory, special effects weren’t as bad but oh well. I love this drama so much and Yang Mi + Mark Chao have so much chemistry together. I am glad to watch it again and... Liang Liang <3 That song is my everything!

[kekabumi]

by Connie Khong

Growing up in a non-typical Chinese household, Chinese New Year always bring about different meaning to me. Why is it different? Because in the eyes of most Chinese in Malaysia at least, I am considered a ‘banana’. It means I’m yellow on the outside and white on the inside. In other words, I only look the part - but inside, I’m not the least bit.

I still speak a sprinkle of Hokkien in my household. And I speak Penang Hokkien so our Hokkien, similar to our cousins in Malacca, is smattered with Bahasa Malaysia. Except unlike a big percentage of my Chinese counterparts, I don’t speak the common Mandarin or the lingua franca of Kuala Lumpur : Cantonese fluently.

Thankfully, my late Papi's’ family is of  Hakka-Cantonese descendents and accompanied with TVB dramas growing up, I ended up picking up a bit of Canto here and there. Not the best since I don’t speak it as much, but I can still order some food or drinks and attempt some bargaining at the resident kopitiam - teh c ngalat, mm koi!

I didn’t think my Chinese New Year or me not able to speak Mandarin makes me any less Chinese - until I got older and hung around with other Mandarin-speaking friends. It was only then it came to my realisation that I am a bit different because I lack the ability to read, write and speak the so-called common language and that also meant, there is a whole universe I couldn’t access - which is apparently the license to be true Chinese. Nevertheless, I tried not to let these things bogged me down or define me - after all we still held some traditions or must-do things and practices which still hold dear to me - as a true blue Chinese or not.

So here are some things I do know about Chinese New Year!

1. Apa tu makan besar Chinese New Eve?

- Similar to your malam Raya, this homecoming dinner is THE essence of the storyboards you see in most of the Chinese New Year ads. Everyone will gather once a year to catch up with each other. Even if you don’t talk throughout the 365 days, it’s definitely NOT fine to skip the reunion dinner (don't be disrespectful to the food!). This is where the ‘how are you’, ‘when are you getting married and when are you having kids’ questions will be bombarded. But really, whether you’re true blue Chinese or a yellow banana, this means family quality time of coming together - of homecoming. Which is why the dinner is known as reunion dinner, 团圆饭 (tuan yuan fan).

Over the years, I am learning more important vocabulary because it carries much meaning to the things I celebrate and helps me connect with it better - with my roots and to appreciate it all the more.

2. Pantangs are real!

- Well, I’m a second generation Christian and honestly, most pantangs don’t or shouldn’t really apply lah. For your infomation, second generation Christian means that your parents are the first to believe in the household and you’re the second to follow after them. Well, for my household, more than beliefs, it has been customary that we keep to making sure

a) we have lots of red things in the house

b) spring clean wayyyyy before the 1st day of Chinese New Year and that means

c) not sweeping the floor especially on the 1st day (my late Papi insisted on it but my mother cheekily suggested to vacuum this one year when she forgot to spring clean the few days before)

d) putting the (fake) plum blossoms or any other spring items and decorations up

e) the word ‘fuk’ is placed upside down at the door or walls.

3. The upside down ‘Fuk’

Hahaha, nope, not THAT F word but fuk 福. I may not be able to read a lot of Chinese characters because I’m a Kebangsaan kid since primary - but this is one of the few that I know by heart. We will place it upside down and not right side up to invite all the fortune, luck and happiness into the household and then, pour it out to all the guests that enters and leave the household. Another reason why I remember it is because it’s also the same character used for Hok in Hokkien.

4. Khong Family CNY Signature Dish

- Not all family serve the same food you know? Like how we have different versions of Laksa, different household serve different must-have dishes : special to that group. For example, Jiu Hu Char (Stir fried yambean with dried cuttlefish) is a must in my Hokkien household and because we have our Hakka grandmother on my late Papi’s side, we also serve these gorgeous Kau Bak or Khew Yuk : Hakka marinated 5 spice pork belly, steamed with round yam. They are sooooo good - our go-to signature Khong CNY dish!

We would plan what to prepare for Eve, First Day and back then when my Papi and his parents were still around, the 2nd Day family lunch as well. Usually First Day are more vegetarian friendly - because we have had so much meat on the Eve and for the religious ones, they will observe 1st and 15th of the month as vegetarian days so it’s only apt that we try to incorporate more vegetable options as well.

And food have good meanings to them as well - onomatopoeia! So, it’s really common to find Mandarin oranges, pistachios, fish, and certain vegetables like mushrooms because in their Chinese pronunciations, they sound like words that means happiness, gold, prosperity, luck and the likes. That’s why they are a must-serve during Chinese New Year and even more on other auspicious days for the Chinese community like weddings!

5. Red Packets - angpow mana?

- Contrary to popular beliefs, not everyone gets angpow and not everyone gives. The golden rule of thumb, is that if you’re married, then you have to start giving. Because it means, you’re finally an adult and is able to pass on the (financial) blessings to others - especially the younger ones. Well, the amount is up to you - but it really depends on the economy (nowadays, the minimum has increased from the heyday of RM2 per couple or per pax to about RM5 or RM10 these days) but, to be honest, it’s the thoughts that really counts. And while married couples generally don’t receive, their parents still can give to them if they want to. While unmarried older relatives can give money, they don’t put them in red packets. Then there are some practices where the younger but already working siblings will give to their older siblings as a form of respect. Though this is not as common, it’s being practiced. But generally, any older relatives can start giving - and yes, even you - the twenties and thirties year olds, if you’re working and if you have younger cousins or nephews and nieces, you can give them as well. Just don't put them in red packet if you’re not married yet.

6. #OOTD: Colour to wear

- The obvious colour would definitely be red! But anything that represents prosperity, money, luck is good too. So colours like gold, orange (because in Chinese pronunciation, it means gold), green and blue. If these colours are too strong for your liking, you can even opt for pink and salmon. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t all wear cheongsams or samfus during the celebrations anymore. It’s not really a common practice but it's still fun to put it on for the occasion! While most people these days are not as superstitious, to be safe, black and whites are a no-no as they are seen as inauspicious and related to funerals.

7. Balik kampung time!

It’s a common practice for the community to travel or make their way back to their hometown. I believe it’s the same for most of our non-Chinese friends when it comes to their day of celebration. I mean, it only makes sense to head back to where your grandparents and extended relatives are at - and for some, where you grew up in. If you’re married, you would have to follow your husband to celebrate 1st day at his parents’ place and only to return on 2nd day to yours. It's really all about planning so you can celebrate with each other’s family.

8. WIND AND WATER

And this brings me to my 8th (which also sounds like fatt (prosper) in Cantonese) and last point. It’s apt for me to end with feng shui - synonym to all things superstitious Chinese. And how specific dates bring extra ong and huat to you (dates to get married or return to work, hoi gong in Cantonese) in hopes that choosing a good day to do things, it will make everything go well.

For others who believe in feng shui and the likes, the zodiacs and fortune telling is also another important thing to start the year with. Some say if your zodiac is the zodiac year or is against the Taisui (something like a guardian God overseeing people’s fortunes) for that year, you’re going to have a very tough year ahead.

So yes, that wraps up a few of the things I know. I am still trying to learn and reconnect with things that most, if not all, Chinese that still practices even up to this day. And to me, the most important thing is family and homecoming. That’s really the essence of Chinese New Year which lasts until the 15th with more mini celebrations in between such as Everybody’s Birthday (Yan Yat) on the 7th and pai ti gong by the Hokkien community on the 9th and the end of it all, Chap Goh Meh on the 15th night where the singles will head out to the river/seaside to throw oranges with number in hopes to find their potential partner.

So, join us welcome the new year in the lunar/Chinese calendar. And no, for the last time, you can be a Christian / Muslim / Buddhist etc and still celebrate Chinese New Year because you’re still CHINESE.

From all of us at Kekabumi to your family, we would like to wish you a Huat-derful Chinese New Year and may this year brings you lots of joy and prosperity!

[starlightlotus]

Alphabet Tag game

I got tagged by @my-fan-girl-life

Let’s do this!

a - age: 21

b - birthplace: Hawaii, USA

c - current time: 7:40 PM (Hawaii)

d - drink you last had: Water

e - easiest person to talk to: My bf and my friends 💕

f - favorite song: right now: Senorita by G(I)-DLE, all time: Pop/stars by K/DA

g - grossest memory: Being sick last Friday

h - horror yes or horror no: No. 

i - in love: with my bf and my fictional bfs/husbandos 

j - jealous of people: Depends and what it would be

l - love at first sight or should i walk by again: Should I walk by again 

m - middle name: Alessandra

n - number of siblings: 1

o - one wish: To be with my bf (long distance relationships can be... a struggle, especially when you’ve been in it for nearly 6 years)

p - person you last called: My mother.

q - question you’re always asked: “How old are you?” and “What’s your nationality?” (I always get interested in their reactions when I answer them) 

r - reading anything right now: Nope.

s - song you last sang: Nanairo no Compass by Ichinose Tokiya (Miyano Mamoru)

t - time you woke up: 9:15 AM (Hawaii)

u - underwear color: Gray

v - vacation destination: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Maui, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan (again).

w - when was the last time you really laughed: Half an hour ago from watching funny BTS moments

x - x-rays: Never had.

y - your favorite food: Fresh salmon sashimi 

z - zodiac sign: Taurus

I’m tagging @sosoftandsweet @kittyandco @eros--arrows @yans-selfshipstand

[the-archlich]

He Qi’s SGZ

Below is Sun Bofu’s translation of He Qi’s SGZ from the now deceased Empire Divided site. I have made no alterations or corrections.

He Qi styled Gongmiao was a man from Shanyin in Kuaiji. {1} When he was young he served as a minor government official and defended Yan Zhang. There was a county official, Si Cong, who’s actions were villainous. [He] Qi desired to control his acitons. Zhu Bo admonished saying, “Cong comes from a large tribe and the Shanyue are very close to here. Today we could harness him but tomorrow morning the bandits would come.” [He] Qi heard this and was very angry. He quickly beheaded [Si] Cong. [Si] Cong’s clan and family united and raised several thousand troops to attack the district. [He] Qi led the magistrates people to the gates then suddenly attacked. He greatly routed them and took Zhenshan and more. Later people on the Fuchun river rose up in rebellion. [He Qi] moved to defend Mo Zheng. He punished the evil and supported the good. Within a month he had pacified the rebellion.

1. Yuyu Jin: The “He” clan was originall the “Qing” clan. [He] Qi’s uncle, [He] Chun was a Confucian scholar and had rank. During the reign of the Han Emperor Andi he served as a Palace Attendent and the Grand Adminstrator of Jiang Xia. When he left office he avoided Andi and changed his surname to He. [He] Qi’s father assisted him.

In the 1st year of Jian An [196], Sun Ce approached his district and nominated [He] Qi as Filial Pious and Incorrupt. At this time Wang Lang fled to Dongye and Shang Sheng rose troops to serve him in Houguan. [Sun] Ce had the Chief of Yongning, Han Yan, become the commandant of the south and prepare troops to punish [Shang] Sheng. [Han] Yan was defeated by [Shang] Sheng. [He] Qi replaced [Han] Yan and received the commandant affairs. [Shang] Sheng feared [He] Qi’s power and position and sent an envoy to beg for an alliance. [He] Qi agreed and [Shang] Sheng came out to receive his seal. The bandit commanders Zhang Ya and Zhan Qiang did not surrender with [Shang] Sheng. They rebelled together and killed [Shang] Sheng. [Zhang] Ya called himself the Supreme General and [Zhan] Qiang called himself the Grand Administrator of Kuaiji. The rebel soldiers were too few so [He] Qi used his army to stop them. [Zhang] Ya gave some power to his son-in-law He Qiong to cause trouble. [He] Qi then sent a messenger to gain the help of the Shanyue people. The Shanyue agreed to help. [He] Qi then advanced to punish them. In one battle he greatly defeated [Zhang] Ya. [Zhan] Qiang’s faction was very frightened and led their whole force to surrender.

With Houguan already pacified, Jian An, Han Xing, and Nan Ping feel into disorder in the 8th year [203]. [He] Qi led his soldiers to Jian An to set up his headquarters. The families of the region gathered 5,000 soldiers and came to recieve [He] Qi. At this time 5 bandits, Hong Ming, Hong Jin, Yuan Yu, Wu Mian, and Hua Dang, led 10,000 households to station in Han Xing. Wu Wu’s 6,000 households departed to station in Daitan. Zuo Lin’s 6,000 households departed to relocate in Gaizhu. Together they came out to Yuhan. The new drew great concern. The army was sent on a punitive expedition to Han Xing and Yuhan. [He] Qi believed that the bandit’s soldiers were very few. He penetrated them but did not continue. He sent a decree to the Songyang Chief, Ding Fan, to prepare to attack Yuhan. [Ding] Fan came together with [He] Qi and granted him the adjacent cities. When he saw the army he was shamed and was no longer willing.. [He] Qi then beheaded [Ding] Fan. Thereupon the army trembled with fear and there were no more problems. He then divided the troops to stop and prepare. He advanced to punish [Hong] Ming and greatly routed him. He approached and beheaded [Hong] Ming. [Wu] Mian, [Hua] Dang, [Hong] Jin, and [Yuan] Yu all came to surrender. He moved to attack Gaizhu as well as Daitan and their generals came to surrender. All in all he captured and beheaded 6,000 men. He returned and set up a new district and all in all gained 10,000 soldiers. He paid his respects and was granted the rank of Colonel Who Pacifies the East. In the 10th year [205] he punished the bandits at ShangRao and created a new district.

In the 13th year [208], he was promoted to become Central General of the Household Who Dominates Martially. He went to punish the Yi and Xi people of Danyang. When the four counties, Wu Qiang, Xie Xiang, Dong Yang, and Feng Pu surrendered, He Qi reorganized them into a new district. Later, a Xi bandit commander, Jin Qi, stationed on Anle Mountain with 10,000 families. Mao Gan led 10,000 families to station on Wuliao mountain. The Yi commanders Chen Pu and Zu Shan took 20,000 families to station on linli mountain. Linli mountain had 4 flat sides and was several tens of Zhang {T1} high. There was one narrow and dangerous path to the top but it’s appearance what that of a knife. If they tried to come up the bandits would drop rocks. [He Qi] thus couldn’t attack them. [He] Qi went around the mountain and observed a weak spot. He recruited a band of light soldiers to serve to scale the mountain using arrows and ropes. They came to a part of the mountain that was not defended. They used the halberd to climb the mountain and circumnavigate the path. Those who went up first lowered cloth lines to those beneth. Thus several hundred men got to the top. The soldiers spread out all around the bandits then [He] Qi had them beat the drums. The bandits heard the drums in the night from all sides and they knew that the other army was already at the top. They became very frightened and fell into confusion. They didn’t know where to serve and tried to guard the path. [He Qi advanced] and greatly routed [Chen] Pu. All his men surrendered and 7,000 were beheaded. {1} [He] Qi returned to govern the newly conquered lands of Liyang, Xiuyang, Bingyi, Xi and others. [Sun] Quan then divided the land into a new Xindu prefecture and made He Qi the Grand Administrator. He set up his headquarters in Shixin and was promoted to become Lieutenant General.

1. Baopu Zi: Originally Wu dispatched General He to punish the Mountain Bandits, the official army used swords and daggers but could not prevail. Later they shot arrows out in the right direction but could not gain an advantage. General He thought about this then said,“????????,??????,?????,????,??????????????,?????????”???????,???????????,?????????????,??????????????,???????,??????”

T1 – A Zhang is roughly 3.3 meters, however the actual length varied over the course of history.

In the 16th year [211], there was an uprising under Lang Zhi in the eastern protion of Wujun numbering several thousand. [He] Qi came out to punish him and greatly routed [Lang] Zhi. {1}[He Qi] won great merit and [Sun] Quan rewarded him. {2}He gave him a great carriage and an excellent steed.

1. Wu Lu: Jin [region] was changed to serve as Linan.

2. Wu Shu: [Sun] Quan told [He] Qi, “Now is the time to conquer all the land under heaven. The capitol is in the center of China. We send tribute such as ????,?????”??:“???????,????,?????,???????,????,?????,??????????,????,????,?????”

In the 18th year [213], the people of Pengcai, Liyu, and Wanghai in the eastern portion of Yuzhang rose up in rebellion and created chaos with over 10,000 people. [He] Qi punished and pacified the them, beheading their leader. All the others surrendered. He Qi always picked the strongest and best fit soldiers to help defend his regions. He was promoted to be General Who Exerts Himself Martially.

In the 20th year [215], he followed [Sun] Quan to attack He Fei. At one point the enemy came out of the castle to do battle. Xu Sheng lost his position but [He] Qi used his soldiers to ward off the attack, thus he compensated for [Xu] Sheng’s failure. {1}

1. Jiang Biao Zhuan: [Sun] QUan again attacked He Fei. Zhang Liao launched an ambush north of the ferry. It was extremely dangerous. He Qi had 3,000 troops on the southern bank to greet [Sun] QUan. Sun Quan gave a feast aboard one of his warships. He Qi got down from his mat and wept and said, "Your honour is a ruler of men. You should always be heavily guarded. In today's affair, when you almost came to misfortune, your servants were fearful as if Heaven and Earth were falling. We beg you to take this as warning for a lifetime." Sun Quan came forward and wiped his tears for him, saying, "I am grateful and ashamed. Caution is now engraved on my heart, not just written on a girdle."

In the 21st year [216], a Poyang leader You Tu received a seal from Duke Cao and then used his people to rise in rebellion. The people of Lingyang, Shian, and Jingxian all followed him. [He] Qi and Lu Xun punish and defeat [You] Tu and behead several thousand. The rest all greatly fear them and the three Danyang counties surrender. From this they gained 8,000 soldiers. [He Qi] pays respect and is appointed the General Who Tranquilizes the East and conferred as the Marquis of Fengshan yin. He was also given command of the Yangtze defences in Lu Jiang.In the beginning of Huang Chu Wei sent Cao Xiu on a campaign against Wu. [He] Qi was far away and arrived late. His presence warded off Cao Xiu. Earlier the generals assembled at Dongkou had lost many men due to a strong gale. They falsely accused [He] Qi of not assisting as his forces had not crossed the river and stayed on one side just to keep his force intact. Various generals then depended on his force.

[He] Qi by nature was extravagant and elegant and had particularly good soldiers. His soldiers’s armor and weapons was of the highest quality. His ships had elaborate inlays and carvings. He eventually became the General of the Rear and gained the Staff of Authority of the Governership of Xuzhou.

Initially Jin Zong served as a Xiakou General. He used his force to rebel to Wei. In Wei he served as the Grand Administrator of Qichun. He would raid AnLe. [Sun] Quan got very angry and sent soldiers to stop this. After 6 months, he sent [He] Qi to lead Mi Fang and Xianyu Dan to attack Qichun. He thereupon captured [Jin] Zong. After 4 years he died. His son [He] Da and his younger brother [He] Jing inherited his rank. {1}

1. Kuaji Dianlue: [He] Jing served as the Colonel Who Exterminates Bandits. He had strict plicies but he was also kind. The soldiers loved him. He died young. His son [He] Zhi reached the position of General of the Fierce Tigers. His other son [He] Shao also gained rank.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Empire Divided.

[tkmedia]

Have ‘morally reprehensible’ Italy peaked too early?

Get your views on Italy and much more in to theeditor@football365.com… Italy v Belgium I enjoyed both games of football last night but in particularly the Italy v Belgium game with so much attacking intent on both sides. What I do not understand is how Italy get away with so much, I guess I would call it cheating. It gets called gamesmanship or the dark arts but it amounts to the same thing. It was highlighted perfectly by the BBC commentators at half time and full time in relation to Immobile where, as ex-pros, they were all laughing and joking about his antics. Would this be the reaction if the game was against England? I suspect not. Many years ago, John Nicholson wrote an excellent article about a mate of his (probably a bass player or a drummer) who got away with things because of who he was and John likened this to Italian Football and the then Italian president Berlusconi. By John’s reasoning, Italy and their president got away with things that other countries/presidents couldn’t because it was expected of them. This still seems to be the case and they have almost become a parody of themselves. I have no affiliation with Spain but I do hope that they get past this highly skilful but morally reprehensible Italian team. Gwarrior (LCFC) Italy peaking Anything can happen in the semi against Spain, and I’m sure the best team will win, but is there anybody out there who still thinks Italy peaked too early? Dario (gutted for Spinazzola, he’s been immense) Club team Italy play like a really well drilled club team despite playing a very different game to the Italy I’ve always known (apart from excellent game management/dark arts). How does an international team do that? Aidan, Lfc (Based on my 1 game experience of watching Doku, and limited football knowledge, I confidently suggest Liverpool should sign him) Quick Euro thoughts… – Spain’s Pedri is an absolute talent, could easily see him becoming the talisman of Barcelona once Lionel Messi does leave – Switzerland did themselves proud and a few of their team put themselves forward for a potential summer move, Yan Sommer anyone? – Italy could just win this whole thing, really impressive blend of old style Italy and new style – Ciro Immobile with the finest acting since Luis Suarez against Norwich – Is Roberto Martinez actually a good manager because I just can’t tell – Jeremy Doku is going to be yet another player Rennes make an insane profit on in a short space of time Mikey, CFC Chip on England’s shoulder… I used to wonder why so many people dislike England during International tournaments. I now understand because I’ve joined the queue. It’s so frustrating and annoying to hear the English media seemingly proclaim England the best team in the world because of one victory…ONE VICTORY…against a team you all claimed were no longer the force they use to be. Suddenly, every other team has a deficit and only England is going from strength to strength… Really?…REALLY!!! The worst thing is you have been playing the worst football this tournament has seen(Yes it’s the worst. If you have the best attack in the tournament like you claim, you shouldn’t be parking your team’s aeroplane on the pitch). Nelson (I can’t wait for Ukraine to give you guys a thorough trashing so things can go back to normal.) Lagos. KDB When the pressure is on in the biggest games, the great players stand up and make a difference. Not for the first time, Kevin De Bruyne was nowhere to be seen when playing on the big stage. Jamie, Eire

Dropping Sterling… First off, let me begin by saying I am not a fan of Raheem Sterling. He wouldn’t be on my fantasy team and I can’t understand why Southgate likes him so much. However, he is the leading goal scorer for England in the tournament and seems to be on a hot patch. How does dropping him make any sense? What other team would drop their leading goal scorer going into an important game? I would drop Kane, who let’s be honest has been woeful. Was not his goal also a tap-in? Yet the bias media celebrated the goal like it was some magical work of art. For Spurs yes he is magic, for England he has been below par. This same media is debating whether to start Grealish, he is England’s best player. He changed the last game as soon as he came on. I do think England will have enough for Ukraine, but Denmark will be a tough battle and could be the end of the road for England. Christian Gooner – Toronto Sterling right of reply… Enjoyed the replies to my Sterling email, less so the comments baselessly calling me part of the ‘Brexit/boo the knee crew’ and suggesting my analysis of some relative weaknesses of a footballer is based on ‘hatred’ – inaccurate, weird and offensive, ‘Luxongo’ et al. Sterling is a very impressive man on and off the pitch and has suffered deplorable abuse of all kinds – but it doesn’t make him (or anyone else) above fair criticism of his standard of play, nor does it mean anyone criticising his play should be associated with that abuse. Still, it’s useful to know how people must feel when they are ‘no-platformed’. Anyway – some perfectly reasonable opposing opinions (and it’s ok to disagree – I think?), but I have to take issue with Rob saying ‘ You simply cannot choose “whatabouts” over “reality”’. It seems he’s essentially saying that if you win, no one should ask: ‘what if we changed this, would we be better?’. A main point of my email was that if you rest on your laurels and don’t go through that exercise, eventually you are likely to come unstuck, just as we did in 2018. If you go through it and the answer is ‘no, we’d be no better’ then fine, but don’t stick your fingers in your ears and sing la-la-la at the process. I like John G’s comparison to Linker and Greaves because Sterling has obviously done well to be in a position to score his goals. There’s plenty of merit in that view if the idea is that Sterling and Kane are an old fashioned front two with Sterling as the poacher, but is that really the way people think we’re playing and the main role people expect Sterling to play? The other problem is that in 1990 Lineker played in an XI with Beardsley, Waddle, Platt and Gascoigne. Not quite the seven defensive players we deployed in the last 16. If it wasn’t already a long email, I would have said yesterday that I’m more (but not completely) in favour of playing Sterling if we revert to an attacking four for the rest of the tournament, but in a 5-2-3 there is pressure on Sterling to create and, as Derek points out, we create a ‘paucity’ of chances with him as one of our attackers, with a number of promising scenarios breaking down as a result of his decision making and/or poor touch (something that’s pretty hard to prove or disprove with stats). Anyway, assuming Southgate persists with Sterling, obviously I hope I am proved wrong – it’s just that there’s a difference between what I hope and what I think. Shappo The real ambition in the tournament With the hands of time ticking inevitably towards another great sadly leaving the game, it’s clear that one man at the Euros is seizing the world stage to show that he’s ready to take over. In a match filled with stars, only one has stepped up to make it about them. No hesitation, confidence in spades – he’s stolen the show. Michael Oliver is clearly the next Mike Dean. Ryan, Bermuda (a normal human being would err on the side of a yellow and go to VAR, but never Oliver or the great Deano. Own those game-ruining mistakes I say!) Time for a Sin Bin? Football is an evolving sport. VAR is becoming less intrusive as we get used to it. But for me it is the acceptance of constant fouls that now needs addressed. Trips, pushes, niggles that stop the game and often stop real attacking opportunities, but are not bookable until about ten have been let go. So time for a 10 minute sin bin. A punishment that will impact on the game, give the perps a real disadvantage, and stop them doing it. The evidence is there from rugby. The ref warns then bins. It would make football a better game. Tim Haaland dreams… Imagine this: Haaland stays put in Dortmund this season.  His goals output next season drops with Sancho’s departure. (Haaland’s father reportedly went “F**k…” upon hearing confirmation of Sancho’s transfer to Man U”.) Man U goes on a deeper run in CL say semi-finals… What are chances Haaland joins Man U next summer -to re-unite with the man that assisted the most for his goals, and with the man who coached him in the youth ranks?  Many ifs, but one can dream… Lionel, Singapore Salzburg is in Germany? Hi there, I’m not taking issue with Lee’s general point about the BuLi being a less physical league , but Takumi Minamino signed for Liverpool from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg. Austria hasn’t been a part of Germany since, well, some unpleasantness that is rarely discussed in the British tabloids, and certainly hasn’t been mentioned at all recently… Dara O’Reilly, London Souey Anyone who doesn’t have a man crush on Graeme Souness is made of stone. BB Read the full article

[calacuspr]

Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Jordan Henderson & Narinder Batra

Every Monday we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.

HIT – JORDAN HENDERSON

Communicating with fans is fundamental for any sports club or player, particularly during these lockdown times where engagement is even more challenging 

But the increase in online social media abuse has also become even more prevalent in recent months, with Thierry Henry declaring recently that he is deleting his accounts completely until platforms do more to combat the trolls.

Manchester United quartet Anthony Martial, Axel Tuanzebe, Marcus Rashford and Fred and Chelsea’s Reece James have also been targeted by racist social media abuse this season.

There have been reports that the Premier League and Football League might consider a collective social media blackout while Swansea City announced a week-long social media boycott last week on all platforms in response to abuse and discrimination.

The blackout includes all players, staff and the club's official accounts and comes after Jamal Lowe, Ben Cabango and Yan Dhanda have suffered racial abused in the past two months.

A Swans statement read: “As a football club, we have seen several of our players subjected to abhorrent abuse in the past seven weeks alone, and we feel it is right to take a stand against behaviour that is a blight on our sport, and society at large.

“We also want to stand with players from other clubs who have had to endure vile discrimination on social media platforms. As a club we are also acutely aware of how social media can impact on the mental health of players and staff, and we hope our strong stance will highlight the wider effects of abuse.”

Championship rivals Birmingham City soon followed Swansea’s lead and said: “The Club stands in solidarity with Swansea City Football Club…with this fight going beyond sporting rivalries and one that must be tackled in unison.

“Regardless of who such abhorrent abuse on social media is directed towards, Blues do not believe this should determine who speaks out against it and that making this stance together is paramount to ridding the game and society of this evil. This goes far beyond pulling together as Blues, but as football and society."

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has taken things a step further, giving control of his social media channels over to an anti-cyberbullying charity due to continuing online racist abuse.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita were subjected to racist abuse on social media following the Reds' 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

That prompted Henderson to work with the Cybersmile Foundation, which aims to provide support for victims of cyberbullying and promote a positive use of the internet. 

Taking to Twitter, Henderson said: “Online abuse has got to stop. Recently I’ve been thinking about what I can do, as an individual, to try and make a difference. I've seen friends, team-mates, other players within football and in wider society be on the receiving end of horrendous online abuse which is now out of control.

“The platforms should be doing more but as a society we need to be kinder to each other – that’s where it starts and stops. I have seriously considered deleting my social media accounts in the last few weeks but instead I want to use my platforms to try and drive positive change – people shouldn't have to boycott platforms or deactivate accounts just to avoid abuse.

“So I'm handing all my social media accounts over to @CybersmileHQ who I have partnered with to raise awareness of the impact that cyberbullying and online abuse can have on people. They'll be sharing stories of people affected as well as resources for education, reporting and how to get help if you or someone you know is struggling. Things have got to change. Jordan.

He added: “I partnered with Cybersmile for the People Not Profiles campaign because the problem of online abuse is continuing to destroy lives every day. It has been great working with Cybersmile to address such an important issue and it is my hope that this campaign raises awareness of how seriously online abuse can affect people and also lets people know there is help and support available to them.”

Henderson should be applauded for taking a proactive approach to addressing the issue of online abuse, especially with social media platforms seemingly impotent at policing the trolling that occurs on their channels.

Rather than simply complain or boycott them, Henderson is using his huge profile to highlight the importance of good behaviour online and the devastating impact has on those who are abused.

A Cybersmile statement added: “The campaign will run for a number of weeks and will be featured on The Cybersmile Foundation and Jordan Henderson’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter - all driving content to raise awareness of the severity of the issue while providing support and education options to millions of people online.”

Dan Raisbeck, co-founder of the Cybersmile Foundation, added: “Everybody at Cybersmile is honoured to be working alongside Jordan on this important campaign, designed to serve as a reminder that behind social media profiles there are real people with real feelings.

“By effectively utilizing Jordan's powerful platform, we will be reaching millions of people with behaviour-changing insights into the effects that cyberbullying and online abuse has on people's lives, as well as offering potentially life-saving access to crucial advice and support services.”

Let’s hope Henderson’s support for the campaign highlights the realities of trolling and prompts some if not all the keyboard warriors to think twice before targeting those that they abuse.

MISS – INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT NARINDER BATRA

Lalit Bhanot has been one of the powerful figures in Indian sports throughout the 21st Century, but he has never been far from controversy.

A former secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Bhanot previously spent 11 months in jail on corruption charges linked to the New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

In May 2020, further questions were raised over Bhanot’s involvement in the IOA after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had insisted previously that officials facing charges should not be involved in the administration of the organisation.

Despite Bhanot offering his resignation in October, IOA President Narinder Batra did not accept the resignation, vowing that Bhanot will continue to serve on IOA commissions so long as he continues in his role as President.

“If anybody has a problem thank you very much,” Batra said, according to the New Indian Express. “I don’t care, he is my chairman. As simple as that. For me he is very important.

“If somebody does not like his face, they are welcome to go and bang their head. As long as I am President, he will continue. If I get elected in November, he will remain as chairman.”

Last month, the IOA Ethics Commission ruled that Bhanot will cease to be a member of any committee of the Olympic body with immediate effect as an interim measure pending a final adjudication on charges of impropriety in his appointments. 

The Commission also sought details from Bhanot on his positions in the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

The IOA website, however, continues to list Bhanot as member of several committees including Chairman of the Tokyo Olympics Preparations Committee.

Given the ruling from the IOA Ethics Commission, Batra’s comments are entirely misplaced and raise further questions about his ability to run the organisation.

Suggesting that anyone unhappy with Bhanot should go and “bang their head” was clumsy language at best and incites unnecessary thoughts of violence and regardless of his views on the decision of the Ethics Commission, the way he communicated his thoughts fell short of what you’d expect from a President of a National Federation.

Rather than simply disregarding Bhanot’s resignation and calling out any critics, Batra should have explained why he felt Bhanot remained the right person for the job.

It will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the coming months, particularly in the build up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and whether the decision will be taken out of Batra’s hands.