#i consider it my duty to post all things boom which includes stuff like this

[sonicboomseason3]

im a month late to this and im sure at least one other person has already talked about this but idc look at the sonic boom refs in the most recent tailstube

[botwstoriesandsuch]

I'd like love headcanons about the new champions. Specifically like how they would interact with their Divine Beasts, how they would socialize with the Champions' spirits, and how they interact with Zelda. I love your blog by the way, it's so creative and I love your stories!

Thanks a bunch! Sorry this took a bit, I had a ton of ideas for the Divine Beasts…

Anyway, let’s get into some

New Gen Champion Headcanons!

So Hyrule is saved and now we just got a bunch of giant mechanical beasts laying around

What to do, what to do…

No one can seem to really control the Divine Beasts as it requires a telekinetic connection, and the beasts have to recognize someone’s soul and spirit as worthy…yada-yada

Even Link was cheating a bit, as he only controlled the terminals of the Beasts with his Sheikah Slate. He didn’t have the power to actually tame them, he could only just tilt them around a bit. Hylia knows Link doesn’t need four giant machines capable of causing mass destruction anyway

Zelda, as usual, takes the initiative to find a solution. Who better to tame these Divine Beasts than the ones who helped defeat them!

Enter, the New Champions 

Sidon was excited when Ruta responded to him. I mean, such a creature had judged his sister Mipha worthy of commanding it. So the fact that he could also control Vah Ruta resonated with him, as it meant that maybe he could live up to his sister…

Of course, some of the older Zora, including his father, were wary, considering the Divine Beasts were so closely linked with Mipha’s death

But Sidon is determined, he wants to be useful and help Link (aw) and all of Hyrule. He’ll convince everyone that it’s his duty as a noble to help everyone with the Divine Beast.

“Besides, my sister will be watching over me!”

Sidon and Ruta very helpful whenever there’s droughts or a bad harvest. People don’t even need to report anything. Sidon and Ruta just instinctively know if people need rain.

And Ruta does have a mind of her own. She (yeah we’re using she for all the beasts, like boats, ya know?) is sort of playful and just randomly splashes water on Sidon every now and then. 

I also like to think the trunk doubles as a speaker, and Sidon just blasts music whenever he feels like it

It seem Yunobo was the only one bewildered that Rudania responded to him’

“W-what?! Why me? All I did was tag along with Link and headbut it a few times…”

It would take some convincing from the elders that he was up for the job

“Nonsense kid. You did what none of us could do. You’re the one who tackled that old lizard head on! Plus, you’re graced with Daruk’s protection. You helped save Goron City, You got this, brother!”

So Yunobo became a Champion, able to tame Divine Beast Vah Rudania. He’s a bit flustered with this new found fame, but he gets through it. After all, the whole ordeal with Link has made him a bit braver

I like to think Rudania’s personality is serious, an all work no play kind of guy. Purely because it clashes with the personality of both Daruk and Yunobo so much. (Hc that’s why Daruk was struggling with his Divine Beast originally)

Rudania moves on their own, without Yunobo’s input sometimes, so they can move out of the way of falling rocks and stuff. The lizard acts like a big old grump

Anyway, the Goron mining business is BOOMING, literally. Those turrets and drones that Rudania has? Super helpful when scanning dangerous areas by Death Mountain, and for identifying valuable ore. 

Also Rudania’s fireproof-ness is great on checking on how active the volcano is, a super helpful asset under a slightly anxious Goron youth. Fun!

Teba takes up the job, no questions asked. No one’s that surprise that the best warrior is the successor for the Divine Beast, but he cares a lot about living up to Revali’s legacy. He gets Medoh to respond immediately, and he’s probably the most skilled out of the four new champions with his beast. 

However, it takes time for him to warm up, to Medoh. The thing almost killed his best friend, and shot a laser at him after all. Teba does what’s necessary to maintain Medoh, and nothing more. 

Vah Medoh basically is a mama bird. It uses its Sheikah tech to keep the inside toasty for whenever Teba comes, she glows warmly in the night, even the propellers are used to blow fast gusts of wind to help Rito get places fast. 

Eventually, Teba gets along with Medoh when he practices archery with Tulin on Medoh’s back. The updrafts of the grates there are even better and faster than the natural ones at the flight range. 

Vah Medoh’s cannons/turrets are helpful when dealing with the numerous monsters near the Hebra Range. Talus? Gone. Ice Lizalfo camp? Obliterated. Hinox? Dead. This part is probably something Teba enjoys too, he’s a warrior first and foremost anyway, so dealing with monsters so easily boosts his ego, just a bit.

Everyone was ecstatic for Riju. Everyone, especially Bularia, is so proud. Look at all those achievements under her belt! Youngest Chief, has a sand seal prophet, defeated Vah Naboris, oversaw the reclamation of the Thunderhelm and the Yiga Clan Hideout (although that last one was mostly Link, but no one knows that because, he’s a guy, scandalous)

Riju works well enough with her Divine Beast, the Thunder Helm pairs well, and she feels like she’s growing into it anyway. 

Naboris is a show off. Stomping for no reason, hanging out in thunderstorms and sandstorms just to look cool? Yes. And Riju plays along with this because what kids doesn’t wanna look cool with a giant mecha beast? With Naboris, Chief Riju is starting to outgrow her fears of being seen as a bad leader, cause a Divine Beast is a pretty good testament to how hard you work for your people. (Aw, her mom would be proud)

Let’s talk about those Electric Generators. This Divine Beast can harness energy from the earth? And has natural electrical systems? So, so, helpful not just for the desert, but for everyone in general. Naboris’ electrical power is used to power other machines and technology, allowing for heating, water systems, lights, the whole sha-bang. And the fact that there’s a lightning rod to attract the lightning, which not only keeps people safe, but harnesses the natural elements of the land? *chef’s kiss* 

You bet your ass Zelda hangs out with Naboris a lot too, reverse engineering portable electricity could help all of Hyrule get back on their feet. I’m talking Industrial Revolution baby, (but without the exploitation of the working class and poverty, ya know, only the good stuff)

But besides that, Riju uses Naboris to navigate the desert. You don’t need to worry about sandstorms and such when you’ve basically got a walking house. It’s lights also serve as good waypoints for travelers, or beacons for those that are lost. 

Now as for the original Champions…. Well the ending of botw was pretty clear that they had passed on. They sorta disappear…cause they found peace…and all that. I know the point of fanfic is to ignore canon and create your own endings and ideas, but if I got into how I think the Champions would be revived this would be a much longer post, lol.

So we’ll just leave it at, everyone happy. Hyrule is prospering, Zelda and Link are leading a new generation of Champions and helping the people of the land. Everyone gets together and has a sleepover and Link’s house every now and again. And Teba adopts everyone because he is basically the only adult. Yay!

[coleisunderrated]

Season 11: The Destruction of Zane Julien

You read that right. Season 11 ended up doing nothing more but destroy everything about Zane that made him who he was and was one big middle finger to all the character development and hardships he went through. Follow the cut for why and my biggest rant yet and the bane of my time in this fandom

Making one of the ninja evil was kind of a given seeing how much the fandom wanted it. I wouldn’t have had a problem with it either but the writers decided to ‘play it safe’ by using Zane simply because he’s a robot who can just be reprogrammed. It really dehumanized him, especially after he struggled time and again to be just as human as the rest of the ninja. I know Ninjago’s writing has never been stellar but there was a whole bunch of problems with Zane being the Ice Emperor. What was the point in making him evil if he had no real reason other than a shoehorned case of amnesia? which was the laziest way to go And why would they do it if they won’t go into the undoubtedly traumatic effects it will have on him or even the changes that could’ve happened within the team?

And worst of all, all the damage from that lazy and bad writing has been done. Season 11 ended up completely destroying his character.

Before season 11, Zane was the sweetest person of Ninjago. He grew and learned about himself and the world just like any other human. He was always the odd one out but soon earned his place in the team. He had a very sweet and loving relationship with his father and even if it’s been retconned, he was also accepting of his brother Echo. He found his true potential by embracing who he was and knowing the love he had for his friends. He even sacrificed his own life to stop the Overlord, dying as a true hero. He was a true protector and went through way more than any ninja did (besides Lloyd) to save Ninjago time and again. Even if he was a robot, he was, in a way, more human than many other characters in Ninjago. His story has been told and the only way to add more was to explore more of his past such as his encounter with the previous Master of Ice or his life between his father’s first death and meeting Sensei Wu. But all of that, all the character development and growth he had, and all the suffering he endured to uphold his duty, has been rendered meaningless and thrown down the drain the moment Zane was revealed to be the irredeemable and monstrous Ice Emperor.

Zane was made to protect those who can’t protect themselves. As the Ice Emperor, he did the exact opposite by ruling not just a city like Garmadon did but an entire realm with an iron fist. He also killed countless innocent beings. He committed genocide on Krag’s species and most likely many others who weren’t lucky to have any lone survivors. The formlings and the villagers being frozen wasn’t treated as such because ‘oh hey they’re still alive, they just can’t do anything’ but it was really no better than if he actually killed them. For the formlings, their culture, way of life, and knowledge of shapeshifting, had been wiped out for countless years. He killed so many people and living things, brought so much suffering to a whole realm, and committed countless atrocities that are absolutely unforgivable. Nothing could ever make up for what he did. He jumped beyond the moral event horizon further than any villain in Ninjago ever did and yes, that includes Harumi.

Much of the fandom and even canon put all the blame on Vex and while he can be considered the true villain of the Ice Chapter and him manipulating Zane to do his dirty work for him made him all the more vile, what is often overlooked is that Zane still did these terrible things out of his own will. The scroll corrupted him but didn’t erase his will and tyrant or not, he could still disagree with Vex, make his own decisions, and even did things Vex had no say in such as imprisoning Lloyd.

And then the writers only made it even worse with the way they ended it.

When Boreal was defeated, the other ninja finally realized the Ice Emperor is Zane yeah Ninjago has never been good with subtlety I’m actually disgusted that they, especially Cole, took him back. They knew he was a genocidal tyrant who caused decades of suffering to the whole Never Realm yet they don’t have to do any fighting and let Lloyd take all the credit and welcome him back to the team like all that never happened. They all took a backseat throughout the whole Ice Chapter so Lloyd to get all the spotlight and do everything himself yet again (which is a whole other issue in of itself). And once they meet up with Zane, all of his crimes and atrocities they know he did are forgotten just because he’s their friend and the protagonist who should always be treated as a hero no matter what he does. And Krag doesn’t even seem to be scared or angry when he sees Zane, who killed his kind. And then he gets to be with the ninja for a bit before they go home while the denizens of the Never Realm don’t seem to react at all to his presence. Even if he never really showed his face up to this point, the ninja and Vex would’ve surely said something but no, he's not an evil dictator anymore and was a good guy all along so he won’t have to face any repercussions or fess up to all the horrible crimes he committed. Then again, what’s the point if nothing could ever redeem him after all that?

And the message at the beginning of the Ice Chapter has also ended up being irrelevant. It strongly implied that not only is Zane no longer the good-natured nindroid we all know and love but that there will also be no going back. The only way it could’ve had any impact at all was if Zane was actually going to be gone for good. The possibility of it being the key to restore Zane’s memories also a waste of potential. Speaking of which, it was unrealistic and a blatant deus ex machina that Vex only had to say ‘protect’ and boom! Zane’s memories are back and he returns in a flash and everything is all good and normal again. He didn’t have to struggle one bit to recover his memories. Regaining memories is not that simple and Zane didn’t even acknowledge all the harm he caused nor does he really do anything to Vex other than freezing him for a bit. At this point, he has devolved into nothing more than the unsympathetic and unforgivable karma houdini he now is.

All this makes me think of a Twitter post I saw earlier of how ‘we were not ready for the ending’. With Nya learning to control ice at one point, the writers seemed like were seriously going to kill off Zane or write him off permanently and replace him with Nya. What could’ve also happened is somehow, if Zane survived, the First Spinjitzu Master’s spirit may sense what Zane did and would be so disgusted by his actions he takes away his elemental powers and pass them on to Nya or Zane himself does so. With Zane powerless and traumatized, he ends up leaving the team for good. He certainly won’t be able to stay in the Never Realm either given all the harm he caused and everyone there would most likely want him dead. If he didn’t die, he either shuts down permanently or leaves for some completely different realm and never comes back. I remember when the whole fandom was scared something like that would happen but looking back now, those would’ve been way better than that awful finale we got. Killing off Zane for good or him leaving permanently would’ve been a very huge move and Ninjago is no stranger to this stuff but that leads to another problem. The problem isn’t whether or not the writers will make any big moves, it’s that they often end up doing a bad job at it.

And the finale. Goddamn the finale.

The finale only made Zane look even more unsympathetic and undeserving of the happy ending or anything resembling it. You can forgive the monster who killed and harmed countless innocent people and caused a devastating eternal winter to a whole realm simply because they happen to be your corrupted friend who doesn’t remember you but they’re memories came back in a snap and you can fix them in an instant with the Power of Friendship(TM)! That is complete and utter bullshit! And it completely destroyed his place in the team. He can’t be seen as a ninja or a good guy anymore and the ninja know they’re siding with a murderer and tyrant who’ll never have to face any consequences for all the terrible things he did and will most likely never address all the trauma he’ll now have. And while I may not ship Pixane, can you imagine how devastating it would be for Pixal to know what Zane did? If the Pixane episode doesn’t address any Ice Emperor stuff or her trying to help him, it’s gonna feel very... off. Honestly, Zane’s relationship with the ninja and even Pixal is now very toxic.

And no, Zane apologizing or the ninja helping him being 'behind the scenes’ just won’t cut it. We can only get so much from what actually happens in the show. Even if it appeared in the show he’s done way too many things that are too terrible to deserve even an ounce of sympathy.

Gonna diverge a bit here but am I the only one who thought Vex also got off way too easy?

Anyway, with all said and done, Zane now feels completely out of place in Ninjago. The writers most likely had a different ending in mind that would result in Zane being gone for good but they changed it at the last minute and as a result, it doesn’t feel right with him there. It no longer feels like he’s part of the team and while the ninja still serve their purpose and have more of their story to tell, Zane doesn’t seem to fit in anymore and is... just there. The Ice Chapter completely threw away all the development he had and made his story a total waste. I’m also starting to fear this will affect Pixal, who (as far as the writers are concerned) is most relevant as a love interest, not a samurai or even her own character.

The only way the writers could salvage Zane’s character at all is to consider this season nonexistent and they’re doing a pretty damn good job at that and that isn’t really a good thing. As for the next season, I’m feeling ‘meh’ about it and while Cole seems to finally get some attention after that, I have some bad feelings about what’s gonna happen. Besides all that, Zane’s presence and status as a good guy now feels unearned and forced. And if he goes into any ‘protecting others’ spiel, what was once a core element of his character has become hollow and now makes him a massive hypocrite. That’s how bad this season ended up being for Zane, his story, and everything that made him who he was.

All in all, congratulations Ninjago writers. You took one of your most beloved and well-developed characters who deserved the world and completely ruined him beyond repair. I can’t wait to find out who will be the next character you’ll destroy.

[scrawnydutchman]

Paradise P.D: Animated Series Review

I’ve reviewed a lot of animated - and live action - shows and movies on my blog. Nearly everything I’ve felt the need to comment on has been seen in a positive light. I don’t shy away from harsh criticism nor do I actively avoid notably poor content; it just so happens that the things I’m most interested in discussing are things I have mainly positive comments on. Paradise PD has come along to break the mold. The genuine disgust I have for this series is a first for me. I hate this show. This is quite possibly the worst show I’ve ever given a complete watch. The characters are either heinously cruel or insultingly generic. The premise is cookie cutter and derivative as hell. The humor is forced, predictable and just depressing more often than funny. The animation . . . . oh God, the animation. I’ve had non flavored rice cakes with more taste than this show. It’s like anti-creativity. Even as I’m typing this Ii’m getting riled up just thinking about it again. Alright, let me calm down. Let’s break this show down piece by piece, starting with the writing.

Writing

*ugh, the animation in these gifs is terrible. I’ll get to it when I get to it.*

Synopsis: Kevin Crawford is an aspiring young police officer who is determined to prove himself to his dad, Chief Randall Crawford of the Paradise PD. Chief Crawford has a hard time trusting his son because of a firearms accident that occurred when Kevin was very young (the less details you know about that the better) but his ex wife mayor Karen Crawford forces Randall to bring Kevin into the department anyway. Kevin thus joins a motley crew of  . . .ahem . . . “”””hilarious””””” cops including Gina; the badass uber violent super cop who’s both the sex appeal of the show and has a fetish for morbidly obese men (yes, seriously), Gerald Fitzgerald; the Cleveland Brown of this show who’s basically just a well mannered  token black guy, Dusty Marlow; the morbidly obese innocent cop whom Gina constantly harasses sexually (and yet when male characters harass her on the show she threatens to beaten them for pervy comments, so . . . hypocrite), Stanley Hopson; an elderly officer whose whole schtick is being senile and doing gross shit . .  and finally Brian Griffin-I mean Bullet; the canine unit who’s also a drug addict . . . and being a drug addict is basically his whole shtick. They get into a bunch of wacky shenanigans, a lot of gross stuff ensues, yadda yadda yadda

So admittedly, this isn’t a bad premise for a show of this style. If Brooklyn 99 has proven anything it’s that a police department is a great and refreshing setting for a sitcom with tons of potential for jokes as well as diverse characters having great chemistry with each other. Plus it’s an archetype I don’t see very much of (I’d like to point out that I consider this different from the “buddy cop” archetype which is literally everywhere, because rather than focus on two cops it involves an entire precinct). This show is kind of like if Seth Macfarlane made a Family Guy spinoff centered around Joe Swanson (except that sounds a million times more amazing). But while Paradise PD sounds like a good concept for a show on paper, it’s execution is poorer than poor. Ironically for being such an off-the-beaten-path premise for a sitcom the show doesn’t take very much advantage of it. It’s not like the case in every episode is particularly interesting and it’s certainly not like Archer or Brooklyn 99 where the humor comes from the mundane nature of the job that nobody really talks about (filing a lot of paper work and performing basic job duties). Instead it’s premises about banging police cars that have AIs that behave like abusive girlfriends . . .which is a premise we’ve seen before. Or it’s about a father not understanding his child’s hobbies . . .which is a premise we’ve seen before. Or it’s about a fighter being overly confident in the ring only for his cohorts to discover he’s rigged to lose in the next fight . . . which is a premise we’ve seen before. Here lies the biggest problem of this show: it’s so rinse and repeat it’s insulting. For every episode this series has at the moment I guarantee the Simpson’s  has done it and has done it better. Or Bob’s Burgers has done it. Or Archer has done it. Or Brooklyn 99 has done it. Hell, Family Guy and American Dad are the most comparable shows to this besides Brickleberry for obvious reasons and as much as I have distaste for those shows even they do these recycled premises more justice than Paradise PD does. Basically the only thing giving this show a real identity is it’s intense gross out visuals which, given this shows shockingly limited animation style, gets stale very quickly. But what is Paradise PD missing that all those shows have in common (besides maybe Family Guy/American Dad)? The answer of course is likable characters.

Characters

*it’s worth mentioning that the intro is the only bit of decent animation this show has. In fact it’s deceivingly good. Be patient . . . I’m getting there.*

If the synopsis I gave at the beginning is any indication it’s that every character suffers from one of two problems; they’re either intensely unlikable or are bland overly used archetypes . . . sometimes both. Gerald Fitzgerald, Dusty Harlow, Stanley Hopson and Bullet are all archetypes you can find in every animated sitcom ever made. It’s the token black guy, the morbidly obese dumbass, the senile old man and the drug addict/self centered misogynist. They all have one joke and one joke only dedicated to each of them. They are walking talking punchlines. So is every character in this show, though everyone else to a lesser extent. Gina is my favorite because her backstory episode is the only one where I felt even a little bit intrigued about how one of these assholes came to be. Our leading man Kevin is a bland standin. He’s just an overly naive, wide eyed kid with a dream. He’s an empty husk for literally any kind of viewer to step in (except for women when it comes to the love interest stuff). The chief is an angry, pompous asshole. In fact every character is just a horrible human being. Even characters that are either overly innocent or are meant to be good natured like Kevin or Dusty are constantly selfish or arrogant in some way. I get that that’s just the way the show is written comedically and in truth all comedy is rooted in the flawed. It’s why a lot of sitcom scenarios are written around characters acting selfishly or stupidly. But there’s being flawed and then there’s . . . being relentlessly cruel. It makes it hard to root for any of these characters in the end, especially since the show also occasionally tries to have a moral center and because . . .well . . . y’know . . . everyone is bland as shit.

Cast Performance

So this is by far the best aspect of the show and the number one thing it has going for it. Why? Because the show has a cast that’s .  . . depressingly a bunch of all stars. Tom Kenny, Spongebob himself, voices the chief and he does a great angry authoritative father. Grey Griffin, the actress behind such favorites as Daphne from Scooby Doo, Frankie from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Vicki from Fairly Odd Parents and Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender, is the mayor and also turns in a great performance for what she has to portray. Not to mention the occasional guest like John Dimaggio and Tara Strong. If you’re any fan of voice acting chances are you’ll find a favorite of yours in this cast if not a handful of them. I say this is depressing because all of these people could do so much better. I get it, a paycheck is a paycheck, but . . . . imagine the immensely creative and stunning projects they could have been a part of instead. If a contract with Netflix is what you want, hit up Alex Hirsch! He’s signed on with them now and I bet he’s got something worthwhile! There’s not a whole lot to say about the rest of the performances, mainly because again, it’s hard to care about any of these characters.

Visuals (Animation, Design, Composition, Visual Storytelling, ETC.)

sigh . . . .okay . . . let’s talk about the animation. Before I go into it I just want to be real and sentimental for a second. I’m an animator. I just recently broke into the industry by working with Copernicus Studios . . . and it’s been nothing but a sincere pleasure. I’ve learned more about animation and Toon Boom in 4 months than I ever learned in 4 years of freelancing. It put into perspective just how much thought and effort goes into even the most minimal of shows. It’s a popular trend to shit on professionally animated content for looking such a way or moving in such a way but if those people only knew the countless hours and passion that goes into even just a couple of seconds of footage they’d never talk shit about these shows ever again. Not only that, but I’m an admin for an animation study group on Facebook with thousands of members from all over the world. Animators from every country and every skill level share their work for constructive feedback. Through this I’ve met many people who work in the industry . . .including someone who worked on Paradise PD. And I know them to be among the most skilled and masterful animators on the page. For all of these reasons, I will NEVER call animators lazy or unskilled if they produced a show like this. It’s typically the result of a certain type of direction or method of moving the production pipeline along. I have no doubt on my mind that every animator who worked on this show is wonderfully skilled and will do well in their careers going forward.

But this show does not demonstrate that. Far from it. This show goes out of it’s way to be lazy. It cuts so many corners they’ve made a perfect circle of hell. Just take a look at most of the gifs I’ve posted in this review. Notice the popping of proportions and lines in moving pieces. Notice certain features like noses or eyes that move around for no damn reason at all. Look at features like eyebrows where there’s no easing or seamless transition or any basic understanding of the 12 principles of animation aside from perhaps arcs. Just watch a couple of seconds of this show and count how little frames are in every motion. If you told me this show was made in Go! Animate I would believe you. This makes Family Guy look like Studio Ghibli. Maybe this show could have been more pleasant to look at if it had vouched for motion keyframes instead of what appears to be the occasional stop motion keyframe (users of Toon Boom or Flash will know what I mean) but even then there’s nothing to look at really. Add to that the eyesore of a colour scheme, the uninspired character designs that if I put them in silhouette you would not be able to tell what show it’s from, the absolutely barebones backgrounds that look like early 2000s Newgrounds cartoon sets and the unimaginitive shot composition that consists almost entirely of wide shots and medium wide shots and you have what can hardly even be defined as animation by mainstream televisions standards. The last show I reviewed was Matt Groening’s Disenchantment and while I had my issues with that shows animation, at least they were only errors a trained eye could see in a show that was otherwise appealing. Paradise PD is just a tragedy. The only positive comment I can make about the animation is that the FX department did a great job animating the blood and the boogers and any type of nasty body liquid . . . .and I am depressed that that is my one positive comment.

Audio (Soundtrack, Sound Mixing, Sound FX, ETC.)

*In case you thought I was joking about one of the episode summaries I gave earlier*

Like most of the stuff I review, the audio isn’t particularly notable in this show. There’s no memorable soundtracks to speak of. The sound mixing is fine. That’s really all there is to say. I’ll be honest; I’ll talk about remarkable soundtracks in this section or clever/bad sound mixing when I can, but I mainly just include this section so I can score what i’m reviewing in a way that adds to a 10.

Conclusion

Paradise PD is the worst show I have ever given a review for and quite possible the worst show I’ve ever made an effort to sit down and watch. Almost nothing is redeemable about it. It’s the lowest common denominator for animation and it unsuccessfully trades any hint of originality for unfunny shock humor. It fails not because of missteps, but because of a refusal to make the necessary steps in the first place.

Writing - 0.5/2- Below Average

Characters - 0.5/2- Below Average

Cast Performance - 1.5/2 - Above Average

Visuals - 0.5/2 - Below Average

Audio - 1/2 - Average

4 out of 10 - My most hated show thus far.

[dailyaudiobible]

06/08/2018 DAB Transcript

1 Kings 3:3-4:34, Acts 6:1-15, Psalms 126:1-6, Proverbs 16:26-27

Today is the 8th day of June. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and it is a pleasure and it is an honor to be here with you today, taking the next step forward. Today would've been my mom's 76th birthday. Of course, it's been about a year and half now since her passing in January of 2017 but for years and years she was with us as a listener every day and I would tell her, happy birthday. So, hard to break with that tradition. Happy birthday mom. So, we’re reading from the Amplified Bible this week and we’re just getting going into Solomon's life. He has stepped into the role of his father. He is the king of Israel and he's got a lot more on his plate then he was maybe prepared for. First Kings chapter 3 verse 3 through 4 verse 34 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So, in first Kings, just to catch us up, Solomon is firmly on the throne now, firmly on the throne. And we watched how that all happened. And it was not the prettiest transition. And we can see Solomon trying to settle into the authority of the king and realizing, man, this is not…there’s just a lot. And he went to God. He went to God and asked for wisdom. And in response, he got what he wanted and everything he could've needed and became known as the wisest man in the world. And we’ll watch that unfold. We were told that he had piece on every side and that he was respected but we’ll see the people journey to Solomon to hear his wisdom. And, actually, this is one of the most glorious times in the Bible. Like, we are at this point in the Old Testament where we have been following a story since Genesis, back in January when we met Abraham, we’ve been following this story all along. And Solomon, his reign is kind of the mountaintop, the apex of it all. So, we’re in a really good time where everything is moving in the right direction at least for a season. And, so, let's enjoy that.

In the book of Acts, things are moving forward as well. The Holy Spirit is drawing people and people are flocking to this teaching around Jesus. But it's also making those who were in power or had great influence jealous trying to figure out what to do about this. And today we saw the formation of what is now known as the diaconate, right? Deacons. And we’ll learn more about that as we move further into the New Testament, that these people who were appointed to make sure that the Windows are taking care of, people were looked after. So, for the first time we meet this man. His name is Stephen. And we’re going to follow his story for a little bit. But through Stephen's story we’re going to be able to revisit all of the story that we've traveled with since January. And we’re just talking about how the story began with Abraham and moved its way forward all the way to Solomon. We get a review of that through Stephen in the coming days.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. We thank You for Your immense kindness and patience with us. We thank You that Your love never fails even when we do. When ours does, we ask Your forgiveness for the ways in which we have stepped away from You or betrayed You. We are sorry. Your spirit is what gives us life. To, in any way, walk away from that is to walk away from life. Come, Holy Spirit, indwell us, fill us, guide us, and lead us forward deeper into Jesus we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, it's home base, it’s where you find out what’s going on around here.

And we've been talking about the Daily Audio Bible family reunion that's coming up here in the rolling hills of Tennessee September 1st and 2nd, which is Labor Day weekend for those of us in the United States. And it seems like you're excited about it is much as we are. So, we’re gonna have a blast. It’s gonna be a great time indeed. These kinds of things, they come up. They’re a little bit bittersweet for me. It’s like… my mom…my mom…she was in very, very, very poor health but I'm pretty sure she'd of wanted to be at this. And I'm sure we would've brought her to this, oxygen tank and wheelchair and all. Yeah, she would’ve wanted to be there for dinner. She, yeah, yeah. So, it’s like a little bit of a bittersweet thing but I am very much looking forward to the family coming together, you know, kind of stepping out of the Internet and into life because it's important to know that we’re not alone. So, this is gonna be great. And you’re gonna get to explore…to explore the rolling hills of Tennessee. There's quite a bit to do in the Nashville area. It’s a thriving, booming area and we have prepared some adventures for you to consider, some things that you might want to see when you're in the area as you explore. Maybe you’ll explore together with some new friends, or maybe you're coming here and I you already have some friends, but there from somewhere else and you’re gonna meet up here. All that's happening and it's gonna be great. So, we’re looking for that. It’s September 1st and 2nd and you can register now. Registration is, it's looking like it's going to fill up. So, we’ll keep you posted. But there's still room, there's still time. So, plan to come in September to the Daily Audio Bible family reunion, the first of its kind ever. You can get all the details at dailyaudibible.com in the Initiatives section, which just means scroll down…scroll down on the homepage and you'll find it or you can follow the navigation at the top. Click initiatives and you'll find it there. Registration is $50 per person and that includes access to the grounds at Deer Run, where we’ll be holding the event. They have all kinds of stuff to do. It’s a huge place that’s just centered in the hills. And it's like a look at the rolling hills up close. So, we’ll have two country dinners together as a community. We’ll have our evenings together where we’ll spend time talking, singing, playing, enjoying fellowship with one another for a couple of evenings. So we’re very, very much looking forward to that. Everything that's on the Deer Run grounds, I mean access to the Deer Run grounds and all kinds of stuff to do is a part of that. So, you can just kind of camp out there if you want. There are still a few…all the cabins are sold out but there are some tent spaces left. There are the men and women's bunkhouses, kind of dorms. There’s still some bunks left. Or you can find your own accommodations. We have put the closest ones, closest hotels. We’ve kind of gotten with them and gotten all situated there. So, those are all at the website. So, you can kind of see all that. If  you're an RV’r, we’re showing you as well where you can go for full hookups. It's a little bit of a hike, about 40 minutes to get the full hookups. But not that big of a deal. And right through the rolling hills of Tennessee. So, it's…you can do…you can come however you want to come and we’ll have a good time together. So, check it all out at dailyaudiobible.com in the Initiatives section - Daily Audio Bible Family Reunion. We’ll see you there.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link on the homepage. Thank you for your partnership. The global campfire exists at all because we do this together every day. So, thank you for your partnership. So, there’s a link on the homepage. If you're using the Daily Audio Bible, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always if you have a prayer request or comment, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for next month, which is tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning Daily Audio Bible friends and community. This is Diane O. B. from Newburgh Indiana. Shalom, shalom. Nothing is missing and nothing is broken. It is 12:43 AM on Tuesday, June the 5th and I have a praise report and a prayer request. My praise report is that I did a sleep study and it turned out…I thought it turned out really well and then I heard...the lady called me and said it was about the same as the last one. But I had a real good time in the Lord and that made me very happy. My prayer request is, I haven’t been able to do so well in the last week with my exercise and diet for diabetes. And there’s something that Brian said, that comparing myself and always feeling like I failed. And Jesus said, what is that to you? Come and follow me. And I guess I have something where I have from my upbringing, if I’m not doing well, Jesus is not pleased with me. And I think that’s wrong thinking. But Jesus loves me and tells me to follow Him and I can just repent and get back, starting back, and pick myself up. If a righteous man falls…

Hello. This is my first time calling. And my name, when translated, is My God has Answered. And I am calling because I do need prayer. My children and I had been a military family for 10 years and our soldier went on three tours of duty and came back a completely different man. And the short story is that we have had to change identities after we were notified by state authorities that our lives were in danger. And it has been a very difficult 4 ½ years. We have gone through bouts of homelessness and not enough income and I’m just asking that…that anyone who has a heart to remember us in prayer, that God would restore us and that we could get in incredible testimony to his love and his power through Jesus Christ. And I just want to encourage Stephanie, who I just heard on the call, that God does not forget his children. He knows what you need.

Good morning family. This is Rachel in Houston and I know I haven’t called in a long time but the Holy Spirit just sort of slapped me in the back of the head. I’m a few days behind. And, Jamie, I just heard your message at the end of the May 30th podcast. And I really just want to share with you, just to seek God. And He says, seek ye first the kingdom of God and all things will be gathered unto you. And I pray…I’m praying for your heart. I pray that He will give you…He will give you that desire for Him because once you…once you experience that desire you will never ever, ever want to give it up. And I pray for your marriage. It’s a hard thing to have someone love you and not know how to…how to love them the way that they need to be loved. And I am praying that God will give you that peace to know sometimes we can’t love people the way that they need to be loved and they need something that we can provide them, that only God can provide to them. And so, don’t burn yourself for that. Just seek God in all things. And I love you girl and I am praying for you and I just want you to know that I will be…I will be seeking any wisdom that God will give me for you and I’ll be sharing that. I love you family and shout out to the women at the More Gathering. What an amazing event. Viv from Canada, I love you sister and I will talk to you all soon. Love you.

Good afternoon DAB family. I am calling about two prayer requests that I heard for June 4th. Today is June 5th. There were two gentlemen. One sounded so much, not his voice, but his petition, sounded so much like my brother who is struggling in his marriage the way his wife speaks to him, his reaction. He is needing a job. He’s been out of a job for six months. I have been praying and interceding. I’ve called before for him. And that call just got to me, that petition, because it just reminded me so much of my brother. And I just wanted to let you know brother, you didn’t give your name but God knows who you are and I am so, so standing in the gap for your marriage, for you asking for the Lord and for us to help you know how to answer your wife and not in anger, not to fight back as we humanly do. We get defensive and so we respond in the wrong way, but that you would be filled with wisdom and discernment and with love overall. And that God would just fill you with whatever you need. I know you don’t want to marriage to break apart. So, I will be praying for you wherever you are. For your wife to. We have to pray for her. And I know that you guys are praying for my brother, for his needs, for his marriage, and his situation with work. I mean for the other brother who was asking for prayer for his son who is making a very important decision that…

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>Gerhman is Yharnam’s best house-waifu. Lol, why? Could you tell us about Gehrman's character trait in your headcanon, please?~ Describe the ways in which you find him attractive. I have many mistakes in english, forgive me, my mother language is not English Т_Т

I got this ask sooo long ago and always prioritize other replies not because I didn’t want to answer this, au contraire, because I wanted this little post to be one of those walls of text I can be proud of. Where to even start?  Buckle up!

There are tons of reasons why I like Gehrman as much as I do and the more I play the game, the more I discuss the character both with fans and detractors the more I fell in love with this awful, awful man. First of all, let’s analyse what the game tells us about him through item descriptions and dialogue and let’s leave all the ‘fanficcy’ stuff for later:

Hunter attire of Gehrman, the first hunter. Created before the workshop existed by making adjustments to everyday clothing, and later became the basis for all hunter’s garb. The hunter’s emphasis on engaging beasts with speed, and therefore of selecting lightweight attire, no doubt traces back to Gehrman’s own combat style. [Gehrman’s hunter set]

This description single-handedly sells Gehrman as the main responsible for the greatness of the combat system. He is the ‘lore reason’ why Bloodborne’s gameplay is so different from the previous Souls games. Dark Souls was already very popular before Bloodborne came out but my interest in the series was extremely limited. The lore wasn’t intriguing enough to persuade me to ‘suffer’ through the clunky combat of DS to get to it.  Bloodborne on the other hand, came with the kind of visuals and lore that, as a huge H.P Lovecraft fan, I was dying to see properly represented in a videogame or a movie. Bloodborne is what we Lovecraft fans were waiting for. And it’s not just beautiful to look at and interesting to analyse, is also hella fun to play. The first time I saw some combat gameplay for it, I thought it looked a lot like the Devil May Cry games of the PS2 era which were pretty great games.  When Hidetaka Miyazaki stood up during a brainstorming session with his colleagues and said “What if we give the player two weapons from the start? No no, I’m not talking about a broken sword and a small shield to hide behind. I’m talking about a badass transformable blade and a gun. Defence is not an option. Learn to dodge, or you’ll die.” that’s when the First Hunter was born, so to speak. Lore-wise, you have to thank Gehrman for the sleek combat and the stylish clothing.

The times of the Old Hunters were brutal times. We know this from the description of some of their weapons like the Beast Cutter:

This crude weapon relies on brute force and is regrettably inelegant, suggesting that the hunts of the earliest hunters made for horrific affairs, painted in sanguine black and reds.

or the Boom Hammer:

Crush the beasts, then burn them - the brute simplicity of the Boom Hammer was favored by hunters with an acute distaste for beasts.

and yet there is an element of nostalgia and sentimentalism in the description of the Old Hunter Badge:

This hunter’s badge, crafted in Gehrman’s time, has no practical purpose, except perhaps to assist in romanticizing the past.The badge was a special privilege for the hunters of the past, and should not be dishonored.It should be left in peace, unless one is truly prepared to assume the will of those gone before.

Elements that if you ask me, perfectly fits what we know of Gehrman’s personality. He is someone who clings to the memory of his glory days and the things he loved. The item descriptions put great emphasis on how carefully he kept said things.

Yet at the same time, he disregards the Doll. Why is that? Well, if you ask me, it’s because he spent ETERNITY trapped in the dream with her. But before Moon Presence snatched him from the real Workshop to trap him in the dream replica of it, he cared.

Although it has been lost for quite some time, one can still see signs of the care with which this tasteful ornament was once kept. [Small Hair Ornament]

He wasn’t that tired, that bitter, not ‘too old for this’ when Laurence beckoned Moon Presence. Perhaps he even volunteered to become the host of the Dream (not in my headcanon, but it’s a possibility) out of responsibility and the desire to redeem himself. He was the First Hunter after all, the one who started it all and who led so many people to their deaths. Including the woman he loved. And even if the Gehrman we met in the game is now a grumpy and creepy old dude who doesn’t give a damn about anything and whose only wish is to be freed from the dream, he does not falter. His sense of duty and his guilt are stronger than the bitterness in his heart. He will suffer the ‘terrible dream’ until the end of time if that means he can spare you the same fate.

Gehrman surely saw the hunt as a dirge of farewell, wishing only that his prey might rest in peace, never again to awaken to another harrowing nightmare. [Burial Blade]

Is he the perfect human being? Fuck no. But humans ARE flawed, and Gehrman’s dedication to his task is admirable, especially after such a long time. And that’s precisely why I portray him the way I do in my fanfiction.

He fits into the stereotype of the eccentric inventor with lacking social skills but he’s also the Old Hunters’ leader and founder. The lives of his students and of the scholars depend on him and with such a responsibility placed on his shoulders he HAD to grow some spine. Gehrman did not become the Hunter we know overnight: years and years of training and experience in the Chalices made him the formidable warrior to whom all Hunters must tip their hats.

Now, moving onto sillier and absolutely non-canonical reasons why I love this dude so much, here’s why Gehrman is the best Soulsborne house-waifu: [with pictures!]

He wields a scythe. And as we all know, only true waifus use scythes.

He REALLY loves dapper clothing. And has a weird fixation (among the others :P) for red lined capes/coats.

He makes the best meat stew ever. Maria really missed it when she went back to Cainhurst because not even fancy banquets are a match for Gehrman’s cooking skills.

Best teacher EVER:

He loves to read cheap romance novels. Especially the smutty ones hehehe.

He is not good with animals. Not even domesticated ones (he and Maria’s fluffy white cat, Ferdinand, openly hate each other)

He is the Mother Hen/Papa duck of the group for real. If an argument starts, he sedates it, he cares for the well-being of each member and wants them all to be in their best shape before entering the Old Labyrinth.

He actually listens to what his students have to say. His pride prevails at times, but if the mistake was his, he admits it.

“How to Pick Up Fair Maidens” was a present from Laurence to him. Of course, the student’s intention was for it to be a joke but Gehrman actually read it. Many, many times.

He looks gorgeous in a dress. (Don’t ask me. Ask Maria.)

Laughs at his own jokes while being aware of how bad they are.

He is very fond of his Burial Blade. He made replicas for his students but the one he wields is very special and went through so many modifications as time went by. He proudly considers it his masterpiece.

He had an existential crisis after realising that Queen Annalise, who looks only a few years older than Maria, is actually his age.

One day, a meteor crashed next to Byrgenwerth and his first thought was to forge blades from it. Because why the fuck no.

He has a thing for melodrama. As if the huge ass scythe wasn’t a clear sign of that.

He was raised by Dores and Edmund who are the best dads in Yharnam and that’s a fact.

Micolash and Rom got together after 3 weeks. It took Gehrman almost 2 YEARS to find the courage to say  s o m e t h i n g to Maria.

He punctually forgets about his birthday and his students joke about the fact that he does it on purpose to avoid getting old(er).

The Small Hair Ornament was his mother’s and is very dear to him. Giving it to Maria was of great significance and she understood that, reason why she left it in the Workshop as her farewell gift to him.

Among the hunters, Gratia is the one who makes the best impression of Gehrman. And is pretty hilarious to watch.

He is, let’s face it, pretty hot. Even in his late years, he kept that handsome face of his, a face that rivals that of Prince Freakin Lorian… aka the hottest dude in DS. (I’m not insinuating that they totally reused Gehrman’s model, nono)

..aaaand I’m pretty sure he’s shredded and covered in sexy scars. Oh and he’s tall. Very tall. Dayum.

I mean, in a fandom that has affectionately nicknamed Bloodborne ‘Old Men Thirst: the game’,  it’s a CRIME that Gehrman doesn’t get the attention he deserves. (At least when it comes to ‘fangirlism’. Lore-wise and from a pure gameplay standpoint I’d say he’s one of the most beloved bosses in the franchise.)

His boss theme is honestly one of the best pieces of game music I’ve heard since the glory days of PS2.  It’s so different from all other tracks in the OST, so minimalistic and yet so powerful…! Reminds me of Kingdom Hearts and old FF’s music. Bloody hell, who’s cutting onions? I want it to be played ad my wedding, funeral and resurrection ceremony.

[barb404gamings-blog]

3 Things Everyone Understands About ACTIVITY That You never

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So I went to Google and searched…. And searched …. And searched, but there have been no genuine article or blog that could explain in detail how to start out a gaming blog that would in fact operate. Byrk's additions function a discussion of what it indicates to play with fascism, the part of sexual violence in the globe of Vampire: The Masquerade, a list of techniques to help gaming groups come across the limits of what they're comfortable with, and a reminder that folks are additional critical than the game.

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[anneedmonds]

Dr Teal’s Soaking Solution: Will (Probably) Knock You Out

Dr Teal’s bath salts are so good I’ve just ordered some more. Which might sound like a bit of a non-statement (if you like something then why on earth wouldn’t you order more?) but when you have a whole shelfload of things waiting to be tested – bottles of bath oils and tubes of body unguents and great big glass pots of epsom salts – it’s a special kind of product that makes you ignore the queue and part with hard cash.

Not that the Dr Teal’s is expensive, I hasten to add – a large 3lbs bag of Dr Teal’s Soaking Solution has just set me back £7.99 on Amazon*. With free Prime delivery. I’d actually be tempted to set up one of those repeat orders where they send stuff to you every month, but there’s no option for it. Probably a good idea anyway, considering that I never get my repeat orders right in terms of quantity or frequency; I currently have no cat food, no cat litter but 24 kilos of dried dog food and 62,000 packs of pull-up nappy pants.

(For Ted, not me.) (Though with my pelvic floor those days can’t be far away.)

So yeah, Dr Teal’s Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution: I can’t imagine anything overtaking it on the bath salts front any time soon. These particular salts have given me the best nights’ sleep I’ve had in years. Uninterrupted, deep, weird-dream sort of sleep that nothing can shake me from. Dr Teal’s, they knock me right out.

Admittedly that’s not ideal when you have a three year old and a two year old, but I only “take the salts” when there’s another responsible adult around. Namely Mr AMR, who actually also “takes the salts” because he inevitably gets into the bath after me, but he is immune to all and any sleep-inducing concoctions, including bath salts, Benilyn Original and the nighttime Night Nurse capsule which is, as we all know, laced with some sort of sleep magic.

So Mr AMR is unaffected by Dr Teal’s Soaking Solution, but let’s ignore him because he’s obviously harder to fell than an Ox; I, on the other hand, am sent into the deepest possible slumber. Someone could dismantle my house around me, brick by brick, move me to a different hamlet/village/town and rebuild the house and I would be none the wiser. You could shrink me down and put me inside a boom box and I probably wouldn’t even murmur. You know those stupid videos where people blow a foghorn down a sleeping person’s ear? Wouldn’t wake me. A huge handful of salts in the bath just before bedtime and I am completely lost to all earthly communications and sensations.

Buy Dr Teal’s Soaking Solution here*

The salts I’ve been trying are the Dr Teal’s Detoxify & Energize with Ginger & Clay. In all honesty, I don’t know how much effect the addition of Ginger & Clay has (perfume is listed higher on the ingredients list than clay is), but I don’t really care; ten minutes basking in Dr Teal’s solution (sounds dodgy) and I’m out for the count.

I’m no stranger to the joy of the Epsom Salt, by the way – it has always had a knockout effect on me – and you can get them relatively cheaply on the internet in huge quantities. At around twenty quid for ten kilos (it comes in huge buckets) the plain, slightly industrial-looking tubs of salts are dozens of times cheaper than anything branded or laced with oils and perfumes and – er – clay.

(You can get 20 kilos of epsom salts for £20 on Amazon* here…)

Dr Teal’s salts aren’t as plain (or as cheap) as those, but I rather like the hint of oil and the bit of fragrance. You could of course use the cheaper, unadulterated salts and then add a few drops of really great quality bath oil (I can highly recommend anything from Aromatherapy Associates, especially the Deep Relax Oil) but most of the time that’s one step too many for me. I can barely remember to take my clothes off before stepping into the water let alone concoct my own bath treatment. (Although that may have to be my next post: a how-to on the most cost-efficient, luxury bath soak.)

The particular fragrance of Dr Teal’s Detoxify & Energise (with Ginger & Clay, don’t forget!) is what I like to describe as “well-groomed man of a certain age”. If you’re a fan of the BBC drama Line Of Duty then you can use Superintendent Ted Hastings as your reference here. I just like the idea that he smells clean, slightly musky, a hint of shaving cream – he’s a man who’s a pro at shaving and still has all of his own teeth. Probably.

So for a knockout sleep, try this: a whole huge mugful of the Dr Teal’s salts into a warm bath (yes, you put loads in, that’s the beauty of them being relatively cheap) and then a nice soak before getting straight into bed. No iPhone, no television, no laptop in between bath and bed – just dry yourself off and then hop directly between the sheets. (Or betwixt sheet and duvet. Does anyone use a flat sheet as well as a fitted anymore? I started off with good intentions, when I first left home, but soon realised that it was one more thing to have to change on laundry day…)

You can find the Dr Teal’s Soaking Solution here* – there’s also a lavender one, which must send people into the sort of deep sleep that to come around from requires a gong and some car jump leads. It has a three month wait on delivery for that, perhaps because the people at the factory and the van drivers are all snoozing…

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Dr Teal’s Soaking Solution: Will (Probably) Knock You Out was first posted on May 11, 2019 at 7:30 pm. ©2018 "A Model Recommends". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at contact@amodelrecommends.com Dr Teal’s Soaking Solution: Will (Probably) Knock You Out published first on https://medium.com/@SkinAlley

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Swami of Sedona

Okay, So I’ve written this post over again twice and it keeps deleting entirely- lessons in non-attachments I suppose.

I feel myself being scrubbed clean here. I didn’t full expect it to feel so wholly soothed. Yoga is such a sacred practice and an all encompassing practice. Yoga Asana (the movements/poses) is only a part of it- and really only exists to make meditation more easily. The other, equally inportant aspects are Satsunga (meeting as a group, singing), Pranayana (breathing work) & Karma Yoga (self-less service). We’ve been reading through the Geeta (the last chapter) and exploring ideas of self-inquiry. Meaning who is the “I” that we refer to when thinking of ourselves. So it is explained- the eyes see the objects, the objects are perceived by the mind and intellect. And yet, there is something else there perceiving the mind. The higher consciousness interacting with our very thoughts- willing them existence & non-existence if we harness of the power of which. I’ve felt such complete clarity & peace when I get glimpses of this true reality. It’s very special. I suppose there are still things that drag me back into the human experience- but that is our duty too. It’s a funny balance to explore enlightened theory, and then still loving what life has brought me on the earthly plain. Tomasic thought is those base, depressed thoughts. Rajastic thought is those of desire (lust, etc). Both interfere with the blissful state of our true selves & we must learn to purify our very thoughts. Like the law of attraction- our very thoughts attract our karma- But I’ve known this for a long while being a pretty capable witch. Now I know, this is probably a little far out there for some people- but those same teachings are the foundation of Mindfulness practice that therapists try to impart on their patients. It never felt fully possible to me, until I saw this from the other perspective. Swamiji says that the biggest infinity exists within the mind--- And I can totally see it now. (Don’t worry, it’s not a cult & I’m still intending on returning to the outside world).

Swamiji is, in fact, quite a lot like Dumbledore. He studied Quantum Physics before following the enlightened path. (The tradition we are studying in is that of Swami Sivananda). He is strict, but warm & his laugh booms as if it’s coming from another dimension. I’m slightly intimidated by him, but I think that is coming from a knowing that when I interact with him he will challenge the way I interact with my own thoughts- even in seemingly mundane circumstances. For example- we are taught to say “when I took this body” instead of “when I was born”, as well as seeking to the greater “i” instead of the human self. The reasoning for this being not to entertain the thoughts/misconception that we are our bodies or our minds, but instead the consciousness observing the mind and the body. Taking back the seat as the master, or Guru, instead of the mind & body which is simply the puppet. We also greet eachother by saying “Om Navah Shivayah” which means “Oh salutations to the auspicious one!” ...or the shorter “Om”. 

There are SO many chants to know- and I’m not close to knowing all of them. They’ve filled my head while I clean, and walk & read & meditate. My favourite is the maha mrityunjaya mantra- which is the “great death-conquering mantra”. (also---- I keep pulling the death card in tarot, which I just remembered.)

The past few days we’ve had quite a lot of snow-especially when considering this is Arizona. I feel Canada following me & poking in little hellos. This means my karma yoga has become a lot of house work- mom type stuff which I was resenting. I respect the role that I will play here, though, and it is a push for me to take more responsibility for these things in my own personal life. It’s felt good overall to flex these muscles. I do feel deeply appreciated & respected for this work (even though that’s not what it’s about). It does mean we are up from 5:30am to 10pm without much of a break- 6am satsung, 8 am yoga, 10am brunch, 12pm study (Geeta), 1pm Karma Yoga, 5:30pm dinner, 7pm Satsung (or staff night, which we watch movies--- one time it was even the Matrix!). It makes it a little difficult to sneak away to do things for myself, like book tickets, pay bills & write this. It has been extremely rewarding- the break & sense of peace I’ve been searching for this whole time. Such a true relief. 

We’ve driven into Sedona almost everyday (we are technically in the town just outside called Cottonwood). Any viewscape from this part of the world could easily be a postcard- but Sedona in particular is distinctly picturesque. The mountains look like sunsets & even through storms the skys shine in the brightest blues I’ve ever seen. The Mountains create a strange illusion of infinity- both so big, and so small in contrast with the sprawling sky & desert surrounding them. The sidewalks & roads are all red too, made from the sand of the area. I was kinda craving picking up a good rock- but Wendyana warned me it’s bad luck, unless I ask permission & it says yes & I leave a piece of hair. Chocolate tree is a vegetarian & waste-free restaurant in town owned by one of the Ashramites named Radika. The other day we did soup for the soul, but we’ve also gone a few times for dinner after extra yoga classes in town. Sedona is a mecca for New-age-y types. I’ve had so many conversations about aliens & faeries & things. Even though I’m kinda like that too, it almost freaks me out & then I go back into my experience all over again. Grounding in consciousness. 

My experience has been challenged over the past few days. The Ashram- being a monastery is usually an entirely peaceful, respectful, restful place. We’ve had a few people take refuge here- all kinda being disruptive- talking loudly about “sex-drugs & rock and roll” kinda stuff while we are trying to maintain Mauna (the practice of silence). Micheal in particular has been challenging for me. he’s such a name dropper & talks so much about heroine use- which is particularly triggering for me. I know Gopala is also challenged by these things as he is recovering from an addiction. My Karma yoga has turned into a lot of waiting on them (because they can’t leave until the snow does). I mean- being asked by them to clean & fix things for them & cook for them. It’s annoying, but that’s coming from my own ego. Especially when Lawrence exclaims “What service!”, followed my Micheal straight up insulting the traditions. But the lessons are “bear insult, bear injury” “be kind, be good, be compassionate & realize”.  It’s hard to maintain high vibrational thoughts when someone else’s ego is so huge & palpable within the space. I mean even Gabriel, who does practice Asana’s doesn’t really “get it”. “it” being the rest of the yoga practices. Swamiji- though he wasn’t necessarily referring to him- but warned us against what he called “spiritualized ego”. That is to say, people who spread dogma & “wisdom” with out ever doing the work themselves (or ever doing it seriously). I’m feeling that & it comes up as one of the things that has challenged me over the last year in my encounters with people. It’s not the people that have low energy in particular, it is those that have twisted what is goodness into self-serving practices.  Boastfulness just really rubs me the wrong way. I was quite enjoying it over the first few days how it seemed who we were/are outside of the ashram was slightly inconsequential. Even though I am very proud of my life & the magic in it, I liked being able to live outside of it for a while.  It’s just funny. I can chuckle about it though & still feel very light.

My roommate Wendyana reminds me so much of one of my favourite teacher’s in high school named Mrs. Bourdon-king. She’s theatrical & lovely & gets a bit carried away. She recited a whole story (that she wrote) called ‘Wanda-lou from the land of Woo’. I really want to get a copy of it for a friend of mine. We’ve been sneaking tarot reading, palm readings & divining through dices- It’s not really a part of the Hindu tradition. Last night she was bitten by a brown recluse spider which caused quite a stir as we were readying for bed. Rukmini & I have been discussing going for a walk to learn about the plant medicines in the Sonara Desert- and that incident kinda confirmed that we should do that. Although, we will have to wait for the snow to clear. (it’s usually shorts weather at this time).

Rukmini was also an initial challenge for me, but I can love her & respect her for what she does. She’s just very particular, but I understand through empathy why- she’s kinda the momma bear here. With so many in & out I can imagine that too is challenging. We’ve been able to come into a pretty beautiful harmony though & I’ve been really glad for that. The dynamics will soon shift as Gopalaji will leave for California & I will take up more of his role. I’ve been able to spend a little more time with Dharmajan (who has spent nearly all his time building the temple with Charles). Dharmaji is an old school hip- you can tell there is no BS about him. He works hard & leads by example, but has a soft, open heart & a knowledge of something bigger than him. He is probably one of the souls I’ve connected most to along this journey, though he is still generally a man of fewer words. 

I feel ready to ask Swamiji for a name & a mantra. I’ve only been here for a week, but the wisdoms made sense to me instantly- it was like I’ve known them my whole life, without being articulated in this particular way. I’ll have to see what he thinks. I have hope though. We are also having our first Puja tomorrow when Gopala’s mother comes to visit. 

In other news, I’ve booked my ticket for Amsterdam- so my interary is pretty settled now. The tulips will be bloomed & it’ll be King’s day (as well as mine & both my sister’s birthdays) which will be fun. It’s stirred other Wanderlusts, though, Including Scotland, Wales & India, foremost. I’m not sure if I’ll have enough money to decently explore California at this point, and may end up staying at the Ashram for longer. I have to go to LA, because I’ll visit my uncle & fly to mexico from there. I will have to be satisfied with that. It’s always been my dream to drive the coast from Dawson city to San Diego, so if anything, the trip to LA will just feed my will. Sometime over the next few years, I’ll do it, I know. 

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Cable TV bill too high? Here's how you can lower it

Nobody likes their cable business enterprise. And nobody likes seeing the apparently regular will increase of their cable bills.

According to a September document from the Leichtman Research Group, the common bill for cable television is $103.10 according to month, a 4% boom from the last yr. And that is just for TV, Internet isn’t protected even though many packages deals them together.

So what are you able to do as a purchaser approximately those growing prices? Here are some guidelines on getting your TV and Internet payments down.

Buy your very own modem

Just as you need a cable container to watch TV, you need a modem to connect to the Internet. Unlike the cable container, which is still hard to update, you could easily update your modem.

Many of the larger carriers inclusive of Comcast, Verizon FiOS, Time Warner Cable, and Cox rate you an extra $10 in line with a month to apply their modem. Others like Optimum rate about $5.

With the exception of Verizon, most can help you buy your own third-party modem and there is an expansion of alternatives on sale at Amazon and others that provide the equal speed and provider as your cable organization-issued modem.

When buying make certain to confirm together with your operator that it works on your company and is certified for the speeds you want to get. Most carriers have a list of approved modems. Here’s wherein you can find the page for some of the larger providers: Comcast/Xfinity, Time Warner Cable/Spectrum, Cox, and Cablevision/Optimum.

Word of notice: the cable corporations can help troubleshoot connection troubles however in case your modem breaks they might not update it the way they might with their own modems. They will, however, help you place them up. Just deliver them a name and they are able to assist stroll you through it.

  All About Fiber Optic Cable Cleaning

To remove contaminants and maintain your optic cable functioning optimally you need to easy it regularly.

Tools you need for cleansing

There are many types of tools you want whilst cleansing the cables. Some of these things encompass:

Compressed air: Clean dry air is vital to make certain that the aerosol is free or water, dust, and oil. For best effects, you must use filtered or canned compressed air. You can without difficulty find the air in your neighborhood laboratory provider or photoshop.

Lens paper: The lens paper is made up of a protracted fiber that does not have any chemical substances. The paper is good when you are looking to limit particulates. You can easily locate the lens paper from your neighborhood drug keep, laboratory provider, or digicam store.

Methanol: You are discouraged from cleaning the optic cables the usage of chemical substances however when you have to, you must pass beforehand and do it but you should observe the recommendations given by means of your producer. Just like the other cleaning materials, you can without problems discover methanol out of your neighborhood digicam save, pharmacy, or drugstore.

Fiber optic cleaning notes

For ideal outcomes when cleaning the unit you need to observe some of the notes. When cleansing, you must make certain that the fiber optic cable doesn’t come into contact with any floor, which includes your fingers. You need to also avoid bending the cable. This is to keep away from breaking the cable which might bring about negative performance.

It’s not unusual for optics and optic coating to be effortlessly chipped. To prevent the chips from getting onto your fingers you ought to use finger cots or powder unfastened surgical gloves. To keep away from an infection you have to most effective use clean spectroscopic grade methanol. Before you start the cleaning manner, constantly make certain that the module strength is off and the mild sources are disabled.

Fiber optic cable cleaning technique

To obtain ideal effects, you must comply with a cleaning system. You should begin with blowing the floor of the fiber optic cable with a circulation of clean dry air. This is to dislodge any huge, free particles. You should then place 1-3 drops of methanol on the center of the lens tissue and use it to clean the optical surface. Once you’re executed study the optic fiber beneath high-depth light the usage of a magnifier. If there are nonetheless some contaminants at the surface you ought to repeat the cleaning manner. If smooth, without delay installation a protective cowl.

TV Screen Protector – Are They Worth the Money?

A TV display protector is a definite piece of hardware. All display screen protectors do basically the same aspect and acquire the favored end result for the purchaser. All are crafted from the same optical grade acrylic. These portions of acrylic are then reduced and molded to match the scale of maximum if no longer all LCD TV screens. They attach for your LCD TV screen the use of simple Velcro straps and use small rubber or felt pads to rest towards the frame of the TV.

Surprisingly, as soon as attached, they are nearly invisible whilst considered beneath normal lighting, although a few lighting may additionally motive an undesired mirrored image. In response to this, maximum online sellers of those screen protectors offer an anti-glare solution. Anti-glare, throughout the board, costs extra, however, it could be really worth the extra fee depending on your lights scenario.

What is an LCD TV display screen protector made of?

All tv display protectors are made the usage of optical grade acrylic. Optical grade acrylic is without a doubt pretty remarkable stuff. It’s scratch resistant, anti-glare and ant-reflective.

The newer acrylic materials being used in that merchandise became developed by means of NASA and is also used in the car enterprise. The stuff is strong and reliable. It gives greater than sufficient protection to your steeply-priced television.

How does the TV display protector connect to the TV?

Currently, all display protectors in the marketplace use an easy approach making use of Velcro straps to connect to your television. Once located to your TV, there are rubber or felt tabs that rest towards the body around your screen. These “bumpers” act as surprise absorbers and take the brunt of the pressure while the display screen cowl is jarred.

They are very effective and paintings to absorb the shock or pressure when something hits the screen.

What do those products defend in opposition to?

Two phrases: Wii controllers! Not handiest do they shield towards thrown gaming controllers but also, hyperactive pets that like pawing at the screen, babies who like drawing on matters, youngsters who throw matters (all children throw things), clumsy and inattentive adults and other forms of accidental touch.

It must be referred to that, if you purchased a guarantee, it is possible that this warranty does now not cover “unintentional screen touch” resulting from a shattered LCD screen. Check with the retailer from whom you bought the TV and spot if yours is blanketed for those forms of mishaps.

Book Review: Don’t Alienate The Kids! By Bill Eddy

I’ve been doing quite a piece of analyzing lately – some expert and some non-public. I recently examine Don’t Alienate the Kids! By way of Bill Eddy, LCSW Esq. Upon an advice from an amazing buddy of mine. This is the seconde book by using Eddy that I have examined and I do like his style of writing – direct, however informal, he is taking duty for mistakes he has made as properly, he explains phrases and thoughts in a manner everyone can recognize, and he gives specific examples and guidelines for running thru battle for both dad and mom and specialists.

As an authorized clinical social employee (therapist),

lawyer, and mediator, Eddy has a wealth of expertise and enjoy dealing with excessive-warfare family cases/disputes, operating with households, kids, adults, and couples. This particular ebook is geared towards both experts and parents alike and the data is interchangeable for each party.

Eddy defines and explains what alienation is, who may be alienated, a few of the motives a determine may be alienated, and the way a parent (or expert) may not directly be contributing to the alienation. He brings forth the concept of “1,000 Little Bricks” where a parent (or expert) can use little bricks to either construct a wall of alienation or “to build a foundation of resilience for his or her child.” A basis of resilience, as Eddy describes, is based totally on 3 matters: flexible wondering, managed feelings, and mild behaviors. Eddy discusses and offers examples on how to use these three foundations in an excessive-battle surroundings, whether or not or no longer the discern has been alienated.

He additionally describes the distinction among alienation and abuse in excessive-

Conflict divorces/separations. Eddy goes on to speak about how pals and family member can help with the situation, and the way some accidentally make the situation worse; how counselors and other experts can help alleviate alienation; the satisfactory ways to reply to high-struggle humans; and how experts (I.E. Courts/judges) can pick out and respond to excessive-battle cases. Everyone will take something a bit special from an e-book, lecture, article, and so forth. Primarily based on in which they’re at in their non-public/expert lives at that moment. This is why I like to go lower back and re-read some books at one-of-a-kind instances in my existence. It enables deliver me a new angle.

I discovered the sections on Emotions are Contagious

All-or-Nothing Thinking, Mirroring Bad Behavior, and Teaching Resilience not handiest extremely informative, however additionally extremely applicable to my personal scenario. There are things that we are able to constantly work on, anyone, regardless of who we are or wherein we are at in our lives. This reminds me of the primary of the 12 Steps in AA – admit you have a problem. Hi, my name is Kristy and I have matters I need to paintings on in my personal (and expert) existence. I am in no way perfect, and I realize this. It’s time to begin utilising those ideas and recommendations to higher my lifestyles.