#mosaic 2007

[lovingwanda]

MAGGIE NELSON | STAN LEE PRESENTS: MOSAIC (2007)

˚ ₊ ♡ ‧ ₊ girlfriend!maggie — headcanons x gn!reader. reblogs are greatly appreciated! ˚ ₊ ♡ ‧ ₊

Born in the year of 1990, Maggie Nelson, an aspiring teenage actress who dreams of making it into Broadway, gains incredible chameleon like powers after she is caught between an ancient Rune stone and a electrical storm accident.

Our heroine maggie's full name is margaret nelson. She's a beautiful seventeen year old student attending the highschool of dramatic arts in New York City. She is an adventurous and extremely happy spirited girl who's confident that she can do and accomplish anything. She's upbeat, quick witted, and high spirited but well grounded when dealing with important issues.

( p.s you can watch the full movie here via youtube but there are flashing lights involved, if you'd prefer to avoid that, check out this film review. )

↳ girlfriend!maggie — who always knew you had a crush on her long before the moment you worked up the nerve ask about being study buddies and started exchanging and comparing notes for an upcoming test of Shakespeare's classics like "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet" and decided to make the move to ask you out during another lunch study in the library.

↳ girlfriend!maggie — who is more than happy to spare some extra time on line rehearsals for those big and upcoming performances you've had your heart set on acting in despite the clear stage fight. She even gives you kisses of good luck for a better boost but makes sure that you know where you need to improve on while welcoming the fun of improv.

↳ girlfriend!maggie — who wants the both of you to step out of your comfort zones when it comes to personal fears and social gatherings together but knows not to push things when it comes to you and doesn't mind being patient because she treasures you to the word and back.

↳ girlfriend!maggie — who is your biggest hype girl with all of her extroverted and contagiously giddy energy, even when your not the brightest person in the room. She wants to find any way to see that precious smile of yours but knows how to give you the well needed comfort when the moment calls for it.

↳ girlfriend!maggie — who treats you out to your favorite bakery and coffee shop in town for the weekend mornings despite the fact that she's been expanding her cuisine palette and improving on her cooking skills but is holding out for either your one year anniversary as a couple or your birthday.

↳ girlfriend!maggie — who is adamant about you getting your bed rest when your sick and in no condition to be attending school. She appreciates the tenacity but your sick butt is staying in bed and that's final. Leave it to her to whip you up a warm meal and to put on some romantic comedy produced films from Hallmark or rent a few movies from block buster so that she can snuggle up close with you under the warmth of a blanket with a trusty ice pack for your fever.

↳ girlfriend!maggie — who explicitly claims to not be the Regina George type and wouldn't get jealous easily over small things or even petty but you see it despite the denial. Despite maggie's emotional and mental maturity is compared to most teenagers, she's still just a teenager and there's no exception to jealousy, especially when it comes to you.

↳ girlfriend!maggie — who ultimately reveals she has superpowers and opens up about this whole world saving adventure she went on in only three days after delivering that bravado of a performance on Friday before returning to school and getting that A+ on Hamlet that Tuesday morning. You are the only one she can really trust right now since her father, the infamous interpol agent Nathan Nelson, would never be able to look at his own daughter the same way ever again -- at least that what she fears. You promise to keep her secret and she knows you mean it.

[webdiggerxxx]

꧁★꧂

[kvetch19]

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - July 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735! (Or check out my new(ly repurposed) Patreon!)

1. Thai tiger numbers swell as prey populations stabilize in western forests

“The tiger population density in a series of protected areas in western Thailand has more than doubled over the past two decades, according to new survey data. […] The most recent year of surveys, which concluded in November 2023, photographed 94 individual tigers, up from 75 individuals in the previous year, and from fewer than 40 in 2007. […] A total of 291 individual tigers older than 1 year were recorded, as well as 67 cubs younger than 1 year.”

2. Work starts to rewild former cattle farm

“Ecologists have started work to turn a former livestock farm into a nature reserve [… which] will become a "mosaic of habitats" for insects, birds and mammals. [… R]ewilding farmland could benefit food security locally by encouraging pollinators, improving soil health and soaking up flood water. [… “N]ature restoration doesn't preclude food production. We want to address [food security] by using nature-based solutions."”

3. Harnessing ‘invisible forests in plain view’ to reforest the world

“[… T]he degraded land contained numerous such stumps with intact root systems capable of regenerating themselves, plus millions of tree seeds hidden in the soil, which farmers could simply encourage to grow and reforest the landscape[….] Today, the technique of letting trees resprout and protecting their growth from livestock and wildlife [… has] massive potential to help tackle biodiversity loss and food insecurity through resilient agroforestry systems. [… The UN’s] reported solution includes investing in land restoration, “nature-positive” food production, and rewilding, which could return between $7 and $30 for every dollar spent.”

4. California bars school districts from outing LGBTQ+ kids to their parents

“Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the SAFETY Act today – a bill that prohibits the forced outing of transgender and gay students, making California the first state to explicitly prohibit school districts from doing so. […] Matt Adams, a head of department at a West London state school, told PinkNews at the time: “Teachers and schools do not have all the information about every child’s home environment and instead of supporting a pupil to be themselves in school, we could be putting them at risk of harm.””

5. 85% of new electricity built in 2023 came from renewables

“Electricity supplied by renewables, like hydropower, solar, and wind, has increased gradually over the past few decades — but rapidly in recent years. [… C]lean energy now makes up around 43 percent of global electricity capacity. In terms of generation — the actual power produced by energy sources — renewables were responsible for 30 percent of electricity production last year. […] Along with the rise of renewable sources has come a slowdown in construction of non-renewable power plants as well as a move to decommission more fossil fuel facilities.”

6. Deadly cobra bites to "drastically reduce" as scientists discover new antivenom

“After successful human trials, the snake venom antidote could be rolled out relatively quickly to become a "cheap, safe and effective drug for treating cobra bites" and saving lives around the globe, say scientists. Scientists have found that a commonly used blood thinner known as heparin can be repurposed as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom. […] Using CRISPR gene-editing technology […] they successfully repurposed heparin, proving that the common blood thinner can stop the necrosis caused by cobra bites.”

7. FruitFlow: a new citizen science initiative unlocks orchard secrets

“"FruitWatch" has significantly refined phenological models by integrating extensive citizen-sourced data, which spans a wider geographical area than traditional methods. These enhanced models offer growers precise, location-specific predictions, essential for optimizing agricultural planning and interventions. […] By improving the accuracy of phenological models, farmers can better align their operations with natural biological cycles, enhancing both yield and quality.”

8. July 4th Means Freedom for Humpback Whale Near Valdez, Alaska

“The NOAA Fisheries Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline received numerous reports late afternoon on July 3. A young humpback whale was entangled in the middle of the Port of Valdez[….] “The success of this mission was due to the support of the community, as they were the foundation of the effort,” said Moran. [… Members of the community] were able to fill the critical role of acting as first responders to a marine mammal emergency. “Calling in these reports is extremely valuable as it allows us to respond when safe and appropriate, and also helps us gain information on various threats affecting the animals,” said Lyman.”

9. Elephants Receive First of Its Kind Vaccine

“Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus is the leading cause of death for Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) born in facilities in North America and also causes calf deaths in the wild in Asia. A 40-year-old female received the new mRNA vaccine, which is expected to help the animal boost immunity[….]”

10. Conservation partners and Indigenous communities working together to restore forests in Guatemala

“The K’iche have successfully managed their natural resources for centuries using their traditional governing body and ancestral knowledge. As a result, Totonicapán is home to Guatemala’s largest remaining stand of conifer forest. […] EcoLogic has spearheaded a large-scale forest restoration project at Totonicapán, where 13 greenhouses now hold about 16,000 plants apiece, including native cypresses, pines, firs, and alders. […] The process begins each November when community members gather seeds. These seeds then go into planters that include upcycled coconut fibers and mycorrhizal fungi, which help kickstart fertilization. When the plantings reach about 12 inches, they’re ready for distribution.”

July 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[ancientcharm]

Roman domus known as ' House of Muses", Türkiye.

Photos and text from DAILY SABAH - ANADOLU AGENCY

The House of Muses, discovered in the ancient city of Zeugma in the Nizip district of southeastern Gaziantep province during excavations carried out since 2007, is one of the most important examples of Roman residences in the historical site with its rich architectural decoration, well-preserved mosaics and frescoes. Zeugma is home to Roman houses, believed to belong to nobles, dating back to the second and third century B.C

The ancient city’s House of Muses, which was unearthed after 14 years of excavations, was named after a mosaic on its floor depicting the nine muses of ancient Greece, who, according to legend, rule over the arts and sciences and inspire those who pursue them.

The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, one of the world's largest mosaic museums, is home to unique ancient artifacts, such as mosaics, Roman-era fountains, a bronze sculpture of Mars – the god of war in Roman mythology – and the famed Gypsy Girl.

Article published on August, 17, 2021 - DAILY SABAH

[miracleoftheeast]

A NIGHT OUT

2007!Leo x Reader

Word Count: 852

—————————

Nights on patrol offered little excitement; not that Leonardo was one to chase after it.

Within the confines of a city so alive he could almost hear its labored breathing echo through the streets, Leonardo somehow found himself restricted to a routine of simple, stagnant motions.

Wake up—then train. Hang out with his brothers—train. Go on a mission—train. Talk to Master Splinter over tea—train one last time before bed. The days drifted past him like autumn leaves on a windy afternoon.

He had felt too drained for the life he was living for quite some time now, as if the heart beating inside his chest had ripened past its prime. The feeling that had coated his senses was a cloying melancholy, the nectar of rotten fruit.

And there was something else, too.

Guilt was a wild beast that ravaged within him—its bite forever a fresh wound the color of green and blue. Leonardo had to be so many things: all at once and then each one on its own.

He was the eldest son, the leader, the mediator.

He had to be serious when Mikey refused to be. Sensible when Donnie got caught up in his daydreams. Calm when Raphael let his emotions get the best of him. And, most importantly, forgiving of his brothers when Master Splinter failed to empathize with the whirlwinds of youth. All these things were so typically him; they made up the leader in blue, like glass pieces in a mosaic.

They also left little cuts all over.

But what else could he do, really?

The only alternative was the jungle; the memory of a small village tucked away in the rich forests of the Amazon, where he could be granted the lifestyle of a legend, a myth, called out to him in a siren-like song.

The thought of going back was exciting. Colorful. And yet suddenly unattractive after all these years.

He never realized just how young fifteen was until saying the number out loud was akin to recounting a memory. The joy of being a ninja was, in fact, mere marvel at a way of being still novel to him.

Not so much anymore.

——

Leonardo and his brothers had fallen into a rhythm of independence since their early twenties, each turtle assigned a specific part of New York to safeguard daily.

He was conducting a routine survey of his section of the city that night—nothing special. He slipped from roof to roof systematically, having perfected his groove over the years. Until suddenly, he halted.

The grasp of the late November wind, the crisp air ten stories up, and the ambiance of city life buried somewhere down below would normally wrap themselves around him to usher Leonardo into mindlessly doing his job; yet, there he was, distracted—distracted enough to trip.

It was brief, the fall—the kind of moment one rewinds time and time again in their head to figure out if it ever really happened. Mere minutes later, Leonardo found himself swearing as he walked the empty streets of New York with a limp.

He remembered something that had been lounging at the back of his mind for years; it was a mere drop of warmth, a glimmer of light that flickered amidst the dark, biting frost of self-restraint.

He recalled that your apartment was not too far from here.

It had been a couple of years, and you two were barely acquaintances to begin with, yet it seemed like the only place he could go right now. The only place he could think of.

—-

“Blue?”

You asked in disbelief.

You were not one to be surprised by the sight of a mutant turtle. In fact, that was probably the least exciting thing you would have witnessed all week. You were, after all, an investigative journalist entangled in the supernatural affairs of this part of the city.

But it was seeing this mutant turtle in particular that had you at a loss for words.

Your last meeting was just as brief as all your other rendezvous; you gave him a piece of paper with the address of a storage space used by a local gang for contraband.

All he gave in return was a raspy thank you.

You figured you would see him again, priding yourself on being an asset to the city’s faceless vigilantes; hope—a poisonous thorn that could so easily pierce your skin if only you dared to reach out, if you dared to get close enough.

But with time, all your expectations faded, as did the image of him, until all you could recall of the affair was a particular shade of blue.

It was on your balcony that you last saw him; it was from there that the ninja was now looking at you with an ominous glint in his eyes.

Leo gave you a silent nod as his eyes darted to the handle of the glass door that separated the two of you. The look he gave you was expectant, impatient—it infected you with a dangerous kind of anticipation.

You chose to oblige and unlock the door, curiosity once again your master and you its slave.

That always seemed to be the case with him around.

——-

Author’s note: just something very short i wrote for fun!! Hopefully i will have it in me to write a part two i am really enjoying writing for 2007!leo

[sunniedesi]

All Future Diary Merch (Part 1)

~~A comprehensive list

Despite being a cult classic anime and manga, finding official Future Diary merchandise feels like looking for a needle in a haystack. That is, incredibly difficult to come by in a sea of redbubble and bootlegs. This is partly due to its age, but also because most merchandising is both Japanese-exclusive and released in limited quantities. For this reason, it’s quite difficult to gauge just how much merch has been created and how much of it is still available to us few fans still active to this day. So, for the sake of curation, here’s a comprehensive list of all officially licensed Future Diary merch (that we know of at least).

A little disclaimer before we begin: this list is subject to change, as I’m always making new discoveries whenever I look deeper into this rabbit hole. If anyone knows of more merchandise that isn’t included in this list, please let me know so I can update it. On the other hand, this post is going to be very dense and likely feature multiple parts due to Tumblr's photo limit, so I'll keep my descriptions very brief. If there's any relevant information related to a product, I'll link it and call it a day. (so be prepared to see a lot of links to some of my previous posts here). 

With all that fluff out of the way, let’s dive in:

~ Magazine Goodies

Magazines often feature little goodies and gifts (or at least they did back in the early 2000’s), and Shonen Ace wasn’t an exception to this. According to Future Diary’s official guidebook, there were three special FD gifts included in different editions of Shonen Ace:

A supplementary manga cover (from the February 2011 issue of Shonen Ace)

A Yuno phone pouch (from the Spring 2008 issue of Ace Assault)

A comic box (from the June 2011 issue of Shonen Ace)

~ Raffle Goodies

Besides these magazine goodies, Shonen Ace also did many fairs where they would sell volumes of their popular series and raffle limited edition products. These raffles were advertised in the obis of the first four Future Diary volumes, which is where most of my product images actually come from. Once again, according to the guidebook, these products were:

An mp3 player + earphones (from Kadokawa’s Spring Comic fair 2006, featured in volume 1) I believe only 10 units exist of this piece, though I could be wrong. The ad for the raffle said that of the 300 participants, 140 would also receive a metal strap (a.k.a phone charm), though we have no pictures of what that looks like (source). 

A jacket/windbreaker (from a raffle featured in volume 2). Sadly, no more information is available for this product.

A wall clock (from Kadokawa’s Spring Comic fair 2007, featured in volume 3). I also believe only 10 units exist of this piece.

The complete crossover of Hanako and the Terror of Allegory x Future Diary (also from the 2007 Spring Comic fair). Of the people who weren’t lucky enough to receive the wall clock, 190 received the crossover instead. 

The meditating Yuno t-shirt (from Kadokawa’s 13th anniversary fair, featured in volume 4). Only 50 units exist of this piece. Of the people who weren’t lucky enough to receive the shirt, 200 received a signed, colored copy of the artwork from the shirt.

~ Kadokawa Extras

Besides raffles and magazine goodies, Kadokawa has made other miscellaneous products featuring Future Diary for special events:

A fan from the Kadokawa Manga Festival - Summer 2009, which happened to feature Yuno.

A Christmas Yuno x Yukki bookmark from the Kadokawa Manga Festival - Winter 2009. 

A Yuno Keychain sold for Shonen Ace’s 25th anniversary.

Sakae Esuno’s crossover illustration for Kadokawa’s 30th anniversary.

~ Books

Besides the manga releases, there are other Future Diary related books, such as:

Fragments, the guidebook.

Future Diary's ecchi parody: Mosaic Keshi.

The original Future Diary sample booklet, which included just the first chapter of the manga.

The two light novels.

Bonus: despite never receiving a standalone release, I’ll mention it here: the Tantei Akechi x Future Diary crossover story.

Extra bonus: there are two clear files that were given as bonus gifts for purchasing some of the manga volumes (I don’t know where else to place this so here they are).

~ DVD/Blu-ray Bundles

The limited edition sets of each localization of Future Diary include plenty of interesting bonuses worth diving into. I’d like to note that I might be missing some information here as the contents of these bundles are a little tricky to research, though.

The complete Japanese Blu-Ray box included the following bonuses: a 16-page booklet, pilot episode, the MurMur Corner specials, the promotional TV commercials and videos, audio cast commentary for every episode, box sleeve and disk sleeves with original designs, and the CD soundtrack.

The Japanese Blu-Ray/ DVD had individual volumes (9 to be exact) which were also accompanied by limited edition bundles. These bundles included similar bonuses: an 8-page booklet, video specials and commercials, cast commentaries for their respective episodes, a box/ disk sleeve, and one of two character trading cards.

Volume 1 of the Blu-Ray/ DVD also included a mouse pad with an original design for its limited edition, while volume 6, 7 and 8 included one of the three Radio CDs for their limited edition sets. (source).

Bonus: if you bought the Volume 1 Limited Edition set from HMV, you would receive a poster of Yuno in an HMV uniform. There's also a Tsubaki version, though I'm not sure what volume that's for. If you bought it on Amazon, you would receive a special sticker set.

The German Collector’s Limited Edition: comes with the box, booklet (same one as the Japanese), memory cards of all the diary owners, pins of Yuno and Yukki and an embroidered patch with the name of the show. (Note: the French Limited Edition also contained the same booklet).

The Collector’s Limited Edition Set (UK): included a 28-page artwork booklet.

SelectaVision Blu-Ray Collector’s Edition of Future Diary: comes with the CD box, complete series and extras (total of four disks), soundtrack CD, a small container with Tsubaki’s face, 9 large postcards of the manga covers, a doble-sided poster, sticker set, trading card set, a replica of Yukki’s beanie, and a 40-page booklet. What else can I say, ole 💃

Side note: I’m disappointed that the LATAM version never had a physical release. Not only did we miss out on similar bundles, but the dub is now incredibly difficult to find since it wasn't moved over when Funimation passed to Crunchyroll. The castilian dub is also surprisingly good in comparison, which is something I don’t normally say (castilian dubs don’t have a track record of being very good, sorry).

Lastly, the US Limited Edition Box included three extras: a filler box and two Valentine's-Day-themed postcards.

That's it for part 1. Tune in next time for more merch insanity!

PS: for some reason every time I try editing my drafts for this they get posted. I had to delete the first version of this because Tumblr's playing tricks on me. So now you're getting this post earlier than expected xd.

[apod]

2023 August 27

Three Galaxies and a Comet Credit & Copyright: Miloslav Druckmuller (Brno University of Technology)

Explanation: Diffuse starlight and dark nebulae along the southern Milky Way arc over the horizon and sprawl diagonally through this gorgeous nightscape. The breath-taking mosaic spans a wide 100 degrees, with the rugged terrain of the Patagonia, Argentina region in the foreground. Along with the insider's view of our own galaxy, the image features our outside perspective on two irregular satellite galaxies - the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. The scene also captures the broad tail and bright coma of Comet McNaught, the Great Comet of 2007.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230827.html

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

From Mosaic Magazine:

How Mistaken Beliefs Led to Oct. 7 -

• The frame of mind that animated the defunct peace process continues to inform Israeli, American, and European political, administrative, and military actions. This is because the peace process is a conceptual framework rooted in a particular worldview.

• At the tactical level, Israel assumed a defensive, rather than offensive, military posture reliant on technological superiority. Like the rest of the West, Israel believed that its technological advantage was a sufficient deterrent. A "small, smart army" would therefore suffice because technology had made large ground wars obsolete. But our enemies were not deterred by our superior technology. They adapted to it and used low tech to subvert it.

• Israel's first choice was negotiations that would establish an agreed-upon border between two nation-states, tired of wars and determined to move toward cooperative coexistence. But peace was not forthcoming, when in 2000, then-prime minister Ehud Barak offered Yasir Arafat all the Israeli public could stomach and then some, only to be turned down and rewarded with the Second Intifada.

• So Israelis chose unilateral partition from Gaza with the 2005 disengagement. It was a trial-run for Palestinian statehood, based on the hope that the Palestinians would come around and realize, after tasting political independence and economic opportunities, the folly of endless war.

• The trial failed almost immediately. Rockets kept raining on Israel's towns after the disengagement and, in 2007, Hamas violently eliminated the PLO in Gaza, establishing a terror quasi-state. A regular, unending influx of international aid rendered economic development unnecessary. Aid flowed in because Israeli intelligence believed a higher standard of living would help pacify the Strip.

• Israel imagined the Palestinian national movement in the image of ours. We assumed that national self-determination was its goal and that Palestinians would seize the opportunity to assume political independence so they could build their political and economic future. But nation-building was never on their agenda. We would have understood this if we had studied their political culture seriously, instead of assuming they share ours.

• It was folly to imagine that of all Arab peoples, the Palestinians would prove the exception that would produce a stable nation-state. The principal grievance of the Palestinian cause is not the absence of a desired nation-state but the existence of another one.

• We also projected our own misconceptions of human nature onto the Palestinians. Contemporary Western elites assume that we all want a decent job, food on the table, and a safe environment to raise our children. But when we conceive of all life in these materialistic terms, we lose the ability to imagine the human capacity for evil.

Encouraged by assumptions from America and Europe, Israelis failed to believe in their neighbors' sinister intentions.

We did not take seriously their theology of hate, their deep-seated racism, and the depth of their barbaric sadism.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Here's a 2007 contemporary home in Houston, TX that has some stunning architectural features. The 4bd, 5ba home has a moody color palate of mostly gray & black, but it does feature some color. $1,994,900 + $40mo. HOA.

Enter a spacious hall with a sweeping staircase covered in solid black carpet. The floor is black slate throughout and the walls are pale gray accented with dark doors.

To the right is a spacious living room filled with the light a long wall of windows. It has a gray stone fireplace wall and a bar off to the side.

The dining room also has a wall of windows. It can fit a much larger table than a small round one with 8 chairs crowded around it.

Entering the kitchen from the dining room, you first pass thru the butler's pantry.

And, past the wall ovens.

Until you emerge into the kitchen with sleek gray cabinets topped by solid black counters. There's comfortable seating with a lamp in front of the island, then a dining area, and a family room.

And, this area also has lots of windows.

The den has color with its walls of muted tomato shelving.

The principal bedroom is a darker gray and has minimal natural light coming from small square windows set up by the ceiling.

The en-suite features gray cabinetry, dark mosaic tiles, black & white quartz, plus black mirrored glass.

The closet/dressing room is off the bath. Those empty shelves above are for more clothes on hangers- you pull the rod down with the vertical pole. When you're finished, push it back up with the pole.

If you like the Cat in the Hat, you'll love the kid's room.

Another, smaller, bedroom has a built-in seat and dressers.

One of the baths has a nice sink vanity.

The rec room also has a bar.

And, this is the comfy TV room.

The home has an elevator.

Room with a colorful built-in unit.

Black bath where the tiles, fixtures, etc. are all black except for the floor and sink.

The pool is on the upper patio, but this is really part of the parking area down here. 9,120 sq ft lot.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5311-Queensloch-Dr-Houston-TX-77096/28066768_zpid/?

99,120 sq ft lot9,120 sq ft lot,120 sq ft l

[transformers-mosaic]

Transformers: Mosaic - "Turbo Revving Punks"

Earliest evidence posted on September 10th, 2007

Story - Daniel Bartlett Art - Charger426 Letters - wadapan

deviantART

wada sez: Wait, what? The one who lettered this strip was... me?! That’s right dorks, I’m no longer satisfied with copying and pasting material from elsewhere on the internet. I’m dragging these Mosaic strips kicking and screaming across the finish line for your viewing pleasure, even if it means I have to crack out the Blambot fonts and the autoshapes. So I’m thrilled to say that this particular strip is seeing the light of day for the very first time! I’d come across a “sneak peek” on Charger426′s deviantART, which looked for all the world like finished inks to me. I reached out to him, and to my delight, it turned out that he not only had the original script, but that he’d coincidentally started coloring the piece at long last, using some gorgeous traditional marker work. I offered to handle the lettering; inspired by the title, I looked at graphics associated with hot rods to select an italics font and add a flame effect. I ended up slightly repositioning the final panel to make room to incorporate the title directly into the narration. Obviously the story here is pretty nonspecific and straightforward, but I’m 99% sure it’s intended to be set in IDW continuity, as the script goes out of its way to specify the green/white narration boxes—something famously seen in Spotlight: Kup. I ummed and ahhed over putting the Mosaic logo on this strip, ultimately swaying towards just writing “The Transformers”, as most of IDW’s stories were branded. See below for Daniel’s original script and Charger426′s full process breakdown!

Panel 1:

Kup in a crouched fighting stance, back to a wall

Text box: (Green w/ White writing for all) I’ve been at this for more stellar-cycles then I can remember

Panel 2: (Inset into Panel 1)

Split picture of Optimus Prime and Springer’s faces

Text box: I’ve had some solid trainees, and those who have gone Above and Beyond.

Panel 3, 4, & 5: (Inset into Panel 1)

(3) Hot Rods face, (4) Sideswipes face, (5) Sunstreaker’s face

Text Box: These three Need some work; Ones reckless, ones stubborn, and ones arrogant.

Panel 6:

Kup facing Hot Rod, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker as they Zero in to finish him off

Text Box: They’re nothing but a bunch of Turbo Revving Punks…

Panel 7:

Hot Rod holding his head on the ground in a knocked down position, Sunstreaker looking at Kup from the ground (as he walks away) and Sideswipe laid out.

Panel 8:

Kup from the waste up with a smirk on his face

Text Box: I’ll straighten them out yet.

[eternal-echoes]

“The Utopia of going back to breathe life into the pre-Columbian religions, separating them from Christ and from the universal Church, would not be a step forward: indeed, it would be a step back. In reality, it would be a retreat towards a stage in history anchored in the past.

The wisdom of the indigenous peoples fortunately led them to form a synthesis between their cultures and the Christian faith which the missionaries were offering them. Hence the rich and profound popular religiosity, in which we see the soul of the Latin American peoples:

- love for the suffering Christ, the God of compassion, pardon and reconciliation; the God who loved us to the point of handing himself over for us; - love for the Lord present in the Eucharist, the incarnate God, dead and risen in order to be the bread of life; - the God who is close to the poor and to those who suffer; - the profound devotion to the most holy Virgin of Guadalupe, the Aparecida, the Virgin invoked under various national and local titles. When the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to the native Indian Saint Juan Diego, she spoke these important words to him: “Am I not your mother? Are you not under my shadow and my gaze? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not sheltered underneath my mantle, under the embrace of my arms?” (Nican Mopohua, nos. 118-119).

This religiosity is also expressed in devotion to the saints with their patronal feasts, in love for the Pope and the other Pastors, and in love for the universal Church as the great family of God, that neither can nor ever should leave her children alone or destitute. All this forms the great mosaic of popular piety which is the precious treasure of the Catholic Church in Latin America, and must be protected, promoted and, when necessary, purified.”

-Pope Benedict XVI, INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE FIFTH GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE BISHOPS OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, 13 May 2007

[fatehbaz]

The Chacoan peccary is so elusive that scientists believed it was extinct until its “discovery” in 1975. Today, only 3,000 remain in the [...] forests and lagoons of the Gran Chaco region, which stretches across northern Argentina, Paraguay and southern Bolivia, and comprises more than 50 different ecosystems.

Micaela Camino, who works with the Indigenous Wichí and Criollo communities to protect the animals and their land rights in Argentina, knows how difficult to find they can be. She has only seen one Chacoan peccary, or quimilero, in 13 years [...], but has fallen in love with the critically endangered mammal [...]. “I was told that the Chacoan peccary was extinct outside protected areas when I first started,” says Camino. “So when we found it, I thought it was great. We set up monitoring to find more in one of the most isolated parts of the dry Chaco. But then the loggers started to come.”

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The Gran Chaco, South America’s second-largest forest after the Amazon, is one of the most deforested places on Earth.

Every month, more than 133 square miles is lost, cleared for vast soya farms and cattle ranches that export to markets in the US, China and Europe – including UK supermarkets, according to a joint Guardian investigation in 2019. However, the loss is largely ignored on the international stage, receiving little conservation money or celebrity attention in comparison with the Amazon.

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The area is home to charismatic species such as the maned wolf, the giant armadillo and the jabiru, many of which are not found anywhere else on Earth.

At current rates of deforestation, the mosaic of life in the Gran Chaco could collapse entirely. The loss of the Chacoan peccary would be guaranteed this time. Unlike the Amazon, there are few academic studies on tipping points and the forest’s waning ability to support itself as the climate changes and land is cleared, but people who live here are seeing the changes. [...]

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In Paraguay, the success [of farming and ranching] [...] has transformed the country into one of the most important beef producers in the world, largely at the expense of the forest, dubbed “the green hell” by early settlers from Canada.

“The Gran Chaco has been at a crossroads for a long time,” says Gastón Gordillo, a professor of anthropology at the University of British Columbia. “The 2007 forest law in Argentina did manage to slow some deforestation, but it also created the paradox by establishing legitimate ways of destroying the forest.” [...] However, a new motorway in Paraguay appears likely to open up more of the region to ranching. “The agribusiness sector in Argentina is very powerful,” says Gordillo [...]

For the Chacoan peccary, research indicates there are only 30 years left to save the species, with current deforestation rates meaning all of its habitat outside protected areas will have gone by 2051.

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Headline, images, captions, and text by: Patrick Greenfield. “Deforestation piles pressure on South America’s elusive Chacoan peccary.” The Guardian. 31 January 2023. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks added by me.]

[gone2soon-rip]

PAUL REUBENS (1952-Died July 30th 2023,at 70.Cancer).an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and children's entertainer. He was known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s, and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1982, Reubens began appearing in a show about a character he had been developing for years. The show was called The Pee-wee Herman Show, and ran for five sold-out months; HBO also produced a successful special about it. Pee-wee became an instant cult figure and, for the next decade, Reubens was completely committed to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. His feature film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), directed by Tim Burton, was a financial and critical success, and soon developed into a cult film. Its sequel, Big Top Pee-wee (1988), was less successful. Between 1986 and 1990, Reubens starred as Pee-wee in the CBS Saturday-morning children's program Pee-wee's Playhouse. Reubens made cameos and appearances in numerous projects, such as Reno 911! (2006), 30 Rock (2007), Pushing Daisies (2007), Life During Wartime (2009), The Blacklist (2014–2015), Accidental Love (2015) and Mosaic (2018). He also played the voice role of Pavel in the Disney XD television series Tron: Uprising (2012–2013).During his career,he had run into troubles in his personal life,with arrests for indecent exposure and dealing with pornographic meterials,causing him to have a brief fall from grace.He returned to his Pee Wee Herman character,after his successful role in the 2001 crime frama film,Blow.Paul Reubens - Wikipedia

[ctrl-alt-tahu]

If you had complete creative freedom to design an official bionicle set, what would you make?

Okay, this has the opportunity to go... umm.... a few ways. Like, is it the mid-2000s and Bionicle is in its Gen 1 heyday and I can design a proper Gen-1 set? Easy--I'm designing a Toa Voriki: think something like the Toa Norik/Toa Iruini from 2005 or the Toa Lhikan set--or the Lesovikk from 2007: a Toa outside the standard six/twelve cannister sets of the year. This will be a third "Toa Hagah" style cannister: a Metru build black Toa, but with a purple mask/armour/feet/weapon. In other words, I'm turning my spray-painted, simple MOC into a real set.

But... if we're going to say it's 2024 and LEGO is what LEGO is in 2024... Then let's make Gen-1 revival set in the style of the Tahu GWP: a GWP Lariska, a GWP Nidhiki (in spider-transforms-to-bipedal human form) and a GWP Turaga Lhikan, with box art that clearly shows them on the Red Star. Nidhiki is ~somehow~ alive thanks to the death of Teridax and the magic of Mata Nui's final actions.

But.... if we're going PURE wish-fulfillment...

As a LEGO fig fan (even more than Bionicle--I know, I know!), I want to design a $500 playset along the lines of #10305 Lion Knights' Castle: a massive structure with a tonne of minifigs: the 6 Toa Mata, the 6 Turaga, the Chroniclers' company--and Jaller, Matoro, Nuparu, Hahli, Onepu, Kongu, Hewki, and McToran Makuka: a Kini Nui playset over the Mangaia lair, with Bohrok, Rahkshi, and an Avohkii hidden away. There's a Rahaga in a tree. The subfloor is built over a mosaic of Metru Nui. There's a palantír stand in Makuta's lair solely to amuse my LotR-fan self. If you buy Onepu and Onua parts on Bricks&PIeces, you can make a Voriki.

[themightyfoo]

Announcing my new sideblog, @welcome-to-the-night-gallery, featuring art of the macabre, numinous, and liminal. These are all artworks originally posted to my other sideblog, @thebardostate.

Credits:

Mosaic mask of Tezcatlipoca, Mexica peoples, ca. 1521-1400 CE

Paleolithic bull painting, Lascaux cave, France ca. 17000 bpe

Heaven, Simon Fujiwara, 2017

Egyptian funerary mask, late 18th dynasty, ca. 1400-1300 BCE

Habitation, Marvin Cone, ca. 1938-9

Sunbeams penetrating Temple of Amun-Re, Karnak Egypt, photographer unknown

Mycenaean death mask, Greece ca. 1600-1450 BCE

Moby Dick, Gerard Dubois, date unknown, artist website

Fayum mummy portrait of unidentified young lady, Roman Egypt, 2nd Century CE

Dryad, Andrew Wyeth, 2007