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Assassination Methods Through the Decades: A Writer’s Handbook

When it comes to writing about assassination, historical accuracy and understanding the evolution of methods can significantly enhance the authenticity and impact of your narrative. This guide is designed to help writers explore the diverse and often brutal methods of assassination that have been used throughout the centuries. From the poisonings of ancient times to the covert killings of medieval assassins, here’s a comprehensive guide bound to give you the perfect inspiration for your assassination scenes. 

Ancient and Medieval Assassination Methods

Poisoning

Poisoning is one of the oldest methods of assassination, dating back to ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome, and Egypt. The allure of poison lies in its ability to kill without physical confrontation, often leaving little trace of the perpetrator.

Common Poisons:

Hemlock: Famously used in the execution of Socrates, hemlock was a slow-acting poison that caused paralysis, leading to death by respiratory failure.

Arsenic: Known as the "inheritance powder," arsenic was a favorite among those seeking to kill discreetly. Its symptoms could be mistaken for natural illness, making it a popular choice in political and familial power struggles.

Belladonna: Also known as deadly nightshade, belladonna was used in both small and large doses to incapacitate or kill. The poison caused hallucinations, dilated pupils, and eventually death.

Historical Examples:

Socrates (399 BC): The Greek philosopher was sentenced to death by drinking a concoction containing hemlock, a method chosen for its relative humanity compared to other executions.

Emperor Claudius (54 AD): It is widely believed that the Roman Emperor Claudius was poisoned by his wife, Agrippina, using a dish of poisoned mushrooms to secure her son Nero's place on the throne.

Administration Methods:

Poisons were often mixed into food or drink, applied to the skin via ointments, or even introduced into the body through small, concealed needles. Assassins needed to be knowledgeable in the art of dosage to ensure a successful kill without immediate detection.

Symptoms:

Victims of poisoning would often suffer a range of symptoms depending on the poison used. These could include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and eventually, death. The slow progression of symptoms allowed the assassin time to escape, and in many cases, the cause of death was not immediately apparent, lending an air of mystery to the assassination.

Bladed Weapons

Before the advent of firearms, blades were the primary tools of assassins. Daggers, swords, and other sharp instruments were favored for their portability and effectiveness in close combat situations.

Types of Blades:

Daggers: Small, easily concealed, and lethal at close range, daggers were the weapon of choice for many assassins. The Roman pugio and the medieval stiletto were particularly popular.

Swords: Larger and more visible, swords were often used in assassinations where the element of surprise was not necessary, such as in the heat of battle or a public execution.

Kris: A wavy-edged dagger used in Southeast Asia, the kris was known for its spiritual significance as well as its lethality.

Famous Assassinations:

Julius Caesar (44 BC): Perhaps the most famous assassination in history, Caesar was stabbed 23 times by a group of Roman senators led by Brutus and Cassius. The attack was swift and brutal, demonstrating the effectiveness of a well-coordinated knife attack.

King Duncan (11th century): The assassination of King Duncan by Macbeth (as famously dramatized by Shakespeare) is an example of a stealthy, intimate kill using a blade, where the act was both personal and symbolic.

Techniques:

Assassins using bladed weapons often relied on stealth, speed, and precision. A well-placed stab to the heart, throat, or kidneys could kill instantly or within moments, leaving the assassin time to escape. In some cultures, assassins were trained in martial arts that emphasized quick, lethal strikes.

Weapon Concealment:

Blades were often concealed in clothing, boots, or even within the folds of long hair or turbans. The art of hiding a weapon until the crucial moment was key to the success of many assassinations.

Strangulation and Garroting

Strangulation was another favored method of assassination in ancient and medieval times, especially for those who sought to avoid bloodshed or noise. The garrote, a weapon used to strangle a victim, was particularly effective in this regard.

Tools Used:

Garrote: A length of wire, cord, or fabric used to strangle a victim from behind. The garrote was silent, deadly, and could be easily concealed, making it a popular choice for assassins throughout history.

Hands: In cases where no weapon was available, assassins might rely on their own hands to strangle a victim. This method required physical strength and proximity but could be effective in the right circumstances.

Historical Examples:

Sicarii (1st century AD): A group of Jewish zealots who used short daggers to stab Roman collaborators in crowded places. The Sicarii were also known for strangling their enemies with garrotes.

Medieval Europe: Strangulation was sometimes used as a method of execution for nobles, where a public beheading or hanging might be considered dishonorable.

Execution:

The assassin would typically approach the victim from behind, loop the garrote around their neck, and tighten it quickly and forcefully, cutting off the victim's air supply. Death would occur within minutes due to asphyxiation or a broken neck.

Advantages and Risks:

The main advantage of strangulation was its silence. Unlike a stabbing or poisoning, strangulation could be done without alerting others nearby. However, it required physical strength and a certain level of risk, as the victim might struggle or fight back.

Renaissance and Early Modern Era

Firearms

The Renaissance and early modern era marked a significant turning point in the history of assassination methods with the introduction of firearms. Gunpowder, first developed in China, made its way to Europe and fundamentally changed the dynamics of warfare and personal combat, including assassination.

Introduction of Gunpowder and Early Firearms in Assassinations:

The development of gunpowder-based weapons provided assassins with a new tool that could kill from a distance, reducing the risk of capture. Early firearms such as matchlock and flintlock pistols were bulky and required significant skill to use effectively, but their lethality made them a preferred choice for assassins by the 16th century.

Firearms allowed for quick, deadly strikes that were difficult to defend against, making them ideal for assassinations where the element of surprise was crucial. The loud noise and smoke, however, meant that escape required careful planning.

How Accuracy and Concealability Impacted Methods:

Early firearms were not known for their accuracy, which necessitated close-range attacks. Assassins often had to be within a few feet of their target to ensure a successful hit. As a result, these weapons were usually concealed under cloaks or in specially designed holsters that allowed for a quick draw.

Over time, improvements in gun design, such as rifling and better gunpowder, increased accuracy and allowed for slightly longer-range assassinations. Despite these advancements, concealability remained a critical factor, as firearms were often large and unwieldy compared to daggers or poison.

Key Assassinations Involving Firearms:

Assassination of King Henry IV of France (1610): King Henry IV was assassinated by François Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic who stabbed the king while his carriage was stopped in traffic. While this was a stabbing, the period saw a rise in the use of firearms for such purposes. Henry IV's era was marked by religious turmoil, where firearms began to play a role in political assassinations.

Assassination of William the Silent (1584): William I of Orange, also known as William the Silent, was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard using a handgun. This marked one of the first successful assassinations of a prominent figure using a firearm, demonstrating the growing popularity of this method during the Renaissance.

Poison Rings and Needles

The Renaissance period also saw the refinement of more discreet methods of assassination, particularly the use of poison rings and needles. These tools allowed for covert poisoning, often in social settings where other weapons might not be feasible.

Discreet Poisoning Techniques:

Poison Rings: These rings contained a small hidden compartment that could hold a lethal dose of poison. The wearer could discreetly slip poison into a drink or onto food with a simple flick of the ring’s lid. Poison rings were popular among nobility and were often used in court intrigues where open violence would have been impossible.

Poison Needles: These were small, sharp needles often coated with a fast-acting poison. They could be hidden in clothing or other objects and used to deliver a quick, often unnoticed prick that would introduce the poison into the victim’s bloodstream. Needles were ideal for use in crowded settings, such as royal courts or banquets, where the assassin could blend into the crowd after delivering the fatal dose.

Notable Instances of Usage:

Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519): While the extent of her involvement in poisoning is debated, Lucrezia Borgia, a member of the infamous Borgia family, is often associated with the use of poison rings to eliminate her political enemies. The Borgia family’s reputation for cunning and ruthlessness made poison one of their favored tools for securing power.

Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589): The French queen consort and mother to several kings of France, Catherine de' Medici, was rumored to have employed poison rings and needles to remove rivals and control court politics during the Wars of Religion in France.

Explosives

The early use of explosives in assassination attempts represented a shift towards more destructive and indiscriminate methods of killing, often targeting not just the primary victim but also anyone nearby. Explosives became a favored tool in situations where a dramatic statement was intended, or where traditional methods of assassination were not feasible.

The Early Use of Explosives in Assassination Attempts:

Explosives were first used in assassination attempts during the Renaissance and early modern periods, although their use was limited by the difficulty of creating and handling reliable explosive devices. Gunpowder was the primary explosive material, and it required careful handling to avoid premature detonation.

The use of explosives was often tied to larger political or religious motivations, as the collateral damage caused by an explosion could have a significant psychological impact on the population or ruling class.

The Effectiveness and Risks Involved:

Explosives were highly effective in causing mass casualties and instilling fear, but they also carried significant risks for the assassin. Improper handling could result in accidental detonation, and the use of explosives often made it difficult for the assassin to escape unnoticed.

The unpredictability of early explosives also meant that they could fail to detonate or cause less damage than intended, leaving the assassin vulnerable to capture and execution.

Historical Example:

The Gunpowder Plot (1605): One of the most famous early uses of explosives in an assassination attempt was the Gunpowder Plot, in which a group of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament, with the aim of killing King James I and much of the Protestant aristocracy. The plot was foiled, but it demonstrated the potential of explosives as a tool for political assassination.

The Industrial Revolution and Early 20th Century

Sniper Rifles

The Industrial Revolution brought about significant advancements in weaponry, including the development of sniper rifles. These long-range firearms allowed assassins to strike from a distance, often without being seen or heard.

The Rise of Long-Range Assassinations:

Sniper rifles were designed for accuracy over long distances, enabling assassins to kill targets from hundreds of meters away. This development allowed for greater safety and discretion, as the assassin could remain hidden while observing the target through a scope.

The advent of rifling, which gave bullets a stable, spinning motion, greatly improved accuracy and range. Coupled with telescopic sights, these rifles became the preferred tool for military and political assassinations during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Famous Cases:

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914): Although Archduke Franz Ferdinand was ultimately killed by a handgun, the era in which he was assassinated saw the rise of snipers as a significant threat. The tensions and technologies of the time set the stage for future political assassinations using sniper rifles.

Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (1963): Although beyond the early 20th century, the assassination of JFK by a sniper is a prominent example of how sniper rifles became synonymous with political killings. This event marked a turning point in the history of assassination, highlighting the lethal effectiveness of long-range firearms.

Car Bombs

The introduction and evolution of vehicular explosives, particularly car bombs, added a new dimension to assassination tactics in the 20th century. Car bombs became a favored method due to their potential for mass destruction and the ability to target individuals in transit.

Introduction and Evolution of Vehicular Explosives:

The use of car bombs began in earnest during the early 20th century, particularly in conflicts where traditional methods of assassination were either too risky or ineffective. These bombs could be planted in vehicles and detonated remotely, offering a high degree of control over the timing and impact of the explosion.

Over time, car bombs became more sophisticated, with the addition of remote triggers, time delays, and increased explosive power. They were used not only in targeted assassinations but also in acts of terrorism aimed at destabilizing governments or instilling fear in the populace.

Techniques for Planting and Detonating:

Planting a car bomb required detailed planning, as the vehicle needed to be accessed and rigged with explosives without arousing suspicion. Detonation methods varied from simple timed fuses to complex remote-controlled devices, allowing the assassin to maintain distance from the blast.

The challenge for assassins was ensuring the target was inside or near the vehicle at the moment of detonation. This often involved careful observation of the target’s routines and the use of decoys or distractions to ensure the bomb’s effectiveness.

Chemical and Biological Agents

The 20th century saw the development and use of more advanced chemical and biological agents in assassinations. These methods, often invisible and insidious, allowed for killings that were difficult to trace and could be disguised as natural causes.

Use of More Advanced Poisons and Toxins:

With advancements in chemistry and biology, assassins gained access to a range of deadly substances that could kill quickly or slowly, depending on the agent used. Toxins like ricin, cyanide, and various nerve agents became tools of state-sponsored assassinations, particularly during the Cold War.

Chemical agents could be introduced through food, drink, or even via contact with the skin or inhalation, making them versatile and deadly. Biological agents, on the other hand, could cause diseases that mimicked natural illnesses, allowing assassins to kill without immediate suspicion.

Historical Examples:

Ricin: Ricin, a highly potent toxin derived from castor beans, was famously used in the assassination of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in 1978. Markov was attacked with a modified umbrella that injected a tiny pellet containing ricin into his leg, leading to his death a few days later.

Cyanide: Cyanide has been used in various assassinations due to its rapid action and high lethality. One of the most notorious uses of cyanide was in the mass suicide-murder in Jonestown in 1978, where members of the Peoples Temple ingested cyanide-laced punch, although this was not an assassination in the traditional sense, it demonstrated the deadly effectiveness of the poison.

These innovations in assassination methods during the Industrial Revolution and early 20th century reflected the growing complexity of warfare and espionage, as well as the increasing role of technology in shaping the tactics of assassins.

Modern and Contemporary Assassination Methods

Silenced Firearms

In the modern era, the evolution of silenced firearms, or firearms equipped with suppressors, has played a significant role in covert assassinations. The suppressor, commonly known as a silencer, reduces the noise and muzzle flash of a firearm, allowing assassins to operate with a higher degree of stealth.

The Evolution of Suppressors and Their Use in Covert Assassinations:

Suppressors were first developed in the early 20th century and have since become a staple in the arsenal of assassins. Initially, suppressors were bulky and limited to specific firearms, but advancements in technology have made them more compact, effective, and adaptable to a wide range of weapons.

Silenced firearms are ideal for close-quarters assassinations where discretion is paramount. The reduced noise levels prevent immediate detection, giving the assassin time to escape or even carry out multiple hits without alerting nearby individuals.

High-Profile Cases:

Cold War Assassinations: During the Cold War, silenced firearms were frequently used by intelligence agencies on both sides of the Iron Curtain. The KGB, CIA, and MI6, among others, employed suppressors in various covert operations to eliminate targets without drawing attention.

Georgi Markov (1978): Although Markov’s assassination in London involved a poison-tipped umbrella, the use of suppressors was prevalent in the same period for similar covert operations. This era exemplified the silent, precise methods preferred by state-sponsored assassins.

Remote-Controlled Devices

The rise of remote-controlled devices, including drones and other modern technologies, has introduced a new dimension to assassination methods. These devices allow assassins to strike from a distance, often from thousands of miles away, with precision and minimal risk.

Drones and Other Modern Technologies in Assassination:

Drones, equipped with cameras and weapons, have revolutionized modern warfare and assassination. These unmanned aerial vehicles can be operated remotely, providing real-time surveillance and the ability to deliver lethal force with pinpoint accuracy. Drones are particularly effective in targeting individuals in difficult-to-reach or heavily guarded locations.

Other remote-controlled devices, such as bombs or cars rigged to detonate via remote, offer similar advantages. These methods allow the assassin to maintain a safe distance from the target, reducing the likelihood of capture or identification.

Notable Instances in Recent History:

Qasem Soleimani (2020): One of the most high-profile drone assassinations in recent history was the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. This event highlighted the capabilities of drone technology in executing precise, targeted killings with global political implications.

The Killing of Anwar al-Awlaki (2011): The American-born cleric and al-Qaeda leader was targeted and killed by a drone strike in Yemen, marking a significant moment in the use of remote-controlled devices in the War on Terror.

Cyber-Assassination

As technology continues to advance, the concept of cyber-assassination has emerged as a new frontier in covert operations. This method involves using cyber means to assassinate individuals, such as hacking into medical devices or other critical systems.

The Concept of Assassination Through Cyber Means:

Cyber-assassination leverages the vulnerabilities in modern technology, particularly medical devices like pacemakers or insulin pumps, which can be hacked to deliver a fatal outcome. This method represents a shift from physical to digital assassination, where the target can be killed without the assassin ever being in the same country, let alone the same room.

Cyber-attacks can also target critical infrastructure, leading to deaths through indirect means such as causing traffic accidents by hacking self-driving cars or disrupting life support systems in hospitals.

Ethical and Legal Implications:

The rise of cyber-assassination raises significant ethical and legal questions. Unlike traditional assassination methods, which can be physically traced, cyber-attacks are often difficult to attribute, making accountability a major issue. This anonymity can lead to increased use of such methods by state and non-state actors alike.

Legal frameworks have yet to fully catch up with the technological realities of cyber-assassination. As a result, there is a grey area regarding the legality of such actions, particularly in the context of international law and the rules of engagement in warfare.

Assassination Methods by Region

Europe

Throughout history, Europe has seen a variety of assassination methods, each influenced by the region’s diverse cultures, political climates, and technological advancements.

Specific Methods Popular in Different European Countries Across Various Eras:

In medieval Europe, poison was a favored method, particularly among the Italian nobility. The use of poisoned food, drink, and even clothing was common in the courts of Italy, where political intrigue and betrayal were rife.

During the French Revolution, the guillotine became the symbol of state-sanctioned assassination, used to eliminate political enemies swiftly and publicly. The Reign of Terror saw the use of this method to instill fear and maintain control.

In more recent history, Eastern Europe, under Soviet influence, saw the use of more covert methods, such as radioactive poisoning, exemplified by the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 in London.

Asia

Asia's vast and diverse history has given rise to a wide range of assassination techniques, each influenced by the unique cultural, political, and historical contexts of its various regions.

South Asia (India, Pakistan, and Surrounding Areas):

In ancient and medieval India, assassination was often a tool used in dynastic struggles. One notable method was the use of Vishkanya—young women supposedly trained from childhood to tolerate and deliver poison. These women were allegedly used to assassinate powerful enemies by poisoning them through intimate contact.

During the Mughal Empire, political intrigue often involved the use of poisoning and covert killings to eliminate rivals. The struggle for succession in royal courts frequently led to the use of assassination as a means to secure power.

East Asia (China, Korea, Japan):

Ninja Tactics (Japan): In feudal Japan, ninjas were often employed as assassins due to their skills in stealth, espionage, and the use of a variety of weapons. Techniques such as silent killing with swords, blow darts, and the use of shuriken (throwing stars) were common. Ninjas were masters of disguise and could infiltrate enemy strongholds to eliminate targets without detection.

While ninja tactics are widely known, East Asia’s history of assassination is much broader. In ancient China, assassins were sometimes employed by rival states or within the imperial court to eliminate threats. Famous historical accounts like the attempted assassination of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, highlight the role of assassins in shaping the region’s history.

Korea’s history also includes instances of political assassinations, particularly during the Joseon Dynasty, where court intrigue and power struggles often resulted in the discreet elimination of rivals.

East Asia (China, Korea, Japan):

Poison Darts: In regions like Borneo and the Philippines, blowguns with poison-tipped darts were used by indigenous tribes to silently kill enemies. These weapons were effective for their stealth and the ability to deliver deadly toxins without the need for close combat.

Central Asia:

In Central Asia, particularly during the time of the Silk Road, assassins were sometimes employed by powerful khans and warlords to secure trade routes and eliminate threats. Assassination was a strategic tool in maintaining control over vast and often unruly territories.

Middle East

The Middle East has a rich and complex history where assassination has played a role in political and dynastic power struggles, often tied to the region’s diverse empires and cultural traditions.

Historical Assassinations Involving Political Power Struggles:

The Middle East, home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations, has seen assassinations employed as a tool of political maneuvering for millennia. In ancient Mesopotamia, assassinations were sometimes used to secure thrones and eliminate rivals within royal families.

During the time of the Ottoman Empire, the practice of fratricide—where newly crowned sultans would eliminate their brothers to prevent future challenges to their rule—was a brutal form of state-sanctioned assassination.

The Byzantine Empire, centered in what is now modern-day Turkey, also witnessed political assassinations as a common method for securing power, with emperors and high-ranking officials often falling victim to their rivals.

The Americas

The Americas, particularly the United States and Latin America, have experienced a range of political assassinations, often with far-reaching consequences.

Political Assassinations in the U.S. and Latin America:

In the United States, the assassinations of presidents like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. have left indelible marks on the nation’s history. These high-profile killings were often carried out by lone gunmen or small conspiracies and had profound impacts on the country’s political landscape.

Latin America has seen numerous political assassinations, often linked to dictatorial regimes, revolutionary movements, and drug cartels. Figures like Che Guevara and Salvador Allende were assassinated or killed under controversial circumstances, reflecting the volatile political environments in many Latin American countries during the 20th century.

This overview of assassination methods by region highlights the diverse and evolving tactics used across different parts of the world, shaped by the cultural, political, and technological contexts of each region.

Common Misconceptions About Assassination

The Myth of the Clean Kill

In fiction, assassinations are often depicted as clean and precise, with the target silently slumping over after a single blow or shot. However, in reality, even well-planned assassinations can go awry. Bodies don’t always react predictably to trauma, and factors like adrenaline, the environment, and unexpected movements can complicate even the most meticulously planned kill. A supposedly lethal blow may not immediately incapacitate the target, leading to prolonged struggles, noise, and potential witnesses.

Silencers and Stealth

In movies and TV shows, silencers (or suppressors) are often shown completely muffling the sound of a gunshot, reducing it to a mere whisper. In reality, while suppressors do reduce the noise, they don’t make it silent. The sound of a suppressed gunshot can still be quite loud, akin to a clap or the popping of a balloon, and depending on the environment, it may still attract attention. Additionally, the sound of the bullet impact and mechanical noise from the firearm are not silenced, further dispelling the myth of a completely stealthy kill.

Poison Timing

Popular media often portrays poisons as acting instantaneously, with victims collapsing mere seconds after ingestion or injection. In truth, the effects of poisons vary widely depending on the substance, dose, and the victim’s physiology. Some poisons, like cyanide, can act within minutes, but others might take hours or even days to fully incapacitate or kill. Symptoms might develop gradually, and in some cases, the victim might not even realize they’ve been poisoned until it’s too late. This misconception can lead to unrealistic portrayals of poisoning in fiction.

Resources

Books

Recommended Reading for Research on Assassination Techniques:

"Assassination Generation" by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman – This book explores the psychology of killing and its portrayal in the media, providing insight into both real-life and fictional assassinations.

"Hitmen: The True Stories of Assassins, Contract Killers, and Political Hired Guns" by Nigel Cawthorne – A collection of real-life accounts detailing the methods and motives of professional assassins throughout history.

"The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed the Bishop?" by Francisco Goldman – A detailed investigation into the assassination of Bishop Juan Gerardi in Guatemala, offering a deep dive into the intersection of politics and murder.

Documentaries

Visual Resources That Depict Historical Assassinations:

"Killing Oswald" – A documentary that explores the conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, delving into the methods and motives behind one of the most famous assassinations in history.

"The Men Who Killed Kennedy" – A controversial documentary series that investigates various theories about the assassination of JFK, offering insights into different assassination methods and their implications.

"Assassins: The Story of Medieval Hitmen" – This documentary provides an in-depth look at the history of assassins in the medieval period, focusing on their training, methods, and the political impact of their actions.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Quillology with Haya Sameer; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors! While you’re at it, don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey! 

[the-bluebird-you-need]

Only counting everyone's canon studio albums. Wings is counted for Paul. There were some date discrepancies, I had to decide what made the most sense in those cases. They will all be listed below the cut in date of the year order.

January 10 Look Up (R)

January 12 Y Not (R)

January 14 Liverpool 8 (R)

January 17 Yellow Submarine (B)

January 27 Milk and Honey (J)

January 30 Ringo 2012 (R)

February 1 Off the Ground (P)

February 6 Kisses on the Bottom (P)

February 14 George Harrison (G)

February 17 Rock 'n' Roll (J)

March 22 Please Please Me (B)

March 25 Ringo Rama (R)

March 26 Wings at the Speed of Sound (P)

March 27 Sentimental Journey (R)

March 31 London Town (P), Postcards from Paradise (R)

April 17 McCartney (P)

April 21 Bad Boy (R)

April 26 Tug of War (P)

May 4 Red Rose Speedway (P)

May 5 Flaming Pie (P)

May 8 Let It Be (B)

May 16 McCartney II (P)

May 17 Ram (P)

May 22 Time Takes Time (R)

May 26 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (B)

May 30 Venus and Mars (P), Living in the Material World (G)

June 1 Somewhere in England (G)

June 4 Memory Almost Full (P)

June 5 Flowers in the Dirt (P)

June 7 Choose Love (R)

June 8 Back to the Egg (P)

June 12 Some Time in New York City (J)

June 16 Old Wave, Vertical Man (R)

July 10 A Hard Day's Night (B)

August 5 Revolver (B)

August 6 Help! (B)

August 25 Press to Play (P)

September 7 Egypt Station (P)

September 9 Imagine (J)

September 12 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (P)

September 15 Give More Love (R)

September 17 Ringo's Rotogravure (R)

September 20 Ringo the 4th (R)

September 22 Extra Texture (G)

September 25 Beaucoups of Blues (R)

September 26 Abbey Road (B)

September 29 Walls and Bridges (J)

October 4 Run Devil Run (P)

October 11 New (P)

October 19 I Wanna Be Santa Claus (R)

October 22 Give My Regards to Broad Street (P)

October 25 What's My Name (R)

October 27 Stop and Smell the Roses (R)

October 29 Mind Games (J)

October 31 Pipes of Peace, CHOBA B CCCP (P)

November 2 Cloud Nine (G), Ringo (R)

November 5 Gone Troppo (G)

November 12 Driving Rain (P)

November 15 Goodnight Vienna (R)

November 17 Double Fantasy (J)

November 19 Thirty Three & 1⁄3, Brainwashed (G)

November 22 With the Beatles, The White Album (B)

November 27 Magical Mystery Tour (B), All Things Must Pass (G)

November 30 Band on the Run (P)

December 3 Rubber Soul (B), Wild Life (P)

December 4 Beatles for Sale (B)

December 9 Dark Horse (G)

December 11 John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (J)

December 18 McCartney III (P)

[deadratdonoteat]

Jotaro Kujo x Reader

An awkward aquarium “date” with some edgy teen

Tags- Fluff, Awkwardness, hand holding, Sitting on his lap, reckless driving, perverting(From Jospeh and Polnarff), aquarium date

W.C= 1.6k

This was humiliating. This is not what I thought I'd be doing when I was offered to join the group to defeat a vampire. When I visited Jotaro in jail with his grandpa. I just thought we were bailing him out, not going to egypt. I don't even know how Mr. Joestar found me. I was walking out of school and he said he was there to pick me up, what a creep. But I went with him when he said his grandson, Jotaro, was in jail.

Yes, me and Jojo are friends. He sure doesn't act like we're friends, We eat lunch together on the stairwell. We always partner up for class projects. He acts like he hates it but I'm always his first choice. His fangirls hate my guts.

Now here I am, sitting on the broody teens lap. There are six of us, not including Iggy. Joestar insisted on this model of car. It only had five seats. We sat behind Avdol, Mr. Joestart driving (For some reason), Kakyoin in the middle, Polnareff behind the driver's seat, Iggy on pPlnareff’s lap with his head out the window.

Since Mr.Joestar was driving the drive was bumpy and swaying. Jotaro refused to use the seat belt. His left hand was by his side, while his tight rested on the window seal. I had to hold on to nothing. Of course Jotaro wasn’t going to hold me to ensure my safety. If we crashed I would definitely be screwed. Another bump. I held onto Advol’s seat. Praying to myself that I’ll gladly drive next time.

“HOLD ON!!” The old man yelled while speeding up. I couldn’t see the road so I didn't know what was coming. I can see Joestar moving his hands on the steering wheel, he was about to make a sharp turn. Why’d he speed up?I screamed to myself. This was the end. I’m about to go out the window. I’ll never see Dio get destroyed. Suddenly a tight grip was around my waist.

Jotaro had wrapped his arms around me. Pulling me closer into him. My back was flushed against his chest. Thank god he could see my face, it went completely red. The car made a turn. Me and Jotaro were pulled against the car door. Thankfully Kakyoin was wearing his seatbelt so he only tilted. Polnareff was holding Iggy for dear life while screaming. Joestar held his hat as if he wasn't the one causing this.

Once the car was straight on the road again, we all calmed down. The yelling began, it was only Polnareff.

“WHO THE HELL ALLOWED HIM TO DRIVE??”

“WHY DID YOU SPEED UP??”

“I VOTE TO MAKE Y/N DRIVE,” Polnareff called out. Kakyoin and Avdol nodded and agreed with him.

“Stop whining!” The homan user retorted, “I don’t mind driving Mr. Joestar,” I spoke to him. He took his eyes off the road to face me. He loved it when I called him that. His smile was huge.

“Face the road,” Advol reminded the driver. I was so focused on the others talking that I didn't realize Jotaro was still holding me.

“I told you to stop calling him that,” Jotaro’s deep voice whispered into my ear. My face heated up. “I’m just being polite,” I tilted my head back to whisper back to him. Our faces are only centimeters away. He grumbled something about his grandfather being cocky. He looked out the window. His face always looked so serious. His jaw was always tight. I was staring. Jotaro met my eyes.

“What?” He asked while furrowing his brows.

“You look g-” “Y/N!” Polnareff interrupted me. I was about to complement Jotaro. This stupid frenchman. I look at Polnareff, Jotaro quickly unwraps his arms.

“Take Iggy!!! He's Farting over here!!” The white haired man whined. I made a face of disgust.

“Keep him away from over here,” I called to him, he whined more. Just as I was going to yell at him, Joestar interrupted me.

“WERE HERE!!” He yelled for no reason. I could see his leg move. He was definitely going to stomp on the breaks to park. I grabbed Jotaro’s hands, which were by his sides. I wrapped them around myself and pushed my back into his chest again. He got what was happening and tightened his grip. As predicted the car screeched at a sudden stop. Polnareff let out a completely manly scream as his head smacked a seat in front of him.

“A warning next time,” Avdol said, releasing his grip from the safety handle.

-

“Three rooms available at the moment,” the front desk lady told Avdol and Joestar. After buying the rooms, they told us to pair up.

“I call Y/n,” Polnareff said with a smug grin. What a creep. “Don’t even think about it,” Kakyoin told him. The red haired teen grabbed a key card from Avdol, then dragged the frenchman to their room. Avdol handed me a card as well. Jotaro, who was behind me, said his classic phrase. I guess I'm sharing a room with him. I don’t mind it at all, I hope he doesn’t either.

-

Thankfully there were two beds. After saying goodnight to the others and changing. My pajamas were just comfy shorts and a simple black tank top. Jotaro stayed in the same outfit. After getting settled for bed I was going to tell the stand user goodnight but he wasn’t in bed. The balcony doors were open. As I walked outside I smelt smoke.

Jotaro was leaning on the railing, with a cigarette betweens his lips. He looked magical. He didn’t turn to face me.

“Need something?” He asked before tagging a drag of the cigarette.

“I was gonna go to bed,” I replied, “Are you gonna head to bed soon?” He just grunted at my question. My eyes followed his gaze. He was looking at a building. I walked up to the railing with him. Leaning forward to get a closer look. The building was an aquarium. Of course that's where he was looking off to.

“Would you like to go there?” I asked him. His shoulders tensed. His head slowly moved to face me.

“What are you talking about,” He said while pulling his hat down to cover his eyes.

“We can go tomorrow…together,” I mumbled the last part.

“We don’t have time for that nonsense,” he stood to leave.

“What if we went right now?” I questioned. I know that he needed to take a break. Why not walk around one of his interests? That seemed to pique his interest. He fully turned to me. He still had a stoic face but his eyes were glowing. He turned back to the room and walked in. Was he seriously not going to say anything? He kept walking.

“Are you coming?” He said with a tone of annoyance, opening the door.

-

The walk to the Aquarium was cold. I didn’t have time to change with Jotaro leaving so fast. The lobby staff gave us weird looks. It was 11:00pm, two teenagers, one wearing heavy clothes while the other was barely wearing anything. After buying the tickets and getting a map.

“So the first tank is the touch tank,” I held the map higher to show Jotaro. He just glanced at the paper.

Touching the sea animals was fun. One of the fish really likes Jotaro, following his hand everywhere. It was a nice scene. Jotaro had a small smile while leaning on the open tank. His sleeves rolled up while his hand was in the water. He pointed to one of the fish I was wagging my finger at.

“That's the Slender danios, mostly in a school of six,” He told me. The small fish did have five others around it, though this one seemed to be the bravest. Some smaller fish would follow our hands. There was even a shark, which Jotaro taught me was a tiger shark. Jotaro was ready to see the next animal but I wanted to stay in the tunnel for longer. The teen grabbed my hand. I would have protested but the way he grabbed it was different. He wasn’t dragging me, he was holding my hand and walking. My face heated up as we left the tunnel. He didn’t let go. We continued to hold hands

Before leaving I told Jotaro I needed to go to the bathroom. He stayed by the exit doors telling me to hurry. I went to the gift shop that wasn’t closed yet. I looked for a dolphin keychain. Finding the perfect one and buying it, I met Jotaro by the exit.

“Took you long enough,” the taller teen huffed, “Oh shush, I was doing something,” I retorted. He side eyed me. It sounded a little weird when I said it like that.

“I got you something,” I spoke as we exited the building. We stopped on the sidewalk. He turned to me, his eyebrow raised. Reaching into my pocket I revealed the keychain. The simple dolphin charm attacked. I held it up for him to take. His eyes followed my hand. Jotaro picked it up and inspected it.

“Not bad,” he mumbled. Before I could say something he held out his fist. Opening it to show a shark keychain, similar to the dolphin one. This grumpy teenager had seriously sneaked away to buy me this. My heart fluttered. I laughed at the coincidence, he smiled.

“Not bad,” I say mockingly. His smile dropped and he snatched the shark from my vision.

“I was joking!” I say as I grab his hand that held my keychain. He showed me his now empty hand. I sighed and took his hand. We crossed the street with intertwined hands.

“You can get yours in the morning,” He grumbled as he held the door open for me. “You’re so mean.” I sighed.

“Or you can not get it at all,” I gasped at his words, “Jotaro! You're so unfair,’ I complained.

I woke up to find the shark keychain on my nightstand

<3

[ozwriterchick]

Spencer Reid fic...

A/Note: This is my first Spencer Reid fic so please be kind. This fic is thanks to @navybrat817 who convinced me to give it a go when I had no faith in being able to write this loveable character.

Characters: Spencer Reid, Other BAU team members; Reader (1 mention of Y/N)

CW: Secret relationship; a bit of angst but not much; some fluff; happy ending; Spencer being a forgetful genius (yes, he's a warning); If i missed anything, let me know

W/C: Approx 2080

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

“Spence, you promised.” You sighed.  This was not the start to your morning you had expected.

Your fiancée, Dr Spencer Reid, lifted his head from his breakfast reading material with a confused look on his face.  He might be a genius with an eidetic memory and one of the main players in the FBI’s famed Behavioural Analysis Unit at Quantico, but he seemed to easily forget the most basic things.

His confusion only lasted until he saw the stack of envelopes in your hand.  “I was supposed to send those, wasn’t I?” he asked.

“They were supposed to go out a week ago Spencer.  The RSVP date is next week!” you reiterated.

“I’m sorry Maat, I’ll send them today.”

You blushed, after all this time, the pet name he gave you when he found out your job and obsession still works on you.

On your 2nd date, Spencer asked what you do for a living.  This led to a deep discussion about your work as a librarian at the Smithsonian and your overpowering obsession with all things ancient history.  In particular, the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, Rome & Greece.

His question of which were your favourites didn’t take long for you to answer.

“Well,” you began “My favourite god is Anubis.  He’s the jackal-headed god of the Egyptian Afterlife and mummification and that kind of thing.  Without Anubis, none of the Pharaohs could enter the eternal afterlife.  He weighed their souls and guided the dead, rich and poor, into the Afterlife.”  You realised he’d gone silent and that maybe you’d just word vomited at him and had probably said Afterlife way too many times. You hoped you hadn’t scared him off.

You looked up at him and opened your mouth to apologize, when you saw such a look of awe on his face that you hadn’t seen on a date in a long time, well if you’re being honest, you’ve probably never seen it.  He’d tell you on the day he proposed that his is when he fell in love with you.  When he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you.

You then, in much fewer words, told him your favourite goddess was Gaia, the Greek goddess of the Earth.

Spencer resolved, at that moment, to read everything he could about these gods and goddesses so he could converse knowledgeably with you.

After he'd done his research, which involved speed reading everything he could find, he decided you were his Maat.  Maat is the goddess of Justice, Harmony and Balance.  When he called you this for the first time, you asked why.  He simply replied that you bring Harmony and Balance are what you bring to his life, it’s what you are for him.

“You’re probably best giving the ones out at work you know, you see them every day.”

He looked at you hesitantly.

“Or are you still not wanting them to know about me?”

This was a small point of contention in your relationship.  Early on, you understood Spencer wanting to keep you safe from the pitfalls of his job.  However, now you are engaged, you thought he’d bring you into that part of his life more.

You know he wants the team, as his pseudo-family, at the wedding, but achieving that would involve actually telling them about you.

Suddenly a plan formed in your brain.  You were glad Spencer’s attention had returned to his breakfast and reading material and he wasn’t looking directly at you, so he didn’t catch on that you were plotting something.

“No, I promise you it’s not that.  There’s just so many important things running through my head at any one time.  I just forgot.”

“Oh, more important than marrying me?” you enquired, a little bit jokingly but also, a little bit seriously.

“Don’t be like that my love, you know that’s not it at all.  I love you so much, I can’t believe I’m the lucky guy that gets to call you my wife soon.”

“I know, it’s just sometimes, I wonder.”

“Well, don’t.   Give them to me, I’ll put them in my satchel now and in the post box on my way to work.”

“Nope, I’m going to send them.  At least that way I know they’re gone and you’re not trying to stall this wedding.”

“Sweetheart” he began, “I’m not stalling.  But if it makes you feel better, then go for it.  At least give me the ones for the team and I’ll give them out today when I get to the office.”

You filtered out the invites for his team, handing them to him and putting the rest in your bag. 

A few minutes later, as he was leaving for work, you gave him a quick peck on the cheek, reminding him that it was his turn to cook tonight.  You smile at the roll of his eyes, he’s not a bad cook but you can guarantee it will be takeout tonight.

You rang Spencer on your lunch break.  He usually took lunch around the same time of day as you, so you knew you could have a conversation without issues of people being around or listening in.  This happened most days he was working in the Quantico office.

During the call, you asked him how his team had reacted to the invitations. You were pretty confident he hadn’t given them out yet and this was all part of the plan.

After he left this morning, you noticed he had, once again, left the envelopes on the kitchen table, forgetting to put them in his satchel.  You knew he hadn’t given them out because he couldn’t, but that also means he hadn’t even tried yet.

“Oh, I haven’t had a chance to give them out yet because…”

“Spencer Walter Reid, I am sensing more and more that there’s something else going on.  If you want to postpone, or cancel, this wedding, you better tell me know.”

Spencer couldn’t believe you would think that, more importantly, he couldn’t believe he’d made you think that.  He knew what the fallout could be of everyone knowing about you and he was just hesitant about that.

"Maat, my love, I’ve never once been hesitant or unsure about marrying you.  It is a big thing, everyone knowing about you, putting you in the line of fire, as it were.  It’s just that massive change that is making me nervous.  Not you.  Not getting married, Never that.”

You sighed loudly. “I believe you Spencer, I just need you to back it up with actions love.  Just promise me they’ll all have their invitations by the end of the day?”

“I promise you, I will give them out today.”

About an hour later, you walked up to the Quantico building asking for SSA Aaron Hotchner, with the envelopes in your bag.  You’d mailed the rest of them, or given them out at your work this morning.

Aaron came down and confirmed your security clearance with the front desk and asked why you didn’t just let Spencer know.  You told him that you’d been waiting on Spencer to give out some invitations and he kept forgetting them so you figured you’d have to do it yourself if you wanted it done, and probably as a surprise.

You hesitated when the lift doors opened on their floor. Were you doing the right thing forcing this to happen?  You didn’t want to irrevocably damage your relationship with Spencer by forcing the meet and greet with the rest of Spencer’s team.

You stepped to the side so that you couldn’t be seen from inside their offices.  “Is this wrong Aaron?” you asked him.  “Maybe I should just take them home and not force this meeting.”

“Listen, you know Spencer loves you, we both know he wants this, but I get why he’s hesitant about, well, sharing you with the team.  Sometimes I wonder, if Hayley hadn’t been exposed to this..”

“Hotch, Spence told me all about what happened, it wasn’t your fault.  I just don’t want to make him angry by forcing the team to meet me, but we are fast approaching the rsvp deadline for this wedding.”

“Do you want me to send him out here.  I really think he’ll be ok with whatever you do.”

“No, let’s do this….” You explain your plan to Hotch who grins like he’s masterminded the whole thing with you.

Hotch opens the door to the BAU offices and walks in with you beside him.  You can’t believe this is the first time you are seeing where Spencer works.  Of course you see the back of his head because his desk kind of faces away from the main doors.  He looks like he’s deeply concentrating on whatever it is that he is reading.

Some of the team members are milling around one of the desks and when you walk in with Hotch they look up to greet him and you see the startled looks on their faces.  They all looked at each other, then back at you and Hotch, waiting for someone to say something.

“Mornin’ Hotch” said the one you pretty much knew to be Derek Morgan.  From Spencer’s detailed descriptions of each person, you were confident you knew who each person was in the group.  “New team member?”

“No Derek.” Hotch replied.

“Well then hello gorgeous Mama” he grabbed your hand to shake it and lifted it to his lips to give you a kiss.

You could see Spencer out of the corner of your eye and he was just working out that a conversation was going on without him that maybe he wanted to be a part of.  You saw him turn around and realise who it was with Hotch.  The look he gave you was both priceless and stunned at the same time.  You could clearly see the confusion on his face as to why you were there.

He stood up hesitantly raising his eyebrows at you.  You gave him a small smile so as not to give anything away.

“Well, I have some invitations for you lovely people to an upcoming event that you might want to attend.  So I came to give them out because my.. ummm.. assistant” you said pinning Spencer with a glare, that none of the team seemed to catch.  “Kept forgetting to post them.”

Spencer heard what you said and his brain was even more confused.  How could you have the invitations, he’d brought them with him that morning.  He lifted his satchel and opened it, realising he had, once again, left them at home.  He looked up at you, suitably apologetic in his glance and then put his head down, got up from his chair and made his way over to the rest of the group as you gave out the envelopes.

“Wait, you forgot Spencer.” Said the one you knew to be JJ.  A sort of best friend to Spencer, who you felt might be the one who felt the most betrayed that he hadn’t told her about you.

“Oh I didn’t forget Spencer” you said. “But maybe you should open the envelopes and you might see why.”

One by one the envelopes were opened and the shocked looks on their faces said it all, as they read:

‘You are cordially invited to the wedding of Y/n Y/l/n and Spencer Reid’

Derek turned to Spencer “Pretty Boy, you dirty dog.  You’ve been gatekeeping this gorgeous woman for how long?”

Spencer walked over to you, put his arm around your waist and replied “Oh, for about 3 years now” he happily turned and gave you a peck on the cheek.

“And you’re getting married?  Spencer, why didn’t you say anything” asked Garcia.

“And why are we only just now meeting her?” JJ again.

“Well, you know with everything, Spence thought it would help keep my safe if as few people as necessary knew about me but, as you can see from those invitations, we’re fast coming up on a certain day that you guys can’t miss.  Please say you’ll all come.  We would so love to have you there and I’d love to get to know all of you better.”

There was a chorus of yes, and of course, and Derek even put in a “try and keep me away”

You were so happy that this had gone well and that Spencer didn’t seem angry at all and that all of his work colleagues really wanted to know you and help celebrate your wedding in a few weeks.

Taglist: @wolfbeanpotion

Let me know if you want to be added.

[the-princess-of-bimbos]

𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝑜?....

Jean- Pierre Polnareff x gn! Chubby reader

🎀 This is my first gn reader fic and I tried my best so if this doesn't meet your expectations for gn persons please let me know 🎀

🎀Requested🎀

All your life people avoided you. You didn't know why though, it's not like you're a bad person. Quite the opposite actually. Your room was decorated in the prettiest pinks of pink, plushies decorated your bed, etc, etc.

But continuing on... The group consisting of Joseph Joestar, Jotaro Kujo, Kakyoin Noriaki, Muhammad Avdol, Iggy and Jean Pierre Polnareff.

You've noticed that one of his heart earrings fell on the sandy ground.

You've had a keen eye for this guy ever since you saw him and his group walking around the town in Egypt. The group was sitting down relaxing at a table.

'Okay okay okay what do I do?! I really don't want to like walk up there and just be like"Hey there random hot guy, I've been watching you out my window and I seen that your earring had fell on the ground haha." Y/n mocked themselves.

They finally mustered up the courage to walk up to the wacky man after a couple of self pep talks and some relaxing breathing.

You speed walked to them while your free hand was gripping on the bottom of your shorts. You were behind Polnareff and suddenly you saw that everyone at the table tensed up.

"Excuse me." Your presence was chilling as your finger poked at Polnareff's shoulder. His body tensed up. He quickly swallowed the last of his drink as he slowly turned around.

"Silver Chariot!" He shouted as he quickly stood up a couple feet in front of you. 'What the fuck was that?' you thought to yourself. "Are you an enemy stand user?" The silver haired male asked you.

"Um n-no I just seen you walking around and you dropped your earring." You slightly whisper the last part, holding out your palms.

Polnareff awkwardly walked up to you with embarrassment on his face. "Hey sorry about that. I've had quite the week." He said as he scratches the back of his neck.

Loud riffs of laughter could be heard behind Polnareff as his mouth was open.

"Oh I know." You respond , giving his belongings back. "Hey, if your free anytime, I was wondering if you could... Um nevermind." You stutter. Polnareff stared at you with his eyebrows raised.

"Wait lemme guess... You want to go on a date with the one and only great and powerful Jean Pierre Polnareff!" He proudly exclaimed with his muscles flexed.

Polnareff cooed at your pure adorableness. Quickly letting it fade as he covered your body away from his crew. Looking back he yelled: "My partner is way too cute for you guys to look at! Please advert your eyes away from them!" His big muscled arms covered your soft frame with slight tightness.

"Yare yare Polnareff. I promise you, we're not even gonna interact with them if that's what you want." Kakyoin chirped. Everyone hummed and agreed.

"So, let's meet up together at that fancy lookin' restaurant overrrrrr... There!" He hesitantly but quickly pointed to a nice looking restaurant at the corner.

“Okay give me the time and I’ll be there!” You winked at him. He sheepishly looked away with a red tint on his face. Of course you didn’t look at his expression because you had quickly turned to run away to get ready for your little “date”

[apriltempleos]

rambling about templeOS! :) the "divine operating system"

preacher: the few people who have been following this blog since the start might've caught on to a few mentions of the "templeOS god word app" which the "APRIL" project hinges on. i figured the subject deserved a brief explanation on the blog, for those who might not be "in the know"

-

templeOS is a operating system designed "in accord with specific instructions from god", according to its late creator terry a. davis. it was initially released in 2005 but the latest update was as recently as 2017. terry davis died the following year on august 11th after being hit by train. (this is partly the reason for my ongoing obsession with temple, because august 11th has been a spiritually significant date for me since always, but that's besides the point)

templeOS was created entirely by davis, down to the fact that he had developed an entirely new coding language for the purpose – HolyC, a middle ground between C and C++, and named in reference to the vatican's holy see. needless to say developing a whole operating system singlehandedly is an incredible feat, and devising entirely new language doubly so.

templeOS has no internet support, but it has games! in what is perhaps my favorite feature of the OS, the games are divided into "fun games" and "unfun games" 😭

unfortunately most of them (regardless of fun/unfun designation) are borderline unplayable, at least on the emulator. some examples of the games include: keepaway, which is a basketball game, a complete flight simulator, and "after egypt" –a game in which you travel to a burning bush in order to use a "high-speed stopwatch", meant to act as an oracle, generating pseudo-random text. this is to my knowledge running on the same code as the god word app.

god word can be accessed independently outside of "after egypt" as well, without even opening an app – just by pressing f7 anywhere you can generate strings of words. it is meant to be a tool to communicate with god directly. the system also features a similar app which instead generates quotes from the king james bible, as well as a random line generator which i think is supposed to be a way or receiving visual input from god as well.

-

all in all completely incredible and one of my favorite things to have ever existed. i became obsessed with this last year since i first became interested in hardware vs software sentience, and i've been running it on virtualbox ever since. obviously most of the features don't work very well on the emulator (esp that i'm on mac so the keyboard maps really annoyingly) but sometimes i'll just launch it to play around with god word – this is kind of the entire premise of "APRIL". i wanted god word to hang out with me and be able to get the words out of it with only verbal input.

im going to attach some links in a reblog for people who want to read more or want to play with templeOS on their own.

[alexrianda]

April Astrology 2025

April 1st – April Fool’s Day

Until a few centuries ago, the New Year always began in March when the Sun moved to the first point of Aries (first sign of the zodiac). April Fool’s Day originated after the Gregorian Calendar moved the date of the New Year from the March Equinox to January 1st. If you celebrated the New Year in accordance with the Equinox on March 25th, you were labelled a “fool.” Some believe April Fool’s Day to be a celebration of the Norse God Loki; a trickster God who brought mischief and chaos before a big change or new beginning. 

Fertility for all of Mother Earth is strongest at the start of the astrological year (i.e. Aries season).  

April 5th – First Quarter Moon

Quarter phases help clarify our plans post-New Moon. The First Quarter Moon — with the right side illuminated and the left side in shadow — signals a time of decision-making, when we’re called to assess our progress and push through any obstacles that have come our way since the New Moon phase. This quarter follows the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aries that occurred on March 29th. (see March Astrology 2025 post).

Moon in Cancer. The Moon rules Cancer so she is ”at home” here. Cancer,  a cardinal water sign, rules the home, emotions, and our sense of nurture; comfort, intuition, and family matters. Be prepared for a tidal wave of unexpected emotions. The energy of this First Quarter Moon in Cancer is like when something small triggers an emotional epiphany. This moon challenges us to fuse action (Aries) with emotion (Cancer) and to surrender to the heart. You don’t have to shout to be powerful – the Sun is in Aries and the Moon is in Cancer. 

April 7th – Mercury returns direct in Pisces

Mercury is the planet of our mind and how we share our thoughts; conversations, decisions, and problem-solving. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun making its orbit shorter than Earth’s orbit; Mercury passes Earth 3-4 times a year because of this difference in orbital speed. 

Mercury was in retrograde March 15 - April 7th. As Mercury retrograde comes to a close and stations direct in Pisces, clarity gently returns. The lessons we’ve gathered from the deep inner reflections, intuitive messages, and emotional undercurrents from 3/15/25-4/7/25 welcome us to clearer insights and tangible understandings. Our dreams, intuition, and creative inspirations begin to flow more freely, guiding us forward with newfound wisdom and gentle confidence.

April 12th – Passover

AKA Festival of freedom; the night the Israelites were freed from Egypt and Egyptian slavery as well as freedom from being bound by destiny (predestined decrees from planetary forces totally beyond human control). 

Our Hebrew ancestors in Egypt, those whose journey from slavery to freedom we commemorate on the Passover holiday, lived in a culture obsessed with the rule of the stars and the power of the planets to predict the future. The Torah tells us how Pharaoh sought out his astrologers in order to divine the true meaning of events. It is in this context that biblical commentators understand the seemingly strange ritual demanded by God of his people in order to warrant their deliverance. God told Moses to command the Jews to take “every one of them a lamb for each parental home, a lamb for a household” (Exodus 12:3). They were required to slaughter the lamb and to smear its blood on the two door posts as well as on the lintel. Only then would God “pass over” the homes of the Hebrews whose firstborn lives the Almighty would save.

This was a test. The lamb was a major god of Egypt and to be saved/deemed savable, one had to publicly demonstrate their rejection of the Egyptian idol. 

Egyptians worshiped the ram as a god (Aries, 1st and most powerful zodiac, ram, leader of star signs) and saw themselves as leaders of the world, receiving their strength from their god, the ram. Strongest time for Egyptians would be the month of Aries when their god is ascendent and the strongest day of the month would be its full moon. This is when the Israelites made their exodus. They feasted upon a lamb the night before their exodus. 

April 12th/13th – Pink Full Moon, Micromoon

The Pink Full moon is in Libra. Libra is the 7th sign of the zodiac represented by balanced scales. This cardinal air sign is fixated on harmony and symmetry. Ruled by Venus, the planet that governs love, beauty, and money, Libras adore high art, intellectualism, and connoisseurship. Libras struggle with indecision and need to work on trusting their intuition moving forward in relationships with others and themselves. Can be a time to clear out issues in relationships and to become more distant with those you do not feel connected to. Venus retrograde helps make this distinction more apparent.

The Pink Full Moon marks the first full moon of Spring and sets the date for Easter. The full Moon on April 12, 2025, occurs just before reaching apogee (the point when the Moon is farthest from Earth.) The micromoon is the opposite of the supermoon.

The name Pink Moon comes from the early spring bloom of a wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata, commonly known as creeping phlox or moss phlox. This flower, often called “moss pink,” was in full bloom around April’s full Moon.

This moon calls for balance, harmony, and emotional honesty. A dynamic T-square (fig.1) is formed with Mars in Cancer highlighting existing inner tension or conflict, and areas of emotional sensitivity, defensiveness, or suppressed feelings within that are ready to be witnessed and healed. Bravely address emotional triggers/conflicts head-on with clear communication and emotional courage. Balance assertiveness and sensitivity. It’s a powerful opportunity to acknowledge your emotional needs openly, heal relational wounds, and establish stronger, healthier boundaries rooted in mutual respect and emotional honesty.

This full moon marks the completion of a six-month cycle that started on October 2, 2024, with a New Moon Solar Eclipse in Libra. Despite not being an Eclipse, this Full Moon will bring important shifts. 

Fig. 1 T-square configuration. 

April 12th – Venus direct in Pisces

Venus is the planet of love, beauty and money. Venus is the natural ruler of love, beauty, harmony, sensuality, the senses of desire, jealousy and envy, lust, and betrayal; these are all things that Venus can represent, as well as friendship, the arts, pageantry, jewelry, the beauty of flowers, and nature. Venus rules Libra. 

Venus retrograde in Pisces from March 27th - April 12th. Venus appearing to move forward again may help you improve connections and feel better with others. May feel less strained by old baggage, karma, and issues. Expect forward progress within the next couple weeks. Thoughts and communication speed up, filled with eagerness and courage, urging us to boldly share our truth and set clear intentions. Pursue new directions and confidently take initiative – it is well supported. 

April 12 is definitely a date to mark on our calendars as a potent Full Moon in Libra takes place while Venus, Libra’s ruler, is stationary direct. This event will bring the spotlight on relationship dynamics that need our attention and emphasize how our wounds and unconscious complexes impact how we show up in our connections with others and the patterns that keep repeating in our lives.

April 13th – Palm Sunday

The last Sunday before Easter and the start of Holy Week. A blessed olive branch would be given in churches to those in attendance to be hung up in the home and preserved as a sign of peace and faith. Sacred tradition. Palm Mass recalls the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in which his arrival was greeted by a crowd waving palm branches, just 5 days before his death. Jesus allowed the people to praise him as king for the first time, bringing the wrath of the Jewish and Roman leaders upon himself because it was his “time.” Jesus’ entry is described in all four canonical gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Jesus was selected as the Passover lamb according to Old Testament law. Jesus knew he was riding into the city but also to his death on the cross. 

Symbolism: olive tree = sacred plant, rebirth, peace, not to be thrown away but to be burned to obtain ashes for Ash Wednesday; Noah and the dove that brought him an olive branch = flood is over; the last night that Jesus spent with his disciples in Gethsemane was in the garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives = the Last Supper; palm = immortality and rebirth, link between Earth and sky. 

April 16th – Mercury enters Aries

Mercury is the planet of our mind and how we share our thoughts; conversations, decisions, and problem-solving. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun making its orbit shorter than Earth’s orbit; Mercury passes Earth 3-4 times a year because of this difference in orbital speed.

Things may come full circle. Pick back up ideas and plans that got dropped last month and take the initiative to get started. 

While Mercury is no longer retrograde or in Pisces, its conjunction with Neptune can continue to perpetuate a sense of confusion for a few more days, blurring the lines between what is real and what is not. In Aries, the messenger planet helps us think faster, speak more confidently, and approach challenges head-on. You may feel an urge to act quickly and decisively, but be aware of your choices and the consequences of your bold actions during this extroverted, confident time.

Mercury will leave Aries on May 10th to enter Taurus. 

April 18th – Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary; believed to be the culmination of Holy Week (Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday); observed in various ways: fasting, church services, stations of the cross, prayer and reflection, community service, virtual services, and artistic expressions. 

According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of Holy Thursday. He was then brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious court, where he was questioned and ultimately condemned for blasphemy (accused of crimes like failing to pay taxes to Caesar, disturbing the nation, and asserting to be a ruler (God's Son)). The following morning, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, who initially found no fault with him. Pilate, under pressure from the crowd, eventually sentenced Jesus to crucifixion. Jesus was then forced to carry his cross to the site of execution, known as Golgotha or Calvary. There, he was crucified alongside two criminals and died after several hours of agony.

Good Friday offers an opportunity for contemplation on themes of love, sacrifice, and hope that resonate far beyond the bounds of any single faith tradition. 

April 18th cont. – Mars enters Leo

Mars is the planet of outward activity, animal passion (i.e. sexual drive, aggression, and anger), ambition, competition, confrontation, masculinity, the warrior, the man, courage, energy, strength, and impulsiveness. Mars rules Aries. 

Leo is a fixed fire sign, represented by the lion, ruled by the Sun, and the fifth sign of the zodiac. Leo is a hard-headed sign, loves to be center stage, dramatic, magnetic, courageous, loyal, and natural born leaders. The Sun never goes retrograde reinforcing the Leo traits of stability, loyalty, and consistency. 

Things may be brought full circle similar to Mercury in Aries, but this time it comes from November or December of 2024 (Mars was stationed retrograde in Leo December 2024). Energy can return and you can feel more excited, creative, and joyful. Creativity and authentic expression are well supported. Prepare for the wings of your social butterfly to become more active! Mars nature is to initiate, take risks, and lead and while in Leo, this energy is amplified. Be wary of entertaining paranoia and rushing too head-strong into one thing or another. 

April 19th - Sun enters Taurus

Stability and structure increase during the season of Taurus. Meanwhile, work on being more confident, getting more resources, pursuing financial opportunities, and being more present. Taurus season begins and moves us out of Aries season (initiatory passion) to shift towards steady building, where we are invited to move at a sustainable, nourishing, and rhythmic pace. Comfort, pleasure, and patience guide us, reminding us that sustainable growth comes from aligning with our natural rhythms and senses.

Be inspired to tap into your sensual side, revel in worldly pleasures, and remember that true pleasure requires patience. You are invited to slow down. Digest experiences in March and early April 2025. 

April 20th – Easter

Easter may occur anywhere between March 22nd and April 25th. The date is determined by the church and astrology, dependent on the cycle of the moon. Easter is set as the Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon (the Sunday following the first Full Moon following the Spring Equinox). 

Easter has roots in fertility celebrations that occurred from late March to the end of April. Common Easter symbols such as eggs and rabbits are also rooted in fertility. Easter’s symbolism is closely connected to Aries: new beginnings, rebirth, and resurrection. 

April 20th cont. – Last Quarter Moon in Aquarius

The Last Quarter Moon represents a time of release and completion, marking a powerful opportunity for personal growth and transformation. It symbolizes the ongoing process of growth, release, and renewal that we experience in our own lives. In Greek mythology, the Last Quarter Moon was associated with Hecate, the God of crossroads, magic, and witchcraft. This is a time to banish negativity, release what does not serve you, burn herbs, cast spells, complete projects, pay debts, and tie up loose ends before the start of a new lunar cycle. 

 Aquarius is a fixed air sign, 11th sign of the zodiac, “water-bearer,” “water-carrier,” associated with floods and rains, gifted with truth and pure intentions; idealistic, innovation, progression, and rebellious nature, humanitarian. 

Prepare for a change or work on clearing things out in unconventional ways. Something may come to an end unexpectedly, which can make room for the new. The Last Quarter moon may stimulate Aquarius' innovative and humanitarian impulses. They may feel called to challenge the status quo and advocate for social change and progress.

April 21st-22nd – Peak of Lyrid Meteor Shower

The Lyrid Meteor Shower is caused by Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, first discovered on April 5th, 1861 (around the time of its last perihelion, or closest point to the Sun) by Alfred E. Thatcher from New York City. Among the oldest meteor showers on record. We won’t see Comet Thatcher, but we will see the debris from it. Comet Thatcher takes roughly 415 years to go around the sun once (furthest point from sun around 2070; next perihelion around 2283). 

The Lyra constellation has been described in writings dating back 2,700 years centering around the mythic poet and musician, Orpheus. Orpheus would play the lyre, attract deities, humans, and nature (trees would bend to be near him). Orpheus and the beautiful nymph, Eurydice, fell madly in love but the happiness quickly ended after their marriage when Eurydice was bitten by a serpent and died by its poison. Desperate Orpheus ventured into the underworld with his lyre, playing passionately and swaying the gods to sympathy. They allowed Orpheus to bring Eurydice back to the land of living under one condition: they must walk ahead and not look back until they had left the underworld. Orpheus emerged first, instinctually looked back to his lover, and lost her instantly. He spent the remainder of his life in mourning, playing melancholy music on his lyre until his reunion with Eurydice in death. The gods hung his lure in the northern sky as a reminder of his eternal devotion to Eurydice. 

Takeaways: love demands bravery, love asks us to trust, love demands surrender, and love is a force beyond measure. 

April 22 – Earth Day

The origin of Earth Day is traced back to April 22nd, 1970 to a big teach-in event on college campuses in the United States. The 1960s was a decade of environmental awakening: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, environmental legislation by former Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin (e.g. 1064 Wilderness Act, 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act), and the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, CA which led to the teach-in event held between Spring Break and final exams to allow for maximum student participation. Public support rapidly grew following April 22nd, 1970 and by the end of 1970, President Richard Nixon signed into law the National Environmental Policy Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. 

April 22nd, 1970 held a lot of power in Taurus – Saturn in Taurus (planet of longevity, building, responsibility) with the Sun approaching conjunction, Mercury (planet of youth and learning), and Venus (planet of love and beauty), were also making a conjunction in later degrees of Taurus. Jupiter (the teacher) and the Moon (the emotion) were in Scorpio (the sign of death and regeneration) opposing that quartet of planets (Saturn, the Sun, Mercury, and Venus). At 0° Scorpio, Jupiter was almost exactly opposite the Sun. The lessons from Scorpio are recycle, reuse, compost, then regenerate. Taurus is a sign of consumption with an appetite that needs to be balanced by Scorpio's ability to create life from death. Taurus = soil; Scorpio = decaying matter to renew soil (fig. 2)

The theme for Earth Day 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet in support of renewable energy. 

Fig. 2 First Earth Day Chart

April 25th – Moon aligns with Venus and Saturn to “Smile"

The thin waning crescent moon will form a triangle with Venus and Saturn. There will be a delicate glow on the unlit portion of the Moon called earthshine. This is a kind of celestial "wink" that encourages us to look to the sky, enjoy the view, and remember the playfulness of the Universe.

Fig. 3 Moon Smile

April 27th – New Supermoon 

The New Moon in Taurus begins a lunar month focused on building new foundations, appreciating simplicity, and cultivating a sense of self-love that isn’t dependent on what we achieve or produce. This event invites us to ground into our bodies and make sure we are aware of our inherent value. 

Take advantage of the opportunity to foster stability, structure, and security. Focus on grounding and making your life more calm; this is especially important since there have been so many retrogrades. Moon reaches perigee (closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit around Earth). Large tides are possible. 

The Sun and the Moon in Taurus square Mars in Leo and Pluto in Aquarius, which oppose one another. This T-square configuration adds more friction and intensity to the mix and pushes us to confront any resistance to change and growth. During the upcoming lunar cycle, we will be asked to navigate the tension between our need for stability and security and our desire for transformation and evolution.

April 30th – Venus enters Aries

Venus is the planet of love, beauty and money. Venus is the natural ruler of love, beauty, harmony, sensuality, the senses of desire, jealousy and envy, lust, and betrayal; these are all things that Venus can represent, as well as friendship, the arts, pageantry, jewelry, the beauty of flowers, and nature. Aries (cardinal fire sign) carries energy of clarity of self and beginnings. 

Venus in Aries can bring us back to things that got pushed to the side in March 2025. Expect more energy with others, be more enthusiastic about love, and take the lead in relationships. In the sign of the Ram, Venus encourages us to pursue what truly lights us up and motivates us to trust our instinct. As soon as she returns to Aries, Venus immediately crosses Neptune. The Venus-Neptune conjunction in Aries will enrich our creative life and sensitivity while inspiring us to dream big and trust our visions. However, our judgment may be temporarily clouded around this time and it may be wise to wait before making impulsive decisions in both romantic and financial matters.

***All information presented has been gathered by personal research for entertainment purposes. Sources are not cited in this post to keep it succinct. Please ask questions as I am happy to discuss***

[paulinawoodpecker]

What if Lightbox makes a race kart game?

[**Lightbox Animation Studios Presents**]

* [Epic Music Begins] *

**Narrator**: "Get ready for the ultimate racing adventure!"

* [Cut to intense racing scenes with vibrant, colorful tracks] *

**Narrator**: "Featuring your favorite characters from *Tadeo Jones* and *Atrapa la Bandera*!"

* [Tadeo Jones and Mike Goldwing speed past in their custom karts, waving to the camera] *

**Narrator**: "Race through incredible courses from the pyramids of Egypt to the surface of the moon!"

* [Quick cuts to various imaginative race courses, each more thrilling than the last] *

**Narrator**: "Customize your kart to make it uniquely yours!"

* [Scenes of players tweaking their karts with different colors, accessories, and power-ups] *

**Narrator**: "Challenge your friends or race against the clock in this high-octane, fast-paced game!"

* [Clips of multiplayer action, with characters jostling for first place] *

**Narrator**: "Only one can cross the finish line first. Will it be you?"

* [Close-up of the finish line with a cheering crowd as a racer crosses victoriously] *

**Narrator**: "Lightbox Animation Studios presents: *Race Kart* – Race till you win!"

* [Title screen appears with game logo and release date] *

**Narrator**: "Coming soon to your favorite gaming platform!"

* [Screen fades to black, epic music ends] *

[archoneddzs15]

PC Engine - Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire

Title: Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire / 銀河婦警伝説サファイア

Developer: CAProduction

Publisher: Hudson Soft

Release date: 24 November 1995

Catalogue No.: HCD5080

Genre: Vertical Shooting

Format: Arcade Card CD-ROM2

Here we have one of the most rare and expensive PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 titles available in this day and age. This is Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire - one of the last big-name shooters from Hudson Soft on the PC Engine and they decided to go all out in style. It is said that since then, there are many counterfeit copies of Sapphire out in the wild. How true that is I'm not sure but there sure can't be that many original copies floating around.

In Sapphire, the player can choose between four different female characters, each piloting a different ship: Sapphire has balanced strength in speed; Charlotte is the fastest, but also the weakest; Helen is the slowest and the strongest; Jasmine is the second-strongest and second-slowest. The ships are also distinguished by their weapon properties. Each ship can collect red, green, or blue power-ups; collecting a power-up of the same color enhances the currently equipped weapon, while a differently-colored power-up changes weapon properties while retaining whatever enhancements the ship might have had with the previous weapon. The actual properties of each weapon are different for each ship, and include various combinations of lasers, beams, missiles, and piercing and homing weapons.

Each ship also has two pods on the sides that fire simultaneously. If the player releases the fire button for five seconds, the pods will charge up and damage enemies with electricity during the next shot. In addition, the ships can also drop bombs that heavily damage all the enemies on the screen; up to two bombs can be carried at the same time. The stages include various themes such as medieval, feudal China, ancient Egypt, etc., all with a strong sci-fi angle. The player can continue up to nine times from the same spot if the protagonist runs out of lives, and additional continues are granted when the player gathers a sufficient amount of points.

All in all, not a bad shooter, and definitely my first taste of the power of the 18-megabit Arcade Card CD-ROM2 system card. Not a bad one, but there are better ones out there, to be honest but that won't stop those crazy people out there spending big money on this.

[spicykaraage]

Tenipuri Complete Character Profile - Houou Byoudouin

[PROFILE]

Birthday: July 4th (Cancer)

Blood Type: A

Birthplace: Hyogo

Relatives: Great-grandmother, grandmother, father, mother, younger sister

Middle School: Makinofuji Academy Junior High School (graduate)

High School: Makinofuji Academy High School

Grade: Third Year

Committee: None

Strong Subjects: Philosophy

U-17 Training Camp Position & Rank: First String | No.1

World Cup Team: U-17 World Cup Japanese Representatives (youth captain)

Favorite Motto: “All things perish; do not be negligent, but diligent.”

Hobbies: Copying sutras

Favorite Color: Gold

Favorite Book: The Heart Sutra

Favorite Food: Green tea

Favorite Anniversary: The day Japan wins the World Cup, which will be very soon

Preferred Type: A person with a cause

Ideal Date Spot: A temple where you can do zazen

His Gift for a Special Person: “I will eliminate anyone who opposes you.”

What He Wants Most Right Now: Shinai ➜ For Japan to win the World Cup [23.5]

Dislikes: None

Skills Outside of Tennis: None

Routine During the World Cup: Misogi

[DATA]

Height: 189cm | 6’2”

Weight: 74kg | 163 lbs

Dominant Arm: Right

Vision: 2.0 Left & Right

Play Style: All-Rounder

Signature Moves: Destruction, Pirates of the American, भारतम उचारण.साँप (The Snake Charmer of India), El toreo de español, مصر من طائر الفينيق (The Phoenix of Egypt), Pirates of the World

Equipment Brands:

Racket: HEAD YouTek Graphene Speed Pro 18/20

Shoes: adidas adizero ACE II AC M

Overall Rating: Immeasurable

Kurobe Memo: “Is it truly okay to have this kind of talent as a high schooler? His abilities are excellent, but he’s rather rude. He needs to be taught some manners, otherwise he’ll be an embarassment as a representative of Japan.” <Official Description>

[POSSESSIONS]

What’s in His Locker at the U-17 Training Camp [10.5 II]:

Foreign novel: Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories Vol. 1 published by Bantam Classics. He reads books from various countries and has recently gotten into mysteries

Beard trimmer (unused): Duke had bought it for him to replace his razor that he dropped into the river, but there’s signs that he’s never used it

Sweatband: He has several of the same ones. They are washed everyday and are always clean when he uses them

Sanskrit sticker: A sticker with Sanskrit and a phoenix design on it. He has secretly gotten very interested in them and also wants Sanskrit accessories

What’s in His Travel Bag [23.5]:

A wallet full of 10-yen coins: He collects them for some reason

[TRIVIA]

The Prince of Tennis II 10.5 Fanbook | Publication Date: 09/04/2013

He is on bad terms with Tokugawa

He is good friends with Duke

He has wandered around the entire world playing tennis

He is surprisingly a clean freak

When he lost to Oni and was sent to the losers’ training on the cliffs, he was chosen for the special mission to retrieve the sake. During it, he had a scuffle with the bats and dropped his razor into the river. He then grew out his hair and beard and kept it ever since

Since middle school, he’s had his sights set on the world and has traveled to various places to hone his skills. Therefore, the names of his techniques are in different languages

There is a scene of Byoudouin in Duke’s room in Golden Age 69. It is revealed he climbed the balcony to enter Duke’s room

The Prince of Tennis II 23.5 Fanbook | Publication Date: 05/02/2018

Right before the World Cup, he returned to the cliffs to settle the score with the bats. When he retrieved his razor, it was rusted, so he bought a new one

He attends Makinofuji Academy located in the Hyogo Prefecture, the location of Shitenhoji and Maikozaka as well. It is said to be a strong and prestigious school

The Prince of Tennis 20th Anniversary Book: Tenipuri Party | Publication Date: 08/02/2019

His ideal relationship is one where he and his partner share a great cause despite all else. A relationship where they are two sides of the same coin

His younger sister is a middle school third year attending Makinofuji Academy. She has been described as a “Madonna” and Kadowaki is infatuated with her

He can speak 29 different languages

[rabbitcruiser]

National Dog Day

No one can win hearts like man’s best friend and in honor of this bond between man and canine, Dog Day is celebrated.

Take time to appreciate the love and value that dogs bring to our daily lives, and to do your bit for homeless and abused dogs the world over. From keeping us safe working for the emergency services to supporting people who are blind, deaf, or disabled, dogs do a lot for us humans, and this is an opportunity to give something back.

Learn about Dog Day

No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.

Dog Day has been created so that all breeds of dogs are celebrated; mixed and pure. The day helps to galvanize the public so that they can recognise the number of dogs that must be rescued on a yearly basis, from pure breed rescuers, rescues, and public shelters.

The day is all about paying tribute to these incredible animals who work selflessly to bring comfort, keep us safe, and save lives. Every day, these animals put their lives on the line. There are dogs that protect our safety and freedom by detecting drugs and bombs, as well as those that pull victims from wreckages and tragic situations. Plus, we have dogs for the disabled, blind, and law enforcement. From these heroic dogs to our family friends, these dogs hold special places in our lives, and so it is only right that we honor them.

Amazing facts about dogs

Let’s take a look at some incredible facts about dogs to help you get a better understanding of these amazing creatures. Did you know, for example, that the most successful hunter in the world is the African Hunting Dog? These dogs are successful in 50 to 70 percent of their hunts. They even hold the Guinness World Record for it. Another Guinness World Record goes to the Saluki for being the oldest dog breed. This breed actually dates back to 329BC. Back then, in Ancient Egypt, these dogs were kept as Royal Pets. There are rumors that this breed can be traced back even further, as there are carvings located in the South of Iraq of a dog that looks very much like this breed and they can be dated back to 7,000 BC. Pretty incredible, right?

Did you know that dogs have three eyelids? This is something a lot of people do not realize about their furry friends. The third lid is a nictitating membrane, which is known as a haw. It is important for ensuring the eye is lubricated and protected. There are also some distinct features that are associated with specific breeds of dogs. For instance, Shar-Peis and Chow Chows have black tongues. Also, 30 percent of Dalmatians are deaf in one ear. Also, did you know that if a cheetah and a greyhound were to go head-to-head in a long-distance race, a greyhound would win? This is because greyhounds boast exceptional long-distance speeds. They can keep up a pace of 35mph for as long as seven miles.

Inspiring hero dogs

It is only right that we give a mention to some of the world’s most inspiring hero dogs in honor of Dog Day. In fact, this is something that we like to do every Dog Day – read up about tales where dogs have done incredible things – and we recommend that you do the same too. It can be incredibly eye-opening and very heartwarming.

Let’s begin with Killian, a Labrador Retriever who saved his little friend from prolonged abuse. Jordan and Benjamin Hope had hired a babysitter for their son after spending some time online researching. They were so confident with their selection that they decided to hire the babysitter for five months. However, Alexis Khan was not the incredible babysitter she made out to be. She would slap the baby and constantly scold him. The abuse would have gone on for at least five months if their dog, Killian, did not warn the couple. Whenever the babysitter would arrive, Killian would stick close to the baby and display aggressive behavior toward the babysitter. It caused concern, and the parents decided they would hide an iPhone underneath the sofa to record what was going on. This revealed everything, and if it was not for Killian, they would never have known.

Another amazing story is about a Golden Retriever called Toby. When his owner, Debbie Parkhurst, got a big chunk of apple lodged in her throat, she couldn’t get it out and had to beat her own chest to try and dislodge the apple, but to no avail. Her two-year-old Golden Retriever noticed her despair, and jumped up and down on her stomach to force the apple out, saving her life! There are plenty of other stories just like this only, so we definitely recommend giving them a read. You will be amazed.

History of Dog Day

The love of a dog is a pure thing. He gives you a trust which is total. You must not betray it.

You may be wondering who started this incredible day, and we have Colleen Paige to thank for it. Collen is an Animal Advocate and a Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert. The day marks the date she adopted her first family dog, Sheltie. The day has been adopted around the world, and it is even written into legislation in New York, showing just how important it is.

How to celebrate Dog Day

Recommendations for ways to celebrate Dog Day range from adopting a dog from a rescue home to giving your dog a holistic spa treatment or even buying yourself and your dog matching t-shirts.

The National Dog Day Foundation supports all breeds and varieties of dogs and discourages purchasing from unethical backyard breeders and puppy mills; instead, support reputable breeders or adopt from rescue homes.

Dog Day has been supported by such high profile individuals as former US President George W Bush whose own dog, Barney the Scottish terrier has his own website and has even starred in a series of short films. So celebrate dogs and their varied talents today, both by taking the time to treat the dogs in your own life and by supporting dogs in need.

You can also celebrate Dog Day by making a donation to an animal charity of your choice. You will probably find that you have a local dog charity or shelter in your local area. All you need to do is a quick search online, and you will discover more about the amazing charities out there that are doing incredible work. There are charities and rescue shelters for dogs without a home, as well as organizations that organize dogs for the deaf, as well as therapy dogs and guide dogs. Making a donation to one of these organizations can make a massive difference.

Of course, you may decide that the best way to do this is to fundraise. In order to fundraise, you purely need an idea that gets everyone involved so that awareness and money can be made. It does not have to be a complicated idea. This is why fun runs and bake sales are so effective. You simply need to make sure that you have something that the community can really get behind. Alternatively, you could decide to take on a challenge and ask people to sponsor you, such as a skydive or walking a certain distance. The options are endless.

It is worth mentioning that fundraising does not have to involve an event of any kind. There are plenty of other ways you can fundraise. For example, you may decide to get a T-shirt personalized and sell them. This could be a T-shirt with some sort of animal quote on it in honor of Dog Day. you could then donate all of the proceeds, or at least a percentage of them, to a dog charity or organization of your choosing.

It is not all about donating money, either. There are a lot of organizations that would appreciate your time just as much. Why not spend the day working with an animal charity or organization? If you are going to be able to donate more of your time in the future, we are sure that this would be greatly appreciated.

Needless to say, another great way to honor Dog Day would be to give a dog a home that really needs it. Your life really does change once you have a dog, and for the better! However, bringing a dog into the family is not for everyone and you may feel that you are not at the stage in your life whereby this is right for you. Plus, you may simply not be able to. Some landlords, for example, do not allow their tenants to have any pets in their homes. If this is the case, why not sponsor a dog instead? By doing this, you will donate a small amount of money per week or month and in return you will help to provide a dog with the home they deserve. You will get updates throughout the year so that you know what your money is going towards and how your dog is doing.

Another great way to spend Dog Day is by watching a dog movie. There are so many great films about dogs, so you should have no trouble finding one that you have not watched before. One of our favorites is the old-classic Old Yeller. If you have not seen this before, we definitely recommend watching it. It is an exemplary coming of age tale. You will go on an emotional journey as you understand the incredible bond between humans and their furry best friends. Of course, you can go for something more fun and less tear-jerking, such as 101 Dalmations. Some other films that we recommend looking into include Heart Of A Dog, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, Lassie Come Home, Lady And The Tramp, Lassie, Isle Of Dogs, Togo, My Dog Tulip, Bolt, Sounder, The Incredible Journey, and Megan Leavey. The latter is about the bond between a young marine corporal and how she saves lives because of the bond she has with her military combat dog. It’s a great movie, and there are many, many more, so get the popcorn in and spend the day binging on some dog films.

Source

[ghostchasersmagazine]

A really cool piece of Speedy Buggy development history here - an inter-office memo (dated April 11th, 1973) that goes into details about the Speed Buggy characters and how they should be written in-show.

Full transcript under the cut:

INTER-OFFICE MEMO

DATE: APRIL 11TH, 1973

TO: JOE BARBERA - TOBY MARTIN

FROM: RAY ALLEN

SUBJECT: SPEED BUGGY FORMAT

CONCEPT: Adventure-comedy with the accent on comedy

The stars of the show are TINKER and SPEED BUGGY. Tinker is a combination of conservative and apprehensive, whereas Speed Buggy is a Tim Conway eager-beaver always ready to volunteer and always volunteering over his head but when the apprehensive Tinker points out to him just what the assignment is, Speed Buggy becomes fearful.

DEBBIE -- is a combination of Marlo Thomas and Gidget full of wild and impractical schemes that constantly clash with Tinker's apprehensive attitude. When Tinker convinces Speed Buggy of the particular danger in an assignment, Debbie vamps the car by telling him how brave and strong he is and Speed Buggy usually capitulates.

The inter-play between these three characters should be quite clear. On one hand we have Debbie who is eager for anything, on the other we have Tinker who is fearful of anything. Thirdly, Speed Buggy who swings back and forth depending on how is working on him.

MARK -- the last member of the group is the voice of reason. He is the logical one whose clear thinking usually resolves the problem.

It is mandatory that the resolution of the shows be motivated by our kids who have a plan to capture the heavy and/or resolve the problem.

LOCALES: CBS would like to use exotic locales wherever possible -- geographic surroundings that present good arenas for animation such as the tombs and pyramids of Egypt -- the Tiki Gods, surfing, of Hawaii -- the ruins of Greece, etc.

In summation of the network's first concern is that the characters of the kids be distinct and that the heavies be clearly evil.

ADDED FORMAT NOTES

Whenever the SPEED BUGGS are involved in an automobile race or rally, or whenever there is any action of conversation about cars, we will emphasize automobile and driving safety: the use of seat belts, obeying rules, taking proper precautions, don't drive unless prepared, make sure car and equipment are in proper mechanical condition, etc. This emphasis will be integrated into the stories, not added as an afterthought.

***

MARK, although a level-headed, athletic young man, is not a superhero. He has good co-ordination and courage, and can handle himself in many tight situations, but he will not be called upon yo perform any miraculous feats of strength or daring -- only what any reasonably athletic, reasonably intelligent teenager might be expected to do. And there will be occasionally moments when he's as startled or bewildered as any of the other kids.

DEBBIE is characteristically full of ideas and enthusiasm, but she won't react this way automatically in all situations. There will be occasions when she is confused or at a complete loss regarding her next move. In other words, the characteristics of all three kids, as indicated in the format, will only apply when they're consistent with the particular story; they won't be forced into any episode. Like all of us, the three kids are not 100% consistent - and their individual characteristics are to be used as helpful guides rather than a strict rule of conduct.

Although Debbie's impulsive actions may sometimes get the group in trouble, she won't always behave this way. On other occasions, it may be Tinker's activities that cause the complications or the curiosity or absent-mindedness of Speed Buggy himself -- or even a mistake or miscalculation on the part of Mark.

And when it comes to getting the group out of a tough situation, well, any of the three kids (or Speed Buggy) may come to the rescue and save the day.

In short, we won't operate by a strict formula; the kids and Speed Buggy are individuals and they'll behave as such in this series -- doing the unexpected as well as the expected.

***

Speedy Buggy will always work either (1) alone, or (2) with Tinker. Only on very rare occasions, when the story absolutely demands it, will the little car work with Mark or Debbie. (He likes them of course, and he co-operates with them, but his teammate is Tinker.) The relationship between Speed Buggy and Tinker is similar to that between SCOOBY and SHAGGY on the SCOOBY DOO SHOW: they're close pals, almost always together, with strong reliance and interdependence. (NOTE: The only basic difference is that Speed Buggy will frequently work alone, when the story requires it, whereas Scooby seldom works without Shaggy.)

***

Debbie will sometimes sweet-talk Tinker and/or Speed Buggy into doing what she said - but this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Something they will follow her suggestions because they agree with her - and sometimes she will follow their ideas. Or Mark's. It all depends on the individual story.

The remote control unit which Tinker and, occasionally, the other kids use to contact and operate Speed Buggy will also be a two-way walky talky. The kids will speak into the control unit ("Okay Speedy -- go to the top of that hill and then call back and tell us what you see.") And Speed Buggy will speak into his end of the control unit, in his own special voice. ("Go you, Tinker -- but nothin's up here.") Under normal circumstances, there is a constant contact between Speed Buggy and the kids, no matter where he is -- when he doesn't answer a call, the kids, on the other end, are naturally worried. ("Tinker, come in. Come in, Tinker! Tinker, do you hear me? Tinker, answer -- where are you?", etc.)

Eliminate the last paragraph on page 4 of the format. Speed Buggy does not perform menial tasks for the Speed Buggy. He's a full partner and does things as important as anything they do. He's no flunky.

Speed Buggy can do almost anything, within reason, that the individual stories require him to do: jump, creep, crawl, swim, think, climb, whatever -- as long as it isn't a superhuman feat.

Speed Buggy will not get involved in out-and-out pantomimes to express himself (as now indicated on page 5 of the format). He can speak, so whatever body move-ment he does use will be to supplement his regular speech. (We will indicate the use of specific parts of his body -- a fender, a wheel, a tail-light, etc. -- if it is particularly inventive or it helps to emphasize what he's saying).

***

Speed Buggy can be activated by the remote control unit when it's fairly close to him. We won't indicate a precise distance (like a few hundred feet), since it's too limiting; we'll be flexible and use whatever distance seems right for a particular story -- but it can't be too long a distance, like 25 miles: this would eliminate much of the suspense and excitement from our stories.

***

Debbie and Mark are a boy-girl item, but they don't go steady. Each may, on occasion, be jealous of another boy or girl in a specific situation -- but we won't play up the romantic angle. Their principal relationship is that of fellow members of the Speed Buggs Club 00 and the romantic involvement is secondary.

***

--end--

[moonshinenum]

After defeating Dio back in Egypt a long time ago. Kakyion has been quite busy after working with Jotaro with speed wagon foundation. Later on, he met Bianca at a coffee shop and they got to know each other. Eventually they stay in contact with each other and decide to go on a date together and take a stroll at the park.

Art Work belongs to my good friend @parcy-anda

Since we did sketch trade together and I love how they drew my oc and kakyion together.

[evisaprime04]

India Tourist Visa vs. Egypt Travel Visa: A Complete Guide for Travelers

Traveling to India or Egypt is a dream for many globetrotters. Whether you're drawn to India's rich heritage and vibrant festivals or Egypt's ancient pyramids and stunning Nile River, obtaining the right visa is the first step. This guide will walk you through the key differences, application processes, and essential tips for getting an India tourist visa and an Egypt travel visa hassle-free.

Understanding the India Tourist Visa

An India tourist visa is required for most foreign travelers visiting India for leisure, sightseeing, or casual visits to friends and family. India offers an electronic visa (e-Visa) system, making the application process straightforward and convenient.

Types of India Tourist Visas

e-Tourist Visa – Valid for 30 days, one year, or five years.

Regular Tourist Visa – Typically issued for six months but can be extended up to 10 years for certain nationalities.

Application Process for India Tourist Visa

Apply online via the official Indian government website.

Submit a scanned passport copy and a recent photograph.

Pay the visa fee online.

Receive the visa approval via email (for e-Visas).

The India tourist visa allows multiple entries for long-term visas, but the stay period may be limited per visit.

Understanding the Egypt Travel Visa

The Egypt travel visa is required for foreign visitors exploring Egypt’s historical sites, beaches, and cultural landmarks. Egypt also offers an e-Visa option, along with traditional visa-on-arrival services.

Types of Egypt Travel Visas

e-Visa – Valid for single or multiple entries for 30 to 90 days.

Visa on Arrival – Available at Egyptian airports for eligible nationalities, valid for 30 days.

Traditional Visa – Issued by Egyptian embassies for longer stays or special purposes.

Application Process for Egypt Travel Visa

Fill out the application form online (for an e-Visa).

Upload required documents, including a passport copy and a photo.

Pay the visa fee online.

Receive the visa via email within a few days.

An Egypt travel visa is often easier to obtain for certain nationalities compared to an India tourist visa, especially for short-term stays.

Which Visa is Easier to Obtain?

For Short-Term Travel: The Egypt travel visa is easier for eligible travelers who can get a visa on arrival.

For Long-Term Travel: The India tourist visa offers extended validity, making it ideal for frequent visitors.

Processing Speed: Both visas take around 3-7 days, but India’s e-Visa is generally faster.

Tips for a Hassle-Free Visa Application

Apply Early – Start your application at least two weeks before your travel date.

Ensure Your Passport is Valid – Both India and Egypt require at least six months of validity on your passport.

Double-Check Your Documents – Incorrect or missing information can lead to visa rejections.

Use Official Websites – Apply for the India tourist visa via the Indian government portal and the Egypt travel visa through Egypt’s official visa website.

Be Aware of Entry Rules – Some travelers might need additional permits based on their nationality.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are planning a trip to the Taj Mahal in India or the pyramids in Egypt, securing your India tourist visa or Egypt travel visa is the first step. Understanding the differences, processing times, and requirements will ensure a smooth travel experience.

[theactsoftheapostles]

"The Pentecost." From the Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-4.

The most important moment in all spiritual literature, the Pentecost is featured next. Notice this comes after extensive preparation to discover the Self. Chapter 1 of the Acts is like speed dating to find the right mold one might want to emerge from, but it must be done whether one goes out at a brisk pace or takes all of one's life to decide. The literal translation of Acts 2 is also important as it establishes intrinsic and substantive Jewish learning within the Body of Christ. As I have said, the ancients did not consider Jewish people or their Law to be optional or dipesnsible. Here's why:

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

A Pentecost means habikkurim, "the Festival of the First Fruits" named in the Torah. The First Fruits is the moment you realize you were born with a latent Self inside that just needed a "leg up" before it shone. Even though "going up" requires a complete reading of the Magthora, Luke mentions First Fruits which is around the middle of the Torah in Emor which is Parsha 31 of 54.

First Fruits are realized specifically after control of the plagues of Egypt is attained:

Offering the Firstfruits

9 The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. 

11 He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, 

13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[e] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin[f] of wine. 

14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

A sheaf is made of freshly harvested grain "that stands up to dry." We just learned how to make a man stand up.

The 2 of 10 epahs, the flour made from the "second gloom" frogs, or demons, = gossipers and liars make a lot of noise, especially at night when the mind should be at rest and they leave a raging stink in the morning. Notice God says He wants to offset the stink of the frogs with "a pleasing aroma."

New Grain or first fruits, kids and adults of all ages should sacrifice the need to listen to liars who speak as if they are gods but are really false prophets.

Now watch what happens when we dig and really find out what it means to experience the Pentecost and the Harvest of the First Fruits. As Luke said, the Holy Spirit will not come until after one completes this section.

The Values in Gematria are:

Offering the First Fruits= 1029, י‎ךט, eechat, "put your hand in motion." The hand in Hebrew is the self concept.

God explains to Moses how to develop this using the Angelic Code. Remember all these words have deep meaning alone and even moreso together, like words stuck together like velcro. For the sake of brevity, we will look at the Psalms inside the above rather than creating Mishnah out of every term or phrase:

v. 9-10: The Lord said to Moses: The Number is 11143, ק‎יאםג‎, KMG, "open your eyes to use the magic."

v. 11-12: He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord. He says this means "play time's over" and one must trust God about what happens next. God says on the day you wave your sheaf at Him is supposed to be the Fifth Day, the last moment one is subject to the restrictions of Eden.

The Number is 13225, יגרךה‎ ‎, yagraha. In Hebrew, the word "graha" (גרה) has two meanings either "cud" (Leviticus 11:3) or a unit of weight, the gerah, which was one twentieth of a shekel (Exodus 30:13). The term also means "proselyte" or convert.

The term gara, is somewhat reminiscent of the sweeping tempest of the previous verb, which has to do with warfare; it means to strive or agitate strife (Deuteronomy 2:5, Proverbs 28:4).

Together the Gemara means one must engage in a kind of military coup on the object of one's affections and engage in an act that proves experientially sex is not so bad in the arms of the right person at the right time.

v. 13: Together with the offering of two-tenths= a food offering to the Lord. A tenth is 254, רןד, a rand, "to cry out'" which He said to invert to a denar since we are undergoing transformation, and this means:

"The noun δηναριον (denarion) is the Greek transliteration of the Roman denarius (plural: denarii), a day's wage for a low ranking soldier or common laborer (Matthew 20:2), and the principle unit of account of the Roman economy. The oil that Mary poured over Jesus' feet was worth 300 dinari; about a year's wage (Mark 14:5, John 12:5).

The word denarius is a nominalized adjective, formed from the term deni, meaning ten at a time (a reference to a copper coin worth 0.1 denarius), which in turn comes from deceni, from decem, ten, plus the suffix -arius, which forms adjectives from numerals. It literally means "containing ten things" (which, to Jewish intuition, may have reminded of the Ten Commandments of the Law, the Ten Plagues of Egypt or the ten camels of Abraham). It's used 16 times in the New Testament.

Also see our article on αργυρος (arguros), meaning silver or money."

In a very strange but typical way, one tenth in Hebrew means "all ten" or a Denarion, a man who has common sense, but is uncommonly good at doing the rest.

The Number is 9302, טלב‎‎, telev, "an insult." "to violate the dogma of hospitality, to express hate for the one you love with an impure desire." This is the rand, above but God gave me the positive Mitzah called the Denarion as the solution path for the attainment of the First Fruits.

The etymology explains:

"The grim noun ονειδος (oneidos) means reproach or rebuke, particularly by someone's confronting words (rather than, say, subliminal gossip or a simmering reputation). This word conveys hate expressed, but it doesn't explain why the hate exists (because that is implied). Insults stem mostly from a combination of ignorance and xenophobia, or else from envy and impotence.

Insults are mostly felt by outliers who neither created themselves, nor forged their opinions against their own better judgment, tastes against proper decorum or hope against all odds. Insults are mostly given by dimwits, who believe that all would be well if everybody would just simply be more like them (i.e. normal, typical, average).

Theology is tricky business but fortunately for all of us, Jesus made certain things very easy to comprehend. His disciples are not recognized by their superiority but rather by their weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10), not by their intellectual purity but by their conversation (Matthew 19:14, 1 Corinthians 1:21), not by their victory but by their love (John 13:35). Followers of Jesus never mock, deride or violently silence others. Their only dogma is that of hospitality."

v. 14: You must not eat until you bring the offering. This is a reference to the Fifth Day. Do not eat the forbidden fruit until you are ready to act like an adult and partake of an adult's pleasures.

The Torah spreads the days out over years for the purposes of sexy stuff; the difference is a Day is a kind of curriculum, a Year is how long it takes to learn it. Most importantly in the reference below is the fact God did not demonize Eve for touching Adam's pipesnake. He scolded her so she would not do it again until she was more prepared.

From Kedoshim:

23 “‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden.[b] For three years you are to consider it forbidden[c]; it must not be eaten. 24 In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God."

The Number for the verse from Emor is 12826, יבף‎ךו‎, bif‎lu‎‎, "a buffalo."

A buffalo is Kabbalah for 291, רץא‎, retsha, "the murder of a wicked person, by running over him."

By this God means it does not matter how old one is, one must exercise the discipline and dedication and overcome the belief being a bad boy is sexy or interesting. As the verses from Kedoshim indicate there are plenty of ways to look, feel and act upon one's fertile desires that do not incur rotten fruits. As the Mishnah states, consuming an unripe or rotten fruit, a sleazy boy or an arrogant man, is not Kosher and they are forbidden.

Now that we know what a Pentecost really is, the moment some dude lights your fire, the Numbers are:

v. 1-2: The day the Pentecost came, they were all together. The Number is 13796, יגןץ‎ו‎, yaganitz‎v‎, "His entry into the garden, I will defend."

v. 3-4: They saw tongues of fire and were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Number is 9907, ץיץז‎, "take a look, but be careful."

The Zohar, the "illuminating spirit" is born the moment the intellect is able to see the truth in the Torah is antecedent to reality. God says don't get naked around anyone until one is confident with one's clothes on, do not inseminate anyone or get inseminated until the other proves his or her worth. If one follows these simple rules and obeys the Commandments and the correct interpretation of the Kashrut, one can thumb one's nose up at anyone who deigns to tell you what to do or not do with your body, the presumption being you have earned the right to decide.

The first moments of menarche and semenarche however, change the apperception of the Self forever. The moment one has one's lights fucked out by someone else that is a perfect match changes it again. This is the meaning of the Pentecost, and it explains why God gave Luke this long laundry list of qualities to explain who one should be before the big moment and who one should choose to share it with. No one likes to be disappointed or rejected by someone with whom they are intimate. Once one learns how to be sexy and also sweet, God says the rest of existence is not too difficult.

The Final Gemara is י תחתיכ ימג יגרהחהאנדאטלבוסוף תקחרתש יגנץ וטשיתחז, ee tachticha yameg yigrahachaandatalbosof tkachartash yignetz veteshitachaz, "The Great Lakes." AKA "The following is a list of the most important things to know about the Bible."

So in addition to segueing from the list of qualities of the Apostles needed to attain to the Pentecost and explaining what this really is, Luke hides another message that states the Acts are a list of details and practices from all the scriptures one cannot afford to miss. As Luke says one must be of a certain age, level of experience, confidence and competence to handle the inculcation of the Script. Chief amongst these is to know how to tackle the subject of sex and how to be tackled by it. How this pertains the full knowledge of the Self in Christ, we have much more to learn within the Acts of the Apostles. I suspect it means until we fall in love, do it right, and no longer feel ashamed or kind of dirty we are missing details that are needed to complete the final economy of religion.

As for the translation issue and the fact the Church has not properly understood the meaning of the Pentecost nor taught the proper way to observe the First Fruits, there must be a penalty. This is a huge oversight, a sign the Papacy, all the seminaries and admiratlies in the Christian religion need to be swapped out, their chairs filled with more qualified servants of God instead.

As for the laity, you simply must not tolerate pastors, preachers, or Popes that rattle off nonsense in a foreign language, making stuff up as they go and still expect to receive the Sacraments. The God of our lives is worth knowing in His own tongue. You should come to expect a proper medium for this from the persons you have entrusted to speak with His Spirit.