#stc issue 2

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

Reading the fleetway Sonic comic now and

I'm convinced that Tails is his special little guy??

I mean, he's an asshole, no doubt, but he passes up a party (mind you, he loves being celebrated as a hero so much) to go looking for Tails

He goes looking at his "favorite place" and literally dons shades and a worse attitude at learning Tails was taken

He genuinely cares about him as his buddy? Sure he complains about him or insults hin fairly often, but he clearly likes having Tails around enough to want him back??

Are we gonna talk about how Tails breaks free from Robotnik's control because he can't bear to keep hurting Sonic, because he cares?

This scene too reminds me so much of that scene from Fang the Hunter issue 1 where Tails called for Sonic and Sonic bid himself to be patient and not lash out because Tails is his friend. Like again, Fleetway!Sonic is an asshole, but he's holding back when it comes to Tails even a little bit

There's just constant proof whenever Tails is put in danger or captured that Sonic cares about his well-being. In fact he cares so much he just kind of is just indifferent about those he puts in danger by zeroing in on saving Tails (and those he saves he doesn't necessarily save with intent to). In this issue specifically, Sonic, the animal companions with him, and an unconscious Tails get washed away in a current of water, and rather than worry about his own well-being or those of his companions, he yells at them to keep ahold of Tails in the water so he can take care of the badnik.

Personally I feel like this sequence speaks for itself? Although Sonic is fairly confident, he risks his life on the chance that he can steer the Death Egg off course (and we're not even factoring in whether he can escape in time), and sends Tails away in the only escape pod. He literally gambles his life on this act of saving Emerald Hill and worries first about securing Tails', even if only Tails may end up escaping.

There's also the setting? Tails crying for Sonic and calling him the bravest hedgehog he ever met, Sonic reacting like he didn't just narrowly avoid death and that Tails is just stating the obvious, the two of them floating down in the escape pod during the sunset

I don't have the picture space to show it, but there's also another part of this issue where Sonic continuously nags Tails to stay out of danger and to let him handle everything alone, and then (after falling into a trap), starts talking to himself about how glad he is that Tails wasn't around to see him make such a rookie mistake. It's easy to read as Sonic always leaving Tails behind because he doesn't think much of him or thinks he'll be in the way, but I don't think that's completely true! I get the idea that Fleetway Sonic likes having his buddy around just as much as he wants his buddy to be safe. So he brings him around everywhere he can, but he forces him to hang back during the dangerous bits. And that's not to mention how this issue showed just how much Sonic values Tails' opinion of him.

And BOY does this scene get me

It's like

This is the first time Super Sonic ever appears in StC. Are we going to ignore that Fleetway!Super Sonic stops attacking and reverts back into regular Sonic because of Tails?

This is like Mecha Sonic in Archie's Mecha Madness special all over again, except Fleetway!Super Sonic is under no one's control. He stopped attacking because Tails bids him to remember them.

There's just so many little things about them in my reading so far that I almost can't believe it (and would hit the tumblr photo limit a number of times if I were to show it off)

If I had to label their relationship in StC, I'd say that, to Tails, Sonic is someone he admires greatly. He doesn't seem to be fond of Sonic's attitude (largely when it's aimed at those other than himself), and he expresses criticism as to how vain Sonic is and his eating choices, but ultimately he cares about Sonic enough to stick around with him and go on adventures from time to time. For Sonic, I think Tails is someone he secretly likes having around. He often criticizes him, and depending on his mood he'll do it whenever he gets an opening, but he's also just...bad at feelings. When Tails is in danger, he'll zero in on saving him, almost above all else, and then when he saves Tails he's going off about how he can't trust Tails to be alone, angry and annoyed. He's a jerk, but a jerk who cares more than he lets on about Tails. Tails isn't just some admirer, he's important to him, and at the same time, Tails' is someone whose opinion of him he values. Ahsjsjs and....he's also the kind of guy who would say something like "Hey, that's enough! Only I get to bully Tails!"

Is their relationship healthy? No😂 But also in StC it also comes off like...they're both choosing this. Despite everything they choose to be buddies

Idk I'm fascinated so far😂

The Sonic the asshole and his special little fox

[samobservessonic]

Second cover and we’ve got another shot of Sonic in an action pose with lots of text around him. I feel like issue #1’s cover is iconic, but I don’t have as much to say about this one

Anyway, our badge is missing, so we’d better contact our newsagent

[couch-house]

it is with a heavy heart i must announce the fankid-enjoyer has made another fankid 😔 this is comet... ive been playing with him for a while. he's a couple years younger than johnny jr and umm well I'll tell you more about him later. when i post the other pile of drawings i have of him.

[fleetsonourgecentral]

I suddenly remember That you never told us how a meeting between Prime/Archie! Sonic and Fleetway (Amnesiac/Good) Super Sonic would go.

Also I want to read Fleetway Sonic and scourge reactions if They somehow end Up dating (I like Fleetonic and I need something to draw lol)

I imagine any meeting between Prime and Super would likely come after Prime has already had the misfortune of meeting Sonic, and subsequently had at least one (1) argument about Super. If the argument hasn't already happened by the time Prime and Super meet, it's definitely imminent. I imagine Prime would be a lot more forgiving of Super than Sonic is (partly because he just doesn't have the same baggage Sonic does and partly because he's just overall less of a dick) so he'd be sympathetic to his plight. He'd be much quicker to believe Super when he says he doesn't want to be that evil person who hurts and kills people for fun. Sonic would scoff and call him a trusting idiot, but it's not that Prime is oblivious to or ignoring the danger that Super can cause, he just doesn't believe dogpiling the guy about it will actually help his situation

Sonic's reaction to finding out they're dating would just be more "I think you're fucking stupid" or, depending on how not-awful his relationship with Super is, just a quiet scoff. He probably tells Prime that if he's soooo fond of Super, then he can take Super with him back to his dimension, but he's probably also secretly worried about Prime actually following through, because if anything goes wrong, Sonic isn't there to help stop it. Chaos energy in the fleetway dimension is fucky and corrupted; for all his bitching and "don't come crying to me if he tries to kill all your friends", Sonic doesn't actually want another universe to suffer from that corrupted energy. He definitely doesn't want the chaos energy in the prime zone to become corrupted the same way his was, either

I can't imagine Scourge has much emotional attachment to Super to care too much. Like, he sees a part of himself in Super, specifically in how both of their identities used to be tied to Sonic, but he doesn't like that he can relate to Super. He doesn't hate or dislike him, but he definitely doesn't like him, either. He just often ends up being the one Ebony calls for out of everyone else in the freedom fighters because he's the one with the least amount of history with Super, so Super doesn't put him on edge the same way he does everyone else. So if Super started dating Prime, he'd probably just make some snarky comment about weak-hearted goody-two-shoes flocking together

Ultimately, the two of them together will probably mock the relationship. They probably only find out because one of them comes home and immediately starts bitching about how "did you HEAR Super and Prime are dating now???" and then they spend an hour talking shit about them. After all, even if Sonic has warmed up to Super a little, he probably still doesn't trust him or is comfortable being around him, and Scourge is a stubborn fucker who won't change his mind about disliking Prime out of sheer spite, so neither Prime nor Super have much of Sonic and Scourge's respect

[drunkenskunk]

There's a project related to my interest in Warhammer that I've wanted to do for quite some time, but I know I'll never get the chance to actually do it. At least, not properly. And it involves... I think "historical preservation" is probably the best word for it?

See, I like to occasionally sift through my collection of old "out of date" rulebooks and army codex books from earlier editions of 40k. The sort of things that have been out of print for many years. Games Workshop hasn't sold these books in 2 or 3 decades, and they've all been supplanted by the current rules. And I do this because I think it's interesting to see how the game - in both crunch and fluff - has changed since 1987.

More beyond the break...

For example: the different ways the galaxy has been depicted in 40k between the different editions. In the first rulebook, when it was still called Rogue Trader, all we got was a small, almost abstract, image on the bottom of the page. The 2nd edition rulebook that came out in October 1993 (specifically, the Codex Imperialis book) had a two page spread, but it was also very abstract with a few notes, but no real detail to speak of. As far as I can tell, the first time we got a map of the galaxy with the segmentum divisions that we're all accustomed to now came from a very unexpected place: the very first Tyranid codex that came out in August 1995.

Of course, my copy of the 2nd Edition book is a very poor quality black and white scan. Those segmentum divisions could genuinely be there, and I just can't see it. Not to mention, it's entirely possible that a map with segmentum divisions first premiered in an issue of White Dwarf first, because GW liked to do stuff like that in the old days where you'd see it in the hobby magazine long before it was "officially" released in a rulebook.

There are a lot of glaring omissions from a lot of the other files in my collection: poor scans, missing pages, corrupted files... There's a lot I still don't know, because it's impossible for me to currently confirm that the little I do know is, in fact, accurate. My collection is woefully incomplete. Plus, I don't really have much past 6th edition anyway.

And this, in essence, is my idea: try and complete the collection. Find pristine copies of all the old 40k rulebooks, army codexes, even old copies of White Dwarf, and digitize them all into a huge archive for the sake of historical preservation. Of a sort.

Basically, I want to become a Lexmechanic of the Adeptus Mechanicus, looking for Dark Age of Technology era STC's uncorrupted by the Heresy or the war with the Iron Men. Either that, or I want to become Trazyn with his Infinite Archive on Solemnace.

Unfortunately, there are many problems with this plan. The first being GW's overly litigious nature. They see all this Warhammer shit as "product" first and a hobby for people to enjoy a very, VERY distant second. Doesn't matter that these books (and the magazines) are long since out of print and they don't sell them anymore, effectively making the old editions the tabletop hobby equivalent to video game abandonware... if they got wind that I was attempting a project of this nature, I just know GW would smack me in the face with a cease and desist.

Of course, the other major stumbling block here is the financial issue. And I'm not just talking about buying the books. Obviously, there's the problem of the rarer books that go for upwards of $300 or more on ebay, but there's also a volume problem. Even if you find some good deals, and you're able to find older books for $10 or $15 a pop, there's just SO MANY books, that if I were to attempt this I would be wasting several thousand dollars that I just don't have.

More importantly, there's also the machine I would need to buy in order to do this project in the first place. Because if I was going to do this, I would want to do it right, y'know? I wouldn't want to simply shove the books into my dinky little scanner-printer combo hooked up to my computer. The only way I'd get a clean scan using that method would be to physically destroy these very valuable books, and that's the last thing I'd want to do. No, I would want to do it right, and get a machine like Scribe, the book scanner used by the internet archive:

Now, obviously, I can't get access to that machine, specifically, because Scribe was custom built by the engineers at the Internet Archive. But other V-cradle book scanners that let you digitize books without destroying them do exist... and they're all REALLY expensive. A good one to produce professional quality scans is, like, $25,000.

And I know what you're thinking: why do I even care about any of this? Even if this project was not entirely out of my reach, it's ultimately pointless, right? Why would I want to preserve all these old, out-of-date, no longer relevant rulebooks for a tabletop wargame that has only existed exactly as long as I have?

Because... let's be honest, this isn't really about Warhammer. The reason I want to do this stems from a much deeper desire to simply Remember. It's amazing and terrifying in equal measure just how easily history can be erased, either deliberately or simply through neglect. All of these things in our lives that are seemingly so important to us can easily vanish from history, like sandcastles when the tide rolls in.

Hell, if you really want to know my feelings about this, just watch Jacob Geller's video on this very subject.

If I had infinite time and infinite money, and I didn't care about any kind of repercussions from GW's legal team, this project would not be beyond my reach.

But I do not have infinite time or money. And there are more things in my life that I need to be concerned with that are far more important than creating a... stupid archive.

Shame, really.

[digamma-f-wau]

Who Did What for Sonic the Hedgehog's 900th Adventure

So the 900th Adventure was basically this years Annual in spirit, but instead of multiple shorter stories, it told one big story, but with the number of writers and art teams that you would get in a multi-story annual anyways. Sure you could easily read the credits, but it's more fun this way. Obviously spoilers ahead so everything past part 1 is is gonna be under a Read More

Part 1 (pages 1-6): Set-up with Tails

Writer: Ian Flynn (the original main writer on IDW Sonic and post-Metal Virus continues to be one of the main writers, including being the main writer of IDW's Classic Sonic specials. Been with the franchise since becoming a writer for the Archie comics back in '06 and served as the writer for Sonic Frontiers)

Artist: Adam Bryce Thomas (one of the main IDW Sonic artists. been around since the latter half of Archie's reboot)

Colors: Valentina Pinto (initially a secondary colorist whose biggest credit was doing the Imposter Syndrome miniseries, recently seems to have graduated to being one of the main colorists this year)

Part 2 (pages 7-12): Amy and the Orca

Writer/Artist: Evan Stanley (the other main writer of IDW Sonic post-Metal Virus as well as one of the main artists, been around since late in Archie's pre-reboot era)

Colors: Gigi Dutreix (regular cover artist and occasional inker and has even written a few stories; co-authoring Victory Garden from the 2019 Annual and its follow up Future Growth, which they also colored, and solo-writing The Catalyst from 2020's Annual)

Part 3 (pages 13-18): Knuckles and Metal Sonic

Writer: Nigel Kitching (one of the main writers of the old UK Sonic the Comic published by Fleetway Editions back in the 90s)

Artist: Mauro Fonseca (regular artist, major credits so far include Sonic Learns to Drive from the 30th Anniversary Special, co-designing Surge & Kit, doing the A-covers for the Imposter Syndrome miniseries, and doing a bunch of stuff in the concurrent and upcoming main book issues. Also relevantly used to be a regular contributor to the Sonic the Comic-Online fan continuation)

Inks: Rik Mack (recent regular inker, being the main inker on Mauro's more recent interior art for the comic as well as inking other artists, most notably on Tails' 30th Anniversary Special. Recently did some coloring on the back-half of issue 61 as well. Also another former StC-O regular)

Colors: Reggie Graham (one of the main colorists on IDW Sonic post-Metal Virus, after having been a regular on covers beforehand, as well as being another former StC-O regular)

Part 4 (pages 19-24): Eggman and his Mech

Writer: Daniel Barnes (writer of Weapons from the 2022 Annual and the Scrapnik Island miniseries)

Artist/Colors: Min Ho Kim (fairly recent addition of the IDW Sonic crew, being a regular cover artist since Scrapnik #1. Also the character artist on The Murder of Sonic)

Color Assistance: Evan Maly

Part 5 (pages 25-30): Blaze and Cream

Writer/Artist: Aaron Hammerstrom (regular artist, most prominently being the main artist for IDW's Classic Sonic stuff. Also previously wrote/drew the 2022 Annual story Rough Patch)

Inks: Matt Froese (regular inker, mainly works on Aaron's art. Most notable non-Aaron credits include the two Yardley-drawn issues of Zeti Hunt and the first and last parts of Trial by Fire)

Colors: Nathalie Fourdraine (The 1:10 Retailer Incentive variant cover artist for every issue the main book as well as semi-regularly doing covers for side books. Served as the colorist for the Classic Sonic stories Dr. Eggman's Brithday and Amy's New Hobby, as well as the colors and A covers for the Scrapnik Island miniseries)

Part 6 (pages 31-36): Babylon Rogues & Shadow/Rouge

Writer: Caleb Goellner (writer of the Team Sonic Racing one-shot, the 2019 Annual story Jet Set Tornado, and the 2020 Annual story Reflections)

Artist: Abby Bulmer (regular cover artist, as well as artist of the 2020 Annual story The Catalyst and the 2022 Annual story Hero Camp. Notably way back in the day was the artist of the very first StC-O story, and her time on 2000 AD often involved her serving as a colorist for Richard Elson, one of the main StC artists.)

Colors: Heather Breckel (IDW MLP's main colorist, who's been a recurring secondary colorist throughout IDW Sonic's run, often filling in for other colorists)

Part 7 (pages 37-40): The Warp Topaz Cave

Same team (Flynn/Thomas/Pinto) as part 1

[zippityzap]

Currently have a queue of 7 posts built up for my Sonic the Comic liveblog over on @zippy-reacts which is good, nice to not have to worry if i can’t find the time to write a post during a week or two.

I would like to make the queue even bigger though, enough to safely be able to schedule two posts a week because at the current rate it’ll take me at least a year and a half to finish StC

Speaking of finishing StC, my understanding from the website i’m reading the scans from is that the last 40ish issues are reprints rather than new stories? From a very quick peek those issues still have fan letters so instead of one issue per post i may tackle those by assembling whatever ones i find interesting over 1-2 posts

Also i’ve decided i won’t be covering StC Online in the liveblog, i’ll just read that in my own time.

[clover-clangen]

I made this, to show HoC Troutsmoke and Fernfeather's kits, I.... hope I didn't forget anyone, they had a lot, I don't think I did..

This list uses the same headshots I used in my, "Horizonstar Family Tree" from awhile ago. They're cute and simple, so I used them here too, showing Troutsmoke and her mate, Fernfeather's kits, with honorable mentions at the bottom to her adopted kits. The names

listed show the kit character's names, from when they died, not their warrior names that they were given in StC. This was kind of fun.. and wasn't complicated to make so maybe I'll

do this with other HoC cats? Now to the kits.

Cloverstrike was a medicine cat and was the apprentice of Maplerapid, they, sorry if this'll bother anyone, they had become mates after working together as medicine cats for awhile, this was automatic... and I didn't see an issue with it, because I don't have an issue with the whole... an apprentice becoming mates with their mentor, as long as said apprentice is an adult when they're officially acknowledged as

such. Like, my oc Petalstar was the mentor of her eventual mate, Dovetalon.... Cloverstrike eventually died, during a very bad time in the clan in regards to medicine cats, and died.. if I recall, about the same time as Creekfeather? I think... he died of frostbite..? At 84 moons..

His surviving littermate– Flickerwing... had been a warrior for a long time, and was even deputy, before deciding to take over for him as a medicine cat... after his death.. since the clan no longer had a medicine cat after that. But as a warrior, she managed to curve her kit brother, Summitpaw's, bloodthirsty and aggressive tendencies as his mentor, and the two shared a very close bond. However, she's worried she took it a little bit too far, as upon graduating to a warrior Summitsnap became suddenly insecure. Flickerwing had also been a mate of Basilleaf, after Whorlpounce died... She served her clan as medicine cat from the time she switched over to her eventual death when she was caught in a sudden avalanche. Flickerwing was 105 moons when she died...

Frostpaw, or Frostthunder, as he was named in StarClan. Well, he died at only 8 moons, so I don't have anything really to say about him, other than that he was killed by rouges early.

Lastly on top is Icybadger, again, she died early at only 11 moons, but, something a bit more interesting about her... is that she was named a warrior a moon early only to die the exact same moon in again, a rouge attack... this same attack killed Cariboufleck, who... I like to think, had died trying to protect her..

Avalanchekit, Avalanchepelt in StarClan (ironic name considering Flickerwing....)

Onto litter number 2. She died youngest out of all of them, so, I got nothing, she died of yellowcough at only 5 moons. (noo baby...)

Summitsnap, our ahem- bicolored cat. Where the only other color he has, is him having a... barely ever noticeable... "OFF WHITE" PAW! Summitsnap by a long margin, was longest lived out of his siblings. He's also the only out of them to have any known biological kits..... Being a father to a cat outside of HoC's kits, who he then brought to his clan to grow up. Summitsnap served his clan for a very long time as one of the oldest, most experienced and well respected warriors. I believe, even outliving all of his kits. He eventually retired to the elder's den, having earned it for a long time before officially retiring. He was a still a strong cat even at the time of his death. One morning however while he was out for a walk a fox found him and killed him... dying at the very impressive age of 163 moons. For a short

time, he was the oldest cat the clan ever had, until... his long time companion in the elder's den, Rowanspot died, tying her age with him.

Bramblerustle, a cat that I remember really loving, had been around for a decent amount of time, without anything really to note, his life was just kinda there. But I still loved him. He never had a mate or kits, and was just a standard warrior his whole life, the most notable thing I remember, is him impressing his clanmates by catching a lot of prey on his own a couple of times.... Bramblerustle was killed in... yet another rouge attack, that had also killed Flightbounce. He was 63 moons..

Lastly of her biological kits, Larkchirp, a cat in the exact situation as Bramblerustle, being a mostly unimportant minor character..... that never had a family or did much of anything... but I still really loved. I think in this case, it's because of her adorable name, that matched up perfectly, with her adorable personality.. Just like her kit sister, Larkchirp caught and then died of yellowcough at 43 moons old..

(do not ask me how the last two are brown?)

Now, her adoptive ones. These kits were found with a dead parent, Caterpillar, and were taken in by Troutsmoke. None of them had much, if any importance. Lizardblotch was barely a thing, since he was lost from the clan shortly after becoming a warrior and he just died away from the clan at 28 moons, and he's since faded because I didn't catch him in time to save him from doing so.... uh- Orchidpaw, adorable name aside died at only 7 moons... but her death, was at least caused by something more unique, her death is I think listeda s being caused by complications of a bee sting.... which I assume... means an allergic reaction to said bee sting, and kinda sad, I think if I recall, Troutsmoke was closest to Orchidpaw out of her adoptive kits and she was the one that died first. Her warrior name in StarClan is Orchidcrawl. And lastly, Shiveringgorse, which I've always thought was hilariously close.... to me accidentally saying, "Shivering Rose" a character from ancient ThunderClan. She lasted longest out of her siblings, even so, not very long. And... again, had little importance. The only thing I can think to say, is how she and Troutsmoke hated each other.. and I wish I knew why...?? She was killed by mistaking the scratching of a wolverine.... as prey at 33 moons of age.....

WRITING ALL THIS OUT TOOK ME LONGER THAN MAKING THIS ENTIRE DRAWING...!!!

[kittygamer2888]

This realization i had was a few months old, and I'm basically copy-pasting this on that same month from one of my community posts. But I'm putting it here anyways cus idk if you guys noticed.

Is it just me, or does issue 162 of the fleetway Sonic comic look similar to the Sonic vs Shadow battle that happens outside of the space colony ark in Sonic Adventure 2?

Both sonics here have rivals, are battling in space, and they even look like they're in the same camera angle once they're racing!

And keep in mind, this issue was published in 1999 while Sonic Adventure 2 was released in 2001.

Really makes you question if it was a coincidence or a reference sneeked in there since not that many people know about STC.

[zippy-reacts]

Sonic the Comic Liveblog: Issue 2

Well, here we are with issue 2! Funny thing about the cover mentioning a badge, my current icon is a Sonic the Comic badge, although I’m not certain if it’s the one given with this issue.

This issues continues with the kinda janky but charming marker artstyle of the previous issue. And it also appears that we’ll be introduced to Tails soon!

Sonic’s getting new kicks for seemingly no reason, his normal shoes did him just fine in the previous issue! Plus, where’d he get those sunglasses lol? Guess they manifest when he wants to look cool.

Oh my god they weren’t just a one-panel gag. He actually had a pair of sunglasses with him

This immediately makes me think of Sonic Lost World, except Tails is probably roboticized for real here rather than faking it

Well actually, from the looks of it this appears more of a situation of an exoskeleton thing with maybe some light brainwashing rather than actual roboticization? Guess Robotnik didn’t have any Tails sized motobugs so he cobbled together whatever that was. Although the parallels to roboticization are way too strong. Considering this was made in 1993, I wonder if this was influenced by SatAM at all, or if this is just two separate interpretations of the game’s animal-powered robots thing?

I’ve mentioned before that I know StC’s Sonic is infamous in the fandom for being a bit of prick, and I think maybe there’s some of that starting to show here, albeit to me it comes off a little more as light ribbing, especially since it was preceded by a compliment and concern. I think I might have an idea of the meta reason why StC’s Sonic’s personality is the way it is, particularly in regards to British comics, although I’m gonna hold off on sharing that until I read more of this comic plus done some more research.

On a lighter note, Robotnik mentions Eldorado, a British soap opera that ran between 92-93 that received poor critical reception, apparently due to poor quality acting and implausible story lines.

Again, that was a pretty basic story, but like I said last time, things are still being set up. It’s a nice way to establish Sonic and Tail’s friendship

Meanwhile, in the cheats and tips section, they list the level select code for Sonic 2 on Master System…. next to an image of Sonic 1 for Mega Drive????

Ace, huh? People with A-spec headcanons rejoice!

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

This one stretched far enough for people to not know what exactly this post was about (fair enough since it was just in my tags)

So:

Collecting Eggman x Number 1 lackey like pokemon

If shipping Dr. Eggman with his number one lackey is a sport then brother

I'm on the winning team

[samobservessonic]

There isn’t much to say about the rest of the issue, but there were a few things in the Speedlines that I liked. Firstly, even back then, everyone agreed that Sonic is ace:

I’m also cackling at this request for a Decap Attack story, because I can just imagine someone somewhere working on the comic was rubbing their hands together, given that Decap Attack goes on to be the longest surviving non-Sonic comic in StC

[la-dee-da]

ruminations

more than four years ago i had started to see a therapist following a ghosting-breakup. you know, one of those breakups where the other person doesn't really tell you and they just cut contact? fade out? yeah...the type of breakup i feel wouldn't have been excusable in a different generation, but with my generation had become a norm. it was a step above the post-it break up (iykyk - stc reference).

why did i go to therapy? the relationship that sparked this wasn't long. it had been about 2 months and in the spectrum of relationships wasn't super meaningful. however, what it did make me realize is that i had been picking partners who were unavailable. emotionally unavailable. all good for the fun time, but when they started to feel something or if committment started to come into the picture, they never chose me. why did i keep picking partners that wouldn't choose me?

some highlights of therapy: as confident and self-sufficient as i am, i also give too easily, too soon. trust NEEDS to be earned. love, to some extent, too. when it's not, the other person really doesn't know how to appreciate and give back.

a few months into the pandemic, i met someone new. i had been in therapy for a few months and my therapist encouraged just noncomittal communication and interaction. another thing that had been frustrating about dating was how much i jumped ahead (in my head). i automatically dismissed people without really giving them the chance. this someone new, challenged areas of my life i thought i had firm positions on, but with this new mindset, he and i spent a lot of time together.

fast-forward 4 years, and we've still been together. it's been happy and sad. a lot of hard work. and honestly, it's not clear if we'll actually stay together.

he's got his issues to work on – which he believes he needs to figure out solo (now) before we move onto the next stage (likely marriage). for me, i need to really understand myself and my boundaries. is this a relationship, for all of its good and rewarding, fulfilling aspects worth the emotional toll and load i tend to have to carry? if we had kids, am i ok with likely having to be the constant stabalizing force? sexually, are we actually that compatible? how important is this (rhetorical question, b/c i think this is important to both of us and we've been exhausted trying to "make it work")? is a breakup (possibly temporary) the answer?

there's a lot of fear of not wanting to separate. growing further apart, finding other people, etc.

love is beautiful. it is comfort, it is warm, it is growth. but sometimes, it's not enough.

[upvcwindowsmanufacturer]

uPVC Windows and Noise Reduction: How Effective Are They?

Urban living often comes with the constant hum of traffic, the occasional siren, and the general hustle and bustle of city life. For many homeowners, this noise pollution can be a significant source of stress and discomfort. One effective solution to combat this issue is installing uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) windows, which are renowned for their noise reduction capabilities. But just how effective are they? This blog explores the science behind uPVC windows, their design features, and their efficacy in reducing noise pollution.

 Understanding Noise Pollution and Its Impact

Before diving into the specifics of uPVC windows, it's crucial to understand what noise pollution is and why it matters. Noise pollution refers to unwanted or harmful sound that disrupts normal activities, causing stress, sleep disturbances, and even long-term health issues such as hearing loss and cardiovascular problems. For those living in urban areas or near busy roads, the need for effective sound insulation becomes paramount.

 The Basics of uPVC Windows

uPVC is a type of plastic that is rigid and durable, making it an excellent material for windows and doors. Unlike regular PVC, uPVC is not softened with plasticizers, giving it superior strength and longevity. This material is also known for its thermal efficiency, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness. However, one of its standout features is its ability to reduce noise.

 How Do uPVC Windows Reduce Noise?

The effectiveness of uPVC windows in noise reduction can be attributed to several key factors:

1. Multi-Chambered Frame Design:

   - uPVC window frames often feature a multi-chambered design. These chambers trap air, creating an insulating barrier that significantly reduces the transmission of sound waves. The more chambers in the frame, the better the insulation.

2. Double or Triple Glazing:

   - Modern uPVC windows typically come with double or triple glazing. Double glazing consists of two panes of glass separated by a spacer bar and a layer of air or inert gas like argon. Triple glazing adds an additional pane of glass and another layer of gas. This multi-layered approach helps to dampen sound vibrations, effectively reducing noise levels.

3. Sealed Units:

   - The glass panes in uPVC windows are sealed units, meaning the edges are sealed to prevent the ingress of air and moisture. This airtight seal also prevents sound from passing through gaps and cracks, enhancing the noise reduction capability.

4. Laminated Glass:

   - Some uPVC windows feature laminated glass, which consists of two layers of glass with a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) sandwiched between them. This PVB layer acts as a sound-damping material, further reducing noise transmission.

5. Proper Installation:

   - Even the best windows can fall short if not installed correctly. Professional installation ensures that there are no gaps or leaks around the window frame, which could allow noise to penetrate.

 Measuring the Effectiveness: Sound Transmission Class (STC) Rating

The effectiveness of windows in reducing noise is often measured using the Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating. The higher the STC rating, the better the window is at reducing noise. Standard single-pane windows typically have an STC rating of around 27, while double-glazed uPVC windows can achieve an STC rating of 32 to 35. Triple-glazed windows can have an STC rating of 40 or higher, offering excellent noise reduction.

 Real-World Effectiveness

While technical specifications and ratings provide a good indication of performance, real-world effectiveness can vary based on several factors, including the type of noise, the distance from the source, and the overall construction of the building. Nevertheless, numerous studies and user testimonials consistently highlight the superior noise reduction capabilities of uPVC windows.

For instance, a study conducted by the National Physical Laboratory in the UK found that double-glazed uPVC windows reduced noise levels by up to 70% compared to single-pane windows. This substantial reduction can significantly improve the quality of life for residents in noisy environments.

 Benefits Beyond Noise Reduction

In addition to noise reduction, uPVC windows offer several other benefits:

1. Energy Efficiency:

   - The same multi-chambered design and double or triple glazing that reduce noise also improve thermal insulation, helping to keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This can lead to significant energy savings and lower utility bills.

2. Durability and Low Maintenance:

   - uPVC is resistant to rot, corrosion, and weathering. Unlike wood, it does not need regular painting or varnishing, making it a low-maintenance option. It is also resistant to termites and other pests.

3. Security:

   - The robust construction of uPVC windows, combined with modern locking mechanisms, provides enhanced security for homes. Multi-point locking systems are commonly used in uPVC windows, making them difficult to break into.

4. Aesthetic Appeal:

   - uPVC windows are available in a variety of styles, colors, and finishes, allowing homeowners to choose designs that complement their home's architecture and personal preferences.

 Choosing the Right uPVC Windows

When selecting uPVC windows for noise reduction, it's important to consider the following factors:

1. Glazing Options:

   - Opt for double or triple glazing depending on the level of noise reduction required. Laminated glass can also provide an additional layer of sound insulation.

2. Frame Design:

   - Look for frames with multiple chambers for better insulation. The thickness and quality of the uPVC material also play a role in noise reduction.

3. Installation:

   - Ensure professional installation to avoid gaps and ensure a perfect fit. Poor installation can compromise the noise reduction capabilities of the windows.

4. STC Rating:

   - Check the STC rating of the windows to compare their noise reduction performance. Higher STC ratings indicate better sound insulation.

 Conclusion

uPVC windows are an effective solution for reducing noise pollution in homes, providing a quieter and more comfortable living environment. Their multi-chambered frames, double or triple glazing, sealed units, and optional laminated glass work together to significantly dampen sound vibrations. Beyond noise reduction, uPVC windows also offer energy efficiency, durability, low maintenance, and enhanced security. By choosing the right uPVC windows and ensuring proper installation, homeowners can enjoy a significant reduction in noise levels, improving their overall quality of life.

[smugbugunderarug]

It was 12:00 a.m. and I thought I made funny.

[doodlebless]

Sonic The Comic: Reillustrated From issue 81 - Running Wild pt. 2

All credits can be found in this thread: https://twitter.com/angelblessart/status/1554538648225325059

Originally posted on Twitter In August, STC: Reillustrated aimed to have one artist redraw each panel of part 2 from the amazing Running Wild storyline in their own style. And we absolutely achieved that and more, we even have a cover and our very own Control Zone!!

Another Reillustrated project is currently in the works, this time for issue 8′s The Origin Of Sonic. More into here: https://twitter.com/angelblessart/status/1575931962946093058 (More panels may be available again soon so keep a look out! 👀)