#that is the new vehicle's unofficial name

[abitbatty]

Husband bought a new vehicle recently. It was 18*F while we were out this morning. The new vehicle has heated seats. I now adore the new vehicle.

[thieves-in-the-palace]

okay so apparently the shiny new thing is much shinier and newer than I thought, here’s a rundown of what info I can find

The protagonist has no official name yet, as is typical. He’ll probably get an unofficial and official one later, much like Akira/Ren and the previous protagonists. His codename is Wonder.

His Persona is Janosik, presumably based off the Slovak highwayman Juraj Jánošík. Though the real Jánošík was understandably Just Some Guy (of the robber variety), his name has been attached to the concept of a folk hero comparable to Robin Hood – someone who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.

His design seems to be directly based off of Joker’s, to the point I’d wager that they probably share (or at least have extremely similar) model rigs. He wields a knife.

☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

Our little animal dude this time around appears to be an owl named Lufiel / Luffy. His codename is Cattle for some reason??

His Persona is Rob Roy, who takes on a distinctly mecha appearance for being based off a Scottish outlaw. Rob Roy, real name Robert MacGregor, became a folk hero within his own lifetime after a dramatized account of his life (The Highland Rogue) was published in 1723; MacGregor was 52 years old at the time.

Like Morgana, Lufiel’s appearance switches between “fairly normal animal” and “just a little guy” depending on which world he’s in. Also like Morgana, he can transform into a vehicle and transport the other main characters. He appears to wield tonfa.

☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

The third and final identified member of the main cast at the moment is Motoha Arai, codename Closer.

Her Persona appears to be Arveda, though don’t take that spelling to heart. Given the nautical-themed appearance, I THINK it’s based off Alfhild, Viking pirate and daughter of Geatish king Siward. When her father arranged for her to marry Prince Alf of Denmark, Alfhild ran and became a pirate instead, captaining crews of other female pirates and raiding along the Baltic coasts.

Ngl I’m pretty sure she’s the final form of that one untextured model found in P5′s data. God help me but I don’t know what to call her weapon, it’s a chain with a weight on the end?

☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

Other stuff of note:

A female student at Kiba Kokatsu Academy, which is the featured high school this time around. It’s unclear if this character will join the main team.

The design of a strange new app which, like the MetaNav, appears abruptly on phones, can’t be deleted, and allows access to a separate world.

New Velvet Room attendant! Her name appears to be Merope, breaking from the Frankenstein character naming convention the other Velvet Room attendants have followed.

[trainalt22]

Tidbits and bobs#1

Essentially my version of a lore dump

- All sentient machines, regardless of where they are built or their origin, believe in a singular deity named Lady. She is the station pilot for the Grand Terminus, the last stop for all sentient machines. Lady is seen as equal parts God and grim reaper and can appear in a multitude of forms, from locomotive to tug boat. She claims all sentient machines as her children and is believed to be very kind and gentle. This belief system has aspects of reincarnation, as it is believed that the soul of the machines shall be forged anew and come to incarnate a new form of vehicle or machine.

- Lady may choose a "guardian" to help with more earthly affairs on her behalf. It is unclear what they stand guard over, however.

- It is believed that Lady watches over the Isle of Sodor, as machinery built there seems to have a higher chance of sentience. However, this is both unproven and unconfirmed.

Ok enough lady stuff I just wanted to talk about her (she's neat)

- Thomas's route takes him all the way to Tidmouth and he often brings the townsfolk to their big city jobs.

- The official NWR freight engine livery is the green and red stripes, as worn by Henry and Percy.

- Percy has been requested as a guest of honor for at least 52 weddings and he has attended 34.

- The original Ulfstead Castle was destroyed in a landslide in 1991. The new Ulfstead Castle was built in 2000 and is part estate, railway, and museum, all orchestrated by the Earl of Sodor, Sir Robert Norramby.

- May 11th is Sodor Day, which marks the end of a week-long festival for all things Sudrian. Also, May 11th and Christmas Day are the only times the NWR intentionally reduces its services.

- In 2000, Sodor's Council passed a law allowing the marriage of sentient machines.

- The volunteers on the Talyllyn railway often send gag jokes or pranks to the workers of the SKR. The biggest prank yet was when they swapped Sir Handel with Sir Haydn (with permission from both the Thin Controller and the Talyllyn Preservation Society) and waited to see how long it would take someone to notice. Sir Haydn was on Sodor for 2 weeks and was found out by Duncan, who was suspicious as to why "Handel" was being so polite to him.

- Out of all the famous eight engines, Gordon is the one who dislikes his TV theme song the most. He claims that "it wasn't grand enough."

- Thomas's favorite TV episode is "Thomas and the Jet Engine." On multiple occasions, he has begged the Fat Controller to let him recreate the episode, just so he can say he is the fastest engine on Sodor.

- Edward is the unofficial father of Thomas, Bill, Ben, Rosie, Philip, and Ryan.

- Gordon is surprisingly good at giving advice. He has even given Edward some kind words.

- Boco is the official secondary for the Wild Nor'wester.

- Sodor is a sanctuary for sentient machines, and as such, Crovan's Gate Works can fix just about any type of machine in the world, whether it's diesel, steam, electric, gasoline, kerosene, or hydrogen. Bring them any type of motive power, and they can fix it in no time flat.

- During the purge of steam, Henry and later Murdoch often smuggled engines onto Sodor, attached to the ends of their freight trains.

[mariacallous]

In the days since four Tajikistani citizens were arrested in connection with Friday’s terrorist attack at a Moscow concert hall, people with Central Asian ancestry, already frequent targets of racism in Russia, have been facing a new wave of hatred and aggression. The country’s security forces have reportedly begun treating people with “Asian features” with increased suspicion, while some Russian citizens have started refusing to ride with taxi drivers from Tajikistan. Meanwhile, according to the Telegram channel Baza, Tajik community leaders have advised diaspora members to avoid going outside at night for their own safety, and employees of a barbershop where one of the alleged terrorists worked for less than three months have received a flood of threats. Meduza shares examples of this unwarranted hostility.

‘I’m pregnant and I don’t know what to do’

On the day after the terrorist attack at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall concert venue, Telegram channels began posting the names of suspects who had been arrested while allegedly trying to flee to Ukraine. One of them, 19-year-old Muhammadsobir Fayzov, had worked for several months at a barbershop in the town of Teykovo in Russia’s Ivanovo region. As soon as town residents learned of this, they began bombarding the barbershop’s employees with threats.

Screenshots shared by the Telegram channel Baza show users calling on people to storm the shop and burn down the homes of its employees. It’s unclear where these messages were left, but they appear to have been posted on an unofficial community page for the barbershop and later deleted.

On Sunday, the barbershop’s official page on the Russian platform VKontakte posted a message saying that a “wild hatred” had been “unleashed” on the establishment. “The manager and the owner are getting threatening phone calls, and people are leaving bad ratings and writing awful reviews,” read the post. According to the shop’s employees, Fayzov only worked there for a few weeks before he disappeared and stopped responding to its management. The message was later deleted, and the page is now private.

The barbershop’s director, Yamina Safiyeva, told journalists that its managers’ phones have been “ringing nonstop” with people calling with threats. “People are calling and wishing for my death. I’m pregnant and I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid to go outside,” she said. Safiyeva also said the shop’s employees didn’t notice anything unusual about Fayzov during his time there.

‘I’m not going with you’

In Yekaterinburg, according to the local news outlet It’s My City, police have begun conducting routine stops of men with “Asian features,” and the administration of at least one shopping center has asked its tenants for information about store employees from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Additionally, some taxi service users have been refusing to ride in vehicles with drivers from Tajikistan. Telegram channels and social media pages have published screenshots from taxi apps in which customers tell their assigned drivers to cancel the ride if they are from Tajikistan. “Hello, if you are Tajik, cancel the order, I’m not going with you,” reads one message.

The Telegram channel Baza has reported that Tajik community leaders in Russia have been advising diaspora members not to go outside at night and to avoid large public events. At the same time, according to the channel, some employers have asked workers from Tajikistan to provide them with updated personal information, including their passport data and residence.

On Monday, Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement warning citizens against traveling to Russia and recommending that citizens currently in Russia keep their documents with them at all times.

Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin has said that anybody calling for “pogroms and lynching” in the wake of the terrorist attack should be prosecuted for “provoking destabilization inside the country.” He warned that “dealing with migrants in this way” will “inevitably lead to escalation.”

[rubykgrant]

Hnnnnnnngggggg I'm so in love with Poppy I want to know so much about her, sexuality, gender, interactions with all different characters in and outside the Blood Gulch Crew, weapon preference, vehicle if any, just everything omgomgomg she's so pretty and cute and hot omg hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Haha thank you~

Poppy started off as like... a couple different vague ideas for different characters? Then I really began to refine them more, and it all combined into Poppy. I have a lot of fun with thinking about her interactions with the main group of characters; she meets Sarge first, when he's asked to lead a "special training program", and he immediately likes her because she back-talks all the time (Sarge claims to want soldiers that always follow his orders, but a being rebellious is actually much more impressive... and it helps him realize this training program is Not Good. Papa Warcrimes doesn't trust the military anymore? A sign of the apocalypse! It also makes him realize how much he misses his Red boys and the Blues... the fact that they weren't "perfect soldiers" was a GOOD thing, and the way Carolina, Wash, and Locus got chewed up and spit out is also standing out in his mind).

While the training is still going on, Tucker shows up to give an example of Freelancer techniques (Sarge initially asked for Wash or Carolina, but they're busy; Wash is looking for the Triplets, and Carolina is digging up info on Hargrove. Tucker jumped in saying HE'S had Freellancer training, he basically IS a Freelancer, let him help!). Tucker wanted to make an impressive entrance, arriving early to surprise everybody... but after his ship left, he fell down a hill. Luckily, the only one around to see was Poppy, who helped him up and promises not to tell everybody he ate dirt. When she introduces herself using her first name, Tucker kinda pauses for a moment before answering with his- Lavernius (so, rather than coming in like the Impressive honorary Freelancer Hero with the Cool Laser Sword, Tucker and Poppy first meet and are just. Regular friends. Which is nice~). When some of the training actually starts, Poppy plays it up like- "Oh, hello Captain Tucker, nice to meet you", and it's just a big inside joke between them

When Sarge eventually decides to just destroy this whole whole program, he brings Poppy with him- "Look everybody! We got a new Red!". Simmons is IMMEDIATELY ready to utterly HATE her. Sarge is giving her attention? Kill/death/die/murder/destroy... but then she says- "Sarge told me you like Star Wars. Did you ever watch the Ewoks cartoon? My favorite character is Wicket" and that just defuses him. Simmons brain decides- Oh, sibling? Sibling! Seriously, Simmons rarely gets to make a new friend like some of the other characters do, and I thought it would be very funny if he thought he was gonna hate Poppy, but nope! They get along just fine, and Simmons has a friend. Also, new people often tend to gravitate toward Blue Team (Carolina is arguably not ON any team, but she's friends with Wash and shares a connection to Church, so she's kinda just. Over there. Doc is not specifically ON either team as well, but because he's close with Donut, he's kinda-sorta unofficially over there haha). So, Locus and Poppy are the new Reds!

Part of her backstory involves Poppy once being assigned to a group of Flag Zealot Reds and Blues; she was supposed to be the person who determined if they needed more supplies/weapons, etc. Fpr whatever reason, these guys were all on a first-name basis. Red Team had Jed, Ted, and Fred. Blue Team had Hue, Drew, and Lou. So, Poppy has been in the habit of using her first name rather than last names like the Blood Gulch crew. When her Reds and Blues ran out of ammo, they just started harmlessly pranking each other, which Poppy thought was better than ACTUAL lethal fighting, so she just never ordered more. Both teams decided they all liked Poppy, and so she was never the target of any fighting (if anything, they only fought over who liked her more). It was loud, and stupid, and annoying... Poppy loved these guys. One day, an old and forgotten mine that had been buried went off, and Poppy rushed in to save the guys. She got injured in the process, and while she was unconscious/recovering... somebody from Temple's group came by to try and recruit more Flag Zealots. Hue, Drew, Lou, Jed, Ted, and Fred refused to join. When Poppy woke up, her Reds and Blues had been killed (the a-hole that did it turned out to be Gene. Not only does Poppy find a new home with the Blood Gulch Reds and Blues, but it is extra meaningful, because when everybody runs into Gene again, she doesn't get the so-called "similarity" between him and Simmons- Gene sucks, and Simmons doesn't piss her off)

The illustration I did of Poppy with traditional art shows her before she got injured helping her own Reds and Blues; after that incident, she actually had to get a cyborg prosthetic arm (again, she mirrors Simmons in a lot of ways). When everybody finally meets her, she's about 32 years old, but thanks to being a little short with rounded features, she looks a bit younger. Her main armor color is white, with accents of tan (if I could get a little artistic about it, I'd call it dusty-rose). The armor of her shoulders/arms looks a bit like Florida's during his Freelancer days (I just like the design of it, and it would help her look different from other characters who previously had white armor... also, with her armor being white, Red Team truly is the Lesbian Flag haha). She's trans, and chose the name of a flower because she "picked it herself"~ Poppy has a calm yet sarcastic personality, with a raging inferno of a temper once somebody ticks her off. A very go-with-the-flow attitude, somebody who can be comforting and encouraging. She feels her painful emotions VERY deeply, and freely cries when upset (or lets somebody feel the wrath of her temper once she finally reaches a breaking point). Poppy has been through a lot, but is fully aware of her own physical abilities; she's strong, sturdy, and a capable fight (maybe not very fast, but hard to knock down, even harder to keep down). One of her skills is messing with audio communication, and her favorite trick is to play annoying songs as a distraction

[lonestarflight]

Orbital Sciences X-42 Pop-Up Upper Stage or Upper Stage Flight Experiment (USFE)

"In the 1996/1997 time frame, the U.S. Air Force began to define plans for building blocks of a future Military Spaceplane (MSP) system. The full scope of these plans came to public attention in January 1998, when the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate (VS) requested proposals from the industry to study various aspects of advanced military space technology. This included research related to a potential MSP system. The latter was to cover concepts for RLVs (Reusable Launch Vehicles), SMVs (Space Manoeuver Vehicles, see X-37/X-40), so-called CAVs (Common Aero Vehicles, see X-41/Falcon) and finally pop-up upper stages. Pop-up upper stages were defined as rocket stages, which could be used by RLVs or ELVs (Expendable Launch Vehicles) to boost payloads to their final orbits and/or to perform orbital manoeuvers.

Earlier, in 1997, the AFRL had already begun a formal program to develop a pop-up upper-stage, named the Modular Insertion Stage (MIS). The MIS was defined as an expendable, low-cost, liquid-fueled upper stage, which could be scaled by using one to three rocket engines (hence the 'modular' label) to suit all expected user needs. It had already been determined in AFRL-sponsored studies in 1997 by TRW and Rocketdyne, that the best-suited propellants for the requirements (storable, non-toxic fuels) would be hydrogen peroxide and kerosene. Subsequently, AFRL cooperated with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in funding and management of further development of the MIS. MSFC had its 'Bantam' low cost lift program running since 1997, and this provided a suitable contractual framework for the MIS effort. It was decided to build an MIS flight demonstrator, called Upper Stage Flight Experiment (USFE), and Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC) was eventually awarded a contract to design and build the USFE. At some time in late 1997 or early 1998, the designation X-42A was officially allocated to an expendable demonstrator for pop-up upper-stage technology. However, this designation has so far not been further used in any official announcements, and therefore it is unclear if it will be actually applied to the USFE project (in fact, that doesn't appear too likely; see RLV section below).

Construction and component testing of the USFE prototype proceeded through mid-2003 on a relatively low-key basis. However, in that year a tank failure during a helium pressurization test completely destroyed the engine. Since then, a second prototype has been built, but propellant tank leakage problems have again delayed the program. If tests with a new tank, scheduled for early 2006, are successful, the USFE could be ready for a flight demonstration by May 2007. For this test, the USFE would be fitted as the third stage on top of a two-stage booster provided by OSC (most likely the first two stages of a retired Minuteman missile).

X-42 RLV Demonstrator

The X-42 designator has also been unofficially used by the AFRL and the industry in 2002 for a possible RLV demonstrator. Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC) has presented a design, which is based on its Multi-Role Reusable Vehicle (MRRV) concept, a winged vehicle powered by a single RS-27 rocket engine. The significance of the use of 'X-42' for this proposal is not quite clear, but it appears to emphasize that the vehicle could be a reusable solution to the upper stage requirement.

OSC X-42 RLV Demonstrator

By 2003, this design had slightly evolved, featuring a single vertical tail on the fuselage instead of the wingtip fins. A single CAV (Common Aero Vehicle) could be carried atop the fuselage and launched in space. OSC's X-42 was equipped with a conventional tricycle landing gear and a braking parachute in the aft fuselage. The vehicle was designed for versatile trajectories and short turn-around time on the ground (14 days), making it a true 'space launch workhorse'.

The X-42 label has also been informally used in a few papers and presentations to refer to other proposed test vehicles related to RLV and TSTO (Two Stage To Orbit) technology. The acronym RAST (Reusable Access to Space Technology) has also been mentioned together with X-42. All said, it looks as if the X-42 designation is currently not tied to a specific program or vehicle."

Information from Andreas Parsch: link

source, source

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond! Cast: Wacky the Hedgehog

Owned by: DJ Awesome

(art by SEKittenTail2008 on Deviantart)

"I may not be A Sonic, but I do know I was made with the same passion and care as one, and that, alongside my adventures and friends, are what keep me speeding ahead!"

Wacky is, as her name suggests, a very wacky bootleg hedgehog made back in 1997, by the now-missing Junio Collymore. She was created purely out of Ms. Collymore's love for the Sonic franchise, but her game came out unfinished, due to Junio going missing and the game being cancelled.

Of course, Wacky's AI still remained active, which built its own world out of what was there. Most of these were yet to develop their own personalities, but they could still live in this new land built from the ground up.

Naturally, there's two sides to a Sonic world. One with the good guys, including Wacky, Zane the Fox and Starburst the Hedgehog, and one with their arch-nemesis, Dr. Sunnyside. As the days went on, Wacky and her friends spent their time going on adventures and foiling Sunnyside's plans, which changed when one of Sunnyside's tricks sucked most of the world into a newly-formed portal.

The portal led them to an unofficial copy of Sonic Mania, where their designs changed and Wacky and her friends became taller than they were. In this new world, Wacky was set to go on new adventures to learn more about the world used to build her own, to find her friends, and to stop Dr. Sunnyside from destroying this world.

However, an entity that lurked in the code wound up going through the portal too, desperately searching for a vessel. This entity was known as Bizarro, which secretly hunted Wacky while she continued her adventures and meeting new friends.

Then one day, the entity, which was a sludgy being with a melted body, lunged out at her and plunged into her head, seeping through her skin. She woke up a couple of hours later, though when she tried to open her eyes, she felt something trying to get out, so she kept them shut.

The possession hadn't gone as Bizarro had hoped, with Wacky still in full control of her body. The entity wanted revenge on Ms. Collymore for leaving her unfinished, unaware that she's long gone now. Though Wacky no longer has to keep her eyes shut to keep Bizarro in as of this AU's events, she stayed in the heroine's body due to her being an unrotting vessel. And though the two clearly hate one another, they can work together if necessary.

Before she got involved in things, Wacky even started dating Starburst as her girlfriend, and the incident in the OMT universe forced Bizarro to split from Wacky's body, fully decaying away once she realised she could never have gotten her revenge to begin with. Wacky was also curious about the giant screen in her world's sky, and her sentience seemed to scare anyone who played her game away, which concerned her and made her yearn for companionship from another world.

During More than One Universe, Wacky helps out from the sidelines to get the multiversal threats under control, and becomes a member of the Blur Gang in the aftermath, willing to help her new companions protect their worlds alongside her own. During the story, however, Sonath was heartless enough to taunt her about his plans to use HER world as a proxy to get his plans back into high-gear.

Sonath: You seriously think you'd stand any chance? When I'm through with you, your world will be next! Wacky (immediately losing her goofy demeanour): W-What...? Sonath: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That's right, child. Your little bootleg world is just the vehicle I'll be needing to kick myself back into high gear and begin my conquest ALL OVER AGAIN. Wacky was panting in horror, knowing JUST what Sonath was planning. Sonath: I'll make it into a NEW world, where who you were before doesn't matter! Soon, that'll be nothing but a burning me-! He suddenly got strangled by Wacky's hands. Wacky (genuinely furious with her teeth clenched): Shut... She tied his body up in her expandable arms, her hands grabbing either side of his head. Wacky: ...the... She began moving them, causing Sonath to gag as his neck joints were getting damaged. Wacky: ...fucking hell... UP!!!!

The resulting neck snap didn't outright kill Sonath, but it did render him horribly immobile, though it thankfully gave the others time to inject a cure into him, curbing his evil acts permanently. For one of the more goofy characters in the Blur Gang, Wacky still inherits sad clown traits, and genuinely sympathises with OMT!Tails when he mentions the loss of his Sonic and Sally.

"Tails, I... The... The hardest thing about being a hero is... you can't always save everybody."

If you're wondering about the ponytail she sports in her sprite in the character chart post, it's because I had a bit of trouble integrating her long hair and tall height in. In-universe, I'd say it's for keeping her hair from getting too dirty when out in messier combat.

She became a close friend to Hog as well, in part due to both of them being fellow bootleg characters, and they both got a laugh out of their villains' silly names, so that's something. While she doesn't mind Mr. Needlemouse all that much, she does take offence to some of his jokes and tries to defend whoever was the target of said joke, as long as they were nice.

[the-silver-chronicles]

Far Cry El Industrial's Reign Post #3

The Yellowjacks and Tumultites are pretty much the inverse to the Seeds and Eden's Gate.

Joseph and his brothers are biological, while Faith is the adopted one. Their followers act as Joseph's spiritual children, but are more often than not seen as guards, soldiers, or labour workers by the rest of the siblings, even with Joseph he didn't bat an eye when those followers gave the name of the vehicle "chopper" a whole new and grimmer meaning. The Seeds obviously care about their followers (to an extent), but they're not fussed about continually sending them out to die in Far Cry 5 to capture Rook, when, like Jacob and Faith have clearly demonstrated, they themselves are skilled and capable enough of capturing/luring Rook without much effort. While this method does keep Joseph and his family (mostly) out of danger in order to strategize and lead their followers from afar, Joseph and his siblings are also sending their underequipped and unskilled believers (especially the regular Peggies, the Chosen and Angels get a minor pass for being only mildly able to handle themselves and stand their ground) against not only the Resistance but also the likes of the Nation of Tumult Movement. Who have an alliance with each other.

Meanwhile Paul adopted Silva, Nashira, Adaro, Fýredel, Gaius and Tiri, who all aren't biologically related, with only Elsa being Silva's half-sister and Persephone being Silva's only biological daughter (until Mercy comes along later, becoming Persephone's half-sister) and Azriel being Silva's only adopted daughter and Persephone's (as well as Mercy's) adopted sister. Not to mention, Paul and Kamski have a strong brother-in-arms connection, just like Silva and Ezekiel do, with Ezekiel becoming Kamski's and Irene's unofficial son/brother. Special mention goes to the fact Gemini Teal is Obadiah Teal's nibling, his sister's mite, which technically makes Paul also their uncle, due to his relationship with Obadiah. Schrödinger is Gavin Turquoise's adopted mite. Gemini Teal and Isiah Popov are the bestest of friends, with Nadi Sinclair and Alexander Khaos being a part of Silva's close-knit social circle, with the Tumultite Idealist often referring to the former two as her hermana and hermano respectively. Silva, much like Joseph, cares deeply about her people, however, she's not one to put them in immediate danger, so the most dangerous and risky tasks go to herself and to those she knows are skilled enough and capable enough to handle it, as she views her fellow Tumultites as the future. While this means less death on the Tumultite side, there's also the fact Silva and her closest friends/family are risking their own lives, which would bring down morale on the rest of the Tumultites if they lost them (though if Silva or any of the others lost their lives to the cult, that would grant the rest of the Tumultites permission to stop holding back and bring in all fighters, and even risk a war with the Underworld itself, as Silva hasn't made her people dependent on her to bring about Tumult, which may not be the case for Joseph, his family and Eden's Gate. In other words, killing Silva wouldn't stop the Tumultites as she has given them enough independence and power for themselves to continue the plans for Tumult that she herself shared with them without her, while killing Joseph would likely cause one final retaliation but would inevitably stop Eden's Gate, even Joseph's siblings, in their progress since Joseph was the only one who knew what could and would happen after the Collapse and in New Eden, which is one of the downsides to being a prophet... no one knows God's plan but you. Causing the Flock to be dependent entirely on Joseph's visions. With Joseph lost, they likely wouldn't know what to do with themselves).

The only bridge that connects both groups with each other is Azriel (Joseph's biological daughter and Silva's adopted hija), Holly Pepper (a former Eden's Gate cultist now newly recruited Tumultite convert), Mercy (Silva and Faith's daughter) and both groups mutual (for Eden's Gate, newly acquired) hatred and disgust towards the Enforcement Guards of Adam (aka Father Omar and his Enforcers).

So yeah.

[usafphantom2]

Russian A-50 radar plane would have been damaged by attack in Belarus

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 02/27/23 - 08:36 in Military, War Zones

According to several messages on social networks over the weekend, on the morning of February 26, at Machuliszczy air base in Belarus, in the Minsk region, a Russian advance air alert and command aircraft (AEW&C) Beriev A-50M/U Shmel (NATO code: Mainstay) would have been damaged in an alleged attack by a group of opponents of the Belarusian

According to unconfirmed information, bombs planted by a Belarusian resistance movement exploded under the Russian A-50 alert aircraft parked at Machuliszczy airport near Minsk.

According to the organization of opposition to the Belarusian government BYPOL, guerrillas described as opponents of the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenko, who consider him fascist, as well as the Russian president, would have damaged the valued early warning aircraft of the Russian Air Force with a drone attack.

The aircraft would have been damaged in the places indicated above, according to the BYPOL group.

The Belaruskij Hajun project, which collects and publishes information about the movements and activities of Belarusian and Russian troops in the territory of Belarus, tweeted that the A-50 aircraft was damaged at the front and middle of the fuselage, as good as avians and the characteristic rotating radar station located above the fuselage. They wrote: "the damage is serious, the plane will definitely not fly anywhere. The incident occurred while the snowploughs were working near the aircraft. [... ] Belarusian guerrillas consistently expel fascists from their lands. Unofficially, an unmanned aerial vehicle would be used in the attack, which launched an unknown cargo on the plane".

Previously, the Belaruskij Hajun Project reported reports from local residents of the Machulishchy air base about two explosions heard between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. local time. An explosion was also heard in the early evening. They should have damaged a military plane and snowploughs. Local residents noticed many military and traffic police officers who checked all the cars passing near the base.

Although it is impossible to say much about the activity of the Russian alert and command aircraft Beriev A-50M/U during the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, for obvious reasons, at least one has been parked near Minsk for a long time. The possible loss of such an aircraft would be severe for Russia.

The Russian Federation Air and Space Forces (VKS) had a small fleet of 15 A-50M modernized with E-821 Szmiel R and A-50U type radar improved with E-821 Szmiel RM type radar (as part of the Titan-U program), built on the Il-76MD transport aircraft.

All of them are assigned to the Long Recognition Aircraft Aviation Group of the 610th Combat Preparation and Flight Personnel Training Center, subordinate to the 4th State Center for Aviation Personnel Training and Military Research, at Ivanovo Air Base, north of Moscow.

In December 2021, Russia, preparing for the invasion, transferred an A-50 to Belarus. The aircraft, with the name "Sergei Atajanc" with the number RF-93966, since the first day of the war has coordinated the attacks of the Russian air force on targets in Ukraine.

A-100 program with Premier radar.

A program to implement a successor to Il-476, called A-100 Premier, based on the Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) with the new AESA Premier antenna, whose first target prototype first flew on November 18, 2017, is currently underway. The radar was tested in a flying laboratory based on the old Il-76MD, that is, A-100LL (Letajushchaya Laboratoriya). In February 2022, it was reported that due to Western sanctions, the Premier 476 program would be postponed.

The Szmiel and Premier radars were developed by the radio-electronics company Wega of Moscow, which is part of the state-owned Rostec.

Tags: A-50Military AviationBelarusRFSAF - Russian Federation Aerospace Force/Russia Aerospace ForceWar Zones - Russia/Ukraine

Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[new-moncks-corner-sc]

Townhomes Near Charleston for Rent

The well-known townhomes near Charleston for rent are the HARMON by Crescent Communities. This new home rental community in Moncks Corner, SC, situated in the Foxbank Plantation master development, offers homes with care, a charming neighborhood, and modern amenities that make life amazing. The residents enjoy the idyllic lifestyle, such as proximity to the lakefront pool at the Foxbank Amenities Center, convenient shopping and dining at the Shops at Foxbank, and Foxbank Elementary School. Have luxurious vinyl plank flooring and open-concept floor plans available, with modern fixtures? Visit Harmon Foxbank and schedule your tour at 843.548.5077.

Moncks Corner, SC - A Bit of History

Moncks Corner, South Carolina, is a beautiful small southern town known for its rich history and charm. The town was named after its landowner, Thomas Monck, but it has been settled by indigenous people for thousands of years. The Edistow tribe, now the Wassamasaw Tribe of Vernertown Indians, inhabited the area before anyone else. Moncks Corner was a major hub of South Carolina's commerce during colonial times, with the Cooper River and rural roads providing an artery to the colonies in the backcountry. The Santee Canal, "America's first true canal," operated between the Santee and Cooper rivers from 1800 until the railway between Columbia and Charleston was completed in 1840. During its heyday, it moved goods up and down its 22-mile length, but its use slowly dwindled until its charter was revoked in 1850.

Corn Maze

The 20th anniversary of the Corn Maze will be celebrated in 2024, with a new 7.5-acre corn maze designed and mapped by MazePlay of Firth, Idaho, using the latest GPS technology. The maze is designed to challenge map-reading skills and offers a full 3-mile challenge or a kid-friendly 4-mile path. Smoking is not permitted on the property, and vehicles must stay within designated parking areas. Visitors must remain on the paths in the corn maze to keep themselves safe and the corn from growing back if knocked down. The ground is rough and uneven, and visitors must stay within designated roped-off areas for everyone's safety. There are no bare feet allowed due to rough terrain, stones, etc. Also, alcohol, drugs, or persons under the influence of either are not allowed.

Lottery Proceeds for Educational Support

The SC Education Lottery legislation mandates that lottery proceeds should be used to support educational improvements and enhancements as provided by the General Assembly. The Legislature decides how lottery funds are appropriated. According to the report, since its inception in 2002, the Legislature has appropriated over $5.4 billion through fiscal year 2018-19 in supporting various educational programs. Lottery numbers are unofficial until verified by the S.C. Education Lottery.

Link to Map Driving Direction

West Farm Corn Maze 1542 Cooper Store Rd, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, United States

Head southwest on Cooper Store Rd toward Pompous Ln 49 sec (0.7 mi)

Turn left onto Appii Rd 1 min (0.7 mi)

Take Black Tom Rd, Oakley Rd/State Rd S-8-50 and US-52 E to Foxbank Plantation Blvd 11 min (8.2 mi)

Drive to Trotters Ln 3 min (0.6 mi)

HARMON Foxbank by Crescent Communities 609 Trotters Ln, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, United States

[adragonsfriend]

I'm gonna expand on this because it really keeps getting notes (read: fucking up the little notes graph)

So @fangeek-girl makes an excellent point:

#I don't even think she committed fraud#but she definitely introduced them to tax returns they didn't think they benefitted from#Padmé#my queen

and @unhelpfulfemme makes another excellent point:

#she sees the tax situation on tatooine#knows how much of it goes towards stupid bullshit that doesn't help the populace#thinks THIS IS DAYLIGHT ROBBERY#and proceeds to cook their papers much more profesionally

We're going to keep ignoring that if Tatooine has any version of taxes it probably involves less paperwork and more Hutt enforcers bashing down your door to mildly rob you every few months--

And talk instead about the fact that Padme's family is pretty rich (they have like multiple country estates and houses in the capital city and they're routinely involved in politics). So being realistic, the Naberrie family knows and uses all the rich people tricks for paying as little in taxes as possible. It's not just Padme's government work that's informing her ability to commit tax fraud. There's a whole "financial literacy" (class heirarchy) thing going on here.

Now to be clear, it's canon information that the Naberries in general make their share of donations and are involved in plenty of charity work, and I think Padme keeps that up and expands it…though to be honest considering that her parents and sister are alive and it's family wealth, I doubt she actually manages it herself (certainly she wouldn't've had access to her own financial assets as Queen). Maybe she provides advice on where the most effective places to donate to are or something. Anyway my point is I think the Naberries generally do their best to be good philanthropist rich people, but they're not bankrupting themselves about it either.

Padme has her expensive things and she likes them (which is not a crime but is one of the less openly malicious vehicles of maintaining class separation). Some of those things are probably necessary for her job--being a politician involves keeping up appearances and attending fashion shows i mean senate galas--but it's pretty clear she enjoys having them as well. Being a fashion icon is expensive.

So Padme, being a chaos person who believes deeply in government but also in a spot of domestic terrorism when she thinks it would help someone, would totally pay all her taxes when she thinks they're being well used, and when she thinks the outcome of what they're being used for is the will of a democratic system.

If she disagrees with how the government is using her taxes…

I think she lets her family know it's a tax evasion year, and then they use all their rich people tactics and instead of paying a reasonable amount of taxes that year, they do extra donations instead. Maybe they have a network of rich people who all get the unofficial Naberrie Philanthropist News Letter which recommends whether they should pay taxes or do extra donations every year, and gives info on the most effective charities.

Padme is also however, fairly isolated within her own financial class a lot of the time, so I picture her as being a little naive about her own access to financial knowledge and therefore having to go on a journey of discovery to figure out that poor people really don't have access to the knowledge about any of that kind of strategic money use. Doing the Lars' taxes can be a step on that journey for her, and down the road in a fix it AU, one of Padme's things can be teaching financial literacy eg. gaming the system or something. Like…idk…the people on tiktock who tell you what a Roth IRA is, but in space.

That's kind of a depressing note for this to end on…uh… I know:

She makes a second news letter called the Naberrie Normal Bitches News Letter, and that one has advice for normal bitches who aren't rich enough to be philanthropists (I will accept suggestions for better names).

Whilst I adore the idea that in the maybe 24 total hours Anakin was present on the Lars' farm, he fixed literally everything mechanical there because of *angst*, I think an infinitely funnier idea is that Padme did their taxes. She doesn't like sitting around doing nothing any more than Anakin, and she was there for several extra hours, there's no way she didn't ask for something to do, and I think that thing should be their taxes.

Cliegg and Owen weren't actually expecting to actually be able to use a coreworlder's work, but as it turns out, Padme totally helped them commit tax fraud even better than they already were without even being asked.

Bonus points if she was doing it at the same time Anakin was out committing bloody murder.

[fahrni]

Saturday Morning Coffee

Good morning from Charlottesville, Virginia! ☕️

It’s been a pretty quiet week in the Fahrni household and at work. I’d say we’re in a steady state at both. Of course it won’t stay that way for long so I’m gonna enjoy it while I can.

Our granddaughter is with us this weekend so let’s see how much writing I’ll get done. 😁

I’ve saved so many interesting links this week. I hope you enjoy them.

Caleb Newton • Bipartisan Report

J. Michael Luttig, a widely consulted former federal judge, is among those harshly condemning the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to give presidents a layer of legal immunity, meaning protection from prosecution, for certain actions taken in office.

Our Supreme Court has done democracy a big disservice. The immunity they’ve granted Presidents basically gives them carte blanche to commit crimes as part of holding the office.

They’re evil idiots.

Jason Koebler • 404 Media

The real Christina Warren hasn’t been writing these new posts on the zombie TUAW, however. The site’s new owners have stolen her identity, replaced her photo with an AI-generated one, and have been publishing what appear to be AI-generated articles under her byline.

Here’s someone using “AI” in an unethical way. Taking someone else’s work, running it through an LLM to change it, and republishing it under the authors name — with a different author picture — is disgusting.

Victoria Namkung • The Guardian

Whenever Cassie Yoshikawa drives through the Central Valley on the former US Highway 99, she looks for the century-old landmark that symbolizes the midpoint of California: the Palm and the Pine.

You’d think being a lifelong Californian I’d have known about this. I recall passing them but I had no idea they represented the center of California. They’re an official unofficial marker. Folks just did it. Pretty nifty.

Of course they’re going to be ripped out for highway expansion. Goodness knows we need more cars on the road.

Noor Al-Sibai • Futurism

Elon Musk is a man with many brands — but for electric vehicle shoppers, his personal brand has become increasingly toxic.

That’s right, folks are not buying Teslas because Space Karen is such a dick.

I’ve given up on The Musk Files. The man is just so toxic and disgusting his crimes against humanity are too many to enumerate.

Janko Roettgers • Lowpass

This is it for Redbox: The judge overseeing the bankruptcy case of Redbox’s corporate parent Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment granted the debtors request to convert it from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, effectively paving the way for shutting down the company and liquidating its assets.

Wow. BluRay and DVD renters are out of luck it seems. Before streaming became ubiquitous we’d rent from Redbox about once a week. We had one at our local grocery store. It was easy and cheap.

There’s a bit of irony in this whole thing. I’ve gone back purchasing BluRay + digital download movies. We use the digital version all the time but have that BluRay backup should the license for the digital copy be revoked.

Dalia Faheid, Monica Garrett and Brandon Miller • CNN

Death Valley sets a new daily record with a searing 128 degrees as West Coast heat wave drags on

Poor California, poor planet. If this keeps up how long will it be before California can no longer produce the fruits and vegetables that feed the world? That’s not hyperbole. California’s San Joaquin Valley really is the breadbasket of the world.

Patrick Wyatt • Code of Honor

I’ve been writing about the early development of Warcraft, but a recent blog post I read prompted me to start scribbling furiously, and the result is this three-part, twenty-plus page article about the development of StarCraft, along with my thoughts about writing more reliable game code.

Don’t look at the date this article was published. Yes, it’s from 2012. 😄

You know I love a good discussion about code architecture, especially when presented in the form of an actual product. Not just some sample code to illustrate the point. He links off to another post discussing a linked list implementation and it’s great reading.

Chris Medland • racer

Lewis Hamilton’s victory in his last British Grand Prix for Mercedes is “like a little fairytale,” according to team principal Toto Wolff.

It’s really nice to see Lewis Hamilton pick up a win in his final season the Mercedes.

Manton Reece

Everyone who has implemented ActivityPub from scratch knows that there are implementation-specific quirks that trip up developers, making compatibility between apps more difficult. Some of these issues are being clarified by the Social Web Community Group. Test suites will help too. Micro.blog has had ActivityPub support for years and we’re still finding edge cases.

So many folks are climbing on the ActivityPub bandwagon and that’s a good thing. Providing more integration with other services and allowing those to be displayed in native clients without changing formats is wonderful.

As much as I’d like to finish writing, my granddaughter is up so I’m gonna hit the publish button now and hang out with her. 😃

Steven Beschloss

The dangerously self-important Roberts insisted that the country is “in the process of the second American Revolution” and further noted that this so-called revolution “will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”

Tom Warren • The Verge

Microsoft is finally rolling out spellcheck and autocorrect for its Notepad app in Windows 11, more than 40 years after the simple text editor was first introduced in Windows in 1983.

Skye Jacobs • TechSpot

Big Tech needs to generate $600 billion in annual revenue to justify AI hardware expenditure

Sarah Kuta • Smithsonian Magazine

While visiting his parents’ recently renovated house in Europe, a man spotted something unusual in one of the floor tiles. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be part of a human jawbone—and it still had a few teeth.

Spire Motorsports

Rodney Childers, a 40-time NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race winning crew chief and one of the sport’s most respected tacticians, will lead Spire Motorsports No. 7 team and driver Corey LaJoie in 2025.

Felix Salmon • Axios

The Slacker generation might have been slacking off when it came to planning for retirement: Gen X consistently ranks in surveys as the least-prepared group for when they stop earning.

John Stoehr • Raw Story

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) declared Monday he is advocating for Christian nationalism, a far-right ideology that claims there is no separation of church and state in the Constitution, and promotes as a national religion Christian fundamentalism, a hardline, extremist brand of Christianity at odds with the religious beliefs of many Christians across the country

Drew Magary • SFGATE

But again, discretion isn’t this car’s job. This is a loud and lonely car for loud and lonely people. And while I enjoyed driving my Cybertruck, I hope I’m never loud and lonely enough to want to buy one.

[cc-one-piece-grand-adventurers]

Threads of Fate [OP/chatcambrioleur]

Verse Branch: chatcambrioleur (tagged interactions) Partner: Nami @chatcambrioleur Ship Name: ? Paring Tag: // to be updated from: ccBond : & x Nami | chatcambrioleur to => ccShip : ? x Nami | chatcambrioleur

Threads // to be linked

SANJI // main muse

Time to Forgive

New Year 2024

New Year Kiss 2024

No Help Needed

Not His Birthday Luffy

Another Party

Broken Shiro Swan Law

Heartbreaker Sanji

Nice Out Tonight

New Year 2024

Fanning the Flames

Not Flirting Zoro

Bounty Pair

Headcanons

Nami is the (unofficial) fashion designer for (my) Shanks' / Red Hair Pirates' outfits, they need to at least be more fashionable than Buggy!

Zoro goes bounty hunting on the side because he (forever) owes Nami money for finding him whenever he gets lost.

Franky made Nami her Shiro Swan personal water vehicle that can carry loot (and Zoro) too!

[apkexpert765]

Unlocking GTA 5 Secrets: 94FBR Crack Insights

Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) has captivated gamers worldwide with its vast open world, gta5 94fbr immersive gameplay, and thrilling missions. However, for some players, the allure of accessing hidden content or customizing the game beyond its intended scope leads them to explore alternative avenues, such as using cracks like 94FBR. In this article, we delve into the world of GTA 5 94FBR cracks, exploring what they are, how they work, and the implications for both players and the gaming community.

Understanding 94FBR Cracks

The term "94FBR" originates from a specific search query format used by software crackers. When users search for software cracks or serial numbers using this format (inurl:94FBR "[software name]"), they often find results leading to websites offering unauthorized downloads or methods to bypass software protections. This search query has been associated with pirated software and cracks for various programs, including games like GTA 5.

In the case of GTA 5, 94FBR cracks typically refer to unauthorized methods of bypassing the game's activation or copy protection systems. This allows players to access the full game or specific features without purchasing legitimate copies or adhering to licensing agreements.

The Appeal of 94FBR Cracks in GTA 5

For many players, the appeal of using 94FBR cracks in GTA 5 lies in the ability to unlock premium features, access exclusive content, or simply avoid paying for the game. Some cracks offer modifications or cheats that enhance gameplay, providing unlimited in-game currency, rare items, or other advantages.

Additionally, the modding community surrounding GTA 5 has embraced 94FBR cracks as a means to experiment with custom content and create unique experiences within the game. From new vehicles and weapons to entirely new storylines and missions, these cracks serve as a gateway to a world of player-created content.

Risks and Consequences

While the allure of accessing hidden features or customizing gameplay may be tempting, using 94FBR cracks in GTA 5 comes with significant risks. First and foremost, these cracks often violate the game's End User License Agreement (EULA) and can lead to legal consequences.

Moreover, downloading cracks from unofficial sources exposes players to malware, viruses, and other malicious software. These unauthorized downloads can compromise the security of your device, leading to data loss, identity theft, or other cyber threats.

The Impact on the Gaming Community

The use of 94FBR cracks in GTA 5 also has broader implications for the gaming community. It undermines the work of developers who put countless hours into creating the game, as it circumvents the need to support them through legitimate purchases.

Furthermore, the proliferation of cracked versions can disrupt online multiplayer environments, creating unfair advantages for those using modified or unauthorized game files. This can lead to a less enjoyable experience for honest players and damage the integrity of the game's community.

Conclusion

In the world of GTA 5, 94FBR cracks represent a double-edged sword, offering tantalizing opportunities to unlock hidden potential while carrying significant risks and consequences. While some players may choose to explore these avenues, it's essential to weigh the potential benefits against the ethical, legal, and security considerations involved.

Ultimately, the best way to experience GTA 5 and support its developers is through purchasing legitimate copies and engaging with the game's rich world in accordance with its intended design. By doing so, players can enjoy the full breadth of content, contribute to the vibrant gaming community, and ensure the continued success of one of the most iconic titles in gaming history.

[jcmarchi]

This Could Be the Most Expensive Target: Ukrainian Drone Destroyed S-350 "Vityaz", Possibly the Only Existing Unit - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/this-could-be-the-most-expensive-target-ukrainian-drone-destroyed-s-350-vityaz-possibly-the-only-existing-unit-technology-org/

This Could Be the Most Expensive Target: Ukrainian Drone Destroyed S-350 "Vityaz", Possibly the Only Existing Unit - Technology Org

The destroyed air defense system S-350 “Vityaz” may have been the only surface-to-air missile system of its kind that recently entered service with the Russian Armed Forces.

S-350 „Vityaz“ (English name: “Knight”). Image credit: Zumlik via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

According to unofficial data, the invading army planned to receive 12 such weapons by 2027.

The latest anti-aircraft missile complex S-350 “Vityaz” was destroyed in the Kherson region by the fighters of the 11th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. They managed to achieve this objective with the help of an FPV drone.

The news was announced by a Ukrainian volunteer and social activist Serhiy Sternenko on Telegram.

“Absolute record for destroyed target with an FPV drone!” he wrote in his post.

🔥BREAKING🔥

🇷🇺RUSSIAN AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM S-350 «Vityaz» WAS DESTROYED BY FPV KAMIKAZE DRONE

IT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS DESTROYED BY FPV DRONE🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/oZV52wLIzF

— Cloooud |🇺🇦 (@GloOouD) December 6, 2023

He also noted that the launcher was completely destroyed and another vehicle was damaged. The official export price of the S-350 platform starts from 135 million dollars.

The S-350 “Vityaz” air defense system is a new-generation medium-range anti-aircraft missile launcher platform.

“This is the most expensive target ever destroyed by an FPV drone. Previously, the record was the Tor anti-aircraft missile system for $24 million,” Sternenko emphasized.

According to the volunteer, the price is not the most important thing, because this may be the only complex that the enemy has put into operation, and there are possibly no other similar platforms, at least not in a finalized state.

Written by Alius Noreika

You can offer your link to a page which is relevant to the topic of this post.

[fullregalia]

chin chin.

Hello friends, and a happy new FY to those who observe. Despite somewhat bizarro weather since the unofficial start of summer after MDW (some true June gloom, a real life take of John Carpenter’s The Fog (Canada’s Version), an abundance of petrichor), we’ve made it to a typically stifling July weekend for the season’s flagship holiday. 

The past few years I’ve been up in Cambridge for the fourth, working on my tablescape game and caramelizing peaches (stone fruit hive, we ride!!). This year I’ll be in Litchfield, baking up a brown-butter buttermilk cake and seeing god at Arethusa. Same vibes, different ZIP codes. 

But I haven’t sat down to write 3,000 words on going cottagecore or larping as a wasp. No. I am here to discuss my only area of expertise: how to have a perfect aperitivo hour. This morning I was reading DealBook and they had a short bit about the continued “resilience” of the Aperol spritz. Legally I’m not sure when a trend term-limits out and just becomes, I don’t know, a tradition? And while I am genetically bound to honor tradition (see: that whole episode of This American Life about Fiddler on the Roof), I also think there are so many products on the market that are superior to, or at least as fun to try, as Aperol.

As with most European-born habits, the existence of aperitivo hour is actually like half the age of our country (ok, Aperol was invented in 1919). As a person of Being Basic experience, my introduction to the Aperol spritz circa 2015 was a watershed in the expansion of my drinking habits. To be fair, the Brits do have their own pseudo spritz, the Pimm’s Cup, which I’ve been drinking since I was maybe 17??? But it’s absolutely English in the sense that it’s not nearly as refined as it thinks—we’re just guzzling a drink of gin and fruit salad??? I mean, do not get me wrong: it is great, but no one at Pitti Uomo is begging for cucumber punch and a cheeky cig. I’ve rarely had a Pimm’s Cup and not immediately been mentally transported to the gazebo in my uncle’s backyard—you have a spritz and you are in a European square, surrounded by cobblestones and impossibly chic women named Franca or Celeste. Both serve a purpose, but since this is our weekend of independence, let’s quit with the Brits and focus on the the spritz.

So I’m reading DealBook (listen we all know I love Matt Levine a lot, but he’s not devoting paragraphs to “everything is bitters” content) and I see this fun little chart about the increasing market share of Aperol in Campari’s annual sales:

Naturally I got to thinking about my affinity for the Aperol spritz and its share in my personal beverage consumption. Around 2017, I was introduced to the Cappelletti spritz when they ran out of Aperol at Fairfax. (Demand for trendy drinks definitely outstrips supply in the West Village.) From then on, I became freakishly interested the possibilities of aperitivi and the vehicle of the spritz.

We all know that the Aperol spritz is basically the liqueur, sparkling wine, soda, and garnish. A perfect drink. Serve it with some olives, cheese, charcuterie—the Italians nailed la dolce vita. Given Aperol’s dominance, it’s led to a great resurgence of the category. Beyond Cappelletti (a bright, sweet, orangey liquer that is perfect full stop), there’s a wealth of aperitifs to explore:

Forthave Red: I have a bottle of this at home; based out of Brooklyn, Forthave has been doing fun stuff—gins, amaros, a coffee thing that I didn’t try but gave to a friend as an Xmas gift (I still haven’t had the nerve to drink an espresso martini, but she’s Australian and that’s like water to them)—but I stick to the red. It’s drier, closer to a Campari, with both the citrus and cherry flavors you can get from various aperitifs. 

Faccia Bruto: Another BK-based company (I am borough-loyal). By now you’ve likely seen their products all over. They make that bright green imitation chartreuse that I have heard smells terrible but mixes well. Since none of us can ever get a table at Rucola this this the second best. It’s smoky and tastes like cherry - I like it for a stronger drink, it only needs a really light Prosecco. 

Bruto Americano: Based in CA, this Bruto is also a Campari-adjacent substitute. My brother introduced this to me after our friend who lives in Cambridge introduced it to him. I think the last time we had a bottle at home in NJ we went through it pretty fast. I recall it wasn’t overpoweringly herby, and I think we went in a gin direction with it. 

Cocchi Americano (red or bianco): Another option my brother brought into the mix. Bianco is less sweet and while it still has the floral notes it is more balanced with the taste of herbs (see below as well). I don’t have a bottle of either Cocchis at home right now, but they’re on the long list. 

Berto Bianco: Let’s stick with biancos for a moment. Recently I’ve been doing a lot of vermouth and soda with a twist. I especially like biancos because they pair really nicely with citrus and are so light; perfect for a really oppressively humid day, or just an easy drink while you make dinner. The Berto is a household fave. It’s a Kermit Lynch import and I first discovered it at Formaggio’s in Cambridge so you know it has been given the snob stamp of approval. It’s bright but you can really taste the herbs.

Occhipinti Naturale (orange or red): Another vermouth! If you were one of the many people who, like me, got Occhipinti pilled after the Stanley Tucci Italy show came out, you got interested in the Occhipinti family. While Arianna makes the popular SP68 wines, another branch is busy making these vermouths. Every time I’m in Astor I wonder if this is the trip where I drop $55 on vermouth (I have yet to). But I really liked this the last time I had it. Made from moscato grapes, it has that more floral taste which can be really lovely on a humid summer afternoon.

Honorable mention also goes to: Lo-Fi Gentian, Contratto, and Select. You won’t mind displaying any of these bottles at home, either. I’m not trying to cut into Aperol’s market share, what’s nice about effective marketing is that the spritz pie is big enough for everyone to have a slice now. Honestly, I skip the Prosecco if I make anything at home, all you need is a twist of citrus and some seltzer and it’s just as refreshing (and easier to have a second round).

If you want to try these out as the Italians intended, find yourself a good spot to post up at during aperitivo hour. In BK, I like Aita for that. Manhattan has a ton of options: Jolene, Bar Pisellino (if you can get a seat), Dante, any place that is non-douchey and on a roof (are they mutually exclusive? Not my call, I’m a douche!).

Fix any of these up and, to quote Ariana Grande—right now I’m in a state of mind I want to be in, like, all the time. Once we get to summer my body needs to hear either yacht rock or Vampire Weekend at least once a day while I’m having seltzer. Make something effervescent, turn on Father of the Bride if the vibe is backyard, or Contra if you’re near a beach. Keep yourself rich in casteveltranos and whatever you do, don’t skimp on the mortadella, please. Enjoy the new freckles you’ve earned and happy Independence Day: welcome to spritz season.