#the gagns all here

[randomfoggytiger]

Fail Better Premium: David's Thoughts (Part VII, 1/1)

Creating a breadcrumb trail with David Duchovny's personal growth.

David Duchovny: "Hi, Fail Better premium listeners! This week I'm coming to you with something a little different.

"I talked with Patric Gagne for so long about so many different things; so, I wanted to share a little more from that interview. I love this moment when it happened-- and it showed an interesting side to her, I thought."

[Excerpt begins.]

DD: "Well, let me ask you: do you have feelings for the planet that's dying? Do you have feelings for animals? Do you have more feelings for animals than you have for people?"

Patric: "Probably. Yeah. But I've, I've noticed that I... the less I have to engage with that animal, the more I can experience those feelings. So--"

DD: "Hm."

Patric: "I... um, was recently-- this is such a dark story; but I was recently in, um, the humane society. And I had gotten there early, before it had opened, because I was doing something there; and a man came in. And he was very much the... based on the clothes that he was wearing, he was very much the spiritual opposite of me. He represented a lot of the things I do not represent-- and it was very overt. I mean, this was someone who was very clearly trying to cause a reaction by the clothes he was wearing: the things that were written on his shirt, the things that were written on his hat. And he came in and he had a dog with him.

Patric: "And... and as soon as they saw him, the people in the humane society really wanted nothing to do with him because of what he was promoting. But they finally got to him; and they said, 'Why are you here?' And he said, 'I'm here because I need to put my dog down. He's dying; and I need to put my dog down.' And, and she goes, 'Do you have an appointment?' No he didn't. And she goes, 'Alright, well, you can't do it without an appointment-- you're gonna have to come back tomorrow. I'm gonna go, and, y'know, gonna get some paperwork.'

Patric: "And it was just him and me in this waiting room. And he was so sad. And he was just petting this dog; and he had such... he was in so much grief. And the woman comes back and says, 'The appointment's tomorrow.' And he said, 'How much does, how much will it cost?' And she said-- I think it was, like, $300 or something. And he started shaking; and he said, 'I, I can't afford that.' And I remember saying, 'That's okay. I can. Go home, have a good day with your dog; come back tomorrow; and it's all taken care of.' And... I didn't have to engage with this person; I didn't have to engage with this dog; I didn't have to have a relationship with either of these beings to understand the pain that they were both experiencing, for completely different reasons. And I wanted to stop that pain. I wanted to take care of it so that they wouldn't have to suffer anymore.

Patric: "And so when you ask about the planet or animals, that's what I feel-- is that, that I do feel for the planet; and I think it's outrageous that, that.... Once again: choosing to deny reality doesn't make, y'know, that reality any less accurate; it just makes you less safe within that reality. And so, when I see the cognitive dissonance at play with the atrocities being committed to the planet, to animals, I am enraged by it.

Patric: "Now, is my reaction to curl up in a little ball and cry? Is my reaction to cuddle a bunch of animals? To, to adopt a bunch of dogs? No, that's not my strength. I'm not a dog person-- I, I have a hard time with being around... with need. Like with the man in the humane society, I saw pain, I saw solution. It was an easy solution--" [claps her hands loudly] "--let's take care of it and keep it moving."

DD: "Let me just say, um, nobody would know this but while you were telling that story, your eyes were actually tearing up. Y'know, so--"

Patric: "Yeah."

DD: "--You cry."

Patric: "Yeah, oh for sure. Sadness is an inherent emotion. I feel extreme sadness-- I just can't always connect to others while experiencing that. I can't always connect to others' sadness, in, in, in a way that's 'typical.' But I remember seeing that animal, and understanding that that animal was in pain. And this man, who, y'know, by virtue of what he was wearing was clearly trying to insult and enrage others; and I understood that because he was, y'know, because he had taken this position he probably wasn't getting a lot of help."

(Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV: 1/3, Part IV: 2/3, Part IV: 3/3, Part V: 1/3, Part V: 2/3, Part V: 3/3, Part VI: 1/2, Part VI: 2/2, Part VIII: 1/1, Part IX: 1/1, Part X: 1/1)

[mostbelovednjpwtournament]

Most Beloved WWE Wrestler Tournament: Round 2 Statistics Dump

Followers: 251

Total Votes: 22,087 + 13,398 = 35,485

Times I realized I was not in-depth enough with my checking of wrestlers and forgot at least one which I only found out because I heard an old wrestler was being accused of murder and the name didn't sound familiar so I checked and it turns out he isn't included but have to remind myself that if no one mentioned him being missing from round 1, he probably isn't the most beloved anyway: once, thank god

Beloved By Gender:

We started with a split of 81.7% men to 18.3% women, which moved to 75% men to 25% women after the first round. After the second round of voting, our percentages are:

Voting Trends:

During round 2, the voting totals ranged from a low of 360 votes per day to 554, with the average rising from 387 votes per day to 462 votes per day (Also I figured out how to add a date marking line how cool is that??)

The 100%ers:

While all the 100%ers from Round 1 have since gotten a vote against them, there were a couple of wrestlers in Round 2 who got through unscathed

Billy Gunn (138 + 50)

Taz (53 + 51)

Asuka (58 + 60)

R-Truth (57 + 71)

Public Opinion:

A great many more publicly adored favs have been voted out, so here are the updated lists

Sports Illustrated’s 101 Best Wrestlers Of All Time (2016)

Ric Flair (18, lose)

Shawn Michaels (53 + 57, win)

Steve Austin (29 + 18, lose)

The Rock (23, lose)

The Undertaker (53 + 55, win)

Dusty Rhodes (46 + 42, win)

John Cena (47 + 51, win)

Hulk Hogan (10, lose)

Sting (51 + 53, win)

Andre The Giant (56 + 38, win)

Randy Savage (37 + 32, win)

Roddy Piper (54 + 33, win)

Chris Jericho (27 + 31, win)

Harley Race (17 + 18, win)

Mick Foley (58 + 47, win)

Bret Hart (52 + 59, win)

Randy Orton (58 + 48, win)

Kurt Angle (45 + 36, win)

Antonio Inoki (28 + 38, win)

Ricky Steamboat (28 + 47, win)

Daniel Bryan (61 + 51, win)

Triple H (31 + 12, lose)

Buddy Rogers (21 + 17, win)

Edge (41 + 49, win)

Bob Backlund (26 + 22, win)

Brock Lesnar (23, lose)

Stan Hansen (22, lose)

Bruno Sammartino (30 + 6, lose)

CM Punk (57 + 40, lose)

Ted DiBiase (27 + 26, win)

Bruiser Brody (33 + 31, win)

Hideo Itami (34 + 35, win)

Rey Mysterio (48 + 40, win)

Vader (32 + 17, lose)

Dory Funk Jr (17 + 17, lose)

Mr Perfect (37 + 25, win)

Eddie Guerrero (53 + 43, win)

Jake Roberts (32 + 29, win)

Arn Anderson (25 + 30, win)

The Sheik (31 + 30, win)

AJ Styles (40 + 46, win)

Goldust (70 + 34, win)

Samoa Joe (61 + 84, win)

Terry Funk (27 + 37, win)

Verne Gagne (14, lose)

Mil Mascaras (10, lose)

Rob Van Dam (43 + 45, win)

Tatsumi Fujinami (25, lose)

Rick Rude (35 + 29, win)

Owen Hart (56 + 41, win)

Jeff Hardy (52 + 32, lose)

Goldberg (23 + 22, lose)

Ivan Koloff (15, lose)

Chris Benoit (17, lose)

Larry Zbyszko (4, lose)

Ultimo Dragon (9, lose)

Scott Hall (44 + 40, win)

Trish Stratus (38 + 42, win)

Dean Malenko (37 + 29, win)

Ultimate Warrior (28 + 20, lose)

Fabulous Moolah (18, lose)

William Regal (62 + 45, win)

Gene Kiniski (14, lose)

Scott Steiner (44, lose)

Rick Steiner (26 + 9, lose)

Chyna (68 + 49, win)

Seth Rollins (55 + 54, win)

Kane (40 + 29, win)

Jimmy Snuka (9, lose)

Davey Boy Smith (22 + 24, win)

The Iron Sheik (49 + 40, win)

Pedro Morales (20 + 9, lose)

Michael Hayes (10, lose)

Johnny Valentine (14 + 4, lose)

Shinsuke Nakamura (58 + 60, win)

Diesel (39 + 35, win)

Batista (53 + 54, win)

Lita (46 + 65, win)

Christian (56 + 47, win)

Ron Simmons (25 + 33, win)

Big Show (41 + 60, win)

JBL (10, lose)

Christopher Daniels (26 + 10, lose)

The Miz (34 + 30, win)

PWI Wrestler Of The Year

Pedro Morales (20 + 9, lose)

Jack Brisco (17 + 13, lose)

Bruno Sammartino (30 + 6, lose)

Terry Funk (27 + 37, win)

Dusty Rhodes (46 + 42, win)

Harley Race (17 + 18, win)

Bob Backlund (26 + 22, win)

Ric Flair (18, lose)

Hulk Hogan (10, lose)

Randy Savage (37 + 32, win)

Sting (51 + 53, win)

Vader (32 + 17, lose)

Diesel (39 + 35, win)

Big Show (41 + 39, win)

Lex Luger (25 + 4, lose)

Steve Austin (29 + 18, lose)

The Rock (23, lose)

Brock Lesnar (23, lose)

Kurt Angle (45 + 36, win)

Chris Benoit (17, lose)

Batista (52 + 54, win)

John Cena (47 + 51, win)

Triple H (31 + 12, lose)

Randy Orton (58 + 48, win)

CM Punk (57 + 40, lose)

Daniel Bryan (61 + 51, win)

Seth Rollins (55 + 54, win)

AJ Styles (40 + 46, win)

Adam Cole (47 + 40, win)

Dean Ambrose (58 + 54, win)

Roman Reigns (51 + 64, win)

PWI Woman Of The Year

Joyce Grable (30 + 24, win)

Susan Green (21 + 27, win)

Stephanie McMahon (26 + 4, lose)

Lita (46 + 65, win)

Trish Stratus (38 + 42, win)

Victoria (27 + 23, win)

Candice Michelle (24 + 39, win)

Mickie James (47 + 46, win)

Michelle McCool (29 + 10, lose)

AJ Lee (48 + 46, win)

Sasha Banks (44 + 47, win)

Charlotte Flair (45 + 42, win)

Asuka (58 + 60, win)

Becky Lynch (58 + 53, win)

Bianca Belair (34 + 66, win)

Top 10 Voted In Round 2:

Samoa Joe (84)

Damian Priest (81)

Big E (78)

Sami Zayn/Rhea Ripley (77)

Jey Uso (74)

R-Truth (71)

Bianca Belair (66)

Lita (65)

Roman Reigns (64)

Iyo Sky (63)

Top 10 Voted Overall:

Naomi (223)

Billy Gunn (188)

Damian Priest (150)

Samoa Joe (145)

Rhea Ripley (134)

Sami Zayn (130)

R-Truth (128)

Big E (125)

Jey Uso (123)

Asuka/Shinsuke Nakamura (118)

Thank you so much to everyone who's been voting thus far. We've got less than 300 wrestlers left to sift through and the competition is starting to seriously heat up. Keep an eye out for Round 3, starting tomorrow!

[kilfeur]

Il est vrai que Marinette perd souvent dans les finaux de chaque saison. Mais elle gagne aussi de choses importantes dans la saison 1, elle a pu avoir une meilleure amie, s'affirmant davantage n'ayant plus peur de faire face au harcèlement de Chloé. Dans la saison 2, elle gagne une équipe sur lequel elle peut s'épauler et bien qu'elle a eu une opportunité manqué comme l'idée d'aller à New York pour sa carrière de styliste, elle reste quand même une personne accomplie. Dans la saison 3, elle a perdu Maître Fu se retrouvant dans une position de gardienne tout est nouveau pour elle mais elle n'est pas seule désormais car elle a un entourage.

La saison 4 est là où les choses se corsent pour elle, sentant le poids et ses responsabilités de son rôle en tant que gardienne mais aussi a du mal à garder le contact avec son partenaire. Elle a tout de même gagner une confidente lui permettant de souffler un peu et de pouvoir mieux comprendre et maîtriser ses pouvoirs. Et elle a comprit ce que signifiait être un héros et un gardien, c'est pas seulement tout garder tout sous contrôle ou bien avoir un plan en toute circonstance ! C'est de comprendre que Ladybug et Chat Noir ont donné l'espoir au peuple de Paris malgré la terreur du Papillon. Leur permettant de la soutenir quand elle va mal ! Dans la saison 5, elle finit par confesser son amour pour Adrien et être avec lui et réparer sa relation avec Chat Noir. Elle grandit tout comme les autres et continue d'aider les autres même ceux qui le méritent pas ! Et maintenant elle est là avec Adrien désormais et son entourage, la mort de Gabriel est certes encore présente dans sa mémoire ! Mais elle arrivera à se relever car elle n'est plus seule désormais !

Oui Marinette a perdu pas mal de choses mais a aussi gagné tout autant. Je trouve ça dommage qu'on ne retient que ses échecs alors qu'il y a bien plus que ça

It's true that Marinette often loses in each season's finale. But she also gains important things in season 1: she was able to have a best friend, asserting herself more and no longer being afraid to face Chloe's harassment. In season 2, she gained a team she could lean on, and although she had a missed opportunity like the idea of going to New York for her fashion career, she was still an accomplished person. In season 3, she has lost Master Fu, finding herself in the position of janitor - everything is new for her, but she's not alone now as she has an entourage.

Season 4 is where things get tough for her, as she feels the weight and responsibility of her role as Guardian, but also struggles to keep in touch with her partner. All the same, she has gained a trusted confidante, allowing her to breathe a little and gain a better understanding and mastery of her powers. And she's learned what it means to be a hero and a Guardian - it's not just about keeping everything under control or having a plan for everything! It's understanding that Ladybug and Chat Noir have given hope to the people of Paris despite the terror of the Papillon. Allowing them to support her when she's down! In season 5, she finally confesses her love for Adrien, being with him and repairing her relationship with Chat Noir. She grows up just like everyone else and continues to help others, even those who don't deserve it! And now she's here with Adrien and his entourage, although Gabriel's death is still fresh in her mind! But she'll get back on her feet, because she's not alone anymore!

Yes, Marinette has lost a lot, but she's also gained just as much. I think it's a shame that we only focus on her failures, when there's so much more to it than that!

[josefavomjaaga]

A poem for Soult’s chief-of-staff

I have already said that during the campaign of 1805, Soult’s chief-of-staff was not particularly well-liked by Soult’s ADCs. Here’s what Petiet has to say about general Saligny leaving 4th corps and entering the service of Joseph Bonaparte in March 1806:

Prince Joseph, at the head of his army, had entered Naples on 15 February and in April, deep in Calabria, had received the decree conferring on him the title of King of the Two Sicilies. [...] Joseph was organising the new court of his kingdom and he set his sights on Marshal Soult's chief of staff to appoint him as one of the captains of his guards. We expressed our satisfaction at this news by sending the following quatrain to General S...:

Béni soit le prince charmant Qui vous rappelle d’Allemagne. Mon général, en vous perdant, Nous jouons tous à ‘qui perd gagne’.

In English:

Blessed be the charming prince Who calls you back from Germany. General, by losing you, We're all playing 'who loses, wins'.

The game “Qui perd gagne” (”Who loses, wins”) apparently was a variation of chess where the aim was to have all pieces taken by the opponent. English Wikipedia lists it under many names, among them losing chess, giveaway chess, suicide chess etc. Obviously, Soult’s aides tried to express that they regarded Saligny’s departure as a win-win situation.

The conversational tone on Soult's staff seems to have been rather upfront indeed.

[papillon82fluttersby]

Famous Five Art Nostalgia #06 – Part 1

Introductory post

Masterpost

🧣🔭⚗️ Five on Kirrin Island Again – Le Club des Cinq joue et gagne

Original publication date: 1947 (UK), 1956 (France)

(Original cover art by Simone Baudouin, 1956)

Plot summary (adapted from Wikipedia):

Julian, Dick, Anne and George had planned to visit Kirrin Island for their school holidays, but George's father, Uncle Quentin, is using the island to conduct some secretive scientific experiments. George is frustrated with her father’s idea, but agrees to lend him the island until his experiments are complete.

(George is aggravated that she and her cousins won’t have full rein of the island for the holidays 😢)

(Uncle Quentin busy at work…)

When the Five and Aunt Fanny visit Uncle Quentin on the island the next day, the children are, at first, surprised that their uncle seems nowhere to be found, before getting frustrated when it turns out that the scientist has found a secret entrance to the castle’s dungeons, which the children could never find on their prior explorations of the island. As Aunt Fanny is worried about her husband living alone on the island, they devise a signal system by which Uncle Quentin can let them know everything is okay, using a mirror in the morning and a flashlight at night.

(The Kirrin siblings (and Aunt Fanny, not featured) join George and her fisher-boy friend James [Loïc], who have been preparing the boat for a trip to the island)

(The Five (only three of whom are featured here) and Aunt Fanny go to visit Uncle Quentin on the island)

(Uncle Quentin’s visitors take their leave)

Making the most of their holidays on the mainland, the children go on walks and explore an abandoned quarry. They also befriend an artistic boy named Martin [Martin], who lives nearby with his guardian, Mr Curton [M. Corton].

(Timmy is an artist! [I love how George is berating Timmy for making a mess, all with a proud smile on her face 😊])

(Timmy enthusiastically helps the kids dig for prehistoric artefacts – so enthusiastically indeed that Julian’s cheek gets grazed by a flying arrowhead; meanwhile, George is doing pull-ups!) [Note: Friendly reminder that this illustrator depicts Julian with dark hair. 🙃]

(Anne sensibly frees her hands before climbing down the quarry that the Five are intent on exploring)

Uncle Quentin sends an unusual signal that morning and, when the Five and Aunt Fanny make another trip to the island, he says that he suspects the presence of intruders come to spy on his work. After much coaxing, George agrees to leave Timmy with her father on the island as a precaution.

(Uncle Quentin shows his visitors a cigarette stub that he found on the island, indicating the presence of intruders, while Aunt Fanny desperately tries to feed him a sandwich as Quentin, on his own, regularly forgets to take his meals)

(George tries to watch for her father’s signals and, mostly, news of Timmy)

The Five visit Martin at his home, discovering that he got his ankle injured while exploring the quarry with his surrogate father.

(Julian and Anne admire Martin’s paintings)

(Anne helps Martin with his injured ankle while George, who’s been mistrustful of Martin from the start, glowers in the back)

Uncle Quentin sends his “all is fine” signal in the morning, but George gets worried because Timmy wasn’t with him in the tower, despite her father’s promise to bring him. Although her cousins dismiss her worries on account of Uncle Quentin’s frequent forgetfulness, George sneaks out at night and rows to the island. She sees the two intruders coming up from underground and, after they have walked away, she explores the passage and finds her father, who explains that he was caught unawares by the two intruders that morning.

(Uncle Quentin, being held hostage by the intruders)

For safekeeping, he gives her the notebook that the intruders have been looking for. George rescues Timmy from a nearby cave where the spies had locked him up, but she doesn’t have time to escape before the villains arrive. So she sends Timmy away with the notebook, with instructions to hide… But instead of hiding as instructed, Timmy follows the tunnel, which happens to lead to the quarry that the children have been exploring on the mainland. From there, Timmy joins Kirrin Cottage and brings the notebook to Julian.

Julian, Dick and Anne follow Timmy to the quarry, where they find Martin suspiciously carrying spades and torches. Martin spills the beans about Mr Curton, explaining that his guardian is part of a gang trying to steal Quentin’s secret formula for alternative energy, and vows to help.

(Martin tells the Five about Mr Curton’s shady activities)

The boys dig up the passage while Anne goes back to Kirring Cottage to call for help. On her way back, she sees Mr Curton slipping on the path to the quarry and injuring his leg.

(Mr Curton loses balances and falls into the quarry while attempting to join his accomplices on the island)

(Julian, Dick and Martin clear the way through the under-sea tunnel leading from the quarry to the island)

The boys join George and her father underneath the island while fishermen come to the island following Anne’s call for help, causing the intruders to leave earlier than planned after setting an explosion meant to blow up the island, using Quentin’s tower. Quentin is released from the tunnel just in time to stop the explosion.

Mr Curton and the two spies are arrested by the police. After the rescue, Martin is admitted to an Art School and is then free from his unscrupulous guardian.

~~~~~~

Bonus:

(This picture of George and Anne, just because I like it!)

(And our renowned artist Timothy-Dagobert deep in thought contemplating some of his oeuvre 🎨) [Note: This is the splash panel that illustrates the title page.]

~~~~~~

Cover art through the ages:

(Disclaimer: This is not an exhaustive list; sometimes the dates are difficult to pinpoint; and I have purposefully not included editions that re-used similar cover art, with differences only in layout and font style.)

(Original cover by Simone Baudouin, Hachette, 1956 – the Five observe the island through a spyglass from the mainland. Please note how Dick is tickling Timmy’s nose with a twig while George is enjoying a close-up of her beloved dog's snout!)

(Subsequent cover by Jeanne Hives, Hachette, 1966 – from a princess in the previous book (link), Anne has now been upgraded to queen. Nice going, Anne!)

(I want to give this illustrator some flak for drawing George with longish hair, but these were the 70s when men used to wear their hair long, I guess... J.P. Morvan, France Loisirs, 1975)

(A view of the island with its newly-built tower by Jean Sidobre, Hachette, 1980)

(The visual of the island with its tower is understandably a popular theme with the illustrators for this book. This one is from Umberto Nonna, Edito Service, 1981)

(Yep, you guessed it, another view of the island with its tower, courtesy of Yves Beaujard, Hachette, 1988)

(A view from INSIDE the tower for a change! Paul Gillon, Hachette, 1996)

(Munch and Prunier give us this extra-glowy tower set in the middle of the castle ruins - I love this visual! Hachette, 1999)

(Running dramatically into the sunset... Frédéric Rébéna, Hachette, 2010)

(Concluding our series with another view of the island and the tower – although this one is extra-glowy: George is going to damage her eyes looking at it with a spyglass like this! Auren, Hachette, 2019)

~~~~~~

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

[dustedmagazine]

Learning to go out again:  Jennifer Kelly’s 2022 in review

Meg Baird plays Chicago

Meg Baird calls it “people practice,” the ordinary skills that we require to interact successfully with other human beings. Small talk, the appropriate amount of eye contact, a certain minimal degree of comfort in crowds: these are all things that eroded in the pandemic.  And going even further, I’d add we ran short of “leaving your living room practice,” the difficult process of readjusting to unpredictable environments again. I got really bad at that in 2020 and 2021.

So, while 2022 was, in many ways, a joyous return to the norm, it was also deeply uncomfortable. Again and again, I’d show up far too early to shows and avoid talking to strangers.  I’d mistake soundchecks for music. I’d get bands mixed up and think the opener was the headliner or at least the second band. It was like I’d never been to a show in my life.  But gradually, over a year that was really genuinely rich in opportunities to see live music, I started to remember why I loved it — and how to be marginally less annoying to everyone around me. And I got to see some wonderful performances.

There was James Xerxes Fussell’s intricately re-arranged Americana on the eve of a blizzard in January and Jaimie Branch’s mesmerizing Anteloper just a month or so before she died. Our local festival, Thing in the Spring, once again delivered incredible abundance with Lee Ranaldo, Myriam Gendron, Jeff Parker, Tashji Dorji and others all taking turns on the stage. I experienced the twilight magic of Bill MacKay and Nathan Bowles on a back porch in Northampton as the bats darted overhead, as well as the viscera-stirring low tones of Sarah Davachi at a three-story-tall pipe organ at Epsilon Spires in Brattleboro. I got to see one of my very favorite bands, Oneida, at a club in Greenfield, MA, late in the year. I saw my friend Eric Gagne’s band Footings expand Bonny Prince Billy’s songs into epic, twanging bravado. Yo La Tengo came to my tiny little town and tore the place down.  In Chicago for my birthday weekend, I got a chance to hear Meg Baird and Chris Forsyth at a whiskey distillery on the Chicago River. It was a great year. I’m so glad I was there for it.  

It was also an exceptional year for recorded music as, honestly, it always is. Here are the records I enjoyed the most in 2022, but don’t pay too much attention to the numbers. The order could change tomorrow, and I may very well discover more favorites in other people’s lists.  (We’ll have a Slept On feature at some point early in 2023.) I’ve written a little bit about the top ten, but you can find longer reviews of most of them in the Dusted archives. I’ve linked these where available.

1. Winged Wheel—No Island (12XU): An underground-all-star remote collaboration melds the hard punk jangle of Rider/Horse’s Cory Plump, the unyielding percussion of Fred Thomas, the radiant guitar textures of Matthew J. Rolin and the ethereal vocal atmospheres of Matchess’ Whitney Johnson in a driving, enveloping otherworld. Just gorgeous.  

2. Oneida—Success (Joyful Noise): The best band of the aughts has dabbled in all manner of droning, experimental forms in recent years, but with Success, they return to basics.  “Beat Me to the Punch” and “I Wanna Hold Your Electric Hand” are gleeful bangers.  “Paralyzed” is a keyboard pulsing, beat-rattling psychedelic dreamworld. Success is Oneida’s best album since Secret Wars and maybe ever. (I wrote the one-sheet for Success, but I would feel this way regardless.)

3. Cate Le Bon—Pompeii (Drag City): Eerie, madcap Pompeii refracts pandemic alienation through the lens of ancient disaster, floating narcotic imagery atop herky-jerk rhythms.  Abstract and experimental, but also sublimely pop, Pompeii haunts and charms in equal measure.  

4. Destroyer—Labyrinthitis (Merge):  Dan Bejar is always interesting, but the COVID lockdown seems to have shaken him loose a bit. Labyrinthitis is typically arch, elliptical and elegant, but also a bit unhinged. Hear it in the extended rap that closes “June” or in the manic disco beat of “Suffer” or oblique but perfect wordplay in “Tinoretto, It’s for You.”  

5. Horsegirl—Versions of Modern Performance (Matador): Horsegirl elicits a lysergic roar that’s loud but somehow serene, urgent but chilled. The trio out of Chicago were everywhere suddenly and all at once, as sometimes happens to bands, but on the strength of “World of Pots and Pans” and “Billy” I suspect they’ll stick around.  

6. Jake Xerxes Fussell—Good and Green Again (Paradise of Bachelors): An early favorite that refused to fade, Good and Green Again considers old-time music from a variety of angles, often incorporating more than one version of a traditional tune in a seamless way.  The music is lovely, made more exquisite still by James Elkington’s arrangements, which are subtle, right and unexpected.  

7. Lambchop—The Bible (Merge): Stark and lavish at the same time, The Bible catches Kurt Wagner at his morose and mesmerizing best. Surreal sonic textures—including orchestral flourishes and autotuned funk beats—wreathe his weathered baritone, as he traipses through ordinary landscapes turned strange and warped.  

8. The Weather Station—How Is It That I Should Look at the Stars (Fat Possum): Tamara Lindeman drew on Toronto’s vibrant jazz community to form her band for this sixth album as the Weather Station. The band improvised alongside here as it learned the songs. As a result, these songs have the usual pristine folk purity, but also a haze of late night sophistication in elegant runs of piano and pensive plucks of bass.  

9. The Reds, Pinks and Purples—Summer at Land’s End (Slumberland): Glenn Donaldson is pretty much the best at bittersweet jangle pop right now, and this wistful, graceful collection of songs about life’s dissatisfactions is every bit as good as last year’s Uncommon Weather. Plus it’s got a seven-plus minute improvised guitar piece right in the middle, what’s not to love?

10. Tha Retail Simps—Reverberant Scratch (Total Punk): Montreal’s Retail Simps make ferocious garage rock with a bit of soul in its tail feathers. “Hit and Run” sounds like a lost Sam and the Shams b-side and “End of Times – Hip Shaker” with having doing exactly that. If they ever remake Animal House, here’s the band. 

25 more albums I loved: 

Non Plus Temps—Desire Choir (Post-Present Medium)

Joan Shelley—The Spur (Important)

Mountain Goats—Bleed Out (Merge)

The Sadies—Colder Streams (Yep Roc)

Spiritualized—Everything Was Beautiful (Fat Possum)

Superchunk—Wild Loneliness (Merge)

Hammered Hulls—Careening (Dischord)

Kilynn Lunsford—Custodians of Human Succession (Ever/Never)

Oren Ambarchi/Johan Berthling/Andreas Werliin—Ghosted (Drag City)

Green/Blue—Paper Thin (Feel It)

E—Any Information (Silver Rocket)

Sick Thoughts—Heaven Is No Fun (Total Punk)

Pedro the Lion—Havasu (Polyvinyl)

Pan*American—The Patience Fader (Kranky)

Weak Signal—War & War (Colonel)

Frog Eyes—The Bees (Paper Bag)

Pinch Points—Process (Exploding in Sound)

LIFE—True North (The Liquid Label)

Mary Lattimore & Paul Sukeena—West Kensington (Three Lobed)

Wau Wau Collectif—Mariage (Sahel Sounds)

Vintage Crop—Kibitzer (Upset the Rhythm)

Anna Tivel—Outsiders (Mama Bird)

Chronophage—S-T (Post-Present Medium/Bruit Direct Disques)

Sélébéyone— Xaybu: The Unseen (Pi)

Zachary Cale—Skywriting (Org Music)

Jennifer Kelly

[boonsmoon]

bonjour, puis je commandée une autre requête ?

J avais un petit scénario en tête qui se rajouterais a la série "l amour des traitres".

Le scénario serait ceci : crimson et le lecteur se dispute a cause ( encore) d une modification de plan ( a cause d un certain Ragna^^). Crimson va dire un mot ou phrase qui blessera le lecteur ( ce n était pas le but, il l a dit sous la colère) et donc celle ci pour se "venger" et montrer ce qu elle est capable de se battre, va chercher le dragon supérieur que Crimson voulait éliminer et le battre toute seule. Elle gagne le combat mais blessée quand surgit un autre dragon. Elle croit qu'elle va échouer ( elle ne meurt pas), Crimson arrive a ce moment là pour la sauver. Il l engueule d avoir fais cela dans son dos et s excuse tous les deux ( chacun a leurs façons) pour reprendre leurs aventures ensemble ( et la soigner au passage) ( une belle fin)

J espère que j ai su bien expliquer le scénario que j avais en tête pour t aider a l écrire ^^ un grand grand merci d avance ^^

Translation:

Hello, can I order another request? I had a little scenario in mind that would be added to the “Traitor’s Love” series. The scenario would be this: crimson and the reader argue because (again) of a change of plan (because of a certain Ragna^^). Crimson will say a word or sentence that will hurt the reader (that was not the goal, he said it out of anger) and so this one to take "revenge" and show what she is capable of fighting, goes and gets the dragon superior that Crimson wanted to eliminate and beat him on her own. She wins the fight but is injured when another dragon appears. She believes she is going to fail (she does not die), Crimson arrives at that moment to save her. He scolds her for doing this behind her back and apologizes to both of them (each has their own ways) to resume their adventures together (and heal her in the process) (a beautiful ending) I hope that I was able to explain the scenario that I had in mind to help you write it ^^ many thanks in advance ^^

Hi emy!! Yes, you explained the scenario well, I could see a clear plot I love you /platonic You're my #1 Crimson fan here Sorry to keep you waiting, I'm finally able to write again 😅

Request Chungus Masterlist Ragna Crimson Masterlist Series ML Crimson x f!reader Genres: Oneshot|Angst/Fluff|Romantic

Never Leave Me Again

Your next target was close, practically right next you. Not only that but he was practically a sitting duck, unaware of everyone's presence thanks to Crimsons thorough planning.

After several weeks of staking out by the nest of said dragon, the day of reckoning came. You all were going to take him down and get one step closer to your goal.

That WAS the original plan; however, as you were preparing to head out Crimson came up to you and pulled you aside. He seemed irritated at something, that's never a good sign.

"Change of plans, that idiot used up too much energy infusing the soldiers weapons with silver aura. We have to postpone until Ragna can fight," you could've swore you saw steam coming from his ears.

The idea of waiting didn't sit well with you though, you were strong and capable, you can lead these soldiers into battle just fine! "Let me take Ragna's place then, you cannot always depend on a fool to get the job done."

Crimson didn't spare you a glance before walking away, heading to your shared room (likely to throw another tantrum). "You are to wait until Ragna is energized as well, he may be a fool, but that fool is our only hope."

His words stung. Ragna was your only hope? Did he truly have such little faith in you? "Crimson, I can fight! I may not be a walking weapon, but I sure can try," you tried to plead with him, to make Crimson change his mind.

His irritation seemed to start flaring, "no, that is my final answer. All the troops have been notified anyways, it would take to long to get everyone battle ready now."

"It's only one superior dragon! Don't you know my strength after all this time?" You started to get angry at his persistence to keep you here, angry at his lack of belief in you, angry that he would count more on some brat than his mate.

Crimson stopped walking and turned towards you, face heated and showing clear signs of anger, "why won't you listen to me for once!? You're so stubborn and for what? To prove a point!? I try to give you good advice and you repay me with back talk and disobedience! That stupid human may be a fool, but I dare say you're a great runner-up! Just be a good dragon and listen to what the higher ups have to say."

What he said made you pause. Is that all you were to him? Someone lower to control and do his bidding when need be? You looked down and felt the urge to cry, your mate said these things to you. You suppress the tears and look back up at him.

"I see...that's how it is then? I'm just a disobedient tool that should listen to you without question?" You asked Crimson with a look of sadness and anger.

"What? No! You know that's not what I meant-" Crimson started before you interrupted, "It sure sounded like that's what you meant...I'm going out." You started to walk away.

"Out where?" He inquired, you stayed silent and continued walking, "I asked you out where! You know what? Don't answer, do what you please!" Crimson said angrily before walking the opposite direction.

The walk to the nest wasn't far, it only took around 5 minutes max. And as expected, you were able to waltz in there unexpected and attack the superior dragon. Not without injury; however, he left you quite battered with all the slashing and throwing you around he did.

Despite your injuries, you were able to kill the dragon. With a few broken bones and limp in your leg you headed towards the exit of the nest. That'll show him! Crimson thinks I needed that stupid human to get this task done and I didn't, unbelievable!

You nearly made it outside before you felt something grab hold of you strong leg and pull it, causing you to collapse. You weren't able to look over at what grabbed you before being thrown into a nearby wall. Your vitality is strong, but most of it was used on the earlier dragon, you're not sure how much of a beating you can take from this new opponent.

It felt like hours of you being thrashed, finding a new bone to break, more skin to bruise. The pain was becoming unbearable as your vision started to fade and hearing begins to dull. Has your time come? Is this really how it ends?

You could make out in the distance faded silhouettes, a few moving swiftly and taking out the new dragon. The dull sound of shouting seemed far away before coming ever closer. Screaming words of "keep your eyes open!" and "you're such an idiot!"

You're not sure how much time passed, but ultimately decided such information wasn't important when the sudden pain of literally everything hit. Despite wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep, you forced your eyes open and looked at your surroundings.

What you first notice is being on a bed, covered in bandages. The room itself was plain but that's to be expected. What wasn't expected was to see Crimson sitting at your bedside, looking over something (likely plans).

He looked up and noticed you were awake, slowly putting aside what he had on the bedside dresser before standing up. He took a deep breath and looked you in the eyes.

"You idiot! Were you trying to get yourself killed!?" Crimson scolded. He looked angry...or at least tried to. You could tell from his face, Crimson was worried, afraid of what became of you. "Next time you have a death wish just stand in the sun! Don't run off somewhere!"

There was nothing else in this situation you could do other than look away from him, "didn't think you'd care about how a lower dragon like me dies..." There was sarcasm in your voice. He looked at you with wide eyes.

"I never called you a lower dragon..." Crimson sighed out, "it was implied," you mumbled as a response.

"That's besides the point. What or who in your right mind made you think fighting alone was a good idea!?" He questioned. You thought for a moment on how to answer.

"it was you," was your only response. Crimson looked at you confused, "no you fool, I told you not to fight them, it couldn't have been me!"

"But it was! It was because you've decided to place some idiot as a higher priority than me!" The tears started to form, "everything revolves around Ragna. How we plan, when we fight, who we get involved with! I try to listen to you but it's absurd!"

Crimson sat in silence, letting your words sink in. Before he could say anything you spoke, "so, why'd come looking for me?" You asked, looking away from him.

"You cannot always depend on a fool to get the job done, right?" He spoke before lightly grabbing your hand. You two sat in silence until Crimson left to regulate his pawns allies.

After around a week you were healed enough to start walking around (dragon perks!), albeit very slowly and poorly. Crimson and you still weren't exactly on the best terms, it doesn't help you rarely get to see him throughout the day.

Eventually stumbling into your shared room you collapse on the bed and embrace the comfort of your own bed. You close your eyes and lay in silence for a few minutes before the door opens and you hear someone walk in.

You open your eyes and are met with Crimsons looking at you. You start to push yourself to sit upright on the bed. Crimson took a seat next to you and sighed.

"I...have reflected. And have been thinking lately," he started, you looked over at him and waited for Crimson to continue. He grabbed one of your hands and held it in his.

"Perhaps I was wrong, and I was harsh. I would like to apologize and I hope you forgive me," he finished. You looked at Crimson with wide eyes, never hearing him apologize.

"You want me to forgive you? For what you said?" Sure you miss Crimson, but you can't just ignore what he said. He looked up and into your eyes.

"Please, please forgive me. I am sorry, beloved," he almost never used pet names unless he wanted something. It was clear that he was sincere.

"Fine...but you better not say anything like that again!" You said, making sure to draw a line, "and...I'm sorry for fighting alone. I should've known that dragon wasn't by himself."

"Hmm, I will accept this apology on one condition," he smirked while looking at you, "never leave me again."

WOOOO chunky post

again, sorry for the wait 😭

im back in the groove tho

[wrestlinghistorywithkay]

Bad Times Don’t Last , But Bad Guys Do: The Scott Hall Story

TW: Mentions of Alcoholism, PTSD, Substance Abuse , Murder , Legal Troubles

In honor of what would’ve been Scott Hall’s 66th birthday, this article is going to be about the life and career of The Bad Guy. If you’ve been following me on here and or on social media, you will know Scott Hall is my favorite wrestler of all time .

Scott Oliver Hall was born to Henry Warren Hall and Patricia Wormwood Hall on October 20, 1958 in Saint Mary’s , Maryland . Hall grew up as a Military Brat. This means that he was the son of a military veteran. This also meant that Scott and his family would move every year to wherever his father would be assigned to. He would live in other states such as Florida and countries such as Germany. He would attend high school in the capital city of Germany , Munich . All of this would occur before his 15th birthday. However , before he started wrestling , something happened that would haunt Hall for the rest of his life .

In 1983, Hall was working as a bouncer at an Orlando nightclub. He would find himself involved in a fight with a man who had a gun. Therefore , Hall wrestled with the man to get the gun out of his hand and shot the man in the head. He would face a second degree murder charge. However , Hall would say that he did this in self defense and due to the lack of evidence in the case, the second degree murder charge would be dropped . He would also say that he would never forget what happened that night in a 2011 interview with ESPN. He would also find himself in legal troubles in his later years. He would also struggle with addictions to alcohol and other substances. Thus , Hall would began training for professional wrestling in 1984. He would be trained by Japanese wrestling legend , Hiro Matsuda .

Scott Hall would step foot into the squared circle in Championship Wrestling From Florida ( CWF ) in 1984. The CWF was the Florida Territory for the National Wrestling Alliance ( NWA). During his time there , he would have a rivalry with ‘ The American Dream ’ , Dusty Rhodes . He would also be trained by Rhodes alongside his tag team partner , Dan Spivey . They would also be trained by Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham while being in the CWF. Thus , Rhodes would send Hall and Spivey to Charlotte , North Carolina to make there debut as a tag team as a part of Jim Crockett Promotions. They would be known as American Starship , with Hall as Starship Coyote and Spivey as Starship Eagle. The two weren’t wrestling a lot , however, they were assigned odd jobs working for the Charlotte Orioles . When they did wrestle for JCP , they couldn’t find success. The would lose a match for the NWA National Tag Team Championships to Arn and Ole Anderson. Thus , in 1985 , American Starship would join the Midwest Wrestling Association, which was the NWA Central States Territory, ran by promoter , Bob Geigel. The duo would face the NWA Central States Tag Team Champions, ‘ Bulldog ’ Bob Brown , and Marty Jannetty, however , American Starship would lose, with Brown and Jannetty retaining . Dan Spivey would return to Jim Crockett Promotions as an Enhancement Talent. He would be known as ‘ American Starship ’ Eagle . Hall would stay in the Central States territory.

In 1985, Hall would become a part of the American Wrestling Association ( AWA ) roster . He would be known as ‘ Magnum ’ Scott Hall due to looking like the star of the popular TV show ‘ Magnum PI ’, Tom Selleck , and ‘ Big ’ Scott Hall. He would work as a Babyface , a wrestler who was over with the fans. Verne Gagne , the promoter for the AWA ‘s goal for Hall was for him to be like Hulk Hogan , who was in the promotion before being signed by Vince McMahon to the WWF ( now WWE ). He would have Hall use similar in ring moves and mannerisms as Hogan did. Hall also worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling ( NJPW ) in 1987-1990. Hall would also find himself in a tag team alongside Curt Hennig. He would credit Hennig on helping him with his early career. In 1986 , Hennig and Hall would win the AWA World Tag Team Championship. After parting with Hennig, Hall would go on to challenge for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship against Rick Martel and Stan Hansen. However , Verne Gagne was going to crown Hall the new champion, however , due to his hatred of of the cold weather in the territory, he would leave the AWA in 1989 and join the NWA. He would also try out for Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation ( WWF) in 1987 and 1990.

Jim Ross would bring Hall into WCW in 1989 in order to help the NWA ‘s goal to develop new talent . Other than Hall, Sid Vicious and ‘ Flyin ’ Brian Pillman would be brought into the promotion as well. On June 3 , 1989 , he would make his WCW debut in a vignette as Scott ‘ Gator ’ Hall. He would be seen in the vignette playing beach volleyball, fishing , swimming , scaring alligators, and riding a boat. His in ring debut was on June 16, 1989 at a house show for the promotion. Ge would team with Randy Rose in a losing effort against The Freebirds. He would make his WCW TV debut on July 9,1989 where he would be pinned by The Great Muta. His WCW Pay Per View debut would be at The Great American Bash : Glory Days in a battle royal. He would leave WCW in 1990 and join the NJPW roster . He would also wrestle for the Catch Wrestling Association ( CWA ) in Austria as Texas Scott. He would also work in the World Wrestling Council ( WWC ) in Puerto Rico and become the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Champion. He would return to WCW in 1991 as The Diamond Studd , with a cocky and vain attitude, similar to the gimmick of WWF’s Ravishing Rick Rude . He would also invite attractive female fans into the ring with him. He would be managed by Diamond Dallas Page . He would defeat Tommy Rich in his debut match at Clash of The Champions XV : Knocksville USA. He would also defeat Tom Zenk at The Great American Bash. Hall would also start sporting his signature toothpick and start his toothpick flick with this gimmick as well. He would form teams with Vinnie Vegas ( Kevin Nash ) and Scotty Flamingo ( Raven ) in 1992. He would also do the same with members of an alliance formed by Paul E. Dangerously ( Paul Heyman ). He would also have a rivalry with Dustin Rhodes the same year .

Scott Hall would be signed the WWF in 1992 under the name , Razor Ramon . This is most well known gimmick . Razor was a stylish and notorious Cuban American bully from Miami , Florida . Hall said the gimmick was inspired by Tony Montana and Manny Ribera , the main characters from the 1983 movie , Scarface. His nickname , The Bad Guy, and his catchphrase, “ Say Hello To The Bad Guy !” would also be inspired by the movie as well. He would also keep his ‘ cool and cocky ’ vibe with the new gimmick , which was similar to the Diamond Studd. Hall would say that he pitched the idea for the Razor gimmick to Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson just to joke around . He kept quoting the movie and inspired vignettes that would recreate a few scenes from the movie . Hall would later say that he learned Patterson and McMahon never saw the film, however , the were amazed with his idea and thought that his ideas were original. They would soon come up with Razor and agreed with Hall about it being a nickname. Thus , Hall went to Tito Santana for help. Santana came up with Ramon. Hall reported the name back to McMahon and the name , Razor Ramon stuck . He would make his debut on WWF Superstars on August 8, 1992 against Paul Van Dale , a local Enhancement Talent and the father of WWE Superstar, Carmella. His signature move was called The Razor’s Edge. He would also wear gold jewelry to the ring and still sport his toothpick and do the toothpick flick. His first big storyline would be with Randy Savage by getting involved in the WWF championship match with Savage and Ric Flair. He would help Flair with the championship by attacking Savage. He would have a rivalry with Savage , however , The Ultimate Warrior would get involved by being an ally for Savage as Flair was for Razor . The four were supposed to have a tag team match at Survivor Series, however, Warrior was fired from the WWF and was replaced by ‘ Mr. Perfect’ Curt Hennig. Savage and Hennig would defeat Flair and Razor by disqualification. Ramon would find himself as Ultimate Warrior’s replacement in the WWF World Championship Match against Bret Hart at the 1993 Royal Rumble. Razor would lose to Hart. Therefore , at Wrestlemania IX , Razor would face Bob Backlund and defeat him using a roll up pin. He would begin a feud with the 1-2-3 Kid ( Sean Waltman/ Syxx/ X- PAC/ Syxx - PAC ) after being defeated by him on May 17,1993 on an episode of Monday Night RAW. Ramon would soon turn into a fan favorite as he would gain respect for the 1-2–3 Kid and respect from the fans. He would start a feud with Ted DiBiase and defeat him at Summerslam. Ramon would also go to be a four time Intercontinental Champion.

On May 27,1996 , Scott Hall would appear on WCW Monday Nitro. He would be dressed in a denim vest and jeans with combat boots , and said he was an Outsider. He would cut a promo in the middle of the ring asking about a war and said someone would be joining him soon. This promo fired the first shot in The Monday Night War. The Monday Night War was a competition between WCW and WWE for fans and TV ratings. A few weeks later , Kevin Nash would join Hall at WCW and they would be known as The Outsiders . Their goal was to take over WCW. They would also slam Eric Bischoff through the announcer’s table . However at Bash At The Beach, Hall and Nash would be joined by a mystery partner in their match against Lex Luger , Sting, and Randy Savage. Their partner was revealed to be Hulk Hogan, therefore , the New World Order ( nWo ) was born. They would soon wrestlers such as The Giant ( The Big Show / Paul Wight ) and Syxx to join them . Hall would go on to become a one time WCW World Television Champion, a two time United States Heavyweight Champion, and a seven time World Tag Team Champion , six with Kevin Nash and one with The Giant . He would make an appearance in ECW in 2000 and in NJPW in 2001. He would return to the WWE in 2002. He would also make appearances in TNA , JCW and WWC. He would also make an appearance alongside Nash and Hogan at WrestleMania 31 as an Ally for Sting in his match against Triple H.

Scott Hall was also the member of a backstage group called The Kliq. The Kliq consisted of Hall, Kevin Nash , X-PAC , and Triple H.

Razor Ramon was inducted into the WWE of Fame twice. He was inducted in 2014 as a solo competitor and in 2020 as a member of the nWo. The 2020 and 2021 WWE Hall of Fame ceremonies took place together due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Scott Hall tragically passed away on March 14, 2023 in Marietta, Georgia. He was 63 years old.

My Final Thoughts:

Scott Hall was one of those wrestlers that kept you tuning in each week. He was one of those guys who were good at his craft. He will go down in history as one of the greatest wrestlers to ever step foot in the ring . I wanted to write this article to help fans learn about him and how he impacted wrestling . I also started this blog to help keep his legacy alive. Scott , I hope you are happy wherever you are. Thank you for everything you did for all of us as wrestling fans. We miss you and we love you! My thoughts are with his family and friends and fans!

To quote one of my favorite artists , Hardy , “ Give Heaven Some Hell ” .

Love You All,

- Kay

@84reedsy @outsiderswolfpac @kliqrulez

[bronwynnreed]

Almost there: Continue the NH 48 journey with Mount Twin South Peak, Lincoln, Lafayette, and Madison. 

Mount Twin, South Peak - Elevation: 4902 ft

Difficulty Level: The South Peak of Mount Twin is a moderate hike. As stated in last week’s post regarding Mount Twin, North Peak, this is an opportunity to peak bag. This chance comes more naturally, as the most popular and direct trail to the summit requires that you summit North Twin first. 

Trail: The most common way to summit South Twin is via the North Twin trail. AllTrails link below: 

North Twin and South Twin Mountain via North Twin Trail, New Hampshire - 762 Reviews, Map | AllTrails

View from South Peak:

The Presidentials from South Twin Mountain. (n.d.). Mountain Project. https://www.mountainproject.com/photo/108118562/the-presidentials-from-south-twin-mountain

Mount Lincoln - Elevation: 5089 ft 

Difficulty Level: With Mount Lincoln, we finally reach an over 5,000 footer! Mount Lincoln is generally considered a difficult hike. It is a section of “The Franconia Ridge”, which attracts people from various parts of the United States and beyond. I want to stress that even though both Mount Lincoln and Lafayette (will be discussed below) are very beautiful, these are NOT easy hikes, and the weather can change very quickly. Like Mount Flume (detailed in my January 22nd post), these trails are for experienced hikers. Many unprepared trekkers have been rescued from this area, and others have died. There are frequent incidents where people have tried to summit in tennis shoes with no extra food. Others have been blown off the trails due to high wind speeds or lost. A good book to read before considering the Franconia Ridge is The Last Traverse. The story details the events of a specific rescue attempt from this area. Here is the Amazon link to purchase: The Last Traverse; Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites: Gagne, Ty: 9781734930832: Amazon.com: Books. That being said, I have yet to complete this summit, but I have heard amazing things from my experienced hiker friends. One of my friends has even hiked the Franconia Ridge multiple times in all four seasons.  

Trail: The two most popular trails to summit Mount Lincoln are via Falling Waters trail to the Franconia Ridge trail (you will summit Little Haystack mountain first), and the Franconia Ridge Trail loop (where you will summit Mount Lafayette first then Mount Lincoln, then Little Haystack). AllTrails link below: 

Mount Lincoln via Little Haystack Mountain, New Hampshire - 432 Reviews, Map | AllTrails

Explore Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail Loop | AllTrails

View of Mount Lincoln:

Mount Lincoln NH Lincoln New Hampshire White Mountains Hike Mt Lincoln 4000 Footer Lincoln Mountain. (n.d.). http://4000footers.com/lincoln.shtml

Mount Lafayette - Elevation: 5260 ft

Difficulty Level: For Mount Lafayette, I would like to echo every point I made regarding Mount Lincoln. This area of the White Mountains is amazing, yet often unforgiving for even the most experienced of hikers. Please monitor the weather, and come prepared with food, layers, and the right hiking equipment. Like Lincoln, you can peak bag across the Franconia Ridge, which will make this hike even more difficult. 

Trail: The most common trails to hike Mount Lafayette are the out and back Old Bridle Path trail, or the Franconia Ridge Trail loop. AllTrails link below: 

Mount Lafayette via Old Bridle Path, New Hampshire - 751 Reviews, Map | AllTrails

Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail Loop, New Hampshire - 12,561 Reviews, Map | AllTrails

View from Mount Lafayette looking at the Franconia Ridge: 

Green, S. (2023, November 7). Mt Lafayette & Franconia Ridge NH. Trailspotting’s NH Summits. https://www.trailspotting.com/2021/10/mt-lafayette-and-franconia-ridge.html

Mount Madison: Elevation: 5367 ft 

Difficulty Level: Mount Madison is another very difficult hike. It is within the presidential range, which can also present challenging weather conditions. As always, stay vigilant, and come prepared. The hike is well worth the hard work, as the views are pretty incredible.  It is about 1.4 miles from Mount Adams, so many hikers use this chance to peak bag. Mount Adams, which I will detail in the next post, is another rugged peak, so proceed with caution if this is your choice.   

Trail: The two most common trails for Mount Madison are Valley Way Trail to just Madison, and then Valley Way trail to Madison and Adams. AllTrails links below:

Mount Madison via Valley Way Trail, New Hampshire - 1,119 Reviews, Map | AllTrails

Mount Madison and Adams via the Valley Way Trail, New Hampshire - 464 Reviews, Map | AllTrails

View from Mount Madison looking at Mount Adams: 

Dailey, C. (n.d.-d). Mount Madison / Adams / Jefferson ~ November 13th, 2010. https://whitemountainimages.blogspot.com/2010/11/mount-madison-adams-jefferson-november.html

[gravitascivics]

AN “INCREMENTAL” ETHOS

Of late, this blog reported on a distinction that psychologist Carol S. Dweck has made in how people view intelligence.  People tend to see intelligence as a given trait in terms of how much they have – entity theory – or as a malleable trait one can work on and increase – incremental theory.[1]  The last posting suggested that this basic distinction – how people see intelligence – can and does influence how people approach civic concerns.

          That posting, in passing, suggested that people who adopt an entity view might very easily attribute intelligence levels to inherited biological factors and further be attributed to such conditions of birth such as race, nationality, gender, or similar factors.  One should be clear here; there is no evidence to support such general attributions people make in their efforts to cast people they don’t like as “them” as opposed to “us.”  And included in such castigation is that “they” are not smart enough.

            This sort of thinking, in whatever guise it takes, hits directly, in a negative way, on federation theory in that it questions equality.  Here is a definition one can use for equality:  Equality is a social quality based on the belief that despite inequality in talent, wealth, health or other assets, it calls for equal consideration of all persons’ well-being, that all have an equal right to maintain their dignity and integrity as individual persons.  

What Dweck offers is an argument that varying levels of intelligence are mostly not determinant.  Sure, some people are blessed with exceptional intelligence.  Surely this blogger is not in Albert Einstein’s league when it comes to physics, or Pablo Picasso’s when it comes to art, or Chris Rock’s when it comes to humor, etc.  But he and most people are within ranges of intelligence that allow for meaningful interaction when it comes to governance and politics.

And this would be further enhanced by a population that believes intelligence is not a given trait in terms of how much one has, but a trait that one can improve on to meet the challenges one faces either individually or as a member of a political association.  The trick is to find out how that improvement occurs. 

Unfortunately, for the purposes here, those “hows” vary according to the challenges one faces.  Therefore, there is no set pattern in how to approach these efforts, but there are general modes of problem solving or investigation one can learn that, given the challenge, can be utilized to advance one’s intelligence given a particular area of concern.

So, for example, such instructional models, usually denoted as inquiry models, can be employed and they lend themselves to an incremental approach to intelligence.  These models are usually forms of the scientific method[2] or some process in which students apply a more logic-based activity such as the jurisprudential inquiry approach.[3] 

But short of those models, essentialist instruction (usually associated with recall objectives) can also be more friendly to this incremental view.  For example, Robert M. Gagne’s model, while essentialist in nature, strives for students to reflect on the material teachers present.

This deserves a bit more explanation.  In summary, here is what Robert Gagne called conditions of learning – five of them – and nine progressive levels or “steps” in which students can advance and engage with school subject content.  The conditions are: 

Verbal information which consists of knowledge claims one finds among various sources of subject information and can be interrelated with other information in meaningful ways. 

Intellectual skills are those abilities students can develop by which they process knowledge such as forming hierarchies, contextualizing relevant, new information, or acquiring information that adds distinctive attributes to what is being studied among other skills. 

Cognitive strategies consist of analytic abilities in which students can break down sets of information that assist in exposing problems, the problems themselves, or the information needed to solve those problems. 

Motor skills are those behavioral steps that students develop and, through practice, improve upon in which they tackle challenging academic issues. 

Attitudes are those sentiments students need to motivate themselves to address the material that classroom instruction presents to them.

Hopefully, readers can appreciate how these concerns draw educators beyond just seeing teaching as presenting content for the sake of students to recall that content.

And as for the levels or steps, they are: 

Level 1:  Reception (or capturing the attention of students),

Level 2:  Setting expectations (or students being informed about what they are to learn and why they are to learn it),

Level 3:  Relevant retrieval (or calling on students to recall what they know and is helpful in meeting a lesson’s objectives),

Level 4:  Targeted or selective perception (or presenting new information that students are to learn with an array of aids such as visuals, examples, discussions),

Level 5:  Verbal encoding (or presentation of the new information in a variety of language presentations such as graphics or case studies),

Level 6:  Responding (or student presentation of new information in various communicative approaches such as tests, demonstrations, interpretations – perhaps artistic productions),

Level 7:  Evaluative reinforcement (or teaching agents providing students with feedback as to the proficiency students demonstrate with the goal to improve on student performance),

Level 8:  Evaluative assessment (or determination of how well students have learned the content), and

Level 9:  Enriching the retained information (or have students transfer learned content to novel or real-life situations that do not totally match information learned but need to be adjusted or nuanced to be applicable).[4]

This is a far cry from a teacher presenting information and students committing information to memory, which is how essentialist instruction usually transpires.

          The point is that incremental approaches are out there and Dweck offers data that supports the belief that this view of intelligence is the more accurate way to view student potential.  Hopefully, for the sake of students and for the sake of approaching governance and politics from a federalist perspective, teachers will opt for strategies reflecting incremental understanding of intelligence, leaving behind strategies that entity theory encourages.

[1] Carol S. Dweck, Self-Theories:  Their Role in Motivation, Personality, and Development (Philadelphia, PA:  Psychology Press, 2000).

[2] For example, see Molly S. Bolger, Jordan B. Osness, Julia S. Gouvea, and Alexandra C. Cooper, Jennifer Momsen, “Supporting Scientific Practice through Model-Based Inquiry:  A Students’-Eye View of Grappling with Data, Uncertainty, and Community in a Laboratory Experience,” ASCB/Life Science Education, October 22, 2021, accessed February 7, 2024, URL:  https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.21-05-0128.

[3] For example, see Muhammad Japar and Dimi Nur Fadhillah, “Do We Need to Learn about Human Rights Values?,” Atlantis Press, 2018, accessed February 7, 2024, URL:  25891038.pdf.

[4] For example, see “Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction,” Information Technology/University of Florida (n.d.), accessed February 7, 2024, URL:  https://citt.ufl.edu/resources/the-learning-process/designing-the-learning-experience/gagnes-9-events-of-instruction/.

[qwertystop]

Read something very like the story described here, years ago – anachronauts, by Stefan Gagne (I'd have sworn he used to have a Tumblr, but now all I can find on his site is @fictionfactorygames?), book two, very good stuff – and it is indeed pretty good short horror. That whole book goes in on horror themes a lot, though with varying consistency and severity of tone; it's always dangerous in a horror-related way, but only on some occasions is it more fear than action. The series as a whole is... adventure-y? Vignette-ish?

I just woke up from a very intense and realistic dream about getting trapped inside a new, futuristic Disney resort (I think we were on Mars) with my family, where you as a guest were part of the “experience” for wealthy guests who wanted to experience the “fun” of being around “normal people.”

Air quotes courtesy of a perky Disney rep who had a tendency to talk entirely in air quotes.

You still paid to go there, but in doing so you had to sign a contract saying you agreed to act and talk a certain way when people wearing purple arm bands showed up so they could experience what life was like for ��poor people.” but in an extremely sanitized and Disney-friendly way that would make them happy. Like historical reenactment but as part of an ongoing class warfare.

It was also becoming blatantly obvious that the non-Mouse character actors we’re being picked off and hunted for sport by the wealthy patrons, and that said character actors were forming an underground resistance.

My first inkling of this was the purple flowers left behind on sites where characters were “found.” Followed by notes written on lamp posts in purple ink that caught the sunlight as the light was fading on Main Street about “keeping your chin up.” (Robin Hood reference???)

You’d just be walking down the pristine streets and you’d see purple flowers on the ground, sometimes accompanied by candles. One time I turned around to see a Mickey standing behind me, waiting to see what I’d do about it, so I stepped over the flowers like they weren’t there and kept walking. Later, A character who I *think* was meant to be Jasmine slipped and stumbled into me, her hand dipping briefly into my pocket. Later, when it was deemed safe, I found a purple origami flower in my pocket, which upon unfolding revealed the message, “The mouse has eyes. Blind them.”

Later, I was running through a desert, deeply aware that I needed to find water, or else the Mouse would get me. All the while It’s A Small World After All kept blaring through the speakers of my helmet as a form of psychological torture.

It felt like West World meets Mad Max set against the sanitized and unnatural ideal of candy-cotton-scented Americana and nostalgia that only exists in the dreams of tyrants and the type of people who “wish they were alive in the 50’s so they could dress nice and go out for milkshakes.”

Also I’m pretty certain I killed Goofy.

[thorraborinn]

Really interested in the yr rune but I’m having trouble finding information on it that isn’t “death rune” garbage. Could you point me in the right direction?

Sure, that is one of the more difficult ones to find good info on because the Icelanders who did a lot of compiling of poetic material didn't totally understand it. The /ʀ/ sound that it wrote in early Old Norse was long gone, and by the 1700's /y/ was gone too. If I remember correctly, Grunnavíkur-Jón Ólafsson wrote that it came "from Ireland" -- participating in a long tradition of attributing things that are difficult to explain to people the audience won't know anything about. Several hundred years earlier, Ólafr hvítaskáld, author of the Third Grammatical Treatise, said it came from Hebrew (and although he was talking out of his ass there is a possibility that he was slightly less off than you'd imagine).

The best source concerning rune meanings is Inmaculada Senra Silva's "The Significance of the Rune Poems" available here: https://idus.us.es/handle/11441/15113. It's believed that while it's graphic shape and use in writing came from the *algiʀ/elhaʀ rune ᛉ/ᛦ, that it's name and meaning come from the *ī(h)waʀ rune ᛇ. So if you're interested in the history of the rune before Nordic-specific developments, you will want to read about that one in the Old English Rune Poem.

The word ýr literally means 'yew (tree/wood)' but it's actually somewhat rarely used that way in Old Icelandic. Generally ýr means 'bow,' though there is surely some selection bias because so much of Norse poetry is about battle. The Old English and Norwegian rune poems refer to a tree, but in Iceland (where yews didn't grow) the poem and kennings refer to a bow.

Old English Rune Poem (Halsall 1981):

The yew is a tree with rough bark, hard and firm in the earth, a keeper of flame, well-supported by its roots, a pleasure to have on one's land.

Old Norwegian Rune Poem (my translation based on editions in Senra Silva):

ᛦ is the tree (which is) greenest in winter; it is expected that, that which burns, scorches.

Icelandic Rune Poem (my translation):

ᛦ is a bent bow and unbrittle iron and arrow-thrower.

In Sweden its name had changed by the early modern period when evidence for the Swedish Rune Poem was being compiled. Senra Silva (p. 252) has stupämaþr ('fallen/sloped/stooped man') and oRmahr; Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen (edited from Stiernhielm) gives Aur madur (and translates 'rich man', from öre, money/currency); presumably this is all reinterpreted based on the visual similarity to the maðr 'man' rune ᛘ.

Here's a selection of dylgjur collected by Jón Ólafsson, with my quick, rough, sloppy translation:

bendur bogi 'bent bow'

fífu fleytir 'arrow-flinger'

Fenju angur 'Fenja's (giantess's) grief'

bogi spenntur 'tensed bow'

tvíbentur bogi 'twice-bent bow'

uppdreginn álmur 'drawn-up elm'

skotmáls ör 'projectile-range's arrow'

píla á streng 'arrow on a string'

bardaga gagn 'battle-gear'

fífu fax 'arrow's mane (fletching?)'

handa raun 'hands' trial'

firða armbrysti 'men's crossbow'

stutt fjör 'short life'

��vibann 'life-ban'

fár fugla 'birds' misfortune'

See also: "Runes, Yews and Magic" by Ralph Elliott.

If you're more interested in how it was used in writing, that's complicated and I'm not sure of anything written that breaks it down, but that's something I'll hopefully be working on eventually. The overly-simplified version is that it was used to write the r-like /ʀ/ sound that comes at the end of many Old Norse words until that sound was lost; it was also used to write a few vowels and ultimately settled at /y/, in accordance with the principle that runes should have a name that indicates their phonological value in writing.

Here's a selection of appearances (including Elder Futhark algiʀ/elhaʀ):

By sheer numbers, short twig ᛧ is probably most common. The two-sided arrow shape ᛨ is distinctively Icelandic.

[st-louis]

provy on nasty knuckles

he decided to play hockey in north america because he always knew he wanted to play in the nhl and wanted to adjust to the language and culture as soon as possible 

his first year they played 100 games and he still remembers that in his first year they only lost four games and tied seven

even being from russia he considered brandon, manitoba to be “very, very cold”

the biggest adjustment hockey-wise was the ice surface: it’s smaller and you have less time, but also the players’ mentality here is more “north/south/putting the puck to the net” and at home it’s “east/west/possession”

described the whl as “more skill” than people give it credit for and riley cote goes “yeah it’s not meathead stew anymore” lmao

they talk a lot about training in the offseason vs. training during the season; provy’s philosophy is that he wants to go as hard as possible during the offseason so that if he needs days off during the season, he doesn’t have to go to the gym.

but for like two months he basically just eats, sleeps, and trains, and does three or four practices a day.

some of the funniest anecdotes bolded under the cut, but it was just getting long.

in russia “they used to lock people in the training facilities” and do a full on training camp i don’t know if this was meant literally or figuratively...

“if they don’t put me on some kind of list i’ll sleep just as good . . . it doesn’t change the way i think or the way i play. i go about my business” (he did see g’s tweet though)

every day he is trying to find a way to get better.

when you play against the top line “you get to shut them down, see the frustrating looks on their faces, see them slam their sticks” :)

he’s very superstitious and has the EXACT same routine every time he gets to the rink (changing, taping sticks, warming up, going to meetings, trying to stickhandle, call [derek settlemyre?] and yell and try to find him, when he gets to the ice his whole warm up routine he skates in the same pattern every warmup, he gets on the ice, does two laps, redline to stickhandle, three lane shooting etc...

provy ties his skates very tight (they used to be really tight to the point where provy would be sweating)

he has a perfect tape job and sometimes 3-6 times he’d get a small cut in the tape and he’d hold his stick out to settlemyre and he’d have a small knife to cut the tape off and settlemyre would say “nah it’s okay, little surge, little surge”

provy says he can’t tape his own sticks in between periods because “it takes so much energy to take the stick and i’m such a perfectionist it does take me a little longer” 

settlemyre offered to tape them for him and provy immediately said “NO” even before he could get it out of his mouth

g gets dressed in under two minutes--he comes in with like four minutes before warmups, gets dressed, tapes his stick in like five seconds, and is ready to roll

one time playing in dallas provy switched his blades ELEVEN TIMES. every other player had six sets. he’d ask settlemyre “please, can you check my right side back edge,” and settlemyre would be like “uh... i guess you have a little nick there” and he’d change it. finally when provy would say “middle left side” or something settlemyre would be like “okay, let’s just change ‘em.” settlemyre was more amazed that provy could feel such a small nick and immediately know where it was.

settlemyre would equate it to gagne knowing if the stick was an ounce heavier and saying “it’s no good.” provy can also tell when the stick weight is off.

they talk about nisky and his retirement, provy is sad to never be able to play with him again but happy for him and his family. overall he’s a great player and even better human being.

nisky told settlemyre that when he hit laughts in the playoffs years ago “all i could think of was oh my god i gotta fight wayne simmonds tonight” lmaoooo

provy says, “the amount of time that guy [simmer] saved me from getting jumped or fighting is too many to count”

it was the new years’ eve 2017-2018 and provy caught fiala coming into the zone and bulldozed him, turned, and saw that although simmer was going to a line change, after he saw the hit and the three guys heading provy’s way, he turned back and skated to provy. the three guys immediately started looking around and turning the other way and the bench was dying...

whatever happens on the ice, either skating with the puck or without the puck, provy scans to try to see what’s happening or what’s going to happen or what could happen

settlemyre teasing provy about dancing on tik tok “let’s stay away from that and focus on the things i am good at”

other hobbies: spending time with family and friends, basketball (going to games), playing any other sport (staying active and competing), movies, trips, and overall if you do anything with friends and family and good company it doesn’t matter what you’re doing as long as you have those people around you

funniest guy on the team: laughts, raff, haysey, and provy’s first year cousins was really funny

pranksters on the team: the funny guys are also in that category but no one really plays pranks on provy because “sometimes i don’t take them very well because i do like to prepare and go on the ice without having a water cup under my helmet”

tk sometimes would tape your fighting strap or sleeves up and you can’t put your hands through it

biggest thrills or best moments: first goal was definitely up there, took him 21 games to get it (he remembers.... lmao) tampa, end of the second period, face off on right side, play turned out snuck back door and got a pass from matt read and shot it... as soon as he saw the puck go in he completely blacked out and only remembered getting back on the bench. 

another one from the same year was scoring two goals at home against chicago in one shift. settlemyre: “i remember you skating by patrick kane and saying ‘on the showtime’” [sic?] 

double OT against the islanders and scoring the OT goal to force game seven was also a very cool experience, that was like the kind of thing you dream about as a kid. as soon as he shot it and saw the puck go in he was yelling “GAME SEVEN! GAME SEVEN!”

and the final one was this year against montreal. pulling a move you always dreamed about doing as a kid, tried in practices, but is hard to do during a game.

when he started at development camp he was already particular about his gear but was very shy to ask settlemyre about very specific requirements for gear. settlemyre was like come on, tell me,  it’s fine, and after provy laid it all out he was like “holy shit, you’re high maintenance, eh?”

provy thinks it took him about fifteen games to adjust. he’s not overly outgoing, but in small groups where he’s comfortable, he’s fine.

settlemyre’s obvious and genuine fondness and admiration for provy is very sweet.

[pr-azarias]

(FR) Perspective et Alchimiste

"Il eut soudain le sentiment qu'il pouvait regarder le monde soit comme la malheureuse victime d'un voleur, soit comme un aventurier en quête d'un trésor."

- L'Alchimiste de Paulo Coelho

Le lecteur passe facilement à côté de cette citation en lisant le livre de Paulo Coelho. L'Alchimiste est surtout une histoire sur le parcours vers sa Légende Personnelle. Et pourtant. Et pourtant je trouve que cette simple phrase mérite notre attention.

Pas besoin de se compliquer la tête durant des heures, on comprend aisément le sujet derrière cette phrase : la perspective. Tout est une question de perspective dans la vie ; une même situation peut avoir différentes interprétations, pessimistes ou optimistes. Ici Paulo Coelho nous explique que soit on peut rester là à se morfondre sur notre sort comme "la malheureuse victime d'un voleur" mais on peut choisir de se relever, tel "un aventurier en quête d'un trésor", afin d'affronter le monde

La question reste de savoir si l'on décide de saisir son courage et de s'embarquer pour la seconde option, certes plus difficile, mais plus gratifiante. Cependant la première option est la plus facile, celle du lâche, du dégonflé, du faible (c'est violemment dit mais c'est pour te décourager à la prendre). C'est la facilité du désespoir et de la tristesse, du confort et des regrets.

J'ai été récemment dans une situation où ce "problème" de perspective s'appliquait : mon père a eu un problème qui l'a contraint à rester au lit durant des mois. Si j'avais suivi la première option, je serais resté au près de lui à m'apitoyer sur son sort, à me plaindre de cette injustice. Mais j'ai choisi l'autre option. J'ai voulu voir en cette situation l'occasion de prendre plus de responsabilité et j'ai découvert mon engouement pour le jardinage notamment (comme quoi notre bon vieux Voltaire avait raison avec son "il faut cultiver son jardin" dans Candide), preuve qu'on peut toujours retiré du bien des pires injustices ; tout est une question de perspective.

Note surtout l'emploi plus haut du verbe "voulu". Trouvé ? Bien. Parce que ce qui est important de garder en mémoire, c'est que ce choix pour la deuxième option est une volonté. Comprends ici que ça ne se passera jamais tout seul ; c'est à toi de prendre le temps, de faire cet effort et de transformer ce mal en bien. Un peu comme une pierre philosophale, tu es l'alchimiste : métamorphose ton plomb en or. Et voilà que nous revenons sur le titre du livre. Magnifique ! Bref, pour revenir sur cette volonté, cet effort n'est jamais conséquent mais néanmoins la récompense sera toujours gratifiante, alors n'oublie jamais tes pouvoirs, alchimiste.

Juste avant de te lâcher, j'aimerai mettre en perspective (aha jeu de mots) cette thématique avec les dires de Blue dans ses Philosophical Phridays :

"Lose some, win some. Here I am, faced with something rough that turned into something good when I actively made the most of it. Perspective. Improvement. Happiness. It's all there."

- Blue dans Philosophical Phridays I

((trad:) Perd un peu, gagne un peu. Je suis là, face à quelque chose de dur qui a tourné en quelque chose de bien lorsque j'en ai tiré tous les bénéfices. Perspective. Amélioration. Joie. Tout y est.)

"[...] if fortuna beats you down and kicks you in the shins twice, you can still get back up, hard as it may be. Your recovery is all in your own power, and you can make the best of anything with the right perspective"

- Blue dans Philosophical Phridays I

((trad:) si le destin te bat et te frappe les jambes deux fois, tu peux toujours te relever, même si cela semble difficile. Ton relèvement ne dépend que de ta propre volonté, et tu peux profiter de n'importe quoi avec la bonne perspective.)

Je pense que ces mots s'expliquent d'eux-mêmes. Mais je vais quand même les expliquer parce que sinon je n'ai plus de job. "Lose some, win some" est assez imagé, on comprend que lorsque on perd un peu de bonheur par ces injustices on peut quand même en récupéré ou en gagné. Pour la deuxième citation, j'ai traduit "Your recovery is all in your own power" en remplaçant power avec volonté pour faire écho avec ce que j'ai dit plus haut. On a tous en nous ce pouvoir (power) d'alchimiste mais c'est notre volonté qui va nous aider à transformer le mal en bien.

Voilà je pense que 1) vous en avez marre de moi et la perspective ou 2) vous vous êtes endormi. Si ce n'est le cas merci d'avoir tout lu, je ne te remercierai jamais assez de m'accorder cette petite importance. Je suis fasciné comme j'ai réussi à arriver aux mêmes conclusions que Blue sur cette citation alors que cela faisait un bail que je l'avais pas relu. Comme quoi je suis un bon élève de mon mentor de la philosophie...

Merci encore et à la prochaine (citation) !

[twisted-in-wonderland-jay]

Confession time! Please make this happen.

I want Rook Hunt to fuck me in the middle of the woods.😏

He’s a dream really! I saw your profile pic on insta and here and knew you were the one I wanted to write this.

I’m kinda sick right now enjoy this till I’m better

OoO this is the first time I’ve written something like this... Sorry it took so long and thanks for the request. Glad to see a Rook lover after chapter 5

The fast thud of shoes and the wind blowing against the bushes was present, but you couldn’t think straight and all you knew was to run and fast. You brushed against the brushes at a rushed turn, without paying attention you could feel the burn from the friction. You cursed to yourself and slowed down to a stop against a tree. You looked around and sniffed around, looking around cautiously. Bugs jittering and birds chirps were all that sounded to your ears outside of the sound of your heart. Was he far enough away he wouldn’t see? He did have good eyesight… You heard bushes move. Your heartbeat fastened, you didn’t know if it was just an animal or if it was him. You hoped it just was an animal you spooked, and it was just a little rabbit.

“All clear” You silently thanked Vil for creating this potion, it heightened your senses, (he hadn’t made it for you) so you had a fair chance against the Predator who was chasing you. “Damn why did I agree to this...I’ve been running forever.” You stood up from the tree and walked out a couple of steps to see if you could see the end of the forest from where you were. The goal was to make it the hour...You heard a break in the wind.

An arrow flew pass you only three centimeters from your head. “t'as trouvé, papillon.~” You looked behind to see an awful (Charming) smile. Time to run! “Run all you want. No matter where you hide, no matter how fast you run. No man or creature can escape me.”

“You almost killed me!” You yelled not looking back to address the one you were talking to. You couldn’t hear running or breathing behind you but you weren’t about to make the same mistake you had just made. As you ran further and further you could faintly hear a voice,

“Je ne manque jamais, I wasn’t aiming for you~” After running for so long your legs tired and you grew dizzy.

Not paying attention, with a thud, you had fallen as something grabbed your foot. You look black to your foot and turn over to release it.

“A TRAP!” You assumed he has set it...But that wasn’t fair! With a small rustling of the brushes next to you, out of the bushes came he.

“Rook” You scooted back but the trap still had a hold of you, you went to release yourself before to looked up to see where Rook was he was kneeling right in front of you like a prince. You jerked back in surprise, you were also relieved that the trap, was just that a trap and didn’t hurt you in the slightest. He threw his bow back, with his quiver.

“No-no-no. Papillon,~ You seem to have fallen” Rook was now crawling towards you and gently grazed your leg with his gloved hand. He was right up to your ear and said, dragging his hand up your leg till he got to your chin, “Je gagne, mon prix ... Je t'emmène, mon petit papillon”. You hadn’t a clue what he said other than the little French he taught you. With the smirk and kiss of your neck, you quickly pieced together the French he spoke ‘Win. Prize. You.’ That’s all you knew. You shivered, but you didn’t know if it was because of his smile, or excitement.

“Let me help you.” Rook released the trap and as you moved to stand, Rook, looked back up at you with a smirk. “Hmm did you think I would just let my prey go?~” Rook picked you up swiftly over the shoulder his bow was opposite of. You haven’t a clue where he was taking you, only that he knew where he was going. The forest got darker and darker till it suddenly got bright. As you looked around he put you down. I saw a pond, and beautiful blooming trees, this was so peaceful who knew that this existed...

There didn’t need to be any words. He stared with a closed big smile and narrowed eyes glinting. He closed his eyes, shaking his head. His feather on his hat following softly. “Putting your jacket on a tree was clever,” he opened one eye smiling more at you. “Les règles sont les règles. One hour, but only three minutes too soon.” he took his hat off, setting it on your head as he moved to unbutton his shirt. “The hunter’s main key to succeeding on capturing the prey is patience, waiting for the prey to fall into their doom” Rook spoke.

Now shirtless and his gloves still on, crawled onto you smirking down at you and eyeing you up. He booped your nose then cupped your cheek softly. “Laisse moi t'embrasser mon papillon?” You nodded as Rook started peppering your face in soft kisses and trailing down to your neck as he moved to unbutton your uniform.

“You don’t know how long I’ve waited,” he said into your ear. You squirm underneath him as he slides his knee between your legs, “Est-ce que ça fait du bien”.

“Are you willing you give me my prize?” Once again you nodded. Soon after you crumble as he slipped his hand down your underwear touching you. You let out a small moan unable to speak as he moved to take your pants, and underwear off. He unbuttoned his pants and took them off. He shifted your position to lay you on your back while he held your thighs up He grinding against you, “Tu fais merveilleux,”.

He leaned forward kissing the top of your head while you clutched him. Rook held your hips with his hands. Finally having a taste of the prey before him. He worships your body, kissing every spot that he can reach. Then Rook slid his cock in slowly, letting you get adjusted. His breath hot in your ear as he nipped your ear. Rook grinned down at the sight of you, face flushed, kissing you until you thought you’d run out of air. Going slow and deep. Moving your hips with Rooks as best as you could even in your tired body from running. He gave a last few deep thrusts as he kissed your collarbone. He swore he could hear your heartbeat. He gave a few slower and deep thrusts before cumming inside you, feeling you cum on his cock he couldn’t go any further either.

Panting as he pressed a quick kiss to your lips as slid his cock out.

Je t'aime, petit papillon

[primordialsoundmeditation]

Update from Kyiv, 15:20, Feb 24th

Written by: Oksana Potapova

After I realised that leaving the city today is an impossible task, I decided that I am staying here, at least for another day. Few minutes later I got a message from a friend and a brave human rights activist for women with disabilities Yuliia Sachuk who invited me to come over. I agreed immediately as I had all my stuff with me and did not want to be alone. I walked into a nearby store, bought a cake, and made my way there. And here we were, at noon on the day when full blown war started in our country, sitting in her kitchen, drinking coffee and eating cake. It felt surreal and calm at the same time.

Two hours later we started receiving the news that Russians will attempt to attack Kyiv, that their aim is government quarters. So we got up, took our backpacks and went to the nearest subway station which also serves as a bomb shelter. We’ve been here for the last 1,5hrs, and in the meantime anticipation of attacks on the capital increase.

I have never thought about what it would feel like to live through this. But i am calm, safe, and angry as fuck.

Greetings from Syrets metro station. Have some cake with us to our victory. ~ Oksana Potapova

Edith Alig Gagne