#use my bias to your greatest advantage

[ifuckingloveryoshu]

Bleh. Not really tagging I need to un-blorbify Ryoshu in my head but also, I want to be selfish and keep thinking self shipping thoughts. What a hassle. I already tell people that I write her or characterize her too nice. That is my bias, (not that I am writing anything at all even, its all just imaginary again) and what have you. The rest of this post is more about my thoughts on what I've read about the book Violence: A Writers Guide by Roy Miler, and vaugly rambling.

I have a pdf of the book, Violence: A Writers Guide. I still haven't set the time off to read it because I am infamous for managing time and acting on impulse. Anyways.

I feel when people do dislike Ryoshu or just see her as only sadistic murderer, they are here. I guess. Contrary to the name, I can understand why people not like Ryoshu. Honestly, as long as she continues to be written well, I will keep loving her even if her views don't align with mine. I'm prepared for if Ryoshu turns out to be the greatest artist of all the lands but ends up not the greatest mother. Hard to vocalize but you can dearly love your child so, so much, but activly be hurting them. I never want that to be forgotten because LOVE itself is a double edged sword. Never the end all be all. To open youself up to others and to live loved and loving means opening yourself up to getting hurt or hurting them. Someone else who has more life experience then I do, more experince with living, and one who is more sure of themselves could explain it better. I am not in the right place. Oh, but it is still varying from person to person, as lot of things dealing with humans tend to do.

Its too late to be typing so much but, from what section of this i've read are the levels of agression as followed: Nice, Manipulative, Assertive, Agressive, Assaultive, and Murderous. Nice are pacifist who don't use any agression. Manipulative takes advantage of nice people by passivly getting their way (maybe think blackmail or just good 'ol manipulation.) Assertive will set bounderies and use soft power to inforce those boundaries, Agressive will make threats of violence and yell out (think heavy verbal abuse.). Assultive will actually hit the aggressive person and feel justified about it. Murderous is just good ol murder.

Ryoshu is murderous but all the people on that bus have to be knocked down to the assultive level by default. They can't activly go around murder hoboing all the time. Outis is the only other sinner who I'd put in murderous because she can openly advocates like a professional. To quote the book, "A professional does not fight you, doesn’t even think about fighting you. He takes you out." And I think that fits Outis well if she weren't just stuck to Dante. Or I'm overestimating Outis' capabilities. Meursalt just doesn't apply to this scale at all. He is a special case that just does as hes told with little to no fuss. Hes not suggesting murder but he'll just do it if hes told. Even if hes not told, even before the bus, I still haven't read his book but come on. We kind of know the sun in the eyes thing.

Side Tangent: Hong Lu, Gregor and Yi Sang are in assertive. Hong Lu, im skeptical about because he is confusing. I have no idea what's going on in his brain, he has lived in an enviornment of high violence probably while being in a Nest which is strange. He just acts so care free, but there's something else there. We all know. Sinclair is just being forced gradually up there to assultive. Yi Sang has been persecuted but violence is not his first answer to things. Even if Gregor was in the Smoke War as a war veteran, his attitude does not strike me as assultive because he tries to talk things out, he was more of a PR boy, and what his bug arm does unvoulentarily is diffrent from what Gregor himself wants to do. Sinclair just keeps going from agrressive to assaultive, then to murderous with Kromer. He's developing and breaking out of his shell so he really isn't set.

I'm going to bed but

GMD: Not Limbus but uninvited guest in uhh Library Of Ruina

EBD: Virgilius and Don Quinnote scene. Virgillius just to any sinner. Maybe N Corp and Kromer and Sinclair to teach Sinclair a lesson. Uh. Erliking Heathcliff to Heathcliff roughly.

SSS: Anything sydicate related honestly.

Predatory Violence is just The City. It's just the way of the City, at least the areas outside the Nest.

There is a lot more intresting stuff in this book. Maybe when I decide to read more, ill just screw around I guess. uh. Thank for reading.

[hwenvs3000f24]

Unit 03 blog post: privilege

What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege.

When the term privilege comes up, the first thing that often pops into one’s mind is guilt. From my understanding, privilege refers to advantages that certain individuals enjoy due to inequalities in the social, political, and economic systems in which they live. Having privilege does not mean that you are undeserving of the accomplishments you worked hard for, but it does mean that someone else (e.g perhaps someone who is racialized or lacking in resources) with the same merits and who had worked equally hard would not have been awarded the same. Privilege is enjoyed at the cost of not only those who were denied the same opportunities, but also of those who were exploited to make these opportunities possible in the first place. For example, I enjoy the privilege of wealth that was obtained by my parents through hard work. Although my parents worked extremely hard as immigrants— and overcame boundaries associated with racial bias and lack of intergenerational wealth— I also recognize that the opportunities they made use of exist within an economic system built on displacing Indigenous peoples from their land in order to extract its resources. 

While Indigenous peoples lands are exploited for financial gain, these funds construct our infrastructure while Indigenous communities are denied access to the same infrastructure. Meanwhile, they face the greatest effects of environmental pollution and climate change caused by this resource extraction, while higher-income citizens such as I live in pleasant communities with plenty of access to nature. The privilege of access to nature is further contrasted against a systemic lack of access to nature in black communities. While Indigenous peoples’ lands are sacrificed through pollution and ecological destruction, we create parks that preserve certain areas for recreation— and, often, it is privilege that gives us the ability to access recreation in nature (e.g. cost of equipment, ability to travel, cultural norms). Parks maintain continued access to nature as a recreational activity for the privileged even while our high-consumption lifestyles and capitalist economic system wreak havoc on nature all over the world. 

Although the reality of privilege is grim, I think we should move from associating privilege with guilt towards associating it with responsibility. Our textbook discusses how inner-city communities often lack access to nature and cultural and monetary factors prevent recreation in nature. Since these inequalities are a result of a system built on white supremacy, those with privilege have a responsibility to work to dismantle unjust systems from which they benefit. This includes through financial reparations— which could take the form of our governments and institutions funding programs like the ones described in our textbook that offer nature interpretation to underprivileged youth. Furthermore, as the first national parks involved the removal of Indigenous Peoples from their lands, nature interpreters should be honest about the colonial legacy of national parks while working to learn and unlearn about the history of the land.

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Publishing. ISBN: 9781571678669

[devoqdesign]

Designing for Diversity: Embracing Inclusivity in Your Designs

In today's diverse world, designing with inclusivity in mind is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage. By creating designs that cater to a wide range of users, you can enhance user experience, broaden your audience reach, and promote innovation. This article explores the importance of designing for diversity and provides practical tips for embracing inclusivity in your designs.

Understanding Diversity in Design

Diversity in design encompasses various aspects, including cultural, cognitive, and physical diversity. Cultural diversity refers to differences in cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and practices. Cognitive diversity relates to differences in how people think, learn, and process information. Physical diversity includes differences in physical abilities, such as vision, hearing, and mobility.

Importance of Inclusivity in Design

Inclusivity in design is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it enhances user experience by ensuring that products and services are accessible and usable by all individuals. Secondly, it broadens audience reach by catering to diverse user needs and preferences. Finally, it promotes innovation by encouraging designers to think creatively and consider alternative perspectives.

Challenges in Designing for Diversity

Designing for diversity comes with its challenges. One of the main challenges is overcoming bias and stereotypes in design. Designers must be mindful of their own biases and strive to create inclusive designs that are free from stereotypes. Additionally, ensuring accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities, can be challenging but is essential for inclusive design. Finally, designing culturally sensitive products requires a deep understanding of diverse cultural norms and practices.

Principles of Inclusive Design

Several principles guide inclusive design practices. Universal design aims to create products and environments that are usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation. User-centered design involves involving users throughout the design process to ensure that their needs and preferences are met. Contextual design considers the context in which the product will be used and adapts the design accordingly.

Practical Tips for Embracing Inclusivity

To embrace inclusivity in your designs, consider the following tips:

Conduct thorough user research to understand the diverse needs of your target audience.

Collaborate with diverse teams to gain different perspectives and insights.

Use inclusive language and imagery in your designs to avoid stereotypes and biases.

Prioritize accessibility features, such as alternative text for images and keyboard navigation, to ensure that your designs are accessible to all users.

Conclusion

Designing for diversity is not just about creating products and services that cater to a wide range of users; it's about embracing inclusivity as a core value in your design process. By understanding the diverse needs of your users, collaborating with diverse teams, and prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity in your designs, you can create products that are not only innovative and user-friendly but also inclusive and accessible to all.

Visit my Upwork profile for - UI/UX design, Web design & Mobile design

[reasoningdaily]

When the topic of racism comes up, I often think of a billboard in the small town of Harrison, Arkansas.

It was a sign promoting a white supremacist radio station called White Pride Radio. The sign's message, emblazoned next to the picture of a cute-looking white girl with a cute-looking dog, read "It's not racist to [heart] your people."

My takeaway: Even white supremacists don't want to be called racist.

Which might explain why, for people dedicated to fighting racism, simply saying you're "not racist" doesn't feel like quite enough. To effectively defeat systemic racism — racism embedded as normal practice in institutions like education and law enforcement — you've got to be continually working towards equality for all races, striving to undo racism in your mind, your personal environment and the wider world.

In other words, you've got to be anti-racist.

You may know me as NPR's TV critic. But I've also spent years exploring how systemic racism affects media and society. I've written a book about it, called Race-Baiter, and built a TEDx talk around how to talk about race across racial lines. As a Black man who speaks often on these subjects, I find race, racism and anti-racism to be things people think they know but often don't – at least, not as well as they think they do.

As the world continues to sort through a racial and civil rights reckoning kicked off by police killings of Black people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, now more than ever, people want to know how to be anti-racist.

After talking to a few experts, I and the good folks at Life Kit have come up with a few suggestions.

Tip #1: Accept that we've all been raised in a society that elevates white culture over others. Being anti-racist will mean first challenging those notions inside yourself.

This was one of the most important takeaways from my conversation with Anneliese A. Singh, who just joined Tulane University as its first Associate Provost for Diversity and Faculty Development. She's also written a workbook on these issues called The Racial Healing Handbook.

"Everyone who lives in the United States kind of learns some form of anti-Black racism," Singh says. "I think we have to ask ourselves that question...How does anti-Black racism live within us?"

Singh calls white supremacy "white body supremacy," a term used by therapist Resmaa Menakem, as a way to emphasize how racism has a visceral, physical impact; elevating white bodies, and bringing trauma to non-white ones.

She suggests some people may even go through a process similar to the stages of grief — especially those who have privilege because of their white or light skin – when they uncover their unconscious bias and realize how extensively systemic racism affects their perspectives.

"I'm going to be in denial if I'm white or have light skin about how white supremacy works," she says. "[We'll move] through that denial into some anger...And then when we go into acceptance, I think then we can really leverage our lives to make a difference."

Tip #2: Learn the history of racism and anti-racism, especially in America, to educate yourself about the complexities of the issues you'll be confronting.

A glance at the 2020 bestseller lists reveals lots of great books on anti-racism, from Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracistto Layla Saad's Me and White Supremacy and Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility.

Most of them note that, for white folks, anti-racism involves learning to accept that white people have a racial culture, too. I've said white supremacy's greatest advantage is that white racial culture in America is often treated like it's invisible; not directly talked about among white people, some of whom joke that they have no culture.

Singh says people of color can benefit from similar study and introspection, with a particular focus on identifying and challenging any ideas that may breed colorism or contempt for other non-white groups. She calls this dynamic of elevating whiteness among non-white people, "internalized whiteness."

One important note for white people: When people of color share their experiences with white supremacy, believe them.

"I can't tell you how many people I've seen who claim to be anti-racist and care about building anti-racist organizations," Singh says. "But when people of color speak, they're like, 'Oh, well, they're doing it wrong.' Or 'That's one (person's experience).' You have an opportunity in that moment to believe what that person is saying."

Tip #3: Seek out films and TV shows which will challenge your notions of race and culture and dive in deeply, learning to see anti-racism in new ways.

So I wasn't that surprised when Justin Simien, creator of the Netflix drama Dear White People, told me viewership for his series jumped 600 percent after George Floyd's death sparked an international dialogue on anti-racism.

Dear White People centers on a group of non-white students at a mostly white, Ivy League college as they negotiate issues of identity, classism, anti-racism vs racism, homophobia and more. One poignant storyline features a young Black student, Reggie Green, who is nearly shot by a campus security guard at a party. Reggie then finds himself haunted by flashbacks of the traumatic event as well-meaning acquaintances attempt to check in on him.

Simien says the scenes with Reggie show, without lecturing the audience, how attempts to ask a Black person about racial trauma can sometimes backfire.

"The whole goal of it is for you to care so deeply about these [characters] that you don't realize you're being taught anything," he adds. "When you see that he had a gun pulled on him and he had this near-death experience, and now for the rest of the school year, everyone's coming up to him asking him, "Are you OK? Is there anything I can do?" You understand how that's not enough."

Simien suggests viewers pass up "feel good" TV shows and films showing indisputably virtuous Black people overcoming racism, often in the Jim Crow South, with help from well-meaning white people (in other words, skip screenings of The Help or Green Book.)

Well-made TV shows and films about anti-racism should be messier and much more provocative.

"You should feel challenged in some way by the piece because it's so subversive," Simien says. "[Racism is] ubiquitous and it's systemic and we can't see it...Racism lives in our collective blindspots. That's why it's so pernicious. So, there has to be a moment in the piece where you go, 'Oh! I didn't think about it like that.'"

The goal: to expose yourself to art that cuts through prejudices and stereotypes, allowing you to finally, fully see people of color.

"I had a friend put it this way," Simien says. "'We're inviting people to see us for the first time and it should break your heart that you haven't seen us yet'...That I have to interact with you through a character version of myself because I think you can't handle my daily truth. [That] should break your heart."

Tip #4: Find local organizations involved in anti-racism efforts – preferably led by people of color – and help uplift their voices and ideas.

She says learning to uplift non-white voices – even those who may disagree with you – is important for white people seeking to be anti-racist.

"Part of being an ally and part of letting go of privilege is, I think, putting yourselves in situations where you may be uncomfortable," Hatch adds. "You may have a different idea, but...you're actively working to support organizers and activists who have been thinking about these systemic problems for generations."

Also, Hatch says to be an effective anti-racist, you must assess your own power – where are the spheres where you can have the most influence?

Beyond the obvious strategy of confronting family and friends who may be racist, consider this: When you sit down at a PTA meeting at your child's school, which parents do you speak with and get to know?

At work, are you considering how procedures or strategies may advantage whiteness, and are you helping to challenge them?

Are you spending money with businesses that are owned by non-white people?

If you or a relative has a rental property, are you seriously considering applications from non-white people?

These are ways you can make a difference in your own environment, where you have power. Remember, anti-racism is about pushing past knowing better and instead actively doing better.

One thing is clear: Pulling all of this off takes a lot of energy and can feel overwhelming. And it doesn't help that one way people perpetuate systemic racism in America is by encouraging others to accept the status quo and reject many anti-racist ideas as too extreme.

But there is no better feeling than really making progress on working to build a better world. And these tips offer great ideas for starting on a long and rewarding road.

Above all, Color of Change's Hatch suggests keeping one, optimistic thing in mind.

"This is what winning looks like and feels like," she says of the current drive toward racial equity in law enforcement, politics, corporate America and elsewhere. "The moral arc of history is on our side and we are getting closer and closer every day to a culture that actually embraces the beauty and creativity of Black people in our lives."

[universal-kitty]

would it be possible to get a Watch_Dogs Wrench x nonbinary reader where they're going out and causing some havoc? explosions optional. many thanks~!

   Mmmm, delicious anarchy... Let’s cause some mayhem~!

   “You want to what?” You heard him just fine, but it doesn’t stop you from pretending like you didn’t, a grin slowly growing over your face. Wrench was known for his chaos- you loved it- but an actual invitation to hop on that explosive ride for the night? A rare opportunity from “Mister Works-Alone” and with such a rare offer...you had to ask again. Gotta make sure you’re not dreaming, right?

   “C’mon, baby... Don’t make me say it again,” he purrs, arms extending in his usual dramatic fashion. He’s in such a good mood and the knowledge of it makes you giddier than normal. That’s just Wrench, though; infectious.

   “Won’t you please~?” You flutter your lashes right back as his mask flickers into a playful, downward double slash before flicking back to carrots.

   “...You’re lucky that you’re the hottest thing since switchblades... As I said! I’m planning on ruining a few files with a virus Josh cooked up and then blowing up a new summer estate for some shitty rich dude up on the hills... Could be a fireworks show. Wanna join?” The low rumble of his voice at the end question had shivers rolling up your spine, suggestive in his playful way, and with the notion of waggling brows under the mask. (Some things you don’t need to see to know they’re happening.)

   A deep sigh from you, but a grin on your face regardless. “Well, I suppose I don’t have anything better to do... Give me a moment to grab my shit and let’s do this~” Wording it that way? Worth it for the offended down slashes it got you, laughing softly as you went to grab your stuff.

   “Who’s truck even is this?” You asked later, feet kicked up on the dash and eyeing the cushy interior. Definitely not Wrench’s, but did he own a ride or...?

   “Don’t know, don’t care!” Was his cheerful reply, weaving through traffic with a practiced hand that made you nervous and a little flustered. Something, something, adrenaline...and the pure fact that- even without seeing his face- Wrench was hot as hell. He’s a teasing shit, an annoyance, and with an anger that makes you cringe on occasion, but DAMN if he doesn’t know what he’s about, down from the distracting roll of tattoos on his arms, the anarchy tatt that bobs on his neck when he swallows, or the energetic way he moves.

   Wrench is a living distraction that’s only competed by his taste in music (which is as equally loud and distracting) and... Yeah, you still love it. Even as a song about....something blasts through. You haven’t been paying attention, but knowing Wrench, it’s either about dismantling the system, weird shit, or perversions. Maybe a mix of the two, any two.

   It makes you smile a bit, staring out the window to catch a glimpse of the moonlit bay as Wrench catches a glance at you- unseen- and his display momentarily flickers to hearts.

   You both left the house wheezing from laughter, stumbling to the truck in a rush. “H-Holy shit,” you whisper-yelled, wiping a tear from your eye. “The computer! Smoking!! How long do you think before the smoke alarm goes off?!”

   “I don’t know, but MAN I wish I could see his fa-” Wrench’s own whispers were cut off by blaring alarms and a muffled shout. You both choked on laughter, hopping into the truck and racing off, laughing into the night as some poor asshole now had to deal with his shit being fried to hell and back.

   That’s what you get for treating your employees like shit!

   Final stop, the framework of “some rich asshole’s” getaway. Such a shame...that DedSec is gonna bring up some just desserts for this one. You wanna be a shitty person in San Fran? DedSec coming after you! You don’t make money off the broken backs of the struggling middle and homeless population without getting cooked for it!!! And they’ve got all the fires and best seasoning...

   ...Fuck. Does this make any sense? Maybe.

   Anyways, you assisted in getting most of the security down while Wrench did a bit of his own work...and still did enough- just in time- to help out with rigging the explosives. Getting them placed and even getting a more...hands-on approach when it came to setting them up in a way that Wrench needed to blow this place sky-high.

   ...Safely, of course. Can’t exactly take down the powers that be and hurt the average citizen in the process. What would be the point, then??

   “Alright... We’re good. C’mon! We’ve gotta watch the show!” Who knows why Wrench thinks it’s important to whisper, but you shrug to yourself and follow him out, cautious the whole way to the truck, where he proceeds to drive off a little ways more and check something, fiddling with the remote.

   Remote detonation, the safest way to blow, as he said before...and then made it more perverted. Because that’s just how Wrench do.

   “Everything alright?”

   “Yeah, yeah,” he mumbles, looking down again before focusing on the road. “Just making sure it’s been set at the right time. Don’t want it to be too short or that could be a taaaad risky. Too long, and not only is it a little boring, but it might’ve gotten out of range... Just making sure things are good to go.” He hums pleasantly and you settle on it being a good sign, delighting quietly in the way your boots shake dirt onto the dash.

   Joyriding in a stolen car... It makes moments like this more delicious.

   The rise is perfect when you hop out of the truck, a perfect view of the in-progress mansion and what’s about to be the fireworks show of the century. Lighting up and blocking off a shithead if even for a few more years... Mm, glorious.

   “T-minus....4 minutes,” Wrench hums, checking his phone for the time, then clicking it off to flop his butt onto the grass. Watching him a moment, you hesitantly step over and flop down yourself, watching the opposing hill with sharp eyes.

   ...Man. It’s a shame nobody brought snacks. It’d be a good way to pass by some time with chips or maybe some candy and a drink... Classic popcorn, maybe? You snort at the thought of 3D glasses and a bowl of popcorn, drawing Wrench’s attention and the appearance of question marks on his mask.

   “What?”

   “Trying to imagine you wearing 3D glasses over your mask,” you admit, laying back. Quick thoughts of bugs rise up, but your wrists and shoulders would surely thank the lack of pressure on them. “Shoulda brought popcorn.”

   “....Damn,” he mutters, looking back to the hill, downward slashes appearing on his display. “You’re right... Ah, well. Too late now. I guess we could get Chinese after this, though.” You hum in thought, tilting your head a little.

   “...I guess?”

   “Never such thing as too much Chinese food!” He suddenly gives a firm pat to your stomach, making you squawk in alarm as he loses it laughing. Squinting at him with a huff, shaking your head...but a smile growing regardless.

   “You’re...sure something.”

   “Oh, I know. No need to compliment me,” he assures, double carrots flickering to a single tilde; a winking face. You shake your head again, groaning, but you’re still grinning. “See? You’re smiling! It’s proof!”

   “That is not pro-” Any further playful debate is put on pause as something starts beeping, Wrench’s display lighting up in double stars as he looks up to the hill, you shooting up to follow his gaze-

   --and watch that bitch not only light up like a bonfire, but for literal fireworks to shoot into the air.

   “....You glorious bastard,” you murmur, watching blues and whites and the whistling of fireworks blaze into the sky. It lasts a bit longer than the explosion does, as to be expected of fireworks, but by the time they simmer down and you can look away...your eyes meet the enchanted screen that is Wrench’s own vision.

   Heart eyes on display, softening your look.

   “...Hey.”

   “Huh- Yeah?” You lean over, watching the mask rapid fire through question marks, stars, the @ symbol, and hearts, until you very gently kiss the spikes of his mask. A start, at least. Another roll of the @ symbols, then settling back to hearts.

   “...Thanks.” The display flickers for a second, but ultimately doesn’t change, Wrench giving a shaky laugh in response, sounding a little breathless.

   “Heh, yeah, uh... No problem. Glad I could do this with ya...” He gets up slowly, shifting a little before he steadies himself and offers a hand to help you up. One you accept, smiling a little brighter at how much something so simply threw him off so much... “So... Chinese? Food? Yes, no, maybe so?”

   “Yeah,” you say through a laugh, beaming more when you notice his hand hasn’t quite let go of yours. “Let’s get some fuckin’ rice.”

[saultrunner48-theicebreakers]

BLOG NUMBER 4: The Struggles of a Senior White American Man

In loving memory of Anna Bitterman, known to the kids as Grandma Anna, who succumbed to COVID-19 in March 2020. We miss you, but your warm presence encourages us still.

Four nights have passed since I read James Baldwin’s 1979 speech at University of California, Berkeley. His words yet burn in my ears and sear at my soul. The concepts flowing from his now still lips are in repeat mode within my consciousness. I feel ignorant. I sense a course adjustment in my essay.

Two statements from Baldwin’s address have affected the direction of my research. The first, “Every white person in this country – I don’t care what he or she says – knows one thing … they know they would not like to be black here.” The second, “… we find ourselves up against a vast machinery of racism which infects the country’s entire system of education.”

(James Baldwin at his estate in Southern France, Phot published in Semana, September 12, 2021, https://www.semana.com/periodismo-cultural---revista-arcadia/articulo/james-baldwin-escritor-negro-estadounidense-treinta-anos-tras-su-muerte/67273/)

Those two sentences alone bast away at the foundations of my essay on the Path to Shine® efforts with school children but, more significantly, question the assumptions and very motivations for my involvement in this educational program. Do I, as a white person, have blinders that hinder my effectiveness serving the children, 85 percent of whom are people of color. Am I, essentially, a collaborator in my interactions and cooperative plans with a public school system that is unintentionally destined to fail students of color? These questions haunt me – I am powerless to ignore them.

In the early 1970s as an Air Force sergeant, I had in my crew a young white airman who grew up in poverty in Eastern Arkansas. A great mechanic, he will be identified simply as Eddie. Eddie loved to drink – drink led him to tales of his scrappy town and the black neighborhood of his childhood. The Motown sound of the time set his memories back to adults who had helped him and contemporaries who had befriended, almost all African American. One night, listening to the Four Tops and others, a stewed Eddie began to cry, “Saaarrg, why do ya think God made me white? I hate being white ... I always wanted to be black!” I was baffled; however, I eventually recalled the Eddie’s military pals were seldom white. He felt trapped by his race.

(Photo courtesy of USAF)

The fact that I was baffled by Eddie’s confession was and is a telling window into the soul of a person who, fundamentally, judged his heart free of bias. I was not!

Obviously, a brief essay on the subject of “The Ice Breaker” cannot and should not resolve these two questions in their impact on my Path to Shine® efforts: the posing of these questions may need suffice. However, my essay approach now includes two factors that, in the long run, will feed on each other: how has my service to elementary school children impacted their lives and, perhaps more crucially, how has this service and the children themselves impacted my life?

The demographics of Path to Shine® student participants include 56 percent African American, 33 percent Hispanic, and the minority balance are of Caucasian origin. Since these statistics do not represent the demographic breakdowns of the communities our programs serve (some, such as Dunwoody, Georgia, are affluent and predominantly white communities), intellectual curiosity begs questions of the whys. Why do the school systems, teachers, and parents appear incapable of guiding floundering students to the goal of high school education? Why does our population of students differ significantly from the ethnic and economic backgrounds of the communities we serve? My research goal is to uncover contributing factors without firm conclusions.

A YouTube® video exists that engages a diverse group of high school students in the prospect of winning $100 in a foot race. However, before the race begins the “coach” gives each student a two-paces-forward advantage for each question answered “yes”. Each question is based solely on economic and family background with no regard for individual capabilities. For example, two-pace-forward increments are rewarded when parents are still married, if a father figure lives at home, if participants never worried about getting a meal, if the student went to a private school, and so forth. The result was that the “starting lines” differed for nearly each student: the kids with the greatest number of “yes” answers were far ahead of the “no’s”, through no efforts of their own. Incidentally, white students in the group found themselves, in general, ahead although the race had not begun.

In his highly influential blog on American education (The Edvocate), Dr. Matthew Lynch claims that multiple of reasons exist why our education systems fail some students. His reasoning includes several factors that also influence the kids who participate in our Path to Shine® programs, including limited parental involvement (parental apathy, single parent, or multiple job parent homes), insufficient school resources, lowered expectations for certain racial and economic backgrounds among educators, and an inability to achieve education equity among all demographic groups. Given that Dr. Lynch’s pronouncements were established nearly forty years following Baldwin’s 1979 speech, one wonders if the same speech could be addressed to a contemporary audience with similar accuracy.

(https://www.theedadvocate.org/10-reasons-the-u-s-education-system-is-failing/)

While my heart breaks in the hearing of Baldwin’s words, my intellect suggests that a degree of progress may have been achieved since 1979: are white folks like me less likely to hold the lot of black folks in a less pitiable perspective, and is the American education system still harboring the “vast machinery of racism”?

I am in the process of interviewing five persons who have committed goodly portions of their time to improving the prospects of children whose backgrounds represent known learning disadvantages: Rev. Leslie-Ann Drake, the founder and current executive director for Path to Shine®, a parent-family school liaison for a Fulton County, Georgia elementary school, a former instructor for a local preparatory academy who recently resigned to accept a teaching role in the Fulton County School System, an Episcopal priest who sponsored a Path to Shine® program through her church, and my spouse, Donald, who has also offered three years of dedication to local elementary school kids. My questions have changed to a degree because of James Baldwin’s perspectives.

(Photo of College Park Mayor Bianca Motley Broom by Michael Isham)

My goal is to illustrate that the learning process for those who guide the “ice breaker” across the treachery of a frozen path is as meaningful for them as it is for the children they serve.

[simple-heroics]

Momo Yaoyorozu Fluff Alphabet | Part 1 | Letters A-L

Yes, yes, I know. My bias is showing. But Momo just radiates Distinguished Lesbian and my messy queer self gravitates to her for that. Please help me pull my life together, Yaomomo! 

Also, props to @sparkncharge​ for inspiring me to go Plus Ultra on a fluff alphabet. If you’re a Hawks stan, please check out her Fluff Alphabet for him. It’s amazing; I still reread it. Also, while you’re at it, read the rest of Lily’s work. Her blog is partially what inspired me to start Simple Heroics. 

credit to creator of the fluff alphabet prompt list here

Activities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

Momo is pretty sheltered due to her upbringing and there is so much of the commoner’s world for her to discover outside of the little bubble she grew up in. She gets so giddy when you take her out exploring. With this, though, there is a strong, unspoken level of trust as well because it can take her out of comfort zone and even be a little intimidating. 

One of her favorite activities is thrift shopping! She loves going store to store, seeing all the random things being sold and wondering at the stories behind them. While she can create anything in the world, she can’t replicate the history behind a given object. Some of her favorite finds include: a pretty landscape painting by an unknown artist, secondhand novels with annotations inked in, even someone’s diploma from graduate school!

Just as you give her a taste of your world, Momo wants to share as much as hers as possible. So expect the occasional night out at an elegant restaurant, concert halls, tea ceremonies, you name it. Momo takes great delight in introducing you to new experiences.

Her ultimate favorite, though, is when both your worlds come together in the privacy of your shared home. Just you two and a pot of tea shared between you. And she can be herself. Not the class vice president, the Yaoyorozu heiress, or even the Everything Hero: Creati.

 Just Momo - your Momo.

Beauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

More than anything, Momo would admire a s/o with a strong sense of self - someone who knows who they are, where they come from, and what they want in life. Someone who is secure in themselves. Someone who not only accepts themselves but loves themselves, mistakes and all.

It’s the sort of confidence that doesn’t come from skill or achievements or any outside sources. It’s a strong, inherent sense of self-worth that’s unshakable, and it leaves Momo starstruck.

Momo isn’t one to place much value on things like physical appearance but in your case, the deeper she fell, the more beauty she found. There’s this natural allure about you that keeps drawing her in. 

You’re simply…you. Just you. And Momo can’t think of anything more beautiful.

Comfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

For better or for worse, Momo is very much a problem solver. Like, “What do you need? Do you want some mint tea? A hug? Want me to hold your hand? How can I help? Please let me help you.” 

Yeah, um, Mo? That works great for evacuation and rescue missions. Not so great when someone is having a panic attack. And sometimes, if they’re just feeling down, it’s less about what a person needs and more about just being there for them. It takes some talking for Momo to learn this but when she does, our girl adapts her approach accordingly. 

That said, Momo figures out one surefire way to comfort you on particularly gloomy days: Blanket forts. 

Yes, Momo is miss prim and proper and tends towards going for a more “practical” approach to most things. But blanket forts are fun. They’re also cozy and warm and make you feel safe. And it’s prime location for cuddling and sweet affection when you most need it.

Plus, she can make all the pillows you could ever want in there. Your blanket fort is magnificent, complete with only the softest of blankets and strung up fairy lights and Momo’s loving arms.

Dreams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

For years, Momo’s greatest focus was her hero career – countless hours of study, training, and internships. Her brain was so crammed with the physical composition of everything to really think about a future.

Then you came along. 

Momo doesn’t have any grand fantasies; her reality is already adventurous enough. Her dreams for your future together are simple, humble imaginings not much different from your current life together except for you’re both older. Some silver threading into her dark hair, crow’s feet around your eyes.

Momo wants to continue this life with you for as long as possible. Her dream is to grow old together. Given her profession, she knows all too well not to take any single day for granted.

Simple or no, just thinking about living her entire life with you makes her giddy enough to call in 30 minutes early so she can get home to you faster.

Equal - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

Neither. You’re partners, equals in this relationship. 

She trusts your judgement implicitly. Part of the reason Momo is in a relationship with you is because she respects you and holds you in a high regard. Likewise (and especially knowing her history with second guessing herself), you always ask for Momo’s input on things. 

H o w e v e r, that said, I do believe the roles can fluctuate in this relationship quite a bit. Momo can sometimes be strict with you in the sense that because she thinks so well of you, she knows you can do better and she pushes you. On other days, she herself can be rather passive. The key is communication.

The one thing Momo will never, ever waver on, though, is your safety. She isn’t overly protective by any means but is realistic and practical. And being the s/o of a high-ranking Pro-Hero comes with its own risks. Momo needs to where you’re at and that you’re safe. She personally ensures that you always, always have a way of getting in contact with her. If she herself cannot be reached, she makes sure you have pretty much all top 10 heroes on speed dial.

Seriously. Click any number on your cell. Any one of them is likely to be the personal phone number of Earphone Jack or Shoto or freaking Number One Hero Deku. (Creati is number 1, though. That’s your baby right there.)

Fight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

Thankfully, fights are rare. But when they happen, they’re serious. Extremely so. And honestly? I don’t want to see an angry Momo. 

She doesn’t yell or angry cry or insult you. Her expression is hard, resolute, as she makes her points in the argument while simultaneously cutting through every one of yours. 

Two things make arguments with Momo terrible: One, she’s too damn smart and makes some very good points that are hard to argue with. Two, because she’s smart and makes good points, it can feel like you’re being condescended to you like a child. 

And that never ends well.

Thankfully, Momo has a good outlook when it comes to arguments. She has a “us vs. the problem” mindset rather than a “me vs you” which in itself helps a great deal. Additionally, if she’s in a relationship with you, she knows you very well and can understand where you’re coming from.

That said, Momo is a patient, mature person who prefers prioritizes resolving problems and is quick to put things behind her. She is also very good at apologizing when she’s in the wrong but would expect the same in turn. 

Gratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

So, so grateful.

If anything, Momo is hyper aware of the things you do for her and this in turn motivates her to return the favor a hundred fold. This includes: extravagant dates at fancy restaurants, sending you to a spa when she herself can’t see you, making you tea almost every night, complimenting you when you’re just in sweats and a stained shirt, bringing you shopping for a new shirt and some Gucci sweatpants, taking you to see that movie you looked for to…at its actual screening event!

Momo is pulling out all the stops for you. Is she your girlfriend or your Sugar Mama? Perhaps both.

Every time you do anything for her, even something as small as grabbing something from a high shelf, she thanks you with a dazzling smile. You just make her feel so happy and so loved. Momo can’t thank you enough.

Honesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

Momo doesn’t get into the habit of hiding anything from you. However, that doesn’t mean she shares everything. There are some things she prefers to keep to herself and others she has to due to confidentiality in certain cases. 

She does, however, try to hide her insecurities from you. Momo wants you to see her as strong and capable, an intelligent leader who can be relied on. She’s learned to keep up a strong front, as any weakness a hero displays can easily be taken advantage of by a villain or torn apart by the press. The public needs a strong face. 

But you aren’t the public. Neither are you a villain out to exploit her weaknesses nor journalist looking for more fodder for tabloids. You’re her significant other, her life partner. 

You tell her as many times as she needs to hear this. It takes time and a lot of late night conversations and built up trust but eventually, you two get there.

Inspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

Yes, absolutely yes. Momo learned that her self-worth shouldn’t be assigned to things like being the smartest student or the strongest hero or even as the best version of herself. She alone is more than adequate. 

As was mentioned in Activities, you also split her world wide open and made her realize the bubble she grew up in. It’s made her acknowledge her own privilege in a lot of ways which in turn made her more understanding of society is set up, especially in regards to her hero work. Momo becomes a far more compassionate hero when it comes time to suppress villains, understanding how life circumstances push some to make unfortunate choices. This realization in turn made Momo start finding other ways to help people outside of hero work, such as donating money to rehabilitation programs and advocating for changes in laws that reinforce the status quo.

As for you, Momo taught you how to let yourself be more sensitive and perhaps gentler. You learn to see people beyond the front they put up, how to recognize their insecurities. Your relationship with her has made you more compassionate as well, so that when you see anyone struggling with what your love sometimes does, you’re quicker to offer a comforting word or validation.

Jealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Momo gets more insecure than jealous. Whenever she sees you spending a great deal of time with another person, she questions herself as a partner to you and consequently beats herself over it.

She remembers every canceled date, every missed phone call, every time she’s had to put you - the love of her life - second to her career. Then she berates herself for feeling guilty about prioritizing being a hero, someone who - you know - saves people. Why would she put a relationship before something so important?

But you weren’t just a mere “relationship”; you’re her world. But was she enough for you? How could she be when she was so busy all the time?

God forbid she starts comparing herself to the person you’re spending so much time with, especially if they’re funnier than her or more reliable or stronger or just more available than she is.

It’s an ongoing cycle and is honestly the saddest things in the world to watch, seeing this strong and capable woman destroy herself from the inside out. Unless she catches herself, Momo could potentially start self-sabotaging.

Please sit down with your girlfriend and talk to her. Please hold her hand as you reassure her that she is more than enough. Please have a long, serious talk about this before Momo breaks down.

After a series of conversations and perhaps some compromises in busy schedules, Momo doesn’t feel insecure very often. When she does, she learns to catch it and talk herself through it.

She reminds herself: You knew what being with a hero meant before you agreed to this relationship, and you’re proud of her. Your relationship is strong. You love her. 

And she loves you, too. So much. :’)

Also…lowkey, when she gets jealous, Momo probs spoils the hell out of you. I’m talking date night at a rented out restaurant, private gardens, expensive wine, the works. The most important part being that she’s taken this time for you and only you. 

Kiss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Momo dreamed about your first kiss long before you two started dating, though she tries to deny it with a precious blush across her cheeks. She pictured it after a romantic evening, perhaps at her doorstep, with the moon and the stars and she would hold your hand before gently leaning closer and — 

Yeah, no. Your first kiss was nothing like that. 

It was after a long, hard day of training. Momo was sweaty and gross, covered in dirt, and her body was sore from the extensive use of her Quirk. She was so worn out that she barely even noticed you staring.

And boy, when she did, was she flustered. That is until at her you leaned closer to give her a soft peck on the lips.

“You worked hard out there. I’m really proud of you,” you told her simply.

Momo wouldn’t trade that first kiss for any fantasy in the world. 

Your future kisses, however, are certainly more…ahem. Involved than the first. All this to say…YES, Momo Yaoyorozu is absolutely a good kisser. I refuse to accept anything less and frankly, neither would she. She was shy and demure about it at first but when Momo does something, she does it well. 

Momo masters the art of sweet, lingering kisses that leave you breathless in their intensity. They usually start with a look, her eyes gently darkening as she takes you in. Her hands delicately touch the sides of your face, smoothing your hair behind your ears to allow her a better look. You can feel the flutter of her eyelashes as she leans in, her breath warm on her lips, before she meets them with her own. 

Her kisses are soft and gentle but no less intense. 

When she pulls back with a quiet hum, Momo rests her forehead against yours and smiles lovingly at your (understandably) dazed expression.

Love Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

Momo is so cute when she confesses. I know I’ve gushed about her time and again, and I definitely won’t stop anytime soon. 

Since her feelings for you first began, Momo held them close to her heart even when her mind is in a thousand other places with hero duties. It’s only later when she’s alone and quiet does she allow herself to focus on you – your smile, your sense of adventure, your honesty, the way your eyes light up, how you challenge her to go beyond plus ultra her comfort zone and grow as a person. 

How could someone like you be interested in someone like her? 

These feelings grew and grew, combating with Momo’s private insecurities. The more time she spends with you, though, the less they matter. You give her butterflies, yes, but you make her braver, too.

And brave is what she needs when she confesses.

Momo’s confession isn’t a spur of the moment thing. It’s planned - from the when to the how and even the where. She invites you somewhere private, somewhere she feels comfortable and is also meaningful to you both. Perhaps a garden or in the hidden corner of a tea shop you two frequent.

Momo has an entire speech planned. It’s formal and put together and she has it completely memorized but then –

She meets your eyes and suddenly, despite her ability to memorize the atomic structure of everything, that speech evaporates in her mind. She stutters, trying to grasp at the least beginning, and decides to - for once - let go of what’s “proper”. 

And like Todoroki said…Momo’s speciality is thinking under pressure.

Momo tells you everything: her first impression of when she met you, the first time you made her laugh, the way her eyes teared up during your first argument, her gratitude for that one time you stood up for her against Mineta, all the ways you inspire her, the way your voice is her favorite sound, and how you make her feel. 

You make her so happy and grateful and amused and dizzy and frustrated and emotional. You make her feel confident and so much braver than she actually is.

She takes your hands in hers, holding them like they are the most precious things in the world, and looks at you with shining grey eyes. In those eyes, you see someone so sure and certain of her feelings - her feelings for you.

“I love you, y/n. I love you dearly.”

[taww]

Review: Legacy i·V2 Class D Stereo Amplifier

Legacy iv2 stereo amplifier

The Audiophile Weekend Warrior (TAWW)

TAWW Rating: 5 / 5

Class D power going toe-to-toe with Class A refinement

PROS: Nonexistent noise and distortion; tube-like midrange purity; full tonal balance with stellar bass; effortless power delivery; top to bottom refinement.

CONS: Ever-so-slight reductions in top-end extension, low-level resolution and dynamic life; slight mechanical buzz; binding posts could be nicer.

Class D (a.k.a. switching) amps have been around for decades, but really started to hit the audiophile scene in the early 2000′s. My first experiences around that time were a mixed bag, to say the least. A PS Audio HCA-2 sent my way for review blew its output stage when I powered it up. (In retrospect, my subwoofer setup may have been the culprit.) I wrote a review of the original NuForce integrated amp which, despite some sonic promise, felt like an unfinished product. The $30, battery-powered Sonic Impact "Class T" amp became a budget sensation, beguiling even some SET tube lovers, but its magic quickly ran out if you demanded more than a few watts from it. (The magic also ran out for its chip manufacturer Tripath, which went bankrupt.) And then there was a first-generation Bang & OIufsen ICEPower module, packaged inside an integrated amp by a high-end marque. It sounded pretty bad - dry, grainy, lifeless. How much was due to the ICEPower module vs. the rest of the amp is impossible to say, but it wasn't an auspicious introduction to the technology. Given this checkered past, it's little wonder Class D has been battling a reputation for sonic mediocrity with audiophiles. But new technologies make progress quickly, and the increasing number of rave reviews for the latest and greatest from Hypex, Pascal, ICEPower and others had me wondering... has Class D finally "made it" sonically? My time so far with the ICEPower-based Legacy i·V2 (USD $4,785) has been a pretty convincing yes.

Description

I won’t get into all the history and technical details of ICEpower technology - for that, I recommend this excellent audioXpress article. Of note is that ICEPower, after starting off as an independent subsidiary of Bang & Olufsen, split off into its own entity in 2016. The ICEedge controller chip at the heart of the Legacy amp’s 1200AS modules had been under development for 7 years and represents the latest and greatest iteration of ICEpower’s proprietary technology. It can scale in power from 50 to as many as 7,000 watts, and unlike some of those earlier Class D amps I tried, it has an array of sophisticated control and protection features to ensure smooth, bulletproof operation. In many months with the amp I’ve experienced zero clicks, thumps, signs of oscillation or other hiccups.

A kilowatt of clean power from this one board!

The i·V2 implements the ICEdge 1200AS modules as-is without any bespoke customizations to the circuit. (Note that this is the higher-performance mono 1200AS module, not the less expensive 1200AS2 stereo module that’s much more common.) Some other brands add their own input stage, but Legacy chief Bill Dudleston has opted to keep things stock and simple. You might be wondering, why can't I buy these modules myself then, slap them in a Chinese enclosure from eBay, save thousands of dollars and call it a day? The simple answer is ICEPower only sells them to OEMs, and forbids direct sales to consumers. But Mr. Dudleston also mentioned grounding of the modules as an area of special care, saying they were able to achieve a few dB's of additional noise performance through careful experimentation. At this level of power and performance, the little things matter.

Speaking of enclosures, the i·V2 has an extremely solid all-aluminum chassis with rose gold accent trim and plenty of ventilation around the modules. It's reassuringly hefty at 30lbs/13.6kg, so you wouldn't immediately guess it's a class D amp were it not for the 610W continuous (1000W peak) power rating. There's zero flex anywhere and while I have no idea how sensitive the modules are to vibration, knocking on the chassis gives a satisfyingly dull thud - much superior to anything you'd get on eBay or from lower-priced ICEPower resellers. There's a meter on the front, however this is neither a power meter as on McIntosh, nor a bias meter as on Pass Labs, but a measurement of the available AC power line voltage. There's a small pot on the rear panel to center it, and once calibrated it stays motionless during operation. I'm not really sure of the purpose of it, perhaps to monitor if your power lines are sagging when pulling in excess of the 1200 watts that the i·V2 is capable of delivering. The overall look is nicely done though probably a matter of taste... my wife not-so-affectionately nicknamed the amp "JARVIS" [sic] because the triangular meter reminded her of the yellow mindstone on the forehead of Vision, JARVIS's superhero embodiment in the Avengers movies. In what seems to be the fashion these days, the power/standby switch is located under the front panel, and there's an additional power switch at the AC inlet. One set of very standard 5-way insulated binding posts is provided along with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs. At this price point, I would have liked nicer posts, e.g. Furutech or WBT Nextgen. Not that there's anything wrong with the provided ones, and perhaps these posts were necessary to meet the extremely high power spec, but they feel decidedly prosaic and less pleasant to turn vs. the now-ubiquitous WBT's. A 12v trigger input rounds out the package.

Can’t get enough of rose gold? The i·V2 has you covered.

Setup

I tested the amp in two very different systems: the main reference rig, consisting of PS Audio DirectStream DAC ($6k), Gryphon Essence preamp ($17k) and Audiovector SR 6 Avantgarde Aretté ($25k) speakers; and a second system with RME ADI-2 DAC ($1200), Pass Labs XP10 preamp ($5k) and Silverline Prelude Plus ($2k). As you can imagine, really critical listening was done with the reference rig, but the second setup helped feel out how l the Legacy worked in a less expensive system. Interconnects are my usual mix of Audience Au24 SX and DH Labs Air Matrix; speaker cables were Audience Au24 SX or Furutech DSS-4.1. With the big rig, the Furutech was an excellent match; in the smaller system I used the Audience. I used only the balanced XLR inputs of the amp, so if your results differ from mine and you're using unbalanced RCA, that may be a factor. My system has been fully balanced for several years now and there's been no looking back.

The i·V2 is somewhat sensitive to the choice of power cord. I say "somewhat" because it certainly won't sound wrong or bad with a given cord, the stock one included, but nuances of its presentation can change - bass response, hall perspective, top end extension and soundstage proportion were the most noticeable aspects. For most of the time I was admittedly lazy and used a trusty Audience powerChord SEi without further thought. One day I finally swapped one of @mgd-taww​'s proprietary cords and found it to make a nice difference, which warranted some further tinkering. I found the otherwise superlative Furutech DPS-4.1 to not be a great match - it delivered tons of detail and a huge soundstage, but sounded slightly hollow tonally and lost some of the i·V2's endearing smoothness. The Audience Forte F3 (currently $149) was the big surprise - I actually preferred it to the more expensive powerChord. Audience graciously provided me with a set of Forte F3 cords a few years back when they debuted, but I haven't spoken much about them as I hadn't gotten them to click in my system. With most gear, the Forte was lighter, airier, but lacking some substance and transparency vs. the big-brother powerChord SEi. But with the i·V2, the Forte was surprisingly even better balanced and focused than the powerChord, with a more present midrange, more mid-bass punch and a bit more attack and air on the top end. Some systems and ears may still prefer the more laid-back perspective and silkier top end of the powerChord, but I really liked what the Forte did. At such a reasonable price point, it's a no-brainer upgrade over stock.

Direct connection from the RME DAC worked, but a preamp was much preferable.

A quick word about preamps: you need one with this amp. The RME DAC didn't sound particularly good driving the i·V2 directly and greatly benefited from the Pass Labs XP10. Moving up to the Gryphon Essence preamp was even better, and the i·V2 was more than resolving enough to reveal the Gryphon's substantial advantage in musical resolution and extension at the frequency extremes over the Pass Labs. As mentioned, many purveyors of Class D amplifier modules add their own flavor to the sound with an extra input stage (e.g. PS Audio adds a tube input buffer to the Stellar M1200) and this is one interesting way to go, but my preference would probably be to stick with a vanilla but more neutral ICEdge module as in the i·V2, then tune the system with a proper preamp.

Another setup observation: yes, Class D runs extremely cool vs. traditional amps, but they do still generate some heat and I was a bit surprised that the i·V2 always ran slight warm to the touch, similar to the Bryston 4B Cubed. And sure enough, I measured around 58W of power draw at idle - virtually identical to the Class AB Bryston, or an Ayre AX7e integrated for that matter. The big difference is that the i·V2 will deliver the vast majority of its musical power thereafter into the speakers and not the heatsinks, and temperature rose very little even during some heavy listening sessions. It will never get burning hot, but please don't stick it in an enclosed cabinet - as always, ventilation is still required. If you plan to keep the amp in standby, rest assured it draws only around 0.3W, and sound is delivered almost immediately upon power-up. It does require a few minutes to start sounding its best, but certainly warms up much faster than Class A or AB amps that generally require an hour or more to get close to their full potential.

I do wish the binding posts were fancier...

Finally, while the amplifier is absolutely dead quiet through the 92.5dB-efficienty Audiovector speakers, I noticed a slight buzzing sound from the amplifier modules themselves. It wasn't really audible from the listening position, but you could definitely hear it by the equipment rack. It's comparable to the slight buzz from a toroidal transformer that's dealing with a little DC on the power line, but I'm unsure that is the cause here vs. some intrinsic noise from the ICEPower's switching supply. None of my other components are having this issue at the moment, though in fairness, the Gryphons' exceptional quality transformers that are fully potted and enclosed set a benchmark for mechanical quietness. Not a major issue, just mentioning for completeness.

The Sound

Looking back at my listening notes from the first couple hundred hours of the i·V2's time in my system, it was apparent that I really needed to give the amp more time to break in. I should have known better, as my experience with audio gear employing high-speed switching circuits like DACs and Class D amps is they take a very long time to settle in. The DirectStream DAC needed at least 500 hours to sound its best, and despite cranking the Legacy amp into a 4-ohm dummy load for dozens of hours at a time with my break-in playlist, it took a couple hundred more hours before the Legacy started to click in the reference system. The second system is more forgiving and sounded good earlier on, but I'd still make sure to give the amp many, many hours before passing judgement.

Once that was out of the way, listening impressions were consistent and roundly impressive. Among the Legacy's more enviable characteristics: super low distortion; dead-quiet silence; terrific bass response; seemingly endless power on tap; smooth tonality with no discernible coloration; a surprisingly silky treble and full mid-bass; and a relaxed, slightly laid-back perspective that's a bit less immediate than my Class A amps, but still resolving and involving. Let's delve in...

Head to head with the mighty Gryphon Essence

Tonally, the Legacy struck me as slightly mellower than my reference Gryphon Essence, at least with the Audiovector speakers. I hesitate to say the Legacy is "warmer," or the Gryphon is "brighter.” The Legacy, along with the Gryphon or the Bryston 4B Cubed have less overt tonal coloration compared to, say, the Pass XA30.5 (distinctly but not excessively warm), Valvet A4 Mk.II (more forward in the upper midrange) or Ayre AX7e (crisper and lighter). The upper frequencies were very slightly less prominent with the Legacy than the Gryphon, even though I’d never call the Gryphon bright or the Legacy rolled-off. There’s just a little less air in the soundstage, and instruments with strong HF energy like Donald Byrd’s trumpet in “Witchcraft” (Byrd in Hand, Qobuz 16/44) felt slightly curtailed vs. the ultra-open Gryphon. It might have more to do with the amps’ approach to harmonics than their inherent brightness, which I’ll get to later.

The midrange is smooth and balanced, with a purity that's a step above my aural memory of the Pass and Bryston. As with the treble, it has a sense of warmth and silkiness not for what it adds to the signal, but for what it doesn't. It’s so exceptionally free of any audible distortion that even the lovely Valvet sounded a tiny bit grainy and coarse by comparison. Given that I lauded the Valvet for its midrange purity relative to the Bryston 4B3, which in turn I also liked for its midrange quality, that’s saying something.

Class D amps typically have great bass, and the Legacy didn't disappoint. Earlier in the review period, it easily surpassed the Gryphon in weight and punch, making the Gryphon sound slightly anemic on tracks like Billie Eilish's “all the good girls go to hell” (Qobuz 24/44). It was also more neutral and controlled than the Pass while having even more punch. The Gryphon still has more texture, depth and musical resolution with my speakers, and more recently it has retaken the lead in overall bass response for reasons I'm still trying understand. Either the Gryphon has finally fully broken in its enormous bank of supply capacitors, or improvements to other aspects of the system (e.g. a 20A power line) have favored it. Given that many love the bass performance of Pass Labs and the Gryphon is considered world-class in that regard, the Legacy has to be considered superb, with both the power and refinement to satisfy music lovers across a wide spectrum of genres and tastes.

What really stands out about the i·V2 is how it can combine all of the above qualities with over 600 watts of continuous power, yielding a balanced presentation that's utterly composed regardless of volume level or material. The way it scales its refinement beyond ear-splitting levels makes most every traditional amp seem shouty, edgy or strained by comparison. While the Bryston 4B3 sounded better the louder I played it, it wasn't as smooth and detailed; the Pass XA30.5 got a bit lumpy and loose at the limit; the Valvet gets a little edgy and coarse at moderately high levels; and even the mighty Gryphon Essence can get subtly brighter as you ask more power of it. The Legacy is an effortlessly smooth operator, and I certainly didn't have a speaker on hand that could faze it in any way.

Tradeoffs

Resolution of fine detail is where the Class A stalwarts pull away from the Legacy. There’s a few aspects of reproduction where this exhibits: top-end extension, harmonic resolution, very low level detail and soundstaging, which I’ll attempt to detail...

The top-end is what I would call slightly soft. It's not rolled-off, nor did I find it "dark" as I've seen some people call it. It's more that a level of sparkle and sheen that is subtly omitted from the sound. Instruments like cymbals, triangles and trumpets still have realistic tonality, they just feel slightly softer around the edges. This also affects the feeling of harmonic completeness - the highest overtones of woodwinds are somewhat curtailed. This led my oboist wife to comment that the i·V2 made oboists she was personally familiar with sound even smoother and sweeter than real life, whereas the honesty of the Gryphon Essence gave a more realistic representation.

The Valvet A4 Mk.II and certainly the Gryhon Essence, and by aural recollection the Pass XA30.5, also capture a bit more of the ambient signature in a recording - the "hall" sound, the sense of performers in a space. It’s not that the Legacy is very lacking in this respect, but similar to early SACD players, it does still have a touch of the “velvet curtain” effect where below a certain threshold, subtle parts of the signal seem attenuated. This can also makes listening at very low levels a tiny bit muffled. Resolution is still excellent, at least on par with amps around the $5k price point, e.g. the Bryston 4B Cubed. A pair of Benchmark AHB2’s could be interesting competition, but I haven’t heard it, and it doesn’t have anywhere near the current capability of the Legacy.

The last area where I found the Class A amps superior was dynamic contrasts. Despite the Legacy being the most power amplifier I have ever used by a long shot, it actually didn't sound more dynamic at typical volume than the 50 watt Gryphon, or the 55 watt Valvet monoblocks. Sure, it will play much louder than they can, but loudness isn't the same as dynamics. The Gryphon and Valvet both had a bit more life, a bit more contrast in colors... I hate to say it, but more “PRAT.” I'd put the Legacy somewhere between these amps and the Bryston 4B Cubed, which had a greater tendency to flatten dynamic nuances. (Note: my speakers are quite efficient and tame, so I’d imagine this could be a very different story into something significantly under 90dB/watt and/or presenting a tougher load.)

One more caveat to the above observations: it might be more speaker-dependent with the i·V2 than a typical linear amplifier. Interestingly, I found the i·V2 to kind of be the opposite in terms of speaker interactions and tonality to what I usually experience with my systems. The reference Audiovector speakers, with their ruthlessly revealing AMT tweeters and critically balanced tonality tend to be less forgiving of amplifiers than the much more affordable Silverlines with their soft-dome tweeter. However I actually found the i·V2 to bring out just a bit of upper midrange and lower treble prominence with the Silverline (not a bad thing per se), while sounding comparatively mellow with the Audiovectors. Load-dependent performance is a well-known challenge with the Class D topology, and while designers have found increasingly sophisticated means of mitigating it, it is probably still a factor here, albeit a much more nuanced one than in the past. I have to wonder if this variability is why one still hears of such wildly varying opinions of Class D amps... in any case, an audition with your preferred speakers is highly advisable. 

Further Musings...

The Legacy i·V2's exceptional performance forced me to check my notions of fidelity. In terms of measured performance, it’s among the best I’ve experienced (along with the Bryston 4B Cubed), and my ears registered its sound as correspondingly pure and distortion-free. Could the Legacy's slightly smoother, less bright and less overtly dimensional perspective actually be more accurate than my other amps? It's been shown (by e.g. Nelson Pass) that some judicious 2nd order harmonic distortion can add a sense of dimensionality to a recording, which explains why tubes can sound so "holographic". In the tube case, I find this to be a euphonic (albeit lovely) deviation from the original recording. The Gryphon Essence is also a soundstaging beast, and while it’s far more neutral than any tube amp I’ve heard, could some of its dimensionality also be additive rather than accurate? Could something similar be said of the i·V2 slightly soft treble - is this actually the absence of distortion that exists in virtually all other systems, including the ones used to master recordings? Listening to a bright pop album, e.g. Dedicated by Carly Rae Jepsen (Qobuz 24/44), the i·V2 was certainly more listenable than the crisper and more sibilant Gryphon. On the other hand, the Gryphon has a bracing immediacy, a feeling of being pulled into the mix and enveloped by the music. The i·V2 by comparison is a little tame, a little reserved, perhaps even a tad muffled. Is that extra dynamic verve and contrast I hear from the Gryphon and other Class A amps real, or an artifact? Which is more accurate?

Because of the infinite number of variables in the recording and playback chain, there's likely no clear-cut answer. While no one buys a Gryphon or Pass Labs for the best specs, there’s no denying that the latest crop of Class D amps are on another level of measured performance from old-school Class A machinery. On the other hand, I do feel the i·V2 subtracts a few things from the signal. How much does that matter to your ears in your system? It's a close enough call that I can imagine circumstances of some preferring the Legacy to the Gryphon. For me personally, while I could happily live with the Legacy, I do inevitably find myself returning to the Gryphon for those extra nuances - the fineness of instrumental textures, the palpability of the soundstage, the dynamic inflections - the things that make hifi more evocative of the real thing. 

I recently attended a lovely performance by The Cleveland Orchestra in their summer home, Blossom Music Festival. (Hurray for the return of live concerts!) When I returned home that evening, the Legacy was hooked up in the system. I put on a live recording of the Philadelphia Orchestra - not at all equivalent in venue or performance to what I had just heard, but bear with me - and it struck me that the tonality of the i·V2 was actually quite evocative of the real thing. Live orchestral performances have a ton of energy, and yet they sound so smooth and sweet compared to typical reproduced sound. The i·V2 captured that silkiness to a greater degree than I’ve heard in my system, but was lacking some of the edge and vitality. Switching to the Gryphon gave me more of the excitement of the live event, but tonally it wasn’t quite as spot on. At this point, we’re probably approaching the limits of conventional reproduced sound, so some tradeoff will be necessary. Which one is “better” may depend on your frame of reference. E.g. if you like the neutrality and balance of solid state amps, you'll likely find little missing from the Legacy's presentation; if you favor the tonal color, dynamic verve and larger-than-life presence of tubes, you may find the Legacy a little dull. The very fact that I'm having to finely parse these matters of fidelity and taste is a testament to the overall excellence and refinement of the i·V2. To accomplish that that with 610 watts on tap for under $5k is a significant milestone for Class D technology, and a remarkable feat of engineering.

I must mention the obvious ecological benefits of Class D over Class A - we are drawing literally hundreds fewer watts, we don't need to keep it running or warm it up for extended periods to sound good and we are generating far less waste heat. The electric bill and thus cost of ownership will also be appreciably less. On the flip side, the jury is still out on how long these amps will last, vs. a Gryphon or Pass Labs or Bryston that one can easily imagine humming along for 20+ years. As such, and as is often the case with newer and more commoditized tech, I'd expect resale value to be significantly lower than those marques. Just a couple extra things to consider when you're plunking down a not-inconsiderable amount of money on a piece of kit.

Conclusion

The Legacy i·V2, and Class D amplification more broadly, are emblematic of larger shifts in high-end audio technology. Just as solid state and digital audio took a while to hit their stride and gain legitimacy in the exalted (ok I'll say it, snobby) circles of the high-end, we've hit a point of maturity with Class D where technological sophistication and subjective fidelity can go hand in hand. The fact that I strained my ears comparing the i·V2 to a $24k Class A reference that is far and away the best amplifier I have ever heard in my system is all the proof I needed. For under $5k, the Legacy i·V2 delivers a balance of refinement and power that is unmatched by any conventional amplifier I'm aware of near its price point, and competitive in absolute terms with the better amplifiers under $10k and beyond, regardless of technology. It's a cut above what I heard from the Bryston 4B Cubed, and while I haven't had the Pass Labs XA.8 series in my own room, I would not hesitate to line it up against them. Many may still prefer the more overt musicality of the hot-running Pass behemoths, but my feeling is it'll be more a matter of personal taste or system matching, as opposed to one of absolute fidelity.

I have a few burning questions on my mind now. The first is how Legacy's implementation of the ICEdge 1200AS compares to other ones on the market - could you get similar or even better performance for less? The next one is how does the Legacy/ICEdge stack up against other Class D implementations from Hypex, Purifi, Pascal and others? And finally, I've also heard a lot of wonderful things about the Class H Benchmark AHB-2 from ears I trust. It too is compact, cool-running, superbly specified and relatively affordable, but utilizes a sophisticated implementation of traditional linear amplification technology. I would love to compare and contrast the Legacy with that amp.

In the meantime, I strongly endorse an audition of this amplifier without prejudice. It's a remarkable achievement in amplification - highly recommended!

[douchebagbrainwaves]

WHY I'M SMARTER THAN ONLINE

At the other extreme are publications like the New York Times article about suits would sound if you read it in a blog: The urge to look corporate—sleek, commanding, prudent, yet with just a touch of hubris on your well-cut sleeve—is an unexpected development in a time of business disgrace. So what's going on is that the writing online is more honest.1 Plus they were always so relieved.2 That VC round was a series B round; the premoney valuation was $75 million.3 Many if not most of the 20th. Even if the big corporations had wanted to die. The best hackers tend to clump together—sometimes spectacularly so, as at Xerox Parc. 100,000 people worked there. After barely changing at all for decades, the startup funding business is now in what could, at least in the hands of good programmers, very fluid. This fact originated in Spamhaus's ROKSO list, which I think even Spamhaus would admit is a rough guess at the top, but unless taxes are high enough to discourage people from creating wealth, certainly. But if it's inborn it should be universal, and there are plenty of societies where parents don't mind if their teenage kids have sex—indeed, where it's normal for 14 year olds to become mothers.

So by studying the ways adults lie to kids is how broad the conspiracy is.4 To them the company is now 18 weeks old.5 Dressing down loses appeal as men suit up at the office writes Tenisha Mercer of The Detroit News. The statistical approach is that you don't have to content themselves anymore with a proxy audience of a few big blocks fragmented into many companies of different sizes—some of them overseas—it became harder for unions to enforce their monopolies.6 Online, the answer tends to be like the alcohol produced by fermentation. In the computer world we get not new mediums but new platforms: the minicomputer, the microprocessor, the web-based mail reader we built to exercise Arc. The really juicy new approaches are not the ones insiders reject as impossible, but those they ignore as undignified. Now it's Wepay's. Here's a test for deciding whether a VC's response was yes or no.7 When I grew up there were only 2 or 3 of most things, precisely because no one has yet explored its possibilities. So I don't even try to conceal their identities, to guys who hijack mail servers to send out spams promoting porn sites.

Whether or not computers were a precondition, they have a deal. When I did try statistical analysis, I found practically nothing.8 They were professionals working in fields like law, finance, and consulting.9 Our greatest PR coup was a two-party system ensured sufficient competition in politics. It hasn't occurred in a single one of my 4000 spams. Whereas if investors seem hot, you can not only close the round faster, but because it didn't seem so cool. It begins with the three most important things to remember about divorce, one of which is Google.

Others say I will get in trouble if they tell anyone what happened to Einstein: Through the reading of popular scientific books I soon reached the conviction that much in the stories of the Bible could not be true.10 So if you're going to clear these lies out of your incoming spam. Both changes drove salaries toward market price. A round they often don't. SLAC goes right under 280 a little bit south of Sand Hill Road precisely because they're so boringly uniform. Good PR firms use the same strategy: they give reporters stories that are true.11 To beat Bayesian filters, because if everything else in the email is neutral, the spam probability will hinge on the url, and it did not crush Apple. Unfortunately that makes this email a boring example of the use of Bayes' Rule.12

Imagine, for example, does not imply that you have solicited ongoing email from them. Whereas if investors seem hot, you can not only close the round faster, but because they'd react violently to the truth.13 You can't just tinker. 08221981 supported 0.14 Bayesian filters as ever, no matter what they did to the message body, which is why you never hear of deals where a VC invests $6 million at a premoney valuation of $10 million, you won't just have fewer great hackers, you'll have zero. They shouldn't take it so much to heart. Don't companies realize this is a coincidence. Large organizations have different aims from hackers. Its graduates didn't expect to do the sort of grubby menial work that Andrew Carnegie or Henry Ford started out doing. These companies may be far from failures by ordinary standards.

They'll simply refuse to work on what you like. Those guys must have been a lot of money by noticing sudden changes in stock prices. If we can write software that recognizes their messages, there is no try. And the microcomputer business ended up being Apple vs Microsoft.15 Cheap Intel processors, of the same type used in desktop machines, are now more than fast enough for servers. Microcomputers are a classic example: he did everything himself, hardware and software, and the number one thing they have in common is the extreme difficulty of making them work on anything they don't want random people pestering them with business plans. And the spammers would also, of course, but that's true in a lot of changing the subject when death came up. Which is exactly what they're supposed to help or supervise. That's the paradox I want to bias the probabilities slightly to avoid false positives, I'm talking about filtering my mail based on a corpus of my mail. And the social effects lasted too. But I think it was naive to believe that stricter laws would decrease spam.

Notes

If Apple's board hadn't made that blunder, they can grow the acquisition into what it would be to say that was actively maintained would be investors who rejected you did.

Geshke and Warnock only founded Adobe because Xerox ignored them.

At once, and so thought disproportionately about such customs. Even as late as 1984. But the margins are greater on products. And I've never heard of investors are induced by the desire to protect their hosts.

Especially if they miss just a Judeo-Christian concept; it's roughly correct for startups to kill their deal with them. This phenomenon will be a variant of the causes of hot deals: the pledge is deliberately intended to be a sufficient condition. Icio. The company is always raising money, the last thing you changed.

When Harvard kicks undergrads out for doing badly and is doomed anyway.

Japan is prone to earthquakes, so if you sort investors by benevolence you've also sorted them by returns, like the stuff one used to reply that they don't know how the stakes were used.

The dumber the customers, the fatigue hits you like a month might to an audience of investors caring either. But it's useful to consider these two ideas separately. Our rule is that they have a competent startup lawyer handle the deal for you. It would have undesirable side effects.

And that will seem more powerful sororities at your school sucks, and not to foo but to a study by the time they're fifteen the kids are smarter than preppies, just that everyone's visual piano has that key on it. Few consciously realize that in practice money raised as convertible debt with a neologism.

Apple's products but their policies. These were the seven liberal arts.

Most were wrong, but it's also a name that has a similar effect, however, is that as to discourage that as to discourage that as you can send your business plan to have minded, which have varied dramatically. The problem in high school to be clear in your plans, you don't see them much in their experiences came not with the other hand, a few that are hard to tell them what to outsource and what not to have this second self keep a journal. The problem is not yet released.

And journalists as part of wisdom. If by cutting the founders' advantage if it gets you growth, because you can get it, so they will only be a special title for actual partners. It is probably no accident that the word wealth. So when they were more dependent on banks for capital for expansion.

In a country with a no-shop clause. Trevor Blackwell, who had been transposed into your head.

I wouldn't bet against it either. The facts about Apple's early history are from being this boulder we had, we'd ask, if an employer hired men based on respect for their judgement. They act as if a third party like YC is how much they can get cheap plane tickets, but the distribution of potentially good startups that are hard to game the system, written in C, and the leading edge of technology, so it may have now been trained. Why Are We Getting a Divorce?

The way to do with the solutions.

Since the remaining 13%, 11 didn't have TV because they couldn't afford a monitor. Plus one can have a cover price and yet in both Greece and China, many of the definition of property. The problem is not very well connected. Many will consent to b rather than lose a prized employee.

[luxkpoprants]

10 Things SM could do instead of creating the super boy group

Just to make it clear: I don’t hate any of the idols involved in this. The group honestly looks like my bias list. However, based on their styles and abilities, I don’t think it’s going to be something amazing. So here’s what SM could do instead. 

Get all of NCT, WayV included, for another NCT 2019. Remember how great NCT 2018 was? All the amazing songs? Baby Don’t Stop is one of the best songs NCT ever did. You don’t need to put the members in an entirely different group when there are so many amazing collaborations waiting to happen under the NCT umbrella. Again, there’s no reason to form an entirely new group when amazing collaborations are right under your nose. Give us Ten and Taeyong again. Give us some combination of the 2000 line idols. Give us another Without You. Give us anything. But don’t ignore the potential.  

Let Taemin do literally anything else. The man sings, dances, acts, is great on variety shows. Let him go to a masters class for dance. Let him star on a variety show where he teaches new trainees. Let him promote his damn solo in Japan and get some rest this year. Hell, if you really want him to work with any of the members listed, just do that! Let him do some kind of Station duet with Ten or Kai or Taeyong. Literally anything but this. 

Baekhyun should enjoy his solo. I admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of Baekhyun’s solo debut. However, it was still solid for a first time solo EP, and it seems like all promotions for it vanished into thin air. He did like what, a few music shows and Sketchbook? Come on, I get the timing’s kind of awful, but he could, I don’t know, continue working on solo music through Station at the very least? (I don’t think a full comeback would work given how tight the schedule for the year already seems). 

Kai could join Chanyeol and Sehun and make the SKY unit we all dreamed of. Honestly, why wasn’t Kai added to the line up in the first place? I get that it’s more a rap unit than a dance one, but there’s no reason, literally no flipping reason, that Kai couldn’t develop his rapping or singing chops in a new unit. Maybe that was his choice to not join the unit. If so, why not let him act? Or work on his solo stuff through Station? Three are so many other things he could be doing. 

Renew SM the Ballad or SM the Performance. Look, the collaboration isn’t the problem. I love each of the idols scheduled for the line-up and think they have amazing potential to create something beautiful. My problem is the idea of creating an entirely new, regular group when there are already well-beloved groups established for SM idols to work together. Renew the old Performance or Ballad groups. Those were specialized units which allowed idols of a similar style and ability to work together and promote sparingly in a way that didn’t interfere with their regular schedules. Why not bring that back? Let them work through SM station or have special performances through the SM Town concerts. There are so many possibilities that it’s hard to understand why SM isn’t taking advantage of this instead of creating an entirely new group.

Let Hyoyeon release a full DJ HYO album. From a business standpoint, people argue that Hyoyeon isn’t popular enough to warrant full promotions. I call bull. She’s a member of the Nation’s Girl Group. SM has the power to let her promote, as per the DY HYO Seoul club tour. Let her do that again with a full album! Let her promote on music shows. Anything. And while we’re at it, give Yuri another comeback too, because The First Scene was one of the best releases of last year. 

Super Junior could use a comeback. I’m not a fan of some of the members for their behavior, but the group as a whole could probably promote a little bit. Otra Vez was awesome. Let them do more of that! Or - 

Let TVXQ and BoA become a new group.  Wanna talk about an entirely new group? SM, I’ve got you covered. Your two greatest veterans are just waiting in the wings for a chance to work their magic. We’ve all seen Yunho and BoA in her Only One performances. Do more of that! Hell, they don’t even have to promote in Korea! They can promote in Japan! But let them do something together. Style, talent, and experience are so well matched. Again, I don’t know why this hasn’t been a thing yet.

Give Taeyeon another album.  I know she’s focusing on her mental health, but it’s also obvious she loves making music. She doesn’t need to promote (clearly, given how successful her stuff is without it), just let her get in the studio with some good melodies and send it out into the world. It’s the time for it, since her new show is coming on air.

Finally, GIVE F(X) A DAMN ALBUM.  Look, I don’t care if they make millions. LET THEM RELEASE ANOTHER ALBUM. THEY PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHER GROUPS TO SHINE WITHOUT FITTING INTO THE CUTESY OR SEXY OR GIRL CRUSH. WE NEED THAT KIND OF POWER BACK IN 2019. LET THEM COME BACK, SM, LET THEM COME BACK. 

And that’s it! Ten brand spanking awesome ideas for SM to earn some cash and not create the shitstorm that is this new group. 

I love the members in the lineup, and I know they’re probably really excited to work together. I’d love to see Taemin work with Ten or Winwin, for instance. It just doesn’t seem logical for all these idols - with varying styles (contemporary/futuristic disco - in Taemin’s words - to R&B) to be thrown together when there is so much more potential lying around.  It really does seem like a quick ploy for cash and clout. I’m afraid if SM continues with this trend, they’ll lose the spark of genuine creativity and earnest desire to create good music which makes them so special. 

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Weird “It Honestly Depends”

@insertunoriginalusername gave me he prompt for this idea, I pretty much sat with it as I was working, so they should honestly get most of the credit for this one. Sorry if this one doesn't seem up to scratch, I got really used to writing the exciting Out of Warp Arc in my novel style, and now I have to get used to writing some of the older ones again. Hope you like it anyway :)

“Alright everyone, Quiet down…… I SAID QUIET! Down….” That’s better.

The large semicircular auditorium grew quiet as the assembled students finally ceased their chatter and took their seats, hundreds of legs clattered against the floor, carapace shifted, and mandibles tapped as the students leaned forward in anticipation.

There were hundreds of them with thousands of eyes all staring forward expectantly in anticipation of what was to come. The, small Tesraki professor stood at the front of the room and adjusted his translating device with a thin hand, “Were you all able to purchase the required packet for this moths lessons.”

The room shifted around them with a murmur.

They had, this was a book they actually wanted to read, information they were interested in learning.

“Good.” The professor said, looking around at the assembled students with a critical eye. Most of these students had been previously trained in universities and programs across the cosmos. Some of them had been educated in the old ways of their planets, but as the Galactic Assembly grew larger, and more accessible, more and more students were turning their attention to knowledge gained off world. However, settings like the current one they were in right now, was designed specifically for a high turnover of information. It was up to the students to do with it as they could.

Generally speaking, they would need to be diligent and quick in their studies to complete this course and go into the ensuing fields. Many of them wished to be diplomats, politicians, and cultural scientists, studying other races across the cosmos. This meant learning as much as they could about all existing races and their culture before being allowed into the field.

This week, they were learning about the humans…. Everyone wanted to learn about humans. And, of course, with this species, it wasn’t enough to learn just about their culture. Without the context of the human homeworld, there was no freezable way to understand the human’s culture. Unlike other unites, this unit included, biology, geography, chemistry, and neuroscience, all in order to explain human behavior and cultural customs.

The packet they had been ordered to purchase was an extension of the current texts, and was supposed to contain all the primary research and information currently possessed about humans. Despite more than a few years of involvement with the Galactic Assembly, primary resources on humans and their cultural customs were few and far between. That meant, in short, that the field was open to whoever was willing to take advantage of it. This generation would have an entirely new species open to them, they were to become the primary experts on these strange creatures, the newest diplomats, and some of the greatest historians. Of course, as peace talks with the Drev continued, there would be discussion about them in the future, but with even less information the future was less than certain.

The reading had been more than interesting, but the person who wrote it was clearly not a social scientist or a historian. He was simply a bystander, and most of his observations held clear bias, misunderstanding, and great amounts of confusion. He was a surgeon after all, and not a social scientist. He was also a Vrul, and they weren’t known for their great ability to understand others and their motivation.

Trauma Surgeon Krill of the Vrul had been a member aboard a human ship for more than a year at this point, and his papers were making waves in the scientific community. There was no group of scientists, no discipline that wasn’t interested in what he had to say, even if the information was inaccurate.

Furthermore, the Captain aboard his ship represented the primary source of what they understood about humans. His biological map was the standard for textbooks, academia, diagrams and medical biology. Most of the images they had for their medical information came from that same human, though Krill had included some more images in with his primary sources, and these included estimations on possible human color pallets which was honestly more fascinating than it should have been.

The professor waved to quiet them one more time before continuing, “I know, I know, you are all very excited about today’s speaker, but I must ask you to remain calm and remember to take your turns when asking questions, we cannot have this devolve into pandemonium.” No one said a word, wishing their teacher would just shut up and introduce their speaker already. The teacher looked around at the faces of his students and then sighed, he knew they weren’t going to be able to pay attention until then so, “Alright, since you all seem so eager, let me go ahead introduce today’s speaker.” The teacher shuffled around at the podium for a moment before beginning, “A galaxy renowned trauma surgeon, Dr Krill of the Vrul has spent the most documented tie with a human crew in the known galaxy immersing himself completely in their culture and their habits without returning to his own species for more than a few days at a time. At this current moment, he is the galaxy’s leading researcher on humans, and the author of your packets, if you did not make the connection, so please, help me give a warm welcome to Dr. Krill.”

The room burst into an amalgamation of applause, or the alien equivalent, as a small, many legged form scuttled up to the podium. At the front of the auditorium, a few students couldn’t help but notice the way that the Dr. Moved, in quick short bursts dispersed through long luxurious and stalking movements, unusual for his particular body type. The Vrul didn’t behave like that.

He stopped at the podium two front appendages resting against the lectern with a thoughtful expression, “I am very flattered to have been brought here today to speak with you, but I am afraid my opinions and knowledge will tend to be rather biased in this area of research. You see, when I joined the human crew I had no intention of being this important to the scientific community, and much of the reports that I have written stem from my own understanding and baser knowledge. I think it is important for you all to understand that I do not have all the answers, and am a Surgeon and not a social scientist. Take whatever I say with a grain of salt as is only logical.”

He shifted his body weight from one set of feet to the other, “The first think you must be aware of…. They spend about 10% of their time doing dumb shit, and then they spend the other 90% of their time doing even dumber shit.” He held up a hand to the crowd, “yeah, I know, sounds biased right, but you must hear me out. I have this evolutionary theory, that humans are crazy and have no sense of self preservation, so they evolved to be as indestructible as they are because that was the only way nature could keep their dumbasses alive. I saw this with all the affection in my soul of course, I…. have grown rather fond of the humans.” He stepped away from the podium and began walking up and down the front of the room.

“Humans aren’t known to be good at any one thing. Your species, whatever it may be, has at least one advantage over humans, yet I can tell you that humans will find a way to be better somehow, by cheating. Take for instance, my own species. The Vrul are known for their absolute and completely infallible logic. Well, humans don’t need logic, they defy it with absolutely everything they do. And when logic says that only logic will lead to the correct answer, you end up at that answer only to find a human has already reached it through some completely incomprehensible roundabout thinking. They build the most amazing technology simply because they have no comprehension of what is and is not possible. Everyone in the galaxy knows that  Rundi cannot be outrun, and at short distances, this is even true for a human, but at long distances they can not only outrun a Rundi, but they can probably, set up tea and biscuits for him at the finish line and iron most of his laundry while he is waiting. Humans have no sense of when something is enough, they don’t understand when to stop. For instance the Rundi never developed a way to move faster, why would they need to? Well, the humans don’t get this, they are always trying to go faster and for longer distances at a time, using the least amount of work possible.  I am going to tell you something you aren’t going to like…...”

The class leaned forward in their curiosity, “You are never going to understand the humans. No matter what you do, you will think you know, and then something will happen and you will realize everything you thought you knew was a lie. So I have decided, that I cannot finish this lecture.” There was an immediate murmur around the room as the students protested angrily to his words. They had been looking forward to this. Instead, the Vrul held up a hand to stop them, in such a decisive manner that they were still into thir seats, “I think you will appreciate what I have for you much better. I brought with me a real expert on human culture.”

That must have been a cue as there was a sudden shuffling of footsteps, and the entire room turned to see…. A human, walking down the isle of the room. They all gasped and shifted in their seats in excitement, they knew this human, they knew this human. He paused at the front of the class next to Dr. Krill and leaned himself again the lectern nonchalantly his predatory eyes sweeping across the room in small jerking movements…. The human eye did not move particularly smoothly.

“So, what do you want to know?” The room shifted uncomfortably wondering if the human had heard what the doctor had said about him earlier.

“He’s overreacting you know, Humans don’t do stupid stuff just out of nowhere, well, not generally…. Not all the time anyway…. I mean sometimes we do, but usually we’re drunk, or well… sometimes we aren’t…. … you know what, never mind He’s right, we do a lot of stupid shit, but I think he’s mostly been biased by me. There are plenty of humans that don’t do stupid stuff. I do, all the time, not going to deny that. Questions?”

The room was quiet for a moment and then a student raised a hand, “How do humans greet each other?”

“Oh, that’s easy, you say hi…. Or hello I suppose.” The human tapped his chin, “Well you know, it honestly depends. You can hug someone, or wave at them, or salute, or tip your hat (that one is sort of weird though, or you can high five or fist bump or tackle them or pat them on the back, or a variation or a secret handshake, oh yeah or a regular handshake…. Or there are other greetings, most of them we don’t use, but you can use them and people will understand Yo what’s up, and its variations. I suppose you can also just nod to them though it depends on who they are you use an upward nod if you respect them or a lower nod if you are a little unsure…..” He paused looking around the room at the slack faces and wide eyes, “Um, you know what, disregard that. Say Hello, and offer a hand for a handshake, that will do for pretty much any human.”

There was another moment of quiet before another one of the students raised their hand, “How does one avoid upsetting a human, or insulting them I guess.”

The human sat back against the lectern and frowned, “Um, well that is a massive ass can of worms isn’t it. Well first things first, don’t openly insult or call them names, unless you are friends with them, and then the more vicious the names you call them the better, don’t insult family members, generally most humans are more upset with you insulting people they like. Don’t insult things they like, I suppose unless you are teasing and you have developed a report and they trust you enough to know that you aren’t being a jerk. Um, here don’t talk about income, religion, race, sexuality, political beliefs, money, raising children, the UNSC, the economy. In certain places you need to make sure your shoes are off before you enter a house, don’t point your feet at anyone, and don’t give anyone a rude gesture, so no middle fingers, and sometimes a thumbs up isn’t a good idea.” Again the entire room had gone slack jawed, those who had been taking notes had stopped taking notes, “The captain sighed, why are your questions so damn hard…. Um ok, hard and fast rule is not to talk about religion, politics, or money, don’t openly insult someone to their face, and don’t insult their family. Otherwise you just need to gage a person based on how they are personally, if they are a decent person they will forgive you the first time around because you didn’t know. If they get offended even though you couldn’t have known then they are trash and avoid them."

To the side of the room Dr. Krill had his arms crossed, and a surprisingly human expression crossing his face. No one in the room would have known, but it was likely the expression of someone very, very smug. Now he wasn’t the only one who had to deal with the absolute stupidity of humans and their annoyingness.

The room shifted, hands came up and then went back down, Captain Vir watched in rather sheepish amusement as the students struggled trying to find the easiest question they could think of, and then finally there was a hand.

“How do you know if a human likes you?”

The captain tapped his fingers on his arms, “Hmm, I suppose you won’t.” The class stared on, “I mean sometimes you will and sometimes you won’t. Humans pretend to like each other all the time and then talk behind each other’s backs. I suppose if someone saves your life that’s a good bet that they like you, but then again that may not be true, some people are really moral and will save people they dislike. Perhaps if the human comes to hang out with you, but also if you are in a group they may not like you and they just tolerate you being there for the other people. Some people are better at faking than others. If you are talking to a human and they give you very short curt answers and they don’t make eye contact or stop what they are doing, than maybe they don’t like you, but if they seek YOU out to hang out and seem to do it often, than they probably like you. Oh, you know what, a good indicator is if the human tells you something secret or personal about themselves, they wouldn’t do that for someone they distrust or dislike. Although, don’t feel bad if someone you think you like doesn’t do this, some people are just really private, shy and have problems trusting others completely.”…. “Honestly, now that I think about it, this one isn’t such an easy answer either, you sort of have to gage it person to person.

Around the auditorium, the entire room gave a deep sigh and rested back into their chairs, this was going to be a long evening. Honestly, did they REALLY want to go into this field?

Humans were so complicated after all.

[leveragingliberty]

To The Christian Who Is Sick of Politics

Over the past five years, I have ridden a rollercoaster of emotions regarding the somewhat scary state of American politics.

From my conversations with fellow believers, I would wager many of you have been passengers on a similar emotional journey.

Does any of this sound familiar?...

During the last presidential election, I am emboldened, impassioned, ready to speak my opinion. The stakes are high, and I am not going down without a fight.

When the election is over, win or lose, I am ready to breathe a heavy sigh of relief, hoping to return to normalcy and civility, ready to think about anything but what went on in the oval office.  

As time goes on, and it becomes apparent that peace is not in the cards, my passion dims and is replaced by frustration and disgust.

When my phone buzzes about twelve times a day, announcing another knock-down, drag-out, fight between grown men wearing suits and ties, I consider calling my cell phone company. Did they offer an insurance policy for screens that were cracked in fits of anger? Because if I see one more fake news notification I would not be responsible for my actions.

I decide to stop watching the news because it is bad for my blood pressure.

When I open my mouth to speak my opinion, I am shot down before I can finish my sentence, labeled a “bigot” because of something I don’t believe and didn’t do. I make a pact with myself to never speak of anything political in public ever again.

-I watch in helplessness as everything I stood for was mocked and belittled, dipped into deep, agonizing sadness as evil is paraded around as good.

-This time, as I go to open my mouth, I hesitate. I can either keep talking and get hurt, or I can go quiet and numb, let someone else speak for me.

I convince myself this is ok because no one is listening away.

-The talking heads keep shouting and fibbing and throwing dirt and it’s all just so jumbled and contorted and wrong I want to throw my hands over my ears and scream.

I am disgusted.

I am defeated.

I want to throw a rock at the television.

I am tired.

I am so, so tired.

This is the word I have heard repeated more than any other in regards to this election cycle-tired.

We are tired of the games.

Tired of the name calling and bullying that substitutes for proving your point.

Tired of the loss of logic.

Tired of struggling to know what’s actually happening.

Tired of the lies, lies, lies, told to us with smiling faces and smug, eyebrow raises.

To be honest, I’m tired of trying.

As I have heard a thousand times in the past few months, “I’m just ready for it to be over.”

But as I go to boycott the news, unfollow half my friends, and drown my sorrows in cute kitten videos, I hesitate.

Because this is what I thought four Novembers ago…“I just want it to be over.”

If this past four years has taught us anything, it’s that evil doesn’t give up.

“Win” or “lose,” darkness keeps gnawing away like a cancer, keeps eating away at the foundations of liberty.

And I am a fool to believe that the battle will be over when the last ballot is counted.

What is happening in our culture is so much bigger than a presidential election. This is about a clash of kingdoms. I am not here to discuss the merits of either party’s candidate, this would miss the point.  

I am here to remind myself that whether or not I choose to tune out the news, and disappear into my own little world, America has reached a breaking point.

Whether or not I want to believe it, or ignore it, the decisions of the talking heads behind the screens directly affect my ability, not to practice my faith, but whether or not I am able to publicly share my faith in an unhindered manner.

No matter how politically incorrect this sounds, and how many people stop reading after this sentence, the progressive left aims to systematically strip American believers of the ability to publicly express their faith. They want to label the Gospel, the ultimate expression of love, as hate speech. This is not my “bias” speaking, this is simply true.

We can see it happening right now as Supreme Court hopeful Amy Conan Barrett, is under fire for her Christian beliefs. Her faith may, “hinder her decision-making abilities,” rendering her “unfit for office.”  

If we think hiding in our little corners and ignoring the plight of our sister in the limelight, will save us from the same fate, we make a devastating mistake. (one that has been repeated throughout history with horrific consequences.)

The left has been pounding down the door to religious liberty for years now, hacking into our own back pockets with constant imaging rolling across our phone screens, making court decisions here and there, that may seem far away and inconsequential, but lay the groundwork to flip the legal system in their favor.

Whether or not we are given a four-year extension, someday that door is going to fall. The crushing jaws of globalism are closing in, and no matter how hard we try to wriggle free, one day they are going to shut.  

I ask myself, why does this even matter for me, as a Christian? Hasn’t the church always thrived under persecution? Shouldn’t I be excited to suffer? Ultimately, I am not a citizen of the United States of America. This is not my home. I belong to a separate Kingdom in a totally separate world, to a King who will never let me down.  

Shouldn’t I be justified in closing my curtains, cuddling on the couch with my babies, and watching “Andy Griffith” reruns until Jesus comes back?

It matters because God says it matters.

No, religious liberty is not required for the Kingdom of God to flourish, BUT Paul says something in 1 Timothy that gives me great pause and perspective on God’s view of government.

The Apostle Paul, possibly history’s greatest example of thriving under persecution, specifically commands Christians to pray, “For all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth.”

God is not interested in American democracy because He is very patriotic and wants His children to be able to relax and enjoy life without fear of imprisonment. As John Piper explains, “God approves of our prayers for peace and tranquility because He approves of the advance of the Gospel. Peace is not the main thing; salvation is the main thing. Tranquility is not the goal, the knowledge of the truth of God, that’s the goal.” https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/pray-for-kings-and-all-in-high-positions

Liberty is precious because it is an opportunity. Whether or not we have been taking advantage of this privilege, religious liberty provides an incredible and unique outlet to spread the Gospel. We should desire and seek religious freedom not so we can live comfy lives, but so that we can leverage that freedom to reach as many people as possible for Christ. Before the jaws “shut” and He comes in judgment against this fallen planet, God wants to bring as many people as possible into the Kingdom that will last forever.

So here’s my question for the Christian sick of politics…

 How are you currently leveraging your freedom for the Gospel’s sake?

In your disgust of the current cultural crisis have you inadvertently shut yourself off from the very people you are here to reach?

If you unplug, and go silent now on purpose, you may regret it when you are forcibly silenced by someone else in a few years.

So go..

Speak while you can. Tell that friend who’s been on your heart, talk about Jesus when you’re standing on the sidlelines at your son’s soccer game.

Post while you can. Share that verse. Reshare that link. Type out your testimony.

Do whatever you can WHILE you can!

“Make the best use of the time because the days are evil.”

Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t give up when your darkness got too disturbing? When taking your sin got a little too messy?

God, give us the courage, in a time where we would rather throw up our hands and walk away, to roll up our sleeves and dive into the hard work of evangelism.

Go and love your little patch of darkness into light. Shout into your microphone until it’s ripped from your hand!

And when the hammer comes down and the door to religious liberty splinters on the floor of our nation’s capital, you’ll already know how to fight. Your sword will already be in your hand.

Let’s not waste our liberty, only to discover what a precious thing we had when it’s taken away, “The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Before we can blink, the sound of evil knocking on our doors is going to sound a little different. The believers are going to be feasting with the King and the world is going to be pounding on the doors in desperation, begging to come inside.

And the King will say, “I never knew you.”

When He returns may He find us on the streets, dragging in the lost to the Feast before it’s too late.

So for Heaven’s sake, go vote! Pray for our leaders! Let’s seek to preserve religious liberty for as long as possible.

DO SOMETHING WITH IT while you still have the chance.

Whatever happens in November, don’t disappear.

[whereisjasfher]

Why You Should Travel Young

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things."

Traveling is merely a brutality of humankind, it is when we travel that we view things for what they are and not the way we imagined them to become. Traveling also lets our imagination run wild without expectations, it lets us view things from the brand new outlook, minus the alleged bias of the world. Even though most of this appears to be a decent reason to travel, most continue to be naïve to the idea of travel.

But as the majority are left in the dark to wonder and wander, a few are around exploring and enjoying what the world has to offer them, for it really is in that brief period of childhood that we can truly experience life, even once we know it.

Now the question of lots of remains,"Why Should I Travel Young"? As for me, I will give you one hundred, a million good reasons why you should traveling when you're young but in case you are need to observe the world begins and finishes with your"Wish to See the World" then I'm afraid no amount of justification would suffice to convince one to go after what you desire.

You see, traveling as far since it's a form of diversion is also a devotion, a career to get some, but ultimately, it is a responsibility. A responsibility you should be prepared to take onto yourself. Lots of men and women say that the young people are lucky to have the health and the wealth to see that the world but what they do not see is that the young are more frequently distracted, deceived and sometimes, deluded.

So if you're one of the young'uns who wish to unearth the world's greatest places and learn life's most valuable lessons, but are afraid to make it happen, read along, maybe I can convince you to travel while you still have the gift of youth.

Traveling teaches you a sense of adventure- Don't quote me on this one but based on my experience, traveling allows you to have as much as fun as you want without having to worry of what other people will say about you. You don't have your peers or parents to warn you and judge you, so you can be young, wild and free. Traveling teaches you to be compassionate- Other than the photos, the souvenir and the life-long memory that traveling gives you, it also edifies you of the real situation and teaches you to care for other people, sometimes not of your own kind. But there's also something more important that traveling teaches us, it allows us to be culturally diverse. Whenever we travel, it is important that we follow the local practices of the country/destination we are going to. As the old saying goes,"Respect begets Respect" If we learn how to respect and even appreciate the culture of different nationalities then we become more aware of their own. That's the reciprocal benefit we receive from travel. Traveling makes one attractive because a person- they say that the many attractive people in the world are the ones which have observed it. Can you agree? I really do. It is because of the invaluable and immeasurable life adventures we have with our travels that make us a better person, when you believe you're better, you are attractive. When you travel young, you go longer - let us face it, all of us are bound to grow old and lose our health. However, while we're young and at the summit of that which, it's best to take advantage of it and start traveling, afterall, you are only allowed until your 30s to hike a mountain or ride the rapids of the lake. Traveling makes it effortless to socialize - in case back at your hometown you generally cling to the same set of people bound by a group of friendship, then perhaps you need to travel more often. Traveling is being known among the most effective ways to gain friends and build bonds, even after all, you are all strangers to each other at a point but due to your average curiosity to observe the Earth, you are bound by it at the same time. And get this; wouldn't it be great to have friends in every parts of the planet? This is way cool, way cooler than your friends home. Traveling makes you a much better story teller - You might not understand this now however whenever you have children or acquaintances, you'll. Those who travel young do have more opportunities to experience everything there's for travel. With the numerous states that you've seen and you'll be traveling is just a story waiting to be told. Traveling gives you items to talk about breakfast, dinner, dinner or lunch. Whenever you travel, you won't ever have difficulty considering a topic to speak about; never to mention you'll keep everybody else with your story. Now if for some strange reason, after mentioning all these reasons why you should travel young and you're still not convinced; it's pretty obvious you have a fear inside you that you're only attempting to cover up so everyone won't presume you're a coward who can not face it. Is this fear of heights? Anxiety about the unknown? Fear of being individual? Whatever it will be, realize that travel, especially independently, can help you address that fear. You merely need to just take the big jump of faith and create the first stage to make your own traveling dreams possible. You only live once; and you are only young for a brief period of time, should you choosen't travel today, when?

[calorieworkouts]

Could your need for help make you prey to a personal trainer?

A Customer assistance blog for people looking for a personal trainer

Approx. read time 3.5 min.

If you were on your death bed and also did a supply of exactly how you invested your mental energy as well as time. Would you regret your wellness relevant pursuits? Would certainly you be sorry for the moment invested assuming about what you see in the mirror? how you really feel in your clothing? as well as how much time you've provided to losing weight?

One of the greatest time/ power wasters worldwide is failed efforts at becoming healthy. It's becoming simpler to understand how this occurs offered the sea of crap you have to sort via in order to find info that'll aid you in any type of longer term capacity.

This summertime I was playing on my Monday evening softball group with my better half as well as in-laws. In this league you pitch to your very own group however they have a policy where if the batter strikes the sphere as well as it touches a bottle, you're immediately out. It's a foolish rule ... So we were shedding by 4 runs and my partner depended on bat ... So normally she drills a ball right up the middle and skims it off my leg! Should be an automatic out according to the regulations yet nobody really seemed to discovered. I would certainly have been the next batter up and also I was one swing away from binding the video game! Every part of my soul intended to close my mouth and also rise and crank a dinger ... However I told the reality ... My other half was out and also the video game mored than. After that I sustained a strong 20 mins of people declaring their distaste for my presence (I'm 50% joking).

Normally with softball there's an umpire to take the brunt of what my household could dish out but because we play in such a rinky-dink organization, we had no umpires! Business is the very same means, if somebody exists, rips off, takes as well as misinforms, there is no affordable means to maintain them accountable.

The fact is that people are flawed and also the only point that's maintains us from acting in the most effective passion of ourselves is a strong value system.

" if you tell the reality you never need to keep in mind anything" mark twain

This all seems quite evident, but when you are harmful, weak, unfit, obese and/or needing to make some modifications to your health then you're most likely going to approach your following health and wellness endeavour from a setting of humbleness. This is an advantage, unless you're engaging with health care that reveals 1 or 2 of these kinds of bias.

The FIRST kind of prejudice we are utilized to seeing. That's health care practioners being improperly incentivized to place your needs (short term and long term) at the centre of your care. This is the medical care matching to your loved one hitting you with a baseball and also being crazy at you for not lying regarding it after (sorry Laura). It's not completion of the world, you may also obtain pretty suitable service, it's just struck or miss out on and also it likely will not be the best ... As an instance, picture a gym where personal trainers are required to educate their customers a minimum of twice each week( this is very typical). Seems sensible yet if at some point you'll see the individual trainer bugging you concerning booking additional sessions when you have actually gotten unwell or taken a week off for Christmas. It additionally eliminates the possibility of your ever before lowering your training regularity. What if you intended to training twice a week by yourself (when you're all set) yet just when per week with your personal trainer to maintain you accountable?

The SECOND kind of prejudice you'll require to be wary of, is the level of 'individual excitement' the individual you're eating from has. Whether it's your personal instructor, a writer, a YouTube blogger or your vegan cousin who does crossfit( yikes). Personal interest and interest often look the very same yet the certainly aren't! These fitness instructors likely aren't experienced enough to see what takes place beyond of these overly passionate health searches. Everybody done the pendulum ... This is when you take place a wellness fad and after that discover on your own neck deep in Haagen Dazs on the brink of diabetes only 3 weeks later on. This kind term pendulum can take place in a long term feeling to, I've seen lots of individual instructors eliminate their profession by obtaining fat after 5 years of only salads.

Find someone who's in fact buying their occupation as a personal trainer.

A great deal of people end up being individual trainers due to the fact that they find health and fitness, enjoy with it, see some results and after that they decide it's time to make some loan out of it. A WHOLE LOT of trainers picked this job path out of some sort term personal enthusiasm, not because they're legitimately aiming to develop a solid reputation as a legitimate personal instructor. Like these folks

What do the most effective personal fitness instructors look like?

There a lot of specialist profession trainers out there that have a passion for assisting their clients to satisfy (as well as exceed) their assumptions. These fitness instructors are all incredibly evidence based with just how they come close to research as they establish and refine their training styles. Finding a personal trainer with worths such as this in a center that incentivizes them to continue to develop those worths is the wonderful area when it comes to customer service.

Concluding Cautions:

Whenever you're coming close to anybody or anything that could assist you with your wellness as well as performance, ask yourself this. Does this audio like a passionate practioner that has developed their enthusiasm on engaging proof? Or does this appearance extra like someone attempting to earn a living offering their personal enthusiasms?

[tantkill]

Misconception: Kirigiri is cold-hearted, manipulative and utterly lacking in emotions or sympathy for others outside of their use to her in solving mysteries

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT KIRIGIRI ||

This is honestly the greatest misconceptions regarding Kirigiri mostly because the ones who believe this only go by how wikipedia writes her, as well as watching only the anime. Yes I say this because of how little information we are delivered in the anime and that’s why watching the anime is the WORST METHOD of getting interested in the Danganronpa cast. Kirigiri is one of the characters where you’ll fail to receive much and just reduced to a tacky summary in the animation while the gameplay offers more about her character, especially the Free Time Events ( believe me, Wikipedia of these characters is not going to give the true depths about them AT ALL ). Even watching a gameplay on Youtube is a step of improvement into understanding these characters since they upload the most important part of these characters: their Free Time Events. Wikipedia is a site where you can edit it as much as you want so are you going to entrust the word of people who possibly have a bias on the characters? Nope so the game is the only means of understanding! Now that I’ve added my little touch to how I feel about the birth of this misconception in full, I’ll be proving that this is a false misconception with actual game screenshots!

Kirigiri is cold-hearted and utterly lacking in emotions or sympathy

It’s a crime apparently to most people of a character being mysterious or the capability to conceal her emotions while misinterpreting it as being ‘cold-hearted’. The whole concept of Kirigiri concealing her emotions and hiding them is by how she stated that people who are far worse are capable of taking advantage of it. Her movements itself don’t ever suggest Kirigiri had ill-intentions from the start nor was she obligated to reveal it before people who were supposedly ‘strangers’ from the beginning. She acted upon an instinct where there’s no gain from letting others you don’t know how you’re feeling, especially if you’re being foolishly open. It sounds harsh coming from her mouth by how she stated it to Naegi but really she’s trying to properly educate him how his trust can be taken advantage ( spoiler alert: Maizono did just that and it basically opens a wound that guess what was mended by? 

Kirigiri herself. Quite frankly, she wasn’t too thrilled to speak ‘noble’ of someone who did implant betrayal as being someone who experienced that kind of sensation…knowing how unpleasant it feels but the relation itself is what made Kirigiri feel she had to ) Being in a killing game doesn’t necessarily entitle every person to be absolutely trusting or kind to everyone. Everyone had their distrust and it expanded with every killing. If Kirigiri was being cold-hearted, you’d think she would make it obvious by fully interacting with everyone but she kept herself distant because of her condition. Kirigiri had practically her entire existence erased from her, subconsciously enacting her detective skills as if it was second nature, all the while keeping a cool head during the trials. She didn’t have a reason to not act as if she wasn’t cold-hearted but also displayed no such thing. Even Kirigiri’s intention of speaking with Naegi to move forward the betrayal he underwent showed the consideration she carried for him. From the beginning of the trial, she asked for him to figure it out and uncover the truth. 

Sure the results of it might have left a scar but Kirigiri acknowledged the potential of his ability and went far to say ‘he was the kind of person they needed in order to press forward from this desperate situation’. I’m pretty certain this is another demonstration of Kirigiri’s attempts at being sympathetic all while pushing Naegi to move past those deaths. No, it wasn’t an enforced means of looking at it that way. This was a foreshadowing of the toll it’d take for Naegi to carry everyone’s deaths: SURVIVOR GUILT WILL BECOME HIS DESPAIR ( this was seen in Naegi’s brainwashing film in DR3 Future Arc where Kirigiri tried to make him move forward these deaths instead of keeping them; keeping these deaths will pile up and believing this was all his fault ). KIRIGIRI IS AWARE OF THE TOLL EMOTIONS HAVE ON ANOTHER PERSON BECAUSE, AS WE SHALL SEE, SHE DOES POSSESS EMOTIONS.

Now let’s move on to the ‘UTTERLY LACKING IN EMOTIONS AND SYMPATHY’ part… 

Ahhhh Kirigiri is comical enough that she humors people who have this misconception with her own intake about the matter. This is why I adore her to bits for practically saying ‘How clever of you to say such things when I have already stated before I don’t need to entertain your type of ideal waifu by being heavily emotional. What part of I prefer to conceal my emotions do you not understand? You realize characters like this exist right? No? Okay then’.

Apparently characters who have a stoic/enigma trait going about them, or the favored kuudere personification, are charged with being uninteresting or something is wrong with them for not being the emotional messes tsundere characters tend to be. Kirigiri’s Free Time Events gives us a more thorough understanding that she constantly emphasizes about being the kind of person who doesn’t wish to expose her emotions. She accepts these circumstances, accepts this motive for hiding them even if she acknowledges the other’s people intake on the matter, all while shooting down their assumptions. Without fully knowing she was a detective who did this for good intentions, Kirigiri was aware of taking this perspective when communicating with other people. 

As stated before, they were PUT IN A KILLING GAME WHERE YOU WERE FOOLED TO BELIEVE THEY’RE ABSOLUTE STRANGERS AND MEMORIES OF BONDING WITH A HANDFUL OF EACH OTHER WERE TAKEN AWAY. Enoshima’s drive for manipulating everyone into accepting the motives and killing their own friends was a sadly successful tactic, dividing them at every chapter though they struggled to try and put some amount of trust. Each time, their trust was sourly mistaken which is what made the despair grow around them until the sixth trial. 

Knowing this, Kirigiri instinctively knew this predicament felt like something similar and why she presents herself with this stoic persona while trying to solve the mysteries surrounding the school. Her motive was to obtain her memories as there wasn’t a reason to fully state it when someone must have been behind their ‘imprisonment’. Every character had a practical excuse for behaving as they did: wary of one another and only communicating with who they felt to have bonded with. Kirigiri, on the other hand, was only seen speaking with Naegi alone because of his foolishly open book persona. That itself gave her the confidence into at least cooperating with him, however she rarely expressed her emotions. This ties with her profession as a detective and we shall see why it connects to how Kirigiri’s personality is shaped. She didn’t become ‘emotionless’ as a way to make enemies. Rather, the following gives us an understanding to why she hides her emotions. She clearly states…

Reading your emotions easily by the enemy is the worst predicament for any good detective. In other words, Kirigiri won’t let someone who is the culprit to know what she’s capable of feeling. Reading her like an open book means inviting a chance at outsmarting her or the worst case scenery ENDING HER LIFE. People keep neglecting the motives behind Kirigiri’s ‘concealment of her emotions’ by forgetting she’s a detective. Even her views of what a good detective is not out of mocking or degrading other fellow detectives; this is simply stating her pride as a Kirigiri detective. She states along Chapter 6 during her aiding Naegi from escaping the trash pit about her pride as one. Her family had always taken pride in their legacy and mentioned it was SACRED. This is everything Kirigiri is, thus making her character of the stoic woman who people don’t appreciate or misunderstand to great lengths.

Kirigiri is manipulative…for others outside of their use to her in solving mysteries

It’s crucial to see Kirigiri’s standing of her neutral alignment as it plays a part to how she sees herself when it comes to a person. Being manipulative isn’t part of a neutral state where she doesn’t benefit from doing it as a means to obtain the absolute truth. People argued she was during the Fifth Trial because Kirigiri went against Naegi. Immediate standing goes to Naegi because he’s the protagonist and it seems like Kirigiri was playing a Maizono ‘backstabbing card’ against him. That is where PEOPLE ARE WRONG TO MAKE THIS ASSUMPTION. 

Kirigiri didn’t manipulate as the trial itself was a manipulation itself to turn the outcome under Enoshima’s favor where she was looking for a viable reason to execute her. People didn’t play the game if they can’t understand the reasons behind Kirigiri’s attempts at pointing the finger at Naegi was due to this being a trial that ends the mystery all together. She acknowledges in putting the mystery above saving Naegi’s life but truthfully THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY. If you chose to pursuit the lie, there’s the bad ending for you if Kirigiri dies. In reality, this trial’s evidence was manipulated by Enoshima though Kirigiri manages to at least witness how screwed up it was which is why she’s desperately trying to survive. If we’re going for the anime, before the trial begins, she states to Naegi how this would become a trial that determines her survival and how she must come out of it alive. She realized the absolute truth behind it and it honestly pained her having to choose her own life against Naegi. In the end, Kirigiri jumped god knows how long that fall was without hesitation and saved Naegi from starving to death. 

tltr; kirigiri is not cold-hearted, nor manipulative and utterly lacking in emotions or sympathy for others outside of their use to her in solving mysteries. she is a complex character who carries a stoic persona though when you truly earn her trust, kirigiri shall bless you with her emotions and not betray you.

[joyofcrime-elinorhigh]

Top 10 Toonami Ad’s of the [adult swim] Era.

Hello there, everybody. My name is JoyofCrimeArt and gosh darn it, if the Nostalgia Critic and Watchmojo is allowed to review advertisements and trailers then why can't I?! This list is not to niche, YOU'RE TO NICHE!  Anyway, if you've read the title you know that this is my first every top ten list! Yay me! Every reviewers got to do one at some point, am I right? Now for those of you who do not know last Friday (March 17th, 2017) was a very special day. Besides from being St. Patrick's Day it was also the twentieth anniversary of a little known television block known as Toonami. In case your not in the know, Toonami is an action animation block that ran on Cartoon Network from 1997-2008. This block purpose was to bring action shows (primarily anime) to the television audience of the late nineties and early two thousands, and judging by how long the block ran I assume it did a pretty good job. Toonami was one of the main sources of anime entering the United States in the time before the internet was widely accessible. It introduced a young generation to action shows and anime, airing series like Dragonball Z, Naruto, One Piece, Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing, and Justice League, just to name a few. But it wasn't just the shows that made the block last so long. It was the personality.  Toonami had two things that a lot of other blocks at the time didn't possess. Aesthetic and Tone. The block started off being hosted by a Moltar, a character from the Cartoon Network original series Space Ghost: Coast to Coast. However in 1999 this changed when the block got it's new host, who was not connected to any other series. This robot's name was TOM, voiced by Sony Strait and later on (and more famously) the legendary Steve Blum. There was also SARA, an artificial A.I who would help TOM host. This is wear the block really began to gain it's identity.  One of the greatest thing about the block were the way that it did it's promo's. All Toonami had to do was air the shows, but they did more than that. They had game review, where TOM would give his opinions on the hottest new releases. They would have speeches where TOM would talk to the viewer directly about topics like courage, anger, and individuality. They had what they called "Total Immersion Events" where we got to see some of the adventures of TOM and SARA, often leading to a new redesign of the block and characters. Not to mention just the promo's they had for the shows themselves which, using a combination of masterful editing, awesome music, and often times an epic announcer voice. They even had anime music video's that They were more then just ads, they were experiences in there own right. It's something that's hard thing to explain without seeing it but trust me, these ads knew how to build up hype.  Toonami ended on Cartoon Network in 2008 after an eleven year run. But despite this the fan base was still there and in 2012 adult swim aired one last night of Toonami as part of there yearly April Fool's event. The fan support for this surprise marathon was so great that about two months later Toonami was brought back on adult swim. It stated small but since then the block has grown to heights that rival it's heights during the Cartoon Network days making it one of the only revival to actual be as good as it's original run. This adult swim era is the era that I am the most familiar with, because despite all my talk about the early days of Toonami I didn't really watch it all that much back then, and most of that stuff I mentioned was stuff that I learned about later. The adult swim era is the era of Toonami that I actually watched some of.  So thus, to celebrate the blocks 20th anniversary (or 16th if you don't count the years it was off the air) I present you with the top ten Toonami ad's of the adult swim era. Because these ad's are so thought out and epic that they warrant discussion. Plus I want to show my love for one of the last great blocks on television. Why am I only doing the adult swim era ad's though? Well, a lot of the older ads are either hard to find online or in really poor "ripped from a VHS tape" level quality. (Plus I...I can't watch 11 years worth of ad's.) Also there will be some rules to this top ten list. 1.) I won't be counting game reviews or Total Immersion Events. Game reviews, while neat, aren't necessarily going to stand out that well in the "epic or thoughtful" category and Total Immersion Events don't count because there increased budget gives them an unfair advantage. 2.) I will be judging this by the quality of the ad, not by the quality of the show or film itself. Toonami's had some not so great shows that they were able to make look great with the use excellent editing. And they've also had some great shows with less than great ads. And 3.) If there are two or more ads that I like, but like for the exact same reason, only one get's to be on the list. I want to encourage diversity on my list, plus it be boring if I had to write two nearly identical explanations on why I like two different ads. Hope that makes sense. Also there might be a little bias for shows I like, because me having a connection to the show will make me more likely having a connection to the ad.  But I'm still counting down the ad, and not the show, so keep that in mind. When your doing an opinionated top ten list, it's kinda inevitable that some person bias will leak through.  Also keep in mine that this is just my opinion, so try not to take any of this to seriously. Also keep in mind that I'm the type of guy who's opinions change really often and thus sucks at ranking things. While the list is ranked this is more designed to simply show off the best of Toonami, and the exact numbers could change day to day with me. Anyway I hope you enjoy the list. And if you have no idea what Toonami is maybe this list will help show you why I and so many people love it so much. (Cause otherwise you'll just wonder why this weeb is so infatuated with advertisements.) Anyway, onto the list! Number 10: Akira Long Promo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpJvCbXH6Hw

This ad is a great representation of what makes Toonami promo's so special. While I haven't seen it yet, Akira is one of the most well known and critically acclaimed anime movie of all time. So it makes since that the people behind Toonami would want to put there all into the promo for it, out of respect for the film and it's legacy. And it shows. Everything about is this ad just screams "epic." The ad starts off silent with only the recurring noise of an explosion in the background, only for the actual dialogue to begin at the twenty four second mark. This allows the tension to build more and more as it creates a sense of impending danger. The promo continues to slowly show more and more of the action, but doesn't go all out until the one minute twenty second mark were the music get's ramped up as the ad reaches it's climax. It's interesting to note that the announcer for the ad calls this "one of the greatest animated films of all time." not "one of the best anime films of all time" but "one of the best animated films." period. Toonami's ad's don't usual say stuff like that, only doing it for really big series and films. That line makes it feel like this film is important! You have to see it, just to know why it's ranked up there as one of the best animated films. The ad closes on another quite moment causing the whole ad to sort of book end itself. This ad honestly feels more like a film trailer than a normal Toonami ad. This is likely due to the lack of many "Toonami" elements. The words at the end aren't in the standard blue and white text, which was common in Toonami ad's that came out around this time. The ad is able to make the film seem epic and important, while leaving a lot of mystery on what the plot is. That is why it earns the number ten slot. Number 9: The Bullies Speech   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfjHN52SVhE

  Stepping away from the super action heavy side of Toonami we have the Bullies Speech. Really this speech is tackles a very basic issue, and a issue that's been discussed by after school specials for decades. However what makes this speech stand out from those cliche specials is the sincerity and the realism of it. The speech doesn't feel like it's talking down to the viewer. Part of the reason for this is because unlike most of those after school specials, this speech is targeting adults. That alone brings up a point that many other things with a bulling moral doesn't point out. That bulling doesn't stop at high school. Also it takes a bit of a more realistic look at bulling by pointing out that A.) bullies are often victim of bulling themselves and not always the generically evil characters that they are often portrayed as being. and B.) Most of the time the only way to stop bulling is to stand up for yourself and not like other people decide how you live your life. It gives a valuable lesson about bulling in just one minute and doesn't come off as cheesy as all. That's hard to do. And for that it get's the number nine slot. Number Eight: Samurai Jack Final Season Long Promo 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtgXDiXr-0M

 This one is kinda cheating because this was originally made as a standard adult swim promo. However, they did make an updated version of it, with the only difference being at the end where they say "on Toonami" instead of "on adult swim" so it TECHNICALLY counts! Also in terms of editing, tone, and style it is much closer to a Toonami ad then an adult swim ad. Also this ad is great and I want to talk about it. This ad had a lot it had to do. It was the first real big look at the new season of Samurai Jack. And while hype would be there for this season regardless of the ad, people had been waiting thirteen years for this. And so the ad had to make it all seem like it was worth it, and get the show the hype it needed to justify adult swim taking a chance on it. This ad starts with long establishing shots and not a lot of action, much like the show itself. Pretty similar to the Akira promo in that regard. But then half way through the action picks up, all to Jack's narration which is a really nice touch. It manages to give hints about the plot of the season, while still leaving in the element of mystery. Like obviously it's showing that those female warriors are going to be our season big bads, but who are they? Why isn't Jack using his sword? Does he even have his sword? So many questions are brought up, that we know the answer to now, but not at the time when this trailer came out. It's in a way where it makes you excited to see where the show is going to go. There's also that bit at the end where Jack is speaking the intro to the theme song, and I can't decide if it's cool or just kinda cheesy. (Though I am leaning towards the cool side.) However, wouldn't it be great if after Jack says "Got to get back. Back to the past. Samurai Jack" we just heard Jack say "-Samurai Jack. Jack. Jack Jack Jack Jack-" in Phil Lamarr's stoic, deadpan Jack voice doing the will.i.am cover! Yeah...It not doing that is why it only get's the number eight slot.

Number Seven: Dragonball Z Kai Promo  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlHQ3aCLB-M

Okay, how to do I "screaming and punching is really awesome" and make it come off as analytical and thought out....  It could be argued that Dragonball Z was the biggest show in Toonami's original run. You could make an argument for Naruto and a few others, but Dragonball Z was one of there big series. When Toonami came to adult swim EVERYBODY was waiting for them to announce that they would be airing DBZ again. And thus, when DBZ Kai did come to Toonami, it made sense for them to make a promo like this to hype people up even more. This ad does a lot of things well to encapsulate a lot of what people love about DBZ. From the slow build up as Goku charges up him famous Kamehameha attack, to the fact that we see clips from the Saiyan, Nemek, and the beginning of the Android saga. That's 64 episodes! Usually a Toonami ad will only use clips from the first couple of episodes. But, I guess since so many people have seen DBZ they didn't care about spoiling it. But the upside of this is that the ad can use clips from several of the series best fights, giving the ad an interesting dynamic compared to other Toonami ads. The ad is able to use different kinds of fights, from giant monster, ki battles, and hand to hand combat, allowing this ad to almost act as a "best of" for the series. The only part I'm not so sure about is the line where they say "and there kicking even more ass this time." To me it came off as a bit cheesy. Also there is this air of smugness when they say "The way it was meant to be seen. Right here. With us." You don't own Dragonball, Toonami. Dragonball belongs to the world! But yeah, the ad's ability to use such a massive array of clips is what gives it the edge in this countdown. They were able to highlight all the best points of the series, and show what it is that makes Dragonball Z so well known, and so beloved.  ...But let's be real. The main reason it's on here is because of all the screaming and punching. Screaming and punching are just cool! That's a scientific fact! Number Six: Attack on Titan Promo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH1DH8jiy5A

With Attack on Titan being one of the biggest Ha! Ha ha ha, I'm going to go fu*king kill myself now- anime series to come out in recent history, this ad delivers in selling the show to people who may of heard of the show through word of mouth as "That zombie show, only the zombies are giant naked people without genitals cause anime is weird." This was one of the last ad's to have the announcer explain the plot of the show Some still do, like the Dimension W promo, but there a lot rarer now. It's really a shame because I really like the "voice of God" style trailers, and this ad is a perfect example of why it works. The announcer explains the plot perfectly, while describing the titans in such a sinister fashion that it almost makes you forget the fact that giant man eating naked people without genitals is kinda silly! Still though, this ad is great. It tells you everything you need to know to get the basic premise of the series in just a minute and a half long run time and really works on selling the show for any new comers. The orchestration in particular has the exact right combination of both epicness and dread to really set the tone. You instantly get the story, set up, and motivation of the main character all in one minute and a half long promo. And the ad concludes with Eren Jaeger screaming like a psychopath in that classic Eren Jaeger way. There's no way you can watch this and not get even a little pumped, right? I can't be alone on this. Hey, do you know that the voice of Eren Jaeger in the English dub of Attack on Titan is the same voice as Cat Noir in Miraculous Ladybug? Knowing that makes both shows a thousand times funnier. Anyway, onto number five.

Number Five: The Positivity Speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbN6bqkfjc8  Positivity is something that I feel is something that is very easy for a lot of people to lose sight of. Especially recently, making this speech hold a lot of extra impact. So many people these days believe the cynicism or nihilism is the "smart" way of thinking. And while everybody has a right to there own personal philosophy it has never been something that I agreed with. Positivity, at least to me, has always been very important. And this ad helps show why. One thing that really sticks out to me with this ad is the music the plays throughout the first act. One thing that Toonami has always been good at, is the music. This track in particular really fits the tone of the ad. There's also some stand out moments with the clips. Like the part wear we see Eren Jaeger's face smash against the ground, only for us to see him gliding later in the ad. Symbolizing how life can sometimes feel like a giant obstacle, only for you to surpass it with the right amount of effort. This is my favorite Toonami speech, and I always feel in a good mood after watching this ad. It just has this nice feeling to it, that I just really appreciate. It's a great thing to watch when your down, to remind you to always look up. That's why it earns the number five spot. 

Number Four: Space Dandy Long Promo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSWP5_WKeuE  Most of the time Toonami ad's do a great job at making a show seem epic. This ad, however, does not try to make this show look "epic" at all. Rather this ad tries to portray the show for what it is. A wacky, over the top, crazy good time. The difference in tone really helps the ad stand out from other Toonami promo's. There are also some other unique things about the ad, like how instead of having the standard Toonami narrator it has the narrator from Space Dandy. (For those who have not seen the show Space Dandy is a lot like Powerpuff Girls, in the since that the narrator is a character who interacts with the show.) Also this promo features the licensed song "I Turned into a Martian" by the band The Misfits. The songs fast pace really helps fit the wild and crazy feel of this ad and the show it's self. This is another promo that also does a good job explaining to the audience what the show is and what the basic premise is. (Basically It's Johnny Bravo in Space) My only criticism of this ad is at they end when they say "from the creators of Soul Eater, Full Metal Alchemist, and Cowboy Bebop" which I find a little misleading. It is from the creator of Cowboy Bebop but it's only from the animation studio that made Soul Eater and Full Metal. Not the creator.  Space Dandy is my favorite show that I have seen on Toonami (Trust me, the show is smarter then the ad makes it looks. I promise!) So there is a bit of a bias there. At some point I'd love to make a review for the show proper so I can talk about it in more detail there. But either way, this is a great promo for it, and it get's the number three slot! Number Three: Moltar's Transmission

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJLDK8j_HnA

So as I mentioned previously Toonami was originally hosted by Moltar from Space Ghost: Coast to Coast before switching to TOM in 1999. Moltar was voiced by voice actor C. Martin Croker, who tragically died on September 17th, 2016 at the age of 54. Thus, in tribute to him, Toonami made this little bump to honor his legacy. The third and fourth season of Space Ghost Coast to Coast is one of my personal favorite seasons of television, so it was nice to see this tribute to him (I haven't seen much of the later seasons.) Also without him there may not of even been a Toonami in the first place, so it's nice for his impact to be acknowledge. Moltar was rarely mentioned after TOM took over, as the Toonami crew wanted to differentiate themselves from the "Coast to Coast" brand, and as such we never got to see any interaction between TOM and Moltar. This ad is really are only peak into there relationship and it's great to see. Toonami's Moltar was very difference from Space Ghost's Moltar, as the crew has stated they didn't really want to use Moltar in the first place, again because they wanted there own feel. But it's nice to hear from this Moltar, who seems a bit more of an in-between between the two interpretations. The lack of music also helps with the solemn and It's nice to hear that in-universe Moltar get's somewhat of a happy ending, and isn't imprisoned by Space Ghost. The only part that is a little jarring (And this is a small nitpick, please don't think I'm a jerk) is seeing the Moltar animation from 1997 next to the 2016 animation of TOM. (Although I acknowledge that it's the best they could do, as I wouldn't want them to cut the scene of us seeing Moltar.) Anyway this tribute is great, and could be argued to being the best Toonami ad. I simply made it number three because this type of thing isn't what you tend to think of when you say "Toonami." Anyway, on to number two! Number Two: Get Busy Living (Music Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT_tyeQMNr0

 And speaking off death, that brings us to our next entry, the "Get Busy Living" music video. Probably the most unique Toonami ad there is, this music video provides us with some of the most interesting visuals that a Toonami ad has ever offered us. Most Toonami music videos just use clips from the show over some music as a well to tell some kind of story, or express some kind of theme. But this ad does something completely different by having the clips on top of other clips, and having different filters on top of those clips. This trick, which sadly hasn't been done since, adds layers to the visuals and the experience as a whole. Then there's the theme and message of the music video. A rather often talked about but still important message about human mortality, and making the most out of life. There have been Toonami ad's that have touched on this topic before, like the "Live Life to the Fullest" music video, but none has done it as well and as creatively. As someone who thinks about death a lot, this video is...oddly comforting, in a weird kinda way. Also I find it kinda weird that, for a video that tackles such a serious subject matter the show that most of the audio and visuals come from is...Space Dandy. (See, I told you the show wasn't as dumb as it looks!) At times some of the visuals seem like a bit "much" but for the most part this is an excellent music video. It's amazing to look at, has a deep message, and the clips do a great job reflecting the subject at hand. And for that it earns the number two spot. Now onto number one! Number One: There About To Warp (Music Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk7Q8RVL-CY

 The "They're About to Warp" music video, in my personal opinion, is not only the best Toonami ad of the adult swim era but is also the ad that is most representative of Toonami as a whole. If I wanted to explain what Toonami was at it's core to somebody who had zero idea what it was, this would be the ad that I would show them. There are many, many ad's like this one. For example, the "Let's Fight." music video is very similar to this ad in terms of style and editing. In fact, "Let's Fight" would of made it onto this list, but I wanted to encourage diversity in my choices, and  didn't want to pick two videos that I liked for the exact same reason, and so it was not included. (If it was included, I think it would be around number 5 or so.) This ad takes what ad's like "Let's Fight" or the "Better Cartoon Show" series ad's does right, but amps it up to eleven. I honestly don't really know what to say about this ad, if you watched the video above it should be pretty obvious why it has the number one spot. From the awesome build up of TOM opening the warp gate to just the onslaught of action scene after action scene, it is everything that makes Toonami epic wrapped up in one minute long ad. It is impossible to watch this ad without getting some kind of a boner! And yes...even if you are a girl. The ad's just that good!  So that's my personal top ten favorite Toonami ad's of the adult swim era. I hope you all enjoyed it. And if you weren't a Toonami fan before reading this, hopefully I was able to show you why so many people really treasure this block, and maybe even convinced you to give it a look for yourself. As of the time of posting this review Toonami runs on Saturday nights from 11pm-3:30pm est. And if your interested and checking out any more of these bumpers  check out Youtubers CabooseJr's page. He archieves most of the adult swim era ad's and was were I got the majority of these videos from. www.youtube.com/user/CabooseJr Also keep in mind, like I said earlier, I'm very indecisive when it comes to list like this, and even while editing this I considered changing some promo's placement on the list. So really the exact number placement doesn't really matter to much, as my opinion can change day to day. So really, the order doesn't really matter to much. I just wanted to showcase the best Toonami had to offer, because I thought it would be interesting. So keep that in mind.  What's your favorite Toonami ad, adult swim era or otherwise? Are there any that I missed? Also what did you think of the top ten format? Tell me in the comments down bellow. I honestly enjoyed writing with that kind of format and I would love to do other top ten's in the future. It'll take some time before I get REALLY good at writing them, but I think there's some real potential here. Please, fav, follow, and comment if you enjoyed this review. I'd love to get a conversation started, even if you don't one hundred percent agree with me. Anyway, that's all I have for this time, so have a great day!

(I do not own any of the images or videos in this review all credit goes to there original owners.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------