#valu-pak

[conkersbowl]

While I was picking up The Criminal I got some Valu-Pak from a distributor that carried the two formulas I wanted to try. I'm mainly interested in the purple since my dogs do really good on formulas similar to that one, but I also got a couple of the black. I'm starting with the purple since it's higher calorie and the dogs are still pretty active. I will try the black when it's hotter and we aren't doing as much.

[conkersbowl]

Valu-pak 30/20 or 28/20 and homemade raw. Will be switching to Redpaw 32k when those bags are gone. I like the Valu-pak (especially the price) but it's harder to get around here than Redpaw.

The raw consists mainly of whole ground up squirrel, chicken quarters, ground beef, pork, or venison, whole turkey, various beef and pork organs, eggs, and sunfish.

Dogblr reblog/respond to this and tell me what you’re currently feeding

[random-iz-stuff]

WAIT A MINUTE MY HEADCANON OF ZIM ALWAYS KNOWING ABOUT HIS DEFECTS HAS A LITTLE PLACE IN CANON!

One of the first things Zim does upon having his PAK calibrated is point out the mistakes. 40 shmillion mistakes. 40 shmillion defects right from birth. And he almost immediately tells the downloading robot what they are, almost revealing his defects before he even learned what defects are.

Right from the start Zim knew something was wrong with him, but didn’t know what to call those mistakes until he was properly in the academy for a few days and was told exactly what defects were.

I can barely imagine the horror that a young Zim would feel in that moment. He’s known that there were mistakes in his PAK for the last week or so of his existence, but now he’s being told that those mistakes (that he’s come very close to telling people about) are:

Actually called defects

Are flaws in his BRAIN instead of just errors in his PAK

Turn otherwise flawless irkens into mistakes that actively go against the empire

Must be handed it to the authorities so the defective Irken can be “fixed” (actually deleted, but that fact is kept as an open secret until the Irken is a few years older and more used to it. It also tricks young defectives like Zim that know they they’re defective into handing themselves and those around them in)

[amblogreview]

Valu Pak Dog Food

Ingredients and Nutritional Composition

Valu Pak Dog Food utilizes a blend of high-quality ingredients, carefully selected to provide dogs with essential nutrients for optimal health and vitality. The primary protein sources include chicken by-product meal, pork meal, and whole-grain brown rice, ensuring a steady supply of amino acids for muscle development and maintenance. Whole grain sorghum, a gluten-free grain, contributes complex carbohydrates for sustained energy levels.

Chicken fat, preserved with mixed tocopherols, serves as a rich source of energy and provides essential fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. Dried green peas and dried beet pulp (sugar removed) offer a boost of dietary fiber, aiding in digestion and promoting gut health. Ground flaxseed, a valuable source of omega-3 fatty acids, contributes to joint health and cognitive function.

Valu Pak Dog Food is fortified with a comprehensive array of vitamins and minerals, including calcium carbonate for bone health, potassium chloride for muscle function, and choline chloride for brain development. Essential trace minerals such as ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, and cobalt carbonate are also incorporated to support various bodily functions.

Benefits of Valu Pak Dog Food

Valu Pak Dog Food boasts a multitude of benefits that contribute to the overall health and well-being of dogs:

Complete and Balanced Nutrition: Valu Pak Dog Food meets the nutritional requirements established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for all life stages, ensuring dogs receive the essential nutrients they need for optimal growth and development.

High Protein Content: The high protein content of Valu Pak Dog Food supports muscle development and maintenance, particularly crucial for active dogs and puppies in their growth phase.

Digestive Health: The inclusion of dietary fiber from whole-grain brown rice and dried beet pulp promotes healthy digestion and regular bowel movements, contributing to overall gut health.

Skin and Coat Health: The combination of chicken fat and ground flaxseed provides essential fatty acids that nourish the skin and promote a healthy, shiny coat.

Joint Health: Ground flaxseed, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, contributes to joint health and mobility, particularly beneficial for older dogs or those prone to joint issues.

Cognitive Function: Choline chloride, a component of Valu Pak Dog Food, plays a crucial role in brain development and cognitive function, supporting optimal mental health in dogs.

Potential Drawbacks

While Valu Pak Dog Food offers a range of benefits, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider:

By-Product Meal: The use of chicken by-product meal as a primary protein source may raise concerns among some pet owners. While by-product meals can be a valuable source of nutrients, it’s important to ensure the by-products are sourced from healthy animals and processed appropriately.

Corn, Wheat, and Soy-Free: Valu Pak Dog Food is formulated without corn, wheat, or soy, which may be beneficial for dogs with sensitivities to these ingredients. However, it’s essential to note that these grains are not inherently harmful and can provide valuable nutrients when used appropriately.

Read More This Article Click =>>

[whatisonthemoon]

Magazine Says Tim LaHaye Received Help from Unification Church (1986)

Published in Christianity Today, January 17, 1986, by Beth Spring An article in this month’s issue of Mother Jones magazine suggests that ties exist between conservative Christian activists and the Unification Church. Free-lance reporter Carolyn Weaver obtained a cassette recording of a letter dictated by fundamentalist author and pastor Tim LaHaye. The letter, addressed to Bo Hi Pak, top aide to Unification Church leader Sun Myung Moon, expresses thanks for “your generous help to our work.”

LaHaye heads a right-wing coalition of evangelical and fundamentalist leaders known as the American Coalition for Traditional Values (ACTV). In the letter, LaHaye tells Pak that moving to Washington and launching ACTV “has been extremely expensive, much more so than I originally thought.”

The letter does not specify exactly what was received from Pak. LaHaye denies that he or his organization ever accepted money from any group or individual on behalf of Moon’s church. He acknowledged dictating the letter, but he deplored its use by Mother Jones.

In a written response to the magazine article, LaHaye says, “I consider it extremely unethical to publish a private tape recording of the unedited first draft dictation of a letter that never appeared in that form. There is serious doubt that it was ever mailed at all since neither our office nor the supposed recipient has a copy.”

LaHaye explained in an interview that the “help” mentioned on the tape consisted of Pak introducing him to important persons in Washington. (By press time, CHRISTIANITY TODAY was unable to reach Pak to confirm what help he provided.) LaHaye said Pak attended an ACTV banquet in October and made a small “personal” cash donation to the organization. LaHaye said his relationship with Pak “has never been on a theological basis. I respect him as a conservative businessman, staunch anti-Communist and publisher of several conservative newspapers and magazines.…”

The letter was dictated early last year. On the tape, LaHaye mentions that he and his wife, Beverly, want to host the Paks for dinner, and lists reasons for optimism about the eventual triumph of conservative goals.

The Unification Church has sought solidarity with conservative Christians on issues of religious freedom, and many fundamentalist leaders have obliged. In 1984, LaHaye chaired a committee of leaders from the Coalition on Religious Liberty. His committee organized a rally protesting perceived violations of religious liberty, including the jailing of Moon on charges of tax evasion. The rally was dominated by Moon’s followers, and as a result LaHaye resigned his position with the Coalition on Religious Liberty.

However, he says he believes Unificationists are part of the solution to rampant secularism in America. “Anyone could be part of the solution,” LaHaye said, “if he is really trying to move the country to a conservative point of view.”

[fawfulydoo]

Here's Veen, my irken oc!!!

Veen is a feminine irken who is around Zim's height and has uneven teeth. She works as a surgeon, and her PAK color, white, indicates that she is of the medical class (headcanon by deviantart user FaithFirefly).

She is confident with herself and her abilities, compassionate, and not exactly what you would call a rule follower- she lets her morals guide her. When put under enough pressure, she becomes a nervous wreck.

Despite her small stature, she is incredibly skilled at what she does and is valued highly. She got lucky to be in the position she's in.

She appeared to me in a dream a few days ago and I just HAD to make her real. Fun fact- she originally had jagged, sharp teeth in the dream and was a medical student, but I decided to tweak her a bit to fit in with the universe more.

[book--brackets]

Dragonkeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul (2004-2008)

When Kale, a slave girl, finds a dragon egg, she is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. But on her way to The Hall, where she was to be trained, Kale runs into danger. Rescued by a small band of Paladin's servants, Kale is turned from her destination. 

Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find the Wizard Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg--whose true value they have not begun to suspect.

Clocktaur War by T. Kingfisher (2017-2018)

A paladin, an assassin, a forger, and a scholar ride out of town. It's not the start of a joke, but rather an espionage mission with deadly serious stakes. T. Kingfisher's new novel begins the tale of a murderous band of criminals (and a scholar), thrown together in an attempt to unravel the secret of the Clockwork Boys, mechanical soldiers from a neighboring kingdom that promise ruin to the Dowager's city.

If they succeed, rewards and pardons await, but that requires a long journey through enemy territory, directly into the capital. It also requires them to refrain from killing each other along the way At turns darkly comic and touching, Clockwork Boys puts together a broken group of people trying to make the most of the rest of their lives as they drive forward on their suicide mission.

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon (1988-1989)

Paksenarrion — Paks for short — is somebody special. She knows it, even if nobody else does yet. No way will she follow her father's orders to marry the pig farmer down the road. She's off to join the army, even if it means she can never see her family again.

And so her adventure begins... the adventure that transforms her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.

Here is her tale as she lived it.

Paks is trained as a mercenary, blooded, and introduced to the life of a soldier . . . and to the followers of Gird, the soldier's god.

Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen (2006-2016)

An unusual murder brings together three strangers, John, Jack, and Charles, on a rainy night in London during the first World War. An eccentric little man called Bert tells them that they are now the caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica -- an atlas of all the lands that have ever existed in myth and legend, fable and fairy tale. These lands, Bert claims, can be traveled to in his ship the Indigo Dragon, one of only seven vessels that is able to cross the Frontier between worlds into the Archipelago of Dreams.

Pursued by strange and terrifying creatures, the companions flee London aboard the Dragonship. Traveling to the very realm of the imagination itself, they must learn to overcome their fears and trust in one another if they are to defeat the dark forces that threaten the destiny of two worlds. And in the process, they will share a great adventure filled with clues that lead readers to the surprise revelation of the legendary storytellers these men will one day become.

Dragon Jousters by Mercedes Lackey (2003-2006)

The first book in this thrilling new series introduces us to a young slave who dreams of becoming a jouster-one of the few warriors who can actually ride a flying dragon. And so, in secret, he begins to raise his own dragon...

Frontier Magic by Patricia C. Wrede (2009-2012)

Eff was born a thirteenth child. Her twin brother, Lan, is the seventh son of a seventh son. This means he's supposed to possess amazing talent -- and she's supposed to bring only bad things to her family and her town. Undeterred, her family moves to the frontier, where her father will be a professor of magic at a school perilously close to the magical divide that separates settlers from the beasts of the wild.

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (2017)

The Borderlands aren’t like anywhere else. Don’t try to smuggle a phone or any other piece of technology over the wall that marks the Border ― unless you enjoy a fireworks display in your backpack. (Ballpoint pens are okay.) There are elves, harpies, and ― best of all as far as Elliot is concerned ― mermaids.  "Serene," said Serene. "My full name is Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle." Elliot? Who’s Elliot? Elliot is thirteen years old. He’s smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands. It turns out that on the other side of the wall, classes involve a lot more weaponry and fitness training and fewer mermaids than he expected. On the other hand, there’s Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle, an elven warrior who is more beautiful than anyone Elliot has ever seen, and then there’s her human friend Luke: sunny, blond, and annoyingly likeable. There are lots of interesting books. There’s even the chance Elliot might be able to change the world. In Other Lands is the exhilarating new book from beloved and bestselling author Sarah Rees Brennan. It’s a novel about surviving four years in the most unusual of schools, about friendship, falling in love, diplomacy, and finding your own place in the world ― even if it means giving up your phone.

Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn (2012-2014)

Imprisoned, starved and left with no memories, Thalia awakens to find herself at the mercy of an evil cult known as the Septori. Their leader has chosen Thalia as the test subject for a torture device of untold power, designed to change and twist her into something that is neither human nor Denai.

Escaping, Thalia finds an unwilling warrior to protect her and an unlikely Denai to befriend her. After finding a home at the Citadel as a servant, Thalia’s worst nightmare comes to life and she begins to show signs of power. Scared and unable to control her gifts, she tries to hide her past to fit in among the Denai. But the Septori want their latest test subject back and will stop at nothing to retrieve her, dead or alive.

Old Magic by Marianna Curley (2000)

Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing, but Kate Warren doesn’t know why.

Jarrod is the clumsy new boy at school that Kate can’t take her eyes off, and it’s not just because he has amazing eyes, but because she senses something different about him, and when he inadvertently blows up the classroom, she knows exactly what it is. He has powers like her, except he doesn’t know it and Kate sets out to show him. On their journey of discovery Kate learns Jarrod has an ancient curse on his family that will keep hurting his little brother and parents if they don’t do something to remove it.

Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist (1988)

Successful screenwriter Phil Hastings decides to move his family from sunny California to a ramshackle farmhouse in New York State. The idea is to take some time out, relax and pick up the threads of his career as a novelist. Good plan, bad choice. The place they choose is surrounded by ancient woodland. The house they choose is the centrepoint of a centuries-old evil intent on making its presence felt to intruders.

[coretanthuf]

perlu dicatat, menjadi pendiam bukan tanda kelemahan atau rendahnya value seseorang. bahkan dalam banyak hal, banyak bicara yang tak perlu menunjukkan kedangkalan dan tinggi nya ego.

ada begitu banyak hal yang bisa kita pelajari ketika diam. kita ingat pada sosok Bung Hatta. Ia memilih menjadi pendiam namun ketika diberi kesempatan, Ia bicara gagasan penting bagi bangsa dan ditakuti oleh lawan politiknya.

dalam konteks tertentu diam menunjukkan apatis, penolakan, atau cara untuk menghindari tanggungjawab. namun dalam hal lain, diam dibutuhkan sebagai bentuk kehati-hatian dan kesopanan. Bicaralah jika harus bicara. Diamlah jika harus diam.

orang yang tak banyak bicara biasanya punya self control yang baik. disegani. mempunyai arti yang lebih ketika bicara. maka tak jarang pemimpin memegang prinsip "silentium est aureum". silence is golden.

Pak Harto, "The Smiling General", contohnya. Sifat diamnya menjadi hal yang disegani. mukanya yang selalu tersenyum memiliki sejuta arti komando dibalik keheningannya.

sometime speaking is good. but when you know yourself and the situation, saying nothing would be better. telebih di era media sosial, semua orang dapat berkomentar terhadap banyak hal. maka menjadi pendiam terhadap hal yang tak dipahami, lebih mengantarkan pada keselamatan. baik bagi kita maupun orang lain.

sesorang yang memilih menjadi diam butuh self control yang kuat. kemudian akan tumbuh menjadi pribadi yang hati-hati, tidak mudah judge, berpikir luas, dan tak mudah terbawa arus. menjadi diam itu pilihan dan butuh kedewasaan.

"Falyaqul khoiron, au liyashmut", berkatalah yang baik atau diam.

[therobotmonster]

Gah, I love Turtles of Grayskull!

I'm on record for rambling about how much I love MOTU origins, an action figure line that provides solid value, craftsmanship, and a sense of fun in an era where everything is increasingly none of those things.

And Turtles of Grayskull understands both its contributors spirits intimately in a way many nostalgia projects don't.

Because nostalgia remembers the cool very easily. But it rarely remembers the silly and the stupid-fun.

You buy a bus ticket to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" or "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" and you have to know that route will be winding almost exclusively through Historical Crazytowne.

And the Turtles of Grayskull/MOTU Origins team gets this. This isn't some Batman/TMNT crossover where they give you a bunch of cool mutant Arkham Villains and deny you toys of them (but a Michaelangelo wearing the bat-cowl is worth a sculpt, eye-roll).

Recent-ish stuff to ramble about:

Okay, not only is this just an awesome Hordak variant, he's conceptually blended with Lord Draxum. You've got the mutant bat-wings, to go with Hordak's vampire thing, but his shapeshifting weapon arm from the toon is very clearly a mutagen-blaster evoking the mutagen-mosquitos. You've got the shoulder pads evoking Draxum's little gargoyle boys. Fantastique!

I had wondered who Casey was taking inspiration from for awhile, but apparently the lore got revealed from his packaging, he's combined... with the WEAPON RACK/Pack.

Well, technically he raided it, but it's a clever option when it would have been easy to just put him in Man-at-Arms gear or give him a Man-E-Faces gimmick. Deep cuts are appreciated, as is that delightful amount of accessory swag.

Stealth Leo is just a cool Leonardo figure. He's the reason for my hypothesis that Mattel is low-key pitching to be the main TMNT figure company. April gets a sweet power up by being Combined with Zo-ar and the Sorceress, and the amount of new sculpting is impressive there. Nobody would have blinked if she'd been 90% Sorceress parts, so I appreciate it.

He-Man goes stealth ninja after he's de-mutated. that's cool I guess, but He's probably going to wind up with a different head when I get him. Skeletor, however, is everything you want in a repaint guy. 90s neon? Check, kusari-gama with goat skulls? Check. Tube of mutagen? Check. He's obviously a premold for the 2005 Samurai Skeletor but who cares? He's green!

Splinter-Skull is mostly OG Playmates Splinter, down to the face design, but he's got just enough King Grayskull in him to keep him a fun hybrid. In fiction, this is is the spirit of Grayskull taking on a form to match both sets of heroes asking for his help. Fun!

Leatherhead, on the other hand, is just Mattel auditioning to make normal TMNT toys again. Toss some WWEternia legs with some pants on that guy and he's basically the best and most in-scale Leatherhead to not come out of NECA. I look forward to the use of that tail on many, many snakemen related characters to come.

And yet there's more!

I thought this was going to be a four-wave limited thing. But apparently they're just keeping the train rolling until the wheels fall off, to which I say...

Wave 5 has been semi-revealed (no pics yet) and it's:

Variant Donatello, Variant Raphael, Mekaneck, and Rattlor!

Donnie and Raph are going to be costume variants like Stealth Leo, though I'm hoping they're not also stealth versions, because there's tons of other options to pull from.

My druthers would be them with accessory pak themes (cliff climber Raph, Scuba-Attack Donnie (to nod at the wind-up swimming donnie toy), etc). The Dontatello #1 gauntlet could be a fun accessory, and I wouldn't say no to a "slime pit zombie" Raph, but we'll have to wait and see.

The real thing that has me hyped is Mekaneck and Rattlor. I love reptile-people, and the Snake-Men give me a lot of them, so I'm always glad to get more options.

Mekaneck is one of the dorkiest MOTU characters and is thus one of my favorites. He's immensely goofy, and his origin implies that Man-at-Arms decided to fix the guy's broken neck by chopping off his head and giving him an extendable robotic spine. He also has the advantage of just being somebody's dad.

His son is named Philip, by the way.

I can't imagine them not making Mekaneck a wildly mutated weirdo. They had to pack his origins figure in with the road ripper to make him appealing, so I'm pretty sure he's gonna be a mutant. Fingers crossed for a giraffe head. Bonus points if its some kinda blue eternian giraffe or something.

And Rattlor, man, I want him to be a full on character hybrid so bad. Options: Tokka (snappers do have long necks), Snakeweed, Rat King (King Ratsnake?), Hothead & Scaletail.

[cheesycatz]

(Wormton AU) okay hear me out

What if Wormton's pheromones smelt like that vile air freshener from the specil fun pak

✅️ comedic value

✅️ connects to source material

✅️ could be used for some deranged foreshadowing

(Worm in the Apple (the Wormton fanfic) is currently at 86k words. I essentially have a rough draft minus dialogue for the first 9 chapters finished.)

[conkersbowl]

Clockwise from top

Torch: Inukshuk 30/25, probiotic, psyllium powder, ever root tabs.

Ember: Victor High Energy, squirrel head, egg, ground beef, gizzard, pumpkin, fish oil.

Conker: Victor High Energy, squirrel head, ground beef, gizzard, pumpkin, fish oil.

Cinder: Valu-Pak 30/20 Purple, squirrel head, egg, ground beef, gizzard, pumpkin.

Flint: Valu-Pak 30/20 Purple, chicken leg, squirrel head, egg, ground beef, gizzard, pork and chicken heart, pumpkin, fish oil.

[velaraffricate]

so I've been working on my latest conlang, irkan osla (or just osla for short), for a bit now and would like to showcase its writing system in this post! osla has a syllabic alphabet, not too dissimilar to korean hangul, where letters are stacked according to certain rules to make syllable blocks.

osla's syllable structure is (C)(C)V(V)(C), here's how the stacks work for each type of syllable:

all letters have small, wide, and tall forms depending on their position in the syllable. here are all the letters with their IPA value and romanization:

and here's an example text! i translated parts of the minecraft end poem into osla. maybe i'll make another post just focusing on the grammar when it's more developed. the poem says in english:

What did this player dream? This player dreamed of sunlight and trees. Of fire and water. It dreamed it created. And it dreamed it destroyed. It dreamed it hunted, and was hunted. It dreamed of shelter.

Does it know that we love it? That the universe is kind? Sometimes, through the noise of its thoughts, it hears the universe, yes.

this post is getting long, so under the cut you'll find a "sans-serif" version as well as the poem in osla and its gloss if you're also a linguistics nerd and wanna know what's going on under the hood (the roman numerals stand for the 3 noun classes)! thanks for reading!

The way regular people would write something quickly on a piece of paper with a regular pen is an aspect of creating neographies that I feel is often overlooked, so I developed this sans-serif version that people would probably be more likely to use when writing their shopping lists or diary entries:

And, finally, here's the poem translation:

pak oṇḍul phan wimbakis?

DET.I.SG.PROX play-AGN what dream-PST.3SG.I?

pak oṇḍul lümaṇiuṣerothi han buloni an wimbakis. kaṣkhaothi han nilothi an. wimbakis, run sëmamkis. wimbakis, run xokthakis, han bumxokthakis. zöga an wimbakis.

DET.I.SG.PROX play-AGN sunlight-II.SG.DAT and tree-II.PL.DAT of dream-PST.3SG.I. Fire-II.SG.DAT and water-II.SG.DAT of. dream-PST.3SG.I, that create-PST.3SG.I. dream-PST.3SG.I, that hunt-PST.3SG.I, and PASS-hunt-PST.3SG.I. shelter of dream-PST.3SG.I.

ṭauraka, run kaak samare? run glutsüna flia?

know-NP.3SG.I, that 3SG.I.ABS love-NP.1PL? that universe kind?

imba ethamo, khaṣiŋli an ka’am hu’aŋni pitë, glutsüna ṣaraka, ti.

some time-NOM.III.PL, noise-ACC.II.SG of 3SG.I.GEN thought-NOM.III.PL through, universe hear-NP.3SG.I, yes.

[brucesterling]

The V. Vale Value-Pak

*Who reads the bizarre, out-there maunderings of this eccentric San Francisco punk publisher known to the world as "V. Vale," well, obviously Rudy Rucker and Bruce Sterling both do.

*******************************************************

I started reading at age four and early on began memorizing “aphorisms”, although I didn’t learn that word till much later. 

My earliest books that were really mine were some volumes of The Book of Knowledge, which introduced me to extreme history and anthropology (the gladiator conflicts in the Roman Coliseum games; an article on New Guinea natives, etc). 

I had an illustrated paperback on “world’s weirdest animals” (not the real title; can’t remember that) which introduced me to genre-crossing life forms like the platypus, the Komodo dragon, the Bower Bird, etc. 

The real eye-opener was a hardback medical textbook which contained a close-up B&W photograph of the genitals of a hermaphrodite (!). So when I found myself hanging out in libraries, did I restrict myself to children’s books? No; I looked at every book in the library, regardless of “category”.

Recently RE/SEARCH published a book (thanks to a brilliant assistant editor) called Quotes by Vale. I just turned at random to a quote on page 102: 

“CORPORATE MEDIA: Whatever the OFFICIAL NARRATIVE, the Real Truth is Always The Opposite”. 

And that in a nutshell is my driving motivation to publish. That’s it!

We’re about to enter 2024 — that year will mark my 47th year as a publisher (since the first issue of Search & Destroy). 

And that’s when the idea of a V. VALE VALUE-PAK hit me! So obvious I never thought of it before!

I’ve spent my whole life promoting OTHER PEOPLE, so now maybe I can at least TRY to induce people to read my own writing and thoughts. 

Well, they actually appear in all RE/Search books, although less obviously.

So, why not?

The V. Vale Valu-Pak contains...

My most recent books:

1.UNDERGROUND LIVING: V. Vale Photos (color and B&W, with an insightful introduction by author Rudy Rucker)

2. MESSAGE FROM YOUR EDITOR (essays from the past 20 years, with a brilliant introduction by author Bruce Sterling)

3. VALE QUOTES (my aphorisms)

My two zines:

4. HOW TO READ (includes HOW TO WRITE, a 1-page zine)

5. TERMINAL PUNK (my attempt to write the “best” “philosophy of punk” publication)

The 4 zines that cartoonist extraordinaire Krusty Wheatfield did on V. Vale:

6. SEARCH FOR WEIRD #0

7. SEARCH FOR WEIRD #1+2

8. SEARCH FOR WEIRD #3

9. HOW TO STAY TOGETHER FOREVER

I hope that at least a few readers of this newsletter will take a chance and order the V. VALE VALU-PAK, aided and abetted by a big discount. 

Total retail value is usually $135… but we offer a 20% off New Year special price: $105!

And in the US you’ll only pay $5 shipping. 

But the offer expires on Friday night (Jan 5, 2024). 

I’m still having trouble sleeping (uh, thanks for all your suggestions) so maybe THAT'S why my brain thought of this (hare-brained) “idea”?!?

Here’s the link with all the details: 

Thanks for reading this far,

Your Editor,

V. Vale

V. Vale New Year's ValuPak

Three books and 6 zines featuring V. Vale “front and center”! Get all of the V. Vale items at an OVER 20% discount: $135 value for $105. New Year’s Special through Friday night Jan 5, 2024.

$105.00Shop

RE/Search Publications 20 Romolo #B San Francisco, CA, 94133 US 

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[juliarpratiwi]

Menempa Value

Suatu hari, baru beberapa bulan mengajar saya dimintai tolong untuk membuat design bon yang mirip dengan bon dari salah satu toko ATK.

"Bu Julia kalau bikin design bon gt bisa?"

"Design bon? Bon dari toko gt bu?"

"Iyaa, buat nyamain ke laporannya."

Engga, ini gak bener. Ayo tolak ju. Meskipun niatnya baik, tapi ini termasuk tolong menolong yang tidak boleh ju.

"Oh buat kapan bu? Saya lagi ada tugas dari MK persiapan projek anak-anak. Belum lagi masih perlu nyiapin gambaran LPA buat rapat besok bu di yayasan. Kayanya gak bisa bu, gapapa kan?"

"Oh gapapa-gapapa, kirain lagi gak banyak tugas."

Buu, saya bisa saja memaksakan diri untuk menyanggupi permintaan itu. Bisa diulik, asal mau. Tapi nurani saya tidak mau, bahkan hanya sekadar untuk menyetujuinya. Ini tidak benar!

Kala PTI pertama ada seorang wali murid menitipkan bingkisan sebagai ucapan terima kasih karena telah mendampingi anaknya. Lalu ada perasaan gusar di dalam hati

Ini harta ghulul ju, tidak boleh.

Lalu saya menghubungi kepsek bertanya tentang aturan di sekolah terkait ini. Masih tidak tenang juga, memberanikan bertanya pada pihak yayasan. Mereka mengizinkan untuk menerima berbagai bentuk apresiasi wali murid terhadap guru anak-anaknya.

Engga, aturan agama yang saya yakini tidak membolehkan selama masih ada interaksi kedepannya sebagai murid dan guru. Engga, ini tidak boleh. Semoga Allah mengampuni apa-apa yang baru bisa saya ingkari dengan hati.

Puncak.

Setelah lelah rapat sore itu, saya banyak melamun di dalam angkutan umum. Bingung, apa yang harus saya lakukan. Saya menghubungi Ai

"Ai, aku mau resign aja. Gapapa?"

"Kenapa? Kecapean?"

"Aku diajukan oleh satuan pendidikan ke yayasan sebagai bendahara sekolah. Setelah mengamati satu semester ini, aku tahu betul jobdesk bendahara ini seperti apa. Terlalu rawan dengan hal-hal yang kotor. Aku takut."

"Ya udah resign aja, kalau itu gak baik buat kamu, hidup kamu dan urusan agama kamu. Rezeki akan Allah datangkan. Tapi cara kita menjemputnya kalau gak baik juga malah jadi gak berkah. Hidup di dunia sementara, jangan membebani diri dengan hal-hal yang berat pertanggung jawabannya nanti. Lagian Ai perhatiin jobdesk kamu tuh banyak banget sih, kamu malah jadi sering sakit dan gak ada waktu buat diri kamu sendiri."

"Aku mau istikharah dulu sembari nunggu keputusan yayasan. Kalau sampai minggu depan gak ada follow up. Aku fix resign yaa."

Saya pernah ada disituasi seperti ini, bahkan dulu mau tidak mau, suka tidak suka harus tetap dijalankan. Karena alasan tugas. Lalu Allah hadirkan ujian yang serupa. Ah, ini remidi. Karena yang lalu saya belum mampu meninggalkan, hanya bisa terus ngedumel sembari mengingkari. Kini harus dibuktikan.

Saya mengajukan resign, diam-diam tanpa diketahui orang-orang disatuan pendidikan. Sebulan kemudian di panggil oleh pihak yayasan, dilobi agar tidak jadi resign. Diberikan beberapa penawaran agar bisa bertahan. Tapi fitrah sebagai manusia yang belajar sudah merasa tidak nyaman. Keputusan telah dibuat, tekad telah bulat.

Paginya di panggil yayasan, sorenya dihubungi satuan pendidikan.

"Bu Julia, pihak yayasan sudah oke katanya terkait pengajuan menjadi bendahara."

"Lho, Pak X belum mengabarkan gt bu? Saya jadi untuk resign bu. Tadi pagi malah sudah wawancara dengan HRD, tapi pak X sudah tahu rencana saya ini. InsyaAllah minggu depan justru wawancara dengan petinggi yayasan bu."

"Nah itu Pak X dan Bu Y ngabarin, siapa tahu kalau jadi bendahara bisa bikin Bu Julia mau bertahan."

"Buu, keputusan ini insyaAllah bukan keputusan yang didorong karena semata-mata materi. Saya semakin cinta dengan mengajar sejak bertemu anak-anak dan guru-guru hebat disini. Cuma saya merasa tempat ini sudah cukup untuk menjadi tempat saya belajar. Saya menerima banyak kebaikan disini. Tapi pada beberapa persimpangan kita bisa memilih jalan yang akan kita lanjutkan untuk melakukan perjalanan kan bu?"

"Gak mau dipikirin lagi? Kalau Bu Julia gak nyaman sama lingkungannya, saya bisa ajukan untuk pindah satuan. Saya butuh teman yang sejalan. Jujur, saya butuh Bu Julia buat nemenin saya memperbaiki hal-hal yang bersifat prinsip disatuan ini. Kita bangun bareng-bareng."

"Bu, saya orang baru disini. Saya sadar kapasitas dan posisi saya. Kadang ketika kita gak bisa mengubah sesuatu hal, mungkin bukan lingkungannya yang salah. Tapi mungkin kita gak tepat aja, kitanya yang gak cocok. Jadi saya rasa mungkin saya perlu mencari wadah lain yang sejalan dengan value yang saya yakini. Itu saja bu."

"Pokoknya sebelum ketok palu dari yayasan, kesempatan itu selalu terbuka ya buat Bu Julia. Jadi sebelum ada pernyataan resmi dari yayasan, saya gak akan bilang ke temen-temen yang lain kalau Bu Julia akan resign."

Mengambil pilihan yang tidak umum bagi kebanyakan orang mungkin akan dicap idealis, gak realistis, cuma nyusah-nyusahin diri sendiri. Tapi, kalau dengan menjalani apa yang umum bagi kebanyakan orang lalu kita tidak bahagia, merasa tertekan, merasa bersalah. Kayanya terlalu sia-sia untuk menghabiskan sebagian hidup pada hal-hal yang sudah jelas bertentangan dengan value hidup yang kita pegang. Iya, kan?

Wadah yang saya tempati saat ini mungkin banyak disayangkan oleh orang-orang disekitar, tapi saya bahagia menjalaninya. Boleh, kan?

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Lily of the Valley

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: Jason Todd dies and comes back to life. As the League takes him in, he navigates his morality and family values over the years.

Chapters: 12/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Talia al Ghul, Ra’s al Ghul, Damian Wayne, Barbara Gordon, Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Sheila Haywood

Relationships: Jason Todd/Original Character(s)

Additional Tags: Immortal Jason Todd, League of Assassins Jason Todd, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Protective Talia al Ghul, Good Parent Talia al Ghul, Jason Todd Needs a Hug, Good Sibling Jason Todd, Hurt/Comfort, Adopted Children, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Emotional Manipulation, Claustrophobia, Child Death, Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault, Resurrected Jason Todd

Chapter Twelve: Wisteria

Talia chuckled as Jason scarfed down his noodles. She moved toward Jason at the booth and wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin. Jason finally started to feel like himself as he ate with Talia, but he could tell that something worried her. "Did you know he was sending me to Gotham before I told you?" Jason asked. He'd finally built up the courage to talk about his time there. Talia shook her head as she quietly pushed Jason to eat his vegetables.

"I didn't know... I wouldn't have sent you there. I didn't like his test, and I don't like his willingness to let you-."

"If it's what I have to do for him," Jason paused. He hated the taste of those words in his mouth. He turned to his pork and dipped it carefully into his curried noodles.

"Don't forget your vegetables, little one. Your time away has altered your palate," Talia whispered. It wasn't what she wanted to say, but neither of them felt like arguing over Ra's beliefs. Talia sipped her beverage, tasting the sweet citrus notes of the liqueur with a sense of sadness about her. Talia moved one of his long curls out of his face. His young face was framed by long curls against his porcelain skin. He almost looked like a Victorian doll, save for his freckles.

Sometimes she would look at him and see his face covered in blood, gasping for air. The crimson color's violent contrast against his cheeks and chin. The bludgeoning was the worst. She cleaned him up that once. His face was bloodied and broken, bones shattered, and Talia remembered how long it took to get the blood out of his hair. It was the only time she was glad he was dead because she feared the peroxide would burn the wounds on his head. He smelled like roses afterward, and Talia wept by his bedside for days. He was only thirteen at the time, and she remembered the soft crying noise he made as he awakened from a month's-long slumber, still in pain. It saddened her to look at him just as much as it soothed her. Death was written all over him. It was her duty to maintain his humanity.

Jason ate his carrots and pak choi as she requested. "Mama?" Jason whispered as he touched her wrist. She blinked hard and smiled at him. "May I have another bowl before dessert?"

"Only if you eat your vegetables," Talia whispered.

"I don't have to have dessert-."

"You'll have dessert. You more than earned it," Talia interrupted. Jason smiled at her as she waited for the waitress to return. "Have you kept up with your training?"

"In between working," Jason nodded. The waitress approached, and Talia ordered Jason a second bowl and allowed him to order dessert. Talia felt good indulging him for once. He rarely got dessert on the island. "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm so happy to have you back," Talia whispered. Jason grinned.

Jason finished his second bowl shortly before inhaling dessert. "Would you like to go shopping?" Talia questioned. Jason raised his brow. "Let me spoil you for once."

Jason nodded and followed her out of the restaurant. Something childlike and possessive washed over him, and he grabbed her hand. Talia didn't mind it. Jason never had a childhood, so she relished the moments when he allowed her to treat him like a child. She squeezed his hand and smiled at him. "It's alright, little one," Talia whispered.

"Will I have to go somewhere else once Ra's sees me?" Jason questioned. Talia shook her head.

"You proved yourself, so he'll start putting time into having you trained more intensely. Hopefully, he'll allow me to oversee your training when I'm not training Damian," Talia explained.

Jason made a soft noise before following Talia into a train. "Do you know who Nightwing is?" Jason asked. Talia nodded. "Who is he?"

"He used to be Robin," Talia answered gently, "Why do you ask?"

"I met him... And he talked to me," Jason whispered.

"Was he kind to you?" Talia questioned. Jason nodded. "You'll know him and his father soon enough."

Something about her words felt ominous, but he didn't want to ask. "Mama?" Jason whispered. Talia knew he didn't want anything, but she knew he needed to speak to her. "I love you, Mama."

"I love you, Jason," Talia whispered, "Are you alright?"

"I feel a little bit better. I'm excited that we're going home soon," Jason answered. Jason's eyes seemed to flicker with the night lights. With the sunlight gone, his eyes seemed to provide their own light. Talia wondered what Jason really felt. She wondered if he still wanted to hurt himself.

"Jason, do you believe me when I say I love you?" Talia asked.

"I do... But sometimes, I don't know why you'd love me. It seems more trouble than it's worth to love me," Jason whispered. Talia let go of his hand and waited for him to turn to her.

"You're not difficult to love. I love you because you're kind, you're honest, you're gentle... And although the League may frown on your sweet nature, I think it is what makes you the beauty that you are," Talia explained as she pulled his hair away from his face.

The sweet reassurance of her love was enough for the moment. The train stopped, and they walked until they got to a clothing store. They shopped for almost an hour before returning to the jet. Jason showered and slept on the couch where he could be close to Talia. She bathed and stayed with him so he could sleep. The food in his stomach kept him in a relatively deep sleep. She whispered stories to him when he stirred, and the plane took off at dawn as planned.

Jason slept for hours into the morning. By then, his fever was gone. When he awakened, Talia lay fast asleep with the top of her head to his. He pulled a blanket over her and smiled. "Sleep tight," Jason whispered. It reminded him of when he used to sleep in the nursery. He liked the comfort of waking up to his mother. Waking up to a mother.