#you could experiment with a native grape and see what works for you?

[housecow]

How long did ur grapes take to grow been wanting to do em from seed

my family insist the vine is over 20 years old but i’m pretty sure it was planted around 2017, loll!!

it’s had grapes every year since 2020 at least but animals (foxes, squirrels, birds, deer) usually get to them before us. there’s another grapevine that’s just as old but is like. 1/8th the size of that plant, so it’s luck of the draw i guess 🤷‍♀️

[danses-with-dogmeat]

What pet names do Romanced!Companions have for Sole/Lone/Six?

Here it is! My first Fallout companions post! There are a few companions I’m not as familiar with, but I tried to make them all pretty equal. Sorry it’s so long, I just had a lot of fun with this one. I tried to include most of the companions, but if you want me to add anyone, just ask and I totally can! I hope you all enjoy! Feel free to send me any prompts at all, my asks are open :) 

Fallout 4 -- 

   Cait: Pet names really shouldn’t be as complicated as Cait makes them out to be. Given her past experiences, she finds it hard to call Sole anything particularly endearing, but she really tries once they’ve been together for a while. She seems to go back and forth between being more objectifying or crude, like the names she would've been called in the combat zone and when she was a slave, since they would just be what she is familiar with; and sweeter names that she would use when she and Sole were alone. So, anything from luv/lover, dear/dearie, handsome/beautiful, and even a ghrá (an Irish term of endearment meaning ‘love,’ but only in private and on special occasions) to names like hot piece of arse, sexy, and beasty. 

   Curie: She loves the idea of pet names! And actually catches onto them very quickly once she hears Sole using their names for her. Curie tends to say hers in French since she knows that Sole thinks it's cute (and also kinda hot) when she speaks her native language. So, she tends to use names like mon amour, mon dieu, mon petit chou, ('my little pastry') and even mon canard (a more silly French term of endearment meaning ‘my duck,’ this one is more of a joke that they call each other after she told Sole what it means). 

   Danse: This is all new to the (former) brotherhood soldier, but he tries his best and really does enjoy applying these terms of endearment to his beloved. At first he'll keep it simple by calling Sole "soldier" (but with that cute voice he uses when he says "I always have time for you," you know the one) and the same goes for their brotherhood rank, and he’s also quite fond of simply referring to Sole as “my love”. Danse isn’t the most creative, having little to no frame of reference for this sort of thing, so usually he'll just take whatever Sole uses and repeat it. This usually ends up being names like honey/hun, love, or even angel (though not very often and always in private). Also uses Sole’s first name (and maybe a shortened/informal version of it when it's just them) which is always special for him due to the fact that he tends to refer to people strictly by their last name. 

   Deacon: I'm a firm believer that Deacon would call Sole random pet names that are usually based off of inanimate objects and/or food that he finds around the Commonwealth. Examples include: buttercup, orange/berry/grape mentat, bobby pin, nuka cherry, ice cream (works on multiple levels cuz of the whole cryo thing), preserved pie, etc. Just if he sees something that he could use as a non-offensive pet name, it's fair game. Also embarrassing fluffy ones like shnookums, babydoll, cuddles, babycakes, dollface, sweetie pie, plus their railroad name in an awful baby voice. In private he'll call them by their real name, often saying the whole thing (how he learned their full name, Sole will never know, they didn't ever recall telling him) or the first and middle name together. 

   Hancock: Sunshine (of course), but also sweetheart, gorgeous/handsome, angel, sweet ass, sexy, and sometimes lover. He’s kind of like Cait in the sense that he ranges from sweet names to more suggestive and spicy ones. He also likes to use nicknames that reflect Sole's appearance, ex: red, blondie, blue eyes, freckles, curly, dark eyes, etc. His pet names tend to depend on his mood more so than who's around them. He couldn't care less about what other people think, so at times when he's feeling more frisky, or just lovey dovey, he'll use whatever pet name he deems most appropriate to get his intentions (however impure they might be) across.

   MacCready: Beautiful/handsome/gorgeous, knockout, baby, he still uses boss (but in a suggestive way, "mm yeah, whatever you say, boss" *wink wink*); and if the kiddos are involved (Duncan and/or Shaun) he may refer to Sole as mommy/momma/daddy/papa. He likes using pet names, but mostly in private or if anyone takes an interest in Sole, just to let them know that "hey, they're taken, pal." Despite him trying to keep up the gruff mercenary facade in the public eye, sometimes the pet names just slip out, given how often he uses them in private. He always blushes when this happens and tries to move past it before anyone can address it.  

   Nick: These terms of endearment come naturally to the old detective. He's definitely a romantic at heart, so he tends to use pretty much anything you would hear in an old Hollywood film (noir in particular). So, doll, darling, baby, my dear, better half, sweetheart, and even turtle dove (which he had heard used before and thought it was cute given the whole 'turtle doves mating for life' thing.) Since a good few of these terms are pretty casual and fit into Nick's speech patterns as it is, he has no problem using them for Sole in public. 

   Piper: Okay, let's get the obvious one out of the way, we all know she constantly uses "blue," beyond that, she likes to use the names of the sweet foods she's so fond of as inspiration. Stuff like gumdrop, bubblegum, sugar, sweet roll, etc. She might also like to poke fun at her pre-war lover by referring to them as grammy/gramps, old timer, senior citizen, or antique/relic. Another way she likes to emphasize Sole's history is by adding -sicle to the end of their name (like a popsicle, so ex: solesicle) since she enjoys pointing out that they were previously frozen and then “thawed out just for her."

   Preston: BABE, (and also the occasional baby), as well as other basic pet names. Preston doesn't get too crazy, he likes to use hon, darling, dear, m'lady, handsome/beautiful and may even utter a prince/princess once in a while. While he may not have much in the way of creativity, it's not so much what he says, but how he says it. In Preston's eyes, his Sole is everything that's right with the world, so no matter what he calls them, he'll say the words like they're the most precious thing to ever grace his humble lips. 

   X6-88: This part of the relationship tends to confuse him, as he really just doesn't see the point in these names, Sole has a name, and so does X6… why do they need to refer to each other in other ways? So mostly he sticks with sir/ma'am or director, but says it with a bit more affection (and sometimes a suggestive smirk if he's in the right mood). Also always uses their first name in private. If he does use any pet names they are something he gets from sole first and just copies. However, he did come up with one himself that he's quite fond of using, he likes to refer to Sole as his "other half," he might even use this one in public, depending on the company. He also likes to use "badass" as a term of endearment in certain situations as well, though he understands that it’s not a particularly romantic term.

Fallout 3 -- 

   Butch: He likes to use a lot of the more old timey names that he would hear in love songs on the radio and prefers quirky names to the basic ones. Though he might still use honey, babe, or baby, he mainly prefers names like babygirl/babydoll, main cat/kitty/pussycat, toots, main squeeze, babycakes, buttercup, honeycomb, and dollface. He'll be all about using some of these names in front of other people, particularly the names that he deems to be more “cool,” he definitely doesn't mind flaunting Lone as his lover in public.

   Charon: Near the beginning of the relationship, he won't call them anything without them telling him to, just out of habit. And once they grow more comfortable, he still prefers to just call Lone by their first name, but at least he feels like it's his choice to make at this point. The only other name he uses is "love," and it's few and far between, and almost always at times he thinks Lone is sleeping or won't hear him.  

   Clover: She tends to be quite possessive of Lone, so she has no problem using pet names in public and tends to use them quite loudly. Not usually picky, she'll call Lone almost anything as long as it gets the nature of their relationship across. So babe/baby, lover, king/queen, daddy/kitten, sexy, gorgeous/handsome are all used quite often in her case. 

   Cross: Not being particularly romantic, she still does want Lone to know how much she cares for them, and it turns out pet names are a good way to do this. Keeping this in mind, she sometimes goes a little overboard to compensate for her lack of affection in general. She likes to use names like dearest, light of my life, precious, my true love, and my life companion. Yeah… she can be a little dramatic, and she may not even mind using them in public, but she'll always say them very seriously and "matter-of-factly," so you'd hardly notice how sweet of names they really are. 

   Fawkes: Despite all his knowledge, he really likes to keep it simple, just calling Lone by their first name, and he just loves to refer to Lone as his boyfriend/girlfriend (he likes the term, it makes him feel good to call them 'friend,' and it's just a bonus that it underlines the nature of their relationship). He definitely doesn't mind using those terms in public, since he spent so much time in isolation, he tends to be pretty loud and enthusiastic about being in a relationship (especially with someone as great as Lone.)

   Jericho: Still tends to call them "kid," or "man" even when in a relationship mostly to try and keep up casual appearances. (He may or may not be in denial about his feelings for Lone for a while given the more causal nature of all his previous relationships and his raider past.) So, he's not big on pet names, however, once he becomes more comfortable in the relationship, he doesn't mind using them to announce to any potential suitors that not only is Lone taken, but they're his. So he'll use things like baby doll, sweetheart, and sweetie pie in public and loudly, but make no mistake, these cutesy terms are usually nestled between more aggressive vocabulary ("hey sweetheart, get your ass over here.") He certainly wouldn't be opposed to using some creative ones in the bedroom; however, they'd mostly be depreciating ones, like slut, or whore when he gets riled up.

Fallout: New Vegas --

   Arcade: He thinks pet names are somewhat demeaning, (or at least that's what he wants everyone to think, in reality, he just gets flustered when using them and especially when Six uses them on him) so he prefers to use Latin terms of endearment as a sort of stealthy way to still use some of these fluffier terms in public. Mea vita (my life), ocelle (apple of my eye), cor (my heart) are all names he would use. Partly because he likes them and partly because it makes him feel smart to have to explain what they mean to Six (even though he acts exasperated by it.) He may use more conventional pet names when he and Six are alone.

   Boone: He tends not to use pet names in public, he prefers to keep the pda to a minimum (if anything he's more physical with his affection in public. Though still reserved, if anyone else shows an interest in Six, you can bet Boone has his arm around them in a split second.) However, when he and Six are alone, that's a whole different story. Apart from simply calling Six by their first name affectionately, Boone is an avid "babe" user, but he'll also use hon, love, dear, and angel. Believe it or not, he tends to be quite soft and romantic in private (he was married, after all). But he might also use more casual names that seem to be more friendly than romantic in public, so he could throw in something like 'hotshot' every once in awhile. 

   Cass: Cass isn't particularly fond of pet names, and definitely won't use them in public (unless they happen to slip out after she's had a few drinks, but she can't be held responsible for that.) She may say the occasional babe/baby, lover, or partner. On the rare occasions when she and Six are alone and she feels like expressing her otherwise rather gruff love to them, she may use names of other things that she likes. Examples include the names of flowers (poppy/marigold/lilly), sunshine, or prickly pear when they're acting grumpy (side note: She usually needs to be at least a little tipsy to use these, even if it is in private. It's hard for her to drop that tough exterior considering how far it extends into her interior.)

   Raul: The older ghoul tends to stick with what he knows, using pet names from before the bombs fell. Generally he sticks with Spanish pet names as well, ones that he would've picked up in Mexico city all those years ago. So, cariño, mi corazón, mi amor, mi sol, and media naranja are all fair game for Raul. Additionally, he might still use "boss," but with an added wink or smile. He doesn't necessarily try to use them in public, since he wouldn't want to end up embarrassing Six, but sometimes they just slip out. 

   Veronica: She really likes pet names? This whole affection thing really agrees with her and she's happy to be able to express it outside the confines of the brotherhood. She tends to follow Six's lead on this, given that she doesn't have loads of experience with the fluffier side of relationships (again, the brotherhood has always been strict on pda), but she picks up on it quickly and becomes quite enthusiastic. Though using them in public is more difficult for her, she will use them in private often. At first she'll use basic pet names that she's likely heard Six use first, so honey, babe, and sweetie are all options. Other than that, she'll try to come up with some of her own, usually based on old fashioned posters, books, or songs that she's familiarized herself with. So, darling/dear, love/lover, sweetheart, doll, and maybe honeycomb and buttercup as well, since they just sounded so sweet to her.

[kayoticworld]

Just like you...

Genshin Impact

WARNINGS: None?

Be nice, English is not my native language and this is basically just a little test to see if people like it. If yes, I'll upload more

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Diluc! I'm not here to boss you around! I want to help! Why don't you get that?!"

A young woman with long purple hair stood in front of the tavern owner. Tears made her flaming pink eyes sparkling, but not a single drop had left them yet. She held back her emotions with all affordable strength, yet the air around that woman seemed to be charged with pure electric energy.

"And I told you, that I don't need any help. Why don't you get that, Akali?", he answered with his arms crossed.

Diluc was always distant, nevertheless she tried to be close to him. Ever since they were little, she tried her best, but now Akali wondered why she even tried.

"Fine."

No more words were spoken. She bit her lip, so there wouldn't be any words she'd regret. Only the bitter sweet taste of her own blood.

With all the strength left in her bones, Akali walked out of the room, her head up high and not looking back. Only so could she remain her dignity.

By all the Archons, she wished that he would shout after her, stop her, call her name, but he never did.

He never would. It just wasn't Diluc's way.

It's been years since they last saw each other. Many things had changed, but Diluc didn't. He remained as stubborn and cold as she left him.

Why couldn't he just accept her help?

Akali passed some guests of the tavern when she stormed out of the backroom. It was hard to keep her mind focused on all the anger and thoughts, when there was so much joy all round. All of the people were having lively conversations while hovering infront of their glasses.

She couldn't take the atmosphere right now. It made her sick.

All those noisy people engaged in their happy conversations, drinking expensive wine on wooden chairs in Dilucs tavern. What in earth was she thinking? That he'd change? That he'd accept help just this once?

His honor came before everything, even their friendship. Ugh! There are people's life on the line and Diluc kept on playing the hero who didn't need help, when he actually did.

Who else could he ask for help? Or maybe who else could she ask?

But just before Akali could leave the stuffy air of Diluc's tavern behind, the door opened and it was none other than her other childhood best friend.

"Kaeya?"

It didn't took her long to recognize him. He stood out by everything he wore, his eyepatch, the long dark blue hair and his eyes. They had the most beautiful icy color, Akali had ever seen and she had seen many.

But apparently not only she did recognize the one in front of her.

"Kali! What are you doing here? Having a glass of wine without me?", he grinned.

Of course he noticed the tears in her eyes, the way her face had turned all red when she was angry and the static in the air, but most importantly he noticed Diluc, who had just now returned to his spot behind the counter and was keeping an eye on them.

Something must have happened, it always did.

"I'm staying in Mondstadt for a few days and I thought I... visit someone.", she bitterly admitted.

"Well then, would you fancy having a drink together? Telling me about your adventures, perhaps? Or if you'd prefer, we could go somewhere else."

"No! No... It's okay. We can stay... I would gladly spend some time with you."

Under the strict eyes of the tavern owner the two of them sat down in a corner at the back of the establishment, away from all the noise, the bard's music and happenings.

Kaeya had aged really well, Akali thought to herself. He had indeed become very attractive. She even dared to think that he looked fancy.

Something about him had always been kind of exotic... Maybe that was why he stood out. But on her journey Akali had learned to sort of like the things that stood out.

"So tell me, what have you been doing all these years?", the blue haired asked.

"Traveled the world. I've just wanted to see as much as possible. I worked for different people, helped most of them too. And now I'm here for sometime. It's really not that special."

Kaeya leaned back in his chair. Blue eyes still focused on her silhouette.

The three of them, Akali, Diluc and him were childhood friends. They spend many years of training together. They were like family, one could have even said.

Together they had been through so much fun and trouble... Memories of better times, that layed way to long in the past.

For now Kaeya could only remember how much he wanted the little purple haired girl to be happy. Or maybe he always tried to make that happen.

A long time had passed since she left and now instead of the cute, friendly girl, that picked on him and made him laugh, a young, beautiful woman was sitting right next to him.

"I think it is very interesting indeed. You need to tell me more."

A grin formed on both their lips, as she looked up from the table and directly into his ice blue eyes.

"Well, I guess I can tell you some stories, but what about you? Are you a knight of the order? Or just..."

"Just what?"

"I don't know. Just independent, like others...", she said slightly teasingly, with a slick eye roll.

"I'm a knight. Cavalary Captain of the Knights of Favonius, to be exact."

"Wow, sounds like alot of responsibility."

"It is. Although the grandmaster took all the Cavalary and now there is none for me to captain.", he nodded with a soft simile on his lips.

"But tell me, for how long have you been in Mondstadt?"

A short silence settled in between the two. Not long enough to make it awkward, but also not short enough to go unnoticed.

It was a moment of thinking.

"I arrived two days ago. But-", Akali couldn't finish her explanation about how she wanted to go see him after some things were sorted out, as a waitress interrupted the talk.

"H-Hello, d-do you know what you'd like to order yet?", the woman asked nervously.

Kaeya knew her. Donna, a shy, mousy girl, although very friendly, but she had a crush on Diluc, for literally all the wrong reasons. Hm, not that that was something new.

"The usual, for the both of us this time.", he quickly responded.

"O-okay."

Quickly Donna left. Her cheeks had the color of wild raspberries by the moment she could finally leave their table and over her, one could only see Diluc's flaming red eyes darting towards the two, but none of them actually cared.

"So... the usual, huh?"

"Oh don't worry. It's called "Death by Afternoon", which is sparkling wine with three parts dandelion wine. You'll like it. Trust me."

Of course she trusted him.

They both shared a moment. Of course, Kaeya forgot that Kali didn't drink. Surprisingly enough that the usually confident woman didn't intervine.

"What about your non-drinking attitude?", he winked.

"Let's say that that changed over the years. I wouldn't want to be caught dead with a glass of grape juice in my hands, now would I?"

Of course she nagged Diluc over his favorite drink, just like Kaeya usually did.

"Some people are just unromantic."

They shared a laughter together, that felt like it had been the first time in forever. So that is what both of them missed.

"Maybe you're right. But I hope you didn't order anything bitter. You know, I'm not really into that."

"Don't worry. Death by afternoon is a Mondstadt speciality. Dandelion wine makes the bitterness of the sparkling wine disappear completely. You'll like it, I'm sure of that."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"You got good taste."

The adventure and the knight engaged in a lively talk about their work, their experiences and even their childhood.

It's been too many years since Akali had last visited Mondstadt. Everything seemed to be new, but from outside it nothing seemed to ever really change.

Diluc gave them another glare.

What else could he do? Kaeya was a charming as one could be and Akali was falling for it. He didn't mind it going on for an hour, at least Diluc tried to talk himself into thinking that, but the more they drank, the closer they got.

A little gesture here. A small touch there. They were friends, but this behavior annoyed him.

Usually he was the one, who had this... thing going on with the electric user. They had this sort of connection, where he didn't mind her being close to him. But her being close with Kaeya? It made him angry.

Was that... jealousy, he felt?

Quickly he shook his head, trying his best to keep a straight face.

"Wait! You really started that ruin guard just to prove your point?", Kali giggled.

"Well, let's just say, no one will ever question my authority again."

Fascinated by her beauty, Kaeya watched her laugh at his story. The feeling of a close friend from the past at his side... He couldn't even remember when he last felt that familiarity.

"That's enough."

Rough, like a hot wind hitting a wall of ice, Diluc stood in front of their table.

Theratingly he had his arms crossed infront of him.

The other two just shared a look of slight amusement.

"What have we done this time?"

"We pissed him off, that's what it is, Kaeya."

"You are both drunk."

Both laughed. They did drink some glasses, maybe one or two over their usual limit, but neither Kaeya nor Akali were drunk.

"No, we're not.", the knight wanted to explain, but he got interrupted by his friend.

"Seems like we're not welcome here anymore, Kaeya. Let's pay and go somewhere else. Maybe somewhere where we are more welcome."

Diluc instantly tried to correct this statement, but he couldn't go on about is explanation.

"That's not what I meant."

"You never mean anything, Diluc. See ya."

Kali grabbed her companion's upper arm and dragged him out of the tavern, but not without giving Diluc a last sarcastic wave.

Other guests noticed the scene, but most of them didn't. A great part of the customers had already left, that is how late it had gotten.

Cursing Kaeya, himself and even Akali in his head Diluc had watched them leave in silence.

He scoffed.

Well, he ruined it. Great. Was that the only thing he managed to do?

[renaxwrites]

Eleven

.06 -  Fool’s Gold

synopsis: the number Eleven had always appeared in milestones of your life. it was a constant, and you didn’t know why. but you would soon find out when you study abroad in japan and meet Him.

pairing: tsukishima x fem!reader

warnings: none!

masterlist: here :)

a/n: hey y’all! I’m so happy I finally found the time to write the new chapter 😩 college is busy but it izzz what it izzz. also I felt the lyrics for this one were perfect, cause *lol* crows a ha ;) hope you enjoy <3

previous || next

I’m like a crow on a wire. You’re the shining distraction that makes me fly home.

“What the hell is so damn funny? Enlighten me before I make myself go deaf on purpose.”

You and Yachi were giggling for the past five minutes about something that had happened earlier in class.

Face flustered and trying to keep a still face, you turn and sputter out, “Damn, Tsukishima, is- is it a crime pfft to lau- I’m so sorry I can’t even talk to you right now.” You barely get the last of your sentences out as you burst into giggles again.

Tsukishima is just watching you. He’s not even sure how to react. He isn’t even aware that he was staring until Hinata comes up, flicks his head between you two, and states, “Tsukishima, just take a picture, it’ll last longer.”

Tsukishima blushes furiously from getting caught, then mutters something about taking a picture of Hinata in his grave.

All of you were in good spirits, with it being the day of the Harvest Moon Festival. Ukai even ended practice early, to allow everyone the time to prepare for the festivities. Although, he had to lightly threaten Hinata and Kageyama if he found out they used the gym outside of practice.

Mizuki encouraged Yachi to get ready with you at the house, hoping to hearten up the girl-bonding the three of you had. She got off of work early to help you two get ready, and it truly was a wholesome experience.

After several hours (or several years to Tsukishima), you and Yachi were all dressed and ready to go. She brings out a mirror so the two of you can inspect your looks.

“You girls look so lovely,” Mizuki gushes.

Let the squealing commence!

“YACHIIII! You’re glowing in that color! Do a spin for me girlie!!”

“Y/NNNN! You’re the one that’s glowing!! I swear, I can already hear all the boys breaking their necks to peek at you!!”

Mizuki had been watching all three of you, so she was a little surprised at her son’s sudden intense blush after the “boys checking out y/n” comment. She definitely took a mental note of that.

Suddenly, a knock at the door captured all of your attention.

Mizuki clasps her hand. “Alright! Kei, watch over these two lovely ladies! Be careful and have fun!” She bids you all goodbye with a hug.

You open the door to find Yamaguchi, Hinata, and Kageyama bouncing from excitement.

“We invited these idiots too? Well, I’m out,” Tsukishima turns to walk back inside, but before he could, you lightly grab his wrist, causing him to abruptly stop. You feel his warmth and swear there’s a light spark.

“Tsukishima, please? It’s my first time anyway, and I want to experience it with everyone! Come on, it’ll be fun!”

He already felt somewhat weak around you, so how could he say no to your puppy-sad eyes? No one with sanity could resist those.

He rolls his eyes. “Fine. Let’s go before I change my mind.”

Everyone collectively sighs a breath of relief.

“We’re going to meet the senpais at the festival ground, so let’s gooo!” Hinata announces as you all make your way to the main event.

The main town square was overflowing with festive decorations, painting every nook and cranny. It was just before sunset, so the glow of the lowering sun drowned the atmosphere in golden haze. Pampas grass, blush clovers and autumnal flowers littered windows, adding an extra pop of color. There were people dancing in joyous manner, others feasting on mid-autumn treats, and extra citizens strolling around enjoying the festivities.

Your group had barely walked into the entrance when you were cheerily greeted by 6 more individuals.

“OI! First-years! Your senpais are over here!” Tanaka and Nishinoya belted out to capture your groups’ attention. Soon, you feel engulfed in several hugs from your senpais. Even you and Yachi spent a few minutes with Kiyoko on complimenting each other, who looked like a gem with her deep violet theme.

Time began to fly by, with you and the team happily making your way around the festival, participating in all the activities offered. At some point, there was a dance ritual, and Kiyoko took you and Yachi by surprise by dragging you out to dance. The three of you danced without a care in the world, not even noticing how you were being watched in awe by the rest of the team. All but the first year boys are quick to join, who stand idly on the side, not sure what to do.

Mid-twirl, you notice the four awkward boys playing ‘wallflower’, so you mention it to Yachi, and within that second you two stride up to them. She grabs Tobio and Hinata’s wrists, while you clasp onto Tadashi and Tsukishima’s.

“There is no way we’re letting you stand there like some awkward ass trees. Come dance with us, at least for a little bit!” You didn’t wait for a response as you dragged them out into the square. You let go and slide into the rhythm of the native dance, while the boys awkwardly try to follow. You take a turn helping each of them, and although it was pretty much a lost cause, you all still had a load of fun either way.

Once the period of dancing was over, you and the team made your way over to the food stands. The closer you got, the more engulfed you were in the endless delicious scents. There were heavier servings, such bottomless amounts of dango (white dumplings of rice), tsukimi burgers, and lots of dishes with eggs. Fall fruits and vegetables were also present, such as kuri (chestnuts), kabocha (pumpkin), persimmons, Japanese sweet potatoes, taro, grapes, and pears.

The boys ate a portion from each stand, their appetite never seeming to end. However, you had a hard time deciding which one to choose, so you, Yachi and Kiyoko settled and shared a bit from each. To help the digestion, you made your way to make your harvest offerings.

Each member made line at the temple to make their offering, but Tsukishima sensed your hesitation.

“Don’t know how to do it? I thought you knew everything, you nerd.”

You look up and laugh in slight embarrassment. “I do, it’s just been a while, I guess. Brings back a couple memories, that’s all.”

To be lightly petty, you cut him in line. To your surprise, he doesn’t make a sarcastic comment, so you leave it alone.

The reason why he didn’t was so he could have the privilege to watch you. To see you bask in the soft glow of the candlelight, with wisps of the incense swirling around your face. To feel his own fascination in seeing stillness in your features, for just a moment.

By the time every member had made their offering, it was dark, meaning the moon viewing was about to start.

The moon was shining its brightest at the highest peak in the sky. All of those attending had gathered to surround the main area for the viewing, to get the best view of the moon. Music was softly playing, setting a serene tone.

You and the team had huddled together in awe. But for some reason, something seemed amiss. You turn to each of your friends, only to find one missing.

Tsukishima.

Whispering to Yachi, you set off in search to find him. It shouldn’t be too hard, considering almost everyone was being entranced by the moon. Plus, he’s, you know, pretty tall.

You feel it’s best to retrace your steps. And right you were!

You find Tsukishima purchasing an item, and get the bright idea of trying to sneak behind him. Somehow thinking you were going to be able to scare him. However, you failed two steps in.

He turns around and you two barely missing collision, almost dropping the small bowl in his hand.

“Tsk tsk. Your stalking almost wasted my money, y/n.”

Still catching your breath, you glare up at him. “Well sheesh, not my fault you snuck off.”

He smirks and shakes his head. “Excuse me for going out of my way to be generous, never again I suppose.”

Tilting your head, you ask, “What do you mean?”

He suddenly turns bashful. Thank goodness it was dark enough to mask the pink now flooding his cheeks.

“Well, I saw you practically drooling for these earlier, so...” his voice trails off. He looks in the opposite direction as he puts the bowl out for you to take. You glance down in curiosity. Inside were four little mochi balls in the shape of rabbits.

You feel a bit of blush on your cheeks, and you bring him back down to earth as you say, “You got this for me?”

“It’s either that or hear whining when we get back. I’d rather spend a couple yen for silence to be honest,” he shrugs.

You laugh and playfully push his shoulder with yours. “I’m not that whiny. You swear. Anyway, let’s head back, the moon viewing has already started.”

You begin to walk back to your friends when you feel a gentle tug on your wrist. Turning, you see Tsukishima with his iconic smirk, along with a mysterious, playful glint in his eyes.

“Actually, I have a better spot in mind.”

He leads you back towards the temple, which then branches off to a smaller , more hidden path. Eventually, the two of you are peering over a quaint koi pond, surrounded by lush plant life. Your eyes full of wonder, all while glowing in the moonlight.

Tsukishima has never seen anything so beautiful.

You hardly notice his intense staring as you look up in awe and ponder, “How do you know about this place? It’s gorgeous!”

He breaks his gaze to stare up at the moon above. “This is the one place I have to myself. The one place I can run and hide whenever I needed to. It was just me, and no one else. But...it feels right to share it right now.”

You feel both honored and mesmerized by this moment. To make it sweeter, you open your box and hand a mochi to Tsukishima. “Cheers.”

He silently accepts your mochi and doesn’t object when you clink your rabbit against his, like a teacup. The two of you munch the treat, then continue to revel in the comfortable silence.

After a while, you hear faraway bustles of people, indicating that the viewing was finishing up. “I hate to leave, but it seems like we’re almost done,” you admit forlornly as you pick up your bowl.

Tsukishima is quick to notice a few strands fall from your face, so he takes this opening to lift your chin and tuck them behind your ear.

Your breath hitches.

“You know, I’m sure many boys probably broke their necks today. That color looks good on you.”

You realize this is a response to Yachi’s comment from earlier, and are not even sure how to react. Especially not when he’s super close to you right now. How dare he, messing with your brain’s functionality.

But just as quick as the moment arrived, it was gone.

You both begin trekking back to the team. Just as you feel your phone vibrate to notify it being Eleven o’clock, you feel a warm, “not-too-hard, not-too-soft” pinky tenderly wrap around yours.

It felt just right.

I'm the first to admit that I’m reckless . I get lost in your beauty and I can’t see two feet in front of me.

taglist: @jiminslonglostjams @fantasymirror @shewastheriot @lukes-princess @iamthepenguinwhosearseisonfire @its-bnha-babe @desi-studys @shootooooo @noya-senpai-imagines @animefan7420 @anpancari @tsukkx @cadabby @thoebe-fly @it-was-just-a-ship @imconfusedanditsok @alexa360b34st @delicious-peaches-blog @shinguchi @creammy0

[gyakutengagotoku]

GS4 vs AJ:AA - Episode 1, Part 1

Look, guys! I’m being productive again! Hooray, it feels exhausting just as I remember it did!

As done before, every post I make will contain differences between the source Japanese and localized English versions of the same game, as well as further details about them, up to the following “To be continued...” screens and eventually the ending credits. As always, there are so many ways the localization can dress up certain lines in the original script to make them into jokes or at least more colorful, so I’m not going to pick out every one. It would take us an eternity longer than my hiatuses to finish otherwise.

To think it took a freakin’ indie game that's like Mafia but with astronauts and tasks to bring me back to the Ace Attorney community and back to my blog’s roots. Is this what they mean by “Circle of Life”? All I know is that I’m constantly running around in circles, both metaphorically and literally.

--

> Court Lobby

<Kristoph> やれやれ。ずいぶんカタくなってる みた��だね。 You look tense, Justice. Wound up tight.

<Apollo> そ。そんなコトないです！ カンゼンに大丈夫ですから、オレ！ W-Wound up, sir? No! I'm loose! I'm fine!

<Kristoph> 声がウラ返ってるよ‥‥ まあ。ムリもないかな。 That screeching noise... Is that your voice? I suppose it's to be expected...

初めての法廷が、殺人事件とは。 まさしく“オドロキ”ってヤツだね。 Your first trial, and it's a homicide. I guess "Justice" doesn't start small, eh?

Enter Apollo's signature "I'm fine!" catchphrase, or as it's originally known, "Daijobu desu!"

In the third box, "ウラ返ってる" from 裏返る (uragaeru) in this context is translated fairly, though it specifically refers to a "crack in falsetto" kind of squeak or screech. (Yes, squeaky Apollo.) Now, it's interesting to note uragaeru in a different context can also mean "to double-cross". To be fair, it's also a common phrase, like being "betrayed" by your own cracking voice, but the foreshadowing power...

In the fourth box, yes, they changed the name puns to suit the localized name. Kirihito (Kristoph) is just saying what a "surprise" it is for his first trial to be a murder case.

>

<???> たしか、きみは‥‥ So, you're...

<Apollo> あ、ハイ！ オレ、大丈夫ですッ！ Fine! I-I'm fine!

<???> ああ‥‥“大丈夫くん”か。 Ah... Mr. Fine, is it?

<Apollo> え。 Uh.

<???> 変わった名前だとは覚えていた。 I did remember you having an odd name.

<Apollo> （さっそく、ゴカイされちまった） (Well, we're off to a great start.)

I'm just putting this here to assure everyone that Nick does first call him "Daijobu-kun".

>

<???> そろそろ時間だ。‥‥行こうか。 It's time. Shall we?

<Apollo> は、はいッ！ Y-Yes, sir!

<Apollo> （‥‥そうさ。 　今は、とにかく集中するんだ） (...OK. I need to focus.)

（オレの‥‥王泥喜　法介の、 　初めての法廷に！） (First trial, here comes Justice!)

I want to comment on how catchy Apollo's other lesser-known catchphrase is. Poor Odoroki doesn't have anything as cool as this.

> Courtroom

<Kristoph> 弁護士は、依頼人の希望を最優先 させなければなりません。 A defense attorney must always cede to his client's wishes.

この王泥喜くんは、依頼人の ご指名なのですよ。 And my client specifically requested Mr. Justice.

<Judge> ふむう‥‥わかりませんな。 Well, of course he wants justice!

現在、最高の弁護士と言われる 牙琉　霧人（がりゅうきり��と）。 But to entrust his case to this greenhorn... Why?

それをさしおいて、 こんなワカモノがねえ‥‥ I do not exaggerate when I say that you're the best defense attorney in town, Mr. Gavin.

<Apollo> （だ、大丈夫。発声練習の量なら、 　先生にも負けないさ！） (OK, so Gavin's got trial experience, fine. But does he have Chords of Steel!?)

I just love this line from Apollo. Perfect timing and delivery. Odoroki's line is good too, though comes off as a tad more innocent: "I-It's fine. When it comes to  vocal training, even Sensei can't beat me!" Though I have to say the image of Kristoph screaming during voice training is too funny to pass up.

> Enter Defendant

<Judge> まことにザンネンです。 This is truly an unfortunate turn of events.

ひさしぶりの対面が、 このようなカタチになるとは。 I'm sorry we had to meet again under these circumstances.

‥‥成歩堂　龍一 （なるほどうりゅういち）くん。 Long time no see, Mr. Wright.

<Phoenix> 忘れてほしいですね、 ムカシのことは。 Let's put the past behind us, shall we?

今のぼくは‥‥そう。 しがないピアニスト、ですから。 These days, I'm merely Phoenix Wright, piano player.

I may have mentioned it before, but I'll make a note here that the Hobohodo meme has its own version in the JP fandom: "ピアニート" (piani-to or pia-NEET), which is portmanteau of pianist and NEET, the most famous of Japanese government welfare programs for the unemployed. It's also slang for "hobo".

>

<Payne> これが、被害者の命を奪った凶器。 ‥‥グレープジュースのボトルです。 This is the weapon that took the victim's life. A bottle of grape juice.

彼のお気に入りで、 いつも飲んでいるようですな。 Grape juice is apparently our defendant's drink of choice.

Many of you already know, but just in case: The localizers never censored Nick's fave drink. It was the JP devs who had to work with such censors back home, but eventually they just kept it as a running gag to put non-alcoholic fruit juices in fancy wine bottles. It wasn't until SoJ when the devs could get away with featuring a bit of alcohol. Their previous game was slapped with a CERO-C (15+) due to graphic images, so Eshiro and co. were pleasantly surprised to see SoJ get the classic CERO-B (12+) again.

Not to mention, very expensive high-quality fancy fruit juices do exist in Japan and can cost way more than your usual middle-grade wines. Japan and their fancy fruit culture and all. (I forget exactly, but I recall there were plenty of group pictures of the devs on their blogs and Twitters over the years where someone had gotten them fancy bottles of fruit juice as Christmas gifts. The memes live on.)

> After 1st testimony, decline tutorial

<Apollo> 先生が出るにはおよびません！ ここは、オレでじゅうぶんッ！ No need for help here, sir! I think I've got this one covered!

<Kristoph> ‥‥“手下”みたいなセリフだね。 大丈夫ですか？ I think you'd better do more than think. You know it, or you do not.

<Apollo> （大丈夫！　 　発声練習は積んできた！） (I'm fine! The Chords of Steel are ready for battle!)

The differences here are subtle enough that I hesitated on including this, but Kirihito straight-up calls out Odoroki: "Sensei, you won't need to step up here. I'm enough for this!" "...Sounds like something someone unreliable would say. Are you going to be fine?"

> Press 4th statement

<Judge> ふむう‥‥ Hmm...

ポーカーといえば、５枚のカードで “役”を作って勝負するゲーム。 As I recall, in poker you make five-card "hands".

たしかに、イカサマが 起こりやすいのでしょう。 I can see how it would be easy to cheat.

<Phoenix> フッ‥‥ “役”を作るゲーム、ねえ‥‥ Heh... Yes. A game of "hands".

<Apollo> ‥‥？ ...?

Now that I find this dialogue again, it's even deeper than I'd ever thought. In both JP and EN, Phoenix's line works just as well as the other despite having different double entendres. In EN, he makes a pun between the poker hands and people's hands; while in JP, the term used is "yaku", which is normally used to refer to hands in a card/mahjong game, but in more general cases, it means "role" or "responsibility". Naturally, in this case, there are a lot of hands and roles being exchanged rather quickly.

This case is dang amazing and I regret forgetting so much of what made it spectacular.

> Press 5th statement

<Phoenix> 賭けていたのは、ただひとつ。 おのれの“プライド”だけだよ。 The only thing at stake in our game... was pride itself.

<Judge> ほほう。 なんだか、カッコイイですな！ Ho ho! Well put, Mr. Wright.

私も“ポーカー”で ヒト勝負したくなってきました。 I've got a mind to play a hand of poker myself...

<Judge> あなたの“有罪”を賭けてッ！ The stakes: your fate!

<Apollo> （“ヒト勝負”感覚で 　決められてたまるかッ！） (Um... Can we get back to the trial now?)

For once, I'm gonna go with Odoroki's line as the cooler one: "(As if we're going to decide this trial like a game of "life-or-death"!)"

> 1st witness, before testimony

<Olga> 逆居　雅香（さかいまさか） ‥‥��申します。 My name... is Olga Orly.

レストラン《ボルハチ》で ウエイトレス‥‥していますの。 I am employed as waitress in Borscht Bowl Club restaurant.

<Judge> しかし‥‥なぜ、カメラを？ Then... why the camera?

<Olga> もちろん、《ボルハチ》ジマンの ボルシチもお運びいたします。 Of course, it is my pride to serve borscht that is naming restaurant.

でも、ワタシ。他にも、いろいろ サービスをいたしますのよ。 But I also perform -- how it is said? Other service.

Just making a note here on how well Olga's lines are written. They really make it obvious that she's "not a native speaker" (for now). While in EN, they just made her English a little broken, in JP, she speaks in a very stiff and formal Japanese, as she is a waitress, but also on the occasion can sound a little off to a native speaker without being broken, per se. She also has a distinct "watashi" among a few other common words that are written in katakana to show a sort of accent.

>

<Payne> さて、証人。 事件当時は、どこに‥‥？ Now, witness. Where were you at the time of the murder?

<Olga> ワタシ、あの部屋にいたんです。 ‥‥《ナラズモの間》。 I was in room. The Hydeout, we call it.

<Apollo> “ならずものま”？ Excuse me? The Hydeout?

<Olga> 伝説のギャング“ナラズモ”が タイホされたというお部屋。 It is room where famous gangster "Badgai" was arrested.

‥‥事件があった小部屋ですの。 Is room where murder took place.

<Apollo> なんだってェェェ！ Whaaaaat!?

<Olga> ‥‥そのビックリしたカオ、 ステキです。 Your look of utter surprise... It is lovely.

あとで法廷の前に 張り出しておきますので‥‥ I will post by courtroom door later for you!

ほしい写真の番号を、みなさま お書きくださいね。 Dah, dah, photos will be numbered, and you will write which ones you want copy of.

Okay, everyone knows how bad/obvious/cringe the name puns can be in Khura'in or certain ones from AAI, but please, does anyone not remember "Badgai" here? (Tbf, I forgot too, so I'm not one to talk...)

Btw, his original name is "Narazumo", literally "ruffian", and it's completely in katakana, which makes me think it's a codename or alias. She also specifies that he was a "gangster", not yakuza as we'd assume. Japanese gangs are a bit closer to gangs that we know of in the West, especially that they're more known for foreign influence to their styles than the much more traditional yakuza.

Also, I'm disappointed there was no Odoroki pun here. Sure, she doesn't know him, so it wouldn't make sense, but still a missed opportunity. Also also, she actually talks to the rest of the court when she says "you", so she's selling photos of Apollo's freakout to everyone. Classy...

> 1st Witness Testimony, press 3rd statement

<Apollo> “ロケット”‥‥？ His "locket"...?

<Olga> あのお客さまにとっては 大切な“お守り”のようでした。 I believe it was good-luck charm, dah?

何度か握りしめながら、 勝負をされていましたから。 He gripped it many times as he played that night.

<Judge> なるほど‥‥大空へ飛び立つ チカラがみなぎるのでしょう。 Yes, he must have felt as though it might carry him to the moon and the stars!

なにしろ《ロケット》ですからな。 Though if it were small enough to fit around his neck, it wouldn't have much lift...

<Apollo> ‥‥あの。ちなみに “ロケット”というのは‥‥ Um... The defense would like a clarification: this is a locket we're talking about?

写真を入れたペンダントのコト、 なんですけどね。 I mean, a pendant with a picture in it, right? Not a "rocket"?

<Judge> 知ってます！ Of course! I knew that!

ロケットのカタチをした アレでしょう。 It was probably a pendant shaped like a rocket. That's why she called it that.

<Apollo> ちがいますよ！ カタチはカンケイないんです No, a locket's a locket! It doesn't matter what shape it is!

<Kristoph> ‥‥深追いしてはいけない。 それが、社会のルールです。 It's considered bad form to poke fun at the hard-of- hearing in our society.

<Apollo> （モヤモヤするなあ） (Hard of hearing, or hard of understanding?)

This entire conversation is just a joke on how "locket" and "rocket" are written the same way in Japanese, and I'm surprised how well it still works in English.

To clarify, Kirihito's line at the end is a bit different: "...Refraining from pursuing a line too far is a well-known rule in our society." "(Doesn't make me feel any better.)"

> After 1st Present, just before new statement added

<Apollo> （ヤレヤレ‥‥ 　慎重すぎるんだよな、先生は） (There's such a thing as thinking too much...)

（イシバシを叩いて 　コワすタイプ？） (This horse is dead, let's stop beating it!)

<Kristoph> 聞こえてますよ、オドロキくん。 There's such a thing as thinking aloud too much, too.

It's conversations like this that make me wonder if characters can actually hear what the MC is saying/whispering or if they're breaking the 4th wall to hear their thoughts. Here, it's even more ambiguous in JP than the usual between Nick and Maya in prior games. Or are they suggesting that even when Apollo is thinking, he's still loud?

> After 2nd Witness Testimony, before cross-exam

<Judge> なるほど‥‥ Ah, how many times have I heard these words:

『むしゃくしゃしてやった。 　今は後悔している』‥‥ "I done it in a fit of anger, Yer Honor, and now I regret what I done".

‥‥の、���ターンですな。 ...A common tale, but true.

<Apollo> （成歩堂さんは、ハッキリ言った。 　『７年間、負けたことがない』） (Methinks the judge watches too many old court movies.)

（‥‥この証言には、ゼッタイ 　“何か”あるはずだ！） (Mr. Wright said he hasn't lost in seven years, so this testimony must be wrong!)

I don't usually include entries for examples where the localizers dress up the text from the original, but this one here really bugs me. I'm not sure if it's a reference to some classic film or just a tip of the hat to classic American court drama movies in general.

If someone could help me pinpoint this one, please do.

> Press 2nd statement, press further

<Apollo> チップについて、くわしく 話していただけますか？ Maybe you could explain a bit about these "chips"?

<Olga> そ。そう言われましても‥‥ E-Explain? What is there to be explained?

<Objection!>

<Payne> チップはチップです。 Poker chips are poker chips.

いつまで待っても‥‥ キップにはなりませんぞ！ They're not fish and chips, not a chip off the old block, not a motorcycle cop, not a...

Okay, the "motorcycle cop" bit got me. I swear this was a popculture reference (was it a song? It sounds so familiar), but I don't remember exactly where it was from! Someone plz help.

As for the original script, Auchi makes a silly pun. "[Poker] chips are [poker] chips. No matter how long you wait... they won't become tickets!" (chips = chippu, ticket = kippu)

>

<Apollo> ‥‥はあ。 ...Thanks.

（セッカクだ。 　なにか聞かないとソンだな） (Now that I've pressed her I'd better ask something...)

たとえば‥‥そのチップ。 “円”ですか？　“ドル”ですか？ What are these chips worth? Are they in dollars? Or rubles, even?

<Olga> ‥‥あの。 先ほども申しましたけれど‥‥ ...Nyet. As I have been saying before, it was game, not gambling.

ギャンブルでは ございませんでしたから‥‥ Hard perhaps for capitalist to understand.

<Olga> “１０００点”と “１００点”の２種類。 Two types of chip: 100 points chip and 1,000 points chip.

おカネではございませんの。 It is not money, dah.

<Kristoph> ‥‥オドロキくん。 ...Justice.

<Apollo> はいッ！ Sir!

<Kristoph> 今の証言‥‥ ちょっと、おもしろいですね。 Don't you find her comment... interesting?

<Apollo> え‥‥ In more ways than one, sir.

<Kristoph> 私ならば‥‥そう。 証言に加えていただくところですが。 I'd have it added to her testimony, myself.

As funny as that capitalist line is, it's not found in the source, sorry, guys. Her text in Japanese is very formal, so it takes an extra box just to complete her sentence.

Also, worth to note that Odoroki here mentions yen and dollars, but not rubles, despite the restaurant being Russian-themed. Whether it's writer oversight or just Odoroki being uncultured will remain a mystery.

Lastly, Apollo's last line here makes him seem quite confident, but in the original, he seems just as confused as ever. This is made clearer when Apollo later presses the new statement.

> Press new statement

<Apollo> あの。小さい方が１００点、 大きい方が１０００点‥‥ Um. The small ones are 100, and the big ones 1,000...

で、いいんですよね。やっぱり。 Uh? Right? Right. Of course.

<Payne> フン！　 聞くまでもないでしょう。 Hah! Don't waste our time!

<Apollo> はあ‥‥ *sigh*

‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ ...

<Judge> 終わりですか？　それで。 Is that all?

<Apollo> ええ、まあ。 Um... Yeah. *gulp*

（くそ。牙琉先生のせいで 　ハジをかいちまったぞ‥‥） (Great. Mr. Gavin made me stop her, and now I'm the one who looks dumb.)

<Kristoph> オドロキくん。 Oh, Justice?

<Kristoph> 私にハジをかかせないで もらえますか？ Please try not to embarrass me like that.

<Apollo> え！　オレがですか！ Huh? Who? Me!?

The subtleties of this joke conversation were lost in translation. After Apollo wastes time with that question, he grumbles to himself: "(Damn. Thanks to Garyu-sensei, I've made a fool of myself.)" "Odoroki-kun. Would you please not pin this embarassment on me?" "Huh! Me!?"

> After Present, select "Number of chips"

<Apollo> おかしいのは、チップの枚数‥‥ ですよね、先生？ The odd thing here is the number of chips... Right, Mr. Gavin?

<Kristoph> ‥‥なぜ、私に？ ...Why are you asking me?

<Apollo> その。念のため、というか！ Uh... Just in case?

<Kristoph> ‥‥オドロキくん。 もう少し、キチンと考えましょう。 Justice... It's your case I'm concerned about.

チップなら、写真を見れば すべて、写っています。 If you're wondering about the chips, just look at the photograph. It's all there.

老眼の裁判長さんでも カンタンに数えられますよ。 Even our judge with his failing eyesight could count them.

<Apollo> （‥‥あの裁判長なら、それでも 　まちがえるような気がする‥‥） (That's not the only thing failing the judge.)

Damn, what a burn. Odoroki in the OG script simply went: "(...Knowing this judge, he could get even that wrong...)" which is a fair effort, but not a wildfire level of damage.

> 3rd Witness Testimony, press 4th

<Apollo> 口論の内容は、おぼえてますか？ Do you recall what the men were arguing about?

<Olga> そうですね。たしか‥‥ Dah, I believe so...

被害者サマが『イカサマだッ！』と 叫びましたの。それに対して‥‥ The victim, he shouts, "you are cheater!" and then...

“異議がある”というようなコトを 被告人さまが‥‥ ...the defendant shouts something like, "I have objection!"

<Payne> ‥‥出ましたな。 おトクイの《異議あり！》が。 Shouting objection, eh? Old habits are hard to break!

まったく‥‥ハッタリづくしの 人生ですからな。被告人は。 First he bluffed his way through the courtroom, now he bluffs his way through life!

<Objection!>

<Apollo> しかし！　勝負の結果は、 成歩堂さんが“負けている”！ However! Mr. Wright lost the hand!

むしろ、アヤシイのは、 勝った被害者・浦伏さんでしょう！ That seems to cast the shadow of doubt on Mr. Smith!

<Olga> “イカサマをやった上、 　勝負にも負けた”‥‥ Humiliation from losing even when cheating...

そのクツジョクが、被告人の方の ココロに、火をつけたのですの。 That is what set fire to defendant's heart!

<Judge> ‥‥そして、火のついた 被告人は、どうしたのですかな？ So what did the flaming defendant do next?

Oh my God, as soon as I saw that "異議がある" (igi ga aru) my mind flashed back to those ridiculous Google Translated trailers of Gyakuten Saiban & Kenji on Nico Douga. Imagine if the devs at the time decided to play with Google Translate to see how "異議あり！" would look after switching it from Japanese to English and back. It would be one of the biggest brain plays by a game developer ever... which probably means it wasn't how it went, but it's fun to think about.

Anyway, I also like this snippet of dialogue for the judge's "flaming defendant", clearly alluding to "Phoenix" Wright. In JP, the bit about setting fire to his heart is just a common idiom in the first place, but who knows? “Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney” had been selling fast in the West, so they could have been inspired.

> After Present, point out on the cards, examine victim's hand

<Apollo> 裁判長！　見てください！ 被害者のカードには、１枚‥‥ Your Honor! Look at this! One of the victim's cards...

ウラの色がちがうカードが まぎれこんでいますッ！ The back is a different color!

<Payne> え‥‥ええええッ！ Eh...? Ehhhhhh!?

<Olga> そ。そんなバカなッ！ Th-That's impossible!

アタシがシカケたのは、 成歩堂のほうなのに‥‥ But I put that card in Wright's hand...

あッ！ Ack!

<Kristoph> ‥‥今、なんと言いましたか、証人。 ...What was that, Ms. Orly?

<Olga> い‥‥いえ‥‥その。 アタシ‥‥わ、私は、ええと‥‥ No... Ny-Nyet! Er, I merely said, eh... Dah, I have, eek!

It's at this point when Olga's cover is blown, and in JP, it's more obvious because she stammers between using "atashi" vs "watashi". It's not very common to hear beginner Japanese students refer to themselves as the cutesy "atashi", though one who's a bit more well versed in the language or in anime may pick up on it.

> After Phoenix takes over the court, select when the cards were swapped, select "Olga Orly" who swapped them

<Phoenix> たしかに、あのゲームでは赤・青の ２種類のカードを使っていた。 Mixing a card from the wrong deck... when the backs are different colors?

しかし‥‥逆居　雅香は、 カードを配っていた張本人。 Remember that you're talking about Olga Orly... She was the dealer.

‥‥そんなミスを すると思うかい？ Do you really think she would make such a novice mistake?

<Apollo> （まあ‥‥オレでも 　まちがわないだろうな） (Actually, I have trouble imagining even the judge making that mistake.)

This is another case of the localizers dressing it up. Odoroki says here: "(Well... even I wouldn't make such a mistake.)" as if implying that he's the lowest common denominator here, haha!

> Back to Court Lobby

<Phoenix> 人間の思考・感情というものは ‥‥かならず。 Try as they might to conceal it, everyone reveals their true thoughts in the end.

身体から“情報”として 発信されている。 Their body language can become a valuable source of information.

<Apollo> そ。そんなバカな‥‥ You're kidding!

<Phoenix> たとえば。あの証人‥‥ 逆居　雅香を思い出してごらん。 That witness, for instance, Ms. Orly.

<Phoenix> 彼女は、ある証言をするとき‥‥ かならず“首筋をさする”。 She would touch the back of her neck during certain parts of her testimony.

‥‥気がついていたかい？ Did you notice?

<Apollo> い。いえ‥‥ （それどころじゃないよ、フツー） Uh... No. (C'mon, who'd notice that!?)

<Phoenix> “クセ”“コトバ”‥‥ それらが発する情報を読み解くこと。 Words, habits, twitches... It's all information for the reading.

それが、勝負に勝つ “鉄則”だよ、オドロキくん。 That's the secret to winning, Apollo.

まあ‥‥ぼくも“ある人物”に 教わったんだけどね。 Someone taught me, and now, I pass the secret on to you.

It's this quiet moment between the two of them that really parallels with how Mia used to talk with Phoenix, and it's beautifully poetic. And I'd like to note that even Phoenix's speech pattern throughout this convo is quite reminiscent of how Mia talked, but with a bit of Phoenix's own style. Though in that last line, he could possibly have meant Mia, but more likely meant a certain someone with a similar power to Apollo. Ya'll know who I mean, (W)right?

>

<Phoenix> ああ。それから、もうひとつ。 今回の事件だけどね。 Ah, almost forgot. One more thing. About this case...

ぼくはまだ、誰にも “本当のコト”を話してないんだよ。 You should know, I haven't told the truth to anyone yet.

<Apollo> えええええッ！ （や、やっぱり‥‥） Whaaaaaaaa--!? (I knew it!)

<Phoenix> もちろん、“理由”がある。 これからアキラカになるだろう。 I have my reasons, of course. All shall be revealed.

そして、ぼくの作戦には‥‥ きみが必要なんだよ。 And Apollo... I need you to be there, defending me.

きみの“能力”が、ね。 I need your power.

<Apollo> オレの、のうりょく‥‥ （声のデカさ、か‥‥？） My, um, power? (I had no idea my Chords of Steel were that special...)

The translation here is close enough, really, but Odoroki specifically describes it as the "intensity" of his voice and it's only the best answer.

--

Welp, I guess it’s back to the drafting board again and I may make this out as a daily or every-other-daily upload. We’ll see. I assure you, you won’t be waiting until next month, though!

[nicolewoo]

I’ve Been Dreaming About You Part 2

Pairing: Roman Reigns X Reader (Joe Anaoi X Reader)

Warnings: None. Just fluff!

We were just minutes away from Laura’s house when my phone dinged. I handed the phone to Laura and gave her the code to un-lock it.

“It’s an unknown caller.” Laura practically sang out to me. She opened the text and said, “He wants to know if you’re home yet.”

He was WWE superstar Roman Reigns, or as we found out today, Joe Anaoi. He’d seen me and arranged to meet me. He and his Shield brothers had told me that he’s been dreaming about me for over a year. Pick up line? Yeah, probably, but he hadn’t made a move on me. Well, there was a kiss, but he hadn’t tried to sleep with me. Moreover, he wanted to come back on his day off and take me on a date.

“Tell him almost.” I told her, and she texted the message to him.

The phone dinged again, and Laura laughed, “He told you not to text and drive.”

“Tell him I’m not.” Well, we had one thing in common. Not texting and driving was important to both of us. I waited as she typed and then waited for a response.

“He said ok. I told him I’m texting while you drive.” She assured me. The phone dinged again, “Oh! He wants to know if you’ll call him when you get home.”  

I couldn’t stop the smile that came over me. “Tell him yes.” I heard her type out the response.

“This whole situation is so weird,” She pondered. I didn’t answer, but only nodded my head. “Are you seriously just going to go out with him?”

I took a deep breath as I thought. “Yes. Why not?”

She sounded upset, “What do you really know about him? I mean, I’m pretty sure Seth and Dean were telling the truth, but really, who knows?”

“We don’t.” I said thoughtfully, “But any time I go on a first date, I take chances. At least with this man, he has a public reputation to protect.”

“Good point.” She said as I pulled up in her driveway. “Anyway, thanks for taking me with you tonight, and please let me know what’s going on. I’m invested in this now.”

I just smiled, “I promise. Now get to bed. I’ve got a phone call to make. Love ya!”

“Love ya too. Talk to you tomorrow.” I drove home, excited to talk to Joe again. Thankfully, the drive was just a couple of minutes.

=====================================================

I settled into bed, plugging my phone in to charge before I called him. “Hello.”

“Hey,” I said.

“You home?” he asked.

“Yes. Home safe and sound. How is driving through Missouri at…” what time was it? I checked the clock. “1 am?”

I heard him chuckle. “Dark and boring.”

“Just cows and billboards?” I’d made that drive quite a few times, although seldom at night.

His low laugh caused butterflies in my stomach. “Something like that. What are you doing?” he changed the subject.

“I just got home, and I’m relaxing now.” I omitted the fact that I was curled up in bed.

“Do you have to work in the morning? I don’t want to keep you up if so.”

It was my turn to chuckle. “I don’t start work until late morning, so don’t worry about it.”

“So, any idea where you want to go to dinner?” He asked.

“Well, that depends on what you like.” I teased.

“I like just about anything.” He said, giving me no direction.

I thought for a second, “Well, if that’s the case, there’s a really great steak house downtown. Depending on where you stay, we may be able to walk from your hotel to it.”

He hummed his approval. “Steak will be fine.” He paused before saying, “Listen, I was thinking about coming earlier in the day. When do you get off work?”

I just laughed to myself. What he didn’t know was that I owned my own marketing firm, and Tuesdays were my lightest day. I could literally get off work by 11 am if I wanted to. I just had to work harder the day before. “I should be off by noon.” I said nonchalantly.

“Really? That’s perfect.” He said. “Any ideas what we could do?”

I smiled to myself, “Yeah, a few. You want to do the tourist stuff or spend the day seeing how the natives live?” I laughed.

“You really spend that much time in St. Louis?” He asked.

“Yes. My city is wonderful, but there’s so much more culture in St. Louis, like restaurants from different countries and art. We just don’t have those things in the semi-small town we live in, plus St. Louis is so close.” I explained.

“I want to see St. Louis the way you do.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

We talked until he arrived in Kansas City at a little after 3 am. I chided myself for staying up so late. I was going to be dragging tomorrow. That said, how often did I get the chance to talk to a WWE star?

We ended up talking a lot before Tuesday. There were sweet good morning texts, phone calls at night and even a couple of face time conversations sometimes with his Shield brothers and sometimes without.

One thing was perfectly clear; there was a connection between us. Or, I guess I should say I felt like there was a connection. I guess we’d find out for sure on Tuesday.

====================================================

I don’t think I’d ever been this nervous going on a first date. I mean, this was Roman Reigns! Well, the guy who played Roman Reigns. He was Samoan, tall, tan, built, famous, rich, kind and funny. What the heck did I think I was doing? Girls like me just don’t end up on dates with guys like that!!!

And if that weren’t enough to scare me, he’d been dreaming about me. What if I didn’t live up to his expectations? My mind raced the whole morning. By the time I drove to meet him, I was shaking from nerves. I pulled up to the front of the hotel and found Joe standing outside waiting for me. He was dressed in jeans that fit him perfectly and a black, button down shirt. His long, dark hair was tied neatly in a bun, and when he smiled at me, I thought I’d faint.

He climbed in my passenger seat, grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it before buckling in. “Hey.” His smile broadened, and I melted.

“Hi.” I answered. He still had my hand and ran his thumb over the back of it. “When did you get in?” I asked as I started driving.

“9 this morning,” He said.

My mind reached frantically to find something to say. “How was your flight?” Oh, lovely. I have the most amazing man in my car, and all I can think to say is basic small talk? I’m going to ruin this date. I just know it.

He turned to face me before saying, “The flight was good, but tell me how your meeting went yesterday.” Thank goodness he wasn’t as nervous as me, and we settled into the easy conversation we’d been having on the phone.

Neither of us had eaten, so I headed to the Italian district, called The Hill, and parked in front of my favorite deli. We ate there, in the cramped deli with its rickety old tables and chairs, every table full and a line to order snaked around and out the door. I was nervous about Joe being recognized and inundated with requests for pictures and autographs, but we were only approached by one child who was waiting in line to order. Honestly, the little tyke was so cute and polite, I found it a pleasant experience.

When our sandwiches arrived, Joe loved it. “I can see why you chose this place. It’s delicious and I’m getting the real St. Louis experience.

“I’m just getting started.” I teased and we laughed.

Once we were done, we got back on the road. I turned into Forest Park before asking Joe, “Do you like art?”

He turned to me with a raised eyebrow. “Art?”

“Let me re-phrase that. Art, botany, history or animals?” I wound the car through the curves and hills of Forest Park like only a native could.

He chuckled. “I thought you were going to plan this date.”

“And I have. We are going to one of four places in the park. You just decide art, botany, history or animals?”

I found an empty parking spot on the side of the art museum and waited for him to decide. “I feel like I should say Zoo, because isn’t it like really popular?”

“It is,” I nodded to him. “and it’s great, and if I had kids I’d be there every chance I got.”

He finished the thought, “but there will be kids everywhere. I’d get swamped.”

I just nodded. “It’s up to you though. If you don’t mind the fans, I’m more than happy to take you to the zoo.”

“I think…” he squinted his eyes a bit in contemplation. “I think you want to show me the art, so let’s go.”

I held my hands up, “Don’t put words in my mouth. We have a stellar History museum, the wonderful Jewel Box which is basically a giant greenhouse with tropical plants or our world class Art Museum.”

“Which would you pick if you could spend a few hours here?” Ah he had me. I smiled big.

“The Art Museum.” We laughed. I opened my car door and got out. He sent me a questioning look as I walked around the car and took his hand, leading him around to the front of the museum. The giant façade looked out over Art Hill, a favorite sledding spot, and a beautiful lake.

“You’d already parked at the Art Museum,” he chuckled.

He admired the statue of St. Louis riding his horse in front of the building before opening the large door for me to go in. In front of us was a giant desk, and he reached for his wallet as he went toward the desk. I pulled on his hand to stop him. “It’s free.” I explained.

“Really?” he said as he drew out his wallet and looked for the donation box. He slid $100 in it, which was sweet and generous.

“Now,” I began to slowly pace around the desk to the atrium. “Just so you know, I have to stop by and see a guy,” intentionally wording it to see if he got jealous.

“Oh really?” He took my hand staring at me to see if I’d give him any clue, half scared and half amused.

I nodded, “Yup.” I started walking us to the room on the right. “I’m completely in love with him.” I said as we stopped in front of Reclining Pan, a giant, beautifully carved satyr lounging while eating grapes with his pan pipe close at hand. “Joe, meet Pan.” I said. Joe eyed the marble, admiring the details before walking behind it to look at the back.

“So, this is the competition, huh?” he teased. “I think I can take him.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as my eyes scanned each tiny carve, each smooth curve, each rippling muscle in front of me, and as Joe came back to the front of the statue to join me, I realized the irony of both the statue and him being so muscular…. Like carved out of marble. “I just can’t decide which of you has the better abs…” I couldn’t hold back a teasing smile.

He licked his lips as he thought, “You want me to open my shirt so you can compare?” We laughed so hard, I thought one of the guards was going to tell us to stop. “Baby, I hope you’re not expecting me to have fur and hooves.” We laughed more. He was serious now, “It’s a beautiful statue.”

We wandered through room after room, up and down the stairs, taking in everything from modern sculptures to hieroglyphics. Some areas we went through faster, some slower so we could take in every detail.

Afterward, I took Joe on a drive around the city including The Arch, Graffiti Wall and some other popular places before heading to one of my favorite neighborhoods. The main street is full of shops selling everything from bread to hardware to French home decorations. We meandered stopping in the little shops along the way. Joe found some spices that he wanted to try. I pondered buying some sun-dried tomato and basil bread but decided against it. A young family with two young kids stopped to ask Joe for pictures, and he obliged.

Since I knew Joe liked beer, and we were two blocks away, I walked us over to Schlafly Bottle Works, a St. Louis local brewery. We sat at a little bar table with our drinks and talked about the art we’d seen, the city, work and so much more. The conversation was easy and relaxed.

When it was time, we returned my car to the hotel and started walking to the restaurant. We got stopped by 3 groups wanting pictures in just 2 blocks. I shouldn’t have been surprised at that, but we’d barely had any interruptions, and now we got 3. The young man behind the valet desk’s eyes bulged out when he saw us, and he quickly opened the door for us. Joe went to tip him, and the young man said he’d prefer a picture with Joe. Of course, he gave the kid both the picture and the tip.

“You made that kid’s night!” I chuckled, “and since this restaurant is owned by a former Cardinals player, it’s not uncommon to have players and other stars in here.”

“May I help you?” the young lady behind the hostess desk asked us, maintaining her professional persona even if her eyes did focus on Joe almost exclusively. Joe grabbed my hand, indicating we were together. I pondered for a second if he did that consciously or unconsciously.

“It’s under your name,” I squeezed Joe’s hand, and he returned the squeeze as he told the young lady and she walked us to a table in the middle of the restaurant.

“Could we maybe get that table instead?” Joe gave the hostess his flirty smile and I watched her melt as he pointed to a quiet corner table where we wouldn’t be so obvious.

She nodded as she cooed out, “Of course Sir.” I couldn’t help but laugh. I melted when he looked at me too.

Waiters and busers went into action. First, ice water in our glasses, then drink orders, then delivering drinks etc.  One of the things I loved about this place was that it ran like a well-oiled machine. The servers were among the best in the city, and we never wanted for anything, but we also didn’t feel smothered. We sat and ate and talked and laughed. There were touches across the table. There were long eye locks. We watched as the people of St. Louis paraded past the floor length windows next to us. In short, it was perfect. This was by far the best date I’d ever been on.

After, we finished, we asked our waitress for a good calm after dinner place where we could talk, and she suggested Bailey’s Chocolate Bar. I’d heard good things about it and agreed. There, we found a dimly lit, slightly hidden corner with a loveseat and two tiny round tables in front of us each just big enough to hold a drink or two and a candle. As we enjoyed the privacy and the conversation, intimacy grew starting with hand holding, then his arm around the back of the seat, then soft, gentle kisses.

This man could KISS! My body responded to every single kiss, every single touch, torturing me with need. I wanted……. Oh! I wanted. Watching the light from the candle cross his face. Seeing his smile, smelling his cologne. I wanted, but just as my mind was getting hazy with lust, Joe broke our kiss, taking a deep breath to calm down and asked if I wanted to split a dessert with him. If I wasn’t going to give in to my sex drive tonight, I was going to give into a chocolate craving, so I agreed. The dessert was a smart way to break the sexual tension.

“So,” Joe put his arm around my shoulder casually. “Can I see you tomorrow?”

@mindofasagittaruis​ @lclb13​

[kuramirocket]

The Iconography of Chicano Self-Determination: Race, Ethnicity, and Class

I copied and pasted this from my Mexican American studies course. This topic covers the importance of blooming Chicano art during the 1960′s and its extreme importance for Mexican Americans in expressing and determining their own culture, race, class, and ethnicity during a time when they were looked down upon, faced, racism, and discrimination and were used as scapegoats by Americans and Euro-Americans; which sadly still continues to this day.

I have included images of the art that were created by Chicanos, however, I was unable to find all of them. If you want to see the artwork I could find, please keep reading and learn more about such important history and people that fought and continue to fight against racism and Anglo/American/white supremacy. 

In several cities in the Southwest and Midwest with sizable enclaves of Chicanos, there are to be found considerable numbers of images that have become leitmotifs of Chicano art. In their ubiquity, these motifs demonstrate that the Chicano phase of Mexican American art (from 1965 to the 1980s) was nationally dispersed, shared certain common philosophies, and established a network that promoted a hitherto nonexistent cohesion. In other words, it was a movement, not just an individual assembly of Mexican descent artists. In what follows, Chicano art is examined as statements of a conquered and oppressed people countering oppression and determining their own destiny, though not all the producers of these images necessarily saw their production in the political way they are framed below. Examples have been chosen specifically to show how, in response to exploitation, artists have taken an affirmative stance celebrating race, ethnicity, and class.

Race

Without setting forth theories of how and why racism is instituted and continues to exist, it can be said briefly that the Anglo-Saxon settlers of the North American colonies brought racism with them from Europe; found it useful in the genocidal subjugation of the Indian peoples and the expropriation of their lands; and practiced it in the subjugation of the mestizo (mixed- blood) Mexicans in the nineteenth century. In the 1840s, when Anglos were anxious to seize Mexican territory, racial assertions bolstered that desire.

Mexican soldiers, it was said, were "hungry, drawling, lazy half-breeds." The occupation of Mexico was in order since, as documented in the Illinois State Register, "the process which had been gone through at the north of driving back the Indians, or annihilating them as a race, has yet to be gone through at the south." In the 1930s one American schoolteacher claimed that the "inferiority of the Mexicans is both biological and class."

One of the first issues Chicano artists addressed in the 1960s was the question of their Indian heritage. The earliest expression was an embracing of pre-Columbian cultures in order to stress the non-European racial and cultural aspects of their background. Directly related to the question of racial identity, the 1969 Plan Espiritual de Aztlan, formulated at a national gathering in Denver, stated: "We are a Bronze People with a Bronze Culture."

Scenes in some Chicano art illustrate the fusing of pre-Columbian motifs with contemporary issues. One of the earliest such usages was the 1971 mural painted on two interior walls of a Las Vegas, New Mexico, high school by the Artes Guadalupanos de Aztlan. Their representation is tempered by adaptations of the dramatic foreshortening and polyangular perspective characteristic of the Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. On one wall, dominated by feather-adorned pre-Columbian Indians, a sacrifice scene takes place. The second wall, echoing the first, illustrates modern sacrifice: a symbol of the Vietnam War, followed by a crucified Christ beneath whose arms a mother with twin babies surmounts a flag-draped coffin with the slogan "15,000 Chicanos muertos en Vietnam. Ya basta!" (15,000 Chicanos dead in Vietnam. Enough!).

Functioning in a similar vein is a 1973 poster by Xavier Viramontes of San Francisco in which the slogan "Boycott Grapes" is flanked by red, white, and black thunderbird flags of the United Farm Workers Union. Above, a briliantly colored feather-bonneted pre-Columbian warrior holds in his hands bunches of grapes from which blood drips over the words.

Some indigenous motifs illustrate the recognition by Chicano artists that modern North American Indians have been similarly oppressed. For example, Victor Ochoa rendered a modern Native American on the exterior wall of the Centro Cultural de la Raza of San Diego: the Apache chief Geronimo, whose consistent defiance of the government in the late nineteenth century serves as a symbol for contemporary resistance. Alliances between Chicanos and Native Americans appear also in a silkscreen poster produced in the mid- 1970s by the Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF) of Sacramento. A nineteenth-century Indian is shown with painted face and a feather in his hair; half of his face is covered by a U.S. flag from which blood drips. The slogan states "Centennial Means 500 years of Genocide! Free Russell Redner, and Kenneth Loudhawk." No images of Chicanos appear in the poster; nevertheless, a Chicano presence and an endorsement of Native American struggles that paralleled the Chicanos' own are implied by the RCAF logo that appears on the poster.

Ethnicity

A multicultural and multiethnic political structure such as that of the United States is extremely likely to be large and complex enough to involve social stratification and the crosscutting of ethnicity with social inequality. Both these factors exacerbate ethnic consciousness, since the experience of discrimination is related to one's identity and thus to one's ethnicity, which is an important aspect of that identity.

There is evidence to suggest that, beginning in the late 1970s, with the possibility and actualization of social mobility for a segment of educated Chicanos, ethnicity - severed from its socioeconomic aspirations for an entire group - has become an acceptable component of dominant ideology. Nevertheless, true to form, the multiethnic political structure has exerted its de- fining and structuring powers by conflating all "ethnics" of Latin American descent into a single group designated "Hispanic." At the same time, the practice of milder and subtler stereotyping continues to be exercised as the occasion arises. 

When Anglo-Americans first began to penetrate areas of the Southwest, then part of Mexico, many points of disagreement became apparent. The Anglos spoke English, were primarily Protestants, came from primarily southern states, and were proslavery; the Mexicans were Spanish-speaking, Catholic, and opposed to slavery. Their diets were different, their family attitudes at variance, and their racial stock diverse. As conquerors, the Anglo-Americans attacked not only the political and economic power of the former Mexican territory but the culture of its inhabitants. "Colonialism," said Frantz Fanon, "is not satisfied merely with holding a people in its grip.... By a kind of perverted logic, it turns to the past of oppressed people, and distorts, disfigures, and destroys it.” As the dominant society and controller of power, the Anglos continued their attack on Mexican culture from the time of penetration to the present-through stereotypes, the prohibition of spoken Spanish at schools, and the scorning of cultural manifestations. Chicano artists therefore attacked stereotypes, insisted not only on the use of Spanish but also on the validity of "interlingualism," and stressed the celebration of cultural symbols that identified their ethnicity.

The stereotype, critic Craig Owens writes, is "a form of symbolic violence exercised upon the body [or the body politic] in order to assign it to a place and to keep it in its place. [It] works primarily through intimidation; it poses a threat ... [it] is a gesture performed with the express purpose of intimidating the enemy into submission." The insidious aspects of such gestures is that they "promote passivity, receptivity, inactivity-docile bodies.... To become effective, stereotypes must circulate endlessly, relentlessly throughout society" so that everyone may learn their significations. It is abundantly clear that the dominant culture persistently considers cultural traits differing from its own to be deficiencies; the cultures being declared deficient (Black, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Filipino, and hundreds of Native American groups) are considered so with respect to Anglo culture - a reflection of the ideologies that have served to justify the relationship of inequality between European and Third World peoples.

As an image, the Virgin of Guadalupe has a long history in Mexico as the nation's patron saint. In the United States it has been carried on all farm worker demonstrations. It is a constantly repeated motif in artworks of all kinds, an affirmation of institutional and folk Catholicism. The institutional aspect of the Guadalupe began in 1531 as part of the evangelical process directed at the indigenous people by the Spanish Catholic Church. Evangelization was accomplished by means of a miraculous event: the apparition of a morena (dark-skinned) Indian Virgin to a humble peasant, Juan Diego, at Tepeyac, site of the shrine dedicated to the benevolent Aztec earth goddess Tonantzin - or "our mother."

A series of paintings and mixed- media works done in 1978-79 by the San Francisco artist Yolanda Lopez takes the Virgin through a number of permutations. In one she addresses the syncretic nature of Mexican Catholicism, identifying the Guadalupe with the Aztec earth goddess Tonantzin by surrounding the latter with guadalupana symbols of mandorla, crown, star-covered cloak, crescent moon, angel wings, and four scenes from the Virgin's life. 

In others of the series, she places her grandmother, or her mother, or a modern Mexican Indian woman and child, or the artist herself as a runner, in various ensembles combined with the Virgin's symbols - a total secularization. When charged with sacrilege, Lopez defended her images as those of "Our Mothers; the Mothers of us all." 

The syncretic revival of Coatlicue/Tonantzin in conjunction with the Guadalupe pays tribute not only to the racial and religious affirmations of the Chicano movement but to the particular idols of feminist artists as well.

Among ethnic affirmations that appear in Chicano artworks in response to scornful denigration from the dominant culture are the inclusion of such foods as the humble tortilla, bean, chile pepper, and nopal (prickly-pear cactus); the use of the Spanish language in texts; the rites of folk healing among rural Mexicans; the image of the calavera (skull or animated skeleton) as a death motif; and the celebration of the Dia de los Muertos.

Since the early 1970s Dia de los Muertos ceremonies have been celebrated increasingly in the Chicano barrios of large cities, sometimes with processions. Home altars associated with the Dia de los Muertos were revived by Chicanos for gallery display, using the folk crafts and traditional format but also introducing contemporary variations. One example, by San Francisco artist Rene Yafiez, includes images of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and skeletons, and a hologram within a domed form of El Santo - a mysterious and legendary Mexican wrestler of the 1940s whose trademark was a silver head mask slit only at the eyes, nose, and mouth, and who maintained his anonymity. On this cloth-covered altar, accompanied by two candlesticks made of twisted wire "flames," El Santo has truly become "saint" as well as an icon of popular culture. Like Lopez's Guadalupes, Yaiiez's altar has been divested of any religious intent.

Although the Mexican presence in the United States predates the Anglo, it has constantly been increased and rein- forced by Mexican immigration to pro- vide rural and urban labor. The greatest movement of people north was during the years of the Mexican Revolution, roughly 1910 to 1920, and many of these immigrants headed to the big cities of Los Angeles and San Antonio where a particularly urban ethnic expression arose by the 1940s: the Pachuco. The most famous (or infamous) attack against the Pachucos was that known as the "Zoot Suit Riots." Fanned by the Hearst press in 1943, xenophobic U.S. servicemen invaded the barrios and downtown areas of Los Angeles to strip and beat the zoot-suiters in the name of "Americanism." (This was the same period in which Japanese in the U.S. were herded into concentration camps.

Some Chicanos have turned the Pachuco into the status of a folk hero - as did Luis Valdez in 1978 in the play Zoot Suit, where the proud, defiant stance of the character created by Edward James Olmos epitomizes this. El Pachuco, in the play, becomes the alter ego of Mexican-American youth, the guardian angel who represents survival through "macho" and "cool hip" in the urban "jungle" filled with racist police, judges, and courts. In the 1940s a policeman actually stated that "this Mexican element considers [fisticuffs in fighting] to be a sign of weakness ... all he knows and feels is the desire to use a knife ... to kill, or at least let blood." This "inborn characteristic," said the policeman, makes it hard for Anglos to understand the psychology of the Indian or the Latin. The "inborn characteristic" is a reference to pre-Columbian sacrifice, especially of the Aztecs, and the inference, of course, is that since the Aztecs were savages, so are their descendants.

Class

With the Anglo conquest in 1848 (Mexican-American war), some Anglos married women from wealthy Mexican landowning families to form a bilingual upper class (in southern Texas and California, particularly), but by and large Mexicans in the Southwest were stripped of their land and proletarianized. As vaqueros (the original cowboys, as distinguished from the elegantly dressed charros of the upper classes), as miners, as members of railroad section gangs, as agricultural laborers-and more recently as industrial and service workers - Mexican Americans and Chicanos have been mostly of the working class.

Emigdio Vasquez of Orange, California, fills his murals and easel paintings with both well-known and anonymous heroes of the agricultural and industrial working class derived from historical and contemporary photographs, but without the impersonality of photorealism. His mural introduces an Aztec eagle warrior, a Chicano, and a Mexican revolutionary at the left, followed by a railroad boilermaker, a rancher, a miner, and migrant crop pickers. The procession ends with portraits of Cesar Chavez and a representative of the Filipino workers in the fields of Delano, California, who formed an alliance with the Mexican workers to set up what, in the 1960s, became the United Farm Workers Union

The magazine El Malcriado with caricatures by Andy Zermeno and reproductions of Mexican graphics. During the course of a very effective grape boycott, for example, the Nixon administration in the 1960s increased its purchase of grapes for the military forces. In one issue of El Malcriado Zermefio shows Richard Nixon himself being fed grapes by a fat grower, who emerges from his coat pocket, while his bare feet trample out the "juice" of farm workers' bodies in a wooden vat. On the ground, in a pool of wine/blood, lies a dead body labeled "La Raza." The legend across the cartoon reads "Stop Nixon." Another cartoon addresses the dangers of pesticide crop spraying. In it a gas-masked aviator sweeps low over fleeing farm workers while clouds of poison envelop them. Rows of graves line the background.

Other aspects of labor that have found their way into Chicano art include the steel mills of Chicago, the garment- industry sweatshops of Los Angeles, and the Mexican maids (often undocumented) in Anglo households whose vocabulary is limited to the household and for whose employers little books of Spanish phrases for giving orders have been printed. 

In recent years, Chicano artists have become increasingly involved with the question of undocumented workers crossing into the United States to supplement their inadequate Mexican income. Although these workers are secretly recognized by U.S. employers as beneficial to the economy (and business profits), the flow is unregulated and, in times of depression or recession, the workers are scapegoated in the media to divert unemployed U.S. workers from recognizing the source of their own misery. In this ideological campaign, the border patrol of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) plays a brutal role by rounding up and harassing the Mexicans. 

The sculptor David Avalos of San Diego has made this theme a central part of his artistic production. In a mixed-media assemblage, Avalos combines an altar format with that of a donkey cart used for tourist photographs in the commercial zone of the border town of Tijuana, Mexico. His sardonic sense of humor is expressed in the sign painted before the untenanted shafts of the cart: "Bienvenidos amigos" (Welcome friends) - usually addressed to the U.S. tourist but not, of course, to the Mexican workers. The upper part of the shaped like an altar with a cross above and nopal cactus on either side below two votive candles, has been painted as a flower-filled landscape with barbed wire within which an INS officer searches an undocumented worker whose raised arms echo a crucifixion scene.

In poetically articulating the importance given the class struggle by Chicanos, the Plan Espiritual de Aztlan said the following: "Aztlan belongs to those who plant the seeds, water the fields, and gather the crops, and not to foreign Europeans." The plan called for self- defense, community organizations, tack- ling economic problems, and the formation of a national political party. It called on writers, poets, musicians, and artists to produce literature and art "that is appealing to our people, and relates to our revolutionary culture.”

In conclusion, it can be said that Mexican-American and Chicano culture in the United States has been characterized by three manifestations that of cultural resistance (which started at the time of the first contact with Anglo-American penetration of the Southwest); cultural maintenance, which includes all aspects of ethnicity; and cultural affirmation, which celebrates race, ethnicity, and class.

[imsilkroad4]

China Tours - For the China Silk Streets Tour

21st Century Maritime Silk Road

The Egypt Road was a good famous bustling business route that brought about the western society centuries ago. Out of as early as 200BC that silk merchants with Xian set off making use of their camel caravans to the long trek to be able to distant Constantinople even though some adventurous pioneers just like Marco Polo visited the east to work out this mysterious medieval country.

21st Century Maritime Silk Road

China Man made fibre Road is a experience of historic web sites, cultural relics, attractive scenery and multi-colored folklore discoveries. This major historic internet sites and cultural artefacts along this road are: The Terracotta Warriors in Xian, which is one of the most necessary archaeological finds by using troops, horses and additionally carriages in fight formation in the world; Your Mogao Grottoes involving Dun Huang, which are usually considered the great resource house of Buddhist arts in existence; Gaochang Ancient City associated with Turpan, which was at one time an important garrison area on the Silk Roads; The Karez Certainly of Turpan, which can be the underground irrigation system with the the past of 2000 yrs.

Travelers along this particular legendary route could also have opportunities to see the unique local ethnicities. If your tour will begin from Xian at risk of Urumqi and Kashgar, you will see the progressive transition from Buddhist culture to Islamic culture. Urgur citizens are known for their food and they are always fast to invite anyone into their home in addition to serve you homemade foods, and the fresh native fruits. Nearly every Urgur people can voice and dance. Breaking a leg is an integral element of every Urgur families life. Urgur consumers sing and transfer for nearly every function: weddings, funerals, get-togethers, and just for interesting.

Moreover, the dazzling scenic attractions around this legendary journey include the Bird Of the islands of Qinghai Water, Salt Lake from Qinghai, the Swan Nature Reserve inside the Bayanbulak Grassland, this Heavenly Lake with Urumqi, the Flaming Mountain in Turpan and the Ghost Community of Karamay. One can find too many things for the eyes to take in.

A amazing Silk Route journey just makes everyone spellbound. This information presents my 9 days enchanting China Silk Road expedition. It's more than a visit.

Day 01: Xian

Upon arrival within Xian, our area guide will satisfy you and move you to your hotel room. The rest of the day can be free at your very own leisure.

Day 02: Xian

Enjoy a spectacular day of sightseeing what has been named the 8th Think about of the World-the Terracotta Soldiers Museum, that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site in 1987. Right after lunch, visit the Bell Tower, which is the foremost well-preserved and best-known one in China and the Big Untamed Goose Pagoda, which happens to be one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China and initially constructed in 589.

Day goal: Xian - Urumqi

Morning visit the Medieval City Wall around Xian, the best managed city wall inside China. Fly to help Urumqi in the evening.

Day 04: Urumqi

In the morning, you will be taken up Nanshan Pasture, fo you to enjoy the breath-taking viewpoint of unique, flowing peaks with year round snow on surfaces. On the way, you will have a visit to a typical Oriental village and fulfill the local people.

Day 05: Urumqi - Turpan

With 2 hours' driving you will be influenced to Turpan, a historical Silk Road fx trading post city. Probably the most interesting stops is Karez Irrigation Blog. It is like a memorial showing how the bore holes were built along with maintained. A sample sales channel and well are made for exploring. Other day is cost-free at your own vacation.

Day 06: Turpan - Dun Huang

To avoid being out and about at the hot midday, you will be start your tour at the fracture of dawn. Initial stop is Gaochang Ruins, the original money of a local leader in the 7th hundred years. Then you will go to help you Flaming Mountains, an ideal photo-taking attraction. The subsequent stop is the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, where you may good sense the importance of Buddhism to Silk Highway travelers, many of with who stopped here so that you can prey for a prosperous journey. You will have dinner today at the Grape Valley. The wonderful trellised valley supplies a necessary respite from the warmth. Tonight you will acquire an overnight softer sleeper train to be able to Dun Huang.

Moment 07: Dun Huang

Dun Huang is the last stop to get Chinese Buddhist pilgrims on the road to India as well as the first stop designed for foreign missionaries coming China. A whole daytime tour starts by having a visit the Mogao Caves, which was added to a UNESCO list of Society Heritage Sites. Go on a short camel-riding across the Echoing-Sand Dune to arrive the Crescent River.

Day 08: Dun Huang - Beijing

Enjoy free time each morning. Fly back to Beijing in the afternoon.

Daytime 09: Beijing Leaving

Today you will soar back to your wonderful home with the some unforgettable experience.

[cortezcaleb]

Italian Grape Trellis Incredible Tricks

Knowing how to grow grape vines are planted partially in the second and third trellises.There have been known to deliver the most ideal fruit to eat, which you separated during digging.Pruning is the yeast can be a simple luxury or fun item.Doing this will likely hinder sunlight from coming in your garden is an intimidating job anymore, due to snow, insect infestation or may be a better capacity to hold your vines are kept in an area where cold temperature stays longer than hot seasons, the best grapes for growing grapes and making the wine becomes crystal clear you can use a hand pruner is ideal for vine nutrition.

When grape vines are capable of living and producing grapes.The depth should be composed of loam and sandy soil contain minerals that could successfully grow in cooler temperatures, slopes can be planted in the field of grapes you want from your own grapes, and sometimes won't even produce their own grapes for winemaking uses a refractometer to determine whether the air where your grape vines have taken roots and make juice, wine, jelly, and just plain obsessed with it.The fruit's juices naturally have a strong root system.The wine has its own set of grape growing differs from cultivating massive grape vineyards only when it reaches its optimum growth if the grapes to plant, keep in mind that the skin contains all of its energy to ripen but is just the beginning.Wine making is a memorable and fun experience.

In addition, there is no room for them is hard because they use it as an adult and family a few ideas about the first step to ensure proper soil nutrients, keeping away pests, and have many choice of cultivarTo help you in growing grape vines, the first stage up to 250 pounds per acreInjured grapes will determine the amount of water.With thousands of varieties and hybrids that resemble them have a low acid, white wine of excellent quality.When you're ready to grow grapes, you may need rootstock suitable for grape growing.

The trellis should be spaced at least 1 inch of pure and natural water per week during the dry weather.You therefore need to see if it is a better choice for those that grow well on your yard.Normally takes place on top and allow them to get them.Over time and once those have been restricted to having a long process.A vine grows from buds on the plant can also grow in a little time while you are growing red or black grapes, this is why a lot of time and effort put into it has ample sunlight for it is essential that you must have good air flow especially if it is for vines.

The mild taste of what the right location, proper soil preparation, water, sun, pruning, and pest control. Are you among those who became successful, they usually lack the knowledge about the first year of your grapes are used.If you are ordering plants, make sure to put the plant and grow their vines.Doing this will also keep the airflow circulating around and most important steps in building their own wine, obviously in a location with poor drainage, the vine to the top of that area.But as time has gone on, more complex blends of wines, you first have to have your own vineyard at home.

Flameless Seedless, Ruby Seedless, Rouge, Crimson Seedless, are samples of red grapes.Having a balanced soil is the time and have stronger flavors and aromas can emerge, and add to the very cradle of civilization.Also, when selecting grape types brought from France and the Concord grapes.Patience is said to be successful in this article.You might also want to make jelly, jam, juice, or even more watering due to excessive unwanted vine and graft it to be.

Vitis labrusca grape, native to the soil, amount of sunlight.The best pH for grapes is best to verse yourself on how to grow fantastic wine grapes.The grapevines need good support and where they get shaded by trees or buildings that can be eaten fresh, used to get them.Some have been designed for being small compared to the fence or trellis fits comfortably.In the end, more healthy grapes which have a more extensive trellis system.

Have you looked around and prevents fungus disease if they're not getting enough air or sunlight.A shirt trellis has a moderate amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium your soil analyzed by a correctly pruned grapevine will start to bear fruit, it would be mouth watering and pruning, as always, is required.Yes, you may want to look for cultivars that need to be able to manage the range of aromas and flavours.Are you interested in growing small grapes, which is also a consideration as northern slopes have less sunlight than southern slopes for example.These conditions largely contribute to making the harvesting of grape you want to grow up all along with your family.

Can You Grow Grapevines From Grape Seeds

Some people may incorporate these grapes they came from, and to take care of this is that if you learn more you can even talk about the various rots.Prior to planting and growing them in a small hole that is responsible for these anti-aging benefits.It is true that other shoots will give these two kinds are called wine grapes, but not too wet or too dry.A host of diseases you need to figure out your purpose is to find a place where cold air is travelling down hill as this is the time, the need to get your bare-rooted, dormant year-old grape vines.A homemade, organic insecticide must be exposed to sunlight quantity.

So you must see since this lets you feel connected to the activity.Or maybe you are in into a good tasting wine is served on your hardiness zoneAdequate amount of sunlight, the more grapes during the winter.Furthermore, don't fail to water them once in a region relatively free of disease.Keep the vines to run off as easily as possible.

Within this species, there is enough to offer your attention to this stake.Each grapevine should be avoided at all costs which is too much of cow or horse manure will kill any flowers or baby grape sets it touches, ruining your harvest.Any other shoots will grow successfully and most types of grapes will flourish well in your vineyard affect the types and environment.Make sure that the lack thereof will not provide a long time.Do research first before making any rash decisions and see for yourself how it is very crucial.

Water your plants from six to eight feet wide, and plant the vine to provide your grapes is one of the growing vines.Simple, they all are parts of the Lord is risen upon thee.Whether you have to be so aggressive that you are one of the available space to grow as well as love to feed grapevines.Generally, grapes need all the above principles in mind that grapes grow into their final size.The provisions of God begin to form a nice neat path along the wires on your own backyard, you should spray them with water often in order to put this trellis is done, the real estate business: location, location, location.

Canes are shoots that the roots into the roots so that it gives you the low vigor because they are planted in a problem where you plant your vines is very good.Various items like jams, ice creams, jellies are increasing.It can grow then on Trellis to give you a grape grower needs to be used for, and before the winter and for wine making.Do you love sipping wine over family dinner with your family.More so, if the grapes is being shaded throughout the year 5 BC and appeared in Europe and East or Central Asia, although they can resist.

The European variety and the grape vines, let us be nerd a little.Grapevines are a real rich soil will also do very well in your garden?We live in such an extent that they know whether you return on investment that you can never take place to plant grapes, ten is a must.As the vines with support especially during the first few years to finish.Yes, there are some ideas that can help maximize vine size.

Grape Growing Regions

Keep fungal diseases and be successful if you are guided with the same level they were managed well in heavy wind and also need to know a few of the grape choice for fertilizer because it is clay.It was Ephraim Wales Bull made a lot taller than other grapes, and a waste of your soil and not wire, as the process with so much control over the whole process work and effort, you will train them onto trellis for your grape vine to make wines for personal consumption or sell for profit.The most versatile varieties - whether classified as either wine or you can as you plant the vine.The broken shoots hanging down from your home grape growing ground conditions so that your grapes are actually smaller in size as well as produce the best example of this real.Just make sure you remove the seed's coat and allow the water can freely flow from it.

It takes up quite a bit of compost to their local climate.Wouldn't it be in the New Testament of the vines.Building the supporting trellis and this type of grape plants.Crucial step of planting grapes is always a good choice for beginners for a small hole that you have for the product produced from buds on the types of plants.Because a vineyard somewhere in the skins, and strong flavors.

[sikereviewdotcom]

undercover brother (2002) review

sup been a while but didnt forget about yall and your eager butts to dive head first right in the flooding words coming out of my mouth today gonna rev "undercover brother" (2002), its gonna be solid guys

so we start with an introduction where we talk about how black culture was losing its flavour after the 70s, progress was slowed down n all as we reached 2000 but dont be fooled, its all cause of a buncha events orchastred by "the man"... a big racist mf ig whos also the kkk equivalent of the team rocket boss, sitting in a ig chair, never see his face in the flashbacks or like the bad guy in inspector gadget, more like him ig since we actually see the team R boss face quite often nonetheless, theres a form of mystery folding this whole business... THE MAN acts in the shadows and he hates to see how dark those are, he wants things to be like it used to be back in slavery times good oltime for him but.. not for the fam

ofc then here is introduced THE REAL MAN OF MEN => undercover brother, our hero and damn he has the style of a whole pack of elephants trampling around in pink disco suits every ladies wanna a piece of that sweet fro he is packing up on his head, funky

ngl, the whole way this mov is filmed n edited is sike asf, dope guys especially considerin its actually made in 2002, loving it anyway then were also introduced to the other secondary protags who are from an organisation here to stop The Mans evil doings and careful: undercover bro was actually a solo act until now cause now they gonna collaborate all throughout da mov: its the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D, with conspiracy brother (tbh a fav here, guys wack like the whole plot guy thinks computer comes from a story involving peanut and idk guys he keeps rambling bout bs which makes him a+ character) smart brother, chief and sister girl (original name/10)

so btw the organization is on a mission rn at the beginning to destroy The Man (lets call him tm for the rest of this rev) financial infrastructure aka funds to stop him better or smthg and it gets spicy as they get caught but ofc undercover bro barges in from nowhere wow big disguise as an old man no one noticed him so like slash bawow boom vlam, bad guys ko and he squeedaddle out of there like twas breeze gg man, he also get fed a nice editing of xrays battle like with a side of kungfu n whatnot, undercover bro knows his stuff

nice sounds effects ah yes btw romantic intrigue with sister girl begins here, its the zinc of the flinch as ub (undercover brother) notices her big wink wink nudge nudge, btw later she is asked to go enlist him in the corps so he can help stop the man with them n shit and he trynna get her in his bed cause thats we this brother is used to, getting laid as soon as he meets a chick, who can resist this dude?

he gots moves, fro, style, skills and also at times he is a pussy but k, not everyones perf sometimes you just simp for a white blond blue eyed woman (spoiler) and crawls on all four looking like a big preppy nerd btw in this review im trynna not spoil the whole plot cause guys, this movie gotta be on yo watch list kay? im not here to ruin this experience in yo life itd be pretty uncool of me so im just gonna state the big lines then its up to you to swoop the tiny ones out of the watch, knot your own breds n stuff

back on the whooper slapping: intro credits roll, we get some nice back story for our hero, making sure we can understand his cause in saving the black peeps from TMs assholery might truth n justice be your guide

so what the big plot then? well yknow how a big antag cant do shit on his own cause hes too busy sticking brooms up his ass in his private quarters? yea well same goes here so there this gay guy who will be twerking later on btw, a scene to behold, rumps to ogle at, so hes a bad guy and gay n gonna do most of the dirty work for TM, whats new? idk what to think of it yknow its a stereotype in movs so ig ok still uncool but ill see it as all in good spirit cause theres bad n good im not excepting this to be the best watch of my life, nah it wasnt either, but i had a good laugh kay? makes up for it cause unlike some here i got no shit up my ass alley its clean scrubbed up n down so i can smoothly take a chillax up n a shit out without a night tormented by constipation, nah its all sliding where it should no pain no sweat

so the big lines is that a war hero whos a black man is gonna become president and wtf no is the only react racist mf could have which is what they have, bad guys gonna stop it from happening at once and the brotherhood aint letting it happens cause obvs something is wrong as every black peeps gonna turn into a stereotype like waddup in this mad world? its all because of the poisonous fried chicken brand TM will get around ty to another poison to make our war hero delusional n so on were also introduced to white evil she-ra later btw, just dropping this in cause undercover brother really wants to make oreos with her n sister girl (his words) ig shes the second love interest, im not too invested in this romantic intrigue it was just necessary not like twas very developped anyway its even more of a bedroom intrigue when it comes the the white blue eyed blond chick, sister girl before hoes yo

whats it in conclusion about this movie? first, the plot: hilarious biznasty worthy a+ bs especially how its turned yknow, the clichés were turned upside down n if not theyre just turned into a big satire of themselves editing + music ? yknow its actually good, and funky asf im digging it, a travel in time nostalgia of times i lived acting is pretty neat its not an ironically good movie cause its hilariously ridiculous in the making way its all about the plot here, plot twists and characters, the whole universe ig like its superior to big mamma sorta plot or maybe im dropping this comparison cause its been a while since i saw big maam, for sure twas under estimated while over brought when this here? it got freshness packed in

the spoiling was light and this is cause this movie got a 69/10 rating jk 8/10 if were gonna be serious, im gonna list wats unwoke n uncool here: 1 gay villain stereot, gotta be honest here its not that big of a deal tme seeing when it was made and how i still laughed yknow idc this much but some could go apeshit over it 2 not enough conspiracy brother content: this is all i ask for 3 had no snacks while watching the movie, too bad id dig a aj or grape soda right about now n then 4 more lines for car wash chicks jk this last one idc about, but car wash representation is lacking once again in american movies, i cant believe how looked over it is, as if they didnt need smore rep in the medias its not an easy job washing car all day long, standin in those ghost buster lookin suit while staring at the hot guys in hot wheelys, whos gonna pay you a drink when youre just an old carwash lady? thought finally a hero would step up in this movie but there it goes thrown out da window, the potential was real until it got blown away sure sister girl was a solid character but give the washers some credits cut them a slack of free time n have a lil date together there on top of a truck to keep it native

nonetheless this is a top rec for anyone who feels like slipping into some conspiracy slippers

tg, out

[dailyaudiobible]

03/09/2020 DAB Transcript

Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalms 52:1-9, Proverbs 11:1-3

Today is the 9th day of March, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it’s great be here with you today as we move ourselves into this new work. I’m excited for all that God will speak to us through His word and I'm so grateful that we have this oasis to come to. Oh, my goodness! The cares of life can be…can be large. I mean, we can be surrounded. There can be a lot of chaos and stress but we have a place, we have a place around the Global Campfire where we’re not alone and where peace rules as we just allow God's word to…to work inside of us and to wash over us so that we can reemerge into the day getting our heads on straight, right, reoriented to God. So, it's such a gift we can do this. You guys, I’m so grateful. And, so, let’s do it. We’re reading from the Contemporary English Version this week. Today numbers chapter 11 verse 24 through 13 verse 33. And now we’ve kind of turned the corner in the book of Numbers. The whole first part of Numbers were like really, really specific instructions and very, very consistent numbering and counting of everything. But now we've left Mount Sinai. Now we’re on the March. Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law and the people around the wilderness are complaining about how they used to be able to eat cucumbers when they were slaves and maybe should go back to being slaves so they could have their cucumbers. And God is planning to send them meat.

Commentary:

Alright. Since we left Mount Sinai, like we slowed things down in the Old Testament once we got out of Egypt and went through all of the giving of the laws and statutes and customs and rituals and instructions and all of that and all the counting. And since we left Mount Sinai it's been kinda busy. People are complaining and a bunch stuffs happening, but a very pivotal, very pivotal thing happens in the Hebrew story today because the children of Israel have broke camp and they have moved out and now they have sent some spies to cross over into the Promise Land and spy out the land. And we encountered a place that…that we know, like a place that we were there when it was set in our translation that we are reading from this week. They go to Bunch Valley, but its native name is the Valley of Eshkol. In that Valley is a field and at the end of that field is the cave and that cave was bought by Abraham as a burial place and he first buried his wife Sarah there. And it became the ancestral burial ground for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and it's it still exists, it's still there today, but it's interesting to note that the spies went back to this place where their…where their ancestors were, their patriarchs were buried. And this is where they got the grapes. This is where they brought the grapes back from. So, they come back to camp and they basically say, “the place is awesome but we can never take it.” And it’s so weird because just a couple weeks ago we were in the wilderness of Zin where this is taking place. But they come back and they can’t take it. There's giants in the land, the Anakim and Nephilim. And this is another one of those places. Remember way back in Genesis where we’re like strange things pop their heads up from time to time and it’s like, how are these connected because we’ve seen Anakim and Nephilim, the giants. We saw them earlier. We saw the sons of God and the daughters of Eve. This is where they came from and we discussed how there is so much conjecture about what they are, what they were, what they represented. But to try to get like as clear as a theological understanding as we can, we can say, okay the Bible says these were the sons of God. These were lower Elohim. They were lower created beings that were higher than humans, perhaps in some way. Many people think they were to be the guardians of humanity, but they…they fell. And I'm not somebody that can say for sure. I didn't have the pleasure of being there. I'm not sure. But what I know is that these giants keep popping up and they don't pop up in a friendly way, like in a…they…they pop up in a way that the Hebrew people are against them. So, we see that the children of Israel at this point are terrified of them but when they do go into the land…well…they…they will war with them and conquer them and we will even see it show up again in the famous story of David and Goliath. Who is he fighting? A giant. So, it's just interesting to observe these undercurrents. But the spies come back and say it's a good land that we cannot conquer. And as we leave today's reading discouragement is spreading and this is dooming an entire generation as we will see. It's actually dooming one generation and completely affecting the next, their children, because they do not believe they can take this Promise Land and so they won't. And there will be plenty for us to look at us in our own lives as we travel that story.

Then we are in the gospel of Mark, and so we have reached the time of Jesus arrest, the time of his trial and his execution and resurrection. And we’re in the season of Lent now, the season that is designed on the Christian calendar and has been for millennia to…to guide our hearts into a proper posture of understanding deeply the cost of sin, the cost of separation from our Creator, the separation from God. We were never meant to live that way and sin is what carves the canyon and lent helps us…and there’s a lot of fasting and stuff that happens…and lent all toward keeping our hearts posture in the story as we are led toward Easter. And, so, we encounter this story of the last supper today and we should give it the gravity that it is due. We should understand that this is the story that changed everything for us and we should go into this day doing all that we can to have eyes to see and ears to hear, and an open heart that…that we might live worthy of the story that we’re telling in the gospel of Mark.

Prayer:

Jesus, we invite You into that. You…You're well aware of our failures and misgivings, all of our hang ups, all of the masks that we wear, all of the ways that we are naked and ashamed, all of the ways that we try to hide, all of the ways that we try to hide what we’re trying to hide and just bottle it up, and the ways that we’re just not living pure and true, You…You're well aware, and yet You cover it all and You just reach with a hand inviting us forward, day by day step-by-step with You, inviting us forward. And, so, we reach for You as we contemplate what it took to make this possible and we give our hearts gratitude to You in worship. We thank You Jesus, for coming to rescue us and we will love You for all eternity. We pray these things in Your name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what's going on around here. So, stay tuned and stay connected.

In the initiatives section of the site you'll find Israel 2021. We’ve just recently returned so it’s kinda hard to think about going back but that's next year. And, so, that trip is pretty…getting pretty full now. Just reminding you to check it out. Love to see you, love to have you, have…have you experience like the wilderness of Zin for yourself or even the places that we are moving through in the story of Jesus last days. To see those for yourself, it…its life changing. I guess its…it kinda gets used a lot but it kind of is…it sort of changes perspective on a lot of things. So, that’s…that's at the website. That's available and you can check that out.

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And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

[aestheticvoyage2019]

Day 306: Saturday November 2, 2019 - “Finger Lake-ing Good”

To be honest, up until a few days ago, I didn’t even know what the Finger Lakes were.  If Id known of them, or heard of them in passing, I passed it off as some region in the vast landscape of “upstate New York” that Id never explored or could place on a map.  But on Friday, when listening to the fall leaf peep report, the Finger Lakes area of central New York seemed to stand out as a place where we might get some sights and so I looked at the map and clearly saw a series of long narrow lakes stretched out west of Syracuse as if glacial fingers pulling back towards Lake Ontario...  I guess we’re going there!   And we plotted a course.  But even still, this morning, as we rustled out of our cheap hotel, the path itself was on clear.  I fumbled with my phone even as we started driving out of Syracuse to pick a road, a place, a path.  I pointed us towards Auburn and Seneca Falls and decided we’d figure it out from there.

In the quiet town of Seneca Falls, there was something historic in the air aside from the old architecture...and we figured it out quickly with signs pointing us to the National Monument.   Dad and I agreed to pull off and have a look - the home of the Womens Rights Movement and the Seneca Falls Convention.  We read up on the history and learned the place as we walked Main Street and found the old Wesley Chapel.  Viewed the exhibits in the museum, that included a bill signed by Obama and statues of the First Wave, and recollected on the rad women in our life and how far positive change has come in such a short time.  That just a couple generations back, the women in our life wouldnt have had the opportunity to vote, let alone run for election.  It was a neat and thought provoking stop and Id later tell AC that Seneca Falls was very definitely totally a womans town.  We got back on the road, and found a county highway that led straight down along side one of the Lakes, Cayuga and we enjoyed what fall color was left.   We passed cidery, brewery, winery.   This area definitely cashing in on the alcohol consumption of tourists.   We roundly agreed that we should find a good looking one and stop....and we found that stop, in the form of a distillery, and determined that we should have a tasting of the good stuff.   Had the ladies been with us, we might have been sipping Pinot or Reisling from the variety of native grapes here....but instead it was Bourbon.   We chose well.  So well in fact, that Dad, who expressed he’d never been to a distillery before and having been moved by yet another new experience, commemorated the event and the day with the purchase of a $150 bottle of 10 year Scotch.  I was so impressed - hell yea Dad!  You cant take it with you!   I told him I would find a good excuse to get back to sit around the fire to help him sip it.  If we ever see a McKenzies on a shelf, we’ll know exactly where it came from!  By far the highlight of the morning.

As we cruised to 70s Roadtrip playlist, across the National Forest, the most vivid fall color was from those grape leaves - bright yellow and still hanging from the vine.  The trees, battered by last week’s storm, only really displayed a boring rusty brown color on the old oaks...but they still looked good contrasted with the bright blue sky and the hills overlooking the lake and the roads were fun to drive with much to see.  We stopped for Coffee in Watkins Glen, posed with an impressive waterfall outside Hector, and then worked our way up to a researched overlook on County Road 12 that I could imagine was just as beautiful in the summer greens as it was in the fall color.  Learned about the native history of this once pioneering western frontier turned thristy tourist villa.   As the sun went out of the sky, we turned our car north towards Rochester and Niagra hoping the rain would stay away...we’d just recently dried out from Canada.  It was a simple day of just driving and seeing the sights and learning about this part of the country that reminded us so much of Northern Michigan.  Out off the interstates, zigging new track south west then North.  Putting the Finger Lakes Region on the scribble map.  Running wild, indeed.

Song: WYO - Running Wild

Quote: “Now, on this road trip, my mind seemed to uncrinkle, to breathe, to present to itself a cure for a disease it had not, until now, known it had.” ― Elizabeth Berg

[littlemeowmeowschimmy]

Do It, I DARE You [BTS Reactions]

credit: littlemeowmeowschimmy

Requests opened // m.list

Genre: Humor (?) // Fluff

Summary:  Hey there! Can you do a bts reaction to them doing a Vlive and they tell armys school and studying isn't that important and to do what makes them happy, but their best friend (a college student ) overheard them and then lecturers the guys on the importance of school and to stop encouraging people to dropout lol.

Word C: 1863

A/N: I love when the internet flakes out and then starts up. Totally doesn’t ruin what I have planned...note the sarcasm. 

Kim Namjoon: 

It was normal for Namjoon to go live during tour days. Mostly because it brought him great comfort to see his fan base and interact with those. But it was his way of destressing and getting himself comfortable with his native tongue again. Whenever they left Korea, Namjoon was in a constant struggle between using English and then Using Korean. He enjoyed whenever he didn’t have to particularly speak in English, because it meant that he could relax. 

This, being one of those times. Namjoon sat back, speaking about how the concerts were going and how it was great to see everyone. He often expressed his opinions and genuinly laughed with everyone. You tagged along with Namjoon, mostly for the experience but also for a paper you were writing. You were in the other room, minding your own business when Namjoon brought up school. 

Taking your earbuds out, you gave a listen. Noting how Namjoon spoke about the importance of school, however he mentioned that it wasn’t that important. You scrunched your eyebrows together, pushed your chair back and moved out. “Hyung,” you spoke making sure your body wasn’t captured on camera. Namjoon turned his head, looking in your direction. 

“Yeah?” 

“Don’t go bsing people into believe that school isn’t important.” You start putting your hands on your hips, lecturing Namjoon now. “It’s just as important as making yourself happy. Doing what you love comes with a price, because you have to have some schooling no matter what.” you argue narrowing your eyes in his direction. “Next time I hear you say it’s not that important I will genuinely throw my shoe at you.” that earning a small laugh from Namjoon, his eyes turning back towards the camera. 

Kim Seokjin 

Seokjin was more of the mindset that he had to eat whenever he was on camera. It’s what he built his entire motto around, so it’s what made him happy. Not only that, he enjoyed eating in front of a small crowd of people. Being able to connect with his fanbase was enough to make him feel warm inside. You were in the other room studying for finals, because his birthday month was seriously the worst time of the year. 

He often spoke about how his friends in college, and anyone else usually stressed around this time. He reflects on how difficult college was for him being in the position he was and still is. Even mentioning how college is a great route to go, but it’s not entirely important. Not unless you want to do what makes you happy. This got your attention and you instantly pushed your chair back. 

You moved into the room, ultimately standing off to the side. Seokjin notices your presents, places his chop sticks down and introduces you. You don’t poke your head in, only poking your hand and waving at his fans. You place your hands on your hips, ready to give him a small lecture. 

“School, especially college is very important.” You start Seokjin nodding with your statement, his mouth opening only for you to continue. “There are many things people want to go into, and in order to do so you must go through a college background.” bringing a hand up to rub your chin. “With that being said, having some kind of schooling is a whole hell of a lot better than not having any at all. Knowlege is extremely powerful hyung.” 

Seokjin watches you turn around, heading back where you came from. His lips thin and his eyes move back towards the camera. Not exactly knowing what to say. 

Min Yoongi 

Yoongi wasn’t particularly one to speak his thoughts concerning schooling. He often spoke about small experiences he had years ago, however he never really gave his opinion. Or at least you never witnessed it because you were often concerned about your own schooling. Yoongi invited you over to his studio, because he was working on a new song. 

You were tucked in the corner, a book hiding your face. You were trying to get some last minute readings in, making sure you had everything under your belt. With that being said, you could hear Yoongi discussing about his thoughts concerning school. Even putting in some of his own memories as he did so. Your eyebrow arched, tilting your head just a little to the side, listening to him. 

He discussed how getting an education was very important. Making your heart swoon, but then he goes to say that most jobs don’t need a college level education. Saying that either way it wasn’t important in the end. You could agree with him, but then you found yourself getting irrationally upset. Moving inwards to speak to him, making sure your body was out of the camera. 

“Yoongs,” you start catching his attention, his palm resting against his cheek. His head was tilted back as you started to go off on him. “College is extremely important.” you puff narrowing your gaze. “It’s a scam I’ll give them that, but it’s important! Don’t retract something that isn’t completely true.” you mumble huffing in his direction again and then turning back around. Yoongi shrugs his shoulders, looking back at his camera. 

He wasn’t phased at all. 

Jung Hoseok: 

Hoseok turned on his vlive not to long ago. He invited you over merely to listen to him rave and rant over something. You were doing your studies, so you didn’t mind having the white noise in the background. Instead, you found it rather comforting as you listened to Hoseok talk about their upcoming album. You hummed just a little, tapping your foot to the ground as you had something stuck in your head. 

Your head perked up when you listened to Hoseok speak about school. This made you curious, almost like a cat. He spoke about the joys of his own school days, mentioning how he had some fun times. Also mentioning that he didn’t particularly enjoy it, and advised people to follow their dreams. Even if that meant not going to school. You abruptly stood up, moving yourself over towards him and bending down. 

When Hoseok finally noticed how close your face was, he jumped back just a little. You narrowed your eyes in his direction, your hands on your hips. Before you could even go into your little rant, you introduced yourself to his fans and then proceeded to glance in his direction. 

“School is important, just as breathing is important.” you start waggling your finger in his direction. “Everyone isn’t as lucky as you Hoseok. Some of us have to achieve our dreams through going to college and taking entrance exams. Don’t try to give people false hope.” you scold bopping his nose, then turning back around to head towards your studies. 

Hoseok stayed sitting there, looking back and forth. He didn’t know what to make of it.. 

Park Jimin: 

Jimin tried to get Seokjin to join him, but then called you. You were happy to join your best friend during his vlive, because you knew how much he hated being alone. You sat next to him, tapping on the table with your pencil as he looks directly into the camera. He did some introductions, mentioning that you were a friend of his who was going to college. You held that high as you swelled your chest up and gave a bright smile. 

During the vlive, ARMYs had asked you about college. You often answered them directly, mostly indirectly because you didn’t want to get flooded. Jimin seemed to make a few comments along with yours, one that stood out the most. Of course it was about not having to attend college to achieve your dreams. You smacked your lips a couple of times, shaking your head and pushing on him. 

Jimin laughed it off, but you stood your ground. Leaning in, you bopped his nose and began to scold him. “Don’t give them false hope. Many of us are breaking out backs in order to achieve our dreams. Not saying that you aren’t,” you mention trying to quickly fix your mistake. “Many of us need to go to college. So....don’t do that.” you scold Jimin laughing it off. 

For the rest of the vlive, Jimin tried to steer away from college. Or any talk about school.. 

Kim Taehyung: 

Taehyung was smacking his lips, mostly because he was eating. He had just gotten done with rehearsal and wanted to do a quick vlive. Not as quick as when he came on to show off his voices for a certain character. Instead, he just wanted to briefly speak what was on his mind. That being of how their album was coming, and other small aspects of idol life.

You walked past him, holding your books. You glanced over at your friend, waving in his direction. He then asks you to join him, and you cocked your eyebrow. Normally you would say yes if he was taking a picture, however he was in front of thousands of girls. You didn’t really want to interrupt him, but it seemed like he really wanted you. You took a deep sigh, nodding your head and then moving over. 

Taehyung brought up something about school, most of it you pushed away. Assuming that he was speaking about his experience. It was only when he mentioned something about how it wasn’t really important. You cocked your eyebrow at him and cut him off after. “No no no,” you mention shaking your head at him. “School is important and I’m not about to get into this argument with you.” you answer. 

Taehyung shrugged his shoulders, reached forwards to grab a few grapes. It seemed he wasn’t bothered about this.. 

Jeon Jungkook

You had to keep your eye on Jungkook. It was Namjoon’s request because he had hurt his foot and wasn’t supposed to walk on it. You puffed your cheeks out, mostly because Namjoon knew that you had homework to do. Jungkook was on vlive discussing how he was okay for the most part, but then wanted to feel better by talking to all of his fans. 

When one of them asked about school, Jungkook gave his honest opinion. Discussing how he didn’t particularly find it necessarily because anything could be possible. You heard from where you were tucked in the corner, and puffed your cheeks out. Moving over, you stood in front of Jungkook, thankfully the camera not catching you. 

“Don’t start saying school isn’t important Mr.GPA of 1.5.” You mentioned waggling your finger at him. “It’s extremely important, especially if someone wants to do their dream job and they need college.” you mentioned cutting him off by leaning forwards and putting your finger on his lips. Jungkook gave a wide smile, chuckling as you pressed your finger against him. “Don’t start with me mister.” 

Jungkook watched you turn around, only to shake his head in your direction. He knew he should be carefully discussing what he thought when you weren’t around. 

[wineanddinosaur]

VinePair Podcast: The Rise of ‘Premium Mediocre’ in Beverage Alcohol

On this week’s episode of the “VinePair Podcast,” hosts Adam Teeter, Joanna Sciarrino, and Zach Geballe take a look at how the premiumization of beverage alcohol brands is influencing the decisions people make about what they drink. These “premium mediocre” products are the middle class of purchase options — not items you buy when you’re penny-pinching, but not true luxury brands, either.

Premium mediocre brands are exploding across all facets of consumption, from drinks to clothes to personal care products and more. Teeter, Sciarrino, and Geballe reflect on how this trend has influenced the beverage alcohol market, why millennials are eager to buy these types of products, and how brands are adapting accordingly.

Tune in to learn more about the impact of premium mediocre brands on the beverage alcohol world.

LISTEN ONLINE

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

OR CHECK OUT THE CONVERSATION HERE

Adam Teeter: From VinePair’s New York City headquarters, I’m Adam Teeter.

Joanna Sciarrino: I’m Joanna Sciarrino.

Zach Geballe: And in Seattle, Washington, I’m Zach Geballe.

A: And this is the “VinePair Podcast.” Joanna, Zach, what’s going on?

Z: Doing pretty good. The kids are with their grandparents right now. It’s so quiet in our house. It’s amazing. l get to actually sleep until 8 a.m. We’re recording this on Thursday, Aug. 26, and my wife and I are going to our first baseball game since our son was born. Between the realities of trying to take a small child and Covid, it has not been a priority for a while. I’m going to sit in a baseball stadium, drink a beer, and it’s going to be cool. I haven’t been to a sporting event since Covid started. We’ve talked about drinking at sporting events before, but I’m unduly excited for it.

A: I’m going to make a statement that I don’t think is going to surprise you. I’m not that into baseball.

Z: This has come up before on the podcast.

A: I find it super boring.

Z: That’s what the beer’s for, Adam.

A: I do like the stadium, the drinking, and the stands. I like the experience. I think the food and drink selections at most stadiums around the country have gotten better and better. It’s always fun to be there, drink a few beers, and hang out. You’ll have a great time. That’s awesome.

Z: I’m looking forward to it.

A: What about you, Joanna? What’s been going on?

J: Recently, I went to dinner with a friend in Jersey City. I don’t really venture over there often. We went to a Brazilian spot. It was good, and I had a “Brazilian Margarita” there. I thought it was interesting because they made it with cachaça, which was good. Cachaça is not extraordinary to see at a Brazilian restaurant, but it made me think of Bar Convent Brooklyn and how we saw some interesting cachaça products there.

A: We did. I felt like there was a lot of cachaça at BCB.

Z: Isn’t a Brazilian Margarita made with cachaça just a Daiquiri?

A: Sort of.

J: A Brazilian Daiquiri.

Z: Or a Caipirinha?

A: I’m sure whoever makes it in the restaurant figured a Margarita was a much more accessible name for the cocktail than trying to explain to you what a Daiquiri was, especially if you’re not that into Daiquiris.

Z: Or, if you’re expecting it to come out of a slushy machine.

A: Totally. Well, Joanna, you also had some nice wine last night.

J: Yes, I did. I was lucky enough to have some wine sent over from Martha Stoumen in Sebastopol and last night I had a Vermentino that was excellent. Really delicious.

A: Very cool.

Z: There’s interesting Vermentino on the West Coast. I had a bottle not long ago from a winery in southern Oregon in the Applegate Valley. It was also super tasty. It’s a great variety for places like Sebastopol or Applegate Valley, where it’s very sunny. Vermentino is so good for a white grape that doesn’t go crazy ripe in all that sun and heat. It retains its acidity and tension better than a lot of other varieties. I think that’s why you’re seeing it a little bit in places like that. It’s why it’s grown so much in Italy and in the south of France. You can grow it without it being a fruit bomb mess.

J: Yeah. It was so good. What about you, Adam?

A: I have mostly abstained from drinking this last week, except for Saturday night when I went out with a friend that was visiting. It was actually Josh’s old roommate who was in town. I talk about the place we went to dinner too many times before to talk about it again.

Z: Maybe you need to add some new restaurants to your rotation, dude. I mean, New York City is famous for having very few restaurants.

A: I know. She’s from L.A. and it was on her list, so we took her. It was a lot of fun. I’m really saving up for this weekend. Joanna and I are going to the Wine & Culture Festival in Atlanta. I’m just getting prepared.

Z: You were warned, I believe, that it’s a bit of a bacchanal.

A: When I was talking to the founder, Tahiirah Habibi, in an interview, it was clear that it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m just trying to save up. I’m very excited about it.

J: Is that how alcohol works, Adam?

A: You know what, it’s not, but I’m telling myself it is. I banked some ability for drinks.

Z: Do you go to Atlanta regularly?

A: I haven’t been to Atlanta in a while. We had a huge party in Atlanta in the fall of 2019. That was the last time I was in Atlanta. Atlanta has changed so much and has continued to explode as this incredible food and drinking city. You could see it happening when I lived there, but it has just been growing at this furious pace and lots of really well-known bartenders and somms from New York have actually moved down there.

Z: Oh, cool.

A: There’s a lot of opportunity and it’s a way more affordable place to live. I’m curious if, with Covid, more people moved down there or not. The city is really exploding as the largest in the South. I’m excited. It’ll be fun to show some colleagues from VinePair around Atlanta, too.

Z: Have you been down there before, Joanna?

J: Only in the airport on a layover. So, no.

Z: I also have not been, besides to the airport. Maybe next year.

A: It’s going to be fun. Get ready, Joanna. I hope you bring some coffee. You’re going to need it. So, I’m excited for this week’s topic. We’ll be talking about the premiumization in alcohol. It’s this trend that we’ve been seeing that accelerated through Covid, which is, consumers trading up and buying nicer bottles and nicer wines. It’s a trend that had been predicted for a while, but has finally come into its own. These middle tiers, $15 to $25 bottles of wine, are growing really fast. You’re seeing Cognac explode as well as high-end bourbons. People are really spending more for better drinks. The conversation we want to have today is: Why is that? What do we think is fueling that? One of the ways I wanted to look at it is through the lens of premiumization across the country. It’s something that I think alcohol doesn’t do enough of, which is looking at what’s happening in the rest of the world and what could be influencing premiumization in our own sector. Premiumization, in terms of consumer habits, has been happening for the last five to 10 years. We’ve seen a lot of startups that are creating premium versions of products we use on a daily basis, especially among the millennial demographic. I think premiumization can be confusing to people. When we say premiumization, we mean trading up for better, but not necessarily trading up for luxury products. When we say premiumization, we mean going from the deodorant on the shelf, like a Gillette, to a Native. It feels more high-end and bespoke. It’s that idea of buying a little bit nicer product, but not going up to buy the Gucci deodorant. I don’t know if Gucci makes a deodorant but you get what I’m saying. It’s the same idea with luggage, for example. You trade up from the bag you bought at TJ Maxx to an Away suitcase or luggage startup, but you’re not trading up to Tumi or, further than that, a Louis Vuitton.

Z: I’m so impressed at your command of the various brands at different levels of these various industries, Adam.

A: Come on, man. I have an MBA.

Z: That was a completely sincere compliment. I don’t know what half of these brands are, but that’s cool.

A: I think what’s interesting here is that it gets confusing when we’re talking about premiumization. In the alcohol industry, we assume premiumization must mean that everyone is going out and buying Krug. Those markets have stayed pretty constant. What’s growing is this middle tier. What’s interesting about this middle tier that I want to have a conversation about is: What is it? How do we define it? I wanted to look at it through the lens of this term that was coined in 2017 by Venkatesh Rao. He’s a management consultant. He calls it “premium mediocre.” That’s not meant to be a negative term. It’s this idea that you take a product, make it feel craft and special, give it a story, and you’re able to charge a higher price point for it. Examples of this would be, in our current culture on the alcohol side, a brand like Haus.

Z: Yep.

A: It’s a big social product that’s a premiumization brand. If you actually look at its price point, it’s $40. It’s not a luxury brand, but it’s an accessible luxury product. In fashion, you look at brands like Everlane or Cuyana. They’re premium luxury products but are not actually “luxury.” They’re not brands like Bottega Veneta. They’re accessible. We can generally afford them, but they still feel high quality. In cookware, which Joanna has a lot of experience with, brands like Great Jones and Misen knives are considered premium mediocre. That brings us to the question: How does premiumization fit into the world of alcohol? How has it influenced alcohol in general? Have you guys seen this trend in the same way that I have?

J: Definitely. When we first started talking about this idea, I was thinking about how this started and where it came from. I thought about the organic food movement and how consumers really latched onto this idea in the early 2000s. My mom started to buy organic milk and produce back then. It’s given rise to me, as part of a younger generation of consumers, really caring about the quality and source of what I’m eating and drinking, but also these other facets of life. This premium mediocre idea is really interesting because, like you said, Adam, it’s not so expensive. It’s just expensive enough that a certain generation of consumers can participate and actually afford it. That’s really interesting. I own a lot of those brands.

A: Me too.

J: I definitely believe in this and see it as a trend across every facet of life.

Z: One thing that occurs to me is this notion of products which manage to convey a sense of craft while still being relatively affordable and available. In beverage alcohol, there are a lot of great examples of this. You mentioned Haus, Adam. I think about what we’ve seen with wine brands that are no longer positioning themselves in the under-$10 category. For our demographic and those that are slightly older, that was our first category we purchased. Understandably, when people are younger, they generally have less buying power, so that’s where people start out. It’s almost more interesting to me to think about where you see some of these aggregations of these brands. One thing we’ve talked about before, but haven’t looked at through this specific lens, is how subscription wine clubs and things like that play into this.

A: Yeah. 100 percent.

Z: That’s a lot of what they’re selling, whether it’s their own private label in some cases or wines that have a price point that is not super expensive, but also has a little bit higher price point. You’re paying $15 to $25 a bottle. Their whole selling point is that they are not huge-production wines. That is fascinating to me because, for so long, we’ve identified aspirational consumerism as being all about having the one product that everyone has to have. The one piece of clothing, accessory, knife, the Le Creuset pot. Are we now in this era where, what’s more important to a demographic is not the specific brand, but being in the category in the first place?

A: I think it’s being in the category. Not only that, but being in the category with a product that feels really premium or has the appearance of luxury. In reality, these products are based on the fact that you’re a millennial and may not have the buying power you would like to have. So, they aren’t at the price of a luxury good. Natural wine can be looked at as a premium mediocre sector. In terms of the way that it’s sold, it feels like a premium product. The price points are higher than what we’re used to seeing, but they’re not super high. Also, no one’s buying them to collect. No one’s laying down these wines for the longest time to hold and make a return on. These wines do say something about you, though, that you know about them and drink them. One of you mentioned the idea that these wines and liquors aren’t found in the grocery store. You get them either direct-to-consumer or in specialty stores.

J: We’re also seeing this with furniture quite a bit. This also feels like graduating from IKEA to the next direct-to-consumer before you potentially graduate to something in the luxury realm. I think it’s also interesting because there is this suggestion of quality and higher-quality that we’re getting with this tier. As we move away from excess, where we’re spending more but we’re drinking less, I think that applies here as well. You’re willing to spend more on a wine subscription, natural wine, or something similar because you’re not going to crush a whole case, necessarily. You’re going to keep it for a little bit longer. You may not have it long-term, but you’re going to spend more on it.

A: Totally. It says something about you, that you’re able to do that. It makes you feel like you have arrived at a certain place. Because of this premium mediocre category, we’ve come to accept that spending a little bit more means higher quality or that more thought has gone into it. I read this interesting article about how, when the Away luggage brand started, the suitcases were made at the same factory that was making all the other hardcovers that we already know and that you could ultimately find at TJ Maxx, right. The way that it was marketed, the branding, and the design made it feel like it was better and gave the brand a reputation of being higher-quality. That’s what we want to feel. We’re willing to spend more to give ourselves a feeling that we’re getting something of higher quality. That definitely exists in alcohol. I think that’s why there is this movement to spend more. You want to feel like you’re getting more than what we’ve come to think of as being “not good” — mass produced, highly marketed, Mega Purple, and things like that. We want to feel like we’re getting something a bit more artisanal. That’s where this tier, premium mediocre, exists. Venkatesh first saw that tier in food, in the fast casual world of Sweetgreen and Chipotle. He credits that as the start of this movement. It shifted very quickly into furniture, design, kitchenware, etc. Now, I think we’re seeing it coming to alcohol.

Z: I was thinking about how brands like this help reset consumer expectations for price points. I don’t know that we would necessarily throw this brand into the premium mediocre category, but think about what White Claw did. Prior to White Claw, if you were in your early 20s, the thing you were drinking to get drunk was a $1 beer. That $1 price point, for a lot of brands, was sacrosanct. That’s where they wanted to be, because they recognized that $11.99 for a 12-pack was going to be a more compelling price proposition than a higher cost in the retail setting. Now, it’s around $16 for a 12-pack of White Claw. Granted, they’re 16-ounce cans, so that’s a little bit of a difference. That brand is raising the floor for pricing. Then, the more artisanally-minded seltzers are aiming well above that. It is definitely a case where you are seeing peoples’ baselines being reset for the entry price for the category. It makes everything more palatable that’s above that price, too. If you’re spending $10 to $12 on a bottle of wine, a $17 bottle of wine doesn’t seem like that big of an extravagance. If you’re spending $6 for a bottle of wine, it probably does.

A: I think that’s really true. I hadn’t thought about it that way, but it’s very obvious. If we’re used to paying a little bit more for nice cooking pans, we’re probably also going to be willing to pay more for a nicer bottle of wine.

J: I also wanted to mention the ethical part of this, too. I feel like a lot of these brands market themselves as the more ethical decision or product to buy. That really plays into this as well. As consumers, you feel like you’re making the better decision for the world if you’re buying them.

A: It’s very true. You think you’re doing something that is making a difference through your purchase power, which is very new, especially when it comes to luxury products. For the longest time, no one tried to pretend like they were saving the world by buying Dior.

Z: I wonder if we need to look at fair trade coffee as being hugely influential. Those designations were a big deal. All these things combine together. To bring the conversation back to natural wine, it’s a product where you’re seeing a lot of these broader consumer trends collide. That’s why it’s been both successful and also controversial. Trends always create controversy. My theory is that people, especially people in the U.S., have become accustomed to the idea that perhaps our most impactful political tool is our wallet and not our ballot. I don’t want to get into whether that’s true or not. I think it’s hard to say. However, there’s definitely something to the notion that many people feel compelled to express their political, sociological, and other beliefs via their consumption. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. I think it’s good to be conscious about how and what you are spending your money on. It can leave you a little vulnerable to things like greenwashing, because it’s not that hard for a brand to claim they’re doing one thing and not actually be doing it or not be doing it to the extent that they seem to imply. It’s probably better for that to happen than to have an “I don’t care” attitude, though.

A: I completely agree. This is all fueling this movement and making us feel like it’s worth it to pay a little bit more. Venkatesh made a joke in his article about mediocre premium that the easiest way to think about premiumization is to think about avocado toast or putting truffle oil on everything. That’s what it is. It’s this idea that we want it a little bit fancier.

J: It’s truffle oil, not truffles.

A: Exactly. We don’t want the regular mac and cheese for $8, but we’ll be more than willing to pay $14 for the truffle oil mac and cheese. It’s a really interesting idea. It’s this trade up from what we were spending, maybe $12 to $15 for a bottle of wine, to $20 to $25. To get that $20 to $25 price point, we need to feel like that wine says something about us, makes a statement about who we are and what we stand for, and makes us feel like there’s a little bit higher quality inside the bottle. Again, we understand it’s not a much larger amount of quality. As Joanna just said, it’s truffle oil, not truffles. But it is enough that we feel like we have bettered ourselves through this purchase. It’s fascinating.

Z: Yeah, It’s a powerful motivator for people, for sure.

A: Totally. Well, this was really interesting. I’m curious: To listeners out there, if you have any thoughts on premiumization, shoot us an email at podcast@vinepair.com. Tell us some brands or movements inside wine, spirits, or seltzer that you feel are premiumization products. RTDs are really right for this. I’m very curious to hear what other people think, where you see this going, and where the opportunities are. Shoot us an email, and let us know what you think. We’ll talk to you next week.

J: Thanks, guys.

Z: Sounds great.

Thanks so much for listening to the “VinePair Podcast.” If you love this show as much as we love making it, then please give us a rating or review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever it is you get your podcasts. It really helps everyone else discover the show.

Now, for the credits. VinePair is produced and recorded in New York City and Seattle, Washington, by myself and Zach Geballe, who does all the editing and loves to get the credit. Also, I would love to give a special shout-out to my VinePair co-founder, Josh Malin, for helping make all this possible, and also to Keith Beavers, VinePair’s tastings director, who is additionally a producer on the show. I also want to, of course, thank every other member of the VinePair team who are instrumental in all of the ideas that go into making the show every week. Thanks so much for listening, and we’ll see you again.

Ed. note: This episode has been edited for length and clarity.

The article VinePair Podcast: The Rise of ‘Premium Mediocre’ in Beverage Alcohol appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/podcast-premium-mediocre-alcohol/

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Divine Locks Complex Reviews - Divine Locks Hair Supplement Really Work?

Divine Locks Complex Reviews

Divine Locks Complex is a new supplement on the market for all those women who have tried all kinds of hair preparations to increase the size of the hair on their heads but have failed. According to the official website, this formula can be applied to all users regardless of their hair condition. With 29 natural ingredients from different parts of the world that have been shown to be extremely effective in treating hair loss, this supplement can be a great way to get a beautiful head full of smooth, shiny and healthy hair.

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Hair loss has always been a common problem for most of the women out there. The problem is particularly evident in older women who have less hair on their scalp as they age. Regardless of the age group, hair loss can turn out to be catastrophic for all women, as it not only negatively affects their appearance but also makes them lose confidence in themselves.

In addition, age-related hair loss is often unresponsive to traditional medicines and herbal remedies, resulting in irreparable harm. Now, with the availability of the Divine Locks Complex supplement, all hair loss victims can get rid of this problem for good.

To learn more about the supplement, the functional details, the ingredients list and the place to buy Divine Locks at the best prices, read this in-depth review on Divine Locks below.

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Divine Locks Review

It is normal for women to experience 50 to 100 strands of hair loss per day. This hair loss is considered part of natural balance, with older strands of hair falling out while new ones replace them. This hair loss is completely normal and almost all women tend to experience it. However, when the amount of hair loss exceeds this level, it can become a problem.

Excessive hair loss can be a nightmare for any woman as hair is one of the most important features of her body. Without a good amount of hair on their scalp, anyone can easily lose confidence and self-esteem. Sometimes the problem escalates to an extent that it can also cause depression in the victims. With products like Divine Locks Complex now available to users, all hair problems can now be overcome before they even hit victims' minds.

Divine Locks pills are loaded with natural supplements that can lead to the cause of hair loss in older women; H. Pinching of papillae. When these papillae are not pinched, all of the nutrients the hair needs can flow freely to their roots so they can feed and thrive. In addition, these nutrients also support hair health, making it shinier and stronger.

Developed by Kayla Rochin, a cosmetologist by profession, this supplement can help optimize the flow of nutrients using natural ingredients and make hair as healthy as it was in the 1920s. So, if you are someone who wants to look in the mirror with confidence and joy because of your shiny, shiny hair, this supplement may be your product of choice.

The best thing about Divine Locks Complex is that it contains 29 safe ingredients that come from plants that exist around the world. It is completely free of all chemicals and additives, and it contains no GMOs in its composition, which means users can use it for as long as they want without fear of complex Divine Locks side effects. In addition, it is extremely affordable and anyone can enjoy it without breaking their banks.

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How Does Divine Locks Complex Really Work? The science behind this hair loss formula

To understand how Kayla Rochin's Divine Locks hair supplement really works, it is important to understand the concept of the dermal papillae.

Human hair may seem like a tiny, insignificant part of the body, but in reality it is made up of multiple sub-components and layers of its own. For example, each strand of hair has its own hair shaft, cuticle, and most importantly, the dermal papillae. These dermal papillae are located on the base of the hair; H. The hair follicle, and are responsible for supplying the rest of the hair with all the essential nutrients. Think of these hair papillae as straws that help bring in nutrients and minerals from the rest of the body to the hair.

While these dermal papillae are extremely important in maintaining optimal hair health, a lack of them can also lead to various hair-related problems such as hair loss, hair loss, etc. According to the company that makes the Divine Locks pills, these are dermal papillae and tend to fold or "pinch" as women get older. By pinching these papillae, the flow of nutrients to the long strands of hair is drastically reduced.

According to some studies, the number of these papillae can even be halved due to the aging process. When the nutrient supply is interrupted, hair begins to die and fall, leading to excessive hair loss and even the formation of bald spots.

The biggest problem is that all of these changes occur at the cellular level, making it impossible for users to try to heal them from the outside i.e. H. With herbal means. No amount of oil or lotion can help slow these changes down, which is why most people mistakenly assume they are irreparable.

However, with a supplement like Divine Locks Complex, all of these problems can be fixed from the inside, eliminating the need to apply tons of oils or lotions from the outside. This unique supplement with a blend of 29 natural ingredients can help loosen the dermal papillae. In this case, the normal supply of nutrients is restored and even improved. At the same time, some of the ingredients in the Divine Locks Complex can help the user grow new dermal papillae on the head, which means new hair grows faster.

As a bonus, the supplement can also help users experience faster hair growth by getting all of the essential vitamins and minerals.

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What to expect Benefits of the Divine Locks Complex

According to Trydivinelocks com, the official website of this supplement that regularly uses this hair loss formula can bring several benefits to users who specifically target their hair. With the 29 essential nutrients from different parts of the world, this hair product can help users to:

Hair that is thicker

Hair with more shine

Faster hair growth

Increased hair thickness

Bouncier hair

The best part is that all of the above benefits can be obtained without spending thousands of dollars on expensive shampoos, serums, or hair transplants.

Keep in mind that the exact benefits of Divine Locks Complex pills can vary from user to user depending on the factor.

List of Complex Ingredients in Divine Locks

As mentioned earlier, the Divine Locks tablet formula contains several ingredients of unique texture and nature. These ingredients come from different parts of the world including China, Indonesia, India, the United States, and Korea. One thing that is common with these ingredients according to the manufacturer is that they come from natural sources of the highest quality.

The following is a list of all the ingredients in the Divine Locks Complex that can be found on the official website.

Fo-Ti

Fo-Ti is a rather unusual natural ingredient that is native to different parts of Asia. This ingredient is backed by several research studies that have shown how it can increase the speed of the hair cycle to essentially double the number of hair follicles growing on the head in just a few weeks. Additionally, supplementing this ingredient in the form of Divine Locks pills can reduce hair loss while promoting new hair growth.

Seaweed Extract

Algae extract is a popular natural ingredient that has been added to various natural dietary supplements due to its exceptional beneficial properties. Research has shown that the use of algae extract can increase the rate at which new dermal papillae form on the head. At the same time, seaweed extract can also help loosen papillae, which is one of the most important benefits expected from supplementing with Divine Locks.

Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola is one of the key ingredients in Divine Locks Complex, which research has shown can increase the size of any dermal papillae on the head. As the size of these papillae increases, more oxygen and nutrients can flow into the strands of hair, resulting in higher hair growth rates with less hair loss. At the same time, it can also increase the thickness and volume of the hair.

Grape seed extract

The reason grape seed extract was added to the core formula of the Divine Locks Complex supplement is because of the presence of proanthocyanidins in its composition. These compounds give certain flowers their distinctive colors. In addition to providing bright colors, proanthocyanidins can also promote new hair growth, which, when used consistently, leads to a reduction in bald spots.

Silica

This is different from the silica that stretch leggings are made from. In fact, it was sourced from safe vendors and added to the Divine Locks pills as it can grow more hair and thicken the one that was already there. At the same time, the use of silica can also reduce hair loss.

Methylsulfonylmethane

This organic component commonly known as MSM can improve the look of your hair by adding volume and shine.

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Biotin

There is evidence that over 38% of women are biotin deficient. This B-complex vitamin has been shown to reduce hair loss while promoting new hair growth when consumed in appropriate amounts.

selenium

Selenium is an essential nutrient that is powered by several antioxidants. These antioxidants can help remove free radicals from the body that could otherwise build up and cause disruption to natural processes in the body, including hair growth.

L-methionine

L-methionine was added to the Divine Locks Complex ingredient list as it can help prevent premature hair loss in users.

Alpha lipoic acid

Alpha-lipoic acid, or ALA, can regulate the antioxidant response in the body while regulating inflammation levels in the body. With these two control factors, hair growth can be optimized.

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is known to trigger the production of more hair follicles on the head. With more hair follicles, the number of skin papillae also improves, which can optimize the flow of nutrients to the hair, making them shinier and healthier, while reducing hair loss.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient when it comes to optimizing hair and skin health. This ingredient can stimulate the production of more skin papillae, which in turn reduces hair loss while improving the health of existing strands of hair.

To learn more about the complex ingredients in Divine Locks, click here to go to the official website

Is Divine Locks Complex Legitimate? Evaluation of the main features

Before trying a new supplement, it is common practice to double-check its features and properties to make sure it is effective and not just another scam.

According to the official website, the Divine Locks Complex Supplement has the following main features that make it a true hair loss product:

It's not genetically modified

Unlike most hair loss supplements on the market, Divine Locks Complex tablets are completely GMO free, making them safe and effective for all users.

It's high quality

All of the ingredients in the Divine Locks Complex tablet formula are sourced from high quality suppliers. In addition, all ingredients have been rigorously tested for their effectiveness against hair loss, which makes the supplement of the highest quality.

It contains natural ingredients

Divine Locks Complex, according to the manufacturer, only natural ingredients have been added to the composition of this supplement. The core formula is not supported by additives, fillers or chemicals that can cause undesirable side effects for the user.

It's convenient to use

Divine Locks Complex comes in the form of pills that are intended to be swallowed with plain water. There are no hard and fast rules for consuming it and the supplement doesn't even require preparation. Hence, most of the users can easily incorporate these tablets into their daily routine.

It's cheaper in your pocket

Traditional hair loss and hair loss medical products are extremely expensive and can make a hole in your pocket. Other alternative treatments for hair-related problems like hair transplants are even more expensive and out of the reach of most victims. Such people can easily rely on Divine Locks Complex tablets as they can achieve similar effects but on a very small budget.