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vs120shound · 2 months

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Three kinds of SF models/actresses: The Overrated. The Underrated. The Properly Rated. Priscilla of SmokingModels (Florida, USA) never got the "props" she so richly deserved! Gorgeous. Exquisite. Sultry!

NEW SERIES! - *

VIDEO OF THE MONTH (SF HALL OF FAME) 🚬 NO. 3 IN THE SERIES!

For February 2024

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | Five “Stars”

From vs120shound staff | ★★★★★ (4 total: L)

Dual-Media 3-Post, 21-Pack Megapost!

SPARSE CONTENT OF PRISCILLA POSTED ON SMOKINGMODELS! WHY?

Priscilla: Unceasingly pretty. Exquisite. Graceful. Classy. Seductive. Its one incomparable combination for an SF model/actress! Such elegance!

* - Note below

How much different would the world be if Priscilla of SmokingModels.com (Florida, U.S.A.) were a showcase SF model/actress for their brand? Well, the United States would still have a terible one-two punch choice for president during the 2024 election, right? Instead, an alternate reality can not be substituted in for what exists. Back to SF . . . so we're forced to deal with what is, or at least what was. Pretty Priscilla was never going to be a heavy-hitter for SM web-master/web producer Austin. "Prescious" Prescilla might have participated in just a handful of video projects for their network, and we doubt she was ever considered -- nor did she consider -- being a participant in SmokingErotica.com with its NSFW content but far, far removed from receiving "XXX" "XX" or "X" content classifications. "R" for sure. She is a stunner. That's for sure. You can learn a lot about Priscilla by listening to this substantive video. She opens up and does so in a grounded way; nothing outrageous. Well, we learned she loves Coldstone! Nothing too outlandish about that, is there?

… well, how and why did Priscilla stay stuck in her lot with SM when she is uncompromisingly gorgeous? From listening to her spiel ⏤ or is it a conventional interview with webmaster Austin darting in and out of the framing for the stationary camera (on a tripod?) several times ⏤ and how she interacted respectfully and somewhat chummy with him, the Austin-Priscilla relationship seemed to be on steady enough ground not to be the source for her failure to climb the SmokingModels ladder. At least at the time of this video's shooting, their rapport certainly would not lead to the precluding of her from reaching the stardom for which she might have been destined to attain on SmokingModels. Maybe it all went south soon after this video was released; perhaps it got away from them many months later. Austin's reputation within the Greater SF World Community scene is not negative in the least but he's known as being particular, merely seeking to keep all aspects of his operation of two websites as structured and as orderly as intended and as needed. Without a true staff it IS a lot of work. The personality that Priscilla conveys in the 7:08 span of the video indicates that she has a strong personality as well, believing what she believes and liking what she likes. We're going to extrapolate and say that Priscilla very much makes the connection between smoking cigarettes and having fun and be sexy and living life to the fullest (no need to bring up the actual health risks in this sentence 😉 ). She grasps the Smoking Fetish and understand its hold upon those who are afflicted. Much of her personality is revealed when the topic becomes smoking. Such discussion is prompted with Austin's question, "Tell me about enjoying the look of your smoking," he said. Priscilla responded with, "I think it looks so classy and I don't know. I don't know what peoples' problems [are] with smoking; I think it's pretty," she says. "It makes me feel older, too, to smoke." Austin asks about smoking during sex . . . he is an SF aficionado above all else, so why wouldn't he be curious? Priscilla gives it some thought, following the specific question about having a cigarette before getting it on. "Definitely," she says, "before and after." Heck, she's our kind of gal, isn't she, after all! The format of this video is not compelling in any way for she does not move. Her emotions do not swing wildly. But she shows off her habit. Strong exhales. Many drags. And her smoking routine is consistent with both her personality/character and the theme of the website that ties in smoking and elegance, cigarettes and glamorous style and allure. But she is so pretty. Won't go so far as to claim there's only a handful of BHYSWs (Beautiful Hot, Young Smoking Women) in our community who are more attractive. Won't do it. Might not be among the Top 25 in beauty among all SF personalities (there's Dorine Zopp, Soléne, Janey of Random Snaps, Courtney of Specialized Videos, Cassandra and Julie of InRealLife, Quinn of USA Smokers, Shannon of Smoking Sexy Girls; Anka Zapala, Natasha Marley, Josee Real-Smoking-Girl and, W-H-A-T Skittlez Cano is ugly now all of a sudden!) but it's not stretching it to say she's in the Top 50 and certainly in the Top 100. Priscilla is in elite company. Great body but not reminiscent of Busty Deelight yet that body sculpting would be calling attention to herself. And Priscilla strikes us as likely being humble or modest. Could not find video of Priscilla within our network while this post was in various stages of production. A few photos, so these are her introductory videos on our family of blogs/vlogs/webpages. If you are new to Priscilla, we hope you enjoy this Megapost! Another SF star whose exclusion from the Honorable Mention list of the "unofficial" official Top-25 all-time favorite SF model list published on vs120s-1 some 14 months ago represents another strike against us!

THE MEDIA!

Previous Posts on Our Network of Priscilla!

From vs120shound-2 on March 2, 2024 . . .

From vs120shound on June 15, 2018 (the seventh post in the history of vs120s-1, with a revision in early-August 2022!) . . .

Photographs of Priscilla from a Variety of Sources!

From www.smokingmodels.com and various SF websites . . .

Nine photographs from thelibrarian120 (some duplications included in this compilation, but not 100 percent replicas of identical photos; there are composition, cropping and editing nuances among the repeats to make them ostensibly somewhat different)!

YouTube Video of SmokingModels (Cameo Appearance by Priscilla at End)!

From YT's "goosenation" webpage on 2011 . . .

youtube

Priscilla appears in the final five seconds of this video, the length of a typical Instagram SF post!

*- Note: The Video of The Week series has been replaced by The Video of The Month series effective in late-December 2023! (The Video of The Month | Honorable Mention division was published on March 1.

The Video of the The Month (Honorable Mention) for February!

From vs120shound on March 1, 2024 . . .

#SF #Hot women who love smoking cigarettes #Smoking cigarettes #Smoking #The Video of The Month | Hall of Fame division!#Priscilla of Florida!#Priscilla of SmokingModels (Florida -- U.S.A.)!#YouTube's “goosenation” webpage!

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leclercx · 7 months

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There’s certainly no reason to think he won’t at some stage; after all, the Monegasque native is battling an unstable car that he has never truly settled with. “I’m not completely comfortable with this car at the moment, a bit too much understeer for my liking and I struggle to drive around it,” Leclerc said. “And because of the unpredictability of the car, I cannot have the oversteer that I want.”

Despite that open revelation, Leclerc still only ended up 0.079s away from snatching pole in Singapore. Indeed, only a slight mishap at Turn 17 denied him from ending up with the fastest time and the right to earn the preferential treatment on strategy that potentially would have seen him win.

Contrast that to Sainz, who was consistently winding up several tenths away when combating a car that didn’t allow him to express his full capabilities, and it’s still obvious that Leclerc has the greater upside when he gets it together. Only when he is equipped with a car that is benign in its balance and pointy at the front end will a true gauge of Leclerc’s ability be issued.

For that reason alone, he’ll be desperately hoping Ferrari’s “brand new” car for 2024 removes the intrinsic flaws that have stymied his and the team’s potential this season.

Speaking of Ferrari, the prized team debatably could have its own problems to contend with regarding its driver pairing. While Leclerc and Sainz get on cordially outside of the car, cracks have started to appear on the track this year, and there’s reason to doubt whether they can co-exist in the same operation. While Sainz favours understeer, Leclerc is at his lethal best when he can manipulate an oversteering machine.

Ferrari effectively sacrificed Leclerc’s race in Singapore to secure a morale-boosting victory. Whilst only a one-off for the time being, prioritising Sainz on development thereafter would be a long-lasting sacrifice to Leclerc’s phenomenal skillset.

With contract negotiations set to intensify over the coming months, it’s crunch time for Leclerc both on the track and away from it. He would be well-advised to listen to Vettel’s previous words of wisdom when it comes to utilising his talent: “Don’t waste it”.

Motorsportweek.com

Really good article and basically what we're all saying for a long time. When we say the current pair at ferrari will never work, because of their completely different preferences of the car, it's not hate, it's just plainly obvious for anyone who's paying attention

#charles leclerc #f1 #ferrari

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black-arcana · 28 days

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WITHIN TEMPTATION's SHARON DEN ADEL: 'Some People Stopped Following Us' Because We Became More Outspoken On World Issues

On April 5, Dutch metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION will release their brand-new song, "A Fool's Parade", which marks a collaboration with the talented Ukrainian producer Alex Yarmak. According to a press release from WITHIN TEMPTATION's publicist, "A Fool's Parade" "highlights Russia's pretense regarding the war, and condemns its lies, ongoing crimes and brutal intentions."

The song, released as a harbinger of the much-anticipated "Bleed Out 2024 Tour", is a powerful expression of what the press release calls "WITHIN TEMPTATION's commitment to continue shedding light on the ongoing existential struggle that Ukraine is facing against Russia's cruel invasion."

For the recording of the accompanying music video for "A Fool's Parade", Sharon Den Adel — the frontwoman of WITHIN TEMPTATION — recently spent time in Kyiv, Ukraine. The music video was directed by renowned Ukrainian video director Indy Hait.

With involvement in initiatives such as the Ukraine Aid OPS foundation, WITHIN TEMPTATION aims to keep drawing attention to Europe's much-needed support for Ukraine's defense.

During her stay in Kyiv, Sharon spoke to Metal Pilgrim about WITHIN TEMPTATION's decision to use its platform to draw attention to a variety of issues, including the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran.

Sharon said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We never cared about what people wanted us to say or not to say. We always did what we wanted to do. But the older you get and the more confident you get in being who you are and what you stand for, you're more expressive. And I also feel like I have nothing to [lose] — well, of course, you have something to lose when you speak out about things like this, because it can always backlash, of course. And it's very delicate to choose the right words for things. But I try to prepare myself really well. And I hope eventually that pays off, meaning the people get the message. Some people stopped following us because we started supporting [certain causes] and being more outspoken. They say, 'You can't be political as a band.' I don't agree because everybody has an opinion and everybody's loud, and that's also society today. As you see on social media, it's like there's no filter on anything. I'm not saying that I need to overshout other people, but more like I still wanna stand for my opinion and hopefully make people think about it."

Den Adel went on to say that "you also have to choose your battles" in terms of which issues to focus on when coming up with lyrical themes for songs. "[The Russia-Ukraine war] is happening in Europe, and we are a European band. And so we also got a lot of times the question, 'What about this country? What about this situation?' And there's also a lot of awful things happening in different parts of the world. And also in interviews, I will talk about it when people ask me, but I won't do it on the social media because you get in discussion and it becomes one big fight with pro and against certain subjects. For me, in interviews, I do respond to that as well. But I also have to pick my battles. If I take on all the injustice of the world, it will fade away for the thing that I, at the moment, am inspired about most. And the last album that we did, with 'Bleed Out', we have focused on certain parts of the world, like Iran — there's one song, 'Bleed Out', is about that — but a lot of songs, actually, are about the Ukraine, because we're in the same region — it's a two-hours flight from Amsterdam to Kiev. So, I hope people understand that we are picking our battles — something that's closer. Everybody has to do that. But also, like I said, if I talk about every problem in the world, it doesn't come across as authentic and honest either, because it's, like, you're a saint or something, which I'm not."

In a June 2023 interview with James Wilson-Taylor of Rock Sound, Den Adel spoke about the lyrical inspiration for WITHIN TEMPTATION's "Wireless" single: "When the war started in the Ukraine, we were in the studio writing songs, And it's one of the songs that we wrote. And it is about war, of course. It's about a soldier going to war and thinking he's going to liberate people, do good stuff and be a hero and everything, but then he finds out that he's been lied to by media but also government. And then he finds that he can't go back because he's already in his army gear, for instance. You can't go forward, you can't go backward because you have your buddies next to you and you'll all die in the field. And in front of you, you have a mission impossible almost."

The Dutch singer continued: "So that's what we try to do — maybe also shine a light on certain situations within the war. It's just we're storytellers — it's like amplifying a certain kind of emotion that people could feel in this situation."

Asked how she and her bandmates decided to use Russia's invasion of Ukraine as inspiration for one of their songs, Sharon said: "Well, from my point of view, it's not just their war. I really believe what some people are saying — it's really our war as well. Because it's next to us. They already said, they're not gonna stop at Ukraine; they're gonna go further. And a couple of hours flying from my home, it's already Kyiv. So it's also our war. I think we should be aware of the fact that this is a danger for all of us. They won't stop. And hopefully — we wanna keep this a little bit alive in our own small way by writing about it and talking about it and waving a flag on stage about it."

In March 2022, WITHIN TEMPTATION was one of the artists who took part in a telethon concert in support of Ukraine. "Save Ukraine - #StopWar" united more than 20 countries and bring together more than 50 participants. The marathon was broadcast from Warsaw on the Polish TV channel TVP. In addition, broadcasters from many countries around the world rebroadcasted the marathon on their local channels.

In an interview with Greece's Rock Overdose, Den Adel stated about her band's participation in the event: "For us, it was an honor to be asked for it. I think as a band and as people, we really value freedom of speech and freedom and democracy. I think as a band, people sometimes say, 'Don't be so political,' people say, 'Don't be so expressive and don't take a side on things.' But as a musician, I think it's important to represent who you are, not just in music but really stand for what you make and what you are saying in your lyrics in a way. And things that are happening in the world inspire us to write music, and then you also have to take a stance and what side you are. I think when it's so obvious where there's an aggressor and where there is a country being violated, invaded, you should take a stance and then it makes it much easier even to be very clear about where you stand in this whole conflict. Of course, it's something that we are keeping ourselves updated with every day because we find it very sad to see that a country that wants to be a democracy is invaded this way. So we are very honored to be asked also to play for this event, this marathon, and happy to do it."

Released last October, WITHIN TEMPTATION's latest album, "Bleed Out", signifies a bold leap forward for the band. From contemporary, hard-hitting, and djenty riffs to soaring melodies displaying their symphonic roots, WITHIN TEMPTATION has created a sonic journey that fuses diverse musical styles and thought-provoking themes. This is an album that is as epic as it is unflinchingly outspoken, and now more than ever, this is a band who isn't afraid to make a stand on issues the members care about.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, WITHIN TEMPTATION have shifted their focus from writing about personal emotions and societal subjects to tackling global injustices and reflecting the tumultuous state of the world in a way that other artists seem unable or unwilling to do.

While songs such as "Wireless" and "We Go To War" examine the authoritarian aggression on display in Ukraine and other warzones, the title track itself addresses the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran after the murder of Mahsa Amini.

The album also grapples with the complex issues around a woman's right to choose in recent single "Don't Pray For Me" and throughout, this impassioned and political focus is reflected in the intensity and heaviness of the music. Embracing a new era of musical exploration and lyrical depth, WITHIN TEMPTATION have pushed boundaries and showcased their artistic evolution, delivering a fist-in-the-air proclamation of both their moral convictions and their fearless approach to music.

youtube

#sharon den adel #within temptation #interview #Youtube

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inkabelledesigns · 3 months

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I know I'm posting a day late here, but Happy Birthday Bendy! February 10th, 2024 marks the 7 year anniversary of when Bendy and the Ink Machine came out. And boy, has it been a wild ride. Normally I would reserve this for my Bendy sideblog, @angelofthepage , but I'm posting it here because this is where I started years ago, and I want some of those people who don't see that blog to have a chance to see this. Because you guys are a part of this story.

In about three months, seven years ago, I was in finals hell, working through my process book for my packaging design class in one of the dorm lounges while my roommate had taken the room for herself again. And the only thing keeping me sane was putting Can't Be Erased and Build Our Machine on loop as I worked. BATIM only had two chapters out, and I didn't know everything about it, but I was so intrigued by what its deal was. I took one look at Sammy Lawrence and I wanted to know everything about him. Something about this barely started game, the idea of your characters coming to life to kill you, it thrilled me, intrigued me. It was something I was really afraid of, being so attached to my characters and putting so much of my identity in my art. And while the story isn't really all that much about cartoons themselves being alive, it gave me something else that ended up changing my life.

Over that summer, I would become obsessed, and for the first time in years, I let myself be a fangirl again. And maybe one day I'll pull up the timeline and tell you how it all went down. But right now, after all the celebrating of yesterday, I just wanna take a moment to appreciate the last seven years. All the people I've met, all the friends I've made. All the experiences we've had together, big and small. Some have been incredibly close, and others have been people I still smile about whenever I see them on my feed, even if we're not all doing stuff in the same fandom anymore. There's some people I've fallen out of touch with that I likely won't ever see again that I miss. There's some I'll be lucky if I never see again. There's the official voice actors for Dark Revival, which I've had the pleasure of working with on community things here in the fandom. I regularly moderate their livestreams (or Lovestreams as we call them) where they sign prints and interact with us fans (and sometimes I'm tech support, once an ink machine technician, always an ink machine technician xD). I'm honored to call a lot of them my friends, we've had some truly wonderful conversations. I've spent a lot of time in a variety of servers, trying to uplift people and make for a positive fandom experience for everyone, fans old and new. Sometimes it lands me in interesting places, like helping out over on the Inky News channel. The host, Brandon, invited me over to guest star on his anniversary stream yesterday, and in the past I've been fortunate enough to showcase my art on two of his interviews, one with Dave Rivas and one with Adrienne Kress. Sometimes it lands me on fun projects, like working on a fan game, and for the first time it's not as a voice actor! I'm a writer. I've had my work uplifted in turn too, meeting people who value me for me and also cheer me on when I try new things (sometimes entirely new mediums like doll customizing). I got my first helpful constructive critique in this fandom, and it was something I ASKED for. That is a huge personal milestone! I have a really complex and twisty set of feelings about critique, and finally, I feel better, because someone helped me start to unravel that just by being themselves and being thoughtful. It's inspired me to want to be better in how I handle critique and problem solving with others.

I spent so much of my life putting my self worth in other people's hands. I thought I would never be good enough to have friends who didn't treat me like garbage. I thought I'd never be a good artist in any sense of the word either. But I was wrong. I've grown. I'm valued, I'm wanted. I don't have to hide parts of myself to be desirable. Sometimes being the silly, goofy, fangirl that is Kat is enough. My art is enough, my ideas are enough, my flavor is tasty, and I am a goddamn treat. And after so many years of not knowing that, I'm glad I finally do. And it's all because of the people. It wasn't ever that my flavor was bad, it's that I hadn't found people with a taste for it yet. Bendy's greatest gift was giving me a fresh start, a chance to meet new people, good people, and for that, I'm forever grateful. Even though things have changed, I'm glad I met each and every one of you, you all taught me something valuable along the way, and I think about those experiences we shared often.

I won't lie to you, I've been rather frustrated with Bendy lately. And I think a lot of it has to do with the games not truly having grown with me. At some point our paths deviated, and there are elements of what's come and what's coming that are getting away from what really enticed me about the very first entry, the things I valued most in it. But in some ways, analyzing that has led me to figure out what made that first game so special. It was human. It was a character focused game, and each of the characters, while vague, gave us just enough about themselves that we could feel for them, get invested, imagine, maybe even sympathize. Everyone is a tragedy, but they're all different flavors of tragedy. And it was seeing people explore that, seeing people write these characters in ways that were so human, that really built a connection. For some people, Bendy is another indie horror experience. For others, it's something to indulge in that hits hard on a personal level. In many ways, it attracts a lot of us who feel like misfits. It's many things. But to me, the magic was in the people. The people in this universe, and the people in its real world community.

It has solidified my belief that people should play with fiction however they want, no matter how far it deviates from the canon, no matter how weird it is. Go be interpretive, go tell your story, go be free to make what speaks to you! (All I ask is that you're thoughtful about tagging it so people can make smart choices about engaging with it.) All stories are worth telling. Even if no one gets into it, having told it makes a difference.

Whether you're someone who's been there from the beginning, or someone that's new to Bendy, I hope you're all having fun. Whether you've finished exploring the world or you've just begun, I hope you've found something valuable. Thank you, for coming along for the ride. Here's to many more fun experiences and stories, be they official or be they in the fandom. Happy Bendyversary!

#long post #bendy and the ink machine #batim #bendyversary #personal thoughts #bendy

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megpricephotography · 5 months

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So I'm thinking about a dog in 2024 and I am absolutely in love with border collies.. I know thier energy is insane.. This is my question, do you walk everyday, of course you do, how far do you walk? What would I be in for? Do they bark often? I also enjoy black Labradors.. Your blog is quite amazing.. 🙏🐕

That’s wonderful you might be getting a dog next year! Whichever breed you decide on, I hope you find yourself a fantastic companion & enjoy many happy years of adventures together :) Thanks, I'm so glad you enjoy my blog!

I’ll answer your 2nd question 1st: barking. Yes!! Some are louder than others... but most border collies like the sound of their own voice. They'll likely be more vocal than a labrador!

Now... exercising. Border collies are energetic. They need to run regularly & are always eager for a walk! Like most breeds, BCs are happiest (& easiest to live with!) when they're able to combine using their brains, with getting physical excise.

Many pet dogs, even "high energy" breeds, are able to fulfil a lot of their need for mental/physical exercise by going on regular walks... Walks where the dog is most left to its own devices but has the opportunity to run & fully engage its senses, exploring & interacting with the environment. If the owner wants to get more involved & play with the dog too, then great! However, if the owner is tired after a stressful day, then they can mostly mentally switch-off & relax in nature, while their pet has fun & tires itself out!

Unfortunately (& I think it's part of why they have a rep for making hyper/crazy pets), border collies are often pretty terrible at exercising themselves on this sort of walk - where they have to occupy themselves independently!

BCs want owner participation!! They want YOU mentally switched-on & involved in their activities - exploring the wider world is only as interesting as you make it! If they aren't kept busy herding livestock for you, or doing sports like agility, then a BC needs you to come up with other forms of entertainment/exercise, which you can do together. It doesn't need to be complicated, or involve you doing lots of hard physical exertion - but keeping a pet BC well-exercised & contented will take some mental effort, on your part.

They'll often benefit far more from a slightly shorter outing, where your focus is on them & making a real effort to engage & interact - rather than a much longer walk, where you're present but disengaged & expecting the dog to exercise itself.

For some people, the prospect of a pet who demands lots of engagement & interaction, could be more work than an active dog who "just" needs regular long hikes! However, if you like the idea of having a HIGHLY interactive dog - who thrives on doing stuff with you, then BCs can make wonderful, engaging, fun companions.

This got way too long... below are examples of how I keep Flynn "busy" & help him burn off mental/physical energy outdoors! My health isn't very good - I can't go very far & never go fast but Flynn doesn't mind... as long as we're interacting.

All pics below were taken a couple of days ago, in 2 adjacent fields.

Left to occupy himself, Flynn could spend hours out in these wide-open spaces & he'd still be bouncy/bored later. Not because he's insanely energetic - no, the daft dog simply wouldn’t DO anything tiring! If I ignore Flynn, he accepts it & potters along the path... & that’s the problem! He's an athletic, intense dog & he just potters! He's happy but barely using up any energy!! If I want Flynn tired, I have to give him reasons to use his body & - more importantly - his mind!

I take the part of shepherd & sheep & get Flynn herding me across the fields. We play hide-&-seek in the woods. He does tricks & balances on things. I take photos as it's another chance to interact. We might play search games too - I make him wait, go hide a toy/treats, then send him out to find them.

A "game"(?) that's developed over time, is that Flynn loves to find & show me interesting stuff in the environment. Stuff he will not play with alone, but massively enjoys if I join in: piles of leaves, mole hills, tree stumps, good ground for digging! The more animated I am in reacting, the more enthused Flynn gets & the more he’ll exercise - racing way ahead to find the next fun thing & the next! He enjoys it if I show him stuff too!

Anyway, here he is in the 1st field, lying motionless but focused, as he waited for me to arrive & investigate the puddle he’d "discovered". It IS an excellent puddle.

Here he is, extremely excited at the prospect of supervising me stepping into the puddle & making a splash:

Flynn's holding a nasty soggy chunk of grass because this was such a thrilling moment, he felt he needed to have something to bite on, or he might be tempted to nip my boot!!

Here he is in the 2nd field, intent on stalking closer, because I’d crouched down & just me doing that is EXCITING:

I crouched to look for fossils. Didn’t spot any, so I grabbed random pebbles. Flynn finds it genuinely fascinating to watch me choose, pick up, examine & toss small rocks away… He'll eagerly "help" me do this, for as long as I'll let him. He darts after each stone, as I chuck it away, then quickly rush back to watch me choose another. Here he is, concentrating very hard indeed, on a vital Pebble Examination:

Despite not going far, Flynn was mentally (& physically) tired out by the time we got home! Clearly, he'd done important work: herding, hiding, puddle-finding & pebble-inspecting ;-) Once Flynn's exercised, he'll happily sleep for hours on end.

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sunshine-overload · 2 months

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[BSTS] Valentine’s Day 2024 ‘Ask Yourself’ Event Story

all chapters!

Chapter 1

-rehearsal room-

saki: Hello everyone.

mizuki: Yo, we've been waitin' for you, Saki. Now everyone is here.

lico: And so? What did you call us here for?

mizuki: Because the next show is gonna be us, obviously!

lico: Really? But next is the Valentine's Day show, isn't it?

hinata: A team B solo show? Woohoo!

kongou: We performed for White Day last year, so this year we're doing Valentine's?

ran: Oo! I'm lookin' forward to what kinda song Heath comes up with.

saki: I'm sure your Valentine's show will be a blast.

mizuki: Of course. We're gonna go all out an—

lico: Stop right there.

mizuki: Huh?

lico: I'm not letting this show end up like how White Day did last year. Women hold Valentine's Day in high regard, it's a special event for them, so there'll be no violence.

mizuki: What's your problem?

ran: C’mon, how about we hear Lico out? His idea might be just as excitin'!

mizuki: Tch, pain in the ass. Fine, what do you wanna do?

lico: Keep it simple obviously. A traditional Valentine's Day.

mizuki: Huuh?

lico: We'll put on a show that makes our feelings clear to all the ladies in the audience. Valentine's is the day of love after all. Right, Kotori-chan? You want to receive my love too don't you?

saki: Y-your love?

mizuki: Christ Lico, everything you just said is gross as hell. Besides there's no way we're gonna do some sappy shit like that anyways.

lico: Tch...

heath: ...Why not?

mizuki: Huh? I ain't putting on some show that looks like K or P's.

heath: I promise it'll still be a B show at its core. I won't waver. So let's do it, a 'Traditional Valentine's Day' overflowing with B's flair.

mizuki: B's flair you say... Well that's fine then. Let's show em who's boss.

lico: Wait, actually?

mizuki: What, you're the one you suggested it.

lico: Yes but... No, nevermind.

ran: Sounds like its gonna be another fun B performance. Speakin' of, I have an idea of what to do for our special activity durin’ the event!

—end

Chapter 2

-rehearsal room-

ran: Since it's a special show we should have a special activity too! So how about the guests make chocolate with us? Kongou's on our team yeah? So food related things are B's forte!

lico: How come you actually just said a normal idea right now? But, we can't be making the guests cook, right?

kongou: Having them make chocolate with us would be difficult, but decorating would be possible. For example, we can prepare chocolate cupcakes and decorate them with the customers. How does that sound?

ran: Ooh, that sounds fun!

hinata: What kind of toppings will there be? Can I make some suggestions too?

kongou: Sure. We can brainstorm what would be good toppings to provide. If there's a larger variety I'm sure it'll be more fun.

hinata: Yay! Ok then umm, I'd like fruits, cream, cookies and marshmallows...

lico: We can't fit that many more extra tables in the restaurant. Well, whatever, how about we let the guests choose their toppings when they order? Then we can bring the stuff to their table and decorate the cupcakes there with them.

mizuki: What the fuck do we need to do all that for?

ran: What!? Ya don't think it sounds fun, Mizuki? What do ya think of my idea, Nee-chan?

saki: I think its great.

ran: Hell yeah, then it's decided! Ain't it fine, Mizuki?

mizuki: Fine...

lico: Huh? Seriously what's going on today? Everything is going so smoothly.

mizuki: Oh shut up, do you wanna do this shit or not?

lico: Well yes it's fine for now. Make sure you look forward to Valentine's, Kotori-chan.

-time pass, behind starless, day-

hinata (on phone): Hello? Hey listen to this! Valentine's Day is going to be a B solo performance! I wonder what it's going to be like~ I'm so hyped! Since I messed up last time I want to make sure I properly help out this time.

hinata (on phone): I can do it, I told you this already! I want to see my dream come true at this store. Ah crap, I forgot I need to call Iwa-san after this.

hinata (on phone): No he's been really mean to me~ Despite never even dropping by the store he keeps asking me to give him reports on what's going on... Yeah that's true, I know. I'll call you again soon then!

-hangs up-

hinata: Aah~! I really can't wait to see B's show~!

—end

Chapter 3

-shopping centre-

hinata: I'm so excited to be here shopping with you all~!

lico: Sigh... Why'd we have to bring the whole family shopping.

kongou: Because I'd like to have a nice variety of toppings. You being here is a big help, Lico. We all went shopping like this for White Day last year too didn't we? And before that...

heath: We also went shopping for New Year's and Halloween.

kongou: Yeah. It's like it's become tradition for us to go out as a group for our seasonal performances.

mizuki: Oi, where's the meat section at?

ran: They're doin' taste tests of fried stuff over there!

lico: Hold up, what does meat have to do with anything? We're here to get toppings to put on top of cupcakes with our fans... Jeez, oh, these are cute.

kongou: How about we get them? Though, if they were a little smaller they would be easier to put on a cupcake.

lico: Hmm.

heath: I found something we can use so I'm putting it in the trolley.

kongou: Sure, thanks.

mizuki: Oi Kongou, you're just buying sweet shit, candy ain't gonna fill anyones stomach.

kongou: Well of course it's all sweet. There's going to be special Valentine's menu items.

mizuki: Tch, pain in the ass. Then you shoulda just come shopping on your own.

kongou: Well that may be true...

lico: You're the one who wanted to tag along in the first place, Mizuki. Instead of complaining how about you pick out some toppings too?

mizuki: Oh, they're doing taste tests over there!

-mizuki runs off-

hinata: What, meat!?

-hinata runs after him-

ran: Guess it can't be helped. I gotta go make sure Mizuki doesn't eat too much!

-ran runs after them-

lico: He says yet he just wants to eat the meat too... It always ends up like this, that lot really are just a bunch of damn kids.

heath: ...This outcome was predictable.

kongou: Oh well, let's pick out the toppings ourselves.

—end

Chapter 4

-street, day-

ran: Alrighty, all the additional shoppin' should be done now.

-phone rings-

ran: Hm?

ran (on phone): Heya, it's me. Yeah, I'm on my way back now.

ran (on phone): Ooh, so somethin' finally came up. Yeah, be there in a moment.

-alleyway, day-

underling: Good work out there.

ran: Man~ And here I was lookin' forward to participatin’ in the cupcake trial after finishin’ my errands.

underling: My bad, bro.

ran: I’m jokin' don't worry bout it. And so? What happened?

underling: Well...

-thug explains situation to ran-

ran: I see...

underling: Yeah. There's evidence of them being drowned, however any info about who they were working for has been scrubbed clean.

ran: Hmm. That's not a good sign.

underling: Um, bro... Looking into this any further is dangerous. Please hear me out, I suggest you come back already.

ran: What? What happened for ya to say somethin' like that?

underling: Well, I received a message from the boss... He said that if you're going to keep doing whatever you want, then he'll have to remind you of your place. So let's give up on this already! We can't have you losing face before you become the head.

ran: Dummy. I can't back down now.

underling: But...!

ran: I started this. If I don't see it through to the end then I can't take responsibility for it. Even as things are now, I'm still able to properly assess the situation. Tell my old man that I know what I'm doin'.

—end

(tl note: if you’re confused about who drowned check the xmas story chapter 4)

Chapter 5

-street, day-

saki: (Hm? Is that Ran-san over there? I wonder if he's on his way to Starless.)

-saki walks over to him-

saki: Hello, Ran-san.

ran: The fuck ya want?

saki: Woah...

-ran realises who it is-

ran: Oh! My bad, it was just you Nee-chan! I was just a little on edge.

saki: .....

saki: Did something happen?

ran: It's nothin' ya need to worry about. Sorry for scaring ya. Oh right! As an apology let me invite ya to the Valentine's trial event! We're gonna be testin' out all sorts of toppings, sounds fun right?

saki: Sure, If I wouldn't be interfering.

ran: Of course ya wouldn't be, we'd love to hear your opinions too!

saki: Yes.

ran: I was actually just out doin' some extra shoppin'. I got some chocolate pens and chocolate sprinkles, stuff like that. See?

saki: Wow... You sure bought a lot.

ran: Uwah!

saki: W-what's the matter?

ran: Lico told me to buy some dried fruits! I forgot~ I gotta head back to the shops. Sorry, ya should come with me, Nee-chan!

-ran grabs saki’s hand-

saki: Wah.

ran: Hm? What's up?

saki: Your hand is ice cold, Ran-san...

ran: ...Oh, you’re right.

saki: Are you ok? If you're not feeling well then...

ran: Ahaha, sorry that must've surprised ya. It's super cold today that's all! Your hand is nice and warm though. Could I keep holdin' it like this?

saki: I don't mind...

ran: Yay! Then let's get goin'! Once our Valentine’s show begins, let's make some chocolate together, ok?

—end

Chapter 6

-backstage-

saki: Good work on the show everyone, it was lots of fun.

ran: Ooh Nee-chan! Thanks for comin' to greet us~ We really put on a great show didn't we!

mizuki: Did you see that, Saki? B's the best ain't we?

lico: As always.

heath: But we really did put on an exciting show.

lico: I suppose. I feel like I was properly able to convey my feelings to our fans this year.

kongou: It was our opening show though, so it was a bit nerve wracking. It looks like a lot of guests ordered the cupcakes too, I'm glad.

ran: Well it was my idea after all, of course it's successful!

lico: Even though it was basically only Kongou and I that selected the toppings. What about you, Kotori-chan? Did you enjoy decorating your cupcake?

saki: Yes, I loved it. There were so many toppings to choose from, I'm already wondering how I'll decorate the next one.

lico: Right?

mizuki: Shut up, quit looking at her all mushy like that. Though, the cake didn't taste that bad I guess.

lico: You just let the guests do all the decorating, didn't you?

mizuki: Excuse me? I supervised.

kongou: Well, as long as the guests are pleased that's what's most important.

-hinata appears-

hinata: Good job everybody! Today's show was amazing, it was the best! B are the coolest ever!

mizuki: Of course.

hinata: Man, I wanted to tell you what I thought the moment you got off the stage~

saki: Did something happen?

hinata: Well y'see, there were just so many chocolate cupcake orders that I had to deal with, so I got here a little late.

kongou: I'm thankful.

ran: If it's that popular we'll surely get a bonus, right!

—end

Chapter 7

-behind starless, night-

heath (on phone): Hello. I'm done for today. Thank you again.

heath (on phone): This much is nothing, I'm fine.

heath (on phone): That has nothing to do with this. They're all songs that I've created up until now using my own words. And that will not change.

heath (on phone): Yeah, see you.

-heath hangs up-

-ginsei walks up-

ginsei: Good work today, Heath. Could I speak with you a moment? Or wait, are you heading home?

heath: What is it?

ginsei: The script for your show was great. You handle all the script preparations yourself, right?

heath: Yeah, I do.

ginsei: The vibe of each of your shows has changed multiple times. Like with 'Idaten' and 'No Longer Human' for example... 'No Longer Human' especially portrayed a more sensitive side... It had charm and was interesting to watch.

heath: ...Thanks.

ginsei: And so I wanted to ask, was that—

heath: Is that all? I'd like to go home now. See you.

ginsei: Ah, wait.

-heath leaves-

ginsei: What’s up with him...

-outside shrine, night-

heath: Me... And B's songs... No, not yet…

—end

(tl note: Heath’s dialogue is extremely vague here idk what he’s talking about either hdjsj)

Chapter 8

-backstage-

saki: Congratulations on the closing show, everyone.

lico: Thanks for watching, Kotori-chan.

mizuki: Hey Saki, we put on another kickass show didn't we?

saki: Yes, it was amazing. Thank you for the wonderful Valentine's gift.

mizuki: Nice!

heath: I'm glad my feelings were conveyed.

saki: You too Kongou-san, good work.

kongou: Thanks. It was a bit hectic but I'm glad we got to the closing show without incident. It may have been due to how busy we were, but Hinata behaved himself too, unlike during the Christmas show. I'm glad to see he's reflected on his actions.

ran: Nee-chan! Did you enjoy our Valentine's gift?

saki: Yes, it was really fun.

ran: I'm glad. I still have so much further to go. If you think this is our limit then you're sorely mistaken.

saki: Hm?

ran: Ya think so too right? That Ran-chan's capable of way more.

saki: Y-yes. But your show tonight was already wonderful.

ran: Thanks! It's because of ya support that we were so fired up for the closin’ show. It's Valentine's, so I'm glad we could repay your kindness!

mizuki: Huh? Valentine's has got nothing to do with it. Whenever it is and whoever it is, once we've accepted it, B will pay it back in full.

ran: Hahah, true! No matter if its a debt or a grudge. Well anyways, Nee-chan! Make sure ya keep supportin’ us lots and lots!

—end

#bsts team b #bsts main story #bsts translation

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leakinghate · 4 months

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Is team purple lion still active in 2024?

Yes, we are :D We're relatively quiet these days, but we're still here. We have a small, private discord where we hang out. More akin these days to a group of friends rather than a team working for a cause. (If you'd like to join us, drop me a message! We're always happy to meet new friends) Don't mistake me though, we are absolutely still united by our desire to see OGS8 and vindicate the EPs. We've just... run out of ideas for what we personally can do to achieve those goals. In the meantime we enjoy other fandoms while keeping an ear out and an eye open for any new developments with Voltron. My thoughts are, that it'll take someone on staff opening up about what went down for anything to change. The cast and crew were almost definitely made to sign new NDAs at some point and we have no idea when or even if those will expire. I can guarantee that WEP is going to continue to try and make new Voltron projects in the future so it's absolutely possible that news of one of those will crack the floodgates open.

I've never given up on the idea of making a video adaptation of my essays, though the temptation to say potentially libellous things is strong! I've also been kicking around the idea of making a webcomic adaptation of S7 and S8 that attempts to put the original vision and themes back together. The problem there being that that would be a massive project. Years and years of a project. But. I mean. It's already been 5 years, hasn't it? And still the fury and injustice of it all burns amidst the love for VLD in my heart.

I've had many fandoms over the years, but none with the staying power as this one has for me. I imagine I shall die still holding a love for VLD and its characters. And the original plan for its story.

#team purple lion #teampurplelion #vld #voltron legedary defender #voltron

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dailydemonspotlight · 11 days

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Mizuchi - Day 22

Race: Snake

Alignment: Neutral

April 19th, 2024

Serpentine monsters are a common sight in mythology; whether it be the great Dragons of yore, the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl, the aboriginal Rainbow Serpent Yurlungur, or even the classical Ouroboros. However, Japan loves snakes in mythology. We've already covered one in Yamata-No-Orochi, but there are so many more, whether it be the adorable and hilarious Yokai Tsuchinoko, or, in the case of the demon we're covering today, the legendary water serpent, Mizuchi.

Mizuchi is rarely seen throughout the tremendous amounts of tales that make up Japanese mythology, only mentioned in the Nihon Shoki (the oldest still-remaining text of Japan's history, dating all the way back to the Yōrō era) as well as appearing in a single Man'yōshū poem. In spite of this, Mizuchi has been the topic of many scholarly debates, eventually being bastardized through history into everyone's favorite root-chakra destroying turtle, the Kappa.

Mizuchi, however, is not originally from Japan- its name is actually a transliteration from several Chinese glyphs, particularly several glyphs describing different dragons, serpents, and monsters of Chinese mythology. Admittedly, I don't know much about Japanese, but one of the kanji used to spell the name Mizuchi implies that it's a snake, but it first-and-foremost means "Water spirit." The word, in English, can be broken down into "Spirit-of-Water," as Mi- means water, -tsu- (the way that it is pronounced) effectively means 'of,' and -chi is a suffix that describes a spirit. Due to this, Mizuchi's origin as a Chinese myth makes it very, very hard to track down much of a solid origin for it, given that it originates from what was effectively a way to match how it sounds to how it's spelled.

Now, in terms of mythology, Mizuchi was first referenced in the Nihon Shoki- as the story goes, under the reign of Emperor Nintoku, there was a fork at a river that contained a great water serpent that would be a very deadly nuisance- it attacked random passersby, spat venom at anybody who came near, broke apart caravans, and was generally just a prick. Eventually, fed up with this, a man named Agatamori approached the spirit with a challenge- he tossed three Calabashes into the water and challenged the spirit to see if it could sink them. If not? Mizuchi would face a swift death. The dragon, perturbed, obliged, yet was unsuccessful, meeting a demise by the hands of the man.

Later on, Agatamori found his way to the fellows of the mischievous snake, and in a move as genocidal as it was unwarranted, slaughtered the entire clan of Mizuchi. The lake below was filled with their blood, later becoming the noted "Pool of Agatamori." However, in spite of how apocalyptic this may seem, it turns out that there are more recollections of Mizuchi in the mix, and this tale was but one of many.

The god of the river recorded in Nintoku 11 is also commonly seen as a Mizuchi. A dam being built along Yodo River was subject to an attack from an unknown force, completely breached. Confused, the Emperor commanded a rebuild of it, only for it to be breached yet again. This happened time and time again, and eventually, the Emperor saw a solution to his problem through a prophetic dream. Bringing two men to the riverfront, he offered them up to the River God, but one refused. Likely recognizing the circumstances, the man demanded to see the divinity of the snake by trying the age-old calabash trick, tossing a set into the river and daring the god to sink them. Unsurprisingly, the Mizuchi failed, and likely grew to resent calabashes for the rest of its life.

The last example of a Mizuchi in classical Japanese mythology comes from the Man'yōshū, a collection of ancient poems that have been passed down from generation to generation. In one of them, a poem composed by Prince Sakaibe, he describes a short and intriguing tale regarding a Mizuchi. In quote, "I could ride a tiger to leap over the Old Shack, to the green pool, to take down the mizuchi dragon there, if only I had a sword capable of doing just that." The story regards a mizuchi dragon as being almost common knowledge, bringing up as many questions as it does answers- however, the way it regards it in such a casual manner may play into why Mizuchi are so scarcely mentioned.

If everyone knew about mizuchi, then they wouldn't feel the need to record it, right? The casual cadence of the poem seems to give light to the idea that mizuchi were a common sight or concept in ancient Japan, and it may have to do with their later bastardization into Kappa. In some areas, kappa are given a name incredibly similar to a mizuchi, such as "Mizushi," "Medochi," or "Mintsuchi." Past this, a common trait in Kappa stories lies in their hatred of calabashes, something which is similar to the distaste Mizuchi have for calabashes in both stories they appear in. Some historians speculate that mizuchi and kappa were in the same general 'clique' of water dwelling monsters.

God, that was a lot. Mizuchi are confusing. However, in terms of the SMT series, there's a lot less to comment on; their appearance as a water spirit in the form of a snake is faithful, and their design is as simple as it is elegant. They appear to be made of clear water, almost like a rushing river in the form of a snake. Throughout the series, Mizuchi are a common sight in the early-mid game, even appearing as a boss in Nocturne. Their specialty in ice skills, the closest thing SMT has to water skills, is almost obvious. However, overall, there's elegance in simplicity, and Mizuchi is just that.

#shin megami tensei #smt #megaten #persona #daily #mizuchi #this thing was a HEADACHE.#probably the hardest demon so far to research #a lot of my stuff was taken directly from wikipedia #albeit reworded #and i feel a bit bad about it #but i can't read japanese!!#and almost all the primary and secondary sources are #lo and behold #in japanese.#however i do appreciate the challenge and i love looking into weird and obscure folklore!!#its just that this guy was way too much of a doozy.#never again. jesus h jimminy cricket.

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stephensmithuk · 11 months

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Boat trains

Boat trains were dedicated railway services that operated from London and some other places to British ports to connect with ships. These trains did not go on the ships themselves, bar the Night Ferry, which is much later than the period we're discussing.

You could buy through tickets from London to various continental destinations (as well as places like the Channel Islands or Ireland) and these dedicated trains were indeed generally limited solely to those heading overseas. Liverpool Street, Charing Cross and Victoria were particularly associated with them:

Liverpool Street used Platforms 9 and 10 for its trains and you could actually walk into the Great Eastern Hotel directly from the platform.

Victoria used Platforms 1, 2 and 8. 2 is still commonly used for charter services and the British Pullman that connects with the Venice Simplon Orient Express, although the latter connection is stopping from 2024, partly due to Brexit.

Blackfriars had a wall showing the various destinations "served" from there, which is still on display after being cleaned up.

Once across the Channel/North Sea, you would board another connecting train operated by the relevant local company. London to Paris was therefore doable within a day. These through connections included the Orient Express, which had carriages from Calais and the various European destinations were displayed on the departure boards:

Trains also operated in connection with the ocean liners that left from places like Southampton.

As Watson does in "The Final Problem", you could register your heavier luggage subject to fees if you went over a certain weight and have this carried in a separate luggage section, it being moved between trains, ships etc. by porters. I am sure some of it got lost.

British Railways even developed a special battery-powered railcar, the Class 419 Motor Luggage Van, for the purpose of carrying registered luggage onto the quays at Dover where a third rail would cause safety issues, which would be attached to the main train until detached there.

Immigration formalities would be dealt with at the ports, but you could sometimes also deal with customs at your destination for registered luggage, Victoria having a facility for this.

Boat trains were considered the most premium expresses, using the most modern carriages, the newest engines, and the most experienced crews. They would also provide at-seat catering in some cases for first class passengers. Bradshaw's has plenty of advertisements for them.

Boat trains to Dover continued to run until the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994. You can still get through tickets from London to the Netherlands via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, but there is no longer a dedicated train, which stopped in 2007.

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #history #trains #boat train #but not train boat #the final problem

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beetlekoctor · 3 months

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WARNING: very big IMO. In this post, I reflect on Viktor's future and try to analyze it. I don't pretend to be truthful.

I've given it a lot of thought. And I've seen a lot of theories, from fans of course.

The one I've seen most often is that the Viktor of League of Legends from the 2016 year is equated with the Viktor of Arcane. This makes sense, since his current version in League of Legends is canonical, ONE THING... What if what awaits us is not a Machine Herald, but something bigger? Something more interesting?

Let me start by saying that Viktor has been changing since his release. Before 2016, he was a traumatized man who came to his image through trauma. After 2016 he is a scientist with unethical views on human emotions who came to his current self through views and principles. Both variables have common denominators, there are two of them – a new kind of man, and some kind of "the Glorious Evolution". And Viktor of Arcane will likely have to reach exactly those points. It won't necessarily be through metal and hextech directly, if metal is in its purest form, hmmm... Armor? Perhaps. I'll have to think about it.

On the show, we've been shown the chemtech/hextech connection. This time Viktor comes to transformation through fear of death and escaping from it, it's possible that he'll seek not only a cure but also immortalism. He is a palliative patient, but wants to heal himself through magic and technology. And, hmm... I'm a little doubtful that we'll be shown a new, finally "evolved" version of him in season two. However, his transhumanist tendencies are still being felt now, as we get closer and closer to 3rd act.

Here's the thing. People mistakenly try to equate the Arcane version with the League of Legends version (and this is the case with all champions, Jayce included). The problem is that the two versions are nothing (conditionally) like each other. They are different, therefore we don't know what we can expect from Arcane in November 2024. They can do literally anything to the champions. It's both intriguing and a little confusing to me. So many theories, but virtually no clues.

On the Glorious Evolution: will there be one in general? If there is going to be one, we're really going to need significant Viktor transformations.

What will the Glorious Evolution be if the people of Piltover hate chemtech and live on hextech, and the people of Undercity have nothing to do but use chemtech? Would Viktor be preaching their particular combination if he presumably goes to Zaun? However, I doubt he will force people to go for the transformation.

#arcane viktor #viktor arcane #viktor #arcane

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beauty-and-passion · 9 days

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Eurovision 2024: 38 songs, first impressions

Wake up, bitches, it's that time of the year again.

No, not Christmas. It's Eurovision time, aka the time when we can verbally destroy each other and call our neighbors "filthy traitors", but in the end we would still be united against the real enemy: the jury.

As we all know, last year Sweden won but Finland caught the Snitch or, to put it simply, Finland won our hearts, but since the newly crowned King of Europe Käärijä was too busy being majestic and Finland was too busy being precious, Sweden graciously offered to host the competition for its neighbor.

Yes, this is what happened. No, you don't remember something different.

And yes, I ultimately decided to follow this year's competition. As someone said in some old post, Eurovision is a bit like that toxic relationship you can't escape from. And maybe you don't really want to escape from it.

So, since we're trapped in this hellhole, at least let's enjoy our time together with a heavy dose of sarcasm and a sprinkle of wholesomeness. Eurovision might have flaws, but nothing is perfect in this world after all.

As per every year, I always do my first listening while doing my chores, so the songs are in the background and I have no idea who sings what or from what country they're from. I just let them flow and see if something gets my attention.

And this year a lot of them did! I couldn't identify a clear winner, but I found a ton of small, beautiful gems everywhere. Oh, this year seems very, very promising.

As always, this is my first listening: many more will follow and my opinions may drastically change. So please, don't take my comments too seriously: this is all for fun.

__________

ALBANIA

Pretty nice song and pretty nice rhythm, I really like it.

But also... I've been to Tirana in January and I've listened to the songs they have there. And even if this one is very good, I would've loved more true Albanian rhythm.

Still, this will probably end in my personal playlist, so that's a plus for me.

Vote: A Titan in disguise? *Greek mythology intensifies* *Cronus intensifies*

__________

ARMENIA

We all stan a song in Armenian and if you don't, you will start doing now because yes, we have Armenian and yes, it sounds great.

So let's all thank Armenia for bringing its beautiful language - along with some nice Balkan rhythm that kept slapping me in the face.

But you know me, I'm a simple Mediterranean: I hear Balkan rhythm, I love it.

Vote: I will always be a slut for Balkan rhythms

__________

AUSTRIA

If Armenia slapped me with Balkan rhythm, Austria bitchslapped me with the whole 1990 decade.

But you know me, I am a simple Millennial: I listen to something that seems to come straight from the 90s, I dance.

Vote: We! Will! Rave!

__________

AUSTRALIA

This was... good. Just good. And the singer is good too. Maybe even too good.

Sigh, Australia forgot again that this is Eurovision. Please, someone, remind them this is the show of fire, sparkles and insanity.

Vote: "What ya gonna do in the real world?" Easy, WE! WILL! RAVE!

__________

AZERBAIJAN

Luckily Azerbaijan remembered that hey, they're the country that delivers good stuff! They should bring a good song!

And so they did and delivered us a good song, with good verses and a wonderful chorus in Azerbaijani.

The only problem is that the chorus is much better than the verses and if the song was entirely in Azerbaijani, it would've been a banger. Unfortunately, it's just good.

Vote: great job, Azerbaijan. Next time, ditch English entirely

__________

BELGIUM

"Are you still playing the game?" If you mean The Game, I think we all lost it.

Vote: +1 for the power move of making everyone lose The Game

__________

CROATIA

As soon as I started listening to it, I was assaulted by a sick rhythm. Then by a guy who tells me he's a big boy. Then by his anxiety. Then by more sick rhythm.

Then by what is probably the greatest line ever said in the history of music:

One last thing: the singer's name is Baby Lasagna. Baby Lasagna. He's speaking to my Italian heart and, even more importantly, to my Italian stomach.

And you know me, I'm a simple Italian: food is mentioned, I vibe.

Vote: my cats will vote for him

__________

CYPRUS

Oh no, please help this young lady! She forgot she's from Cyprus and she should send sick bops in Greek!

Vote: it's not a bad song at all. It's just not Cyprus-worthy

__________

CZECHIA

Oh, sorry, I didn't know this was a therapy session. I'll wait in the hall.

Vote: it's not bad, it's just... nope

__________

DENMARK

After a lot of disappointing years, finally Denmark brought a great song! The singer is good, the rhythm is good and it deserves a place in the final.

Vote: it's not in Danish, but we can't have everything

__________

ESTONIA

This song is an instant favorite. Native language, sick rhythm, adorable weirdos, all in one package.

And let me repeat that: Estonian! Beautiful Estonian language! It was such a wonderful surprise to listen to it! I literally stopped what I was doing and perked my ears because mmmh, it sounds like Finnish, but it's not exactly Finnish... what's that? And it was Estonian.

I am in love <3

Vote: pure Moldovian spirit in Estonia? I approve.

__________

FINLAND

So, let's recap:

we have a singer named Windows95man.

He wears a blurred Windows logo and no pants.

He comes out from an egg made of jeans.

The other singer isn't always in tune and he's dressed in pieces of jeans that make him look like a paperman.

He has the balls to ask if there's anything wrong with how he dresses.

The song screams of the 90s.

And then, during the performance, a pair of shorts literally fell from the sky.

With fire.

If that's not pure Eurovision, I don't know what it is.

(And before you ask: of course they cannot use Finnish, only Käärijä can and only the next Käärijä will be allowed to use it.)

Vote: Even if Finland sent the worst, most boring singer ever, for this year I would've given it a free pass. But Finns are such bosses, they decided to send this. Respect only

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FRANCE

And here on the right, you can see the French Frenching harder than ever.

Vote: a song named "Mon Amour". Seriously. Seriously. What will be the next one about? La Tour Eiffel? Oh wait, you already did that

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GERMANY

I'm mad because I already know this song will get zero points just because "iT's GeRmAnY", even if it's actually good.

Vote: thank you Germany for still sending good songs. You deserve more

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GEORGIA

You're "rising from the ashes like a phoenix"? Well, now I remember Conchita Wurst with Rise like a phoenix, which is way way WAY better than this song.

And since Conchita is Austrian, I also remembered the memo we got this year, which is one and one only: WE! WILL! RAVE!

Vote: more rave, less this

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GREECE

What? What? What do my ears hear? Greek rhythm? Greek language? And it comes together with a more modern vibe?

See, Greece? SEE? This is how you do things well. This is how you choose a good singer to represent your country. Thank you, Greece, for finally picking someone competent and not the umpteenth child.

Vote: finally, a song Greece-worthy

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ICELAND

I don't know why, but this song reminds me of another, more famous song. Can't exactly pinpoint which one, but it's way too familiar and I don't like it.

Vote: as soon as it was over, I forgot it

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IRELAND

And here on the left, you can see Ireland coming back to their roots, aka the most insane, batshit crazy stuff they have, stuff that will make you question what the heck happens on that island and if everyone's okay.

Vote: not a favorite, but it's definitely something I've never heard before. So that's a plus

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ISRAEL

I still have no idea why Israel is here, but I suppose that some have a free pass for killing innocents.

The singer isn't bad either, but the rhythm keeps reminding me of another, more famous song. Just like Iceland, I don't remember exactly which one, except that the famous one was better.

Vote: you shouldn't even be here

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ITALY

I already made a post commenting the Italian songs from this year and told a couple things about Angelina Mango and this song's meaning.

Here I can only reconfirm that this song is still a huge bop, the southern rhythm is still my Roman Empire and we may still have some chances of winning this year's Eurovision.

Vote: her southern accent my beloved

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LATVIA

The rhythm isn't so bad, but it's just so. Very. Forgettable.

But hey, I suppose it's good for re-listening, because I listened to it twice and both times it was like listening to it for the first time.

I didn't like it both times, but that's a detail.

Vote: just as forgettable as the Icelandic one

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LITHUANIA

You know, I respect Lithuania. Their songs are not my favorite, but they keep using their own beautiful language. Hence why, they deserve a place in the final.

Vote: keep showing us the beautiful Lithuanian language, I believe that one day I will find I song I like

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LUXEMBOURG

Do you know what I feared the most this year? That Luxembourg came back after 30 years and the song was shit. That they showed us something stale and boring.

But Luxembourg stepped in like the queen of the party and said: "Please, hold both my French and my English, because I can and I will drop something sick". And so they did.

Amazing rhythm, amazing singer, amazing return.

Vote: Luxembourg is back and wants to win

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MALTA

Malta is my personal Sweden. Even when they send a song I don't really like (like this one), it's just weak. I don't remember a song coming from them that I considered truly "bad".

I don't know what kind of sorcery Malta does, but it works on me every year.

Vote: Malta has too much power on me

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MOLDOVA

Don't worry, Moldova: you can't always be the best every year. You deserve to relax once in a while and this year you've been covered by a lot of other countries.

Vote: it's not the huge bop you would expect from Moldova, but that's okay. I'll let it pass, because Moldova always does great things for Eurovision

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THE NETHERLANDS

This song has a lot of amazing things.

First, the language: thank God, the Netherlands are still sending songs in their native language as it should be. It's beautiful to listen to it and I love to hear words that kinda remind me of both German and English.

Second: despite what it seems, this song isn't a satire/parody of Europe. On the contrary, it's a celebration of how open Europe is and how easy it is to travel without borders.

And it may seem normal for us because we're used to it now, but I visited Albania this January and there were a shit ton of controls and checks to do. While last time I went to Greece, all I had to do was walk down a corridor, show my ID card and everything was fine. The open borders truly are a victory for everyone who likes to travel - and a sign of how much better Europe is. So a song celebrating them is very much appreciated.

Third: the song isn't just about open borders! It's about a man remembering his parents, about how much he still misses them. And it's about his victory. In the end, he's literally telling them: look, dad and mom, I finally made it to Eurovision.

And these soft, wholesome things always get me in my cold heart <3

Vote: top of the final chart, no questions

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NORWAY

Let's all thank Norway for bringing the folk theme, along with their beautiful language.

I don't know what happened this year, but we are blessed by so many beautiful languages it truly seems like Eurovision and not Englishvision.

Vote: a bit too many screams, but I appreciate the enthusiasm of speaking in your native language

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POLAND

Poland learned from last year and instead of bringing another ball of nothing, they brought a song more fitting for their vibes.

It's in English tho, and that's very sad because Polish is a nice language. But at least the singer is good and in tune.

Vote: She built the tower. If it's the one from Stephen King's series, then we should have a chat

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PORTUGAL

Portugal did a miracle last year, by bringing a song I actually liked. So in order to be coherent, this year they brought another boring, forgettable song.

Vote: nothing good lasts forever

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SAN MARINO

Don't worry, people, San Marino will bring all the party vibes we need. It will take them some time to come, because they took a detour to Spain, but the vibes are still great.

Vote: maybe this year they won't be the usual traitors and give us 12 points

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SERBIA

Serbian lyrics? Yes, please!

And even if this song has some ballad vibes, it's not the umpteenth boring ballad. It's a very nice, soft song and the singer's voice is good too.

Vote: great job, Serbia

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SLOVENIA

A song in Slovenian? We stan! We all stan!

I'm not sure I like the "rrruaph!" sound, but the use of a native language and the dark vibes are very appreciated.

Vote: all these countries are spoiling us with their beautiful languages and I'm here for it

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SPAIN

Spain rarely disappoints and once again they proved it: instead of bringing the umpteenth young gal, this year they chose a more mature singer and not only she has a wonderful angelic voice, but she sings in sexy Spanish and her song is perfect dance material.

Vote: We're all zorras

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SWEDEN

Since Sweden refuses to bring something else besides the same generic pop music in English, I want to start a new trend: the Swedish Suggestion Box. Here we can all suggest much more interesting Swedish songs (or artists!). There's only one rule: they shouldn't be boring, nor generic stuff you can hear on the radio 24/7.

This year, I would like to suggest Nanne Grönvall: she's a pop singer, but she mostly sings in Swedish. I particularly recommend the songs Håll om mig, Den Vilda, and Vi är dom tuffaste.

If you have other Swedish artists or songs worthy of attention, please recommend them in the comments/reblogs! Even if the songs are in English, they're still fine! As I said, the only rule is that it shouldn't be generic and boring.

And I know Sweeden can do better than generic and boring.

Vote: Suggestions are open!

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SWITZERLAND

Switzerland is my second Sweden: even if other people might hate the songs it brings, I've rarely hated something coming from it. And if I did, it was with fiery passion. Yes, I'm looking at you, devastatingly boring 2022's entry.

So I'm very happy that this year we can all agree this is a great song, because wow. WOW. Mixing electropop with opera singing made something truly amazing to listen to and I can't wait to see if the singer manages to do it live. If he can, it will be magnificent.

Vote: fine, Switzerland, I'll forgive you for the 2022's entry. But only if you keep sending amazing stuff like this

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UKRAINE

Ukraine = quality and no one can deny it. I'm not a huge fan of this mix rap/Ukrainian rhythm they have been brought in these last years, but as long as I can listen to some nice Ukrainian language and some new vibes, I am all for it.

Vote: thank you, Ukraine, for always bringing amazing stuff

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UNITED KINGDOM

And here it is: the only country (with Ireland) that is legally allowed to use English in a song. Even if I dream that, one day, the UK will send a song in French and blow up the entirety of Europe.

The song per se isn't bad: very 90s' vibes, very dancey. But if I have to choose something with 90s vibes, I prefer the rave.

Vote: not bad UK, but could be better

#beauty talks about stuff #eurovision #eurovision 2024 #that's a promising years #lots of native languages #lots of good songs #and barely any ballad in sight #we're closer to that day #the day we will move past the need for ballads

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