Within days of the Synde Co. vs Hawks Co. war erupting, I predicted on this subreddit that Hawks was going to demolish Synde. Many folks ridiculed me, as Hawks appeared to be losing. From all outside perspectives, the constant collapse of farms was indicating Hawks was indeed going to lose. However, this was never the case.

1. Zero sum game.

Within the global economy (and competitive video games too), personnel are a zero sum game. There are only so many professionals in our world and corporations compete for them. This oftentimes means highly educated people in developing nations will end up leaving for wealthier developed nations. This is to the detriment of those developing nations.
The same exists in wormholes.
Elite groups oftentimes have their pick of candidates. They can be selective. Once someone meets their criteria, they can allow time to see if they fit the general culture of the group. If they create a little too much friction, they're booted. This leads to a generally cohesive group. So, envision if you will, a giant funnel with the very narrowest of necks. This narrow neck represents the top wormhole groups being fed the best wormholers in the game.
Lazerhawks was established 10 years ago from the merger of several already existing successful wormhole and low sec groups. They have had their pick of the best wormholers for a decade, on top of some of the best wormholers establishing them.

2. Where do the players go?

In wormhole groups, players will oftentimes not even be playing EVE, rather 'other games' together. This is generally due to the variable nature of day-to-day wormhole life. This leads to groups sticking together even during EVE breaks. Also, it creates loyalty beyond the game of EVE Online. When players take long breaks, even from the group, still active group members can still get in contact with them. Oftentimes small sub-groups will have eachother's real phone numbers. This means if a war breaks out, people who have been AFG for years can be quickly re-activated. Many times these players are only active during wartime.
The worst thing a wormhole group could ever do is ban 'other games.'
Lazerhawks has always highly encouraged members playing 'other games' together.

3. The abyss!

People forget how ancient many members of Hawks are. Their CEO has been playing EVE for 20 years. Hawks has quite a few members that have been living in wormholes for as long as wormholes have existed in EVE Online. Hawks has line members that have successfully run independent wormhole groups that subsequently merged with Hawks to form Lazerhawks. Hawks has members that are so old and deep in wormhole space culture, that they've crafted portions of it. People where their entire map of EVE Online is based on wormhole connections.
Each of these sort of members capable of not just operating independently, but with the utmost stealth. I've been told by several Hawks folks that even top Hawks leadership wasn't aware of the independent eviction groups Hawks line members had created for fighting Synde. Imagine, EVE leaders out there, discovering that you're not losing the war nearly as badly as you thought, because several 2-3 person groups had independently started reinforcing and destroying enemy structures? Imagine then also discovering that your enemy is stalling because of these actions?
Ancient players don't need to be told if they can or can't shoot blue targets.
Ancient players don't ask if they can farm while a war is going on.
Ancient players don't ask if the system they found 'is a target.'
Ancient players don't need SRP.
Ancient players won't waste your time with unimportant information.
Ancient players are already on that new incoming signature with a rolling carrier.
Ancient players play EVE by the ancient ways.

4. Kiddie gloves.

Many people aren't aware of this fact; Hawks has been using kiddie gloves for the last couple of years on Synde. After the fall of HK, Hawks stood alone as the supreme masters of wormholes. Synde was starting to become a potential candidate for a new fledgling group, that is until this war started. The issue was, Synde often didn't want to fight Hawks. They would demand handicaps, like being "allowed 30 seconds after jumping into the wormhole" to "get into position." This actually didn't bother Hawks too much, as they simply wanted to fight. The handicaps became more and more extreme, with Synde regularly saying they wouldn't fight unless allowed to set up at (whatever range their comp was ideal at.)
So, all the fights you've seen between Hawks and Synde have effectively been fights where Hawks took major handicaps to make happen.
This created a false sense of strength in Synde. This handicap play actually strengthened Hawks, while weakening Synde. Hawks got to the point where they became more interested in pulling stunts on Synde than actually fighting. One such situation involved a Synde Zirnitra falling for a POS bubble trap and being summararily executed in front of its fleet, which was trying to frantically free itself of warp disruption bubbles.
Once the war started, the kiddie gloves came off. Hawks no longer had to be nice to get fights.

5. Cyrus v. Michael

At the end of the day, failure or success during wartime comes down to how well your organization is prepared. Cyrus thought he was prepared. Honestly, he did a lot of work. He created a narrative, albeit a bit ad hoc when compared to other recorded statements he's made. He created a coalition. He made his best preparations for war, I'm sure. He even had a major null sec group to bat phone, in case of emergency only.
The issue is, Cyrus' relationship with reality is a bit convenient for his personal image. He has been said to have lied to many wormhole leaders in order to start this war, which actually harmed him, quite a bit. I've received many reports on the various lies people have said Cyrus told them to get them to join his Coalition. Trust is a thing that, once broken, is oftentimes impossible to regain.
Michael has the opposite approach of Cyrus. He is sincere and honest to a fault. He's not afraid to express disappointment and praise. You know where you stand with Michael fairly soon after first meeting him. He's a natural delegator and a dedicated farmer. "Why can't you do it?" is his favorite response to anyone complaining about something needing to be done. He's extremely competent, but not smug about it. He's the first to admit when he makes mistakes. He was willing to use some of his credit to barter with his peers to hand over some c6 wormholes Cyrus felt entitled to. C6 holes that Hawks characters likely found, or evicted, themselves.
You see, Michael has created a coalition within Hawks. Hawks has never been a single entity. There are subgroups within Hawks that operate independently. Some of the subgroups are actually more ancient than Hawks. They're more ancient than all but the most ancient null sec alliances. How are you going to kill the morale of members that have been playing together for over 10 years? Those guys aren't going to second-guess who their enemy is for even a second. They've won every war they've been in for 10, 12, 15, or even 20 years!
There's a joke I keep hearing from Hawks Co. members. It's "Synde thought they could take on Lazerhawks, but they couldn't even take on a few of their members."
At the end of the day, this was never going to be a fair fight. Hawks was always going to clobber Synde. While the reasons listed above are major contributing factors to the success of Hawks, it's the basic culture that really makes Hawks so great. Hawks see wormholes as wild. As something you have to earn. Cyrus made it clear he felt entitled to it. He thought it was so obvious that he'd earned a seat at the table, that he was incredulous that he was not offered that seat as a gift.
Cyrus,
The moment you demanded systems be given to you as some sort of prize is the moment you stopped being a wormholer.
You're not losing to Hawks Co, rather, in your hubris you've defeated yourself.
May all future wormholes collapse as you land on them.

I spent some time in my transcripts looking for Alex talking about dreaming, and found these instances where dreams are something more. He doesn't want to say he's psychic, but he uses the old term 'having the touch', which he shares with his mom.
[2004-07-16]

I'm in the dream state, and I'm having some particularly vivid dream about the New World Order, and I wake up, and, you know, I'm sweating, and I just sit up in bed breathing deep, and I'm just like, they really are kidnapping millions of children. They really are. Putting cancer viruses in the vaccines. They really are putting this stuff in our water. They really did fund Hitler and Stalin. They really did put Fidel into power. They really are behind all this. This really is real. I'm really standing against this. What have I gotten myself into? But it's not even a fear. It's more of just a realization.

[2004-11-05]

PJW: I was having a dream about a member of my family talking to me about something, and I'm awoken to the sound of my cell phone, and it's that exact same member of my family talking about the thing I was dreaming about.

[2005-01-19] - Quoting Hurtubise on X-ray device defying all known rules of physics

I had a dream about a year ago, as to most of my other inventions, just a dream, and I saw it, saw the whole casting and everything. I had a dream about these three times, but the third time I had it in my head and I started to build it through the wall.

[2006-05-19] - Caller dreaming about future:

Caller Okay, do you want to hear about my dream about the future? In the dream, things got so bad that communities were surrounded with giant-sized box fences to protect themselves from
AJ I've got to let you go. But before I go to Tom and others that are holding, let me just comment on this. I don't go off of dreams.

[...]

But at the same time, I talk about dreams. About 10 years ago, It may have even been longer than that, probably 12 years ago, before I even got into this movement and got on the air. Well, to be accurate, I was politically involved 14 years ago, got on the air about 11 and a half years ago. There you go. But before I was on the air, I had this dream where I was going to visit my aunt and uncle in Fredericksburg. Now, at that time, they had lived in San Antonio and had just moved to Llano. They didn't live in Fredericksburg. I'd only been to Fredericksburg a few times in my life. Didn't have family there at the time. And you're driving into Fredericksburg, and there are Mexican troops with some other type of white European troops searching all of the cars. And in the dream, I've got a family with me. Now, I didn't know my wife then. I didn't have children with me. In the dream, and it was one of those dreams where you wake up sweating. It was like, man, that dream was important. I've had very few of those, and frankly... We're good to go. We're good to go. And in the dream, it's a checkpoint, I can't get out of it, and the car's rolling to a stop, I'm stepping out with an assault rifle in my hand, and then I wake up from the dream. I mean, I know this is the enemy, I know I can't let them get my family, and the car's rolling to a stop, I'm pushing the door out in front of me, I'm bringing up an HK-91. Now that's serious, folks. And you wake up from the dream, I had it several times, and... In the dream, you see Mexican troops with people pulled over. They've got army trucks. They're putting people in them. And then now, fast forward, three years ago, they sign a joint forces agreement with Canada and Mexico, Associated Press. Foreign troops to, quote, be used to deal with natural disasters and American terrorists patrolling the U.S.

[2007-05-18]

One time I had a dream about a mugging, and with a guy wearing a particular, uh, pink and green striped shirt. The very person then, a few months later, popped out of a corner and assaulted me. And I was so stunned that it was happening, it was, it was bizarre. I've had a few other cases like that. You know, like I knew the day my grandmother died, I said, we gotta go see her, and then the phone rang and she was dead, and it just happened unexpectedly. You know, things like that happen to everybody. But I used to have this dream where there were Mexican troops running a checkpoint with our own police in America. And see, they break the ice. And that dream used to... I used to have it a lot. It really freaked me out. And then, one time I was driving through a town and I said, I've been here. This is a... And family indeed did move there.

[2007-07-12]

I literally yearn to spend time with my family. I yearn to just go fishing and hiking and hunting. I just love to go out to some farmhouse for a month with a truck full of tents and guns and bows and arrows and oil paints and watercolors and toys and just hang out with my family.
I literally dream about it all the time, folks. But I cannot stop. I don't think I'm even going to see my family today. I have to just stay here.

[2007-08-06]

I literally dream about living in a shack somewhere, a shotgun shack off the back of a river, and working down in some tiny town pumping gas, folks,

[2008-11-30]

All I do when I go to sleep is dream about this stuff. I eat, drink, and sleep it. It's diabolical. We've got to come together. We've got to stop it.

[2009-06-17]

And you image the house and you have dream after dream where you're in the house. And this is a dream I had when I was like nine. And then years later, I'd always remember the dream. I see him building that very house on the hill. And it didn't click. I was like, why is that house so interesting to me? And then later that night, I was in there with a girlfriend in the neighborhood and I'm looking out the windows that hadn't been finished yet out onto the, you know, hills and woods and have the realization, wow, I've had this dream so many times and then remembered the full dream. And it wasn't deja vu. It was because I'd remembered it.

[2009-10-21] - About grandfather Jerry Jones, before knowing he was died

I had a dream about his death last night. So for all of you out there that don't believe in something after death, you're very, very foolish. And I don't know what planet you're living on.

[2009-10-21]

I had a dream about the Grim Reaper. I saw the Grim Reaper for the first time in my life. I witnessed it last night. And then I had a comforting dream after that and was there with others that experienced something similar. I'm sure of it.

[2010-01-26] About NWO

I dream about this stuff. I wake up thinking about it. I constantly have epiphanies and incredibly advanced understandings, and then later I read white papers written by top globalists That are as if it was written by me, but with the evil twist of that they're just openly stating it and saying it's good.

[2010-04-13]

I can't quit desiring to warn people. It has overtaken me. It's all I do. It's all I think about. It's all I dream about when I'm asleep. Because I understand how dire the straits are and how serious the costs are.

[2010-06-22]

I dream about the New World Order. I dream about legislation. I dream about the enemy's next operations. I dream about executive orders.

[2010-06-29]

I know this, what we pray for, what we dream about is what our mind then imagines and then what we manifest. In 1900, Max Planck, as I started the show talking about, the German physicist envisioned nuclear quantum and atoms and splitting the atom. And by 1934, other physicists had already written out nuclear reactors. They never split the atom yet. And then by 1939, they split the atom, and you know the rest is history. That's what the human mind can do.

[2011-02-24]

This is Glenn Beck taking all the hardcore research I do where I work 18 hours a day and even dream about this information when I'm asleep and I put it together with my team that bust their butt and then I watch him take it and twist it and manipulate it so they can control the left and the right in this synthesis setting up this world government.

[2011-11-01]

He's talking and I'm remembering all this because you're having a dream about the CIA injecting people with live polio and claiming that the program Was supposedly to get DNA, so you could find out if Bin Laden was staying there, when that has nothing to do with it, like Bin Laden was out there getting vaccinated.

[2012-10-31]

I dream about work. I dream about research. I work while I sleep. Last night I had dream after dream of managing people in the office.

[2012-11-22]

No exaggeration, 18 hours a day and even dream about it. Because once you get obsessed with something and you've got a decent brain, the world opens up.

[2012-12-30]

In fact, it's gotten to the point where I dream about politics, and I dream that I'm video editing and researching.

[2013-04-26]

I dream about this stuff. I can't play outside with my kids or go fishing. All I'm thinking about is news and the New World Order. And then I do so much research, I get on air and can't even talk about it all because I just know too much.

[2013-05-07]

As many people do, things that you're focused on, you dream about. [..] I eat, drink, and sleep Veritas. I want Veritas.

[2013-05-07]

And when you study reality, when you study governments and political systems like I do, no exaggeration, 18 hours a day, I even dream about political situations in the New World Order.

[2013-09-12]

I can't do... I dream about this stuff. I'm in the shower thinking about it. I can't shut it off.

[2013-12-03]

Man, I tell you, getting ready for the news is just something that's an ongoing, pretty much 24-hour-a-day process for me because I even tend to dream about politics and geopolitics and issues and what's happening in the world.

[2015-05-15]

I'll tell you one of my most recurring dreams. It's basically different variants, it's not really a dream it's a nightmare, of the 1982 or whatever it was remake of the thing put out by John Carpenter but it's not set in, it's not set in Antarctica. It's just set like in neighborhoods, and then I've got my family, and people look like they're normal, but they're not, and the entire biosphere, the entire genetic code of the planet, the trees, the grass, everything has been overtaken, and then my children get overtaken. And absorbed right in front of me, and it's just intense grief and pain watching my family killed in front of me. And I have that dream, different variants, all night long, about once a week. And what it is, is my brain getting me ready to just deal with losing everything. So that I don't fear when I'm conscious and awake. But when I sleep, I do. That's the kind of stuff I dream about. Then I have political dreams where I'm just like at work reading news articles and having political understandings and it's like I'm working while I'm asleep. I have those type of dreams. I have dreams where I'm video editing. I have dreams where I'm carrying the trash out. I have dreams where I'm fishing. I have dreams where I'm back with one of my grandfathers, You know, camping. I basically have a wide spectrum of dreams. I have dreams sometimes where I'm like, it's in all this vivid color, and it's like you're on a space station, but it's nothing like you've ever seen or imagined. There's just all these beings of light, and like space bridges, and interdimensional gates, and of course it's, you could say it's human imagination, whatever, it's fantastical. Those are the type of dreams I have.

[2015-12-22]

I dream about this stuff. I live it always. I know it's real. It's all out in the open. And, man, these people that are taking over are really bad.

[2016-07-20] - Fighting globalists

I dream about it. I live it constantly. I'm hyperventilating on air thinking about it.

[2016-08-17]

I just dream about work all, I mean, the entire night I'm just working.

[2016-09-12]

I had a dream about a month ago, I told people around the offices that were, she's had a debate with Trump and like falls over, it's like going like this, and they just go, we're liberal, we have to give it to her now, and she fell over.

[2016-11-07]

I dream about it. I jump out of bed. I run around like a crazy animal just wanting to fight. I'll be at midnight just doing more.

[2017-10-08] - CIA asking Stanley Kubrick how he knew about Plan R & B52 decoders

And he had to tell them, I just had a dream about it.

[2018-08-21]

And I've been having a dream about volcanoes and earthquakes and meteors hitting the earth.

[...]

I don't get into this a lot, but I do have the, you know, what they call the touch. I don't think, most people that claim they have it are con artists, and they can't control it. No one can control it, in my experience. In fact, the way to control it is not to control it.

[2019-03-24]

I had a dream about Jeff Bezos, like, last week. Because I have, like, these dreams where I'm doing PowerPoints, I'm giving speeches, I'm doing... I like work during my dreams. Sometimes it's my best work time. And in my dream, I'm sitting there talking to Jeff Bezos, and Jeff's like, I ship stuff in from all over the world and have millions of employees here in the U.S. and you say I'm the worst big tech giant.

[2019-05-13]

So the strangest thing about this last night, I had a dream about this last night. I woke up at 3 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep. I had this dream. I had this dream where I was interviewing the medical doctor that worked at four state prisons overseeing medical wards.

[...]

Now you know what was funny about the dream? My eyes popped open at 3.02 a.m. And I went, that's not a dream. I interviewed that doctor.

[2020-07-08] - Caller dreaming about Alex

Caller Well, two and a half years ago, I had a prophetic dream about you that was in Technicolor imagery and whatnot.
AJ By the way, I had a discussion with Tim Fruge this morning about dreams the last few nights, and he said it's like cartoon Technicolor.

[2020-07-09]

I dream about the lockdown and the New World Order now. I don't even have regular dreams anymore. My wife doesn't. It's all we talk about.

[2020-08-24]

When I go to bed at night, I dream about fighting the globalists and how to stop them.

[2020-12-17]

I only dream about this stuff 90% of the time, used to 5% of the time. I have basically no life other than this. It's all I do. And I still feel like I'm not doing enough, but I'm not going to quit.

[2021-07-08]

I used to dream about fantasy stuff and, you know, things didn't make sense. Now my dreams are all like work. When I'm asleep at night, it's like how to raise my children better. Where should I move? What should I do during the collapse? What am I gonna... How do I get right with God? And last night, it seemed like 20 years I was asleep. And I was just praying to God and talking to God and just... I think all of you are going through that right now because We're going to look back, as I said a year ago, on that as the good old times.

[2021-09-15]

This is all I dream about. You know, I used to have dreams about interesting things, boring things, wild things. Now I just dream about this. I'm at the office all day in my brain, when I'm awake, when I'm asleep, because it's just so incredible that we're just sitting here on air while they censor everybody and sue the Gateway Pundit and sue One American News and Newsmax and sue us and they say the goal is to bankrupt us.

[2021-12-23]

I had a dream about you last night, but I couldn't remember the dream when I woke up. When I got up, I said, I got to get Zelenko on today. And then I said, what was the dream about? I couldn't remember. And then I just remembered that I said to myself, well, Zelenko kind of says the same thing every time he's on, just like you do. It's not an attack. It's true. Same emergency message. But I said, no, today's going to be different. And then I intended to come in here. And talk about depopulation, talk about the UN, talk about Schwab, and talk about... She wasn't even by name, but those same groups, and then here you said it. This is amazing. And I'm not trying to be weird about it, it's just true, so I feel like I should have said that.

[2021-12-23]

I had a dream about him. Couldn't remember what it was like. Get Zelenko on. Usually he can't come on short notice. He could today. So this is meant to happen.

[2022-01-13]

I had a dream about Stuart Rhodes last night. God is my witness, before God, all my children. And I had a dream about Stuart. You know these dreams were all foggy but he was key and I wanted to love him and he wasn't bad and I'd been wrong even though I hadn't set it on air and I need to reach out to Stuart and get him on air but Stuart's a jerk and arrogant and he'll think you're just manipulating him and he's paranoid but that I needed to reach out to Stuart. And here we are. The sixth sense is real folks. We're all connected to the universe and God. We're all psychic.

[2022-01-13]

By the way, I've never had a dream about Stuart Rhodes. Had one last night. Woke up at 3 a.m. Went back to sleep. More Stuart Rhodes dreams. I mean, this is some big stuff going on, folks.

[2023-04-25]

I had a dream about him four or five days ago. It was a dream like, I'm around a table with Ted Gunderson and Red Beckman and Bob Fletcher, literally having a discussion about how to defeat the New World Order. And so I went to the producers and I said, call Bob Fletcher, see if he's still alive. And he is. And so he's coming on the show tomorrow.

[2023-06-16]

I dream about the New World Order all night long. I roll out of bed thinking about it when my feet hit the ground, and I make a lot of mistakes.

[2023-09-12]

I had this incredible dream where my mother's mother, my grandmother, Benny Hamlin, was there. She just said, I love you so much. We're so proud of you. Whether you think that was really me meeting her in heaven or whether it was my brain building, that didn't matter. She was there and she said, give me your hand. I held her hand. She said, we are so proud of you. I never had dreams like that until I fought evil. Now, every night I have dreams like that. I get to see my grandparents, and people I don't even know, they go, I'm your ancestor. I get to meet these incredible people.

[2023-10-30]

And all I dream about now, basically, is wargaming all this. I mean, I'm literally at work while I'm asleep, constantly. I mean, I've just shifted into a mode, and that's how I know all this stuff. Because the subconscious is much more powerful than the conscious. And my subconscious is totally turned over to beating these people. And that's where we're getting all this advanced intel.

[2023-11-20]

And committed now in my every waking hour and when I'm asleep, all I do is dream about this now. How to beat the enemy.

[2023-11-21]

And finally, I've seen what I dream about every night, but even more intense and more powerful.

[2023-12-08]

30 minutes ago and said, hey, I've had experiences where I haven't seen somebody in 10 years, well he can tell the story, and I have a dream about him, and then I see him the next day. We all have those experiences, and that shows you there's a lot more than what we just perceive and see visually, and that's where God comes in.

[2024-04-15]

And about two years ago, I had dream after dream where God said, you need to stop working 18 hours a day. You need to spend time with your family. You need to keep doing what you're doing. But you have committed your mission. You have been successful. And I was just given a feeling of total peace. And I said on there two years ago, I have completed my mission. Jack Posobiec retweeted it.

[2024-05-05]

When I go to sleep at night, I just dream about fighting the world order. Trying to work problems out. Researching my dreams. It's basically all I do other than spend time with family.

We all know and love Mortal Kombat (2011), or more commonly known as MK9. The reboot brought new life to Mortal Kombat, saved it from being a dead franchise, and aided in the resurgence of fighting games in the mainstream gaming community. MK9 brought back nearly every character from the original Mortal Kombat arcade trilogy, however, there were plans to reboot the entire roster. I can't remember where exactly I read about this, but after Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, one of the plans for the next Mortal Kombat game was to pull a Street Fighter 3 and replace the whole roster with new characters except for Scorpion and Sub-Zero. So, I'm going to be doing that. I will recreate the Mortal Kombat roster using entirely new characters. Presenting: Mortal Kombat: Resurrection.
I didn't come up with an in-depth story. Right now, my story is that everyone who fought at the pyramid died except for Scorpion and Sub-Zero. Now, there are a lot of vacancies in the different factions and organizations in the Mortal Kombat world. The realms are on the brink of chaos. Then, a new, self-proclaimed Kahn declares a Mortal Kombat tournament, with the prize of granting the kombatants whatever they want. Like I said, I didn't put much effort, but that's not the point. However, I will be including little stories and descriptions for each character so you all can know their purpose. Most characters will be listed as archetypes. Their potential names will be in parenthesis.
Also, since this what-if happens right after Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, this takes place in the “original” timeline of MK. So there is no alternate timeline or time travel in this game.

1. Scorpion - Yeah, Scorpion isn't going anywhere. During the Battle of Armageddon, Scorpion and Sub-Zero were fighting to a stand still when they realized everyone was dead. Realizing they were the sole survivors, they decided to go their separate ways. Scorpion is rebuilding the Shirai Ryu, but he joins the tournament to see about this new Kahn
2. Sub-Zero - Sub-Zero's story is pretty much the same as Scorpion, except he is rebuilding the Lin Kuei. Scorpion and Sub-Zero are not as antagonistic towards each other as they were before, but they are definitely not friends either
3. Pink Ninja (Toxin/Floyd) - Ed Boon said that if he were to create another ninja, it would be a pink one. Here's the pink one. He has an Earthrealm parent and an Outworld parent. He gets his powers from his Outworld heritage. Learning about this, he travels to Outworld, and he is now an assassin and bodyguard to the new Kahn. I have 2 ideas of how the pink ninja can play out. One is he uses poison to attack, giving him the name Toxin. Another is he uses light to attack and his name is Floyd. I know people use this name for the potential pink ninja based on the band Pink Floyd. The light is a reference to the cover album of The Dark Side of the Moon. Y'all can choose which one is better
4. Protagonist - I don't have much going for him, but he is an Earthrealmer who is basically a fish-out-of-water. He is chosen by the Earthrealm gods to fight for Earthrealm. Not quite sure how he will play, but looks wise, I would model him after Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee who is Liu Kang's inspiration. However, I do want to experiment with him being the only character who does not kill during his fatalities. That was initially the plan with Liu Kang during the arcade games, but that plan fell through. But I would try that again with the protagonist. It will emphasize him being unfamiliar with the Mortal Kombat world.
5. Outworld Rebel (Mokuran/Honoki/Hu Lan) - The deuteragonist of the "story". Tired of the constant tyranny of the Outworld Empire, she runs her own rebel group and allies herself with the protagonist and Earthrealm to fight the empire and establish a new fair government in Outworld. Her namesake is derived from the Japanese and alternative pronunciations of 木蘭, or Mulan. Mulan is a woman who disguised herself as a man and fought in the Chinese military. However, the rebel is all woman and she is fighting against the government. I picture her fighting with kusarigama and wearing a mask, giving her an aura of a ninja. But not a ninja you see if anime and other popular media, but the historical, "traditional" ninja that uses guerilla warfare, espionage, and "dishonorable" kombat
6. Shaolin Monk (Gang Wu) - Gang Wu was a Shaolin Monk who looked up to Liu Kang and Kung Lao. He was enraged upon learning about their deaths, however, the monks decided not to take action. Enraged with their passiveness, Gang Wu defected himself from the Shaolin Monks and goes on his personal journey to join the tournament and to avenge his fallen Shaolin brothers. He has a more aggressive approach in fighting in comparison to Liu Kang and Kung Lao, but he still uses chi moves in his attacks
7. Jack Burton (Kurt Carpenter) - During the creation of the first MK game, Big Trouble in Little China served as a big inspiration for the game and many of the characters like Raiden and Shang Tsung. I decided to make a character based on the main character Jack Burton. I named him Kurt Carpenter after Kurt Russell, who played Jack, and John Carpenter, the director of the movie. My short story is that he is a truck driver who got attacked by Outworld monsters. He was able to kill them with a metal baseball bat and some guns he had on him. This is how he fights in-game too. He enters the tournament to know "what on God's green Earth is going on?"
8. Special Forces (Karlos Garcia) - Second Lieutenant Karlos Garcia, now head of the Outer World Investigation Agency (OIA) is leading an army into Outworld to investigate this new Kahn and his empire. Garcia is also entering the tournament to do some investigating himself. He fights using a power suit, similar to Iron or Lex Luthor, which were made from remains of Sektor's Tekunin and Cyber Lin Kuei
9. Suiten - The water god of Earth. Since her fellow gods Raiden and Fujin are dead, and they won't be reanimated for a long time, she now must protect Earthrealm from any foreign threats. She, along with Kaijin, recruits Earthrealm warriors (Protagonist, Rebel, Shaolin Monk, Jack Burton, Special Forces) to fight on Earthrealm's behalf. She joins the tournament to investigate this new Kahn and ensure Earthrealm’s safety. She is more drawn to the protagonist. Being a water god, she uses water in her attacks
10. Kaijin - The fire god of Earth. Since his fellow gods Raiden and Fujin are dead, and they won't be reanimated for a long time, he now must protect Earthrealm from any foreign threats. He along with Suiten recruits Earthrealm warriors (Protagonist, Rebel, Shaolin Monk, Jack Burton, Special Forces) to fight on Earthrealm's behalf. He joins the tournament to investigate this new Kahn and ensure Earthrealm’s safety. He is more drawn to the Outworld Rebel. Being a fire god, he uses fire in his attacks
11. Sorceress - During the 17th century, there was a sorceress who tampered with dark magic. Unknowingly, she has been drawing power from the Netherrealm. One day, she unknowingly let in a horde of demons into her village, which resulted in the death of many. For her punishment, the gods of Earthrealm banished her to Outworld and changed her skin green (taking visual inspiration from the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz). However, in Outworld, her powers only grew to where she was able to extend her life, become a master of the dark magicks,and can make direct connections with the Netherrealm. She allies herself with the new king of the Netherrealm to control Outworld and all of the other realms, as well as get revenge on the Earth gods that banished and cursed her. She fights using magic spells, potions, and metallic witch fingers
12. Demon (Volo) - Volo isn't like the other demons of the Netherrealm. While he still uses his demonic powers and hellfire, his cunning and intelligence is what made him ruler of the Netherrealm after the deaths of Quan Chi and Shinnok. However, he does hide a demonic side that is just as ruthless as the other demons and imps of the Netherrealm. But he tries to keep that at bay. Nevertheless, teaming up with the sorceress, his goal is rule all of the realms in the name of the Netherrealm. Visually, the only demonic features are his red skin, small horns, and a devil-Nightcrawler tail. He is very human in his appearance and a good-looking demon. However, he can transform into a more demonic version of himself with larger horns, fangs, a snout, and wings
13. Chaosrealmer (A’ Narki) - A denizen of Chaosrealm. His story is simple: the realms are in chaos with so many leaders and important figures dead, and A' Narki wants to keep it that way. He enters the tournament to kill the new emperor so chaos can reign in all of the realms. He is rivals with Chumon, the Seidan guard
14. Orderrealmer (Chumon) - Due to the death of Hotaru, Chumon became head of the Seidan guard. But the objective is still the same: maintain order at any cost. Chumon enter the tournament to ensure order is established across the realms, even if the Guard must force order. He is rivals with A' Narki, a chaosrealmer. Visually, he is modeled after a traditional samurai, complete with fighting with a katana. Even though Kenshi and Hotaru kind of did this aesthetic, Kenshi is more akin to a ronin, a rogue or independent samurai, while Hotaru frankly didn't pull it off well
15. Amazon (Alkaia/Andromeda/Otrera) - The Amazons were once respected and feared warriors in Ancient Greece. However, as time progressed, man started to gain more power martially and politically. The Amazons soon migrated to Edenia where they served in the Edenian army. However, they were always overshadowed by the Edenians, despite their contribution to the army. Now that there are vacancies in the Edenian government, Alkaia (or whatever her name is gonna be) seeks a hostile takeover of Edenia, revenge on Earthrealm for being displaced, and to rule all realms under Amazonian rule. The Amazon fighter will use plenty of traditional Greek weapons during kombat including a bow and arrow, half shield, and a sword
16. Tasia - Some of you MK fans may recognize this game. She was a boss from the not good Mortal Kombat: Special Forces game. She fought with twin katanas, she can teleport, and she has energy projection. In this game, with Kano, Kabal, and the other Black Dragon members dead, she becomes head of the Black Dragon. The Black Dragon becomes more structured and cutthroat under her rule. It changed from a band of thugs, to an organized, but still ruthless crime organization. The Black Dragon is capitalizing on the chaos of the realms by selling weapons, mercenaries, and information. Tasia enters the tournament to change the Black Dragon from the Kings of the Underworld to the Kings of Realms
17. Vampire (Brahmir) - Y'all know Nitara? The vampire lady from MK: Deadly Alliance and MK1? Well her species were from a realm named Vaternus, but they lost to Outworld in a MK tournament a long time ago. Now, their realm is merged. However, another vampire named Brahmir joins the tournament to free his realm from Outworld so that the Vampires can return home. Their own home. Visually, we'll be taking some cues from the unused vampire character from MK: Deadly Alliance. Here is the link to the unused vampire: https://mortalkombat.fandom.com/wiki/Kahil_Grigesh
18. Female Ninja (Leal/Imani) - An Edenian warrior that trained under Jade. She has served the Edenian court dutifully, but with the deaths of Queen Sindel, Princess Kitana, and General Jade, the court is in disarray. The Amazons that inhabit Edenia are also growing restless and placing their eyes on the throne. However, the Edenian soldier along with her comrades has been keeping peace. The warrior joins the tournament to make sure there isn't a hostile takeover of the throne by Outworlders or this new emperor, to see if she can receive any aid or power in keeping the peace in Edenia, and to fight the Amazon and stop her usurpation of the Edenian government. The female ninja is an orange ninja and she fights with a spear and throwing knives. I modeled her after the Dahomey Amazons, an all-female military order of the Kingdom of Dahomey, a West African Kingdom. Visually, she is African in appearance, not ambiguously dark-skinned like Jade or Tanya, long hair in braids, and has African inspired clothing while still containing Edenian design elements that were used on Kitana, Jade, etc.
19. Viking (Erik) - Everyone knows about the Shokan, the Tarkatans, the Centaurs. But there is another race of Outworlders that has been hidden from the general populace, but are reemerging. The Veikins. Many centuries, maybe even millennia ago, this Viking-like race used to be among the other races of Outworld. However, they were brutish, ill-tempered, and savage, even by Outworld standards. Shao Kahn banished them to the frozen seas of Outworld, but instead of perishing, they thrived. They ruled the frozen wastelands of Outworlds and established a community. They even made contact with Earthrealm and inspired what would be Vikings. Now, with a political shift happening in Outworld, the Veikins are coming out of hiding to establish themselves amongst the Outworld people. Their chief, Erik, is joining the tournament to usher in a new era for the Veikins. Visually, Erik looks like a typical Viking with Viking armor, unkempt hair, and a beard. However, his face resembles that of a dwarf. He is not as small as one though. He main weapon is a battle ax
20. Gladiator - The gladiator is the new Kahn’s champion and loyal subject. He has fought in numerous gladiator games and emerged champion. He even enjoyed a brief stint in being a soldier of Outworld’s armies. Now, serving as an enforcer and general for the new Kahn, he fights in the tournament to establish the new Outworld rule. Visually, he takes cues from traditional Roman gladiators and Reiko, more specifically his MK: Armageddon look
21. Plant Based Character (Flora) - A denizen of the Outworld jungles, Flora has control of plant life and is a protector of the numerous jungles and forests in Outworld. She has killed numerous people who dared to threaten the Outworld plant life and nature. Her power over plants is so great, some think she is a God or demi-God of plants. She has been solitary for most of her life tending to the jungles. She never approved of any of the Kahns due to their neglect of Outworld’s nature nor did she particularly have any interest in other realms or the Mortal Kombat tournament. However, with this new Kahn and new tournament, Flora joins to ensure that the Kahn knows his place and to let him know that nature is the true emperor of Outworld. So she’s basically the Poison Ivy of the MK universe. I know people wanted a plant based character for MK, and I’ve seen them make that character a ninja. However, I believe making her a ninja is too limiting. Have her be her own person allows for more creative freedom for her design and story
22. Ogre/Yokai - The sub boss of this hypothetical game. He is as big as Goro and looks similar to an ogre, yokai, or oni. The latter two being Japanese mythological monsters. He is the main enforcer of the boss. He is physically imposing and fights using a club
23. Boss - The new big bad of the game. Funny enough, he is the character I have almost no story for him yet. And I don’t know how he will play. I do, however, have him modeled after Genghis Khan. But story-wise, he is a self-declared Kahn that has already formed his own court and is more cunning in his methods as compared to Shao Kahn. Instead of outright invasion and intimidation, he measles his ways into other realms affairs through different means. However, he is not above using underhanded tactics or brute force

Open Qualifier Brackets

Seed	Entrant	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3	Player 4
1	Karmine Corp	rise.	Vatira	Atow	Ferra
2	Gentle Mates Alpine	itachi	seikoo	juicy	Eversax
3	Team Vitality	Alpha54	zen	Radosin	Fairy Peak!
4	Team BDS	ExoTiiK	M0nkey M00n	dralii	Kassio
5	Oxygen Esports	Oski	Joyo	Archie	Snaski
6	Luna Galaxy	Toxtraptonized	AcroniK.	AtomiK	xTerazzz_
7	GRIDSERVE Resolve	Kash	ivn	Rezears
8	Jobless	eekso	rehzzy	Oaly
9	Team3	MaRc_By_8.	Catalysm	Noahsaki	DmentZa
10	Endpoint CeX	Mittaen	arju	Toxiic	ANDYTHEMANDY
11	F4WD	ejby	Compact	Smokez	Poddy
12	Belligol	Speed	Hyderr	TxMpeR	Choupisson
13	WYLDE	TempoH	EmilVald	Rxii	billy
14	100%	TriToN	LuiisP	Crispy	FlamE
15	Top Cougars	RelatingWave	Simas	Accro	Gregan
16	Suhhh	Mikeboy	Rizex45	TehQoz
17	Dignity Esports	fleikoo	Sheizzy	Reeyko
18	jorj	Growlii	Breezi	Hibbs
19	Solary	Chausette45	Kaydop	AztraL	BatOu
20	nordschleife	yujin	WhiiskyDrink	Gomb	Kasper
21	NOVO Esports	Mala	Dead-Monster	Cb	Gabri .
22	Daystar	matsgrey	Icon	Nico	blau
23	TST	Sorius	Tepra	Tms
24	VALIANT	Ekon	GiuK	Mozzarella	Berbrrr7
25	SAUDADE	saizen	mtzR.	rysfox.	Thony
26	La Masia	Smashy	Alemz	Mat.	.DJ. \
27	EvozA Esport	DS Beasty YT	Pander	nw7
28	wienerwürstl	Pluvo	Jazii	pzy
29	Soklovi	Scream	Yukeo	Stealth.	Luc
30	Team Goofy	Ne0n	Fabso	Kérian
31	Hereford FC	Ringa	Kiernan	drku	rush
32	Musk	Viktor	CcasperRL	alexz99__
33	Yappy Nappie	Stade	Haven	badnezz	Yotam
34	OGC FC	Zamberg	LED	flexx
35	The Last Resort	Stat.	RiZun	MonkiAero	Freecant
36	Motorsport	Elexit	Bluey	Thyyder
37	Caldya E-Sport	Seboraahh	Eclispe	Mimillo Sama
38	BOOOOOOOOM	Dansku	Regser	Porsas
39	The Woo	Parka	kisaï	Forece
40	Low Block	Gawfs	Davoof	Gramma	ClédouZ
41	Pirates under the sea	creamyy	Tr3bla	Rexo	Painyyy
42	Cloud eSport	Zamué	Oscillon	Stake
43	Sick!	JWeyts	Flakes	Chippy	?tokyo
44	Petankos	Carca	Ivan.	Lasa"
45	BONK!	Dxno	Hayze.	PLUTO	jxmes
46	Rotaryon E sports	Pablobar	Aiipa	Cocoo	xEpt.
47	ABCs	Syracks	Skyrix	Bolt.
48	You Choose	BJayB	Frantic	Squixxl
49	Carnival	dayyshift	LiFox	Reevo	DiZzyy_rl
50	leftovers	Iryzer	KierMonsteR	Shila
51	Alpha Sigma Male Looksmaxing Mewing Lone Wolfs	Rukia	Meaty	meshinn
52	Oversæt hvis du er grim	Kofoed_^	Sharp	madssssss.	ChrizZ
53	We Eat Crayons	reshii(?)	J-Ron	Jepsidepsi
54	We Dem Girlz	remkoe	gReazymeister	Scrub Killa
55	NullStress Joggedress	Wozyen	bruhkay	Jup	Seeb.
56	Team DVR	rizon	Dayys	vee
57	Rank F Players	sami	Aleksiii	Extendo
58	Quick Esports	Wlowns	Neko	Sting
59	Murder Melody	SCAL	Mihno	Chronomia
60	Vision Esports	FlowZ	Lexxa	HK_Peluche	MiMu
61	Ikiyoka	Xanax love You	Braax	Dragonrl
62	Madcap	Tossis	FuNoX	Rust ez95
63	Godalions	Purposa	Defzzy	Renzo	Deto
64	DINGUERIEEEEEEEE	nx	Zerii	drakster	acqua

*Player 4 on a roster is not necessarily the sub, just the order in which the players signed up

Relevant Seeding Rules

For seeding purposes in the RLCS Open Qualifier 4, 5, and 6 Double Elimination Brackets, Teams will be organized by the following parameters:

1. 2024 Cumulative RLCS Points
2. Most recent Open Qualifier’s final placement that awarded RLCS Points or Prizes, for each Starter
3. Highest placement that awarded RLCS Points or Prizes reached across any Open Qualifier in this Event, for each Starter
4. All three (3) Starters’ average “Ranked 3v3 Standard Mode” Matchmaking Rating as tracked on the in-game leaderboards by a specific time period below:

Happy ESC week! We are SO close to finding out the best ESC nations of all time. This edition will be the last before the top 10!! We are really in the heart of the countdown, so without further delay, here’s #15-#11!

The Countries

Placement	Country	Score
11	Germany	177318.767
12	Denmark	170388.676
13	Switzerland	160782.533
14	Netherlands	156379.576
15	Belgium	155913.214

We are now getting to the original 7 countries to participate in Eurovision! First of the bunch is Belgium, who was the last of the original countries to win their first contest, all the way back in 1986! Of course they have delivered some classics, and they also have one of the peculiar records in this competition! Above them is another OG in the Netherlands, who used to dominate this contest in its early years alongside France, but like France faced a 40+ year drought since their last victory. Of course, unlike France, they actually have broken that streak with one of the most popular ESC songs in history, the one that really started this contest and pushed it into the mainstream! Above them is Switzerland, the country that started it all, the country that won the very first edition, and the country who has one of the most famous wins in this contest’s history! Not bad considering they have only two victories to their name! At #12 is Denmark, the only non original 7 members on this list, but probably have some of the most underrated victories in this contest’s history! And if not for some underachieving in the last decade, they could easily be a part of this top 10! Speaking of, just outside the top 10 is Germany, the second to last original 7 members to claim their ESC crown, and who have two main people to thank for their victories! Of course they are a laughing stock now, but when they have their act together, they have produced some wonderful moments across multiple generations of this competition.
Some Notable Acts: Blanche (Belgium), Chanée (Denmark), Annie Cotton (Switzerland), Mélanie Cohl (Belgium), Céline Dion (Switzerland), Edsilia (Netherlands), Emmelie de Forest (Denmark), Luca Hänni (Switzerland), Gjon's Tears (Switzerland), Sandra Kim (Belgium), Duncan Laurence (Netherlands), Lena (Germany), N'evergreen (Denmark), Nicole (Germany), Loïc Nottet (Belgium), OG3NE (Netherlands), Olsen Brothers (Denmark), Rasmussen (Denmark), Rollo and King (Denmark), Michael Schulte (Germany), Daniela Simons (Switzerland), Sürpriz (Germany), Teach-In (Netherlands), The Common Linnets (Netherlands), Urban Trad (Belgium), Wind (Germany),

The Worst Years

Germany 2015 Ann Sophie - Black Smoke

Contest Ranking: 27th (0 pts) My Ranking: 40th (last, -3.9)
Germany’s success since 2010 has been… not great, to put it lightly. Four last place entries, with a combined 35 points between them, including a 0 point performance here. Think about like this, Germany before 2010 only had 5 last place finishes in total**, so safe to say they really just… stopped trying? I don’t even know if I can say that, because they have sent in some good songs in this time frame, but there seems to be a disconnect between them and the audience/juries. This song isn’t even that bad, a bit bland, but does that deserve 0 points?? Idk. In fact, I don’t know what’s going on with this country.
** In the Grand Final

Switzerland 2004 Piero and the MusicStars - Celebrate

Contest Ranking: DNQ (22nd Semi Final, 0 pts) My Ranking: 36th (last, -3.3)
There are some times where Switzerland sends in some absolute bangers, as we will talk about with their best entry. Then there’s this era for the Red Cross country. Ever since their 3rd place finish in 1993, ending their very successful 20 year period, it's been… ROUGH**. You know how bad it’s been? Switzerland has a zero point entry in the Grand Final (1998 entry), and they have a zero point entry in the Semifinals (this one). I genuinely have no idea how this won their national final. Yes, you saw that right, this song won a NATIONAL FINAL, it was not selected internally! This is some crap you would see a kid’s birthday party, not at the biggest song contest in the world. The 2000’s were a dark time man….
** You wanna know something else? Switzerland would only finish in the top 10 ONCE between 1994 and 2018(!) They would only make the grand finals 5 times from this entry (2004) to 2020(!!).

Belgium 2009 Copycat - Copycat

Contest Ranking: DNQ (17th 1st Semi Final, 1 pt) My Ranking: 41st (last, -0.282)
Belgium has won a contest with a 13 year old, have nearly won a contest with a song in an imaginary language, and are owners of one of the original troll entries. But this… man it seems like Belgium tries to find new and exciting ways to be weird, and you have to commend them for it, but this… why Elvis??

Denmark 2023 Reiley - Breaking My Heart

Contest Ranking: DNQ (14th 2nd Semi Final, 6 pts) My Ranking: 34th (0.496)
Denmark haven’t tried all that much since their win in 2013, which seems harsh, but man it sure seems like it. This is their lowest point total since 1982(!!), and well I can kinda see why. It’s go generic man, and what’s with the vocoder?? Sorry if it feels like I’m being more negative here, but man these songs do not do good things to my eardrums.

Netherlands 2023 Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper - Burning Daylight

Contest Ranking: DNQ (13th 1st Semi Final, 7 pts) My Ranking: 33rd (0.789)
Another 2023 entry on the worst list! And I see why, it’s only the first time the Netherlands have failed to score double digits this millennium, and it’s with a song co-written by the artist that won it all for them just 4 years earlier. I’ve heard some of the issues that plagued this entry, but I don’t care enough to look into them right now. Dang I wonder what other countries achieved their worst performance in the last 5 years?

The Best Years

Switzerland 2021 Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers

Contest Ranking: 3rd (432 pts) My Ranking: 4th (469.287**)
You would think with all the negativity I placed on these countries' more recent entries, the top songs would be from circa 1990, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! These countries, especially Switzerland, have proved that they can compete in the 21st century, and this is a shining example! Switzerland, for all of the hoopla of hosting and winning the first competition, haven’t done much in the 60ish years since, when compared to their other contemporaries. Of course they have probably one of the most famous victories of all time, with young Celine Dion squeaking gold in Dublin in ‘88 (avert your eyes UK fans). Since then, well, let me put it like this. Since 2004, when the semifinal format was introduced, Switzerlands have only qualified 7 times, and have only made the top 10 3 times in that period. Luckily, two of those entries were in the top 5, and one of those entries was this one! Gjon’s Tears, or Gjon Muharremaj, is another COVID participant who got his start on the show Albanians Got Talent. Gjon got his stage name at the age of 12, when he performed a beautiful rendition of Elvis’ song, “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, which moved his grandfather to tears. In 2019, he was in the singing competition The Voice: la plus belle voix, where he was on Team Mika (yes, that Mika). He was selected by the national broadcaster to compete in ESC 2020, but I don’t have to explain what happened. He got another chance in 2021, with a new song called “Tout l’univers”.
Eurovision 2021 was a stacked contest that year, wasn’t it? With all of the returning artists combined with some of the best talent at the time, it was really a show for the ages. The top 3 that year would have all deserved to win that year, and they were all non-english entries! This French song talks about yearning and longing to be reunited with a loved one, which is shown through its passionate live performance. Gjon himself is an excellent singer, with those high notes at the end of the song being a highlight! I say this a lot (and I just said it now), but in another year this would have won, I mean it placed first in its semifinal for crying out loud! The only two songs that placed above it were from the Big 5 (France and Italy), so really of all the songs that had to qualify, this one was the best. You know what’s funny? This entry marks 33 years since Celine Dion won, who herself won 32 years after Lys Assia took home the prize for Switzerland in 1956. It literally would have been near perfect if Switzerland had won. Oh well, guess we’ll have to wait until around 2053 for Switzerland to win their third title…
** This song is one of the Top 50 ESC entries since 1975. *** I think Switzerland is tied with Spain for having the lowest margin of victory for a multiple time winner (1 point, maybe Spain should take the title since we don’t know the full results of 1956)

Belgium 2017 Blanche - City Lights

Contest Ranking: 4th (363 pts) My Ranking: 3rd (477.742**)
Of all of the black aesthetic entries that Belgium tried, this was the one that did the best! I’m a tad bit surprised that this song was on top, but I feel that it is pretty representative of how well Belgium did in the mid 2010’s, with 2 top four finishes (3 top 10 placements overall). Meet Ellie Noa Blanche Delvaux, known mostly by her third name Blanche, who got her start through Belgium’s The Voice, singing a song by a well known dark aesthetic artist, Adele. She would eventually be called by RTBF (one of the Belgian broadcasters) to perform at ESC in Lisbon, with her song “City Lights”.
Boy does Belgium like them young! Their top three entries according to my formula are of course Blanche (17 at the time), Loïc Nottet (21 at the time), and most famously Sandra Kim (13 at the time). It seems like their young talent really does carry them at this competition, and it shows with this song. This song is very emotional, so much so that you can see the emotion on Blanche’s face at the final (go watch it if you can). There’s actually not much else I have to say for this song, it’s very solid and it was one of the highlights in a year where emotions would reign supreme (I realize that could be applied to a lot of years, but this one in particular). Like I said before, this entry was one of several in the Belgian black aesthetic wave, which honestly worked out for them more often than not. If not for this success in the 2010’s, I would be talking about Sandra Kim and how Belgium really peaked in 2003.
** This song is one of the Top 50 ESC entries since 1975.

Germany 2010 Lena - Satellite

Contest Ranking: 1st (246 pts) My Ranking: 1st (492.531**)
This entry was a result of Germany wanting to host Eurovision 2011, that’s all. Germany in ESC is the ultimate form of consistency, only missing 1 contest in its 60+ year history. But they don’t have much to show for it, in terms of victories anyway, they have contributed to ESC in different ways. But when Nicole stummed her way into Europe’s heart in 1982, it was the culmination of several years of the work of Ralph SIgel, who composed many of the hits that had Germany in the Top 10, and eventually, in the winner’s circle. Germany (at least West Germany) was finally a winner! But after some solid entries in the following years, the country’s performance started to falter. That culminated in not only a last place finish, but also their only non qualification in their history. It was a bit dark for Germany, then came “Alf Igel”, really known as Stefan Raab, an entertainer, producer, and TV host, who shook up the formula that was slowly growing old for Germany. He delivered some top 10 placements as a writer and performer (you should look at 1998, 2000 and 2004 for those), but his magnum opus has to be 2010, when he initiated a national selection show for Germany to pick a song for ESC 2010, for the purposes of wanting to host Eurovision 2011. From that show came “Satellite” , sung by Lena Johanna Therese Meyer-Landrut, known simply as Lena.
This song is simple, it’s a song about love. The live performance was simple as well, with Lena in a simple black dress with four backing singers behind her. There’s nothing flashy about this performance, which is why I think it won. Coming off of the most extravagant Eurovision in the modern era, Oslo really scaled back the production for this one (it also might have been influenced by the recession at the time, but I digress). A LOT of people think that Turkey should have won this year, just look at the comments under the video, but I think that Lena deserved this one. If you look at the voting sequence, there’s a point where the hosts interview Manga, and the band said that they expected to be top 3, but I saw that as they were expecting to be winning at this point. Manga said that they crafted the perfect song for ESC, but Germany were doing the same, and Stefan Raab, despite the wacky exterior, knows what he is doing. He was the judge that selected Lena for this contest, probably because he saw someone who knows what they are doing, and Lena knows what she is doing. She takes a basic song about love and maxes out its potential, with her perfectly placing enough energy throughout the duration to capture the hearts of all of Europe. I think I’ll quote Cookie Fonster’s review of Eurovision 2010 to show you what I mean. “As a song, this can be summed up in two words: fresh and infectious.” This song just fills you up with happy energy, and at a time where people are down due to the widespread global recession, this song and performance works perfectly. It’s German efficiency at its finest, and it got them their first and only win since reunification . It’s just tragic that as more and more time passes, this entry seems like an outlier for Germany, as this success would be fleeting at best for the country in the years to follow. ** This song is one of the Top 50 ESC entries since 1975.

Netherlands 2019 Duncan Laurence - Arcade

Contest Ranking: 1st (498 pts) My Ranking: 2nd (522.93**)
The one that broke the drought, and the one that started the mainstream wave of ESC! The Netherlands were one of the early giants of Eurovision, but after Teach-In brought the country their fourth crown, tied for the most at the time, it would be a long time before they would sniff the mountaintop again. It’s not like there were close calls, they finished top 5 several times, and in 1998 they placed 4th, but it wouldn’t be until 2014*** that they would break into the top three, their first time since Teach-In. One of the members of that entry, Isle DeLange, would be a future coach for The Voice of Holland, and guess who would be one of the singers that she would coach? That’s right, it would be Duncan de Moor, more famously known as Duncan Laurance. Duncan started writing songs as an escape from being bullied, and he would eventually start playing in a couple of bands, including forming his own. He would then go on to be selected to perform at Eurovision in Tel Aviv, by none other than Isle DeLange! (It’s all connected, isn’t it?)
The song, called “Arcade”, details “the emotional journey of someone who is deeply in love but also grappling with the pain of a past relationship”, and boy do you feel that journey throughout the song. At ESC, all you see with Duncan’s performance is him, a piano, and a ball of light, I think. It makes you focus on him and the song, and that only adds to its benefits. Say what you want about the clunky metaphor of an “Arcade” (more of a Casino), but through it all this song’s main goal is to make you feel, and it does that in spades. This entry really could be the theme song of the Netherlands’ ESC journey since 1975, which makes it all the more appropriate that it was the one to break the country’s 45 year drought (At the time, only Spain had a longer drought for a country that still competed). When this song won, who knew the impact it would have in the few years since! In 2020, when the world was shut down due to COVID, this song took off through Tik Tok, which vaulted Duncan into international superstardom. This entry really did mark the start of the viral era of Euroviosn, with more songs in the coming years taking a similar path. As of now, it is the most streamed song in ESC history, and I don’t think it will be passed anytime soon. The Netherlands, who were known for being the rulers of early ESC, now are responsible for birthing the contest into a new age (mind the pun). Who knew that it was all set up with a country/folk group in 2014? And don’t worry, I will talk about the entry that finished 1st for me this year. This year’s stats showcase an… interesting trend in the post 2016 ESC landscape.
** This song is one of the Top 50 ESC entries since 1975. *** One of the most underrated songs in ESC history, if you ask me. If Austria didn’t send in Conchita, this one would have won for sure! This entry is ranked 51st of all ESC songs since 1975, which unfortunately seems fitting for how this song is remembered.

Denmark 2013 Emmelie de Forest - Only Teardrops

Contest Ranking: 1st (281 pts) My Ranking: 1st (624.715**)
In 2000, the Olsen Brothers competed and won for Denmark in Sweden (ranked 55th overall). Thirteen years later Emmelie de Forest would compete and win for Denmark in Sweden! Ever since Eurovision 2001, Denmark has been up and down in this contest. They actually were top 5 in 2010 and 2011, only to be 23rd in 2012. But in 2013, when Sweden hosted the contest for the 4th time, it would be this young artist that would claim Denmark's 3rd win at Eurovision.
Emmelie de Forest (not of English Royalty I’m afraid) had a rocky childhood, with her parents divorcing when she was young. She grew up in Denmark and in Sweden, performing at small festivals when she was a teenager. She won the chance to compete at ESC through Denmark’s national selection show, and as the odds on favorite, she would win and cement herself into ESC lore… kinda. See, I said at the top that this entry is one of the most underrated victories at ESC, especially in the last decade or so. It is seen as just radio pop, which no one has a problem with, considering the alternative optionthat year, but it kinda just… exists, which is a shame. Denmark’s winning songs have a common thread between them (besides having a prominent instrument in the song), which is that they are really nice to listen to. “Dansevise”is one of the few 60’s ESC songs that I enjoy, as the atmosphere of the song really lulls you in. “Fly On The WIngs Of Love” (ranked 55th of all songs since 1975) is just a nice song, even if it is more guitar pop “Only Teardrops” feels like a mix of the two, with the atmosphere of “Dansevise” combined with the poppy aspect of “Fly On The WIngs Of Love”, creating an instant classic in my eyes. I wish this song got more recognition, because even though I would have it 3rd of the three Denmark winners, it is like its more famous contemporaries, which is that it’s a really nice song.
** This song is one of the Top 50 ESC entries since 1975.

Final Thoughts

What do you think? Which song here is your favorite? Do you think the top entries here are underrated? Overrated? Which of these countries is most likely to win again? Will Germany ever get their groove back? Will Switzerland win before I reach retirement age? Well I guess we’ll find out.

Alfa Romeo GTV Cup!
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5253332,-0.1761142,3a,41.2y,258.61h,70.43t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sp3TLK8kTE32DwDKkNc-yVQ!2e0!5s20120401T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Beautiful D/B3 G21 Touring!
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8162374,-0.1160604,3a,17.9y,328.56h,85.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soK2Pa1YJFGXHBiL41u7nrA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
DBX
https://www.google.hu/maps/@51.4850568,-0.6087,3a,31y,163.83h,84.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sID74G51ZV95LhfdPecxL0Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Rapide S
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.1380476,-1.349068,3a,15y,190.66h,89.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sh0YyxMHIHsHHyKiYTyd6MA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=nl&entry=ttu
Alvis TD21
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8936834,0.056401,3a,16.7y,112.7h,79.83t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sko9GFIWL0Yt7In_XMhDg6w!2e0!5s20220501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
DBS Superleggera!
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.4858303,-1.9055479,3a,36y,119h,74.24t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sb8CvrLYPInOWnlHHf23jXg!2e0!5s20220501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
V8 Vantage 2018 & R8 Type 4S V10
https://www.google.de/maps/@52.9006502,-1.8564557,3a,34.3y,229.73h,81.2t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ss5zlGBgO26HhxJPaHilROw!2e0!5s20210401T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
V8 Vantage Roadster F1 Edition!
https://www.google.de/maps/@52.9008315,-1.8565695,3a,15.8y,189.39h,87.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sH4RxOYuJQeDDcvrrl55vvA!2e0!5s20230701T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
R8 in red
https://www.google.nl/maps/@50.7043181,-2.102998,3a,45.4y,200.76h,77.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s8cDD3_S9WiDBAdB7DvtQnQ!2e0!5s20210801T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
R8 V10
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0108041,-2.1929356,3a,15y,196.63h,86.84t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEXfBuijDvVaSui30C_EDmQ!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
R8 Type 4S V10
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.4602074,-1.985183,3a,15y,146.46h,86.79t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1shBDg42nHsCGXwa-nV65JBw!2e0!5s20230401T000000!7i16384!8i8192?hl=nl&entry=ttu
R8 Type 4S V10 & 997.1 Carrera S
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.3300426,-1.6564673,3a,74y,243.89h,73.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1se6ViFnZHvjEKJPC5QoaTdA!2e0!5s20230601T000000!7i16384!8i8192?hl=nl&entry=ttu
R8 Type 4S V10 Spyder & GTC
https://www.google.nl/maps/@51.5894218,0.6684967,3a,25.1y,30.86h,85.42t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saTwsrqXqnx9s2skf1oHt7Q!2e0!5s20190401T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Bright green Conti GT 2018
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.823388,-0.1610451,3a,44.2y,60.03h,76.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLCdQ85rU3IG0dT6aaK_d0A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Mulsanne & DB9 Volante
https://www.google.com/maps/@50.7619382,-1.300546,3a,35.9y,61.72h,81.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2YzMEUu1q9oTrb2eURdZKQ!2e0!5s20180801T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Mark VI!
https://www.google.com.ph/maps/@50.9425214,-1.5462175,3a,16.6y,304.47h,86.67t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssusw_BglQUXvY8oxvsaICw!2e0!5s20190601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu
Caterham/Lotus Seven
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7703999,-1.4285288,3a,19.3y,347.87h,79.23t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saG7XK_2RPnPSPu8VIXQFug!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu
355 Spider
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.2952913,-1.5177092,3a,15y,302.53h,88.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1soQs2mLClxtw7T4fDqyApkw!2e0!5s20210501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?hl=nl&entry=ttu
F430 & RR SVR
https://www.google.de/maps/@51.7885696,-1.4664621,3a,37.6y,35.22h,80.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFuAvGWeSld1R03TH8QpCYg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
F430 Scuderia!
https://www.google.com.mx/maps/@51.2933795,-0.301433,3a,34.3y,331.9h,80.87t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1siB-fIkC7Pn7tfk2Ijlt-og!2e0!5s20220901T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
488 GTB
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@53.5683544,-2.4682077,3a,15y,67.84h,86.56t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sdJ8UciFgJ-i53GUch0RAiA!2e0!5s20160701T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
488 GTB
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.4837052,-1.9019497,3a,15y,209.21h,87.04t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sACSKwYcsSmNQ7nQI-_JdEQ!2e0!5s20220501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
488 Spider
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.275786,-1.496453,3a,18.8y,247.07h,87.65t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sV2ku9qMIoskz1e1mBCfQwQ!2e0!5s20230501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?hl=nl&entry=ttu
GTC4Lusso & Vanquish Volante!
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.2428617,-2.5349611,3a,44.9y,195.11h,79.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sz-U8rU9Wp2H7UtUBBS2T8A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
27 Mustang GT versions!
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.4449706,-1.9481735,3a,15y,187.62h,82.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4_39J2AEal5_IuEcvlgd5A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=nl&entry=ttu
Healy Enigma!
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.2890018,-2.7307636,3a,69.6y,52.53h,73.33t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0AOlMVAGw-MMkc0Vng1bHA!2e0!5s20210601T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
F-Type Coupe R
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.1974175,-2.5138799,3a,69.4y,3.54h,69.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWlAyBIdGjAPsWb-JnLwiuA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
F-Type Coupe R
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3408046,-2.5673833,3a,21.3y,192.68h,84.68t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1siXUa4yMRfWLPDOkM6IBR1A!2e0!5s20211101T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
F-Type Coupe R
https://www.google.nl/maps/@51.3558041,1.4114326,3a,19.5y,306.45h,84.35t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sXuMU86Ss2ccWuHkQbqBnow!2e0!5s20180801T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
F-Type Coupe R
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1972869,-2.763009,3a,41.2y,312.15h,72.45t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sANkhIlECPUXrTjUzCdB0Ig!2e0!5s20220401T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Tuned Urus
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.106238,-2.023296,3a,49y,26.55h,67.3t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stG_7v6hukfoSIFpRA6y9rg!2e0!5s20231001T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Huracan Spyder in yellow
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.8114192,-1.5734853,3a,28.1y,141.47h,79.75t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sU7QJob_PCelZD-LCih51Wg!2e0!5s20220701T000000!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu
Gallardo
https://www.google.nl/maps/@51.1138825,-1.4900988,3a,37.8y,80.92h,79.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sibpfMu0pG3VBNKkFFj5B6A!2e0!5s20081101T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Elan +2
https://www.google.de/maps/@52.9080288,-1.8279937,3a,35.9y,292.72h,80.34t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sPVxS5KkRC29VqnNIjhEb6A!2e0!5s20090601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Elite S2
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1978404,-2.7630687,3a,59.3y,12.58h,62.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-tPT5o6fvK6r13MkfmkQWw!2e0!5s20160901T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Excel
https://www.google.ca/maps/@53.1847738,-2.4554088,3a,15y,266.75h,83.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sq1nSveXYk0BKKvrpgqNIqQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=m&entry=ttu
Exige S3
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.2484968,-1.5056938,3a,15y,102.13h,85.19t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snGMPMrOPx4y3Ksb3JK4igQ!2e0!5s20230601T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Emira
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.2945509,-1.5223461,3a,26y,148.42h,80.42t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1svOvzaOcDjFIvRCMmxIPgiQ!2e0!5s20230501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?hl=nl&entry=ttu
BiTurbo Spyder
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.8462662,-1.3256574,3a,23.8y,296.52h,81.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1si-Kphc-q6EYDgXum98UQ0g!2e0!5s20230301T000000!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&entry=ttu
MP4-12C
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8273877,-0.1667019,3a,75y,320.67h,61.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAHwNG5Rk_dRhdzuYrN0yMw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
600LT!
https://www.google.nl/maps/@51.350627,0.5866315,3a,48.9y,35.5h,78.49t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1siH6yQCUSl9If91kU2rW_0A!2e0!5s20220901T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
AMG GT
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.4854267,-1.9047629,3a,24.6y,294.65h,80.29t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3LdVvJjDpWc4wUWS6NwJ2Q!2e0!5s20220501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
S63 AMG W221 2011 Brabus B63!
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5286876,-0.1693065,3a,46.1y,267.88h,77.98t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sCGCd70vGoL5Jsai88QCymA!2e0!5s20210101T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
GT-R
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0160495,-2.1867265,3a,41.2y,157.56h,74.4t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0TcmTZfjocXKOuJHJeYvAQ!2e0!5s20090601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
GT-R
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4796219,-2.6078263,3a,36y,159.43h,76.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1suUnN5t2HTQ055Szoou_vKQ!2e0!5s20230501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
GT-R 2011
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6423472,-0.3202901,3a,29.9y,349.99h,81.23t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sUeg83sE9a0nq-Hy1P60jbA!2e0!5s20180401T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
GT-R 2017
https://www.google.nl/maps/@53.1384128,-1.3483937,3a,36.1y,126.47h,83.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syx4XVnBVXpTmhb7JAnc0Vg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=nl&entry=ttu
Noble M12 GTO 3!
https://www.google.de/maps/@52.3009873,-0.3888134,3a,31.3y,146.37h,76.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4qTqzKvLi-G7yqfXT8i67w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu
Cayman 718 GT4 Spec goals!
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.2281642,-1.490362,3a,39.7y,280.48h,88.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sts-xHp7f84epB92uy0WgVQ!2e0!5s20210701T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
993 Turbo & 911 T
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5169021,-0.2210488,3a,32.8y,331.19h,78.17t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sm9xx4jucU8ua_6iYqfzQIA!2e0!5s20120401T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
996.2 Turbo
https://www.google.de/maps/@52.5980164,-1.8374272,3a,31.3y,201.06h,76.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sBMLNhYm_R_E37s8twzfrng!2e0!5s20120901T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
997.1 GT2!
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5257405,-0.1766092,3a,28.6y,308.4h,77.43t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1soUqWdHzK4FvmYyhBe3Ezag!2e0!5s20120901T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
991.1 Turbo in red
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.4841663,-1.9072612,3a,34.4y,339.39h,80.53t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sj_gyBmP0xGxBmSpv5unDwQ!2e0!5s20160901T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
991.1 Turbo S
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.2293239,-1.4914447,3a,15y,21.04h,85.46t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1slshlythajiIiBOxxp6UGWg!2e0!5s20230601T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
992.1 Turbo S Cabriolet
https://www.google.hu/maps/@53.3031871,-2.3747311,3a,15.2y,91.41h,85.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szDnl9C0xKmgxa4plFOzwSw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Cayenne Coupe Turbo & Yaris GR
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@53.5719848,-2.4873692,3a,18.1y,98.21h,84.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sugYXK_HzXqQCad7dlFbBpA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Clio RS 182 Trophy!
https://www.google.nl/maps/@51.2425034,0.6746982,3a,75y,350.2h,67.21t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s_ySdPRzDsz-8v4KbTXSgFA!2e0!5s20190501T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Ghost
https://www.google.hu/maps/@53.3731166,-2.3732607,3a,38.3y,80.96h,79.09t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbUmT0Eig_G0iCEnyFyWP2A!2e0!5s20231001T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Ghost
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.8250249,-1.3268754,3a,34.3y,318.69h,82.15t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGW5BzGrMIDPiYjj1FAH-bA!2e0!5s20180801T000000!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu
Ghost 2020
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5254876,-0.1713626,3a,34.4y,284.6h,81.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI-1fi8vHBOGILbzQ0iv88g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Cullinan
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3661558,-2.5545017,3a,16.9y,122.2h,87.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWQrv6TaAI-LsI3tfRQFtVA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Cullinan Black Badge
https://www.google.hu/maps/@53.2641381,-2.3872812,3a,25.6y,0.47h,84.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sw1kbrOiJuWrpOuMy-2rDRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Wraith
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6424706,-0.3207408,3a,15.2y,50.91h,84.58t,0.04data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sPIbxXON5yMMGWZznbeHz6Q!2e0!5s20170601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Unknown classic RR
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1973709,-2.763046,3a,43.4y,161.43h,75.67t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7hIWDDah_Ypo20u4fiQKeg!2e0!5s20160901T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Tamora!
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.2751974,-1.5117556,3a,20.6y,230.41h,81.15t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swNGbOn42iqG9487beSE0dQ!2e0!5s20230601T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Tamora!
https://www.google.com/maps/@50.723219,-1.9369789,3a,63.1y,354.27h,77.13t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1svilkQZYkfmQ3TInz7-tRbg!2e0!5s20190601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
TVR 350i
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.2742303,-1.513657,3a,34.7y,249.94h,76.2t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sq4S3dIwfNc9Ee-042ARpFA!2e0!5s20080801T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Tasmin Coupe
https://www.google.com/maps/@50.72655,-1.9375498,3a,24.5y,10.83h,82.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-Z4kcTdI2xN0pD6Gt3cUPw!2e0!5s20210501T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

** ALL WEEKEND (FRI 5/3 - SUN 5/5) *\*
10 AM - 2 PM Beetlejuice Tea Party Snapdragon Tea, 115 Harvard Dr. SE Themed tea party in tribute to Beetlejuice coming to Popejoy Hall! Enjoy three themed courses of small bites, accompanied by two pots of hot tea of your choice. One weekend only! We welcome kids of all ages to our tea parties. Children’s menus, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan menus are available upon request as well. Reservations required
** BOTH FRI 5/3 AND SAT 5/4 *\*
8 AM - 2 PM Old Fashioned Church Rummage Sale Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church, 8700 Alameda Blvd. NE Snag amazing deals on really good stuff - from furniture to kitchen items, household essentials, electronics, and much more!
Fri 7 - 9 PM Sat 2 - 4 PM New MexiChords In Concert! Sentimental Journey St. John's United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona St. NE A Capella Live Concert! Join us for as we reminisce through favorite songs. Special guest: Quartet of All Time! $15 Tickets at Door
** BOTH SAT 5/4 AND SUN 5/5 *\*
Sat 3 - 5 PM Sun 2 - 4 PM Mother's Day Kid's Gift Making Workshop Pinspiration, 6271 Riverside Plaza Ln. NW, Ste D1 Join us for a unique and fun way for your kiddos to honor and celebrate their mom, aunts, grandmas or any important mother figure in their lives. A hand-crafted gift from your child will really show mom how much they love them! Drop off the kiddos for an afternoon of crafting to make something very special! $35 per child (Special gift, Gift wrapping, Snack and drink). Workshop fee is non-refundable so if you're unable to attend, a studio credit will be given for another workshop, crafts or our splatter experience (register)
4 PM American Music - Then and Now The ABQ Civic Chorus is delighted and excited to welcome you to our spring concert. We are a group of over sixty vocal musicians with different backgrounds, professions, and musical training. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets purchased online will be available at the door and are good for either day

• Fri - First Christian Church, 10101 Montgomery Blvd. NE
• Sat - Asbury United Methodist Church, 10000 Candelaria NE

** Fri 5/3 *\*
Fri 10:45 AM – 12 PM Coffee Concert 4: Early Beethoven South Broadway Cultural Center, 1025 Broadway Blvd. SE Beethoven Prometheus (Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus): Overture; Beethoven Concerto, Piano, No. 3, Op. 37, c minor; Beethoven Symphony No. 2, Op. 36, D Major. The last NMPhil Coffee Concert of 2023/24 is sure to leave you excited for next season! Premiered in 1803 in Vienna and conducted by the composer himself, Beethoven’s second foray into the world of big, public symphonies combines his unique artistry with his humor, stated through various musical jokes in the Scherzo and Finale. The program—led by conductor Na’Zir McFadden—also includes Anthony Ratinov performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 to lighten your early-spring morning (tickets)
Fri 2 – 9 PM Grand Opening NM Rave Cave, 115 7th St. NW Come see our new location and check out our vendors, food trucks and local dj’s playing in store. Complete with an ABQ Live Photo Booth. Big Boss Hotlinks will be on site with Burgers, Dogs , Fries and more! We are teaming up with Viva ABQ, 505 Junglists, Carma Presents, ABQ Live, Unyk Lyfe, ASTRL Entertainment, Otter World Music, Audio Elite NM and Mr.Afterhours to bring you a one of a kind experience! Vendors - Alchemy Beauty - Magic Cup Boba Tea - Rastafari_Mari - Own The Day - The Mexican Witch - High Chi Mandalas - Astrl Ent
Fri 3:30 - 7:30 PM Family Block Party! Coldwell Banker Legacy Paseo, 8200 Carmel Ave NE Car show, bouncy houses, mechanical bull! Welcome to a celebration for our cherished community and the wonderful clients who make our work so rewarding!
Fri 5 PM Blueberry Berliner Weisse Release Tractor Brewing - All locations You asked for a sour and now you got one! Hitting your taste buds like spring allergies, the Blueberry Berliner will be available on tap everywhere
Fri 5 – 8 PM Honky Tonk for Hope, Health and Healing Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & Saloon, 9800 Montgomery Blvd., Ste 4 Come dance the night away with us! There will be food, fun, and dancing! This fundraising event benefits Casa Esperanza! For more info, Jacob Romero 505-246-2706 or [jromero@casanm.org](mailto:jromero@casanm.org) (tickets)
Fri 6 PM Country Social Dance CSP Dance Studios, 1624 Eubank Blvd. NE The best country music for dancing to practice your Country Two Step, Night Club, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Waltz, Rhythm Two Step, 4-count Swing, Line Dancing and more! $10 cash at the door. Welcome lesson 6:00-6:30pm. Call 505-883-9521 for more info
Fri 6 PM 'Burque Bee 2024 Canteen Brewhouse, 2381 Aztec Rd. NE Join us on the patio to show off your spelling chops. To give yourself an even better chance of winning, for $5 you can buy coupons like More Time (get 30 more seconds to confer), Stinger (sting your opponents!) and Help (get help from the audience). Team Registration $75. 3 people per team, limited to 12 teams (register)
Fri 6 PM Luke Bulla Concert Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria Rd. NE Luke has been singing and playing music most of his life. Touring with and singing in his family band from age four, Luke has won National Fiddle Contest (in Weiser, Idaho) six times in his respective age categories. His seventh win came in the Grand Champion division at age sixteen, making him the youngest to have earned the title at the time. More recently Luke has performed and/or recorded with Brandi Carlile, Jim Lauderdale, Darrell Scott, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Russ Barenberg Trio, Shawn Colvin, Tony Rice, Chris Thile, Peter Rowan, Rodney Crowell, and Earl Scruggs, to name a few. Doors 5:30 pm. Show 6 pm. Presented by Southwest Pickers
Fri 6 – 7:30 PM Spring Fling Dennis Chavez Elementary, 7500 Barstow St. NE Food trucks, face painters, a balloonist, a mobile petting zoo, School of Rock performances, lawn games, mini golf and a chance to dunk your principal and favorite teachers! (We could still use some extra hands to keep the event fun and seamless, if you could spare some time, sign up here)
Fri 6 – 8:30 PM Pizza Paint & Craft Night Canvas and Coffee, 6700 4th St NW, Los Ranchos Date night for Mom and Dad... Drop off the kids (6+) for a Pizza dinner, then crafting, and painting fun! Each month we will offer a theme and will have 2 projects available for your child to make and take home the same evening! The materials they will be working with will be canvas painting, crafting with wood, beads, ribbon, mod podge, glue, acrylic paint, watercolors, and more! *Children with special dietary needs will need to bring their own snack/meal (tickets)
Fri 7 PM Group Therapy Band Marble Brewery, 111 Marble Ave NW Come dance your jitters away while listening to soothing music to calm a nervous world
Fri 7 PM Roust the House + Rock 101 Music Academy Performance Night Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale Blvd. SE Roust the House and Rock 101 Music Academy return for another exciting season of performances featuring local teen bands and soloists, from punk rock to classical piano to singer-songwriters, hip hoppers, spoken word artists, and more, including The Hunnies, a Rock 101 alumni band, and other talented up-and-coming musicians. Tonight’s show features winners of Rock 101’s Band League Challenge and more. Founded in 2011 by Director Kevin Herig, Rock 101 Music Academy is a year-round program for musicians as young as 4 years old through their teen years featuring one on one and group lessons, band mentoring, and more (tickets)
Fri 7 – 9 PM Tacos & Rides Truck Night Cafe Bella Coffee, 2604 Violeta Cir SE, Rio Rancho Join us for a night where trucks reign supreme. Roll in with your ride—whether it's lifted, lowered, or custom-built. All trucks welcome! Showcase your pride and joy. Connect & Converse: Swap stories and ideas with fellow truck and auto enthusiasts. Savor: Bite into delicious street tacos and chill out with good eats. Safety First: Courtesy presence by Rio Rancho Police for a safe, fun evening. Drive in, hang out, and fuel your passion for trucks at NM's longest-running automotive meet. Let's keep the wheels turning and the tacos grilling!
Fri 7 – 10 PM Ulthar Sister, 407 Central Ave NW This Bay Area band is sowing the seeds of planetary entropy by way of horrifying blacked cosmic death metal (tickets)
Fri 7 – 10 PM Galactic Funk Star Wars Party w/ Kaleido Tractor Brewing - Westside, 5720 McMahon Blvd. NW Come celebrate Star Wars weekend with killer tunes from the always amazing DJ Kaleido!
Fri 8 – 11 PM First Fridays w/ DJ Flo Fader Tractor Brewing, 122 Tulane Dr. SE He's just too good to not have in Nob Hill at least once a month. Come jam out with one of NM's absolute BEST DJs and kick off your weekend with FLO FADER!
Fri 8:30 PM – 12 AM 1st Fridays SBKZ Alley Kats Tap Company, 219 Truman St. NE Joining the Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and Zouk dance communities has been a blast! Please join us as we welcome ABQ resident DJ Karla of Metta Dance Collective and welcome back world renowned Ry’el of Zenzouk for another amazing social! Theme: Sparkles -- Let’s sparkle and shine with gratitude for having Ry’el and Rachel with us the last 3 going on 4 months! There will be 2 ROOMS! Room 1: Salsa & Bachata. Room 2: Zouk & Kizomba. Music by DJ Karla - Room 1, DJ Yaz - Room 2. $10 Cover: Cash/Venmo/Cashapp accepted. Snacks and drinks provided
Fri 9 PM The Millennium Video Music Dance Party -“Barbie Prom” Sunshine Theater, 120 Central Ave NW Get ready for a night of electrifying nostalgia Millennium Video Music Dance Party presents the ultimate “Barbie Prom” extravaganza, unlike anything you've experienced before! Brace yourself for the most sensational, dazzling, and downright iconic 90s and 2000s Video Music Dance Party to ever grace our town! Picture this: a world that exudes the glamour, glitz, energy, of your very own Barbie dream world. Prepare to be dazzled into a shimmering oasis of pink, glitter, and all things fabulous. Whether you're channeling the chic sophistication of Barbie herself or embracing the edgy coolness of Ken, this is your chance to shine like never before! Dance the night away to the biggest hits from the 90s and 2000s, (100% Music videos) curated to perfection to keep you grooving all night. Think Beyonce, Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Pitbull, One Direction, Kesha, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Eminem, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Flo Rida, Britney Spears…. and beyond – Get ready to strike a pose at our dedicated Barbie Prom photo-booth, make memories that are guaranteed to last for years to come (tickets)
Fri 9 – 11:30 PM LoPhat Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Dance to Live Music by one of ABQ's top R&B-flavored bands! From the Caribbean to Baltimore, from Detroit to El Paso, from the Pacific Islands to ABQ… with this melting pot of soul, rhythms, experience, and passion, there isn’t a “skool” that isn’t represented! LoPhat believes there is something to be learned from every soul that crosses your path. This way of thinking has given them the ability to incorporate and masterfully execute most genres of music and makes them a class all their own. Surpassing all “Variety Bands” with more listening choices than your radio, this band is sure to have something even the most skeptical listeners will enjoy. Founded in 2023, this band has gained a committed following. In their first year they have already played for Sandia Casino, CABQ, NM State Fair, Gathering of Nations, Ohkay Casino, Route 66 Casino, and so many more! LoPhat is set to release their first album in 2024 showcasing their melding of different cultures to bring you “feel good” music in a way that seems so familiar yet so new! (tickets)
Fri 9 PM – 1:30 AM Back in the Day: A First Friday Experience Backstage at Revel, 4720 Alexander Blvd. NE DJs Gonzo Supreme and Clout will be spinning all your favorite 90s and 2000s Hip Hop & R&B hits and more! 21+ (tickets)
Fri 9 PM – 1:30 AM Callaita Fridays Salt Yard West, 3700 Ellison Dr. NW Get ready for an unforgettable night as DJs Julio & Soiree take the outdoor stage, promising an electrifying journey into Latin music. Let the pulsating rhythms and contagious energy sweep you away as you dance under the stars. This 21+ event guarantees an atmosphere where you can fully embrace the rhythm without inhibition. Whether you're a seasoned Reggaeton enthusiast or simply looking for a night of unparalleled fun and excitement, this event promises an experience like no other! (tickets)
Fri 10:30 PM – 12:15 AM OMEN - the debut haunting psychedelic feature by Belgian-Congolese musican/artist Baloji The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave NE Check out the trailer. Dir. Baloji - 2024 - 90m - Democratic Republic of Congo, Netherlands, Belgium - In French, Swahli, Lingala, English with subtitles. After spending years in Belgium, Koffi (Marc Zinga), a young Congolese man, returns to his birthplace of Kinshasa to confront his family and homeland culture. Secrecy and sorcery erupt when a nosebleed is mistaken for a curse, and Koffi is shunned from his family. Using magical realism to paint a portrait of “undesirables” and “sorcerers,” OMEN delves into the intricacies of identity, culture, and belief systems through a deeply rich and visually captivating lens (tickets)
** Sat 5/4 ** -- Star Wars Day
Sat 8 AM May Volunteer Clean Up Historic Fairview Cemetery, 700 Yale Blvd. SE Mustard is running rampant! We'll focus on doing what we can to address those weeds. Please dress to protect yourself from the strong Southwest sun. Wear sunscreen, a hat, long pants and shirts, sturdy shoes. Bring tools and gloves to garden, we'll provide the trash bags, water and snacks
Sat 8 – 11 AM Rigs & Coffee Pinon Coffee House, 4545 Alameda Blvd. Get ready for a unique automotive experience! This gathering is all about celebrating the spirit of adventure and the love for off-road vehicles
Sat 8 AM – 12 PM OPENING DAY! 6718 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos WE'RE BACK! Come kick off the opening day of the regular season of the Los Ranchos Art Market! Plenty of parking and open space for all! Free entry! Pet friendly! Bring your family and friends to kick off the season and pick out that special mom a beautiful high quality hand made gift by our local artists!
Sat 8 AM – 12 PM Downtown Growers' Market Robinson Park, Every Saturday! This vibrant community event connects local farmers, growers, artisans, wellness makers, and hot food vendors with the local community from mid-Apr to early-Nov. Bring friends / family or come solo to enjoy fresh food made on sight, a variety of seasonal produce, unique arts and crafts, live music, and special programming all in the heart of downtown
Sat 8:30 AM Workout Fun in the Park! 9709 Layton Ave NE Join BFit505 for a fun community workout! Wear your walking/running shoes, a workout clothes. All ages, all fitness levels. Just $5 drop in to the park!
Sat 9 AM Cinco De Mayo Celebration Osuna Nursery, 501 Osuna Rd. NE Celebrate Cinco de Mayo early with a full day of celebration! You'll find: • chips & salsa • a special mix from DJ Everedy of Red Sapphire Entertainment • Osuna University 'Planting for Pollinators' with local author and landscape designer Judith Phillips from 11am-12pm. It's the perfect opportunity to brighten up your own celebrations with beautiful blooms and gorgeous serving-ware including artisan talavera
Sat 9 AM – 1 PM Herb Day 2024 Sonia Masocco Phytotherapy, 11930 Menaul Blvd NE, Ste 109 This is our Annual Herb Day Open House & Medicinal Plant Sale. Come visit your local herbal apothecary, mingle with like minded people, purchase your plants for your medicinal or aromatic garden or just come and have a cup of tea with us. This event is free, for all ages with parking lot access
Sat 9 AM – 4 PM La Cueva Band Booster Club Annual Spring Craft Fair La Cueva High School, Perfect time to pick up a unique Mother's Day gift from over 140 artists and vendors!
Sat 9 AM – 6 PM Heels & Wheels - Women's Ride Day! Indian Motorcycle, 4509 Alameda Blvd. NE Ladies, we invite you to come out and ride your bike! Ride on your own, with your significant other, with friends or find some riding partners at the event. You set your pace and ride your ride. We will be at Indian Motorcycle 9am - 11am. Grab some food and some coffee or tea at the trucks on site. Check out all the sales on bikes and gear before or after you stop by registration in the back. We will have a few stations and tables set up that we would love for you to check out. There will be some trivia at the end location for some giveaways. You will be provided a wrist band and a list of participating businesses with their addresses and hours of operation so you can plan your ride. make it a day, make it fun, stop and have lunch but visit as many of the businesses as you like. You will be collecting beads from each business you visit. These beads will only be given to a female who has a wrist band, but all are welcome to ride. Many of the businesses will have their own party going on to celebrate this day with you. Stop in and support these local businesses and collect your beads. Bring all those beads to Hops Brewery, 7222 4th St NW, Los Ranchos between 3pm-6pm. Trade them in for free raffle tickets that you can use to win many great prizes we have collected from our participating businesses. Don't worry, if you didn't collect beads or need more raffle tickets we will have them on sale and everyone is welcome to purchase as many as you like. Then grab a bite and a drink. Mingle, shop some of our vendors, enjoy the giveaways, and performance by live band, Crazy Bird! They are amazing so we hope you can dance in your biker boots (tickets)
Sat 10 AM Storybook Garden Spring Planting Day Corrales Community Library, 84 W La Entrada, Corrales We will be planting the children's Storybook Garden! Beans: Calima, Provider, Rattlesnake. Cucumbers: Dragon's Egg, Mexican Sour Gherkin. Tomatoes: A Grippoli d'Inverno, Black Cherry, Brad's Crazy Cherry, Chocolate Sprinkles, Punta Bando, Rosella, Sunrise Bumble Bee, Yellow Pear. Squash: Tromconcino
Sat 10 AM – 12 PM Fourth Annual Car Show 5111 Wilshire Ave NE All are welcome to participate in our annual car show! Corvette, Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz, Rolls Royce, and more! There will be a gift basket raffle, free shirts for the first 10 cars, coffee, and snacks. PLEASE CALL SILVER STAR AUTO HAUS AT 505-881-4855 TO REGISTER YOUR CAR!
Sat 10 AM – 1 PM Eternal Bonds & Bubbles with Link x Lou Sawmill Market, 1909 Bellamah Ave NW Indulge in an intimate setting where every ticket promises an unforgettable experience, featuring a complimentary glass of house wine or mocktail (Rosé, White, Red), a curated charcuterie board available to order, and a special $40 credit towards the permanent jewelry of your choice from Link x Lou (tickets)
Sat 10 AM – 2 PM Craft Fair Second Hand Sam's Indoor Mall,1020 Veranda Drive SE, Rio Rancho Space rentals $20. For more info, call 505-544-2636
Sat 10 AM – 2 PM The 2nd & Coal Pop-up! Flyby Provisions, 201 Coal Ave SW We’re bringing the community together for a day of shopping, music, and delicious food! Get ready to explore an eclectic mix of handcrafted treasures from over 20 local vendors, showcasing their unique creations! From handmade jewelry to artisanal foods and everything in between, there’s something for everyone at our market
Sat 10 AM – 3 PM DLC Truck Parks Spring PopUp! 2520 Jefferson St. NE Come support our local vendors! Variety of fun foods and products!
Sat 10 AM – 4 PM Tracks, Tunes, & Taps: A Steam Locomotive 2926 Fundraiser Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW • Live Music by RJ Perez at noon! • One of the largest steam locomotives on the Planet! • See History Alive! See her run! Become a volunteer and work on our next project! Hear her whistle! All proceeds go toward the continued maintenance and future operations. NM Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society, in charge of the operation of the historic Santa Fe Railway steam locomotive 2926 have finished renovations on this beautiful train and they'll be bringing it to the tracks next to Tractor Wells Park! Come check out this amazing piece of history and get on board!
Sat 10 AM – 4 PM Art Show Fundraiser Unity Spiritual Center, 9800 Candelaria Rd. NE Come and see the vast array of art from our local artists. Find gifts, beautiful and functional objects, and art to adorn your spaces. This is our first art show at Unity and it promises to be a good one! Our Unity EarthCare Team is hosting this art fair. Funds raised are going toward xeriscaping our property and other earth friendly efforts to save water and support pollinators. Snacks, drinks, and live music on the lawn, weather permitting. Painters, Photographers, Sculptors, Potters, Mixed Media Artists, and more have been invited
Sat 10 AM – 4 PM ABQ International Festival San Pedro, between Kathryn and Anderson A day filled with fun and festivities, including live music, kids' play area, delicious food, and local vendors!
Sat 11 AM – 1 PM Fun and Games Fundraiser ABQ Speech Language and Hearing Center (ASLHC), 9500 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Ste 215 Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of games and activities, with delicious food provided by @ withlovewaffles. A huge thank you to Eagle Credit Union for their financial support!
Sat 11 AM - 4 PM May The Fourth Be With You Sale - Biggest Sale Yet! Don’s Paperback Book Exchange, 1013 San Mateo Blvd. SE Spring has sprung and that means it’s time to have an event, folks! Let’s do a sale - a really big sale! All books and DVDs 50% off - All comics 25% off - All kids get free books too! This sale will include green label comics, CGC comics, and dollar comics
Sat 11 AM – 5 PM Mother's Day Market ABQ Food Park,6951 San Antonio Dr. NE Get ahead of the game and celebrate Mother's Day in style! Before the big day arrives, join us for a delightful pre-celebration where you can grab something special for Mom, Grandma, or that extraordinary woman in your life. Dive into a world of local craftsmanship, delicious food, live music, and outdoor fun at our enchanting outdoor venue. *Browse through the diverse offerings of local artisans *Treat yourself to a mouthwatering delight from our food trucks *Enjoy live music performed by talented local musician Joseph Velasquez *Bring the family to enjoy the festivities with some outdoor games and activities
Sat 11 AM – 7 PM Turkish Festival Raindrop Foundation, 7901 Mountain Rd. NE Festival will feature exquisite samples of Turkish- Mediterranean Cuisine (Doner Gyro Kebab, Baklava, Turkish Coffee and more), cultural exhibits, folk dances, children's area, arts & crafts and more! You do not want to miss this family event that everyone will find something to enjoy! Admission is FREE and the event is open to the public
Sat 11 AM – 10 PM Star Wars Day Celebration Slice and Dice Pizzeria, 2225 Wyoming Blvd. NE From 1-2 pm, stormtroopers from NM's 501st Legion will be available for photos. Throughout the day, we will have teach-and-play for Star Wars miniatures games (Legion and Shatterpoint), as well as the hottest game in the galaxy: Star Wars: The Card Game. Come dressed in your favorite Star Wars fit or gear for a free churro!
Sat 12 PM Free Comic Book Day Age of Comics, 3700 Osuna Rd. NE, Ste 513 We are excited to announce Andy Kuhn and Mark Fenton will be signing in store!

Post Synopsis

This write-up will discuss LittleBigPlanet’s humble origins, its place in the market in 2008, its unique features and mechanics, and a brief summary of the games, impact, and news following the first game. It will be broken down into five sections listed below.

• I. Introduction
  
• II. Origins of Media Molecule
  
• III. General Game Overview
  
• IV. Post-LittleBigPlanet 1
  
• V. Closing
  

I. Introduction

With the advent of the Internet, user-generated content has become an increasingly common phenomenon, and in the last ~20 years in particular, it has propelled entire platforms to become major media centers and empowered users to explore and express their creative side. In 2006, Time named “You” as their person of the year, referring to the millions of users who had contributed user-generated content to websites like YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Wikipedia, and others, and Business 2.0 and ABC News gave similar accolades to "You" in 2006. In the realm of video games, user-generated content has practically become a genre in itself, with modern examples like Minecraft, Roblox, and Super Mario Maker amassing millions of players and building dedicated communities around them that have persisted for years.
LittleBigPlanet was one of the earliest examples in the console space built around the concept of user-generated content. The tools available were top-of-the-line and the best available for a console game at that time. But its appeal as a game went beyond just its robust level editor: the multiplayer and network features, the customization options, and the inviting art style and family-friendly image filled a much-needed niche in the early PS3 library. Its broad appeal enabled it to become one of Sony’s flagship series.

II. Origins of Media Molecule

Rag Doll Kung Fu, The Room, and the Formation of Media Molecule
Media Molecule was founded in January 2006 by four former employees of Lionhead Studios – the studio behind Fable and Black & White. Before forming Media Molecule, members of the team worked on Rag Doll Kung Fu in their free time, and even starred in live action cut-scenes for the game. After presenting the game to a crowd of 300 people at GDC 2005, Mark Healey was approached by both Valve and Nintendo to bring the game to their platform, and ultimately worked out a deal with Valve to put the game on their then new digital platform Steam. Rag Doll Kung Fu was the first third party game on the platform.
Around this same time, the would-be Media Molecule founders built a tech demo called “The Room.” The Room featured elements of creation that would later form the framework of LittleBigPlanet – players could mold objects out of clay and move objects around the room. Valve was interested in hiring them to develop The Room or another project, but it never came to fruition. The Room also featured portals the player could move between. Coincidentally, Valve would hire the students behind Narbacular Drop – which used a similar portal concept as its central game mechanic – that same year (2005) to expand their concept, and eventually create Portal in 2007.
Soon after their work on Rag Doll Kung Fu and The Room, Mark Healey and three other Lionhead Studio employees – Alex Evans, Kareem Ettourney, and David Smith – resigned on the same day to start up their own company, which they called Media Molecule. They turned in their notice to Peter Molyneux, one of the founders of Lionhead Studios, and a man Healey had worked with for around 15 years, between both Bullfrog Productions and Lionhead Studios. While he was disappointed to lose four talented developers on the same day, he wished them well and was happy that they were striking out on their own, rather than taking jobs at Valve.
Initially, the team didn’t have a clear vision of what they wanted their game to be outside of a few general principles. In a 2007 interview with GameSpot, Healey had this to say:

“The idea was to make the most ambitious game we possibly could," Healey said, "and most importantly, get somebody else to pay for it.

Healey went on to talk about the tumultuous nature of working on a creative project:

"What we're aiming to do with the game we're making is somehow give that to people and take away the tedium," Healey said.

Meeting with Sony and Development of LittleBigPlanet
In the initial talks with then President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios Phil Harrison in January 2006, Media Molecule presented a demo called “Craftworld” starring Mr. Yellowhead – who would later be featured as a collectible costume in LittleBigPlanet. Craftworld was a physics-based side-scrolling platformer, with no button presses – the character’s movement was wired to the exact physical movements of the analog sticks, which was a novel idea at the time. Instead of using PowerPoint, Media Molecule made a live demo play within their presentation. Alex Evans recalled the meeting at the Develop 2011 Conference in Brighton:

“Our first meeting with Phil was meant to be a 30 minute pitch for our idea for a game called Craftworld that soon turned into a 3 hour brainstorming session,” explained Evans. “Phil said all sorts of buzzwords that hadn’t really hit yet. He said it should be driven by DLC and that it should be free-to-play, have a social core and premium, paid-for content.

This is interesting, because this model didn’t really exist yet on consoles back in January 2006 – the infamous The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’s horse armor DLC (today it’d be called a microtransaction) was still three months away. However, Sony was working on PlayStation Home around this time which shared these core tenants and was being pushed by Phil Harrison. Despite these initial talks, LittleBigPlanet ended up releasing as a $60 USD game rather than a free-to-play title, though microtransactions in the form of costumes and DLC level packs did make it into the game. Sony would revisit the idea of a free-to-play LittleBigPlanet title in the form of LittleBigPlanet Hub, which was planned to launch in late 2013, but the project was canceled, and presumably the work for it was carried over to LittleBigPlanet 3, which was also sold as a $60 USD game.
Soon after their meeting with Phil Harrison, Sony agreed to fund the project for six months, after which they’d need a playable prototype ready to demonstrate. This was later extended by another three months, as the demo after the initial period was reportedly “unfocused and unplayable.” Alex Evans recalls debugging the game the night before the presentation because the game slowed to a crawl when a fourth controller was added. The game was revealed at GDC 2007 for two reasons, according to Phil Harrison:

“Firstly, I wanted to demonstrate the future of games, which was service-based projects: always on, no end to them. And secondly, to communicate the idea about the user being the creative manager of content. LittleBigPlanet and Home were perfect examples of that.”

Media Molecule would go on to release LittleBigPlanet in October 2008. In less than three years, the team went from a vague premise to a landmark title for the PS3, as well as the second highest rated game of 2008, according to Metacritic. It’s interesting that the team didn’t really have a clear idea of what they wanted to create before their leaving their jobs when LittleBigPlanet feels like such a spark of creative energy, which coincidentally is the premise for the game itself.

III. General Game Overview

The Market in 2008 and LittleBigPlanet's Unique Appeal
As the 2000s wore on, and particularly with the arrival of the HD consoles, it seemed AAA platformers were being phased out. Studios known for their platformers in the 1990s and early-mid 2000s, like Rare, Naughty Dog, and Sucker Punch, were moving away from them, leaving Mario and Ratchet & Clank to carry the genre in the late 2000s. A platformer wasn’t exactly what people thought of as a “next-gen” experience on the HD consoles at the time (PlayStation 3/Xbox 360). It seemed more studios were focused on bringing about more realistic experiences, typically ones that had guns and/or cars. LittleBigPlanet released in a year with games like Grand Theft Auto IV, Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots, Fallout 3, Dead Space, Resistance 2, etc. – games that prioritized realistic graphics, gritty settings, and cinematic set-pieces.
However, if there was a way to make a platformer feel next-gen rather than iterative of the design we had seen for over a decade at that point, LittleBigPlanet achieved it, by utilizing network features and user-generated content as its central focus. The story mode acted as both a fun adventure to play through as well as a showcase of what was possible with the extensive level editor, which allowed players to share levels online and access a database of levels from users all around the world, and even use user-created objects as collectibles in one’s own levels. Its appeal was broadened beyond just the scope of a conventional platformer though, as users would utilize the level editor to create more experimental levels - like this museum level featured in Mm Picks. LittleBigPlanet 2 would expand on this concept further.
The handcrafted art-style was an excellent complement to the game’s vision as a vehicle for level creation, and it allowed parts to be glued together without looking amiss. The idea of customization was extended to the player's character: Sackboy acted as a blank canvas that could be customized, but his knitted nature didn’t look out of place on marketing with nothing on. The soundtrack featured licensed music and spanned all different eras and cultures yet somehow formed a cohesive package – much like the nature of putting together a level using various parts and materials.
Curation Tools and Mm Picks
Sharing and playing community levels was a seamless experience held up by some awesome curation tools. You could play levels off the game’s servers without going through a download process. Additionally, levels featured tags for categorizing types of levels, hearts for bookmarking them, a five-star rating system (later changed to a thumbs up/thumbs down), a comment section, and the ability to view the profile of users to see their levels and favorites. These features are all ubiquitous now and were likely inspired by YouTube’s curation tools, but it was by far the best infrastructure in a game with online level sharing on consoles at that point. Additionally, LittleBigPlanet benefitted from the rise of outside media platforms, namely YouTube, as a way to showcase levels on message boards.
Adding to these curation tools was Media Molecule Picks (Mm Picks), which were community levels branded with Media Molecule’s emblem, signifying their exceptional quality or experimental ideas. This was before Twitter became ubiquitous and developers – and businesses in general – had less direct interaction with their users. Mm Picks were instead posted to their website and even included embedded YouTube videos of the levels, though they did join Twitter seven months after the game’s release, in May 2009. It was a novel thing to see the developer of a game take part in the community of a game in that way, and it was personally the first instance I recall seeing of something like that (as primarily a console gamer at the time). Media Molecule went a step further by including 18 users to create bonus levels for the Game of the Year Edition of the game in 2009.
Additionally, Media Molecule added water in the Pirates of the Caribbean level pack in December 2009 after much clamoring for it in message boards. It’s possible this was already in the works since they had to work out the licensing with Disney in advance, but the trailer seemed to acknowledge that Media Molecule had heard the requests for water in the game. Unfortunately, it and many other cross-promotional level packs are now unavailable to download due to licensing agreements expiring. At the time, DLC seemed liked a great fit for the game, as every added item to the game multiplied what was possible with the game’s level editor, and the frequent level kits would regularly reinvigorate interest in the community. However, many are now inaccessible through practical means (not all level kits were included in the Game of the Year Edition).
Multiplayer
LittleBigPlanet made no concessions with its multiplayer – it was four-players locally, online, or a mix of the two – in story mode, community levels, and creation mode – it featured both cooperative and competitive elements, but the game could still be experienced as a single player experience if desired. Other games usually come with a caveat – either they’re local or online only, provide multiplayer only in certain designated modes, and/or limit the number of players to just two. There were some camera issues in local play in certain fast-paced and/or vertical levels, but the widescreen helped make the game feel less crowded than it otherwise would have (widescreen had just recently become ubiquitous on the HD consoles during this time).
LittleBigPlanet also incorporated a lot of elements that amounted to just goofing around, like slapping your friends, painting them with stickers, grabbing them, and making smiley faces after watching them fall to their death. As inconsequential as these qualities might seem when typing them out like this, people got a ton of mileage out of these.
The competitive play didn’t really work in favor of the platforming levels, but the more experimental, survival-based levels did lead to some fun competition. Chasing leaderboards, collecting all prize bubbles and keys, completing a level with no deaths for rewards, and completing optional co-op puzzles led to a great deal of replayability among the story levels, so there was plenty of reason to jump back into them with someone new, especially since the game had plenty to reward you with in the form of objects, stickers, costumes, and bonus levels.

IV. Post-LittleBigPlanet 1

General Overview of the Series' Games
Sackboy became Sony’s family-friendly mascot and was featured in many advertisements during the Kevin Butler-era. He has been featured as a playable characteskin in games like ModNation Racers, Minecraft, Fall Guys, and Sony’s platform fighter PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale. The series has regularly showcased the new features of Sony’s hardware: the PlayStation Eye and network features in the original game, the PlayStation Move controller in Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves, and the touchpad in the PS Vita game – although in recent years, it seems Astro Bot has been positioned to showcase these features more than Sackboy’s games (the VR headset and DualSense controller).
There were eight LittleBigPlanet/Sackboy games released between 2008 and 2014, plus a ton of DLC content – since then there have been just two (the last one was a 2023 mobile runner title), neither of which include the creation tools the series was founded on. However, Sackboy: A Big Adventure did retain the cooperative multiplayer, which I believe is an important part of the series’ legacy and isn’t as easy to transition to a 3D platformer.
Media Molecule and the Series' Evolution
Media Molecule stepped away as the main developer after LittleBigPlanet 2 (2011), acting as support for some of the later games. It really shows, as LittleBigPlanet 2 was a major evolution over the first game and expanded the tools and what was possible with the level editor to such a degree its identity as a platform game became blurry: you could make a retro-style arcade game with unique physics, a turn-based battle system, a top-down racer, in-game movies, etc. The possibilities felt endless.
In contrast, LittleBigPlanet 3 was the buggiest game I had ever played at launch, though most of the game-breaking bugs were ironed out over time, it lost its momentum and was still a pretty buggy experience in the end. It did bring some new tools to the table - namely the new characters with unique abilities - but the improvements were much more modest/complementary to the original design, than the massive evolution that was LittleBigPlanet 2. Media Molecule has since developed Tearaway and Dreams, though many of the studio founders have since left the company.
Server Shutdowns
LittleBigPlanet 2 and 3 carried over levels from the previous mainline game(s) - it was nice to know users' works were being preserved. However, there were many bugs in LittleBigPlanet 3 when accessing levels from the first two games so it really wasn't the ideal way to experience them. Sony had shutdown the servers for the PS3 games in September 2021, so it was the only way to play a lot of these old levels for awhile.
Unfortunately, the LittleBigPlanet 3 servers – and therefore all uploaded community created levels from the first three mainline games – were just recently shutdown after being compromised by hackers in January 2024. While the story levels remain, it’s disappointing to know you can only re-experience part of a beloved game, and not the game in its whole. Many of the levels people remember the game by are now lost to time, after 15 years. The ending of LittleBigPlanet even highlights the community levels, as if the ending of the story mode is just the beginning for the rest of the game.
Showing future generations LittleBigPlanet will always come with the caveat that there was much more to the game than they’re able to experience, unlike other classics like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as there are custom servers that have retained some of the more popular levels. It goes to show the love the community has for the game.

V. Closing

LittleBigPlanet's slogan of “Play, Create, Share” was superbly executed on all fronts – falling short in even one of these areas would’ve been enough to taint the whole experience: without good gameplay, it wouldn’t be worth making levels, without good creation tools, it wouldn’t be worth sharing levels, without good sharing and curation tools, it wouldn’t be worth keeping a vested interest in playing the game and engaging with the community. But it went even beyond that, with a great art-style that complemented the game's vision of creation, excellent and all-encompassing multiplayer, and active engagement from Media Molecule with the community, through Mm Picks and DLC. It really seems like the type of game that would’ve taken a second game to get right, but instead they got the first game right and made an even more incredible sequel. It brought something uniquely its own to the PS3 in 2008 and earned its place as a flagship PlayStation series.

H causing d > ð
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The existence of PIE *k^H2and- / *(s)kend- ‘shine / glitter / burn’ only makes sense if they are related by optional *s > H2 (Whalen 2024b), since having 2 roots that differ only by H2 vs. s makes little sense. Alone, it might be considered possible, but with so many other examples of s / H, I see no other explanation. Roots with *(s)C- might often be caused by *sC > *HC / *CH as well. Looking at the cognates:
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*k^H2and- / *(s)kend- > Skt. (ś)cand- ‘shine / glitter’, L. candēre, incendium ‘fiery heat / fire / passion’, *sxand > Kh. qòn ‘burning coal’
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*k^H2and-rHo-? > *k^H2and-ro- > Skt. candrá- ‘shining / glittering’, *k^H2and-Hro- > G. kándaros ‘charcoal’
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*skend-ro- > Skt. hári-ścandra- ‘glittering like gold’
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most words can fit this theory. Here, *(s)kend- > Skt. (ś)cand- can only work if *-e- existed to front *k > *č, since PIE *sk^- > ch-. The 2nd *H needed to produce G. kándaros seems to be part of the suffix, usually disappearing, explaining *-iHno- / *-inHo- > -īno- / -ino-, etc. (Whalen 2024b). It might also help explain a group of words that seem obviously related to the above, but not regularly derivable from the same source:
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Ps. skōr ‘coal’, Waz. skȫr ‘piece of charcoal’, NP sikâr, Sh. kā́ro ‘coal’, kā̃rŭ ‘burning piece of coal’
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The existence of something like *skanra- seems needed to explain the nasalizaiton in kā̃rŭ, so their resemblance to +ścandra- is significant. With the retention of Iran. *H that optionally caused devoicing and fricatization (Kümmel, Whalen 2024c), sometimes after metathesis, these words allow more specificicty in the changes. If *H caused fricatization first, and sometimes moved after this, but before devoicing, it would allow the 2nd *H to both change *-ndr- to *-nðr- (for which no other examples would exist), then move to after *sk-, making *skH- that prevented palatalization (this likely showing that *H = R or χ). This would solve both problems preventing these groups from being seen as cognates at once. Approximately:
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*skend-Hro- = *skendRro- > *skenðRro- > *skRenðro- > *skR^enðro- > *skR^anðra- > *skranðra- > *skanðra- > Ps. skōr ‘coal’, etc.
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That this really did produce something like *skr- could be seen in explaining more derivatives of this word with otherwise unexplained retroflexion of *t :
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*skranðra-vat- > *skanðra-vart- > *skanðra-varṭ- > *skanðra-vaṭ- (dissimilation) > Ps. Khl. skarwáṭa ‘spark of fire’, Y. iskawaṭ ‘coal’
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Though -va(n)t- ‘possessing’ is a common suffix, that it appeared both with and without -n- prevents finding the exact sequence; either *vant with dissimilation of *n-n or simply *vat.
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R / r / H / 0
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Both *H > *R and *r > *H seem to exist without environmental cause, which shows that *H was pronounced similar to uvular R / x (Whalen, 2024e). Various paths include:
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r ( > R > X ) > 0
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G. drómos ‘race(track)’ >> Aro. drum / dum ‘road’
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*dru- > G. drûs, Alb. drushk / dushk ‘oak’
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*dreps- > Skt. drapsá- ‘banner’, G. dépsa ‘tanned skin’
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*derk^- > G. dérkomai, Arm. tesanem ‘see’
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*perk^- > L. procus ‘suitor’, Arm. p`esay ‘son-in-law / groom’
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*prek^- > L. prēx ‘request’, Arm. ałersan-k` / ałač`an-k` / ołok`an-k` ‘supplication’
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*karsto- > Ri. karšt / kašt, G. káston ‘wood’, Arm. kask ‘(chest)nut’
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*k^rno-s > L. cornus ‘cornel cherry-tree’, G. krános, Alb. thanë
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*wormo- > Li. varmas ‘insect/mosquito’, Alb. vemje
(and/or *wrmi- > ormr ‘worm’, *wormidā > *vomida > Rum. omidă ‘caterpillar’)
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This seems to include both r > 0 and l > 0 in Eastern Indo-European (in which many l > r are known), with uvular *R fairly clear as a feature of Indo-Iranian, since r > 0 occurs there often (some seen in cognates of the above):
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*splendh- > L. splend-, Li. spindėti ‘shine’, TB peñiya ‘splendoglory’
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*sprend(h)- > OE sprind ‘agile/lively’, E. sprint, Skt. spandate ‘throb/shake/quivekick’
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*prostH2o- > Kh. frosk / hósk ‘straight’, OCS prostъ ‘straight/simple’
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? > *bragnaka- > MP brahnag, Os. bägnäg ‘naked’
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? > *braywar- ‘multitude/myriad / 10,000’ > Av. baēvarǝ, OP baivar-, Sog. ßrywr
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Skt. vṛtra- ‘stone’, *vart(r)a- > Rom. barr, Lv. var, D. wáaṛ, Kh. boxt \ boht \ bohrt ‘rock/stone’, Ti. baṭ(h) ‘large rock’, Dm. bāṭ , Dv. wāt'
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*H2rg^nto-k^weito- > *ǝrzata-svēta > *ǝrzsvēt > Os. ëvzist \ ëvzestë ‘silver’
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Skt. gaccha- ‘tree’, Kh. gḷòts ‘crotch of tree’
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A. ghrútsa ‘wild strawberries’, Kh. grùts ‘bunch of grapes’, Skt. gutsá- / guccha- ‘bundle / bunch of flowers / tussock / etc.’
*gṛutsa- > *ṛutsa- > *uṛutsa- > Kt. vřóts, Kv. řóts ‘raceme / bunch of grapes (measure)’, Sa. vâṣ
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*k^louni-s > OIc hlaun, G. klónis ‘coccyx’, Li. šlaunìs ‘thigh / hip’, Av. sraōni- ‘hip / buttock’, Os. sin \ sujnë, *k’Rauṇi > *s’xauṇi > *s’xuŋai > Sh. sʌŋáy ‘buttock’, *s’xuŋay > *s’xuŋaž > *žus’ŋax > šʌsnā ‘thigh’, Kh. šròn ‘hip’
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This r > 0 might be much more common, but many examples could have been ignored by linguists, instead thought to be from *-o(s)- vs. suffixed *-ro-s even when they shared the same meaning:
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*dhmbhro- > Arm. damban / dambaran ‘tomb/grave’, G. táphros ‘ditch’, táphos ‘burial/funeral/grave’
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*autro- ‘clothing, shoe?’ > Av. aōthra- ‘footwear’, Arm. awd
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Compare Arm. r > x in:
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Akkadian taškarinnu, Hurrian taškarhi ‘box-tree’ >> Arm. tawsax
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kalamíndar ‘plane’, kałamax \ kałamał ‘white poplar’
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The various H’s could become r at times, like :
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*dH2ak^ru- ‘tear’ > Arm. *draćur > *traswǝr > artawsr
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*dH3oru- / *dH2aru- ‘tree’ > *draru > *raru > TB or, pl. ārwa (with reg. *dr > r, dissim. *r-r > 0-r )
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*bhey- >> *bhey-akHo- > Av. ni-vayaka- ‘fearful’, *bay-akRa- > Kho. haṃ-bālkā ‘fear’, NP bāk
(assuming that suffixes like -i(:)ka- / -a(:)ka- and G. -akhos are due to *-akHo- / *-aHko-, etc.)
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*kH1esaH2 > Alb. kesë / kezë ‘woman’s head-dress / bonnet / garland’, krezë ‘pistil’
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*kH1is-taH2 > L. crista ‘crest / plume / comb/tuft (on head)’, MIr cess ‘basket / wickerwork causeway / beehive’, Greek kístē ‘box / chest / casket’
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*H2waH1k^-k^oH3no- ‘sharp stone / weapon / (whet)stone / anvil / meteorite’
*xwa(x)ćaxWn- > *xwaśafn- > *xawśafn- > Av. haosafn-aēna- ‘of iron’
*xwaśafn- > *xxWaśafn- > *(R)áfsan(ya-) > Y. rispin, Shu. *ispin > sipin ‘iron’, Munji yispin, Os. æfsæn ‘plowshare’
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*bhaH2-sk^e- ‘tell/speak/boast > be loud/boastful/proud’ > Greek pháskō ‘say/assert/believe’
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*n-bhaH2-sk^e- ‘not speak / not boast > be quiet/modest/ashamed/depressed/indifferent’ > Arm. amač`em ‘feel inferior / be ashamed’, *ënbhaRsk^e- > *ïmwarsk- > TB mrausk- ‘feel an indifference/aversion to the world’
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Other examples of this occur in words not currently seen as cognates. Due to the many *R > *x and *x > *R above, the same changes allow them to be united. I will discuss each case in detail giving evidence for why they should be from the same root.
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1.
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*usr- ‘male (animal’ > Skt. usrá- ‘ox / bull’
*wrs- > Skt. (v)ṛṣabhá- ‘bull’
*wrs-en- > L. verrēs ‘boar’, G. Ion. ársēn ‘male’, Skt. vṛ́ṣaṇ-, Li. veršis ‘calf’, Lt. vērsis ‘ox’
*wrs-en- > *wRs-en- > *wxs-en- > *uks-en- > Av. uxšan- ‘bull’, E. ox, PT *wïksö:n > *(w)okso: > TB okso, TA opäs
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Here, the stage with *xs or *Xs can be seen by dissimilation with *H2 (which also was *X if the above examples can be trusted) in:
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*paH2-uRson- ‘protecting cattle’
*paX-uXson-
*paX-uXson- *paX-uson- dissimilation of back fricatives OR
*pa-uXson- *paX-uson- dissimilation of back fricatives

*p(a)(H2)u(H2)son-
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This explains the name’s variants *paH2uson- / *pH2uson- / *puH2son- (possibly also with ablaut) as *X-X > *X-0 or *0-X. It was once simply a generic job title, but it was later the source of several IE gods: *paH2uson- > *pauho:n > Greek Pā́n / Pā́ōn ‘Pan’, *puH2son- > Skt. Pūṣáṇ-, Scythian Pountas, *p(a)uson- > *favsno- > Latin Faunus. *paH2uson- is seen by Prósper as a compound of *paH2- ‘feed / protect’ (often used with animal names to form jobs in -herd), from his functions protecting and strengthening cattle. Thus, originally Cowherd and/or Sheperd God. In my mind, this makes the most sense with the changes above. It also would match the names of similar gods:
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L. Palēs (a pair who protect flocks/herds), Sicilian Palici, Skt. paśu-pāla- ‘herdsman’
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Skt. Viśpálā & the Lusitanian goddess Trebopala (*wik^- and *trVb- both meant ‘town, etc.’, apparently “Guarding the Settlement”)
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The Divine Twins were sometimes also named from *pH2alo- ‘guard / protector’. This might show a relation among the goddess and the twins was put into their names and reveal some of their ancient roles usually not put into poems (which tended to mentioning them saving people (often from waters), instead of protecting herds). Viśpálā was also said to “bestow rewards consisting of 1,000 prizes” (making her like Gaulish Rosmerta or Iranian *Artaxšiyī) and the roles of goddesses including protecting the home, possessions, cattle, and wealth might show either the similarity of these aspects in the minds of ancient people or a conflation of the natures of several goddesses. Instead of a derivative in *-lo-, it might be similar to *p(a)(H2)u(H2)son- in that the movement of *H2 creating -a- vs. -ā- could be due to metathesis in a compound:
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*lew- ‘seize / possessions / riches?’ >> OCS loviti ‘hunt’, SC lov ‘game animal’, TB luwo ‘animal’
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*paH2-luwo- ‘protecting animals / cattle’ ? > *paH2-lwo- > *pwaH2-lo- > *paH2-lo- ( > *pH2alo- )
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2.
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In one group of words (Witczak 2006) :
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*wrs-n- > *wars-n- > *waxs-n- > H. *wašhan- ‘garlic’
*wrs-n- > *urs-n- > *u(r)sn- > Li. usnìs ‘thistle’, Skt. uṣṇa-s ‘onion’, L. ūniō, *wúržna > Ps. úẓ̌a / ū́ẓ̌a ‘garlic’, Wanetsi múrža, Sog. ’βzn-, Y. wEẓ̌nu, Kh. wǝẓ̌nū / wreẓ̌nù
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These have been related to:
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*H1ews- ‘burn’ > L. ūrere, G. *eúh- > heúō ‘singe’, Skt. uṣṇá- ‘hot / acrid’, oṣaṇa- ‘pungent taste / sharp flavor’, oṣaṇī- ‘onion?’
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but Witczak instead connects them to H. šuppi-wašhar ‘onion’, from *wašhar ‘garlic’ (fairly certain to have existed, as šuppi+ is a calque ‘pure garlic’ of Sumerian sum-sikil). It is possible that both ideas could be true if *H1ews- is related to *H2aws- (in ‘dawn’ & ‘gold’) or that both come from *x(^)wes- (if H1 = x^ and H2 = x or similar). This optionality might also explain *x(^)wers- ‘rain’ > G. (e/a)érsē ‘dew’. Metathesis of some sort seems needed to get *H2aws- > +wašhar anyway. Whatever the origin, *u(r)sn- would come from *Husn-, either *H1usn- or *H2usn-. It seems better to see another case of *H > *R than *r imported from the n-stem. If it only affected 2 IIr. languages in the periphery, it would be an odd distribution, and from the many words for only V-stems ‘onion’, I don’t think most IE retained the C-stem for long. Since Kh. seems to have other examples of *u- > *ü- > we- and (like other Dardic) optionally changed *-V > -u after retroflex C, it seems it was the source of Y. wEẓ̌nu.
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Cheung, Johnny (2007) Etymological Dictionary of the Iranian Verb
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274417616
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Cheung, Johnny (2011) Selected Pashto Problems II. Historical Phonology 1: On Vocalism and Etyma
https://www.academia.edu/6502465
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Kümmel, Martin Joachim (2014) The development of laryngeals in Indo-Iranian
https://www.academia.edu/9352535
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Kümmel, Martin Joachim (2016) Is ancient old and modern new? Fallacies of attestation and reconstruction (with special focus on Indo-Iranian)
https://www.academia.edu/31147544
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Kümmel, Martin Joachim (2020) “Prothetic h-” in Khotanese and the reconstruction of Proto-Iranic
https://www.academia.edu/44309119
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Lubotsky, Alexander (1995a) Reflexes of Proto-Indo-European *sk In Indo-Iranian
https://www.academia.edu/428965
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Lubotsky, Alexander (1995b) Sanskrit h < *Dh, Bh
https://www.academia.edu/428975
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Panaino, Antonio (2017) The Souls of Women in the Zoroastrian Afterlife
https://www.academia.edu/36346591
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Whalen, Sean (2023) Pashto m- entries by Georg Morgenstierne
https://www.reddit.com/Pashtun/comments/128a24x/pashto_m_entries_by_georg_morgenstierne/
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Whalen, Sean (2024a) Proto-Indo-European ‘Father’, ‘Mother’, Metathesis
https://www.academia.edu/115434255
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Whalen, Sean (2024b) Indo-European Alternation of *H / *s (Draft)
https://www.academia.edu/114375961
​
Whalen, Sean (2024c) Laryngeals, H-Metathesis, H-Aspiration vs. H-Fricatization, and H-Hardening in Indo-Iranian, Greek, and Other Indo-European
https://www.academia.edu/114276820
​
Whalen, Sean (2024d)
https://www.reddit.com/mythology/comments/1cdz1no/the_demoness_jah%C4%AB_and_her_indoeuropean_context/
​
Whalen, Sean (2024e) Greek Uvular R / q, ks > xs / kx / kR, k / x > k / kh / r, Hk > H / k / kh (Draft)
https://www.academia.edu/115369292
​
Witczak, Krzysztof (2006) The Hittite Name for 'Garlic'
https://www.academia.edu/6870991
​

I don’t have a snarky lead-in today. I have a bowl full of steamed dumplings and some hot sauce to dip them in. I’m a very hungry SilverKappa, and this is the RDA Recap.
Let’s dive in!
INTRO
The Mountain Goats – “Training Montage”
INVISIBLES
This is Lorelei – “I’m All Fucked Up”
The Black Keys – “You’ll Pay”
Francis of Delirium – “First Touch”
Pearl Jam - “Wreckage”
SET 1
R.E.M. - “Orange Crush”
Lit – “Over My Head”
Tom Cardy - “Online”
PSY - “Hangover”
SET 2
Alice in Chains – “Heaven Beside You”
Silversun Pickups – “We Won’t Come Out”
Little Big - “Boobs”
Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Cities In Dust”
SET 3
Altered Images – “I Could Be Happy”
Fontaines D.C. - “Starburster”
Ze Frank – True Facts: Hippopotamus
Toploader – “Dancing in the Moonlight”
WTFIWWY
WTFIWWY Live - Total Eclipse of Uranus - 4/15/24
Tech Q&A - Is EK Waterblocks Going Down the Drain? - 4/20/24

That's a new channel for the Tech Q&A stuff. GO AND SUBSCRIBE TO IT. I mean it. Go. Now! Get Nash up to 1,000 subs on the second channel!

STORY 1: Hospital staff plead with bite victims to stop bringing snakes to emergency departments
STORY 2: 'It looks jank': Florida couple caught taping 'crude looking' lottery ticket to claim $1 million prize, cops say
STORY 3: Woman Called Cops Over Bad Batch Of Meth
STORY 4: Armed felon could get 7 years in prison after tirade at Brooklyn Dunkin' Donuts
STORY 5: Man accused of firing gun in I-93 breakdown lane after running out of gas
STORY 6: 'I tried telling them to stop': Video shows people yank bear cubs from tree for selfie
SET 4
Todd in the Shadows – POP SONG REVIEW: “Jolene” by Beyonce
Linkin Park – “Burn It Down”
Guano Apes – “Open Your Eyes”

An accordion remix of Beyonce was here, but I had no idea how to search for it.

Jurassic Jade – “A Small World”
SET 5
Dominic Noble – Guardians of Ga’Hoole ~ Lost in Adaptation
Ghost - “Cirice”
Hildegard von Blingin’ - “Jolene”
I still have no idea what the fuck is happening.
They Might Be Giants – “Bills, Bills, Bills”
OUTRO
Girl in Red – “Bad Idea!”

I've collected some live version from each song that i could find. Lot of them are time stamps from a full live show, this helps to find it easier.
I'm happy to update it/fix by the comments. Hope y'all enjoy

Sum 41 - Live collection

Half Hour of Power (2000)

1.	Grab the Devil by the Horns and Fuck Him Up the Ass	2003 - 2016 - 2017
2.	Machine Gun	2001 - 2002 - 2002 - 2003 - 2003 - 2022
3.	What I Believe	2001 - 2020
4.	T.H.T.	? - 2002 - 2018 - 2019
5.	Makes No Difference	2002 - 2001 - 2002 - 2023
6.	Summer	2002 - 2002 - 2019 - 2022
7.	32 Ways to Die
8.	Second Chance for Max Headroom	2001
9.	Dave's Possessed Hair	2001 - 2001
10.	It's What We're All About	2002? - 2001
11.	Ride the Chariot to the Devil
12.	Another Time Around

All Killer No Filler (2001)

1.	Introduction to Destruction	2022 - 2024
2.	Nothing on My Back	2001 - 2002 - 2002 - 2003 - 2003 - 2005
3.	Never Wake Up	2002 - 2018
4.	Fat Lip	2001 - 2002 - 2002 - 2003 - 2003 - 2017 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024
5.	Rhythms	2001 - 2002
6.	Motivation	2001 - 2002 - 2002 - 2003 - 2003 - 2017 - 2022 - 2023
7.	In Too Deep	2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2017 - 2003 - 2024
8.	Summer	2002 - 2002 - 2019 - 2022
9.	Handle This	2001
10.	Crazy Amanda Bunkface	2001 - 2002
11.	All She's Got	2001 - 2002 - 2003
12.	Heart Attack	2002 - 2003 - 2003 - 2003
13.	Pain for Pleasure	2001 - 2001 - 2002 - 2002 - 2003 - 2003 - 2004 - 2022

Does This Look Infected? (2002)

1.	The Hell Song	2002 - 2003 - 2003 - 2003 - 2017 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024
2.	Over My Head (Better Off Dead)	2003 - 2003 - 2003 - 2017 - 2019 - 2022 - 2023
3.	My Direction	2003
4.	Still Waiting	2002 - 2002 - 2003 - 2003 - 2017 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024
5.	A.N.I.C.	2003
6.	No Brains	2003
7.	All Messed Up	2003 - 2003
8.	Mr. Amsterdam	2002 - 2003
9.	Thanks for Nothing	2003 - 2018
10.	Hyper-Insomnia-Para-Condrioid	2003 - 2018
11.	Billy Spleen	2012 - 2018 - 2018
12.	Hooch	2003

Chuck (2004)

1.	Intro	2005 - 2020
2.	No Reason	2005 - 2017 - 2019 - 2020 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024
3.	We're All to Blame	2017 - 2022 - 2023
4.	Angels with Dirty Faces	2005 - 2020
5.	Some Say	? - 2021
6.	The Bitter End	? - 2017
7.	Open Your Eyes	2019 - 2020
8.	Slipping Away
9.	I'm Not the One	2019
10.	Welcome to Hell	2004
11.	Pieces	2017 - 2022 - 2023
12.	There's No Solution	2004 - 2016
13.	88	2022 - 2023
14.	Noots

Underclass Hero (2007)

1.	Underclass Hero	2017 - 2023
2.	Walking Disaster	2017 - 2023
3.	Speak of the Devil	2007
4.	Dear Father	2007
5.	Count Your Last Blessings	2007 - 2012 - 2016
6.	Ma Poubelle	2010 - 2011
7.	March of the Dogs	2007 - 2007
8.	The Jester	2007
9.	With Me	2019
10.	Pull the Curtain	2007
11.	King of Contradiction	2007 - 2019
12.	Best of Me	2024
13.	Confusion and Frustration in Modern Times	2007
14.	So Long Goodbye	2007 - 2024

Screaming Bloody Murder (2011)

1.	Reason to Believe	2011 - 2012 - 2016 - 2017 - 2019
2.	Screaming Bloody Murder	2011 - 2016 - 2017 - 2022
3.	Skumfuk	2011 - 2011 - 2020
4.	Time for You to Go
5.	Jessica Kill	2019 - 2020 - 2024
6.	What Am I to Say
7.	Holy Image of Lies	2012 - 2012 - 2020 - 2020
8.	Sick of Everyone	2012 - 2012 - 2016 - 2020
9.	Happiness Machine	2011 - 2020
10.	Crash	2017
11.	Blood in My Eyes	2015 - 2020
12.	Baby You Don't Wanna Know	2011
13.	Back Where I Belong	2011 - 2012
14.	Exit Song	2011 - 2012

13 Voices (2016)

1.	A Murder of Crows	2017 - 2017
2.	Goddamn I'm Dead Again	2017 - 2019 - 2022
3.	Fake My Own Death	2016 - 2017 - 2019 - 2024
4.	Breaking the Chain	2017 - 2017
5.	There Will Be Blood	2016 - 2017
6.	13 Voices	2016 - 2016
7.	War	2017 - 2019 - 2022
8.	God Save Us All (Death to POP)	2016 - 2017
9.	The Fall and the Rise	2016 - 2017
10.	Twisted by Design	2017

Order in Decline (2019)

1.	Turning Away	2019
2.	Out for Blood	2019 - 2020 - 2022
3.	The New Sensation	2020
4.	A Death in the Family	2019 - 2019
5.	Heads Will Roll	2020
6.	45 (A Matter of Time)	2019 - 2020
7.	Never There	2019
8.	Eat You Alive
9.	The People Vs...	2019 - 2020
10.	Catching Fire	2020 - 2022

Heaven :x: Hell (2024)

1.	Waiting on a Twist of Fate	2024
2.	Landmines	2024 - 2024
3.	I Can't Wait
4.	Time Won't Wait
5.	Future Primitive
6.	Dopamine
7.	Not Quite Myself
8.	Bad Mistake
9.	Johnny Libertine
10.	Radio Silence
11.	Preparasi a Salire
12.	Rise Up	2024
13.	Stranger in These Times
14.	I Don't Need Anyone
15.	Over the Edge
16.	House of Liars
17.	You Wanted War
18.	Paint It Black
19.	It's All Me
20.	How the End Begins

Covers

1.	Raining Blood	Slayer	2001
2.	How Your Remind Me	Nickelback	2002
3.	Medley	Metallica	2003 - 2017
4.	We Will Rock You	Queen	2017 - 2022
5.	Sleep Now in the Fire	Rage Against The Machine	2023

​

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As I've gone back into the history of CSU Rams games, I've noticed a concerning lack of content. Major games in CSU's history aren't available anywhere online, and without some kind of archive from CBS Sports, The Mountain, or ESPN, these games are likely "lost media." For example, the 2013 CSU basketball team nearly every game missing including: the home comeback against SDSU, the NCAA tournament game versus Missouri, home versus UNLV. The 2016-17 era and this team seem to only exist in clips.
I'm thinking, collectively, we could come up with a good amount of these, and since there's not much going on this summer, we could track down and get a centralized location for these historical CSU games, both football and basketball. If there's a major volleyball game or women's basketball game I should get, we can definitely add it to the list, too.
Notes:

• I'm going to limit it to a wish list of the bowl games, NCAA tournament games, and "important" CSU games.
• Full TV Broadcast is the gold standard.
• Second priority is a "shortened version"
• Third priority is highlights
• Fourth is a clip (typically an ending)
• Last is some fan recorded video from the stands
• Yes, I know some many of these games we'd rather forget
• Please add requested games, or found games, in the comments
• If you have a copy of one of these games or a higher priority of these games, please let me know and we can update it.
• I'm going to start physically storing Rams media. Not sure how to make it available, but we'll see.

What's surprising is the more recent the games are, the less likely we are to find the full versions online. Blame DRM, YouTube policies etc., but people don't record via VHS anymore and DVR libraries notoriously delete old content when you're not paying attention.

FOOTBALL

Bowl Games (games prior to 1990 are unlikely to exist)

Year	Game Name	Game Date	Opponent	Link
1990	Freedom Bowl	Dec 29, 1990	Oregon	Full Game
1994	Holiday Bowl	Dec 30, 1994	Michigan	Full Game
1995	Holiday Bowl	Dec 29, 1995	Kansas State	Full Game
1997	Holiday Bowl	Dec 29, 1997	Missouri	Full Game
1999	Liberty Bowl	Dec 31, 1999	Southern Miss	Full Game
2000	Liberty Bowl	Dec 29, 2000	Louisville	Full Game
2001	New Orleans Bowl	Dec 18, 2001	North Texas	Full Game
2002	Liberty Bowl	Dec 31, 2002	TCU	MISSING
2003	San Francisco Bowl	Dec 31, 2003	Boston College	Full Game
2005	Poinsettia Bowl	Dec 22, 2005	Navy	Full Game
2008	New Mexico Bowl	Dec 20, 2008	Fresno State	Full Game
2013	New Mexico Bowl	Dec 21, 2013	Washington State	First Half Second Half
2014	Las Vegas Bowl	Dec 20, 2014	Utah	Full Game
2015	Arizona Bowl	Dec 29, 2015	Nevada	Short 1 Hour
2016	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl	Dec 22, 2016	Idaho	Full Game
2017	New Mexico Bowl	Dec 16, 2017	Marshall	Short 30 Minute

​
Important Games (please request more in the comments)*

Year	Week	Opponent	Date	Link
1994	Week 3	at BYU	Sep 17, 1994	MISSING
1994	Week 6	at Arizona	Oct 8, 1994	Full Game
1994	Week 10	vs. Wyoming	Nov 5, 1994	Full Game
1996	Week 10	vs. Air Force	Nov 2, 1996	Highlights
1997	Week 3	vs. Utah State	Sep 13, 1997	MISSING
1997	Week 8	vs. Wyoming	Oct 18, 1997	MISSING
1998	Week 1	at Michigan State	Aug 29, 1998	MISSING
1998	Week 6	at UTEP	Oct 3, 1998	MISSING
1999	Week 1	vs. CU	Sep 4, 1999	Full Game
1999	Week 2	vs. Nevada	Sep 11, 1999	MISSING
1999	Week 8	vs. Wyoming	Oct 23, 1999	Full Game
1999	Week 9	vs. Utah	Oct 28, 1999	Clips
2000	Week 1	vs. CU	Sep 2, 2000	MISSING
2000	Week 6	vs. New Mexico	Oct 7, 2000	MISSING
2000	Week 7	vs. UNLV	Oct 14, 2000	MISSING
2000	Week 8	at Utah	Oct 21, 2000	MISSING
2001	Week 7	at Fresno State	Oct 13, 2001	Full Game
2002	Week 0	at Virginia	Aug 22, 2002	Short 1 Hour
2002	Week 1	vs. CU	Aug 31, 2002	Short 1 Hour
2005	Week 5	vs. Utah	Oct 8, 2005	Clip
2005	Week 7	vs. Wyoming	Oct 22, 2005	Full Game
2006	Week 2	vs. CU	Sep 9, 2006	MISSING
2007	Week 1	vs. CU	Sep 1, 2007	Full Game
2008	Week 9	vs. SDSU	Oct 25, 2008	MISSING
2009	Week 1	vs. CU	Sep 6, 2009	MISSING
2009	Week 4	vs. Idaho	Sep 25, 2009	Highlights
2011	Week 4	vs. Utah State	Sep 24, 2011	MISSING
2012	Week 1	vs. CU	Sep 1, 2012	Highlights
2014	Week 8	vs. Utah State	Oct 19, 2014	Short 1 Hour
2014	Week 1	vs. Colorado	Aug 29, 2014	Short 1 Hour
2014	Week 4	at Boston College	Sep 27, 2014	Highlights
2017	Week 0	vs. Oregon State	Aug 26, 2017	Short 1 Hour
2018	Week 2	vs. Arkansas	Sep 8, 2018	Highlights
2020	Week 4 (?)	vs. Wyoming	Nov 5, 2020	Short 1 Hour
2022	Week 6	at Nevada	Oct 7, 2022	Highlights
2023	Week 3	at Colorado	Sep 17, 2023	Short 20 Minute
2023	Week 7	vs. Boise State	Oct 15, 2023	Short 30 Minute

*Primarily I focused on 2005 and beyond. I didn't add a lot of games from the 90s and 2000s beyond what was easily accessible. I doubt they exist anywhere online. Most likely they exist on someone's hard drives, VHS tapes, or DVDs.

BASKETBALL

NCAA Tournament Games (1969 NCAA Tournament and earlier are unlikely to exist)

Year	Round	Opponent	Link
1989	Round of 64	Florida	Highlights
1989	Round of 32	Syracuse	MISSING
1990	Round of 64	Alabama	MISSING
2003	Round of 64	Duke	MISSING
2012	Round of 64	Murray State	MISSING
2013	Round of 64	Missouri	Highlights
2013	Round of 32	Louisville	Full Game
2022	Round of 64	Michigan	Full Game
2023	First Four	Virginia	Full Game
2023	Round of 64	Texas	Highlights

​
Important Games (please request more in the comments)*

Year	Date	Opponent	Link
2010-11	Feb 2, 2011	vs. SDSU	Clip
2011-12	Nov 30, 2011	vs. Colorado	Highlights
2011-12	Jan 8, 2012	vs. SDSU	Highlights
2011-12	Feb 21, 2012	vs. New Mexico	Highlights
2011-12	Feb 29, 2012	vs. UNLV	MISSING
2012-13	Jan 19, 2013	vs. UNLV	MISSING
2012-13	Feb 13, 2013	vs. SDSU	Highlights
2014-15	Dec 10, 2014	at CU	MISSING
2014-15	Dec 19, 2014	at DU	MISSING
2014-15	Jan 24, 2015	vs. SDSU	Highlights
2014-15	Feb 7, 2015	vs. UNLV	MISSING
2014-15	Mar 7, 2015	vs. Utah State	MISSING
2016-17	Feb, 25, 2017	vs. SDSU	Clip
2016-17	Feb 28, 2017	vs. Wyoming	Clip
2017-18	Dec 23, 2017	vs Long Beach State	Clip
2019-20	Jan 30, 2020	vs. Nevada	Clip
2021-22	Feb 4, 2022	vs. SDSU	Highlights
2021-22	Feb 13, 2022	at Boise State	Full Game
2021-22	Mar 5, 2022	vs. Boise State	Highlights
2021-22	Mar 10, 2022	vs. Utah State (Neutral)	Highlights
2021-22	Nov 19, 2021	vs. Bradley (Neutral)	Full Game
2021-22	Nov 21, 2021	vs. Creighton (Neutral)	Highlights
2021-22	Nov 22, 2021	vs. Northeastern (Neutral)	Highlights
2022-23	Nov 7, 2022	vs. Gardner Webb	Fan Video
2022-23	Dec 18, 2022	vs. St. Mary's	Full Game
2022-23	Jan 14, 2023	at UNLV	Clip
2022-23	Feb 18, 2023	vs. Fresno State	MISSING
2023-24	Nov 22, 2023	vs. Boston College (Neutral)	Highlights
2023-24	Nov 23, 2023	vs. Creighton (Neutral)	Full Game
2023-24	Nov 29, 2023	vs. CU	Highlights
2023-24	March 14, 2024	vs. Nevada (Neutral)	Highlights

The NHL's experiment is finally over. The question of "What would happen if you put hockey in the desert" is answered. The answer turns out the same as every other team that has been ever put in the sands of Arizona. Failure. Absolute fucking failure. Not only has this experiment worked in other places it has produced Cups in those places. But before we tear apart the experiment in utter futility we must go further back. To a time that was CONSIDERABLY BETTER When the soon-to-be Utah whatever the fuck they are called were the original Winnipeg Jets
​
​
1972-73: You begin your existence as one of the founding teams of the WHA. The league that becomes something of a pain in the ass for the NHL and you quickly establish yourself as the cream of the crop. You even make the Finals in your very first try. Losing to another future cesspool of NHL failure in the New England Whalers (The Carolina Hurricanes)
​
1973-74: Rebound from this start by being swept in the first round by the Houston Aeros the following season.
​
1974-75: Miss the playoffs entirely despite being head and shoulders better than the previous year's team. Don't worry. It gets better.
​
1975-76: You are the class of the league again and annihilate all who stand in your way in the playoffs. Sweeping the Edmonton Oilers, torching the Calgary Cowboys in 5, and then sweeping those fucking Aeros for the Cup. YOU ARE A CHAMPION!
​
1976-77: You aren't quite as good as last year as your playoff run is a slog this time. Taking the San Diego Mariners in 7 and the Aeros in 6 before being ground down in 7 by yet ANOTHER future example of the NHL's inability to run expansion franchises or the remnants of enemy league: The Quebec Nordiques (The Colorado Avalanche)
​
1977-78: You brush off this minor inconvenience by dominating the league again with a 109-point season and bitch slap the Birmingham Bulls and New England Whalers in route to your 2nd WHA Cup. You've won again!
​
1978-79: Sadly the WHA has lost its battle with the NHL and this will be the final season of the WHA's existence. It's been a hell of a run and you sneak in as the 3rd of 4 playoff teams. Were you in all iterations of the team to follow this would mean you shit the bed. But no. You send this league off with a bang by sweeping the Nordiques and winning your 3rd and final WHA championship in 6 over the Oilers. Now it's time for the pain.
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1979-81: Congratulations you are one of four WHA teams to become NHL franchises. The NHL welcomes you by handing you 2 of your 3 worst seasons till you are torn from the heart of Canada in about 15 years.
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1981-82: You are back as a playoff team. Enjoy a quick 3-1 series loss to one of the NHL's most miserable franchises. The St. Louis Blues.
1982-83: Lose again. This time to one of the franchises that came with you to the NHL. The Edmonton Oilers. Remember that name.
1983-84: Hey look! You got swept by the Oilers again
1984-85: You finally got to win a series in the NHL by beating the Flames. Now here's Gretsky and the Oilers to kick your ass again.
1985-86: You DON'T get swept by the Oilers this time. You get swept by the Flames
1986-87: You beat the Flames for the 2nd time in 3 tries. Your prize? Being swept by the Oilers again
1987-88: Are you tired of being swept by the Oilers? Well you might as well have been swept again because this time they beat you in 5
1988-89: We interrupt this regularly scheduled assbeating to bring you a season of no playoffs. Least Wayne Gretzky is no longer an Oiler.
1989-90: Too bad it doesn't matter because the Oilers beat you in 5 again
1990-91: Miss the playoffs again
1991-93: Reinforce your position as the little brother of your Canadian teams by getting your ass kicked for the next 2 years in 7 and 6 games by the fucking Canucks.
1993-94: Sneak a missed playoffs season in there for good measure
1994-95: Miss the playoffs this year too. But here's this Shane Doan fellow. Lets see if you can win something with him.
1995-96: You lose in the first round to the fledgling Detroit Red Wings juggernaut. This proves to be your final season in Winnipeg as increasing player salaries and a small stadium in a small market prove to be your undoing. You are being sold and shipped to hell on Earth to become the Great NHL Experiment. You are now the product of poor judgment that is known as the Phoenix Coyotes.
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1996-2002: Welcome to the most successful period of your time in Arizona. Making the playoffs 5 times in 6 years and losing in 7, 6, 7, 5, and 5 games to the Mighty Ducks, Red Wings, Blues, Avalanche, and Sharks respectively. All in the first round.
2002-05: Miss the playoffs twice and have a season canceled by a lockout. Something needs to change. It is time to make the great mistake of any team looking for a flashy coach. Hire Wayne Gretzky because all great players make great coaches. Right? Wrong. Gretsky sets you into the tailspin that will end this franchise's existence in Arizona
2005-09: You miss the playoffs every single year of Gretzky's tenure and hover at the .500 line around 67-83 points. Well, that didn't work.
2009-10: The new coach gets shit back on track and you are somehow 4th in the Western Conference despite a 107-point season. Surely this means-Oh my god you lost to a Red Wings team that was 5 points worse than you and 14 points worse at goaltending
2010-11: Well you are a bit worse this season but its fine. You have aspiration-You lost to Detroit again. and you got swept.
2011-12: You swing your dick and embarrass the Blackhawks AND Predators this time. The only thing that could stop you from an easy Stanley Cup championship is some lowly franchise named the Los Angeles Kings. Come on this should be easy. You are better than these clowns.
Western Conference Finals: In typical Arizona fashion. If a team from Los Angeles can take something from you they do. The Kings kick your ass in 5 games and go on to win the Stanley Cup. Taking the only chance you'll ever have at hoisting the Cup yourselves from you.
2012-14: Regress hard, rename to the Arizona Coyotes, and start playing ownership hot potato.
2014-19: The drama continues, you suck, no one wants you, the fans fuck off, and Shane Doan retires in 2017.
2019-20: You are absolute dogshit still but this is the COVID year where you get to make the playoffs via the moronic bubble and Darcy Kuemper standing on his head to prevent the Nashville Predators from knowing what points are. You are rewarded for this by getting smacked in 5 by the Avalanche.
2020-21: It turns out GM John Chayka was a massive corrupt douche bag and the team is mediocre and going nowhere. Cast him into the desert and reach for the shiny GM pick of former Blues assistant GM Bill Armstrong. Armstrong arrives at the conclusion of "BLOW IT UP" What ensues results in most of the rest of the fans fucking off and the Coyotes being sentenced to play in a college ice rink that barely seats 5,000
2021-present: WELCOME TO THE FIRE SALE. EVERYTHING MUST GO! OVERPAID CAPTAINS? GONE. GOALIES THAT ARE THE ONLY REASON YOU WERE WORTH A DAMN? GONE. HOT-DOG-EATING ASSHOLES AND OVERRATED FORMER MVPS? OH YOU BEST BELIEVE THEY ARE GONE. In exchange, you get such a massive pick haul under competent drafting that you quickly start to put the pieces for what may soon be a dominant team. Sure the stadium proposals are falling through but there's hope. An auction for a piece of land no one seems to want and a promising start to a season for the first time in years. Arizona has always been fairweather. Put a winning team out there and the fans will come running back in no time. A glorious new era is upon-
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The Betrayal: In the twilight hours of the 2023-24 NHL season rumor leaks that the team is going to be quietly sold to the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz and the team will be relocated to Salt Lake City. Alex Meruelo gets hundreds of millions of dollars for his failure to resurrect the once proud franchise and probably a priority ticket to own the next experiment of dropping an expansion team with no hope in a city that only cares about sports teams that win. The promising core will become Utah's to bask in as what is being built may very well coalesce into a team with legitimate Cup aspirations. That chunk of land? Probably ends up a monument to Meruelo's arrogance and casinos unless he drops out of the bid or loses it.
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In the end, Arizona is left with nothing. No fond memories. No team. Nothing but the memory of glory stolen by Los Angeles and the following decade of bitter failure and drama. Another in a legacy of failures that stand alongside the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL, and the post-2001 Arizona Diamondbacks of the MLB.
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As a long-time fan. I'm done. I won't be supporting this team in Utah. I won't support any future and likely Meruelo-owned expansion team. I'm off to the Lightning. My secondary team of the last few years and I'd recommend any remaining Coyotes fans choose new teams as well. Hockey in the desert was a failure and it will more than likely fail when they bring it back.
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Pain.
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In celebration of todays fire sale, I want to repost some thoughts I posted three years ago. And I still think they are valid, actually more than ever.
We know Burry bought 2 million shares in summer 2019 and DFV followed buying 1000 calls. Burry cashed out later with a nice profit, but well before the sneeze (maybe nervous because of pandemic effect ?).
Michael Burry, The Hedge Fund Genius Who Started GameStop’s 4,000% Rise, Sold Before Its Reddit Surge (forbes.com)
“GameStop could pull off perhaps the most consequential and shareholder-friendly buyback in stock market history with elegance and stealth,” Burry told the company after disclosing his position. “Mr. Market is putting this one right in your hands,” said Burry. Within months GameStop spent $200 million to retire 38% of its heavily shorted stock.
So GameStop was evidently already shorted a lot before the virus hit retailers and Wall Street started to short them big time. Yes, GameStop revenue was declining, but not drastically until 2019.
GameStop Revenue 2010-2023 GME MacroTrends
GameStop was also a dividend stock, and the decreasing stock price caused hefty yield of over 13% in 2019, the last year GameStop paid a dividend. It is interesting how dividends rose from low 20s to 36 cent in 2019, one would assume an attempt to defend against the short sellers.
GameStop - 10 Year Dividend History GME MacroTrends
Now, shortly after the sneeze we discussed how Bezos is ex Wall Street and we discovered "cellar boxing". It would naturally totally make sense to short companies into bankruptcy to either get rid of competitors - or to buy the valuable pieces almost for free and grow your empire faster.
But why could anyone be interested in a "dying" retail company like GameStop, when the future of gaming is allegedly e-commerce ?
To answer this, we might need to take a look at this article from 2017...
Printing money: How Valve went from being an indy game developer to the most profitable company per employee in the USA - Digital Innovation and Transformation (harvard.edu)
and this articles from 2010 and 2011...
Valve And Steam Worth Billions (forbes.com)
Valve more profitable per employee than Google, Apple - GameSpot
You might ask, why all those old articles... well, thing is, we talk about a private company. So they do not need to provide as detailed reporting (started to go dark when the numbers became too juicy) and investors unfortunately had no way to invest into this most profitable business model.
So the one grand prize, the one with the deepest fucking value of it all... is in the business model and quasi monopoly of Steam/Valve.
But Valve/Steam would be a tough nut to crack for any competitor... except if you could acquire a company with a huge customer base consisting of gamers. This makes it way more attractive for publishers and developers to join your platform compared to having to start from scratch...
Fast forward till today - so far, there is still no way for investors to tap into that most lucrative business model, Stearn/Valve is still private and a quasi monopoly.
Here is an article providing some current estimates...
Valve / Steam estimates
It would be tough, but if one can pull it off, it is GameStop and RC. And if he does, it means insanely deep value. While the wallet seems like a failure, it proved how innovative GameStop can be. Also, it is all about creating an environment, where developers and content creators could participate, decentralization vs monopoly. Really owning your assets.
Institutions would go bonkers to get a piece of the pie, especially since smart household investors grabbed and DRSd a huge chunk of the company already.
We are early, but we are not wrong. If GameStop manages to pull this off and break the monopoly, we will be the next Coca-Cola millionaires - MOASS or not.
Without MOASS, it would just take a bit longer. But then profits can mean dividends, and this will bleed short sellers, leading to MOASS.
Life changing money either way, only a matter of time.
Stay strong, the price is still wrong 😉🚀🌒✨🏴‍☠️
But they need to drop the price as painfully and low as possible to "shake the tree", because they know too well their time is running out.
Personally, I think there might have been yet another reason to short GameStop, but that is a topic for another post, when I find some time for an update of my "The Perfect Storm" DD.

The format of the show is the same as regular HK, the chefs do the challenges, then the winning team gets a reward and losing team gets a punishment, then there’s dinner services, and then someone gets eliminated. The main difference is that the cast consists of prep cooks, line cooks, home cooks, culinary students, etc between the ages of 15 and 20. Also Chef Ramsay would be easier on these contestants than on the original show. And finally, instead of getting a head chef position with a quarter million dollar salary. The winners get a $250,000 cash prize.