Ever since the end of Canto 6 I've wondered where specifically Mirror Heathcliff's title came from. The source most people jump to is the poem by van Goethe, in which a father and son ride through a forest, only for the son to be killed by the Erlking. You may be asking yourself, "What does this German poem have to do with the story of Canto 6?". I honestly have no clue. At first I thought there might be some deep connection that I just couldn't see, but I eventually began to wonder if the poem had any connection at all. The Erlking is from folklore; there are many interpretations of him that Limbus could be drawing from. So I looked through various versions of Erlkings and Wild Hunt leaders across folklore and literature in an attempt to find any that resemble ours, with some interesting results.
I found a story that I believe to be the primary inspiration for our Erlking, one that connects Limbus's retelling of Wuthering Heights to a far older love story.
I present to you: Sir Orfeo
This is a British poem written in the late 13th to 14th century about a man saving his wife from a fairy king.
It starts with a king named Orfeo being told by his wife, Heurodis, that the Fairy King visited her in her dreams and told her that she would be taken to his kingdom the following day. The next day, Orfeo and his knights guarded Heurodis while she sat in an orchard, but that didn't stop her from vanishing into thin air. Orfeo, heartbroken, gives up his throne to wander the lands as a hermit, taking only his lyre with him. Orfeo would live in a forest for years, often spotting the Fairy King or mysterious processions of knights and hunters. After a decade, Orfeo sees Heurodis riding in one of these processions, but the couple don't have chance to even say a word to each other. Orfeo follows the group to the Fairy King's castle and sees many undead, his wife among them. He plays his lyre for the Fairy King asks for the return of Heurodis as payment, which the king agrees to after some convincing. The pair then return to their home and lives as royalty.
It's easy to compare Heathcliff's story to Orfeo's. Both flee home with broken hearts, only to return years later. Both have their loves whisked away by a fairy king with an undead procession. Both reconnect with said loves by overcoming the king.
There. A likely inspiration for Limbus's Erlking. All done, mystery solved, back to the MD mines. Right?
Wrong
Anyone with a passing knowledge of mythology probably noticed that Sir Orfeo looks a lot like another, way more famous story.
It's literally just Orpheus and Euridice. I mean the dude's name is Orfeo it isn't subtle. The only difference is the ending.
I don't think this was intentional, but you can interpret the Erlking not just as Book Heathcliff or Sir Orfeo's Fairy King, but also as Orpheus. Heathcliff/Orfeo and the Erlking/Orpheus both want the same thing, to be with the person they love. Most Heathcliffs, like Orpheus are doomed to never reach that goal because they don't fully trust their partners. Our Heathcliff, like Orfeo, succeeded where they failed.
Thanks for reading my deranged ramblings.
For the rare literate PM fan, you can check out Sir Orfeo here.

Since I already expect to be beaten by other fans, I will try to express this theory of mine in a very schematic way step by step
A) Apparently, although there are many nuances and even conflicting sources, we can say that the Jedi and the Sith have at their base two different motivations for acting: in theory, and i underline "in theory", Jedi are moved by altruism, by the idea to act for a greater good, are at the service of the community, give great importance to inner serenity, etc The Sith on the other hand, generally and i underline "generally", are driven by the desire to fully experience their emotions and satisfy their personal passions
B) However, this should not automatically lead all Sith to be evil: living following one's emotions and passions is not necessarily bad. Modern psychology would classify this type of behavior as "Dionysian", which is contrasted with the other classical behavior which is "Apollonian". But these two terms are in no way synonymous with good or evil. So why should a path based on emotions and passions, even emotions and passions of a personal nature, necessarily lead to evil ?
C) I'll give you some examples: a revolutionary who fights for freedom is driven by a great passion, the classic avenger of the night is often driven by a personal revenge against evil. A person who dedicates himself to becoming the greatest sportsman in the world or to becoming an excellent artist is dedicating his entire life to a personal passion and probably also has very strong emotional reasons for doing so but this does not necessarily make him a person evil. In short: there are not only negative personal desires and negative personal emotions, such as ambition, anger, etc Imagine if Anakin had simply killed the desert raiders who killed his mother, but without touching the women and children of that tribe. His act, driven by a strong emotion, would have been less negative and fit into the stereotype of the "avenger of the night": who is a dark hero, almost an anti-hero we could say, but certainly not a villain. The "road warrior" or the Punisher or the Gatsu model character from Berserk would fit perfectly into this category

D) I'll give a direct example of a popular character from another saga, who however has several points in common with a very famous Sith. The character I use as an example is Severus Snape from the Harry Potter saga: if we analyze Snape's motivations we can see that everything he does over the course of the seven books is driven by only two motivations, which are love for Lily and the desire to take revenge against Voldemort. Every single action of Snape, however cold he may apparently seem, is driven by these two reasons... which as you will notice are purely emotional in nature. At the beginning, and perhaps even at the end, Snape doesn't care much about the fact that Voldemort also kills Muggles or at least that isn't his main reason for fighting him: he wants to avenge Lily in the name of his Love for her. So Snape fits perfectly into the description of a Sith: he doesn't do what he does for a lofty reason of love for "community" and for an abstract ideal of the common good, he just does what he does because he is moved by emotion and passion. In this I notice a very strong parallel with Palpatine: both characters have a mask of cold and rational man, both are mentally disciplined enough to hide their true motivations and manage to hatch even very complex plans and plots BUT both are in reality driven by unbridled emotions and passions, simply in Snape's case we talk about love and revenge while in Palpatine's case we talk about ambition. Here we can notice another important thing: the Sith are "motivated" by emotions\passions but are not necessarily "dominated" by them. Not 24/7 at least: Palpatine has the galaxy believe he is a calm and rational politician, he has the clarity to make a very elaborate plan... all this despite being "moved/motivated" by ambition
E) So, having seen in the previous point that you can very well create a positive character who is driven by the desire to satisfy personal passions and fully experience your personal emotions, I return to my initial question: why no Sith is a positive character ? Now I don't pretend that all the Sith are Severus Snape but I can't even understand why they are all evil: I think that there could easily be some Sith who fight for a positive ideal... maybe they will fight in a violent and questionable way, maybe they will be similar to those who in Dungeons & Dragons are called "chaotic good", maybe someone will have a politically incorrect attitude like Deadpooll, but they should still exist
Possible Answer 1: the dark side just streams through emotions BUT the evilness is a Sith fault) I thought a possible answer might be not in the very nature of the light side and the dark side but in the training that the Jedi and Sith receive. In fact, we know that the Jedi are not the only users of the light side just as the Sith are not the only users of the dark side, so perhaps the fact that the Sith are always channeled towards negative emotions and negative passions could be due to the type of people who (by tradition) the Sith choose as students and because of the training they receive. However, if this hypothesis were true, then it would mean that it is not so much the dark side that is evil (at least not necessarily) but the Sith training! This would make a life based on emotion and passion dysfunctional. So there could be characters (who use the dark side and who are not Sith) who have an emotional & passionate but positive attitude. However, no such character comes to mind.

Possible Answer 2 : the dark side is evil BUT not necessarily streamed/link by emotions and desires) We might assume that the dark side is actually evil and corrupting, however you see it. The connection with emotions would derive from the fact that the Sith tradition has found a way of approaching the dark side in emotions and personal desires. However, if this hypothesis were true, then there would also be other ways of approaching the dark side that are not linked to desires and emotions, there could be users of the dark side who are calm, cold and thoughtful and not at all interested in their emotions : a sort of "monks" of the dark side or "jedi of the dark side" or "vulcans of the dark side". But I can't think of any example of a "dark side tradition" or "dark side order" that doesn't reference the Sith way in some way.

Possible answer 3: the dark side is a just a boogymen because the plot need villains) We could think that it is a structural problem of the dark side: dark side users must follow their personal emotions and desires but they will necessarily necome evil in doing this. The Jedi suggest many times that the dark side necessarily brings moral corruption, even if it is true that said by the Jedi it is a source a little biased. At this point my question becomes: if the dark side is necessarily evil & necessarily corrupts & necessarily based on emotion and passion, then honestly the very idea of ​​the dark side seems poorly structured to me. Because if this hypothesis were true it would make a strange and unfair comparison between emotionality and evil, between passion and self-destruction... This seems to me not only extremely bad narratively but also false. There are numerous historical examples of people who have saved lives, in some cases even many lives, simply by following their hearts, their emotions and their passions. It is obvious that even a Jedi has an emotionality that leads him to empathize with the evil suffered by other people, however even an emotionality focused on his own passions and deep emotions can be positive: I think for example of a Sith who fights evil not both because he thinks of the good of his community but because evil disgusts him or because he has revenge to carry out against a powerful evil organization. If you allow me another nerdy comparison I would say Gatsu from Berserk: especially at the beginning he is moved by very strong passions and powerful, very violent emotions, but we cannot say that he is the villain of the story because, even if with extremely harsh means, his aim is to eradicate a great evil... He doesn't do it to save the world: he does it for his personal revenge but his aim is still to stratify evil. Why was a Sith or a dark side user never conceived like this?
What do you think about my question ? Please be kind in the comments, thank you :)

Elena Kadvany’s evolution from a respected journalist to a figure steeped in controversy underscores deep concerns about media bias, especially against Black chefs and business owners. Once lauded for her bold journalism, Kadvany’s recent work casts a persistent shadow over Oakland's Black entrepreneurs, fueled by her apparent contempt for the city and its leaders. Critics argue that Kadvany, who has enjoyed a privileged background, frequently targets those who have historically lacked such advantages, demanding that they work twice as hard to achieve recognition. This stark contrast raises significant concerns about her fairness and motivations.
A major flashpoint in Kadvany’s career is her coverage of Immana Ewart, the promising Black chef-owner of Hi Felicia. Her article, titled "Inside the Shocking Rise and Fall of One of the Wildest Restaurants Ever Seen," filled with unsubstantiated claims and inflammatory rhetoric, sparked significant backlash, contributing to the restaurant's closure and a severe impact on Ewart’s mental health.
Furthermore, Kadvany’s coverage of Horn Barbecue, owned by celebrated Black entrepreneur Chef Matt Horn, has drawn severe criticism. After an arson attack devastated the restaurant, inflammatory coverage by SF Chronicle’s Jessica Flores, which highlighted a contentious Instagram post by Horn criticizing vandalism, is believed to have fueled the tensions leading to the arson. This incident occurred just a day before Horn was to distribute hundreds of free turkeys to the community, underscoring the harmful timing of the negative press.
Recent reports by Kadvany on Horn Barbecue have centered on alleged debts, legal battles, and unverified claims from past disgruntled employees, which investigation reveals are mostly personal grievances rather than legitimate critiques of Horn's business practices. This coverage reinforces the damaging stereotype of the financially unstable Black entrepreneur, further eroding the image of Black business success. The narrative that Black businesses are perpetually in debt and manage resources poorly not only misleads but also harms, ignoring the systemic challenges Black businesses face, particularly in accessing capital and resources that are more readily available to other groups, thus perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage and discrimination.
Despite her awareness of the challenges Oakland businesses face, Kadvany persists in portraying the community and its leaders negatively, damaging their reputations and perpetuating narratives that impede their efforts to foster positive change.
The impact of biased reporting extends beyond economic damage, historically leading to real-world violence and discrimination against Black communities. This emphasizes the critical need for journalistic reform to prioritize fairness and equity.
The controversy surrounding Kadvany has led to calls for her resignation or a formal apology, reflecting a wider demand for media accountability and ethical reform. The integrity of the press is essential in shaping public perception and policy, making it imperative to maintain journalistic integrity.
What the Chronicle and its affiliates have mastered is the art of highlighting the shortcomings and challenges of Black-owned businesses while praising others, despite them undergoing similar struggles. Kadvany's excuse for digging up lies from past employees was simply justified as "Matt Horn is a famous chef," which is both irresponsible and dangerous. This practice is not just a failure of individual ethics but indicative of a larger, systemic issue that demands immediate attention and corrective action.

beauty
which i have now
fades so quick
i can’t even grasp it
actors and actresses
statues looking at you
only the garb changes
one of the strongest emerging social trends that arise as a consequence of increased longevity is a necessity to think about slowing cognitive decline in the over 50’s which means attention to diet and supplements, exercise , general fitness and "wear and tear", alcohol and drug consumption
my feeling is we are going to see sharp divides between subcultures in this respect and a lot of individual variation
also, a lot of the public health advice and cultural opinions are wrong minded or ill-informed, you have to do your own research and experimentation
a way of looking at the covid public health debacle (which continues despite the cardiovascular and cancer risks of boosters) was to trade off a reduced death rate in the elderly for an increased vaccine injury problem for the young
a verse by touzi on #3 of master fushan’s sixteen themes translated by suru
the death within life
birds clench the falling blossoms before the emerald cliffs, every word responds to conditions, spreading throughout — they ask of coming west, pointing to the cypress in the yard, but how could the passage through the lush mountain peaks be shut ?
活中死。鳥銜華落碧嵓前。對境皆言到處傳。人問西來指庭柏。豈關蒼翠嶺頭穿。
my reply:
what cannot be shut
is always open
but to avoid the common herd
it is disguised
why write things people understand ?
they just make your life a misery with their missionizing of a contrary view
to confuse them is better
they can’t target you
no "master"
except the claim
fantasies about reality
seek a center
its doesn’t exist
non-existence or otherwise
ed. zen is full of fake claims to authority by the appellation of "zen master", same with any religion and its "pooh-bahs"
that’s the trouble with writing
its lasts forever
so
necessarily
you are writing forever
i am appreciating the philosopher gilles deleuze more
the untranslated portion at the end goes
so you understand, when you have such an idea, the important is not to know whether it is true or false
the question is to know if it is important, if it is interesting, and if it is beautiful
and it is the same in science, it is the same in philosophy, you know
waterslipt
a furball
widening ripples on
the smooth surface
of a reflective river
a platypus
ed. i was having lunch at a clearing on the bank of the mersey river near the eastern end of bridle track road, the day was amazingly clear and windless and the river smooth and i noticed a platypus working its way feeding on the bottom to surface occasionally for breath then go back down again
this morning i serendipitously put on a shirt and trousers that "matched", i have always been sceptical of the concept, but since there are clothes that don’t match, there must be those that do match, though what constitutes the female sense of this, i still cannot fathom
the abdication of the duke of windsor was in fact a surface effect of a deeper political struggle, would britain become a client state of germany or would it resist ?
the outcome was not as obvious as you might think
taking actors as real
and a set as reality
is it any wonder
the dissembling mess
collapses ?
the circle of the contemporary
rubbish generating more rubbish
stay there at your own risk
sharing the same road for a while
but later
looking at the forks and branches
i realise
we are apart
inscribed on the tower at veneration monastery
in cold spring, a hundred-foot tower
i climb up alone, and then back down alone
who can manage such distances of the heart ?
david hinton
classical chinese poetry
the poet is tu mu (803 to 853 a.d.) with a bio on page 378 of the "classical chinese poetry" pdf link
definitely medieval with the mention of a functional tower
an interesting thing about frieda hughes is she did not have her mother’s talent, of course neither did ted
there is just a remarkable depth to sylvia plath’s work and this was despite all the obstacles, what genetic quirk created her or would , if her parents had more children, they have a similar talent ?
this prosaic world
because its written in prose of course
its not a poetic world
because its not written in poetry
if you take away the "zen master" or saint or prophet as an authority figure, what do you then have ?
Regulus replies:
People acceptant of the existent reality
my reply:
the monk asked zen master regulus "what is required to be enlightened" ?
zen master regulus replied "be accepting of existing reality"
the monk was left speechless
lee smolin doesn’t like jonathon oppemheim’s stochastic gravity approach
its interesting to watch lee talk with the constant gesticulatory body movements, almost tourette's, but he is using them to think, they are part of his cognition process
how simple is the world ?
its not that simple
and certainly not as simple as the way we view it to be
insight
takes you back
and obviates
some future lives
the brain
is
a
quantum
machine
words in a story
believable or unbelievable ?
don’t
be
fooled
.
words in a story
believable or unbelievable ?
don’t be fooled
so much knowledge
everywhere
each branch opens up exponentially
drowning in detail
its pursuer
i guess i have got so interested in hearts because of hunting and looking at them, in one animal, it beat for minutes cut out from the body; never seen any that had human like aging diseases
i think as a society we have lost touch with our own raw "viscerality", i hunt for my own meat; the killing, butchering and eating does bring one back in touch with that, the commonality with our homonin history
heart and lungs animation
the number of people who have no understanding of what even moderate levels of drinking does to their lives and long term health
you have won the existential lottery where the odds are so small of winning, no number covers it and to chip away at brain function with drugs and alcohol like that . . .
you want to experiment with doing some translation yourself with google and you will realise how its possible to construct almost any sense out of the chinese, its actually not meaningful to do any commentary without going back to the chinese, the variance is so large, translators follow their own biases to create a narrative that suits them
“ continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way ”
wordsworth’s famous poem which he wrote based on notes by his sister dorothy was in effect co-authored by her
strangers to me
thirty years of no contact
exile speaks
of unwanted distance
.
strangers to me
thirty years of no contact
exile speaks
unwanted distance
ed. looking at a photo of my sister, niece and brother in law who are all very much changed since i last saw them notions of exile are not common in western literature, but are certainly there in the chinese
lost roads
can’t be recovered
what we have travelled
always
takes us
to
a different place
i love a sotherby’s auction , vast sums spent for my entertainment, all free, it don’t get slicker, a living made from networking skills and being personable
i was about to go negative on the painting by lucy bull, but on looking further i quite like her work
you have to be careful, auctioneers like these can talk the money out of your wallet
xu qiyao’s advice to his son on being successful in CCP politics
“ the path of understanding requires objectivity and experience ”
ed. the above is my reworking of the first lines of the xinxin ming which, amongst its more "normal" translations is
“ the great way is not difficult, just avoid picking and choosing ”
the xinxin ming is an abridged version of the mind inscription
心性不生何須知見
“ reality is either itself or not. is there any point to understanding this ? ”
ed. my translation of the first line of the "mind inscription"
"don’t interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake" — napoleon
i think in the context of divorce , what people find difficult is the necessity of switching to the extreme mindset of being at war and all that entails because that is what is immediately required
billie and finneas o’connell discuss how they created the "what am i made for" song for the film "barbie"
“ Dr. Raszek provides insights from his participation in a comprehensive review concerning the utilization of synthetic uridines in mRNA vaccines (ed. covid) and their potential implications for cancer development
The discussion delves into the intricate mechanisms that could be at play, exploring how these synthetic components might inadvertently suppress the body's innate immune system, induce frameshifting phenomena, and contribute to the production of IgG4 antibodies, all of which could potentially influence cancer growth ”
my comment
i think we can expect an upsurge in cancers, especially amongst the elderly as a result of the misguidedly intensive "booster" campaign, though it may take a while to show
the forward momentum
of habituation
leading
to
habits
that
become
unbreakable
the fallacy of "negation"
its not this, its not that
but its what its not
negation is a stylised buddhist rhetorical technique, nāgārjuna of course and you get it in dogen, they’ll say something then walk it back through its negation
but having walked it forwards, there is a sense in which it can’t be walked back or it could not be walked forwards another way of putting it is there is no ontological unity, everything is constantly splitting apart
zen masters and the authority they carry are literary constructs
buddha is a literary construct
jesus, muhammad and moses are literary constructs
the egyptian book of the dead is a literary construct
does it bother you that your advice is so bad ?
no
the blindness of narcissism

I just finished this book, and I found it very entertaining! I've seen a lot of discourse on this book already, so I wanted to get my more random thoughts out there:
-Was it just me, or did anyone else think the story was going to involve COVID? I think the only date mentioned throughout the entire story is March 2020, when Adele publishes her takedown of June's Mother Witch with evidence. I thought this was foreshadowing that news of the pandemic was going to take over the media, and June's scandal would be quickly forgotten because of it, ironically being saved by this disease that originated in China and that resulted in a spike in Asian hate crimes. I really don't understand why the author included the date March 2020 otherwise....
-I guess I have to chalk this up to June's unreliable narration, but I got confused about how Athena said her WWI project was "finally finished," and it's emphasized how she doesn't let anyone see her work until she's completely done with it (she asks June to read it, meaning she's done with it for sure), but then June goes on to say it was not done at all and had a bunch of empty spots that Athena was gonna fill in later etc, etc.
-June also starts by saying how amazing the manuscript is and better than she could ever write in her lifetime, but this then becomes "it needed a ton of work" to "it was utterly unpublishable" lmao
-As insufferable and terrible as June is, I found myself rooting for her to get away with it... that is, until Mother Witch. At first, I thought it was completely fine that she was taking inspiration from that one paragraph Athena wrote. I didn't even think that paragraph was good (maybe I'm just not a literary scholar but it felt too vague and random to be interesting to me). But then it turns out June put that paragraph word for word into her opening????? JUNE WHY
-I'm not sure if this was intentional (to maybe show that June's not actually that good of a writer) or publisher error or stylistic choice by the author, but were there like... a ton of grammatical errors with the semicolons? Or do I just not know my punctuations lol?
Examples:
Geoff seems inordinately angry; far angrier than this response justifies.
^ should be a comma?
Sometimes her face is contorted in grotesque expressions; eyes wide, tongue wagging.
^ shouldn't this be a colon instead of semicolon?
-All of June's publishing team and friends advise her to keep her head down and not respond to any of the allegations, and I know this is good advice for the most part, but I think not addressing allegations AT ALL makes you look suuuuuper guilty. I think June's best bet would've been to issue one professionally written statement denying any of the allegations and then not speaking on it again, which is exactly what she ends up doing (later on) that initially turns the public back in her favor! (before the new Mother Witch scandal) Yes I know June had to make sure her "detractors" had no solid proof against her before putting out any statements, but her team who thought she was fully innocent didn't know that and still was advising her to say absolutely nothing. Idk, in my eyes, people who get accused of something terrible and don't address it at all are basically admitting their guilt with their silence.
-Speaking of, why do the characters keep insisting that June shouldn't be bothered by all these accusations as long as she's innocent? IF June were innocent, then she should be REALLY bothered that her name and career are getting dragged through the mud over something she didn't do. Who would possibly not be bothered by that?? She was literally losing connections and deals over it and people were treating her meanly.
-June literally says she wouldn't know how to explain to Eden why Athena's new Instagram post bothers her without having to admit that she's struggling with guilt from stealing. GIRL WHAT DO YOU MEAN. Someone hacked your dead friend's account, posted creepy photos of her being alive, targeted you directly--THAT'S NOT ENOUGH REASON TO BE BOTHERED?? GUILTY OR NOT?
-I'm confused about the timeline after Mother Witch's release. It says Adele's blog was posted 2 weeks after its release, and by the end of the month, Brett's saying it's "been awhile" since June worked on a new book. It's been.... a month....? That feels really short idk
-Was Patricia Liu's comment about "Athena would never write something like that" supposed to lead to something? I felt like that hinted heavily at an upcoming reveal into Athena's family dynamics but just got dropped
-Look, I get why Candice wanted revenge for getting fired, but seriously? She really thought leaving a one star review under her own full name and profile, for an author whose project she directly worked on, wouldn't hurt her professionally? Come on.
-How the hell did Candice convincingly photoshop multiple pictures of Athena where she was literally choking herself and lunging at the camera lmao?? And I'm assuming she got some recordings of Athena's voice to play at the Exorcist steps and spoke herself whenever her recordings didn't fit.
-June isn't driven by her passion for writing. She's driven by the idea of being famous and successful. She says herself that writing was only fun before she got to know how the publishing industry eats you alive, so if that's how she feels, she SHOULD be happy to pursue a regular stable income job and write in her free time instead, away from the publishing industry. But of course, that wouldn't yield her fame and fortune and envious glares from her colleagues, so she'd rather continue to dig her grave even deeper with the Athena scandal.
-I saw a lot of people were disappointed by the ending because we don't get to see June get punished but idk, I think we did? We spend the entirety of the novel in June's head so we know firsthand that she's... a mess. She is so deeply insecure and perpetually miserable, and she doesn't have enough self awareness to ever change that (though I do find it interesting how she will call out her own insecurities and projections and how things are her fault... But then always jump back into victimhood). On top of that, she DOES get dragged online and takes hits to her career like crazy for half the book, and she's gonna continue to get dragged once Candice releases her book. She's definitely faced her punishment; she just has the audacity to keep going lmao.

Sort of, in honor of all the cool outside stuff that’s been coming out recently from the cast (Grubby Little Mitts, Tegan’s show, Jon’s game etc) I think we need to look back at the origins of NRB.
I don’t think we as the NRB community talk about how absolutely insane the creation of No Rolls Barred was and I’ve decided it’s my Roman Empire. (Old meme I know but like, let me have this) I still don’t fully understand it, and I’ve been thinking about it for months at this point. The chain of events is bonkers! Now I’m coming relatively late to all this, so if you know more, feel free to correct any bits I get wrong or miss but this is the full story in the abstract as I understand it gathered from wikis, internet comments, and from the cast themselves talking about it.
Disclaimer: None of the dialogue is probably accurate (obviously I wasn’t there) but the thoughts behind it should be similar.
It all starts when a man gets decently famous on YouTube on a wrestling themed channel for making lists and creating videos about what are basically his wrestling fanfics. (Don’t tell that’s not what they are, you can not change my mind. Look at the definition of fanfiction, look at those videos, and tell me I’m wrong, I dare you) This guy and his coworker buddies get popular enough to try and make their own channel. Guy does something skeezy, not like illegal, but still bad, he goes “hey that was actually pretty shitty, I should probably leave and go to therapy about it,” and leaves the internet for a bit. (This is an oversimplification, I know but one, this horse is dead, we don’t need to beat it more, and two, this is all that’s necessary to get the story)
He ends up working at a board game place after a while, and either develops or furthers a passion for board games during this time. Back in internet land, a different wrestling channel decides they want to do a special wrestling fanfiction versus video. The owner of that wrestling channel gets an idea. “Hey, I happen to know that guy who was really popular for his fanfiction a while ago, let’s bring him in for a video!”
The first guy agrees and that video does REALLY well. Turns out, everyone has been really missing this man’s content these past years. The owner of the wrestling channel hears this feedback and goes “We need to bring this guy back full time, gang” but the guy says “No thanks dude, I don’t really vibe with wrestling that much anymore. I’m really into my board games now. It’s great. I have so many board games, you guys.” “Okay… but what if we made you a channel where you could talk about board games all you want? Would you do your wrestling videos for us then?” “Son of a gun, I’m in! But I will not pretend to be enthused about any of the wrestling stuff. In fact I will seem immediately exasperated with it as quickly as the signing announcement video and I also will plug the board game channel every second I can” “Deal”
And so the channel is born! The pandemic puts a little bit of a damper on the developing process but we are moving. Our main guy starts off with the lists but board game based this time. Hey, it worked the first time, if ain’t broke don’t fix it. After a few of those come out and similar infotainment videos, the man goes, “I’ve talked about cool and fun board games a lot at this point but now the viewers have to see how fun they are! We gotta play some ourselves. Well, I can’t just play with the other people who work here, they’ll be busy doing the boring wrestling stuff. Oh I know! I’ll just hire my friends to play with me. I get content, my friends get money, and we all play board games. Everybody wins!”
We now officially have our Board Game Club. Turns out, this man’s got some entertaining friends! The guy’s friends bring in their friends for some videos, too. After enough videos with each of the new people come out, viewers are shouting “We love these friends! We want to see them all the time!” This makes the company decide “Well, we obviously gotta keep booking these friends for the board game videos but maybe we full-on hire this guy’s one friend too, maybe even his friend’s friend. Is our main thing wrestling? Yes. Do we know if either of these people know about wrestling? Not really. It’s fine. It’ll be great!”
And it seems like it has! And even though the first guy is gone, most of the friends he brought, directly or indirectly, are still there. On top of that, the channel is a whole platform itself now. There’s new people here along with the older cast and they’re able to build followings for themselves and promote their own personal projects through NRB!
I bought tickets in 2024 for a livestream and pledged to a Kickstarter of a show I have little chance of actually going to in person because in 2016, a guy that one of the show’s runners is friends with narrated some wrestling videos on YouTube. Let that sink in. That’s nuts! If I said that to somebody without the previous context, they’d think I was insane. Especially if they knew that I have never been interested in wrestling my life, so how did we get from A to H to Y?
I think about this everyday. This guy was apparently THAT good at wrestling fanfiction that his friends got work to this day. Think about that! What a concept?! How do you do that? I wanna be that good at something! I think the whole story is amazing and hilarious and more people need to be talking about it so I’m not the only one, raving like a madwoman out here.

Alright ppl, coming to you yet again, with another unhinged take that may or may not offer anything substantial at all, except some incoherent babbling. But I’m hoping this also initiates some more discussion, as it relates to the double album theory, but more specifically for the final song of the HMHAS album, BLUE. Which hasn’t been discussed yet, or at least not that I’m aware. So buckle up.
First- Rolling Stone interview, after Billie was asked about her new album, and how it takes her back into the world of WWAFAWDWG, “Although 2019 felt like a whirlwind of madness at the time, she has found herself missing it. ‘It was the best time of my life,’ she says. ‘This whole process has felt like I’m coming back to the girl that I was. I’ve been (grieving) her. I’ve been looking for her in everything, and it’s almost like she got (((drowned))) by the world and the media. I don’t remember when she went away.’”
She could be referring to the creative process of it all, or the sonically similarity of the world that was created through WWAFAWDWG. (Which I personally didn’t get too much of from HMHAS- what do you think?) And obviously the “drowning” and “dunks us head first” are alluding to the album cover (as this interview occurred after cover art release).
But then after listening to the album, we once again get this imagery/allusion of someone drowning, specifically in the second half of BLUE, after the ‘True Blue’ remaster. Blue in the first half of the song is referring to the emotion (sadness), but in the second half we get a blue with a different meaning, one that’s synonymous with suffocation and coldness.
Lyrics: … You were born bluer than a butterfly Beautiful and so ((deprived of oxygen)) ((Colder)) than your father's eyes… … I don't blame you (I don't blame you) But I can't change you Don't hate you (Don't hate you) But we can't save you (But we can't save you)
Now to the discussion regarding this song, BLUE (the second half). The lyrics in this piece is obviously one character speaking to another (the perspective is unclear to me still).
But from the looks of it, there is a character, Character A, who is watching another character (Character B) drown, suffocating, and eventually dying. Character A is watching as it happens, stating that there’s nothing they do to change the situation, or to even try and save them from drowning.
Verse two states how the drowning character (Character B) was: “Too afraid to step outside Paranoid and petrified of what you've [they] heard.
And I speculate that this is a reference to WWAFAWDWG’s Billie. The Billie who was born like a butterfly, “beautiful and so deprived of oxygen” (started out as a complete star, a brilliant artist, right off the bat, with such a successful debut album, but was ultimately “drowned by the world and the media” [as Billie herself puts it in her Rolling Stone interview].
Now, we get to the bridge. This part hasn’t sat well with me since I first heard it. It’s such a drastic tonal shift from the rest of the album- to me, doesn’t seem to be neither Character A and (possibly) not B. This is a version of Billie that will set the stage for the part 2 album. This version (Character C) is darker, and you can tell simply by the change in vocals, the distortion. The reason I say maybe, is maybe this is just revived version of the now ‘dead’ Character B.
Here is Character C’s line: __ Lyrics:
But they could say the same 'bout me I sleep 'bout three hours each night Means only twenty-one a week now, now And I could say the same 'bout you [[referring to Character A]] Born blameless, grew up famous too Just a baby born blue now, now __
This piece is kind of unclear to me, “grew up famous too” (referring to Character A) could be the HTE version of Billie which was simply riding on the success of WWAFAWDWG Billie (Character B). As she was born famous, didn’t need to work as hard (now this is not to say Billie as a person didn’t, simply referring to these characters and the narrative being projected).
My interpretation of this, as it relates to the characters is: Character C is responding to Character A, in which they state how people can say the same about them (character C) as (according to them) they are just like Character B, the one who is now drowned. They were born drowning, born from death.
And this is kinda where I stop. The introduction of this new Character. Who most definitely is what will be present in the second half of this HMHAS piece. It’s gotta be.
TL;DR:
This first half of HMHAS (if indeed a double album)is setting up characters/versions of Billie. This album, being created (still) through the perspective of the Billie from Happier Than Ever. Then the final song, referring to the death of Billie from When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go Billie, but the bridge in the second half of BLUE, setting up/or introducing a new Billie, who is very similar to (or could very well be a revived version of) WWAFAWDWG Billie.
Sources: Lyrics, Rolling Stone Interview, Imagery from Album Cover.

New Flash everyone: the guy who hangs out with Daniel Greene(a pro-fairy rights socialist), is loved by redditors, and got a Hugo award is… woke. Who would have ever seen that coming? But, thanks to Jon Del Arroz making a video about it on May 18th, I am here to repeat the news back to you so there is an easily accessible source as to HOW he’s woke. Everything was revealed back in January 2023, but I want people to understand the implications and narrative that he’s presenting when he says his concerns about fairy rights. By the end of this, you will realize that people calling themselves Christian does not cause them to be immune to wokeness.
In fact, with how Christianity has influenced wokeness into existence, it’s likely a lot of "Christians" are what we can call “first wave wokeness”.
For context, Brandon Sanderson is a Mormon, part of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Mormonism is almost exclusively a US issue, and I’ve also noticed that there are a lot of youtubers who tend to be Mormon women(probably because they have other women in the house to do the chores). These people are great with money, big in business, and their church is anti-fairy. A lot of problems the fairy-rights activists have are with Mormon churches, which is strange for Europeans to witness with how open a lot of their churches are, outside of the US. Protestant, evangelical, unitarian, the national church of Denmark, it’s a big list.
But in 2008, Brandon wrote an essay about his Mormon beliefs on how Dumbledore from Harry Potter liked to have wands stirred around in his brown cauldron. His quote:

How does this relate to Dumbledore? I'm not trying to present him as an antagonist or a villain. All I'm saying is that if you believe in the truth of your message, then you shouldn't care if someone decent, respected, and intelligent is depicted as believing differently from yourself. Decent, respected, and intelligent people can be wrong--and you can still respect them. It's okay. That doesn't threaten our points, since we (theoretically) believe that they are eternal and stronger than any argument we could make.

Back in this time, Brandon had only been an author for 3 years, but he won an award for his first published book, Elantris. He was being careful with his words, and his take is considered liberal. He was trying to defend the backlash JK Rowling received for her (poor) choice of virtue signaling and tried to mend this defense with his own religion. Mentioning his religious views is what got him canceled back then, which he later apologized for in 2011:

I cannot be deaf to the pleas of [fairy] couples who want important things, such as hospital visitation rights, shared insurance, and custody rights. At the same time, I accept and sustain the leaders of the LDS church. I believe that a prophet of God has said that widespread legislation to approve [fairy] marriage will bring pain and suffering to all involved.

He was not backing down from his religion yet. His goal post moved to the legal ramifications of the US, which are separate from his church(remember, church and state, supposed to be separate in the US), but he was still saying his religion wanted him to oppose people calling it a marriage and having it in churches. This was a second “cancellation” that didn’t go very far, mostly because he was able to use religion as an excuse for his take, with the Christian Cake Packed With Fudge Scandal not happening yet(2018).
Fast forward to 2023, after he hangs out with a bunch of woke youtubers, and we get a new quote from Brandon:

The church’s first prophet, Joseph Smith, famously taught, “I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” My current beliefs are where I’ve arrived on my journey, as I attempt to show the love that Jesus Christ taught. I look forward to seeing further changes in the church, and I work to make sure I am helping from within it to create a place that is welcoming of [fairy] people and ideas. I would love, for example, to see the church recognize [fairy] marriage among its members. Both temporally and eternally. I would support ordaining [tinkerbell] men to the priesthood. (And would support the ordination of women, though that is another issue.)

That’s interesting. It seems like he made a complete 180 on his stance, claims that he’s always believed this new stance, blames Jesus for this new stance, and then doubles down on this new stance by adding female ordination(becoming a priest and higher) and even Tinkerbells. As time went on, he decided that his religion was totally wrong about fairies, and this 13 year difference means way more than the nearly 200 years Mormonism has been around. I believe a fellow Mormon, Shadversity, would love to have a discussion about how any of this makes sense, but I’m starting to feel that he’s the same way. Who knows if Ethan Van Sciver understands Mormonism as well as Brandon Sanderson does, with how easy it is to manipulate prophecies and reinterpret scripture.
But that’s been the point for a while, right?
Wokeness is here to restructure both historical evidence and even religions, in order to shift cultures and social institutions to obey this progressive change. Words are changed in the dictionary, social “norms” are changed to be updated for a “modern audience”, and postmodernists like Foucault were able to trick college kids into thinking the Greeks were all pixie fairies. Once a critical theorist gets their hands on something with power, their goal is not to keep it as it is. It is to keep it for themselves. This is why you will hear these people say everything is subjective, which is secret code for “Look at me: I’m the captain of reality now.”
But wait, it gets better! Brandon Sanderson continued with:

Back in 2007, I was mostly known only in my community, not to the world at large. The essay, then, was directed at my local community, and was more controversial among them (for being too liberal) than it was controversial to the world at large for being [fairy]phobic. That might surprise you, if you’ve read the excerpts that often float around the internet. This was mostly me trying to encourage other members of the church to be more open and welcoming of [fairy] characters and ideas.
That said, the essay does display the casual bigotry common to people who (like myself) have lived lives where we haven’t had to deal with some of the issues common to the lives of people suffering discrimination. Many of the assertions (such as my view on [fairy] marriage) do not reflect my current stance. After writing it, and interacting with those who found it objectionable–even painful–I came to understand them and their experiences better. Though they did not owe me that honor, they gave it freely.

You see, he's honored to hear about the life of a bug chaser.
Brandon cares deeply about the pain he caused to his wallet… I mean the fairies who saw his essay. He was an award winning author back then, he didn’t know it would be a global thing. It was supposed to be only seen by people in Utah, that’s it. This is what we call: bullshit. The woke rely heavily on gaslighting and pretending they’re ignorant of everything, while telling others that they need to learn and understand EVERYTHING about a subject before they are even able to mention it.
He was already big on reddit, he knew all about his fandom, and he knew about his publisher, Tor. The only thing that really changed is that now he is unable to stick to being liberal and he has to present himself as progressive. Why? Well, the new Amazon deal happened recently, and he’s the writer of the series The Wheel of Time. As if Rings of Power wasn’t evidence enough of how Amazon mistreats their properties, Brandon was forced to erase his own past, like Agent J in Men in Black, burning his own hands in the process.
I’m not surprised that he’s woke or even that Christians are falling to this woke inquisition. When I said first wave wokeness, I would like to clarify why it’s the catalyst for all of this stupidity. Wokeness is not of Christian values, but instead a parasite upon Christianity, in the same way Gnosticism and Satanism would be. When Christianity started to allow new sects, and a lot of these were considered valid, the crazy sex cults of the 60s opened the floodgates for a bunch of crazy reinterpretations. It’s the same way as how there are still circles of Christianity that go for flat earth theory or say that dinosaurs don’t exist, with these people usually at the forefront of the home-schooling movement.
It’s not that home-schooling is bad by itself, it’s that bad people use it to then have the good people using it be wrongfully grouped into the same area, in the same way gun-ownership does. This type of bastardization has always been a problem in the US, due to the lack of authority over what makes something categorized as such a thing, thanks to liberalism allowing the freedom to constantly change things. As time went on, this liberalism changed into progressivism, with the key difference being that liberalism is an allowance of change while progressivism is an enforced change. The liberalism of the 1800s allowed the Confederates to claim Christianity approved of their enslavement of black people, by blaming the story of Ham and using scripture to claim it was okay to enslave certain people for generations. We always see this strange cherry-picking of scripture from fake Christians, and this problem has expanded into the Vatican itself with the current and following generations of Popes.
A lot of times, we’ll hear news about how Christians are under attack, a bakery is targeted to expose discrimination, or even where people claim they were banned from twitch for being Christian. But what they get wrong is that they are in the same circle as liberal and progressive Christianity, their openness created this weakness to tourism, and most Christian circles have been taken over in the US since before the 60s. The south has a culture of being liberal, Mormons have a culture of being liberal, protestants are very liberal, all because the US began as a liberal culture in the form of classical liberalism. The libertarian argument is always used by these liberal groups, that changes into the progressive enforcement, and over the years these liberal people get infected by the virus.
Add money to the mix, and we have ourselves an endless chain of liberal minded people falling to wokeness. The “redemption” narrative, along with original sin, from Christianity is currently its main weakness. The appeal to ignorance is another weakness, with people playing skeptic as a snake slithers through the grass. Christianity isn’t the problem by itself, it’s the naivety that comes from blind faith, which then expands into a contradictory blind faith that people are good inside, only to later wonder why everything is changing for the worse when evil people are put in charge. Fantasy stories have been under attack by the woke for quite a while, long before they tried to appropriate Tolkien with Rings of Power.
The fantasy that is controlled by the woke is an extension to their attack on religion, because to them a fantasy story is no different than a bible. Mythological presentation, symbolic themes, a dream-like world to present morals to follow; the entire thing has been used by Brandon to then have him later claim that he’s always had fairy characters since the beginning. Sure, his religion says fairies are bad, but then he virtue signals by claiming he’s always made fiction about how they’re good. He would never say this if the publishing world made sense and if publishers were the way they were in the 1950s. That is because he would never have to choose between religion and money back then, with money always mattering more to the typical materialist.
I’m sure people will say that I’m being hard on Christians, or that I’m evil for saying this, or even that I am a satanist for noticing. These people would only be angry at the truth being said, which is the opposite of what Christianity teaches. Fantasy writers, like Brandon, have a lot of supporters, with this support merging between the woke and Mormons. So many feel that they need to make sense of their fandom, so they claim their religion is wokeness, converting it into blind Satanism. This is far from the truth and we need to condemn those who focus solely on radical subjectivity.
Especially if they blame God for their stupid takes, like how Brandon does now.

The Legacy of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: An In-Depth Analysis of His Music and Influence

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) was a Russian composer whose works have become some of the most beloved in classical music. Known for his ballets, symphonies, concertos, and operas, Tchaikovsky's music is characterized by its emotional depth, melodic richness, and masterful orchestration. Here’s an in-depth analysis of his musical characteristics, compositional techniques, cultural impact, notable works, and a theoretical doctoral analysis.

Active Years

Tchaikovsky's active years spanned from the early 1860s until his death in 1893. His career included periods of intense productivity and innovation, resulting in a vast and diverse body of work.

Musical Characteristics

Emotional Expressiveness: - Lyrical Melodies: Tchaikovsky’s music is renowned for its beautiful, expressive melodies that convey a wide range of emotions, from joy to despair. - Dramatic Contrast: His compositions often feature stark contrasts in mood and dynamics, heightening the emotional impact.
Rich Orchestration: - Colorful Instrumentation: Tchaikovsky was a master orchestrator, known for his lush, vibrant orchestrations that make full use of the symphony orchestra’s capabilities. - Innovative Use of Instruments: He frequently used instruments in novel ways to achieve unique timbres and effects.
Structural Clarity: - Balanced Forms: Tchaikovsky’s works typically adhere to clear formal structures, such as sonata-allegro form, which he used to great dramatic effect. - Symphonic Development: His symphonic works exhibit sophisticated development of thematic material, blending traditional forms with his own innovations.
Russian Folk Influence: - Folk Melodies and Rhythms: Tchaikovsky often incorporated Russian folk melodies and rhythms into his music, giving it a distinctive national flavor. - Cultural Themes: Many of his works reflect Russian cultural themes and stories, contributing to the development of a national musical identity.

Cultural Impact

• Ballet Music: Tchaikovsky's ballets, such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, revolutionized the genre and remain central to the ballet repertoire worldwide.
• Global Popularity: His music's emotional accessibility and melodic appeal have made Tchaikovsky one of the most popular classical composers globally.
• Influence on Russian Music: Tchaikovsky played a crucial role in establishing Russian classical music on the world stage, influencing subsequent generations of Russian composers.

Notable Works

1. Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique" (1893): His final symphony, noted for its profound emotional depth and innovative structure.
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 (1875): One of the most famous and frequently performed piano concertos, known for its powerful opening and lyrical second movement.
3. Swan Lake (1876): A ballet score that has become a cornerstone of the ballet repertoire, renowned for its beautiful melodies and dramatic music.
4. The Nutcracker (1892): Another iconic ballet, especially famous for its suite, which includes the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and the "Waltz of the Flowers."
5. Violin Concerto (1878): A virtuosic and expressive concerto that is a favorite among violinists and audiences alike.
6. Symphony No. 4 (1877): Known for its dramatic intensity and use of the "Fate" motif, reflecting Tchaikovsky’s personal struggles.
7. The Sleeping Beauty (1889): A lavish ballet score that showcases Tchaikovsky's gift for melody and orchestration.
8. 1812 Overture (1880): A concert overture written to commemorate Russia's defense against Napoleon, famous for its use of cannon fire and Russian folk themes.
9. Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture (1880): A symphonic poem based on Shakespeare’s play, noted for its beautiful love theme and dramatic structure.
10. Serenade for Strings (1880): A graceful and lyrical work for string orchestra, beloved for its elegance and charm.

Doctoral Theory Analysis

Introduction Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s music embodies a blend of Western classical traditions and Russian folk elements, characterized by its emotional expressiveness, structural clarity, and masterful orchestration. This analysis explores the theoretical aspects of his compositions and their broader implications.
Harmonic Language - Chromaticism and Modulation: Tchaikovsky's harmonic language often features rich chromaticism and bold modulations, contributing to the dramatic tension in his music. - Dissonance and Resolution: He skillfully uses dissonance to heighten emotional impact, resolving it in ways that amplify the music’s expressive power.
Melodic Structure - Lyrical Melodies: His melodies are long, flowing, and highly expressive, often built on simple, folk-like motifs that are developed in sophisticated ways. - Thematic Transformation: Tchaikovsky employs thematic transformation, where themes are altered in rhythm, harmony, and orchestration to reflect different emotional states.
Rhythmic Techniques - Syncopation and Cross-Rhythms: His use of syncopation and cross-rhythms adds complexity and drive to his music, creating rhythmic vitality. - Dance Forms: Tchaikovsky frequently incorporates dance forms such as the waltz, mazurka, and polonaise, infusing his music with rhythmic variety and national character.
Textural Elements - Orchestral Color: Tchaikovsky’s orchestration is renowned for its rich colors and textures, achieved through inventive use of the orchestra’s sections. - Layered Textures: He often uses layered textures to build intensity, with different instrumental groups playing complementary lines that enhance the overall sound.
Conceptual Innovations - Programmatic Elements: Many of Tchaikovsky’s works are programmatic, telling a story or depicting a scene, as seen in his ballets and symphonic poems. - Emotional Narrative: His music often follows an emotional narrative, taking listeners on a journey through contrasting moods and themes.
Conclusion Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s contributions to classical music are monumental, blending deep emotional expression with technical mastery. His innovative use of harmony, melody, rhythm, and orchestration set new standards for composition and influenced countless musicians. Tchaikovsky’s ability to merge Russian folk elements with Western classical traditions helped shape a distinct Russian musical identity. His enduring popularity and the continued performance of his works attest to his lasting impact on the world of music. By examining the theoretical foundations and practical applications of Tchaikovsky’s work, we gain a deeper appreciation of his genius and his pivotal role in the evolution of classical music.

*NEW* History of Scotland Podcast - Episode 57 - Catching up with the Nobles Part 1
Hello everyone and welcome to the History of Scotland, Episode 57.
Today, we are taking a slight detour from our usual narrative to catch up with the noble families of Scotland during Alexander II's reign. These episodes are crucial as they help set the context for the forthcoming conflicts and the rise of Scottish national identity. While we have previously touched upon the noble families of Scotland in earlier episodes, this time, we will focus more on the individuals within these families. This approach is necessitated by the wealth of information available about these figures, allowing us to paint a more detailed and nuanced picture of their lives, ambitions, and contributions.
The nobility of Scotland played a pivotal role in the country’s medieval history. Their alliances, feuds, and loyalties were instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the time. During Alexander II’s reign, the dynamics among the noble families were particularly significant, as many of these families were rising to prominence and consolidating their power. Understanding these dynamics is essential for comprehending the broader historical context, especially as we move towards the Wars of Independence.
In our current exploration, we will look at notable individuals such as the powerful Comyns, the influential Bruces, and the strategic Stewarts, among others. Each of these figures had a unique impact on Scottish history, and their actions during Alexander II's reign set the stage for the dramatic events that were to follow. Next week, we will continue this journey by examining other key figures and the famous clans that rose to further power during this period.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into the late 12th and early 13th centuries and immerse ourselves in the lives of the noble families of Scotland. Through their stories, we will gain a deeper understanding of the period and set the stage for the monumental events that would shape Scotland’s future. Join me as we uncover the intricate and compelling histories of these noble individuals, whose legacies continue to influence our understanding of Scotland's rich and complex past.
Please give us a follow-on twitter at: u/TheHistoryofSc1 or just our Facebook group which you can find by searching History of Scotland on Facebook.
Leave any feedback you have for the podcast in reviews, likes, and comments. Our podcast is on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and other great podcasting platforms.
Stay safe.
https://open.spotify.com/show/4mt91nR0uaVv547EQqJAaf
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-scotland-podcast/id1609855804
https://historyofscotlandpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-57-catching-up-with-the-nobles-part-1/

LINK OF THE TWITTER THREAD: https://x.com/DiscordIslam/status/1790398678508949938
u/MrAdnanRashid and u/DWI_MImtiaz try to diminish the credentials of Khalifat-ul-Masih-il-Awwal Hakīm-ul-Ummah al-‘Allāmah al-Muhaddith al-Hafidh al-Haaj al-Mufassir Maulānā Nūruddīn al-Bhairawī RA.
This vile attack will be refuted.
WHAT IS A MUHADDITH?
“The ‘Muhaddith’ is the one who specializes in the science of hadith in Riwayah and Dirayah, and he examines many narrations and the circumstances of their narrators”PIR MEHR ALI SHAH: NURUDDIN RA IS MUHADDITH
One of the greatest opponents of the Promised Messiah AS stated:
"Because respected people like Maulawi Nūruddīn Sahib, the Mufassir and Muhaddith, are believers in him, it kept preventing every person from uttering foul words"
DAR-UL-ULOOM DEOBAND ADMITS NURUDDIN RA LEARNED AHADITH
Shah Abdul Ghani Muhaddith Mujadaddi Dilhawi RH gave Ijazah in Hadith to Maulana Nūruddīn RA. These comprise an unbroken verbal chain of transmission to the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.IJAZAH IN AHADITH GIVEN TO MAULANA NURUDDIN RA
Maulānā Nūruddīn RA passed on his Ijazah to Mir Muhammad Ismail RA and Hafidh Roshan Ali RA. The full chain with all of the narrators was published in Al Fazl with commentary.
alislam.org/alfazl/rabwah/… alislam.org/alfazl/rabwah/…MAULANA NURUDDIN RA ON HADITH SCIENCES
Maulānā Nūruddīn RA knew and understood the 12 branches of Hadith sciences and he gave a summary for the beginner students of knowledge.
MAULANA NURUDDIN RA ON HIM MEMORIZING CHAINS OF NARRATION
He RA states:
"In the science of hadith, I studied "Malik Narrated this, So and So narrated that" etc. Here, many people abandoned this and started teaching "From the Messenger of Allah." The claim behind this was...-to follow the piety, righteousness, and pure examples of the narrators mentioned in these chains of isnad. However, in our country, neither the teachers have the leisure for this, nor the students. At times, I have asked very great teachers to simply take the names of five- -authenticated books pertaining to chain of Isnad, but they could not."
Various Non Ahmadi Sunni Ulema even in our modern day agree that Maulānā Nūruddīn RA had a lot of knowledge and was a leading scholar of the Ahle Hadith. MUFTI RASHID MAHMOOD RAZAWI
Prominent Barelwi Scholar in Pakistan admitted that Maulvi Nuruddin RA was a great Scholar. For u/MrAdnanRashid to claim Maulvi Nuruddin RA is unknown in scholarly circles and that he was famous only for being a Hakeem, not a scholar is a complete lie.MAULANA UBAIDILLAH SINDHI (1874-1944) Prominent and Famous Deobandi Scholar Ubaidillah Sindhi writes:
"Till today, I have not seen such a great scholar of Qur'anic sciences as Hakeem Nooruddin."
Ifādāt o malfūẓāt-i Ḥaz̤rat-i Maulānā ʿUbaidullāh Sindhī p. 34
DEOBANDI MAULVI ILYAS
He admitted that his Deobandi Akabir to the extent that they understood Maulānā Nūruddīn RA, knew that he had a great amount of knowledge. This compounds onto the fact that Ashraf Ali Thanwi plagiarized from Maulānā Nūruddīn RA.DR ISRAR AHMAD (1932-2010)
Prominent Deobandi Scholar and Mufassir in Pakistan admitted that Maulānā Nūruddīn RA was a great Ahlul Hadith Scholar.KHWAJA GHULAM FARID (1841-1901)
Khawaja Ghulam Farid has approximately 15 million followers today who respect and revere him as a great scholar of Islam. Since Nawab of Bahawalpur was Khawaja Ghulam Farid's murid, he offered Nuruddin RA 60,000 acres of land as Khawaja Ghulam...-wanted him to stay with him due to his immense knowledge.
ASHRAF ALI THANWI PLAGIARIZED MAULVI NURUDDIN RA
It is shocking how u/MrAdnanRashid can even claim Maulvi Nuruddin RA is not a scholar when Ashraf Ali Thanwi, founder, Hakim ul Ummah, and pillar of Deoband plagiarized from him multiple times.1974 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATORS FORCED TO ADMIT ILM OF NURUDDIN RA
During the debate proceedings to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslim, it was stated: "How did it happen that in an Islamic society a man claimed prophethood, whose claim had so many contradictions, as well as in his-
-other matters, and in everything, with so many things wrong, yet despite all this educated persons in Islamic society, scholars, members of Sayyid families, people such as Maulvi Nur-ud-Din and Maulvi Muhammad Ali, joined this Jamaat?"
[1974 NA hearings Pages 2666-2667] ALLAMA IQBAL WOULD SEEK FATAWA FROM MAULANA NURUDDIN RA
He acknowledged greatly the standing and stature of Hakeem Sahib in the field of Fiqah and medicine and quite often Allama Iqbal sought Fatwa from time to time.
LIBRARY OF MAULANA NURUDDIN RA
In Al Balagh Faryard-e-Dard, Promised Messiah AS has listed immense library of Maulana Nuruddin RA. Deobandi Maulvis such as Maulana Shibli Nomani and intellectuals like Sir Syed Ahmad Khan would consult his library as it had extremely rare books.
GREATER THAN RASHID AHMAD GANGOHI
Promised Messiah AS states:
"One is the respected Maulana Maulawi Nuruddin Sahib, who is no less than him, rather by the grace of Allah the Exalted, he is superior. And similarly, there is Maulana Maulavi Sayyid Muhammad Ahsan Sahib, who has- -published the treatise 'Alam al-Nas and sent it in confirmation of our claim, although he has not even met us yet. And what a strange treatise it is that in it he has written our accepted interpretation, and in it there is a reference to me and Maulavi Sahib"

*NEW* History of Scotland Podcast - Episode 57 - Catching up with the Nobles Part 1
Hello everyone and welcome to the History of Scotland, Episode 57.
Today, we are taking a slight detour from our usual narrative to catch up with the noble families of Scotland during Alexander II's reign. These episodes are crucial as they help set the context for the forthcoming conflicts and the rise of Scottish national identity. While we have previously touched upon the noble families of Scotland in earlier episodes, this time, we will focus more on the individuals within these families. This approach is necessitated by the wealth of information available about these figures, allowing us to paint a more detailed and nuanced picture of their lives, ambitions, and contributions.
The nobility of Scotland played a pivotal role in the country’s medieval history. Their alliances, feuds, and loyalties were instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the time. During Alexander II’s reign, the dynamics among the noble families were particularly significant, as many of these families were rising to prominence and consolidating their power. Understanding these dynamics is essential for comprehending the broader historical context, especially as we move towards the Wars of Independence.
In our current exploration, we will look at notable individuals such as the powerful Comyns, the influential Bruces, and the strategic Stewarts, among others. Each of these figures had a unique impact on Scottish history, and their actions during Alexander II's reign set the stage for the dramatic events that were to follow. Next week, we will continue this journey by examining other key figures and the famous clans that rose to further power during this period.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into the late 12th and early 13th centuries and immerse ourselves in the lives of the noble families of Scotland. Through their stories, we will gain a deeper understanding of the period and set the stage for the monumental events that would shape Scotland’s future. Join me as we uncover the intricate and compelling histories of these noble individuals, whose legacies continue to influence our understanding of Scotland's rich and complex past.
Please give us a follow-on twitter at: u/TheHistoryofSc1 or just our Facebook group which you can find by searching History of Scotland on Facebook.
Leave any feedback you have for the podcast in reviews, likes, and comments. Our podcast is on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and other great podcasting platforms.
Stay safe.
https://open.spotify.com/show/4mt91nR0uaVv547EQqJAaf
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-scotland-podcast/id1609855804
https://historyofscotlandpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-57-catching-up-with-the-nobles-part-1/

*NEW* History of Scotland Podcast - Episode 57 - Catching up with the Nobles Part 1
Hello everyone and welcome to the History of Scotland, Episode 57.
Today, we are taking a slight detour from our usual narrative to catch up with the noble families of Scotland during Alexander II's reign. These episodes are crucial as they help set the context for the forthcoming conflicts and the rise of Scottish national identity. While we have previously touched upon the noble families of Scotland in earlier episodes, this time, we will focus more on the individuals within these families. This approach is necessitated by the wealth of information available about these figures, allowing us to paint a more detailed and nuanced picture of their lives, ambitions, and contributions.
The nobility of Scotland played a pivotal role in the country’s medieval history. Their alliances, feuds, and loyalties were instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the time. During Alexander II’s reign, the dynamics among the noble families were particularly significant, as many of these families were rising to prominence and consolidating their power. Understanding these dynamics is essential for comprehending the broader historical context, especially as we move towards the Wars of Independence.
In our current exploration, we will look at notable individuals such as the powerful Comyns, the influential Bruces, and the strategic Stewarts, among others. Each of these figures had a unique impact on Scottish history, and their actions during Alexander II's reign set the stage for the dramatic events that were to follow. Next week, we will continue this journey by examining other key figures and the famous clans that rose to further power during this period.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into the late 12th and early 13th centuries and immerse ourselves in the lives of the noble families of Scotland. Through their stories, we will gain a deeper understanding of the period and set the stage for the monumental events that would shape Scotland’s future. Join me as we uncover the intricate and compelling histories of these noble individuals, whose legacies continue to influence our understanding of Scotland's rich and complex past.
Please give us a follow-on twitter at: u/TheHistoryofSc1 or just our Facebook group which you can find by searching History of Scotland on Facebook.
Leave any feedback you have for the podcast in reviews, likes, and comments. Our podcast is on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and other great podcasting platforms.
Stay safe.
https://open.spotify.com/show/4mt91nR0uaVv547EQqJAaf
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-scotland-podcast/id1609855804
https://historyofscotlandpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-57-catching-up-with-the-nobles-part-1/

*NEW* History of Scotland Podcast - Episode 57 - Catching up with the Nobles Part 1
Hello everyone and welcome to the History of Scotland, Episode 57.
Today, we are taking a slight detour from our usual narrative to catch up with the noble families of Scotland during Alexander II's reign. These episodes are crucial as they help set the context for the forthcoming conflicts and the rise of Scottish national identity. While we have previously touched upon the noble families of Scotland in earlier episodes, this time, we will focus more on the individuals within these families. This approach is necessitated by the wealth of information available about these figures, allowing us to paint a more detailed and nuanced picture of their lives, ambitions, and contributions.
The nobility of Scotland played a pivotal role in the country’s medieval history. Their alliances, feuds, and loyalties were instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the time. During Alexander II’s reign, the dynamics among the noble families were particularly significant, as many of these families were rising to prominence and consolidating their power. Understanding these dynamics is essential for comprehending the broader historical context, especially as we move towards the Wars of Independence.
In our current exploration, we will look at notable individuals such as the powerful Comyns, the influential Bruces, and the strategic Stewarts, among others. Each of these figures had a unique impact on Scottish history, and their actions during Alexander II's reign set the stage for the dramatic events that were to follow. Next week, we will continue this journey by examining other key figures and the famous clans that rose to further power during this period.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into the late 12th and early 13th centuries and immerse ourselves in the lives of the noble families of Scotland. Through their stories, we will gain a deeper understanding of the period and set the stage for the monumental events that would shape Scotland’s future. Join me as we uncover the intricate and compelling histories of these noble individuals, whose legacies continue to influence our understanding of Scotland's rich and complex past.
Please give us a follow-on twitter at: u/TheHistoryofSc1 or just our Facebook group which you can find by searching History of Scotland on Facebook.
Leave any feedback you have for the podcast in reviews, likes, and comments. Our podcast is on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and other great podcasting platforms.
Stay safe.
https://open.spotify.com/show/4mt91nR0uaVv547EQqJAaf
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-scotland-podcast/id1609855804
https://historyofscotlandpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-57-catching-up-with-the-nobles-part-1/

Eivor is a bit of a strange protagonist.
She’s basically flawless and without blame. She’s brash and bold, proud and unashamed — brave and wise far beyond her years, yet able to be soft and compassionate when not brandishing spears. She’s got a knack for leadership, a strong moral compass and an even stronger muscular system with which to enact justice.
And she’s got bars?
As someone not deeply versed in medieval European histories, imagine my shock and confusion upon discovering that Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla included rap battling.
My first experience with Flyting had me asking so many questions about what I just witnessed that I couldn’t wait to begin Googling. I figured flyting probably was historically accurate, but if that’s the case, then what else can it tells us about the medieval warrior and about Eivor’s characterization?
I set off to find out.
--
Wikipedia and howstuffworks combined gave me a robust definition of flyting.
A ritual, poetic exchange of insults practiced mainly between the 5th and 16th centuries. Examples of flyting are found throughout Scots, Ancient, Medieval and Modern Celtic, Old English, Middle English and Norse literature involving both historical and mythological figures. The exchanges would become extremely provocative, often involving accusations of cowardice or sexual perversion.
The idea behind flyting was to influence public opinion of the participants and raise both of their profiles. And each participant wanted to make himself look better than the other, even if they were friendly.
Not only that, but flyting’s also the first recorded use of shit as an insult. That right there is worth this whole essay and then some.
--
I came away from those definitions with some small Euphoria, as they reinforce what I already expected from Ubisoft — historically accurate and (arguably) immersive side activities grounded in realism.
Unfortunately, none of the flyting foes that Eivor faces in this fantasy are founded in any real-world flyters. I was particularly frustrated when I realized Fergal the Faceless and Borghild the Alewife’s Bane were fictional features, not real historical fiends of rhythm and rhyme.
Two of Eivor’s syntax competitors are “real” in some sense, however.
In Norse mythos, Odin, Thor, Loki, Freyja and more would handle their Family Matters over a flyte from time to time, dueling wits and words as competition and entertainment.
In fact, one flyte we do see in game — Odin as he flytes over the river with Thor in the Asgard Arc — is likely a reference to a real medieval Norse poem; The Hárbarðsljóð.
In it, Thor jaunts back to Asgard after a journey in Jötunheim. He comes to a junction in which he must jump a large river, and thus hunts down a ferryman to shepherd him across. The ferryman, Hárbarðr, is Odin in disguise. He then begins to diss guys.
Ahem. ‘Guys’ being Thor, obviously.
First, Odin drops a yo-mama joke:

Of thy morning feats art thou proud, but the future thou knowest not wholly; Doleful thine home-coming is: thy mother, me thinks, is dead.

He keeps going, taking more shots than a First Person Shooter, this time saying Thor dresses like a girl:

Three good dwellings methinks, thou hast not; Barefoot thou standest and wearest a beggar’s dress; Not even hose dost thou have.

Thor says watch your mouth before I clap back:

Ill for thee comes thy keenness of tongue, if the water I choose to wade; Louder, I ween, than a wolf thou cryest, if a blow of my hammer thou hast.

Odin replies by saying Thor’s wife is fucking another dude:

Sif has a lover at home, and him shouldst thou meet; More fitting it were on him to put forth thy strength.

The version we play out in game isn’t identical to the real-world poem, but carries some similarities; Thor’s threatening to cross the river to fight Odin as well as his boasting of slaying giants are present in each.
Ratatosk is the only other ‘real’ flyting enemy in Valhalla. While Odin doesn’t flyte with Ratatosk in Norse myth to my knowledge, the flyting against the squirrel is thematically accurate, at least.
Ratatosk’s purpose is to scramble up and down Yggdrasil, scurrying spoken messages from the eagle that sits at its peaks to the snake that slithers at its base. The nature of Ratatosk’s messages is in line with the act of flyting — the mischievous rodent carries falsehoods and aggressive statements to stir up drama and distrust between bird and serpent.
Flyting took place not only in poems and folklore, but in town squares and royal court. It was a facet of medieval life and social interaction. This weaving of prose then, in this time period, seemingly was just about as much of an admired skill as the swinging of a sword. It’s no wonder our unbreakable warrior Eivor is so proficient with word.
--
Like, really proficient with word.
I mean, I know it’s me choosing the dialogue options, but sheesh, is there anything she can’t do?
Actually, Eivor’s expertise in flyting is strange to me. It feels random and unearned — out of character, even. It comes more unexpectedly than Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.
It probably only feels out of character, however, due to our modern understanding of proficiency with words versus proficiency with might. Our current interpretation of verbal ability compared to physical ability would perceive verbal ability as the ‘softer’ of the two skillsets. Physical strength is typically interpreted as tough and more dominant. You don’t expect to see an MMA fighter composing poetry, do you? The qualities that modern thought attributes to writing and physicality don’t mesh.
But in reality — and historically accurately in Valhalla — medieval warriors weren’t just blind berserkers. They were actually artists, poets and writers.
We’ve already demonstrated how Odin and Thor — Norse myth’s most famous warriors — carried out flyting. There are plenty more examples of the burly and the brawn, the Viking and the warrior breaking out poetry and song. Other poems and sagas include the same thing, among the most famous of which is Egil’s Saga — Egil, a tough Viking warrior, would frequently break out into prose throughout the saga’s telling.
Beyond Vikings though lie other other examples from around the world. The Illiad contains instances of public, ritualized abuse. Taunting songs are present in Inuit culture while Arabic poetry contains a form of flyting called naqa’id. Further, Japanese Samurai were known to be frequent composers of haiku, while Japanese culture also gave birth to Haikai, poetry in which vulgar satire and puns were wielded.
This historical accuracy ends up eliminating the randomness of Eivor’s flyting ability. Despite her verbal finesse feeling unearned, we can surmise historically that Eivor has practiced the wielding of words plenty in her life before we take over as the player. She’s dedicated time to this.
Now that we know why she has it, we can take a closer look at what it does for her.
--
So, Eivor can rap. She can match you with her axe or she can match you with her words. She’s just about unbeatable.
Her mastery of words demonstrates on some level that she’s not all Push Ups and might is right. She’s not all bruiser and bluster, burn and berserk. She’s an appreciator of the finer things — the more abstract, mental skills that require brain power, deftness and finesse.
This duality of strength and genius rounds out Eivor into a deeper, richer, more admirable character. More than just raw muscle in pursuit of glory, Eivor’s mastery of verse demonstrates her prioritizing not just her body, but her mind.
And it goes a long way for her.
Eivor can use her prowess with prose to progress past pointless plot points throughout Valhalla’s plethora of arcs and missions. It’s just a stat check in the end, but with enough practice flyting and enough charisma gained, Eivor unlocks new dialogue options that bend the world around her to her will.
Witch hunters in Eurvicscire on the brink of terrorizing Moira can be dispersed verbally rather than brawled or killed. There’s an entire riddle-solving fetch quest in Wincestre that can be skipped completely by telling King Aelfred’s abbot fuck off (figuratively). Eivor’s sharpening of her mind protects her body, saves her time, and allows her to frictionlessly fell her endeavors.
Her articulate advances don’t just alter her into admirability, they allow her to influence people and progression. With semantics from her mouth and twists from her tongue, Eivor can have her way whenever she wishes. In a game this large, I’m only left longing that the opportunity to make use of this charisma wasn’t relegated to niches.
Regardless, if medieval England is butter, Eivor’s tongue is the hot knife that behooves her move through her subduing more smoothly.
It all just goes to show that ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ flyte is right.

So I've had this theory on my mind for quite a while but I have become more rigid in my belief of it since not only Mandela Catalyst but the new channel ''GENESIS APOCRYPHON'' as well. I know you guys have probably read endless litanies of theories written on this subreddit, so perhaps this will fall through the cracks like the rest and understandably so. Perhaps my theory is just flagrantly wrong also but I think even if that happens to be the case perhaps I can get some aspect of the Mandela Catalogue correct within this. I will begin with an introduction to the theory, then I will bring forth my evidence which will be followed with speculation upon the piece of evidence in relation to the theory. Finally, I will end with a conclusion based on the introduction and evidence combined.
Introduction:
There has been two aspects of the Mandela Catalogue which have distracted me ever since the series began, these two aspects are things which I see seldom discussed within the various theory channels, forums and other mediums which have taken on the yolk of unpacking this anomaly of a horror series. They are as follows:

1. Why was the name Mandela Catalogue chosen? Is it really just a random name that Alex came up with in reference to the fictional Mandela County?
2. What is the true meaning of the US Department of Temporal Phenomena? Meaning, in what sense do their focus or actions relate to temporal operations?

These questions on their own may seem distantly connected or unrelated completely but with a bit of speculation one could see these two being completely intertwined. In regards to question one, what do we know about the term ''Mandela''? Well everyone has heard of the famous ''Mandela Effect'' where a large amount of people believe something to be true (usually relating to something in their childhood) but is not actually the case, the namesake being an example of this. A large proportion of people mistakenly believed Nelson Mandela to have passed away in prison during the 1980's, in actuality he died in 2013. Hence being the first popular example of this effect and thus obtaining the name of ''The Mandela Effect''.I am not here to argue the veracity of the Mandela Effect or any of the theories regarding it but I am here to focus in on this definition. So keep the definition of ''where a large amount of people believe something to be true (usually relating to something in their childhood) but is not actually the case'' in your mind going forward. Another point of note is the usage of ''Catalogue'' for the name. This implies a retroactive look at the events taking place in the series, someone is ''cataloguing'' the events taking place in Mandela county. This little titbit will come in to be very important in my theory.
In regards to question two, we need to properly define ''temporal'' which I have seen many wrongly define. Temporal does not simply refer to time but rather the perception of the linear progression of time from past to present to future. This perception is not universal in humanity and many cultures don't view time in this fashion. So we may be able to define ''Temporal Phenomena'' as psychological/sociological occurrences relating to the perception of linear time. Under this definition the Mandela Effect would be seen as a ''Temporal Phenomena''.
The theory I'm going to lay out before you requires these definitions to be cleared up and properly defined, for my theory directly relates to the theory and praxis of the alternates. I believe that the alternates are attempting to make humanity remember a different history, an alternate (badumtss) history which is not our own. However, what is history if you don't perceive time in a linear sense? If the alternates don't perceive time linearly or experience it temporally, then maybe history to them includes the present and future. If humanity begins to believe the alternate history which Gabriel and his flock are attempting to make us believe, then alternates will have total power over our world, I will explain why this is the case in the evidence section.
Evidence:
1A - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0EpOiu8YkI 1B - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1bYOi7lHJU 1C - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCl-M_l-Kv0
1A Evidence: Overthrone is essential to understanding what is going on within the Mandela Catalogue universe. We see here that a False Gabriel is taking the place of the biblical angel Gabriel in order to preaching a sort of prophecy or foretelling of what he will do, he will ''Fool the Shepherds'' he will ''Know their greatest fear'' before saying later to the shepherds ''I am your true saviour, I know everything about what makes you human. I know what you love. I know what you dread.'' and ultimately turning into the spooky Gabriel for lack of a better term. At the very end (Which I will not analyse fully for I don't believe the rest has much relevance to my theory) Gabriel says ''I deceived them, such weak minds''. So we know that there are shepherds (which seems to be distinct from THE Shepard) which may be followers or rather now former followers of the Shepard. We also see that he foretold his act of deceiving them to Joseph, perhaps to break Joseph down mentally before telling him to ''Wake Up'' which I will get into later.
1A Speculation: I think it would be a grave error to see Overthrone and all the subsequent alternate bible stories shown in the Mandela Catalogue as actual historical account in universe. What I mean by this is that the alternates are simply editing the cartoon to reflect what they want people to believe ergo Gabriel did not actually interact with these Biblical figures, the events shown in the cartoon did not actually happen (at least literally). I say this partially using an argument from silence admittedly, seeing as though we have no evidence that the events within the cartoons actually happened in universe but seeing as how alternates constantly corrupt videos to suit their needs I don't think this is a far out conclusion. However, I think there is ample evidence for this in 1B.
1B Evidence: The first upload of Alex's new and disturbing channel. I'm going to be a little cheeky here and include the whole channel in my analysis of 1B. Now we found out about this channel from the link shown on the tv when the news report was intercepted by the alternates. This may mean that the channel is in universe. The channels name is ''GENESIS APOCRYPHON'' which is incredibly groundbreaking in how we view the series and supports my speculation above. The Genesis Apocryphon is a real thing, it is one of the original seven dead sea scrolls and (According to Wikipedia :P) the Genesis Apocryphon lies within the "rewritten bible" category and is a retelling of the stories of the patriarchs. An Alternate Genesis. I believe this more than supports my speculation of 1A.From the banner of the channel we see Dave Lee's store with one of the signs saying ''Trade in your VHS'' and taking into account volume 4 we know that Dave Lee is in possession of a lot of the tapes we have seen previously on the main channel, if not all. Another thing to note is the @ for the Genesis Apocryphon channel, @ allocateundamage as if this channel may be perhaps allocating the undamaged tapes or tapes that are being repaired. Conveniently this segways us into the 1B video, it is the same video seen in overthrone but without the crazy alternate stuff going on. The most odd part of it is all the dialogue of Gabriel being cut out around half way through and the ending slowly going black and white. This is a damaged tape or a tape that was damaged being repaired, for example it may be an attempt at repairing the overthrone tape.
1B Speculation: I think that what we are seeing are David Lee's attempts at repairing the biblical cartoon tapes corrupted by the alternates and his collection of other damaged tapes. As we know from the end of Volume 4, these tapes are incredibly important to Gabriel for he said ''We have their prayers and their records''. I believe these records are the tapes of the corrupted bible cartoon tapes, this must have been why David Lee was an important target, if they lose those tapes then they lose their false account of history which they are trying to convince humanity of. However, David is already dead and this channel can be assumed to be in universe, so who's uploading these leftover tapes? Perhaps it's Thatcher, maybe he's copped on to what the alternates are trying to do.
1C Evidence: This video is most interesting, as it is a part of the biblical narrative that we've never seen before on the main channel; The Resurrection of Christ. The video starts off in the same relative normality established in the video prior but slowly goes on to reveal the usual dark elements that we see in the other corrupted Bible Cartoon tapes. It appears as though the longer the video goes on the worse it gets, as if there's parts which haven't been repaired yet. Ending with Gabriel in the tomb of Christ speaking to perhaps Mary Magdalene. Beyond that, there's not much hard evidence to be divulged in the case of my theory but there's a lot to speculate on.
1C Speculation: It appears as though all of these bible tapes may be representative or symbolic of what's presently going on in Mandela and the surrounding counties. With Mary Magdalene being a stand in for Evelin just how Adam and Eve seemed to be a stand in for Adam and Evelin in volume 4. Which could indicate that the alternates are trying to tell the story of what's going on currently in the Mandela Catalogue in order to have tangible events attached to the false history which they will preach to the world. Thus the present becomes the past and becomes the gospel.
2A - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUrCO_x3VHk&t=48s 2B - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8d12w6pMos&t=104s
2A/B Evidence: I should first note that I will not be analysing the M.A.D section of the video, I will instead analyse the standalone M.A.D video in another post about this theory maybe, nor will I be analysing the Toddler Stress Assessment section for I feel it holds no relevance to my theory. This video is the remake or restored edition of Volume 1, you will find out why I put this version of Volume 1 and the original Volume 1 as separate evidence entries in the speculation following. However, what I wish for you to notice now is the differences between the original and the restored version. Notice how many of the glitches, odd messages such as ''Kill yourself, there's not enough room for the two of us'' and the lack of the faceless alternate.
2A/B Speculation: This is not mere remastering of old videos on the part of Alex, the restored version is the version which has had all editing and falsities from the alternates removed. As much the same with Genesis Apocryphon, we are seeing the fruits of David and Thatcher's labour to restore the tapes and show the real history of what has been going on in Mandela county. We can assume that the alternates are not only using this as a form of rewriting history but also to implant themselves into the mind of the viewer as with Stanley.
In summary: The alternate history we see with the bible cartoons is not accurate history in universe, it is in fact a fake history being made up by the alternates perhaps to cement themselves in our collective psyche. It seems that David caught on to this which is why Gabriel had to get rid of him. Thatcher may soon discover this if he somehow gets a hold of David's tapes. The retold bible stories are representative of events that have been going on in Mandela county since the arrival of the alternates and these events may be an attempt to create a new gospel of sorts. They are targeting children specifically with this fake history since they will be more likely to forget the true history of the world, true history then becomes subject to the Mandela effect.
That's all I can muster to think of right now but I will consider making a part two to this theory as I think there is still a bunch more evidence to sift through. This post was more a proof of concept than anything.

Hey everyone,
I wanted to dive into a well-known but often overlooked character from Matt Furie's comic book "Boys Club"—Nitefeeder. While many of us are familiar with the internet-famous Pepe, there's another delightful character worth discussing: Nitefeeder, Pepe’s only pet and arguably the most adorable character in the series.
Nitefeeder is more than just a sidekick; he brings a unique charm to the "Boys Club" universe. Together, Nitefeeder and Pepe could be a great “memecoin alliance”
Here are a few highlights about him:

1. Species: Nitefeeder is a kiwi bird, known for their distinctive long beaks and being native to New Zealand. This adds an exotic and endearing quality to his character, making him stand out among Pepe’s eclectic group of friends.
2. Relationship with Pepe: As Pepe’s only pet, Nitefeeder holds a special place in Pepe's heart and the storyline. Their relationship adds depth to Pepe's character, showcasing a softer, more nurturing side of him. The interactions between Pepe and Nitefeeder are often humorous and heartwarming, contributing to the overall charm of the comic.
3. Comic Appearance: Nitefeeder is featured throughout the "Boys Club" comic book series. His presence adds an extra layer of fun and humor to the stories. Whether he’s involved in Pepe's antics or just being his adorable self, Nitefeeder always brings a smile to the readers' faces .

For those who haven't yet explored "Boys Club" Narrative, I highly recommend it. It’s a fascinating dive into the origins of Pepe and the quirky, vibrant world he inhabits. The comic is filled with unique characters and hilarious situations, with Nitefeeder adding his own special touch to the mix.
Nitefeeder might not have the same level of fame as Pepe, but he certainly deserves recognition for his role. His adorable nature and the dynamic he shares with Pepe make him an unforgettable part.
Let’s give this charming kiwi bird the spotlight he deserves!
CA: 0x85F7cFe910393fB5593C65230622AA597e4223f1

• Dextools: https://www.dextools.io/app/en/ethepair-explore0x1ce1f63b584b87d0f3706bfbb2be881270859f0b?t=1716234472162
• website: https://nitefeeder.site (Spoiler: Next week new website with amazing graphics👀)
• Coinmarketcap: https://coinmarketcap.com/nl/currencies/nitefeede
• Taxes: 0/0
• Contract renounced
• Liquidity burnt
• 100% community takeover, already donated 105K to the Nitefeeder marketingwallet by several community members!
• Telegram: @ nitefeedereth
• X: https://NitefeederToken

Conversation about Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias) on this subreddit tends to be really limited, with many people taking at face value the "smartest man in the world" claim (which was published in a magazine Veidt owns!) and interpreting the ending as a moral quandary over whether killing millions is worth it to avert nuclear war.
But that's not how Veidt's character is written. Veidt is written, instead, to show how ego, anxiety, and detachment from humanity can drive people to do horrific things.
I collected examples from the text on several facets of Veidt's character, hoping to highlight how -- both through analogy and through plot -- Moore worked to paint a complex picture of Veidt as a person driven mad by anxiety and impotence, his fears fueled by isolation and obsessive media consumption, who did something unthinkable and unnecessary.
Is this post, itself, a bit obsessive? Yes. But I hope that people can link this post in the future the next time someone inevitably asks: "Was Ozymandias right?"

I. Veidt is mentally unwell.

• Dan: “I mean, who’s qualified to judge something like that? This is the world’s smartest man we’re talking about here, so how can you tell? How can anyone tell if he’s gone crazy?” (Chapter XI, page 3).
• Veidt: “By day I imagine endless faces. By night… well, I dream, about swimming towards a hideous… No. Never mind. It isn’t significant.” (Chapter XII, page 27)
• Veidt tells his life story to a bunch of dead bodies. (Chapter XI)
• Veidt: “I don’t mind being the smartest man in the world. I just wish it wasn’t this one.” (Chapter XII, back matter)
• Veidt is mirrored by the mariner in the Black Freighter, who has visibly gone mad by the time he embarks on the raft and is raving by the time he arrives home.
• We see a reference to Tarkovsky’s iconic film The Sacrifice (Chapter XII, page 31), which also features a character going insane in an attempt to prevent nuclear war.
• Veidt’s plan is, in essence, a form of projection: the squid makes people go insane, have constant nightmares, and kill each other out of fear. The squid is, itself, a nightmare given form.
• Graffiti (Chapter I, page 24) reads “One in eight go mad.” Of the eight Minutemen, Mothman was put in an asylum. There were eight attendees of the Crimebusters meeting. After 11/2, the graffiti has been modified (Chapter XII, page 31) to read “One in three go mad.” Only three of the attendees remain: Veidt, Dan, and Laurie.
• Just look at his expression while killing the Comedian. (Chapter XI, page 26)

II. Veidt is detached from humanity.

• In present day, we only see Veidt in his personal skyscraper or thousands of miles from New York at his private Antarctic fortress -- never on the street.
• Pulling at the Tales of the Black Freighter parallels again, the mariner is marooned and goes mad because he has nobody else to talk to.
• Veidt refers to “stepping back” from humanity: “My first step was to stand back as far as I could, to view the problem from a fresh perspective, my vista widening with my comprehension. [...] I took another step back, and thought again.” (Chapter XI, page 21).

III. Veidt is obsessed with media and pop culture, and it deeply influences his worldview.

• Veidt is constantly engaged with his “multi-screen viewing” (Chapter XI, page 1), which we see originating in 1963 with just a few screens (Chapter XII, page 18). For 20+ years, Veidt has been gleaning a lot of his understanding of humanity from obsessively watching TV.
• The squid is straight out of sci-fi, with Veidt literally hiring famous artists, writers, etc. from literature, comic books, and so on to design the squid and the nightmares planted within it.
• We also know that Veidt has read Tales of the Black Freighter, not just because he hired Max Shea to help with the squid, but also because he references it twice: “I dream, about swimming towards a hideous…” and “I know I’ve struggled across the backs of murdered innocents” (Chapter XII, page 27). The mariner literally sails on the bloated corpses of his innocent crew, and at the end, swims towards the Black Freighter.
• Veidt makes frequent media references: William S. Burroughs (Chapter XI, page 1), Man From UNCLE (Chapter XI, back matter), a bunch of musicians (Chapter XI, back matter) -- there are definitely more.
• Nova Express, heavily implied to be owned by Veidt, is another Burroughs reference.
• Veidt takes personal investment in forming narratives in his advertising, micromanaging plots in TV shows, toys, etc. (Chapter X, back matter).
• Veidt is mirrored by Bernard, the newsstand owner. Both Veidt and Bernard’s parents moved out of Germany during Hitler’s rise to power. Both Veidt and Bernard think they understand the world because they see a constant stream of media (Veidt with his TVs, Bernard with his newsstand) and are terrified of impending war. Both cite popular culture as evidence of impending war despite themselves selling to those audiences (Veidt via his advertising and publications, Bernard via his newsstand). Note Veidt’s obsession with finality and Bernard’s frequent refrain: “... inna final analysis.”

IV. Veidt undercuts his plan for his ego.

• Veidt is careful to distance himself from most of his assassinations, but kills the Comedian by hand -- something he’s not prone to doing. (Dan: “This is Adrian, for god’s sake! We know him. He never killed anybody, ever.” [Chapter XI, page 3]) This immediately clues in both the detectives (“No way this is a straight burglary… somebody really had it in for this guy.” [Chapter I, page 3]) and Rorschach.
• Veidt does this because of his ego: “Recognizing me, he attacked anyway, ‘mistaking me for a criminal.’ I studied his limitations: skillful feint, devastating uppercut; little else… He won. In the short term. [...] I also swore that when next I met Blake or any other foe, though perhaps not on my territory… it would certainly be on my terms.” (Chapter XI, page 19).
• Veidt makes his password “RAMESES II”, leaves lots of clues (“Pyramid Deliveries”), and only teleports the squid when he sees Dan and Rorschach approaching (Chapter XI, page 4). The title of Chapter XI is “Looks on my works, ye mighty”. Veidt wants an audience of his peers. If he had teleported the squid earlier, Rorschach likely would have died.
• Along similar lines, Veidt leaves the Comedian alive for as long as possible and doesn’t kill Rorschach -- sloppy choices, born out of his need for peers who know his plan.

V. Veidt’s plan is doomed and ill-conceived.

• Veidt idolizes Alexander the Great, who failed. Veidt: “Amongst [Babylon’s] ruined ziggurats, I saw at last his failings… He’d not united all the world, nor built a unity that would survive him.” (Chapter XI, page 10)
• Veidt named himself after Ramesses II (aka Ozymandias), famous from the Shelley poem about the impermanence of greatness, which the comic also references. (“And on the pedestal, these words appear: / My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; / Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! / Nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare / The lone and level sands stretch far away.”)
• Dr. Manhattan: “Nothing ends, Adrian. Nothing ever ends.” (Chapter XII, page 27)
• Tales of the Black Freighter shows the mariner accidentally attacking his home to save it from a threat he thinks has already arrived, only to discover that the threat was in his head and he had become the thing he feared. Veidt, similarly, was so terrified of nuclear war that he became the threat.
• Rorschach’s journal is the last panel, implying that Veidt’s artificial peace will soon begin to deteriorate.

VI. Veidt's relationship to the Comedian is crucial, and Veidt may be the comic's true "comedian."

• Veidt’s complicated admiration for Blake extends to early in his career, in the mid-50’s: “As intelligent men facing lunatic times, we were very alike, despising each other instantly.” (Chapter XI, page 18).
• Rorschach says of the Comedian: “No one else saw the joke. That’s why he was lonely.” (Chapter II, page 27). But Veidt did: “Too cowardly to confront my anxieties, I had life’s black comedy explained to me by the Comedian himself [...] [He] opened my eyes. Only the best comedians accomplish that. [...] I swore to deny his kind their last black laugh at Earth’s expense. [...] I would trick [the world]; frighten it towards salvation with history’s greatest practical joke. That’s what upset the Comedian: [...] professional jealousy.” (Chapter XI, pages 19-24)
• In fact, though, it ends up being Blake who doesn’t get the joke. When Blake confesses to Moloch, he says of Veidt’s plan: “I mean, this joke, I mean, I thought I was the Comedian, y’know? [...] I mean, what’s funny? What’s so goddamned funny? I don’t get it. Somebody explain… somebody explain it to me.” (Chapter II, page 23)
• Veidt’s likely namesake is Conrad Veidt, perhaps most famous for his haunting, insane-looking grin in “The Man Who Laughs”.
• We see the relationship between comedy/laughter and mental instability explored in Rorschach’s joke: “Man goes to doctor. Says he’s depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says ‘Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up. Man bursts into tears. Says ‘But, doctor… I am Paglacci.’” (Chapter II, page 27). On the surface, this appears to be about Blake -- but by the end, we can see that it applies just as much, if not more, to Veidt.

VII. Veidt is a Hitler analogue.

• Veidt is a German immigrant whose character design is straight out of a Nazi propaganda ad.
• Veidt idolizes Alexander the Great, a Greco-Roman would-be world conqueror. Nazis frequently invoked Greco-Roman design motifs and obviously had similar goals of conquering the world.
• Dan: “He’s such a caring, conscientious guy. He’s a pacifist, a vegetarian…” / Rorschach: “Hitler was vegetarian.” (Chapter XI, page 15)
• Veidt: “Hitler said people swallow lies easily, provided they’re big enough.” (Chapter XI, page 26)
• 11/2 is Veidt’s personal Holocaust. Over the scenes of carnage in New York, we see the Madison Square Garden sign: “KRYSTALNACHT” (Chapter XII, page 2). Highlighted among the millions of dead: the concertgoers (alternative/punks), Joey and Aline (lesbians), Bernard (whose father fled the Nazis), and a number of Black people (Malcolm, Gloria, Bernie, and the watch salesman). Joey’s posted for Gay Women Against Rape features the band Pink Triangle, a symbol which originated as a badge to identify gay people in Nazi concentration camps.
• Veidt, fundamentally, is obsessed with finding a “final solution” to bring peace -- even if it costs millions of lives.

Did you know that about 75,000 people go missing per year in Canada? I might’ve found another one to add to that tally, as someone by the name of Trinity Arthurs, a 20-year-old woman, disappeared seemingly without a trace on June 14th of last year, along with 19-year-old Marvin Arthurs, her brother. The question in everyone’s minds is why I’m telling you this.
It all started with a hike in the woods, on a trail, in Prince Albert National Park. I was enjoying the green, taking a deep breath from the fresh air of nature when I spotted something shining. When I looked at it, it became clearer that it was a Ziploc bag. I initially thought it was someone else tossing garbage on the forest floor, but when I picked it up, I realized something was in there. I looked closer at the bag and noticed there was a USB. I packed it into my bag and finished my hike. When I went home, I took the USB out of the Ziploc. I was very hesitant to plug it into my laptop, as I had only recently discovered it in some forest.
I plugged it in and took a deep breath, knowing of the risk of it. It didn’t affect the laptop in any way, but it did reveal only one file which says TRINITY E. ARTHUR’S ENTRIES. I clicked on it and it seems to be a bunch of Word documents, each noted as ENTRY. I couldn’t find anything else other than those files.
I decided to look up, only to find a single news article back then relating to Trinity’s case. I tried to send it to the police, but they thought of it as some sick fanfiction I wrote, so I am going to post it here, leaving it as is. To clarify, I did not write this. I hope this gains the attention of her case as it deserves.
_________________________________________________________________________
Entry 1 - Sepember 24th, 2023
Hello there, my name is Tris and this might be the very first time I have typed something personal on this laptop, like ever, maybe since elementary school, where we would write how we would feel for the day. Not really the type to socialize and not the type to write a journal, let alone digital, either, because what’s the point of it? I guess I’m just spilling out my thoughts, especially after what I’ve seen, so might as well put this to good use.
For context, this is about my father, Micheal Arthurs. I remembered him, at least before all of this, to be this big, strong guy who just simply had a nice hobby. In that case, that hobby is all about caves. He would spend some of his work money on these trips with one of his work buddies to explore cave systems. The reason? Maybe because he was fascinated with them, god knows when, maybe since he was a child. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about me and my two younger brothers, Marvin and James, as well as our mother, Martha.
He cared for us like any dad would, he would take us camping, tell us about his adventures in the caves, and spoil us with gifts we didn’t need but appreciated anyway. From time to time, he would give us shit if one of us tried to burn the house down by putting paper in a toaster, thinking we would automatically make some kind of magical spell, which actually happened. Hell, my middle name Edward came from him, strange for a girl like me. He used to tell me that he accidentally thought I was a boy when I was born, so that stuck. His trips also, I guess, strained his relationship with Mom, who always complained about him going somewhere for a week, worried sick for him and leaving her to care for us.
That was, until a few years ago, on the morning of May 8th, 2018 - about less than five years ago, when I was fifteen. He said that he’d be back in a week because he was going to explore a cave somewhere in Ontario. The last time I remembered him was when he and Mom made pancakes, bacon, and hashbrowns, of which the pancakes were made for me, even though I could’ve had toast instead. We joked around the table and asked what he’d be doing at the cave. Of course, he would tell his usual, like going into new passages and finding any cave paintings, if any, in the caves themselves. I could imagine the cave paintings he might discover depicting mammoths and saber-tooth cats back then, with people hunting them. After that, we cleaned up and Dad was ready to go. He each gave us a big, warm hug and shared a quick but gentle kiss with Mom. He waved us goodbye before stepping into his big grey Ford truck, all packed up, and drove through the streets of Saskatoon.
We waited. Hours turned to days, and we knew when he’d return. Those days then turned to weeks and we began to think there was something wrong. Mom was first to notice, so she called the RCMP to file a missing persons report. What we didn’t know was it became a whole mystery in itself. At first, they contacted his coworker, who usually caves with him, only to find he was equally as confused as us. That coworker was asked by my Dad if he wanted to go caving with him, only for him to abandon that plan due to a medical emergency relating to his wife. They then put up alerts for him so that anyone would come forward for his whereabouts. Some said they saw him at a local Costco store, others said he was going north, baffling us in the process as he would not go north for Ontario. At that point, there were no leads for a while.
At that time, we were waiting for him to go home. I did some investigating myself, along with my oldest brother Marvin, to find out where our Dad at. We thought this might be some alternate route he took, or that he might be going to Prince Albert to meet family. James, our youngest, seems to care less about the fact Dad is missing and more about talking to his friends. Looking back at it now, I guess this was his method of coping with the situation. Mom was not doing well. She would constantly ask the police to simply find him, but understandably they just couldn't without any new evidence.
That was until a surveillance camera at some gas station store in Blaire Lake spotted Dad. At first, he got out of the truck and put the nozzle in to fuel up. Once his truck was fueled up, he went inside the near-empty store, saved for a few guys, grabbed a few beef jerky and Gatoraids, and went to the cashier to pay for them. After that, he went through the door and back to his truck, driving off. That blew our minds and the crazier thing was that his truck was found, abandoned at a campsite in Martins Lake. The truck was later towed for investigation and found no evidence that he was killed or kidnapped at the truck, meaning he went somewhere. A few more people said they saw him carrying his bags and went into the woods to the west, assuming he was going on a hike. Hearing that news, they searched the woods, looking for any signs he was there without any sort of luck. The search was called off and the trail ran cold.
During that time, I was exhausted and realised I felt like nothing without him. I was in a spiral, always mad at everyone and expecting everyone to find my Dad, but at the same time, I was also beginning to be one of those people. The same people I expect to find my Dad. I then felt defeated and helpless, without purpose, begging whatever god was up there to bring my Dad back, hoping he was not hurt, at least alive. I hoped he found his way out of the woods. I hoped he survived an animal attack. It was only as days went by that I realised this was taking over me, wasting my life and mentality, and that was when I decided he wasn’t coming back. I decided that he might be dead, somewhere in those woods. I hoped that someone would find his remains one day. I guess I did move on, without knowing what happened to him.
Marv, on the other hand, never really accepted. He continued to find him, even to this day. He would do other things, of course, but would argue with someone once our Dad’s name was heard, saying he might still be alive. He did get into a few fights because of this. He now accepts he is dead, but holds onto the belief we should still look for him, to relieve us. Mom was doing worse than the rest of us. She would blame herself for not being with him and usually buys drinks to forget about it. Eventually, she would put a lot of pressure on me and criticize everything I did, putting a lot of stress on me. It got to the point where we would go into screaming matches about the simplest of things, drawing me down to regret ever getting mad at her in the first place. It was so bad that my aunt had to take me out of there for my safety. That was nearly three years ago and I didn’t even hear a word from her. One side of me hoped that she would get arrested for drunk driving, and the other hoped she’d get help.
James seemed to be the one least affected by this, surrounded by friends we didn’t have. The last time I heard of my little brother after his high school graduation, he was beginning to do some cave stuff, like our father. Matter of fact, he began his own small club of cavers a few years before he left. I never really knew what went on in his mind, but I guess he felt just as fucked-up as the rest of us, just that he had enough distractions to easily get away from those thoughts.
As for me, I eventually moved into an apartment with Marv and got a job as a security guard at some mall, at the suggestion of my aunt’s friend, a few years ago. Working there has improved me, even though I worked nights. It has given me some purpose and gets my mind off of the things that happen during the day.
You might ask me, mind to mind, why I’m giving myself some sob story to talk about. This morning, I was riding my electrical tricycle from work to my apartment in the frigid air. I went in there and saw an odd package that was under Marv’s name, although without an address. The box seems to be a cereal box, sealed with package tape. The name that it’s sent to seems to be written in Sharpie in printed form. I thought it was odd that somehow this package made its way inside and at our mailing station. Thinking that it might be someone attempting to play an odd prank on my brother, I initially thought about leaving it alone. Curiosity got the cat, however, so I picked up the box and lightly shook it. I felt and heard what seemed to be something inside of it, like one big thing and a few smaller ones.
I then took it to my apartment, where I opened the door and entered, closed the door, removed my boots on the mat, and set the box on the somewhat clean kitchen counter. Looking at it, I was initially hesitant about opening it because it was under his name. I left it alone, he was home most of the time, on his computer doing a few things. Going into my room, I took off my uniform and changed my pants to a pair of boxers, turned on the TV to sit and relax on my bed. Looking through the streaming service, I tried to look for anything relating to volcanoes, one of those topics I was very interested in at the time, but the content was lacking. I went for a documentary and sat back, watching.
A few minutes in and I can hear knocking on the door. I was annoyed initially, knowing it was my brother. I opened and I could see confusion yet a look of needing to know on his messy, bearded face as he stood at eye level, staring at each other.
Marv: What’s the cereal box in the kitchen?
Me: The cereal box?
Marv: Yes, the cereal box.
Me: I just found it in the mailroom when I came in. No address, nothing other than your name, so I brought it up.
Marv: Do you know what’s inside?
Me: Your guess is as good as mine.
We looked at each other with an equally confused expression, sharing the same thoughts. The only difference is that I looked in the area beside him, empty of thought except for that little mind that reads why would someone send us this package? He was wide-eyed albeit stone-faced and standing still.
Marv: Well, I will be looking inside anyways.
We then went into the kitchen where he grabbed a knife and put it in the box.
Me: Hey, should we use the scissors?
Marv: Why? This is good enough. Not like I’m going to cut myself with it.
He then slowly cut the seams of which the packaging tape sealed, eventually cutting the tape. He then opened it to reveal a USB, an SD card, and a video recorder.
Me: That’s odd.
Marv: I don’t know who sent it, but I hope it is someone who got the wrong address, to the wrong person with my name.
Me: Should we look what's inside them?
Marv: Well, let’s find out.
We then went to his messy clothes-ridden room and he went to his PC to turn it on. There, I began to get concerned about the mysterious USB.
Me: I think we shouldn’t plug it in.
Marv: Why?
Me: Viruses, bugs, the whole deal? We don’t know wha-
Marv: Don’t worry, this PC has antivirus on here. Besides, if it did shut down, we could at least wipe out the memory.
We plugged in the USB, anticipating some sort of pop-up from an unknown digital virus. Instead, nothing happened, maybe other than the notification that a device was plugged in. Marv then sat down to look into the files and see what he could find on the PC, but it felt wrong like we were snooping around. In those files, we could see a folder that says CAVE GIANTS. He clicked on it and there was just a collection of pictures, of cave paintings. The setting all of them seemed to take place in was dark and wet, only the walls of which the cave paintings are on. The paintings themselves, which are in black, depict what seems to be somewhat stick-figure men, some holding arrows and spears, others just standing. Some of those men hunted the animals on the walls, like bison, deer, and mammoths in a group-like manner. The predators seem to be treated with a little more respect, like cougars, wolves, and bears. That was the first few pictures until we met with the first odd thing about those paintings.
The picture in question has every human on the wall holding spears and arrows. No animals were visible. In the next few pictures, we see men without spears or arrows, which said men were upscaled, massive. Long, black legs and arms attach to small bodies and small heads, of which all have un-painted orbs, depicting their eyes, which harrowed us as they stared at us through the screen. It seems some of those tall men have extra or lack of arms and legs. The saying can be said for the eyes, but most are in that somewhat humanoid body plan. The smaller men with the arrows and spears look to be battling the tall men, with some tall men holding the smaller men. In a few more pictures, below the battle scene, were red handprints, unlike those of the black they used. There are no more pictures from here, but we were stunned at whatever we stumbled upon.
Marv: What the fuck. What was that?
Me: I don’t know, maybe an archeologist's USB?
Marv then looked at the screen and saw a second file that said GIANT DOCUMENTARY.
Marv: Giant documentary? A documentary on, okay, what? Giants?
Me: That’s what seems to be like.
We clicked on the folder to see the one mp4 file with the same name. We clicked on it and it started its intro with one of those songs you’d play on a nature educational video. It was black, until it slowly faded into a scene of a forest, with the video panning across gradually and with nature sounds. There, a man with a gruff voice began to narrate.
Narrator: Ever wondered what happened here? You would assume that in a far distant time, this was a different place.
It then transitioned to a scene of a tundra, along with a slideshow of all the animals that existed during the Ice Age. It seems the documentary was made by someone using the Moviemaker application.
Narrator: A cold tundra during the Last Ice Age, of which large mammoths ruled the plains, thick-furred camels gathered in herds, and American lions roamed in their respective pride, along with the large grizzlies, the roaming caribou, and the wolves that hunt in their packs.
I then showed pictures of a tundra landscape, along with a few of the creatures mentioned.
Narrator: That was the scene until man, or Homo Sapiens came along at the end of the Ice Age, ten thousand years ago. The large glaciers that used to cover a third of North America began to melt, causing a whole dramatic series of climatic events. Man took that opportunity to hunt down the prehistoric life that existed. Eventually, those mammoths and camels became extinct, along with the American lion, who relied on them for food, along with a whole plethora of prehistoric beasts that once roamed North America. Eventually, all the ice melted and mankind settled, creating what we know as Native Americans, the Cree, Aztecs, Iroquois, and many more, telling and passing on stories as history marches on.
It then showed a slide show of historical pictures of the tribes themselves, along with depictions of a few of them taking down mammoths and going face to face with sabre tooth cats.
Narrator: I may sound reasonable, based on the evidence found by archeologists and paleontologists alike. Besides, it is only plausible that man is the only species that could drive these wonderful species to extinction. What if I told you all, watching this, that another species used to exist in North America alongside Homo sapiens?
A picture, presumably from the 1800’s or something, showed up, and later a slide show of a few news articles about them. I then began to recognize the voice, a voice all too familiar… my father’s voice. At this time, we were shocked, as this was not what I remembered him and probably not even Marv. We were more shocked at how he took this secret with him and had this under our noses. Despite that, we kept on watching.
Dad: Giants, creatures supposedly of myth and legend, larger yet primitive versions of man, have walked the Earth for many years. Most of that so-called evidence comes in the form of huge, perhaps human-like, bones discovered by farmers and amateur archeologists alike all across neighbouring America. They would claim they built the massive mounds, like the famous Serpent Mound, all across the Midwest.
The slideshow of various examples of these mounds, frame by frame, went by until it stopped at a map of the Midwest, showing where they were.
Dad: Of course, most of these skeletons would either be misidentifications of ancient animals or hoaxes. As for the mysterious mounds, they are now discovered to be built by the good ol’ Hopewell societies, the Mound Builders, who made them as burials and ritual sites. Since then, there has been no new ground evidence of their existence except for the mythologies and legends captivating our cultures. At least, until now.
It then changed to a video recording of Dad, who is sitting in a chair and began explaining it like an explorer that has seen it all.
Dad: One day, while I and John were looking for a cave at Wells Grey Park somewhere in British Columbia, sometime during July of 1994, I saw this tunnel in the snow, somewhere on a high hill at the foot of a glacier. We grabbed our gear, went up to the cave, and we just went in. It took us a few minutes underneath all of that snow before we saw this stream enter this system, melting the snow. We climbed our way down there and reached the floor. We thought we were the first humans to ever set foot in this cave.
Now, as far as I know, to the naked eye, the cave itself is pretty much invisible, especially during winter. Even if anyone did find it, it would require them hours to climb loose rock and steep valley walls. What we found in this cave is quite unusual.
The frame then shows the cave paintings - the very same cave paintings we saw in those other pictures.
Dad: We found these cave paintings on the walls. They are painted in some kind of charcoal paint mix, likely used in the creation of them. At first, the scene depicts the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the earliest settlers themselves, hunting the woolly mammoths, bison and caribou at the time, along with the bears, cougars, and wolves that are treated with respect. Going further down the cave, we began to see fewer animals and more people with spears and bows. That is when we found the tall figures, likely exaggerated by the artists to depict their size and how they saw it. How they depicted them is very long limbs attached to a smaller body and their eyes they didn’t paint over, a hollow gaze. I felt a harrowing feeling, seeing them and gazing into their eyes. There aren’t just a few, instead, there are many of them, some have extra limbs and eyes and a few even pick up the men depicted in the paintings.
By that time, the battery went dead but we marched on deeper into the cave. We found artifacts, like pottery and arrowheads. We then stumbled upon the remains of a campsite beside the bank of the stream. As I was taking it all in, my friend pointed at something with his flashlight. The scene I saw hit me like a ton of bricks, still haunting me to this day.
There were a few human remains, so decayed that only the bone remained. I seemed to be a family of four, still wearing their fur clothes. They seem to be trying to escape a threat, and ended up here to paint this mural, only to die the hard way. I could only imagine what they went through and looking back as a family man, that fate would be worse than death, waiting for the threat to be over, which never came.
I can see him tear up, in the video, crying. Amongst the muffled cries, he said this:
Dad: I wouldn’t wish that on my family. Not even my worst enemy.
He then continued that way for a few minutes, while my initial shock slowly turned to that of sympathy for him, as this was his first time finding something like this.
Dad: Sorry, I guess I should move on.
He waited a few moments to regain composure, wiping his tears away before speaking again.
Dad: Well, after that, we climbed out of the cave. We did not tell anyone of the exact location, because we wanted to respect the people who died up there a very long time ago. My point is, that there was something that scared this family so much they made the effort to climb to the cave and paint out what is their story. There are just too many coincidences for me to think that they just went in here for the sake of it and too many of those tall beings.
That is when I believed that, long ago, something roamed these lands with us. Not some upsized human who are like us, but a horror so savage it horrified the first settlers and forced them into hiding. Now, I asked myself where they went, besides they would’ve still walked amongst us. I was looking through the libraries and saw nothing. That is when until one day, when I stopped at a gas station somewhere in Rosetown. A Cree elder was taking a smoke and told me he had a story to tell me, out of the blue. It was a weird gesture, as he had no reason to talk to me anyway. Besides, why would a Cree elder tell a white man a story?
We sat on a bench and he told me this story his tribe passed around for a very long time. He told me that, in the beginning, his ancestors feared this monster known as the Witiko. Now, today it is known as the wendigo, a solitary monster that corrupts the human soul and forces them to partake in some horrific act, usually cannibalism of their family members. Once they do that, they turn into basically thin, pale corpses with antlers on their heads and have supernatural abilities. This version also has a knack for being always hungry, constantly looking for something to eat, a metaphor for greed in most of the tribes surrounding the area.
These wendigo, or Witiko, are different. They are not the corpse zombie monster thing that was once human, but rather giant, twisted beings that came from the underworld and invaded the overworld. They ate anything for the sake of greed and malice while tormenting life on the overworld for their pleasure. It got so bad some even took it upon themselves to take their own lives. One day, their good-old Creator decided to send out his best warrior, Wisakedjak. Wisakedjak saw what the Witiko were doing and devised a plan. He banded up all the tribes and went to war with them while luring them in the process. Most, if not all, of the Witiko, were where Wisakedjak wanted them to be. The Creator then split the earth, sending them back to the underworld to which they belonged. To ensure they won’t escape again, the Creator eventually sealed the entrance of which the Witiko fell in.
I was shocked at the story, and even asking where the entrance was, only he would tell me this is a secret and that he didn’t want anyone to look for it, in fear they might be released again. After meeting him, I tried to look for genuine proof of these giants, but all I have is a few photos and a story. That is when I thought about who would cover it up, steal the bones and hide them. I guess some of those crazy conspiracy theorists might be right about the Smithsonian Museum covering them up. So I might have to cover my tracks and finish what I started. This is the show, bye.
We sat in shock, looking at each other and realising our Dad might be a nut job.
Marv: Giants? Really? This whole time?
Me: Seems like it.
That is all I could mutter out, confused at what I saw.
Me: They might be connected to his disappearance…
Marv: Okay, how is this related to his disappearance? We still don’t know where he is. Besides, he seems to be a crazy person anyway, like, he listened to one story from a random man and instantly believed him?
Marv’s inner rage became noticeable and understandable, knowing that he saw Dad as a person who cared for him through the hardest of times and now he felt like he was betrayed, like Dad went missing all over again. He eventually went to a wall and slumped against it, eventually sitting on the ground, legs carelessly splayed out and head looking down.
I felt the same way, but I was contained. I felt really sorry for him, though. I took that moment to sit beside him and hug him.
Me: It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be okay.
He then started to cry, giving me some urge to shed my tears. I began to think about my father. He left us, lying that he was going to Ontario and disappeared, only to find out he was secretly some conspiracy theorist who was chasing what seemed to be thin air. At the same time, he was a caring father, who cared about us, taught us and tried to be with us at the biggest moments of our lives. I then stared at the video recorder at the counter.
Me: Hey, should we take a look in the recorder? See what we could find?
He then looked up at me, looking at me in seriousness.
Marv: I guess, we are in this rabbit hole now.
He then took the dead recorder, took the memory card out and plugged it into his adaptor, plugged into the PC. The files showed up and there were multiple recordings. I was staring at the dates, only to realise that the final of these recordings was on May 8th, 2018. Marv then clicked on the recording.
At first, we were in a vibrant, evergreen forest, casting shadows upon the pine needle floor under an afternoon sun. The sounds of birds chirping dominated the soundscape until we heard a nudge, assuming the camera moved. We then saw Dad walk in front of the camera and stand there, he seemed to be nervous.
Dad: Hey all, I am at the cave, where I was when I was twelve. Took a bit of time to find it, but here we are, at the Childhood Cave. Now, John couldn’t come because his wife is having their child, which I understand. So, that is why I am here alone. Not a worry, I’ve been caving for most of my life, so this is nothing new.
He then came to pick up the recorder to show around the site. I can see the rope wrapped around a tree that descends into this hole. I can describe it as being similar to a well, except flat, stoney protrusions stick out of the walls like platforms, with the center being pure black.
Dad: Well, this is the first time entering the system. I hope to find anything down there.
He then buckled up his gear, making sure the rope was tight and the gear was in working order. He then walked over to the hole, recorder in hand, only to kneel to put the camera on the first platform.
Dad: Well, here we go.
He then began climbing down, feet first, holding onto whatever rock he could grasp, grunting as he went. As soon as he was at chest height on the first platform, he reached towards the camera. He suddenly disappeared into the hole, faster than the blink of an eye. One moment, he was there, then another moment he wasn’t. At that point, I was shaking and felt weak, but my brother sat still, like a stone, waiting for something else to happen. All that I heard afterwards was silent, very long and antagonizing silence until the camera ran out of battery, turning the screen black.