Build your own cowboy hat
BuildYourOwn
2019.07.10 07:03 carguyfrank BuildYourOwn
I love cars. Enjoy them with me!
2012.04.07 22:30 Panaetius DIY Drones: Build your own drone!
If you want to show off your new DIY drone, or if you have questions on how to build one, this reddit is for you! Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) and just about any other unmanned vehicle you can think of are welcome here.
2012.11.20 04:34 Son0fZeus PCBuilds: Let us help you build your own PC!
Because no question is too simple for someone who wants to build a wonderful PC and join the ranks of the PCMR!
2024.05.19 13:19 AnybodyAlert3403 Westland Survival v7.5.0 MOD APK (Mega Menu, VIP Unlocked)
| https://preview.redd.it/2588kbfhad1d1.jpg?width=96&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea7164c546d8812d6690846d5c8ddee61f30c96a Name | Westland Survival: Cowboy Game | Publisher | Helio Games | Genre | Adventure | Size | 426 MB | Version | 7.5.0 | MOD | Free Purchase, Mega Menu, VIP | https://modifiedmod.in/westland-survival-cowboy-game/ đđđđDownload Linkđđđđ Also Join us on telegram https://t.me/modifiedmod_official Also join us on Instagram https://instagram.com/modifiedmod.in Also join us on Discord https://discord.gg/GQUCUPEeed Follow us on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAMOg5AInPlcwBnJd2Y Western cowboy survival role-playing game Helio Games created and published Westland Survival. Excellent! If you like westerns, cowboys, horses, and shooting things, this is the game for you. DRAMATIC PLOT IN A WESTERN SETTING The West is a haven for criminals, bounty hunters, smugglers, and murderers. How can these crooks receive such a free pass? These perpetrators know that Western justice is created in the underworld through real tycoons. Unfortunately, even policemen with their law enforcement jobs can be bribed easily with dollars. There are no good or bad people, only weak and powerful individuals. Learning to protect and fight is essential if you want to make it in the West. In this game, you take on the role of a merchant. Unfortunately, when traveling through this dangerous land, your carriage encounters a band of robbers, and you are the only survivor of this horrible event. Your main motivation right now is a desire for retribution. Find the perpetrators and hang them on gallows, or shoot them. CLIMB THE SURVIVAL RUNGS. The bandits have taken everything you own, from property to friends and even self-defense weapons,⌠With only your bare hands, youâre alone in the desert, a strange and frightening place. Food and water are in short supply at this time. Because the final few usable items are in critically short supply, you must start accumulating them immediately. This will be when you can use the great survival skills you have accumulated in the previous period. Make a set of robust mining, hunting, and crafting tools out of stone and wood. One of the most dangerous times of the day is when night falls. This will be when the bandits start their work, or even the beasts will carry out the hunt. You must own a house to hide in this dangerous area at night. Resources, including wood and stone that you can collect, will be able to help you build your own house to hide. COMMERCE WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES With your business and business acumen and skills, this will be the time when you can look for better amenities. Through the unnecessary items, you will completely be able to think about using them to exchange with the locals. Equivalent items can be obtained, or you can even sell your items for a suitable amount. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ANY POTENTIAL THREATS. You must be physically and emotionally prepared to meet any threats you may face and any health difficulties. Criminals, bounty hunters, and wild animals are just a few possible attackers. The items you own will also be the purpose for other players to target in their plan to attack, loot and even destroy you. The most effective way to protect oneself is to arm oneself with lethal weapons and perfect oneâs combat skills. The more levels you gain, your health and strength will improve. A STANDARD WESTERN WAY OF LIFE If youâve ever longed to live the life of a true cowboy, Westland Survival is the game for you. You can ride around the map when you have time, herding sheep. You can earn extra money by participating in high-stakes gunfights among cowboys. Many enjoyable activities are typical of Westerns and cowboy films. - A Wild West Ranch building system to create a perfect fortress and survive the elements.
- Crafting of weapons, armor, and workbenches with rare blueprints to fight bandits.
- Hunting wild animals to survive and tame them to fight alongside the player.
- Unique locations with resources to explore, including Native American tribes and bandit outposts.
- Horse riding and stable building to travel faster and carry extra items to adventures.
- Daily quests and PVP mode with other players, including building alliances and towns.
- Pet raising and taming to fight with bandits and other players from alliances.
- Limited-time events with unique challenges and rewards.
- No rules for fighting for survival in PVE/PVP mode by slaying monsters and looting other players.
submitted by AnybodyAlert3403 to modifiedmod [link] [comments] |
2024.05.19 13:14 AnybodyAlert3403 Roblox v2.624.524 MOD APK (Mega Menu, 60 Features)
| https://preview.redd.it/xtmslwhg9d1d1.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=545c48c7ac06b3c10d4bf7f9dd2b9e067d923565 https://modyolo.co.in/opera-mini/ đđđđDownload Linkđđđđ Also Join us on telegram https://t.me/modifiedmod_official Also join us on Instagram https://instagram.com/modifiedmod.in Also join us on Discord https://discord.gg/GQUCUPEeed Follow us on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAMOg5AInPlcwBnJd2Y ----------------------------------------------------------------EXPLORE THIS ARTICLE Roblox is the quintessential virtual universe that empowers users to create, share experiences with friends, and bring their imaginations to life. With millions of players worldwide, Roblox boasts an endless variety of immersive worlds crafted by a flourishing community of creators. But what exactly makes this gaming juggernaut so enticing? Letâs explore the platformâs most alluring features. AN ENDLESS FOUNTAIN OF USER-GENERATED GAMES At its core, Roblox operates as a vessel for user creativity. The platform cultivates an ecosystem where players are encouraged to design, build, and publish their own games using Roblox Studio. This powerful yet intuitive game creation tool provides users with a code editor, terrain editor, asset library, and physics simulator to construct fully-fledged experiences. The result is a constantly growing catalog of over 40 million user-generated games spanning every genre imaginable. Whether youâre seeking heart-pounding adventures, quirky mini-games, hobbies, tycoons, or roleplaying fantasies, the community has you covered. Roblox empowers all creators, coding experts, and total newbies alike, to make and share anything they can envision. The Keys to True CustomizationA major appeal of Roblox is the unparalleled level of avatar personalization available. Players can fully customize their virtual identity with millions of clothing items, accessories, gear, packages, faces, animations, and more. The Avatar Shop contains Roblox-created accouterments as well as user-designed goodies. You can also join groups to earn special outfits and perks. This extreme customizability enables you to create an avatar that truly reflects your unique style and personalityâlooking good while gaming with friends is a big part of the fun! COLLECTING EXTREMELY RARE ITEMS Roblox features an extensive virtual economy where users can purchase, sell, and trade virtual items through the official Roblox marketplace. While many items are created in bulk by Roblox Corp, some are extremely rare collectibles with jaw-dropping resale values. For instance, the Dominus Empyreus hat, of which there are only 8 copies, recently sold for the equivalent of $238,000! Limited items are status symbols and can become valuable investments. Owning prestigious gear is an addictive part of the Roblox experience. MONETIZATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUDDING DEVELOPERS Roblox doesnât just let you create games â it lets you profit off of them too! Experienced developers can monetize their games by offering premium Game Passes, which grant special perks or abilities. Developers can also exchange their earned in-game Robux back into real-world money through the DevEx system. Top creators actually earn up to 5 figures a month! Roblox essentially enables anyone to turn their ideas into a business. The platform empowers developers financially, not just creatively. A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT LIKE NO OTHER Roblox recognizes that gaming is often a social experience. The platform facilitates making new friends and connecting with others via features like Friends, Followers, Group Memberships, Parties, Private Messages, and more. Players can chat using Robloxâs filtered Smart Chat system to keep conversations kid-friendly. Voice Chat is also available for teens and adults. Whether you want to quest with friends or make new ones, Roblox provides the tools to game together. The platform ultimately cultivates a welcoming, inclusive environment full of possibility. Roblox offers unmatched accessibility across a wide range of platforms, including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Oculus Rift, and now Meta Quest. This means you can enter the metaverse with your existing Roblox account no matter where you are. The gameplay is optimized for mobile devices while retaining the quality of the desktop experience. Thanks to this seamless cross-platform functionality, the portal to Robloxâs immense universe of community-crafted worlds is always at your fingertips. submitted by AnybodyAlert3403 to modifiedmod [link] [comments] |
2024.05.19 11:53 Seeker1904 New District Idea: The Old Quarter
The Old Quarter
Bit of a long post but I thought this could be a cool idea and I wanted to share it:
Description:
"Even before the current troubles, the Old Quarter was a favoured haunt of vagabonds, vagrants and those with ill-intent. Nestled beneath the towering estates of Cathedral Row, the streets of the Old Quarter are a twisting and cramped warren. Constructed in the early days of the city, the Old Quarter was built haphazardly to accommodate the city's rapidly expanding population.
In recent times, the Old Quarter has become downright sinister. A permanent, sleazy fog hangs over the area and residents report a strange figure peering through their window at odd hours. The Constables abandoned the district soon after the current crisis began. The Huntsmen now patrol the main street and control a few key landmarks, including the power-station and the old jailhouse. But even they are loathe to venture into the dank passages where the light never reaches.
Tread carefully here Dr. and take care if you happen to hear tapping at the window..."
Explanation:
This is an idea I have had for a while about how parts of the demo area could be reincorporated into the main-game. I think that the main-game is far superior to everything in the demo but the cramped and winding streets of the demo area are still fun to explore and the feeling of being boxed-in really helps contribute towards a feeling of claustrophobia which isn't quite present in the open-spaces of the Market District.
Instead of collecting seals to open the manor in the town square, the Dr. would need to find several puzzle items to progress. These items would open the portcullis gate on the other side of the guard post in the demo. The Sylvian estate (manor from the demo) would serve as an optional area with heightened security which could be broken into. Other side-streets, alleys and passages which were only partly accessible in the demo would also be opened-up as would several derelict buildings. This would include opening up the play-space above the flooded basement where the monocle can be found in the demo.
The Old Quarter would serve as a prelude of sorts to the Cathedral row district. After sneaking through a factory/ warehouse complex, the Dr. would enter the lift to the Old Quarter and the section would begin in much the same way that the demo opens.
Note found before entering the Old Quarter:
âSir,
As requested, we have sealed off the main routes into the Old Quarter and have set an automated sentry to guard the entrance to Cathedral Row. I have ordered our remaining forces to fallback accordingly. Let the Huntsmen deal with those creatures.
Constable Burlington.
â
Upon reaching the main save station-house from the demo, the windows would be heavily barricaded and the Dr. would instead be prompted to enter through a door which hangs open. In the main room of the safe-house the gramophone plays its soothing tune. Unlike in the demo, the house is devoid of huntsmen and, much like the lighthouse, a recorded message would play from the gramophone the first time it is used to make a save.
âWelcome to the Old Quarter Doctor. Our mutual friend informed me that you might pass this way but I regret that I \cough* will be unable to greet you in person. Help yourself to any supplies you find here. You will need them for what lies ahead. Before they left, the Constables destroyed every exit and left the Huntsmen to loot the ruins. The only way out is through the gate at the end of Stonehaven Road. But the lock is a fiendish thing and not easily cracked. I had a few ideas of how to get past it before *cough*⌠well it hardly matters now. I have barricaded this area as best I can but donât forget: Lock The Doors and pray you never hear tapping at the window. Fare well Doctor. I hope your luck is better than mine.*
-William the Tinkerâ
Exploring the house, the Dr. finds the corpse of the owner beside which sits a key. The key is used to unlock and open the two doors of the safehouse. Beside each of the doors is a button which can be used to automatically seal the doors from the inside (think the safe room in Amnesia: The Bunker).
Also scattered throughout the house are a few food items, notes and a revolver with a number of spent casings. On the upstairs landing, in the room where there is a lootable cabinet in the demo, the unbreakable door is instead locked. The reason for this can be found in Williamâs diary which sits on his writing desk.
âI can no longer bear to look into that mirror she gave me. Sometimes I fear that it is not only my own reflection peering back. I have locked the accursed thing away and have cast the key into the sewers with the hope that there it will remain.â
To discover more about the Tinkers Lock, which is the primary obstacle of the district, the Dr. can read other pages in the diary and notes scattered throughout the house. On Williamâs writing desk there also sits a map which marks key places of interest in the district.
âI sit imprisoned by a mechanism of my own making. The lock is a fiendish thing. The three-digit combination is rewritten every sixty seconds, the only way to decode the sequence is by using a Graphite Cylinder. I had a spare but the Huntsmen confiscated it and are holding it in the Old Jailhouse as evidence. I believe that brute Fitzroy means to bring me to trial, though for what crime I cannot imagine. More difficult to obtain is the key needed to access the mechanism. Father Ulfred kept a copy ⌠but none who venture near his church return.
There may be another way to open the gate but it is so dangerous as to constitute madness. The lock draws power from the two electrical substations on either side of the district. Disabling both generators is the first step. Then, theoretically, it should be possible to disconnect the lock by severing its link to the back-up supply. To do so, one would need to brave the labyrinth of maintenance tunnels beneath the streets. All while the entire district is plunged into darkness. It is suicidal folly, but without Father Ulfredâs Key I see few other options.â
The safe house from the demo serves as a base of operations through which further expeditions can be made into the district. The basic layout of the demo remains in that the player has the freedom to tackle the objectives in any order. However the area of the district is now expanded. Example, in the dock area, there is now an apartment before crossing the bridge where the Dr. can survey the area and learn patrols from a distance. Additionally, foggy streets leading on from the Dock will take the Dr. into the Western part of the district where the Western Substation sits alongside the abandoned butchery. Similarly, beyond the power station from the demo (the Eastern Substation) are more foggy streets which lead to Father Ulfredâs Chapel and the Clearview Lodging-House.
As in the demo, the Huntsmen control the main streets, the dock, the jailhouse, the Eastern Substation and have an outpost in the maintenance tunnels/ sewers as well as at the Western Substation. But a new foe prowls the dark and misty streets where the Huntsmen fear to tread.
The Peeping-Tom.
Appearing as an abnormally tall and slender gentleman in a top hat, these strange creatures stalk the Old Quarter. The Peeping-Tom (and the Old Quarter in general) take heavy inspiration from late-Victorian Whitechapel and the Jack-The-Ripper murders. The Peeping-Tom carries a large butcherâs knife in its left hand and prowls with murderous intent. Its face is ghost white and its tattered clothes barely cover an emaciated and skeletal form.
What sets the Peeping-Tom apart from other bestial enemies is that they display a form of crude intelligence and take care to harass and terrify their prey before striking. Additionally, the Peeping-Tom is sensitive to light and will become staggered from entering a well-lit area. This includes the light generated by the Doctorâs lantern.
In combat the Peeping-Tom is very damage resistant to bullets and slashes. However, removing the top hat of the Peeping-Tom (either by shooting or slashing it) reveals a spider-like insect nestled in the skull of the creature which can be shot/stabbed to instantly kill the Peeping-Tom. Flash-grenades are particularly effective against this enemy and a single flash grenade will vaporise the puppeteering-spider and thus kill the Peeping-Tom if its hat is removed.
In general, the Peeping-Tom moves in a slow and deliberate manner akin to the Divider necromorph in Dead Space. However, if the Peeping-Tomâss hat is removed, its movements become erratic, and its attacks are faster and inaccurate.
After being staggered by a light-source, the Peeping-Tom will flee to a darkened area before trying to stalk the Dr. once more.
Another aspect of the Peeping-Tom is that they will attempt to unnerve the Dr. by leaning around corners and tapping on the windows of buildings the Dr. has entered using their long bony fingers. While they can exhibit this behaviour if the power-stations are still active, if the power is deactivated, the Peeping-Toms expand their patrols significantly and will harass the Dr. while he is in the safehouse. The Peeping-Toms can even enter the safehouse if the doors are left open&unlocked.
A crafty Doctor could even strategically deactivate the power to enable the Peeping-Toms to thin out the hunters and make certain areas more accessible.
Other areas and notes
In traditional Imsim fashion, notes scattered throughout the district (as well as conversations between huntsmen) would also fill in the lore and backstory of events which occurred prior to the Doctorâs arrival.
For example, the armoury in the central guard house would be locked and a note attached to the door would read as follows:
âYou lot are welcome to continue wasting ammunition shooting the locals but you shall no longer be using my bullets to do so. The armoury is locked until further notice. Perhaps the scarcity will encourage you to find a way out of this mess.
-Captain Fitzroyâ
The sewers and passages beneath the district would also be expanded. If the substations are deactivated then the passages will be almost completely dark, thus necessitating the usage of the lantern for purposes of navigation. Like the demo, the tunnels would be populated by the Crowmen. The dark tunnels would give them ample opportunity to stalk the Doctor and lie in ambush.
In the demo, there is also a sign in the sewers which refers to the Underport. This passage would serve as a way to link the Old Quarter and Underport together. The Dr. would be able to find a key in the sewers to the room in the main safe-house which houses one of the Countessâs mirrors for later fast-traveling back to the district.
No matter which method is chosen for tackling the Tinkerâs Lock, the Dr. will have to venture either into the Maintenance-Sewers or the Old Chapel. The Chapel serves as a lair of sorts for the Peeping Tomâs and several would patrol the grounds and the adjourning graveyard. Father Ulfredâs Key would sit in a crypt area beneath the Chapel. The Dr. would need to drop into the Crypt and stealth/ fight past an aggressively patrolling Peeping-Tom to open the gate to obtain the key and escape the crypt.
There would also be expanded opportunities for tackling the Jailhouse. One of the cells could house a crazed huntsmen who, upon release, attacks everything in his path (including other huntsmen) thus causing a distraction and allowing the Dr. to steal the Graphite Cylinder from the evidence locker.
No matter how they chose to do it, overcoming the Tinkerâs Lock would allow the Dr. to push on from the Old Quarter and access the towering estates of Cathedral Row.
Conclusion
With the game taking heavy inspiration from Victorian London, I do think that it is only a matter of time until we get a Jack-The-Ripper inspired segment and I think that incorporating some of the spaces from the demo could be an interesting way to do this. Additionally, so much work must have gone into designing all of the spaces and passages in the demo that I think it would be a bit of a shame not to see any of that architecture in the main game.
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Seeker1904 to
Gloomwood [link] [comments]
2024.05.19 11:14 Seallyolme Should I stay in my company (40k WFH) or move to a big well-known company dito sa PH with hybrid setup (60k) Career Path
Hi!
Need advice lang po. 1 year na po ako sa US-based company:
- WFH
- 40K
- have to process my benefits on my own. i don't pay taxes since treated as consultant ako and galing sa US yung contract. this has been helpful sa akin na student, independently supporting myself
- good company culture naman, medyo unstructured lang kaya I "wear many hats" as our CEO would say. wala naman issue sa workload or the people.
- Nagstart ako sa part-timer tapos naging full time na, learning and working as I go, and nag lead na rin ng team
- Bihira yung bonuses, pero may allowance pag nagjoin ng online events or mag onsite event (like having lunch with clients to build rapport, christmas party, etc.)
- My work is basically building things for clients, so I don't know what I'll be working on next -- just do what they want and move on to the next. Nakaka-learn pa rin naman ako, wala lang seniors na pwede tanungan or busy sila lagi kaya I'm on my own, already handling multiple new juniors. But yeah sometimes di ko lang makikita yung advancement ng career path ko kasi depende siya sa need ng client.
- Not sure din sa potential promotion.
Got contacted by a recruiter from a big company dito sa Pinas. Na-intrigue ako, so tinry ko lang magprocess and ayun, after the interviews, they wanna hire me
- 60k - only 54k will be taxable
- hybrid (4 days onsite and 1 wfh), may P2P naman daw na cheaper yung rates kesa sa normal buses/P2P. Taga Sta Rosa ako pero hinihintay ko lang yung lease ko para maka move out na ako nearer to the office sa Manila by August -- so sa first 2 months lang ako mahirapan kasi end of June potential start date.
- Di na ako magaabala sa benefits and taxes. As much as i don't want to pay taxes because the govt is shitty, parang di ko rin gusto na nag eevade ako. I'd want to do my part na rin as a citizen ngayon na ggraduate na ako.
- Sure bonuses every year and malaki daw sabi ng mga kakilala ko na nagwowork sa company and based sa glassdoor
- Okay naman yung team nung nakausap ko sila, small team pero big impact sa company. Same vibes.
- Feel ko mas may matutunan ako kasi mas marami seniors and tight-knit yung team, medyo technical yung role pero we are going to learn how it affects and grows the business din, so ma expand pa yung knowledge ko. Fast-paced din yung environment -- not sure if that's a pro or con kasi nakaka adapt naman ako pag ganun.
- Not sure din sa promotions nila.
- Feel ko rin mas maganda siya tingnan sa CV ko for the future.
Inu-underestimate ko ba yung commute? Is the increase in salary, the hassle of commuting, and loss of flexibility in my work worth it?
Would like your insights. Thanks for reading!
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Seallyolme to
PHJobs [link] [comments]
2024.05.19 11:13 Stage-Piercing727 Best Cardboard Shooting Targets
| https://preview.redd.it/qw6sqgtqnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=154adf3973cb1816ff166cfcc01e402de219fdf2 Are you a hunter looking for the perfect target to test your aim? Look no further! We've compiled a roundup of the best cardboard shooting targets available on the market. From long- range to close-range targets, we've got you covered. Join us as we dive into the world of cardboard shooting targets and find the perfect solution for your next shooting session. The Top 12 Best Cardboard Shooting Targets - Premium Reversa Cardboard Shooting Target - Experience the ultimate shooting target with the ReVersa, featuring 13 easy-to-see targets on one side and holding up to 12 clay pigeons on the other, and set up in seconds with the ReVersa stands.
- Rimfire Dueling Tree with 8 Spring-Loaded Targets - Cabela's Rimfire Dueling Tree brings thrilling competition to your shooting range, featuring 8 spring-loaded targets for instant hit confirmation and a wide, stable base to secure it virtually anywhere.
- High-Contrast Red-Fire Life-Size Bulletproof Cardboard Shooting Targets (100 Pack) - Bright and bold Red-Fire life-size paper silhouette shooting targets, with neon red bullseyes, perfect for enhancing shot placement and self-defense training, now available in a 100-pack.
- Red Ryder Paper Targets (25 ct) - Unleash your inner cowboy with 25 assorted, Red Ryder-themed cardboard shooting targets for a blast from the past!
- Economy Life-Size Paper Shooting Targets - 19"x25" 100 Pack - A life-size, cost-effective, and high-quality shooting target, perfect for pistols and rifles! Experience clear vital zones and scoring areas on durable 60 lb. bright white paper, proudly made in the U.S.A.
- Fluorescent Yellow Cardboard Shooting Targets for Pellet Gun - Enhance your pellet gun shooting experience with the Atflbox 25pcs 12" x 13" Splatter Paper Shooting Target, featuring bright fluorescent yellow targets for easy target spotting and convenient at-a-distance shot visibility, indoors or outdoors.
- High-Quality Cardboard Shooting Targets for Indoor and Outdoor Practice - Highwild 13" x 16" Cardboard Torso Targets offer efficient and cost-effective shooting practice, perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Fun Cardboard Shooting Targets for Parties - Enhance your next party with these 20.5cm wide, lightweight cardboard battle target cutouts that can be attached to various surfaces for a fun and action-packed atmosphere.
- Allen Cardboard Deer Target: Life-Size Archery Practice with Organ Profile - The Allen Titan Cardboard Deer Target offers a life-size organ profile for optimal shot placement, making it a reliable and durable choice for archery and rifle practice at your range.
- Premium Quality LE Target Silhouette for Hunting Practice - Precision practice with Champion's top-tier 24"x45" LE Target Silhouette, featuring professional-grade cardboard for pinpoint accuracy, high-contrast green targets for instant shot placement recognition, and a scoring table for tracking your progress.
- Stylish Cardboard Deer Shooting Targets - Experience an authentic hunting experience with the vibrant Cardboard Shooting Targets, featuring realistic deer vitals on brown cardboard, ideal for honing your shooting skills.
- Enhance Your Shooting Skills with EZ Aim Shooting Targets - EZ Aim Silhouette Paper Shooting Targets: High-quality, brightly colored paper targets for improved visibility and enhanced shooting experiences!
As an Amazon⢠Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Reviews https://preview.redd.it/krm1q06rnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=06fa5be730d7297686d80cab01ed57ada62f9a11 I recently found myself in need of a corrugated clay pigeon target for my backyard shooting range. After doing some research, I stumbled upon the ReVersa Corrugated Target. At first glance, the design caught my eye with its brightly colored, 13 target-printed front that made it easy to aim at. Setting it up was a breeze thanks to the pre-tabbed reverse side capable of holding up to 12 clay pigeons. I opted to purchase the ReVersa stands as well, and in no time at all, the target was set and ready to use. The portability of this target system was definitely a win for me, as it provided a quick and easy solution for my impromptu shooting sessions. Upon continuous use, however, I did notice a few drawbacks to the product. The cover for the holes wasn't the most durable, and I found that the target would start to disintegrate after just a few uses. Additionally, some of the target features were a bit harder to see from a distance, making it challenging to accurately aim my shots. All in all, the ReVersa Corrugated Target proved to be a reliable and portable clay pigeon target for my shooting needs. While it did have its drawbacks, it still performed its primary function well and provided a visually appealing design. As someone who frequently participates in shooting sports, this target would be a valuable asset to anyone looking to practice or test their skills. https://preview.redd.it/c31hegornc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0bd26f62b80aaf020b3363c7d14213882f737f22 Cabela's Rimfire Dueling Tree is a fun and challenging accessory for your target shooting adventures. This steel target features 8 spring-loaded flip targets, providing hours of shooting enjoyment. The 4-to-a-side design is perfect for challenging a friend, and the wide base along with stakes ensures stability wherever you place it. The targets range from 1.5" to 3" in diameter, all rated for. 22 rimfire soft-lead bullets only. In my experience, this Cabela's Rimfire Dueling Tree exceeded my expectations in terms of build quality. The targets are solid and well-built, making them durable and long-lasting. With proper care, they can handle even the heaviest usage during friendly competitions or practice sessions. However, there have been some concerns raised by other users regarding the product. The target welds seem to break easily after a few hits, which is not ideal for such an essential component. Additionally, some users have mentioned that the spring mechanisms tend to get stuck, making it difficult to keep the targets aligned. Despite these drawbacks, the Cabela's Rimfire Dueling Tree provides a fun and engaging experience for target shooters. Its unique dueling tree design adds an element of friendly competition to the activity, keeping things interesting even after hours of practice. If you're in the market for an affordable, yet engaging target shooting accessory, this dueling tree is definitely worth considering. https://preview.redd.it/0bmdcfxrnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a716f33f772938861b6ba6b0b5e57c56e4b68c7d Recently, I had the chance to use the Red-Fire Life Size Silhouette Paper Shooting Targets and they really surpassed my expectations. These targets are perfect for training sessions, as they have a distinct red bullseye that's easily visible against their white background. The high-contrast silhouette makes it simple to track down any bullet holes, which is a great feature. One particular thing that stood out to me was their exceptional durability, even though they are made of paper. Despite multiple shots, mine remained surprisingly intact, proving their impressive longevity. The 100-pack offers fantastic value, making them an indispensable addition for any practice range. However, I did notice that they are quite heavy and can be challenging to transport or store. Additionally, these targets are specifically designed for handguns, so those using rifles may face some difficulty. In summary, the Red-Fire Life Size Silhouette Paper Shooting Targets are an excellent investment for anyone seeking high-quality, reliable targets for handgun training. With their vibrant design, durability, and affordability, it's no surprise they have quickly become a favorite among shooters. https://preview.redd.it/feif34dsnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0cc6956fbbf3b356b823e33e34fd39b458898b34 When my kids and I received the Daisy Outdoor Products Red Ryder Paper Targets, we were thrilled to see the retro 1940s style packaging. The 25 assorted targets are reminiscent of the iconic Red Ryder, with the familiar Red color and logo. As we popped each piece out, the sturdy cardboard stood out in our hands. Using these targets for an afternoon of family fun, our expectations were high. However, we found that they are rather small, making it a bit tricky to hit the mark with our BB guns. The smaller size seemed to catch us off guard, but the kids still had fun using them as a goal to shoot for. Overall, the genuine Daisy Red Ryder theme, sturdy cardboard construction, and assorted designs make the Red Ryder Paper Targets an entertaining addition to any family outing or backyard BB gun range. Though we had to adjust our aim due to the size, the unique style and fun factor easily outweighed any minor inconveniences. https://preview.redd.it/aapd3dxsnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9377bc9b4832542346b8e41676a690f23dcba1c0 I recently tested out the Basic Training Silhouette targets, and I must say, I was impressed. At first, I was a bit skeptical about using cardboard targets, but these life-size human silhouettes with clear vital zones and scoring areas were easy to spot even at long distances. The reduced cost with just one color printing on durable 60 lb. bright white paper is a game-changer, making it more affordable for enthusiasts who want to improve their skills without breaking the bank. One of the things I liked most about these targets is the ability to see my sights and every shot more clearly, which helped me better assess my accuracy and focus on hit areas. The targets are made in the U. S. A. which is a bonus for those who appreciate locally-made products. They are suitable for a variety of shooting sports like pistols and rifles from 10 feet to 40 yards. Although I didn't find any major flaws with these targets, there might be some who find the durability of the cardboard unexpected. However, overall, I would highly recommend the Basic Training Silhouette targets to anyone looking for an affordable, effective, and user-friendly alternative for enhanced shooting practice. https://preview.redd.it/yfqjjj9tnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8d95a0ffb0663ce85151db0a98528deaf0d4bda1 Atflbox's splatter shooting targets are exactly what you need to boost your accuracy and enjoy a fun and challenging shooting experience. These 25 robust sheets of paper, measuring 12" x 13", come in bright fluorescent yellow. They stand out, allowing you to instantly spot your bursts from a distance. No more tedious treks to find your target in either indoor or outdoor settings. The vibrant color quickly locates the target paper, saving you valuable time you could spend mastering your aim. However, they're not without a downside. The adhesive backing on the targets poses a slight challenge, but it's a small obstacle nonetheless, compared to the plethora of benefits they provide. These shooting targets make it thrilling to improve your shooting game without breaking the bank, so give them a try! https://preview.redd.it/zz7ad5ntnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de0fe4611b64a1fbbac9475c382a435f736fb835 I recently tried out Highwild's 13" x 16" Cardboard Targets for Shooting, and I have to say, it left a mixed impression on me. On the one hand, the design is quite efficient and cost-effective, making it a great option for those looking to save a bit of money. The size is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use, and the high-contrast black silhouette makes it easy to see and hit. However, there were a couple of aspects that could have been better. First, the quality of the cardboard felt a bit flimsy, and I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't last as long as some people might expect. Second, the scoring table on the back could be a bit more clear-cut, so it's easier to keep track of your hits and values. Overall, while Highwild's Cardboard Targets for Shooting aren't perfect, they're an affordable and effective choice for anyone in the market for a paper target. With a little tweak or two, they could be even better, making Highwild an even more attractive choice for shooting enthusiasts. https://preview.redd.it/hi1bs2bunc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=831d0d55cf0cd30ce5148279b0c1ab546a9f2372 Spending a weekend at a friend's place is now a whole lot more fun, thanks to these Small Dart Battle Target Cutouts! They measure at a neat 20.5cm wide and are cut to look like the classic targets you see at the shooting range. The lightweight cardboard makes them easy to handle, and the design on one side can be used to create a battle atmosphere during parties. To make the best use of them, why not attach them across doors, walls, and windows? You can even use them on tablecloths during a wild party, transforming your space into an action-packed zone in minutes. For an added zing, these cutouts can be used as part of your shooting games - just stick them against foam blocks or posts for all your friends to aim for their target practice. The package includes six cute cutouts that you can use in multiple ways. Users seem to like them too! The reviews are brimming with positivity, with people using them as party decor, centerpiece, and cake topper. The ease with which they could be attached to a variety of surfaces was also highlighted - a feature that I found very practical during my use. However, a word of caution: these targets are quite small, so if you're planning larger games or using hard surfaces, the darts might not stick as firmly as you'd like. But overall, these are a fun way to bring a touch of excitement to any party or gathering, making it a grand slam in the world of cardboard shooting targets! https://preview.redd.it/ckahi3munc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25d589a1b14b28f207003be675548016c5c325f0 The Allen Cardboard Deer Target has been a game-changer for my hunting practice routine. With its organ profiles that show the best spots to aim for, I can confidently hit the mark every time. It's a life-size representation of a deer, which makes it feel realistic and adds a thrill to each shot. One downside I faced was that the target had a tendency to wobble when I was aiming at it. However, it's a minor issue considering the affordable price point and overall quality of the product. My favorite feature of the Allen Titan Cardboard Deer Target is that it's made of thick cardboard, ensuring it can take multiple shots before needing to be replaced. This longevity means I don't have to keep buying new targets constantly, making it an excellent long-term investment. My hunting experience has significantly improved since I started using this Allen Deer Target. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable and high-quality target for their hunting practice. https://preview.redd.it/0qpo5j5vnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a06f7d7b327cbbf6cd3f3113905b2ba83c1bc799 From my personal experience, I found the Champion LE Target Silhouette Cardboard to be an excellent addition to my hunting gear collection. Standing at an impressive 24 inches by 45 inches, the high contrast green design made it easy for me to recognize my shot placements instantly. As a hunter, precision is key, and with the wide variety of area sizes available on this target, I was able to improve my accuracy significantly. What stood out to me was the high-quality materials used in its construction; this target felt sturdy and durable during use. Additionally, the scoring table was a handy feature as it helped me keep track of my performance and the number of rounds fired. While the black numbers on the target seemed a bit challenging to see, the high-definition printing more than made up for it, ensuring a level of detail that's ideal for practicing target shooting. I enjoyed using it and would highly recommend it to others seeking a professional-grade target. https://preview.redd.it/4acu3vhvnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32d99d9f7f00f2ec35f68db06330dc75083426b2 Using the Cardboard Deer Target 25 Pk. by Weaknecht in my backyard hunting practice, I found it to be a fun and practical addition to my gear. The cardboard deer targets showcase all the vital areas of a deer, which helped me improve my accuracy during target practice. I appreciated the two-colored design on the brown cardboard, as it made them stand out more, making it easier to spot them from a distance. However, I did encounter some issues with durability. The targets are made of cardboard, which made them more fragile than I would have liked. After a few uses, the targets started to wear down, which meant I had to replace them more frequently than I anticipated. Overall, I think these targets are a great find for those looking for fun and affordable target practice. While their durability could be better, they still held up well and provided a useful tool for improving my hunting skills. https://preview.redd.it/cvtybvzvnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de33cf1230f7d9dc286e0d0399186708b7b7d0e8 The EZ Aim Silhouette Paper Shooting Targets turned out to be my go-to for a fun and educational shooting experience at home. These targets feature bright colors that made my target practice more enjoyable and precise, allowing me to see my shots from far distances. The high-quality paper targets definitely helped me improve my accuracy, consistency, and overall shooting confidence. However, I did find the life size silhouettes to be a bit too large for my liking, but the 100-count pack was a bonus for me to try out different ways to challenge myself on the range. EZ Aim definitely lived up to my expectations and I highly recommend them to anyone looking to stay on target and improve their shooting skills. Buyer's Guide Cardboard shooting targets are an essential and cost-effective choice for recreational or competitive shooting. These targets are available in various sizes, shapes, and difficulty levels, making them suitable for beginners and experienced shooters alike. By following the guidelines provided below, you'll be better equipped to choose the right cardboard shooting target for your needs. Size and Distance Considerations Size is crucial when selecting a cardboard shooting target. The target's size will dictate the minimum shooting distance necessary for effective use. Smaller targets require more precision and typically work best at closer ranges, while larger targets can be shot from further distances. Make sure to consider the available shooting space and your shooting abilities when choosing a target size. https://preview.redd.it/qvr5t6awnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e261e2847a33888de701a97395419fb713d9d312 Material and Durability Cardboard targets are generally very economical, but they can be prone to tearing or disintegrating upon impact. Make sure to select a target made of high-quality, thick cardboard to ensure optimal performance and durability. Some targets are coated or laminated to resist tearing, so consider these options for added protection. Shooting Distance Markings Some cardboard shooting targets feature distance markings, which can be particularly useful for beginners or shooters looking to improve their accuracy. These markings provide a clear reference point for the target's distance and can help you fine-tune your shooting skills. Target Types and Difficulty Levels There is a wide variety of cardboard shooting targets available, each with its own unique design and difficulty level. Some targets are simple circular shapes, while others feature more complex designs, such as silhouettes of animals or humans. Consider the level of challenge you're looking for when choosing a target. If you're new to shooting or looking to improve your accuracy, opt for a more straightforward target. For enthusiasts looking for a greater challenge, consider targets with more intricate designs and smaller hit zones. https://preview.redd.it/t07lh2rwnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a723769760a2b08988f0fdb1aecba7fe57ceb13 Storage and Portability Cardboard targets are generally lightweight and easy to store, making them ideal for shooters with limited space. Many targets fold or collapse for easy storage and transportation. If you plan on carrying your targets to the range, consider models that are compact and easy to transport. Safety Considerations Safety should always be a top priority when handling firearms, and this extends to selecting the right cardboard shooting target. Make sure the target you choose is specifically designed for use with firearms and is not too flimsy or prone to disintegration upon impact. Additionally, ensure that the target is placed at a safe distance from other shooters, spectators, and non-shooting property. Cost and Value Cardboard shooting targets are generally quite affordable, making them a cost-effective choice for most shooters. However, it's essential to consider the value you're getting for your money. Higher-quality targets made of more robust materials may cost more initially but will likely last longer and perform more effectively, ultimately saving you money in the long run. https://preview.redd.it/7dl7nfhxnc1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66c01b4346ec1b34f724b8b7915501e59a3423c8 FAQ What are cardboard shooting targets? Cardboard shooting targets are paper targets designed for use in shooting practice. They are easy to set up, inexpensive, and available in various shapes and sizes to cater to different shooting disciplines. These targets provide a fun and cost-effective way for shooters to practice their skills. What types of materials are cardboard shooting targets made of? Cardboard shooting targets are typically made from high-quality, durable cardboard material. This type of cardboard is designed to withstand the impact of bullets and provide accurate results for shooters. https://preview.redd.it/xx51r92ync1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0167bf696db0d9baef7607ded2987eb8a510e6e4 What are the benefits of using cardboard shooting targets? The primary benefits of using cardboard shooting targets include cost efficiency, ease of setup, and the ability to measure shooting accuracy. They also provide a fun and safe way for shooters to practice their skills, as they are less expensive and less dangerous than live-fire ranges. Some cardboard shooting targets even feature built-in scoring systems, making it easier to track progress and improve. What are the different shapes and sizes of cardboard shooting targets available? - Circular targets in various sizes (e. g. , 8 inches, 12 inches, and 18 inches)
- Rectangular targets (e. g. , 12 inches by 18 inches)
- Animal silhouettes (e. g. , deer, bear, and turkey)
- Man-sized targets
- Zombie targets
How do I set up and use cardboard shooting targets? To set up and use cardboard shooting targets, simply place the target at the desired distance from the shooting range. You can either prop the target up using a flat surface or attach it to a target holder. Once the target is in place, shooters can aim at the target and practice their shooting skills, taking care to aim at the center for best results. After the shooting session, inspect the target for evidence of bullet impact and adjust target placement as necessary. What are the best practices for storing cardboard shooting targets? To ensure the durability and longevity of cardboard shooting targets, store them in a dry, protected area away from direct sunlight. This will help prevent the targets from warping, fading, or deteriorating over time. It's also important to properly dispose of used targets and replace them with new ones as needed. Are there any safety concerns when using cardboard shooting targets? Yes, there are some safety concerns that should be addressed when using cardboard shooting targets. Firstly, always follow proper shooting safety guidelines, such as wearing appropriate eye and ear protection and ensuring that the target is placed at a safe distance from the shooting range. Additionally, never shoot at cardboard targets from an angle that could cause bullet fragmentation, as this can result in dangerous fragments being launched in unpredictable directions. Can I use cardboard shooting targets for different shooting disciplines? Yes, cardboard shooting targets can be used for various shooting disciplines, including pistol, rifle, and shotgun. The key is to choose the appropriate target size and shape for the specific discipline. Some targets are designed to simulate the appearance of larger targets, such as man-sized targets or animal silhouettes, making them suitable for long-range shooting practice. Other targets may feature smaller target areas, making them more appropriate for close-range or target-rich environments. As an Amazon⢠Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. submitted by Stage-Piercing727 to u/Stage-Piercing727 [link] [comments] |
2024.05.19 06:02 karenvideoeditor The Zoo [Part 8]
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Previous
Suzanne thought it was absolutely brilliant of me to put books on a flash drive for Sun. She explained that Sun wasnât as sophant (her word, not mine) as she might seem, more of a repository of information, but she was fairly intelligent. It was how she was able to connect Andrew being in pain to the fact that I was friends with Andrew, and that I would want to know that he was in trouble. Apparently some of Sunâs species had given some âwisdomâ to others in the past and it had made its way into mythology.
The key fact was that she was not smart enough to protect herself and her kind from the clever, organized poachers. With that information in mind, it was fascinating for me to think of how Sun took in and organized what she learned. It was almost as if she was a walking, talking library.
On the topic of tours, my first one went wonderfully, and Iâm almost hoping Suzanne lets me do more of them. I know not all the tourists are going to be as awesome as these people were, but Suzanne gave me a lot of slack when it comes to dealing with them. She actually said that being a smartass is not grounds for dismissal, and that if Iâm sarcastic or facetious to guests who are being âdaftâ and they complain, she really doesnât care. Is this the perfect job for me or what?
There were four guests in this party, two adults who were sisters and two children of one of the women, brothers aged thirteen and seventeen. The tour was a birthday gift for the older of the boys from his aunt, since apparently he was passionate about animal protection and conservation.
When they arrived at the front gate, I was sitting at Andrewâs desk, going over the booklet of information one last time. When the visitors pressed the button that sounded the alert buzzer, I tucked away in a drawer and let them in. I did have a cheat sheet with information about the animals on my phone just in case, a brief notation of each of them and which enclosure they were in, but I really didnât need to use it.
Exiting through the front door, I saw them walk up the path toward me. âHi, Iâm Ripley,â I said, holding out a hand toward the woman closest to me.
She shook it firmly. âIâm Denise. This is my sister Carla and my nephews, Wesley and Jason,â she said, motioning to each of them in turn.
âI heard itâs your birthday,â I said to Wesley, giving him a smile. âYouâre interested in animal conversation?â
âBack where we live, yeah,â he said, nodding. âThe animals that youâve got here are incredible. I canât wait to see them.â
âWell, I canât wait to show them to you,â I said. âRight this way.â
I led them on the path around the building, toward enclosure one. Despite the horrific memories of the animal killing Stanleyâs friends, I knew it was just an animal, and I had to push past my feelings on what had happened. Keeping a small smile on my face, I motioned to the enclosure. âFiercely territorial and amazing hunters, despite their large size, theyâre arboreal and known to dart from tree to tree with barely a sound. This is one of only about two thousand left in existence.â
âTwo thousand, three hundred and fifty six at last count,â spoke Wesley, his eyes on the trees.
I blinked, surprised and impressed. âWell that was fantastic. Do you plan on stealing my job when you graduate?â
Wesley looked at me with a grin. âNah, everyone knows Suzanne only offers humans this gig. And I want to help animals like this one get off the endangered species list. The zoos are great for awareness and fundraising, but then the money has to go somewhere. I want to be doing the real work.â
âThatâs really great,â I told him. âI wish you all the best in that career path.â At that, we saw the animal climb down from the tree, wandering a few yards from the tree line. This was because 90% of the time, when humans were at their enclosure and making noise, whether it was speaking to each other or calling out to the animal, it was someone bringing them prey to eat. Or, in my case, enrichment toys to play with.
âWhoa,â Wesley whispered.
âHow close can we get?â spoke up Jason.
âThe warding starts at the fence,â I told him with a small gesture. âSo, just there.â
Both boys wandered closer and I glanced at their parents. It seemed that Suzanneâs zoo had a serious reputation for high quality invisible walls, because they didnât look worried in the slightest about the boys being hurt or killed.
âThey prefer dense forest as their home and have been known to make their nests in trees up to twenty meter in the air,â I continued. âAnd when hunting, theyâve been seen dropping eight meters straight down. They have incredibly dense yet flexible musculature, which allows them to tackle their prey without injuring themselves.â
There was more information about the animal that I continued to rattle off, though Wesley chimed in at certain points with the info I was about to convey. That was highly entertaining and very cool. When Iâd been in school, Iâd never met anyone who had my level of passion about endangered animals. I wondered if things were better where these folks came from, but realized that considering there were so few of these animals left, I guessed not.
The animal paced a little bit, seemingly waiting to see if we were the kind of humans that came bearing food, before deciding we werenât and climbing back up into the trees as easily as I would climb some stairs.
As we moved onto enclosure two, Jason spoke up. âAre there any animals here we can touch or feed or something?â
I sighed inwardly before slowing to a stop. âWell, can you show me your hands?â Jason looked bemused, holding out his hands. âI meanâŚthey both look like theyâre in great shape. You can stand to lose one.â
The two women chuckled and Wesley smirked as Jason shoved his hands into his pockets. âVery funny.â
Grinning, I started walking again. âThe animals here are all carnivores and all predators. You get to see them, but thatâs it.â
âAlright.â
When we reached enclosure two, I started on my next spiel. âWeâve got three reanimated dead in this enclosure,â I spoke. They were just coming out from the trees as we arrived, presumably having heard our approach. âMarissa, Connor, and Bradley. They were donated by families who knew where they would be exhibited. Their next of kin, whoever they are, canât stand the idea of putting them down. But we need to make sure they donât have access to corpses, because one of them plus one corpse equals two of them.â
âThey eat flesh though, donât they?â Wesley asked.
I nodded. âOh, yeah, but itâs from bodies that have already been dismembered. Thereâs no chance of them being affected by the transformation because itâs all parts.â
âOh, got it.â
The creatures with blueish-white skin had superhuman strength, which is why they qualified for the security of Suzanneâs zoo. They also were likely the source of any Earth tales of people being brought back to life as zombies, specifically draugr, according to my research. They smelled like rotting flesh, so even as I kept talking about them and giving a background to the people they used to be, we were quick to move on once Wesley had gotten a good, long look at them.
âEnclosure fourâs animal is a vampiric spirit. Heâs a small, hairy humanoid creature with pointed ears. He wears a hat, and if he somehow loses it, he freaks out,â I said.
âThey eat horses,â Wesley noted. âAlso anything that gives them the chance to sit on it, usually catching them by surprise while theyâre sleeping.â
The creature came out from the brush, giving us a suspicious look. He wasnât in his humanoid form though; for some reason, heâd chosen to shapeshift to a dog.
I nodded. âYep, indeed. Once the prey is dead, then heâll eat it, and he has a voracious appetite. We have two wolves and two bears in the forest, which is one of the reasons Iâve got some self-defense items,â I said, patting my belt where my pepper spray (rated for bear) and my taser. âBut the wards keep them out of this area of the zoo, so itâs really not much of a worry. Itâs also a known shapeshifter, preferring the form of a dog, as you can see, as well as a cat, a snake, or even white butterflies, though the last one is rare.â
âThe white butterflies are supposed to be a sign of good luck,â Wesley said, glancing to me. âToo bad we got the dog.â
âYeah, otherwise you might be able to talk your mom into getting scratch-offs on your way home, huh?â
Wesley smirked at me.
The next enclosure was Spike, and he was waiting for us, dripping wet from having just emerged from the lake. I gave the introductory information about him, which included his propensity for eating animal eyes, nails, and teeth. âRecently, Iâve given him some enrichment activities, and I learned he likes artichokes, pecans, and hazelnuts,â I said, taking a bag out from my cargo shorts. âWesley, do you want to toss this bag into the enclosure?â
The boyâs eyes widened and he nodded excitedly. He took a look into the paper bag before wrapping down the top to make sure nothing would fly out. Then he chucked it underhand past the fence. It landed a few yards from Spike, who waddled over to it quickly and tearing the bag open, spilling out the prizes inside. As the animal ate the pecans and hazelnuts, Wesley asked, âHowâd you figure out he likes those?â
âItâs not all about taste,â I told him. âItâs mainly the difficulty of getting them out of the shells. Heâs used to having to work for the parts of his prey he likes the most, so this mimics that activity, and he enjoys the process. I tried a bunch of different foods to find a few he liked.â
âCool,â Wesley murmured, staring at him.
We watched Spike eat until heâd finished and then he went back into the woods, leaving us to move onto enclosure five. Japanese camellia were plentiful here, a type of pink flower, and that was because they grew anywhere near one of his species made their den. âThis girl spends most of her time in the lake also,â I said, as the creature made its way toward the fence separating us from it. âBut as you can see, sheâs just as curious as the rest about what weâre doing here and whether we have food for her. She eats fish mostly, but she also regularly gets live prey.â
This creature was a spider-like monster, having six legs with long claws on each, and the head of an ox with two sharp horns. She was capable of shapeshifting to look like a human, but I guessed that she wasnât fond of it, since I hadnât yet seen her in that form.
âShe prefers the easy way of catching prey, so to speak, by hiding in the lake and pouncing when something comes for a drink of water,â I explained. âApparently humans are some of her favorite prey. She has an advantage of being able to spit poison, which often hits her prey in the eyes. But itâs usually used in defense rather than offense, since it secretes a limited amount.â
âWhat kind of animal would even go after something like this?â Jason asked, staring at her.
âNever discount one of its own species when youâre thinking about what might attack an animal,â I replied. âThere are places that are breeding all of the animals here, but competition for mates is common. That means an advantage in a fight, like poison or venom, can make or break who the winner is.â
âAh, gotcha.â
âIt canât spit past the warding, right?â Carla suddenly asked.
âOh, no,â I assured her. âWeâre fine. The wards wouldnât let anything cross over.â She nodded, appeased.
The animal in enclosure six was the ginormous seal-hippo, Fiona, and she was looking at us as if she was imagining sprinkling us with herbs and spices and stuffing us in an oven. âThis girl is one animal Iâm going to work on enrichment activities for next,â I told them. âShe prefers to feed on crayfish, though sheâs happy to eat any humans that wander into her territory. Sheâll even make a sound like a baby crying to reel us in. Iâve heard it a bunch of times.â
âCan you get her to make the sound?â Jason asked, perking up.
I grinned. âNot on command, sorry.â
âWhat enrichment are you thinking of trying?â Wesley asked.
âPossibly food placed in puzzle feeders,â I told him, âsince she has claws that are pretty dexterous. Maybe a piĂąata made out of newspaper with flour inside, or a scarecrow that mimics a human.â
âAwesome,â he muttered.
After a little more educational tidbits, we moved onto Yuiâs enclosure. âWhat is that?â Wesley asked, smiling.
âI got Yui the closest thing I could to a ping-pong ball,â I replied. âShe quite likes it.â
âThatâs so funny,â he said as she came out of the trees in her spider form. âI mean, the idea of her being a bloodthirsty hunter who seduces men to their deaths and eats them alive, but then on the other hand, she likes playing with something like this.â
âIt is a little funny,â I agreed. âBut when it comes down to it, all the animals here enjoy activities besides hunting.â
âShe can shapeshift to look human, right?â asked Jason, trying to be casual about knowing something factual like his nerdy brother.
I nodded. âShe looks like a woman from a region of Earth called Japan. And sheâll use strategies like holding out a hand to shake to get you closer. She tried that on me when I first got here but, as you can see,â I said, holding up my hands and waving them, âI didnât fall for it.â
The boys both laughed as they got closer to the fence, watching her slowly pace near the trees.
Next was Sun, but she didnât make an appearance as I spoke about her species. âWellâŚunfortunately we canât guarantee that every animal comes out to say hi,â I sighed. âButâŚoh wait, here she is.â
The green lion with several horns and many eyes along her flank came out from the forest. âHello,â she spoke.
âHi, Sun,â I replied. âWe have visitors.â
âWhatâs that?â Wesley asked suddenly, pointing at the small plastic bag that was still where Iâd left it.
âOh! That is Sunâs enrichment,â I said with a smile. âI put dozens of books on a flash drive and found that she can read them just like sheâd read a shelf of books.â
Wesleyâs eyes widened. âWow. I donât think Iâve read about anyone trying that before. Thatâs really cool.â
âThe books are new and interesting,â Sun spoke, drawing our attention. âIâm grateful for them.â
I nodded to her. âYouâre quite welcome.â
The next animal, unfortunately, wasnât there, and we waited around for ten minutes as we discussed him. He was large and reptile-like with red eyes, with its hind legs and tail making him look vaguely like a kangaroo. Then, enclosure ten was a terrifyingly disturbing creature, the not-a-centaur with no skin, that Iâd only seen a few times while walking my route. It gave a good demonstration of its ferocity, showing its sharp teeth and snapping at us a few times.
âIâm thinking of trying salt licks and other horse enrichment like a big bouncy ball,â I told Wesley, whose eyebrows went up at that. âMaybe give him more things to forage like scattered grains or a box filled with pinecones and seeds. Foraging is a huge part of a horseâs life in the wild, and humans have to do a lot of activities like that to keep pet horses busy. Of course, he also loves the little salt-water lake that was built for him.â
We spent some time looking at the animal before moving past our last stop, the empty enclosure of the animal was stolen. Carla glanced at me with a sad smile, knowing what had happened, it seemed. I gave her a nod as we continued on our way, walking into the office. âSo, I hope everyone enjoyed themselves!â I said with a smile.
âThat was the coolest birthday present Iâve ever gotten,â Wesley said, looking to Denise. âThanks so much, seriously.â
âIt was my pleasure,â she said with a nod. âIâd never been here before, and knew Iâd find it fascinating. Thank you for the educational aspect,â Denise said, glancing at me. âI learned quite a lot.â
âHappy to hear it,â I said, returning the nod.
As I escorted the guests out of the zoo and locked the door behind them, I reflected on how much Iâd changed. The first time Iâd seen Yuiâs tarantula form, Iâd nearly passed out from fear. Now here I was, walking tourists around like it was no big deal. Humans really can adapt to anything, it seems.
That afternoon, Suzanne had texted me that she was coming by after my shift, and I met her in Andrewâs office, shutting the door to the security room behind me. âHowâs Andrew?â I asked first thing.
âHeâs doing well,â she said with a wide smile. âBack on non-hospital food. Heâs allowed to order food on his phone, and to hear it from him, thatâs the best news heâd received in a long time.â
I chuckled. âI guess some clichĂŠs are true for a reason.â
âIndeed.â She took a breath. âAll right. RipleyâŚI would like to discuss something with you.â
My face went slack at the serious tone in her voice. âIâm not⌠Am I being fired?â
âWhat? No!â she exclaimed. Then she chuckled softly. âNo, itâs nothing like that. Just, here, letâs have a seat.â Suzanne walked over to the couch and sat at one end, and I took the other. âThereâs something I need to tell you. Something Iâve kept from you, that I wanted to keep from you until you found your sea legs here.â
âWellâŚI have,â I said with a nod. âSo, what is it?â
Suzanne took a breath. âI knew your mother.â
The words hung in the air for a moment before making their way to my ears. It was a perfectly logical sentence, and yet it didnât make any sense. âWhat?â I finally managed.
âWhen you graduated college, I decided to move the zoo from Italy to within driving distance of your home,â she said softly. âNear enough to your town that youâd see the advert. We ignored any other applicants and I hoped youâd apply. Actually, I expected youâd apply. Not just for the money, but considering the field you wanted to go into. As soon as Iâd found out your major, I knew.â
âWait, wait, wait,â I said, holding up a hand. I pinched the bridge of my nose. âHow do you know Patricia?â
âShe owned the zoo before I did,â Susan explained. âFourteen years agoâŚshe was working to track an injured animal that we could bring into the zoo and she was killed by poachers.â
My heart calcified in my chest and a lump lodged in my throat. As my breaths became shaky, I stared at her in shock. âSheâŚsheâs really dead?â
âYou suspected?â she asked softly.
âItâŚâ I swallowed hard. âWe had her declared legally dead afterâŚI donât know, seven years I think. My dad wanted to go after her for child support, but the police saidâŚthey said they couldnât findâŚâ Tears came to my eyes and I blinked them back before I met Suzanneâs gaze. âShe owned the zoo?â
Suzanne nodded. âIt was her baby, youâd say. When Patricia passed, I inherited it, which weâd discussed beforehand, a legal just-in-case that I never expected her to need. Iâm under the impression that you were told she went to Africa for her photography career, but she was in fact going to remote areas back in my home world almost every time.â
âBut I-I saw the photos,â I said, my eyes narrowing. âYouâre telling me she put on a show of getting pictures that someone else took for us to see every time she visited? Did my dad even know?â
âI suppose thatâs an accurate way to put it, putting on a show. And no, your father was never told. Itâs not the way of things to tell humans unless itâs necessary. I wonât bore you with the details, but us and humans, weâre distant relatives, so we can still have children. But it wasnât planned. Your mother fell in love with your father despite herself; she hadnât meant to find love. Then she became pregnant with you andâŚwell, the rest is history.â
âI think she had a different definition of love than the one I have,â I said tightly. âYouâd think sheâd have put her survival as more of a priority. Put being with the man she âlovedâ as a priority. Her kids needed her. I needed her. She signed up when she became a mom. She couldâve screwed up all the time but she couldnât even manage that one job: be there. When I was in the hospital, I kept thinking, âWhere is she?â and now youâre telling me that she put these animals above being there for her kids, and this whole time sheâs been dead.â
âThe hospital?â she asked, furrowing her brows.
âNever mind,â I said tersely, averting my gaze.
Suzanne hesitated before she nodded slowly. âIâm sorry for your loss, and not just for her death, Ripley,â she told me. âPatricia wasâŚwell, a âfree spiritâ would be putting it gently. She always assumed the world would be there for her whenever she needed it.â
Staring at her for a long moment, I shook my head. âWhy? Why come here and hire me?â
âI thought that would be obvious,â she said, smiling. âYour mother was so passionate about this place and once I found out your college major, I figured you would be as well.â
âDid you know that I hate her?â At that, Suzanneâs expression froze on the edge of shock. âSheâŚshe left us,â I whispered. âDidnât tell us who she was or what she really did for a living and gave us no closure. And even when she was here, it was just visiting. Her real home was her work. She could give me all the presents she wanted, but even when she was here, half the time she was still on her computer doing work. Itâs not like that stereotype of never making it to my tennis practice or something; itâs that it always felt like she was only partially here, even when I was sitting next to her. I donât even know if I appreciate her turning me into a wildlife fanatic because itâŚitâŚmakes me feel like Iâm close to her in a way thatâs just infuriating. She loved the animals more than she loved us.â
âOh, Ripley-â
âDonât,â I said, shoving myself to my feet. âDonât try to convince me otherwise.â
âI wasnât going to,â she said quietly. I pursed my lips. âI was going to say that Iâm sorry that was the case. Your mother wasâŚflawed, just like any other person. She had two loves in this world: her family and her work. And often, her work overcame her, her zeal for environmentalism getting in the way of being a good mum. She left your father trying to fill the role of two parents, holding your family together. You and your brother and your father, you all deserved better than that.â
My lower lip quivered but I bit down on it hard. It wouldâve been a lot easier for me if sheâd been speaking from a place of clueless reassurance about all this. But everything she said was making sense and that meant I didnât have someone in front of me to be angry with.
âWhy didnât you tell me when Andrew hired me?â I sighed, sitting back down on the couch.
âWell, like I said, I wanted you to find your sea legs,â she said with a small smile. âI didnât want the truth affecting whether or not you wanted to work here, whether you wanted to stay here after finding out about what the animals are. It wouldâve complicated things, the emotions youâll have to work through now that you know the truth. Whether or not you decide to give another tour, you also know what theyâre like. Thatâs the benchmark I wanted you to reach before you found out about who you are.â
I narrowed my eyes. âWho I-â My face went slack. âWait.â
Suzanne nodded slowly. âYouâre only half human. Your brother too.â
The room seemed to tilt on an axis for a moment. âThat means Iâm also halfâŚwhat?â
âWe call ourselves Eldritch, these days,â she replied.
My eyes bugged out. âWhat?â I exclaimed. âSo youâre all, like, gods or something?â
Suzanne burst out laughing. âOh no, goodness, no,â she chuckled. âItâs just a word. We live in a very different world from this one, and a few generations ago we discovered the word and it made its way into our lexicon. But it does mean you can see all the animals. Indeed you did, on the tour you gave.â
âWait, no, I had the glasses thatâŚâ I stopped. âDid those glasses do anything?â
She gave a sly smile and shook her head. âNot a thing. You made incredibly quick progress, and then when it came time for the tour, all you needed was to expect to see the animals, and you did.â
Genetics. Thatâs what Andrew had said during our interview, that part of how many animals you could see was determined by genetics. I guess having a mother who was originally from the other dimension gave me all the genes I needed to see everything here. âCould IâŚvisit your world?â I asked tentatively. âYou said that my mom took photos of the animals there. Could IâŚâ My voice trailed off, not even sure if or how I wanted to finish that sentence.
âThose who are half human, especially those who are raised on Earth, donât come visit,â she said gently. âI could show you some photos of other animals, and I could loan you as many books as youâd like, but itâs simply not a place where youâd be safe.â
âOh,â I said, leaning into the couch cushion as I pictured the animals in the zoo. âYeah, actually thatâŚmakes sense.â I paused. âSo, what now?â
âItâs up to you,â she said. âI wanted to wait until I was sure you were comfortable with your position here, and then put the ball in your court. And so it is. What do you want to do now?â
What did I want to do? It wasnât that difficult a question, just a deep, serious one.
I wanted to thrive, as the animals did. This is my enrichment now, working at an incredible, wonderful, terrifying zoo. The experience so far hasnât been perfect, and I know there are risks, but life isnât about staying safe. Itâs about learning new things and making a difference in the world. And, if youâre lucky, having a job thatâs something really special.
THE END
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2024.05.18 23:58 AustralianChrono Chronologica's Drag Race Season 6: Episode 1- Prove Your Worth
| https://i.redd.it/lnq1hwinb91d1.gif In a bright yellow wig, her hair up to high heavens, and a massive black coat with a pair of matching black boots that go up to cover above the coat, Molly Moppit walks in. With a smile on her face, Molly Moppit looks up at the pink wallpaper of the room. âI want that.â Molly smirks, ripping off her coat to reveal a minidress made out of the same pink wallpaper of the werkroom. âMopped it!â Molly looks around at the empty room. ââŚand nobody here to see me stun.â She shrugs. âPity for them!â Molly Moppit: âIâm Molly Moppit, and Iâm here to run away with the competition.â Molly winks. âThis tableâs cuuute.â Molly looks over at the table, before running to a sculpture on the side of the workroom and trying to pull at the sculpture, before realizing itâs glued to the floor. âFUCK!â Molly Moppit: âI am currently based in New Jersey, but I'm a New York staple, as well.â Molly grins. âFirst and foremost, Iâm a NEW JERSEY DRAG QUEEN.â âWhat about theâŚâ Molly swipes at a coat hanger, tucking it behind her back. Molly Moppit: âBeing an Atlantic City Queen means being ready to do what you can to survive. Itâs a cutthroat lifestyle, and thatâs fine. It taught me to host, perform, serve looks, make âem laugh⌠and itâll help me to win.â âYou saw nothing.â Molly smiles. A lone tumbleweed rolls into the werkroom as clouds of red dust fill the entrance. There are two loud bangs, and on the far wall of the room, two bullet holes tear into the eyes of a hanging portrait of Chronologica. Molly looks over as the portrait falls to the ground, the glass of the frame shattering loudly. When she looks back, a masked bandit stands amidst their midst, blowing smoke from his old-timey pistol. In a cowboy hat, long black jacket, beaded vest, and denim chaps, Ethan Angel-Eye glowers, his nose and mouth hidden behind a vigilanteâs black bandana. The room is silent for a long moment. Molly Moppit: âItâs a Mexican Stand-Off. And Iâm NOT talking.â Molly and Ethan stare at each other. Ethan Angel-Eye: âPlease welcome the best performer this side of the Mississippi, your very own Apache-Dakota bandit vigilante drag king, and the only person here who actually needs to win. Iâve beaten Kaneq and VitĂłria in lip sync competitions, Iâve out-danced professionally trained celebs; Iâm unstoppable onstage and Iâm always providing that debonaire dastardly Western rogue fantasy. Iâm Ethan Angel-Eye, and Iâve got my eye on this crown.â âThe fuck are you supposed to be?â Ethan asks, looking Molly up and down as he strides into the room, his voice low and gravelly. âIâm Molly Moppit, what the fuck YOU supposed to be?â Molly raises an eyebrow. Molly Moppit: âAre we cosplaying as ugly men this season?â âCute.â Ethan brushes past Molly, and then hops up on one of the werkroom tables, sinking into a menacing squat and looming over the space like a vulture. âItâs pinker here than I thought itâd be.â Ethan glares, looking at her wallpaper look. Molly scoffs. âCourse itâs pink. Do you watch the show?â âDo you watch the show?â Ethan parrots back, doing a crude impression of Mollyâs voice. âI breathe this show.â Ethan Angel-Eye: âI am not a pretty faerie princess, and I am not everyoneâs cup of tea, but I know how to win this, in and out. Some petty little bitch isnât getting in my way.â âOoooh, heâs a hater. Love.â Molly laughs, looking up at Ethan as he perches on the table. âWhatâs your name, my little masked bandit? Here to take some shots at me?â âEthan Angel-Eye.â Ethan cocks his head to the side. âMy shots donât miss.â âNeither do mine.â Molly smirks. Ethan looks around, as he realizes a button of his top has gone missing. A tall, proud Indian woman struts out from the werkroom entrance, with many elaborate blue hair clips and a strikingly long blue gown which cascades in wave-like shapes behind her into a long train. She gestures broadly with her hands, emphasizing each syllable of her words as if theyâre the most important thing anyoneâs ever said. âWA-TER-FALL!!!!â Niagara Halls: âNew York in the HOUSE what-what!! Hey divas, itâs me, your Desi-American god-DESS of season 6, here to bring upstate pageantry and that Canadian border flair to your screens. I KNOW Iâm serving as a pageant fashion icon in this entrance look, you canât tell me otherwise. Donât I look GORGEOUS?!â Niagara Halls twirls, the blue gownâs long train wrapping around her feet, then swirling back out again, where it smacks Molly in the knee. âUm, hello, waterfall woman.â Molly exclaims, pulling away to avoid being smacked again. âHello, hello!â Niagara Halls waves an emphatic wave to Molly and Ethan before daintily picking up her gownâs train with one hand and gently striding to sit at the werkroom table Ethan is perched on. âHow are we?â Molly reaches over and snatches a hair clip from Niagaraâs hair, causing several long brown locks to tumble into Niagaraâs face. âOh! Youââ Niagara looks baffled. âSo itâs gonna be THAT kind of season!â Ethan rolls his eyes, looking decidedly down at the two girls. Molly laughs. âNo, oh my gosh! I just love these clips! Whereâd you get them?â Niagara pulls the fallen hair out of her face and clips it into another one of her clips, chuckling. âYou WISH I would tell you. You could use the help with that mop!â âMOP!â Molly bursts out laughing. âYou donât even know!â âWhatâs your drag, whatâs your name, who are you both? I need to know who Iâm demolishing here.â Niagara smiles a huge smile, talking with her hands again. âBut where is the clips from?â Molly asks. âI-â Niagara looks into the mirror. â...You didnât buy the clips?!â Molly says dramatically, putting on a gasping face. âWho did?!â âWhatâs your names?â Niagara smiles awkwardly. Niagara Halls: âMy Drag Mother helped with the outfit! I donât know!â âIâm Molly Moppit.â Molly grins. âAtlantic City royaââ Ethan interrupts. âEthan Angel-Eye. And youâre Niagara Halls.â Niagara enthusiastically tosses her hair (and all of its clips) back and forth. âI KNOW you know me, thatâs right, thatâs right!â Ethan nods. âYou lost Miss Toronto to VitĂłria Benedita.â Niagara gasps. Niagara Halls: âHow did this MAN KNOW me?!â Ethan Eagle-Eye: âDoes no one look at reddit on their way to the season? Scope the competition out.â A mysterious black mist seeps through the entrance of the werkroom, followed by a devilish laugh. Lokii struts in, and flips a green cape, revealing their face and leather-clad body. Golden horns, almost corrupted with black veins connected to his face, just from Lokiiâs forehead. In thin black hands, Lokii holds a corrupted golden scepter and a smoke machine. She smirks, and her Londoner accent is obvious when she speaks. âI am Lokii, of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose.â âWeâre all stealing something, arenât we?â Molly jokes. âI donât get it.â Niagara says. âLoki. Marvel.â Ethan says gruffly. âWelcome, nerd.â Molly smiles, as Lokii runs over. Lokii blushes deep red. âOh my gosh. Hello!â Lokii: âIâm Lokii, and low-key? Aye, Iâm pretty bloody psyched to be here! Iâm 22 years old, visiting from across the pond by way of South London, and like, Iâm pretty new to drag, but cosplay has been a huge part of my life since I was really young, and Iâve felt really called to take it in this new direction!â âSo are you really called Lokii? Like the Norse god?â Molly investigates every inch of Lokiiâs outfit. âThe⌠Disney character?â Niagara ponders. âI donât watch superhero movies.â âThey are.â Ethan flexes his ankles, looking at Lokii with an intense stare. âYouâre the Tumblr cosplayer, right?â Lokii nods, smiling. âYeah! Loki was the first character I did in cosplay. We have a long history, he and I!â âAnd so you came to Chronologicaâs Drag Race dressed up in your little Marvel cosplay character!â Niagara chuckles nastily. Lokii laughs awkwardly, making their way to the table. âYep!â âYou look incredible, by the way.â Lokii smiles at Niagara. âThis is a really beautiful garment.â âI KNOW, baby, thank you.â Niagara smiles daggers. âYouâre pretty new, right?â Lokii looks surprised. âOh, Iââ âJUST teasing!â Niagara laughs. Lokii: âI have.. Not been doing drag, that long. But I have been crafting, designing and MAKING things for years. I think thatâs my edgeâŚâ Lokii smiles slightly awkwardly. Ethan Angel-Eye: âSo far, the girls areâŚchildish.â âWait, whatâs this?â Lokii picks up a brown paper bag on one of the werkroom tables and reads something written on it in sharpie. âBarf bagsâŚfor if you gag too hard?â Niagara makes a face. âWhat the fuck?â Suddenly, in a sculpted silver one-piece with sharp ridges and bulky shoulders, a stylized mop of blonde and pink curls, super-shadowed fierce makeup and chunky black boots with chains, Lady Gag arrives. In an exact recreation of one of Lady Gagaâs looks from the 2009 VMAs, she purrs. âDirty pony, I canât wait to hose you down.â Ethan makes an obvious look of disgust. Niagara stops laughing very suddenly. Molly laughs even harder. âHEAVY METAL LOVER!â Lokii yells, before covering her mouth as if she is in fear of being too loud. Lady Gag: âWhen our Lord and Saviour Gaga said âNo matter gay, straight, or bi', lesbian, transgender life?â Lady Gaga smirks. âShe was talking first and foremost about me. Are you gagging? Iâm Lady Gag, foremost Gaga impersonator of Miami, Florida, and the most gag-worthy woman known to man. Mama I am known to man, if you know what I mean.â Lady Gag strikes poses in the entrance, twisting her arms into strange shapes and cocking her head at strange angles. âEveryone, just imagine Alejandro is playing over this.â âIâm imagining it.â Molly says, smiling and still laughing. Niagara looks nonplussed, Ethan looks dismissive, and Lokii looks shy, but Molly warmly greets Lady Gag with a firm handshake. âWelcome, Miss Gaga, welcome! Youâre giving very 2000 and late! Iâm Molly Moppit. Atlantic City royaââ âMRS. Moppit.â Lady Gag stops her, putting a hand up. âDonât try to read me with those smile lines and bags under your eyes. Iâm 2000 and fresh off the boat if you ever saw it. You will not be coming for me on this, the day of my arrival.â Mollyâs jaw drops. She looks thrilled. Niagara smiles softly. âYouâre going to talk about her looks when youâre a copy-and-paste baby? LOVE to see a tiny little fighter.â Niagara Halls: âThe good thing about doing drag thatâs literally on the Canadian-American border is that I can leave the worst of both sides behind. Canadians, watch out: I will NOT be apologizing for my shade! And I can say THIS⌠who the fuck is Lady Gag?â âYour shade needs work, I think.â Lady Gag says. âItâs about as dark as midday in FLORIDA. I would know.â Ethanâs eyes give away his smile. He sits back on the table, relaxing for the first time, to listen to the girls snip back and forth. Ethan Angel-Eye: âIâm watching these girls, and I think, good. Let them fight. If this is the energy first day, theyâre never gonna be able to focus on a challenge, and thatâs perfect for me.â âI BET you would know Florida pretty well!â Niagara shoots back. âThat contour job looks pretty Florida Man to me.â âI am a WOMAN and you will treat me with respect!â Lady Gag yells dramatically. Niagara looks confused, almost as if she is unsure if Gag is playing into the shade or not. Molly chuckles. âGirls, girls, oh my gosh! This is gonna be fun as fuck.â Lokii looks utterly horrified and speechless. Thereâs a sound of heels approaching, and the contestants turn to look at the entrance. âPlease give me another crazy bitch,â Molly joke-pleads. âPlease!â In a heavy, blood red reconstructed kimono covered in pearlescent white beads, Shiseido Red slowly struts into the werkroom. Her hair is bold, black and sculpted upwards into a towering beehive, and her silhouette is intricate, yet the restructuring of the kimono lets her show off her legs. âPaint the town red?â She cackles. âBaby, just paint these lips.â Shiseido blows a kiss. Lokii whoops. Ethanâs eyes glint with recognition. âAn old bitch. Thank goodness.â Niagara vigorously applauds. Lady Gag still looks caught up in the fight from before. Molly looks concerned, before putting on a smile. âOh, itâs YOU!â Molly yells. Molly Moppit: âI know Shiseido from the New York scene. I travel around the area, and she doesnât.â Molly smiles. âAhh, youâre here!â Shiseido ignores the others around her, looking straight at Molly. âWould you take my bags to that corner of the werkroom over there?â Shiseido asks, pointing to the farthest (and largest) dressing alcove. âIâd rather not.â Molly drops the playful facade for a moment, as the two look at each other. Shiseido Red: âDarlings. Iâm Shiseido Red, and Iâm no spring chicken. I am 45 years old and proudâI have a long legacy in New York City that will outlive any of these basic-bitch children. I was a princess of the 90s club scene and now, Iâm their grand duchess. In my scene, weâre all about originality, ingenuity, innovation. So⌠nothing like what most of these kids are wearing.â Lokii scurries over to Shiseido. âThis kimono is incredible.â Shiseido smiles curtly. âItâs certainly one step up from a costume, yes.â Lokii looks awkwardly. Molly tries to roll one of Shiseidoâs suitcases from where itâs parked near the entrance and fails to move it despite pulling with all her strength. Nobody seems to notice. Molly Moppit: âDamn it, I was going to take half of her shit- subtly!â Niagara waves a broad hello. âHELLO NEW YORK! Iâm SO glad youâre here, these girls are all WHORES so far.â Niagara goes in for a hug, but Shiseido moves away. âIâm sorryâŚdo I know you?â Shiseido asks, clearly baffled. Lady Gag loudly guffaws. Niagara laughs once, awkwardly. âOh, yes!â Niagara blushes, pulling away from her failed hug and gesturing wildly with her hands. âIâm Niagara Halls, mama. We worked together atââ âAll you young girls blend together for me.â Shiseido shrugs. âName doesnât ring a bell.â Molly, laughing under her breath, opens Shiseidoâs suitcase while sheâs distracted and snatches a blonde curly wig. Molly Moppit: âI donât get along with Shiseido. But I know this- she has good wigs⌠and I KNOW that old lady is a smart bitch. Whether or not she actually knows Niagara, she wonât admit it. Throw the girl off. I see you, mama.â âAha.â Niagara looks put off. âNo worries. It was just last year whenââ âHello, children.â Shiseido addresses the group like a troop leader. âI fear you look as bland as expected.â Lady Gag starts up again. âGIRL, this is notââ Itâs Drag Time! Chronologica steps into the werkroom, and the gathered contestants gasp in shockâexcept Ethan, who looks over passively. Ethan Angel-Eye: âInterrupted at 6. So itâs a split premiereâŚwhich hasnât happened since Season 3. Just, of courseâŚof course it would beâŚâ Molly hurriedly closes Shiseidoâs suitcase and tucks the stolen wig into her top. Lady Gag, Niagara, and Lokii rush over towards Chronologica excitedly, while Shiseido and Ethan take their time, making eye contact as they do. Hello, racers! Iâm thrilled to welcome you to the fantabulous Season 6 of Chronologicaâs Drag Race! Here, youâll be competing for the chance to win a spectacular crown and scepter from Moxie Maniac jewels, plus an extra-special grand prize of $100,000. Everyone cheers and applauds. One of you could become the next Drag SuperstarâŚorrrr one of the other bitches who shows up next week could snatch the crown away from all of you. This week is your chance to prove your worth before any of those nasty skanks come and get in your way. Lady Gag: âQuite simply, yes. We ALL know Gaga is THE queen. I can guarantee Iâll be the one to get her her crown!â For your very first challenge, youâre putting on a premiere talent show. Show us what YOU can do that no one else can, and show us who you are. First impressions count! And youâd better hope itâs not a countDOWNâŚgood luck! And donât fuck it up! Shiseido Red: âBelieve me, for some of these baby girls? The countdownâs already started.â Shiseido smirks. âIâm prepared for a talent show. Iâve been talented since I was born.â ~ Later, the monarchs strip out of their entrance looks and claim their dressing areas. Shiseido Red: âFor this weekâs maxi challenge, itâs time for us to showcase our abilities in a talent show. But first, itâs time to get to know each other.â Without a word, Ethan picks up Shiseidoâs heavy suitcases and moves them to her preferred corner. âA gentleman.â Shiseido smiles, looking at Ethanâs bandana. âMy faceless guardian.â Ethan chuckles. âNo. Youâre just not my mark today.â âYour mark? Alright. Youâre an assassin, of sorts.â Shiseido ponders. âMhm.â Shiseido Red: âEthan is giving some sort of Bessie Big Sky-Jupiter Sterling storyâŚbut evil? Itâs a very specific take, Iâll give him thatâŚIâm at leastâŚcurious.â Ethan looks serious. âAssassin. You could say that.â Ethan retrieves his own bags and puts them next to Shiseidoâs, just as Lokii enthusiastically hurries up towards the two-person dressing alcove. âOh, sorry!â Lokii says, chuckling awkwardly. âI would love to uh, room with Shiseido, here, uh, the other girls are kinda mean andââ Ethan looks over, one eyebrow raised. Shiseido makes a face. âBaby. Youâre not old enough to be here.â Lokii blanches. âNo worries, then.â She scurry off. â...If she bantered back, Iâd have had her.â Shiseido responds. âThe baby queens canât take it. No surprise.â Ethan grumbles. Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Niagara, Molly, and Lady Gag each make for separate adjacent dressing stations. Lokii stands awkwardly in the middle of the room. Lokii: âThe producers very clearly told us that we had to share 4 of the dressing rooms, two racers per room. But none of the girls are willing to share with each other⌠whatâs ⌠happening right now? Where am I supposed to go?â Niagara carefully changes out of her blue gown and puts on a comfortable yellow sweatsuit, then starts picking the clips out of her hair one by one. She watches Ethan and Shiseido across the room as Ethan takes off the bandana covering his face for the first time, then lets out the loudest gasp imaginable and throws her arms to the side, shocked. Blue butterfly clips fall to the ground everywhere. Lady Gag gives Niagara a look in between racks of hanging clothes. âDiva, what the FUCK are you doing?â Niagara whispers loudly. âLooooook!!!!â She aggressively points at Ethan, who is currently changing his shirt. Ethan very clearly and visibly has scratchy scruffy facial hair, and no makeup on the bottom half of his face. Niagara looks gagged. âThatâs a MAN, Maury!â Niagara Halls: âI didnât expect him to look like that, out of drag⌠kinda tracks, THOUGH!â Niagara cackles. Lady Gag yells across the room. âMister Ethan!â Ethan looks over as he takes off his beaded vest and reveals his bare chest, clearly showcasing obvious top surgery scars. Lady Gag looks back to Niagara. âQueens recognize kings. Are you gagging yet?â âNot on your copy-and-paste eleganza.â Niagara shakes her head, then takes a step and slips on the fallen butterfly clips, awkwardly plopping on her butt. Niagara Halls: âWeâve had many trans divas compete in this competition- me included. But is this the first trans man here?â Niagara ponders. While Niagara has fallen, Molly sneaks in and grabs some more blue clips off the ground. Iâm ba-ack! Chronologica waves from the entrance. Lokii returns the wave. Everyone else hurriedly finishes changing. Our producers let me know that weâre having some trouble getting into our dressing stations. We do actually need you to share space, here, now. Lokii: âI kinda was just waiting around- when they came in. I guess I kinda looked.. Awkward.â Lokii exhales. âThis is a lot.â Lokii nods. Lady Gag and Niagara roll their eyes. Molly tuts excitedly. Molly Moppit: âI live for this drama, honestly. Itâs so stuuupid I love it. Iâm gonna make this shit eat up as much time as I can.â âOur space is set, Miss C.â Shiseido says assuredly. Great. So, which one of you three wants to share space with Lokii? âI KNOW youâre not equating Miss GAGA to a Disney gayââ Lady Gag smirks. Niagara shakes her head. âWell, I donât think our visions are exactly alignedââ Molly winks, looking at the others. âIâm not cut out for sharingâŚâ She says cheekily. Lokii stands awkwardly, a bit embarrassed. Okay, fine. Which two of you want to share with each other? Niagara scoffs. âThe impersonator? That raggedy-ass mop bitch? I am notââ Girls. Chronologica looks annoyed. Okay. Letâs be serious. âNo, of course, Iâd love to work with Lokii in our space.â Molly smiles. Molly Moppit: âI am a playful artist, but I do take this seriously- and I look around, and Lokii looks like a deer in headlights. Itâs a competition. But Iâll make her feel welcome. I mean, sheâs better then the Gaga impersonator and fucking Niagara Halls.â She takes a sip of her drink. ⌠Molly Moppit: âCan we circle back to Lady Gag as a name? Like be inspired and be an orignator but LADY GAG?! I DONâT GET IT!â She bursts, interrupting herself from finishing her drink. Shiseido and Ethan, who have returned to their corner, give each other a look. Ethan Angel-Eye: âItâs just like the last few seasons. All the kids are incompetent. No surprise.â Iâll leave you to it. Now. Iâll see you on the main stage. Letâs keep it professional, alright? Chronologica departs, and Molly drags her singular small suitcase into Niagaraâs dressing station. She drops the bag heavily, and all of the butterfly clips Molly has stolen spill out of it onto the floor. âWhereâs my clips?!â Niagara yells. Lokii and Molly look at each other, and Molly giggles. ~ Chronologica goes to visit the racers. Hello, Mr. Angel-Eye. âChronologica.â Ethan says gruffly. Now, youâre drag family, right?! The otherâs ears pick up, as Ethan nods. âYeah, I used to be related to Bessie Big Sky. But weâre not talking about that, weâre talking about my talent show.â Ethan says, clearly displeased. Shiseido Red: âOh⌠Inteeeeerersting.â Shiseido purses her lips. âThis makes a lot of sense.â Totally. Well, tell me then, what ARE you doing for the talent show? âIâm from Montana. Weâre not basic-ass pageant queens, who havenât fought for anything a day in their life-â Niagaraâs head turns over to Ethanâs conversation as she has caught interest, clearly offended. Niagara Halls: âWow.â Niagara is looking in a complete state of shock in her confessional room. â⌠Alright.â Niagara nods. ââŚbecause lifeâs hard,â Ethan continues. âI was a rez kid, I was in the foster care system, I been through some shit. And Iâve picked up a few skills along the way. So I will be doing a Projectile Weaponry Showcase.â Interesting. What does that entail? âPistols, throwing knives, bow and arrow, shotgun.â Ethan nods. âIâm a good shot, no matter what Iâm shooting.â Fuck yeah. Ethan smiles for a moment, before nodding. I was raised at my local gun club, over in La Perouse, Sydney. I know a good few weapons. How are you going to make it dragged up? âI do it my way. Ethan Angel-Eye is the evil Indian from cowboys and Indians. Heâs a vigilante bandit, and these are a banditâs weapons. Iâve got a story. I know what I do in my performance space- to me, the art stands for itself. I donât need bells and whistles, because this has never been done before.â If you keep us excited, well thatâs all that matters. Ethan nods. âI will.â ⌠Niagara Halls. âChronologica.â Niagara smiles. Now, youâre a pageant Queen. How is that going to impact you in this competition? âWell, MAMA!â Niagara says excitedly, talking with her hands. âFor me, itâs about serving. Iâm pretty, Iâm gorgeous and I am not scared to CUT a bitch when I want to.â Niagara draws a line across her throat with one hand. Chronologica chuckles. Tell me, what are you doing for the talent show? âYodeling.â Niagara smiles brightly. âŚYodelling? Are you a singer? âNOT at ALL.â Niagara shakes her head. âLike, Iâd probably say I am a bad singer.â ThenâŚwhy are you yodeling? âFor me, itâs about standing out. I wanted to deliver something no one has really done, make it camp, and then stun on the runway.â Niagara tongue pops. But do you feel like you are able to do this well? If youâre not a singer- âI feel like itâs an opportunity to showcase what I can do, and make it fun.â Niagara smiles. Okay. Well, good luck⌠âŚ. Molly Moppit! âShhh.â Molly whispers, pointing Chronologica to outside. I- âLetâs chat outside; I donât need them hearing.â Molly whispers, as the two walk to the smoking area outside. The others look confused as the two disappear. âCigarette?â Molly hands one to Chronologica. Is that from my packet- Okay, tell me, Molly, whatâs your talent show? âFor me, I do really take my drag seriously.â Molly smiles. âBut I donât need them all to know that, initially.â I get it. So, what are you doing for the talent show? Molly whips out a packet of notes. Chronologica grins. âIâll be presenting onto the main stage, MOPPING DUTY. Itâs a live freestyle Diss Track of the Cast of Season 6.â Molly smirks. âAnd Iâve got the notes for it.â Why is it called⌠Mopping Duty? âBecause I am about to wash these bitches out and mop the crown, duh.â Molly chuckles. Chronologica bursts into laughter. I think thatâs a fantastic idea. âI donât want them to know what Iâm doing, because part of the work here is centered around making them react. Iâm great off the cuff- and planned, secretly. So, for me itâs really important to get to embrace all of that.â I am really excited to see how you do it, Molly. Molly grins. âI am too.â Molly Moppit: âI am going to blow these bitches out of the water, they just donât know it yet.â Molly winks. ~ The next day, the racers twirl into the werkroom and get ready for the talent show. Lady Gag: âItâs time for the talent show, and Iâm ready. Are these girls ready? Well, they should be, because⌠Iâm coming for them.â âSo, what are you bitches doing for the talent show?â Lady Gag asks, plaiting her hair. âI mean, I know someâŚâ Niagara starts to yodel. Ethan rolls his eyes. Ethan Angel-Eye: âBitches. The way these children talk.â âIâm not a bitch, first of all.â Shiseido says. âSo let us start there, lookalike.â âOkay, I was just talking like us girls do.â Lady Gag scoffs. âDo you know actual Drag Queens?â Shiseido asks. Lady Gag rolls her eyes. Lokii whispers under her breath. âSo much shadeâŚâ âIâm doing a Stand-Up show.â Lady Gag flicks back her hair. âIâve been told Iâm a funny bitch, so-â Everyone looks surprised. Molly Moppit: âSheâs a comedian?â Molly bursts into laughter. âOh, letâs be honest, her biggest joke is her name!â âHave you done comedy?â Lokii asks. âActually, yes.â Lady Gag smiles. âIn my room, to my familyâŚâ âLove.â Niagara clicks her fingers. âWerk, bitch, creativityâŚâ Shiseido Red: âI am starting to notice something. These girls claim to be experienced, knowledgeable- but then, you speak to them, and suddenly theyâre like âIâve done this⌠at home.â Lacking experience. It SHOWS.â âI am a designer and club kid.â Shiseido smiles to herself. âIâd love to hear about what that was like.â Lokii interrupts. âWell, if you survive the first week, you might hear it.â Shiseido says swiftly. Lokii looks to the left, then down. âIâm doing a megamix to 90s club anthems, and designing a look all the while.â Shiseido nods. Shiseido Red: âThis will allow me to put my best foot forward instead of dancing the stage up and down, something I⌠canât do as well anymore.â âThat sounds⌠fine.â Niagara shrugs. Niagara Halls: âLike, BORINGâŚand honestly, I donât see it for her?!â Niagara laughs. âOH, the shade of ME!â Niagara giggles to herself. âWhat are you two doing, Molly and Lokii?â Ethan says, surprising the two. âIâm not talking about it.â Molly winks. âYou can wait and see.â Ethan purses his lips. âI do wonder if itâs going to be anything of note.â Shiseido says. Shiseido Red: âMolly has aâŚnot-so-great reputation, in New York. Iâll be honest, sheâs never been notable to me, though. Beyond the theft jokes.â âWell, you gotta wait and see.â Molly winks. Molly Moppit: âKeep it fun⌠until you make the move.â Molly smirks. âI am a bit of a nerd.â Lokii says. âWhat a surprise.â Lady Gag jokes. â...Finish your thought.â Ethan looks at Lokii. âIâll be repeating the plot of star wars, with puppets.â Lokii grins. Everyone once again looks around awkwardly. âWell, Iâm excited for MY own talent show, because it sounds like Iâm winning.â Lady Gag says. âDonât count your chickens yet, Miss Copypasta.â Ethan responds. Lady Gag rolls her eyes for what appears to be the 10th time. Lokii: âI⌠donât think anyone gets me here.â âThe cosplay newbie⌠and the puppets.â Shiseido whispers, shaking her head to Ethan. âThe impersonator who does stand-up in her bedroom. The tone-deaf girl singing, and the thief who probably doesnât even have talents of her own. Great.â Lokii: âBut I have crafted an entire concept. Iâve sewn and made these puppets, made a comedic story and saga- and if thereâs one thing I do believe in, itâs the lore. Itâs my knowledge in the cosplay, nerd spaceâŚâ Lokii giggles, playing with her puppets. Lokii: âLokii, you can do thisâŚâ Lokii gulps. âI think.â âWhoâs.â Niagara claps. âGonna.â Niagara claps. âGO HOME FIRST?!â âYou, bitch!â Lady Gag snaps her fingers. âRUDE, RUDE!!!!!â Niagara yells. âNot me.â Molly whispers into the camera and winks. ~ Stats Voting Spreadsheet submitted by AustralianChrono to ChronologicasDragRace [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 22:46 SamMorrisHorror Them Devils Part 2
Scott Masterson had first met Scarlett at a rooftop party in downtown Dallas. Their age and the time of year were both in late springtime, them in their mid twenties and the date in early May. He had on a sharp yet breezy blazer and she astonished in a thigh length sleeveless blue dress.
âOh hey Scott I donât believe you two have metâŚâ his then happily married friend had remarked with a slow swinging open hand toward her.
âScott MastersonâŚreluctant friend to this knuckleheadâ he said with a tight lipped grin, trying not to be so obvious with his instant rapture.
âScarlettâŚa pleasureâŚâ
Her hand was so delicate to Scottâs touch. They locked eyes. It was like looking back through centuries of connection, endless days of laying in the sun next to the Seine River, or rising to Hollywood fame in the 1940âs and only having each other who would understand the glory and the pain of it all, or generations of quiet, simple country love that would bear such beautiful, happy children that would go on to raise beautiful, happy children, all with their dark blue eyes. Yes, the memories of every love story since the beginning of time was swirling right there in Scarlettâs irises. Scott had to catch himself before he stared embarrassingly too long.
âSorry Scottie here doesnât get out oftenâ his friend quipped, which Scott appreciated actually, it helped him snap back to professionalism.
âWell I donât eitherâŚat least I prefer not to.â Scarlettâs words flowed through the air like a flock of rose petals.
âHey, kindred spirits.â Scott was really sensing a rising energy out of her, they had barely broken eye contact.
âWell, Iâll let you two have at it, I got a wife around here somewhere. HeyâŚScott and ScarlettâŚnot bad, not bad.â His friend exited stage right with a sly chuckle.
âNice guyâŚsoâŚwhat are you drinking, Scarlett?â Scott looked around for the emptiest corner of the rooftop bar, hoping to find a nice place for them to be able to hear each other. This night had just become something.
âThat depends, ScottâŚwhat do you like?â
Oh man.
Well, as you can expect, the evening blossomed into a beautiful, long winded conversation that etched a long list of similarities between the two. They both lived in the city, had never married, and had dreamed of stable, simpler lives far away from tall buildings and busy streets. The next morning Scott awoke in her arms, which warmed much deeper than just his skin. He could feel her soothing his very identity, his future, everything. Her arms were tailor made to fit his very soul, and he had never felt more safe and at home.
âMmmâŚyou can stay right hereâŚâ she whispered, eyes still closed.
âI willâŚI willâ
They both fell back asleep, into a dream that wouldnât end upon waking.
Two years passed and suddenly they lived that simple backwoods life, way out where acres of land far out-populated the few and far between people. They took a lovely home, which happily looked over a long backyard, right up to a lively yet mostly undisturbed river. Their only neighbor within a mile was an older ranch worker named Charles, who rarely made himself perceivable. Days were spent way on into town where they both had offices. They didnât mind the commute. Nights were spent mostly like this night, cuddled outside near a lovely little fire, with a slowly shrinking amount of wine sitting between them. Enjoying their Kingdom. Tonight, however, would prove to be a special night, for many reasons, all unexpected.
âHoney, Iâve been thinkingâŚâ Scott began, sitting up and opening his hands to the warmth of the fire.
âOh?â Scarlett also sat up, eyes widening.
âSo look, Scarlett, the last two years have been the best of my life. An absolute dreamâŚâ
She held her breath, her focus darting between his eyes and mouth.
âYeah?â
âWe have everything we ever want out here. ButâŚwhat if thereâs more?â
âMore?â She had envisioned this very conversation hundreds of times.
âOur dreams have come true, but what if weâŚmade some new dreams?â Scott turned and embedded his eyes into hers. He burst into a big smile.
âScottâŚI thoughtâŚâ
âNevermind what I saidâ he cut her off, which he always made a point to never do, but this was a good exception.
âIâm ready, ScarlettâŚletâs have a family.â
âOhhhh Scott, oh Scottâ
They hugged tight enough to where it hurt.
âWell, in that case, we may need to open another bottle.â She said playfully, bouncing her eyebrows twice.
âExcellent. Iâll be right up. Iâll put this fire out and then start yours up.â
âOh stop!â She bounded away girlishly, up the snowy back steps and into the house.
Scott let out a big sigh that he could see in the cold air and sat back in his chair, taking in his decision. He really was ready. He had secretly been keeping a long list of names that he liked and that he thought would work in front of Masterson. Especially little girl names. He stared into the campfire flames, getting lost imagining the three of them sitting right here, a little girl resting securely in Scarlettâs arms, as Scott had found himself, and stayed within these past two years.
Suddenly his trance was broken when, from the road in front of their house, came the sound of a vehicle approaching at high speed. Scott snapped his head back toward the house to get a better listen. He could see, around the house and through the trees, a large truck barreling down the country road, its headlights racing and bouncing with intensity. In an instant, it had passed up the road and out of sight.
âHuh?â
Soon, after a moment of silence, another sound echoed into the night. This sound rattled Scott to the bone and tore all that was right in his world into pieces. A sharp, bellowing squeal. His eyes shot over to his neighbors house, which was about a tenth of a mile to his right but still had a couple dim lights on that he could see. The shriek seemed to come from there.
Then, more squeals. It was hellish. More than animal but not quite human. Scott stood up. He heard crashing and tearing and further destruction coming from Charlesâ house.
âScarlett!! Scarlett!â He yelled toward his house, where he looked and could see her silhouette behind the curtains at the kitchen window. She didnât seem to hear him.
He turned back toward his neighbors. The chaos had gone quiet. Not a half a moment after, though, he heard something big barreling through the trees as fast as that truck had been sprinting. Running, running furiously between the two houses. Searching, hunting. Scott was taken aback so hard that his heel had caught the edge of the fire pit, throwing him down only inches away from severe burns. He had knocked his head in the whiplash, making him groan and take a moment to regain his bearings.
âSCARLETT!!!!â
He screamed out toward his home as he sat up, rubbing a quickly rising bump on the back of his head. He heard a loud breaching on the side of his house. The patio door. No. No. Then, all hell broke loose. Scarlett started wailing and crying and he could hear crashes of plates and glasses and deep guttural roars coming from the kitchen inside. Shadows danced in a frenzy from the curtained windows. Sounds of instinctual survival seemed to be thrown from Scarlett inside. Sounds of defeat. Sounds of agony. Sounds of insanity. Scott sprang to his feet, his equilibrium being more damaged than he realized after his fall. He had to catch his hand on a chair to stabilize himself. Scarlettâs symphony of pain had gone quiet. Soon after something burst back out the patio door again and off in the same direction as that truck before.
Scott struggled back up to the house, slowly climbing the wintered, crunching stairs that led to the patio. He no longer yelled for Scarlett. In fact, the only thing that came to his senses was the sound of his own heavy breathing. Everything else had been turned off, save for a heavy and sudden dread that he had prayed he would never feel. He came to the side of his house where indeed the patio door had been busted and forced open. It laid inside the kitchen, its hinges snapped like toothpicks. Scott, with eyes wide and twitching, slowly entered his home and looked into the kitchen.
He didnât scream. He didnât even change his breathing. He didnât blink. He just got a good long look at what laid before him.
Everything was broken. The fridge was on its side, the door hanging open and food and drink scattered all over the floor. The table was upended, its legs to the ceiling. A chair was resting on the counter, possibly having been thrown in defense. And Scarlett. Oh Scarlett. SheâŚwasâŚeverywhere. She was all over the floor. She was sprayed against the walls. She was stuck to the window. She was in the sink.
Scott gently walked through the carnal mess and sabotage of his world. Long ago he had known exactly what he would do if something anywhere near this bad were to happen to him. He politely stumbled through the kitchen, down the hall, and into the bedroom. He opened his closet door and lowered a fire safe from the top rack. He unlocked it with a passcode. 511, after that warm May date when he had first met Scarlett. In the safe was a Sig Sauer P320 handgun. Scott took it out, along with a box of bullets, loaded one into the gun, put the safe back on its rack, and walked out of the closet, sitting on his bed. Their bed. Where they shouldâve been laying right at this very moment, working toward a happy future. Where he wouldâve kissed her forehead and put a hand on her growing midsection. Where they would have awoken on Christmas morning to the sound of children who were way too excited to remain asleep. Where they wouldâve grown old. Where they wouldâve smiled at each other through wrinkles, satisfied with all the love they shared and passed on to the next generations. Where they wouldâve held each other in deep peace as they finally fell asleep to this world.
âI willâŚI willâ
In one quick motion Scott pulled back the hammer and stuck the barrel of that pistol right up against his Governor and blew himself away, far away, right back into Scarlettâs loving arms.
Jeremy âSmallmouthâ Bassett quickly yet stealthily made his way back to his Uncleâs house. He hugged the sides of the dark country road, keeping his eyes and ears wide open as to notice any sounds pertaining to the event that he had just witnessed there in the field next to the huge blaze. His only thought was Uncle Chuck. His house was right on the warpath of that horrible thing and Smallmouth had to go to him and make sure he was safe. He dared not go back to his truck, which would bring a lot of unwanted attention. No, Smallmouth walked and walked and finally saw the lights of his Uncleâs house. He carefully approached the front door from the shadowed driveway. Suddenly it occurred to Smallmouth that something was very wrong here. The door was busted in, having been plowed through by something very large and very strong.
âNoâŚnoâŚnoâ
Smallmouth slowly entered the house. The kitchen and living room were a disaster, chairs and tables and bottles strewn about and shattered. Bloody hoof-prints covered the floors, each of them the size of dinner plates. Smallmouth heard no noise. He felt himself well with tears, his nose a faucet that he began to sniff up as he worked his way through to his Uncleâs room, the door there also being broken in. A small whine growing in his throat, Smallmouth peaked into his uncles bedroom.
It was all in tatters. The bed had been attacked and shredded, the mattress being ripped up and thrown about as if it were made of cotton candy. More bloody hoof-prints were painted all over the brown carpet. Smallmouth trembled and put a hand up to his wet face. He didnât see a way that his Uncle was anywhere near alive, knowing what he knew about the monster that had been in this house.
Smallmouth slowly walked to the living room, to the only little table that had been untouched in the attack. It was almost as if the bottle of whiskey teleported into his hand from the overturned cabinet, unopened. He fixed that real quick.
Soon he was several pulls deep of the only thing in the world that he knew would make him feel better, even if only for a few hours. He found his pack of cigarettes in his coat pocket and lit one up, although he was indoors. What did it matter? He sat in a chair that he had turned right side up and set the bottle on the table and looked out the back window into the pitch black. He cried for his Uncle and he cried for the world. He cried for himself. He cried for broken promises and his own weakness. He drank and drank until his vision shook from right to left everywhere he looked. At first he didnât even notice the figures on the back porch. Then his vibrating focus did pick up on them, but by then it was too late. It was so dark out there but in their outlines he could see they wore long robes and hoods.
âHA!! COME AND GET ME! HAHA!! YOU COME AND YOU GET ME!!â Smallmouth boasted with a delusional amount of courage.
A creak escaped from the kitchen and he drunkenly slung his head over toward it. Three more figures stood there. Or was it just one? Smallmouth was none the wiser. All at once the hooded intruders from both inside and outside began to chant a strange, twisted rhyme in strikingly low and dissonant harmony:
âA sliverâŚof liverâŚgoes downâŚwith a shiver⌠âŚand givesâŚyour gulletâŚto gall⌠âŚbut drinkâŚthe CiderâŚthat drownsâŚthe Spider⌠âŚand youâŚwill be freeâŚof it all⌠âŚso tighten the gripâŚthat loosens your lips⌠âŚO raiseâŚthe bottleâŚof brown⌠âŚand wake tomorrowâŚto findâŚin sorrow⌠âŚANOTHERâŚSPIDERâŚTOâŚDROWNâ
Smallmouth groaned at them in dissatisfaction and turned his bottle up again and began to chug the whiskey. As he did they repeated the chant except this time it was louder and closer. By the time Smallmouth had finished his bottle he was quickly losing consciousness. This wasnât just whiskey. As he closed his eyes he felt hands grabbing him from all sides.
Smallmouth pulled open his sticky eyelids. His head felt like someone had bowled a strike into it. Wind froze his face. The smell of sickly, wet iron stung his nostrils. His vantage was higher than usual. Way higher. He was looking out into another field, but from easily ten feet up. He saw an old church, formerly painted white but now a flaky pale-beige. He heard the friction of a quick pull of rope below him, matched with a slight, tight pain at his feet. He looked down. A red-robed figure was fastening him against a wooden structure of some kind. His feet sat on a small flat platform perpendicular to a post that went from the ground up past smallmouths head. He couldnât move his arms, so he quickly shot his eyes side to side. They were also tied to another horizontal post. A cross. He was being tied to a crude wooden cross. His shirt had been removed, exposing a hairy, overweight belly. Smallmouth tried to speak, but all that came out was a slow, unintelligible grumble. He was still drunk. No, this was more than that. He was under the influence of something strong and absolutely inhibitive. He wallowed again, and took in a deep breath. The smell of iron once again hit his nose. He looked down at himself. He was covered in a thick, red liquid. That wasnât just the smell of iron. He had been splashed full body with blood.
âNow now, young servantâŚâ the figure at his feet had finished his task and took a couple of steps out to admire his own handiwork.
âAhhâŚperfect. The picture of martyrdom. Yes, you will always be remembered, Brother Bassett. You are to be the first Saint of The New Bible.â He opened his arms in his declaration.
Smallmouth looked up into the cold night sky. The moon shown down, giving everything a midnight spotlight. It was a gorgeous waxing gibbous, big and bright but not quite full. Yes, he was in a great big snowy field that housed an old worn down church. From the windows of the church he saw candles glowing, showing dark heads and shoulders looking out to him, also covered in loose hoods, hiding faces. He was hanging on a cross about one hundred feet from the old church. In front of the cross was a partially covered pit, a couple of two by fours supporting double armfuls of branches and dead leaves.
The figure at the base of the cross put his arms back to his side. He was still looking right at the drugged Smallmouthâs dumbstruck face. Even with a veiled mouth you could hear the twisted smile in his voice.
âTonight you will help us finally defeat this legion, Smallmouth. You see, it may have the evil spirits within it, but at its core, it is still an owned animal. An animal that knows its Master very well. An animal that will remember the smell of its Master. You, my friend, are covered in its Master right now. And you are hanging on a cross, the symbol of this bruteâs most hated enemy. But take heart, young Brother. Before you is our pit of spears. Yes you will attract the beast, but our Divine plan will intercept it and the beast will fall and be pierced. And then, oh dear brother, you will forever be immortalized. You will be purified in fire by the hands of your church brethren. Out of your screams and into the smoke the iniquities of all will be released. We will go on to preach your good example and your sainthood forever and ever.â
Smallmouth began to drool and hum pathetically. He could hear and understand the words of the robed man but he couldnât fight back. His body was useless, limp inside its rope confines. All he could do now is think, and watch, and wait, and dread his fate.
The figure turned away from him, walking over near the pit and gathering up a bundle of brambles and throwing them over the last open area, covering it completely. He then crunched through the snow over to the front door of the old church, groaning open the door. He stood at the dark doorway for a few seconds in silence, and then began to make a noise. An over exaggerated pig squealing noise, high pitched and infuriating. Soon after other voices from inside the church began to do the same, their wailing echoing out of the building and all across the field, loudly signaling, calling out. It may as well have been a dinner bell. Not a half minute after they began the distress signal it was loudly answered by a distant squall. A furious squall.
This was it. Either way it happened Smallmouth was about to die. Experience terror, and then die, and not even have the ability to put up any kind of defense. It wasnât fair. He just slowly lifted up his head and watched out far into the moonlit, white field. He then raised his heavy head further and took a good gander at the moon and stars for the last time.
âGod,â he thought to himself, still having full inner monologue yet no outer motor function, âI am so sorry. I am so sorry for being what I am. I am so sorry for ending up in this place. Itâs only my own fault. If it wasnât for me being so stupid and messy and drunk and terrible then this wouldnt be happening to me.â
He began to shed tears that washed lines into the blood on his face.
âPlease forgive me God. Please, please, please forgive me for all of my sins. This is it. Iâm gonna die. Iâm gonna die. PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!â He yelled inside his own mind, hoping and trying to send his silent words as far up into heaven as they could go.
He lowered his eyes back to the ground. He looked over at the church again. The windows were empty, the candles were extinguished. Those hooded cowards were hiding from their own handmade sacrificial service. All was quiet for a long pause until a much louder, closer bleating began at the edge of the forest not even three hundred feet away from Smallmouthâs glazed over eyes. It was time, and it was too late for a miracle.
Out of the woods, slowly and heavily, stomped the massive hog. As it marched closer and closer Smallmouth could see its white, boiled over eyes and black-burnt skin. Its jaws were flying open and snapping its sharp, pocket knife-sized teeth together in an intimidating âclackâ. It was now less than a hundred feet away, the dark old church to its right shoulder. It stopped, its pale glowing eyes fixed right on Smallmouth on the crude cross. It truly was a monster. It stood as tall as a man and as long as a canoe. Around its murderous mouth were stains of red, the remnants of all that it had taken from the world on this unholy night. In its clanging jaws were bits of flesh. It snorted and scowled.
Then, in a fury, it wailed that horrible squeal and started off into a dead sprint. It galloped and galloped toward Smallmouth at a high, blistering speed. It kept yawping and howling as it cut the distance from the cross down to fifty feet, forty feet, thirty, twenty. All at once it passed over the covered pit and plunged in. In his doomed, dead eyed stupor Smallmouth could hear what sounded like paint being dumped from a rooftop onto concrete. Trails of black liquid squirted and splashed up from the pit, which had been uncovered in the fall of the beast. Unbelieving, Smallmouth saw dozens of steel spear tips standing up from the dug-in ground. Right in the middle of them the beast was stuck. The sheer weight of the animal had caused the spears to pierce through its tough skin, sticking out of its back, soaked in black blood. One spear had stabbed right under the hogs chin, passing up through its jaws and out its black snout. It made agonized sounds. It roared and roared and shook the spears inside it, beginning furiously, then growing weaker and weaker within seconds. Finally, it let out one last weak little squeal, before it went still and quiet.
Smallmouth was frozen both physically by drugs and constraints and mentally by shock. His mouth hung open toward the pit of spears, his vision blurry. He took in a deep, troubled breath and let out a moan of disbelief and relief. The old church doors sprang open, and the sound of jubilation within flowed out into the night. The red robed figures flocked out of the building toward the pit, arms raised in celebration. They surrounded the hole, getting a good look at their success and their enemies defeat. Some held additional spears and began further stabbing the dead animal, causing more black blood to be shed up at them. They all yelled loudly and triumphantly. Some danced around the pit. Some skipped over to Smallmouth on the cross and danced around him, slapping his legs and spinning in circles.
Smallmouth looked on at the raucous celebration, both in utter disbelief of their trap actually working and also in turmoil. How long now until they fully execute their plan.
A taller robed man, whose voice matched the same one who spoke to Smallmouth as he tied his feet, spoke up, sounding almost happily intoxicated.
âAhh yes my Brothers!! It is done!! We have won!!!â
They all whooped and cheered.
âBrother Norman, go into the church and bring me the small tank of fuel. Let us send our dear Saint Bassett to the Holy lands, where he will be adored for all eternity!â
They all clapped and hollered. One figure began childishly skipping away from the pit and over toward the front door of the church.
Then, it happened.
From the pit all of a sudden a great blaze erupted instantly. It stood as tall as the cross, and it burned a furious red and blue. It raged and raged, blinding Smallmouth and making him clumsily turn his face away from the heat.
All of the figures panicked, screaming and scattering away toward the church. They didnât get far. Up from the fiery pit, dozens of long, long, black arms, adorned with six hooking claws emerged and stretched out of the flames and latched on to the legs of those trying to escape. Smallmouth heard crying and wailing from the men as the black, razor clawed-hands of the legion grabbed them and began pulling them back, into the blazes. One by one the red robed people were dragged into the flames, their clothes catching instantly. Smallmouth could see violently shaking bodies in the evil furnace. Oh, the screams. Above the tortured howling, the sound of laughing broke out. Deep, menacing laughter, hundreds of voices, echoed up into the air from the burning hole. Then, in one extinguishing squeeze, the ground swallowed the entirety of the fiery pit, leaving it completely covered in dirt, still and quiet. Soon after, and just like the pit of spears, the old church building caught in an instant and raging fire, quickly toppling the walls and dropping the steeple into its ruins. The smoke towered high in the night sky, which had just began to hint at a pale morning blue. Smallmouth hung on his cross in utter horror and surprise.
As the late evening hours glowed into early morning the smoke eventually tapered off, as Smallmouthâs drugs finally began to wear off as well. The fires of the church did garner long distance attention, though. Just as Smallmouth was able to regain control of his muscles and voice he heard emergency sirens call out into the cold morning air. Not long after, two fire trucks, an ambulance and a sheriffs truck tore into the field and toward Smallmouth on the cross. Not long after Smallmouth could feel the tied ropes being cut loose by firemen, their uniforms easily the best red clothes he had seen all night.
âWhat on Godâs green Earth happened here son?â A bearded man with a dark hat and brown shirt and pants asked Smallmouth once he had been lowered down from the cross and sat on the ground with a shock blanket around his shoulders. The Sheriff, no doubt.
âGodâs green Earth. It really is Godâs, isnât it?â Smallmouth whispered, staring out across the cold field. Then, at the very place he was staring, an old, familiar truck came barreling out of the gravel road in the woods and through the field in the steadily growing morning light. It was Uncle Chuckâs truck. It hurried over toward the other emergency vehicles, parked, the driverâs side door burst open, and Uncle Chuck came bounding out over to Smallmouth, his eyes wide and his mouth a wonderfully shocked âOâ.
âJEREMY! JEREMY!!!â He basically fell on Smallmouth in a tight, warm hug. Smallmouth was caught off guard by Chuck using his real name.
His Uncle held him for several seconds and then let up, but kept his hands on Smallmouthâs shoulders.
âI thought you were dead.â Both of them said at almost the exact same time.
âI came back and your house was a mess and there was blood everywhere. I thought you were dead.â Smallmouth weakly spat out.
âWell, I woke up and you were gone, son, so I walked to the ranch to get my truck. I was worried bout ya son. I came back home and the whole place had been turned upside down. Blood on the carpet. I just thought the worst. Then I tried my neighbors house. Buddy, theyâre dead. Looks like some wacko murder-suicide if I ever saw one. Scott probably tried to come kill us too and wrecked the place when he found it empty. I donât know. But what I DO know is that you are right here! You are okay Jeremy!! Ahhh Praise Jesus!!â
âItâs not that, Uncle. That isnât what happened out here. Itâs..it was a..a, uhâŚâ
Smallmouthâs fried brain couldnât even comprehend what he had witnessed over the past few hours. It was all a violent blur.
âDont worry bout it son, you can tell me everything on the way to the hospital. We gotta go get you checked out and cleaned up. Câmon.â He helped Smallmouth up and they walked over to the ambulance, his Uncleâs arm thrown around his shoulder.
Smallmouth would be sent home later that afternoon. It would take him and his Uncle a long time to sort through the chaos of that deadly night and rebuild their lives. But life kept on. Smallmouth would remain living with his Uncle, and would begin a job working with him down at the ranch. Together they started to attend a local church. Smallmouth never touched a drink or a drug or even a cigarette ever again, and remained steadfast in his newly revitalized faith.
submitted by
SamMorrisHorror to
TheCrypticCompendium [link] [comments]
2024.05.18 22:17 TheBlaringBlue Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Analysis & Pseudo-Review)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is such a
good game despite being so⌠wellâŚ
basic. Itâs simple â almost overly so â yet it is beloved by so many seasoned and experienced gamers.
What I got curious about after playing the game myself and reading a number of pseudo-reviews online was how exactly it achieved this.
How did a package so entry-level-looking garner such respect by 201 and 301 students?
--
The âFieldsâ region is a great example of
Kenaâs dichotomy.
Itâs gorgeous and inviting, with sea-foamed vistas, lush landscape and rushing waterways. Thereâs a even a big, lovable pet bull towering over the myriad of cute little Rot dudes scampering through the foliage. The whole place is just friendly.
Why then, does it end up being one of the gameâs longest, deepest and most complex sections? Consider its many scattered puzzles, which ask you to combine platforming, archery, environmental awareness and combat proficiency. Thereâs even a handful of red herring platforms that you canât properly interact with until later in your puzzle solving endeavor.
The âFieldsâ are a microcosm of the game as a whole. A childish, Pixar-esque shell which, when uncovered, reveals a complex, involved gameplay experience underneath.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits invites you to be a kid, but treats you like an adult. This is something very few games manage â or even attempt â and itâs what makes
Kena so unique, memorable and special.
--
Kena crushes its tone and aesthetic on all fronts to create something thatâs desirable and attainable to a group outside of hardcore gamers.
Kenaâs visuals are youthful and welcoming by using cartoonish and fairytale-esque art design. The gameâs companions do the same â the Rot are your constant brigade of adorable little plush-like, Pikimin-esque comrades who hop as you walk, munch on berries, clumsily trip over each other, and squeak in pitches that can only described as âcute.â You can even give them little hats to wear. Theyâre pets and itâs all so mired in youthful innocence that I cringe even typing it.
From a distance,
Kena appears childish and immature based on its outward appearance. That is, until you peel back its outer layer.
--
The game looks like something your five-year-old might enjoying toying with on your iPad, â
you-got-games-on-yo-phone?â style. But there are four elements in its building blocks that make it a game not optimized for your five-year-old on their own;
- Narrative
- Puzzles
- Platforming
- Combat
Narrative As far as the gameâs story is concerned, it may begin bright and innocent enough, but it deals not-abstractly with death and loss.
Consider that all three boys you meet in the early game â Taro, Benni and Saiya are
actually dead, I-see-dead-people style. Consider also that Kenaâs entire journey revolves around
the loss of her own father and her desire to reconnect with him. Additionally, it is Toshiâs
selfishness and his desire to be the hero that actually ends up bringing death and destruction to his village when he jumps the gun and kills and the mountain spirit in cold blood. Merciless affronts on nature and an up-front dealing with death and grief are not exactly for the young of age, despite their youthful packaging.
Puzzles It would be a waste of word count to explain in detail the steps necessary to complete certain puzzles in
Kena just as a set of examples to prove the point.
If youâve played or watched gameplay, you know the puzzles are surprisingly involved, consisting often of multiple steps to complete that build on each other and require the use of all of your abilities in tandem.
One of the bigger âah-hahâ moments I recall was when I realized I could order my Rot minions to move objects
while Kena stood on top of said object in order to give me a leg up to jump to a previously unreachable ledge.
Platforming Speaking of ledges, jumping to and from them is tight and precise in
Kena.
Platforming challenges are often timed (your aura-bomb weapon only activates platforms for specifically-timed bursts). Combining their scheduled nature with the need to rotate them via precise archery, mid-air grappling segments and more makes for a movement experience that is involved enough to demand the playerâs full attention for every tick of the clock.
Kena and her worldâs gravity also have a decided, predictable weight to them thatâs not exactly forgiving, meaning the act of jumping to and fro is exact while also requiring exactness.
Combat Fighting the enemies of
Kena is similarly involved.
The cadence with which the game throws opponents your way combined with the complexities of dealing meaningful damage to said opponents creates a combat scenario which demands the player fluidly wield and swap between both melee and ranged options while carefully managing space on the battlefield.
Kamikaze-style enemies often rush Kena in carefully-spaced and well-timed waves, while enemies with shields and shells hide their weak points from visibility. Enemies like this require certain sequences to beat â be it a well-placed bomb and arrow combo, a parry, or a maneuvering to an enemyâs backside.
Boss encounters lean into these mechanics but also present new wrinkles â The Hunter fight asks the player to rethink their tactics and find a way to deal with an airborne opponent who is apt at dodging bombs and arrows, for example.
The final few bosses ask you to take everything youâve learned throughout your journey and apply it all at once, and if you donât⌠itâs defeat for Kena.
--
The above sounds like Iâm describing a souls-like with platforming elements as the âfresh takeâ in addition to the enrapturing combat.
Games that provide this much of a challenging, involved experience are typically darker in tone â be it music, environment, or what-have-you. I donât think too many people would call
Kena âhard,â but these are the same people who died 10+ times to The Hunter or Corrupted Toshi.
If this game had a darker, moodier skin, would more people describe it as hard or not for the faint of heart?
In this way,
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a wolf in sheepâs clothing.
It is accessible to new players and younger gamers due to its pleasing and friendly atmosphere. But by its conclusion, it is likely to season them into better gamers. If a newbie gamer picks up
Kena, theyâre in for a surprise and (hopefully) delight when they find something deeper than that which they first expected.
On the other hand,
Kena is a worthwhile experience for veteran gamers if they drop their toxic masculinity and play a goofy kids game with a female protagonist. This is a game that will undoubtedly earn their respect by requiring their attention, precision and commitment throughout its experience. Like the newbie gamers, gaming veterans are in for a surprise and (certainly) delight when they find something deeper than that which they first expected.
--
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a good experience for everyone. By balancing being adorable with being difficult, it earns the respect and appreciation of everyone who plays it. Its accessibility makes it easy to recommend to anyone and the game thus earns itself a bigger audience as a result.
Its narrative and gameplay might not separate themselves in terms of newness from a saturated market, but the surprise and delight the game provides delivers an experience to its players that isnât typical of the space.
By striking the balance between wolf and sheep,
Kena elevates its quality to something beyond just the content within.
--
âŚ
and yetâŚ
I canât help but think, as I summarize this article, that if a game is for
everyone, doesnât that, on some level, mean it is also for
no one? I mean, when you look at the gameâs narrative or gameplay, itâs not exactly reinventing the wheel here. In fact,
Kena does just about
nothing new. It spits out the same exact version of a game weâve been playing for decades in the form of
Tomb Raider or
Uncharted or
The Legend of Zelda or
God of War.
Critically speaking, both the gameplay and narrative are pretty damn milquetoast.
Youâre in a world infected by some arbitrary Darkness and since youâre Special and The Chosen One⢠itâs your job to go around cleansing the world of evil using a combination of environmental platforming, lever and pressure plate puzzle-solving and lock-on-based, sword-swinging driven combat.
It wouldnât be difficult to make the argument that
Kena is bland.
But the discourse around the game just isnât about that.
The gameâs scored an 81 on Metacritic and has a 92% positive review rating on Steam at time of writing. It
recouped its development costs in just one month, meaning every sale since then is hitting the bottom line.
People
like this game.
Quick aside from me here on something that made me smile â when double-checking the score on Steam for the above info, I found these as the first two reviews at the very top of the queue: âyo wtf. bought this game to chill, why does it feels like im playing souls-like difficulty ass game HAHAHAH.â âDonât be fooled by the graphics. This game can be a challenge at times, but it is worth the experience.â
So maybe being an experience for everyone really was the kicker?
Or, maybe, it was something else.
In fact, yeah, I can confidently say it was. Itâs a game reviewerâs buzzword, but itâs oh-so apt here: polish.
--
The entire experience of playing
Kena is smooth. There are no framerate drops, no bugs, no broken quests or puzzles, no desynced dialogue and facial animations. Not a single hiccup to speak of.
The game features exacting archery, precise platforming, telegraphed and accurate hitboxes, as well as an unimpeding camera, responsive and weighty combat and legible visual design that accurately communicates with the player.
You can move through
Kena virtually unobstructed (until you come across a puzzle you canât solve, but thatâs your problem, not the gameâs). Everything is built carefully and gels together in a cohesion that works so fluidly that playing
Kena is simply frictionless.
The gameâs developers â Ember Lab â nailed the fundamentals, paid attention to detail and play-tested perfectly. Their effort to go above and beyond saved this game from sinking into the obscurity of being completely and utterly Mid.
--
Itâs frictionlessness that elevates
Kena beyond itself. It makes the game greater than the sum of its parts. It makes
Kena a complete, finished and polished experience.
Kena presents itself like itâs Disney Pixarâs latest goofy-ass, lame-ass, sub-par video game, but lying underneath the childish aesthetic is a challenging and engaging experience thatâs not only a boon for all audiences of gamers, but a worthwhile one thanks to its extreme polish and dedication.
You should play it.
submitted by
TheBlaringBlue to
ItsAllAboutGames [link] [comments]
2024.05.18 22:17 TheBlaringBlue This Game is a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Analysis & Pseudo-Review)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is such a
good game despite being so⌠wellâŚ
basic. Itâs simple â almost overly so â yet it is beloved by so many seasoned and experienced gamers.
What I got curious about after playing the game myself and reading a number of pseudo-reviews online was how exactly it achieved this.
How did a package so entry-level-looking garner such respect by 201 and 301 students?
--
The âFieldsâ region is a great example of
Kenaâs dichotomy.
Itâs gorgeous and inviting, with sea-foamed vistas, lush landscape and rushing waterways. Thereâs a even a big, lovable pet bull towering over the myriad of cute little Rot dudes scampering through the foliage. The whole place is just friendly.
Why then, does it end up being one of the gameâs longest, deepest and most complex sections? Consider its many scattered puzzles, which ask you to combine platforming, archery, environmental awareness and combat proficiency. Thereâs even a handful of red herring platforms that you canât properly interact with until later in your puzzle solving endeavor.
The âFieldsâ are a microcosm of the game as a whole. A childish, Pixar-esque shell which, when uncovered, reveals a complex, involved gameplay experience underneath.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits invites you to be a kid, but treats you like an adult. This is something very few games manage â or even attempt â and itâs what makes
Kena so unique, memorable and special.
--
Kena crushes its tone and aesthetic on all fronts to create something thatâs desirable and attainable to a group outside of hardcore gamers.
Kenaâs visuals are youthful and welcoming by using cartoonish and fairytale-esque art design. The gameâs companions do the same â the Rot are your constant brigade of adorable little plush-like, Pikimin-esque comrades who hop as you walk, munch on berries, clumsily trip over each other, and squeak in pitches that can only described as âcute.â You can even give them little hats to wear. Theyâre pets and itâs all so mired in youthful innocence that I cringe even typing it.
From a distance,
Kena appears childish and immature based on its outward appearance. That is, until you peel back its outer layer.
--
The game looks like something your five-year-old might enjoying toying with on your iPad, â
you-got-games-on-yo-phone?â style. But there are four elements in its building blocks that make it a game not optimized for your five-year-old on their own;
- Narrative
- Puzzles
- Platforming
- Combat
Narrative As far as the gameâs story is concerned, it may begin bright and innocent enough, but it deals not-abstractly with death and loss.
Consider that all three boys you meet in the early game â Taro, Benni and Saiya are
actually dead, I-see-dead-people style. Consider also that Kenaâs entire journey revolves around
the loss of her own father and her desire to reconnect with him. Additionally, it is Toshiâs
selfishness and his desire to be the hero that actually ends up bringing death and destruction to his village when he jumps the gun and kills and the mountain spirit in cold blood. Merciless affronts on nature and an up-front dealing with death and grief are not exactly for the young of age, despite their youthful packaging.
Puzzles It would be a waste of word count to explain in detail the steps necessary to complete certain puzzles in
Kena just as a set of examples to prove the point.
If youâve played or watched gameplay, you know the puzzles are surprisingly involved, consisting often of multiple steps to complete that build on each other and require the use of all of your abilities in tandem.
One of the bigger âah-hahâ moments I recall was when I realized I could order my Rot minions to move objects
while Kena stood on top of said object in order to give me a leg up to jump to a previously unreachable ledge.
Platforming Speaking of ledges, jumping to and from them is tight and precise in
Kena.
Platforming challenges are often timed (your aura-bomb weapon only activates platforms for specifically-timed bursts). Combining their scheduled nature with the need to rotate them via precise archery, mid-air grappling segments and more makes for a movement experience that is involved enough to demand the playerâs full attention for every tick of the clock.
Kena and her worldâs gravity also have a decided, predictable weight to them thatâs not exactly forgiving, meaning the act of jumping to and fro is exact while also requiring exactness.
Combat Fighting the enemies of
Kena is similarly involved.
The cadence with which the game throws opponents your way combined with the complexities of dealing meaningful damage to said opponents creates a combat scenario which demands the player fluidly wield and swap between both melee and ranged options while carefully managing space on the battlefield.
Kamikaze-style enemies often rush Kena in carefully-spaced and well-timed waves, while enemies with shields and shells hide their weak points from visibility. Enemies like this require certain sequences to beat â be it a well-placed bomb and arrow combo, a parry, or a maneuvering to an enemyâs backside.
Boss encounters lean into these mechanics but also present new wrinkles â The Hunter fight asks the player to rethink their tactics and find a way to deal with an airborne opponent who is apt at dodging bombs and arrows, for example.
The final few bosses ask you to take everything youâve learned throughout your journey and apply it all at once, and if you donât⌠itâs defeat for Kena.
--
The above sounds like Iâm describing a souls-like with platforming elements as the âfresh takeâ in addition to the enrapturing combat.
Games that provide this much of a challenging, involved experience are typically darker in tone â be it music, environment, or what-have-you. I donât think too many people would call
Kena âhard,â but these are the same people who died 10+ times to The Hunter or Corrupted Toshi.
If this game had a darker, moodier skin, would more people describe it as hard or not for the faint of heart?
In this way,
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a wolf in sheepâs clothing.
It is accessible to new players and younger gamers due to its pleasing and friendly atmosphere. But by its conclusion, it is likely to season them into better gamers. If a newbie gamer picks up
Kena, theyâre in for a surprise and (hopefully) delight when they find something deeper than that which they first expected.
On the other hand,
Kena is a worthwhile experience for veteran gamers if they drop their toxic masculinity and play a goofy kids game with a female protagonist. This is a game that will undoubtedly earn their respect by requiring their attention, precision and commitment throughout its experience. Like the newbie gamers, gaming veterans are in for a surprise and (certainly) delight when they find something deeper than that which they first expected.
--
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a good experience for everyone. By balancing being adorable with being difficult, it earns the respect and appreciation of everyone who plays it. Its accessibility makes it easy to recommend to anyone and the game thus earns itself a bigger audience as a result.
Its narrative and gameplay might not separate themselves in terms of newness from a saturated market, but the surprise and delight the game provides delivers an experience to its players that isnât typical of the space.
By striking the balance between wolf and sheep,
Kena elevates its quality to something beyond just the content within.
--
âŚ
and yetâŚ
I canât help but think, as I summarize this article, that if a game is for
everyone, doesnât that, on some level, mean it is also for
no one? I mean, when you look at the gameâs narrative or gameplay, itâs not exactly reinventing the wheel here. In fact,
Kena does just about
nothing new. It spits out the same exact version of a game weâve been playing for decades in the form of
Tomb Raider or
Uncharted or
The Legend of Zelda or
God of War.
Critically speaking, both the gameplay and narrative are pretty damn milquetoast.
Youâre in a world infected by some arbitrary Darkness and since youâre Special and The Chosen One⢠itâs your job to go around cleansing the world of evil using a combination of environmental platforming, lever and pressure plate puzzle-solving and lock-on-based, sword-swinging driven combat.
It wouldnât be difficult to make the argument that
Kena is bland.
But the discourse around the game just isnât about that.
The gameâs scored an 81 on Metacritic and has a 92% positive review rating on Steam at time of writing. It
recouped its development costs in just one month, meaning every sale since then is hitting the bottom line.
People
like this game.
Quick aside from me here on something that made me smile â when double-checking the score on Steam for the above info, I found these as the first two reviews at the very top of the queue: âyo wtf. bought this game to chill, why does it feels like im playing souls-like difficulty ass game HAHAHAH.â âDonât be fooled by the graphics. This game can be a challenge at times, but it is worth the experience.â
So maybe being an experience for everyone really was the kicker?
Or, maybe, it was something else.
In fact, yeah, I can confidently say it was. Itâs a game reviewerâs buzzword, but itâs oh-so apt here: polish.
--
The entire experience of playing
Kena is smooth. There are no framerate drops, no bugs, no broken quests or puzzles, no desynced dialogue and facial animations. Not a single hiccup to speak of.
The game features exacting archery, precise platforming, telegraphed and accurate hitboxes, as well as an unimpeding camera, responsive and weighty combat and legible visual design that accurately communicates with the player.
You can move through
Kena virtually unobstructed (until you come across a puzzle you canât solve, but thatâs your problem, not the gameâs). Everything is built carefully and gels together in a cohesion that works so fluidly that playing
Kena is simply frictionless.
The gameâs developers â Ember Lab â nailed the fundamentals, paid attention to detail and play-tested perfectly. Their effort to go above and beyond saved this game from sinking into the obscurity of being completely and utterly Mid.
--
Itâs frictionlessness that elevates
Kena beyond itself. It makes the game greater than the sum of its parts. It makes
Kena a complete, finished and polished experience.
Kena presents itself like itâs Disney Pixarâs latest goofy-ass, lame-ass, sub-par video game, but lying underneath the childish aesthetic is a challenging and engaging experience thatâs not only a boon for all audiences of gamers, but a worthwhile one thanks to its extreme polish and dedication.
You should play it.
submitted by
TheBlaringBlue to
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2024.05.18 21:41 MisterAmmosart Trip Report: 05/05 - 05/17. Mainly Tokyo. IIDX traveling in Kanto. Long post.
Freshly back and awake after a twelve day stint for my first time there. I knew that I wanted to go in general, and while I didn't have a firm itinerary planned out, there was one main goal that I had in terms of sites within the country. The main video game that I play is Beatmania IIDX, and it has internal trophies which are represented as badges. Your profile allows you to assign up to five of them as visible when you start a new round, and there are badges to earn for playing at least one round in every prefecture in Japan, as well as every subregion. Getting the Kanto badge meant that I needed to play at least one round in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Chiba. After five days, I had that complete, and now I have a permanent record of this trip within the game itself. There was also a time-limited event to earn points in IIDX in order to exchange them for goods, such as a hat, or a towel, or a new account card and a poster, and I managed to get that taken care of in somewhat dramatic fashion. I did some other things too.
Primary general points
¡ Getting Suica set on the phone and using it was generally painless. There were only two times where I needed to summon the help of a resident JR employee to clear up an issue with the gate not reading the card for some reason.
¡ Most vocal interaction which I had was the opposite of painless, because I continuously kept trying to speak Japanese and failing, and most people would realize that I was completely failing at it and responded with English (some with full on sentences, others with just a few words). There were a few rare times that I was able to express my intent in Japanese, receive a response, understand the response, and reply as necessary, but that was rare. Once English was invoked, I would stay with it, because that's what they were expecting. I've been self-studying the language for more than twenty years in varying degrees of intensity, and while my reading comprehesion seemed sufficient enough for this trip, and while I didn't expect my speaking to be as good because I don't have any opportunity to practice speaking, I came away bitterly disappointed in my vocal and speaking comprehension in terms of my interaction with people there. Even within the trip I could at least overhear common chitchat better, but any time I needed to converse with someone for some reason, I usually needed to have things repeated several times and broken down before I finally realized what was being said.
¡ You are going to be asked about separately buying a bag with every non-food purchase. Accept or immediately present one that you are carrying to indicate how your purchase shall be bagged.
¡ I never once had my passport requested for presentation.
¡ Only once did a person volutnarily reach out to address me, and it was just to ask me where I was from in English. Otherwise, everyone left me alone the entire time.
¡ Weather through the period was ideal. Mid to upper 70F/25C range and only a few days where it was rainy, and even then it wasn't a downpour. A while ago I personally resolved to only wear suits in public and I purchased a new pair of Mephisto shoes after hearing reports of the extensive walking causing problems for traveller's feet and shoes. My attire help up well; there were only a few times that I needed to avoid sunlight to not get too hot, and I have no issues to report from the shoes.
¡ I only got X'd out of a restaurant one time, and I think it's only because I wandered into it before it was ready for service. Otherwise, I never once waited in line for food, I never once went to restaurant more than once, and all food was acceptably priced for the portion and excellent for the quality.
For these per-day recounts, I wrote them contemporaneously at the end of each day, so you'll need to forgive me for some writing being in present tense and other writing being in past tense.
Day 1 - Travel, Sugamo, Ikebukuro
Non stop flight from Chicago OHare to Haneda. 12 hours. Good thing I usually don't watch movies, because that just means that all I needed to do was binge a few to make the trip go by.
Pre-trip research led me to choose APA Sugamo as my home base for the visit, and I think that it was a very fortuitious choice. I'll have more to say about it later.
Some awkward encounters happened right away upon checking in here. I was at the nearby Family Mart to buy some things and I didnât catch that he was making sure I wanted a bag until he repeated it five times. Yes, Iâll take it. Before getting there I was coming down to ground level after checking into my room, and when that person saw that I would have been the only other person going down to the ground, they ducked right back out. I was warned on both of these kinds of things happening, so I guess itâs good to have that immediately out of the way. It would turn out that people deliberately avoiding me was rare throughout the trip.
Despite not sleeping on the trip, I had freshly arrived and had no sense of being tired, so once I had my stuff down, I went off to Ikebukuro right away. No picture or video truly conveys how crowded these areas can get. It can only be experienced in person to be understood.
I soon found Round One Ikebukruo and went right in. So dense and loud. Itâs entirely alien to me to see no less than ten IIDX machines in operation and all of them in use. I dumped the money into random tickets, as I foresaw doing, but now I have to wonder if that was the right thing to do, or if itâs tied to that location. I guess Iâll find out.
The forecast is for rain so I need to be in a hurry to figure out where Iâm going to go. There might be only one day left for me to get my time limited toys.
Day 2 - Kawasaki, Kanagawa - Utsunomiya, Tochigi - Oomiya, Saitama
My body decided that it only needed four hours of sleep this morning. Without doing more research, I somehow decided to assume that more of the Round One locations were close to 24 hours of operation much like Ikebukuro. Answer: no. I hopped on the train early and went to Shibuya first, but it was very quiet, so I decided to get some of the travels out of the way today and headed south to Kawasaki. I still needed to dawdle for a while until Silk Hat opened at 900AM, and when I finally was able to get inside, I was only able to verify that their store had several allotments of the campaign goods and all allotments were out. Played one round on a monitor that was surprisingly blurry, and I donât know why that would be the case with a lightning model, but it was, so that was enough.
After doing all of that, I resolved to try to go to Chiba and Ibaraki afterwards. I figured that with Kanagawa and Tokyo likely all out, going to the outskirts would make more sense. However, there was an injury on one of the rails that threw everything off normal, and the train I found myself riding was bound for Utsunomiya instead. Seeing as how I was going to go there eventually, I rolled with it.
It doesnât take too long to move away from Tokyo metropolitan area before you encounter more forest like areas and rice paddy fields. Halfway through the trip I noticed that two older women suddenly hopped off while the train was waiting to go to the next stop, and I followed them when I realized they found the express line. Utsunomiya has a substantial size to its area and buildings but it was very quiet on the streets there in midday. Walked a mile to Sega GIGO, found that they didnât even have the goods tracker up. All out. Interesting buliding for it having several neon signs, all vintage and authentic at that. Getting to there from the south meant cutting through Saitama, so I knew I had enough time to make one last attempt there. Research shown two stores being near Oomiya station, so thatâs where I ended up. Taito Station was immediately visible upon exit, and they have two IIDX machines specifically with 20 gram springs, which is closer to my home setup and that much lighter than standard 50 gram springs. The final hour drew near and I made one last visit to that cityâs Round One. Unlike nearly every other place I went to so far, it only had one IIDX machine. However, and maybe because of that, their goods listing didnât show everything as out. One painful language exchange later, I was able to discern that what I wanted was available. When you spend more than 3000 yen in a single credit, the game wants to verify if you really want to proceed. It does it again at 6000 and 9000. Yes, I really do. But, having made that money dump I was able to get my hands on the e-amuse card and poster with fifteen minutes left before the deadline. Mission complete. By this point in the day it was exceedingly difficult to even look at the screen so I was ready to come home, but not before getting some goods at the Oomiya Book Off and redeeming what I could for points at Round One Ikebukuro. By the end of the day the only thing that I could tolerate doing was to buy some chicken and nigiri from the nearby train station. Good enough. At that point in the day my body felt like it wants to rock back and forth after all the train riding done today. But, it ended up being worthwhile after all.
One nostalgic feeling I had the most strongly in the day was at the Utsunomiya location where the smell of it triggered past buried memories of yesteryear. I think I want to attribute it to the stronger second hand cigarette smell but Iâm not sure - all the same I felt its presence strongly there. Also, I donât see Oomiya (or really Saitama itself) mentioned as a fun place to go, but it might serve as an acceptable alternative to Ikebukuro, only not as massive in scale of human quantity. Depending on how the trip goes in total I may end up back there for IIDX playing, at least if I donât find any other place that has 20G springs.
Day 3 - Akihabara
With the travels out of the way, it was time to keep things more regionalized and stick to one area, and there is shopping that needs to be done, so it was off to Akihabara and to see how much of other posted tales hold true. The answer is that it is a lot of it. Kotobukiya can stand to open sooner than noon. Super Potato is indeed priced for a market which wants to snap up anything cheap - I at least found Xi for under 500 and felt that it would have been a bit silly to buy only that, but it didnât make spending 2000 on one single issue of Arcadia any better. I had no idea that Hey Arcade was right next to both of them; while it was assuredly nice to be there and see the row of Cave shooters among everything else, something got messed up with my registration of my new eamuse card with everything else, so that quickly added to my stress. Having to carry around a few hundred dollars worth of crap with every step didnât help matters. At least I was able to help a person recover their lost phone by applying a bit of logic to the situation and deducing it to belong to the only person there who looked French, as it was on the Lock Screen. They were relieved, yes. Then, rain came, and it was more than I was anticipating, and I left the umbrella at the room, particularly since I knew Iâd be shopping this day. It also turns out to have not mattered much, because I went to visit Bic Camera so that I could get myself a hair trimmer while here, and that turned into me finding a bunch of Kit Kats available, so that meant a second bag. The wind kicked out the rain and my umbrella. In trying to get as many gifts secured as possible, I found some gachapon, but it needed 100Y coins, and I didnât need paper money in the trip yet. After fighting with maps, I found an ATM to get cash, and got the gachapon. I came home late with feeling rather crushed about the day in that I couldnât take pictures very well with having to juggle weather and bagging considerations. There were some nice parts of the experience to be sure but between that and more gawking at Super Potato pricing ($135 for PS3 Caladrius? $6000 for Pulstar?) and seeing similar markups on other goods, I donât think itâs unfair to say that there is a reputation that this area carries and the pricing is there to go with it.
Day 4 - Laundry Day. Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku
I was so drained at the end of Day 3 that I fell asleep on the bed immediately after ending the night call, which meant that I woke up at 0200AM to a room that was fully lit. This meant that I needed to look up how to resolve my eamuse problem or else I wouldnât be able to get back to sleep. I did both. Awake at 0800AM meant that I had time to do laundry while I figured out what to do with the rest of the day. This meant that I was able to get more of Sugamo in pictures, and it was nice to be able to walk among the actual residences, and do other things like come across a school as it was actually in session. With them being close by and all in succession, I figured to get Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku visited. It turns out to have been a good day for it, as the temperature was perfectly cool and no rain came, and the sun came out only for a little bit. Shibuya somehow doesnât seem quite as large in scope in person but the crowds were definitely there, and it is much more hilly than I anticipated as well. After wandering around and not seeing any arcade for a bit, I came across a series of coffee and cookie shops and remained strong to not indulge. It was there while looking at a Disney store (which gets tourists to take pictures of it for some reason) that the song Alone Again came on through the nearby public speakers. What timing. It drove me to finally get a treat for myself, and the frozen latte (black sesame and houji) and croissant (dark chocolate filing) were certainly good, it ended up costing more than the dinner Iâd have later this day. I found a seclusion with a garbage can to eat the food and not carry the trash around, then an arcade soon after, and it was time to determine if I could fix the problem. Just like an easy click, it was. New to trash. Old to new. Done. Why did it have to be this way. Harajuku came next, and the environment there was distinct. This one in particular felt like it was an extended carnival atmosphere with the single tight knit market street and emphasis on fashion. A conversation with a freelance artist in the subway actually went well enough that I didnât feel dumb. The same sensation carried to Shinjuku as well, only it was more spread out. Kabuki street was interesting to see in person, and I didnât get any unseemly vibes from the place. Maybe itâs different later at night. A return home at a reasonable time allowed me to go down Sugamoâs market street a bit; most of it was closed, but it was interesting to come across the few remaining stores that were open by 0800PM, and more so the one that wasnât. Coming back to the hotel I found a 24 hour ramen shop with nobody inside. The chef didnât want to speak and only pointed to the ordering kiosk when I addressed her. The food came through a slot in the obscured window. At least her thank you as I left was a bit more warm, and the food was certainly delicious. To match with the matcha dessert that I bought from Sugamo station, I swung by a 7Eleven to get a drink, and found a milk tea for cheaper than a vending machine. The overhead music in the store was an instrumental version of Alone Again.
Day 5. Ibaraki - Mount Tsukuba, Miraidaira. Kashiwa, Chiba. Akihabara 2.
Awake at 0500AM on my own and knowing the current forecast meant that my envisioned plan for the day was quickly realized. Reaching the Tsukuba Express starting point from Akihabara needs you to get very far down into the ground before getting out into sunlight. I was on the ride early enough to see schoolchildren going about their commute, some of them being no older than ten and going about it unaccompanied. The people of Tsukuba seemed to be particularly helpful and cheerful that day, even despite my Suica issues at the gate. I didnât ask his name at the counter but the man at the service desk was eager to speak with me about my career and what I was doing there. One asked where I was from on the way up to the summit and another caught my cable car ticket on the way down. There had to have been a few of them who saw my doing this climb in my business attire and thinking me to be a complete idiot if not outright mocking them for doing it that way while they employed the use of dual walking sticks and the like. I know I read some reports of the home stretch being difficult, but it did get pretty close to being an actual rock climb instead of a trail hike for that part of it. A quick stop to Miraidaira on the way back to get the Ibaraki play. The way the town center greets you upon leaving the rail gate struck me as incredible, as well as for how quiet it was. It was like walking onto a movie set. I did find the sweet shop after the play, and that was another painful interaction yet again. Oh well. Two quick stops down Tsukuba Express and one across from Tobu Urban Park line was enough to have a toe in Chiba, and I didnât even need to leave the physical building of the train station to get to the basement level to find a machine for a play. Thank you, Kashiwa, you were great. Gunma is all thatâs left. The descent from Tsukuba did take some earnest exertion, and after doing that the two stops, that put me back in Akihabara about when I anticipated; what I failed to anticipate is how much that place seems to drain on me. I think I just need to eat at an actual dinner time. Once I got back to Sugamo and had food it was a bit better, but while in Akihabara and being around that environment, and not finding things on a shopping list, I found myself just standing still and watching life pass me by. I hemmed and hawed a while for a maid girlâs hour of service for chitchat, but eventually I talked myself out of it because I just didnât want potential trouble, just like her name. Komaru. I thought about doing this once just to say that I did, but I ultimately decided against it. You cannot go to this place with the expectation that you will find anything unless it is advertised and new. If you are looking for anything used, donât count on it being there. You also cannot go there without having a strong resolve to not engage with the touts, because it becomes disheartening to see them do their job and blankly stare at the world when they're forced to stand out there and do nothing. Back to Sugamo to find a place that advertised Wagyu but the price they wanted was more than I wanted to spend. The ramen and seaweed & rice servings were fine, but they advertised endless drink and I didnât receive that. All for $20? No, son. I did better than that elsewhere, Iâll know better now. Long day.
Day 6 - Tokyo Flea Market, Nakano Broadway, Ueno.
The weather couldnât have been better for this weekend. Iâve read reports that the flea market held near the horse race track will be arbitrarily cancelled regardless of what is reported on the website, but my gut instinct told me that it would occur today, and it did. Turns out that a flea market is a flea market which is a flea market, no matter where it happens. Same allotment of clothes and stuff that few people really want to buy, although I was able to find myself some neckties at least. I probably overpaid based on what I saw later in the route, but thatâs fine. They look nice. I settled on some shot glasses for a gift as well, but Iâm surprised that I canât ind something ornate that isnât part of a sake set. Seated in the shade with a chocolate churro while rap music played in the background - itâs like I never left home. A woman came to sit across from me for the sake of sitting down; she was from Holland and todayâs her last day in the country. Her husband came with food eventually. She had three weeks here and went to several places (allegedly, she didnât list them out) and I asked her about Nakano Broadway. She didnât make it there. Itâs a good thing that I did - this is probably the kind of environment and market that people expect of Akihabara now, and maybe thatâs how Aki was years ago, but itâs different from this. Whatâs more interesting is that Mandarake has a larger presence here than in Akihabara (so it seems to me), and their stores had floor after floor of any and every kind of pop culture product thatâs been made in the past sixty years at least. Buttress that with extensive watch and jewelry stores and a slender arcade in the basement, and itâs a very well centralized microcosm of the countryâs economy on the whole. I actually made a point to have dinner earlier than usual this time and found a place to serve some deep fried pork cuts served with rice and soup on the side. It was enough, and very well made. The day had not ended and my bag was heavy with several books purchased there, so I reported back to base briefly and decided to try visiting somewhere else, and settled on Ueno. Just as I arrived, a festival was underway where local teams of people made an elaborate show of carrying a home made shrine to a temple. Streets were officially blocked by police to allow the procession. In following the line I came up against makeshift food and amusement stands with the traditional toy gun shooting and goldfish catching. It appears that this is an official âstart of summerâ festival and I was able to watch it all happen in front of me. That was the good part of the day.
Day 7 - Tachikawa / Kunitachi. Shinjuku 2.
One of the games that I've never played is Beatmania III The Final. I've played some BM3 7th Mix years ago, but not The Final. I found a location that has one - World Game Circus in Tachikawa. In looking around that area before the trip, I saw that there was a nearby shinkansen museum, and not much else, so I figured that going to both places would make that walk worthwhile. Turns out that it wasnât a museum in the proper sense of a dedicated building. Rather, it was a bullet train engine car on the side of a building that was unrelated, and that was it. A cute interaction happened here - when I approached the car, I heard some children running around inside, so I approached cautiously without knowing if I was encroaching upon someone else's alloted time or something. Once the children saw me, they gave a hearty irrashaimase as I entered, and the boy stamped a paper and presented it to me. Perfect. Despite it not being a typical musem, the card did have some interesting content, and it's good to see some kind of commemoration for their achievements and progression in that industry regardless. They have a lot to be proud about there. Off to WGC. Maps wasnât lying about the walk taking twenty minutes. It's a good thing that I looked it up on streetview beforehand, because I otherwise would have walked right past it without knowing it was there. Then there it was, and there I confronted a past that I couldnât visit again. Sure, I got to play BM3 The Final at last, but my timing was off, my hands were off, there wasnât much I could do. Along with that I can say that Iâve played on a Beatmania II cabinet, and that was better than 5th Style at least. But that was it, that was all I could stand to do. It was right there and I couldnât bear to put up with it more than a few rounds at best. Dream big, because only disappointment follows if your smaller dreams ever are fulfilled. I donât know why finding IKEA back in Shinjuku was so difficult, but it took a while. I bought a bag, and then I bought a bag because the other bag was at the end of the register, which makes sense. I did feed myself before getting back to the Taito station to play some songs, but it still wasnât good enough. All thumbs. Ended the day with laundry since the timing worked. Speaking of making dreams big, itâs time to cross another one off the list tomorrow. I canât wait.
Day 8 - Takasaki, Gunma. Oomiya, Saitama 2.
Itâs a good thing that I only needed to get to Ikebukuro to transfer over to the next stop, because thatâs where that particular run ended for some reason. I wonder what was up. Speaking of things getting messed up on trains, I managed to find my way on a train that needed a separate ticket, which I didn't have. The conductor found me right away and had me disembark at Uraja for me to wait for the proper transfer. The weather forecast said thereâd be rain, and the travel forecast said it would take two hours to get there, and neither lied. I feel like I had more people staring at me in Gunma than other places. I will say that I found the Takasaki station area to be rather charming, with the stores that it had inside and the emphasis on the music culture there. Itâs one thing to offer a piano to the public to play, but itâs another to have a public willing to use it. This location had both. Having what was essentially a Bic Camera built into the facility was a nice touch too. The Leisure Land arcade was sandwiched between other floors that had its own offering of gaming stuff, so that was an unexpected bit of a fun thing to look through. The area was clean and sparsely populated, and it wasnât picked clean of all matter of things that would normally get snapped up, so that was interesting. Finally, I made it over to the machine. They had separate fans for each location. I got the songs and then the medals came, and thatâs that. Kantou Seiou. I would have stayed a bit longer but I wanted to have the medals show up right away, and my internet wasnât cooperating, so thatâs all I could do. I think there was an Internet cafe that I could have used in the facility, but I didnât want to deal with an awkward conversation. I did get some Lawson on the way out, as well as some trinkets from the local Gunma-chan store as well as some mini croissants and some macademia cookie things. More vocal awkwardness. Omiya was one of the stops on the way back, and I found a place to serve omrice, so thatâs another one off the list. No shoes allowed inside. The value wasnât there but the service was good enough, as was the flavor. The machines with the 20G springs are indeed legit. Back home in time for some McDonalds, and thatâs another food-checklist item marked off. Takoyaki mayo dipping sauce - somehow itâs both salty and sweet. While returning to the hotel, I did happen to encounter an argument amongst two teenaged locals where the guy ended up half-heartedly kicking the girl and getting her to cry. I wonder what their argument was about. I didnât play hero, but someone else did so enough to prevent an escalation and called the police over.
Day 9 - Sugamo, Tokyo Sky Tree, Akihabara 3, Kanda
Up early enough to decide that I should at least visit the Sky Tree while I'm there just to say that I did, and that I should visit the Sugamo street market upon its open since it was right there in front of me. I'm glad to have done so. With everything open, this felt more like what one would think to expect from a flea market environment that's operated and supported by the local populace. Small stores were open both sides of the street that go on for many blocks, and some tents and tables were set up to sell second hand goods as well. I was able to find someone selling a US Morgan dollar and he wanted only 2000Y for it, so that was an easy buy. If I would have known better to anticipate this area, I wouldn't have felt compelled to buy kitchy tourist crap that is expected as gifts elsewhere. If you are looking for a place to idly shop around that doesn't get extremely crowded and has an authentic local feel to it, consider making a point to come here. Off to Sky Tree. Getting the combo ticket for the second deck was worth it just for the lack of crowds on the upper area. If you're going to come here, consider getting a phone selfie stick or something of the kind so that you can take pictures against the windows without the structure scaffolding obstructing your view. On the subject of shopping again, this might be another area to consider visiting just for the sake of the specialty stores to be found here, such as those for chopsticks or hairpins. To close out the day, my wife reminded me to look for something from the Square Enix cafe, so that meant swinging by Akihabara yet again. Since it is within a walkway, it was a bit of a pain to find this place even with using maps, but I eventually found it and got what she wanted to find. Played some IIDX at Game Panic, which was surprisingly small and the one machine that was avaialble to play had some 2P turntable issues, so that didn't last all that long. Dinner was at a nearby place that specalized in tofu, so that was a good ramen serving with that infused. For the evening, I wandered south to Kanda to get night pictures, and found it to feel pretty similar to Ueno.
Day 10 - Ginza, Tokyo, Kanda & Akihabara 4
Launrdry in the morning. I also wanted to say that I went to Ginza in my time here, and I didn't research anywhere to go to keep it a surprise. It was a bit warmer and sunnier than usual that day, and I stuck to the main road for most of the walk, so I can't say that I found too many points of the interest along the path that I walked starting from Yurakucho station and heading out that way. High class store for high class people, and that's too rich for my peasant blood. Similarly for Tokyo proper itself, I suppose I'd have to needed to wander far away from the Yamanote vicinity to find points of interest there, as I didn't encounter anything that was remarkably distinctive here in comparison to other areas that I have previously seen. Continuing north across Nihonbashi brought me to Kanda and eventually to Akihabara yet again, as if it was a magnet that pulled me inside every time. For the sake of trying a different place I chose to play some IIDX at the Leisure Land arcade there, and I'm glad to have done that, as those machines were probably in the best coniditon that I encountered within that area. Dinner was at Tenkaippin, which I didn't realize until after I placed the order was cash only. The clerk didn't request it beforehand but I voluntarily left my passport there to show that I would return, and promptly went to the same ATM that I had found days prior in order to get the cash to pay for the bill.
Day 11 - Haneda T3, Nishi Nippori, Nippori, Uguisuidani, Otsuka, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukruo, home.
The end. I resolved to take the subway over to Haneda today to get the one luggage over there and stored, and itâs a good thing that I did - thereâs no easy solution for getting over there without encountering a crowd. If anything I wonder if Yamanote is actually better. Regardless, I got that much done. With the day left to go, I ventured to Nishi Nippori and I needed to summon the map several times to make sure I found the location, as it was as obscure as it could get. Just a sign on the ground for the third floor, a stairway that led to the back, an elevator that had no decoration, a single room that housed everything. Arcade PCB kits on shelves, joystick panels in exposed boxes, nicotine odor from years past - it was like I was transported to 1995 upon entry, beyond the fact that the games werenât as old. Most of them, they did have a lot going for SF3 3rd yet. I was able to take care of some game business in a hurry since I was the only one there. It was a very pleasant respite for play in comparison to most of the other sessions. The region itself felt much the same as this arcade - old and well worn, as in well lived. Venturing south to Nippori led me to stumble upon a shrine and cemetery just by following some stairs. Usuigudani was cleaner but mostly had hotels as points of interest. Back home to buy some mochi while mochi was for sale in midday. Then to Otsuka, thinking that I would wander to Ikebukuro, but I ended up wandering back to Sugamo instead. Whoops. Meal at Sugamo, then back out to return to Shibuya and Shinjuku at night to catch evening shots, when I hadnât done so before at these places. Good thing I did that to get Golden Gai area shots at night. With the night winding down, I decided to have one last IIDX play at Round 1 in Ikebukuro to symbolically end where I started.
Ending arcade comments
¡ Although the upkeep is generally better and more consistent than the US, some machines will have hardware issues here too. I was surprised by the blurriness with some of the LM IIDX machines.
¡ Densha De Go on the propert large cabinet is nice but quickly becomes very expensive.
¡ Bombergirl is OK enough and having the dedicated detonator button that pops up for hitting the base is a cute touch.
¡ Chase Chase Jokers feels rather clunky and I'm not sure what the game is trying to do. Interesting side screen concept at least.
¡ Nostalgia is delightful and would probably find a small fanbase worldwide if it had more exposure.
¡ Favorite IIDX locations are Taito Station in Oomiya for the light keys and Leisure Land Akihabara for the high quality of the LMs there. Honorable mention goes to the Game Versus loctation in Nishi Nihonbashi, but that might not be worth it for a dedicated trip unless you go there first thing in the morning.
Ending overall comments
This was a life altering trip for me, as would be expected. While I'm glad to have made the journey, as to be expected, I will only want to return after making an extensive redoubled effort into speaking and hearing comprehension, because I know that I came across like a blubbering idiot so many times, and it's truly aggravating because I generally know what I want to say and most of the words that are used to say it, but it just doesn't come out of my mouth properly when it needs to be done.
I welcome any questions you may have, as that will help for me to recall the memories and have me write them down.
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2024.05.18 21:40 seobitcoin How to Push Down Government Links Using Online Reputation Management (ORM)
| Online Reputation Management (ORM) is the practice of influencing how information about an individual or organization is perceived online. With the ever-increasing importance of digital presence, it's crucial to ensure that positive, accurate, and relevant content appears prominently in search engine results. One common challenge in ORM is pushing down government links, which often rank high due to their authoritative nature. This article explores strategies and techniques for effectively managing and mitigating the impact of such links. ORM for Gov Pages Understanding the Challenge Government links typically hold a significant amount of authority in search engines due to their high-quality backlinks, consistent traffic, and the trustworthiness of the domains. These links can sometimes be negative or irrelevant for businesses or individuals trying to maintain a positive online presence. The objective of pushing down these links is to promote more favorable content to the forefront, ensuring it appears higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Key Strategies in ORM for Pushing Down Government Links Content Creation and Optimization Creating high-quality, relevant, and engaging content is the cornerstone of any ORM strategy. Here's how to leverage content creation: - Blog Posts and Articles: Regularly publish blog posts and articles that are relevant to your brand or personal identity. These should be well-researched, keyword-optimized, and valuable to your target audience.
- Guest Posting: Write guest posts for reputable websites in your industry. These posts should link back to your website, boosting its authority.
- Press Releases: Distribute press releases to highlight significant achievements, events, or news. These releases should be optimized with relevant keywords and distributed through credible channels.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) SEO is crucial for pushing down undesirable links. Here are specific SEO tactics: - Keyword Strategy: Identify and use keywords that are likely to rank well for your content. Include these in your titles, headings, and throughout your content.
- Backlink Building: Develop a strong backlink profile by acquiring links from reputable sites. This improves your site's authority and ranking potential.
- On-Page SEO: Optimize your websiteâs on-page elements, including meta titles, descriptions, header tags, and internal linking structure.
Social Media Presence A robust social media presence can significantly impact search engine rankings. Here's how to harness social media: - Consistent Posting: Regularly post engaging content on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Consistency helps in building a loyal audience and enhances visibility.
- Engagement: Interact with your audience through comments, shares, and direct messages. Higher engagement rates can improve your contentâs reach.
- Multimedia Content: Utilize videos, infographics, and images to attract and retain audience interest. These formats often receive higher engagement rates.
Leveraging High-Authority Websites Partner with or get featured on high-authority websites to boost your own site's authority: - Collaborations and Partnerships: Work with influencers, industry experts, and other authoritative figures who can link back to your content.
- Online Directories and Listings: Ensure your business is listed in reputable online directories. These listings should be complete and accurate.
5. Review Management Positive reviews on popular platforms can improve your online reputation and push down negative links: - Encourage Positive Reviews: Request satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and industry-specific sites.
- Respond to Reviews: Engage with reviewers by thanking them or addressing their concerns. This shows responsiveness and can positively influence potential customers.
Monitor and Analyze Regular monitoring and analysis are critical to assess the effectiveness of your ORM strategies: - Use Monitoring Tools: Employ tools like Google Alerts, SEMrush, or Brand24 to track mentions of your name or brand across the web.
- Analyze Traffic and Rankings: Use analytics tools to monitor changes in your websiteâs traffic and search engine rankings. Adjust strategies based on this data.
Legal and Ethical Considerations It's essential to operate within legal and ethical boundaries when managing your online reputation: - Avoid Black Hat SEO: Do not use unethical SEO practices like keyword stuffing, cloaking, or link farming. These can result in penalties from search engines.
- Comply with Regulations: Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, such as data protection laws and advertising standards.
Practical Example: A Step-by-Step Plan Step 1: Content Development Develop a content calendar with a mix of blog posts, guest articles, press releases, and multimedia content. Focus on topics that are relevant to your target audience and incorporate high-value keywords. Step 2: SEO Implementation Conduct an SEO audit of your website and implement necessary changes. Focus on on-page SEO elements, improve site speed, and ensure mobile optimization. Step 3: Social Media Strategy Create a social media strategy that includes regular posts, multimedia content, and engagement with followers. Use social media analytics to track performance and adjust the strategy as needed. Step 4: Build Backlinks Reach out to industry websites, bloggers, and influencers for guest posting opportunities. Participate in relevant online forums and communities to naturally build backlinks. Step 5: Review Campaign Initiate a campaign encouraging customers to leave positive reviews. Respond to all reviews professionally and promptly. Step 6: Continuous Monitoring Set up Google Alerts for your brand name and keywords. Regularly review search engine rankings and adjust your strategy based on performance data. Pushing down government links using ORM requires a multifaceted approach that combines high-quality content creation, strategic SEO, an active social media presence, and continuous monitoring. By implementing these strategies ethically and consistently, you can enhance your online presence, mitigate the impact of negative links, and promote a more favorable digital footprint. Remember, ORM is an ongoing process that demands regular attention and adjustment to stay ahead in the dynamic digital landscape. submitted by seobitcoin to u/seobitcoin [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 21:04 pewtermug Thought y'all would enjoy this - kicked out two bridesmaidzillas 11 days before my wedding
(my post originally from
CharlotteDobreYoutube)
TLDR at bottom
I will try to keep as many relevant details in here as possible without going too far off track, since the history with us and with her is utterly a novel. This is long, but worth it, so here goes.
11 days before my wedding I kicked out two bridesmaids (A and M.) This meant I had two left (E and L.) It started with bridesmaid A who asked if her boyfriend could wear a cowboy hat to my wedding. Mind you, my wedding venues were a church for the ceremony and a beach front venue for the reception. I told her that I did not want a cowboy hat in my photos or in my wedding, that that was not the vibe my husband and I were going for, and it just didnât fit either venueâs dĂŠcor or environment.
A bit of a backstory â A is not in the best position financially. She was dating her boyfriend for like 2 months before she got pregnant. He promised her a better life closer to his family, she believed it, got fired from her $50k/year job, left her first child w/ her ex-husband (Child 1 was supposed to be my flower girl, whose dress we also bought,) they moved from State A to state B, they donât make much money. They now have the newborn that they can barely afford while living in a camper.
Before A asked about the cowboy hat, she asked about jeans. I did not want denim at my wedding. Denim is not formal. She said he was going to wear the same outfit to the wedding as his grandmotherâs funeral. Fine, not a big deal. I told her if they are black jeans that is fine since from a distance they will look like slacks. (I gave her an inch and she was definitely looking for that mile.) She kept going with it and I eventually said, âI did not want denim, but I made the exception for you two.â And she said âYeah, itâs not like we could have afforded anything else anyway.â I felt the tension and left it alone for the night.
The next morning, she texted me that she was hurt, that I had an attitude basically and Iâve been acting some type of way, she again brought up the money situation. I tried to be understanding and that I know they are not in the best position financially, but a lot of my family is not, and I know a lot of people are spending quite a bit to get where we are for the wedding (about half our guests were coming from out of state.) I also said I wanted everyone to have a great time and I was sorry if I came off any type of way or insensitive. This was not good enough for her. She decided to say that a wedding was about celebrating our love and if I was focused so much on a cowboy hat my priorities were in the wrong place. I asked her what was going on because this was clearly not about a cowboy hat and she avoided answering. Also did not tell me anything else it might have been about.
She said ever since planning the wedding I have been micromanaging, acting proud, and some other accusations that made no sense. I had no idea what she was talking about because a lot of the decisions my husband and I needed to make were taken care of with both venues â food, DJ, set up, breakdown, clean up, etc. A also said she had been talking to M about the way I was behaving, and that the cowboy hat was the final straw. (Whatâs that even mean? If I was bothering you with things, why didnât you tell me so I could fix it or change the way I was approaching things?)
Somewhere in the midst of this whole thing, she said her daughter (Child 1) would just be uncomfortable in her dress and wouldnât sit still for more than 30 mins (A lie, I have been around her and she is well behaved,) and also said her boyfriend does not like to eat in front of people (Arms must be tired from all that reaching) and all around is just making excuses, trying to call my bluff about this; if the boyfriend canât even wear the cowboy hat to the reception, then they probably just go fishing after the ceremony, and not even come to the reception. She also said we could have helped with her shoes. In many other words, I told her just because we make more than her does not mean we owe her anything and told her almost everything we were paying for. Then told me to chill and that I was probably emotional from the planning and everything going on. Basically, gaslit me when she was the one that literally threatened not to come because of a cowboy hat. She brought up money again like five more times and how theyâre broke â so clearly this is about money.
Husband and I bought the dresses, fronted the Airbnb we needed to get ready in, we fronted hair & makeup without asking for anyone to pay for their portion, bought gifts, Aâs plane ticket (she paid us back the next day,) and many other things for our wedding for the bride and grooms party so everyone had a good time, knew they were appreciated, and felt like the event was worth the traveling and time.
Throughout my wedding planning, I pretty much planned everything with my husband, and we asked for hardly any input from anyone since no one was really available, no one was close, and it was just easier. So the whole micromanaging comment made no sense to me. I was doing my best to be flexible and understanding of finances for A, not as much for bridesmaid 2, M, but a little. She was also in a state 3 time zones away from me, so her plane ticket was not cheap.
I have known this girl A for six years. I am crying at this point. Itâs the afternoon, I have to get final headcount to the reception venue for catering THE NEXT MORNING. I am texting my mother, bridesmaid E, friend D, a group chat on messenger, and I have not told Husband yet. Every single one of them was on my side. E said, âIf she is this way now before your wedding, imagine what she is going to be like on your wedding day.â And being the desperate person I was, I said to friend D âI know this is shitty and a horrible circumstance but if I needed you to be a bridesmaid, would you? The dress color and material are still available on [Vendorâs site.]â She said absolutely. I felt terrible for asking but I trusted her.
M now comes in. She was busy at work so she could not respond to the chat as much, but I was keeping a lot of the chat between A and I because I did not think M needed to be involved. A kept bringing the chat back to the group chat. She brought enough back to the group chat that M picked up on some stuff and basically agreed with A, she said I was being insensitive, and âAt least she asked you before she did it.â Iâm sorry, what?
Backstory for M â A few months earlier she said she was upset I did not officially ask her to be a bridesmaid and did not think it was worth it to come to my state for the wedding because it would be the second time she is here with her boyfriend but not for them; like not for their own reasons such as a vacation. We had a conversation when I started planning and I asked if she would be comfortable ordering a dress for me to see what it looked like. She said âAww you want me to be a bridesmaid?â I said âI thought that was obvious!â So maybe itâs a thin line, but she went shopping with A and I, went to try on dresses with her, and LET US BUY HER DRESS. She could have said something beforehand that she did not want to, rather than just thinking she had to. She also was not going to be there for the rehearsal since there was a concert in her state rescheduled for two days before my wedding and she was not going to miss it. Understandable since she would have had to get up at 5 am or earlier the night after the concert to get to my state sometime Thursday evening or Friday afternoon. I did not like this, but I accepted it because she also said âI think Iâve been part of enough weddings to figure it out, -insert laughing crying emoji-
By this point husband also called me for something, I donât remember what, but I eventually said to him âI donât think I want either A or M to come.â He said âOkay, whatever you need to do. Iâm fine at this point.â I summarized the events and he said âIf you want to burn everything to the ground I donât care, thatâs fine with me.â I stewed on everything for a few hours but I knew what I had to do.
I let it sit, I said nothing else, I went to run an errand, I was on the way home, told D when the rehearsal and dinner was, asked if she could make it, she said yes. I told her to order her dress, called the florist, I told them I needed one less bouquet, and got home about 30 mins later. A few hours later I said to both A and M, basically, âYou know what? Never mind. I donât want either of you to come. This is my wedding, we are paying for everything, and I was not wrong. I do not deserve this treatment. It is not my fault A you made shitty decisions and canât afford anything and M you planned a wedding before, how can you agree with her?â and quite a few other things. (Told them both to send back the dresses but ultimately did not end up caring and said they could do whatever they wanted with them later.) A then said I was attacking because I was frustrated. No, A. You made shit decisions and youâre taking it out on me now. M called me and I didnât answer. (She was married before, divorced now. Whole other fucking story.)
The other kicker? A kept her flight to STILL COME SEE HER DAUGHTER and was going to need a CAR RENTAL ANYWAY, and A HOTEL ROOM with her boyfriend. So wait, was it NOT actually about money? I donât even know anymore.
Anyway, D got her dress by Thursday or Friday the same week, we went shoe shopping a few days later, and she bought her own shoes, too.
My wedding party on my wedding day had three girls that were super supportive, loving, and made my day a whole lot easier. They were by my side, made me smile and laugh, and made the day so much more special. I have screenshots, by the way. If anyone wants them, I can attach them to a google doc and have you see them, haha. Just PM me!
TLDR; Bridesmaid didn't like that I didn't like or want a cowboy hat to a non-ranch or country themed/styled wedding and flipped out when I said no, her boyfriend could not wear one. She then said I was focusing too much on it but threatened not to come when I said no, and then gaslit me when I said I didn't want it and told me it was just a cowboy hat and that my emotions were probably all over the place from wedding planning. Bridesmaid two chimed in and agreed with her that I was being "insensitive" about it, even though husband and I fronted everything except shoes, flight, and car rental for both of them, and didn't even ask them to plan any type of bridal party or bachelorette party due to distance. Told them both nevermind, I don't deserve to be treated like I'm the enemy when I didn't do anything wrong other than say no to one thing asked.
Edit: TLDR added
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2024.05.18 19:30 Illustrious-Tap-7293 Dawn of the West Roleplay
Howdy partners,
Are you ready to immerse yourself in the gritty, unforgiving world of the Wild West? Look no further than
"Dawn of the West" - the premier Red Dead Redemption RP Discord Server for Xbox players!
What We Offer: - Immersive Roleplay: Dive into the rich lore and atmosphere of the late 19th century American frontier. Craft your own character and story as you traverse the untamed lands of Red Dead Redemption.
- Active Community: Join a lively community of fellow cowboys and cowgirls who share your love for all things Wild West. Forge alliances, make enemies, and experience the thrill of life on the frontier.
- Exciting Events: From train robberies to saloon brawls, our server hosts regular events and challenges to keep you on your toes. Will you rise to the occasion and make a name for yourself in the West?
- Friendly Atmosphere: Whether you're a seasoned gunslinger or a greenhorn just starting out, you'll find a warm welcome in our community. Our moderators are dedicated to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all players.
How to Join: - Step 1: Dust off your cowboy hat and polish your spurs.
- Step 2: Click on the Discord invite link below to join "Dawn of the West": [https://discord.gg/SjQtVwfe]
- Step 3: Once you have joined please go to #ââdotw-applications and verify your self via the "Verified Member Application"
- Step 4: Don't forget to read the server rules and guidelines to ensure a smooth ride for everyone.
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2024.05.18 16:21 Sin-God Yer a Wizard, Jumper: Generic Wizard Jump Doc Analysis & Discussion
Today we're discussing a fun Burkess jump named
Generic Wizard. Have a second link to my
past discussion posts.
Items
There's nine items here, so we'll just discuss them one by one.
We start off with a simple, powerful, handy, magic staff. It's an arcane focus and amplifier, and when you send someone to horny jail with it you add your magical power to the force behind the bonk. Nice.
The Great Grimoire is a more complex item, it's a sapient spellbook that is your buddy and can learn any kind of magic used against it in battle, as well as take on a battle form where it becomes a book-humanoid and can wield weapons or use martial arts and unarmed strikes to put the beat down on baddies.
You can opt for a pair of Skyrim-style wizard robes that are comfortable and make magic 25% less costly when you're wearing them.
The next item is a sword for spell-swords that can deflect magic and can serve as a casting focus for magic users, allowing you to fire magical projectiles out of it with ease.
Next we come to a case with components for the crafting of golems and other supernatural body guards.
The next item on the list is the steepled hat, which is the "You can share powers with other peeps" item on this list. You put it on somebody and they can use magic, though only basic magic. If a magical person puts it on it spreads magic throughout the setting, if you wanna spruce up something like Generic Roleplayer, Generic Cubicle, Generic School Years, or the like.
Next up we've got a magic bow that can turn spells and spell effects into arrows and magical beings find this process to be instant and easy. The next item is a fully stocked alchemy lab, perfect for the brewing of potions and the final item is a grand wizard tower with a set of ten two way teleporters.
These items are a lot of fun, though none are (probably) transformative unless you're here early OR you have plans for something like a wizard who uses a lot of arcane intensive magic that costs a lot of energy. Still, some of them (like the components case) can be radical in the right settings, such as going from here to Minecraft (or fusing them) since having easy access to golems can DRAMATICALLY make this setting a lot easier.
Perks
The perks here are a lot of fun. We start off with a freebie that gives you the ability to use magic and a pool of energy perfect for casting said magic with, and you have a single spell for free: a magical projectile you can deal damage with.
There are a range of really neat modifiers to how you DO magic here. My personal favorite is the "Daily Casts" one, as I always love abilities that let you use abilities that cost stuff for free which is KIND OF what this does. This gives you the ability to cast spells a number of times per day using the in-jump equivalent of spell slots. To help illustrate this, let's use the magical projectile spell from earlier as an example. With this you can cast that spell five times a day without it costing you any mana or anything like that, even material components, before you begin to have to pay other resources to use magic. These spell slot like things are separated based on power level and as you grow stronger you gain new slots. This perk is WILD, as this lets you do stuff like cast Wish without expending material resources (a certain number of times a day at least), and lets you save other resources for more valuable causes (like bribes when your "Wishes" go awry). Other handy abilities in this category include the Dramatic and Quick Caster perks, which allow you to complicate your spells in terms of casting times and costs for a boost in power or simplify them (sometimes at the cost of them costing a bit more, if they are complicated enough).
This jump offers a few ways to learn new magic, and I have one that I'm particularly fond of: magical skill tree which is a video-game-like perk that lets you learn new magic by beating up foes, getting "essence" from them, and spending it. You can also select Themed Magic; a perk which lets you give yourself a theme and then snag spells based around it and you'll automatically learn more over time. There are also other methods, though those two are my faves.
This jump has ways of letting you make new friends, be it through a familiar perk, a perk to bring stuff to life (and giving living things new forms), perks to animate stuff, and even the Master and Apprentice perk which lets you summon two magical homies one of whom is a powerful magical master and the other of whom is their plucky apprentice who loves learning. Both are your pals and want you to succeed, throwing their weight behind your efforts.
There is a pair of synergizers here, one which offers boosts to your body based on how half of how good a wizard you are and another which does the reserve, enhancing your magic based on how half of your physique. These perks are GREAT for specialists one way or another who either want to become better warriors (and are excellent magicians) or who want to become better magicians (if you're some sort of physical trainer or professional athlete, or otherwise have a strength build).
Some of the perks here improve your body or mind, granting you new skills like a PHD in chemistry, resistance to mind-based attacks based on your willpower, two separate abilities to tie your health and well-being to magic,
There are other perks worth looking at as well, but seeing as there are multiple pages of perks I just wanted to highlight SOME of them.
General & Concluding Thoughts
There is a lot of fun stuff here. The items are probably not necessary (though some of them may serve as decent objects to own in the beginning of a chain, especially the wizard's tower and the case containing the components for constructs), but the perks are neat. Some of these perks are incredibly good and will serve and follow you for the rest of your chain, such as the two synergizers and the magical skill tree, and the Life & Creation magic perk.
I think this could make an incredibly fun first jump, or as a supplement to one's first adventure jump. It's not radically powerful but it has plenty of stuff that ages with you and a lot of neat tricks you can reliably use to turn the tides of future conflicts. I think this is just a nice, fun jump.
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2024.05.18 13:13 figure_sk8 Safe House (GMMTV) Day 2, Part 2/2 Summary/Rough Translation [Potential Spoilers]
Hi everyone,
Here's the summary/outline for the second half of Day 2 of Safe House. Sorry again for the length; they did a lot of talking-based activities today, and I wanted to try to translate and explain a good portion of it for you all. Hope this helps!
Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/GkCLXss5hHI?feature=shared - They're relaxing and playing Uno when we join them
- 15:30 PD asks Earth to go collect some snacks from the front door (sponsored by Snack Jack)
- 18:30 Earth starts reading the directions for the next medal game (also sponsored by Snack Jack. King of the Day divides everyone into two teams of 4. Each team in charge of "protecting" one flavour of Snack Jack. One person from Team A will sit blindfolded and try to protect the Snack Jack while all members of Team B will have two minutes to try to retrieve the Snack Jack while wearing bells on their bodies to make their movements louder. The blindfolded person can order everyone in Team B to move and stop, and each time they call stop, they have the opportunity to make one shot with a water gun. If they successfully hit a member of Team B, that person is eliminated from the competition. If someone from Team B successfully retrieves one bag of Snack Jack, opens it, and eats one piece, then Team B wins. If this has not been completed within the two minutes, Team A wins. The person with the water gun can only shoot up to 10 times in total during the 2 minutes. The team positions will change and they will play again. If both teams successfully steal, the team that steals the soonest within the 2 minutes wins. Winners get one medal each
- 20:15 Luke decides to pick his team based on the three lowest-scoring people on the ranking board, hoping that he can help carry them to a victory and help them get one medal
- 23:00 They go to the play zone/pool area and start strategising. Team B will attempt to steal first, and Luke will be the blindfolded person from Team A. There's some brief confusion about which flavoucolour each team is supposed to protect and steal.
- 28:30 PD helps to go over the rules one more time and serves as the referee. Everyone on the stealing team needs to start by touching one of the walls of the room. Blindfolded person has to spin five times before the game begins.
- 31:30 Luke didn't know that the eliminated people have to go stand behind him, so he mistakenly shoots Mix, but it doesn't count
- 38:00 The next stealing team is strategising, and PD says that they have 15 more seconds to talk before they have to take their positions.
- 40:00 The protecting team's "cheering" is a bit suspicious. PD asks them to be quiet, but they don't listen
- 46:00 Dinner. Menu includes soy sauce chicken with rice, pad gaprao beef with dried chili, pork gyoza, and banoffee pie for desert (in the fridge). They decide to eat directly out of the containers so there will be fewer dishes to wash. As usual, there's some awkwardness at the beginning because everyone wants to eat, but they want to think of something to talk about so the audience don't get bored
- Dinner highlights: 55:00 They decide to exchange ghost stories tonight. Neo asks Luke if ghost stories is as much of a thing abroad as it is in Thailand. He says that he has one friend who has a personal ghost story that he can share: When Luke's friend was around 7, he was running around another friend's basement when he ran into an elderly woman doing some laundry. He later asked the parents of the house who that lady was, and they said that there's no one there, but they had an elderly maid years ago who died. So after that, the friend didn't like to go into basements anymore.
- 58:45 Earth asks why Western ghost stories always seem to take place in attics or basements
- 1:02:00 The guys ask if Luke has heard of the type of Thai ghost that wears old-style ceremonial clothing and does Thai traditional dance (considered very creepy).
- 1:06:00 They bring dessert to eat outside. They get inspired to start playing on the large floating rafts in the pool while still clothed, and PD warns them to at least take off their mic packs first if they're going to do that
- 1:14:30 They snack on some items from the seafood fridge, and then relax for a while in the area in front of the medal board. Pond gives some dance pointers.
- 1:26:00 Some English/Thai lessons. They discuss how the direct translation of the Thai term for "living room" means "room where you sit leisurely" (or if you translate it even more literally like how Luke does, it translates to "room where you sit down and play"). Neo struggles a bit and blames it on Luke "unclear pronunciation." Luke gives some sentences for Neo (then Earth and Gun) to translate to Thai
- 1:29:45 They think about what else to do, and they suggest several traditional Thai games, one of which is the "live fish/dead fish" that I explained previously. The topic of being blindfolded comes up, and they mention that when Luke was playing the Snack Jack game, he handled the water gun as if he were a cowboy. They start playing the live fish/dead fish game, but PD intervenes and invites them to come play the next medal game
- 1:38:30 Medal game (sponsored by the black inhalers). King of the Day will pair everyone up. Each pair will be tied together at the waist and hands, and all the pairs need to walk around the house together in order to try to find the two random mystery items somewhere around the house that have been scented with the peppermint scent of the black inhalers. The two pairs that find these two mystery items will get one medal each. Some of the pairs struggle a bit because they were smelling the inhalers too much at the beginning, so everything was smelling like peppermint to them.
- 1:51:30 Relaxing time
- 1:55:45 Since everyone is planning to take a shower, Pond is a bit lazy to shower, and he s that his says uncle once told him that if your heart/soul are clean, your body is automatically clean, so he might use that excuse. He wants to go downstairs to make a Thai omelette (a little extra salty), but since he didn't shower in the morning, he'll shower first and then go make food.
- 2:03:00 Small jam session in the larger bedroom
- 2:22:00 Pond and Phuwin wish a happy birthday to P'Golf if he's watching
- 2:26:00 They do a game/activity where you answer questions and then the book will interpret aspects of your personality based on your answers. Gun reads the questions and interpretations, and the rest of the guys choose which option they want from each question
- General statement: the answer choices are numbered 1-3 or 1-4. The numbers in Thai are 1=neung, 2=song, 3=saam, 4=see, so maybe you can hear which options each person is talking about when they're deciding which fits best with each person. Sometimes Gun also reads them as A, B, C, D.
- 2:27:00 Question 1: When you sing karaoke with your friends, what type of song do you choose?
- Rock: don't feel the need to overcompensate to express your uniqueness or individuality
- Current chart hits: (Gun didn't read it because no one chose it)
- Old songs: wants to be different/unique. You're a bit dramatic sometimes and sometimes it's like you're in a drama/lakhorn
- Don't like to karaoke: Really wants to be unique/different. You might not be good at singing, but for the things you're good at, you're so good that people around you will compliment you and grow your ego even further
- 2:33:45 Question 2: When you go to a roadside noodle stall, how long will you wait until you start to get a little impatient about the wait time? (as a qualifier, they make their decisions based on the assumption that the restaurant is not that crowded)
- 3 minutes: No one chose it, but Gun read that it means that you are a bit selfish and you prioritise your needs and feelings over others'
- 8 minutes: you have some patience (~50%). You can do a pretty decent job with enduring hardships and uncomfortable situations
- 12 minutes: patience level ~90%. You might have a hard time believing in yourself or standing up for yourself
- 2:37:30 Question 3: Close your eyes and imagine a bunch of flowers. What colour are these flowers? (at first, some of them didn't think of any of the listed options, or they thought of multiple colours). The guys made comments throughout this question that the interpretations were either not accurate, or that they seemed unnecessarily harsh. Hahaha. [also, this was quite a difficult question for me to translate because a lot of the words and concepts mentioned are quite specific in Thai and don't have direct/clean translations to English, but I tried to keep the translation as concise as possible, so I apologise]
- Red: You have a high level of confidence/pride (90%). You put your full effort into everything and want to demonstrate your abilities and power. However, your level of confidence might turn out to be a bit of a curse because others won't want to be close to you
- Purple: Confidence/pride 50%. You can think a little highly of yourself sometimes. You can hold grudges for a long time. You are probably talented in the arts.
- Yellow: Confidence/pride 40%. You can change your mind easily and quickly. You're a little idealistic. Stay humble, and your self-confidence will grow naturally with your achievements
- Blue: no one chose it
- 2:42:20 Question 4: Imagine a person in your head who you might want to go and get to know (they also comment throughout that some of these interpretations are harsh or inaccurate. Like the further along in the game they get, the worse they feel about themselves. But then they realise that the name of the book they're reading means "Why is your heart cruel?" and the moral of the book is that everyone has some non-ideal qualities, etc.)
- Colourful: no one chose it
- Clean/classic/neat: The person in your imagination doesn't get lonely easily. They can be stubborn and demanding.
- Trendy fashion: The person in your imagination likes to change to fit in with people around them. They get lonely easily
- Own individual style: The person in your imagination gets lonely only sometimes. They can be serious/intense and can pull some energy from those around them
- 2:47:40 Question 5: You're at a restaurant with a romantic partner, and you're both full. Someone brings a dessert for your romantic partner that happens to be a favourite dessert of yours. What does your partner do? (They found the question confusing, so they changed it to ask what they themselves would do. But then there was confusion about who was the person bringing the dessert, like if it's a potential romantic competitor or just the restaurant employee, etc. They never fully understood the question or agreed on the conditions of the hypothetical situation. It wasn't until Gun started reading the interpretations that they started to understand that the point of this question is basically to anticipate how likely you are to cheat in a relationship. It's not clear to anyone because the question isn't worded well, but they're interpreting it as if a potential romantic competitor handed a dessert to your romantic partner. If your partner eats it, then I suppose it means that they're not being faithful to you because eating the dessert means that they're showing the competitor that they have a chance? It's honestly a poorly worded question, and everyone was still confused at the end)
- Don't touch it at all
- Try it a little bit ("nit neung" in Thai so you guys can understand what they're discussing)
- Eat half of it
- Eat all of it
- 2:55:30 Neo reads Question 6: if you and a romantic partner are feeding animals, which animal would you both choose to feed?
- Snake: no one chose it
- Tiger: You do everything fully; if you want to do something, you do it. You might prefer romantic partners who are older than you
- Elephant: You are chill and easy-going. You hope that you can find someone supportive
- Monkey: You prefer to be friends first before becoming romantic partners
- 2:59:00 Question 7: If you're travelling out of town with someone you're romantically interested in, which method of travel do you choose? (it doesn't specify how far you're going)
- High-speed train: Your prospective partner wants you
- Train: no one chose it
- Car: You and your partner want to get to know each other better
- Plane: Your partner wants you to be more bold and wants to spend more time with you
- 3:02:00 Question 8: If you and a romantic partner are walking up a mountain to admire a view together, what view would you most want to see? (this question is more explicit than they're openly talking. They're basically talking about sexual preferences and making innuendoes, but censoring as they go)
- Sunrise
- Another mountain
- City scape
- A cloudy/foggy cover scene
- 3:06:00 Relaxing time. Pond still wants Thai omelette like he did before, so he and Phuwin go to the kitchen to make one.
- 3:15:30 Fan Talk
- Group 1 Highlights: Most of them stayed up late talking last night because they haven't seen each other in a while. Mix slept earliest and also woke up one of the earliest. Their throats are still sore from the chicken sounds competition from the morning. They playfully tease Luke about being King of the Day, like how it's easier for people in larger bodies to make louder sounds, and also that apparently American chickens sound weird. They mention how he was thoughtful to pick the three lowest-scoring people to be his team later so he could try to help them get a medal. They recapped the black inhaler game and said that the ones who smelled them too much before starting the game couldn't smell anything because the smell was lingering too strongly in their noses. Neo also talks about how the others pranked him to push him into the pool earlier. They're feeling increasingly more comfortable with each other, so they're looking forward to seeing how their relationships develop throughout the rest of the week. At around 3:22:00, Neo mentions that before, he thought Mix was quieter and "cooler" than how he's shown himself to actually be these two days. They are a bit surprised at Luke as well because he can switch between super playful moods and super serious moods when it's time for competition because he really wants to win. They all agree that Khaotung is the "dark horse" because he's more quiet and low-profile but he's one of the highest scorers. They enjoyed the Snack Jack game a lot, and around 3:26:00 they make fun of way Luke handled the water gun; it made them feel like they were in a thriller film. The second defending team tried to defend their "cheering" to help Earth when he was blindfolded
- Fan Comments: They wanted to hear Khaotung more. They ask about things they might have forgotten to bring, and Neo said that he brought only four pairs of underwear for the week. Khaotung admits that he was a fan of Gun's before joining GMMTV. Fans complimented Neo's humour and requested more jokes. Someone said that they looked like four cats, so they tried to synchronise their head movements to look like a group of cats. Fans said that Gun was cute with his childhood blanket.
- Group 2 Highlights (3:38:15): They made fun of Neo for not exercising with Luke, but he said that at least Neo woke up and went down, but he only exercised a little before giving up and going back to sleep. They agree that Neo is the life of the house, and the experience would probably be a lot less exciting or entertaining without him. Luke enjoyed being King of the Day, but he was a little frustrated that he and Earth didn't find the scented toilet paper in the black inhaler game because they walked past it but couldn't smell it. They all really enjoyed the Snack Jack game, and again, they said that Luke looked so cool and intense when he had the water gun. Luke learned that he always pointed the water gun correctly initially, but he kept second-guessing himself and moving his aim before shooting. They're all finding the house and the environment easy to adjust to, and they're all feeling happy. They're all playfully perplexed by how much energy Neo has, and they also agree that Khaotung is the dark horse. At 3:47:00, Pond and Earth bond over the fact that in all GMMTV competitions they've every participated in, they've always scored very lowly. Earth says partially jokingly that he has sometimes gone home and asks, "Am I just truly not good?" They have faith that Pond can perform well in any activity with a physical component (especially dancing), and Mix and Gun are probably best at activities that require cunningness/craftiness.
- 3:50:00 Fan comments: Luke tries to answer an English comment, and he successfully translates them to Thai. Luke and Phuwin give statements in English. People ask when they're going to finally play a full game of "live fish/dead fish." People make fun of Pond for being lazy to shower, and he reiterates the saying his uncle told him about having a clean heart/soul. They also address the comments asking for English subtitles. They say that Mix eats the most in the house, but he gains a lot of happiness from food. They hope that they'll have the ghost story session tonight.
- 3:58:00 Relaxing/leisure time. Gun and Khaotung are making crispy fried shredded imitation crab with truffle salt.
- 4:06:30 Pond, Neo, and Luke play darts. Phuwin joins later. Luke explains the rules to Khaotung.
- 4:19:00 Phuwin plays around a bit with a guitar. Others later join to sing a bit. Khaotung and Luke continue playing darts.
- 4:34:30 Gun and Earth play with one of the cameras. Neo joins.
- 4:42:00 Neo, Luke, Khaotung, Gun, and Earth play Uno [sorry, I don't know the rules]
- Gun and Phuwin make some noodles and share them with the guys around 5:09:00
- 5:13:00 Khaotung and Phuwin make a different type of instant noodle and discuss their preferred ways to prepare instant noodles
- 5:29:00 Ghost stories
- 5:30:00 Pond's story: A story of a friend of his. It takes place in a dormitory that is next to a temple. They keep interrupting him, so Pond keeps repeating the phrase "dormitory next to a temple" many times, which makes everyone laugh and continue interrupting him. Pond's friend was living with a roommate, and the roommate had to pray in the evenings. Pond's friend was on the top level of a bunk bed, but every night, he heard the roommate sit almost like they're praying, but they're always facing an empty chair like they're talking to someone. One day, the roommate asked Pond's friend if he could sleep on the upper bunk with him, and Pond's friend was confused but agreed. At night, Pond's friend heard a voice asking if the bedroom was full yet and whether another person could come sleep. (There's a belief in Thailand that if you hear voices talking to you in the night, you shouldn't reply to them or engage with them). They sat up and looked around, and there was no one else in the room who could have asked that. After that, Pond's friend wanted to move to a different room/dormitory.
- 5:34:30 Add-on to Pond's story; takes place in the same dormitory building. The guys jokingly ask if it was next to a temple before letting him continue. There was a small room/passageway inside that they believed was a passageway for ghosts. Every day at 02:00, people will hear knocking sounds and sometimes door slamming from that area. These sounds even continued when the students were mostly away at their homes. A few times, things were falling off of shelves. The remaining students investigated but couldn't find anything. In that room/area, there was a closet/wardrobe with a mirror next to the bathroom. In the mirror, they could see a woman sitting hunched over in the bathroom, but they couldn't see anything when they turned to look directly in the bathroom.
- 5:39:00 Earth's story. Earth tells Mix to tell it instead because he's better at storytelling. Once Mix was at the house of a friend of his (implied to be Earth's house). He was showering upstairs, when he heard someone opening and closing a door. He later asked the owner of the house, and they said that they never went upstairs because they were sleeping downstairs. Mix demonstrates the walkway to enter the bathroom/powder room, and how when you can see the mirror immediately upon opening the door. One time, Mix opened the door and saw a man standing. At 5:41:50, PD pranks them by playing a loud slamming noise to scare them. Mix continues the story: The man he saw walked straight into the area outside of the bathroom and disappeared into some of the furniture.
- 5:43:20: Add-on to Earth/Mix's story. A different day, someone came to collect Mix at the house. The person who came to collect Mix at the house saw someone standing by the front of the house when they arrived, but at that time, Mix and the owner of the house were still sleeping inside. Quick additional story: Mix was in the bathroom once, when he heard someone trying to forcibly enter the bathroom. He opened the door and saw nothing.
- 5:45:30 Earth's story: He went with a friend on a vacation where they stayed in a two-bedroom bungalow that was made of wood, including the furniture. Earth was having trouble sleeping, and at one point, he heard some noises. He tried to sit up to investigate, but he couldn't move anything in his body. In his peripheral vision, he heard a woman (he's basically describing sleep paralysis). He starts praying a bit and slowly, his condition improves until the vision of the woman disappears and he's able to move.
- 5:49:00 Neo's story: He sets the story in his old school without saying the name, but he mentions so many descriptors like the location, history, etc., that everyone makes fun of him that it's clear which school it is already. He was staying in an athlete's dormitory. The badminton players used to have ghost storytelling sessions where they would talk about the ghost of that building. People would see a person in a white outfit on the stairs, specifically on the flight of stairs on the fifth level. (there are two sets of stairs, one on each short side of the building, and there's a small passageway where if you wanted to, you can pass to the opposite stairwell. This passageway was the haunted one on the fifth level, so people were afraid to look or walk though that area. Neo didn't believe the stories, but one time, during the regular evening dormitory inspections (around 22:00 every night), the inspector was passing by. Neo's bedroom was in a location where the walkway outside that section had a dead end, so you could only walk in one direction and then walk back the other direction in order to leave. Therefore, the boys always waited for the inspector to pass by the window twice before they knew that the coast was clear for them to continue talking, playing on their phones, etc. However, this time, the inspector only passed by the window once. The boys waited in silence for the second passing, but it never came, so eventually four of the boys decided to open the door and look for the inspector. They looked toward the end of the hallway where the person must be if they haven't walked back past the window again, but there was no one there, so everyone wondered who that must have been who walked past the window once and disappeared.
- 5:56:45 Mix's story: In his house outside of Bangkok, the structure used to be a small apartment building but got turned into a house. Mix's father bought it, split it in half, and rented out the other half. When Mix was younger, he was watching television with the room door ajar (his room was next to the head of the stairs). The light from the TV could illuminate the area outside of the door. One day, outside his door, he saw an elderly lady dressed in a traditional dress of Northern Thailand. Mix followed her out onto the stairway until she disappeared. The next day, Mix told his father about it, and his father stoically told Mix that the previous owner of the house was an elderly lady who died by falling off the stairs and breaking her neck. Apparently in the other half of the house they were renting out, the tenants tended to not stay long before moving out. At one point, a friend of Mix's father rented the half of the house for a short lease, and the friend said that he kept hearing and/or seeing a male walking around the house, even though he lived alone.
- 6:02:00 Phuwin's story: he lives in a Chinese-style house, and this was during a Chinese festival. Phuwin's father lit some incense to pray around 16:00 (late afternoon). (usually incense sticks take a couple of hours to burn out). That night, a little after midnight, Phuwin's father felt like something wasn't right, so he went down to investigate. In Phuwin's house, people usually go upstairs around 22:00 and don't really come down for anything. Phuwin's father saw that the incense he lit >8 hours prior were still smoking, and as he looked at the incense, they caught in flame (incense are supposed to just smoke until they run out, not be actively on fire). So Phuwin's father thinks a ghost was warning him to come and put out the incense so the house wouldn't catch fire, but it was still very strange that the incense was burning/smoking for >8 hours.
- 6:05:00 Everyone says goodnight to the viewers
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2024.05.18 13:10 Not-explaining eFootball wishlist to Konami (r/pesmobile)
eFootball gameplay seem to be going in a bad direction for the past months. To much AI defending/assistance/game balancing, game adding input lag, interceptions, poor passing, fouls not called for, hot potato football not rewarding any type of skillful play. The gameplay feels like its on rails, freedom is gone, players don't respond to your inputs and chances are created by either teams AI players mistakes or incredibly stupid runs. It's just not fun to play anymore. Neither online or vs AI.
eFootball could be fantastic if Konami would listen to ideas, criticism and improve. Here is my wishlist. Feedback based on me and the kids playing on PS4, PS5 and mobile. Offline and online.
- Reduce the heavy AI assistance / game-balancing / handholding / Auto defending / Dynamic Difficulty / momentum / whatchamacallit (scr...). I understand its for getting new players staying in the game, having a chance getting coins in the events and winning games. And perhaps make games more non-predictable "anything can happen, maybe". With the current AI handholding level its "anything will happen, constantly". So many chances are created by either teams AI players making mistakes or just making incredibly stupid runs, its like a badly scripted B-movie. The amount of goalpost hits and missed open goals is just silly currently, this goes on until the last few minutes of each match. Please reduce it, or even remove it from Co-op and other game modes where skill should be rewarded. I'd rather get smashed 15-0 and learn from a good player. Than having to play another game with: added input lag and your players turn, react with 0,5 sec delay / 1 team loses every header / 4 shots in goalpost / own goals / missed open goals from 2-3m consequently, instead you have to run the ball into goal!!! / hide n seek players with pass receiver running away from the ball positioning behind defender / every ball intercepted / misdirected passes / every pass straight to other team / passes goes through "invisible" player / player freezing or even running wrong direction vs your stick / opponent attacking with high punt or lofted pass but your defender running past the ball towards opposition goal / ball glued to opposite player in the box / every attempt clearing the ball goes short distance straight to other team, even goalie high punt / all stunning shots 3m over the goal before 85min + all the other crap that's in there. This gameplay on rails is so unrewarding. If I manage to do something skillfull the AI assistance just kills the opportunity with any means. When the AI assistance takes a break, I get an easy goal with no effort from a random through pass + tap in. Many times I can't tell if I am playing well or the game has decided I should win/lose, it kills the joy for me and it's just boring. If Konami could tone down all the weird punishments I'd be very grateful.
- Passing and interceptions. Currently worst ever IMO. Game just decides your pass from a player in balance is 90-180 degrees of straight to opponent. Even on Beginner AI and no matter PA1, 2 or 3đ And the constant interceptions. No flow in the game. Please work on this Konami.
- Remove the artificial input-lag. (This is a controversial one, some players simply don't believe our experience it. For me it's obvious as it can be tested offline in several ways on PS5, on mobile I havent tried to confirm it) Stop punishing one side with artificial input lag which make the gameplay feel heavy, unresponsive and your players turn & react with 0,5 sec delay. This is not from server lag as it's there in AI matches and local Trial matches as well, just switch controller between team 1 & 2 and feel the difference. It might activate from beginning of game, or in 2nd half, usually when you are doing well. And vice versa it can dissapear in 2nd half. From my experience it can be reduced or removed by switching playstyle. When finding the right playstyle for that specific match, your players suddenly become responsive again, it can even happen after switching to lowest Manager profiency. I assume its part of the game balancing mechanics. For me this is one of the worst things in the current game, when it kicks in your players don't respond to inputs in time and gameplay just feels awful.
- Fix the player freezing. Example: after losing a header to last defender suddenly your attacker just freezes. What's going on here? Have Konami added to much AI handholding and broken the game? đđđ
- Reward different playstyles like build up play. Currently most games seem to be high press, interception ping-pong, quick pass and no dribbles. Hot potato football. Holding the ball has become very difficult. Before the AI assistance and auto defending went berzerk, you could actually keep the ball for a second and do something creative. Without 3-5 guys surrounding your player with no options. Now the gameplay is boring with the lack of variety.
- Create a game mode free from AI assistance & artificial input lag. Just pure skill. It could be beta, division free or whatever just let us play without the heavy AI handholding. And maybe eFootball will be esports ready đ. To be honest if another football game is released without momentum/game-balancing /added input-lag and with gameplay based on pure skill. I think eFootball will lose a lot of players.
- Add Dream team into Trial match. As Trial match is the only game mode which supports 2-4 local players on same console, same screen. We have 2 kids who love the card collecting and building their team. But playing online is of no interest to them, and won't be in many years. They want to play local PvP or co-op but with their own Dream team on the same screen from one Playstation. By now we are very tired of playing the same local play Trial match Argentina Vs PSG. The kids have almost stopped playing eFootball, since they cant play against each other with their own team. In addition this would be a great way to test out new players, builds and game mechanics together with a friend. Much more fun than training mode. This mode is what my family is missing most from this game. And if it would be a "pure" mode without any momentum/game-balancing things would be fantastic. Just pure skill, best player wins.
- Please add Dream team to Trial match local co-op Vs AI. Would be so much fun to test your Dream Team against the AI together with the kids or a friend on the couch beside you seeing the same screen. Would love this mode if it would become available.
- Add local co-op in Events. Would be great if me and the kids could take on the events together. At least add it to the AI events. Then we would actually play them and not just sim them.
- Myleague local co-op. Add both local and online co-op into Myleague please. A reason to play it and win the league together with the kids đ
- Make My League worth playing. 100.000GP for completing 38 matches and winning the league is very poor IMO. Add some skill trainers and raise the GP perhaps?
- Add all Goal Scorers, Assists and Passes made to Half Time and Full Time game stats. So we can quickly get the overview of which player cards performed well in both teams. That information would be highly appreciated.
- Contract renewal is way too expensive. Considering many players have paid plenty in real money to get the favourite players, and you only get to keep your player for 1 year. We are paying for this digital football PokĂŠmon and we can't even use it as long as we would like. There should be more ways to get contract renewals, the periods should be longer, 3/6/9/12months and the price should be lower. Currently it's just irritating and another killing the fun factor.
- Make each playstyle worth using. And reward playing different type of formations. Instead of everyone using META 4 defenders and no wingers/LMF/RMF.
- Better & more expensive Point shop players. Can we please have some decent players? I'd gladly spend 50000-100000 pink points for a player if his stats are good. IMO there hasn't been an interesting player since Ferrer & Pires. Currently I don't see any use for points except contact renewal.
- Remove the GP cost for player reset. Having to wait for 2-3 months and then stressing for a few free weeks to retrain and test new builds doesn't make sense. GP is too valuable for me, I use it for Legacy Transfer and Contract renewal, and the few occasional GP buys for Events or hidden gems. I enjoy training players and trying out new builds, if free it would keep me logging in even when there is nothing else to do in the game.
- Reduce the cost for Legacy transfer. Getting your wanted skills and then transferring to your favourite player is one of the game aspects I really like. But 257,000 GP for one transfer is a lot and takes away much of the fun in Legacy transfer. You get 1 Mbappe for less than 2 Legacy transfer. I am always low on GP these days, and I think 100,000-150,000 GP would be reasonable for Legacy transfer for 1 skill.
- Legacy transfer of skills to POTW cards. If we could add 1-2 skills to the POTW the cards would be more interesting and I'd spend more coins spinning. We would get more varied and unpredictable squads instead of everybody using the same players. Most players know the good cards, what to expect from opponents cards and how to counter. Lets say you add some strong passing or shooting skills to a player usually weak in that aspect. The unpredicability would be awesome!
- Replace/delete added skills. Building players would be much more fun if I could replace a trained skill with another one using legacy transfer. Or just be able to delete an added skill. Perhaps my playstyle changes and I want Neymar to have Through passing instead of the previously added Long-range shooting.
- GP an option for pack spins. But it shouldn't be easy. Hard grind should be rewarded as it gives a reason to play the game. I am thinking 7,5M GP you get 75 spins in a 150 pack. That takes perhaps 6 months to grind. And perhaps the remaining 75 spins is coins only. Lower thresholds like 10 spins fĂśr 1M GP would be great but I understand its not gonna happen, as it would hurt the coin sales.
- Remove the 500 player cap or reduce cost of adding player slots. If you are grinding skill trainers with 0GP players and training players the 500 fills up quite easily. Or reduce the 500.000GP for an extra 50 players to maybe 100.000GP. This 500 player limit is very annoying and seems unnecessary.
- Add skill trainers and position trainers to each match pass. Would make the Match Pass way more interesting and I would spend coins.
- Make it worthwhile playing League / divisions. Currently I don't see much reason to play it. A few skill trainers and low GP reward can't motivate me spending the time.
- Find a way to prevent players from forfeiting games, at least events and co-op. Maybe if you are down a few goals sometimes add a random bonus like score with player X to receive 1 skill trainer, 10000 GP or something. Just to motivate players completing the match. Or create a non forfeit streak, like 10, 20 or 30 games without forfeit and you get an free extra POTW spin. (Credit: Part of this idea is from eFootball Universe Youtube)
- 1st celebration should also be skippable. It's just time consuming in online games. Not adding any value to except maybe noobs who scored their first goal ever.
- An option to make Sub tactic clearly visible in Game plan if activated. I played to many games now without knowing I had sub-tactic activated đ
- Matchmaking. This was good for a while after the matchmaking update, but not anymore. There must be something seriously wrong here. When playing in Division 9 to 7, we constantly get division 1-2 opponents in the events. Had top 120 and top 200 in a row even. 750M downloads and nobody else playing. Really?
- The daily penalty needs an upgrade. Suggestion: More fun If I could choose player from my Dream Team. And add random Epic goalies to spice it up đ
- Add statistics of headers, penalties and free kicks scored on each player card. This would add value and make it more interesting building squads. Konami you have the data, use it!
- More variety in Events. BBVA, Turkish, Brazilian Italian, English, Japan league. Over and over and over... Cmon Konami create something different so we can rotate our squads more. Suggestion: An event where only max 4 star players are allowed? Or higher GP rewards the weaker squad you use? (Credit: idea is partly from Rockchok Youtube)
- More Beat the Clock type of events. Both me and the kids enjoyed this one. Create something similar for skill moves. Example: Perform 5 Double touch + 5 Marseille turn across pitch with fixed dummies or defending players. Or a sequence where you have to perform skill move x and y before scoring.
- Objectives with extra bonuses. Add weekly objectives or similar. Score a hat-trick, win on penalties or score 5 times using skill move. And get some type of rewards, GP, Skill trainers, Position trainers, avatars, whatever just variety and something to play for.
- Co-op events. So much potential but the gameplay on rails, AI assistance and the constant random AI punishments kills the fun for me. You feel almost instantly if the AI assistance is on your side or against you. Either everything goes your way and it's too easy or Epics can't make a simple pass, the input lag kicks in and your player is even dragged out of position so the other team can score. Every game feels pre-decided with almost every touch being a mistake or fumble by the team who is supposed to concede a goal. Or its 1 goal back and forth with short sequences where the conceeding team can't touch the ball. In my experience the AI assistance is at its worst in the Co-op games. Quite easy to spot as players regularly just drop the controller. And game continues to auto defend like prime AC Milan, the non-active player is forcefielded holding the ball, every ball in the box is magically sucked to defenders feet and passes and clearings going 90-180 degrees off straight to opponent. Recent example which has happened in several co-op games: Goalie makes several stupid run outs to a perfect 4 man defending line, leaving the net wide open. Changing goalie doesn't help. Same thing with 2nd goalie until opponent gets his 2 goals. Sorry but when my player, gameplay and result is controlled by AI instead of me and my teammate I lose interest.
- Add 2nd local player to co-op events. Why can't 2 players join the co-op events together from one Playstation? Me and the kids would play co-op events a lot if this was possbile.
- Booster player forms. Wirtz card and several other are never on A-form. Whats the point of creating a booster card then? (credit: PES Pepe Youtube)
- Communication. Info on gameplay changes in each update would be appreciated. Like before. (credit: PES Pepe Youtube))
- Heavy first touch or fumble receiving the ball. +90 Ball control player cant receive a pass without starting to fumble or needing several seconds to gain control, then losing the ball, again and again and again. Does stats even matter when game balancing just decides anyway?
- Don't launch Crossplay with mobile. I suspect the recent braindead heavy assisted gameplay is needed for upcoming crossplay console & mobile update. This might be what we are getting. Gameplay on rails, autodefend, no skill, unrewarding, boring. I hope I am wrong and the previous fun gameplay on console is not gone forever đ˘.
- Master League? Promised some years ago. I guess it does not generate enough coin sales?
- Edit mode. Create a custom crest and kits for our dream team.
- AI games are boring and inconsistent. Even on easier difficulties the dynamic game balancing makes you miss so many chances in 1st half, open goals whatever. Then in 2nd its just walk the ball into box and quick shot goal. But if you decide to pass the ball in the box then it's magnet to defender, why not reward passing in the box? The inconsistency in the AI is just bad. And the coding seems lazy. I watch our 11 year old play and do all the right things, but the game just kills all her self-created chances. On harder difficulties even if I read the play and position perfectly to intercept a pass, the pass goes straight through my defender. And adding to that the constant interceptions and not being able to hold ball more than 0.3sec. To my understanding the AI was better before without having to bypass game mechanics (cheat), instead it was actually playing smarter. For me playing the AI is either too easy once the early game "Thou shall not score" wears off or just boring on higher difficulties. How hard is it to develop AI gameplay which is both fun, rewarding and teaching how to play better?
- Player speed is broken. The slowest defender will catch up in 2-3 seconds with any attacker running with the ball. No matter stats of players. You make a great pass but this broken game mechanic ruins the opportunity. This is both unrealistic and highly unrewarding.
- Player switching. Another game mechanic which seems broken and with hidden punishments added. I have mostly been using semi-assist and player oriented switching, R stick to switch. Recently switched to ball-oriented. And in my experience. When the game is against you, it constantly punishes you with bad player switching and worst default player selection. Many times the game refuses to switch to player in front of ball when I am trying to defend. Instead I am flicking through the guys behind the attacking player, while I am trying to get control of my defender. When I have free kick against me, default player is always the worst possible option eg. my CF standing 10m behind the free kick taker. Why? I enjoy a challenge but having to fight with my controller is not one of them.
- Sort player list by team name. Would help when choosing team for events. And a nice feature when browsing all my players.
- Position trainers. This feature was a nice addition. But can be improved and made more interesting. (A) Remove the possibility of getting duplicates on full position slots. It's just stupid and annoying. (B) Add random playstyle rewards on the new position. So an AMF Hole Player could also be SS Deep Lying Forward after Position training. (Credit: efNuts YouTube)
- Add Position and Skill trainers to point shop. At least we could spend the pink points on something. (Credit: Shoshinsha65)
Some of these are cosmetics and should be quite easy to implement, whereas others like new type of events takes more effort. Dream team in Trial mode and adding already existing local Co-op to more events/game modes shouldn't be that difficult. Gameplay affecting changes are likely hard and need to be tested so it doesn't affect game in a negative way.
I guess Konami calculates profits are better by pushing all players to online play. But at the same time they are neglecting the player group which prefers offline, and are willing to buy coins to get their favourite players cards. Hopefully Konami will reconsider, add a proper Master League and more offline modes with co-op and PvP.
All in all it should result in a more enjoyable experience for both ballers, casuals, squad-builders, card-collectors and those who just want offline couch co-op or PvP with their Dream team. More people having fun and spending time in the game usually results in praise, recommendations and growing user count = more coins spent. Konami keeps earning and customer base is happy. Everyone wins.
/ Cheers and thanks for reading
(This post is continously edited)
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2024.05.18 10:56 Sweet-Count2557 Fun Things to Do in Erie With Kids Pa
| Fun Things to Do in Erie With Kids Pa Are you ready for an unforgettable family adventure in Erie, PA? Well, buckle up and get ready for a wild ride!We've got all the fun things to do in Erie with kids, guaranteed to make your vacation a blast.From outdoor adventures and water parks to animal encounters and pirate excursions, there's something here that will make everyone in the family jump for joy.So, what are you waiting for? Let's go and explore Erie's amazing attractions together!Key TakeawaysPresque Isle State Park offers a variety of outdoor activities such as bird watching, boat tours, and environmental education.Waldameer & Water World and Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort are great options for water parks and splash zones, with a wide range of rides, slides, and attractions.Erie Zoo provides hands-on experiences and exhibits for children of all ages, while Experience Children's Museum offers exhibits and outdoor activities specifically designed for kids aged 0 to 12.Scallywags Pirate Adventures offers interactive pirate-themed adventures, activities, and treasure hunts for an exciting experience.Outdoor AdventuresOur favorite outdoor adventure in Erie is exploring Presque Isle State Park. This park is a nature lover's paradise, with so many outdoor exploration opportunities and nature activities to enjoy. From hiking and biking along the scenic trails, to bird watching and spotting wildlife, there's something for everyone to experience in this beautiful park.One of the best things about Presque Isle State Park is its beaches. With miles of sandy shores, it's the perfect place to build sandcastles, play beach volleyball, or simply relax and soak up the sun. The park also offers opportunities for water activities such as swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The crystal-clear waters of Lake Erie are inviting and refreshing, making it a great spot to cool off on a hot summer day.But the fun doesn't stop there. Presque Isle State Park is home to a variety of ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and marshes. Exploring these areas is like stepping into a whole new world. Kids can learn about the different plants and animals that call this park home, and even participate in environmental education activities.So, if you're looking for an adventure in the great outdoors, Presque Isle State Park is the place to be. With its endless opportunities for outdoor exploration and nature activities, it's the perfect destination for families who want to experience the freedom and beauty of nature.And speaking of water fun, let's dive into the next section and discover all the exciting water activities Erie has to offer.Water FunLet's explore some fun water activities for kids in Erie, PA. When it comes to water fun, Erie has plenty to offer. Here are five exciting options for kids to enjoy:Waldameer & Water World: Get ready for a splashing good time at this water park. With over 100 rides, slides, and attractions, including a Giant Wave Pool, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Grab your swimsuit and get ready to make a big splash!Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort: Rain or shine, this indoor water park is the perfect place to cool off and have a blast. With thrilling water slides, pools, hot tubs, and even a Tree House, you'll never run out of fun things to do. Get ready to dive into a world of water fun!Presque Isle State Park: This beautiful park isn't only home to sandy beaches but also offers a variety of beach activities. Build sandcastles, search for seashells, or take a refreshing swim in Lake Erie. With miles of shoreline to explore, the beach is the perfect place to let your imagination run wild.Boat Tours: Take a boat tour and explore the beauty of Lake Erie. Hop on board and sail across the sparkling waters, learning about the history and wildlife of the area. It's a unique and educational experience that the whole family will enjoy.Fishing: Grab your fishing rod and head to the lake for a day of fishing fun. Cast your line and see if you can catch a fish. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced angler, fishing in Erie is an exciting adventure that will create memories to last a lifetime.With these amazing water parks and beach activities, there's no shortage of fun for kids in Erie, PA. So grab your swimsuit, sunscreen, and sense of adventure, and get ready to make a splash!Animal EncountersHey kids, get ready for some wild adventures! Erie is home to some amazing animal encounters that will let you get up close and personal with all kinds of creatures.From hands-on experiences where you can touch and learn about different animals, to interactive encounters where you can feed and interact with them, there's something for everyone.Get ready to embark on a wild journey and make unforgettable memories with the fascinating animals of Erie!Hands-On Animal ExperiencesOne of the best ways to engage with animals is by participating in hands-on animal experiences at various attractions in Erie. Here are some exciting options for interactive zoo experiences and wildlife encounters that children will love:Erie Zoo: Get up close and personal with nearly 400 animals at the Erie Zoo. From feeding giraffes to petting goats, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to interact with the animal residents.TREC - Tom Ridge Environmental Center: Discover the fascinating world of wildlife through interactive exhibits at TREC. Kids can learn about local animals, their habitats, and even touch real animal fur and feathers.Goodell Gardens & Homestead: Visit the Children's Discovery Garden at Goodell Gardens for hands-on activities that teach kids about nature and the animals that inhabit it. They can explore the butterfly house and see different insects up close.Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier: Take a stroll through the beautiful gardens at Lake Erie Arboretum and keep an eye out for wildlife. Children can learn about the birds that call the arboretum home and use binoculars to spot them.Asbury Woods: Explore the nature center at Asbury Woods and meet some of their animal ambassadors. Kids can learn about turtles, snakes, and other creatures through interactive displays and even touch some of them under the guidance of trained staff.These hands-on animal experiences provide children with a unique opportunity to learn about and appreciate the natural world around them. They'll surely create lasting memories and a love for animals that will stay with them for years to come.Interactive Animal EncountersWe absolutely loved the interactive animal encounters at the Erie Zoo. It was so exciting to get up close and personal with all different kinds of animals. We had the chance to pet and feed some friendly goats, and even got to brush a gentle pony. But the best part was meeting the zoo's resident kangaroos. We were able to interact with them in a special enclosure and learn all about their habitats and behaviors. It was truly a hands-on experience that we will never forget. Here is a table highlighting some of the amazing interactive animal encounters we had at the Erie Zoo:AnimalEncounterGoatsPetting and feedingPonyBrushing and groomingKangaroosClose interaction and educational talkThese encounters made our visit to the zoo even more fun and educational. We learned so much about these animals and got to experience them in a unique way. If you love animals, the Erie Zoo is definitely a must-visit destination!Pirate ExcursionsAhoy there, young mateys! Are you ready for a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas?In Erie, there are interactive pirate experiences waiting for you! Get ready for treasure hunts, exciting adventures, and family-friendly activities that will make you feel like a true pirate.Interactive Pirate ExperiencesLet's embark on an exciting pirate adventure with interactive pirate experiences in Erie, PA! Ahoy, mateys! Get ready for some swashbuckling fun with these family-friendly pirate experiences in Erie:Scallywags Pirate Adventures: Join a crew of friendly pirates for an interactive pirate-themed adventure on the high seas! Learn to talk like a pirate, search for hidden treasure, and even engage in a friendly water cannon battle. Arrr, it's a pirate's life for me!Pirate Ship Playgrounds: Set sail on a land-based pirate ship playground, complete with climbing ropes, slides, and even a crow's nest. Get your imagination flowing as you pretend to be a fearless pirate captain, sailing the seven seas.Pirate Themed Escape Rooms: Put your problem-solving skills to the test in a pirate-themed escape room! Work together with your family to solve puzzles, find clues, and unlock the treasure. Can you escape before time runs out?Pirate Mini Golf: Grab your putter and get ready to navigate through pirate-themed obstacles and challenges on a mini-golf course. Watch out for hidden treasure chests and pirate props along the way!Pirate Costume Parties: Arrr, it's time to dress up like a pirate and join a pirate costume party! Put on your eye patch, don your pirate hat, and join other buccaneers for a day of pirate games, crafts, and fun.With these interactive pirate experiences in Erie, you'll have a blast channeling your inner pirate and creating unforgettable memories with your family. So hoist the anchor and set sail on your pirate adventure today!Treasure Hunts and AdventuresScallywags Pirate Adventures offers exhilarating treasure hunts and adventures for families in Erie, PA.Ahoy, me hearties! Get ready for an outdoor exploration like no other as you embark on a pirate-themed quest for hidden treasure.As you set sail on the pirate ship, you'll be greeted by a crew of lively pirates who'll guide you on an exciting journey.Put on your eye patch, hoist the Jolly Roger, and follow the clues to uncover the hidden loot.From digging up buried treasure on the beach to deciphering secret codes, every step of the treasure hunt will keep you on your toes.Family-Friendly Pirate ActivitiesWe can experience exciting family-friendly pirate activities by going on pirate excursions in Erie. Here are five fun things we can do:Scallywags Pirate Adventures: They offer thrilling pirate-themed adventures, interactive activities, and even treasure hunts. Get ready to set sail and search for hidden treasures!Pirate themed crafts: We can unleash our creativity and make our own pirate-themed crafts. From making pirate hats to designing our own treasure maps, the possibilities are endless!Pirate themed birthday parties: Arrr, mateys! We can celebrate our birthdays in true pirate style. From dressing up as pirates to playing exciting games and eating pirate-themed snacks, it's sure to be a swashbuckling good time!Interactive pirate shows: Watch captivating pirate shows where we can witness epic sword fights, hear thrilling tales of adventure, and even learn some pirate lingo.Treasure hunts: Join a pirate crew and embark on a thrilling treasure hunt. Follow clues, solve puzzles, and find the hidden treasure!After our exciting pirate adventures, let's dive into the maritime history of Erie and discover the fascinating stories of the U.S. Brig Niagara and the maritime history of Lake Erie.Maritime HistoryThe Erie Maritime Museum showcases the rich maritime history of Erie and Lake Erie, offering us a chance to explore the exhibits and learn about the U.S. Brig Niagara. As we step into the museum, we're greeted by a world of adventure and discovery. The walls are adorned with maritime artifacts, giving us a glimpse into the past. We can see models of historical ships, maps of great voyages, and even real-life artifacts from shipwrecks. It's like stepping back in time and witnessing the grandeur of the sea.One of the highlights of the museum is the U.S. Brig Niagara. This magnificent ship played a crucial role in the War of 1812 and was instrumental in securing victory for the United States. We can walk on the deck, feel the wooden planks beneath our feet, and imagine what it was like to sail the open seas. The museum offers interactive exhibits that allow us to learn about the life of a sailor, the challenges they faced, and the bravery they showed.As we leave the Erie Maritime Museum, our minds are filled with images of historical ships and tales of maritime adventures. We're excited to continue our journey through Erie's rich culture and history. Next, we'll delve into the world of art and culture, where creativity knows no bounds.Art and CultureBut let's not forget about the Erie Art Museum, where you can immerse yourself in contemporary and modern art while exploring the vibrant cultural scene of Erie.The museum is a treasure trove of interactive art exhibits that will captivate both kids and adults alike. Here are five exciting things you can do at the Erie Art Museum:Explore the Art Lab: Get hands-on with your creativity in the Art Lab, where you can experiment with different art techniques and materials. From painting and sculpture to printmaking and digital art, there's something for every budding artist to enjoy.Attend Cultural Events: The Erie Art Museum hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including art festivals, live performances, and workshops. Check their calendar to see what exciting events are coming up during your visit.Marvel at the Exhibitions: The museum regularly showcases thought-provoking exhibitions featuring works by local, national, and international artists. Wander through the galleries and let your imagination soar as you engage with the diverse range of art on display.Take a Guided Tour: Enhance your museum experience by joining a guided tour led by knowledgeable docents. They'll provide fascinating insights into the artwork, helping you understand the stories behind each piece.Create Your Own Masterpiece: Participate in art workshops and classes offered by the Erie Art Museum. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, these sessions provide a fun and educational opportunity to unleash your creativity.The Erie Art Museum is a vibrant hub of artistic expression and cultural exploration. With its interactive art exhibits and exciting cultural events, it's the perfect place to ignite your child's imagination and foster a love for the arts.Educational MuseumsLet's dive into the world of knowledge and exploration at the educational museums in Erie, PA. These museums are not only fun, but also provide interactive exhibits and historical artifacts that will spark your curiosity and ignite your imagination. Check out the table below to learn more about the educational museums in Erie:Museum NameInteractive ExhibitsHistorical ArtifactsHagen History CenterExplore Erie County's history through hands-on activities and eventsDiscover artifacts that tell the story of Erie's pastErie Maritime MuseumStep aboard the U.S. Brig Niagara and learn about maritime historySee artifacts that showcase Erie's important role in navigationTom Ridge Environmental CenterExperience the natural history of the region through interactive exhibitsLearn about the local ecosystem and wildlifeAt the Hagen History Center, you'll have the opportunity to delve into Erie County's captivating past. Through interactive exhibits, you can learn about the region's history in a fun and engaging way. From craft classes to events, there's always something exciting happening at this museum. And don't forget to explore the historical artifacts that provide a glimpse into Erie's rich heritage.The Erie Maritime Museum offers a unique experience where you can step onto the U.S. Brig Niagara, a historic sailing vessel. Learn about the maritime history of Erie and Lake Erie through interactive displays and exhibits. Discover artifacts that highlight the significance of Erie's location and its impact on trade and exploration.The Tom Ridge Environmental Center is the perfect place to explore the natural history of the region. With interactive exhibits, you can learn about the local ecosystem and wildlife in a hands-on way. Don't miss the chance to climb the 75-foot tall observation tower for a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.Frequently Asked QuestionsAre There Any Age Restrictions for the Hands-On Experiences at the Erie Zoo?There are age restrictions for the hands-on experiences at the Erie Zoo. However, there are plenty of other fun activities for kids of all ages to enjoy.If you're looking for a pirate adventure, Scallywags Pirate Adventures offers exciting interactive activities and treasure hunts. It's a great way to let your imagination run wild and have a swashbuckling good time.Can Adults Participate in the Pirate-Themed Adventures at Scallywags Pirate Adventures?Yes, adults can absolutely join in on the fun and excitement of the pirate-themed adventures at Scallywags Pirate Adventures! It's not just for kids, mateys!Whether you're a parent or a grandparent, you can hop aboard and embark on an unforgettable journey filled with interactive activities, treasure hunts, and pirate tales.Is There a Fee to Access the Observation Tower at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center?Yes, there's a fee to access the observation tower at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. You'll need to pay a small fee to enjoy the amazing views from the 75-foot tall tower.But don't worry, it's definitely worth it! Once you reach the top, you'll be able to see the beautiful natural surroundings and learn about the history of the region through the exhibits at the center.What Types of Performances Are Typically Hosted at the Warner Theatre?At the Warner Theatre, you'll find a variety of exciting performances! From Broadway shows to concerts, ballets, and plays, there's something for everyone.The theater's stunning stage designs and captivating acting make for an immersive experience. Did you know that the Warner Theatre has hosted famous performers like Tony Bennett and the Moscow Ballet?It's a must-visit destination for families looking to enjoy the magic of live entertainment in Erie.Are There Any Special Discounts or Promotions Available for Bowling Sessions at Eastway Lanes Bowling Facility?Yes, there are special promotions available for bowling sessions at Eastway Lanes Bowling Facility in Erie. They offer discounted rates for kids, families, and even birthday parties.At the Erie Zoo, you can enjoy hands-on experiences with animals like feeding giraffes or petting goats.For adults looking for some adventure, Scallywags Pirate Adventures offers thrilling pirate-themed activities and treasure hunts.And if you want a great view, there's a small fee to access the observation tower at Tom Ridge Environmental Center.Lastly, the Warner Theatre hosts a variety of performances, including plays, concerts, and dance shows.ConclusionSo pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for the time of your life in Erie, PA!From exploring the wonders of nature at Presque Isle State Park to splashing and sliding at water parks like Waldameer & Water World and Splash Lagoon, there's never a dull moment.And don't forget about the Erie Zoo and Scallywags Pirate Adventures for unforgettable animal encounters and swashbuckling fun.With so many exciting attractions to choose from, your family will be begging to come back for more! submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 10:37 RafeDjaisse Stuck
Iâve (m 34) been stuck my whole life. I used to make excuses that it couldnât possibly be my fault but now I know it is. I have a job, Iâm a member of society, I have dreams and ambitions, but I donât know how to get through the barrier. I see so many stories about people who decide one day to change their whole life and suddenly they get an amazing job and enough money to buy a house and I just want to have my own place? I know thereâs something to be said about my mom treating me like some frail Victorian child who would surely perish in the sunlight should I stray too far, but after a certain point I should have stopped it. Iâm going to be thirty five this year and I have barely anything to show for it. I live with my grandmother who I adore and would do anything for as well as my mom and uncle - for background my uncle takes care of and gives my grandma rides because she canât drive, my mom complains about being asked to do minor tasks - I work at a convenience store and give money where I can to my grandma, she doesnât demand rent but I do help her with things and we all have a household bill that we pay to keep things fair. I know itâs incredibly common to still be living with your family, especially right now with how expensive it is to buy a home, but I want to break free of this.
Iâm trans, born female, and have been too afraid to even start transitioning because I want to have a kid one day and Iâm scared that if I donât have that child myself I wonât be able to have a child at all. Iâve always wanted to be a parent, but I canât afford that big of a step anyway, much less to adopt. I guess what stalls me most is that I have these big dreams but I canât seem to put together the in-between of it. I donât want to know how to become successful, but how do you even begin putting a life together? How do I get a degree and get a better job when everyone tells me college is too hard and not worth it in the end? What trade-skills can I learn and are they actually worth it? I feel so lost and no matter how much I try to study up on making life better I just end up slowly losing that ambition because Iâll read one thing only to have it immediately cut down by someone else. Iâm tired of existing for the sake of existing and want to actually live.
One thing Iâve always wanted was to be a teacher, but I guess over time Iâve just let people talk me out of it. College is difficult, teachers donât make much so itâs not worth it and yeah that makes sense. Why go into debt just to be stuck in the same place I am now? Though my least favorite response is âIf you want to make money, just become a nurse!â and full respect to people who do get their CNA or other certifications, I have made an effort in the past towards this type of job because of my sister and have learned that itâs just not for me. I want to be a writer. I love creating stories, but I donât know how to translate whatâs in my head onto paper, or into a document even. I try to give myself shorter story ideas but that seems to stall my mind even more. Would hiring a ghostwriter help? How much is a ghostwriter? I probably couldnât afford it anyway. I used to be able to write at the drop of a hat, nothing important to the actual story and it was mostly just world building, but I feel like lately Iâve just been devolving deeper into depression and Iâm trying to tread water in the middle of a lake only to realize itâs tar, every time I resurface for air I have a little more of it in my mouth and it seems to pull me down even faster.
Sometimes I just want to disappear, pack a small bag and keep walking until Iâm so far away that no one can find me, force myself to get a new life, but deep down I know that wonât change things for the better and my life might end up phenomenally worse.
I donât know, Iâve never posted to Reddit before and I donât know if saying all these things will do anything for me or give me the push/drive to make an actual change, but Iâm tired of putting all my dreams on a shelf to collect dust.
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2024.05.18 08:46 Potential-Lavishness How to make friends, part 1: your physical self
I see a lot of posts of lonely ppl who want friends. As someone who has consciously taught myself social skills, now makes friends easily, and has maintained deep bonds over decades, I feel qualified to share what Iâve learned. Iâll warn you, tough love and even tougher truths are part of this. If you find yourself arguing, but donât have friends yourself, ask yourself where that resistance comes from. Donât direct it at me; take some time to journal and sit with it. This is part of the journey.
I have a lot of info so Iâm breaking this into parts. Iâm naturally pedantic and have a lot to share. I will do my best to keep it as concentrated as possible but be warned: this will be wordy with no TLDR.
The first part of making friends starts with your physical self. Humans are primarily visual creatures(all genders) and how we present ourselves is the first invitation or hurdle to interacting with ppl.
- Hygiene: daily showering is a non-negotiable. You can rot on your own time in your own house. If you are going to be a part of society you need to wrangle your body smells so that ppl arenât offended by your very presence. This is the first tough truth: no one wants to be friends with a smelly person. Use soap and a washcloth, stay away from those plastic nightmare loofahs. Wash every nook, cranny, divet, and crevices. Wash your booty hole and genitals. Change your washcloth daily (wash a$$ last) or use a separate one for your butt. Wash your sheets, pillowcases, towels, robes, and floor mat once a week. Wear deodorant (no, body sprays arenât deodorant) daily. Some of us are extra stinky due to âstress sweatâ aka apocrine glands and this is a common physical side effect of an overtaxed nervous system. Extra stinky ppl need to touch up their armpits with a disinfectant wipe and reapplication of deodorant; lunch time is great for this. Brush your teeth upon waking, after drinking coffee, and after eating. No, gum and mouthwash are only temporary, they arenât good enough. You still have bad breath. Drinking coffee wo brushing in the morning leads to that extra stinky breath that smells like death. Donât be that person. Floss once a day. When washing hair, use shampoo and focus on the scalp more than the hair. If you canât feel the lather on every centimeter, add more to those spots or you will still stink. Most ppl need to wash it twice if they donât shampoo everyday. Shorter hair, thinning hair, and fine hair need to be washed more often, sometimes daily. We can smell your scalp from far away. Keep your nails trimmed or neatly filed. Iâve had to school multiple men in my life on how raggedy their nails are. Donât just grow them out until they break off. Keep them short unless you have the time and desire to file and shape them at least once a week. Wash your hands every time you use the bathroom. I donât care if you didnât touch yourself, thatâs not the point. Ppl notice. Also wash your hands when youâre alone and at home, seriously itâs not that hard. How are you going to want friendship if you donât value them enough to keep them safe and sanitary? Trim your toenails and stay abreast of how your feet smell. If you have smelly feet you probably have athletes foot. Sprays are an easy way to treat this. If you still have stinky feet after this, keep a change of socks with you so if you go to a no shoes house, you arenât making ppl sick. Wash inner clothes like shirts and underwear after every wear. Sweat shirts and jeans can often be worn a few times before needing to be washed but smell the armpits and ass, and check for stains before you put them on.
Donât proceed further until you can adhere to these standards at least when youâre in public. If youâre in a depression and canât maintain these, stay at home until you can. If you donât have the energy to bathe and be clean, you donât have the energy for friends.
- Grooming. This about looking neat and together. Humans are visual creatures, we judge others based on their looks. Iâm not talking skinny/fat, ugly/pretty. I mean that if you look like your life is rough, ppl arenât going to want to get involved with that. We have our own issues and struggles, we donât want to add someone to our lives that looks like they are on the brink of a meltdown. Brush your hair and teeth before you leave the house. This is my bare minimum. Curly hair is different but my wavy hair needs to be brushed the same as straight. Combing is also acceptable. Keep an eye on your dandruff. If you have it, treat it. There are many otc options. At the very least shake it out and donât wear dark colors until itâs fixed. Make sure you donât have eye crusties, mouth corner goop, or boogers. If youâre showering these are usually not an issue but check for these a few times a day. I donât iron my clothes but many ppl associate wrinkles with poor grooming. Consider getting a handheld steamer. I personally fold my clothes kon-marie style or hang them and thatâs good enough for me. Keep your shoes clean. Lots of people are taught to judge other by the state of their shoes. Notice how many ppl look at your shoes the first time you meet. Wash the white laces regularly, polish and condition leather. Patent shoes are super hard to keep scuff free so avoid them if you are prone to scuffs or dragging your feet. My shoes come untied so I double knot my laces to avoid looking sloppy. Replace buttons and ask a dry cleaner to repair any holes or tears. Relegate worn out and stained clothes to lounge wear.
- Posture. Your posture says so much about you. A relaxed and tall posture says youâre confident and easy going. The type of person we all want to be friends with. Forward head means life has beaten you down. Rounded shoulders says youâve been hurt but havenât healed. Collapsed chest says youâve given up. Lordosis means your core body and core self are weak. Stand with your feet an inch or two from the wall and stand naturally. Your head and most of your spine should touch. If it doesnât you have work to do. You canât just force yourself to stand up straight. Your muscles have stretched and atrophied to accommodate this unnatural stance, you will need to rehab your body over weeks and months to regain proper function. Research and watch videos on strengthening postural muscles. My fave thatâs easy to explain: when youâre at the wall checking your posture, bend your knees slowly until you can press your spine and back of head into the wall. Stay there for a moment and feel it. Thatâs the proper position of your pelvis; posture comes from pelvic position not our chest, shoulders, or back. Now clench your ab muscles, they might be weak or non existent. These are the muscles that need to be strengthened. Hold those muscles tight and try to straighten your knees while maintaining that pelvic position. Breathe and hold for 30 seconds. If you canât do 30 start with 10. Do this every time you go to the bathroom, not necessarily in the bathroom but by tying it to an inevitable part of your day you have a better chance of being consistent.
- Body language. Like posture, we communicate much more than we realize with our bodies. How we walk, sit, fidget, etc telegraphs nonverbal messages to those around us. Many ppl are very dissociated with their daily movements. Take some time to notice how you walk. Do you drag your feet? How would someone describe your walk? Do you schlep, shuffle, scurry? Or do you glide, prance, or stalk? I love to drag my feet and do this at home in my slippers. But in public I am more conscious of how I walk. This is much harder for me to explain. My main tip is to watch out for small, jerky, fast movments, like fidgeting and scurrying. These are prey movements and relegate us to an undesirable social standing: prey. Think of how a mouse moves: small, jerky quick movements. Now think of a panther. Every movement is intentional and controlled, smooth, slow. Go on walks if you are able bodied and start to notice how you move. Notice how those around you move. Which ones seem confident to you and which ones are off putting. Same with sitting. Do your best to sit up straight rather than completely melting into the chair. Donât âthrowâ yourself onto someoneâs furniture, use your legs to lower yourself down. When listening do your best to keep movements to a minimum. Breathing slowly and deep helps with this. I use my hands to talk when Iâm excited and donât see this as a problem.
- Eye contact. Eye contact is very important but it also varies by culture. This will be regarding western/American culture. Eye contact used to be difficult for me. I now have an engaged and sometimes intense gaze. Itâs more important to maintain eye contact when listening, not as important when talking. You donât have to laser focus, break your gaze regularly to take in the other personâs movements and body language, look briefly at other parts of their face, lower your gaze, glance at the room. But donât stray for too long, wandering gaze makes ppl feel like you arenât listening and ppl donât want to engage with bad listeners. Donât look at breasts or genitals. Once youâre comfortable with someone you can look away much more or sometimes even look at other things while you listen. But in the beginning you are building trust.
Extra credit: cultivate your personal style. This is optional but supremely helpful. A pleasing physical appearance can garner compliments which is a great way to start conversations. It can also connect us with like minded individuals or show our place in a culture or subculture. Hair is one of the best ways to customize your appearance: cut, color, and style are all options. If you choose long hair, make sure you understand that long hair is a hobby; it takes tons of time and effort to maintain. Not to mention the research and trial and error to find products. Especially men who want long hair, make sure you are up for keeping it clean and neat. You will need to still keep it trimmed, learn to part your hair, learn to tie it back neatly, keep it from looking greasy, etc. if itâs thinning, itâs more flattering to keep it short. if you have curls you will need to learn different techniques that take even more time and effort. Same with vivid colors: they take so much time and money to maintain. Go for it if you have taken time to understand the upkeep.
For clothing, any style works. If you have zero idea how to build a wardrobe choose one dark neutral (black, charcoal grey, navy, or chocolate brown), choose one light neutral (white, ivory, light grey, beige), and one medium neutral (olive green, khaki, camel, mid grey, rust, beige). Only choose one of each and preferably ones that look nice on you. From now on only buy clothes in these shades. Focus on getting your basic covered before you choose colors: tshirts, sweaters, sweatshirts jeans, slacks, jacket, coat. There are so many options and itâs a great opportunity to get to know yourself. Do you like graphic Ts or plain? V neck or crew? Do you like sweatshirts that zip? Do you like hoods? For sweaters: turtlenecks, cardigans, pullovers, or quarter zips? Wool coats or puffers? Leather or denim jackets? Enjoy each detail you learn about yourself. Once your basics are covered, choose two colors. Then try to only get stuff in those colors. My pallet when I was blonde was: black, ivory, and beige with red or blush pink. Now that Iâm my natural color itâs: navy, grey, ivory with sky blue or forest green. By putting limiting your colors, everything matches and you always look put together. Accessories are where your personality can really shine: loud sneakers, big belt buckles, unique watches, rings, necklaces, hats or caps, scarves, bags. There are so many ways to express yourself. Keep your accessories to your chosen colors at first. Once you have figured out your style and built up a wardrobe that works, you can add more colors and pizazz.
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2024.05.18 08:29 smokdlavender Karma is a......Mother (1)
| We have the finale to our countdown, and it's TS12 baby! Grab your hat, paint your face and settle in, because the Eras show (Taylor's Version) is just beginning. This post has been broken into parts as there was too much content for a single post. Sheâs having a baaaabyâŚâŚâŚâŚ. No, she is not. As TTPD release has been unfolding on Eraâs TV and we have been watching that album narrative unfold along with the performance of her past work, a comment was made in this sub about how that entire part of the show is performance art in itself. They kill her on stage, strip her naked, dress her back up again and force her to go and perform as this âDead Taylorâ. A long agreed upon dynamic for Taylor as a brand is there is Taylor Swift TM the brand, and Taylor the person. Well, that is exactly what is being communicated in the performance, and album, the confirmation of there being â2 Taylorsâ. Gaylors already know that this is not Taylorâs version, as referenced in the Red 22 shirts for Eras2.0 in Paris. We were in.... Paris We now know Taylor is using Midnights, TTPD, and Eras as the foundation she is laying for TS12. These projects are her yellow brick road if you will. These projects and their MVs have had unique connections to queer history, queer icons, as well as performance art, but for the sake of MOTHER I will only be referencing the easter egg connections to Mother from Bejewelled, Karma, Anti-Hero (Midnights MVs) and The Man (Lover). Letâs take it back to National Frankenstein Day Bejewelled MV came out on 25th October 2022 and at the time it was quite a perilous time for the sub because we didnât have all the pieces to the puzzle (TTPD & Eras), but now we do. The MV features Haim as the ugly step-sisters, Laura Dern as Mother, and Taylor as Cinderella. Gay Icon Laura Dern as Mother It opens with Taylor cleaning orange vomit off the floor saying, âOh, this is some of her best work. Thatâs disgustingâ as the sisters and Mother discuss a ball to be engaged and get the castle. Throughout this chit chat Mother is being primed as TS12. Lore is the stolen album was Karma, and some fans think we have been receiving fragments of Karma since reputation because it was scrapped. Laura Dern lore that many don't realise, is that she helped Ellen Degeneres come out in the 90s. It's one of the things that make her a gay icon. Well, Karma is coming back around and this time sheâs a mother. Mother is TS12 but she is also Taylor, the person, instead of Taylor Swift TM. The sisters state what they want out of this competition, all Taylor wants is the castle, and Mother says with a smirk, âWell, Iâll be poisoning all the other maidens in the villageâ. This is the first reference we have to the Eras tour, TTPD, and how the narratives of Taylor Swift TM are about to âdieâ again. Gaylors know that Taylor died in 1989 because she had to stay in the closet. nb: important 1989 context - at the end of Out of the Woods, Taylor thinks she is going to finally meet her true self at the beach, and instead finds zombie Taylor. Zombie Taylor opens LWYMMD MV for reputation. Swifties donât realise theyâre about to watch her murder Taylor Swift TM on the biggest selling world tour of all time. And so the release date for this MV now has a bit more significance, because Taylor has been performing like a Frankenstein this whole time, while patiently waiting for the right time to resurrect herself. Taylor Swift TM is alive, but by force, itâs a dead body of work being pieced together to perform for the fans, not because Taylor wants to relive that time or era. Sheâs stuck, like a record on repeat. However in TTPD she likens herself to a record scratch as she screams, âWhoâs afraid of little Old Me?â and this is the focal song of the TTPD set... The sisters continue to talk, saying, âBut theyâre changing it this year, instead of just showing up looking hot, you have to enter a talent competition, and if you win you get to keep the castleâ She's got her eyes on the prize & they keys to her castle (Mother) nb: the talent competition is the lead up to present day, Midnights, TTPD, and Eras. As she says in ICDIWABH, she can pass this test Mother says, âI simply adore a proposal, the single most defining thing a lady could hope to achieve in her lifetimeâ (side note: itâs painfully funny that the kicker from the Chiefs Harrison Butker made that speech this week while TNT are still technically together) and then shows off her rings saying, âLook how many Mommy hasâ Mother flashing her jewels Mother shows off 8 big sparkly rings, but there are 2 big jewels strung around her neck too. From L-R there is a ring that looks like the Red TV ring, on the opposite side there is a huge pinky orange jewel with a diamond halo. I like to think this ring is Mother / Karma too assumed by itâs WLW colours and the black stone preceding it (black represents TTPD, although being considered a white album, parallels reputation bc it is paralleling that time in her life when she was forcibly closeted). However that is actually a red herring, because the real focus should be the pendant around Motherâs neck - itâs a portrait of a woman. Who is the fair maiden you love in secret, Mother? Isnât that odd, keeping a woman close to your heart, while bragging about the jewels men gave you? She then sips tea as the conversation goes on, saying, âSpeak Not, tired, tacky, wench. Clean!â nb: SN and 1989 reference here, 1989 was meant to be the og queer soft launch and quitting bearding, but instead created all the bearding lore we have now that got us to this day. Mother then becomes panicky, saying âEven if she were allowed to go, which she is not!!!! The prince would never want anything to do with that little harlot again, he tired of her quite quickly, didnât he? Or should I say, Swiftlyâ nb: the prince here is the fans, specifically Swifties, who have been desperately attaching their prince charming narrative on to Taylor since Love Story. Taylor doesnât care about keeping her man / fan because she just wants the castle (her own home, where she can be herself. She is willing to sacrifice the fans, and wonât sacrifice herself for them anymore. She doesnât care anymore and this is reflected in TTPD for BDILH where she is having a baby or 'pregnant' with her 12th album if you will lol (karma/mother)) Mother then proceeds, âLest we forget, youâve been exiled here. Youâre not going anywhere, anytime soon. Now girls, lets get many many jewels!â. They leave Taylor alone and so begins her quest to be bejewelled again. The MV continues parallels to Anti-Hero showing albums as cats at the wake, with Prince Jack Antonoff having a portrait of 11 albums kittens, as Taylor prepares to win the castle. The prince (fans) with his kittens (albums).. the light glitches when this is shown too Mother (Taylor) with her cats (albums)... Taylor isn't having kids because she already is a mother! The Bejewelled MV has a double meaning (ofc it does because âď¸ doubles, duh) is being used as a metaphor for what we are watching happen with the Eras tour, and how Taylor is going to put on a show so good, thereâs no way she canât reclaim ownership of her work, because remember the work Swifties know is not Taylorâs version. Bejewelled MV is also giving Gaylorâs (and only gaylors) context to how she ended up here in the first place. Being a Gaylor is not without itâs difficulties and I think Taylor is intentionally egging for us, knowing that Swifties wonât notice these clues or bother to look deeper. Honestly I dont think she likes them, and Taylor doesnât think they deserve to know her real truth because they arenât really trying to (Anti-Hero funeral scene when the âSwiftieâ children say SHE DIDNâT LEAVE ANY CLUEâ) and never did, so Gaylorâs are simultaneously getting clues to i) when bearding began throughout her career and ii) why she had to do it (coming out) this way. You pushed her too far Chad!!! Taylor is foreshadowing that Swifties are going to blame Gaylors. Back to Bejewelled! She begins her hero-arc (or anti-hero) leaving the old castle, beginning her adventure by entering an elevator and she's going straight to the top. The final destination - the penthouse. Note the elevator keys - 11 / TTPD is Red and black, because it the theme of this album is representing the death of the author. 12 / Mother-Karma is black and white because it parallels 6 / reputation as a queer album. 10 / Midnights is yellow, for closeting. âMeet me at Midnightâ as we know, has been priming fans up to meet Taylor during TS12. Down bad, waking up in blood. Did Taylor want out during Red era, too? However the penthouse at the top doesnât look like a penthouse, itâs a weird almost mummified looking white box on top of the building, with red lights on each corner....... ..........Itâs almost as if the penthouse is actually The Tortured Poetâs Department. Thatâs where the tortured poet is being kept, and she is going up to the penthouse to save herself. I see you, Tortured Poet's Department. Taylor arrives at Level 3 (Speak Now) to get her sparkle back! She walks a catwalk, adorning herself in her jewels again.. This costume may be referencing a muse who walks in a straight line for a job ..... then meets Dita Von Teese at level 5 (1989) to learn how to attract men by way of burlesque performance. Again, another âď¸ layered parallel, Taylor is performing heterosexual romance to attract the prince (fans). Are we seeing doubles?? Taylor then gets to Level 13 and is performing on stage with all the clocks, dazzling as the ugly sisters are screaming and crying at her, while all the staff in the background applaud Taylor. Boo, you bore! She is also performing the folie bergere dance formation used in the TTPD segment on Eras TV. We're seeing double again âď¸ The MV ends with Taylor ghosting the man, and walking out onto the castle balcony (with that look) and looking like Love Story / Debut Taylor in a yellow dress, with VFX embers glowing that seem like fireflies. Please take note of her pearl necklace, it is the TTPD Eras Tour Costume necklace (V1) Girl what are you up to... also hello Vivienne Westwood / TTPD Costume Choker The same VFX embers were featured in Out of the Woods for 1989, and in willow for folklore. It's hard to screenshot but they are there, along with the sound of burning. Tiny snippet but there are the embers This ending is an easter egg in itself for Debut. I am unsure if yellow here is being used as a red herring or if it means Debut will remain closeted, or if it's to hint what has been suspected in the sub, that she will release her original lyrics, or better yet revealing that she has been interchanging herself within the pronouns the whole time. submitted by smokdlavender to GaylorSwift [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 08:11 CarolynBlackburn [Get] Shannon Hansen and Kyle Shea â Secret CPA Training Download
| https://preview.redd.it/fyjrcg8qm41d1.jpg?width=425&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39250db5f3b3fc544743543679d019faa0bee935 Greg Davis email list: If youâre anywhere near NYC, you gotta move fast. I LOVE black hat media buying, but it isnât the greatest business model. You can make a ton of money quickly, but itâs not something you can sell. However, there is a CPA affiliate business model that does allow you to build and asset â and still make a ton of cash quickly. That model is financial lead gen. More specifically your own lead gen offer. My client Shannon Hansen has it down to a science. Just this year alone heâs already done over $3,000,000 with his reff offer. Check the screenshot. And thatâs just one offer. Today Aug 3 at the W hotel in Times Square, from 2-5 PM Shannon and his partner Kyle will be teaching a select group of people how to do what they do â create their own offers and blow them up. The will spilling their guts on how to step-by-step create, setup, and run your own offers. And for the lead gen affiliates â how to stop from getting scrubbed and shaved by networks and advertisers. Theyâre going to share their inside secrets to making millions with lead-gen. And â itâs 100% white hat. They are only allowing 20 people to this private training, and there are only 2 seats left. How much would you pay to learn step-by-step how to build a $6M lead gen, business, that you could sell one day. If it were me I would charge $10k for this workshop, but these crazy guys are only charging $2500. Mailerforum email list: Hey Everyone My business partner and I are running a 3 hour private group meeting at the Extreme WOW Suite @ W Hotel New York in Times Square on Monday, August 3rd, from 2-5 PM on how to create, setup, and start your own offers and prevent yourself from getting scrubbed and shaved by networks and advertisers. âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ -Shannon Hansen is one of Greg Davis 25k coaching clients and is legit. He is teaching how to set up,run and scale YOUR OWN CPA advertiser lead gen offer. -Kyle Shea (owner of mailer forum + exclusive mailerforumnetwork.com) Managing Partner: Weshky Holdings LLC Our current portfolio includes: Mailer Forum ( http://www.mailerforum.com) â A web forum and community dedicated to email marketing and affiliate marketing. Mailer Forum CPA Network ( http://www.mailerforumnetwork.com) â An exclusive cost per action network running in-house, self hosted offers with top payouts and fast payment terms. Both very legit guys, teaching you how to set up a real business and real asset and scale it big⌠Webinar is being held on september 15th and going over the same topics/training from the private event which was discussed in the emails above⌠âŚThis is a chance to get in and learn everything for pretty d*** cheap and not have had to fly out to NYC to get in on it, which youâve missed anyway. https://coursesup.co/download/get-shannon-hansen-and-kyle-shea-secret-cpa-training-download/ submitted by CarolynBlackburn to u/CarolynBlackburn [link] [comments] |
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