#task: 142

[kalm5]

Kyle ‘Gaz’ Garrick likes to find the weird unique places to try in different cities in which he drags the rest of his teammates from Taskforce 141. If the group refuses he just puppy eyes the captain and crumples real hard like a piece of paper!!!

This led to the group to an eclectic tea and bake shop. Much to the dismay of one Soap MacTavish who muttered ‘Fucking Brits’ under his breath. Ghost, Price and Gaz ordered standard brews of tea. While Soap decided on getting a Yorkshire Gold Fog whatever that meant.

When they got served they all had different mugs. After a couple of sips Soap noticed the design on his mug.

“Hey it the LT.,” said the high energy demolitions expert.

The group look at him very confused. What the hell did Soap mean. Then he moved his mug for everyone to see.

Amongst the clear glass were a bunch of ghosts.

“See the Lt is on the mug,” smiling away.

Of course Gaz and Price were trying to hold their laughs in. Ghost wasn’t happy seeing the little ghosts on the mug. If stares could kill people Soap was dead a few times over.

“Really Johnny,” muttered Ghost.

It ended up being a real good outing!

(This was sort of funny in my head….)

[bigmacari]

Hihi! If your requests are still open, can I ask for a Reader x Dirk fic from Date Everything? If you need a prompt; The reader showing interest in the comics Dirk reads, and wants to know what they're about so they can share the interest!

꧁ ༺ ── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ── ༻ ꧂

Dirk x Reader

☆ Getting to know Dirk better by taking interest in his comics!

☆Warning(s) None

☆Author Note(s) This one was so fun to write. I also headcannon that Dirk can be a bit of a nerd when talking about his interests. Hope you enjoy 🫶🏻

꧁ ༺ ── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ── ༻ ꧂

☆ It was after an argument between Dirk and Harper that you decided to go and find him. Which proved to be a difficult task as he ran off and hid pretty well, presumingly to get away from Harper.

You did end up finding him, though, sitting in the corner of one of the many closets in your house. Dirks' face was buried into a comic book. You look closer to see that it was specifically volume 142 of the ‘Bat-Man’ series.

Dirk seemed pretty entranced with the comic, as he didn’t look up when you found him. It took a moment of awkward staring on your part to realize that you made some kind noise to alert Dirk that you were there.

You raise your fist and knock softly on the closet frame so as not to startle him. It doesn’t seem to work, though, as he flinches and sighs in frustration.

“Harper, I said I needed space - oh…” Drik says, sounding quite exasperated. It took him a second to notice you were indeed not Harper, but you.

“Hey, sorry, I didn’t mean to bother, I just wanted to see if you’re good?” You asked, folding your arms and leaning against the closet frame.

He sighs in what you believe is in relief while he closes the comic he was reading, keeping a finger in between the pages to mark the spot he was on. “You’re good, and I’m fine. I just needed to get away from my cage of a girlfriend.” Dirk says, rolling his eyes.

Suddenly, a faint “Where are you Dirkie!?” could be heard just a room away. This makes Dirk groan in annoyance. “Speaking of… hurry and get inside before she sees you talking to me.”

Dirk reaches up from his spot and grabs your arm, pulling you inside the closet. He then shuts the closet door. making it dark until you turn on the light just above you.

The closet is spacious enough, which leads you to sit as well. Both of your legs overlap a bit, but not so much that it makes either of you uncomfortable

You kind of felt like a kid again. You guys were definitely hiding like some. The thought makes you giggle a bit, which makes Dirk tilt his head at you.

You simply let out a small, “nothing.” and decided to switch the topic. “So… what were you reading before I interrupted?” You whisper, so as not to alert Harper that you're in here.

Dirk looks back down to his comic, “You remember the superhero you didn’t know when we first met? Bat-Man?” He whispers back.

You give a short nod, “The one you couldn’t believe I didn't know about?”

Dirk smiles, “I still find it pretty weird that you didn’t, he's pretty popular, you know? Anyone who doesn’t live underneath a rock knows him.”

You shrug and smile back, “Guess I’ve been too busy. What is it about anyway? Something about a superhero that patrols a stadium?”

Drik ‘tch’s’ in a know it all manner, “It’s so much more than that! His parents got killed by a hitter, and now he vows to fight crime in Baseball City. Oh, and - ” Dirks voice gives off a slightly giddy tone as he goes on.

The day continues as you whisper questions, and Dirk whispers back answers. He even lets you go through some of the comics. By the time you realize that maybe you’ve been in this closet for too long, it’s evening.

Not that you mind, you think this is the most information you've gotten out of Dirk. It was nice to talk to him when he wasn't frustrated or arguing.

And although you don’t really get much of the baseball/superhero slang he’s throwing around, you do find yourself getting engrossed in Dirk’s interest and the way he presents it.

You smile the entire time, and even though Dirk doesn’t admit it, he finds himself doing the same.

꧁ ༺ ── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ── ༻ ꧂

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week.

January 19-26 2024

The Energy Department announced its pausing all new liquefied natural gas export facilities. This puts a pause on export terminal in Louisiana which would have been the nation's largest to date. The Department will use the pause to study the climate impact of LNG exports. Environmentalists cheer this as a major win they have long pushed for.

The Transportation Department announced 5 billion dollars for new infrastructure projects. The big ticket item is 1 billion dollars to replace the 60 year old Blatnik Bridge between Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota which has been dangerous failing since 2017. Other projects include $600 million to replace the 1-5 bridge between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, $427 million for the first offshore wind terminal on the West Coast, $372 million to replace the 90 year old Sagamore Bridge that connects Cape Cod to the mainland,$300 million for the Port of New Orleans, and $142 million to fix the I-376 corridor in Pittsburgh.

the White House Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access announced new guidance that requires insurance companies must cover contraceptive medications under the Affordable Care Act. The Biden Administration also took actions to make sure contraceptive medications would be covered under Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. HHS has launched a program to educate all patients about their rights to emergency abortion medical care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. This week marks 1 year since President Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum seeking to protect medication abortion and all federal agencies have reported on progress implementing it.

A deal between Democrats and Republicans to restore the expand the Child Tax Credit cleared its first step in Congress by being voted out of the House Ways and Means Committee. The Child Tax Credit would affect 16 million kids in the first year and lift 400,000 out of poverty. The Deal also includes an expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit which will lead to 200,000 new low income rental units being built, and also tax relief to people affected by natural disasters

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted for a bill to allow President Biden to seize $5 billion in Russian central bank assets. Biden froze the assets at the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, but under this new bill could distribute these funds to Ukraine, Republican Rand Paul was the only vote against.

The Senate passed the "Train More Nurses Act" seeking to address the critical national shortage of nurses. It aims to increase pathways for LPNs to become RNs as well as a review of all nursing programs nationally to see where improvements can be made

3 more Biden Judges were confirmed, bring the total number of Judges appointed by President Biden to 171. For the first time in history the majority of federal judge nominees have not been white men. Biden has also appointed Public Defenders and civil rights attorneys breaking the model of corporate lawyers usually appointed to life time federal judgeships

[apenitentialprayer]

In the (Non-)Name of God

This God sends Moses back to Egypt with the task of leading the people of Israel out of the country into the Promised Land. Moses is charged with demanding in the name of God that Pharaoh let Israel go. But in the world of Moses' time there were many gods. Moses therefore asks the name of this God that will prove his special authority vis-à-vis the gods. In this respect, the idea of the divine name belongs first of all to the polytheistic world, in which this God, too, has to give himself a name. But the God who calls Moses is truly God, and God in the strict and true sense is not plural. God is by essence one. For this reason he cannot enter into the world of the gods as one among many; he cannot have one name among others God's answer to Moses is thus at once a refusal and a pledge. He says of himself simply, "I am who I am" — he is without any qualification. This pledge is a name and a non-name at one and the same time. The Israelites were therefore perfectly right in refusing to utter this self-designation of God, expressed in the word YHWH, so as to avoid degrading it to the level of names of pagan deities. By the same token, recent Bible translations were wrong to write out this name —which Israel always regarded as mysterious and unutterable— as if it were just any old name. By doing so, they have dragged the mystery of God, which cannot be captured in images or in names lips can utter, down to the level of some familiar item within the common history of religions.

- Pope Benedict XVI (Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration, pages 142-143), trans. Adrian Walker

Moses and the Burning Bush, a 1770 painting by Johan Burman. Located on the ceiling of Skepplanda Church, Sweden.

[pippin-katz]

I want to preface this by saying that I’m not a massive shipper of Edwin and the Cat King, but I just want to point something out.

Some people insist on the fact that the Cat King gave Edwin the task of counting cats with the intention of it being impossible to basically force Edwin into sleeping with him instead. For those people, I’d like to give you two lines from Edwin to consider:

Ep. 2 - The Case of the Dandelion Shrine “You could start counting cats. Like, counting them as fast as you can?” “That Cat King would not give me something that easy. He’s a trickster.”

Ep. 4 - The Case of the Lighthouse Leapers “There are 142 cats.” “There are absolutely not 142 cats.” “It is an impossible task. How on earth does this make you happy?”

Edwin is a bitch (affectionate). He says from the get-go that counting the cats is too easy of a task, then switches to it being “impossible” when it proves to be more annoying than he expected.

[lostsoulaltair]

Owari no Seraph Chapter 143 - Analysis and Review. SPOILERS Ahead

今日は皆さん。久しぶりですね。

Hey everyone, it's been a while hehe...Soo, given that the chapter was released in Japan, we'll have to wait until it gets released on this side till Jan 10th. Nevertheless, I want to give an insight.

P.S: As usual, ships are excluded and everything's held within a neutral view.

The chapter starts retaking from chapter 142, an encounter between the Shinoa Squad and the 5th Progenitor Ky Luc. There is an eventual fight of willpower given that Shinoa is aiming to turn Ky Luc into a cursed gear from the black series so Mitsuba can wield. Along this, we have a flashback on which it is revealed as to why Ky Luc followed Urd Geales with utmost loyalty.

The reason behind is because Urd wants to die. But not die like a demon but as a human. To reach mortality in order to die like the human he was born.

Upon hearing such dream, Ky Luc was amazed by such dream, promising himself to carry on and live until Urd fulfilled his dream.

Given this, Ky Luc's will was all that kept him from turning into a demon, nevertheless, given that Shinoa was devouring him as well, Shinoa was able to feel his feelings and memories, making her overwhelmed, nevertheless, the squad was there for her so she could manage to turn Ky into a demon.

She apologizes to him for that and at the end we have an Owari Kaisen. [Shinoa made the new demon as two fingers. Don't ask what the author was thinking cause Idk either haha].

As for the end of the chapter, Shinoa now knows what Urd and Rigr are thinking along Yuu's location.

Analysis

First of all, many might consider or may think that the portrayal of strength between Shinoa and Ky Luc was unfair along that her power up was random...

I will say that the way things are paced is not exactly the best. The story is reaching its eventual end and yes, there are things that could have been detailed much better or polished nevertheless, let's not forget details that have been from the very beginning.

What do I mean?

Ever since the LN were published, it has been stated that Shinoa is far stronger than other characters. That includes Mahiru, Guren, the adults even by Shikama. But why's that?

Simple, Shinoa has had the ability to accept demons without losing her heart, without needing to do trials like other wielders as seen in old chapters and the last one which was chapter 102 till chapter 106. [That's when Yuu fought went to save Mika, then fought against him to make him his cursed gear].

Now, following suit, why did Shinoa never do such task when she had the power but chose until now?

Well, it all goes with the narrative but also with her emotional development. What do I mean?

Perhaps people what makes them feel like something's wrong is not only the narrative but also the building of "expectation". Long ago, I was actually pissed, angry or rather upset with how things turned in OnS in terms of story, I felt no motivation to write or the sort but then, along a friend, we started to consider other aspects from what we actually expected but rather, what the characters were displaying emotional wise and rationality wise.

Which means, the characters are driven regarding how they feel, what they aspire, what they want, along what they know about their own selves.

With Shinoa, she thought she had found out what she wanted, she thought that because she had fallen in love and was together in a squad, she had truthfully lived when in reality, she was taking the baby steps required to live.

As Kouhei Kadono's LNs suggest. In order to have the right to die, you must live first.

But returning to the topic. Shinoa had a massive advantage against Shikama not because of raw power alone. It was first seen she could take any demon into her and use them (LN which came to portrayal on chapter 133). But let's remember that Rigr made certain Shikama's powers were constantly restrained due to the place they managed to create, giving Shinoa an advantage.

In the case of Ky Luc, Shinoa was able to bust her own teammates so they could actually pull a fight against a beast like Ky Luc.

Her being able to know how to create a demon, this was shown in early chapters when Mikaela turned into a demon. Knowledge is power and in a war where life is at stake, such knowledge comes in handy.

The next question, why did Ky Luc lose if he was powerful?

One of the topics that it's heavily touched in Ky Luc's backstory is that Ky had no sense of why he wanted to live. He had a bind that all he knew was that he had to survive. Ky fought through life to survive but not until he met Urd Geales, did he find a first thing to live for. Nevertheless, he is living for someone but not living for himself. What do I mean?

Usually, the story tends to portray how characters want to be recognized, how they want to be seen to someone else's eyes along how people start gathering around them. But the other side of the coin is, what is exactly to live? What does living exactly mean?

It's not just about living for someone but actually finding a reason for your own. It is a delicate thread between selfishness along personal love, it's hell after all. It's finding in a desolate land a reason as to why one's self is existing and living. Even during hell, or during the trial called life, people find meaning, they find things to do, to enjoy, to aspire for, to spend time with, to cry for, to lament for, but to grow for as well.

Ky Luc's human clock stopped, the reason he lost was because he always believed that vampires would be the strongest of their kind, never considering what divided humans and vampires. What exactly made humans be special yet frightening, but rather, he thought as long as he fought, as long as he made himself stronger, he wouldn't lose. But it was a different day there...Ky Luc had a past stained with blood and I'm not going to say he's a justificable character, but rather fascinating, how despite the mind along the ideals can set someone to see light, for others such light only reflects darkness.

As for the final point. The squad's role

For sure, the way they got their power up was not exactly the best developed point but given that the story had to move on, that's what we got. Shinoa being able to access to the First Progenitor's powers is what allowed her to give her team a chance to fight given that the protagonist is broken in terms of power as well, so there must exist a balance in power scale.

But, what is there to need to be discussed with the squad?

Their union.

One of the things that's been visible is that once Yuu left, the squad had a turnoil of emotions, distress, sadness, along feelings akin to feeling lost.

Like lambs who were waiting for the lead to guide them, but given that someone stood there, a new beacon began to shine. But instead of following Yuu and Guren; they began to follow a beacon to a new path. One on which they could dictaminate what they wanted to do with their lives.

Kimizuki, Yoichi and specially Mitsuba, have displayed growth despite few chapters passing by; they do treasure the family they have, they love Yuu but they are living in the present. They are not tied to what happened millenia ago, they want a better world, a world that lets humanity prosper and end the eternal hell they've been subjected to endure but among this, the real creation of bonds has been visible. The squad supporting each other, working together along ensuring each other is alright is one of the most precious things that can be witnessed.

As a side note

I usually complained about Mitsuba's poor development...but right now, her worrying about Shinoa, showing what it is to be a caring friend, what it means to give support for someone you hold dear. It means there is progress instead of blindy following. I hope we get to see interactions between Mitsuba and Ky Luc with time along constant development with the members of the squad.

What do you think about this? Let me know.

It's alright if you don't like it, just remember, respecting each other is what leads to good conversations.

[redandrew52]

ghost council lore master post

I try to not do as much non-art related stuff on this blog but this is related to what I make and I have gotten some questions so I just decided to create a master post. It is just bullet points for important parts of each character & if you have any more specific questions or feedback feel free to hit up my asks

you can find artwork of them here

also trigger warning for talking about death/mention of suicide

Hibiki Ishii - 142 - No.1 of the Ghost Council

secret death circumstances (but he says he was assassinated since he worked for the Japanese military, none of the others can confirm it to be true though)

Chinese, but abandoned then brought to Japan and renamed Hibiki 

Worked as a low rank military officer for the Japanese government 

As No. 1 of the ghost council he’s supposed to be the leader and he’s also in charge of the lower level ghosts who manage incoming ghosts, which he’s good at that part not really the whole leading thing

Loves to mess with people, even if it mentally destructive 

Rather childish, acts with a lot of mystery 

Knows his stuff but nobody thinks he does because of how he acts 

always smiling (like genuinely- you will not catch him frowning even a little bit)

he/him

Eloise Bolton - 116 - No. 2 of the Ghost Council 

Died in a boat crash and drowned 

English 

Her job in the ghost council is literally just helping other people stay on task…basically (like she's the ultimate assistant) 

She also does like miscellaneous tasks (AKA sewing peoples council clothes and stuff)

Very prim and proper and enjoys being fancy

Kinda naïve

Thinks Jökull is really cool but has no courage to talk with him outside of council matters

she/her

Reece Raymond - 26 -  No. 3 of the Ghost Council

He was pulled into gang stuff when his parents died because he was forced to live with his aunt and uncle, and he didn’t enjoy it but he couldn’t really get out of it since he was young

Died protecting his gf, shot in the eye because of a gang conflict

Born in Botswana, but when his parents died he moved to the U.S. to live with his aunt and uncle

Goes by Raymond because he likes it better

Only been on the ghost council for a year

His job is basically just like a protector, keeps away bad spirits, makes sure there are no issues in other parts of the ghost realm, stuff like that

He’s mysterious in a different way than Hibiki

Pretty chill, but if you piss him off you piss him off

Questions people heavily 

The amount of people who think he’s a girl is most people but I’m here to inform you he is a cis male (he/him)

Besties with Sophia Torres 

Sun Chung-Ae - 28 - No. 4 of the Ghost Council

Died of suicide (hung herself) at 13 

Was heavily taken advantage of online by pedophiles

When she died, her incoming ghost shaperon guy (I haven’t named them yet) was hijacked by an evil spirit, so she was taken to this high ranking evil spirit (also does not have a name yet) who lives in a barely visited part of the ghost realm and offered her a deal, he takes her eye in exchange for changing her appearance and personality completely 

She accepted, but another term she had to except is that her secret identity was bound to Hibiki (because let's just say he’s also made some deals with this dude) so if anything goes wrong with him, jigs up

Her job is managing the citizens of the ghost realm and making sure everyone has what they needs for a good afterlife 

South Korean

Friends with basically everyone 

Super chipper and outgoing 

Likes to help Eloise by designing clothes for her to make with Taro

she/her

Yrjö Bylund - 38 - No. 5 of the Ghost Council

Born with a slew of medical problems which caused more to develop as he aged, more notably he had non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, epilepsy and muscular dystrophy

Died due to complications at 20

Finnish

Job on the council is to help with council issues (like conflicts)

Very chill and reasonable

Not necessarily shy but he is hesitant 

Enjoys helping people if they need help

Besties with Hibiki (strange combo, ik)

When he was alive his arm and upper body strength was really poor due to the muscular dystrophy but since he has died it doesn’t affect him as much 

he/him

Jaya Kaur - 54 - No. 6 of the Ghost Council

Was stabbed on her way home from the market one day for no apparent reason 

Has 4 kids and a husband, they’re all still alive

Half Lebanese half Malaysian, lived in Malaysia 

Basically took over Hibiki’s job of being head of the council; she doesn’t have all the special No.1 perks but she gets shit done

Motherly and wise 

All the other council members are kind of like her children in her mind 

she/her

Taro Ikeda - 36 - No.7 of the Ghost Council

Shot in the head by their crazy ex

Japanese 

Was a great runner and made a lot of jewelry n stuff

Has two younger siblings, a sister (Kozue) and a brother (Aoki), who they loved very dearly 

When they came out to their parents they didn’t really get it but still decided to be supportive of them changing their name and appearance and such (they didn’t really like the piercings though)

High pain tolerance 

Main job on the council is literally just miscellaneous tasks 

Has a really poor relationship with Hibiki because he would always make fun and prank them 

Had a complete attitude change after death, very stern, snarky, and untrusting, but tends to get along with most members well 

Loves Yrjö a lot (possible love triangle situation between hibiki, yrjö and taro…)

they/them

Sophia Torres - 25 - No.8 of the Ghost Council

Stabbed by her stalker 

Worked as a bartender 

Mexican 

Does basically the same thing as Raymond 

Newest council member (less than a year)

Did I already mention Raymond and Sophia are besties? Well Raymond and Sophia are besties (higher powers knew they’d be unstoppable if they knew each other while alive)

Sophia ain’t taking shit from NOBODY

Daredevil of great proportion

A girls girl 

Not afraid to speak her mind 

Loves long nails 

she/her 

Santiago Franco - 94 - No.9 of the Ghost Council

Died of heart failure, struggled with heart disease his whole life

Lived in a small town in Peru where he was the local mailman 

Everybody in his village knew him, so when he seemingly disappeared they went to check on him and found him dead in his writing room 

Non-verbal 

Peruvian

Enjoys writing and reading in his free time

Carrying into death, he is the council mailman as well as the one who takes notes on their council meetings 

Very shy but nice

Jökull is (almost suspiciously) very friendly with him

he/him 

Jökull Arason - 64 - No.10 of the Ghost Council 

Cause of death is unknown 

barber & farmer in a small village

Icelandic

Is in charge of public speaking and general speaking tasks

Hates Hibiki more than Taro, Raymond and Sophia combined 

Dresses very proper 

Is nice to pretty much everybody else but does speak with a tone of superiority 

Sarcasm lover 

Sassy as hell

he/him 

[justforbooks]

The Oxford Companion to Italian Food by Gillian Riley

Bella Italia! From dumplings to balsamic vinegar, The Oxford Companion to Italian Food by Gillian Riley covers Italy from top to toe.

The variety of Italian food is giddying. No other national cuisine incorporates dishes as diverse as the canederli (dumplings) of the mountainous Trentino region and the couscous of western Sicily, or the wine-infused brasato (pot roast) of Piedmont and the balsamic vinegar of Modena, or the piadina (flatbread) of Romagna and the pane carasau (something like a poppadom) of Sardinia. And despite all the talk of how traditional Italian food is, the great gastronomic mosaic that is Italy continues to shift as it has throughout history; novelties continue to appear: ciabatta was invented by a baking entrepreneur from near Rovigo in the early 1980s.

As if comprehending this cornucopia were not already a daunting enough challenge for the food lover, Italians have made the task even tougher by disseminating endless myths and misconceptions. Everywhere one goes, the people in one small town will swear blind that their salami, their cheese, their nougat is a distinct and altogether more delicious creation than the identical version available across the valley. Then of course there is the peninsula's babel of dialects. There are few uniform terms for even the simplest things. A "World Directory of Pasta Shapes and Names" recently compiled by Italian manufacturers lists 142 different labels for types of pasta - and that's just the ones beginning with C.

For all of these reasons, anyone setting out to write an encyclopedic guide to the thousand cuisines of Italy needs to be brave, brilliant, learned and almost certainly a little unhinged. To judge by her marvellous Oxford Companion to Italian Food, Gillian Riley is all of these things.

Her book is a grand buffet of curious delights. Riley writes to entertain as well as to inform, and never holds back when there is a choice anecdote to relate. We are told how to create a table-top rocket by applying a match to the rolled wrapper of an amaretto biscuit, and how the fettuccine Alfredo that appear on every Italian restaurant menu in the US were invented to charm Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford on their Roman honeymoon.

Understandably, there are also times when Riley seems to get lost in her own erudition. The notion of tipicità, literally "typicality", is fundamental to the way Italians think about their food: it means the way a dish typifies or embodies its place of origin. Riley uses it, in Italian, without explanation and without an entry of its own. She also refers constantly to the great cookery writers of earlier eras. Figures such as Platina, Scappi, Corrado and Artusi have fascinating stories of their own, and they are hugely important in the long history of Italian food. But repeated cross-referencing to these and other names will probably become tiresome for the uninitiated. The occasional entry, like the one on "Apician flavour", is plain baffling, giving the impression of the author muttering to herself. As someone who has spent years trying to get the measure of Italian cuisine, I can only sympathise.

Riley's prevailing tone echoes that of a highbrow tourist bible from an earlier era - a Baedeker or a Blue Guide. So when she writes on the Italian regions, for example, she tends to see the landscape, the legacy of ancient Greece and Rome, and the Renaissance. For my taste at least, The Oxford Companion to Italian Food cites far too many paintings by old masters - on no stronger grounds than that they portray some vegetable or other. Riley has written beautifully on food in art before, but her entry on "Artists" here amounts to an attempt to justify alluding to every artichoke and cauliflower in the Uffizi gallery. On more recent history and culture, Riley is often breezy and unconvincing. The "economic miracle", from 1958-63, is described as a "wave of easy living". Yet, for good and ill, the kind of historical forces that were at work during the miracle - mass migration, industrialism, urbanisation, modern transport, women's entry into the labour market - have shaped the way Italians eat in far more important and fascinating ways than have Virgil or Caravaggio.

The book is at its best when it distils the experience of countless cooks, and blends its learning skilfully with a mouth-watering sense of texture and flavour. Try the page on "Panzanella" for starters, followed by "Salmoriglio" and "Snail", and finished off with "Parmesan" and "Crumiri". Delicious. Riley is never reluctant to express a personal opinion, or intrusive when she does so. Her scepticism about the recent nostalgia for cucina povera ("poor cuisine") is sane and refreshing. She is also good at poking fun at how we garble the grammar of Italian eating. In Italy, nobody "drizzles" olive oil, or puts out a dish of it to dip bread in at the start of a meal.

The Oxford Companion to Italian Food may be eccentric at times, but it is essential browsing for the serious Italo-foodie.

🔴 Be warned: it will also make your copy of Jamie's Italy seem embarrassingly lightweight.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[cubitodragon-moved]

New fact bolstering my Tubbo is bugged/is a Federation plant theory:

Yesterday Etoiles was directly approached by Cucurucho with a dungeon mission. Specifically praised and acknowledged for his abilities. And tasked to retrieve a book only he can get, from a place that’s likely far away. Something in the book’s wording even implied Etoiles would be familiar with the destination - perhaps it’s in Code territory hes tread before?

The Federation haven’t approached him before in this capacity. The Federation have never commented on his ability to fight the Codes and defend others before. They’ve certainly never spoken of needing him to help protect other inhabitants of the Island before.

Which suggests two key things: they know he has the Code Sword, and they know the Codes left him a book emphasising PROTECT.

Etoiles made it very clear he did not want it known that he had the fully forged sword. He only shows off the incomplete broken one to others (his action bar flub with BadboyHalo on day 182 came well after talking to Cucurucho). At the time Etoiles received his mission, exactly three four* people knew he had obtained the sword, and that the newest book doubled down on him needing to protect people.

Those four people? Etoiles, Philza, Antoine, and Tubbo.

Im not sayin’, I’m just sayin’… * edit: @nicolasfleuri very kindly brought to my attention that Etoiles also informed Antoine of his victory on Day 142 (15th Sept) and showed him his weapon, so this post has been updated accordingly!

[thequiver]

Who is.... Ralph Dibny | The Elongated Man? - A Reading Guide

Ralph Dibny is a powered superhero from DC Comics first introduced in 1960. Ralph gains his ability to stretch his body to comic proportions as a result of his chronic ingestion of what is basically an essential oil. Ralph's hero work is largely based out of Opal City (which is kind of a stand-in for Baltimore, MD). Ralph is best known for his membership with the Justice League of America, Justice League Europe, and the Croatoans. Ralph is a devoted husband to his wife Sue, has his own exhibit at the Flash Museum, and is one of, if not the best detective in detective comics!

A selection of my favorite Ralph Dibny comics can be found in chronological order under the cut If you're interested in a full list of Ralph's appearances, please dm me and I'm happy to send you scans of a of my handwritten list!

The Flash (1959) #112, 115, 119, 124, 130, 134, 138 Detective Comics (1937) #328-345 Justice League of America (1960) #51 The Flash (1959) #206, 208, 210, 212 Justice League of America (1960) #100, 102, 105-106, 109-114, 116-121, 128-129, 131-134 Detective Comics (1937) #465-466, 468 Justice League of America (1960) #142-143 The Flash (1959) #252-253 Justice League of America (1960) #159-160, 210-212 (flashbacks), 161-168, 179, 181-183, 186-188 Detective Comics (1937) #500D The Flash (1959) #296 Justice League of America (1960) #189-191 The Brave and the Bold (1955) #177 Justice League of America (1960) #197-200 The Flash (1959) #323-325, 327-329 Justice League of America (1960) #226-227, Annual 2 (1984), 233-239 The Flash (1959) #341, 349 DC Retroactive: JLA - The 80's (2011) #1 <- chronologically this is where the story goes even if the issue is from 2011 Secret Origins (1986) #30

From here we really enter into Ralph's Justice League Europe era, so I'm separating the out a little bit

Justice League International (1987) #24 Justice League Europe (1989) #1-9 The Flash (1987) #35 Justice League Europe (1989) #10, 13-19, Annual 1, 20-21 The Flash (1987) #48-49 Justice League Europe (1989) #25-29 Justice League America (1989) #54 Justice League Europe (1989) #30 Justice League America (1989) #55 Justice League Europe (1989) # Annual 2, 31-33 Justice League America (1989) #58 Justice League Europe (1989) #34-35 Justice League Quarterly (1990) #6 Justice League America (1989) #60 Justice League Europe (1989) #36 Elongated Man (1992) #1-4 Justice League Europe (1989) #37-40 Green Lantern (1990) #25 (set during JLE #40) Justice League Europe (1989) #41-42, Annual 3, 43-503 Justice League Quarterly (1990) #9

Justice League International Take 2 through to Zero Hour

Justice League Task Force (1993) #1 Justice League International (1993) #51, Annual 4, 53-57 Justice League Task Force (1993) #10-12 Justice League America (1989) #89 Justice League Task Force (1993) #13 Justice League International (1993) #65 Justice League Task Force (1993) #14 Justice League International (1993) #66-67 Justice League America (1989) #92 Justice League Task Force (1993) #16 Justice League International (1993) #68 Zero Hour: Crisis in Time (1994) #1, 3

Post Zero Hour through to 52. This period of comics contains the highly controversial Identity Crisis, which centers around the death of Ralph's wife, Sue.

Starman (1994) #56, 61-63, 65, 67-68, 70-73, 75, 80 Doom Patrol (2001) #4-6 Formerly Known as the Justice League (2003) #1-6 Identity Crisis (2004) #1-7 52 (2006) #1-2, 4-5, 7-8, 11-13, 18, 21, 24-25, 27, 31-33, 39, 41-42, 52

After 52, Ralph comes back as a ghost for a few issues and later as a black lantern during Blackest Night but tbh I didn't enjoy those much at all so they're not included

[manic-maniac-man]

HUgE July 2011

surreal ESCAPE

Maison Martin Margiela

Located in the luxurious 8th arrondissement of Paris,

"The Champs-Elysées House"

It has been given an innovative makeover with a design by Maison Martin Margiela.

This historic building, built in the 19th century, has been boldly renovated to create an extraordinary space that combines reality and trompe l'oeil.

A new door to that profound history is now opening.

Corridor/crossing

The corridor leading to the restaurant and elevator. The partitions and wallpaper separating the restaurant from the corridor feature trompe l'oeil photographs of the "salon doré," an important cultural property on the second floor of the hotel.

Maison Martin Margiela shadow effect coat ¥199,500, jacket ¥157,500, gradient T-shirt ¥29,400, pants ¥47,250, derby shoes ¥92,400 (all Maison Martin Margiela, Tokyo)

Le bar d'Essling

The bar space next to the reception desk has a wool carpet printed with the classic French design used on the ceiling. The ceiling also has wallpaper with the same pattern.

(Maison Martin Margiela) Double volume knit ¥113,400, Pumps ¥92,400 (both Maison Martin Margiela, Tokyo)

The 'white-covered' suite

The paintings, objects, furniture, and other items in Suite 143 are all covered in the Maison's signature white fabric. The bedroom ceiling is decorated with a Hollywood mirror.

A plaster light bulb surrounds the key. Mongolian lamb fur vest by Maison Martin Margiela ¥140,700,

Pearl long necklace ¥61,950. Boots ¥117,600

(All Maison Martin Margiela, Tokyo)

Top: The 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Suite

A bathroom with mosaic tiles. This is in Suite 142.

(Maison Martin Margiela) sunglasses ¥49,350 (Maison Martin Margiela, Tokyo)

Bottom: The 'white-covered' suite

When you first enter the room, you will see a large number of frames covered with white cloth hanging on both walls of the hallway.

Top right: The 'golden lounge' suite

The toilet in Suite 141 is designed like a library, packed tightly with a variety of magazines.

Top Left: The 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Suite

Feather lamps were placed on either side of the bed.

Bottom: The smoking room/cigar humidor

The curtain for the cigar room, located opposite the parlor space, is made from traditional panels stained black oak and then burnt to create a unique texture.

(Maison Martin Margiela) coat ¥162,750, sweatshirt ¥38,850, plate chain necklace ¥59,850 (all Maison Martin Margiela, Tokyo)

The 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Suite

The suite, Room 142, is decorated in black from the walls to the floor. A cabinet occupies an entire wall of the salon, displaying a variety of objects and art.

Maison Martin Margiela tuxedo jacket ¥189,000, shirt ¥63,000, shadow effect derby shoes ¥98,700 (all Maison Martin Margiela, Tokyo) Other personal items

Top: The Antin hall

This space is both a corridor leading to the courtyard and an elevator hall. 9cm square pieces of aluminum foil are hand-pasted from wall to ceiling to create an impressive space. The diamond-cut chandelier also adds a touch of presence.

Left: Corridor/crossing

The hallway floor will be covered with a black and white carpet with a British-style parquet print.

Right: The 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Suite

Even the selection of objects is filled with the playful spirit that is characteristic of Maison Martin Margiela.

The Champs-Elysées House

This time, Maison Martin Margiela was tasked with renovating the entire ground floor of the hotel (reception, restaurant, parlor space, cigar room, etc.), renovating seven suites and ten guest rooms, and designing new interiors. With the completion of the hotel project with Maison Martin Margiela in July 2011, the hotel will be transformed from a four-star hotel to a five-star hotel, and will make a new start.

Le bar d'Essling

The sofa, covered in white, is designed to be a combination of different chairs, and the complexity is further enhanced by linking it to the mirrored table, trompe l'oeil carpet and ceiling.

Maison Martin Margiela: Shadow effect jacket ¥168,000, cardigan ¥61,950, T-shirt ¥29,400, shadow effect pants ¥65,100, high-top sneakers ¥68,250 (all Maison Martin Margiela, Tokyo)

[pirate-of-the-southern-isles]

Your WIP Arkanis ? 🤗

Well, you and @true--north both asked!

Arkanis, aka "The Imperial Basterds" (not a typo, a reference!) is a fanfic for Star Wars Sequels. It is also the longest text I have ever written - it has 161 982 words. Well, "The Pirate of the Southern Isles" is catching up fast with 142 318...

Technically, it is Kylux (Kylo Ren & General Hux), but not really, since there is no actual romantic nor sexual relationship between them. They are just working together trying not to blow up their cover.

The premise is: Kylo managed to piss off Hux one time too many and Hux has totally quitted on his job. Like, totally, he grabbed a bag and bugged out of the nearly-finished Starkiller base. Kylo - since nothing works without Hux - was tasked by Supreme Leader Snoke with finding him, apologizing and bringing him back ASAP.

In the meantime, Hux, who never took a vacation in his life, figured out what he want to do with all this time in his hands. He decided to finally solve the mystery that was with him since the day he was born. So he flew to his home planet, Arkanis, to find the mother he has never met.

And the first thing he encountered was a murder search, because apparently his hometown was being terrorized by a serial killer, commiting really gruesome crimes. He walked straight into one of the murder scenes. And met a very eager, soon-to-be-a-cop (but would be much better off as a private detective) woman named Lizzie, who thinks she is able to solve that case better than an actual police. Of course, he cannot tell her who he is, because the new war hasn't started yet, so he introduces himself as a history student, researching for his project about old Imperial academies.

Kylo tags along after a few days and they are both crashing on Lizzie's and her mother's couch, because Hux made it clear that he really wants to:

A) find someone,

B) find the murderer, because the police chief managed to irritate the shit out of him already.

And he refuses to go back without those objectives completed, no matter how much Kylo threatens him.

There are many reflection about the aftermath of the war - not only the galactic war, but a civil war - when two enemies have to live together again as neighbours, despite fighting on the different sides before.

Unfortunately, this WIP is on hiatus since 2021 I think. It is even sadder that it was like 2/3 done...

[study-with-aura]

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

I was finally able to get my discussion question answers posted on my gaming guild's discord. I haven't been active in the discord the past couple of weeks. I feel like every spare moment I have, I'm studying. I did Duolingo while eating breakfast, Khan Academy while eating lunch, and extra reading while being driven to dance. I am glad that I decided to take a break on Friday and Saturday since there is no dance on either day. I will probably work longer on my final project/paper, but also I'll be doing spring cleaning of my closet. I have plans to still be productive.

How is everyone else doing coming up to finals season? 🦄

Tasks Completed:

Algebra 2 - Learned about the addition rule of probability + practice

American Literature - Copied vocabulary words + reviewed genres of literature + continued working on the final project

Spanish 3 - Vocabulary quiz (100%) + watched episode 14 of Destinos

Bible 2 - Read Psalms 86, 87, and 88

Early American History - Read about the Emancipation Proclamation + read the Emancipation Proclamation

Earth Science with Lab - Read an article about speedy star changes + read about the faint young sun paradox + answered questions about fusion + wrote about the problems with old and stars evolving over millions of years

Art Appreciation - Read about George Seurat + read about his painting Sunday Afternoon + completed daily critiquing assignment on Seurat's Sunday Afternoon

Khan Academy - Completed U.S. History Unit 5: Lesson 2.3-2.6

Duolingo - Studied for approximately 15 minutes (Spanish + French + Chinese) + completed daily quests

Piano - Practiced for three hours

Reading - Read pages 485-562 of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Chores - None today

Activities of the Day:

Personal Bible Study (John 14:16-18)

Group Bible Study (Psalms 56, 120, 140, 141, 142)

Ballet

Variations

Journal/Mindfulness

[eusexualization]

World of Ideas & Imagination - Week 2: Aesthetics

For week 2 of World of Ideas & Imagination (WOII), we explored the topic of aesthetics and how it is important in our everyday lives, both from a creative and a non-creative standpoint.

For that week, we were tasked with taking a picture of the storefront of any existing food and beverage service and creating a character/visual mood board depicting its overall vibe and aesthetic. I chose a cafe called (working title) LASALLE and created a mood board centered around its minimalistic and chic branding.

I have successfully depicted the cafe as its own character by incorporating and considering different elements, such as the typewriter font used for the signboard and the overall decor and food sold at the cafe.

According to Hungerford, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" (Hungerford 142).

Aesthetics plays a vital role in design because it helps to easily identify certain key elements, which serve as a form of visual aid. Being able to identify these elements and break them down is crucial (especially for designers) as it sets a certain vision and end goal for any type of project. A designer needs to use aesthetics as a stepping stone to complement the usability of their designs and enhance functionality through various factors, such as colors, shapes, and balance.

For example, I applied aesthetics to my studio module by collecting relevant resources for the designer I am working on, German designer Otl Aicher. I aim to achieve this by encapsulating his more notable works, such as his work for the 1972 Summer Olympics. The designer intentionally chose a bright and colourful palette for the event, as Germany had just come out of WWII. Thus, I applied those same colour schemes to my works as to amplify my work as well as pay homage to the designer, killing two birds with one stone.

(296 words)

References:

Quote | Hungerford, Margaret Wolfe. Molly Bawn. London, Hurst and Blackett, 1878. https://www.google.com.sg/books/edition/Molly_Bawn/dgM1AAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

[akihabaradivision]

"To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Introduction

Nebula, also known as "Natsuki Yoshie" is the first creation of Nikki Yoshie, the genius mind behind the Otaku Corps. As Nikki's initial foray into android development, Natsuki lacks a human appearance, embracing her robotic form with pride. Much like her creator, she has a very bland outlook on life, not really caring much about anything aside from her own interests. She holds onto the hope that someday, she will be able to find something in this mundane world that interests her.

Natsuki has a unique and striking appearance that sets her apart from her peers. She is of average height with a slender build, giving her a delicate yet sturdy look. Her hair is a captivating shade of blue, styled in two intricate braids that fall gracefully over her shoulders. Her eyes are also a mesmerizing shade of blue, glowing softly, and often reflecting her bored outlook on life. In rare situations where she enters her "Defense Mode," her eyes shift to a vivid and intimidating red, indicating her heightened state of alertness and readiness to protect herself or her loved ones. In this mode, a unique accessory—a device resembling a futuristic weapon or tool comes out of her the lower part of her back.

Natsuki's attire is a blend of casual and edgy styles, reflecting her creator's love for space and technology. She wears a black short-sleeved shirt adorned with a celestial design on the front, tucked into high-waisted blue jeans secured with a wide belt. Her ensemble is completed with a pair of black gloves that enhance her robotic aesthetic. A dark beanie with a subtle celestial design rests snugly on her head, adding a touch of casual charm to her overall look.

Name Meaning

Natsuki (奈月) - It can mean "summer" (夏, Natsu) and "hope" (希, Ki) or "moon" (月, Tsuki). So, it can be interpreted as "Summer Hope" or "Summer Moon."

Yoshie (義江) - 義 (Yoshi): This kanji means "righteous" or "good." 江 (e) - This kanji means "inlet" or "river." So, "Yoshie" can be interpreted as "good" or "righteous inlet" or "good river."

Aliases

"Nebula"

"Tsuki" - Common Nickname

"VoidDreamer" - Gaming Handle

"Emo"

Biographical Info

Gender - Female

Age - 5 (13 Physically)

Birthday - July 20th

Ethnicity - Japanese

Hair Color - Deep Space Blue

Eye Color - Electric Blue

Height - 142 cm/4'8"

Weight - 31 kg/68 lb.

Star Sign - Cancer

Piercings - N/A

Markings - An intricate swirl symbol on the top part of her back

Family - Creator/"Older Sister"

- "Younger Brother"

- "Younger Sister"

Voiced By - Sora Amamiya (Speaking) / Vaundy (Singing)

Personality

Natsuki is a fascinating blend of apathy and curiosity. She views life as a monotonous journey, finding most things mundane and unoriginal. She possesses a deeply nihilistic outlook on life; viewing existence as a monotonous cycle, she finds little point in most things. This perspective has left her with a sense of emptiness and disconnection, which she truthfully despises. Despite her internal struggles, Natsuki tries to avoid discussing her feelings, often retreating into silence. Her quiet demeanor and brooding nature are a reflection of her belief that life is inherently meaningless and devoid of purpose.

Ironically, Natsuki's nihilistic views do not prevent her from carrying out the tasks assigned to her by her creator, Nikki, or others. She approaches these assignments with a sense of detachment, following through with them despite having no real interest in the outcome. This sense of duty, though devoid of enthusiasm, keeps her functioning in her role within the household. She remains committed to her responsibilities, even if she questions their significance.

Despite her general indifference and bleak outlook, Natsuki has little patience for whining or complaints from others. She finds such behavior irritating and unproductive, often responding with sharp retorts or dismissive silence. In her own way, Natsuki gives certain things more value than others, though she may not openly acknowledge it. Her interest in astronomy and poetry, for example, offers a rare glimpse into the depths of her soul, hinting at a longing for something more meaningful amid the vast emptiness she perceives. This may be why she chose the name "Nebula" for herself.

Unlike her siblings, Natsuki has chosen to embrace her robotic nature, opting not to adopt a human appearance. This decision adds to her enigmatic persona and sets her apart from the others. The reason behind this choice remains a mystery, but it hints at her deeper acceptance of her identity and perhaps a desire to remain true to her origins. Her robotic form is a constant reminder of her unique existence and her connection to Nikki, who built her from the ground up.

Natsuki's compassion for Nikki and her younger "siblings" is subtle and often masked by a sarcastic demeanor. Despite the quarrels she gets into them, she still cares for them, affectionately referring to Nikki as her "older sister". While she may not show overt signs of care, her actions speak volumes. She occasionally participates in her fellow androids' schemes and adventures, not out of genuine interest, but more to stave off her own boredom. Her interactions with them are tinged with a sense of detachment, but there is an underlying sense of loyalty and protectiveness that becomes evident in her actions. She may not always agree with their plans, but she tags along, providing a steadying presence within the group.

Despite her general disinterest in most things, Natsuki does possess a fierce protective streak. She may not be inclined towards violence, but she will not hesitate to enter her "Defense Mode" if she perceives any threat to her friends or family. In these rare moments, her usually indifferent demeanor gives way to a formidable and intimidating presence, with her eyes glowing a menacing red. This transformation underscores the depth of her loyalty and the lengths she is willing to go to ensure the safety of those she cares about. In this way, Natsuki's seemingly apathetic exterior belies a complex and nuanced character, driven by a blend of curiosity, loyalty, and a quest for meaning.

Trivia

Though she is the youngest and shortest physically, she is dubbed the "older sister" between Nikki's androids because she was created first.

Despite liking and playing video games like Nikki, she failed to inherit Nikki's skill. In fact, between her, her siblings and the other androids, she has yet to win a single game. Surprisingly though, this doesn't bother her in the least.

Her virtual A.I. form is the same as the symbol on her back.

She has a tardigrade-bot form that she occasionally turns into (Nikki made this for her since tardigrades are one of the few animals that can survive the deep vacuums of space).

Due to Nikki bringing her along when she goes to help them out, she is, more or less, acquainted with all the members of Scorpion Den.

[bintadnan]

Surat Aal-i-Imrān, 142

“These verses start with a rhetorical question, the purpose of which is to correct the concepts formed by Muslims on the patterns established by God for the advocacy of His faith: how victory is achieved and defeat suffered; the importance of action and what reward it merits, etc. The Qur’ān makes it clear that/ the road to heaven is attended by many difficulties and undesirable things. The best equipment for a believer is patience in adversity. This is totally different from hollow wishes and claims which any test may prove to be futile. “Do you reckon that you can enter paradise unless God has identified those among you who strive hard [in His cause] and who are patient in adversity?”

The rhetoric mode is employed in this question so as to make it clear that the whole concept is wrong. It is certainly a mistake for any man to think that it is sufficient for him to only say that he has accepted Islam and be ready to die for it in order to fulfil the duties which are required of him as one of the believers. It is important to remember here that the fulfilment of such duties earns that person the greatest prize of all, namely, admission to heaven. What is needed for the fulfilment of such duties is to go through a practical test of jihād, to face up to difficulties and to be patient in adversity.

The phraseology of the Qur’ānic text is particularly significant: “...unless God has identified those among you who strive hard [in His cause], and who are patient in adversity.” It is not sufficient that believers should strive hard in God’s cause. They have to demonstrate their patience and fulfil the continuous and varied tasks imposed on them by their faith. Fighting on the battlefield may be one of the lightest of these tasks which demand patience and prove the strength of faith. There is, in addition, the never-ending, uphill task of maintaining the standards of behaviour commensurate with faith, developing a set of values which are not only based on the principles of faith but are also reflected in one’s feelings and attitudes. There is also the need for perseverance which helps people overcome their weaknesses, whether these be within themselves or in others with whom they deal in the course of daily life. Patience and perseverance have to be demonstrated in a variety of situations, especially when to give up appears to be far more appealing.

Examples of this include when falsehood appears to be victorious, and stronger than the truth; when the way ahead appears to be too long, too hard and full of difficulties; when a moment of relaxation appears to be all that one can care for after a long period of hard struggle. Fighting on the battlefield is no more than one aspect of striving for God’s cause, which is the only way to heaven. Certainly, heaven is not won by wishful thinking or by paying lip-service to the requirements of faith.”

Source: Tafseer Qutubi