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Taipei in a nutshell

Taipei. A city that doesn't even try to wow you. It doesn't have to. It's not screaming in your face with skyscrapers and bling attractions. It seduces you subtly — down the side streets, over a plastic stool at 2 a.m., over a bowl of noodles that could very well change your life. This place runs on food and feeling. You get here, and the first thing you notice isn't the cityscape — it's the aroma: star anise, fermented tofu, pork frying, and something else you can't quite place that you chase anyway, because in Taipei, the unknown is delicious. Night markets here are not a tourist trap — they are its lifeblood. You're hungry for stinky tofu? It smells of death but tastes of salvation — crispy on the outside, smooth on the inside, drenched in spicy sauce. You're hungry for beef noodle soup? You'll have a dozen variations on one single street, and each will assure you that theirs will be the best. And you will be convinced. Taipei is modern but not sterile, traditional but not nostalgic. You'll discover Taoist temples shrouded in incense and dragons, next to 7-Elevens and condos. You'll drink whiskey in a speakeasy behind a door in a refrigerator, then emerge into a rain-hosed alleyway where a grandmother sells scallion pancakes at a stand that surpasses anything on a tasting menu. The people here are hospitable, nearly ridiculously so. They will assist you, feed you, direct you, and still apologize as if it was their fault that you were lost. It is a city that greets you in silence, but remains with you in loudness. This is not something you put down on a checklist. It's a city that seeps into your veins, that infects you with its own hard-living spirit with each bite, each slurp, each broken-English conversation with a street vendor. You arrive in Taipei hungry. You leave behind — a little wiser, a little heavier, a little in love.

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Bali take 2

Bali. Last time I was here it wasn't pleasant due to things I wish I could lock my memory from but the word itself conjures something — incense smoke wafting through jungle air, surfboards leaning against palm trees, Gamelan music drifting through the hills. But leave the travel posters to it. Leave the influencers posing on infinity pools in Ubud.

This has soul.

You wake to the cock's crowing and motorbikes, the thrum of life in a village where offerings are made before breakfast. Small hampers of flowers, crackers, and incense laid on the doorstep — an offering to the gods, and perhaps a warning to the demons. It's a beat, a ceremony, a reminder: you're not in Kansas anymore.

The meal? A slap of flavor across the face. Babi guling — suckling pig, roasted to perfection, skin blistered and crackly, meat tender with turmeric, coriander, garlic, and lemongrass. Nasi campur — a riotous, lovely plate of rice that's ringed with spiced meats, vegetables, sambal so hot it stings your eyes, and perhaps a boiled egg, just for fun.

This island does not play subtle. It's overwhelming. Temples placed on cliffs where monkeys will nick your sunglasses, rice fields that resemble green silk embroidered into the hills, and ceremonies that pop up in the middle of the road, causing traffic to halt for something far older and larger than your schedule.

You'll see surfers pursuing waves in Canggu, yoga refugees seeking enlightenment in Ubud, and Australians quaffing Bintang like water in Kuta. And yet, despite all the kitsch and mayhem, there's something that grounds you. Something that makes you realize this island was here way before you arrived in linen pants and aviators.

Because Bali is not a destination — it's a contradiction. Sacred and profane. Touristy and transcendent. And if you're fortunate, that is, if you'd keep quiet long enough, it could potentially educate you.

[rtreyradio]

Fight Night with rTrey: Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind

Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind is a very threatful card in EDH (Commander) games for various reasons, thus making him a very challenging card to handle. Here's why:

Massive Card Advantage: Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind can pull you a card every time he causes damage. His ability is activated whenever any spell you play hits him, whether your opponent's spells or your own spells, and that activates his ability. You can pull a card for each damage point dealt, giving you an incredible card advantage.

Massive Damage Potential:: Niv-Mizzet can also deal damage. In particular, whenever a card is drawn, he deals 1 damage to any target. With the card-drawing ability and the existence of other blue and red synergies (the colors Niv-Mizzet is in), it is possible to activate his damage-dealing ability more than once per turn. With sufficient card draw, you can reduce opponents' life totals in no time or go after particular threats on the battlefield. 3. Synergy with Spells:

Niv-Mizzet's powers complement a spell-oriented strategy. There are several means to activate his damage ability and card draw in a spell-dominant deck. Cards such as Curiosity, Prosperity, Neheb, the Eternal, and many more can activate Niv-Mizzet's power time and again, resulting in perpetual benefit and cumulative damage.

Difficult to Remove:

Because Niv-Mizzet is a flying creature with a fairly high toughness (5 toughness), he's already rather resistant to most kinds of removal. To that, he normally belongs in a deck where you play a great deal of counterspells and other protective mechanisms, so it's hard for opponents to get rid of him when he's in the battlefield.

Commander Damage:

As a commander, Niv-Mizzet also threatens to deal 21 commander damage throughout the game. With his flying and his high power (5), he can rapidly become a deadly menace if not controlled. His power to deal damage directly to players is yet another means by which he may win the game, aside from attacking.

Thematic Synergy:

His damage, card draw, and spell interaction capabilities naturally complement an Izzet (blue-red) spell-casting game plan. Many times, his presence invites playing a spell-dense deck, which maximizes the number of triggers and interactions that make him more powerful. This synergy can build a snowball effect in which your opponents struggle to keep pace with the value you're creating.

Psychological Pressure:

Niv-Mizzet tends to scare off players not only because of his might, but because damage-spell and card-pull triggers exist continuously. With each spell cast, you wonder how you're going to make something good out of it, and opponents get too much pressure on them to remove him while he is still controllable. In total, Niv-Mizzet is threatening due to his capacity to create incredible card advantage, his likelihood of repeated damage, and his capability for winning games both directly and through commander damage.

Description Niv-Mizzet, more commonly known as the Firemind, is more than 16,768 years old. He is a Ravnican dragon who is obsessed with being all-knowing and has unparalleled intelligence on the plane. Though he is large, he is capable of moving lightly and delicately. He also has a curved tail, a long blue-fringed set of wings, a long neck, spined membranes encasing his head, and long black horns. The Firemind speaks a bass rumble that can be heard in the minds of others in close range. The Firemind may speak telepathically and has the ability to scan or flay the minds of others.

iv-Mizzet was reincarnated as the Living Guildpact with golden wings and scales and with a decagon burned onto his chest.As much of a genius as he is on Ravnica, his temper has gotten the best of him at more than his fair share of charbroiled apprentices.

Firemind's mind surpasses that of average mortals by several echelons, and he is credited with many brilliant inventions which are in service to the people of Ravnica at present, the most famous of which is the near-impervious, but easily accessible and forgeable metal, mizzium. With arrogance and egotism equal to his immense mind and vast abilities, Niv-Mizzet guided the experiments and studies of the Izzet for over 10,000 years, much of the time from his own personal lab atop the Izzet guildhall, Nivix. He is referred to as a curious and deeply brilliant archmage, the Firemind is far beyond the necessity of machines or devices to perform his research, instead experimenting within the field of pure thought and magic.

Niv-Mizzet is the oldest and wisest creature on the plane of Ravnica,and his magical ability has been sufficient to cast at least a hundred spells at once with barely a flicker of his mind, spells which individually would demand the full focus of a mortal wizard. Because of his vast age, his victory over many challengers, and his being a dragon wizard, Niv-Mizzet knows things that no other Ravnicans know, such as sorceries lost to the ages and weapons whose crafts have been lost. As the new Living Guildpact, the Firemind is now a guardian of Ravnica itself.

Born nearly 6,700 years prior to the Signing of the Guildpact, there is not much known about the early history of the Firemind, though his ancient hunting grounds are known to be part of Utvara. His initial lair is said to be somewhere in the area. According to the Ravnica Cycle narrative, in which dragon hatchlings were intended to be contemporaries of Niv, old Ravnican dragons were born with knowledge, could speak from birth, and were extremely territorial. Niv-Mizzet stands out in that he was successful in defeating all possible competitors and became the final great dragon of Ravnica.

The Guildpact Niv-Mizzet was a founding signatory of the Guildpact. As the Izzet League's founder, Niv led his guild to continue their original purpose, to design and build Ravnica's civic structures. In his pursuit of knowledge, the Firemind also encouraged his subordinates to appreciate experimentation and become masters of applied science and magic. The Izzet League’s alternative name is fittingly known as the Magewrights, and they are the only guild that understands how and why magic itself works.At the time of the Decamillennial, Niv was one of the few paruns who remained in charge of his guild.

Firemind's Foresight The Firemind can bestow an extrasensory connection to his omniscience that gives audiographic, aetherographic, gastronomographic, tactilographic, cinemagraphic, olfactographic, and photographic memory. To have it is to be surrounded by fervent brilliance, but the tie to Niv-Mizzet's mind will leave even the most powerful of magelords feeling insignificant and obedient. Not every Izzet resonates with the Firemind; the privilege must be earned through successfully passing a test or by achieving a remarkable feat. In extremely exceptional circumstances, the gift of the Firemind can create delusions of grandeur and result in what is called "firemadness." Zomaj Hauc allegedly endured this affliction in his failed bid to restore several ancient dragon eggs and dethrone the Firemind.

Absence A recluse, Niv-Mizzet was not seen in public for decades before returning to help the goblin master builder Crixizix deal with the out-of-control nephilim. He killed two of them but fled after being wounded by an unintentional attack by the Nephilim, who had been strengthened by consuming the flesh of a dragon. He withdrew from combat, saying he was weary of the struggle, for a location unknown in the northern aeries and did not return while the Nephilim pillaged the city.

His loss to Ravnica seemed absolute since even those attached to the Firemind could not find him. He eventually returned as a signatory on the new guildpact brokered by Teysa Karlov.

The Implicit Maze Years after the Guildpact had been destroyed, the Izzet League launched a great research effort that cut across the Tenth District. Niv-Mizzet set many of his guild's most senior mages, such as Ral Zarek, on a scavenger hunt through and beneath the city for the secrets of the Implicit Maze. This project was moving at a snail's pace until Jace Beleren came along and probed the dragon's mind using his powers to find out the secrets that Niv-Mizzet was desperate to know.9 Intrigued by the mindmage, Niv-Mizzet removed Ral Zarek from the Maze project to find out what Jace had discovered. Partial to this, Zarek was dispatched to offer an invitation to the other guilds, impelling them to send Mazerunners to the Transguild Promenade.16 Niv-Mizzet set out to construct the Izzet Mazerunner, a Weird composed of Ice and Lightning whom he named Melek. In the Transguild Promenade, however, enraged Zarek destroyed Melek and took over as the Izzet Mazerunner. Niv-Mizzet came to the Forum of Azor soon after mind magic was used by Jace Beleren to stop the hostility between the Runners, and after a stand-off with Jace, he departed to consider the return of the Guildpact.17

The Interlocus Niv-Mizzet knew of other planes and planeswalkers and had determined that a threat to Ravnica was heading towards them. He began an experiment (the "Interlocus") which would help him to transfer the power of the Guildpact, but it needed the cooperation of the other guilds if it were to succeed.12 A bungled attempted assassination by a secretive assassin made his task all the more necessary.12 To perform this experiment he relocated away from the center of the city and left Ral Zarek in command as acting guildleader. Shortly after, Nicol Bolas sent an agent of the Dimir into Nivix to plant Niv-Mizzet's mind with a hint which led her to encourage Ral to convert Project Lightning Bug into a beacon, calling other planeswalkers to help him in the war against Bolas.

During the guild summit, guildmasters and representatives of every Ravnican guild listened to Niv-Mizzet's plea to alter the Guildpact spell and give him the ability to battle Nicol Bolas.6 Though he promised to leave the Izzet League and serve as a guardian of Ravnica, most did not trust his intentions, and the session was recessed. That evening, Vraska encountered Isperia in the conference room. Concurrently answering Bolas's requirements and having a personal vengeance, Vraska froze the sphinx. When the delegates discovered that murder had occurred, their collaboration ended and they retreated to their guilds. Ral Zarek subsequently conceived another method for obtaining the Firemind's aim through the Implicit Maze's magic.

When Zarek created a device to complete Niv-Mizzet's scheme of swiping the power of the Guildpact, Dovin Baan discovered and went along until just before Bolas' arrival on the plane and then ruined the device, making Jace the Living Guildpact and Niv-Mizzet lose the additional power he so desired.718 When the end of Ral's grand machine came about, Niv confessed that he had yet again underestimated Bolas but praised Ral for his efforts. As Bolas and his troops started their approach, Ral was dispatched to power up the Interplanar Beacon and the Firemind flew away to stall Bolas.5 The master plan of the Elder Dragon had gone exactly as planned.

Death Prior to the War of the Spark, Nicol Bolas assassinated Niv-Mizzet.1920 The fight was short, but the Firemind launched a formidable attack that showcased his enormous thaumaturgical, mental, and physical power. Nicol Bolas and Niv-Mizzet fought each other in legendary battles that leveled huge sections of the city. The two dragons clashed with a mind-boggling variety of magical, physical, and aerial assaults in which both bled. Bolas was even taken aback when his mind-shattering touch could not pierce the Firemind's psychic defenses. As the battle raged on, Niv felt his ultimate defeat. After Niv crushed a massive portion of the city onto Bolas at a Simic zonot, Bolas burst forth in a black sphere of death and destruction, making Niv fear for the very first time. Reflecting on this bizarre sensation, Niv thought it beneath the Firemind and dismissed it as he bellowed in anger and charged into his coming doom. Niv-Mizzet's skull and smoldering ashes were all that was left of him in the end.

But the Firemind had already been planning on this. Niv-Mizzet prepared in conjunction with Ugin to ensure his ghost could be kept inside a machine of his own construction. The small silver box with fine filigree, glowing gears, and iridescent crystals could project Niv's presence above it and would keep his ghost alive for at least a century. With the help of Sarkhan Vol, the box was sent to the Meditation Plane for safekeeping under Ugin's guard. The Firemind gave hints for Jace, Vraska and Ral Zarek to return him.

The nearly impossible feat of bringing back Niv-Mizzet was to gather a representative from every Ravnica guild and have them cooperate in changing the influence of the Guildpact. In addition to the ten representatives, Operation Desperation (the Firemind's last scheme) needed the leylines of Ravnica, Niv's burned remains, and the Firemind Vessel. The vessel, a brass replica of Niv-Mizzet's skull, would hold his spirit when he was called up from the Meditation Plane.

At the Guildpact Chamber ruins, Nissa Revane guided the representatives through a ceremony to bring back Niv-Mizzet as the new Living Guildpact. A colorless portal - such as clear water - opened above the Firemind Vessel, and wispy blue and red smoke came out and fell as if pulled down from portal to vessel. At the same time, the dragon's bones started to radiate with yellow and orange flames. The ritual was noticed by God-Eternal Kefnet who immediately launched an attack. Teyo Verada protected the guild members and onlookers long enough for the ritual to be finished. Once sufficient mana had been purified through the participants, it surrounded the bones and the Vessel. The fire coalesced, and Niv-Mizzet was reborn, with scales of gleaming gold to complement the golden radiance that shone from his eyes. A decagon was branded on his chest and globes of colored mana danced about him.

At his reincarnation, the Firemind burned Kefnet, but then lost consciousness from exerting so much power to kill a god; ironically, the same god that embodied knowledge, wisdom, and the mind magic.

The New Living Guildpact Subsequently, while Nicol Bolas was being attacked by the God-Eternals Oketra and Bontu under the command of Liliana Vess, Niv-Mizzet ambushed Nicol Bolas by spearing the older dragon in the back using Hazoret's spear.25 While Bolas was able to destroy Oketra, and blast Niv-Mizzet off, the diversion caused Bontu to bite Bolas and suck out all of the elder dragon's sparks, including his own.

Upon the end of the War, Niv-Mizzet assumed his new role of Living Guildpact in seriousness, officially transferring his Izzet guildmaster status to Ral. When he bragged to Jace about the relinquishment of the power of the Guildpact, Jace merely smiled and said he was glad to be rid of it because he could travel the multiverse unencumbered while putting the power of the Guildpact into the hands of a planebound entity. Niv-Mizzet's first act as Living Guildpact was to have Ral, Vraska, and Kaya undergo penance for allying with Bolas but defecting before the War, by having them respectively hunt down Tezzeret, Dovin, and Liliana, the planeswalkers who remained loyal to Bolas or defected too late.

Niv-Mizzet subsequently oversaw a gathering of the ten guilds at the Azorius Senate House when Ral, Vraska, and Kaya returned from their missions. They each entered an Azorius Verity Circle in which they gave their testimonies. Kaya spoke first and reported that she had assassinated Liliana Vess, though in reality it was an impersonator. She presented the Chain Veil as evidence of the death of Liliana, which was carried by Teyo Verada through his shield magic. Teyo put the Veil in a puzzle box for safekeeping with the Firemind. Vraska made her next presentation by presenting the calcified right hand of Dovin Baan as evidence of his death, but Chandra Nalaar revealed that she had struck him down. With the agreement of the other guilds, Vraska was given credit for the kill. Unbeknownst to everyone (save Lazav), Vraska had staged Baan's death on Regatha with Chandra as an unwitting accomplice. At last, Ral came forward with the mangled etherium arm of Tezzeret but reported the truth of his loss and that Tezzeret survived. Ral's humiliation saw Chamberlain Maree issue a call of no confidence vote for Ral as leader of the Izzet. Niv-Mizzet observed as the vote was cast, though, and Ral solidified his support within the guild to retain his guildmastership.

Niv-Mizzet fought in defense of Ravnica against the Invasion of the Multiverse by New Phyrexia, wielding his powers as the Living Guildpact. In the ruin of the invasion, the Firemind reasserted himself as Ravnica's final authority and protector and became keenly interested in the upheavals that had swept through the multiverse.

Niv-Mizzet continued to reside at the Chamber of the Guildpact even in the aftermath of its destruction for the second time. For a reminder to others of his power, the Firemind prioritized the restoration of his official chair over other aspects of the chamber. With lukewarm guild cooperation and short funding, rebuilding of the chamber was repeatedly delayed, leaving the Guildpact's chair the only aspect of the chamber to be completed. Despite this, the Firemind would not yield and still required guild leaders to speak with him in the vacant room. The Omenpath Project As Omenpaths began opening everywhere in Ravnica, Niv-Mizzet perceived their actions as a great threat to the plane. He came up with a plan to govern their entry in a way to make Ravnica a hub of the Multiverse. The Firemind recruited members of each of the guilds to study the portals and their passage. Among a line of murders committed by Oba, the main dryad of Trostani, one of Niv-Mizzet's representatives, Kylox, was assassinated before he could finish his research. The detective Alquist Proft who investigated deciphered Kylox's research and uncovered the Firemind's schemes. During a session with Proft and Etrata, Niv-Mizzet cleared his schemes and hired the two to assist with the "Omenpath Project."

Niv-Mizzet worked with Ral Zarek to create interplanar communication through the Omenpaths. Ral traveled to Thunder Junction and oversaw the building of a relay tower in the town of Omenport through which individuals could forward messages from one plane to the other for a price.

Wanting to learn more about the Omenpaths and the phenomena they were connected to, Niv-Mizzet assisted the Wanderer in finding Nashi who had vanished through a bizarre door while on Kamigawa. The door by which Nashi and his friends had vanished subsequently appeared on Ravnica and was being studied by the Firemind and his researchers. Zimone Wola was commissioned to assist the Wanderer, Kaito Shizuki, Niko Aris, and Tyvar Kell on their adventure into Duskmourn.

After the rescue team had entered through the door, Kaito planeswalked back to Ravnica alone in a state of panic. Niv-Mizzet stopped him and inquired what was amiss, and Kaito informed him that Jace had deserted him. Aminatou console measured Kaito by informing him that his spark was still there and that the House itself must have rejected him. Proft then signaled that he had a thought that may help, and Kaito, having nothing else to lose, followed him to the workstations, understanding that time was of the essence.

Proft was capable of crafting an artificial Omenpath to Duskmourn with his mind magic combined with Kaito's spark, Aminatou's abilities, and a wooden fragment from the House that Kaito had provided him. Kaito and Proft then rescued Nashi, the Wanderer, Tyvar, Zimone, and Niko from Valgavoth's grasp. After the completion of his mapping mission and having largely gained control of the Omenpaths on Ravnica, Niv-Mizzet freed Proft and Etrata from their service. As part of Tezzeret's plotting, Niv-Mizzet was exiled from his body, which was incorrectly (but reliably) depicted as being constructed of mizzium and crystal. Tezzeret had Niv-Mizzet's body and sat as Chair of the Guildpact in a few sessions of guildmasters. Once it was obvious Ravnica was condemned by Marit Lage, the body of Niv-Mizzet usurped officially pardoned Tezzeret for war crimes on the provision that he redeem Ravnica from destruction.

Jace communicated with the actual Niv-Mizzet's spirit to find out the truth and then called for his spirit to Eldraine to encounter Niko Aris, Garruk, and Chandra Nalaar.

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SmackDown recap & reactions (June 20, 2025): John Cena’s pipe bomb

John Cena recreated one of the most famous WWE promos in history on SmackDown this week.

By Geno Mrosko

The big story on this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown was John Cena taking on R-Truth in a rematch from Saturday Night’s Main Event. How they got there was interesting.

Earlier in the night, Kit Wilson was pushed into singles action because Elton Prince is out injured. He was supposed to wrestle Aleister Black, except his entrance was taking too damn long and Truth showed up to attack Wilson before Black even got to the ring. Truth took Kit out, grabbed a microphone, and demanded John Cena get out there.

Instead, officials hit the ring to get Truth off Kit and explain to him that, well, Cena wasn’t even there yet. He walked off on his own. It seemed they were going to end things there but Black confronted Truth backstage to ask why he was getting involved in his matches. Killings refused to back down and their staredown only ended when Damian Priest showed up out of nowhere to take up for Truth.

He tried to talk to him, remind him who he’s always been, and to focus his anger and negativity on Cena. Then they could go out and party over it later.

A set up, perhaps?

As it turned out, no. Instead, they had what can only be described as a rough singles match that ended with a lame DQ when Cena took off with the belt and then used it as a weapon. It was more or less just a way to get to CM Punk making an appearance to brawl with the WWE champion.

That brawl ended when Cena kicked Punk square in the nuts. He followed it up by putting Punk through a table, grabbing a microphone, hopping up on the top turnbuckle, and recreating the infamous Pipe Bomb Punk dropped back in 2011.

Cena had he’s leaving with the title in six months but before then he has to get a lot of stuff off his chest. He doesn’t hate Punk, he actually likes him, more than anyone he’s ever shared a locker with, that’s for sure. He hates the idea that Punk is the Best in the World because he is the greatest of all time.

Punk is only better than him at one thing — he’s the best bullshitter of all time.

Then he had Stu the camera guy get close so he could break the fourth wall.

He did it in typical cheesy Cena fashion, but he did it.

He went on to say Punk changes his values more than Cena changes his t-shirts. Then he looked for another camera and said hello to Claudio Castagnoli, Nic Nemeth, and Matt Cardona, calling them out by those names. Cena took credit for giving him the stage he needed to even cut the original Pipe Bomb.

“You’re promo potato salad,” he said. He’s no longer the Voice of the Voiceless, he’s a friggin’ millionaire. He’s not Punk, he’s a capitalist. He’s not against TKO, he’s Mr. TKO. His tweets are strong but his actions are weak.

In Saudi Arabia, Cena pledged to finally prove that day in and day out for all these years he’s been the greatest of all time. Punk was the greatest for a few minutes many years ago but we’re long past all that, he said.

“You’re welcome, Grand Rapids.”

They cheered for him.

He said a few more words but the message was clear enough. This didn’t hit anywhere near as hard as the original pipe bomb, which actually kind of serves them better considering the characters involved and the story they’re telling. The fans cheered for Cena, sure, but being live in the arena tends to take you there.

In the cold light of a TV screen, it just doesn’t work. It wasn’t very good. But, really, it’s not supposed to be. Punk’s pipe bomb got him to places he couldn’t go before. Cena doesn’t need all that. He still needs to be hated.

So, it didn’t work but it still kind of did, I guess.

Full article below

[rtreyradio]

Windbreaker

From an early age, Haruka Sakura was made an outcast due to his unconventional appearance and lack of social skills. However, the rough treatment turned him into a proficient fighter, which is now the only thing he prides himself on. Starting at Furin High School, where it is rumored that strength is valued over academics, Sakura has only one goal—taking the top spot. Involved in a street brawl the day before his enrollment, Sakura happens to meet a group of his future schoolmates. Instead of the usual rejection, they fight alongside him, demonstrating that what the school actually cares about is protecting the town of Makochi from any harm—hence why the students call themselves "Bofurin." Surprised by the support and appreciation of the townspeople, Sakura has a hard time accepting their goodwill. Though unfamiliar with kindness being shown to him, Sakura must learn to push past his discomfort when Bofurin is pitted against formidable enemies. After experiencing the feeling of acceptance, he finds himself fighting for the sake of others for the first time.

Seriously the action, is gutsy and indeed it breaks the wind of out of you, no pun intended. But that's it, gets all predictable as it gets, all fists then leads you to a moral and a little of back story as to why they fight, why they joined gangs puts you in a corner of cheesy learning of redemption, salvation, friendship and team work makes the dream work. The antagonist who knows nothing but fight, carries a heart on his sleeve, I could only hope more dimensions to him as he slowly grows in this season. Nonetheless is noteworthy binge.

[rtreyradio]

Cinemablend: John Cena Shockingly Turned Heel, And I Think That’s Bad News For Cody Rhodes’ Future As WWE Champion

By Mack Rawden published March 2, 2025

After decades of calling for John Cena to take his wrestling persona to a darker place, most fans had come to terms with the fact that the legend would never turn heel. He was just too beloved by children, too tied into the Make A Wish foundation and too much of a company mascot to even pretend to be bad. After staying a good guy for more than twenty years, it’s not like he’d suddenly become a villain during his goodwill retirement tour, right?

Apparently wrong. Last night, John Cena shocked everyone in the Rogers Centre and millions of people watching around the world when he kicked Cody Rhodes in his American Nightmares, and in the sober reality of Sunday morning, it’s hard not to feel this whole heel turn is bad news for Cody Rhodes’ longevity as WWE champion.

Before we get into what this means for Rhodes, however, let’s brag about Cena for a minute. The Hollywood A-lister and pop culture figure has built a reputation over the last few decades for being a good guy. As many of his peers in the wrestling industry evolved their characters and waffled back and forth between periods as a good guy and periods as a bad guy, Cena just kept preaching Hustle, Loyalty and Respect. His relentless enthusiasm and positivity were always a huge hit with children and a segment of the larger WWE fanbase, but that lack of evolution also made him a target for another segment of the fans who got sick of the lack of character development.

Because of that split, Cena spent most of the prime of his wrestling career in this odd limbo. Some cheered him like a prime Hulk Hogan and some booed him like an Attitude Era Vince McMahon. He was the baby face’s baby face, so relentlessly a good guy doing the right thing in every situation that it drove some fans crazy. A few times, he flirted with perhaps becoming a bad guy. We now know there were plenty of conversations behind the scenes. Plans were even put in place for him to front a relaunched nWo as a villain, but it never happened.

He eventually went to Hollywood full-time and a funny thing happened. During his lengthy absences, even his biggest haters started to miss him to the point where each time he’s come back, the receptions have just gotten louder and louder. Over the last year or two, he’s been getting huge ovations from almost everyone, the type of unrelenting positivity he desperately wanted during those years where fans were more split. When he announced his retirement tour, fans openly talked about how it’ll be nice to finally all get on the same page and cheer for him as one united group, and yet, here we are.

You know how you can tell John Cena loves the wrestling business? Because he just took a massive risk. Instead of collecting fat paychecks, selling tons of t-shirts and going out with a nostalgic round of applause, he’s decided to tell a new and potentially compelling story by doing something he never really did in his career (at least apart from when he was first trying to make it). It’s really exciting, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story plays out.

We know Cena and Cody Rhodes will be facing each other at WrestleMania, but what story beats Triple H and the writers are going to try to hit between now and then is anyone’s guess. A few months ago, I was pretty convinced these two would face each other at 'Mania but Cody would turn heel ahead of the match.

I would imagine The Rock is going to play a major role, as Cena has assumedly become his corporate champion. As a member of TKO’s Board Of Directors, The Rock has tremendous behind the scenes power, and WWE plays into that with its onscreen product and will assumedly do so again, with The Final Boss likely directing Cena to make Cody and everyone else’s life a challenge between now and ‘Mania.

Obviously, we don’t know what is going to happen at WrestleMania, but we need to acknowledge that there is now a very high likelihood Cody is going to lose his Championship. The wrestling game is all about momentum. The goal is to tell hot stories, and most of the time with hot characters, the best way to keep them hot is to have them win.

John Cena just went heel for the first time in over two decades, and the entire wrestling world is on the edge of its seat wondering how this is going to play out. I don’t have the answers, but I think whatever story John Cena is going to tell is going to be a lot more interesting if he’s the WWE Champion while telling it.

So, with all due respect to Cody Rhodes, it's time for you to lose the WWE Championship. One of the biggest stars in the history of this business just took a huge creative risk, and he needs to be rewarded by winning the high profile match that comes after it and in doing so, get the chance to write another chapter as the face of WWE.

[rtreyradio]

John Cena open to act with major WWE name post-retirement

Sportskeeda has reported John Cena's days in the WWE as an active performer are numbered, as The Leader of the Cenation plans to hang up his wrestling boots when 2025 ends. Meanwhile, he's open to teaming up with CM Punk on-screen after retirement.

John Cena played a crucial role in CM Punk's ascension to the top of the Stamford-based promotion. The two veterans have crossed paths several times and even teamed up on some occasions. However, it has been more than a decade since the two have shared the ring. Speaking exclusively to Collider, the 16-time World Champion said he was open to acting with CM Punk when he was done with in-ring competition. Moreover, he thinks that fans would love their teaming up if they did that after John Cena's in-ring retirement. I think the viewing public probably would get a kick out of… Usually, in the action-comedy space, it's kind of oil and water, or two comedy styles that combat each other, and I don't want to say 'combat,' but I think people would dig me and CM Punk together," Cena said. CM Punk and John Cena will be part of the action at WWE Royal Rumble 2025. Last year, it was revealed that John Cena would go on retirement tour in 2025 when his Monday Night RAW stint starts, with the show debuting on Netflix. Last week, The Leader of the Cenation made a rare appearance on the flagship show to talk about his future. During the segment, he said that he will join the Men's Royal Rumble Match in February 2025. Moreover, the 16-time World Champion wants to grab a title and would participate in each opportunity available for him this 2025 such as the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and Money in the Bank. On the recent edition of WWE RAW, CM Punk appeared and cut a promo in front of the crowd. During this, The Second City Saint fired a friendly shot at John Cena, who was his arch nemesis in WWE over a decade ago. Unfortunately for him, he was interrupted by The Visionary Seth Rollins.

Later, Drew McIntyre interrupted the two rivals, and the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion announced his entry into the gimmick match, which would also feature Punk and Rollins. It'll be interesting to see which stars punch their ticket to The Grandest Stage of Them All in Las Vegas.

[rtreyradio]

Dandadan

Reeling from her recent breakup, Momo Ayase, a popular high schooler, shows kindness to her socially awkward schoolmate, Ken Takakura, by standing up to his bullies. Ken misunderstands her intentions, believing he has made a new friend who shares his obsession with aliens and UFOs. However, Momo's own eccentric occult beliefs lie in the supernatural realm; she thinks aliens do not exist. A rivalry quickly brews as each becomes determined to prove the other wrong. Despite their initial clash over their opposing beliefs, Momo and Ken form an unexpected but intimate friendship, a bond forged in a series of supernatural battles and bizarre encounters with urban legends and paranormal entities. As both develop unique superhuman abilities, they learn to supplement each other's weaknesses, leading them to wonder if their newfound partnership may be about more than just survival. 

Trippy ride of fun and laughs, although it has it's relateable moments that pulls you down to earth, that anybody can be an Okarun, yearning to be seen and noticed, and anybody can be a Momo, yearning to be given decency and respect. It's definite those out there anime that takes you a rollercoaster of highs and lows and shoots you in turns that you don't expect or maybe expect but get better what you deserve.

[rtreyradio]

Fight Night with rTrey: Torgaar, Famine Incarnate

Oracle Text

As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This spell costs 2 less to cast for each creature sacrificed this way.

When Torgaar, Famine Incarnate enters the battlefield, up to one target player's life total becomes half their starting life total, rounded down.

Card Rulings

4/27/2018 Torgaar’s first ability can’t reduce its cost below . You can sacrifice any number of creatures, even if they won’t reduce Torgaar’s cost any further.

4/27/2018 For your life total to become half your starting life total (normally 10, half of 20), you gain or lose the appropriate amount of life. For example, if your life total is 4 when Torgaar’s ability resolves targeting you, it will cause you to gain 6 life; alternatively, if your life total is 25 when it resolves, it will cause you to lose 15 life. Other cards that interact with life gain or life loss will interact with this effect accordingly.

4/27/2018 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Torgaar’s ability causes the team’s life total to become half the team’s starting life total (normally 15, half of 30), but only the target player actually gains or loses life

Torgaar, Famine Incarnate is a mighty being from the Magic: The Gathering set Unsanctioned, which is renowned for its weird, funny, and sometimes darker nature. The lore of Torgaar is not as developed as some other legendary creatures in the Magic multiverse, but here is what we have from the available lore:

The Lore of Torgaar, Famine Incarnate:

Torgaar is a Phyrexian creature; it was born on the Phyrexian plane, this world of biomechanical horror ruled by an evil, soulless force. Phyrexians are often birthed through dark and twisted experiments grafting organic with mechanical parts into a being to embody one of the five aspects of Phyrexia: Oil, Flesh, Metal, Strength, or Corruption.

Torgaar embodies one of the four major horsemen of the Apocalypse that Phyrexia corrupted, Famine. Here, in this case, Torgaar is a direct representation of famine where he sucks in the life out of others; as the lives lost to him add to his own strength. Being a representation with his strength increased due to lost life, reflects directly with his association with hunger and depletion-a two major entities that form part of famine.

As far as his physical appearance is concerned, Torgaar is portrayed as a monstrous, gigantic, and terrifying being, which defines the grotesque look of the Phyrexians. His looks, like many Phyrexians, are made up of a mix of biological and mechanical elements, representing the effect of the dark influence of Phyrexia.

Role in the Lore:

Torgaar's role in the lore is symbolic, representing famine-one of the ultimate consequences of war and corruption. In Phyrexian terms, famine isn't just about literal hunger; it's about the complete consumption of life, leaving nothing in its wake. Torgaar, as Famine Incarnate, would represent the devastation and destruction that comes when all resources are drained from the world, and only emptiness remains.

While there is no major, specific history for Torgaar in the mainline Magic sets or novels, his design and title indicate that he is part of the larger Phyrexian influence, which aims to corrupt and consume entire planes of existence. Phyrexia, under the control of the Praetors (powerful leaders), seeks to infect and convert all living things into twisted, mindless slaves. Torgaar's presence in Unsanctioned taps into this overarching theme of consumption and annihilation.

Torgaar in Commander (and the Role of Famine):

In a Commander setting, Torgaar is more than just a creature card; he is a harbinger of doom, representing the draining of life that can come from a Phyrexian invasion or any force that consumes everything in its path. His "Famine" role in the game suggests that his power increases as he weakens his enemies, and it creates a brutal atmosphere where life totals become less of a resource and more of a target. This idea fits within the broader context of Magic's portrayal of Phyrexians as agents of overwhelming entropy and destruction.

In conclusion, Torgaar, Famine Incarnate, is a force of nature representing the ultimate result of famine—complete depletion and destruction. While his lore is relatively short compared to other Phyrexian creatures, his presence in Magic: The Gathering conveys the terrifying idea of a being that feeds on the suffering of others, gaining strength from their very life force.

When I got back to Magic the Gathering and got my start in commander, Torgaar was my very first deck. It was efficient, destructive but it's strategy is getting out and dealing damage first at all costs, I would combo normally with Wound Reflection to deal the final blow. The only disadvantages I would have it's an eye sore, meaning, everyone would try to get their hands in taking you down. You become a threat instantly, so be mindful of unsummons and board wipes in an instant pain especially starting from ground zero.

Torgaar, Famine Incarnate, from Magic: The Gathering, can be quite terrifying in Commander for several reasons. Here’s a breakdown of what makes Torgaar such a formidable and scary threat:

1. Massive Power Boost:

Torgaar's most fearsome aspect is his ability to gain a huge power boost. The text on Torgaar reads: "Torgaar, Famine Incarnate costs 3 generic mana less to cast for each life your opponents have lost this turn." This means that if you can cause your opponents to lose life earlier in the turn, you can cast Torgaar much earlier than expected. Additionally, Torgaar’s power becomes equal to half of your life total when he enters the battlefield, making him a huge creature capable of dealing devastating damage, potentially knocking out multiple players in one swing.

2. Life Total Manipulation:

Torgaar’s ability to affect life totals—whether through his cost reduction or his massive power based on your life total—can be devastating. In many Commander decks, life is a crucial resource, and Torgaar forces your opponents to deal with both his power and your life total. When used in synergy with other life-draining strategies (such as draining opponents’ life or sacrificing creatures to gain life), Torgaar can quickly become a game-ending threat.

3. Indestructible Synergies:

Torgaar can become indestructible when paired with cards that grant indestructibility or protection. Since Torgaar already has a large potential power, turning him indestructible can make him nearly impossible to remove through combat damage or typical removal spells, making him harder to deal with. This enables him to be a consistent threat that requires specific answers.

4. A Game-Ending Threat:

In Commander, where players often have higher life totals (typically 40 life), Torgaar’s ability to come in with a massive power boost and reduce your life total means that he can serve as an endgame finisher. Since he could easily enter the battlefield as a 20/20 or larger, if not dealt with quickly, Torgaar can overwhelm opponents with just one attack.

5. Psychological Pressure:

The potential for Torgaar to enter play at an enormous size creates psychological pressure on your opponents. If they don’t deal with him right away, they might face lethal damage in a single swing. His mere presence can alter how your opponents approach the game, forcing them to deal with him or face a swift defeat. This can distract opponents from executing their own strategies or leave them scrambling to find answers.

6. Synergy with Sacrifice and Life Drain:

Torgaar works well in decks that focus on life manipulation, particularly those that involve sacrifice effects (such as Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat, or Revel in Riches). In these decks, Torgaar becomes a high-value target who both deals with opposing life totals and benefits from life manipulation, making him a dual threat in any Commander game.

Overall, the combination of a massive potential power boost, the ability to manipulate life totals, and the threat of ending the game quickly makes Torgaar, Famine Incarnate a highly dangerous card to face in Commander. His ability to devastate players in one blow or create an insurmountable board presence makes him one of the more intimidating creatures to deal with.

[rtreyradio]

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[rtreyradio]

Bocchi The Rock!

Yearning to make friends and perform live with a band, lonely and socially anxious Hitori "Bocchi" Gotou devotes her time to playing the guitar. On a fateful day, Bocchi meets the outgoing drummer Nijika Ijichi, who invites her to join Kessoku Band when their guitarist, Ikuyo Kita, flees before their first show. Soon after, Bocchi meets her final bandmate—the cool bassist Ryou Yamada. Although their first performance together is subpar, the girls feel empowered by their shared love for music, and they are soon rejoined by Kita. Finding happiness in performing, Bocchi and her bandmates put their hearts into improving as musicians while making the most of their fleeting high school days...

A slow burn but gets going after episode 4, is like a rollercoaster riding to the life of Bocchi and her introvert hijinks in joining a band is once fun and anime that keeps you screaming for more. Cringe at times, but the relatability on dealing with extroverts, and her struggles in building friendships and her awkwardness is something look tuning to.

#anime #bocchi #bocchitherock #comedy #sliceoflife

[rtreyradio]