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mad-komet · 1 month ago

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The Case For James Hagens

excerpt from Gabriel Foley on substack

Tough to follow up such high acclaim of Misa, but know I mean it when I say I feel every bit as strongly about James Hagens. He is on the fast-track to a top-end pro role and has been since he was 14. Hagens is every bit of an elite, two-way centerman - almost entirely on the back of just how differently he sees the game. He’s fundamentally sound and doesn’t let up space, but Hagens also processes at lightning speeds. He stays one step ahead of play, and has a uniquely keen sense of how to position his body to best make plays and get into space. He dominates the middle-lane with a consistent, cerebral, and effective style in all three zones.

I deeply contend the knocks against Hagens scoring. No, he’s not at the level of Eichel, Celebrini, or Fantilli - but he’s hardly far behind. Even scoring at a point-per-game pace ranks Hagens 10th among NCAA draft-eligibles since 2000 - between Kent Johnson at 9 (1.04) and Matty Beniers at 11 (1.00 in fewer games). Of course, both went on to be top-five picks.

Digging deeper into that scoring - Hagens scored 14.61 more even-strength points than the average for Hockey East forwards this season (min. 25 games). Pull that same number for all other players and he ranks sixth among draft-eligibles in college since 2023. Let’s see that in a visual:

A few young draftees slip through my filter here (Mustard, Adams, Eiserman) but it’s a nice visual - and helps back just how strong Hagens’ scoring looks relative to his peers.

But Hagens’ impact came on more than just the scoresheet - and the stats show it. Only one Boston College forward was on the puck more often than Hagens - Ryan Leonard - and the two are only separated by just 1 second of time on the puck. Hagens also had the BEST even-strength xGF% (expected-goals-for percentage) on the Eagles offense, and the third-best even-strength goal-differential.

I won’t belabor the stats, but he ranks as one of the best Eagles on both ends of the ice, and boasts the second-best xGA/60 of any of college’s draft eligible skaters since 2023 (behind Shane Vansaghi, another great player).

James Hagens stepped into a hard role this season. It was his job to fill the center role between a pair that had just spent three years with the same commander. The pair? Two star prospects already who stepped immediately into the NHL after the season ended. And y’know what? Hagens did great. In fact, he did better than great. BC’s top line generated 45.6% of the team’s goals this season - over 4% more than the line generated with Smith last season. Hagens added stellar off-puck and defensive metrics that Smith didn’t.

The point isn’t comparison, but justification. Hagens has performed level with, or better than, some seriously fantastic company. He did the same with the USNTDP last year. Against his peers internationally, Hagens is a damn record holder. Don’t forget his dazzling 22 points in seven games at World-U18s as an underage forward last year - the only mark higher than Gavin McKenna’s 20 points in as many games. Have we forgotten the company Hagens found himself in then!

To say it frank, I think Hagens’ special impact has shown itself time-and-time-again. He just matched the play of two wingers now in the NHL, and he’ll be confidently focused on making the NHL roster himself in just a few months. I say he does it.

Against a defenseman who - while elite - hasn’t played… give me the all-around high-impact forward. 10 times out of 10. Give me the two-way-forward over the play-driving defender… Clayton Keller over Mikhail Sergachev - to make a comparable of two guys in the same spot. Hagens is poised to fill whatever role he’s asked at the top level, and he’s done nothing but grow into his light on every stage so far.

#new york islanders #james hagens #posting this specific part bc the other is mostly about schaefer

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astoundingbeyondbelief · 1 year ago

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Kaiju Week in Review (March 3-9, 2024)

Shin Ultraman took an eternity to reach home video, but Godzilla Minus One will proceed as a more reasonable pace (by Japanese standards). Toho will release roughly one billion different editions on May 1, with Amazon- and Godzilla Store-exclusive physical bonuses both on offer. Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color is included with some of the pricier versions, or you can buy it as a standalone Blu-ray or DVD.

The black-and-white version of Shin Godzilla, SHIN GODZILLA:ORTHOchromatic, also hits Japanese home video on May 1. Like Minus Color, no 4K edition, just Blu-ray and DVD. A handful of new bonus features about ORTHOchromatic are included.

As is standard for Toho, none of these releases will be English-friendly. But given the films' popularity (and the lack of any legal way to watch Minus One since it left theaters), expect bootlegs to circulate at light speed.

Unsurprisingly, Godzilla Minus One cleaned up at the Japanese Academy Awards, with eight victories out of eleven nominations: Picture of the Year, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Art Direction, and Best Lighting. That's one more than Shin Godzilla, and pretty much guarantees that the Toho Godzilla series will keep the prestige pictures coming. Strange times!

We'll see if Minus One can also capture Best Visual Effects at the American Academy Awards tonight. The Creator remains its biggest competition. The Gareth Edwards film is better-positioned by the usual metrics, with a second nomination for Best Sound and five wins at the Visual Effects Society Awards, but the enthusiasm gap for the films themselves may prove decisive. I'll be doing a much lengthier analysis during Wikizilla's Oscar stream tonight, which will start at about 6:00 PM ET, an hour before the ceremony begins.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire tickets may not be on sale yet, but Cinemark theaters have rolled out the above merch (much more efficiently than Target and Walmart have rolled out the toyline, if my local theater's any indication). I have a suspicion those plushies will be worth a mint a few years from now, small as they are; don't know about the other stuff. I bought the larger popcorn tin when I saw Dune: Part Two on Thursday. The promo image is deceptive, as the green area is transparent plastic and the Titan image is on the opposite wall of the tin, so that popcorn's either defying gravity or being held up by a hidden insert. There are Kong and Skar King variants as well, the latter revealing his height (318 feet). Poor Shimo; being the "secret" villain really narrows the amount of merch you get.

The other interesting GxK news this week (apart from the endless TV spot variants, which I'm not even trying to keep track of) is a collaboration with the American Red Cross, of all institutions. Donate blood, platelets, or AB Elite plasma from March 25 to April 7, get a free T-shirt. And for completion's sake, I'll mention the Roblox and Call of Duty cross-promos too.

Chibi Godzilla Raids Again, an unexpected delight last year, is getting a second season starting April 3. The official site revealed that Minilla is joining the cast, while those silhouettes to his right look like Titanosaurus (unjustly neglected in recent years), Gigan, and Gabara. Expect to follow the first season in being uploaded to the GODZILLA OFFICIAL by TOHO YouTube channel with English subtitles.

youtube

Here's another chance to watch Tsuburaya and Toei Animation's Kaiju Decode short, originally released in 2021. (It goes away at the end of the month, because every Japanese studio is apparently hellbent on making short films ephemeral, so download it now.) It's the basis for a recent mixed reality game for the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro, hence its return to the spotlight.

UniVersus, a collectable card game predicated on pitting characters from various franchises against each other, is going all in on Godzilla after offering a couple of Minus One cards through highly convoluted means last year. They're releasing a couple of Godzilla Challenger Series (preconstructed decks) on June 21, one based around Godzilla and Mothra, the other around King Ghidorah and Rodan, with Mechagodzilla thrown into the mix for both. I've never played this game in my life, but the prospect of a shiny Godzilla card with James Stokoe art is sort of tempting.

#kaiju week in review #godzilla minus one #shin godzilla #home video #oscars #chibi godzilla raids again #godzilla x kong the new empire #king kong #kaiju

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mariacallous · 6 months ago

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Davit Okruashvili, a 33-year-old information security analyst, still bears the marks of his recent beating, with both eyes blackened. “It was Nov. 29, around 11 p.m., behind the parliament, when the riot police came down on us mercilessly,” he recalled. “Forty minutes after I arrived, the crackdown began. I tried to retreat as the riot police advanced, but they encircled us from behind. On [Taras] Shevchenko Street, we attempted to escape down some stairs, but riot police were already there, waiting. They caught us. An officer held me and pushed me through. They started beating us without asking any questions. With my head down, wiping blood off my face, they kept moving me through the crowd of riot police. After two or three blows, I couldn’t feel the pain anymore.”

Okruashvili eventually blacked out. Medical examinations later revealed broken bones in and cartilage damage to his face. He is one of hundreds of Georgians who have been attacked by the police after taking to the streets to protest the government. According to Transparency International Georgia, over 400 people have been arrested in Tbilisi, and more than 300 have reported being beaten. Victims have shared accounts of indiscriminate violence by riot police and the Ministry of Interior’s special police task forces. So far no police officers have been held accountable.

The Georgian government is using fear and violence to suppress dissent and discourage protesters from taking to the streets. The unrest began on Nov. 28, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a delay in pursuing European Union integration—a statement widely perceived as a rejection of the country’s European aspirations. This sparked outrage among overwhelmingly pro-European Georgian population, and people poured into streets minutes after the announcement.

Tens of thousands of protesters have been flooding the streets of Tbilisi and other towns daily since then. There are no speeches delivered at the rallies. The demonstrations rely on visuals, including laser projections of slogans onto the parliament building, to make their voices heard.

The protests came after the contested Oct. 26 general elections and allegations of fraud by the authorities. The vote left many in Georgia disillusioned as the ruling Georgian Dream claimed victory yet again. The opposition tried to rally support and take the streets, but their efforts fizzled, weighed down by a lack of public trust. But what came next wasn’t about the elections alone—it was about Georgia’s future.

Before the vote, the government assured its supporters that accusations of being pro-Moscow were lies, insisting its policies were paving the way for Georgia to integrate into the Europe Union “with dignity, peace, and prosperity.” Yet just weeks later, the prime minister’s announcement shattered that narrative, sparking outrage even among Georgian Dream’s own base. For many, it wasn’t just a policy shift—it was a betrayal of the country’s aspirations.

“The Georgian government has made it clear that it is at odds with the European Union, placing the country’s EU aspirations under threat,” said Okruashvili. “This isn’t just about moving away from the EU—it’s about distancing ourselves from the civilized world. That’s why this is so significant.”

The protests represent the culmination of years of frustration with the ruling Georgian Dream party, which is accused of consolidating power and undermining democratic institutions. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of Georgian Dream and former prime minister, made his fortune in Moscow during the turbulent post-Soviet 1990s and reportedly maintains ties with Russia’s business elite. These connections have fueled suspicions of his alignment with Moscow, with U.S. officials recently accusing him of acting under Russian direction and preparing sanctions against him.

“One thing that unites all those hundreds of thousands of people is the consensus and determination to prevent a Russian takeover of Georgia,” said Giorgi Kandelaki, a researcher at the Soviet Past Research Laboratory. “That angle—the geopolitical dimension of the situation—is not fully appreciated in Western capitals.”

Riot police have deployed tear gas and water cannons, while demonstrators have responded with fireworks and a determination to stay on the streets. The Tbilisi streets have been lighting up every night. Many protestors have sustained injuries from gas canisters hitting their heads and faces. Videos of targeted violence against journalists by government-aligned thugs, who are often referred to as “titushky,” a term imported from Ukraine’s Maidan movement, have further shaken the public. Social media has shown disturbing episodes of unknown individuals waving guns at protesters, only to be overwhelmed by the crowd. The attacks have been severe and repeated, with little to no reaction or accountability from the authorities.

On the evening of Nov. 30, I was standing with a friend at a protest when, without warning, the police fired tear gas at us. My friend grabbed my shoulder as we ran through the choking cloud. We both were wearing a gas mask, but it did little to keep the gas out. We pushed forward through a large, panicked crowd. Around us, people were panicking, pushing in every direction.

But a week into the violence, Georgians have adapted, quickly picking up tear gas canisters and throwing them into jars, wearing gas masks and goggles to protect themselves, and warning the crowd of advancing riot police. Activists have also mobilized to provide medical help, hotlines, and legal aid for those injured or arrested. They have coordinated activities via a Facebook group and even created an app that tracks special forces through the city. Many businesses, at both the local branch level and the corporate one—from hospitals to banks—have sided with the demonstrators, and others have gone on strike.

Tbilisi’s main avenue still fills every evening with thousands of people. Protesters provide food for each other, carry masks and goggles, and arm themselves with saline water to wash away tear gas.

The authorities have intensified their efforts during the day, too, investigating, arresting, and targeting individuals off the streets as well, especially those who are involved in social media organizing or are vocally critical of the ruling party. Some protesters have even been held in pre-trial detention for Facebook posts, according to their lawyers, and others such as Ilia Ghlonti have been charged with “organizing and inciting group violence”—a serious accusation that carries the prospect of a long-term prison sentence.

The international community’s reaction has been tepid, and actions mostly symbolic, with the European Union and the United States cutting ties with the government already largely severed due to prior tensions after the Georgian government passed the controversial “foreign agent” law.

“For Americans, it might be hard to understand what is going on here, because they haven’t faced something like this for a long time—they haven’t had to confront it,” said Lizi, a 25-year-old protester. “But the more countries Russia brings under its influence, the stronger opponent it becomes for the United States, much like during the Soviet Union.”

The United States has suspended its strategic partnership framework with Georgia and announced sanctions against Georgian authorities, though details remain scarce. “What we’ve witnessed in recent years is a bureaucratic approach to the Georgian file by Brussels and Washington,” noted Kandelaki. “This has enabled the growth of Russian influence here.”

The protests represent a shift in Georgia’s political landscape. Unlike the movements that arose in the aftermath of recent elections, this movement is largely leaderless and fueled by grassroots frustration. Protesters’ primary demand is for snap elections. “We’re trying to return to the European path,” said Tsotne, a 30-year-old protester. “The government is steering us toward Russia, but hope keeps us standing here. We won’t stop until free elections are announced.”

The growing discontent has begun to reveal cracks within the Georgian government, with reports of resignations of state employees. Notably, Irakli Shaishmelashvili, the head of the Interior Ministry’s unit responsible for overseeing the riot police, has stepped down.

“What the ruling party relies on primarily are socially vulnerable people and so-called administrative resources,” said Giorgi Kadagidze, former head of Georgia’s National Bank, in an interview with Foreign Policy. “In any election that is even close to free and fair, Georgian Dream would have no chance of securing more than 20 percent of the vote. This muscle-flexing we’re witnessing now is purely an attempt to create the illusion that they have widespread support,” he said.

The demonstrators, meanwhile, show no signs of backing down. “Given what’s happening in Tbilisi today, we need even greater solidarity,” said Tsotne. “The more sanctions imposed on those who usurp power, the better chance we have of saving society. The sooner this happens, the fewer people will be harmed, and the cost will be less.”

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ouroboros-hideout · 1 year ago

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WIP WHENEVER

@chevvy-yates tagged me for this. Thank you a lot 💚

This will be a huge wall of text aswell, since I am not really of the „visual“ side of creating atm.

Writing // Worldbuilding

I'm still writing the next two chapters for my fanfiction, but would rather briefly introduce my other OCs here (yes, Aon isn´t the only one by now). Maybe I can create all of them ingame at some point, depending on how stupid I´ll act with modding etc. when I start. Since things can change quickly in the story while I'm writing, I wouldn't say that everything is 100% set in stone, a lot of it isn't finished yet. But it's a good base. Most of them appear in my „Like Napalm“ fic. Some of them will be in my main GARMR fic aswell. So prepare for half backed character data entries and some rambling.

Gan

Gan Tomobataar, or Iron as he is usually called, is a mysterious man. Many stories surround the Mongolian giant and it always depends on who asks him whether he affirms or denies these tales. It is therefore uncertain which of them are true or fictional and he really enjoys keeping his past in the dark. He is said to have served in an elite military unit. The metal teeth that earned him his iconic nickname are said to have been lost in numerous boxing matches as he tried to turn pro to make a better life for himself and his family, and he is allegedly a descendant of Ginghis Khan (which is probably one of his favorite rumors). One can assume that his closest confidants have more clarity, but none of them would dare say a word about it. Undeniably true is that he has two brothers, of whom he is the second-born. Together with them, he leads one of the largest nomadic clans in eastern Europe and Asia. The Tomobataar nomads are divided into three large families, each led by one of the three brothers. Iron's family stays mainly in Mongolia and Russia, but he would also travel to more distant parts of the Soviet Union for profitable contracts. He doesn't have many vices, but one of them is definitely greed.

By sheer luck, at least that's what he claimed, he picked up Aon on the street when she was trying to flee Moscow on her own. He promised to protect her from the Secret Police and other bounty hunters if she proved to be a useful member of his clan. However, his methods for testing her worth would put the young woman to the test.

Yakov

Yakov always had problems finding his place in the world. He grew up in St. Petersburg, studying or an education other than working in his father's car repair shop were never an option financially, but the young man always yearned for something greater than being stuck in the alleys and streets of his childhood. He decided to join the military when he was old enough, but was discharged immediately after basic training for insubordination and general unsuitability. What remained for him was to work in his father's garage until he died after a long illness. Yakov tried to keep the store running on his own for a while, but he found it difficult to do good business without proper management and eventually had to sell the store. This was followed by a relatively dark period. He saw himself as a failure, was unable to find a new job and drank away the money he had received for the workshop in the bars in his neighborhood. One evening, a man came into his local pub. His car had broken down outside, he wouldn't get any further that night and kept him company for a few hours. The next day, Yakov repaired his car for the man called Gan and left the town with him to live with the Tomobataar nomads.

Gregori

Gregori's mother, a singer from New York, came to the Russian capital for a gig and met a military officer there. The two got together and the result was little Greg. Shortly afterwards, however, the couple fell apart and she took her son back to America, where he spent most of his childhood and youth being raised by babysitters and nannies, while the singer preferred to spend her time on tour or in the recording studio. Gregori at least inherited much of her creativity, starting to make music himself at an early age and drawing a lot. Just what small children do when they need to keep themselves busy.

When he was 16 years old, his mother died of an overdose. As she never bothered to write down a testament or anything similar, her entire fortune goes to her greedy manager, who leaves Gregori penniless.

The boy, who has spent his whole life sheltered without much contact with the outside world, is left with nothing and doesn't know exactly what to do. So he scrapes together the last of his money and buys a ticket to Moscow, where he tries to find his father, but in vain. He quickly goes off the rails, barely speaks a word of Russian, is recruited by a gang and gets exploited. An arms deal with a group of nomads goes wrong, a shootout ensues and Gegori is the only one left of the gang because he hides instead of fighting. Yakov, who was on the other side of the deal, takes pity on him and eventually takes him to his new family where he tries to find his place within the group.

Anna

Anna grew up with the Tomobataar nomads from an early age. Her parents were killed in a botched mission when she was just four years old. Iron, who in a way blamed himself for this, took on a guardianship for her and looked after the little girl like the apple of his eye. As the years passed and Anna grew older, the relationship between her and her foster father changed. He became increasingly demanding, punished misbehavior and put the still young girl under pressure. Aon, who had already earned her place in the clan by this time, could not tolerate this behavior as she herself had grown up under similar circumstances. No one else in the clan interfered with Iron's "parenting methods", which is why she ended up doing it. Anna and Aon then became inseparable and she naturally followed her later when they left the clan along with many others.

Anatoly

Anatoly, or Tolik as Aon calls him, belongs to the Russian working class in Moscow and cannot claim to own much. As a boy, he dreamed of studying mechanical engineering in order to open his own workshop or business. A dream that his father would never have been able to afford in this life. So after school, Tolik started working at his father's scrap yard on the outskirts of Moscow, not an easy job. He regularly drives into the city to pick up old components and scrap metal from SovOil and other big corporations, where he meets Alyona one day. The two strike up a conversation, exchange banter and hit it off straight away, which over time develops into a teenage love story. Aon spends a lot of time with him at the scrapyard, where she can test and improve her skills on old machines and has a place to hide from her hated stepfather. He, in return, benefits from the knowledge she brings with her from university, and his dream of building his own big thing soon becomes her dream too. Together they consider leaving the city at some point and make plans for the future

unnamed_chromed_up_terrifying_SovOil_Secret_Police_agent

Yea well, I don't know yet how to call him. After Aon has fled Moscow, the officers of the normal police force give up the search for her, as it theoretically no longer falls within their area of responsibility. However, since Kristof claims that Aon stole the data he wanted to sell to Petrochem, SovOil is naturally very interested in finding her and the data chip. So they send a Secret Police agent after her, who, together with a small unit, tries to track her down. He actually already had a kind of "Easter Egg" appearance in my other AU. He would have been the agent sitting next to Kurt if he hadn't switched the cards on the table. Funny how differently things can go. Anyway, he doesn't really have much of a backstory other than he used to work for the KGB and is a bloodthirsty hound dog who chases Aon halfway across the country (spoiler: and finds her). If I were to compare him to another character from movies etc, he would probably have the closest vibe to Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds. The character was very well written, even though I would probably make my namesless_pig a bit younger than him. But since he'll be pumped full of cyberware anyway, it probably doesn't matter much in the end. It's just supposed to be a fucking horrible character and Aon's nightmare.

Robert Walker

Robert is one of the key-characters in my main fanfiction. I haven't thought about him in depth yet, but the general concept is there. He's a British journalist and photographer who wanted to go high by exposing wrongdoings in society. For him, there is nothing more exciting than achieving "fame and notoriety" as a whistleblower. He's not necessarily stupid or doesn't know what he's doing, he's just unlucky. He gets into trouble with the wrong people and upsets the even worse ones, which is why he has to flee the UK and ends up in NC. There he tries to start over and stay out of trouble. However, he soon develops an "unhealthy" obsession with Kurt Hansen. He is incredibly fascinated by him and spends every free minute in Dogtown so that he can perhaps take a photo (or two, or ten) of his idol. At some point, he goes so far as to seek direct contact and wants to interview him. Kurt is flattered at first, but has little desire to reveal information about himself in some strange blog or gossip magazine. But that didn't stop Robert from continuing to stalk him and even trying to become a member of Barghest. At some point, Hansen got too pissed off and gave him the choice of leaving Dogtown or catching a bullet. Robbie chose the second option. After all, he hadn't forbid him to camp outside the gates of Dogtown, had he?

Technically I could tell something about Aon´s mom and her stepfather too, but I don´t have that much yet. So will keep em for the next WIP together with the other OCs for my main fic. There will be three more. A general, a corpo guy and the last is still up for discussion with my brain. Considering somekind of warlord or a netrunner.

Art

I tried to do something different than a full rendered piece of artwork. I am not yet confinced that I like it. I like, that it was finished really fast lmao but...I dunno.

Aon and Tolik - 2055

But happy that Aon is actually recognizable in the end. During the process she looked so much like So Mi at a point that my brain went: WHO ARE YOU GIRL. But I like the long hair. Will give it back to her in her 2078+ appearance. Not exactly like this, but longer than her normal style.

Not quite sure about Anatoly tho. I mean, he looks like this in my head, but I will reconsidere if he will get some cyberarms. He is poor like a mouse, so probably can´t afford expensive tech like this, but he feels kind of „empty“ without anything.

Congrats and huge thanks if you read this far. Brainrot stronk!

Tagging some ppl aswell. Everyone else is invited too to show off some awesome stuff ofc, no pressure as always!

@blackrevell @olath124 @cyberholic77 @cybervesna @pinkyjulien @theviridianbunny @therealnightcity @wanderingaldecaldo @miss--river @barghestapologist @kdval @streetkid-named-desire @aggravateddurian @androgymess

#wip whenever #worldbuilding #writing stuff #art stuff #oc stuff

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empureity · 1 month ago

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⸻

Courtside Confessions — A Discord Roleplay Series

Urban Luxe | Adult Drama | Voice & Text RP | 18+

“Loyalty’s a lie. Fame is the game. Confess your truth or be exposed by someone else’s.”

⸻

Welcome to Valiant City —

A glamorous, scandal-ridden metropolis where basketball royalty, elite dancers, and powerful women collide. Inspired by The Game and Hit the Floor, this server blends urban chaos, sultry drama, and voice-based storytelling with high-fashion energy.

⸻

The Factions:

🏀 Valiant Kings – Pro athletes with talent, secrets, and too much ego.

💃 The Vixens – Iconic dancers who run halftime and the headlines.

👑 The Velvet Order – Power women pulling strings behind the scenes.

🧠 Management – PR, stylists, agents, and coaches.

🎭 Outsiders – Exes, journalists, rivals, and chaotic wild cards.

⸻

What We Offer:

• 18+ Writers Only (mature themes encouraged)

• Voice and text roleplay (with voice claims to help set the tone)

• A custom city, evolving scandals, and planned story arcs

• Event drops, confession-style plots, and layered drama

• Friendly, inclusive writers who love tropes and trauma

• Face claims, aesthetic visuals, and plotted messes galore

⸻

Perfect For Writers Who Love:

• Love triangles & toxic romance

• Fame, downfall, and redemption arcs

• Enemies-to-lovers energy

• Elite women running things

• Scandal, betrayal, and public image control

• Shows like P-Valley, Empire, Being Mary Jane, Insecure, and Power

⸻

Come join the confession booth.

It’s not about who you are — it’s about what you’re willing to hide.

#black rp #black rpg #discord server #indie rp #roleplay #urban #urban rp #urban rph #discord roleplay #discord rp #adult rp #drama rp #voice acting #hit the floor #the game #sports rpf #realistic #female led future #oc rp

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satoshi-mochida · 9 months ago

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Mecha side-scrolling shoot ’em up VISEGUNNE announced for PC - Gematsu

Stardust Vanguards developer Zanrai Interactive has announced VISEGUNNE, a side-scrolling shoot ’em up game where players pilot a soul-powered combat mecha to fight against a conspiracy that threatens the peace of space. It will be available for PC via Steam. A release date was not announced.

Here is an overview of the game, via Zanrai Interactive:

About

VISEGUNNE is a non-bullet-hell shoot ’em up where explosive action unfolds around you: cities are leveled, space colonies collapse, and orbital structures crumble catastrophically. Between missions, interact with your squad to uncover secrets about a post-apocalyptic Earth, visit shops to upgrade your arsenal, or customize your machine’s look in the garage. Each mission offers intuitive controls and scalable difficulty settings, welcoming both newcomers and seasoned veterans alike. Set in an era where the human soul is harnessed as a power source, join the DIVINITY SPACE DEFENSE CORPORATION’s elite mercenaries to confront pro-Earth terrorists threatening the fragile peace of space. With a charismatic cast of characters, a killer soundtrack, and screen-melting effects, VISEGUNNE is a thrilling modern homage to retro action games.

Story

When scientists discover evidence of the human soul, long dormant divides among the nations of Earth erupt into global war. Colonists residing off-world avoid the bloodshed, but live in fear that the planet’s conflicts might soon spill into space. With no formal military of their own, each colony resorts to employing mercenaries and privateers for their protection. The most influential of these firms is the DIVINITY SPACE DEFENSE CORPORATION, utilizing top-secret war machines capable of harnessing a user’s spirit as an endless source of energy. These SOUL-CAPABLE combat vehicles are unmatched in battle and after a century of this order, DIVINITY has grown to dominate colonial affairs, effectively quarantining Earth’s wars and its toxic politics to the planet’s surface. Earth sympathizers are routinely hunted down. But now, a new wave of pro-Earth fanatics threaten the peace of space, demanding an end to DIVINITY’s policy of segregation. Spurred on by the illegal broadcasts of an enigmatic android holy-man known as Kourosh, these dissidents have seized control of a colony and are demanding an end to DIVINITY’s blockade of the planet. As SOUL-CAPABLE pilot End Visegunne, your squad’s mission is to eliminate these terrorists, dismantle their network of co-conspirators, and return peace to the colonies.

Key Features

Traditional Non-Bullet-Hell Action – Gameplay inspired by classic horizontal shoot ’em ups.

Gorgeous Retro Visual Style – Lovingly crafted pixel art and massive set-piece explosions, with a visual style influenced by late ’80s giant robot anime.

Narrative-Driven Adventure – A unique cast of characters and story-oriented mission design tell a tale about war, power, and disinformation.

Diverse Arsenal – Over 20 different weapons to discover and upgrade, each offering game-changing strategies and attack styles. Equip Gatling cannons, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, carpet bombing units, rail-guns, shotguns, missile launchers, melee weapons, and more.

Flexible Scoring System – The DUAL MULTIPLIER chaining system incentivizes balanced weapon use and improvisation. Make a few kills then match your multipliers for a bonus.

Varied Environments – Missions range from collapsing urban orbital colonies to lush sunset forests and hostile desert wastelands.

Meticulous Detail – The game’s world has been painstakingly designed to feel alive—thrusters flare, powerless foot soldiers scurry around, aircraft dramatically swoop in from the environment, and gravity and oxygen levels can noticeably affect certain weapons.

Pumping Soundtrack – Over two hours of original music with an unapologetic old-school flair inspired by CD-ROM era action game soundtracks of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

youtube

#VISEGUNNE #Zanrai Interactive #shmup #Gematsu #Youtube

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variousqueerthings · 1 year ago

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also did in fact get to watch the west end cabaret, and i did enjoy it (i live in a world where my mum occasionally visits and takes pity on a poor soul and so we go watch a musical) but i think all of what i was concerned about with it was correct. so pros and cons. or cons and pros, hm... pros and cons...

pros:

sally bowles was spot on -- cara delevigne is currently playing her, but not when i was watching, which im kind of relieved about. im sure she does a good job, but a-list hollywood star and model cara delevigne is going to have to work double-time to convince me she's a struggling overwrought undertalented average british woman (while still belting out those higher notes and being the most captivating character on the stage). i liked the actress who played her A Lot, she tapped into all of that perfectly, and i liked that she took the seemingly impossible middle-ground between a liza minelli and a jane horrocks and was both punky and able to convince me that she wasn't that good at performing in the story, while still giving an actually amazing set of performances

the whole kit kat bar Gang so to speak was amazing, i enjoyed every one of them. they were all fantastic and vibrant, while giving a modern-married-with-classic queer feel in their outfits and introductions that updated the visuals in the opening number to a more overt genderfluidity than ive seen before

the pre-show + interval immersive experience was probably my favourite part of the whole thing. entering down a side entrance into a cellar and seeing performers as you wander through various sections, and then during the latter part of the interval the performers bringing some of the more daring audience members onstage and interacting with the various rows. made it feel like not just a musical, but an actual club

frau schneider and herr schultz were great throughout, my other favourite performances of the show. the place where it found its realism most effectively and of course where the politics is most at the forefront, wonderfully depicted by the two actors

cliff bradshaw is the most thankless role in any iteration, so shoutout to making him pretty likeable -- my guy will never be memorable, but that of course is not the point. he's the camera

cons:

the marketing of being "the most exclusive club in town" was giving a whole vibe of elite, difficult-to-gain-access-to, rich, that just... isn't correct. and i mean, the tickets are fuckn expensive so, it really is all of those things, which was my immediate kneejerk reaction to the show long before i ever watched it: is this show for a queer audience, or is it for people to gawk at queers? (but make it musical theatre and polished, no messy realistic queerness). and you can never know if an audience is majority queer or not, but i will hazard a strong... not. and also a strong "very few people under the age of 35 who would have to really save up to watch this show" as well

to add to this point -- i was watching with my mum, her boyfriend, and my godfather (all middle-class and middle-aged straight people in their own right, but youknow. i suggested the show), and during the interval i asked them about how they felt about the tone so far, mentioning that i found it interesting in contrast to the 1993 version, which was quite grimy-looking, and my godfather said that yeah, it was sultry, but it wasn't cabaret clublike -- and i just. if he noticed that. everything was a bit too polished, and too pretty (with, in my opinion, the exception of the portrayal of sally). i just think it's a fundamental misjudgement of who cabaret is about (club performers and sex workers with no money) and also, in my opinion, who it ought to be for

the emcee... ohhhh the emcee. i mean, okay. i took an instant dislike back when it was edd*e r*dmayne, everyone who knows me knows i think that guy has the charisma of a wet sponge and needs to stop poking his fingers in seminal queer narratives, but the fucking... party hat. this show definitely made it clear that it's not just the actor, it's the way it's put together. funny thing was, one of the ensemble performers (played bobby) took charge during the interval (when the actual emcee is presumably off having a big costume change), and i thought, "now that's the emcee," and it wasn't actually any of the performers' fault. i dont think the emcee actor had the look, but that aside, this show had no idea what to do with the character, it's like they didn't give him any kind of grounding at all. a series of nonsensical costume-changes, popping up haphazardly outside the cabaret (but not with any kind of consistency) a sort of... wheedling, un-directedness to the whole thing. he was disconnected from any kind of time (20th century or today), any kind of place (club, stage, in or out of the cabaret), any kind of anything, and it was the costuming, the way he'd been directed, and the lack of consistency for when he appeared. he was almost meaningless to the story

the politics -- speaking of the emcee -- were really weirdly stripped. the big points are there, it's berlin, people want to party and ignore the nazis, and then two big Moments happen (the engagement party, the rock through the window) that indelibly remind people that antisemitism cannot be ignored, and that this is coming, whether you want it to or not (and eventually it's coming for the denizens of the kit kat club too). but other than that, nothing in the way this was put together felt very cognisant of wanting to either get into the idea of nazism of the 1930s or fascism today. there was a kind of vague effigy performance of "tomorrow belongs to me" with figures that looked like they were saying something about conformity, and at the end of the play everyone is dressed in the same, somewhat bland suit, so the message is... idk. conformity makes the world worse, i guess. beyond that single scene with the swastika revealed at the engagement party, we never see one again, which may have been an attempt to point out how people hide behind the idea of "just politics," but with the way the whole thing was staged (this rich, luxurious location) came off to me like it was letting the audience off the hook -- it's still a story, we're telling it to you as gently as possible. it just felt so timid! all the imagery -- like the emcee himself -- is beautiful and un-grounded, only just enough about something to tell the story without being too disquieting

good example is the money makes the world go around song. the emcee comes up in a goth "harem-like" outfit, with a sort of shiny, rib-cage looking harness, clown make-up, black stormtrooper-esque helmet, loooong shining nails -- there's 5 different things going on here, none of which are grounded, they're just... pretty. give a nod to ideas about wealth, and starvation, and nazis, and (hopefully intentionally) appropriation/exotification, and something queer-esque. look, a man with bedazzled nails singing about how money makes the world go around, at a show where the tickets are fuckn expensive, but he's not singing about that, he's not singing about today, or the past, and in fact the number is so overproduced (all the other performers have taken off their homage-costumes to the 1920s/30s and are now in a generic wavy dress outfit, and they're all over the stage, doing the most, distracting from the words) that you can't take in of the words with what's happening onstage

i hated hated hated those conformist suits at the end. what were they on about???? conformity takes the glitter out of things idk?? fascism. talk about modern day fascism. or hell, lean hard into a story about 1930s fascism if you're not comfortable confronting this audience properly, but just... don't be generic

which also, minor gripe time now, but there's this whole plotline in the musical that's deliberately set up at the beginning -- sally has a beautiful coat. the metaphor of trying to polish up her life on the outside, of refusing to acknowledge the deeper issues, not just with the world, but with herself, that she's poor, she's not entirely sure how long she'll last for or what's coming next, so hey, make it a party and look beautiful... that whole setup is important for when she sells the coat to get an abortion! and they have the setup in this version, but then seemingly forget all about it at the end? the coat they reference isn't the beautiful, expensive fur coat she walks in with in the first act, it's this random suit-coat she's been dressed up in for the finale, it misses the whole point. i say minor gripe, but it does feel like a microcosm of so much of this show. it refuses, ironically, to go any deeper. it still fundamentally wants to make sure the audience is comfortable by defanging as much as possible all the little things that add up to one great big picture

gosh it was long. it was -- with interval -- two hours, forty-five minutes. maybe that's why it felt like it lacked purpose, it seemed like it wanted to pack in every version of the story into one, and again, sally at the centre really makes this obvious, because as much as i think the actress was pitch perfect, i definitely saw the ways this particular version repeated sentiments about her over and over so that she became softer, sweeter, like the rest of it palatable. the most uncomfortable she makes you is during her first performance and everything beyond that is just showing how sympathetic she fundamentally is, how hard done by, feel sad for her. like a victorian morality tale, rather than a 20s portrait of complex, flawed people, and it goes on and on and on with that same tangent

think it was a mistake to fire her at the beginning and thereby take her out of the kit kat club -- disconnects the club from the story, so we're just randomly going there sometimes for a song, and then back to the more grounded narrative, then back for another song that loosely comments on the scene we just watched. again, this goes back to the emcee being kind of nothing and sally being taken out of the club, so that there's barely any blend between the plot and the cabaret setting, either through interference of a godlike emcee, or by sally just going to work

this a bit vague, and not quite sure if i mind or not, but cliff was played by a black actor, and the thing is of course that in the story cliff is targeted by a nazi as a guy he can trick into smuggling illegal materials for the nazi party from paris into berlin (until cliff catches wise and tells him to go to hell). and i felt like there's an added ickiness to all of that if cliff is black, that is never really explored in this iteration (nor the fact that he's being hit on by a slew of white men and women). obviously this isn't the original text, so whether or not to bring that forward in this version, to comment (subtly or not) on racial attitudes of the 20s/30s as another form of mirror to today, is very much up to the show. then again, maybe this time isn't original to the text either and they included that as well, so could have been an opportunity if they really wanted to change something up for this specific iteration

In conclusion: really, very beautiful show, with great performers, that ultimately rang pretty hollow and didn't attempt to interact with the material from a modern lens beyond the trappings. save me from generic upscale "queer" imagery made palatable for non-queer audiences. clown emcee can't hurt me, he isn't real

#to taaag to taaaaag #ah fuckit #cabaret #this is for me to find again after all

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bigredsweetiepie · 1 year ago

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I’ve been meaning to tell the story of how I recently obtained my Isaac Yankem figure from the elite flashback line. I don’t see myself as a collector of figures but I ended being gifted a couple of Kane and Undie figures and things took off from there. I also found the Stone Cold and Kane championship set at what was essentially a swap meet for cheap.

So, I was out of town at a mall with my friend and we decided to check out a vintage toys/sports/wrestling place I’ve never been to before (you know the kind of joint) and I was looking at the pro wrestling illustrated magazines that they had to find some articles I’ve been wanting to read from the 90s.

Anyways , I wander around the store and I find a “protected” display of more expensive items. I look up and I saw him!

A signed - as Kane , mint condition Isaac Yankem figure in his box !🤩🤩🤩

If you’ve been following my page for a while you know I am not normal about Isaac Yankem. I love him so much. So yeah…. He was coming home with me no matter what.

I was trying my best not to freak out in the store bc I was for a lack of better words fangirling silently, turning red etc. and the people working the counter told me I was a true fan bc they knew how rare an Isaac Yankem fan was or even knew who he was 💀 .I just have hyper fixations I wouldn’t call myself a hard core fan but they don’t need to know that LMAO.

So anyways …. It turns out the owners of that store owned a local wrestling company that was starting up and since I was “a diehard wrestling fan” they gave me and my friend a tour of the ring/performance area!

Pretty interesting day to say the least !

Here is the boy the day I got him. I blocked out the price on the sticker , didn’t feel right showing it, even thought it was pretty cheap considering what this is. 💀 I am normally very frugal.

I have since carefully released him from his packing so I can set up scenes with my figures and make my for a lack of a better term, “Kane shrine” more visually appealing.

Anyways, if you want more figure content let me know hahaha I make scenes and stuff all the time.

#wwe #professional wrestling #wwf #wwf superstars #dr isaac yankem #wwe kane #90s wwf

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jamieroxxartist · 1 year ago

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youtube

✔ Mark Your Calendars: Thurs Feb 1, 2024 on 🎨#JamieRoxx’s Pop Roxx Radio 🎙️#TalkShow and 🎧#Podcast w/ Featured Guest:

#TheScottyHollywoodBand (#PopRock)

☎ Lines will be open (347) 850.8598 Call in with your Questions and Comments Live on the Air.

● Click here to Set a Reminder: http://tobtr.com/12308679

Pop Art Painter Jamie #Roxx (www.JamieRoxx.us) welcomes The Scotty Hollywood Band (Pop Rock) to the Show!

● WEB: thescottyhollywoodband.com

The Scotty Hollywood Band, led by singer/songwriter Scott Argiro, is set to release their latest single "The Phenomenon" on January 22nd, 2024. The highly anticipated song is an anthemic tribute to elite athletes and is sure to be the perfect soundtrack for sporting events, including the current pro football playoffs and championship game.

Produced by Emmy Award winner Steve Avedis, "The Phenomenon" features a collaboration with rap artist Troof from Shreveport, Louisiana. The song showcases the band's signature energetic performances, emotion-filled vocals, and undeniable talent. "The Phenomenon" is a testament to the band's versatility and ability to seamlessly blend different genres of music. With a mix of rock, hip-hop, and electronic sounds, the song is sure to captivate listeners and keep them on their feet. The single is accompanied by a visually stunning music video directed by Elgin Cahill. The video features dynamic footage of athletes in action as well as captivating performance shots from the band.

Scotty Hollywood Band is no stranger to the music industry, with numerous CDs under their belt and airplay on independent and college radio stations across the country. The band's music has also been featured in films, including releases from directors Joel Schumacher and Paul Lieberstein.

● Media Inquiries: MTS Management Group/MTS Records www.mtsmanagementgroup.com

#Youtube

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harrelltut · 2 years ago

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iapplelisa.com?!?!?!

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MICHAEL A COMPUTER [MAC] APPLE NERD [MAN] of iapplelisa.tech Intel @ 1921 QUANTUM 2023 HARRELL 2024 TECH 2025 Apple & IBM [A.i.] LLC of ATLANTIS [L.A.] 5000

hi:teKEMETICompu_TAH [PTAH] PRO Michael [PM] Harrell, Jr. Deep Machine [DM] VISION Learning @ 1921 QUANTUM 2023 HARRELL 2024 TECH 2025 Apple & IBM [A.i.] LLC of ATLANTIS [L.A.] 5000

CLASSIFIED iapplelisa.tech of iapplelisa.com accessing tri-solar black sun planetrizq.tech PRO of blackanunnaqi.tech VISIONS @ 1921 QUANTUM 2023 HARRELL 2024 TECH 2025 Apple & IBM [A.i.] LLC of ATLANTIS [L.A.] 5000

try the quantumharrelltech.com visual dial tone domain... my personal iphone hung up on you [insert quantumharrell.tech's intellectual encryption phrase property tag]

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says his hi:tekemeticompu_tah [ptah] father michael [fm]... since i.b.1698 michael [ibm] harrell jr @ 1921 QUANTUM 2023 HARRELL 2024 TECH 2025 Apple & IBM [A.i.] LLC of ATLANTIS [L.A.] 5000

eye anugoldenblackwallstreet.com compu_tah [ptah] business of anu golden 9 ether [age] blackatlantis5000.com economy w/SIRIUS blackatlantis5000.tech WEALTH @ 1921 QUANTUM 2023 HARRELL 2024 TECH 2025 Apple & IBM [A.i.] LLC of ATLANTIS [L.A.] 5000

I.B.1968 MICHAEL [IBM] QUANTUM COMPUTING ANU [CA] quantumharrellmatrix.tech MINING Economy [ME] @ 1921 QUANTUM 2023 HARRELL 2024 TECH 2025 Apple & IBM [A.i.] LLC of ATLANTIS [L.A.] 5000

#apple #ibm #t mobile #at&t #quantumharrelltech #vision pro #apple lisa #quantum dara #qdara.tech #harrelltut.com #u.s. michael harrell #o michael #king tut #intuitive machine learning

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atlanticelite · 4 days ago

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Transforming Outdoor Spaces with Expert Landscaping in Ocean Isle Beach, NC

At Atlantic Elite, we proudly stand as a full-service landscaping and hardscaping company dedicated to transforming outdoor spaces throughout Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, and Bird Island, NC. We have 2 locations for landscape materials/ products such as mulch/ pine straw, stone/ rock, top soil/ fill dirt, concrete & mortar sand, base material, and sod. Pick up and delivery available. Bulk delivery available. We are fully licensed, insured, and certified for residential and commercial landscape/ hardscape installations. Years of experience and training make us professionals in all aspects of landscape and hardscape installs. Hardscape installs include permeable paver driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks, retaining walls, fire pits, seating walls, paver or gravel parking lots, concrete patios & driveways. We are Techo-Pro installers & Belgard Certified Contractors.

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govipul · 6 days ago

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Boost Repeat Sales with a Tiered Loyalty Program

In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, retaining customers is as critical as acquiring new ones. A tiered loyalty program offers a strategic way to engage customers, increase average order value, and foster long-term brand loyalty. By implementing reward structures that evolve with customer interaction, businesses can create a compelling reason for buyers to return and repeat purchases.

What Is a Tiered Loyalty Program?

A tiered loyalty program is a structured customer retention system where shoppers move through different levels—or tiers—based on their purchasing behavior, engagement, or accumulated points. Each tier unlocks increasingly valuable benefits, which not only incentivizes continued purchases but also encourages customers to aim for the next level.

Example Tiers Might Include:

Bronze – Entry-level with basic benefits

Silver – Mid-level with added perks

Gold – Premium level with exclusive rewards

Why Tiered Loyalty Programs Outperform Traditional Models

Unlike flat rewards systems, tier-based programs tap into customer psychology—particularly the desire for exclusivity and achievement. Here’s why they are so effective:

Boost Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): Customers spend more to unlock higher tiers.

Enhance Brand Engagement: People love earning badges, ranks, and VIP statuses.

Improve Retention Rates: When rewards improve over time, customers are more likely to stay loyal.

Build Emotional Connection: Customers feel recognized and valued, not just transacted.

Designing an Effective Tiered Loyalty Program

To maximize your program's performance, you must craft it strategically. Below are essential components for designing a high-converting tiered loyalty program.

1. Clear Tier Criteria

Make it obvious how customers can advance. Whether it’s by spending amount, number of purchases, or points earned—clarity encourages action.

Example:

Spend ₹10,000 to reach Silver

Earn 1,000 points to unlock Gold

2. Valuable and Unique Rewards

Offer meaningful incentives that align with your brand and customers’ expectations. These may include:

Free shipping

Early access to sales

Birthday gifts

Exclusive product launches

Personalized discounts

3. Tier Names That Resonate

Instead of basic names like Tier 1 or 2, go for emotionally appealing and brand-aligned titles like:

Explorer > Achiever > Visionary

Member > Insider > Elite

4. Visible Progress Tracking

Let users see how close they are to the next level. Gamification elements like progress bars and unlockable badges enhance user motivation.

Integrating Tiered Loyalty with WooCommerce and Other Platforms

For eCommerce brands, especially those on WooCommerce, integration with loyalty and rewards plugins is seamless and powerful. Look for plugins that support:

Tiered structure creation

Automated point calculation

Reward redemption

Customer dashboard visualization

Email notifications for tier changes