#IIS 7.0

[solarclaw]

So I just remembered

Yo both Underverse AND Animator vs Animation updated. Within A WEEK of each other. I love both of them so this is all kinds of friking me up

They're just-

omg I love them both so much. Such good animation. Such good characters! Such good music! SUCH GOOD STORIES!!!! Just-

*chef's kiss*

BUT THEY ARE ALL KINDS OF UPPING MY FUK! I HAVE NO SANITY YET THEY'RE STILL BEATING IT UP *insert "Stop he's already dead" meme here*

I thought I recovered from Underverse 7.0 part II. My best friend, Existential Crisis, ate gooood that day

But now this-!

MY FEELINGS? IN SHAMBLES

MY THOUGHTS? IMPLODED

MY SANITY? SENT TO A DEATHLOOPING SHADOW REALM

ME?!??! SLAYED

wtf is happening now

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Ford GT40

Ford made significant improvements with the Mark II, featuring a 7.0-liter V8 engine, and refined aerodynamics. In 1966, Ford achieved its goal when the GT40 Mark II, driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking the first time an American car had won the prestigious race outright.

The GT40 effort was launched by Ford Motor Company to win long-distance sports car races against Ferrari, which won every 24 Hours of Le Mans race from 1960 to 1965. ... The Mk 1, the oldest of the cars, won in 1968 and 1969, the second chassis to win Le Mans more than once.

The 2005 Ford GT40 is a legendary car born out of a grudge, fueled by ambition, and ultimately crowned with victory on the world's most prestigious racing circuits. Its story begins in the early 1960s when Henry Ford II, commonly known as "Hank the Deuce," sought to challenge the dominance of European manufacturers in endurance racing, particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In 1963, Ford attempted to buy Ferrari, which was then the dominant force in endurance racing, having won Le Mans multiple times. However, the negotiations soured, and Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the Italian marque, walked away from the deal at the last minute, leaving Henry Ford II furious.

The 2017 Goodwood Members Meeting Chassis P2262, again piloted by Chris Ward, lined up for the Surtees Trophy in 8th position after a qualifying session that was dominated by Lola T70’s. Chris Ward got away cleanly and started to make up places but in the fading light a collision occurred bringing out the safety car. When racing resumed Chris Ward raced to the flag climbing to 5th overall.

[xhxhxhx]

I'm going to be quick with this one.

There's laundry, dishes, and vacuuming to be done, again. There are spots of mold in the bathroom again. The down, the sheets, and the mattress are triggering my allergies again.

I'd like to take a walk at the gym again.

I.

I do most of my reading at the gym.

That's a bit of an overstatement, but not by much. I do read in bed. But not much more than at the gym. And not nearly as well.

I have my phone with me in bed. I try to manage. I turned off notifications. I turned off calls. I turned off the sound. I have "Do Not Disturb" on, more or less permanently. But I still have everything else.

I have Twitter. I have Gmail. I have Tumblr. I have Discord. They present the reality or the illusion of something new, something fresh and immediate and exciting.

"Someone out there's trying to talk to you," they say. "Here's something you have to know," they say. "Here are those (You)s you wanted," they say. And they're right. I do want those (You)s.

It's hard to read when there's something like that around. Reading is slow, difficult, impersonal. It's not something you need to know. It's not new. It's not immediate.

It's not personalized. It's not someone trying to talk to you. It's not something for your attention, for your interests. It's not for you. It's just something you chose.

I hand my phone to my spouse at the end of the night. But it doesn't help all that much. I'm still thinking about them, about Twitter and Tumblr, even when they're not there.

Which is why I go to the gym.

II.

I set the machine at a gentle pace, 3.3 miles per hour, and a gentle incline, 7.0 percent. I try to be more aggressive with the incline than the pace. Then I walk. And I read.

I read on an e-reader. It's a Scribe. I have a stand for it, a transparent plastic sheet, about the size and shape of a sheet of legal paper. It's folded four times.

They're called "horizontal" folds, but I find that language less than intuitive. Let me give you a metaphor instead: "It's folded four times, at its neck, shoulders, knees, and ankles." That's better, isn't it?

The folds make lips or ledges to anchor the machine and the reader. To extend the metaphor: The head catches the machine. The feet catch the reader.

Anyways, I set the font on the reader so it can be read from a few feet away. Then I start the machine. It defaults to a 60-minute session, so that's what I do. I keep my head level, I walk, and I read.

III.

I have my phone with me at the gym, but I don't use it. Walking makes it hard to use. It's hard to walk and scroll, to walk and tap, harder than reading. And I don't want to.

That's the striking thing: The not wanting to. I don't feel drawn away, drawn to something immediate, personalized. I don't feel my attention waning. I focus.

I'm still exhausted by the end of the hour. I come home to my apartment and collapse.

I only wish I could go longer.

[kutiekirby]

The strong feminine urge to create proseka cards for II chars w/ my humanized designs…

Sigh I’m making my own gachas and card sets. This will include my oc and AU

Though nobody but me knows what I’m talking about lemme break it down:

(Breakdances) (jkjk)

I have an inanimate insanity AU called freedom fighters (I decided on the name woo!). A story about my oc, Mephone15, going to her beloved brother, Mephone4’s show to try and kill him, like all her other siblings. Long story short, she didn’t do so, lived with 4 and Mepad, witnessed the death of inanimate insanity and Mephone4 going back to meeple, got Mepad, and Bot to get the shimmer’s help, fixed 3GS, huge fight, cobs is dead, 4 and 15 reunion, and now Mepad, 3GS, 4, 15, and Bot are a family of silly rouge robots. This is interesting once I write the fic, I just posted the summary.

The gachas and cards are below. If anything is wrong, do let me know. It is 11:44 pm as I write this, and I just ripped things off of the proseka card wiki if I’m being completely honest with you. My parents think I’m asleep.💀

The Joy We Seek gacha

Mephone4

Card name: A Fresh Start!

Quote: “Greetings and salutations!”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Inanimate Insanity

Attribute: Pure

Skill name: Reality Show Hosting!

Ability: Turns all BAD or higher notes into PERFECT notes for 5s

Mephone15

Card name: An Awkward Mission

Quote: “Do I really have to do this…?”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Freedom Fighters

Attribute: Mysterious

Skill name: To Betray, Or Not To Betray?

Ability: 120% score boost for 5s

Mepad

Card name: Brand New Assistant☆

Quote: “Not to be rude, but you should behave more professionally in your work environment.”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Inanimate Insanity

Attribute: Cool

Skill name: Always Here To Help

Ability: Recover 500 Life, +100% score for 5s

Toilet

Card name: Brand New… Assistant?!

Quote: “MISTAH PHOOOOONE!”

Rarity: 3 stars

Unit: Inanimate insanity

Attribute: Happy

Skill name: I’ve Got Your Wires, Sir!

Ability: all GOODs or higher become PERFECTs for 6.5s

OJ

Card name: Season One Winner!

“I did it! I won Inanimate Insanity!”

Rarity: 3 stars

Unit: inanimate insanity

Attribute: Happy

Skill name: Million Dollar Smile

Ability: 100% score boost for 5s for PERFECTs only

The Future Is So Yesterday gacha

Steve Cobs

Card name: The Truth Breaks Reality

Quote: “See, Mephone didn’t just make the show. He made YOU…”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Inanimate insanity

Attribute: Mysterious

Skill name: No More Secrets

Ability: all BADs or higher become PERFECTs for 7.0s. +100% score boost for 5s

Mephone3GS

(Gacha Exclusive)

Card name: Helpless And Neglected

Quote: “Please… don’t.”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Inanimate insanity

Attribute: Cool

Skill name: To Those We Wait For

Ability: Score boost 90% if life is under 800 (120% if life is over 800.) for 5s. For every 10 life, score is increased by +1% (stops as 140%.)

Mephone4 (young)

Card name: Little Big Dreamer

Quote: “Hey 4s! 15! Wanna hear my show’s story!?”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Freedom Fighters

Attribute: Cute

Skill name: Sharing Interests With Those We Trust

Ability: 250% Score boost for 5s.

Knife

Card name: Can’t Wait To Win!

Quote: “…Can’t belive I’m gonna open this door, clock this guy in the face, and become a millionaire. That’s crazy.”

Rarity: 3 stars

Unit: Inanimate Insanity

Attribute: Cool

Skill name: Arrogant, Yet Kind

Ability: 80% score boost for 5s. (PERFECTs only)

Suitcase

Card name: Retrieving The Lonley

Quote: “And- Mephone3GS? We’ll come back for you.”

Rarity: 3 Stars

Unit: Inanimate Insanity

Attribute: Pure

Skill name: I Promise

Ability: Recover 400 life, 60% score boost for 5s.

Through No Choice Of Your Own gacha

Mephone4

Card name: Nothing Ever Lasts Forever

Quote: “…No.”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Inanimate Insanity

Attribute: Pure

Skill name: Child’s Play

Ability: Life recovery +350% and score +80% for 5s

Steve Cobs

Card Name: Father Knows Best

Quote: “Show’s over. Let’s go home.”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Inanimate insanity

Attribute: Cool

Skill name: “Good” Parenting

Ability: 130% score boost for 5. (PERFECTs only)

Mephone15

Card name: Tears Streaming Down A Paralyzed Body

Quote: “I was so struck with emotion, everything went black.”

Rarity: 4 stars

Unit: Freedom Fighters

Attribute: Mysterious

Skill name: Severe Emotion Paralysis Protocol

Ability: all BADs or higher become PERFECTs for 7s.

Mepad

Card name: Console The Hopeless

Quote: “Please.. don’t cry, 15. I’m here now.”

Rarity: 3 stars

Unit: Freedom Fighters

Attribute: Happy

Skill name: The Strongest Brotherly Love

Ability: recover 400 life, 60% score boost for 5s.

Bot

(Gacha exclusive)

Card name: Is This Really Inanimate Island!?

Quote: “Wait, what!? Where am I?!”

Rarity: 3 stars

Unit: Freedom Fighters

Attribute: Cute

Skill name: An Unfamiliar Familiarness

Ability: All GOODs or higher become PERFECTs for 5s.

I’m so tired. I stared at like ten something originally. Had to add the disclaimer when I finished. Debating on whether I should add the FF and another gacha. I WOULD draw the cards but I’m bad at anime art and I’m working on smth else atm. Eyelids are starting to get heavy, adding the tags, posting this, and going to sleep.

[riseofthecommonwoodpile]

Ayyyy round finally overrrrr. I finished listening to these like two weeks ago but i just didn’t get around to posting the capsules on bluesky until rn. a mixed bag that was overall positive:

A.R. Kane— 69 (8.0/10)

Afsky— Sorg (9.0/10)

Amalgamated Sons of Rest— Amalgamated Sons of Rest (7.0/10)

AMIAYA— TOKYO POP (6.0/10)

AMM— AMMMusic (7.5/10)

Animal Collective— People (7.5/10)

Ash-B (애쉬비)— Brat of the Year (7.0/10)

Banshee— Birth of Venus (6.0/10)

Beck— Stereopathetic Soulmanure (6.5/10)

Black Flag— I Can See You (4.0/10)

Boss Hog— Cold Hands (7.5/10)

The Brian Jonestown Massacre— Spacegirl And Other Favorites (8.0/10)

Broken Social Scene— You Forgot It In People (8.5/10)

Bruce Springsteen— Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. (7.5/10)

Cattle Decapitation— To Serve Man (7.0/10)

Coil— Love's Secret Domain (8.0/10)

The Cure— Seventeen Seconds (8.0/10)

Dashboard Confessional— The Swiss Army Romance (5.5/10)

The Desert Sessions— Vol II: Status: Ships Commander Butchered (8.0/10)

Deutsch Amerikanische Freundchaft— Alles ist gut (8.0/10)

Hannah Diamond— Perfect Picture (8.5/10)

Keith Rowe— The Room Extended (10/10)

Kevin Drumm— Comedy (5.5/10)

Kool Keith— Black Elvis / Lost in Space (8.0/10)

Lorde— Pure Heroine (9.0/10)

Lou Reed— Street Hassle (7.5/10)

Lydia Lunch & Lucy Hamilton— The Drowning of Lucy Hamilton (8.0/10)

Neil Young & Crazy Horse— Arc (9.0/10)

Nymphrenia— Losing Meaning (7.5/10)

Ornette Coleman— Of Human Feelings (9.5/10)

Pink Reason— Cleaning the Mirror (8.0/10)

Pussy Galore— Exile on Main St. (6.0/10)

Rancid— …And Out Come The Wolves (7.0/10)

Sault— NINE (8.5/10)

Surgeon— Force + Form (9.0/10)

Toshiya Tsunoda— Extract From Field Recordings Archive #1 (8.5/10)

Underoath— They're Only Chasing Safety (7.0/10)

Will Oldham— Joya (7.5/10)

[mikeepoos-mechanical-mix]

Big Warehouse Opens Up To Reveal Secret Stash of Plymouth Superbirds, Ford Talladegas

In January 2023, we saw a massive collection of Dodge Charger Daytonas and Plymouth Superbirds cross the auction block. It included no fewer than 12 "winged warriors," and it raised no less than $6 million. It remains the largest collection of Mopar aero cars I've seen to date, but the stash you're about to see here is just as impressive. Uncovered by Ryan Brutt of "Auto Archaeology," this collection is nowhere near as fancy. As in most of the cars are awaiting restoration, and only a few are in Concours condition. But the warehouse keeping them safe from the elements is home to over 20 aero vehicles. And I'm not talking only about Dodge Daytonas and Plymouth Superbirds. The stash also includes Ford Talladegas and the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler IIs. It's probably the most extensive aero car collection in the US right now.

The footage begins with the car that led Dodge to develop the Daytona, the Charger 500. A green example awaiting restoration, it has a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8 under the hood. It's sitting next to a blue 1969 Charger Daytona, also fitted with a 440, but the rest of the row comprises four 1970 Plymouth Superbirds.

There's an orange example that's running and driving and a B5 Blue car that was rescued from a barn. This one's having its nose rebuilt and packs a four-barrel version of the iconic 440 RB. Next up, there's a white Superbird with two desirable features: a Six Pack version of the 440 and a bench seat. The fourth Plymouth, also of the B5 Blue variety, is getting rebuilt as we speak.

The next row includes six Ford Talladegas. Based on the Fairlane Cobra Sportsroof, the Talladega arrived in 1969 to homologate the nameplate for NASCAR. The race car went on to win the 1969 season and prompted Dodge to design the radical Charger Daytona. About 750 road-legal cars were built, which makes the Talladega notably rarer than the Plymouth Superbird (1,935 units).

The six cars parked in this row need restoration, but they're still in one piece and retaining their V8 engines. One of the white examples was reportedly about to get crushed when it was rescued. Four more Talladegas are parked on the other side of the warehouse, including three examples in excellent condition and ready to be driven. In all, the collection includes ten examples: five in Wimbledon White, three in Presidential Blue, and two in Royal Maroon. Yes, the Talladega was offered in only three colors.

The Talladega wasn't the only NASCAR homologation special built by Ford Motor Company in 1969. Mercury also got a piece of the action and developed the Cyclone Spoiler II. A beefed-up, more aerodynamic version of the Cyclone, the Spoiler II project reportedly spawned 503 units. Unofficially, however, Mercury may have built only around 350 units. Regardless, this collection includes four examples, two of which are almost pristine.

Unlike the Talladega, which was equipped with the 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet V8, the Cyclone Spoiler II left the factory with the smaller and milder 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) Windsor V8. Unfortunately, there's no info on how many cars from this collection are still equipped with their numbers-matching mills.

Always though that these were kind of dumb cars to own, and they could barely get rid of them when they were new, some hanging around dealerships for years, now my car collecting and wrenching days are coming to an end, sort of developed a warm spot

[liquidmetalslime]

I've been playing a lot of DQX lately (+1120 hours!) and I'm now in the middle of v7.1.

I've been debating if I should post this or not. Probably I should not, but I need to talk about it somewhere. I thought it would be okay under a Read More.

⚠️ MASSIVE SPOILERS for Dragon Quest X and other main series entries under the Read More. Read at your own discretion. ⚠️

So in Version 7 not only you visit the Dragon Quest IX world, you learn it's name(Zeniath) and even see the Great Architect.

I've been dying to post this image:

At the point I'm at (middle of episode 7.1) I'm starting the believe Zeniath is the world of DQIX, but not quite. Something like a paralel world of sorts. You're presented some lore and concepts that do check out with DQIX lore (Zenus the Great Architect, Guardian Angels...), but there's also something missing, which leads me to believe its not quite the same world.

I have seen NO mention of Celestria or Yggdrassil yet. Given her significant role in IX as the sole daughter of Zenus, it is strange that she isn't mentioned as one of this daughters. Perhaps something happened to her after IX that lead to her dad being revived (Zenus was divided into the grotto bosses in IX) and having new children?

(They could have a good reason for Celestria/Yggdrassil not being mentioned, if she was affected by the curse afecting both Zeniath and Astoltia. If true, she might appear later on in the expansion, they have only released 7.0 and 7.1 at the time of writting this post )

The lore in versions 5 and 6 (two important celestrians from IX mentioned!) and the 10th anniversary questline lead me to believe DQX was a sequel to DQIX set +10000 years after the DS classic.

Now, after giving some thought to what I've seen of version 7, I'm starting to believe it might not be quite like that. Something ain't right.

(There are also other connections between X and other main games, but those feel more like cameos. There's III, IV and VI characters having cameos in the magic maze; I, III, and XI events; a Nokturnus side story (which implies that his appearence in DQVI happens after being defeated by you in DQX); there is one sidequest involving Malroth and the evil gods from II too; there are legacy bosses in various places... But none seem to affect the lore much or at all. )

[tritoch]

Deciding that my wol does not deviate from canon as presented in the game makes every point where I would have deviated so enjoyably juicy. I thought Wolund might be a WAR in Dawntrail after everything with Zenos and tapping back into his love for adventure! I was extremely wrong.

Musings on character class and Dawntrail. Spoilers through the end of 7.0 below.

I don't think the WoL in Dawntrail can be a Warrior, really: rather than tapping into their love of combat, they've clearly learned to take their foot off the gas. All your most interesting moments in 7.0 are when you don't fight someone, or when you are slow to violence. WAR just doesn't fit, to me.

In fact, no tank fits for me: tanking in duty support means pushing Wuk Lamat out of the tank role, or at least the main tank role for the 99 trial, and that just seems wrong to me from a story and vibes standpoint. Similarly, playing a DPS means making Alisaie heal the 93 dungeon and trial, which is insane to me. I don't think it should be legal to staff-chick Alisaie, as it were. I've also never liked healer G'raha, who shows up in the 97, 99, and 100 dungeons if you're DPS; we see him use PLD and BLM (well, their equivalents) a lot in the story, but only rarely, if ever, WHM.

Of course, playing healer means DPS Alphinaud in the 91 dungeon. That means an ideal "everyone stays in their ideal roles" job means being able to flex DPS or healing. And that leaves me right back where I started the game, withl CBU3's Blessed Siblings: SMN/SCH.

SMN has always been so canon to me: it's FF's special-est magical girl class, it involves claiming your enemies' power for your own, it gives a lot of weight to you as "the savior of the savages" in the eyes of the empire, Y'mhitra shows up in MSQ, Fordola and Arenvald show up in SMN quests. You get the Hydaelyn&Azem-esque Solar Bahamut this time out! Very main character stuff.

And SCH! Dawntrail is, to me, such a healer expansion. Only once, at the very end, do you really bring your own might to bear, and then in the form of the classic Azem trick, Instant Queue Duty Finder. You spend a lot of the MSQ and every role quest mostly playing the role of support, backing people up and rarely taking point. Serving as Wuk Lamat's emotional support is most of the expansion, and MSQ is pretty pointedly about how you're not really the main hero this time out.

So the idea of a WoL who mostly doesn't fight (okay he's spamming Art of War II. It's a gain on 2, Wuk Lamat), but calls directions, warns of incoming attacks, throws up shields, pulls people out of AOEs, that's very good to me. And healer can be the only role you need to pull you over the finish line, as myself and a cohealer learned today when I burned everything to heal him through repeated AOEs (thanks Dissipation and Seraphism) so he could pull off a healer LB3 (double mhroth scholar team, to boot) in the final trial. And wouldn't it make sense for Azem to play that role of battlefield tactician, coordinating their disparate friends? It's also the only role Emet and Hythlodaeus lack between them...

We're not taking center stage and holding aggro this time out, and that's a fun change! Curious to see how it plays out in patches. But rather than having his blood up and pumping again, Wolund seems very much at peace, and I'm excited to see how that plays out.

also biolysis-swiftcast-recitation-adlo-deployment tactics into a raidwide hits so fucking good. that shit's like candy to me.

miscellaneous related thoughts:

- SCH and SMN are also connected to arcanima and the South Seas Isle Lalafells, who seem like they might suddenly be somewhat more important than expected

- I feel bad for many scholars because I know Seraphism doesn't fit your class fantasy. But if you're playing SCH as "this is just the WoL class this time" it hits so good. You're a secretive mentor figure with a secret special ANGEL form that maybe is due to the time your soul was almost permanently warped by light aether or maybe is a fusion with your summon, both of which are basically boss phase concepts to me tbh.

- also looking on Twitter it looks like Seraphism functions normally for most people but uh it removes Wolund's hrothgar coeurlstache. I choose to believe it's light aether fucking him up and if you could see under the hood he basically looks like Forgiven Reticence its NOT his real face

- his pets are ruby (SMN) and emerald (SCH) carbuncle, to avoid scaring people and to keep a low profile.

[pix4japan]

Scenic Heights: Koriga-Ike Pond and Geological Marvels on the Izu Skyline

Location: Izu Skyline, Shizuoka, Japan Timestamps: 15:33 on February 14, 2024

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP 88 mm ISO 100 for 1/25 sec. at ƒ/10

Koriga-Ike Pond reveals its tranquil beauty exclusively to travelers on the Izu Skyline, situated approximately 120 km southwest of central Tokyo.

Perched at an altitude of 680 m, the Izu Skyline Kurotake Parking Lot offers visitors an uninterrupted view of the pond.

Once a vital source of cut ice for Atami resort hotels, the pond transformed into a scenic haven for tourists traveling by car after the nearby ropeway closed in 1970.

This pond, and six others, owe their existence to seismic activity spanning thousands of years along the Tanna Fault, which also played a more recent role in the 1930 North Izu Earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0.

In the full write-up (2-min. read), I delve a little deeper into the "ice pond," the short life of the abandoned ropeway that stands nearby the pond, and go into the geological impact of the Tanna Fault. I’ve also posted Google Maps links for the pond and the parking, and list sources for further reading (https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20240214-korigaike).

[kourt-wants-a-pager]

Review: Beyoncé's "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" & "16 CARRIAGES"

So Beyoncé blessed us with the RENAISSANCE: ACT II announcement that gave us the release date for the record (March 29th) and 2 singles. Honestly, dunno why she decided to drop 2 singles (if you can call them that), but it's Queen B so why not. The whole album is going to be a country one, so the country sound of these 2 songs will remain on the other tracks.

Track 1: "TEXAS HOLD' EM"

The first one is "TEXAS HOLD 'EM". The song is basically an up-beat country bop that gets you in a dancin' mood with the yeehaws. The instrumental and production are really good and Queen B's vocals are fire. My favorite part about the song is the outro and the last verse: it is so reminiscent of the ACT I production and it is pleasant to hear. On my initial listen, I kinda like it and my whole opinion on the song improved after listening to the song some more. I think it's a really good song that's an amazing cowboy showdown anthem. The cover for this song is also really pretty!

9.8/10

TRACK 2: "16 CARRIAGES"

The next song is a lot less up-beat than the previous one. This is a ballad about how the singer's past and how they had to grow and become responsible at a very young age. This record is very honest and authentic, however I am not a big fan of this song. I don't know why, but the chorus just feels...clunky? It is just this really sudden loud production that just goes away after the chorus ends, which I think is kinda too loud for this ballad. The chorus got better throughout the song, but not good enough to justify its loudness. The production and vocal performance is good as always, but the chorus kinda ruins it for me. I LOOOVE the cover for this song so much, the bob is PHENOMENAL.

7.0/10

So yeah, these 2 songs are really great and I have high hopes for the full record!

[peeyots]

2023年に買ったボードゲームのまとめ

（記憶が正しければ、）2023年に届いたものが対象。ミニ拡張は除く。

Twilight Struggle: Red Sea - Conflict in the Horn of Africa 7.5: 居合のようなタイム感にアレンジされたTwilight Struggle。クーデターはできるけど、その前のカードガチャでしくるとDEFCON 1下げになるというエチオピア＆ソマリアのFlashpointが緊張感を作っている。どう転んでも、比較的短期間で勝負がつくので、良くも悪くも本家のような湿った悔しさは生まれない。

ルナックの失われし遺跡:調査隊長 日本語版 (Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders) 未プレイ

ドミニオン：略奪 日本語版 (Dominion: Plunder) 7.0: 半ば意地になって拡張を買っているような。最近は新しい拡張が出るとアプリでも買っており、そこでカードをなんとなく覚え、なんとなくプレイしている習慣となっております。戦利品ガチャ+特性（サプライの特定のカード山に効果を与えるやつ）はここのところの似たり寄ったりの拡張の中では新鮮さのある方。

ロフォーテン 日本語版 (Lofoten) 4.5: 2人専用ゲーム。バイキング船をカードプレイで移動＆回転させて、物資を場から自分のストレージにピック＆デリバリー。複数あるセットコレクションのスコアリング条件で優勢を決める。手なりで進みそうなゲームだと思ったら、まったくその通り。Pearl Gamesの遺作だとすると悲しいな。レコード会社との契約で出さざるを得ない、不仲で解散したバンドのラストアルバムの雰囲気！

ドミニオン：繁栄 第二�� 日本語版 (Dominion: Prosperity Second Edition) 評価保留: 新カード何枚か入れて遊んだんだけど（もちろんアプリで！）、全然覚えてません。

エクスペディションズ (Expeditions) 7.0: Scytheの世界観で遊ぶ劣化版コンコルディア、という印象。Scytheの目標早取りルールもそのまま踏襲しているので、ゴチャゴチャしてるけと案外ルール���入りは良い。Scytheのガチガチすぎるプレイングと比較すると、カードでふわっとしているこちらのほうが最近の自分の好みかもしれない。

キューボサウルス 日本語版 (Cubosaurs) 5.5: カード押し付けも可能なドラフト&セットコレクション。ゲーム中に1度か2度だけ痺れるような場面がやってくるが、それ以外の時間は手なり of 手なり。それをじっと待つゲーム。

ダーウィンズ・ジャーニー コレクターズエディション (Darwin's Journey Collector's Edition) 7.5: ルチアーニらしい、PvE味の強い（＝プレイヤーに攻略したいと思わせる）ゲーム。徐々にアクションエリアが開いていくところは好き。なんとかテーマは乗っているので、ルチアーニにしてはルールの入りも良い。

蒸気の時代DX 拡張マップパックVol.2 (Age of Steam: Expansion Volume II) 未プレイ： 蹴っていたのを忘れてた。IVは終了するまでプロジェクトをやっていたことすら知らなかったのに！

蒸気の時代DX 拡張マップパックVol.3 (Age of Steam: Expansion Volume III) 未プレイ

蒸気の時代DX フランス/ポーランドマップ (Age of Steam: France / Poland) 未プレイ

ワイマール：民主主義の戦い 日本語版 (Weimar: The Fight for Democracy) 7.5: ユーロゲームのドイツ人作家がこの題材を選んで、4人のプレイヤーを8時間とか拘束させる＆こんなニッチなものをホビージャパンがカッチリ日本語版を出したということだけで100点！ ほとんどの時間で与党だった自分は、ただただ面倒な仕事に追われるだけで、脳汁の出る瞬間などなかったけど、後半にかけて、そろそろ自分も連立さんみたいに得点が欲しいな！と欲が出て外交仕事をやりやじめたら、「やーい、弱腰～！」と、国内で急進右翼がブイブイいわせはじめて、5R最終ターンに国がぶっ壊れました。このバランスはシリアスゲーム的でもあり、メッセージ性が強い！

チャレンジャーズ！ 日本語版 (Challengers!) 8.0: オートチェスのボードゲーム化が完成。しかもTCGトーナメントのごっこ遊びで。インストコストの安さも正義。ギャラクシートラッカーもそうだけど、他人と一緒に答え合わせをあーだこーだ言いながら眺めるのは単純に楽しい。

チャレンジャーズ！ ビーチカップ 日本語版 (Challengers!: Beach Cup) 7.5: 味変したいのはよくわかるが、途中あれこれ��間さまが判断して手を加えたら、それはオートチェスではない。

Evacuation 7.5: あれこれ持ってきている個々のメカニクスに特に新鮮味はないんだけど、太陽系死ぬわ～のお引越しテーマが上手く乗っているのがすばらしい。汽車系の読み取りが難しい類のものではなく、プレイヤーボード上での旧世界/新世界という二元のロジスティクスなので、なんとかコントロールしきれるバランスなのもちょうど良いという感じ。中重量級。

アルナックの失われし遺跡：消えた調査隊 (Lost Ruins of Arnak: The Missing Expedition) 未プレイ

テラミスティカ：革新の時代　日本語版 (Age of Innovation) 未プレイ

パパヨー (Papayoo) 6.5: 入手性が悪く安いゲームということで、海外旅行のお土産に手配いただきました。誰かが盛大に死ぬゲームって楽しいですよね。自分でなければ。

グレート・ウエスタン・トレイル 拡張 北部への道 第2版 (Great Western Trail: Second Edition – Rails To The North) 未プレイ: たまたま見かけて「あらいいですね」と思わず買ってしまった。ニュージーランドを遊んだあとに、これ、遊ぶかなぁ……

インペリアルマイナーズ 日本語版 (Imperial Miners) 6.0: マウンテンキングの資源の湧き方のところだけを借りてきたようなタブロービルド。ルールを読んで想像した以上の面白さはないが、後半きれいに組み上げたコンボルートがワークしている姿を見れば、ゲーマーはニンマリしてしまう。

Orleans: The Plague 未プレイ

カスカディア 拡張：ランドマーク 日本語版 (Cascadia: Landmarks) 未プレイ

マッチオブザセンチュリー 日本語版 (Match of the Century) 7.0: カードドリブンの超シンプルな切り取り。駆け上がるべき階段の一段目として持ち出して様子を見てみよう！ ゲームとしては、しゃがみ力が非常に問われる。しゃがむための準備（＝ハンドマネジメント）とタイミング。初プレイでは、パワー5のカードを開いてプレビューしたほうが良いと思う。

今年初めて遊んだゲームベスト5

1位 チャレンジャーズ

2位 マラカイボ

だいぶ詰んでいたブツを売却前に遊んでみるかとやってみたら、これが思いの外楽しい…… 出版社との契約でリリースしたベストアルバムみたいなこんなゲームでキャッキャしてしまい、自分の意識の低さが恥ずかしい！ 後述のGWT: アルゼンチンの方向性が最近の自分の好みになっているので、プレイした時期も良かったと思っております。

3位 ワイマール：民主主義の戦い

4位 サビカ

2020年代のロンデルのあり方！ 三重ロンデルの移動ルールとリソースの所持上限の厳しい設定のおかげで、プレイ順の計画が非常に悩ましい。ミスっても、いまどきのヘビーゲームっぽく、得点ルートがわんさかあるのでなんとかなりそうな雰囲気なんだけど、やはりベストで打てないとライバルには勝てねえ。騙されちゃダメ！ そーいや、Bitoku遊んでねえ。

5位 グレート・ウエスタン・トレイル：アルゼンチン

はいはい、きみらこんなん好きっショ！という感じで、その商売っ気にちょっとイラついたりもするのですが、こんな全部乗せ、配膳されたらバクバク食っちゃいますよね。競技性高めのアルゼンチンよりも、カードのあれこれで、新しくできるようになることを段���みしてもてなしてくれるこっちのほうが断然好き。あと、あんな風におじさんを拉致したくない！

総括

去年からの傾向がさらに加速。可処分時間のやりくりでボードゲームを遊ぶ機会が減っていくと、他の方からも段々と声が掛からなくなってくる&自分であれこれをオーガナイズするモチベーションにもなく、更に遊ばなくなっていくスパイラル。

「ピーさん、まだボードゲーム遊んでるんですか？ｗｗｗ」とか訊かれました。

家族の立ち退き運動が激化して、ボードゲームを150個くらい売却しました。それでも、棚にちょっとでもスペースが空くと、息を吸うようにまた買ってしまう。また溢れた。

自分で好んで買ってるヘビーゲームのルール（おおよそ英語）を読み込む手間にイライラしはじめて、「自分、狂人なのでは？ いや、ヘビーゲーマー全体が！？」と思い始めました。

ボードゲーム遊びましょう！（行けたら行く）

[eliteexpertise0]

Step-by-Step Guide for International Pharmacists to Get Licensed in Canada

If you're an internationally educated pharmacist (excluding the U.S.) and aspire to be a pharmacist in Canada, you may be wondering: Where do I begin? What exams are involved? How long will it take? Don’t worry—Elite Expertise is here to guide you through each step of the journey.

Step 1: Enroll with Pharmacists' Gateway Canada

All international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) must register with Pharmacists' Gateway Canada (Gateway) to begin their licensure journey (mandatory in all provinces except Quebec).

You will receive a NAPRA ID, which creates a digital profile.

This profile acts as a centralized document repository for PRAs, PEBC, and language test results.

Enrollment Fee: CAD 380

Step 2: Document Evaluation by PEBC

Use your NAPRA ID to apply for document evaluation with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).

Eligibility:

A minimum four-year pharmacy degree

Required Documents:

Witnessed PEBC application form

Certified ID proof

Proof of pharmacy degree

Proof of licensure (from your home country)

Statutory declaration

Processing Time: Approx. 8 weeks

Evaluation Fee: CAD 705

Step 3: Pharmacist Evaluating Examination

Once your documents are approved, you'll be eligible to apply for the Evaluating Exam, which tests foundational pharmacy knowledge.

Application Fee: CAD 900

Attempts Allowed: 3 attempts (with a possible 4th attempt upon PEBC approval)

Format: 120 MCQs; available in test centers or online via Prometric

Exam Content Breakdown:

Pharmacy Practice: 50%

Pharmaceutical Sciences: 25%

Biomedical Sciences: 15%

Behavioral, Social, and Administrative Sciences: 10%

Step 4: Pharmacist Qualifying Examination

After passing the Evaluating Exam, apply for the Qualifying Examination, which includes two parts:

Part I: MCQ

Fee: CAD 845

Format: Computer-based, 4.5-hour exam

Attempts Allowed: 4

Part II: OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)

Fee: CAD 1,895

Format: 13 stations, including interactive/non-interactive scenarios and pre-test station

Length: ~6.5 hours

Attempts Allowed: 4

Step 5: PEBC Certification

After passing both parts of the Qualifying Exam:

Your name is added to PEBC’s register

You receive a Certificate of Qualification

PEBC exam cost results letter can be used as temporary verification while your certificate is being prepared

Step 6: English Language Proficiency

You must prove proficiency in English (or French, if applying to a French-speaking region).

Accepted Tests:

IELTS Academic: Reading 7.0, Listening 7.0, Speaking 7.0, Writing 6.5

OET: B grades in Reading, Listening, Speaking; C+ in Writing

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Ford GT40

The Ford GT40 is one of the most iconic cars in automotive history, renowned for its dominance in endurance racing during the 1960s. Here's the full story:

Origins:

In the early 1960s, Henry Ford II, known as "Hank the Deuce," was determined to beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest active sports car race. Enzo Ferrari had rebuffed Ford's attempt to buy the Italian company, which led to Ford's determination to defeat Ferrari on the racetrack.

Development:

Ford tasked its newly acquired subsidiary, Ford Advanced Vehicles, with developing a car capable of winning Le Mans. The project was named GT (for Grand Touring) with the intention of building 100 road cars to homologate it for racing. Carroll Shelby, who had been involved in motorsports and had success with the Shelby Cobra, was brought in to manage the racing program.

GT40 Mark I:

The first iteration of the GT40, known as the Mark I, debuted in 1964. It was powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine and showed promise but faced reliability issues.

GT40 Mark II:

Ford made significant improvements with the Mark II, featuring a 7.0-liter V8 engine, and refined aerodynamics. In 1966, Ford achieved its goal when the GT40 Mark II, driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking the first time an American car had won the prestigious race outright.

GT40 Mark III:

In 1967, Ford introduced the GT40 Mark III, a road-going version of the race car. It featured a more luxurious interior and was intended for homologation purposes.

Continued Success:

The GT40 went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans three more times consecutively from 1966 to 1969, solidifying its place in motorsport history. Notably, the 1967 race saw an all-American victory with the GT40 Mk IV driven by Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt.

Legacy:

The Ford GT40's dominance in endurance racing and its rivalry with Ferrari became legendary. It remains an icon of American automotive engineering and a symbol of Ford's determination to compete at the highest level of motorsport.

Modern Resurrection:

In the 2000s, Ford resurrected the GT nameplate with the Ford GT, a modern supercar inspired by the original GT40. The new Ford GT debuted in 2004 and again in 2017, paying homage to its predecessor while showcasing cutting-edge technology and performance.

[latechlatam]

ADATA presentó en Argentina sus nuevas soluciones de almacenamiento portátiles

ADATA Technology, fabricante de módulos de memoria y unidades de almacenamiento, anunció el lanzamiento de tres nuevos productos para el almacenamiento portátil y la creación de contenidos: la tarjeta de memoria Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express –la primera de su tipo en la industria–, la unidad flash UE720 USB 3.2 Gen2 y la carcasa para SSD M.2 EC680.

“Con el aumento en la demanda de trabajo remoto, creación móvil y procesamiento de contenido de alta resolución, las soluciones de almacenamiento portátil de alta velocidad y confiabilidad se han vuelto cruciales para mejorar la eficiencia laboral y la flexibilidad creativa”, dijo Fabio Selvaggio, Country Manager de ADATA/XPG para Argentina y Uruguay. Y agregó: “Nuestros nuevos productos de almacenamiento integran las últimas tecnologías para asegurar un rendimiento que no solo responda a las exigencias actuales, sino que también abra nuevas posibilidades y experiencias de uso más ágiles”.

Tarjeta de memoria Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express

La nueva tarjeta de memoria Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express está equipada con interfaz PCIe Gen3 x2 y protocolo de transferencia NVMe, con velocidades máximas de lectura de hasta 1600 MB/s y de escritura de hasta 1200 MB/s.

“ADATA Technology es la primera compañía en lanzar al mercado una tarjeta de memoria con especificación SD 8.0 Express, con lo que consolida su liderazgo en este ámbito”, destacó Fabio Selvaggio, quien detalló: “El rendimiento de nuestra Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express es 2 veces más rápido que SD Express 7.0, 12 veces más rápido que las tarjetas de memoria SD UHS-I, 4 veces más rápido que UHS-II, e incluso supera a las SSD externas disponibles comercialmente, con lo que elimina el cuello de botella de velocidad de las tarjetas de memoria tradicionales”.

La nueva tarjeta de memoria de ADATA también soporta las clases de velocidad de video U3 y V30, y viene con capacidad de 512 GB. Sus características y desempeño le permiten manejar con fluidez la grabación de video 4K, procesamiento de imágenes RAW o multitarea. También incorpora tecnología de corrección automática de errores LDPC ECC y ha pasa múltiples pruebas rigurosas como resistencia al agua, golpes, antiestática y resistencia a altas y bajas temperaturas, proporcionando protección integral para la seguridad de los datos.

Unidad flash USB UE720

La unidad flash UE720 utiliza una interfaz USB 3.2 Gen2 para alcanzar velocidades máximas de lectura de 550 MB/s y de escritura de 450 MB/s. “Se trata de velocidades de transferencia 5 veces más rápidas que las de las unidades flash USB 3.2 Gen1 tradicionales, lo que reduce enormemente el tiempo de transferencia de archivos grandes y datos de respaldo”, subrayó el Country Manager de ADATA/XPG.

La ADATA UE720 tiene un cuerpo ligero y delgado de solo 13 gramos, lo que, combinado con su diseño deslizante sin tapa, facilita su transporte y uso con una sola mano. Esta unidad llega en capacidades de 64 GB, 128 GB y 256 GB, y viene con el software Backup ToGo de ADATA, para facilitar la configuración de copias de seguridad automáticas, lo que resulta en una solución de almacenamiento de datos eficiente y segura para trabajadores móviles y creadores de contenidos.

Carcasa externa para SSD M.2 EC680

“La carcasa para SSD M.2 EC680 está construida en aleación de aluminio gris mate con un diseño texturizado de aletas, proporcionando excelente disipación de calor y un agarre firme. Equipada con USB 3.2 Gen2 x1 y conector Type-C, la velocidad máxima de transferencia alcanza 1050 MB/s, lo que satisface las necesidades de acceso a datos de alta velocidad”, explicó Fabio Selvaggio. Y destacó: “La carcasa portátil EC680 enfatiza un diseño de instalación sin herramientas que facilita el proceso de uso. El usuario solo necesita voltear el pestillo lateral del EC680 para extraer la caja interior e instalar, por ejemplo, un SSD antiguo retirado de PC o notebook”.

La carcasa ADATA EC680 es una solución de tipo carry disk que soporta SSDs M2.0 de tamaño 2230 2242 y 2280. Es compatible con sistemas operativos Android, Mac OS y Windows, y también puede utilizarse con consolas PlayStation 5 y Xbox para ampliar la biblioteca de juegos.

[investorsjunction]

Manor One Sector 111 Gurgaon Price – What Buyers & Investors Should Know

There’s no shortage of residential projects along Dwarka Expressway. But when you’re looking for one with livable construction, decent pricing, and potential for long-term value, Manor One Sector 111 Gurgaon often pops up in the conversation.

This blog will help you understand the pricing, what’s currently available, and what kind of living and rental potential this project actually offers, without overpromising anything.

Manor One Sector 111 Gurgaon – Location Review

Manor One is located in Sector 111, Gurgaon, along the Dwarka Expressway. It’s about 3 km from Dwarka Sector 21 Metro Station and around 20 minutes from Cyber City. This sector is part of the New Gurgaon belt—planned infrastructure, close to the upcoming Diplomatic Enclave II, and linked to IGI Airport in under 30 minutes.

Key location highlights:

Direct access to Dwarka Expressway (already functional in stretches)

Close to Yashobhoomi Convention Centre and new metro corridors

Schools, hospitals, and daily needs stores within a 3–5 km radius

Sector 111 is gradually becoming residentially active—not just proposed

For buyers who want to live close to Delhi while still enjoying the benefit of Gurgaon’s newer infrastructure, the location works well.

Manor One Sector 111 Gurgaon Price – Latest Update (2025) Here’s the current price range for different configurations in Manor One as seen in the latest listings:

1 BHK>>> 895 (Sq. Ft.)>>>₹1.07 Cr (Approx.)

2 BHK >>> 1455 (Sq. Ft.)–1715>>₹1.75–2.05 Cr (Approx.)

3 BHK >>> 2325 (Sq. Ft.)>>> ₹2.8–3.1 Cr (Approx.)

4 BHK>>>5450 (Sq. Ft.)>>> ₹6.5–6.8 Cr (Approx.)

5 BHK Villas >>> 5600 (Sq. Ft.)>>> ₹7.0–7.3 Cr (Approx.)

The price depends on tower location, floor, and whether the unit is ready-to-move or under final work. Some towers are already in the handover stage in 2025.

Possession for many units has started, and several buyers have moved in. So if you're looking for a ready-to-shift apartment along Dwarka Expressway, this is one of the limited options available in this price band.

Manor One Sector 111 – Amenities Snapshot

Manor One offers all standard lifestyle amenities expected in mid-premium to luxury housing. These include:

Clubhouse and swimming pool

Fitness center and jogging track

Landscaped parks and children’s play area

24x7 gated security with CCTV

Power backup and basement parking

Convenience store and in-complex pharmacy

The project covers about 15 acres, with 12 residential towers and over 700 units. A few retail shops are also integrated within the layout, useful for daily needs.

Should You Buy or Invest in Manor One?

Here’s a quick recap for decision-making:

Ready to shift units are available—unlike many projects still under construction

Prices are fair for the location—considering Sector 111 is active and not just "proposed" anymore

Rental demand is already visible, especially for 2 and 3 BHK formats

The project is registered under RERA and backed by Kashish Group, a known builder in this region

If you’re looking for a Dwarka Expressway Gurgaon property with occupancy and livability, Manor One deserves serious consideration. For floor plans, exact availability, and builder offers, feel free to connect with Investors Junction—your property advisory for Gurgaon’s real estate market.

[riseofthecommonwoodpile]

despite the handful of low scores, this is one of my favorite rounds so far, one that took a while to get through because I kept relistening to albums, wanting to hear them again and again:

Adam Tease— Botox (8.0/10)

Alien Vampires— Return Me to Hell (7.5/10)

Animal Collective— Merriweather Post Pavilion (8.0/10)

Baroness— Purple (8.5/10)

The Birthday Party— Junkyard (8.5/10)

Bon Iver— For Emma, Forever Ago (8.5/10)

Burial— Young Death / Nightmarket (8.5/10)

Carnivore— Carnivore (7.0/10)

Coheed and Cambria— The Second Stage Turbine Blade (7.5/10)

Dälek— Absence (7.5/10)

Echo & The Bunnymen— Crocodiles (8.0/10)

Elvis Costello & The Imposters— The Delivery Man (4.5/10)

Grouper— A I A: Alien Observer (9.0/10)

Guided by Voices- Alien Lanes (8.0/10)

Haujobb— Solutions for a Small Planet (8.5/10)

Jana Winderen— The Wanderer (10/10)

Jefferson Airplane— Surrealistic Pillow (9.0/10)

The Lounge Lizards— No Pain for Cakes (7.0/10)

Mercedes Sosa— Canciones Con Fundamento (9.0/10)

Mew— Frengers (5.0/10)

Music Revelation Ensemble— No Wave (8.5/10)

Paipai Dekami (ぱいぱいでか美)— Let's Dream Shogakkou (レッツドリーム小学校) (9.0/10)

Soulside— Less Deep Inside Keeps (6.5/10)

Taking Back Sunday— Tell All Your Friends (8.0/10)

Vessel of Flesh— Aphroditic I & II (7.5/10)

Yo La Tengo— I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (8.0/10)