#Once Upon a Time at the End of the World Vol. 1

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Review: Once Upon a Time at the End of the World Vol. 1

Series: Once Upon a Time at the End of the WorldWriter: Jason AaronArtist: Alexandre Tefenkgi, Nick DragottaColorist: Lee Loughrigde, Rico RenziLetterer: AndWorld DesignPublisher: BOOM! StudiosReleased: June 13, 2023Received: Own Book Summary: The world is coming to an end. Most of the time, that’s a figure of speech. But that isn’t the case here. The planet is dying, destroyed by an…

[bdafic]

Insights on Elven

While stuck in bed being ill I went completely off the deep end while trying to understand the use of letter-doubling in Elven (spoiler: I think it's a feature of fusional language). I ended up spending two days collecting canon phrases with official translations, retranslating it myself, and then applying each bit of knowledge to the formation of other words and phrases... and I think I've stumbled into a few insights.

First off, the word "vallaslin". We know this means 'blood writing', and we've always assumed the 'lin' is 'blood' and 'vallas' is 'writing' -- and up until two days ago I thought this too. But the more examples I dug up the more I think it's actually 'val' that means blood as a root -- though not necessarily in terms of violence. I believe it originally referred to mortality. We already have use cases of "vallas" meaning "life" in canon (Vallasdahlen: "life trees"), but I think the most damning evidence comes in Veilguard, where an Elven Rook will comment that the word Anvallenim means "womb".

an (place/location) + val (mortal/physical life) + len (people, n.) + im (him, become) = where mortal life becomes.

I think the real root of the word vallaslin is exactly what Solas says it is: a chattel brand. val (blood/physical) +las (have) lin (person).

Second insight was the word 'lath': it's used to refer specifically to a person in physical form. Over time, it expanded to encompass feelings that involve the physical form (eg. love and sex). The World of Thedas vol 1 actually lists two definitions for it, and that first one was really pulling at me when I read it:

Some of Solas' banter with Cole may even confirm this: "Have you felt no interest in women since you came through the Veil?". Spirits are singular in purpose and don't reproduce -- they probably do not fall in love, need, or have sex.

Leaning into this assumption, I found that the presumed translation of 'ath' by the illustrious fenxshiral ('taking the characteristics of' or 'embodiment of') not only works, but actually helps clarify a number of other words. Like, 'athim' for humility. ath (relating to physical/human) + him (become). With so much commentary about the limitations (and consequences) of physical form, and the constant struggle to become better and more powerful in it, the origins of the word would seem to reflect the views of the culture it emerged from.

I think the "L" in "lath" is borrowed (or implied) from the words for 'people' (as in group, not capital-P-People, which is 'vhen' or 'Elvhen'), depending on use). This would make "lath" very literally "love of being".

Along this same path, we know 'eth' is canonically used for "safe". I think it can also mean 'trust'. This would make "lethallin" translate more literally to 'trusted person': friend or kin.

This would also clear up a currently-untranslated word spoken by Solas' spirit sentinels in Trespasser. When you approach, you're greeted with, "Atish'all vallem, Fen'Harel elathadra."

The only other time we see the "adra" at the end of a word is when you're greeted by Study in the Vir Dirthara. They'll greet Sera, or an elf Inq, as "honoured elvhen", or, "mirthadra elvhen". Mir has been used as a root in words about rebellion, fighting, or weapons -- and that tracks, given that the first thing everybody did upon getting bodies was start a war. If the "th" is coming from my interpretation of "lath/leth", that would make the "adra" apply a concept to an individual.

Honour + physical being + applying base term to that being: honoured.

Spirits embody a singular idea or feeling - they're only ever spoken of in that way. Once they began taking form, they'd need an entirely new vocabulary around the existence of a spirit who is not a spirit -- especially when referencing a feeling/state/idea as a personality trait rather than their whole existence.

So, that spirit guardian isn't saying "peaceful welcome". It's saying, "(come) in peace, those-who-became-physical". That untranslated word, "Elathadra" would be something like, "those loyal/close to the Dread Wolf".

"Peaceful greetings mortals; loyal of Fen'Harel".

[funarisjournal]

Tsukutabe Comic and Drama: Compare & Contrast [Opinion]

This was an idea inspired by something @poisonbat said to me on Bsky. Think of it as a bonus to the Superlatives from the past three days~

...Am I really pitting Comic against Drama here? Well, not quite. This essay is more about my opinion on each version of "She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat." Specifically, what parts do I like more from each iteration and if there's one that seems to edge itself as "Best Version?" Well, let's find out, shall we? Oh, and this essay will just focus as far as the drama got, that is, Chapter 40 of the comic. I won't take anything past that into consideration (even if I have been up-to-date with the Japanese releases lol)

Woah...w-waitaminute, VERSUS?! This was just supposed to be the meeting of universes! What's going on???

The Basic Story

So, this is a story about two women. Neighbors, in fact. One loves to cook as a hobby (Nomoto) while the other really enjoys eating as a deep experience (Kasuga). However, both have some issues with their passion. Nomoto keeps getting pressured by societal standards of what it means to be a woman who loves to cook while Kasuga's love for eating does have an unfortunate side effect of being judged by others, especially her large portion sizes and how emphatic she eats. These two women are completely different in personality and overall vibes and yet...food brings them together. So together, in fact, they even start falling in love with each other! Their first experiences in romance, navigating that while also dealing with a society that definitely gives women the short end of the stick, even more if you're lgtbq+. And yet, there's always a glimmer of hope, an appreciation for "The Small Pleasantries" in life. They even befriend two other gals and form a sisterhood! Such a wonderful story...

And Here's the Fork in the Road

Two paths now stand in front of you - one path leads to the comic universe's specific traits while the other leads to the drama's. This split happens basically upon Episode 1 of the drama, as we see both Sayama and Fujita be silently introduced there, two characters only in the drama. The split is more spread out the farther you go, too, especially once we start Season 2 of the drama. That's definitely where things begin to be adapted into their own interpretation of the world. Perhaps having 20 episodes to play with this time played a part? Who knows~

And yet, the paths still lead to the same location.

Okay, so let's break this down into segments - story arcs, supporting cast, and then, the personalities of Nomoto and Kasuga themselves

STORY ARCS (or, how each version tackled certain things)

In the comic, the arcs are a little vague. Many of the in-between chapters have a general slice-of-life thing going on until you realize, oh wait, there's this theme again from the last chapter. From what I can tell, there's about six story arcs (that I can cover here): Introductions, Friendship, Christmas/Nomoto's Self-Discovery, Kasuga's Family, Valentine's/Confessions, Apartment Hunting. And at least two of these are blurred together in the comic! (Valentine's stuff starts in the middle of the Kasuga's Family arc). There are also two subplots once we hit Vol 3, in order to learn more about the ladies' new friends, Yako and Nagumo.

These arcs are more well defined in the drama, as the schedule helped kind of keep some of the arcs within a week's worth of material. The drama also did some unique things to create their own weekly arcs - use the source material, yeah, but they padded it out with some fleshed out scenarios and even two completely original stories (like, the Setsubun episode did have some of the Nagumo backstory in it from the comic, but Episodes 25-26 have completely new material). It also helped that it was airing during certain holidays (Christmas/New Year's, Setsubun, and Valentine's) so they took advantage of that. Of course, they moved some chapters around to fit this set-up, but they still managed to make it work in their new spots (ex. Curry Party now takes place after Confession).

As I said, S1 is pretty much a Christmas movie and is faithful to Volumes 1 and 2 of the comic (with a few improvisations), but Season 2 has 5 different arcs going on!

Week 1: Reacquaintances and Some New Faces (and Voices) Week 2: Orientation Journey/Kasuga's Family Week 3: Valentine's/Confessions Week 4: New Couple Baby Steps Week 5: Apartment Hunting

In regards to subplots, they are much much smaller compared to the comic's insights into Nagumo and Yako's lives, but they help flesh out Nomoto and Kasuga's journey. More emphasis is put into Nagumo's subplot compared to Yako's, but then we also have subplots with Sayama and Fujita, the two new characters I mentioned. They are both straight cis women - Sayama is basically the "straight ally" character for Nomoto to be able to talk to, back when the drama staff were unsure if they'd even get picked up for a second season (where Yako would appear). In Season 2, she gets a personal development via the pressures of dating and getting married as she is still young but of course, that lingering pressure still exists to this day. Fujita is less prominent, but that's due to Kasuga's work habits. She is a woman who works at one of the supermarkets Kasuga is assigned to and just kind of forms a positive acquaintanceship with her. She actually bridges a gap regarding Kasuga's family situation, providing proof that she's not alone on her thoughts about being restricted to old-fashioned family roles. Her particular story ends in a divorce, but she views it as the next page in her life's journey, which Kasuga thoroughly respects and provides vocal support.

Oh, and I guess there's also that overarching subplot of Nomoto helping with the development of that app with her colleagues. It's a very quiet thing going on throughout the season, though, just giving us chances to see Sayama's journey since she is just a coworker and that's the only way we'd really see the development.

The comic has a more comedic vibe than the drama, though the drama does have its funny moments. On the other hand, the drama is very subdued...gentle. This is probably a result of its time slot - night dramas tend to be "winding down" stories for folks as they settle down for bed. This does affect how some of these stories get told. The confession scene in both are so drastically different! And it really comes down to what you just find more relatable or what vibes with you the most (for me, the comic's take on the confession is best, but then in terms of the "consent" theme, aka when they have their First Kiss...I love the drama's take more).

SUPPORTING CAST (interpretations and what purpose they served in the story)

The comic has a very small cast. The idea is to focus on the sisterhood that has developed over time. These are four queer women who never fit in anywhere else and found a family of sorts through the power of food (yes, even Nagumo! She doesn't have to eat with these ladies, but she can still hang out with them in her own way, and they understand her limitations). This of course, creates a more queer/found-family-focused story, which may alienate some people who came in thinking it was literally going to be a tale about food. But it didn't alienate me~ I just love it even more lol. But it tries to keep it simple, too, so cishet readers can begin to understand these ladies and what they've gone through (or are going through). If they want more info, actually, Vol 4 provided a list of sites for further reading, which was really neat.

The drama, on the other hand, decided to double down on the Women's Experiences in Society aspect. So we got the four from the original story, but then we also have Sayama and Fujita, as stated before...then we even get tertiary characters like the Chinese employee, Ko, who actually got a brief spotlight in one episode via an interesting lunch convo with Nomoto and Sayama... and we even have a calm and understanding/respectful guy named Mikami who never belittled Nomoto and Sayama as they worked with him with that app project...Just to remind folks there are some good men out there.

One downside, though, was how Nagumo and Yako were portrayed in the drama. Nagumo is anxiety kitten, yes, but she is really subdued in the drama. So meek, so shy. She doesn't even evolve to address everyone else by their first names! And Yako's passionate rage moments? Gone. But I always figured that was due to, again, the type of show this was built to be. Maybe if it was a primetime drama instead...

NOMOTO AND KASUGA (There are differences!)

This is probably the big reason why I personally draw for both versions of Tsukutabe: There really are slight differences in the main ladies themselves, and I don't mean just by their physical appearances alone! Though you gotta admit, the live-action versions are pretty dang close (and honestly, I think Yuzaki-sensei saw something in Kasuga's appearance in the drama that she has even tweaked Kasuga's design in the most recent chapters, heh)

At their core, Nomoto is a woman who is ambitious yet anxious, she's an ambivert (definitely prefers to focus on herself at work but can talk to friends in a very extroverted way) with her heart on her sleeve. We know if she's happy, sad or worried and has trouble hiding anything for long. Kasuga, meanwhile, is introverted, tends to keep her thoughts to herself but is a very kind and considerate woman (like when she reminds Nomoto to eat/don't just drink and listening to Nagumo about her own situation). It really feels like she doesn't have a mean bone in her body.

The basic personalities are still there in the drama, but, again, as we move into Season 2, stuff starts to shift. I personally think it's due to the chemistry Higa and Nishino had been developing ever since Season 1. Just from stuff I've read, they would say they'd start to talk to one another more often to see how they should tackle a specific scene, and I'm pretty sure there's a decent amount of ad libbing involved in the show. Like, I even saw it in the foreword from the scriptwriter from the S1 DVD - some of the script is just vague enough that it's all about how the actresses end up reacting to the general directions. The commentary Nishino had over Episode 18 also implied that Kasuga was probably NOT supposed to really cry, but it happened anyway, but she only fought back enough where she thought Kasuga herself would and let it out in front of someone she trusted (Nomoto).

It's a really interesting thing to watch - it's still Nomoto and Kasuga, but somewhere there, we ended up with a more nurturing Nomoto who tends to take the lead conversationally (and is even more social than her comic counterpart since she has coworkers she voluntarily mingles with), and a Kasuga who is withdrawn a little (because her history with her family was brought out more and it's clear it really had affected her all this time), prefers to take the backseat, and has to learn how to open up and be (positively) selfish more often.

THE VERDICT

Again, this whole thing is just based on my thoughts and observations, and I still love both very, very much. But, I guess as I look back at what I wrote, there's definitely a clear "winner" here, and that is...the drama! It is definitely an amazing adaptation of the source material that expands the world of Tsukutabe without messing things up, like many adaptations accidentally do (or intentionally. There are some BAAAD ones). I think it helps that both the producer (name escapes me, though) and the scriptwriter (Yuri Yamada) were already fans of the comic, so they wanted to do it justice. And they definitely did~

But this isn't some beat-down. Nah, in this "match," the winners simply prepare the meal! (the losers missing out on an opportunity to do so, get it?)

[blood-orange-juice]

4.5 preload datamine has a book with a Khaenri'ah lorebomb

Text on Project Amber

Excerpts and thoughts under the cut

vol.1:

"In those days, a crimson moon shone down upon the subterranean realm, and not the dark sun of latter days."

Something something Eclypse dynasty.

Due to the Kingdom's unique position, things from outside this world were always leaking into it. The Kingdom's weapons would wipe out the calamities slipping in, but what of all the other objects? Such as, say, a child who may have come from some destroyed world?

What the hell what the hell what the hell

"Oh high lord of the nobles, a child once told me a tale of another world: Once upon a time, there were sea people who believed that the gods came from the sea. Each time they discovered a shipwrecked person, they would treat them with the utmost honor, for they believed that the gods would take the form of the shipwrecked to investigate the mortal realm."

I can't connect it with anything but I feel it's important. Parsifal's and Skipper's story mention a shipwreck. Two, actually. In some sense the twins are shipwrecked and Paimon was fished out of the sea.

The ocean and the sea were often used as a metaphor for the space projected by the stars.

Why sea and Abyss get conflated with it sometimes: Khaenri'ans were more familiar with the Abyssal stars than the sea.

In anticipation of the arrival at their Kingdom of gods from beyond the so-called ocean — or rather, the arrival of beings who could transcend the gods — they founded an organization, an orphanage to take care of such children. In latter days, the orphans of the Kingdom and those who wandered in from outside were accepted as well.

Everything fun in Teyvat is made by kids in orphanages.

The young Perinheri's first memory was that of being asked by the grown-ups to crawl through a dark corridor. This passage might have been a chimney for winter fires, for it was filled with coal ash, and there was not a single crack in it through which smoke or light could pass through. As he crawled, he would sometimes stumble in the pitch-black darkness. Fortunately, the corridor appeared designed for the passage of children in the first place, so the falls were not very painful. It also lacked any annoying cobwebs. When Perinheri reached the end at last, the exit had not opened yet. He knocked, only for the grown-ups to coldly ask: "Are you dead?" Well, how was he to reply if he was dead? But the grown-ups did not like this response. They kept asking the same question, until he at least shouted, "Yes, I'm dead!" The adults then asked, "Did you see it, then?" Perhaps it was the fear brought on by the darkness combined with hunger and exhaustion, but Perinheri did indeed see an illusion. The crimson moon, hanging high in the pitch-dark night sky, suddenly turned around, revealing itself to be a titanic, horrified eye. The adults opened the door and embraced the soot-covered Perinheri: "You have traversed the fire of two worlds within the hearth, and here you are reborn."

Moons being goddesses' corpses, the fake sky, whales, the rebirth ritual in the narcissenkreuz notes. Again, I can't connect it.

Though the crimson moon set, and the dark sun descended into a yet darker dusk, that transcendental person from beyond who the Kingdom orphanage was awaiting never arrived. But unusual individuals they had aplenty, and many of those who strode forth from the gates of that orphanage became great knights of the Kingdom. Perinheri was, in his time, the leading figure amongst their ranks — that is, unless, he were forced to compete with his best friend, Hleobrant.

tl;dr: Khaenri'ah casually welcomed travelers from between worlds, visitors from dead worlds especially. or at least hoped to but didn't get many

[phillyfoodproject]

Third Spaces: Community Gardens, Community Fridges, Oh My!

Do you have a hobby that isn't doom-scrolling for hours on end? Do you have a place that isn't work or school where you spend time with others? Do you know your neighbors?

There is a lot of talk online about the lack of third spaces (or maybe that's just my corner of the internet). The TL;DR is that, once upon a time, there were places where you could go out for free, or at least for cheap, and socialize. Your first space is your home, and your second is your job. The illusive third space can be summed up as the "community space".

Picture the spots teens hang out at in media based in the 50's: drive-in movie theaters, diners, libraries, soda fountains, bowling alleys. Or, in the 80's: malls, arcades, roller skating rinks. What is the equivalent to that now? Well, many would argue that that space now is the internet. I'm not intending to put on the rose-colored glasses to a past that I was not around for, but it is hard to not recognize that these spaces do not exist in the same way anymore.

When we talk about community, it sometimes feels like something abstract, something intangible.

What are we left with if we don't have that feeling of belonging within our neighborhood?

Neoliberalism prescribes that we imagine each part of our lives in cost-benefit terms, competing in our own personal lives against our peers. It's responsible for the idea that one cannot win without someone else losing. We become deeply individualistic, conditioned to believe that all facets of life are part of some zero-sum game. We are poisoned and poised to oppose the funding of social benefits; "Why should I pay more in taxes to fund other peoples' poor decisions?" We become alienated from each other.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Neighborhoods across the country and throughout Philadelphia are privy to the importance of community and solidarity. Community gardens are not just about farming. They are a third space where neighbors can gather and share wisdom with each other. The youth can be educated about where food comes from, but also about the history of where they live.

A community fridge may operate by itself, but more often than not, it is part of a mutual aid network. Volunteers are needed to maintain the fridges, people must regularly ensure that the fridges are clean and full. Maybe they even dialogue with a nearby community farm/garden to keep fresh, local produce stocked.

We are given one life. Most people like to think of themselves as good and kind. What you put into your community has a lasting impact. If you remain alienated from your community, that is your choice. But these community spaces did not magically appear, they are built of love and labor. Hopefully these musings resonate with you; create the type of world that you want to live in. Build the community you want to see.

References:

Aquizoncolquitt. (2023, November 1). Third places: What are they and why are they important to American culture? | English Language Institute. https://esl.uchicago.edu/2023/11/01/third-places-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-important-to-american-culture/

Marx, K. (1884). Estranged labor. In Economic and philosophic manuscripts of 1844. https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/labour.htm

Oldenburg, R. (n.d.). Our vanishing “Third places.” In Planning Commissioners Journal: Vol. Number 25. https://plannersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/1997/01/184.pdf

Soukup, C. (2006). Computer-mediated communication as a virtual third place: building Oldenburg’s great good places on the world wide web. New Media & Society, 8(3), 421–440. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444806061953

[bboyplankton]

Hip-Hop/Rap Albums 2024

Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia

Vince Staples – Dark Times

Rapsody – Please Don’t Cry

Cordae – The Crossroads

Killer Mike – Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival, Songs for Sinners And Saints

Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal

Ransom & Conway the Machine – Chaos Is My Ladder 2

Grafh & 38 Spesh – God’s Timing

21 Savage – American Dream

Conway the Machine – Slant Face Killah

IDK – Bravado + INTiMO

Ab-Soul – Soul Burger

Schoolboy Q – Blue Lips

Che Noir – The Lotus Child

Dave East & araabMUZIK – Living Proof

Larry June – Doing It For Me

That Mexican OT – Texas Technician

Lupe Fiasco – Samurai

38 Spesh – Mother & Gun

Kendrick Lamar – GNX

Smino – Maybe in Nirvana

Premo Rice & Harry Fraud – P Got Game

The Alchemist – The Genuine Articulate

Benny the Butcher & Black Soprano Family – Summertime Butch

Dave East & Mike & Keys – Apt 6E

Eminem – The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce): Expanded Mourner’s Edition

Boldy James & Harry Fraud – The Bricktionary

Redman – Muddy Waters Too

Megan Thee Stallion – Megan: Act II

Ransom & Harry Fraud – Lavish Misery

Freeway & Jack One – Simulus Package 2

Denzel Curry – King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2

Kid Cudi – INSANO

Benny The Butcher – Everybody Can’t Go

Freddie Gibbs – You Only Die 1nce

Tee Grizzley – Post Traumatic

Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre – Missionary

Smoke DZA – THC3 (Kushedgod Bitch)

Dave East & Scram Jones – For the Love

Joyner Lucas – Not Now I’m Busy

Tobe Nwigwe – Hood Hymns

Moneybagg Yo – Speak Now

Maxo Kream – Personification

Boldy James & Conductor Williams – Across the Tracks

BigXthaPlug – Take Care

Gunna – One of Wun

Boldy James & whothehelliscarlo – Hidden in Plain Sight

Yung Bleu – Jeremy

Capella Grey – Vibe Responsibly, Vol. 1

Action Bronson – Johann Sebastian Bachlava The Doctor

Suga Free & Sporty – Street Communion

Mach-Hommy – #RICHAXXHAITIAN

Blu & Exile – Love (the) Ominous World

Finnese2tymes – Art of War

Wiz Khalifa – Wiz Owens

YG – Just Re’d Up 3

Benny the Butcher & 38 Spesh – Stabbed & Shot 2

Nicholas Craven & Boldy James – Penalty of Leadership

Doe Boy – Been Him

Glorilla – Ehhthang Ehh

Childish Gambino – Bando Stone and The New World

Tierra Whack – World Wide Whack

Philmore Greene – 94 Master P (The Grand Design)

Juicy J – Mental Trillness 2

Curren$y & MonstaBeatz – Radioactive

Paul Wall – Once Upon a Grind

The Musalini – Active & Attractive

Roc Marciano – Marcianology

MC Lyte – 1 of 1

Slum Village – F.U.N.

Elcamino & Black Soprano Family – Built for Cuban Links

Future & Metro Boomin – We Still Don’t Trust You

GloRilla – Glorious

Jay Worthy & DJ Fresh – The Tonite Show Part 2

Mozzy – Brash Dummies

Westside Gunn & DJ Drama – Still Praying

Juicy J – Ravenite Social Club

Elcamino, Real Bad Man, & Black Soprano Family – The Game is The Game

Future & Metro Boomin – We Don’t Trust You

Childish Gambino – Atavista

Dizzy Wright, Demrick & Mike & Keys – Blaze With Us 3

The Musalini – Tru Player In The Game

BeatKing – Never Leave Houston On A Sunday

Fivio Foreign – Pain & Love 2

Don Toliver – Hardstone Psycho

Kid Cudi – Insano (Nitro Mega)

Curren$y & DJ.Fresh – The Encore

J. Cole – Might Delete Later

Lloyd Banks – Halloween Havoc V

Ice Cube – Man Down

Gucci Mane – Greatest of all Trappers (Gangsta Grillz Edition)

Joell Ortiz & The Heatmakerz – W.A.R. (With All Respect)

Casey Veggies & Dylvinci – Nostalgia

The Musalini & 38 Spesh – In God We Trust

Blu – Royal Blu

Devin Malik – Deadstock: Alt Ending

42 Dugg – 4eva Us Neva Them

K Camp – Float 2 London

Animé – .mp3s – EP

Logic – Ultra 85

Buddy – Don’t Forget To Breathe

Future – Mixtape Pluto

Roc Mariciano & The Alchemist – The Skeleton Key

Mustard – Faith of a Mustard Seed

Big Hit, Hit-Boy, & The Alchemist – Black & Whites

Meek Mill – Heathenism

Mozzy – Children Of The Slums

Ghostface Killah – Set The Tone (Guns & Roses)

LL Cool J – The Force

Lyrical Lemonade – All Is Yellow

Stalley – Peerless

Talib Kweli & J. Rawls – The Confidence of Knowing

KXNG Crooked & Joell Ortiz – Tapestry

Common & Pete Rock – The Auditorium, Vol. 1

EarthGang & Spillage Village – Perfect Fantasy

Santé – Still Local

Latto – Sugar Honey Iced Tea

Raekwon & AZ – The Tonite Show and G.O.D (New York Deluxe Edition (2 for 1))

Jay Worthy & DāM FunK – Magic Hour

Maino – Mainovation

Curren$y & DJ.Fresh – The Tonite Show The Sequel

Kash Doll – The Last Doll

Rakim – G.O.Ds Network – Reb7rth

Rowdy Rebel & Fetty Luciano – Splash Brothers 2

The Alchemist, Oh No, & Gangrene – Heads I Win, Tails You Lose

Nappy Roots – The Brew Day Ep 1 – EP

Westside Gunn – 11 – EP

Mozzy & Kalan.FrFr – Lucky Her

Dom Kennedy – Class of 95

LaRussell & Hit-Boy – Rent Due

French Montana – Mac & Cheese 5

G-Eazy – Freak Show

Casanova – I Get It Now

Coi Leray – Lemon Cars – EP

B.o.B – Space Time

A Boogie wit da Hoodie – Alone – EP

Duke Deuce & Made Men Mafia – Tribe

Jaden – 2024 A Case Study of the Long Term Effects of Young Love Jaden

Apollo Brown & CRIMEAPPLE – This, Is Not That

Illa J & Ash Walker – Off Days in London – EP

Big Sean – Better Me Than You

Chief Keef & Mike Will Made-It – Dirty Nachos

Hit-Boy & The Alchemist – Theodore & Andre – EP

Bossman Dlow – Dlow Curry

Lil Uzi Vert – Eternal Atake 2

Polo G – Hood Poet

JT – City Cinderella

Playboy Fresh – Heartbreak Tape Deluxe

Dizzy Wright – Harsh Reality

Dizzy Wright – Trial and Error

Big Yavo – The Giant

BlueBucksClan & Hit-Boy – Biggest Out the West

Dot Cromwell & Tiara Imani – One Day, Under the Stars – Single

Dizzy Wright – Emotional Discipline

TyFontaine – Ascension2: Complete Collection

Rich Homie Quan – Forever Goin In

Flo Milli – Fine Ho, Stay

The Game & Big Hit – Paisley Dreams

Flau’jae – Best Of Both Worlds (Deluxe)

Dj Booker & NLE Choppa – The Chosen Ones

Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – Vultures 2

[genimas]

Silly theory time!

Ok, I have 2 quote from Volume 6 Chapter 3 of RWBY- The Lost Fable

"So long as this world turns, you shall walk its face."

"If your kind has learned to live in harmony with one another and set aside their differences, then we shall once again live among you, and humanity will be made whole again. But if your kind is unchanged, if you demand our blessings while still fighting amongst yourselves, then man will be found irredeemable and your world will be wiped from existence."

Amd this screenshot from RWBY Beyond:

The theory goes like this, what if at the end of the series Salem does successfully bring together the 4 Relics and call upon the Brothers, but, a big BUT, team RWBY and others find out a way to get to the Ever After without the help of Ambrosius (Alyx and Lewis) and Ruby might be the one who lead the people from Vacuo through the portal.

Now, the 2nd quote, clearly humanity still can't "learned to live in harmony with one another and set aside their differences" (RWBY Vol 9 Bonus, Faunus & Humanity) although a lot may have change in Vol 10 but still, they are fighting among themselves (Salem's army vs Remnants). And it lead me to the 1st quote, this is Salem way to find peace from Vol 1 and it may never change.

Sooo, in conclusion, if this theory happened, Remnants will stop turning, Salem will finally die, Ozma will finally rest and, this may be the silliest part in the theory, the Gods will again living with humanity in the Ever After/ or the Brothers will learn from their mistake before creating a new world everyone live in harmony (yes, our characters will live here, they won't die)

Or Salem learns "the importance of life and dead", who know?

[havendance]

Indie Comic Reading Roundup

I've gotten through just about all the trades I checked out at this point (ignoring all the dark knight metal stuff), so here's my thoughts:

Once and Future vol. 1 by Kieron Gillen, art by Dan Mora, colors by Tamara Bonvillain (collected Issues #1-6)

I am not super into arthuriana but I think it's fun to dip my toe into every once in a while. The basic plot here involved the mythic cycle being re-enacted in the modern day, which I am always a sucker for so I thought it was quite fun. The pacing felt a little rough at first--moving very quickly when I would've appreciated a little more time spent to stop and get explanations--but I really felt like it got into the swing of things for the last 2 issues which really took advantage of everything that had been building.

Art was good (though since I've gotten used to seeing Mora draw superheroes, it did take a moment for my brain to switch gears here). The grandmother is very fun. I probably check out more of this series.

The Invisible Kingdom vol.1 by G. Willow Wilson, art by Christian Ward (collected issues #1-5)

This one didn't click for me. With one of the two basic ideas being 'space monastery', I wanted to like it, but I felt like the execution didn't quite do it for me. I think I would've like more time to sit and build out the world more; there were several aspects that I would've liked to see expanded on. There were aspects of the plot that didn't really work for me and I found myself wanting more clarity on what sort of timeline these events were happening on.

Ward's art was also very hit or miss for me: it really thrived when depicting space. It had gorgeous colors and dynamism then. Other times, it felt rough and kind of unfinished in a way that didn't work for me. I don't think I'll be reading this one further.

Dark Spaces: Wildfire by Scott Snyder, art by Hayden Sherman, colors by Ronda Pattison

I really loved this one. This collected a stand-alone 5 issue story that was very well executed. It tells the story of a squad of women convict firefighters in California who embark on a heist which (in true heist form) proceeds to go wrong. It was well plotted--all the characters felt distinct, though with only 5 issues and 5 women on our squad, it felt like we only really got to know a couple really well.

The art was gorgeous. Pattison's colors especially were a pleasure to look at. I definitely recommend checking this one out.

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Pia Geurra, and colors by Pamela Rambo (collected issues #1-10)

This one's a bit of a stretch for the indie comics category since, upon checking, it's Vertigo. Not sure where that falls as a DC imprint. Regardless, it gets included on here as it doesn't take place in any larger universe and I might as well.

Brian Vaughan can tell a good story. This is no exception. I sat down on the floor and read all 10 issues in this in one fell swoop. So yeah, gripping story, very engaging. All the characters and world-building feels very thought out. The main road trip plot going on so far gives a very good excuse to see the different ways the world has been effected/people have responded to plague which wipes all men(except for our titular last one) that is the inciting incident.

I like the art style and flatter colors that this has. I definitely want to read more. Apparently I can access this on dcui which I didn't realize previously. We shall see in which format I end up reading this.

[curried-mermaid]

A Review: The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1

Author: Natsu Hyuuga Compiler: Itsuki Nanao Illustrator: Nekokurage Publisher: Square Enix Age: Teen Genre: drama mystery romance Type: Manga

Content warnings: death, self-poisoning

Spoilers

Plot

Maomao, a young woman, is an apothecary who’s kidnapped and forced to work as a servant at the inner palace. While there, she solves a curse afflicting the imperial heirs and is whisked away to be a poison tester for the emperor’s favorite concubine. When she’s not doing that she solves mysteries?

Characterization

Maomao is an intriguing protagonist because she doesn’t care for anything except for herbal medicine and poisons. She’s sassy, sarcastic, serious, and sly. She doesn’t fall for Master Jinshi’s looks ( which throws him off). Maomao has a lot to learn about etiquette and life, but picks up on things quickly, except for Jinshi’s intentions. She’s a complex character with clear flaws she can improve upon, which makes her very relatable to the reader.

Master Jinshi’s is an ethereal beauty of a man…too bad he’s a eunuch. He is the overseer of the inner court “garden” where the emperor’ concubines live. He relies on his beauty, and what it can’t do for him, he relies on his cunning and intelligence. He doesn’t understand why his beauty doesn’t affect Maomao, but he enjoys their interactions. He’s an interesting character that has some complexity. I’m looking forward to the author fleshing him out more.

The secondary characters fill the world for Maomao quite well. Each as a specific purpose in her life. She interacts with them more than once. This creates a circle around her much like how we do with our friends and family.

World-Building

World-building happens mainly through the backgrounds of the manga. Another great we;at that Apothecary diaries does this is Maomao’s interactions with secondary and background characters. Her inner observations color the world for us. One such line being:

“The palace and the pleasure district are not all that different” (Vol. 1, p. 7).

Theme

Life is full of surprises.

Observations

Jinshi’s is set-up to become a complex and major player in Maomao’s life and is definitely the romance partner. At the same time, there is the trope of strong female hating the romance partner and then falling for him over time. While this trope is played out, the slow-burn of this piece with the mixture of intrigue and mystery helps move the story without focusing too much on the romance. It’s a great balance.

The mysteries are interesting and engaging. We learn a lot about the world and how it works by Maomao solving them. Maomao has the potential, circumstances, and guidance to improve herself if she can learn to expand her knowledge past herbal medicine and poisons.

Recommendations

For more drama mystery romance:

Raven of the Inner Palace by: Koko Shirakawa

For more drama and romance:

Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke’s Mansion by: Mitch’s

The Remarried Empress by: Herelee

[marylynaaartsblog]

A COLLECTION OF ALL GINXVERMOUTH OFFICIAL MOMENTS - PART 1

This post is about all GinxVermouth official moments and info ~

This guide was originally posted on IG and made in collaboration with my friend @/sapphirebartholy_art (IG). Until December 15, you could also find the updated version of this guide posted on my IG profile but now guides are not available anymore.

Therefore, I decided to post this here, so everyone can read it. This post will be updated when new info will come out🍸

Vol. 24, File "A White World"

At the end of the case, Vermouth is in the Porsche along with Gin and Vodka. Gin and Vermouth talk about what has happened and Gin seems sorry for having involved her, an high ranked member, only to help a man like Pisco. This is a brief moment in which Gin shows to hold Vermouth in high esteem.

Vol. 29, File "Invisible Fear"

The quintessential GinxVermouth scene, the one that made this ship canon for the first time and for good. Vermouth asks Gin if he wants to make some Martini tonight.

(Martini is a mix of Gin and Vermouth)

Vol. 34, File "Time to pick the Apple"

In this scene, Vermouth sends an email to Gin and, at the end of it, she writes "XXX" (which stands for three kisses).

Vol. 42, File "Rotten Apple"

At the end of the case, Vermouth is badly injured and finds a shelter in a phone booth. She calls Gin and asks him if he could pick her up.

Eventhough Vermouth didn't inform him about nothing (and believing that he was not aware of what she has been plotting), she still decides to call him.

This shows that Vermouth relies on Gin when she is in a serious situtation. She could have called other lower ranked members but she didn't.

Vol. 48, File "A New Person in Black"

After having discussed about the plan, Vermouth openly asks to stay out of this. As soon as Chianti hears her voice, she gets out of her car and yells at her, blaming Vermouth for the death of Calvados. Gin immediately stops Chianti, hushing her with just few words.

Vol. 49, File "Black Organization vs F.B.I. - 1"

After having discussed about plan B, Vermouth says that she has a bad feeling about this and asks to be killed if something goes wrong. Gin immediately notices her words and plainly asks her if ther is something bothering her.

Eventhough she replies that it is nothing to worry about, Gin observes Vermouth departing, knowing that she lied to him.

Vol. 49, File "Black Organization vs F.B.I. - 2"

Gin has found the bug under Kir's shoe and all the Men in Black go to Kogoro's office in order to kill him. Vermouth doesn't agree with this and she openly says this multiple times. Gin orders Chianti and Korn to kill both Kogoro and Conan but, upon hearing another statement from Vermouth defending the detective, he reacts pointing his gun at her.

Gin asks if there is something between her and Kogoro but she just teases him. Gin decides to put away his gun because he understood that Vermouth was behaving in her usual way. He decides to let it all go and do further researches.

This really seems a jealousy scene, just as Vermouth's one at the beginning of the scene in Vol. 29, where she teases Gin for staring at the singer.

Vol. 49, File "Black Organization vs F.B.I. - 2"

After the their retreat, Vermouth once again intervenes in favour of Kogoro, explaining how things went according to her point of view.

Gin decides to believe her and lets Kogoro live, listening to Vermouth's request.

Vol. 78, File "All Aboard!"

At the beginning of the case, Gin and Vermouth are talking on the phone. Eventhough only to tell him not to interfere, Vermouth informs Gin about her plans.

Gin seems very happy about it and even teases her.

From now on, Vermouth decides to regain his trust little by little (eventually she will stop doing everything on her own by the end of The Scarlet Return and she will openly say it to Bourbon).

Vol. 78, File "Final Destination"

Gin and Vodka are waiting for Vermouth and Bourbon at the last stop in Nagoya. While the two are talking, Vodka reveals that Vermouth has asked him to give her more C4 if there was any spare.

Gin immediately reacts and he is even more concerned when Vodka states that she has provided no explanation for her request.

(End of part 1)

[tofueggnoodles]

They’re Back! Araiso Private High School Student Council Executive Committee Vol. 2 Scene 1: The Beginning of an Adventure

Click here to listen to the track on youtube.

Summary: The Executive Committee put on a play based on the fairy tale Snow Queen, with Ainoura as the narrator. After Kubota was carried away by the Snow Queen, Tokito ventured on a journey to bring him back.

--------

Title Call: Going on Stage All of a Sudden! A Three-Thousand-Mile Quest for Kubota?

Kubota: I’m being sought after?

--------

(An acoustic feedback interrupts some indistinct chatters.)

Katsuragi: How are you, boys and girls?

Children in the audience: We’re fine!

Katsuragi: Today, the members of the Executive Committee of Araiso Private High School Student Council have come here to meet you all, the good boys and girls of Araiso Kindergarten. They’re going to perform a play, so everyone, please be quiet and enjoy the show until the end.

Audience: Alright!

(A buzzer resounds.)

Katsuragi: Araiso Private High School Student Council Executive Committee presents – their first-ever play, ‘The Snow Queen: Araiso Mix.’

(The audience claps.)

Ainoura: Once upon a time, a group of devils made a mirror. It is a malevolent mirror that shows a distorted, broken-up and false image of everything that it reflects.

(Eerie laughter resounds.)

Ainoura: The devils wanted to use the mirror to mock the angels, so they headed for heaven with it. However, on the way to heaven, they accidentally dropped the mirror.

(A crash is heard, followed by twinkling sounds.)

Ainoura: The mirror fell onto the ground and broke. Its splinters were scattered all over the world. Oh, what a disaster. If a human is pierced by or swallows a piece of the mirror, their heart will turn cold and warped, just like the devils’.

Katsuragi: That’s not bad at all, Ainoura.

Ainoura: I’m the narrator, so I just have to read from the script. It’s the actors who might turn out to be problematic.

Katsuragi: Thanks to the trouble on the day of the Student Council election, in the end we didn’t get to rehearse, not even once. Ah, I’m so worried.

Tokito (runs on the stage): Kubo-chan, the new video game’s just arrived. Let’s play it!

Kubota: Okay. (slides the window open) Ah. A lot of snow’s piled up outside.

Tokito: Christmas is almost here, isn’t it? That’s right –let’s have roast turkey for Christmas this year.

Kubota: Yes, let’s.

Tokito: Promise?

Kubota: Yep.

Ainoura: In a certain small village, Kubota and Tokito, two young men who also happened to be close friends, lived together in a small brick house.

Kubota: Lovely Kubota and–

Tokito: –Beauty Tokito!

(A few children in the audience giggle in delight.)

Ainoura: One day, Kubota climbed up the roof to sweep away the snow.

Kubota: This should be a cinch. Hmm?

(He is stabbed by something.)

Kubota (woodenly): Huh? It hurts.

Katsuragi: I’m starting to wonder if Kubota-kun’s putting even the slightest effort into his acting.

Murota: No, that’s just how Kubota reacts to the unexpected in real life.

Ainoura: What an awful thing. Kubota’s heart had been stabbed by one of the scattered pieces of the devils’ mirror!

(The children in the audience cry out in dismay.)

Tokito: Kubo-chan? Did something happen, Kubo-chan?

Kubota (coldly): No, nothing in particular.

Ainoura: Indeed, the hearts of those who have been stabbed by a splinter of the devils’ mirror will turn cold and warped at once. A few days later....

Tokito: That’s right, Kubo-chan! The video game from the other day – let’s continue from where we left off.

Kubota: Hmmph. I don’t feel like playing.

Tokito: Eh?

Kubota: I’m going out for a bit. I’ll probably come back late.

Tokito: Again? What’s the matter with you, Kubo-chan? You’ve been acting weird lately.

Kubota (pushes Tokito away): I’m sorry. (walks away and opens the door)

Tokito: Kubo-chan’s hand’s as cold as ice.

--------

(The wind blows loudly.)

Ainoura: Kubota, whose heart has become frozen due to the splinter of the devils’ mirror, can now only live in the cold snow.

Kubota: Ah! The cold air feels so good. It’s a habit that’s bad for Tokito, but this body of mine can’t even stand the heat of cigarettes anymore.

Fujiwara: What are you doing there, covered all over with snow? An ordinary human would die if they were to go on like that.

Kubota: Who are you?

Ainoura: Standing before Kubota was a figure with pure white skin and long, pale blue hair. Its beauty could only be described as otherworldly.

Fujiwara (gleefully): Finally, at the age of seventeen, this handsome youth, Fujiwara, has obtained a most fitting position! Who else but I would be worthy to play the role of the peerless beauty?

Children in the audience: Eh? She’s not really that much of a beauty!

Fujiwara: You’re just being fussy!

Katsuragi: Fujiwara, you idiot. Don’t find fault with the audience!

Kindergartner 1: Say, isn’t that person a man?

The other children: That’s right!

Kubota: Kids are really frank, aren’t they?

Ainoura: Actually, that peerless beauty is a cross-dresser.

Fujiwara: Eh! What– what’s with that setting?!

Kindergartner 2: Ah, I see.

Kindergartner 3: Oh, so he’s a cross-dresser.

Matsubara: Nice improvisation, Ainoura!

--------

Ainoura: The peerless beauty is known as the Snow Queen, a sorceress born of ice and snow. She approached Kubota so that they were standing face to face and held out her hand to touch his cheek.

Fujiwara: Ah, what a comely person.

Kubota: Thanks.

Ainoura: The Snow Queen took an immediate liking to Kubota at first sight.

Fujiwara: I see. Your heart has been frozen by a piece of the devils’ mirror, right? If that’s the case, aren’t you the same kind as I? Now, how about abandoning this village of humans and coming with me to the world of snow and ice?

Kubota: Hmm.... Even so–

Fujiwara: Do you still have a lingering attachment to humans? The way you’re now, you won’t even be able to hold your nearest and dearest with those arms of yours, you know. A normal human will freeze to death as soon as you touch them.

Kubota: That’d be inconvenient, I guess.

Ainoura: Kubota got into the Snow Queen’s carriage, which soared into the gray sky. Around the same time, Tokito, who had been looking for Kubota, arrived on the scene.

Tokito (trudging through the snow): Kubo-chan? Hey, where are you taking Kubo-chan?

Fujiwara: Too bad, Tokito-senpai! Kubota-senpai– uh, that’s not it – (gets back in character) – Kubota-san’s mine. (blows a raspberry)

Tokito (in a low voice): Fujiwara, you bastard. You’re bringing your real life personal desire into the play!

Tokito (in character): Return Kubo-chan to me!

(Fujiwara howls with laughter as the carriage flies away.)

Tokito: Kubo-chan! Kubo-chan!

(The wind blows loudly. Tired from chasing after the carriage, Tokito drops on his knees in the snow.)

Tokito: Didn’t you promise to eat roast turkey together with me?

Ainoura: Coincidentally, the incidence happened on Christmas Day.

Children in the audience: Poor Tokito.

Ainoura: Feeling sorry for Tokito, each and everyone of the villagers consoled him by claiming that since the unknown woman must have been a god of death, Tokito might just as well consider Kubota as having passed away and give up. However, Tokito–

Tokito (opens the door): Kubo-chan’s still alive. He’s surely somewhere in this world. In case he’s dead, I’ll bring him back even if I have to go to the next world to find him!

Children in the audience: He’s so cool!

Ainoura: Thus, leaving the village he’s gotten used to living in, Tokito went on a journey to look for Kubota, all on his own.

Tokito: Now, that carriage was flying toward the north, right? Just wait for me, Kubo-chan! (starts to walk)

Ainoura: Northward... northward... Tokito walked in that direction for days on end without rest. However....

(The cold wind blows mercilessly.)

Tokito: Where am I now? How many days has it been since I last had a proper meal?

Ainoura: Cold, hungry and at the limit of his physical endurance, Tokito eventually collapsed from exhaustion.

Tokito: Damn it.... I can’t go on any farther. (falls down onto the ground)

--------

(Round brackets): actions and sound effects. [Square brackets]: translator’s notes or clarifications. Double asterisks **: Stuff I am not sure of. Suggestions for improvements and corrections are more than welcome.

[electroniccollectionpeaceworld]

Lagu Rohani - Tak Ada Seorang pun yang Menyadari Kedatangan Tuhan - Lagu...

What Really Is Being Raptured? When humans have been restored to their original likeness, and when they can fulfill their respective duties, keep to their own proper places and submit to all of God’s arrangements, God will have obtained a group of people upon the earth who worship Him, and He will also have established a kingdom upon the earth that worships Him. He will have eternal victory upon the earth, and all those who are opposed to Him will perish for all eternity. This will restore His original intention in creating humanity; it will restore His intention in creating all things, and it will also restore His authority upon earth, among all things, and among His enemies. These will be the symbols of His total victory. Thenceforth, humanity will enter into rest and begin a life that is on the right track. God will also enter into eternal rest with humanity, and commence an eternal life shared by both Himself and humans. The filth and disobedience upon the earth will have disappeared, and all the wailing will have dissipated, and everything in this world that opposes God will have ceased to exist. Only God and those people to whom He has brought salvation will remain; only His creation will remain” (The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. God and Man Will Enter Into Rest Together). At this point, we have a full understanding of what truly being raptured is. Being raptured is mainly about hearing God’s voice, following His footsteps, and turning toward Almighty God, accepting God’s judgment work of the last days. Why hasn’t the religious world experienced rapture before the disasters? Mainly because they don’t seek the truth or hear God’s voice, but insist on their notions and literal Bible verses. They only listen to man’s words, but don’t welcome the Lord according to His words. This is why they’ve fallen into the disasters. People just want to wait for the Lord to come on a cloud, and wish to instantly change form and be taken into the sky to meet with Him, so they just passively wait without preparing themselves or seeking to hear God’s voice. Their hearts are numb. How could they welcome the Lord this way? They’ll fall into the disasters, weeping and gnashing their teeth. Almighty God’s been doing His judgment work for three decades now. He completed a group of overcomers before the disasters, and now the disasters are coming. Those who hear God’s voice and welcome the Lord in the disasters still have a chance at rapture. This is being raptured in the midst of the disasters, and they have hope of being kept. Those who go by their notions, insisting that the Lord has to come on a cloud, will fall into the disasters and cannot be saved. Once the disasters are over, God will openly appear to all nations and all peoples, fulfilling the prophecy of Revelation 1:7, “Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” There are a couple passages of Almighty God’s words we can conclude with. “Many people may not care what I say, but I still want to tell every so-called saint who follows Jesus that, when you see Jesus descend from the heaven upon a white cloud with your own eyes, this will be the public appearance of the Sun of righteousness. Perhaps that will be a time of great excitement for you, yet you should know that the time when you witness Jesus descend from the heaven is also the time when you go down to hell to be punished. That will be the time of the end of God’s management plan and it will be when God rewards the good and punishes the wicked. For the judgment of God will have ended before man sees signs, when there is only the expression of truth. Those who accept the truth and do not seek signs, and thus have been purified, shall have returned before the throne of God and entered the Creator’s embrace. Only those who persist in the belief that ‘The Jesus who does not ride upon a white cloud is a false Christ’ shall be subjected to everlasting punishment, for they only believe in the Jesus who exhibits signs, but do not acknowledge the Jesus who proclaims severe judgment and releases the true way and life. And so it can only be that Jesus deals with them when He openly returns upon a white cloud. They are too stubborn, too confident in themselves, too arrogant. How could such degenerates be rewarded by Jesus? The return of Jesus is a great salvation for those who are capable of accepting the truth, but for those who are unable to accept the truth it is a sign of condemnation. You should choose your own path, and should not blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and reject the truth. You should not be an ignorant and arrogant person, but someone who obeys the guidance of the Holy Spirit and longs for and seeks the truth; only in this way will you benefit” (The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. By the Time You Behold the Spiritual Body of Jesus, God Will Have Made Heaven and Earth Anew). “Christ of the last days brings life, and brings the enduring and everlasting way of truth. This truth is the path by which man gains life, and it is the only path by which man shall know God and be approved by God. If you do not seek the way of life provided by Christ of the last days, then you shall never gain the approval of Jesus, and shall never be qualified to enter the gate of the kingdom of heaven, for you are both a puppet and prisoner of history. Those who are controlled by regulations, by letters, and shackled by history will never be able to gain life nor gain the perpetual way of life. This is because all they have is turbid water which has been clung to for thousands of years instead of the water of life that flows from the throne. Those who are not supplied with the water of life will forever remain corpses, playthings of Satan, and sons of hell. How, then, can they behold God? If you only try to hold on to the past, only try to keep things as they are by standing still, and do not try to change the status quo and discard history, then will you not always be against God? The steps of God’s work are vast and mighty, like surging waves and rolling thunders—yet you sit passively awaiting destruction, clinging to your folly and doing nothing. In this way, how can you be considered someone who follows the footsteps of the Lamb? How can you justify the God that you hold on to as a God who is always new and never old? And how can the words of your yellowed books carry you across into a new age? How can they lead you to seek the steps of God’s work? And how can they take you up to heaven? What you hold in your hands are letters that can provide but temporary solace, not truths that are capable of giving life. The scriptures you read can only enrich your tongue and are not words of philosophy that can help you know human life, much less the paths that can lead you to perfection. Does this discrepancy not give you cause for reflection? Does it not make you realize the mysteries contained within? Are you capable of delivering yourself to heaven to meet God on your own? Without the coming of God, can you take yourself into heaven to enjoy family happiness with God? Are you still dreaming now? I suggest, then, that you stop dreaming and look at who is working now—look to see who is now carrying out the work of saving man during the last days. If you do not, you shall never gain the truth, and shall never gain life” (The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Only Christ of the Last Days Can Give Man the Way of Eternal Life). English Christian Song | "God Blesses Those Who Are Honest" https://reurl.cc/jWMe9q Christian Testimony Video | "I Am No Longer Bound by Transgression" https://reurl.cc/WxaoMO Christian Testimony Video | "I Dare to Fight Against the Evil Forces of Antichrists" https://reurl.cc/WxaoQD Lời Đức Chúa Trời | Cách mưu cầu lẽ thật (2) (Phần 1) https://reurl.cc/0vge5b Lagu Rohani - Tak Ada Seorang pun yang Menyadari Kedatangan Tuhan - Lagu Paduan Suara Gereja https://reurl.cc/ezvb8R

[astridofraftel]

reading challenge #11 (wrap-up)

Just finished: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Currently reading: The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Next on schedule: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

I just wanted to add for myself a little conclusion to the reading challenge I did last year! I went back to university, so I had a lot less time and motivation to read for the past six months. Because of that, I didn't achieve my goals in the end, but that's alright, I'm still very proud of all the dusting-off I did! My TBR pile is much more manageable now, so I will not be keeping up with this challenge in 2024 (I barely read anything not Percy Jackson-related since January, anyway).

So, if anyone is interested in random lists of books, in 2023 I checked off my program:

(FR) Le Prieuré de l'Oranger (The Priory of the Orange Tree) by Samantha Shannon

(FR) La voleuse de livres (The Book Thief) by Markus Zusak

(FR) L'École des femmes + Le Misanthrope by Molière

(EN) Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R. F. Kuang

(EN) Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

(EN) Daughter of Smoke and Bone + Days of Blood and Starlight + Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

(FR) Le Chien des Baskerville (The Hound of the Baskervilles) by Arthur Conan Doyle

(FR) Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola

(FR) Le symbole perdu (The Lost Symbol) by Dan Brown

(FR) Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

(FR) Il était une fois dans le Nord (Once Upon A Time In The North) by Philip Pullman

(FR) Le Roi Lear (King Lear) by William Shakespeare

(EN) The Conqueror’s Saga (And I Darken + Now I Rise + Bright We Burn) by Kiersten White

(FR) Le Flambeau + Témoin à charge by Agatha Christie

(FR) Boudicca by Jean-Laurent Del Socorro

(FR) Fantômes et kimonos by Kidō Okamoto

(FR) Dans l'ombre de Paris by Morgan of Glencoe

For a total of 23 books out of my goal of 30 that I had owned for years and never read!

Which means that my TBR pile now amounts to these 12 books (I acquired the last 4 last year so they were not included in my program):

(FR) L'Ultime Expérience by Bruce Benamran

(FR) Cinna by Corneille

(FR) Othello by Shakespeare

(EN) Three Dark Crowns (re-read) + One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake

(EN) Iskari, the Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli

(EN) The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

(FR) Le complot des corbeaux by Ariel Holzl

(FR) La mythologie viking (North Mythology) by Neil Gaiman

(FR) La métamorphose by Franz Kafka

(EN) A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

(EN) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

In addition to all that, although disregarding anything fanfictitious, last year...

(and because I barely have any self-control when it comes to books)

...I also read these, which were not initially included in my program:

(EN) And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

(EN) Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

(FR) Le château de Hurle (Howl’s moving castle) by Diana Wynne Jones

(EN) The Princess Diaries vol. 1 by Meg Cabot

(EN) Strange the dreamer + Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

(EN) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

(EN) Divergent vol. 1 by Veronica Roth

(EN) Legendborn + Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

(FR) Comme un vol d'étourneaux by Giorgio Parisi

(FR) Le meilleur des mondes (Brave New World) by Aldous Huxley

(EN) I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

(EN) Crooked House by Agatha Christie

(EN) Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

(FR) La guerre des clans (Warriors) - cycle I vol. 1-6 by Erin Hunter

(EN) Tallstar’s Revenge by Erin Hunter

(FR) Le mystère de Listerdale by Agatha Christie

After all these gruesome lists, I can finally put to rest my 2023 reading challenge. Maybe one day I'll renew it, but I probably won't have the time nor the energy to schedule my readings so seriously for the next two years. It's been very fun though, also it had been the first year in quite some time that I read that much in French, and I think it did me good.

(prev)

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Review: Once Upon a Time at the End of the World Vol. 2

Series: Once Upon a Time at the End of the World (6-10)Writer: Jason AaronArtists: Leila del Duca, Tamra BonvillainPublisher: BOOM! StudiosReleased: January 9, 2024Received: Own Find it on Goodreads | Volume 1 Review Summary: The world is coming to an end. Most of the time, that’s a figure of speech. But that isn’t the case here. The planet is dying, destroyed by an environmental disaster. The…

[kudosmyhero]

The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (vol. 1) #5: The Parents of Peter Parker!

Read Date: March 20, 2023 Cover Date: November 1968 ● Writer: Stan Lee ● Penciler: Larry Lieber ● Inker: Mike Esposito ● Colorist: {uncredited} ● Letterer: Artie Simek ● Editor: Stan Lee ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● how did Spider-Man end up in Algeria? ● why does Spidey have the dizzy stars around

● don’t these guys read comics or watch tv? no body, no death ● oo, exposition flashback time! strums a harp ● I read a volume 2 or 3 story where Peter’s parents were some sort of special agents. I thought it was a writer taking wild liberties with the Parkers, but here with their first appearance, it would seem they have some sort of secretive personas. ● was Aunt May ever young? ● Reed Richards gives Spidey a lift to Algeria. and it flies that quickly? Tony Stark could retire on that technology alone ● yikes, Red Skull is creepy af, man ● why does Red Skull have lips? (I’m here to ask the important questions) ● yikes, Red Skull’s profile is hideous:

● ok, so how is Spidey gonna get back home? ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: When helping Aunt May move stuff around the attic, Peter accidentally breaks open a storage trunk filled with photos and other items belonging to his parents. Among these is a newspaper clipping that identifies that his parents were traitors to their country. Mortified, Peter questions his Aunt May, who tells him of his parents and the last time they saw them alive and how she and his Uncle Ben adopted him when they were killed.

Unable to shake this idea from his mind, Peter decides to learn the full story, and so as Spider-Man he seeks the Fantastic Four's aid in helping him travel to the last place his parents were reported seen alive: Algeria. There he learns that his parents were supposedly spies who worked for the Red Skull, and he came across their ID badges for the Skull's organization. Spider-Man also stumbles upon the Red Skull himself, who is in the country to organize a new plot to take over the world.

Spider-Man clashes with the Skull and his men and eventually learns from one of them that Richard and Mary Parker were murdered by the Red Skull when they refused to do his bidding. Believing his parents to have died heroes, he goes after the Red Skull once more and defeats him in battle. In the aftermath, he finds that his father's Red Skull ID card has been cracked in the battle, and finds ID cards underneath that identify them as anti-espionage agents, proving to Peter that his parents were secret government operatives. With evidence to clear his parents' names, Peter returns to the United States, happy to know that in reality, his parents died serving their country instead of betraying it.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Amazing_Spider-Man_Annual_Vol_1_5)

Fan Art: Red Skull by DanLuVisiArt

Accompanying Podcast: ● Swinging Through Spider-Man - episode

● Let's Read Spider-Man - episode 40

[thestarminstrel]

post editing note: holy fuck this got long so it's getting a keep reading tab LMFAO

williams just really s u c k s in this volume and i??? do not know if it's bc srb fucked up her character so bad that even williams's creator fucked up or what. truly am just so angry about it in all types of ways

yes! i think he's def the type to not be open about what he's feeling with his friends. so it makes sense that he's forcing a smile. but remember when in redemption aiden found out that harvard has a date with marcel?

or when nick in rivals during the seiji&jesse match upon seeing robert&jesse, gets this moment?

or even when kyle in redemption gets three pages to explain the background of his relationship to jesse?

the reason i bring these all up is because pacat has given comicbook real estate to so many moments that aren't nichoji OR nick/seiji by themselves. i don't have vol 1-4 on my phone so i can't check but i'm sure there's more from earlier on in the series. pacat and jo are willing to set aside time and pages for us to see the personal reactions of characters like nick (obv) but also aiden and kyle (who, as much as i LOVE him, wasn't even a character we cared about till redemption). why does eugene, there since the early issues, not get even a page by himself?? why do we have to assume he's staying strong for nick? for his team? idk i just think it's ridiculous.

if eugene was the main character of fence, i SO would not have him tell momma labao that he's off the team till much later when he's at the very end of what he can take. bc yeah, his mom worked hard to get him where he is and he doesn't want to disappoint her (and she would ofc assure him that he could never disappoint him). but eugene isn't the main character so instead i gotta grumble about the character arc eugene COULD have. but anyway, i do agree with you on that! but i don't think pacat cares enough about him to even remember that eugene has a support system in his family lmao

him not having a reaction there makes sense i agree- and i think the one he did have makes sense given the situation (though i have my thoughts on what bobby said but i won't detail them here). it's kind of, as i detailed above, that eugene doesn't get any sort of page space to have some emotions in private. everything we know about eugene -- how he feels, how he reacts to other people, what he thinks -- is all in the context of other characters. it just feels like basic courtesy to a character who has been there since early issues to let him have emotions outside of other characters. so i'm upset with this sequence because i think this subdued reaction is all we're going to get because eugene doesn't exist outside of the fencing team and its adjacents (which? RIP KALLY AND TANNER??? they really got plot relevance in vol 1-3 and that's IT). maybe i'm just not making sense but it feels so??? wild to me??? that eugene doesn't get one damn panel where we see him by himself, processing this by himself.

YEAH LIKE COME ON NICK WHAT IN THE WORLD 😭😭😭 i just can't spin this in any positive light on nick like that was just Terrible Friend Behavior. i wish i had your optimism that eugene will get proper character exploration in 2025 but i just. really doubt it. it's so obvious to me he's a second thought to fence (i.e. ALL OF REDEMPTION???, 0 eugene POVs in srb's stuff and marketing). i don't think pacat even....cares enough about him outside of comic relief and to make nick look better. i have a feeling that next issue is going to be jesse, seiji, & nick centric with maybe some haiden development/resolution as a sidebar. i would be highly surprised if eugene gets mentioned in a way that isn't comedic relief or to support the kr team. basically, this is all we're getting on eugene for long shot. hopefully i'm wrong but at this point, fool me once shame on you but fool me twice shame on me lmao.

anyway, thank you for letting me blabber further about this guy. sorry about the paragraphs in response ajfhf i always have more to say than i think i do 😭

don't very often come into the tag to post my thoughts unprompted, but finished challengers and. eugene.

what did pacat do to him.

i already wasn't expecting great things just based on the preview where eugene, my poor boy, just gave a weak thumbs-up at getting benched. but i had faith and hope as foolish as it was.

like, you're telling me that eugene labao who spent years working to get on the fencing team, every year told his mom "this will be the year", and gave a training camp his all just. gives a forced smile at being booted off the team for state?? what?? if pacat wanted to go with a eugene that cares more about the team than his personal resume, fine. okay. but eugene is allowed to be more upset. he should be. he was given everything he dreamed of by williams saying that they could have two reserves, and now it's gone. i don't care how much a team-player you are, that's devastating. especially as a high school junior (in america and australia i GUESS). if you want to go to college for fencing, i imagine the state competition is a great way to get scouted. also, you miss out on fencing with your teammates for the last or second-to-last time. getting benched as a freshman sucks but you got some more years in your high school career. but eugene's a junior, this is his first year on the team, so now he's fencing state maximum once. that's just a cruel stab in the back by williams, genuinely. he should have been given time to be upset onscreen whether it was privately or with friends.

which then, what the fuck williams. you literally said that you could have two reserves- that you FOUGHT for two reserves- and all the sudden eugene can't compete. i never did high school fencing and maybe things are different in australia, but that seems a little ridiculous to me. like wtf did the higher-ups tell her? "yeah you can have two reserves for one competition but that's it" ???????????????? did pacat have an experience like this or something bc i have no clue how that's a logical train of thought a high school sports organizer can have. i will admit that one could argue she's competitive and wants to win. like sure but then why have a second reserve. could she not decide and was always planning to cut nick or eugene depending on who did better at the camp? what kind of coach is that?? none of the other coaches did that - not even donati and she is neck to neck with williams in this rivalry. it doesn't matter how much she wants king's row to have this gold medal- if williams was intentionally doing any of this, uncaring of whether or not she hurts one of the fencing boys, she should not be a coach actually. period. again, i love early fence williams. but oh my god the way she handled this was so bad.

which then brings me to: what is the point of eugene.

i love eugene, he has been one of my favorite characters since 2020 when i first read volumes 1-3. he is one of the reasons why i get so excited about fence and makes me so happy as a character. but honestly? you could cut eugene out of fence and nothing would change. i know he's not haiden or nichoji, but he was put there for a reason that i think pacat forgot. he never has any signficant screentime unless it's to be comedic relief or be a supporting character to nick, the other "underdog" on the fencing team. i really do hate to say it, but reading challengers really made me wish pacat had written out eugene sooner or not written him at all. he's not treated well as a character, and at this point, i don't understand why eugene is even in this story.

another point i want to make is nick. what the hell is wrong with nick. you're telling me that the same nicholas "zero" cox who was about to give up his scholarship and chance to fence so that eugene, a guy he barely knew at the time, could finally be on the team is the same nicholas who only says "but coach--" when eugene gets kicked off the team? that is a terrible friend. i'm not saying nick should have said "i'm not going to state if eugene isn't!!" but he should have called williams out on it, found eugene later and say "dude i'm so sorry this sucks" -- literally ANYTHING!!! but no, nick bever acknowledges it outside of this panel and is too busy at state apparently to notice eugene being bummed about, you know, not fencing with him. it's so, insane to me that nick became this person that doesn't bother checking in on his bro. that tells me he's more concerned about fencing and seiji - which to each his own but i would drop anyone who did me like that. can't even manage a "how r u doing" text what the actual fuCk. i can not stress enough how much i do not like this nick right now.

in conclusion: i need eugene to have a good cry with his mom or his bros about this bullshit and to eat so much good arroz caldo. please save my son from the narrative, it keeps being mean to him :(((