#Ray and Robert steal the show!

[blair-s-world]

Simulation Cartridge

Hello, this is the Part 2, of this.

Fluff and slight smut.

You waited outside the bar as you watched Alex saying goodbye to his friends. You recognised Nick and he saw you and smiled at you.

He comes back, putting his arms in the leather jacket. And a smile, saying, let’s goooo.

You and Alex walk to a different street. You encounter couples making out. Making you ache. You wanted to kiss him. Ofcourse.

But you were shy.

He asked you if you were comfortable to come at his place. His place? Not a hotel? Well they decided to rent this small house. It was cosy & quiet. You enter the house and you saw few suitcases around. Maybe they had packed up already to leave. You excuse yourself to the washroom, fix your makeup and put on the gloss.

When you came back to the living area, you saw Alex. He was relaxed.

“ Do you want to eat something? ” he asked looking straight at you.

“ I could have a snack. ” you respond back.

He gives you his hand and you walk towards the kitchen. He rummage through the cabinets to find a cooking pot and a double packet of noodles.

You laugh at him. You start to fill in the pot with water and place it on the stove.

“ No, let the water boil. ” you placed your hand on his as you watch him ready to put the noodles in.

Alex was getting comfortable around you. He went around to pick two bowls, forks, found some soda to accompany your world class 2AM dinner.

You paid attention to prep the food. Putting in the noodles. The flavour packet. Stirring it around.

Alex picks up the packet of the noodles and finds left over crumbs and starts munching.

You glare at him.

“ what? Don’t tell me you didn’t eat raw noodles growing up. It was me favourite. ” he responded with his mouth crunching.

“ I ate the milk powder. ” you respond smiling.

He points a finger at you went upstairs running. By the time he is back you have placed the food in bowls and you were about to move on the table. He stops, panting, looks at you and gives you two packets of milk powder. You laugh again and say thank you.

“ I stole it from a hotel recently. It’s fresh, don’t worry. I use to steal miniature bottles of liquor but now it’s tea and milk ” he chuckled.

You take the packets & put them in your pocket.

Alex picks up the bowls & places on the island in front of you & sits on the marble. You look at him confused. He taps on the marble instructing that both of you shall be eating your noodles like kids.

Both of you sat facing each other.

You talked.

You talked to him like you have known him for years.

You told him about your insecurities and his shared his.

You told him about how you have a crooked finger because of basketball injury and he took your hand to show a bump on his head He got from skateboarding. You showed him photos of your pet dog. He showed you photos of him at last Christmas he celebrated.

As the meal was done, you placed the utensils in the sink. Both of you snuggled on the couch, you watched the 90s classic, the Pretty Woman.

You touch his shirt and he feels so comfortable in it. Your head was on his shoulders and his on your head.

“ Richard Gere, he was so hot. I mean he still his. But he looks so …. ” you mimic a predator look to explain your emotions. Alex chuckled.

“ Julia Roberts looks phenomenal. Like a ray of sunshine after days of raining. ” Alex responds.

“ How are you effortlessly like this? ” you ask Alex looking straight at him.

“ like this!!”

“ like what?? ”

Both of you laugh.

The fuse was lit on both ends as he ran his hand in your hair.

“ Y/n, can I kiss you? ” he sternly asked while maintaining a tight grip around your neck.

“ This isn’t a dream, is it? ”, your voice cracks. You touch his chain laying peacefully on his chest.

Alex chuckled. He gives you a small peck on your lips. And that was it.

Both of you start kissing. Sloppy wet kisses.

He picks you up and takes you to his room that was upstairs.

“ Richard, I will miss you.. ” you cooed.

“ Oh shut up. ” he responds & smacks your ass playfully.

Alex’s room was clean. It smelled like him too. He made you sit on the table. Doors locked.

Both of you hungrily kiss each other.

Both of you undress each other.

Both of you reach your highs.

You wake up around 7, as the sun hits your eyes. You look at him. Sleeping peacefully.

You went to the washroom to freshen up. Upon your return you pick up your clothes and start to put in the clothes on a chair.

“ Planning to escape? ” he asked as he turned around to have a look at you.

“ No ” you respond with the smile.

“ What’s your plan for the day, got more time to waste? ” he asked as he ran on your arm.

“ I have a flight to catch at 12. ” you responded with a straight face. You saw his emotions change. Like for the first time someone has done this to him. You look at your phone screen and your face him telling him it’s time to leave, for you. You pick up your clothes and start to get dressed. You were about to remove his blue shirt. He made you wear it because the night got chilly by the time you guys planned to sleep.

“ Keep it on. You look good in it. ” Alex commanded.

As you were about to leave his house, you gave him a peck on his cheeks and disappeared into the street.

This was the first time Alex wanted someone to stay more in years.

—————

Feedback appreciated

___________

[bitterkarella]

Midnight Pals: Mr Electric

Ray Bradbury: Submitted for the approval of the midnight Society, I call this the tale of the eternal summer, the last vestiges of muggy august giving way to the bluster of autumn, the twinkling lights of town below in the humid night, young lovers stealing kisses in the dark, old men on the porch, jawin and chewin and chuckling at remembrances of romances long past Barker: you’re literally just describing a Thomas Kinkade painting Poe: clive

Stephen King: wow ray you really come up with some evocative imagery! King: whatever inspired you to become a writer anyway? Bradbury: well, it all started when I went to the county fair and met a wizard Koontz: whoa! A real wizard! King: no dean he’s talking about a magician Bradbury: [chuckling] am I? Bradbury: mr electrico was no mere magician! Bradbury: he had the REAL power!!! Bradbury: the power Bradbury: to fire a young boy’s IMAGINATION! Neil Gaiman: [clapping] right, right! Good show! Right on!

Ray Bradbury: and Mr Electrico pointed a flaming electrical sword at me and said Bradbury: “LIVE FOREVER!!” Bradbury: now I cannot be killed Gretchen Felker-Martin: oh yeah, big mood

Bradbury: Mr Electrico said “Live Forever!” Bradbury: Now I cannot be killed Bradbury: and it’s true Bradbury: c’mon try it out Stephen King: no no I couldn’t Bradbury: c’mon Bradbury: c’mon!!! Bradbury: come at me bro!!! Bradbury: I can take it!!

Bradbury: [slapping chest] c’mon, take a swing at me! Stephen King: I really don’t want to fight you Ray Bradbury: do it! Do it! Barker: I’ll do it Poe: clive Barker: I’m just giving him what he wants! Poe: clive Poe: clive he’s like 100 years old

Mary Shelley: sup fuckers Bradbury: mary!!! Come at me! Mary Shelley: okie dokie [immediately shivs Bradbury, blade snaps] Mary Shelley: what the fuck Bradbury: ha! this isn’t even a tenth of my power!!! Bradbury: what did I tell you?! Bradbury: not a single one of you could defeat you!! Mary Shelley: oh yeah? Mary Shelley: guess we’ll have to gang up on you!! Get ‘im boys! [Ann Radcliffe and Monk Lewis approach with chain and billy club respectively] [Bradbury effortlessly blocks roundhouse kick by Wrath James White] Bradbury: ha! Laughable! [Bradbury effortlessly sidesteps kung fu chop by Alan Baxter] Bradbury: ha! Pathetic!

Bradbury: come on! Come at me! Robert E Howard: you sure about this pardna? Howard: this ain’t no pea shooter hombre Bradbury: [slapping chest] what’s the matter, ya pussy? Bradbury: Fuckin do it!! Howard: hold on thar pardna Howard: I think ya might wanna calm down Bradbury: [grabbing gun and pulling Robert E Howard closer] Bradbury: DO Bradbury: IT Howard: [aiming gun] okay pilgrim you asked fer it Poe: bob Poe: bob this is getting ridiculous Poe: bob don’t Howard: [cocking gun] sorry pardna Howard: I gotta Howard: it’s the law of the west

Ray Bradbury: [flexing] Behold!!! The power of Mr. Electrico!!! The electric man!!! Barker: so ray Barker: I hear this magician’s fake Poe: clive Bradbury: he’s a real magician Barker: is he now Barker: then why hasn’t anyone ever heard of him Bradbury: he Bradbury: he lives in Canada

[my-chaos-radio]

Release: August 1, 1999

Lyrics:

Every endless night has a dawning day

Every darkest sky has a shining ray

And it shines on you baby can't you see

You're the only one who can shine for me

It's a private emotion that fills you tonight

And a silence falls between us

As the shadows steal the light

And wherever you may find it

Wherever it may lead

Let your private emotion come to me

Come to me

When your soul is tired

And your heart is weak

Do you think of love

As a one way street

Well it runs both ways,

Open up your eyes

Can't you see me here,

How can you deny

It's a private emotion that fills you tonight

Songwriter:

Every endless night has a dawning day

Every darkest sky has a shining ray

It takes a lot to laugh as your tears go by

But you can find me here

Till your tears run dry

It's a private emotion that fills you tonight

Eric Bazilian / Eric M. Bazilian / Rob Hyman / Robert Andrew Hyman

SongFacts:

"Private Emotion" from The Hooters (1993) was covered by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, featuring a guest appearance from Swedish singer Meja for Martin's fifth studio album and English-language debut, 'Ricky Martin' (1999). The song was released by Columbia Records as the fourth single from the album on February 8, 2000. A world music and pop power ballad, its production was handled by Desmond Child. The song received widely positive reviews from music critics, who complimented the singers' vocals. The cover version was commercially successful, reaching number one in Czech Republic and Mexico, as well as the top 10 in Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and several other countries. It was also certified gold in Sweden. To promote the song, Martin and Meja performed it at the 2000 ECHO Awards. The accompanying music video was directed by Francis Lawrence and features Aurélie Claudel. It shows Martin and a woman being frozen in a frozen hotel room that slowly starts to unfreeze, with water spraying backwards. Then the room goes on fire, while Martin and the woman fall in love ending up in the flames.

[justatiredwr1t3r]

Hello Everyone! I am new here and I just want to set down some rules!

1. I am not associated with Partycoffin in any way so I will credit their art if I put any in my posts!

2. Do not flirt with me nor make NSFW jokes about me! For I am taken and I am uncomfortable with NSFW & a minor!

3. I will post stories on here and I will do requests! But if you want a Welcome Home story then I need full permission from Partycoffin! No NSFW stories!

4. Even though I'm not associated with Partycoffin in any way, please do respect their boundaries! If you don't then I will not interact with you at all and will block you!

5. Do not try to steal any of my art that I post on here. If you want to share my art, credit me!

6. Do not harass me or spam me!

7. Please do not purposely misgender me! It's rude and really upsetting!

8. Have fun!

I will update this when I have to!

Information

• My name is Erin!

• I am Bisexual and Transgender

• My pronouns are He/Him

• I have autism, ADHD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder

• My special interests are Welcome Home, Doki Doki literature club, Baldi's Basics, Bendy And The Ink Machine, Spooky Month, FNAF, MHA, Vocaloid, Dogman, SpongeBob, Demon Slayer, Family Guy, South Park, Ouran Highschool Host Club, The Promised Never Land, Creepypasta, The Stanley Parable, And Etc

• If you want to reach out to me then my social media will be below here

TikTok - h0wdysbaldsp0t

Discord - ErinTheW31rd0#1838

Tumblr - You're here

YouTube - ATiredArtist

Quotev - ATiredWr1t3r

• I am a minor so if anyone is 18+, do not flirt with me! You may interact with me

• My birthday is on May 13

• My favorite color is blue

• I really love shiny things

• My favorite animals are Foxes and Crows

• Bands I listen to - Mother Mother, Rammstein, Ghost, Lemon Demon, My Chemical Romance, Slipknot, & The Beatles

• My favorite characters are Howdy Pillar, Eddie Dear, Frank Frankly, Sally Starlet, Zenitzu, Haruhi, Honey-senpai, The Narrator, Ray, Roy, Ross, Robert, Dexter Erotoph, & Etc

• My kins are, Dexter Erotoph, Inosuke, Kevin, Honey-senpai, Haruhi, Sally Starlet, Wally Darling, Frank Frankly, and much more that I cannot write in one paragraph

Discomforts

•Pointing me out for looking female

•Being made fun of my stims

•Bringing up my trauma

•Trying to pressure me to show my face more

•Suicide jokes and abuse jokes

•Trying to force me into another fandom that you like

•Being pointed out for being chubby

•Extreme Gore

•Animal harm

•My hand writing being made fun of

•My speech problems being made fun of

•My stuttering being pointed out

•Death being talked about

That's all for now! Thank you for reading!

Home image by @partycoffin

[jadbalja]

On mass culture eating itself, the current creative desert, etc. (part 1B)

A: [regarding Gibson] his near-future work is political and not particularly emotionally resonant. Can't really get into it. I also don't like Chloee Moretz - which had a lot to do with my reaction to that show K: Although those were direct remakes. Constellation is basically kind of stealing from a show called Infiniti, which was excellent (but not released in the US.) K: I don't really know who she is outside of that show. I just found the world-building a bit shallow. "Oh no, there's been a pandemic, a nuclear explosion, and kleptocrats run the world." Not very imaginative. A: I got to Ep. 8 of that French show you liked - with the monsters and vaguely Cowboy Bebop vibe K: Lastman? A: there's a surfeit of sci-fi out there. "The Kitchen" is barely worth the term sci-fi, but it's a recent British offering A: [Lastman?…] yeah K: Lastman is great. There is a Season 2 also btw. A: hmm mm I have to get through some other material first A: I'm working through For All Mankind right now so other stuff is in abeyance K: I've seen The Kitchen on I think Netflix or Amazon but haven't watched it yet. A: don't bother, unless you basically want current race politics pasted onto a future reality which is more or less an unimaginative resource crunched dystopia K: I liked For All Mankind A: so far it's been good - I'm waiting for it to spring forward in time to the near-present A: the forced Latina janitor's daughter is a math genius thing seemed a bit off. But that was the only thing. K: Sometimes it do be like that, though K: There's a character in the latest season I find annoying. But it's still good sci fi. K: Although I feel the initial conceit - that the Russians got to the moon first, and how that affected the space program - gets a bit diluted as the show progresses. A: yes I'll stick with it A: well, I like that it's seen as a stimulus and not the carrying theme. After all, that would be the reality too A: in this reality, Robert Kennedy wins the presidency, goes hard for the moonbase. They find water (which we still haven't located 100% in this reality) and go from there A: back to Neuromancer - this guy J D Dillard - his work so far doesn't tell me much and also doesn't inspire confidence he can handle this material K: Yeah I see he did the remake of "Utopia" which doesn't inspire confidence. K: Actually, like Neuromancer, it was extremely untimely. A: [Actually, like Neuromancer, it was extremely untimely. …] spectacularly, given it was in the midst of the pandemic. I did watch that season. Never watched the original British version K: I watched the original, season 1. It was good. I started the second season but didn't finish it. But the second season had a couple of Game of Thrones actors in their pre-Game of Thrones eras. K: Another very hard to find Blu Ray, the second season. Oddly, there is no UK version, despite it being a British show. The only country that produces it is Germany.

[cooledtured]

The Iron Man Rises Again: Robert Downey Jr. Steals the Show at Golden Globes 2024

It was a night of muted whispers and cautious revelry at the 82nd Golden Globes. The once-glittering ceremony, dimmed by controversy and boycotts, had shed its usual pump for a more subdued affair. But amidst the hushed anticipation, one name roared back to life: Robert Downey Jr.

Downey Jr., the enigmatic alchemist who transmuted from troubled teen star to Iron Man extraordinaire, arrived not with the flash of a repulsor ray, but with the quiet confidence of a seasoned thespian. His nomination for “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s epic exploration of the atomic bomb, was a testament to his chameleon-like ability to shed the superhero skin and inhabit the complex, conflicted soul of Lewis Strauss.

As the teleprompter’s monotone voice rattled through the list of nominees, a hush fell over the room. Then, the words “Robert Downey Jr.” hung in the air, heavy with anticipation. And there he was, a wry smile playing on his lips, a glint of mischief in his eyes. The applause was tepid at first, hesitant, almost unsure if it was appropriate in this muted atmosphere. But then, something extraordinary happened.

A lone, enthusiastic clap, sharp and clear, cut through the room. It was Meryl Streep, a mischievous grin mirroring Downey Jr.’s own. And then, another, and another, until the room erupted in a thunderous ovation, washing away the remnants of awkwardness and replacing it with pure, unadulterated joy.

Downey Jr., ever the showman, basked in the applause for a moment, savoring the unexpected warmth. Then, he took the stage, not with a bombastic swagger, but with a gentle grace. He spoke of Oppenheimer, of the weight of responsibility, of the delicate balance between creation and destruction. He spoke of Nolan, of the director’s unwavering vision, of the shared journey they had undertaken in crafting this cinematic monument.

But the real magic came when he addressed the muted elephant in the room. “This isn’t the Golden Globes we’re used to,” he admitted, a twinkle in his eye. “But tonight, amidst the whispers and the shadows, we’re rediscovering something fundamental: the power of storytelling, the ability of art to transcend circumstance.”

The room erupted in laughter, the tension dissolving into a shared moment of lighthearted camaraderie. Downey Jr., the ever-adaptable hero, had not only won an award, he had reminded us why we gather in the first place: to celebrate the stories that bind us, to be moved, to be entertained, to be human. And in that stolen moment of laughter, under the dimmed lights of a subdued ceremony, the Iron Man had risen again, not with a metallic roar, but with the quiet, captivating magic of a master storyteller.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -

DANIEL SIMMONS | Writer POP-COOLEDTURED SPECIALIST cooledtured.com | GROW YOUR COLLECTION

[raybizzle]

"Uptight" (1968) is a drama film based on the novel, "The Informer" by Liam O'Flaherty. There is also a movie called "The Informer," released in 1935 and directed by John Ford, and "Uptight" is an updated version of that movie. "Uptight" is an outstanding film with an incredible cast. Cleveland, Ohio, is the setting for the movie, which takes place right after the assassination of Martin Luther King. This film also gives an authentic look into Cleveland throughout the movie, showing you a great sense of the environment. The film star, Julian Mayfield, was only debuting in his 2nd film and first lead role. Still, he was with an incredible supporting cast of actors, including Max Julien, Raymond St. Jacques, Ruby Dee, Frank Silvera, and Roscoe Lee Browne.

The timing of this movie was before the burst of Black films in the 70s, known as the Blaxploitation era. "Uptight" takes a concrete revolutionary stance unheard of in black cinema then. So, there is no denying its influence on black films in the 70s, when several actors saw successful careers during that decade. Booker T. and the M.G.s produced the soundtrack for the movie. This soundtrack is potentially the first of its kind for black films. Using funk and soul bands to make a soundtrack was a significant player in black cinema in the 70s. It's arguable that "Uptight" was a trendsetting movie on multiple levels.

The social commentary within the film is powerful. The film touches on black issues of economics, education, revolution, the justice system, sexuality, the welfare process, unemployment, politics, and much more. Each character in the film represents an aspect of those issues and is responsible for bringing these issues to life.

"Uptight" is a fantastic movie. I highly recommend it for viewing. The high-definition version of the film is very detailed, and the cinematography is brilliant, especially in the surroundings of 1968 Cleveland, Ohio. Also, make sure to do some additional research on Julian Mayfield. His compelling life story helped him write a portion of this movie.

Director: Jules Dassin Writers: Jules Dassin (screenplay), Ruby Dee (screenplay), Julian Mayfield (screenplay)

Starring Julian Mayfield, Max Julien, Raymond St. Jacques, Ruby Dee, Frank Silvera, Roscoe Lee Browne, Janet MacLachlan, Juanita Moore, Dick Anthony Williams, Michael Baseleon, John Wesley, Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Ketty Lester, Robert DoQui, James McEachin, Joel Fluellen, Bill Walker

Storyline Tank (Julian Mayfield) is down on his luck after being fired from his steel job. After hearing about Martin Luther King's assassination, Tank reverts to drinking after swearing it off to his fellow revolutionary members. In need of his help to steal weapons, Johnny Wells (Max Julian) cannot convince Tank to join them, leading to Johnny committing the crime that leads to the death of a security guard. Now, the Cleveland police department is seeking a $ 1,000 reward for the whereabouts of Johnny Wells. In sorrow and distress, Tank betrays his revolutionary crew and rats out Wells to the police for the money. Now, Tank must live his decision and face the people who trusted him.

This movie is available on Blu-ray and streaming services

[mystlnewsonline]

Amazing Investigation - Sentencing of Dozens for Fraud

Dozens sentenced for their roles in Atlanta-based fraud and money laundering operation that stole over $30 million from individuals and companies. ATLANTA, GA (STL.News) More than three dozen individuals have been sentenced for involvement in a large-scale fraud and money laundering operation that targeted individuals, corporations, and financial institutions throughout the United States.  The defendants used business email compromise schemes, romance fraud scams, and retirement account scams, among other fraud of over $30 million from numerous victims. “The Department of Justice has tirelessly worked for more than four years to obtain justice for dozens of victims impacted by this brazen criminal organization,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “The defendants’ sentences should serve as a stark warning to others that fraud and money laundering crimes are top priorities for this office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.” “Several members of this conspiracy fraudulently obtained funds from ERISA-covered employee benefit plans.  The funds, which originated from unwitting individuals’ retirement accounts, were deposited into personal and business bank accounts that were created in furtherance of this money-laundering conspiracy.  The greed of the conspirators caused workers and prospective retirees to lose significant portions of their hard-earned retirement funds.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration to protect the integrity of employee benefit plans,” said Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “These fraud scams, although not violent, are not victimless and can be devastating to businesses and individuals who fall prey to them,” said Keri Fairly, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.  “The sentencing of all these individuals shows the FBI’s dedication to working with our partners to hold anyone accountable who would steal from hard-working and honest individuals, rather than put in the work themselves.” “These scammers defrauded individuals and companies, enriching themselves,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama.  “HSI and its law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the nation’s financial infrastructure and ensure that financial crimes do not go unpunished.” “This sentencing illustrates the Secret Service’s dedication to protecting our nation’s financial systems,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Atlanta Field Office.  “We are thankful for our law enforcement partners’ commitment and support as we worked together to bring this case to justice.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: The defendants engaged in multiple fraud and money laundering conspiracies that stole millions of dollars frms located throughout the United States and abroad.  The defendants were charged across several related pending cases. U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II, sentenced the following individuals for their respective roles in this criminal scheme: - Joshua Roberts, also known as “Onyx,” 32, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to eight years and one month in c, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $9,675,739.73 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on August 10, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on March 29, 2022. - Darius Sowah Okang, also known as “Michael J. Casey,” “Richard Resser,” “Thomas Vaden,” “Michael Lawson,” “Matthew Reddington,” and “Michael Little,” 32, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $6,204,119 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on March 17, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravated identity theft on September 2, 2021. - George Kodjo Edem Adatsi, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $3,373,797.43 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on July 21, 2021, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on April 7, 2021. - Benjamin Ibukunoluwa Oye, 29, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to five years in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,163,127.01 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on March 21, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering on March 4, 2020. - Prince Sheriff Okai, 29, of Mableton, Georgia, was sentenced to four years and nine months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,950,586.54 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on January 12, 2021, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on October 6, 2020. - Hamza Abdallah, also known as “Reggie Lewis,” 33, of McDonough, Georgia, was sentenced to four years and nine months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $5,051,473.87 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on February 24, 2021, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on November 18, 2020. - Dominique Raquel Golden, also known as “Desire Tamakloe,” “Mellissa Moore,” “Nicole Nolay,” “Raquel Roberts,” “Maria Henderson,” and “Raquel Golden,” 32, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to four years and six months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $7,830,607.05 in restitution to victims.  She was sentenced on March 28, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on September 30, 2021. - Kelvin Prince Boateng, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $870,333 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on June 17, 2021, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on March 2, 2021. - Jonathan Kojo Agbemafle, also known as “Skinny,” 29, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,637,625.01 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on August 8, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on April 4, 2022. - Blessing Oluwatimilehin Ojo, also known as “Timmy,” 37, of Nigeria, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,711,304 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on October 26, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on July 19, 2022. - Desire Elorm Tamakloe, also known as “Chubby,” 28, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,215,357.81 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on April 18, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on October 13, 2022. - Stephen Abbu Jenkins, also known as “Face,” “Steven Abbu Jenkins,” “Steven Jenkins,” and “Steve Jenkins,” 56, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and seven months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $726,290 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on February 22, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 8, 2022. - Obinna Nwosu, 29, of Douglasville, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and one month in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,045,065.75 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on December 16, 2020, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on September 17, 2020. - Ojebe Obewu Ojebe, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and one month in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $893,879.55 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on September 27, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on June 2, 2022. - Francesco Benjamin, also known as “B-More,” 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and one month in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $987,070 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on March 1, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on October 19, 2022. - Chukwukadibia Ikechukwu Nnadozie, also known as “Chuka” and “Michael McCord,” 30, of Fayetteville, Georgia, was sentenced to three years and one month in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $231,507.19 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on May 9, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on November 28, 2022. - Abubakar Sadik Ibrahim, 29, of Mableton, Georgia, was sentenced to three years in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,193,750.27 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on February 1, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on September 27, 2021. - John Ifeoluwa Onimole, 31, of Powder Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to three years in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,117,966.06 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on April 25, 2023, after pleading guilty to money laundering on December 7, 2022. - Chadrick Jamal Rhodes, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on January 31, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on October 12, 2021. - Chadwick Osbourne Stewart, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to two years and eight months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on January 26, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on October 22, 2021. - Macario Lee Nelson, a/k/a “Mac,” 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to two years and eight months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on February 17, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on September 29, 2021. - Afeez Olaide Adeniran, a/k/a “Ola,” 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to two years and six months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $352,830.25 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on October 6, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 18, 2022. - Kahlia Andrea Siddiqui, 31, of Chamblee, Georgia, was sentenced to two years and six months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $325,811 in restitution to victims.  She was sentenced on February 22, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 9, 2022. - Solomon Agyapong, also known as “Gumpe,” 34, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to two years and six months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $496,123.92 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on April 18, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on October 11, 2022. - Christopher Akinwande Awonuga, 31, of Fayetteville, Georgia, was sentenced to two years and three months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $113,276.27 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on January 8, 2020, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on August 22, 2019. - Emanuela Joe Joseph, 37, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to two years and three months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $442,557.08 in restitution to victims.  She was sentenced on February 21, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on October 26, 2022. - Seth Appiah Kubi, 63, of Dacula, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in custody, to be followed by one year of supervised release.  He was sentenced on July 7, 2020, after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft on March 4, 2020. - Oluwafunmilade Onamuti, also known as “Mathew Kelvin,” 29, of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and 10 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $167,195 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on July 21, 2021, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on April 7, 2021. - Paul Chinonso Anyanwu, 31, of Hampton, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and six months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $57,000 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on December 19, 2019, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on September 18, 2019. - Casey Broderick Williams, 29, of Covington, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and one day in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on June 2, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on July 30, 2019. - Alexus Ciera Johnson, 29, of Mableton, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and one day in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $106,879 in restitution to victims.  She was sentenced on May 22, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on October 11, 2022. - Egale Veonzell Woods, Jr., 44, of East Point, Georgia, was sentenced to one year in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $165,007.19 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on April 21, 2021, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on March 4, 2020. - Gregory Thomas Hudson, 42, of Powder Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 months in custody, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $125,291.45 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on June 27, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on March 14, 2022. - Uchechi Chidimma Odus, also known as “Uche,” 26, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $83,345.47 in restitution to victims.  She was sentenced on May 17, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on December 21, 2022. - Matthan Bolaji Ibidapo, also known as “B.J.,” 30, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to eight months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release with a portion to be served in home confinement and ordered to pay $82,490.50 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on February 21, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on November 1, 2022. - Tyler Keon Roussell, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to six months in custody, to be followed by six years of supervised release with a portion served in home confinement, and ordered to pay $368,400.49 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on February 21, 2022, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on May 16, 2019. - Monique Wheeler, 32, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to three months in custody, to be followed by three years of supervised release with a portion to be served in home confinement, and ordered to pay $71,010 in restitution to victims.  She was sentenced on December 2, 2022, after pleading guilty to money laundering on July 13, 2022. - Chineda Obilom Nwakudu, 28, of McDonough, Georgia, was sentenced to three years of probation with a portion to be served in home confinement and ordered to pay $123,645.85 in restitution to victims.  He was sentenced on February 22, 2023, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 23, 2019. - Ahamefule Aso Odus, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted by a jury on January 30, 2023, of conspiracy to commit money laundering and multiple substantive money laundering offenses.  His sentencing is pending. - Motswana Mulongo, also known as “David Mulongo” and “Henry Tipton,” 38, of Decatur, Georgia, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering on March 10, 2023.  His sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2023. - Oumar Bouyo Mbodj of Kennesaw, Georgia, is deceased, and charges filed against him were dismissed. This investigation was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program—the keystone drug, money laundering, and transnational organized crime enforcement program of the Department of Justice. This case was investigated by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.  In addition, the investigating agencies received considerable support from the Department of Labor, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, and numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly K. Connors and Russell Phillips prosecuted the case. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice Read the full article

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Adventures of Chris Fable (2010)

While I didn't enjoy this film, that doesn't mean you won't. No matter what I say, the people involved in this project did it: they actually made a movie. That's something to be applauded. With that established...

I’ve probably seen films that were cheaper and more inept than The Adventures of Chris Fable, but I don’t care. It doesn’t matter that the film is too dull to be offensive and that no one has ever heard of it (as I write this, it doesn't even have a page on Wikipedia). I saw it and I don’t want you to so I’m going to tell you why it sucks so bad.

In a post-apocalyptic world, Chris Fable (Solomon Ray) scratches together a living stealing for Iggy (Larry Laverty). While pilfering a church, he meets Evangeline (Elizabeth Mouton), who gives him a book. Inside is the way to the last remnants of civilization: a place where his fisherman of a father lives and searches for him. Embarking on a journey, he must beware of the malevolent prince (Robert Bear), who would lead him away from his righteous path.

Also known as The Wylds, the film is loosely based on The Pilgrim’s Journey and is sold - at least with the DVD cover I saw - as an adventure similar to Harry Potter. It’s the pinnacle of hypocrisy. It’s obvious early on that this picture has nothing to do with magic, wizards or anything remotely approaching the realm of fantasy. Everything is an allegory for Christian values and beliefs. The book Chris uses as a guide is a bible. The Prince is Satan, his father in the city is God, the people he encounters on his trip represent philosophers/scientists who get distracted by facts while the answers to life’s meaning are in the good book, etc. That’s fine, but the film is being sold as something completely different. It sells itself as an alternative to the devilry that is Harry Potter by aping the more successful series’ look.

If that weren’t bad enough, the film is appallingly shot and paced. Cut out the dull scenes of Chris walking around while the camera clumsily attempts to keep up with him and the film would be at least a half-hour shorter. The editing is astonishingly poor: always, ALWAYS letting scenes go on for too long and showcasing the worst take every actor delivered. The special effects are embarrassing, which may generate a few chuckles here and there but soon, you realize that no one cared. That disintegrates any potential for ironic fun at this film’s expense. How could you believe that anyone gave a damn when you see the evil robot who pursues Chris, a creature so aesthetically unappealing and so clumsy-looking it might as well be held together with paperclips and bubble gum.

Should you ever have the misfortune to sit through this miserable dreck and manage to resist the urge to simply kill yourself to make it all end, the only way to keep yourself awake will be to question what is actually happening. I get it. Everything is a metaphor, but they’re too on the nose. On paper, it’s easy for a character to say "Drop your bag of gold! It’s preventing you from passing through the narrow path!" When you see it on-screen, the character looks like an idiot for not simply shifting the way he walks to keep the valuables he would need to barter for food, shelter or equipment on a trail that could last who knows how long. Bad accents are everywhere. Characters show up, solve a problem and then disappear constantly.  You wonder where the film is headed, how much longer it’s going to last and which one of you will cease first.

If you have managed to sit through all of The Adventures of Chris Fable and you don’t think it deserves a 0-star rating, I encourage your comments. What was good about it? What indicates anyone cared? Can you truthfully tell me you wouldn’t be filled with fear and sadness if you were told by someone this was their favorite movie?

I watched The Adventures of Chris Fable thinking it would be a “so bad it’s good” knockoff of Harry Potter. After sitting through The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens, I didn't think I'd seen the worst of them. I was wrong. I’d watch that miserable excuse for a picture TWICE before even contemplating this abomination again. (On DVD, July 21, 2018)

[fancycolours]

[filmnoirfoundation]

NOIR CITY 19 continues today at Oakland's Grand Lake Theatre with two double features, THE ACCUSED (1:00) & THE KILLER THAT STALKED NEW YORK (3:00) and NO WAY OUT (7:00) & THE SNIPER (9:30). Films introduced by FNF prez Eddie Muller. Full festival schedule and tickets available at NoirCity.com

Saturday Matinée • March 26

THE ACCUSED 1:00 PM

Demure college professor Wilma Tuttle (Loretta Young) finds herself in jeopardy after killing an overly amorous student in self-defense. As the noose tightens around her, both the victim's guardian (Robert Cummings) and a dogged homicide detective (Wendell Corey) pursue her. Apparently, being a suspected killer makes Wilma irresistible to men. June Truesdell's 1947 novel Be Still, My Love, adapted by Ketti Frings, puts a decidedly feminine slant on a classic noir premise. It's also the rare noir where both the source novel and the screenplay are the work of women. Frings had a résumé similar to many male colleagues in Hollywood—she'd worked as a newspaper correspondent, ad writer, and PR agent before scoring with her first novel, Hold Back the Dawn, adapted to film in 1941 by Billy Wilder. The Accused is a prescient psychological thriller that presaged "Me Too" by many decades.

1949, Paramount [Library of Congress]. 101 minutes. Screenplay by Ketti Frings, from the novel Be Still, My Love by June Truesdell. Produced by Hal Wallis. Directed by William Dieterle.

THE KILLER THAT STALKED NEW YORK 3:00 PM

Petty crook Matt Krane (Charles Korvin) returns to New York City from Cuba, using his girlfriend Sheila (Evelyn Keyes) as a mule to smuggle $40,000 worth of diamonds. What he doesn't realize is that Sheila is carrying something more dangerous — smallpox. What Sheila doesn't realize is that Matt plans on double-crossing her, running away with her sister Francie and the jewels. Sheila must elude the police to exact revenge on the two-timing louse, but with every step she threatens to unleash an epidemic that could infect 8,000,000 people. This fictionalized version of a true story was until recently an antiquated curio, a campy time capsule of an earlier era. Well, nobody's laughing now. Part suspenseful crime thriller, part Public Service Announcement, The Killer That Stalked New York, beautifully filmed by the great Joseph Biroc, recalls a bygone America, one where citizens trusted each other, the government, and miracles of modern science.

1950, Columbia Pictures [Sony Pictures Classics]. 79 minutes. Screenplay by Harry Essex, from a Cosmopolitan magazine article by Milton Lehman. Produced by Robert Cohn. Directed by Earl McEvoy.

Saturday Evening • March 26

NO WAY OUT 7:00 PM

Ray and Johnny Biddle, low-life criminals, are wounded trying to rob a gas station. Rushed to the county hospital, they are treated by an African American resident, Dr. Luther Brooks (Sidney Poitier, in his screen debut). Ray, a virulent racist (Richard Widmark, at his most incendiary), refuses to be treated by a black man, and accuses Dr. Brooks of murder when his brother dies. The incident touches off a firestorm that threatens to erupt into an all-out race war. In the middle is Johnny's ex-wife Edie (Linda Darnell), stuck between the ingrained racism of her "Beaver Canal" neighborhood and a growing awareness of a world beyond its confines. Widmark and Poitier give riveting performances, and Darnell quietly steals the show as a woman trying to escape her ignorant upbringing. The Oscar®-nominated screenplay pulls no punches in its squirm-inducing depiction of deep-rooted racism. Brace yourself for a powerful film that, sadly, is as relevant today as the day it was released.

1950, 20th Century–Fox. 106 minutes; Screenplay by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Lesser Samuels . Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

THE SNIPER 9:30 PM

San Francisco is the backdrop for one of the first movies about a modern serial killer. Decades before such stories became commonplace, husband and wife writers Edward and Edna Anhault researched dozens of actual cases to create this psychological "exposé " of a murderous misfit who wants to be caught but finds it too easy to slip into the margins of a "bustling" post-WWII metropolis. Arthur Franz gives an edgy and empathetic performance as the psychically scarred sniper, whose murderous trail leads viewers on a fascinating tour of midcentury San Francisco — from Pacific Heights through the back alleys of North Beach to once-industrial China Basin. Burnett Guffey's camerawork, moving between shadowy '40s noir and '50s docu-realism, enhances Edward Dmytryk's crisp and compelling direction.

1952, Columbia Pictures [Sony Pictures Classics]. 88 minutes. Screenplay by Harry Brown, from a story by Edward and Edna Anhalt. Produced by Stanley Kramer. Directed by Edward Dmytryk

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Google's short-lived data-advantage

There's a lot of ways to think about the movement to tame Big Tech, but one of the more useful divisions to explore is the "Night of the Comet" people versus the "Don't Believe the Criti-Hype" people.

This is a division over the value of the data that Google, Facebook and other large tech firms have amassed over the years - data on their users, sure, but also data on the advertisers and publishers they serve with their ad-tech platforms.

Big Tech companies and their investors are really bullish on the value of this commercial data-advantage: they say that spying on us - the users - lets them manipulate our opinions and activities so that we buy or believe the things their advertisers pay them to push.

More quietly, their investors believe that the data-advantage extends to publishers and advertisers, a deep storehouse of data that makes it effectively impossible for anyone else to do the precision targeted that Big Tech manages, which is why they have such fat margins.

Night of the Comet tech criticism accepts these claims at face value: Big Tech's advantage, they claim, comes from having amassed this insurmountable data-advantage that allows it to both predict and shape what we - and therefore advertisers and publishers - will do.

The implication of this is that traditional antitrust remedies - breakups, say - won't be merely ineffective; they'll be terrifyingly harmful.

If Googbook invented a mind-control ray to sell your nephew fidget-spinners, then breaking them up will only make it easier for Robert Mercer to hijack that mind-control ray to turn your uncle into a Qanon racist.

Googbook's data-advantage, in other words, is like a planet-killing comet heading towards the Earth. If we break that comet up, it will turn into a killing rain of meteors that shower onto every part of the globe - we can't break up the comet, we have to *steer* it.

In this version of tech criticism, the answer is to leave Big Tech intact, but turn it into a utility, or some other highly regulated entity, bound by rules that limit its use of that mind-control system.

Bringing Big Tech to heel by deputizing it to serve as an arm of the state (and perhaps a national champion in the new Cold War with China), like the Bell System prior to the AT&T breakup in '82.

On the other side, you have the Don't Believe the Criti-Hype school. Lee Vinsel coined the term "Criti-Hype" to describe a kind of criticism that actually hypes its subject - say, by repeating Big Tech's self-serving claims.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/02/euthanize-rentiers/#dont-believe-the-hype

These claims aren't just self-serving, they're also highly dubious. Everyone who's ever claimed to be able to read - or control - our minds was lying (to themselves, or to everyone else, or both).

The "psychometrics" that all this behavior-modification depends on is - to quote *Nature* - a "scant science." From Big Five Personality Types to microexpression/sentiment analysis, we're deep into the realm of irreproducible results and junk science.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-03880-4

The Criti-Hype school posits that the supernormal returns to capital for Big Tech aren't driven by awesome ad-tech capabilities, but rather, by monopoly (buying or crushing all competitors) and the fraud it enables (the industry has nowhere else to go).

That is, Big Tech makes money the same way hedge-fund managers make their own stunning returns: by cheating so they get paid whether or not they're any good at their jobs. The mere existence of a profitable industry is not proof that the industry is run by competent people.

And to be clear, there is a *lot* of fraud in ad-tech. Tim Hwang calls it a "Subprime Attention Crisis," where the ads are fake, the clicks are fake, the publishers' inventory is fake, the whole thing *riddled* with fraud.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/10/05/florida-man/#wannamakers-ghost

As Aram Zucker-Scharff wrote, "The numbers are fake, the metrics are bullshit, the agencies responsible for enforcing good practices are knowing bullshitters profiting off the fake numbers and none of the models make sense at scale of actual human users."

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/04/how-to-truth/#adfraud

It's a "bezzle" - a con whose mark hasn't twigged to the ruse...yet.

And while the Night of the Comet side relies on the irreproducible claims of self-proclaimed Svengalis, the Criti-Hype side has an increasingly corpus of cold, hard facts about the bezzle's operation.

Take last November's "Why Google Dominates Advertising Markets," Dina Srinivasan's  superb and detailed dissection of Google's crooked ad-markets, in which they steal from advertisers and publishers by rigging the bids on both sides of the exchange.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/11/20/sovkitsch/#adtech

Srinivasan proves you don't need mind-control rays to explain how Big G makes fantastic returns from the ad-tech market. That prospect is further explored in the UK Competition and Markets Authority's 437-page report on "Online platforms and digital advertising" (Jul '20):

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fa557668fa8f5788db46efc/Final_report_Digital_ALT_TEXT.pdf

Here's where it starts to get *really* interesting. In May 2020, Yale's Fiona Scott Morton and Omidyar's  David Dinielli used preliminary CMA data to publish their "Roadmap for a Digital Advertising Monopolization Case Against Google."

https://omidyar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Roadmap-for-a-Case-Against-Google.pdf

Morton and Dinelli zero in on the actual mechanism of Google's data-advantage, the thing it commands a lion's share of, which advertisers genuinely prize: location data. If I know you're around the corner from my cafe, I might spend a *lot* to show you an ad for my pasties.

This location data advantage is undeniable, but man, it has a short half-life. Thing is, I might spend a lot of money to show you an ad for my coffee shop when you're around the corner, but once you've moved on, you can go to hell as far as I'm concerned. You're dead to me.

This short half-life tells us that we're not living the Night of the Comet nightmare scenario. Break up Google, starve it of location data, and within *hours* most of its location targeting advantage is gone...forever.

As the antitrust cases against Google proceed, more and more of these technical exposes of rigged markets emerge, showing us how monopoly and fraud are at the heart of the data-advantage, and how contingent, time-bound and fragile that advantage really is.

The latest is the bizarrely named "Project Bernanke," a formerly secret ripoff that was exposed when Google forgot to redact a document it filed in its Texas antitrust case:

https://twitter.com/KhushitaVasant/status/1379955848118726659

Google used data from recent ad-auctions to help advertisers shade their bids for ad-placements, exploiting the information asymmetry so the ads it brokered won the auctions, ensuring that rivals ad-brokerages were frozen out.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/googles-secretive-project-bernanke-reportedly-093732134.html

Though Google insists that this was just an industry practice, the leaked document reveals that Google kept this a secret from publishers. Its internal presentations claim that they made $230m in 2013 alone from this practice.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/googles-secret-project-bernanke-revealed-in-texas-antitrust-case-11618097760

All together, this constitutes a highly specific account of how a data-advantage worked - and what its weak-point is. Project Bernanke was not grounded in longitudinal market data from ad-sales - it exploited *recent* data to deliver a $230m+/year advantage.

The multisided market - a multisided bezzle - exploits the monopolist's data advantage to harm readers, publishers and advertisers, not by predicting and shaping their behavior by bypassing their critical faculties with spooky, advanced psychometrics.

The bezzle requires fresh data - it's a flywheel that uses the monopolist's god's-eye-view to freeze out competitors and entrap publishers and advertisers to get more data to rig the market to entrap the publishers and the advertisers.

It's not a comet. It's a monopoly. It's not terrifying supergeniuses using machine learning to turn us into clicking zombies: it's garden-variety monopolists using anticompetitive, underhanded, dishonest and (probably) illegal tactics to maintain their monopoly.

Bust the trust, ban the conduct, and the data-advantage evaporates with the half-life of that extremely time-bound data. The criti-hype that says that the data-advantage is a deadly, unstoppable comet is just Google's own sales-patter, flipped on its head.

Don't believe the criti-hype.

[s-stamper]

My Beyblade Ships over the years plus some reasons (in no particular order):

Ray/Rei & Mariah/Mao: The pairing is cute, they have a history as well as chemistry, and even though the dub tried to erase a good chunk of the insinuations, we all saw it and its potential. Didn't ship them for too long (because I was 11 going on 12 at the time) but I liked them overall.

Oliver & Enrique: Even at 11, I seriously thought Oliver had a liking for dudes, especially that blonde Italian who gave off so much sass he could open his own boutique. (With Oliver helping him run it of course.)

Johnny & Kai: This was one of the rather strange pairings my pre-teen kid-mind came up with. Why? I think it had something to do with the fact that the two were both loners and came off as "angry at the world". So, common ground? But, once bratty Johnny beat Kai at Robert's castle I was livid. (Haha!) Little me hated him and was THRILLED when Kai got his revenge. That snarky, confident smirk-laced, golf line still makes me laugh to this day.

Tala & Tyson: 12 year old me saw that Tyson had won their match and changed Tala for the better. So... Feelings mayhaps? The answer, heck no. That notion only lasted a week. Haha!

Kai & Hilary/Hiromi: Now, onto V Force, I was 12 and (at first) HATED Hilary. She was bossy, bratty, and all the worst parts of a person! I KNEW girls like her. Nice or not, she was a whiny pain. When she called Kai "Cute," I was pissed. How dare she steal my man?! (Omg my kid-self was obsessed with him and that embarrasses me nowadays. So much cringe... Oof.) Anyway, I reminded myself this was both stupid and it was a cartoon so I moved on to shipping them. Yes I know, very weird... The Island is what did it. Blame the gentlemanly chivalry from Kai. 😍 Then I jumped overboard...

Kai & Ray: V Force started this one. I think it did for lots of the fanbase. Namely the Saint Shields Arc. So much tenderness and caring on Kai's part. I now see that arc as a "guys just being bros" kind of thing. Alas, like Ray & Mariah, it didn't last too long.

Onto G Revolution, I didn't really have any big pairings for this season.... Kai & Rick (because power and domination), Kai & Hiro/Hitoshi (because of that one scene at a lighthouse where Hiro told Kai how easy he was to see through and Kai didn't like being pinned down), and then there was Kai & Miguel (again, someone was overpowered by somebody so crushing). Also, Ray & Mystel (because that one scene where Mystel fell out of a tree and Ray caught him as I saw it back then, "bridal-style"... Still so cute, but it's merely a kind gesture from one stranger to another.)

What the bit beast was wrong with me at 13?! Think I unknowingly had a kink then. 🤣

8. Amidst all the oddness that was those I did have a normal one.... Max & Kai: Unlike everyone else, Kai actually did something to aid in saving Max's reputation after Barthez ran it through the mud via the media. It may have only been with a shout with a threatening undertone, but it conveyed a lot. Including SHOWING how deeply he still cared for him despite the side of the dish he was standing on. It was sweet, big brother protecting little brother at its finest, and I so wished for more of it... Still do kind of.

9. Kai & Tyson/Takao: (I didn't know what Yaoi was back then. I didn't learn that until I was 15 when I saw Gravitation for the first time.) Anyway, their match in G Revolution was what sparked that one for me. I've always loved the mythos aspect of the show but reading more about Suzaku and Seriyu's tales made me like the idea. I believe the show is meant to follow the warrior/rivals for eternity dynamic, but the (possible) lovers' tale (especially given the fantastic visuals) seems to somewhat come through. While I wasn't sure what to think at first, given what we know of the two's journey VS what we're given, it comes off that Kai's in love with Tyson and doesn't know how to process it given that he's 15-16. Kai's literal obsession with once again defeating him (remember the monolog we hear and Kai's absolute reluctance to settle for a tie) adds to it too. Even in the BEGA Arc, it came across that Kai would do ANYTHING to face Tyson, and it had to be ONLY Tyson. No one else was good enough. Even Hiro stated that it was unhealthy for Kai to obsess the way he did. Granted it was all while calling him "old news" and a weakling but it still stands. More "evidence" of Kai possibly having some feelings for Tyson is his first match with Brooklyn. We learn that Tyson's existence not only gives Kai purpose but saved him in more than one way, inside and out it seems. Ray and the others had been there too yes, but it seems that no one has impacted Kai's life more than Tyson.

My other range of "over the years" ships include but are not limited to:

Kai & Julia, Kai & Wyatt/Yuuya, Kai & MingMing, Crusher & MingMing, Ray & Crusher, Ray & Salima, Kai & Queen or King, Kai & Tala/Yurily, Kai & Spencer/Sergei, Tyson & Hilary, Kai & Robert, Max & Mariam or Emily, along with Kai & Raul, and Kai & Mariah.

Phew! I'm sure there's more buried deep somewhere that my tired brain could conjure up, (manga, crack pairings, etc,...) but it's super late. So.... Byeeeeee!! (2:32AM, wow!) 🤣

[mach-speed-spin]

My thoughts on some of the major changes made in the English dub

This will mainly cover the original series since besides some name changes the mfb and burst dubs have been pretty close to the Japanese version. The original series changed a lot though so here we go

Bit beasts

Original version: Very few can see bit beasts. Mostly it’s just bit beast wielders and a few others who have connections to them

Dub: Everyone can see bit beasts (except for the Saint Shields’ bit beasts who had the power of invisibility)

Opinion: The fact that bit beast users fight non users in tournaments feels kinda unfair. The dub doesn’t fix this completely but it makes it less bad. At least everyone knows they exist and it’s not like non users don’t know what they’re getting into

Ryuunosuke Kinomiya/ Ryu Granger

Original Version: Takao’s granfather is an upbeat but wise man. I don’t know Japanese but his dialogue doesn’t seem to be over the top

Dub: I need a compilation of all his lines. His very first line of dialogue is “Tyson! C’mon little dude, get your head into what you’re doing, capiche? Now get down and boogie.” Don’t believe me? Here is my source

Opinion: Ryuunosuke Kinomiya is likeable but overall not that memorable. Ryu Granger is amazing. Easily one of the best parts of the dub (which makes sense, as his VA was by far the most experienced at the time). Love it. Ryu Granger blasts Ryuunosuke Kinomiya out of the water with his radical swag

Dizzi

Original version: Dizzi doesn’t exist and most of her dialogue is Kyoujyu’s. It’s also more technical

Dub: Dizzi is a bit beast that inhabits a laptop. Her dialogue is mostly witty rather than technical

Opinion: Dizzi’s existence helps elaborate more on the idea that bit beasts inhabit objects that aren’t just beys. Dragoon was in a sword and Draciel was in a necklace, but they were there for around 1 episode after their introduction. Dizzi serves as a constant reminder of something the original version mentiones maybe twice. Her dialogue is a different story. I appreciate some of the quips, but I wish they kept the technical aspect of it (which is one thing mfb and burst did really well). If I had to choose between one or the other, I’d rather keep the technical dialogue over Dizzi

AJ Topper and Brad Best

Original version: Blader DJ serves as the referee and sole commentator

Dub: DJ Jazzman serves as the referee. The commentary is done by AJ Topper and Brad Best in a sport-channel like fashion

Opinion: Beyblade is a sport. AJ and Brad help give it more legitimacy as a sport. Plus their dialogue is amazing (I don’t mind it not being technical since the job of a commentator is different from that of an analyst)

Baihuzu/ White Tigers

Original version: No member of the clan had ever left the village and contact with outsiders was strictly forbidden. Rei basically commited treason

Dub: The White Tigers (the team, not the clan) were pissed at Ray for abandoning them and taking Driger, but he didn’t break any laws (other than unspoken ones)

Opinion: The fact that Baihuzu left the village in search of Rei (thus breaking tradition) showed how important Byakko was to them. The dub made it more personal. Less about Rei vs the clan and more about Ray vs Lee soecifically. I prefer the original version here except for 1 thing: Bruce. The fact that an outsider like Bruce was affiliated to Baihuzu doesn’t make much sense since they still avoided outsiders. The dub doesn’t have this issue. If Bruce was stated to be a member of the clan then the dub would have nothing on the original

All Starz bit beasts

Original version: They are normal bit beasts

Dub: They are artificial bit beasts

Opinion: The All Starz have no real conflict with the BBA in the original version (aside from Max’s mom). They’re dicks and that’s it, but unlike Euro Team, Baihuzu, or Borg, their is no ideological conflict. The dub doesn’t fix this entirely, but it’s less bad. It brings up the idea of humanity vs nature and that humans shouldn’t mess with ancient magic (which would be brought up again in 2002/ V-Force). It does however, create a plot hole in the next season. If the cyber bit beasts are unprecedented as Dr B says, then what happened to the All Starz? This is a plothole that can only be fixed by headcanons (my personal one is the the PPB bit beasts are like drones and aren’t fully sentient like the cyber bit beasts)

Team WHO/ Dark Bladers

Original version: Team WHO were some of the rare no bit beast users who were aware of their existence. Pissed at what they thought as unfair (they were right), they sell their souls and obtain bit beasts. Now they’re on a revenge quest to destroy all bit beasts. After the defeat of the Euro Team at the hands of the BBA, they kinda accept that they’re cursed and forgive the Euro Team

Dub: The Dark Bladers were non bit beast users who lost to the bladers that would later form the Majestics. They are cursed, losing their souls, but gaining bit beasts of their own. The 2 ways to break the curse are to have the Majestics defeated or steal all bit beasts. After the Majestics lose to the Bladebreakers, the curse is lifted, so they regain their souls and get to keep their bit beasts

Opinion: Team WHO’s arc was never resolved properly. This is because it couldn’t. They were right and the only way to resolve their arc was to have them win (or at least have bit beasts stop being used in tournaments). The Dark Bladers fix this by having their arc be about lifting the curse. Team WHO was a massive mistake from the anime staff (they weren’t in the manga) and the Dark Bladers were a stroke of genius from the dub

Music

Original version: The 2000 ost used a lot of brass intruments. Personally my favorite tracks were American Dream and Russia. I sadly couldn’t find the 2002 ost and I’ve only seen a few clips of the Japanese version but the ost seems to have shifted to being more rock based. I can’t describe it perfectly but every track seems to have a “tense” feeling. The G-Revolution ost is more upbeat. I only have a surface level knowledge of music genres but it seems to be mainly speed metal in the earlier tracks and shifting to more orchestral later. The earlier tracks remind me of Ron Wasserman’s work in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, with songs like Fight and I WIll Win

Dub: Insert songs that replace much of the battle music. The non battle music is also original, but fairly unremarkable. Tracks 15-25 of this playlist cover the insert songs (note: Hang On is a cover because the original version was never released)

Opinion: 2002 had the weakest ost of all. It’s not that it’s bad, but it’s horribly misused. If you have a battle that’s supposed to be fast paced action, don’t make the music tense. Make it energetic. 2000 has by far the best non battle music, but the battle music isn’t that great. It’s alright, but it’s not nearly as good as G-Revolution, which in turn had great battle music but ok non battle music. The English dub’s insert songs are pretty good but otherwise the ost is lacking.  I’d say G-Rev >= 2000 > dub >> 2002

Bonus: Robert’s dub dialogue

“You’re just talking trash” “Alas, I am talking to trash”

Conclusion

The dub wasn’t great overall. The voice acting was bad (that’s what you get for having the VAs be teenagers). However, the dub did fix some major issues with the original version (Team WHO in particular). The dub’s worst changes made thing go from great to ok and the best changes made things go from bad to good. Plus Ryu Granger exists so the dub automatically gets extra points

[halloweentv]

Netflix Halloween

v.2020

A list of Halloween themed shows and movies available on Netflix streaming that you can play for Halloween! Enjoy!

Stranger Things

S2e2 Trick or Treat, Freak

After Will sees something terrible on trick or treat night, Mike wonders whether Eleven is still out there. Nancy wrestles with the truth about Barb.

Hubie Halloween

Despite his devotion to his hometown of Salem (and its Halloween celebration), Hubie Dubois is a figure of mockery for kids and adults alike. But this year, something is going bump in the night, and it's up to Hubie to save Halloween.

Cobra Kai

S1e3 Esqueleto

Daniel volunteers to chaperone the Halloween dance so he can keep an eye on Sam. Johnny tries to recruit more students for his new business.

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting

Recruited by a secret society of babysitters, high school student Kelly Ferguson battles the boogeyman and his monsters when they capture Jacob, the 5 year old boy she’s watching on Halloween.

The Babysitters Club

S1e2 Claudia do the Phantom phone calls

The spooky spirit of Halloween sweeps through Stoneybrook. Meanwhile Claudia explores budding romance and struggles to connect with her parents.

F is for Family

S1e4 F is for Halloween

Frank secretly torpedoes Sue’s shot at a real job and a bully leaves Bill afraid to don his costume.

Harvey Girls Forever

S1e3 Harveyween

Lotta faces her fears to save her friends on Halloween night.

The spooky tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween

When Melvin tries to cancel Halloween, clever best friends Harold and George create their own spooky holiday—and it’s a huge success.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Chapter one: October Country

While Greendale readies for a Halloween eclipse, Sabrina faces a crucial decision and Harvey makes an unexpected decision.

Legends of Tomorrow

S3e4 Phone Home

The Legends jump to 1988 to capture an anachronistic Dominator and save young Ray from being killed.

The Flash

S6e4 There will be Blood

Barry's efforts to prepare Cisco for Crisis are derailed when Cisco schemes to save Barry's life instead; Ramsey Rosso uses his deadly new abilities to save his own life, while sacrificing his humanity in the process.

Supernatural

S4e7 It’s the Great Pumpkin Sam Winchester

Investigating two mysterious deaths in a small town, Sam and Dean discover a witch is sacrificing people to summon a dangerous demon. 

Riverdale

S4e4 Halloween

Halloween comes to Riverdale bearing VHS tapes and creepy dolls of unknown origin.

Scream: The TV series

Anthology series that follows a group of teenagers being stalked and targeted by a masked serial killer. Halloween episodes: S1e9 tm”The Dance” and S3e3 “The man behind the mask”

American Horror Story

Murder House

S1e 4&5 Halloween Part 1 & 2

The ghosts can leave the house on halloween night. Tate runs into some ghosts from his past.

Coven

S3e4 Fearful Pranks Ensue

the witches raise the dead on Halloween

Freak Show

S4e3&4 Edward Mordrake Part 1 & 2

the freaks don’t want to perform on halloween in fear of a ghost coming to visit.

Hotel

S5e4 Devil’s Night

John receives an invitation to attend an exclusive Devil's Night Soiree, while Alex tries to diagnose Holden's strange condition.

Parks and Recreation

S2e7 Greg Pikitis

Leslie enlists the help of Dave and Andy in order to catch a local teen vandal. Meanwhile, Ann struggles to make her Halloween party fun and gets help from an unlikely source.

S4e5 Meet n Greet

Ben is mad when Andy and April decide to throw a Halloween party at their house without asking him. Tom emcees an event for Leslie’s campaign but manages to also promote his company. Meanwhile, Ron and Ann give Andy and April an unusual wedding present.

13 Reasons Why

Tape 2 Side B

Its Halloween in the present and Clay strikes back at someone who wronged Hannah. In the past Hannah thinks someone is stalking her. 

Fuller House

S2e4 Curse of Tanner Manor

DJ attempts to throw the scariest Halloween party for Max. Stephanie works as a zombie at a haunted house.

Carmen Sandiego

S3e2 The Day of the Dead Caper

Carmen tracks a you g art thief on Dis de Muertos.

S3e3 The Haunted Bayou Caper

V.I.L.E. crashes a costume party hosted by a celebrity chef at his spooky mansion.

House of 1000 Corpses

Two young couples traveling across the backwoods of Texas searching for urban legends of murder end up as prisoners of a bizarre and sadistic backwater family of serial killers.

Star Trek TOS

S2e7 Catspaw

Kirk and the crew land on a planet with a spooky castle and witches.

Pac’s Scary Halloween

Sinister Dr. Pacenstein schemes to swap bodies with Pac during a Halloween party.

Pac Man and the Ghostly Adventures

S1e21  A Berry Scary Night

Count Pacula attempts to drain the last yellow orb in Pac World on Halloween night. 

S2e12 The Shadow of the were-pac

Pac and his friends are confronted by spooky space ghost pirates. 

Cult of Chucky

Chucky has some scores to settle with some old enemies.

Charmed

S3e4 All Halliwell’s Eve

The sister’s go to the 1600’s to save a witch and her baby

S8e6 Kill Billie Vol. 1

While the Charmed ones are dealing with paparazzi and Halloween, armed and ready to vanquish, Billie inexplicably freezes and is flooded with childhood flashbacks when she sees her latest demon target, the Dogan.

Charmed (2018)

S1e3 Sweet Tooth

When Macy learns of a mysterious death in her lab, she informs her sisters, and together they devise a plan to flush out the demon; Maggie volunteers to throw a Halloween party at her house.

Lucifer

S2e6 Monster

Guilty and self-destructive, Lucifer clashes with Chloe during an investigation, leading her to team up with Dan instead. Meanwhile, Amenadiel bonds with Charlotte, and Maze takes Trixie trick-or-treating

Gossip Girl

S4e9 The Witches of Bushwick

Chuck throws a Saints and Sinners masquerade party.

Power Rangers

S1e25 Life’s a Masquerade

Isn’t set on Halloween but has a cool Frankenstein monster in it. and costumes.

S1e53 Trick or Treat

Kimberly goes on a Halloween game show…cuz those exist.

S2 e21 Zedd’s Monster Mash

Tommy faces some real Halloween monsters after he’s kidnapped by Goldar. 

Power Rangers Samurai “Party Monsters” and “Trickster Treat”

Power Rangers Megaforce “Raising Spirits” 

Power Rangers Dino Charge “The Ghostest with the Mostest” and in Dino Super Charge “Trick or Trial”

Big Bad Beetle Borgs

S1e24 Bye, Bye Frankie

Frankenbeans escapes into town on Halloween night, then the monster Grenade Guy is ordered to kidnap him.

Goosebumps

Good show for the season but the Halloween episodes in particular are

Specials “The Haunted Mask” Carly Beth’s scary mask begins to change her.

Specials “The Haunted Mask 2” A boy’s creepy Halloween mask won’t come off and begins to harm him.

S2e15 Attack of the Jack O'Lanterns

Jack O‘Lantern aliens terrorize some trick or treaters. 

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

Two young friends find a magic book that brings a ventriloquist's dummy to life.

Creeped out

A series of spellbinding, enchanting and intriguing tales that will bring chills to the back of the neck. Different characters must navigate their way through the unexplained.

Dreamworks Spooky Stories

“Scared Skrekless” Shrek and Co tell scary stories

“Monsters vs Aliens Mutant pumpkins” Ginormica and co battle mutant pumpkins!

Dreamworks Spooky Stories Vol. 2

“Monsters Vs Aliens: night of the Living Carrots” Picks up right after the previous special

Also included another MVA short, Megamind, and Shrek.

Glee

S2e5 The Rocky Horror Glee Show

the class attempts to out on a performance of Rocky Horror for Halloween. 

New Girl

S2e6 Halloween

Jess gets hired as a zombie at a haunted house.

S3e6 Keaton

Jess hosts a Halloween party and a Michael Keaton batman costume helps cheer up Schmidt.

My Babysitter’s a Vampire

S2e10  Halloweird

In a total “not rip off” of Buffy, a mask makes people turn into real-life versions of their costumes.

The Vampire Diaries

S1e7 Haunted

Matt takes Vicky to a haunted hous ebut the night takes a terrifying turn

The Office

S2e5 Halloween

Downsizing leads corporate headquarters to order Michael to fire somebody by the end of October. Michael procrastinates until Halloween, when he still has not decided whom to fire. When he decides to fire Creed, Creed manages to convince Michael to fire Devon.

S6e8 Koi Pond

While on the way to a business meeting, Michael falls into a koi pond. The staff tease him so he holds an anti-bullying seminar. Pam and Andy go cold-calling to stir up some new business; they reluctantly use clients’ mistaking them as a couple to their advantage.

S7e6 Costume Contest

Michael freaks out when Darryl goes over his head by taking an idea to corporate. The employees partake in a Halloween costume contest in the office. Meanwhile, Pam tries to get the truth from Danny about their dating history.

S8e5 Spooked

Erin works to make a spooky, non-childish Halloween party, with help from Gabe. Dwight becomes friends with Robert’s son, and Pam and Jim debate the existence of ghosts. Meanwhile, Robert tries to figure out everyone’s deepest fears in order to culminate a ghost story.

Super Monsters Save Halloween

The Super Monsters use their powers to get their neighbors in the Halloween spirit, then help a nervous friend see there's nothing to be afraid of.

Super Monsters: Vida’s first Halloween

The Super Monsters share their Halloween traditions with Vida, then get invited to a Día de los Muertos party in the Howlers' backyard.

Super Monsters: Dia de los Monsters

The Super Monsters celebrate Día de los Muertos in Vida's hometown with her magical family, some new monster friends and a spook-tacular parade!

StarBeam: Halloween Hero

Greedy Captain Fishbeard is stealing everybody's Halloween treats for himself, but StarBeam and Boost have some tricks up their sleeves to save the day!

Monster Family

Dracula's spell turns a woman and her loved ones into a vampire, a mummy, a werewolf and Frankenstein's monster.

Highway to Heaven

S2e5 The Devil & Jonathan Smith

Jonathan recruits a con artist's help after Jabez Stone tricks Mark into selling his soul in order to save a little boy's life, but The Devil has another agenda - acquiring the soul of an angel.

S4e5 I was a middle aged werewolf

During Halloween night, Jonathan helps a little boy get over his fears (and in the process get even with his older sister).

Curious Creations of Christine McConnell

Christine McConnell, an artist and baker lives in a mansion full of monsters and ghosts. She loves to create morbid looking desserts like gingerbread haunted houses, caramel spiders and bones made of pretzel sticks, peanut butter and white chocolate.

Hotel Transylvania

S1e13 The Legend of Pumpkin Guts

Mavis and her friends learn the true meaning of Halloween

Scooby Doo Mystery incorporated

S1e17 Escape from Mystery Manor

When the gang goes on a quest to find out what happened to the original Mystery Incorporated group, they find themselves trapped in the underground Darrow Mansion.

Community

S1e7 Introduction to Statistics

Jeff must choose between a date and honoring a promise to Annie.

S2e6 Epidemiology

Halloween at GCC is ripe for zombie-inspired nightmares.

S3e5 Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps

Britta discovers that an anonymous psych quiz proves that one of her friends is a psychopath.

Sleepy Hollow

Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people, with the culprit being the legendary apparition, The Headless Horseman.

Sister, Sister

S3e7 Halloween

Though grounded Tia and Tamera take Ray’s car in search of a Halloween rave.

Moesha

S3e9 Halloween part 1: Kim’s Revenge

A three-way phone call among friends leads to hurt feelings for Kim, who overhears more than she bargained for concerning a Halloween-costume contest.

S6e7 The Nutty Moesha

While trying to juggle studying, taking care of her family while Dee's away and planning for her Halloween party, Moesha, along with Niecy, starts using energy-raising vitamins that have some peculiar side effects

The Parkers

S2e7 Scary Kim

Kim pulled pranks on Halloween on her friends. Her friends gets her back by pulling a huge prank

S3e7 Mummy’s the word

When Kim,Stevie and T rent out a woman's house for a Halloween party Nikki has to save the professor when they find out she plans to turn him into a mummy

Liv & Maddie

S1e5 Kang-A-Rooney

Joey ends up crushing on Liv in a kangaroo costume while practicing how to talk to girls.

S2e3 Helgaween-A-Rooney

A magic amulet creates a frightening triplet for Liv and Maddie named Helga.

S3e4 Haunt-A-Rooney

Liv and Joey travel to New York for Halloween

S4e3 Scare-A-Rooney

Liv takes Ruby to a spooky dinner and runs into an old acquaintance.

All Hallows’ Eve

As Eve celebrates her birthday on Halloween night, she discovers she's a witch and accidentally summons an old relative, who has nasty plans for the town.

Girlfriends

S1e6 The Remains of the Date

Joan plans an elaborate scheme to get revenge on William for the latest in a series of Halloween pranks. Toni is put off when her date asks her to engage in a threesome--with a stuffed animal.

S2e7 Trick or Truth

Toni winds up suffering a huge breakdown after she discovers Greg took her back only to get revenge on her.

Sam & Cat

S1e16 #DollSitting

On Halloween, Sam and Cat are hired to babysit a doll, with unusual and creepy results. Cat also thinks she may have accidentally turned Dice into a monkey with a magic spell.

Gilmore Girls

S6e7 Twenty-one is the loneliest number

Since Rory was a tyke, the Gilmore girls have planned her 21st birthday: in Atlantic City, sipping martinis, playing 21. But with the estrangement, Emily plans the birthday party -and it's soooo not Atlantic City.

NCIS

S6e6 Murder 2.0

In the days before Halloween, a rampaging serial killer posts cryptic clues online, which the NCIS team must decipher before he strikes again.

S7e5 Code Of Conduct

The NCIS team is called to investigate when a practical-joke-loving Marine turns up dead on Halloween Eve in an apparent suicide. Plus, DiNozzo and McGee share some of their favorite Halloween memories.

Criminal Minds

S6e6 Devil’s Night

The BAU go to Detroit to catch a man who burns his victims alive during the pre-Halloween celebration Devil's Night.

S10e6 Boxed in

A child reappears one year after he went missing -- but the team must work quickly when a trick-or-treater disappears under similar circumstances.

[afaimsarrowverse]

The 35 Craziest Arrowverse Episodes

„Crazy“ is an ever changing measure, especially in the Arrowverse. When Time Travel and Parallel Universes were introduced it was a heavy leap from the norm. A couple of seasons later it was pretty much normal. So this list reflects changes in the norm, episodes that pushed the crazy and unusual. What is crazy for on show is not crazy for another one. So if you mix it you might not find it as crazy as something below it, but it is as crazy … for the show it’s featured in.

 So, let’s get into it:

  35. Haunted (Arrow Episode 4.5/74, Written by: Brian Ford Sullivan, Oscar Balderrama, Directed by: John Badham)

 John Constantine crosses over in the Arroverse in this episode which reveals Olivers dealings with him in the past and shows him restoring Saras soul. With this episodes the show started to embrace it supernatural arc, here „Arrow“ got mystically weird.

34.  Hey, World (Legends 4.16/67, Written by: Phil Klemmer, Keto Simizu, Directed by: Kevin Mock)

 In the Season 4 Finale of “Legends” Nate is brought back to life by the power of love and song, Vandal Savage returns in an unusal way and we meet a dancing dragon. Good stuff indeed.

  33.  Mr. And Mrs. Mxyptlk (Supergirl Episode 2.13/33, Written by: Jessica Queller, Sterling Gates, Directed by: Stefan Pleszczynski)

 Do not listen to the haters. This is basically the “Supergirl”-Version of the 90s Trek-Episodes with Q in it. This one is probably the most comic book-y episode “Supergirl” ever did and it’s great.

32.  Welcome to Earth2/Escape from Earth2 (Flash Episodes 2.13-14/36-37, 36: Written By: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Katherine Walczak, Directed By: Millicent Shelton, 37: Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, David Kob, Directed By: J. J. Makaro)

 Like I said, we got used to multiple earths. However this two parter is the first time we ever visited one. We visit Earth-2 in this, where pretty much everything and everyone is different. We are in for a lot of surprises.

 31.  License to Elongate (Flash Episode 6.6/120, Written By: Thomas Pound, Jeff Hersh, Directed By: Danielle Panabaker)

This one is the „Flash“-Version of a James Bond Movie, with Barry and Ralph encountering a Bond loving villain who steals ideas and lines from movies, which is exactly as much fun as it sounds.

 30.  The Book of Resistance Chapter 4: Earth Crisis (Black Lightning 3.9/38, Written by: Lamont Magee, Directed by: Tasha Smith)

 In this one „Black Lightning“ discovers the multiverse and Jennifer meets different versions of herself, which lead to the shows best episode in quite a surprising way.

29.  Cause and XS (Flash Episode 5.14/106, Written By: Todd Helbing, Jeff Hersh, Directed By: Rachel Talalay)

It’s the “Flash”s time-loop episode. More dark than funny, but with a lot of deaths and an happy ending, so in the end really worth it.

 28.  An Un-Birthday Present (Batwoman 1.11/11, Written by: Chad Fiveash, James Stoteraux, Directed by: Mairzee Almas)

„Batwoman“ goes into the whole doppelganger business with this unusual episode, where Beth is back, which is a surprise for Kate, even more given that Alice is still running around as well.

27.  Invasion! (2) (Arrow (5.8/100, Written by: Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Wendy Mericle, Directed by: James Bamford)

While the writers cleary had fun with Barry and Kara in this one, the heart lies in the dream reality, where weg et a look at a world where the Gambit never sunk.

 26.  Doomworld (Legends Episode 2.16/32, Written by: Ray Utarnachitt, Sarah Hernandez, Directed by: Mairzee Almas)

 Alternate timelines are kind of an Arrowverse thing, but this one did not came to be through time travel but through the Legion of Doom rewriting history to their own liking. Therefore there is no cause and effect to the changes, which allowed the writers to have a lot of fun.

 25. Camelot/3000 (Legends Episode 2.12/28, Written by: Anderson Mackenzie, Directed by: Antonio Negret)

 From the far future to Camelot and King Arthur – this episodes travelled far and mixed those two areas up quite nice.

24. Witch Hunt (Legends Episode 4.2/53, Written by: Keto Shimizu und Matthew Maalaa, Directed by: Kevin Mock)

 Here „Legends“ inserted the a singing Fairy Godmother into the era of the Salem Witch Trials. The Fairy Godmother was really not the fairytale kind, but rather an evil one, but boy, she could sing.

 23.  Back from the Future Part 1 (Supergirl (Episode 5.11/98, Written by: Dana Horgan, Katie Rose Rogers, Directed by: David Harewood)

 An evil Winn from another earth turns up, which brings back our Winn and we get a Winn-Off, so to speak, and Winn with Clark Kent glasses so he wouldn’t be recognized.

 22. Elongated Journey into the Night (Flash Episode 4.4/73, Written By: Sterling Gates und Thomas Pound, Directed By: Tom Cavanagh)

 This episode introduces the main one, which was Ralph of course, who discovers his new powers in this and is not as amused about them as we are.

21. What’s Past is Prologue (The Flash Episode 5.8/100, Written By: Todd Helbing und Lauren Certo, Directed By: Tom Cavanagh)

 In the 100th episode Barry and Nora time travel through the history of the show, face down the Flash greatest villains of the past while trying not to change the time line, which of course does not work out.

 20.  Reset (Arrow (Episode 8.6/166, Written by: Onalee Hunter Hughes und Maya Houston, Directed by: David Ramsey)

Yes it’s a time loop episode in „Arrow“! It’s probably the moment the show embraced it’s funny pages origin the most wholehearted.

19. The Virgin Gary (Legends Episode 4.1/52, Written by: Phil Klemmer und Grainee Godfree, Directed by: Gregory Smith)

 John Constantine joins the Legends in the time for a murderous unicorn at Woodstock that roofies most of the team and gets Ray to snog a tree, Mick and Nate to exchange loving vows, and Zari to chase lights.

18. Helen Hunt (Legends Episode 3.6/39, Written by: Keto Shimizu und Ubah Mohamed, Directed by: David Geddes)

 Helen of Troy single handedly destroys the Golden Era of Hollywood, simply by being there and driving men nuts. Studio exes try to kill each other in order to get her, while Damien Darhk becomes her agent to wreck even more havoc.

17. The Fellowship of the Spear (Legends Episode 2.15/31, Written by: Keto Shimizu, Matthew Maala, Directed by: Ben Bray)

 This episode is “Legends”-Homage to Tolkien and his works. However the most quotes and nods go to the Peter Jackson Movies, which is no problem, because we love them too.

16. Starling City (Arrow (Episode 8.1/ 161, Written by: Beth Schwartz und Marx Guggenheim, Directed by: James Bamford)

We are essentially reliving the pilot with a few signifcant changes. Turns out we are actually on Earth-2 and Oliver pretends to be his doppelganger in order to do a thing for The Monitor.

15. Séance and Sensibility (Legends Episode 4.11/62, Written by: Grainne Godfree, Jackie Canino, Directed by: Alexandra La Roche)

 What have Jane Austen and Bollywood in common? Both a represented in this episode that features a Bollywood number and the death of Jane Austens writing career.

14.  Luck is a Lady (Flash Episode 4.3/72, Written By: Sam Chalsen und Judalina Neira, Directed By: Armen V. Kervokian)

This episode introduces Hazard, a Meta who generates Bad Luck in order to have Luck herself which creates a lot more chaos than you would think.

13.  Emerald Archer (Arrow Episode7.12/ 150, Written by: Marc Guggenheim und Emilio Ortega Aldrich, Directed by: Glen Winter)

„Cops“ meets „Arrow“. This is a documentary about Team Arrow, or rather the making of the documentary about Team Arrow or rather a very special very unsusal episode.

12. The Bottle Episode (Supergirl Episode 5.10/97, Written by: Derek Simon, Directed by: Tawnia McKiernan)

 We get a lot of doppelgangers, most of them Brainys, and a lot of chaos, I mean more chaos then most other shows usually have, except for „Legends“.

11. Aruba (Legends Episode 2.17/33, Written by: Phil Klemmer und Marc Guggenheim, Directed by: Rob Seidenglanz)

 The Finale of Season 2 features two sets of Legends, while the team goes back and while Malcolm, Damien, and Snart are mostly confused Eobard strikes back by recruiting a lot of his former selfes.

10. The Good, the Bad and the Cuddley (Legends Episode 3.18/51, Written by: Marc Guggenheim und Phil Klemmer, Directed by: Dermott Downs)

 In the Season 3 Finale we got a massive Beebo who fights a gigantic demon. The Beebo was created by a Legends Orgy and symbolizes … well love I guess.

9. Raiders of the Lost Art (Legends Episode 2.9/25, Written by: Keto Shimizu, Chris Fedak, Directed by: Dermott Downs)

 This is officially the episode where „Legends“ went nuts. Oh and it’s a delicous one. George Lucas never became a filmmaker after being scared of by Malcolms and Damiens attempts to kill amnesiac Rip Hunter who thinks he is an American filmstudent, whose script is basically the plot of the shows first season of „Legends of Tomorrow.“

8.      It’s a Super Life (Supergirl Episode 5.13/100, Written by: Robert Rovner, Jessica Queller, Derek Simon, Nicki Holcomb, Directed by: Jesse Warn)

The 100the episode watches videos of the show and comments on them, then inserts Kara into the past and let her change things and create alternate timelines, what ifs, so of how things would have turned out if she had made different choices.

7. Beebo the God of War (Legends Episode 3.9/42, Written by: Grainne Goodfree und James Eagan, Directed by: Kevin Mock)

 Mostly it’s the episode about Beebo Day. You know, the blue god, who hungers for war and conquest? Whose birthday we celebrate once a year in december and … wait? What was I talking about?

6. Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 1-5 (Supergirl, Batwoman, Flash, Arrow, Legends, Part 1: Supergirl Episode 5.9/96, Written by: Robert Rovner, Marc Guggenheim, Derek Simon, Jay Faerber, Directed by: Jesse Warn, Part 2: Batwoman Episode 1.9/9, Written by: Din Whitehead, Holly Henderson, Directed by: Laura Belsey, Part 3: The Flash Episode 6.9/123, Written By: Lauren Certo, Sterling Gates, Eric Wallace, Directed By: David McWhirter, Part 4: Arrow: Episode 8.8/168, Written by: Marv Wolfman, Marc Guggenheim; Directed by: Glen Winter, Part 5: Legends of Tomorrow Episode 5.0/68, Written by: Keto Shimizu, Ubah Mohamed, Directed by: Gregory Smith)

 In the biggest and craziest Crossover in the history of television the multiverse is destroyed and rebuilt, Oliver Queen dies, we meet an evil Batman and we get a Supermen Team Up, among many other things.

5. Legends of To-Meow-Meow (Legends Episode 4.8/59, Written by: James Eagan und Ray Utarnachitt, Directed by: Ben Bray)

 Sulky about missing out on the Crossover the Legends crossovered with themselves in Season 4. John and Charlie destroyed the timeline for selfish reasons, and now everything is wrong and everything they do makes things worse instead of better.

 4.     Meet the Legends (Legends Episode 5.1/69, Written by: Grainne Godfree, James Eagan, Directed by: Kevin Mock)

This episode is the documentary and the making oft he documentary. Think Arrows „Emerald Archer“ only way carzier and funnier.

 3. Duet (Flash Episode 3.17/63, Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Greg Berlani, Andrew Kreisberg, Directed By: Dermott Daniels Downs)

 It’s the Musical Episode! The „Supergirl“-Crossover has all the jazz – singing, dancing, kissing, opening up about feelings – and also a mini „Glee“-Reunion.

2.      Elseworlds Part 1-3 (Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, Part 1: The Flash Episode 5.9/101, Written By: Eric Wallace und Sam Chalsen, Directed By: Kevin Tancharoen und Tom Cavanagh, Part 2: Arrow Episode 7.9/147, Written by: Marc Guggenheim und Caroline Dries, Directed by: James Bamford, Part 3: Supergirl Episode 4.9/74, Written by: Mac Guggenheim, Derek Simon und Rob Rovner, Directed by: Jesse Warn)

In this Crossover Oliver und Barry switch identities which no one on Earth-1 believes, but Kara’s help leads to an evil not-quite Superman and a brand new reality.

1.      The One Where we‘re Trapped on TV (Legends Episode 5.13/81, Written by: Grainne Godfree, James Eagan, Directed by: Marc Guggenheim)

And the award for the Craziest TV Episode of all time goes to this one, where the Legends are trapped on TV. We get very familiar but strange versions of „Friends“, „Downtown Abbey,“ and „Star Trek“ with the Legends as the main characters instead.