#Unified Service Experience

[memecucker]

“This latest bill is part of a continued effort by the [California] Legislative Jewish Caucus to impose ideological constraints upon ethnic studies as a field to disallow the critical teaching of Palestine within K-12 education in California,” Christine Hong, a professor of critical race and ethnic studies at the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz and co-chair of the UC Ethnic Studies Faculty Council (UCESFC) told Truthout.

While AB 1468’s authors are Democrats who have condemned the Trump administration’s attacks on public education, Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC), said the proposed bill would have similar effects as efforts in Republican-controlled states and on the federal level seeking to whitewash K-12 and college curricula and turn back the clock on civil rights progress.

“The Democrats and others who are championing these bills may not explicitly say themselves or even identify as part of the far right MAGA agenda, but it’s indisputable that what they are doing is in alignment with the broader attack on public education and the attack on anti-racist education, in particular,” Kiswani told Truthout.

AB 1468’s lead sponsor is the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC), one pillar of whose policy framework is to “maintain a strong California-Israel relationship,” including through “combat[ing] campaigns to delegitimize and demonize Israel.” JPAC lists the Anti-Defamation League and other Zionist organizations among its members.

Last year, members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus proposed a raft of bills meant to stifle Palestine-related speech in public schools and on college campuses. Among those was AB 2918, a predecessor to AB 1468. When a diverse coalition of educators and advocates mounted a pressure campaign and succeeded in having it shelved, sponsors vowed to reintroduce it this year. “AB 1468 is AB 2918, but on steroids,” Guadalupe Cardona, a high school educator and member of the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium, told Truthout.

The new bill would require all ethnic studies curricula, instruction and instructional materials to undergo public hearings, be vetted by the state, and be posted on the Department of Education’s website. AB 1468 also outlines standards according to which ethnic studies materials should be reviewed, including mandating that instruction focus on “domestic experience and stories” and not cover “abstract ideological theories, causes, or pedagogies.”

In the proposed legislation, “there are so many layers of policing and surveillance that no other academic area has,” Tricia Gallagher-Geurtsen, co-chair of the San Diego Unified School District Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee and a lecturer in critical race and ethnic studies at UC Santa Cruz, told Truthout. “It’s absolutely unprecedented overreach, and it’s an arm of the state trying to censor what our children are learning [and] censor the truth of our students’ realities.”

Under AB 1468, the body responsible for vetting ethnic studies materials would be the California State Board of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission, whose current members include Sen. Ben Allen and Anita Friedman. Friedman is a board trustee of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and executive director of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, an organization known for its efforts to silence discussions of Palestine and anti-Zionism in schools.

[dessarchive]

now introducing the future of music and entertainment, endless options of sound (eos)

eos is an app that i script into most of my drs. i got inspired to create it after coming across a video on youtube of someone re-designing spotifys UI. i’ve used spotify, apple music, amazon music, youtube music, and many more music streaming services and none of them ever lived up to my expectations, so i thought why not create what i’ve always wanted? i took a long hard look at all of the features i wish the current apps had and put them all into one. i posted about it before on my previous account but didn’t go into the actual details much. it started as a music streaming app when it was launched but became much more than that. it’s one of my favorite parts of my drs because i’m an avid music listener and the features are to die for. eos is the only music streaming app in my drs. i also have a ceo dr where i’m the ceo of it because this app has basically become my child!!! anyways here’s what i have after working on it for months!

eos was launched on october 31, 2001 by robyn fenty (she’s older LMAO) and aliyah haughton. the app immediately gained popularity as the first and only music streaming service. it was created as a space where everyone could enjoy music. years later it implemented audiobooks, podcasts, music videos, interviews, merch, and concert tickets. it stands out with its flawless performance that never crashes or has bugs, its exceptional algorithm for fresh experiences each playtime, and its features like eosoulmates that connects users through shared music tastes.

lyrics and subtitles are always available in any language desired by the user and the platform includes organization like no other. exclusive presale codes are able for top listeners of specific artists because the app has its own ticketing system. eos is free for all users as the founders wanted to make a space to unify people during life’s challenge. to maintain this while making sure artists are fairly paid, revenue is generated through a share of concert ticket and merchandise sales, in-app donations directly supporting artists, non-intrusive sponsorships and partnerships, and grants from philanthropic organizations. this guarantees that eos stays true to making music accessible while supporting creators and users globally.

to expand on existing sounds of music and entertainment, the service implemented dolby atmos to its highest quality with no extra price to artists for using it.

eos also features eos karaoke: sing it your way. within this are lyrics that are displayed in perfect sync with customizable highlighting options, while users can adjust the original vocals (mute, reduce, or add harmonies) for a personalized performance. advanced pitch tracking gives real-time feedback, along with timing guides and a practice mode for perfecting songs. voice effects like reverb, autotune, and fun filters are available to take things to a higher level or have fun with friends and family. dual-screen mode connects to tvs for party setups and users can enjoy duets with friends or group singing for up to 10 people. karaoke playlists are curated based on mood, listening habits, or vocal range. sessions can be recorded and shared with friends or on social media. a scoring system with feedback helps users improve their singing while earning fun badges. eos karaoke also offers live virtual karaoke rooms, offline mode for downloaded tracks, and customizable themes for lyric screens and backgrounds. a special kid-friendly mode ensures the fun for all age groups.

eos allows music and entertainment to be accessible, fun, and, immersive to everyone.

[rednightmare18]

I will never shut up about how Kingdom Come: Deliverance is the most tenderly written game served to the most loutish horde of jackasses. I think it is possibly one of the greatest pieces of popular fiction made about feudalism in recent history, even if it's not always the most historically accurate.

And that's because the whole damn thing is about the profound, authority-enforced inhumanity that self-propels feudal order... but this time, it's written from the perspective of, for lack of better word, "humanity undermines, and humanity wins."

Love wins, if you want to be cheeky.

This was originally meant to be a reply to @feelinungry's excellent post on the subject, but it outgrew itself and got super bloated, so I'm plopping it in its own post to not be obnoxious...

KINGDOM COME: DELIVERANCE MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW

And the reason all this about humanity and love is so important to the core of the story, to the very backbone of the narrative (even beyond the plot), is that it exists in opposition and to the impairment of the feudal system. Kingdom Come: Deliverance means to teach us, by way of deeply dramatic plots following individuals, how feudalism works and why it worked the way it did. And why and how that system fails.

The vehicle by which the game does this is by showing us, over and over, how the stratification of feudal class is eroded and sometimes outright dissolved (either in general, as with Henry and Hans, or when it matters most, as with Radzig and Henry) by plain and simple love.

Feudalism, like most class-stratified systems, relies upon 1. dehumanization of those beneath one's appointed status; 2. fealty (mock-love) to those above one's status, their title-appointer class; and 3. the maintenance of a deep separation between these artificially bestowed statuses, as enforced by church (as in word of clergy, not word of god) & state (legal rules and law). Those words and laws existed to propel the system by divide-and-maintain (of the workforce populace, placing it firmly below the next class in line, etc.) in the service of unify-and-profit (for the ruling class).

Sigismund & his invading army are wholly separated and adherent to the feudal theory, even if they have flouted codes of warfare & inheritance; they are presented to us as the main dehumanizing force of the story world, a wave of Order that indiscriminately burns opposition flat rather than an individual leading a royal coup, a cyclical destruction that paves the way for the next flavor of rule to continue the feudal system ad infinitum. They're thoroughly separated from the story even when they are burning down a village in front of our eyes and generally move as one, with Markvart occasionally stepping out of that mass of Feudalism and its antihuman nature to give it a face. They're more a force of nature than an individual as far as the narrative goes.

And we are meant to understand that in sharp contrast to the "close" story, the cast we get to know and watch as they attempt to answer this force of nature. And the second we see these characters get close enough to each other, by raw proximity, to poke a pin into the wineskin of feudal order as dictated to them by authority, it bleeds--everywhere. Not in the sense of ruination but in the sense that a tiny wedge of empathy cracks open the dam and leads, yep, to rehumanization--and love, the most human driving force there is.

And that changes everything, for everyone. Not just internally, as with a character's personal development arc (i.e., Hans learning why his duties, which he resented and viewed as an impingement on his freedom when dictated to him by authority, are incredibly important for real people who experience pain) but externally as well (as @feelinungry so elegantly points out in the original post).

Over and over, at every stage of the story, it's the rehumanization of and by these decision-makers (at a family level, at a community level, at a regional level, at a national level) that cracks the feudal cycle, even if in very small ways. Hans really brings this back home in a petri dish in late game, after the siege, when he complains to Henry about the noble's code (letting Istvan go) potentially leading to pain and disaster for the common people Istvan's machinations are likely to harm in the future. He chafes--and we chafe, and so does Radzig, and so does Divish--against feudal stratification because he has learned a general empathy through loving an individual, and that has in turn reshaped the way he sees the world.

And that's exactly why and when feudalism begins to fail, and why it thrashed itself the way it did, from the enforcement of sexual mores (though this wasn't exactly like it is in movies) and gender law to terror upon its own populations.

And it's the crucial understanding I think we begin to forget after being exposed to so much Hollywoodification of history, where the oppression always exists for cruelty's sake alone rather than in active and deliberate service to a political construct.

And I think it's why we've "lost the plot" so horribly when it comes to understanding that people in history were still people, not monolithic one-mind entities (as the feudal system demanded they be). And why we somehow forgot that such people fall in love, in all kinds of love, in a way that has never given a damn about authority. And that this in turn undermines supposedly supreme authority, even divine authority, and will always continue to do so, as long as people are people.

This is what it always comes back to. Always. From Henry's parents and their mysterious bond with Radzig informing the protagonist's journey from "the past"--to Henry & Hans falling into stupidly fierce soulmatehood with each other in the present--from Istvan & Erik's destructive fuck-the-world romantic love on the "enemy" side--to Divish's humbling, humanizing realization that he loves Stephanie in some way, he really does, despite the chasm of age/gender enforced upon them by their adherence to feudal order that doomed their romantic love to failure.

People will always love each other, even when the world orders them not to, even when faced with death and worse. People will always, given proximity and shared experiences, learn to see each other as human again. KCD reminds us of that. It's why the "slow" storyline exists and why it works.

And that is why this game is so fucking fantastic, and why the genpop fandom has utterly failed it.

[rewvyu]

If You Care About Infinity Nikki’s Future

I want to take a moment to speak directly to every stylist who still cares about Infinity Nikki—whether you're still enjoying the game or currently protesting and boycotting the developer. No matter where you stand, I hope you'll read this through.

I'm speaking from personal experience. While I wasn’t there on day one, I’ve been playing since version 1.0, starting on December 25, 2024. Since then, I’ve consistently submitted bug reports and suggestions because I genuinely want others to experience the same joy this game has brought me. I want Infinity Nikki to succeed and reach even more stylists.

Over the past five months, I’ve seen the developer implement suggestions from the community and I’ve also seen some of my own suggestions added to the game. One of them was the ability to move Nikki in photo mode, which I personally submitted. I’ve also reported bugs that were later fixed. While the developer’s customer service hasn’t been perfect, especially during the 1.5 update, there are still signs that they’re paying attention.

Just this past week, I submitted a ticket that included multiple bug reports and suggestions. For a while, I didn’t get any response. But after following up through email, they finally got back to me. It’s not ideal, but it reminded me that they are still listening—if we make ourselves heard.

If you want to see Infinity Nikki continue to grow and improve, you don’t have to quit or go into full-on negativity mode. Instead, channel that frustration into something constructive.

Keep sending your concerns through customer support, official surveys, community discussions, and conversations with fellow stylists. The more unified and visible our voices are, the harder they’ll be to ignore.

To everyone who took the time to read this—thank you. I truly hope we can all continue to enjoy Infinity Nikki and help shape the future of the game together.

[deramin2]

I'm sure there are a lot of technical game design reasons why the Daggerheart team chose to use (or could justify) a D12-based system for its randomness generation, but I also love that the 12-sided Beacons have become so iconic to Critical Role internally and externally that they're leaning into it for their own game system and streaming service.

Critical Role was already becoming closely associated with the D12, and it's a visually distinct polyhedron from the D20 WotC built their iconography around. Like Pride Flags carrying on the tradition of stripes to visually unify them as a distinct vexillology group with a meaningful lineage, while bringing their own style and meanings to each design.

For Critical Role, the symbol has become meaningful to them as people, and to their fans. Especially in a business trajectory that has been a series of lightening in a bottle critical successes that no one could predict or recreate because they were just incredibly good luck on strategic but huge gambles. They really did just bet it all many times over on hope vs. fear and a 12-sided shape of potentiality. A message of lived experience mechanics woven into the medium.

One day Matt Mercer stared into a place of pure concept with thought of time and space, and pulled universes into existence for his friends to play in with him while rotating it around to try figuring out what it all means. And one of those concepts took the shape of a D12.

Imagine what things we could all make if we allowed ourselves to just make them.

[too-antigonish]

My Strange but Unified Theory of Exeunt

Last week I talked about the poem Horatio in a post about Morse and fathers and @astridcontramundum asked what I thought it meant in the context of Exeunt. Hopefully she won't be sorry she asked because here's my (as usual) long answer:

Horatio is quoted from twice in Exeunt. The first time, Prof. Fortescue is lecturing to his students at a tutorial and gives us the most famous lines:  

Then out spake brave Horatius, The Captain of the Gate:  "To every man upon this earth death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods?"

The second time occurs just before Thursday’s has his “turn” in the same spot where Morse will many years later experience his own collapse. He says: ”’How well Horatius kept the bridge in the brave days of old.’ We'd a padre big on that out in the desert. Drumhead service just before Alamein. ‘And how can man die better than facing fearful odds?’ Always stuck with me.”

I think they used those lines to plainly tease the idea that Thursday was going to die. Prior to Exeunt airing, almost everyone thought Thursday would have to die in order to explain Morse’s never mentioning him again in the future. When Fortescue says those lines in the beginning, I think we’re supposed to think that someone—probably Thursday—is going to die heroically. Then Thursday repeats some of the poem—connecting it to his WWII service—just before he has his “spell” and it seems like more foreshadowing. 

The thing about the poem though, that most people *don’t* know, is that the big surprise at the end is that Horatio *doesn’t* die. It just looks like he will: Even when his companions have abandoned the bridge because it is on the verge of collapse, Horatius remains. He stays until bridge finally does fail, and then plunges into the river below with the full weight of his armor. It is certain death and both sides stand stunned into silence by his final sacrifice.

But then, both sides find themselves even more surprised when they see the crest of his helmet beginning to rise from the water and he slowly emerges, striding towards the Roman bank. He not only survives, but arrives home to a hero’s welcome and a long life.

All of the usual narrative pieces are in place for us to expect Thursday to make the ultimate sacrifice—to die. For me, Thursday—like Horatio—does sacrifice everything, but the poem was actually foreshadowing his survival, not his death. And for Thursday, his survival is in many ways a far more difficult sacrifice than death would have been. It would have been easier for him in so many ways if he had died in defense of Sam or even fighting Lott. Instead he has to live with the ambiguous and messy aftermath.

Morse could also be Horatio in the sense that he goes to Blenheim Vale facing a high probability of death. What were the chances that the bikers would “come through” for him? That Morse went expecting to be double-crossed and killed by Lott seems much more likely to me. But I do think that Morse, like Horatio, would reason that, “If you’re going to go, then there’s no better way than defending the things that are most important to you,” and so he goes anyway.

He survives too—but unlike Horatio, his heroism will always remain a secret *and* with his realization about Thursday’s guilt and Lott’s revelation about Tomahawk’s identity, it brings perhaps more sorrow than it does victory. And, I would argue that his survival is only temporary or perhaps partial.

The gunshot scene has many possible interpretations, but at its core, my (forever unprovable) theory is that it balances out the survival foreshadowed by Horatio. Horatio was all about the audience assuming that Thursday had to die. But along with that went the assumption that of course Endeavour had to live. This is a prequel after all.

But the gunshot scene said a big, loud, “No. We can kill off Endeavour if we want to and we will.” You can go back and forth until the cows come home about whether or not the scene was simply him contemplating death, actually going through with it, or absolutely, purely symbolic and imaginative. However, I don’t think you can honestly argue that the scene doesn’t somehow connect the concepts of  “Endeavour Morse,” “gun,” and “death” to each other. Somehow those concepts have to be included in any interpretation.

So this leads to my weird theory about Exeunt, which is that Russ Lewis heard everyone saying, “Well I don’t know what’s going to happen in the end, but of course we all know that Morse is going to live—so no suspense there. And Thursday, well, he has to die. I mean it’s the only way to explain why we never hear about him later.” And to this, Russ Lewis thought, “Ha! I’m going to do exactly the opposite. Thursday lives and Morse dies!” 

Am I right? I will never know. Do I have more thoughts on Exeunt? You really, really don't want to know just how many.

[sirfrogsworth]

I am so tired of this brand pissing contest.

All of the metal bricks do pretty much the exact same thing. There isn't a better one. Just a slightly different user experience.

It basically comes down to 3 things. UX preference, ecosystem, friends/family.

Some people like the UX of iOS, some prefer Android. Either will do almost all of the same things. Android allows for more customization and tinkering. iOS tends to keep things stock but has more reliable apps—though Android development has improved.

Some people have PCs. Android and Google services tend to work better with a PC.

Some people have MacBooks and iPads. You would be silly not to get an iPhone at that point, because the integration of Apple products is seamless and kind of amazing.

And finally, what is everyone else in your group using? If they are mostly on iPhones, you will find communicating a little easier if you also have an iPhone.

There is one thing Apple does better than other manufacturers that I should include. Longevity. They support their devices for pretty much their entire lifespan. They allow software updates for as long as your phone will tolerate them. And since their hardware design is unified, you can always count on getting a well made product no matter the price point. No need to research each model to see if it is prone to break or has an exploding battery. This point makes me a little frustrated because so many iPhone users will upgrade every year for some reason. Unless there is a new feature you absolutely need, this is wasteful.

Android flagship phones tend to have decent longevity and get continued software updates. But there has always been an issue with the more budget models being forgotten about after a year and receiving no more software. You need to do a lot more research to see if the manufacturer of a particular line of phones has a history of quality manufacturing and good support or if they abandon their phones once the warranty period is up. I tend to steer people toward Pixel phones if they don't feel like doing the research. Google has been decent about long term support so far.

You have to evaluate your circumstances and choose the platform that will serve you best. In all honesty, you can make either work regardless. And you will probably have a few frustrations no matter which you choose.

Brand loyalty is stupid.

Pick what suits you best.

[nunkijunky]

I was rereading SBR this weekend and realized that the manga, in its essence, unfolds the idea of humane egoists and altruists who put everything on the line (including people's lives). This can be left as a conclusion, haha, really, idk how to end this post.

disclaimer #1: I'm type the text through a translator, all inaccuracies in wording are accidental!

So the holy corpse motivates two countries: the USA, which claims the corpse for territorial reasons, and the Vatican, which claims it for religious and cultural reasons, since it's the capital of the Roman Catholic Church.

disclaimer #2: I'm judging based on my rather shallow knowledge of history and literature!

Despite the anachronisms, the manga covers topics relevant to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries: the war between North and South in the 1860s and the unification of Italy in 1870. It seems that the kingdom in which Gyro lived was in direct conflict with the Vatican, as the kingdom granted the papacy a military protectorate. The Pope declared himself a "perpetual captive".

These crises are juxtaposed with the reality that American culture sought to create a unified national epic (since it had no single national identity) - the race of the explorers, Valentine's ideas of becoming the leader among the led, and all in the name of the state.

A few things can be said about Europe as a whole.

First, there is another crisis of bourgeois values in Britain. Diego is becoming gets in a row William Thackeray's heroes (let's face it, Dickens is smoking on the sidelines because it praises poverty too idealistically). When I read his backstory, I thought of the workhouses - despite the Industrial Revolution, manual labor was still in demand until 1941! Of the famous people, Charlie Chaplin went through the workhouses. He is materialistic, but more than possessions he prioritizes the opportunity to be higher. The strong beats the weak, as the Social Darwinists said.

Second, the aristocrats live large: one foot in fast-growing America, the other in good old England. This is the question of Johnny. As a protagonist, he pretty much takes everything from life. I think he's less materialistic than Dio. He only cares about owning things to escape his past. He doesn't care about the value of Nicholas' boots, which he needed in time and fit. He doesn't care whose relics he collects, he just knows that without them he remains as weak, a reminder of the shameful decline of his career. For the sake of his own ambition, he is willing to risk his friend's goal.

Third, the Old World, with its monarchical foundations, is in crisis. I think this is largely true of the idea of the search for God: the flowering of pan-aestheticism and mysticism, including religious societies (perhaps I am focusing here on the experience of the Russian Empire before the October Revolution). Religious feeling was on the rise, and it is not surprising that Hot Pants found salvation in faith. But it is rather difficult to assess the setting here: how does an American woman, withdrawn from the world in her adolescence, become devoted to the Vatican? Why is an ordinary person given such a serious task? Her idea of service in the name of salvation seems to be in stark and goes against the next point.

Fourth, we can touch on the crisis of the judicial system as a whole: Gyro protests against blind service to the king, he only wants the guilty to be sentenced fairly. To put it crudely, beheading will not make the perpetrator more humane. The sad arc of Wekapipo could fit in here as well: the man who defended his family's defiled honor is forced to become an exile and lose his status in the Guard. He's simply cut out because of his reputation.

picture to attract attention, I continue to render the sketch from the previous post (уeah, the sketch_1 turned into the sketch_2)

[liaragaming]

What if Solas was in service to Elgar'nan?

So, we have two elven gods freed - Ghilan'nain and Elgar'nan. Ghil has been set up pretty well at this point. We have all the codexes and parts from Tevinter Nights providing glimpses into her nightmarish experiments. But we have next to nothing on Elgar'nan, other than the basic understand of him being the most vengeful of the gods (which in and of itself is admittedly bad, bad news for Solas).

I also think Solas and Ghilan'nain were a thing at one point and pissed off Andruil, which would only heighten the drama. And that got me thinking, from a narrative standpoint, wouldn't it just be fantastic if the two gods that are freed are the two Solas has the most personal connection to?

Popular fan theory is that Solas was in service to Mythal originally. But what if it was Elgar'nan instead? Solas says in his youth he was "Hot-blooded and cocky, always ready to fight." That sounds like someone more aligned with Elgar'nan's way of handling things.

Sure, we see Fen'Harel statues guarding Mythal statues (particularly in the Deep Roads), but if Mythal and Elgar'nan were husband and wife or at least putting on a unified front for the sake of appearances, that it would make sense for Elgar'nan to order his most trusted to guard her in certain cases.

There's also this codex:

"His crime is high treason. He took on a form reserved for the gods and their chosen, and dared to fly in the shape of the divine. The sinner belongs to Dirthamen; he claims he took wings at the urging of Ghilan'nain, and begs protection from Mythal. She does not show him favor, and will let Elgar'nan judge him."

There's some thoughts that this HE might be Solas. But Mythal didn't show him favor. He was left to Elgar'nan's judgement instead.

Now all of this flies in the face of Cole's "He did not want a body, but she asked him to come. He left a scar when he burned her off his face" which we also think is about Solas, but...

Maybe Elgar'nan's judgement was to put Solas in service to Mythal, so he had Mythal's vallaslin but he also answered to Elgar'nan? Though, I do think that would piss Mythal off. So maybe not.

But I like the thought of there being some personal ties between Solas and the two evanuris we're going to be dealing with. (And I like the thought of Solas' hotblooded and cocky ways originally aligning him with Elgar'nan and then him gradually coming to understand and respect Mythal more). Just throwing random thoughts out there! Probably not likely? But it's fun to think about!

[redsamuraiii]

What Assassin's Creed Shadows did right and wrong in terms of story

What Assassins' Creed Shadows did right

Yasuke

Personally, I think Assassin's Creed Shadows did a better job in portraying Yasuke than the anime did, in a sense that they showed more of his time during his service to Oda Nobunaga. I like the swordsmanship training with his master and literature education with Lady Nene (Hideyoshi's wife). Like the anime, half of the story shows during his days with Oda, and the other half shows after Oda's death, where he deals with something bigger.

Akechi Mitsuhide

His portrayal is better than the anime which oversimplified him as simply the villain who wants power, where in the game it showed him being misunderstood, mistreated by Oda and overshadowed by Oda's vassals who have more success than him in the battlefield that Oda often jabbed at his failures. Imagine yourself working hard for your employer, hoping for a promotion or even a simple recognition but only to get belittle and insulted, and replaced by a new employee hired from outside the company.

What Assassins' Creed Shadows did wrong

Hattori Hanzo

His portrayal in betraying Iga because he's too infatuated with Naoe's mother, making him more of a simp than a legendary Ninja and Samurai he really is in history that earns the trust of Tokugawa Ieyasu that would one day unify Japan. I was expecting him to be Naoe's mentor due to his experiences as both a Ninja and a Samurai but they made him out to be her 'enemy' who made the wrong decision because of love, that she end up fighting him instead. Nioh did better in portraying him to be more enigmatic and less emotional, more decisive, as expected of a Samurai and leader of the Iga Ninja Clan.

Lady Oichi

The sister of Oda Nobunaga, a woman of high rank, who is respected and even feared by many lords and vassals. Known for her loyalty, intelligence, resilience and steadfastness in the warring era, who wasted no time in strategizing Hideyoshi's downfall after Oda's death. But in the game, she's shown as helpless and clueless, unwittingly getting involved with the villains while she's desperately trying to help her people. And she spend her time regretting and wondering the what ifs. Appearing like she's not in control. Japanese period drama did better in depicting her with a commanding presence.

The fictional character that I like

Naoe Fujibayashi reminds me of Natsumaru in Yasuke anime. Both of them are Iga Ninjas. While Naoe is against Hanzo, Natsumaru is loyal to Hanzo. While Naoe tried to killed Oda, Natsumaru becomes Oda's Samurai to spy on him for Hanzo. So both Naoe and Natsumaru clashed with Yasuke at one point due to Yasuke's loyalty to Oda.

Conclusion

There's good and bad from the story point of view and I'm reviewing based on that and not the gameplay. It's not great but it's not terrible either. Well, it’s just my opinion, taste and expectations, as everyone has their own, depending on what they look for in the game.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Olivia Troye at Living It With Olivia:

During my time on the National Security Council (NSC) staff, while serving as Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, I saw firsthand how vital the NSC is to the safety and stability of our nation. However, my relationship with the NSC didn’t begin there. I’ve worked closely with it throughout my career, starting in the early 2000s. Over the years, I’ve witnessed some of the most skilled, dedicated public servants in government walk those halls. It used to be that serving on the NSC staff was one of the highest honors in public service, a role reserved for the best of the best. The level of expertise was once unmatched. Regional specialists, career diplomats, intelligence professionals, military strategists, and legal and economic minds all worked in concert to ensure the President and Vice President were informed by real facts, grounded analysis, and strategic foresight. That's what the NSC was built for: to coordinate, not politicize; to unify, not divide; to protect, not perform. Now? That integrity is being gutted in real-time. According to CNN, over 100 NSC staffers were placed on administrative leave late last week. Many of them are career professionals who have served under multiple administrations. They're being pushed out and replaced by political loyalists who lack even the most basic qualifications for the roles they now occupy. This isn’t a restructuring. It’s a purge. And it will cost us.

What the NSC Actually Does

The National Security Council serves as the strategic hub of the American government during times of calm and crisis. It is the only entity designed to cut across every major department, ensuring unity of effort, speed of action, and clarity of purpose.

It:

Coordinates interagency policy across Defense, State, Homeland Security, Treasury, Energy, Justice, Commerce, HHS, and beyond.

Synthesizes intelligence and threat assessments from across the Intelligence Community.

Develops strategies on defense, foreign affairs, cybersecurity, disinformation, migration, terrorism, and disaster response.

Prepares and provides real-time situational awareness.

Guides diplomatic and military posture, manages crisis response and ensures continuity of government.

Tracks and responds to foreign and domestic threats to American lives and institutions.

The NSC doesn't just manage information; it orchestrates it. When it functions as designed, it gives America the ability to respond quickly, wisely, and proportionately. But strip out the expertise, and you're left with noise, dysfunction, and delayed decisions in moments that demand precision. Experience in national security can’t be faked. It’s forged in classified briefings, deployments, war rooms, and interagency planning sessions. The professionals who staff the NSC bring decades of institutional memory, regional knowledge, and cross-sector understanding. That matters. You cannot improvise your way through a missile launch alert. You cannot “wing it” through a global pandemic. I saw the cost of that firsthand. When COVID-19 struck, the coordination process was ignored, the experts were sidelined, and the federal response fragmented. People died who didn’t have to. That is what happens when the NSC is sidelined. And now, it’s happening again, with even fewer guardrails.

The Hypocrisy of the “Deep State” Narrative

And then there’s Marco Rubio. It’s rich to hear him claim it’s Trump vs. the “deep state.” Because I remember precisely what Rubio did during Trump’s first term: he hand-picked NSC senior directors for the Western Hemisphere because he wanted control over Cuba and Venezuela policy. Not based on merit. Not based on qualifications. Based on politics. [...] A newly declassified U.S. intelligence memo contradicted Trump’s latest fearmongering about Venezuela. It clearly states that President Nicolás Maduro is not directing Tren de Aragua, the criminal gang Trump claims is “invading” the U.S. This lie isn’t just baseless, it’s dangerous. It was crafted to stoke fear and justify extremist policies. And when professionals inside the government speak up to correct it, they’re smeared and silenced.

The National Security Council (NSC) is under major attack by the Trump Regime.

See Also:

MMFA: An intelligence report debunked MAGA media claims about Tren de Aragua and Venezuela. A Trump official is now under fire for reportedly ordering the report be redone.

[lol-jackles]

What a strange new season of TV awaits us! After years, there is no new season of SPN to look forward to this fall nor a new season of Walker. Jared won't be on TV after more than twenty years. The CW of the many successful shows no longer exists. There are so many streaming shows that will come out but suddenly it's like there's nothing to watch. What will we discuss then?

And Jensen's show won't drop until mid 2025 and I never had luck with streamed procedural tv shows.

I always felt that 2010s was the last decade when there was something of an entertainment monoculture and the fun times of shit talking to each other over it.

Now the glut of diverse contents from glut of steaming services created a paradox for nostalgia for the time when there were fewer media outlets and cultural phenomenal media that led to more unified cultural experience.

Not helped that people's favorite childhood channels are being shut down and can't share family time passing down their favorite childhood shows. OG Star Trek helped bring temporary peace between three generations in my family.

What will we discuss? A lot of people feel nostalgic for the '80s, '90s, and Y2K era and I think that's what we'll end up talking about. Right now in this little circle it's all about the will-they or won't-they reboot/revive Supernatural and how much will or won't J2 be in it.

[aressida]

My entry: "We need to come together as family now more than ever." - Aressida. 12.8.24.

"We need to come together as family now more than ever."

It is time to reconnect, to strengthen our bonds, and to unify once more. Family is where we find our strength and resilience, and we need that now more than ever before.

It was the worst night of my life last night. I barely got any sleep because I spent the whole time praying for my fiancé’s life and staying by his side until sunrise then high noon. Now I am back at home in need of rest and sleep.

He could not breathe and then it was like he died in my arms when collapsed, and I was about to start CPR when my eldest called emergency services. They arrived just in time doing all this CPR horror from the moment his heart stopped. I cannot believe his heart stopped for 8 minutes—8 long minutes. And then the paramedics brought him back. There were 9 medical personnel paramedics and firemen working to save him. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life, and I am eternally grateful to God for keeping him under His watch. I am still traumatized by the experience, but I am doing my best to stay strong.

Each time he went to the hospital since June, he got worse. Then this happened. I do not want to go through this again.

It was terrifying, and I am thankful I was able to save his life, just barely. I prayed nonstop, all the way through. "Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I beseech you." over and over. I never stop praying. Amen.

Then later at the hospital, his family kept thanking me, and it felt like the whole world had shifted. Everyone came together, and for a moment, there was this incredible peace after years of family tension.

He is currently still breathing, with the help of tubes and all those awful drugs. He is intubated and in a coma-like state until tomorrow morning. I am so relieved that he at least opened his eyes and made some twitch movements after hours of being unresponsive since they revived him.

I will be with him again in the morning. The nurses and doctors said they will start to wean him off those drugs slowly and try to wake him up. I will be there, standing beside him, waiting.

Please send prayers, and thank you. I will have my time off. I am so tired with all this. Stay strong everyone.

[usafphantom2]

A-10 Warthogs Escort Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Wyoming

For the second time in the last few months, A-10C jets escorted an Ohio-class nuclear submarine and also took part in a life fire exercise.

Stefano D'Urso

A-10 submarine

An A-10C Thunderbolt II maneuvers over the ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming. (Image credit: U.S. Navy)

A formation of A-10C Thunderbolt II close-air support aircraft were employed once again to escort an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, the USS Wyoming (SSBN 742). The images, shared on social media by Submarine Group Ten, depict Wyoming and its escorts navigating in an undisclosed location in the United States, with six A-10Cs flying overhead.

The aircraft, assigned to Moody Air Force Base, escorted the submarine and were also involved in a live fire exercise with their GAU-8 30 mm gun and 70 mm rockets. The U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay, USNS Black Powder (T-AGSE-1), and USNS Westwind (T-AGSE-2) also participated in the escort of the submarine.

The rare sighting is not unprecedented, as earlier this year the USS Nebraska was also escorted by a quartet of A-10 Warthogs while navigating the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. In that occasion, however, the A-10s did not take part in any life fire activity and flew without carrying external ordnance.

“Joint operations, such as this one which involved the Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy, ensure the U.S. military is ready to meet its security commitments at home and abroad,” mentioned the statements on both occasions. The services did not further elaborate on the extend of the joint operations.

The A-10C and the maritime domain

While no other details were released, it appears the Warthogs practiced overwatch of the extremely high-value strategic asset during one of the most vulnerable phases of its navigation. The live fire exercise might have also been used to simulate the defense of the USS Wyoming from surface threats.

A-10s have been used to target swarms of boats and to strike small naval vessels in previous training exercises, demonstrating the attention that these types of asymmetric threats attracted following recent real word events, such the attacks in the Red Sea or the Black Sea.

Four A-10Cs fly over the USS Wyoming, while two other jets can be seen in the background. (Image credit: U.S. Navy)

The A-10, which was born as a pure Close Air Support and anti-tank platform, has never been employed to large extent in the maritime domain, seeing only limited use. One of the most notable episodes was in 2011 during Operation Unified Protector, when an A-10 and a P-3C Orion engaged together a patrol boat and several small attack craft in the port of Misrata, Libya.

Since the last two couple of years, the Warthog was part of multiple Maritime Surface Warfare exercises and conducted unit defense training. One of the exercises saw, in Sept. 2023, two A-10s engage simulated surface threats in the Gulf of Oman with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem.

The A-10’s maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude, highly accurate weapons-delivery capabilities, and extended loiter time are all key attributes that make it highly effective at providing aerial support to American and coalition forces on land and at sea, mentioned the U.S. Air Force after one of these exercises last year.

Asymmetric threats to maritime assets

The events in the Black Sea and Red Sea highlighted once again how asymmetric threats cannot be underestimated. In the past, the U.S. Navy had experience countering small fast attack crafts, especially in the Persian Gulf where Iran regularly harassed U.S. ships in the area.

More recently, Ukraine and the Houthis demonstrated the effectiveness and the danger posed by Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), used in kamikaze attacks against larger ships. The small, unmanned boats, filled with explosives, can exploit their limited dimensions and high maneuverability to avoid detection and interception, with devastating effects on their targets.

An A-10C Thunderbolt II engages a simulated target with its GAU-8 30 mm gun. (Image credit: U.S. Navy)

Highly defended targets could be overwhelmed by coordinated swarms of USVs, challenging the traditional naval strategies. The presence of multiple, fast approaching and maneuvering targets against a limited number of weapon systems on a naval asset could confuse the defenses, which would be forced to prioritize targets as to maximize the hit probability and avoid wasting precious ammo.

And here is where overhead protection from and asset like the A-10C could come in handy, as it provides to naval commanders a number of options both for surveillance and kinetic effects.

About Stefano D'Urso

@TheAviationist.com

Stefano D'Urso is a freelance journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he's also studying to achieve a Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Electronic Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT techniques applied to the world of military operations and current conflicts are among his areas of expertise.

[malumxsubest]

welcome to the crimson mist, a mysterious yet imposing location where opportunities and pleasures are in abundance. tonight, you shall discover something you desire and experience it wholeheartedly without hesitation. the motto of the crimson mist is experience your own la petite morte. oh and please, ensure you've read our terms of service prior to entering the premises. once you've crossed the threshold, you've agreed with our policies and rules as you, the patron, must abide by. in the occurrence of any of these terms are breached, we cannot assume any responsibilities for the consequences. but don't worry, this is where your visit turns out everything you deserve.

and don't forget to ask yourself: aren't we all sinners?

with warm regards, the matriarch.

how it was acquired.

amelia acquired this cathedral roughly around the end of the 1800's, couple centuries after her children's death. how did she acquire such a magnificent cathedral in the first place? the moment her eyes had set on the beautifully carved stone with its gothic architecture, she knew she had to have it within her grasp. so, with a little coercion, accidental deaths, and well-placed threats, the chapter and its bishop disbanded after a few years from the onslaught they had endured, the financial difficulties they had faced, and the severe lack of attendants. prior to fleeing, they relinquished everything to an unknown buyer.

it was now an empty box.

cathedral size & architecture ( + adornments ).

west view. east view.

so, the general land area where the cathedral sits upon is a little over 3.10 acres or 12,556 sq m. the height from the tips of both twin towers' spires at the west ( main ) entrance to the ground is approximately 160 meters. the two twin towers' spires at the east ( back ) entrance are a little bit shorter and is approximately 155 meters. in total, the cathedral has four towers. the length is 146 meters and the width is 86 meters. the building has five ( 5 ) main entrances/exits. though, four ( 4 ) are in use: the east entrance near the chevet is solely used by her and her staff plus guest musicians; the west entrance that is situated between both of the towers in the front of the cathedral; and the ones on either side of the building for easy access for her patrons. there are emergency exists between them all as well. the final entrance/exit is extremely well hidden. only she utilizes it for... special occasions.

however, if you count the doors as a single entrance/exit, then that means the west entrance has three doors ( or portals, more info down below ). whereas the east entrance remains as one massive door.

both the west and east entrances have grand façades with gorgeous intricate details throughout the exterior structure of the cathedral depicting brief biblical scenes. for example, the main entrance consists of three portals that of which coincides above each of the three doors. portals are essentially doorways or entrances to the building. each are decorated and emphasized via compound arches aka archivolts which are ornamental mouldings surrounding the inside of arches with jamb statues framing the entrances.

even though the statues and carvings depict biblical scenes that many know, they seemed to be slightly twisted; unnerving. like, something had altered their appearance to make them seem unsettling where it raises the hair behind one's neck.

the general design of the entire structure consists of both rayonnant gothic style, with some flamboyant gothic. important features to note are as follows: largest façade, architectural statues, steep gables, blind tracery, unifying series of spires, flying buttresses, stone sculpture, pinnacles, lofty porticos, & ghoulish adornments.

⇉ statues and adornments.

⇉ the gothic architecture.

beyond the main center door + interior.

right before her patrons can enter her establishment, there would be several of her bouncers outside at the west, south and north entrances with a list of people who had paid ahead; VIPs; special guests. their other responsibilities entail checking for proper IDs and crowd control, to name a few. the ones outside must ensure there is steady flow of patrons coming in and out of the establishment. additionally, people would see many bodyguards stationed at various parts around the perimeter of the cathedral considering it is quite a massive structure. and there are a few blacked out vehicles parked around, as well.

her nightclub is first come first serve where people simply need to pay at the till stationed at the main entrance whether by cash or card. but once the club reaches a certain limit, then her guards would be strict to those who wish to enter. therefore, the list comes in handy for them.

note : vips; special guests; patrons who paid ahead will have different coloured wristbands accordingly than the rest.

but once a patron crosses through the threshold of the heavy-wooden maroon door, the few things they would notice is the cathedral's long and loft nave with its high ceiling, its quadripartite rib vaults and large, gorgeous stain glass windows at the end of the curved chevet. in the middle ( and slightly encroaching the area where the choir/alter used to be situated ) of the crossing and nave is a large stage where special guests and local bands can perform for a night. down below is a simplified format how the cathedral's formal layout. both the nave and the crossing are quite long which form a cross.

delving deeper into the nave, on either side, there are large, ornate stone stairs leading up to the second floor of the club. the second floor also have two additional bars on either side which brings a total of four bars. all bars are ornately decorated, matching the gothic interior architecture of the piers and pointed arches around them. considering the imposing size of the cathedral, each massive bar consists of roughly twelve or so barkeepers in order to attend the amount of patrons that the club attracts each evening. scattered throughout the cavernous space are lounge areas, where velvet and leather sofas & low tables invite patrons to sit, relax and converse amongst themselves or enjoy the show.

the north chapel doubles as private lounge and backstage for special guests, musicians and high paying VIPs as well as certain staff members such as bouncers and private barkeepers.

in the lady chapel is where the nightclub's dancers and entertainers ready themselves for the evening. it also doubles as their locker rooms and it also consists of two private bathrooms and lounge area to use as they see fit.

the crimson mist also provides a parlour area for all staff to enjoy when they are on break or they finished their shifts.

important details.

her main target audience are alternative ( " alt " )/ goth patrons. so she'd typically would hire those who are part of the subculture. there are also private booths and lounge areas for VIPs; both upstairs and main floor. there are many stain glass windows and centuries old frescoes along the walls. there are many paintings that amelia had commissioned that many would deem... blasphemous and downright sinful. the bars are filled with an array of liquor ranging from five percent proof all the way up to damn near ninety percent proof, soft drinks and teas. the food provided are easy filling finger food such as nachos, burgers, wings, to name a few. however, VIPs do receive finer meals such as steak like ribeye and seafood like crab legs.

upstairs on the west wing there are private rooms that any can reserve for their pleasure. they are built akin to a small apartment, furnished with a bed, a lounge area, a closet, and a bathroom. each room is different in small ways where one would have a stripper pole and the other would have a jacuzzi tub. and each room are named and numbered accordingly. so each patron would know what each room provides. importantly, each room provides an array of goodies for their sexual gratification such as toys ( that they have to take or it gets thrown out ), lube, condoms, massage oils, bondage kits, etc.

amelia's office is also on the west wing upstairs near the private rooms. she is mostly in that room, entrusting her staff to do their jobs. but that doesn't mean she isn't watching how everything is running. her club is neutral ground, anyways. so if she witnesses any foul play from other establishments or underground fiends, she will deal with them accordingly.

if you wish to see more aesthetics of the crimson mist, click this link here. it's the pinterest board i've created for the club. i hope you enjoy!

[republicsecurity]

Reserve Duty

Anchor: "In the latest developments from England and Wales, a comprehensive report details the ongoing efforts to bring the region into alignment with the Republic. The Security Forces have implemented a multifaceted approach, leveraging the expertise of Reservists who have completed their Conscript Service to aid in stabilization."

Reporter: "Reservists play a crucial role in the transitional phase, utilizing their training and conditioning to assist in maintaining peace. Their unique perspective, shaped by their conscripted service, offers a valuable asset in understanding the delicate balance between order and individual rights."

The report delved into the establishment of conditioning centers designed to transform local emergency services, including the police, fire, and ambulance units. Security Forces were shown working alongside professionals in these services, implementing the conscription model to ensure a unified and disciplined approach.

The holographic display shifted to scenes of newly conditioned emergency service personnel, undergoing training and embracing the shared ethos of the Republic. 

***

Reporter: "Here we are, accompanying a Reservist as he bids farewell to his family and embarks on his return to service. These individuals, having completed their initial conscript service, willingly re-enter the fold to contribute further to the Republic."

The camera followed the Reservist, clad in civilian attire, as he shared emotional moments with his family. Hugs, tears, and whispered words conveyed a mix of pride and sacrifice. The Reservist, stoic in demeanor, embraced his loved ones one last time before heading toward the waiting transport.

Family Member: "We're proud of him for choosing to serve again. It's not easy, but it's what he believes in."

The scene transitioned to the barracks, where the Reservist joined a group of returning comrades. The atmosphere was a blend of camaraderie and shared purpose. The familiar rituals of camaraderie among conscripts unfolded as they prepared for their renewed service.

Reporter: "As they re-enter service, Reservists undergo a symbolic head-shaving, a ritual that marks their commitment and unity. The Reservist, now with a shaved head like his comrades, is ready for the next phase of his duty."

The camera captured the precision of the head-shaving process, carried out by a fellow conscript, with each stroke of the razor symbolizing the Reservist's transition back into the disciplined ranks of those who have chosen to serve the Republic.

Reservist: "It's a small sacrifice for the greater good. We come back willingly, knowing the importance of our role in maintaining the unity and strength of the Republic."

Reporter: "Here in the heart of the Republic's conditioning chambers, Reservists undergo a process of mental reconfiguration. Electrodes attached to their skulls facilitate the erasure and rewriting of certain neural pathways, ensuring alignment with the collective ideals of unity and allegiance."

The camera panned across the rows of Reservists, each in their individual chamber, eyes glazed over, a collective hum emanating from the machinery surrounding them. Their minds were subjected to a meticulous process, a dance of electrical impulses choreographed to erase divergent thoughts and reaffirm the principles of the Republic.

Reservist, fatigued and drained, spoke with a monotone voice, a testament to the mental exertion endured within the conditioning chambers.

Reservist: "It's... necessary. We serve willingly, but the conditioning, it takes a toll. Memories, emotions, they blur. Sometimes I feel like I'm losing a part of myself, but it's for the greater good, right?"

Reservist: "It's... familiar, yet different. The conditioning during conscription was demanding, but now, as we return older, it feels more arduous. Perhaps it's the weight of accumulated years, memories, and experiences that resist the reprogramming. They say it's for the greater good, but the toll it takes is undeniable."

The wearied Reservist's voice carried the echoes of fatigue, a stark contrast to the vitality displayed in the early days of their conscription. As they reflected on the process, the monotony of the chamber seemed to intensify, emphasizing the struggle between the resilience of individuality and the relentless drive towards collective unity.

***

Reservist (KC445): "Two weeks in the conditioning chambers, and it's like flipping a switch. You leave your civilian self in a mental closet, and suddenly, you're back in the groove. It's strange how the conditioning can bring that focus, that sense of purpose."

The upbeat Reservist spoke with a newfound clarity, their voice carrying a tinge of enthusiasm that hinted at the transformation within. The camera followed as they emerged from the chambers, their demeanor more aligned with the disciplined stride of a Conscript Enforcer.

Reporter: "The Reservists, now reborn into the mold of Conscript Enforcers, show a remarkable shift in outlook. The conditioning has not only revived their conscript identities but also instilled a renewed sense of purpose."

As the Reservist shared insights into their altered perspective, the camera captured glimpses of camaraderie as they joined their fellow Enforcers. The once-fatigued faces now wore expressions of shared commitment, emphasizing the unifying power of the conditioning process.

The scene shifted to the Reservists donning their Enforcer uniforms, each emblematic of a collective identity. The unity among them, now fortified by shared conditioning experiences, hinted at the seamless integration awaiting them as they prepared to be shipped to England.

***

The camera zoomed in on the reservist, clad in the distinctive Enforcer uniform, standing on the platform amidst tearful farewells. His children, uncertain and confused, peered at the imposing figure before them.

Reservist: "Yeah, it's tough on them. The conditioning does its job – dials down the emotions. Makes it easier for us to focus on the mission. But it's a double-edged sword when you're saying goodbye to the ones you love."

The camera captured the emotional exchange on the train platform as families grappled with the departure of their loved ones. A wife, fighting back tears, shared her thoughts.

Wife: "He's changed, you know? Not just the uniform, but something about the way he carries himself. More confident, maybe. The conditioning they talk about – it's like he's part of something bigger now."

The camera then shifted to a daughter, perched on her father's armored arms. The child, unburdened by the weight of farewells, expressed her appreciation for the transformation.

Daughter: "I like it. He's like a superhero. Look at his shiny head!" She giggled, patting the smooth, shaved scalp of her father. The servos in the suit emitted a soft hum as he embraced his daughter, a poignant moment amid the departure.

In the midst of the emotional farewell, the daughter's innocent fascination with her father's freshly shaved head became a moment of lighthearted exchange.

Father: "Well, kiddo, what do you think? A bit smoother than usual, isn't it?"

Daughter, giggling: "Shiny! You're like a superhero, Dad!"

As the suit's servos hummed softly, amplifying the father's strength, he playfully pretended to struggle under the weight of his daughter. She responded with a triumphant laugh, enjoying the augmented playfulness facilitated by the armored embrace.

Father: "Yep, that's the Enforcer upgrade for you. Now, let me give you a ride." With practiced ease, he lifted her higher, her laughter echoing through the platform.

The reporter, with a sympathetic nod, captured the mix of stoicism and vulnerability in the reservist's expression. The platform echoed with the sounds of families separated by the call of duty.

As the news broadcast sugarcoats the departure, the untelevised reality unfolds within the confines of the train. Neat rows of Enforcers, helmets secured back in place, sit in a silent procession. The unyielding voice of their commander reverberates in their individual helmets, a stark contrast to the sentimental farewells witnessed on the platform.

Commander: "Terminate the family-friendly protocol. Return to the stoic disposition we aim to maintain."

For KC445 and the others, this directive brought a subtle wave of relief. The burden of maintaining a veneer of familial warmth was momentarily lifted, allowing them to retreat into the familiar comfort of their stoic personas, honed through rigorous conditioning.

As the train hurtles toward its destination, the commander's voice punctuates the air inside each helmet, initiating an internal channel for the Enforcers to converse among themselves.

Commander: "You may now engage in group discussions, triads of your choosing. Share your thoughts and observations about the settling conditioning."

In the ensuing silence, the helmets' internal communication systems activate, allowing the Enforcers to establish connections with their designated triad members.