#era: dream's sunday club

[osharenippon]

Shoujo Manga's Golden Decade (Part 2)

Shoujo manga, comics for girls, played a pivotal role in shaping Japanese girls’ culture, and its dynamic evolution mirrors the prevailing trends and aspirations of the era. For many, this genre peaked in the 1970s. But why?

Part 1

The Year of 24 Group

Some of the best-selling work by the Year 24 Artists (l-to-r): Yasuko Aoike's "From Eroica with Love," Ryoko Yamagishi's "Arabesque," Mineko Yamada's "Minori no Shoujo," Toshie Kihara's "Yomie no Ishibume," Yumiko Oshima's "The Star of Cottonland," Yuuko Kishi's "Tamasaburo."

Back in the early '70s, there was the prevailing notion that manga was for young kids. Despite the variety in themes, big magazines like Margaret, Shoujo Club, Nakayoshi, and Ribon were theoretically aimed at elementary school-aged girls.

In practice, the reality was more nuanced. Due to being published in Weekly Margaret, "The Rose of Versailles" was for kids. And it did very well with them. Yet, its revolutionary romance also appealed to broader audiences, exemplifying the crossover potential of shoujo manga. It was the title that opened the door for what is known as "the golden age of shoujo," which was further cemented by several other groundbreaking hits.

These hits widened the shoujo manga field, and soon, other editorial houses also wanted to cash in. Shogakukan, which published the powerful Weekly Shonen Sunday, entered the shoujo market in the late '60s. Shueisha and Shogakukan also partnered to form a keiretsu and open the Hakusensha publisher which deals mostly with shoujo manga.

That is the context in which a batch of artists known as "The Magnificent 24 Group" rose. And they were another key reason as to why '70s shoujo made such a mark. These manga-kas introduced themes such as sci-fi and homosexuality to the segment, revolutionized its art, further explored historical and terror narratives, and generally broke barriers of what was possible in shoujo manga. Their work was intellectually challenging, philosophical, and, above all, fundamental for male manga critics and connoisseurs to finally take shoujo seriously.

The Year 24 Group refers to the fact most artists were born around 1949, which is known as the year 24 of the Showa era in the Japanese calendar. These women came of age during the time artists like Hideko Mizuno were debuting and doing revolutionary work in the shoujo field, and they were eager to follow their lead. The success of unorthodox hits like "The Rose of Versailles" and the emergence of new magazines enabled them to be bold.

The two artists who led the movement are Moto Hagio and Keiko Takemiya. Their shared house in Tokyo, known as the Oizumi Salon, became a gathering place for several young artists keen on breaking new grounds for shoujo manga-kas. These women became the Year 24 group. But there were other two people, besides the artists themselves, who were just as crucial for the existence of the movement.

Firstly, there was Junya Yamamoto. Yamamoto was a young male editor at Shogakukan who had risen through the ranks of the successful Shonen Sunday weekly manga magazine. Noticing they were lagging behind Shueisha and Kodansha in the manga segment for their lack of a robust shoujo presence, the editorial house appointed Yamamoto to launch Shoujo Comic (known as Sho-Comi) in 1968 and Bessatsu Shoujo Comic (known as Betsucomi) in 1970. However, he quickly ran into an issue: most successful shoujo artists already had exclusive contracts with the competing houses, and aspiring names were vying for positions at the already established magazines.

In 1969, the "God of manga," Osamu Tezuka, introduced Yamamoto to Keiko Takemiya, then a university student living in Tokushima City. Takemiya had spent her school years dreaming of becoming a manga-ka and participated extensively in the readers' corner section of COM. COM was an avant-garde manga magazine Tezuka founded to nourish young talents and publish stories without the typical restraints of more commercial shoujo and shonen publications. In her first year of college, Takemiya won a Shueisha's Weekly Margaret newcomer competition and had a work published in the magazine. Still, she was persuaded by her parents to focus on her studies instead and to leave manga as a side hobby.

Yamamoto, in turn, was impressed with her talent and convinced her to chase her dreams. Quickly, she found work in all three publishers and started simultaneously publishing in Kodansha, Shueisha, and Shogakukan's shoujo titles.

Meanwhile, Moto Hagio also grew up enamored with the manga world. During her college years, she had a work selected by Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret (Betsuma) through a competition, but she could not find a fixed slot in the magazine. Then, she got introduced to Kodansha's Nakayoshi editors, who were impressed by her talent. While she did start publishing short stories there, editors rejected most of her submitted work as they did not fit the magazine's mold. One day, an editor introduced her to Takemiya, who, overworked while working for several magazines, was in dire need of an assistant. The two hit off, and Takemiya, who until then had her permanent residence in far away Tokuma City but was planning a move to Tokyo, proposed they both live together. She also decided to introduce Hagio to risk-taker editor Yamamoto, who, impressed by her talent, encouraged her to pursue her path instead of trying to fit into the expected shoujo template.

Then there was Norie Masuyama, who first became acquainted with Moto Hagio before becoming Takemiya's manager. Hagio was from Fukuoka, while Masuyama was from Tokyo, but due to their similar interests, they became penpals. When Hagio first moved to Tokyo, Masuyama hosted her in her home in Oizumi. Eventually, Hagio introduced Masuyama to Takemiya, and the three of them became close. Because both were artists from outside of Tokyo, Masuyama suggested Keiko and Moto should live together, and she was the one who alerted them of a house in her Oizumi neighborhood being up for rent.

Keiko Takemiya and Moto Hagio, estranged since the late '70s, revealed details of their feud in autobiographic books: Takemiya's "Shonen no na wa Gilbert" (2019) and Hagio's "Ichidou kiri no Oizumi no Hanashi" (2021). The dispute, stemming from Takemiya accusing Hagio of plagiarism, was fueled by Takemiya's jealousy during a challenging creative and personal period. While Takemiya appears self-aware and analytical in her account, Hagio's book indicates she hasn't forgiven Keiko, revealing unresolved feelings. The publications triggered intense online debates.

Masuyama came from a sophisticated family that was very involved in arts and, from a young age, got familiarized with the world of music, literature, and movies. Her refined taste impressed Hagio and Takemiya. At a time when Japanese girls dreamed of Europe, Masuyama actually had friends living there and was up-to-date on the latest European trends. She also had a lot of knowledge of European cinema and literature.

As their rented house was old and rusty, Hagio and Takemiya started spending a lot of time at Masuayama's house across the street. She introduced them to films, songs, books, and paintings. It was Masuyama's taste -- including her interest in movies and books depicting gay romance and her desire for girls' comics to have bolder and riskier themes -- that helped to instill a passion in both artists to go further than the safe cliches usually depicted in shoujo works.

In 1970, editor Yamamoto convinced Takemiya to sign an exclusive contract with Shogakukan. The following year, Hagio also started publishing for Sho-comi and Betsucomi. Their work would attract a loyal fanbase, and aspiring manga-ka would flood their mailboxes. So Takemiya made a decision: to select female artists around her and Hagio's age to mentor and train at their shared home. Thus, the Oizumi Salon was born.

Despite attracting attention, Takemiya and Hagio's works were not always popular. In fact, they'd often rank last in readers' popularity polls, which tend to be all-deciding in manga magazines. But they persevered, and Yamamoto trusted them.

Keiko Takemiya aimed to establish herself with a top-rated series through "Pharaoh no Haka" (left) in order to garner the necessary respect from editors to write the series she wanted, "Kaze to ki no uta" (right). Despite her resolute efforts, "Pharaoh no Haka" never secured the top spot in Sho-comi's readers' poll, peaking at #2. Nevertheless, the series succeeded in elevating her fame and earning her the respect she sought.

In 1972, Hagio had an idea for a serial focused on a male European vampire. However, as she wasn't a famous artist, Yamamoto only allowed her to publish one-shots. So she came up with a plan: to write three interconnected standalone stories. To circumvent another restraint - shoujo editors' avoidance of male leads - she put the first story focus on Marybelle, Edgar's sister. Once Yamamoto realized what Hagio was doing, he was amused and allowed her to continue. And so, "The Poe Clan" series began. In 1974, Shogakukan finally started publishing their shoujo titles in compiled paperback format. In another proof of trust, Yamamoto chose Hagio's "The Poe Clan" as the first title of the Flower Comics imprint.

To everybody's surprise, "The Poe's Clan," in paperback format, was a groundbreaking success, almost instantaneously selling out its initial printing. At the time, Hagio had just started a new serialization, "The Heart of Thomas," a tragic gay love story set in an all-boys German school. As usual for her, the story wasn't all that popular with Sho-Comi's readership, and its lackluster results in the reader's poll almost got the series discontinued. But the notable success of "The Poe's Clan" tankobon assured editors, who allowed Hagio to continue the series. "The Heart of Thomas" went on to become another best-seller and a seminal shoujo title. It also attracted critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase to Moto Hagio, which in turn helped put the Year 24 artists -- who were pretty good at self-promotion -- in the spotlight.

Hagio, Takemiya, and several other "Year 24" authors drifted between being popular and underground. They had a sizable, loyal fanbase that followed them and turned several of their works into best-sellers. On the other hand, by finding a way around the usual shoujo traditions, they weren't particularly popular with the average shoujo reader, ordinary young girls across the country.

Their peculiar position forced them to be clever, so they could fulfill their creative desires as well as their editors' expectations, who were there to make sure the stories published were satisfying to the core readership. Takemiya wrote "Pharaoh no Haka," an Egypt-set romantic adventure, to be well-accepted so that she could then dedicate herself to doing what she truly wanted in "Kaze to Ki no Uta," a gay love story set in a 19th Century French boarding school.

Initially overlooked in popular shoujo magazines, Moto Hagio gained success with "The Poe Clan" in compiled format, launching Shogakukan's Flower Comics imprint. Over time, she became a highly respected manga artist, the only manga-ka alongside legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki to receive a Person of Cultural Merit recognition. In 2016, marking 40 years of the conclusion of her first hit, she released a new "The Poe Clan" chapter in Flower magazine, selling out the increased print run of 50,000 copies in a day. This success marked a significant shift for Hagio, who, despite not being a major magazine seller in earlier years, became a valuable asset to the struggling publishing industry. Following the one-shot, she released three more chapters and, in 2022, began a new sequel series.

Besides Takemiya and Hagio, several other notable shoujo artists who went on to become huge names used to frequent the Oizumi Salon and were part of the "Year 24 group." In the early '70s, most published their work on Shogakukan's titles, which had a "free policy" on storytelling compared to Margaret, Shoujo Friend, Nakayoshi, and Ribon. Then, as Shogakukan started being more strict to properly compete with the market leaders, several moved to newly launched Hakusensha titles Hana to Yume and LaLa. Influential names that were part of the movement included Yumiko Oshima, Yasuko Aoike, and Ryoko Yamagashi, among several others. 

Despite their unorthodox preferences, they weren't necessarily trying to rebel against the system, they simply wanted to put out good quality work they believed in. Like other Japanese girls from that era, they were fascinated by Europe, and plenty of their stories took place on the continent. In 1972, Hagio, Takemiya, Yamagishi, and Masuyama made a 45-day trip to Europe, visiting the Soviet Republic, France, and several other countries, which had a profound impact on them. Still, their narratives were widely innovative. They often had male leads, introduced sci-fi, "boys' love," and other bolder genres to shoujo manga, and contributed to the evolution of shoujo illustration. Above all, this group of artists was the one who made clear to naysayers, once and for all, that shoujo manga is indeed an art form.

But while their influence in manga history is undisputed, other significant -- and much more commercial -- manga movements also shook the shoujo manga world during that decade.

A Need for Drama

When talking about '70s shoujo manga, it's common for minds to drift directly to iconic series from that time, like "Candy Candy" and "Rose of Versailles." But, unlike in present times, in that decade, the manga industry's focus wasn't on successful, long-running series but on the artists themselves.

As opposed to the struggling publishing marketing of today, major shoujo manga magazines all sold over 1 million copies during that decade. Manga in tankobon (standalone paperback) format was turning into a money-maker field, but being able to sell paperback was very much secondary compared to being a name capable of selling magazines. Keiko Takemiya and Moto Hagio, from the Amazing Year 24 Group, would go on to become household names and had best-selling series, but, at the time, they couldn't compete with the actual shoujo manga superstars who were the signboard artists of the Kodansha and Shueisha's shoujo titles, the ones who actually moved publications. These artists' work was the most significant indicator of what the mainstream readers wanted and aspired to back then.

In a December/1975 issue, weekly Josei Seven spotlights the new generation of superstar shoujo manga artists: (l-to-r) Moto Hagio, Machiko Satonaka, Ryoko Ikeda, Yukari Ichijo, Keiko Takemiya, and Ryoko Takahashi. While contemporary manga-kas are highly discreet about their lives and do not even tend to show their faces, in the '70s, they were treated like superstars, and, in the article, the manga-kas openly discuss their love life and details of their high incomes, including how much they had in the bank and how much they spent on rent and daily utilities.

For Kodansha, the top shoujo artist was definitely Machiko Satonaka, who won the Best New Artist competition in 1964, when she was still a freshman in high school. There have been several high-schoolers making their debut in the industry throughout the decades, but, as the first, Satonaka caused a media frenzy. Her ascent gave confidence to countless other young women -- from "Glass Mask"'s Suzue Michi to Keiko Takemiya (who also won a smaller prize in the same competition) -- to pursue their manga careers.

The attention surrounding Satonaka, who went on to become a public personality with TV hosting gigs and other appearances, is another interesting, nostalgic phenomenon. In the past, it was common for manga superstars to have a strong media presence. Nowadays, the norm is the complete opposite: for manga-kas to be highly private, no matter how famous their work is.

In any case, Satonaka quickly proved herself to be more than a sensational news story as she created extremely popular mangas for Kodansha shoujo titles like Shoujo Friend and Nakayoshi. Her style, widely accepted by readers, became symbolical of the story-telling the '70s girls craved: extremely dramatic with emotionally driven plots and lots of bombastic twists and developments.

In his book on subcultures and otaku culture, sociologist Shinji Miyadai notes that '70s shoujo manga can be divided into very few categories. There is the category the Year 24 artists dominated -- which he defines as the "Moto Hagio domain" -- of works with a lot of artistic value, up-to-par with literature. And then there's the far more commercially viable "Satonaka domain," which represented the mainstream taste.

In the "Satonaka category," the artist depicts a stormy life story as a proxy experience for the readers. Of course, there are universal elements of love, friendship, and insecurity that girls can directly relate to. Still, these stories provide adventures that readers could never experience in the real world. 

These facets of the "Satonaka domain" are present in almost all the best-selling, mainstream shoujo series of the '70s, like the revolutionary historical romance of "The Rose of Versailles," the dramatic rags-to-riches story of the beautiful orphan in "Candy Candy," and the rise of an ordinary girl to the top of the sports elite in "Ace wo Nerae." In all of these titles, you'll also spot other defining characteristics of '70s shoujo: the death of beloved characters and well-liked female characters with voluminous blonde hairs and huge, sparkling eyes (a legacy of Macoto Takahashi, the illustrator who, throughout the '50s, created the art that directly influenced subsequent shoujo history).

Yukari Ichijo was the most prominent Ribon signboard artist throughout the '70s, creating popular mangas like "Suna no Shiro" (left) and "Designer (right). Young girls across the country adored her work despite the adult drama in it.

Since these stories are extraordinary and dream-like, many of them use Europe or the US as their setting, another reflection of the times when Japanese youth dreamed with the West.

While Satonaka was Kodansha's star, Shueisha also had its top shoujo artists. For Margaret, it was Ryoko Ikeda who kept creating memorable dramatic manga after the conclusion of "The Rose of Versailles." Other classic '70s dramatic works published in the weekly included Kyoko Ariyoshi's ballet drama "Swan." Meanwhile, over at Ribon, no one shone brighter than Yukari Ichijo. Ichijo's works, which young girls across Japan devoured, contained a lot of adult drama with adult characters. Her 1974 manga, "Love Game," had a bed scene. One of her most celebrated works of the decade, "Suna no Shiro" (Sand Castle), dealt with incest. While Ichijo is the one who stood the test of time, another artist who also enjoyed great popularity in Ribon following this formula was Kei Nogami. 

These mangas served as an escape for girls, who left their ordinary school life behind for a few hours to embark on extraordinary adventures. In contrast, one of the main genres in contemporary shoujo is unassuming, everyday high school romance. How could the shoujo segment go through such a drastic transformation? The reasons for that also dates back to the 1970s.

Part 3

[faefaye]

Sometimes I get so emotional about the original Klein.

He was just a normal person with simple dreams of having a better life and a bigger house with his siblings. His education was through Sunday school until his father's death provided the money for enrolling somewhere else. The year he entered university, his mother died. Despite or because of all that, he worked hard trying to achieve what he wanted.

While he got average results in university, that's because he got in on a scholarship and was of a lower social and economic class compared to most of his peers, having to study a lot more to catch up. During which he ended up knowing at least half a dozen different languages. After graduating, he immediately started to prepare for his interview and was just two days away from going for it... then came 28th June.

Somewhere out there is a world in which the Antigonus notebook incident didn't happen, where he passed that interview and lived an ordinary and happy life as a university lecturer (although maybe not all that ordinary if he went after Fourth Epoch history following his interest :p).

Don't get me wrong, I adore LOTM Klein, but I can't help but wonder about the person he was and could be without the infusion of Zhou Mingrui.

(hiding canon quotes illustrating this under the read more, do feel free to add other information on og Klein):

Chapter 1: (1) [His father's] bereavement allowance gave Klein the opportunity to study in a private language school and laid the foundation for his admission into university...

(2) [His mother] passed away the year Klein passed the entrance examinations to Khoy University...

Chapter 2: However, back when he burned the midnight oil four years ago to be admitted into Khoy University[...]

Chapter 3: (1) In light of the present situation, Zhou Mingrui believed that if Klein were to return to university, it was unlikely he could graduate. This was despite him having left campus just days ago without relaxing one bit.

(2) It was not that Klein did not think of helping share his elder brother’s burden but being born a commoner and having been admitted into an average language school, he felt a strong sense of inadequacy when he enrolled into university. For example, as the origin of all languages in the Northern Continent, the ancient language of Feysac was something all the children of nobles and of the wealthy class would learn from a young age. In contrast, he only made first contact with it in university.

He faced many similar aspects during his schooling career. Klein nearly gave his all and often stayed up late into the night and woke up early before barely managing to catch up to the others, eventually allowing him to graduate with average results.

Chapter 4: In his memory fragments, he had once fantasized about renting a bungalow in the suburbs. There would be five or six rooms, two bathrooms, a huge balcony upstairs, two rooms, a dining room, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and an underground storage room on the first floor.

Chapter 9: Having set his sights on solving the mystery and restoring history, Klein didn’t have much interest in the first three eras, whose roots were closer to legends. He was more interested in the Fourth Epoch, also known as the Age of the Gods.

Chapter 18: "Of course, when I received primary education during Sunday school[...]"

Chapter 24: With Klein requiring a scholarship to finance his university studies, he, Welch, and the others had joined Khoy University’s rowing club and were pretty good at it.

Chapter 98: As for the original Klein, he had focused on his studies early on and had suffered from malnutrition. That led him to possess a below-average physical condition. 

Chapter 260: The original Klein was a fanatic towards the history of the Fourth Epoch. He often read journal articles and books, so even now, Klein still remembered a lot of content.

Chapter 323: (1) He tried the words in ancient Feysac, Intis, Loen, and other languages again, but the result was the same.

As for Jotun, Elvish, Dragonese, and other languages from the mysticism domain, Klein could only try them out of hope since they was overly restrictive and unlikely to be the language used.

(2) Klein switched to the languages of Loen, Highlander, and Feysac, but still failed to achieve the desired results.

(Klein studied Jotun after transmigrating, but even excluding all the mysticism languages, considering he knew Hermes in Chapter 1, there's five)

(edited 17/05/23 to add the quote from Ch 98)

[watusichris]

Lou Reed (Variety, 10/27/13)

Lou Reed died on this date 10 years ago, and Variety asked me to write an appreciation, which I re-post here. **********

From the remove of 47 years, it is difficult to adequately calibrate the impact of “The Velvet Underground and Nico,” the debut album by the New York band fronted by Lou Reed, who died Sunday at 71. Bearing a cover by Andy Warhol that could literally denude itself (“peel slowly and see,” the legend read), the LP was a shock to popular music’s system. It addressed topics – heroin addiction, sexual aberration – that had hitherto been taboo in popular music, and mounted Reed’s literally stunning lyrics in a matrix of molecule-rearranging noise. It is one of those few records of which this can be said: Nothing like it had ever been heard before, and it permanently altered notions of what was possible, and permissible, in rock music.

While Reed was capable of shaking the foundations of propriety with compositions like “Heroin,” ‘I’m Waiting For the Man” and “Venus in Furs,” and would push the boundaries even further with subsequent outbursts like “White Light/White Heat,” “I Heard Her Call My Name” and the orgiastic “Sister Ray,” he proved he was no one-trick pony. He was capable of penning the most tender and empathetic ballads in the rock canon – “I’ll Be Your Mirror,” “Pale Blue Eyes,” “I’m Set Free,” the astonishing “Jesus.” He also proved that he was a rock classicist at heart with such much-covered standards as “Sweet Jane” and “Rock and Roll,” the latter of which may be the definitive statement of the joy that lies at the heart of the music.

After Reed exited the Velvet Underground after years of infighting and discord in 1970, he embarked on a solo career that was characterized over its course by periods of extreme risk, infuriating sloth and intermittent brilliance. He wrested glam from the British with “Transformer”; took his own stab at rock opera with the lush, depressive “Berlin”; ground ears to pulp with his two-LP noise extravaganza “Metal Machine Music.” Using more conventional elements of rock music but seasoning them with his hectoring style, he forged such highly personal latter-day works as “Street Hassle,” “The Bells,” “The Blue Mask,” “New York” and “Magic and Loss.”

Because he was a thorny, restless and often reckless spirit who proceeded to the tattoo of his own drum, his work could succumb to abject failure: Witness his Edgar Allan Poe homage “The Raven,” his misbegotten collection of guitar pieces “Hudson River Wind Meditations” and his last release, 2011’s “Lulu,” a much-maligned collaboration with Metallica.

But such failures were ultimately understandable and could even be anticipated, since from the start of his career Reed’s rep, and ultimately his import, rested on his willingness to take chances. That was never a sure way to conquer the charts, but it was a route to change, and Lou Reed permanently altered the musical landscape. Seemingly answerable to no one and nothing other than himself and his own artistic impulses, he became, to his discomfort, an exemplary figure. His influence has long been a given; especially in the punk and post-punk era, dozens of bands embraced his sound and style. Watching early sets by such groups as L.A.’s Dream Syndicate was like watching young, half-formed performers groping towards their own essence, with Reed’s work as a road map.

As a personality, he could be prickly, harsh, forbidding; his confrontations with music journalists held the status of legend. The caricature is maintained in “CBGB,” the recent film about the New York punk club, in which a character called “Lou Reed” makes a cameo appearance, with fangs out. Reed played himself best. In Allan Arkush’s 1983 rock movie “Get Crazy,” he portrayed a rock star named Auden. It is not a great picture, but he elevated it with his presence. He gets the last word in the film, under the credits, singing, in his wobbling, drawling voice, a song called “Little Sister” – a heart-on-the-sleeve number with a corking, lyrical solo at its end.

It’s surprising, sweet, loving. But then, he was an artist of many dimensions, and surprise was so much of what Lou Reed was all about.

[packernet]

New Post has been published on https://www.packernet.com/blog/2023/11/07/spotlight-on-fans-packers-fan-hall-of-fame-nominations-now-open/

Spotlight on Fans: Packers FAN Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open

  Image Source

The Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame is an institution that celebrates the unwavering loyalty and spirit of the most passionate Packers fans. It is a unique annual tradition, a testament to the enduring bond that exists between the Green Bay Packers and their devoted fanbase. This year marks another chance for such diehard fans to get the recognition they deserve, with the nominations now officially open.

Whether you are a fan yourself, or you know someone whose dedication to the Packers is unparalleled, it’s time to put the pen to paper (or fingers to the keys) and let the world know about it. With an array of impressive prizes and the honor of being immortalized in the Packers Hall of Fame, this is an opportunity that no Packers fan would want to miss.

Nomination Process

The process of nominating your favorite Packers fan is simple. Here’s a quick guide on how to go about it:

Write an Essay: Prepare an engaging write-up of 500 words or less explaining why the nominee deserves to be inducted. The essay should highlight the nominee’s dedication to the Packers and how they have shown their spirit and loyalty.

Include a Photo: Attach a memorable picture of the nominee draped in Packers gear or at a Packers game.

Submit Your Nomination: Visit packers.com/FHOF to submit your nomination before Nov. 30. If internet access is a challenge, send your essay and photo via mail to Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame, 330 E. Kilbourn Ave., Suite 1455, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Selection and Voting

After receiving the nominations, the FAN Hall of Fame selection committee will choose ten finalists. These profiles will be featured on Packers.com, and the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite fan during January. The ultimate winner is chosen based on both fan votes and the selection committee’s decision.

Prize Announcement

The grand announcement of the ultimate Packers fan will take place in late February at Lambeau Field. The winner will receive a spectacular array of prizes designed to create an unforgettable Packers experience. The winner and three friends will enjoy a private perspective of the action from four club seats at a Packers home game in 2024.

The winner will also receive four tickets to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, a personalized Packers jersey to wear with pride, and a $500 gift certificate to the Packers Pro Shop. 

That’s not all! The winner’s name will be etched in Packers history, included with other members in the prestigious Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame museum. It’s a dream come true for any Packers fan!

Last Year’s Inductee: John Breske

The 25th inductee to the Packers FAN Hall of Fame, John Breske of Elderon, is a true testament to the robust spirit and enduring loyalty of Packers fans. Breske, now 92 years old, has been a steadfast Packers fan since the Lombardi era. He is a former Silver Star and Marine recipient who served in the Korean War.

His commitment to the team is unrivaled. Breske holds 53 season tickets and has rarely missed a game. On home-game Sundays, he would load a bus with friends, relatives, and other fans to make the one-hour trip to Lambeau Field, signifying his love for the game and his dedication to the Packers community.

A cancer survivor, Breske’s impact extends beyond his support for the Packers. He also donated tickets to worthy causes and events that support finding a cure, demonstrating how the spirit of the Packers fan extends not just to the game but also to the community. His induction into the FAN Hall of Fame is a testament to his unwavering passion and dedication to the Packers.

Final Thoughts

The Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame continues to be a testament to the incredible spirit, loyalty, and passion that defines the fanbase. The nomination and selection process, the anticipation as we await the announcement of the winner, and the inspiring stories of past inductees all demonstrate the unique bond between the team and its fans.

As the race for this season’s NFL standings heats up, let’s remember the fans’ role in making the game of football so special. We invite all fans to engage in this nomination process and help us celebrate the unsung heroes of the NFL—the fans. This year, as always, will serve as a reminder of how the love of a team can unite people, shape lives, and create memories that last a lifetime. The nomination process is now open; let’s write the next chapter of this fantastic tradition together.

[fashournalist]

Before October leaves, I just want to look back at how wonderful and eventful my birth month has been, whether it was in my work life, family, friendships, and spiritual life.

Thank You Lord Jesus for authoring these memories, and for the people I spent this month with. I am surrounded with so much love, and just like the song I kept on playing when I turned 21, “I could not ask for more.”

I just turned 29, and it feels like it’s all coming full circle. A part of me is still in 2015, a part of me is forever 21, because of how memorable that year has been, and I can honestly say that it seems 2023 is at par with that year. Just as I had a great start to my twenties, I am ready to close this chapter and make this the best year yet, before I face my thirties.

This was how I spent my 29th October

Oct 12 - I met my Bumble* Friends big sister in person for the first time, ate Ma-an Noriega. We were supposed to watch films at the Spanish Film Festival but we ended up speaking for five hours. It was not enough, but she had to go home for work already. We will meet again this week to watch the Eras together : )

Oct 14-15 - To say this weekend was amazing is an understatement. Spent the night with Anthony Rosaldo United and Anthony himself for the 5th anniversary of the fans club.

Oct 17-present - I started training Jenina, JR, and Sophie and it’s always a fun session with them! Love how they learn fast, just like when Dom and Lor learned fast when Ate Marc and I trained them before.

Oct 20-21 - Advance birthday celebration with Dad at The Theatre at Solaire! It’s a dream come to watch Hamilton in the flesh! Can’t get over That Would Be Enough and Dear Theodosia. Then, spent the night with Karl and Dad at Solaire Casino (only bet 100, we were just there for the unlimited drinks hahaha)

Oct 22 - Happy birthday at work! So happy I spent the day with my AM family. I’m the only AM on Sundays but for today, Kryzl Mendez, Dominic Emanuel Apolona, Lorhenz Lacsa, and Adonijah Trixie Banico rendered RDOT to help with the billable hours, and I enjoyed my special day with them. Spent the day with my favorite teammates at my favorite fastfood, McDo <3 Isay gave me an Eras shirt, and Dominic gave me a powerbank plus letter because I asked for a letter haha.

Oct 23 - My closest friend Karl Jude Emmanuel Ocampo made me feel special in many ways! He took me to Wildflour, bought an entire cake that I can share with the team, and gave me gifts I never imagined I’d be receiving from a friend: a new cell phone, memory card, and the first laminated letter I received in my life. Thank you bb for spoiling me. What did I do to deserve you?

Oct 24 - Our very generous OM, Ronaldo Lacson, gave pizza for the team in celebration of my birthday, plus I got another cake, which I brought home to share with my Dad.

Oct 27 - Belated birthday celebration with Dad at Mama Lou’s - Endless Pasta! We had a collective total of 11 plates.

Oct 28 - Spent quality time with my siblings from Isentia, Angelique Daclan hosted a Halloween 2014 Tumblr theme party. This is my kind of party, intimate and only spent with five fellow introverts hahah, much better than parties with lots of people (although that can be fun, too, as long it’s rare). So happy I saw AJ, Morris Manalaysay, and Laborem Joey Bobiles again. Also met Eli and Ellie, AJ’s friends at her new work. Grateful I have this circle where I can join drinking sessions without the pressure to drink <3

Oct 29 - Went straight to work after the party, and Lorhenz surprised me by treating me at McDo as his birthday gift! After work, I volunteered to man the booth of Parish Renewal Experience at our church.

Today is October 31, and I’m just amazed at how remarkable this October has been. I’m also astonished at how my INFP-T social battery is being pushed to the limit, because I’m that person who needs a month up to a quarter of hibernation (my term for alone time) for every date and social gathering I have (ask my closest friends Karl and Gee Ann Barro – they know HAHA) But ever since I started working onsite again, I’ve been starting to become more flexible with my social life haha. Slowly, I increased my capacity to agree to invites, and initiate them, too, when I have the energy. I just need to maximize my alone time to recharge and be ready to make new memories again with the people I love.

Thank You, Lord, for being the writer of my life story. I surrender to You this new chapter. Thank you for the love you surround me with and the people you put in my life. I pray to give back that love to the world. May I be a better daughter, a better friend, a better colleague, a better person. May I be the person You want me to be. And someday, may I be the right person for the person I’ve been waiting for since 1994, wherever he is right now.

*I tried Bumble because my work friends have been encouraging me to start dating already, since I never tried at my age, but I was not ready yet so I invested time in Bumble BFF instead haha. But, just like I told my teammate AT, now that I’m 29, if ever someone will ask me out, then I’ll give the person a chance. Let’s see how this year will unfold haha!

PS. My mind’s my age, but my heart will always beat like I’m only 7, 15, and 21. As for my soul though, it’s around 150 to 200 years old already haha.

[krispyweiss]

Album Review: David Crosby - Dallas 1987

As he emerged from his drug-fueled descent and subsequent imprisonment, David Crosby returned to the scene of the crime to perform a solo club set at Rockefeller’s, a gig that’s been turned into Dallas 1987.

It marks the first posthumous album from Crosby, who died in January.

It’s a one-hour, full-show recording that finds Crosby in strong voice on Easter Sunday and accompanying himself on guitar for eight of the 10 tracks and switching to piano for “Delta” and “Oh, Yes I Can.”

“Compass” follows “Yes” as the other prisoner-era composition and Crosby tells his audience to never get busted in Texas and to consider his life up to that point before getting into freebase or other hard drugs.

Crosby spends the balance of the set playing Joni Mitchell’s “For Free” and looking back at Crosby-Nash on “Lee Shore;” CSN with “In My Dreams,” “Guinnevere,” “Wooden Ships” and “Long Time Gone;” and CSNY on “Almost Cut My Hair.”

These versions are akin to the demos Crosby might’ve made for his bandmates. And though it’s clear he’s still finding his way back, Dallas 1987 shines some nice light on one of Crosby’s darkest periods.

The record ends with stage announcements reminding patrons of upcoming gigs by Donovan and Arlo Guthrie, a mirror into the sad state of 1960s musicians in the ’80s.

Grade card: David Crosby - Dallas 1987 - B

10/11/23

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                                       Volume 7 Issue 6                                                                                                  Week of January 9,2023                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                                       Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR:  This is our first issue of The Old Salem Post in the 2023 New Year, and there is news to share.  The two week holiday break was a nice chance to work on my to do list. There is always work waiting. I have a saying, “ When I die, I will still have a long list of things.”   I suppose that is where generations who follow us need to be prepared to pick up the slack when all of us with a good work ethic have passed on.  Start now teaching your younger ones the value and satisfaction that comes from the ability to use their minds and learn new skills. We don’t have time to waste.  LRMartin

NEW FOOD TRUCK DOWN TOWN SALEM! Salem has a food truck, Palmetto Spoon, located this week across from the Fire Department.  Stop by and check out their breakfast and lunch menu!                                                                                  

TOWN OF SALEM: *Downtown Market every Sat. 8am-12pm.   Council Meets Jan 17, 5pm.  BLOOD DRIVE:  Monday January 9, 2023 from 1pm-6pm.  Downtown Salem across from the Fire Department.  $20 in e-gift cards plus and an additional Bonus $50 in e-gift cards                                              

.                                            ASHTON RECALLS        By Ashton Hester                                    COMMUNITY WELL SERVED RURAL SALEM RESIDENTS -  - (The following is the second half of a story that began in the last issue of The Post. It was in the January 12, 1977 issue of the Keowee Courier and was written by Doris Rogers, who wrote feature stories for the Courier during that era. Incidentally, she is a native of Salem and was raised at the Tamassee DAR School. The Bennets who are featured in this story were kin to her). . .The oldest and youngest Bennett men have died and the middle one moved away. Now, there are four families drawing water by hand and a fifth one--you guessed it--who gets theirs by way of an electric pump. . .I remember playing games and eating picnic lunches under the trees near the well. The central gathering place for the community, birthday and communion dinners were given there. Boys played ball and we girls played jacks--and told the well our secrets. . .The well was a landmark, and small children weren't allowed near it without an adult. . .Once in 1970, a station wagon filled with children came to a stop beside the clean, neat well box. The old windlass brought back memories for the North Carolina man, and held a fascinating curiosity for the children. The group came from the car and asked questions. . .Mr. Vondiver Bennett drew up a bucket of the always cold liquid and everyone had a cup. The man said he had never tasted cleaner, sweeter water since he was a boy. He took a jug home for his wife, and Mr. Bennett walked home smiling. . .(Footnote written in 2023: A photo of the well accompanied this story in the January 12, 1977 Keowee Courier).

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC)& COFFEE SHOP 13412 N Hwy 11 Open Wed-Sat 8am-9pm.  Sunday 2pm-7pm.  Events this week:  THURS: Old Time Jam 6:00pm.  Fri– FOOD: Pat’s Hot Dogs.  Music:  JR Williams at 6:30pm.  Sat–  Music: Tim McWilliams 6:30pm Food:  ALAZAN Food Truck. Call 864-873-0048   Book Club Meeting at JVBC: Wednesday, Jan 25 at 10:00am.  We will be discussing Desert Flower by Warris Dirie.  Landscape Art Class, Thurs, Jan 26, 6pm-8pm $25 Preregister.  

Tamassee DAR: Tamassee is now taking reservations for the next Bride-to-Be Tea Party on Feb. 18th at 10 a.m. in historical South Carolina Cottage Whether you are planning a romantic garden wedding for a small group of close friends, or a chapel ceremony with all the traditions, Tamassee DAR School can make your wedding dreams come true.  From engagement tea, rehearsal, ceremony, to reception – Tamassee DAR School is a one-stop-venue experience for all your wedding needs . Tour our beautiful indoor and outdoor venue options, visit with preferred vendors, enjoy refreshments, and learn more about our affordable wedding packages.  Cost for the Tea Party is $10 for the bride and one guest.  To register for this event, call us at 864.944.1390 or email us at events@tdarschool.org.

Tamassee DAR Thrift Store open Tues-Sat, 10am-6pm.  Located 9695, Hwy 11.  Treasures, furniture, and more!  Also, the kitchen area features delicious sandwiches by Bake It To the Limit, on Fri and Sat.  

Happy New Year to You! Prepare for the JCS It's Coming!   The January Cold Snap.  According to my 20 years' research, The "JCS" most likely occurs around January 15th.  If the storm  travels up from Atlanta, we might be snowed in for a week or more. To that end, I have prepared a shopping list for you                JUST IN CASE:        ___Shop for the January Snows_______                                     Bread, Milk, Hot Cocoa Mix, Marshmallows, Canned Soups, Pop Corn, Orange Juice,Cold Medicine Baking Supplies:Choc Chips, Oats, Flour,                 Pie Crusts, Canned Goods: tomatoes, beans, tuna, salmon, peaches                                        --------Cut this out and put it on the Refrigerator----------                     I love you, Oconee County! I picture you safe and warm by the fireplace ogling A SEED CATOLOG!!!MIZ JEANNIE                                                                                    

EAGLES NEST ART CENTER , 501c3, 4 Eagle Lane, Salem                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ENAC REGULAR meeting Monday, February 6, 2023  at 5pm.                            ENAC TREASURE STORE: Open every first Saturday of each month 9am-12pm.  We need more volunteers.                                                                          UPCOMING PERFORMANCES IN 2023:                                                            MOUNTAIN FAITH BAND:  Family Bluegrass/Gospel band from Sylvia, N.C. JAN.14 at 7 PM TICKETS $20 presale.    Available at the Town of Salem, Ticketleap,  or call 864-280-1258.  Doors open at 6pm.                                          OCONEE MOUNTAIN OPRY:  Local Roots Music and comedy.   JAN. 21 TICKETS $10.     Doors open 6pm. Show at 7pm.  

Folk Mountain Gospel:  Don and Donna Mohl play mountain and hammered dulcimer, bowed psaltry, zither and more.   Save the Feb 11 evening for this unique event.  More Details to come.     Website: folkmountaingospel.com            WOMEN ECOURAGING WOMEN: FEB. 18 1PM-4PM  A Love Offering will be taken.  * This is a wonderful event for our local churches to help sponsor. *

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A COAT OR SOCKS?   Call Missy at  864-944-8732      Community Food Bank through local churches. No one should be hungry for food or love:  Contact Teresa and James Barker  at 944-0258                        

GOLDEN CORNER FOOD PANTRY:  Tamassee-Salem mobile food pantry.  Pick up at Salem First Baptist Church second Saturday each month.  10am-12pm .  Anyone on EBT ( food stamps) will automatically qualify.  For more information, call the Golden Corner Food Pantry 864-882-3610.  Share with others, and tell them to share with others who might know of someone who has a need.                                                          

Thought for the week:  Great Relationships are made when you are building one another up– Not tearing one another down—                                              Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Open and eyes, ears, and heart to do good for all mankind.  Help us lend a hand where one is needed.  Help us to share your message of hope and love everywhere we go,  through Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen                                     

*No Paper next week.                  *Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. LRMartin                 

[flowrbed]

꙳ ࣪ * ༻❁༺ ₊°    …     sprout ! ⁽ ᵇᵃˢᶦᶜˢ ⁾

birth name yoon sunhee english name solana yoon birthday 11 october, 2001 birth place gangnam, seoul, south korea hometown queens, new york city, united states ethnicity korean nationality american

꙳ ࣪ * ༻❁༺ ₊°    …     flowerbud ! ⁽ ᶜᵃʳᵉᵉʳ ⁾

stage name sunday (current), lana (former) position bassist, main vocalist, lead dancer, face of the group years active 2015 - present years trained 2014 - 2019 company/ies sm entertainment (2014 - 2018), timeslip the label (2018 - present)

꙳ ࣪ * ༻❁༺ ₊°    …     blooming ! ⁽ ᵖʰʸˢᶦᶜᵃˡ ⁾

face claim huh yunjin, le sserafim measurements 172 cm / 5'8"

꙳ ࣪ * ༻❁༺ ₊°    …     florette ! ⁽ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿᵃ ⁾

positive charismatic, genuine, loyal, warm-hearted, considerate negative perfectionist, dramatic, sensitive, prone to moral superiority, unassertive types enfp, 4w3, sanguine-melancholic inspired by robin buckley (stranger things), lorelai gilmore (gilmore girls), usagi tsukino (sailor moon)

꙳ ࣪ * ༻❁༺ ₊°    …     he loves me, loves me not ! ⁽ ʰⁱˢᵗᵒʳʸ ⁾

solana yoon grew up in new york city and originally had dreams of pursuing musical theatre and broadway in the united states. in early high school, lana was part of her school's drama club and played for a small cover band that uploaded videos on youtube. from her debut era interviews, solana says she first encountered kpop through browsing youtube one day and didn't think much of it until she had the opportunity to audition for sm entertainment in 2014. she was shortly accepted after her initial audition, supported by live showcases from her drama club performances. however, solana would only be able to train full-time starting mid-2015 after dropping her schooling and musical commitments in new york. prior to this, she was flying back and forth between korea and the states during her school breaks with her mother.

in 2015, she was formally introduced as part of the pre-debut project sr15g with the stage name lana. she would later form part of the cast of disney's mickey mouse club with other notable trainees. unfortunately, in 2017, a mass number of sm's sr15g lineup left the company to pursue their endeavors elsewhere. after debuting red velvet and the loss of female trainees, solana became highly aware of dropping chances of debuting any time soon. although she was initially willing to wait it out, she left sm entertainment in 2018 once she got an offer from timeslip. the label emphasized that her place in the new girl group was confirmed and would remain unchanged throughout any line-up rotations.

during debut era, a lot of her supporters from her time at sm were surprised to find her finally performing on stage. despite the saddened comments about her wasted years in her former company, the impossibility of her being with her old co-trainees, the support for the newly-introduced sunday was ever-growing. she is admired for her energetic aura and dedication to pursuing her dream. as a florettes member, sunday is seen as the glue that connects all the other girls. currently, sunday is the most popular and recognizable member of the florettes, and is often their frontwoman during band performances due to her vocal ability, charisma and energy.

[your-dietician]

A train lover’s dream: How it feels to ride the Caledonian Sleeper

New Post has been published on https://medianwire.com/a-train-lovers-dream-how-it-feels-to-ride-the-caledonian-sleeper/

A train lover’s dream: How it feels to ride the Caledonian Sleeper

Imagine stepping into a room that’s not much bigger than a large closet and instead of despising your landlord, you marvel at its compact beauty.

An efficient use of space isn’t always a virtue, but it’s one of the most impressive features of the Caledonian Sleeper train, as I discovered on my journey from Edinburgh to London this year. 

In the compartments, beds are tucked beside sinks, there’s a pull-out desk beneath the basin, and a strong magnet draws toilet lids to the wall, which can be dropped down for showering. The new trains were billed as “hotels on wheels” when they launched two years ago, harking back to an era of luxury travel that began in 1873.

Sleeping while travelling is an efficiency in itself: tucking sleep into the small hours as neatly as the narrow compartments in a carriage. 

For train lovers, the Caledonian is a stylish experience that doesn’t let you forget you’re on your favourite mode of transport. It’s a desirable place to sleep because, not in spite of that, as you’re rocked asleep by your progress.

Ticket options range from seats to solo or twin bunks and en-suite double rooms. My ‘Club Room’ was functional as could be in 2022, but softened by ergonomic and thoughtful details: dimmable lights, beige plaid Caledonian wallpaper, and the perfect comfiness of two pillows.

What is there to eat and drink onboard?

Laid out on the bed is an ordering card for breakfast which you’re asked to fill out and hang on the back of your door within 30 minutes of boarding. 

There’s also a ‘Highlander and Lowlander’ food and drink menu in the dining carriage or you can order it as room service. So you don’t need to worry about finding dinner at a late hour in town before boarding.

Given departure is at 11.40pm during the week and 11.15pm on Sundays, it’s likely you’ll have already eaten, but it’s still reassuring to know there’s plenty of midnight snacks and spirits to choose from in the plush Club Car.

There’s a focus on Scottish food, with classic plates of haggis and neep, and full ‘Highland Breakfasts’ in the morning.

Can you get a good night’s sleep on the Caledonian?

As an excited first time passenger, I was torn between staying up to maximise the experience – nursing a cocktail in the lounge, or simply sitting up with a reading light and book, basking in the novelty of it all – and getting my head down.

There’s no one rule, or lights out moment for the whole train – night owls and early birds can do as they please. Tiredness won out for me, and the reason I was there: to get some good rest.

I’m a light sleeper so didn’t sleep seamlessly; you obviously can’t sprawl in a single bed (the Caledonian Double looks like a different story). 

But it is extremely cosy, and even when some jolts budged through my dreams, it was soothing to be reminded of where I was. Funnily enough, it actually felt weirder sleeping in moments when the train was still.

I can honestly say I arrived at Euston Station feeling like I was rested and well set up for the day (as much as a night owl ever can at 6.30am).

A more sustainable way to travel

The social acceptability of flying from Edinburgh to London, vice versa, or all domestic flights for that matter, is gradually being withdrawn.

A flight from Edinburgh to London emits 177kg CO2 per passenger, according to Transform Scotland, while trains use around 34kg per person. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) calculates this as even less – closer to 23kg of CO2 emissions. Using the same carbon calculator, a car journey emits 79kg CO2.

Short-haul flights are a major avoidable cause of global pollution. However it works out exactly, train travel is easily the most sustainable option for getting between the two great cities. And door to door it’s hardly much quicker to fly, with Waverley and Euston stations so centrally located.

You’ll also be saving yourself the stress and lost hours of queuing, checking in and paying for baggage.

What are the other perks of travelling by sleeper train?

Back to first impressions and what everyone wants to know: the goodies. Surely even the most seasoned business traveller experiences a small thrill at seeing the bag of freebies laid out on their bunk. Each sleeper is equipped with pillow spray, earbuds, a sleeping mask, and toiletries.

I stayed in a Club Solo Room, but the complimentary sleep pack is given to all passengers.

Tips and things to note about the Caledonian Sleeper

You have more time onboard than you might expect, at both ends. Passengers can board around 30 minutes before departure, to get comfy and enjoy the train’s perks. There’s also guest lounges to wait in at the stations, though only for Double and Club Room ticket holders.

There’s no rush to disembark. Unlike with regular day trains, you’re not hurried out as soon as it pulls into the platform, giving you time to get ready, wash and enjoy breakfast.

The Edinburgh to London train often arrives earlier than scheduled. We got to London around half an hour earlier than the expected 7.07, but didn’t need to vacate our rooms until 7.30am.

Showering is free for those in Double and Club Rooms, but all passengers can purchase a showering token on board for £5, either for use in your Classic Room, or at the station facilities if you’re seated.

It’s not the Orient Express. It is, still, just the Edinburgh to London line. But it’s a smooth, comfortable, efficient, and quietly luxurious way to travel.

How much does the Caledonian Sleeper train cost?

Here’s the catch of course. Room prices vary considerably and rise to £345 for a Caledonian Double, squarely at the more luxurious end.

Small rooms are also prohibitively expensive for many would-be passengers; around £210 for a Classic Room, and £290 for a twin en-suite Club Room, depending on how far in advance you book.

The cheapest ticket on the train is for a seat, which starts at £50. These do look comfier than a regular seat; ergonomic perks include a footrest, reading light and shoe buffer, and you can put your small possessions in a secure locker for peace of mind. But it’s hardly the sleeper train option of dreams.

You can book tickets online, over the phone, or at any station ticket office, up to a year in advance. There are plenty of Scottish stations the sleeper travels between, including Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness.

Is the Caledonian Sleeper going to get cheaper?

The train service has a long history, running down the West Coast Main Line since 1873, and has changed hands a number of times.

Last week, it was announced that current operator Serco will be exiting the franchise early, in June 2023, after it failed to reach an agreement with the Scottish government.

Until a new franchisee can be found, the sleeper will be back under public ownership – an arrangement which many politicians in the SNP, Scottish Greens and Labour parties think should be made permanent.

But could it mean that cheaper tickets are on the horizon? Currently, the services are being pitched at high-end business customers, and that’s reflected in the prices, Scottish Greens transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell told Good Morning Scotland radio listeners.

“I think if we had a service that was reflecting customer demand, that was competing with the airlines, that had better connectivity with Europe – for example with with integrated ticketing [with the Eurostar], we could see passenger numbers increase even further on the Caledonian Sleeper.

“It’s very much a niche form of travel at the moment, and that’s very different to how sleeper services are used across continental Europe,” he added. “It’s really one of our few connections to the rest of Europe that’s low carbon, so we should be investing and developing a vision around that.”

Read full article here

[midasinc]

canon era feuilly/enjolras

-feuilly comes to paris without a sous in his pocket and only the clothes on his back. he's worked little jobs here and there for his whole life and he's doing the same. at twenty-one, he's matured too much for his young age. when he secures an apprenticeship under a fanmaker, he's overwhelmed to find himself with a small room to stay in and a place to put his hat

-two years into his apprenticeship, he's given a real job under the fanmaker he's been spending most of his days with and it's the closest thing he has with a family, honestly. but now he can pay them for rent and has a real job and the first day he can afford something real, he buys himself this shiny, shiny green cravat and it looks incredibly tacky with his worker's clothing, all worn and yellowed with age and sweat and stain, but he loves it and he wears it all the time

-one day in the winter, he's walking home from a delivery and it's too fucking cold and he can't feel his fingers or his toes and his skin burns from how frozen he is because feuilly can't afford a coat, and he has to stop inside a cafe to ensure that he makes it home alive and there's this couple of rich-looking students whispering about a meeting as they head into a back room and feuilly is curious by nature, so he follows

-turns out, it's a super politically charged group with lots of talking over each other and speeches and arguing and he sits back and listens and he slips back out after an hour. at home, he thinks about it in bed. feuilly's been in many different places, he's seen so many people in pain. he's been in so much pain- starvation, loneliness, oppression, he's seen it all and he's felt it all

-he spends his free time reading books from the fanmaker's collection: his atlas, his novels, and more. mixed with both his opinions and his experiences, feuilly writes his ideas on government and politics and society on the back scrap of an old list of paints he'd been sent out to buy and he ties his green cravat as nicely as he can and he returns to the cafe

-there's no one there

-and he goes again

-and there's no one there

-and feuilly gives up for a few more days before getting up on a sunday and going once more- cravat tied and list in his hands- and there are students there. the same ones as before, maybe. maybe they aren't, he can't remember. but he's there and for a moment his hands are shaking and he's afraid that these rich students are going to make fun of him, but something possesses him to stand and-

-enjolras is twenty years old. he's studying law and dawns his hat and coat the same as he does every sunday. he's got a particularly long spiel planned about workers' rights and he completely ignores the women passing by and whispering about him because he always does

-enjolras has never been interested in a woman and he does not intend to be- the only thing he truly loves is his country

-he greets combeferre at the door and apologizes for running a bit late, but he sets his things down and momentarily notices a new face in the corner. enjolras thought he mightve seen him at the last meeting, but doesn't recognize him from school, or the area, or anything. the only noticeable thing about him is the incredibly tacky green cravat tied around his neck, shining in the candlelight.

-enjolras asks courfeyrac to greet him and starts the meeting

-he begins to talk about the situation of lower class working peoples and the life of factory workers and low-paid artisans and he's cut off. the man from the corner stands abruptly

-"have you ever worked?"

-for a moment, enjolras is like (oh my fucking god we have another grantaire) but answers truthfully that no, he's never worked. he's never had to

-the young man doesn't berate him, however, but he corrects him in explaining in more detail what people go through and the limbs they lose and the sores on their fingers and the soot that stains their skin all for what? hardly anything. he's surprisingly knowledgeable about lower classes, more than anyone else. courfeyrac returns to enjolras's side and murmurs into his ear that he's actually working class and actually their first member who isn't a student himself

-enj gets stars in his eyes because this is the actually the opening they needed- they need more of this demographic

-after the meeting, he stops the young man with the cravat and asks him for his name. the man is hesitant to shake his hand but does so anyway and introduces himself as feuilly. enjolras takes the time to ask him about himself and his relations to the working community and that's how feuilly gets his first task of asking around for new members

-once again, he's hesitant, but he says okay. enjolras gets starry-eyed again and shakes his hands and thanks him very much and leaves

-feuilly sneaks back into his apartment and loosens his tie and lays in bed, drumming his fingers and unable to sleep. his hand still feels warm from enjolras's firm handshake. he's probably the luckiest guy alive- enjolras is. he's rich, handsome, smart. he's sure to marry well and be successful and have sons who will be the same as he was. feuilly can't really think straight, so he blows out the candle in his room and forces his body to fall asleep

-for the first time in his life, he dreams of having friends and having people his age look at him like a person, and not just a face in the crowd

-come the next week, he's got another couple workers in tow and enjolras greets them just as enthusiastically as he did feuilly. his heart sinks in his chest, thinking that enjolras might not want to be his friend at all. feuilly sits next to the workers and listens through the meeting and tries not to feel melancholy about still being alone

-after the meeting, a hand catches his arm. enjolras is asking if he could stay, maybe, and talk with him about politics. it seems like a loaded statement, but feuilly agrees

-they discuss governments in other countries and political theories and he learns that enjolras is very politically charged for a young man with his status- more than any other possible person. when he talks, his brow furrows and his eyes refuse to stray from the person he speaks with and he talks with his hands. oh he talks with his hands. feuilly can't possibly look away. listening to enjolras talk is like getting drunk off absinthe.

-it's just as addicting to talk back. feuilly wants to debate with him and correct him when he's wrong and say everything he thinks. sometimes, enjolras agrees. sometimes, he catches enjolras by surprise by what he knows. he taught himself to read and write and he isn't stupid. feuilly's intelligent, even if he hasn't been fortunate enough to afford a real education for himself

-simple post-meeting conversations turn to other nightly conversations, ones at enjolras's student lodgings and at cafes with combeferre and courfeyrac and feuilly finds himself excited to see him. as he's painting throughout the day, he thinks about what he wants to talk about with enjolras the next time he sees him

-one day, the madame of the house asks him which grisette has him with such a smile on his face and feuilly laughs it off

-but that cannot defy the fact that he's thinking about that serious look on enjolras's face and the smile that curls the corners of his mouths when feuilly says something smart and he's reaching a hand into his sleep pants and screwing his eyes shut and

-ah. that's it.

-enjolras doesn't notice when feuilly gets a bit more reserved around him. he still pulls him aside and asks him for his input and gives him looks, prompting him to speak when somebody says something he knows feuilly could refute. feuilly is a bit more quiet, however, and it's only after a week that enjolras thinks something might be off

-finding out where he works, enjolras walks downtown to the fanmaker's shop and steps inside. he sees feuilly with his cap and his sleeves pushed up as he details a flower on a fan, hand steady and strokes delicate. he bites his lip when he's focused, enjolras notices

-"feuilly"

-feuilly startles, thankfully not messing up his fan. he glances over at him with wide eyes and then back at his work and then back at enjolras.

-"enj...olras." -enjolras steps up to the counter and asks him if he's feeling ill or if he's working too hard. he says that he's been quiet and off and wants to know if something is wrong

-feuilly pauses and shakes his head. he apologizes for being that way and invites enjolras to talk like they normally should. he says his lodgings are here and if enjolras wanted he could come over. his face is pink, when he says it and enjolras really does worry that he might be ill

-nonetheless, enjolras says he'll come over

-feuilly is fucking sweating bullets. he's worried that he'll say something awful and enjolras will find him to be a degenerate and throw him out of their socialist club

-he's still unsure of how to go about this situation and puts on his green cravat for when enjolras is over and neatens up his apartment as much as he can and by the time enjolras is there, he's apologizing for it not being much and probably being worse than enjolras expected

-enjolras is nice about it, though, and has his notes and books as per usual and doesn't seem to think any differently of him. they talk like usual and after a while, enjolras asks him about his work. he knows feuilly has no family and worked under this man for a while, but he's never seen him at work. he talks a bit about his painting and his commissions with fans and offers to show enjolras what painting a fan is like, but he doesn't have any good fans or paper and he doesn't want to ruin enjolras's notes. enj sticks out his arm, though, and says he could always paint on him

-once again- sweating bullets

-enjolras is glad when feuilly wants to show him his talents. with small pots of paints and a delicate brush, he murmurs to himself about styles and paints an example of popular designs with flowers and more

-feuilly's fingers are rough and warm against his arm and enjolras watches the tip of his nose as he paints, the flutter of his lashes and the splatter of freckles across his face. he finds himself very fortunate to have a friend like feuilly: one who's intelligent, credible where he stands on his opinions, and so very talented.

-hm

-after a moment, feuilly finishes an orchid and he sets down his brush, admiring the pale flower on enjolras's forearm. he doesn't mean to, but his hand lags behind on enj's arm, thumb gently stroking against the skin

-enjolras is watching him very carefully, he notices and thinks that he should probably let go and apologize at this point, but enjolras's feet are pointed towards him and his finger curls inward to brush against feuilly's other hand and his eyes flicker down to the area above his chin

-it's the same at that meeting, when something possessed feuilly to stand up and address an unfamiliar crowd. he leans forward in his seat and presses a very, very careful kiss to enjolras's lips. when he gets nothing in return, he momentarily considers hurling himself into the seine, but then enjolras pushes back forward and kisses him back and it's clunky and their teeth clink together for a moment before they figure each other out

-enjolras doesn't like women or men, he likes feuilly and he loves his country. he spends the night in his apartment- and they don't do much else but kiss. enjolras listens to feuilly talks about poland and germany and presses gentle kisses to his temples and the side of his mouth and his jaw because feuilly is intelligent, overwhelmingly so, and enjolras finds it very attractive

[daggerzine]

MY FAVORITE RECORDS OF 2021!

MY 20 FAVORITE RECORDS OF 2021

Ducks Ltd- Modern Fiction (Carpark)

Chime School- S/T (Slumberland)

Monnone Alone- Stay Foggy (Emotional Response)

The Chills- Scatterbrain (Fire)

Lucy Dacus- Home Video (Matador)

The Reds, Pinks & Purples- Uncommon Weather (Slumberland)

Civic- Future Forecast  (Flightless)

Florry- Big Fall (12XU)

Rachel Love- Picture in Mind (self released)

The Umbrellas- S/T (Slumberland)

Swansea Sound- Live from the Rum Puncheon (HHBTM)

Shoestrings- Expectations (Shelflife)

Dummy- Mandatory Enjoyment (Trouble in Mind)

The Catenary Wires- Birling Gap (Shelflife)

The Exbats- Now Where Were We (Goner)

Lou Barlow- Reason To Live (Joyful Noise)

Smoke Bellow- Open for Business (Trouble in Mind)

Massage- Still Life (Mt St. Mtn)

Divine Horsemen- Hot Rise of an Ice Cream Phoenix (In the Red)

Quivers- Golden Doubt (Ba Da Bing)

WAIT HERE’S 20 MORE (21-40)

Flowertown- Time Trials (Paisley Shirt)

Chris Brokaw- Puritan (12XU)

The Armoires- Incognito (Big Stir)

The Legal Matters- Chapter Three (Futureman)

Soursob- S/T (Hozac)

The Suncharms- Distant Lights (Sunday Records)

The Boys with the Perpetual Nervousness- Songs From Another Life (Bobo Integral)

John Sharkey III- Shoot Out The Camera (12XU)

Karen Peris- A Song Is Way Above the Lawn  (Bella Union)

Grand Drifter- Only Child (Subjangle)

Wavves- Hideaway (Fat Possum)

Boyracer- Assauged (Emotional Response)

The Black Watch- Here & There (Atom Records)

The Scientists- Negativity (In the Red)

Astral Brain- The Bewildered Mind (Shelflife)

Torres- Thirstier (Merge)

Painted Shrines- Heaven and Holy (Woodsist)

Sorrows- Love Too Late…the real album (Big Stir)

Beach Youth- Postcard (Shelflife)

Chubby & the Gang- The Mutt’s Nuts (PTFK)

  WAIT….HERE’S 25 MORE (41-65)

The Telephone Numbers- The Ballad of Doug (Meritorio)

Naked Raygun- Over the Overlords (Wax Trax)

Kevin Robertson- Sundown’s End (Futureman)

Goon Sax- Mirror II (Matador)

Dolph Chaney- This is Dolph Chaney (Big Stir)

The Brothers Steve- - Dose (Big Stir)

Guardian Singles- S/T (Trouble in Mind)

Matthew Sweet- Catspaw (Omnivore)

The Orange Peels- Celebrate the Moments Of Your Life (Minty Fresh) 

Mythical Motors- A Rare Look Ahead (self released)

The Swindon Lot- The Scariana Trench (Braxeling)

Corvair- S/T (Paper Walls/ WIAIWYA)

Kiwi Jr- Cooler Returns (Sub Pop)

Dinosaur Jr- Sweep it into Space (Jagjaguwar)

The Reflectors- Faster Action (Time for Action Records)

Eleventh Dream Day- Since Grazed (Thrill Jockey)

Damon & Naomi with Kurihara – A Sky Record (self released)

Scott Gagner- Bloodmoon (1977)

The Spires- Era Was (Artificial Light)

Ward White- The Tender Age (VF 14 Records)

The Gerunds- Hitsville, PA  (Uranium Rush)

David Christian & the Pinecone Orchestra- For Those We Met On the Way (Tapete)

Motorists- Surrounded (Bobo Integral) 

The Bevis Frond- Little Eden (Fire)

Teenage Fanclub- Endless Arcade (Merge)

  MY 10 FAVORITE COLLECTIONS

The Jazz Butcher- Dr Cholmondley Repents…  (Fire Records)

Tar- Tar Box (Chunklet)

The Dents- 1979-’80 Cincinnati (Hozac)

Monkey 101- Rust, Smuts and Heart Rot (Sister Raygun)

True West- Kaleidoscope of Shadows: The Story So Far  (Bring Out the Dead)

Trini Lopez- The Rare Reprise Singles (Omnivore)

The Palace Guard- All Night Long: An Anthology 1965-1967 (Omnivore)

Tangled Shoelaces Turn My Dial - The M Squared Recordings and more, 1981​-​84 (Chapter Music)

Linda Smith- Till Another Time: 1988-1996  (Captured Tracks)

Well Wishers- Spare Parts (self released)

  MY 10 FAVORITE REISSUES

Versus- Let’s Electrify! (Teenbeat)

Come- Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (Fire)

The Saints- The Most Primitive Band in the World (Radiation)

The Clean- Boodle, Boodle Boodle  and Tally Ho 7’ (both on Merge)

Lilys-  A Brief History of Amazing Letdowns (Frontier Records)

The Gun Club- Fire of Love and Miami (Blixa Sounds)

Adam Roth and his and of Men- Down the Shore, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Hozac)

Oh OK- The Complete Reissue (HHBTM)

Richard Hell & the Voidoids- Destiny Street (Omnivore)

Colin Blunstone- One Year (Sundazed)

 MY 10 FAVORITE EPs/singles

Ducks Ltd- Get Bleak (Carpark)

Tapes Waves- Bright (Emotional Response)

Jetstream Pony- Misplaced Words (Shelflife)

Massage- Lane Lines (Mt St Mtn)

Papercuts-Baxter’s Bliss (self released)

The Persian Leaps- Drone Etiquette (Land Ski records)

The Black Watch- The White EP (Atom)

The Resonars- “Gold to Blue” (Hypnotic Bridge)

Savak-  “Dealers” (digital single)

I Was a King- Twilight Anniversaries (self released)

[maxwell-grant]

On Lord Hawthorne

A lot of what makes Lavender Jack special to me is the way it’s so masterfully able to create engaging, modern material out of it’s influences, and it’s creation of a genuinely timeless pulp icon that I think should serve as the ideal baseline for any and all creators who want to create stories based on pulp characters, old and new alike, in the future. 

As I make my way through Season 2 and eagerly await Season 3 I’d like to take the time to talk a little about the often overlooked half of the villain duo of Season 1, Lord Hawthorne, and what I think is interesting about him. Out of the many ways pulp heroes have been reimagined into villains over the decades, Lord Hawthorne stands out to me as easily one of the best ones, as a thoughtful take on the Tarzan character.

Spoilers before the cut

The first thing everyone immediately picks about Lord Hawthorne is that he’s Tarzan, with hardly any ifs or buts about it. He’s Tarzan, and we quickly learn that he’s the villain, part of a villain duo with Lady Hawthorne, the real mastermind and kingpin in pearls behind the story’s events. Having Tarzan as the villain n a story that draws from pulp and Edwardian fiction is already an interesting start, as three of the most popular molds from which are pulp heroes are based on, three of the most popular characters as icons, are Tarzan, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and Sherlock Holmes, all three of which exist in some capacity in the world of Lavender Jack. The Gentleman Villain, The Great Detective, and The Wild Man.

Lavender Jack, as I’ve mentioned, is based on the Pimpernel, as well as other figures such as Spring-Heeled Jack and Bertie Wooster. Jack draws from icons that largely predate the pulp heroes because, in Schkade’s own reasoning, if you’re going to try and create an authentic pulp hero, it only makes sense to use as a base the characters that largely inspired them, and clearly that worked out very well. Jack is a Pimpernel remodeled and recontextualized into modern sensibilities, into an era of superheroes and webcomics.

In the Great Detective’s case, we have the figure of Madame Theresa Ferrier, who is called into the story by the Mayor to try and solve the mystery of Lavender Jack’s identity. Schkade describes Ferrier as a character that pulls from elements of detectives like Hercule Poirot and C.Auguste Dupin as well as Sherlock Holmes, in particular Jeremy Brett’s later year performances. As he describes:

In the series’ final years, Brett was getting older, sicker, hindered by bipolar medications that sapped his energy and caused him to gain weight, and he used it. His Holmes became a fading, melancholic shadow of his younger self, but with the spark of his brilliance showing through when it counted. I always found that so compelling

Ferrier is repeteadly described in-universe as “The Great Detective”, and she is both the oldest as well as the most brilliant character in the comic. Despite her age, despite her physical complications, and the tragedy that surrounds her love life, she is nonetheless incredibly skilled, strong and resourceful, able to unmask Jack and survive a confrontation with Lord Hawthorne and even nearly beat him. Ferrier draws from the Great Detectives of old, but this is a character that could never be mistaken for any of them. She’s not specifically based on any of them because, as Schkade puts it: “I wanted her to be someone I’d never get to draw in a leading role in most of my work-for-hire jobs”. 

Her role in the comic ends up being one of mentorship to Jack, and despite her age being emphasized as well as the idea of her belonging to an older generation of great heroes that now gives way to the younger and hot-blooded Jack as well as Ferrier’s new partner in Honoria Crabb, Ferrier is very much another great example of where the old meets the new in Lavender Jack. Pulling from the great old archetypes but very much recognizable as her own thing. 

Thing is, when it comes to Lord Hawthorne, we don’t really get that, because Lord Hawthorne isn’t really combining the idea of Tarzan with a splash of something new and outstanding and modern. He really is just Tarzan, and not a terribly layered character at that, for much of the story he’s largely just a voiceless bulldozer who exists to do the dirty work of Lady Hawthorne no matter how dirty. This isn’t at all a criticism, because I think Hawthorne being just Tarzan, with little to no bells and whistles and twists on it, is central to what makes him work not just as a great physical threat Jack must overcome (in a similar way to Bane as both a monstrous powerhouse and also having a strong connection to a powerful pulp hero), but also someone whose tragedy comes to light as we finally learn more about him. The fact that he is monosyllabic and largely devoid of any personal interests or life outside of being muscle for Lady Hawthorne is something deliberate, as outlined in a speech given by another character in Chapter 39

Her world's been changing for years, now. She's taking her place in a wider game. A more nuanced game. And you're still...Why, you're only good for one thing, aren't you? Well, maybe two, you old hound, you.

I know why you spend vast stretches of the year off in that jungle. It's not for sport, it's not to keep your edge...it's because when there's no need to fight, no struggle to win, no enemy...there's just...you.

And you know there's not really anything to you, underneath all those scars and muscles.

No dreams, no warmth, no depth. Nothing to love.

So you stay away...and that way, you can come when she calls you. You can sweep back to Gallery and show up all filthy and draw her into your powerful, savage embrace....and maintain your novelty.

All of this so you'll never have to endure a silent sunday afternoon where there's nothing to do, any no one to kill, and your lady simply...doesn't...need you.

You do know this word, don't you, Hawthorne, old fellow? "Novelty?"

And how does he respond?

Not with a denial, but an affirmation that this is ultimately all personhood amounts to, in his worldview. Just one more thing to be conquered and then used as a club to batter others with. 

The very act of a character questioning their own worth and depth of personality usually tends to be a telling sign that they, in fact, have those things even if they are out of touch with them, but Hawthorne doesn’t particularly rebuff anything Van Lund’s saying. He just reaffirms his title as Lord while threatening him with violence, because violence is all he knows. 

As we later learn, Lord Hawthorne isn’t, in fact, the real Lord Hawthorne, but instead he and his wife usurped the title from the real one as they escaped from the jungle, where he was only known as “the wild man”. A man who’s been forced his entire life to live in a kill-or-be-killed world, to live as an animal in constant conflict with humans, was then captured and then brutally tortured every day for over a month, and then found for the first time someone who treated him with something resembling affection, someone who ultimately turned him into a tool for her evil designs, and he readily accepts this because he has no life, no identity, outside of her. He doesn’t even know his own name.

In fact, for all we know, he might as well be John Clayton himself, except he was born in a world where being Tarzan is not the greatest thing ever and there was no Jane or ape mother to guide his malleable heart into something resembling good, and there was only Sarah to mold him into an instrument of murder at his lowest point.

I argue that Tarzan is a character that’s all about freedom and vitality, as a heroic take on an archetype that’s long been the missing link between superheroes and monsters, where the dual nature of mankind between person and ape acts not as a disorder or source of conflict but instead as the ultimate power fantasy in a character who gets the best of both with none of the downsides. Lord Hawthorne isn’t necessarily a return to form, because there is no dual nature to him. There is no gentleman, no Lord Greystoke descendant of nobility, romantic hero and great adventurer and leader of men and whatnot. There is only the ape, and what little façade has been grafted onto him by his master so he can pass off as a person, only long enough until he takes his shirt off and starts murdering people for her. While we get long extended close-ups of the icy cruelty in Lady Hawthorne’s eyes, there is none for Lord Hawthorne, because he is not cruel, he is an animal. He’s not a fighter, he’s a survivor. He lives to kill and serve the person who tells him who or what to kill. 

Lord Hawthorne is what happens when you strip the Tarzan legend of the romanticism of fiction and you look at it for what it would likely result in: the tragic story of a child forced to grow in the jungle, where the concept of personhood and human decency are utterly meaningless and there is only survival, where his existence is at odds with the worlds of man and animal alike, and what happens when that sort of being receives a first contact with something resembling decency and love. Even if said first contact wasn’t with someone as evil as Lady Hawthorne, there was little chance Lord Hawthorne’s life was ever going to be anything other than just an extension of his life in the jungle, or end in anything other than tragedy, and ultimately even the characters start to pity the wild man.

Jack: All that power and stamina and fighting acumen, but yet all you seem to get to use it for is...this. Another laborious climb to another locked-room murder.

Ferrier: You've long passed the point where human lives hold any meaning. You are detached from our species, a...a stranger, loose among us. I thought the sight of you would stir distain in me, or even fear...but as I look at you now...I feel for you only the strangest sort of pity.

What I like most about Lord Hawthorne as a take on Tarzan is that, far too often, we see intended “deconstructions” or reinterpretations of the classic pulp heroes, or even superheroes, that largely just make them villainous by extrapolating the worst possible interpretations of the character’s traits or real-life circumstances around them to villainize them, or outright invent faults and problems that weren’t there in the source material, usually to put one character over the other. The entirety of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is built on this, as is a lot of Superman parodies built on getting the most graphically shocking results possible. 

I'll admit it’s somewhat hypocritical of me to criticize this entirely, because it’s an impulse that I sadly admit I myself have fallen into in my own writings on characters not my own, as anyone who’s ever talked with me about Doc Savage, a character I do not like and cannot bring myself to like, can testify. I get why this happens, even if I understand why it’s shitty. Ultimately, the best “deconstructions” or reinterpretations will always come from people who are best familiar with the material they are using and know exactly the best ways to twist it, like with Mark Waid’s Irredeemable, an Evil Superman comic written by a huge Superman fan who knows exactly the absolute worst ways a Superman character can go sour, and was leagues ahead of works like The Boys and Brightburn who largely just take the “easy” pot shots. 

With Lord Hawthorne, we get a character who’s an evil take on Tarzan, but whose evilness isn’t made from exaggerating or adding faults to the source material character, which could very easily be done. I never got the sense that the author hates Tarzan and wants everyone to hate Tarzan and is willingly to sacrifice immersion just to get across how much he hates Tarzan (again, something LOEG does way too often), in fact it really doesn’t matter how the author feels about Tarzan, because those feelings are irrevelant to what’s on the page. 

Instead, Lord Hawthorne is an evil take on Tarzan whose characterization is largely based on just looking at the source material, the character’s origins, and extrapolating the circumstances in which that could go sour. What would a “wild man” forced to grow up and fight for survival every day in the jungle look like, what would that person look like when making it’s first contact with human affection, how could that person be twisted and manipulated into becoming a villain, what’s even left to that person outside of violent action scenes. How little it would take to twist a childhood hero into a brute that murders old women in their hospital beds, just by tweaking a few details about the context surrounding him. 

He is not a caricature of Tarzan, he’s not a parody, he is just Tarzan, but no longer the power fantasy. No longer the center of fantastical adventures. No longer getting the best of both worlds, but instead having to contend with the worst of them. Ultimately only finding some dignity in death, with his nemesis expressing hope that, maybe somewhere else, he’s going to have better luck than what this world afforded him.

[brightmiraii]

NCT 24th member || Harumi

FACE CLAIM: Remi (Cherry Bullet)

DANCE CLAIM: Lee Chaeyeon (ex IZ*ONE)

VOICE CLAIM: Jo Yuri (ex IZ*ONE)

STAGE NAME: Harumi (하루미)

BIRTH NAME: Miya Harumi (宮晴美) 晴 (Haru) - bright 美 (Mi) - beauty

KOREAN NAME: Moon Myeong Hee (문명희)

ENGLISH NAME: Ellie Miya

CHINESE NAME: Gōng Qíngměi (宫晴美)/Wen Ming Xi (文明熙)

NICKNAMES: Haru, Brainnie, Xiao Měi, Bright Myeong, Rumi-hime (princess Rumi)

BIRTH DATE: November 25th, 2000

PLACE OF BIRTH: Madison, Wisconsin, USA

ETHNIC: Japanese

NATIONALITY: Japanese, American

EDUCATION: unknown elementary school in Madison, unknown elementary and middle school in New York, unknown middle school in Seoul, Seoul School of Performing Arts - practical dance (2016-2019)

ZODIAC SIGN: Sagittarius

MBTI: ENFJ-T

EYE COLOUR: Black

HEIGHT: 163cm

WEIGHT: 45kg

BLOOD TYPE: O

POSITION: main vocal, lead dancer

UNIT: NCT DREAM, NCT 127 (Limitless - now), NCT U (Timeless), NCT U (Make A Wish)

TRAINING PERIOD: 2 years (2014-2016)

LANGUAGES: Japanese and English (native language), Chinese and Korean (proficiency obtained), German (learning)

FAMILY: Miya Hayao (father, deceased), Miya Yoshiko (mother, deceased), Moon Seungyeon (adoptive father), Moon Bom (adoptive mother), Jianyu (adoptive cousin)

B A C K S T O R Y

Harumi was born in Madison, Wisconsin. Daughter of a young Japanese couple that moved to USA to start a new life, Miya Hayao and Miya Yoshiko

Since her father was an Algebra teacher in an middle school near their house and her mother was a Japanese teacher in a local language school, Harumi grew up highly influenced by knowledge and curiosity

Unfortunately, at the age of 6, Harumi and her parents were involved in a car accident, resulting in their death at the spot. Luckily Harumi survived, despite heavily injured

She was transferred to an orphanage in New York, where she could afford a better treatment to her injuries and social assistance with her double nationality

Harumi was the eldest child in the orphanage and the least interviewed kid for possible adoptions, because of her age. Because of that, she matured quickier and learned how to mask disappointment

She decided to learn by herself Chinese and Korean - in an attempt to increase her chances of being adopted, even if through an international adoption

Four years later, when she was 10, Moon Seungyeon and Moon Bom adopted her and brought her to South Korea

Harumi got casted during a Sunday outing she had with her family. A scout heard her singing and playing guitar and decided to invite her for an audition

Seungyeon, Bom and Jianyu (her cousin) convinced her to try for it and, eventually, join SM as a trainee

A couple of months after she began a trainee, SM introduced her as one of the SMRookies, participating in shows such as "Mickey Mouse Club"

Debuted in August in NCT DREAM, charming the fans with her powerful and husky voice

P E R S O N A L I T Y

Harumi is perceived as a sweet extrovert, always polite and warm towards anyone who approaches her. Though her soft looks and voice could mistake her as a shy girl, she is a truly happy virus

Her energy changes according to her surroundings. Whenever she’s with more playful members, she’s joking around and making a mess. However, with the calmer members, she can blend with them very well

Since she was the eldest in the orphanage, Harumi usually takes care of everyone around her, including the older members. She makes sure all the members are comfortable, healthy and happy

Extremely independent, struggles on relying on other people - which gives constant headaches to the older members

Keeps all negative comments and feelings to herself, not wanting to burden anyone

Has a hard time saying “no” to people, that being one of her biggest weakness

Constantly looks for improvement and new knowledge, so she's either learning a new dance style, an instrument or improving her producing skills

Because of years of rejection, Harumi is extremely self-conscious about herself as an individual

F U N F A C T S

Harumi learned Korean and Chinese through grammar books she found in a library. Because she was really young, the girl often reached out to the employees to explain some topics (what was a verb, noun, for example)

An volunteer in the orphanage taught Harumi how to play guitar and, eventually, gifted her his old one

Every Saturday afternoon, the orphanage headmistress would take the kids to Central Park. Harumi started to sing and play guitar there just for fun, but people started to spare her a dollar or two

In her audition, Harumi sang "Growl", from EXO, an acoustic version that fit perfectly her huskier tone

Seungyeon and Bom gave Harumi her Korean name, but let her decide whether she would use it or keep her given name (Harumi actually cried when they let her keep "Miya Harumi")

She surprised all the trainees with her almost perfect Korean, especially after introducing herself with her Japanese name. They were even more shocked when they discovered she knew as well English and Chinese

Contrary to all the Dreamies, Harumi did not drop out of school, juggling her student and idol life. All the members were worried about her health, but when they discovered the reason why Harumi was so adamant to keep studying, they did everything they could to help her

In 2017, Harumi got Korean and Chinese proficiency through the official test, formalizing her fluency in both languages. Because of that, fans gave her the nickname Brainnie

Before joining NCT, Harumi focused her vocals on acoustic versions and ballads. She was often told that her tone didn't match girl groups

Because of the car accident, Harumi has a long scar from her sternum to her bellybutton. Only in Ridin' era she felt comfortable enough to wear crop tops that showed a bit of it

Following the trend of peculiar dislike of foods in NCT, Harumi doesn't like nuts. She's actually heavily allergic, needing to have an epinephrine shot with her whenever she goes out to eat

The part she loved the most during her trainee period was dance classes, Harumi had so much fun and created a soft spot for it

Harumi despises winter the most, snowy days are the worst for her, because remind her of the car accident

Loves all Disney movies, even the underrated ones

Harumi's a quick learner, but feels extremely burnt out and unsatisfied, dropping one or another activity every once in a while (she usually tries again, because she hates the fact she gave up on something)

Her official emoji is ✨, because of the meaning behind the kanji of her name (Haru). Her introduction during her debut days was “Hello, I’m sparkling Harumi!”

One of her favorite hobbies is re-recording songs. She would record all the instruments, getting all notes by hearing and - finally - get the vocals done

Likes affection, but hates aegyo

Her favorite color is yellow

Maintains Dream’s dorms up (she does do cook, she does the cleaning to the point the others scold her for doing all by herself)

Her lives are mostly songs recommendations, guitar sessions and whenever she’s at practice room, she does a few covers

She’s a huge fan of BoA, EXO, SHINee and MAMAMOO

In 2019, Harumi became an official MC at Music Core alongside SF9 Chani

[teanicolae]

Tender Run Through Memories: You are crazy, my child. You must go to Berlin (2018)

extracts from a Berlin travel guide i worked on during my first internship. i was spellbound by Berlin’s entrancing mix of rich culture & gritty club-scene. i fell in love with the city, bit by bit, and i spent one month reviewing its art, museums and vegan food. during my time there, David Bowie kept ringing in my ears, as it was one of his soul-cities 🌼 you got the width of my tongue name on the sun 🌷 velvet goldmine, you stroke me like the rain, snake it, take it, panther princess you must stay 🦋

Feature: Introduction to Berlin

Much has been written about Berlin’s blend of history, outstanding culture and infamous nightlife. Proclaimed the capital of cool, Berlin is where you can “go to all-night parties, attend a screening of an arthouse film and an anti-Trump demonstration within 24 hours”, as The Times noted. Some talk about Berlin’s fall from grace, wondering if the city’s growing popularity diminished its authenticity and turned the city into a growingly expensive tourist trap.

From Marlene Dietrich, who sang “I still keep a suitcase in Berlin” with a piercing longing, to the rebellious singer Iggy Pop, who called Berlin his home, many artists have voiced their love for Berlin.

“You are crazy, my child. You must go to Berlin” (Franz von Suppé)

Affordable, buzzing, wild and carefree, Berlin is a symbol for tolerance and open-mindedness. Unlike other metropolises in Europe, it’s a place where you can relax. Berliners do not rush. They take their time, basking in the sun with their low-cut T-shirts and heavily tattooed arms, flicking back their occasionally bright-coloured hair.

Nights in Berlin are freaky, intense and fiery. The club culture is exhilarating; anything goes. Berlin is a techno capital: notorious DJs, outrageous raves and 36-hour long parties. There are plenty of clubs to choose from, perhaps the most infamous being Berghain, which pays the same taxes as theatres and concert halls, as it is considered to produce work of cultural significance.

It’s magical to lose yourself in Berlin’s night scene, in the hazy beat of electronic music and in the half-clothed masses. There is a strong sense of acceptance. You are free to be yourself. You won’t be judged.

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“Berlin, the greatest cultural extravaganza that one could imagine” (David Bowie)

Berlin is a home to artists and a paradise to emerging creators, who come here to pursue their dreams. There are around 20,000 artists living and working in the city, lured by cheap rents, the city’s libertine energy and the massive studio spaces. The street art mirrors the city’s fantastic art scene.

Berlin is bursting with culture and history. It has 175 museums, even more than New York. It’s an open museum too: from the Berlin Wall to Checkpoint Charlie and to the Nazi book burning site at Babelplatz, Berlin’s unique history can be seen by foot.

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“Berlin is cheap, but sexy” (Klaus Wowereit)

Berlin is the cheapest capital city in Western Europe. While it is getting expensive, perhaps because of its touristy appeal, it is the perfect place for backpackers, artists and adventurers for now. You can get a cup of coffee for €2, a lunch for less than €10, a pint of beer for €2-4, a day travel pass for €6,50 and a decent double room in a hotel for €50 per night. What is more, some of the attractions of Berlin are free, such as East Side Gallery, Raw Tempel and Yaam Beach.

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Paris is always Paris and Berlin is never Berlin! (Jack Lang)

Nonetheless, Berlin is constantly changing, you never know what to expect. You need to experience it yourself.

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Reviews: Art, Beauty & Vegan Food

Beyond Compare: How African and European Sculptures Carve the Essence of Humanity

There are few exhibitions as fascinating as Bode Museum’s “Beyond Compare”. “Beyond Compare” brings together, compares and analyses the sculptural traditions of two continents by displaying, side by side, 70 African sculptures, along with renowned masterpieces from Byzantium, Italy and central Europe.

Despite their radical stylistic differences, it is interesting to observe how the artworks touch the same themes. They illustrate the frailty of the human experience, exploring subjects such as death, beauty, motherhood, power, spirituality and love. Cultures apart, humans seemed to be moved by the same matters; it is remarkable to see the dainty, gothic sculpture of Madonna, Virgin of Mercy, appear next to a seemingly raw sculpture which represents a power figure from Congo. The second sculpture looks quite crude next to the carefully-carved Madonna, but both were made with the intent to ask for protection, to invoke forces that are beyond the physical world.

In the exhibition’s first slide, it is noted that the works displayed were made by human beings, and not by “cultures”, “tribes”, “ethnic groups” or “nations”. It is important to keep this in mind while strolling through the museum, as this exhibition is not an objective comparison between two different cultures, but a soft reflection of human nature.

Address: Am Kupfergraben, 10117 Berlin. Closest stations: Friedrichstraße, Hackescher Markt; Bus TXL Staatsoper, Lustgarten, Friedrichstraße. Opening hours: Monday – closed; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00; Thursday: 10.00 – 20.00. Prices: 12,00 EUR, Reduced 6,00. Website: https://www.smb.museum/museen-und-einrichtungen/bode-museum/home.html Contact: Tel 030 266 42 42 42

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Enjoy the silence in Museum der Stille

Museum der Stille (“Museum of Silence”) is a unique invitation to embrace the silence in the middle of the lively district of Berlin Mitte. It’s a small, free and beautiful exhibition of paintings and architectural models that illustrate different stages of stillness. It is lovely, subtle and, above all, silent. In the middle of the museum, there is only one piercing painting of a woman who’s gazing through you, with a simple wooden bench in front it. The walls are a deep, warm red and the light is dimmed. The profound silence makes the experience sincere and intense; you are struck by a strong feeling of here and now. While at the beginning you might be put off by the awkwardness of hearing your feet clumsily shuffling through the museum, you will gently ease into the museum’s serenity, if you let yourself. For once, you do not have to rush. It’s enough just to take it all in.

Even after leaving the museum and walking back into broad daylight, the spell of silence is not broken. You might be finding yourself humming Depeche Mode and thinking that they were right, perhaps. It is enough just to enjoy the silence.

Address: Linienstraße 154A, 10115 Berlin Closest stations: Oranienburger Tor, Oranienburger Straße. Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday 14:00 - 19:00 Prices: Free Website: http://museum-der-stille.de/de/ Contact: info@museum-der-stille.de Tel: +49 (0) 30 278 919 90

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CWC Gallery: exploring the modern and the contemporary

If you have a soft spot for art, but find most museums to be too sombre and a little old-fashioned, CWC Gallery might just be the place for you. “CWC” stands for “Camera Work Contemporary” and, as its name suggests, it focuses on contemporary and slightly modern positions found in photography, painting and sculpture. The gallery is in the heart of the bohemian Berlin-Mitte quarter and, while stylish and elegant, it isn’t pretentious and it has an easy-going vibe. It’s also completely free!

The first floor is a homage to the 1990s that recreates the dreamy allure of the era. Wandering around, you are charmed by goddesses of the ‘90s: photos of the iconic Iman, Gisele Bündchen, Uma Thurman and Halle Berry, all captured by Micheal Comte, are plastered on walls. Their half-smile and bouncy curls will leave you longing. You can soothe your temporary nostalgia by moving onto the next floors, where you can admire a beautifully curated and impressive exhibition of modern works of art, some of which display a striking social commentary.

In the same building, you can also find quite an interesting permanent exhibition about The Kennedys, which explores the political success and the private life of John F. Kennedy. The admission fee is 5€.

Address: Auguststraße 11–13, 10117 Berlin Closest stations: Oranienburger Tor, Oranienburger Straße. Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 -18:00 Saturday 11:00 – 18:00. . Prices: Free. Website: https://camerawork.de/ Contact: info@camerawork.de Tel 030 24048614

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Yoyo FoodWorld: the oldest vegan fast-food joint in Berlin

Yoyo FoodWorld is a hip fast-food joint on the Gärtnerstrasse 27 and the first and oldest vegan fast-food in Berlin.

For almost ten years, Yoyo hasn’t been your typical fast-food. Its atmosphere is similar to one of a quiet, cozy indie bar. Indoors, the light is slightly dimmed and there are photos of famous musicians and philosophers plastered on the restaurant’s walls, along with cult film posters that would make any film student swoon. Soft rock music plays in the background. The outdoor sitting is just as delightful, as the area surrounding the joint is lovely and inviting.

The food is cheap, fantastic and sure to satisfy your cravings, as the options are varied. They have 3,50€ burgers, 6,50€ pizza, 5€ wraps, 6€ schnitzels, 5€ seitan Currywursts, 3,80€ sea food and meatballs at the price of 8 for 3,20€. All the dishes are deliciously vegan and would work perfectly as comfort food or hangover food. It’s also the place to take your friends to convince them that vegan food is tasty.

Another highlight is the toilet, which is exceptionally cool. It’s filled with queer stickers, feminist and political statements, colourful graffiti and carefully scribbled love poems; ideal for a quirky Instagram post.

Address: Gärtnerstraße 27, 10245 Berlin Closest stations: Samariterstr., Frankfurter Tor, Warschauer Str. Opening hours: Monday- Thursday 12:00 - 23:00, Friday - Saturday 12:00 - 00:00, Sunday 12:00 - 23:00. Prices: € Website: http://www.yoyofoodworld-berlin.de/ Contact: kontakt@yoyofoodworld-berlin.de

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Get fettundbetrunken at the Chaostheorie

Chaostheorie is the first vegan cocktail bar in Germany. Their slogan is “fettundbetrunken”: “fat and drunk”, so expect to find a perfect mix of cheap comfort food and funky alcohol.

Onto the first part of their motto, “fat”: the food is fantastic. From a veganized traditional cuisine to more modern dishes, the highlights are juicy currywursts, enormous doner kebabs, fries with dripping dips, pulled mushroom burgers and thick cheese meatball sandwiches. To sweeten things up, the selection of house-made cakes is flavourful to say the least. The Oreo cake, smooth and crunchy at the same time, is a popular favourite. The soft drinks are also a dream: creamy milkshakes, Snickers, Manner or Oreo flavored, and rich freakshakes. You can settle for classic options, too: late macchiato, hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows, coffee with caramelized milk and hot applesauce with cinnamon and vanilla soya milk.

Now, onto the second part of their motto…”drunk”! You can sip traditional cocktails or try out the bartender’s specials: experimental and refreshing mixtures such as Julep Blue, bourbon, blue curaçao, ginger ale and limette.

The place itself is cozy: dim light, soft indie music, shelves stacked with books and a lovely photobooth perfect for making memories.

Even if you’re looking for a quiet afternoon with good food or for a tipsy evening, in Chaostheorie you can find the things you thought you’d never enjoy again once you went vegan.

Address: Schliemannstraße 15, 10437 Berlin. Closest Stations: Prenzlauer Alle, Stargarder Str., Schönhauser Allee. Opening Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed: 17:00 – 22:00; Thu: 17:00 - 23:00; Fri: 17:00 - 01:00; Sat: 15:00 - 01:00; Sun: 15:00 - 22:00. Price range: € (under €10). Website: http://www.chaostheorie.berlin/ Contact: 030/548 907 34; info@chaostheorie.berlin.

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Challenge yourself at the Kunst-Werke Institute for Contemporary Art

The Kunst-Werke Institute for Contemporary Art is a remarkable contemporary art institution located in the Berlin’s picturesque district Mitte. The building is a sight itself and it has a sophisticated allure, tall and elegant. The outdoor café has a lovely Parisian appeal and it’s where the hip tattooed artists you might have seen on Tumblr sip their coffees in the afternoon.

The works of art exhibited in the Institute are complex. You can marvel at political activist art, video art, visual art or interactive art. They’re also controversial, with people either excitedly praising them or dismissing them as meaningless. The exhibitions are divided into rooms: in some rooms you might be deafened by booming nature sounds, while in others you might be asked to take off your shoes and wander into an empty, soundproof room, where you’d be faced with a gut-wrenching documentary about the condition of the modern black artist. However, you never know what to expect, as the exhibits change constantly. Nonetheless, the works of emerging young artists are unique and do not hold the reassurance of traditional art: they challenge you and shake you. They draw out a strong response, be it positive or negative.

Finally, even if you occasionally roll your eyes at modern art, you should give the KW Institute a chance. At least one of the works of art displayed might move you.

Address: Auguststraße 69, 10117 Berlin. Closest stations: Oranienburger Tor, Oranienburger Straße.  Price: 16€ general entrance, 10€ reduced. Opening hours: Monday: 11:00 – 19:00. Tuesday: Closed. Wednesday: 11:00-19:00. Thursday: 11:00-21:00. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 11:00 – 19:00. Website: https://www.kw-berlin.de/ Contact : +49 30 243459-0, info@kw-berlin.de.

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Be Here, Be Queer at the Schwules Museum

The Schwules Museum is the world’s first gay museum, originally opened in 1985. It exhibits the violent history and the injustices the LGBTQ community endured in the past, as well as Berlin’s current queer life.

Schwules is not your typical queer museum. If you expect it to be bustling with colour and rainbows, you might be taken aback. To an extent, it is exceptionally colourful, with cheeky illustrations of young gay couples kissing, soft porn photos and neon slogans about love. But a more serious tone is predominant. The permanent exhibitions also depict gay history milestones, such as the feminist revolution, the composition of the first feminist songs of the German movement or the protests of a working group of lesbian teachers. In the middle of the museum, there’s a memorial dedicated to the LGBT people who were killed in concentration camps. Their names are written in blood-red. You will also shudder upon entering the museum, where you can see a lengthy list of countries where homosexuality is currently considered a punishable crime.

It is important to go to the Schwules Museum because you will be reminded of how painful history is and how the free world we live in required sacrifices. And how, for some, the world still isn’t free.

It is not allowed to take pictures, which at first might be quite annoying, as your initial impulse might be to want to immortalize everything. However, this might help you take in all the information and carefully weigh what you’re seeing.

Finally, is important to go to the Schwules Museum because you will be reminded of how painful history is and how the free world we live in required sacrifices. And how, for some, the world still isn’t free.

Address: Lützowstraße 73, 10785 Berlin Closest Stations: U Nollendorfplatz, U Kurfürstenstraße, Lützowstraße / Potsdamer Straße, Lützowplatz. Opening hours: Monday: 14:00 – 18:00, Tuesday: Closed, Wednesday: 14:00 – 18:00, Thursday: 14:00 – 20:00, Friday: 14:00 -18:00, Saturday: 14:00 – 19:00, Sunday: 14:00 – 18:00. Price: € 7.50 regular, € 4 reduced. Website: https://www.schwulesmuseum.de/ Contact: 030 69599050

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Sun and wholesome food at The Bowl

The Bowl, self-proclaimed a “clean-eating restaurant”, is the perfect place for a cozy lunch with your friends or for a breakfast date with a book. They only use fresh, seasonal, healthy and gluten-free products. Everything is fully sustainable and vegan. They even use natural sugar! And, truthfully, the food is indeed full of flavour and it leaves you with a sense of freshness. They have a great variety of bowls: from rich breakfast bowls filled with sweet fruit, raw chocolate and creamy soy yoghurt to lavish plates with roasted vegetables, mashed avocado raw crackers, zucchini and smoked paprika.

The desserts are a treat, as well. The highlights are the lush vanilla almond cake, with coconut blossom sugar, raw chocolate and coconut strawberry and bananenbrot, with grilled banana, granola, warm strawberry sauce and raw chocolate.

While it is a bit pricey, 6,50 € for breakfast bowls and around 10 € for the lunch specials, the naturalness of the food, its filling base and vitamin-rich toppings make it all worth it.

The dishes are perfectly Instagrammable and the colourful variety of vegetables and legumes doesn’t even need a filter. While enjoying your wholesome food, you can bask in the sun in front of the large windows and observe the buzzing Warschauer Straße, with hazy, synth-pop music unfolding in the background.

What is more, on the ground floor of the same building where Bowl is, you can find Veganz, a plant-based supermarket with an impressively wide range of products, from cheese and ham slices to cashew cookies, ice cream and the finest chocolate cream.

Address: Warschauer Str. 33, 10243 Berlin Closest Stations: Warschauer Str. Opening hours: Monday: 10:30-23:00, Tuesday: 10:30–23:00, Wednesday: 10:30–23:00, Thursday: 10:30–23:00, Friday: 10:30–23:00, Saturday: 10:00–23:00, Sunday: 10:00-23:00. Price: €€ Website: http://www.the-bowl.de/ Contact: 030 29771447

[nbmsports]

Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic in epic Wimbledon showdown

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in an epic Wimbledon final on Sunday that included a 24-minute single game. Djokovic took the first set 6-1 but Alcaraz coming back to win the next two. But Djokovic forced a fifth set before dropping behind Alcaraz early in that set, before coming back only trail 5-4. But Alcaraz took the next game, giving him the victory in the match — and the gold trophy. The final pitted the top-seeded Alcaraz against Djokovic, who in June won his 23rd Grand Slam title, setting the men's record.  Instead of Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, becoming the oldest male champion at Wimbledon in the Open era, Alcaraz, a 20-year-old from Spain, became the third-youngest. The age gap between the two was the widest in any men's Slam final since 1974.    Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning Championship Point during the Men's Singles Final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 16, 2023 in London, England. Julian Finney / Getty Images So Alcaraz had youth on his side, which he also did, of course, when they met at the French Open last month. That one was extraordinary for two sets before Alcaraz cramped up and faded. This time, he had the stamina and the strokes to get past Djokovic. Alcaraz is faster and capable of more power — serves topping 130 mph, forehands topping 100 mph — but Djokovic is equipped with an abundance of talents and so much muscle memory. He's been there, and done that, in ways Alcaraz, for now, can only dream of.But if this victory on a windy and cloudy day at Centre Court, where Djokovic last lost in the 2013 final, was any indication, Alcaraz is on his way to achieving quite a bit himself.Still, this is all relatively new to him: Djokovic's record 35th Grand Slam final was Alcaraz's second.Yet it was Alcaraz who won a 32-point, 25-minute mini-masterpiece of a game on the way to taking the third set. And it was Alcaraz who moved out front for good by breaking to go up 2-1 in the fifth with a backhand passing winner. Djokovic, who fell during the point but quickly popped back up, reacted by slamming his racket into the net post, letting go on impact. He destroyed his equipment and earned a code violation from chair umpire Fergus Murphy. They would play on for another 24 minutes, bringing the total to more than 4 1/2 hours, but Alcaraz never relented, never gave way. And it was Alcaraz, not Djokovic, who covered his face and rolled in the grass after the final point, then received the gold trophy."What quality in the end of the match," Djokovic told Alcaraz during the post-match ceremony. "You deserve it, absolutely."Alcaraz possesses a sledgehammer of a forehand, one he unleashes in such a manner as to make an observer believe every ounce of strength, indeed every fiber of his being, is invested in each swing. The smack of the racket, and his "Uhhh-ehhh!" exhale of exertion — along with the gasps of impressed onlookers — reverberated around the arena on Sunday.That's not to say, of course, that Alcaraz's attributes end at that big forehand. He is so much more than that, displaying as varied an all-court game as possible, which is why stardom is predicted of him. He does everything well, including well-disguised drop shots that helped him get back into the thick of it in the second and third sets. Djokovic, of course, already has achieved greatness, spending more weeks at No. 1 than any man or woman in the half-century history of the computerized rankings and accumulating those 23 Grand Slam triumphs — one more than Rafael Nadal and three more than Roger Federer, the only man with eight Wimbledon titles.So often on Sunday, Djokovic would hustle and stretch and slide nearly into the splits to get Alcaraz's apparent point-ending shots back over the net in ways no one else could.Things began to shift, though, at 4-all in the second set. Djokovic slipped on a worn patch behind the baseline under the Royal Box, flinging his racket away as he fell. At the next changeover, Djokovic flexed one leg by bending it over the other. Before heading back on court to resume play, he plopped his left heel on the net for additional stretching. Soon, his legs were not providing quite the same coverage they had been, the force of his forehand was reduced.  They would head to a tiebreaker, Djokovic's dominion: He had won all six such set-enders he played at Wimbledon leading up to the final, and 15 straight in Grand Slam action, dating to the Australian Open.This time, Djokovic had a set point while ahead 6-5 in the tiebreaker, sparking the day's first chants of his two-syllable nickname from his backers: "No-le! No-le!" But he put a backhand into the net to make it 6-all, and as the players switched sides, a competing chorus of "Car-los! Car-los!" emerged.Another backhand into the net from Djokovic put Alcaraz within a point of the set. He converted by striking a backhand passing winner off the return of a 118 mph serve, then held the pose of his follow-through. As people in the stands rose to roar, Alcaraz spun around with his right hand to his ear, soaking in the moment.Two hours and two sets in.One set each.Now it was a match.Now this began to feel memorable. The fifth game of the third set might have been worth the high price of admission, in and of itself. Neither man wanted to bend. Neither wanted to cede a thing. It was one game, yes, but it felt far more meaningful than that.When Djokovic slapped a forehand into net to give Alcaraz a break — one of five in the match, more than the three combined that Djokovic's previous six opponents managed across 103 service games over the past two weeks — and a 4-1 edge in the set, the Spaniard threw his head back and screamed, "Vamos!"Djokovic headed to the locker room with a white equipment bag slung over his right shoulder. He's used these sorts of intermissions to gather himself and shift momentum and, sure enough, he pushed this terrific match to a fifth set.One of several reasons to like Djokovic's chances at that juncture: He went into Sunday with a 10-1 record in five-setters at Wimbledon and 35-9 at all majors.Those matches, however, were in the past.Alcaraz is the future."I've learned really, really fast," said Alcaraz, who got a hug from Spain's King Felipe VI afterward, "and I'm really, really proud."   Trending News Source link Read the full article

[talpy]

Avatar fic rec post

Hi people, this is an Avatar fic rec post for @kuruccha​ who wanted a primer. Happy Avatar renaissance to you :D

Everything under cut, because boy, there are a lot of fics. Forgive me for being repetitive in my recs, but they are all so good and amazing and *melts in a sea of feelings*

First, some authors who are so, so very good and my favourites by them (fics aren’t in any particular order, authors are in alphabetic order):

Avocadolove  (Tumblr: @awesomeavocadolove​ )

The Problem with Zuko: I love the idea that Zuko finds his way to team Avatar even without the Agni Kai and the rest. One of my favourites fics for at least 10 years.

Another Brother: Zuko was adopted by Hakoda, but he doesn’t remember his past. I really like how Iroh is portrayed in this story, very interesting!

Unchained Melody: Sokka doesn’t return with his body after being spirit-napped from Her Bai. Strangely, only Zuko can see him. I really love how everything is developed here :)

Consider Chaos: series where Zuko finds Vaatu and becomes the Chaos!Avatar. Really interesting premise, cooler effects!

Half a Heart: Zukka!soumates AU. Very interesting choices about world building and Hakoda’s character.

Haircrescendo

Carry On For You: from the series intro “Not the Pokémon AU you asked for but the one you’re getting anyway.”. I like it a lot, amazing adaptions and backstory building for Zuko. It focuses on Zuko and Sokka.

Compassion For All Our Monsters: intro “How Sokka learned to shut up and be nice, and also learn a little bit more about Zuko than he wanted to.” mandatory Sokka-finds-out-about-Zuko’s-past.

Fire Nation Yacht Club: one of the angstiest series I’ve read, I love it and I re-read it like once a month. Intro of the fist fic “Sokka knows three (3) things: 1. The caldera is on fire. 2. Ozai’s really, really dead (and so is his daughter). 3. The only one having a worse day is probably Zuko.”

What We’re Given: such an amazing series! Intro “Started out as a “What would happen if Zuko happened to rediscover sky bison while searching for the Avatar?” and turned into something more than that.” Zuko blasting Aang for not washing Appa properly will always be amazing xD

MuffinLance (Tumblr: @muffinlance​, suggest following for plot-bunnies)

Towards the Sun: Zuko doesn’t manage to escape on the Day of the Black Sun, a very angst novella-length intro ensues. I love this a lot because of the angst and how it sparkled inspiration for other stories with a similar premise.

Salvage: here it his, the original dad!koda fic. Intro “Mid-Season-One Zuko is held ransom by Chief Hakoda. Ozai's replies to the Water Tribe's demands are A+ Parenting. Hakoda is… deeply concerned, for this son that isn't his, and who might be safer among enemies than with his own father.” Lots of feelings and amazing A+ writing.

The One Where Zuko's Hair Matches Sokka's and Other Tales: fillets from tumblr, extra material, general awesomeness all around.

Miscellaneous

The Home I've Searched For by Kayasurin: I didn’t know Azula/Kuei could be that good! Really awesome story, amazing Azula.

The Festival of Four by SuperKat: Aang knows his time is coming near and he says goodbye. Very touching and moving (yes I did cry), amazing Aang voice.

Sunday in the Park with Appa by Dracze: Parks and Recreation!AU, Aang as Leslie Knope and Zuko as Ben Wyatt. I loved how the AU was adapted on the characters and on the format -blogging instead of “watching in camera”.

Like Fire and Water by Setari: Sokka and Katara find their father in Ba Sing Se with his new wife, Ursa. Very funny, especially when Sokka/Katara and Zuko/Azula realise that they are siblings.

the beginning of a new and brighter birth by aloneintherain: from the intro “In a new era of peace, Zuko works to be a very different Fire Lord than his forefathers.”. I love how Zuko tries to make changes in the Fire Nation at the start of his reign.

The Family You Choose by TunaFishChris: the platonic Gang soulmate AU I needed without knowing. I liked it a lot, especially at the end. One of my favourites!

illustrate the remnants of the life i used to live by WitchofEndor: also a platonic Gang soulmate AU but much angstier. This Zuko is simply heartbreaking.

where the stars do not take sides by WitchofEndor: intro “When Azula is nine, she becomes an only child. She hears the Fire Lord call for Zuko's life, and in the morning, her mother and brother are gone. Azula may be young, but she isn't naive. She knows what happened to them. Which makes it all the more surprising when Azula tracks the Avatar down and fights his group of peasant friends, only to find herself staring into an eerily familiar face.” as beautiful as it sounds, really amazing Azula voice.

Doe-eyed by OldeShoestrings: Azula as the big sister of Zuko. I love how Azula is fundamentally the same but how her being the old sister changes everything. I like this a lot.

How to Care for Your Local Fire Lord; A Memoir by The Palace Staff by RejectsCanon: the fire palace’s stuff joins the Zuko protection squad. I salute them.

The Sins Of Our Family by Mangaluva: amazing series inspired by Towards the Sun. Intro “Zuko didn't escape the Fire Nation on the day of the eclipse. Azula decides to invite him to her coronation, setting off a chain of events involving abuse, trauma, siblings, recovery, and rebuilding.”. Really love this portrayal of the fire siblings.

There Is No Fire Lord by OccasionalStorytelling: other fic inspired by Towards the Sun, basically Zuko remains in prison even if he is basically the Fire Lord. The plot soon becomes its own creature and I love how it develops.

Two Perspectives by Sabretoothgooselion: series about Zuko and Kuei, really lovely. As of now there are 2 fics, but apparently more are in the works. Cannot wait!

this love burns so yellow (becoming orange and in its time, exploding) by meliebee: the first year and something of Zuko reign. Amazing Zuko voice, very angst, much approved.

and love will be your teacher by Ford_Ye_Fiji: series on hiatus, AU where Azulon doesn’t die and takes Zuko away from Ozai giving him to Iroh instead. Very very nice, I love the relationship between Zuko and Iroh.

Of Dead Fire and Dragon Dreams by ChickadeeChickadoo: during the Day of the Black Sun Ozai lies to Zuko saying that Iroh is dead. Zuko redirects lightening to him and he finds himself Fire Lord. Very cool story, love Azula in here.

In the Soft Light by CSHfic, VSfic: Zukka, moon-spirit-Sokka!AU. I love this story so much! Zuko is so very an awkward turtleduck here.

How to Disappear Completely by aeoleus & the long way around by ciaconnaa: two modern Au where Zuko is Kiyi’s guardian, very very nice.

kintsugi by discordiansamba: when Zuko is banished he becomes Toph’s bodyguard. Yes it is as amazing as it sounds.

it's the illusion of separation by argentoswan: very nice Zukka!modern Au. Sokka starts working at the Jasmine Dragon, but alas, his old high school bully Zuko works there too. I love how Zuko’s past with the gaang was adapted and how the relationship between him and Sokka develops.

Finding Solace in Parking Lots by RejectsCanon: Zukka!Modern au, Sokka and Zuko find themselves in the same McDonalds’ parking lot having a breakdown. Really really lovely.

Fractures by EvieNyx: instead of being banished, Ozai imprisons Zuko far from everyone’s eyes. When Ozai and Azula are defeated he evolves from prisoner to Fire Lord in one big step. Love the characters and the cliffhangers!

Fight by Electrons: Zuko doesn’t side with Azula at Crossroads of destiny, but that doesn’t make everything much easier. Amazing word-building and lovely dive in cultural diversity. Also, ace!Zuko which is very lovely.

Dragon of the Yuyan by 00AwkwardPenguin00: intro “In which Zuko is fostered/adopted/raised/recruited by the Yuyan Archers of Pouhai Stronghold, and destiny hiccups.” very very cool story, I really like how Zuko is portrayed here.

Always trust Sokka's instincts by Thisisentertaining: whereas Jet shows Sokka an interesting Fire Nation prisoner... a Zuko-joins-the-Gaang-early-Au. Very very good :D

all my skeletons out for the taking by 136108: Azula wins the Agni Kai. It’s still on progress but for now it’s very very good and I can’t wait to read what’s happening next.

Mark Time by foil: yes, another Zukka modern au. This is very very angst, be careful with the tags’ warnings. This story keeps surprising me and I hope Zuko and Sokka will find their happy ending.