#lion's gate 2021

[mightysen]

♌️ ┇ This is my Leo inspired character, King Catnap! Self proclaimed royalty and celebrity talent to the masses. If you ask nicely, maybe he'll give you an autograph. :3c

[otdiaftg]

The King's Men - Chapter Eleven

Day: Thursday, February 29th/March, 1st* Time: 10:45 PM EST

By the time the Trojans and Lions hit halftime Neil had forgotten all about Kevin. He'd been so wrapped up in the Foxes' season and the Ravens he'd forgotten how spectacular the rest of the Big Three were. These teams played like they were professionals. They didn't have the Ravens' spotless record but they were only a half-step behind Edgar Allan. Kevin had warned them weeks ago the Foxes weren't ready to face these schools. For once his callous dismissal felt like a gentle understatement. He wasn't the only one who found it a sobering sight. Dan muted the commercials, tapped the remote against her thigh in a nervous rhythm, and said, "So we definitely need to step it up, guys." Kevin frowned at her. "Even if you'd stepped it up when I told you to a year ago, you would have no chance of beating them. There is nothing at all you can do this late in the year. They are better than we are and they always will be." "Do you get off on being such a Debbie Downer?" Nicky asked. "Denial does none of us any good," Kevin said. "We struggled against Nevada. How do you honestly expect us to make it past the Big Three?" "California's overdue for a big earthquake," Nicky pointed out. "That'd take care of USC, at least." "That's a little extreme, don't you think?" Renee asked. "We need something extreme at this point," Allison said. Renee's expression was calm and her tone steady, but Renee didn't need to look disappointed in them for them to get the message. "The Trojans had our backs when we needed them most. Do you really want them to suffer just so we can profit?" "It's just not fair," Nicky said, shying away from her gaze. "Us getting this far and putting up with so much and then losing here, I mean." "We haven't lost yet," Dan said, "but we will lose if you give up right out of the gate." Kevin started to say something Neil knew would be negative and dismissing. Neil reached behind Andrew and popped Kevin in the back of the head to shut him up. Matt choked on a laugh and tried unsuccessfully to pass it off as a cough. Kevin froze for a startled second, then sent Neil a scathing look. "No one wants to hear that right now," Neil said. "If you hit me again," Kevin started. Andrew cut in with a casual, "You'll what?" Kevin shut up but didn't look happy about it.

Art used with permission by Rainbowd00dles. Thank you @rainbowd00dles.

(I merged the og art as well as the re-draw because I adore Andrew's face in the second panel.)

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

In 2019 Lion Gate Estate in Detroit, Michigan was put up for sale, and I posted it on my old blog. It was taken off the market b/c it hadn’t sold, but was re-listed in 2021. Here it is 2023, and it still hasn’t sold. As of today, the 3bd. 2.5ba. 1951 expanded Cape Cod style home has been on the market for 568 days. It has recently been reduced $20K and is now listed for $425K. If you haven’t seen it before, you’re in for a treat.

As you enter, white, black & silver elegance abounds. Note that the living room may be smaller than it looks due to the 3 mirrored walls. 

A remodeled white & gold dining room awaits with 2 creepy gold elves. 

But, then, the remodeling stops and you’re transported back to 1951 in the time capsule kitchen. 

Look at the original retro ovens and cooktop. I’m guessing that the corbels were added. All the cabinetry and laminate counters are also original.

In the dining space, there is a painted-to-match wrought iron garden set and coordinating artwork on the ceiling.

The family room features a full wall-to-wall carpet on the ceiling. 

The main bd. They really focused a lot on the ceilings in this home. 

If you look beyond the statuary, you can see that the bath has perfectly preserved mid-century modern tiles and plumbing fixtures. 

Statuary lines the hall. 

The 2nd bd. The beds look fake- they’re too pointed, like they’re made of wood.

Here is another original MCM bath. 

Put on your disco shoes, we’re headed to the basement.

Here we have a club atmosphere featuring Elvis on stage. 

There’s a guest powder room down here, too.

Here we are in the garage. The door is decorated with vintage car logos.

Look at the wall, it even has lanterns.

Thru the sliding doors in the garage, you enter a pool room, but there’s so much art to move before you can play.

Here’s a small patio w/a fountain.

There’s an inground pool and patios all around the house.

https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/mi/detroit/450-w-grixdale/pid_51344885/

[sgiandubh]

A stupid shipper's guide to the Peloponnese, part 2: Mycenae, my Craigh na Dun

Forgot to mention: Praxiteles' statue of Hermes still has faint cinnabar traces in its curls. Which makes that Hermes a ginger, hehe. You simply can't make this shit up. /end of poetic justice moment

Anyways. The very minute your car, bus or bike crosses the Corinth Canal, even if you cannot see it from the modern, German highway, you just know you are in the Peloponnese. Everything changes: the light, the landscape and even the silence. In summertime, cicadas reign supreme: mercifully, after a while, you don't hear them anymore and sleep like a log in daytime. Summer nights are always for something else, in this land.

Odysseas Elytis, my favorite Greek poet, knew something about all this:

"Drinking the sun of Corinth Reading the marble ruins Striding across vineyards and seas Sighting along the harpoon A votive fish that slips away I found the leaves that the sun’s psalm memorizes The living land that passion joys in opening."

So really, forget about the islands, spare some unsung, almost unknown gems. The heart of this country beats South of Corinth, and once you've realized this, there is no turning back.

Olympia and her little sister, Nemea, are all about joy and cheer and the sort of organized happiness the Ancient World was so adept at. But at Mycenae, we hit a different chord. It is home to this guy - the filthy rich, ruthless, rogue King Agamemnon.

"Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair":

Mycenae and I go back a couple of years and too many repeated, insistent expeditions to count properly. Even Zorba the car knows the way by himself, so all I have to do is wait for the right week-end, climb at the wheel and enjoy the scenery. Many dinners in town and embassy receptions have been traded for the simple joy to be awaken by kyria Panagiota's impertinent rooster (across the street) at 5 am and open my room's French doors to this view:

A mix of olive groves and vineyards, with the odd cypress tree randomly thrown around. 354 inhabitants. Two churches. Two stone bridges, built somewhere at the narrow end of the Stone Age and still treaded by tractors, cattle and unsuspecting pedestrians. And also this:

The Lions' Gate (the real one, not TPTB related), as photographed by me the day before yesterday, for the umpteenth time, proudly standing at the end of a steep-ish climb cursed daily in tens of different languages by thousands of tourists. As for Angkor Wat, you'd have to see it at sunrise or sunset to fully get the magic, in complete silence. Patience and determination will certainly be rewarded. For this place is rich with all the memories of those who once called it home, back in the day when it was one of the most powerful political and trade centers of the known world. The Cyclopean fantasy of a demi-god, which is all about flawless ownership of space and aggressive affirmation of one's worth. Or, as the obscure Alpheus of Mytilene aptly put it in an epigram, written some time around 0, AD: "a city built by giants and passing rich in gold".

Pic taken by me in late October 2021, that blessed age of innocence when I had no frigging idea of Craigh na Dun. Different light, same arresting view that plunges all the way to Argos and farther away, to the sea.

Cats rule the world. We know that (January 2023):

And then there's the Vault, half a mile down the road. If the Lions' Gate is about Space, the incorrectly named vault - a mausoleum, really - is about Time. Or rather the complete irrelevance of it:

Because I am not only stupid, but also nuts, I sometimes flip a coin, once inside. All binary answers were proven to be eerily accurate, with time. But things like this only show themselves to the believer. Last question asked is still technically up for confirmation, yet I - along with all of you here - know already it's a yes:

And yeah, I did it. What the heck. I had the place just for myself, and that is rare. Wouldn't you?

Mordor, I don't care about your pearl-clutching reaction. There is poetry to be found in the most unlikely of places. Especially in the most unlikely of places.

Walking back, I challenge you to pinpoint an exact year. It is impossible and there is a reason to it. This place and this view are timeless, of course:

In an unexpected, involuntary homage to the Atrides, the 354 inhabitants of modern Mykines still bury their dead all around Agamemnon's Vault.

Around an almost icy jug of Retsina wine, I asked my treasured friend V, the archaeologist: do you really think they ever left?

Are you nuts? And what would we do without them?

Coming back to a sweltering Athens, just imagine my head shake in disbelief watching Lasagna Lady once again clinging to that poor guy's T-shirt, the bickering between C's stans about who is the most telepath of them all and the wailings about the lack of secksay content in Episode 7.

Seriously, Fandom? Is this the best you can give me?

Episode I am hurrying to watch, nevertheless. But first, the laundry. Fair's fair.

[bittermause]

End of Year Review 2023

It is currently Christmas Eve-Eve at the time of this writing, which can mean only one thing; The End of Year Review for 2023. These past three years held a lot of significant changes and growth for me, most of which I likely wouldn't have experienced had I remained in that horrible part of the mid-west. Despite the mass 'rona pandemic and the constant mental health battles/challenges, 2020-2022 were very good to me and I consider them the best years of my life.

2023 is a welcoming addition to that train.

The first major reason were the goals I set at the end of 2022, all of which were achieved without fail (to a point);

I continued making animated shorts, but only produced 2. However, this was a good glow up year for The Boris Blobinski Show! I got to manage a smaller production team, consisting of my talented friends, and together we banged out a beautifully animated episode!

I got my contact lenses! However I haven't really worn them since I left the optometrist's office. I still intend on using these for when I go swimming or to the spa, but I can see why some people aren't crazy about this option.

I finally got my hair dyed, and it wound up being a vibrant cherry red. Had it done back in March, and most of my hair is still pretty red despite the roots coming in.

Been losing a small chunk of weight still, which means I was able to convert to smaller shirt and pants sizes.

I did a lot more exploring this year! I finally secured my Californian rite of passage by visiting In-N-Out burger, discovered a couple awesome local bakeries, and went to the movies for the first time in years. First major achievement was going to Universal for the first time ever and visiting Nintendo Land! The second biggest crowning achievement was the daytrip to The Ventura Harbor in April, where I got to board a small wildlife sea cruise and witness dolphins, whales, sea lions and seals.

I got back to working on comics again, and produced two short stories for a larger collective that is still in production. Second major reason were the events that weren't planned out of the gate, but were absolutely welcomed;

I saved enough money to get a new desktop PC built. My friend from Colorado flew down and spent the week with me, partially to help get the PC built to proper standards and to also spend some quality time together in person.

I started freeway driving practice mid-year; taking smaller steps to feel more comfortable driving in the faster/wider lanes without having my PTSD invoked. I have a long way to go, but even driving within a 5 mile radius is still worth celebrating, especially since I've actively avoided freeway driving for most of my life.

My best friend is finally coming to visit me at the end of December! I have not seen them in person since 2016, and it will be their first time visiting my apartment space as well.

As far as plans for 2024 go, here's what I have on the docket;

I will be going to an actual jury duty selection at the end of January for the first time. (Exciting, I know!) I'm curious to see what the process is like, but I hope I can dismiss myself from the proceedings. (Respectfully, of course.)

I plan on hosting another friend visit me around the Spring/Summer.

I will be working on a very ambitious episode of The Boris Blobinski show that will take up most of the first quarter of my year.

I will continue my weight loss regimen as I have started back in 2021. As of this writing I am now down to 186 lbs. This is actually pretty close to my first goal, but I want to continue this trend until I hit between 135-140.

I still want to do more local travel and discover new venues. I'm eyeballing Downtown Ventura and will likely add a few more intended places to my list.

Attend activity based events like Life Drawing and other art related functions. As an artist, it's important I find different means to shake the rust off of my skills, and as a human I need to start making efforts in social connections again.

Continue freeway driving practice to the point where I can actually go beyond 5 miles comfortably.

Continue working on my one shot comics, see if I can at least produce two more stories before building a website/platform to host them all.

Outside of Boris Blobinski, I want to be more active in the animation space again and make a few more originals outside of that project.

Lastly, I want to look into Toon Boom Harmony official Certification. I've worked with the program for over 10 years, both for traditional hand-drawn animation and character rigging, and I would love to have that piece of recognition. Hell, I am not against the idea of applying as an instructor if I can get that far!

Of course I don't think I'll be able to jump into everything as intended. I know 2024 will also be met with some unexpected surprises, but I'll gladly welcome them all the same. And lastly, before we pull the plug on this, I want to thank everyone involved in my life that has made 2023 a fantastic experience. You know who you are.

[tuherrus]

DIRECTORY

my main on tumblr (reason why i can’t follow from this blog, mostly reblogs)

inspo side tumblr

personal twitter

art only twitter (only art retweets from my personal, nothing else)

instagram

käärijä major arcana deck

inprnt (prints!)

redbubble (stickers!)

kofi (my tip jar if you’re so inclined)

FANDOMS/TAGS:

original characters

finnish folklore/kalevala related

misc comics

dungeon meshi (2024-)

baldur’s gate 3 (2023)

käärijä (2023-)

misc fandoms/tags under the cut!

izzy (our flag means death) (2022-2023)

encanto (2022)

the adventure zone ethersea (2021-2022)

yakuza (2020-2021)

the adventure zone graduation (2020-2021)

loki (2020-2021)

good omens (2019-2021)

kieran (red dead redemption 2) (2019-2022)

deltarune (2018-2021)

the adventure zone balance (2017-2021)

reddie (it 2017) (2017-2019)

undertale (2016-2021)

detroit become human (2018-2019)

saw (2017-2018)

genyatta (overwatch) (2016-2017)

adoribull (dragon age inquisition) (2015-2016)

soul calibur

guilty gear

darkstalkers

bloody roar

them’s fightin’ herds

resident evil

silent hill

hades

kingdom hearts

ghibli

breaking bad

the lion king

hercules

bambi

little mermaid 2

the incredibles

dark souls

bloodborne

elden ring

[ao3feed-piltovers-finest]

Inside the lion's mouth

by Reanem

"A mansion in the middle of nowhere... Could it be this mansion that the villagers in the nearby village were referring to? Vi thought. She continued to approach until she reached the top of the hill, the mansion was surrounded by stone walls and a huge metal gate that blocked the way, its appearance was ethereal, almost as if it were unreal. Vi stood in front of the gate with her hands stiff with cold, in front of the place where she had just been warned not to be..."

Vi is an astute and expert smuggler, and although she has not had the best of luck lately, she has always known how to make good decisions that have helped her survive. However, ignoring rumors and advice, she enters a mansion that, although it seems ordinary at first glance, hides something that Vi could never have imagined.

Words: 2113, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021), League of Legends

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F

Characters: Caitlyn (League of Legends), Vi (League of Legends)

Relationships: Caitlyn/Vi (League of Legends)

Additional Tags: Horror, Vampires, vampire! caitlyn, human! Vi, Predator/Prey, Smut, Oral Sex, Non-Consensual Blood Drinking, Dark, no beta we die like zaunites, fuck christmas I want more dark halloween stuff

from AO3 works tagged 'Caitlyn/Vi (League of Legends)'

[book-ramblings]

My favourite books 1972-2022

OK, this list is a bit provisional as I don’t keep very good records of what years the books I read were published. So, this is made with the help of Goodreads Popular books published in-lists. So, I hope those are correct. And, I’ve looked up some trusty favourites. Only one book per year. There will be some books on this list that I don’t LOVE, but that are the ones I like the most out of the books I’ve read those years.

1972 The Farthest Shore by Ursula K Le Guin

1973 Bröderna Lejonhjärta (The Brothers Lionheart) by Astrid Lindgren

1974 At the Mountains of Madness, Omnibus II by H P Lovecraft

1975 The Great Ghost Rescue by Eva Ibbotson

1976 Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy

1977 The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien

1978 The Illearth War by Stephen Donaldson

1979 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

1980 The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye

1981 Ronja Rövardotter (Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter) by Astrid Lindgren

1982 The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

1983 The Witches by Ronald Dahl

1984 The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay

1985 The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

1986 Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

1987 Gone to Soldiers by Marge Piercy

1988 La mujer habitada (The Inhabited Woman) by Gioconda Belli

1989 Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

1990 Temblor by Rosa Montero

1991 Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder

1992 The Crow Road by Iain Banks

1993 The Sandman vol 6, 7 ,8 by Neil Gaiman. The only thing I found that I like. Don’t remember which I preferred.

1994 Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski

1995 The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

1996 Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

1997 Paradise by Toni Morrison

1998 Stardust by Neil Gaiman

1999 Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

2000 Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

2001 Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson

2002 Coraline by Neil Gaiman

2003 Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

2004 PopCo by Scarlett Thomas

2005 The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

2006 The Night Watch by Sarah Waters

2007 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2008 Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

2009 Soulless by Gail Carriger

2010 Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

2011 Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey

2012 The Rook by Daniel O’Malley

2013 Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

2014 Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

2015 The Fifth Season NK Jemisin

2016 Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal

2017 The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

2018 The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

2019 A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay

2020 The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow

2021 The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

2022 All the Seas of the World Guy Gavriel Kay

There. That’s my list for now.

[angel0news]

Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya Engagement: The Significance of '8.8.8'

Introduction

Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya officially got engaged on August 8, 2024 (8.8.8). The date's unique numerical significance has intrigued many, prompting questions about its deeper meaning.

Announcement and Ceremony

On Thursday, veteran actor Nagarjuna Akkineni took to Twitter to announce his son Naga Chaitanya's engagement to Sobhita Dhulipala. The announcement, accompanied by radiant photos from the ceremony, confirmed the long-speculated news. Nagarjuna wrote, “We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m. We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless!” His post also read, “8.8.8. A beginning of infinite love,” sparking curiosity about the choice of date.

Significance of '8.8.8'

According to astrologers and numerologists, the date August 8, 2024, holds great significance. The alignment of the numbers (8.8.8 - the eighth day of August and the year being a multiple of 8) coincides with a powerful celestial event known as the Lion’s Gate Portal. This event, marked by the Earth’s alignment with the star Sirius, is believed to create a cosmic alignment that enhances spiritual energy and transformation.

Dr. Neeti Kaushik, a motivational speaker on spirituality, explained on her YouTube channel that the Lion’s Gate Portal offers a unique opportunity for personal growth and ascension. “Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. This event is deeply rooted in numerology, astrology, and ancient wisdom, offering a unique opportunity for personal growth and ascension.”

Love Story and Engagement Details

Sobhita and Naga Chaitanya's engagement ceremony was an intimate affair attended by close family and friends. Naga Chaitanya was previously married to actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, with their marriage ending in 2021. Naga and Sobhita’s love story began post his separation from Samantha.

The couple first met in Hyderabad, where Sobhita was promoting her film, "Major," and they were spotted together in May. Their friendship quickly blossomed into a romantic relationship. Over the past months, they have been seen together in various locations, spending quality time with each other and their friends.

The engagement ceremony was held at Naga Chaitanya’s residence in Hyderabad, marking the couple’s official union in a traditional ceremony blessed by their families.

Conclusion

Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala's engagement on the auspicious date of 8.8.8 symbolizes a new beginning filled with infinite love and spiritual significance. As they embark on this new journey together, they carry the blessings of their families and the positive energy of this celestial alignment.

[novumtimes]

I refuse to cover up my tattoo declaring England Euro Winners I have no regrets & think others should follow my lead The Sun

A FOOTBALL fan with an England “Euro Winners” tattoo does not intend to cover it up and said he “still loves” the permanent ink, despite the Three Lions defeat. Dan Thomas, 29, from Swindon, Wiltshire, received a tattoo of the Henri Delaunay Cup and the words “England Euro 2024 Winners” on his left leg days before the final, but does not intend to cover it up even after England’s 2-1 loss against Spain in the Euros final. 7 England fan Dan Thomas was very confident the Three Lions would win last nightCredit: Dan Thomas / PA 7 The data consultant had ‘England Euro 2024 Winners’ and the trophy tattooed on his thighCredit: Dan Thomas / PA 7 Dan spent two and a half hours in the chair getting the inking doneCredit: Dan Thomas / PA 7 The tattoo artist asked Dan three times if he was definitely sure before startingCredit: Dan Thomas / PA England‘s wait for a first major men’s trophy since 1966 goes on after substitute Mikel Oyarzabal struck at the death as Spain inflicted a second successive European Championship final defeat on Gareth Southgate‘s side. Mr Thomas remains confident the Three Lions will become winners at the next tournament in 2028 and plans potentially to alter his tattoo in four years. “We came close, I don’t regret the tattoo,” the data consultant said moments after the Euro final. “If anything, I don’t think it’d be hard to change the 4 into an 8 in four years time. I won’t be covering it up. “Absolutely no regrets and I still love it.” Mr Thomas described the results of the match as “bittersweet” and praised the team for reaching the final. “Bittersweet after the game, the result wasn’t what we wanted, but a great achievement to reach yet another final,” he said. “It’s only a matter of time before we win something. “I think England played well. I’d say (Marc) Guehi was the stand-out player in the match, however (Kobbie) Mainoo has made the difference over the course of the tournament.” He has urged other England fans to get their own tattoos to show their support for the Three Lions ahead of the next Euros. “I don’t really tend to look at the comments on my tattoo. Other people’s opinions don’t phase me,” he said. “I’d encourage others to do the same in following tournaments to get behind the team.” Mr Thomas considered getting a similar tattoo in 2021 when England faced Italy in the Euro 2020 final and had hoped this year’s tattoo would help to secure Southgate’s team victory. The confident England supporter spent two and a half hours at the Reign Barbers and Tattoos parlour in Swindon getting the sizeable tattoo of the Henri Delaunay Cup. He livestreamed the moment he had the artwork tattooed on his leg, which received 42,000 views on TikTok. Tattoo artist Tinashe Chikerema applied the ink to Mr Thomas’s skin, not before he “triple checked” with the data consultant if he wanted it done. “I couldn’t believe he actually wanted the tattoo, but I triple-checked with him. Fair play to him for being so confident in the team,” Mr Chikerema said. Mr Thomas’s friend, Jack Wilkinson, who owns Reign Barbers and Tattoos, did not believe Mr Thomas would go ahead with the tattoo “until the needle actually touched the skin”. Mr Wilkinson said: “I thought it was a joke to start with, but he said he was full of confidence and wanted to be the first one to get it done before everyone else gets it done after they win. “It still feels surreal that he actually got it done. It sums up Dan as a person. He’s quite eccentric and Mr Positive.” 7 England supporters in the fan zone at Brandenburg Gate in BerlinCredit: PA 7 England fans at Millennium Square in LeedsCredit: PA 7 The England players were heartbroken after the defeat to SpainCredit: Getty Source link via The Novum Times

[berattelse]

It's not hard to kill a monster if you're Heracles, a monster killer from birth. The snakes he killed in his cradle were strangled with his bare hands. So was the Nemean lion, labor one, after he bashed it with a club. The club is also how he dispatched with the two-headed dog who guarded the flock of cattle he stole for his second labor. The Stymphalian birds, labor six, he killed with arrows. He even managed to overpower Cerberus, the three-headed canine guard of the Gates of Hell. When you have the super strength, when you have the club, who's going to stop you? But a creature that feeds on the fight, a creature that comes back stronger with every wound: such a creature can, at least, give you a run for you money. Heracles does eventually defeat the Hydra, but not easily, and not alone. To dispatch the multiheaded, constantly regenerating female monster, the man who hugged a lion to death needs a wingman wielding fire. And even then, she has her revenge.

Zimmerman, Jess. Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology. Beacon Press, 2021.

[parkerbombshell]

Cobwebs And Strange Radio Show #363

Cobwebs And Strange Radio Show  Mondays 12 noon EST , 5pm BST , 9am PDT - COBWEBS AND STRANGE #363 - Blur - There’s No Other Way (Leisure, 1990) - Pink Floyd - Astronomy Dominé (The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, 1967) - Kevin Robertson - Ghosting (The Call Of The Sea, 2024)* - The Byrds - 5D (Fifth Dimension) (Fifth Dimension, 1966) - Heartworms - Jacked (SINGLE, 2024)* the solo project of Jojo Orme - The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl (Surrender, 1999) - The Raveonettes - All I Have To Do Is Dream (The Raveonettes Sing…, 2024)* - Juniore - Méditerranée (Trois, Deux, Un, 2024)* September 13th - Missing Persons - Words (Spring Session M, 1982) - Sinéad O’Connor - Mandinka (The Lion And The Cobra, 1987) - Cat Stevens - Father And Son (Tea For The Tillerman, 1970) - Tamar Berk - 1997 (Tiny Injuries, 2023) tamarberk.bandcamp.com - John Vanderslice - Diamanthunde (Vanderslice Plays Diamond Dogs, 2013) johnvanderslice.bandcamp.com - KEELEY - Last Words (Beautiful Mysterious, 2024)* keeleyband.bandcamp.com - JAIN - Makeba (Tanaka, 2015) - Benny Trokan - Hey Lover (Hey Lovers EP, 2022) - Thee Sacred Souls - Lucid Girl (Got A Story To Tell, 2024)* theesacredsouls.bandcamp.com - Monophonics - Suffocating (It’s Only Us, 2020) - Uni Boys - I Don’t Believe In Love (Buy This Now!, 2023) uniboys.bandcamp.com - The Wolfmen (2) - Love Is A Dog (Modernity Killed Every Night, 2008) - KNEECAP - I bhFiacha Linne (Fine Art, 2024)* kneecap.bandcamp.com - 808 State - Cübik (ex:el, 1991) - BEAK> - Secrets (>>>>, 2024)* beak.bandcamp.com - Saúl Sierra - Caminos (Son Jarocho - Mexico) (Caminos, 2024)* saulsierra.bandcamp.com - 150 Tissues - Not Afraid (single, 2024)* platiruma.bandcamp.com - The Primitives - Spin-O-Rama (Spin-O-Rama, 2014) theprimitives.bigcartel.com - ATARASHII GAKKO! - Superhuman (AG! Calling, 2024)* - Wasted Pretty - Rodney’s Punk Rock (Wasted Pretty, 2024)* wastedpretty.bandcamp.com - Pure Hell - These Boots Are Made For Walking (Noise Addiction, 2005) - Horace Andy - Superstition (single, 2024)* - Declan Welsh & The Decadent West - Walk A Mile In Gaza (single, 2024)* - Kehlani - Next 2 U (Crash, 2024)* - The Brkn Record - Black Gold (The Architecture of Oppression Part 2, 2024)* thebrknrecord.bandcamp.com - The Rotary Connection - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (Hey Love, 1971) - Telejet - Beautiful World (Spiritual Age, 2024)* telejet.bandcamp.com - Captain Sensible - A Nice Cup Of Tea (Women And Captains First, 1982) - Goodbye Victory Road - Why Are We Waiting? (Single, 2024)* - The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet (The Only Ones, 1978) - Divine - Born To Be Cheap (Born To Be Cheap, 1994) - New York Dolls - Puss ’n’ Boots (Too Much Too Soon, 1974) - The Link Quartet - The San-Tropez Heist (2021) spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com - Joe & The Shitboys - Save The Planet, You Dumb Shit (The Reson For Hardcore Vibes (Again), 2021) joeandtheshitboys.bandcamp.com - Pop Will Eat Itself - There’s A Psychopath In My Soup (PWEI Product 1986-1994, 2002) - James Chance & The Contortions - Contort Yourself (Buy, 1979) - Dario G - Sunchyme (Sunchyme, 1997) - Chuck D - The Amazing Willie Mays (We Wreck Stadiums, 2023) - Anouk Aimée - Chanson de Lola (Lola: Bande Original, 1961) - The Crushing Violets - When You Dream (Filaments Of Creation, 2024)* Read the full article

[newstfionline]

Monday, June 3, 2024

Most US students are recovering from pandemic-era setbacks, but millions are making up little ground (AP) America’s schools have started to make progress toward getting students back on track after pandemic closures. But improvement has been slow and uneven across geography and economic status, with millions of students—often those from marginalized groups—making up little or no ground. Nationally, students made up one-third of their pandemic losses in math during the past school year and one-quarter of the losses in reading, according to the Education Recovery Scorecard, an analysis of state and national test scores by researchers at Harvard and Stanford. But in nine states, including Virginia, reading scores continued to fall during the 2022-23 school year after previous decreases during the pandemic. Clouding the recovery is a looming financial crisis. States have used some money from the historic $190 billion in federal pandemic relief to help students catch up, but that money runs out later this year.

2,000 Sea Lions Make San Francisco Dock Their Home (NYT) The number of visitors to San Francisco has not rebounded to its prepandemic level—not among humans, anyway. Sea lions, on the other hand, are swimming to the city in higher numbers than ever recorded. This week, sea lion counters—yes, they exist—tallied 2,000 of the whiskered, blubbery creatures in the water alongside Pier 39 on the city’s northern edge. That’s 600 more than the previous record of 1,400 set in the early 1990s, according to Sheila Chandor, who has been the harbor master at Pier 39 since 1985. The marine mammals were initially drawn to a large school of anchovies just outside the Golden Gate Bridge, though it is not clear what has kept them around. Adam Ratner, a sea lion expert at the Marine Mammal Center across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, described the surge as “truly remarkable.”

Claudia Sheinbaum set to become president of Mexico (AP) Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum holds an irreversible lead in the 2024 Mexico election that would make her the country’s first female president, according to an official quick count. The National Electoral Institute’s president said Sheinbaum had between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote, according to a statistical sample. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez had between 26.6% and 28.6% of the vote. Mexico City’s central plaza, the Zocalo, erupted in applause and cheers early Monday morning as Sheinbaum spoke and pumped her fist before the crowd. “We women have landed in the presidency,” she said amid a roar from supporters. “We are going to govern for everyone.” Mexico now joins a list of 11 Latin American nations that are or have been governed by women: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. The country, with 129.5 million inhabitants and the second largest economy in Latin America, is known for its “machismo” and violence against women. But Sunday Sheinbaum broke through that longstanding ceiling in an election where the ruling party won by a wide margin.

US dampens criticism of El Salvador’s president as migration overtakes democracy concerns (AP) In 2021, the Biden administration turned down a meeting request with El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, on a trip to Washington, snubbing the self-proclaimed “world’s coolest dictator” for fear a photo op would embolden his attempts to expand his power base. A little more than three years later, it’s the United States that’s courting Bukele. A high-level delegation led by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and senior White House and State Department officials, attended Bukele’s inauguration in San Salvador on Saturday to a second term. The visit—unthinkable until recently—caps a quiet, 180-degree shift in Washington’s policy toward the small Central American nation of 6 million that reflects how the Biden administration’s criticisms of Bukele’s strong-armed governing style have been overtaken by more urgent concerns tied to immigration—a key issue in this year’s U.S. presidential election. The 42-year-old Bukele, who was reelected with 85% of the vote, has been wildly popular at home for his frontal attack on powerful gangs, which has converted what was once the world’s murder capital into one of Latin America’s safest countries. The improvement in public security is credited with a more than 60% drop in migration from the Central American country to the U.S. since Bukele took office in 2019.

Basic training in Ukraine is barely covering the basics, commanders say (Washington Post) As Ukraine prepares to mobilize tens of thousands of men to address a critical shortage of soldiers amid intensified Russian attacks, Ukrainian commanders in the field say they are bracing for most of the new troops to arrive with poor training. Ukrainian commanders have long griped about lackluster preparation for recruits at training centers. But with Russia on the offensive, the persistent complaints are a reminder that a newly adopted mobilization law intended to widen the pool of draft-eligible men is just one step in solving the military’s personnel problems. Ukrainian field commanders said that because training is so deficient, they must often devote weeks to teaching new recruits basic skills, such as how to shoot. With Kyiv’s forces critically understaffed and losing ground, the failure to provide adequate basic training for soldiers underscores the dire situation Kyiv is facing more than two years after Moscow’s invasion.

Russian Missiles Hit Ukraine’s Energy System, Again (NYT) Russian forces struck several of Ukraine’s energy facilities with drones and missiles early Saturday, in a major air assault that targeted cities across the country, including some near the borders with NATO members. The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia had fired 53 missiles at its territory, that it had shot down two-thirds, and that some had been heading toward the western Zakarpattia and Lviv regions, which border Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, countries that are part of NATO. The Polish Army said its fighter jets and those of other allies had been scrambled to protect their borders in case a Russian weapon crossed them, as has happened in the past. The strike on Saturday was Russia’s sixth attack on energy facilities in Ukraine since March, part of a wider campaign seemingly aimed at cutting off power to swaths of the country and making life miserable for civilians.

A Chinese spacecraft lands on moon’s far side to collect rocks in growing space rivalry with US (AP) A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side. The mission is the sixth in the Chang’e moon exploration program, which is named after a Chinese moon goddess. It is the second designed to bring back samples, following the Chang’e 5, which did so from the near side in 2020. The moon program is part of a growing rivalry with the U.S.—still the leader in space exploration—and others, including Japan and India. China has put its own space station in orbit and regularly sends crews there.

North Korea sends hundreds more trash-carrying balloons to South Korea (AP) North Korea launched hundreds more trash-carrying balloons toward the South after a similar campaign a few days earlier, according to South Korea’s military, in what Pyongyang calls retaliation for activists flying anti-North Korean leaflets across the border. Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, about 600 balloons flown from North Korea have been found in various parts of South Korea. The balloons carried cigarette butts, scraps of cloth, waste paper and vinyl, but no dangerous substances were included, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday. In a statement on Wednesday, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, confirmed that the North sent the balloons to make good on her country’s recent threat to “scatter mounds of wastepaper and filth” in South Korea in response to leafleting campaigns by South Korean activists.

After Biden’s Push for Truce, Netanyahu Calls Israel’s War Plans Unchanged (NYT) A day after President Biden called on Israel and Hamas to reach a truce, declaring that it was “time for this war to end,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday reiterated that Israel would not agree to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as long as Hamas still retains governing and military power. In his statement, Mr. Netanyahu did not explicitly endorse or reject a proposed cease-fire plan that Mr. Biden had laid out in an unusually detailed address on Friday. Two Israeli officials confirmed that Mr. Biden’s proposal matched an Israeli cease-fire proposal that had been greenlit by Israel’s war cabinet. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations. But the timing of Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks, coming first thing the next morning, seemed to put the brakes on Mr. Biden’s hopes for a speedy resolution to the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. “Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu’s office said in the statement released on Saturday morning.

[jonathanpongratz]

Movie Review: Chaos Walking (2021)

Hello Fellow Travellers, Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a good week. Keep plugging, you’re almost there! I’ve been feeling the drain of the daily grind so hard this week, so I’m going to keep things short. Today I’m sharing my review of Chaos Walking by Lions Gate Films. For my grad school assignment, reviewing YA movies is just one of the things I need to do, and I was excited to find one in…

[thevancouverer]

View from Lion's Gate Bridge. Circa 2021 (I think?)