#there were 42 illustrations in total!

[fightingwithallreality]

Benjamin West and his cat Grimalkin (1947) written by Marguerite Henry, illustrated by Wesley Dennis

Original title page by me! See this post for the first edition title page

@antiqueanimals

[mostbelovedwwewrestlertournament]

Most Beloved WWE Wrestler Tournament: Round 2 Statistics Dump

Followers: 251

Total Votes: 22,087 + 13,398 = 35,485

Times I realized I was not in-depth enough with my checking of wrestlers and forgot at least one which I only found out because I heard an old wrestler was being accused of murder and the name didn't sound familiar so I checked and it turns out he isn't included but have to remind myself that if no one mentioned him being missing from round 1, he probably isn't the most beloved anyway: once, thank god

Beloved By Gender:

We started with a split of 81.7% men to 18.3% women, which moved to 75% men to 25% women after the first round. After the second round of voting, our percentages are:

Voting Trends:

During round 2, the voting totals ranged from a low of 360 votes per day to 554, with the average rising from 387 votes per day to 462 votes per day (Also I figured out how to add a date marking line how cool is that??)

The 100%ers:

While all the 100%ers from Round 1 have since gotten a vote against them, there were a couple of wrestlers in Round 2 who got through unscathed

Billy Gunn (138 + 50)

Taz (53 + 51)

Asuka (58 + 60)

R-Truth (57 + 71)

Public Opinion:

A great many more publicly adored favs have been voted out, so here are the updated lists

Sports Illustrated’s 101 Best Wrestlers Of All Time (2016)

Ric Flair (18, lose)

Shawn Michaels (53 + 57, win)

Steve Austin (29 + 18, lose)

The Rock (23, lose)

The Undertaker (53 + 55, win)

Dusty Rhodes (46 + 42, win)

John Cena (47 + 51, win)

Hulk Hogan (10, lose)

Sting (51 + 53, win)

Andre The Giant (56 + 38, win)

Randy Savage (37 + 32, win)

Roddy Piper (54 + 33, win)

Chris Jericho (27 + 31, win)

Harley Race (17 + 18, win)

Mick Foley (58 + 47, win)

Bret Hart (52 + 59, win)

Randy Orton (58 + 48, win)

Kurt Angle (45 + 36, win)

Antonio Inoki (28 + 38, win)

Ricky Steamboat (28 + 47, win)

Daniel Bryan (61 + 51, win)

Triple H (31 + 12, lose)

Buddy Rogers (21 + 17, win)

Edge (41 + 49, win)

Bob Backlund (26 + 22, win)

Brock Lesnar (23, lose)

Stan Hansen (22, lose)

Bruno Sammartino (30 + 6, lose)

CM Punk (57 + 40, lose)

Ted DiBiase (27 + 26, win)

Bruiser Brody (33 + 31, win)

Hideo Itami (34 + 35, win)

Rey Mysterio (48 + 40, win)

Vader (32 + 17, lose)

Dory Funk Jr (17 + 17, lose)

Mr Perfect (37 + 25, win)

Eddie Guerrero (53 + 43, win)

Jake Roberts (32 + 29, win)

Arn Anderson (25 + 30, win)

The Sheik (31 + 30, win)

AJ Styles (40 + 46, win)

Goldust (70 + 34, win)

Samoa Joe (61 + 84, win)

Terry Funk (27 + 37, win)

Verne Gagne (14, lose)

Mil Mascaras (10, lose)

Rob Van Dam (43 + 45, win)

Tatsumi Fujinami (25, lose)

Rick Rude (35 + 29, win)

Owen Hart (56 + 41, win)

Jeff Hardy (52 + 32, lose)

Goldberg (23 + 22, lose)

Ivan Koloff (15, lose)

Chris Benoit (17, lose)

Larry Zbyszko (4, lose)

Ultimo Dragon (9, lose)

Scott Hall (44 + 40, win)

Trish Stratus (38 + 42, win)

Dean Malenko (37 + 29, win)

Ultimate Warrior (28 + 20, lose)

Fabulous Moolah (18, lose)

William Regal (62 + 45, win)

Gene Kiniski (14, lose)

Scott Steiner (44, lose)

Rick Steiner (26 + 9, lose)

Chyna (68 + 49, win)

Seth Rollins (55 + 54, win)

Kane (40 + 29, win)

Jimmy Snuka (9, lose)

Davey Boy Smith (22 + 24, win)

The Iron Sheik (49 + 40, win)

Pedro Morales (20 + 9, lose)

Michael Hayes (10, lose)

Johnny Valentine (14 + 4, lose)

Shinsuke Nakamura (58 + 60, win)

Diesel (39 + 35, win)

Batista (53 + 54, win)

Lita (46 + 65, win)

Christian (56 + 47, win)

Ron Simmons (25 + 33, win)

Big Show (41 + 60, win)

JBL (10, lose)

Christopher Daniels (26 + 10, lose)

The Miz (34 + 30, win)

PWI Wrestler Of The Year

Pedro Morales (20 + 9, lose)

Jack Brisco (17 + 13, lose)

Bruno Sammartino (30 + 6, lose)

Terry Funk (27 + 37, win)

Dusty Rhodes (46 + 42, win)

Harley Race (17 + 18, win)

Bob Backlund (26 + 22, win)

Ric Flair (18, lose)

Hulk Hogan (10, lose)

Randy Savage (37 + 32, win)

Sting (51 + 53, win)

Vader (32 + 17, lose)

Diesel (39 + 35, win)

Big Show (41 + 39, win)

Lex Luger (25 + 4, lose)

Steve Austin (29 + 18, lose)

The Rock (23, lose)

Brock Lesnar (23, lose)

Kurt Angle (45 + 36, win)

Chris Benoit (17, lose)

Batista (52 + 54, win)

John Cena (47 + 51, win)

Triple H (31 + 12, lose)

Randy Orton (58 + 48, win)

CM Punk (57 + 40, lose)

Daniel Bryan (61 + 51, win)

Seth Rollins (55 + 54, win)

AJ Styles (40 + 46, win)

Adam Cole (47 + 40, win)

Dean Ambrose (58 + 54, win)

Roman Reigns (51 + 64, win)

PWI Woman Of The Year

Joyce Grable (30 + 24, win)

Susan Green (21 + 27, win)

Stephanie McMahon (26 + 4, lose)

Lita (46 + 65, win)

Trish Stratus (38 + 42, win)

Victoria (27 + 23, win)

Candice Michelle (24 + 39, win)

Mickie James (47 + 46, win)

Michelle McCool (29 + 10, lose)

AJ Lee (48 + 46, win)

Sasha Banks (44 + 47, win)

Charlotte Flair (45 + 42, win)

Asuka (58 + 60, win)

Becky Lynch (58 + 53, win)

Bianca Belair (34 + 66, win)

Top 10 Voted In Round 2:

Samoa Joe (84)

Damian Priest (81)

Big E (78)

Sami Zayn/Rhea Ripley (77)

Jey Uso (74)

R-Truth (71)

Bianca Belair (66)

Lita (65)

Roman Reigns (64)

Iyo Sky (63)

Top 10 Voted Overall:

Naomi (223)

Billy Gunn (188)

Damian Priest (150)

Samoa Joe (145)

Rhea Ripley (134)

Sami Zayn (130)

R-Truth (128)

Big E (125)

Jey Uso (123)

Asuka/Shinsuke Nakamura (118)

Thank you so much to everyone who's been voting thus far. We've got less than 300 wrestlers left to sift through and the competition is starting to seriously heat up. Keep an eye out for Round 3, starting tomorrow!

[athingofvikings]

A Thing Of Vikings Chapter 42: The Pen...

Chapter 42: The Pen …

The economic and demographic growth of Berk's territory can be tracked due to the tribal census records.  Begun in AD 950 under the auspices of Chief Hiccup II, the yearly census tracked a slow, steady and inexorable contraction over the next ninety-one years, with the first census recording a population of 1,373 people from eight clans and nearly 400 clanless freemen, dropping to 712 across five clans and 208 freemen in early AD 1041.  After the end of the Dragon War, however, the pattern reverses itself explosively, with the Eirish annexations and the tribe's own natural growth.  Child mortality drops in all of the tribe's holdings, and immigration begins in earnest.  At the start of AD 1042, according to the census for that year, the total population of the Hooligan holdings was recorded as 4,902 humans, and approximately 12,000 dragons…

…Vedrarfjord, as an Eirish city with room to expand that was unavailable to Berk on its small and hilly isle, is extremely illustrative of the growth that occurred.  Beginning with approximately 2,000 people in AD 1042, plus another 2,000 in the immediate hinterlands within walking distance, the city's population boomed over the next ten years to 31,826 permanent residents—after contracting from a refugee-boosted height of 56,105 in AD 1044, nearly all of whom ended up settling elsewhere in Berk's territory (see Chapter 23: The Eastern Massacres). 

In that first census, the image revealed is of a small Viking trading port, primarily focused on agriculture, with the majority of the population involved in farming, herding or fishing and the other major industries being shipbuilding and other port-related activities.  Recorded in that first census, there were 8 shoemakers, 9 furriers, 10 tailors, 6 barbers, 3 jewelers, 4 tavernkeepers, 4 bakers, 9 carpenters, 12 weavers, 5 chandlers, 2 scabbard-makers, 3 brewers, 5 coopers, 2 butchers, 3 fishmongers, 6 smiths (specializations not noted), 8 healers, 3 millers, 8 ropemakers, 36 shipwrights and 2 tanners recorded. 

Ten years later, the portrait of Vedrarfjord is that of an industrial and educational center, featuring glassmakers (207), teachers (572), bookbinders (17), papermakers (98), ropemakers (453), weavers (429), tailors (168)…

—Origins Of The Grand Thing, Edinburgh Press, 1631

AO3 Chapter Link

~~~

My Original Fiction | Original Fiction Patreon

[cantsayidont]

July–August 1970. Between 1969 and 1975, Alex Toth drew a total of 42 stories for DC Comics. Very few were superhero-related — a two-part Black Canary story from ADVENTURE COMICS and an unusual Batman story in DETECTIVE COMICS in 1974 — the rest being romance, war stories, straight (non-costumed) adventure, horror/mystery, and even the occasional bit of humor (like an amusing Steve Skeates-scripted Hugh Hefner parody in PLOP!).

The visually stunning page shown above is from "Mask of the Red Fox," a supernatural horror story in THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY #187, which helps to illustrate why Toth has long been a favorite artist of artists: tightly controlled storytelling characterized by a mastery of visual space and evocative atmosphere. Ironically, Toth, by all accounts a difficult man, was his own worst critic, relentlessly picking apart any perceived flaws in his past work, whether of his own making or due to the scripters, letterers, or (in particular) colorists. It's true that from the standpoint of story and character, a lot of this material is very slight, but artistically, it's magnificent.

Toth had done various earlier work for DC in the 1940s and 1950s, beginning when he was still a teenager, and then some Eclipso stories in the early '60s, but it's not nearly as artistically accomplished as his 1969–1975 work, which comprises, by my count, about 430 story pages (plus interstitials and intros). Only a few of those stories have ever been reprinted; every so often, DC will toss one into an anthology, but that's about it.

I'm sure DC regards the stuff from this period as being of low commercial value, since very little of it features their flagship characters and it's mostly standalone stories in genres at which the modern comics market turns up its nose, but the fact that they haven't collected this material in some kind of "DC Work of Alex Toth" compilation is criminal. Granted, I'm not sure they'd have the rights to reprint Toth's contributions to the licensed HOT WHEELS series of 1970, but the rest is yet another worthy segment of the enormous body of work DC owns (for the better part of the next century, at least) and rarely if ever does anything with.

Here's a checklist, in order by cover date:

“Eternal Hour” (scripted by Alex Toth), The Witching Hour #1 (February/March 1969)

“When Love Is Gone” (scripter unknown), Young Love #73 (March 1969)

“Hide Your Love” (scripter unknown), Young Love #74 (April 1969)

“The Turn of the Wheel” (scripted by Don Arneson, inked by Dick Giordano), The Witching Hour #3 (June/July 1969)

“The Devil’s Doorway” (scripted by Jack Oleck), House of Mystery #182 (September/October 1969)

“The Stuff That Dreams Are Made of” (scripted by Marv Wolfman), House of Secrets #83 (December 1969/January 1970)

“Next Door to Love [Part 1]” (scripted by Robert Kanigher), Young Romance #163 (December 1969/January 1970)

“Next Door to Love Part Two” (scripted by Robert Kanigher), Young Romance #164 (February/March 1970)

“20 Miles to Heartbreak Part 1” (scripted by Barbara Friedlander, inked by Vince Colletta), Young Love #78 (January/February 1970)

“20 Miles to Heartbreak [Part 2]” (scripted by Barbara Friedlander, inked by Vince Colletta), Secret Hearts #141 (January 1970)

“20 Miles to Heartbreak Part III” (scripted by Barbara Friedlander, inked by Vince Colletta), Secret Hearts #142 (February 1970)

“20 Miles to Heartbreak [Conclusion]” (scripted by Barbara Friedlander, inked by Vince Colletta), Young Love #79 (March/April 1970)

“Masquerade” (scripted by Barbara Friedlander), Secret Hearts #143 (March 1970)

“Wipe-Out at Le Mans” (scripted by Joe Gill, inked by Dick Giordano), Hot Wheels #1 (March/April 1970)

“Comput/err” (scripted by Alex Toth), The Witching Hour #8 (April/May 1970)

“Dragstrip Finals” (scripted by Joe Gill, inked by Dick Giordano), Hot Wheels #2 (May/June 1970)

“Mask of the Red Fox” (scripted by Robert Kanigher), The House of Mystery #187 (July/August 1970)

“Stakeout” (scripted by Joe Gill, inked by Dick Giordano), Hot Wheels #3 (July/August 1970)

“Hold Softly, Hand of Death” (scripted by Gerry Conway), The Witching Hour #10 (August/September 1970)

“Eye of the Storm” (scripted by Len Wein), Hot Wheels #4 (September/October 1970)

“The Mark of the Witch” (scripted by Jack Oleck, inked by Bill Draut), The Witching Hour #11 (October/November 1970)

“The Case of the Curious Classic” (scripted by Alex Toth), Hot Wheels #5 (November/December 1970)

“Double Edge” (scripted by Steve Skeates), The Witching Hour #12 (December 1970/January 1971)

“David!” (scripted by Gerry Conway, inked by Dick Giordano), Secret Hearts #149 (January 1971)

“Fright!” (scripted by Robert Kanigher), House of Mystery #190 (January/February 1971)

“Glory Boys” (scripted by Robert Kanigher), Our Army at War #235 (August 1971)

“Born Loser” (scripted by Jack Oleck), The House of Mystery #194 (September 1971)

“Soldier’s Grave” (scripted by Robert Kanigher), Our Fighting Forces #134 (November/December 1971)

“Bride of the Falcon” (scripted by Frank Robbins, partly inked by Frank Giacoia and Doug Wildey), Sinister House of Secret Love #3 (February/March 1972)

“Dirty Job” (scripted by Bob Haney), Our Army at War #241 (February 1972)

“Black Canary [Part 1]” (scripted by Denny O’Neil), Adventure Comics #418 (April 1972)

“Black Canary [Part 2]” (scripted by Denny O’Neil), Adventure Comics #419 (May 1972)

“White Devil…Yellow Devil” (scripted by Robert Kanigher), Star Spangled War Stories #164 (August/September 1972)

“Anachronism” (scripted by Don Kaar), Weird Western Tales #14 (October/November 1972)

“The Wings of Jealous Gods” (scripted by Lynn Marron), Adventure Comics #425 (December 1972/January 1973)

“Who Is Haunting the Haunted Chateau?” (scripted by Sheldon Mayer), Weird War Tales #10 (January 1973)

“The Tally” (scripted by Robert Kanigher), Our Army at War #254 (February 1973)

“Burma Sky” (scripted by Archie Goodwin), Our Fighting Forces #146 (December 1973/January 1974)

“Is a Snerl Human?” (scripted by Sheldon Mayer), Adventure Comics #431 (January/February 1974)

“Death Flies the Haunted Sky” (scripted by Archie Goodwin), Detective Comics #442 (August/September 1974)

“A Connecticut Ice Cream Man in King Arthur’s Court” (scripted by Michael Fleisher), House of Secrets #123 (September 1974)

“Plop!” (scripted by Steve Skeates), PLOP! #11 (March 1975)

[impossibleprincess35]

[20 Question Fic Writer Tag]

Hey, I got tagged twice. Thanks @yourfavoritefridge and @miserableandmagical94! <3

How many works do you have on AO3? Only nine, ten tomorrow, but I feel like I'm a n00b as I just got back into writing fic this past spring.

What is your AO3 word count? 376,550

What fandoms do you write for? Mainly Star Wars. I'm kind of obsessed at the moment. Like, I've gone down the SW rabbit hole and I kinda love it here.

What are your top five fics by kudos? Asphodel: 168 The Echo and the Stain: 50 Peace: 42 Hard Candy: 25 La Cantina de Bloomita: 21

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I totally do. I cherish every kudos, every bookmark, every subscription, and every comment on my stories, because no one is obligated to interact at all. The fact that people take the time to do it? I want you to know I see you and I appreciate you. You could be doing a billion other things with your spare time, but you chose to read my new chapter? and then you took the time to tell me what you thought?! I adore you.

What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? In Vain. Obi-Wan goes to Kalevala in search of something to feel close to Satine in the wake of Order 66. I remember writing it and being like, "Well, this is fucking depressing."

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Peace. Satine gives birth to Korkie with Obi-Wan right there with her, and it's just fluff and love and newborn baby sweetness.

Do you get hate on fics? Occasionally, I get some kind of comment that implies that I have grossly misunderstood the Obi-Wan/Satine characters, and I just shrug it off. Some people don't like my version of their year on the run because they're annoying eighteen year olds, and I suppose all of us were our best selves at 18? And some of the feedback I've heard on Asphodel makes it sound like I've turned Satine into a Space Thot or something, like she's DTF with everyone in the galaxy. For the most part, though, the feedback I've gotten is amazing, so I keep doing what I'm doing.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Yes, I dabble in the smut. In Asphodel, it's very much a romantic thing. There's occasionally a little bit of gratuitous smut, but I'd say 95% of the time, the smut scenes are pivotal to the story and give you more insight into their characters and how emotionally tied to one another they are. Maybe I could illustrate those emotional ties through dangerous experiences, but that's what I'm doing in my year on the run story, so.. romantic sex it is. ;)

Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written? I haven't attempted this yet. I feel like my brain would explode if I tried a crossover.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? No, and I fear this ever happening. I'm mean and vindictive. My Aries moon is a bitch.

Have you ever had a fic translated? No, but this would be so cool. What a huge compliment, right?

Have you ever cowritten a fic before? Nope, haven't done this yet, but I'd be open to it in the future.

What's your all-time favorite ship? It's a tie between Steggy (MCU) and Obitine (SW). I'll just admit this right here and right now, at the end of Endgame, I sobbed. For two hours. TWO HOURS. My husband has video of me in the car leaving the theater and I'm crying like a crazy person because Steggy got their happy ending. I was so deep into that "doomed by the narrative" ship that I never thought it would happen, so when it did, I basically lost my mind and embarrassed myself in front of all our friends. But I own it. I will love them forever. I'm almost as crazy over Obitine.

What's a WIP you'd like to finish but doubt you ever will? Shhh, don't say that. I'm finishing them all.

What are your writing strengths? I'm really not sure. I mean, I like my writing. I like my stories. I write for me, so it's all good. Someone wanna tell me what my strengths are? Maybe it's the details. I think I'm detail oriented.

What are your writing weaknesses? I'm long winded. If I could cut my chapters back to 3K words a piece, I think my stories would hit a wider audience and I would probably sleep better at night, but c'est la vie.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? Never say never, but it's unlikely. For me to sit and try to figure out the linguistics of Mando'a alone, look, I'm old. I got 2 kids. I'm a class mom. I have a job. I have a caffeine dependency. I have migraines. I'll leave that to the pros. I'm just over here fucking around trying to let Obi-Wan and Satine have a few orgasms and some romance before the galaxy goes to shit around them, y'know?

First fandom you wrote for? Ever?! I used to write Hanson fics when I was in middle school with an Angelcities website, and I was in a little online club called Hanson Hoes. "Do not cite the deep magic to me, witch. I was there when it was written." (Aside from that, definitely SW.)

Favorite fic you've ever written? It's gonna be Asphodel. It's my baby. I love it so much and I'm so proud of it.

Now, for who to tag.. here we go! @jelly-opal and @scottysketches! (If you've already done this, please disregard. My bad.)

[humanrightsupdates]

Fresh evidence of deadly unlawful attacks in the occupied Gaza Strip, gathered by Amnesty International, demonstrates how Israeli forces continue to flout international humanitarian law, obliterating entire families with total impunity.

The organization carried out an investigation into four Israeli strikes, three in December 2023, after the humanitarian pause ended, and one in January 2024, that killed at least 95 civilians, including 42 children, in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost governorate and at a time when it was supposedly the “safest” area in the strip, but where Israeli forces are currently gearing up for a ground operation. Such an operation will likely have devastating consequences for more than a million people who are crammed within an area of 63 square kilometers following successive waves of mass displacement.

In all four attacks, the organization did not find any indication that the residential buildings hit could be considered legitimate military objectives or that people in the buildings were military targets, raising concerns that these strikes were direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects and must therefore be investigated as war crimes.

Even if Israeli forces had intended to target legitimate military objectives in the vicinity, these attacks evidently failed to distinguish between military objectives and civilian objects and would therefore be indiscriminate. Indiscriminate attacks that kill and injure civilians are war crimes. The evidence collected by Amnesty International also indicates the Israeli military failed to provide effective, or indeed any, warning – at minimum to anyone living in the locations that were hit – before launching the attacks.

“Entire families were wiped out in Israeli attacks even after they sought refuge in areas promoted as safe and with no prior warning from Israeli authorities. These attacks illustrate an ongoing pattern of Israeli forces brazenly flouting international law, contradicting claims by Israeli authorities that their forces are taking heightened precautions to minimize harm to civilians,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns.

[mariacallous]

In August the Biden administration announced that borrowers would be eligible for up to $10,000 in federal student loan forgiveness (up to $20,000 for those who ever received a Pell grant). Since widespread student loan forgiveness entered the political discourse, there have been fierce debates about the extent to which student loan debt is a policy problem that merits government intervention – and if so, the best solutions to pursue.  

But in order to develop proposals to address future debt, we must first understand what drives cumulative and individual loan balances – and the consequences of that borrowing – for different postsecondary populations. While these discussions have often (rightfully) focused on undergraduate students, graduate students comprise an increasingly large share of student loan borrowers, meriting careful analysis of their enrollment and borrowing behaviors. In this post, I walk through graduate borrowing using a framework of considering excessive debt from both a borrowing and repayment angle to examine the extent to which there is a graduate loan problem to solve.

When is student loan debt a problem?

The federal student loan program was designed to support low- and middle-income families who could not afford the costs of a postsecondary education and would be unlikely to access loans on the private market. Borrowing opens the door to college for millions of students. But borrowing becomes troublesome if we believe an individual has over-borrowed – meaning any amount of debt that has not been sufficiently offset by higher earnings after graduation. 

There are guardrails in place to prevent students from over-borrowing – such as federal loan limits – and to assist students after they have over-borrowed – such as loan forgiveness for graduates of predatory programs. Some of these safeguards protect all borrowers, but far fewer exist to guide prospective graduate students in deciding whether a postbaccalaureate degree will “pay off.”

Graduate debt on the rise

About half of federal student loan debt is held by individuals with a graduate degree – unsurprising since that calculation includes their undergraduate debt. Beyond their original undergraduate balances and additional graduate loans, graduate students also accumulate higher balances because of deferred repayment. While this policy enables graduate students to forego payments while they are in school, their undergraduate loan balances continue to accumulate interest and grow.

Total graduate loan disbursements have also increased over time, particularly at private, non-profit institutions. As illustrated in Figure 1, during the 2012-13 academic year, U.S.-based higher education institutions disbursed a little over $7 billion in graduate PLUS loans; by 2019-20, that increased to $10 billion. Total direct unsubsidized loans to graduate students have remained fairly constant at around $26 billion each year, though there is considerable variation across institutions. For example, among the approximately 1,850 institutions disbursing a direct unsubsidized graduate loan in 2012-13, 42% disbursed more, 45% disbursed less, and 12% were disbursing no direct unsubsidized graduate loans by 2019-20. 

Even if the cost of graduate school remained unchanged, an increase in the number of students going to graduate school would increase total and relative graduate loan debt. As of 2021, about 14% of the adult population held a postbaccalaureate degree, up from about 11% in 2011 and representing an additional 16.5 million advanced degree-holders. As Figure 2 shows, graduate completion has increased across many groups of U.S. students, ranging from white graduate completion increasing by about 26% to Black graduate completion increasing by 62%.

Recent enrollment trends also suggest graduate students will likely comprise an even higher proportion of total borrowers in the coming years as undergraduate enrollment declined throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while graduate enrollment increased.

More students enrolling in graduate school

Why are more students enrolling in graduate school? Students might enroll due to labor market demands. The share of jobs that require or substantially reward graduate training has increased over time, with one analysis finding that the share of STEM jobs that most typically require a master’s or professional degree increased by 5.7% between 2004 and 2015.  

Even if a profession does not explicitly require a graduate degree, occupational norms and salary incentives can drive individuals to pursue more education. For example, while few states explicitly require teachers to hold a master’s degree, in practice the share of teachers with a postbaccalaureate degree increased from 47% in 2000 to 58% in 2018, likely because 88% of the largest school districts provide salary increases to teachers who earn a master’s degree, incentivizing teachers to invest in additional education.

Even absent occupational requirements or incentives, some individuals may pursue a graduate degree hoping to overcome persistent pay disparities. Among fully employed bachelor’s degree holders, Black workers make about $4,200 less and Hispanic workers make about $5,300 less each year than white workers. Earning an additional credential is one way that workers might attempt to reduce these pay disparities.

Increasing costs of graduate school

While graduate enrollment has increased, that doesn’t necessarily mean individual students face a higher debt burden, even if graduate students as a whole hold a larger relative share of debt. To what extent do higher graduate loan balances reflect increased individual borrowing?

Graduate tuition and fees have increased somewhat, as illustrated (using non-adjusted prices) in Figure 3, though more as a gradual trend than in a sharp or direct response to federal loan policy. But receiving less attention are increases in living expenses, which contribute a meaningful share of the costs graduate students face during enrollment. Graduate students face the same reality of inflation as other individuals, but at a period of life when they are enrolled in school and often pausing their employment and earnings. And there are typically fewer institutional subsidies in place to alleviate those costs – for example, while undergraduates living on campus typically pay less than market rates for rent, it is less common for graduate students to have access to university-subsidized housing. 

Graduate students also often have children or other dependents they are supporting while enrolled. As the costs of raising a family have increased, current graduate students face a higher cost of living than previous cohorts (of course an increasing share of undergraduate students are also parents and face similar challenges supporting their family).

The consequences of graduate school debt

Graduate debt has increased, in a national sense and for individual students as more students are enrolling in graduate school and the direct and indirect costs of graduate school have become more expensive. But is this a problem? The answer hinges on the returns to graduate school – are students financially better off after their graduate degree, do they have the means to repay their debts, and are they able to pursue a more meaningful career and lifestyle? 

On average, students earn more after completing a graduate degree. But that average masks considerable variation across fields. Recent research by Veronica Minaya, Judith Scott-Clayton, and Rachel Yang Zhou finds the returns to a Health graduate degree are nearly double that of a graduate degree in Engineering and virtually no wage return to a graduate degree in the Arts. The authors also find that the wage increase from a graduate degree has been lower following the Great Recession than among earlier cohorts, and that Black graduate degree recipients experience a lower income increase. Black workers also graduate from college with higher debt and that debt gap triples within four years of earning their BA (partially due to higher rates of graduate school enrollment), and therefore must allocate a higher share of this income increase toward repayment. 

With these trends, we might expect higher incidents of repayment struggles among graduate borrowers. To be sure, graduate debt holders are among the least likely borrowers to default on their loans, but graduate default rates have increased in recent years. Further, default is but one extreme measure of repayment difficulties. Research shows that students with higher student loan debt (with “high balance” holders often serving as a proxy for graduate school enrollment given undergraduate loan limits) are less likely to pursue public service careers and delay homeownership.

Considering solutions

While individuals disagree on the policy solutions to reform the student loan system, there is near universal agreement that the current approach does not work. There may not be a crisis (yet) around graduate school repayment, and many individuals benefit significantly from attending graduate school. But rising costs, troubling trends in default rates, and disparate returns by student race and field of study indicate that more support is needed to ensure students are not over-borrowing and are instead enrolling in programs where the returns will offset their borrowing and lead to a meaningful improvement in their quality of life. 

For all prospective students, these solutions should address each stage of the decision-making process. At a minimum, students need realistic information about anticipated earnings boosts from different programs. Beyond that initial enrollment decision, policies should consider how to provide alternative support to loans (which might include grant aid or policies that target the costs of enrollment), how to help students critically examine how much to borrow rather than defaulting to the maximum award, and how to support students with repayment over the course of their careers. 

Determining exactly what those solutions are requires a nuanced understanding of the different costs and challenges faced by different postsecondary populations, from prospective sub baccalaureate to postbaccalaureate students, and tailored policies to address those unique needs.

[fiftytwotwentytwo]

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling

Fantasy / Children - Middle Grade

Page Count: 309

How did I come across this book?:

I wanted to see what all the hype was about.

I feel like my age group may have been on the edge of becoming or not becoming Pot/PotterHeads... - but I truly don't recall anyone gushing over HP in school - my nephew did, but not my peers.

I do have one vivid memory tied to the Harry Potter - couple days before the first film was supposed to be released our local priests visited the nightly CCD classes and urged demanded us to boycott the movie - there was sooooo much that made this plea so lasting.

First, I'm not going to name names, but this person's actual last name was an adjective that was synonymous with "fun" - "being hip" and the speech was far from fun or hip.

Also, said priest - not knocking but pointing out - sweated profusely... I don't know why - hot itchy garments? Overactive sweat glands?? But anywhosel- the man looked like he had an SNL prop tucked underneath his hair because his brow was basted in sweat.

Now, juxtapose this with being in a Catholic Elementary classroom where you have a priest whose sprung a leak and is standing in front of a backdrop of student crafted scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns, cornucopias, and the ever so popular framed photo of Jesus teaching a youngster how to hit a fastball baseball. Again, it felt very SNL-elly.

And lastly, there was just one line that stood out - one line I've always remembered - he said buying a ticket or reading the book was like buying a train seat to hell - I found the analogy very appealing as I never ridden a train, but thought "Is a train really the fastest transport to hell"? Don't get me wrong - it definitely sounds scenic, but why not a plane or just simply have the Earth's crust gobble you up.

Anyways... I saw the movie opening weekend.

And I've seen all the movies and... I'm not really a fan - BUT - adhering to the age ol' adage, The Book was Better Than the Movie - I decided to see if the book could change my mind on the Harry Potter franchise.

I ended up purchasing a copy from Amazon because I did not want to possibly damage a friend's beloved copy.

Review:

I personally had a hard time diving into this book, but it did pick up a little steam once Harry got to Hogwarts.

The world building was great. The introduction to the main cast and side characters was also well done, but I am not sure how much the films filled in some gaps.

The book eventually became fast and easy read. But up until the last 40 pages/last two chapters - the book just seemed to have great moments and no rising crescendo - no anticipatory ascent of a roller coaster - it felt more like snapshots.

Once I hit those last two chapters I fell hard - I loved the action - but the last two chapters also had a few moments where I had to remind myself that this initial story was geared towards grade schoolers - moments like solving a logic puzzle (because wizards are not well known for logic - actual statement from the book) or having a huge locked door and leaving a "hidden" key in the room with a means of transport/tools to find the key.

The last chapters were winning me over - but - the last closing pages I felt cheated. A massive break in the action/battle - a fade to black - and our hero just randomly wakes up 3 days later???

I guess Rowling "appeases" the reader by having a 3rd party tell our hero how the fight ended through exposition and info dumps... but Muggle-Oh-Muggle - it was absolute theft.

So, was it a good book?

It was okay.

I bet if I read a copy as a grade schooler - maybe even an illustrated copy - I would have yielded to the fandom.

Will I read further into the series?

Yeah, I think I'd I check it out... I mean what else am I going to read on my Train to Hell?

Personal Rating: 5.5/10

Yearly Book Total: 42

Total Page Count: 15,355 pages

* Achievement Unlocked *

It Weebles... It Wobbles... It Won't Fall Do--

OH, Lordy It's Falling!

It Officially Fell!

Forty-Two Books High

But... We Must Rebuild:

Huzzah!

[twistedtummies2]

Artists in Wonderland - Number 2

Welcome to Artists in Wonderland! Running till the 4th of July, I’vebeen counting down My Top 10 Favorite Illustrators for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland!” We’ve reached the penultimate choice. The Lewis Carroll stories of Alice are as immortal as they are odd, and many great artists have handled them in different ways. This countdown will pay homage to just a few of them. Our 2nd Place illustrator scarcely requires introduction. Today’s artist is the one who it could be argued started it all, Sir John Tenniel!

As I said in an earlier entry of the countdown, Charles Dodgson (a.k.a. Lewis Carroll) initially created his own sketched illustrations for “Alice’s Adventures Underground,” when he wrote the manuscript as a gift for young Alice Liddell. The girl shared it with her parents, her parents shared it with their friends, and soon various people were urging Dodgson to publish the book. So, the mathematics instructor caved into the pressure. He made some changes to the story - altering a few scenes, rewriting a couple of poems, and adding a few new characters and concepts - and, after going through several different options, settled on the title “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Evidently, he felt that the original title he had presented sounded “too much like a textbook on mining.” Now, there was the matter of the illustrations to contend with: who would bring Wonderland to visual life? At first, Carroll considered just using his own art again, but after discussing it with his friends and peers, decided it would be better to hire a professional artist. Robinson Duckworth - a friend of Carroll’s, who actually cameos in the story as The Duck - suggested he speak to Sir John Tenniel, as he felt Tenniel had the right sense of imagination his friend’s fantastic tale required. At the time of the story’s conception, Sir John Tenniel was something of an artistic celebrity. He was most well-known as a political cartoonist, and had gained particular notoriety for his work in the satire magazine “Punch.” It turned out that Carroll had another friend who also worked for “Punch,” and - using this friend as a sort of go-between - he was able to convince Tenniel to take up illustrating the book as a commissioned work. At first, the plan was for Carroll to order between 12 and 24 separate illustrations for the book…by the end of the endeavor, however, Tenniel had created a total of 42 pictures. Later, Carroll re-commissioned Tenniel (who had to sort of squeeze the illustrations in on his own time, due to other commitments) for the illustrations in “Through the Looking-Glass.” This ended up adding another 50 images to the pile. Even THIS was not the end of their collaboration: Carroll eventually called on Tenniel one last time to create “The Nursery Alice,” an abridged copy of the book intended for readers of a much younger age. For the purposes of this story, Tenniel personally hand-colored approximately half of his original illustrations for inclusion in the story, giving them colored life for the first time. In total, Tenniel created 92 separate pieces of artwork - even more, if you count the colored doubles for “Nursery Alice” - to create the Wonderland we know and love today. There are differing accounts of how the artist and the author got along with each other. According to some accounts, their business relationship was little more than that: just business, cordial and concise. According to other accounts, their relationship was more volatile, as Tenniel apparently warned other illustrators not to work with Dodgson, describing him as “impossible” and “conceited.” Still other accounts indicate the two might have been on pretty good terms, and it is worth stating that, for as much as Carroll dictated things he wanted to see in the illustrations, Tenniel was always allowed to put his own spin on things and provide concepts of his own. In fact, one chapter of “Through the Looking-Glass” - entitled “The Wasp in the Wig” - was omitted specifically because Tenniel had no idea HOW to draw what Dodgson had imagined and make it work the way they both wanted. Carroll conceded, and cut out the offending part of the story, then reworked the book accordingly. However the two got along, one thing cannot be denied: while Carroll was the mastermind behind Wonderland and its denizens, it was Tenniel who came to define them for the world over. As I said at the start of this event, Carroll’s descriptions of the characters were purposefully vague (sometimes even nonexistent), and there are parts of both books where he specifically refers readers to the images to see what a character looks like. As a result, the art and writing had a more symbiotic relationship: Carroll gave the characters minds and voices, but it was Tenniel who gave them bodies and faces. While numerous artists have handled the stories since then, all of them inevitably refer to Tenniel or try to go against his grain. And, generally speaking, I think the ones who stick to what Tenniel had in mind - while of course putting their own spin on it - are the ones who feel the best. Carroll never says the Mad Hatter wears a top hat, specifically, for example; that was all Tenniel’s doing. Yet it’s so hard to read the character AS the Mad Hatter if he’s NOT wearing a top hat. Similarly, Carroll never describes Alice having blonde hair - in fact, in his original manuscript, she was a brunette - but that is what Tenniel gave her, and that is what has been the most common and iconic choice for the girl’s do ever since. Even to this day, Tenniel’s artwork and the Wonderland characters are utterly inseparable. This is evident from the simple fact that, out of all the artists that have handled Wonderland over the years, Tenniel has been the one to have the biggest impact and popularity well into the modern day. Unlike virtually every other artist who has handled Alice, Tenniel’s original illustrations have been printed and reprinted in NUMEROUS editions over the decades. If you find a random copy of the “Alice” stories in your library or bookstore, the chances are very high that the illustrator is Tenniel. Even if the cover art is different, his black-and-white engravings are very easy to track down. The edition I’m providing for the cover reference is just one singular example. There are literally hundreds of editions JUST for Tenniel that you can pick up. It is far, FAR from the only one. If you haven’t seen Tenniel’s work already, then you’ve probably been living under a mushroom. “The Nursery Alice” is a little harder to track down, but it’s worth it just to see the colored versions of the pictures. (Did you know that Alice originally had a yellow dress?) Either way, Tenniel’s work remains immortal and beyond influential…yet he’s only second place on my countdown. What diabolical travesties am I hatching, one wonders…?

Come back down the rabbit hole tomorrow as I showcase my Number One pick! Don’t be late! ;)

[thatsonemorbidcorvid]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/08/pew-research-trans-nonbinary-young-adults/

Not sure why tumblr isn’t letting me insert the link properly. Article text below.

“For years, advocates and policymakers have struggled to get a clear picture of how many transgender and nonbinary adults live in the United States. The U.S. Census doesn’t ask about gender identity, and until now, few institutions ventured to estimate this number.

Data from the Pew Research Center released Tuesday offers a clearer picture: About 1.6 percent of the U.S. population identifies as trans or nonbinary, the latter term being used to describe people who do not identify exclusively as male or female, the survey found.

The nationally representative survey found that young adults were the most likely to identify this way. Among people younger than 30, about 5 percent said they are trans or nonbinary.

Pew released its findings alongside a detailed report on the “experiences, challenges and hopes of transgender and nonbinary U.S. adults,” which relied on focus groups to help illuminate the lives and perspectives of a group that has become increasingly visible and accepted — as well as targeted and marginalized — in recent years.

Together, the survey and focus group findings help clarify the share of the U.S. population that identifies as transgender and nonbinary — which is higher than previously estimated — and illustrate the diversity and complexity of a community that has long been the target of prejudice and misinformation.

“Advocates have known for some time that statisticians have been undercounting the number of trans people in the U.S.,” said Olivia Hunt, policy director at the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), a trans advocacy group. Because of this, Hunt said, “we’ve had a lot of lawmakers and policymakers dismiss the needs of trans and nonbinary people.”

The Pew data suggests that at least 5.3 million trans and nonbinary people live in the United States, based on current census data. That is about two times higher than the number implied by two studies from the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute: A 2016 survey estimated that 0.6 percent of U.S. adults — about 1.4 million — identified as trans, and another in 2021 estimated that 1.2 million adults identify as nonbinary. (Pew researchers noted that the intent of its latest survey was not to calculate a specific total.)

According to Pew’s research, adults younger than 30 were more likely than older generations to identify as a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth: 5 percent, compared with 1.6 percent among 30-to-49-year-olds, and 0.3 percent for adults older than 50.

Pew research associate Anna Brown noted that researchers classified people as trans if they said their gender was different from their sex assigned at birth, which means they may not explicitly identify as transgender, she said. The nonbinary category included people who explicitly said they were nonbinary, as well as people who used terms such as “agender” or “genderfluid.”

The survey did not get into the reasons rates might be higher among younger groups, Brown said, “but one thing to note is that young adults tend to be more familiar with the idea of being nonbinary.” They are also the only age group in which a majority of respondents — 52 percent — said they know a trans person.

The share of people who know a trans person has also increased significantly in recent years, the Pew survey found: In 2017, 37 percent of U.S. adults said they know someone who is trans. That rate is now 44 percent, including 42 percent of conservatives and 48 percent of liberals.

The data is clarifying and affirming, Hunt said.

“Trans people are here to stay,” she said. “Our needs are real and need to be addressed.”

Hunt was particularly interested in the share of people identifying as nonbinary — about 1 percent of U.S. adults. This could have substantial policy implications for advocates and lawmakers, she said: For example, these numbers point to a real need to have “X” gender markers on identification documents. It could also push policymakers to address the specific medical needs of nonbinary adults and make the legal system more inclusive, she added.

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In April this year, the White House announced that all U.S. citizens would be allowed to select an X gender marker on their passport applications and that the Transportation Security Administration would update its technology to reduce the need for pat-downs and additional screenings for trans and nonbinary travelers.

Nonbinary gender designations on identification documents, such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses and state-issued ID cards, are also available in 21 states and the District of Columbia. These gains were made possible by the increasing political and social visibility of trans and nonbinary people, advocates say.

But they’ve also become the target of a fierce backlash and an unprecedented onslaught of anti-trans legislation, much of which has been directed at transgender children.

On Tuesday, Louisiana became the 18th state to ban transgender women and girls from playing on female sports teams. Oklahoma passed three anti-trans bills this year, including one that bans nonbinary gender markers on birth certificates. This year, Alabama enacted the most aggressive gender-affirming care ban in U.S. history (it has been blocked amid an ongoing legal challenge). And in Florida and Texas, state leaders have attempted to restrict gender-affirming health care through administrative means.

Conservative lawmakers who have introduced these bills say the policies are meant to protect children.

“A lot of different segments of the population have been talking about gender identity and the gender binary,” Brown said. This is why Pew’s recent reporting via focus groups is particularly valuable at a time when misinformation and prejudice are rampant, she said: “We were able to hear from people who are affected by this conversation in their own words and take a deep dive into the issues.”

This is not always easy for researchers, said Brown, who noted that it was difficult to get a big-enough sample of trans and nonbinary people in surveys to learn more about their views.

The focus groups included a total of 27 trans and nonbinary adults of varying ages and racial backgrounds from across the country, and highlighted the diversity and complexity of a group that has often been flattened or misunderstood.

While participants shared a range of experiences navigating their identity, most said they knew from an early age — some as young as preschool or elementary school — that something was different about them, “even if they didn’t have the words to describe what it was,” the report said.

Participants also identified a number of political priorities, from advocating for basic needs such as housing, employment and health care to combating the wave of anti-trans legislation.

Hunt, of NCTE, is heartened by the increase in research. This summer, her organization plans to release its own survey on trans and nonbinary Americans that will include even more detail, she said.

“It is something that fills me with joy, that my community is being seen,” said Hunt, who remembers growing up and feeling as though “I was the only trans person out there.”

Amid ongoing political and social attacks, Hunt also expressed pride in the number of people coming out as trans and nonbinary.

“These are people who are coming out and being public because they’re not going to be intimidated,” Hunt said. “We’re a part of society that is not going away.””

[mwplanet]

Defying the Odds

Predicted to finish near the bottom, the Toronto Raptors managed to exceed all expectations

Photo via Sports Illustrated

By Joshua Crisologo

On October 19, 2021, the team at sports journalism site Raptors Cage made a few bold predictions. “I’m calling the Raptors at 38 wins on the season,” said Drew Clutchey. 38 wins would translate to around the ninth or tenth spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference–a seeding known for mediocrity. “My prediction is that the Raps will finish with a 40-42 record, slotting them in at the ninth spot in the East, and unfortunately, they will lose in the play-in tournament,” stated Neeraj Varma. 

At the beginning of the 2021-2022 NBA season, the Toronto Raptors were projected to tread around the 8th to 12th seeds throughout the year. The Raptors were doubted by many sports analysts across North America; the playoffs were supposed to be out of reach for them.

Yet here the Raptors stand, exceeding all expectations this season. The young team–led by Fred Vanvleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby–finished with a 48-34 record, earning them 5th place in a tight and stacked Eastern Conference. The team’s unexpected success can be attributed to exceptional teamwork. The 2021-2022 Raptors are the second team in 46 years to have five different players average at least 15 points per game — a balanced attack. Out of curiosity, what was the first team? The 2020-2021 Raptors. 

Another factor for the team’s achievement was the emergence of Scottie Barnes. Being the 4th pick in the draft, the rookie exceeded all expectations. Scouts reported that he was a project — a great player who would develop over years. However, Barnes showed up in his first year, averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Barnes was the only rookie to place in the top five in total and per game points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks; rightfully earning him the Rookie of the Year award.

Surprisingly, the Raptors have won 48 games, rarely playing at their full potential. The team has been plagued with injuries throughout the season; Core player Anunoby played only 48 out of 82 games, while VanVleet and Siakam missed around 16 games each. Considering that the top team in the East has 53 wins, it makes you wonder how much more wins the Raptors would have without the injuries.

However, the regular season is only one piece of the puzzle. Finishing in the top eight teams of each conference means competing in the playoffs with a chance of winning the NBA championship. The Raptors faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs. "Toronto is getting swept, write it down." said Hall of Fame NBA player Shaquille O’Neal. The first three games were plagued with hardships–Scottie Barnes and Thaddeus Young became injured, while Gary Trent Jr. faced an illness — causing the Raptors to fall to a 0-3 deficit. Once again, the Raptors were faced with expectations that they were going to be swept.

No team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit. Despite this hardship, the Raptors won the next two games, pushing the series to a game six. Only 13 other teams have forced a game six in NBA history when trailing 0-3 in the playoffs. The series was not expected to go that far but, unfortunately, the strong-willed team came up short in this game. Once again, the Toronto Raptors defied expectations. 

Though they came up short in the first round of the playoffs, the Raptors are not done. The determined team has a bright future ahead. With the exception of Young, every player on this year’s Raptors team has not been in the NBA for over five years. This Raptors squad will play and grow together for years to come. The future of the Toronto Raptors is certainly in great hands. 

[mostbelovedwwewrestlertournament]

Most Beloved WWE Wrestler Tournament: Round 3 Statistics Dump

Followers: 260

Total Votes: 22,087 + 13,398 + 8,109 = 43,594

Number of times I caused tumblr drama over this tournament: 0, but I really got close

Beloved By Gender:

After Round 2, we were at a split of ~31/69 for female and male wrestlers. In a shocking turn of events, after Round 3, for the first time in the history of any of my tournaments, the male percentage has gone up by over an entire percent

Voting Trends:

Round 3 had a low vote count day of 456 and the highest count day of 630, making the average 550.8 votes per day (discounting final day cause there were only 6 brackets), almost an extra hundred votes per day beyond Round 2's average of 462

(Also I'm still super proud of my datelines, btw)

The 100%ers:

In the entirety of Round 3, there was only one wrestler who got a perfect score, which was Naomi with the full 59 votes in her favor

Public Opinion:

More and more famous favourites are being voted out every round

Sports Illustrated’s 101 Best Wrestlers Of All Time (2016)

Ric Flair (18, lose)

Shawn Michaels (53 + 57 + 71, win)

Steve Austin (29 + 18, lose)

The Rock (23, lose)

The Undertaker (53 + 55 + 45, win)

Dusty Rhodes (46 + 42 + 43, win)

John Cena (47 + 51 + 50, win)

Hulk Hogan (10, lose)

Sting (51 + 53 + 61, win)

Andre The Giant (56 + 38 + 38, win)

Randy Savage (37 + 32 + 42, win)

Roddy Piper (54 + 33 + 53, win)

Chris Jericho (27 + 31 + 32, win)

Harley Race (17 + 18 + 10, lose)

Mick Foley (58 + 47 + 57, win)

Bret Hart (52 + 59 + 61, win)

Randy Orton (58 + 48 + 49, win)

Kurt Angle (45 + 36 + 37, win)

Antonio Inoki (28 + 38 + 23, lose)

Ricky Steamboat (28 + 47 + 16, lose)

Daniel Bryan (61 + 51 + 48, win)

Triple H (31 + 12, lose)

Buddy Rogers (21 + 17 + 8, lose)

Edge (41 + 49 + 44, win)

Bob Backlund (26 + 22 + 11, lose)

Brock Lesnar (23, lose)

Stan Hansen (22, lose)

Bruno Sammartino (30 + 6, lose)

CM Punk (57 + 40, lose)

Ted DiBiase (27 + 26 + 27, win)

Bruiser Brody (33 + 31 + 22, win)

Hideo Itami (34 + 35 + 7, lose)

Rey Mysterio (48 + 40 + 42, win)

Vader (32 + 17, lose)

Dory Funk Jr (17 + 17, lose)

Mr Perfect (37 + 25 + 28, win)

Eddie Guerrero (53 + 43 + 47, win)

Jake Roberts (32 + 29 + 31, win)

Arn Anderson (25 + 30 + 15, lose)

The Sheik (31 + 30 + 11, lose)

AJ Styles (40 + 46 + 46, win)

Goldust (70 + 34 + 49, win)

Samoa Joe (61 + 84 + 60, win)

Terry Funk (27 + 37 + 32, win)

Verne Gagne (14, lose)

Mil Mascaras (10, lose)

Rob Van Dam (43 + 45 + 50, win)

Tatsumi Fujinami (25, lose)

Rick Rude (35 + 29 + 10, lose)

Owen Hart (56 + 41 + 53, win)

Jeff Hardy (52 + 32, lose)

Goldberg (23 + 22, lose)

Ivan Koloff (15, lose)

Chris Benoit (17, lose)

Larry Zbyszko (4, lose)

Ultimo Dragon (9, lose)

Scott Hall (44 + 40 + 44, win)

Trish Stratus (38 + 42 + 22, lose)

Dean Malenko (37 + 29 + 19, lose)

Ultimate Warrior (28 + 20, lose)

Fabulous Moolah (18, lose)

William Regal (62 + 45 + 50, win)

Gene Kiniski (14, lose)

Scott Steiner (44, lose)

Rick Steiner (26 + 9, lose)

Chyna (68 + 49 + 52, win)

Seth Rollins (55 + 54 + 66, win)

Kane (40 + 29 + 33, win)

Jimmy Snuka (9, lose)

Davey Boy Smith (22 + 24 + 33, win)

The Iron Sheik (49 + 40 + 32, win)

Pedro Morales (20 + 9, lose)

Michael Hayes (10, lose)

Johnny Valentine (14 + 4, lose)

Shinsuke Nakamura (58 + 60 + 58, win)

Diesel (39 + 35 + 34, win)

Batista (53 + 54 +35, win)

Lita (46 + 65 + 37, win)

Christian (56 + 47 + 67, win)

Ron Simmons (25 + 33 + 31, win)

Big Show (41 + 60 + 38, win)

JBL (10, lose)

Christopher Daniels (26 + 10, lose)

The Miz (34 + 30 + 39, win)

PWI Wrestler Of The Year

Pedro Morales (20 + 9, lose)

Jack Brisco (17 + 13, lose)

Bruno Sammartino (30 + 6, lose)

Terry Funk (27 + 37 + 32, win)

Dusty Rhodes (46 + 42 + 43, win)

Harley Race (17 + 18 + 10, lose)

Bob Backlund (26 + 22 + 11, lose)

Ric Flair (18, lose)

Hulk Hogan (10, lose)

Randy Savage (37 + 32 + 42, win)

Sting (51 + 53 + 61, win)

Vader (32 + 17, lose)

Diesel (39 + 35 + 34, win)

Big Show (41 + 39 + 38, win)

Lex Luger (25 + 4, lose)

Steve Austin (29 + 18, lose)

The Rock (23, lose)

Brock Lesnar (23, lose)

Kurt Angle (45 + 36 + 37, win)

Chris Benoit (17, lose)

Batista (52 + 54 + 35, win)

John Cena (47 + 51 + 50, win)

Triple H (31 + 12, lose)

Randy Orton (58 + 48 + 49, win)

CM Punk (57 + 40, lose)

Daniel Bryan (61 + 51 + 48, win)

Seth Rollins (55 + 54 + 66, win)

AJ Styles (40 + 46 + 46, win)

Adam Cole (47 + 40 + 53, win)

Dean Ambrose (58 + 54 + 42, win)

Roman Reigns (51 + 64 + 59, win)

PWI Woman Of The Year

Joyce Grable (30 + 24 + 0, lose)

Susan Green (21 + 27 + 11, lose)

Stephanie McMahon (26 + 4, lose)

Lita (46 + 65 + 37, win)

Trish Stratus (38 + 42 + 22, lose)

Victoria (27 + 23 + 17, lose)

Candice Michelle (24 + 39 + 13, lose)

Mickie James (47 + 46 + 47, win)

Michelle McCool (29 + 10, lose)

AJ Lee (48 + 46 + 39, win)

Sasha Banks (44 + 47 + 42, win)

Charlotte Flair (45 + 42 + 27, win)

Asuka (58 + 60 + 65, win)

Becky Lynch (58 + 53 + 58, win)

Bianca Belair (34 + 66 + 54, win)

Top 10 Voted Wrestlers Who've Already Been Eliminated:

Big E (156 - round 3)

Neville (111 - round 3)

Natalya/Trish Stratus (102 - round 3)

Baron Corbin (101 - round 3)

Tyler Breeze/Elias (100 - round 3)

Raquel Rodriguez (99 - round 3)

CM Punk (97 - round 2)

Paul Heyman/Dominik Mysterio (96 - round 3/2)

Umaga (95 - round 3)

Ricochet/Santino Marella (94 - round 3)

Top 10 Voted In Round 3:

Damian Priest (76)

Shawn Michaels (71)

Sami Zayn (70)

Cody Rhodes (69)

Jey Uso (68)

Christian (67)

Seth Rollins (66)

Kevin Owens/LA Knight/Asuka (65)

Bayley (64)

Sting/Bret Hart/Finn Balor (61)

Top 10 Voted Overall:

Naomi (282)

Billy Gunn (232)

Damian Priest (226)

Samoa Joe (205)

Sami Zayn (200)

Rhea Ripley (193)

Jey Uso (191)

Asuka (183)

R-Truth (182)

Shawn Michaels (181)

A big thanks to everyone who's voted so far! By my calculations, this tournament will be ending before the end of the month, so only a few weeks left to show your love for your favourites.

In the meantime, if there are any other statistics you'd like to see based on the data I've been keeping track of, send me an ask and I'll include them in the statistics dumps

Since we'll be getting into shorter rounds, Round 4 is going to start today, hopefully within the hour, so keep an eye out!

[airasilver]

Locked out of local government: Residents decry increased secrecy among towns, counties, schools

By Eric Scicchitano | CNHI News, Josh Kelety | AP

Published December 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM EST

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A person types on a laptop.

Wilfredo Lee

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AP

FILE - In this, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, file photo illustration, a person types on a laptop.

Cheryl Geidner figured council members in Volant, a tiny borough north of Pittsburgh, would adopt a preliminary year-end budget despite no discussions at public meetings on the proposed financials.

She never figured they’d raise property taxes by 57%.

“There had never been a mention of that,” said Geidner, a property owner who helps oversee a business with her husband, John, in the town of 126 residents. “You didn’t see the budget. You didn’t see the ordinance. I think everybody was somewhat taken aback.”

The plan, given final approval last week, will steeply increase tax bills: A property assessed at $100,000, for example, would have been billed $700 in 2023. In 2024, that bill will rise to $1,100.

The council’s silence leading up to the decision highlights what some observers say is a striking trend toward secrecy among local governments across the U.S. From school districts to townships and county boards, public access to records and meetings in many states is worsening over time, open government advocates and experts say.

“It’s been going on for decades, really, but it’s accelerated the past 10 years,” said David Cuillier, director of the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida.

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Few states compile data on public records requests, and laws governing open records differ by state, making a comprehensive analysis difficult. However, a review by Cuillier of data provided by MuckRock — a nonprofit news site that files and shares public records requests – found that between 2010 and 2021, local governments’ compliance with records requests dropped from 63% to 42%.

High fees, delays and outright refusals from local governments to release information are among the common complaints.

Examples are plentiful.

Earlier this year, officials in a suburban Chicago community ticketed a local journalist for what they said were repeated attempts to contact city officials seeking comment on treacherous fall flooding. Officials reversed and dropped the citations days later.

In November, open government advocates in California sued the city of Fresno for allegedly conducting secret budget negotiations for years.

In October, residents of Sapelo Island in Georgia, who largely rely on a ferry to get to the mainland, accused county officials of making it difficult for residents to attend important public meetings by scheduling them after the last ferry was slated to depart.

Right to know

Volant, Pennsylvania, measures slightly larger than 0.1 square miles, and the latest Census shows it has 46 households in total. The borough’s small-town charm and small-business merchants have made its Main Street a day-trip destination.

The unexpected tax hike could be a burden for the community, where half the population is over age 65 and the median salary is $64,375 – below the statewide median of $71,798. It’s their first tax increase in seven years.

After the council approved the preliminary budget in November, a local reporter requested a copy of it and was denied. Told to schedule a meeting with the borough’s secretary, the reporter was met by a closed office.

Taped to the door was a five-paragraph explainer from Council President Howard Moss. It included brief anecdotes about rising expenses but no fiscal data to explain the tax increase.

Neither Moss nor the council’s vice president, Glenn Smith, replied to messages seeking comment. At a meeting Tuesday, when the council gave the increase final approval, Smith said the borough has been operating at a deficit for years but avoided raising taxes previously because of COVID and high unemployment.

The state of public access in Volant?

“There is none,” said Bridget Fry, a resident who launched an unsuccessful write-in campaign this fall to join the council. “It’s definitely disturbing, and it’s extremely uncomfortable living there.”

Paula Knudsen Burke, attorney for the Pennsylvania chapter of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said too many government officials in Pennsylvania operate under the presumption that the onus is on the requester to prove a record is public. That’s not the case. Records are presumed to be accessible, and the government is tasked to prove otherwise, according to the state’s Right to Know Law.

“While it can make more work for local officials, the Legislature has said these records are available and accessible,” Burke said.

Divisive landscape

Incidents of governments suing journalists and residents for making records requests also have become more common, said Jonathan Peters, a media law professor at the University of Georgia.

Accessing local government meetings is getting more difficult, too. Elected officials are discussing significant public business in closed sessions, observers say. In some regions, they’re engaging in more combative behavior with constituents.

Researchers have several theories about the new landscape. Local agencies generally lack sufficient staff and infrastructure to efficiently process records requests. Then there is the decline of local media institutions, which have limited resources to wage costly legal battles over access to meetings and records.

Compounding the issue is the increased polarization gripping communities nationwide. Election offices across the country have been flooded with records requests from activists motivated by election falsehoods, piling on work. And school boards, for instance, have become political battlegrounds over COVID-19 policies and curriculum, prompting flurries of records requests, accusations of public meeting violations and intense scrutiny. In some areas, school boards have become dominated by highly divisive members.

“Governments feel emboldened to basically flout democracy (and) say, ‘We’re in charge. Don’t question us. We’re not telling you what’s up,’” Cuillier said.

Troubling trends

A 2023 state auditor’s report revealed multiple problems with transparency in the small town of Rural Hall, North Carolina.

The town failed to produce 38% of records requested by members of the public between November 2021 and June 2022, the report found. The requests included employment history for two town employees, copies of resignation letters and the former town manager’s employment contract.

Long-time resident Carol Newsome was among those who submitted requests. She said the town government “blew up” with turnover in 2021, and she was trying to figure out why.

In denying one resident’s requests, a town official cited the resident’s “demonstrated malice towards Rural Hall,” which was in direct conflict with state public records law, the report asserts.

The report also determined the town council violated state open meetings law by discussing certain matters in closed session.

Ron Niland, interim Rural Hall town manager since January, noted in emails that the individual who oversaw records requests at the time no longer works for the town. He added that during his tenure, the town council has “conducted themselves in accordance with applicable state statutes.”

Newsome, meanwhile, recalled the ease of accessing Rural Hall records just a few years ago.

“You could just walk in or call to the Town Hall and say, ‘I’m wanting to know such and such.’ And they’d say, ‘Well, do you need it printed, or do you just want the information?’” she said.

Now, she views her hometown as “kind of a microcosm” of troubling trends in government overall.

“We see it up and down, and just poor behavior in general,” Newsome said. “The arguments and the pushback from staff and the council became just more hostile and disrespectful than I’ve ever seen. I just hadn’t experienced it in town before.”

This story is a collaboration between CNHI News and The Associated Press. The AP’s support of local democracy coverage receives funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here.

[metalmessage]

HERETOIR Dancing with nature spirits … 

Action: HERETOIR Title: Nightsphere Base: Augsburg • Germany Style: Atmospheric Post Black Metal Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal, Post Metal, Post Rock, Shoegaze FFO: Alcest, Lantlôs, Amesoeurs Type: Full-length Format: CD + Vinyl Label: Northern Silence Release: Oct. 06, 2023 https://www.facebook.com/heretoir/ PR: https://www.metalmessage.de/PR_HERETOIR_en.php

Bulletpoints: 🔘 Third album of the poetic German tragedians 🔘 Enchanting songs, full of depth and beauty 🔘 Definitely one of the best acts of the genre https://youtu.be/4mHhCYCksZI [ Glacierheart – Nightsphere Part II • Official Lyric Video ] The band states: „‚Glacierheart – Nightsphere Part II‘ – a song with a very diverse songstructure that leaves room for aggressive blast beat passages summoning dark Black Metal atmospheres, as well as fragile Post Rock parts with emotional clean vocals. The lyrics tell an epic tale of war between the natural world and the manmade realm of machines. The grand finale of ‚Glacierheart‘ is dominated by fierce screams and rhythmic doublebass passages illustrating the clash of the spirits of the wild and industrialized mankind.“ https://youtu.be/A3jnmSpolX0 [ Twilight Of The Machines • Official Music Video ]

The band states: „In a world in which the conflict between industrialized mankind and untouched nature is producing increasingly noticeable consequences, we wanted to process the theme in a piece of music. Inspired by the civilization-critical writings of John Zerzan and Stanley Diamond, we created a song that addresses the clash between the world of machines and the wilderness in a melancholic but also powerful way. The music video illustrates this confrontation in an impressive and stirring way, as the protagonist tries to escape his dreary working world and also to find refuge in the spirits of the woods.“

Only 5 months after their 2023 mini-album „Wastelands“, HERETOIR releasing their new intense full-length „Nightsphere“!

The new record is a concept album dealing with the struggle between the forces of nature and a world of machines. Humanity is in the midst of this confrontation, and the dichotomy between living as an animal among animals and existing as a cog in the wheel of progress determines the course of the story the five songs tell.

„Nightsphere“ is a dark album that weaves atmospheric Black Metal parts with melodic clean passages, swirling blast beats with calm Post Rock and ambient sounds, and the intensity of desperate screams with the poignant emotionality of melancholic clean vocals into a musical journey through an archaic world. TRACKS:

Sanctum – Nightsphere Part I 10:45

Twilight Of The Machines 08:34

Pneuma 06:57

Glacierheart – Nightsphere Part II 11:57

The Death Of Man 04:07 total: 42:21

It is also the first album that was entirely written by the full band, featuring contributions of every single member. „Nightsphere“ features ambient sounds of the long-time befriended project Hidehidehide as well as guest-appearances of two giants of the (Post) Black Metal genre – Tim Yatras of Austere who fuels the song „Twilight Of The Machines“ with his anguish and Nikita Kamprad of Der Weg einer Freiheit who delivers intense and powerful vocals on „Glacierheart – Nightsphere Part II“.

„Nightsphere“’s natural and organic but powerful sound was crafted by David Deutsch and Justin Felder at 1408 Productions in Hannover, who were responsible for the mix of the record. Furthermore Nikita Kamprad of Der Weg einer Freiheit took care of the mastering of the album.

Prepare to dive into a highly atmospheric night-realm and emotional maelstrom with „Nightsphere“. All while new songs for a future release are already written and recorded. HERETOIR are more determined than ever to enter the stages of the world with full force!

The band says about „Nightsphere“: „This album is very special to us as this is our first album that was entirely written as a full band, featuring contributions of every single member of the band. The songs are dedicated to the spirits of the wilderness. ‚Nightsphere‘ is an atmospheric maelstrom that will engulf you.“

LINE-UP David ‚Eklatanz‘ Conrad • Vocals, Guitar Maximilian Forst • Guitar Kevin Storm • Guitar, Backing Vocals Matthias ‚Nathanael‘ Settele • Bass, Backing Vocals Nils Groth • Drums, Backing Vocals

FLASHBACK: Combining the emotional and atmospheric elements of Black Metal with progressive rhythm-laden modern Metal structures and the beauty of Post Rock and Shoegaze, HERETOIR is a nostalgic, melancholic and soothing soundtrack in a mad world. Founded (in Augsburg/Germany) by David C. in 2006, HERETOIR conceptually and lyrically deals with existence, self-reflection, fears and dreams – life in all its facets.

It is a musical universe set for the discovery of one’s deepest thoughts and the soul that rests in each of us. After a first demo and EP („Existenz“ (2008) & „.Existenz.“ (2009)), multiple compilation contributions and a split release with the band Thränenkind („Wiedersehen – unsere Hoffnung“, 2010) HERETOIR released their eponymous debut album „Heretoir“ on February 25th, 2011 through Northern Silence Productions.

Melodizing the topic of loss, „Heretoir“ was very well received by fans and press around the world, not least because of the powerful and atmospheric cover artwork of exceptional French artists Fursy Teyssier (Les Discrets) and Metastazis (artworks for Alcest, Anathema, Enthroned, As I Lay Dying, Gorgoroth and many more).

With the release of the debut album Matthias S. (bass), Max F. (guitar) and Emanuel D. (drums) joined the line-up and HERETOIR evolved into a full band. It didn’t take long for the group to share stages with acts like Agalloch, Alcest, Eluveitie, Graveworm, Sólstafir or Secrets Of The Moon.

In parallel with the progression of the live shows, the EP re-recording/compilation „Substanz“ was released on August 24th, 2012. After several European tours with Agrypnie, Der Weg einer Freiheit and Dornenreich and one tour through England with Dawn Ray’d, as well as performances at the Summerbreeze Open Air, the Ragnarök Festival, and support shows for renowned post-rockers God Is An Astronaut and melancholic masters Katatonia, HERETOIR was able to build up a reputation in the atmospheric Metal scene. In 2016 Emanuel D. left the band and Nils G. became the new drummer. The current line-up was completed by Kevin Storm, who joined the band in 2020.

Following more than 5 years of intense touring, the much-anticipated second album „The Circle“ was released in March 2017. „The Circle“ deals with the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Weaving crushing heaviness and atmospheric melodies, the album portrays an emotional journey – a life dedicated to self reflection and freedom.

Besides another very special cover art by Fursy Teyssier the album furthermore features guest vocals by Alcest mastermind Stéphane ‚Neige‘ Paut and mastering by the renowned sound engineer Lasse Lammert. „The Circle“ received incredible worldwide feedback by press and fans alike.

HERETOIR embarked on an extensive European tour in Spring 2017 together with the US Black Metal band Ghost Bath, visiting more than 15 countries in 5 weeks. More festival appearances and a tour with Finnish Melodic Death Metal masters Kalmah followed and in 2018 the band toured China for two weeks.

During the last years/pandemic the band worked hard and focussed on writing new material. 2023 marks an important year for HERETOIR: On 10 th February 2023 the remastered version of the debut album „Heretoir“ with bonus tracks was released. Only 3 months later the band released their new mini-album „Wastelands“ on May 19th, 2023 – their first new material in 6 years – with great worldwide reception.

HERETOIR are available for interviews via phone, Skype, Zoom & email

DISCOGRAPHY 2009 • .Existenz. • EP 2011 • Heretoir • Full-length 2014 • Just For A Moment • Single 2017 • The Circle • Full-length 2019 • Golden Dust (Acoustic Version) • Single 2023 • Wastelands • EP 2023 • Nightsphere • Full-length

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

10 / 10 ➤ „… an emotional masterpiece of Black Metal art, which is much more than just music … interplay between hopeful on the one hand and the realization and despair on the other … high pleasure … production and mastering ensure a perfect sound of the whole, which comes across neither too rough nor too smooth, but earthy and natural … this is exactly how atmospheric Post Black Metal Anno ’23 must sound.“ (Metal Only)

10 / 10 ➤ „… shatter traditional classifications, and regardless of genre will make you think ‚this is just a great band‘. Every now and then, there’ll be a band who come along and remind you how and why you fell in love with music … for Post Metal fans or those looking for something a little different; add this album to your regular shuffle and playlists upon release day. You won’t regret it.“ (Ever Metal)

97 / 100 ➤ „… one of the best Post Black Metal releases of 2023 … five masterful tracks … filled with dreamy and bleak soundscapes … will please any fan of the genre and the band … mid-tempo brilliance they are known for … blistering onslaughts mixed in between atmospheric passages … the weeping lead guitars are to die for … immerse the listener from start to finish … a seamless experience filled with different moods and engaging soundscapes …“ (Infernal Masquerade)

95 / 100 ➤ „HERETOIR reminded me how fascinated I was by their previous album. ‚Nightsphere‘, with its similar, contradictory and opposed elements, offers a certainly different, but just as striking and contemplative approach.“ (Acta Infernalis)

95 / 100 ➤ „… with bravura … 42-minute emotional journey … you land in your own refuge … musical craftsmanship! One could also simply call ‚Nightsphere‘ the Post Black Metal record par excellence … the Germans of HERETOIR are at the top of this relevant subgenre. Must-buy, year-end list material!“ (Zware Metalen)

4,5 / 5 ➤ „… an emotional up and down between fantastic post-rock melody arcs, black metal outbursts, cathartic clear vocals and thoughtful acoustic passages … thoroughly great album … offers almost everything you expect from HERETOIR or Post Black Metal in general in just three quarters of an hour … radiates a captivating atmosphere at all times …“ (Stormbringer)

14 / 15 ➤ „… all the components of the sound are woven together into a homogeneous overall picture through a sombre underlying mood … another flawless masterpiece …“ (Legacy Magazin)

4 / 5 ➤ „… entirely touching and involving … spiritual but gloomy ascension … the sonic horizon of Nightsphere is constantly raised and remains strong … this is the echo of human’s cry who stares at darkness, nostalgia and ruinations.“ (Heavy Music HQ)

90 / 100 ➤ „… full of angry feelings and melancholic atmospheres.“ (X-Reviews)

8 / 10 ➤ „… revel between beautiful melodies, carried drama and wild Black Metal frenzy … convinces musically all along the line … clear buy recommendation for all HERETOIR fans!“ (Powermetal DE)

8 / 10 ➤ „… a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts … great … if you are a fan of atmospheric Post Black Metal, you should check out this album!“ (Occult Black Metal Zine)

8 / 10 ➤ „… the songs can captivate despite an average length of just under ten minutes and are entertaining … HERETOIR sound more self-confident and firm in their own sound and break away somewhat from their Post Metal role models … stylistically ‚Nightsphere‘ is somewhat less experimental compared to its predecessors …“ (Metal DE)

8 / 10 ➤ „… an impressive work by HERETOIR that meets and even exceeds expectations … an album that musically captures the conflict between nature and technology in an impressive and stirring way and at the same time touches the soul of the listener …“ (AM:plified Mag)

8 / 10 ➤ „… compositional cleverness … an exciting journey through the desperate sound realm of Black Metal … with almost mesmerizing repetition Heretoir draws the listener under its spell … ‚Nightsphere‘ can be seen as a Gesamtkunstwerk, which convinces with a richness of ideas and musical variety … pleases already at the first listen and has enough details which guarantee a lasting listening experience …“ (Markus‘ Heavy Music Blog)

77 / 100 ➤ „‚Nightsphere‘ is inclusive of all past aspects and traits … varietal, focused and particularly active for post-black metal today …“ (Grizzly Butts)

7,5 / 10 ➤ „… great cinema. A gripping, complex, atmospherically dense sound with various moods and high recognition value. Really great and also just as well implemented.“ (Dark Festivals)

7,5 / 10 ➤ „… melancholic and dreamy … take the listener on an astral journey and enchant with countless melodies, acoustic pads and piano sounds … very well done … what I like best is the diverse guitar work, which comes into its own very well, especially over headphones …“ (Crossfire Metal)

3,5 / 5 ➤ „… isn’t common among Post Black albums … broody and melancholic, obviously by choice … it’s excellent atmosphere music … an album that is absolutely worth a listen.“ (Metal Epidemic)

7,3 / 10 ➤ „… a well-made Blackgaze/Atmo-Black album with a moving and consistent core tone in addition to well-written songs …“ (Metal Storm)

➤ „The star here is David ‚Eklatanz‘ Conrad’s vocals and the explosion of many levels of despair and anguish … shows all the skills to convey emotion … to be compared to a broken jaw and an eye opener …“ (Metal Addicts)

➤ „… a gloomy album that combines the atmospheric Black Metal parts with clean melodic passages, lots of blast beats and quieter, almost Rock sounds … full of intensity through the desperate screams and more melancholic with clean vocals to emphasize the emotions … strongly composed … has its own unique sound …“ (Rancor Metalzine)

➤ „… all grandiose, as already with ‚Wastelands‘ … all tracks work and literally stick in the auditory canal … HERETOIR manage to captivate the listener from beginning to end … you hardly know how to deal with the oppressive mood that the album makes you feel …“ (Vampster)

➤ „… majestic and cavernous … there is something insidious about it … something between a funerary dirge and an ambient, dream-like backing … reflective … a solid, fantastic album whose concept is brought to life by the music HERETOIR has created … come for the music, stay for the story – I promise that it will devastate you.“ (Nine Circles)

➤ „… a masterpiece not to be missed under any circumstances … meticulous in every detail … carefully crafted … magnificent … truly immeasurable … moves to tears … offers everything it needs in the Post-Black realm …“ (Noisewriter) etc.

[ Artwork: Painting by Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach ] [ Pic: Toni B. Gunner Photography ]

[rocknews]

Real Estate Trends — What this year has on the cards in commercial space

As India emerges from the clutches of the pandemic and stabilises itself amid economic concerns around the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the commercial real estate sector has received a major boost fuelled by a host of factors.  Commercial real estate (CRE) has recorded impressive growth in 2022, accelerating the momentum set in 2021 and looks poised to capitalise further on new emerging opportunities in 2023. 

A major driving force behind the resurgence and sustained momentum of CRE has been new-age accessible instruments like fractional ownership and REITs. These instruments have enabled regular investors a share of the booming CRE pie and expanded the overall investment base. 

Below are some of the expected trends for 2023:

Performance

As demand continues to soar steadily, the CRE sector is expected to grow to a market value of $1 trillion, up from $200 billion in 2021, and is expected to contribute to 18-20 percent of the country’s GDP by 2030, as per reports. It is expected that 2023 will see the sector spreading its wings as sectors like retail, hospitality, warehousing, data centres were spurred, by soaring demand and investments. 

Warehousing & Data Centres

A majority of the demand has been in Grade A warehousing spaces. The growth is illustrated in the fact that the average size of a Grade A warehouse in India has doubled from 80,000 square-feet in 2018 to 1,60,000 square-feet in 2022. 

Overall stock in the first half of 2022 stood at 307 million sq ft, compared to 170 million sq ft in 2018 and is expected to reach ~500 million sq ft by 2025, at a CAGR of 28 percent year on year. 

According to industry experts, the warehousing and logistics sector has been the largest beneficiary during the COVID-19 pandemic and the share of total real estate investment in the sector has increased from 2 percent  in 2020 to 20 percent in 2021. Warehouse volume in India has grown nearly three-times from 2.4 million cubic-feet in 2016 to 6.4 cubic-feet in 2021. 

Return of Office Spaces

There will be a heartening trend in 2023 which will lead to the return and consolidation of demand for office spaces. Premium office spaces have attracted investors; thanks to a sharp uptick in demand by IT companies, software and BFSI firms. Recording a 66 per cent rise, the office space leasing has witnessed an absorption of 42 million sq. ft. Moreover, the growth of co-working spaces, reverse migration back to cities, and MNCs making India their new APAC bases have contributed significantly to the numbers in 2022.

Fractional Ownership

Accessible options like fractional ownership of commercial real estate (CRE) have helped investors not only preserve, but grow their capital amount. Such investments offer 8-10 percent rental yield per annum and investors also get capital appreciation which ranges between 5-10 percent, so the investor earns 13-20 percent IRR for the time they are invested in.

The rental yield of a commercial property (8-10%) is higher than the yield from a residential property (2-4%). So, an investment of 25 lakh in fractional ownership has the potential to deliver Rs 16,500 to 20,000 monthly in rental income alone. This leads to a steady expansion of wealth and improved monthly liquidity.

These kinds of investments are Ideal for investors looking for a fixed monthly income: as these properties are able to deliver a 8-10% rental yield, which is best in class in the fixed income category. Along with that, these properties also get capital appreciation, so the investors don’t have to worry about capital erosion, while consuming the rent from the portfolio. Also, with the escalation clauses in the rental agreements, the rent they receive also Increases on regular intervals, more or less with Inflation. So, they get inflation protected returns along with being able to take care of their monthly expenses.

These kinds of investments are also ideal for Investors looking at alternative asset classes to diversify their portfolio without dilution of returns. Read More On..

[houstonnurseattorneys]

Frisco Nurse Attorney

A recent series of papers in the Wall Street Journal have painted a disturbing picture of nursing homes civil totally bandaging residers withanti-psychotic medicines in an attempt to control their conduct and geste .Frisco Nurse Attorney Yong J. An Can Provide Legal Counsel to Protect Your Nursing License Texas Board and contact him directly at (832) 428-5679.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the use of newanti-psychotic medicines to control geste of madness cases has surged, despite FDA warnings about the use of said medicines. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has also reported that roughly thirty percent of nursing home residers are takinganti-psychotic medicines.

Although reports of this nature aren't new, they support the need for attorneys, families and musketeers to know, understand and effectively endorse nursing home residers' rights. The 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act(" NHRA"), part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987(" OBRA"), established quality norms for nursing homes civil and defined the state check and instrument process to apply the norms( 42 CFR283.0). These regulations represent minimal norms for long term care installations. They were announced to ameliorate the quality of care of their residers. The general pretensions of OBRA are to

a) promote and enhance the quality of life of the occupant; ( b) give services and conditioning to attain or maintain the loftiest practicable, physical, internal and psycho social well being of each occupant in agreement with a written plan of care;

c) give that occupant and advocate participation is a criteria for assessing the installations compliance with director conditions; and ( d) assure access to the State's Long Term Care Ombudsman( a 3rd party occupant advocate) to the installations residers, and assure that the Ombudsman has access to records, residers and watch providers.

The pretensions are enforced by NHRA establishing the Resident's Bill of Rights The right to freedom from abuse, mistreatment, and neglect; The right to freedom from physical conditions; The right to sequestration; The right to accommodation of medical, physical, cerebral, and social requirements; The right to share in occupant and family groups; The right to be treated with quality; The right to exercise tone- determination; The right to communicate freely; The right to share in the review of one's care plan, and to be completely informed in advance about any changes in care, treatment, or change of status in the installation; and The right to state grievances without the demarcation or reprisal. A dupe of the nursing home occupant's Bill of Rights must be conspicuously posted in the lobby of the installation. While these rights are general in nature, NHRA specifically defines the parameters of each right. For illustration, relative to drug, NHRA proscribes that a occupant be free of gratuitous physical or chemical conditions, includinganti-psychotic medicines and anodynes, except when authorized by a croaker for a specified and limited period of time.

also, the NHRA specifically provides that

a) installations inform the occupant of the name, specialty and means of reaching the croakers responsible for the occupant's care;

b) installations must inform the occupant, his or her guardian or interested family member of any deterioration of the occupant's health or if the croaker wishes to change treatment;

c) installations must give the resident access to his or her medical records within one business day, and a right to clones of the records at a reasonable cost;

d) installations must give a written description of a occupant's rights, explaining state laws applicable to living choices, durable powers of attorney,etc., along with a dupe of the installations policy on carrying out these directives. This becomes particularly important when a installation refuses to recognize the residers advance directive applicable to end- of- life opinions, the use of feeding tubes, ventilators and respirators;

e) the occupant has a right to sequestration, which extends to all aspects of care; and

f) a occupant may not be moved to a different room, different nursing home, a sanitarium or back home without advanced notice, and an occasion for appeal.

In short, familiarity with OBRA and NHRA will give the guru with a better mindfulness of protocols for the following applicable areas

Abuse, including gratuitous or inordinate conditions. Pressure blisters, infections, falls and fractures. Adverse medicine responses andover-medication. Nutrition, hydration, and unintended weight loss. Dining and Food Service. adequacy of staff, including nursing. Rehabilitative care, including physical remedy and speech remedy. As the baby boomers come of age it's ineluctable that a significant number of them will spend some time in a nursing home. Knowledge of their rights will be of critical significance for their attorneys, families and musketeers.