#we now return to our regular broadcasting

[currentlyonstandbi]

I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive.

[communistkenobi]

something I’ve been thinking about is like, the internet is this magical system of technologies, never before seen in human history, and one of its capabilities is to answer virtually any question you ask of it. Which is not even remotely a novel observation obviously lol. But I’m thinking about this in the context of a point that Adorno & Horkheimer made (in The Culture Industry I think?) about the radio: that to expedience the radio, to live in a social context where there is this vast incomprehensible system of technological infrastructure that you do not understand or control, and which allows you, a mere peasant, to listen to news broadcasts, music, and advertisements, is effectively like listening to the voice of god. Like the average person’s relationship to modern telecommunications is so mystifying, incomprehensible, and abstract that we experience technologies like the radio as an all-powerful, indestructible authority, and this (obviously) shapes our relationship to the information that is shared through it. People make jokes on here about how transmission towers are angels, but like tbh that is essentially how we experience them - vast, incomprehensible, highly dangerous objects whose impact on our lives are at once all-consuming and unknowable. We do not just turn on the radio and listen to the news, we tune into what the voice of god has to say today - right now he’s selling toilet cleanser!

and all that to say, I always find something a bit incomplete about discussions about wilful ignorance online - that we live in an age of mass information and yet people still seem as ignorant as feudal peasants, or whatever. Nobody googles things, nobody tries to branch out and experience new kinds of art, nobody educates themselves on important topics they don’t understand. and like this frustration is very real and well taken, I feel it frequently, but what I’m grappling with is whether this is the correct framing - that maybe “why don’t people just google things” is the wrong question to ask, because I tend to find the explanations offered unsatisfactory. Like specifically I’m thinking of discussions on here that are about like, “anti-intellectualism”, kids these days are so ignorant even though they grew up with the internet, reading comprehension is piss poor, and so on. Recently I’ve seen a lot of weirdly moral-panicky posts about children not knowing how to type on computers because back in my day we were forced to learn how to touch-type by age 8 even though we couldn’t look up any tutorials on YouTube to help us, etc etc. And like I just do not buy that people are individually choosing to be ignorant, that people are “getting dumber,” and that this state of getting dumber is inversely related to the amount of information we have access to (which makes “getting dumber” even more dumb). An unstated assumption that goes into a lot of these “anti-intellectualism” discussions is that “information” is this universal object that has a standardised enlightening effect on the people who interact with it - that the only reason to have an ignorant, sheltered, or ill-formed opinion on something is because you have individually chosen not to Look At Information that will cure you of your ignorance. And so going back to the god radio thing, having regular access to the google search bar is not just having access to an encyclopaedia or dictionary - it is like having a direct line of communication to god, this authority that can answer any question you ask of it. But it’s not just one answer, it’s many answers, more answers than you could ever possibly read through. Google reports the number of hits it returns for whatever you type in - you will regularly get millions of answers to your question. And these answers are embedded with advertisements, just as radio news broadcasts are. Like if god is selling you toilet cleanser while telling you the number for a suicide hotline or news about what’s happening in the world, how do you psychologically deal with that, how is your relationship to capital-I Information shaped by this relationship?

The corollary to “we live in an age of mass information” is “we live in an age of mass misinformation,” but they both show up as answers on google (again, not a novel observation). but in the face of that how do you not simply stop asking questions? & of course this decision to stop asking questions is given form and substance by social circumstance, it reinforces systemic privileges and violences, and so this decision is not one free from consequence, and in many cases it is not an innocent decision. a white person deciding not to read the news because it’s too hard to figure out what is happening/too frightening/etc has the consequence of reinforcing the white supremacist outlook that is foundational to the social context of white people because they’re not reading anything that challenges that outlook. ignorance has many social contexts and many of them are violent. etc. like the consequence of “why does nobody google anything” is just a continuation of the status quo, just with this supposedly glaring and easy fix to it (simply google it). but that just leads us back to a discourse of individual choice, of people individually choosing not to “google shit.” it is a deeply individual fix to a systematic social problem. and so maybe the question is not, why doesn’t anyone google shit, but rather, why is the primary delivery system of knowledge a god that sells you toilet cleanser 

[xentari94]

We now interrupt our daily broadcast with a short message-

*hijacks the mic*

I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM-

*inhales*

I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM

I would also like to add that I-

LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM

We now return to our regular scheduled programming-

*steals the mic again*

BITCH THIS IS THE REGULAR PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN ALL ALONG!!!

🧡🧡🧡

🥹🥹🥹

I just really felt the need to get this off my chest, yeah. Have I mentioned I love him? Don’t believe I have.

[pers-books]

Sapphire & Steel have been reassigned! 

Big Finish’s acclaimed audio dramas based on the ITV Studios sci-fi/fantasy series Sapphire & Steel are now available to buy as downloads for the first time. 

All irregularities will be handled by the forces controlling each dimension. Transuranic, heavy elements may not be used where there is life. Medium atomic weights are available: Gold, Lead, Copper, Jet, Diamond, Radium, Sapphire, Silver and Steel.  Sapphire and Steel have been assigned. 

Sapphire & Steel, created by P. J. Hammond, was originally broadcast between 1979 and 1982. It starred Joanna Lumley and David McCallum as a pair of “interdimensional operatives” tasked with protecting the flow of time. Each story would see them take human form as they showed up in a new location, to investigate a dangerous anomaly. 

Between May 2005 and August 2008, Big Finish released 15 full-cast audio dramas based on the TV series. The late David Warner took on McCallum’s part to play the stubborn Steel, whilst Susannah Harker slipped into Lumley’s role as Sapphire. 

For three of the audio stories, original TV guest star David Collings returned to recreate his performance as Silver. Other notable guest stars in the range included Mark Gatiss, Colin Baker, Sarah Douglas, Richard Franklin, Angela Bruce, Arthur Bostrom and Louise Jameson. 

The audio series was only ever released on CD and has been unavailable for more than a decade.  

Now, in association with ITV Studios, all three series have been re-released as downloads, giving fans the chance to relisten or indeed discover the adventures for the first time. 

Each series comes packaged with a brand-new 30-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, offering an insight into the production of these beloved adventures. 

All three series are available to buy at an exclusive early-bird price for the first month; Series One (comprising five stories) is available for just £19.99, Series Two (comprising six stories) is just £24.99, and Series Three (four stories) is £19.99. 

Big Finish chairman Jason Haigh-Ellery said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with ITV Studios to bring back our Sapphire & Steel releases as downloads. We have received regular requests over the years for it to be made available again, so we’re pleased that a whole new generation of listeners will be able to hear the late, great David Warner as Steel and Susannah Harker as Sapphire.” 

Nigel Fairs, who produced the series, added: “I’m absolutely delighted that people will be able to hear our version of Sapphire & Steel again, as it really was a labour of love. Re-imagining such a visual television series for audio was no easy task, but I think my decision to concentrate on the emotional story arcs of the characters who encountered ‘Time’ and our two agents bore some really tasty fruit! Dear David and Susie were the perfect leads, and the recording sessions were amongst the happiest I ever had at Big Finish. Creative times indeed. ‘Roll back time, Sapphire…’” 

The four-part stories in each series are: 

Series One: 

The Passenger by Steve Lyons

Daisy Chain by Joseph Lidster 

All Fall Down by David Bishop

The Lighthouse by Nigel Fairs 

Dead Man Walking by Nigel Fairs (based on a story by John Ainsworth) 

Series Two: 

The School by Simon Guerrier

The Surest Poison by Richard Dinnick

Water Like a Stone by Nigel Fairs

Cruel Immortality by Nigel Fairs 

Perfect Day by Steve Lyons

The Mystery of the Missing Hour by Joseph Lidster

Series Three: 

Second Sight by Nigel Fairs

Remember Me by John Dorney

Zero by Steve Lyons 

Wall of Darkness by Nigel Fairs 

All three series are available exclusively here. Series One is available for just £19.99, Series Two for £24.99, and Series Three for £19.99. 

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release.

-- Well bugger me!

I wonder if this means I've got access to the downloads now, since I bought the CDs way back when?

*goes to check* No, huh. Guess I'll go on using the rips of the CDs then!

[sweet-sweet-petunia]

NormalTales - A Regular Podcast and Secret Santa Gift

We decided to do a little Secret Santa ficlet exchange, so here is my fic for @rumor-weed!

“Welcome to NormalTales!” Bob’s voice rang out through the speakers and earbuds of the thousands of listeners they’d amassed. “A regular podcast, for regular, human people. I’m Bob-”

“And I’m Larry!”

“And as always, we’re your co-hosts for this week’s podcast.”

“We’ve got a great show with our great crew!” Larry’s voice was peppy. “Some of our favorite returning segments and favorite returning guest stars! And of course, our lovely executive producer…”

“Can you go one show without shouting out your girlfriend?” Bob teased.

Larry, unbeknown to listeners, shook his head. “No can do, Bob. Petunia’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The world must know!”

“Please,” Petunia laughed. “It’s a vanity title. Back on topic, guys. You’re introducing this week’s episode.”

“That’s right!” Bob was right back on script. “This week, we decided to go with a simple but important theme. Family.”

“Found or otherwise!” Larry chirped.

Bob continued to explain “As always, we gave our guest hosts the theme and let them chose what it meant to them, and what stories they wanted to tell. First up, we’ll be hearing from Archibald and Lovey, with their weekly mystery story segment.”

There was a faint bit of outro music, and then the intro, a classy piano playing a slightly offputting, perhaps menacing, piece. “Welcome back, loyal patrons” Archibald greeted. “To Murder’s In The Heir.”

“A hair rising, spine tingling story of a man killed the night before his new will was to be signed.” Lovey hammed it up for the audience at home. “Any of his heirs had motive, as they were to receive a larger sum on the previous document, but who had the guts to commit the crime?”

Back in the main studio, Bob, mic off, whispered “Is this a murder mystery? Is that allowed?”

“You did say they could do whatever they want with the theme.” Larry reminded him.

The couple, meanwhile, continued on, Lovey theorizing “Of course, Miss Withers, his personal nurse, had the motive, means, and physical proximity-”

“This doesn’t seem appropriate for a family-friendly podcast!” Bob harshly whispered.

“I got this.” Petunia sighed, phasing them out and back to Bob and Larry. 

“What a great story!” Bob forced out, laughing awkwardly.

Larry, however, didn’t miss a beat, his professional demeanor shining through, his ‘camera ready’ personality still on, chiming in “And now it’s Time For Tom!”

A little intro played, a generic sounding voice singing out a peppy “It’s Time For Tom!”

“That’s me!” Tom’s southern twang immediately recognizable. “Bob wants me to talk about family. An I ain’t know why he woulda thought that’s a good idea, but I’m gettin’ paid regardless.”

“Isn’t he still fighting with his dad?” Petunia whispered to Bob and Larry.

“They’re fighting?!?” Bob whispered back, frenzied. 

“Yeah, something about a half sister, or something.” Larry nodded.

“How many kids does Pa have???” Bob questioned. Up until this moment he genuinely thought there was only Tom and Rosie.

Larry bit his lip in thought for a moment, before responding “Um, at least four.”

“...why I gotta raise my own sister?” Tom continued to rant. “Just cause I’m 18? Barely an adult, not that Pa cares none. And Rosie ain’t no picnic neither! In fact-”

“Petunia?” Bob asked warily.

“Already on it.” She shook her head, bringing the broadcast back to the hosts.

“W-well, Tom sure had a lot to say about his dad, but I’m sure his dad has a lot to say, too!” Larry tried to recover. 

“Right, Larry.” Bob nodded, thankful that they were able to segue without causing too much additional commotion. “And kids listening at home, adults always say to respect your elders. But we should do more than just respect them. Let’s talk to them! Befriend them! They have a lot of interesting stories they can share!”

Petunia phased in the intro, a remix of Pa saying “b-b-b back b-b-back b-b-back in my day…”

And then the real Pa’s voice came flooding in “Welcome to Back in My Day! The part of the show where Nebby and I talk about the way things used to be!”

“Kids these days don’t even know about VCRs,” Nebby sighed “Let alone CD Walkmans…”

“Walkmans?!?” Pa cried, confused. “Don’t you remember listening to Buddy Holly on the gramophone?”

“How old do you think I am?” Nezzer pleased. 

Pa paused, before confessing “I…I knew you were younger than me. But I was thinking 10, maybe 15 years? Bob and Larry remember VCRs and Walkmans, Nebby.”

“Do you think I’m at least a generation older than those two?” Mr. Nezzer questioned, genuinely confused.

“Well, I mean, I did…”

Nezzer let out a sharp gasp, “I am 37 years young! Megan and I went to high school together! We were glee club rivals! Did I ever tell you about that? About me and Megan in the same glee club? She always got the solos!”

Bob’s eyes went wide. “Oh. Megan’s not gonna be happy about her age going on the air like that.”

“Why’s it matter?” Larry questioned, oblivious. “She has a whole son. She’s clearly not 20 anymore.”

“Not all of Bumblyburg needs to know that.” Bob bit his lip nervously.

Petunia was once again quick to jump in, cutting the Back In My Day segment off. “You’re clear.” she signaled, nodding to Larry. 

“Wasn’t that informative!” Larry smiled into the mic, “and now, on the theme of family, let’s talk about Found Family! The note I made on my phone says,” he paused, clearing his throat. “Urban Dictionary defines Found Family as the phenomenon where a group of people come to love each other like family, even though they aren't biologically related. You might have this feeling, about, say, a sports team! Which is why we’re proud to introduce our newest segment, Life’s A Bowl. Starring Bumblyburg’s favorite bowling league team!” A short, snappy intro played, the words “Life’s A Bowl!” being sung with a quick chime at the end.

“Imagine laying pipe to that.” Audrey joked.

Art Bigotti blinked, taken back, seeming…a bit impressed? “You smoke, Audrey? I didn’t know that about you.”

“That’s not what that means.” Audrey stated simply.

“Back on topic.” Bob redirected.

“Did we have a topic?” Dad, as in Junior’s Dad, questioned. “Are we just talking about the bowling team?”

“I guess.” Bob sounded tepid. “And family. Found family.”

“If we’re talking about bowling and family,” Audrey jumped in. “Petunia should be in this conversation, too.”

Bob narrowed his eyes. “She’s not on the team.”

“No,” Audrey shrugged. “But she is my ride.”

“She is there every tournament.” Dad agreed. 

“Which one’s Petunia again?” Art questioned quietly.

“The redhead.” Dad whispered back.

“All redheads are related, you know that right? They’re all-” Audrey started, but was cut off.

“That’s enough out of you.” Bob interrupted.

Audrey gasped, feigning shock. “Bobby! And here I was not even sprouting a rumor-”

“Sprouting misinformation.” Bob deadpanned. “On my podcast. And we’re supposed to be talking about found family.”

“I wish some family stayed not found…” Art mumbled under his breath.

“What was that?” Dad questioned.

Art was a little too quick in his response of “Nothing!”

Bob, desperately, tried to get the conversation back on track. “How long have we been bowling together, anyhow?”

There was a short pause. A moment of thought. Eventually it was Dad who chimed in with “3 years now, I think!”

“Has it really been that long?” Audrey gasped. “Maybe we really are a little family. We sure bicker like one.”

A beat. A long pause.

“Was that….” Petunia whispered, almost afraid of what the answer might be “...was that a successful segment?”

“I dunno,” Larry whispered back. “I don’t think we ever had one of those before.”

Petunia loudly cleared her throat, and cheerily introduced “And now a short break to focus on health and wellness!”

A few notes of music played, serving as an intro. “Hello everyone! It’s me, Larry! You remember, from the podcast? And I’m here with my good friend Goliath.”

“Hi.” came the much lower voice.

“Now, Goliath, you’re a pretty active fellow, aren’t you?” Larry asked.

“That is right.” Goliath, clearly reading off of queue cards, replied. “And being such an active guy, sometimes, I forget to stretch. And when a back as big of mine hurts, what can you do?”

“I bet sometimes you feel like you need a whole new spine.” Larry delivered his lines with a charismatic ease. “Lucky for you, you don’t need a whole spine replacement with the brand new vertebrae pillow!”

“Is this what we’re shilling?” Goliath questioned.

Larry hissed “Stick to the script.”

“My days of back pain are over!” Goliath’s voice was once again flat, clearly reading each word individually.

“And yours can be too!” Larry chirped. “Available only at StuffMart. Terms and Conditions may apply. Not approved by doctors and not an actual pillow.”

Bob, wondering why they even bothered to take that ad in the first place, shook his head, going back on script. “Well, we’ve heard from our elders on Back In My Day, now let’s hear from the future generation. Junior and Laura are back with their monthly segment - New Kids Oughta Talk!”

Much like every segment before them, Junior and Laura waited for their intro to play before calling out “Hi!”

“I’m Junior!”

“And I’m Laura!”

“And this is New Kids Oughta Talk!”

“The show where me and Junior find other kids and interview them. Kid to kid.” Laura nodded, though the listeners at home could not see that.

The excitement in Junior’s voice was palpable as he introduced “Today we have some very special guests! Let’s give a warm welcome to Egg Boy and Bathroom Girl!”

“Egg Boy and Bathroom Girl?” Bob repeated, looking at Larry and then Petunia, concerned.

“Allo allo!” The boy’s voice was peppy. “I’m Egg Boy, and this here is my best friend, Bathroom Girl!”

The girl’s voice was also friendly, but far less enthusiastic. “It’s nice to be here.”

“So,” Laura started, “How long have you two been friends?”

“I feel like I’ve known Bathroom Girl my whole life!” Egg Boy responded. “Eggs and Bathrooms just go together, like socks and shoes, peanut butter and jelly, chocolate pudding and ham…”

“Hold it, hold it!” Bob cried, “Junior, Laura, this is some kind of prank, right? Kids, what are you real names?”

“Bathroom Girl.” Bathroom Girl responded. “And he’s Egg Boy. Did we need to work on sounding more clear for the audience?”

“I know my accent can be a bit tricky.” Egg Boy sighed.

Bob sighed. “We got the two of you involved to ask real questions to real kids with real answers. Can you at least bring in someone with a real name?”

“Egg Boy is my real-”

He was cut off by Junior interrupting “And now for our next guest, Francois!”

Bob gasped, while Larry and Petunia shared a knowing look, both trying to not giggle. “Bonjour! It is tres nice to be invited to a real podcast set!”

“Welcome Francois!” Laura greeted. “Or should we say, Bienvenue?”

“You are learning!” Francois gasped. “I am tres proud!”

“I’ve been practicing too!” Junior cried excitedly. “Il pleuvait comme vache qui pisse!”

Francois raised an eyebrow curiously “But it is sunny outside.”

“I know.” Junior shrugged. “I just like saying it.”

“Now, Francois,” Laura brought things back on topic. “Today’s topic is family. Do you have any fun family stories?”

“Well, you already know my maman was adopted. Very recently. I do not know how you adopt a full grown adult, but…”

“Got anything more recent?” Junior pressed.

“Can you keep a secret?” Francois whispered, despite the fact that being on a live airing podcast meant everyone listening now and who would listen in the future would also know this secret.

Junior and Laura knew this. That didn’t stop them from cheerfully replying “Of course!!”

“My maman says I may have a step-papa soon if Bob can stop beating around the bush. I do not know what bush she is referring to, but-”

“Petunia.” Bob hissed. “Cut. Now.”

“But it’s going so well…” she tried, despite the giggles giving her away.

Larry, it seemed, was ready to jump in and put an end to the sinking ship, back on the mic. “Uhhh….that looks like all the time we have for today. Tune in next week with our next topic - magic! With a very special guest, the president of the world wide skeptics society!”

[turtlethon]

“Revenge of the Fly”

Season 7, Episode 22 First US Airdate: November 27, 1993

Baxter Stockman plots to turn the city’s residents into mutant insects.

The seventh season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles heads into its final stretch with “Revenge of the Fly”. This episode aired back-to-back with "Escape from the Planet of the Turtleoids" and is credited to series regular David Wise.

We open with the Turtles watching a report by Vernon, who interviews an un-named scientist at a research lab. The professor reveals that he has been able to distil the genetic characteristics of various insects down to their essences, which are kept in a series of test tubes; with these liquids it should theoretically be possible to create a variety of new bugs for specific purposes. Vernon quizzes the professor as to what would happen if the formulas were to fall into the wrong hands, and manages to give away the specific location of the lab – right down to the room number – while the broadcast is going out on live TV. Knowing how this kind of thing always plays out, the Turtles decide to monitor the facility, anticipating that Shredder and Krang will eventually show up.

***

FLY PAPERS: A BAXTER STOCKMAN INTERLUDE

With the exception of “Night of the Rogues”, I don’t know if there’s ever been an episode of TMNT that ties back to as many prior adventures as this one, so it might be a good idea for us to do a quick recap of relevant past events that will play into this story. Waaaaay back in season one, “A Thing About Rats” introduced Baxter Stockman as a down-on-his-luck scientist who had the misfortune to cross paths with Shredder, aiding in the creation of an army of his own “Mouser” pest extermination robots which were turned against the Turtles, Splinter and April. After this plan was foiled, Baxter wound up being captured by the authorities and – presumably because of his insistence that his undoing was due to the existence of the then-unknown Ninja Turtles – he was confined to an insane asylum. In the aftermath of these events, Shredder would go on to attempt to revert the Turtles back to their original pet forms using a retromutagen ray gun, only for Splinter to intervene and destroy it.

Season two’s opener, “Return of the Shredder”, saw Shreds break Baxter out of the asylum, and for the first half of the season Stockman would serve as the masked villain’s right-hand man. After a series of embarrassing defeats at the hands of the Turtles, “Enter: The Fly” had Shredder request that Bebop and Rocksteady, then residing in the Technodrome in Dimension X, be sent to Earth. To maintain the dimensional balance Shredder would hurl Baxter through the portal. Krang had no use for Baxter and ordered that he be placed in a vaporising chamber, but the presence of a fly during the procedure led to the scientist instead being transformed into a half-man, half-fly, who would return to Earth and swear revenge on both Shredder and the Turtles. At the conclusion of this episode, Baxter found himself suspended in a temporal limbo, permanently out-of-step with the rest of the world and only able to watch events unfold around him as a ghost-like figure.

Season three’s “Return of the Fly” brought Baxter back fully into our dimension, leading to him being manipulated again by Shredder. Later that year, “Bye Bye, Fly” would see the mutant discover an underground temple that was ultimately revealed to be an alien spaceship. Further encounters with the Turtles and Shredder followed in this adventure, during which Baxter would arm himself with a mutating ray stored aboard the ship that could turn his enemies into a variety of different animals. Later, Baxter would escape in the ship only for it to fall apart, leaving him trapped between dimensions, about to be eaten by a giant spider.

Baxter would survive – somehow! - and in season four’s “Son of Return of the Fly II” used a dimensional rift to return to Earth. Now accompanied by his friend, the alien computer’s spaceship (known as “Z”), the increasingly addle-brained fly created chaos at Channel 6 and was briefly able to capture the Turtles. A scuffle at the station headquarters between Shredder and Baxter would culminate in the destruction of Z’s computer form, leaving him a mere circuit board that wound up trapped with Baxter between Earth and Dimension X.

Things would take an unexpected and disappointing turn in season five’s “Landlord of the Flies”. Somehow Baxter was back on Earth, with no explanation given; “Z” was also nowhere to be found. Following an adventure in which Stockman controlled an army of flies that brought to city to its knees, he was sent by Donatello back into dimensional limbo, the last time he had been seen up to this point. It’s arguably easier to consider “Landord” non-canon, given that it doesn’t line up with any of the prior Baxter appearances or what will happen in today’s adventure. (It was also a cruddy episode all-round, and thus easily discarded in the great scheme of things.)

Now that we’re up to speed, let’s return to today’s adventure, already in progress: several of the events detailed above will play into those that are about to unfold, albeit often in ways that raise more questions than answers.

***

For whatever reason, Shredder has decided that now is the time to repair the retromutagen ray from season one. To that end, he has Bebop and Rocksteady recover a Nutronium crystal, the final component he needs to make it operational again. All of this would be fine, but... the ray as it appears here looks nothing like it did when we last saw it. Instead, it’s drawn to look identical to Baxter’s mutating ray from “Bye Bye, Fly”, the one that didn’t undo existing mutations but rather shifted the target from one form to another; it even still has the dial with pictures of different animals on it. An egregious goof, to be sure. Let’s press on.

At “Genetic Research” - that’s what the sign says – a night watchman stands guard as the Turtles look on from nearby. Baxter is namechecked by the team during their conversation, leading to Raph mentioning that “thanks to Krang he’s stuck in some kinda... dimensional limbo”. Wait, what? The last time we saw Baxter it was Donatello that sent him to another dimension; I guess we can take this as confirmation that “Landlord of the Flies” has been scratched from the record, as the only thing this seems to match up with is the portal to the Technodrome being shut down while Baxter was in the middle of passing between dimensions in “Son of Return of the Fly II”.

As Shredder makes the final adjustments to his ray gun, Krang is attempting to restore contact with Dimension X. With his equipment faltering, the portal instead focuses on a different realm, the one where Baxter was trapped. The fly passes back through the portal, arriving in the Technodrome clutching the circuit board that is the last remnant of his buddy, “Z”.

Baxter evades a group of Foot Soldiers then hurls himself at Krang, picking the alien brain and his bubble walker up before flying to the roof and dropping him back down to the floor. Shredder intervenes, only to be tossed into a wall. Following Z’s instructions, Baxter connects the alien computer’s circuit board to the Technodrome’s systems. Now in control of the undersea fortress, Z has the Foot Soldiers round up Shredder, Krang and The Boys, locking them in a storage facility. Having picked up on Vernon’s earlier broadcast, Z informs Baxter of the experiments taking place at the research facility and begins plotting to use these developments to achieve world domination. A handheld computer allows Z to continue aiding Baxter remotely.

I neglected to mention this in prior Turtlethon entries but over the course of the last few episodes, as the focus of the series has returned to the Technodrome, the traditional transport modules have been phased out in favour of a new amphibious version. One of these vehicles appears briefly here, emerging from the water and rolling into the city. Meanwhile the Turtles abandon monitoring the research facility when April requests help, having found herself on a rooftop while covering news of a fire. The blaze has since spread, putting her in danger, and so the team rush to her aid. Moments after their departure the module rolls up; from it emerges Baxter, whose appearance causes the guard to faint. The fly smashes through the windows of the lab, barging in and stealing the test tubes containing the genetic materials.

At EMF (it’s unbelievable!), April finds herself cornered by the worsening fire until Michaelangelo, descending from the Turtle Blimp, swoops in to save her at the last second. Later, a fireman shows the Turtles and April the “Super Slosher 2000”, an advanced water cannon used to quickly put out blazes. April is informed of a break-in at the lab by Burne, and leaves with the Turtles in her van; Baxter is already long gone from the facility, and steals the Super Slosher to use as a delivery mechanism for the stolen genetic materials. Testing it out, he takes aim at the firemen, who become giant mutant termites as the first act concludes.

Returning from commercials, Baxter watches as the termite men begin devouring the wooden exterior of an old building. Meanwhile, the Turtles and April talk to the professor at the lab regarding the break-in, and note the tell-tale signs that this is Baxter’s doing. While the team find it hard to believe that Stockman would be capable of doing much with the formulas given his diminished mental state, his supercomputer friend Z is another story altogether, and so our heroes rush off to intervene.

At a fairground, Baxter opens fire with the Super Slosher, turning everyone in attendance into mutant insects. He laments that despite all of this going as planned, he feels something is still missing; Z then suggests that the Turtles should be the next target in his quest for revenge, and that attacking their allies at Channel 6 would be an effective way to lure the green teens out of hiding. The mutant fly leaves, forgetting to take Z’s handheld computer form with him.

In the Technodrome, Krang posits that his fortress was built “too well”, providing no means of escape. Shredder suggests that mixing the chemicals present in the storage facility could allow them to create an explosion and blow down the door. Meanwhile the Turtles arrive at the fairground and restrain the mutant insects. Donatello finds the handheld computer, but Z refuses to reveal what’s going on, shutting down his system instead. As a means of pressuring him into revealing what’s going on, Donnie threatens to dump “fifty megs of random data” into his logic circuits. (This might not sound like a lot now, but keep in mind that in 1993 it might have been the size of your home PC’s entire hard drive.) Z reluctantly explains that Baxter was able to acquire some of Krang’s mutagen and is using it into conjunction with the stolen lab materials to turn everyone into mutant bugs.

The Turtles and April learn that Baxter is now at Channel 6, and hurry over to the station offices to confront him. Inside they find a giant honeycomb, an indicator of things to come. Burne soon emerges, having been turned into a half-man, half-bee. Before the Turtles can react, Irma – now a moth lady – joins her boss in attacking, the pair working together to drag Leonardo and Michaelangelo away. Meanwhile Krang’s makeshift chemical bomb proves entirely ineffective in blowing down the door, and so the Technodrome Crew find themselves having to go back to the drawing board.

Baxter has taken over broadcasts at Channel 6. He goes on the air, promising his viewers that if they aren’t already mutants, they will be soon, and espouses the benefits of living as an insect. Elsewhere in the building, Donnie and Raph look to rescue Leo and Mikey, but instead find themselves trapped in the web of a mutant spider Vernon as act two reaches its conclusion.

Act three opens with April cutting her friends free from the web. Donnie and Raph point out to Vernon that spiders eat flies, not turtles, and encourage him to spin an enormous web outside of the building so that Baxter can be captured. Back in the Technodrome, Krang suggests using his bubble walker to force the door open, and so the bad guys get to work on their next escape plan.

Baxter confronts a captive Leonardo and Michaelangelo in the station offices, promising to get even with the Turtles, despite conceding that he can’t remember exactly why he wants revenge to begin with. Donnie and Raph intervene, freeing their friends, but further threats emerge as Baxter turns April into a wasp. (Compared to her genuinely creepy transformation in “The Cat Woman from Channel 6”, this is handled in a haphazard and shoddy fashion; in one shot she has wings and antennae, in the next her entire body has changed, and I can’t help but wonder if this was a result of laziness or someone considering showing the full metamorphosis to be too frightening.) Insistent on not fighting her friends, wasp April instead joins the Turtles in chasing Baxter out of the building. There, the mutant fly finds himself trapped in the web created by Vernon, the Super Slosher destroyed in the process.

Much to Vernon’s frustration, Baxter is saved from being devoured, with Raphael noting “that is not how we get rid of villains on this show.” Meanwhile April continues trying to resist attacking the Turtles. Donatello suggests to the team that the only way of restoring everyone to normal is to get Shredder’s retromutagen ray, and so our heroes have Baxter take them to the transport module.

Bebop and Rocksteady attempt to use the hydraulic limbs of the bubble walker to pry the door open, but without success. Meanwhile the Turtles arrive in the Technodrome, but are tricked by Z into entering a room full of Foot Soldiers, still under his control. The robots free Baxter, only to be quickly defeated by our heroes.

As the Turtles rush to shut down the Technodrome’s main computer, Baxter seeks the retromutagen ray, intent on returning himself to his human form. Z attempts to deter the Turtles with a group of wheeled machines, but his systems are ultimately taken offline thanks to a well-placed strike from Donatello’s bo. With Z no longer in control, the doors of the storage facility unexpectedly open, making Shredder suspicious. He grabs the retromutagen ray as the Turtles arrive to confront him and begins opening fire. Briefly, it seems that the Turtles are set to be reverted to their original forms, but Baxter swoops in, grabbing the ray out of Shredder’s hand. He leaps through the portal, followed by the Turtles, who recognise retrieving the gun is the only way April and everyone else can be made human once more.

Seeing an opportunity to be rid of the Turtles forever, Shredder shuts down the portal. Caught between dimensions, the Turtles realise that only a few seconds remain before their route back to the Technodrome vanishes from existence. The team leap back in, restraining Shredder in another of the complex’s storage facilities.

Evidently some time must have passed before the concluding scene takes place, with Raphael noting that “everyone in the city is back to normal” as the Channel 6 regulars are restored to their regular forms. Leonardo uses his sword to destroy the retromutagen ray, ending once and for all the threat that it could be used to revert the Turtles nto regular pets. None of the station employees remember their time as insects, but Vernon still has a latent appetite for flies and chases one through the building, echoing his lingering desire for cheese following his time as a rodent in “Were-Rats from Channel 6”.

All things considered, this is a lacklustre way for Baxter to go out. The final moments of the story tease the idea that he could be returned to his normal form, and doing so would have granted both him and us a nice bit of closure, particularly if we assume there was no intention to use him again moving forward. Perhaps David Wise wanted to keep his options open for stories in future seasons, but to have Baxter’s arc end in this fashion – never even acknowledged once the Turtles re-emerge from the portal, becoming an afterthought in his own episode – strikes me as an unsatisfying conclusion to one of the show’s few ongoing storylines. I suppose in theory it’s possible that he was able to restore himself to his human form during his largely unseen scuffle with the Turtles, but even if that were the case, his prospects while trapped between dimensions – particularly now that he no longer has (the presumably destroyed) Z as an ally – seem bleak.

Within the wider workings of season seven, “Revenge of the Fly” feels representative of how things are going. From “Night of the Dark Turtle” through to "White Belt, Black Heart" we had a stretch of some of the strongest episodes in the show’s history, as the more juvenile tone that had become synonymous with this incarnation of the Turtles gave way to an ever-so-slightly more mature, focused series, if only out of necessity. Things began to falter with “Night of the Rogues” - a huge story that required more broadcast time to work that it received – and each of the subsequent episodes has suffered from similar problems. I’m beginning to get the impression that saving Turtles this far into its run is a monumental task, one hampered by broadcast regulations, dwindling budgets and executive meddling, and it’ll take more than a few strong scripts to do it. (If that reads as a bleak analysis, keep in mind that we’re only five episodes away from a dramatic tonal shift that will alter the direction of the series for the remainder of its run.)

NEXT TIME: I know we already had an Atlantis-themed Turtles episode, and it wasn’t even that long ago, but we’re going back to the well again! See you next time for "Atlantis Awakes".

[stephen-barry]

National Museum of Broadcasting

National Museum of Broadcasting Plans Begin to Take Shape

The Pittsburgh, PA museum will highlight myriad technologies that have supported electronic media...

A long-imagined dream of building a museum honoring broadcasting and electronic media has just taken another step forward.

Plans are in the works for the creation of the National Museum of Broadcasting in Pittsburgh that will explore the 103-year-old timeline of electronic media, from its humble beginnings in AM radio all the way to our modern era of streaming and social...

“Nov. 2, 1920 is recognized as a significant date in radio’s history and evolution, as most historians agree that it marks the beginning of regular and continuing entertainment and news broadcasts directed exclusively to the general public. Pittsburgh’s KDKA [AM at 1020 MHz], which has now been operating continuously for over 100 years, is recognized for launching broadcasting as we know today that evening, by airing continuing coverage of presidential election returns.”

[meandmyechoes]

Kingohger ep28

thank you.

there's no scroll frame during narration anymore → stage expanded beyond earth + story still unwritten

new bgm everywhere

villains these days can launch paychic attacks from SPACE

okashii so himeno sama 🤣🤣

WHY is my mysterious debut music used HERE 🤣

I just want to ask, yanma gast, rita kaniska, did you both NOT went to sleep

wait did they switch voices i'm actually confused by gira jera

The other two pairs changed their body language but i'm telling you gira jera switch FACES

oh my god

My brain is overloading

*watch wings scene twice*

who is this why is hirakawa yuzuki speaking in kingohger

im sorry i'm smiling like an idiot and the show is playing this solemn battle music

omg yanma's body that never trained sword

macaroni boyzu!!

wait YANMA started the fight… so he has no qualms punching HIMSELF. That the "wise king" to you.

oh my jera gira back hug henshin tutorial… rider heroine script jann…

Gira's Otto??

i can't i'm pausing every 10 second to laugh

wait a minute i literally cannot tell Taisei and Masashi's voice apart??

*sigh* these four puttinf their own country's interest first is such… them.

*too busy laughing at the chaos to comment on anything 💛🖤💙💜*

deleted Ishabana gondolas! Welcome back!

hmmm Uspa's disappearance is a foreshadow?!

wait wait why are gira jera greeting the crowd like a royal couple

if gira asked jeramie to do this does he have a regular meeting schedule (a red panda mascot would. *nods*)

ah. they made it, clearing the prejudice against bugnarok… 😥

Gira too, a proper king… 😭

Kaku-san's "Sou" sokurri!

the long hair makes him even more otome…

wait I was right down to the WASABI??!

the bkg still looks clearly composited, but it's an impressive live background!

you two stop acting like N'kosopa and Gokkan are just acrosd the street 😭 you guys are half a globe apart 😭

oooh they exchanged their phones

Erica is just having the time of her life

honeybee besties

wings 你兩個公報私仇咋吓話

omg fanfic on screen

oh gosh they are a sentai

the little papi huh once they switch back

😦

😨

😳😰

i saw this shot + 29 already but still?? you sure this level of violence canbe broadcast on children's tv NOW??

Moru freakin stabbed Yanma with a penknife and Shiokara swung a bat at Rita's head?? Are u ok??

fun time is over…

Jeramie is the only one left next ep becausr he's the only one who blocked Douga's sword with his bug arm

the return of red gira!

if they give up the thrones that will be our "Resistance" connection! Team jackets here we come!

[linuxgamenews]

My Friendly Neighborhood is due to bring the horror to Linux

My Friendly Neighborhood puppet puzzle survival game has a Linux port on the radar with Windows PC. The brilliant craftsmanship of developers John and Evan Szymanski truly shines in this work. Available on Steam with 96% Very Positive reviews. A unique new puppet puzzle survival thriller, just released, a fresh out of the oven titled, My Friendly Neighborhood. Your good ol' innocent puppet buddies from childhood TV, have all gone berserk. Which is all due to evolve onto Linux.

I am happy to report that Linux support is on my radar.

The My Friendly Neighborhood developers have responded via email, revealing that they're using Unity 3D 2020.1.17f1, an innovative input system, and a post-processing stack for the game. They're eager to provide a native build once the release storm settles. And while we can confirm robust Proton support, they definitely see the value in a native port. Now then, our main hero in My Friendly Neighborhood is Gordon, your regular repair guy. He laces up his boots, not knowing he's about to dive into a pool of complete puppet madness. Gordon's task is seemingly simple at first - switch off the unexpected broadcast of an old kids’ show, 'The Friendly Neighborhood'. As a result, he's about to be in the center of a puppet revolt. My Friendly Neighborhood once filled up living rooms with laughter, lighting up little faces with its goofy puppet crew. The world loved the edu-tainment it offered, the fun-filled journey it took them on. But alas, with time, the love faded, and a result, the studio had to close shop. The puppet gang has returned for an unscripted encore. This time, they're far from friendly.

My Friendly Neighborhood Trailer

In the spirit of beloved mascot horror sagas, My Friendly Neighborhood offers a wild ride that's anything but typical. There's no splash of gore, no typical fright fest. Instead, it welcomes you to a realm of horror where scares come with sprinkles of fluff and felt. Which is also very well done. As you explore the desolate My Friendly Neighborhood studio, survival is the key. You have to keep those rabid puppets at bay, tie them down with your trusty toolkit filled with quirky, harmless weapons, and good ol' duct tape. You're in for a host of unique puzzles that are equal parts fun and fear. Oh, and remember, you're also digging for a dark secret buried in this whole puppet chaos.

Here's what you're signing up for:

Puppets: Are they buddies or bullies? It's a madhouse of crazy, colorful characters that were once friends but have now turned foes.

Choose Your Own Adventure: You're not stuck following a linear path in My Friendly Neighborhood. Your map is your guide, and you have the freedom to explore.

Wacky Weapons: Unique tools, like the Rolodexer, are your saviors. Can you recall your ABCs? That’s your ammo, and careful management is key!

Puzzling Scenarios: Put on your thinking cap to solve a variety of challenging enigmas, a tribute to the classics of survival horror.

Varying Scenes: From Ray's Workshop to the Cardboard Crayon Halls, there are tons of diverse places for you to explore.

Stay Organized: Keep track of your belongings in a grid-based real-time inventory. Trust me, it's so much more efficient!

My Friendly Neighborhood puppet puzzle survival game can be yours right now. You can grab it on Windows PC via Steam and play with Proton at a Platinum level. Or you can wait for the native Linux build of the game, no ETA yet. Priced at $26.99 USD / £22.49 / 26,09€ with the 10% discount.

[thelensofyashunews]

Mez (fka King Mez) Fails to Reduce His Screen Time in "Call On" Video

Respected in the game for his pen and flair for visuals, North Carolina rapper Mez is ready for his turn in the spotlight. Returning with his first new song since 2022 and first studio release since 2020, the GRAMMY-nominated rapper shares "Call On," a vibrant new song and music video. The song is a tale of two verses–in the first, Mez works a double-time flow, rattling off witticisms and SAT words as he warns his fellow rappers how praise can turn to jealousy on a dime ("Do wild sh*t when you know that you a genius/Don't trust sh*t, how you make it to your zenith/N****s say it's all love, but the president of your fan club can turn out like Selena's"), while the second verse works in some easy melody and luxury life flexes, as Mez gives into the urge to return to the game. The verses are beautifully complemented by a hook from Trinidad-born, Berlin-based artist Kurtis Wells, whose hazy vocals express longing and hard-earned ambition.

Directed by Mez himself, the music video features a musician playing and screened-out cello and Mez rapping with a live drummer amid a field of TV screens, each showing a different angle and portion of Mez's performance. The video is a sly commentary on how our life is dominated by screens: we might have more access and information than ever before, but we are still at the mercy of what the broadcaster decides to show.

Mez's upcoming EP is the culmination of his long journey through the music industry. Emerging out of Raleigh in the early 2010s, Mez was a leading light in a fertile NC rap scene that birthed underground and mainstream stars. Mez's sharp lyrics and assured artistic vision helped convince some of music's biggest stars to trust him with their creative visions. Then known as "King Mez," the rapper was one of the driving forces behind Compton, Dr. Dre's long-awaited third album, appearing on nine tracks and writing on several others–his efforts drew praise from the likes of Pitchfork, NPR, Vulture, and many others. Mez has been a regular affiliate of his friend and fellow North Carolinian J. Cole, and has contributed several verses to Dreamville compilations, including Revenge Of The Dreamers III and last year's Creed III: The Soundtrack. Mez is also a renowned video director, stepping behind the camera for clips like J. Cole's "Middle Child" and "a m a r i," Dreamville's "Sleep Deprived" (on which he also raps), plus videos for Ari Lennox, Isaiah Rashad, and more.

Now, Mez steps back into the forefront, armed with his own message and more than enough talent to make it known. Stay tuned for much more from the multi-talented artist in the near future.

[webtecshazeb]

Online Advertising, Google Ads, Facebook Advertising

Title: Maximizing Your Online Presence: The Power of Google Ads and Facebook Ads

In today's digital age, building a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. With millions of users actively searching for and interacting with platforms like Google and Facebook, leveraging the power of online advertising has become essential for increasing brand awareness, generating leads, and increasing sales. At WebTec Digital, we understand the importance of effective online advertising strategies, especially through Google Ads and Facebook advertising, to help businesses succeed in digital competition.

The Evolution of Online Advertising Online advertising has evolved over the years, providing businesses with unprecedented opportunities to connect with their target audiences. With the rise of search engines and social media platforms, businesses can now reach potential customers at any point in their online messaging. Google Ads and Facebook Advertising are two of the most powerful and effective platforms to reach and engage your target audience across channels and devices.

Unlocking the Potential of Google Ads Google Ads (formerly Google) AdWords is a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising system that allows businesses to advertise on Google's search engine results pages (SERPs). platform. and broadcasts on a large network of partner sites. With Google Ads, businesses can target users based on specific keywords related to their products or services, have their ads appear when potential customers search, and find relevant information.

Google Ads offers a variety of targeting options including location, demographics, preferences, and more, allowing businesses to customize their marketing campaigns to appeal to the best audience for them. Businesses can use Google Ads to expand, increase traffic, and achieve their goals by creating ads, campaign strategies, and optimization.

Attract your target audience with Facebook Ads Facebook Ads enable businesses to reach over 2 billion users worldwide, making it a powerful platform to reach and engage with your target audience. Thanks to its powerful capabilities, businesses can create personalized advertising campaigns based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and even users' interaction with their brand.

Image ads, video ads, carousel ads, etc. on Facebook. There are many types of ads that allow businesses to showcase their products or services creatively and engagingly, including: Whether it's building brand awareness, increasing website conversions, or promoting ads, Facebook ads can help businesses connect with audiences who spend a lot of time online.

Achieve Success in Online Advertising with WebTec Digital At WebTec Digital, we understand the complexity of online advertising and the importance of delivering measurable results to our clients. Our team of digital marketing experts specializes in creating online advertising strategies that support the full capabilities of platforms such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads.

We work with our customers to understand their business goals, target audience, and competitive advantages, allowing us to create customized plans that deliver good results. From keyword research and ad design to campaign management and optimization, we use a data-driven approach to ensure every ad is maximized for the best return on investment.

Through transparent reporting and regular performance evaluation, we provide our clients with information on the effectiveness of their business plans, allowing them to make informed decisions and continue to improve their advertising strategies.

Conclusion In a world where digital interactions influence consumer behavior and purchasing decisions, online advertising has become the center of good business. Through platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Advertising, businesses have the opportunity to reach and engage with their target audiences like never before.

At WebTec Digital, we are committed to helping businesses unlock the potential of online advertising and achieve their goals in the digital world. Whether you're looking to raise awareness, increase website traffic, or increase sales, we have the expertise, experience, and passion to help you succeed.

Let us be your advertising partner as you navigate the dynamic online world and take your brand to new heights. Together we can leverage the power of Google Ads and Facebook Advertising to achieve real results and move your business into the digital age.

[grantgoddard]

Radio is my bomb? : 2003 : the DAB digital radio customer complaint hotline, The Radio Authority

The Bomb Squad arrived in vans, ran into the Holborn office block and up its staircase to the eighth floor. We watched events unfold from the car park below, the assembly point to which our organisation of forty-odd people had been evacuated an hour earlier.

That humdrum morning had been interrupted by a large cardboard box delivered by Royal Mail to our office. It was not particularly heavy but had lots of stamps on the outside with a ‘Belfast’ postmark. If you were a celebrity or public figure whose opinions were widely distributed, you might anticipate threats would occasionally be made against your life. If you had a desk job in a little-known British government quango, your greatest work challenge might normally be choosing where to lunch. However, that morning, the box’s addressee Soo Williams was taking no chances. The emergency services were called.

Eventually, the ‘suspicious package’ was removed by ordnance experts and exploded elsewhere. It was found to contain nothing but paper. Printed petitions signed by hundreds of Belfast citizens demanding that religious community radio stations be licensed locally. Williams’ name had been written on the box due to her recent promotion by The Radio Authority to manage the launch of ‘community radio’. Returning to our desks after the false alarm, I ruminated what those god-fearing citizens who had toiled to gather so many signatures might have thought of having been suspected by the recipient of being terrorists.

That morning’s event exemplified the disconnect between the regulator of the radio industry and the public it was supposed to serve. Someone with an interest in the UK community radio movement would have known that tiny unlicensed radio stations had existed for years on both sides of the Irish border, broadcasting church services and information to their communities. Indeed, one history argues that the Catholic Church in Ireland was “the world’s largest pirate radio operator”. However, few of The Radio Authority’s desk-bound administrators demonstrated interest in the medium they were employed to regulate. I was the only employee to have worked in a community radio station (licensed in a 1970’s experiment), having been a founder member of the Community Radio Association two decades previously. But now, within this dysfunctional workplace, I was regarded as the office junior … at the age of forty-four.

Back at my desk, I returned to taking regular phone calls from members of the public dissatisfied with the new-fangled DAB ‘digital radio’ receiver they had just purchased. I never quite understood why the switchboard regularly passed such calls to me, as I bore no responsibility for DAB radio, and my colleagues in the Development office suffered no such impositions. It was already self-evident to me that the rollout of this new radio technology had been disastrous for listeners, though I was expected to defend the system, and worse … to blame the listener for its inadequacies.

Staff were issued with a ‘helpful’ sheet of topics to raise with complainants about DAB. Suggestions to be made to members of the public experiencing difficulties tuning into stations on their new receiver included:

move your radio nearer a window

listen to the radio in an upstairs room

your residence might be constructed of the wrong materials

your residence might be located in a valley

your residence might be located in a dense urban area

your residence might be in an apartment block or a basement

you may need to install a rooftop antenna.

Many callers were understandably baffled and annoyed by these ‘answers’ to their problems, proffering a torrent of abuse or hanging up. Many had spent around £90 on a portable DAB receiver and expected it to deliver what the industry’s marketing had promised – ‘crystal clear’ reception of a wide choice of radio stations. The most popular receiver, the ‘Pure Evoke-1’, had been designed to be portable and had no socket to even attach the suggested external antenna, let alone the connectivity to update and improve its software. And why did it resemble a wooden post-war radio in an era when connected mobile phones were looking increasingly futuristic?

One of my callers’ commonest gripes was the result of DAB radios having been marketed and sold nationwide, even though many parts of Britain had yet to be connected to the DAB transmission system. In this instance, all I could suggest was that the consumer return their receiver to the shop and demand a refund because no digital stations were yet audible locally. I too shared this problem because, although The Radio Authority had denied me its Christmas cash bonus in 2002, I had received the DAB radio gifted to all staff. It remained in its box as I was living in Brighton, where DAB transmissions had yet to arrive.

The root of the dissatisfaction with DAB radio was not the technology itself, which had been a smart European innovation, but the way it had been implemented by Britain. Those critical roll-out decisions had been made by people like the ones in my workplace: administrators who had no experience working within the radio industry, encouraged by technologists keen to promote anything ‘digital’ with an evangelical fervour, oblivious as to whether consumer demand was evident. At the top of this unholy group of conspirators were government civil servants who mistakenly believed that Britain and British industry could dominate global markets by adopting a technological standard in which the rest of the world had shown scant interest. Meetings of this cabal seem to have merely intensified their cult-like determination.

The stumbling block their paper plan faced was the disinterest of the commercial radio industry itself which, at that time, was profitable and had expressed no dissatisfaction with its existing, robust FM radio transmission system. When The Radio Authority advertised the first national DAB multiplex licence in 1988, it faced the very real possibility that no radio companies would submit bids. To avoid this embarrassment, the regulator had to ‘strongarm’ Britain’s largest radio group into making the only application. GWR Group plc’s then chief executive Ralph Bernard later admitted:

“GWR was encouraged to apply for the national [digital] licence, and was under some pressure to invest in the opportunities for a national licence from the then regulator [The Radio Authority]. Had we not done it, there would be no national DAB platform now. Not only that, [the regulator] did not know what they would have done on the question of national radio stations with regard to the opportunities given by the then government to renew their national licences for a further period of time if they were to commit to going digital. But how can you [do that] if there are no opportunities to go digital because there is no national multiplex? When I put that question to The Radio Authority, I was told that the answer was: ‘We don’t know what would happen – there is no Plan B’. It was just an assumption that someone would go for [the national DAB multiplex].”

“When we were seduced into believing that this was going to be the only [national digital] licence, we realised that there would be substantial losses, but the payback would be when you have the opportunity to be the only player in the national market for DAB. When it’s The Radio Authority, an agency of government, you tend to believe what you are told. On that basis, the investment was justified and, at the time, getting it through my Board was not easy.”

Having rescued the regulator from potential embarrassment in its ill-judged pursuit of the DAB dream, Bernard naturally now held some sway over The Radio Authority and its decisions. There evidently did exist such a thing as a free lunch for its senior managers when Bernard would invite them to The Ivy restaurant in anticipation of outcomes coincidentally beneficial to his business. On two occasions at the regulator, my actions threw a spanner into this cosy relationship and I suffered consequences (written up here and here) from my bosses, despite me having acted in what I believed was the public’s interest. I learnt to my professional cost that I was supposed to be a ‘civil servant’ to commercial interests, not to our citizens.

How did the story end for commercial radio? Badly. GWR Group plc’s subsequent merger with Capital Radio Group plc, both profitable public companies prior to their investment in DAB, proved a financial disaster, their DAB assets were divested for a song, an offshore investor acquired the merged business and Bernard exited the industry. This tragedy was repeated in the lower echelons of the radio business when the entire UK commercial radio industry had to be rescued by private investors. Most local radio stations that had existed since the 1970’s were replaced by national ‘brands’. Local content all but disappeared. Thousands of radio professionals lost their jobs.

How did the story end for DAB radio? Even worse. In a presentation I was commissioned to make to the board of the second largest radio group in 2012, I predicted that the government would kick the much heralded ‘digital radio switchover’ date into the long grass. I was pooh-poohed by the company’s technologists at the meeting, but my predictions came to pass … while theirs turned to dust. Naturally, I was never invited back. British commercial radio’s enormous investment in the disastrous DAB platform impoverished the entire sector, reducing it to little more than a jukebox music service for listeners who lacked Spotify accounts.

The deluded dream finally died in 2016 when ‘Pure Digital’, the ‘great white hope’ of British designed DAB radio receivers (though manufactured in China), was sold to Austrian company Aventure AB for £2.6m, following its £7.9m loss during 2015/6 as a result of declining sales and its "significant stock" of unsold radio inventory so old that it "needs to be assessed for risk of obsolescence."

With the advantage of hindsight, the entire DAB debacle now seemed like a rehearsal for the similar self-harm caused by Brexit a decade later. Men in suits with little or no experience of working in the real world of commerce pursued a fever dream regardless of its practicality, oblivious to its outcomes but buoyed by their mistaken sense of superiority. Their project was to foist a uniquely ‘British’ solution on the population that would purposefully diverge the UK from the rest of the world (British DAB radios would not even function in France). Their words and documents were stuffed with misinformation and downright lies that supposedly supported their theories. Without their posh accents, they could have been mistaken for used car dealers.

Despite the wilful destruction of the commercial radio sector’s economic value, talent, creativity and public service that they had fomented, many of Britain’s DAB ‘protagonists’ went on to be lauded with industry awards, honours and lucrative jobs. For anyone who followed the Brexit disaster, it will sound like all too familiar a story.

[nickgerlich]

Turn, Turn, Turn

I often go to the biblical well to find inspiration and pithy quotes. No, I don’t do this to promote a specific religion. It’s just that it is a fount of knowledge, the wisdom of the ages. While there are certainly other examples of Holy Writ, it is a source with which many are familiar regardless of belief.

One of my favorite aphorisms goes as follows: What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9) So impactful is this book that just a couple of chapters later, Pete Seeger found inspiration to write the classic song, Turn, Turn, Turn.

While scholars debate who wrote this book, let us not lose sight of the forest for the trees. Basically, what the writer is telling us is that, even more than two millennia ago, folks had realized that what goes around, comes around. And you thought our generation was the smartest one yet.

In marketing, we see this made manifest in the Wheel of Retailing theory, which posits that a revolution occurs with the arrival of a disruptor who does things differently, but as time passes, the disruptor starts adding back little things that, after time, begin to resemble that which it sought to replace. You go full circle.

George Orwell recognized this timeless truth in his allegorical novella Animal Farm, a fable in which the animals take over the farm. But over time, the pigs emerge as the ruling class, and before you know it, are wearing the farmer’s clothes, drinking his alcohol, and walking upright. In effect, they have become the farmer. Orwell, of course, was writing in shrouded terms about the Russian Revolution, but his point was not lost.

Today, we see this truth playing out in the streaming wars. The goal of streaming was to cut the cord and distance ourselves from all semblance of regular broadcast or cable television. It’s just that things are starting to look a lot like that which we left behind.

To wit: Amazon just announced it will start inserting ads in Prime Video starting next year. Following the lead of Hulu, they join Netflix, Disney+. Paramount+, Peacock, and Max, each of whom have stirred in ads in recent months. Their rationale is that it allows for tiered pricing, ostensibly making it more affordable to subscribe. In return for a cheaper price, we have to endure the ads.

Hey, at least Hulu has an ad timer on the top-right of the screen, so you know how long you’ve got to run to the bathroom and grab a snack.

Meanwhile, our streaming experience brings us right back to where we started. If you want to go ad-free, you’ll have to pony up even more money. So much for savings, right? Now that the screenwriters and production companies have settled their strike, I suspect we’ll see even higher fares in the future, and that will be even more true once the actors agree to a contract.

All of which means we will be back to our regular devices, which include muting the volume during the adverts, or leaving the room. Ad revenue was simply too good to turn down for the streamers as well, because the advertisers had to find a way to adapt. Since we weren’t watching TV the old way, they had money to redirect.

They found us.

The writer of Ecclesiastes was one smart person. It is hard to imagine biblical times having had the wherewithal to notice how things often do come back around. After all, they had no technology as we know it, were limited in geographical scope, and had no benefits of science. Yet here we are, and there they were.

Think about that the next time you tune in to your favorite streaming service. It was a nice walk around the block, and even though we thought we were part of a revolution, it turns out nothing really changed.

Dr “There Is A Season” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[more-mitaori]

Chapter 15

“We return to our breaking story, the mysterious, gruesome death of a student at Mitakihara High School. Once again, we advise viewer discretion, as the details that have emerged are not suitable for all viewers. Police have confirmed the identity of the victim, Rui Tomatsu, a third year student. The exact cause of death is unknown, but investigators are treating the case as a homicide.”

“Despite the brutal nature of the crime, however, police have no leads on a possible motive or suspect. The victim had a record of trouble and disciplinary actions at school, though she had never been in trouble with the law. Joining me now via video call is Head Counselor Shinobu Nagano. Counselor Nagano, do you have any idea what could have caused such a tragedy?”

“Thank you for having me. No, I’m afraid I can only speculate. As you said, Rui Tomatsu was a known troublemaker, who often got into fights with younger students. God only knows what her home life was like, but there’s a myriad of people I would imagine got pushed too far and retaliated. Rui was, after all, only one major incident away from being expelled.”

“Er… thank you for that, Counselor. How long do you expect the school to remain closed for?”

“Oh, I expect students will be able to return to regular classes by the beginning of next week.” Some prodding against Shinobu’s shoulder, followed by frantic whispering from a shorter, darker haired person accompany this, and Shinobu clears her throat. “That is to say, there should be ample time to grieve and reflect upon these tragic events, but students can rest assured that there is no danger to anyone else. We’ve enlisted security from the Sixth Bureau…”

* * *

“Jeez… I mean, you told me that she was dangerous, Yui, but to think someone actually was pushed that far?” Alice was staring at the TV in her living room, her mother on the phone in her bedroom while Alice is talking into her own. “Y-You don’t think whoever did this will attack again?”

Yui, meanwhile, is sitting in her room, watching the news on her tiny TV, sitting up in her bed. “Not a chance. I mean… yeah, if I’m wrong, we’re screwed, right? Rui was the toughest chick I ever met. But from what I can tell, whoever did this was clearly out for revenge. I mean, did you -see- how much blood soaked into the track? That wasn’t random at all, babe.”

“I hope you’re right. Ugh… should we check on Hanako and the others? They seemed to be Rui’s latest targets, after all.”

“Shinju called this morning to check on me, actually. Asked if I knew anything about it. I mean, makes sense, she’s technically a reporter and all, but I think she just wanted to make sure we were okay. I asked about Hanako and Koharu, she said she was sure they were fine. Midori’d be on us by now if somethin’ happened to Koharu, y’know.”

Alice sighed in relief. “Well, that’s good. We should call Midori anyway, see if they’re okay over there.”

“Yeah. Good idea. Let’s make it a group call, yeah? Hang on.”

“W-Wait, Yui! Hold on!”

* * *

Midori sighed, setting down a stack of dishes by the sink, picking her phone back up. “We’re all fine here, in any case. I appreciate the call, guys. But uh, can I call you back? I kind of have a house full of people panicking at the news over here, ‘kay? … Thanks.” Ending the call, Midori turned to Koharu, who had been glued to the television from the moment the news broadcast had started. “Koharu, don’t you think you’re sitting a little too close to the TV?”

Koharu stood up, taking a step back from the television and fumbled around for her phone. “Gotta call Hanako.” Anticipating resistance, Koharu flinched a little when none came. She turned towards her sister, who gave a small nod. Koharu responded in kind, then slipped swiftly into her room as she started a call with Hanako.

“…Ah, Koharu.” Hanako’s voice caused an audible sigh of relief, coupled with Koharu’s relaxed posture as she sank into the chair at her table. For a mercy, Hanako had responded instantly. “I was… actually about to call you. Shinju just called to check on me. Are… are you alright?”

“Fine. Yeah, I’m fine. All things considered.” Realizing she was speaking far faster than normal, even for her own ears, Koharu took a deep breath. “Don’t suppose you know anything?”

“Ah, um… no, not really. It… it came as a shock to me, as well. Mother… she’s been hovering around my room all morning. She’s gone overprotective, though… I can’t say I blame her.”

Koharu sank a bit further, listlessly gazing out her bedroom window. “Hard to talk, then. Text easier?”

“A-Ah, um… it shouldn’t be a problem, but, um… y-yeah, actually, that does… that does sound easier. For now, at least. She… won’t stay like this long.” The last sentence had been almost like a whisper, though Koharu had no trouble picking out the words.

“I’ll call Shinju, then. Know she’s okay, but we need to figure this out.” Before Hanako could respond, Koharu had ended the call, swiftly starting another with Shinju.

Frustratingly for Koharu, this call wasn’t answered immediately, though Shinju’s usual demeanor made up for this. “Yello? Koharu? I was about to call you, actually. You alright over there?”

“I’m fine. Any leads?”

Shinju laughed, causing Koharu to briefly recoil. “Man, you really are something! Guess that’s why you’re the club president. I was hoping you’d say that, though. I feel like I just wanna get out there and solve this one too, y’know?”

Koharu sighed, taking a moment, as if to carefully consider the exact phrasing she wanted to use. “She was our responsibility. We couldn’t clear her name, but we can do this at least.”

“I feel you. ‘Haku’s been glued to the radio all morning, listening for any chatter from the local authorities, any tips, that sorta thing. She and I talked about it. It uh… it had to be a Magical Girl, y’know? Not a chance in hell a civ’ could pull something like this off.”

Koharu nodded, as if Shinju could see the response. “Agreed. We need to meet up. Soon as it’s safe, we rendezvous at Hanako’s.” Once again, Koharu ended the call before Shinju could reply.

Folding her hands together, resting her chin in the crook between her index fingers and thumbs, Koharu closed her eyes. She felt responsible. Not for Rui’s death, exactly, but something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Rui’s rage was caused by the broken window, and it was Koharu who broke the window, though she wasn’t in control of her actions at the time.

Still, Koharu hated making excuses, and the thought that this wouldn’t have happened if not for that Witch’s curse over her had never been louder. Yui was the one who left that rock at the scene, though Koharu didn’t blame her for it. Her actions followed a logical pattern, something she hadn’t expected. Koharu had, over the last few weeks, come to respect Yui’s quick decision making, even if the results were far from perfect.

Koharu wasn’t one to beat herself up, however. Her mind was racing, looking for any trace, any lead to find Rui’s killer. If she couldn’t clear her name, she could at least give her one final trace of justice. Even the most horrible people deserve a fair trial, after all.

* * *

Esther was staring at her phone from beneath an overpass, a completely blank look on her face. “Hm.”

“Is that all you have to say, Esther Rinju? You were in the same class as this girl, after all!” Esther recognized the voice’s source in an instant, though she didn’t acknowledge the silhouette of the cat-like creature reflected on her phone’s screen protector. “A girl has died! A fellow Magical Girl, no less!”

“Rui Tomatsu was… a problem, to put it lightly. I would have had to take care of her myself, someday.”

“You always say things like that!”

“And I am still alive.”

“But can you really call this living?” Kyubey’s words were always like a knife to the heart, and always when Esther least expected it. “You’re on the run from your sister this time! You’re not even chasing your leads anymore!”

Esther sighed, pocketing her phone and wheeling to face Kyubey, a hard, cold expression on her face. “I’m not going to pretend that I handled that well at all, nor will I deny that I wish that had happened literally any other way, Kyubey. But what happened happened, and I need to plan my next move.”

“I have another solution. You could always allow me to make a contract with Ali—” Its words were cut off by a sudden burst of white flame along its body, and the creature crumpled to the ground.

It wasn’t long before another, completely identical creature took its place, standing only a few feet away from where the first had combusted. “I see, you’re giving your usual answer. Very well, but you know that all of this is inevitable, don’t you, Esther Rinju?”

Saying nothing, Esther pulled her phone back out, scrolling through various news articles about her classmate’s death.

“Well, in lieu of more pointless violence, I do have some practical advice.” Taking Esther’s silence as acknowledgment, Kyubey continued. “You were following another lead, weren’t you? Before those information dealers found you, I mean.”

Esther looked up, and quickly gathered the shoddy leather bag at her feet. Still saying nothing, she took off from the bridge. That was right, she thought. She was following another lead. In fact, it was the information dealers who stopped her from following it in the first place. It was probably still viable. At this point, even preferable. Anything was preferable to sitting still at this point. Especially if someone or something was targeting Magical Girls.

* * *

“So, um… well, you knew her, right, Yui?” Alice was laying on top of her freshly made bed, staring at the ceiling. Her phone was laying next to her, with Yui on speaker phone.

Yui’s sigh was audible and exaggerated as always. “Kinda? She was lookin’ for someone to push around last year. I was on the market, I guess, but she didn’t really figure someone’d ever hit her back.”

“She bullied you? That’s hard to believe.”

“Well, no, she -tried- to. We fought a couple times. Tried to get me to do somethin’ for her, some meaningless shit. Carry her books or get her a soda or somethin’ trivial. I told her to go screw herself, so she shoved me into a locker. Well, that pissed me off, so I pushed her back.”

“Truth be told, it was a pretty good fight. Got to work out a lot of stress I had at the time. I hadn’t made my wish yet, and Pops wasn’t doin’ too hot in the ring. Food got tight, lotsa yellin’ at home, that sorta thing.”

“She kicked my ass pretty good though, I gotta admit. We both got in some shit with the staff, but you know me, babe. I talked my way out of any actual trouble. Think that pissed her off more, though. Y’remember what happened to Mei an’ Seia after that, right? They uh… well, they weren’t the type to hit back, y’know.”

Alice sighed, closing her eyes. “Why do you sound nostalgic about all this, Yui?”

“’Cause she died? Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Remember people after they die? She was a shitty person, but I dunno. I live by my fights, you know that. ‘Sides, maybe the shock hasn’t set in yet. I’m not used to people dyin’ unless it’s in a Witch’s barrier.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Alice conceded. “It hasn’t really set in for me, either. I just kind of feel numb. It doesn’t seem like Esther was connected to it, at least. …Is it wrong that that’s where my mind went first?”

“Nah, you’re fine, babe.” Yui’s voice notably softened in tone. “Given what happened the other day, that only makes sense that you worry about that sorta thing. I’m inclined to agree though. Esther wouldn’t leave a body, especially one layin’ in its own blood.” Sensing Alice’s unease, Yui changed topic. “Say, what’s Midori feelin’ about all this, y’think?”

“Well… you heard her earlier. She’s worried about sending Koharu back to school when it reopens.”

“Can’t keep her away from her education, ‘specially after their mother moved all those mountains in the first place. Damn, man. That woman scares me sometimes.”

* * *

“Absolutely not, Midori. You heard your sister. The second they open those doors, Koharu is going back.” Standing just an inch or two taller than her eldest daughter, Hikari Shirahara folded her arms across her chest, her glasses hung loose near the tip of her nose. “And don’t even start with any paranoia. Look at this objectively, and you’ll see this is an isolated incident. Koharu agrees with me.”

Midori scoffs, calculating her next words carefully, though not without muttering under her breath, “Psh. That’s one of the signs of the apocalypse, isn’t it? Look, someone -died-, Mom! And you want to send Koharu back into -that-?!”

“She’s taking this a lot better than you are. Look, I have two other, much younger children to concern myself with, and a husband who is once again leaving town on business. The kind that actually keeps food on our table, as you are so fond of reminding me. So no, I will not be keeping Koharu home over what is -clearly- a crime of passion.”

Before Midori could retort, Hikari pushed her glasses up towards her eyes, covering them as the lenses flashed. “Unless you’re volunteering to help me look after Chiaki and Kayo, and stay home yourself, I suggest you have a little faith. In me, in the forensics department, and more importantly, in your sister.”

“If anything happens to Koharu, it’s on your head, Mom!” Midori wheeled around, storming out of Hikari’s bedroom.

With a sigh, Hikari sat down at her bed, turning to the side and gazing at an open laptop sitting on her bed, listlessly scrolling through a news article and speaking quietly to herself. “I did what you said. But I sure hope you know what you’re doing, old friend…”

* * *

Two soft knocks upon Hanako’s bedroom door, followed by her mother entering, setting a small, silver tray upon the edge of Hanako’s bed. Upon it sat a matching silver teapot with two small cups. “Hanako, dear. You really should have some tea. I promise it will relax you.”

Hanako was practically catatonic, lying from one corner of the bed to the other, staring at nothing in particular on her ceiling.

“I… understand that this is a rather huge shock, Hanako. I can offer nothing of substance to quell any fear or concern in your mind. Ah, but you did hear from Koharu and Shinju, so you know your friends are safe. That must be a relief, is it not?”

Sure enough, Hanako’s breathing mellowed, and she slowly shook herself from her trance. Looking around the room, the tea tray, then finally at her mother, Hanako sighed. “It… it is, Mother. Th-thank you…” She hesitated for a moment, then looked idly towards the tray. “…Perhaps I should have something to drink. I did not have breakfast, after all…”

Katsumi gave a satisfied smile, the hint of a chuckle as she poured a cup of tea for Hanako. “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m serious, you know. I’ll keep bothering you if I don’t hear anything, dear. You know I’m not bluffing.” Her voice was warm, just teasing enough to put Hanako’s mind at ease. The smile she saw, no matter how tiny, gave her the answer she sought. Pouring a cup for herself and taking it with her, she gave a little nod before leaving Hanako’s room, closing the door behind her.

Hanako’s smile faded as soon as she heard the door click shut. She took a sip from the cup her mother left for her, then set it down on the tray, reaching for her phone. There were a plethora of message in the group chat Koharu had created for the two of them, as well as Shinju. The most recent message had caught Hanako’s attention.

[not your fault.]

With a heavy sigh, Hanako replied. [I know that. I do. But not long ago, I came close to a situation where it would have been my fault.]

Koharu’s reply came instantly. [does not make this your fault. some other victim of hers did this. illogical to assume fault.]

[That isnt what shes doing Koharu. I was there that day.] “…Shinju…” [Shes just saying that it could have been her, or it almost was.]

[irrelevant. completely unconnected events. just more evidence that rui had more enemies and history than we could have possibly prepared for.]

Hanako took another moment to reply. [That’s actually quite reassuring in a rather unsettling way. But thank you Koharu. I feel a little better.]

[still concerning though. keep a close watch on your magic. dont want to let something like that happen again. school could get suspicious or look for another target to pin blame on.]

[Not like her mother would let that happen! She’s like some high level SuperLawyer or something!]

The conversation continued without her input, and Hanako let herself wander. Rui’s death had shaken her to her very core. For one thing, it was as her mother said. A death this close to home, especially one so violent, it wasn’t something that someone Hanako’s age should ever have to deal with. Shinju had seemed quite composed, but perhaps her military family history had something to do with how numb she seemed.

Koharu, meanwhile, was following in her mother’s footsteps. Hikari Shirahara was a name that Hanako had slowly become accustomed to hearing over her time knowing Koharu. As a journalist, Hikari was completely ruthless when it came to uncovering and reporting on the truth. As such, she had placed herself in various crosshairs over the years, and she was no stranger to danger. Koharu, naturally, was equally fearless when it came to pursuing the truth herself.

But Hanako? She had never imagined any life of strife before meeting Kyubey. Even then, the monsters Hanako had fought since making her contract were easy to separate from the type of violence that plagued the world outside her walls. This was the first time she had ever seen anyone on the receiving end of this level of violence.

Yet before the feeling could envelope her completely, Hanako caught a deep, sharp breath. She felt a strange, inner calm, yet a calm feeling that pushed against every fiber of her being. She took another breath, then another, and finally, she found herself completely calm. The events still weight heavily on her mind, but she found herself completely at peace. Was this the effects of her wish, she thought? It was certainly possible.

Then, another memory came to Hanako’s mind. Before all this started, she had met another third year student, one who had offered to help. Sure, she tried to call Esther Rinju before without success. But if anyone could shed some light on what was going on with her, it would be her. She closed out of the messaging app, then opened her list of contacts, hitting the call button under Esther’s name.

To Hanako’s surprise yet again, a voice interrupted the dull tone of an outgoing call without much delay. “Yes?”

“Ah! Um…! E-Esther Rinju, right? Um… this is Hanako. Hanako Sasaki, um… we met awhile back, and… y-you gave me your information.”

A breath could be heard on the other end of the call, and a clear softening of tone followed. “I can assume, Hanako, that you are calling about the rather unsettling news that is everywhere this morning? I am afraid I cannot help too much with that.”

“Ah, um… well… yes, I am calling about that. But also… not? It’s hard to explain…” Hanako shuffled nervously, not really sure what she expected to happen. She practically contacted Esther out of instinct.

“Well, she was in my class, so I can see how you would feel that this would be a good lead. Is that right, Newspaper Club Vice President?”

Hanako jumped. “Ah! Um… well, um, we don’t have… an official vice president, though, um…”

“Relax, Hanako, I’m giving you a hard time. I guess I should be grateful for a chance to talk this out, myself. Assuming, of course, that this won’t end up in the paper?”

Taking Hanako’s mumbling and muttering as an agreement, Esther sighed and began her story. “I can’t say I knew Rui all that well, honestly. We had a mutual friend named Toi— your club’s president would know more about her, undoubtedly— but Rui and I never really got along. She… she had a lot to prove in her first year, Rui did. The school blaming her for what happened to Toi didn’t help, and when the Kanashimi family left town, well… I guess that there wasn’t anything holding Rui back anymore.”

“So… so she really did… have a lot of enemies, even before this year?”

“Oh, very much so. Ask Koharu about that, sometime. I’ll give you some names to ask about later, even. If Koharu hasn’t already raided the school’s files, she likely will once the doors open again. Listen, stay close to her, will you? If she’s anything like her mother, she won’t have any second thoughts about diving headfirst into Hell itself if it means finding the truth.”

“…I-I will.”

“But there’s something else bothering you, isn’t there, Hanako? The real reason you called me, if you please.”

There was something cold, even demanding in Esther’s voice that cut Hanako to the bone. Clutching her stomach, she composed herself. “…I… I encountered Tomatsu not long ago. In… in a Witch’s barrier. She was… mmm, maybe I should start earlier than that…”

“The same week we met, Esther, I had… I had an encounter with Tomatsu away from the school. Shortly after she was accused of breaking our club’s window. After that, she made a demand of me. One of… ‘total, unwavering loyalty’, as she put it. Then, the attacks started.”

“First, a friend of hers ambushed me on a hunt. Then, a few days later, she attacked me directly. I… I fought her off, thanks to a friend, but… well, I sort of… lost control of my… my magic… and I came quite close to…”

A soft, almost relieved sigh was heard on the other end of the line. “Ah, there it is. I’ve seen this before in other girls, but you might be the first to have hung on this long.”

“I don’t know what you wished for, but I can assure you of one thing. Even if you do have some sort of berserk fugue state as part of your abilities, you are not capable of ending Rui Tomatsu’s life. We… fought once. Briefly. I can attest her power is in the realm of my own.”

Hanako swallowed nervously, suddenly not wanting to make an enemy of Esther, especially if she really was as strong as Rui. Furthermore, this tone didn’t do much to calm Hanako down any further.

“Hanako, I hate to incite further panic, but I wouldn’t rest easy. There may come a time where a threat on the level of Rui Tomatsu will surface in Mitakihara City. Perhaps even eclipse it. You need to hone your abilities, for your own sake and the sake of those you hold dear. Understood?”

“…Y-You… know something, don’t you, Esther?”

Esther paused for a moment. “I don’t know. Not just yet. But if nothing else, you should trust in yourself. Your instincts will serve you well someday. …Just not today.” Before Hanako could reply, the call ended, leaving Hanako holding the phone to her ear, seemingly ignoring the dull beeping of a disconnected call.

<= Chapter 14 ~ * ~ * ~ Chapter 16 =>

[cheekymonkey2004]

we will now return to our regular broadcast

[greenlodgecypher]

Ensor Zone Aurora Viewing

From Adria; Green Lodge

Have you ever seen the Aurora Borealis? If you've been looking up lately, now, you have. The recent aurora has been truly breathtaking. The Cypher asked formerly local astronomer A. U. for his opinion on the unusual phenomena. "It's a natural phenomenon," he said. "The Sun ejects high-energy particles which stream out into space, inclusing an emanation called the solar wind, as well as stronger solar flares. When a strong flare crosses the Earth's path, those particles energize the upper atmosphere, and we see the aurora."

That is so, but the aurora rarely occurs this far south. The other strange aspect about our local light-show is that it doesn't seem to be accompanied by auroras out in western Maryland, where auroras are usually stronger because of the higher altitude. An Internet website called Space Weather Now, belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, displays records of GOES satellite data regarding the Sun. Solar flares can be seen on this website, and aurora occurrences can be predicted by accounting for the time a flare takes to reach the Earth. However, as of the time this issue of the Cypher was printed, the aurora's semi-regular appearance can't be correlated with any flares. In fact, a recent flare seemed to have no effect on the Ensor aurora's brightness. Something seems strange about these celestial phenomena. The meteor shower earlier this year was covered in local news broadcasts, and anecdotally, some rockhounds have gone looking for meteorite fragments that may have made it to Earth. Several arrests were made when two Baltimore college students trespassed on the Yoders' farm, and other arrests may have been made. The Cypher is not an investigative paper, but as a community publication, this author has to ask: what is going on? Why is this phenomenon not on the Baltimore news? Are any universities or private scientific institutions interested in this? For now, without any explanation for the aurora, residents of the Ensor Zone can only sit and watch it return. It is very beautiful, indeed; but between ongoing ecological troubles and continued reports of large animals in the area, the aurora seems like an unwanted complication.