#will update with links to artemis's content when its available

[autisticlalna]

how to watch Skyblock Kingdoms!

because i'm dragging all of you down with me.

what is Skyblock Kingdoms?:

Skyblock Kingdoms, or SBK, is a Skyblock survival server made by VikingPilot where 18 20 players are split into groups of 2 and have their own island to take care of. each island has a unique wood type, and have a monopoly over that wood type! trade between kingdoms is allowed and encouraged, but any saplings belong solely to their original island-- with the exception of oak, which is a freebie anyone can have.

the teams are theoretically a mix of seasoned skyblockers and people not as familiar with it, but in practice there's more novices than experts so comedy has quickly ensued.

what's the story?:

in most cases, SBK is more of a casual improv vibe. think Hermitcraft rather than Empires. what this means is that there's no overarching story everyone is following, but some players have bits they've decided to commit to that, in typical MCYT fashion, are spiraling. some perspectives stay away from the action, some are playing along with whatever bit is tossed their way, some have their stories to tell, and Avid is the reason i'm having to rewrite this paragraph.

we've got capitalists! we've got OSHA! we've got witches feeding the void to try and appease it so it stops eating their bridges! we've got signs of the timeline falling apart! we've got a fortune-telling wizard! we've got something trapped deep down in limbo! we've got somebody cursed to be a monkey by british sun tzu! we've got selling your soul for a weekly lootbox! we've got a kingdom being overtaken by snow and sculk! we've got an airline with a 75% mortality rate! we've got a lawyer?

as of this version of the post (Avid's episode 17, Marma1ade's episode 15, Viking's episode 13, Vintage's episode 13), the first major story arc has wrapped up and things are going in a very interesting direction.

what's the format?:

there are edited videos being released regularly on Youtube by most of the creators, but a couple of POVs are stream-only so far. however, you can easily keep up with the server shenanigans without watching any streams-- there's some stuff that doesn't make it into videos, but not anything that would leave you locked out of the loop.

you can find all of the episodes out so far in release order in this one massive playlist by Doovid! thank you Doovid <3

on top of videos and streams, SBK has songs written and performed by Avid for his episodes! please listen to Through the Void, it's really good. there's also an animation for it that's used as his intro, which is also really good. if you want to listen to cool tunes made for SBK by one of the creators, you should watch Avid.

who to watch?:

depends on what you're looking for!

if you want a focus on building, then Fixxitt and KingElffe are both working on large-scale projects that are downright stunning to see in Skyblock. if you're interested in the Void storyline, then your best bets are Avid, Marmalade, and Trog-- and if you want lore in general, you can add Rubyco, Vintage, Milkman, and Anathra (and potentially Viking) to the list. if you want something chill, then Doovid, M1G, Kale, Anathra, and Leon are pretty laid-back. if you enjoy cinematic editing, then you should check out Avid, Trog, Doovid, Leon, and Viking. if you're here for comedy, then you'll want to check out Viking, Doovid, Milkman, Leon, CodeNeon, and Kittrix, but honestly everybody gets in on that one as they mess with each other constantly. and that's still not covering everybody!

i recommend watching everyone's episode 1 to get a feel for their style and go from there. Anathra, Artemis, Neon, and Leon's perspectives start around the Ender Dragon fight, and Fool and Tea are stream-only.

who's on the server?:

as mentioned, some of these POVs are stream-only!

Dark Oak (VikingPilot + Fixxitt 412) - industry on a massive scale Cherry (Rubyco + vintage_applesauce) - friends with everyone Jungle (AvidMC + Doovid) - the universe has it out for them. Birch (TheFoolsFam + SadMilkman) - the villain is always capitalism Bamboo (M1G + KaleHameron) - space samurai shenanigans Mangrove (Marma1ade + Teaish7) - witches with a void problem Acacia (Dr. Trog + Kittrix) - triangle-loving chaos-causers Spruce (AcornBandit + Anathra) - very chill (both definitions.) End (CodeNeon + LeonSBU) - have been here the whole time! Mushroom (KingElffe + Artemis8bit) -

tl;dr Watch Skyblock Kingdoms.

[irinaartemis-blog]

The Ultimate Coffee Banana Bread Recipe

Level: Easy

Time: 75 minutes (1 hour 15 minutes)

Life: 1 week (stored)

A modern twist on an all time baking favourite, our coffee and banana bread is a must try recipe for all avid home-bakers, snack lovers and coffee enthusiasts out there!

Banana bread is a classic bake that’s a great way to afford food waste and put those over-ripe bananas to good, or rather great use. Also it requires no additional wrapping/packaging and can be stored in a reusable tin. We are all about sustainability after all, and we are huge fans of being frugal and environmentally conscious! This coffee and banana bread can be eaten as a hearty breakfast, toasted with butter and fresh slices of banana, as a quick and yummy treat, or can even be served at a home-made afternoon tea

Using our Artemis Concentrate, for guaranteed quality and maximum taste, this beloved family recipe has been infused with a beautifully complimentary coffee flavour that is sure to go down well with friends, family and greedy coworkers. It’s an all-around crowd and palate pleaser.Even if you are not the biggest fan of coffee, this recipe is well-balanced in taste and texture, with the ideal combination of moist and fluffy. But, we are a coffee company after all, so we will try to enhance anything we can with coffee.

This delicious recipe also happens to be vegan friendly! Not only that but other ingredients can be easily swapped to make this suitable for those who need to avoid nuts, gluten and/pr oil, so fortunately nobody has to miss out!

Ingredients:

The mixture:

3 ripe Bananas (must be brown and spotted)

1 tsp Apple cider vinegar  

1 tsp Baking powder

1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda

1 and ½ tbsp Finely ground coffee

1 cup of Brown sugar

½ tsp of Sea salt

⅓  cup of Artemis coffee concentrate

½  cup of Milk of your choosing

(We used Soya. Water can be substituted for milk)

½  cup of melted Coconut oil

(Or alternatively Rapeseed oil for allergies/milder taste. You can also use any nut butter and Flax/Chia seed paste to for an oil free and healthier option)

1 cup Rolled oats

1 and ½ cups of All purpose flour

(Swap out plain flour for an alternative gluten-free flour if you are coeliac)

(see below to check out what alternative flours we suggest using for this bake and why).

(Optional)

1 tsp Vanilla extract (strongly recommended)

1  tsp maple syrup (or other liquidised sweetener of your choosing)

½ tsp of Cinnamon

(Recommended Toppings)

Almond flakes

1 Sliced banana

Prep time: 15 minutes (½ hour)

Cooking time: 60 minutes (1 hour)

Method:

Begin by preheating your oven to 180°C (use the fan setting is possible) and line an 8’’ loaf tin with non stick parchment/baking paper or grease thoroughly with dairy-free butter.

Slice up the bananas and add to a small bowl. Using a masher or fork, mash the bananas up into it forms a runny texture. (Try to remove as many lumps as you possibly can - adding the (optional) maple syrup to this will help). Then set aside.

Make sure all dry ingredients are sifted thoroughly before beginning this next step.

In another, larger bowl, add in your sifted, dry ingredients one at a time, beginning with the flour. Stir in each new ingredient into the mixture until they are fully combined. (for a smoother bread, you can lightly blend the oats in a food processor until they form a flour-like consistency. We didn’t do this however, as it gives the bread more spring to it).

Retrieve your small bowl with the banana mixture and add all the remaining, wet ingredients, combining thoroughly with a whisk. Whisk until you have reached an even, liquid consistency.

Slowly and carefully add this wet mixture to the dry mixture, stirring well with a wooden spoon, until all clumps have disappeared from the batter completely. The batter will be smooth, but thick. (Runny batter will result in the bread not rising properly or being to cake like)

Pour this batter into the lined or greased loaf tin, smoothing the top off with a spatula. You may add any additional toppings such as sliced banana and flaked almonds. Place them generously on the surface of the batter. Or keep it minimalistic and let the loaf speak for itself).

Place in the oven for around 60-70 minutes (timing will vary slightly with diffeent ovens). The bread will be golden brown and lovely deep cracks will have formed on top. To ensure it is cooked all the way through, pierce the loaf with a toothpick check to see if it comes out clean. If so, it’s ready!

Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes in the tin. Then you may remove the bread from the tin using the sides of the parchment paper sticking out the sides to lift it upwards.  

Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing. Store in a container at room temperature for up to one week.

For more delicious recipes and mouth-watering pastry pics, follow our instagram and remember to keep checking our blog for more food and coffee themed posts! Why not check out our previous post on our top Indie Coffee Shops in Leeds, all of which serve delectable sweet and savoury treats that are sure to satisfy your cravings.

Additional Information:

Using Alternative flours:

Recommendations for Gluten-free flours: I recommend either using Coconut Flour,  or half Buckwheat flour and half Oat flour for Gluten-free banana bread baking.

Why these flours? Coconut flour is a very popular choice amongst bakers, especially for Banana Bread recipes. I’ve found a lot of recipes that favour this flour. The main reason I don't use it myself is that I cannot get it from the shop down the road. Lazy Baking at its finest. Alternatively, substitute All purpose flour for half Buckwheat flour and half Oat flour. Oat flour tends to make bakes extremely moist and I love that in a Banana Bread. I then recommend using half Buckwheat flour as this usually results in a dryer product, so I find that combining these two fibre-rich flours produces the perfect balance, also without creating an odd taste.

Assuring your flour is Gluten-free: As with many different ingredients, cross contamination is always a possibility, especially when using ingredients from popular/big brands. To ensure that the flour you are using is completely gluten-free and safe for those with Gluten allergies, the packaging will state a certification mark.

Choosing the right flour for you: At the end of the day, it is completely all about preference and accessibility. Different flours have different health benefits and baking properties. The bread’s texture and appearance will of course vary with each different flour, however this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if you prefer a very moist banana bread, choose oat flour. Do you prefer it more dry and crumbly? Buckwheat flour will suit you. Sweet and flavourful? Coconut flour. Or do you want your banana bread to be more like, well bread, then Brown Rice flour is ideal. The important thing is to do some research, find out what is appealing and available to you, experiment and just have fun with it! For more advice and information visit: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gluten-free-flours#section7

Flax/Chia seed paste:

What is flax/chia seed paste?  This is a Hydrocolloid mixture created of either Ground Flax or Chia seeds mixed with water to form a gelatinous paste. This mixture is widely used as an egg replacement in many vegan/plant-based/egg-free recipes. Hydrocolloids usually work to either build structure, emulsify and soften mouthfeel; many things that eggs already do in traditional baking applications. For more information on using Flax/chia seed paste as an egg replacer visit:http://www.veganbaking.net/recipes/egg-replacers/flax-seed-egg-replacer

How to make Flax/chia seed paste: The basic ratio is one tablespoon of Flax/Chia seeds and three tablespoons of water to replace one egg. Combine ground Flax or ground Chia seeds with the water to form a wet paste.  Stir and set aside for 5-10 minutes before using, this enables it to form a gel. Try to purchase whole flax/chia seeds and grind them yourself, as pre-ground seeds tend to lose a lot of moisture. You can grind them using a coffee or herb grinder.

Why is Flax/chia seed paste not in the original recipe? I have always used oil as a raising agent and egg replacement in baking since going Vegan and updating my family’s Banana Bread recipe. Using Bicarbonate of soda as well as baking powder also gives the bakes that extra lift that egg would normally offer. I wanted this recipe to be as accessible as possible, from personal experience and discussing this with many other bakers and home-cooks, it was clear that flax/chia meal was not a kitchen cupboard essential for most people, unlike oil. I have tried this recipe with peanut butter and chia paste and it came out pretty much the same, except with a slightly nuttier taste. But for convenience reasons I prefer to use oil.

-Written by Sophie Gregan 

This article was originally posted on www.artemis.coffee/blog/  For more coffee- related content why not check out the link or visit our official Instagram page @artemisbrew

[iatethepomegranate]

Blue is the New Red Chapter 47

Masterlist (including AO3 and FFNet links)

Rated: M for torture, flashbacks, trauma reactions, PTSD, sexual assault of minors, consensual sexual content and related freaking out about it, drug references, non-consensual drug use, possibly underage drinking, homophobia and biphobia, references to self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempt. Chapter warnings:  animal cruelty, hints of PTSD, agoraphobia-liked symptoms related to PTSD

Main Pairing: Birdflash

Status: Multiple chapters, in progress

Overall summary: Nightwing has finally made his return to the Team, but he finds the events of the past two years aren’t quite done with him yet.

Chapter notes: The Team have a few surprises to contend with, and Nightwing encounters something he never wanted to see again.

Additional notes: I borrowed Sitka from Batman: The Animated Series

Chapter 47: A Bonus Mission

“Everybody stay calm,” Nightwing said.

“We’ve got at least one animal down here,” Superboy relayed to the rest of the team. “Be quick.”

A panicked chatter swept through the dozen-or-so scientists.

“We will hurry,” said Aqualad. “Be prepared to hold the animal off to allow the scientists’ escape. Superboy can break into the elevator shaft afterwards if you need to escape. Zatanna spotted a hatch on the bottom of the elevator you can access from outside.”

“Everyone stay close to the elevator,” Nightwing instructed. “As soon as it opens, hurry inside. We’ll keep this thing off you.”

“These things are super predators!” said their female scientist friend from earlier. “We made them to hunt humans.”

“We’re humans,” said one of the others.

“My two friends here are metahumans,” Nightwing replied. “And I was trained by Batman, which is just as good. We’ll keep you safe. Do you have access to the control signal?”

“No,” another scientist replied. “The soldiers took our devices.”

Great.

“No matter,” said Kid Flash. “We got this. Any tips?”

“The current on their robotic parts can be sensitive,” said one of the scientists they freed from the room.

Nightwing grabbed one of his electrified escrima; they were still having trouble maintaining a power supply for a whole night of patrol, so he used them sparingly. “Thanks. I can work with that.”

The nearest door flew off its hinges and slammed to the floor. An enormous jaguar prowled over the metal. It drew back its lips and snarled, revealing sharp yellow teeth. Light glinted off his metal rear legs.

“Superboy, keep its front busy,” Nightwing said. “KF, get me to those legs when it’s distracted.”

Superboy rushed to engage the jaguar, jumping backwards as it lunged. Kid Flash scooped Nightwing up and, in a rush of air, deposited him behind the animal. Nightwing turned on his escrima. The jaguar spun so quickly that Kid Flash only had a moment to drag Nightwing out of the way of its jaws. Ooh, wow. Its eyes had been replaced by fake glowing ones. That wasn’t freaky at all.

“Hey!” Superboy yelled. He kicked one of the metal legs. The jaguar rounded on him and clamped its jaws on his arm. He grunted but only made a token attempt to break its grip.

“This might get you, too,” Nightwing warned him over the link, and jammed the stick into the mechanised hip joint. There was a loud zap and the jaguar convulsed and collapsed. Superboy gritted his teeth and shook his arms out.

“Ow,” he said, glaring at Nightwing.

“Sorry.”

Kid Flash crouched beside the fallen jaguar. “Maybe we can take it for testing.”

Superboy sighed. “That’s going to be my job, isn’t it?”

“Aqualad,” said Nightwing, “we took down a partially-mechanised jaguar. KF wants to take it for tests. Thoughts?”

“Bad thoughts,” said Superboy. “Damn thing bit me.”

“Are you okay?” asked Miss Martian.

“I’m fine. Can’t even see anything. Nightwing’s electricity hurt more.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Leave it where it is,” said Aqualad. “The League can collect it themselves if they wish. I will inform Batman. We are coming back down. Be ready to board.”

Nightwing had to admit he was relieved they weren’t taking the thing with them.

“Okay, we’ll leave it,” Nightwing said aloud, mostly for the scientists’ benefit. “It’s the League’s problem now.”

The elevator doors slid open and everyone piled inside. Nightwing didn’t appreciate being jammed against other people’s bodies, but now was not the time to be precious about it… even if he was feeling a little sick. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The scientists were too busy worrying about getting out to think about him, and Kid Flash and Superboy knew better than to bother him.

The doors slid open and Nightwing made a valiant attempt not to look like he was rushing to get out. The two groups of scientists merged into one again and the team escorted them to the front of the facility. The two Green Lanterns were already there, along with Wonder Woman and her invisible plane.

“There’s a specimen downstairs,” Nightwing told them. “You can get in, but not out on your own unless you break the elevator.”

“Batman’s on his way to secure it,” said Wonder Woman. “We’ll see about getting these people somewhere safe. Get back to the bioship. Unless you hear otherwise, return to base.”

The Lanterns and Wonder Woman divvied up the scientists. Wonder Woman could only take two, but that was two the Lanterns didn’t have to carry on their hard-light platforms.

They flew off and the team trudged through the snow towards the bioship.

Miss Martian probed Superboy’s arm. “You were right. No marks.”

Superboy rolled his eyes, but he was almost smirking under the attention. “I told you.”

Nightwing pulled Kid Flash’s arm over his shoulders. “Thank you for gallantly saving me, good sir.”

“Ah, you know saving damsels and kicking ass… all in a day’s work.”

“I am not a damsel.”

Kid Flash snickered, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Oh, I am very aware of that. Doing okay?”

“All good now. Not a fan of being a sardine, but there are worse things in the world.”

“You were kinda weird about the elephants in the system, too. And those tapes.”

“I’m over it now,” Nightwing replied. His nose was cooling in the icy air. “We had elephants in the circus. Guess I’m still nostalgic after yesterday.”

Sometimes he missed the circus terribly, especially the elephant he’d grown up with. Sitka. She’d almost been like a sister to him, in a way. He used to pester the elephant trainer to let him learn tricks with her. She was still with the circus last he heard, but she didn’t do as many tricks these days. Animals in circuses were no longer fashionable given the animal rights issues involved. Nightwing had never known Sitka to be mistreated, but he supposed her accommodations couldn’t have been as good as she needed given they were part of a travelling circus. It was his understanding most of the animals didn’t travel with the circus on tours at all anymore. They were only brought over when the circus was setting up shop in one place for a long period of time.

He ended up telling the team about the time he’d broken his leg as a kid near the elephant enclosure and Sitka had broken down the fences to get to him and carry him back to his parents. The adults had been both grateful and horrified. It was just as well Sitka was such a nanny, and not given to aggression. She wasn’t the only elephant in the circus, but she’d been the one he was closest to.

That story held them over until they reached the bioship and strapped themselves in.

“How’d you like your first mission?” Miss Martian asked Batgirl as she brought the ship into the air.

“I missed all the excitement downstairs,” Batgirl replied.

“Most of us did,” Zatanna replied. “Maybe you’ll get to check out the animal when Batman brings it back to base.”

“Where do you think he’ll take it?” asked Kid Flash. “Mount Justice? Watchtower? Batcave?”

“Or a safehouse in Gotham,” Nightwing added. “He might not want to risk taking it anywhere sensitive until we know what it’s capable of.”

“He won’t want it in Gotham, either,” said Robin.

“Maybe somewhere remote, then.”

As if he heard his name, Batman’s voice crackled through their earpieces. “Batman to team. Do you read?”

“We read you,” Aqualad replied.

“I have another mission for you,” said Batman. “I’m picking up some strange signals from a warehouse just south of your location. Check it out. Rescue any hostages if you can do so safely. You’ll have backup as soon as it’s available.”

“Understood,” said Aqualad. Batman closed the link.

Nightwing was starting to feel warm. “Hey, Miss M, have you turned the heat up in here?”

“No,” Miss Martian replied, sending the ship into a gentle dive. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I… think so. Just feeling kinda warm.”

“Maybe you should stay on the ship,” Kid Flash suggested.

“Like hell.”

“Keep us updated on your condition,” said Aqualad, because he was both responsible and reasonable. “If you begin to feel ill, we’ll send you back.”

“Yes, boss.”

The ship touched down and the team disembarked. Nightwing’s skin flashed even hotter than before. He wasn’t burning up, exactly, but it wasn’t the most comfortable sensation. He didn’t feel weak. No joint aches or other flu-like symptoms. Just random hot flushes. He didn’t know what to do with that. The jaguar hadn’t bitten him or anything.

Kid Flash stuck close to his side as they left the ship. There were laser turrets on top of the warehouse. What the fuck?

Artemis took one out with an arrow while everyone else scattered. Kid Flash zoomed up and punched out another. Superboy took out the next. Zatanna exploded two with a spell. Nightwing and Robin teamed up with their batarangs/wing-dings to take out the last one.

Rocket put a shield up around the group once they’d come back together. “Just in case.”

They headed for the warehouse, and heat flashed over Nightwing’s skin again, even more intense this time. He tried to keep his reaction off his face, but Kid Flash was giving him worried looks anyway.

Nightwing let Robin take out the biometric scanner that barred the way. Hastily-installed, it went down without a fuss and the large garage doors rolled out of the way.

The team entered, almost on tiptoe. The factory floor was deserted, but for a set of metal stairs leading underground.

“Miss Martian, scout ahead,” said Aqualad. She headed off. “Nightwing, are you well?”

“Yeah, all that’s happening is this weird temperature thing,” Nightwing replied. “I’m not about to keel over. I promise I’ll tell you if it changes.”

“This is probably another Ra’s al Ghul base,” said Zatanna. “Could you be reacting to a Lazarus Pit?”

“I have no idea.” The thought hadn’t occurred to him. He hadn’t encountered a Pit since the one that brought him back to life. Could there be a Lazarus Pit in such a cold area? They certainly generated their own heat, Nightwing remembered with an unpleasant lurch in his gut.

“Let’s hope not,” Kid Flash said. “We’ve got enough to deal with.”

“Batman to team.”

“We read you,” said Aqualad. “We have reached the warehouse and have found stairs leading underground. Miss Martian is scouting ahead.”

“Superman is heading to your location as soon as he can,” Batman said. “Let me know what you find. Batman out.”

Superboy had a weird look on his face. Nightwing was under the impression they’d been working on their relationship, but maybe things were still awkward.

“I found more scientists,” said Miss Martian. “They’re trapped in a lab. There may be gas valves inside.”

“We’re on our way,” said Aqualad. “Nightwing, Superboy, Kid Flash, Zatanna… get below. Batgirl, Robin, explore that office over there. Rocket, go with them. Artemis, find a vantage point in case we have company. I will wait for Superman.”

Nightwing rushed down the stairs with his squadmates. The stairs were metal mesh, which met a walkway made of the same stuff. Nightwing glanced below, and there was a green glow that made him want to vomit. God damn, why did Zatanna have to be right about this?

Kid Flash steadied him with a hand to the elbow and they forged ahead down another set of stairs and another. Miss Martian was floating in the leftward section of a fork in the walkway. She led them to a door set into rock. The door was secured with a traditional lock, so Nightwing grabbed his picks and got to work.

“Flash figured out how to unlock doors by vibrating at the right frequency,” said Kid Flash. “God, I need to learn how to do that.”

“I’m concentrating, KF.”

“Right, sorry.”

Nightwing got the tumblers right and the lock clicked open. The scientists spilled out, coughing, and Kid Flash led them up the stairs. In the absence of a task, Nightwing could feel the heat across his skin again, and a strange buzzing sensation in his head. Fuck, he didn’t need this.

“We released the scientists,” said Miss Martian. “Kid Flash is bringing them to you. The rest of us will keep exploring.”

“Zee, I think you might’ve been right about the Pit,” said Nightwing.

“What can we do about it?” asked Zatanna as the squad returned to the fork and then down another set of stairs.

“Not much. They’re unstable. Lots of potential energy. Ra’s has tried to use them as bombs before.”

There was another room on this level, packed full of scientists beating against the door. Nightwing picked that lock open, too. The scientists spilled out, more than one vomiting over the railing as they went. Miss Martian led them up to safety and Kid Flash replaced her.

They kept going down. There were more rooms of scientists, more locks to pick. Each group looked worse than the one before.

“Aqualad, we’ve got a problem,” said Nightwing. “There are more rooms of scientists, and it looks like they’re being gassed. I’m picking locks as fast as I can, but we need more options.”

“I can break down some doors,” said Superboy.

“Do it,” said Aqualad. “Anyone else?”

“I’ll magic some locks,” said Zatanna.

“I’m good with locks,” said Robin, “and we’re not finding much down here. Batgirl can handle the computer stuff.”

“Good. Everyone get moving. Bring survivors up as you find them.”

They hurried down more and more steps, people peeling off as they found rooms. The heat against Nightwing’s skin was almost painful now, the buzzing in his head damn near drowning out everything else. But he still had his balance and could pick a lock in his sleep. That was enough. These people were counting on him.

Kid Flash couldn’t get the locks open, so he escorted Nightwing’s scientists for him. The floor was visible from the platforms now, and the final steps led to a glowing green Pit Nightwing had hoped to never see again. There was some strange machinery around it, and wires. Lots of wires.

“I found a Lazarus Pit,” Nightwing said. “Something’s not right. There’s wiring. I need to check it out.”

“Be careful,” said Aqualad. “Superman is here now. I’ll send him down to help you. Everyone else, how many more rooms?”

“Maybe three,” said Kid Flash. “They’re not looking so good. We have to get them out now or we could have some bodies.”

“Do I need to—”

“We have enough people to get them out, Nightwing,” said Aqualad. “Check out that Pit. We need to know if it is a bomb.”

Nightwing slid down that last staircase, almost landing on his face. The buzzing was unbearable, and it took everything in him not to claw his ears open. The heat on his skin was awful, but it was nothing compared to the heat the Pit blasted in his direction.

“Block it out,” he muttered. “Focus.”

The wires were coiled together and fed into a large metal tube sitting in the Pit. The other end connected to a tablet computer resting on a nearby rock. Rushed, but possibly premeditated. Maybe Ra’s knew people were coming and had enough notice to set up a bomb, but not enough to make it as sophisticated as he would’ve liked.

“Nightwing.” Superman swooped down beside him. “What are we looking at?”

“Bomb.” Nightwing gestured unhelpfully to the whole setup. “Can you see into the tube?”

Superman focused on it and nodded. “There are spots of lead, but not enough to impede my view.”

Nightwing looked at the tablet screen. There was no countdown. However, there was a big red stop button. He didn’t trust it, and without a countdown he had no idea how much time they had. This explosion could take out at least a mile of land, possibly more.

“What’s going on down there?” said Kid Flash.

“Got a bomb,” Nightwing replied. “Superman can help me find the right wires to cut. Focus on getting everyone else to safety. He can get me out if he has to.”

“But—”

“Make that an order,” Aqualad said. “Keep moving. Good luck, Nightwing.”

“Superman,” said Nightwing, “I need you to find the wires I can cut. Can you find the blasting cap?”

He squinted. “Got it.”

“Which wires do I cut?”

“The black one, to start.”

Nightwing produced a set of wire clippers and cut the black wire from the tablet.

“There’s also another power source.” Superman nodded to the humming generator beside the Pit. The buzzing in Nightwing’s head had drowned it out. “Cut the blue.”

Nightwing cut the blue wire. His hands were shaking. Adrenaline? Fear? PTSD? Who knew?

“Is that all the wires?”

“The blasting cap and the power source, yes.”

“I need you to fly me over to the cap. I’ll take it out, so we don’t have any accidents.”

Superman scooped him up and carried him over to the metal tube. Nightwing pulled out a pocket knife and found the cap. He had to go carefully, or he’d blow both of them up, along with all the scientists and the Team.

He took a deep, shaky breath and carefully slipped the blade into the compartment. The lid opened, revealing the cap. He tugged it out and clasped it in his hands. His skin felt like fire, and the buzzing would’ve deafened him if it hadn’t been coming from inside his own head.

Superman set him back on solid ground. Nightwing took a gasp of air in, mostly relief that the buzzing had died down a touch. He pulled a vacuum tube from his belt and slid the cap in there, activating the tube. It couldn’t go off without oxygen.

“I’ll take the bomb into space,” Superman said. “Is it safe to move?”

Nightwing nodded. Even with his head stuffed full of bees, he knew his bombs.

“Okay. Can you make your own way out?”

“I’ll be fine. Deal with the bomb.”

Superman floated over to the bomb and tugged it from the Pit, green acidic water dripping from the bottom.

“Don’t let that stuff touch you,” Nightwing warned. “It heals the sick and hurts the healthy. I have no idea what it’ll do to you.”

“I’ll be careful.” Superman flew backwards along the stairs so the water wouldn’t drip on him.

“Superman’s taking the bomb out to space,” Nightwing told the team, painfully aware that even his brain-voice was shaking. “I’m on my way up.”

“Need help?” asked Kid Flash. “It’s a long walk.”

“I’ll manage.” Nightwing needed to compose himself. The buzzing and the heat were bad enough, but the adrenaline was flowing thick and fast through his veins. His heart was beating in his head. He shook out his hands, letting shaky breaths fly in and out of his body until he could think straight.

There was an invisible tether between him and the Pit. The green burned into his eyes, the acidic bubbles bursting in the water and his soul. The buzzing almost felt like words, like it was beckoning to him. Fuck that. He shook his head like a wet dog and started up the steps. Kid Flash met him a few levels up anyway and helped him the rest of the way. He didn’t ask questions. Yet.

[isaidnotostatusquo]

******** VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ ************

So ... I think this is the first original post I’ve written in four whole years of having this Tumblr, but I legitimately can’t think of a better reason to break my internet silence! For those of you who have been living under a rock/have an actual life outside of social media, the Tin Can Brothers (Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter and Brian Rosenthal) are currently in the midst of Kickstarting their latest project: a 10 episode webseries/podcast called ‘The Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye’! This project is sure to be incredible and you can find out more specific details by following the link below!! 

The Tin Can Brothers are the same guys behind the smash-hit musical: ‘Spies Are Forever’, which has amassed hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube (if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s pretty dang good, and you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd3aJl930YE&list=PLlF0gFzOX4tD1KJ5ZEnvhD55Qhnz-K0X2)! 

This year, they also released their first ever short film, ‘Flopstoppers’ (again, you can watch it for free here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lipp_4fco3w). 

On top of Kickstarter campaigning, they’re currently uploading weekly episodes of their hilarious one-act play, ‘The Solve-It Squad Returns’. You can watch the first six scenes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEA0hNs0M98&list=PLlF0gFzOX4tDiqbhfmx5036ZFKD6LAoQN and/or you can purchase the show in its entirety (along with Behind the Scenes content) here: https://www.tincanbros.com/stage-productions! 

Marketing aside, these guys are wholeheartedly committed to producing consistent, quality content that their fans can access easily and cheaply. Their work is witty, original and extremely engaging! Additionally, their projects always include badass female characters with distinctive personalities and independent motivations, who are allowed to be vulnerable AS WELL AS strong; just like real human beings! As a long-term fan of the TCB, I’m 100% positive that ‘Wayward Guide’ will live up to these standards!

However, at the rate that the Kickstarter is moving, ‘Wayward Guide’ is NOT currently projected to be fully funded by its final day (24/09). If it doesn’t reach its $100,000 goal, it ain’t happening! No cards will be charged, no rewards will be given out, and it’ll be like the whole concept never existed! But YOU can change that! By donating just $1 (approx 70p for my fellow Brits), you’ll be helping this project come to life! If you donate $5 (approx £3.80) you’ll not only play a key part in the creation of ‘Wayward Guide’ but you’ll also receive exclusive updates on its progress, right up until its release; all for the price of a Starbucks! There are additional rewards available at increasing price tiers, so the more you donate, the more you will receive! At the moment, the Kickstarter needs to be making around $4000 per day in order to reach its goal! It’s a lot of money, but I’m confident we can do it! As Tescos say - Every little helps!

And if this hasn’t got you convinced, here’s a list of the people who we currently know to be involved in the project, and some things you may know them from! (Additional cast members are constantly being announced as various Kickstarter goals are met, so this list is by no means definitive):

- Benji Dell is Director of Photography! 

If you’ve watched ‘Flopstoppers’ or the ‘Spies Are Forever’ Kickstarter video, he was also DP for both of those! His work is BEAUTIFUL and based on what I’ve seen of him in the ‘Flopstoppers’ BTS featurette, he seems like a really chill guy!

- Chuck Criss is Composing! 

He’s in the band ‘Computer Games’, along with his brother, Darren, who you mayyyy have heard of before! He’s also in indie rock band ‘Freelance Whales’. His musical style is EXTREMELY cool, and if you watch the Kickstarter vid for this project, you can hear some of his tunes first-hand!

- Corey, Brian and Joey! 

In addition to writing and producing ‘Wayward Guide’, the Tin Can Brothers are taking an even more active role! Corey is also going to be directing the project, whilst Brian and Joey will both be acting in it!

- Mary Kate Wiles! 

You may know her as Tatiana from the TCB’s previous project, ‘Spies are Forever’, or from her prolific work with fellow internet comedy group, ‘Shipwrecked Comedy’! (’Kissing in the Rain’, ‘Poe Party’ and the upcoming ‘Case of the Gilded Lily’) She also appeared as Lydia Bennet in Pemberley Digital’s Emmy Award winning webseries ‘The Lizzie Bennet Diaries’, and has enjoyed starring roles in the short film ‘I Ship It’, and in the webseries ‘Muzzled the Musical’ amongst many others! (Basically she’s done almost everything there is to do and I’d be here all day listing her credentials!) She also has a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcw3_LYw-SuTdOaWjEJSvHQ, which you should definitely check out because she’s great and posts weekly! She’ll be taking a lead role in this project as podcast host, Artemis Schue-Horyn, and I for one, can’t wait!

- Steve Zaragoza!

Steve was an original member of the popular YouTube channels,‘SourceFed’ and ‘SourceFedNerd’, which have amassed over 2 million subscribers in total! He’s also starred as Iggy DeLacey in Pemberley Digital’s ‘Frankenstein, M.D’ and has recently appeared in some Disney Channel and Disney XD shows. He’s a new addition to the TCB universe, and is sure to be wonderful! 

- Dylan Saunders!

You’re sure to know Dylan from his work with Team StarKid! He’s appeared in the ‘Very Potter’ trilogy, ‘Starship’, ‘Holy Musical B@man’ and, most recently, ‘Twisted’! I think we can all agree that he has one of the best voices on the planet, and he’s also one of the most laid-back and friendly guys I’ve ever had the privilege to meet! I’m so excited to see him working with these guys again!

- Joanna Sotomura!

Another Pemberley Digital star, Joanna appeared as the title character, Emma Woodhouse, in the series ‘Emma Approved’! She’s also a new addition to the TCB world, and I can’t wait to see more of her!

- Jon Cozart!

Yep, that’s right - ‘Paint’ himself is going to be involved in this project! Jon is probably best known as the creator of ‘Harry Potter in 99 Seconds’, a.k.a one of my FAVOURITE videos of all time! He’s amazing and extremely creative and you should definitely subscribe to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Paint

- Nick Lang!

One of the founding faces of Team StarKid, Nick has been involved in some way in pretty much every creation of theirs to date! Also, he once taught my Dad a magic trick, which my Dad has never managed to accurately recreate. Further proof that Nick is the best!

- Clayton Snyder!

You’ll probably remember Clayton from his wonderfully intense portrayal of Fyodor Dostoyevsky in Shipwrecked Comedy’s ‘Poe Party’ (as members of Shipwrecked have said, he was basically in his own movie). Also, he’s Ethan Craft from ‘Lizzie McGuire’ so that’s pretty dang cool!

- Sinead Persaud!

A founding member of Shipwrecked Comedy, Sinead has co-written, produced and starred in every single one of their projects to date! Last year, she appeared as sassy ghost, Lenore, in ‘Poe Party’, which was a perfect role for her! In this, she’ll be appearing as a ‘Macabre Mortician/Taxidermist’, which is an EVEN MORE PERFECT role for her! 

- Titus Makin Jr!

Titus has done a looottttttt of TV work over the years, (like seriously, so much!) but you’ll probably remember him best as David the Warbler from ‘Glee’! He’s also got a budding music career going, so he’s very talented! Another TCB newbie!

- Tara Perry!

Perhaps you’ll remember Tara from when she coughed a lot and was reallllly into trees on Shipwrecked Comedy’s ‘Poe Party’. If not, she also played boss lady, Vivian DeMarco, in the Tin Can Brothers’ short film ‘Flopstoppers’! I’m also pretty sure that I saw her once in an art gallery in Glasgow, but was 100% too scared to approach her, so who knows?

- Gabe Greenspan!

If you’ve been keeping up with the Tin Can Brothers recently, then you’ll for sure know Gabe from their most recent show, ‘The Solve-It Squad Returns’! He plays a complete a*sehole called Keith, but somehow manages to still make him loveable! Also, he’ll be appearing in Shipwrecked Comedy’s upcoming ‘The Case of the Gilded Lily’, so keep your eye out for that!

 - Ashley Clements!

Ashley is probably best known for her titular role as Lizzie Bennet in Pemberley Digital’s, ‘The Lizzie Bennet Diaries’. Other webseries she’s appeared in include ‘Poe Party’ and ‘Muzzled the Musical’ (as a well-dressed villain both times)! Most recently, you might have seen her in the Tin Can Brothers’ ‘The Solve-It Squad Returns’ where she acted opposite Gabe Greenspan. She’ll be doing that again and it’s sure to be hilarious!

- Corey Dorris

You’ll probably best remember Corey as Big Tallywacker in ‘MAMD’, Yaxley in ‘AVPS’, Kingsley Shacklebolt in ‘AVPSY’ and the Grandpa in ‘The Trail to Oregon’! When I saw the show in New York, his character was called ‘Ol’ Man River’, which is, in my opinion, the BEST NAME HE COULD EVER HAVE HAD! He’s also Juilliard trained which is prettttyyy cool!

- Sean Persaud

Another founding member of Shipwrecked Comedy, Sean has also co-written, produced and starred in each of their projects, along with his sister, Sinead. He played the titular role of Edgar Allan Poe in ‘Poe Party’ last year, where he exhibited his uncanny ability for deadpan hilarity! He’ll be playing a ‘Desperate Pastor’ in this project and I can’t wait! 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND DONATE IF YOU CAN SO THAT THIS PROJECT CAN HAPPEN!!!

[we-future-first]

Top Futurology News - For the month of May 2020

We hope you enjoy this month's update!

Here are the top stories from the past month (in mostly chronological order):

1) Rubber "external skeleton" lets liquid metal structures retain their shape

Imagine if there were a metallic device that could be transported all squished down into a compact ball, but that would automatically "bloom" out into its useful form when heated. Well, that may soon be possible, thanks to a newly developed liquid metal lattice. Led by Asst. Prof. Pu Zhang, a team of scientists at New York's Bingham University started by 3D printing lattice-type structures out of an existing metal known as Field's alloy. Named after its inventor, chemist Simon Quellen Field, the alloy consists of a mixture of bismuth, indium and tin. It also melts when heated to just 62 °C (144 °F), but then re-solidifies upon cooling.

2) Experimental gene therapy prevents obesity, builds muscle, without exercise or dieting

A compelling new study, led by scientists from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has found a novel gene therapy can prevent obesity and build muscle without the need for additional exercise, in mice being fed a high-fat diet. Follistatin, a protein expressed in almost all animal tissue, was first discovered and described in the late 1980s. Initially investigated for its role as a reproductive hormone, follistatin was subsequently found to influence a number of cellular processes, including muscle proliferation.

3) NASA Just Released The Artemis Accords - Guidelines For Humans to Abide by in Space

Over the next few years, we'll finally be heading back to the Moon. But with nearly 50 years in between our last Moon jaunt and this one, a lot has changed. With private companies becoming a huge part of space programs and the rise of many international space agencies, space is getting rather crowded, so some new rules may be needed to help everyone play nice.

4) The US Government Just Invested Big in Small-Scale Nuclear Power

Amid the coronavirus lockdowns around the world, one of few positive pieces of news we’ve heard is that carbon emissions have dropped dramatically. The clearer skies and cleaner air have led to a renewed vigor behind calls for retiring fossil fuels and investing more heavily in renewable energy. Proponents of renewables tend to focus on solar and wind as the best green energy sources, leaving out a lingeringly controversial yet crucial player: nuclear power. Last week, the US Department of Energy (DOE) shone a light on nuclear’s potential in the most effective possible way: by dumping a bunch of money on it. The DOE launched its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program to the tune of $230 million. That sum is broken down into $160 million for scientists currently working on nuclear reactors that could be operational in 5 to 7 years, and another $70 million for additional research and development down the road.

5) Human-like cyborg eye could power itself using sunlight

A human-like artificial eye capable of being powered by sunlight could eventually be used as a visual aid for people who cannot see. Zhiyong Fan at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and his colleagues have developed a spherical visual sensor that mimics the structure of the human eye. Like the real thing, the artificial eye contains a lens to focus light and a hemispherical retina, the region at the back of the eye where photosensitive cells generate electrical impulses to be sent to the brain.

6) Researchers squeeze 44.2 Tbps through existing fiber optic cables

Today’s cable and fiber optic internet connections are good enough -- at least where they’re available. Home users can browse the web, stream videos and play online games, and companies can keep business moving. But as content becomes more complex, the world will need faster speeds. Researchers in Australia have developed an internet connection that reaches 44.2 terabits per second. To put that into perspective, the average user in the US gets 50.2 megabits per second -- about a million times slower than the researchers’ speed.

7) Baby receives liver stem cell treatment in world-first clinical trial

In a new clinical trial, a six-day-old baby in Japan has received the world’s first successful transplant of new liver cells derived from embryonic stem cells. The “bridge treatment” kept the infant healthy until old enough to receive a liver transplant, demonstrating a breakthrough for treating certain life-threatening conditions. The baby suffered from urea cycle disorder, a relatively rare genetic condition where the liver is missing an enzyme crucial for breaking nitrogen down into urea, which can then be expelled in urine. Without it, ammonia builds up in the bloodstream, with potentially deadly results.

8) Researchers build sensor consisting of only 11 atoms

Researchers at Delft University of Technology have developed a sensor that is only 11 atoms in size. The sensor is capable of capturing magnetic waves and consists of an antenna, a readout capability, a reset button and a memory unit. The researchers hope to use their atomic sensor to learn more about the behaviour of magnetic waves, so that hopefully such waves can be used in green ICT applications one day.

9) SpaceX Makes History: Launches NASA Astronauts Into Orbit

A global pandemic couldn’t stop them. Storm clouds and downpours may have delayed their first shot at making history, but the second time was the charm. “I’m breathing a sigh of relief, but I will also tell you: I’m not gonna celebrate until Bob and Doug are home safely,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said. The launch means that SpaceX has ushered in a new era in space travel, by becoming the first for-profit group to launch human astronauts into orbit inside a commercial spacecraft. Adding to the glamor, it’s also the first time astronauts have been sent to the International Space Station from U.S. ground since the retirement of NASA’s Space Shuttle program in 2011.

10) New 5G switch provides 50 times more energy efficiency than currently exists

As 5G hits the market, new U.S. Army-funded research has developed a radio-frequency switch that is more than 50 times more energy efficient than what is used today. With funding from the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Lille in France, have built a new component that will more efficiently allow access to the highest 5G frequencies, in a way that increases devices’ battery life and speeds up how quickly users can do things like stream HD media.

submitted by /u/_FuturistechInfo [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/gv0zfz/top_futurology_news_for_the_month_of_may_2020/