Uncle mike's corner pub and grill
Michigan Beer Enthiusists
2012.06.12 00:19 3insteel Michigan Beer Enthiusists
Subreddit for Michigan craft beer enthusiasts and Brewers guild members.
2023.05.28 05:55 InfernoAA God Made the World in Six Days, I’ll Perfect New Japan's on the Seventh Part Three: The Ungovernable Seven
In Part Two, Will Ospreay received his crowning moment at a broken Kazuchika Okada's expense, relieving him of his duties as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and opening his doors to further bloodshed between CHAOS and Takeover. Proceeding to run through New Japan's elite, he took down Kenny Omega, Katsuyori Shibata, and Zack Sabre Jr. in one fell swoop, only for his dream of main eventing Wrestle Kingdom as champion to be crushed by one Shingo Takagi. Now, though the Dragon may be the titleholder, all is far from well in his den. Between Los Ingobernables de Japon in-fighting with G1 Climax 33 Winner Tetsuya Naito and PAC stealing his belt, he has much to address moving forwards.
Dynamite (November 1, 2023)
After shockingly robbing Shingo Takagi of his title, PAC interrupts mid-show, belt slung over his shoulder, scowl on his face. He rants about how ever since joining AEW, he’s been disrespected and overlooked, not even being booked for half a year after losing the AEW World Trios Championship, instead having to source work in NJPW with the G1 to finally pop back on the radar. Well now, he’s no longer sitting around in wait for others to give him opportunities. He’s taking them by force. Seeing as he beat Tetsuya Naito in the G1 yet Tetsuya’s been confirmed for WK’s main event without even defending his case against him, he’s decided he’s going to enter the match through his own means. He wants Shingo for the title! For his title. And until he gets his match, he’s not returning the strap.
Collision (November 4, 2023)
PAC vs CIMA
With PAC and Shingo’s obvious connection to Dragongate, The Bastard wrestles an exhibition match against one of the standout names who made his name there, CIMA! Tied to the early days of AEW’s legacy, the veteran reminds the world of his immense talent here, wrestling a very DG-style high-speed match, PAC matching him every step of the way. Though he gives him a solid fight, a Brutaliser cuts things mercifully short, PAC keeping it in until after the bell!
PAC def. CIMA (10:05)
PAC briefly pausing to snatch up the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and raise it over his head, before going back to stomping out CIMA… HE’S INTERRUPTED BY SHINGO’S MUSIC!!! Takagi bolting out, the Black Arrow cuts his losses and flees, leaving the belt behind as Shingo checks on CIMA, hissing with anger. Reclaiming his belt, he tells PAC he’s on!
Full Gear (November 12, 2023)
Shingo Takagi (c) vs PAC - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
PAC’s first match outside WWE pitting him against Shingo in tag team action in Takagi’s final matches with Dragongate before signing with NJPW, they finally cross paths again in singles action for the first time since 2011, the Dragon having won all 3 past encounters. Two of the most intense wrestlers around, there’s no shortage of aggression between the two, Takagi raring for revenge on PAC for stealing his moment, and PAC simply wanting to ruin everyone’s lives for the betterment of his own.
Tearing into each other for the better part of half an hour, PAC is absolutely feral here, not letting this rare opportunity go to waste one bit, giving the champion all sorts of hell. Shingo, seeing some Ospreay in the Bastard, gives him the same respect he does his toughest rival, though the comparison only sets PAC off further, teasing introducing the title belt itself into the match, only to spike Shingo with a Tornado DDT off the distraction! Nailing the BLACK ARROW on the Dragon, he hooks the leg! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Or is it? PAC thinks he’s won the title, elated, only to turn around to the referee pointing on Shingo’s leg on the ropes! It’s Neville/Rollins all over again! If PAC was thought to have lost it so far, the depths he reaches at this point are undefinable, nailing every last trick in the book he knows before wrenching in THE BRUTALISER! Wanting to submit Shingo like he did CIMA, he puts him on the brink of passing out, but unlike the Flower of Evil, Takagi’s simply too strong for PAC, managing to shake him off, before eventually nailing the LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. PAC to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (25:13)
Though PAC lost at Full Gear, by the manner which he eyes Shingo and his title when leaving the ring, it’s clear matters are not yet over between them. However, for now, Takagi has the remaining month until January 4 to focus on. With Naito winning at Power Struggle in a tag match pitting him and Hiromu against Ospreay and Akira, El Ingobernable has all the momentum he needs behind him, though what lies between now and Tokyo Dome surprises him.
With Dragongate’s 20th Year Anniversary celebrations coming up, one of the most heated rivalries in the company’s history is revisited when Shingo’s called out by BxB Hulk! Their last interaction seeing them team up in the penultimate match of DG’s final big show of 2022 to great success in a surprise return by Takagi, Hulk now wants a shot at beating Shingo exactly one year later, seeing the title on his shoulder as a means of proving himself better than Takagi’s best version ever.
Naturally accepting an opportunity to knock Hulk’s head off once more, the blockbuster main event is set for The Final Gate, but before then, Hulk invites him and Naito to a preview tag match, knowing he can milk the uncomfortable setting and watch Shingo suffer by it. Though not pleased at the thought, Takagi does inform Tetsuya, who agrees to help him, better together than at each other’s throats.
Dragongate The Gate of Origin (December 10, 2023)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs GOLD CLASS (BxB Hulk & Ben-K)
Three of DG’s greats and one NJPW pillar all in the same ring, it’s as blockbuster a match as can be, the four megastars putting on a thrilling showcase of their talents, the beloved Shingo especially getting the spotlight to Naito’s subtle annoyance, no longer the most popular man in the building. Nonetheless, with a crucial match less than one month away, LIJ are at their best even with their issues, the Destino/Pumping Bomber combo to Ben-K getting the win, though Naito making a point to be the one making the cover as Shingo is left to lock eyes with Hulk.
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. GOLD CLASS (21:35)
Dragongate The Final Gate (December 17, 2023)
Shingo Takagi vs BxB Hulk XIV
A history built on friendship, betrayal, and subsequent hatred, the arrogant detestable Shingo and the adored underdog Hulk have long grown since their last match 5 years ago, Takagi currently his company’s frontman and BxB still hanging on in his 40’s for DG. With Shingo having never beaten Hulk with a World Title over his shoulder, BxB having done so twice to him, The Dragon channels every last fiery breath of his into silencing his career rival for good, knocking Hulk around the arena and into the ring post like the old days, even playing it heelish at points, ever the superstar Hulk always wished to be. And after a thoroughly personal trip down memory lane, 20 years of DG tip in favour of the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, who puts Hulk down for good! In a show of respect after the match, Takagi bows to Hulk, entrusting the people to him as he turns his attention back to his new home.
Shingo Takagi def. BxB Hulk (26:11)
Road To Tokyo Dome - Night Two (December 23, 2023)
Also on the tour:
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii) (c) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Titan) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
One final stop on the road to Wrestle Kingdom, and it’s arguably the most important one yet. With Shingo and Naito’s divide over leadership growing only stronger by the minute, what started as being mediated by LIJ has now turned into them being forced to pick sides against their wills. Takagi’s grown tired of existing in Naito’s shadow despite holding the title, believing he’s more cut out to lead them, receiving support from his fellow newer class of LIJ blood, Yota Tsuji, as well as another recent recruit in Titan. However, Naito’s still the familia’s franchise to the group’s OGs, Hiromu and BUSHI letting loyalty speak for itself by siding with their leader in his bid to end his 3-year chase for the title currently around Takagi’s waist. Battlelines drawn, the blockbuster showdown closes out the Road To Tokyo Dome tour!
Brute force colliding with agility, the familial bond between LIJ only continues to be blurred as Shingo and Naito bark out orders to their respective teammates, directing traffic in this psychological warfare grown physical. It’s a slow build of the tempo until the crescendo of Shingo and Naito finally touching for the first time since the G1 Finals is reached, Tetsuya leaning heavily on his mind games whilst Takagi simply throws mean bombs, adamant to finally prove he’s better than his leader. Not overexposing their strategies too much, the match ultimately sees Naito nail Titan with the Destino to win, once more having the last laugh over Shingo!
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Titan) (17:20)
In a final press conference heading into Wrestle Kingdom 18, Takagi and Naito share their thoughts on the upcoming match. Shingo declares that NJPW is no longer about Tetsuya, who squandered countless valuable opportunities between Takagi losing and regaining the title, those matches proving his days are over. He may not be the archetype Okada is, he may not be the fan favourite Naito is, he may not be the international star Ospreay is, but damn it, he doesn’t care for any of that. He's walking into New Japan’s biggest show of the year as champion, and he’s walking out of it as champion, simple as.
As for Naito, he muses that this could very well be his last moment in the Sun, the result of the match dictating the direction his career goes. Either he wins and reclaims his spot atop NJPW, getting to have the run the pandemic robbed him of. Or he loses on the grandest stage and leaves with nothing… but that’s not happening. He’s beaten Shingo both times they’ve fought and he doesn’t plan on dropping the third. But that’s not just because the title’s on the line. It’s the topic Shingo’s smartly chosen to avoid speaking on. He’d be a fool to think his spot isn’t under threat. EVIL betrayed him. SANADA did too. There’s nothing stopping Shingo from doing it either… so it’s up to him to chop down the Hydra before the issue persists. He loves LIJ and he loves Shingo, but this moment is about him and everything he’s sacrificed, so he asks Takagi to not take it to heart when Naito takes what’s long overdue his.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 (January 4, 2024)
Also on the show:
NEVER Openweight Championship: Jeff Cobb (c) vs Ren Narita
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Taichi
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: KUSHIDA (c) vs Mike Bailey
PAC vs Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs TMDK
IWGP United States Championship: Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Will Ospreay
Kazuchika Okada vs Kaito Kiyomiya III
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Tetsuya Naito III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
As blockbuster as it gets on the Tokyo Dome stage, two LIJ members close out the night for the very first time in Naito’s home city! Two men that go back to their days together in high school, none of that matters now, the title all they care about. Dressed to the nines, Naito emerges from a helicopter like a true Ingobernable, sporting a black suit to represent his Dark Ace persona, an entire army of LIJ supporters backing him from the stage.
Before their first match, Naito declared he wanted to face a Shingo that could feasibly take LIJ from him and now more than ever he’s going to get it, but perhaps should be careful what he wishes for. Winning their past two matches, all he needs to do is replicate the feat one more time. Speak of the champ, Takagi emerges from the mouth of a Dragon’s lair, fireballs rising along the stage, Shingo in an all red regal fit, ready to spill blood. Losing to Okada two years ago when he was in this position, it’s about redemption for him and proving to his leader the future of LIJ is now, old man.
Once Naito slowly strips down out of his suit and Shingo sheds his skin, handing over the strap, the January 4 main event gets underway! It’s typical Naito behaviour from the jump, stalling for the opening minute as both men absorb the feel of the cheering crowd, split down the middle between the ways LIJ could go. Shingo’s stoic whilst Tetsuya smirks, sending some words Takagi’s way, before raising the LIJ fist! But Shingo rocks him with a jab!
A quick feeling out process sees Shingo gain the momentary upper hand off a rough Shoulder Tackle, only to turn into a Flying Forearm Smash from Naito! Tetsuya goes wild on Takagi with blows, the Dragon simply absorbing them, shaking them off and letting out a roar after another Shoulder Tackle! But Naito skids off the mat this time and recovers into his Tranquilo Pose instead, drawing the ire of Takagi!
Shingo smacks him with a boot to the cheek, backing Naito into the corner where he goes ham with piston strikes to the body, a CORNER BOMBER whiplashing Naito’s head against the turnbuckle! Swiping out the legs, he mocks Naito’s “Abre Los Ojos” taunt, going for Tetsuya’s COMBINACION CABRON! Naito has it scouted however, stopping the closing Mule Kick by snapping Takagi against the top rope with a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! TORNADO DDT crunches him on his dome, Shingo kicking out at 2!
Firing up, Takagi demands for more, Naito shrugging as he teases another Flying Forearm Smash, only to slip behind into the POLVO DE ESTRELLA COVER! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Shingo doesn’t even have time to chew Naito out for doing the complete opposite as asked, instantly being rolled into a SICK DRAGON SUPLEX ON THE DRAGON! Takagi clutches his neck as Naito grins at him, now following up with a COMBINACION CABRON of his own, telling Shingo not to steal if he can’t take the fire himself!
Takagi dazed, Naito scales up top for a MISSILE DROPKICK- TAKAGI TURNS HIM INSIDE-OUT MIDAIR WITH A PUMPING BOMBER!!! NOSHIGAMI! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Battering him with a Pumping Combo, chops and punches blister and bruise Tetsuya’s body, before a HIGH-ANGLE GERMAN DROPS HIM ON HIS NECK!!! Shingo looks satisfied with himself as he sits in his cross-legged pose… BUT NAITO RISES UP BEHIND HIM!
Rolling Wheel Kick to the back of the head snaps Takagi out of dream state as Tetsuya rallies with a series of forearms, before testing his luck with a PUMPING BOMBER OF HIS OWN! SHINGO SHRUGS IT OFF, PISSED! Realising he messed up, Naito tries to escape the Dragon’s wrath, but Shingo grabs him by the trunks to pull him back into a MADE IN JAPAN attempt! Tetsuya frantically fights free with back elbows to the neck, ONLY TO BE SPUN AROUND INTO A DRAGON SOUL LARIAT, NAITO ROCKED TO HIS CORE!
Naito collapsing outside, a TOPE CON HILO wipes him out! Shingo ragdolls his stablemate about ringside, hurling him from post-to-pillar, though a GUARDRAIL POWERBOMB is countered into a NECKBREAKER ON THE STEEL! ESPERANZA ON THE FLOOR BY NAITO! Shingo nursing the neck, Naito tosses him in and recovers for a moment, before heading up top, CONNECTING THE MISSILE DROPKICK! AND A GLORIA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Shingo in the drop zone, Naito teases the RUNNING DESTINO, but Takagi catches him, TRYING FOR A FIRE THUNDER DRIVER!!! Tetsuya scrabbles like a cat falling out a tree, whacking Shingo in the nose with his boot to free himself! A stiff forearm connects with the damaged neck, but as Naito goes for a German, Takagi beats it and folds him with a SAITO SUPLEX! LEGEND FALCONRY CONNECTS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NAITO SURVIVES!!!
Tetsuya in a dream state, Shingo clubs him with clotheslines, a YUKON LARIAT cleaning him off his feet! Grabbing him by the scruff, Takagi pulls him up… HOOKING AN STO, WANTING EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!! His cheeky smirk is wiped off by an EYE RAKE though, Naito furiously exploding with punches and a mouthful of SPIT in Shingo’s face, showing what he thinks of LIJ’s first traitor!
Knocking Shingo down with his own lariat, he sets up a SWING DESTINO, but Takagi grabs his leg! Naito tries to fight him off, though Shingo’s too powerful, yanking him into a draped position in the ropes! Heading to the adjacent corner, he climbs as Naito pulls himself up in hopes of freeing himself… COAST-TO-COAST BOMBER NAILS NAITO!!! MADE IN JAPAN!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ANOTHER CLOSE CALL!!!
Shingo roars, setting up the LAST OF THE DRAGON- NAITO COUNTERS INTO A SURPRISE DESTINO!!! Takagi crashing on the bad neck, he’s jelly-legged as Tetsuya bumrushes him with forearms, though as he kneels to counter another DESTINO, Naito dumps him with a GERMAN INSTEAD! AND A RUNNING DESTINOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SHINGO GETS THE SHOULDER UP!!! Naito cracks Takagi with headbutts, but it only angers the bull, who launches one back despite the neck!
Tetsuya winces and smirks through the pain, knowing this hurts Shingo more than him, the Dragon remaining prideful with each counter headbutt, UNTIL A POISONED FRANKENSTEINER SPIKES HIM! SKULL END!!! Naito’s embracing the trauma! Keeping it in deep for a few moments as Takagi struggles, Tetsuya promptly lets go and looks at the turnbuckles… RAISING HIS FIST TO THE SKY, HE WANTS A STARDUST PRESS!!! Shades of his matches with Okada in the Dome, Naito goes for the Hail Mary… IT MISSES!!! TAKAGI GETS HIM UP FOR A LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! HE FINALLY HITS IT AFTER FAILING BOTH PAST MATCHES!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Takagi’s taken aback, certain it was the piece of the equation he’d been missing. Angered, he knocks his own brutal forearms into Naito’s non-existent neck, an AXE BOMBER KNOCKING HIM DOWN! Naito gasping for air, a SICKENING DRAGON SOUL LARIAT follows! Now staggered himself, he throws wild, yet feeble shots, missing Shingo each time as he pops up his foe. Looking him dead in the eyes, Shingo hits off the ropes once, twice, thrice… PUMPING BOMBERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Scooping him up for another LAST OF THE DRAGON… NAITO COUNTERS WITH A VALENTIA!!!
Both men down, Tokyo goes nuts as they slowly pull themselves up using each other, butting heads! Trading blows again, a Dragon Soul rocks Naito, BUT HE THROWS ONE BACK! AND A FOREARM! A HEADBUTT! Naito runs the ropes, but so does Shingo, once, twice, thrice, TORNADO DD- PUMPING BOMBER!!! Grabbing the wrist from behind, TAKAGI WANTS THE RIPCORD BOMBER!!! BUT NAITO WITH A DESTINOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Now Naito’s in shock, mere inches from the win! Seeing his hometown on their feet for him, new life rushes through him, nodding to himself as he sets up again the DESTINO! Shingo throws his body weight forwards though, both men collapsing to the apron! Trading punches, it’s the HEADBUTT which subdues Takagi, his neck in sheer agony! AND NOW NAITO WANTS THE APRON DESTINO INSTEAD… SHINGO SHOVES HIM OFF! APRON CANADIAN DESTROYER!!! REVENGE FOR THE 2019 G1!!!
Naito’s eyes are glazed over, all the years of abuse to his own neck catching up to him! Takagi hoists him up, seating him on the turnbuckle, before raising his own fist skywards! Meeting Tetsuya up there, who gives one last fight with forearms to the neck, a DRAGON SOUL silences him! Grabbing the wrist, Shingo picks him up on top of the world… STAY DREAM!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. Tetsuya Naito to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (40:40)
It’s over. Once more, Naito’s championship dreams have been shattered into stardust as Takagi finally scores the win that’s eluded him throughout his NJPW run! Tokyo’s a stunned silence as they watch Shingo be handed his title, holding his hand high as Tetsuya lays still on the mat. Is Naito truly finished? LIJ pour out, Hiromu and BUSHI rushing to check on the Stardust Genius, while Yota and Titan check on Takagi as he suddenly stumbles back into the corner, clutching his neck.
As Naito’s helped to his feet, there’s a standstill between the two halves of LIJ as they stare each other down, intensity stemming from Shingo and Naito. Takagi pushes Yota and Titan aside, stepping forward whilst nursing his neck, Naito doing the same, butting heads with the Dragon again! …But then a smirk appears on Naito’s face, raising high the LIJ fist! And Shingo smirks back, raising his own to meet it! AND THEY EMBRACE!
What was thought to be the war that could fracture LIJ in half forever has only brought its two strongest members closest together! Grabbing a mic, Naito congratulates Shingo for finally beating him. He knew this day would eventually come, and he couldn’t be prouder of his friend. Though this loss stings him, the journey is never over him, and rest assured, he’ll be coming back for the throne, rested and healthy again, Naito winking at Takagi as he says so, who reciprocates with an inviting grin.
But right now is not about him. In fact, he may not even be long for the wrestling world with the condition his neck and knees are in. That’s why he’d like to make an announcement. From henceforth, he’s no longer the sole leader of LIJ. He wants Shingo to lead beside him! Takagi’s stunned by the offer, but Naito insists, explaining that though EVIL and SANADA were corrupted by greed for power, it was never about that to him. LIJ is his family, and he only wants what’s best for them. If that means Takagi calling the shots when he’s unable to, he’ll do that. Shingo gives him a bow of acceptance!
LIJ all smiles, united stronger than ever, Naito beckons them all to the centre of the ring, before gesturing to Takagi to cement his leadership by doing the roll-call! Takagi nodding, he accepts the mic from him and raises his fist to the sky as everyone follows… but right as he’s about to speak, the crowd bursts into gasps which catches Shingo’s attention, as OUT WALKS PAC!!!
Having hunted down and beaten LIJ members since his loss to Shingo, he snarls as he stalks his way to the ring, LIJ falling into defensive position! Stepping inside, he looks them left to right, scowling at their clenched fists, before raising his mic. He says that ever since he set foot in NJPW at the G1 Climax, he’s been a man possessed with his goal to take what he’s been deprived of. He stomped out Naito, he stole Shingo’s belt, he just beat Hiromu earlier in the night… yet none of that has left him satisfied the way he thought it would. It had him thinking the question – why?
And then he realised. LIJ isn’t the enemy. They’re misfits, just like him. Oppressed, just like him. He banded together Death Triangle in the face of The Elite, but now, he seeks a far greater position. With contract negotiations having come up, his 5-year AEW deal finally expiring, he’s opted for one that’ll allow him to work both AEW and NJPW, covering his bases so he doesn’t go unbooked anymore. And with these recent matches causing him to gain respect for the Ingobernables and their unrestrained manner of operations, he knows from experience that if you wish to rise to the top in Japan… it’s good to have allies. Tossing his mic aside, PAC RAISES HIS FIST TO THE SKY!
LIJ’s taken aback by the gesture from the Bastard that’s almost tried to tear them apart in the past months as much as they have themselves… BUT SHINGO RECIPROCATES TO HIS DRAGONGATE BROTHER! AND NOW HIROMU! YOTA! TITAN! BUSHI! AND NAITO!!! Raising his mic back up, Shingo declares “TITAN! BUSHI! TSUJI! HIROMU! NAITO! PAC! Y SHINGO! NOSOTROS… LOS INNNNGOBERRRNAAAABLESSSSSSS DE JA-PON!!!”. Tickertape explodes from the turnbuckles as Tokyo erupts into cheers, LIJ closing the show a united family again!
New Year Dash!! (January 5, 2024)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, PAC, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI) vs Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr., El Phantasmo, TMDK, El Desperado, Kosei Fujita)
As usual, the night after Wrestle Kingdom is rife with excitement and new beginnings, and at the centre of it all lies the age-old rivalry between LIJ and Zack Sabre Jr.! Fresh off losing his Television Championship to Taichi after a year-long reign, he immediately sets his sights on the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, a victory here sure to propel him to the top. And with LIJ finally back to being a cohesive, functioning family again, their redefined chemistry is put up to the test here.
Batting off the initial concerns of another blow-up, the rebels have never been more in sync than now under Naito and Shingo’s shared guidance, the added element of PAC only further helping than hindering. Still, Sabre-Gun is menacing, a driven Sabre sicking his troops on the opposition like the masterful general he is, yet to his annoyance, the crowd remain enamoured by the Bastard, who taps out Fujita to the Brutaliser as he stares down the Technical Wizard, sending a statement!
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. Sabre-Gun (18:07)
Whilst ZSJ throws a fit, promising LIJ they haven’t seen the last of him as he leaves with Sabre-Gun, LIJ raise their fists to the sky with Shingo returning the favour from last night by letting Naito do the roll-call this time, grins all around. That is… until the coin drops. HERE COMES OKADA! Turning to Naito, Shingo gives him the nod that he’s got this sorted, Tetsuya tipping his cap back and taking LIJ away with him to give the two space as the rivals lock eyes.
Mic in hand, Okada runs down Shingo, calling his reign an insult to NJPW, despising the Dragon’s prideful embracement of his Dragongate past when he should be representing their company. With Okada’s trilogy against Kaito finished in his favour, playtime’s over and the Rainmaker’s come back knocking for his crown, having beaten Shingo in the G1. Shingo, remembering how his last reign ended… accepts! Butting heads with Okada, he warns him he’s even more dangerous now, so he shouldn’t expect to walk away with his gold this time.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 in Yokohama Arena (January 21, 2024)
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Kazuchika Okada VI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
In the past year, Okada’s descent into madness has seen embark on an emerald voyage to kill off any outsider or youngster eyeballing his spot, even brutally exiling members from CHAOS to reshape it into men who fit his regime. Seeing Takagi as low-life scum, he’s adamant to ‘fix’ NJPW again so that his efforts from last year don’t go to waste, knowing the continued deviance LIJ’s control will cause from his ‘purer’ path. Shingo, on the other hand, has been collecting milestones, from finally beating Ospreay for the title, to finally knocking off Naito to affirm his spot at LIJ’s top and win a January 4 main event to redeem his loss two years prior against the man who now stands in his way again, the only natural next bucket list item hence being beating Okada back on the WK stage.
A gruelling war over New Japan’s vision spans over the next half hour (akin to the classic they’d actually have at New Beginning 2023), Okada mercilessly dumping Shingo over and over again on the neck Naito had loosened up, whilst Takagi holds his own more than he ever has in the past, blistering the Ace with lariats that leave welts all over! The first RAINMAKER hits like a gunshot though, damn near taking Shingo out, yet he keeps fighting through the damaged neck! MADE IN JAPAN has Okada rethinking his decisions to challenge, and a STAY DREAM tease almost gets him!
A vicious TOMBSTONE drills him on the floor though, sending spasms down from his neck to his limbs, another RAINMAKER pushing him to his last legs! As Okada preps one final one… TAKAGI NAILS HIS OWN RIPCORD BOMBER!!! The FIRE THUNDER DRIVER now has Kazu reeling himself, and a LAST OF THE DRAGON scores a mighty near-fall! OKADA RESPONDS WITH ONE OF HIS OWN, GETTING SHINGO BACK FOR THE RIPCORD!!! Inching closer and closer to the vaunted third Rainmaker, Okada has Shingo’s neck in dire straits with the Money Clip, but as he finally swings… TAKAGI CATCHES IT! ANOTHER LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. Kazuchika Okada to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (32:07)
Despite the odds stacked against him, Shingo’s managed to tie his score against Okada, 3-3, avenging his WK heartbreak from 2022, whilst Kazu’s grip on New Japan continues to falter, the ungovernables wrecking his ideal world. Refusing to let them slip however, LIJ and CHAOS continue to feud into the New Beginning tour, where a massive tag is set up pitting Shingo & Naito against Okada & Tanahashi!
The New Beginning in Sapporo - Night Two (January 28, 2024)
Also on the tour:
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs KENTA - IWGP United States Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs CHAOS (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada)
With Hiromu & BUSHI dethroning SHO & Taiji last night, matters are even more tense now in the power struggle between the stables. Endless shared history between these four men, it clearly shows with the animosity they greet each other with, Takagi and Okada continuing their war from Yokohama as Naito continues to drift further every day from the man he used to resemble in Tanahashi.
Tetsuya manages to get some well-earned revenge against the man who withheld the World Title from him throughout 2022, Okada, a Destino/Bomber showing Naito and Takagi to be fully in tune again, but when a Twist and Shout to Shingo’s neck takes him out, it’s down to Naito and Tanahashi again! Tetsuya trying to recover some momentum to speed up his rise back to challenging Shingo, he gives Hiroshi his all, though the Dragon Screws prove too much for his bad knees, a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF submitting him!
CHAOS def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (21:15)
With Tanahashi’s win over the LIJ leader duo, he calls out Shingo in a post-show interview, saying it’s been 3 years since he’s had a chance to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, his last match notably enough coming against Shingo himself. He’s not getting any younger as it seems and he wants nothing more than one last run at the top… so for the sake of sparing the company he broke his back for the past two decades from LIJ’s undesirable direction, he wishes to bring gold back to CHAOS! Record level 1-1 between the two, Takagi fearlessly accepts, setting up a blockbuster showdown for Osaka!
The New Beginning in Osaka (February 10, 2024)
Also on the show:
KUSHIDA (c) vs YOH - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
TMDK (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (PAC & Yota Tsuji) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) (c) vs CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) vs SixorNine (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi) - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
3 years ago on the New Beginning tour, Shingo and Tanahashi met for the first time, the Ace of the Universe taking the NEVER Openweight Championship from him, before Takagi returned the favour 6 months later, keeping the World Title from Hiroshi. Now, in a war of ideologies, they settle the score! Even at 47, Tana’s flamboyant as ever in his entrance, turning back the clocks with a full rockstar entrance as women swoon over the Japanese God. Shingo’s comparatively humble in his entrance, glaring taped-up neck keeping his head bowed, yet nostrils flaring, ready for battle.
It's a classic Tanahashi start, slapping on the headlock to grind down his foe, only now it means that much more with the condition of Shingo’s neck. As Hiroshi reaches for Takagi’s tape, Shingo butts into his chest with his shoulder to shove him off and fires up a Pumping Combo! Chop, punch, chop, punch, chop, punc- DRAGON-STYLE HARITE FROM TANA KNOCKS THE TASTE OUT OF SHINGO’S MOUTH! Takagi doubled over, Hiroshi hammers elbows into his exposed neck, a Low Dropkick cutting him down and a Neckbreaker flooring him for 2!
Heading to the middle rope, a SOMERSAULT SENTON BOMB is evaded, Tana crashing on his back! Now Shingo blasts him with the ground and pound! A Knee Drop sits Hiroshi up, before a SLIDING D knocks him back down for 2! Whipping Tana into the corner, a CORNER BOMBER heads his way like a missile, but a Big Boot and a HIGH FLY ATTACK cuts him off, before Tana strums the air guitar!
He grabs the waist, but a Snap DDT stops him, an ORIGINAL FALCONRY from Shingo slamming him down! Beating Tana’s chest like a drum, he guillotines him in the ropes with a PUMPING BREAKER! A Gallon Throw attempt follows, but Tana spins around into a FALL IN LOVE PIN! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! And before Shingo can do anything, Hiroshi nails the head with a Low Dropkick! HASE-STYLE URANAGE SPIKES HIM ON HIS NECK!!!
Hurt, Takagi collapses to the outside, prompting Tana to spear the Dragon into the guardrail with a DRAGON ROCKET! Climbing the ropes, Hiroshi measures for a HIGH FLY FLOW- CAUGHT ON SHINGO’S SHOULDERS!!! DEATH VALLEY BOMB ON THE FLOOR!!! The back that once carried NJPW now sears in agony as Takagi rolls him in, a SOL DE JAPON CONNECTING! Smacking a Dragon Soul Lariat off him, a HIGH-ANGLE BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLEX DROPS TANA! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE!
Loading the Ace of the Universe onto his shoulders, he nails a BUCKLE BOMB… BUT TANA EXPLODES BACK WITH A SLING BLADE!!! Both downed for a moment, Tana beats a Yukon Lariat with a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Shingo seeing stars, Tana grabs him for another, but Takagi desperately fights him off, ONLY FOR A DARUMA-SHIKI GERMAN SUPLEX TO FLOOR HIM!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SHINGO STAYS IN!
Tana tries to get a hold of the neck, but Takagi turtles and kicks him away, prompting Tana to secure the leg instead, connecting a DRAGON SCREW! Shingo hobbling to his feet, a TWIST AND SHOUT awaits him! Hiroshi rolls through for seconds, but now Takagi grabs his leg and RETURNS A DRAGON SCREW!!! Tana’s famously bad knees give way, Shingo now with free reign to stomp the chest, before hoisting him into a MICHINOKU DRIVER II! Heading up, he winds up the DIVING BOMBER, but taking too long, Tana cuts him off!
Beating on Shingo’s exposed neck, he drapes him from the top rope… AND SNAPS HIM INTO A VICIOUS DRAGON SCREW NECK WHIP!!! Takagi’s head damn near popping off, Tana quickly grabs a DRAGON SLEEPER and starts swinging him around Giant Swing style! Slamming him into the mat after 10 rotations, Tana glides up top… NAILING THE HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Securing the wrists, Tana goes for a RYUGOYE like last time… TAKAGI CATCHES IT! MADE IN JAPAN!!! Hiroshi smartly rolls away to the ropes before Takagi can cover though, leaving both men to nurse their wounds. Meeting in the middle, they bounce elbows off each other’s skulls, TANA CRACKING SHINGO WITH A HEADBUTT!!! TAKAGI RETURNS ONE, DROPPING HIROSHI!!! Battering the back, he tries for a LAST OF THE DRAGON- SLING BLADE FROM TANA!!!
As the Pumping Hawk rises, Tana cracks a swift TWIST AND SHOUT, before nailing ANOTHER SLING BLADE!!! Back turned to Takagi, Tanahashi’s confident he’s got him… BUT HE TURNS INTO A PUMPING BOMBER!!! Hiroshi rocked, Shingo hits the ropes a few times, before firing off a PUMPING BOMBER THAT TURNS HIM INSIDE OUT!!! Now grabbing the wrist, he teases the Ripcord variant, but Tana counters with the SLING BLADE!!!
Returning up top, Tana crashes into Shingo with a STANDING HIGH FLY FLOW!!! Going back up for seconds, he looks over his kingdom… but Takagi grabs his leg! Tana tries kicking him off, but Shingo pulls himself up, trading blows with Hiroshi! He eats a Headbutt to the neck but firms it, wrecking Tana’s back with punches… BEFORE NAILING AN AVALANCHE EXPLODER ’98!!! LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Gritting his teeth, Shingo winds the arm, going for a PUMPING BOMBER, but Tana just collapses under! Takagi stomps over to him, only to fall into a SMALL PACKAGE! ONE! TWO! THR-TAKAGI KICKS OUT! SLING BLADE!!! Tana attempts a BRAINBUSTER, but the back gives out, letting Takagi fall into the ropes and rebound with a PUMPING BOMBER!!! Securing the Double Hammerlock, he nails a TAKAGI DRIVER ’98!!! ONE! TWO! THR-TANAHASHI WITH A FOOT ON THE ROPES!!!
Shingo’s at a loss, but in this game of natural progression, he looks to replicate his WK success, smacking Dragon Souls off Tana, before another PUMPING BOMBER flooring him! Dragging him up the ropes with him, he wants the STAY DREAM… but it left his neck exposed, Tana raining down 12-6 elbows on it! Shingo forced to let go, he instead trades forearms with Hiroshi, but a HEADBUTT knocks him down this time into a prone position! Tana in perfect position, HE NAILS THE HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE BACK!!! Rolling Shingo over, Tana heads back up… HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Shingo Takagi (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (35:36)
For the 9th time in his career, Tanahashi’s the World Champion! Shingo’s neck finally crumbling at his hands, the CHAOS regime is back on top! A remarkable reign from the Dragon, but he’s forced back into his cave. As Tana celebrates though, he doesn’t have to wait at all for competition to line up, KATSUYORI SHIBATA’S THEME HITTING! The fellow Three Musketeer losing his US Title earlier on the tour, he’s had a bone to pick with CHAOS for the past year since their exile of the likes of Goto, who have since been in his corner as part of the Takeover faction. The two long-time rivals staring each down, Tana raises his title with a grin, as Shibata returns a murderous look!
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Dynamite (November 1, 2023)
After shockingly robbing Shingo Takagi of his title, PAC interrupts mid-show, belt slung over his shoulder, scowl on his face. He rants about how ever since joining AEW, he’s been disrespected and overlooked, not even being booked for half a year after losing the AEW World Trios Championship, instead having to source work in NJPW with the G1 to finally pop back on the radar. Well now, he’s no longer sitting around in wait for others to give him opportunities. He’s taking them by force. Seeing as he beat Tetsuya Naito in the G1 yet Tetsuya’s been confirmed for WK’s main event without even defending his case against him, he’s decided he’s going to enter the match through his own means. He wants Shingo for the title! For his title. And until he gets his match, he’s not returning the strap.
Collision (November 4, 2023)
PAC vs CIMA
With PAC and Shingo’s obvious connection to Dragongate, The Bastard wrestles an exhibition match against one of the standout names who made his name there, CIMA! Tied to the early days of AEW’s legacy, the veteran reminds the world of his immense talent here, wrestling a very DG-style high-speed match, PAC matching him every step of the way. Though he gives him a solid fight, a Brutaliser cuts things mercifully short, PAC keeping it in until after the bell!
PAC def. CIMA (10:05)
PAC briefly pausing to snatch up the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and raise it over his head, before going back to stomping out CIMA… HE’S INTERRUPTED BY SHINGO’S MUSIC!!! Takagi bolting out, the Black Arrow cuts his losses and flees, leaving the belt behind as Shingo checks on CIMA, hissing with anger. Reclaiming his belt, he tells PAC he’s on!
Full Gear (November 12, 2023)
Shingo Takagi (c) vs PAC - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
PAC’s first match outside WWE pitting him against Shingo in tag team action in Takagi’s final matches with Dragongate before signing with NJPW, they finally cross paths again in singles action for the first time since 2011, the Dragon having won all 3 past encounters. Two of the most intense wrestlers around, there’s no shortage of aggression between the two, Takagi raring for revenge on PAC for stealing his moment, and PAC simply wanting to ruin everyone’s lives for the betterment of his own.
Tearing into each other for the better part of half an hour, PAC is absolutely feral here, not letting this rare opportunity go to waste one bit, giving the champion all sorts of hell. Shingo, seeing some Ospreay in the Bastard, gives him the same respect he does his toughest rival, though the comparison only sets PAC off further, teasing introducing the title belt itself into the match, only to spike Shingo with a Tornado DDT off the distraction! Nailing the BLACK ARROW on the Dragon, he hooks the leg! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Or is it? PAC thinks he’s won the title, elated, only to turn around to the referee pointing on Shingo’s leg on the ropes! It’s Neville/Rollins all over again! If PAC was thought to have lost it so far, the depths he reaches at this point are undefinable, nailing every last trick in the book he knows before wrenching in THE BRUTALISER! Wanting to submit Shingo like he did CIMA, he puts him on the brink of passing out, but unlike the Flower of Evil, Takagi’s simply too strong for PAC, managing to shake him off, before eventually nailing the LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. PAC to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (25:13)
Though PAC lost at Full Gear, by the manner which he eyes Shingo and his title when leaving the ring, it’s clear matters are not yet over between them. However, for now, Takagi has the remaining month until January 4 to focus on. With Naito winning at Power Struggle in a tag match pitting him and Hiromu against Ospreay and Akira, El Ingobernable has all the momentum he needs behind him, though what lies between now and Tokyo Dome surprises him.
With Dragongate’s 20th Year Anniversary celebrations coming up, one of the most heated rivalries in the company’s history is revisited when Shingo’s called out by BxB Hulk! Their last interaction seeing them team up in the penultimate match of DG’s final big show of 2022 to great success in a surprise return by Takagi, Hulk now wants a shot at beating Shingo exactly one year later, seeing the title on his shoulder as a means of proving himself better than Takagi’s best version ever.
Naturally accepting an opportunity to knock Hulk’s head off once more, the blockbuster main event is set for The Final Gate, but before then, Hulk invites him and Naito to a preview tag match, knowing he can milk the uncomfortable setting and watch Shingo suffer by it. Though not pleased at the thought, Takagi does inform Tetsuya, who agrees to help him, better together than at each other’s throats.
Dragongate The Gate of Origin (December 10, 2023)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs GOLD CLASS (BxB Hulk & Ben-K)
Three of DG’s greats and one NJPW pillar all in the same ring, it’s as blockbuster a match as can be, the four megastars putting on a thrilling showcase of their talents, the beloved Shingo especially getting the spotlight to Naito’s subtle annoyance, no longer the most popular man in the building. Nonetheless, with a crucial match less than one month away, LIJ are at their best even with their issues, the Destino/Pumping Bomber combo to Ben-K getting the win, though Naito making a point to be the one making the cover as Shingo is left to lock eyes with Hulk.
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. GOLD CLASS (21:35)
Dragongate The Final Gate (December 17, 2023)
Shingo Takagi vs BxB Hulk XIV
A history built on friendship, betrayal, and subsequent hatred, the arrogant detestable Shingo and the adored underdog Hulk have long grown since their last match 5 years ago, Takagi currently his company’s frontman and BxB still hanging on in his 40’s for DG. With Shingo having never beaten Hulk with a World Title over his shoulder, BxB having done so twice to him, The Dragon channels every last fiery breath of his into silencing his career rival for good, knocking Hulk around the arena and into the ring post like the old days, even playing it heelish at points, ever the superstar Hulk always wished to be. And after a thoroughly personal trip down memory lane, 20 years of DG tip in favour of the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, who puts Hulk down for good! In a show of respect after the match, Takagi bows to Hulk, entrusting the people to him as he turns his attention back to his new home.
Shingo Takagi def. BxB Hulk (26:11)
Road To Tokyo Dome - Night Two (December 23, 2023)
Also on the tour:
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii) (c) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Titan) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
One final stop on the road to Wrestle Kingdom, and it’s arguably the most important one yet. With Shingo and Naito’s divide over leadership growing only stronger by the minute, what started as being mediated by LIJ has now turned into them being forced to pick sides against their wills. Takagi’s grown tired of existing in Naito’s shadow despite holding the title, believing he’s more cut out to lead them, receiving support from his fellow newer class of LIJ blood, Yota Tsuji, as well as another recent recruit in Titan. However, Naito’s still the familia’s franchise to the group’s OGs, Hiromu and BUSHI letting loyalty speak for itself by siding with their leader in his bid to end his 3-year chase for the title currently around Takagi’s waist. Battlelines drawn, the blockbuster showdown closes out the Road To Tokyo Dome tour!
Brute force colliding with agility, the familial bond between LIJ only continues to be blurred as Shingo and Naito bark out orders to their respective teammates, directing traffic in this psychological warfare grown physical. It’s a slow build of the tempo until the crescendo of Shingo and Naito finally touching for the first time since the G1 Finals is reached, Tetsuya leaning heavily on his mind games whilst Takagi simply throws mean bombs, adamant to finally prove he’s better than his leader. Not overexposing their strategies too much, the match ultimately sees Naito nail Titan with the Destino to win, once more having the last laugh over Shingo!
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Titan) (17:20)
In a final press conference heading into Wrestle Kingdom 18, Takagi and Naito share their thoughts on the upcoming match. Shingo declares that NJPW is no longer about Tetsuya, who squandered countless valuable opportunities between Takagi losing and regaining the title, those matches proving his days are over. He may not be the archetype Okada is, he may not be the fan favourite Naito is, he may not be the international star Ospreay is, but damn it, he doesn’t care for any of that. He's walking into New Japan’s biggest show of the year as champion, and he’s walking out of it as champion, simple as.
As for Naito, he muses that this could very well be his last moment in the Sun, the result of the match dictating the direction his career goes. Either he wins and reclaims his spot atop NJPW, getting to have the run the pandemic robbed him of. Or he loses on the grandest stage and leaves with nothing… but that’s not happening. He’s beaten Shingo both times they’ve fought and he doesn’t plan on dropping the third. But that’s not just because the title’s on the line. It’s the topic Shingo’s smartly chosen to avoid speaking on. He’d be a fool to think his spot isn’t under threat. EVIL betrayed him. SANADA did too. There’s nothing stopping Shingo from doing it either… so it’s up to him to chop down the Hydra before the issue persists. He loves LIJ and he loves Shingo, but this moment is about him and everything he’s sacrificed, so he asks Takagi to not take it to heart when Naito takes what’s long overdue his.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 (January 4, 2024)
Also on the show:
NEVER Openweight Championship: Jeff Cobb (c) vs Ren Narita
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Taichi
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: KUSHIDA (c) vs Mike Bailey
PAC vs Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs TMDK
IWGP United States Championship: Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Will Ospreay
Kazuchika Okada vs Kaito Kiyomiya III
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Tetsuya Naito III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
As blockbuster as it gets on the Tokyo Dome stage, two LIJ members close out the night for the very first time in Naito’s home city! Two men that go back to their days together in high school, none of that matters now, the title all they care about. Dressed to the nines, Naito emerges from a helicopter like a true Ingobernable, sporting a black suit to represent his Dark Ace persona, an entire army of LIJ supporters backing him from the stage.
Before their first match, Naito declared he wanted to face a Shingo that could feasibly take LIJ from him and now more than ever he’s going to get it, but perhaps should be careful what he wishes for. Winning their past two matches, all he needs to do is replicate the feat one more time. Speak of the champ, Takagi emerges from the mouth of a Dragon’s lair, fireballs rising along the stage, Shingo in an all red regal fit, ready to spill blood. Losing to Okada two years ago when he was in this position, it’s about redemption for him and proving to his leader the future of LIJ is now, old man.
Once Naito slowly strips down out of his suit and Shingo sheds his skin, handing over the strap, the January 4 main event gets underway! It’s typical Naito behaviour from the jump, stalling for the opening minute as both men absorb the feel of the cheering crowd, split down the middle between the ways LIJ could go. Shingo’s stoic whilst Tetsuya smirks, sending some words Takagi’s way, before raising the LIJ fist! But Shingo rocks him with a jab!
A quick feeling out process sees Shingo gain the momentary upper hand off a rough Shoulder Tackle, only to turn into a Flying Forearm Smash from Naito! Tetsuya goes wild on Takagi with blows, the Dragon simply absorbing them, shaking them off and letting out a roar after another Shoulder Tackle! But Naito skids off the mat this time and recovers into his Tranquilo Pose instead, drawing the ire of Takagi!
Shingo smacks him with a boot to the cheek, backing Naito into the corner where he goes ham with piston strikes to the body, a CORNER BOMBER whiplashing Naito’s head against the turnbuckle! Swiping out the legs, he mocks Naito’s “Abre Los Ojos” taunt, going for Tetsuya’s COMBINACION CABRON! Naito has it scouted however, stopping the closing Mule Kick by snapping Takagi against the top rope with a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! TORNADO DDT crunches him on his dome, Shingo kicking out at 2!
Firing up, Takagi demands for more, Naito shrugging as he teases another Flying Forearm Smash, only to slip behind into the POLVO DE ESTRELLA COVER! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Shingo doesn’t even have time to chew Naito out for doing the complete opposite as asked, instantly being rolled into a SICK DRAGON SUPLEX ON THE DRAGON! Takagi clutches his neck as Naito grins at him, now following up with a COMBINACION CABRON of his own, telling Shingo not to steal if he can’t take the fire himself!
Takagi dazed, Naito scales up top for a MISSILE DROPKICK- TAKAGI TURNS HIM INSIDE-OUT MIDAIR WITH A PUMPING BOMBER!!! NOSHIGAMI! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Battering him with a Pumping Combo, chops and punches blister and bruise Tetsuya’s body, before a HIGH-ANGLE GERMAN DROPS HIM ON HIS NECK!!! Shingo looks satisfied with himself as he sits in his cross-legged pose… BUT NAITO RISES UP BEHIND HIM!
Rolling Wheel Kick to the back of the head snaps Takagi out of dream state as Tetsuya rallies with a series of forearms, before testing his luck with a PUMPING BOMBER OF HIS OWN! SHINGO SHRUGS IT OFF, PISSED! Realising he messed up, Naito tries to escape the Dragon’s wrath, but Shingo grabs him by the trunks to pull him back into a MADE IN JAPAN attempt! Tetsuya frantically fights free with back elbows to the neck, ONLY TO BE SPUN AROUND INTO A DRAGON SOUL LARIAT, NAITO ROCKED TO HIS CORE!
Naito collapsing outside, a TOPE CON HILO wipes him out! Shingo ragdolls his stablemate about ringside, hurling him from post-to-pillar, though a GUARDRAIL POWERBOMB is countered into a NECKBREAKER ON THE STEEL! ESPERANZA ON THE FLOOR BY NAITO! Shingo nursing the neck, Naito tosses him in and recovers for a moment, before heading up top, CONNECTING THE MISSILE DROPKICK! AND A GLORIA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Shingo in the drop zone, Naito teases the RUNNING DESTINO, but Takagi catches him, TRYING FOR A FIRE THUNDER DRIVER!!! Tetsuya scrabbles like a cat falling out a tree, whacking Shingo in the nose with his boot to free himself! A stiff forearm connects with the damaged neck, but as Naito goes for a German, Takagi beats it and folds him with a SAITO SUPLEX! LEGEND FALCONRY CONNECTS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NAITO SURVIVES!!!
Tetsuya in a dream state, Shingo clubs him with clotheslines, a YUKON LARIAT cleaning him off his feet! Grabbing him by the scruff, Takagi pulls him up… HOOKING AN STO, WANTING EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!! His cheeky smirk is wiped off by an EYE RAKE though, Naito furiously exploding with punches and a mouthful of SPIT in Shingo’s face, showing what he thinks of LIJ’s first traitor!
Knocking Shingo down with his own lariat, he sets up a SWING DESTINO, but Takagi grabs his leg! Naito tries to fight him off, though Shingo’s too powerful, yanking him into a draped position in the ropes! Heading to the adjacent corner, he climbs as Naito pulls himself up in hopes of freeing himself… COAST-TO-COAST BOMBER NAILS NAITO!!! MADE IN JAPAN!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ANOTHER CLOSE CALL!!!
Shingo roars, setting up the LAST OF THE DRAGON- NAITO COUNTERS INTO A SURPRISE DESTINO!!! Takagi crashing on the bad neck, he’s jelly-legged as Tetsuya bumrushes him with forearms, though as he kneels to counter another DESTINO, Naito dumps him with a GERMAN INSTEAD! AND A RUNNING DESTINOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SHINGO GETS THE SHOULDER UP!!! Naito cracks Takagi with headbutts, but it only angers the bull, who launches one back despite the neck!
Tetsuya winces and smirks through the pain, knowing this hurts Shingo more than him, the Dragon remaining prideful with each counter headbutt, UNTIL A POISONED FRANKENSTEINER SPIKES HIM! SKULL END!!! Naito’s embracing the trauma! Keeping it in deep for a few moments as Takagi struggles, Tetsuya promptly lets go and looks at the turnbuckles… RAISING HIS FIST TO THE SKY, HE WANTS A STARDUST PRESS!!! Shades of his matches with Okada in the Dome, Naito goes for the Hail Mary… IT MISSES!!! TAKAGI GETS HIM UP FOR A LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! HE FINALLY HITS IT AFTER FAILING BOTH PAST MATCHES!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Takagi’s taken aback, certain it was the piece of the equation he’d been missing. Angered, he knocks his own brutal forearms into Naito’s non-existent neck, an AXE BOMBER KNOCKING HIM DOWN! Naito gasping for air, a SICKENING DRAGON SOUL LARIAT follows! Now staggered himself, he throws wild, yet feeble shots, missing Shingo each time as he pops up his foe. Looking him dead in the eyes, Shingo hits off the ropes once, twice, thrice… PUMPING BOMBERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Scooping him up for another LAST OF THE DRAGON… NAITO COUNTERS WITH A VALENTIA!!!
Both men down, Tokyo goes nuts as they slowly pull themselves up using each other, butting heads! Trading blows again, a Dragon Soul rocks Naito, BUT HE THROWS ONE BACK! AND A FOREARM! A HEADBUTT! Naito runs the ropes, but so does Shingo, once, twice, thrice, TORNADO DD- PUMPING BOMBER!!! Grabbing the wrist from behind, TAKAGI WANTS THE RIPCORD BOMBER!!! BUT NAITO WITH A DESTINOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Now Naito’s in shock, mere inches from the win! Seeing his hometown on their feet for him, new life rushes through him, nodding to himself as he sets up again the DESTINO! Shingo throws his body weight forwards though, both men collapsing to the apron! Trading punches, it’s the HEADBUTT which subdues Takagi, his neck in sheer agony! AND NOW NAITO WANTS THE APRON DESTINO INSTEAD… SHINGO SHOVES HIM OFF! APRON CANADIAN DESTROYER!!! REVENGE FOR THE 2019 G1!!!
Naito’s eyes are glazed over, all the years of abuse to his own neck catching up to him! Takagi hoists him up, seating him on the turnbuckle, before raising his own fist skywards! Meeting Tetsuya up there, who gives one last fight with forearms to the neck, a DRAGON SOUL silences him! Grabbing the wrist, Shingo picks him up on top of the world… STAY DREAM!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. Tetsuya Naito to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (40:40)
It’s over. Once more, Naito’s championship dreams have been shattered into stardust as Takagi finally scores the win that’s eluded him throughout his NJPW run! Tokyo’s a stunned silence as they watch Shingo be handed his title, holding his hand high as Tetsuya lays still on the mat. Is Naito truly finished? LIJ pour out, Hiromu and BUSHI rushing to check on the Stardust Genius, while Yota and Titan check on Takagi as he suddenly stumbles back into the corner, clutching his neck.
As Naito’s helped to his feet, there’s a standstill between the two halves of LIJ as they stare each other down, intensity stemming from Shingo and Naito. Takagi pushes Yota and Titan aside, stepping forward whilst nursing his neck, Naito doing the same, butting heads with the Dragon again! …But then a smirk appears on Naito’s face, raising high the LIJ fist! And Shingo smirks back, raising his own to meet it! AND THEY EMBRACE!
What was thought to be the war that could fracture LIJ in half forever has only brought its two strongest members closest together! Grabbing a mic, Naito congratulates Shingo for finally beating him. He knew this day would eventually come, and he couldn’t be prouder of his friend. Though this loss stings him, the journey is never over him, and rest assured, he’ll be coming back for the throne, rested and healthy again, Naito winking at Takagi as he says so, who reciprocates with an inviting grin.
But right now is not about him. In fact, he may not even be long for the wrestling world with the condition his neck and knees are in. That’s why he’d like to make an announcement. From henceforth, he’s no longer the sole leader of LIJ. He wants Shingo to lead beside him! Takagi’s stunned by the offer, but Naito insists, explaining that though EVIL and SANADA were corrupted by greed for power, it was never about that to him. LIJ is his family, and he only wants what’s best for them. If that means Takagi calling the shots when he’s unable to, he’ll do that. Shingo gives him a bow of acceptance!
LIJ all smiles, united stronger than ever, Naito beckons them all to the centre of the ring, before gesturing to Takagi to cement his leadership by doing the roll-call! Takagi nodding, he accepts the mic from him and raises his fist to the sky as everyone follows… but right as he’s about to speak, the crowd bursts into gasps which catches Shingo’s attention, as OUT WALKS PAC!!!
Having hunted down and beaten LIJ members since his loss to Shingo, he snarls as he stalks his way to the ring, LIJ falling into defensive position! Stepping inside, he looks them left to right, scowling at their clenched fists, before raising his mic. He says that ever since he set foot in NJPW at the G1 Climax, he’s been a man possessed with his goal to take what he’s been deprived of. He stomped out Naito, he stole Shingo’s belt, he just beat Hiromu earlier in the night… yet none of that has left him satisfied the way he thought it would. It had him thinking the question – why?
And then he realised. LIJ isn’t the enemy. They’re misfits, just like him. Oppressed, just like him. He banded together Death Triangle in the face of The Elite, but now, he seeks a far greater position. With contract negotiations having come up, his 5-year AEW deal finally expiring, he’s opted for one that’ll allow him to work both AEW and NJPW, covering his bases so he doesn’t go unbooked anymore. And with these recent matches causing him to gain respect for the Ingobernables and their unrestrained manner of operations, he knows from experience that if you wish to rise to the top in Japan… it’s good to have allies. Tossing his mic aside, PAC RAISES HIS FIST TO THE SKY!
LIJ’s taken aback by the gesture from the Bastard that’s almost tried to tear them apart in the past months as much as they have themselves… BUT SHINGO RECIPROCATES TO HIS DRAGONGATE BROTHER! AND NOW HIROMU! YOTA! TITAN! BUSHI! AND NAITO!!! Raising his mic back up, Shingo declares “TITAN! BUSHI! TSUJI! HIROMU! NAITO! PAC! Y SHINGO! NOSOTROS… LOS INNNNGOBERRRNAAAABLESSSSSSS DE JA-PON!!!”. Tickertape explodes from the turnbuckles as Tokyo erupts into cheers, LIJ closing the show a united family again!
New Year Dash!! (January 5, 2024)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, PAC, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI) vs Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr., El Phantasmo, TMDK, El Desperado, Kosei Fujita)
As usual, the night after Wrestle Kingdom is rife with excitement and new beginnings, and at the centre of it all lies the age-old rivalry between LIJ and Zack Sabre Jr.! Fresh off losing his Television Championship to Taichi after a year-long reign, he immediately sets his sights on the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, a victory here sure to propel him to the top. And with LIJ finally back to being a cohesive, functioning family again, their redefined chemistry is put up to the test here.
Batting off the initial concerns of another blow-up, the rebels have never been more in sync than now under Naito and Shingo’s shared guidance, the added element of PAC only further helping than hindering. Still, Sabre-Gun is menacing, a driven Sabre sicking his troops on the opposition like the masterful general he is, yet to his annoyance, the crowd remain enamoured by the Bastard, who taps out Fujita to the Brutaliser as he stares down the Technical Wizard, sending a statement!
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. Sabre-Gun (18:07)
Whilst ZSJ throws a fit, promising LIJ they haven’t seen the last of him as he leaves with Sabre-Gun, LIJ raise their fists to the sky with Shingo returning the favour from last night by letting Naito do the roll-call this time, grins all around. That is… until the coin drops. HERE COMES OKADA! Turning to Naito, Shingo gives him the nod that he’s got this sorted, Tetsuya tipping his cap back and taking LIJ away with him to give the two space as the rivals lock eyes.
Mic in hand, Okada runs down Shingo, calling his reign an insult to NJPW, despising the Dragon’s prideful embracement of his Dragongate past when he should be representing their company. With Okada’s trilogy against Kaito finished in his favour, playtime’s over and the Rainmaker’s come back knocking for his crown, having beaten Shingo in the G1. Shingo, remembering how his last reign ended… accepts! Butting heads with Okada, he warns him he’s even more dangerous now, so he shouldn’t expect to walk away with his gold this time.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 in Yokohama Arena (January 21, 2024)
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Kazuchika Okada VI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
In the past year, Okada’s descent into madness has seen embark on an emerald voyage to kill off any outsider or youngster eyeballing his spot, even brutally exiling members from CHAOS to reshape it into men who fit his regime. Seeing Takagi as low-life scum, he’s adamant to ‘fix’ NJPW again so that his efforts from last year don’t go to waste, knowing the continued deviance LIJ’s control will cause from his ‘purer’ path. Shingo, on the other hand, has been collecting milestones, from finally beating Ospreay for the title, to finally knocking off Naito to affirm his spot at LIJ’s top and win a January 4 main event to redeem his loss two years prior against the man who now stands in his way again, the only natural next bucket list item hence being beating Okada back on the WK stage.
A gruelling war over New Japan’s vision spans over the next half hour (akin to the classic they’d actually have at New Beginning 2023), Okada mercilessly dumping Shingo over and over again on the neck Naito had loosened up, whilst Takagi holds his own more than he ever has in the past, blistering the Ace with lariats that leave welts all over! The first RAINMAKER hits like a gunshot though, damn near taking Shingo out, yet he keeps fighting through the damaged neck! MADE IN JAPAN has Okada rethinking his decisions to challenge, and a STAY DREAM tease almost gets him!
A vicious TOMBSTONE drills him on the floor though, sending spasms down from his neck to his limbs, another RAINMAKER pushing him to his last legs! As Okada preps one final one… TAKAGI NAILS HIS OWN RIPCORD BOMBER!!! The FIRE THUNDER DRIVER now has Kazu reeling himself, and a LAST OF THE DRAGON scores a mighty near-fall! OKADA RESPONDS WITH ONE OF HIS OWN, GETTING SHINGO BACK FOR THE RIPCORD!!! Inching closer and closer to the vaunted third Rainmaker, Okada has Shingo’s neck in dire straits with the Money Clip, but as he finally swings… TAKAGI CATCHES IT! ANOTHER LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. Kazuchika Okada to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (32:07)
Despite the odds stacked against him, Shingo’s managed to tie his score against Okada, 3-3, avenging his WK heartbreak from 2022, whilst Kazu’s grip on New Japan continues to falter, the ungovernables wrecking his ideal world. Refusing to let them slip however, LIJ and CHAOS continue to feud into the New Beginning tour, where a massive tag is set up pitting Shingo & Naito against Okada & Tanahashi!
The New Beginning in Sapporo - Night Two (January 28, 2024)
Also on the tour:
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs KENTA - IWGP United States Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs CHAOS (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada)
With Hiromu & BUSHI dethroning SHO & Taiji last night, matters are even more tense now in the power struggle between the stables. Endless shared history between these four men, it clearly shows with the animosity they greet each other with, Takagi and Okada continuing their war from Yokohama as Naito continues to drift further every day from the man he used to resemble in Tanahashi.
Tetsuya manages to get some well-earned revenge against the man who withheld the World Title from him throughout 2022, Okada, a Destino/Bomber showing Naito and Takagi to be fully in tune again, but when a Twist and Shout to Shingo’s neck takes him out, it’s down to Naito and Tanahashi again! Tetsuya trying to recover some momentum to speed up his rise back to challenging Shingo, he gives Hiroshi his all, though the Dragon Screws prove too much for his bad knees, a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF submitting him!
CHAOS def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (21:15)
With Tanahashi’s win over the LIJ leader duo, he calls out Shingo in a post-show interview, saying it’s been 3 years since he’s had a chance to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, his last match notably enough coming against Shingo himself. He’s not getting any younger as it seems and he wants nothing more than one last run at the top… so for the sake of sparing the company he broke his back for the past two decades from LIJ’s undesirable direction, he wishes to bring gold back to CHAOS! Record level 1-1 between the two, Takagi fearlessly accepts, setting up a blockbuster showdown for Osaka!
The New Beginning in Osaka (February 10, 2024)
Also on the show:
KUSHIDA (c) vs YOH - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
TMDK (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (PAC & Yota Tsuji) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) (c) vs CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) vs SixorNine (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi) - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
3 years ago on the New Beginning tour, Shingo and Tanahashi met for the first time, the Ace of the Universe taking the NEVER Openweight Championship from him, before Takagi returned the favour 6 months later, keeping the World Title from Hiroshi. Now, in a war of ideologies, they settle the score! Even at 47, Tana’s flamboyant as ever in his entrance, turning back the clocks with a full rockstar entrance as women swoon over the Japanese God. Shingo’s comparatively humble in his entrance, glaring taped-up neck keeping his head bowed, yet nostrils flaring, ready for battle.
It's a classic Tanahashi start, slapping on the headlock to grind down his foe, only now it means that much more with the condition of Shingo’s neck. As Hiroshi reaches for Takagi’s tape, Shingo butts into his chest with his shoulder to shove him off and fires up a Pumping Combo! Chop, punch, chop, punch, chop, punc- DRAGON-STYLE HARITE FROM TANA KNOCKS THE TASTE OUT OF SHINGO’S MOUTH! Takagi doubled over, Hiroshi hammers elbows into his exposed neck, a Low Dropkick cutting him down and a Neckbreaker flooring him for 2!
Heading to the middle rope, a SOMERSAULT SENTON BOMB is evaded, Tana crashing on his back! Now Shingo blasts him with the ground and pound! A Knee Drop sits Hiroshi up, before a SLIDING D knocks him back down for 2! Whipping Tana into the corner, a CORNER BOMBER heads his way like a missile, but a Big Boot and a HIGH FLY ATTACK cuts him off, before Tana strums the air guitar!
He grabs the waist, but a Snap DDT stops him, an ORIGINAL FALCONRY from Shingo slamming him down! Beating Tana’s chest like a drum, he guillotines him in the ropes with a PUMPING BREAKER! A Gallon Throw attempt follows, but Tana spins around into a FALL IN LOVE PIN! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! And before Shingo can do anything, Hiroshi nails the head with a Low Dropkick! HASE-STYLE URANAGE SPIKES HIM ON HIS NECK!!!
Hurt, Takagi collapses to the outside, prompting Tana to spear the Dragon into the guardrail with a DRAGON ROCKET! Climbing the ropes, Hiroshi measures for a HIGH FLY FLOW- CAUGHT ON SHINGO’S SHOULDERS!!! DEATH VALLEY BOMB ON THE FLOOR!!! The back that once carried NJPW now sears in agony as Takagi rolls him in, a SOL DE JAPON CONNECTING! Smacking a Dragon Soul Lariat off him, a HIGH-ANGLE BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLEX DROPS TANA! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE!
Loading the Ace of the Universe onto his shoulders, he nails a BUCKLE BOMB… BUT TANA EXPLODES BACK WITH A SLING BLADE!!! Both downed for a moment, Tana beats a Yukon Lariat with a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Shingo seeing stars, Tana grabs him for another, but Takagi desperately fights him off, ONLY FOR A DARUMA-SHIKI GERMAN SUPLEX TO FLOOR HIM!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SHINGO STAYS IN!
Tana tries to get a hold of the neck, but Takagi turtles and kicks him away, prompting Tana to secure the leg instead, connecting a DRAGON SCREW! Shingo hobbling to his feet, a TWIST AND SHOUT awaits him! Hiroshi rolls through for seconds, but now Takagi grabs his leg and RETURNS A DRAGON SCREW!!! Tana’s famously bad knees give way, Shingo now with free reign to stomp the chest, before hoisting him into a MICHINOKU DRIVER II! Heading up, he winds up the DIVING BOMBER, but taking too long, Tana cuts him off!
Beating on Shingo’s exposed neck, he drapes him from the top rope… AND SNAPS HIM INTO A VICIOUS DRAGON SCREW NECK WHIP!!! Takagi’s head damn near popping off, Tana quickly grabs a DRAGON SLEEPER and starts swinging him around Giant Swing style! Slamming him into the mat after 10 rotations, Tana glides up top… NAILING THE HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Securing the wrists, Tana goes for a RYUGOYE like last time… TAKAGI CATCHES IT! MADE IN JAPAN!!! Hiroshi smartly rolls away to the ropes before Takagi can cover though, leaving both men to nurse their wounds. Meeting in the middle, they bounce elbows off each other’s skulls, TANA CRACKING SHINGO WITH A HEADBUTT!!! TAKAGI RETURNS ONE, DROPPING HIROSHI!!! Battering the back, he tries for a LAST OF THE DRAGON- SLING BLADE FROM TANA!!!
As the Pumping Hawk rises, Tana cracks a swift TWIST AND SHOUT, before nailing ANOTHER SLING BLADE!!! Back turned to Takagi, Tanahashi’s confident he’s got him… BUT HE TURNS INTO A PUMPING BOMBER!!! Hiroshi rocked, Shingo hits the ropes a few times, before firing off a PUMPING BOMBER THAT TURNS HIM INSIDE OUT!!! Now grabbing the wrist, he teases the Ripcord variant, but Tana counters with the SLING BLADE!!!
Returning up top, Tana crashes into Shingo with a STANDING HIGH FLY FLOW!!! Going back up for seconds, he looks over his kingdom… but Takagi grabs his leg! Tana tries kicking him off, but Shingo pulls himself up, trading blows with Hiroshi! He eats a Headbutt to the neck but firms it, wrecking Tana’s back with punches… BEFORE NAILING AN AVALANCHE EXPLODER ’98!!! LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Gritting his teeth, Shingo winds the arm, going for a PUMPING BOMBER, but Tana just collapses under! Takagi stomps over to him, only to fall into a SMALL PACKAGE! ONE! TWO! THR-TAKAGI KICKS OUT! SLING BLADE!!! Tana attempts a BRAINBUSTER, but the back gives out, letting Takagi fall into the ropes and rebound with a PUMPING BOMBER!!! Securing the Double Hammerlock, he nails a TAKAGI DRIVER ’98!!! ONE! TWO! THR-TANAHASHI WITH A FOOT ON THE ROPES!!!
Shingo’s at a loss, but in this game of natural progression, he looks to replicate his WK success, smacking Dragon Souls off Tana, before another PUMPING BOMBER flooring him! Dragging him up the ropes with him, he wants the STAY DREAM… but it left his neck exposed, Tana raining down 12-6 elbows on it! Shingo forced to let go, he instead trades forearms with Hiroshi, but a HEADBUTT knocks him down this time into a prone position! Tana in perfect position, HE NAILS THE HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE BACK!!! Rolling Shingo over, Tana heads back up… HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Shingo Takagi (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (35:36)
For the 9th time in his career, Tanahashi’s the World Champion! Shingo’s neck finally crumbling at his hands, the CHAOS regime is back on top! A remarkable reign from the Dragon, but he’s forced back into his cave. As Tana celebrates though, he doesn’t have to wait at all for competition to line up, KATSUYORI SHIBATA’S THEME HITTING! The fellow Three Musketeer losing his US Title earlier on the tour, he’s had a bone to pick with CHAOS for the past year since their exile of the likes of Goto, who have since been in his corner as part of the Takeover faction. The two long-time rivals staring each down, Tana raises his title with a grin, as Shibata returns a murderous look!
2023.05.28 05:10 gluebyte Weekly Top Shortcuts on RoutineHub
Previous week
Every week I collect info from new and updated shortcuts on RoutineHub, up to 60 pages each (about 1700 latest shortcuts combined). Then I compare this week’s numbers with last week’s and come up with these charts. Please let me know if you have suggestions.
submitted by gluebyte to shortcuts [link] [comments]
Weekly Downloads
| Name | Author | Downloads | Likes | Days Since Last Update | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Yas Download | Yas8p | 1181 | 1 | 18 | Download from social media |
| 2 R⤓Download - iOS 13, 14, 15, 16 | r07qxo | 190 | 5 | 306 | #Best Shortcut - Download Videos, Photos and Stories From Anywhere - 100 Million? Check Description |
| 3 All Media Downloader | 1MrNewton | 58 | 8 | 5 | This shortcut helps you download content from social media apps. |
| 4 DTikTok | heismauri | 48 | 0 | 156 | A standalone downloader for TikTok without watermark |
| 5 SGswiftOS | theswiftcoder | 48 | 0 | 3 | SGswiftOS is a Virtual Operating System. |
| 6 Instagram Download | u/gluebyte | 37 | 1 | 16 | Public or private posts, stories, highlights, reels, profile – up to 1080x1920 60fps |
| 7 QR Register | u/159K | 36 | 1 | 1 | Full potential of QR codes. |
| 8 SwiftOS | FlyBoyAce2 | 31 | 0 | 1 | Global Version of SwiftOS, a Virtual Operating System created in Singapore |
| 9 Spotify to MP3 | u/wintercome | 28 | 0 | 2 | Download Spotify tracks to MP3. |
| 10 DTwitter | heismauri | 25 | 0 | 35 | Download photos, videos and HQ GIFs from a public tweet |
| 11 Battery Checker | thetheorier | 25 | 0 | 85 | Displays the number of charge cycles and battery life of the iPhone from the analysis data. |
| 12 Tera | Meatly_Shortcuts | 24 | 1 | 6 | A assistant capable of many things. |
| 13 GPT-Translator | iampinyuan | 24 | 0 | 7 | Powered by OpenAI. Translate any text or voice message into your desired language. |
| 14 Paid Apps in Free | Unique_Gaming | 22 | 1 | 6 | [ No Jailbreak ] Paid Apps/Games in Free |
| 15 Instagram Media Saver | u/mvan231 | 22 | 0 | 103 | Save photos, videos, stories, and reels |
| 16 Just Another YouTube Downloader | Mncfre | 21 | 0 | 51 | Download YouTube videos or audio |
| 17 AutoDown All | manhnk | 20 | 2 | 6 | Download ALL IN ONE - Tải xuống TẤT CẢ TRONG MỘT |
| 18 YouTube to Mp3 | erikaluis | 19 | 1 | 4 | MP3 Juice Downloader is a free video and audio downloader that can be used to download videos. |
| 19 R⤓Updater (SUPPORT Alphabetical Versions) | r07qxo | 19 | 0 | 273 | Update,Embed,Publish Updates,Check For Updates Without Running Your Shortcuts! (Supports Any Server) |
| 20 SW-DLT | net00 | 18 | 0 | 48 | A Shortcuts front end for yt-dlp and gallery-dl |
Weekly Likes
| Name | Author | Downloads | Likes | Days Since Last Update | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 All Media Downloader | 1MrNewton | 58 | 8 | 5 | This shortcut helps you download content from social media apps. |
| 2 R⤓Download - iOS 13, 14, 15, 16 | r07qxo | 190 | 5 | 306 | #Best Shortcut - Download Videos, Photos and Stories From Anywhere - 100 Million? Check Description |
| 3 Music Player | WhyYouNeed | 17 | 3 | 6 | Does the iMPOSIBBLE Plays music (also when gami) like YouTube Premium (but without the subscription) |
Total Downloads
Available on RoutineHub: https://routinehub.co/shortcuts/?sort=topTotal Likes
| Name | Author | Downloads | Likes | Days Since Last Update | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 R⤓Download - iOS 13, 14, 15, 16 | r07qxo | 109756 | 381 | 306 | #Best Shortcut - Download Videos, Photos and Stories From Anywhere - 100 Million? Check Description |
| 2 Instagram Download | u/gluebyte | 19151 | 169 | 16 | Public or private posts, stories, highlights, reels, profile – up to 1080x1920 60fps |
| 3 Icon Themer | alexiaa | 15253 | 144 | 207 | Create custom home screen icons that launch your apps directly |
| 4 RoutinePub | u/MikeBeas | 10716 | 112 | 251 | Publish your Shortcuts to RoutineHub directly from your iOS device. |
| 5 Instagram Media Saver | u/mvan231 | 39156 | 112 | 103 | Save photos, videos, stories, and reels |
| 6 SW-DLT | net00 | 9475 | 97 | 48 | A Shortcuts front end for yt-dlp and gallery-dl |
| 7 Pritam Download (For iOS 14 and 15) | jaglion | 18083 | 96 | 286 | The most advanced download tool to download any media from any social platforms. |
| 8 Just Another YouTube Downloader | Mncfre | 47197 | 96 | 51 | Download YouTube videos or audio |
| 9 Auto Message | Bingobucketster | 48938 | 96 | 128 | Schedule messages to be sent later |
| 10 DTikTok | heismauri | 32307 | 89 | 156 | A standalone downloader for TikTok without watermark |
| 11 Swing Updater | u/D3W10 | 21526 | 86 | 142 | Update your shortcuts like no other |
| 12 DTwitter | heismauri | 52877 | 68 | 35 | Download photos, videos and HQ GIFs from a public tweet |
| 13 Dictionary Action Builder | u/gluebyte | 3731 | 58 | 44 | JSON ⇐⇒ dictionary action conversion tool |
| 14 R⤓Updater (SUPPORT Alphabetical Versions) | r07qxo | 25843 | 56 | 273 | Update,Embed,Publish Updates,Check For Updates Without Running Your Shortcuts! (Supports Any Server) |
| 15 HiRes Twitter | u/gluebyte | 8012 | 54 | 23 | Download public/private/community/circle media at highest quality, save to Photos/Files or share |
| 16 All Media Downloader | 1MrNewton | 2112 | 50 | 5 | This shortcut helps you download content from social media apps. |
| 17 QuickUpdate | u/zachary7829 | 14147 | 48 | 313 | Quickly Update Your Shortcuts! |
| 18 Shortcut Source Tool | u/gluebyte | 3176 | 47 | 28 | View, convert, save source in plist or json, edit and import back to Shortcuts, review in browser |
| 19 Google Translate | brechtbakker | 11971 | 44 | 356 | Quickly translate using the Google Translate API |
| 20 Get Sauce | u/MMP0 | 10255 | 43 | 66 | Reverse Image Search for Manga, Anime, CGs, etc. with 10 Different Search Engines |
2023.05.28 04:51 Junior_Button5882 11 Terrifying-But-True Horror Stories Reported in the News - From fatal exorcisms to unexplained deaths and devil worship—these are some real-life nightmares.
A terrifying movie or book or show gets your blood pumping in the moment of consumption, sure—we covered our eyes in Squid Game with the rest of the world. But for the most part, you rest easy afterward knowing that what you've witnessed is fiction, deliberately spun up to creep you out. When the real world gets eerier than anything Stephen King could dream up, that's when you have every right to get a little scared of the dark.
Once in a while, a story of a dreadful disappearance, demonic possession, or devil worship will land in the local paper instead of a pulpy old paperback. We've rounded up the most unnerving real-life tales below. In honor of spooky season, here are eleven we can't stop thinking about.
But in November of 2014, the haunting took a darker turn. Robert Steven Laursen Jr., 37, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin was on a regular recreational paranormal visit with friends when true horror struck. Per VICE:
Laursen recovered from his injuries, but has never spoken publicly about what occurred that day. For Martha Linn, the owner of the home, the incident was very upsetting. "It's publicity, but it's not exactly the kind of publicity you desire to have. I don't want people thinking that when they come to the Villisca Axe Murder House something's going to happen that's going to make them do something like that.” The house remains open for tourist visits and overnight stays today.
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Per KPRC2 Houston News:
At that point, Elsa ceased to sing the English rendition of “Let It Go” altogether, speaking only Spanish when pressed. The family then double-bagged the bizarre doll and placed it at the bottom of their garbage which was taken out on garbage day. They went on a trip shortly after, but when they returned, Elsa too had come back, and was waiting in the backyard of their home.
This time, the family mailed Elsa to a family friend in Minnesota, who taped the haunted doll to the front bumper of his truck. It doesn’t seem to have made its way back to Houston yet, as per Madonia’s latest February Facebook update on the creepy doll.
As the BBC reported:
As The Independent reported:
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The BBC reported:
📷Witches prepare themselves for a journey by broomstick to the Black Mountain, circa 1650. From a 17th century Dutch copperplate by Adrianus Hubertus.Hulton Archive
As Fox reported:
The Washington Post notes on the magic:
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Soon after, she was arrested for abuse of seven of her former students, as the Tampa Bay Times reported:
NBC reported:
They had nothing. That February, LAPD released elevator surveillance footage of Lam before her disappearance. The footage shows Lam behaving strangely in the elevator, appearing to talk with invisible people, peering around the corner of the door, crouching in the corner, and opening and closing the door. But what exactly is going on in this video raises more questions than answers. Theories range from psychotic episodes, to demonic possession, to unknown assailants just out of the camera's view:
This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Watch on📷
Around that time, hotel guests started reported weird things happening with the Cecil Hotel water supply. As CNN reports:
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One of the more chilling sections of the report includes a segment about the possessed 9-year-old:
For a year, no one knew exactly what happened to the family, or what would drive the parents to do something so unthinkable. In January, police released more chilling details in the case. According to accounts from family members and an investigation by police, the parents were driven by a belief that the apocalypse was coming and an obsession with a convicted killer. As the Washington Post reported:
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Seven years later, in 1981, he allegedly committed a murder in France—shooting and eating a fellow University student, Renée Hartevelt. Issei creepily documented the entire experience with photographs and he was captured by authorities once again while attempting to dump the rest of her body in the Bois de Boulogne lake. He was deported back to Japan and committed to a mental institution. For reason unknown, his psychologists in Japan declared that he was sane. Furthermore, a legal technicality involving the French government refusing to turn over the documents from his case meant that his murder charges were dropped completely. He checked himself out of the mental hospital and has reportedly been walking the streets as a free man ever since. Issei has even become a controversial celebrity, writing over 20 books. According to Japan Today, he most recently fantasized about an unnamed TV actress, saying:
"I'll catch a glimpse of her thigh and think, 'That sure looks tasty.' But I don't feel like I actually want to eat it. As I accomplished the act of cannibalism once, there's no meaning to maintaining the desire for it anymore. In my book, I wrote that it [human flesh] was tasty, but that was not really true; I'd much rather eat Matsuzaka (Kobe) beef. But because I'd desired to consume human flesh for so long, I'd managed to convince myself that it would necessarily be delicious."
Issei Sagawa was also referenced in the Rolling Stones song "Too Much Blood," with the lyrics reading: "And when he ate her he took her bones/To the Bois de Boulogne." He is currently 73 years old and continues to live in Kawaski City, Japan. To this day, no one knows why France did not allow Japan to give him a trial.
📷MATT MILLER
submitted by Junior_Button5882 to cryptid_world [link] [comments]
Once in a while, a story of a dreadful disappearance, demonic possession, or devil worship will land in the local paper instead of a pulpy old paperback. We've rounded up the most unnerving real-life tales below. In honor of spooky season, here are eleven we can't stop thinking about.
The Axe Murder House
The Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa is a well-known tourist attraction for ghost hunters and horror lovers alike. The site of a gruesome unsolved 1912 murder, in which six children and two adults had their skulls completely crushed by the axe of an unknown perpetrator, was purchased in 1994, restored to its 1912 condition, and converted into a tourist destination. It costs $428 a night to stay at the old haunted home, where visitors always report strange paranormal experiences, such as visions of a man with an axe roaming the halls or the faint screams of children.But in November of 2014, the haunting took a darker turn. Robert Steven Laursen Jr., 37, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin was on a regular recreational paranormal visit with friends when true horror struck. Per VICE:
His companions found him stabbed in the chest—an apparently self-inflicted wound—called 9-1-1, and Laursen was brought to a nearby hospital before being helicoptered to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha.The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said Laursen suffered the self-inflicted injury at about 12:45 a.m., which is around the same time the 1912 axe murders in the house began.
Laursen recovered from his injuries, but has never spoken publicly about what occurred that day. For Martha Linn, the owner of the home, the incident was very upsetting. "It's publicity, but it's not exactly the kind of publicity you desire to have. I don't want people thinking that when they come to the Villisca Axe Murder House something's going to happen that's going to make them do something like that.” The house remains open for tourist visits and overnight stays today.
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The Haunted Doll
When you think of haunted dolls, it’s likely the creepy old Victorian-looking porcelain kind that springs to mind. None of which you probably have laying around. Still, don’t get too comfortable around any kids toys too soon, though: a Disney’s Frozen Elsa doll that was gifted for Christmas 2013 in the Houston area made headlines earlier this year when it seemingly became haunted.Per KPRC2 Houston News:
The doll recited phrases from the movie Frozen and sang “Let It Go” when a button on its necklace was pressed.The family decided to throw the creepy doll out in December of 2019. Weeks later, they found it inside a bench in their living room. “The kids insisted they didn’t put it there, and I believed them because they wouldn’t have dug through the garbage outside,” Madonia told KPRC2 Houston News.
“For two years it did that in English,” mother Emily Madonia said. “In 2015, it started doing it alternating between Spanish and English. There wasn’t a button that changed these, it was just random."
The family has owned the doll for more than six years and never changed its batteries. The mother says the doll would randomly begin to speak and sing even with its switch turned off.
Esquire Select
📷JOIN NOWAt that point, Elsa ceased to sing the English rendition of “Let It Go” altogether, speaking only Spanish when pressed. The family then double-bagged the bizarre doll and placed it at the bottom of their garbage which was taken out on garbage day. They went on a trip shortly after, but when they returned, Elsa too had come back, and was waiting in the backyard of their home.
This time, the family mailed Elsa to a family friend in Minnesota, who taped the haunted doll to the front bumper of his truck. It doesn’t seem to have made its way back to Houston yet, as per Madonia’s latest February Facebook update on the creepy doll.
A Deadly Exorcism
In August 2016 in North London, 26-year-old Kennedy Ife began acting strange and aggressive following a pain in his throat. He reportedly bit his father, threatened to cut off his own penis, and complained of a python or snake inside of him before his family restrained him to a bed with cable ties and excessive force.As the BBC reported:
“The family then set about attempting to ‘cure’ Kennedy through restraint and prayer over the next three days, the court was told.”His brother, Colin Ife, told police:
“It’s clear that thing was in him, what we believed was a demon because it was not natural. It was clearly trying to kill him,” he said.Kennedy Ife had been bound to his bed for three days without medical attention when his brother called emergency services, explaining that Kennedy Ife was complaining of dehydration. He appeared to have developed breathing issues, and was pronounced dead at 10:17 a.m.
“We had to restrain him for himself. It was clear if we didn’t restrain him, he could have tried to harm people in our family.”
As The Independent reported:
While police were at the house Colin Ife allegedly carried out an “attempted resurrection” by chanting and praying for Mr. Ife.All seven of Kennedy Ife’s family members were accused of manslaughter, false imprisonment, and causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult. A post-mortem examination revealed over 60 wounds including a possible bite on Kennedy Ife’s body, and his father, Kenneth Ife, along with four of his brothers, sustained injuries as well.
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The BBC reported:
Kenneth Ife told jurors he ordered his sons to take shifts and use "overwhelming force" but denied that an "association with cults, occults and secret societies" played any part in the death.After a four day jury deliberation, all seven family members were cleared of charges on March 14, 2019.
📷Witches prepare themselves for a journey by broomstick to the Black Mountain, circa 1650. From a 17th century Dutch copperplate by Adrianus Hubertus.Hulton Archive
Dead Animals in the Walls
When the Bretzuis family decided to insulate their home in Auburn, Pennsylvania in 2015, they discovered that it had already been—with scores of dead animal carcasses.As Fox reported:
The dead animals were wrapped in newspapers from the 1930s and 40s and were among half-used spices, and other items.The expert attributed the rotting animals in their walls to Pow-wow or Dutch magic, a ritual originating in the culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch to treat ailments and gain physical and spiritual protection. The Pennsylvania Dutch were a group of German-speaking settlers to Pennsylvania in the 1600 and 1700’s, and are often of Lutheran, Mennonite, or Amish faiths.
After removing the items they sent hundreds of artifacts and carcasses to an expert in Kutztown.
The Washington Post notes on the magic:
Many of the spells deal with the care of livestock, finding water, or the treatment of minor ailments, reflecting the conditions and concerns of early American settlers.One notable ritual in their tradition is this hex to create loyalty in a dog:
But powwow also has within it a tradition of darker spells, and even of such things as conjuring demons.
To attach a dog to a person, provided nothing else was used before to effect it: Try to draw some of your blood, and let the dog eat it along with his food, and he will stay with you.The mold found on the rotting carcasses in the Bretzuis home has caused illness among the family members, and they say that the odor hasn’t gone away.
This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Watch on📷Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Florida Devil Worshipping
Friends noticed that Danielle Harkins, a 35-year-old schoolteacher near St. Petersburg, Florida, started acting strangely in June of 2012, developing an interest in demonic rituals.Soon after, she was arrested for abuse of seven of her former students, as the Tampa Bay Times reported:
Danielle Harkins told the kids they needed to rid their bodies of demons as the group gathered before dusk Saturday around a small fire near the St. Petersburg Pier. They should cut their skin to let the evil spirits out, police said she told the children. Then, they needed to burn the wounds to ensure that those spirits would not return.The police were notified because a friend of one of the students who participated in the ritual raised alarms. However none of the students themselves told their parents about the event or would comment following the arrest of Harkins for aggravated battery and child abuse.
When Harkins held a lighter to one teen's hand, wind blew the flame out, police said. That prompted her to douse his hand in perfume before setting it on fire. The boy suffered second-degree burns, police said.
Another teen was cut on the neck with a broken bottle, police said. Harkins used a flame to heat a small key, which she then used to cauterize the wound.
NBC reported:
Investigators said they've spoken to Harkins, but she didn't spell out what type of religion would require such drastic measures.
"She hasn't informed us exactly what she was trying to accomplish with this," Puetz [of the St. Petersburg Police Department] said.
The Death of Elisa Lam
Elisa Lam was last seen on January 31, 2013 in the lobby of the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. She was vacationing through the West Coast, documenting the trip on her blog, and checking in with her parents every day. On January 31 those calls stopped. Lam had vanished. Soon the police were involved and her parents arrived to help with the search.They had nothing. That February, LAPD released elevator surveillance footage of Lam before her disappearance. The footage shows Lam behaving strangely in the elevator, appearing to talk with invisible people, peering around the corner of the door, crouching in the corner, and opening and closing the door. But what exactly is going on in this video raises more questions than answers. Theories range from psychotic episodes, to demonic possession, to unknown assailants just out of the camera's view:
This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Watch on📷
Around that time, hotel guests started reported weird things happening with the Cecil Hotel water supply. As CNN reports:
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"The shower was awful," said Sabina Baugh, who spent eight days there during the investigation. "When you turned the tap on, the water was coming black first for two seconds and then it was going back to normal."The tap water "tasted horrible," Baugh said. "It had a very funny, sweety, disgusting taste. It's a very strange taste. I can barely describe it."But for a week, they never complained. "We never thought anything of it," she said. "We thought it was just the way it was here."On the morning of February 19, a hotel employee climbed to the roof and used a ladder to investigate the hotel's water storage tanks. That's where authorities found the decomposing, naked body of Lam, whose personal items were found nearby. After an autopsy, her death was labeled accidental. NBC Los Angeles reported at the time about the strange circumstances in the hotel's past:
The tank has a metal latch that can be opened, but authorities said access to the roof is secured with an alarm and lock.The single-room-occupancy hotel has an unusual history. "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez, who was found guilty of 14 slayings in the 1980s, lived on the 14th floor for several months in 1985. And international serial killer Jack Unterweger is suspected of murdering three prostitutes during the time he lived there in 1991. He killed himself in jail in 1994.In 1962, a female occupant jumped out of one the hotel's windows, killing herself and a pedestrian on whom she landed.In February 2021, a Netflix doc called Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel explored Elisa's tragic case and the history of the "cursed" Cecil Hotel.
An Exorcism in Indianapolis
Last year, the Indianapolis Star published a lengthy report on a family terrorized by three children allegedly possessed by demons. The account of Latoya Ammons and her family tells disturbing stories of children climbing up the walls, getting thrown across rooms, and children threatening doctors in deep unnatural voices. It would seem like something straight out of a movie–a work of fantasy, except all of these accounts were more or less corroborated with "nearly 800 pages of official records obtained by the Indianapolis Star and recounted in more than a dozen interviews with police, DCS personnel, psychologists, family members and a Catholic priest."One of the more chilling sections of the report includes a segment about the possessed 9-year-old:
According to Washington's original DCS report—an account corroborated by Walker, the nurse—the 9-year-old had a "weird grin" and walked backward up a wall to the ceiling. He then flipped over Campbell, landing on his feet. He never let go of his grandmother's hand.Another segment of the piece reads:
The 12-year-old would later tell mental health professionals that she sometimes felt as if she were being choked and held down so she couldn't speak or move. She said she heard a voice say she'd never see her family again and wouldn't live another 20 minutes.This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Watch on📷Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Utah Murder-Suicide
In September of 2014, a Utah teen returned to his home to find his parents and three siblings dead. "In a notebook, a 'to-do list' had been scribbled on the pages ... The list looked as if the parents were readying to go on vacation—items such as 'feed the pets' and 'find someone to watch after the house' were written," The Salt Lake Tribune reported. It appeared to be murder-suicide, but there was no suicide note, no prior indication that they would do this, no explanation. Police could not figure out why two parents would kill themselves and three of their four children.For a year, no one knew exactly what happened to the family, or what would drive the parents to do something so unthinkable. In January, police released more chilling details in the case. According to accounts from family members and an investigation by police, the parents were driven by a belief that the apocalypse was coming and an obsession with a convicted killer. As the Washington Post reported:
Friends and family told police that the parents were worried about the "evil in the world" and wanted to escape a "pending apocalypse." But most assumed they just wanted to move somewhere "off the grid." Investigators also found letters written by Kristi Strack to one of the state's most infamous convicted killers, Dan Lafferty, who was convicted in the 1984 fatal stabbing of his sister-in-law and her 1-year-old daughter. According to trial testimony, he killed the victims at the order of his brother, Ron Lafferty, who claimed to have had a revelation from God. The story became a book called "Under the Banner of Heaven."Police said Kristi Strack became friends with Dan Lafferty, and she and her husband even visited him in prison.
The Phone Stalker
In 2007, ABC news documented a series of cell phone calls to families with terrifyingly specific death threats. The unidentified callers knew exactly what families were doing and what they were wearing.The families say the calls come in at all hours of the night, threatening to kill their children, their pets and grandparents. Voice mails arrive, playing recordings of their private conversations, including one with a local police detective.The caller knows, the families said, what they're wearing and what they're doing. And after months of investigating, police seem powerless to stop them.This went on with the Kuykenall family for months, who reported a caller with a scratchy voice threatening to slit their throats.
When the Fircrest, Wash., police tried to find the culprit, the calls were traced back to the Kuykendalls' own phones -- even when they were turned off.It got worse. The Kuykendalls and two other Fircrest families told ABC News that they believe the callers are using their cell phones to spy on them. They say the hackers know their every move: where they are, what they're doing and what they're wearing. The callers have recorded private conversations, the families and police said, including a meeting with a local detective.
"The Watcher"
After moving into their $1.3 million dream home, a New Jersey family started receiving creepy death threats from someone who identified themselves as "The Watcher." As CBS News reported earlier this year:Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Since moving in, the owners said they have received numerous letters from the mysterious person. "The Watcher" claimed the home "has been the subject of my family for decades," and "I have been put in charge of watching and waiting for its second coming," Castro reported.The new owners have several children, and other letters asked, "Have they found out what's in the walls yet?" and "I am pleased to know your names now, and the name of the young blood you have brought to me."The family was forced to flee from their home and later filed a lawsuit against the previous owners.
Issei the Cannibal
In 1974, 24-year-old Wako University student Issei Sagawa allegedly followed a German woman to her home in Tokyo, Japan, broke into her apartment while she was sleeping, and attempted to cut a piece of flesh off her body to consume. When she awoke, she reportedly fought him and he was later captured by the police. According to a 2012 Vice documentary that covered Issei's bizarre story, he was mistakenly charged with attempted rape and his wealthy father paid the victim a settlement outside of court to have the charges dropped.Seven years later, in 1981, he allegedly committed a murder in France—shooting and eating a fellow University student, Renée Hartevelt. Issei creepily documented the entire experience with photographs and he was captured by authorities once again while attempting to dump the rest of her body in the Bois de Boulogne lake. He was deported back to Japan and committed to a mental institution. For reason unknown, his psychologists in Japan declared that he was sane. Furthermore, a legal technicality involving the French government refusing to turn over the documents from his case meant that his murder charges were dropped completely. He checked himself out of the mental hospital and has reportedly been walking the streets as a free man ever since. Issei has even become a controversial celebrity, writing over 20 books. According to Japan Today, he most recently fantasized about an unnamed TV actress, saying:
"I'll catch a glimpse of her thigh and think, 'That sure looks tasty.' But I don't feel like I actually want to eat it. As I accomplished the act of cannibalism once, there's no meaning to maintaining the desire for it anymore. In my book, I wrote that it [human flesh] was tasty, but that was not really true; I'd much rather eat Matsuzaka (Kobe) beef. But because I'd desired to consume human flesh for so long, I'd managed to convince myself that it would necessarily be delicious."
Issei Sagawa was also referenced in the Rolling Stones song "Too Much Blood," with the lyrics reading: "And when he ate her he took her bones/To the Bois de Boulogne." He is currently 73 years old and continues to live in Kawaski City, Japan. To this day, no one knows why France did not allow Japan to give him a trial.
📷MATT MILLER
2023.05.28 04:31 jokicfnboy Jokic story
My uncle told me yesterday, that one of his work buddies "recently" went on a lunch brake to a restaurant in Belgrade, Serbia. When he got close to the counter to order his pancake, with the corner of his eye he saw a giant man sitting in the corner eating. Once he ordered his pancake, he turned around and saw that it was Jokic eating, sitting there alone in the corner of the restaurant.
I still cant figure out when this "recently" happened. It seems unlikely that Jokic would beating giant pancakes between playoff rounds. Just wanted to share this story with you lol.
submitted by jokicfnboy to denvernuggets [link] [comments]
I still cant figure out when this "recently" happened. It seems unlikely that Jokic would beating giant pancakes between playoff rounds. Just wanted to share this story with you lol.
2023.05.28 02:27 BentisKomprakriev Cannes-winners and the Oscar (AKA the most disgusting chart you'll see today)
- Bold means the film received at least 1 Oscar nomination (47)
- Bold and italic means the film was only nominated in the Best International Feature category (17)
- Coin means the film won Best International Feature (7)
- Trophy means the film won Best Picture (1)
| Year | Palme d'Or | Grand Prix | Jury Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Chronicle of the Years of Fire | The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser | |
| 1976 | Taxi Driver | Cría Cuervos 🪢 The Marquise of O | |
| 1977 | Padre Padrone | ||
| 1978 | The Tree of Wooden Clogs | Bye Bye Monkey 🪢 The Shout | |
| 1979 | Apocalypse Now 🪢 🪙The Tin Drum🪙 | Siberiade | |
| 1980 | All That Jazz 🪢 Kagemusha | My American Uncle | The Constant Factor |
| 1981 | Man of Iron | Light Years Away | |
| 1982 | Missing 🪢 Yol | The Night of the Shooting Stars | |
| 1983 | The Ballad of Narayama | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | Kharij |
| 1984 | Paris, Texas | Diary for My Children | |
| 1985 | When Father Was Away on Business | Birdy | Colonel Redl |
| 1986 | The Mission | The Sacrifice | Thérèse |
| 1987 | Under the Sun of Satan | Repentance | Shinran: Path to Purity 🪢 Yeelen |
| 1988 | Pelle the Conqueror | A World Apart | A Short Film About Killing |
| 1989 | Sex, Lies, and Videotape | 🪙Cinema Paradiso🪙 🪢 Too Beautiful for You | Jesus of Montreal |
| 1990 | Wild at Heart | The Sting of Death 🪢 Tilaï | Hidden Agenda |
| 1991 | Barton Fink | La Belle Noiseuse | Europa 🪢 Out of Life |
| 1992 | The Best Intentions | The Stolen Children | Dream of Light 🪢 An Independent Life |
| 1993 | Farewell My Concubine 🪢 The Piano | Faraway, So Close! | The Puppetmaster 🪢 Raining Stones |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction | 🪙Burnt by the Sun🪙 🪢 To Live | La Reine Margot |
| 1995 | Underground | Ulysses' Gaze | Don't Forget You're Going to Die 🪢 Carrington |
| 1996 | Secrets & Lies | Breaking the Waves | Crash |
| 1997 | The Eel 🪢 Taste of Cherry | The Sweet Hereafter | Western |
| 1998 | Eternity and a Day | 🪙Life Is Beautiful🪙 | Class Trip |
| 1999 | Rosetta | Humanité | The Letter |
| 2000 | Dancer in the Dark | Devils on the Doorstep | Blackboards 🪢 Songs from the Second Floor |
| 2001 | The Son's Room | The Piano Teacher | |
| 2002 | The Pianist | The Man Without a Past | Divine Intervention |
| 2003 | Elephant | Distant | At Five in the Afternoon |
| 2004 | Fahrenheit 9/11 | Oldboy | The Ladykillers 🪢 Tropical Malady |
| 2005 | L'Enfant | Broken Flowers | Shanghai Dreams |
| 2006 | The Wind That Shakes the Barley | Flanders | Red Road |
| 2007 | 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days | The Mourning Forest | Persepolis 🪢 Silent Light |
| 2008 | The Class | Gomorrah | Il divo |
| 2009 | The White Ribbon | A Prophet | Fish Tank 🪢 Thirst |
| 2010 | Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives | Of Gods and Men | A Screaming Man |
| 2011 | The Tree of Life | The Kid with a Bike 🪢 Once Upon a Time in Anatolia | Polisse |
| 2012 | 🪙Amour🪙 | Reality | The Angels' Share |
| 2013 | Blue Is the Warmest Colour | Inside Llewyn Davis | Like Father, Like Son |
| 2014 | Winter Sleep | The Wonders | Goodbye to Language 🪢 Mommy |
| 2015 | Dheepan | 🪙Son of Saul🪙 | The Lobster |
| 2016 | I, Daniel Blake | It's Only the End of the World | American Honey |
| 2017 | The Square | BPM (Beats per Minute) | Loveless |
| 2018 | Shoplifters | BlacKkKlansman | Capernaum |
| 2019 | 🪙🏆Parasite🏆🪙 | Atlantics | Bacurau 🪢 Les Misérables |
| 2021 | Titane | Compartment No. 6 🪢 A Hero | Ahed's Knee 🪢 Memoria |
| 2022 | Triangle of Sadness | Stars at Noon 🪢 Close | The Eight Mountains 🪢 EO |
| 2023 | Anatomy of a Fall | The Zone of Interest | Fallen Leaves |
- Bold means the actor received an Oscar nomination (23)
- Bold and italic means the actor was nominated in a non-acting category (1)
- Trophy means the actor won the Oscar (6)
| Year | Best Actor | Best Actress |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Vittorio Gassman – Scent of a Woman | Valérie Perrine – Lenny |
| 1976 | José Luis Gómez – Pascual Duarte | Dominique Sanda – The Inheritance 🪢 Mari Törőcsik – Mrs. Dery Where Are You? |
| 1977 | Fernando Rey – Elisa, My Life | Shelley Duvall – 3 Women 🪢 Monique Mercure – J.A. Martin Photographer |
| 1978 | 🏆Jon Voight – Coming Home🏆 | Jill Clayburgh – An Unmarried Woman 🪢 Isabelle Huppert – Violette Nozière |
| 1979 | Jack Lemmon – The China Syndrome 🪢 Stefano Madia – Dear Father | 🏆Sally Field – Norma Rae🏆 🪢 Eva Mattes – Woyzeck |
| 1980 | Michel Piccoli – A Leap in the Dark 🪢 Jack Thompson – Breaker Morant | Anouk Aimée – A Leap in the Dark 🪢 Milena Dravić – Special Treatment 🪢 Carla Gravina – La terrazza |
| 1981 | Ugo Tognazzi – Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man 🪢 Ian Holm – Chariots of Fire | Isabelle Adjani – Possession 🪢 Qaurtet 🪢 Elena Solovey – Faktas |
| 1982 | Jack Lemmon – Missing | Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieślak – Another Way |
| 1983 | Gian Maria Volonté – The Death of Mario Ricci | Hanna Schygulla – The Story of Piera |
| 1984 | Alfredo Landa 🪢 Francisco Rabal – The Holy Innocents | Helen Mirren – Cal |
| 1985 | 🏆William Hurt – Kiss of the Spider Woman🏆 | Norma Aleandro – The Official Story 🪢 Cher – Mask |
| 1986 | Michel Blanc – Ménage 🪢 Bob Hoskins – Mona Lisa | Barbara Sukowa – Rosa Luxemburg |
| 1987 | Marcello Mastroianni – Dark Eyes | Barbara Hershey – Shy People |
| 1988 | Forest Whitaker – Bird | Barbara Hershey 🪢 Jodhi May 🪢 Linda Mvusi – A World Apart |
| 1989 | James Spader – Sex, Lies, and Videotape | Meryl Streep – A Cry in the Dark |
| 1990 | Gérard Depardieu – Cyrano de Bergerac | Krystyna Janda – Interrogation |
| 1991 | John Turturro – Barton Fink 🪢 Samuel L. Jackson – Jungle Fever | Irène Jacob – The Double Life of Veronique |
| 1992 | Tim Robbins – The Player | Pernilla August – The Best Intentions |
| 1993 | David Thewlis – Naked | 🏆Holly Hunter – The Piano🏆 |
| 1994 | Ge You – To Live | Virna Lisi – La Reine Margot |
| 1995 | Jonathan Pryce – Carrington | Helen Mirren – The Madness of King George |
| 1996 | Daniel Auteuil 🪢 Pascal Duquenne – The Eighth Day | Brenda Blethyn – Secrets & Lies |
| 1997 | Sean Penn – She's So Lovely | Kathy Burke – Nil by Mouth |
| 1998 | Peter Mullan – My Name Is Joe | Élodie Bouchez 🪢 Natacha Régnier – The Dreamlife of Angels |
| 1999 | Emmanuel Schotté – Humanité | Séverine Caneele – Humanité 🪢 Émilie Dequenne – Rosetta |
| 2000 | Tony Leung Chiu-wai – In the Mood for Love | Björk – Dancer in the Dark |
| 2001 | Benoît Magimel – The Piano Teacher | Isabelle Huppert – The Piano Teacher |
| 2002 | Olivier Gourmet – The Son | Kati Outinen – The Man Without a Past |
| 2003 | Muzaffer Özdemir 🪢 Mehmet Emin Toprak – Distant | Marie-Josée Croze – The Barbarian Invasions |
| 2004 | Yūya Yagira – Nobody Knows | Maggie Cheung – Clean |
| 2005 | Tommy Lee Jones – The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada | Hanna Laslo – Free Zone |
| 2006 | Roschdy Zem 🪢 Bernard Blancan 🪢 Jamel Debbouze 🪢 Samy Naceri 🪢 Sami Bouajila – Days of Glory | Carmen Maura 🪢 Lola Dueñas 🪢 Blanca Portillo 🪢 Yohana Cobo 🪢 Chus Lampreave 🪢 Penélope Cruz – Volver |
| 2007 | Konstantin Lavronenko – The Banishment | Jeon Do-yeon – Secret Sunshine |
| 2008 | Benicio del Toro – Che | Sandra Corveloni – Linha de Passe |
| 2009 | 🏆Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds🏆 | Charlotte Gainsbourg – Antichrist |
| 2010 | Javier Bardem – Biutiful 🪢 Elio Germano – Our Life | Juliette Binoche – Certified Copy |
| 2011 | 🏆Jean Dujardin – The Artist🏆 | Kirsten Dunst – Melancholia |
| 2012 | Mads Mikkelsen – The Hunt | Cristina Flutur 🪢 Cosmina Stratan – Beyond the Hills |
| 2013 | Bruce Dern – Nebraska | Bérénice Bejo – The Past |
| 2014 | Timothy Spall – Mr. Turner | Julianne Moore – Maps to the Stars |
| 2015 | Vincent Lindon – The Measure of a Man | Emmanuelle Bercot – Mon Roi 🪢 Rooney Mara – Carol |
| 2016 | Shahab Hosseini – The Salesman | Jaclyn Jose – Ma' Rosa |
| 2017 | Joaquin Phoenix – You Were Never Really Here | Diane Kruger – In the Fade |
| 2018 | Marcello Fonte – Dogman | Samal Yeslyamova – Ayka |
| 2019 | Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory | Emily Beecham – Little Joe |
| 2021 | Caleb Landry Jones – Nitram | Renate Reinsve – The Worst Person in the World |
| 2022 | Song Kang-ho – Broker | Zar Amir Ebrahimi – Holy Spider |
| 2023 | Kōji Yakusho – Perfect Days | Merve Dizdar – About Dry Grasses |
- Bold means the film received at least 1 Oscar nomination in a corresponding category (9)
- Bold and italic means only the film was nominated, but the awarded filmmaker wasn't (8)
- Coin means the film won Best International Feature (4)
| Year | Best Director | Best Screenplay |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Michel Brault – Orders 🪢 Costa-Gavras – Special Section | |
| 1976 | Ettore Scola – Down and Dirty | |
| 1977 | ||
| 1978 | Nagisa Ōshima – Empire of Passion | |
| 1979 | Terrence Malick – Days of Heaven | |
| 1980 | La Terrazza – Furio Scarpelli, Agenore Incrocci, Ettore Scola | |
| 1981 | 🪙Mephisto🪙 – István Szabó | |
| 1982 | Werner Herzog – Fitzcarraldo | Moonlighting – Jerzy Skolimowski |
| 1983 | Robert Bresson – L'Argent 🪢 Andrei Tarkovsky – Nostalgia | Voyage to Cythera – Thanassis Valtinos, Theo Angelopoulos, Tonino Guerra |
| 1984 | Bertrand Tavernier – A Sunday in the Country | |
| 1985 | André Téchiné – Rendez-vous | |
| 1986 | Martin Scorsese – After Hours | |
| 1987 | Wim Wenders – Wings of Desire | |
| 1988 | Fernando Solanas – Sur | |
| 1989 | Emir Kusturica – Time of the Gypsies | |
| 1990 | Pavel Lungin – Taxi Blues | |
| 1991 | Joel Coen – Barton Fink | |
| 1992 | Robert Altman – The Player | |
| 1993 | Mike Leigh – Naked | |
| 1994 | Nanni Moretti – Dear Diary | Dead Tired – Michel Blanc |
| 1995 | Mathieu Kassovitz – La Haine | |
| 1996 | Joel Coen – Fargo | A Self Made Hero – Jacques Audiard, Alain Le Henry |
| 1997 | Wong Kar-wai – Happy Together | The Ice Storm – James Schamus |
| 1998 | John Boorman – The General | Henry Fool – Hal Hartley |
| 1999 | Pedro Almodóvar – All About My Mother | Moloch – Yuri Arabov |
| 2000 | Edward Yang – Yi Yi | Nurse Betty – James Flamberg, John C. Richards |
| 2001 | Joel Coen – The Man Who Wasn't There 🪢 David Lynch – Mulholland Drive | No Man's Land – Danis Tanović |
| 2002 | Paul Thomas Anderson – Punch-Drunk Love 🪢 Im Kwon-taek – Painted Fire | Sweet Sixteen – Paul Laverty |
| 2003 | Gus Van Sant – Elephant | 🪙The Barbarian Invasions🪙 – Denys Arcand |
| 2004 | Tony Gatlif – Exils | Look at Me – Agnès Jaoui, Jean-Pierre Bacri |
| 2005 | Michael Haneke – Caché | The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada – Guillermo Arriaga |
| 2006 | Alejandro González Iñárritu – Babel | Volver – Pedro Almodóvar |
| 2007 | Julian Schnabel – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly | The Edge of Heaven – Fatih Akin |
| 2008 | Nuri Bilge Ceylan – Three Monkeys | Lorna's Silence – Jean-Pierre, Luc Dardenne |
| 2009 | Brillante Mendoza – Butchered | Spring Fever – Mei Feng |
| 2010 | Mathieu Amalric – On Tour | Poetry – Lee Chang-dong |
| 2011 | Nicolas Winding Refn – Drive | Footnote – Joseph Cedar |
| 2012 | Carlos Reygadas – Post Tenebras Lux | Beyond the Hills – Cristian Mungiu, Tatiana Niculescu Bran |
| 2013 | Amat Escalante – Heli | A Touch of Sin – Jia Zhangke |
| 2014 | Bennett Miller – Foxcatcher | Leviathan – Andrey Zvyagintsev, Oleg Negin |
| 2015 | Hou Hsiao-hsien – The Assassin | Chronic – Michel Franco |
| 2016 | Olivier Assayas – Personal Shopper 🪢 Cristian Mungiu – Graduation | 🪙The Salesman🪙 – Asghar Farhadi |
| 2017 | Sofia Coppola – The Beguiled | The Killing of a Sacred Deer – Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou 🪢 You Were Never Really Here – Lynne Ramsay |
| 2018 | Paweł Pawlikowski – Cold War | 3 Faces – Jafar Panahi, Nader Saeivar 🪢 Happy as Lazzaro – Alice Rohrwacher |
| 2019 | Jean-Pierre 🪢 Luc Dardenne – Young Ahmed | Portrait of a Lady on Fire – Céline Sciamma |
| 2021 | Leos Carax – Annette | 🪙Drive My Car🪙 – Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe |
| 2022 | Park Chan-wook – Decision to Leave | Boy from Heaven – Tarik Saleh |
| 2023 | Tran Anh Hung – The Pot-au-Feu | Monster – Yuji Sakamoto |
2023.05.28 01:43 Deriggs007 First Traeger grill - A Flatrock!
For pellet grills/smokers, I've always been set on my Recteq's (RT700 and a Bullseye) and love them, but I was in the market for a griddle as well and have been going back and forth between pretty much everything on the market with 100's of hours of research and was set between the Flatrock, Campchef and the Halo 3/4B . I had a blackstone, but as I am getting older, I'm turning into a "buy once cry once" kind of guy.
I was able to see every unit in person and ultimately chose the Flatrock for these 3 reasons.. The 5 year warranty, the build quality vs the Campchef and availability of Traeger vs the Halo.
Figured I would share some information from my experience with this unit and what I like and dislike about it. In no specific order
Overall my complaints are just minor, they performance is great, I think it's some of the best griddle food I've made and I like how even everything is. My only qualms is the bracket (which could be my fault), and the biggest is the placement of the grease trap.
I wish they would add an P.A.L addon for trashbag holder as well.
Thanks!
submitted by Deriggs007 to Traeger [link] [comments]
I was able to see every unit in person and ultimately chose the Flatrock for these 3 reasons.. The 5 year warranty, the build quality vs the Campchef and availability of Traeger vs the Halo.
Figured I would share some information from my experience with this unit and what I like and dislike about it. In no specific order
- Build quality you can just tell is leaps above what Blackstone or other cheaper units, but at the end of the day, it's some burners on a griddle - I appreciate the build quality for sure. The only unit that's probably better built is a Halo 3B or 4B, but much harder to find.
- I like the electronic functions, the propane gauge is nice, I like the flame sensors as well. This isn't talked about in a lot of reviews you find online, but you need to know that the unit must be plugged in for the sensors, but you can use a 9v to ignite. So 2 unique features require you to be plugged in.
- Putting the unit together was pretty straight forward, but I am not a fan of the propane tank holder. I don't know if I did it right or what, but it doesn't sit in place well. I think I may have the bracket backwards, but I need to find another person on this. Outside of the bracket, everything else is great from putting together. Took me about an hour. You need to note that you get instructions in the package that link you to the traeger app and instructions. It does not work to load any instructions/video. I had to youtube for the video. Just an FYI
- Burn in was easy , seasoned well, cooks well, but I think like any griddle on the market, the whole 'zone' thing is a joke. The griddle does have pretty even temperatures across, which has its own pro's and con's. The thing about Blackstone with it being so drastically uneven is that you can also use that to cook to your advantage. Maybe spend a bit more time to toast bread in a corner because it's 150degrees cooler than another part of the griddle. You can't do this on a flatrock, since the temperatures will all be between 20-30 from each other.
- I love how big the shelves are, and nothing on them get too hot, just warm to the touch when it's close to the griddle. I also picked up all the P.A.L addons and while they're all nice, you can't really fold the shelves down when you want to store it because they slide around. I do not have the cover, but I am not sure if you have to put the shelves down or not. Keep that in mind .
- The casters are great, all high quality and all 4 can be individually locked.
- You can level each leg individually, but it's not so easy compared to like the Halo for example
- Grease management: I'm not a fan of its location, but I've worked around it already. Because of its placement, you lose a lot of cooking surface because you can't put much in the corner next to it. Traeger really should have placed it in the corner like a campchef. This is probably my biggest gripe, but it's not that bad. You just need to get adjusted to it, but I feel like I have a lot less cooking surface since a whole section can't be cooked on with anything runny because you fear of losing it down the grease drain. Anything not runny next to the grease hole ends up cooking faster since it gives off heat as well. Really wish they would have placed it into a corner.
- The lid is solid, but for a premium unit, the lid should be able to act as a dome, but it says you can't while the burners are on. I wish they would clarify that if I decided to turn off the burners when making smash burgers, can I close the the lid when cheese is melting? I think the answer is no. That is another big benefit of the Halo unit. You can use the lid like any other grill.
- The LED lights for the propane gauge is really bright, not a big deal at all, but if you don't want that shining on you all the time, I tend to turn the grill off and the switch is located behind the unit which can be a bit annoying based on your setup.
Overall my complaints are just minor, they performance is great, I think it's some of the best griddle food I've made and I like how even everything is. My only qualms is the bracket (which could be my fault), and the biggest is the placement of the grease trap.
I wish they would add an P.A.L addon for trashbag holder as well.
Thanks!
2023.05.28 01:20 BentisKomprakriev m
- Bold means the film received at least 1 Oscar nomination (47)
- Bold and italic means the film was only nominated in the Best International Feature category (17)
- Coin means the film won Best International Feature (7)
- Trophy means the film won Best Picture (1)
| Year | Palme d'Or | Grand Prix | Jury Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Chronicle of the Years of Fire | The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser | |
| 1976 | Taxi Driver | Cría Cuervos 🪢 The Marquise of O | |
| 1977 | Padre Padrone | ||
| 1978 | The Tree of Wooden Clogs | Bye Bye Monkey 🪢 The Shout | |
| 1979 | Apocalypse Now 🪢 🪙The Tin Drum🪙 | Siberiade | |
| 1980 | All That Jazz 🪢 Kagemusha | My American Uncle | The Constant Factor |
| 1981 | Man of Iron | Light Years Away | |
| 1982 | Missing 🪢 Yol | The Night of the Shooting Stars | |
| 1983 | The Ballad of Narayama | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | Kharij |
| 1984 | Paris, Texas | Diary for My Children | |
| 1985 | When Father Was Away on Business | Birdy | Colonel Redl |
| 1986 | The Mission | The Sacrifice | Thérèse |
| 1987 | Under the Sun of Satan | Repentance | Shinran: Path to Purity 🪢 Yeelen |
| 1988 | Pelle the Conqueror | A World Apart | A Short Film About Killing |
| 1989 | Sex, Lies, and Videotape | 🪙Cinema Paradiso🪙 🪢 Too Beautiful for You | Jesus of Montreal |
| 1990 | Wild at Heart | The Sting of Death 🪢 Tilaï | Hidden Agenda |
| 1991 | Barton Fink | La Belle Noiseuse | Europa 🪢 Out of Life |
| 1992 | The Best Intentions | The Stolen Children | Dream of Light 🪢 An Independent Life |
| 1993 | Farewell My Concubine 🪢 The Piano | Faraway, So Close! | The Puppetmaster 🪢 Raining Stones |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction | 🪙Burnt by the Sun🪙 🪢 To Live | La Reine Margot |
| 1995 | Underground | Ulysses' Gaze | Don't Forget You're Going to Die 🪢 Carrington |
| 1996 | Secrets & Lies | Breaking the Waves | Crash |
| 1997 | The Eel 🪢 Taste of Cherry | The Sweet Hereafter | Western |
| 1998 | Eternity and a Day | 🪙Life Is Beautiful🪙 | Class Trip |
| 1999 | Rosetta | Humanité | The Letter |
| 2000 | Dancer in the Dark | Devils on the Doorstep | Blackboards 🪢 Songs from the Second Floor |
| 2001 | The Son's Room | The Piano Teacher | |
| 2002 | The Pianist | The Man Without a Past | Divine Intervention |
| 2003 | Elephant | Distant | At Five in the Afternoon |
| 2004 | Fahrenheit 9/11 | Oldboy | The Ladykillers 🪢 Tropical Malady |
| 2005 | L'Enfant | Broken Flowers | Shanghai Dreams |
| 2006 | The Wind That Shakes the Barley | Flanders | Red Road |
| 2007 | 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days | The Mourning Forest | Persepolis 🪢 Silent Light |
| 2008 | The Class | Gomorrah | Il divo |
| 2009 | The White Ribbon | A Prophet | Fish Tank 🪢 Thirst |
| 2010 | Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives | Of Gods and Men | A Screaming Man |
| 2011 | The Tree of Life | The Kid with a Bike 🪢 Once Upon a Time in Anatolia | Polisse |
| 2012 | 🪙Amour🪙 | Reality | The Angels' Share |
| 2013 | Blue Is the Warmest Colour | Inside Llewyn Davis | Like Father, Like Son |
| 2014 | Winter Sleep | The Wonders | Goodbye to Language 🪢 Mommy |
| 2015 | Dheepan | 🪙Son of Saul🪙 | The Lobster |
| 2016 | I, Daniel Blake | It's Only the End of the World | American Honey |
| 2017 | The Square | BPM (Beats per Minute) | Loveless |
| 2018 | Shoplifters | BlacKkKlansman | Capernaum |
| 2019 | 🪙🏆Parasite🏆🪙 | Atlantics | Bacurau 🪢 Les Misérables |
| 2021 | Titane | Compartment No. 6 🪢 A Hero | Ahed's Knee 🪢 Memoria |
| 2022 | Triangle of Sadness | Stars at Noon 🪢 Close | The Eight Mountains 🪢 EO |
| 2023 | Anatomy of a Fall | The Zone of Interest | Fallen Leaves |
- Bold means the actor received an Oscar nomination (23)
- Bold and italic means the actor was nominated in a non-acting category (1)
- Trophy means the actor won the Oscar (6)
| Year | Best Actor | Best Actress |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Vittorio Gassman – Scent of a Woman | Valérie Perrine – Lenny |
| 1976 | José Luis Gómez – Pascual Duarte | Dominique Sanda – The Inheritance 🪢 Mari Törőcsik – Mrs. Dery Where Are You? |
| 1977 | Fernando Rey – Elisa, My Life | Shelley Duvall – 3 Women 🪢 Monique Mercure – J.A. Martin Photographer |
| 1978 | 🏆Jon Voight – Coming Home🏆 | Jill Clayburgh – An Unmarried Woman 🪢 Isabelle Huppert – Violette Nozière |
| 1979 | Jack Lemmon – The China Syndrome 🪢 Stefano Madia – Dear Father | 🏆Sally Field – Norma Rae🏆 🪢 Eva Mattes – Woyzeck |
| 1980 | Michel Piccoli – A Leap in the Dark 🪢 Jack Thompson – Breaker Morant | Anouk Aimée – A Leap in the Dark 🪢 Milena Dravić – Special Treatment 🪢 Carla Gravina – La terrazza |
| 1981 | Ugo Tognazzi – Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man 🪢 Ian Holm – Chariots of Fire | Isabelle Adjani – Possession 🪢 Qaurtet 🪢 Elena Solovey – Faktas |
| 1982 | Jack Lemmon – Missing | Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieślak – Another Way |
| 1983 | Gian Maria Volonté – The Death of Mario Ricci | Hanna Schygulla – The Story of Piera |
| 1984 | Alfredo Landa 🪢 Francisco Rabal – The Holy Innocents | Helen Mirren – Cal |
| 1985 | 🏆William Hurt – Kiss of the Spider Woman🏆 | Norma Aleandro – The Official Story 🪢 Cher – Mask |
| 1986 | Michel Blanc – Ménage 🪢 Bob Hoskins – Mona Lisa | Barbara Sukowa – Rosa Luxemburg |
| 1987 | Marcello Mastroianni – Dark Eyes | Barbara Hershey – Shy People |
| 1988 | Forest Whitaker – Bird | Barbara Hershey 🪢 Jodhi May 🪢 Linda Mvusi – A World Apart |
| 1989 | James Spader – Sex, Lies, and Videotape | Meryl Streep – A Cry in the Dark |
| 1990 | Gérard Depardieu – Cyrano de Bergerac | Krystyna Janda – Interrogation |
| 1991 | John Turturro – Barton Fink 🪢 Samuel L. Jackson – Jungle Fever | Irène Jacob – The Double Life of Veronique |
| 1992 | Tim Robbins – The Player | Pernilla August – The Best Intentions |
| 1993 | David Thewlis – Naked | 🏆Holly Hunter – The Piano🏆 |
| 1994 | Ge You – To Live | Virna Lisi – La Reine Margot |
| 1995 | Jonathan Pryce – Carrington | Helen Mirren – The Madness of King George |
| 1996 | Daniel Auteuil 🪢 Pascal Duquenne – The Eighth Day | Brenda Blethyn – Secrets & Lies |
| 1997 | Sean Penn – She's So Lovely | Kathy Burke – Nil by Mouth |
| 1998 | Peter Mullan – My Name Is Joe | Élodie Bouchez 🪢 Natacha Régnier – The Dreamlife of Angels |
| 1999 | Emmanuel Schotté – Humanité | Séverine Caneele – Humanité 🪢 Émilie Dequenne – Rosetta |
| 2000 | Tony Leung Chiu-wai – In the Mood for Love | Björk – Dancer in the Dark |
| 2001 | Benoît Magimel – The Piano Teacher | Isabelle Huppert – The Piano Teacher |
| 2002 | Olivier Gourmet – The Son | Kati Outinen – The Man Without a Past |
| 2003 | Muzaffer Özdemir 🪢 Mehmet Emin Toprak – Distant | Marie-Josée Croze – The Barbarian Invasions |
| 2004 | Yūya Yagira – Nobody Knows | Maggie Cheung – Clean |
| 2005 | Tommy Lee Jones – The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada | Hanna Laslo – Free Zone |
| 2006 | Roschdy Zem 🪢 Bernard Blancan 🪢 Jamel Debbouze 🪢 Samy Naceri 🪢 Sami Bouajila – Days of Glory | Carmen Maura 🪢 Lola Dueñas 🪢 Blanca Portillo 🪢 Yohana Cobo 🪢 Chus Lampreave 🪢 Penélope Cruz – Volver |
| 2007 | Konstantin Lavronenko – The Banishment | Jeon Do-yeon – Secret Sunshine |
| 2008 | Benicio del Toro – Che | Sandra Corveloni – Linha de Passe |
| 2009 | 🏆Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds🏆 | Charlotte Gainsbourg – Antichrist |
| 2010 | Javier Bardem – Biutiful 🪢 Elio Germano – Our Life | Juliette Binoche – Certified Copy |
| 2011 | 🏆Jean Dujardin – The Artist🏆 | Kirsten Dunst – Melancholia |
| 2012 | Mads Mikkelsen – The Hunt | Cristina Flutur 🪢 Cosmina Stratan – Beyond the Hills |
| 2013 | Bruce Dern – Nebraska | Bérénice Bejo – The Past |
| 2014 | Timothy Spall – Mr. Turner | Julianne Moore – Maps to the Stars |
| 2015 | Vincent Lindon – The Measure of a Man | Emmanuelle Bercot – Mon Roi 🪢 Rooney Mara – Carol |
| 2016 | Shahab Hosseini – The Salesman | Jaclyn Jose – Ma' Rosa |
| 2017 | Joaquin Phoenix – You Were Never Really Here | Diane Kruger – In the Fade |
| 2018 | Marcello Fonte – Dogman | Samal Yeslyamova – Ayka |
| 2019 | Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory | Emily Beecham – Little Joe |
| 2021 | Caleb Landry Jones – Nitram | Renate Reinsve – The Worst Person in the World |
| 2022 | Song Kang-ho – Broker | Zar Amir Ebrahimi – Holy Spider |
| 2023 | Kōji Yakusho – Perfect Days | Merve Dizdar – About Dry Grasses |
- Bold means the film received at least 1 Oscar nomination in a corresponding category (9)
- Bold and italic means only the film was nominated, but the awarded filmmaker wasn't (8)
| Year | Best Director | Best Screenplay |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Michel Brault – Orders 🪢 Costa-Gavras – Special Section | |
| 1976 | Ettore Scola – Down and Dirty | |
| 1977 | ||
| 1978 | Nagisa Ōshima – Empire of Passion | |
| 1979 | Terrence Malick – Days of Heaven | |
| 1980 | La Terrazza – Furio Scarpelli, Agenore Incrocci, Ettore Scola | |
| 1981 | 🪙Mephisto🪙 – István Szabó | |
| 1982 | Werner Herzog – Fitzcarraldo | Moonlighting – Jerzy Skolimowski |
| 1983 | Robert Bresson – L'Argent 🪢 Andrei Tarkovsky – Nostalgia | Voyage to Cythera – Thanassis Valtinos, Theo Angelopoulos, Tonino Guerra |
| 1984 | Bertrand Tavernier – A Sunday in the Country | |
| 1985 | André Téchiné – Rendez-vous | |
| 1986 | Martin Scorsese – After Hours | |
| 1987 | Wim Wenders – Wings of Desire | |
| 1988 | Fernando Solanas – Sur | |
| 1989 | Emir Kusturica – Time of the Gypsies | |
| 1990 | Pavel Lungin – Taxi Blues | |
| 1991 | Joel Coen – Barton Fink | |
| 1992 | Robert Altman – The Player | |
| 1993 | Mike Leigh – Naked | |
| 1994 | Nanni Moretti – Dear Diary | Dead Tired – Michel Blanc |
| 1995 | Mathieu Kassovitz – La Haine | |
| 1996 | Joel Coen – Fargo | A Self Made Hero – Jacques Audiard, Alain Le Henry |
| 1997 | Wong Kar-wai – Happy Together | The Ice Storm – James Schamus |
| 1998 | John Boorman – The General | Henry Fool – Hal Hartley |
| 1999 | Pedro Almodóvar – All About My Mother | Moloch – Yuri Arabov |
| 2000 | Edward Yang – Yi Yi | Nurse Betty – James Flamberg, John C. Richards |
| 2001 | Joel Coen – The Man Who Wasn't There 🪢 David Lynch – Mulholland Drive | No Man's Land – Danis Tanović |
| 2002 | Paul Thomas Anderson – Punch-Drunk Love 🪢 Im Kwon-taek – Painted Fire | Sweet Sixteen – Paul Laverty |
| 2003 | Gus Van Sant – Elephant | 🪙The Barbarian Invasions🪙 – Denys Arcand |
| 2004 | Tony Gatlif – Exils | Look at Me – Agnès Jaoui, Jean-Pierre Bacri |
| 2005 | Michael Haneke – Caché | The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada – Guillermo Arriaga |
| 2006 | Alejandro González Iñárritu – Babel | Volver – Pedro Almodóvar |
| 2007 | Julian Schnabel – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly | The Edge of Heaven – Fatih Akin |
| 2008 | Nuri Bilge Ceylan – Three Monkeys | Lorna's Silence – Jean-Pierre, Luc Dardenne |
| 2009 | Brillante Mendoza – Butchered | Spring Fever – Mei Feng |
| 2010 | Mathieu Amalric – On Tour | Poetry – Lee Chang-dong |
| 2011 | Nicolas Winding Refn – Drive | Footnote – Joseph Cedar |
| 2012 | Carlos Reygadas – Post Tenebras Lux | Beyond the Hills – Cristian Mungiu, Tatiana Niculescu Bran |
| 2013 | Amat Escalante – Heli | A Touch of Sin – Jia Zhangke |
| 2014 | Bennett Miller – Foxcatcher | Leviathan – Andrey Zvyagintsev, Oleg Negin |
| 2015 | Hou Hsiao-hsien – The Assassin | Chronic – Michel Franco |
| 2016 | Olivier Assayas – Personal Shopper 🪢 Cristian Mungiu – Graduation | 🪙The Salesman🪙 – Asghar Farhadi |
| 2017 | Sofia Coppola – The Beguiled | The Killing of a Sacred Deer – Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou 🪢 You Were Never Really Here – Lynne Ramsay |
| 2018 | Paweł Pawlikowski – Cold War | 3 Faces – Jafar Panahi, Nader Saeivar 🪢 Happy as Lazzaro – Alice Rohrwacher |
| 2019 | Jean-Pierre 🪢 Luc Dardenne – Young Ahmed | Portrait of a Lady on Fire – Céline Sciamma |
| 2021 | Leos Carax – Annette | 🪙Drive My Car🪙 – Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe |
| 2022 | Park Chan-wook – Decision to Leave | Boy from Heaven – Tarik Saleh |
| 2023 | Tran Anh Hung – The Pot-au-Feu | Monster – Yuji Sakamoto |
2023.05.28 00:21 FallenAngelicDespair I screamed at my family til I lost my voice
Tw: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC CHILDHOOD SA!!
I am fuming beyond words. I just can't handle it anymore how people will NOT grasp the severity of the sexual abuse I endured at the hands of my mother.
Like clockwork at my dad's side of the family gathering my aunt came up to me and asked how I was. I truthfully wasn't okay but lied and the conversation devolved as time went on to the abuse I endured which they downplay heavily or don't want to admit how bad it was. My aunt (who got custody of my sister to stop my mom from repeating what she did to me to my sister but didn't think of rescuing the one who was actively going through the abuse) tried to hug me and say "I'm so sorry for how you were treated" and something in me just snapped.
I was filled with so much anger, so much disgust, just so much resentment that I have been bottling up for years I could no longer hold on to. I tried and tried SO hard to hold it in because I didn't want to ruin everyone's time but the moment she had her arms wrapped around me trying to comfort me way too late and the constant apologies was making me sick.
I decided that I don't give a FUCK anymore about not ruining everyone's time why should I when I had MY WHOLE LIFE RUINED FOR WHAT?! SOME HALF ASS APOLOGIES?!
I pushed her off of me and yelled at her to not touch me and when all eyes were on me I guess the mix of emotions and immense anxiety overload I had made me just start unable to control myself.
"WHY THE FUCK DO ANY OF YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO COME UP TO ME NOW AND SAY YOU'RE SORRY?! WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT FIX?! NOT A GOD DAMN THING I NEEDED THAT WHEN I WAS A CHILD! I NEEDED HELP THEN! BUT NOOO NO NO YOU GUYS MADE SURE THAT MY SISTER WAS SAFE! BUT GOD FORBID ANY OF YALL HAD THE GUTS TO FUCKING DO THAT FOR ME BUT NO ONE DID! WHILE MY SISTER GOT TO LEARN WHAT A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE WAS I WAS BEING HELD DOWN AND FORCED TO TAKE OBJECTS INSIDE OF ME AND FORCED TO DEEP THROAT RANDOM MEN BEFORE I WAS EVEN IN THE 3RD GRADE! FORCED TO GIVE ORAL TO MY MOM WHILE SHE WAS ON HER PERIOD AND GOT SODOMIZED AS PUNISHMENT FOR GAGGING! OH YOU DON'T LIKE THAT? YOU DON'T LIKE HOW NASTY IT IS? MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE? WELL THAT WAS MY REALITY! GO TO SCHOOL GET BULLIED AND THEN GO HOME AND GET MY INNOCENCE RIPPED FROM ME MORE EVERY SINGLE DAY WHILE MY BROTHERS GOT TREATED LIKE KINGS AND MY SISTER GOT TO LIVE A LIFE I COULDNT EVEN FATHOM! AND HERE I AM DESTROYED AND RUINED AND ALL I GET IS THOSE STUPID FUCKING APOLOGIES! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! FUCK OFF I HATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! YOU ALL LEFT ME TO SUFFER! YOU ALL SAY HOW AWFUL SHE IS EVEN TOLD ME THAT WHEN I WAS A CHILD BUT GUESS WHAT?! YALL DID NOT A DAMN THING! IS IT THROUGH YOUR THICK FUCKING SKULLS YET!? I AM NOT OKAY AND I WILL NEVER BE OKAY! I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE HORROR THAT WAS MY LIFE AND YOU ALL GET TO LIVE PEACEFULLY BY TURNING A BLIND EYE BECAUSE YOU CARED MORE ABOUT YOUR COMFORT OVER MY OWN!"
They all looked at me with shock and disgust, some looked down and didn't say a word. My uncle tried to tell me to stop and that's enough but I told him to shut the fuck up and I don't care if it's enough for them or not. My dad tried to pull me to the side and tell me I needed to stop or I will have to leave and I just kept yelling at him to not touch and to leave me alone and I just went outside screaming and crying and kicking up rocks.
I told him to take me home right now and that I was done being around all of them and before I left I went back inside and screamed as loud as I could that they are to never speak to me again and I will never ever see any of them again. I didn't stay around to hear what they had to say.
The whole car ride my dad was in tears and pissed off that I couldn't at least hold it together til I went back home but I said nothing, when he dropped me off he tried to say l love you to me and hug me but I just walked away, I put my phone on silent and left it on my desk.
Getting all of that out of me made me unable to speak for 3 days I laid in my bed in silence crying. I didn't eat or sleep, It didn't feel real that I just tore into my family and said those things but my sore throat was evident enough to make me accept the reality of the situation. I felt so much guilt and shame for it, why did I say those things? Do they hate me now? Did it even make them feel bad or did I just make myself look like I'm the crazy one?
I had so much anxiety over my actions but also felt like I didn't say enough, I wish I had said more. My grandmother tried to stop by but I pretended like I didn't hear her I couldn't face her, in some selfish kind of way I wanted them to know I was serious about how I felt even if I knew realistically I couldn't just never see them again I wasn't or in the position to go full no contact.
My shame and regret then turned into anger why did I have to be pushed so far for them to realize just how bad it really was. Why did I have to be at my limit for them to stsrt trying to care and why after all I said all that they could say was telling me that they couldn't even handle the truth and said "that's enough"
Fuck you. You're wrong. It wasn't enough. It will never be enough. I could rip myself into pieces and sing to the world all of my pain and it wouldn't even amount to anything. Everyone could know everything down to the crevice and corners of my life and it STILL wouldn't be enough. I am expected to move forward and leave it all in the past but I simply cannot. My whole life has been nothing short of suffering.
submitted by FallenAngelicDespair to CPTSD [link] [comments]
I am fuming beyond words. I just can't handle it anymore how people will NOT grasp the severity of the sexual abuse I endured at the hands of my mother.
Like clockwork at my dad's side of the family gathering my aunt came up to me and asked how I was. I truthfully wasn't okay but lied and the conversation devolved as time went on to the abuse I endured which they downplay heavily or don't want to admit how bad it was. My aunt (who got custody of my sister to stop my mom from repeating what she did to me to my sister but didn't think of rescuing the one who was actively going through the abuse) tried to hug me and say "I'm so sorry for how you were treated" and something in me just snapped.
I was filled with so much anger, so much disgust, just so much resentment that I have been bottling up for years I could no longer hold on to. I tried and tried SO hard to hold it in because I didn't want to ruin everyone's time but the moment she had her arms wrapped around me trying to comfort me way too late and the constant apologies was making me sick.
I decided that I don't give a FUCK anymore about not ruining everyone's time why should I when I had MY WHOLE LIFE RUINED FOR WHAT?! SOME HALF ASS APOLOGIES?!
I pushed her off of me and yelled at her to not touch me and when all eyes were on me I guess the mix of emotions and immense anxiety overload I had made me just start unable to control myself.
"WHY THE FUCK DO ANY OF YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO COME UP TO ME NOW AND SAY YOU'RE SORRY?! WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT FIX?! NOT A GOD DAMN THING I NEEDED THAT WHEN I WAS A CHILD! I NEEDED HELP THEN! BUT NOOO NO NO YOU GUYS MADE SURE THAT MY SISTER WAS SAFE! BUT GOD FORBID ANY OF YALL HAD THE GUTS TO FUCKING DO THAT FOR ME BUT NO ONE DID! WHILE MY SISTER GOT TO LEARN WHAT A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE WAS I WAS BEING HELD DOWN AND FORCED TO TAKE OBJECTS INSIDE OF ME AND FORCED TO DEEP THROAT RANDOM MEN BEFORE I WAS EVEN IN THE 3RD GRADE! FORCED TO GIVE ORAL TO MY MOM WHILE SHE WAS ON HER PERIOD AND GOT SODOMIZED AS PUNISHMENT FOR GAGGING! OH YOU DON'T LIKE THAT? YOU DON'T LIKE HOW NASTY IT IS? MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE? WELL THAT WAS MY REALITY! GO TO SCHOOL GET BULLIED AND THEN GO HOME AND GET MY INNOCENCE RIPPED FROM ME MORE EVERY SINGLE DAY WHILE MY BROTHERS GOT TREATED LIKE KINGS AND MY SISTER GOT TO LIVE A LIFE I COULDNT EVEN FATHOM! AND HERE I AM DESTROYED AND RUINED AND ALL I GET IS THOSE STUPID FUCKING APOLOGIES! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! FUCK OFF I HATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! YOU ALL LEFT ME TO SUFFER! YOU ALL SAY HOW AWFUL SHE IS EVEN TOLD ME THAT WHEN I WAS A CHILD BUT GUESS WHAT?! YALL DID NOT A DAMN THING! IS IT THROUGH YOUR THICK FUCKING SKULLS YET!? I AM NOT OKAY AND I WILL NEVER BE OKAY! I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE HORROR THAT WAS MY LIFE AND YOU ALL GET TO LIVE PEACEFULLY BY TURNING A BLIND EYE BECAUSE YOU CARED MORE ABOUT YOUR COMFORT OVER MY OWN!"
They all looked at me with shock and disgust, some looked down and didn't say a word. My uncle tried to tell me to stop and that's enough but I told him to shut the fuck up and I don't care if it's enough for them or not. My dad tried to pull me to the side and tell me I needed to stop or I will have to leave and I just kept yelling at him to not touch and to leave me alone and I just went outside screaming and crying and kicking up rocks.
I told him to take me home right now and that I was done being around all of them and before I left I went back inside and screamed as loud as I could that they are to never speak to me again and I will never ever see any of them again. I didn't stay around to hear what they had to say.
The whole car ride my dad was in tears and pissed off that I couldn't at least hold it together til I went back home but I said nothing, when he dropped me off he tried to say l love you to me and hug me but I just walked away, I put my phone on silent and left it on my desk.
Getting all of that out of me made me unable to speak for 3 days I laid in my bed in silence crying. I didn't eat or sleep, It didn't feel real that I just tore into my family and said those things but my sore throat was evident enough to make me accept the reality of the situation. I felt so much guilt and shame for it, why did I say those things? Do they hate me now? Did it even make them feel bad or did I just make myself look like I'm the crazy one?
I had so much anxiety over my actions but also felt like I didn't say enough, I wish I had said more. My grandmother tried to stop by but I pretended like I didn't hear her I couldn't face her, in some selfish kind of way I wanted them to know I was serious about how I felt even if I knew realistically I couldn't just never see them again I wasn't or in the position to go full no contact.
My shame and regret then turned into anger why did I have to be pushed so far for them to realize just how bad it really was. Why did I have to be at my limit for them to stsrt trying to care and why after all I said all that they could say was telling me that they couldn't even handle the truth and said "that's enough"
Fuck you. You're wrong. It wasn't enough. It will never be enough. I could rip myself into pieces and sing to the world all of my pain and it wouldn't even amount to anything. Everyone could know everything down to the crevice and corners of my life and it STILL wouldn't be enough. I am expected to move forward and leave it all in the past but I simply cannot. My whole life has been nothing short of suffering.
2023.05.27 23:47 RedFox938 [CA][US][Selling] Almost 1000 volumes to go! Ultimate Muscle, Lone Wolf & Cub, Excel Saga, Initial D, Haganai, Kimagure Orange Road, Magi, Umineko, Lady Snowblood + lots more. Shojo too - The Heart of Thomas, The Wallflower, CLAMP books, Kitchen Princess, Itazura na Kiss, CMX releases
Hi! I made a post earlier this week about starting to organize and clear out what I've been hoarding collecting over the years... many, many hours later, I've sorted through my stash & have just under 1000 books I want to get rid of in the first cull!
I can ship from Canada or the US - all prices are in USD
I'm still new to selling here, so if there's anything I missed or that seems out to lunch please just let me know :D
All orders will be shipped out on Monday - I leave for a work trip Tuesday afternoon so won't take any orders I can't ship before then & will put the post back up again when I'm back the next week!
Timestamp Photos - 1 - https://imgur.com/a/HKhPuNO (May 23, 2023) 2 - https://imgur.com/a/REJgIIp (May 23, 2023) 3 - https://imgur.com/a/F2ivwIi (May 26, 2023) 4 - https://imgur.com/a/aLCQpFu (May 26, 2023)
Close-up photos: Light Novels - https://imgur.com/a/xwAxyzg Manga - https://imgur.com/a/sfr9LIl Manga 2 - https://imgur.com/a/IeTzN4b Manga 3 - https://imgur.com/a/Gv0dJe5 Manga 4 - https://imgur.com/a/bxB30At
Excel File: If you would like a Google sheets version please just let me know!
Light Novels
Manga
BL - Buy the bundle for $120
Anime - BluRay
submitted by RedFox938 to mangaswap [link] [comments]
I can ship from Canada or the US - all prices are in USD
- US shipping is $5 or free for orders over $100
- Canada shipping is actual shipping cost (please ask for quote - probably $15+). For orders over $100, I will provide a discount equal to free US shipping for the same order
I'm still new to selling here, so if there's anything I missed or that seems out to lunch please just let me know :D
All orders will be shipped out on Monday - I leave for a work trip Tuesday afternoon so won't take any orders I can't ship before then & will put the post back up again when I'm back the next week!
Timestamp Photos - 1 - https://imgur.com/a/HKhPuNO (May 23, 2023) 2 - https://imgur.com/a/REJgIIp (May 23, 2023) 3 - https://imgur.com/a/F2ivwIi (May 26, 2023) 4 - https://imgur.com/a/aLCQpFu (May 26, 2023)
Close-up photos: Light Novels - https://imgur.com/a/xwAxyzg Manga - https://imgur.com/a/sfr9LIl Manga 2 - https://imgur.com/a/IeTzN4b Manga 3 - https://imgur.com/a/Gv0dJe5 Manga 4 - https://imgur.com/a/bxB30At
Excel File: If you would like a Google sheets version please just let me know!
Light Novels
| Title | Volume | # of Vols | Price | Total for All Volumes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Certain Magical Index (Novel) | 3, 5, 9 | 3 | V3 & 9 - $9, V5 - $35 | $44 | V3 - G4 has a small rip on the back cover, V5&9 - G5 |
| Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World (Novel) | 1-2 | 2 | $11 | $22 | G4 - small sticker residue on back |
| Blood+ (Light Novel) | 3-4 | 3 | V3 - $20, V4 - $80 | $100 | V3 - G3 light shelf wear, V4 - G2 creases on front and back cover in corners, dirty scuffs on bottom & side |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion LN | 2 | 1 | $20 | $20 | G4 |
| Dirty Pair (Novels) | 1-2 | 2 | $30 | $60 | G4 |
| Final Fantasy VII - The Kids Are Alright | 1 | 1 | $9 | $9 | G3 |
| How A Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom | 1-2, 6-9, 11 | 7 | $8 | $56 | Remainder marks (except V6/V7) |
| Katanagatari (hardcover) | 4 | 1 | 10 | G4 remainder mark | |
| Monogatari Box Sets (Novel) | 1-3 | 3 | $55 | $165 | G4 - Opened but never read |
| Overlord (Novel) | 1-12 | 12 | $13 | $156 | G5 - sealed |
| Sword Art Online Platinum Collector's Edition (Novel) | 1 | 1 | $125 | $125 | G5 - sealed |
| The Ancient Magus' Bride LN | The Silver Yarn | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Notenki Memoirs: Studio Gainax and the Men Who Created Evangelion | 1 | 1 | $90 | $90 | G4 |
| The NPCs in This Village Sim Game Must be Real LN | 1-3 | 3 | $8 | $24 | Remainder marks |
| Vampire Hunter D (Novel Omnibus) | 1 | 1 | $12 | $12 | G4 - Remainder mark |
| Vampire Hunter D (Novel) | 16, 18-23, 25-29 | 12 | V29 - $200, V28 - $200, V27 - $100, V26 - $50, V25 - $40, V23 - $40, V22 - $20, V21 - $70, V20 - $80, V19 - $30, V18 - $70, V16 - $15 | $915 | ($850 for all Vols + Omni) V27-29 - G4, V26 - G3 some dings, UPC sticker on back & remainder mark, V22-25 - G3 dent on top of front cover for all, V20-21 - G4, V18-19- G3 light shelf wear, V16 - G4 |
| Voices of a Distant Star (LN) | 1 | 1 | $9 | $9 | Remainder marks |
Manga
| Title | Volume | # of Vols | Price | Total for All Volumes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Certain Magical Index (Manga) | 2 | 1 | 35 | $35 | G4/5 |
| A Certain Scientific Railgun | 5-8, 16 | 5 | V5-8 - $20, V16 - $8 | $88 | V5-8 - G4/G5, V16 - G4 remainder mark |
| A Silent Voice | 1-5 | 5 | 6 | $30 | G4/G5 |
| Ace Attorney: Miles Edgeworth Investigations | 2-4 | 3 | $140 | G4 light yellowing on top | |
| Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright - Official Casebook | 1-2 | 2 | 25 | $50 | G3/G4 - light shelf wear |
| Ace Attorrney: Phoenix Wright | 1 | 1 | 15 | $15 | G3/G4 - Price sticker on back cover, ding on top of spine |
| Apocalypse Meow | 1-2 | 2 | 25 | $50 | G4 |
| Aqua | 1-2 | 2 | 15 | $30 | G3/G4 - sticker residue on front cover, small price sticker on inside of front cover |
| As Miss Beelzebub Likes | 1-2 | 2 | V1 - $25, V2 - $8 | $32 | V1 - G5, V2 - G3 dent in back cover on bottom |
| Astra Lost in Space | 1-5 | 5 | 6 | $30 | G3/G4 - V3-4 have smudges/dirt on the left side of the bottom |
| Beauty & the Feast | 1-2 | 2 | $8.00 | $16 | Remainder mark on V1 |
| Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost | 1-4 | 4 | 8 | $32 | G4/G5 |
| Berserk of Gluttony (Manga) | 1-5 | 5 | 7 | $35 | G4 remainder mark |
| Bite Maker | 1, 3 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Black Clover | 1-29 | 29 | $170 | G5 | |
| Black God | 1-19 | 19 | $225 | G3/4 - V9-19 have yellowing, V1 has a small slice across the spine. | |
| Bleach | 1-74, Colours | 75 | $425 | G5 | |
| Bride of Deimos | 4-5 | 2 | 20 | $40 | G3/G4 some yellowing, ding on corner of front cover |
| Call to Adventure! Defeating Dungeons With a Skill Board | 1-4 | 4 | $7 | $28 | G4 remainder mark |
| Cat Massage Therapy | 1-2 | 2 | 9 | $18 | G4 remainder mark |
| Chillin in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Chronicles of an Aristocrat: Reborn in Another World | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| Cirque Du Freak | 1-9 | 9 | 10 | $90 | G3/G4 - light shelf wear, light yellowing on top of some volumes |
| CLAMP - Angelic Layer | 1, 3 | 2 | $10 | G4 | |
| CLAMP - Clover (singles) | 2 | 1 | $6 | $6 | G3/G4 - knicks on slipcover. Binding loosening on first/last page |
| CLAMP - Drug & Drop | 1-2 | 2 | $60 | G4 | |
| CLAMP - Kobato | 6 | 1 | $60 | G4 some yellowing | |
| CLAMP - Legal Drug Omnibus | 1 | 1 | 15 | $15 | G3 |
| CLAMP - Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland | One Shot | 1 | 15 | $15 | G4 - sticker residue on back & front cover |
| CLAMP - The One I Love | 1 | 1 | 20 | $20 | G3/G4 - crease on edge of back cover |
| CLAMP - Tokyo Babylon (omnibus) | 1-2 | 2 | $120 | G3 - V2 has a rip taken out of bottom of front cover | |
| CLAMP - Tokyo Babylon (singles) | 1-2 | 2 | 10 | $20 | G3 - light shelf wear. V2 small crease on front cover & bottom of spine |
| CLAMP - Wish (singles) | 1-4 | 4 | $20 | V1-2 - G2 name written on inside of cover, worn, V3-4 - G3 V3 has security sticker on inside of front cover | |
| CLAMP - Wish Omnibus | 1 | 1 | 35 | $35 | G4 remainder mark |
| Classroom of the Elite | 1 | 1 | $8 | $8 | G4 remainder mark |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Manga | 1-2 | 2 | V1 - $10, V2 - $25 | $35 | G4 - light shelf wear |
| Code Geass: Nightmare of Nunnally | 1-3 | 3 | V1 - $15, V2/3 - $20 | $50 | G4/G5 - V1 has light yellowing on top, light shelf wear. V2/3 are new |
| Cosmo Familia | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| Count Fujiwara's Suffering | 1 | 1 | 15 | $15 | G3/G4 small rip on top of back cover |
| Crying Freeman | 1-5 | 5 | $200 | G4 - all new & sealed. All have yellowing on top, V4 has yellowing on bottom. Some vols have small tears in the seal | |
| Cutie and the Beast | 1, 3 | 2 | $7 | $14 | Remainder marks, except V3 |
| Densha Otoko | 1-3 | 3 | $30 | G3/G4. CMX releases | |
| Drugstore in Another World: The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist | 1-4 | 4 | $7 | $28 | G4 remainder mark |
| Dungeon Dive Aim for the Deepest Level | 1 | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| Edens Zero | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | |
| Eromanga Sensei | 1 | 1 | 8 | $8 | G5 |
| ES Eternal Sabbath | 1-4, 6-8 | 7 | $125 | G4 - V1 has yellowing on all sides & light shelf wear, other vols have some yellowing on top. (Missing V5) | |
| Excel Saga | 12, 17-24, 27 | 10 | V12 - $10, V17-19 - $25, V20-21 - $30, V22-25 - $35, V27 - $45 | $330 | G4/G5 - light yellowing on some vols |
| Exo-Drive Reincarnation Games | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Failure Frame | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Fire Investigator Nanase | 1, 3-4 | 3 | V1 & V3 - $10, V4 - $20 | $40 | G3/G4 some yellowing |
| Flame of Recca | 1, 4, 7-8, 11, 13-15, 20 | 9 | 5 | $45 | G3 yellowing |
| Fragtime Omnibus | One Shot | 1 | $12 | $12 | G4 remainder mark |
| Freezing (Omnibus) | 1-4, 19-20 | 3 | V1-2 - $80, V3-4 - $35, V19-20 - $60 | $195 | G4 - some yellowing on top |
| From Eroica With Love | 15 | 1 | 20 | $20 | G4 some yellowing |
| Full Metal Alchemist | 1-19, 22-23, 25 | 22 | 5-6 | $110 | V1-8 - G2 early volumes are rough, V9-10 - G4, V11+ - G4/G5 |
| GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class | 2-6 | 5 | V3-5 - $8, V2 & V6 - $25 | $74 | G4 - V2, 4-6 have remainder mark |
| Gankutsuou | 1 | 1 | 10 | $10 | G3 some yellowing |
| Gente | 1-3 | 3 | $8 | $24 | |
| Grenadier | 1-2, 4-5, 7 | 5 | 10 | $70 | V1-2 G3 some yellowing & remainder marks, V4-5 & V7 - G4 |
| Gunsmith Cats Burst | 3-4 | 2 | 45 | $90 | G5 - sealed. Some yellowing on top of V4 |
| Haganai | 3-9, 11-14 | 10 | V3-5 - $8, V6 - $20, V7 - $8, V8-9 - $20, V11-12 -$20, V13 - $10, V14 - $20 | $162 | V3 - G3 price sticker on back cover, V7 - G3 remainder dot and sticker residue on front & back cover, V13-14 have some sunfading on spine, all other vols are G3/4 with some yellowing |
| Happy Kanako's Killer Life | 1-4 | 4 | 9 | $36 | G4/G5 - V1 & V3 have remainder marks |
| Haru's Curse | 1 | 1 | 10 | $10 | G4 remainder mark |
| Hatskune Miku: Rin-Chan Now! | 1-4 | 4 | 7 | $28 | G4 - V1 has a small crease on top left corner of front cover |
| Hell Girl | 6-9 | 2 | V6 - $35, V7/8/9 - $125 | $160 | G4 - light shelf wear. Security tag on inside of back cover |
| High School Girls | 1-4 | 4 | 7 | $28 | G3/G4 yellowing |
| Himouto Umaru-Chan | 1-2, 4, 10-12 | 6 | 8 | $48 | G4 remainder marks |
| How Not To Summon A Demon Lord | 1-2, 6, 9, 11-12 | 6 | $7 | $42 | Remainder marks, except V1 & V2 |
| Hungry For You: Endo Yasuko Stalks the Night | 1 | 1 | 8 | $8 | G4 |
| I am a Cat Barista | 1-2 | 2 | 9 | $18 | G4 remainder mark |
| I Got Caught Up In A Hero Summons | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| I Hate You More Than Anyone! | 8-9 | 2 | V8 - $20, V9 - $30 | $50 | G4 |
| I'm A Wolf But My Boss Is A Sheep | 1 | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| Immortal Hounds | 1-6 | 6 | 8 | $48 | G4/G5 |
| Initial D | 1-6 | 6 | V1 - $35, V2-4 - $25, V5/6 - $15 | $130 | G4 - V3 & 6 have yellowing on top. Small scuffs on spine V2 & V6. V1-3 small Tokyopop logo, V4-6 large red Tokyopop logo. |
| Into the Deepest Most Unknowable Dungeon | 1 | 1 | 9 | $9 | g5 sealed |
| Is This a Zombie!? | 2-8 | 7 | $120 | G4/G5 - V2 has some yellowing, all others new & sealed | |
| Itazura Na Kiss | 1, 5, 7-9 | 5 | V1 - $20, V5 - $30, V7 - $30, V8 - $10, V9 - $20 | $110 | V1 - G3 bend in top corner of front cover & yellowing, rest of volumes G4/G5, V7-9 sealed |
| Itsuwaribito | 1, 3, 5-8, 11-12-, 15, 21 | 10 | $90 | G3/4 - earlier volumes have yellowing on top | |
| Judge | 1-5 | 5 | $60 | G3/G4 | |
| Junko Mizuno's Hansel & Gretel | One Shot | 1 | 15 | $15 | G4 - some yellowing |
| K-On! College | 1 | 1 | $50 | G4 | |
| Kageki Shojo: The Curtain Rises | One Shot | 1 | $11 | $11 | G4 remainder mark |
| Kannagi Crazy Shrine Maidens | 1 | 1 | 10 | $10 | G4 |
| Karate Survivor In Another World | 1-2 | 2 | 7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Kekkaishi | 2-14, 16, 22, 24-35 | 27 | 5-6 | $160 | V1-9 - G3/G4, V10+ - G5 |
| Kiichi And the Magic Books | 1-2 | 2 | $20 | G4 some yellowing | |
| Kimagure Orange Road | 4-6 | 3 | $150 | G5 sealed | |
| King of Cards | 1, 7-8 | 3 | $45 | G4 some yellowing | |
| Kitchen Princess Omnibus | 4 | 1 | 75 | $75 | G4 Yellowing |
| Kurohime | 1-14 | 14 | $150 | G4 - yellowing on some volumes | |
| Lady Snowblood | 2-3 | 2 | 45 | $90 | G4 - sealed.V3 has yellowing on all sides, V2 light yellowing on top. Small tears in seals |
| Lagoon Engine + Einsatz | 0-7 | 8 | V0-6 - $20, V7 - $80 | $100 | V1 - G3 price sticker on back, shelf wear. All others G4 some yellowing. Einsatz - G2 has security sticker on inside of back cover & book store stamp on first page |
| Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero | 1, 4 | 2 | 7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Little Devils | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | |
| Lone Wolf And Cub | 1-28 | 28 | $400 | G4 all the "chess piece" original spines. Some volumes have light yellowing, great shape overall | |
| Lunar Legend Tsukihime | 1, 4-6 | 4 | 30 | $120 | G3/G4 - V1 has yellowing & shelf wear on top/bottom of spine. Price sticker on back of all volumes |
| Madoka Magica: The Movie - Rebellion | 1-3 | 3 | $175 | G4 - very light shelf wear | |
| Magi | 3, 5-7, 9, 11-13, 16-20, 23-24, 29 | 17 | $150 | G5 - V3 has some yellowing | |
| Mar | 1-2, 4-7, 10-11, 14-15 | 10 | $80 | V1 - G3 sticker residue on back cover, V2 - G3 security tag and stamp on inside of back cover, V4 - G3 Name written on inside cover and Viz survey partially filled out, V5+ - all G3/G4 some yellowing | |
| Mars | 1-4, 6-11, 13 + Novel | 12 | $175 | G2/G3 - V11 & Horse With No Name are Ex-lib. Basic shelf/reading wear. V11 has a bent corner on the front cover. (missing vols 5,12,14-15) | |
| Mars Red | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid | 1-5, 7, 9-11 | 9 | 8 | $72 | V11 - G4 remainder mark, all others G5 |
| Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Elma's Office Lady Diary | 3 | 1 | 8 | $8 | G4 remainder mark |
| Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Kanna's Daily Life | 4-5, 7, 9 | 4 | 8 | $32 | G4 remainder mark |
| Monster Guild: The Dark Lord's No Good Comeback | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter | 1-9 | 9 | $250 | G4 - V1&3 have yellowing on all sides, rest of vols only have yellowing on top | |
| Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation | 3-6, 8, 10-11, 14, 18 | 9 | 4 | $40 | g4/G5 |
| Muscles Are Better Than Magic | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation (manga) | 1 | 1 | 8 | $8 | G4 |
| My Deer Friend Nokotan | 1 | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| My Hero Academia | 1-9, 15-16, 20, 22-25, 29-30, UA | 19 | 5 | $100 | G3-G5 |
| My Lovey Dovey Wife Is A Stone Cold Killer | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom | 3 | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| My Senpai is Annoying | 1-8 | 8 | 9 | $72 | G4/G5 - V3 & V6 have remainder marks |
| My Wife Has No Emotion | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse | 1 | 1 | 12 | $12 | G4 |
| Nicola Travelling Around The Demons' World | 1-2 | 2 | 8 | $16 | G4/G5 - V2 has a remainder mark |
| Nightmare Inspector | 1-4, 8 | 5 | $40 | V1-4 - G3 price sticker on back and some yellowing, V8 - G4 yellowing | |
| No Matter What They Say Furi-San is Scary | 1-3 | 3 | 7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| Oreimo | 1-3 | 3 | 10 | $30 | G4 - V2 has a nick on the top of the spine. |
| Oreimo Kuroneko | 3-4, 6 | 3 | V3-4 - $8, V6 $25 | $40 | G3/G4 - light shelf wear. V6 has price sticker on back cover |
| Otaku Elf | 1-4 | 4 | $7 | $28 | Remainder marks, except V1 & V4 |
| Otherworld PIcnic (manga) | 1 | 1 | 6 | $6 | G4 remainder mark |
| Paradise Kiss Anniversary Edition | 1 | 1 | 20 | $20 | G4 remainder mark |
| Penguindrum | 1-5 | 5 | 8 | $40 | V1-2, 5 - G4 remainder mark, V3 & V5 - G5 |
| Peter Grill | 1,3 | 2 | 7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Pure Trance by Junko Mizuno | 1 | 1 | 15 | $15 | g5 |
| Rainbow and Black | 1-3 | 3 | 9 | $27 | G4 remainder mark |
| Re:Zero: The Frozen Bond | 1 | 1 | 8 | $8 | G4 |
| Reborn as a Barrier Master | 1 | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| Reborn as a Space Mercenary | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Red River | 23-24, 28 | 3 | 20 | $60 | G4/G5 - all new & sealed. V23 has sunfaded spine |
| Red Snow | 1 | 1 | $10 | G4 Drawn & Quarterly softcover publisher advance copy | |
| Reincarnated as a Sword | 1,6 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Ristorante Paradiso | One Shot | 1 | $8 | $8 | |
| Romeo x Juliet | 1 | 1 | 10 | $10 | G3 yellowing & light shelf wear |
| Rozl in the Labyrinth | 1 | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| Saint Tail | 2-3 | 2 | 15 | $30 | G4 - V3 has a lot of yellowing, V2 looks new |
| Samurai Executioner Omnibus | 1-4 | 4 | $90 | G2 - V1 has some rips, dings and creases, a little wavy, not sure if it's water damage or just stored improperly. All volumes are like well-read Dark Horse Omnibuses, spines are curved and have creases | |
| Satsuma Gishiden | 2-3 | 2 | 30 | $60 | G4 - V2 is sealed but seal is separating at the top. Yellowing on top/bottom. |
| School Rumble | 1-16 | 14 | $200 | V5 - G3 dent in top of front cover, V14/15/16 - G3 has a little bit of shelf wear. All others G3/G4 with some yellowing | |
| Sekirei | 3 | 1 | 35 | $35 | G4 - sealed, some yellowing on top |
| She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man | 1-4 | 4 | $7 | $28 | G4 remainder mark |
| Shirley | 1 | 1 | $25 | G4 | |
| Slow Life in Another World | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Something's Wrong With Us | 1-4 | 4 | $8.00 | $32 | G4 |
| Spirits & Cat Ears | 1-8 | 8 | 9 | $72 | G5 |
| Sundome | 1 | 1 | 30 | $30 | G5 sealed |
| Tales of the Abyss: Asch the Bloody | 1-2 | 2 | 15 | $30 | G4 - some light yellowing |
| Tamamo-chan's a Fox | 1, 3-5 | 4 | $7 | $28 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Apothecary Diaries | 1-4 | 4 | 7 | $28 | V1-2 - G4 remainder mark, V3-4 - G4/G5 |
| The Brave Tuber | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Case Files of Jeweler Richard | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Dangers in My Heart | 1-4 | 4 | 8 | $32 | G4/G5 - V1,3-4 has a remainder mark |
| The Demon Girl Next Door | 1, 3-5 | 4 | $8 | $32 | G4 Remainder marks, except V1 |
| The Demon Prince of Momochi House | 3, 5-16 | 13 | 8 | $104 | G5 |
| The Drops of God | 1 | 1 | $35 | $35 | G3/G4 - shelf weaknicks on spine, small tear on top of back cover |
| The Drops of God: New World | 1 | 1 | 25 | $25 | G4 |
| The Elusive Samurai | 1 | 1 | 6 | $6 | G5 |
| The Heart Of Thomas | 1 | 1 | 200 | $200 | G4 small dents in the top and bottom left corners of the front cover, scuffs from shelf |
| The Honor Student at Magic High School | 1-11 | 11 | 9 | $99 | G4/G5 - some light yellowing |
| The Ideal Sponger Life | 1, 7-10 | 5 | $7 | $35 | Remainder marks, except V1 |
| The Invincible Shovel | 1, 3 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| The King of Fighters | 1-2, 4, 6 | 4 | 7 | $28 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Kingdoms of Ruin | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Misfit of Demon King Academy | 1-4 | 4 | $7 | $28 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen | 1 | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Most Notorious Talker Runs The World's Greatest Clan | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Name of the Flower | 4 | 1 | $15 | G4 some yellowing | |
| The NPCs in This Village Sim Game Must be Real | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Palette of 12 Secret Colors | 3 | 1 | $10 | G4 some yellowing | |
| The Quintessential Quintuplets | Box 1 (1-7) | 1 | 50 | $50 | Sealed |
| The Royal Tutor | 6-15 | 9 | 9 | $81 | G4/G5 |
| The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent | 1-4 | 4 | $7 | $28 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Seven Deadly Sins | 1-11, 13-15 | 14 | 4 | $56 | G4 |
| The Sorcerer King of Destruction and the Golem of the Barbarian Queen | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Strange Adventure of a Broke Mercenary | 1-3 | 3 | $7 | $21 | G4 remainder mark |
| The Wallflower | 3-8, 10-36 | 33 | $450 | V3-8 & V10 - G3 yellowing and shelf wear, V11 - G2 sticker residue on front cover, price written in pencil on back page, V12 - G2 sticker & sticker residue on back cover, V13-17 - G3 some have a little sticker residue on back cover, V18 - G2 bend in top right corner of back cover, V19-21 - G3, V22/23/24 - G4 security sticker on inside of back cover, V25-27 - G3, V28 - G2 crease in front cover, V29-36 - G3 | |
| The Weakest Contestant of all Space and Time | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Time Stop Hero | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Tomo-chan is a Girl | 1-2, 6-8 | 5 | $7 | $35 | G4 remainder mark |
| Train Man: A Shojo Manga | 1 | 1 | $10 | G4 yellowing. Del Rey release | |
| Translucent | 1-3 | 3 | 7 | $21 | G3/G4 - V3 has a lot of yellowing. Price sticker on the back covers |
| Trapped in a Dating Sim: Otome Games are Tough For Mobs | 1 | 1 | $7 | $7 | G4 remainder mark |
| Trigun | 1-2 | 2 | 25 | $50 | G2/3 shelf wear, V1 has a bent upper left corner on front cover |
| Trigun (B&N Hardcover) | 2 | 1 | 75 | $75 | G4 - B&N Hardcover. Light wear on the top of the dustjacket |
| Trigun Maximum (singles) | 9, 11 | 2 | 30 | $60 | G4 yellowing |
| Trigun Maximum Omnibus | 4-5 | 2 | $300 | G3 - V4 has a dent in the top of the back cover, V5 has a crease in the top left corner of the front cover | |
| Twin Spica | 2-4, 9, 11 | 5 | $80 | G4/G5 - some yellowing | |
| Ultimate Muscle | 2-7, 9-11, 22, 28-29 | 12 | V2 - $30, V3 - $40, V4 - $40, V5 - $70, V6 - $35, V7 - $70, V9 - $100, V10 - $30, V11 - $40, V22 - $30. V28 - $50, V29 - $50 | $585 | **535 for the set **- G3 heavy yellowing but otherwise great shape |
| Ultimo | 4-5, 10 | 3 | V4-5 - $7, V10 - $75 | $89 | G4/G5 - light yellowing on top of V4-5 |
| Ultra Kaiju Humanization Project | 1-4 | 4 | 9 | $36 | G4/G5 |
| Umineko When They Cry | 4, 8 | 2 | $150 | G3/G4 yellowing, some light shelf weaknicks | |
| Uzumaki (viz signature singles) | 1-3 | 3 | $50 | G3 yellowing & some shelf wear | |
| Vaizard | 1 | 1 | $5 | $5 | g4 Small scuff on top of spine |
| Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina | 1, 3 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| We Swore to Meet in the Next Life & That's When Things Got Weird | 1-2 | 2 | $7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Who Says Warriors Can't be Babes | 1,3 | 2 | 7 | $14 | G4 remainder mark |
| Wolfsmund | 2-8 | 7 | $165 | G5 | |
| Wounded Man | 2 | 1 | $15 | G3 yellowing | |
| Yozakura Quartet | 1-5 | 5 | $6 | $30 | G3 - Yellowing, sticker residue or price sticker on back covers. Light shelf wear |
| Zero's Familiar Omnibus | 1-3 | 3 | 20 | $60 | V1 - G4 some yellowing, V2-3 - G2 volumes are a little warped, looks like they may have been packed weird or under something heavy, doesn't seem to be water. Yellowing |
BL - Buy the bundle for $120
| Title | Volume | # of Vols | Price | Total for All Volumes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Author's Pet | One Shot | 1 | $10 | $10 | G4 - sticker residue on back cover |
| Hero Heel | 1-3 | 3 | $9 | $27 | G3/G4 - Yellowing, sticker residue on back covers |
| Il Gatto Sul G | 1-3 | 3 | $10 (V1/V2), $20 (V3) | $40 | G3/G4 - Sticker residue on back covers. V3 has yellowing & was not printed with a dust jacket like previous June releases |
| Little Cry Baby | One Shot | 1 | 11 | $11 | G4 - sticker residue on back cover |
| Othello | One Shot | 1 | 11 | $11 | G4 - sticker residue on back cover |
| Our Dining Table | 1 | 1 | 8 | $8 | G4 remainder mark |
| Shards of Affection | One Shot | 1 | 11 | $11 | G3/G4 - some yellowing, sticker residue on back cover |
| Yarichin Bitch Club | 1-3 | 3 | $10 | $30 | G4/G5 |
Anime - BluRay
| Title | Volume | # of Vols | Price | Total for All Volumes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Hero Academia - Season 2-4 | 2-4 | 3 | 10 | $30 | G4 - no digital code |
| My Hero Academia - Season 5 Part 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | $10 | G4 - no digital code |
2023.05.27 22:51 TotemGenitor [Touhou] Google
![[Touhou] Google](https://preview.redd.it/y5y275bqsf2b1.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=64f03e276c2e7ecd73d5f6508b2096d28e8839c3 "[Touhou] Google") | submitted by TotemGenitor to CuratedTumblr [link] [comments] |
2023.05.27 22:20 LycanrocNet [USA] [H] GBA, NES and N64 classics with manuals, plus a few Game Boy games [W] PayPal
👉 Full gallery with photos of individual games 👈
Hello, I'm selling some games in my personal collection. All games are authentic and have been cleaned and tested to be fully working unless otherwise noted. All NES and N64 games are NTSC-U, except the Japanese Animal Forest.
Games are graded on a scale of Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. Games with instructions have two grades separated by a slash; the first is the cartridge, and the second is the instruction booklet. Complete games have the box as the third grade. Conditions of parts not described are assumed to be Excellent.
Prices DO NOT include shipping. Shipping starts at $4 within the contiguous US. I will also ship to Canada for an additional charge. Bulk discounts are available if you're interested in multiple items. Payments must be made via PayPal.
Feel free to make reasonable offers, especially if you want to buy multiple games.
submitted by LycanrocNet to GameSale [link] [comments]
Hello, I'm selling some games in my personal collection. All games are authentic and have been cleaned and tested to be fully working unless otherwise noted. All NES and N64 games are NTSC-U, except the Japanese Animal Forest.
Games are graded on a scale of Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. Games with instructions have two grades separated by a slash; the first is the cartridge, and the second is the instruction booklet. Complete games have the box as the third grade. Conditions of parts not described are assumed to be Excellent.
Prices DO NOT include shipping. Shipping starts at $4 within the contiguous US. I will also ship to Canada for an additional charge. Bulk discounts are available if you're interested in multiple items. Payments must be made via PayPal.
Feel free to make reasonable offers, especially if you want to buy multiple games.
NES
Photos
NES complete
- Monopoly - $25 - VG-EX / VG / VG. Minor residue on cartridge front. Wear on manual. Minor scuffs on box, wear on corners. Includes property poster, Nintendo Power offer, and seizure warning sheet.
NES with instructions
- Championship Bowling - $10 - VG-EX / G. Light wear on label. Significant folds on manual, especially page 7.
- Golf - $18 - EX / VG. Wear on manual cover.
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - $22 - G-VG / VG-EX. Name written on label. Minor wear on manual cover.
- Marble Madness - $10 - EX / VG. Wear on manual cover.
- R.C. Pro-Am - $10 - EX / VG-EX. Minor wear on manual cover.
- Snake, Rattle 'n' Roll - $15 - VG-EX / VG. Minor wear on cartridge front. Wear on manual cover and back.
- StarTropics - $20 - VG-EX / EX. Minor wear on back of cartridge. Letter attached to back of manual. Saves.
- Super Mario Bros. 2 - $35 - EX / VG. Minor wear on manual, minor tear on back and page 28.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - $17 - VG / G-VG . Wear on cartridge. Significant wear on manual covers. Game flaky to start.
- Tetris - $17 - VG / VG-EX. Name on back of cartridge. Minor wear on manual.
- Top Gun - $12 - EX / VG. Minor wear on manual, minor tear on cover.
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - $30 - P-F / G. Major wear on cartridge, plastic chipped on bottom, top of label damaged. Wear on manual, fold on cover and first few pages. Saves.
NES cartridge only
- Bubble Bobble - $20 - VG. Name on back of cartridge.
- Contra - $40 - EX
- Double Dribble - $7 - VG-EX. Small fold on label.
- Kung Fu - $10 - VG. Minor wear on cartridge, one tab missing.
- Life Force - $17 - EX
- M.C. Kids - $17 - VG. Scratches on front and back of cartridge, abrasion on back of cartridge.
- Mach Rider - $10 - EX
- Magmax - $7 - EX
- Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! - $40 - EX
- Nobunaga's Ambition - $17 - VG-EX. Minor scuffs on label. Saves.
- Rad Racer - $7 - VG-EX / VG. Minor wear on label. Light crinkles on manual cover.
- Skate or Die - $5 - VG. Letters scratched into front label, scuffs on back label.
- Super Mario Bros. - $12 - VG-EX. Sticker residue on back of cartridge.
- Tennis - $10 - VG-EX. Minor scuffs on label.
Nintendo 64
Photos
Nintendo 64 with instructions
- Banjo-Tooie - $50 - VG-EX / G-VG. Mild scuffs on cartridge. Small tear and folds on manual front/back.
- Diddy Kong Racing - $35 - G-VG / EX. Wear on label with small tear on front, and some discoloration on cartridge.
- Mario Party - $55 - G-VG / G. Significant discoloration on right side of label. Manual front and back crinkly.
- Star Fox 64 - $30 - G-VG / VG. Wear on label and cartridge. Wear on manual.
- Vigilante 8 - $35 - VG-EX / VG-EX. Light wear on cartridge, cartridge back taken from donor cartridge. Minor fold on manual. Includes registration postcard.
Nintendo 64 cartridge only
- 007 GoldenEye - $30 - EX
- Cruis'n USA - $15 - VG-EX. Price sticker on back.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time [Gray, Player's Choice] - $45 - G-VG. Wear on label with name written on it.
- Mario Golf - $35 - VG. Deep scratches in label.
- Perfect Dark - $20 - VG-EX. Minor scuffs on label.
- Pokémon Snap - $15 - G-VG. Sticker residue on label, and sticker on back of cartridge.
- Super Smash Bros. - $45 - G. Heavy wear on both labels. New battery.
- Animal Forest [first Japanese Animal Crossing game] - $35 - EX. Name field not written in. Battery dead, so time must be manually set. This game cannot be played in a stock North American console without removing the cartridge back.
Handhelds
All Game Boy Advance games save.Photo
Game Boy Advance complete
- Classic NES Series: Super Mario Bros. - $75 - VG-EX / VG-EX / G. Minor wear on cartridge. Minor wear on manual. Tear and folding on top of box. All inserts included.
- Ms. Pac-Man: Maze Madness - $10 - VG-EX / VG-EX / EX. Minor wear on back of cartridge. Minor wear on manual. Cardboard retainer absent.
Game Boy Advance with instructions
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team - $35 - G / VG. Scuffs on front of cartridge, sticker residue on back of cartridge. Minor fold on back of manual.
Game Boy Advance cartridge only
- Golden Sun - $40 - G-VG. Name written on label.
- Hot Potato! - $5 - VG-EX. Minor wear on back of cartridge.
- Ice Age 2: The Meltdown - $5 - VG. Scratches on back of cartridge.
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - $30 - VG-EX. Minor wear on back of cartridge.
- Wario Land 4 - $40 - VG-EX. Minor wear on cartidge label.
Game Boy Color with instructions
- Pokémon Trading Card Game - $40. VG / G-VG. Wear on cartridge label. Small tear on manual cover, wear and minor folds on both sides. Saves, but has had issues in the past.
- Tetris DX - $25 - EX / VG-EX. Manual has small corner fold on cover. Saves.
Game Boy Color cartridge only
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX - $40 - G-VG. Label torn in several places. Saves.(sold)
Game Boy cartridge only
- Faceball 2000 - $25 - VG-EX. Minor fold on cartridge label.
- QIX - $5 - EX
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins - $20 - VG. Minor scuffs on cartridge. Does not save.(sold)Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 - $22 - G-VG. Torn label, minor wear and sticker on back of cartridge. Saves.(sold)
2023.05.27 22:00 LintLicker_3000 Memorial day weekend entertainment
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT -- Today/Friday, May 26; Saturday, May 27; Sunday, May 28; Monday, May 29 --- Juan de Fuca Festival; Hood Canal Fjord Fest; Shepherds’ Festival; concerts; community theater; art studio for teens; historical society's online auction; art studio; work to learn party.
By Peninsula Daily News (www.peninsuladailynews.com)
• The 30th anniversary Juan de Fuca Festival begins today, bringing together more than 60 acts on five stages and dozens of artisan and food vendors at the free street fair in Port Angeles.
The Vern Burton Community Center and grounds, 308 E. Fourth St., is the hub for the celebration of music and art from around the region and beyond.
The street fair, which will also showcase 18 Juan de Fuca debut artisans — local entrepreneurs vending for the first time — will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Sunday.
The Five Acre School Soundwaves marimba band will play on the Community Stage outside the Vern Burton center at 4:15 p.m. today, and then comes the opening ceremony for the Juan de Fuca Festival at 5 p.m. On the mainstage inside the Vern Burton, live music starts at 5:30 p.m. this evening and continues through Sunday, with the closing act, the Americana band Rose’s Pawn Shop, starting its mainstage show at 8:30 p.m.
This year, those 17 and younger get in free to the festival, and students 21 and younger with valid ID pay half price.
Three-day passes for adults are $100, while single-day passes are $30 for today, $55 for Saturday and $50 for Sunday. The Juan de Fuca Festival’s new mobile app offers ticket sales and information, as does its website, JFFA.org.
• The Memorial Weekend fundraising festival in Brinnon continues this weekend with a new name and new focus.
It will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 251 Hjelvicks Road, Brinnon, off U.S. Highway 101. The gate fee is $10 per day. Children younger than 12 are admitted free with a paying parent. Active military and veterans are admitted free with ID.
ShrimpFest began 30 years ago to celebrate the plentiful Hood Canal Spot Shrimp and raise funds for such local causes as schools, food banks and animal rescues. This year it has a new name: the Hood Canal Fjord Fest.
No spot shrimp will be sold in bulk. However, the famous shrimp will be part of dishes made by some vendors, along with other seafood and specialty locally sourced dishes, some of which are detailed at https://www.facebook.com/HoodCanalFjordFest.
• Pianist Lisa Lanza brings together the cream of Port Townsend’s young musicians and some of their equally talented elders for a Memorial Day weekend concert Sunday to perform for the benefit of Ugandan AIDS orphans.
The 12th annual show will be at the First Presbyterian Church at 1111 Franklin St. in Port Townsend, which co-sponsors this historically sold-out musical event with Grace Lutheran Church.
“Sharing Music, Enriching Lives” will be at 4 p.m. Sunday. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. Pre-concert music will be performed at 3:45 p.m. by “Lambs in the Fold,” Jeni Little, Don Fristoe, Hank Snelgrove and John Snelgrove. A $15 to $20 donation, cash or check, is suggested. Masks are recommended but not required.
• Key City Public Theatre in Port Townsend will present PlayCraft Originals and 10-minute productions for Sips & Scripts at 7 p.m. tonight and 5:30 p.m. Saturday
All tickets are pay-what-you-wish for a chance to have a behind-the-scenes look at innovative stories in the works, according to a press release. Tickets and information can be found at KeyCityPublicTheatre.org, by emailing [email protected], or in person during box office hours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• The Bunker, a free art studio for teens, has its next session today at the nonprofit Northwind Art School at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend.
Calligrapher Lindsey Wayland and painter Michele Soderstrom, who’s also a Port Townsend High School art teacher, are the two volunteers hosting the session. Middle school and high school students are welcome. The Bunker will be well-stocked with art supplies, snacks and drinks, and music will play all afternoon.
The Bunker will be open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Building 306 at the fort. Information and the parental permission form can be found at https://northwindart.org; click on Courses.
• Mia Torres will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight at the Old Alcohol Plant Inn, 310 Hadlock Bay Road, Port Hadlock. No cover charge.
• AHA Auction for the Jefferson County Historical Society ends at midnight today.
All funds raised go to sustain the historical society’s core programs and build new ones, the group said in a press release. AHA stands for Art, History and Adventure.
To place bids or donate, see https://go.rallyup.com/jchsmuseum-aha.../Campaign/Details....
• Mike and Val James will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Spirits Bar and Grill in the Old Alcohol Plant Inn, 310 Hadlock Bay Road, Port Hadlock. No cover charge.
• Sound Advice will play Motown, classic soul and rock favorites from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the Sequim Elks, 143 Port Williams Road, Sequim. Admission is $12 per person, $10 for Elks members.
• House of Hamill will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St., Port Townsend. Admission is $20 per person; mask wear is requested.
• Port Townsend Urban sketchers will meet in Uptown Port Townsend at 10 a.m. Saturday. The group will meet at the corner of Lawrence and Tyler streets opposite from Aldrich’s Market.
After sketching, the group will reconvene at noon to share their work and take a photo. The event is open to all skill levels. For more information, visit www.urbansketchers porttownsend. wordpress.com.
• Spring Art Fair will be hosted by the Port Ludlow Art League from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The annual art sale is at the Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Place.
The sale features work from local artists that includes jewelry, ceramics, paintings, photographs, textiles, woodwork, baskets, cards and books. Proceeds benefit the league’s scholarship fund. For more information, visit www.portludlowart.org.
• Work to learn party hosted by the Sequim Botanical Garden Society will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The work party is in the Terrace Garden at Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave. Gail Ditmore will discuss the care and growing of peonies. The presentation is free and open to the public. For more information, call Dona Brock at 360-460-8865, email [email protected] or www.sequim botanicalgarden.org.
• Shepherds’ Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.
The annual festival is at Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road. The free festival is sponsored by Clallam County 4-H, the North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild and the Olympic Peninsula Fiber Growers Association.
Featured activities include sheep herding and shearing demonstrations, a farm animal petting zoo, fiber spinning demonstrations, a 4-H raffle, arts and crafts vendors and lamb kebabs and lamb chili.
• Art installation at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend will continue through mid-August. Forty works form the Northwind Art’s Showcase program are on view in public reception areas. For details, see north windart.org and click on Courses.
submitted by LintLicker_3000 to portangeles [link] [comments]
By Peninsula Daily News (www.peninsuladailynews.com)
• The 30th anniversary Juan de Fuca Festival begins today, bringing together more than 60 acts on five stages and dozens of artisan and food vendors at the free street fair in Port Angeles.
The Vern Burton Community Center and grounds, 308 E. Fourth St., is the hub for the celebration of music and art from around the region and beyond.
The street fair, which will also showcase 18 Juan de Fuca debut artisans — local entrepreneurs vending for the first time — will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Sunday.
The Five Acre School Soundwaves marimba band will play on the Community Stage outside the Vern Burton center at 4:15 p.m. today, and then comes the opening ceremony for the Juan de Fuca Festival at 5 p.m. On the mainstage inside the Vern Burton, live music starts at 5:30 p.m. this evening and continues through Sunday, with the closing act, the Americana band Rose’s Pawn Shop, starting its mainstage show at 8:30 p.m.
This year, those 17 and younger get in free to the festival, and students 21 and younger with valid ID pay half price.
Three-day passes for adults are $100, while single-day passes are $30 for today, $55 for Saturday and $50 for Sunday. The Juan de Fuca Festival’s new mobile app offers ticket sales and information, as does its website, JFFA.org.
• The Memorial Weekend fundraising festival in Brinnon continues this weekend with a new name and new focus.
It will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 251 Hjelvicks Road, Brinnon, off U.S. Highway 101. The gate fee is $10 per day. Children younger than 12 are admitted free with a paying parent. Active military and veterans are admitted free with ID.
ShrimpFest began 30 years ago to celebrate the plentiful Hood Canal Spot Shrimp and raise funds for such local causes as schools, food banks and animal rescues. This year it has a new name: the Hood Canal Fjord Fest.
No spot shrimp will be sold in bulk. However, the famous shrimp will be part of dishes made by some vendors, along with other seafood and specialty locally sourced dishes, some of which are detailed at https://www.facebook.com/HoodCanalFjordFest.
• Pianist Lisa Lanza brings together the cream of Port Townsend’s young musicians and some of their equally talented elders for a Memorial Day weekend concert Sunday to perform for the benefit of Ugandan AIDS orphans.
The 12th annual show will be at the First Presbyterian Church at 1111 Franklin St. in Port Townsend, which co-sponsors this historically sold-out musical event with Grace Lutheran Church.
“Sharing Music, Enriching Lives” will be at 4 p.m. Sunday. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. Pre-concert music will be performed at 3:45 p.m. by “Lambs in the Fold,” Jeni Little, Don Fristoe, Hank Snelgrove and John Snelgrove. A $15 to $20 donation, cash or check, is suggested. Masks are recommended but not required.
• Key City Public Theatre in Port Townsend will present PlayCraft Originals and 10-minute productions for Sips & Scripts at 7 p.m. tonight and 5:30 p.m. Saturday
All tickets are pay-what-you-wish for a chance to have a behind-the-scenes look at innovative stories in the works, according to a press release. Tickets and information can be found at KeyCityPublicTheatre.org, by emailing [email protected], or in person during box office hours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• The Bunker, a free art studio for teens, has its next session today at the nonprofit Northwind Art School at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend.
Calligrapher Lindsey Wayland and painter Michele Soderstrom, who’s also a Port Townsend High School art teacher, are the two volunteers hosting the session. Middle school and high school students are welcome. The Bunker will be well-stocked with art supplies, snacks and drinks, and music will play all afternoon.
The Bunker will be open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Building 306 at the fort. Information and the parental permission form can be found at https://northwindart.org; click on Courses.
• Mia Torres will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight at the Old Alcohol Plant Inn, 310 Hadlock Bay Road, Port Hadlock. No cover charge.
• AHA Auction for the Jefferson County Historical Society ends at midnight today.
All funds raised go to sustain the historical society’s core programs and build new ones, the group said in a press release. AHA stands for Art, History and Adventure.
To place bids or donate, see https://go.rallyup.com/jchsmuseum-aha.../Campaign/Details....
• Mike and Val James will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Spirits Bar and Grill in the Old Alcohol Plant Inn, 310 Hadlock Bay Road, Port Hadlock. No cover charge.
• Sound Advice will play Motown, classic soul and rock favorites from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the Sequim Elks, 143 Port Williams Road, Sequim. Admission is $12 per person, $10 for Elks members.
• House of Hamill will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St., Port Townsend. Admission is $20 per person; mask wear is requested.
• Port Townsend Urban sketchers will meet in Uptown Port Townsend at 10 a.m. Saturday. The group will meet at the corner of Lawrence and Tyler streets opposite from Aldrich’s Market.
After sketching, the group will reconvene at noon to share their work and take a photo. The event is open to all skill levels. For more information, visit www.urbansketchers porttownsend. wordpress.com.
• Spring Art Fair will be hosted by the Port Ludlow Art League from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The annual art sale is at the Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Place.
The sale features work from local artists that includes jewelry, ceramics, paintings, photographs, textiles, woodwork, baskets, cards and books. Proceeds benefit the league’s scholarship fund. For more information, visit www.portludlowart.org.
• Work to learn party hosted by the Sequim Botanical Garden Society will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The work party is in the Terrace Garden at Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave. Gail Ditmore will discuss the care and growing of peonies. The presentation is free and open to the public. For more information, call Dona Brock at 360-460-8865, email [email protected] or www.sequim botanicalgarden.org.
• Shepherds’ Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.
The annual festival is at Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road. The free festival is sponsored by Clallam County 4-H, the North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild and the Olympic Peninsula Fiber Growers Association.
Featured activities include sheep herding and shearing demonstrations, a farm animal petting zoo, fiber spinning demonstrations, a 4-H raffle, arts and crafts vendors and lamb kebabs and lamb chili.
• Art installation at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend will continue through mid-August. Forty works form the Northwind Art’s Showcase program are on view in public reception areas. For details, see north windart.org and click on Courses.
2023.05.27 21:55 weirdscience19 26f past trauma causes issues in my relationship with 27m husband
I (26F) and my husband (27M) have a pretty good relationship. Been together for 5 years. In my past two relationships before him, my partners were a bit abusive. My mother was also narcissistic toward me while growing up. These things have given me trauma. I’m trying to work on myself, without therapy it’s more difficult, most therapists don’t take military insurance (Tricare), and if they do, they’re not accepting new patients. But, I try my best.
My exes and my mother all have something in common: would constantly grill with questions about anything and everything. So when people, even my husband, start asking me questions about stuff, it stirs negative emotions (fight or flight) and feels like I’m being interrogated. My first ex was cheating on me with several other girls, so he was constantly projecting and would accuse me of cheating, wouldn’t even want me hanging out with anyone regardless of gender; that dude made me cry almost every day of the relationship. My second ex had extreme anxiety, and at the time I was almost two hours away at college, so he’d constantly need to know what I was doing and who with. My mother was just a straight up controlling, cold bitch to me. If I went on a walk at night with one of my best friends she’d feel the need to accuse me of doing drugs or sleeping around. I remember wearing a new dress one time, showed her, and she goes “so what corner are you working?” I was 14… (this is barely scratching the surface of the horrid shit she’d say or do)
My husband comes from a more loving family, sure he’d but heads with his dad, but it was no where near like my mother and I, and his parents are still together, mine got divorced when I was 12. Thankfully I have a good, close relationship with my dad, and I’m practically his mini-me; think my mother hated that too.
My husbands past gfs had all cheated on him, one gf cheated on him during his first deployment (we met in the same unit, I’m out now and he’s still in) with three dudes at once. So there’s his trauma.
One of my negative traits is hyper-independence. I don’t like relying on others, I have no problem making decisions myself, supporting myself, defending myself, etc. This stems from my mother not really being there, and I had to figure a lot of stuff out myself.
Anyway I’m getting way too into the past. My husband is currently deployed, and I’m all by myself. Due to him being away, of course he’s going to be asking me questions, and I’m going out to dinner with an ex-coworker. Normal questions in my eyes are “what time and when” and that’s it. Not “how long will you be out? Have you and coworker been talking a lot lately?” And other rather prying questions. It stirred negative emotions within me, and the conversation just grew sour. He claims he’s only asking because he’s 6000 miles away from me, is simply curious/trying to keep conversation, and doesn’t get why it bothers me so much. I explain why, and he is then upset that I’d “lump him in with my exes and mother”. The logical part of my brain knows he isn’t my mom or exes, the traumatized part doesn’t care who you are, it feels like an interrogation.
submitted by weirdscience19 to relationship_advice [link] [comments]
My exes and my mother all have something in common: would constantly grill with questions about anything and everything. So when people, even my husband, start asking me questions about stuff, it stirs negative emotions (fight or flight) and feels like I’m being interrogated. My first ex was cheating on me with several other girls, so he was constantly projecting and would accuse me of cheating, wouldn’t even want me hanging out with anyone regardless of gender; that dude made me cry almost every day of the relationship. My second ex had extreme anxiety, and at the time I was almost two hours away at college, so he’d constantly need to know what I was doing and who with. My mother was just a straight up controlling, cold bitch to me. If I went on a walk at night with one of my best friends she’d feel the need to accuse me of doing drugs or sleeping around. I remember wearing a new dress one time, showed her, and she goes “so what corner are you working?” I was 14… (this is barely scratching the surface of the horrid shit she’d say or do)
My husband comes from a more loving family, sure he’d but heads with his dad, but it was no where near like my mother and I, and his parents are still together, mine got divorced when I was 12. Thankfully I have a good, close relationship with my dad, and I’m practically his mini-me; think my mother hated that too.
My husbands past gfs had all cheated on him, one gf cheated on him during his first deployment (we met in the same unit, I’m out now and he’s still in) with three dudes at once. So there’s his trauma.
One of my negative traits is hyper-independence. I don’t like relying on others, I have no problem making decisions myself, supporting myself, defending myself, etc. This stems from my mother not really being there, and I had to figure a lot of stuff out myself.
Anyway I’m getting way too into the past. My husband is currently deployed, and I’m all by myself. Due to him being away, of course he’s going to be asking me questions, and I’m going out to dinner with an ex-coworker. Normal questions in my eyes are “what time and when” and that’s it. Not “how long will you be out? Have you and coworker been talking a lot lately?” And other rather prying questions. It stirred negative emotions within me, and the conversation just grew sour. He claims he’s only asking because he’s 6000 miles away from me, is simply curious/trying to keep conversation, and doesn’t get why it bothers me so much. I explain why, and he is then upset that I’d “lump him in with my exes and mother”. The logical part of my brain knows he isn’t my mom or exes, the traumatized part doesn’t care who you are, it feels like an interrogation.
2023.05.27 21:28 yuitsumunni My (23F) boyfriend's (23M) friends left me out while planning our weekend all together
First time writing here really and I needed to vent this out because I have no one else to tell.
So for context, my bf was planning a 3 day weekend to his secondary house with his uni friends and I was invited. I already met his friends once with no deep interaction and met another one (who I will call Justin) which I appreciate since I’ve met him a few times. His friends are the number of 5, plus him and me would make 7 for the weekend.
The weekend was planned originally planned for last week but was reported this week with the holidays.So his friends asked my bf out for a drink to talk about the house we'd be staying in for the weekend. (I’ve already went there a few times). I wasn't really invited, but my boyfriend asked if I wanted to go anyway. As I don't really know his friends, I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch the mood and meet them for a drink, so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable not knowing them before arriving on the big day.
On the day of our meeting, we arrived a little late, as 3 of his friends were already seated. When we arrived, they were already deep in conversation, and not a single glance was cast at my boyfriend or me. We say good evening, with a little return from I don't know who, without really looking at each other. I feel the atmosphere, I don't feel it and I send a message to my boyfriend "I won't be coming with you this weekend." My hunch was right and I'll tell you why.
So we waited for two other people, including Justin, while the other 3 talked in their corners, about subjects I didn't understand, since I wasn't they would talk about uni. My boyfriend had to explain to me some of the stories they were telling, so that I wouldn't be excluded from the conversation, even though I already had been since I sat down with them. One of the two eventually arrived, but after a few minutes or so, my boyfriend asked when Justin was coming. "He's not coming, he's working" says one of his buddies. Inwardly disappointed, because he's the only person I've ever really talked to, even if it was only for one afternoon, I keep quiet.
So the conversation about the house begins. It was quite funny, even if no one looked at me to include me in the conversation. You have to realize that the house they're going to is a country house that my boyfriend's family only uses about 2-3 times a year. It's dusty, some of the walls aren't painted, the beds are old, the shower pressure isn't great, the gas stove is broken... But it's still usable, and it's a great way to get away from the city. The questions start: "Is there a fridge?" "Are there any beds??" "Is there even a house??" Funny questions, as my boyfriend had sold the house to them as almost haunted and run-down. That's when I tried to join in the conversation, like the question of "Why is the gas stove broken? How are we going to cook?" I replied that I could lend a portable stove, just in case. I got a few glances in my direction, but no response and no desire to join the conversation, as this continued throughout all the questions. As soon as I started to open my mouth, only my boyfriend would answer and listen to me. I quickly gave up trying to speak, as I was completely excluded.
But on to the moments I tried to join the convo, before completely shutting down.
Normally, they knew I was coming to the weekend, as my boyfriend had told them beforehand. That's when I reached my limit: they started talking about rooms and beds and who was going to sit in the car. My boyfriend was the one who’ll drive the car, and his is a 5-seater. One of them exclaims that he'll sit up front and manage the music. The others were already making plans on who would sit in the car. But where would I sit? The car would be complete with my boyfriend and his friends. Justin is coming by rail. I even wondered if my boyfriend had really planned for me to be there in the first place, because another one should’ve took the train as well since it’s a 5 seater… They talked about rooms and beds. Ditto, in their plans, listening to them, it’s like I wasn't sleeping anywhere, because there was no mention of me in the conversation.
From then on, I was completely silent, but I was still smiling out of politeness. I wanted so much to leave and disappear. I don't think I've ever been so excluded in my life as I was that night. I only had 1% of my battery left, but my only entertainment was to talk to a group of friends about it on my phone, while the conversation was in full swing.My boyfriend would sometimes ask me if I wanted to go back home (he had the keys), but I'd say no, because he doesn't see them very often and also because I didn't want him to sacrifice himself for me. I'd also like to mention that I wasn't the only one excluded; my boyfriend was too, but he didn't mind so much. They were talking about uni and stuff that happened on parties he wasn’t there etc. It bothered me a lot more, because I couldn't imagine spending a weekend with people who didn't look at me or talk to me once during the conversation. (That's an exaggeration, because one of the girls asked if I was feeling better, as my boyfriend hadn't been able to go to one of their parties with them because of me. I had an allergic reaction and was transferred to the emergency room and my bf stayed with me during that night). Even if I'm exaggerating, that's how I felt that night.
My boyfriend insisted we go home and on the moment we were leaving, not even a "see you Friday night [guys]" or what so ever was ever pronounced when we left. Just some regular goodbyes towards my bf. I believed that I was totally invisible at that point. On the walk home, I was pretty angry at my boyfriend: "Your friends are bastards. Luckily I was able to see them before coming with you for the weekend. I was completely excluded from the party, is that normal?" My boyfriend tried to make excuses for them. "They're nice, at least when you get to know them... I promise you they're caring." Caring? You've got to be kidding me. I slept awfully mad in his arms.
-
It's the weekend. My boyfriend calls to tell me that he's taken his friends aside to explain what happened. He gives me a rather vague account, but says that everyone's sorry and that they hadn't realized. They're really sorry, and apparently someone even asked, "Isn't your girlfriend coming?” No shit Sherlock, I don't know if they asked that after they got to the house or before they left, but maybe it was something to think about. My boyfriend would have replied, "No, she's not coming, but considering what you've done, you've screwed up and if I were in her place I wouldn't have come either". It was already 11pm. I dont know exactly when they said that to him though.
According to him, his friends are sincere about the apology, but I don't accept it. I'm still angry today and I haven't been able to let off steam all day, even if I did get high at the gym. During our call, I was still expressing that I was mad at them and would never want to interact with them again. It may sound childish, but how can you make someone so invisible? I hate setting people apart in groups so much, I know only too well what it's like to be that person and it happened again. Still during our call, my bf tried again to put himself in their shoes and make excuses for them even though he says he doesn't validate their actions. I was even more upset because I didn't get a message from him saying they'd arrived and had to ask, and I know how long it takes to get from his house to this one as I've already been there.That’s pretty much it.
Anyway, I had to get this story true out of my chest. Thanks for reading.
TLDR: We were going away for the weekend with my boyfriend's friends, my boyfriend and me. During a meeting at the pub before the weekend, I met them and wasn't included at all in the conversation. They talked as if they were only going with 6 people, whereas there were 7 of us in total, including me. No effort was made to integrate me in the convo and my bf tried to make excuses for them, I'm very disappointed and angry.
submitted by yuitsumunni to TrueOffMyChest [link] [comments]
So for context, my bf was planning a 3 day weekend to his secondary house with his uni friends and I was invited. I already met his friends once with no deep interaction and met another one (who I will call Justin) which I appreciate since I’ve met him a few times. His friends are the number of 5, plus him and me would make 7 for the weekend.
The weekend was planned originally planned for last week but was reported this week with the holidays.So his friends asked my bf out for a drink to talk about the house we'd be staying in for the weekend. (I’ve already went there a few times). I wasn't really invited, but my boyfriend asked if I wanted to go anyway. As I don't really know his friends, I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch the mood and meet them for a drink, so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable not knowing them before arriving on the big day.
On the day of our meeting, we arrived a little late, as 3 of his friends were already seated. When we arrived, they were already deep in conversation, and not a single glance was cast at my boyfriend or me. We say good evening, with a little return from I don't know who, without really looking at each other. I feel the atmosphere, I don't feel it and I send a message to my boyfriend "I won't be coming with you this weekend." My hunch was right and I'll tell you why.
So we waited for two other people, including Justin, while the other 3 talked in their corners, about subjects I didn't understand, since I wasn't they would talk about uni. My boyfriend had to explain to me some of the stories they were telling, so that I wouldn't be excluded from the conversation, even though I already had been since I sat down with them. One of the two eventually arrived, but after a few minutes or so, my boyfriend asked when Justin was coming. "He's not coming, he's working" says one of his buddies. Inwardly disappointed, because he's the only person I've ever really talked to, even if it was only for one afternoon, I keep quiet.
So the conversation about the house begins. It was quite funny, even if no one looked at me to include me in the conversation. You have to realize that the house they're going to is a country house that my boyfriend's family only uses about 2-3 times a year. It's dusty, some of the walls aren't painted, the beds are old, the shower pressure isn't great, the gas stove is broken... But it's still usable, and it's a great way to get away from the city. The questions start: "Is there a fridge?" "Are there any beds??" "Is there even a house??" Funny questions, as my boyfriend had sold the house to them as almost haunted and run-down. That's when I tried to join in the conversation, like the question of "Why is the gas stove broken? How are we going to cook?" I replied that I could lend a portable stove, just in case. I got a few glances in my direction, but no response and no desire to join the conversation, as this continued throughout all the questions. As soon as I started to open my mouth, only my boyfriend would answer and listen to me. I quickly gave up trying to speak, as I was completely excluded.
But on to the moments I tried to join the convo, before completely shutting down.
Normally, they knew I was coming to the weekend, as my boyfriend had told them beforehand. That's when I reached my limit: they started talking about rooms and beds and who was going to sit in the car. My boyfriend was the one who’ll drive the car, and his is a 5-seater. One of them exclaims that he'll sit up front and manage the music. The others were already making plans on who would sit in the car. But where would I sit? The car would be complete with my boyfriend and his friends. Justin is coming by rail. I even wondered if my boyfriend had really planned for me to be there in the first place, because another one should’ve took the train as well since it’s a 5 seater… They talked about rooms and beds. Ditto, in their plans, listening to them, it’s like I wasn't sleeping anywhere, because there was no mention of me in the conversation.
From then on, I was completely silent, but I was still smiling out of politeness. I wanted so much to leave and disappear. I don't think I've ever been so excluded in my life as I was that night. I only had 1% of my battery left, but my only entertainment was to talk to a group of friends about it on my phone, while the conversation was in full swing.My boyfriend would sometimes ask me if I wanted to go back home (he had the keys), but I'd say no, because he doesn't see them very often and also because I didn't want him to sacrifice himself for me. I'd also like to mention that I wasn't the only one excluded; my boyfriend was too, but he didn't mind so much. They were talking about uni and stuff that happened on parties he wasn’t there etc. It bothered me a lot more, because I couldn't imagine spending a weekend with people who didn't look at me or talk to me once during the conversation. (That's an exaggeration, because one of the girls asked if I was feeling better, as my boyfriend hadn't been able to go to one of their parties with them because of me. I had an allergic reaction and was transferred to the emergency room and my bf stayed with me during that night). Even if I'm exaggerating, that's how I felt that night.
My boyfriend insisted we go home and on the moment we were leaving, not even a "see you Friday night [guys]" or what so ever was ever pronounced when we left. Just some regular goodbyes towards my bf. I believed that I was totally invisible at that point. On the walk home, I was pretty angry at my boyfriend: "Your friends are bastards. Luckily I was able to see them before coming with you for the weekend. I was completely excluded from the party, is that normal?" My boyfriend tried to make excuses for them. "They're nice, at least when you get to know them... I promise you they're caring." Caring? You've got to be kidding me. I slept awfully mad in his arms.
-
It's the weekend. My boyfriend calls to tell me that he's taken his friends aside to explain what happened. He gives me a rather vague account, but says that everyone's sorry and that they hadn't realized. They're really sorry, and apparently someone even asked, "Isn't your girlfriend coming?” No shit Sherlock, I don't know if they asked that after they got to the house or before they left, but maybe it was something to think about. My boyfriend would have replied, "No, she's not coming, but considering what you've done, you've screwed up and if I were in her place I wouldn't have come either". It was already 11pm. I dont know exactly when they said that to him though.
According to him, his friends are sincere about the apology, but I don't accept it. I'm still angry today and I haven't been able to let off steam all day, even if I did get high at the gym. During our call, I was still expressing that I was mad at them and would never want to interact with them again. It may sound childish, but how can you make someone so invisible? I hate setting people apart in groups so much, I know only too well what it's like to be that person and it happened again. Still during our call, my bf tried again to put himself in their shoes and make excuses for them even though he says he doesn't validate their actions. I was even more upset because I didn't get a message from him saying they'd arrived and had to ask, and I know how long it takes to get from his house to this one as I've already been there.That’s pretty much it.
Anyway, I had to get this story true out of my chest. Thanks for reading.
TLDR: We were going away for the weekend with my boyfriend's friends, my boyfriend and me. During a meeting at the pub before the weekend, I met them and wasn't included at all in the conversation. They talked as if they were only going with 6 people, whereas there were 7 of us in total, including me. No effort was made to integrate me in the convo and my bf tried to make excuses for them, I'm very disappointed and angry.
2023.05.27 21:09 Seamoose_Art NoP 2177: When the Wind Blows [1]
[Next]
---
On February 3rd, 2137, Kolshian exterminator fleets flanked Earth on all sides. They encountered no resistance; the UN was crushed by a pyrrhic victory on Mileau and a failed defense of Venlil Prime, and every other species dared not intervene. Thousands of ships hung in the air, forming a metal shroud that blocked out even the stars. On the planet below, cities went silent and families huddled together in quiet anticipation of the end.
What fell from the silenced sky was not bombs, but a message. An ultimatum, offered to all of humanity. Accept curing and offworld relocation, or stay on Earth to be burned. A swarm of cattle ships descended upon the world like locusts, situating themselves at every population center and waiting patiently for people to make their choice.
Many chose to stay. A couple billion humans surrendered to the Kolshian’s cure and faced whatever fate awaited them beyond the stars, but the rest stayed on Earth, placing faith in the Arxur to once more save humanity in their darkest hour.
Their hope was badly misplaced. Wriss had already been purified with antimatter, and the last ark ships and stray fighters were being hunted to extinction while exterminators were landing on Earth. The barrier of ships above the atmosphere blocked out all communication, and by the time word finally got around, the last cattle ships had long since departed. There was nowhere left to run.
On February 28th, 2137, the bombs began to drop. For nearly a week, humanity’s cradle was engulfed in flame and pelted with antimatter. Not content with merely wiping out humanity, the exterminators resolved to make Earth uninhabitable and unrecognizable, replacing thousands of years of civilization and billions of years of evolution with a wasteland of dull, charred glass. When the final flashes of light faded and the flames died out for lack of fuel, the only evidence that Earth ever supported life was a layer of plastic in the former oceans encased beneath radioactive ash.
—————
Normally, the frigid air would be blocked out by the crowd filling the streets. On any given day, humans and other cured species ran alongside herds of Venlil in a flow of vibrant life, everyone hurrying to jobs or shops or homes and scarcely taking notice of what had once been such a terrible taboo. With most Venlil condemned as honorary cured for their involvement with humanity, the thought that they should stay apart for safety was comical to all but the oldest of the herd who remembered a time when the Arxur were the greatest threat.
On the anniversary of Earth’s bombing, the majority of Venlil were huddled alongside humans in cured-only pubs and apartments across Venlil Prime, silently observing the tragedy. Or at least, across the slums of Venlil Prime. Not all Venlil were tarred with the same brush, and the ones who deemed themselves (and were deemed by their intergalactic peers) as biologically superior prey wouldn’t dare set foot in the lower-class sectors dotting the planet where nearly half a billion humans had taken up refuge. In the glistening hearts of cities, you could find herds of Venlil still out and about on the 28th.
But in the lower sprawl of City 23, entire city blocks went eerily silent in a grim mimicry of Earth’s fate. Without humans or Venlil, the only activity on the streets was provided by a smattering of other cured species. And Tressa, who endeavored to valiantly brave the harsh wind once more.
Electrical systems did not maintain themselves, after all. It was a decent enough cover story, made more plausible by the fact that it was his job. Officially, it was his reason for braving the elements. Unofficially, he was on the hunt.
His prey was an advertisement on the corner of 13th and central, an ancient thing which the locals knew was broken about as often as it was functional. They usually blamed it on outdated pre-war construction and ash getting in the circuits, but the real culprit was a maintenance panel inside the building. Every once in a while a capacitor would be cleanly torn out, leaving the sign to flicker annoyingly. As Tressa started closing in on the address provided by his employer, he uttered a nonverbal prayer that the sign was indeed flickering and not just burnt out from age. A flicker meant he had a message waiting for him, an invitation. A silent signal that things were about to get interesting.
The intermittent hum of neon lights turning on and off was music to his ears. He was in luck. He rushed inside.
The interior, sparse as it was, offered relief from the biting wind outside. Tressa let his tail swish lazily as he gathered tools from his satchel. Just a couple things; he already knew what was broken. He could probably replace the capacitor with his eyes closed at this point. A few quick glances over his shoulder to make sure nobody was around, and he unscrewed the cover of the panel. A small blue datachip unceremoniously tumbled from the casing to rest at his feet. He picked it up, dusted it off (as though that could make the slightest difference in function), and slotted it into his datapad.
“Message sent 2/28/2177:
Tressa. Been a moment, hasn’t it? You’ve caught an awful cold or something nasty from the ash, and simply can’t make it to work for a couple days. We need your undivided time… I’ve got something you’ll all find fascinating. We’ll go over it at the Den, early schedule. See you there.
~ Trish”
He never knew why Trish bothered to sign her messages. She was the only one who ever wrote them. Perhaps it was just one of her quirks, same as going by a human name and dying her fur dark. She was always strange like that. Didn’t humans used to have a name for what she was, besides “predator diseased”? Maybe Sasha could tell him.
An early schedule meetup meant he had just enough time to get there if he didn’t bother repairing the sign. A terrible shame… but nobody cared about an ancient flickering advertisement, right? Decay was a given in the sprawl; a broken neon poster wouldn’t even register as something worth complaining about. He hoped.
Excitement and apprehension twisted through his stomach, driving him to stow the datapad and tools. With a dramatic flourish, he slung the satchel over his shoulder and rushed outside, barely even noticing the bitter wind tearing at his fur. People were waiting on him, after all; it’d be a shame to disappoint them just because of a bit of windchill. He zipped up his coat a little tighter.
---
[Next]
submitted by Seamoose_Art to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
---
On February 3rd, 2137, Kolshian exterminator fleets flanked Earth on all sides. They encountered no resistance; the UN was crushed by a pyrrhic victory on Mileau and a failed defense of Venlil Prime, and every other species dared not intervene. Thousands of ships hung in the air, forming a metal shroud that blocked out even the stars. On the planet below, cities went silent and families huddled together in quiet anticipation of the end.
What fell from the silenced sky was not bombs, but a message. An ultimatum, offered to all of humanity. Accept curing and offworld relocation, or stay on Earth to be burned. A swarm of cattle ships descended upon the world like locusts, situating themselves at every population center and waiting patiently for people to make their choice.
Many chose to stay. A couple billion humans surrendered to the Kolshian’s cure and faced whatever fate awaited them beyond the stars, but the rest stayed on Earth, placing faith in the Arxur to once more save humanity in their darkest hour.
Their hope was badly misplaced. Wriss had already been purified with antimatter, and the last ark ships and stray fighters were being hunted to extinction while exterminators were landing on Earth. The barrier of ships above the atmosphere blocked out all communication, and by the time word finally got around, the last cattle ships had long since departed. There was nowhere left to run.
On February 28th, 2137, the bombs began to drop. For nearly a week, humanity’s cradle was engulfed in flame and pelted with antimatter. Not content with merely wiping out humanity, the exterminators resolved to make Earth uninhabitable and unrecognizable, replacing thousands of years of civilization and billions of years of evolution with a wasteland of dull, charred glass. When the final flashes of light faded and the flames died out for lack of fuel, the only evidence that Earth ever supported life was a layer of plastic in the former oceans encased beneath radioactive ash.
—————
Memory transcript subject: Tressa, Venlil civilian Date [Standardized Human Time]: February 28th, 2177 Location: Lower sprawl of City 23, Venlil PrimeA cold, cruel wind whipped through the sprawl of City 23 like a vengeful spirit, driving Tressa into an alleyway to avoid the chill. His coat could only take so much of the beating for him.
Normally, the frigid air would be blocked out by the crowd filling the streets. On any given day, humans and other cured species ran alongside herds of Venlil in a flow of vibrant life, everyone hurrying to jobs or shops or homes and scarcely taking notice of what had once been such a terrible taboo. With most Venlil condemned as honorary cured for their involvement with humanity, the thought that they should stay apart for safety was comical to all but the oldest of the herd who remembered a time when the Arxur were the greatest threat.
On the anniversary of Earth’s bombing, the majority of Venlil were huddled alongside humans in cured-only pubs and apartments across Venlil Prime, silently observing the tragedy. Or at least, across the slums of Venlil Prime. Not all Venlil were tarred with the same brush, and the ones who deemed themselves (and were deemed by their intergalactic peers) as biologically superior prey wouldn’t dare set foot in the lower-class sectors dotting the planet where nearly half a billion humans had taken up refuge. In the glistening hearts of cities, you could find herds of Venlil still out and about on the 28th.
But in the lower sprawl of City 23, entire city blocks went eerily silent in a grim mimicry of Earth’s fate. Without humans or Venlil, the only activity on the streets was provided by a smattering of other cured species. And Tressa, who endeavored to valiantly brave the harsh wind once more.
Electrical systems did not maintain themselves, after all. It was a decent enough cover story, made more plausible by the fact that it was his job. Officially, it was his reason for braving the elements. Unofficially, he was on the hunt.
His prey was an advertisement on the corner of 13th and central, an ancient thing which the locals knew was broken about as often as it was functional. They usually blamed it on outdated pre-war construction and ash getting in the circuits, but the real culprit was a maintenance panel inside the building. Every once in a while a capacitor would be cleanly torn out, leaving the sign to flicker annoyingly. As Tressa started closing in on the address provided by his employer, he uttered a nonverbal prayer that the sign was indeed flickering and not just burnt out from age. A flicker meant he had a message waiting for him, an invitation. A silent signal that things were about to get interesting.
The intermittent hum of neon lights turning on and off was music to his ears. He was in luck. He rushed inside.
The interior, sparse as it was, offered relief from the biting wind outside. Tressa let his tail swish lazily as he gathered tools from his satchel. Just a couple things; he already knew what was broken. He could probably replace the capacitor with his eyes closed at this point. A few quick glances over his shoulder to make sure nobody was around, and he unscrewed the cover of the panel. A small blue datachip unceremoniously tumbled from the casing to rest at his feet. He picked it up, dusted it off (as though that could make the slightest difference in function), and slotted it into his datapad.
“Message sent 2/28/2177:
Tressa. Been a moment, hasn’t it? You’ve caught an awful cold or something nasty from the ash, and simply can’t make it to work for a couple days. We need your undivided time… I’ve got something you’ll all find fascinating. We’ll go over it at the Den, early schedule. See you there.
~ Trish”
He never knew why Trish bothered to sign her messages. She was the only one who ever wrote them. Perhaps it was just one of her quirks, same as going by a human name and dying her fur dark. She was always strange like that. Didn’t humans used to have a name for what she was, besides “predator diseased”? Maybe Sasha could tell him.
An early schedule meetup meant he had just enough time to get there if he didn’t bother repairing the sign. A terrible shame… but nobody cared about an ancient flickering advertisement, right? Decay was a given in the sprawl; a broken neon poster wouldn’t even register as something worth complaining about. He hoped.
Excitement and apprehension twisted through his stomach, driving him to stow the datapad and tools. With a dramatic flourish, he slung the satchel over his shoulder and rushed outside, barely even noticing the bitter wind tearing at his fur. People were waiting on him, after all; it’d be a shame to disappoint them just because of a bit of windchill. He zipped up his coat a little tighter.
---
[Next]
2023.05.27 21:06 Different-Log2295 [QCrit] Adult Dystopian A STORY FROM THE STEPS IN THE GUTTER (100K/version 3)
Thank you so much for all the critiques so far! Still working through editing my MS to make the 3rd person "closer", but appreciate any feedback on changes I've made to the query:
Dear [Agent],
A Story from the Steps in the Gutter is a standalone adult dystopian novel of 100,000 words. It will appeal to readers of The Revivalists by Christopher Hood and The World Gives Way by Marissa Levien. Exploring themes of trauma and loss of innocence, it also has potential for upmarket fiction appeal.
Alixen is a thief.
She is also a filthy human, a Koshoan. As an unwanted child, she grew up at the North York Moors Institution. There she was one of four best friends who clung to each other.
Alixen is an adult now, and she pushes away the memories of chasing each other across the flowing hills of their British island. Surviving and creating trouble for the police whenever she gets the chance is far more important.
When she attacks a soldier to rob him, she never expects it to be Reginald, her childhood friend. She flees from the encounter, but their paths cross again when she is caught, and Reginald is put in charge of her public service sentence. She is disgusted that he fights in a war for a country that regards their class as the filthiest humans in society. But when they reminisce over their upbringing, they uncover the bond that has always pulled them together.
After her sentence is served, she continues her life as a thief in the rundown streets of York, where the common tradisans use carriages, and motorized vehicles are reserved for government use. Just as the war becomes more brutal, Reginald grapples with his choice to be a soldier. She helps to ground him when he is lost in his fear, and her own hardened heart softens in his presence.
But just as the bond between them rekindles, Reginald is arrested for murder. He is innocent, but the evidence is against him. And Koshoans do not get fair trials.
Reginald’s freedom is at stake. With war looming over the country, Alixen steals a jewel in order to bribe a corrupt government official for the release of her friend. But doing so starts a chain of events that may lead her down a path of ruin.
I’m a teacher living in [US STATE] with my dog and cat. When I’m not writing, I enjoy finding seashells and speaking French.
Thank you for your consideration,
[FIRST LAST] (writing as FIRST LAST)
first 300ish:
As Reginald passed the crooked houses, he grabbed an apple from his pocket and let his teeth crunch through its surface. Juice dripped off the skin.
A glimmer caught his eye from below his boots. When he pulled it out of the glare, the object revealed itself to be a simple gold ring with an insignia molded onto one side. The surface was only slightly scuffed.
Before he could rise, the back of his head shrieked with a pain that thrust him forward. He lost grip of the ring and the apple, and his face met dust. He scrambled to join his palms against the pavement, to prop himself up. But his head was spinning around the gray sky and shambled buildings.
Something prodded through his pockets. He had fallen for a ruse, hadn’t he? His gut dropped as he reached for the handgun holstered to his belt. The thief got there first, and he felt the firearm loosen from his side.
A grunt escaped him as he flailed onto his back to face the thief. His head throbbed. The blurry figure above him was slowly sharpening. The attacker was smaller than he imagined. It was a woman. The last thing she reached for was the gold ring, securing it around her thumb.
He blinked, seeing for the first time in clarity the criminal hovering above him. The thief’s eyes met his. Shock struck his veins with equal force as the blow to his head.
He choked her name as confusion swarmed him. “Alixen?”
Her eyes widened. She bolted.
He clambered up, cradling his head. She had already scampered halfway down the street.
“Alixen, I know it’s you!” His shout seemed weak in the empty street. “Alixen, wait!”
She turned the corner into an alleyway. His feet followed.
link to version 1: https://www.reddit.com/PubTips/comments/13hoo2n/qcrit_adult_literary_fiction_a_story_from_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
link to version 2: https://www.reddit.com/PubTips/comments/13naf0s/qcrit_adult_science_fictiondystopian_a_story_from/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
submitted by Different-Log2295 to PubTips [link] [comments]
Dear [Agent],
A Story from the Steps in the Gutter is a standalone adult dystopian novel of 100,000 words. It will appeal to readers of The Revivalists by Christopher Hood and The World Gives Way by Marissa Levien. Exploring themes of trauma and loss of innocence, it also has potential for upmarket fiction appeal.
Alixen is a thief.
She is also a filthy human, a Koshoan. As an unwanted child, she grew up at the North York Moors Institution. There she was one of four best friends who clung to each other.
Alixen is an adult now, and she pushes away the memories of chasing each other across the flowing hills of their British island. Surviving and creating trouble for the police whenever she gets the chance is far more important.
When she attacks a soldier to rob him, she never expects it to be Reginald, her childhood friend. She flees from the encounter, but their paths cross again when she is caught, and Reginald is put in charge of her public service sentence. She is disgusted that he fights in a war for a country that regards their class as the filthiest humans in society. But when they reminisce over their upbringing, they uncover the bond that has always pulled them together.
After her sentence is served, she continues her life as a thief in the rundown streets of York, where the common tradisans use carriages, and motorized vehicles are reserved for government use. Just as the war becomes more brutal, Reginald grapples with his choice to be a soldier. She helps to ground him when he is lost in his fear, and her own hardened heart softens in his presence.
But just as the bond between them rekindles, Reginald is arrested for murder. He is innocent, but the evidence is against him. And Koshoans do not get fair trials.
Reginald’s freedom is at stake. With war looming over the country, Alixen steals a jewel in order to bribe a corrupt government official for the release of her friend. But doing so starts a chain of events that may lead her down a path of ruin.
I’m a teacher living in [US STATE] with my dog and cat. When I’m not writing, I enjoy finding seashells and speaking French.
Thank you for your consideration,
[FIRST LAST] (writing as FIRST LAST)
first 300ish:
As Reginald passed the crooked houses, he grabbed an apple from his pocket and let his teeth crunch through its surface. Juice dripped off the skin.
A glimmer caught his eye from below his boots. When he pulled it out of the glare, the object revealed itself to be a simple gold ring with an insignia molded onto one side. The surface was only slightly scuffed.
Before he could rise, the back of his head shrieked with a pain that thrust him forward. He lost grip of the ring and the apple, and his face met dust. He scrambled to join his palms against the pavement, to prop himself up. But his head was spinning around the gray sky and shambled buildings.
Something prodded through his pockets. He had fallen for a ruse, hadn’t he? His gut dropped as he reached for the handgun holstered to his belt. The thief got there first, and he felt the firearm loosen from his side.
A grunt escaped him as he flailed onto his back to face the thief. His head throbbed. The blurry figure above him was slowly sharpening. The attacker was smaller than he imagined. It was a woman. The last thing she reached for was the gold ring, securing it around her thumb.
He blinked, seeing for the first time in clarity the criminal hovering above him. The thief’s eyes met his. Shock struck his veins with equal force as the blow to his head.
He choked her name as confusion swarmed him. “Alixen?”
Her eyes widened. She bolted.
He clambered up, cradling his head. She had already scampered halfway down the street.
“Alixen, I know it’s you!” His shout seemed weak in the empty street. “Alixen, wait!”
She turned the corner into an alleyway. His feet followed.
link to version 1: https://www.reddit.com/PubTips/comments/13hoo2n/qcrit_adult_literary_fiction_a_story_from_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
link to version 2: https://www.reddit.com/PubTips/comments/13naf0s/qcrit_adult_science_fictiondystopian_a_story_from/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
2023.05.27 20:31 FarmWhich4275 Everyone Loves Uncle Bernie
The tension hung heavy in the air as it was finally realized that peace talks were collapsing and war was inevitable. Tyraxis, Hive Prince of Corsica faction had gathered here for a modicum of peace hoping to avoid the losses of his men. He sat in his chair opposite his former brethren with his two Praetorians flanking him, plasma spears at ready. His human diplomat, Johnny was desperately trying to ease tensions. Arborean, the Crown Prince of Hive Arrakkis sat proud at his seat, his purple skin glistening in the light of the room.
Arborean was so certain of his victory he had the barefaced audacity to carry his human concubine with him. His human diplomat Martinez was unamused by tensions as he cast passing glances to the Praetorians flanking his employer. Arborean made sure to prominently display his most prized possession with the woman sitting on his lap.
"Surely we can find a way around this? There has to be a way to sue for peace. At least for this battle. Perhaps we can exclude some ships from the roster and at least make it an even fight?" Johnny could sense he was getting nowhere, but he still had a few angles.
"Sure... we can sue for peace. AFTER you hand over the system! Those Gehennan spice mines are ours and you damn well know it!" Martinez slammed his hand on the table.
"You and I both know that if that fleet goes to battle it would be an absolute slaughter! If your master was half the warrior he so claims he is, he would agree to roster the battle to make it fair!" Johnny blasted his opponent.
Arborean whispered into his diplomats ear. The shame tactic and personal attack worked. "A point made in anger but still a point. We will agree to the standard galactic Ship Points Allocation system. However... No holds barred. Last man standing rules only." Martinez said with a certain sinister grin.
Tyraxis hung his head in shame. The Queen would have his head after this one way or another for this, but at least it would give his men a fighting chance. He gave a nod to Johnny and sent him a note on his wearable data manager. "Fine. If we win, you will not come back to this system. The point was proven, tactics ruled the day. If we win, you leave and don't come back!"
Arborean thought for a moment then nodded his head. "Deal." Martinez said, extending a hand out.
Martinez and Johnny shook hands and started drawing up paperwork as Arborean began to greedily fondle his prized possession, much to the blistering rage of Tyraxis burning eyes. Suddenly the door flung itself open, a human marine barged through the door.
"UNCLE BERNIE'S HERE!!!!" He yelled with unimaginable excitement, and charged back out again.
"Uncle Bernie!?" All three of the humans said this at once, and all three, suddenly got up from where they stood and bolted to the exit with such speed it made everyone's heads spin.
A few moments of awkward and stunned silence followed this occurrence. "What the hell is an uncle Bernie?" Arborean asked, as if expecting an answer.
"Well... Uncle is a human term, it means the brother of my father. Bernie is I believe someone's name." On of Tyraxis' Praetorians said.
The two princes regarded each other for a moment longer before one of Tyraxis' Praetorians broke the silence as his communicator beeped. "My Prince... every human ship in the system has disengaged!"
"WHAT!?" Both Princes yelled out in unison.
"Warp signature detected! There is a battlecruiser class vessel entering the system!" Arboreans Praetorian warned.
"What treachery are you planning Thraxis?!" Arborean lashed out.
"What are you talking about? This is YOUR doing! How much did you bribe my ambassador hm?"
Just then, an interruption. Every communications unit on the station suddenly came to life. It was some kind of... song? Silly, whimsical. Catchy.
"Are ya lost in space?
Need pie in your face?
Come on down to Bernies!
Do ya need a drink?
Well thats a sinch!
Come on down to Bernie's!
Bernies Bar and Grill is now open, active servicemen get a beer on the house!"
All of the Hivers on station and on their ships stood with absolute bewilderment as to what the flaming hell was going on. In the meantime, a very familiar looking ship warped into the system, drowned out by a cheering crowd as all of the twelve human made ships in the system swarmed it and docked as soon as it was safe.
Thraxis stood from his seat and made his way to the exit. "And just where do you think you are going?" Arborean said with annoyance.
"Beer."
Thraxis moved down the concourse ramp to his shuttle and waited as his Praetorian Guard, and hastily at their heels, Arborean and his guards, caught up and sat down. Thraxis called the robotic driver to go to the Human ship 'Uncle Bernies'. The driver, a machine, let out a happy beep for some reason and with careless abandon charged his way to the ship.
Uncle Bernies was a battlecruiser class. The six Hivers took careful note of its exterior. It was several times larger than most Human warships, and ten times more heavily armed. Mounted in various spots were storage tanks that looked like distilleries and one could clearly see the ship had its own hydroponics and protien synthesis bays built into the hull. The human support ships had been completely emptied by the time the shuttle made it to one of the airlocks.
The robot driver let out a mechanical "Woohoo!" as it hopped out of its car and hastily wheeled its way into the ships maintenance bays. Even the machines were entranced by this ship. The six hivers made their way through the clearly marked hallways into a massive restaurant. Immediately they were surrounded by humans of all classes and types who immediately reacted to their presence with a loud "AHOY MATEY!" of approval before returning to the meals they were enjoying.
The restaurant had over two hundred humans in it, but could comfortably seat a thousand more. The place was a massive circular arnoretum, surrounded on every corner by restaurants, eateries and even a quaint little gift shop.
"What in the Queens tits is this place?" One of Thraxis' Preatorians thought aloud.
"I can answer that my man! Welcome to my humble restaurant and bar!" A human suddenly spoke up from behind the group.
The six turned around to the sight of a grey bearded human with a large midsection, a toolbelt with cooking utensiils in a strange uniform with a funny hat. "Who are you?"
"Im uncle Bernie! Shut yer holes and drink a beer! Activer servicemen get one free beer!" He excitedly said, then jammed a purple aluminium can into everyones hands.
At this point Thraxis was what humans would call 'done.' so, he took a taste of the beverage. "My goodness!" His expression instantly changed to one of happiness as he drank more.
Arborean timidly took a sip of his own can of beer. "By the Mother!" He exclaimed, then chugged the rest of it down with a fist raised high.
Bernie regarded his new customers with a hearty smile and lead them all to a table before serving them a pizza. Within a few moments of them sitting down, Arboreans concubine Jessica returned to her masters lap with flushed cheeks and a silly giggle. The two ambassadors arrived as well, carrying a family size two cheese pizza with mushroom, onion and smoked ham. Jessiica showed them how to eat a pizza by grabbing a slice, then squealing in delight as she tasted the slice. Martinez and Johnny likewise did the same, sighing in happiness as though it was their first christmas.
The hivers tentatively took their own slice of the delicious smelling confection and took a small, cautious bite. Thraxis gave it one taste and threw decorum to the wind and began to aggressively scarf the slice down. The four Praetorians likewise did the same, followed by Arborean who had Jessica feed it to him.
Thraxis sat back in his seat, carefully considering a small fact he suddenly noticed. This place was rather... empty. Uncle Bernie approached and smiled his usual moustachio'ed smile. "Can I get ya anything else boys? Theres plenty for all!"
Thraxis suddenly perked up. "Yes... Olokarn." He looked at his all too happy Preatorian guard.
"Yes My -burp- Prince?" He said.
"Hand me your communicator, patch me into the fleet."
Olokarn did as commanded. "This is Thraxis, Prince of Hive Khathorn. All ships are to immediately disengage operations and report to Uncle Bernie's for lunch." He stopped, after Johnny handed him a piece of napkin with something scrawled on it. "And also... anyone who does not leave a tip, will be shot."
Arborean followed suit, commanding his own substantial naval forces and military to stand down, placing several thousand take-out orders for the planet and station at Martinez' instructions.
Within minutes, the ship was flooded with a thousand Hivers from both factions. To Arborean and Thraxis' astonished shock, Uncle Bernie was there to meet them. All of them. Thraxis noted this and asked Martinez what the hell was going on.
"What, My Lord?" Martinez asked, confused.
"Th-theres Uncle Bernie. And there! And there too! Am I seeing a strange genetic anomaly or is this man a clone?" He said bewildered.
"Well... yah. Thats uncle Bernie there. And there. And there too. And thats... thats Frank actually. Hes Uncle Bernie too but he likes to be called Frank." Martinez said, gesturing to the chefs and cooks of all the various restaurants.
"Care to elaborate? Please?" Arborean said as he held a sleeping Jessica in his arms.
"Uncle Bernie, My Prince, is a human that owned and operated a restaurant at an old shipbuilding yard before Sol was lost called Jupiter Drive Yards. After about twenty years on the job with that very rerstaurant, the company gave him one of our old Refurbished Munificent Class Ornament ships. Thats what this ship is. Its based on an old Trade federation Munificent class in old Star Wars movies." Martinez explained, sitting down with a new can of beer.
"MMmyes, a lot of other restaurants and food franchises exist, but none come close to Bernie's. He turned that ship into a roving restaurant and was there when Sol collapsed. Hes been everywhere. Just roams the stars, feeding and hydrating anyone he comes across at an absolutely rock bottom price. He even caters to machine consciousness because the tech cults have a presence on this ship. All in all, Bernie is just a nice guy, who just wants to own a restaurant. And damn does he do a good job!" Johnny responded in kind as he helped himself to a hotdog.
"And in order to ensure I can provide the service that is needed, nay, demanded of my establishment, I opted to do some cloning and mind copying, just to keep it all running how it needs to be! We share somewhat of a gestalt consciousness too so... it makes things a lot easier. Now, perhaps I can interest anyone in our dessert menu?" Uncle Bernie said, firing up the ice cream makers and waffle irons.
In the end, with all that had happened, neither side was ready or willing to engage in warfare. Both sides were either too full, too sleepy, or too drunk to do any fighting. When the hangovers and bellyaches passed, there was a strange feeling of contentedness between the two factions. Both of them essentially forgot why they were fighting and were too stuffed, happy or filled up to bother asking.
Martinez and Johnny drew up plans for the conflict anyway but they were never used. In all, Arborean and Thraxis agreed to a fifty-fifty split o resources in the star system ultimately benefitting everyone. Especially Bernie. One of the conditions of peace talks, was that Bernie always come round at least once every three months for a good booze up.
Because after all, everyone loves Uncle Bernie!
submitted by FarmWhich4275 to HFY [link] [comments]
Arborean was so certain of his victory he had the barefaced audacity to carry his human concubine with him. His human diplomat Martinez was unamused by tensions as he cast passing glances to the Praetorians flanking his employer. Arborean made sure to prominently display his most prized possession with the woman sitting on his lap.
"Surely we can find a way around this? There has to be a way to sue for peace. At least for this battle. Perhaps we can exclude some ships from the roster and at least make it an even fight?" Johnny could sense he was getting nowhere, but he still had a few angles.
"Sure... we can sue for peace. AFTER you hand over the system! Those Gehennan spice mines are ours and you damn well know it!" Martinez slammed his hand on the table.
"You and I both know that if that fleet goes to battle it would be an absolute slaughter! If your master was half the warrior he so claims he is, he would agree to roster the battle to make it fair!" Johnny blasted his opponent.
Arborean whispered into his diplomats ear. The shame tactic and personal attack worked. "A point made in anger but still a point. We will agree to the standard galactic Ship Points Allocation system. However... No holds barred. Last man standing rules only." Martinez said with a certain sinister grin.
Tyraxis hung his head in shame. The Queen would have his head after this one way or another for this, but at least it would give his men a fighting chance. He gave a nod to Johnny and sent him a note on his wearable data manager. "Fine. If we win, you will not come back to this system. The point was proven, tactics ruled the day. If we win, you leave and don't come back!"
Arborean thought for a moment then nodded his head. "Deal." Martinez said, extending a hand out.
Martinez and Johnny shook hands and started drawing up paperwork as Arborean began to greedily fondle his prized possession, much to the blistering rage of Tyraxis burning eyes. Suddenly the door flung itself open, a human marine barged through the door.
"UNCLE BERNIE'S HERE!!!!" He yelled with unimaginable excitement, and charged back out again.
"Uncle Bernie!?" All three of the humans said this at once, and all three, suddenly got up from where they stood and bolted to the exit with such speed it made everyone's heads spin.
A few moments of awkward and stunned silence followed this occurrence. "What the hell is an uncle Bernie?" Arborean asked, as if expecting an answer.
"Well... Uncle is a human term, it means the brother of my father. Bernie is I believe someone's name." On of Tyraxis' Praetorians said.
The two princes regarded each other for a moment longer before one of Tyraxis' Praetorians broke the silence as his communicator beeped. "My Prince... every human ship in the system has disengaged!"
"WHAT!?" Both Princes yelled out in unison.
"Warp signature detected! There is a battlecruiser class vessel entering the system!" Arboreans Praetorian warned.
"What treachery are you planning Thraxis?!" Arborean lashed out.
"What are you talking about? This is YOUR doing! How much did you bribe my ambassador hm?"
Just then, an interruption. Every communications unit on the station suddenly came to life. It was some kind of... song? Silly, whimsical. Catchy.
"Are ya lost in space?
Need pie in your face?
Come on down to Bernies!
Do ya need a drink?
Well thats a sinch!
Come on down to Bernie's!
Bernies Bar and Grill is now open, active servicemen get a beer on the house!"
All of the Hivers on station and on their ships stood with absolute bewilderment as to what the flaming hell was going on. In the meantime, a very familiar looking ship warped into the system, drowned out by a cheering crowd as all of the twelve human made ships in the system swarmed it and docked as soon as it was safe.
Thraxis stood from his seat and made his way to the exit. "And just where do you think you are going?" Arborean said with annoyance.
"Beer."
Thraxis moved down the concourse ramp to his shuttle and waited as his Praetorian Guard, and hastily at their heels, Arborean and his guards, caught up and sat down. Thraxis called the robotic driver to go to the Human ship 'Uncle Bernies'. The driver, a machine, let out a happy beep for some reason and with careless abandon charged his way to the ship.
Uncle Bernies was a battlecruiser class. The six Hivers took careful note of its exterior. It was several times larger than most Human warships, and ten times more heavily armed. Mounted in various spots were storage tanks that looked like distilleries and one could clearly see the ship had its own hydroponics and protien synthesis bays built into the hull. The human support ships had been completely emptied by the time the shuttle made it to one of the airlocks.
The robot driver let out a mechanical "Woohoo!" as it hopped out of its car and hastily wheeled its way into the ships maintenance bays. Even the machines were entranced by this ship. The six hivers made their way through the clearly marked hallways into a massive restaurant. Immediately they were surrounded by humans of all classes and types who immediately reacted to their presence with a loud "AHOY MATEY!" of approval before returning to the meals they were enjoying.
The restaurant had over two hundred humans in it, but could comfortably seat a thousand more. The place was a massive circular arnoretum, surrounded on every corner by restaurants, eateries and even a quaint little gift shop.
"What in the Queens tits is this place?" One of Thraxis' Preatorians thought aloud.
"I can answer that my man! Welcome to my humble restaurant and bar!" A human suddenly spoke up from behind the group.
The six turned around to the sight of a grey bearded human with a large midsection, a toolbelt with cooking utensiils in a strange uniform with a funny hat. "Who are you?"
"Im uncle Bernie! Shut yer holes and drink a beer! Activer servicemen get one free beer!" He excitedly said, then jammed a purple aluminium can into everyones hands.
At this point Thraxis was what humans would call 'done.' so, he took a taste of the beverage. "My goodness!" His expression instantly changed to one of happiness as he drank more.
Arborean timidly took a sip of his own can of beer. "By the Mother!" He exclaimed, then chugged the rest of it down with a fist raised high.
Bernie regarded his new customers with a hearty smile and lead them all to a table before serving them a pizza. Within a few moments of them sitting down, Arboreans concubine Jessica returned to her masters lap with flushed cheeks and a silly giggle. The two ambassadors arrived as well, carrying a family size two cheese pizza with mushroom, onion and smoked ham. Jessiica showed them how to eat a pizza by grabbing a slice, then squealing in delight as she tasted the slice. Martinez and Johnny likewise did the same, sighing in happiness as though it was their first christmas.
The hivers tentatively took their own slice of the delicious smelling confection and took a small, cautious bite. Thraxis gave it one taste and threw decorum to the wind and began to aggressively scarf the slice down. The four Praetorians likewise did the same, followed by Arborean who had Jessica feed it to him.
Thraxis sat back in his seat, carefully considering a small fact he suddenly noticed. This place was rather... empty. Uncle Bernie approached and smiled his usual moustachio'ed smile. "Can I get ya anything else boys? Theres plenty for all!"
Thraxis suddenly perked up. "Yes... Olokarn." He looked at his all too happy Preatorian guard.
"Yes My -burp- Prince?" He said.
"Hand me your communicator, patch me into the fleet."
Olokarn did as commanded. "This is Thraxis, Prince of Hive Khathorn. All ships are to immediately disengage operations and report to Uncle Bernie's for lunch." He stopped, after Johnny handed him a piece of napkin with something scrawled on it. "And also... anyone who does not leave a tip, will be shot."
Arborean followed suit, commanding his own substantial naval forces and military to stand down, placing several thousand take-out orders for the planet and station at Martinez' instructions.
Within minutes, the ship was flooded with a thousand Hivers from both factions. To Arborean and Thraxis' astonished shock, Uncle Bernie was there to meet them. All of them. Thraxis noted this and asked Martinez what the hell was going on.
"What, My Lord?" Martinez asked, confused.
"Th-theres Uncle Bernie. And there! And there too! Am I seeing a strange genetic anomaly or is this man a clone?" He said bewildered.
"Well... yah. Thats uncle Bernie there. And there. And there too. And thats... thats Frank actually. Hes Uncle Bernie too but he likes to be called Frank." Martinez said, gesturing to the chefs and cooks of all the various restaurants.
"Care to elaborate? Please?" Arborean said as he held a sleeping Jessica in his arms.
"Uncle Bernie, My Prince, is a human that owned and operated a restaurant at an old shipbuilding yard before Sol was lost called Jupiter Drive Yards. After about twenty years on the job with that very rerstaurant, the company gave him one of our old Refurbished Munificent Class Ornament ships. Thats what this ship is. Its based on an old Trade federation Munificent class in old Star Wars movies." Martinez explained, sitting down with a new can of beer.
"MMmyes, a lot of other restaurants and food franchises exist, but none come close to Bernie's. He turned that ship into a roving restaurant and was there when Sol collapsed. Hes been everywhere. Just roams the stars, feeding and hydrating anyone he comes across at an absolutely rock bottom price. He even caters to machine consciousness because the tech cults have a presence on this ship. All in all, Bernie is just a nice guy, who just wants to own a restaurant. And damn does he do a good job!" Johnny responded in kind as he helped himself to a hotdog.
"And in order to ensure I can provide the service that is needed, nay, demanded of my establishment, I opted to do some cloning and mind copying, just to keep it all running how it needs to be! We share somewhat of a gestalt consciousness too so... it makes things a lot easier. Now, perhaps I can interest anyone in our dessert menu?" Uncle Bernie said, firing up the ice cream makers and waffle irons.
In the end, with all that had happened, neither side was ready or willing to engage in warfare. Both sides were either too full, too sleepy, or too drunk to do any fighting. When the hangovers and bellyaches passed, there was a strange feeling of contentedness between the two factions. Both of them essentially forgot why they were fighting and were too stuffed, happy or filled up to bother asking.
Martinez and Johnny drew up plans for the conflict anyway but they were never used. In all, Arborean and Thraxis agreed to a fifty-fifty split o resources in the star system ultimately benefitting everyone. Especially Bernie. One of the conditions of peace talks, was that Bernie always come round at least once every three months for a good booze up.
Because after all, everyone loves Uncle Bernie!
2023.05.27 20:18 jimbobbypaul Ranking the Top 131 FBS Programs of the Last 40 Years: 90. Indiana
Main hub thread with the full 131 rankings
Hoosier Daddy? Indiana finally comes in at 90 after weeks of clamoring from their fans. The Hoosiers don’t have a lot of historical success, with just 2 AP top 10 finishes since 1936, when the poll originated. What they do have, is a loyal and passionate fanbase. I can’t imagine they’ll continue to struggle forever, as each of their last 3 coaches have gotten them to a bowl game, and they have a strong alumni base. Still, they come in as the 4th worst Power 5 team on this list and the last placed team in the Big Ten.
1984 Indiana wouldn’t have even been the best team in their state if they went down a level—Indiana State was ranked atop the Division 1-AA polls for most of the year after a 9-0 start. Still, the theme of the season for the 1984 Hoosiers was “growing pains”. Led by first year head coach Bill Mallory, Mallory would go on to become the school’s winningest coach with a record of 69-77-3 from 1984-96, making 6 bowls and appearing in the AP Top 25 in 6 separate years. So for the 1984 season, it was about laying the foundation to break a losing culture that had lasted over 3 decades. After starting the season losing 24-31 to (eventual) 2-9 Duke and 14-48 to Kentucky, Indiana slowly improved throughout the year, losing 6 Big Ten games by one possession. QB Steve Bradley threw for 2544 yards 10 TD 20 INT, but somehow was drafted in the 12th round of the 1986 NFL Draft despite never posting a single season with more TDs than INTs. OT Kevin Allen was by far the most talented player on the team, picked with the 9th overall selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1985 NFL Draft, but would go on to be a collasal bust and despised in Philly. Allen was ranked as the 4th worst player in NFL history by Deadspin in 2011.
5. 1991 (7-4-1 overall, 5-3 Big Ten)
We’ll see 4 seasons from coach Mallory in this top 5. After a great 1987 and ‘88, Indiana had fallen back into their old ways in ‘89-90, going 11-11-1 and 6-9-1 in the Big Ten. Mallory brought Indiana back to the Big Ten’s top 4 in 1991, mostly thanks to the consensus All-American season by RB Vaughn Dunbar, but also because of the emergence of QB Trent Green. Dunbar finished 6th in Heisman voting, amassing 2068 yards and 12 TD from scrimmage. He set the school record for rushing yards with 1805, unbroken until Tevin Coleman in 2014. Green led the Big Ten in TDs with 25, completing 59% of passes for 2627 yards and 12 TD 14 INT, while rushing for 202 yards and 13 TD. Indiana mostly beat up on teams that finished with losing records (but are known today as solid programs) like Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. One possession losses to #4 Michigan and #19 Ohio State showed they could compete with the big boys too. The season came down to 5-4-1 Indiana vs 4-6 Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket and a bowl appearance for Indiana. Purdue lined up for the winning 36 yard FG with 30 seconds left…and sailed it wide right. Indiana took the Bucket, made the Copper Bowl, and trounced Baylor 24-0 to finish 7-4-1 and 32nd in my rankings.
4. 1993 (8-4 overall, 5-3 Big Ten)
This was the last great Mallory-coached team, and the last Indiana team to make a bowl game until 2007. The run game was much weaker than usual, but this was easily the best defense in the Mallory era, giving up just 16.4 PPG with 9 players that played in the NFL. Indiana jumped out to a 5-1 start, giving up just 12.3 PPG, then shut out Northwestern 24-0 and #22 Michigan State 10-0. Indiana was ranked #17, at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten, and had one of the best defenses in the country giving up just 9.3 PPG. A pivotal game against #19 Penn State was one of the biggest “prove it” games in recent memory for Indiana, and they nearly delivered, losing just 31-38. Indiana would also put up a great fight against #5 Ohio State, losing 17-24, before finishing 8-3 with a win over Purdue for the 5th time in 7 years. #21 Indiana lost 20-45 to #22 Virginia Tech in the Independence Bowl to finish the year 8-4, 4th place in the Big Ten, and #27 in my rankings.
3. 1987 (8-4 overall, 6-2 Big Ten)
This Indiana team was subtly stacked. This was Mallory’s 4th year as head coach, going from 0-11 to 4-7 to 6-6 the previous 3 years. 1987 was when they put the Big Ten on notice for the first time, and was in serious contention for the Big Ten title. After starting 3-1, Indiana headed to #9 Ohio State, who was coming off 8 straight years of AP top 15 finishes. The game wasn’t close—and not for the team you think. Indiana held Ohio State to just 10 rushing yards in the 2nd half of a 31-10 win, which Buckeyes coach Earle Bruce called “The darkest day in Ohio State football since I have been associated with it,” dating back to 1979. After a win over Minnesota, #15 Indiana hosted #20 Michigan in front of a nearly sold out crowd of 51,000, and caused delays on Michigan’s drives in the 2nd quarter because of crowd noise. The Indiana defense dominated yet again, winning 14-10, and this was the last time Indiana would beat Michigan until 2020.
The Big Ten was suddenly an unexpected 2-horse race between Indiana and Michigan State. #11 Indiana, their highest ranking in 18 years, made the trek to Kinnick Stadium, where dreams go to die, and Iowa beat the Hoosiers 29-21. Following up with a win over Illinois—Indiana controlled their destiny: Beat Michigan State and Purdue, and you’re Big Ten champions. Playing on national TV, #13 Michigan State dominated #16 Indiana 27-3, and the Spartans won the conference title. Purdue kicked the (old oaken) bucket in the rivalry game, and Indiana rolled to a 35-14 win and a 3rd place finish in the B1G. A close loss to Tennessee in the bowl and they finished 8-4.
The team was subtly stacked as I mentioned. RB Anthony Thompson ran for 1000+ yards and would go on to become a 2x consensus All-American. WR Ernie Jones caught 66 passes for 1265 yards and 13 TD, and was the Big Ten co-Player of the Year and a 1st Team All-American. OT Eric Moore was 2nd Team All-Big Ten and a top 10 NFL Draft pick in 1988. LB Van Waiters was 3rd Team All-American. Coach Mallory won Big Ten Coach of the Year. This has a real claim as the “best” Indiana team due to the wins over Ohio State/Michigan.
2. 2020 (6-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten)
One of the darlings of 2020. The Penix → Fryfogle connection took the Big Ten by storm first in name, then in production. Indiana was coming off an 8-5 year in which they nearly missed out on 9WINDIANA status, and brought momentum into 2020. It seemed like everyone else overlooked them, though. The turning point in the season came immediately—week 1 against #8 Penn State. Down 35-28 in OT, Indiana scored on a 9 yard TD and elected to go for 2. Going for the left corner, Penix DIVED from the 5 yard line, reaching for the pylon…GOT IT! INDIANA WINS 36-35! 2 weeks later they’d beat #23 Michigan 38-21, their first win against the Wolverines since 1987. 1 week later Indiana would beat Michigan State 24-0 thanks to a standout defensive effort and a breakout 200 yard receiving performance from WR Ty Fryfogle.
That set up #9 Indiana at #3 Ohio State, the top 10 matchup we all saw coming. And boy, Indiana came to PLAY. Ohio State narrowly escaped with a 42-35 win, with Justin Fields throwing 3 INTs and Fryfogle going for 7 catches, 218 yards, and 3 TD. This Indiana team was legitimately a really good team, and they even beat #16 Wisconsin 14-6 to finish off the regular season. They’d lose the Outback Bowl in an upset to 4-5 Ole Miss, but finished #12 in the AP Poll, the highest in over 50 years. Penix finished 2nd Team All-Big Ten with 1645 passing yards 14 TD 4 INT. Fryfogle won the Big Ten WR of the Year, catching 37 balls for 721 yards and 7 TD. A whopping 4 defensive players finished 1st Team All-Big Ten, with the entire secondary making the 1st-3rd Team. Even special teams had no weaknesses, with kicker Charles Campbell going 10/11 on FGs. Penix has since transferred to Washington and continues to live up to his potential, finishing 8th in Heisman voting in 2022.
1. 1988 (8-3-1 overall, 5-3 Big Ten)
2020 was good…but 1988 was dominant. They opened with 41-14 and 35-16 wins over Rice and Kentucky. After tying Missouri and blowing out Northwestern, Indiana hosted Ohio State a year after the “darkest day” in Ohio State history. This was arguably worse. Indiana scored on 4 of their first 5 possessions, held a 28-0 lead at halftime, and big brother’d the Buckeyes 41-7. An unthinkable result today. Fast forward a few weeks later, 5-2 Indiana hosted 4-2-2 (their record, not a soccer formation) Iowa. Iowa QB Chuck Hartlieb would set the single game school record with an insane 558 passing yards, and Indiana RB Anthony Thompson broke a school record with 47 carries. Indiana won 45-34, after Iowa nearly came back from a 35-3 deficit. In the last week of the regular season, Indiana blew out Purdue 52-7 on their home turf, in one of the greatest performances in the rivalry’s history. Even the bowl game was a wipe, beating 8-3 South Carolina 34-10.
Indiana scored 33.0 PPG while giving up just 19.6 PPG. 7 wins were by 20+ points, and 4 by 30+. QB Dave Schnell, former 1985 high school player of the year, was 2nd Team All-Big Ten, leading the conference in yards per attempt. RB Anthony Thompson won his 1st of 2 Big Ten POTYs, rushing for 1686 yards and 26(!) TD on 4.7 YPC. 9 players total were 1st/2nd Team All-Big Ten. Kicker Pete Stoyanovich was 1st Team All-B1G, and went on to be Dan Marino’s kicker on the Miami Dolphins for 7 years from 1989-95. He also served as a kicking double in Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (1994).
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submitted by jimbobbypaul to CFB [link] [comments]
Hoosier Daddy? Indiana finally comes in at 90 after weeks of clamoring from their fans. The Hoosiers don’t have a lot of historical success, with just 2 AP top 10 finishes since 1936, when the poll originated. What they do have, is a loyal and passionate fanbase. I can’t imagine they’ll continue to struggle forever, as each of their last 3 coaches have gotten them to a bowl game, and they have a strong alumni base. Still, they come in as the 4th worst Power 5 team on this list and the last placed team in the Big Ten.
Best Seasons and Highlights
1. 1988: 21. Indiana: 8-3-1 (16.958) 2. 2020: 25. Indiana: 6-2 (14.813) 3. 1987: 26. Indiana: 8-4 (10.760) 4. 1993: 27. Indiana: 8-4 (9.215) 5. 1991: 32. Indiana: 7-4-1 (8.940) 6. 2019: 50. Indiana: 8-5 (-0.987) 7. 1990: 52. Indiana: 6-5-1 (-6.329) 8. 1994: 51. Indiana: 6-5 (-6.404) 9. 2007: 60. Indiana: 7-6 (-6.490) 10. 2001: 61. Indiana: 5-6 (-9.143) 11. 1986: 54. Indiana: 6-6 (-9.350) 12. 2015: 72. Indiana: 6-7 (-10.429) 13. 1989: 62. Indiana: 5-6 (-12.269) 14. 2018: 78. Indiana: 5-7 (-12.319) 15. 2013: 75. Indiana: 5-7 (-12.406) 16. 2016: 69. Indiana: 6-7 (-12.984) 17. 2017: 82. Indiana: 5-7 (-16.099) 18. 1992: 66. Indiana: 5-6 (-16.837) 19. 1998: 67. Indiana: 4-7 (-18.081) 20. 2006: 73. Indiana: 5-7 (-20.689) 21. 1999: 76. Indiana: 4-7 (-20.726) 22. 2022: 94. Indiana: 4-8 (-23.599) 23. 2010: 83. Indiana: 5-7 (-24.550) 24. 1996: 78. Indiana: 3-8 (-24.727) 25. 2014: 92. Indiana: 4-8 (-25.542) 26. 2009: 93. Indiana: 4-8 (-27.758) 27. 2000: 86. Indiana: 3-8 (-28.932) 28. 2012: 90. Indiana: 4-8 (-29.149) 29. 1985: 81. Indiana: 4-7 (-29.364) 30. 2005: 98. Indiana: 4-7 (-30.671) 31. 2004: 90. Indiana: 3-8 (-32.732) 32. 1983: 85. Indiana: 3-8 (-32.762) 33. 1995: 91. Indiana: 2-9 (-38.537) 34. 2008: 105. Indiana: 3-9 (-39.597) 35. 2002: 100. Indiana: 3-9 (-42.548) 36. 2021: 114. Indiana: 2-10 (-43.031) 37. 1997: 100. Indiana: 2-9 (-45.071) 38. 2003: 108. Indiana: 2-10 (-50.839) 39. 2011: 114. Indiana: 1-11 (-56.035) 40. 1984: 105. Indiana: 0-11 (-57.235) Overall Score: 8059 (90th)
- 181-281-3 record
- 0 conference titles
- 2-9 bowl record
- 4 consensus All-Americans
- 55 NFL players drafted
Top 5 Seasons
Worst Season: 1984 (0-11 overall, 0-9 Big Ten)1984 Indiana wouldn’t have even been the best team in their state if they went down a level—Indiana State was ranked atop the Division 1-AA polls for most of the year after a 9-0 start. Still, the theme of the season for the 1984 Hoosiers was “growing pains”. Led by first year head coach Bill Mallory, Mallory would go on to become the school’s winningest coach with a record of 69-77-3 from 1984-96, making 6 bowls and appearing in the AP Top 25 in 6 separate years. So for the 1984 season, it was about laying the foundation to break a losing culture that had lasted over 3 decades. After starting the season losing 24-31 to (eventual) 2-9 Duke and 14-48 to Kentucky, Indiana slowly improved throughout the year, losing 6 Big Ten games by one possession. QB Steve Bradley threw for 2544 yards 10 TD 20 INT, but somehow was drafted in the 12th round of the 1986 NFL Draft despite never posting a single season with more TDs than INTs. OT Kevin Allen was by far the most talented player on the team, picked with the 9th overall selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1985 NFL Draft, but would go on to be a collasal bust and despised in Philly. Allen was ranked as the 4th worst player in NFL history by Deadspin in 2011.
5. 1991 (7-4-1 overall, 5-3 Big Ten)
We’ll see 4 seasons from coach Mallory in this top 5. After a great 1987 and ‘88, Indiana had fallen back into their old ways in ‘89-90, going 11-11-1 and 6-9-1 in the Big Ten. Mallory brought Indiana back to the Big Ten’s top 4 in 1991, mostly thanks to the consensus All-American season by RB Vaughn Dunbar, but also because of the emergence of QB Trent Green. Dunbar finished 6th in Heisman voting, amassing 2068 yards and 12 TD from scrimmage. He set the school record for rushing yards with 1805, unbroken until Tevin Coleman in 2014. Green led the Big Ten in TDs with 25, completing 59% of passes for 2627 yards and 12 TD 14 INT, while rushing for 202 yards and 13 TD. Indiana mostly beat up on teams that finished with losing records (but are known today as solid programs) like Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. One possession losses to #4 Michigan and #19 Ohio State showed they could compete with the big boys too. The season came down to 5-4-1 Indiana vs 4-6 Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket and a bowl appearance for Indiana. Purdue lined up for the winning 36 yard FG with 30 seconds left…and sailed it wide right. Indiana took the Bucket, made the Copper Bowl, and trounced Baylor 24-0 to finish 7-4-1 and 32nd in my rankings.
4. 1993 (8-4 overall, 5-3 Big Ten)
This was the last great Mallory-coached team, and the last Indiana team to make a bowl game until 2007. The run game was much weaker than usual, but this was easily the best defense in the Mallory era, giving up just 16.4 PPG with 9 players that played in the NFL. Indiana jumped out to a 5-1 start, giving up just 12.3 PPG, then shut out Northwestern 24-0 and #22 Michigan State 10-0. Indiana was ranked #17, at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten, and had one of the best defenses in the country giving up just 9.3 PPG. A pivotal game against #19 Penn State was one of the biggest “prove it” games in recent memory for Indiana, and they nearly delivered, losing just 31-38. Indiana would also put up a great fight against #5 Ohio State, losing 17-24, before finishing 8-3 with a win over Purdue for the 5th time in 7 years. #21 Indiana lost 20-45 to #22 Virginia Tech in the Independence Bowl to finish the year 8-4, 4th place in the Big Ten, and #27 in my rankings.
3. 1987 (8-4 overall, 6-2 Big Ten)
This Indiana team was subtly stacked. This was Mallory’s 4th year as head coach, going from 0-11 to 4-7 to 6-6 the previous 3 years. 1987 was when they put the Big Ten on notice for the first time, and was in serious contention for the Big Ten title. After starting 3-1, Indiana headed to #9 Ohio State, who was coming off 8 straight years of AP top 15 finishes. The game wasn’t close—and not for the team you think. Indiana held Ohio State to just 10 rushing yards in the 2nd half of a 31-10 win, which Buckeyes coach Earle Bruce called “The darkest day in Ohio State football since I have been associated with it,” dating back to 1979. After a win over Minnesota, #15 Indiana hosted #20 Michigan in front of a nearly sold out crowd of 51,000, and caused delays on Michigan’s drives in the 2nd quarter because of crowd noise. The Indiana defense dominated yet again, winning 14-10, and this was the last time Indiana would beat Michigan until 2020.
The Big Ten was suddenly an unexpected 2-horse race between Indiana and Michigan State. #11 Indiana, their highest ranking in 18 years, made the trek to Kinnick Stadium, where dreams go to die, and Iowa beat the Hoosiers 29-21. Following up with a win over Illinois—Indiana controlled their destiny: Beat Michigan State and Purdue, and you’re Big Ten champions. Playing on national TV, #13 Michigan State dominated #16 Indiana 27-3, and the Spartans won the conference title. Purdue kicked the (old oaken) bucket in the rivalry game, and Indiana rolled to a 35-14 win and a 3rd place finish in the B1G. A close loss to Tennessee in the bowl and they finished 8-4.
The team was subtly stacked as I mentioned. RB Anthony Thompson ran for 1000+ yards and would go on to become a 2x consensus All-American. WR Ernie Jones caught 66 passes for 1265 yards and 13 TD, and was the Big Ten co-Player of the Year and a 1st Team All-American. OT Eric Moore was 2nd Team All-Big Ten and a top 10 NFL Draft pick in 1988. LB Van Waiters was 3rd Team All-American. Coach Mallory won Big Ten Coach of the Year. This has a real claim as the “best” Indiana team due to the wins over Ohio State/Michigan.
2. 2020 (6-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten)
One of the darlings of 2020. The Penix → Fryfogle connection took the Big Ten by storm first in name, then in production. Indiana was coming off an 8-5 year in which they nearly missed out on 9WINDIANA status, and brought momentum into 2020. It seemed like everyone else overlooked them, though. The turning point in the season came immediately—week 1 against #8 Penn State. Down 35-28 in OT, Indiana scored on a 9 yard TD and elected to go for 2. Going for the left corner, Penix DIVED from the 5 yard line, reaching for the pylon…GOT IT! INDIANA WINS 36-35! 2 weeks later they’d beat #23 Michigan 38-21, their first win against the Wolverines since 1987. 1 week later Indiana would beat Michigan State 24-0 thanks to a standout defensive effort and a breakout 200 yard receiving performance from WR Ty Fryfogle.
That set up #9 Indiana at #3 Ohio State, the top 10 matchup we all saw coming. And boy, Indiana came to PLAY. Ohio State narrowly escaped with a 42-35 win, with Justin Fields throwing 3 INTs and Fryfogle going for 7 catches, 218 yards, and 3 TD. This Indiana team was legitimately a really good team, and they even beat #16 Wisconsin 14-6 to finish off the regular season. They’d lose the Outback Bowl in an upset to 4-5 Ole Miss, but finished #12 in the AP Poll, the highest in over 50 years. Penix finished 2nd Team All-Big Ten with 1645 passing yards 14 TD 4 INT. Fryfogle won the Big Ten WR of the Year, catching 37 balls for 721 yards and 7 TD. A whopping 4 defensive players finished 1st Team All-Big Ten, with the entire secondary making the 1st-3rd Team. Even special teams had no weaknesses, with kicker Charles Campbell going 10/11 on FGs. Penix has since transferred to Washington and continues to live up to his potential, finishing 8th in Heisman voting in 2022.
1. 1988 (8-3-1 overall, 5-3 Big Ten)
2020 was good…but 1988 was dominant. They opened with 41-14 and 35-16 wins over Rice and Kentucky. After tying Missouri and blowing out Northwestern, Indiana hosted Ohio State a year after the “darkest day” in Ohio State history. This was arguably worse. Indiana scored on 4 of their first 5 possessions, held a 28-0 lead at halftime, and big brother’d the Buckeyes 41-7. An unthinkable result today. Fast forward a few weeks later, 5-2 Indiana hosted 4-2-2 (their record, not a soccer formation) Iowa. Iowa QB Chuck Hartlieb would set the single game school record with an insane 558 passing yards, and Indiana RB Anthony Thompson broke a school record with 47 carries. Indiana won 45-34, after Iowa nearly came back from a 35-3 deficit. In the last week of the regular season, Indiana blew out Purdue 52-7 on their home turf, in one of the greatest performances in the rivalry’s history. Even the bowl game was a wipe, beating 8-3 South Carolina 34-10.
Indiana scored 33.0 PPG while giving up just 19.6 PPG. 7 wins were by 20+ points, and 4 by 30+. QB Dave Schnell, former 1985 high school player of the year, was 2nd Team All-Big Ten, leading the conference in yards per attempt. RB Anthony Thompson won his 1st of 2 Big Ten POTYs, rushing for 1686 yards and 26(!) TD on 4.7 YPC. 9 players total were 1st/2nd Team All-Big Ten. Kicker Pete Stoyanovich was 1st Team All-B1G, and went on to be Dan Marino’s kicker on the Miami Dolphins for 7 years from 1989-95. He also served as a kicking double in Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (1994).
5th Quarter
Will Indiana ever surpass Purdue as a football program? Why hasn’t Indiana been as good in football as they’ve been in basketball? Did Penix score that 2 point conversion against Penn State in 2020? Who was really the best Indiana squad between 2020 and the 1980’s teams? And where do you think Indiana stands as a program going forward?If you appreciate the effort, please consider subscribing on substack!
2023.05.27 20:06 Frank_Leroux Molossus, Chapter Thirteen
One nice side-effect of the lifting of secrecy was that the entire team (human and alien) could now be reassigned to somewhere more palatial than a sealed-off side-entrance into a hollowed-out mountain. But where, oh where, to put them? What was needed was someplace A) which was much nicer than a tunnel (humanity must treat our alien guests properly, after all) and B) was already set up with the necessary security precautions and secure communications in and out.
In the end, there was, really, only one choice of location…at least if they wanted to stay in the United States proper.
Camp David.
Corporal McCoy spread her arms out along the back of a very nice red-leather sofa, in the middle of a room dominated by a red-brick fireplace in one corner. Along the two far walls from the fireplace stretched multiple windows which showed, at the moment, the denuded stick-like forms of leafless trees. She knew that in the spring and summer they’d be a veritable explosion of green; somehow, she didn’t mind that she wasn’t able to see leaves at the moment. Off in a far corner of the room sat a wet bar that she also eyed with quite evident lust. There was at least one nice single-malt scotch there that she wanted to get ahold of. Just for a taste, mind you.
Not everyone was there; Chao and Grakosh were off in the midst of some giant nerd mind-meld with some Lockheed Martin Skunk-Works types, trying to figure out how to lift what materials were needed into orbit so that humans could help fix the Rithro and show the Coalition that we are very good and oh so helpful little sapients, yes indeed we are, please help us out just in case we get discovered by some genocidal robots who want to do a little bit of trolling.
Moquon, the knuall-toua who was the ship’s lifesystem engineer, coiled around her shoulder as the latter looked with interest at the wood paneling which made up the rafters and roof.
“Now this is more like it!” McCoy exclaimed to all and sundry.
“Yes, indeed! It does seem much nicer than our previous lodgings,” said Mouquon.
“This is not a vacation, corporal.” Sergeant Shaw stood next to one of the nearly floor-to ceiling windows, looking out over the grounds below with a practiced eye.
“You need to relax, Sarge,” said Martinez. “We got something like a million Secret Service agents prowling around here. I went shooting with one of ‘em once, trust me when I say those people are no joke.” He chuckled. “First time I got my ass kicked in a shooting contest by a woman.”
Shaw let out a grunt. “We are the last layer of the onion.”
“Sir?” asked McCoy.
“Someone can figure out we’re here pretty easily.” Shaw pointed out into the wintry woods. “If they send a determined and well-armed force, they might just make through those million agents to here.” He turned away from the window and stared at his team, who, at the moment, sprawled or sat with evident relief on the furniture within the room. “The OPFOR might get taken down. But then again, they might not. What do we do then?”
McCoy felt Mouqon coil herself tighter around her shoulder. Almost on instinct, she reached up and patted the snake-like alien’s head. “Don’t you worry. I’m here.”
Shaw pointed at the corporal. “Exactly. We are the last, and I do mean the last, line of defense. We are gonna run some drills at a time and place of my choosing. We are going to protect our esteemed guests to the very last…and yes, I do mean the very last. Make sure your gear is ready and that you are ready, or I will give y’all an ass-chewing they’ll feel clear out to the Coalition.”
Agent Milton Vila strolled into the lounge at that particular moment with a grin on his broad face. “Sounds like we’re getting an upgrade to our security, Mack.”
“Aw hell, you know how it is. I gotta keep these assholes on their toes or everything breaks down into chaos.”
The Secret Service agent grinned. “Anyways…we now have a new member of our merry band of misfits.”
“Misfits?” Martinez looked appropriately indignant. “I’ll have you know I am a perfectly normal functioning member of society!”
The agent and soldier held each other’s gaze for a few moments before they both busted out in laughter. “Anyways,” continued Vila, “He’s the medical expert that the general requested.” He turned to one of the entrances to the lounge. “Come on in, sir.”
A dark-skinned, lean man with an uncertain air entered. “Zawahir Ibn Harith,” he said by way of greeting. His eyes widened upon viewing the various alien forms now stretched out in various relaxed postures before him.
McCoy decided to throw him a bone. “Welcome!” She gave a wave of her arm…the arm around whose shoulder Mouquon was currently coiled. “Welcome to our…merry band of misfits!”
“Thank you!” The newcomer still looked a bit at sea.
“Hey, Dhuz?” McCoy called out.
The auhn turned from her gazing out the windows. “Yes?”
“I figure you and this guy got a lot to talk about.”
Dhuz met Zawahir’s eyes and smiled. McCoy was still getting used to that; it was a gesture of happiness just as with humans, but auhn teeth were very numerous and very sharp. “I imagine so. Mutual exchange of medical data, yes?”
Now that he had a task before him, Zawahir looked a lot more focused. “Of course! I mean, from what I’ve read thus far all of your species use some method of metal-oxygen bonding to deliver the necessary oxygen to your tissues, but not everyone uses hemoglobin!”
Dhuz lit up. “Exactly!” She touched her forearm and a big old wall of text and diagrams formed above it. “Here, let me show you…”
McCoy chuckled as the pair moved off into a far corner to continue their conversation. “Another nerd mind-meld,” she said to no one in particular.
“Pardon?” asked Mouquon.
“Oh, sorry. Just…Chao and your engineer are now off doing a big old nerd mind-meld with our best and brightest. The last time we had that much talent in one place, we wound up dropping the sun on some people.” The corporal regarded the pair now in the midst of an animated conversation. “I hope this particular nerd-gasm results in something more constructive.”
“Oh!” Mouquon perked up. “I should be a part of this ‘nerd-gasm’. At least, if they start talking about what foodstuffs are viable for the various species.”
McCoy sighed. This was a very comfortable couch, after all. “You’re right, Mouquon.” She hauled herself up and off of the furniture with a bit of reluctance. “Let’s get you involved.” She walked towards the pair, who were both still gesticulating at the display over Dhuz’s forearm.
__________
Milton Vila had, much to his annoyance, been pulled off of President Correa’s detail and assigned to a new one…one to protect the alien captain. Sure, Agent Keynes had taken his place…and if he was forced to admit it, the guy was as good of a shot as he was…but Keynes wasn’t him, and that knowledge ate at him.
Still, he supposed that at least he wasn’t alone in his misery. Sergeant Shaw (who had finally admitted to Milton he was a Green Beret, which helped nail down exactly which branch of the armed forces his team worked for) was also pulled into the task of guarding Sadaf…upon Milton’s request. Not that he would tell the Green Beret that. The sergeant had also gotten the tailoring treatment from Milton’s wife, and now he wore a navy-blue suit which complimented his red hair quite nicely. But the Secret Service agent could tell that the man still wanted to be clad in full battle-rattle and toting a rifle instead of a mere hidden handgun.
“I still say I should be able to wear my normal shit,” said Shaw, not for the first time. At the moment, the three rode in a limousine, on their way to some gala luncheon event held by some upper-crust DC types who wanted to get a speech by one of the brand-new alien celebrities. Milton hoped that they’d also decide to open their damn pocketbooks to help fund the repairs needed for the alien’s ship; in the short time he’d known her, the agent had become won over by Sadaf’s no-nonsense and in-charge attitude.
“We’re trying to not scare the normies, Mack,” replied Milton.
Sadaf, who sat next to the hulking red-bearded man, looked over at him in curiosity. “You want to wear your usual fecal matter?”
“Frinxing translators,” muttered Shaw. As was usual, the various profanities of alien language were the first things to percolate into human speech. “Sorry, ma’am, I meant my normal gear. Yeah, I’m wearing body armor but this stuff is class two at best.” He plucked at his jacket. “Plus I’m not used to moving in this monkey suit.”
Milton grinned. “You’ll get used to it soon enough, Mack. Hey, my people have cleared the place beforehand. Our job is just to stand there behind the good captain and look menacing. And then when she’s doing the meet-and-greet afterwards we need to look extra menacing…and, of course, keep an eye out just in case someone makes a false move.”
“I don’t want to get used to this,” grumped Shaw. “I don’t want to get used to any of this. I want some proper goddamn body armor and a proper goddamn rifle with some goddamn extra magazines. A rifle with an M203 launcher, just in case someone gets really squirrelly.”
The agent winced. “Um, Mack, we civvies do have to worry about things like ‘collateral damage’ and such.”
Shaw’s normally cheerful demeanor fell into a somber look towards the agent, one that brought Milton up short. “Agent Milton, have you ever fallen victim to an RPG attack?”
“Um, no?”
“I have. Trust me, there is never such a thing as overkill.”
Milton sighed. He reached into a jacket pocket and pulled out a city map. “Okay, I suppose that’s as good an excuse to go over everything again. This is the courtyard for the shindig.”
“Shindig!” exclaimed Sadaf in pleasure. “I don’t know why, but that word brings me joy.”
The agent smiled at her. “You’re gonna get used to it, believe me. So, we’ve got the whole area blocked off here, here, and here. Full-body scans for everyone going in, and believe me they’d better have the proper ticket to be there or they’re in for some looong questioning in a little dark room somewhere. No outside translator beads allowed, we issue ‘em after they get through the perimeter. We have snipers located here, here, here, and here. Each one has their own designated field of fire, the four of ‘em cover all angles. Anyone who pops their head up on any of the surrounding roofs will get a fifty-cal bullet right through their noggin before they can even blink.”
“What about the courtyard itself?” asked Shaw. “Before you set up the perimeter, I mean.”
Milton grinned. The sergeant had the makings of a first-class agent. “A very good question. We swept the area prior, using metal detectors and dogs. Especially for the dais and podium where Captain Sadaf is going to make her speech. If I was gonna try for a hit, that’s how I’d do it. Plant some explosives in the podium and trigger it remotely. But we didn’t find anything.”
The sergeant smoothed his beard in a nervous tic. “Drones?”
“Jammers for a thousand-yard radius around the podium. Anything remotely piloted into that space will just fall to the ground. As a bonus, just in case someone decides to try something cute using their cell phone, those won’t work either.”
Shaw grunted in grudging approval. “Sounds good.”
“This is how I earn a living, Mack. Relax.”
Sadaf rubbed a hand on her forehead. She was now clad back in her black-and-silver uniform; somehow the powers that be had determined that it was now okay for her to wear the supposed ‘militaristic’ uniform in public. “Is all this security strictly necessary? I mean, thus far most of your world’s nations seem to be behaving rationally.”
“Oh, we’re not worried about state actors, ma’am,” said Milton. “Well, except for a few. There’s always North Korea, after all.”
“Frinx, don’t get me started on those assholes,” muttered Shaw.
Milton continued, in what he hoped came across as a soothing tone. “Look at it this way. Does your kind suffer from mental disease?”
“Originally, yes. But thanks to medical intervention we can catch almost all of them. At present, we suffer from less than one in three hundred million who have an incurable derangement of the brain…” Sadaf’s eyes widened as she trailed off. “Oh. I forgot, you don’t have access to our level of medical technology.”
Shaw sighed. “No, ma’am, we don’t. Not to mention there’s almost eight billion of us on this here planet. Even assuming only one-hundredth-of-a-percent of those people wish you harm, that’s far too big of a population for us to relax.”
Sadaf seemed to shrink into the cushions of the limousine. “But we come in peace. We don’t mean you any harm.”
Milton knew that it was a breach of protocol, but he reached across and patted her knee. “I know that, ma’am, and almost everyone on the planet knows that. But there are some…well, there are some you just can’t reach.”
Shaw rubbed his jaw as he regarded the map again. “Damn. Wish I had Toke here. That guy could sniff out something hinky like nobody’s business. Plus if something did kick off, he could sort it out no problem.”
“He’s the skinny, taller guy, right?” asked Milton. “Marine Force Recon, I do believe. I know they are double-tough. Yeah, I admit he’d be good for something like this. But the powers that be want to keep him back at Camp David.”
The sergeant grunted in annoyance and looked out the window of the limousine. Then he looked up with a quirky smile. “I guess so. Look at it this way, if something does kick off, then having him at Camp David means that whoms’tsoever tries an assault there is gonna die.”
Milton replied to Shaw with a raised eyebrow. “All right, Shaw. Just between you and me, we deal with very dangerous people by being very dangerous people ourselves. Don’t try to feed me a line of dramatic bullshit.”
For once, Shaw looked flustered. “No, you don’t understand! Toke was the guy you’d drop into the shit, into the middle of any utter hell on Earth, and he’d get you your grid coordinates for arty or drone strikes while escorting two other guys and, oh yeah, he’d kill ten enemies at long range while doing all of that. And not just long-range. He once took out five guys in ten seconds with a knife…and he’s supposed to be a fucking sniper!” The sergeant shuddered. “I can’t tell you about the mission where he got his knee messed up, but let’s just say…he earned every single one of his medals during that action. He’s a throwback.”
Milton tilted his head, as did Sadaf. “Explain,” said the Captain, and not as a question.
“I mean, mentally, in some ways, he’s kinda from way back when we humans were all ooga-booga and lived in caves and smacked each other over the head with clubs. Toke just…ends things. Nice guy, hell if I had kids I’d let him watch ‘em with nary a care in the world. But you press one particular button and he…well, he reverts. He reverts to what we used to be.”
__________
Most of Camp David’s staff was still in bed; Matt had to admit that they’d adapted with admirable speed to having a motley crew of human knuckle-draggers and literal fucking aliens plonked down amongst them. But now it was early morning and Toke was hungry. If he was an asshole, he’d rouse one of the staff to assist in that but he’d rather slice off a toe rather than bother some hard-working person just to make him something to eat. Thus he headed for the kitchen to rustle up some grub for himself.
As he walked through the lounge, which was fast becoming the go-to point for everyone, he saw Kexal, the other udhyr, standing in front of the windows looking out over the wintry scene outside. The massive alien’s head just brushed against the auburn-colored wooden rafters that stretched upwards to form the roof overhead.
“Morning,” said Matt, trying to keep it casual. He’d never spoken much with the planetologist.
“Good morning, Matt!” replied the big alien, with enthusiasm. “I was just in the midst of getting my feel.”
The statement brought the Marine up short. “Feel?”
In response Kexal motioned him over with one of his lower arms. Matt had picked up enough alien social cues to know that such a gesture was intended as something more intimate. He stepped up beside the udhyr, who then proceeded to steer him around in front of him using his big upper arms.
He looked out over the wintry scene. Dawn was just starting, and the sun was beginning to peek over the leafless trees. “Okay, what am I looking or, should I say, feeling for?” he asked.
“The voice of your planet,” replied Kexal. “Being a planetologist is indeed a matter of knowing about weather patterns, about how the types of water, methane, and carbon dioxide ice react under various temperatures and pressures, of how a planet’s entire atmosphere changes when life is present. But there is also this.” He pointed with one big, three-fingered mitt out the windows in front of them both. “If you simply allow it, this planet can speak to you. Those in my profession call it getting the ‘feel’ of a planet. It may sound strange and mystic, but…I am getting my feel.”
That made Matt ruminate on his own view of his planet. Up until now, as far as he was concerned, it was just…there. “So, what kind of ‘feel’ are you getting thus far?”
“This place is wonderful, a lovely oasis. It welcomes me and my colleagues. This is a bastion of life in the midst of an unfeeling dark, much like other life-bearing worlds we’ve encountered…all too infrequently, sad to say.”
“So you’re saying we should treasure this planet?” Matt smiled. “I sure can’t argue with you there. We are trying to be more appreciative of it.”
“Indeed.”
The pair watched the sunrise in pleasant silence for a few minutes, until Matt’s stomach growled again. “All right,” he said. “This is nice getting our feel and all, but I gotta eat something. You hungry?”
“I could consume something.”
“Good, because I’m fuckin’ starving. Follow me.”
He led the big alien through to the kitchen. Thanks to heroic efforts by Dhuz and Mouquon back when they were sequestered in Cheyenne Mountain and then by efforts by those two and Zawahir in the last few days, all possible poisonous or allergic foods had been removed from the premises. That did limit the meals available, but as long as he didn’t have to eat it out of a pouch Matt was content.
He opened the fridge, surveying the contents. “I was just gonna do a sandwich. You want one?”
The udhyr sat at the nearby table; both of the big aliens had long ago forsaken chairs and simply sat on the floor. They claimed it was just as comfortable, and Matt for one was not going to press them on the matter. “Yes, I would like a ‘sandwich’. If it’s not too much trouble.”
Matt scanned the fridge interior. “No trouble at all. Okay, bread, we got.” He pulled a loaf out of the fridge; it had confused him the first time he’d seen it stored like that, since he’d grown up in northern, drier climes. But even in mid-winter this was a humid climate and it was way too easy for bread to go all moldy far too quickly. “Now all we need is filling…” His eyes lit on a big tub and he let out a little ‘ah!’ of pleasure. “Pimento.”
“Pimento?”
With reverence, Matt removed the tub from the fridge and set it on the counter next to the bread. “It’s a cheese-and-pepper spread. They call it the caviar of the South. I got addicted to this stuff back during my basic training days.” He shut the fridge, opened the upper cabinets, and was again pleased to see plates right where he expected them. He took down two.
Martinez strolled into the kitchen as he stretched his arms over his head. He was clad in sweatpants and a hoodie. “Morning, folks. Nothing like a nice little 5k to get the blood flowing in the morning.”
Kexal clicked his mandibles in puzzlement. “Five Kay?”
“Five-kilometer jog. Gotta keep fit, my man. Otherwise Sarge is gonna come back from his deployment and kick our asses.” The corporal’s eyes lit upon the foodstuffs laid out on the counter next to the fridge. “Hmm, breakfast?”
“Just pimento sandwiches,” said Matt as he took out another plate. “You want one?” It was a bit of a trick question; if you ask a soldier if he wants something to eat, the answer was always ‘yes’.
Martinez did not disappoint. “Oh hell yes. Not quite breakfast food, but I’ve for sure eaten way worse way earlier in the morning.”
“Vomlet?”
The corporal shuddered. “Shit man, I somehow wound up with one of those once in spite of it being way out of date. Nothing but a solid orange brick of nastiness, even with the salsa added to it. Are you tryin’ to give me PTSD?”
Matt pulled out a drawer and found a convenient knife. He began laying out the sandwich makings on each plate. “Could be worse. Could be the dreaded Four Fingers of Death.”
“Oof, I only heard about those. Were they bad as they say?”
“Oh, yes, they were,” replied Matt.
“Four Fingers of Death?” asked Kexal.
“Hot dogs,” replied Matt. “Um…little sausages. Ground-up meat, put it in a long casing, boil it or steam it or smoke it. It’ll last for a long time.”
“Ah!” The giant alien looked pleased…at least, Matt was pretty sure he looked pleased. “We have a similar cuisine involving smoked fish, ground up and molded into cakes.”
“Interesting. Then you should know that it should be a no-brainer to make good hot dogs. I mean, go to any ball game and you’ll see ‘em getting wolfed down by the ton. And yet, somehow, someway, Uncle Sam figured out how to screw up damn hot dogs. Four to a pack, and it was the nastiest shit you’ve ever ate.” He held up a hand, showing his fingers held together. “Hence the Four Fingers of Death.”
Kexal let out a pleased click as Matt continued assembling the sandwiches. “I really do feel like I’m getting a better feeling for human society.”
“It’s a very weird and small cross-section of human society,” said Martinez as he seated himself at the table. “We need to get this guy out to Yosemite or, or even better Yellowstone. I was out in Yellowstone once as a kid, it’s really damn cool. He needs to see some proper scenery. Or hell, just drop him into Times Square to chat with the locals.”
“We will do so, once we’re sure that the rest of humanity hasn’t lost its collective shit,” Matt replied. He finished putting the top slice of bread on each sandwich, then turned and fixed the two at the table with a gimlet eye. “Now. We have two important questions to answer. Crusts on or off?”
Martinez blinked, then responded. “Crusts on! Hell, I would always make sure to get the heel when I was a kid.”
“You’re a man after my own heart, Martinez. Kexal?”
“Um, as long as there are no allergens, then I will also go crust on?”
“Good. Next important question. Horizontal or diagonal cut?” Matt hovered the knife over one sandwich, showing each potential slice.
Martinez opted for horizontal, while Kexal requested diagonal. Matt cut each sandwich as requested, then placed each one in front of its recipient with the appropriate regal air. He then took his own, uncut sandwich and sat at the table.
“You don’t cut yours?” asked Martinez.
“Nope. That’s because I’m a savage.” Matt held the corporal’s eyes while he took a big bite out of his own uncut sandwich.
They all munched happily for a few minutes…right up until the alarm went off.
__________
“…and so I am humbly thankful to receive this honorarium on behalf of my crew and all of the Coalition…”
Milton figured that he had the easier job; just stand there and get across the message of ‘if you bum-rush this little blue-scaled person, you will die, and it will hurt the entire time’. He didn’t envy Captain Sadaf her newfound position as Representative Of All Of Alien-Kind, but then again he’d always been more of a wallflower-type anyway in spite of his impressive size. How he’d landed a dreamboat like Teresa was still a mystery for the ages. Although, if he was honest, she had approached him rather than the other way around.
He smiled internally at the memory of her walking up to him at the Sadie Hawkins’ dance and asking if he wanted to go for a spin on the dance floor. Something in her smile and direct gaze had awakened a more confident version of himself, and he’d accepted her request with the requisite gravity.
However it had happened, he now had a family. A wonderful wife and a son, the apple of his eye. But that wasn’t enough. He and Teresa were working hard on adding a daughter to the mix. If it turned out to be another son he wouldn’t be put out, but in his heart of hearts he wanted it to be a daughter. Just so he could spoil her rotten. But then again, if the Breakers arrived, whatever sex his next child turned out to be might be irrelevant.
Milton stopped his woolgathering and focused back on his job. Thus far his earpiece was silent save for periodic check-ins, which was good. No news was good news, after all.
Beside him, Sergeant Shaw constantly scanned the skies. That was fine, since Milton was busy scanning the people arrayed before him. Most of them were older blue-hairs who he could take with a pinky finger, but you never knew. Even an old person could wield a knife with deadly intent.
“…you must understand, we never intended to be here. It was sheer dumb fate that landed us in your, if I’m honest, quite generous lap. I understand that there is, amongst you humans, a lot of concern that we did not approach you directly. But I would invite you to look at it from our point of view. We had fragments, a few little transmissions and video images without context. We had no idea if you would respond to our presence with reflexive hostility. We were only here to gather data, to determine if a follow-up First Contact fleet would be welcomed.”
Sadaf paused and shook her head, a gesture she’d picked up from her time amongst humans. “As you well know, we were not given such a chance. But thankfully things have worked out well in spite of those circumstances…”
Milton’s forehead wrinkled as he heard a weird noise. It sounded a bit like ripping cloth, descending in tone. He reached up towards his ear to ask his team if they heard it as well…
Shaw straightened up, looking like a navy-blue wall of flesh. “INCOMING!” he bawled, just before lunging towards Sadaf at the podium.
The agent suddenly realized the source of that noise. “EVERYBODY DOWN!” he yelled in return as he threw himself at a few VIPs seated near him on the dais.
The huge sergeant simply yeeted the diminutive captain off towards the far end of the dais, before throwing his own considerable bulk at the other VIPs off to the other side.
Then the entire world seemed to explode. Milton’s ears just shut down at the resulting noise. After a moment, he picked himself up and looked over towards his principal, his ears ringing. He knew people were shouting, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.
The small alien was out at the perimeter of the blast, and as she got to her feet she patted herself down in an automatic maneuver that Milton knew very well. She looked up, met his eyes, and gave him a thumbs-up.
“One thing gone right, at least,” he muttered to himself as he hauled himself upright. Okay, damage check…legs okay, feet fine…get moving, you asshole, get to your principal, keep her safe. As he lurched forward, he realized his right arm wasn’t moving properly.
He looked down.
Oh.
His right arm was gone below the elbow.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Am I supposed to learn to shoot left-handed now?”
Then he realized there was quite a bit of blood streaming out of his new stump…maybe he should sit this one out?
No.
Fuck that.
He was going to reach his principal, if nothing else he’d act as a meat shield. As he continued his determined lurching, in some distant corner of Milton’s mind he wished he could have given his beloved Johnny a little sister to torment.
Someone tackled him to the ground, and he performed an automatic hip-throw before jamming his still-existing left forearm across the throat of a terrified…wait, this was just a kid.
“MEDIC!” screamed the kid. “I’m a MEDIC!”
“What…oh.” Milton looked up into the astonished face of Captain Sadaf; he’d managed to made it all the way to her. “She okay?”
“SHE’S FINE!” yelled someone else.
Then another thought came into his adrenaline-fueled brain. “SHAW!” he all but screamed, looking back towards where the sergeant had been before this whole horrible business had kicked off.
What he saw was a big man, clad in navy blue, sprawled over several blue-haired gentry who looked appropriately terrified. And that big man’s leg ended just below his left knee, with blood streaming out of it.
submitted by Frank_Leroux to HFY [link] [comments]
In the end, there was, really, only one choice of location…at least if they wanted to stay in the United States proper.
Camp David.
Corporal McCoy spread her arms out along the back of a very nice red-leather sofa, in the middle of a room dominated by a red-brick fireplace in one corner. Along the two far walls from the fireplace stretched multiple windows which showed, at the moment, the denuded stick-like forms of leafless trees. She knew that in the spring and summer they’d be a veritable explosion of green; somehow, she didn’t mind that she wasn’t able to see leaves at the moment. Off in a far corner of the room sat a wet bar that she also eyed with quite evident lust. There was at least one nice single-malt scotch there that she wanted to get ahold of. Just for a taste, mind you.
Not everyone was there; Chao and Grakosh were off in the midst of some giant nerd mind-meld with some Lockheed Martin Skunk-Works types, trying to figure out how to lift what materials were needed into orbit so that humans could help fix the Rithro and show the Coalition that we are very good and oh so helpful little sapients, yes indeed we are, please help us out just in case we get discovered by some genocidal robots who want to do a little bit of trolling.
Moquon, the knuall-toua who was the ship’s lifesystem engineer, coiled around her shoulder as the latter looked with interest at the wood paneling which made up the rafters and roof.
“Now this is more like it!” McCoy exclaimed to all and sundry.
“Yes, indeed! It does seem much nicer than our previous lodgings,” said Mouquon.
“This is not a vacation, corporal.” Sergeant Shaw stood next to one of the nearly floor-to ceiling windows, looking out over the grounds below with a practiced eye.
“You need to relax, Sarge,” said Martinez. “We got something like a million Secret Service agents prowling around here. I went shooting with one of ‘em once, trust me when I say those people are no joke.” He chuckled. “First time I got my ass kicked in a shooting contest by a woman.”
Shaw let out a grunt. “We are the last layer of the onion.”
“Sir?” asked McCoy.
“Someone can figure out we’re here pretty easily.” Shaw pointed out into the wintry woods. “If they send a determined and well-armed force, they might just make through those million agents to here.” He turned away from the window and stared at his team, who, at the moment, sprawled or sat with evident relief on the furniture within the room. “The OPFOR might get taken down. But then again, they might not. What do we do then?”
McCoy felt Mouqon coil herself tighter around her shoulder. Almost on instinct, she reached up and patted the snake-like alien’s head. “Don’t you worry. I’m here.”
Shaw pointed at the corporal. “Exactly. We are the last, and I do mean the last, line of defense. We are gonna run some drills at a time and place of my choosing. We are going to protect our esteemed guests to the very last…and yes, I do mean the very last. Make sure your gear is ready and that you are ready, or I will give y’all an ass-chewing they’ll feel clear out to the Coalition.”
Agent Milton Vila strolled into the lounge at that particular moment with a grin on his broad face. “Sounds like we’re getting an upgrade to our security, Mack.”
“Aw hell, you know how it is. I gotta keep these assholes on their toes or everything breaks down into chaos.”
The Secret Service agent grinned. “Anyways…we now have a new member of our merry band of misfits.”
“Misfits?” Martinez looked appropriately indignant. “I’ll have you know I am a perfectly normal functioning member of society!”
The agent and soldier held each other’s gaze for a few moments before they both busted out in laughter. “Anyways,” continued Vila, “He’s the medical expert that the general requested.” He turned to one of the entrances to the lounge. “Come on in, sir.”
A dark-skinned, lean man with an uncertain air entered. “Zawahir Ibn Harith,” he said by way of greeting. His eyes widened upon viewing the various alien forms now stretched out in various relaxed postures before him.
McCoy decided to throw him a bone. “Welcome!” She gave a wave of her arm…the arm around whose shoulder Mouquon was currently coiled. “Welcome to our…merry band of misfits!”
“Thank you!” The newcomer still looked a bit at sea.
“Hey, Dhuz?” McCoy called out.
The auhn turned from her gazing out the windows. “Yes?”
“I figure you and this guy got a lot to talk about.”
Dhuz met Zawahir’s eyes and smiled. McCoy was still getting used to that; it was a gesture of happiness just as with humans, but auhn teeth were very numerous and very sharp. “I imagine so. Mutual exchange of medical data, yes?”
Now that he had a task before him, Zawahir looked a lot more focused. “Of course! I mean, from what I’ve read thus far all of your species use some method of metal-oxygen bonding to deliver the necessary oxygen to your tissues, but not everyone uses hemoglobin!”
Dhuz lit up. “Exactly!” She touched her forearm and a big old wall of text and diagrams formed above it. “Here, let me show you…”
McCoy chuckled as the pair moved off into a far corner to continue their conversation. “Another nerd mind-meld,” she said to no one in particular.
“Pardon?” asked Mouquon.
“Oh, sorry. Just…Chao and your engineer are now off doing a big old nerd mind-meld with our best and brightest. The last time we had that much talent in one place, we wound up dropping the sun on some people.” The corporal regarded the pair now in the midst of an animated conversation. “I hope this particular nerd-gasm results in something more constructive.”
“Oh!” Mouquon perked up. “I should be a part of this ‘nerd-gasm’. At least, if they start talking about what foodstuffs are viable for the various species.”
McCoy sighed. This was a very comfortable couch, after all. “You’re right, Mouquon.” She hauled herself up and off of the furniture with a bit of reluctance. “Let’s get you involved.” She walked towards the pair, who were both still gesticulating at the display over Dhuz’s forearm.
__________
Milton Vila had, much to his annoyance, been pulled off of President Correa’s detail and assigned to a new one…one to protect the alien captain. Sure, Agent Keynes had taken his place…and if he was forced to admit it, the guy was as good of a shot as he was…but Keynes wasn’t him, and that knowledge ate at him.
Still, he supposed that at least he wasn’t alone in his misery. Sergeant Shaw (who had finally admitted to Milton he was a Green Beret, which helped nail down exactly which branch of the armed forces his team worked for) was also pulled into the task of guarding Sadaf…upon Milton’s request. Not that he would tell the Green Beret that. The sergeant had also gotten the tailoring treatment from Milton’s wife, and now he wore a navy-blue suit which complimented his red hair quite nicely. But the Secret Service agent could tell that the man still wanted to be clad in full battle-rattle and toting a rifle instead of a mere hidden handgun.
“I still say I should be able to wear my normal shit,” said Shaw, not for the first time. At the moment, the three rode in a limousine, on their way to some gala luncheon event held by some upper-crust DC types who wanted to get a speech by one of the brand-new alien celebrities. Milton hoped that they’d also decide to open their damn pocketbooks to help fund the repairs needed for the alien’s ship; in the short time he’d known her, the agent had become won over by Sadaf’s no-nonsense and in-charge attitude.
“We’re trying to not scare the normies, Mack,” replied Milton.
Sadaf, who sat next to the hulking red-bearded man, looked over at him in curiosity. “You want to wear your usual fecal matter?”
“Frinxing translators,” muttered Shaw. As was usual, the various profanities of alien language were the first things to percolate into human speech. “Sorry, ma’am, I meant my normal gear. Yeah, I’m wearing body armor but this stuff is class two at best.” He plucked at his jacket. “Plus I’m not used to moving in this monkey suit.”
Milton grinned. “You’ll get used to it soon enough, Mack. Hey, my people have cleared the place beforehand. Our job is just to stand there behind the good captain and look menacing. And then when she’s doing the meet-and-greet afterwards we need to look extra menacing…and, of course, keep an eye out just in case someone makes a false move.”
“I don’t want to get used to this,” grumped Shaw. “I don’t want to get used to any of this. I want some proper goddamn body armor and a proper goddamn rifle with some goddamn extra magazines. A rifle with an M203 launcher, just in case someone gets really squirrelly.”
The agent winced. “Um, Mack, we civvies do have to worry about things like ‘collateral damage’ and such.”
Shaw’s normally cheerful demeanor fell into a somber look towards the agent, one that brought Milton up short. “Agent Milton, have you ever fallen victim to an RPG attack?”
“Um, no?”
“I have. Trust me, there is never such a thing as overkill.”
Milton sighed. He reached into a jacket pocket and pulled out a city map. “Okay, I suppose that’s as good an excuse to go over everything again. This is the courtyard for the shindig.”
“Shindig!” exclaimed Sadaf in pleasure. “I don’t know why, but that word brings me joy.”
The agent smiled at her. “You’re gonna get used to it, believe me. So, we’ve got the whole area blocked off here, here, and here. Full-body scans for everyone going in, and believe me they’d better have the proper ticket to be there or they’re in for some looong questioning in a little dark room somewhere. No outside translator beads allowed, we issue ‘em after they get through the perimeter. We have snipers located here, here, here, and here. Each one has their own designated field of fire, the four of ‘em cover all angles. Anyone who pops their head up on any of the surrounding roofs will get a fifty-cal bullet right through their noggin before they can even blink.”
“What about the courtyard itself?” asked Shaw. “Before you set up the perimeter, I mean.”
Milton grinned. The sergeant had the makings of a first-class agent. “A very good question. We swept the area prior, using metal detectors and dogs. Especially for the dais and podium where Captain Sadaf is going to make her speech. If I was gonna try for a hit, that’s how I’d do it. Plant some explosives in the podium and trigger it remotely. But we didn’t find anything.”
The sergeant smoothed his beard in a nervous tic. “Drones?”
“Jammers for a thousand-yard radius around the podium. Anything remotely piloted into that space will just fall to the ground. As a bonus, just in case someone decides to try something cute using their cell phone, those won’t work either.”
Shaw grunted in grudging approval. “Sounds good.”
“This is how I earn a living, Mack. Relax.”
Sadaf rubbed a hand on her forehead. She was now clad back in her black-and-silver uniform; somehow the powers that be had determined that it was now okay for her to wear the supposed ‘militaristic’ uniform in public. “Is all this security strictly necessary? I mean, thus far most of your world’s nations seem to be behaving rationally.”
“Oh, we’re not worried about state actors, ma’am,” said Milton. “Well, except for a few. There’s always North Korea, after all.”
“Frinx, don’t get me started on those assholes,” muttered Shaw.
Milton continued, in what he hoped came across as a soothing tone. “Look at it this way. Does your kind suffer from mental disease?”
“Originally, yes. But thanks to medical intervention we can catch almost all of them. At present, we suffer from less than one in three hundred million who have an incurable derangement of the brain…” Sadaf’s eyes widened as she trailed off. “Oh. I forgot, you don’t have access to our level of medical technology.”
Shaw sighed. “No, ma’am, we don’t. Not to mention there’s almost eight billion of us on this here planet. Even assuming only one-hundredth-of-a-percent of those people wish you harm, that’s far too big of a population for us to relax.”
Sadaf seemed to shrink into the cushions of the limousine. “But we come in peace. We don’t mean you any harm.”
Milton knew that it was a breach of protocol, but he reached across and patted her knee. “I know that, ma’am, and almost everyone on the planet knows that. But there are some…well, there are some you just can’t reach.”
Shaw rubbed his jaw as he regarded the map again. “Damn. Wish I had Toke here. That guy could sniff out something hinky like nobody’s business. Plus if something did kick off, he could sort it out no problem.”
“He’s the skinny, taller guy, right?” asked Milton. “Marine Force Recon, I do believe. I know they are double-tough. Yeah, I admit he’d be good for something like this. But the powers that be want to keep him back at Camp David.”
The sergeant grunted in annoyance and looked out the window of the limousine. Then he looked up with a quirky smile. “I guess so. Look at it this way, if something does kick off, then having him at Camp David means that whoms’tsoever tries an assault there is gonna die.”
Milton replied to Shaw with a raised eyebrow. “All right, Shaw. Just between you and me, we deal with very dangerous people by being very dangerous people ourselves. Don’t try to feed me a line of dramatic bullshit.”
For once, Shaw looked flustered. “No, you don’t understand! Toke was the guy you’d drop into the shit, into the middle of any utter hell on Earth, and he’d get you your grid coordinates for arty or drone strikes while escorting two other guys and, oh yeah, he’d kill ten enemies at long range while doing all of that. And not just long-range. He once took out five guys in ten seconds with a knife…and he’s supposed to be a fucking sniper!” The sergeant shuddered. “I can’t tell you about the mission where he got his knee messed up, but let’s just say…he earned every single one of his medals during that action. He’s a throwback.”
Milton tilted his head, as did Sadaf. “Explain,” said the Captain, and not as a question.
“I mean, mentally, in some ways, he’s kinda from way back when we humans were all ooga-booga and lived in caves and smacked each other over the head with clubs. Toke just…ends things. Nice guy, hell if I had kids I’d let him watch ‘em with nary a care in the world. But you press one particular button and he…well, he reverts. He reverts to what we used to be.”
__________
Most of Camp David’s staff was still in bed; Matt had to admit that they’d adapted with admirable speed to having a motley crew of human knuckle-draggers and literal fucking aliens plonked down amongst them. But now it was early morning and Toke was hungry. If he was an asshole, he’d rouse one of the staff to assist in that but he’d rather slice off a toe rather than bother some hard-working person just to make him something to eat. Thus he headed for the kitchen to rustle up some grub for himself.
As he walked through the lounge, which was fast becoming the go-to point for everyone, he saw Kexal, the other udhyr, standing in front of the windows looking out over the wintry scene outside. The massive alien’s head just brushed against the auburn-colored wooden rafters that stretched upwards to form the roof overhead.
“Morning,” said Matt, trying to keep it casual. He’d never spoken much with the planetologist.
“Good morning, Matt!” replied the big alien, with enthusiasm. “I was just in the midst of getting my feel.”
The statement brought the Marine up short. “Feel?”
In response Kexal motioned him over with one of his lower arms. Matt had picked up enough alien social cues to know that such a gesture was intended as something more intimate. He stepped up beside the udhyr, who then proceeded to steer him around in front of him using his big upper arms.
He looked out over the wintry scene. Dawn was just starting, and the sun was beginning to peek over the leafless trees. “Okay, what am I looking or, should I say, feeling for?” he asked.
“The voice of your planet,” replied Kexal. “Being a planetologist is indeed a matter of knowing about weather patterns, about how the types of water, methane, and carbon dioxide ice react under various temperatures and pressures, of how a planet’s entire atmosphere changes when life is present. But there is also this.” He pointed with one big, three-fingered mitt out the windows in front of them both. “If you simply allow it, this planet can speak to you. Those in my profession call it getting the ‘feel’ of a planet. It may sound strange and mystic, but…I am getting my feel.”
That made Matt ruminate on his own view of his planet. Up until now, as far as he was concerned, it was just…there. “So, what kind of ‘feel’ are you getting thus far?”
“This place is wonderful, a lovely oasis. It welcomes me and my colleagues. This is a bastion of life in the midst of an unfeeling dark, much like other life-bearing worlds we’ve encountered…all too infrequently, sad to say.”
“So you’re saying we should treasure this planet?” Matt smiled. “I sure can’t argue with you there. We are trying to be more appreciative of it.”
“Indeed.”
The pair watched the sunrise in pleasant silence for a few minutes, until Matt’s stomach growled again. “All right,” he said. “This is nice getting our feel and all, but I gotta eat something. You hungry?”
“I could consume something.”
“Good, because I’m fuckin’ starving. Follow me.”
He led the big alien through to the kitchen. Thanks to heroic efforts by Dhuz and Mouquon back when they were sequestered in Cheyenne Mountain and then by efforts by those two and Zawahir in the last few days, all possible poisonous or allergic foods had been removed from the premises. That did limit the meals available, but as long as he didn’t have to eat it out of a pouch Matt was content.
He opened the fridge, surveying the contents. “I was just gonna do a sandwich. You want one?”
The udhyr sat at the nearby table; both of the big aliens had long ago forsaken chairs and simply sat on the floor. They claimed it was just as comfortable, and Matt for one was not going to press them on the matter. “Yes, I would like a ‘sandwich’. If it’s not too much trouble.”
Matt scanned the fridge interior. “No trouble at all. Okay, bread, we got.” He pulled a loaf out of the fridge; it had confused him the first time he’d seen it stored like that, since he’d grown up in northern, drier climes. But even in mid-winter this was a humid climate and it was way too easy for bread to go all moldy far too quickly. “Now all we need is filling…” His eyes lit on a big tub and he let out a little ‘ah!’ of pleasure. “Pimento.”
“Pimento?”
With reverence, Matt removed the tub from the fridge and set it on the counter next to the bread. “It’s a cheese-and-pepper spread. They call it the caviar of the South. I got addicted to this stuff back during my basic training days.” He shut the fridge, opened the upper cabinets, and was again pleased to see plates right where he expected them. He took down two.
Martinez strolled into the kitchen as he stretched his arms over his head. He was clad in sweatpants and a hoodie. “Morning, folks. Nothing like a nice little 5k to get the blood flowing in the morning.”
Kexal clicked his mandibles in puzzlement. “Five Kay?”
“Five-kilometer jog. Gotta keep fit, my man. Otherwise Sarge is gonna come back from his deployment and kick our asses.” The corporal’s eyes lit upon the foodstuffs laid out on the counter next to the fridge. “Hmm, breakfast?”
“Just pimento sandwiches,” said Matt as he took out another plate. “You want one?” It was a bit of a trick question; if you ask a soldier if he wants something to eat, the answer was always ‘yes’.
Martinez did not disappoint. “Oh hell yes. Not quite breakfast food, but I’ve for sure eaten way worse way earlier in the morning.”
“Vomlet?”
The corporal shuddered. “Shit man, I somehow wound up with one of those once in spite of it being way out of date. Nothing but a solid orange brick of nastiness, even with the salsa added to it. Are you tryin’ to give me PTSD?”
Matt pulled out a drawer and found a convenient knife. He began laying out the sandwich makings on each plate. “Could be worse. Could be the dreaded Four Fingers of Death.”
“Oof, I only heard about those. Were they bad as they say?”
“Oh, yes, they were,” replied Matt.
“Four Fingers of Death?” asked Kexal.
“Hot dogs,” replied Matt. “Um…little sausages. Ground-up meat, put it in a long casing, boil it or steam it or smoke it. It’ll last for a long time.”
“Ah!” The giant alien looked pleased…at least, Matt was pretty sure he looked pleased. “We have a similar cuisine involving smoked fish, ground up and molded into cakes.”
“Interesting. Then you should know that it should be a no-brainer to make good hot dogs. I mean, go to any ball game and you’ll see ‘em getting wolfed down by the ton. And yet, somehow, someway, Uncle Sam figured out how to screw up damn hot dogs. Four to a pack, and it was the nastiest shit you’ve ever ate.” He held up a hand, showing his fingers held together. “Hence the Four Fingers of Death.”
Kexal let out a pleased click as Matt continued assembling the sandwiches. “I really do feel like I’m getting a better feeling for human society.”
“It’s a very weird and small cross-section of human society,” said Martinez as he seated himself at the table. “We need to get this guy out to Yosemite or, or even better Yellowstone. I was out in Yellowstone once as a kid, it’s really damn cool. He needs to see some proper scenery. Or hell, just drop him into Times Square to chat with the locals.”
“We will do so, once we’re sure that the rest of humanity hasn’t lost its collective shit,” Matt replied. He finished putting the top slice of bread on each sandwich, then turned and fixed the two at the table with a gimlet eye. “Now. We have two important questions to answer. Crusts on or off?”
Martinez blinked, then responded. “Crusts on! Hell, I would always make sure to get the heel when I was a kid.”
“You’re a man after my own heart, Martinez. Kexal?”
“Um, as long as there are no allergens, then I will also go crust on?”
“Good. Next important question. Horizontal or diagonal cut?” Matt hovered the knife over one sandwich, showing each potential slice.
Martinez opted for horizontal, while Kexal requested diagonal. Matt cut each sandwich as requested, then placed each one in front of its recipient with the appropriate regal air. He then took his own, uncut sandwich and sat at the table.
“You don’t cut yours?” asked Martinez.
“Nope. That’s because I’m a savage.” Matt held the corporal’s eyes while he took a big bite out of his own uncut sandwich.
They all munched happily for a few minutes…right up until the alarm went off.
__________
“…and so I am humbly thankful to receive this honorarium on behalf of my crew and all of the Coalition…”
Milton figured that he had the easier job; just stand there and get across the message of ‘if you bum-rush this little blue-scaled person, you will die, and it will hurt the entire time’. He didn’t envy Captain Sadaf her newfound position as Representative Of All Of Alien-Kind, but then again he’d always been more of a wallflower-type anyway in spite of his impressive size. How he’d landed a dreamboat like Teresa was still a mystery for the ages. Although, if he was honest, she had approached him rather than the other way around.
He smiled internally at the memory of her walking up to him at the Sadie Hawkins’ dance and asking if he wanted to go for a spin on the dance floor. Something in her smile and direct gaze had awakened a more confident version of himself, and he’d accepted her request with the requisite gravity.
However it had happened, he now had a family. A wonderful wife and a son, the apple of his eye. But that wasn’t enough. He and Teresa were working hard on adding a daughter to the mix. If it turned out to be another son he wouldn’t be put out, but in his heart of hearts he wanted it to be a daughter. Just so he could spoil her rotten. But then again, if the Breakers arrived, whatever sex his next child turned out to be might be irrelevant.
Milton stopped his woolgathering and focused back on his job. Thus far his earpiece was silent save for periodic check-ins, which was good. No news was good news, after all.
Beside him, Sergeant Shaw constantly scanned the skies. That was fine, since Milton was busy scanning the people arrayed before him. Most of them were older blue-hairs who he could take with a pinky finger, but you never knew. Even an old person could wield a knife with deadly intent.
“…you must understand, we never intended to be here. It was sheer dumb fate that landed us in your, if I’m honest, quite generous lap. I understand that there is, amongst you humans, a lot of concern that we did not approach you directly. But I would invite you to look at it from our point of view. We had fragments, a few little transmissions and video images without context. We had no idea if you would respond to our presence with reflexive hostility. We were only here to gather data, to determine if a follow-up First Contact fleet would be welcomed.”
Sadaf paused and shook her head, a gesture she’d picked up from her time amongst humans. “As you well know, we were not given such a chance. But thankfully things have worked out well in spite of those circumstances…”
Milton’s forehead wrinkled as he heard a weird noise. It sounded a bit like ripping cloth, descending in tone. He reached up towards his ear to ask his team if they heard it as well…
Shaw straightened up, looking like a navy-blue wall of flesh. “INCOMING!” he bawled, just before lunging towards Sadaf at the podium.
The agent suddenly realized the source of that noise. “EVERYBODY DOWN!” he yelled in return as he threw himself at a few VIPs seated near him on the dais.
The huge sergeant simply yeeted the diminutive captain off towards the far end of the dais, before throwing his own considerable bulk at the other VIPs off to the other side.
Then the entire world seemed to explode. Milton’s ears just shut down at the resulting noise. After a moment, he picked himself up and looked over towards his principal, his ears ringing. He knew people were shouting, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.
The small alien was out at the perimeter of the blast, and as she got to her feet she patted herself down in an automatic maneuver that Milton knew very well. She looked up, met his eyes, and gave him a thumbs-up.
“One thing gone right, at least,” he muttered to himself as he hauled himself upright. Okay, damage check…legs okay, feet fine…get moving, you asshole, get to your principal, keep her safe. As he lurched forward, he realized his right arm wasn’t moving properly.
He looked down.
Oh.
His right arm was gone below the elbow.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Am I supposed to learn to shoot left-handed now?”
Then he realized there was quite a bit of blood streaming out of his new stump…maybe he should sit this one out?
No.
Fuck that.
He was going to reach his principal, if nothing else he’d act as a meat shield. As he continued his determined lurching, in some distant corner of Milton’s mind he wished he could have given his beloved Johnny a little sister to torment.
Someone tackled him to the ground, and he performed an automatic hip-throw before jamming his still-existing left forearm across the throat of a terrified…wait, this was just a kid.
“MEDIC!” screamed the kid. “I’m a MEDIC!”
“What…oh.” Milton looked up into the astonished face of Captain Sadaf; he’d managed to made it all the way to her. “She okay?”
“SHE’S FINE!” yelled someone else.
Then another thought came into his adrenaline-fueled brain. “SHAW!” he all but screamed, looking back towards where the sergeant had been before this whole horrible business had kicked off.
What he saw was a big man, clad in navy blue, sprawled over several blue-haired gentry who looked appropriately terrified. And that big man’s leg ended just below his left knee, with blood streaming out of it.
2023.05.27 20:01 143cookiedough Kendall: The Tortured "Chosen-One" Archetype
Throughout the series, Kendall has been portrayed as internally conflicted. He wants his father’s love and to be successful in his corner of reality (embrace the villain/Shadow-side), but he also sees himself as a better person than his dad and wants to be loved by the masses (hero/Altruistic-side). Until the last episode, we’ve watched him unsuccessfully attempt to have it all.
Now that he’s acting co-CEO, Ken can no longer compartmentalize the business's evils and role in them, with how he views himself. This is why he is extra reactive to Rava and Jess. They mirror the truth he’s trying so hard to avoid.
In the past two episodes, this inner conflict leaves Ken distracted, indecisive, and weak until the eulogy, when he takes a moment to reflect on what his uncle said and his dad’s legacy. At this moment, you see an emotional shift in which he seemingly decides to “stop trying.” You see focused confidence take over as Ken decides to fully embrace his dark side - cue Darth Vader theme music.
I predict Kendall will be full Logan/Vader in the last episode. Any prior signs of his hurt, yet altruistic inner child that has strived to escape the shadow of his father will be gone. He’ll have transformed into a fully formed, callous, and abusive adult.
submitted by 143cookiedough to SuccessionTV [link] [comments]
Now that he’s acting co-CEO, Ken can no longer compartmentalize the business's evils and role in them, with how he views himself. This is why he is extra reactive to Rava and Jess. They mirror the truth he’s trying so hard to avoid.
In the past two episodes, this inner conflict leaves Ken distracted, indecisive, and weak until the eulogy, when he takes a moment to reflect on what his uncle said and his dad’s legacy. At this moment, you see an emotional shift in which he seemingly decides to “stop trying.” You see focused confidence take over as Ken decides to fully embrace his dark side - cue Darth Vader theme music.
I predict Kendall will be full Logan/Vader in the last episode. Any prior signs of his hurt, yet altruistic inner child that has strived to escape the shadow of his father will be gone. He’ll have transformed into a fully formed, callous, and abusive adult.
2023.05.27 18:38 Fickle-Exchange2017 Season 2, Ep 54, Recap, the Penultimate
THE FIGHT CONTINUES!!!
Our party has engaged in battle with both the King and the Lizard Guardian! We were off to a great start, neutralizing the King and getting some free hits when Jedwyn casts 'hold person'. Barilla breaks out of his stun and is able to move again! Only to have the King mess inside his head and we're a little unsure if he's fully under control of his own actions going forward.... That's okay, because between him and the rest of the group, they start to carve up King and his goon, the Lizard guardian. But the tides change when the guardian unleashes the full potential of its power in the form of a fireball; the King also teleports behind Barilla and Fumbles and like a cat on the countertop with a glass of water, shoves em over the cliffs edge that they were standing on. Holding on for their dear lives, the rest of the group focus their efforts on the King, Fritz gets some HP back and the guardian seems to be focused mightily on Carl 7 and that's when they all hear a voice in their heads...
Party roll to beat = 7
Vanessa 8 Dusty 10 Cory 19 Matt 3 Steven 3
Matt and Steven go out to dinner and grab a table for 3, even tho there is only 2 of them, someone might show up right? right?!
BACK TO THE ACTION!
The king, unable to vanish away due to Fritz casting Faire Fire on him, seeps into the minds of our party...
Jedwyn...The music in his head stops...The king says that he can make the music in his head stop, bring him peace of mind if you may. Jedwyn, that backwater hick son of the gun, loves the lady in his head. He is unswayed by the Kings ploy.
Carl 7....He hears pinging in his head, sounds much like Alby meowing. The King offers Carl 7 the venegence he so sought after desires by finding Carl 7's 'father'. To sweeten the deal, the King claims he can teach Carl 7 the power of transforming consciences, which would truly make him become a real boy.
Barilla, who's still hanging onto the side of the cliff, hears the King's voice in his head. The king offers him what Barilla is good at; Violence. By joining the King's crusade he will bath in the pasta of his enemies
Fritz is next, the King taunts him with the unknown knowledge that only the King knows. The knowledge of the cosmos, the making of the planet, all could be Fritz' if he just bends the knee to the King...
Fumbles sees a vision of his family, all of them. Even the bad ones like Crumbles. The king offers vanity to Fumbles, saying that he can return to his family as a hero, finally being accepted and a new fedora...
Addressing the entire group, the King says that the only thing that is stopping this volcano from erupting and killing the entire island is the King's very own will.
Jedwyn, roll insight to see if the King is actually telling the truth 11
Fritz, roll insight to see if the King is actually telling the truth 20
Fritz senses that the Volcano could pop at any moment and it actually may have something to do with the king.
Fritz Fynn Fynkle’s turn, casts 'call lightning' on the king spell save DC 14 15, fail The king still takes half damage, 9 dmg
Barilla Stromboli’s turn, attempts to climb up the cliff edge to solid ground w/advantage 10 he doesn't budge an inch
Carl 7’s turn, roll to make a lizard kebab with greatsword 18, hit 12 dmg
second attack 14, miss
Jedwyn Bogswallow’s turn, shoots eldritch blast on the king 20, hit 15 dmg
second blast, 21, hit 14 dmg
Fumbles O'Shack-Hennessy’s turn. roll to assist Barilla 17 Fumbles grabs Barilla and pulls him up, they straddle eachother as they fall backwards onto the safe solid ground.
Lizard guardian's turn, Spear attack on Carl 7 17, miss
The King's turn, Throws out a blast at the entire party
Everyone make INT saving throws
Barilla Stromboli 12
Fritz Fynn Fynkle 19
Jedwyn Bogswallow 15
Fumbles O'Shack-Hennessy ???
Carl Seven 16
Fumbles and Barilla take 16 dmg, the rest take half and Barilla & Fumbles are stunned
The king reaches out with his hands, and a burst of energy is formed and released all over the Lizard Guardian.
Carl 7, make a dex save to avoid Lizard and energy burst. 20 still takes 12 dmg
Fritz Fynn Fynkle’s turn, casts call lightning, dex save DC 14 16, fail The king still takes half dmg, total of 8 dmg
The king gets lit up, he lets out a gasp of air as the singed parts of his body slowly smoke...he looks up to the heavens and says, "I'm sorry Lindrick..." and then falls to the ground, his crown falling off him as his body crumples up like a paper doll. Carl 7 dives for the crown, the whole cave begins to shake violently.
Jedwyn reaches into the brain of the Lizard guardian... It explains that his bond to the king is broken and he is free...but they won't make it out alive. Well it will, but the rest of the party is fucked. Carl 7 can feel every ones consciences now and he wants the guardian to save everything but it's not that easy. The font will be powered as long as he is alive. Kill the lizard and kill magic, or we let him live and the magic would destroy the island or more. Fritz goes and searches the king, he finds a single brightly glowing orange soul orb, suspected to be Lindrick, lots of magic is coming off it.
We debate what to do...Carl 7 isn't too sure about the guardian and the more they talk to him, the more they realize that the guardian wants to be put out of his misery. The guardians were called on originally to hold back the great beast, but if the magic releases, it might be an undoing of all... So, they are given the option and decide to mercy kill the guardian, which will destroy the font and magic and likely awaken the world wrym shaper. After MANY attempts at trying to behead the guardian...the pillar of fire where the font of magic is located starts to shake and dissipate long with the guardian. The shaking starts to slow and that when Jedwyn hears the music in his head turn up and everyone else starts to hear it too. Oh dear.... A form floats down out of thin air, it looks like the form of the angel they fought earlier on in the campaign, but this one is draped in all black, the darkest of dark. It slowly descending and not stopping, heading towards and into the vanquished font of magic.
"You've fulfilled your mission...the world will be remade to prepare for her coming" - The voice they all hear in the head.A black tendril reaches out from the font of magic and grabs the king, engulfing it and we start to notice the black mist change...morphing and spreading and heads back into the font of magic where the world starts to shake again. Jedwyn walks right into the blackness as his party members look on and vanishes into the goo...
COULD THIS BE DARK RAIMI OOZE?!
WILL THE WRYM AWAKEN AND DESTROY THE WORLD?!
CAN OUR GROUP PULL IT TOGETHER AND GET OUT ALIVE!?
YOU'VE MADE IT THIS FAR BUT WE STILL GOT SOME WAYS TO GO! FIND OUT HOW OUR PARTY DOES ON THE NEEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXTTTTTTTTTTTT PAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRTTTTTTYYYYYYYY ROOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
Trivia
-Alby is hella vocal before the party starts.
-Jedwyn smells like a hot swamp
-Fritz smells like Cedar and leather bound books
-Barilla...step back from that ledge my friend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRYZijLZR-Q
-The king has magic resistances against effects, so he has advantage on spell saves
-Every time they hit the Lizard guardian, they are supposed to take fire dmg
-Wizards of the coast bought TSR (makers of DnD) for 25 million back in 1997. While open game licensed, WoTC are trying to shift away from that because they want more control/money
Quotes
"To the joker who sprayed 666 on my squad car, the jokes on you, i turned the 6's into little snowmen and everyones loving it" - Vanessa
"How you gunna know if it's hotter than a hoochies coochie?" - Matt
"...and if none of that works, you've gotten the carrot now here's the stick" - The King
"I think we're trying to like put physics & logic into something that Mark is just gunna do whatever the fuck he wants with" - Steven
"The true person we should thank is Denis Schumer, who's Gary Gygax's next door neighbor. He was the one who created all the original maps and monsters, back then they called it dingles and door bells" - Uncle Dusty's history corner
"Those are some sexy cancer kids" - Vanessa on the movie "fault in our stars"
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2023.05.27 18:26 viewless25 Defending the Draft 2023: New York Jets
”Short” recap of the Jets' 2022 Season
The Jets had a noisy offseason in 2022 as they were big spenders in free agency, bringing in CB DJ Reed, TE CJ Uzomah, and OG Laken Tomlinson. The also had 3 first round picks and an early second rounder to give the team one of the youngest roster in the NFL by snaps given. The main headline going into the Jets regular season was, like most NFL teams, centered around the quarterback position. The Jets drafted BYU QB Zach Wilson #2 overall in the 2021 NFL draft. Statistically, Zach's rookie campaign was off to an abysmal start with 4 TDs and 9 picks in his first Five starts before having his midseason interrupted by a knee injury. Zach would return and threw 5 touchdowns and just two picks in his last seven games, playing less dynamically than he had in Tennessee but smarter and safer. Zach went into the 2022 season looking to improve on his 2,334 yards passing, 55.6% completion percentage, 9 passing touchdowns, 4 rushing touchdowns, and 11 interceptions from 2022.However, Zach would miss September due to a miniscus tear he suffered in the preseason. The Jets started Joe Flacco at the quarterback position for their opening three games; going 1-2 with a historical comeback win at Cleveland (I didn't have to mention this but it's the most exciting Jets football you'll ever see). After Zach returned, the Jets opened out on a winning streak. However, this had more to do with the star performances of the Jets rookies, namely WR Garrett Wilson, RB Breece Hall, and CB Sauce Gardner. In Denver, the Jets suffered a pyrrhic victory at hands of the Broncos as the team won 16-9, but suffered season ending injuries to OL Alijah Vera-Tucker and Breece Hall. Hindering the offensive line and prematurely ending Hall's OROTY campaign. This altered the course of the Jets' season for the worse. While young stars Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner continued to shine, the team's offense couldn't make up for the loss of Breece Hall as they were forced to look to Zach Wilson to lead the passing offense. Zach Wilson regressed heavily from his already terrible rookie season and as a result of his poor performance and attitude, was benched. The Jets attempted to salvage their season by looking to Mike White, who almost immediately went out with injury, and then later to Flacco (and at one point, Chris Streveler, fresh out of the CFL). Only two seasons into Wilson's career, he's cemented himself among the greatest draft busts in NFL history and for the sake of playefan morale, is completely unplayable in 2023. He isn't going to be cut until at least August, as there's no financial incentive to give up on him until after next season. The Jets missed out on the playoffs in 2023 for the 12th straight season, the second longest drought in North American sports. The silver lining for the Jets this season is that their roster is still full of young talent across the board, as AVT should be back by the preseason, Breece Hall should be back in the early regular season this year, and Garret Wilson and Sauce Gardner are back for their sophomore seasons after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the year, respectively. The Jets had very little coaching staff/front office turnover from 2022. The main exception is the Jets moved on from young offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to sign veteran OC and recently fired Denver Broncos' head coach, Nathaniel Hackett. This move was met with middling reception by fans. As many cited him as an underwhelming retread, though there was potentially one huge upside to signing Hackett and his name is...
Aaron Freaking Rodgers
After acknowledging his failure in drafting and developing his franchise QB, New York Jets General Manager Joe Douglas, scrambled to find a QB the Jets can compete with during their current window where their most talented players are on rookie deals. Joe Douglas doesn’t have the luxury of trying again with rookie QB roulette as he’s already four years into a rebuild that has yielded zero winning seasons. Many considered his huge failure with Zach Wilson to be a fireable offense, but due to his success in building the rest of the team, Jets owner Woody Johnson publicly voiced his confidence in Joe Douglas and let him have another offseason to try to pull a rabbit out of his hat at the QB position. The Jets were connected to almost every veteran QB that might conceivably be on the market from January to March. Around the time of the NFL Combine, the Jets had their options narrowed down to Tannehil, Cousins, and Aaron Rodgers headlining the group. With Rodgers’ ending his career in Green Bay, he then descended into a Darkness Retreat. Afterward, Aaron decided to tell Schefter to lose his number and went on the Mcafee show to announce that he had decided to play for the Jets, despite still being on contract with the Packers. After a month and a half of Jets and Packers fans taking to Reddit and Twitter to argue endlessly about Leverage, the Jets and Packers finally worked out a deal on April 24th, just days before the 2023 NFL Draft. The Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers and a 5th round pick in 2023 in exchange for a 1st round pick swap (Jets go 13 to 15th overall), a 2023 2nd round pick, a 2023 6th round pick, and a 2024 second round pick that can become a 1st if Rodgers plays >65% of snaps in 2023. Many were quick to declare an immediate winner to the trade, though I think with trades like these, you need to see how things play out and what will happen on the conditions before knowing for sure. My knee-jerk reaction to the trade is that it’s an overpay if Rodgers were to retire after 2023, but if he comes back for 2024 like he says he’s going to, then this is fair overall. If Jordan Love doesn’t pan out and the Jets make a Super Bowl over the next two years, people will look back on this trade as a steal for the Jets. Time will tell.Jets Free Agency
Contrary to popular belief, the Jets did more this offseason than roll out the red carpet for Aaron Rodgers. In free agency, the Jets rolled out the red carpet for all of Aaron Rodger’s favorite teammates. In Free Agency, the Jets brought in:- WR Mecole Hardman (KC)
- WR Allen Lazard (GB)
- OL Trystan Colon (BAL)
- OL Billy Turner (DEN)
- P Thomas Morestead (MIA)
- C Wes Schweitzer (WAS)
- QB Tim Boyle (DET)
- DT Quinton Jefferson (SEA)
- LB Quincy Williams
- K Greg Zuerlin
- DT Solomon Thomas
- RB Ty Johnson
- C Connor McGovern
The New York Jets 2023 NFL Draft
Pre-Draft Needs
Positions of Need going into the Draft: OT, FS, DT, RBThe Jets' strength on the defense was on the outsides, both on the passrush with Carl Lawson and Jermaine Johnson coming back and in the pass defense, with Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed returning after being arguably the best CB duo in 2022. The weakness was over the middle in the passing game and between the tackles in the run game. The Jets have Quinnen Williams on the 5th year option looking for a new deal this year and don't have another quality DT to complement him on the interior of their 4-3 front. Jordan Whitehead was disappointing for the Jets last year at SS and Ashtyn Davis hasn't fully panned out at FS.
On the offense, the Jets have fewer holes, but have positions like RB, TE, and WR where they can afford to add more talent. The biggest liabilities for the Jets are on the offensive tackle, where Mekhi Becton is coming back from two whole seasons of injury and Duane Brown is 38 and playing likely his last season of Pro Football.
1st Round (15th Overall) Will McDonald IV, EDGE – Iowa State
Before discussing McDonald as a player, we should discuss the Steelers’ trade with the Patriots at 14th overall. This trade led to a lot of criticism of the trade back with Green Bay for Rodgers as well as Joe Douglas’s composure as a drafter. The main thing we know about Broderick Jones is that the fact that Pittsburgh was interested in trading up for him long before the Rodgers trade. Jones to the Steelers was one of the worst kept secrets of the NFL draft this year and the New England Patriots (while not to pretend that Belichick doesn’t love to screw the Jets over) are notorious for trading back in the first round. I’m not going to assert that the Jets weren’t interested in landing Broderick Jones, I think the people who are skeptical of Douglas’s claim that McDonald was their top target are missing two things: the first is that Robert Saleh is a defensive minded coach who is obsessed with having an excess of edge rushers with good bend. Saleh and Douglas are still on good terms, and I would be very surprised if during the draft Saleh wasn’t pounding the table in Joe Douglas’s ear for Will McDonald. The second is that while Jones was on board, Douglas himself said that McDonald was his number 1. You can debate if the Jets should’ve taken Jones if he were available, but he wasn’t and so, the Jets picked McDonald. Will McDonald is a 6’4” 236 lbs Edge rusher from Iowa State University who turns 24 years old June 6th. He was considered a high draft prospect after his 2021 and 2020 seasons where he had 11.5 and 10.5 sacks respectively, but still decided to come back to school in 2022. This, plus the fact that he didn’t begin playing football until he was 17 years old, contribute to Will McDonald IV’s advanced age as a prospect. Some might have called this pick a reach due to his age, but it’s worth noting that McDonald isn’t exactly a “late bloomer” as a player, but rather he has been a competitive pass rusher in the Big 12 since about 2019 and is tied for #1 overall in the Big12’s career sack list. Another reason why Will McDonald IV is an underrated prospect is that many people aren’t familiar with the defense that Iowa St. and how it deflates pass rusher numbers. Iowa State runs something called a STAR defense, or a 3-3-5 (3 DL, 3LB, 5 DBs). This helped the Cyclones against pass heavy, air raid and/or spread style offenses, but means that a premier pass rusher like Will McDonald will get basically zero help in the box. The traits that scouts fell in love with that made Will McDonald IV a first-round talent were his bend around the edge, his top end speed, and his usage of his hands. The weaknesses that were brought up centered mostly around his smaller size, power, and lack of body of work on run defense. But his overall athleticism and potential to bulk up are the main thing the Jets are banking on as they look develop him going forward. McDonald’s athleticism is so over the top, that he’s made a hobby of jumping over cars and doing other acrobatics that will keep the Jets management up at night if he keeps it up through his rookie contract.The main thing to understand when watching McDonald as a prospect is that the Jets are going to play him a lot differently than the Cyclones did. Due to the ISU 3-man front, McDonald was often moved inside if he wasn’t double or triple teamed as a 5 tech. When Robert Saleh called Will McDonald to let him know the Jets were drafting him, Saleh said “We’re getting you out of that 4i and into that Wide 9”. That meaning, that instead of playing him between the guard and the tackle, they’re going to put him as far out as the o-line is built. I think the Jets will try to get him standing up; even though they typically have four defensive linemen down as I trust Robert Saleh to not pigeonhole a guy to a set role and will just try to set him up to succeed as a pass rusher. The important thing to remember when evaluating McDonald’s upcoming rookie season (or Jermaine Johnson’s rookie season from 2022), is that the Jets have a religious dedication to cycling their defensive linemen in and out regardless of how well or poorly they’re playing. So, for young players like McDonald, Johnson, and Michael Clemons, they’re guaranteed to get a shot, but even if they succeed, they’ll get cycled out. But this does mean that in 2023, we’re guaranteed a chance to see the speed and shiftiness that Will McDonald IV will be bringing to the Jets defense for years to come.
2nd Round, 12th pick (43rd Overall) Joe Tippmann, C – Wisconsin
After the first night of the draft, most were shocked over the Jets’ selection of Will McDonald. And many more in Jets land were disappointed that the team couldn’t find any offensive line help for newly acquired QB, Aaron Rodgers. Fortunately for the Jets on night 2, the board broke their way positively, unlike on night 1. With most of the premier tackles off the board, the Jets then turned their attention interior offensive line. The Jets re-signed Connor McGovern to a 1 year $1.915 million deal after the main rush of free agency subsided and McGovern was unable to find a better deal. McGovern was a serviceable Center for the Jets on his previous 3 year deal, but at 30, the Jets are starting to look for long term options with higher upside. With McGovern making barely backup Center money, the Jets had basically no assets committed to the center position. With every center in the 2023 NFL draft on the board, I don’t think I need to do as much defending of the positional choice for center as I had to do for Edge rusher in the first round. The Jets selected Joe Tippmann with the 12th pick of the 2nd round. The Wisconsin Badger is one of the taller Centers we’ve seen at 6’6” (not including the mullet) and 313 lbs. However, Tippmann has shown on film that he’s able to get low off the snap off the height and in the later block can leverage his size. He had the highest athleticism score at his position (which is going to be a consistent theme for the Jets in this draft). He started his last two full seasons at Wisconsin, shining as a run blocker and allowed only on sack and five pressures over 338 pass blocking snaps. His strengths coming out of Wisconsin are his fluid movement and rotation, his high football IQ, and his size. His main weakness is his sense of balance and his high point of contact. Some might have questioned why the Jets chose Tippmann over John Michael-Schmitz and, while I would’ve been happy with either, I personally believe the Jets made the slightly better choice in banking on a player who is younger, bigger, healthier, and possibly has higher upside. The Jets have been looking for the heir apparent to Nick Mangold since he’s retired. While McGovern was a serviceable stop gap for the last three years and will get a chance to compete with Tippmann this summer, I believe this pick is a great chance for the Jets to find a new leader of their offensive line for years to come. The Jets are at their best in their franchise history when they have a Center with leadership, strength, and durability to support the offense.4th Round, Pick 18 (120th Overall) Carter Warren, OT – Pittsburgh
In 2022, the New York Jets offensive line was a revolving door as the offensive line was decimated by injuries before they even started the regular season. They were able to mitigate these issues for the first few weeks of the season by deploying Alijah Vera-Tucker as a Swiss Army Offensive Lineman, but when he suffered a season ending injury, that had to come to an end. In this offseason, the Jets didn’t add many players who will contend for starting positions at guard or tackle in 2023, but Joe Douglas has made a point to bolster the depth at these positions so they’re better prepared for when Mekhi Becton, who hasn’t played a full game since mid 2020, or the 38 year old Duane Brown get injured.To prepare for this, the Jets picked New Jersey native Carter Warren in the fourth round out of Pittsburgh. With his 7 foot wingspan, core strength, and leadership experience, Warren has the traits of a prototypical NFL Tackle. Carter Warren’s athleticism graded highly at the combine at the workouts he performed despite not being 100% from his shoulder injury. He fell to the fourth round in the draft as expected due to his season ending injury in 2022 and his overall lack of power and ability to sustain blocks for longer drives. The Jets are looking for Carter Warren to develop into a capable swing tackle or high end backup LT. The team is possibly still banking on Becton serving as the long term starting Left Tackle, but we’ll sort that out when training camp gets here. With veteran Billy Turner on the team and second year Maxx Mitchell returning as a swing tackle, the Jets are hopeful that they won’t rely on a rookie tackle in 2023. But if they do, Carter Warren has the traits needed to keep the offense on schedule when injuries inevitably come.
5th Round Pick, Pick 8 (#143rd Overall) Israel Abanikanda, RB – Pittsburgh
After selecting the Pittsburgh Panther from New Jersey in the fourth round, the Jets elected to take his teammate, RB Israel Abanikanda from Brooklyn, with the very next pick. In the last two years the Jets have brought in a lot of young runningbacks from the draft such as Michael Carter, Breece Hall, and Zonovan Knight. The Jets running back room looked like it was on the road to being elite after Breece Hall’s early career breakout before his tragic season ending injury. Breece Hall had emerged as a physical, downhill runner for the Jets and Michael Carter and Bam Knight were capable change of pace backs, pass blockers, and receiving backs. Breece Hall is going to go back to being the Jets premier runningback if he comes back to be 100% of what he was last year, even with Abanikanda on the roster. But what the Jets were lacking, even with Hall on the roster last year, was a shiftier, higher end speed running back that can break open in space. Hall checks off a lot of these boxes, but did so by being more physical over the middle. In 2022, Izzy Abanikanda’s stats were impressive. He reached 100 yards rushing in 9 out of his 11 games and rushed for 20 TDs on the season. With Hall, Izzy can be a dangerous lightning to Breece Hall’s thunder as the Jets look to round out their offense. Izzy’s athleticism is (say it with me now: ) really good. He ranked 5th out of running backs in this draft despite being a 5th round pick. The biggest weakness commonly cited about Izzy Abanikanda is his pass protection. This has been a recent focus on running backs in the NFL and something that will likely limit Izzy’s day one impact. But the Jets can keep things simple on the offense and just focus on getting the ball of playmakers like Abanikanda. The most exciting thing about Abanikanda is that he’s young, not turning 21 until October 5th of this year (making him born in 2002, if you wanted to feel old today). Abanikanda is an extremely speedy player with home run ability. The value in the 5th round is great for the Jets here and they are now hedged against a key RB injury like they suffered last year. This pick may spell trouble for fans of Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight (apologies to /DynastyFF), but it puts the Jets in a position to be dynamic in the ground game to capitalize on defenses thinking they can afford to sell out against the Aaron Rodgers-led passing offense.6th Round, Pick 7 (184th Overall) Zaire Barnes, LB – Western Michigan
Getting later into the draft, the Jets start to look for roleplayers and positions where the team is light. Zaire Barnes fills both of these criteria with his special teams experience and coverage linebacker experience. The Jets have Quincy Williams and CJ Mosely playing in the box to handle secondary running coverage. The team may still bring back Kwon Alexander to return as the WILL linebacker in space, but the Jets are looking to bolster their coverage over the middle. The Jets have arguably the best cornerback duo on the outside with DJ Reed and Sauce Gardner and a capable slot corner with Michael Carter II. This means that most of the teams that threw the ball on the Jets did so over the middle.At Western Michigan, Barnes lined up close to the line of scrimmage and focused mostly on man coverage. In order for him to unlock his potential and make this pick a steal, he needs to unlock his ability to use lateral movement to help in zone coverage. At 6’1” his height is unremarkable but more than adequate for a linebacker within the box. If Zaire Barnes can make himself valuable on special team and take advantage of the opportunities to make a play in coverage over the middle or to make an impact in the run game where the Jets are also light, Zaire Barnes will be able to be a part of this Jets team for a long time.
Round 6, Pick 27 (#204th Overall) Jarrick Bernard-Converse, DB – LSU
In writing Bernard-Converse’s position on the headliner, I opted to just write DB, as he’s played all over the secondary. Looking at JBC’s skillset and the holes the Jets have in their roster, it would seem Bernard-Converse’s best outlook on the Jets is to move to the Safety position. With good tackling ability, high athleticism, and four years of starting experience at the Power 5 level, the Jets are banking on Bernard-Converse’s ability to adapt to a new role as opposed to being a true CB. In coverage at LSU, he did have some issues letting players get behind him due to his ability to trail and backpedal, another sign that he’s likely better suited for the safety role. With Jarrick Bernard-Converse, the Jets are banking on his adaptability and Robert Saleh’s ability to develop a player with raw talent into a contributor on the backend.Round 7, Pick 3 (#220th Overall) Zack Kuntz, TE – Old Dominion
The Jets have looked to rebuild their TE room after years of it being in disarray. Unfortunately, the group that Douglas has put together, CJ Uzomah, Tyler Conklin, and Jeremy Ruckert, didn’t quite pan out in 2023. Part of this was on the quarterback play, but part of this is that the tight ends on the Jets didn’t quite have the plus abilities the team needed to get production from their Tight Ends. This is just the beginning of why Zack Kuntz is an exciting pick for the Jets. Kuntz (pronounced KOONTS, unless you’re Australian) was primarily a receiving tight end for Penn State and Old Dominion in college. At 6’8” 255lbs, Kuntz has more than the prototypical size of a blocking Y tight end, but he instead spent his college career using his 4.55 speed to be a menace over the middle. His most productive season was only 692 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns, which is a bit less for the insane athleticism that a speedy and shifty tight end such as Kuntz possesses. Still, it’s hard to imagine how 32 GMs looked at Kuntz and decided over 200 times that they don’t need this freak of nature on their team. The Jets may look into developing his blocking a bit more, but I think they’re probably more excited by refining his hands and getting him over the middle to create some size mismatch. With Zach Kuntz elite size and speed, he’s truly a menace with the ball in his hands.UDFA Rapid Fire
The Jets traded back in the 6th round at a pretty heavy loss. I believe this is because they wanted special teams and depth and were relatively satisfied with most of the starters they had going into the NFL draft. So, the Jets will likely not have a ton of contributions from UDFAs this year. Here are the 13 players the Jets have currently signed as UDFAs and I’ll highlight a few of the ones I think I have a chance at making the 53 man roster below:- Jason Brownlee, WR Southern Mississippi: Despite receiving a combine invite and showing a good vertical and 40 yard dash, Brownlee ends up unsigned on the Jets. I think the Jets will look to leverage his athleticism on special teams, as most of the WRs on the roster have little experience/interest in playing special teams.
- Trey Dean, Safety Florida: A former starter as a freshman for the Gators in 2017, he’s got a lot of experience. As mentioned earlier, both safety positions are weakspots on the Jets roster, so a safety with Dean’s experience might be able to stick on.
- Deslin Alexandre, DL Pittsburgh: Joe Douglas sure does love his Pittsburgh guys. Deslin played as an edge rusher in college, but went undrafted due to weak bend (which is an important trait in an EDGE rusher, as I’m sure you can imagine). Still, a player with his size could still be a valuable Defensive Tackle in a 4-3 defense such as the Jets’. The main thing for Alexandre will be improving his run defense, as that’s currently a sore spot for the Jets DL.
53 Man Roster Projection
| POS | 1st String | 2nd String | |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Aaron Rodgers | Tim Boyle | Zach Wilson |
| RB | Breece Hall | Israel Abanikanda | Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight |
| WR | Garrett Wilson | Corey Davis | Mecole Hardman |
| WR | Allen Lazard | Randall Cobb | Jason Brownlee |
| TE | Tyler Conklin | CJ Uzomah | Jeremy Ruckert |
| LT | Duane Brown | Warren Carter | |
| RT | Mekhi Becton | Maxx Mitchell | |
| LG | Laken Tomlinson | Wes Schweitzer | |
| RG | Alijah Vera-Tucker | Billy Turner | |
| C | Connor McGovern | Joe Tippmann | |
| DT | Quinnen Williams | Al Woods | |
| DT | John Franklin-Myers | Deslin Alexandre | |
| DE | Jermaine Johnson | Isaiah Mack | |
| DE | Carl Lawson | Michael Clemons | Solomon Thomas |
| ILB | CJ Mosely | ||
| OLB | Quincy Williams | Bryce Huff | |
| OLB | Will McDonald IV | Zaire Barnes | |
| CB | Sauce Gardner | Michael Carter II | Brandin Echols |
| CB | DJ Reed | Bryce Hall | Javelin Guidry |
| FS | Ashtyn Davis | Jarrick Berndard-Converse | |
| SS | Jordan Whitehead | Justin Hardee | Chuck Clark |
| K | Greg Zuerlein | ||
| P | Thomas Morstead | ||
| LS | Thomas Hennessy |
Notes on 53 man roster
- Yes, the front seven is a complete mess. The Jets move guys around so much that even trying to delineate between a LB or a DE can be difficult. This is a rough guesstimation of what players will make the final roster, not necessarily where they’ll play.
- The NFL has a new rule that allows teams to carry 3 QBs and still be under the 53 man roster. So that's why you may count 54 on this.
- I only did this with players currently either on contract or drafted by the Jets. I think Kwon Alexander will eventually sign but for now, he’s not on here.
- I really wanted to find a spot for Zach Kuntz, but it was tough since there’s a lot of dedicated money to TEs. I thought maybe we could cut Randall Cobb, but we’ll see.