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iamrealbuilder · 4 years

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Bill Buchalter interview

Bill Buchalter was a level designer for Sunstorm Interactive. He’s worked on 3 official add-on of Build Engine games: Cryptic Passage for Blood, Suckin’ Grits On Route 66 for Redneck Rampage, Caribbean Life for Duke Nukem 3D. Interview, November 2020: Corentin: Can you introduce yourself?

Bill Buchalter: My name is Bill Buchalter. I’m an avid gamer of all kinds – video games, board games, and especially tabletop RPGs. I’m currently a freelance writer for AAW Games (Adventure A Week Games) writing mini adventures for Dungeons & Dragons 5E. I live outside Indianapolis, IN with my wife Jane, our three kids, and our dog Roxi. When I’m not gaming, I also enjoy music, playing guitar, hiking, and camping.

C: With Sunstorm Interactive, you're credited for level design on Cryptic Passage, Caribbean Life and Route 66. How did you start working with Sunstorm and what do you remember from that time?

BB: In the mid 90’s, maybe around 1995 or 96, I was very into playing Duke Nukem 3D. Like most PC gamers at the time, I had played Castle Wolfenstein and Doom, and Duke Nukem just blew me away. Back in those days, when we played online, we would use a 3rd party program called KALI. You dialed up on your modem, logged onto the internet, and then used KALI as a portal to chat with other gamers and find someone to play with. The KALI software would then allow you to network together over the internet and play PVP matches. It was crude, and the lag could be horrible, but we didn’t know any better at the time and we loved it!

I remember I was in a B. Dalton bookstore in the mall one day (another relic of the 90’s that is long gone!) when I found a book called the “Duke Nukem 3D Level Design Handbook”. I was intrigued, and as I flipped through the pages it talked about a program on the Duke Nukem CD called Build, which allowed you to create your own levels. I had no idea Build existed, let alone how to use it. I bought the book and spent the next couple weeks diving into learning how to use Build. I was hooked!

Making my own maps quickly became an obsession. I would share them with my friends on KALI and I quickly earned a reputation for making user maps. I remember there was a map building competition, but I don’t recall who sponsored it. A guy named Robert Travis won the competition. When I saw his maps, I was blown away! His designs were so much more advanced than mine. He was using tricks I had never thought of to get lighting effects and set moods. I had to reach out to him to pick his brain.

Robert responded and we began talking and quickly figured out that we both lived in Indianapolis. He was working for Sunstorm at the time and invited me to come to their office to discuss level design. I met him there one evening, and he showed me some of the stuff he was working on. We ended up playing Duke all night on Sunstorm’s network with some of the other guys in the office. I was in heaven!

Robert introduced me to Anthony Campiti, the lead producer on Sunstorm’s next project – Cryptic Passage, an add-on for a Build engine game called Blood. They invited me to design some levels for the game and I jumped at the chance. Robert assigned me to design an opera house level and immediately I got pictures in my head of the theater scenes from Interview with a Vampire. I went home and worked furiously on designing the level. I was still rough, but with Robert’s help I tweaked things here and there and slowly learned his techniques. In the end I was really pleased with the level I’d designed. Robert and Anthony were happy too and asked me to design a second map specifically for deathmatch.

The next project Sunstorm was working on was Suckin’ Grits on Route 66, an add-on for another Build engine game called Redneck Rampage. Robert again asked if I’d like to be a part of that team and assigned me to build a truck stop level. Using a lot of the things I’d learned on Cryptic Passage, and the campy feel of the Redneck Rampage game, I had a lot of fun designing that level.

The last project I worked on for Sunstorm was Duke Nukem Caribbean Vacation. By this time Duke’s popularity was beginning to wane, and Quake was taking over. Robert was already starting to experiment and learn how to use the Quake engine. I was a new dad at the time (my first daughter had just been born) so unfortunately, I didn’t have the spare time to devote to learning a new engine. I barely had the time to design my level for Duke Caribbean, but I did manage to finish the casino level for that project. I do recall that Robert ended up going through in the end and changing a lot of the aspects of my level to fit the theme they had in mind. I remember being a bit disappointed and not really feeling like the level was “mine” because of so many of the changes. It was the last project I worked on for Sunstorm.

I kept in touch with Robert and Anthony for a while after that. They were branching out, working on other projects, and even trying to develop their own FPS game that I don’t think ever really got off the ground. Sunstorm was having the most success with their Deer Hunter line of games that at the time were selling well in Wal-Mart. Sadly, I eventually just lost touch with those guys.

I’m sure this is WAY more information than you were wanting (I’m a writer… I can’t help but go off the deep end!) but you dusted off some fond, old memories for me, so I apologize for walking so far down memory lane!

C: I see that you're still making maps, different kind of maps! This makes me wonder if maybe you were involved with W!Zone (a pack of maps for Warcraft 2 released by Sunstorm). Can you tell us a bit about that if possible?

BB: I didn’t have any hand in the W!Zone project for Sunstorm, but I loved the Warcraft series. As was common for many video gamers like me, who had roots in fantasy games like D&D, I played a lot of Warcraft and eventually got sucked into the world of MMOs with Ultima Online, Everquest, and World of Warcraft! If only I had back the time I sunk into those games!

These days I’m exclusively writing and designing for Dungeons and Dragons. I started about ten years ago writing for D&D Organized Play in a campaign called Living Forgotten Realms. I co-authored two adventures for that with my good friend, Michael Pearman, and authored a third adventure on my own. As you know from tracking me down via AAW Games, I’ve now authored six adventures for them, five of which are already published and one that is still in the works but should be released soon.

When I do manage to find time for video games, Diablo III is my game of choice these days. I’m looking forward to Season 22 starting here shortly, and like many others, I’m really hoping for something great with Diablo IV. I’ve been a huge fan of the series since the beginning, and even wrote an entire campaign for D&D 5E that translated the story of Diablo III into Dungeons and Dragons for the players in my home game! Thanks again for the opportunity to share some of this history. It was fun putting it all down and reliving those days!

C: There are two signatures in the Truck Stop level for Route 66. Do you remember anything about that ? There also several levels with no known credit : Fun Park, House of ill Repute, Mystery Dino Cave, Bigfoot Convention.

The signature on the truck stop is Route 66 was a joke! I was the only designer on that one. I just signed it "Billy Joe Jim Bob Buchalter" as a joke for bad redneck name. I wasn't the kind of guy that had to sign my maps the EXACT same way every time. :)

Other than the truck stop, I don't recall designing any other maps for Route 66. I pretty sure none of those you listed below were mine, but I don't recall whose they were.

Finally, here are some final comments Bill made after reading through some forum posts:

Wow, I am really quite humbled that you guys looked so deeply into my work! The fact that you could recognize my build style is pretty cool - I didn't even know I had a style! LOL. The truth be told, the reason you probably had so much trouble telling my levels from Robert's is because he was a big influence on me. I learned a lot from him and incorporated a lot of that into the stuff I built.

Its funny how reading through that thread you linked brought back memories... I remember now that my biggest disappointment from Duke Caribbean was that my only level in the game ended up being a secret level - that some people wouldn't even find it or ever play it. I was actually pretty excited about that level. I was the one that suggested a casino because my folks had retired to Vegas, so I'd been in a lot of the casinos there and had some great ideas for the map. I'd forgotten all about the restaurant I worked into it, and the big fish tanks.

There seems to be some debate about Robert. From what I remember, he was a really good guy. Maybe a bit tough to work for, but only because he really strived for our designs to be the best they could be, and he demanded that of both himself and the other designers. As I said before, I learned early on to accept criticism and critique and not take it personally. It was just Robert doing his job. I'll be the first to admit that I designed better levels thanks to the stuff I learned from Robert.

Someone on the message board made a very astute comment, basically to the effect that "Bill had to have other work out there. Sunstorm wouldn't hire an unproven guy off the street." But truth be told, that's exactly what they did! I hadn't done a single thing before working there. But I think a few things played in my favor. First, I lived in Indy, just 15 minutes from their office, so it was easy for me to go in and work directly with Robert. Second, while I didn't have anything officially published, I did have a disk full of the maps I'd designed on my own, and Robert thought I showed promise. I would design at home a lot, then go into the office a couple times a week and sit with Robert while he critiqued my work and offered advice on how to improve it.

I'll be honest - I'm blown away at the number of people STILL playing these old maps we made so many years ago. I watched a couple YouTube videos of a guy playing and reviewing Duke Caribbean and Blood Cryptic Passage. His high praise of both Full House and the Opera House really made my day. It's nice to know that people enjoyed my work.

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Thanks a lot to Bill Buchalter for taking the time to answer these questions! Thanks also for sharing... “Big City” !

A Duke Nukem 3D map he created back in the day before joining with Sunstorm Interactive which was never released before! Screenshot:

Map download:

https://msdn.duke4.net/bigcity.zip

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External link: Duke4 forum blog megathread: https://forums.duke4.net/topic/11471-blog-interviews-of-build-engine-video-games-developers/page__pid__353013#entry353013 The forum posts Bill read, mentionned above, can be found here: https://forums.duke4.net/topic/9418-duke-caribbean-multiplayer-levels/

#build #build-engine #blood #duke nukem #redneck-rampage #duke #nukem #duke nukem 3D #video games #route 66 #caribbean life #cryptic passage

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harry-leroy · 5 years

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Hey, local English major who has somehow never read Wilde in her life here, first of all I need to get on that but second of all I would love to hear more about your plot/ideas for the Lady Windermere's Fan prequel and how you got inspired for it! Your creativity never ceases to impress me, this project seems like so much fun.

Thank you so much for this, Macy! (And thank you for all your kind words, I really don’t deserve friends like you). And tagging @princess-of-france because writing projects (I hope you’re doing well!)

(Enjoy a Stephen Fry as Oscar Wilde gif…)

The Selby Roses is a working title for a prequel to one of Oscar Wilde’s comedy plays, Lady Windermere’s Fan, that I’ve been working on for roughly a month - the project has just begun, and the road will be long, but I’m excited to go on this journey with it!

Quickly before I get into The Selby Roses, I’ll give a quick synopsis of LWF if you’d like some context. On Lady Windermere’s 21st birthday, news is brought to her that for the past six months, her husband has been giving enormous sums of money to a mysterious woman by the name of Mrs. Erlynne. In a moment of desperation, her husband invites this woman to his wife’s birthday party. Is Lord Windermere having an affair? And how will the young Lady Windermere handle it if he were? In one dazzlingly disastrous night, our characters confront love, loss, lust, misguided intentions, confessions, drunken fights, and some terrible confusion about a particular fan. You can click here to see the cast of the 2018 Vaudeville production try and summarize it in under one minute!

A line in Act IV of LWF prompts the story of The Selby Roses: “Let us go to Selby. In the Rose Garden at Selby the roses are white and red.” A highly fond memory of Lady Windermere’s that reminds her of the root of her love for her husband, and thus sets the stage for our prequel play.

Set in the summer of 1888, The Selby Roses tells the story of the budding romance of Lord Arthur Hudson and Lady Margaret Kendal (our eventual Lord and Lady Windermere in LWF). The play begins the day of a country party out in the Windermere’s country home in Selby. Arthur’s father, having been diagnosed with a terminal illness, wishes to see his eldest son married before he dies. All is in order for Arthur’s courtship of the charming Lady Emma Carlisle, but a mysterious Lady Kendal arrives at the party and takes Arthur’s heart unexpectedly. However, Arthur is not the only one smitten by her, and even if she loves him in return, love isn’t their only obstacle. The night spins into one of chaos, a Victorian high-society Wars of the Roses where a woman’s heart becomes as valuable as a kingdom. Hearts will be won, lost, broken, but all is fair in love and war…

The main cast is as follows (I’ll indicate original canon characters vs new characters). I’m going to leave them under a cut so this post doesn’t get too long!

Women:

Lady Margaret Kendal (19 y/o) - (Lady Windermere in LWF). Invited by Alexander to the party without the permission of his parents. Bold, spirited, highly principled, although she is rather sheltered. She finds herself confused between several lovers who cross her path over the evening, but finds consolation in becoming friends with the other women.

Alice Hudson, Marchioness of Windermere (50s) - Arthur and Alexander’s mother, a good friend of the Duchess of Berwick. She intends for this courtship between Arthur and the Duchess’s daughter to go smoothly, but runs into several distractions set up by her sons and their friends. Witty, honest, somewhat overprotective and dotes on her boys. (prequel add-in: the line “you fancy because I have no father or mother that I am alone in the world, and that you can treat me as you choose” from Lady Windermere in the original play gave me the idea that Arthur has at least one living parent by the time LWF rolls around, unlike his wife.)

Lady Julia Kendal (40s) - Margaret’s aunt and governess. She has raised Margaret ever since the child was eight years old, raising her with Puritan ideals, hoping she’ll be different than her nearly scandalized parents. She comes to the party with Margaret, and wants her to stay away from the men, but love will have a way. (She is mentioned by Lady Windermere in LWF, but is never seen in that play).

Margaret Erlynne (late 30s/early 40s)- This infamous woman of LWF doesn’t appear until the end of The Selby Roses, clearly to make her intentions with the Windermere household in Oscar Wilde’s play, but also to recount on her past mistakes and regrets.

Laura Ford (early 20s) - (Lady Plymdale in LWF) University student in London, she attends the party on her own while her brother takes care of her ailing mother at home. She has been offered a proposal several times by Lord Albert Plymdale, but she finds her heart pining for the Byronic writer, George Dumby. It’s been like that for years, how could tonight possibly change anything? Bold, mature, incredibly smart, but her heart is absolutely aching.

Lady Beatrice Marley (20 y/o) - Arthur and Alexander’s cousin, Alice’s niece. She becomes a good acquaintance of the young Lady Kendal along with the other women of the play who help her go after the hopelessly lovestruck Arthur. She finds herself being chased around by Dumby, who finds her to be his new muse. Kind, sharp, with a charitable spirit. (An add-in. There was no particular line in the play that inspired her creation, but rather Dumby’s somewhat womanizing character and his relationship with Laura prompted me just as well.)

Arabella Carlisle, Duchess of Berwick (50s) - (Duchess of Berwick in LWF) Like Alice, she intends for the night to run smoothly and for Athur to make a proposal to her daughter by the end of the night. However, she gets caught up in the younger generation’s antics to turn that notion completely upside-down. Gossipy, somewhat of a control freak, highly talkative.

Emma Carlisle of Berwick (20 y/o) - The third youngest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Berwick. She is the intended lover of Arthur Hudson. However, she finds herself falling more and more in love with his younger brother, Alexander. Over the course of the night, she must choose between love and honoring her parents’ wishes, all the while making sense of these obnoxious men and avoiding scandal. She is charming, highly attractive, a free-thinker, independent. (An add in: the line “but I think that a mother who doesn’t part with a daughter every season has no real affection” from the Duchess of Berwick in the original play inspired the idea to give the Duke and Duchess six wonderfully bright daughters, and one son who makes himself an intentional failure).

Ida Carlisle of Berwick (18 y/o) - The second youngest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Berwick. The first of the women that Lady Kendal befriends. She is incredibly bright, catching on quite fully to the antics of the men (especially her own brother’s). (an add-in)

Men:

Arthur Hudson, 5th Marquess of Windermere (early 20s) - (Lord Windermere in LWF) This party is thrown so he may propose to the Duchess’s daughter by the end of the night, but he instead falls for Lady Kendal. He employs his godfather, Lord Augustus, and his best friend, Cecil Graham to create a distraction so that he is able to speak with her. He’s not the only one with the same plan. Tense, shy, nearly incapable of saying “no”. (Although most Victorian men don’t get married until their late 20s or early 30s, I decided to make Arthur younger as he is the only one of his friends in LWF who is married.)

Edward Hudson, 4th Marquess of Windermere (50s) - The elderly Lord Windermere who wishes to secure a future for his family line before he dies. He hopes that his son will choose Lady Carlisle, insisting that his wife be his son’s constant chaperone. Somewhat terrified for his own death, wants everything to be in control. (an add-in).

Alexander Hudson (early 20s) - Arthur’s younger brother by a year and a half. Alexander finds himself absolutely head over heels for Lady Carlisle, the woman that his brother is meant to be marrying. He employs Dumby and the young Henry Carlisle to help keep up a lie that he is someone else for the evening in order to avoid the Duchess, who would rather have her daughter marry anyone but him. Unlike his brother, Alexander is charming, outgoing, mischievous, and handsome beyond compare. (an add-in: Arthur is so incredibly worried all the time, I thought it would be funny to give him a brother who is his total opposite).

Gerard Kendal, 3rd Earl of Kendal (deceased - mentioned in name only) - Lady Kendal’s father. He committed suicide before the play began over the loss of his first wife, Margaret’s mother. His suicide was swept up by Lady Julia, his sister, to look like it came of natural causes, even though she knows the truth, she keeps it from Margaret to maintain reputation. (he is also mentioned in LWF, being the namesake for the Windermere’s son, and said by Margaret to have “really died of a broken heart”).

Cecil Graham (20s) - (same character in LWF) Employed by Arthur to keep his mother away from him, along with Lord Augustus. He is a member of the House of Commons, and a great friend of Arthur. The two went to Eton together as well as to Trinity College, Oxford. Gossipy, witty, thinks he knows more than he actually does.

George Dumby (late 20s) - (simply known as “Dumby” in LWF) Employed by the younger Hudson and by Lord Darlington to keep up two separate distractions. Finding the prospect amusing, he takes on the challenge. He also becomes tangled in his own love life, deciding to flirt with Lady Beatrice Marley while the true love of his life, Laura Ford, slips from his grasp. Having also met Arthur and Cecil at Oxford, Dumby is reimagined in this play as a writer with a Byronic complex, having come to high society through the success of his novels. He is adventurous, eloquent, mischievous, but also incredibly lost.

Lord Augustus Lorton (late 40s/early 50s) - (same character in LWF) Employed by his godson to distract his sister, the Duchess, from paying much attention to her daughter during the course of the evening, which works well in Alexander’s favor. A little slow, likes to indulge, but he always has good intentions.

George Carlisle, 3rd Duke of Berwick (50s) - (mentioned in LWF) His daughter, Emma, is intended to be married to Arthur Hudson. He is somewhat intimidating, tough, over-protective of his daughters’ reputations, feels somewhat emasculated because he has a poor excuse for an heir.

Henry Carlisle of Berwick (early 20s) - The only son of the Duke and Duchess of Berwick, Henry has taken to a life of indulgence and riot. He attends Magdalen College, Oxford. He is employed by Alexander Hudson to keep up a lie about his identity for the night, and he is also employed by Lord Darlington to keep Lady Julia distracted, only adding to the game of antics for the night, which is highly appealing to him. Incorrigible, riotous, the youngest man in the play, somewhat of a follower. (he is mentioned as the Duchess’s son in LWF, but not given a name, so took liberty to do so).

John Vernon, 13th Baron of Darlington (late 20s) - (Lord Darlington in LWF) A good friend of Arthur’s, having met him the previous summer through a mutual friend. Believing that Arthur is meant to be wooing Lady Carlisle, John pursues Lady Kendal, but finds himself against Lady Julia. He employs Dumby and Henry Carlisle to keep her distracted. Never takes himself seriously, except around those that he cares about. Somewhat of a casanova.

Taylor (40s-60s) - Lord Windermere’s valet. He is able to catch on quite well to Alexander and Arthur’s affections and decides to aid on his own for the cause of love, at the possible risk to his reputation and his job. Polite, gentle, knows what’s right and what’s wrong. (an add-in: his eventual replacement is Parker from LWF).

And that’s it for now! I’ve got a couple of excerpt posts drafted, so I will share those in due time! I hope you enjoyed, or were at least mildly amused :) Thank you for your constant support! Best wishes:)

#thank you for this!#writing projects #i think this one is going to come together much faster than tep #wilde's structure is a lot easier to follow than shakespeare's #which is good #the selby roses #lady windermere's fan #suits of woe #dustyprose #thank you macy!#(also claire i hope you don't mind me tagging you in all these things!)#i enjoy sharing things with both of you so there's that #friends!#thank you thank you thank you #playwriting #wip introduction #oscar wilde #lit #theatre

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teaandgames · 4 years

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The Tea Times - November 2019

Ah, November. For you folks in the United States, this signals a day full of turkey, relatives and drunken conversations. For us over in Blighty, it signals the last warning before that other day full of turkey, relatives and drunken conversations. The wallet’s looking bare, the temperatures dropping, it can mean only one thing - Christmas is coming. Before we begin the panic though, let's look back at the previous month.

At a glance:

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Death Stranding, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy and Planet Zoo released.

Everwild, Age of Empires IV, Half-Life: Alyx, Knights of Light, Arise: A Simple Story, Nine Witches: Family Disruption announced.

Google Stadia announces its launch line up.

Someone’s making Silent Hill in first person

New Saints Row to be announced next year

Project C becomes Life Beyond

The Releases

I’ve never followed Star Wars too closely, being more into classic fantasy than sci-fi, but the thrill of lightsaber battling is not lost on me. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order seems to have captured that pretty well, with lots of lightsaber waggling and force powers that come together to make a pretty exciting action game. It’s been awhile since a good single player Star Wars game has been on the market and this one seems to fit the bill. It came out on November 15th.

Death Stranding, the premier package delivery game (if the internet is to be believed) came out on November 8th. It being a Kojima game, it’s pretty confusing from an outsiders perspective (and not necessarily straightforward for an insider) but what is clear is that it’s a polarising game. It seems to be about ninety percent walking simulator, which is a divisive genre full stop. Add Kojima into the mix? Then God only knows.

Pokemon Sword and Shield is the release this month that I’m most excited for. Despite being twenty-six, I was transported back to my youth as I added it to the top of my Christmas list. It’s been getting mixed reviews from the community, largely centered around the lack of the National Pokedex. Makes sense. Less pokemon can hardly be a good thing. Either way, it seems to hold the same, good, clean fun that the series is known for. The pair came out on November 15th.

Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy wins the award for longest game title I’ve ever typed out. The next in the disarmingly charming puzzle series came to the Switch on November 8th. I mark it here solely because I didn’t realise it had come out on 3DS two years ago. Still, I hope the series finds a welcome home on the Switch.

Planet Zoo, labelled the ultimate zoo simulator, came out on the 5th November. Made by the people who made Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon, there’s a good chance that it’ll be a good follow up. After all, they seem to know what they’re doing. Going by the screenshots alone, it looks like it’s pretty in depth too. One for the hardcore simulators, perhaps.

The Announcements

Everwild is a new project from Rare, the Banjo-Kazooie lads, and it looks absolutely gorgeous. That’s about as much as we know, to be honest, other than it’s likely going to be Xbox exclusive. The trailer shows a group of humans timidly interacting with a number of animals. Some, like the deer, seem friendly. Others… less so. I don’t have any more details on it, at the moment, but it’s worth keeping your peepers on.

Age of Empires IV has been long anticipated since Age of Empires III failed the light the spark in the hearts of die hard fans. I rather liked it but the guns and cannonballs didn’t go down too well. You might be relieved to learn that they’ve been thrown out the window for IV. It’s back to swords, arrows and big chunks of masonry. Hopefully, Age of Empires has gone back to its roots now. No concrete release date yet.

In a fairly shocking move, Valve has revealed the next entry in the Half-Life series. There are two things to note with that. Firstly, it’s a prequel featuring Alyx. That’s not so bad as she was a rather good character. The bigger, second thing of note is that it’s a VR game. Therefore cutting off most of the market. Still, Valve is one of the biggest champions of VR, so it perhaps shouldn’t be so surprising. Half-life: Alyx is coming March 2020.

Knights of Light is a game inspired by Mount and Blade and its trailer and screenshots contain much the same sort of feeling. Horseback combat that looks as exciting as it is terrifying and lots of hitting people with swords. The plot centers around Iraq and the battle of Al-Qadisiyyah, which I absolutely didn’t copy and paste in. I know nothing about that battle but that almost makes it better. It’s a chance to learn while hitting people. Looks like it’ll be hitting early access first, but I’m not sure when yet.

Arise: A Simple Story is a game with an awful title that caught my eye simply because of how pretty it is. The trailer opens with an elderly chap’s funeral pyre, only for him to wake in a snow covered world. As he explores, he seems to enter a forest-like area. I probably won’t be able to tell you much more, as it looks to be a PlayStation 4 title, but it’s coming out on December 3rd.

Nine Witches: Family Disruption is a quirky looking adventure game about an alternate history involving Nazis and supernatural forces. It’s done in a retro pixel art style and seems to be trying to emulate the older school of adventure games. The humour in the trailer seems very hit or miss (mostly miss), but if it’s your cup of tea, check it out in Quarter 2 2020.

Google Lines ‘Em Up

Google has revealed its line up for its launch, which will take place on the 19th November. The list is this:

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Destiny 2: The Collection

Gult

Just Dance 2020

Kine

Mortal Kombat 11

Red Dead Redemption 2

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Samurai Shodown

Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

Thumper

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

A rather odd choice to include three Tomb Raider games on launch, but it’s a fairly impressive line up. I rather like Thumper being in there. They’ve also promised to add the following before the end of the year:

Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle

Borderlands 3

Darksiders: Genesis

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2

Farming Simulator 19

Final Fantasy XV

Football Manager 2020

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint

Grid

Metro: Exodus

NBA 2K20

Rage 2

Trials Rising

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

A mixed bag of games there but, for all of its faults, Stadia is at least coming out swinging in its first year. Whether it’ll be enough, however, remains to be seen.

The Hills Have (New) Eyes

A quick part here to point towards an interesting development. Someone is remaking the original Silent Hill in first person. It’s only a concept at the moment, but check it out. It looks great. I can, however, hear the terrible siren noise that can only mean the arrival of a cease & desist. Still, Konami may have chucked Silent Hill aside in favour of a pachinko machine but it’s nice to see that people are still carrying the torch.

Even outside of that context, this video looks pretty damn creepy. If nothing else, this might prove that there’s more to the original Silent Hill than awkward controls. It proves that it’s scary full stop.

The Prez is Back!

Didn’t want to stick this one in the announcements because it feels more like a pinky promise than an actual announcement. Still, the current big bosses that own the Saint’s Row franchise, Koch Media, have said that they’ve got a new game in the making. They don’t want to release too many details now and start colouring people’s expectations but more details are going to coming next year.

Saint’s Row IV came out about six years ago and was nothing but crazy, ridiculous fun. It’ll be interesting to see where the series can go from here, to be honest. Once you’ve reached the point of being an actual overpowered superhero, is there anywhere up? I guess we’ll find out next year.

C To (L)B

Project C, a pretty looking social MMO, has gone through a name change, to reflect its core idea. It’s been changed to Life Beyond. To be frank, I had never heard of it, mostly because MMO’s aren’t really my bag. Still, I do like the idea of social MMOs. The idea of trying to bring people together to build communities and make friends is great. It doesn’t always work, mind you, due to the caustic nature of internet communities.

When it does though, it’s great. I’m reminded of that sprawling Minecraft villages where everyone builds their fantasy architecture together. Not sure if I’ll get it myself, but it’s bright colourful graphics make it one to watch. That’s all for November, see you in December!

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ty-talks-comics · 5 years

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Best of DC: Week of June 5th, 2019

Best of this Week: Justice League #25 - Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez, Alejandro Sanchez and Tom Napolitano

The Year of the Villain is upon us.

The book begins with Clark in his youth, impatient and wanting to solve all of his problems by using his power, but being told to be patient by Pa Kent. Cutting to the future where he and Jon can’t light a lamp in Pa Kent’s honor, he’s drenched in rain under the cover of night. In the present an emaciated Superman floats through the Sixth Dimension in total darkness, left there by the glistening White Superman of the Utopia created by the World Forger.

Elsewhere, the League fights their future selves in an amazing action sequence by Jimenez and Sanchez. The clashing of ideals is in full force as these perfect beings from different eras fight each other for the future. Our Justice League fights with the fury of youth, uncompromising in their belief that a future where the lives of billions are lost in order to achieve justice is no future at all. The Future League, however, with their vast experience and tainted souls fight with certainty, knowing that their world has no pain or injustice.

Their battle is captured excellently through sheer scale and intensity as the book rumbles on. Wonder Woman knows what she’s capable of taking and throws down on her older self with punches and kicks befitting a warrior with the heavy impacts to match. Lantern Stewart has an architectural mind, but his older self has obviously come across bigger, but doesn’t count on the flash decking him right in the mouth. The Flash himself doesn’t see it coming when he catches a flurry from himself and who I believe to be Wally and Bart as they phase in and out of existence.

Martian Manhunter uses his shapeshifting abilities to become something out of any Kaiju movie as he tears through the city and himself. Batman… dear God Batman and his beautiful Bat-Mech. The machine is over designed with sharp edges, a bright white color scheme with a gold Bat logo and big dumb Bat wings, but it is AMAZING to look at. Appearing to be on the side of the World Forger, he tells the team to see the Light, telling them to listen to his words and imagine light as they get beat down by their future selves.

Back in the Sixth Dimension, Batman thinks back to the light ceremony and how the League was there to help him and Jon and suddenly lights begin to appear, not just any lights… suns. In what may be one of the greatest sequence of pages in the last few issues of Justice League, (and there have been some great ones) Superman is reenergized. He dives through one sun and then another and another, regaining the hope and strength that he is so known for and rushes towards his friends,

The World Forger readies his hammer to strike this future reality into existence until he feels the vibration. He tells Future Lois Lane to shoot it down, but she sees the “S” and begins to cry. Flash sees him, Diana, J’onn and especially Bruce as Superman RAGES INTO THE BATTLE AND WITH A SINGLE, WORLD EXPLODING, PUNCH puts and end to the World Forger’s machinations.

Instead of destroying the World Forger in that instant, he extends his hand, telling him that there is another way to save the Multiverse if he joins the Justice League. Batman had his suspicions of the future the whole time and upon learning of Superman’s fate, decided to give him a chance to find his way back to his friends and if he didn’t then the Utopia was meant to be, but he always knew that Clark would find a way. Clark focused on hope and the happy memories. He knew that there was always another way and that the World Forger’s ideas that there was only one path or a few that involved him fighting against the Justice League were misguided and that there was one he hadn’t considered; joining them.

Before jumping into the latter 1/3rd of the book, I have to praise this book for having such a satisfying conclusion to this arc. I love that the League didn’t just have to vanquish another threat, but gained a new ally in their fight against the coming Doom. The art was amazingly frenetic and bright with the colors popping in ways that made everything all the more epic and badass. Shading and detailing made everything seem so much more inspiring and dire at times, which is exactly what this needed with special praise going to the single splash page of Superman roaring his arm back for a Real Superman Punch.

Things finally coalesce with the second story of this issue written by James Tynion IV and drawn by new series regular artist, Javier Fernandez. Paying off the events of the Year of the Villain One-Shot, Lex Luthor has made his plea to the people of Earth. After the Legion of Doom saves the world from a raging Mxypytlk, Lex tells them what a mess of things the Justice League made of the Source Wall. He encourages the citizens of the world to shun the League and become Villains just like him as it’s the only way to save themselves since the heroes obviously can’t.

The people are listening and have already started rioting in the streets. Unlike in The Last Knight on Earth, the League has hope. The World Forger hopes to gain the aid of his brothers, the Monitor and the Anti-Monitor. Starman hopes to gain the aid of other heroes from the Multiverse. Wonder Woman wishes to stay on Earth and utilize the Largest League that there has ever been and J’onn says that they have to do it all. At the same time, after his supposed Death, Lex brings himself back to life in a strange body, saying that Doom is just beginning.

I have never been more excited for Justice League than I am now, especially given how widespread this story will be. There are hints of the same kind of scale as Jonathan Hickman’s run on Avengers, with every small thing in every tangential book affecting some part of the larger narrative and that’s the kind of storytelling that I adore. Offers are going to be going out to every villain in the DC Universe and things are only going to be more intense from here on out and I am here for it.

HIGH Recommend.

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Slade Wilson is dead.

Runner Up: Deathstroke: R.I.P. #44 - Christopher Priest, Fernando Pasarin, Ryan Winn, Jeremy Cox and Willie Schubert

With a large crowd of mourners, we get an idea of how respected and reviled the Terminator was in the larger DC Universe, or at the very least, in the realm of villainous circles. Talia al Ghul bids him farewell and says that he will be welcomed in hell. Red Lion, Priests pastiche of Black Panther, pays his respects to “de ultimate wheelon.” Raptor, Killer Frost and Deadshot all show up to pay respects, with Deadshot saying that he always thought he'd be the one to take Wilson out and how he feels cheated.

Dr. Ikon, who was put into a coma by Jericho and subsequently hunted by Slade for daring to have a relationship with his son shows up and wishes Slade had at least given him his eye back. Even his ex-wife, Adeline Kane cries as she views the funeral, damming him for dying even after all of mess they've put each other through.

The Legion of Doom appears and tries to assert their dominance over the crowd, but remain calm as Sinestro remarks that Deathstroke was one of the few that could legitimately stand with the group as he analyzes the body.

Superman, who Deathstroke fought all the way back in issue #8, appears above the proceedings to make sure that everything stays cordial amongst the many attendees. Meanwhile, Jericho, angry that his father's even getting a funeral, tries to goad Superman into bringing all of the villains in attendance down, but Superman disagrees. He says that no one is committing and crime and the boy just gets angrier.

At the Titan's base, Red Arrow tries to comfort Damian, telling him that Deathstroke's death wasn't his fault and that even though Damian wanted him dead, Emiko had to be the one to loose the arrow. Unbeknownst to either, Jericho takes over Emiko's body and attacks Damian, cursing them for killing Deathstroke before taking over Kid Flash's body soon after.

For the entirety of this run, we've seen how negative Slade and Jericho's relationship is. Jericho hates his father and that has poisoned his entire life. Knowing he's being mourned pisses off the former Titan, but hearing that another Titan was the one that killed him sends him into a rage. It's similar to his heel turn in Geoff Johns spectacular Teen Titans run in the mid 2000s where he didn't want more kids to suffer, but this time he's the one suffering.

At the same time, Rose Wilson attacks people dressing up as her father as his face is shown all over screens in a city and Detective Gordon tells her that Slade wouldn't have wanted her to follow in his footsteps as he was told by Wintergreen, echoing the most early issues of Deathstroke, like #4 - #5 I believe

.continuing his rage, Jericho, in Kid Flash's body attacks Sinestro, who uses his Ultraviolet ring to tap into Jericho's repressed emotions and fires upon the crowd. Doctor Light reveals that Superman was just a projection and disables Jericho and the Legion ponders what to do with the boy. With Deathstroke dead, the Legion makes their first Offer for Year of the Villain and gives him a chance to join them and with his current mental state, who's to say that he won't?

Deathstroke has been a weird and convoluted ride at times, but the character work herein has been phenomenal. We've seen the root causes of what makes Deathstroke himself so poisonous and how that's affected his children.

Jericho wears the mask of a hero, but underneath, he's scarred. He nearly kills a man he loves on the off chance that he may tell Slade of it, causing Slade to hunt him and now he himself is falling to the dark side.

Rose has always straddled the line, but her father kept her on the side of good at least by discouraging her from being him. Her anger at his death may drag her into the same pit as Jericho, especially after trying to solve the mental break she had, thinking she was overcome with the Spirit of a Hmong warrior.

There's going to be a war to determine who the next Deathstroke will be and if that doesn't excite everyone, I don't know what to say other than High recommend.

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pokefanbri · 3 years

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I got in touch with my 1st love a couple months ago..hes a half native American & white dude, pretty pudgy now like triple the size of himself in middle school lol. Doesn't have much time left on this earth I feel for him, im glad I know now cause if I hadn't it probably would've been alot more devastating. Doesnt have to wear a mask cuz really whats the point. We met for coffee, got to hang out at the mall & he visited my work, we did talk & clear the air..got some things out that were left unsaid & i gotta say it really did help & we're better for it 😊 we're now cool & no hard feelings.

We used to be on & off in hs but the last time I broke it off with him for good reasons & also due to my mother 😒 If it weren't for him & our own experiences, & then every guy since...I would've have known how much I really love or attached I can be to someone (which has been all of them really but does disintegrate over time & going into new relationships they become just a distant memory as the yrs go by & then ur all about the new guy 🤔 basically right) or how unattached I can get when I just dont love them anymore...(of which has only happened twice)

For the record I've had 5 relationships my whole life...not counting flings..out of 2 they broke up with me.. & they so happen to be the ones i fell hard & fast for...its a common theme but they are the best ones I've experienced & I think I have a confirmed type now that I think about it lol. Im thinking too much again, but..they're top tier unforgettable.

I fell damn fucking hard this time around just like I did Thomas..don't think I got enough of him either...😤 seriously wtf is it with these charming & hilarious, headstrong, smart ass, string bean, stoner, Leo men fucking my heart up after only a few months time! What is the universe trying to tell me! I swear to God in another lifetime they would've been friends its an incredible likeness. History repeated itself it seems..I was so in love with him too, we were only 19 but omg he was awesome & we were ALL OVER EACHOTHER 🤤. He was my coworker, a red headed skinny bobblehead tho, & lived in my apt complex his best friend Danny boy did too in his own, hard core Call of Duty players I remember they high jacked my tv for optimum experience...😒 walking the tv across the parking lot was super sketchy looking lol.

Anyway after Thomas broke up with me for saying the L word "too soon" it freaked him out I guess & my brain cracked from the devastation...doctors are convinced it was the weed 😒 and apparently I ODd on Tylenol...crock of bs btw but whatever...i couldn't sleep & for days I was in a haze til I finally called my aunt for help & all of a sudden I was locked away in a psych ward for 2 weeks so they could observe what was wrong & diagnose me. Had to quit pima college & stop working, put everything on hold for my health. After I came back, Tom admitted he wanted me back but he hated my 1st love with a passion. I confessed I was back with my 1st as he was there at my side & visiting..when Tom had no idea where tf I was, me missing worried him sick. I had no clue & for all I knew he forgot about me while I was grieving over us in the hospital (I couldn't have my phone..knew a select few #s by heart otherwise he would've been the 1st I'd call), I was still dazed & super fucked up from the hospital..just outright exhausted when Thomas came to my apartment wanting to try again....yea I messed that up though regretfully. I told him the truth...I know it hurt him, hurt me too. Never saw Thomas again 😔 he was my 2nd, wonder how he is.

After I broke up with my 1st there was like a 1 or 2 month relationship with a fat Irish dude named Patrick I met from college, he insulted my mom..kicked his ass the curb 😂 yea she chased him away too just like my 1st...but an Irish version..was kinda a deadbeat anyway good riddance. I was alone for about 5 years after that til eventually met my ex-husband matt & was with him for technically 7 years & then that ended.

Long story short I was hit with another love bomb over the past year (T2.0 lol) & the fallout is taking forever to disapate lol...well good technically I don't want it to yet lmao, it feels good to love someone with a full heart except for the fact they ain't here 😔

I love genuinely & with a full heart, ive never had a problem with love, except for my abusive mother I sought approval for....never have I been with someone that didnt want it...didn't want me, until him. If someone shows that to me in a relationship it hurts me at the roots, u don't understand how much it brings out that little girl that just wants to be loved back..to be wanted. It hurts to think im not even worth that. I realize though that he may have his own issues to get past first b4 he can learn to give it back & its not my fault. I should on some things honestly but I don't blame him..not anymore. I blame my own trauma that made me so fucking sensitive & off-putting to him, going from 1 relationship to another without healing first, & not knowing how to function walking on eggshells around a new person trying not to piss them off...not knowing how to do a fresh relationship from the start again....when you've been with 1 person prior for 7 yrs.

I grew up being beaten as a kid, I have no father, my mother chose drugs over her own children, everybody in my family arent like a hallmark card far from it...its fucking tucson ok it's a hell hole. A good amount are notorious for causing trouble around the city, nobody talks to eachother..stays away & fends for themselves, or just killing themselves with drugs & selfishly hurting people around them. Very few of us are really trying to make it out & create life for ourselves but it's really hard to escape because we're all struggling. I cry because I've been strong for way too long on my own, I cry when I think im not good enough. Besides some relationships & friendships along the way for support guess who's always taken care of herself to survive, yours truly. It's a huge accomplishment that I've never been homeless, only a couple times have I had to rely on a friend or family member for a roof over my head & that was just 2020-2021,boy is it good to have connections during a pandemic phew, alot more tough to find someone willing to help. My big sis Lisa, my mentor assigned to me at 12 yrs old cuz my mom couldn't be a real parent lol...she says im a strong princess thats gone through hell & back, she's seen me do it countless times, she can attest to how much of a boss & survivor I am...she knows I deserve nothing but to be appreciated,respected, valued. I'm underestimated all the time because apparently people think they can read what kinda person I am just by looking at me or by word of mouth, hell no very doubtful screw u lol... i don't need anybody's belittling opinions of what kind of person I am ok, how about talk to me & ill see if u in the ballpark lol cuz I guarantee im a boss ass goody 2 shoes that can kick butt 😊. So listen here, I know my worth & I deserve a prince to keep me safe from the big bad world right? I need an actual shoulder to cry on not someone that'll walk away when I need them most 😔 Why tf do I feel like rapunzel & all I get is fuckin Flynn 😂 I'm a queen ok, hear me now.

This will be my 3rd own rented apartment. The 1st time I was a teen & imancipated...had that place for a few years 1st & 2nd love era, 2nd time was the escape from my mother as an adult & I moved away eventually got married. And now at another turning point in my life... escaping a very different hell & losing pretty much everything including the man that started it all, 3rd time is the charm right. Fuck my life sidewinder style. Honestly this is the best apartment complex I've found that I want as my home....its gated nothing can touch me from outside unless I say so, so at least im secure to a point.

Why am I talking and not sleeping 😐 I'm tired, it's 5am now. Yeaaaaa I'm done 💤

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settsu-hyodo · 7 years

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top five avpol fics?

get ready anon

there are a lot of avpol fics that are well-written and SUPER AMAZING that it was difficult to narrow it down to 5. i’m going to put up links and everything because if you haven’t read these fics, yOU GOTTA

(gonna count down from 5 to build suspense)

5. Full Bloom by tipsybluetips

a canon divergent fic that will hit you in the heart, and it’s based on flowers and their meanings (which i have a sudden interest in after watching the h!p stageplay lilium). only NSFW portion is part IV just as a heads up.

4. Ici avec moi by Missing_Intestines_18

the first part of their i love you to death series, which y’all should totally read because it’s lovely. although the 2nd part focuses on jotaro and kakyoin, the 3rd part goes back to avpol. it follows canon, so it is going to be sad in the end :(

3. The Magician’s Chariot by tarotaro

i’m a sucker for fics that throw in a bunch of references to real life events/people/things, and this just happens to be one that’s avpol, so i really like it! the story’s already finished, it just updates every friday, which is definitely something to look forward to

2. Planting New Roots series by Junker

I LOVE MODERN AUS A LOT, so this series caught my eye when i was going through the avpol tag on AO3! it’s very interesting, and each part is about different events (some are NSFW). also, you should read Flames & Silver, which is another major part of the series!

1. The Promise by jotaro_polnareff

man, i don’t even know where to begin with this story. like, i just love it so dang much. the main thing i love about it is how pol and avdol’s relationship is realistic for the time period sdc took place in (late 80s), since homosexuality wasn’t widely accepted at the time. it also delves into avdol’s religion, another factor keeping him from wanting to be in a relationship with pol and aahHHHH, it just gives me the Feels.

the story also throws in some 80s songs which you should totally listen to while reading (recognized most of them and hahaha, never listening to them the same way again). overall, the fic is very well-written, and it’ll get you emotional and hit you hard in the heart.

—–

BOY, i’ve been working on this for over an hour now, and having to choose top 5 fics was quite the challenge. there are a ton of other fics out there that are REALLY GOOD, and if i have the time i might make a page of my favourite avpol fics so i can share all the good stuff.

not even a year into shipping these two and i’m already Deep in Avpol Hell

#ask #anon #avpol

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romancatholicreflections · 7 years

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3rd February >> Fr. Martin’s Reflection on Today’s Gospel Reading (Mark 6:14-29) for Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time: ‘They took his body and laid it in a tomb’.

Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Gospel (Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada & South Africa) Mark 6:14-29 King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well-known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah’; others again, ‘He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.’ But when Herod heard this he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.’ Now it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him. An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist’ The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. Gospel Mark 6:14-29 It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up. King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. Reflections (6) (i) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Today’s gospel reading from Mark is one of the more gruesome stories in the gospels, outside of the story of the passion and death of Jesus. A banquet celebrating the birthday of Herod Antipas becomes the occasion for the summary execution of someone Jesus described as ‘more than a prophet’. Herod comes across as a person who acts contrary to his own better judgement and better instincts. He knew John to be a good and holy man and liked to listen to him. Yet, he had John thrown into prison because it is what his wife, Herodias, wanted. Then at his birthday celebration he ordered the beheading of John even though it left him deeply distressed. Having made a rash promise to his step daughter, he felt obliged to keep his promise because it was what his guests would have expected of him. His honour was at stake. Neither action, throwing John into prison and ordering his execution, came from deep within Herod. He did both under pressure, from his wife and from his guests. The portrait of Herod in today’s gospel reading reminds us that we can all do things under pressure from others that we are not at peace about. Like Herod, we can take paths that are not true to what is best in us, to please someone or to protect our position in the eyes of others. The gospel calls on us to be true to our deepest and best values, to the Lord’s call which resounds through them. There may be some loss for us in doing so, but, as Jesus says elsewhere in the gospels, ‘those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it’. And/Or (ii) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time In the days running up to the feast of Christmas, we heard Luke’s account of the birth of John the Baptist. In this morning’s gospel reading, we hear Mark’s account of the death of John the Baptist. As we read that story, John is off stage, as it were, languishing in Herod Antipas’ prison. There are three characters who are centre stage, Herod Antipas, his wife Herodias and her daughter from her marriage to Herod’s brother, Philip. Of those three characters Herod Antipas comes across as the most complex. Whereas Herodias clearly hated John the Baptist, Herod’s attitude to John was more ambivalent. It is said that Herod knew John to be a good and holy man and gave him his protection, and that he liked to listen to John even though he was greatly perplexed by what he said. There was something about John that spoke to Herod; John appealed to Herod’s better nature. Yet, Herod ordered John’s execution. He had made a very public but very rash promise to Herodias’ daughter, and to protect his own honour before others he felt obliged to keep his promise, even though it meant beheading the man whom he knew to be good and holy. Herod, in the end, acted against his better nature, to which John the Baptist had appealed so strongly. Perhaps there is something of Herod in all of us. We hear a call that appeals to what is best in us, but we don’t always follow through on it for reasons of self-interest. Herod was not prepared to lose his honour to save John. Responding to the Lord’s call will often entail some loss for us. Being true to what is deepest and best in ourselves will sometimes mean having to die to ourselves in some way. Yet, we have the promise of Jesus that, if we lose our life for his sake, we will ultimately find it. And/Or (iii) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time According to this morning’s gospel reading, some people thought that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life, after he had been beheaded by Herod. The fact that some people thought that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life suggests just how much both had in common. John was a prophet who proclaimed God’s word, even when that word was unpopular. It is because some found his word very unpopular that John was executed. Jesus, too, spoke of himself as a prophet; he proclaimed God’s word, even when that word was experienced as threatening by those in positions of power and influence. Like John, it was because of his faithfulness to proclaiming and living God’s word that Jesus was put to death. John and Jesus had a great deal in common, and yet, as John said, he was unworthy to untie the sandals of Jesus. Jesus was not only God’s prophet; he was God’s Son. He not only spoke God’s word, he was God’s word; he was the Word become flesh. Even though John came before Jesus, and was not strictly speaking a follower of Jesus, he has a great deal to teach us about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He teaches us that we follow Jesus by basing our lives on God’s word, especially as spoken and lived by Jesus. We are to allow that word to take root in our heart, so that it shapes our lives. We are to hear the Lord’s word and to keep it, as Mary did. Her words to Gabriel, ‘Let it be to me according to your word’ could easily be the foundation of our lives as disciples of Jesus. And/Or (iv) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time The scene in the gospel reading is one that has inspired artists and play writers throughout the centuries. The sumptuous banquet in Herod’s palace for his birthday turns out to be a banquet of death. Mark the evangelist follows this scene with the feeding by Jesus of the multitude in the wilderness. It is as if the evangelist wants to set Herod’s banquet of death over against Jesus’ banquet of life. John the Baptist is described in the gospel reading as a ‘good and holy man’. He courageously spoke God’s truth, God’s way, and that is why he was beheaded. Jesus was crucified for the same reason, because he proclaimed God’s ways, God’s purposes, by what he said and did. We are all called to proclaim the ways of God as revealed to us by Jesus. That will call for courage at times, the courage displayed by John the Baptist and Jesus. One of the traditional seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is courage. Today, more than in the past, we need a courageous faith; we need the courage of the Holy Spirit to witness to the values of the gospel, as John and Jesus did. A courageous faith is not an arrogant faith, but it is a firm faith, an enduring faith, a faith that holds firm when the storms come because its roots are deep. We pray this morning for the gift of such a faith, the kind of faithfulness that shaped John’s life and death. And/Or (v) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time John the Baptist was the innocent victim of the irresponsible use of power. The gospel reading this morning suggests that Herod had John executed because he wanted to save face. Having made a reckless promise to his step daughter, he would not go back on it, as to do so would have meant a loss of honour. There have always been and still are innocent victims of the irresponsible use of power. Jesus was the supreme example of a victim of the irresponsible use of power. It was the religiously and politically powerful who had Jesus crucified. Whenever anyone is victimized in this way, it is always a terrible tragedy. Such a travesty of justice is never God’s will. Yet, both the death of John the Baptist and of Jesus show us that God can bring good out of such tragedies, out of such travesties of justice. God can work powerfully through the weakness of such innocent victims, even though it is never God’s will that such victimization should ever happen. It is Jesus and John, not Pilate or Caiaphas or Herod, who continue to shine as a light for all who seek the path of life today. And/Or (vi) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time The gospel reading that we have just heard has inspired artists and playwrights down the centuries. It is a scene that is full of drama and tragedy. Herod’s birthday party turns out to be a banquet of death. The boasting and moral cowardice of Herod, the vengefulness of his wife Herodias and the compliance of her daughter all combined to bring about the execution of John the Baptist of whom Jesus said ‘among those born of women, no one is greater’. According to the gospel reading, Herod recognized John as a good and holy man and was anxious to protect him. Yet, rather than lose face before his guests he went against his better judgement and agreed to his wife’s request. He gave in to the social pressure rather than be true to his best instincts. In that sense, Herod is every man and woman. We can all find ourselves in situations where remaining true to our values, the values of the gospel, will involve some loss or other. The temptation can be to comprise so as to avoid the loss, like Herod. John the Baptist certainly resisted that temptation. He remained true to the values of God’s kingdom even though it meant the loss of his freedom and, ultimately, the loss of his life. He remains an inspiration to us in our struggle to be true to the call of the gospel, even though it may mean some loss for us in the short term. Fr Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ieJoin us via our webcam. Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC. Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf. Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin.

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survivormuxloe · 5 years

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Episode 16: “I’m a petty bitch betta know that” - Scott

FUCK YOU RHYS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA I SURVIVED GOAT ASS BITCH IM COMIN FOR THAT FIC WIN SO I CAN TAKE UR GOATY ASS TO THE END AND WIN I FUCKING DESERVE IT THAT WAS THE MOST STRESSFUL THING OF MY FUCKING LIFE HOLY SHITTTTTTTTTTTTT AS ANNA WOULD SAY IM HARDDDDD

Oh boy mo lost firemaking. Oh well. I tried. Not sure there is much hope in me winning, but guess I have to try. Ima be preparing a bomb ass speach, and a decent rites of passage. Not looking hopefully but like fingers crossed.

Also I think I’d make end either way now. Scott wants me in the end probably. Ryan wants me in the end probably. So if so. I get 2nd at the least. But I’m probably winning immunity anyway so ;).

ok its the day after.. n i finished my rop.. hopefully the jury likes it. LOL LIKE I WASNT GUNNA JUST KISS THEIR ARSES FUCK THAT im gunna be honest ab my feelings...

also like. kinda feel bad ab my confessionals last nite ab rhys.. i was a bit. excited. but. its tea. LAMFJBFHBFG

Final immunity is a little stressful. Like it’s the last one to win, if I win this that’s 5 individual wins. Just something more to put on my speech cause I’m gonna need it.

I’m feeling confident I can manage to pull out this win so like yeah I’m gonna have to work and try to win each part of this.

im actually gunna lose this fic which is super annoying bc it means i get 3rd LOL! aLMNFBFG

like memory lane i can win if im not dumb which i am so. winterbells i'll 100% lose like i lost to anna lol. endurance i'll 100% lose bc i'm such a forgetful slut i only lasted 40 mins in canadienne.... slide puzzles are legit my worst nightmare and then the mystery task i looked up from last ssn and it took them 11 mins so if i take more than that i lose... yay!

wow i can't wait to get 3rd place;;;; i feel like scott has gotten into rhys' ear and now i'm not the prime choice to be brought to final 2 grrr. at least thats what it seems like idk. ugh rhys doesnt deserve to make final 2 and it will make for a boring ftc zzzzzz who knows maybe scott or i can pull out an upset. i lowkey think scott would vote me out tho which is ugly and i would 100% be bitter at him idgaf KLFADHSKF

earlier i wasn't really sure what rhys and scott were thinking in regard to who they'll bring to f2, but since then i've talked w both more and i feel like 80% confident both will take me to final 2 so that's cute 8~] i don't think i'm doing well in the final immunity so far so i'm honestly banking on that lol.... as much as I think I'd have better chances against Rhys as the end, I am rooting for Scott to win it and bring me bc that is the ending this season deserves imho. i don't think there'd be a clear cut winner going into it and the ftc would be contentious as fuck... i hope at least lol. Scott def played a really dominant strategic game but def has some iffy relationships with jurors. I played a really purposefully utr game for most of the time but i think it's respectable, although there are some point against me like sitting out of so many challenges, that tie vote with jones voting early being the reason i was saved... but i think i can make a good case despite those faults and i'm honestly excited to show a new me at the live tribal. like i've been nervous as hell every time we had to go to tribal bc calling makes me anxious af, and that was def a contributing factor to me sitting out of the spelling challenge and even the card stacking one. so I'm planning on forming my case around that anxiety, and hopefully the contrast between my ftc performance compared to every live one before that will bank me the jury's respect. kind of like Kristie from AU survivor where she stunned the jury bc all game she had appeared so timid and dumb at tribals. hoping i can channel that energy and pull out the win hehe

so we got 5 and a half ish hours until deadline. uhm. i'm honestly really happy with my scores? like. i feel as if i have a big chance of winning this and that would be SOOOOO fucking good like both of them can smd honestly if they think im giving this chance up and getting 3rd or getting 2nd to ryan... like i love him but hes beyond dumb if he thinks im taking him to the end i cant throw a victory like that lol.

i dont wanna get 2 confident tho bc knowing my ass i'll be crushed if i lose this fic lol like at least if i dont i know ryan wins so it isnt that bad but it should be me!!! im a selfish cunt i need this jsjsjs

i say this after doing endurance for 5 and a half hrs so my brain is a little floopy rn :) forgive me :) aLFMNHFG

uhm ya. rhys can suck my ass as well with his OH IDK WHO I'D PICK!!! like bitch if u pick ryan enjoy a rerun of canadienne only this time ur losing unanimously lol

Honestly im done with Scott. Like stop being rude okay. Like I GET IT. YOU DONT WANT TO BE 3rd!. I GET IT. Like quit it with the "I dont want to wait to be cut", cause honestly, I dont know who im taking, OR IF IVE EVEN WON YET. so like stop it. Like ive been told im gonna loose, stop attacking me, because i essentially chooses who wins.

I think my immunity went good. I did good in all the parts I think.

ok.... time to guilt scott into bringing me to the end lmfao

Dammit I was so close to winning, but in the end from what I’ve heard I’d be the best choice for Scott to take to the end. So fingers crossed. Scott will take me there cause I really want to make the end. Even if I loose. I’m proud of my game and I just want to get as far as I can.

BIG FUN! CUS TONIGHTS THE NIGHT. bitchhh i get to pick who i want in f2 with me!!!

THIS IS SO EXCITING BC I LEGIT HAVE NEVER WON A FIC OR A F3 CHALLENGE BEFORE AND I FUCKING DID THAT!!! I SWERVED THAT VICTORY AND ITS SO FUCKING SATISFYING HOLY FUCKK

NOW IM GUNNA MAKE RHYS SUFFER EVEN THO IK IM PROB PICKING HIM BC HE WAS AN ASSHOLE LAST WEEK :)) IM A PETTY BITCH BETTA KNOW THAT

LIKE RYAN UNDERSTANDS IF I VOTE HIM N HE 100% VOTES ME TO WIN AND I DONT PLAN ON FLOPPING FTC SO :) BYE! UR WINNER IS HERE!

i feel like scott is gonna vote me out and i’m a bit gagged sbdbjsjsjs i really didn’t expect him to slit my throat like dis but. ig he wants to win badly and rhys most likely secures him an easy win so i cant blame him. still sucks though :C i thot we were solid dndjjdjs and ugh i dont wanna join that angry ass jury

ok so i'm still not giving up on tryna convince scott lol. honestly like i've made it this far in the game, no way i'm gonna accept defeat so easily. i don't actually know if it's better for scott to sit next to rhys than me, it probably is but seriously my game isn't amazing and i very well could see scott beating me. i think he's really overestimating how much the jury "hates" him like idk they aren't that petty, if anyone is it might just be michael. but scott really has dominated this game and everyone is aware of it, he should beat either of us.

So, this could be my last confession.

Scott, I don’t know where he was thinking. I thought it was general concensous that I was the one to loose. Yet here I am Scott is still unsure about who to take and it’s an hour 40 untill tribal.

So like this could speak well about my game if Scott worries he can’t beat me. It could also just be him wanting to take his best friend to the end. So yeah. I’m like 50/50 when I thought I should’ve been 99/1 about staying.

I can’t believe I’m here. I have a half chance at winning. That’s if we’re even which were probably not.

This is probably an uphill battle for me, so I have to go hard or I’m going home empty handed. I haven’t lasted this long just to come second. I do think I’ve played a winning game. I think I can make a killer final tribal preformance just to solidify my case. Hopefully this will be the third winner of celestial.

So final tribal happened.

Funny how has mo won that tiebreaker I would’ve lost unanimously. So thanks scott for winning that, and the FIC.

I think this could go either way tbh. However if I win it’s because of Scott’s bad jury management which isn’t the way I wanted to win. I would’ve preferred people to see my game more and respect that but because my moves weren’t big or flashy I have been put down to doing nothing.

it's 2 and a half hours until we find out the winner. am i nervous? absolutely.

do i feel as though i deserve to win? absolutely.

it just keeps ringing in my mind what ryan said in his speech that the jury seemed to root for rhys and be bitter against me. i feel as though my speeches and answers were much better than his and i was able to explain my game so much more clearer so i'm hoping that they reconsider and see that i controlled the game.

if i lose i'll be gracious and nice to rhys because at the end of the day it was my own fault that my jury management was bad but it'll definitely sting because i don't really see that he did much tbh alkfjhfg. i love him but it's tea. especially when he's said that i probably deserve it more. ):

i'm really just hoping for the best at this point! anything can happen and hopefully it'll be in my favour hehe. it's been an incredibly fun season and i wouldn't change it for anything else.

this has been mr scooty toots with his finale confessional, and hopefully mr scooty toots will join the winner and the hall of fame. hehe. will lowkey be awkward if i lose tho!! LOL but oh well alkdjfg

Scott wins in a 8-1 vote!

#episode #royallyyours

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mylovingbouquetearthquakewo-blog · 6 years

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learner driver insurance

"learner driver insurance

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I have Crohn's disease and I'm attending college in Idaho. I'm currently covered by my parents' insurance, but I'm I will no longer be covered in a year. My college has a reasonably priced insurance plan but it doesn't cover prescription medications. Remicade is considered a prescription drug, which means that the plan won't cover my remicade treatments which cost about $4,000 every eight weeks. I realize I could get a job that has benefits, but I really would like to get a college degree. Is there any way I can go to college and still have the health coverage I need to pay for my prescription medicines?""

""If you pay an annual sum for car insurance, can you get a refund on it if you buy a new car?""

I'm just wondering, let's say I bought some car insurance recently and paid the annual sum. If I decide to purchase a new car in a few months time (and I'm assuming insurance policies are tied to a particular car) would I be able to get reimbursed for the months of car insurance I didn't get (since I'd need to sign up for a new insurance policy on the newly purchased car)? Or is this why you should pay monthly instead (even though it costs more in the long term)? Don't know if it makes much of a difference but I'm also in Australia.""

What are some affordable health insurance plans?

I am 20 years old and do not have health insurance and I need to get my wisdom teeth pulled! So i'm looking for an affordable health insurance.I've already applied for Medicaid and was denied.I need help please!

Can I get sued if my son gets into an accident and has no car insurance. He's 21?

My son is 21. He has 2 jobs. He can't pay the car insurance so he has no insurance. Were worried about being sued cause he still lives at home and he's 21 years old in new york state. Are we still liable

""Do Asians pay higher Car Insurance rates, especially women and is that legal?

Do insurance companies use profiling in their rate policies. Are they like the IRS who used typical words for known tax cheats like Patriot or Tea Party .Or do ...show more

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I want to know about car insurances?

What car insurance are good out there for full coverage

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I'm looking to buy my first car and have my eyes and this cheap old BMW (1997-2002 don't know the exact year). Would the insurance cost me more than it would for other car brands like Toyota or Honda from similar years?

learner driver insurance

Am i covered on their insurance?

I am a 17 yo male with a probationary class 5 license from Alberta, Canada. I am wondering if i am covered on the insurance on my grand-parents' car (from Ontario) in Nova Scotia. Thanks for the help""

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Staying on my mother's health insurance?

I'm 19 years old, in good health, and moving out. My mother has been laid off and is getting a job out of state which is forcing me to move out (i'm not complaining just informing). She will be on cobra health insurance until the new job's health insurance kicks in but I was wondering if I'd still be able to be covered under her new job's insurance if we aren't living together. The only reason I ask this is because I am currently working part time at a job that offers health insurance but it is $70 per month. If it were up to me I'd go without health insurance but she informed me that it is required by law now (yay). I've read in some places that I would be able to stay covered by my mother's insurance until age 26 but I've also read in other places that if my job offers health insurance I cannot be covered on someone else's as a dependent. I live in Georgia if that matters! Any tips/suggestions welcomed, thanks!""

How much is the Tax penalty for not having insurance?

I lost my insurance because I didn't have enough hours. I missed open enrollment last fall and not eligible again until October 31. I heard Obama care is expensive. I also have two jobs and make around 30,000 gross pay with both jobs combined. Is the 100 a monthly penalty or a yearly penalty. Is their anyway to get around open enrollment. Maybe my Union can help?""

How much would insurance cost around for a 2002 ford explorer for a 16 year old?

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What insurance is best for women?

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How come different auto insurance agencies charge different prices for the same insurance company?

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""Car Accident, Insurance won't pay up .. Any advice ?""

I was in an car accident two weeks ago, the other driver hit the side of my car because she did not make her stop. I tried to stop however, she was still able to hit the left side of my car. Police arrived but he recommended for us both to file a claim on each others insurance and that they would settle the problem themselves. My insurance company came to take photos of the damages and asked us what had happen. I received letters a couple of days ago, one from my insurance and the others person insurance. My insurance denied her claim because the damages demonstrated that it was her fault. However, i also received a letter from her insurance, that they also denied my claim. I called her insurance and they told me that it they weren't going to pay for any of the damages made to my car, because the the collision shows that it was my fault. I told them i was going to get my lawyer . and they told me i could do what ever i wanted. So, anyone has any advice ? **there was also a witness (a neighbor) who saw what happen**""

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I am turning 21 next week and will be working towards getting my license in a couple months (by April 2011). I was wandering if anyone could tell me how much more would my parents would have to pay for car insurance if they added me in it with another car added (they have two cars currently and they pay about 250-300 ever 6 months). I wanted to pay them the difference of how much more higher the insurance went. Let me know.

What's the average cost monthly for a high school student for having a car?

Just like the question says, around how much is everything put together on having a car (maintaining, oil, insurance etc) for a high school student. Thanks.""

How much do you think my insurance will go up?

I got a ticket about a month ago for exhibition of speed and i have court soon but i need to know how much my insurance will go up after our next policy. it wasnt a serious ticket it was just me and my buddy racing from one stop light to the next one. we didnt even go over the limit. i might even get off with nothing because its my first ticket i dunno. but ya, i have alstate and its insured under my parents name and we have our cars, 4 wheelers, snowmobiles, cabin, house, life, and pretty much everything with allstate. its about 600 every 6 months currently for my car. about how much do you think it will go up? thank you.""

What sort of car/van insurance can i get?

I have my own business and use a van and i also have 1 employee who uses another van so i need to insure both of these but i also want to get a car to use maybe once or twice a week to meet clients etc, i havent decided on what car to get yet but i am looking at something sporty, ie a bmw m3 or something similar, is there a business policy which i could take out to cover all this? i would prefer to find one similar to motor trade where i and my employee can be insured to drive anything and i pay a set cost each year,any advice will be great, thanks""

Considering suing my car insurance company?

As we all know car insurance companies in the United States of America charge males more than females to drive a car based on real world studies . This is the equivalent of not hiring females because they may get pregnant and take a lot ofdays off... Because this is truly a real world study i conducted that males dont get pregnant as often as females. So I am highly tempted to bring this up with a lawyer or at least send a letter to my car insurance company, and i want them to hurt for it because frankly it pisses me off that i am being descriminated against. Further more, in europe, this practice of charging males more because they are more likely to drive is highly illegal. I am in no way a liberal democrat but if this sensitivity bullshit is going to stop descrimination than maybe they should give a **** about me before i start caring about them...""

Best Car Insurance Quotes?

Hi I'm about to turn 18, am female and passed my driving test on Monday. I just bought a car. It's so tedious getting insurance quotes. I've checked all the comparison ...show more""

Average auto insurance for 25yo gemale no previous accidents?

Looking to move to LA with a 2011 Jeep Liberty. I know you cant give me exact numbers but just trying to get a feel. Also what os the best and what is the cheapest insurance company that services the area? Thanks!

How much does it cost to go for an eye exam in new jersey without insurance?

I want to get my eyes checked and have no insurance.I was wondering how much it would cost? Is lenscrafters good or more expensive? pearl vision?

learner driver insurance

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mannsville-kentucky-cheap-car-insurance-quotes-zip-42758-barry-noble/"

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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 7 years

Text

3rd February >> Fr. Martin's Reflection on Today's Gospel Reading (Mark 6:14-29) for Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time: ‘They took his body and laid it in a tomb’.

Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada & South Africa)

Mark 6:14-29

King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well-known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah’; others again, ‘He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.’ But when Herod heard this he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.’ Now it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him. An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist’ The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Gospel

Mark 6:14-29

It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Reflections (6)

(i) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s gospel reading from Mark is one of the more gruesome stories in the gospels, outside of the story of the passion and death of Jesus. A banquet celebrating the birthday of Herod Antipas becomes the occasion for the summary execution of someone Jesus described as ‘more than a prophet’. Herod comes across as a person who acts contrary to his own better judgement and better instincts. He knew John to be a good and holy man and liked to listen to him. Yet, he had John thrown into prison because it is what his wife, Herodias, wanted. Then at his birthday celebration he ordered the beheading of John even though it left him deeply distressed. Having made a rash promise to his step daughter, he felt obliged to keep his promise because it was what his guests would have expected of him. His honour was at stake. Neither action, throwing John into prison and ordering his execution, came from deep within Herod. He did both under pressure, from his wife and from his guests. The portrait of Herod in today’s gospel reading reminds us that we can all do things under pressure from others that we are not at peace about. Like Herod, we can take paths that are not true to what is best in us, to please someone or to protect our position in the eyes of others. The gospel calls on us to be true to our deepest and best values, to the Lord’s call which resounds through them. There may be some loss for us in doing so, but, as Jesus says elsewhere in the gospels, ‘those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it’.

And/Or

(ii) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

In the days running up to the feast of Christmas, we heard Luke’s account of the birth of John the Baptist. In this morning’s gospel reading, we hear Mark’s account of the death of John the Baptist. As we read that story, John is off stage, as it were, languishing in Herod Antipas’ prison. There are three characters who are centre stage, Herod Antipas, his wife Herodias and her daughter from her marriage to Herod’s brother, Philip. Of those three characters Herod Antipas comes across as the most complex. Whereas Herodias clearly hated John the Baptist, Herod’s attitude to John was more ambivalent. It is said that Herod knew John to be a good and holy man and gave him his protection, and that he liked to listen to John even though he was greatly perplexed by what he said. There was something about John that spoke to Herod; John appealed to Herod’s better nature. Yet, Herod ordered John’s execution. He had made a very public but very rash promise to Herodias’ daughter, and to protect his own honour before others he felt obliged to keep his promise, even though it meant beheading the man whom he knew to be good and holy. Herod, in the end, acted against his better nature, to which John the Baptist had appealed so strongly. Perhaps there is something of Herod in all of us. We hear a call that appeals to what is best in us, but we don’t always follow through on it for reasons of self-interest. Herod was not prepared to lose his honour to save John. Responding to the Lord’s call will often entail some loss for us. Being true to what is deepest and best in ourselves will sometimes mean having to die to ourselves in some way. Yet, we have the promise of Jesus that, if we lose our life for his sake, we will ultimately find it.

And/Or

(iii) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

According to this morning’s gospel reading, some people thought that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life, after he had been beheaded by Herod. The fact that some people thought that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life suggests just how much both had in common. John was a prophet who proclaimed God’s word, even when that word was unpopular. It is because some found his word very unpopular that John was executed. Jesus, too, spoke of himself as a prophet; he proclaimed God’s word, even when that word was experienced as threatening by those in positions of power and influence. Like John, it was because of his faithfulness to proclaiming and living God’s word that Jesus was put to death. John and Jesus had a great deal in common, and yet, as John said, he was unworthy to untie the sandals of Jesus. Jesus was not only God’s prophet; he was God’s Son. He not only spoke God’s word, he was God’s word; he was the Word become flesh. Even though John came before Jesus, and was not strictly speaking a follower of Jesus, he has a great deal to teach us about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He teaches us that we follow Jesus by basing our lives on God’s word, especially as spoken and lived by Jesus. We are to allow that word to take root in our heart, so that it shapes our lives. We are to hear the Lord’s word and to keep it, as Mary did. Her words to Gabriel, ‘Let it be to me according to your word’ could easily be the foundation of our lives as disciples of Jesus.

And/Or

(iv) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

The scene in the gospel reading is one that has inspired artists and play writers throughout the centuries. The sumptuous banquet in Herod’s palace for his birthday turns out to be a banquet of death. Mark the evangelist follows this scene with the feeding by Jesus of the multitude in the wilderness. It is as if the evangelist wants to set Herod’s banquet of death over against Jesus’ banquet of life. John the Baptist is described in the gospel reading as a ‘good and holy man’. He courageously spoke God’s truth, God’s way, and that is why he was beheaded. Jesus was crucified for the same reason, because he proclaimed God’s ways, God’s purposes, by what he said and did. We are all called to proclaim the ways of God as revealed to us by Jesus. That will call for courage at times, the courage displayed by John the Baptist and Jesus. One of the traditional seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is courage. Today, more than in the past, we need a courageous faith; we need the courage of the Holy Spirit to witness to the values of the gospel, as John and Jesus did. A courageous faith is not an arrogant faith, but it is a firm faith, an enduring faith, a faith that holds firm when the storms come because its roots are deep. We pray this morning for the gift of such a faith, the kind of faithfulness that shaped John’s life and death.

And/Or

(v) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

John the Baptist was the innocent victim of the irresponsible use of power. The gospel reading this morning suggests that Herod had John executed because he wanted to save face. Having made a reckless promise to his step daughter, he would not go back on it, as to do so would have meant a loss of honour. There have always been and still are innocent victims of the irresponsible use of power. Jesus was the supreme example of a victim of the irresponsible use of power. It was the religiously and politically powerful who had Jesus crucified. Whenever anyone is victimized in this way, it is always a terrible tragedy. Such a travesty of justice is never God’s will. Yet, both the death of John the Baptist and of Jesus show us that God can bring good out of such tragedies, out of such travesties of justice. God can work powerfully through the weakness of such innocent victims, even though it is never God’s will that such victimization should ever happen. It is Jesus and John, not Pilate or Caiaphas or Herod, who continue to shine as a light for all who seek the path of life today.

And/Or

(vi) Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

The gospel reading that we have just heard has inspired artists and playwrights down the centuries. It is a scene that is full of drama and tragedy. Herod’s birthday party turns out to be a banquet of death. The boasting and moral cowardice of Herod, the vengefulness of his wife Herodias and the compliance of her daughter all combined to bring about the execution of John the Baptist of whom Jesus said ‘among those born of women, no one is greater’. According to the gospel reading, Herod recognized John as a good and holy man and was anxious to protect him. Yet, rather than lose face before his guests he went against his better judgement and agreed to his wife’s request. He gave in to the social pressure rather than be true to his best instincts. In that sense, Herod is every man and woman. We can all find ourselves in situations where remaining true to our values, the values of the gospel, will involve some loss or other. The temptation can be to comprise so as to avoid the loss, like Herod. John the Baptist certainly resisted that temptation. He remained true to the values of God’s kingdom even though it meant the loss of his freedom and, ultimately, the loss of his life. He remains an inspiration to us in our struggle to be true to the call of the gospel, even though it may mean some loss for us in the short term.

Fr Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland.

Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ieJoin us via our webcam.

Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC.

Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf.

Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin.

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pokefanbri · 4 years

Text

1st I have to say this b4 I repeat the post from fb. This is a place where I can speak my mind freely without judgement, speak my peace even. Which is exactly what im gonna do so prepare for a read. So think what u want idc, but the last thing I wanna do is tick some1 I know off cause on some level there's a mutual appreciation & respect regardless of my impression. And anyone that reads this isn't obligated to understand my opinion & I dont expect u to. With my brain its my thought process to let information out of my head so I can put things aside, observe & absorb more lol. Writing is another tool or coping mechanism for my anxieties & other psych ailments, treatment for my mental health depends on it & other hobbies in other words, especially during shutdown, something to focus on. Heck even youtube is recommended by my doctor if it keeps me happy lol. But because ill be working again, I may not have time to do alot of things I like sadly..idk i just wouldnt want to be burnt out & focus on more important things. I have a high respect for anyone working around people during this time & it must worrisome for u too, means I have to keep on my toes as well soon..its a scary world out there for an introvert but I was killin it in NY too. It was just a slow steady process with all the limitations & moving my life up there wasn't easy to begin with but I pulled through & did it all...only for it to be taken away.

So, I'm an Irish, German, Canadian,British Mut from tucson. Maternal & paternal immidiate families lineage mixed made me, including my NY blood from my bio dad. The rest is all over Europe but u get the idea. Tucson may be where i was born & my 1st home without a father & raised not knowing (were mardi gras babies btw 😒)

But NY is & will forever be my 2nd home i dont care what any1 says, I felt I belonged there. Its the other half of me quite literally.Theres a memory that's really been bugging me. Last day b4 i left it, a bald eagle flew across my path in the sky no joke going NE & I was departing back to the SW. I chose the eagle years ago cause I identify with it. including the background symbolism in different phases of my life that included them lol, but to actually see one was just amazing.

They symbolize strength+freedom in general despite it standing for the country from sea to shining sea lol. Also Braviary was always in my pokemon team besides pikachu since its gen came out lol. I've always been strong, whether some believe it to be true or not is their problem, only I know the things I've gone through. Point is different ends of the spectrum its always been with me throughout in some way & im glad i got to share it with someone that gave me the freedom I needed.

But yea I experienced what its like to be there & got to know that part of me even if I didn't find him & maybe didnt care...I feel I was meant to be there. I was in touch with my roots, lower Temps & above sea level rather than high temps & below sea level 🤣 I loved everything about my time up there. It'll always be a part of me, & I hope to see it again. But I digress.

But in regards to the relationship itself, emphasizing on what i said b4. Just as it i got "settled" in it was gone & I had no clue what was happening without my knowledge, the whole plan to bring me back, all of it, the whole chain of events that unfolded the way it did starting with leaving a marriage in the 1st place to be with him i mean come on lol. Chasing a dream that didn't play out the way we had hoped. I took leap of faith & I ended up starting over twice in 1 year with no benefit of the doubt. I still have my ny health insurance for the rest of the yr, I have to add it to my list to apply again in az. Ive been wearing the wrong prescription glasses for 6 months under quarantine & they're just now getting to stage 4 of opening lol. Just understand how frustrating that actually is for someone like me & u totally get it 😅 U want to take care of business but sometimes you're limited & gotta work around it. had all that covered there & then was told I settled, wrong thing to say & its no wonder I didn't blow up in his face right there & then 😒. But I have retraint & can control myself. Though it was out of my hands the new relationship didn't have to go sour, been just as long if not more, could've actually thrived given the proper balance with room to grow. Idk, Sometimes I honestly don't think anyone believed in me. I mean I have no debt, no record, no kids, im a clean slate type of girl lol. Yes I did end up feeling unappreciated, underestimated, a bit neglected, insecure about my body, ashamed for being myself, & I shouldn't have to feel that way at all & if that happens there obviously something off. I just didnt know what it is he wanted & needed, i wanted to help & be a good partner to this dude but why is it bad to ask the same in return? I shouldn't have to drastically change myself to fit someones standard i know, but...i needed the old him back, I missed the old us & wanted to get back to that.. Was always so closed off & probably ended up in his own head who knows, maybe there was guilt for some of the things he did & didnt want to hurt me anymore, spare my feelings any more than it did b4 it was too late.idk whatever the excuse i still don't know what triggered it all to fail so easily & i don't think i ever will. But ending up with the conclusion that I was the problem, its narcissistic to even believe that & i won't accept it. Not when he can't confront his own issuse & put blame onto himself too.. it was a low blow & literally felt like my heart was pierced at the sound of it. If im to blame its the other way around as well. My point of view wasn't acknowledged so this is my take & experiences of happened so plz dont hate me for speaking my truth.

But yea I can tell when somethings not right & feel strong empathy for others emotions. I knew something was different, there were signs everywhere since the mistrust started & during the last half of that time with him I questioned everything but sat in my own headspace as well as he did just thinking about it. If anything we failed eachother, the blame is on us both but idk what else i could've done to get through to him. That's the stubbornness, he wouldn't budge. Despite how things went down..Leaves me to think, what was the point of having me there in the 1st place, to not follow through with our shared hopes & dreams but instead spiral into such resentment for me that the interest faded. But at the at the same time...even if it ended early for him, I didn't give up & I fought to keep us okay which it was for the most part. Hindsight is 20/20, it definitely wasn't negative all the time. In fact things were great between us & acted like goofballs together, that right there is a friend despite if the stronger feelings weren't mutual. Nobody with hate in their heart acts like that, he was good, the best, cheered me up when I was down, shared interests & did things for eachother. But that alone makes me question what was truth & what was fiction sometimes ever since the trust between us started to fade. Am I in the right to feel what im feeling right now? Im angry & upset yes very, but the kindness he had throughout..he did care in his own way...which makes things so much harder.

Tripadoodle if some way you're listening, I hope u know now where im coming from. For your own benefit & quest to be a better man like you always wanted...actually try. Head my advice. Making yourself better shouldn't be put on a womans shoulders to do for u without her getting lifted in return...its alot of weight to handle for 1 person to carry lol. Get off your ass & build on yourself, learn from everything that happened & become better for yourself & the sake of others, Because it starts with u. Go to church if possible or watch them, it really does help. Even from across the country I still want u to do just as good & help u as a friend. You promised we could remain friends & im holding my end of the bargain whether u like it or not lol it was your idea during the ride here. All I wanted in the end was to not lose u in my life completely...but i should be patient i know.. Theres more space, im not contacting u directly & respecting that, eventually ill stfu lol but I feel I need this rn. I should hate u,but I cant hate u, I do still care, u had that affect on me so much that I can't really listen to others when they say ur a douchbag lol, u were still my rock the whole time even if u didn't feel the same after a while & u did help me alot as well. I see the good in people & u are good, with well balanced snarkiness & humorous sass to boot. light a fire under ur own ass & ull be okay lol. Never stopped believing in u. Ive seen what you can do, you're very smart & know your sh*t, u will go far lol. And as a friend I'd lend u my strength if I could but the most I can do is pray for things like safety/protection, healing, forgiveness, guidance, etc. Leave it to God if u feel compelled to. Give zanabell a hug for me.

God i talk way too much 😅 No im not doing any of this for attention, I want my voice to be heard as well as a possible learning experience if it had that effect on anyone. The things we learn build character & help us understand a little more about ourselves. Probably shouldn't share cuz its nobody's business, yea ive thought of that too.. But its a blog lol, Tumblr allowed it to be that space, opinions and rants are allowed & encouraged. Nothing wrong with that 🤷‍♀️ so who gives a crap.

These are pictures of the NY sunrise & AZ sunset. Clouds always get me cuz of the shapes, used to to take pics of them all the time. once saw mario holding a hammer when I was a kid 😂 3rd & 4th pic is a split rainbow, never seen that b4...either someone found the gold or its deciding whether or not to connect. Probably was connected but I missed it lol. But then I looked behind me after the split 1 disappeared & a double rainbow was forming. Nature can be scary but also beautiful

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