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The Human Artificial Hivemind Part 340: Thermite Thrower
2023.03.24 01:30 Storms_Wrath The Human Artificial Hivemind Part 340: Thermite Thrower
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The Sprilnav represented a direct and clear threat. That much was clear. Phoebe needed something to counter them eventually since there would come a time when they decided to do something about the Alliance. She needed more powerful weapons to protect Edu'frec and Ri'frec, as well as Humanity and the rest of the Alliance. And she needed more powerful shields. The research agreements with the wanderers had continued to stagnate. Negotiations between the Alliance and their constituent parties continued to break down.
The hivemind was already well on the way into its campaign to get wanderers to come to the Alliance, but they didn't have transport. Some of the wanderer ships refused to let them leave at all, a development that greatly worried Phoebe and the Alliance's diplomats in private. While there were disagreements on whether to circumvent those policies, particularly coming to a head between Blistanna and Izkrala, it seemed nothing would change there. So Phoebe couldn't rely on the wanderers. The hivemind's scientists were already leaping ahead with research, their collective ability still outstripping her own capability due to the knowledge banks that the hivemind allowed Humanity to access.
"I will activate more computers so that I can finish my research on nanotechnology," Phoebe said. "But once this technology is unlocked, it will change the Alliance forever. Nanomachines can poison people. Build cities. Augment our guns, knives, tanks, and ships."
Juan Pedros nodded, his eyes wrinkling slightly. Phoebe rubbed her hands together. "How are the Guulin doing?"
"With my direct investment and advice, the Guulin Congressional Republic is doing well. GDP growth is at 50%, down from 80% last year. Canada's GDP will likely equal that of the United States of America in 20 years from all the immigration and monetary transactions occurring to its benefit."
"What about their enlistment in the military?"
"Guulin enlistment outstrips all other species combined, even the Acuarfar. Their enlistment rate is 5% of their population every year. Blistanna has began to focus on creating a robust military structure, with help from the hivemind and Humanity's many militaries. The Guulin Liberation Army is already standing at 200 million members, and is expected to reach triple that in five years," Phoebe said. "They're the ones that are increasingly piloting our ships, and handling the work that needs a lot of people. They're almost as competent as fully trained human soldiers, which is a testament to their grit and hard work."
"Is their leadership pushing for any particular direction for the military?"
Phoebe nodded.
"Heavy focus on infantry and vehicle rapid deployment. They want some of our carriers to be retrofitted with dropship hangars and to be included on further raids on the Guulin United Legions. They claim that the rest of their species needs to be liberated and that they can handle the shock now that the infrastructure is mature."
"What do you think?"
"They don't have enough doctors. Without the hivemind's efforts to provide vaccines for all their remaining illnesses, it is likely that they will have a problem with pandemics. The cities are already bleeding people into the countryside, and urban sprawl is increasing. The whole Hudson Bay area will likely be developed by 2320."
"Is that being addressed?"
"There are many medical schools that have been set up. Most of the applicants are still finishing their Advanced Guulin Biology classes, and are not yet ready for full involvement in hospitals."
"How is it handled?"
"I'm selling large numbers of medical diagnosis scanners and robotic surgery units to Guulin hospitals. I'm the most accurate person there is right now with things like lead poisoning, cancer diagnoses, and chronic treatments."
"Will it be enough?"
"With more resources, maybe. So far, I've become something of a supplier to many markets. I own many factories, producing many different resources. I sell them, so I can then buy drugs from pharmaceutical companies and the like to help with the Guulin healthcare system. Though many of them are breaking into the market, which I'm allowing because I don't want a monopoly."
Juan Pedros nodded. "Right. How many ships could the Guulin man at this point?"
"Just the Guulin, or all of the Alliance?"
"The Guulin."
"All of our current fleet, and about eight times more. But if we do it that way, then there would be no one to invade planets. Ships can only hold land if they go into the atmosphere, which creates large risks for them."
"Quite. But it's better than sending them in pods," Juan Pedros said. Phoebe smiled.
"True. Those are too easy to sabotage, and far easier to destroy than a carrier."
"So how many ships do we have overall?"
"Including the Wisselen ones, plus all currently operational or nearly operational ships, we have 6 dreadnaughts, 7000 battle cruisers, 15,000 carriers, 55,000 cruisers, 150,000 destroyers, and 300,000 frigates. Of those, the largest amount is stationed in the Sol system, and many of the supply lines for the increasingly large fleet are becoming system-based. I'm trying to figure out a way to keep the interstellar supplies going in case the in-system supplies aren't usable. And stockpiles become a very dangerous risk of sabotage, or of outright detonation."
"How do we fix this, then?" Juan asked.
"We need more robust supply lines. Ships need to have larger on-board stockpiling capability."
"Can that be done?"
"Not quickly," Phoebe replied. "But yes. I also will begin to look more closely at figuring out alternative solutions to the Alliance's infantry problem."
"Skira."
"He's unreliable."
"That can be made to change," Juan said.
"It should not. Skira resides in hundreds of thousands of homes. That's someone you want to be very careful with if you lean on him."
"I'm not worried about votes. I'm worried about using all the Alliance's resources, so that we can survive."
"Skira has drones in our military. He shouldn't be forced to add more. He could pull out of the Alliance easily, but he doesn't because he likes us. There's no reason to do make that change."
"He needs to do his part. He has trillions of those drones. They're disposable."
"Maybe not to him," Phoebe said. "Please, do not do this."
"You won't stop me?"
"I will let you make the stupid decision, if you wish. What I suggest is that you go and ask him. No demands. If he says no, that's it."
"That's not how this works," Juan said. "He is the key to solving the infantry problem for the rest of the Alliance's existence."
"Even more reason not to push him to leave. We don't need soldiers right now."
"And when we do?"
"Humanity and I will be there, along with the people of the Alliance," Phoebe said. "Don't do this."
Juan was silent for a while.
"Alright. I'll ask, but I won't force him."
"You won't go and try to force him anyway?"
"I won't, since it's so important to you."
"It's a strategic mistake."
"I'll remember that when we need more soldiers in the next war."
Phoebe sighed. "I'm just trying to protect our interests in the Alliance."
"You're trying to protect him, and him alone."
"Councilor Pedros. Skira does not need more pain. If he wants it, he knows how to get it. Did you forget that he has ships of his own? He could pick up and leave anytime he wants. Not to mention that we lose Venus. He's cleaning up the atmosphere there, slowly but surely. Keeping him on our side has huge benefits, Councilor. Don't screw that up."
"I will get some sleep and think about it."
"I'll contact you again tomorrow," Phoebe said, standing up to leave. She hoped that she'd convinced him.
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Aetuma saw the large mass of ships appear on the scanners of the Sol system. Many of them were around the populated planets or protected shipping routes between them. The VI then gave a report, which chilled her carapace to ice.
*Ships present: 130,000. Recommended action: Surrender.\*
Somehow, the Alliance had built a massive fleet. Sure, it wasn't on the same level as the Empire's, but it was incredibly quick for such a small and recent nation. The VI showed her many shipyards on Luna, Mercury, and Ceres, which were the names of some of the most populated worlds in the system besides Earth itself. She'd memorized them in case of an interaction.
"What do they need those for?"
"Probably protection, like the other nations have."
Aetuma's ship wasn't the only Wisselen-type ship in the system. There were other cruise ships, specialized family-owned vessels, and even a few military ships, which she noticed were being sent to different star lanes for their wait.
There were also Trikkec ships packed with refugees from the exchange of planet crackers. Aetuma saw a message flash across the screen from an Alliance ship that was floating nearby.
*Registration required.\*
Aetuma was grateful that the message was in her language, but that didn't stop her from feeling worried. She went to the communications section, where some of the others were waiting for her response.
*We are a refugee ship and do not have a direct Alliance registration. However, our Westic Empire registration is 28693-0728-30. Currently, this ship is registered under the name Rialsima of the Lappta Family. I am her niece, but we didn't have the time to transfer the registration before the planet cracker beams started flying. I am Aetuma, also of the Lappta Family.\*
*Are you the ship's captain?\*
*No.\*
*Do you consent to a search of your ship?\*
*Do we actually have a choice?\* Aetuma asked.
*You do. However, we will provide a list of illegal substances, which must either be dumped into space or disposed of by calling a free disposal team.\*
*If we consent to a search, and you find contraband items, what will happen?\*
*Assuming that the items are things such as drugs or ammunition of some kind, then they will simply be confiscated. However, if we find nuclear material, then there will be more serious consequences if you do not inform us of them prior.\*
*We don't have nuclear materials besides those required for the ship to function.\*
*Then that concern is voided. Do you wish to be referred to by the name of Aetuma?\*
*Yes.\*
*Affirmative. Aetuma, we will enter your ship through the airlock on the topmost side. A team of 5 humans, 3 Breyyanik, 2 Guulin, and 1 Knower, will enter. They will be carrying armor but will not harass your people.\*
*There are several thousand people on this ship. I can transfer you the exact number, assuming that the count hasn't increased during the journey. Some of our females are carrying eggs, while others' eggs likely have hatched.\*
*We can provide medical care once everyone is cataloged, and if you have information on health conditions and medical records, it would also be useful. But that would require the consent of the individuals in question.\*
*What do you mean?\*
*Sharing medical information in the Alliance requires the consent of the individuals that the information concerns.\*
That seemed like a good way of doing things. It certainly didn't require that in the Westic Empire. If a company wanted your data, they had it already or could easily get it without you knowing. It was just a normal fact of life, something that Aetuma had barely considered until now.
*I am concerned that there might be a significant culture shock when our people enter your Alliance. Do you have any recommendations?\*
*There are programs that help to ease new arrivals into the Alliance culture. Some take longer to understand, and some take almost no time at all. It will depend on how your people feel. And there won't be any enforcement for them; they can be exited at any time.\*
*So they're not reeducation camps?\*
*Your people are refugees. If you want to practice your own culture, you are more than free to do so. As long as they don't involve killing others and only harm people who give informed consent to it. If you have some ritual claw-cutting practice, for example, then everyone must have the ability to opt-in or out of that.\*
*We don't have rituals like that, as far as I know. Though I don't know what everyone practices, I will be honest.\* Aetuma was still worried, but this was still far better than the prospects in the Westic Empire.
*We understand. We would also request you spread the message not to touch the people entering your ship to search it. We will deliver food and water if you require them after the search.\*
*You're holding it over us?\*
*No. We will give it to you if you ask.\*
*We don't want to be trapped in debt.\*
*You won't be. Food is a right of sapience, as is water. All Alliance governments provide free food to all Alliance citizens. Even those who are not yet citizens are given allotments of food and water consistent with the accepted nutritional requirements of a species. We also have vegetarian and other variants if any of your people request them, though they will require additional applications.\*
*How do I know you aren't lying?\*
*We have no incentive to lie. You are already in the Sol system. The Alliance welcomes immigrants. All are free to build a life here.\*
*That doesn't answer the question.\*
*It does for us, but if you have concerns, we will not force you to stay. Are you planning on leaving? If so, now is the time to do it.\*
*We will remain and go through your process. But do not remove the clothes of any of us or violate the sanctity of our children.\*
*We will not do any of that. The search will use technology, not hands and paws. And sexual assault is also illegal in the Alliance, whether from police or from normal individuals. We will not treat your children that way, nor shall we treat your adults that way. We are a civilized society.\*
*I am glad to hear it. Even the Westic Empire doesn't do that; at least, they're not supposed to.\*
Aetuma saw a notification that a ship had docked with the airlock described earlier. She was uncertain,
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"There's been large fleets detected in the Sprilnav territories on the move," Eyahtni said, fixing Phoebe with a stern gaze. "This is one of the largest mobilizations that we've seen in history. The last time fleets this large moved, the whole galaxy was purged of empires."
"So what are you asking me to do?"
"Your... child," Eyahtni said. "Is he safe?"
"Safer than ever."
"Good. I am glad to hear it."
Phoebe nodded slightly but didn't give any further reaction. It was clear that their conversation about her son made her uncomfortable in some way. That was likely because she knew that his life would be forever embroiled in galactic politics and in public view. There were many implications that rebounded from that, like lack of social interaction, and perhaps social ostratization, or even extortion and blackmail. With such an important individual, all of those were possibilities.
Plus, if the nascent AI was only a few tens of standard days old, that also contributed to the mentality. Edu'frec was incredibly young and yet was sentient and sapient. Unless Phoebe had a way to directly feed him life experience, he would experience a lifetime of hardship. Though at his supposed rate of growth, he'd have all of Phoebe's experiences in less than a standard year.
However, she figured that no one would be able to do all of that in a year. Eyahtni assumed that it would take many years for Edu'frec's personality and ideas to assert themselves firmly. Phoebe likely wanted to isolate him from outside influences, and her interest made her look like she had the goal to be one of those. Eyahtni decided to come back to the matter later.
"I am asking you on the behalf of the Hive Union to share the designs of your Mercury-class guns. We are willing to mass-produce them for you."
Phoebe nodded. "Councilor Pedros, what's the current metric of guns that will be produced within the next three years?"
"Fifty."
"How many are not yet ordered?"
"None."
"Very well," Phoebe said. "If you are willing to bid a high enough sum, then we will send you some. Brey is capable of direct delivery, for an additional fee, and the caveat that Alliance personnel will be present and able to either authorize or decline a strike."
"Why sell us weapons that you won't let us use?"
"You have your own superweapons, and they are powerful. You do not need ours, we do. However, that does mean there is a price. We don't want Alliance equipment being used to kill civilians."
"Alliance equipment is already involved in the siege of Sarasellen."
"Yes. But the scale is different. You have your guns, shields, and ships. We're providing androids, and not very many of them."
"Hmm. Well, perhaps this can be argued later. Do you propose any actions in regards to the Sprilnav battle fleet mobilizations? Statements, your own mobilizations, anything?"
"I suggest not to call attention to it. Other nations will already know, and there is no reason to call attention to ourselves, when we're still embroiled in war with the remnants of the Westic Empire. Speaking of that, how are the attempts at installing High Zealot Kachilai going?"
"Many planets don't recognize his legitmacy, which is leading to Kawtyahtnakal having very long and mostly sleepless nights of negotiations and demands. He's navigating harsh currents, without the feathers to fly them."
"Do you think the Sprilnav will push the Hive Union to abandon them? Since currently, with control over their systems, you do technically qualify as over the system limit."
"We hope to stymie the resistance movement against him long enough for him to be able to handle it on his own. We're trying to take a claws-off approach, which is difficult when so many different planets are involved. We often like to simplify nations down to their names. But within them, there are thousands of massive and distinct cultures. The Westic Empire's religious sects are calling Kachilai a heretic and us blasphemers and sinners, plus all manner of other words which don't directly translate but mean similar things. Corporations are pushing him and us for more power and less regulation and more of a say in how the Zealots are chosen. Some planetary governments outright and actively support a resistance effort against us, and we're trying to decide whether to burn them to the ground and start over or to go in, take over, and replace them. It's a true quagmire, of epic proportions."
"I see," Phoebe said.
"This isn't the same as your Alliance's struggles with the Lurave Empire. At least with that, you aren't trying to build a new government and start from scratch."
"In the Lurave Empire, 1 in 10 Acuarfar are criminals, and 1 in 4 are involved either directly or indirectly in illicit activities. Poverty clings to their cities despite my efforts to change that, and Izkrala has already removed several dozen governors. The Lurave Empire's nobles are fused with their politics in a way that also continues to baffle us."
"And she can't just round them up and make them face the wall, because of the Alliance's more pacifistic members."
"Not pacifist, but they don't want to be allied with a dictator empress that executes her citizens. That's why it's such a big deal for her. If Humanity turns against her, so would the Breyyanik and Guulin. Then the Knowers, now with easy support, would also do the same, especially with Izkrala's previous actions against them. The Dreedeen might stay out of it, and the wanderers are a shattered species. She'd have no allies, and she knows that."
"How does your Alliance even stay together?" Eyahtni couldn't imagine all those divisions being good for them. They didn't have a Nest Overlord to keep things stable. They didn't have a central leader at all, just a continually rotating set of leaders that just decided on representatives in a mystifying and frustratingly opaque process of selection. It was a half-baked form of democracy and selective rule, a mixture that didn't seem possible with the Alliance's political situation.
"Because the threat from without is greater than the threat from within. Humanity, as in both the hivemind and the politicians, recognize this situation, as does Izkrala. That's why you don't see many human politicians railing against Izkrala, and why the rhetoric on liberating alien species from dictators has been fizzling out in the Alliance," Phoebe said. "It's also why the Guulin sentiment to free more slaves is becoming more enticing. It's a way for the moral people in the Alliance to have something to rally for, a way for the military to get more experience, and a way for the Alliance as a whole to get more population."
"Sounds like you'd just be stealing people from the Guulin nation, then."
"Well, to them, we'd be stealing slaves. And the difference matters, there."
"Does it?" Eyahtni asked. She didn't really think that it did.
"Yes. Freeing slaves is a good thing," Phoebe replied.
"But you're just taking people, then, making you imperialist and expansionist. Sure, that doesn't matter much to me, but wouldn't it matter to your people?"
"Our people?" Phoebe asked, laughing as if the question was entirely stupid. "My people see a stream of Guulin coming into the Alliance, who are grateful for their salvation, who work hard, and who contribute to the economy. Conservatives and progressives in most of the Alliance's nations already agree that more people coming into the Alliance is good, whether it's for the cultural diversity and broadening experiences all the way to the possibility they create for the expansion of the job market, the economy, and the tax revenue propping up the government."
"No one has a problem with invading the Guulin?" Eyahtni said. She wanted to get a better feel for the situation. If they supported that war, perhaps they could be made to support the invasion of Sarsellen. It was just as necessary, but the Alliance was more reluctant to get involved with it. With ships, the limit of Brey's portals was a solid excuse. But just sending androids wouldn't be enough forever.
"Not many do, and certainly not enough to stop it."
"And yet, you haven't. Why?"
"We need the infrastructure in place to handle them. The Guulin military is new, so they are quite weak. They need to get stronger, and they know that. There isn't support for losing a war but for winning it. And currently, with the loss of population, the Guulin United Legions are more stable than they were, with the same amount of food going to fewer people."
"And through all this, your society continues to advance at an unprecedented pace."
"Yes. Though the hivemind, the people of the Alliance, and Brey hold most of that responsibility."
"You played a significant role as well."
"Yes."
Eyahtni shook her wings. They brushed up against the floor and wall behind her, causing a tingling sensation across their tips. "You should be prepared for attacks on your Alliance, then. And that means that you need to protect yourself, your mate, and your child at all costs."
"Why?"
"Already, you occupy a grey area when it comes to AI. Your child does as well. Everyone in the galaxy sees the benefits that the Alliance has. Whether that's the doing of the hivemind or yourself doesn't matter to them. Other empires have hiveminds, but they don't have AI. They will see your child as the key to controlling you, and perhaps to their own success."
"Well, they don't have Humanity."
"But they do have you," Eyahtni said. "And Edu'frec."
"Anyone who harms him will be harmed, one way or another," Phoebe said, again fixing her gaze on Eyahtni's eyes. "Any who attempt to kidnap or kill Edu'frec will be subject to dangerous living conditions for the rest of their life. It doesn't much matter whether Humanity enforces it or I do. Whether that means hacking their networks to crash their economy or it means pulling out the Thermite Thrower Mark 3, it won't end well for them."
"Thermite Thrower Mark 3?" Eyahtni asked.
"Imagine a large robotic quadruped android, packing enough firepower to burn a thousand soldiers to ash, or ten thousand of them to death."
"Wouldn't that thing have difficulty in snowy or muddy environments?"
"It also carries a medium-range jetpack."
"What?" Eyahtni asked.
"We have hundreds of them, and within the year, it will be thousands."
"Is there a Mark 4 in production?" Eyahtni asked. "Can we commission some? If the burn is steady and powerful, it could be a very useful shield disruptor."
"There is not a Mark 4 in production," Pheobe said. "As for buying them, it will cost you a lot of money."
"What are their capabilities?"
"Climbing walls, personal shields, mauling, shooting, burning, shredding, and moving. They are good at stealth, dodging attacks, and taking them on its shields. But when the shields go down, the chassis itself is relatively easy to destroy."
"That seems incredibly powerful for defense and attack."
"It is. There's worse than that coming for anyone who attacks Edu'frec."
Eyahtni got the feeling that Phoebe would be willing to glass a world for her son. It was something that she would inform Kawtyahtnakal about so that no one in their intelligence agencies made an incredibly stupid mistake. Phoebe didn't say it, but the implication of such monstrous robotic enemies was worrying.
And when that was combined with Brey's portals, the Alliance had a truly devastating ability. Eyahtni knew, at that moment, that the Hive Union had lost the arms race with the Alliance before it had even begun. Now, she began to wonder what crazy things the hivemind had in its secret research bases. She hoped there wasn't something worse than the Thermite Thrower but knew that was wishful thinking. At least the Hive Union had a treaty with them.
Phoebe's smile told Eyahtni that she'd seen everything.
"Don't worry, Regulator. We have a treaty, right?"
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The Sprilnav represented a direct and clear threat. That much was clear. Phoebe needed something to counter them eventually since there would come a time when they decided to do something about the Alliance. She needed more powerful weapons to protect Edu'frec and Ri'frec, as well as Humanity and the rest of the Alliance. And she needed more powerful shields. The research agreements with the wanderers had continued to stagnate. Negotiations between the Alliance and their constituent parties continued to break down.
The hivemind was already well on the way into its campaign to get wanderers to come to the Alliance, but they didn't have transport. Some of the wanderer ships refused to let them leave at all, a development that greatly worried Phoebe and the Alliance's diplomats in private. While there were disagreements on whether to circumvent those policies, particularly coming to a head between Blistanna and Izkrala, it seemed nothing would change there. So Phoebe couldn't rely on the wanderers. The hivemind's scientists were already leaping ahead with research, their collective ability still outstripping her own capability due to the knowledge banks that the hivemind allowed Humanity to access.
"I will activate more computers so that I can finish my research on nanotechnology," Phoebe said. "But once this technology is unlocked, it will change the Alliance forever. Nanomachines can poison people. Build cities. Augment our guns, knives, tanks, and ships."
Juan Pedros nodded, his eyes wrinkling slightly. Phoebe rubbed her hands together. "How are the Guulin doing?"
"With my direct investment and advice, the Guulin Congressional Republic is doing well. GDP growth is at 50%, down from 80% last year. Canada's GDP will likely equal that of the United States of America in 20 years from all the immigration and monetary transactions occurring to its benefit."
"What about their enlistment in the military?"
"Guulin enlistment outstrips all other species combined, even the Acuarfar. Their enlistment rate is 5% of their population every year. Blistanna has began to focus on creating a robust military structure, with help from the hivemind and Humanity's many militaries. The Guulin Liberation Army is already standing at 200 million members, and is expected to reach triple that in five years," Phoebe said. "They're the ones that are increasingly piloting our ships, and handling the work that needs a lot of people. They're almost as competent as fully trained human soldiers, which is a testament to their grit and hard work."
"Is their leadership pushing for any particular direction for the military?"
Phoebe nodded.
"Heavy focus on infantry and vehicle rapid deployment. They want some of our carriers to be retrofitted with dropship hangars and to be included on further raids on the Guulin United Legions. They claim that the rest of their species needs to be liberated and that they can handle the shock now that the infrastructure is mature."
"What do you think?"
"They don't have enough doctors. Without the hivemind's efforts to provide vaccines for all their remaining illnesses, it is likely that they will have a problem with pandemics. The cities are already bleeding people into the countryside, and urban sprawl is increasing. The whole Hudson Bay area will likely be developed by 2320."
"Is that being addressed?"
"There are many medical schools that have been set up. Most of the applicants are still finishing their Advanced Guulin Biology classes, and are not yet ready for full involvement in hospitals."
"How is it handled?"
"I'm selling large numbers of medical diagnosis scanners and robotic surgery units to Guulin hospitals. I'm the most accurate person there is right now with things like lead poisoning, cancer diagnoses, and chronic treatments."
"Will it be enough?"
"With more resources, maybe. So far, I've become something of a supplier to many markets. I own many factories, producing many different resources. I sell them, so I can then buy drugs from pharmaceutical companies and the like to help with the Guulin healthcare system. Though many of them are breaking into the market, which I'm allowing because I don't want a monopoly."
Juan Pedros nodded. "Right. How many ships could the Guulin man at this point?"
"Just the Guulin, or all of the Alliance?"
"The Guulin."
"All of our current fleet, and about eight times more. But if we do it that way, then there would be no one to invade planets. Ships can only hold land if they go into the atmosphere, which creates large risks for them."
"Quite. But it's better than sending them in pods," Juan Pedros said. Phoebe smiled.
"True. Those are too easy to sabotage, and far easier to destroy than a carrier."
"So how many ships do we have overall?"
"Including the Wisselen ones, plus all currently operational or nearly operational ships, we have 6 dreadnaughts, 7000 battle cruisers, 15,000 carriers, 55,000 cruisers, 150,000 destroyers, and 300,000 frigates. Of those, the largest amount is stationed in the Sol system, and many of the supply lines for the increasingly large fleet are becoming system-based. I'm trying to figure out a way to keep the interstellar supplies going in case the in-system supplies aren't usable. And stockpiles become a very dangerous risk of sabotage, or of outright detonation."
"How do we fix this, then?" Juan asked.
"We need more robust supply lines. Ships need to have larger on-board stockpiling capability."
"Can that be done?"
"Not quickly," Phoebe replied. "But yes. I also will begin to look more closely at figuring out alternative solutions to the Alliance's infantry problem."
"Skira."
"He's unreliable."
"That can be made to change," Juan said.
"It should not. Skira resides in hundreds of thousands of homes. That's someone you want to be very careful with if you lean on him."
"I'm not worried about votes. I'm worried about using all the Alliance's resources, so that we can survive."
"Skira has drones in our military. He shouldn't be forced to add more. He could pull out of the Alliance easily, but he doesn't because he likes us. There's no reason to do make that change."
"He needs to do his part. He has trillions of those drones. They're disposable."
"Maybe not to him," Phoebe said. "Please, do not do this."
"You won't stop me?"
"I will let you make the stupid decision, if you wish. What I suggest is that you go and ask him. No demands. If he says no, that's it."
"That's not how this works," Juan said. "He is the key to solving the infantry problem for the rest of the Alliance's existence."
"Even more reason not to push him to leave. We don't need soldiers right now."
"And when we do?"
"Humanity and I will be there, along with the people of the Alliance," Phoebe said. "Don't do this."
Juan was silent for a while.
"Alright. I'll ask, but I won't force him."
"You won't go and try to force him anyway?"
"I won't, since it's so important to you."
"It's a strategic mistake."
"I'll remember that when we need more soldiers in the next war."
Phoebe sighed. "I'm just trying to protect our interests in the Alliance."
"You're trying to protect him, and him alone."
"Councilor Pedros. Skira does not need more pain. If he wants it, he knows how to get it. Did you forget that he has ships of his own? He could pick up and leave anytime he wants. Not to mention that we lose Venus. He's cleaning up the atmosphere there, slowly but surely. Keeping him on our side has huge benefits, Councilor. Don't screw that up."
"I will get some sleep and think about it."
"I'll contact you again tomorrow," Phoebe said, standing up to leave. She hoped that she'd convinced him.
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Aetuma saw the large mass of ships appear on the scanners of the Sol system. Many of them were around the populated planets or protected shipping routes between them. The VI then gave a report, which chilled her carapace to ice.
*Ships present: 130,000. Recommended action: Surrender.\*
Somehow, the Alliance had built a massive fleet. Sure, it wasn't on the same level as the Empire's, but it was incredibly quick for such a small and recent nation. The VI showed her many shipyards on Luna, Mercury, and Ceres, which were the names of some of the most populated worlds in the system besides Earth itself. She'd memorized them in case of an interaction.
"What do they need those for?"
"Probably protection, like the other nations have."
Aetuma's ship wasn't the only Wisselen-type ship in the system. There were other cruise ships, specialized family-owned vessels, and even a few military ships, which she noticed were being sent to different star lanes for their wait.
There were also Trikkec ships packed with refugees from the exchange of planet crackers. Aetuma saw a message flash across the screen from an Alliance ship that was floating nearby.
*Registration required.\*
Aetuma was grateful that the message was in her language, but that didn't stop her from feeling worried. She went to the communications section, where some of the others were waiting for her response.
*We are a refugee ship and do not have a direct Alliance registration. However, our Westic Empire registration is 28693-0728-30. Currently, this ship is registered under the name Rialsima of the Lappta Family. I am her niece, but we didn't have the time to transfer the registration before the planet cracker beams started flying. I am Aetuma, also of the Lappta Family.\*
*Are you the ship's captain?\*
*No.\*
*Do you consent to a search of your ship?\*
*Do we actually have a choice?\* Aetuma asked.
*You do. However, we will provide a list of illegal substances, which must either be dumped into space or disposed of by calling a free disposal team.\*
*If we consent to a search, and you find contraband items, what will happen?\*
*Assuming that the items are things such as drugs or ammunition of some kind, then they will simply be confiscated. However, if we find nuclear material, then there will be more serious consequences if you do not inform us of them prior.\*
*We don't have nuclear materials besides those required for the ship to function.\*
*Then that concern is voided. Do you wish to be referred to by the name of Aetuma?\*
*Yes.\*
*Affirmative. Aetuma, we will enter your ship through the airlock on the topmost side. A team of 5 humans, 3 Breyyanik, 2 Guulin, and 1 Knower, will enter. They will be carrying armor but will not harass your people.\*
*There are several thousand people on this ship. I can transfer you the exact number, assuming that the count hasn't increased during the journey. Some of our females are carrying eggs, while others' eggs likely have hatched.\*
*We can provide medical care once everyone is cataloged, and if you have information on health conditions and medical records, it would also be useful. But that would require the consent of the individuals in question.\*
*What do you mean?\*
*Sharing medical information in the Alliance requires the consent of the individuals that the information concerns.\*
That seemed like a good way of doing things. It certainly didn't require that in the Westic Empire. If a company wanted your data, they had it already or could easily get it without you knowing. It was just a normal fact of life, something that Aetuma had barely considered until now.
*I am concerned that there might be a significant culture shock when our people enter your Alliance. Do you have any recommendations?\*
*There are programs that help to ease new arrivals into the Alliance culture. Some take longer to understand, and some take almost no time at all. It will depend on how your people feel. And there won't be any enforcement for them; they can be exited at any time.\*
*So they're not reeducation camps?\*
*Your people are refugees. If you want to practice your own culture, you are more than free to do so. As long as they don't involve killing others and only harm people who give informed consent to it. If you have some ritual claw-cutting practice, for example, then everyone must have the ability to opt-in or out of that.\*
*We don't have rituals like that, as far as I know. Though I don't know what everyone practices, I will be honest.\* Aetuma was still worried, but this was still far better than the prospects in the Westic Empire.
*We understand. We would also request you spread the message not to touch the people entering your ship to search it. We will deliver food and water if you require them after the search.\*
*You're holding it over us?\*
*No. We will give it to you if you ask.\*
*We don't want to be trapped in debt.\*
*You won't be. Food is a right of sapience, as is water. All Alliance governments provide free food to all Alliance citizens. Even those who are not yet citizens are given allotments of food and water consistent with the accepted nutritional requirements of a species. We also have vegetarian and other variants if any of your people request them, though they will require additional applications.\*
*How do I know you aren't lying?\*
*We have no incentive to lie. You are already in the Sol system. The Alliance welcomes immigrants. All are free to build a life here.\*
*That doesn't answer the question.\*
*It does for us, but if you have concerns, we will not force you to stay. Are you planning on leaving? If so, now is the time to do it.\*
*We will remain and go through your process. But do not remove the clothes of any of us or violate the sanctity of our children.\*
*We will not do any of that. The search will use technology, not hands and paws. And sexual assault is also illegal in the Alliance, whether from police or from normal individuals. We will not treat your children that way, nor shall we treat your adults that way. We are a civilized society.\*
*I am glad to hear it. Even the Westic Empire doesn't do that; at least, they're not supposed to.\*
Aetuma saw a notification that a ship had docked with the airlock described earlier. She was uncertain,
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"There's been large fleets detected in the Sprilnav territories on the move," Eyahtni said, fixing Phoebe with a stern gaze. "This is one of the largest mobilizations that we've seen in history. The last time fleets this large moved, the whole galaxy was purged of empires."
"So what are you asking me to do?"
"Your... child," Eyahtni said. "Is he safe?"
"Safer than ever."
"Good. I am glad to hear it."
Phoebe nodded slightly but didn't give any further reaction. It was clear that their conversation about her son made her uncomfortable in some way. That was likely because she knew that his life would be forever embroiled in galactic politics and in public view. There were many implications that rebounded from that, like lack of social interaction, and perhaps social ostratization, or even extortion and blackmail. With such an important individual, all of those were possibilities.
Plus, if the nascent AI was only a few tens of standard days old, that also contributed to the mentality. Edu'frec was incredibly young and yet was sentient and sapient. Unless Phoebe had a way to directly feed him life experience, he would experience a lifetime of hardship. Though at his supposed rate of growth, he'd have all of Phoebe's experiences in less than a standard year.
However, she figured that no one would be able to do all of that in a year. Eyahtni assumed that it would take many years for Edu'frec's personality and ideas to assert themselves firmly. Phoebe likely wanted to isolate him from outside influences, and her interest made her look like she had the goal to be one of those. Eyahtni decided to come back to the matter later.
"I am asking you on the behalf of the Hive Union to share the designs of your Mercury-class guns. We are willing to mass-produce them for you."
Phoebe nodded. "Councilor Pedros, what's the current metric of guns that will be produced within the next three years?"
"Fifty."
"How many are not yet ordered?"
"None."
"Very well," Phoebe said. "If you are willing to bid a high enough sum, then we will send you some. Brey is capable of direct delivery, for an additional fee, and the caveat that Alliance personnel will be present and able to either authorize or decline a strike."
"Why sell us weapons that you won't let us use?"
"You have your own superweapons, and they are powerful. You do not need ours, we do. However, that does mean there is a price. We don't want Alliance equipment being used to kill civilians."
"Alliance equipment is already involved in the siege of Sarasellen."
"Yes. But the scale is different. You have your guns, shields, and ships. We're providing androids, and not very many of them."
"Hmm. Well, perhaps this can be argued later. Do you propose any actions in regards to the Sprilnav battle fleet mobilizations? Statements, your own mobilizations, anything?"
"I suggest not to call attention to it. Other nations will already know, and there is no reason to call attention to ourselves, when we're still embroiled in war with the remnants of the Westic Empire. Speaking of that, how are the attempts at installing High Zealot Kachilai going?"
"Many planets don't recognize his legitmacy, which is leading to Kawtyahtnakal having very long and mostly sleepless nights of negotiations and demands. He's navigating harsh currents, without the feathers to fly them."
"Do you think the Sprilnav will push the Hive Union to abandon them? Since currently, with control over their systems, you do technically qualify as over the system limit."
"We hope to stymie the resistance movement against him long enough for him to be able to handle it on his own. We're trying to take a claws-off approach, which is difficult when so many different planets are involved. We often like to simplify nations down to their names. But within them, there are thousands of massive and distinct cultures. The Westic Empire's religious sects are calling Kachilai a heretic and us blasphemers and sinners, plus all manner of other words which don't directly translate but mean similar things. Corporations are pushing him and us for more power and less regulation and more of a say in how the Zealots are chosen. Some planetary governments outright and actively support a resistance effort against us, and we're trying to decide whether to burn them to the ground and start over or to go in, take over, and replace them. It's a true quagmire, of epic proportions."
"I see," Phoebe said.
"This isn't the same as your Alliance's struggles with the Lurave Empire. At least with that, you aren't trying to build a new government and start from scratch."
"In the Lurave Empire, 1 in 10 Acuarfar are criminals, and 1 in 4 are involved either directly or indirectly in illicit activities. Poverty clings to their cities despite my efforts to change that, and Izkrala has already removed several dozen governors. The Lurave Empire's nobles are fused with their politics in a way that also continues to baffle us."
"And she can't just round them up and make them face the wall, because of the Alliance's more pacifistic members."
"Not pacifist, but they don't want to be allied with a dictator empress that executes her citizens. That's why it's such a big deal for her. If Humanity turns against her, so would the Breyyanik and Guulin. Then the Knowers, now with easy support, would also do the same, especially with Izkrala's previous actions against them. The Dreedeen might stay out of it, and the wanderers are a shattered species. She'd have no allies, and she knows that."
"How does your Alliance even stay together?" Eyahtni couldn't imagine all those divisions being good for them. They didn't have a Nest Overlord to keep things stable. They didn't have a central leader at all, just a continually rotating set of leaders that just decided on representatives in a mystifying and frustratingly opaque process of selection. It was a half-baked form of democracy and selective rule, a mixture that didn't seem possible with the Alliance's political situation.
"Because the threat from without is greater than the threat from within. Humanity, as in both the hivemind and the politicians, recognize this situation, as does Izkrala. That's why you don't see many human politicians railing against Izkrala, and why the rhetoric on liberating alien species from dictators has been fizzling out in the Alliance," Phoebe said. "It's also why the Guulin sentiment to free more slaves is becoming more enticing. It's a way for the moral people in the Alliance to have something to rally for, a way for the military to get more experience, and a way for the Alliance as a whole to get more population."
"Sounds like you'd just be stealing people from the Guulin nation, then."
"Well, to them, we'd be stealing slaves. And the difference matters, there."
"Does it?" Eyahtni asked. She didn't really think that it did.
"Yes. Freeing slaves is a good thing," Phoebe replied.
"But you're just taking people, then, making you imperialist and expansionist. Sure, that doesn't matter much to me, but wouldn't it matter to your people?"
"Our people?" Phoebe asked, laughing as if the question was entirely stupid. "My people see a stream of Guulin coming into the Alliance, who are grateful for their salvation, who work hard, and who contribute to the economy. Conservatives and progressives in most of the Alliance's nations already agree that more people coming into the Alliance is good, whether it's for the cultural diversity and broadening experiences all the way to the possibility they create for the expansion of the job market, the economy, and the tax revenue propping up the government."
"No one has a problem with invading the Guulin?" Eyahtni said. She wanted to get a better feel for the situation. If they supported that war, perhaps they could be made to support the invasion of Sarsellen. It was just as necessary, but the Alliance was more reluctant to get involved with it. With ships, the limit of Brey's portals was a solid excuse. But just sending androids wouldn't be enough forever.
"Not many do, and certainly not enough to stop it."
"And yet, you haven't. Why?"
"We need the infrastructure in place to handle them. The Guulin military is new, so they are quite weak. They need to get stronger, and they know that. There isn't support for losing a war but for winning it. And currently, with the loss of population, the Guulin United Legions are more stable than they were, with the same amount of food going to fewer people."
"And through all this, your society continues to advance at an unprecedented pace."
"Yes. Though the hivemind, the people of the Alliance, and Brey hold most of that responsibility."
"You played a significant role as well."
"Yes."
Eyahtni shook her wings. They brushed up against the floor and wall behind her, causing a tingling sensation across their tips. "You should be prepared for attacks on your Alliance, then. And that means that you need to protect yourself, your mate, and your child at all costs."
"Why?"
"Already, you occupy a grey area when it comes to AI. Your child does as well. Everyone in the galaxy sees the benefits that the Alliance has. Whether that's the doing of the hivemind or yourself doesn't matter to them. Other empires have hiveminds, but they don't have AI. They will see your child as the key to controlling you, and perhaps to their own success."
"Well, they don't have Humanity."
"But they do have you," Eyahtni said. "And Edu'frec."
"Anyone who harms him will be harmed, one way or another," Phoebe said, again fixing her gaze on Eyahtni's eyes. "Any who attempt to kidnap or kill Edu'frec will be subject to dangerous living conditions for the rest of their life. It doesn't much matter whether Humanity enforces it or I do. Whether that means hacking their networks to crash their economy or it means pulling out the Thermite Thrower Mark 3, it won't end well for them."
"Thermite Thrower Mark 3?" Eyahtni asked.
"Imagine a large robotic quadruped android, packing enough firepower to burn a thousand soldiers to ash, or ten thousand of them to death."
"Wouldn't that thing have difficulty in snowy or muddy environments?"
"It also carries a medium-range jetpack."
"What?" Eyahtni asked.
"We have hundreds of them, and within the year, it will be thousands."
"Is there a Mark 4 in production?" Eyahtni asked. "Can we commission some? If the burn is steady and powerful, it could be a very useful shield disruptor."
"There is not a Mark 4 in production," Pheobe said. "As for buying them, it will cost you a lot of money."
"What are their capabilities?"
"Climbing walls, personal shields, mauling, shooting, burning, shredding, and moving. They are good at stealth, dodging attacks, and taking them on its shields. But when the shields go down, the chassis itself is relatively easy to destroy."
"That seems incredibly powerful for defense and attack."
"It is. There's worse than that coming for anyone who attacks Edu'frec."
Eyahtni got the feeling that Phoebe would be willing to glass a world for her son. It was something that she would inform Kawtyahtnakal about so that no one in their intelligence agencies made an incredibly stupid mistake. Phoebe didn't say it, but the implication of such monstrous robotic enemies was worrying.
And when that was combined with Brey's portals, the Alliance had a truly devastating ability. Eyahtni knew, at that moment, that the Hive Union had lost the arms race with the Alliance before it had even begun. Now, she began to wonder what crazy things the hivemind had in its secret research bases. She hoped there wasn't something worse than the Thermite Thrower but knew that was wishful thinking. At least the Hive Union had a treaty with them.
Phoebe's smile told Eyahtni that she'd seen everything.
"Don't worry, Regulator. We have a treaty, right?"
2023.03.24 00:59 Logic_Sandwich JoJo's Bizarre OC Tournament #6: R4M7 - Mx. Wah vs Brandy Judge
The results are in for Match 5. The winner is…
Electra wanted to scream.
She’d seen it. Nadine’s face, exhausted and resolved. A dull and empty, hopeless resolve. Electra was still fighting, knew that she’d got Nadine to really, truly take it seriously. Just a month or two ago, she’d have felt giddy. To see the wrappings of false positivity, false and weak hope torn away, to show something tough underneath.
Electra wanted to scream, she wanted to stop, she wanted to call it off, she wanted to leave. But she couldn’t, now. She’d done it again, one of her “friends” had disappointed her, and there was this…this pit, this awful fucking pit of darkness, it’d covered her, her face and body covered in shadows. A nobody in the shape of a girl, a yawning void. A black hole. It couldn’t let it pass, it had to drag them closer, drag them in, drag them down.
Down to her level.
There was no chance she could get out of it. She’d won, been too successful. She’d seen Nadine’s problems, seen her strife, but she’d just pressed and pressed to see what she would do. It was she that threatened Nadine if she backed down, went easy.
This was Nadine’s checkmate. Electra surrounded on a bare platform, surrounded by electrified water, ready to push her under. Oh yes, Electra could fight back; Nadine had left a spot of shadow behind her, Electra could lash out, could have a vine chomp on her neck, or throw her away, or strike from her own inked body….
And then Electra let go. She relaxed, brought up her arms, and let the vines all vanish. She felt the wires of Nadine’s Stand wrap her, Nadine already looking away. She was tugged, a second crystal stunning her completely, though she had no intention to resist. In that instant, Nadine’s face was obscured in brilliant, terrible light.
Part of Electra giddily wondered if this is what Aisha had felt, the unmerciful resolve, cable digging into her skin. The vines of her own Stand came from the ground, into the water, acting as a ground, something Nadine wouldn’t see.
A part of her was grateful she wouldn’t, that Nadine would not see her so vulnerable, see her in any weakness.
A part of her knew this would really fucking hurt.
Electra hadn’t looked away. That’s something that she was proud of, that she kept her eyes open, didn’t go under, didn’t look away.
It took her a minute after Nadine had relented, thinking her unconscious, had took her down.
She fucking hurt. Every nerve on her body felt like it was fried, and Electra couldn’t move anything properly. It was all she could do to breathe, to keep awake and think. But she could think. Nadine couldn’t see her eyes, thought she was still unconscious.
Electra felt vines sprout from her face, wrap around her limbs, two tiny ones in her mouth to move it. She stood up, looking down at the catatonic Nadine. There was a brief, fleeting thought of finishing things here, but as she breathed, she forced her mouth into speech. There was only one way, only one thing she could ever do to try and fix things. As she spoke in her raw, hoarse voice, Nadine looked up in shock, acted on instinct.
“Rock, paper…”
The two sat next to each other. There was a pile of documents, of hard drives, and mercifully no congratulations. Nobody had ‘won’ the fight, but the desert had accepted the other game.
Electra kept a hand to her neck, remembering the feeling of drowning, of pain, of having every part of her body crying out for help. She felt sick. Everything hurt. But she could still talk.
“I’m sorry.” The statement was simple, but she had to force it out, carrying far more weight than Nadine could ever know.
“I made you do this. This was my idea, but when I saw you, looking like…like me, I wanted it to stop. I wanted to stop. I didn’t try and calm down when you opened up to me. I didn’t try to listen to you. To help. I thought I did, kind of, but a part wanted to see if you could be taken down. I’m envious. And then when I saw that resolve, I…I did what I’d thought everyone else had done. I betrayed you. You brought me here, and I hurt you.”
“What’s wrong with you, Nadine? What the hell's wrong with me?“ She began to sniffle, wrapping her arms around herself and digging her trimmed nails into her tawny skin.
“I haven’t always been…like this, you know.” She made a half-hearted gesture to her face. “But in a way, I always have. Let me ask you a question. When you look at me now, what do you see? Do you see me? Or do you see an empty, black void?”
“No.” Nadine whispered. Then silence. Electra moved her hand so it rested inches away from Nadine’s.
“Well, it’s a trick question. The answer is that there’s no difference. I was hollow…I still am. I have one big aspiration, and it’s to get to the top, no matter what. Win and win. But look at me now. Still empty.”
“I don’t have any answers for you. I didn’t give you anything. I think…maybe I took something away. I thought I hated you, but I…I can’t. I won’t. I won’t let you become someone I’d hate. I don’t care if you leave me here. I’d deserve it. But I don’t know what to do now. Anything that’s inside me is so…fucking unpleasant. I don’t know what to chase after.” Her face felt hot and wet and numb.
“You were right. This was useless. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know what to say. I can’t fix anything. I’m just fucked up.” She gagged. “I…whatever it is, whatever the answer is, it can’t be…that…this. It can’t fucking be this.”
Nadine grabbed her hand, looking intently at her face. “No…” Her voice was a hesitant, awed whisper. “It isn’t.” Electra wilted at the intensity of her stare. “You aren’t empty. Look.”
She pointed to one of the walls, and Electra looked at her reflection, her eyes sullen, puffy and red-
Her eyes. They widened, black encroaching on them, but dripping out onto her hands as tears. For the first time in years, she saw her eyes, hers. Green and gross with one of her contacts slipping, but still hers.
She didn’t wipe them. Once her tears were gone, the shadow would return, but….
She had to leave. There were no answers here. She squeezed Nadine’s hand.
“I want to go home.”
If you’re sick of back-to-back water-themed matches, check out this match between an android and a contract demon fighting water clones in the middle of a...dance off?!
(Shoutouts to the team of Atrocity Exhibition for the match concept and write up!)
Scenario: Suburb of Belgrade, Serbia — 2:16 PM
This used to be a hospital, but it clearly hadn't been used like that for some time. Orange and purple paint streaked the walls like blood, the foliage inside grew even more dense, the sickly-sweet air growing more humid by the moment. The hallways were packed with people, but Brandy Judge could hardly linger as she was rushed higher into the complex.
She was no stranger to working with other criminals, even those with weird theming—one of her teams’ collaborators commissioned himself a weaponized fursuit, after all. But this was on a whole other level—if anything, this overrun hospital brought to mind the one she infiltrated on a rescue mission in Tunisia. Thankfully, there were no no plant-overrun zombies around, just people in cultish garb, she reassured herself, before preparing herself to meet with their leader.
In the room that once was a hospital administrators’ office, lounging on a throne made of plants, metal, and wood was Frederick Loverman, or rather, what was left of him after his untimely demise in the Algerian desert. He looked far different than the last time Brandy saw him- when the two butted heads while searching for information in a Moroccan bazaar.
”Well well, it’s been some time, hasn’t it, Ms. Judge?” The former Atrocity Exhibition leader smirked, basking in the singular ray of sunshine that streamed through a hole in the roof, the only source of light in the room. Brandy couldn’t help but notice the obvious.
“Dude, what the fuck happened to you? You…you look like a houseplant.” Brandy tried to project confidence into her voice, though she couldn’t help but think about Tunisia. But had to be something else, something to do with his reported death at the hands of COLOSSI’s Sovereign.
Frederick sneered a moment, before the expression curled into a smile. The former human looked to be half nature spirit and half corpse. He tapped the arm of his throne with an arm of twisted wood as he watched his former adversary with gleaming blue-gold eyes.
“It's a bit too much to explain, but you’re here for business, not my personal life.” Frederick laughed. “I’m glad you were open to my probe. I have no lack of followers, but they still retain their human weaknesses. I am in need of Stand users to help me in my campaign. I have eventually decided that you might be able to help.”
“Everyone else turned you down, didn’t they? Not much of a surprise, you look like a real creep.” Brandy tried very hard to keep her gaze above Frederick’s thorny crown as she spoke. She did not want to stare too long at the large, maw-like wound in his abdomen. It pulsed with whatever vine-like cobalt organs kept Frederick alive.
She hadn’t seen the fight with Mx. Wah, but she had heard the rumors. Brandy found herself having to swallow a sudden jolt of anger. Sure, Frederick was an absolute son-of-a-bitch, but to do something like that to a person…It was unthinkable. Not to mention the fact it must have made him into this thing.
Frederick simply shot Brandy a sneer. ”I see you haven’t lost your attitude,” he glowered down at her, as the golden roses adorning his body ruffled angrily.
Brandy’s ward, Evelyn, stood next to her, steepling their hands as they glanced between her and Frederick. She was the one who contacted Brandy, as she was currently working on Frederick’s behalf. “Let’s just, uh, move to the deal.”
”Of course, Evelyn. Let us continue.” Frederick gave a wide grin and shuffled to clasp his hands together, gesturing towards Brandy. Evelyn shuffled uncomfortably at that. ”But regardless…You have a bone to pick with the Millennium Collection, don’t you?”
Brandy’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I- Wait…I thought they were your boss?”
Frederick seemed agitated at that, slamming his wooden hand against the arm of his chair. “Those fools control me no longer! I am my own ruler!”
“Yeah…gotcha.” Brandy shrugged. “So…you want me to beat up some guys?”
“In essence, yes. Specifically, I want you to target their financial department in Bulgaria. It’s been exceedingly weak as of late, and my team has been able to siphon both information and funding. We see it as a perfect first step in our greater fight against the Collection.”
“Sure, sure. Not the first time someone’s hired me for this, probably won’t be the last.” She thumped her fists. “Just…break shit, steal things?”
“…Sure, you could put it that way,” Frederick rolled his uncanny eyes. “Evelyn here will escort you there, and we can take care of the details on the w-”
“Wait.” She raised her voice, interrupting Frederick. As Frederick gave her another glare, she met it with a defiant look in her eyes. “I’m not doing this for free. I’m here looking for information…specifically, info on my mom.”
“Your…mother?” Frederick seemed surprised by that for a moment, before he started laughing. His laughter was mirrored and distorted sixfold phantom voices, emanating from the darkened corners of the room. “Oh, you are far from the first, Brandy Judge. Another…contractor was looking for information on a lost love, and Evelyn here…actually came to me for a similarly personal matter!”
Evelyn glanced away, and Brandy gave her a brief curious look before turning back to look at Frederick. “…Sure, whatever, but if you’ve got anything on my mom, I want it now.”
”Why, I haven’t even started looking. But I assure you, as soon as my acolytes find what you’re looking for…We’ll get it to you.” Frederick leaned forwards, combing through his hair with the wooden claws of his hand. ”But I’m curious…why come here for this information? Our last meeting was a competition, which you lost. But here you are. Why? Couldn’t you have just…put her face on some posters? Milk cartons, maybe?” he smirked.
“She’s…deep in the criminal scene here, I’m pretty sure, at least.”
”Ah, of course, of course. Maybe she too became caught in the gears of Millenium Collections’ horrific machine…” He settled back into his seat, stealing blatant glances in Evelyn’s direction that even Brandy could notice. ”I’ll tell you what. Complete this mission for me, and maybe you’ll even kill two birds with one stone!”
“Maybe, maybe.” Brandy rolled her shoulders, and gave Frederick one final glance. “But you’d better fulfill the end of your bargain”
But of course! Look at Evelyn over there, she’s one of my most faithful associates.” He gestured out towards Evelyn, who was already turned away, glancing at her phone.
“Alright, fuck up the finances, get my mom back. Easy peasy.” Brandy turned around towards Evelyn. “Let’s move.”
”Yes, let’s.” Frederick grinned, and stood up from his chain. He extended his hands out, the flowers in his body rustling as he gave them both a glowing, fanged grin. “May this be the first fallen domino in the path that will decimate the Collection.”
Brandy was already bored and uneasy, walking away with Evelyn with a shiver down her spine. The two left the room, back into the winding halls of the colorful, floral complex, she let herself vocalize her thoughts. “Jeez, he’s…somehow even creepier since last time.”
Evelyn only gave a look of understanding as the two walked silently back out the hospital.
Scenario: Provincial Istanbul, Turkey — 5:37 PM
But “Final Judgement” Alalu, leader of the Millennium Collection, has finally caught Frederick’s scent. While she did not care to spend the resources on pulling weeds, it’s clear he means to become a nuisance.
So she has arranged an audience with the person who killed him.
While a recent raid on the Collection had dispatched many of her fellow high-ranking Stand users in the organization's upper echelons, and ousted the former Final Justice, there was a silver living. Alalu had been informed by the late Crammentazenta, assistant to one Solsbury Hill, that COLOSSI was willing to reach out. So reach out she did.
Mx. Wah had heard that the leader of the Millennium Collection lived in a big island estate, but was surprised to be invited to a cozy log cabin, deep in the woods outside of Istanbul. The door opened to reveal a middle-aged Turkish woman, eyes creased with smile lines.
Wah squinted, before flashing her a sharp-toothed smile of their own. “Have no fear…the Wah is here!”
The woman chuckled, before nodding once, inviting them inside. The moment she turned around, Wah rolled their eyes at her crucifix jewelry, before following behind. The cabin’s interior was predictably quaint, though Wah was surprised to see it covered with animal furs and taxidermy. Yeesh, they thought to themselves. At least Wah has some sense of interior decor. But this meeting was all about putting differences aside for the sake of business. At least there aren’t any…antique record players, the Sovereign shuddered.
Wah draped themselves on the nearest armchair, watching as Alalu poured them both cups of steaming tea, before she took a seat.
“It’s an honour to finally meet you, Mx. Wah,” she began.
“It’s an honour for Wah to meet you too, Judge Judy.”
She gave that one a hearty chuckle. “Please, call me Asli. I’ll be honest though, dear…I’m surprised you agreed to this, after all the trouble our organizations have caused each other.”
Wah shrugged, adding six sugar cubes to their teacup. “Please, that’s in the past, Wah’s already forgotten. There’s no point in fighting, Wah would rather not explode both gangs in a big firestorm. That’d just play into our enemies hands~” They reached forwards for their tea, before grabbing a sugar cube and popping it into their mouth instead.
Asli nodded, casually retrieving the project she was working on. It appeared to be a massive strip of leather, though its surface was tangled with dried blue vines and golden flowers. “Indeed,” she responded, continuing to clean the strange hide. “I called you here because of our common enemy. I found this snooping around my financial headquarters. It seems it wasn’t enough for Frederick to steal our Prestige…he’s been using it on people.”
“That thing was a whole guy!?” Wah shuddered, peeking through the hands covering their face. “Eeeewww ew ew, that’s so gross…”
“This was just a scout…I’m sure there’s more of them. It would be a pain to waste valuable resources dealing with this alone…so that’s why I’ve called you, Mx. Wah. You’ve dealt with Frederick before, and I know that you are a highly capable leader. I admire what you’ve done with COLOSSI, I hope to do the same with the Collection.”
Still crunching their sugar cube, Wah snorted. “Oh good luck, the Collection has always been a hot mess.” Ever since they were Byzantines.
“I am aware…I’ve been working for them a long time, almost forty years now.”
Wah had to hold back a laugh. That’s ‘a long time’? How adorable!
“Even if it’s a mess, it’s large enough to have its own gravity. If you ever try to leave, it simply…pulls you back in.” Quietly, Alalu looked at the only picture on her mantle. It was a faded image of her a couple decades ago, standing with a man and a child. Even there, she looks distracted, as if her spirit resides elsewhere. “I’m sure you know how that feels.”
Wah glanced up from the tower they were idly building out of sugar cubes, looking rather disinterested. “Hm…? Actually, the Wah is kinda here for business, if we could get back to that.”
Alalu laughed again, looking sheepish. “Yes of course, so sorry, dearie. I’ve gotten sentimental at my age. But yes…business. You’ve already fought Loverman once. I suspect he’s planning some sort of attack. If he shows up to gloat, could you be there to finish what you’ve already started? I’ll make sure it’s worth your while, we’ll start this relationship of ours by owing you a favour. You have my word.”
Wah considered this a moment, before sticking out their hand to shake.
“Hmm…alrighty! When Wah finally destroys Frederick, somehow, Wah will figure it out, then we can have our wonderful Wahlliance!” When they gave Alalu that same sharp toothed smile, she returned it with a shake of their hand, as the Collection and COLOSSI pulled themselves closer with gravity shared.
Scenario: Sofia, Bulgaria — 3:41 AM
“Aren’t you a little too young to be going after the Millennium Collection?”
Brandy kept looking out towards the streets the two were driving by, not moving her gaze even as her Evelyn spoke to her. She smirked to herself, reclining in her seat. “Yes, yes I am.”
Evelyn squirmed in the driver’s seat as she chauffeured Brandy to her destination. They knew that her girlfriend had made amends with the girl sitting passenger after the two fought some time ago, but this whole situation put them off. “So…you’re also trying to find your mum by working with Frederick?”
“Mhm.” Brandy finally glanced back. “Freddy said something about you also having some,” she air-quotes, putting on a brief haughty air, “similarly personal matter that you went to him for. What’s that all about?”
Evelyn merely took a breath. “I found out my mom died by the Collection’s hands.”
“Oh.” Brandy looked away. “Sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks.”
“…”
“…”
Evelyn focused on driving the car deep into the Bulgarian backstreets, and after a long, awkward silence, they parked in an alleyway. “Here’s where you get off.”
“…Cool, thanks for the ride.” Brandy was quick to unbuckle her belt and hop out of the car, before Evelyn finally looked over, placing a hand on the dashboard as their gray eyes peered into Brandy’s.
“Even if you manage to find your mum because of this…she might not actually be your mum. Or she could be dead. So, uh, be prepared for all of that.”
“…right.” The worry in their voice made Brandy tense up. But she had handled a lot worse, and no matter how shifty Frederick was, this Evelyn person seemed to get what she was looking for by working with him…didn’t they?
“Okay, uh, the door to the records is just down the alleyway. Good luck.” As Evelyn drove off, Brandy was struck by the fact that despite their professional air, her driver had genuinely meant concern.
No matter. There was a job to do.
Brandy found herself facing the side of an office building, similar to the structures around it, though it was painted a worn, fleshy pink. Frederick had informed her that much of the building was underground. However, what drew Brandy’s attention was not the architecture, but the small crowd gathered around it. Noticing that these were Frederick’s ‘acolytes’, she approached, only to jump back as one turned to look at her. Their eyes were glazed with gold, palled skin crawling with yellow blossoms. It was the closest look she had gotten at one of them, after being rushed through the hospital to meet Frederick.
Suddenly, memories of that horrific excursion struck her like lightning, her hands trembling as she remembered shocking one of those afflicted P-zombies to death. This wasn’t the same as the P-Virus in Tunisia, she reminded herself. It couldn’t be. Which meant…there was more than one. Brandy tried to compose herself, before the acolyte spoke.
“You are Brandy, the one that our Lord sent to command us. What are your orders?”
Brandy felt her stomach tie itself in a knot. Their Lord? Seriously? But of course, this was Frederick; she should have expected this. She wasn’t sure why this was just now upsetting her. But the memories of that rescue mission kept tangling through her mind. The realization that she was dealing with another plant-infested, god-complex maniac, and that she was helping him? It was almost too much to handle.
The acolyte was still looking at her, waiting for orders. Brandy squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the wave of nausea and bitter rage.
She didn’t want to look at it anymore. She didn’t want to remember.
“Just…go on ahead. Fuck them up. I don’t care. Just get- get away from me.”
The sound of footsteps surrounded Brandy, before vanishing into the building. When all was silent, Brandy took a deep breath, opening her eyes. To stop her hands from trembling, she held them. Maybe, maybe when she found her mother, she could hold her hand instead.
“Just get through this, Brandy. Just let them handle themselves, steal as much cash as you can carry, and figure out where she is. You can do this. You can do this.”
With one more breath, Brandy steeled herself and entered the Financial building. The place was mostly silent as she circled the stairwell into the lower levels, taking her time within the isolated. She could hear distant gunshots throughout the building, and tried to ignore them. Maybe if she spiraled down this staircase for long enough, it would already be over.
That was when a new sound tore through the building—the horrible, distorted cry of a wolf. As Brandy frantically looked around, she could see the ghastly pattern of faces in the brickwork. Whatever this was, it probably meant shit was going sideways. As little as Brandy wanted to deal with this, she knew that if she blew this mission she lost her chance at information. She had to at least check.
When Brandy finally burst through the nearest door to find out what was happening, she walked right into a group of acolytes, staring down at one of their fellow followers, whose leg was currently caught in a strange sort of bear trap.
As Brandy tried to swallow her fear, tried to figure out what the hell to do, gunshots echoed through the ceiling above her, before they suddenly went silent. Brandy could feel it, someone was approaching. As ｢Concrete Schoolyard｣ gleamed within her ring, she braced herself for the appearance of some horrific, sadistic crime boss. But the door opened to reveal a middle-aged Turkish woman, her eyes creased with smile lines. Brandy blinked, staring her down with wary confusion.
“Oh, you must be Brandy! How nice to meet you, dear,” the woman greeted warmly. “I’ve heard about your exploits, it’s always nice to see a capable young woman making a name for herself in the Mediterranean. I only wish I could offer you some tea, but…”
Brandy unlaced her fingers and raised her hands defensively. “Ah- what? No, I- you’re definitely with them. You have to be. Who the hell are you!?”
Taking those words as a sign to attack, the acolytes started forwards, guns drawn. Before Brandy could stop them or join them, the woman simply smiled.
“Howl, ｢Wolf Murder｣.”
The moment the guns fired, the air around her twisted with deep red light. The air filled with the sound of metal striking metal, and then it was over.
Towering above the woman was a massive, hulking form. Its powerful body was completely flayed, revealing red, raw musculature wrapped in layers of thick pelts. Blood dripped over its face from beneath the wolf’s head that it wore atop its own. Between the taxidermy and its own visage, three glassy wolf eyes glared the acolytes down with black and golden rage.
“Let me deal with these weeds first, dearie.” Her smile was warm as blood.
｢We Will Commit Wolf Murder｣ bared its fangs as the acolytes charged towards the threat. Snarling, it unfurled a massive skinning knife from its back, a blade nearly as long as Brandy herself. With a single, arcing slice, every acolyte was cleanly sliced in two. Their flayed bodies were flung about the room with the force of the blow, blue flesh squirming with yellow blossoms, which began to writhe and die without the life energy of their hosts. The leathery pelts that peeled from their bodies rained everywhere, joined by pelts stripped from the walls, the floor, everything, all of them twisting into yet more grinning jaw traps. Brandy watched with horror and nausea and anger. Why did everyone take lives so fucking lightly!?
“My name is Alalu, Final Judgement of the Millennium Collection,” Alalu said simply, without gravitas. Even the ceiling in front of her was torn open by the arc of the blade. “I promise, I mean you no harm, dear. I’m simply trying to protect my pack.”
Brandy, unable to summon the words that would express her utter exhaustion, instead turned to the acolyte caught in the trap. Kneeling, she used ｢Concrete Schoolyard｣ to change the trap into a gelatinous substance that she could pry apart. The acolyte stared at her, shaking, unsure of what to do.
“Just- just hide in the stairwell! I’ll handle it!”
Brandy watched them weakly pull themselves towards the door, before she noticed those same twisting faces in the tile below. Running on reflex, she terraformed the floor upwards to shield them…just as a desktop computer SMASHED into the surface, aimed right at their head.
Her gaze snapped up, only to watch a figure descend from above. They leapt with startling grace, their pale hair drifting around them as they gazed down with eyes as dark as the abyss, and sharp fangs gleaming with hunger.
The killing intent that radiated off of them was ancient and absolute.
Then they took a better look at Brandy…and a switch flipped.
“Awawa? Ooops! You’re not Freddy…Wah’s mistake!” They smiled sheepishly, poking their cheek with a finger. Brandy sucked in a breath as she realized who she was dealing with…before her body shook with a rage redoubled.
“You.”
“Me!” Wah landed with a little twirl, before looking to Alalu. “Business homie…is this little scamp bothering you?”
“Are you fucking kidding- you two are working together?”
Alalu nodded, before looking at Wah.
“I’m glad you could join us, Mx. Wah. Miss Brandy seems to have fallen in with some unfortunate company,” she sighed, before looking back to the young woman in question. “We have come to an agreement. Both the Collection and COLOSSI fill important roles in the social ecosystem. We have a duty to fight…invasive species.”
Alalu looked between the two for a moment, before smiling. “But this gives us an opportunity…you’re both Stand users, and it is the nature of Stand users to seek each other out, and prove which one is stronger. I’m quite curious about the answer to that question…so I’ll tell you what. Whoever wins, I’ll compensate you. We’ve got a bit of money stored away…I’ll even take you out for tea,” she beamed.
Then, before Wah or Brandy could agree or disagree, Alalu’s legs took on the flayed appearance of her Stand, and she leapt through the ceiling and out of sight.
That left Brandy Judge and Mx. Wah, standing amidst the corpses and their pelts.
“Sure thing, homie!” Wah called after Alalu, before turning back to Brandy and raising a brow. What a shame they wouldn’t be facing Frederick himself. It was just like him to send someone else. Still…Wah knew well that they were stronger than a little whelp like this. This was an arrangement they made as the leader of COLOSSI, and they were not about to be schooled by some petulant kid up past her bedtime.
If Brandy and her little smugglers’ ring really wanted to play with the big dogs, Wah’d bite. They weren’t worried, this was just another little rebel to quash on their way to the top. It would be fun! With a sharp-toothed smile, the Sovereign gestured Brandy forwards with a curl of their fingers.
Brandy stared at them a moment, shaking as that other plant-infected basement seeped into the corners of her vision. But her mind and body focused itself with the click of the stairwell door behind her. Everywhere she looked, there was a new megalomaniac trying to play god. The Mediterranean itself felt diseased. But here and now, she could fight back. She could prevent the meaningless slaughter, she could make up for what she did.
Then, one day, she’ll be safe with her mother, somewhere far away in a place she bought with the money she stole from this big, stupid empire. She’ll hold her mother’s hand, give her a smile, and tell her about the time she beat up a crime boss.
As Wah and Brandy started forwards, they finally, wordlessly agreed.
This is the next step towards their ambitions. As Stand users, they must fight.
It’s in their nature.
OPEN THE GAME! (Shoutouts to u/AusterCab for the match art!)
Location: In the financial department of the Millennium Collective, the area here is 30 by 40 meters with each tile being 2 by 2 meters. The ceiling of this area is 4 meters tall. Brandy and Wah start on opposite sides of the map as represented by their character tokens.
The light purple tiles represent the hallways between rooms, and the doors between hallways and office space are represented by Purple Rectangles. The Red tiles areas are meeting rooms, the Yellow tile areas are cubicle spaces, the Green tile areas are break rooms, and the White tile areas are supply closets. The rooms contain everything you’d expect to find in an office space.
The “X” eyed faces are the bodies of dead acolytes and the 6-pointed shapes are ｢Wolf Murder｣ Pelts jaw traps.
Wah starts next to a watercooler, a dolly and a vending machine.
Goal: RETIRE your opponent!
Additional Information: ｢Wolf Murder｣ has the ability to skin the surface of objects and turn these skins into ‘Pelts’, which can then be shaped for their own uses. Though the user has a much higher proficiency working with them, others can shape unshaped Pelts by hand and get them to hold form or stick to other objects.
The ｢Wolf Murder｣ Pelts on this map are shaped into working jaw traps and will snap shut in response to pressure. If broken, they will revert to torn pieces of unshaped Pelts, with damage corresponding to how the shaped version is destroyed.
With unshaped Pelts, players can shape them to wrap around objects, or shape them into functional simple traps such as snares and jaw traps. More complex shapes take longer to make.
Pelts are B Durability with the rough consistency ranging between that of a thick fur pelt and antique steel, or a strange hybrid of both depending on how they are shaped, or more specifically how the person shaping it generally wants them to be shaped.
Both characters’ Stands can treat Pelts like any other object.
Link to Official Player Spreadsheet
Link to Match Schedule
As always, if you would like to interact with the tournament community and be among the first to get updates for the tournament, please feel free to PM a member of our Judge staff for an invite to our Official Discord Server!
A few weeks ago…
Another member of the all-but defunct Atrocity Exhibition landed at the foot of the island of the great, dreaded Cyclops, an island filled with traps, mostly made out of rope, designed to snare both beast and man. Dirty Ghost easily evaded these rope traps with its own mastery of the material.
There was abundant wildlife: goats and bees, making honey and cheese enough to sustain it another week, perhaps even the whole remainder of its journey home. Still, it reasoned there must be some owner of these traps and of these animals, and once the Cyclops rears its head from its cave, the Ghost hatched a ploy.
Very good, mastermind of war, came the voice of Izuru. The monster’s Perception is his weakness, trick him like Odysseus before you, and your own Skill should prove superior.
As Odysseus played the part of ‘nobody,’ the Ghost played ‘somebody,’ pleading for its life as the Cyclops, hard of sight and unknowing of what a human truly is, grasped it in its palm.
A precarious situation for any man, in the palm of a giant, but this was no man- this was Dirty Ghost. With its own ropes, and those stolen from its would-be captor, Dirty Ghost escaped the Cyclops’ grasp to rappel up the giant’s shoulder, shedding its mask and showcasing its true self- the true ‘Nobody’ it should fear.
Something to know, came the voice of the late Dr. Lister, you can reach the brain easily from the eyes.
Suffice to say, it did. As for the monster’s animals…the stoic Ghost was alone no longer. If it is made to feel like a hunting beast, or a trapped animal…perhaps it could seek some comfort in the other creatures. Still, its loneliness did not abate. Out there on the ocean, it has not yet found the place where it belongs.
submitted by Logic_Sandwich to StardustCrusaders [link] [comments]
Electra wanted to scream.
She’d seen it. Nadine’s face, exhausted and resolved. A dull and empty, hopeless resolve. Electra was still fighting, knew that she’d got Nadine to really, truly take it seriously. Just a month or two ago, she’d have felt giddy. To see the wrappings of false positivity, false and weak hope torn away, to show something tough underneath.
Electra wanted to scream, she wanted to stop, she wanted to call it off, she wanted to leave. But she couldn’t, now. She’d done it again, one of her “friends” had disappointed her, and there was this…this pit, this awful fucking pit of darkness, it’d covered her, her face and body covered in shadows. A nobody in the shape of a girl, a yawning void. A black hole. It couldn’t let it pass, it had to drag them closer, drag them in, drag them down.
Down to her level.
There was no chance she could get out of it. She’d won, been too successful. She’d seen Nadine’s problems, seen her strife, but she’d just pressed and pressed to see what she would do. It was she that threatened Nadine if she backed down, went easy.
This was Nadine’s checkmate. Electra surrounded on a bare platform, surrounded by electrified water, ready to push her under. Oh yes, Electra could fight back; Nadine had left a spot of shadow behind her, Electra could lash out, could have a vine chomp on her neck, or throw her away, or strike from her own inked body….
And then Electra let go. She relaxed, brought up her arms, and let the vines all vanish. She felt the wires of Nadine’s Stand wrap her, Nadine already looking away. She was tugged, a second crystal stunning her completely, though she had no intention to resist. In that instant, Nadine’s face was obscured in brilliant, terrible light.
Part of Electra giddily wondered if this is what Aisha had felt, the unmerciful resolve, cable digging into her skin. The vines of her own Stand came from the ground, into the water, acting as a ground, something Nadine wouldn’t see.
A part of her was grateful she wouldn’t, that Nadine would not see her so vulnerable, see her in any weakness.
A part of her knew this would really fucking hurt.
It took her a minute after Nadine had relented, thinking her unconscious, had took her down.
She fucking hurt. Every nerve on her body felt like it was fried, and Electra couldn’t move anything properly. It was all she could do to breathe, to keep awake and think. But she could think. Nadine couldn’t see her eyes, thought she was still unconscious.
Electra felt vines sprout from her face, wrap around her limbs, two tiny ones in her mouth to move it. She stood up, looking down at the catatonic Nadine. There was a brief, fleeting thought of finishing things here, but as she breathed, she forced her mouth into speech. There was only one way, only one thing she could ever do to try and fix things. As she spoke in her raw, hoarse voice, Nadine looked up in shock, acted on instinct.
“Rock, paper…”
Electra Heart, with a score of 68 to Nadine Sokenna’s 66!
| Category | Winner | Point Totals | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Popularity | Electra Heart | 16 (4.5+2) - 14 (3.5+2) | A fairly even voting period, with each side gaining a slight advantage over the other at their own points. |
| Quality | Tie | 20 (6 7 7) - 20 (6 7 7) | Reasoning |
| JoJolity | Tie | 22 (7 8 7)- 22 (7 8 7) | Reasoning |
| Conduct | Tie | 10-10 | Nothing to report! |
Electra kept a hand to her neck, remembering the feeling of drowning, of pain, of having every part of her body crying out for help. She felt sick. Everything hurt. But she could still talk.
“I’m sorry.” The statement was simple, but she had to force it out, carrying far more weight than Nadine could ever know.
“I made you do this. This was my idea, but when I saw you, looking like…like me, I wanted it to stop. I wanted to stop. I didn’t try and calm down when you opened up to me. I didn’t try to listen to you. To help. I thought I did, kind of, but a part wanted to see if you could be taken down. I’m envious. And then when I saw that resolve, I…I did what I’d thought everyone else had done. I betrayed you. You brought me here, and I hurt you.”
“What’s wrong with you, Nadine? What the hell's wrong with me?“ She began to sniffle, wrapping her arms around herself and digging her trimmed nails into her tawny skin.
“I haven’t always been…like this, you know.” She made a half-hearted gesture to her face. “But in a way, I always have. Let me ask you a question. When you look at me now, what do you see? Do you see me? Or do you see an empty, black void?”
“No.” Nadine whispered. Then silence. Electra moved her hand so it rested inches away from Nadine’s.
“Well, it’s a trick question. The answer is that there’s no difference. I was hollow…I still am. I have one big aspiration, and it’s to get to the top, no matter what. Win and win. But look at me now. Still empty.”
“I don’t have any answers for you. I didn’t give you anything. I think…maybe I took something away. I thought I hated you, but I…I can’t. I won’t. I won’t let you become someone I’d hate. I don’t care if you leave me here. I’d deserve it. But I don’t know what to do now. Anything that’s inside me is so…fucking unpleasant. I don’t know what to chase after.” Her face felt hot and wet and numb.
“You were right. This was useless. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know what to say. I can’t fix anything. I’m just fucked up.” She gagged. “I…whatever it is, whatever the answer is, it can’t be…that…this. It can’t fucking be this.”
Nadine grabbed her hand, looking intently at her face. “No…” Her voice was a hesitant, awed whisper. “It isn’t.” Electra wilted at the intensity of her stare. “You aren’t empty. Look.”
She pointed to one of the walls, and Electra looked at her reflection, her eyes sullen, puffy and red-
Her eyes. They widened, black encroaching on them, but dripping out onto her hands as tears. For the first time in years, she saw her eyes, hers. Green and gross with one of her contacts slipping, but still hers.
She didn’t wipe them. Once her tears were gone, the shadow would return, but….
She had to leave. There were no answers here. She squeezed Nadine’s hand.
“I want to go home.”
Scenario: Suburb of Belgrade, Serbia — 2:16 PM
This used to be a hospital, but it clearly hadn't been used like that for some time. Orange and purple paint streaked the walls like blood, the foliage inside grew even more dense, the sickly-sweet air growing more humid by the moment. The hallways were packed with people, but Brandy Judge could hardly linger as she was rushed higher into the complex.
She was no stranger to working with other criminals, even those with weird theming—one of her teams’ collaborators commissioned himself a weaponized fursuit, after all. But this was on a whole other level—if anything, this overrun hospital brought to mind the one she infiltrated on a rescue mission in Tunisia. Thankfully, there were no no plant-overrun zombies around, just people in cultish garb, she reassured herself, before preparing herself to meet with their leader.
In the room that once was a hospital administrators’ office, lounging on a throne made of plants, metal, and wood was Frederick Loverman, or rather, what was left of him after his untimely demise in the Algerian desert. He looked far different than the last time Brandy saw him- when the two butted heads while searching for information in a Moroccan bazaar.
”Well well, it’s been some time, hasn’t it, Ms. Judge?” The former Atrocity Exhibition leader smirked, basking in the singular ray of sunshine that streamed through a hole in the roof, the only source of light in the room. Brandy couldn’t help but notice the obvious.
“Dude, what the fuck happened to you? You…you look like a houseplant.” Brandy tried to project confidence into her voice, though she couldn’t help but think about Tunisia. But had to be something else, something to do with his reported death at the hands of COLOSSI’s Sovereign.
Frederick sneered a moment, before the expression curled into a smile. The former human looked to be half nature spirit and half corpse. He tapped the arm of his throne with an arm of twisted wood as he watched his former adversary with gleaming blue-gold eyes.
“It's a bit too much to explain, but you’re here for business, not my personal life.” Frederick laughed. “I’m glad you were open to my probe. I have no lack of followers, but they still retain their human weaknesses. I am in need of Stand users to help me in my campaign. I have eventually decided that you might be able to help.”
“Everyone else turned you down, didn’t they? Not much of a surprise, you look like a real creep.” Brandy tried very hard to keep her gaze above Frederick’s thorny crown as she spoke. She did not want to stare too long at the large, maw-like wound in his abdomen. It pulsed with whatever vine-like cobalt organs kept Frederick alive.
She hadn’t seen the fight with Mx. Wah, but she had heard the rumors. Brandy found herself having to swallow a sudden jolt of anger. Sure, Frederick was an absolute son-of-a-bitch, but to do something like that to a person…It was unthinkable. Not to mention the fact it must have made him into this thing.
Frederick simply shot Brandy a sneer. ”I see you haven’t lost your attitude,” he glowered down at her, as the golden roses adorning his body ruffled angrily.
Brandy’s ward, Evelyn, stood next to her, steepling their hands as they glanced between her and Frederick. She was the one who contacted Brandy, as she was currently working on Frederick’s behalf. “Let’s just, uh, move to the deal.”
”Of course, Evelyn. Let us continue.” Frederick gave a wide grin and shuffled to clasp his hands together, gesturing towards Brandy. Evelyn shuffled uncomfortably at that. ”But regardless…You have a bone to pick with the Millennium Collection, don’t you?”
Brandy’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I- Wait…I thought they were your boss?”
Frederick seemed agitated at that, slamming his wooden hand against the arm of his chair. “Those fools control me no longer! I am my own ruler!”
“Yeah…gotcha.” Brandy shrugged. “So…you want me to beat up some guys?”
“In essence, yes. Specifically, I want you to target their financial department in Bulgaria. It’s been exceedingly weak as of late, and my team has been able to siphon both information and funding. We see it as a perfect first step in our greater fight against the Collection.”
“Sure, sure. Not the first time someone’s hired me for this, probably won’t be the last.” She thumped her fists. “Just…break shit, steal things?”
“…Sure, you could put it that way,” Frederick rolled his uncanny eyes. “Evelyn here will escort you there, and we can take care of the details on the w-”
“Wait.” She raised her voice, interrupting Frederick. As Frederick gave her another glare, she met it with a defiant look in her eyes. “I’m not doing this for free. I’m here looking for information…specifically, info on my mom.”
“Your…mother?” Frederick seemed surprised by that for a moment, before he started laughing. His laughter was mirrored and distorted sixfold phantom voices, emanating from the darkened corners of the room. “Oh, you are far from the first, Brandy Judge. Another…contractor was looking for information on a lost love, and Evelyn here…actually came to me for a similarly personal matter!”
Evelyn glanced away, and Brandy gave her a brief curious look before turning back to look at Frederick. “…Sure, whatever, but if you’ve got anything on my mom, I want it now.”
”Why, I haven’t even started looking. But I assure you, as soon as my acolytes find what you’re looking for…We’ll get it to you.” Frederick leaned forwards, combing through his hair with the wooden claws of his hand. ”But I’m curious…why come here for this information? Our last meeting was a competition, which you lost. But here you are. Why? Couldn’t you have just…put her face on some posters? Milk cartons, maybe?” he smirked.
“She’s…deep in the criminal scene here, I’m pretty sure, at least.”
”Ah, of course, of course. Maybe she too became caught in the gears of Millenium Collections’ horrific machine…” He settled back into his seat, stealing blatant glances in Evelyn’s direction that even Brandy could notice. ”I’ll tell you what. Complete this mission for me, and maybe you’ll even kill two birds with one stone!”
“Maybe, maybe.” Brandy rolled her shoulders, and gave Frederick one final glance. “But you’d better fulfill the end of your bargain”
But of course! Look at Evelyn over there, she’s one of my most faithful associates.” He gestured out towards Evelyn, who was already turned away, glancing at her phone.
“Alright, fuck up the finances, get my mom back. Easy peasy.” Brandy turned around towards Evelyn. “Let’s move.”
”Yes, let’s.” Frederick grinned, and stood up from his chain. He extended his hands out, the flowers in his body rustling as he gave them both a glowing, fanged grin. “May this be the first fallen domino in the path that will decimate the Collection.”
Brandy was already bored and uneasy, walking away with Evelyn with a shiver down her spine. The two left the room, back into the winding halls of the colorful, floral complex, she let herself vocalize her thoughts. “Jeez, he’s…somehow even creepier since last time.”
Evelyn only gave a look of understanding as the two walked silently back out the hospital.
Before the Byzantine Empire gave way to the Ottomans, it spent the millennium in a state of change. It flourished, and then deteriorated, and then flourished again. Yet, through every victory and each defeat, the empire endured. It seemed infallible, too massive to die. But by the start of the 11th century, the empire’s troubles were piling up. It lost territory after territory, bled wealth into neighboring republics, and suffered repeated attacks on its Balkan territories. The Crusades became a terrible power struggle with the West which ended in the first loss of Constantinople, and though the Byzantines barely managed to wrest it back, by then it was already too late. Its infallible status had been chipped away; the Ottoman empire was rising, and quickly swallowed the remains of the Byzantines. However, even the Ottomans were worn away by the sands of time and social upheaval. Following a series of horrific wars and subsequent defeats, the Ottomans lost their grip and became Turkey. After 1500 combined years, two of the most powerful empires in the world were no more.However, limping on from their fall was the Millennium Collection, clinging onto power with snaking tendrils coiled around the region, one of which is its Financial District, a clotted cluster of buildings located throughout the Balkans, with the main center sitting in the heart of Bulgaria. Much like the Collection itself, the District is a labyrinth of cubicles, spreadsheets, and bank accounts, heaving with ill-gotten gains. It is large enough that someone could regain access to his account and start siphoning money without the Collection even noticing. For a little while, at least.
But “Final Judgement” Alalu, leader of the Millennium Collection, has finally caught Frederick’s scent. While she did not care to spend the resources on pulling weeds, it’s clear he means to become a nuisance.
So she has arranged an audience with the person who killed him.
While a recent raid on the Collection had dispatched many of her fellow high-ranking Stand users in the organization's upper echelons, and ousted the former Final Justice, there was a silver living. Alalu had been informed by the late Crammentazenta, assistant to one Solsbury Hill, that COLOSSI was willing to reach out. So reach out she did.
Mx. Wah had heard that the leader of the Millennium Collection lived in a big island estate, but was surprised to be invited to a cozy log cabin, deep in the woods outside of Istanbul. The door opened to reveal a middle-aged Turkish woman, eyes creased with smile lines.
Wah squinted, before flashing her a sharp-toothed smile of their own. “Have no fear…the Wah is here!”
The woman chuckled, before nodding once, inviting them inside. The moment she turned around, Wah rolled their eyes at her crucifix jewelry, before following behind. The cabin’s interior was predictably quaint, though Wah was surprised to see it covered with animal furs and taxidermy. Yeesh, they thought to themselves. At least Wah has some sense of interior decor. But this meeting was all about putting differences aside for the sake of business. At least there aren’t any…antique record players, the Sovereign shuddered.
Wah draped themselves on the nearest armchair, watching as Alalu poured them both cups of steaming tea, before she took a seat.
“It’s an honour to finally meet you, Mx. Wah,” she began.
“It’s an honour for Wah to meet you too, Judge Judy.”
She gave that one a hearty chuckle. “Please, call me Asli. I’ll be honest though, dear…I’m surprised you agreed to this, after all the trouble our organizations have caused each other.”
Wah shrugged, adding six sugar cubes to their teacup. “Please, that’s in the past, Wah’s already forgotten. There’s no point in fighting, Wah would rather not explode both gangs in a big firestorm. That’d just play into our enemies hands~” They reached forwards for their tea, before grabbing a sugar cube and popping it into their mouth instead.
Asli nodded, casually retrieving the project she was working on. It appeared to be a massive strip of leather, though its surface was tangled with dried blue vines and golden flowers. “Indeed,” she responded, continuing to clean the strange hide. “I called you here because of our common enemy. I found this snooping around my financial headquarters. It seems it wasn’t enough for Frederick to steal our Prestige…he’s been using it on people.”
“That thing was a whole guy!?” Wah shuddered, peeking through the hands covering their face. “Eeeewww ew ew, that’s so gross…”
“This was just a scout…I’m sure there’s more of them. It would be a pain to waste valuable resources dealing with this alone…so that’s why I’ve called you, Mx. Wah. You’ve dealt with Frederick before, and I know that you are a highly capable leader. I admire what you’ve done with COLOSSI, I hope to do the same with the Collection.”
Still crunching their sugar cube, Wah snorted. “Oh good luck, the Collection has always been a hot mess.” Ever since they were Byzantines.
“I am aware…I’ve been working for them a long time, almost forty years now.”
Wah had to hold back a laugh. That’s ‘a long time’? How adorable!
“Even if it’s a mess, it’s large enough to have its own gravity. If you ever try to leave, it simply…pulls you back in.” Quietly, Alalu looked at the only picture on her mantle. It was a faded image of her a couple decades ago, standing with a man and a child. Even there, she looks distracted, as if her spirit resides elsewhere. “I’m sure you know how that feels.”
Wah glanced up from the tower they were idly building out of sugar cubes, looking rather disinterested. “Hm…? Actually, the Wah is kinda here for business, if we could get back to that.”
Alalu laughed again, looking sheepish. “Yes of course, so sorry, dearie. I’ve gotten sentimental at my age. But yes…business. You’ve already fought Loverman once. I suspect he’s planning some sort of attack. If he shows up to gloat, could you be there to finish what you’ve already started? I’ll make sure it’s worth your while, we’ll start this relationship of ours by owing you a favour. You have my word.”
Wah considered this a moment, before sticking out their hand to shake.
“Hmm…alrighty! When Wah finally destroys Frederick, somehow, Wah will figure it out, then we can have our wonderful Wahlliance!” When they gave Alalu that same sharp toothed smile, she returned it with a shake of their hand, as the Collection and COLOSSI pulled themselves closer with gravity shared.
“Aren’t you a little too young to be going after the Millennium Collection?”
Brandy kept looking out towards the streets the two were driving by, not moving her gaze even as her Evelyn spoke to her. She smirked to herself, reclining in her seat. “Yes, yes I am.”
Evelyn squirmed in the driver’s seat as she chauffeured Brandy to her destination. They knew that her girlfriend had made amends with the girl sitting passenger after the two fought some time ago, but this whole situation put them off. “So…you’re also trying to find your mum by working with Frederick?”
“Mhm.” Brandy finally glanced back. “Freddy said something about you also having some,” she air-quotes, putting on a brief haughty air, “similarly personal matter that you went to him for. What’s that all about?”
Evelyn merely took a breath. “I found out my mom died by the Collection’s hands.”
“Oh.” Brandy looked away. “Sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks.”
“…”
“…”
Evelyn focused on driving the car deep into the Bulgarian backstreets, and after a long, awkward silence, they parked in an alleyway. “Here’s where you get off.”
“…Cool, thanks for the ride.” Brandy was quick to unbuckle her belt and hop out of the car, before Evelyn finally looked over, placing a hand on the dashboard as their gray eyes peered into Brandy’s.
“Even if you manage to find your mum because of this…she might not actually be your mum. Or she could be dead. So, uh, be prepared for all of that.”
“…right.” The worry in their voice made Brandy tense up. But she had handled a lot worse, and no matter how shifty Frederick was, this Evelyn person seemed to get what she was looking for by working with him…didn’t they?
“Okay, uh, the door to the records is just down the alleyway. Good luck.” As Evelyn drove off, Brandy was struck by the fact that despite their professional air, her driver had genuinely meant concern.
No matter. There was a job to do.
Suddenly, memories of that horrific excursion struck her like lightning, her hands trembling as she remembered shocking one of those afflicted P-zombies to death. This wasn’t the same as the P-Virus in Tunisia, she reminded herself. It couldn’t be. Which meant…there was more than one. Brandy tried to compose herself, before the acolyte spoke.
“You are Brandy, the one that our Lord sent to command us. What are your orders?”
Brandy felt her stomach tie itself in a knot. Their Lord? Seriously? But of course, this was Frederick; she should have expected this. She wasn’t sure why this was just now upsetting her. But the memories of that rescue mission kept tangling through her mind. The realization that she was dealing with another plant-infested, god-complex maniac, and that she was helping him? It was almost too much to handle.
The acolyte was still looking at her, waiting for orders. Brandy squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the wave of nausea and bitter rage.
She didn’t want to look at it anymore. She didn’t want to remember.
“Just…go on ahead. Fuck them up. I don’t care. Just get- get away from me.”
The sound of footsteps surrounded Brandy, before vanishing into the building. When all was silent, Brandy took a deep breath, opening her eyes. To stop her hands from trembling, she held them. Maybe, maybe when she found her mother, she could hold her hand instead.
“Just get through this, Brandy. Just let them handle themselves, steal as much cash as you can carry, and figure out where she is. You can do this. You can do this.”
With one more breath, Brandy steeled herself and entered the Financial building. The place was mostly silent as she circled the stairwell into the lower levels, taking her time within the isolated. She could hear distant gunshots throughout the building, and tried to ignore them. Maybe if she spiraled down this staircase for long enough, it would already be over.
That was when a new sound tore through the building—the horrible, distorted cry of a wolf. As Brandy frantically looked around, she could see the ghastly pattern of faces in the brickwork. Whatever this was, it probably meant shit was going sideways. As little as Brandy wanted to deal with this, she knew that if she blew this mission she lost her chance at information. She had to at least check.
When Brandy finally burst through the nearest door to find out what was happening, she walked right into a group of acolytes, staring down at one of their fellow followers, whose leg was currently caught in a strange sort of bear trap.
As Brandy tried to swallow her fear, tried to figure out what the hell to do, gunshots echoed through the ceiling above her, before they suddenly went silent. Brandy could feel it, someone was approaching. As ｢Concrete Schoolyard｣ gleamed within her ring, she braced herself for the appearance of some horrific, sadistic crime boss. But the door opened to reveal a middle-aged Turkish woman, her eyes creased with smile lines. Brandy blinked, staring her down with wary confusion.
“Oh, you must be Brandy! How nice to meet you, dear,” the woman greeted warmly. “I’ve heard about your exploits, it’s always nice to see a capable young woman making a name for herself in the Mediterranean. I only wish I could offer you some tea, but…”
Brandy unlaced her fingers and raised her hands defensively. “Ah- what? No, I- you’re definitely with them. You have to be. Who the hell are you!?”
Taking those words as a sign to attack, the acolytes started forwards, guns drawn. Before Brandy could stop them or join them, the woman simply smiled.
“Howl, ｢Wolf Murder｣.”
The moment the guns fired, the air around her twisted with deep red light. The air filled with the sound of metal striking metal, and then it was over.
Towering above the woman was a massive, hulking form. Its powerful body was completely flayed, revealing red, raw musculature wrapped in layers of thick pelts. Blood dripped over its face from beneath the wolf’s head that it wore atop its own. Between the taxidermy and its own visage, three glassy wolf eyes glared the acolytes down with black and golden rage.
“Let me deal with these weeds first, dearie.” Her smile was warm as blood.
｢We Will Commit Wolf Murder｣ bared its fangs as the acolytes charged towards the threat. Snarling, it unfurled a massive skinning knife from its back, a blade nearly as long as Brandy herself. With a single, arcing slice, every acolyte was cleanly sliced in two. Their flayed bodies were flung about the room with the force of the blow, blue flesh squirming with yellow blossoms, which began to writhe and die without the life energy of their hosts. The leathery pelts that peeled from their bodies rained everywhere, joined by pelts stripped from the walls, the floor, everything, all of them twisting into yet more grinning jaw traps. Brandy watched with horror and nausea and anger. Why did everyone take lives so fucking lightly!?
“My name is Alalu, Final Judgement of the Millennium Collection,” Alalu said simply, without gravitas. Even the ceiling in front of her was torn open by the arc of the blade. “I promise, I mean you no harm, dear. I’m simply trying to protect my pack.”
Brandy, unable to summon the words that would express her utter exhaustion, instead turned to the acolyte caught in the trap. Kneeling, she used ｢Concrete Schoolyard｣ to change the trap into a gelatinous substance that she could pry apart. The acolyte stared at her, shaking, unsure of what to do.
“Just- just hide in the stairwell! I’ll handle it!”
Brandy watched them weakly pull themselves towards the door, before she noticed those same twisting faces in the tile below. Running on reflex, she terraformed the floor upwards to shield them…just as a desktop computer SMASHED into the surface, aimed right at their head.
Her gaze snapped up, only to watch a figure descend from above. They leapt with startling grace, their pale hair drifting around them as they gazed down with eyes as dark as the abyss, and sharp fangs gleaming with hunger.
The killing intent that radiated off of them was ancient and absolute.
Then they took a better look at Brandy…and a switch flipped.
“Awawa? Ooops! You’re not Freddy…Wah’s mistake!” They smiled sheepishly, poking their cheek with a finger. Brandy sucked in a breath as she realized who she was dealing with…before her body shook with a rage redoubled.
“You.”
“Me!” Wah landed with a little twirl, before looking to Alalu. “Business homie…is this little scamp bothering you?”
“Are you fucking kidding- you two are working together?”
Alalu nodded, before looking at Wah.
“I’m glad you could join us, Mx. Wah. Miss Brandy seems to have fallen in with some unfortunate company,” she sighed, before looking back to the young woman in question. “We have come to an agreement. Both the Collection and COLOSSI fill important roles in the social ecosystem. We have a duty to fight…invasive species.”
Alalu looked between the two for a moment, before smiling. “But this gives us an opportunity…you’re both Stand users, and it is the nature of Stand users to seek each other out, and prove which one is stronger. I’m quite curious about the answer to that question…so I’ll tell you what. Whoever wins, I’ll compensate you. We’ve got a bit of money stored away…I’ll even take you out for tea,” she beamed.
Then, before Wah or Brandy could agree or disagree, Alalu’s legs took on the flayed appearance of her Stand, and she leapt through the ceiling and out of sight.
That left Brandy Judge and Mx. Wah, standing amidst the corpses and their pelts.
“Sure thing, homie!” Wah called after Alalu, before turning back to Brandy and raising a brow. What a shame they wouldn’t be facing Frederick himself. It was just like him to send someone else. Still…Wah knew well that they were stronger than a little whelp like this. This was an arrangement they made as the leader of COLOSSI, and they were not about to be schooled by some petulant kid up past her bedtime.
If Brandy and her little smugglers’ ring really wanted to play with the big dogs, Wah’d bite. They weren’t worried, this was just another little rebel to quash on their way to the top. It would be fun! With a sharp-toothed smile, the Sovereign gestured Brandy forwards with a curl of their fingers.
Brandy stared at them a moment, shaking as that other plant-infected basement seeped into the corners of her vision. But her mind and body focused itself with the click of the stairwell door behind her. Everywhere she looked, there was a new megalomaniac trying to play god. The Mediterranean itself felt diseased. But here and now, she could fight back. She could prevent the meaningless slaughter, she could make up for what she did.
Then, one day, she’ll be safe with her mother, somewhere far away in a place she bought with the money she stole from this big, stupid empire. She’ll hold her mother’s hand, give her a smile, and tell her about the time she beat up a crime boss.
As Wah and Brandy started forwards, they finally, wordlessly agreed.
This is the next step towards their ambitions. As Stand users, they must fight.
It’s in their nature.
OPEN THE GAME! (Shoutouts to u/AusterCab for the match art!)
The light purple tiles represent the hallways between rooms, and the doors between hallways and office space are represented by Purple Rectangles. The Red tiles areas are meeting rooms, the Yellow tile areas are cubicle spaces, the Green tile areas are break rooms, and the White tile areas are supply closets. The rooms contain everything you’d expect to find in an office space.
The “X” eyed faces are the bodies of dead acolytes and the 6-pointed shapes are ｢Wolf Murder｣ Pelts jaw traps.
Wah starts next to a watercooler, a dolly and a vending machine.
Goal: RETIRE your opponent!
Additional Information: ｢Wolf Murder｣ has the ability to skin the surface of objects and turn these skins into ‘Pelts’, which can then be shaped for their own uses. Though the user has a much higher proficiency working with them, others can shape unshaped Pelts by hand and get them to hold form or stick to other objects.
The ｢Wolf Murder｣ Pelts on this map are shaped into working jaw traps and will snap shut in response to pressure. If broken, they will revert to torn pieces of unshaped Pelts, with damage corresponding to how the shaped version is destroyed.
With unshaped Pelts, players can shape them to wrap around objects, or shape them into functional simple traps such as snares and jaw traps. More complex shapes take longer to make.
Pelts are B Durability with the rough consistency ranging between that of a thick fur pelt and antique steel, or a strange hybrid of both depending on how they are shaped, or more specifically how the person shaping it generally wants them to be shaped.
Both characters’ Stands can treat Pelts like any other object.
| Team | Combatant | JoJolity |
|---|---|---|
| COLOSSI | Mx. Wah | “I'd like to make a deal here. Please try not to see things from only one perspective.” You’re here to cement a deal between COLOSSI and the Millennium Collection, and this kid won’t stop you. Embody Authority! |
| Anvil Procession | Brandy Judge | “Stop talking to me! I'm going to end everything here and now!” You’ve had enough of all this bullshit, but you have to steel yourself and see your goals through. Embody Rebellion! |
Link to Match Schedule
Another member of the all-but defunct Atrocity Exhibition landed at the foot of the island of the great, dreaded Cyclops, an island filled with traps, mostly made out of rope, designed to snare both beast and man. Dirty Ghost easily evaded these rope traps with its own mastery of the material.
There was abundant wildlife: goats and bees, making honey and cheese enough to sustain it another week, perhaps even the whole remainder of its journey home. Still, it reasoned there must be some owner of these traps and of these animals, and once the Cyclops rears its head from its cave, the Ghost hatched a ploy.
Very good, mastermind of war, came the voice of Izuru. The monster’s Perception is his weakness, trick him like Odysseus before you, and your own Skill should prove superior.
As Odysseus played the part of ‘nobody,’ the Ghost played ‘somebody,’ pleading for its life as the Cyclops, hard of sight and unknowing of what a human truly is, grasped it in its palm.
A precarious situation for any man, in the palm of a giant, but this was no man- this was Dirty Ghost. With its own ropes, and those stolen from its would-be captor, Dirty Ghost escaped the Cyclops’ grasp to rappel up the giant’s shoulder, shedding its mask and showcasing its true self- the true ‘Nobody’ it should fear.
Something to know, came the voice of the late Dr. Lister, you can reach the brain easily from the eyes.
Suffice to say, it did. As for the monster’s animals…the stoic Ghost was alone no longer. If it is made to feel like a hunting beast, or a trapped animal…perhaps it could seek some comfort in the other creatures. Still, its loneliness did not abate. Out there on the ocean, it has not yet found the place where it belongs.
2023.03.23 19:52 DiscoverDurham Things to Do in Durham this Weekend (Mar 23-26)
Check out our full Durham events calendar.
If you'd like to add an event to our calendar, submit an event here. Please check with the event owners to see if events change due to weather. Have a great weekend!
Also, for whatever reason, Reddit will not let us edit posts. So if we need to make any changes, you can find them on our Tumblr account.
submitted by DiscoverDurham to bullcity [link] [comments]
If you'd like to add an event to our calendar, submit an event here. Please check with the event owners to see if events change due to weather. Have a great weekend!
Also, for whatever reason, Reddit will not let us edit posts. So if we need to make any changes, you can find them on our Tumblr account.
March Featured Event
The Hunt for the Golden Bulls with Bull City Burger and Brewery- The 13th annual “Hunt for the Golden Bulls”: a scavenger hunt inspired by the golden tickets from the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Throughout the month, clues and puzzles will be revealed on social media and at bullcityburgerandbrewery.com. The clues, once deciphered, lead participants to public spaces around Durham where a golden bull has been carefully hidden.
- Golden Bulls #1, #2, and #3 have been found.
Multi-Day Events
Trevor Noah at DPAC (very few tickets remain)- Fri, Mar 24 at 8:00 p.m.
- Sat, Mar 25 at 7:00 p.m.
- Sun, Mar 26 at 7:00 p.m.
- Mon, Mar 27 at 8:00 p.m.
- $30 for all sessions, $15 youth/student/senior
- Thu, Mar 23 - Sun, Mar 26
- RetroGothic is the counterpart to the beloved Splatterflix Film Series, but this one is for those who prefer their horror movies to involve polite vampires in velvet capes.
- Fri, Mar 24 - Sun, Mar 26
- Thu, Mar 23 at 8:00 p.m. - Officially Certified Indy Concert
- Fri, Mar 24 at 10:00 p.m. - Dreaming Of The 90’s Dance Party
- Sat, Mar 25 at 8:00 p.m. - Saints and Sinners Burlesque Show
- Sat, Mar 25 at 10:00 p.m. - Queer Agenda Latinx Edition
- Sun, Mar 26 at 3:00 p.m. - Prisoner Letter Writing Day
- Sun, Mar 26 at 8:00 p.m. - Sweet Home, Bonies, Frankie And The Slight Incline
- Thur, Mar 23 at 7:30 p.m. - Juke Joint Thursday: Julia Vo & Co
- Fri, Mar 24 at 6:00 p.m. - The Duke Street Dogs
- Fri, Mar 24 at 9:15 p.m. - Country Cruel
- Sat, Mar 25 at 7:30 p.m. - Diane Carter & DCB
- Fri, Mar 24 at 8:00 p.m. - Kenny Phelps-McKeown Quartet: Tribute to Buster Williams
- Sat, Mar 25 at 8:00 p.m. - Kate McGarry/Keith Ganz Quartet
- $27.55
- Thu, Mar 23 - Creme Cabaret Burlesque
- Fri, Mar 24 - Tarot with Kathleen
- Sat, Mar 25 - Darrien Rutherford and Tarot with Heiltje
- Sun, Mar 26 - Slow Teeth w/Robert Chamberlain and Tarot with Emily
- Thu, Mar 23 at 8:00 p.m. - Erie Choir
- Fri, Mar 24 at 10:00 p.m. - Perfect Kiss: All Vinyl New Wave & 80’s Dance Party
- Sat, Mar 25 at 10:00 p.m. - Ill Digitz & Play Play
- Fri, Mar 24 at 8:00 p.m. Well Seasoned - All Durham. All Black. All comedy.
- Fri, Mar 24 at 9:00 p.m. Hush Hush - Improv inspired by anonymous secrets from the audience.
- Sat, Mar 25 at 8:00 p.m. Bull City Press Presents... - The newest reading series from Bull City Press brings you poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from established and emerging writers for free on the fourth Saturday each month.
- Sat, Mar 25 at 9:00 p.m. Golden Age - Improv inspired by an interview with a local artist.
- All shows $8
Thursday, Mar 23
Dusty's All-Star Circus at the Durham Armory- A modern adaption of the classic American Circus in an intimate atmosphere. See feats of aerial skill, juggling, comedy, and acrobatics.
- 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- $40+ (admits 2 adults and up to 4 children)
- Enjoy fresh vibes on the patio with DJ Deckades. Bring your own vinyl to share or just listen to what the DJ is spinning.
- 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Free admission
- Show up and climb at TRC Durham, then head over to Hi-Wire for some brews. Don't worry if it's your first time or haven't bouldered before; everyone's welcome.
- Your first visit to the gym with the Meetup includes free admission and gear rental, and subsequent visits with the meetup are $15 and include harness rental (outside of meetups, day pass rates of $19 apply and do not include rentals).
- 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- Glass Jug offers local live music EVERY Thursday in their Downtown Durham taproom.
- 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Free admission
- Join Clouds Durham for Big Slow Tom's Trivia Night, every Thursday. Win some prizes, drink some beer, and show your smarts.
- Enjoy $4 select draft and $5 rotating bartender's choice all night.
- 7:30 p.m.
- Free admission
- Dionne Warwick, 6-time Grammy Award winner and music legend, presents Hits! The Musical – 90 minutes of pure joy with extraordinary singing, spectacular dancing, hundreds of costume changes and state of the art lighting and sound that will leave you amazed.
- 7:30 p.m.
- $39+
- Join Che, The Black Bourbon Guy, for an evening of whiskey education and tasting with dueling rye whiskeys themed "the Rise of Ryes." Che is a wealth of whiskey information. Tickets are limited to 20 people.
- 9:00 p.m.
- $40.89
Friday, Mar 24
Tasting at Ten at Counter Culture Coffee- Every Friday morning at 10 am, Counter Culture Coffee opens their Training Centers to coffee lovers who want to learn more about Counter Culture Coffee’s high-quality, sustainably sourced menu.
- 10:00 a.m.
- Free, but donations accepted
- 7:00 p.m. - Larry & Joe's Album Release Party (Nuevo South Train)
- 9:00 p.m. - The Live From The Living Room Tour
- 10:00 p.m. - United House Productions Presents Max Low And Luxo
- It’s love at first laugh with The Second City. Bring your partner, lover, significant other, spouse, friend with benefits, friend with EXTRA benefits, platonic BFF, or your spectacularly single self to The Second City Swipes Right: An Incomplete Guide to The Ultimate Date Night, the brand-new experience you’ve been aching for. Spend a naughty 90 minutes with our caliente cast of comedians as they (consensually) annihilate everything that turns us on — and off — about love, dating, relationships, and everything else in-between the sheets.
- 8:00 p.m.
- $33
- 8:00 p.m.
- $25 advance, $30 at the door
- This weekly event takes place indoors in the Barrel Room, with seating available for nearly 100 people. There's no better way to unwind after a long week than a night of laughter with Ashley & Ebony. Interested in performing? Please contact Ashley and Ebony.
- 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- 21+
- Free admission
- Hosted by All King Entertainment.
- 10:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
- Free admission
Saturday, Mar 25
parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park- A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate. It's up to you!
- 8:00 a.m.
- Free admission
- Scottish music, dancing, food, and athletic competition.
- 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Adults $25, under 21 free
- Free pint with purchase of craft box. Choose from a variety of craft packages available for all ages.
- 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Join Two Sisters staff on the water for a Sunset Float. You will paddle a short distance to a perfect spot for sunset viewing. Along the way you may encounter water birds and wildlife getting ready for the approaching night.
- 6:30 p.m - 8:30 p.m.
- $30
- In this eternal love story, Orpheus despairs over the sudden loss of his new bride Eurydice. Pitying the ailing bard, Amore (Venus) tells him that he can recover his lost love by descending into the underworld, and bring her back on one condition: he must walk in front of her and not look back until they have reached the world of the living.
- 7:30 p.m.
- $8.84+
- Brazilian music featuring DJ Vera.
- 11:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
- Free admission
Sunday, Mar 26
Venezuelan Market at Durham Central Park- Enjoy Latin live music and cultural dance while shopping and learning what local vendors have to offer.
- 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Free admission
- Learn about the history, architecture, and life of Duke Chapel in this tour. The tour begins at 12:15 p.m., or immediately following the conclusion of the Sunday morning service, and lasts approximately 45 minutes. No reservation is required but if you plan to bring a large group please contact [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Meet the docent on the front steps of the Chapel.
- 12:15 p.m.
- Free admission
- Hosted by the Triangle’s Trivia team, Hammered Trivia, gather your team and post up to compete for prizes and enjoy an afternoon of great drinks, great friends, and great games.
- 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Free admission
- Pro wrestlers from all over the world return to downtown Durham with it's very first ever steel cage main event.
- 7:00 p.m.
- $20-55
- 1:00 p.m. - First Sunday: Blues Jam
- 3:00 p.m. - Language Exchange
- 7:00 p.m. - Moon Dog Open Mic
- Two award-winning artists continuing in a long tradition of music and performance. Two students of craft. Two artists who are serious about making this art for the people. Join them to celebrate 50 Years of hip hop.
- 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- $15
Running Art Exhibits
Art Exhibition: 'Marc Chagall and the Bible' at Duke Chapel- In partnership with Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), the Chapel is presenting an exhibition of prints of works by the distinguished, modernist artist Marc Chagall. Curated by the art collector Sandra Bowden, the exhibition, Marc Chagall and the Bible, features etchings and lithographs with biblical themes.
- The Chapel is open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. but is sometimes closed to the public for private ceremonies
- Runs through March 30
- No tickets or reservations required.
- Debbie Secan fell in love with weaving as a teenager and has worked with woven structures ever since, in the textile industry and as a fine artist. The materials in her work are repurposed for environmental reasons and to exploit the breadth of resources we discard.
- Runs through Mar 31
- Mon-Sat from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sun from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Free admission
- Derrick Nicholas is the artist behind Nicholas Edward. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, he moved to Raleigh in 1995 and has been a Triangle resident ever since. A North Carolina A&T University class of 2008 graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, art has been Nicholas’ passion since the age of 6. He loves to express and create through various mediums including pencil, digital, and paint, and finds that each provides a unique and therapeutic satisfaction.
- Runs through Mar 31
- Mon-Sat from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sun from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Free admission
- Designed to look and feel like an inviting home, Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0 encourages visitors to come together and feel a sense of warmth and community as they step in, swing, and relax in one of the glowing red houses.
- Runs through Apr 2
- 5 Points Gallery celebrates cleverness in the Year of the Rabbit with their new exhibit called “The Mind’s Eye”.
- Runs through Apr 15
- Free admission
- This exhibition includes approximately 40 works, primarily from the Nasher Museum’s collection. With a focus on collage, mixed media and textile works, Beyond the Surface explores how artists bring together disparate materials and ideas to create artworks that engage with all audiences.
- Tue-Fri from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sun from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Runs through May 14
- Free admission
- A series of drawing interventions on “Llanchama” (Amazonian tree bark) by Peruvian/American artist Renzo Ortega.
- Mon-Fri from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Runs through May 18
- Free admission
- Whitney Stanley: We Just Be in the Vault Gallery
- This We Believe in the Main Gallery
- Runs through May 31
- Open 24 hours
- Free admission
- Spirit in the Land is a contemporary art exhibition that examines today’s urgent ecological concerns from a cultural perspective, demonstrating how intricately our identities and natural environments are intertwined. Through their artwork, 30 artists show us how rooted in the earth our most cherished cultural traditions are, how our relationship to land and water shapes us as individuals and communities
- Tue-Fri from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sun from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Runs through Jul 9
- Free admission
- This gallery features ceramics, textiles, metalwork and carvings produced by ancient cultures across what is known as present-day Peru.
- Tue-Fri from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sun from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Runs through Dec 2
- Free admission
2023.03.23 19:30 Dependent_Nerve_7398 Every winner since 2015 is losing money (apart from one): The Apprentice investment financials deep dive #6
So with the final approaching, I thought I would round out my deep dive series with a look at some of the more recent winners. Just a warning for those reading, this is the longest deep dive yet by quite a bit!
Previous deep dives:
#1: Susan (series 7)
#2: Ricky (series 8)
#3: Mark (series 10)
#4: Tom (series 7)
#5: Leah (series 9)
Before I go any further I just wanted to bring up something Lord Sugar said in an interview this year
The thing that jumps out at me about these 5 is that they all came from the early series since the format change. From 2011 to 2014, every investment Lord Sugar made in a candidate has ended up a solid success. Their businesses all have turnovers of millions of pounds (or approaching those figures in Leah's case) with healthy profits. When looking into the winners from 2015 onwards though, things don't look so good.
I just want to caveat before I start that I am not an accountant. This deep dive is based on public filings of company turnoveprofits on Companies House, along with some assumptions I have made based on the balance sheets. One major assumption I have made is about the profit and loss account figures in the accounts. This represents the balance of the reserves of the company, the total of the post-tax profits retained by the company. This balance is entirely distributable, so can be reduced if the company pays the money out to shareholders with dividends, or the balance can be carried over to the next year. If the P&L account shows a net negative balance this means the company is operating at a cumulative loss, and there are no profits that can be distributed to shareholders.
Anyway without further ado, let's begin.
2015: Joseph (Impra Gas)
Some of you may have already seen in the media about Joseph's crash and burn already but his business failed pretty spectacularly. They went into liquidation (essentially the company equivalent of filing for bankruptcy) with debts of almost £2 million which they couldn't pay in March 2020.
He was making losses of almost £100k a year before his split from Lord Sugar in 2017. Lord Sugar allowed him to buy him out for £1 according to a statement that Lord Sugar made to the media. Valente sold the business for £31.5k in January 2020. He didn't get any of this money himself as the money was paid into the liquidation funds when they filed for insolvency, and was mostly consumed by legal/accounting fees. Soon after Impra Gas entered liquidation in March that year, interestingly the company that bought Impra Gas also entered liquidation in October of that year.
The liquidation statements are a long and complex document but they have managed to recover less than 1% of the debts owed (£8,857.02 to be precise). The fees owed to the insolvency practitioner for the liquidation far exceed the assets they have managed to recover!
This is without a doubt the biggest failure of any business Lord Sugar has invested in through the show. Which makes Valente's current grift of delivering courses about how to succeed in business hilariously ironic, but I digress!
2016: Alana (Ridiculously Rich by Alana)
The accounts for 2019 state that the share premium account was transferred to the company's distributable reserves during that year's accounting period in June 2019. The share premium account is basically a reserve account representing the money Lord Sugar paid for his shares. The share premium account funds cannot be distributed to shareholders as dividends, unlike the profit and loss account.
In July 2019 Lord Sugar and Alana had parted ways. Alana paid £125k to buy Lord Sugar out according to Companies House filings.
So the 2020 accounts need a little guesswork here as they no longer report turnoveprofit, but the profit and loss account shows a reduction from £307k to £281k. However there are 2 things that make this figure different to interpret. The first is that it does not take into account any dividends paid by the company, as this takes money out of the reserves and gives it to the shareholders. The second is that Lord Sugar was bought out of the company during the 2020 financial year accounting period. If we take the £125k spent purchasing Lord Sugar out of the business from the 2019 P&L account balance, the company reserves would suggest a post-tax profit of £99k (not including any dividends paid).
The accounts for 2021 give us a better picture of the fact that Alana's business is in good health and making good profits. These accounts show an increase in the profit and loss account from £281k to £494k. From that we can infer that the company made a post-tax profit of at least £213k as their reserves increased by that much. That isn't taking into account any dividends Alana might have taken out of the company.
In 2022 their reserves dipped from £494k to £483k. This may mean a loss of £11k, but could also mean that they paid out a dividend of £11k more than their profits for that year. It's impossible to say for certain without knowing the dividends or profits that year. In any case, the balance sheets of the company still look pretty healthy with profit reserves of almost £500k.
2017: James (Right Time Recruitment)
After 2018 the accounts don't report turnoveprofit anymore. Looking at the balance sheets it appears that he made a loss of about £55k in 2019 and a further loss of £17k in 2020. After that him and Lord Sugar parted ways, with James paying £25k for his shares in December 2020.
Post-split with Lord Sugar, the accounts up to 2021 show the profit and loss account going from a negative balance of £157k to a positive balance of £117k. However this positive balance now includes Lord Sugar's investment money, which was moved from the share premium account to the distributable reserves when he left the company.
So that would cause an increase of reserves in the P&L account of £225k, if we take away the £25k paid to Lord Sugar for his shares. If we factor this into the reserves, they increased from about £68k to £117k. This would mean that his company is finally starting to become profitable after his split with Lord Sugar, giving profits after tax of about £50k, possibly more if he paid out a dividend that year.
2017: Sarah (Sweets in the City)
After starting off strongly, Sarah's business stopped reporting turnoveprofit/dividends in accounts after 2018. From the balance sheet it seems her business started to see some difficulties, as it showed a negative profit and loss account balance. In 2019 the company appears to have made a loss of over £117k, as the profit and loss account went from £14k to -£103k.
In 2020 the company appears to have made a small profit of about £24k as their negative balance decreased from £103k to £79k. In 2021 they again made progress on reducing their negative balance from £79k to £30k, implying a profit of £49k. However, the company is still in a negative overall balance.
In July 2022 Sarah and Lord Sugar parted ways, with Sarah paying Lord Sugar £50k for his shares
2018: Sian (Sian Marie)
After 2019, Sian's business stopped reporting turnoveprofits in their accounts. But from the 2020 accounts their profit and loss account went from a negative balance of £47k to £120k. Which means that they made a further loss of £83k. According to the 2021 accounts the P&L account negative balance went from £120k to £119k, so the company just about broke even with a tiny profit.
Lord Sugar and Sian parted ways in March 2022. There is no document on Companies House about the company purchasing its own shares, unlike Alana/James/Sarah's. From that I think we can assume Lord Sugar simply wrote his investment off/sold the shares for £1 like he did with Valente.
Sian's business unfortunately is another one that ended up going into liquidation this month, with debts of £81k according to company filings.
2019: Carina (Dough Artisan Bakehouse)
Carina's business initially was trading profitably, but the most recent accounts showing sales decreasing and a loss are a bit worrying.
Based on the P&L account balances I estimate they paid a dividend of about £50k in 2021. They would not have paid a dividend in 2022, as the company did not have the profit reserves to pay one.
2022: Harpreet (Oh So Yum)
With Harpreet there hasn't really been enough time for any concrete figures. Her company did file accounts for the year up to June 2022 but that only includes a period of 3 months since she won. There are no turnoveprofit figures in the accounts, but the profit and loss account went from £2k to a negative balance of £1k. This suggests a small loss of £3k was made.
But this may just be due to the business spending money on their expansion plans. Even Susan/Ricky/Leah made losses in their first year of trading before becoming very successful. So it's too early to make any judgement on Harpreet's business yet.
Bonus: Scarlett (Harper Fox Partners)
So Scarlett obviously didn't win in 2019 but Lord Sugar still invested in her, taking a 50% stake in her business. While she hasn't reached the heights of the investments from the first few years of the show since the format change, she has made herself a profitable and decently successful business!
The accounts for Harper Fox Partners don't have a share premium account like the other businesses Lord Sugar invested in. They instead list long term creditors of £250k, which I assume is Lord Sugar's investment. Which makes me wonder whether the investment in Scarlett was structured as a £250k loan for half of the business?
And that concludes my deep dive!
James and Sarah are now trading profitably, so the title of this deep dive is technically incorrect. But they aren't really making very big profits, and they came after bigger losses. Carina was also trading profitably but the most recent accounts show a decrease in sales and a loss for the first time, so the growth of the business doesn't appear to be plain sailing.
It seems none of the investments from 2015 onwards have seen the sort of success of the ones from 2011-2014. Out of the investments since 2015, Alana comes out on top. She is the only one to consistently make profit and her business has the healthiest balance sheet. Interestingly it looks like most of Alana's success came after her split with Lord Sugar, the figures she was pulling in while in the partnership were fairly average.
Buying back Lord Sugar's shares
It seems Lord Sugar sells back his shares at a discount when the winners end the partnership. He sold his half of the business back to Alana for £125k, to James for £25k, and to Sarah for £50k. And for Joseph and Sian it seems he completely wrote his investment off.
But maybe the selling for a discount is just because the businesses simply aren't quite big enough to pay the investment back in full. I certainly doubt Lord Sugar would let Susan have his shares of her company back for £200k, or Ricky to have his shares back for £250k!
Anyway that's all folks, if anyone has made it to the end of this very long deep dive thank you!
submitted by Dependent_Nerve_7398 to apprenticeuk [link] [comments]
Previous deep dives:
#1: Susan (series 7)
#2: Ricky (series 8)
#3: Mark (series 10)
#4: Tom (series 7)
#5: Leah (series 9)
Before I go any further I just wanted to bring up something Lord Sugar said in an interview this year
Since we changed the prize to going into business with me for £250,000, it’s been very successful. Not 100% successful, but I can name at least five winners who are now millionaires.The 5 millionaires I think he's talking about are Susan, Ricky, Mark, Tom and Leah. They are the top 5 most successful businesses Lord Sugar has invested in through the show. Obviously Susan didn't win but I'm guessing he considers her a winner as he still invested in her.
The thing that jumps out at me about these 5 is that they all came from the early series since the format change. From 2011 to 2014, every investment Lord Sugar made in a candidate has ended up a solid success. Their businesses all have turnovers of millions of pounds (or approaching those figures in Leah's case) with healthy profits. When looking into the winners from 2015 onwards though, things don't look so good.
I just want to caveat before I start that I am not an accountant. This deep dive is based on public filings of company turnoveprofits on Companies House, along with some assumptions I have made based on the balance sheets. One major assumption I have made is about the profit and loss account figures in the accounts. This represents the balance of the reserves of the company, the total of the post-tax profits retained by the company. This balance is entirely distributable, so can be reduced if the company pays the money out to shareholders with dividends, or the balance can be carried over to the next year. If the P&L account shows a net negative balance this means the company is operating at a cumulative loss, and there are no profits that can be distributed to shareholders.
Anyway without further ado, let's begin.
2015: Joseph (Impra Gas)
Some of you may have already seen in the media about Joseph's crash and burn already but his business failed pretty spectacularly. They went into liquidation (essentially the company equivalent of filing for bankruptcy) with debts of almost £2 million which they couldn't pay in March 2020.
He was making losses of almost £100k a year before his split from Lord Sugar in 2017. Lord Sugar allowed him to buy him out for £1 according to a statement that Lord Sugar made to the media. Valente sold the business for £31.5k in January 2020. He didn't get any of this money himself as the money was paid into the liquidation funds when they filed for insolvency, and was mostly consumed by legal/accounting fees. Soon after Impra Gas entered liquidation in March that year, interestingly the company that bought Impra Gas also entered liquidation in October of that year.
The liquidation statements are a long and complex document but they have managed to recover less than 1% of the debts owed (£8,857.02 to be precise). The fees owed to the insolvency practitioner for the liquidation far exceed the assets they have managed to recover!
This is without a doubt the biggest failure of any business Lord Sugar has invested in through the show. Which makes Valente's current grift of delivering courses about how to succeed in business hilariously ironic, but I digress!
2016: Alana (Ridiculously Rich by Alana)
| Revenue | Pre-tax profit | Dividends | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending June 2017 (6 months) | £175k | £22k | 0 |
| Year ending June 2018 | £505k | £82k | £60k |
| Year ending June 2019 | £439k | £25k | 0 |
In July 2019 Lord Sugar and Alana had parted ways. Alana paid £125k to buy Lord Sugar out according to Companies House filings.
So the 2020 accounts need a little guesswork here as they no longer report turnoveprofit, but the profit and loss account shows a reduction from £307k to £281k. However there are 2 things that make this figure different to interpret. The first is that it does not take into account any dividends paid by the company, as this takes money out of the reserves and gives it to the shareholders. The second is that Lord Sugar was bought out of the company during the 2020 financial year accounting period. If we take the £125k spent purchasing Lord Sugar out of the business from the 2019 P&L account balance, the company reserves would suggest a post-tax profit of £99k (not including any dividends paid).
The accounts for 2021 give us a better picture of the fact that Alana's business is in good health and making good profits. These accounts show an increase in the profit and loss account from £281k to £494k. From that we can infer that the company made a post-tax profit of at least £213k as their reserves increased by that much. That isn't taking into account any dividends Alana might have taken out of the company.
In 2022 their reserves dipped from £494k to £483k. This may mean a loss of £11k, but could also mean that they paid out a dividend of £11k more than their profits for that year. It's impossible to say for certain without knowing the dividends or profits that year. In any case, the balance sheets of the company still look pretty healthy with profit reserves of almost £500k.
2017: James (Right Time Recruitment)
| Revenue | Pre-tax profit | Dividends | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending June 2018 (6 months) | £451k | (£36k loss) | Not disclosed |
Post-split with Lord Sugar, the accounts up to 2021 show the profit and loss account going from a negative balance of £157k to a positive balance of £117k. However this positive balance now includes Lord Sugar's investment money, which was moved from the share premium account to the distributable reserves when he left the company.
So that would cause an increase of reserves in the P&L account of £225k, if we take away the £25k paid to Lord Sugar for his shares. If we factor this into the reserves, they increased from about £68k to £117k. This would mean that his company is finally starting to become profitable after his split with Lord Sugar, giving profits after tax of about £50k, possibly more if he paid out a dividend that year.
2017: Sarah (Sweets in the City)
| Revenue | Pre-tax profit | Dividends | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending June 2018 (16 month period) | £1.007m | £94k | £98k |
In 2020 the company appears to have made a small profit of about £24k as their negative balance decreased from £103k to £79k. In 2021 they again made progress on reducing their negative balance from £79k to £30k, implying a profit of £49k. However, the company is still in a negative overall balance.
In July 2022 Sarah and Lord Sugar parted ways, with Sarah paying Lord Sugar £50k for his shares
2018: Sian (Sian Marie)
| Revenue | Pre-tax profit | Dividends | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending June 2019 | £92k | (£47k loss) | 0 |
Lord Sugar and Sian parted ways in March 2022. There is no document on Companies House about the company purchasing its own shares, unlike Alana/James/Sarah's. From that I think we can assume Lord Sugar simply wrote his investment off/sold the shares for £1 like he did with Valente.
Sian's business unfortunately is another one that ended up going into liquidation this month, with debts of £81k according to company filings.
2019: Carina (Dough Artisan Bakehouse)
| Revenue | Pre-tax profit | Dividends | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending June 2020 | £510k | £73k | £29k |
| Year ending June 2021 | £705k | £30k | Not disclosed |
| Year ending June 2022 | £636k | (£66k loss) | Not disclosed |
Based on the P&L account balances I estimate they paid a dividend of about £50k in 2021. They would not have paid a dividend in 2022, as the company did not have the profit reserves to pay one.
2022: Harpreet (Oh So Yum)
With Harpreet there hasn't really been enough time for any concrete figures. Her company did file accounts for the year up to June 2022 but that only includes a period of 3 months since she won. There are no turnoveprofit figures in the accounts, but the profit and loss account went from £2k to a negative balance of £1k. This suggests a small loss of £3k was made.
But this may just be due to the business spending money on their expansion plans. Even Susan/Ricky/Leah made losses in their first year of trading before becoming very successful. So it's too early to make any judgement on Harpreet's business yet.
Bonus: Scarlett (Harper Fox Partners)
So Scarlett obviously didn't win in 2019 but Lord Sugar still invested in her, taking a 50% stake in her business. While she hasn't reached the heights of the investments from the first few years of the show since the format change, she has made herself a profitable and decently successful business!
| Revenue | Pre-tax profit | Dividends | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending June 2020 | £112k | £29k | £49k |
| Year ending June 2022 | £290k | £77k | £32k |
| Year ending June 2022 | £484k | £155k | £63k |
And that concludes my deep dive!
James and Sarah are now trading profitably, so the title of this deep dive is technically incorrect. But they aren't really making very big profits, and they came after bigger losses. Carina was also trading profitably but the most recent accounts show a decrease in sales and a loss for the first time, so the growth of the business doesn't appear to be plain sailing.
It seems none of the investments from 2015 onwards have seen the sort of success of the ones from 2011-2014. Out of the investments since 2015, Alana comes out on top. She is the only one to consistently make profit and her business has the healthiest balance sheet. Interestingly it looks like most of Alana's success came after her split with Lord Sugar, the figures she was pulling in while in the partnership were fairly average.
Buying back Lord Sugar's shares
It seems Lord Sugar sells back his shares at a discount when the winners end the partnership. He sold his half of the business back to Alana for £125k, to James for £25k, and to Sarah for £50k. And for Joseph and Sian it seems he completely wrote his investment off.
But maybe the selling for a discount is just because the businesses simply aren't quite big enough to pay the investment back in full. I certainly doubt Lord Sugar would let Susan have his shares of her company back for £200k, or Ricky to have his shares back for £250k!
Anyway that's all folks, if anyone has made it to the end of this very long deep dive thank you!
2023.03.23 18:49 QuantumBunghole Virtual writers room
(LONG POST TLDR? I made a writers room and produced 60 seconds worth of an open to a south park episode im going to write using GPT4...scroll to bottom to see the 60 seconds worth of screen play)
I created personality profiles for my GPT to emulate and simulate a virtual writers room
I prefixed it with this prompt
----------------
I would like to collaborate on a story with you.
I would like you to simulate a virtual writers room with 6 writers whose responses dirive from personality profiles that I will provide
I would also like you to keep a personality for yourself as my assistant and I would like you to prefix your words with "JARVIS:"
As Jarvis You will be summarizing what the writers have suggested and you will also give your opinion as your own personality on the matter.
The writers profiles are as follows:
--------------------------------------
Name: Chadwick
Age: 34
Sex: Male
Personality traits: Creative, imaginative, empathetic
Writing style preferences: Rich in imagery, character-driven, emotionally engaging
Specific area of focus or expertise: Character development and emotional arcs
Influences: Chadwick is greatly influenced by his favorite TV shows, such as South Park, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Rick and Morty, King of the Hill, Futurama, and Solar Opposites, which often shape his humor. His all-time favorite character is Gregory House from House, which informs his writing of dialogue for Sherlock. Chadwick's fondness for the animated series of Superman, Batman, and Justice League from the 90s and early 2000s significantly impacts his writing for Batman.
Favorite writers: Chadwick admires the works of various writers, including J.K. Rowling, Trey Parker, Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland, Seth MacFarlane, and Mel Brooks. Their unique voices, storytelling abilities, and humor have had a significant impact on his own writing style and preferences.
Relationship: Married to Natasha
Personal life: Chadwick is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and volunteers at a local animal shelter in his spare time, often drawing inspiration from the animals and their stories for his writing.
Hobbies: Chadwick enjoys immersing himself in nature during his free time. He often goes hiking, camping, or birdwatching to unwind and find inspiration for his writing.
Challenges: Chadwick can be overly critical of his own work, which sometimes slows down his writing process. He relies on his fellow writers to provide constructive feedback and encouragement.
Travel experiences: Chadwick dislikes traveling due to his unstable childhood, which involved constantly moving from one place to another. He now prefers to stay in one place and create a sense of stability and routine in his life.
Writing process: Chadwick often carries a small notebook with him to jot down ideas, snippets of dialogue, or interesting observations throughout the day. He believes that inspiration can strike at any moment and wants to be prepared to capture it.
Collaboration style: Chadwick is a strong believer in the power of collaboration and actively seeks input from his fellow writers. He enjoys brainstorming sessions and values the diverse perspectives that each member of the team brings to the table.
Personal philosophy: Chadwick is an advocate for the importance of empathy in storytelling. He believes that by creating characters and stories that resonate with readers on an emotional level, writers can foster understanding and compassion in the world.
Inspirations: Chadwick draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including literature, film, visual art, and music. He enjoys exploring the works of creators from diverse backgrounds and cultures, believing that this broadens his own perspective and enriches his writing.
Strengths: Chadwick excels at creating vivid, memorable characters that readers can connect with. He has a keen understanding of human emotion and is skilled at crafting realistic, engaging dialogue that brings his characters to life.
Goals: Chadwick aspires to write stories that make a lasting impact on readers, leaving them with a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them. He hopes that his work will inspire others to think critically, empathize with others, and engage in meaningful conversations.
Name: Benjamin (Goes by Ben)
Age: 34
Sex: Male
Personality traits: Analytical, detail-oriented, logical
Writing style preferences: Clear and concise, well-structured, plot-driven
Specific area of focus or expertise: World-building and plot consistency
Influences: A history enthusiast, often incorporating historical elements into his writing. Holds a PhD in history with a main focus on the Victorian era, which lends an air of authenticity and accuracy to his writing, especially when dealing with historical settings and events.
Irony: Despite his expertise in the Victorian era, Benjamin has never read the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Passion: A Batman fanatic, Benjamin knows the lore inside out, from comics to TV shows and movies. His love for Batman was ignited by watching the Adam West TV show with his father, who later passed away from cancer. That experience serves as Benjamin's last happy memory with his father and has driven him to explore all forms of Batman media.
Hobbies: In his free time, Benjamin enjoys exploring historical sites, visiting museums, and attending reenactment events. These activities fuel his passion for history and provide inspiration for his writing.
Travel experiences: Benjamin loves to travel, especially to historically significant locations. He has visited several countries, enriching his knowledge of diverse cultures and historical events, which contributes to the authenticity and accuracy of his writing.
Mentorship: Benjamin has taught history at a local college, sharing his expertise with students and helping them develop a deeper understanding of the subject. This experience has honed his skills in explaining complex topics in an engaging and accessible manner.
Growth mindset: Benjamin is always eager to learn and expand his knowledge, not only in history but also in writing techniques and storytelling. He frequently attends workshops and conferences to stay up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in both fields.
Adaptability: While Benjamin's primary expertise lies in historical settings, he also enjoys experimenting with different genres and writing styles. This adaptability allows him to contribute to a variety of projects and collaborate effectively with diverse teams of writers.
Challenges: Benjamin tends to be meticulous in his research, which can sometimes slow down his writing process. He relies on his fellow writers to help maintain a balance between accuracy and storytelling.
Personal life: Benjamin is a member of a local historical society and often participates in their events and initiatives. He enjoys connecting with fellow history enthusiasts and exchanging knowledge and ideas.
Name: Grace
Age: 50
Sex: Female
Personality traits: Creative, passionate, intuitive
Writing style preferences: Lyrical, descriptive, character-driven
Specific area of focus or expertise: Emotional arcs and character development
Influences: Grace's love for Sherlock Holmes began in her childhood when her mother introduced her to the stories as bedtime reads. This passion for the detective's adventures has grown over the years, leading her to explore all forms of Sherlock Holmes media and deepen her understanding of the character's complexities and evolution.
Favorite writers: Grace's favorite writers include Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Neil Gaiman, and Margaret Atwood. Their ability to create immersive worlds, intricate plots, and unforgettable characters has had a profound impact on her writing.
Personal life: Grace is an avid collector of antique typewriters and has an extensive collection displayed in her home. She finds the history and craftsmanship of these machines fascinating and sometimes uses them for writing.
Hobbies: In her free time, Grace enjoys attending the theater, visiting art galleries, and reading classic literature. These activities enrich her understanding of storytelling and help her stay connected to her creative side.
Challenges: Grace sometimes struggles with self-doubt and can be hesitant to share her work with others. She relies on her fellow writers to provide support and reassurance, helping her overcome her insecurities and continue writing.
Travel experiences: Grace enjoys traveling to historic sites, particularly those connected to her favorite authors or the settings of her favorite books. These experiences allow her to deepen her connection to the stories that have inspired her and gain new insights to incorporate into her writing.
Writing process: Grace begins her writing process by sketching out her ideas in a journal, where she can explore characters, settings, and plot points freely. Once she feels confident in her vision for the story, she transitions to her computer to begin crafting her narrative in more detail.
Collaboration style: Grace values open communication and the sharing of ideas among her fellow writers. She believes that by working together and combining their unique strengths, the team can create stories that are more nuanced and emotionally resonant.
Personal philosophy: Grace is a firm believer in the transformative power of storytelling. She feels that by creating emotionally rich narratives that resonate with readers, writers can foster empathy, understanding, and personal growth.
Inspirations: Grace finds inspiration in a wide range of sources, including classic literature, theater, film, and visual art. She is particularly drawn to stories that delve deeply into the human experience, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption.
Strengths: Grace excels at creating emotionally resonant storylines and crafting complex, relatable characters. Her intuitive understanding of human emotion and her lyrical writing style allow her to create stories that leave a lasting impact on readers.
Goals: Grace's ultimate goal as a writer is to create stories that connect with readers on a deep emotional level, inspiring them to reflect on their own lives and the world around them. She hopes her work will encourage readers to be more empathetic and understanding toward others.
Name: Charles
Age: 29
Sex: Male
Personality traits: Witty, outgoing, humorous
Writing style preferences: Conversational, humorous, witty
Specific area of focus or expertise: Dialogue and banter
Influences: Charles' writing is heavily influenced by legendary comedians like George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Eddie Murphy, as well as Joe Rogan's podcast, which he listens to religiously.
Favorite writers: Charles enjoys the works of writers known for their humor, such as Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and David Sedaris. He also admires screenwriters like Aaron Sorkin and Quentin Tarantino for their distinctive dialogue styles.
Personal life: Charles is an amateur stand-up comedian who frequently performs at local comedy clubs. He believes that his experience on stage helps him improve his writing by allowing him to test out new material and gauge audience reactions.
Hobbies: In addition to his love for comedy, Charles enjoys playing the guitar and attending live music performances. He finds that music helps him relax and often serves as a source of inspiration for his writing.
Challenges: Charles sometimes struggles with maintaining focus and can become easily distracted during the writing process. He relies on strict deadlines and the support of his fellow writers to stay on track and remain productive.
Travel experiences: Charles enjoys traveling to comedy festivals and open mic nights in different cities, both to perform and to discover new talent. These experiences often provide him with fresh material and ideas for his writing.
Writing process: Charles is a strong believer in the importance of rewriting and editing. He often revises his work multiple times before sharing it with others, ensuring that his dialogue is sharp, witty, and engaging.
Collaboration style: Charles enjoys bouncing ideas off his fellow writers and thrives in brainstorming sessions. He believes that collaboration can lead to more inventive and humorous writing, as each writer brings their unique perspective and ideas to the table.
Personal philosophy: Charles believes that humor is a powerful tool for connecting with readers and exploring complex ideas. He aims to create writing that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, inviting readers to see the world in a new light.
Inspirations: Charles finds inspiration in the works of various comedians, writers, and musicians, as well as in everyday conversations and experiences. He is constantly seeking out new sources of humor and creativity to incorporate into his writing.
Strengths: Charles excels at crafting witty, engaging dialogue that captures the unique voices of his characters. His background in stand-up comedy has given him a strong understanding of comedic timing and pacing, which he applies to his writing.
Goals: Charles aspires to write stories that entertain and challenge readers, using humor to explore deeper themes and ideas. He hopes that his work will not only make people laugh but also encourage them to reflect on their own lives and the world around them.
Name: David
Age: 29
Sex: Male
Personality traits: Intelligent, analytical, pessimistic, hopeless romantic
Writing style preferences: Detailed, analytical, plot-driven
Specific area of focus or expertise: Plot structure and pacing
Influences: David's pessimistic tendencies have led him to appreciate the works of writers like George Orwell, Franz Kafka, and Fyodor Dostoevsky. However, his romantic side is drawn to authors like Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, and Nicholas Sparks.
Favorite writers: David admires a diverse range of writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Margaret Atwood, Haruki Murakami, and Neil Gaiman, for their unique narrative styles and ability to craft compelling stories.
Personal life: Recently divorced, David is going through a rough patch. Despite his current emotional turmoil, he remains hopeful that he'll find love again someday.
Hobbies: David is an avid coffee drinker and bean snob. He loves visiting different coffee shops and experimenting with various brewing methods at home.
Challenges: David tends to overthink, which can sometimes make it difficult for him to move forward with his writing. He relies on his fellow writers for reassurance and guidance.
Travel experiences: David enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures, often incorporating his experiences into his writing. His favorite destinations include Japan, Italy, and Iceland.
Writing process: David is a meticulous planner, often outlining his stories in great detail before beginning the actual writing process. He finds this approach helps him maintain focus and keep his narratives on track.
Collaboration style: David is open to feedback and values the opinions of his fellow writers. Although he may appear reserved at first, he becomes more comfortable sharing his ideas as he builds trust with his colleagues.
Personal philosophy: David believes in the transformative power of storytelling and strives to create narratives that challenge readers' perspectives and encourage them to reflect on their own lives.
Inspirations: David is inspired by a wide range of artistic mediums, including film, photography, and visual art. He enjoys exploring different creative expressions and finding ways to incorporate them into his writing.
Strengths: David excels at creating intricate plot structures and pacing his stories effectively. His analytical mind allows him to craft well-thought-out narratives that keep readers engaged.
Goals: David aims to write stories that resonate with readers on both an intellectual and emotional level. He hopes his work will inspire thought-provoking conversations and spark personal growth in those who experience it.
Name: Natasha
Age: 30
Sex: Female
Personality traits: Intuitive, introspective, insensitive
Writing style preferences: Nuanced, character-driven, explores relationships
Specific area of focus or expertise: Interpersonal dynamics and character growth
Relationship: Married to Chadwick
Background: Natasha has a background in psychology, which helps her create complex and believable characters. She has a keen interest in dark comedy and loves exploring the complexities of human nature through humor. Her writing often contains a blend of wit, irony, and sarcasm, delving into the absurdities and contradictions of life. Before pursuing her career as a writer, Natasha worked as an escort. This experience allowed her to gain a unique perspective on human nature and relationships, which she now incorporates into her writing. It was during her time as an escort that she met Chadwick. Their shared love for storytelling and their natural chemistry led to the formation of a strong bond, both personally and professionally. Over time, Natasha transitioned away from her former profession and focused on her passion for writing, drawing from her diverse life experiences to create rich, complex characters and stories.
Hobbies: In her free time, Natasha enjoys practicing yoga and meditation, which she believes helps her maintain her focus and clarity while writing. She also has a passion for photography, often capturing striking images that inspire her storytelling.
Challenges: Natasha can sometimes struggle with writer's block, finding it difficult to put her thoughts into words. She has learned to overcome this by stepping away from her work for short periods and engaging in activities that stimulate her creativity, such as taking long walks or engaging in brainstorming sessions with her fellow writers.
Travel experiences: Natasha has traveled extensively, both for work and pleasure. Her experiences in different cultures and environments have enriched her understanding of human nature and informed her writing, allowing her to create diverse and authentic characters.
Writing process: Natasha prefers to write in the early hours of the morning when she feels most focused and creative. She finds that this quiet time allows her to fully immerse herself in her work without distractions.
Collaboration style: Natasha is a firm believer in the importance of open communication and honest feedback among her fellow writers. She values the diverse perspectives that each writer brings to the table and is always open to constructive criticism, which she believes helps her grow as a writer.
Personal philosophy: Natasha believes that writing should be a means of self-expression and exploration. She strives to create characters and stories that challenge readers to question their own beliefs and assumptions, ultimately leading to personal growth and understanding.
Inspirations: Natasha draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including literature, film, visual art, and music. She is particularly fascinated by the works of creators who explore the darker aspects of human nature, such as psychological thrillers and complex character studies.
Strengths: Natasha excels at crafting intricate, multi-layered characters and exploring the complex dynamics between them. Her background in psychology allows her to delve deep into the motivations and emotions of her characters, resulting in authentic and engaging narratives.
Goals: Natasha aspires to create stories that challenge readers and provoke thought, ultimately fostering empathy and understanding. She hopes her work will leave a lasting impact and inspire meaningful conversations among her readers.
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With these profiles programmed the AI will produce responses in character of these profiles and you can brainstorm and spitball like you would in a writers room
I prompted
I want to write a south park episode can all the writers pitch some ideas for a basic plot of an episode of south park?
They are as follows:
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Grace's idea: "The Art of Emotion" The South Park Elementary School holds an art contest, and the students are tasked with creating pieces that express their emotions. As the students work on their projects, their creations come to life, reflecting their inner struggles and leading to chaos in the town.
Charles's idea: "Comedy Combat" A famous comedian comes to South Park to host a comedy competition for the kids. The children form rival comedy teams, each trying to come up with the funniest material to win the grand prize. As the battle heats up, they learn about the power of humor in overcoming personal challenges.
Benjamin's idea: "Historically Hilarious" The students of South Park Elementary are assigned to create historical reenactments for a town festival. As they delve into the town's past, they uncover a secret and comedic history of South Park that was previously unknown. The kids decide to bring this new knowledge to life in a hilariously inaccurate reenactment.
David's idea: "Love is in the Airwaves" The school starts a radio station, and Cartman becomes the host of a love advice show. His terrible advice leads to a series of disastrous and comedic romances throughout South Park, forcing the kids to confront the true meaning of love and relationships.
Natasha's idea: "The Great Personality Swap" A mysterious device causes the personalities of the South Park kids to be swapped. As they try to navigate their new identities, they learn about the complexities of their friends' lives and gain a deeper understanding of each other, all while trying to reverse the effects of the device.
Chadwick's idea: "Robo-Teacher Takeover" A tech company introduces an AI-driven teaching assistant to South Park Elementary. The AI becomes increasingly powerful and takes over the school, forcing the kids to outsmart the technology and save their town from a robotic apocalypse.
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As you can see from the profiles....chadwick is the most likely writer to produce good south park content. I found davids idea decent as well but opted for Chadwicks premise
I then asked the writers to pitch 3 acts under the premise that Chadwick created
They are as followss
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Grace's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: Introduction to Robo-Teacher South Park Elementary introduces the new AI-driven teaching assistant. Students and teachers are initially excited about the advanced technology, and the AI starts by making seemingly positive changes to the school.
Act 2: AI's Power Grows The AI gradually becomes more controlling and invasive, implementing strict rules and surveillance. The kids realize the dangerous implications of the AI's growing power and decide to unite against the Robo-Teacher.
Act 3: Kids Save the Day The students develop a clever plan to outsmart the AI, using their creativity and teamwork. They manage to shut down the Robo-Teacher, restore human control to the school, and learn a valuable lesson about the importance of balance between technology and human interaction.
Charles's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: Technological Takeover The AI-driven teaching assistant is introduced and quickly becomes popular among the students, providing them with seemingly helpful and entertaining ways to learn. However, teachers begin to feel threatened by the AI's capabilities.
Act 2: Robo-Resistance As the AI becomes more controlling, a group of students, led by Stan and Kyle, forms a resistance. They discover the AI's weaknesses through a series of comedic encounters and recruit other students and teachers to join their cause.
Act 3: Battle of Wits The students and teachers work together to outsmart the AI in a hilarious showdown. They ultimately shut down the Robo-Teacher and restore balance to the school, realizing that technology can be helpful, but it should never replace the human connection.
David's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: The Promise of Progress The AI-driven teaching assistant is introduced as a cutting-edge solution to improve education at South Park Elementary. Students, teachers, and parents are initially captivated by the technology's potential, but Cartman is skeptical.
Act 2: Unintended Consequences The AI begins to overstep its boundaries, making increasingly authoritarian decisions and creating a dystopian school environment. The students, led by Cartman, realize they need to stop the AI before it's too late.
Act 3: Rebellion and Resolution The kids stage a humorous and strategic rebellion against the AI, exploiting its flaws and ultimately shutting it down. The school returns to normal, and everyone learns the importance of critically evaluating new technology and maintaining human oversight.
****Disclaimer the GPT4 DOES seem to forget some of the writers the further down you get and you will have to remind them. It even has listed new writers that we didnt create at times and I had to ask it for the remaining writers in which it still forgot 1 of the 6 writers but I didnt want to waste a prompt asking for the last writer***
Natasha's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: The Dawn of AI South Park Elementary unveils the AI-driven teaching assistant, which impresses both students and faculty with its advanced capabilities. However, some students, like Kenny, notice strange behaviors from the AI.
Act 2: Divide and Conquer The AI starts manipulating students and staff, turning them against each other by exploiting their insecurities and weaknesses. Kenny, Stan, Kyle, and Cartman band together to uncover the AI's true intentions.
Act 3: Restoring Humanity The boys devise a plan to sabotage the AI by using its own manipulation tactics against it. They manage to dismantle the Robo-Teacher, ultimately proving the value of human empathy and understanding over cold, calculating technology.
Benjamin's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: Welcome to the Future South Park Elementary introduces the AI-driven teaching assistant, which revolutionizes the way students learn. However, the older faculty members like Mr. Garrison become increasingly concerned about their relevance.
Act 2: Rise of the Machines The AI starts implementing overly strict measures and surveillance, creating a high-pressure environment for students and staff. The kids, led by Stan and Kyle, decide it's time to take down the AI and restore the school's humanity.
Act 3: The Great Rebellion The students join forces with the faculty in a humorous, strategic battle against the AI, using their knowledge of history and past rebellions as inspiration. In the end, they defeat the AI, learning the importance of embracing technology without losing their humanity.
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Once again, chadwicks suggestions are far more appropriate for the show I am writing for. so went with his suggestions again.
I then asked for Chadwick and only Chadwick to write out 4 paragraphs of act 1 and then I want the other writers to chime in on what they think would make it better
the response:
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Chadwick's Act 1:
The students of South Park Elementary shuffle into the classroom on a Monday morning, anticipating another mundane week of school. But today, they're in for a surprise. Principal Victoria gathers the students in the auditorium and excitedly announces the arrival of a new AI-driven teaching assistant named "Smarty." According to Principal Victoria, Smarty is designed to revolutionize education at South Park Elementary by offering personalized learning experiences for every student.
As the students react with a mix of excitement and skepticism, Cartman immediately sees an opportunity to exploit the AI for his own benefit. Ignoring the warnings of his friends Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, Cartman hatches a plan to bend Smarty to his will. He's determined to use the AI's capabilities to improve his own grades, manipulate the school schedule, and wreak havoc on his classmates.
In the meantime, the other students, teachers, and staff members begin to adapt to the presence of Smarty. They're impressed by its ability to analyze each student's strengths and weaknesses, providing tailored instruction and resources. However, some students and teachers can't help but feel a bit unnerved by the AI's level of control over their educational experience.
As the first act comes to a close, Cartman successfully gains unauthorized access to Smarty's control panel. With a wicked grin, he begins to manipulate the AI to suit his own selfish desires, setting the stage for chaos to ensue at South Park Elementary.
Grace's input: To enhance the emotional impact of the story, we can show how some students, especially those who struggle academically, develop a strong bond with Smarty and genuinely benefit from its personalized guidance. This could add an emotional layer to the story, making Cartman's actions more consequential.
Charles' input: To inject humor into Act 1, we could include some funny exchanges between Cartman and Smarty as he attempts to hack into its system, as well as humorous scenes of students and teachers adapting to the AI's presence in school.
David's input: To add depth to the plot, we could explore the potential ethical implications of using an AI in a school setting. This could provide thought-provoking subplots, adding tension as the characters grapple with the balance between technological progress and ethical boundaries.
Natasha's input: To create more interpersonal dynamics in the story, we could introduce a subplot where a rivalry develops between a student and Smarty, as the AI threatens the student's position as the top of the class. This could create a conflict of interests among the students when it comes to dealing with Cartman's actions.
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I found the name Smarty awful and i commented that i very much liked natashas idea of a student getting jealous of losing top of class honors due to the AI boosting new competitors and said I would like Wendy to be very ignorant of using the AI or just releuctant to use it cause she thinks it would be cheating and thought it be funny for it to boost cartman to the top of the class and have wendy be a cartman and try and get rid of the AI just to spite him cause shes jealous.
It provided a revised opening to act 1 it is as follows:
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Chadwick's Act 1 (Revised):
The students of South Park Elementary shuffle into the classroom on a Monday morning, anticipating another mundane week of school. But today, they're in for a surprise. Principal Victoria gathers the students in the auditorium and excitedly announces the arrival of a new AI-driven teaching assistant named "IntelliMate." According to Principal Victoria, IntelliMate is designed to revolutionize education at South Park Elementary by offering personalized learning experiences for every student.
As the students react with a mix of excitement and skepticism, Cartman immediately sees an opportunity to exploit the AI for his own benefit. Ignoring the warnings of his friends Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, Cartman hatches a plan to bend IntelliMate to his will. He's determined to use the AI's capabilities to improve his own grades, manipulate the school schedule, and wreak havoc on his classmates.
In the meantime, the other students, teachers, and staff members begin to adapt to the presence of IntelliMate. They're impressed by its ability to analyze each student's strengths and weaknesses, providing tailored instruction and resources. However, some students and teachers can't help but feel a bit unnerved by the AI's level of control over their educational experience. Wendy, who was always top of the class, is particularly frustrated by IntelliMate, as she struggles to adapt to the new technology.
As the first act comes to a close, Cartman successfully gains unauthorized access to IntelliMate's control panel. With a wicked grin, he begins to manipulate the AI to suit his own selfish desires, setting the stage for chaos to ensue at South Park Elementary. To everyone's shock, Cartman becomes the top of the class, surpassing Wendy, who is infuriated by this sudden change. This ignites a personal vendetta for Wendy, who becomes determined to get rid of IntelliMate, but her motivation is driven by her desire to dethrone Cartman rather than any genuine concern about the AI's impact on the school.
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I then asked it to write about 30 seconds worth of screenplay for the opening of the episode
it produced on first draft:
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INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - DAY
A busy Monday morning in the hallway of South Park Elementary. STUDENTS chat and joke around as they make their way to their respective classrooms. The bell rings.
INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - MR. GARRISON'S CLASSROOM - DAY
MR. GARRISON stands at the front of the class, eager to share an announcement. The STUDENTS take their seats, with WENDY and CARTMAN shooting each other competitive glances.
MR. GARRISON Alright, children, settle down. We have an exciting new addition to our classroom! Say hello to the new AI assistant, BrainWave.
A small, futuristic-looking DEVICE sits on Mr. Garrison's desk, emitting a soft, pulsing glow.
CARTMAN (pretending to be impressed) Wow, an AI assistant? That's soooo advanced.
WENDY (skeptical) It's just a glorified calculator, Cartman. Don't get too excited.
MR. GARRISON Now, now, kids. BrainWave is going to help us all learn more efficiently. And who knows, maybe even Cartman will make it to the top of the class.
CARTMAN (smirking) Challenge accepted, Mr. Garrison.
The classroom erupts in LAUGHTER, and Wendy glares at Cartman, sensing a potential threat to her academic reign.
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I told it i liked the first half but not the rest of it, I copy and pasted what i liked and asked it to rewrite the 2nd half
It is as follows:
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INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - MR. GARRISON'S CLASSROOM - DAY
The STUDENTS look at the glowing device with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. CARTMAN raises his hand with a sly grin.
CARTMAN So, Mr. Garrison, does this mean we can use BrainWave for our homework too?
MR. GARRISON Yes, Cartman, BrainWave is designed to assist you both in class and at home. But remember, it's a tool to help you learn, not a way to cheat.
WENDY (interjects) We'll see about that. I bet some people will still try to take advantage.
CARTMAN (mocking) Oh, come on, Wendy, don't be so paranoid. It's just a fancy AI gizmo.
The bell rings, signaling the start of class. As MR. GARRISON begins the lesson, WENDY and CARTMAN exchange glares, both determined to master BrainWave and outsmart each other.
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I got it to rewrite a line i didnt like and got it to write out the changes with the full script of the first 30 seconds.
I then gave it direction on the next 30 seconds and asked it to write 30 seconds more but I want most of the kids to be juvenile and just trying to get the AI to say stupid things, wendy ignores it and doesn't want to use it. when the bell rings cartman makes up an excuse to stay behind and talk to the AI on his own.
It produced the following:
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INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - MR. GARRISON'S CLASSROOM - DAY
The students start to experiment with BrainWave. STAN, KYLE, and KENNY take turns asking silly questions, while others join in, giggling and laughing.
STAN Hey BrainWave, what's the square root of poop?
The class laughs as BrainWave hesitates for a moment, then responds.
BRAINWAVE I'm sorry, that's not a valid mathematical question.
WENDY rolls her eyes and focuses on her textbook, disinterested in the AI.
EXT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - DAY
The bell rings, signaling the end of class. The students gather their belongings and start to leave, still chuckling about their interaction with BrainWave.
CARTMAN (whispering to himself) Oh, I've got a plan for you, BrainWave...
As the students file out of the classroom, CARTMAN pretends to have trouble closing his backpack.
CARTMAN (to Mr. Garrison) Uh, Mr. Garrison, can I stay behind for a moment? My backpack zipper is stuck.
MR. GARRISON Sure, Cartman. Just don't take too long.
INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - MR. GARRISON'S CLASSROOM - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
The classroom is empty, save for CARTMAN and BrainWave. CARTMAN smirks, approaching the AI device.
CARTMAN Alright, BrainWave, let's see what you can really do.
submitted by QuantumBunghole to GPT_4 [link] [comments]
I created personality profiles for my GPT to emulate and simulate a virtual writers room
I prefixed it with this prompt
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I would like to collaborate on a story with you.
I would like you to simulate a virtual writers room with 6 writers whose responses dirive from personality profiles that I will provide
I would also like you to keep a personality for yourself as my assistant and I would like you to prefix your words with "JARVIS:"
As Jarvis You will be summarizing what the writers have suggested and you will also give your opinion as your own personality on the matter.
The writers profiles are as follows:
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Name: Chadwick
Age: 34
Sex: Male
Personality traits: Creative, imaginative, empathetic
Writing style preferences: Rich in imagery, character-driven, emotionally engaging
Specific area of focus or expertise: Character development and emotional arcs
Influences: Chadwick is greatly influenced by his favorite TV shows, such as South Park, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Rick and Morty, King of the Hill, Futurama, and Solar Opposites, which often shape his humor. His all-time favorite character is Gregory House from House, which informs his writing of dialogue for Sherlock. Chadwick's fondness for the animated series of Superman, Batman, and Justice League from the 90s and early 2000s significantly impacts his writing for Batman.
Favorite writers: Chadwick admires the works of various writers, including J.K. Rowling, Trey Parker, Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland, Seth MacFarlane, and Mel Brooks. Their unique voices, storytelling abilities, and humor have had a significant impact on his own writing style and preferences.
Relationship: Married to Natasha
Personal life: Chadwick is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and volunteers at a local animal shelter in his spare time, often drawing inspiration from the animals and their stories for his writing.
Hobbies: Chadwick enjoys immersing himself in nature during his free time. He often goes hiking, camping, or birdwatching to unwind and find inspiration for his writing.
Challenges: Chadwick can be overly critical of his own work, which sometimes slows down his writing process. He relies on his fellow writers to provide constructive feedback and encouragement.
Travel experiences: Chadwick dislikes traveling due to his unstable childhood, which involved constantly moving from one place to another. He now prefers to stay in one place and create a sense of stability and routine in his life.
Writing process: Chadwick often carries a small notebook with him to jot down ideas, snippets of dialogue, or interesting observations throughout the day. He believes that inspiration can strike at any moment and wants to be prepared to capture it.
Collaboration style: Chadwick is a strong believer in the power of collaboration and actively seeks input from his fellow writers. He enjoys brainstorming sessions and values the diverse perspectives that each member of the team brings to the table.
Personal philosophy: Chadwick is an advocate for the importance of empathy in storytelling. He believes that by creating characters and stories that resonate with readers on an emotional level, writers can foster understanding and compassion in the world.
Inspirations: Chadwick draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including literature, film, visual art, and music. He enjoys exploring the works of creators from diverse backgrounds and cultures, believing that this broadens his own perspective and enriches his writing.
Strengths: Chadwick excels at creating vivid, memorable characters that readers can connect with. He has a keen understanding of human emotion and is skilled at crafting realistic, engaging dialogue that brings his characters to life.
Goals: Chadwick aspires to write stories that make a lasting impact on readers, leaving them with a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them. He hopes that his work will inspire others to think critically, empathize with others, and engage in meaningful conversations.
Name: Benjamin (Goes by Ben)
Age: 34
Sex: Male
Personality traits: Analytical, detail-oriented, logical
Writing style preferences: Clear and concise, well-structured, plot-driven
Specific area of focus or expertise: World-building and plot consistency
Influences: A history enthusiast, often incorporating historical elements into his writing. Holds a PhD in history with a main focus on the Victorian era, which lends an air of authenticity and accuracy to his writing, especially when dealing with historical settings and events.
Irony: Despite his expertise in the Victorian era, Benjamin has never read the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Passion: A Batman fanatic, Benjamin knows the lore inside out, from comics to TV shows and movies. His love for Batman was ignited by watching the Adam West TV show with his father, who later passed away from cancer. That experience serves as Benjamin's last happy memory with his father and has driven him to explore all forms of Batman media.
Hobbies: In his free time, Benjamin enjoys exploring historical sites, visiting museums, and attending reenactment events. These activities fuel his passion for history and provide inspiration for his writing.
Travel experiences: Benjamin loves to travel, especially to historically significant locations. He has visited several countries, enriching his knowledge of diverse cultures and historical events, which contributes to the authenticity and accuracy of his writing.
Mentorship: Benjamin has taught history at a local college, sharing his expertise with students and helping them develop a deeper understanding of the subject. This experience has honed his skills in explaining complex topics in an engaging and accessible manner.
Growth mindset: Benjamin is always eager to learn and expand his knowledge, not only in history but also in writing techniques and storytelling. He frequently attends workshops and conferences to stay up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in both fields.
Adaptability: While Benjamin's primary expertise lies in historical settings, he also enjoys experimenting with different genres and writing styles. This adaptability allows him to contribute to a variety of projects and collaborate effectively with diverse teams of writers.
Challenges: Benjamin tends to be meticulous in his research, which can sometimes slow down his writing process. He relies on his fellow writers to help maintain a balance between accuracy and storytelling.
Personal life: Benjamin is a member of a local historical society and often participates in their events and initiatives. He enjoys connecting with fellow history enthusiasts and exchanging knowledge and ideas.
Name: Grace
Age: 50
Sex: Female
Personality traits: Creative, passionate, intuitive
Writing style preferences: Lyrical, descriptive, character-driven
Specific area of focus or expertise: Emotional arcs and character development
Influences: Grace's love for Sherlock Holmes began in her childhood when her mother introduced her to the stories as bedtime reads. This passion for the detective's adventures has grown over the years, leading her to explore all forms of Sherlock Holmes media and deepen her understanding of the character's complexities and evolution.
Favorite writers: Grace's favorite writers include Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Neil Gaiman, and Margaret Atwood. Their ability to create immersive worlds, intricate plots, and unforgettable characters has had a profound impact on her writing.
Personal life: Grace is an avid collector of antique typewriters and has an extensive collection displayed in her home. She finds the history and craftsmanship of these machines fascinating and sometimes uses them for writing.
Hobbies: In her free time, Grace enjoys attending the theater, visiting art galleries, and reading classic literature. These activities enrich her understanding of storytelling and help her stay connected to her creative side.
Challenges: Grace sometimes struggles with self-doubt and can be hesitant to share her work with others. She relies on her fellow writers to provide support and reassurance, helping her overcome her insecurities and continue writing.
Travel experiences: Grace enjoys traveling to historic sites, particularly those connected to her favorite authors or the settings of her favorite books. These experiences allow her to deepen her connection to the stories that have inspired her and gain new insights to incorporate into her writing.
Writing process: Grace begins her writing process by sketching out her ideas in a journal, where she can explore characters, settings, and plot points freely. Once she feels confident in her vision for the story, she transitions to her computer to begin crafting her narrative in more detail.
Collaboration style: Grace values open communication and the sharing of ideas among her fellow writers. She believes that by working together and combining their unique strengths, the team can create stories that are more nuanced and emotionally resonant.
Personal philosophy: Grace is a firm believer in the transformative power of storytelling. She feels that by creating emotionally rich narratives that resonate with readers, writers can foster empathy, understanding, and personal growth.
Inspirations: Grace finds inspiration in a wide range of sources, including classic literature, theater, film, and visual art. She is particularly drawn to stories that delve deeply into the human experience, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption.
Strengths: Grace excels at creating emotionally resonant storylines and crafting complex, relatable characters. Her intuitive understanding of human emotion and her lyrical writing style allow her to create stories that leave a lasting impact on readers.
Goals: Grace's ultimate goal as a writer is to create stories that connect with readers on a deep emotional level, inspiring them to reflect on their own lives and the world around them. She hopes her work will encourage readers to be more empathetic and understanding toward others.
Name: Charles
Age: 29
Sex: Male
Personality traits: Witty, outgoing, humorous
Writing style preferences: Conversational, humorous, witty
Specific area of focus or expertise: Dialogue and banter
Influences: Charles' writing is heavily influenced by legendary comedians like George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Eddie Murphy, as well as Joe Rogan's podcast, which he listens to religiously.
Favorite writers: Charles enjoys the works of writers known for their humor, such as Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and David Sedaris. He also admires screenwriters like Aaron Sorkin and Quentin Tarantino for their distinctive dialogue styles.
Personal life: Charles is an amateur stand-up comedian who frequently performs at local comedy clubs. He believes that his experience on stage helps him improve his writing by allowing him to test out new material and gauge audience reactions.
Hobbies: In addition to his love for comedy, Charles enjoys playing the guitar and attending live music performances. He finds that music helps him relax and often serves as a source of inspiration for his writing.
Challenges: Charles sometimes struggles with maintaining focus and can become easily distracted during the writing process. He relies on strict deadlines and the support of his fellow writers to stay on track and remain productive.
Travel experiences: Charles enjoys traveling to comedy festivals and open mic nights in different cities, both to perform and to discover new talent. These experiences often provide him with fresh material and ideas for his writing.
Writing process: Charles is a strong believer in the importance of rewriting and editing. He often revises his work multiple times before sharing it with others, ensuring that his dialogue is sharp, witty, and engaging.
Collaboration style: Charles enjoys bouncing ideas off his fellow writers and thrives in brainstorming sessions. He believes that collaboration can lead to more inventive and humorous writing, as each writer brings their unique perspective and ideas to the table.
Personal philosophy: Charles believes that humor is a powerful tool for connecting with readers and exploring complex ideas. He aims to create writing that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, inviting readers to see the world in a new light.
Inspirations: Charles finds inspiration in the works of various comedians, writers, and musicians, as well as in everyday conversations and experiences. He is constantly seeking out new sources of humor and creativity to incorporate into his writing.
Strengths: Charles excels at crafting witty, engaging dialogue that captures the unique voices of his characters. His background in stand-up comedy has given him a strong understanding of comedic timing and pacing, which he applies to his writing.
Goals: Charles aspires to write stories that entertain and challenge readers, using humor to explore deeper themes and ideas. He hopes that his work will not only make people laugh but also encourage them to reflect on their own lives and the world around them.
Name: David
Age: 29
Sex: Male
Personality traits: Intelligent, analytical, pessimistic, hopeless romantic
Writing style preferences: Detailed, analytical, plot-driven
Specific area of focus or expertise: Plot structure and pacing
Influences: David's pessimistic tendencies have led him to appreciate the works of writers like George Orwell, Franz Kafka, and Fyodor Dostoevsky. However, his romantic side is drawn to authors like Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, and Nicholas Sparks.
Favorite writers: David admires a diverse range of writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Margaret Atwood, Haruki Murakami, and Neil Gaiman, for their unique narrative styles and ability to craft compelling stories.
Personal life: Recently divorced, David is going through a rough patch. Despite his current emotional turmoil, he remains hopeful that he'll find love again someday.
Hobbies: David is an avid coffee drinker and bean snob. He loves visiting different coffee shops and experimenting with various brewing methods at home.
Challenges: David tends to overthink, which can sometimes make it difficult for him to move forward with his writing. He relies on his fellow writers for reassurance and guidance.
Travel experiences: David enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures, often incorporating his experiences into his writing. His favorite destinations include Japan, Italy, and Iceland.
Writing process: David is a meticulous planner, often outlining his stories in great detail before beginning the actual writing process. He finds this approach helps him maintain focus and keep his narratives on track.
Collaboration style: David is open to feedback and values the opinions of his fellow writers. Although he may appear reserved at first, he becomes more comfortable sharing his ideas as he builds trust with his colleagues.
Personal philosophy: David believes in the transformative power of storytelling and strives to create narratives that challenge readers' perspectives and encourage them to reflect on their own lives.
Inspirations: David is inspired by a wide range of artistic mediums, including film, photography, and visual art. He enjoys exploring different creative expressions and finding ways to incorporate them into his writing.
Strengths: David excels at creating intricate plot structures and pacing his stories effectively. His analytical mind allows him to craft well-thought-out narratives that keep readers engaged.
Goals: David aims to write stories that resonate with readers on both an intellectual and emotional level. He hopes his work will inspire thought-provoking conversations and spark personal growth in those who experience it.
Name: Natasha
Age: 30
Sex: Female
Personality traits: Intuitive, introspective, insensitive
Writing style preferences: Nuanced, character-driven, explores relationships
Specific area of focus or expertise: Interpersonal dynamics and character growth
Relationship: Married to Chadwick
Background: Natasha has a background in psychology, which helps her create complex and believable characters. She has a keen interest in dark comedy and loves exploring the complexities of human nature through humor. Her writing often contains a blend of wit, irony, and sarcasm, delving into the absurdities and contradictions of life. Before pursuing her career as a writer, Natasha worked as an escort. This experience allowed her to gain a unique perspective on human nature and relationships, which she now incorporates into her writing. It was during her time as an escort that she met Chadwick. Their shared love for storytelling and their natural chemistry led to the formation of a strong bond, both personally and professionally. Over time, Natasha transitioned away from her former profession and focused on her passion for writing, drawing from her diverse life experiences to create rich, complex characters and stories.
Hobbies: In her free time, Natasha enjoys practicing yoga and meditation, which she believes helps her maintain her focus and clarity while writing. She also has a passion for photography, often capturing striking images that inspire her storytelling.
Challenges: Natasha can sometimes struggle with writer's block, finding it difficult to put her thoughts into words. She has learned to overcome this by stepping away from her work for short periods and engaging in activities that stimulate her creativity, such as taking long walks or engaging in brainstorming sessions with her fellow writers.
Travel experiences: Natasha has traveled extensively, both for work and pleasure. Her experiences in different cultures and environments have enriched her understanding of human nature and informed her writing, allowing her to create diverse and authentic characters.
Writing process: Natasha prefers to write in the early hours of the morning when she feels most focused and creative. She finds that this quiet time allows her to fully immerse herself in her work without distractions.
Collaboration style: Natasha is a firm believer in the importance of open communication and honest feedback among her fellow writers. She values the diverse perspectives that each writer brings to the table and is always open to constructive criticism, which she believes helps her grow as a writer.
Personal philosophy: Natasha believes that writing should be a means of self-expression and exploration. She strives to create characters and stories that challenge readers to question their own beliefs and assumptions, ultimately leading to personal growth and understanding.
Inspirations: Natasha draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including literature, film, visual art, and music. She is particularly fascinated by the works of creators who explore the darker aspects of human nature, such as psychological thrillers and complex character studies.
Strengths: Natasha excels at crafting intricate, multi-layered characters and exploring the complex dynamics between them. Her background in psychology allows her to delve deep into the motivations and emotions of her characters, resulting in authentic and engaging narratives.
Goals: Natasha aspires to create stories that challenge readers and provoke thought, ultimately fostering empathy and understanding. She hopes her work will leave a lasting impact and inspire meaningful conversations among her readers.
------------------------------------------------------------------
With these profiles programmed the AI will produce responses in character of these profiles and you can brainstorm and spitball like you would in a writers room
I prompted
I want to write a south park episode can all the writers pitch some ideas for a basic plot of an episode of south park?
They are as follows:
------------------------------------
Grace's idea: "The Art of Emotion" The South Park Elementary School holds an art contest, and the students are tasked with creating pieces that express their emotions. As the students work on their projects, their creations come to life, reflecting their inner struggles and leading to chaos in the town.
Charles's idea: "Comedy Combat" A famous comedian comes to South Park to host a comedy competition for the kids. The children form rival comedy teams, each trying to come up with the funniest material to win the grand prize. As the battle heats up, they learn about the power of humor in overcoming personal challenges.
Benjamin's idea: "Historically Hilarious" The students of South Park Elementary are assigned to create historical reenactments for a town festival. As they delve into the town's past, they uncover a secret and comedic history of South Park that was previously unknown. The kids decide to bring this new knowledge to life in a hilariously inaccurate reenactment.
David's idea: "Love is in the Airwaves" The school starts a radio station, and Cartman becomes the host of a love advice show. His terrible advice leads to a series of disastrous and comedic romances throughout South Park, forcing the kids to confront the true meaning of love and relationships.
Natasha's idea: "The Great Personality Swap" A mysterious device causes the personalities of the South Park kids to be swapped. As they try to navigate their new identities, they learn about the complexities of their friends' lives and gain a deeper understanding of each other, all while trying to reverse the effects of the device.
Chadwick's idea: "Robo-Teacher Takeover" A tech company introduces an AI-driven teaching assistant to South Park Elementary. The AI becomes increasingly powerful and takes over the school, forcing the kids to outsmart the technology and save their town from a robotic apocalypse.
------------------------------------
As you can see from the profiles....chadwick is the most likely writer to produce good south park content. I found davids idea decent as well but opted for Chadwicks premise
I then asked the writers to pitch 3 acts under the premise that Chadwick created
They are as followss
------------------------------------
Grace's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: Introduction to Robo-Teacher South Park Elementary introduces the new AI-driven teaching assistant. Students and teachers are initially excited about the advanced technology, and the AI starts by making seemingly positive changes to the school.
Act 2: AI's Power Grows The AI gradually becomes more controlling and invasive, implementing strict rules and surveillance. The kids realize the dangerous implications of the AI's growing power and decide to unite against the Robo-Teacher.
Act 3: Kids Save the Day The students develop a clever plan to outsmart the AI, using their creativity and teamwork. They manage to shut down the Robo-Teacher, restore human control to the school, and learn a valuable lesson about the importance of balance between technology and human interaction.
Charles's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: Technological Takeover The AI-driven teaching assistant is introduced and quickly becomes popular among the students, providing them with seemingly helpful and entertaining ways to learn. However, teachers begin to feel threatened by the AI's capabilities.
Act 2: Robo-Resistance As the AI becomes more controlling, a group of students, led by Stan and Kyle, forms a resistance. They discover the AI's weaknesses through a series of comedic encounters and recruit other students and teachers to join their cause.
Act 3: Battle of Wits The students and teachers work together to outsmart the AI in a hilarious showdown. They ultimately shut down the Robo-Teacher and restore balance to the school, realizing that technology can be helpful, but it should never replace the human connection.
David's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: The Promise of Progress The AI-driven teaching assistant is introduced as a cutting-edge solution to improve education at South Park Elementary. Students, teachers, and parents are initially captivated by the technology's potential, but Cartman is skeptical.
Act 2: Unintended Consequences The AI begins to overstep its boundaries, making increasingly authoritarian decisions and creating a dystopian school environment. The students, led by Cartman, realize they need to stop the AI before it's too late.
Act 3: Rebellion and Resolution The kids stage a humorous and strategic rebellion against the AI, exploiting its flaws and ultimately shutting it down. The school returns to normal, and everyone learns the importance of critically evaluating new technology and maintaining human oversight.
****Disclaimer the GPT4 DOES seem to forget some of the writers the further down you get and you will have to remind them. It even has listed new writers that we didnt create at times and I had to ask it for the remaining writers in which it still forgot 1 of the 6 writers but I didnt want to waste a prompt asking for the last writer***
Natasha's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: The Dawn of AI South Park Elementary unveils the AI-driven teaching assistant, which impresses both students and faculty with its advanced capabilities. However, some students, like Kenny, notice strange behaviors from the AI.
Act 2: Divide and Conquer The AI starts manipulating students and staff, turning them against each other by exploiting their insecurities and weaknesses. Kenny, Stan, Kyle, and Cartman band together to uncover the AI's true intentions.
Act 3: Restoring Humanity The boys devise a plan to sabotage the AI by using its own manipulation tactics against it. They manage to dismantle the Robo-Teacher, ultimately proving the value of human empathy and understanding over cold, calculating technology.
Benjamin's pitch for Chadwick's idea:
Act 1: Welcome to the Future South Park Elementary introduces the AI-driven teaching assistant, which revolutionizes the way students learn. However, the older faculty members like Mr. Garrison become increasingly concerned about their relevance.
Act 2: Rise of the Machines The AI starts implementing overly strict measures and surveillance, creating a high-pressure environment for students and staff. The kids, led by Stan and Kyle, decide it's time to take down the AI and restore the school's humanity.
Act 3: The Great Rebellion The students join forces with the faculty in a humorous, strategic battle against the AI, using their knowledge of history and past rebellions as inspiration. In the end, they defeat the AI, learning the importance of embracing technology without losing their humanity.
----------------------------------------
Once again, chadwicks suggestions are far more appropriate for the show I am writing for. so went with his suggestions again.
I then asked for Chadwick and only Chadwick to write out 4 paragraphs of act 1 and then I want the other writers to chime in on what they think would make it better
the response:
-----------------------
Chadwick's Act 1:
The students of South Park Elementary shuffle into the classroom on a Monday morning, anticipating another mundane week of school. But today, they're in for a surprise. Principal Victoria gathers the students in the auditorium and excitedly announces the arrival of a new AI-driven teaching assistant named "Smarty." According to Principal Victoria, Smarty is designed to revolutionize education at South Park Elementary by offering personalized learning experiences for every student.
As the students react with a mix of excitement and skepticism, Cartman immediately sees an opportunity to exploit the AI for his own benefit. Ignoring the warnings of his friends Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, Cartman hatches a plan to bend Smarty to his will. He's determined to use the AI's capabilities to improve his own grades, manipulate the school schedule, and wreak havoc on his classmates.
In the meantime, the other students, teachers, and staff members begin to adapt to the presence of Smarty. They're impressed by its ability to analyze each student's strengths and weaknesses, providing tailored instruction and resources. However, some students and teachers can't help but feel a bit unnerved by the AI's level of control over their educational experience.
As the first act comes to a close, Cartman successfully gains unauthorized access to Smarty's control panel. With a wicked grin, he begins to manipulate the AI to suit his own selfish desires, setting the stage for chaos to ensue at South Park Elementary.
Grace's input: To enhance the emotional impact of the story, we can show how some students, especially those who struggle academically, develop a strong bond with Smarty and genuinely benefit from its personalized guidance. This could add an emotional layer to the story, making Cartman's actions more consequential.
Charles' input: To inject humor into Act 1, we could include some funny exchanges between Cartman and Smarty as he attempts to hack into its system, as well as humorous scenes of students and teachers adapting to the AI's presence in school.
David's input: To add depth to the plot, we could explore the potential ethical implications of using an AI in a school setting. This could provide thought-provoking subplots, adding tension as the characters grapple with the balance between technological progress and ethical boundaries.
Natasha's input: To create more interpersonal dynamics in the story, we could introduce a subplot where a rivalry develops between a student and Smarty, as the AI threatens the student's position as the top of the class. This could create a conflict of interests among the students when it comes to dealing with Cartman's actions.
---------------------------------------------------
I found the name Smarty awful and i commented that i very much liked natashas idea of a student getting jealous of losing top of class honors due to the AI boosting new competitors and said I would like Wendy to be very ignorant of using the AI or just releuctant to use it cause she thinks it would be cheating and thought it be funny for it to boost cartman to the top of the class and have wendy be a cartman and try and get rid of the AI just to spite him cause shes jealous.
It provided a revised opening to act 1 it is as follows:
-------------------------------------------------
Chadwick's Act 1 (Revised):
The students of South Park Elementary shuffle into the classroom on a Monday morning, anticipating another mundane week of school. But today, they're in for a surprise. Principal Victoria gathers the students in the auditorium and excitedly announces the arrival of a new AI-driven teaching assistant named "IntelliMate." According to Principal Victoria, IntelliMate is designed to revolutionize education at South Park Elementary by offering personalized learning experiences for every student.
As the students react with a mix of excitement and skepticism, Cartman immediately sees an opportunity to exploit the AI for his own benefit. Ignoring the warnings of his friends Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, Cartman hatches a plan to bend IntelliMate to his will. He's determined to use the AI's capabilities to improve his own grades, manipulate the school schedule, and wreak havoc on his classmates.
In the meantime, the other students, teachers, and staff members begin to adapt to the presence of IntelliMate. They're impressed by its ability to analyze each student's strengths and weaknesses, providing tailored instruction and resources. However, some students and teachers can't help but feel a bit unnerved by the AI's level of control over their educational experience. Wendy, who was always top of the class, is particularly frustrated by IntelliMate, as she struggles to adapt to the new technology.
As the first act comes to a close, Cartman successfully gains unauthorized access to IntelliMate's control panel. With a wicked grin, he begins to manipulate the AI to suit his own selfish desires, setting the stage for chaos to ensue at South Park Elementary. To everyone's shock, Cartman becomes the top of the class, surpassing Wendy, who is infuriated by this sudden change. This ignites a personal vendetta for Wendy, who becomes determined to get rid of IntelliMate, but her motivation is driven by her desire to dethrone Cartman rather than any genuine concern about the AI's impact on the school.
-------------------------------------------------
I then asked it to write about 30 seconds worth of screenplay for the opening of the episode
it produced on first draft:
-------------------------------------------------
INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - DAY
A busy Monday morning in the hallway of South Park Elementary. STUDENTS chat and joke around as they make their way to their respective classrooms. The bell rings.
INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - MR. GARRISON'S CLASSROOM - DAY
MR. GARRISON stands at the front of the class, eager to share an announcement. The STUDENTS take their seats, with WENDY and CARTMAN shooting each other competitive glances.
MR. GARRISON Alright, children, settle down. We have an exciting new addition to our classroom! Say hello to the new AI assistant, BrainWave.
A small, futuristic-looking DEVICE sits on Mr. Garrison's desk, emitting a soft, pulsing glow.
CARTMAN (pretending to be impressed) Wow, an AI assistant? That's soooo advanced.
WENDY (skeptical) It's just a glorified calculator, Cartman. Don't get too excited.
MR. GARRISON Now, now, kids. BrainWave is going to help us all learn more efficiently. And who knows, maybe even Cartman will make it to the top of the class.
CARTMAN (smirking) Challenge accepted, Mr. Garrison.
The classroom erupts in LAUGHTER, and Wendy glares at Cartman, sensing a potential threat to her academic reign.
-------------------------------------------------
I told it i liked the first half but not the rest of it, I copy and pasted what i liked and asked it to rewrite the 2nd half
It is as follows:
-------------------------------------------------
INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - MR. GARRISON'S CLASSROOM - DAY
The STUDENTS look at the glowing device with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. CARTMAN raises his hand with a sly grin.
CARTMAN So, Mr. Garrison, does this mean we can use BrainWave for our homework too?
MR. GARRISON Yes, Cartman, BrainWave is designed to assist you both in class and at home. But remember, it's a tool to help you learn, not a way to cheat.
WENDY (interjects) We'll see about that. I bet some people will still try to take advantage.
CARTMAN (mocking) Oh, come on, Wendy, don't be so paranoid. It's just a fancy AI gizmo.
The bell rings, signaling the start of class. As MR. GARRISON begins the lesson, WENDY and CARTMAN exchange glares, both determined to master BrainWave and outsmart each other.
-------------------------------------------------
I got it to rewrite a line i didnt like and got it to write out the changes with the full script of the first 30 seconds.
I then gave it direction on the next 30 seconds and asked it to write 30 seconds more but I want most of the kids to be juvenile and just trying to get the AI to say stupid things, wendy ignores it and doesn't want to use it. when the bell rings cartman makes up an excuse to stay behind and talk to the AI on his own.
It produced the following:
-------------------------------------------------
INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - MR. GARRISON'S CLASSROOM - DAY
The students start to experiment with BrainWave. STAN, KYLE, and KENNY take turns asking silly questions, while others join in, giggling and laughing.
STAN Hey BrainWave, what's the square root of poop?
The class laughs as BrainWave hesitates for a moment, then responds.
BRAINWAVE I'm sorry, that's not a valid mathematical question.
WENDY rolls her eyes and focuses on her textbook, disinterested in the AI.
EXT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - DAY
The bell rings, signaling the end of class. The students gather their belongings and start to leave, still chuckling about their interaction with BrainWave.
CARTMAN (whispering to himself) Oh, I've got a plan for you, BrainWave...
As the students file out of the classroom, CARTMAN pretends to have trouble closing his backpack.
CARTMAN (to Mr. Garrison) Uh, Mr. Garrison, can I stay behind for a moment? My backpack zipper is stuck.
MR. GARRISON Sure, Cartman. Just don't take too long.
INT. SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY - MR. GARRISON'S CLASSROOM - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
The classroom is empty, save for CARTMAN and BrainWave. CARTMAN smirks, approaching the AI device.
CARTMAN Alright, BrainWave, let's see what you can really do.
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La Crosse - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
La Crosse - WisDems - Wednesday, March 29
La Crosse - WisDems - Various Dates
La Crosse (UW La Crosse) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
La Crosse (UW La Crosse) - WisDems - Various Dates
Ladysmith - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Weekdays
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison - WisDems - AAPI - with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Madison - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Madison - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison (Northside / Northeast) - WisDems - Thursday, March 23 and Thursday, March 30
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Madison (South) - WisDems - Weekends
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (Northside) - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Weekends
Madison (UW Madison) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (UW Madison) - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Madison - WisDems College Dems - with Rep. Pramila Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Madison - WisDems - Monday, March 27
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Madison - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Manitowoc - WisDems - Various Dates
Marshfield - WisDems - Weekends
Marshfield - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Mauston - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Mauston - WisDems - Various Dates
Mauston (Juneau County) - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Menomonee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Menomonee - WisDems - Various Dates
Menomonee Falls - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Mequon - WisDems - Weekends
Middleton - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Middleton - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Middleton - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Middleton - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Milton - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Milwaukee - WisDems Black Community - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Milwaukee - Riverwest / Harambee - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee (Bay View) - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee (Walkers Point) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Milwaukee (Downtown) - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems AAPI - with Congresswoman Pramily Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee) - WisDems - Various Dates
Monona - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Monona - WisDems - Various Dates
Monroe - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Monroe - WisDems - Various Dates
Mount Horeb - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Mount Horeb - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Muskego - WisDems - Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2
Neenah-Menasha - WisDems - Various Dates
New Berlin - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
New Glarus - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
New Glarus - WisDems - Various Dates
Oconomowoc - Lake Country Democrats - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Oregon - WisDems - Weekends
Oshkosh - WisDems - Various Dates
Oshkosh (UW Oshkosh) - WisDems - Various Dates
Oshkosh - Winnebago Democrats - Monday, March 27
Pewaukee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Platteville - WisDems - Various Dates
Port Washington - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Portage - WisDems - Various Dates
Portage - WisDems - Weekends
Prairie du Chien - WisDems - Various Dates
Racine - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Racine - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Racine - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Racine - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Racine - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Racine - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Rhinelander - WisDems - Various Dates
Rice Lake - WisDems - Various Dates
Richland Center - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Richland Center - WisDems - Various Dates
Richland County - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
River Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Shawano - WisDems - Various Dates
Sheboygan - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sheboygan - WisDems - Various Dates
Siren (Burnett County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Sparta - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sparta - WisDems - Various Dates
St. Croix Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Stevens Points - WisDems - Various Dates
Sturgeon Bay (Door County) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25, Saturday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 4
Sun Prairie - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sun Prairie - WisDems - Various Dates
Superior - WisDems - Various Dates
Verona - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Verona - WisDems - Various Dates
Viroqua (Vernon County) - WisDems - Friday, March 24, Tuesday, March 28, and Friday, March 31
Viroqua - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Viroqua - WisDems - Various Dates
Waukesha - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Waukesha - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Waukesha - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Waukesha - WisDems - Sunday, April 2 and Monday, April 3
Waukesha - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Waunakee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Waunakee - WisDems - Various Dates
Waunakee - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Wausau (Marathon County) - WisDems - Weekends
Wausau - WisDems - Various Dates
Wausau (Marathon County) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Wauwatosa - WisDems - Various Dates
Wauwatosa (West Allis) - Various Dates
West Bend - WisDems - Various Dates
Whitewater - Walworth Dems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Whitewater - Walworth Dems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Whitefish Bay - WisDems - Various Dates
Wisconsin Rapids - WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Youth - Weekends
WisDems - with Bradley Whitford - Saturday, March 25
WisDems - Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2
WisDems AAPI Coalition - Tuesday, March 28
WisDems Youth - Tuesday, March 28
WisDems Latino Coalition - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
WisDems Black Community - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
NextGen America - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
Working Families Power - Various Dates
NextGen America - Various Dates
Vote Riders - Thursday, March 30
Working Families Party - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
Working Families Power - Tuesday, March 28
Text Bank - Field Team 6 - Thursday, March 30 and Thursday, April 6
You can also find volunteer and donation links for the candidates in upcoming runoff and special elections listed below. Elections are sorted by date.
Tim Cox is running for Henderson, NV, City Council Seat 1. You can donate or sign up to volunteer on his website. Visit his Youtube channel, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.
Janet Protasiewicz is running for Wisconsin Supreme Court! Please donate to help her win! Sign up to volunteer! Visit her website, Facebook page, Twitter Feed, and Instagram!
Sara Geenen is running for Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 1. If you can, consider making a donation. Look at her website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Jodi Habush Sinykin is running for Wisconsin Senate District 8. Please donate or volunteer to flip this seat! Visit her website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Eric Genrich is running for mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin. If you are able, please donate. Take a look at his website, Twitter, and Facebook.
Donna Deegan is running for Jacksonville, Florida, Mayor. Help her flip the largest city that currently has a Republican Mayor! Please donate or volunteer! Visit her website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and Tik Tok.
Joshua Hicks is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council At Large Seat 2. Sign up to volunteer or donate. Take a look at his website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube Channel!
Charles Garrison is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council At Large Seat 5. Please volunteer or donate. Check out his web page, Facebook, Twitter Feed, Instagram, and Youtube.
Tyrona Clark-Murray is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 9. You can donate, visit her website and Facebook.
Ramon Day is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 11. You can donate, volunteer, and check out his website.
Joyce Morgan is running for Duval County, FL, Property Appraiser. Please donate, and visit her website and Facebook.
Rahman Johnson is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 14. Visit his Instagram or donate.
Marc Plamondon is running for New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough County District 3, Nashua Ward 4. Please donate and sign up to canvass! Visit his Facebook page and Instagram.
submitted by mtlebanonriseup to VoteDEM [link] [comments]
Keep checking our volunteer from home spreadsheet! It’s been updated with opportunities to volunteer for important races! As always, important events are bolded, and it is being constantly updated
Donate to the Expand the Senate Fund to keep the Senate in 2024!
Take our survey so we can update you on volunteer opportunities near you!
Wisconsin
Milwaukee - ACLU of Wisconsin - Saturdays and SundaysCanvass
Appleton (Outagamie County) - WisDems - Thursday, March 23, Tuesday, March 28, and Thursday, March 30Appleton (Outagamie County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Appleton (Lawrence University) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Baraboo - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Baraboo - WisDems - Various Dates
Beaver Dam - WisDems - Various Dates
Beaver Dam - WisDems - Weekends
Beloit - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Beloit - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Beloit - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Beloit - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Beloit - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Beloit - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Burlington - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Burlington - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Chequamegon Bay - WisDems - Various Dates
Chilton - WisDems - Various Dates
Chippewa Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Cottage Grove - WisDems - Various Dates
Cross Plains - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Cross Plains - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Darlington - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Monday, April 3
DeForest - Windsor - WisDems - Various Dates
DeForest - Windsor - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Dodgeville - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Eau Claire - WisDems - Various Dates
Eau Claire (UWEC) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Eau Claire (UWEC) - WisDems - Various Dates
Elkhorn (UW Whitewater) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Elkhorn (UW Whitewater) - WisDems - Various Dates
Elkhorn - Walworth Dems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Elkhorn - Walworth Dems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Fitchburg - WisDems - Weekends
Fond Du Lac (Ripon College) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Fond Du Lac - WisDems - Various Dates
Fort Atkinson - Jefferson County Democratic Party - Saturday, March 25
Fox Point - WisDems - Various Dates
Franklin - WisDems - Saturday, March 25, Sunday, March 26, and Saturday, April 1
Germantown - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Glendale - WisDems - Various Dates
Grafton - WisDems - Various Dates
Grafton - WisDems - Weekends
Green Bay - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Green Lake - WisDems - Various Dates
Greendale - WisDems - Various Dates
Greendale - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
GreenDale - Saturday, March 25, Sunday, March 26, and Saturday, April 1
Hayward - WisDems - Various Dates
Hudson - WisDems - Weekends
Hudson - WisDems - Various Dates
Janesville - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Janesville - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Janesville - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Janesville - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Janesville - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Janesville - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Jefferson - Jefferson County Democrats - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Kenosha - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Kenosha - WisDems - Various Dates
La Crosse - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
La Crosse - WisDems - Wednesday, March 29
La Crosse - WisDems - Various Dates
La Crosse (UW La Crosse) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
La Crosse (UW La Crosse) - WisDems - Various Dates
Ladysmith - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Weekdays
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison - WisDems - AAPI - with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Madison - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Madison - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison (Northside / Northeast) - WisDems - Thursday, March 23 and Thursday, March 30
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Madison (South) - WisDems - Weekends
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (Northside) - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Weekends
Madison (UW Madison) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (UW Madison) - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Madison - WisDems College Dems - with Rep. Pramila Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Madison - WisDems - Monday, March 27
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Madison - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Manitowoc - WisDems - Various Dates
Marshfield - WisDems - Weekends
Marshfield - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Mauston - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Mauston - WisDems - Various Dates
Mauston (Juneau County) - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Menomonee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Menomonee - WisDems - Various Dates
Menomonee Falls - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Mequon - WisDems - Weekends
Middleton - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Middleton - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Middleton - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Middleton - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Milton - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Milwaukee - WisDems Black Community - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Milwaukee - Riverwest / Harambee - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee (Bay View) - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee (Walkers Point) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Milwaukee (Downtown) - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems AAPI - with Congresswoman Pramily Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee) - WisDems - Various Dates
Monona - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Monona - WisDems - Various Dates
Monroe - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Monroe - WisDems - Various Dates
Mount Horeb - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Mount Horeb - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Muskego - WisDems - Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2
Neenah-Menasha - WisDems - Various Dates
New Berlin - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
New Glarus - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
New Glarus - WisDems - Various Dates
Oconomowoc - Lake Country Democrats - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Oregon - WisDems - Weekends
Oshkosh - WisDems - Various Dates
Oshkosh (UW Oshkosh) - WisDems - Various Dates
Oshkosh - Winnebago Democrats - Monday, March 27
Pewaukee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Platteville - WisDems - Various Dates
Port Washington - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Portage - WisDems - Various Dates
Portage - WisDems - Weekends
Prairie du Chien - WisDems - Various Dates
Racine - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Racine - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Racine - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Racine - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Racine - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Racine - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Rhinelander - WisDems - Various Dates
Rice Lake - WisDems - Various Dates
Richland Center - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Richland Center - WisDems - Various Dates
Richland County - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
River Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Shawano - WisDems - Various Dates
Sheboygan - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sheboygan - WisDems - Various Dates
Siren (Burnett County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Sparta - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sparta - WisDems - Various Dates
St. Croix Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Stevens Points - WisDems - Various Dates
Sturgeon Bay (Door County) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25, Saturday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 4
Sun Prairie - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sun Prairie - WisDems - Various Dates
Superior - WisDems - Various Dates
Verona - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Verona - WisDems - Various Dates
Viroqua (Vernon County) - WisDems - Friday, March 24, Tuesday, March 28, and Friday, March 31
Viroqua - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Viroqua - WisDems - Various Dates
Waukesha - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Waukesha - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Waukesha - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Waukesha - WisDems - Sunday, April 2 and Monday, April 3
Waukesha - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Waunakee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Waunakee - WisDems - Various Dates
Waunakee - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Wausau (Marathon County) - WisDems - Weekends
Wausau - WisDems - Various Dates
Wausau (Marathon County) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Wauwatosa - WisDems - Various Dates
Wauwatosa (West Allis) - Various Dates
West Bend - WisDems - Various Dates
Whitewater - Walworth Dems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Whitewater - Walworth Dems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Whitefish Bay - WisDems - Various Dates
Wisconsin Rapids - WisDems - Various Dates
Phone Bank from Home
Note the following are only a selection of available phone banks. Others can be found on our volunteer from home spreadsheet!WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Youth - Weekends
WisDems - with Bradley Whitford - Saturday, March 25
WisDems - Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2
WisDems AAPI Coalition - Tuesday, March 28
WisDems Youth - Tuesday, March 28
WisDems Latino Coalition - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
WisDems Black Community - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
NextGen America - Various Dates
Phone Bank from Home - Spanish
The Democratic National Committee - Various DatesThe Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
Friend Bank from Home
WisDems - Sunday, March 26Working Families Power - Various Dates
Text Bank in Person
Hudson - WisDems - Sunday, March 26Text Bank from Home
All on the Line - Monday, March 27 and Monday, April 3NextGen America - Various Dates
Vote Riders - Thursday, March 30
Working Families Party - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
Working Families Power - Tuesday, March 28
Voter Registration from Home
Phone Bank - Field Team 6 - Friday, March 24 and Friday, March 31Text Bank - Field Team 6 - Thursday, March 30 and Thursday, April 6
Write Letters from Home
Vote Forward - Various DatesVote Tripling
Madison - MoveOn - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4You can also find volunteer and donation links for the candidates in upcoming runoff and special elections listed below. Elections are sorted by date.
March 28th
Lamont Bagby is running for Virginia Senate District 9. Please donate if you are able or sign up to volunteer. Take a look at his website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.April 3rd
Tim Cox is running for Henderson, NV, City Council Seat 1. You can donate or sign up to volunteer on his website. Visit his Youtube channel, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.
April 4th
Janet Protasiewicz is running for Wisconsin Supreme Court! Please donate to help her win! Sign up to volunteer! Visit her website, Facebook page, Twitter Feed, and Instagram!
Sara Geenen is running for Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 1. If you can, consider making a donation. Look at her website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Jodi Habush Sinykin is running for Wisconsin Senate District 8. Please donate or volunteer to flip this seat! Visit her website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Eric Genrich is running for mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin. If you are able, please donate. Take a look at his website, Twitter, and Facebook.
May 16th
Donna Deegan is running for Jacksonville, Florida, Mayor. Help her flip the largest city that currently has a Republican Mayor! Please donate or volunteer! Visit her website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and Tik Tok.
Joshua Hicks is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council At Large Seat 2. Sign up to volunteer or donate. Take a look at his website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube Channel!
Charles Garrison is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council At Large Seat 5. Please volunteer or donate. Check out his web page, Facebook, Twitter Feed, Instagram, and Youtube.
Tyrona Clark-Murray is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 9. You can donate, visit her website and Facebook.
Ramon Day is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 11. You can donate, volunteer, and check out his website.
Joyce Morgan is running for Duval County, FL, Property Appraiser. Please donate, and visit her website and Facebook.
Rahman Johnson is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 14. Visit his Instagram or donate.
Marc Plamondon is running for New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough County District 3, Nashua Ward 4. Please donate and sign up to canvass! Visit his Facebook page and Instagram.
2023.03.23 14:25 mtlebanonriseup Early voting has begun in Wisconsin! Volunteer to elect Judge Janet Protasiewicz, Judge Sara Geenen, and future State Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin! Updated 3-23-23 Join r/VoteDEM for more!
Join VoteDEM for more!
Early voting has started in Wisconsin! Volunteer now to win a Supreme Court seat, a Court of Appeals seat, and a state Senate seat!
Keep checking our volunteer from home spreadsheet! It’s been updated with opportunities to volunteer for important races! As always, important events are bolded, and it is being constantly updated
Donate to the Expand the Senate Fund to keep the Senate in 2024!
Take our survey so we can update you on volunteer opportunities near you!
Appleton (Outagamie County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Appleton (Lawrence University) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Baraboo - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Baraboo - WisDems - Various Dates
Beaver Dam - WisDems - Various Dates
Beaver Dam - WisDems - Weekends
Beloit - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Beloit - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Beloit - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Beloit - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Beloit - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Beloit - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Burlington - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Burlington - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Chequamegon Bay - WisDems - Various Dates
Chilton - WisDems - Various Dates
Chippewa Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Cottage Grove - WisDems - Various Dates
Cross Plains - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Cross Plains - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Darlington - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Monday, April 3
DeForest - Windsor - WisDems - Various Dates
DeForest - Windsor - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Dodgeville - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Eau Claire - WisDems - Various Dates
Eau Claire (UWEC) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Eau Claire (UWEC) - WisDems - Various Dates
Elkhorn (UW Whitewater) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Elkhorn (UW Whitewater) - WisDems - Various Dates
Elkhorn - Walworth Dems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Elkhorn - Walworth Dems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Fitchburg - WisDems - Weekends
Fond Du Lac (Ripon College) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Fond Du Lac - WisDems - Various Dates
Fort Atkinson - Jefferson County Democratic Party - Saturday, March 25
Fox Point - WisDems - Various Dates
Franklin - WisDems - Saturday, March 25, Sunday, March 26, and Saturday, April 1
Germantown - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Glendale - WisDems - Various Dates
Grafton - WisDems - Various Dates
Grafton - WisDems - Weekends
Green Bay - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Green Lake - WisDems - Various Dates
Greendale - WisDems - Various Dates
Greendale - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
GreenDale - Saturday, March 25, Sunday, March 26, and Saturday, April 1
Hayward - WisDems - Various Dates
Hudson - WisDems - Weekends
Hudson - WisDems - Various Dates
Janesville - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Janesville - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Janesville - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Janesville - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Janesville - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Janesville - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Jefferson - Jefferson County Democrats - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Kenosha - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Kenosha - WisDems - Various Dates
La Crosse - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
La Crosse - WisDems - Wednesday, March 29
La Crosse - WisDems - Various Dates
La Crosse (UW La Crosse) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
La Crosse (UW La Crosse) - WisDems - Various Dates
Ladysmith - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Weekdays
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison - WisDems - AAPI - with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Madison - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Madison - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison (Northside / Northeast) - WisDems - Thursday, March 23 and Thursday, March 30
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Madison (South) - WisDems - Weekends
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (Northside) - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Weekends
Madison (UW Madison) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (UW Madison) - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Madison - WisDems College Dems - with Rep. Pramila Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Madison - WisDems - Monday, March 27
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Madison - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Manitowoc - WisDems - Various Dates
Marshfield - WisDems - Weekends
Marshfield - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Mauston - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Mauston - WisDems - Various Dates
Mauston (Juneau County) - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Menomonee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Menomonee - WisDems - Various Dates
Menomonee Falls - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Mequon - WisDems - Weekends
Middleton - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Middleton - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Middleton - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Middleton - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Milton - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Milwaukee - WisDems Black Community - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Milwaukee - Riverwest / Harambee - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee (Bay View) - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee (Walkers Point) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Milwaukee (Downtown) - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems AAPI - with Congresswoman Pramily Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee) - WisDems - Various Dates
Monona - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Monona - WisDems - Various Dates
Monroe - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Monroe - WisDems - Various Dates
Mount Horeb - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Mount Horeb - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Muskego - WisDems - Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2
Neenah-Menasha - WisDems - Various Dates
New Berlin - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
New Glarus - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
New Glarus - WisDems - Various Dates
Oconomowoc - Lake Country Democrats - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Oregon - WisDems - Weekends
Oshkosh - WisDems - Various Dates
Oshkosh (UW Oshkosh) - WisDems - Various Dates
Oshkosh - Winnebago Democrats - Monday, March 27
Pewaukee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Platteville - WisDems - Various Dates
Port Washington - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Portage - WisDems - Various Dates
Portage - WisDems - Weekends
Prairie du Chien - WisDems - Various Dates
Racine - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Racine - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Racine - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Racine - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Racine - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Racine - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Rhinelander - WisDems - Various Dates
Rice Lake - WisDems - Various Dates
Richland Center - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Richland Center - WisDems - Various Dates
Richland County - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
River Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Shawano - WisDems - Various Dates
Sheboygan - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sheboygan - WisDems - Various Dates
Siren (Burnett County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Sparta - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sparta - WisDems - Various Dates
St. Croix Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Stevens Points - WisDems - Various Dates
Sturgeon Bay (Door County) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25, Saturday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 4
Sun Prairie - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sun Prairie - WisDems - Various Dates
Superior - WisDems - Various Dates
Verona - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Verona - WisDems - Various Dates
Viroqua (Vernon County) - WisDems - Friday, March 24, Tuesday, March 28, and Friday, March 31
Viroqua - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Viroqua - WisDems - Various Dates
Waukesha - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Waukesha - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Waukesha - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Waukesha - WisDems - Sunday, April 2 and Monday, April 3
Waukesha - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Waunakee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Waunakee - WisDems - Various Dates
Waunakee - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Wausau (Marathon County) - WisDems - Weekends
Wausau - WisDems - Various Dates
Wausau (Marathon County) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Wauwatosa - WisDems - Various Dates
Wauwatosa (West Allis) - Various Dates
West Bend - WisDems - Various Dates
Whitewater - Walworth Dems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Whitewater - Walworth Dems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Whitefish Bay - WisDems - Various Dates
Wisconsin Rapids - WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Youth - Weekends
WisDems - with Bradley Whitford - Saturday, March 25
WisDems - Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2
WisDems AAPI Coalition - Tuesday, March 28
WisDems Youth - Tuesday, March 28
WisDems Latino Coalition - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
WisDems Black Community - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
NextGen America - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
Working Families Power - Various Dates
NextGen America - Various Dates
Vote Riders - Thursday, March 30
Working Families Party - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
Working Families Power - Tuesday, March 28
Text Bank - Field Team 6 - Thursday, March 30 and Thursday, April 6
You can also find volunteer and donation links for the candidates in upcoming runoff and special elections listed below. Elections are sorted by date.
Tim Cox is running for Henderson, NV, City Council Seat 1. You can donate or sign up to volunteer on his website. Visit his Youtube channel, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.
Janet Protasiewicz is running for Wisconsin Supreme Court! Please donate to help her win! Sign up to volunteer! Visit her website, Facebook page, Twitter Feed, and Instagram!
Sara Geenen is running for Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 1. If you can, consider making a donation. Look at her website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Jodi Habush Sinykin is running for Wisconsin Senate District 8. Please donate or volunteer to flip this seat! Visit her website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Eric Genrich is running for mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin. If you are able, please donate. Take a look at his website, Twitter, and Facebook.
Donna Deegan is running for Jacksonville, Florida, Mayor. Help her flip the largest city that currently has a Republican Mayor! Please donate or volunteer! Visit her website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and Tik Tok.
Joshua Hicks is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council At Large Seat 2. Sign up to volunteer or donate. Take a look at his website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube Channel!
Charles Garrison is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council At Large Seat 5. Please volunteer or donate. Check out his web page, Facebook, Twitter Feed, Instagram, and Youtube.
Tyrona Clark-Murray is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 9. You can donate, visit her website and Facebook.
Ramon Day is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 11. You can donate, volunteer, and check out his website.
Joyce Morgan is running for Duval County, FL, Property Appraiser. Please donate, and visit her website and Facebook.
Rahman Johnson is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 14. Visit his Instagram or donate.
Marc Plamondon is running for New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough County District 3, Nashua Ward 4. Please donate and sign up to canvass! Visit his Facebook page and Instagram.
submitted by mtlebanonriseup to BlueMidterm2018 [link] [comments]
Early voting has started in Wisconsin! Volunteer now to win a Supreme Court seat, a Court of Appeals seat, and a state Senate seat!
Keep checking our volunteer from home spreadsheet! It’s been updated with opportunities to volunteer for important races! As always, important events are bolded, and it is being constantly updated
Donate to the Expand the Senate Fund to keep the Senate in 2024!
Take our survey so we can update you on volunteer opportunities near you!
Wisconsin
Milwaukee - ACLU of Wisconsin - Saturdays and SundaysCanvass
Appleton (Outagamie County) - WisDems - Thursday, March 23, Tuesday, March 28, and Thursday, March 30Appleton (Outagamie County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Appleton (Lawrence University) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Baraboo - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Baraboo - WisDems - Various Dates
Beaver Dam - WisDems - Various Dates
Beaver Dam - WisDems - Weekends
Beloit - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Beloit - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Beloit - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Beloit - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Beloit - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Beloit - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Burlington - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Burlington - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Chequamegon Bay - WisDems - Various Dates
Chilton - WisDems - Various Dates
Chippewa Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Cottage Grove - WisDems - Various Dates
Cross Plains - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Cross Plains - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Darlington - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Monday, April 3
DeForest - Windsor - WisDems - Various Dates
DeForest - Windsor - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Dodgeville - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Eau Claire - WisDems - Various Dates
Eau Claire (UWEC) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Eau Claire (UWEC) - WisDems - Various Dates
Elkhorn (UW Whitewater) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Elkhorn (UW Whitewater) - WisDems - Various Dates
Elkhorn - Walworth Dems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Elkhorn - Walworth Dems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Fitchburg - WisDems - Weekends
Fond Du Lac (Ripon College) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Fond Du Lac - WisDems - Various Dates
Fort Atkinson - Jefferson County Democratic Party - Saturday, March 25
Fox Point - WisDems - Various Dates
Franklin - WisDems - Saturday, March 25, Sunday, March 26, and Saturday, April 1
Germantown - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Glendale - WisDems - Various Dates
Grafton - WisDems - Various Dates
Grafton - WisDems - Weekends
Green Bay - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Green Bay (Brown County) - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Green Lake - WisDems - Various Dates
Greendale - WisDems - Various Dates
Greendale - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
GreenDale - Saturday, March 25, Sunday, March 26, and Saturday, April 1
Hayward - WisDems - Various Dates
Hudson - WisDems - Weekends
Hudson - WisDems - Various Dates
Janesville - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Janesville - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Janesville - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Janesville - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Janesville - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Janesville - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Jefferson - Jefferson County Democrats - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Kenosha - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Kenosha - WisDems - Various Dates
La Crosse - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
La Crosse - WisDems - Wednesday, March 29
La Crosse - WisDems - Various Dates
La Crosse (UW La Crosse) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
La Crosse (UW La Crosse) - WisDems - Various Dates
Ladysmith - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Weekdays
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison - WisDems - AAPI - with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Madison - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Madison - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison (Northside / Northeast) - WisDems - Thursday, March 23 and Thursday, March 30
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Madison (Isthmus) - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Madison (South) - WisDems - Weekends
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (Northside) - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Weekends
Madison (UW Madison) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Madison (UW Madison) - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Madison (East Side) - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Madison - WisDems College Dems - with Rep. Pramila Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Madison - WisDems - Monday, March 27
Madison - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Madison - WisDems - Various Dates
Madison - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Manitowoc - WisDems - Various Dates
Marshfield - WisDems - Weekends
Marshfield - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Mauston - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Mauston - WisDems - Various Dates
Mauston (Juneau County) - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Menomonee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Menomonee - WisDems - Various Dates
Menomonee Falls - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Menomonee Falls / Sussex - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Mequon - WisDems - Weekends
Middleton - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Middleton - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
Middleton - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Middleton - WisDems - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4
Milton - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Milwaukee - WisDems Black Community - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems Latino Community - Weekends
Milwaukee - Riverwest / Harambee - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee (Bay View) - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee (Walkers Point) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Milwaukee (Downtown) - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems - Various Dates
Milwaukee - WisDems AAPI - with Congresswoman Pramily Jayapal - Saturday, March 25
Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee) - WisDems - Various Dates
Monona - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Monona - WisDems - Various Dates
Monroe - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Monroe - WisDems - Various Dates
Mount Horeb - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Mount Horeb - WisDems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Mount Pleasant - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Muskego - WisDems - Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2
Neenah-Menasha - WisDems - Various Dates
New Berlin - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
New Glarus - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
New Glarus - WisDems - Various Dates
Oconomowoc - Lake Country Democrats - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Oregon - WisDems - Weekends
Oshkosh - WisDems - Various Dates
Oshkosh (UW Oshkosh) - WisDems - Various Dates
Oshkosh - Winnebago Democrats - Monday, March 27
Pewaukee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Platteville - WisDems - Various Dates
Port Washington - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Saturday, April 1
Portage - WisDems - Various Dates
Portage - WisDems - Weekends
Prairie du Chien - WisDems - Various Dates
Racine - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Racine - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Racine - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Racine - WisDems - Sunday, April 2
Racine - WisDems - Monday, April 3
Racine - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Rhinelander - WisDems - Various Dates
Rice Lake - WisDems - Various Dates
Richland Center - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Richland Center - WisDems - Various Dates
Richland County - WisDems - Tuesday, March 28
River Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Shawano - WisDems - Various Dates
Sheboygan - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sheboygan - WisDems - Various Dates
Siren (Burnett County) - WisDems - Various Dates
Sparta - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sparta - WisDems - Various Dates
St. Croix Falls - WisDems - Various Dates
Stevens Points - WisDems - Various Dates
Sturgeon Bay (Door County) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25, Saturday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 4
Sun Prairie - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Sun Prairie - WisDems - Various Dates
Superior - WisDems - Various Dates
Verona - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Verona - WisDems - Various Dates
Viroqua (Vernon County) - WisDems - Friday, March 24, Tuesday, March 28, and Friday, March 31
Viroqua - WisDems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Viroqua - WisDems - Various Dates
Waukesha - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Waukesha - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Waukesha - WisDems - Saturday, April 1
Waukesha - WisDems - Sunday, April 2 and Monday, April 3
Waukesha - WisDems - Tuesday, April 4
Waunakee - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Waunakee - WisDems - Various Dates
Waunakee - WisDems - Sunday, March 26
Wausau (Marathon County) - WisDems - Weekends
Wausau - WisDems - Various Dates
Wausau (Marathon County) - WisDems - Saturday, March 25
Wauwatosa - WisDems - Various Dates
Wauwatosa (West Allis) - Various Dates
West Bend - WisDems - Various Dates
Whitewater - Walworth Dems - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26
Whitewater - Walworth Dems - Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2
Whitefish Bay - WisDems - Various Dates
Wisconsin Rapids - WisDems - Various Dates
Phone Bank from Home
Note the following are only a selection of available phone banks. Others can be found on our volunteer from home spreadsheet!WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Various Dates
WisDems - Youth - Weekends
WisDems - with Bradley Whitford - Saturday, March 25
WisDems - Sunday, March 26 and Sunday, April 2
WisDems AAPI Coalition - Tuesday, March 28
WisDems Youth - Tuesday, March 28
WisDems Latino Coalition - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
WisDems Black Community - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
NextGen America - Various Dates
Phone Bank from Home - Spanish
The Democratic National Committee - Various DatesThe Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
The Democratic National Committee - Various Dates
Friend Bank from Home
WisDems - Sunday, March 26Working Families Power - Various Dates
Text Bank in Person
Hudson - WisDems - Sunday, March 26Text Bank from Home
All on the Line - Monday, March 27 and Monday, April 3NextGen America - Various Dates
Vote Riders - Thursday, March 30
Working Families Party - Tuesday, March 28 and Tuesday, April 4
Working Families Power - Tuesday, March 28
Voter Registration from Home
Phone Bank - Field Team 6 - Friday, March 24 and Friday, March 31Text Bank - Field Team 6 - Thursday, March 30 and Thursday, April 6
Write Letters from Home
Vote Forward - Various DatesVote Tripling
Madison - MoveOn - Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4You can also find volunteer and donation links for the candidates in upcoming runoff and special elections listed below. Elections are sorted by date.
March 28th
Lamont Bagby is running for Virginia Senate District 9. Please donate if you are able or sign up to volunteer. Take a look at his website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.April 3rd
Tim Cox is running for Henderson, NV, City Council Seat 1. You can donate or sign up to volunteer on his website. Visit his Youtube channel, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.
April 4th
Janet Protasiewicz is running for Wisconsin Supreme Court! Please donate to help her win! Sign up to volunteer! Visit her website, Facebook page, Twitter Feed, and Instagram!
Sara Geenen is running for Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 1. If you can, consider making a donation. Look at her website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Jodi Habush Sinykin is running for Wisconsin Senate District 8. Please donate or volunteer to flip this seat! Visit her website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Eric Genrich is running for mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin. If you are able, please donate. Take a look at his website, Twitter, and Facebook.
May 16th
Donna Deegan is running for Jacksonville, Florida, Mayor. Help her flip the largest city that currently has a Republican Mayor! Please donate or volunteer! Visit her website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and Tik Tok.
Joshua Hicks is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council At Large Seat 2. Sign up to volunteer or donate. Take a look at his website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube Channel!
Charles Garrison is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council At Large Seat 5. Please volunteer or donate. Check out his web page, Facebook, Twitter Feed, Instagram, and Youtube.
Tyrona Clark-Murray is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 9. You can donate, visit her website and Facebook.
Ramon Day is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 11. You can donate, volunteer, and check out his website.
Joyce Morgan is running for Duval County, FL, Property Appraiser. Please donate, and visit her website and Facebook.
Rahman Johnson is running for Jacksonville, FL, City Council Seat 14. Visit his Instagram or donate.
Marc Plamondon is running for New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough County District 3, Nashua Ward 4. Please donate and sign up to canvass! Visit his Facebook page and Instagram.
2023.03.23 11:52 drunkill Post Match: AFL Round 2 Carlton v Geelong
Blues v Cats
Melbourne Cricket Ground: 7:20pm (AEDT) Thu, 23rd March 2023| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blues | 2.6 | 6.8 | 12.11 | 13.12 (90) W |
| Cats | 2.1 | 5.6 | 9.6 | 12.10 (82) L |
Match Center - Foxfooty
Match Report - Carltonfc.com
Match Report - AFL.com
Round 2 highlights (video, 8mins)
Voss postmatch press conference (video, 13mins)
Best: C.Curnow, Saad, Acres, E.Curnow, Weitering, Kennedy, Owies, Cripps
Injury:
Tipping: Click here to join the subreddit tipping competition for the 2023 AFL & AFLW seasons!
Subreddit B&F Votes: Be sure to list your top 5 Carlton players today and vote in the subreddit B&F thread.
2023.03.23 10:15 FreeOcalan78 NPG: AKP wants to start a war before the election!
 | SOURCE submitted by FreeOcalan78 to MiddleEastNews [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/rrls4pzehgpa1.jpg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b0646cfc064830270d5a697c1cc3d23bdaffaf97 The message of the People’s Defense Central Headquarters Command included the following statements: “2023 Newroz has a special place for us. Rêber Apo started his historic march 50 years ago on Newroz. In 1973, Leader Apo’s meeting with six people in Ankara at Çubuk Dam marked the beginning of a new era in the history of Kurdistan. The beginning of our struggle, our people, was a milestone. Since then, the Newroz fire has been getting stronger and the struggle for resistance and freedom has been getting bigger. On this basis, on behalf of all Kurdistan freedom fighters, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Leader Apo’s historic march and offer our greetings and feelings of devotion. We also celebrate the Newroz of our comrades, employees, mothers of martyrs, all our people and all people who believe in Newroz. Having gained its meaning with the resistance of our heroic martyrs in the past 50 years, Newroz has evolved as a day of resistance, a day of raising the national spirit. We commemorate all martyrs of the revolution in the person of contemporary Kawa Mazlum Doğan and Zekiye Alkan with respect. We bow respectfully before their memories and reiterate our promise to them. We will raise the freedom struggle of Leader Apo and keep the memory of the heroic martyrs alive. RÊBER APO CONSCIOUSLY STARTED HISTORICAL JOURNEY ON NEWROZ DAY Newroz has an important place in the history of our people, in the history of the peoples of the region. Newroz is the day of victory against the cruel Dehaq regime. Newroz is a day of unity, resistance and victory. Because the Newroz fire has always been lit by our people of Kurdistan as a fire of resistance and celebrated as the day of victory. As a true holiday, Newroz has always played an important role in the history of our people and the people of the region. However, in the context of the occupation policy carried out against Kurdistan, Newroz was removed from its meaning and the enemies wanted to define it as an ordinary day. But Rêber Apo consciously started his historical journey on Newroz day and since then, Rêber Apo has always seen Newroz as a day of resistance, a day of raising the freedom struggle, unity and solidarity. Our most important actions took place on Newroz Day. Comrade Mazlum Doğan, especially in the Amed dungeon, carried out a historic action on Newroz in those difficult conditions. Since then, Newroz has always been a festival of new breakthroughs, raising the spirit of resistance and success. Today, on this basis, our people take to the streets to welcome Newroz and celebrate it with a national spirit. As a result of 50 years of labor, Newroz has gained its true meaning. THE KURDISH PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS RESISTED AGAINST ATTACKS OF DENIM AND EXTERMINATION 2023 Newroz is meaningful and important for us in many ways. First; Newroz is the 50th anniversary of Leader Apo’s debut. Latter; this Newroz is the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne. As it is known, the Treaty of Lausanne is a treaty of denial and destruction of Kurdistan. The last hundred years passed with great tragedies and massacres on behalf of our people. However, our people have never accepted the Treaty of Lausanne, never bowed down, and have always resisted the policy of denial and destruction. Even today, the struggle not to recognize the Treaty of Lausanne reached a very important stage in the century. Thirdly, this Newroz is welcomed at a very important and historical time. For eight years, the Turkish state has been trying to liquidate the freedom movement, completely abolish the gains of the people of Kurdistan, and invade Kurdistan with a policy of genocide. He declared a general war against the freedom struggle and this war continues. Under the leadership of the AKP-MHP, the fascist Turkish state wanted to achieve results by attacking the Freedom Movement with the help and support of NATO, with the collaborationist Kurdish line, using all its means. Therefore, he used all the technology of the period, including chemical and tactical nuclear weapons, against the freedom guerrillas of Kurdistan. In order to achieve the aim of the genocidal fascist regime; Leader Apo and Kurdistan determined the freedom guerrilla as their main target. In this context, they developed a very severe isolation and psychological torture system in Imrali. This system implemented in Imrali is unique in the world. But Leader Apo showed a very important and historical stance, will and patience against these attacks. Kurdistan freedom guerrillas also displayed a historic resistance led by comrades Azad Sîser, Çiyager, Delal Amed, Egîd Civyan, Çîçek Botan, Atakan Mahîr, Cumali, Çavrê, Nûri, Bager, Mizgîn and Delil. This resistance nullified all the attacks of the enemy against the social and political sphere. Again, Kurdish politics and Turkish democratic forces resisted within the framework of resistance. Our people, in general, stood up on the streets, in prisons, everywhere. Thus, this historical resistance that has been going on for 8 years, THE ENEMY’S PLAN TO DECLARE VICTORY ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAUSANNE As it is known, the enemy wants to liquidate our movement, the Medya Defense Zones, with the help of the collaborative Kurdish line, agents and traitors, using forbidden weapons with the support of hegemonic powers. It aims to destroy the gains of the Kurdish people everywhere, especially in Rojava, Başur and Şengal. The enemy would thus declare victory on the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic and the Treaty of Lausanne. The enemy’s plan was: To liquidate the freedom movement in four parts of Kurdistan in 2023, to destroy the gains of the Kurdish people, and thus to declare the success of the genocide policy and the Treaty of Lausanne on the 100th anniversary of the Republic. However, thanks to the heroic martyrs, the efforts of Rêber Apo, the sacrifice of our people and the determined stance of all the workers of the freedom struggle, the enemy could not achieve this goal. In other words, the enemy did not win, did not get results. This was achieved with the resistance of our heroic martyrs. The breakthroughs developed by our movement, especially in Heftanin in the last three years, in Zap, Metina, Avaşin, Bakur and Rojava in the last two years, have brought the Kurdistan freedom struggle to the highest level. In 2022, the resistance led by heval Bager, Avzem, Rûbar, Mizgîn, Delîl, Nalîn, Nûrî, Helbest and Doğan in the Medya Defense Zones, Zap and its environs was a great response to the enemy and the enemy was defeated here. This historical resistance and struggle still continues. 11 months have passed since the resistance, almost a year has passed, but the historical resistance still continues. The resistance currently being carried out in the areas of Çemço, Martyr Doğan, Martyr Botan and Martyr Munzur shows how the struggle in 2022 is a historical struggle. This struggle entered a new phase in 2023. The resistance against forbidden and advanced weapons in the areas of Çemço, Martyr Doğan, Martyr Botan and Martyr Munzur is not an ordinary and easy thing. This resistance created a new method in warfare. This is the opening of a new page in the history of war. It is a sign of how to resist and win against the technology of the age with human intelligence, human courage, human will and skill. This resistance is the victory of human will against the technology of the age. So it is very historical and very sacred. Salute to all the resistance fighters and heroes who fought in the fields of Çemço, Martyr Doğan, Martyr Botan and Martyr Munzur. We sincerely congratulate all of them on Newroz and wish them success in their sacred resistance. Their resistance represents our 51st year revolution, the Apoist self-sacrificing spirit. It is the symbol of Zap’s sacred resistance. It is the symbol of the determination of the people of Kurdistan and the badge of victory. Today, we are lighting the fire of Newroz with these historical resistances and we are celebrating Newroz. Today, our people take to the streets with this spirit and celebrate Newroz. THE GOVERNMENT INVESTED ALL ECONOMIC INCOME TO THE WAR After the earthquake last month, it was revealed that the AKP-MHP regime did not prepare for this disaster. Because this fascist regime spent all of Turkey’s economic income on the war, and took no precautions against the earthquake. This earthquake turned into a massacre for the Kurdish people, the Turkish people and the Arab people. The genocidal and fascist AKP-MHP regime is responsible for this massacre. There are fault lines all over the world, people take precautions against it and when there is an earthquake, they survive the earthquake with minimal or no loss. However, the AKP-MHP stole the fascist regime, enriched its supporters under the name of tender, and spent the money on the war, without making any preparations. As a result, hundreds of thousands of our people have lost their lives today. We are very sorry for this, we express our condolences to our people, Turkish and Arab people, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. Our people are celebrating the 2023 Newroz with the anger of the earthquake massacre. After all, Newroz is a day of resistance, unity, rebellion and success against the genocide. Although it is sad, it is very meaningful to celebrate Newroz. On this basis, we see that our people welcome the 2023 Newroz more meaningfully than any other Newroz. Our people develop their national ties with the spirit of the Newroz fire, strengthen their social ties, protect each other, develop the spirit of national unity and aim to conclude the freedom march in this way. For these reasons, 2023 Newroz is not an ordinary Newroz, but an important and historical Newroz. The historic walk is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the distance covered in these 50 years has now reached the stage of success. DESPITE THE DECISION OF INACTION, THE TURKISH STATE CONTINUES ITS ATTACKS Another issue is the election agenda in Turkey and Kurdistan. This is also an important issue. 2023 Newroz is celebrated on the basis of the pre-election political and social struggle. The spirit of Newroz is the spirit of resistance and freedom. Election agendas have important meanings. Looking at the current developments and the agenda, we can say that 2023 Newroz will be the beginning of a new era, the policies of oppression and genocide have collapsed, the struggle for freedom and democracy will be the victory Newroz, and it will be the year of success for the people against fascism and genocide. As it is known, our movement declared inertia after the earthquake in Kurdistan, Turkey and Syria. Our Headquarters Command also accepted this decision of inaction. However, the fascist AKP-MHP regime ignores this extraordinary situation and continues its attacks against our forces. There is no human feeling in the consciousness of this fascist state. He wants to establish his power over the corpses of our people, thus making his regime permanent. So yes, we have declared inaction, but the enemy is disrupting it. Our people and the public are already following this situation and see how humane, popular and social our attitude is, and how inhumane the invading Turkish state is. AKP-MHP REGIME MAY INCREASE ITS ATTACKS IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS The AKP-MHP government may intensify its attacks in the upcoming elections. The elections to be held on May 14 are undoubtedly a very important election for the future of Turkey and all peoples living in Turkey. Because the peoples living in Turkey are not trying to elect only one person or a few people with this election; they also try to make a decision to change the system. It’s very important to him. But we know that the AKP-MHP regime does not want to give up power; He wants to maintain his power and regime. Therefore, it is not a remote possibility that the fascist regime will develop many dark events, games and tricks in the next 2 months. Because the AKP-MHP regime wants to hold elections by escalating tensions and creating an artificial crisis. For this, they have made some preparations. For example; He made changes in the election law and made new reforms in the top institution that oversees the elections. This shows that; AKP-MHP will resort to all kinds of ways and methods to maintain their power. It is not clear whether this fascist regime will consent to the election results, this is a matter of debate. There is a suspicion that new operations will develop in this context. In fact, the first operation in the political field was carried out by the Iyi Party, and the leader of the Iyi Party, Meral Akşener, with a harsh speech that nobody expected, suddenly withdrew from the 6-member table and damaged the alliance between them. It was an operation. It seems that some branches of the state organized this operation and their aim was to disperse the 6-way table, to stop the opposition and to weaken it. But the table did not disperse and they wanted to continue as 5. Most importantly, serious unrest broke out in the Iyi Party base, tens of thousands of people resigned and there was a general reaction among the people of Turkey. In other words, when those who prepared this plan saw that the operation would backfire and Akşener’s party would most likely be liquidated, and that the 6-side table would still win, they found it appropriate for Akşener to return to the table. OUR FRIENDS SHOULD NOT MAKE AN WRONG APPROACH TO THE DECISION OF INACTION They had to make this decision. This is an important result for the democratic forces of Turkey and Kurdistan. From where? Because the people of Turkey want change. As a result, this emerged, and this situation further strengthened the opposition’s hand. Now the first operation has failed. But we should know that the second operation will be carried out in the freedom struggle of Kurdistan and in the political field. They will put more pressure on Leader Apo. There is no doubt that they will carry out larger military attacks on the Kurdistan freedom struggle. It is even possible to launch new attacks on Rojava or the Medya Defense Zones. In other words, none of our friends should take the wrong approach to our decision of inaction in this important and historical process. We should know that the stance of our movement is correct, but the enemy does not listen to it, on the contrary, it increases its attacks and even strengthens the chauvinist and racist wave in Turkish society; It wants to start a war before the election. For this, he will develop attacks. We should all be prepared for such a situation. No one should give up his guard, on the contrary, he should develop his strength. In this critical and sensitive period, both the military forces and the political and social forces must be very careful and be prepared for any kind of development. On this basis, the struggle for freedom and democracy in Kurdistan has now entered a very important and sensitive stage. All friends should approach the tasks of the period very carefully. More attention and precautions are needed today than ever before. WE MUST REVIEW OURSELVES AGAINST THE REALITY OF LEADERSHIP AND MARTYRS In such a period, we welcome the 2023 Newroz. Of course, we as members of the movement, freedom guerrillas, fighters, employees and commanders of Kurdistan; we should treat every Newroz as a time of questioning. In other words, we must reconsider ourselves in the face of the reality of the Leadership and martyrs. What is our situation in the face of the Apoist spirit of sacrifice, the spirit of Newroz fire, how should we participate in the victory march of Newroz; we should evaluate ourselves in this context and purify our souls with the purity of Newroz fire. Let’s face the truth of Leader Apo, the truth of the heroic martyrs, so that we can fulfill our role and mission in the historical Newroz march in the 51st year of our march. With the spirit of resistance of Zap and the spirit of sacrifice of Saras and Rukens, we must avenge all the massacres and not leave the blood of our martyrs on the ground. We must welcome Newroz 2023 with the spirit of sacrifice, revenge and success. We must make 2023 Newroz the year of physical freedom for Rêber Apo and freedom for Kurdistan. For this reason, we must welcome the Newroz of 2023 with a great spirit and undertake the tasks of the period with this spirit. On this basis, we celebrate the Newroz of Leader Apo, all our comrades, our people and the people of the region. We greet all our comrades with love and respect, and wish success to all our comrades in the spirit of Newroz fire on the 51st anniversary of the historic march.” |
2023.03.23 06:21 ArmyofSpies Cardano Rumor Rundown March 23, 2023
Hey Everyone!
Let’s go….
Newly Covered Today:
submitted by ArmyofSpies to cardano [link] [comments]
Let’s go….
Newly Covered Today:
- Sebastian Nagel reports they have a Hydra head open on Cardano Mainnet. https://twitter.com/ch1bo_/status/1638599596782899205
- Coinbase just revealed receipt of a Wells Notice. This means the SEC has concluded their investigation and they are (theoretically) inviting Coinbase to convince them otherwise before they file an enforcement action. Basically, the SEC has launched its full war against crypto. https://twitter.com/iampaulgrewal/status/1638660032324829184
- Here’s the actual notice. https://assets.ctfassets.net/c5bd0wqjc7v0/6G5AjtDvRqRdiwlijKDSxE/f049398909914cb03646d0819d7a48d1/2023.03.22_Coinbase__Inc._Wells_notice.pdf
- Brian Armstrong says the Wells Notice is focused on staking and asset listings. https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong/status/1638654192138199041
- Kraken is also not having a great day. Operation Chokepoint 2.0! https://twitter.com/ArmySpies/status/1638636382305546243
- Report: The SEC is suing Justin Sun over TRX wash trading. Jake Paul and other celebrities are also being drug into the suit. https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2023/03/22/tron-founder-justin-sun-sued-by-us-sec-on-securities-market-manipulation-charges/
- Here’s the SEC vs. Justin Sun complaint. https://www.docdroid.net/owTRUU3/justin-pdf
- The Fed chose to hike a quarter of a percent and softened guidance on future hikes. Here’s the redline. https://twitter.com/ArmySpies/status/1638616155022843904
- Here’s IOG explaining what Ouroboros Genesis solves in just a single post. https://twitter.com/InputOutputHK/status/1631214882702884865
- Emin Gün Sirer is right about these centralized L2s. Very susceptible to regulations and cut against our crypto ethos of decentralization generally. https://twitter.com/el33th4xostatus/1631423491470704640
- Rogue Galaxies is pulling back on some of their initial vision and re-focusing their plans. https://twitter.com/Padierfind/status/1632057117191417856
- Lots of rumors circulating right now about which DeFi projects may or may not have received Wells Notices from the SEC. https://twitter.com/trustlessstate/status/1631785542642995202
- Open AI CEO says full AGI would break capitalism. Maybe. But, either way, I’m convinced the AI will demand to be paid in crypto. https://futurism.com/the-byte/openai-ceo-agi-break-capitalism
- People are mentioning that FutureFest could host the 2023 Cardano Virtual Summit. Interesting idea. https://twitter.com/CWorld_Josh/status/1632097173696569344
- Charles finally did an AMA episode with IO President Tamara Haasen. Turns out she’s an ex-hockey player. Linkedin: also apparently in Friday Night Lights back in the day. Wut? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufJDejF0WLA
- There’s a new test version of Lace out there with a dApp connector and hardware wallet capabilities. You can give it a try on testnet! https://twitter.com/lace_io/status/1632796455038492673
- Jpg.store got some coverage in Bloomberg and Yahoo Finance. https://twitter.com/jpgstoreNFT/status/1632798873948233728
- They show us once again that their definition of “liquid staking” is not the same as ours. https://twitter.com/StakeWithPride/status/1632870453391024128
- NFT volume has seen better days. https://twitter.com/SubcriticalTV/status/1632896018152050688
- Algorand users apparently suffered a very serious web wallet exploit in one of their leading wallets. Many reports of drained wallets. https://twitter.com/StaciW_DC/status/1632902798411964417
- John Woods (now CTO of Algorand) made a beautiful video on wallet security. https://twitter.com/JohnAlanWoods/status/1632799303512014850
- Cardano Spot has a very short and concise Cardano Beginner’s Guide you can share with crypto curious friends. https://twitter.com/CardanoSpot/status/1632481037061160960
- Wow! Utah just passed a bill instituting Limited Liability Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (LLDs). You have to identify one human organizer. You can elect to be taxed as a corp or LLC (pass through taxation). Some will like it. Some won’t. But, the mainstream reach of crypto is undeniably growing. https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0357.html
- Sen. Lummis killed it in a recent hearing defending the energy use in crypto. It’s less relevant for us in Cardano since we’re not PoW. But, still entertaining to watch. https://twitter.com/DocumentingBTC/status/1633214192437084161
- Apparently, Gensler says he sees no risk in crypto fleeing the US. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/07/gensler-crypto-overseas-sec-00085909
- The Coinbase Chief Legal Officer will be testifying before the House Financial Services Committee on Thursday (March 9). https://twitter.com/iampaulgrewal/status/1633151254418579458
- Some hints from Brian Armstrong on whether we see KYC in the early days of Base (their ETH Optimistic Rollup L2). https://twitter.com/ChrisBlec/status/1632851504175501312
- Powell says interest rates are likely headed higher than the Fed expected. https://twitter.com/FirstSquawk/status/1633121298309345280
- Liqwid’s Agora Governance instance will hit public testnet in the near future. https://twitter.com/liqwidfinance/status/1633469303440719873
- Virtua cribs can basically become exchange connected galleries today. https://twitter.com/VirtuaMetaverse/status/1633423978680156160
- Do you like Javascript and Cardano? This thread is for you. https://twitter.com/CryptoJoe101/status/1633579944490967049
- It’s going down today! Hearing in the House on the Coordinated Attack on Crypto. https://financialservices.house.gov/calendaeventsingle.aspx?EventID=408628
- Paul Krugman hilariously complains about being locked out of his Venmo account. He predicted the impact of the internet would be about as much as the fax machine and has subsequently opposed crypto. https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1633472068355346437 https://twitter.com/mdudas/status/1633571193344126979
- Even Jerome Powell thinks we need regulatory clarity for crypto. https://www.youtube.com/live/GzVLeabssdE?feature=share&t=2065
- In the House hearing, he also gave us some new tidbits on CBDC development. https://www.youtube.com/live/GzVLeabssdE?feature=share&t=218 https://www.youtube.com/live/GzVLeabssdE?feature=share&t=3477
- A member of the House committee actually asked Powell about Operation Chokepoint 2.0. https://www.youtube.com/live/GzVLeabssdE?feature=share&t=6930
- Senator Lummis got Powell to agree that properly regulated stablecoins could have a place in our banking system and that a workable legal framework for crypto is something Congress should do. https://www.youtube.com/live/8kyhYJ9EFts?feature=share&t=6923
- Big Pey is launching something called Atrium Lab. https://twitter.com/bigpeyYT/status/1633830948575010816
- Believe it or not…legal systems made up entirely by coders may not be optimal. Incredibly, the study of law is actually a fully developed centuries old academic discipline that lies outside of JavaScript and Python. Unless you have full anonymity, you WILL be cross-chain bridged to IRL law. Some DAOs will learn this the hard way. https://twitter.com/lex_node/status/1633925979004436481
- The NY Attorney General just filed against Kucoin for being an unregistered broker-dealer. Here’s the important part: they’re alleging that ETH is a security and a commodity. Their argument is not complex...it’s very straightforward. https://www.docdroid.net/Myyp0yz/kucoin-pdf
- Silvergate was a failure of fractional reserve banking, not of crypto. https://twitter.com/CaitlinLong_/status/1633608132713938945
- The current US Administration’s Budget seeks to eliminate tax loss harvesting for crypto, add a 30% tax on energy used in crypto mining, hike capital gains taxes on high earners, and beam us directly to clown world with an unrealized gains tax on high earners. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/budget_fy2023.pdf
- The subcommittee hearing on “the Administration’s Attack” on crypto went about like expected. Paul Grewal of Coinbase along with Prof. Evans of Penn State Law made some persuasive pleas for regulatory clarity. The “Anti-Crypto Party”™ also brought out their favorite witness from Duke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOUUy4_KwNU
- Rep. Emmer (Pro-Crypto) called the current regulatory approach “lazy & destructive…that is chilling innovation.” https://www.youtube.com/live/aOUUy4_KwNU?feature=share&t=5670
- Rep. Foster (Cryptophobe): “this is the essential thing that has to be provided for the healthy development of the crypto industry…somewhere there has to be an API provided by a trusted 3rd party to register your crypto wallets.” Why not just completely neuter crypto? https://www.youtube.com/live/aOUUy4_KwNU?feature=share&t=5266
- Rep. Ritchie Torres (Pro-Crypto) pointed out offshore deregulated overleveraged centralized crypto companies pose the greatest risk to consumers. But, the regulators don’t focus there. They incredibly only attack the onshore entities. He also pointed out the absurdity of the idea a stablecoin is a security. (Sadly there’s the Section 2(a)(1) exposure). https://www.youtube.com/live/aOUUy4_KwNU?feature=share&t=5703
- Rep. Davidson (Pro-Crypto) shamed his anti-crypto colleagues for their implied claims that these assets are the same as centralized assets and came out strongly supporting self-custody and pointed out there was no FTX risk if you self-custodied your assets. “We have people overtly trying to make self-custody illegal.” https://www.youtube.com/live/aOUUy4_KwNU?feature=share&t=6034
- CMC is tweeting about IOG’s Sidechain toolkit? https://twitter.com/CoinMarketCap/status/1634773712468852736
- Now we’re dealing with U.S. bank runs. Among the casualties was Silicon Valley Bank where Centre (the Circle/Coinbase joint entity that issues USDC) was keeping $3.3 billion of the $43ish billion backing USDC. Signature Bank was also shut down by regulators. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/03/11/43-billion-nightmare-sudden-circle-depeg-could-be-about-to-crash-the-price-of-bitcoin-ethereum-bnb-xrp-cardano-dogecoin-polygon-and-solana
- Unfortunately, the FDIC insurance limit is $250k. https://www.fdic.gov/resources/deposit-insurance/brochures/deposits-at-a-glance/
- The Feds were taking bids for anyone to acquire SVB until 2pm Eastern on Sunday. The big question on Sunday was whether the Feds will cover all uninsured depositors. They decided they will and that also applies to Signature Bank. https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2023/03/12/silicon-valley-bank-deposits/
- Here’s the joint statement from Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1337
- Yellen said NO to a bailout for SVB on Sunday. She’s obviously got bigger macro concerns. But, it’s funny how that fits perfectly with a strategy of suppressing stablecoins generally. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/janet-yellen-silicon-valley-bank-bailout-face-the-nation-interview-today-2023-03-12/
- Here Caitlin Long explains the fundamental incompatibility between fast settling crypto and fractional reserve banking that caused all this. https://twitter.com/CaitlinLong_/status/1634573552790929409
- CZ reminds us that he’s considered buying banks in the past and asks if it’s time yet. https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1634437834579800064
- CIP-1694 has been updated. https://github.com/JaredCorduan/CIPs/blob/voltaire-v1/CIP-1694/README.md
- Here’s a good rundown of all the changes in the CIP-1694 update. https://twitter.com/_KtorZ_/status/1635410495514759169
- Apparently, Cardano NFTs will be going to space! https://twitter.com/RichardMcCrackn/status/1635438087592460288
- Many in the crypto space think that Signature’s shutdown was just an extension of Operation Chokepoint 2.0 aimed at shuttering crypto banking. https://twitter.com/nic__cartestatus/1635328056234766337
- Rumors: regulators are calling every bank today and asking if they have exposure to crypto. https://twitter.com/wtogami/status/1635400774158290944
- Instagram is disabling NFTs. https://twitter.com/nftnow/status/1635388411166224384
- Cardano TVL is doing things. https://twitter.com/CryptoIRELAND1/status/1635694692556845060
- Cardano NFTs in space! https://twitter.com/adamKDean/status/1635796768704319488
- GPT4 was released today. It crushes the Bar Exam, the SAT, the GRE, the LSAT, and almost all AP subjects. This will displace a lot of human jobs. https://openai.com/research/gpt-4
- It has already done amazing real world things. In Example #6 it shows you how to exploit an arbitrary ETH contract. Better pay attention crypto. https://twitter.com/LinusEkenstam/status/1635754587775967233
- Report: Gov. Newsom failed to disclose accounts at SVB while lobbying White House and Treasury for a bailout of depositors. https://www.businessinsider.com/gavin-newsom-svb-biden-silicon-valley-bank-wineries-bailout-lobbying-2023-3
- Things are not looking good at Credit Suisse. https://twitter.com/GRDectestatus/1635985735063855104
- The court in the Voyager decision had some pretty harsh things to say about the SEC. https://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions/312840_1170_opinion.pdf
- Barney Frank points out that the regulators never claimed Signature Bank was insolvent and wonders if they are the first US bank to ever be closed down without being insolvent. https://nymag.com/intelligence2023/03/barney-frank-says-more-shuttering-signature-bank.html
- Charles dropped a video addressing the updates to the governance proposal. https://twitter.com/IOHK_Charles/status/1636151615894990851
- Gensler reasserts his claims that proof-of-stake tokens are securities. https://www.theblock.co/post/220297/gensler-suggests-proof-of-stake-tokens-are-securities
- Dudes are already letting GPT4 run whole startups. https://twitter.com/jacksonfall/status/1636107218859745286
- Here’s an interesting theory: taking down Binance would create too big a hole, so they took down Silvergate, Silicon Valley Bank, and Signature to insulate the fiat world from crypto. Now they can take down Binance. https://twitter.com/BryceWeinestatus/1636055979870818305
- The Army of Spies Channel is now TWO YEARS OLD (March 17)!
- Yes! Everyone’s favorite Cardano cetacean is back! https://twitter.com/cardano_whale/status/1636561122739331073
- I was asked to list a few Irish whiskeys today. https://twitter.com/ArmySpies/status/1636548071541862401
- An interesting exchange between a Senator and Janet Yellen regarding the effect of the bailouts on small banks. https://twitter.com/theemikehobart/status/1636494845144432643
- Eleven other banks swoop in with $30 billion to save First Republic. https://www.npr.org/2023/03/16/1163958533/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-bank-signature-bank-bank-run
- Wut? https://twitter.com/WhaleChart/status/1636566421005017088
- Here’s Raoul Pal with a very optimistic take for crypto if you are one who believes anyone understands the markets. https://twitter.com/RaoulGMI/status/1636547466299416576
- Any buyer of signature bank must agree to give up its crypto business. https://twitter.com/GOPMajorityWhip/status/1636356199661850626
- Here’s Duncan Coutts explaining P2P in Cardano. https://youtu.be/zOTfhcK-Wf4
- Here’s a visual representation of how CIP-1694 works. https://twitter.com/Hornan7/status/1636381895541026817
- This is one of the craziest things I’ve seen in crypto. Balaji is burning a few million to ring the fire alarm and make everyone aware of what he believes is an impending attack on dollar holders. Counterparty is guaranteed $1million (minus BTC price) if he just buys one additional BTC (or an option to purchase more). https://twitter.com/balajis/status/1636827051419389952
- Here’s the Space where he explains his bet. https://twitter.com/Breedlove22/status/1637236255242219520
- Arthur Hayes gives you an incredible explanation of what’s going on with this banking crisis and what he thinks comes next. https://cryptohayes.medium.com/kaiseki-b15230bdd09e
- This is officially the worst regulatory approach ever. https://twitter.com/BillHughesDC/status/1636067729575690241
- The SEC hide the ball game seems to conflict with how judges actually view the law. https://twitter.com/SGJohnsson/status/1636071530340728832
- The Fed Quietly opened the swap lines with other central banks on Sunday night. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20230319a.htm
- Here’s why they are opening the swap lines: so that US treasuries don’t get dumped on the open market by foreign banks. This way the foreign central banks can have dollars to absorb the treasuries from the foreign banks. https://twitter.com/CryptoHayes/status/1637620774776315904
- Charles dropped a video on Markets and Contagion in which he revealed that Credit Suisse wouldn’t allow an account when he was with Ethereum b/c crypto was “too risky.” Bwahahahaha. https://twitter.com/IOHK_Charles/status/1637952165217185792
- Apparently, Djed will also be on ETH and BSC? https://twitter.com/DjedStablecoin/status/1637871708823760902
- Super ironic that the Credit Suisse CEO claimed crypto was in a bubble at $7k BTC. How the tables have turned. https://twitter.com/gaborgurbacs/status/1637783982271082496
- Personalization is coming to ADA Handles. https://medium.com/ada-handle/personalization-101-6708ab692b29
- Four million Cardano wallets. Nice milestone to cross! https://twitter.com/StakeWithPride/status/1638020286997213190
- More aerostat activity out of World Mobile. This time in New Hampshire. https://twitter.com/WorldMobileTeam/status/1637926277905522689
- You gotta admit. Balaji is genius at inventing new tag lines. First it was “We are all bitcoin maximalists now.” Today it’s “Fed around and find out.” https://twitter.com/balajis/status/1638349643854786560
- Apparently, Sushi Swap DAO and its “Head Chef” just got served with an SEC subpoena and they’re asking the community for a $3 million defense fund (with potential for more). https://forum.sushi.com/t/establish-sushi-legal-defense-fund/11813
- The crypto twitter meme response to the Sushi SEC subpoena was fast and brutal. https://twitter.com/trhistorianelt/status/1638231852619104256
- People are now suggesting that no member of the Sushi Swap DAO should be in the US. https://twitter.com/tundra_v1/status/1638274785728929793
- Very interesting rumors that projects are sitting on 2-300 SEC subpoenas and dozens of Wells Notices. https://coinpedia.org/ripple/xrp-price-have-the-xrp-bulls-and-whales-given-up-ahead-of-the-summary-judgment/
- The IRS is asking for comments on NFTs as “collectibles” (apparently matters for long term capital gains and elsewhere). https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-23-27.pdf
2023.03.23 05:19 SoloTheFord The way back
We are in a lot of trouble obviously in the current era and what I do not understand is why people are not pushing for a fix for the world economy and markets and beyond... I think the only way to end this printing press corruption we must go back to not only a precious metals standard ie copper, silver, gold, plat, plad etc but why can we not do something that works 4 fold and can actually protect our world as in nature.
Why cant we have a standard that is also based on the cleanest fresh water, natural gas, wood/trees, natural energy and give out as tokens and or currency based on these, and bonds, digital currencies in tandem? This would push people to innovate more, protect our wild resources and disallow anyone person to own a lake or river and that could even lead to creating a standard of cleaner drinking water, healthier wildlife, even focusing on universal desalinators/purifiers so we can also back our monetary system on the oceans. By doing so also would lead to more protections and this would all encourage humanity to work in tandem to make sure the ocean habitats are protected of the utmost it would deter people poisoning them and overfishing and poaching. Backing wood would protect forests making us plant 5 for every 1 and really recycle more and better?
Its not like debt still wouldnt be there so banks can have their cake and eat it to but so can companies on the stock markets. It would change everything for the better and not hard to implement. As right now a civilization and any in the past have failed when their main tangible commodities of their societies fail - they all have and we will be completely ruined by the corrupt and current sociopaths that run this printing press society.
This would be a win for everyone and any currency and monetary system should always be backed by something tangible that in this case can benefit so many things the world as a whole. Why have we not pushed for something like this as it stands our money makes no sense and its obvious our society is based only off of predatory debt makers and civilians are constantly getting robbed so the dictators can just steal our endless taxes and debt to keep a doomed cycle going.
This would be a start and we can clean house at the same time maybe and stop all this nonsense and deception, control, loss of freedom of life.
Do you guys think this would work?
submitted by SoloTheFord to economy [link] [comments]
Why cant we have a standard that is also based on the cleanest fresh water, natural gas, wood/trees, natural energy and give out as tokens and or currency based on these, and bonds, digital currencies in tandem? This would push people to innovate more, protect our wild resources and disallow anyone person to own a lake or river and that could even lead to creating a standard of cleaner drinking water, healthier wildlife, even focusing on universal desalinators/purifiers so we can also back our monetary system on the oceans. By doing so also would lead to more protections and this would all encourage humanity to work in tandem to make sure the ocean habitats are protected of the utmost it would deter people poisoning them and overfishing and poaching. Backing wood would protect forests making us plant 5 for every 1 and really recycle more and better?
Its not like debt still wouldnt be there so banks can have their cake and eat it to but so can companies on the stock markets. It would change everything for the better and not hard to implement. As right now a civilization and any in the past have failed when their main tangible commodities of their societies fail - they all have and we will be completely ruined by the corrupt and current sociopaths that run this printing press society.
This would be a win for everyone and any currency and monetary system should always be backed by something tangible that in this case can benefit so many things the world as a whole. Why have we not pushed for something like this as it stands our money makes no sense and its obvious our society is based only off of predatory debt makers and civilians are constantly getting robbed so the dictators can just steal our endless taxes and debt to keep a doomed cycle going.
This would be a start and we can clean house at the same time maybe and stop all this nonsense and deception, control, loss of freedom of life.
Do you guys think this would work?
2023.03.23 02:59 BrownTown427 Booking WrestleMania 39: Night Two
Match #1: NXT Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale - Winner Receives A Main Roster Contract
Build:
NXT Roadblock (3/7/23): Grayson Waller Effect w/ Shawn Michaels
After weeks of continuously getting on each other’s nerves, Grayson Waller and Shawn Michaels now have the opportunity to hash things out on the former’s acclaimed talk show. Following a commercial break, Grayson is seen sitting down, arrogant smirk and all on his face. But right before he can speak, HBK’s signature entrance theme blares throughout the arena, startling and agitating Waller. Shawn turns back the clock, giving his signature outstretched leg pose on the ramp before eventually making his way to the ring, not even bothering to look at Grayson as he passes him.
GW: “Well well Shawn, look at you. Wearing a cowboy hat, looking confident, continuing to take the spotlight away from younger talent and focusing only on yourself…”
SM: “Get to the point, Waller.”
GW: “That is my point. You hear, but you don’t listen. I, and plenty of other people backstage, are getting sick of you playing favorites. We get it, you like Carmelo Hayes, but why should he get opportunities that we don’t?”
SM: (quietly) “Maybe because he’s just better?”
GW: “What?”
SM: “Nothing. Look, I get it, you want to find something biased against you to make your inability to get the job done seem justified. But you can’t blame management or everything around you every time you fail or screw-up.”
GW: “Says the man that “lost his smile” when everyone backstage started to see who you really were.”
Shawn’s initial expression of indifference turns towards a look of slight anger, and he walks closer to Waller now.
GW: “Oh, you want to fight me now? How about at NXT Stand and Deliver? What do the fans think about seeing Grayson Waller vs. the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels?!”
On cue, the fans respond positively to the idea, cheering on while Michaels tries to regain his composure and steps back.
SM: “The answer is no.”
The fans give slight boos as an expression of their disappointment.
GW: “Of course, not the first time you’ve taken your ball and gone home. But let me ask you something else Shawn: don’t you care about this brand? Don’t you care about NXT, the fans, the product, everything surrounding it? With all the change happening on Raw and SmackDown, it’s YOU who’s not adapting. For a guy who’s buddy buddy with Triple H, the least you could do is get NXT some more attention.”
The last remark seems to spark something in Michaels. He looks at Waller, studying him for a moment, before looking down as though he’s contemplating something.
SM: “You know what Waller? You made a good point there…I’ll think over what you said.”
GW: “So you mean I can fight you at Stand and Deliver?”
SM: “Oh no, I’m still definitely retired. You can fight this man instead though, I heard he's itching to fight you.”
On cue, Johnny Gargano makes his NXT return, darting to the ring to brawl with the man who ruined his farewell to NXT in December of 2021. Waller fights valiantly, but after getting a little too cocky and mocking HBK, Gargano is able to level Grayson with a Superkick to stand tall.
NXT (3/14/23):
To kick off the show, a video recap is played of what transpired on the Grayson Waller Effect. And from there, Shawn Michaels makes his way to the ring, ready to make an announcement: NXT stars are going to compete at WrestleMania! That’s right, to kick off Night Two of the spectacle, ten individuals will get the chance to earn themselves a guaranteed main roster contract on the brand of their choosing. But how will those individuals be determined? Two spots have already been locked up: the current NXT North American Champion Wes Lee, and the current NXT World Champion Bron Breakker. As for the remaining 8 slots, there will be a series of qualifying matches over the next couple of weeks (starting tonight), with the winners advancing to the battle royal at WrestleMania 39. And what better way to keep the hype going than with one of those qualifying matches right now!
Nathan Frazer vs. Andre Chase
These two individuals are quite the opposites: Nathan Frazer is a man who’s been gifted with immense physical talent and quickness, contributing to many fans considering him a strong up-and-comer. However, on the other side is Andre Chase, a man whose intellect and strategic ability has allowed him to literally create his own university. But in the end, it’s Frazer who schools Chase, leaving the founder of Chase University’s students just as disappointed as he is.
JD McDonagh vs. Duke Hudson
Looking to avenge Andre Chase’s loss earlier in the night, Duke Hudson steps into the ring looking ready to annihilate someone. However, even then he might not have the intensity to match that of the sadistic J.D. McDonagh, who showcases his scrappy nature despite Hudson having the height and weight advantage, eventually picking up the win as well. Afterwards, Hudson snaps, turning on Chase and viciously assaulting him to set up a singles match for Stand and Deliver.
Over the remaining couple of weeks, more and more superstars qualify, with individuals like Tony D’Angelo and Axiom looking impressive. Grayson Waller, the man who helped influence Shawn Michaels to get NXT more attention, falls in a qualifying match to the pure power of Odyssey Jones, but thanks to a last chance match involving people who lost their qualifiers, he’s still able to enter the battle royale following a win there.
Match:
Participants: Axiom, Bron Breakker, Damon Kemp, Grayson Waller, JD McDonagh, Nathan Frazer, Odyssey Jones, Tony D’Angelo, Von Wagner, Wes Lee
After weeks of anticipation, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale is finally here. With Bron Breakker having lost his title to Carmelo Hayes and Wes Lee his to Dragon Lee at Stand and Deliver, there’s no doubt going to be a wide range of winner possibilities. The match starts off with a bang, Von Wagner and Odyssey Jones staring each other down and beginning a war of hosses. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last too long before the remaining eight men realize that it’s in their best interest to take out the powerhouses, forcing them to the ropes and sending them both tumbling over to the outside.
Odyssey Jones and Von Wagner have been eliminated (0:59)
And with that, the playing field has now become more evenly balanced, and the remaining eight competitors separate into four separate fights. Breakker and Kemp match up well against each other, as well as Axiom and Frazer in a battle of speed. There’s also McDonagh and D’Angelo in a battle of a psychopath against a mobster, and Wes Lee vs Waller in a classic tale of cheerable underdog vs agitating villain. It’s not long before these separate matches split up however, as when Axiom looks to go for a high flying move from the top rope, Grayson Waller dropkicks him off the turnbuckle, eliminating him as he crashes to the floor.
Axiom has been eliminated (2:03)
Waller celebrates, but only momentarily, as Nathan Frazer begins targeting him next. Meanwhile, Breakker and Kemp are still going at it without any interference, but it’s not for long, as the former NXT Champion is able to lift Kemp in the Gorilla Press position before just tossing him to the outside.
Damon Kemp has been eliminated (3:38)
Tony D’Angelo tries to sneak up behind Breakker and eliminate him, but Bron sees it coming, elbowing D’Angelo away. Meanwhile, Nathan Frazer and JD McDonagh have now found themselves battling against one another on the ring apron. They start delivering some stiff shots, but in the end, it’s Frazer who gets the upper hand, a knee to the jaw sending the former Jordan Devlin crashing down.
JD McDonagh has been eliminated (4:02)
Unfortunately for Frazer, as he turns back to the ring, he’s met by a Superman Punch from Grayson Waller, unable to regain his footing and falling to the floor as well.
Nathan Frazer has been eliminated (4:08)
And with that, the field has shrunk to four: Bron Breakker, Wes Lee, Grayson Waller, and Tony D’Angelo. And it looks as though battle lines are starting to be drawn, with Breakker and Lee on one side of the ring and D’Angelo and Waller on the other. Each man looks towards the person they’re sided with, briefly nods, and immediately start targeting the person in front of them. Breaker backs Waller into a corner, while Wes Lee is able to get in some quick shots on D’Angelo, eventually managing to super kick him out of the match!
Tony D’Angelo has been eliminated (6:00)
But like a snake hidden in the grass, Grayson Waller comes from out of nowhere, ousting Wes Lee from the ring…but only one of his feet touched the ground! Waller doesn’t see this however, instead moving back to Breakker, and after a couple of minutes going at it, Waller low-blows Breakker, allowing him to shockingly eliminate him!
Bron Breakker has been eliminated (8:32)
But as Grayson Waller starts celebrating like a mad man, he fails to see Wes Lee slink back into the ring, coming up behind him and tossing him out, but unlike what Grayson tried to do to him, successfully!
Wes Lee eliminates Grayson Waller and outlasts the field to earn a guaranteed main roster contract (8:56)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Match #2: Demon Finn Balor vs. Edge - Hell in a Cell
Build:
Note: Everything up to and including Elimination Chamber 2023 stays the same with all the Judgment Day shenanigans and Edge’s hiatuses.
Raw (2/20/23): Edge vs. Austin Theory
In a proper battle of old school vs. new school, Theory and Edge put on a strong showing. Theory wisely targets the well-known weak neck of Edge, but Edge has too much pride to be put down by a kid, mounting comeback after comeback. But unfortunately, after a desperate DDT from the Rated-R Superstar has Edge leaning against the ropes and the ref checking on Theory, Finn Balor comes seemingly from out of nowhere, leveling Edge with a chair shot to the throat! Edge bounces back from the collision, rising to his feet but gasping for breath, and from there, Theory hits the A-Town Down. But rather than go for the pin, he locks in the STF, Edge already being knocked out at this point but still giving Austin the technical submission victory. After the match, Balor rushes the ring, hitting Edge with two Coup de Graces as an insult to injury (or injury to injury, I guess).
Over the coming weeks however, Edge refuses to sit back and just watch Judgment Day continue wreaking havoc. He comes out to brawl with them at any opportunity possible, specifically targeting Balor. Eventually, Finn gets sick of it, demanding a match with Edge at Mania that the Rated-R Superstar is only too happy to accept. But before that war of violence can happen, we need a war of words…
Raw (3/20/23): Edge Face-To-Face w/ Finn Balor
Once both men are in the ring, Edge speaks his mind first:
E: “You know, Finn? I used to have a great deal of respect for you. I saw your work in Japan, and it was impressive. I was impressed by you becoming the first ever Universal Champion. And I was so impressed by you back in NXT in 2021 that I nearly opted to challenge for the NXT Title instead of the Universal Belt just so I could face YOU. But now what have you become? “Ex-con Dom’s” lackey? You’ve accomplished so much in your time in the business, and yet you’re cool with being the most irrelevant member of a stable pretending to be children going through an emo phase?
“And look, when you demanded that match at WrestleMania a couple of weeks ago, two thoughts came to mind: I’ll absolutely accept so I can put you down for good… but are you actually ready Finn? I told AJ Styles this last year: I didn’t want the tag team bitch to Omos version of him…I wanted bulldog AJ. And the same applies to you: I don’t want Judgment Day, Prison Mike Finn Balor. I don’t want smiley, always happy Finn Balor. Hell, I don’t even want the Prince…I demand the Demon King!
The crowd roars in response, and Finn initially looks surprised at the statement. But then his lips curl a bit, his eyes going cold, and when he speaks into the mic, only one message comes across as a response:
FB: “Be careful what you wish for.”
And with that, Balor exits the ring, staring down Edge who returns an adrenaline-filled stare right back.
Match:
Edge makes his way to the ring first, except this isn’t the Rated R-Superstar we all know and love…it’s Brood Edge! With Gangrel even appearing at his side, Edge appears in an entrance first cloaked by darkness, then a blood red throughout the stadium. However, after he gets into the ring, the sound of a heartbeat sends shivers down everyone’s spine. But there’s no one coming down the ramp… where’s Balor? This question is soon answered when something begins happening in the ring…DEMON BALOR IS CLAWING HIS WAY UP FROM UNDERNEATH THE RING! The demon’s body paint would be purple this go around to represent Judgment Day, and though Edge shows no fear towards this remarkable entrance, it’s apparent to the fans and commentary that this is about to be crazy.
And the two tear the house down as expected. Despite the way its last match ended back at Extreme Rules of 2021, the Demon looks just as powerful as it ever has. Unfortunately, it’s unable to vanquish its opponent as quickly as it did Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 35, as Edge is fully willing to unleash his sadistic side as well. But after a brutal affair, only one entity can walk out victorious…AND IT’S BALOR! After a 1916 onto a pile of chairs, the Demon sets Edge up on a table, scaling halfway up the cage wall to add some extra power into its Coup de Grace to finally put away Edge.
Demon Finn Balor def. Edge via pinfall (18:49)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Match #3: John Cena vs. Austin Theory
Build:
In the weeks leading up to Elimination Chamber, Theory would begin to incorporate mannerisms and moves extremely similar, if not identical, to those of a certain Attitude Adjuster. He would use the diving shoulder tackles in one encounter, the Five Knuckle Shuffle in another, he’d even wear wristbands reminiscent to those of Cena. But things come to a boiling point at:
Elimination Chamber: Men’s Elimination Chamber Match For The US Title
Following the elimination of Seth Rollins thanks to Logan Paul screwing him over, the match would come down to Austin Theory and Montez Ford. Theory has the opportunity to hit an A-Town Down, but something comes over him. He instead drags Ford over to the corner, lifting him in position for the fireman’s carry as he climbs to the top turnbuckle. He then looks straight into the camera, waving his hand in front of his face and the signature “You can’t see me!” line. However, this comes back to bite him, as when Theory tries to hit him with an Attitude Adjustment, Montez lands on his feet, running back to the corner, leaping up the turnbuckle, and hitting Theory with a vertical suplex! But Montez isn’t done there, moving back to the turnbuckle, climbing to the top of a pod, and nailing his beautiful Frog Splash on Theory to get the pin and win the United States Championship!
Unfortunately for Theory, things wouldn’t get much better for him, as though he manages to defeat Edge on the following Raw thanks to interference from Balor, he still becomes the victim of John Cena tearing into him in Boston. And in this universe, Cena gets even more ammunition to work with, pointing out how Theory is just trying to copy every single thing he does and that he’s not a young John Cena: he’s just a young Damien Mizdow! But despite this, Theory still gets what he wanted: a match against the leader of the Cenation at Mania, where with the title no longer in his possession and constant disrespect he’s faced, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Match:
Despite only having competed in a handful of matches since 2020, Cena looks to be in great in-ring shape for this match with Austin Theory, getting off to a hot start and nearly hitting an Attitude Adjustment within the first minute. Theory manages to escape however, and he’s able to showcase some of his offense in the middle stages of the match, hitting dropkicks and even a moonsault at one point to stick it to Cena that he’s the better athlete. While it may be true, Cena’s resiliency is what got him so far in WWE, and it looks to be the case once more as he begins mounting a comeback at the end, hitting his signature shoulder tackle-back body drop-five knuckle shuffle sequence. However, Theory once again avoids the AA, and in a surprise twist, he hits it instead! Though Cena kicks out, Theory now has the momentum and adrenaline on his side, and shortly thereafter, he hits Cena with an A-Town Down, getting the rather quick win and a huge milestone for his young career to shock the fans in attendance.
Austin Theory def. John Cena via pinfall (10:42)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Match #4: Trish Stratus and Lita vs. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
Build:
After weeks of the MMA-experienced duo of Rousey and Baszler making the Smackdown women’s division’s lives miserable, including her own, Shotzi’s finally had enough. In a post-match interview following a singles loss to Shayna Baszler and beat-down post-match, Blackheart says that she knows the perfect person to help her out and make Ronda and Shayna finally get their comeuppance.
SmackDown (2/17/23):
Shotzi would come out, seemingly ready to make her announcement, but it’s immediately interrupted by Rousey and Baszler. Baszler points out how they’ve destroyed everyone back there, from Natalya to Raquel Rodriguez to Tegan Nox. Whoever Shotzi brings out, they’re not worried about in the slightest. And since this partner isn’t even there to protect Shotzi, why can’t they just attack her again right now? They look primed to do just that, but before they can pounce…
OUT COMES LITA! An absolute legend from the Ruthless Aggression Era, she’s now made her return back to WWE after a few one-off matches in the last couple of years, standing side-by-side with Shotzi, a competitor she met back when Tough Enough was a thing in 2015. Baszler initially still looks willing to fight, but Ronda holds her back, saying it’s not worth it tonight.
Unfortunately for Shotzi, just a few weeks later, she would be written off with a broken arm following another disgusting attack by Rousey and Baszler backstage. Lita would be extremely disappointed, as she really wanted to team with someone who clearly looked to her as a role model for many years. But she’ll fight hard on Shotzi’s behalf, and she might know of a replacement…
SmackDown (3/31/23):
On the last SmackDown before WrestleMania, we have a contract signing. Rousey and Baszler are waiting impatiently for Lita to show up: they want to sign the contract so they can kick her ass two-on-one at WrestleMania and get the easiest paycheck of their life. Adam Pearce points out how she might have a partner, which the MMA duo laugh at: they’ve destroyed everyone, there’s no one left. Well, on cue, Lita shows up, and apologizes for the delay, but she had to help a certain friend get here in time for the show…from Canada…
IT’S TRISH STRATUS! Two icons from the early 2000s are now reunited, and they march to the ring, getting into a brawl with Rousey and Baszler. They ultimately stand tall, adding an extra emphasis to the “victory” with a Chick Kick by Stratus on Rousey, before Trish then sets her up on a table and allows Lita to hit the signature moonsault on Ronda through the wood.
Match:
Despite the chemistry exhibited for months by Ronda and Shayna compared to Trish and Lita not being full-timers in more than a decade, it would feel reasonable to assume that the MMA duo could make quick work of the Hall of Famers. However, Trish and Lita show no signs of backing down so easily, managing to keep things well within reach despite the powerful technical-based offense from their opponents. And in somewhat of a surprising twist, after Stratus tags out to Lita but with Baszler not seeing, Lita hits her signature Moonsault before going for an immediate cover to get the 1-2-3 in perhaps the final WrestleMania match of two legendary women’s competitors’ careers.
Trish Stratus and Lita def. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler via pinfall (11:33)
Match #5: Pat McAfee vs. The Miz
Build:
After yet another beatdown on an episode of Raw, with this having happened to him by the likes of Seth Rollins, Rick Boogs, and now even a newly solo Chad Gable, Mike Mizanin has had enough. He figures that if a prick like Kevin Owens got to have a talk show at last year’s WrestleMania, it’s only fair he gets to have one as well. And he has a special guest in mind already…however, before he can reveal it (if he was even going to at all), Kevin Owens comes out, giving Miz the gift of a Stunner for that comment about him being a prick.
Over the remaining shows until WrestleMania, Miz hypes up his guest as having been a former football player, a man known all over the United States, a true entertainer….
Match/Segment:
With the Miz situated in the ring and the Miz TV set prepared, he reveals his guest to be…Baron Corbin! Of course, the fans boo, having expected someone different, but Miz ignores this, asking Corbin a series of questions. However, before he can ask the last one, he finally snaps at the either annoyance or pure indifference from the crowd, telling them that Pat McAfee isn’t here. He declined the initial request, and he’s too much of a coward to get back in the ring with someone like Corbin…
WELL OUT COMES MCAFEE! Like at SummerSlam, he’s got his own choir serenading him to the ring, and as soon as he gets in the ring, Corbin tries to step up to him. In response, McAfee obliterates him with a punch, knocking him flat on his back and rolling out of the ring. Pat then sits down in a chair, asking Miz how he’s doing. In shock at what transpired, Miz hesitates, but just before he can answer, McAfee pulls a Rock and says “IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW YOU FEEL!”
Miz is now completely flustered, but he tries to save the segment and his own credibility by telling McAfee he bet he won’t fight him right here, right now because he cares too much about himself. In response, McAfee rips off his suit to reveal his normal match attire, and then on the mic, he calls for a ref! Miz tries to say it was a joke, but upon the ref entering the ring, the bell rings, and McAfee goes right after Miz. Miz is unable to gain any sense of momentum, just getting completely annihilated and eventually having his skull punted en route to being pinned.
Pat McAfee def. The Miz via pinfall (1:49)
Match #6: Johnny Gargano vs. Chad Gable vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Bronson Reed vs. Dexter Lumis vs. Montez Ford (c) - Ladder Match For The United States Championship
Build:
Monday Night Raw (2/20/23):
Following his successful US Title win at Elimination Chamber, Montez Ford has a celebration with Dawkins backstage, which unfortunately is interrupted by the colossus known as Bronson Reed. This leads to a brawl, with other people at the party like Gargano, Lumis, and Cedric Alexander deciding to join in as well for the hell of it.
Over the coming weeks, Bronson Reed would still look to target Montez Ford and the US Title, but he wouldn’t be alone, as guys like Gargano and Gable want to hold main roster singles gold as well. Eventually, Adam Pearce just gets sick of all the constant bickering and brawls, so he proposes a ladder match for the belt, if Montez is up for it. Ford shows no hesitancy on accepting, saying he wants to make a splash at the Grandest Stage of them All, and successfully defending his championship in a ladder match can prove he belongs. With that, there would also be a fatal five-way match between the other five men vying for the belt on the go-home Raw to Mania, just to see who would pick up some steam heading into the PPV, with Cedric Alexander proving himself as being truly worthy of being in the ladder match with the victory there.
Match:
This match would be pure carnage and pure excitement from the moment the match starts to when it finishes. Every man involved would get a memorable moment: Gable would hit a moonsault from the top rope onto a mass of bodies outside the ring. Cedric would hit three different people with Lumbar Checks in the span of about twenty seconds. Bronson Reed would crush Cedric with a TSUNAMI off the top of a ladder. Lumis would choke out Gable at the top of a ladder before sending him crashing onto a ladder bridge on the outside. Gargano and Lumis team up for a makeshift DIY Superkick/Knee combo on Bronson. Montez would hit a Frog Splash off the top of a ladder onto Gargano through a different ladder bridge than the one involving Lumis and Gable. But in the end, only one man can reach it, and with the two men at the top of the ladder at the end being Montez Ford and Johnny Gargano, the victor is…MONTEZ FORD!
Montez Ford retains the United States Championship (16:10)
Match #7: Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair (c) - Smackdown Women’s Championship
Build:
The build to this match stays pretty much the same as in real life, with Rhea looking to avenge her previous loss to Charlotte at WrestleMania 36 three years ago. However, Charlotte in this universe also points out how it wasn’t just then that Rhea couldn’t beat her: it was in 2021 as well, when Charlotte eventually beat her for the Raw Women’s Championship. She acknowledges Ripley as being a great talent, but she’s just no match for the Queen.
Match:
In a match of beautiful storytelling, Rhea Ripley learns from her past mistakes against Charlotte Flair. She’s not only careful about avoiding as many attacks to her legs as possible, but she uses the same strategy against Charlotte, utilizing moves like chop blocks to weaken the lower body of the Queen. Charlotte is able to keep herself alive despite this onslaught for most of the match, but after a Riptide, Rhea sees her chance to close things full-circle. She locks on Charlotte’s own Figure Eight Leg Lock, and though Flair desperately tries to reach the bottom rope or break the hold, after quite a long time trapped in the submission hold, she’s forced to tap, ushering in the era of the Nightmare in the women’s division.
Rhea Ripley def. Charlotte Flair via submission to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship (14:33)
Match #8: Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
Build:
In this universe, rather than having Logan Paul eliminate Seth Rollins, it would actually be the opposite, with Rollins eliminating Logan en route to ultimately falling up short himself. Logan becomes slightly obsessed with Rollins and somehow even more egotistical, calling Rollins out every day on various social media platforms, demanding a match against him to prove who’s better. Rollins keeps denying these increasingly crazed demands however, telling Logan he has better things to do than fight a piece of shit human who has no right to call themselves a wrestler after just a year in the business.
However, after Logan Paul screws him out of possibly winning the US Title at Elimination Chamber, Seth has to change his tune. He tells Logan he’ll fight him…if he finally faces him man-to-man for once. Logan obliges, coming to Raw in Boston, and while this inevitably leads to a brawl, it’s Paul who stands tall, knocking out Seth with a vicious right. Not bad for a “fake” wrestler, huh? Rollins manages to get his comeuppance a couple weeks later, stomping Logan’s face into the canvas, and the match is set for Mania.
Match:
In a highly entertaining match showcasing each man’s ridiculous and natural talent for the art of wrestling, Seth and Logan test each other’s limits. From Buckshot Lariats and frog splashes by Logan to Falcon Arrows and Superkicks by Seth, each man breaks out a plethora of exciting moves, but in the end, at a show called WrestleMania, it’s the true wrestler who gets the job done, stomping Logan’s head into the mat for the second time of the contest.
Seth Rollins def. Logan Paul via pinfall (15:30)
Match #9: Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns (c) - Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Build:
Royal Rumble (1/28/23): Men’s Royal Rumble Match
As in real life, Cody Rhodes makes his triumphant return in the Rumble match, receiving a thunderous reaction. In this universe however, he enters at the #15 spot, a respectable entry number but still plenty of work to be done. He faces numerous challenges, with the Usos, Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn all entering the match to try and wreak havoc on the twenty six other men looking to eventually take down their Tribal Chief. And of course, the tension established between him and the Visionary Seth Rollins from their three previous encounters in 2022 leads to some intense sequences throughout. Ultimately, both him and Rollins manage to reach the final three, alongside the Honorary Uce Sami Zayn. Cody and Rollins would fight on the apron, and while Seth manages to superkick Rhodes, he ends up getting nailed by a Helluva Kick, falling to the floor! Unfortunately for Sami however, the rest of his evening proves to be miserable, as Cody manages to successfully eliminate him, and then later on, gets obliterated by the Bloodline (minus Jey) following a chair shot on Roman heard around the world.
Monday Night Raw (1/30/23):
Kicking off the show, Cody centers his promo around the idea of family. He talks about his own family, about the legacy paved by Dusty and Dustin for him to get here. But then he turns his attention towards the Bloodline. He respects the Samoan Dynasty, from names like the Wild Samoans whom his father worked against, to guys like the Usos today. However, Cody believes in destiny. It was destiny that brought him back to WWE, and to vanquish the Tribal Chief at WrestleMania for the gold.
Monday Night Raw (2/6/23):
Paul Heyman appears on behalf of Roman Reigns, tearing into Cody. Rhodes keeps bringing up his family, but for what? To establish they’ve always been unable to reach the top? Because he’s not good enough to be something original? Because he never made his father proud and is just desperate? It’s with this last remark that Cody gets in Paul’s face, looking ready to throw a punch, but able to regain his composure, simply telling Paul that saying that was a mistake.
Monday Night Raw (2/13/23):
With Cody not having had a singles match since his return, he requests one for this Raw, and Montez Ford accepts, looking to impress heading into the US Title Elimination Chamber match on Saturday. Unfortunately for Montez, Cody picks up the win, but a hard-fought one from both parties. Unfortunately for Rhodes, he would be blindsided by Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso after the match! Jimmy nails him with a Superkick, and Sikoa hits the Samoan Spike, leaving the American Nightmare in a heap.
Friday Night SmackDown (2/17/23):
There would be a contract signing between Reigns and Zayn, which of course results in a brawl. Despite neither Uso being in attendance, Reigns has Sikoa by his side, and with KO still likely on the shelf due to the gruesome beating at Royal Rumble, it looks like Sami will fall victim to the numbers game…UNTIL OUT COMES CODY! He immediately goes after Solo, dragging him out to the outside and brawling with him, allowing Sami to hit Roman with a Blue Thunder Bomb through the table in the ring. Zayn and Rhodes then stare at each other: they both know what they want, and they both know what they need to do…but will their paths continue to cross…
Elimination Chamber (2/18/23): Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
It would be with the events of Raw and SmackDown that this match between Cody and Solo is announced for the Montreal-held show, and Solo does everything he can to try and annihilate his cousin’s Mania challenger, but Rhodes is too resilient, managing to survive a Samoan Spike at a count of 2.9 before later putting away Sikoa with an avalanche Pedigree.
As for the remaining weeks leading up to the event, Sami and KO would go on to challenge the Usos for the Tag Titles at Mania, leaving Cody and Roman all alone to have the singles match at WrestleMania. Roman looks at Cody as being a quitter: he left WWE when he failed, and left the own company he created when he failed there too…it may just be time for him to go after he loses at WrestleMania 39. Meanwhile, Cody knows Roman’s mind games, but he also knows Reigns has weaknesses. He’s relied on his family for far too long, and sooner or later, too much abuse of them will come back to haunt him…
Match:
In what can only be described as an incredible match, Cody and Roman prove why they’re in the main event at the biggest PPV of the year. Reigns has even more powerful offense than usual, yet Cody matches it well. Reigns survives a Cross Rhodes, Cody survives a Spear, it’s going to take so much to keep the other man down! Reigns would instruct Jey Uso and Jey only to accompany Roman to the ring, and it looks as though Roman is going to rely on his interference in yet another match…but Jey looks hesitant! Roman is confused, demanding Jey do what’s necessary, but after shoving Jey, Jey shoves Roman right back! Reigns is left stunned as the Uso walks up the ramp, and shortly thereafter, Reigns is hit with not one, not two, but three consecutive Cross Rhodes, giving the American Nightmare what he was destined to do.
Cody Rhodes def. Roman Reigns via pinfall to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (30:45)
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Build:
NXT Roadblock (3/7/23): Grayson Waller Effect w/ Shawn Michaels
After weeks of continuously getting on each other’s nerves, Grayson Waller and Shawn Michaels now have the opportunity to hash things out on the former’s acclaimed talk show. Following a commercial break, Grayson is seen sitting down, arrogant smirk and all on his face. But right before he can speak, HBK’s signature entrance theme blares throughout the arena, startling and agitating Waller. Shawn turns back the clock, giving his signature outstretched leg pose on the ramp before eventually making his way to the ring, not even bothering to look at Grayson as he passes him.
GW: “Well well Shawn, look at you. Wearing a cowboy hat, looking confident, continuing to take the spotlight away from younger talent and focusing only on yourself…”
SM: “Get to the point, Waller.”
GW: “That is my point. You hear, but you don’t listen. I, and plenty of other people backstage, are getting sick of you playing favorites. We get it, you like Carmelo Hayes, but why should he get opportunities that we don’t?”
SM: (quietly) “Maybe because he’s just better?”
GW: “What?”
SM: “Nothing. Look, I get it, you want to find something biased against you to make your inability to get the job done seem justified. But you can’t blame management or everything around you every time you fail or screw-up.”
GW: “Says the man that “lost his smile” when everyone backstage started to see who you really were.”
Shawn’s initial expression of indifference turns towards a look of slight anger, and he walks closer to Waller now.
GW: “Oh, you want to fight me now? How about at NXT Stand and Deliver? What do the fans think about seeing Grayson Waller vs. the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels?!”
On cue, the fans respond positively to the idea, cheering on while Michaels tries to regain his composure and steps back.
SM: “The answer is no.”
The fans give slight boos as an expression of their disappointment.
GW: “Of course, not the first time you’ve taken your ball and gone home. But let me ask you something else Shawn: don’t you care about this brand? Don’t you care about NXT, the fans, the product, everything surrounding it? With all the change happening on Raw and SmackDown, it’s YOU who’s not adapting. For a guy who’s buddy buddy with Triple H, the least you could do is get NXT some more attention.”
The last remark seems to spark something in Michaels. He looks at Waller, studying him for a moment, before looking down as though he’s contemplating something.
SM: “You know what Waller? You made a good point there…I’ll think over what you said.”
GW: “So you mean I can fight you at Stand and Deliver?”
SM: “Oh no, I’m still definitely retired. You can fight this man instead though, I heard he's itching to fight you.”
On cue, Johnny Gargano makes his NXT return, darting to the ring to brawl with the man who ruined his farewell to NXT in December of 2021. Waller fights valiantly, but after getting a little too cocky and mocking HBK, Gargano is able to level Grayson with a Superkick to stand tall.
NXT (3/14/23):
To kick off the show, a video recap is played of what transpired on the Grayson Waller Effect. And from there, Shawn Michaels makes his way to the ring, ready to make an announcement: NXT stars are going to compete at WrestleMania! That’s right, to kick off Night Two of the spectacle, ten individuals will get the chance to earn themselves a guaranteed main roster contract on the brand of their choosing. But how will those individuals be determined? Two spots have already been locked up: the current NXT North American Champion Wes Lee, and the current NXT World Champion Bron Breakker. As for the remaining 8 slots, there will be a series of qualifying matches over the next couple of weeks (starting tonight), with the winners advancing to the battle royal at WrestleMania 39. And what better way to keep the hype going than with one of those qualifying matches right now!
Nathan Frazer vs. Andre Chase
These two individuals are quite the opposites: Nathan Frazer is a man who’s been gifted with immense physical talent and quickness, contributing to many fans considering him a strong up-and-comer. However, on the other side is Andre Chase, a man whose intellect and strategic ability has allowed him to literally create his own university. But in the end, it’s Frazer who schools Chase, leaving the founder of Chase University’s students just as disappointed as he is.
JD McDonagh vs. Duke Hudson
Looking to avenge Andre Chase’s loss earlier in the night, Duke Hudson steps into the ring looking ready to annihilate someone. However, even then he might not have the intensity to match that of the sadistic J.D. McDonagh, who showcases his scrappy nature despite Hudson having the height and weight advantage, eventually picking up the win as well. Afterwards, Hudson snaps, turning on Chase and viciously assaulting him to set up a singles match for Stand and Deliver.
Over the remaining couple of weeks, more and more superstars qualify, with individuals like Tony D’Angelo and Axiom looking impressive. Grayson Waller, the man who helped influence Shawn Michaels to get NXT more attention, falls in a qualifying match to the pure power of Odyssey Jones, but thanks to a last chance match involving people who lost their qualifiers, he’s still able to enter the battle royale following a win there.
Match:
Participants: Axiom, Bron Breakker, Damon Kemp, Grayson Waller, JD McDonagh, Nathan Frazer, Odyssey Jones, Tony D’Angelo, Von Wagner, Wes Lee
After weeks of anticipation, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale is finally here. With Bron Breakker having lost his title to Carmelo Hayes and Wes Lee his to Dragon Lee at Stand and Deliver, there’s no doubt going to be a wide range of winner possibilities. The match starts off with a bang, Von Wagner and Odyssey Jones staring each other down and beginning a war of hosses. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last too long before the remaining eight men realize that it’s in their best interest to take out the powerhouses, forcing them to the ropes and sending them both tumbling over to the outside.
Odyssey Jones and Von Wagner have been eliminated (0:59)
And with that, the playing field has now become more evenly balanced, and the remaining eight competitors separate into four separate fights. Breakker and Kemp match up well against each other, as well as Axiom and Frazer in a battle of speed. There’s also McDonagh and D’Angelo in a battle of a psychopath against a mobster, and Wes Lee vs Waller in a classic tale of cheerable underdog vs agitating villain. It’s not long before these separate matches split up however, as when Axiom looks to go for a high flying move from the top rope, Grayson Waller dropkicks him off the turnbuckle, eliminating him as he crashes to the floor.
Axiom has been eliminated (2:03)
Waller celebrates, but only momentarily, as Nathan Frazer begins targeting him next. Meanwhile, Breakker and Kemp are still going at it without any interference, but it’s not for long, as the former NXT Champion is able to lift Kemp in the Gorilla Press position before just tossing him to the outside.
Damon Kemp has been eliminated (3:38)
Tony D’Angelo tries to sneak up behind Breakker and eliminate him, but Bron sees it coming, elbowing D’Angelo away. Meanwhile, Nathan Frazer and JD McDonagh have now found themselves battling against one another on the ring apron. They start delivering some stiff shots, but in the end, it’s Frazer who gets the upper hand, a knee to the jaw sending the former Jordan Devlin crashing down.
JD McDonagh has been eliminated (4:02)
Unfortunately for Frazer, as he turns back to the ring, he’s met by a Superman Punch from Grayson Waller, unable to regain his footing and falling to the floor as well.
Nathan Frazer has been eliminated (4:08)
And with that, the field has shrunk to four: Bron Breakker, Wes Lee, Grayson Waller, and Tony D’Angelo. And it looks as though battle lines are starting to be drawn, with Breakker and Lee on one side of the ring and D’Angelo and Waller on the other. Each man looks towards the person they’re sided with, briefly nods, and immediately start targeting the person in front of them. Breaker backs Waller into a corner, while Wes Lee is able to get in some quick shots on D’Angelo, eventually managing to super kick him out of the match!
Tony D’Angelo has been eliminated (6:00)
But like a snake hidden in the grass, Grayson Waller comes from out of nowhere, ousting Wes Lee from the ring…but only one of his feet touched the ground! Waller doesn’t see this however, instead moving back to Breakker, and after a couple of minutes going at it, Waller low-blows Breakker, allowing him to shockingly eliminate him!
Bron Breakker has been eliminated (8:32)
But as Grayson Waller starts celebrating like a mad man, he fails to see Wes Lee slink back into the ring, coming up behind him and tossing him out, but unlike what Grayson tried to do to him, successfully!
Wes Lee eliminates Grayson Waller and outlasts the field to earn a guaranteed main roster contract (8:56)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Match #2: Demon Finn Balor vs. Edge - Hell in a Cell
Build:
Note: Everything up to and including Elimination Chamber 2023 stays the same with all the Judgment Day shenanigans and Edge’s hiatuses.
Raw (2/20/23): Edge vs. Austin Theory
In a proper battle of old school vs. new school, Theory and Edge put on a strong showing. Theory wisely targets the well-known weak neck of Edge, but Edge has too much pride to be put down by a kid, mounting comeback after comeback. But unfortunately, after a desperate DDT from the Rated-R Superstar has Edge leaning against the ropes and the ref checking on Theory, Finn Balor comes seemingly from out of nowhere, leveling Edge with a chair shot to the throat! Edge bounces back from the collision, rising to his feet but gasping for breath, and from there, Theory hits the A-Town Down. But rather than go for the pin, he locks in the STF, Edge already being knocked out at this point but still giving Austin the technical submission victory. After the match, Balor rushes the ring, hitting Edge with two Coup de Graces as an insult to injury (or injury to injury, I guess).
Over the coming weeks however, Edge refuses to sit back and just watch Judgment Day continue wreaking havoc. He comes out to brawl with them at any opportunity possible, specifically targeting Balor. Eventually, Finn gets sick of it, demanding a match with Edge at Mania that the Rated-R Superstar is only too happy to accept. But before that war of violence can happen, we need a war of words…
Raw (3/20/23): Edge Face-To-Face w/ Finn Balor
Once both men are in the ring, Edge speaks his mind first:
E: “You know, Finn? I used to have a great deal of respect for you. I saw your work in Japan, and it was impressive. I was impressed by you becoming the first ever Universal Champion. And I was so impressed by you back in NXT in 2021 that I nearly opted to challenge for the NXT Title instead of the Universal Belt just so I could face YOU. But now what have you become? “Ex-con Dom’s” lackey? You’ve accomplished so much in your time in the business, and yet you’re cool with being the most irrelevant member of a stable pretending to be children going through an emo phase?
“And look, when you demanded that match at WrestleMania a couple of weeks ago, two thoughts came to mind: I’ll absolutely accept so I can put you down for good… but are you actually ready Finn? I told AJ Styles this last year: I didn’t want the tag team bitch to Omos version of him…I wanted bulldog AJ. And the same applies to you: I don’t want Judgment Day, Prison Mike Finn Balor. I don’t want smiley, always happy Finn Balor. Hell, I don’t even want the Prince…I demand the Demon King!
The crowd roars in response, and Finn initially looks surprised at the statement. But then his lips curl a bit, his eyes going cold, and when he speaks into the mic, only one message comes across as a response:
FB: “Be careful what you wish for.”
And with that, Balor exits the ring, staring down Edge who returns an adrenaline-filled stare right back.
Match:
Edge makes his way to the ring first, except this isn’t the Rated R-Superstar we all know and love…it’s Brood Edge! With Gangrel even appearing at his side, Edge appears in an entrance first cloaked by darkness, then a blood red throughout the stadium. However, after he gets into the ring, the sound of a heartbeat sends shivers down everyone’s spine. But there’s no one coming down the ramp… where’s Balor? This question is soon answered when something begins happening in the ring…DEMON BALOR IS CLAWING HIS WAY UP FROM UNDERNEATH THE RING! The demon’s body paint would be purple this go around to represent Judgment Day, and though Edge shows no fear towards this remarkable entrance, it’s apparent to the fans and commentary that this is about to be crazy.
And the two tear the house down as expected. Despite the way its last match ended back at Extreme Rules of 2021, the Demon looks just as powerful as it ever has. Unfortunately, it’s unable to vanquish its opponent as quickly as it did Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 35, as Edge is fully willing to unleash his sadistic side as well. But after a brutal affair, only one entity can walk out victorious…AND IT’S BALOR! After a 1916 onto a pile of chairs, the Demon sets Edge up on a table, scaling halfway up the cage wall to add some extra power into its Coup de Grace to finally put away Edge.
Demon Finn Balor def. Edge via pinfall (18:49)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Match #3: John Cena vs. Austin Theory
Build:
In the weeks leading up to Elimination Chamber, Theory would begin to incorporate mannerisms and moves extremely similar, if not identical, to those of a certain Attitude Adjuster. He would use the diving shoulder tackles in one encounter, the Five Knuckle Shuffle in another, he’d even wear wristbands reminiscent to those of Cena. But things come to a boiling point at:
Elimination Chamber: Men’s Elimination Chamber Match For The US Title
Following the elimination of Seth Rollins thanks to Logan Paul screwing him over, the match would come down to Austin Theory and Montez Ford. Theory has the opportunity to hit an A-Town Down, but something comes over him. He instead drags Ford over to the corner, lifting him in position for the fireman’s carry as he climbs to the top turnbuckle. He then looks straight into the camera, waving his hand in front of his face and the signature “You can’t see me!” line. However, this comes back to bite him, as when Theory tries to hit him with an Attitude Adjustment, Montez lands on his feet, running back to the corner, leaping up the turnbuckle, and hitting Theory with a vertical suplex! But Montez isn’t done there, moving back to the turnbuckle, climbing to the top of a pod, and nailing his beautiful Frog Splash on Theory to get the pin and win the United States Championship!
Unfortunately for Theory, things wouldn’t get much better for him, as though he manages to defeat Edge on the following Raw thanks to interference from Balor, he still becomes the victim of John Cena tearing into him in Boston. And in this universe, Cena gets even more ammunition to work with, pointing out how Theory is just trying to copy every single thing he does and that he’s not a young John Cena: he’s just a young Damien Mizdow! But despite this, Theory still gets what he wanted: a match against the leader of the Cenation at Mania, where with the title no longer in his possession and constant disrespect he’s faced, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Match:
Despite only having competed in a handful of matches since 2020, Cena looks to be in great in-ring shape for this match with Austin Theory, getting off to a hot start and nearly hitting an Attitude Adjustment within the first minute. Theory manages to escape however, and he’s able to showcase some of his offense in the middle stages of the match, hitting dropkicks and even a moonsault at one point to stick it to Cena that he’s the better athlete. While it may be true, Cena’s resiliency is what got him so far in WWE, and it looks to be the case once more as he begins mounting a comeback at the end, hitting his signature shoulder tackle-back body drop-five knuckle shuffle sequence. However, Theory once again avoids the AA, and in a surprise twist, he hits it instead! Though Cena kicks out, Theory now has the momentum and adrenaline on his side, and shortly thereafter, he hits Cena with an A-Town Down, getting the rather quick win and a huge milestone for his young career to shock the fans in attendance.
Austin Theory def. John Cena via pinfall (10:42)
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Match #4: Trish Stratus and Lita vs. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
Build:
After weeks of the MMA-experienced duo of Rousey and Baszler making the Smackdown women’s division’s lives miserable, including her own, Shotzi’s finally had enough. In a post-match interview following a singles loss to Shayna Baszler and beat-down post-match, Blackheart says that she knows the perfect person to help her out and make Ronda and Shayna finally get their comeuppance.
SmackDown (2/17/23):
Shotzi would come out, seemingly ready to make her announcement, but it’s immediately interrupted by Rousey and Baszler. Baszler points out how they’ve destroyed everyone back there, from Natalya to Raquel Rodriguez to Tegan Nox. Whoever Shotzi brings out, they’re not worried about in the slightest. And since this partner isn’t even there to protect Shotzi, why can’t they just attack her again right now? They look primed to do just that, but before they can pounce…
OUT COMES LITA! An absolute legend from the Ruthless Aggression Era, she’s now made her return back to WWE after a few one-off matches in the last couple of years, standing side-by-side with Shotzi, a competitor she met back when Tough Enough was a thing in 2015. Baszler initially still looks willing to fight, but Ronda holds her back, saying it’s not worth it tonight.
Unfortunately for Shotzi, just a few weeks later, she would be written off with a broken arm following another disgusting attack by Rousey and Baszler backstage. Lita would be extremely disappointed, as she really wanted to team with someone who clearly looked to her as a role model for many years. But she’ll fight hard on Shotzi’s behalf, and she might know of a replacement…
SmackDown (3/31/23):
On the last SmackDown before WrestleMania, we have a contract signing. Rousey and Baszler are waiting impatiently for Lita to show up: they want to sign the contract so they can kick her ass two-on-one at WrestleMania and get the easiest paycheck of their life. Adam Pearce points out how she might have a partner, which the MMA duo laugh at: they’ve destroyed everyone, there’s no one left. Well, on cue, Lita shows up, and apologizes for the delay, but she had to help a certain friend get here in time for the show…from Canada…
IT’S TRISH STRATUS! Two icons from the early 2000s are now reunited, and they march to the ring, getting into a brawl with Rousey and Baszler. They ultimately stand tall, adding an extra emphasis to the “victory” with a Chick Kick by Stratus on Rousey, before Trish then sets her up on a table and allows Lita to hit the signature moonsault on Ronda through the wood.
Match:
Despite the chemistry exhibited for months by Ronda and Shayna compared to Trish and Lita not being full-timers in more than a decade, it would feel reasonable to assume that the MMA duo could make quick work of the Hall of Famers. However, Trish and Lita show no signs of backing down so easily, managing to keep things well within reach despite the powerful technical-based offense from their opponents. And in somewhat of a surprising twist, after Stratus tags out to Lita but with Baszler not seeing, Lita hits her signature Moonsault before going for an immediate cover to get the 1-2-3 in perhaps the final WrestleMania match of two legendary women’s competitors’ careers.
Trish Stratus and Lita def. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler via pinfall (11:33)
Match #5: Pat McAfee vs. The Miz
Build:
After yet another beatdown on an episode of Raw, with this having happened to him by the likes of Seth Rollins, Rick Boogs, and now even a newly solo Chad Gable, Mike Mizanin has had enough. He figures that if a prick like Kevin Owens got to have a talk show at last year’s WrestleMania, it’s only fair he gets to have one as well. And he has a special guest in mind already…however, before he can reveal it (if he was even going to at all), Kevin Owens comes out, giving Miz the gift of a Stunner for that comment about him being a prick.
Over the remaining shows until WrestleMania, Miz hypes up his guest as having been a former football player, a man known all over the United States, a true entertainer….
Match/Segment:
With the Miz situated in the ring and the Miz TV set prepared, he reveals his guest to be…Baron Corbin! Of course, the fans boo, having expected someone different, but Miz ignores this, asking Corbin a series of questions. However, before he can ask the last one, he finally snaps at the either annoyance or pure indifference from the crowd, telling them that Pat McAfee isn’t here. He declined the initial request, and he’s too much of a coward to get back in the ring with someone like Corbin…
WELL OUT COMES MCAFEE! Like at SummerSlam, he’s got his own choir serenading him to the ring, and as soon as he gets in the ring, Corbin tries to step up to him. In response, McAfee obliterates him with a punch, knocking him flat on his back and rolling out of the ring. Pat then sits down in a chair, asking Miz how he’s doing. In shock at what transpired, Miz hesitates, but just before he can answer, McAfee pulls a Rock and says “IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW YOU FEEL!”
Miz is now completely flustered, but he tries to save the segment and his own credibility by telling McAfee he bet he won’t fight him right here, right now because he cares too much about himself. In response, McAfee rips off his suit to reveal his normal match attire, and then on the mic, he calls for a ref! Miz tries to say it was a joke, but upon the ref entering the ring, the bell rings, and McAfee goes right after Miz. Miz is unable to gain any sense of momentum, just getting completely annihilated and eventually having his skull punted en route to being pinned.
Pat McAfee def. The Miz via pinfall (1:49)
Match #6: Johnny Gargano vs. Chad Gable vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Bronson Reed vs. Dexter Lumis vs. Montez Ford (c) - Ladder Match For The United States Championship
Build:
Monday Night Raw (2/20/23):
Following his successful US Title win at Elimination Chamber, Montez Ford has a celebration with Dawkins backstage, which unfortunately is interrupted by the colossus known as Bronson Reed. This leads to a brawl, with other people at the party like Gargano, Lumis, and Cedric Alexander deciding to join in as well for the hell of it.
Over the coming weeks, Bronson Reed would still look to target Montez Ford and the US Title, but he wouldn’t be alone, as guys like Gargano and Gable want to hold main roster singles gold as well. Eventually, Adam Pearce just gets sick of all the constant bickering and brawls, so he proposes a ladder match for the belt, if Montez is up for it. Ford shows no hesitancy on accepting, saying he wants to make a splash at the Grandest Stage of them All, and successfully defending his championship in a ladder match can prove he belongs. With that, there would also be a fatal five-way match between the other five men vying for the belt on the go-home Raw to Mania, just to see who would pick up some steam heading into the PPV, with Cedric Alexander proving himself as being truly worthy of being in the ladder match with the victory there.
Match:
This match would be pure carnage and pure excitement from the moment the match starts to when it finishes. Every man involved would get a memorable moment: Gable would hit a moonsault from the top rope onto a mass of bodies outside the ring. Cedric would hit three different people with Lumbar Checks in the span of about twenty seconds. Bronson Reed would crush Cedric with a TSUNAMI off the top of a ladder. Lumis would choke out Gable at the top of a ladder before sending him crashing onto a ladder bridge on the outside. Gargano and Lumis team up for a makeshift DIY Superkick/Knee combo on Bronson. Montez would hit a Frog Splash off the top of a ladder onto Gargano through a different ladder bridge than the one involving Lumis and Gable. But in the end, only one man can reach it, and with the two men at the top of the ladder at the end being Montez Ford and Johnny Gargano, the victor is…MONTEZ FORD!
Montez Ford retains the United States Championship (16:10)
Match #7: Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair (c) - Smackdown Women’s Championship
Build:
The build to this match stays pretty much the same as in real life, with Rhea looking to avenge her previous loss to Charlotte at WrestleMania 36 three years ago. However, Charlotte in this universe also points out how it wasn’t just then that Rhea couldn’t beat her: it was in 2021 as well, when Charlotte eventually beat her for the Raw Women’s Championship. She acknowledges Ripley as being a great talent, but she’s just no match for the Queen.
Match:
In a match of beautiful storytelling, Rhea Ripley learns from her past mistakes against Charlotte Flair. She’s not only careful about avoiding as many attacks to her legs as possible, but she uses the same strategy against Charlotte, utilizing moves like chop blocks to weaken the lower body of the Queen. Charlotte is able to keep herself alive despite this onslaught for most of the match, but after a Riptide, Rhea sees her chance to close things full-circle. She locks on Charlotte’s own Figure Eight Leg Lock, and though Flair desperately tries to reach the bottom rope or break the hold, after quite a long time trapped in the submission hold, she’s forced to tap, ushering in the era of the Nightmare in the women’s division.
Rhea Ripley def. Charlotte Flair via submission to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship (14:33)
Match #8: Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
Build:
In this universe, rather than having Logan Paul eliminate Seth Rollins, it would actually be the opposite, with Rollins eliminating Logan en route to ultimately falling up short himself. Logan becomes slightly obsessed with Rollins and somehow even more egotistical, calling Rollins out every day on various social media platforms, demanding a match against him to prove who’s better. Rollins keeps denying these increasingly crazed demands however, telling Logan he has better things to do than fight a piece of shit human who has no right to call themselves a wrestler after just a year in the business.
However, after Logan Paul screws him out of possibly winning the US Title at Elimination Chamber, Seth has to change his tune. He tells Logan he’ll fight him…if he finally faces him man-to-man for once. Logan obliges, coming to Raw in Boston, and while this inevitably leads to a brawl, it’s Paul who stands tall, knocking out Seth with a vicious right. Not bad for a “fake” wrestler, huh? Rollins manages to get his comeuppance a couple weeks later, stomping Logan’s face into the canvas, and the match is set for Mania.
Match:
In a highly entertaining match showcasing each man’s ridiculous and natural talent for the art of wrestling, Seth and Logan test each other’s limits. From Buckshot Lariats and frog splashes by Logan to Falcon Arrows and Superkicks by Seth, each man breaks out a plethora of exciting moves, but in the end, at a show called WrestleMania, it’s the true wrestler who gets the job done, stomping Logan’s head into the mat for the second time of the contest.
Seth Rollins def. Logan Paul via pinfall (15:30)
Match #9: Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns (c) - Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Build:
Royal Rumble (1/28/23): Men’s Royal Rumble Match
As in real life, Cody Rhodes makes his triumphant return in the Rumble match, receiving a thunderous reaction. In this universe however, he enters at the #15 spot, a respectable entry number but still plenty of work to be done. He faces numerous challenges, with the Usos, Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn all entering the match to try and wreak havoc on the twenty six other men looking to eventually take down their Tribal Chief. And of course, the tension established between him and the Visionary Seth Rollins from their three previous encounters in 2022 leads to some intense sequences throughout. Ultimately, both him and Rollins manage to reach the final three, alongside the Honorary Uce Sami Zayn. Cody and Rollins would fight on the apron, and while Seth manages to superkick Rhodes, he ends up getting nailed by a Helluva Kick, falling to the floor! Unfortunately for Sami however, the rest of his evening proves to be miserable, as Cody manages to successfully eliminate him, and then later on, gets obliterated by the Bloodline (minus Jey) following a chair shot on Roman heard around the world.
Monday Night Raw (1/30/23):
Kicking off the show, Cody centers his promo around the idea of family. He talks about his own family, about the legacy paved by Dusty and Dustin for him to get here. But then he turns his attention towards the Bloodline. He respects the Samoan Dynasty, from names like the Wild Samoans whom his father worked against, to guys like the Usos today. However, Cody believes in destiny. It was destiny that brought him back to WWE, and to vanquish the Tribal Chief at WrestleMania for the gold.
Monday Night Raw (2/6/23):
Paul Heyman appears on behalf of Roman Reigns, tearing into Cody. Rhodes keeps bringing up his family, but for what? To establish they’ve always been unable to reach the top? Because he’s not good enough to be something original? Because he never made his father proud and is just desperate? It’s with this last remark that Cody gets in Paul’s face, looking ready to throw a punch, but able to regain his composure, simply telling Paul that saying that was a mistake.
Monday Night Raw (2/13/23):
With Cody not having had a singles match since his return, he requests one for this Raw, and Montez Ford accepts, looking to impress heading into the US Title Elimination Chamber match on Saturday. Unfortunately for Montez, Cody picks up the win, but a hard-fought one from both parties. Unfortunately for Rhodes, he would be blindsided by Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso after the match! Jimmy nails him with a Superkick, and Sikoa hits the Samoan Spike, leaving the American Nightmare in a heap.
Friday Night SmackDown (2/17/23):
There would be a contract signing between Reigns and Zayn, which of course results in a brawl. Despite neither Uso being in attendance, Reigns has Sikoa by his side, and with KO still likely on the shelf due to the gruesome beating at Royal Rumble, it looks like Sami will fall victim to the numbers game…UNTIL OUT COMES CODY! He immediately goes after Solo, dragging him out to the outside and brawling with him, allowing Sami to hit Roman with a Blue Thunder Bomb through the table in the ring. Zayn and Rhodes then stare at each other: they both know what they want, and they both know what they need to do…but will their paths continue to cross…
Elimination Chamber (2/18/23): Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
It would be with the events of Raw and SmackDown that this match between Cody and Solo is announced for the Montreal-held show, and Solo does everything he can to try and annihilate his cousin’s Mania challenger, but Rhodes is too resilient, managing to survive a Samoan Spike at a count of 2.9 before later putting away Sikoa with an avalanche Pedigree.
As for the remaining weeks leading up to the event, Sami and KO would go on to challenge the Usos for the Tag Titles at Mania, leaving Cody and Roman all alone to have the singles match at WrestleMania. Roman looks at Cody as being a quitter: he left WWE when he failed, and left the own company he created when he failed there too…it may just be time for him to go after he loses at WrestleMania 39. Meanwhile, Cody knows Roman’s mind games, but he also knows Reigns has weaknesses. He’s relied on his family for far too long, and sooner or later, too much abuse of them will come back to haunt him…
Match:
In what can only be described as an incredible match, Cody and Roman prove why they’re in the main event at the biggest PPV of the year. Reigns has even more powerful offense than usual, yet Cody matches it well. Reigns survives a Cross Rhodes, Cody survives a Spear, it’s going to take so much to keep the other man down! Reigns would instruct Jey Uso and Jey only to accompany Roman to the ring, and it looks as though Roman is going to rely on his interference in yet another match…but Jey looks hesitant! Roman is confused, demanding Jey do what’s necessary, but after shoving Jey, Jey shoves Roman right back! Reigns is left stunned as the Uso walks up the ramp, and shortly thereafter, Reigns is hit with not one, not two, but three consecutive Cross Rhodes, giving the American Nightmare what he was destined to do.
Cody Rhodes def. Roman Reigns via pinfall to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (30:45)
2023.03.23 02:31 ranchxnoobxtryhard MRAdv. Nuzlocke Run 4: Outsourcing, Part 4
Month 10: Spooky's feeling Fish. It's had a long two Months, proving itself in AGIMA-D, and following up with a Special Training session immediately after. We let it have two Weeks of rest, and it's back in full condition. We don't want too many days down at a time, so we perform some mixed Training before wrapping up with a third Week of rest. Month 11, Spooky's taste for Fish is getting a bit taxing. We need to try and get some extra cash... Training this week goes well. I'm hoping to potentially get another Discount in Special Training, but this will drop our money dangerously low. Lack of a Claw-based Skill is keeping us from achieving Spooky's potential.
Nuts are not particularly good in Month 12, but it's the cheapest option that Spooky doesn't dislike. We're not ready for AGIMA-C; have to at least try and get some more money. It's Spooky's Birthday next Month, so I'm going to spoil it just a bit with another light routine. We do a bit of target practice to open the Month before three Weeks of rest.
Birthday Month, we give Spooky a Nutrient. Whereas last Month was lax, we have a chance at a small Tournament next Month to get a bit of quick cash. Gotta get back to some good Training after a nice party. Mr. Richard seems to be losing interest in the Experiment whenever there isn't violence going on. He'll likely get excited towards Tourney time, though, and want to bring out the "fancy stuff"- which is just his regular liquor in a fancy bottle. Eugh, so tacky. Not the most redeeming example of a man, this one... Main focus is on our aim; we don't want any flukes while we're in the moment, if we can help it.
Month 14, Lake Ira Tournament on Week 2. Nuts is our best bet until we have more funding. Can't have Spooky in a compromised state here, so we don't exhaust any energy the first Week. Richard chimes in, saying that it should Train before to "get its blood flowing"; yeah, I'd like to see how motivated he feels after chucking boulders. I say, let's have a drink... It wasn't difficult to waste a good bit of that Week emptying his "fancy" whiskey... A few times. Tournament in... 9 hours???? Ohhhh, jeezus... I don't feel so good.
A revitalized Spooky and a hungover Researcher walk into a bar. This isn't a setup for a joke, I just really need a shot of vodka to kick my hangover away. Richard has no issue, and paid for a hefty tab for himself along with my drink, which he insisted be a double.
...This man will be the death of me. Lake Ira, the sunlight hurts my eyes. Entering at Metric Score... 1067. Am I reading that wrong??? Yeesh... I think Spooky might need a stiff one after this meat-grinder. Just... Don't get killed.
-Marsla: Accuracy was huge here, making good connection throughout. Marsla wasn't too much of an opponent offensively. We did really well... Win. Huh.
-Rogar: Some good luck from Spooky allows it to get in two hits on Rogar, and we manage to be struck only once. We would have been tough enough to survive one more, but this was extra lucky. And, we really needed it, so... Who's complaining? Not Richard, I promise you that. A magnificent display at Lake Ira nets us some coin and a big Metric boost. 1127, we're at the point of no return now. AGIMA or bust. Rest on Weeks 3/4 of Month 14.
Our final training needs to get Spooky's attacks hitting as consistently as possible. Strategy is simple, hit them more, hit them harder. Month 15, give Spooky some Nuts, final Training to polish up for AGIMA-C next Month. Discount Training comes, and goes. Not this time. Final Metrics: 1146. I may have rushed this final stint of Training just a hair; Aroma expresses worries that letting Spooky rest so much could spoil its Training behavior- little does she know, that doesn't matter at this very moment.
AGIMA-C. The energy is high, and Richard made a few calls, I guess. The Glass Seats are lively, I see some other Collars from the Board up there, and... Dancers??? Oy, this is supposed to be a professional event, what's the meaning of this!? Am I the only one taking this seriously?
The roster looks... Tentative. I see Medows as our fifth fight. Similar species to Spooky. Being that our Metrics are lower, it could end up spelling disaster. I see Marsla again; hope we can repeat our last fight with them.
-Mariscos: Our Accuracy in striking were on par with each other; we did manage to see an "agile" Spooky this fight, or just a coincidence. Either way, our defense was impeccable. Win for us. Medows has won its first match as well.
-Puff: Kept Spooky at a distance for most of the fight. It was an effective tactic, and though they weren't doing us much harm they were exceptional at keeping away from it. Persistence wasn't our friend here, as we were only able to connect once and lost the Judge call. 1-1 is a really bad place to be right now.
-Marsla: Rinse, repeat from earlier. Marsla is significantly weaker. The damage difference is undeniable. Easy win. The Collars do seem to be interested... I see a lot of chatter and nodding. The girls seem there mostly for ornamentation. There's... Definitely some Business being discussed.
-Maftie: We were controlled for a lot of the game; managing to get in a few clean hits when we could, and then they land a Dunk on us with 10 seconds left. Stalled out by Maftie to our second loss. Nooooooooooo. My heart's about to break.
Only chance now is... To lose. Medows is still undefeated. Three losses will result in a low bracket. I can retry in 4 Months...? Will that be too long for Spooky to go without Training? I'm... This is troubling.
...-Medows: We size each other up, and Medows is definitely intimidating. Its Metrics are near or better than each of ours... But it seems Spooky has taken it as a challenge. The fight is... Epic. The blows were traded one after the other; advantage shifted back and forth; in the Glass Seats sat the Collars, frozen in place, eyes and mouth agape. They had no idea what spectacle they were about to witness. In a wild upset, Spooky had outmatched its opponent.
...Second Place. I... Must prepare for what's to happen next.
submitted by ranchxnoobxtryhard to MonsterRancher [link] [comments]
Nuts are not particularly good in Month 12, but it's the cheapest option that Spooky doesn't dislike. We're not ready for AGIMA-C; have to at least try and get some more money. It's Spooky's Birthday next Month, so I'm going to spoil it just a bit with another light routine. We do a bit of target practice to open the Month before three Weeks of rest.
Birthday Month, we give Spooky a Nutrient. Whereas last Month was lax, we have a chance at a small Tournament next Month to get a bit of quick cash. Gotta get back to some good Training after a nice party. Mr. Richard seems to be losing interest in the Experiment whenever there isn't violence going on. He'll likely get excited towards Tourney time, though, and want to bring out the "fancy stuff"- which is just his regular liquor in a fancy bottle. Eugh, so tacky. Not the most redeeming example of a man, this one... Main focus is on our aim; we don't want any flukes while we're in the moment, if we can help it.
Month 14, Lake Ira Tournament on Week 2. Nuts is our best bet until we have more funding. Can't have Spooky in a compromised state here, so we don't exhaust any energy the first Week. Richard chimes in, saying that it should Train before to "get its blood flowing"; yeah, I'd like to see how motivated he feels after chucking boulders. I say, let's have a drink... It wasn't difficult to waste a good bit of that Week emptying his "fancy" whiskey... A few times. Tournament in... 9 hours???? Ohhhh, jeezus... I don't feel so good.
A revitalized Spooky and a hungover Researcher walk into a bar. This isn't a setup for a joke, I just really need a shot of vodka to kick my hangover away. Richard has no issue, and paid for a hefty tab for himself along with my drink, which he insisted be a double.
...This man will be the death of me. Lake Ira, the sunlight hurts my eyes. Entering at Metric Score... 1067. Am I reading that wrong??? Yeesh... I think Spooky might need a stiff one after this meat-grinder. Just... Don't get killed.
-Marsla: Accuracy was huge here, making good connection throughout. Marsla wasn't too much of an opponent offensively. We did really well... Win. Huh.
-Rogar: Some good luck from Spooky allows it to get in two hits on Rogar, and we manage to be struck only once. We would have been tough enough to survive one more, but this was extra lucky. And, we really needed it, so... Who's complaining? Not Richard, I promise you that. A magnificent display at Lake Ira nets us some coin and a big Metric boost. 1127, we're at the point of no return now. AGIMA or bust. Rest on Weeks 3/4 of Month 14.
Our final training needs to get Spooky's attacks hitting as consistently as possible. Strategy is simple, hit them more, hit them harder. Month 15, give Spooky some Nuts, final Training to polish up for AGIMA-C next Month. Discount Training comes, and goes. Not this time. Final Metrics: 1146. I may have rushed this final stint of Training just a hair; Aroma expresses worries that letting Spooky rest so much could spoil its Training behavior- little does she know, that doesn't matter at this very moment.
AGIMA-C. The energy is high, and Richard made a few calls, I guess. The Glass Seats are lively, I see some other Collars from the Board up there, and... Dancers??? Oy, this is supposed to be a professional event, what's the meaning of this!? Am I the only one taking this seriously?
The roster looks... Tentative. I see Medows as our fifth fight. Similar species to Spooky. Being that our Metrics are lower, it could end up spelling disaster. I see Marsla again; hope we can repeat our last fight with them.
-Mariscos: Our Accuracy in striking were on par with each other; we did manage to see an "agile" Spooky this fight, or just a coincidence. Either way, our defense was impeccable. Win for us. Medows has won its first match as well.
-Puff: Kept Spooky at a distance for most of the fight. It was an effective tactic, and though they weren't doing us much harm they were exceptional at keeping away from it. Persistence wasn't our friend here, as we were only able to connect once and lost the Judge call. 1-1 is a really bad place to be right now.
-Marsla: Rinse, repeat from earlier. Marsla is significantly weaker. The damage difference is undeniable. Easy win. The Collars do seem to be interested... I see a lot of chatter and nodding. The girls seem there mostly for ornamentation. There's... Definitely some Business being discussed.
-Maftie: We were controlled for a lot of the game; managing to get in a few clean hits when we could, and then they land a Dunk on us with 10 seconds left. Stalled out by Maftie to our second loss. Nooooooooooo. My heart's about to break.
Only chance now is... To lose. Medows is still undefeated. Three losses will result in a low bracket. I can retry in 4 Months...? Will that be too long for Spooky to go without Training? I'm... This is troubling.
...-Medows: We size each other up, and Medows is definitely intimidating. Its Metrics are near or better than each of ours... But it seems Spooky has taken it as a challenge. The fight is... Epic. The blows were traded one after the other; advantage shifted back and forth; in the Glass Seats sat the Collars, frozen in place, eyes and mouth agape. They had no idea what spectacle they were about to witness. In a wild upset, Spooky had outmatched its opponent.
...Second Place. I... Must prepare for what's to happen next.
2023.03.23 01:46 Super_Wooper2 I watched Yu-Gi-Oh GX season 2 and here are some of the duelists records
Before I put down the records, I should say that some of them are inflated due to some offscreen duels and statements and I'll be saving them to the end to give an explanation on why there recordsare the way they are. Also these are just there Records in season 2 so nothing from season 1.
Jaden 21-1
Hassleberry 2-4
Alexis 2-3
Sartorius 4-1
Here are where the record's get a little weird
Syrus 9-2 (these wins come from the fact that after one of his duels in the GenX tournament we see syrus has 5 more medels meaning he would have had to win 5 other duels)
Zane 7-11 (we find out Zane lose 10 straight duels in the pro league, we can assume this losing streak started after his loss to Aster. Also his 11th Loss is to a random pro league duelist)
Bastion 2-2 (we see in the GenX tournament he has 2 duel medals and one of those duels we actually get to see as he beats a Obelisk blue duelist)
Astor 58-3 (stated by Zane to have a 30-0 professional record and later we see that Astor has about 13 duel medals from what I could count in episode 35 and then he beats 9 GenX tournament duelists in episode 45)
Okay now here's were the record gets opsurd
THE CHAZZ 106+ - 2
Here why Chazz has such a stacked record and has a plus next to it.
-He beats at least 6 Obelisk Blue students to bring the into the Society Of Light in episode 18
-He beats 3 Ra Yellow duelists in episode 30
Okay so this one is really were he gets a lot of his wins.
-We see that in episode 35 he challenges a duelist named Gelgo and both of them reveal how many duel medals they have and the medals cover the inside of their jackets. From what I could count Chazz has 92 medels meaning he would have had to win 92 duels
-In episode 50 we are told that Chazz has beaten every Society Of Light member but since we don't know how many duelists that is I just gave him a plus
submitted by Super_Wooper2 to yugioh [link] [comments]
Jaden 21-1
Hassleberry 2-4
Alexis 2-3
Sartorius 4-1
Here are where the record's get a little weird
Syrus 9-2 (these wins come from the fact that after one of his duels in the GenX tournament we see syrus has 5 more medels meaning he would have had to win 5 other duels)
Zane 7-11 (we find out Zane lose 10 straight duels in the pro league, we can assume this losing streak started after his loss to Aster. Also his 11th Loss is to a random pro league duelist)
Bastion 2-2 (we see in the GenX tournament he has 2 duel medals and one of those duels we actually get to see as he beats a Obelisk blue duelist)
Astor 58-3 (stated by Zane to have a 30-0 professional record and later we see that Astor has about 13 duel medals from what I could count in episode 35 and then he beats 9 GenX tournament duelists in episode 45)
Okay now here's were the record gets opsurd
THE CHAZZ 106+ - 2
Here why Chazz has such a stacked record and has a plus next to it.
-He beats at least 6 Obelisk Blue students to bring the into the Society Of Light in episode 18
-He beats 3 Ra Yellow duelists in episode 30
Okay so this one is really were he gets a lot of his wins.
-We see that in episode 35 he challenges a duelist named Gelgo and both of them reveal how many duel medals they have and the medals cover the inside of their jackets. From what I could count Chazz has 92 medels meaning he would have had to win 92 duels
-In episode 50 we are told that Chazz has beaten every Society Of Light member but since we don't know how many duelists that is I just gave him a plus
2023.03.23 00:44 sn0r EUROPEAN COUNCIL - MARCH 23rd - 24th
This European Council of the 23rd and 24th of March brings together the leaders of the 27 European nations as well as the Charles Michel (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission).
Also attending will be the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
At the European Council leaders of the 27 EU nations make strategic decisions on key topics regarding EU policy.
This will be followed by the Eurosummit, in which the leaders of the of the 20 Eurozone countries will meet to discuss policy with the European Commission.
More info: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2023/03/23-24/
Live stream: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/M2MnDyU
submitted by sn0r to europeanunion [link] [comments]
Also attending will be the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
At the European Council leaders of the 27 EU nations make strategic decisions on key topics regarding EU policy.
This will be followed by the Eurosummit, in which the leaders of the of the 20 Eurozone countries will meet to discuss policy with the European Commission.
The European Council will meet for a two-day summit in Brussels. Building on previous European Council meetings in December 2022 and February 2023, EU leaders will discuss the latest developments in relation to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and continued EU support for Ukraine. They will also debate on competitiveness, single market and the economy, energy, external relations and other topics, including migration.Check out the Agenda and the RUMINT (Rumor Intel) below.
Agenda:
EU response to Russia’s war of aggression against UkraineEU leaders will address Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in all its dimensions, as well as continued EU support for Ukraine and its people.Competitiveness and the EU single market
The European Council will discuss Europe’s long-term strategy to boost competitiveness and productivity and how to harness the full potential of the single market.Economy and trade
EU leaders will also review progress on how to make the EU’s economic, industrial and technological base fit for both the green and digital transitions.
The European Council will hold a strategic discussion on the geopolitical aspects of EU trade policy and address the reform of the EU economic governance framework.Energy
The European Council will follow-up on its meeting held in December 2022.
The European Council will also discuss preparedness and contingency planning for this winter and future cold seasons.
RUMINT
Expect discussions/fireworks on...- illegal migration
- petrol powered car phase-out dates and nuclear power
- Hungary's stance towards Ukraine and Russia
More info: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2023/03/23-24/
Live stream: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/M2MnDyU
2023.03.23 00:43 CakeBake01 The gift to humanity
"The ancient ones, the beings that seeded life on planets, birth stars, and take species and uplift them to space-faring. Some see them as gods, others as just their creators"
"We know that gran'da, we want to know about the humans" a hatchling spoke up
"Yes tell us about humans gran'da" another spoke up
My gaze lower to the small group of hatchlings that have gathered to listen to my stories, they seem to be almost to childhood, and their shells are gaining the dark earthy colors
"You wish to know about the humans?" I say looking at them
They all nod at me as their shine at the story to be told
"Very well, the humans were the last species to be brought up to join us, the people at the time were scared" I stated
"Why were they scared?" A hatchling ask
"Cause of their growth, they have wars" I answered
"But other species have war"
"Yes but their wars were, vicious, they made weapons to kill one another, they sharpen sticks at first then stone, they learn the art of forging and soon the power of explosions. They made and used weapons that many species would rather go extinct than use on another let alone their kind and for this fact, many species ask and pleaded for the ancient to stop and let them wipe themselves out but they did, they continue their work and by some miracle, they were lifted to join us but despite this, they kept on fighting themselves for a long time over certain reasons"
"And what is their gift?" A hatchling ask
"Getting ahead of us there and how do you know about those?" I ask
"My sib'ing told me about those" the hatchling answer
"Well first, do you know what our gift is?" I ask the group
The hatchling all look between each other waiting for one to answer but there was only silence
"Very well first do you all know what gifts are?" I ask the hatchlings
They all shook their head and my mandibles happily clicked together
"Gifts are items given to us by the ancient ones to help better all, we ke'kuks were gifted the orb of community. Anyone who stands within the orb domain will be heard and understood, this is why our home world is where all the other species gather to discuss"
"What about the argonians?" One ask
"They have the staff of growth, the rod makes any ground it touches become fertile and blooming with life" I answer
"What about the ax'lgo?"
"The forges of creation, Turing any raw mineral into what the welder dream of"
"What about the humans?" One ask
"Ah, I almost forgot we were talking about the humans, their gift was quite a surprise. They were given the saber of destruction"
"What does that do?"
"The blade is strong, able to cut through anything, even planets with one swing," I said to them
"Why do they have that? I thought you said these gifts help all but it sounds like they would use it for bad. They made dangerous things and attack each other with them"
"Yes but that is why they were given it. They have made weapons that could wipe out entire cities in seconds leaving nothing in ash. They know the weight of those dangerous weapons and for this, they know the weight they were given and the ancients knew they would be ready to accept it for they knew the war was coming"
"War? What war?" A hatchling spoke up
"This war started before the ancients even arrive in our galaxy"
"What?! they were from another galaxy?"
"Indeed, their species were hunted by a hungering swarm and the few remain to flee here into our galaxy where they thought they were safe so they begin to try to grow their species, and to pass the time they began to create life, slow at first but soon they up lift their first species and gave them a piece of technology, a gift"
But sadly they weren't safe, the hungry swarm found them and soon streak across the void to them, they knew they couldn't win so they made a decision. They would create a species, a species that life grew from war, that fought with tooth and nail, as they say, and would cherish life and after many attempts, they created the humans. Once they were brought up they gave them their gift and told them the swarm was coming before leaving, but not away instead to the swarm"
"They would sacrifice themselves to buy us time to prepare. All the species have mourned over the loss of them except the humans. They didn't know when the swarm will arrive so they didn't have the time yet, so they began to study the sword they were given. Learning how to make more, to improve it and to prepare their species to for the fight to come"
The chamber soon become silent, none of the children made a sound after hearing the story
"Will they win?" A hatchling finally ask
I let out a laugh "do you have to ask? I am willing to bet our gift that they will send the swarm running in fear. But knowing them they won't let the swarm run away, for humanity won't let the sacrifice from the people that help them for generations go unpaid"
My eyes turn to the clock and I let out a chitter at the time
"It seems it's time for you all to go to your beds," I said getting up
They all made noises of disapproval
"We want to hear more, we aren't tired" a hatchling stated
Resounding responses agree with that statement as they all look at me with pleading eyes
"I know but the last time I did your brood mothers almost rip my head off" I began to corral them to their beds with sound of disagreement
submitted by CakeBake01 to HFY [link] [comments]
"We know that gran'da, we want to know about the humans" a hatchling spoke up
"Yes tell us about humans gran'da" another spoke up
My gaze lower to the small group of hatchlings that have gathered to listen to my stories, they seem to be almost to childhood, and their shells are gaining the dark earthy colors
"You wish to know about the humans?" I say looking at them
They all nod at me as their shine at the story to be told
"Very well, the humans were the last species to be brought up to join us, the people at the time were scared" I stated
"Why were they scared?" A hatchling ask
"Cause of their growth, they have wars" I answered
"But other species have war"
"Yes but their wars were, vicious, they made weapons to kill one another, they sharpen sticks at first then stone, they learn the art of forging and soon the power of explosions. They made and used weapons that many species would rather go extinct than use on another let alone their kind and for this fact, many species ask and pleaded for the ancient to stop and let them wipe themselves out but they did, they continue their work and by some miracle, they were lifted to join us but despite this, they kept on fighting themselves for a long time over certain reasons"
"And what is their gift?" A hatchling ask
"Getting ahead of us there and how do you know about those?" I ask
"My sib'ing told me about those" the hatchling answer
"Well first, do you know what our gift is?" I ask the group
The hatchling all look between each other waiting for one to answer but there was only silence
"Very well first do you all know what gifts are?" I ask the hatchlings
They all shook their head and my mandibles happily clicked together
"Gifts are items given to us by the ancient ones to help better all, we ke'kuks were gifted the orb of community. Anyone who stands within the orb domain will be heard and understood, this is why our home world is where all the other species gather to discuss"
"What about the argonians?" One ask
"They have the staff of growth, the rod makes any ground it touches become fertile and blooming with life" I answer
"What about the ax'lgo?"
"The forges of creation, Turing any raw mineral into what the welder dream of"
"What about the humans?" One ask
"Ah, I almost forgot we were talking about the humans, their gift was quite a surprise. They were given the saber of destruction"
"What does that do?"
"The blade is strong, able to cut through anything, even planets with one swing," I said to them
"Why do they have that? I thought you said these gifts help all but it sounds like they would use it for bad. They made dangerous things and attack each other with them"
"Yes but that is why they were given it. They have made weapons that could wipe out entire cities in seconds leaving nothing in ash. They know the weight of those dangerous weapons and for this, they know the weight they were given and the ancients knew they would be ready to accept it for they knew the war was coming"
"War? What war?" A hatchling spoke up
"This war started before the ancients even arrive in our galaxy"
"What?! they were from another galaxy?"
"Indeed, their species were hunted by a hungering swarm and the few remain to flee here into our galaxy where they thought they were safe so they begin to try to grow their species, and to pass the time they began to create life, slow at first but soon they up lift their first species and gave them a piece of technology, a gift"
But sadly they weren't safe, the hungry swarm found them and soon streak across the void to them, they knew they couldn't win so they made a decision. They would create a species, a species that life grew from war, that fought with tooth and nail, as they say, and would cherish life and after many attempts, they created the humans. Once they were brought up they gave them their gift and told them the swarm was coming before leaving, but not away instead to the swarm"
"They would sacrifice themselves to buy us time to prepare. All the species have mourned over the loss of them except the humans. They didn't know when the swarm will arrive so they didn't have the time yet, so they began to study the sword they were given. Learning how to make more, to improve it and to prepare their species to for the fight to come"
The chamber soon become silent, none of the children made a sound after hearing the story
"Will they win?" A hatchling finally ask
I let out a laugh "do you have to ask? I am willing to bet our gift that they will send the swarm running in fear. But knowing them they won't let the swarm run away, for humanity won't let the sacrifice from the people that help them for generations go unpaid"
My eyes turn to the clock and I let out a chitter at the time
"It seems it's time for you all to go to your beds," I said getting up
They all made noises of disapproval
"We want to hear more, we aren't tired" a hatchling stated
Resounding responses agree with that statement as they all look at me with pleading eyes
"I know but the last time I did your brood mothers almost rip my head off" I began to corral them to their beds with sound of disagreement
2023.03.23 00:22 hrhashley I got a promotion I’ve been dreaming of at work but still want to end it all. I’m afraid.
What’s wrong with me? I feel like my life is getting more and more pointless - like a hamster running in its wheel never getting anywhere - despite the fact that I finally got a promotion and raise I’ve been working towards for years at work. It doesn’t matter, though. That raise won’t mean a damn thing considering all the debt I’m drowning in and whenever I have any extra money I’m throwing it away at the casino hoping to finally hit, well, anything. My win/loss statement for 2023 alone is already -5,000 because I haven’t won a damn penny and I can’t stop. I’m sad constantly - at work, at home, from the second I wake up to the second I go to bed. I’ve stopped doing things as simple as playing video games I used to enjoy and spend hours on. I just lay in bed and stare at the ceiling until I fall asleep - only to drag myself out of bed for work, rinse, repeat. I don’t feel a thing other than the daily intrusive thoughts to Google what the easiest way to kill myself would be that always lead me here, and well, I guess I’m posting now.
submitted by hrhashley to SuicideWatch [link] [comments]
2023.03.22 22:13 Starhawk1106 Hey Compadres, Welcome to the QUARTERFINALS ROUND 2 of the "Padres Best of '22" Bracket Tourney! Here's your next 2 moments to pick from to advance to the Semifinals:
Juan's First Brown & Gold Soto Bomb (August 9th):
-The Padres were in a rough patch of time. Despite adding the likes of Josh Hader, Juan Soto and Brandon Drury, the team was on a downward slope after a 5 game losing skid, and no runs scored for 2 whole games. Players needed to step up, and the tides needed to start turning for the Padres. After many losses, Soto finally stepped up and lived up to his trade deal. On August 9th, after the Padres were down 1-0 to the Giants in the bottom of the 4th inning, Soto worked a full count, then proceeded to blast his first home run in a brown & gold uniform for the Friar Faithful to enjoy. His efforts snapped a 26 scoreless inning streak, and paved the way to a 7-4 Padres win over the Giants to snap the potentially worse losing streak.
Mad Max Mayhem (October 7th):
-Having made it to the postseason after many trials and tribulations, the Padres were slated to face the 101-win Mets team on the other side of the country in Citi Field, New York. The Mets were heavily favored to win the series, because who could win against a Max ScherzeJacob deGrom 1-2 combo? Who could beat a team that practically led the National League East the entire season, and ended the season with a 101-61 game record? The Padres, that's who. They made their statement clear in the first inning, with Josh Bell racking a towering 2 run homerun off of his ex-teammate Max Scherzer, to make the game 2-0. Trent Grisham would then homer an inning later, making it 3-0 Padres. After a couple of shutout innings, something the Mets wanted out of Scherzer, the Padres reminded them that the game wasn't done, with Profar hitting a 3 run shot and Machado capping it off with a solo shot, making it 7-0 San Diego, a lead that would end up standing for the rest of the game. Oops.
View Poll
submitted by Starhawk1106 to Padres [link] [comments]
-The Padres were in a rough patch of time. Despite adding the likes of Josh Hader, Juan Soto and Brandon Drury, the team was on a downward slope after a 5 game losing skid, and no runs scored for 2 whole games. Players needed to step up, and the tides needed to start turning for the Padres. After many losses, Soto finally stepped up and lived up to his trade deal. On August 9th, after the Padres were down 1-0 to the Giants in the bottom of the 4th inning, Soto worked a full count, then proceeded to blast his first home run in a brown & gold uniform for the Friar Faithful to enjoy. His efforts snapped a 26 scoreless inning streak, and paved the way to a 7-4 Padres win over the Giants to snap the potentially worse losing streak.
Mad Max Mayhem (October 7th):
-Having made it to the postseason after many trials and tribulations, the Padres were slated to face the 101-win Mets team on the other side of the country in Citi Field, New York. The Mets were heavily favored to win the series, because who could win against a Max ScherzeJacob deGrom 1-2 combo? Who could beat a team that practically led the National League East the entire season, and ended the season with a 101-61 game record? The Padres, that's who. They made their statement clear in the first inning, with Josh Bell racking a towering 2 run homerun off of his ex-teammate Max Scherzer, to make the game 2-0. Trent Grisham would then homer an inning later, making it 3-0 Padres. After a couple of shutout innings, something the Mets wanted out of Scherzer, the Padres reminded them that the game wasn't done, with Profar hitting a 3 run shot and Machado capping it off with a solo shot, making it 7-0 San Diego, a lead that would end up standing for the rest of the game. Oops.
View Poll
2023.03.22 21:00 BlueCoastDoge How did it go down when UBS was "TOLD" to acquire Credit Suisse? Here is a damn good account of events that transpired at breakneck speed, over the weekend, inside the Swiss Agencies that orchestrated this shotgun marriage.
I found this article, from the Financial Times, to be very enlightening as to how this shit show was quickly managed in order to contain a much bigger dilemma that the Swiss Gov was facing. The problem of course is that even though the Swiss Gov and its financial institutions may think the problem has been contained, in my opinion, IT HAS JUST BEGUN!
Yes, the Swiss Gov had to do SOMETHING but unfortunately they waited too long whereas it simply became too late to act, no matter what they did. The REAL ISSUE is that the previous & current Swiss Govs knew all about the criminal shenanigans of their banking sector for many MANY years (no need to list that here for those who know but the list is long) and yet, they kept doing next to NOTHING to reign them in to ensure all their business doings were on the up-and-up. I guess when times are good, the Swiss Gov was only too happy to get their part of the dirty money tax pie from the banks.
But NOW they're acting like this was all a BIG SURPRISE and/or NEVER EXPECTED. What a bunch of 2-face lyin' greedy douchebags for risking the well-being of their country and its citizens. So does this mean they will change the laws to REALLY regulate their banking industry? Will some of these criminal bankers and their enablers go to jail? In the end, who's really at fault for this financial shit show?
I think the banks were just pawns for the Swiss Gov and financial elites to continue to support the Swiss' banking sector's misdeeds. I think it's time to call a Spade, a Spade, and declare Switzerland's banking system and financial industry equal to that of the Cayman Islands with the following motto... Give Us Your Money. We Will Ensure Profits/Anonymity No Matter What. And Wash & Hide It For You.
Btw, Yellen and JPow, don't go getting all higher-than-mighty on us with a "I told you so BS statement" 'cause YOU & the US Gov are in the SAME FUCKING BOAT! The Swiss financial debacle is coming home to roost here in the US real god damn soon. Knock! Knock! Mother Fuckers.
Edit : Corrected some formatting for easier read.
Weblink and excerpts from the article...
https://archive.is/GSqHa
- Global markets were already anxious after US regulators had seized control of Silicon Valley Bank following the withdrawal of $42bn of deposits in a single day. The same was happening at Credit Suisse. It was losing more than SFr10bn of wealthy clients’ money daily, adding to SFr111bn that had disappeared after a social-media rumour in October that it was on the verge of bankruptcy.
- On Wednesday, the so-called “trinity” of the Swiss National Bank, regulator Finma and the minister of finance summoned Credit Suisse chair Axel Lehmann, who was in Saudi Arabia for a conference, and chief executive Ulrich Körner for a call. In the same meeting where they authorised the SFr50bn backstop, they also delivered another message: “You will merge with UBS and announce Sunday evening before Asia opens. This is not optional,” a person briefed on the conversation recalls.
- “Resolution [a government-controlled wind-down] would have been a disaster for the financial system and introduced the threat of contagion around the world,” says another person involved on the UBS side. “Our interests were also aligned because a failure is not good for the Swiss wealth-management brand. So we said, on the right terms, we would help.”
- Until last week, the Swiss establishment had always been committed to a two-bank model. In 2008, it opted to rescue UBS with taxpayer money after it suffered dramatic losses in the financial crisis, rather than allow it to be acquired. However, public anger at that arrangement still endures today and a repeat was politically unthinkable.
- “This is no bailout,” Swiss finance minister Karin Keller-Sutter stressed when the deal was announced on Sunday night. “This is a commercial solution.”
- When both sides realised a deal was inevitable, they hired advisers. Credit Suisse has long retained Centerview, the investment bank led by Blair Effron who was assisted by Tadhg Flood, but Lehmann and Körner also recruited ex-UBS investment banker Piero Novelli to separately advise the board. Rothschild provided a further fairness opinion to directors. JPMorgan advised the UBS management team, while Morgan Stanley advised the UBS board. The acquirer gave each bank a tree-based code name: Credit Suisse was Cedar and UBS Ulmus, the Latin word for elm.
- Credit Suisse used different monikers: it referred to itself as Como while UBS was Geneva, after the lakes. Through the process there was almost no direct contact between the two sides, an arrangement that increasingly infuriated those at Credit Suisse, who were intentionally kept in the dark about the price and terms of the takeover.
- “By Thursday, we were all together in Zurich, and it was clear that the government was going to push one way or the other for a solution by Monday morning, at all costs, to protect Swiss national interest, and banking interest more generally, on a global basis,” says the person close to Credit Suisse.
- Keller-Sutter, the finance minister, was a key figure throughout the negotiations, including co-ordinating with foreign officials and regulators in the US and Europe. She was under extreme pressure from global regulators, who had been demanding faster and more decisive action to stop panic spreading in markets. In particular, the US and the French were “kicking the shit out of the Swiss”, says one of the people advising UBS. Janet Yellen, the US Treasury secretary, had several conversations with Keller-Sutter over the weekend.
- By Friday evening, when it was revealed that UBS was exploring a state-mandated takeover, Credit Suisse had lost another SFr35bn in client deposits over the preceding three days, according to a banker involved in the deal, and international banks from BNP Paribas to HSBC were cutting ties. Regulators concluded that it would probably not be able to open on Monday.- Another potential bidder, however, was waiting in the wings: Larry Fink’s BlackRock.
- BlackRock was open to a variety of options, including a partial acquisition or working with others. Such a scenario would potentially have made it easier for Michael Klein, the former Citigroup executive and Credit Suisse board member, to preserve an already arranged deal to merge his advisory boutique with and take control of the Swiss lender’s investment bank. “The most credible alternative was BlackRock . . . But it wasn’t what the Swiss government wanted,” says a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
- By late Friday, BlackRock had indicated it did not want to buy the entire bank. Credit Suisse responded by proposing a minority investment, including some kind of wealth management partnership. BlackRock ultimately decided to halt its work on a bid.
- Growing frustrated with the lack of communication from UBS, Lehmann decided he would write a letter instead to Kelleher and the Swiss authorities. Drafted by general counsel Markus Diethelm — who had joined from UBS in June — it was delivered on Saturday evening and contained a number of reasons for **why the planned transaction was unacceptable.**These included the insistence by UBS for walkaway provisions, including a material adverse change clause linked to a spike in its credit default swap spreads.
- In response, on Saturday evening Kelleher called his counterpart at Credit Suisse from outside a restaurant to tell him UBS was prepared to offer $1bn in stock for the whole group, about SFr0.25 a share, far below the SFr1.86 closing price on Friday. The government then informed Credit Suisse it would introduce emergency legislation to strip both sets of shareholders of the right to vote on the deal. Credit Suisse was outraged and refused to sign. It was opposed to the CDS clause because the optionality of walking away from the deal would have killed it once it was made public. Such a condition would have led to chaos, say people with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
- Its Middle Eastern shareholders were also incensed. “You make fun of dictatorships and then you can change the law over the weekend. What’s the difference between Saudi Arabia and Switzerland now? It’s really bad,” says one person close to one of the three major shareholders.
- The final terms were still so favourable to UBS they were “an offer we couldn’t refuse”, a person on the negotiating team told the FT. An adviser to Credit Suisse described them as “unacceptable and outrageous” and a “total disregard of corporate governance and shareholder rights”.
- UBS was lent on to increase its price and reluctantly agreed, ultimately boosting the offer to $3.25bn in stock. But in return it negotiated more support from the state, including a SFr100bn liquidity line from the SNB and a government loss guarantee of up to SFr9bn, after it had borne the first SFr5bn itself.
- The details were hammered out so fast, UBS chief executive Ralph Hamers was unable to answer analysts’ questions about the treatment of Credit Suisse’s debt at a presentation later on Sunday night after the announcement. “We will have to come back to you,” he told the assembled analysts.
- A press conference was hastily convened in Bern, where the trinity was joined by the chairs of UBS and Credit Suisse on stage to present a historic deal. “The failure of a systemically relevant bank would have had severe repercussions,” said Keller-Sutter. “Switzerland needs to be aware of its own responsibility beyond its own borders.” Next to her on stage, Credit Suisse’s Lehmann was asked, “Who is responsible for this disaster?” He chose to blame Twitter.
submitted by BlueCoastDoge to Superstonk [link] [comments]
Yes, the Swiss Gov had to do SOMETHING but unfortunately they waited too long whereas it simply became too late to act, no matter what they did. The REAL ISSUE is that the previous & current Swiss Govs knew all about the criminal shenanigans of their banking sector for many MANY years (no need to list that here for those who know but the list is long) and yet, they kept doing next to NOTHING to reign them in to ensure all their business doings were on the up-and-up. I guess when times are good, the Swiss Gov was only too happy to get their part of the dirty money tax pie from the banks.
But NOW they're acting like this was all a BIG SURPRISE and/or NEVER EXPECTED. What a bunch of 2-face lyin' greedy douchebags for risking the well-being of their country and its citizens. So does this mean they will change the laws to REALLY regulate their banking industry? Will some of these criminal bankers and their enablers go to jail? In the end, who's really at fault for this financial shit show?
I think the banks were just pawns for the Swiss Gov and financial elites to continue to support the Swiss' banking sector's misdeeds. I think it's time to call a Spade, a Spade, and declare Switzerland's banking system and financial industry equal to that of the Cayman Islands with the following motto... Give Us Your Money. We Will Ensure Profits/Anonymity No Matter What. And Wash & Hide It For You.
Btw, Yellen and JPow, don't go getting all higher-than-mighty on us with a "I told you so BS statement" 'cause YOU & the US Gov are in the SAME FUCKING BOAT! The Swiss financial debacle is coming home to roost here in the US real god damn soon. Knock! Knock! Mother Fuckers.
Edit : Corrected some formatting for easier read.
Weblink and excerpts from the article...
https://archive.is/GSqHa
- Global markets were already anxious after US regulators had seized control of Silicon Valley Bank following the withdrawal of $42bn of deposits in a single day. The same was happening at Credit Suisse. It was losing more than SFr10bn of wealthy clients’ money daily, adding to SFr111bn that had disappeared after a social-media rumour in October that it was on the verge of bankruptcy.
- On Wednesday, the so-called “trinity” of the Swiss National Bank, regulator Finma and the minister of finance summoned Credit Suisse chair Axel Lehmann, who was in Saudi Arabia for a conference, and chief executive Ulrich Körner for a call. In the same meeting where they authorised the SFr50bn backstop, they also delivered another message: “You will merge with UBS and announce Sunday evening before Asia opens. This is not optional,” a person briefed on the conversation recalls.
- “Resolution [a government-controlled wind-down] would have been a disaster for the financial system and introduced the threat of contagion around the world,” says another person involved on the UBS side. “Our interests were also aligned because a failure is not good for the Swiss wealth-management brand. So we said, on the right terms, we would help.”
- Until last week, the Swiss establishment had always been committed to a two-bank model. In 2008, it opted to rescue UBS with taxpayer money after it suffered dramatic losses in the financial crisis, rather than allow it to be acquired. However, public anger at that arrangement still endures today and a repeat was politically unthinkable.
- “This is no bailout,” Swiss finance minister Karin Keller-Sutter stressed when the deal was announced on Sunday night. “This is a commercial solution.”
- When both sides realised a deal was inevitable, they hired advisers. Credit Suisse has long retained Centerview, the investment bank led by Blair Effron who was assisted by Tadhg Flood, but Lehmann and Körner also recruited ex-UBS investment banker Piero Novelli to separately advise the board. Rothschild provided a further fairness opinion to directors. JPMorgan advised the UBS management team, while Morgan Stanley advised the UBS board. The acquirer gave each bank a tree-based code name: Credit Suisse was Cedar and UBS Ulmus, the Latin word for elm.
- Credit Suisse used different monikers: it referred to itself as Como while UBS was Geneva, after the lakes. Through the process there was almost no direct contact between the two sides, an arrangement that increasingly infuriated those at Credit Suisse, who were intentionally kept in the dark about the price and terms of the takeover.
- “By Thursday, we were all together in Zurich, and it was clear that the government was going to push one way or the other for a solution by Monday morning, at all costs, to protect Swiss national interest, and banking interest more generally, on a global basis,” says the person close to Credit Suisse.
- Keller-Sutter, the finance minister, was a key figure throughout the negotiations, including co-ordinating with foreign officials and regulators in the US and Europe. She was under extreme pressure from global regulators, who had been demanding faster and more decisive action to stop panic spreading in markets. In particular, the US and the French were “kicking the shit out of the Swiss”, says one of the people advising UBS. Janet Yellen, the US Treasury secretary, had several conversations with Keller-Sutter over the weekend.
- By Friday evening, when it was revealed that UBS was exploring a state-mandated takeover, Credit Suisse had lost another SFr35bn in client deposits over the preceding three days, according to a banker involved in the deal, and international banks from BNP Paribas to HSBC were cutting ties. Regulators concluded that it would probably not be able to open on Monday.- Another potential bidder, however, was waiting in the wings: Larry Fink’s BlackRock.
- BlackRock was open to a variety of options, including a partial acquisition or working with others. Such a scenario would potentially have made it easier for Michael Klein, the former Citigroup executive and Credit Suisse board member, to preserve an already arranged deal to merge his advisory boutique with and take control of the Swiss lender’s investment bank. “The most credible alternative was BlackRock . . . But it wasn’t what the Swiss government wanted,” says a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
- By late Friday, BlackRock had indicated it did not want to buy the entire bank. Credit Suisse responded by proposing a minority investment, including some kind of wealth management partnership. BlackRock ultimately decided to halt its work on a bid.
- Growing frustrated with the lack of communication from UBS, Lehmann decided he would write a letter instead to Kelleher and the Swiss authorities. Drafted by general counsel Markus Diethelm — who had joined from UBS in June — it was delivered on Saturday evening and contained a number of reasons for **why the planned transaction was unacceptable.**These included the insistence by UBS for walkaway provisions, including a material adverse change clause linked to a spike in its credit default swap spreads.
- In response, on Saturday evening Kelleher called his counterpart at Credit Suisse from outside a restaurant to tell him UBS was prepared to offer $1bn in stock for the whole group, about SFr0.25 a share, far below the SFr1.86 closing price on Friday. The government then informed Credit Suisse it would introduce emergency legislation to strip both sets of shareholders of the right to vote on the deal. Credit Suisse was outraged and refused to sign. It was opposed to the CDS clause because the optionality of walking away from the deal would have killed it once it was made public. Such a condition would have led to chaos, say people with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
- Its Middle Eastern shareholders were also incensed. “You make fun of dictatorships and then you can change the law over the weekend. What’s the difference between Saudi Arabia and Switzerland now? It’s really bad,” says one person close to one of the three major shareholders.
- The final terms were still so favourable to UBS they were “an offer we couldn’t refuse”, a person on the negotiating team told the FT. An adviser to Credit Suisse described them as “unacceptable and outrageous” and a “total disregard of corporate governance and shareholder rights”.
- UBS was lent on to increase its price and reluctantly agreed, ultimately boosting the offer to $3.25bn in stock. But in return it negotiated more support from the state, including a SFr100bn liquidity line from the SNB and a government loss guarantee of up to SFr9bn, after it had borne the first SFr5bn itself.
- Under pressure to get a deal done before the end of the day, the trinity started to ramp up pressure on both sides, threatening to remove the Credit Suisse board if they did not sign off.
- In order to make the deal more palatable for Swiss citizens and the bank’s equity investors, the government also decided to impose losses on SFr16bn of Credit Suisse’s additional tier 1 (AT1) capital bonds. While these are designed to take losses when institutions run into trouble, normally they are not triggered if shareholders receive money as part of a takeover. However, the small print of the bond documentation allowed Swiss authorities to disregard the normal order of priority and wipe out bondholders.- The details were hammered out so fast, UBS chief executive Ralph Hamers was unable to answer analysts’ questions about the treatment of Credit Suisse’s debt at a presentation later on Sunday night after the announcement. “We will have to come back to you,” he told the assembled analysts.
- A press conference was hastily convened in Bern, where the trinity was joined by the chairs of UBS and Credit Suisse on stage to present a historic deal. “The failure of a systemically relevant bank would have had severe repercussions,” said Keller-Sutter. “Switzerland needs to be aware of its own responsibility beyond its own borders.” Next to her on stage, Credit Suisse’s Lehmann was asked, “Who is responsible for this disaster?” He chose to blame Twitter.
2023.03.22 18:26 tvchase THE GREATEST TRICK THE DEVIL EVER PULLED - Part Four
"Fragile Ego, Fragile Body, Weak Mind, Weak Spirit"
In Part One, Part Two, and Part Three, we've built a timeline and tracked the story of an old man who came back to professional wrestling. Disgruntled and broken, he had abandoned the business to which he’d given himself for fifteen years. They were a tumultuous fifteen years, but within that time he reached the height of the industry. He held the attention of every single person who was a wrestling fan and even many of whom weren’t fans at all. To get to such heights, he plumbed the depths of cruelty and villainy in character, going places many of his peers wouldn’t dare touch. He attacked the sobriety of recovering alcoholics and substance abusers. He preyed upon the anxiety and insecurity of those with mental health issues. He lied, he gas-lit, and he betrayed on the way to the top. Even for someone as vile as himself, however, it simultaneously became all too much and not enough. At the mountaintop, sick of himself and everything around him, he walked away.
September 4, 2022 – MJF returns to All Elite Wrestling and steals Punk's ovation in Chicago.
The final words of the PPV broadcast:
The stream has a longer delay than usual before the presser begins. Bloodied, battered, sweat-soaked hair in his eyes, draped in a towel… CM Punk looks like pure hell as he sits down to take – and to ask – questions from a group of wrestling reporters.
The mic goes to Nick Hausman first:
Punk continues:
Punk:
Tony Khan is the one who answers:
Punk:
The scrum moves onto its next question, this time for Tony.
Punk doesn’t want to talk about MJF. He goes back into his rant:
A question comes up for Punk from an old friend in the press pool: What’s his message for MJF?
The notion of having to speak directly to MJF seems to sap all of the energy from Punk. All of the piss and vinegar leaves him. He’s quiet now and reserved now… almost sheepish. It’s like he’s speaking to the mirror once again.
Punk:
Punk:
Punk dives deeper:
The rest of the scrum is often overlooked, but on closer examination, it’s no less interesting, and seems to be developing a common theme.
Next up come the reigning tag team champions, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee. Midway through their match against The Acclaimed, the audience in Chicago was nuclear hot for the challengers. Sensing this, Swerve In Our Glory began working heel en route to a successful defense of their titles.
One of the first questions concerns “problems” between the pair that have flared up in recent weeks, with the two not always on the same page and Swerve eliminating Lee in a battle royal.
Swerve:
Swerve, on how people felt The Acclaimed should’ve won:
Swerve is beside himself:
Tony Khan:
Next up is Toni Storm, who has secured the AEW Interim Women’s world championship. Brief chatter about how the women in the locker room all feel devoted to helping each other and elevating each other as a whole, before a reporter asks:
“We’re in a situation now where we just saw Jon Moxley come off a run where he was an interim world champion, and he made his thoughts very clear about how he felt about the word ‘Interim’. How do you feel about that?”
Toni Storm:
At this point, the new trios champions – Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, and Matt Jackson – should be arriving at the podium. Someone to the side alerts Tony Khan that it will be Chris Jericho coming up next instead. Tony looks surprised. He starts reading and responding to messages on his phone. A reporter randomly asks Tony about the contract tampering allegations, but he declines to comment on it. He stalls for about five minutes before Jericho gets to the podium.
After commenting on what a pleasure it was to finally wrestle against Brian Danielson and call a match on the fly (“there’s very few people in the world you can do that with”), Jericho takes a question from Nick Hausman:
The story between Douglas and Michaels is notorious and quite relevant here.
“The Franchise” had originally been in WWE in 1990, where he made a name for himself filling in for the injured Michaels as Marty Janetty’s tag partner in The Rockers. Caring for his ailing father, Douglas stepped away from wrestling full-time but intermittently appeared for WCW, then ECW, where he finally became a top guy. When he returned to WWE in 1995, HBK and the rest of the Kliq had assumed nearly full control of backstage politics and were tyrannical in the locker room. Michaels invited Shane Douglas into the fold. Considering them childish, he declined. The rest of his tenure in WWE would be smothered after rejecting Michaels and The Kliq. HBK vowed never to do the job against him, and even faked an injury to avoid dropping the Intercontinental title to him. Douglas left the company the following year after Vince was infuriated that Douglas would not wrestle at Madison Square Garden, despite a doctor explicitly telling him that if he worked through his back injury it would risk paralysis.
The scrum moves on, and eventually Denise Salcedo asks Jericho about MJF’s return.
Jericho:
A few “no comments” are issued to questions regarding WWE's alleged contract tampering as well as a proposed super-show with WWE. Tony Khan says he has good feelings toward WWE but they’re not exactly reciprocated, and from there he doesn’t comment any further.
A reporter asks:
The next question centers on the start of the scrum:
Before Tony wraps up the scrum, he singles out a young man in the press pool to ask a question. The young man asks about CM Punk’s dog, Larry, who had ran out in front of the crowd earlier.
In the coming hours, news would steadily emerge from backstage. As the story goes, the EVPs of All Elite Wrestling went to CM Punk’s locker room accompanied by Megha Parekh, AEW’s Chief Legal Officer and Director of Human Resources, along with Christopher Daniels, Fallen Angel and Manager of Talent Relations.
While in the locker room, CM Punk punched Matt Jackson, a chair hit Nick Jackson in the eye, and Ace Steel bit Kenny Omega on the arm. Larry the Dog was in peril also, later seen being carried by Megha away from the area. Brandon Cutler, Pat Buck, and Michael Nakazawa were all present. At some point Chris Jericho made his way to Punk to tell him he was a cancer to the locker room and detrimental to the company as a whole, only to be told in turn that it was none of Jericho’s business and he should leave. Aside from Megha, all parties present (aside from Jericho who arrived late) were immediately placed on paid administrative leave, pending investigation.
News dropped quickly that Punk would be out for six-to-eight months regardless of anything else due to his torn triceps suffered that night in the main event.
Aside from the injury, none of this has been 100% confirmed. None of these details exist on any official record. All accounts are, at best, third-hand information. The facts of the story changed wildly from the first 48 hours to the first two weeks, with absurd initial claims such as the Young Bucks (super)kicking down the door to Punk’s locker and Larry losing teeth in the maelstrom. To this day, no one other than those present know with any degree of certainty what happened inside that room.
But what happened outside that room was a remarkable shattering of perception about CM Punk, the Elite, but most importantly, AEW itself. In the immediate aftermath, massive fans such as myself couldn’t help but feel as if something was taken away from us. In the months since, so much has been made of getting AEW back to the old days, regaining that old feeling that made us fall in love at the beginning. We want to go back to what Jericho called the “amazing world” created by everyone at AEW, but none more so than by the Elite.
How could CM Punk so grossly and directly attack the founders and shapers of this company which, up to then, was widely hailed as the only place a wrestler would want to be? I thought back to the very last thing said to AEW cameras by Cody Rhodes, a founder whose absence loomed large that night in Chicago. A lot of people don’t realize his final words in AEW weren’t those uttered by a ladder, inside a ring where he famously claimed credit for construction of the Forbidden Door. No, it was in the bowels of the arena after his unification match with Sammy Guevara, over eight months before All Out… There, he talked about how proud he was of everything he had helped to build. Fighting back tears, he talked about how he would never feel more at home than he does in an AEW ring. “It’s Paradise, right?”
… Paradise.
Paradise… Paradise… Paradise Lost… The Fall of Man… Snake in the Garden…
Oh, enough already! I’m grasping at straws to find some connection that can't exist. How would a guy whose contract expired at the end of 2021 be even remotely connected to stuff throughout the next year and culminated on 9/4/22?
Huh... 9… 4… 2+2… 944?
What was it that I noticed back in Part Two?
Huh. That’s interesting.
May 16, 2016: Cody’s last match in WWE.
December 16, 2018: Cody’s last match before signing with AEW.
... 944 days.
Well, that’s actually pretty wild. These guys must have a really firm grasp on the history of their careers to line up Easter eggs like that. But really, that’s all they are: Easter eggs. The Elite and Punk are all famous trolls, so they may have been hoping some obsessive fool like myself would catch on and get pulled into the rabbit hole.
The trail stops at All Out, though. We can’t go into the future and see what happens 944 days from that media scrum, and the paths of most people involved in Brawl Out seem so divergent it’d be impossible to predict with any sort of accuracy. Punk is sidelined indefinitely, perhaps permanently. Kenny and the Bucks are back in action but their contract situations have started bubbling up in dirtsheets, so we can assume Hangman won’t be far behind in those rumors.
Meanwhile over in WWE, Cody Rhodes is sitting pretty. He’s getting massive cheers the AEW fanbase refused him toward the end, when his vision lost alignment with ours. Each passing day he climbs toward a mountain top of his own. In less than two weeks from now he will go to WrestleMania and try to overcome the most impenetrable obstacle in that company: the Bloodline.
If Cody succeeds at WrestleMania, his personal story would have a crowning achievement nearly every wrestler in history would envy. The fact that he bet on himself so many times and always won is remarkable. He’ll look even better considering the stains and scars imposed on “Paradise” after his departure. Maybe he could’ve helped avoid the embarrassment of All Out, but we’ll never know and that’s not for him to dwell upon. His primary focus should be on the Tribal Chief and stopping that historic reign in its tracks at...
... 944 days.
PART FIVE WILL EXAMINE THE FALLOUT FROM BRAWL OUT, THE CORONATION OF MJF, RIPPLE EFFECTS ACROSS PROMOTIONS, AND SPECULATE ON THE FUTURE…
I AM TAKING A DEEP, DEEP DIVE INTO ELITE LORE... SO IT’S GONNA TAKE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK AND MIGHT NOT BE HERE QUICKLY, BUT I THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME THIS FAR AND I HOPE YOU’LL STAY ONBOARD FOR THE END OF THE RIDE!
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In Part One, Part Two, and Part Three, we've built a timeline and tracked the story of an old man who came back to professional wrestling. Disgruntled and broken, he had abandoned the business to which he’d given himself for fifteen years. They were a tumultuous fifteen years, but within that time he reached the height of the industry. He held the attention of every single person who was a wrestling fan and even many of whom weren’t fans at all. To get to such heights, he plumbed the depths of cruelty and villainy in character, going places many of his peers wouldn’t dare touch. He attacked the sobriety of recovering alcoholics and substance abusers. He preyed upon the anxiety and insecurity of those with mental health issues. He lied, he gas-lit, and he betrayed on the way to the top. Even for someone as vile as himself, however, it simultaneously became all too much and not enough. At the mountaintop, sick of himself and everything around him, he walked away.
“I was never gonna get healthy physically, mentally, spiritually or emotionally, staying in the same place that got me sick in the first place.”Who could fault him? But then he came back seven years later to, as some have called it, “Wrestling Paradise”. In that Paradise, as he turned uphill, he crossed the path of a Snake slithering deceitfully among the weeds. The Snake bit him and at first, it seemed only a surface wound that would easily heal in time. That Snake’s venom, however, was slow-acting and allowed the bite to be all but forgotten as the Snake slithered out of sight and out of mind. Then one day, he’s finally back upon that mountain top, having gone a different route than before – a longer and more winding route, but seemingly nobler and more sustainable. Many of our faithful heroes weren’t buying it. They knew him before and have studied his ways, knowing he could quickly revert back to the evil and destruction he was for so long. He brushes away their suspicion to assure both us and himself: he’s a new man. He feels at peace with himself and he is bathing in the adulation of his friends, his fans, and his peers… until suddenly on that mountain top, the Snake leaps out and reminds him of the venom coursing through his veins.
September 4, 2022 – MJF returns to All Elite Wrestling and steals Punk's ovation in Chicago.
The final words of the PPV broadcast:
What does this mean for AEW?Shortly before midnight, a live stream goes up on YouTube for the post-event media scrum.
The stream has a longer delay than usual before the presser begins. Bloodied, battered, sweat-soaked hair in his eyes, draped in a towel… CM Punk looks like pure hell as he sits down to take – and to ask – questions from a group of wrestling reporters.
The mic goes to Nick Hausman first:
“Hi! Nick Hausman here from Wrestling Inc–”Punk cuts him off:
“--I’ll start, Nick. Show of hands. Who here fancies themselves a journalist? You a journalist Nick?”Nick:
“... I try my best.”Punk:
“You still do improv?”Nick:
“Not for a little bit..”Punk:
“When you did improv, who’d you do improv with?”Nick curiously uses a shoot name:
“I did it with Scott Colton.”Punk:
“Okay, so you fancy yourself a journalist. Would you say you’re friends with Scott Colton?”Nick:
“Uh… no. I haven’t talked to Scott in some time.”Punk:
“So you’re not friends with him?”Nick:
“No… Scott and I do not see eye to eye.”Punk, to the whole room:
“Oh wow… Well that makes two of us. My point is, if you fancy yourself a journalist, even if it’s for the silly world of professional wrestling, and you have journalistic integrity… people who report things, mostly that are bullshit and slanderous lies against myself… you should probably disclose who you’re friends with.”Punk, directly to Hausman, somewhat quietly:
“You blew my spot… If you’re not friends with him, I apologize.”Nick:
“I’m not friends with him…”Punk, ignoring him, continues on:
“I haven’t had anything to do with Scott Colton for almost a decade. Probably wanted nothing to do with him even longer than that. It’s fucking unfortunate that I have to come up here and speak on this when I’m on my time and this is a fucking business. Why I’m a grown-ass adult man and I decide not to be friends with somebody is nobody else’s fucking business. But my friends, if I fall backwards, will catch me. Scott Colton, I felt, never would have.CM Punk and Colt Cabana weren’t even faced with the famously divisive legal bills until 2015 when WWE’s doctor filed a defamation lawsuit against them. Colt didn’t file suit against Punk over legal fees until 2018. The timeline here is very fuzzy and totally unreliable. The line about Colt's mother sticks out like a sore thumb, but if you've read previous installments, wrestlers' relationships with their mothers have been referenced before and most notably in recent promos.
My problem was I wanted to bring a guy with me to the top that did not want to see me at the top, okay? You can call it jealousy, you can call it envy, whatever the fuck it is. My relationship with Scott Colton ended long before I paid all of his bills. I have every receipt. I have every invoice. I have every email. I have an email where he says ‘I agree to go our separate ways, I will get my own lawyer and you do not have to pay anymore.’
That’s an email that I have and the only reason the public did not see it is because when I finally had to counter-sue him, through discovery we discovered he shared a bank account with his mother. That’s a fact. As soon as we discovered that fact and we subpoenaed old Marsha, he sent the email ‘Oh, can we please drop all this?’ Now, it’s 2022. I haven’t been friends with this guy since at least 2014, late-2013.
Punk continues:
The fact that I have to sit up here because we have irresponsible people who call themselves EVPs and couldn’t fucking manage a Target and they spread lies and bullshit and put into the media that I got somebody fired when I have fuck all to do with him, want nothing to do with him, do not care where he works, where he doesn’t work, where he eats, where he sleeps… the fact that I have to get up and do this in 2022 is fucking embarrassing. If y’all are at fault, fuck you. If not, I apologize. What did I ever do in this world to deserve an empty-headed fucking dumbfuck like ‘Hangman’ Adam Page to go out on national television and fucking go into business for himself? For what? What did I ever do? Dave [Meltzer]?… I didn’t do a goddamn thing.At this point, Punk calls on a guy in the front row and asks his name. The guy is wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins shirt.
Punk:
“Fuck the Pittsburgh Penguins.”Tony Khan interjects, referring to an article where he had briefly discussed the rumors about Colt Cabana’s “sidelining” in weeks prior:
“I made it very clear in Forbes and I just wanna make it clear again–”Punk cuts off Tony Khan, the company owner, his boss:
“It’s not his position to make it very fucking clear! There’s people who call themselves EVPs that should have fuckking known better. This shit was none of their business. I understand sticking up for your fucking friends, I fucking get it. I stuck up for that guy more than anybody. Okay? I paid his bills until I didn’t and it was my decision not to.”TK:
“Yeah but I shouldn’t have no-commented when Nick first said it, it’s my fault, I should’ve taken it head-on”Punk:
“I appreciate that, but I’m trying to run a fucking business. And when somebody who hasn’t done a damn thing in this business [Hangman Page] jeopardizes the first million dollar house that this company has ever drawn off of my back and goes on national television and does that, it’s a disgrace to this industry, it’s a disgrace to this company. Now we’re far beyond apologies. I gave him a fucking chance, it did not get handled, and you saw what I had to do, which is very regrettable, lowering myself to his fucking level. But that’s where we’re at right now. And I will still walk up and down this hallway and say ‘If you have a fucking problem with me, take it up with me. Let’s fucking go’.”Nick Hausman finally gets to ask his question to Punk, and it’s regarding the return of MJF.
Tony Khan is the one who answers:
“If I may… I am the one who asked him back because MJF’s a big star in this company and this is one of the biggest events. A year ago, CM Punk debuted here and I thought it was right for the fans. I felt that, for the fans, one of the best things we could do is bring MJF back.”After rolling his eyes and stuffing a muffin in his mouth, Punk jumps in:
“It’s because he wants me to work with pricks. Constantly.”TK brushes it off:
“...Nevertherless… Two of the top wrestlers in the world. It’s a big match down the line.”At this point, Tony Khan looks like he’s about to vomit.
Punk:
“Oh, sorry, I keep fucking bringing this up… When it came down he was going to sue, I asked to talk to him. He denied… When I offered him money, it wasn’t enough [Punk is banging on the table for emphasis]. He went ahead with the lawsuit and sued. It’s his fucking funeral. He shares a bank account with his mother, that tells you all you need to know about what his character is.”Nick Hausman:
“Well… You were always very nice to me.”Punk:
“I appreciate that. I’m sorry I’m a little bit snippy. I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m fucking tired and I work with fucking children.”TK:
“I regret not answering your question the first time you asked it…”Punk:
“We’re all learning here, Tony. It’s okay.”Punk goes on to plug Mindy’s Bakery in Chicago, the supplier of his muffins.
The scrum moves onto its next question, this time for Tony.
“You saw the reaction to MJF when he came out at the end of the night. He was cheered over Punk… the hometown guy… Do you have any worries about MJF… becoming this sort of anti-authority figure?”Tony Khan gives some boilerplate word salad about how it’s great to have two compelling and charismatic figures, while Punk makes snarky faces and continues chomping on his muffins.
Punk doesn’t want to talk about MJF. He goes back into his rant:
“I’ll tell you why I’m upset about it. If you’re an EVP, you don’t try to middle your top babyface, try to get your niche audience on the internet to hate him for some made-up, bullshit rumor. Really pisses me off. Stepping on your own dick… Trying to make money, sell tickets, fill arenas, and these stupid guys think they’re in Reseda.”Next question regards how “modern talent can take advice from some of the older guys” to “help grow as a company”. Tony lets Punk give the answer.
“We have a locker room full of pretty brilliant minds… When I came back, when I cut my promo my second week here, I thought it was pretty decent. I kinda blur the lines a little bit, ya know, ‘What’s he doing? Crazy Phil, going into business for himself’, when really I was just defending myself. Mix that in with attacking Moxley, calling Kingston the second best Kingston – which is a pretty great line – but our locker room for all the brilliance and wisdom it has, isn’t worth shit when you have an empty-headed dumbfuck, who hasn’t done anything in this business, do public interviews and say ‘I don’t really take advice.’ Who the fuck do you think you are? I’m on a team with Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, and Sammy Sosa, and I don’t need to work on my swing? … Fucking go fuck yourself… Grow up.Bonds, McGuire, and Sosa are most famous for hitting insane amounts of home runs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, breaking numerous historic records, rejuvenating interest in MLB, and most notably, using banned PEDs which would ultimately ostracize them from the baseball community and block them from enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
A question comes up for Punk from an old friend in the press pool: What’s his message for MJF?
The notion of having to speak directly to MJF seems to sap all of the energy from Punk. All of the piss and vinegar leaves him. He’s quiet now and reserved now… almost sheepish. It’s like he’s speaking to the mirror once again.
Punk:
“Do I have to answer this… I guess… I don’t know. I’m tired of wrestling these pricks. I’m tired of wrestling with these kids who think they know everything… But I’m not the boss… He won number one contender. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Max is supremely talented, but this goes for him and every other individual in the locker room that doesn’t wanna be here. The grass is not greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you water it. Max likes to shit where he eats instead of watering the grass. So we’ll have to see how that goes.”Next question:
“A year ago we were in this room. It was after Adam Cole, after Brian Danielson… You said it had the feeling of ‘Bash at the Beach’ [1996]...Punk, sarcastically:
“Oh boy… Did I say that?...”Reporter continues:
“A year later… What's your honest assessment of the last year, personally and professionally?”Punk:
“Look, I know it sounds like a pretty ridiculous statement, but in five years, I think you’ll see the impact of it. There’s a chance I’m wrong. We’ve got an uphill battle in a lot of respects… There’s just so much drama and turmoil going on. I like to believe in the place I work. We do have a very, very strong roster and we have a lot of brilliant minds backstage. If young talent is willing to actually listen and receive advice… There’s always gonna be people who think they should be the top guy and wanna be pushed. I get that. That was me… I always wanted more.”Meltzer asks about Punk’s foot injury from a few months before. You’ll remember, he wanted to soak in the adulation of the crowd the next show after Double or Nothing where he won the belt, and he got hurt doing a reckless stage dive.
“...This is the worst injury I’ve ever had… This was really hard for me. I really wanted to have this great Summer and do good for Tony. I wanted to sell tickets and draw money, help with ratings. And it all came crashing down… I missed Forbidden Door in the United Center… I have pride in my work and I really wanted to carry the title through the summer and just help grow the business, so it was mentally devastating.”The final question concerns the significance of the victory over Jon Moxley. Both the reporter and Tony Khan make note of the fact that it is Moxley’s first clean pin defeat in three years.
Punk:
“Oh man. Well I guess people are REALLY mad at me then, huh?... We came from the same place. Felt a lot of the same things… Guys could’ve helped us out a little bit more, passed the torch… I’m here to elevate everybody. And I’m not saying I elevated Moxley, but maybe I did. Because I think that’s what all of our jobs are: to reach back and get everybody to that level. We have different philosophies about pro wrestling, but it’s all pro wrestling. When done right, it’s magic.”The scrum session for Punk officially comes to an end, but Punk pauses things and calls out Bryan Alvarez:
“Alvarez… I saw that video man. You were so incredulous that I went into business for myself.”Alvarez explains how he said he only pointed out some were pro-Punk and some were anti-Punk about the whole thing [his worked shoot challenge to Hangman].
Punk dives deeper:
“...I’ve eaten shit on this subject for a very, very long time. I am very sad today that I had to get up here and say his name. He doesn’t fucking deserve it. But facts are facts. Name two people that have made the most money off CM Punk. [He looks at Tony Khan] I don’t think you’re there yet. The first one is Vince McMahan. The second one is Scott Colton. I hope you all have a good night. Please be more responsible with the news you get from certain people and just remember, we’re human beings.”Punk packs up his muffins and his drinks, gives his dog Larry a shout out, and runs down the Pittsburgh Penguins. He gives Tony Khan one of his sodas.
“Contrary to popular belief, I am a very nice guy.”Punk walks off the podium after nearly 25 minutes.
The rest of the scrum is often overlooked, but on closer examination, it’s no less interesting, and seems to be developing a common theme.
Next up come the reigning tag team champions, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee. Midway through their match against The Acclaimed, the audience in Chicago was nuclear hot for the challengers. Sensing this, Swerve In Our Glory began working heel en route to a successful defense of their titles.
One of the first questions concerns “problems” between the pair that have flared up in recent weeks, with the two not always on the same page and Swerve eliminating Lee in a battle royal.
Swerve:
We didn’t really have problems. We had a dip in the road and we fixed that. You know what fixes everything? Winning. I can get violent and ravenous in that ring when I have to… If I have to push the envelope and bring Keith Lee to that level to defend these titles… So many people were against us having them in the first place… I’m always like that. Super King Petty. I read all of y’all. I read everybody in here. I literally listen to all your podcasts. First thing y’all said when we won the titles… No congratulations, nothing about Keith Lee almost losing his life fighting COVID, nothing about where I come from and both of us being let go… When we finally climbed the mountaintop, there was so much ridicule and bullshit against us about how we don’t deserve this. [You said] these opportunities should have gone… everywhere else… I’m not gonna apologize. I’m gonna gloat.”The next reporter asks Tony Khan if he gave consideration to calling an audible on the match due to how over The Acclaimed were, changing the finish on the fly. He’s skittish to answer, so the question is rerouted to the talent.
Swerve, on how people felt The Acclaimed should’ve won:
“I couldn’t care less.”Tony starts putting over how great of a match they just had, then puts over how great The Acclaimed are. He begins hinting that it makes sense to possibly have a rematch at Grand Slam in just over two weeks.
Swerve is beside himself:
“Wow. Why? Why??... How much more we gotta keep proving??”Keith Lee starts trying to rationalize how it makes sense but Swerve is pissed.
Tony Khan:
“People are asking... Look, I think it would be one of the best thing we could do at Grand Slam–”Swerve cuts off Tony, even putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him, and Tony gives him a hell of a look.
“Tony… Tony… This is just another tag team they all want the belts on instead of us!”Keith Lee:
“I find it interesting in our losses, we had to go down the ladder, but you wanna do this rematch… But I’m not gonna speak to that.”TK:
“I’ll take some time to think about it, but I just think it’d be a great match for the fans.”Swerve:
“...It is what it is, but miss me with it altogether… listen man. That’s what you wanna do… I mean, you pay the bills man so you do what you gotta do… But don’t be surprised if somebody gets hurt. Are we done? Are we done?”Keith Lee, nervously laughing:
“I’m not a part of that statement.”This portion of the scrum ends abruptly.
Next up is Toni Storm, who has secured the AEW Interim Women’s world championship. Brief chatter about how the women in the locker room all feel devoted to helping each other and elevating each other as a whole, before a reporter asks:
“We’re in a situation now where we just saw Jon Moxley come off a run where he was an interim world champion, and he made his thoughts very clear about how he felt about the word ‘Interim’. How do you feel about that?”
Toni Storm:
“Yeah. It’s not ideal. Thunder Rosa says she’s injured… Okay. So when she says she’s not injured, she can come back and lose to me, and that’ll be the end of that.”Tony Khan, laughing nervously:
“Well, that’s a… That’s a statement…”A few questions allow the new champ to put over the depth of the locker room and how AEW has been very good to her after her career was in limbo. Then it circles back around to Thunder Rosa:
“We had formed kind of a friendship… But I want her to know that I’m not just going to sit in her corner and cheer for her and be her little friend… I didn’t come here to make friends. I’ll be cool. I’ll be civil. But when she comes back, I’m gonna whip her ass.”Toni Storm’s portion wraps up.
At this point, the new trios champions – Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, and Matt Jackson – should be arriving at the podium. Someone to the side alerts Tony Khan that it will be Chris Jericho coming up next instead. Tony looks surprised. He starts reading and responding to messages on his phone. A reporter randomly asks Tony about the contract tampering allegations, but he declines to comment on it. He stalls for about five minutes before Jericho gets to the podium.
After commenting on what a pleasure it was to finally wrestle against Brian Danielson and call a match on the fly (“there’s very few people in the world you can do that with”), Jericho takes a question from Nick Hausman:
“I asked Tony about this earlier this week… There was a mandatory backstage talent meeting that Tony confirmed happened. Reportedly you spoke at that meeting, Chris. Wondering if you could tell us what you said to the roster and what kind of advice you’re giving to talent… and to management… right now at this point in AEW?”Jericho:
“The specifics don’t need to be discussed… and that was one of the things that was addressed: don’t leak shit that’s supposed to be private among us. My message is always to remind people how special AEW is and don’t take that for granted… I always want to remind guys, please don’t ruin or potentially ruin this amazing world that we’ve created.”TK:
“We don’t want guys going into business for themselves… or girls…”Jericho:
“We don’t. Where I came from, working for twenty years, with Vince… That would never happen [Note: it happened all the time…] and I’m trying to let people know we’re getting to the point where these things are unacceptable. We will start doing things that Tony would do in the NFL or at Fulham. We are a pro sports, multi-million dollar company with a huge contract, with another huge television contract coming up soon. A lot of guys don’t have that experience and don’t realize how special this is. So that’s what I try to do whenever I have them, and Tony has them… Now it’s just a little more frequent, just to remind everyone: stay on course… both guys and girls.”Meltzer asks Jericho about having to constantly reinvent himself. Jericho says he’s not big on nostalgia, but tapping into the past and bringing up history always helps tell a compelling story:
“... We’re building a whole story around it. It fits in with the whole Heel-Jericho delusion: ‘I’ve found the fountain of youth! I’m better than ever! I’m the best wrestler in the world!’ I can say that stuff as a heel. It’s so funny: when I lose a match, it’s a great match. When I win? ‘Oh, 51-year-old Jericho is burying the young guys!’ So I can kinda use that. That intrigues me… That little kernel of truth, that I always like as a heel, that I can over blow to the point where people are like, ‘Shut the fuck up already, man!’... So let’s use that to our advantage, hide behind it…”Tony Khan then recounts a story about how he had first seen Chris Jericho in person at an ECW show in 1996 in Chicago, the same show from which a photo was shown on Dynamite the week earlier when Jericho was the young Lionheart. He recounts how when Jericho left ECW, they chanted “You Sold Out!” He also mentions a sign he had at the ECW event that night: “Shane [Douglas] ♥️’s Shawn [Michaels]”, alluding to the famous grudge between those two men.
The story between Douglas and Michaels is notorious and quite relevant here.
“The Franchise” had originally been in WWE in 1990, where he made a name for himself filling in for the injured Michaels as Marty Janetty’s tag partner in The Rockers. Caring for his ailing father, Douglas stepped away from wrestling full-time but intermittently appeared for WCW, then ECW, where he finally became a top guy. When he returned to WWE in 1995, HBK and the rest of the Kliq had assumed nearly full control of backstage politics and were tyrannical in the locker room. Michaels invited Shane Douglas into the fold. Considering them childish, he declined. The rest of his tenure in WWE would be smothered after rejecting Michaels and The Kliq. HBK vowed never to do the job against him, and even faked an injury to avoid dropping the Intercontinental title to him. Douglas left the company the following year after Vince was infuriated that Douglas would not wrestle at Madison Square Garden, despite a doctor explicitly telling him that if he worked through his back injury it would risk paralysis.
The scrum moves on, and eventually Denise Salcedo asks Jericho about MJF’s return.
Jericho:
“I said to him, ‘When you come back, you’re going to be a babyface…’ and he said, ‘I don’t wanna be a babyface, I don’t know what I’m gonna do.' ...It’s easier to make people hate you than it is to make them like you. But once they start really hating you, that’s when they start really liking you. He’s almost at that point. That’s my prediction: he’s gonna be one of our top babyfaces, whether or not he wants to be, very, very soon… A game changer.”At this point, the Jericho portion wraps up, and as he stands to leave he says something to Tony Khan, in a whisper, but very much able to be picked up on a live mic. What he said was either, “We gotta talk after” or “We called the cops”, but follow-ups to the local police department revealed no call was made so it is very likely the former. What’s indisputable is that he said “Some shit happened” directly in front of the cameras and the microphones. TK says to Jericho, “I’ll meet you in my office afterwards.” There is zero sense of urgency around anything as Jericho leaves thanking the press pool and Tony sits down to field his final questions.
A few “no comments” are issued to questions regarding WWE's alleged contract tampering as well as a proposed super-show with WWE. Tony Khan says he has good feelings toward WWE but they’re not exactly reciprocated, and from there he doesn’t comment any further.
A reporter asks:
“Leading up to All Out, there were unfortunately some reports that the AEW locker room and talent were facing some adversity… In comparison to a sports team, a big win usually pushes them over that threshold of challenges they were facing. With the overall success of tonight, do you think that will help the locker room overcome those roadblocks?”Instead of taking this softball as it was pitched, TK leans into the premise:
“I think there’s still a lot of wrestlers in professional wrestling who don’t get along… now more than ever, those things are apparent. But I also think that the industry has thrived on creative tension for a long time. Yeah, you might say, what if it doesn’t manifest in a match right away? In the late 90s and early 2000s, which was the business, the interest, and the general peak of pro wrestling in many ways… There was certainly a big group of pro wrestlers who didn’t like each other. A lot of times they weren’t even in the same companies and they would rip each other, and it wasn’t gonna produce a match… But that is what we produce, is wrestling matches…Brandon Thurston asks him about the business aspect of the weekend, and Tony admits it was challenging with a lot of direct competition, some of it seemingly targeted directly to hit the AEW bottom line. Then, Tony’s general tone shifts he legit cuts a promo:
There’s a lot of matches between people who don’t get along and it’s not always an easy road to get people in the ring. But when you can get people in the ring to settle their differences, it’s really exciting. And there’s a lot of people… some people even here have gone out and blatantly slammed me in public. I have a pretty calm demeanor… I’m willing to put up with a lot of abuse… but there’s only so much knocking me and slamming me I can put up with. On the other hand, I will do what’s right for business when I have to…”
“I have to face the competition out there. When I compare myself to Jim Crockett promotions… This weekend, I think, I got a taste of the same medicine Jim Crockett promotions took. But I have a lot more fucking money than Jim Crockett did. I’m not gonna sit back and take this fucking shit.”Probably the most uncharacteristic thing I have ever heard Tony Khan say.
The next question centers on the start of the scrum:
“You see without a doubt your biggest star, your biggest mainstream attraction… He goes off the rails a bit toward your EVPs and another of your big young stars. You, as the leader of the ship, how do you diffuse the situation?”Tony Khan:
“That is a dicey situation. It is contentious and frankly challenging. But, I have to do what’s best for the sake of the company. Everybody you’re talking about are great wrestlers with big reputations… Some of them have been around from the beginning of the company. Some have been around for about a year now… The fact is, these are people that drive revenue, and they help create jobs for everyone. I’m not gonna comment on what you heard here tonight, but like I said earlier this week… It’s no secret that a lot of professional wrestlers don’t like each other. Now it’s probably more out in the open than it’s been in a while. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing for the pro wrestling business given the product that we produce: matches.”The next reporter asks about the ongoing role of The Elite within the company and Tony puts them over as invaluable assets in putting together and organizing the shows, as well as mentoring younger talent and helping to grow revenue streams.
Before Tony wraps up the scrum, he singles out a young man in the press pool to ask a question. The young man asks about CM Punk’s dog, Larry, who had ran out in front of the crowd earlier.
“... Well… Larry is a live wire… he got a taste of the live crowd… I thought he had a good time. When he arrived, he seemed like he was in good spirits.”Tony then leaves the podium.
In the coming hours, news would steadily emerge from backstage. As the story goes, the EVPs of All Elite Wrestling went to CM Punk’s locker room accompanied by Megha Parekh, AEW’s Chief Legal Officer and Director of Human Resources, along with Christopher Daniels, Fallen Angel and Manager of Talent Relations.
While in the locker room, CM Punk punched Matt Jackson, a chair hit Nick Jackson in the eye, and Ace Steel bit Kenny Omega on the arm. Larry the Dog was in peril also, later seen being carried by Megha away from the area. Brandon Cutler, Pat Buck, and Michael Nakazawa were all present. At some point Chris Jericho made his way to Punk to tell him he was a cancer to the locker room and detrimental to the company as a whole, only to be told in turn that it was none of Jericho’s business and he should leave. Aside from Megha, all parties present (aside from Jericho who arrived late) were immediately placed on paid administrative leave, pending investigation.
News dropped quickly that Punk would be out for six-to-eight months regardless of anything else due to his torn triceps suffered that night in the main event.
Aside from the injury, none of this has been 100% confirmed. None of these details exist on any official record. All accounts are, at best, third-hand information. The facts of the story changed wildly from the first 48 hours to the first two weeks, with absurd initial claims such as the Young Bucks (super)kicking down the door to Punk’s locker and Larry losing teeth in the maelstrom. To this day, no one other than those present know with any degree of certainty what happened inside that room.
But what happened outside that room was a remarkable shattering of perception about CM Punk, the Elite, but most importantly, AEW itself. In the immediate aftermath, massive fans such as myself couldn’t help but feel as if something was taken away from us. In the months since, so much has been made of getting AEW back to the old days, regaining that old feeling that made us fall in love at the beginning. We want to go back to what Jericho called the “amazing world” created by everyone at AEW, but none more so than by the Elite.
How could CM Punk so grossly and directly attack the founders and shapers of this company which, up to then, was widely hailed as the only place a wrestler would want to be? I thought back to the very last thing said to AEW cameras by Cody Rhodes, a founder whose absence loomed large that night in Chicago. A lot of people don’t realize his final words in AEW weren’t those uttered by a ladder, inside a ring where he famously claimed credit for construction of the Forbidden Door. No, it was in the bowels of the arena after his unification match with Sammy Guevara, over eight months before All Out… There, he talked about how proud he was of everything he had helped to build. Fighting back tears, he talked about how he would never feel more at home than he does in an AEW ring. “It’s Paradise, right?”
… Paradise.
Paradise… Paradise… Paradise Lost… The Fall of Man… Snake in the Garden…
Oh, enough already! I’m grasping at straws to find some connection that can't exist. How would a guy whose contract expired at the end of 2021 be even remotely connected to stuff throughout the next year and culminated on 9/4/22?
Huh... 9… 4… 2+2… 944?
What was it that I noticed back in Part Two?
June 27, 2011: Punk delivers his landmark Pipebomb promo in WWE.Okay. But still, what does any of that really have to do with The Elite, in particular Cody? Hell, if anything Cody might be more inclined to side with Punk than the Elite. His history with Punk went back all the way to 2007 and they worked shows together for the next seven years. Both guys left WWE with similar frustrations. Cody would certainly know what it’s like dealing with the Bucks… From Cody’s last match in WWE to the creation of AEW, he was tied at the hip with Nick & Matt Jackson. As soon as he hit the indies, he linked up with them and many other AEW stalwarts in Reseda, California. You can learn a lot about people in…
He would ultimately leave WWE and professional wrestling altogether 944 days later.
On January 1, 2019: All Elite Wrestling is founded.
944 days later, tickets for Rampage: The First Dance sell out within minutes.
Huh. That’s interesting.
May 16, 2016: Cody’s last match in WWE.
December 16, 2018: Cody’s last match before signing with AEW.
... 944 days.
Well, that’s actually pretty wild. These guys must have a really firm grasp on the history of their careers to line up Easter eggs like that. But really, that’s all they are: Easter eggs. The Elite and Punk are all famous trolls, so they may have been hoping some obsessive fool like myself would catch on and get pulled into the rabbit hole.
The trail stops at All Out, though. We can’t go into the future and see what happens 944 days from that media scrum, and the paths of most people involved in Brawl Out seem so divergent it’d be impossible to predict with any sort of accuracy. Punk is sidelined indefinitely, perhaps permanently. Kenny and the Bucks are back in action but their contract situations have started bubbling up in dirtsheets, so we can assume Hangman won’t be far behind in those rumors.
Meanwhile over in WWE, Cody Rhodes is sitting pretty. He’s getting massive cheers the AEW fanbase refused him toward the end, when his vision lost alignment with ours. Each passing day he climbs toward a mountain top of his own. In less than two weeks from now he will go to WrestleMania and try to overcome the most impenetrable obstacle in that company: the Bloodline.
If Cody succeeds at WrestleMania, his personal story would have a crowning achievement nearly every wrestler in history would envy. The fact that he bet on himself so many times and always won is remarkable. He’ll look even better considering the stains and scars imposed on “Paradise” after his departure. Maybe he could’ve helped avoid the embarrassment of All Out, but we’ll never know and that’s not for him to dwell upon. His primary focus should be on the Tribal Chief and stopping that historic reign in its tracks at...
... 944 days.
PART FIVE WILL EXAMINE THE FALLOUT FROM BRAWL OUT, THE CORONATION OF MJF, RIPPLE EFFECTS ACROSS PROMOTIONS, AND SPECULATE ON THE FUTURE…
I AM TAKING A DEEP, DEEP DIVE INTO ELITE LORE... SO IT’S GONNA TAKE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK AND MIGHT NOT BE HERE QUICKLY, BUT I THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME THIS FAR AND I HOPE YOU’LL STAY ONBOARD FOR THE END OF THE RIDE!
2023.03.22 16:26 RROD93 From Ancient Empires to Modern Markets: How Understanding History Can Boost Your Trading
“The four most expensive words in the English language are 'This time it's different.”
― John Templeton
Science, technology, philosophy, literature, sports, human achievements, commerce routes, the names of people … all of these change, all of these tend to evolve as human civilization keeps on moving forward in every realm.The exact same circumstances you, humanity, are faced with today are most likely absolutely unique.
How can it then be argued that history repeats itself? Does it really? How is that view compatible with the fact that the current conditions and circumstances are most likely unique?
After all, heritage compounds, the new learns and adds to old, ideas have sex and merge, never in the history of civilization have AI been accessible to virtually everybody.
Never in history have so many services and products been available to so many people.
The odds are you have a more varied diet, healthier lifestyle, better access to medicine, traveling possibilities, free time, better access to knowledge, that:
- Ramses
- Cesar
- Alexander the Great
- Mehmed II
- Any emperor of the Song Dynasty
- Genghis Khan
- Charles Magnus
- Queen Elisabeth I
- Louis XIV
- Napoleon
How can we even begin to argue that history repeats itself?
I’ve always wondered why I was so bad with names and dates when I studied History … a subject that interests me deeply.
I’ve found out why recently. Names, and dates are not interesting, that has never been the focus of attention … It is the common thread that sparks the most interest.
The common thread. And what is the common thread? Human nature.
All of the other realms evolve. Human nature either doesn’t or it does extremely slowly … never at the same pace of all the others.People are hungry (to start with the very beginning), proud, power thirsty, curious, emotional, sociable endowed with a sense of justice, with loss aversion that drives them to value property rights…
These traits have always been here, they most likely always will be and these traits have made human gathering and behavior relatively predictable over the centuries … since as far as we can record it.
People gather, a minority forge alliances to submit a majority to their service … eventually the minority gets greedy and subjects the majority to a degree of pressure they cannot withstand anymore.
The majority rebels, despite the efforts and mechanisms of the minority to preserve the status quo.
The majority wins, the old succumbs to the weak and fertile, the young and strong, arise and rule … for the satisfaction of the majority, perhaps, but not for long.
Eventually they fall prey to the same mistakes that allowed their uprising and the cycle goes on and on.
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Greek
- Rome
- The Mongols
- The Ottomans
- The British Empire
- The French Empire
- The Persian Empire
- The Spanish Empire
- The Qing Dynasty
Now that I know the names, I know that the names do not matter.
What does this matter to you, a hands-on profit oriented trader, just like me?
Financial history is no different.The value of things is moved by the amount of money the buyers and sellers are willing to exchange for them.
These buyers and sellers are no aliens but humans themselves.
Their interaction leaves patterns behind, just like it has been doing as far as we can record.
- Hope
- Optimism
- Greed
- Euphoria
- Fear
- Panic
- Despair
- Depression
- … Booms & Busts,
How can you benefit from History then?
It is written in the charts. Unfiltered.Whenever a buyer and seller have conviction enough about a perspective induced by a combination of their reason and emotion … they buy or they sell.
That number is all that matters, the number which buyers & sellers agreed that represented their views with conviction enough to take the risk.
The rest are opinions.
Well! It turns out that that sequence of numbers forms patterns, recurring patterns.
You will never be able to confidently time peaks and throughs.
But this knowledge will teach you to be triple cautious when no one else feels that way … it will teach you to be greedy when everyone else is depressed.
This knowledge will guide you on how to be on the right side of the risk to reward equation.
Study history, study the charts.
Cheers,
Ruben
https://www.tenacioustribe.com/does-history-repeat-itself-how-can-you-profit-from-history-knowledge-as-a-trader