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Originally posted here:
themoviedb.org

Linda A. Zelensky, age 58, of the Brooklyn community in Evergreen, died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2021.

Linda A. Zelensky

She was preceded in death by her father, Earl L. Williams Sr., Virginia Beach, Virginia; her mother, Paula Lee Williams, Evergreen; one sister, Cynthia L. Light; Florida; and one brother, Jimmy L. Sullivan, Florida.

She was an amazing cook, loved to go to craft shows and yard sales, working in her yard, fishing, going to the local lakes, creeks and beaches. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ. Most of all, she especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and would do anything she could for anyone.

Survivors include her husband, John Zelensky, Evergreen; one daughter, Heather Marie Teston, Jacksonville, Florida; three sons, Adam Zelensky of Andalusia, Shane Zelensky of Crestview, Florida and Matthew Zelensky of Evergreen; four sisters, Theresa M. Rutter of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Dorothy L. Dresser of Oviedo, Florida, Angela Jordan of Florida and Tabitha L. Portal of Jacksonville, Florida; one brother, Earl L. Williams Jr., Evergreen; one special aunt and uncle, Cleo Landry and Glenda Landry, and many more; four grandchildren, Hope, Penelope, Isaiah and Alexander; and a number of other family and friends.

Imagine stepping onto a shore and landing in heaven.Imagine taking hold of a hand and finding it is Gods hand. Imagine breathing new air and finding it is celestial air. Imagine feeling invigorated and fining it immortality.Imagine passing from storm and tempest to an unknown calm, image waking and finding it home. That is our sweet Linda she is now home. She was loved dearly by all and will truly be missed.

Memorial services were held on Sept. 18, 2021 at the Brooklyn Baptist Church, Brooklyn Alabama.

Continue reading here:
Linda A. Zelensky - The Andalusia Star-News - Andalusia Star-News

'Hackett Special' Is Popular Menu Item Since Broncos GM, New Head Coach 'Sealed The Deal' At Los Dos PotrillosOn Monday, the family-owned restaurant, Los Dos Potrillos became a part of Broncos history.

Cutting Red Tape To Rebuild From The Marshall FireFEMA is expected to soon approve of a plan that will have it conducting debris removal.

Public Health Order Requiring Proof Of COVID Vaccine In Events With 500+ DroppedThe Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has made some changes to the health order requiring proof of vaccination for some indoor events.

Witness To First Aurora Police Officer Death Reacts To DNA Technology Reveal Of Serial KillerFour Colorado families found justice this week thanks to DNA technology.

Warm Weekend Before Frigid February StormWatch Dave Aguilera's Forecast

Certain Parking Tickets In Denver Will Soon Cost Much MoreGetting a parking ticket in Denver will cost you more starting in February.

Adams 14 School District Denied Request To End Relationship With Third Party CompanyThe Adams 14 School District appealed to the state to end its relationship with MGT Consulting Group.

Affidavit Reveals Texts From Suzanne Morphew About Husband Barry Morphew Before DisappearanceNewly released court documents show text messages from Suzanne Morphew to a friend, before she disappeared -- and was never seen again.

This Month A Community Is Remembering Ricardo MartinezMartinez is was a Chicano leader who helped parents and students fight racism in schools.

Judge Rules Against Whitewater Rafting Firms In Wage DisputeA federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by Colorado rafting outfitters seeking to block a federal rule that will oblige them to pay a $15 hourly minimum wage to their seasonal employees.

COVID In Colorado: Mask Mandate To Be Lifted In Denver Next ThursdayDenvers current mask mandate due to COVID will be lifted on Feb. 3. City officials made the news official early Friday afternoon.

Video Raises New Questions About Commerce City Police Chief Racial Profiling Claims; Union Asks For Him To Be Put On LeaveThe union representing Commerce City police officers is asking that Police Chief Clint Nichols be placed on administrative leave amid unsubstantiated allegations that Nichols was racially profiled during a traffic stop in Utah.

Phase 2 Of Marshall Fire Cleanup Begins Next WeekPhase 2 of the Marshall Fire cleanup process will begin on Monday.

King Soopers To Reopen Table Mesa Boulder Location On Feb. 9King Soopers will reopen the Table Mesa store in Boulder on Feb. 9. That store has been closed since 10 people were killed in the March 22, 2021 mass shooting.

Denver Police Learn There Was A Serial Killer In Town When DNA Links Cold Cases TogetherIn 1981, Aurora teenager Antoinette Parks had her whole life took look forward to. She was high school student who attended Gateway High School in Aurora.

'Absolutely Not': Broncos GM George Paton Says Hiring Of Nathaniel Hackett Wasn't Part Of 'Package Deal' For Aaron RodgersThe Denver Broncos hiring of Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach had nothing to do with trying to acquire Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the offseason.

2 Bear Cubs Moved To Pikes Peak; Colorado Wildlife Officers Want To Find Who Killed MotherIt was move-in day Friday for two adorable bear cubs.

2 Found Deceased In Grand LakeDeputies responded to a residence in Grand Lake on Tuesday about 7:40 p.m. on a welfare check.

Husband, Wife Both Sent To Prison After Road Rage Shootings In 2 Denver Metro Area CountiesTheodore Hrdlicka was sentenced to 30 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections in late November for a 2019 road rage incident during which he said he was drunk and high when he fired his gun into three vehicles.

Alleged Drug Dealer Sammy Valdez Faces Manslaughter Charge After Lafayette Woman Dies From Fentanyl OverdoseA new arrest affidavit confirms a long-term investigation that began in 2020 led to the arrest of a Longmont man accused in the drug overdose death of a woman in Lafayette.

Denver Weather: Sunny Skies and Warm Temperatures This WeekendWatch Callie Zanandrie's forecast.

Denver Police Say Joe Michael Ervin Was A Serial Killer Who Murdered 5 Women More Than 40 Years AgoDenver police have identified a serial killer who murdered five women more than 40 years ago: Joe Michael Ervin.

Republican John Kellner Announces Plans To Run For Colorado Attorney GeneralColorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has his first potential challenger in the November election.

Denver Will Monitor Data As Mask Mandate Expiration ApproachesTwo years into the exhausting and horrible COVID pandemic, Colorados state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy had something positive to report.

Read more:
Rockies First Baseman Todd Helton Not Elected To Hall Of Fame - CBS Denver

This month could be your chance to win a stunning hamper from the Celtic company 'Moon Mn' in partnership with the Irish Heritage Tree.

Moon Mn Women's Celtic Circles is an international community of women, whose heart beats with Celtic soul and is for those who love the Moon, Celtic and nature-inspired books, diaries, journals, and gifts.

During the month of April, Moon Mn is giving one lucky IrishCentral reader a chance to win a hamper which includes the fully illustrated book "Goddesses of Ireland - Ancient Wisdom for Modern Women", leaf jewelry pendant and earrings set, a moonlight candle pot and their iconic 'Phases of the Moon' luxury velvet art cushion.

If you would like to enter the competition to win a fabulous Moon Mn hamper all you have to do is complete the form below:

The competition closing date is May 12, 2022.

An extract from the Moon Mn Diary-Journal 2022 by Dr. Karen Ward.

Known as The Tree of Enchantment the Willow tree in Irish Gaelic is Saille/Sail/Saileach similar to the Latin term Salix. There are three varieties native to Ireland - the Rusty, the Grey, and the intriguingly titled Goat.

This beautiful deciduous tree grows in damp soil reaching 35-50 feet in height with green elongated leaves and extremely strong stems, branches, and roots. The male and female catkins flower on different trees and are pollinated both by insects and the wind. One of the fastest growing trees, Willow has a short lifespan of about 30 years with its branches often called sallies referring to its Irish and Latin names.

Willows amazing ability to take root from the tiniest twig pushed into the earth symbolizes the hope of rebirth while raindrops from the drooping branches of the willow resemble tears hence the weeping Willow. Thus associated with water and moonlight, so beloved by witches means this distinctive tree is a symbol of grief and immortality.

Did you know that... Willows coppiced and the pliable wood is impermeable to water and so was used to make clogs, cricket bats, house building, baskets, lobster pots, bee-hives and coracle boats? Also, Willows natural compound salicin is used in the production of the painkiller aspirin. For thousands of years, herbalists knew that the chewed bark, twigs, and leaves would heal fevers, rheumatism, indigestion, headaches, and childbirth pains.

As the Ogham tree S for the 5th lunar month 15th April - 12th May, Willow is one of the seven sacred trees of the Irish grove according to Robert Graves.

The Druids added its wood to their Bealtaine (also Beltane) fires and folk names include Osier, Sallow, Witches Aspirin, Wicker and Withy. As a symbol of grief, the Celts planted Willow by graves so the soul could rise to immortality continued nowadays with the use of eco-coffins.

Great Mother Willow a Willow Tree story extract from the Moon Mn Diary-Journal 2022 by Katherine Piccott, Word-weaver, Goddess Lover, Moon-watcher, Star-gazer and Canadian Family Business Co-Owner:

"I remember the day when I first saw the Great Willow tree in our local park. I was in wonderment of her shape and size, as if from a fairy tale or another mystical realm. When I was a child walking through her branches that grew downward, felt as if opening curtains to a magical place full of secrets yet to be discovered. Awakening my inner child's curiosity, my eyes looked upward at her mighty trunk carved with initials, names, and hearts, of people and lovers that came to visit her beauty.

Facebook: Katherine Piccott

As I blossomed into my teenage years the Great Willow was a constant in my life, as the local park was the place to gather and hang out with friends. It was the place where I would meet my future husband, where we would court and the place we would bring our own children to visit over the years. She has watched me grow from a child into a young woman. In my late thirties, I began to deepen into my spiritual journey of self. Discovering what touched and spoke to my soul, my truths, and personal beliefs, I was drawn many times to the Great Willow for her guidance and medicine. She offered me a place of comfort, peace and solitude, a sacred place where my soul could just be. She always welcomed me, holding me in her mighty branches, that wrapped around me in her great arms of love.

Now we sit together, my growth mirroring hers, both of us rooted deeply in the foundations of who we are. Harsh weather and mighty winds have battered us, tossing us about in life, swaying and bending us in all directions. It is in this deep, rooted foundation we hold strength and hope, riding out these storms in life, becoming a beautiful and graceful dance of releasing.

Like the Great Willow, I reach upward from this solid foundation of self, towards father sun, mother moon, and star brothers and sister, their lighted rays bringing in new vision, perspective, and growth. And like the carvings upon her trunk - all those who have touched her soul, so have the people I have met upon my lifes voyage.

Their blessings and lessons are a part of me, as much as I am a part of them. For me, the Great Willows branches are her most beautiful aspect. How they reach outward to return downward as if to kiss Mother Earth, a giving back of respect. There are many pathways I have branched out on, high, low, twisted, and straight and all return me back to Mother Earth, to honour her, to release into her, and to heal from her, giving heartfelt thanks for all she has blessed upon me.

The Great Mother Willow represents my birthing to my returning. She is the wisdom keeper of all above, below, and in between. She is my continuous place of comfort and peace. She is my cocoon of love, as she wraps me in her mothering arms.

Moon Mn Women's Celtic Circles is an international community of women, whose heart beats with Celtic soul, mn being the word for women in the Irish Gaelic language and pronounced meh-naw. We commune daily through the pages of the Moon Mn Diary-Journal while gathering online for Lunar Gatherings and ceremonial Rites of Passage Courses. Find out more here.

You can follow Moon Mn on Facebook and Instagram or e-mail them at moonmna@moonmna.ie

This article is proudly presented in collaboration with Moon Mn and Irish Heritage Tree Program.

Follow this link:
GIVEAWAY: How you can win this fabulous Celtic hamper from Moon Mn - IrishCentral

When he was 28, Albert Camus began writing a novel about a plague. La Peste, or The Plague, tells the story of Oran, a strikingly ordinary town in French Algeria. In sober prose, Camus details the profoundly typical lives of the townsfolk as they go through their daily motions. Then the rats begin to die. Dr. Bernard Rieux, a dark-skinned man with close-cropped black hair, begins warning the authorities. He is the first to use the word plague, prompting the horror and disbelief of the higher-ups. However, they hesitate to sound the alarm because panic leads to economic disruptions and hurts chances for re-election. Eventually, Rieuxs frantic attempts to stave off the pestilence transform into futility, as he is left to inject serum and lance abscesses, waiting for the inevitable death of his patients.

Camus isnt pointing towards stupidity or politicization as the cause of death of half of Orans population, as recent movies like Dont Look Up seem to do. Instead, Camus touches on an aspect of human nature that is much more profound and at times unavoidable. Simply put, the citizens of Oran were like everybody else, wrapped up in themselves; in other words they were humanists: they disbelieved in pestilences.

Most of us have never experienced death because, well, if we had, wed be dead. We can never truly learn the lesson of the inevitability of our own death because we lack experience. Like the people of Oran, most of us have lived our lives under the pretense of immortality, protected from death by the illusory shield of probability.

Some of us, through a friend or loved one, have been shaken awake to the absurdity and inevitability of death, but for the most part, The Plague tells the story of a universal human condition. As Camus writes, Everybody knows that pestilences have a way of recurring in the world; yet somehow we find it hard to believe in ones that crash down on our heads from a blue sky.

Why did it take so long for Harvard to divest from fossil fuels? Aside from the many moral arguments, divestment was smart because it protected the environment in which we live. However, from the comfort of Cambridge, climate change is so detached from our realities that we refuse to recognize its truth. The people of Oran had rats dying in the streets, and they still refused to wake up from their stupor of comfort. Many of us havent watched our houses become flooded by rising sea levels, so we are left with numbers on a screen to serve as warnings.

Yet numbers arent enough. Most of us dont believe in climate change. Sure, we accept the facts, recognize the scientific truth. However, until Harvards campus is flooded by rising tides, most of us will never really grasp its reality.

This isnt an optimistic op-ed about how if we all sober up, we can band together to solve the climate crisis. This isnt even a deceivingly cynical op-ed meant to be proven wrong by do-gooders. This is, instead, a simple exposition of my personal opinion: that Harvards inability to recognize the gravity of the situation at hand only confirms Camus view of humanitys disbelief in death. It doesnt matter how many multimillion-dollar eco-allegories are made, or how many hours people picket in front of the stoic statue of John Harvard. Humanity wont believe in climate change until the evidence begins impacting our daily lives and we are jolted awake by the truth.

Climate change isnt a unique situation. It isnt a sort of punishment for humanitys arrogant actions, nor is it meant to impose universal justice. Instead, it is an absurd and chance concentration in time of the inescapable underlying condition which afflicts us all: the reality that our lives hang on a string, and that at any time, that string may snap. If we manage to escape the climate crisis, a more deadly pandemic will be next, or some other sort of natural or human-made catastrophe. The truth is, were all going to die, and theres not much we can do to change that.

This isnt meant to discredit the efforts of the Divest movement or everyone else who is valiantly fighting against climate change. The answer to this game that we are bound to lose isnt to flip the board over and walk away. Instead, its to continue playing, to work long hours lancing abscesses of patients that are inevitably going to die, as Dr. Rieux does. The solution is to be decent. As Camus writes, Theres no question of heroism in all this. Its a matter of common decency. Thats an idea which may make some people smile, but the only means of righting a plague is common decency.

What is decency? Perhaps an answer can be found in the wisdom of Dr. Rieux: I dont know what it means for other people. But in my case I know that it consists in doing my job.

Manny A. Yepes 24, a Crimson Associate Editorial Editor, is a Social Studies concentrator in Cabot House.

More:
We're All Going to Die | Opinion - Harvard Crimson

Sentinels star Tyson TenZ Ngo has explained that he believes grinding to be the only defining factor between Diamond, Immortal, and Radiant players in Valorant.

While there are many factors outside of a players control, like being stuck alongside a four-stack of untalkative teammates or a Jett who refuses to entry, theres plenty of aspects that are in a players control when climbing Valorants ranked ladder.

The most obvious way to contribute is through having a pure mechanical ability to get kills. The difference in players ability to frag is much more obvious at lower levels, but, at elite ranks, players shooting ability is largely similar.

And TenZ who famously became the NA servers first player to reach the top rank of Radiant (or Valorant, as it was confusingly called back in beta) has explained that the ability to grind is the only real deciding factor between the top ranks.

On his July 16 Twitch stream, TenZ said that he believes theres not much difference between players in Diamond, Immortal, and Radiant.

There is no deciding factor for what makes an immortal player more distinguishable than a Radiant player, he said. It really is just who grinds more.

And at the end of the day, even Radiant and Diamonds to an extent are kind of the same sh*t.

TenZ had earlier spoken about a mental block that Diamond players can face when against Radiants, caused by intimidation over their opponents being a higher ELO.

Dont think about it. Dont let their ranks be scary, he advised.

Given how he took to Sentinels roster like a duck to water in turbulent circumstances its no surprise TenZ has such a winning mentality. Itll serve him well heading into the remainder of VCT Stage 3 as Sentinels continue their domination of NA (and potentially the world).

See original here:
TenZ explains why theres no real difference between top ranks in Valorant - Dexerto

Every so often, the NBA playoffs bring iconic moments. Consider the magnificent block Giannis Antetokounmpo had against DeAndre Ayton in Game 4 of this years Finals. Or the rundown block LeBron James had against the Warriors in 2016 (and notice that the block was kept in bounds and that Cleveland got the possession - very smart play). Or take this play by Michael Jordan against the Cavaliers in his era when nobody was going to get by the Bulls.

However, there is one iconic moment that took place even before the ball went up to start the game.

Were referring to the 1970 Finals between the Lakers and the Knicks. Willis Reed entered Game 7 with a torn thigh muscle and was not expected to play. He was determined though and took treatment - probably cortisone - and hobbled out shortly before the game started.

His assignment was Wilt Chamberlain, the most supremely talented big man in the history of sports. Not just basketball. Sports. You can take any athlete over 6-8 and Chamberlain could have mastered that sport and won. Thats how spectacular his talent was.

Thats what Reed had to deal with - on one leg.

Nonetheless, he had the crowd in a frenzy and after he hit the first two shots of the game, the energy in Madison Square Garden was off the charts. There was no way LA could match it.

Afterwards, Howard Cosell told Reed that [y]ou exemplify the very best that the human spirit can offer.

This is one of the legendary moments in all of sports.

Read the rest here:
YouTube Gold: Its Hard To Think Of Anyone Who Ever Showed More Heart In A Basketball Game Than This - Duke Basketball Report

In Peter Jacksons The Fellowship of the Ring, Elrond calls a secret meeting with representatives of the three free races in Middle-earth humans, elves, and dwarves to discuss what to do about the One Ring. As Elrond commands that the ring must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom, Boromir utters a line that has since become one of the most iconic Lord of the Rings memes of all time: One does not simply walk into Mordor.

Sean Bean, who plays Boromir, delivers the line with the gravitas necessary for the movies pivotal scene. However, the contrast between his serious line reading and the fact that the quote comes after a brief pause and almost out of nowhere caught the attention of Lord of the Rings fans. A screencap of the scene, featuring Boromir making a circular hand gesture, overlaid with the famous line quickly became a popular meme, spreading across major social sites of the time.

When the first film was released in 2001, memes were just beginning to find their footing online. They had been around for years one of the first modern memes, a dancing CGI baby, became popular in 1996 but the landscape was rapidly evolving. At the same time, fandoms were thriving on websites and forums meant to connect members around the world.

Lord of the Rings memes arrived in the digital space at a moment where dedicated fanbases were purposely trying to share as much content with as many people as possible. The fun of making memes attracted people who hadnt seen the movies, who watched the movies so they could make better memes, which attracted more people and ... the rest is history, a symbiotic relationship that has kept the Peter Jackson trilogy front and center in online consciousness for two decades.

From owyns iconic I am no man scene in The Return of the King, to a line about menus, uttered by an Uruk-hai in Two Towers, which has captivated and confused the internet for years, there are dozens upon dozens to choose from. An online search of Lord of the Rings memes produces hundreds of articles chronicling the best and most known. Pages have popped up on almost every social media site to allow fans to share their love of the memes, from Reddits r/LOTRmemes to Instagrams @danklotrmemes and Tumblrs LOTRreactionmemes.

Boromirs Mordor meme isnt the only Lord of the Rings meme in rotation, but Walking to Mordor is one of the oldest and most recognizable from the franchise. While the image became part of the internets meme lexicon after the movies release in 2001, one of the first noted uses wasnt until 2004, when a user on the forum Something Awful posted an image of Boromir in a car with the text One does not simply drive into Mordor.

The original moment from the film was itself popular, but this adaptation of the line rocketed it to another level. The edited version of the meme situated it as a snowclone, a formulaic phrase that can be customized but still convey the same origin. Other iterations, like One does not simply insert a USB on the first try and One does not simply hit the snooze button just once, began popping up across the internet, cementing the memes status in the digital space. It was a straight-forward template that could be adapted to any phrase, making it an easy format for seasoned and new meme users alike to enjoy. Ultimately, it helped pave the way for similar snowclone memes to thrive.

Its just an easily digestible, low-effort meme from a simpler time, Redditor and member of r/LOTRmemes u/bottle_O_pee says. That being said, that meme became so popular [that] it started a sort of renaissance in the meme world.

Now, though, the memes purpose has drastically changed. The humor behind it has evolved from being a funny, culturally-relevant twist on the meme to an indicator of someone doing something inane or ridiculous. While its widespread use was a major factor of this change, it also became common knowledge that the line in the meme isnt actually what Boromir says at that moment in the film hes actually talking about the great Eye of Sauron, hence his curled hand contributing to its absurdity. Meme humor has also majorly evolved, favoring smarter topics or formats and directly contrasting with the memes uncreative, template-like layout. To use the Boromir meme nowadays is to understand that it has been run into the ground, but that its too integral to internet culture to ever really die.

Lord of the Rings memes are popular because the series is popular, says u/bottle_O_pee. Sometimes [the] simplest answer is the best.

While the breadth of memes that the franchise has spawned is impressive, whats more is how long the memes have stuck around. Boromirs line, for example, has been passed around the internet for 20 years, long surpassing the typical four-month life span of a meme.

In many ways, the longevity of the trilogys memes is a reflection of its fandom. Lord of the Rings fans have been around since the first books publication in 1954; Fanlore even published a 100-year timeline of the fandom. What solidified the fanbase as a major cultural group, though, was its passionate dedication to the franchise and to Tolkien himself. Fans have created clubs around it, lined up for hours to see the films, and just like the Year of the Ring project is doing, dissected every single aspect of the source content through articles, podcasts, and documentaries.

That commitment to the trilogy is as strong today as its ever been, thanks to the stories launch into the mainstream by the films and the internets ability to deliver Lord of the Rings content to almost anyone anywhere at any time. The Reddit page r/LOTR has seen its subscriber count increase by over 4600% since just 2013, and an unfathomably detailed wiki continues to chronicle every corner of the trilogy and its fans and these are just a small sampling of the fandoms growth and dedication.

It doesnt matter that it came out 20 years ago, says Cates Holderness, head of editorial and trends expert at Tumblr. [Fans are] rewatching it every couple of weeks, and they have found a community of people who also love these movies. They can engage forever with this one entertainment property.

This increase can also be attributed to circulation of Lord of the Rings memes online. As they spread across the internet, anyone who interacts with the memes also engages with the films, regardless of how far removed from the content they are. For non-fans, theyre a gateway into a fantasy world that otherwise requires an immense amount of time to get into. Memes allow a person to dip their toes into the Lord of the Rings, without putting in the considerable effort to unpack its story. Its a constant cycle; as new fans are introduced to the story through memes, they become meme creators and circulators themselves, pulling in more new fans as they go.

The Lord of the Rings films have also managed to become a cultural keystone in their two-decade-long existence. Even those who havent seen or read the trilogy have heard of it, typically knowing at least some general plot points. The major characters themselves have become entities separate from the story. Referring to Gandolf or Frodo nowadays doesnt always pertain to the Lord of the Rings books or movies; to many, the former is just a funny, slightly neurotic wizard, and the latter is a small, furry-footed hero, both fully removed from their original context.

Because there is now such a widespread cultural understanding of the trilogy, Lord of the Rings memes can be used and comprehended by everyone not just fans. One does not simply walk into Mordor is funny because fantasy heroes can never just waltz into the climax of the story; its a universal story element, rather than one tied to a specific world. Neither the character of Boromir nor the line he utters are important to the meme at all; instead, its the cultural perception that propelled it to the top of the meme charts and has kept it there ever since.

Theres a low barrier of entry when it comes to memes, because so much of the language and the cultural understanding of memes is ubiquitous, says Holderness. The context is there without having to have seen the movies.

The films themselves are also infinitely quotable, from Samwise Gamgee proclaiming Theres some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and its worth fighting for in The Two Towers, to a visibly sober Legolas saying I think its affecting me after a drinking competition with Gimli in The Return of the King. Because of the number of memorable lines that Jackson and co-writers packed into the script, almost every scene has at least one moment that could easily be transformed into a meme.

In general, the movies are long, and there are several of them, [] so we have that much material, says Holderness. Its just a lot of fodder for memes. Its fun, its interesting, the characters are complex but also funny at the same time. I think that kind of all builds out a great base for people to just riff on and make things out of.

That ability to explore such a large amount of content means that Lord of the Rings memes can feasibly cater to everyone. You dont have to look far for a meme that fits what youre trying to convey from the joys of drinking with friends to the aftermath of cleaning a messy room to simply a funny joke based on a specific scene. Not only does the vast material allow for constant meme creation, but it also encourages continuous circulation; you can always find at least one Lord of the Rings meme out there to relate to or that you find funny.

One does not simply use a Lord of the Rings meme casually theres a rich story behind every image and line, and at least part of it has to be understood in order for the joke to make sense. These memes level the playing field, though; those who only vaguely know the stories because of cultural importance can enjoy the memes just as much as those who harbor a deep passion for the story behind them.

In the same way that the series is so profoundly embedded in our culture, the memes that come from it have garnered their own kind of fame. At this point, for example, the Boromir meme is a living legend. It was created in a time of image macros memes that consist of an image with top and bottom text in the Impact font and it survived the transition into what we consider memes today.

Thanks to dedicated digital fans and a constant adaptability in the changing internet landscape, Lord of the Rings memes have been circulating for 20 years, squarely situating themselves as a major part of internet culture. These memes have so much to be enjoyed, and to be, and to do, and like Samwise Gamgee their part in the story of The Lord of the Rings will certainly go on.

The rest is here:
The history of Boromirs Walk to Mordor meme is Lord of the Rings magic - Polygon

For three years, the Warriors were the greatest team in basketballs modern era; an absurd assemblage of talent, led by Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and the incomparable Kevin Durant.

By now, we know why Durant left the Dubs. Or, at least weve come to terms with his exit to Brooklyn.

But with his return to the Bay Area and his first visit to the house that he helped build (remember that insane ground-breaking ceremony was that the moment he wanted out?), its fair to wonder what Durant left behind when he went east after the 2019 season.

Durant left to start something new. The Nets are his team. And as a franchise that has never won an NBA title, his successes there will be viewed favorably by the leagues proletariat and bourgeoisie alike.

A Nets title might arrive as soon as this season. Brooklyn is undoubtedly an awesome team with him, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving on the court together. He might even win a few there.

And to that, you can only tip your hat and be happy for his success. Lifes too short to hold grudges, especially unfounded ones.

I dont know how Durant would have found fulfillment in Golden State.But if he had found it here if he received what he sought in the summer of 2016 theres little doubt in my mind that the Warriors would go down as the greatest dynasty in modern basketball history.

Now, had Durant re-signed with the Warriors after their NBA Finals loss, I dont think much would have changed in the subsequent season.

Remember, the Warriors would have been without Klay Thompson and Durant and the teams depth attrition something that was undeniable in the Warriors 2019 playoff run would have likely been glaring.

(That said, we would not have been subjected to the play of DAngelo Russell, a big bonus.)

But I do think that the Warriors would still have Andre Iguodala in the Bay.

And my, what the Dubs wouldnt do to have him back in the fold.

But I dont know if Curry would have played the full season or if Draymond Green would have been more engaged, or if the Warriors would have added worthwhile veterans (at insane luxury-tax prices) to fill the gaps.

The Dubs probably would not have looked dynastic without Thompson and Durant. Id imagine their stay in the bubble would have been shorter than expected.

Itd be the reset year that the entire organization, deep down, secretly wanted. Being exceptional every day for five years takes a toll on you.

But had Durant stuck around, the Warriors would be the title favorites again this season, with or without Thompson.

And with Durant still in the fold, the Warriors would have been able to lure ring-chasing free agents, something they were no longer able to do this season after Thompsons injury. Durants stunning return to his old form, next to this Curry, would be more than enough for the Warriors on a nightly basis and in the playoffs.

There are some great duos around the NBA, but no one is even coming close to Durant and Curry as a one-two punch.

And in the years to come, that title favorite status would have likely remained intact. Currently, Durant and Curry are 32 years old. Thompson is 31, and Green 30, but would it be ridiculous to think that they could continue to be the NBAs dominant force until 2025? Who would have been able to assemble enough talent to take down that four-headed monster, even if their games started slipping a bit with age?

Had Durant remained a Warriors, Golden State might have fulfilled the prophecy: They might have truly ruined the NBA. How many titles would they have won with the two greatest shooters in NBA history, a sport-changing defender, and the greatest scorer the league has ever seen?

Five? Six? Seven?

It wouldnt be boring from our perspective, but the rest of the country maybe even the world might have turned the channel. Inevitability doesnt sell.

But it does create immortality.

To win as many titles as a continued Warriors dynasty could have stacked, in an era built for parity, against 29 teams, would have put Durant and company in a class of their own in the history of the NBA. No offense to Bill Russell and those Boston teams that won 11 titles between 1957 and 1969, but that was an era of expansion, as the league went from eight teams (with only two missing the playoffs, and one located in Fort Wayne, Indiana) to 14 during that stretch.

The Warriors only comparable would have been dynasties from other sports.

Forget the day-to-day narratives and Twitter commentary, Durant knew all of that was possible for Golden State when he left.

Hes a certain Hall of Famer, a perennial MVP candidate, and his number should be retired in three different cities, including in San Francisco. Thats locked in.

But if its all about titles Im told on the internet that it is then its OK to lament the missed opportunity, and to wonder how incredible the Warriors might have been, how dominant they would be, and how long they would have kept it up, with the great Durant in blue and gold.

See the article here:
Kurtenbach: Kevin Durant passed on immortality when he left the Warriors, and thats OK - Santa Cruz Sentinel

For several years now, players have been wondering where the most infamous game in the Diablo franchise is, or when were going to see it. Even as we write this, theres been no word on a release from the game originally announced four years ago.

Most Blizzard fans or those in the gaming world in general likely remember the infamous announcement of Diablo Immortal back in 2018. The announcement of the mobile game gave birth to the Do you guys not have phones meme, mocking a particular developer that remarked condescendingly to an unhappy audience.

RELATED: Apex Legends Season 2; Meta Completely Transformed By Introduction Of New Hop-Ups

Since then, most players chose to simply forget that the game existed, as many are unhappy that the title is even being developed. Exclusive for mobile devices and smartphones, the title has many worried that the franchise will be slipping towards microtransactions and the like.

Integrity of the franchise aside, the title is still being made regardless of fan preference, and while we wait for Diablo IV to finish its own lengthy development theres not much else to look towards except for the release of the mobile title.

RELATED: The Action Spellcasting Game Spellbreak Launches This September

Theres only one issue when the heck are we going to see this game? Announced three years ago, theres still no sort of release date, only being given a placeholder date of Coming Soon on its official listing.

News of this sort is often shared during BlizzCon, which many are aware was canceled from its usual November slot for 2020 as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the convention to be moved online and to the new BlizzConline format.

This new online format of the convention will be taking place in a week, from February 19th to February 20th. During this time, Blizzard will be discussing all of their main titles, Diablo very much included.

Its likely that this will be the time that we hear any upcoming news about Diablo Immortal so that we know when or if we should be expecting the game. The first segment for the franchise is a Whats Next segment, which is likely to be when the news is announced.

That said, theyve likely been hesitant to give any sort of a release date or update due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted a great amount of the companys functions. Given that World of Warcraft: Shadowlands was announced and then delayed, with the announcement of the release coming barely a month from that date, they could simply be waiting until they know a definite date.

RELATED: The Last Of Us Part 2 Coming To PC Seems Like A No-Brainer; And It Probably Is Eventually

If there isnt any news of Diablo Immortal at this BlizzConline, many fans may begin writing the title off completely. Given that the title was unpopular at announcement, many have stopped paying attention to the release altogether.

See the rest here:
Will Blizzard Discuss Diablo Immortal At The Upcoming BlizzConline? - Happy Gamer

For three years, the Warriors were the greatest team in basketballs modern era; an absurd assemblage of talent, led by Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and the incomparable Kevin Durant.

By now, we know why Durant left the Dubs. Or, at least weve come to terms with his exit to Brooklyn.

But with his return to the Bay Area and his first visit to the house that he helped build (remember that insane ground-breaking ceremony was that the moment he wanted out?), its fair to wonder what Durant left behind when he went east after the 2019 season.

Durant left to start something new. The Nets are his team. And as a franchise that has never won an NBA title, his successes there will be viewed favorably by the leagues proletariat and bourgeoisie alike.

A Nets title might arrive as soon as this season. Brooklyn is undoubtedly an awesome team with him, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving on the court together. He might even win a few there.

And to that, you can only tip your hat and be happy for his success. Lifes too short to hold grudges, especially unfounded ones.

I dont know how Durant would have found fulfillment in Golden State. But if he had found it here if he received what he sought in the summer of 2016 theres little doubt in my mind that the Warriors would go down as the greatest dynasty in modern basketball history.

Now, had Durant re-signed with the Warriors after their NBA Finals loss, I dont think much would have changed in the subsequent season.

Remember, the Warriors would have been without Klay Thompson and Durant and the teams depth attrition something that was undeniable in the Warriors 2019 playoff run would have likely been glaring.

(That said, we would not have been subjected to the play of DAngelo Russell, a big bonus.)

But I do think that the Warriors would still have Andre Iguodala in the Bay.

And my, what the Dubs wouldnt do to have him back in the fold.

But I dont know if Curry would have played the full season or if Draymond Green would have been more engaged, or if the Warriors would have added worthwhile veterans (at insane luxury-tax prices) to fill the gaps.

The Dubs probably would not have looked dynastic without Thompson and Durant. Id imagine their stay in the bubble would have been shorter than expected.

Itd be the reset year that the entire organization, deep down, secretly wanted. Being exceptional every day for five years takes a toll on you.

But had Durant stuck around, the Warriors would be the title favorites again this season, with or without Thompson.

And with Durant still in the fold, the Warriors would have been able to lure ring-chasing free agents, something they were no longer able to do this season after Thompsons injury. Durants stunning return to his old form, next to this Curry, would be more than enough for the Warriors on a nightly basis and in the playoffs.

There are some great duos around the NBA, but no one is even coming close to Durant and Curry as a one-two punch.

And in the years to come, that title favorite status would have likely remained intact. Currently, Durant and Curry are 32 years old. Thompson is 31, and Green 30, but would it be ridiculous to think that they could continue to be the NBAs dominant force until 2025? Who would have been able to assemble enough talent to take down that four-headed monster, even if their games started slipping a bit with age?

Had Durant remained a Warrior, Golden State might have fulfilled the prophecy: They might have truly ruined the NBA. How many titles would they have won with the two greatest shooters in NBA history, a sport-changing defender, and the greatest scorer the league has ever seen?

It wouldnt be boring from our perspective, but the rest of the country maybe even the world might have turned the channel. Inevitability doesnt sell.

But it does create immortality.

To win as many titles as a continued Warriors dynasty could have stacked, in an era built for parity, against 29 teams, would have put Durant and company in a class of their own in the history of the NBA. No offense to Bill Russell and those Boston teams that won 11 titles between 1957 and 1969, but that was an era of expansion, as the league went from eight teams (with only two missing the playoffs, and one located in Fort Wayne, Indiana) to 14 during that stretch.

The Warriors only comparable would have been dynasties from other sports.

Forget the day-to-day narratives and Twitter commentary, Durant knew all of that was possible for Golden State when he left.

Hes a certain Hall of Famer, a perennial MVP candidate, and his number should be retired in three different cities, including in San Francisco. Thats locked in.

But if its all about titles Im told on the internet that it is then its OK to lament the missed opportunity, and to wonder how incredible the Warriors might have been, how dominant they would be, and how long they would have kept it up, with the great Durant in blue and gold.

#YR@ MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

View original post here:
Kevin Durant passed on immortality when he left the Warriors, and that's OK - Union Democrat

For the second week running, Valheim, Tale of Immortal, and Nioh 2 hold the top three spots in the Steam top sellers list. Each is a hitrepresenting a different growing genre or trend.

Given that it surpassed 345,000 concurrent players this weekend, its no surprise Valheim reigns supreme here. The viking game has become an instant hit, having launched on Steam Early Access less than two weeks ago. Tale of Immortal is the latest Steam heavy hitter from China, another Early Access launch, thats been consistently drawing in players despite currently only being available in simplified Chinese (though the devs are working on a translation.)

Nioh 2swiftly outdid Darks Souls player-count when it released at the start of February, and the port has continued to hold onto those players. Some performance issues did niggle at the action-adventure game, but publisher Koei Tecmo told us its working on patches, and that good faith has obviously been enough to keep people playing. PlayerUnkowns Battlegrounds is in fourth, getting a boost from the 50% discount in the Steam Lunar New Year sale, and the same for Rust, in fifth, benefiting from a neat 33% off.

Down the bottom are Sea of Thieves, in ninth, and Dyson Sphere Program, in tenth. The latterdropped from sixth due tothesesuper popular multiplayer gamesgetting a spike in sales from discounts. In eighth, for a ludicrous 18th week in the Steam top sellers list, is Cyberpunk 2077, still holding on in there.

We have guides on Valheims weapons, Valheims building, and Valheims progression, if all this buzz has you tempted.

Read the original here:
Valheim, Tale of Immortal, and Nioh 2 remain Steams top three selling games - PCGamesN

In the summer of 2015, Pierre-Andre Gignac was a man in high demand.

The clinical striker was coming fresh off a 2014/15 campaign in which he had scored 21 goals in 38 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille, with only Alexandre Lacazette (27) outscoring Gignac as he fired Les Phoceens to fourth in the table.

That campaign was the culmination of an upward trend in the strikers career. After managing league goal totals of just eight and one (ouch) in his first two seasons with Marseille, Gignac netted 13 and 16 times across the 2012/13 and 2013/14 campaigns, respectively, setting himself up for a stellar 2014/15.

Gignac had also fought his way back into international contention with France but, despite being such hot property at the time, player and club could not agree on a new contract, and the former Toulouse striker made clear his intention to leave Marseille, then managed by Marcelo Bielsa, as early as December 2014.

I think I will leave at the end of the season, he said. I want to know if (coach Marcelo) Bielsa will stay, but I want a big challenge. I will consider all proposals carefully.

Gignac name-dropped Inter Milan as a potential destination, while the likes of Lyon, West Ham, Newcastle United, West Brom and Dynamo Moscow were all linked with him at one time or another. With that in mind, the decision to join Mexican giants Tigres UANLin June 2015 was one which caught most in Europe off-guard.

Despite hosting the most successful sides in CONCACAF, including the likes of Club America, Chivas and Monterrey, aside from Tigres, Liga MX has never quite had the same appeal or attracted the same level of wider curiosity as its neighbour in the north, Major League Soccer. As such, given the level of interest surrounding Gignac, then only 29 years old, there were those who accused the 36-time France international of making the move for financial reasons Gignac joined Tigres on an initial deal worth $4m per season, making him the highest-paid player in Mexico.

In the six seasons since he crossed the Atlantic, its safe to say Gignac has been on a one-man mission to prove his doubters wrong.

To date, the now-35-year-old Gignac has scored no fewer than 147 goals in 246 appearances across all competitions for Tigres, establishing himself as the clubs record goalscorer and proving the catalyst for an unprecedented era of success in San Nicolas de los Garza. Since his arrival, Tigres have won four league titles (3x Apertura, 1x Clausura), three Campeon de Campeones crowns, the 2018 Campeones Cup and, most recently, the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League the clubs long-awaited first triumph in that competition after final defeats in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Gignac was the Golden Boot winner during the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League with six goals, while he scored the winner in the 2-1 final win over LAFC. The fact he has scored in three of the tournaments finals only serves to further illustrate the sheer impact hes had on the Mexican game. In short, Gignac is a legend.

For Tigres fans, Gignac is a massively popular figure, Cesar Hernandez of the Mexican Soccer Show podcast told Squawka when asked of the players influence on the Tigres fanbase.

In a roster filled with highly talented players that could easily make up the core of a potential Liga MX all-star team, Gignac has constantly found a way to stand out. Tigres fans absolutely love him for not only consistently scoring and bringing titles, but for also embracing his new Mexican lifestyle.

He quickly picked up Spanish, became a Mexican citizen, and has proudly boasted about his kids growing up in the region. Speaking of kids, a 2019 report from MedioTiempo claimed that over 40 kids from Nuevo Leon have a registered name that is inspired by Gignac. Safe to say fans love him, and hes reciprocated that love back. Hes brought titles, hes already had a Tigres-inspired tattoo, and seems to be genuinely happy in his new home country.

All odds stated in this article are accurate at the time of publication (12:00, 10/02/2021). You have to be 18+ to gamble. BeGambleAware

On where Gignac lands in the conversation of Liga MXs greatest-ever players, Hernandez adds: Weve seen plenty of arguments regarding whether hes the greatest player from outside the country, the greatest striker, or simply just the greatest. I think its far too early to say that hes the definite greatest in Liga MX, but hes undoubtedly in the running.

Hes definitely brought more attention from abroad, especially when you consider that he was born in France and that he could still be playing for an elite European team. That said, the league has plenty of room for growth and needs more players of his calibre to continue propelling it forward.

From Lionel Messi to Diego Maradona, the true icons of football never know when theyre done and there are always higher mountains to scale for those willing to go the distance. In his particular corner of the footballing world, Gignac is on the cusp of doing just that.

Once again, it was he who was the hero as Tigres came from behind to beat Ulsan Hyundai 2-1 in the second round of the delayed 2020 Club World Cup, scoring a first-half brace to send the South Korean side packing. That set up a semi-final glamour tie with Brazilian side and Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras in an attractive game, but one most expected Tigres to ultimately lose.

As always, Gignac had other ideas. A wonderful Tigres performance saw the Mexican side enjoy 51% of possession and outshoot their Brazilian counterparts 8-7, while a mammoth defensive effort comprising of 16 tackles, 17 interceptions and 19 clearances kept the Libertadores holders at bay. But, of course, it was Gignac who had the final say.

With the game poised at 0-0, Tigres were awarded a penalty as Carlos Gonzalez was dragged down in the box. After already being denied by goalkeeper Weverton on a number of occasions, Gignac calmly stepped up and drilled the ball into the bottom corner, just beyond the reach of the Brazilians outstretched arms. Tigres held out to become the first-ever CONCACAF team to reach the Club World Cup final. The reward? A mouth-watering clash with European and German champions Bayern Munich, Robert Lewandowksi, Joshua Kimmich et al.

We finally achieved an international title, tournament MVP Gignac said after the CONCACAF Champions League final.

I always wanted to win it even though some say it is not worth much. It is worth going to a Club World Cup, and it is worth playing against the best teams from each continent. Today it is Tigres turn.

Following the win over Ulsan, he proclaimed: We know were capable of making history and want to do so.

If the veteran striker can inspire Tigres to an unlikely, iconic victory over Bayern Munich, then Ricardo Ferrettis side will becomethe first-ever CONCACAF team to win the tournament, and he will transcend legendary status, sealing immortality.

Today is Tigres turn. Today is Gignacs turn.

More:
How rejecting Inter and Lyon set Andre-Pierre Gignac on his way to Tigres immortality - Squawka

Even if I set out to make a film about a fillet of sole, it would be about me. Federico Fellini

In his retrospective essay on Fellinis 1963 masterpiece, Roger Ebert made the bold claim that 8is the best film ever made about filmmaking. Almost 60 years later,8still maintains its incomparable hold over metafictional investigations that have succeeded it. While other directors like Charlie Kaufman and Woody Allen have tried to emulate Fellinis vision in their own works (notably inSynecdoche, New YorkandStardust Memories), Fellinis seminal effort is the definitive film of the genre and has influenced countless artists as well as scholars. Is8a tiring manifestation of Fellinis penchant for self-indulgence or does the dreamy collection of ideas and images deserve its rightful place among the all-time greats?

AlthoughLa Dolce Vitais his most well-known film,8is undoubtedly Fellinis coveted magnum opus. It is a dizzying experiment with the atoms of cinema; images. Images that threaten to annihilate all logic and reason, consuming the viewer within the totality of their astonishing beauty. Fellini does not waste time in getting to his grand thesis and begins bombarding the audience with these images from the opening sequence itself, which is arguably the most memorable opening scene of all time. He masterfully sums up the anxieties of modernity and masculinity within seconds, depicting a dystopian world where traffic does not move, and people hang their unmoving hands out of buses in which they are packed like sardines.

What most filmmakers spend hours perfecting, Fellini achieves instantly, raising important questions about individual liberty, artistic control and spirituality through the tyranny of gravity. We feel like we have entered Fellinis dreams and we fail to shake off this feeling over the course of the film, unable to distinguish between the realism of the narrative and the surrealism of the subtext.8is probably one of the greatest examples which supports oneiric film theory, a school of thought that compares the act of viewing a film to dreaming. Fellini manages to effortlessly translate the absurdity of dreams to the cinematic medium: curating a unique experience which transcends the limitations of the screen and the banality of life.

The infinitely charismatic Marcello Mastroianni plays Guido, a confused filmmaker who does not know how to proceed with the production of his epic science-fiction film. He is not a sympathetic character, almost a semi-autobiographical vehicle for Fellinis self-loathing, and frustrates the audience as well as his team members with his constant indecision. Guido is trapped in a failing marriage, a loveless affair, a stalled project and recurring dreams of erotic desires. Memories of an idyllic childhood turn into Oedipal nightmares involving problematic notions of women and fear of patriarchal and institutional authority.

As if participating in a rebellion against the conservative regulation of his libido as a young man, Guido does not know how to connect with women anymore without reducing them to sexual objects that adorn his perverse harem. While Francis Ford Coppola chose to present the Vietnam War to the rousing sound of WagnersRide of the Valkyries, Fellini incorporates it in the soundtrack when Guido drinks mineral water and dreams of whipping women who do not submit to him. In doing so, he paints the portrait of an artist who cannot escape his own head. As the days progress, Guidos sci-fi project becomes increasingly personal, and he somehow manages to make it about his marital conflicts rather than the philosophically ambitious themes of religion, outer space and technology. Unimpressed by his efforts, his writer tells him:

Were smothered by words, images and sounds that have no right to exist, that come from the void and return to the void. Of any artist truly deserving of the name, we should ask nothing but this act of faith: to learn silence.

Many have criticised Fellini for his self-indulgent dream sequence and his endless meta-commentary about how he has nothing to say. He would have us believe that there is no film, whatever we have witnessed so far is nothing but a ruptured string of constructed images that have the sole purpose of lying to us. However, Fellinis genius is that he turns his silence into art. The constant indecision and procrastination of Guido become the site of the primary artistic conflict that was lacking in Guidos film. Even though they tear apart the enormous set they were building for the spaceship that he was going to use, it is irrelevant. That was just a skeleton of a dream, the production sit being the graveyard of artistic endeavours. At a hectic press conference where pesky journalists keep aiming questions ranging from celebrity gossip to political baits at Guido, he hides under the table and shoots himself in the head. Was this a part of Guidos fantasy as well, or was it the suicide of the artist who could not live with himself anymore? Fellini refuses to give us any clear answers. Instead, he follows it up with what has become one of the most iconic ending sequences in film history due to its enigmatic symbolism and elusiveness.

On the fresh grave of his potential masterpiece, he orchestrates his own carnivalesque funeral. Maybe it is the concoction of Guidos overactive synapses that are protesting against the bullet he just shot into his skull. He imagines a moment suspended in space-time where he is forgiven for his trespasses, acknowledged for his talents and loved for who he is. Crowning himself with the metaphorical directors hat, he choreographs the rituals of his own death and makes everyone dance on the extension of his own corpse. The fleeting images and bittersweet music slip back into the void, paving the way for an eternal silence.

Originally posted here:
Revisiting 8: Federico Fellinis immortal homage to the constructed image - Far Out Magazine

Businesses and individuals welcomed the Year of the Ox, 2021, with the Chinese lion and, new for this year, the Chinese dragon in the face of rules and health and safety guidelines from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We were completely booked within two hours of announcing the event, said Stacie Chiba Miguel, the general manager for The Shops at Kukuiula, which welcomed the taiko performers of Tsunami Taiko and its singular Chinese lion Friday. We could only have 25 cars. The cars could have 10 people in each one, but we could only allow 25 cars.

Additionally, the lions journey was relocated from inside the shopping center to a singular parking area to further reduce the amount of people attending the welcome of the lunar new year. Attendants wielding special buckets were assigned to the lion to collect the lai see, or good-fortune offering, that normally would be fed to the lion for good luck wishes in the coming year.

We dont have the big crowds the lion always attracts, Chiba Miguel said. But at least we did it.

People want to get rid of all that was bad in 2020, said Pua Laa of the Dance Arts Yoga Academy Saturday at Kukui Grove Center, where the shopping center combined its Chinese New Year with Valentines Day festivities.

The Chinese dragon ours is named Ah Lung gets rid of any lingering bad spirit and energies, Pua Laa said. We welcome a new year, The Year of the Ox. Additionally, the dragon invites positive energy into the celebration of the new year.

The lion is a guardian and keeps watch over any bad spirits wanting to enter the realm.

Common between the lion and dragon is the offering for good luck and fortune.

Normally, this is food, Laa said. If there is no offering, traditionally, the young would be stolen.

Led by Laa and the Pearl of Immortality, Ah Lung, accompanied by the Chinese gong played by Darren Dzurilla of Soul Shine Sonic Sanctuary and the loud Gung Hee Fat Choi from Laa, serpentined throughout the shopping center, attracting people who timidly approached as they came to realization of social distancing.

Eventually, the dragon gets the pearl, Laa said. In Chinese belief, the dragon and phoenix are immortal they never die.

Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.

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The lion and the dragon welcome in Chinese New Year - The Garden Island

On the February 6 episode of KBSs Immortal Songs, Kim Young Heum, 2AMs Jo Kwon, N.Flyings Yoo Hwe Seung, 2AMs Changmin, Jamie, and ATEEZ performed songs from Rain.

Beforetheperformancesbegan, theMCs highlighted the interesting battle between Changmin and Jo Kwon, members of 2AM who would be competing on this episode as solo artists.

Changmin said, Rain built about half of JYP Entertainment. I felt a certain ambition for this episode just because it was about Rain. Jo Kwon said, 2AM has a group chat and we were talking about stuff when we realized that both of us were filming for Immortal Songs.'

Changmin said, Its the first time since 2016 that we both appeared in the same frame like this. Its been about six years [since our original contracts expired]. He added, I want to avoid a head-to-head battle in case he gets hurt,but Jo Kwon said, It would definitely be a news item. If we both stand together on the judging platform, it would make for a good picture.

Jamie, who had beena JYP Entertainment artist with 2AM, was asked if she could win against her seniors. She said,JoKwon has to win. Hating to lose is just part of his personality.I think it would be more comfortable if I lost.Im not going to insert myself in the middle of a 2AMfamily fight.

She then picked Jo Kwon as thesenior artistwho was the most intimidating at JYP Entertainment. Hehad an expression when hewatchedus from the back, like, What is this? It had that kind of vibe, she explained. But once yougot friendly with him, there was no one else like him for taking care of people. At the same time, she said that Jo Kwon was the disciplinarian at JYP. Hedidnt actually tell us off, and he told us he wouldnt, but when hecame around, we allsat up straighter, she said.

During the competition, Jo Kwon took an earlylead with wins against Kim Young Heum and N.Flyings Yoo Hwe Seung, but eventually lost to Changmin, who also won against Jamie. The final win on the episode was taken by ATEEZ (check out their performance here).

Check out some other performancesbelow!

Jo Kwon Bad Guy

Changmin Rainism

Jamie Love Song

Yoo Hwe Seung How to Avoid the Sun

Kim Young Heum Instead of Saying Goodbye

Watch Immortal Songs below!

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Watch: Jamie Shares What Kind Of Senior 2AM's Jo Kwon Was At JYP And More On Immortal Songs - soompi

Tale of Immortal (or ) is an Early Access sandbox sim that's only been out a week, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming one of the most popular games on Steam. Earlier today, concurrent players peaked at just over 172,000 people, making it the fifth most popular game on Steambeating out Grand Theft Auto 5 and Rust. Players seem to really enjoy Tale of Immortal too, as it now has over 15,000 positive Steam user reviews, giving it an 86 percent positive rating. Not bad for an Early Access game that just launched a few days ago with Simplified Chinese as its only available language option.

If you're getting dj vu reading this, it's because Chinese indie games have been blowing up on Steam with surprising regularity over the past few years. Charming life sim Chinese Parents and complex martial arts RPG The Scroll of Taiwu both topped Steam's global best seller list in 2018, with the latter quickly selling over 1 million copies in just a few months.

More recently, games like Bright Memorya stunning FPS made by a single person that was featured during Microsoft's Xbox Series X showcaseSands of Salzaar, Amazing Cultivation Simulator, and Gujian 3 have experienced similar success. Each one beat out notable big-budget releases to top Steam's best sellers list and has tens of thousands of positive user reviews.

This is fascinating.

Over the past few years, Steam has become a vital platform for Chinese PC gamers looking to sidestep China's rigorous and pervasive censorship of media and the internet. Though Steam theoretically shouldn't be available in China, it's remained unblocked (except for community features like the forums) and has become an extremely popular way to play uncensored games like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Steam now has over 30 million Chinese players, and Simplified Chinese is the second most common language setting for the Steam client according Steam's own hardware survey.

That Chinese PC gamers are flocking to Steam and buying complex sandbox games and singleplayer RPGs challenges the basic assumptions of the Chinese gaming industry. The belief that Chinese gamers only want to play free-to-play MMOs or ultra-competitive multiplayer games like League of Legends has prevailed for decades. And yet vibrant Chinese indie games continue to blow up on Steam and outperform many big-budget releases.

The success of Tale of Immortal also represents the growth new gaming genre that's been becoming more mainstream recently. Like Amazing Cultivation Simulator, which released late last year (and is now available in English), Tale of Immortal is a "cultivation sim" where players undergo a spiritual journey of divine ascension heavily inspired by Taoism. You start as a lowly human and, through meditation, discipline, and practice of martial arts, you eventually become a super-powered god.

In Tale of Immortal, judging by the trailers, this means exploring a tile-based 2D world, building up settlements and taking on quests, and kicking the crap out of any monsters or spirits that stand in your way.

As Khee-Hoon Chan explained in their excellent preview of The Witcher 3-style Chinese RPG Gujian 3, this is an extremely popular genre of fiction called Xianxia in China. It takes the breath-taking martial arts acrobatics of films like Red Cliff (which everyone should watch because it's amazing) and House of Flying Daggers, and transplants them into a fantasy world full of gods, monsters, and magic.

Though Tale of Immortal's reviews are promising, I'm hoping its developers also plan to add English localization so I can play it for myself. If you're able to read Simplified Chinese, you can find Tale of Immortal on Steam where it costs $20.

If you want to learn more about China's indie games, you can read my report on how they're fighting to survive amid Chinese government censorship and changing regulations. For a more general overview, check out our guide to PC gaming in China.

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Chinese open-world RPG rockets to the top of Steam with over 170,000 concurrent players - PC Gamer

Tale of Immortal launched in Early Access less than a week ago, and quickly hit Steams best-seller list, attracting more than 124,000 concurrent players during its first weekend on sale. Developer Ghost Valley Studio says it plans on working hard to create an English translation for the game, which is currently only available in Chinese.

Tale of Immortal is a cultivation-based, open-world game that draws heavily from Chinese mythology. Its another overnight success from a Chinese indie studio, with some similarities to Sands of Salzaar. Naturally, players in English-speaking territories have taken notice since Tale of Immortal appeared on Steams charts, and theyve asked the developers about a translation on the Steam forums.

A Greek player (who goes by Hades) posted a message to the Tale of Immortal forums titled I hope it is translated into English, and said they hoped it might also see a translation into Greek, adding a friendly Best wishes from Greece to the end of their message. The developers noticed and responded, suggesting that localisations may be on the way.

As you probably realised, the amount of words in the game and their difficulties could be very time-consuming, but we will work hard to have at least English localisation in the future! the studio wrote.

The studio also asked Hades about English-speaking player communities that are into games like Tale of Immortal, which would help us greatly for our research.

Thats not quite a firm commitment to a full English localisation for Tale of Immortal, but its darn close. Since Tale of Immortal is in Early Access, theres likely a good amount of development ahead of it, and during that time features can be changed, added, and removed as circumstances require. However, it sounds as though an English translation is fairly high up on the studios list of priorities.

In the meantime, The Classic of Mountains and Seas, a Chinese mythological text that forms the basis for Tale of Immortal, has been translated into English so you can study up while you wait.

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Tale of Immortal developers will work hard to create an English translation - PCGamesN