K.K. Downing has a legacy that much we know. But 36-year-old guitarist AJ Mills‚ who has known Downing for most of his life and currently is employed as a member of KK’s Priest‚ is doing his best to build a legacy of his own. Playing alongside Downing has been a dream come true for Mills‚ as his style‚ licks‚ and overall vibe have been greatly influenced by the legendary British shredder‚ dating to seeing him crush it with a V guitar in hand as a child. From shuffling Downing‚ his uncle‚ and father to and from the pub after nights The post AJ Mills Of KK’s Priest: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

GNN often reports on lifesaving rescues by firemen‚ risking life and lung to pull people from burning buildings‚ but these two are not firemen‚ and are a different sort of hero. They’re heroes‚ no doubt‚ but by trade they haul trash. Nonetheless‚ while working in Tipton‚ England‚ on Tuesday morning‚ they saw fires ripping through […] The post Hero Garbageman Rescues Man‚ Woman‚ and Dog from Housefire appeared first on Good News Network.

Deciding to welcome a Flemish Giant rabbit into your home is exciting. However‚ understanding the cost involved can be overwhelming. These gentle giants are known for their friendly nature and impressive size‚ which means they come with unique needs and expenses. A key fact to keep in mind: the price of owning a Flemish Giant... How Much Does a Flemish Giant Rabbit Cost?

Book Recommendations book review The Epic and the Domestic: A Flame in the North by Lilith Saintcrow A review of the first book in Saintcrow’s new Norse-inspired epic trilogy. By Liz Bourke | Published on February 29‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed A Flame in the North is the latest novel by Lilith Saintcrow‚ and marks a departure from many of her recent efforts. This is a fantasy novel in a classic mode‚ reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert Jordan in its form as much as its matter: one great big chunk of an even larger epic (in this case a trilogy)‚ where the last page marks a cliff-hanging caesura rather than a conclusion. It’s always difficult to review a story that has not yet formed a complete narrative arc: You can say much about what it promises and what it does so far‚ but assessing its successes must usually hinge upon seeing the whole thing. In the case of A Flame in the North‚ Saintcrow has complicated my task even further in the extent to which her worldbuilding and her protagonist’s journey recollects—elegantly‚ deliberately‚ intentionally (as when in music one instrument elaborates a variation on another’s theme)‚ and above all closely—one of the ur-texts of the fantasy genre. The extent of Saintcrow’s echoing of Tolkien’s mythopoesis drives me to caution. Shall it turn out to be earnest imitation‚ clever commentary‚ subtle subversion‚ or some other thing? I have hopes it will prove clever‚ since for all my uncertainty about where it’s going next‚ A Flame in the North provided a wildly entertaining epic journey. But let’s come back to this. A Flame in the North begins with Solveig‚ daughter of Gwendelint. It’s the eve of a festival‚ and Sol is to play a significant role in the night’s ritual‚ lighting and tending the midwinter flame with the power of seidhr for the very first time: proof of her ability as a fully trained volva. Her sworn companion is the shieldmaiden Arneior (“Arn”)‚ three years her elder and pledged to her protection and support. The domestic intensity of Sol’s life—father a local chief‚ mother ill with a winter sickness‚ an elder brother who means well but is a source of trouble‚ a younger sister for whom she feels responsible‚ the bustle of a household preparing for a great celebration when everything needs to run smoothly—combined with the first-person narration gives us a great sense of intimacy in this skillfully-drawn‚ strongly Norse-inflected world‚ whose concerns lie as much with feeding and clothing a household as with the rites that encourage the sun to rise again on the year’s longest night. But Sol returns home from the work of ritual to learn that her brother has slain a man‚ a Northerner of high birth‚ and that she is to be the weregild to make good the blood debt: to go north with the dead man’s brother‚ Eol‚ and his companions for a year and a day and do all that is honourable in his service. She will at least have Arn with her for her defence‚ but the journey she finds herself on is stranger and more perilous than she ever expected. Aeredh‚ one of Eol’s companions‚ is one of the Elders (immortals with pointy ears) thought to have departed the lands after the defeat of the great Enemy in the Black Land‚ centuries past‚ while Eol and the others have inherited a curse from the Enemy that causes them to shift their forms between beasts and men. That Enemy is awake and moving once more‚ and according to Aeredh—once she finally pries some straightforward answers out of him—Solveig’s particular affinities with seidhr (she can call fire) are a) incredibly rare‚ and b) potentially key to successfully opposing the Enemy. Solveig is not exactly thrilled to suddenly find herself with far more epic-scale problems than she’d ever expected‚ especially in the company of men who’ve been quietly misleading her—or at best‚ neglecting to mention certain important truths—since the moment they first met. But by the time she understands what kind of saga she’s stepped into‚ it’s far too late to turn back‚ even if she was willing to take the risk that Aeredh and Eol were wrong about her ability to affect the outcome of the great struggle against the Enemy. Buy the Book A Flame in the North Lilith Saintcrow Buy Book icon-close A Flame in the North Lilith Saintcrow Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget Saintcrow writes with compelling vigour and atmosphere‚ and a vivid‚ measured first person voice. Sol’s character engages from the first page‚ as does Arn’s; their familiar friendship and deep (nonsexual) partnership is a strong thread in the story’s weave‚ and one I very much enjoy. The landscape of Sol’s journey feels palpable‚ material; the tension and peril mounts even in moments of rest. But holy shit‚ the extent of the Tolkien homage. If you’ve read the Silmarillion in the distant past‚ you may feel a certain familiarity: closer acquaintance with Tolkien’s legendarium make the direct parallels inescapably clear. The Enemy has been besieged in the Black Land. Among his servants are creatures called urukhar and belroch‚ and seven captains who are the most terrifying of his servants. The chapter epigraphs hint at some Beren and Lúthien and Húrin shenanigans‚ while the text itself gives us clear echoes of the Silmarils‚ Fëanor‚ his sons‚ and the oath that led to so much suffering in the First Age; Túrin and Glaurung; Doriath and Thingol; the city of Nargothrond and its fall; and the hidden valley of Gondolin. Among other‚ perhaps less obvious‚ echoes. I’m not a Tolkien completist‚ but this feels like a tour through the end of Tolkien’s First Age—lightly disguised‚ and viewed from a different angle. (Arachnophobes beware‚ for there are also Mirkwood spider-esque shenanigans.) Tolkien’s legendarium is the great mythopoetic work of the 20th century. It’s fascinating to watch Saintcrow engage with it directly through a fictive lens. And as it grew from its inventor’s scholarship in Old English (and Old Norse) literature‚ it feels natural that Saintcrow should bring even more Norse mythic elements to this deep engagement. But. (There’s always a but.) I have some difficulty summing up‚ here‚ for Saintcrow is so clearly‚ so plainly‚ so purposefully doing something with the Matter of Middle Earth. But it is not yet clear whether the intent is to recapitulate‚ rebuke‚ or reinterpret entirely. A Flame in the North is one part of an unfinished story. I’m engaged by it‚ and invested in it: I want to see where it’s headed next. But I won’t know what I really think of it until it’s all the way done. [end-mark] A Flame in the North is published by Orbit. The post The Epic and the Domestic: <;em>;A Flame in the North<;/em>; by Lilith Saintcrow appeared first on Reactor.

News Dune: Part Two Dune: Part Two Had a Worm Unit to Handle Riding Shai-Hulud Without the Worm Unit‚ director Denis Villeneuve said the film could never have been finished. By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on February 29‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is set to premiere in theaters in mere days‚ and many are eager to see it‚ in no small part to witness moments from Frank Herbert’s novel that weren’t in Dune: Part One. There’s the introduction of Feyd Rautha (Austin Butler)‚ Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh)‚ and Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken)‚ of course. But there are also the worms. Dune: Part One ended with a glimpse of a Fremen riding a worm (a.k.a. Shai-Hulud)‚ but it was mere seconds. Without getting into spoilers (and it’s not a spoiler at all if you’ve read Herbert’s book)‚ Part Two has much more worm-riding action. Translating those scenes to the big screen‚ unsurprisingly‚ was no easy task. And in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly‚ Villeneuve and actors Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya‚ who play Paul Atreides and Chani respectively‚ shared what it was like to ride the worm. “In the book‚ it’s just written‚ ‘and then Paul rides the worm‚’ with no real clues of how a Fremen will actually jump onto a sandworm‚ this great beast with high speed and tremendous power‚” Villeneuve told EW. He added‚ “From the worm behavior that we had created in Part One‚ I had to figure out how a human being could approach that: What is the Fremen technique? What do the maker hooks look like? How do you use them/ It required a tremendous amount of [research and development].” Image: Warner Bros. That research and development took place on a team dubbed the Worm Unit. The group‚ led by Villenueve’s wife and producing partner Tanya Lapointe‚ solely worked on the riding sequences. “You go to the Worm Unit‚ and you go up this ladder onto a platform‚” Chalamet said. “You get on a little slab of worm—I hope that’s never taken out of context—that they practically built‚ like a scale. And then you get two gripping devices.” “They figure things out before we get there‚” added Zendaya. “They have already thought about the intricacies of what position your wrists should be in‚ how your legs should be. So I was like‚ ‘Okay‚ if it looks good on them‚ how do I do what they’re doing?’ You try to find the positioning as much as you can.” Villeneuve also praised the Worm Unit‚ saying the movie would not be finished today if it did not exist‚ as those sequences required significantly more setup and special effects. The director‚ however‚ is very pleased with how it turned out: “Frankly‚ it’s exactly the dream I had. Every time I see the scene‚ I’m sincerely moved.” Dune: Part Two premieres in theaters on March 1‚ 2024. [end-mark] The post <;i>;Dune: Part Two<;/i>; Had a Worm Unit to Handle Riding Shai-Hulud appeared first on Reactor.

News The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Will Likely Power On for a Third Season The showrunners have also made an exclusive overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios. By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on February 29‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed The second season of Amazon MGM Studios’ The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has yet to make its way onto Prime Video. That hasn’t stopped the showrunners Patrick McKay and JD Payne‚ however‚ from beginning to break the story for season three. This update comes along with the news that McKay and Payne have signed a three-year exclusive overall deal with Amazon MGM under their new company‚ 10:40 PM Productions. “We began this remarkable journey with JD and Patrick more than five and a half years ago and have never looked back‚” Vernon Sanders‚ head of television‚ Amazon MGM Studios‚ said in a statement. “We continue to be amazed by the scope and scale of their vision and the enormous global success achieved by The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in its record-breaking first season. We can’t wait for Prime Video customers to experience the epic adventure and high-stakes drama that JD and Patrick are continuing to build throughout season two and beyond. Naturally‚ the studio is thrilled to extend our overall deal with these brilliant creative minds as they continue to deliver on their passion for great storytelling.” The press release also states that season two of The Rings of Power will premiere sometime in 2024‚ and that if/when production on season three begins‚ the show will move from Bray Studios to Shepperton Studios‚ both of which are in the U.K. We don’t have news yet on what we’ll see plot-wise after the events of the season one finale‚ for season two or season three. But it looks like we won’t have to wait until 2025 to watch new episodes. [end-mark] The post <;i>;The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power<;/i>; Will Likely Power On for a Third Season appeared first on Reactor.

Excerpts Horror Read an Excerpt From Gwendolyn Kiste’s The Haunting of Velkwood A suburban ghost story about a small town that trapped three young women who must confront the past if they’re going to have a future. By Gwendolyn Kiste | Published on February 29‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed We’re thrilled to share an excerpt from Gwendolyn Kiste’s The Haunting of Velkwood‚ a horror novel about three childhood friends who miraculously survive the night everyone in their suburban hometown turned into ghosts—out from Saga Press on March 5. The Velkwood Vicinity was the topic of occult theorists‚ tabloid one-hour documentaries‚ and even some pseudo-scientific investigations as the block of homes disappeared behind a near-impenetrable veil that only three survivors could enter—and only one has in the past twenty years‚ until now.Talitha Velkwood has avoided anything to do with the tragedy that took her mother and eight-year-old sister‚ drifting from one job to another‚ never settling anywhere or with anyone‚ feeling as trapped by her past as if she was still there in the small town she so desperately wanted to escape from. When a new researcher tracks her down and offers to pay her to come back to enter the vicinity‚ Talitha claims she’s just doing it for the money. Of all the crackpot theories over the years‚ no one has discovered what happened the night Talitha‚ her estranged‚ former best friend Brett‚ and Grace‚ escaped their homes twenty years ago. Will she finally get the answers she’s been looking for all these years‚ or is this just another dead end? My head spins‚ everything in me going numb. It feels like I’ve been turned inside out‚ my skin flayed and tacked back on again‚ and maybe that’s exactly what’s happened. Maybe that’s the only way to get into this place. But what I know for sure: I’m here. Back on this street‚ back where I used to belong. When I woke up this morning‚ it was the end of fall‚ but in this neighborhood‚ it’s summertime‚ jubilant sprinklers cascading over lawns‚ the solstice sun baking the pale concrete. The street’s bathed in jaundice yellow‚ the whole world like a desaturated photo. I try to remember if it ever really looked like this‚ or if this is merely a trick of the afterlife‚ this place becoming more a memory than a flesh-and-blood reality. Either way‚ I’m looking into the past‚ and I’m not sure yet that I like what I see. I inhale a ragged breath‚ and the thin air burns my lungs. I wonder how long I can survive here. I wonder how long anyone can survive. At least I already know how long I’ll stay. One hour and not a minute over. That’s what Jack suggested‚ and after what happened to Grace‚ I won’t take any chances. At least not any more chances than I’ve already taken. With my hands steady‚ I start the timer and then I start walking‚ right down the middle of Velkwood Street. It’s only a few steps at first‚ my vision gauzy‚ as though I’m peering through a hundred layers of chiffon. The pavement is solid beneath my feet‚ but it barely feels real. Our neighborhood was never built for subtlety‚ every house arrayed in candy-colored siding‚ the roofs with sharp‚ almost comical angles. We all lived in split-levels with the same floorplans‚ the mid-century equivalent to making it in suburbia‚ but that dream was a short-lived one. The street was dated‚ almost kitsch‚ by the time we started high school. “We’re stuck in the past‚” Brett once said‚ as she and I sat together on the curb‚ each of us devouring one half of a cherry twin pop we procured from the local ice cream truck. “We’ll never escape it.” “You don’t know that‚” I said‚ my fingers stained red. But maybe she did. As I keep moving‚ I count the houses. All eight of them are here‚ right where they belong‚ three on the left side of the street‚ and five on the right. A lopsided arrangement‚ but it wasn’t supposed to stay like this forever. We were supposed to get new houses‚ new neighbors‚ new possibilities. But that never happened. Instead‚ two of the houses had been vacant since we were in junior high‚ the For Sale signs still in the front yards‚ like a promise nobody could keep. I don’t look too long at them. I keep heading toward the place where I once belonged‚ the fourth house on the right‚ almost at the end of the street. Almost at the end of the world. Buy the Book The Haunting of Velkwood Gwendolyn Kiste Buy Book icon-close The Haunting of Velkwood Gwendolyn Kiste Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget Nearby‚ there are empty cans of Coca-Cola abandoned on the curb‚ ants swarming around the sweetness‚ hundreds of them coming from every direction. I’m passing Grace’s house now‚ the second on the right‚ the slider windows gazing out at me‚ the pink trim glinting in the sun. Everything in Grace’s life was always pink and bright and cheerful. Her mother would have it no other way. “The problem with you girls is that you need to smile more‚” she used to tell us when we all stayed for sleepovers‚ and my stomach would always clench‚ because from the look on Brett’s face‚ she wasn’t ever thinking about smiling. She was always thinking of spitting right in Mrs. Spencer’s eye. The sun shifts in the sky‚ disappearing behind a patch of pale clouds‚ thick as marshmallow fluff. That’s when I see them. Two people walking across the verdant yard. Grace’s younger brothers maybe. It looks like them‚ arrayed in grimy Mötley Crüe T-shirts and hand-me-down Levi’s‚ one of them holding a Spalding basketball. This is it‚ a chance to finally meet someone. To ask them what’s happened. To ask them about Sophie. They drift out of the yard and onto the street‚ their figures obscure and wavering. I squint at them‚ shielding my eyes from the blazing sun‚ but I still can’t recognize them‚ and as they get closer‚ I realize why. My vision’s clear now‚ but they’re not. Their faces are blurred out‚ almost as if they’re moving too fast‚ a hundred expressions flashing by at once‚ joy and dread and rage mingling together. Their skin’s gray as a thunderstorm‚ but they don’t seem to notice. They just keep moving forward. Moving right toward me. I seize up‚ my feet turned to lead‚ a scream lodged in my throat. I’m sure they’ve spotted me here‚ I’m sure this is it. But they pass me by‚ as though everything’s normal‚ as though they don’t see me at all. And that’s probably for the best‚ because without a clear mouth to speak‚ I doubt they could help me much. I doubt they can help themselves much either. I’m running now‚ away from them‚ away from everything‚ heading deeper into this neighborhood‚ even though I should retreat‚ back the way I came‚ back into reality. Except right now I’m not sure where reality is. So I run toward the place where I grew up. Toward where my family should be. Up ahead‚ at the house next to ours‚ there’s another figure sitting out front. Only this one isn’t the same as the other two. She has a face‚ and I recognize her in an instant. Mrs. Owens‚ creaking back and forth on her half-rotted porch swing. A widow from way back‚ we used to think she was the only lonely person on Velkwood Street. That was a long time ago‚ back when we didn’t know much about loneliness. Or much about ourselves. “You don’t belong here‚” she’s saying‚ and hope threads through me‚ because I’m convinced she’s talking to me. I sprint across the sidewalk‚ rushing onto her lawn‚ just glad to see a face‚ an actual face. “How are you?” I blurt out‚ but she doesn’t move‚ doesn’t even flinch at the question. I watch her for a while before waving my hands in front of her. There’s nothing‚ not a hint of recognition. I’m right here‚ but I’m nowhere at the same time. “Don’t you listen?” she asks‚ her voice like rusted nails. “I told you already you don’t belong here.” She’s scowling hard at something‚ and I follow her gaze until I spot it. A frog sitting on her front step‚ staring off at nothing‚ its expression as impassive as the seasons. “You should move along‚” Mrs. Owens says‚ still glaring at the frog. “You don’t have much time.” And I don’t have much time either. My house is only next door. I’m almost there. I’m almost home. “Maybe we can talk later‚” I say to her‚ and I hope I’m right. Grass crunches like brittle bone beneath my feet as I cross the yard. A sharp breeze shivers down the street‚ the air turning thick and fragrant with honeysuckle‚ like something out of a dream. I hold my breath and keep going‚ all the way up the narrow walkway that leads to my front door. Gladiolas creep along the perimeter of the house. The summer before I left for college‚ I planted the bulbs with Sophie‚ the two of us in old overalls‚ dirt caked beneath our fingernails. “How long will it take them to grow?” she asked‚ her arms wrapped around my legs. “A few weeks until we see the first sprouts.” I pulled her close‚ and she hugged me a little tighter. “Three or four months before flowers.” She crinkled up her nose. “Why do they take so long to grow?” “The same reason you do‚” I said with a laugh. “You’ve got to give things time.” Now the flowers have all the time in the world. And so does Sophie. I’m on the front step now‚ everything I want and everything I fear wrapped up in this moment. My heart squeezed tight in my chest‚ I reach to knock on the front door‚ but I don’t have a chance. The lock clicks on the other side‚ and my mother is suddenly standing right in front of me. She doesn’t look like those terrible figures from the sidewalk. Instead‚ everything about her is the same as I remember. Her wide eyes as blue as tidepools‚ a bolt of gray tucked behind one ear‚ the same furrowed lines between her brows. “I’m home‚” I whisper‚ but the same as Mrs. Owens‚ she doesn’t see me. Nobody can. In here‚ I’m the ghost‚ the trespasser‚ the spirit who can barely disturb the air. From the book: The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste. Copyright © 2024 by Gwendolyn Kiste. Reprinted courtesy of Saga Press‚ an imprint of Simon and Schuster. The post Read an Excerpt From Gwendolyn Kiste’s <;em>;The Haunting of Velkwood<;/em>; appeared first on Reactor.

Although the release of Coral Island 1.0 was exciting‚ there’s still much more on the horizon. The Coral Island 1.1 roadmap reveals new features like ocean farming‚ festivals‚ and much more. It’s not just a reveal for 1.1 content‚ but a roadmap for content up to version 1.3. This developer update is sure to get you pumped for what’s coming for this life and farming sim. Coral Island developer update reveals 1.1 roadmap On February 27‚ Stairway Games posted a developer update on its website speaking on the state of Coral Island and the future for updates. This new 1.1 roadmap for Coral Island reveals many new features like ocean farming‚ festivals‚ and plenty more. Image: Stairway Games In the image above you can see plenty of features for update 1.1‚ and a few others teased for 1.2 and 1.3. Some of the biggest new features explained are a Town Rank S questline‚ Attractions‚ a Tourist system‚ more Merfolk storylines and romances‚ ocean farming and ranch...

Enemy of Justice is a permanent condition that can ruin forward progress in Baldur’s Gate 3. Figure out what Enemy of Justice is‚ learn how to get rid of it‚ and press on after reading this guide. What is Enemy of Justice in Baldur’s Gate 3 and how to get rid of it Enemy of Justice is a condition that marks you as someone who has killed a guard. Enemy guards will attack upon sight. Once you are marked with Enemy of Justice‚ you won’t be able to take the condition off unless you do one of three things. It can be tough to continue forward‚ especially in places like the Goblin Camp of Moonrise Towers‚ which is why you need to try one of these fixes to remove Enemy of Justice. Related: Best Baldur’s Gate 3 College of Swords Bard Build Guide Kill the witness Sometimes‚ the easiest way to get rid of Enemy of Justice is to kill the witness. I did this with all the guards in the prison area of Moonrise Towers and it completely removed my Enemy of Justice cond...

By the time you get your bearings in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‚ you’re already inundated with a plethora of Materia. Because of this‚ you’ll want to make sure you have the best items for your party. Let’s scan some rocks and figure out where to get Item Economizer Materia in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Where to find Item Economizer Materia in FF7 Rebirth Screenshot: PC Invasion The name might not be recognizable for most FF7 Rebirth players‚ however‚ the Item Economizer Materia is one of the most helpful Command Materias in the game. And luckily for us‚ this Materia can be obtained early into your adventures. You can get 2 Item Economizer Materia from Chadley in the Junon Region during Chapter 4. Related: Where to get Planet’s Blessing in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Like all other Materia Development‚ you’ll need to earn enough Data Points to collect these shiny orbs. The first Item Economizer Materia costs you 30 Data Points‚ with the second one costing...