The video is not recent‚ but was instead taken in May 2023. 

'Bullshit'

Considering his music stable includes Necrofier and Night Cobra‚ and he’s the mastermind behind Houston‚ Texas’s premier metal event‚ Hell’s Heroes‚ few hit harder and are as busy as Christian Larson. Always writing music and continuously carrying the torch for all things metal might seem burdensome for some‚ but not Larson‚ who was born to thrash‚ mosh‚ and hold his Devil’s horns high and proud. Indeed‚ Larson wears his love for heavy metal like a badge of honor‚ and he should‚ given all that he’s accomplished as a songwriter‚ guitarist‚ and organizer of hyper-giant festivals devoted to what he’s spent The post An Interview With Christian Larson Of Night Cobra &; Necrofier appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

A routine planning application in Britain ended up uncovering the remains of an ancient British blacksmith’s workshop that has so far yielded 10‚000 artifacts demonstrating the breadth of ironworking ongoing during Pre-Roman England. Located in Wittenham Clumps‚ Oxfordshire‚ the workshop‚ or smithy‚ was likely the abode of a master of the craft‚ as evidence shows […] The post Archaeologists Discover a ‘Master Blacksmith’s’ Workshop Dating to the Very Dawn of the Iron Age in Britain appeared first on Good News Network.

The post The 6 Common Reasons Why Your Cat Guards Your Door by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Cats come with all kinds of cute quirks‚ including their guarding behaviors. As aloof or indifferent as our cats can often appear‚ it’s always amusing to find them standing sentry at our bathroom or bedroom door. But why do cats guard our doors? Are they protective‚ possessive‚ or uncertain of what’s on the other side? We’ll help you understand your cat’s behavior with this look at six reasons your cat stands guard around your doorways. The 6 Common Reasons Why Your Cat Guards Your Door 1. Your Cat Wants Your Attention Although it may look like your cat is guarding the door‚ their persistent presence is often a simple call for attention. If your cat is meowing loudly or pawing at the opposite side of the door‚ it’s safe to assume they want you. Image Credit: DextairPhotography‚ Shutterstock 2. Your Cat Is Curious Cats are naturally inquisitive‚ a trait that helps them thrive in the wild. By understanding more about their world‚ they can take better stock of their resources‚ assess threats and safe spots‚ and feel certain in their space. Closed doors are a mystery worth investigating. If your cat is trying to become acquainted with the room‚ they might linger outside a door until they can gain access. Outdoor cats‚ in particular‚ may have a stronger urge to explore when inside and could show more stress behaviors when they can’t get relief. 3. Your Cat Is Protecting You Cats are often considered solitary creatures‚ but they’re perfectly willing and capable of cooperating with others when mutually beneficial. As part of a cohesive group‚ you have particular value to cats that they need to preserve. Many owners feel their cats are protective‚ using their vocalizations as the primary sign of them being on the alert for intruders and other threats. Guarding your door could be your cat’s attempt at keeping you safe and maintaining their group of trusted companions. Image Credit: stock1000‚ Shutterstock 4. It’s a Habit If your cat sits there long enough‚ they may grow accustomed to guarding your door. Using the bathroom at the same time every day or going to bed with the same ritual every night could cause your cat to develop a habit of staying outside the door. Once it’s part of the routine‚ they’ll keep with it because they enjoy the familiarity and predictability. 5. Your Cat Is Attached to You As with dogs‚ cats may develop affectional bonds with owners. Their attachment offers security and comfort. We often compare these relationships to an infant and its mother. The caregiver is a haven in times of danger and a secure base that allows their dependents to explore their world healthily. A central facet of attachment styles is proximity‚ the desire to be close to the owner. As studies have shown‚ cat-owner relationships can be complex and somewhat dissimilar to dog-owner dynamics. Depending on the owner’s emotional investment in the cat and the environment‚ cats may show more or less need to be close to their owner‚ which might explain why some tend to guard the door more than others. Image Credit: Nils Jacobi‚ Shutterstock Although individual differences exist at a high level between cats‚ those with highly emotionally invested owners have a greater need to stay close to them and are less accepting of others. Relationships like these are generally co-dependent and involve less outdoor time and fewer individuals in the home. As with dogs‚ cats could be less likely to stay close or show separation-related stress if they don’t view their person as a secure base. Their owner may be aloof or inconsistent in how they interact with their cat‚ causing the cat to either distrust them or not rely on them as a dependable source of comfort. Thankfully‚ this doesn’t imply that your cat doesn’t trust you because they aren’t pining for you at the bedroom door every night. Cats with less need for proximity may also have “friendship” attachments to owners. They often have more cats and people in the house with whom they can interact‚ and their owners‚ though present‚ aren’t engaged with them as often‚ particularly during play and feeding time. Cats in these situations can have positive relationships with their owners while still enjoying enough independence to shirk constant contact. 6. Your Cat Is Territorial Cats are territorial creatures and exhibit aggressive behaviors when they feel threatened. Introducing new cats to the house can often trigger this‚ as they may create competition over resources. In these instances‚ your cat may block access to food bowls‚ sleeping spots‚ or litter boxes. If there’s a door separating your cats from something they want‚ one might take up a habit of guarding it to keep others out. Do I Need to Stop My Cat From Guarding My Door? Image Credit: Monika Wisniewska‚ Shutterstock If your cat isn’t hurting anyone or anything by guarding the door‚ there’s little reason to discourage the behavior. It may be part of the routine now‚ giving your cat comfort. When your cat is guarding the door because of separation stress‚ you can help them relax by providing cozy spots to rest and hide alongside a healthy assortment of toys and other enrichment devices. As long as you aren’t keeping them from anything else‚ your cat can decide to spend their time as they want. Scratching at the door and destruction aren’t allowed‚ and you don’t want to risk someone walking out of the room and accidentally stepping on them. Otherwise‚ hanging out next to the door might be a harmless habit of a healthy cat. A cat legitimately guarding the door to keep others away is one situation you’ll need to address. Resource guarding is damaging to the relationship between your pets and dangerous to the one that your cat is trying to keep out of the room. In these instances‚ providing plenty of additional litter boxes‚ cat trees‚ hiding spots‚ and other essential features around the home will help keep your cats from feeling territorial. Conclusion Door-guarding arises from several places‚ but a few situational cues can reveal why your cat posts up outside the room. There could be conflict between cats‚ or your cat might be wondering what’s going on in this unexplored area. You may also be fostering their closeness with your attachment style. Whatever the reason‚ a cat guarding the door is one of the many idiosyncrasies that make them fun to have in the home. Until it becomes problematic‚ you can embrace it as another reason to love your cat as an individual. Sources Animals Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Current Biology   Featured Image Credit: PongsakA‚ Shutterstock The post The 6 Common Reasons Why Your Cat Guards Your Door by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Featured Essays Fairy Tales Reclaiming Little Red Riding Hood: Five Fairy Tale Retellings Revisiting the classic tale‚ without all the victim blaming. By Rachel Ayers | Published on February 6‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed “Little Red Riding Hood”… I’ll be honest‚ y’all—this one has been tricky to write about! There’s a lot of really unfortunate versions of this story out there; historically‚ it’s been far too easy to blame the heroine for wearing red‚ for being curious‚ for leaving the path. But the truth is‚ Red HAS to leave the path. Not because there wouldn’t be a story otherwise‚ but because she can’t become who she is meant to be without venturing into the wider world. We all know the story. Right? Well‚ here’s my quick and snarky recap: The titular heroine of “Little Red Riding Hood” may or may not have a name‚ but she loves the beautiful red hooded cape that her grandmother made for her‚ so she wears it all the time and becomes nicknamed after her favorite fashion accessory. One day‚ Red’s mother sends her on an unchaperoned trip to deliver a basket of goodies to Granny‚ as the old lady isn’t feeling too well. Mother warns her not to leave the path in the forest‚ or all sorts of terrible things will happen (what those things are generally remains unclear: just—bad things‚ don’t ask any more questions!). Red sets off with good intentions‚ but before long she’s spotted by a wolf who thinks she looks delicious. The wolf stops to introduce himself‚ and Red gives him just enough relevant information that he plans to make a multicourse meal out of Granny and Red. First‚ the wolf convinces Red to leave the path‚ telling her about a meadow of wildflowers. Red decides a bouquet will make a nice addition for Granny’s care package and strays from the straight and narrow. The wolf makes a beeline for Granny’s house‚ pretends to be Red‚ and gobbles up Granny. Not far behind him‚ Red arrives at Granny’s with basket and bouquet‚ and the wolf bids her enter. Now we get into some drastic variants‚ depending on our intended audience. (Some variants include a strip tease as Wolf-Granny convinces Red to throw all her clothes on the fire as she won’t need them anymore. (Is the red hood included in this? Unclear‚ depends who you ask. (Okay now I’ve gotten way too far into the parenthetical woods‚ I’m way off the path.))) Now‚ we all know the call and response that ensues: “What big ears you have!” “The better to hear you with.” “What big eyes you have!” “The better to see you with‚ my dear!” “What big teeth you have!” “THE BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH!” And then the wolf gobbles Red up. The end. OR… And then the wolf gobbles Red up. BUT a crafty woodcutter has followed the wolf and Red‚ and slices open the wolf before you can say “deus ex machina.” Thus‚ Red and Granny are extricated from the wolf’s belly‚ while‚ for some reason‚ the wolf himself sleeps through a rather catastrophic surgery. Red‚ Granny‚ and Woodcutter then refill the wolf’s belly with rocks‚ so that he won’t know the difference I guess? Then he wakes up and goes for a swim and drowns‚ instead of just dying from being hastily cut open‚ but what can I say… fairy tales are deeply weird. Red is young‚ and she is curious; maybe she wants to explore the wider world. She’s kind‚ seeking out flowers to brighten Granny’s day. Maybe she just wants to leave a path that’s painful to walk upon (old versions tell of the path of pins and needles‚ ouch). I should note that there are many interpretations of this imagery‚ such as needlework traditionally being a woman’s task‚ or the painful path representing the pain of the menstrual cycle‚ etc. The symbolism tells girls and young women: your path is straightforward‚ uncomfortable‚ and if you question it or try to leave it‚ you will die. Here are some updates and retellings of the classic tale that transcend many of the traditionally problematic aspects of the story and find new paths for Red to explore. The Company of Wolves (1984) Written by Angela Carter and Neil Jordan‚ directed by Neil Jordan Based on Carter’s short story of the same title‚ this trippy dreamscape starts with young modern-day Rosalinda ignoring her family to take what turns out to be a nap from hell‚ apparently… the toys around her (is that the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?) add to the atmosphere of her dream of dangerous men and sexual awakening. In the dream‚ her terrible nagging sister is dead‚ and she lives in an old village with her parents‚ but spends much of her time visiting her grandmother‚ played with delightful sass by Angela Lansbury‚ who tells her stories of werewolves and how to watch for the signs of their deception. Stories within stories add to the layers of Rosalinda’s dream‚ and it’s unclear if she ever wakes up or if the wolves find her in the waking world. Some of the practical effects hold up better than others to a modern eye‚ but if you are a fan of Little Red Riding Hood and haven’t seen this take‚ I do recommend a viewing. (And/or go read the story it’s based on!) Freeway (1996) Written and directed by Matthew Bright A stunning black comedy crime movie‚ this film stands on its own through its use of horror movie-style plotting‚ recontextualizing and retelling its version of our classic tale with nail-bitingly good pacing. The title sequence makes it clear from the start that we already know this story‚ using illustrations of Little Red Riding Hood to prime the viewer’s mind. Vanessa is nearly 18 when her mother is arrested‚ setting her on a quest to find her grandmother instead of being returned once more to foster care. A chance encounter with Bob Wolverton sends her careening off her intended path and changes her life forever. Cleverly written and superbly acted‚ the gorgeous visuals and various well-considered details remind us constantly of the source material without detracting from the phenomenal character work of young Reese Witherspoon as Vanessa and a slyly horrifying Kiefer Sutherland as Wolverton. The Girl in Red by Christina Henry Henry puts Red and her wolves into a post-apocalyptic setting in this suspenseful retelling. Red is‚ by nature‚ a planner (practically a prepper) with a scientific mind. When an airborne disease that starts with a cough and leads all too often to death spreads across the country (note: this book was published in June 2019‚ but this aspect hits much harder now)‚ Red and her family make plans to travel to her grandmother’s house in the country. With the narrative switching between Before and After timelines‚ Henry successfully leans away from many LRRH while still sticking to the path of the original. The apocalypse itself involves more than “the cough‚” as it’s known‚ but Red’s perspective remains ambiguous enough that it never becomes the point of the story. Rather‚ Red’s decisions and determination remain at the center of the novel‚ reminding us that our choices matter‚ and that it’s as important to be kind as it is to be careful. “Little Red” by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple From Cursed‚ edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane This gut-wrenching contemporary retelling takes place in a psychiatric ward‚ where our young protagonist‚ Little Red‚ turns inward‚ desperately seeking to escape the abusive horrors of the facility. Wolves and grandmothers are equal threats‚ and as Red journeys further into her own mind‚ she finds a wolf at the core of her being…and this wolf is on her side. Told in Yolen’s masterful prose‚ with imagery and symbolism drawn from the oldest known versions of the story‚ this one will haunt you. “Lupe” by Kathe Koja From Swan Sister: Fairy Tales Retold edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling In this retelling‚ the grandmother in the woods isn’t Red’s grandma; rather she is Old Blanca‚ known to be a witch‚ and Red is Lupe‚ a young woman whose family is struggling to bear the loss of her little brother Teodoro. Her mother withdraws into grief‚ and Lupe finds solace in the forest‚ where she can sit for hours and watch the animals play‚ avoiding her older brother and her parents’ heavy silence. When her mother bids her go to Old Blanca‚ Lupe accepts that challenge‚ no longer frightened by the forest‚ and although she does meet a kind of wolf as part of this challenge‚ Old Blanca is pleased by her courage and persistence‚ and grants their family a healing boon. The encounter changes Lupe and although she sheds some of her childhood innocence along the way‚ she also grows into a smarter and kinder woman because of her experience. Bonus: “Red Writing Hood” by Lesh Karan This luscious poem‚ which you can read over at Strange Horizons‚ is as much about the act of writing and embodying a character as it is a retelling‚ yet still succeeds in capturing the essence of our tale by forging its own unique path. What are your favorite versions of Little Red Riding Hood’s story? Please share in the comments! [end-mark] The post Reclaiming Little Red Riding Hood: Five Fairy Tale Retellings appeared first on Reactor.

Column Front Lines and Frontiers Lumbering to the Stars: The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein A beloved family pet causes an intergalactic incident… By Alan Brown | Published on February 6‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed In this bi-weekly series reviewing classic science fiction and fantasy books‚ Alan Brown looks at the front lines and frontiers of the field; books about soldiers and spacers‚ scientists and engineers‚ explorers and adventurers. Stories full of what Shakespeare used to refer to as “alarums and excursions”: battles‚ chases‚ clashes‚ and the stuff of excitement. The Star Beast is the story of young John Thomas Stewart XI‚ a boy who has inherited Lummox‚ a creature brought home from space by one of his ancestors. While Lummox is a good-natured family pet‚ the “pet” has grown to the size of a dump truck and is now seen as a threat to the community. While the book takes place on Earth‚ its main focus is on humanity finding its place among a galaxy full of alien races. It turns out Lummox holds a secret that brings Earth to the attention of a previously unknown alien race‚ one that is powerful and possibly dangerous. The story is full of twists and turns‚ with high stakes and fascinating characters. At first glance‚ The Star Beast seems reminiscent of Heinlein’s earlier juvenile Red Planet‚ another story of a young boy with an alien pet who has completely misunderstood the pet’s true nature. However‚ in addition to the obvious differences in the size of the respective pets‚ Lummox’s story takes some unique and interesting turns along the way. The Star Beast first appeared (under the title “Star Lummox”) as a serial in the May through July 1954 issues of The Magazine of Fantasy &; Science Fiction‚ and was then published later that year as a Scribner and Son’s juvenile. For this review‚ I used a Del Rey paperback reissue borrowed from my son‚ a Science Fiction Book Club omnibus edition entitled To the Stars‚ and an audio drama version from Bruce Coville and his Full Cast Audio team (those audio dramas‚ from the early 2000s‚ are well worth seeking out for fans of audible entertainment). About the Author Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) was one of America’s most widely known science fiction authors‚ frequently referred to as the Dean of Science Fiction. I have often reviewed his work in this column‚ including Starship Troopers‚ The Moon is a Harsh Mistress‚ “Destination Moon” (contained in the collection Three Times Infinity)‚ The Pursuit of the Pankera/The Number of the Beast‚ and Glory Road. From 1947 to 1958‚ he also wrote a series of a dozen juvenile novels for Charles Scribner’s Sons‚ a firm interested in publishing science fiction novels aimed at young boys. These novels include a wide variety of tales‚ and contain some of Heinlein’s best work‚ including many works I’ve covered in previous columns: Rocket Ship Galileo‚ Space Cadet‚ Red Planet‚ Farmer in the Sky‚ Between Planets‚ The Rolling Stones‚ Starman Jones‚ The Star Beast‚ Tunnel in the Sky‚ Time for the Stars‚ Citizen of the Galaxy‚ and Have Spacesuit Will Travel. This is not the first time The Star Beast has been discussed on this site‚ as James Davis Nicoll mentioned it briefly last year in a column on “Five Tough‚ Rough‚ and Rugged Heinlein Stories.” A Tale of Two Bureaucrats Heinlein generally inserted some educational elements into his juveniles‚ touching on topics such as space travel‚ exploration‚ farming‚ revolutions‚ spacesuits‚ or other issues—a bit of didactic medicine mixed with the spoonful of sugar‚ if you will. In the case of The Star Beast‚ the author endeavors to educate his young readers about politics‚ to the point where the juvenile adventure sometimes disappears as the political characters take over the narrative. Some of that political intrigue will likely be lost on readers who don’t understand the difference between political appointees and career civil servants‚ and other aspects of bureaucratic organizations. Of course‚ politics has often been a major theme and focus of science fiction‚ and the online Encyclopedia of Science Fiction has a good overview of the topic here. While Heinlein’s politics and beliefs shifted and changed over the course of his life‚ he often spoke and wrote about libertarian ideas‚ and those familiar with his work will not be surprised that the government of Westville‚ where young John Thomas lives‚ is portrayed as inept and filled with people who often let personal feelings and relationships drive their decisions. The exact location of the town is not specified‚ but it appears to be somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. At one point‚ an important decision seems to be made based on who has been fishing with the local judge most recently‚ rather than the merits of the issue. The head of the local police force‚ Chief Dreiser‚ while he means well‚ and even serves as a deacon in a local church‚ is quick to jump to conclusions‚ and at one point‚ decides to move ahead with a plan to execute Lummox as a public threat‚ even though he has been ordered not to take that action. Contrasted with the clumsy local government of Westville‚ however‚ is a fairly effective Federation bureaucracy. And one bureaucrat in that world-wide government has become one of my favorite Heinlein characters of all time… He is introduced by his full title‚ which is a mouthful: His Excellency the Right Honorable Henry Gladstone Kiku‚ M.A. (Oxon‚) Litt. D. honorus causa (Capetown)‚ O.B.E.‚ Permanent Under Secretary for Spatial Affairs. In keeping with the diversity of characters we see throughout Heinlein’s juveniles‚ Mr. Kiku is Kenyan‚ and offers a contrast to the parochial inhabitants of Westville. Mr. Kiku is not without flaws. He is fretful and prone to anxiety-related maladies like ulcers. He also has a lifelong phobia involving snakes that is triggered by tentacles‚ something that makes his job difficult when dealing with alien races. But he is wise‚ brave‚ and has the knowledge accumulated through a long civil service career behind him. His competence stands in clear contrast to the politically appointed Secretary MacClure‚ who is a politician of the type seen in John Thomas’ home of Greenville‚ and who is clearly in over his head. It might seem that an effective character like Mr. Kiku would contradict the depiction of government officials as inept elsewhere in the novel‚ but Heinlein always favored effectiveness over doctrine‚ and celebrated competence and expertise wherever it was found. And while the necessity of qualified‚ capable civil servants is questioned or even mocked by some in anti-intellectual circles‚ they are often the glue that holds together many a governmental entity. The Star Beast The book begins from the viewpoint of Lummox‚ a large eight-legged alien creature who was brought home from an interstellar journey many years ago‚ and has lived with the Stuart family for generations. Lummox is hungry and bored. The Stuart home has a walled backyard‚ but Lummox is able to escape by squeezing through a section of beams—although it’s a tight fit‚ thanks to a recent growth spurt (brought about when Lummox devoured John Thomas’ Buick). After eating some of the neighbor’s rose bushes‚ as well as a stray dog that has been terrorizing the neighborhood‚ and the hungry creature turns to the vegetables in a nearby truck farm. The owner shoots at the intruder‚ sending the terrified Lummox crashing through a pair of greenhouses. After running into town‚ Lummox is attacked by police‚ first cornered in the display window of a local department store‚ and then herded into a local viaduct. This sequence of over-the-top action suggests Heinlein might be in the mood for a slapstick satire‚ but the story soon settles into the more grounded and realistic style for which he is known. We then meet high school senior John Thomas Stuart XI‚ Lummox’s owner‚ who is called upon to get his pet under control. He gets the news of the rampage from his mother‚ a fretful woman who has wanted to get rid of Lummox for years. She is a widow whose explorer husband was lost on a space voyage‚ and has been grieving ever since. Afraid to lose John Thomas to adulthood‚ she has been doing her best to ensure he sticks close to home and does not follow in the footsteps of his adventurous ancestors. John Thomas is summoned by Chief Dressler to guide Lummox back home‚ and is joined by his girlfriend‚ Betty Sorenson. Betty is an extremely intelligent and self-assured young woman‚ confident enough that she’s divorced her parents and moved into government-provided quarters. While we don’t get Mrs. Stuart’s opinion of Betty‚ she must be horrified by her son dating someone so independent. Because the book is a Heinlein juvenile‚ there is no kissing or physical affection displayed between John Thomas and Betty; instead‚ they settle for mocking each other‚ name-calling‚ punching each other in the arm‚ and things like that. Betty exhibits her negotiating skills right from the start. There is a hearing scheduled to decide what to do about Lummox and how to deal with all the damage‚ and Betty takes the lead on arguments‚ tying the local magistrate‚ Judge O’Farrell‚ into knots. The adventures of Lummox‚ and the mysteries surrounding the creature’s origin‚ reach the attention of Mr. Kiku‚ and he dispatches one of his Commissioners‚ Sergei Greenberg‚ to investigate. Sergei decides to assume jurisdiction for the Federation‚ and takes charge of the hearing. But Betty ties him in knots as well‚ and he ends up with a decision to destroy Lummox that will be held in abeyance until the creature’s origin can be investigated. Mrs. Stuart‚ eager to resolve this issue‚ brings home a representative from a natural history museum‚ who offers to buy Lummox‚ keep him safely‚ and even offers John Thomas a job as an animal handler to keep the two together. Mrs. Thomas doesn’t like the animal handler part‚ as she wants John Thomas to go to college and study a nice‚ safe profession that will keep him close to home. John Thomas reluctantly agrees to the sale‚ but then changes his mind‚ and in the wee hours of the morning‚ heads out into the mountains with Lummox‚ following the path of an old-fashioned highway that has been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. He thinks he is being clever‚ but is soon joined by Betty‚ who deduces exactly where he is headed. Meanwhile‚ Mr. Kiku is dealing with an alien race represented by an alien named Doctor Ftaeml‚ whose head tentacles unfortunately trigger Mr. Kiku’s phobias. The alien race is threatening Earth with destruction if they do not produce a member of their species who was kidnapped from their homeworld decades ago‚ and it doesn’t take Mr. Kiku long to realize that Lummox may be the object of their search. Meanwhile‚ orders to capture Lummox without harming him have gone awry‚ and Chief Dressler has put a bounty on his head. I will leave the recap at this point‚ as saying more would spoil some adventurous twists and turns that occur later in the book. Before I end my discussion‚ however‚ I do want to address the female characters. The first is Mrs. Stuart‚ for whom I feel sorry. She is defined almost completely by her marriage‚ her son‚ and her grief. The men of the Stuart family have a proud heritage that includes explorers‚ warriors‚ and even a founding member of the Mars Republic. But her goal at every turn is to stifle any ambition shown by John Thomas‚ and keep him close to her. The only time we learn her first name‚ Marie‚ is in a court document‚ and no one ever refers to her by that name. While other characters move on to new roles‚ new jobs‚ and new adventures‚ she is afforded no such opportunity for growth‚ and is instead left only with her unresolved grief. For different reasons‚ I also found Betty Sorenson’s portrayal problematic. She runs circles around John Thomas intellectually‚ and she constantly shows more initiative and confidence than he does. She is the one who negotiates most successfully with Misters Greenberg and Kiku. Yet it is clear throughout the book that her main goal in life is to support John Thomas and make him happy. Their relationship does not feel like a partnership‚ and certainly not one between equals. Heinlein’s juveniles often show wives subordinating themselves to their husbands‚ and it is irritating to see such a promising character starting that trajectory at a young age. Final Thoughts The Star Beast‚ while not one of my favorite Heinlein juveniles‚ ranks in the upper half of those books‚ at least in my humble opinion. The sections dealing with politics‚ which went over my head as a youth‚ were the best part of the book when reading as an adult. And Mr. Kiku has shot up the ranks to become one of my favorite Heinlein characters of all time. The one complaint I have with the book‚ which is a problem I’ve had with other Heinlein juveniles‚ is the way female characters are portrayed. It’s a shame that Heinlein‚ while doing an excellent job of portraying other types of diversity in his juveniles‚ did such a poor job with gender roles. And now it’s your turn to talk: I’m interested in your thoughts on The Star Beast in particular‚ or Heinlein’s juveniles in general. And if there are there any other YA stories on the topic of alien pets that you think are worthy of mention‚ I’d enjoy hearing about them. [end-mark] The post Lumbering to the Stars: <;i>;The Star Beast<;/i>; by Robert A. Heinlein appeared first on Reactor.

Every Sunday‚ Tanaka’s Amazing Commodities will show up on your TV with useful items to purchase. We’ll outline all the shopping channel items in Persona 3 Reload and how much they’ll cost you. Since this TV program will run throughout most of your playthrough‚ that’s a lot of items mostly exclusive to this shopping channel. This list should help you make sure you have enough money to buy the desired items before each Sunday. Persona 3 Reload: All Tanaka’s Amazing Commodities shopping channel items Beginning May 3‚ you can head down to your TV in the Dormitory nearly every Sunday and check out what two items are for sale. They’re typically worth the price in whatever bundle they come in‚ and after that date‚ you won’t be able to purchase them again. Screenshot: PC Invasion DateItemsCost5/3Rose Bouquet (Gift)x2 Luxury Chocolate (+30 SP)2‚9805/10x2 Antibiotic Gel (HP)x5 Sappy Jelly (HP)3‚9805/17Blinding Flashlightx5 Freeze Spray2‚9...

All you lovebirds might be wondering how to invest your money. Well‚ now that you mention it. Here is how to unlock the “Support Your Local Artisans” achievement in the World of Warcraft “Love is in the Air” event. World of Warcraft: How to unlock “Support Your Local Artisans” achievement in Love is in the Air event “Love is in the Air” is a yearly event that transpires during the days surrounding Saint Valentine’s Day – which makes sense‚ after all‚ love is in fact in the air. There’s a good bunch of activities and even the traditional “sinister plot” that we all have to investigate. Well‚ if you have a significant other‚ you know that buying gifts‚ chocolates‚ and planning romantic dates is not cheap – except if you try your absolute best – and‚ in the spirit of the economic implications of dating‚ the “Love is in the Air” event in World of Warcraft has introduced the “Su...

One of Elizabeth’s Requests is for you to find a Rose Bouquet in Persona 3 Reload. And after hours of only buying weapons and working part-time in a cafe‚ you may be stuck figuring out where to buy flowers. Well‚ here’s everything you need to know about that. How to get Rose Bouqet in Persona 3 Reload The Rose Bouquet is located in a store called Rafflesia. Now if you’re anything like me‚ you might be very confused at this point because you’ve never even seen this store. And that’s because the shop is located around Port Island Station. A location that you haven’t had much reason to visit at this point in the game. Rafflesia is located just down the stairway next to where you’ll load in. Then just turn to the left and you’ll see the small flower store in the corner. You can also look to the minimap to see a flower icon. This is where Rafflesia will be in Persona 3 Reload and the Rose Bouquet will cost 2‚000 Yen. That’s a pr...