#his main career was working as a martial arts instructor

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Research: Persona Project 

Ronin by Frank Miller

Ronin was a comic released by DC comics in 1983, and was created by Frank Miller, who besides having worked on the script, also worked on the illustrations.

Ronin is a internal evolution of the author, something that translates into a leap in quality in his work, transforming and aesthetically renewing his work.

It’s like stepping out of his comfort zone to face challenges to innovate.

Frank Miller stood out for his ability to break models, to shape a canon to a new look. And when he got to DC, he had a lot of new ideas involving the past and future, honor, society, discipline, technology, science and ecology. Miller’s mind amalgamated all this essence that culminated in this miniseries, overcoming any obstacles and marking the industry.

Ronin is the story of a past and a future that come together through science. From feudal Japan to the most decadent and technified New York, a samurai without a master, will return to solve the mistakes of the past, and do whatever it takes.

Miller brings with Ronin his interest that he already showed in other comics, which is the Japanese tradition, molding a crucible in which the past and future are mix organically, when technology is the next step in evolution. New York is engulfed by artificial intelligence that replaces the obsolete, the rotten and the dead, with the new and pure.

But for me, the best part of the comic, apart from the script and the whole idea of setting, is certainly the art.

The art of Ronin, maybe not for everyone’s taste, because it looks quite experimental and surrealist.

However, Miller broke new grounds with new page layouts, playing with the text, the thickness of the lines, close ups, cut plans and pictures, violence, death and pain like never before seen and felt in a comic book.

With a super stylized, bold and almost surrealistic streak. This led to a rejection of the miniseries, but it was necessary because Miller opened up, a new path in terms of narrative and composition of art, and invented new graphic tools with which he went in the direction of the unknown.

Josan Gonzalez

Josan is a renowned for exploring themes related to science fiction, dystopia, and above all, cyberpunk. He has already stated in an interview that he is strongly inspired by big names like Moebius, Katsuhiro Otomo - creator of Akira - and Geoff Darrow.

Gonzalez likes to create characters full of personality and compose scenarios rich in details. Josan has a very characteristic artistic artistic style: he uses complex line arts, flat colors and limited color palettes.

Being born in Spain, Josan starts reading comics since he was a teenager and this will influence later in his artistic aesthetic.

Initially he adopted a more painterly style which evolved later in the line work. Despite being always passionate about art he never thought it would make a real career from it. He succeeds in publishing his own books and working for big names such as Dark Horse and Boom Studios.

People is considering Josan’s work as being part of Cyberpunk genre, but the artist doesn’t like to classify them. He enjoy creating illustrations without establishing rules, just giving shapes to a futuristic world. Many of Gonzalez characters are linked by cables, which are a perfect metaphor for linkage human-technology. For a lot of artwork the artist get inspiration from religious imagery. Providing his characters with catholic and Hindu symbols. Mostly this happens, because of his catholic background in Spain. Another aspect, is showing people’s addiction with technology, which keep them repressed. Even if the artist explores different social questions his main goal remains the illustration and making interesting and timeless.

some of his most recent works are, for example, is the cover of the new edition of the science fiction book Neoromancer, and the steelbook art of the game Cyberpunk 2077.

The Story of Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi was Japan’s most famous samurai. He is credited with authoring the most important treatise in Japanese strategy, the “Book of Five Rings”.

Musashi Sensei, as his disciples still call his fighting style, lived from 1584 to 1645.

Musashi dedicated his life to reach perfection through the art of the sword. He fought and won more than 60 life and death duels, and was never defeated. He made contact with other art forms, such as painting, sculpture, calligraphy and poetry, in addition to Zen meditation and Buddhism.

Musashi was born in the province of Harima during one of the most troubled periods in the history of Japan, when the last great battles of the time of the samurai took place.

At the time, it was common in Japan for the same person to change his name at different stages of life. In childhood, Musashi Sensei was called Shinmen Bennosuke. It is believed that he received the first Kenjutsu (famous Japanese martial art) instructions from his father,Shinmen Hirata.

At the age of 13 he won his first duel, and won the second duel when he was 16 years old, as reported in The Book of Five Rings.

In his book Musashi says that his strategy to deconcentrate the opponent and beat him was to arrive late at the place of the duel. On the way, Musashi carved a sword out of a broken paddle and with this sword  he dealt a blow to Kojiro winning the duel,  which, although fast, is one of the most famous in the history of the samurai. The duel was immortalized in a monument on the island of Funajima representing the figure of the two warriors.

The Funajima duel was a turning point in Musashi’s life because from then on he began to reflect on how he had won so many duels and to dedicate himself to the task of leaving a legacy for future generations. It was from there, too, that Musashi began to dedicate himself to other arts such as painting and poetry.

He worked primarily with a style of ink painting, creating minimalist, monochromatic works portraying nature.

The last years of his life, Musashi spent as a guest with his friend, and then isolated himself in the cave of Reigando where he dedicated himself to meditation and practice of his art writing his Book of Five Rings right there.

Ned Bear Mask Artist

Sculptor Edward (Ned) Bear has combined study in Native education with an Honours Diploma from Vancouver college.

He has an extensive knowledge of Native art and culture, Bears has also made contributions to change as a curator, guest speaker and juror.

Bear was born in the town Frederecton, New Brunswick, Canada. When he was young boy he was inspired by a Native elder carver, and later on he received a formal training at New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, where he became the first aboriginal student to graduate. Bear received additional training at a Indian Federated College in Nova Scotia.

Bear created sculpted masks and marble or limestone figure forms. His masks are approximately three feet high and are usually carved from butternut. Each mask is adorned with horse hair ( symbolizing the free spirit), bear fur ( symbolizing healing) and metal ( symbolizing something which is of the earth). Each mask tells a story and offer a modern interpretation of traditional spiritual beliefs.

When creating art, Bear considered himself to be simply a vehicle through which energy flows from the eternal Great Spirit to the medium he is using. He doesn’t create any sketches for the masks, he said that he allows the great spirit to guide him through the process.

Ned Bear made significant contributions as an instructor of Native art and culture, a curator, a guest speaker, and a juror.

The indigenous sculptor died on the Christmas evening of 2019, at the age of 65.  “ We delve into so many past wrongs of our lives that we forget to revel in the present. Learn to capture what you may never have again, now. Do what makes you content for this time, and begin to realize the true purpose of life”, said Bear.

Jim Henson

Jim Henson was an American puppeteer and filmmaker, and most known for creating the Muppets, and directing most of their movies and tv shows.

In the 1960s Henson and his future wife, Jane Nebel, created a puppet show on Washington television station and kept their jobs through the school years, developing the first Muppets (including Kermit) on a one minute television show called Sam and Friends.

The success of Sam and Friends led Henson to create his own company in 1958, initially called Muppets,inc. and many years later, The Jim Henson Company.

Part of the resounding success of Henson’s puppets was due to their innovative view that puppet controllers did not need to be hidden by physical objects while controlling them.

By instructing the camera controllers to focus on the puppets and keep the controllers out of sight, he allowed the puppets to dominate the TV screen and acquire more lively and similar behaviors to real people.

From the productions of Sam and Friends, many characters emerged who became famous over the years and who would become part of the famous cast of the Muppets, including their most famous member, Kermit the Frog.

The Muppet Show, which premiered in 1976 and was produced in England, gained an international audience ( it was shown in about 100 countries) and was soon followed by the film The Muppet Movie (1979).

Henson was able to create an interesting set of characters by developing innovative ideas with a sense of rhythm and humor that won an audience for both children and adults. His works are remembered in part for promoting positive values in childhood such as friendship, magic or love, themes that appeared in most of his works.

Research: Persona Brazilian Folklore research- Lobisomem 

The legend of the werewolf is known practically all over the world. It defines him as being, part man, part wolf, who was cursed with lycanthropy ( the act of becoming a wolf).

The one who is cursed, becomes the werewolf on the nights of the full moon. Some variations of the legend say that lycanthropy was the result of the pact of one man with the devil.

Once transformed into a werewolf, the person frantically sets out in search of victims to kill them. Modern popular culture has spread the idea that the werewolf is vulnerable only to silver bullets or sharp objects made of silver.

Naturally, the legend of the werewolf arrived in Brazil through Portuguese, during the period when they colonized Brazil, in our country, the legend arrived and took on different characteristics in each region.

Some studies have concluded that there is no such legend among indigenous people. The closest to that were legends who believed that men or women could become some animals of the forest.

This legend in Brazilian folklore ended up acquiring elements present in its Portuguese version. Thus, it was common to believe that the werewolf was the man born after the mother had seven daughters, although versions of the legend say that if seven sons were born, the eight son would also be a werewolf.

In the north, of Brazil, the werewolf was the man who was in poor health, and the one who was anemic would eventually would become him. Once transformed, it feeds on the blood of other humans to make up for the poor diet as one of them. The transformation took place from Thursdays to Friday nights.

In the south, in turn, the fact that turned the man into a werewolf was incest. In Brazil, there was no record in the folklore of the belief in transformation of women into werewolves. In the folklore, only men becomes werewolves.

In the interior of São Paulo, it was believed that this being tried to invade the houses to eat children. Many believed that the werewolf went after, especially, unbaptized children.

One of the ways in which the person turned into a werewolf, was if he seriously injured with certain objects. One of these objects was a bullet bathed in candle wax from an altar.

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Rewriting The CW's Kung Fu, Part 1: The Characters

Hello. I've written a few posts complaining about how The CW's Kung Fu was written and plotted. So instead of just complaining, I decided to do something productive: I'm going to rewrite the show.

This will be the first part in an eight-part series that would detail the things, I think, could've made the first season much stronger in terms of story-telling and character-building. Do take note that I will be writing this for The CW's target market: teens to young adults who are looking for both entertainment and representation.

Before we start with the story, let us first start with re-configuring the characters.

NICKY SHEN, mid to late 20s. The eldest daughter of first-generation immigrants, she feels pressured into following the path made for her by her parents. She carries a lot of guilt, having seen her parents struggle to raise her and her siblings in a land that's not always welcoming to foreigners--and then running away when she felt like she no longer had control over her life. She has spent the last three years in a monastery where her days are spent training in the martial arts, meditating, and farming. Upon her return home, she doesn't know what her place is in the world--and in her family--anymore.

HENRY YAN, mid to late 20s. A martial arts instructor at the Chinese community center, he becomes intrigued by Nicky's unique background and insight into their community. A working student, he has only recently continued his collegiate studies because of a checkered past he needed to deal with, as well as his family's financial struggles. He feels like he has a lot to prove because of people's preconceptions of who he is, based on what he had to do to survive.

EVAN HARTLEY, mid to late 20s. A San Francisco Assistant District Attorney, he is Nicky's best friend from childhood to law school. He is part of a hiring initiative that prioritizes people who can speak in multiple languages, and gets assigned many cases that come from Chinatown. He has recently proposed to his girlfriend, a fellow classmate of his and Nicky's from law school, thinking he has finally moved on from being left behind by the woman he loved three years ago...and then she, Nicky, comes back into his life.

RYAN SHEN, mid-20s. Nicky's younger brother who has just recently finished his internship at a local hospital; he is currently working as a resident physician at the same hospital he interned for--while volunteering his free time at the Chinese community center's free clinic. He is gay but has yet to tell his parents the truth, blaming Nicky for abandoning him when he was just about to confess. (Yes, I put him back in the closet for storytelling purposes.)

ALTHEA SHEN, mid-20s. Nicky's younger sister has put her career on hold to get married to her high school sweetheart. A sought-after computer engineer, Althea has surprised everyone--her parents included--when she suddenly gave up her high-ranking position at Cloudrush Capital to focus on her wedding. She is the most adjusted and mature out of the Shen siblings, seeing as her parents didn't have as much expectations from her as they did Nicky and Ryan.

SHEN MEI-LI, late 40s to early 50s. Nicky's mother comes from a very strict family and this has made her guarded with her emotions. She is very protective of her children and will do anything to keep them safe--including hide parts of her history she thinks will lead them astray. She works as the manager of Happy Dumplings, the restaurant she built with her husband Jin.

SHEN JIN, early to mid 50s. Nicky's father immigrated to San Francisco when he was a young man, inspired by the American Dream. He has a go-getter attitude which was further bolstered when he married Mei-Li, pushing him to move on from being a line cook at a faux-Chinese fast food chain to opening his own restaurant. Having been denied of better opportunities, he works hard to make sure that his children never has to face the same challenges he had in the past.

Okay, those are just broad strokes of who the characters are when the story begins. I've upgraded Evan to becoming an actual main character with a romantic subplot with Nicky since, if I'm not mistaken, that was the intention when they introduced him in the pilot. I've also downgraded Pei-Ling Zhang, Nicky's mentor to a recurring character--who we will get to now:

ZHANG PEI-LING, early 40s. A female monk at a Shaolin monastery, Pei-Ling helps Nicky escape from an arranged-marriage "love" tour by allowing her to hide in her truck. Pei-Ling is in charge of the martial arts training at the monastery, teaching her students that to keep a strong hand steady, one must also have a strong heart.

ZHANG ZHI-LAN, mid to late 30s. A businesswoman whose worldwide travels hide an international hunt for eight mystical weapons that would give the collector untold powers. She is Pei-Ling's sister who holds a lot of resentment because of the way their family broke apart. She keeps a cold and calculating facade to keep people away from her, afraid of being vulnerable enough to get emotionally hurt again.

DENNIS SOONG, mid 20s. Althea's fiancée who is the heir apparent of the Soong business empire. He has the practiced charm of a high school outcast who was slow to grow into his looks; although he became part of the popular crowd by the time he graduated, he never forgot the people who treated him as an equal back when he was a societal pariah. He is also a loving son, brother, and husband-to-be.

JOE HARPER, mid to late 20s. A freelance graphic artist who uses his talents, and his gift of gab, to fight for human rights. He is passionate, headstrong, and he never backs down from a challenge.

CHLOE SOONG, late teen. Dennis's younger sister who has fallen in with a bad crowd of bored rich teens. She feels out-of-place in her parents' perfect world, which draws her towards Nicky--who identifies with her plight to break out of the mold assigned to her.

SABINE SMITH, mid to late 20s. A classmate of Nicky's and Evan's from law school, Sabine is Evan's fiancée. She is nurturing and helpful, she is the one who pushes Evan to help Nicky settle back into her San Francisco life--not realizing she is also pushing Evan's feelings for Nicky back into the picture.

KERWIN TAN, late 20s to early 30s. A young socialite who becomes part of Nicky and Zhilan's race to find the eight mythical weapons of power. He is the youngest son of a business tycoon, Raymond Tan, who is also interested in collecting the weapons. He resents the competitive upbringing his father has given him and his siblings, which makes him decide to also join the hunt for the weapons.

MEI-XUE, late 40s. Mei-Li's younger sister, she ran away from home after discovering their family's warrior lineage--wanting to be the one to find the mythical weapons so she could keep them from falling into the wrong hands. In her journey to find the weapons, she discovers more about the power they can wield--which scares her into hiding in the mountains of Canada, with the help of a rich friend she made in her journeys.

STANLEY ANG, early 30s. He is an original character that I wanted to include for additional Chinese diversity. The only son of an old couple who were Mei-Li's friends before she migrated. He is intelligent, very savvy, but isn't very fluent in English. He works as a software developer for a programming company who had him (and his parents) move to their US office so he could oversee the projects he manages better.

Kung Fu has a few more important characters they introduce, but I'm staying with the ones who will make an impact to the story I'm rewriting.

If you've read my past gripes about the show, you would know that I don't like the fact that Zhi-lan (and Kerwin, later on) was shoved into our throats even when their storylines didn't need to be told. That opinion remains. But it doesn't change the fact that they do make an impact to the story--especially with the finale the show left us with. So they're retaining their recurring status in my rewrite.

And this is where we end for now. In the next post, I will be rejigging the pilot to better set-up who Nicky is and what her relationships are at the start of the series.

#Kung Fu CW #tv talk #my words

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Meet the Contributors

The Welcome to Indisclosednia team draws contributors from beyond the government. Our articles represent the views of people from different cultures, ages, and backgrounds.

The Right Honourable Rafe Kalashnikov Prime Minister of Indisclosednia

Son of former prime minister Anastasia Kalashnikova, Rafe began his career in government in the Ministry of Tourism in and served as the chairman of the Labour Party. At age 28, he is the first Prime Minister of the country to be a natural-born citizen and is the youngest to hold office. He currently resides in the Ministerial Palace at Hoonoisweir.

Her Honour, Sunita Bhargavi, PhD Associate Chief Justice, High Court of Indisclosednia

Justice Bhargavi holds a doctorate in law and is one of the candidates for appointment for the position of chief justice. Prior, she had enjoyed a storied career in retail, real estate, and entertainment, and is known for her cult classic collection of albums known as Simply. A recent citizen, Dr. Bhargavi hails from Kolkata, India. She lives in Baywood City with her husband and three children.

Joseph Tobias Kurt Captain, Indisclosednean Navy, National Defence Corps

Capt. Kurt is the commanding officer of the I.S.S. Business, a gunboat charged with patrolling the easterly waters of Gaussia and Baywood for pirates. Prior, he was a member of the German Naval contingent charged with training the fledgling Indisclosednean navy. Hailing from a small town in the Franconia region in Germany, he and his daughter hold dual Indisclosednean and German citizenships. They both live in Hoonoisweir.

Vanessa Armstrong-Beaumont Chairwoman-Elect, Chamber of Commerce of Indisclosednia CEO, Armstrong Holdings, LLC,

Hailing from New Orleans, U.S.A, Ms. Armstrong-Beaumont is a longtime entrepreneur. Her business incubator company is the latest in a long line of successful entrepreneurial and investment ventures. She is a vocal advocate of racial and gender equality, responsible business, and corporate social responsibility. A resident foreigner holding dual French and U.S. citizenship, she lives with her husband and daughter in Baywood City.

Jeremiah Olmstead Chief Pastor, First Ecumenical Church of Baywood

The son of the country’s first Prime Minister John Olmstead, Pastor Jerry forewent politics and business and became a man of the church. He is a staunch advocate of Christian environmentalism. He believes in respecting the works of God through responsible ecological stewardship and sustainable low-impact development. A native-born Indisclosednean of part Inuit descent, he lives with his wife and two children in the suburbs of Baywood City.

Margaret Willoughby-Penderghast Representative, Historical and Cultural Society of Indisclosednia

Ms. Willoughby-Penderghast is a longtime citizen hailing from Liverpool, U.K. Of South Asian descent herself, she has played a key role in chronicling the history of the South Asian communities in Indisclosednia. She works as a school teacher at the Charles Darwin Community School near her residence in Hoonoisweir. She and her husband, also a historian, are among the founding members of the Historical and Cultural Society. She is bisexual.

Tanner Ashford Representative, Expatriate Business Association

A wealthy angel investor, environmental advocate, and motivational speaker from Los Angeles, U.S.A., Mr. Ashford has a stake in several new business ventures sprouting in the country. His main focus is to create a flourishing tech ecosystem to Indisclosednia. Although not a resident himself, he is a constant visitor and rents an exclusive room in the suites at the Fritz-Karloff Hotel at the Baywood Waterfront. His daughter, a resident, lives and works nearby.

Keith Wesley Horowitz Student, Gregor Mendel Academy of the Arts and Sciences

Keith plays for the school’s soccer team and is an active member of both theatre and audio-visual clubs. He specializes in working complex audiovisual equipment, though he is also skilled in fixing other machines. In his off-days, he lends his expertise to the Navy as a mechanic for college credit. A resident foreigner, he was raised in Dublin, Ireland, and holds both U.S. and Irish citizenship. He lives with his father in Baywood.

Akira Ichiro Student, Gregor Mendel Academy of the Arts and Sciences

Aspiring scientist and martial artist Akira works part-time as a kendo instructor in her grandfather’s dojo in Baywood. She is a member of the audio-visual club and specializes in dronework, architectural photography, and motion cinematography. She is also one of the founding members of an informal martial arts club in her school. A citizen, she lives with her parents, maternal grandparents, and little brother. Her family hails from Tokyo, Japan.

Conrad Ogilvy Tippett Student, Gregor Mendel Academy of the Arts and Sciences

Conrad is a natural entrepreneur and is one of the stallholders at the student-organized Friday swap-meets at Mendel Academy. He is an avid model-maker known for building intricate and lifelike model cities, which he lends to his fellows at the audio-visual club as part of their film productions. He became a citizen just a few years ago alongside his parents and two brothers. Hailing from Chicago, U.S.A., they’ve since settled down in Baywood.

#World Building June 2020 #WBJ #Key People #Contributor Profiles

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Ten Questions Tag

I got tagged in the same game thrice so while it’s a 10 Questions tag, I have thirty to do haha. Thanks for the tag @booksandsass , @nemothepenguin and @jmichines!

Do you remember your first writing project? What was it?

I do! The first thing I wrote was a 38K novella when I was six. It was about two girls in their young teens (I think one was 13 and one was 14, I can’t remember) who always ended up going to this ice cream shop. Their teacher was their best friend and I named one character after part of my name backwards. It’s cringy, but I’m still proud to say I completed such a feat at a young age.

What do you think is the hardest part of writing?

Finding where to explain things, such as appearance, location, lore etc. I know all of it, I just find it hard to say all I need to without it being an info dump haha

If you could give your younger self some writing advice, what would it be?

STOP GOING ON DAMN HIATUSES GIRL

What kind of research do you do for your WIP?

I do a little research on physics (such as how lifts work) and injuries but most of it is how things look steampunk style since there’s a slight hint at that in my novel.

How many hours a week do you write?

It depends on how much university work I have to do (I study online), whether I’m travelling and how much energy I have. Probably 10 hours tops a week but sometimes I’ll do nothing.

How long do you wait before you begin editing your first draft?

Six weeks, unless I know I’ve made a major booboo niggling in my head. Then I’ll resolve that and leave the rest.

What are your personal ethics when it comes to writing?

I’m not 100% sure I’ve gotten this question right but my stories are quite dark, although not explicitly so. My characters go through a tonne of crap in all honesty, although for the reader, it isn’t as bad.

Do you recycle old ideas or abandon them?

Recycle. I’ve already decided to use the first line of a Fan Fiction I wrote in 2014 later on in the Mastery series.

Which character is your favourite and why?

I tend to shift my favourite character based on what book I’m writing.

In book 1 of the series, it’s Roman. He’s a bit of a mystery to the others and they’re not sure how to react to him, but he’s just a cute little idealist in a world of pessimists.

In book 2, it’s Rylan. Some of his lines are my favourite I’ve written so far.

In book 3, it’s Jonathon. His personality is one of the most animated in the series and his back and current stories are some of the most complex I’ve made. One chapter I’ve written in his POV is one of my favourites too.

What do you love most about your favourite character from your WIP?

 Again, I’ll answer with the same characters.

Roman: He’s an absolute sweetheart despite being surrounded by salty assholes and continues his precious ways even when they insult him for them

Rylan: He’s private and little is revealed about him. But he’s intelligent and could easily become a much worse villain if he wanted to. Dangerous boi.

Jonathon: Kind of like Roman, he’s an optimist despite everything that’s happened to him. And boy, does he have an angsty af backstory.

What would you consider success for your current WIP?

The fact I’m still working on it nearly 10 years later

If you were stuck on a deserted island, which one of your characters would you bring with you?

I guess it’d have to be Sebastian. He’s rude quite a lot of the time but really resourceful. 

What would your characters’ day jobs be in real life? And if your WIP is set on Earth, which jobs would be most fitting for them and why?

Ooooh I love this question! I do have a lot of characters to answer with though and since this is the sort of thing I love imagining, I’m doing it with a huge bunch of ‘em haha

Alex is into the arts and only joined the Protectionary Guard as he didn’t see his art career going anywhere. So if he could make do with his art, he’d do that.

Sebastian would be in some sort of detective agency. One where he’d be able to kick ass. Then he’d get sacked for inappropriate behaviour and become a Martial Arts instructor or something along those lines.

Miriam would do something in the medical profession, but something less people-based. She’d be the sort to sit in a lab all day studying concoctions.

Aiden would have a normal office job during the day (knowing his family, it’d be he’s the heir to a company) and then volunteer as a cubs/scouts leader in the evenings.

Noah would work in IT, probably programming.

Cyrus builds motorbikes to fit in with his idealisms of escape, so he’d be into a travel-related career, such as travel writing/blogging, doing affiliate marketing and writing e-books to earn an income. Maybe an e-commerce store. While he isn’t the brightest, he’s a hard-worker.

Roman is training to be a lawyer and I can see him doing that in a Earth AU as well. 

Phineas would be a librarian or a teacher for older students, probably a university lecturer or something like that, for a social science or language.

Dimitri would be a business owner, one of those really dickish ones.

Luka would probably be in Dimitri’s business, grumbling about his boss every ten seconds saying how he plans to make a rival business when he has enough money.

Rylan lowkey loves fashion and textiles and so I can see him working in a dinky little sewing shop and then selling stuff on Etsy or something along those lines as a side hustle.

Meline would be a professional athlete, probably in tennis since that’s her usual sport.

Jonathon would be the sort to make documentaries out in the wilderness and would take bets on whether he’ll survive doing stuff. He always does, and yet he still has people paying him. Witty prick.

Romulus would drive lorries. They’re similar to, but less interesting, his airships.

Who of your OC’s would break first under high pressure or under psychological manipulation/torture?

It’d be between Miriam and Aiden, depending on how personal the manipulation is. More distant? Aiden. More personal? Miriam.

Would you sacrifice your favourite character if it meant getting published? (As in would you remove them from the book as a condition set by the publisher?)

(I’m doing main instead of favourite okie dokie) Alex would be a nosiree no way whereas I think it’d be easier for me to part with Phoenix and Eirik. I’d still be reluctant though.

What is your go-to scene? (For example, I tend to open my books with the weather forecast to set the atmosphere before going to the characters and actions happening at that time)

A fight with a fairly unimportant antagonist. I always start my POV chapters with a certain style. Miriam’s is questions, Alex’s is dialogue, Phoenix’s is a long drone and Eirik’s is short sentences.

What is your least favourite genre to write in and why?

Contemporary as I get pretty bored. Where’s the death and fighting?

Which author would you like to trade styles with for a single book?

Me, but a good author. If you find out who that is, tell me please.

What was the weirdest thing that inspired a scene/character/story/name/place/etc.?

Miriam’s surname is after my dog as they both have amber eyes (Arnie -> Arnette)

Which POV is your favourite to write in and how do you choose which one to use for a certain WIP?

I prefer writing in first person! If it’s character arc-based then I will use first but if it’s more plot-based I will use third.

What style of writing do you prefer? Simple language, something more poetic, or something else?

I prefer simple but tend to have a philosophical main character so it ends up being a blend once you get to know the character

What’s your pet peeve when it comes to writing - the thing that would make you insta-toss the book?

The main character is a Mary Sue/Gary Stu

What’s your favourite cliché?

If you’re talking about technique, it’ll be rule of three. If you’re talking about plot cliché’s, it’s enemies to lovers/besties.

Which of your OCs would you want to hang out with in real life? Conversely, who would you not touch with a 10-foot pole?

I’d like to hang out with Roman! I’d say we’re similar enough in personality to get along.

Lawrence can LEAVE.

What’s your favourite type of character? (I have a weird thing for anti-heroes and geniuses)

Gonna have to agree with the brackets ;)

Which story do you wish you could have written (can be a novel, movie, game, etc.)

1984 or any good alternate futures. I’m a sucker for this genre so if you have recommendations please tell me.

Which of your OCs just absolutely eludes your comprehension? Like no matter what you do, you just can’t figure them out?

Kristoph.

What are you most proud of when it comes to your writing? Can be a character, a concept/world, even your style of writing.

Being able to come up with a complex plot and keeping track of it without having to write it all down.

Which of your stories do you think would make an awesome movie?

I think Experimentation would be more popular but I’d love to see Schadenfreude as a film!

Lastly (since we all do this), name an OC and your dream casting for them.

You’re wrong, buddy chum pal. I don’t do this.

I don’t watch films or series so know literally no actors bar the really famous ones.

-

To be honest, my creativeness isn’t working at all so for those who I tag, I’m going to let you pick out 10 of your favourites from the questions above. And the three people I’m going to tag are: @westywrites, @ahotpeaceofshit and @thel3tterm!

[hopeforgs]

fun question: what careers do you think each of the main atla characters would have (or pursue) in the modern day world? Also what would their fav school subjects be?

Aang: I think his best subject would be art. I can see Aang becoming a grade school teacher or a camp counselor or something. Probably would love working with kids.

Katara: Best subject would be literature. I can see Katara being a yoga instructor or maybe like a professional trainer.

Sokka: Best subject would be engineering. I can see him being a scientist or even a salesman. He'd make a great used car salesman.

Toph: Best subject would be gym and lunch. Toph wouldn't do well in a typical employment situation. Unfortunately, if she was in the modern day world, she wouldn't have her bending so she'd be a lot more handicapped. So probably no extreme sports. But I could see her involved in research maybe for like natural sciences.

Zuko: Best subject is history. Zuko I can see running his own business.Or having a physical job like martial arts teacher. Maybe even working with his hands like with cars or construction.

[narisa]

Muay Thai Rules For Boxers - A Complete Guide

What exactly is Muay Thai? Many of the individuals that have only heard of Muay Thai at its original incarnation in Australia mistakenly think that just because kick boxing has been around for longer, Muay Thai also is just that - just a fancy name. Kickboxing does in fact refer to full contact, bare-knuckle boxing with a level of striking efficiency comparable to MMA. However, there are significant differences  มวย สยาม กีฬา  between Muay Thai and MMA.

One of the first things that people notice about Muay Thai in it original incarnation in Thailand is that the strikes come mostly from an inside stance. This is different than the roundhouse kicks and low kicks that one sees in traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or even the American National Glove Fighting Championships. While the strikes in muay Thai are mostly coming from an inside position (somewhat like the Japanese archers), the reason for this is to create distance between the person getting punched and their assailant, and to create a more potent offensive kick. This is not to say however, that the strikes in muay Thai can't be made with a little bit of outside or counter-striking - many a fighter will lock his hands and elbows in an attempt to create distance between them to allow them to strike effectively.

A lot of what distinguishes modern day muay Thai fighters from their earlier counterparts is their foot movement. They will use their entire body to strike their opponent, including their feet, hips, and knees. This is a highly effective method for generating power in a punch but one that requires plenty of skill and training to be able to pull off. Many amateur fighters will make this mistake early in their career when they try to throw punches at a higher speed due to lack of foot movement. The main problem with this is that, as your arms develop quicker and your coordination improves, so do your footwork, making it easier to throw accurate punches at a higher speed. Training to improve your foot movement in muay Thai will pay dividends in the long run.

One of the most common mistakes among younger boxers is throwing their hands when they are not fully confident in their strike or kick. If they feel that their strike is powerful enough, they will simply stomp on their foot in hopes of creating momentum to throw the other person in a clinch. However, if the referee steps in to prevent this, they will often resort to kicking their opponent in the shin as a way to get out of the clinch. This is completely wrong, and a highly ineffective technique when applying full clinch technique.

Another common muay Thai technique that is commonly seen being practiced by boxers is foot work. Boxers will often swing both arms around wildly in hopes of throwing their opponents in a clinch. This is an extremely ineffective technique when applied to real life fights, since most fighters are savvy enough to quickly turn and escape from a barrage of punches. The best way to handle a fighter who is ducking in is to simply block his punches with your own arm, or to counter with an equally powerful blow to the midsection or groin.

As you can see, there are many different aspects of muay Thai boxing that need to be addressed if you want to be a successful Mixed Martial Arts fighter. Although most fighters are taught how to throw their punches in muay Thai classes, many don't learn how to handle their partners and how to defend themselves. By learning how to execute your strike properly under the guidance of a qualified instructor, you can put your all into each punch and kick that you throw. This will give you the edge over other fighters and help you win more rounds in the ring.

[hannahencoresc]

Encore S & C Report

ENCORE is a results-focussed fitness environment, designed to constantly move you towards your personal goals. The unique blend of intelligently intense small-group sessions, evidencebased exercises and ever-changing programmes train members as if they were elite athletes, keeping workouts challenging and exciting. Members will learn to lift weights with a performance coach by their side. Discovering what their bodies are truly capable of encouraging individuals to test their limits in a safe, supportive space.  

Encore is a community of individuals, each bringing their own goals and achieving them together. Through passion, knowledge and a fair bit of banter, members will be supported by training leaders and like-minded training partners, aligned by shared values and connected through respect and encouragement. That’s why the small group approach works so well. Everyone is in it together. Members come for themselves and train as a team.  

The encore gym is also heavily focused on the mental health and wellbeing of their members. Encouraging members to build on their mental wellbeing using a solid foundation of physical strength and conditioning. Helping clients to improve confidence and independence through intense training and hard work. Providing members with a resilience to life’s challenges, allowing them to stay nimble and strong.  

Progress is the main goal for gym members. True change through personal, supportive and friendly coaching. Setting monthly goals for members to achieve as well as strength, conditioning and nutritional plans for members to follow. The ever-evolving session content will always strive to incorporate new ideas and approaches to keep members focussed, achieving personal bests and returning for more.  

Encore Mission  

“To be the UK’s leading provider of small-group, instructor-led fitness coaching”

Encore Values

‘A professional approach to fitness’

Train individual potential through expert coaches, evidence-based training and an aligned purpose of constant progression.

‘Be accountable for success’

Enable personal achievement through results-focussed sessions, designed with consideration and delivered with confidence.

‘Encourage community’

Build relationships alongside strength, through the warmth and drive of a group environment where everyone feels welcome.

‘Be an attentive training partner’

Support members to push their limits in a safe space, empowering ownership of their own wellbeing.

Funding, Governing & Regulation

The gym is completely funded by memberships, there are roughly 80 full time members at the gym currently. The gym also offers a trialist taster membership, this offers newcomers the opportunity to join for a month half price and see if they enjoy the facilities & services. Once the trial is up the trialist will have the option to join as a full-time member and receive small group coaching with the inhouse experts.  

The Encore Team 

Alex Backhouse

Alex founded his gym in March 2015, originally named as Alex Backhouse strength & conditioning the gym has recently been rebranded into Encore S&C throughout 2020. With a career spanning over 15 years, Alex has extensive knowledge in fitness and various other areas, deciding to specialise in strength and conditioning Alex obtained his Masters degree. He has trained world champion boxing professionals and competed in boxing, Thai boxing and mixed martial arts himself.

His main responsibilities include:

-Owner  

-Coaching members

-Customer service & care

-Staff liaison/ Mentor  

-Ordering, health & safety, sales, complaints

Marshall Lee

Marshall is one of the Strength & Conditioning coaches at Encore S&C gym. He has been a resident coach for a year and is a valued member of the team. Marshall has coached strength and conditioning seminars all over the world, focusing specifically on the Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift. Before Encore he was head Strength & Conditioning coach at a Muay Thai camp in Thailand for a year and a half. Marshall has also previously competed in Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting.

His main responsibilities include:

- Writing up the strength programme

- Moderate/develop the technical coaching structure/hierarchy for the strength coaching, especially of the Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift. - Coaching members

- Advise people on their rehab protocols for any injuries.  

Simeon Gunn

Simeon is one of the strength and conditioning coaches at Encore S&C gym. He has been with the company for 5 years and is a long-standing member of the team. Simeon specialises in cardio and mobility training helping members to reach long distance running goals and train for marathons. Outside of Encore Simeon runs his own mobile cocktail making business called @drinksabode.  

His main responsibilities include:

-Strength Coaching  

-Ensuring members meet their fitness goals  

-Writing programmes  

-Fire Marshall

-First aider  

[astro-onechampionship]

Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke Wants to Compete for a ONE World Title Before He Walks Away from the Sport

Former inaugural ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke of Thailand is one of the most decorated martial arts World Champions on the ONE Championship roster. He’s a multiple-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion and an absolute legend in the striking community.

At 41 years of age, “Kru Rong” knows he’s already at the tail end of a long and glorious career, and he can feel the call of the sunset creeping up ever so slowly. But as long as he feels strong and able, Dejdamrong promises fans he will continue to strive for greatness.

Dejdamrong will next appear in a strawweight mixed martial arts contest opposite China’s “Wolf of the Grasslands” Hexigetu at ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES, scheduled for Friday, 9 October. Venue and location for this event have yet to be confirmed and announced by ONE Championship.

It’s a bout Dejdamrong feels will prove he still has a lot left in the tank.

“Age could be a factor at some point, but I’ve taken great care of myself over the years both physically and mentally. I’ve been through a lot of ring wars, but I feel strong and healthy. I can still go far, and I have big plans for the future,” said Dejdamrong.

“I think in my division, I’m still in the Top 10. I’m still a very dangerous fighter. My goal is to break the Top 5 and work my way back up to a World Title shot. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”

Dejdamrong captured the inaugural strawweight belt in 2015, with a technical decision victory over the Philippines’ Roy Doliguez. He successfully defended the title against Yago Bryan months later, but succumbed to Japan’s Yoshitaka Naito the following year. Since then he’s been on the comeback trail, trying his best to reestablish his position among the division’s elite.

“Kru Rong” is a winner of three of his last four bouts, and is determined to claw his way back to the top.

“It will all depend on my condition. I listen to my body more than anything else. If I feel like I can still compete among the best, I will do everything in my power to get back to the top. One thing I want is to get the chance to compete for the World Title again before I walk away for good,” said Dejdamrong.

ONE Championship returns for its next big blockbuster with ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES, scheduled for Friday, 9 October, and once again, the world’s greatest martial artists are ready to take the stage and showcase their incredible skills in the ONE Circle.

In the main event, reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao of Thailand will defend his Muay Thai title against top contender Josh “Timebomb” Tonna of Australia.

Dejdamrong is currently in Singapore, where he’s based as an instructor at Evolve MMA and competes as a member of the famed Evolve Fight Team. Training with fellow World Champions in Muay Thai, boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Dejdamrong continues to hone his skills as he prepares for a stiff challenge from Hexigetu.

“I’ve been keeping ready, training hard everyday and looking to improve all of my skills always, whether that’s Muay Thai, BJJ, or MMA. It’s not going to be an easy fight, because I’m going up against a young, hungry lion,” said Dejdamrong.

“My goal will always be to win. Hexigetu is not an easy opponent but I can beat him. I’ll use all of my skills that I’ve honed here at Evolve to get the job done. I’m old and getting up there in age and experience, but that doesn’t make me any less dangerous. Watch out.”

Watch ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES on meWATCH or the ONE Super App at 8:30 p.m. Singapore Standard Time (SGT) next Friday, 9 October.

Also, Channel 5 will have the action on a same-day delay at 10 p.m. SGT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7o3zKaOiCI

Read More From ONE Championship:

Amir Khan Fighting For His Dad After Devastating Brain Cancer Diagnosis

Full Card Revealed For ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES On 9 October

McLaren Says He’s Made ‘Massive Gains’ Ahead Of Toivonen Clash

[caleb-p-lo]

Character Development

So I decided to do a thing. (This was meant to be done a while ago. But school, work, and doctors appointments have been making my life a relay race.)

BASICS AND APPEARANCE:

Age? 23 Date of Birth? May 8th 1994 Hair color? Blonde Eye color? Blue Skin color/ethnicity/nationality? White; Hispanic & Dutch; American (3rd generation on both sides) Accent (if any)? He grew up in Ohio, so he has a pretty neutral American accent for the most part. But living in New York, he’s picked up a few little things here and there. Height? 6′1″ Weight? 175 lbs last he checked Tattoos? None (Yet) Piercings? None Birthmarks? A heart shaped birthmark on his right hip. Disfigurements? None Scars? He has a line about 3 inches long on the outside of his left leg, on the shin. Do they have any nicknames? Where did they come from?

Cal - shortened version of his name.

C - super shortened version of his name.

Brother Bear - his sisters call him this when he gets overprotective

Babe, Baby, Handsome, etc. (There are literally so many it’s ridiculous) - pet names given to him by Izzy.

Mijo, Baby Boy, Ducky - nicknames given to him by his moms Brittany and Santana.

P-Lo Shortened version of his last name.

How do they usually dress? What do they wear to sleep? Do they wear jewelry? - How he dresses will change depending on where he is and what he’s doing.

Just hanging around? He’s probably in jeans and a tshirt.

Going out somewhere nice? He’s a master at the semi-formal look.

Sleeping? Sweatpants and a t-shirt when it’s cold; Shorts and a tank or shirtless when it’s hot.

He doesn’t own a whole lot of jewelry. He has a couple of watches that he rotates in and out. And a few necklaces and bracelets.

Is there anything about their appearance they wish they could change? - Cal’s body has gone through a lot of changes over the years. Going from constantly playing sports and training even on the off-season, to not playing any sports at all, changes a person’s body. And at first those changes were a little strange. But after 5 years, Cal’s settled in and he feels good in his own skin. So he wouldn’t change anything about himself right now. He’s healthy and happy, and he still likes how he looks with his shirt off, so he’s good.

How would they look as the opposite sex? - As the opposite sex Caleb would probably look something like Blake Lively or Eliza Taylor.

What do they smell like? Why (do they wear the scent or does it occur naturally)? - Caleb doesn’t wear cologne usually, so most of the time he smells like the laundry detergent from his clothes and his shampoo & conditioner. He only wears cologne on certain occasions and it will be something like Davidoff’s Cool Water or The Art of Shaving’s Vetiver Citron.

Do they have an accurate mental picture of their appearance (how they see themselves versus how the world sees them)? - Cal knows he’s good looking. But he’ll never understand the attention it brings him.

LOCATION: Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)? Describe the space. - Cal lives in a 2 bedroom spacious loft in Manhattan, NY. It used to be a loft shared by Kurt and Santana in their younger days when they were both kicking off their performing careers. The property still belongs to their parents but when Calebella decided to move to NY, Kurt insisted they live in the loft so he knew his daughter and granddaughter would be well taken care of. The only stipulation was, so they didn’t feel completely dependent on their parents, they would pay rent and all of their own bills. Thankfully they’ve yet to have any intruders pay them a visit. But if they were to, Caleb would definitely have a more violent reaction. His home is meant to be a safe space for his family and anyone who violates that will answer to him.

PREFERENCES: Favorite color? - Blue

Favorite music artists? Movies or TV shows? Books or authors? Actors? -

Music Artists: Too many to pick one. 

Tv Shows: Law & Order SVU, Orphan Black, and currently, Sense 8. 

Movies: Hercules and Aladdin (The Disney versions), the Dark Knight, and Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2.

Books: Peter Pan 

Authors: Rick Riordan and Robert Ludlum. 

Actors: Angelina Jolie, Rosario Dawson, Tatiana Maslany, Will Smith, and Harrison Ford.

Favorite animal? – Tigers & Dogs

What is their favorite time of day? Favorite weather? Season? -

Time of day: Evening. He enjoys having nights that are just down-time. Nights spent lounging around the house with his family are the best.

Weather: Sunny but with a small breeze so it’s not too hot.

Season: Autumn

Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? -

Food: Mofongo Relleno de Churrasco (Fried Plantain stuffed with shredded beef)

Drink: Lemonade (Cold); Hot Chocolate (Hot); Whiskey Sour or Daiquiri (Alcoholic)

Political stance? Are they active in politics or do they not care? – For so many obvious reasons, Caleb is very very liberal. And given the recent political climate, he’s more active in social-justice and political movements than he’s ever been.

What are some of their pet peeves? – Coughing/Sneezing without covering your mouth; Blowing your nose at the dinner table; People having loud phone conversations in enclosed public spaces; People who try to judge him and his family.

What sort of gifts do they like? – He prefers sentimental gifts. They don’t have to be big or cost a lot, but things that someone put a lot of thought into mean the most.

Where do they like to spend their time? – Caleb spends most of his time back and forth between work (whether that be the show or the dance classes he teaches) and home. But on his down time you can find him training at the Dojo, or browsing the aisles in Barnes and Noble.

Do they have any pets? Do they want any? – No he doesn’t have any pets right now. But he’s definitely a dog person so he’d like one someday.

What relaxes them? – Music, Family (usually), Reading.

Do they have any bad habits? – Not really a bad habit but probably annoying, he taps on things when his mind is unoccupied. His main bad habit is holding in things when they bother him instead of talking about them.

HOBBIES: What are some of your character’s hobbies? What do they do with their time? - Not one to be idle, he’s always up to something. He teaches some hip-hop and Latin ballroom classes at a dance school not too far from their home maybe once or twice a month. His Martial Arts instructors from Lima helped him find Dojos where he could continue training. He can also be found fiddling with one of his instruments. And on a slow or rainy day, he’s probably reading in a corner somewhere.

ABILITIES: Where did they learn their abilities? –

Dance: Cal’s been mimicking his Momma’s dance moves since he could stand on his own two feet. But soon as she thought he could handle it, she enrolled him for classes at her dance school.

Singing: Santana was always singing around the house, so it was only a matter of time before their home became a live in sing-a-long. And as he grew, Caleb never grew out of it. Stage fright and Insecurity about his voice were grown out of with coaching and lots of practice.

Instruments: Self-Taught via YouTube University (with the exception of Guitar, which he actually learned from his Abuelo.)

MMA: He’s been taking Martial Arts since age eight starting with Muay Thai.

Sports: Aside from MMA, Caleb played Baseball in middle school and Football in high school. Football was his favorite between the two and under the tutelage of Coach Puckerman (Or Uncle Puck, as he knew him off the field), he got to be pretty good.

OTHER CAPABILITIES: How are they with technology? - Caleb is pretty handy with technology. He knows his way around most of the electronic devices he uses. He’s probably the one in a million who actually reads the instruction manual that comes with things.

Are they specially qualified in any particular field? Would they be considered at the top of the field? - Especially qualified? Probably not. He’s good at a lot of things but he wouldn’t say he’s at the top of those fields.

Have they ever been publicly acknowledged for anything? (Ex. Nobel Prize) - Not outside of high school.

Is there anything they’ve deliberately sought to improve at? - Caleb is always trying to hone his skills. And right now he’s focused on improving his acting abilities. He sometimes feels like he cheated his way into his profession somehow, having not been classically trained, but he’s working on it.

Do they speak more than one language? - Yes, Caleb is fluent in 3 languages. English, Spanish (he learned these both at the same time growing up), and French. He’s also got a decent conversational grasp of Italian but he wouldn’t call himself fluent.

RESOURCES: Why do they have their resources? How long have they had them, and how have they served the character over time? (Ex. Contacts, money, political power, fame, etc.) – Caleb was born into a fairly wealthy family, and his last name became something of a power in itself in the right environment. While that could be a good thing, it also made him very careful not to lean too hard on those things. Things like contacts and money were almost always in Caleb’s back pocket, but he more often than not chose not to use them. He preferred to get by on what he brought to the table rather than what was already given to him.

If they have an income, where does it come from? – Currently his income comes from performing as Gabe in the soon-to-Broadway production of Next to Normal. 

Do they have a job? Do they like it? How do they feel about their co-workers? - Yes. (See above.) He loves it. It’s everything he wanted to be doing. It’s an original show and everything about it is amazing. His co-stars are fantastic people. He’s the baby of the cast and he’s found great mentors in his co-stars. They all have far more experience on stage than he does, but they don’t look down on him for it. They are very encouraging and recognize his work ethic and ability over his last name and associations (Kurt is included in associations of course) which he appreciates.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES: What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past?

Merits - Caleb puts the needs of his loved ones before his own needs in most situations. He’s the type of guy that will make sure you’re taken care of before worrying about himself. And when you’re struggling, he’s doing everything and anything he can to try and help. He wants to be the person you know you can call in a hard time. This comes from watching how his moms and grandparents are with their family. They’re always making sure everybody they care about is okay and Cal always found it comforting. He wanted to be that for his loved ones too. This can be seen as a flaw by some people. He’s been called a martyr before. But it doesn’t matter to him because he knows that no matter what, the people he loves most in this world know that he’s always there for them. No matter what.                Caleb also tries very hard to not come across as judgemental, and he thinks he succeeds pretty well. He wants people to feel free to be themselves around him, whoever that may be, and be completely comfortable. This again came from his family, but it also came from his personal experiences. He’s been bullied before for other people’s lack of understanding.                Cal is one of the most loving people you could ever meet. He has a big heart and he's always trying to make people around him feel appreciated and irreplaceable.

Flaws - He has quite a temper and when you’re on the receiving end, it’s not a fun experience. His anger doesn’t play favorites and unfortunately he’s a master at hitting where it hurts. So if he’s not careful, what would otherwise be a simple argument could turn into a fight to end a relationship. The running joke is he gets said temper from Santana, who everyone knows has a whip for a tongue. But he’d rather keep his contained. In the past, Cal has almost lost friends and loved ones because of his temper. A lot of people have a hard time dealing with the levels he can take things to and he completely understands why.             He’s also not the best at dealing with things that upset him or make him insecure. It’s easier for him to pretend something doesn’t exist than to deal with the negative emotions surrounding it. This makes him pretty hard to decipher when he’s hurting, and even harder to help.             Combine the two, and it makes for a sticky situation when you’re on his bad side. He can go from real emotional to feeling nothing at all, on command. And when you’re not ready for it, that quick 180 can be a little devastating.

RELATIONSHIPS AND HISTORY: What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them?

          Caleb has always known since he was small that his family was different than how most people would define one. He didn’t have a mommy and daddy like many of his friends, but he was never ashamed of that. He was always proud to have two moms and he never let anyone take that from him. He knew that growing up with two moms was going to have its struggles. People would look down on him and them, they’d laugh, they’d tease him, but it just rolled right off of his shoulders. He would always just say they were just jealous, because there was more love in their household in a day, than most of those people would experience in a lifetime. Cal was extremely proud to be his mothers’ son. They were amazing women, and they did so much for not only their loved ones, but their communities.

          But Cal’s family life did impact him in a way he wasn’t expecting. Caleb is bi-racial; one half Hispanic, the other half White. And inside the P-Lo home it obviously wasn’t an issue. Inside their home, Cal and his sisters were always surrounded by their culture. They even grew up speaking Spanish as their second language. But the kids quickly found out that once they were outside of their home, it was a lot harder to feel connected to that culture. Caleb took this lesson really hard as the years passed. Even now, Caleb finds it difficult to relate and in certain situations it does take a toll on him. But for now, as always, he pushes these things down and tries to focus on positives instead.

          Caleb’s family loves him so very much. They are so proud of who he is and what he’s been able to accomplish. Although they are all scattered across the country sometimes, they are all as close as ever. His mothers still love to call and harass him as often as they have the chance (especially with all the wedding planning things they want to “help” with). And he is always in contact with at least one of his sisters throughout the course of his days.

CHILDHOOD: What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? - Caleb was kind of hyperactive as kid. He was always running around and climbing or jumping off of things. It made his moms pretty nervous when he was small. He also had a bit of a knack for finding trouble. In his early elementary school days, both his parents and school counselors were concerned because Caleb kept getting into fights with classmates. They were concerned that as he grew the fights would turn more physical than they already had, and they believed he needed extra attention to turn that behavior into something more productive. Hence, contact sports became Caleb’s new extracurricular activities.                As a kid his favorite toy was probably his little plastic lightsaber that he would swear was real. He would clip it to his waistband and be off on his adventures. Actually there was a time period of about a year or so where he wouldn’t go anywhere without it. His reasoning? A Jedi can never be caught without his lightsaber. He wanted to be a Jedi so bad. He’s actually still waiting for his force abilities to kick in.               Caleb used to love to play pretend when he was a kid. He would spend hours in an imaginary world having some crazy adventures. He would draw inspiration from movies and tv shows some days. And other days his mind would spin a brand new adventure of its own. His favorite adventures were the ones he could convince his sisters and his friends to join him on. Because as much fun as he had playing pretend by himself, it always made it a little extra special when there was another leading character in the story of the day.

Playmates? - Caleb spent a lot of time around the Hummel-Anderson girls when he was very small and they’ve been close since practically birth. When the P-Los moved back to Lima, he found quick best friends in Janey Puckerman and Lucky Morales. And after some convincing from his sister, Jason Puckerman eventually came around and found a friend in Cal too.

MEMORIES: Describe their best and worst memories from childhood: Best - Caleb spent a lot of time with his grandparents when the family moved back to Lima and he loved it. But there’s one memory in particular that always brings him joy. It was a time when Santana had a meeting to attend to in Los Angeles and Brittany was going to take the trip with her. It was only for the weekend but naturally they needed someone to watch the kids. They ended up staying the weekend at Abuelo and Abuela’s house and it was great. At one point in the weekend, the kids had the idea to build a fort in the living room. They were sure their grandparents wouldn’t allow it, but to their surprise, they even helped. Abuelo had started stacking chairs and side tables to make a high ceiling, and Abuela had grabbed all the pillows and blankets they could find. When it was all done, they had stayed in there the whole night having a movie marathon and the kids all woke up still in the fort, the next morning. The fort stayed up the whole weekend. That’s actually where Brittany and Santana found the kids (and Abuelo) when they came to pick them up Monday morning. From that moment on, every time the kids came to visit, they would beg to build more forts. And they only got crazier each time.

Worst - One of Cal’s worst memories was a confrontation that had happened when he was 11 The P-Los were out to dinner and some guy had came up to their family screaming at the top of his lungs. He had seen Brittany and Santana kissing and decided he needed to tell them (and the rest of the neighborhood apparently) how disgusting he found them and their “disgrace to wholesome traditional families”. He threw around a lot of words that Caleb didn’t really understand like “Abomination” and “Damnation” and some other words that he eventually learned to despise. Santana had absolutely lost it on the guy and if it weren’t for Brittany reminding her that their kids were present, she might’ve gone to jail that night for what she later said she’d been planning to do to the man. But the worst part was when the guy had gone so far as to start telling the kids that they weren’t really a family; he’d told them that they probably weren’t even related. There was a lot more that had been said that night but at some point Caleb had to tune it out because his sisters and Brittany were already crying, he didn’t want to cry too. For a couple of weeks afterwards, Cal was very distant from both family and friends and it took a while for him to open up to his moms about what that night made him feel.

WHERE IS HOME?: Where (and when) did they grow up? How did they view it as a child, and did that change as they matured? How do they feel about the place now? - Cal grew up in Lima, Ohio. As a kid he always thought it was an okay place to be. He liked it because all of his friends and his moms’ friends were here with them too but sometimes it was just a little too small (and small minded) for him. As he grew older, he realized more and more that Lima was only the product of the people who lived there. And not all of them were bad. It was still a kind of conservative place to live, but not nearly as bad as the Lima his parents had grown up in. The people were still quick to gossip and judge, but their kids were learning more about tolerance and cooperation (mostly anyway). Now, when Caleb thinks about Lima, he thinks about how it will always be a home to him. It was the place that watched him grow up; where he found a new kind of family in his best friends; where he fell in love; where he learned the lessons that would mold him into the man he is today. And maybe when he thought of it that way, it wasn’t so bad after all.

MENTORS & EDUCATION: Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? - Caleb had mentors in his parents, his grandparents, and even his “aunts and uncles”. But outside of them, Caleb had one mentor in particular that really helped him shape up. His Martial Arts Instructor, Cesar.

What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? - Caleb was brought to Cesar when he started having trouble in school with fighting and keeping his temper controlled. His grandfather and Cesar served in the military together back in their day and had been long time friends. So when Caleb was brought in, no time was wasted in getting his training started. But all the years he spent training, taught Caleb more than just how and where to throw a punch. As corny as it sounds, one of the most important lessons Caleb learned was how to walk away from a fight. He was taught self-control, patience, and that not every conflict needed to end with someone on the floor. It was this lesson in particular that was most important to keeping little Cal out of trouble. And if he’d never learned it, he might have been a completely different person today.

          Cesar was always a strict but determined instructor. He made sure that all of his students were pushed to their fullest potential and Caleb was no exception. Now even though they no longer train together, they keep in touch through both social media and their shared connections. And when they end up back in the same town for a few days or so, Cesar is always ready to remind Caleb of his teachings.

What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? - Caleb graduated high school with honors. But he never necessarily wanted to go to college. He tried going to school with online courses for a little while but ultimately realized it wasn’t going anywhere. He was just wasting money on classes to fill requirements for a degree he wasn’t even sure he wanted. Not to mention the time schoolwork was taking out of his already packed schedule.

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES: Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? - Caleb keeps a tight circle. He doesn't have a lot of close friends but the ones he does have are basically family. His closest friends are Janey and Lucky. Back when they all lived on the same side of the country, it was a lot easier to hang out together.

                  When Caleb and Lucky spent time together, it was always about distractions. There were parties to go to (there were a lot of them), sports to play, and pranks to pull. With Lucky, there was never enough time for Cal to sit down and be upset by whatever was getting him down that time. And even when there was nothing wrong, it was still a ton of fun. But now that they’ve both grown up a bit, they’ve calmed down. They’re still a couple of fools, but they’re a little more stationary nowadays.

                  Janey and Caleb have a completely different relationship. Janey had always been the person Cal would go to for heartfelt (also, usually good) advice, and emotional support. This meant quite a few heart-to-hearts during their excursions. Add in their similar thought processes and this meant a whole lot of geeking out too, sometimes a bit of existentialism thrown in for good measure. Oh, and food! Lots and lots of food. When those two got together, no diner or burger place within a 50 mile radius was safe

Do they have any rivals? Who and why? - Ohhh yes. There is definitely a rival in Caleb’s life. Although in recent years, it’s calmed down for the most part. Marc Vallieri and Caleb never got along. From the day they met, they were almost always on opposite sides of every line. And as they grew, it only got worse. Add in some pretty strong feelings for one Ms. Isabella Humderson, on both of their parts, and it was a recipe for disaster. Caleb tried to be civil while Izzy and Marc were together, but he also tried to not be around so it was a tricky situation. Then when they broke up, all bets were off. It got a little confusing during the on- and-off period but for the most part, Cal just tried to keep his distance. This was working out just fine until it started looking like Cal was finally going to get his chance with the girl he’d been crushing on since middle school. Marc didn’t like that. There were a lot of digs, a lot of jokes, and a whole lot of almost fights between the two boys. It even turned into an all out brawl at one point. (McKinley wasn’t ready for that one, but ask me about that later.) But eventually it turned into more of a stalemate when Caleb came to grips with Marc always being in Izzy and Noah’s lives; and when Marc realized that Caleb was a fixed feature in the family he could’ve had. Now they’re civil, for real this time, and both trying to make it work for the woman and little girl they share love for.

Have they ever been betrayed? By who, and how did it affect them? - The only time Caleb was ever really “betrayed” by someone was when his girlfriend junior year cheated on him. They’d only been dating a few months and it wasn’t a particularly serious relationship. Looking back on it, Caleb only regrets the time he wasted trying to fill a space with someone who wasn’t worth it. But her betrayal didn’t sting too bad in the long run. At first it messed with his head a little bit in terms of feelings of inadequacy. But his friends and family were quick to snap him out of that mindset. After that, though, all it did was make him more careful about who he spent energy on and who he brought into his life.

SEX AND ROMANCE: What is their sexual orientation? Do they ever question it? - Caleb grew up understanding that sexuality can be a fluid thing. It wasn’t something he ever questioned or actively explored, but his mind was always open to the possibility of having feelings for anyone regardless of sex or gender. But at 23 years old, he’s yet to feel any kind of serious attraction or romantic feelings for a man. And since he's about to marry the actual love of his life, it's probably a safe bet that he never will. So if you ask him, Caleb will tell you he's straight.

When did they lose their virginity? Who to? Where? What was it like? - Caleb lost his virginity during spring break of his sophomore year, to his girlfriend at the time. They were at her house and her mom had gone out for the day with her little brother. It was a little awkward as one could expect, being it was the first time for both of them. But all in all it wasn't a bad experience.

What is their favorite sexual fantasy? - Listen, cheerleaders are everyone’s thing. But when your fiancée actually used to be one, it just makes things a little more fun. And yes he knows it’s very cliché.

Do they have any particular fetishes or kinks? - Caleb doesn’t mind a little power struggle every now and again. He also gets a kick out of walking around with any marks Izzy’s given him, exposed. (Bites, Hickeys, Scratches)

What’s the strangest thing they’ve ever done in bed? - Well not strange in general but strange to Caleb. He had a headache one day and Lucky thought it’d be hilarious to slip him a little blue pill instead of the painkiller he’d been asking for. But joke was on Lucky cause as it turns out, medicine isn’t the only way to get rid of a pounding headache.

Is there anything in particular that they won’t do? - Anything involving degradation. He ain’t about it.

What are they attracted to in a partner? - Confidence. And he’s gotta admit, he likes a little fight.

RELATIONSHIPS PAST AND PRESENT: If applicable: Who is their current partner, and what attracted the character to them? - Isabella Hummel-Anderson is his fiancée . And he was initially attracted to her personality. He really just enjoyed the way being around her felt.

How did they meet? - They’ve known each other almost literally since birth. Their parents were close friends for years so naturally, since they were so close (geographically and personally) it was pretty much guaranteed that they’d be spending quite a bit of time together as kids.

How long have they been together? - Since October of 2011 so...5 years going on 6.

What kind of a relationship is it? - The two of them couldn’t find better matches in this world if they were given a millennium to search. If soulmates exist, they are definitely each other’s.

Do they have any plans for the future? - Broad future? Get hitched, raise a family, live happily ever after. Near future? Get through the wedding without killing somebody.

What would be their perfect date? - They’re disgustingly adorable so pretty much anything that involves them spending quality alone time together. But their perfect date night involves nothing but Disney movies, snacks, and cuddles. Also singing at the top of their lungs for all of their neighbors to hear.

Describe one of the character’s past relationships and what was significant about it. - Caleb’s only ever been in one other relationship that actually meant a lot to him. He started dating Alisa Souza their sophomore year. She was an army brat who’d moved to Lima the year before, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Her and Caleb shared some classes and they became really fast friends. It took them a while to start dating, but when they did, popular consensus was that they were the perfect couple. Their relationship was definitely important to Caleb because it was the first relationship he’d been in where he felt like it was okay to be himself. Every other time he’d tried to date, he always felt like he was meant to play a part. It was also the first time he genuinely thought he could move past his feelings for Isabella. This relationship became Caleb’s basis of comparison for the rest of his relationships up until he started dating Izzy. He learned to take note of different things that could make or (more likely) break a relationship for him; How comfortable he was with the person; How deep (or not) the connection really went; How valued he felt by the other person. The relationship ended because Alisa’s family moved away again, the summer after their Sophomore year. It hurt them both pretty bad, but they managed to stay friends until they eventually just drifted and lost contact.

Have they ever hurt someone they loved? - Unfortunately Caleb has. He wishes he could say he never meant to, but he’d be lying. Again, that temper of his does not play nice.

Do they fall in love easily? - Depends on who you ask. He’d say no, absolutely not. But others would say we’ll never know for sure because he’s been in love with one special someone for as long as anybody can or chooses to remember.

FUTURE: What are their dreams? What do they want to do someday? - Caleb always dreamed of being an entertainer. And he loves being able to do so in his current career. But he wants to expand his skill set and see what the film and tv industry has to offer. He’s actually already started trying, going on auditions here and there for small tv roles. But he loves the theatre so he has no intention of leaving it at this moment in time.

Are there places they want to go? Where and why? - Hawaii, Australia, Greece. Why? Cause he’s been told they’re beautiful places to be.

If these don’t apply already: Do they want to get married? - Again, engaged. Yes.

Have kids? - Already has a daughter, Noah.

Would they ever consider adopting a child? Why or why not? - Absolutely. Every child deserves love and to feel like they’re wanted. If he and Izzy can bring a child into their life and give them that, that’d be a beautiful thing for everyone involved.

HEROES AND OLD AGE: Who do they want to meet? - If Cal ever got the chance to meet Mark Hamill or Harrison Ford, he’d probably lose his shit. But it would be the best thing ever.

What about them is heroic? - Caleb’s willing to do whatever he has to do for his friends and family. He would bend over backwards to help them or protect them.

What would the character be like in their old age? - When Caleb’s an old man he’ll be that Grandpa that acts more like a kid than a grown up. His kids will be responsible for making sure he doesn’t run off to get into trouble. And if he manages to sneak away, he’ll be sure to sneak any little ones off with him. He’ll probably also be flirting with his wife like they’re teenagers all over again. It will make the kids cringe, the grandkids laugh, and the rest of the population “aww”. When he’s getting into his senior years, Cal’s going to definitely be older, hopefully wiser, and possibly in a motorized wheelchair. But he’s going to be the same goofball, wannabe Peter Pan he is now.

PLOTS: Describe one (or more) plots you would like to do.

Okay so fun fact, waaaaay back when this whole thing originally came together, I had been toying around with this one plot in my head. It goes back to the original storyline, but we carried some of this plot over so it still exists. Caleb used to be in a touring production of Spring Awakening. While he was going around the country (this is the part where things differ from the way we changed it), Izzy was still in Lima and then going to college in Florida. So one of my genius ideas at the time was this whole elaborate breakup plot that basically just involved the two of them being heartbroken and it shaking up every single relationship with every single person they’d been connected to. And it was great, in my head. There were also a few songs thrown in there for good measure. But ultimately, we never did it because Nicky wouldn’t let me release the angst. It’s okay though, i’m over it now, but it would’ve been a fun kind of shit show back in the day. Anyway, as far as plots i’d like to do currently...I have a list:

I’d really like to see the conversation that happens between Caleb and Marc that is essentially them burying the hatchet.

When Cal first meets Janey and Lucky

And a whole bunch of other ones that I have written down but won’t make sense until we release the list of changes.

VALUES: What is one thing in their past they’re ashamed of? - Trying to push the people that matter to him most away from him. Especially because of the ways he went about it.

One thing they’re proud of? - Caleb’s proud of himself for never giving into peer pressure to be someone he wasn’t. It was tempting sometimes to just go with what everybody else was doing so he wouldn’t have to deal with arguing with people. But every time that temptation came close, he would look around and see exactly the kind of people he didn’t want to become. And although it was a struggle, he made it out of McKinley as one of the few people who knew who they really were on the inside.

What is one thing they feel strongly about? - Equal rights for all.

One trait they admire? - Cal admires when people are willing to look beyond image, and when they’re willing to push past their own impressions, to see the real person underneath it all. He thinks the ability to judge people only on the content of their character is incredible.

What disturbs them? - One thing he will never understand is how people can be full of so much hatred for others. Especially when they don’t even know the person beyond a first impression.

Do the ends justify the means in their eyes? - Not always.

Would they be more likely to act for the good of one or the good of many? - Depends on who the one and many are.

Are they manipulative? - He absolutely can be when he feels it’s necessary.

Are they a leader or a follower? Why? - Caleb is definitely a leader. He might only be leading himself, but he’s okay with that. He refuses to be anything other than the most authentic version of himself, and if that means he walks alone, so be it.

What do they feel responsible for? (Ex. I owe it to the world to do this.) - Caleb feels responsible for taking care of his family and friends.

Do they believe that a person can redeem themselves from mistakes of the past? - Yes. He believes that people can change for the better and while they can’t change the past, they can learn from it and become better people for it.

What scares them? - Cal’s worst fear is not leaving behind a positive legacy when he’s gone from the world. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, or even for a lot of people. But he wants to be a positive influence in something or somebody outside of his own life. If not, he’s scared that it will mean in the grand scheme of things, his life served no purpose.

DEATH: How do they feel about death? Have they been significantly affected by it? - Caleb’s not afraid of dying. He’s not ready to die yet, but he doesn’t fear it. For him, the part of death that scares him is the idea of having to watch his loved ones die. That would break him in unimaginable ways. Luckily, Cal hasn’t lost anyone he’s particularly close to (he’s hoping it stays that way.) But he has come close a few of times. He’s even come close to losing his own life on a couple of occasions. And all it’s done is made him more grateful for the time he has, and the people he has around him.

How would they like to die? - Cal would like to die in his sleep. Sounds corny, but he’d rather go out in literal peace.

RELIGION AND BELIEFS: Is the character religious? What are their views, and why or why not? - Cal’s not religious at all. He’s agnostic but also polytheist. Basically he isn’t sure if any God exists or not, so why not believe in them all? He thinks the stories written in the bible and other religious texts are just that, stories. But there’s nothing wrong with telling a good story. His only issue with religion is that people then use these stories to cause pain to others and he’s not about that.

Do they value faith over reason or vice versa? - Reason and Faith each have their time to be valued, as far as Caleb is concerned. But he’s more inclined to value reason over faith. He can accept logical reasoning a lot easier.

Do they believe in an afterlife? - Yes. He’s just not sure which one he believes in. Right now, he likes the idea of Elysium.

Do they have any habits that reflect their beliefs? (Ex. regular prayer, vegetarianism, etc.) - None that can be recalled.

Do they respect the beliefs of others? - Of course. Everyone is free to believe whatever they believe. Just don’t use your beliefs to do any kind of harm to others and Cal has no issues.

RANDOM: First crush? - Alexa Vega in Spy Kids 2. He thought she was really pretty and funny and her attitude would be perfect for her to fit into his family.

Do they have any prominent sensory associations? (Ex. the smell of their mother’s perfume, the sound of ice cracking under their feet as a child, etc.) -

Sound: The sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor of an empty dance studio; The beeping of hospital monitors; Rain pattering against his window

Smell: Fresh cut grass; Fresh baked brownies; Burning charcoal

Sight: The stars from an open field; Flickering diner signs; The black and white old school movie countdown

Taste: Fresh popped popcorn; S’mores; Vanilla soft serve ice cream

Touch: Crushing fallen leaves in his hand; Soft pillows; The cold when you first dive into a body of water.

Stuck in a waiting room. Which magazine do they pick up? - National Geographic or Time.

#[character development] #[ooc: my apologies for any noticeable mistakes. if I edit this any more i'm gonna go nuts.]

[unabashedrebel]

Blog Roll

Kirollis Duskhaven:

A Sin’dorei intelligence expert currently running paramilitary operations for the state. Former criminal who reformed and spawned a tremendous military career. Always quick with a joke, or a silly statement, especially during tense times. Most have two things to say about him, either he’s annoying or he’s funny, there’s no in-between. Always a charmer, always inquisitive, always ready for a fight. Self proclaimed peoples champion. Rebellious by nature, but a strong leader when called upon. One things for certain, within his presence you’d be hard pressed not to snicker at least once.

Open for any and all RP including long standing plots, blurbs, friendships, enemy ships, best suited as a comedic relief character or a heroic type. Can play both main roles and support roles in arcs.

*Character sheet*

*Blog* - (What you’ll find here) Lots of Deadpool comic strips, general writing, community events/people, rogue concepts, story line posts, and a lot of no context OOC stuff. Basically doubles as an OOC blog.

Soriya Duskhaven:

This little ball of sunshine is a world explorer, monk instructor, and healer. She studies both the White Tiger and Jade Serpent disciplines, she now trains younger (Toddler aged) monks. Growing up most of her life an orphan, who found solace and acceptance in a mercenary group at a young age, she was given an expanded view of the world. While still young, sitting at 25, she is wise beyond her years. Echoing the teachings of the Pandarian monks including acceptance, peace, empathy, and harmony (Among other things). Drawn to any sort of beach, she’s picked up the hobby of surfing in her downtime.

Open for any and all RP, including long standing plots, blurbs, friendships, romance. Best suited as a support character rather then a major player. More of a slice of life character rather than action adventure, while she can fight- mostly she defers to healing. Can be used as a wandering healer -anywhere-.

*Character sheet*

*Blog* - (What you’ll find here) Lots of aesthetics including martial arts and its practices, yoga, chakra and chi concepts, general scenery (With a focus on beaches), positive quotes, sometimes writing blurbs.

Ala’nish Everflame: (Under Reconstruction)

A now reinstated Kirin Tor investigator of Arcane anomalies. When the Horde was expelled from Dalaran, this mage deferred to becoming a relic hunter for the Reliquary. With the events that transpired in Legion, he is now back in the fray and exceptionally busy in the Isles. A suave operator with an inquisitive mind and a hunger for learning about anything to do with the arcane or magic in general. Can be brash, or racist, not the person you want in mixed company. This eccentric elf is used to a life of high society, and it shows in his demeanor.

Open for any and all RP, including long standing plots, blurbs, friendships, romance. Can be a main character or a support character. Best venues to have him in are arcane focused, as he can swing by just to investigate and do his job.

*Character sheet*

*Blog*  - (What you’ll find here) Also a lot of aesthetics pertaining to magic and fire, astrology, mind teasing concept art, mage concept art, sometimes dragons, libraries and books, sometimes writing blurbs.

Korrinth Dawnshatter:

This former Rune-weaver is a tad different then most of her race. A descendant of one of the 100 original mages to be sent to Dalaran to train the humans, her family stayed there long after. With a passion for magical studies and a focus on runes, it was easy for her to transition into the Illidari- taking on the role of a Fel scribe, she has worked on countless tattoo’s both fresh and to strengthen her kin. Fiercely loyal to the Illidari she started down that path due to family issues that more or less left her with no other choice (That she saw). While she is passionate about fighting the Legion and eradicating demons, she often wonders what is after that if anything. Constantly struggling to maintain control, she regulates the amount of demonic energies consumed and deliberately targets lower level demons as prey, making her friendlier than most.

Open for any and all RP, yada yada, you get the picture. Can be used as a main or supporting character. Stationed in Silvermoon to curb the outpour of demonic forces set off course from the Isles, she is usually found there or Azsuna and Suramar. 

*Character sheet*

*Blog*- (What you’ll find here) Unsurprisingly another aesthetic blog, some light writing, skulls, demons, Illidari stuff, runes, old books, generally creepy vibes, sometimes a hot redhead or two, witch craft, internal struggle quotes.

#Finally got around to doing this #Feel free to interact with any and all! #Also feel free to boost #(Edited) #Blog Roll

[mikototsu-trash]

I don't know if you've ever been asked this question before, but what kind of jobs or careers do you think the HOMRA and Scepter4 boys would have if Kings did not exist? Main HOMRA and Scepter4 Trio, the alphabet boys, Kokujoji Daikaku, what do you image they'd be good at or interested in? We all know Mikoto'd love be a lion on the savannah, but in somewhat realistic ideas?

I don’t think I’ve been asked this one before ^^ Thank you anon~

Homra

Mikoto: I believe it was touched on in canon once (though I don’t remember exactly which side material it was?) that he had a part-time job as a bodyguard or a security guard or something like that once- I think this is the kind of work he’d continue with if Homra never came around. He’s intimidating and strong enough that he’d make a good bouncer or security guard- though not a police officer or anything like that. 

Izumo: Bartender, obviously

Tatara: I think he’d constantly be looking for a new job, wanting to try his hand at something new all the time and he’d never stay in one place for very long. He’d mainly want something that could support his hobbies and pay the rent and the bills. 

Misaki: I think Misaki would make a good chef. He works pretty well in high-pressure situations, and he’s canonically a good cook (see: the Fried Rice radio drama) with some good ideas. I don’t think he’d do anything fancy, but working at a diner or a café or even doing the food at Izumo’s bar if they ended up meeting even without the slates sounds like it’d be right up his street. 

Rikio: I really love the idea of Rikio as a nurse- he’s a very caring person, and he’s always willing to go above and beyond for others, no matter whether or not he’s obligated to do so. I think he’d do great, particularly as a paediatric nurse. He has a lot of love and care to give, and he’s great with kids. 

Kosuke: Definitely something with animals- I’m not sure what his grades were like, but if he did well enough in school to get into vet school, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did that, but if not (to be fair most of the Homra guys don’t seem like the types to get straight As) I think he’d probably work at some kind of animal rescue or as an animal control officer. 

Bandou: I think he’d make a good fire fighter. He’s quite a brave and self-sacrificing person; it seems like the sort of thing he’d be good at. I can also see Shouhei doing the same thing- they’re good friends so maybe they’d decide to go in to train for it together. 

Sceptre 4

Reisi: Invariably I think he’d end up in some kind of government office.

Seri: She’s a very intelligent woman (she dropped out of University to join Scepter 4) so I think a lot of paths would be open to her, but I think the most likely would be: Inheriting her family’s confectionery business, joining the Police force and working her way up the ranks, and possibly some kind of work in mental health, maybe as a therapist or a social worker. 

Saruhiko: he’d almost certainly work with computers, as some kind of coder or programmer. He definitely wouldn’t work in tech support though- the people he’d have to deal with would piss him off too much.  

Enomoto: however, would probably work pretty well in tech support. 

Zenjou: He’d probably work well in some kind of administration job, perhaps within the government. I think a civil service job would suit him well. 

I think it’s safe to say that most of Sceptre 4 would end up in law enforcement or the military- Sceptre 4 is basically already a police/military branch and everyone there seems to enjoy the work.

Other clans 

Shiro/Adolf: Canonically a scientist, and canonically becomes a teacher- I think he’d be a great physics professor, and continue his work as a researcher while also working as a lecturer. 

Kuroh: I also think he’d be a good teacher, either of literature or possibly martial arts? If it was realistic for him to support himself as a poet, I think he’d do so, but it’s very hard to make a living as a writer. Perhaps he’d work as a martial arts instructor, and moonlight as a poet.

Nagare: Likely the CEO of a successful internet startup company, the way he always was with Jungle. 

Yukari: I can see him being a great beauty and fashion blogger/vlogger. 

Daikaku: He seemed to do well in a position of authority, so similar to Reisi, I think he’d probably end up working in the government. 

#k project #homra #scepter 4 #hakumaitou #jungle #headcanon #Anonymous #answered #long post

[mwsa-member]

MWSA Interview with Zita Fletcher

Date of interview: 19 January 2020 Zita Ballinger Fletcher (also known by the pen name Zita Steele) is a journalist, author and military history writer. She writes fiction and nonfiction books, and has published more than 10 works. With a background in art, she designs and illustrates her published work. She also produces videos and creates multimedia content. Zita is the author of the first published collection of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s wartime photography, an ongoing book series. Her areas of interest include World War II British and Commonwealth history and German Resistance. In addition to MWSA, Zita is a member of the British Military Historical Society and the Friends of the Fusilier Museum Warwick (conserving the history of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment) in the UK. Zita is also a member of the National Society of the Washington Family Descendants and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Zita is fluent in German. She attended the Honors College at the University of South Florida and graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Honors Degree in Social Sciences. Her writings have been published by: Military History magazine, World War II Quarterly journal, World War II History magazine, The National Rifle Association, The Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies, The Abraham Lincoln Association’s For the People Newsletter, North Irish Roots (UK), and the Journals of the Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire Family History Societies (UK). She is also a photographer. Visit Zita’s website at: http://www.fletcherpublishers.com/ Visit Zita’s Amazon Author profile: https://www.amazon.com/Zita-Steele/e/B009W3L5H8 MWSA: Would you recommend MWSA membership to other authors? Zita Fletcher: Definitely. MWSA provides so many resources for professional development and opportunities to learn from and connect with a wonderful community of fellow authors. I am happy to be part of the MWSA writing community and encourage all prospective authors to join. No matter what your experience level, you will find opportunities to learn, engage with others and share your story. MWSA: Please tell us a little about your writing background and philosophy. Zita Fletcher: I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember. I excelled at writing in school and loved storytelling. My earliest ambition was to write books. Besides writing, history and social studies were my strongest subjects in school. They continue to be my strongest subjects. In college, I majored in Social Sciences with concentrations in International Studies and Criminology. Within my discipline, I focused on criminal profiling and psychology. I earned many academic distinctions. After graduation, I strongly considered pursuing a career in Forensic Psychology. I ultimately decided to become a professional writer and am happy with my choice. As a journalist, I've enjoyed being able to share the stories and thoughts of many of our country’s veterans including a Marine medic who fought in the Battle of Guam, a Korean War veteran, wounded veterans who participated in the Warriors to Lourdes journey, a Medal of Honor recipient and others. As an American, I’m a strong believer in intellectual freedom and the human right to question. Freely exchanging opinions and firsthand learning are opportunities for discovery and enlightenment. Throughout my life I have rejected attempts by others to control or dictate what I think or believe. I became a political independent in college and remain so. I reject labels. I use the term “free thinker” to emphasize my philosophy of independently determining my beliefs and values. MWSA: Why do you write under a pen name as an author? Zita Fletcher: As a creative person, I like to have the flexibility of writing under a creative name to express myself. I use the pen name Zita “Steele.” The name “Steele” is a wordplay on steel metal. According to the Chinese zodiac and Five Element system, my element is Metal. I do not believe in astrology or horoscopes; I simply find this very cool. MWSA: When did you become interested in military matters? Zita Fletcher: My interest in war, soldiers and generals dates from an early age. As a child, I liked to play with toy knights instead of dolls. Also growing up in a Catholic house, I had a strong attraction to muscular male saints (often depicted with weapons) including St. Michael, St. George, and St. Sebastian. When I was 10, people were astonished to learn that my favorite movie was Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator.” I also amazed others when I bought Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” during a bookstore trip at about age 12. I was one of the only girls I knew who liked shooting games and war movies. On trips to museums, I was fascinated by guns, armor, swords and spears. In high school I was a voracious reader of ancient Roman war histories and keenly interested in samurai. One of my favorite TV shows was “Human Weapon.” I liked to watch the Military Channel, which is now called the American Heroes Channel. I think my interests surprised people who did not expect a feminine young lady to have such a strong attraction to warriors and military science. My genetic makeup is English, Irish, German, and Spanish—all ethnicities known for having great fighting spirit and strength of character. I was also born in the Chinese zodiac Year of the Horse. While I do not believe in astrology, some traits associated with the Horse accurately describe my personality. I was raised in a single-parent household; given my strong-willed nature, things could have been difficult. Thankfully my mom appreciated my free spirit and allowed me to be very independent growing up. In addition to military history, I’ve also had a lifelong interest in martial arts and sports. My favorite sports include mixed martial arts and fencing (foil); I started foil fencing at age 17, and still love it. MWSA: What do you like about military history? Zita Fletcher: One of the main reasons I love military history is because it is filled with courage, leadership and self-sacrifice. I like to learn about feats of bravery and strength. There is also a lot of warmth and humor among soldiers. I admire stories of brotherhood and great commanders who bonded with their troops. I’ve always been very curious about the international landscape—I love travel and foreign languages. This has led me to have keen interest in military history and theories from other countries. MWSA: Do you come from a military family? Zita Fletcher: My family history includes military tradition. My great-grandfather Edward W. Arnold was a U.S. Marine Corps instructor during World War I. My grandfather Ray A. Fletcher Sr. served as a medic in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol during the Korean War. My direct ancestor, Morris Gibbons, was a “bushwhacker” guerilla chief who led raids under Col. Joe Porter in Missouri during the Civil War. My other ancestors include a Southern cavalryman in Hampton’s Legion, several Revolutionary War-era militia captains, a British Royal Navy privateer, a Swiss-German mercenary who fought for the Duke of Marlborough and Spanish conquistadors. MWSA: Why do you speak German? Zita Fletcher: I studied German for many years as part of a personal journey to get in touch with my heritage. Aside from the rewarding experience of connecting with other people, this skill has also been priceless regarding military history. I’ve been able to do research at many German-language institutions in Europe, including the German Historical Museum in Berlin, the Jewish Museum of Berlin, the Nuremberg Trials Memorial, the Munich City Museum, the Museum of Military History in Vienna, and many other places. I find there is a void when it comes to sharing German history and perspectives with English readers—things get lost in translation, or just simply lost. I use my German language skills to research and share knowledge through my writing. MWSA: Where did your interest in British military history come from? Zita Fletcher: The first time I encountered the British military was through research on World War II North Africa for a project that started when I was 15. The desert war has remained a major interest for me ever since. I was impressed with the brave soldiers of the British Eighth Army. I learned so much from the compelling stories of these heroic men from England and the Commonwealth countries. I was also impressed with the Eighth Army’s leader, Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery. This led me to develop interests in other aspects of the British military and its rich history. I also personally relate to and admire British people and culture given my strong British heritage (Northern Irish + English). British history is a great source of inspiration to me. MWSA: Why did you decide to write a book series on Field Marshal Erwin Rommel? Zita Fletcher: Rommel is a controversial figure—but that is why he is interesting. We cannot ignore controversy if we want to learn from the past. Studying Rommel gives insights into the experiences of a German soldier who began his career in an era of turmoil, rose in the ranks and was ultimately killed by the Nazi system. There are many aspects of his story that are worth examining. What first got my attention regarding Rommel was his photography collection, which I found fascinating. I created my book series because I wanted to share my discoveries. Rommel is not the only general I find interesting. Other military leaders I’ve enjoyed studying include Hannibal, Yi Sun Shin, George Washington and T.E. Lawrence—and of course my favorite commander, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

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The forecast for fight Gegard Mousasi – Rafael Lovato Jr.

New Post has been published on https://betting-tips.site/the-forecast-for-fight-gegard-mousasi-rafael-lovato-jr/

The forecast for fight Gegard Mousasi – Rafael Lovato Jr.

222 Bellator will be held on 23 June. In the field of English tournament promotion tried to collect the best representatives of Britain in the card. Among others, there are eminent Paul Daley, Mike Shipman and James Gallagher. The main event of the day will be a title fight in the Middleweight division, where the Dutchman with Armenian roots Gegard Mousasi will fight against Rafael Lovato Jr.

Gegard Mousasi

Born in Iran, Geghard from childhood has known the horrors of war. It is from the Iran-Iraq war his family emigrated to Holland where they settled for many years. Fascinated with judo at the age eight, the future of mixed martial arts representative carried in this discipline for seven years until they moved to Boxing, where he became champion of the Netherlands. Later addiction Mousasi will change to class kickboxing, and then Gegard will move to the camp representatives of the MMA.

The initial stage of your career

Six first battles Mousasi never lost. Gegard fought with not the most bad fighters, but to fight with the Petras Markevicius lesions is not known. Closest to defeating Mousasi was Gilson Ferreira, but the outcome of the fight was a draw. At M-1 MFC Erik Oganov lost to Mousasi choke, and this victory was the last in wingstrike fighter – Markevich in Fight Festival 13 and defeated the Dutch.

Gradually, Mousasi began to change the permanent place of deployment, and speaking in Asian promotions. The result was the signing of Geghard in Pride.

Performances in the famous promotions

Starting with a victory over Makoto Takimoto, in the next fight Mousasi inferior to Akihiro Gono in the quarterfinals of the PRIDE. In the exhibition battle Mousasi avansiruem defeat, but that his agreement with the organization ends. Next fight Mousasi goes to battle for the belt Cage Warriors, where knocks out Gregory Bouchelaghem. The Dutchman returned to Asia to participate in the Grand Prix Dream, which won a deserved victory, beating in the final, Ronaldo Souza. After defeating mark hunt in the Grand Prix Super Hulk, fighter interested in top American institutions. The closest to signing the fighter closer in Strikeforce.

In the first fight Mousasi wins the title from Renato Sobral, nokautera Brazilian in the first round. Losing the title to Mo Lawal, Gegard defended his title Dream, after which he moved in the best promotion on the planet.

Career in American institutions

Joining the UFC at the start of their performances in the promotion of the athlete gives a modest 4-3. He successfully performed against Ilir Latifi, Mark Munoz, Dan Henderson and Costas Philip, but lost to Lyoto Machida, Urie the Lobby, and Ronaldo Souza in a rematch. Ended the career of a fighter in the UFC with five consecutive victories – Mousasi was stronger than the Thales Leites, Thiago Santos and Vitor Belfort, but the title shot never came forward. Ceasing contact with the UFC, Mousasi has become a permanent resident of Bellator. The second power of the us promotion Dutchman betrays a streak 3-0. Defeating Alexander Shlemenko, the athlete took the title from Rafael Carvalho and defended him in fight with Rory MacDonald.

Rafael Lovato Jr.

Thanks to my father, a instructor in Jeet Kune do, Lovato with eight years begins to engage in different types of martial arts. Initially opting for the Boxing, at the age of 15 years Lovato changes course, becoming a representative of the Brazilian JIU-jitsu. In this discipline the athlete reaches black belt, becoming the second American in history (after BJ Penn), who submits to this achievement. In BJJ athlete becomes a world champion and the champion of the pan-American games, constantly getting into the top three winners of various tournaments.

In 2014 year, the athlete decided to go into mixed martial arts. Repeated winner of the gold medal at the BJJ took in Legacy FC, where Raphael became a star of the organization. In four fights under the banner of promotion Lovato not only managed to win the belt, but it successfully defended. After the success of Lovato sign in much more well-known Bellator.

Relative doubt there were only about opposition fighter Cortez Coleman was the only more or less well-known opponent for the American in his professional career. Beating of Charles Hackmann on Bellator 174, Lovato Jr. continued his winning streak. At the moment, the fighter invincible for nine fights in his career. From July 2017 he broke Mike Rhodes, Chris Honicutt, Gerald Harris, John Salter.

Forecast fight Mousasi – Lovato

At the moment, Geghard is one of the strongest middleweights on the planet. The athlete really incredibly good, and proved his extreme fight against Rory MacDonald and Raphael Carvalho. A distinctive feature of the fighter is that it works perfectly against gitselov in stance and on the canvas. Lovato, despite all the advantages of a fighter in grappling, the game Mousasi never fought. Besides, the monastery has extensive experience peterwnova fights, whereas for Lovato it will be a novelty – more than three rounds on the canvas he never had.

Forecast: Victory Gegard Mousasi.

[jcals40-blog]

My Quest for the Perfect Gym

I can’t imagine life without exercise. I started to become seriously interested in taking care of my body by exercising and eating healthy about five years ago. It’s in my blood. Both of my parents have continued to stick to rigorous workout routines and healthy diets since they were teenagers in the 1980’s, so that has inspired me to do the same. My father is 57 years old and still runs five miles 2-3 times a week as well as lifting weights and going to yoga twice a week. My mother teaches fitness classes and does small group personal training as well as crossfit and high intensity interval training on a regular basis. My parents have never forced me to exercise or diet but they encouraged me in a healthy and positive way. The fact that they are both in their 50s and in much better shape than probably 99% of college students in America is amazing to me. To be able to continue to take care of your body for 40 plus years straight is something many people do not have the discipline to do. Do you? I believe this discipline carries over into other aspects of life such as career and personal life. 

The first time I had to really test my discipline is when I tore my ACL in high school. In order to still be able to participate in sports, I had to get surgery and do a LOT of physical therapy. Even though I was disappointed to be injured, I enjoyed seeing the progress I was making during the physical therapy. I was running, jumping and lifting weights and it definitely boosted my confidence. When I was cleared to play sports again, I noticed I was able to throw harder in baseball and hit harder in football.

Exercise is also important because, contrary to popular belief, it can actually increase energy levels. It can also improve skin and bone health as well as help with relaxation at night and falling asleep faster. As a teenager with ADD who had a hard time falling asleep at night, it was appealing to know that if I worked hard to burn calories during the day, than I would have a much easier time falling asleep at night. Not to mention the release of endorphins that gave you that exercise high.

So it’s no secret that I love to workout. It’s a priority for me. If I don’t workout I can get pretty grumpy. Since my schedule is very busy, I need my workout place and routine to be efficient. Finding the right place to workout is very important to me. If I only have an hour to spend at the gym, I don’t want to be disappointed. Thus my quest for the best gym.

For someone my age, I have been to many different gyms. I have been to Lifetime Fitness in Houston, Texas which is the largest gym I have ever seen. I have also been to a gym in Winter Park, Florida that was half outdoors and half indoors. I have been to gyms at different colleges and different gyms in Massachusetts and in Maine. Through all my gym hopping, the one I frequent the most is Yang’s Gym in Andover, Massachusetts where my mother works as a fitness instructor. It’s that friendly neighborhood gym, where everybody knows your name - kind of like the neighborhood pub, but healthier.

I definitely prefer small, privately owned gyms such as Yang’s over big gyms such as Planet Fitness. In fact, in my opinion, Planet Fitness is by far the worst gym chain in the world. There, I said it. I’m not judging anyone who goes there, but come on now, their commercial slogan is “We’re not a gym, we’re Planet Fitness.” But at the end of the day, they are a gym, and not even a good one. They earn a large chunk of their profits from people who join because of the cheap monthly payment but rarely ever actually go to the gym. I once went to a Planet Fitness to join for a month, which they advertise is only 10 dollars. But this is simply not true. I was told I had to pay a 200 dollar “initiation fee” and that the first month was 20 dollars. They don’t even have barbells, benches or squat racks. It’s basically a cardio factory. If you want to walk on a treadmill for an hour, it’s the perfect gym for you. No personal attention, no heavy weights, no fitness classes. Not my kind of place.

Another negative experience I had at a chain gym was when I went to Gold’s Gym, which is known for having members who take their training very seriously (the opposite of Planet Fitness). I was anxious to try it out for a day and hoped I would find a perfect fit.  Most private gyms allow you to have a one day free pass or even a one week free pass to go there, try it out and then decide if you want to join or not. The manager at Gold’s told me, “We don’t just allow people to walk in and workout for free”, like that was a foreign concept to him. He was pressuring me like a used-car salesman. Needless to say I was very disappointed.  

My experiences at smaller, private gyms have been much more pleasant. In addition to Yang’s, I’ve enjoyed working out at Cedardale Fitness Center which is also in Andover. It was not expensive to join and they did not pressure me into to joining immediately. They allowed me to workout for a week completely free before I decided whether I wanted to join there long term. They also let college students put their memberships on hold while they are away at school. Now that’s the kind of customer service I’m talking about.

Yang’s Fitness Center is equally as accommodating, but they take it even a step further as the owners are on site 99% of the time. If you have any questions or concerns, they are being addressed immediately. It’s not like you have to wait for an answer from “corporate”. (Ahem, Boston Sports Clubs). And speaking of waiting, you don’t have to wait to get on a piece of equipment or sign up a week early to get a spot in spin class. The equipment is good, the price is right, but the people make the place. Yang’s has some of the best personal trainers and fitness staff around. They genuinely care and they notice when you haven’t been there for a while. I recently sat down with owner Diana Kiesel to do a little Q&A.  

Hi Diana-

1. How long have you been in the fitness industry?  For 30 years if you count martial arts as a part of "fitness" but if not, we've owned the gym for 13 years.

2. What's the biggest change(s) you have seen over the years? Low cost competitors (box gyms  that charge a very low monthly fee like Planet Fitness, Workout World, Choice Fitness, etc.) have devalued fitness memberships so the single owner facilities (aka mom and pop gyms) are finding it hard to compete.  Prospects who are new to fitness are unable to differentiate between low cost competitors who do not provide services (training, classes, etc) from those that do but the ones that do are slightly more expensive so have lost market share to the low cost clubs.   Then the other extreme are the big corporate gyms (like Equinox and Lifetime) that are very expensive (upwards of $100 - $150/mo) which have swallowed many single operator facilities.   Third change are the boutique clubs (those that only offer one specialty service like Spinning, Barre, Cross Fit) which have also taken market share from the single owner operator gyms.

3. What have you done to stay competitive and what sets your gym apart from the competition?  Service ... by providing personal services and classes to members.   Personal Training, Small Group Training, Team Training and workshops.

4. What are some of the advantages of belonging to a gym where the owners are present?    I learned a long time ago that no one else cares for your business as much as you do so when the owner(s) are present, their philosophy and culture they want their business to reflect trickles down to the staff.  They role model after what they see the owners are willing to do to service customers.  

5. How do you attract new members?  Mostly through referrals/word of mouth and social media (facebook and most recently instagram).  Newspaper advertising is no longer the best use of advertising dollars.

6. How do you retain people and keep them coming back?  By providing outstanding customer service and demonstrating to the members that they are not just a number, their health and well being are important to us.

7. What type of advertising do you do?  On occasion newspaper, magazine and direct mail but mostly social media (facebook boosts) and like-kind (donations).

8. What do you think are your members biggest motivators?  Our staff ... they notice when a member has gone missing and reach out.  By demonstrating that we notice they aren't coming keeps them accountable.  

9. Can you share a few sentences from a couple of success stories about your members and how Yang’s Fitness Center played a part in their journey?  We have a 58 year old member who has undergone several cancer treatments and has told us if it weren't for the personal training she had received in the years leading up to and during her treatments, her recovery would not have been as quick and her treatments would not have been as aggressive to treat her two cancer occurances.

A retired public school principal joined our gym a few months after her retirement having never been a "regular" gym member her entire life and admittedly didn't really enjoy organized exercise and primarily joined to find a social circle.  She thanks us almost every time she comes in now for her love of fitness and her new social circle. She comes 4-5 times a week and is our group exercise class ambassador now.  Always there to welcome and encourage new members.

A 69 year old man currently going through his 3rd cancer diagnosis comes every day to cycle on his own just to stay strong during his current treatment and to find some distractions to occupy his mind.  He feels welcomed and not judged based on the limited amount of exercise he may or may not be able to perform each day based on how he feels.  To have your members feel welcomed regardless of how much or little they can do that's "fitness" is special since most people have a fear that going to a gym means you'll leave beat up and limping.

10.  Do you feel like your gym focuses on the whole person - both their mental and physical health?  If so, how?  Definitely, we offer a variety of mind-body programs, Yoga being one, where the teachings in a class are not focused just on the participant's physical ability or condition. Additionally, we offer Tai Chi, Qigong (Chi Kung) and meditative classes and workshops on an ongoing basis.  Those who participate in training are more exposed to mental aspects of their well being that those who perform workouts on their own but we attempt to reach out (via email, phone or in person) whenever we can and especially if we witness or hear of any personal struggles.