In 1991, Motor Trend rated the Nissan 300ZX and Honda NSX #2 and #1 respectively in the top ten sports cars on the market. Twenty-five years later, and a 300ZX with a respectably low 50,000 miles might fetch £6k ($10k) on the second hand market. An NSX with the same mileage cannot be had for less than £40k ($70k).
Why the enormous difference in price? The cars come from similar manufacturers from the same era. They have just about exactly the same amount of power, and 0-60 times. The NSX is mid engined, which is an impressive trait, but the 300ZX is no technological duffer either: amongst other things, it features the Super HICAS (four wheel steering) system made famous by its bigger brother, the Skyline.
Does anyone else know of any other cars that were considered close rivals at launch, and then took extremely different paths through automative history?
tl;dnr: The direction of the ST (and Kylo and Rey's respective journeys and arcs) mirrors Mark Twain's fairy-tale, The Prince and the Pauper.
One of the topics I wanted to discuss, and expore, today is the theme of royalty, especially as it relates to the sequel trilogy...and, specifically, J.J. Abrams's influences in it. In light of production on Episode IX slated to begin this summer, I also wanted to cover the likely direction we may be headed in, given Abrams's return to helm the final chapter.
Particularly, I also wanted to discuss the classical fairy-tale by Mark Twain, "The Prince and the Pauper", which I feel provides some of the framework, and over-arching arc, of Rey and Kylo's journey. It also demonstrates how neither are separate; but, rather, their destinies, and fates, are entwined, with the goal of teaching both how to become "good and wise" leaders.
The summary of the tale is as-follows:
> Tom Canty, youngest son of a poor family living in Offal Court located in London, has always aspired to a better life, encouraged by the local priest (who has taught him to read and write). Loitering around the palace gates one day, he sees a prince (the Prince of Wales – Edward VI). Coming too close in his intense excitement, Tom is nearly caught and beaten by the Royal Guards; however, Edward stops them and invites Tom into his palace chamber.
> There the two boys get to know one another, fascinated by each other's life and their uncanny resemblance; they were even born on the same day. They decide to switch clothes "temporarily". The Prince momentarily goes outside, quickly hiding an article of national importance (which the reader later learns is the Great Seal of England), but dressed as he is in Tom's rags, he is not recognized by the guards, who drive him from the palace, and he eventually finds his way through the streets to the Canty home.
> There, he is subjected to the brutality of Tom's abusive father, from whom he manages to escape, and meets one Miles Hendon, a soldier and nobleman returning from war. Although Miles does not believe Edward's claims to royalty, he humors him and becomes his protector. Meanwhile, news reaches them that King Henry VIII has died, and Edward is now the king.
> [...] *As Edward experiences the brutish life of a London pauper firsthand, he becomes aware of the stark class inequality in England. In particular, he sees the harsh, punitive nature of the English
... keep reading on reddit ➡For example, prior to Star Wars most space effects were cardboard cutouts on strings. 2001 started a new level in that department but still presented spacecraft as pristine, clean places for professionals to work in.
I'm hoping to do what I can to get them in a mindset of someone in 1977 who had never seen such mind blowing movie magic before.
Anyone got some interesting trivia? Or an anecdote about your reaction to seeing it in theater?
FIRST - Started thinking of this write-up not long after I read the following link, which I think is pretty outstanding, particular re: The Old Testament/New Testament remark that Lindelof made and the connections and leaps that the Redditor made from that comment (they're pretty excellent): https://www.reddit.com/r/Watchmen/comments/dyui54/another_cal_is_manhattan_post/
Now for the real write-up...
Decided to go through the characters' names to look for clues, because writers are suckers for hiding shit in names (particularly Lindelof--anyone remember when he was dropping hints about "Jacob" and "Esau" or whatever for LOST?)
I found lots of interesting possibilities, many of them referring to Gods and Christianity.
"Abar" stood out in particular because it led me to this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abar,_the_First_Black_Superman
Here's the trailer, too, which is pretty wicked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrOEL_rV8N4
Also, consider this "Abar" SyFy retrospective written in March 2018: https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/before-black-panther-there-was-abar-the-first-black-superman...
It even includes the following quote:
>Once his abilities manifest, Abar has more in common with Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen than any other costumed vigilante. Rather than the usual mixture of enhanced strength, speed, and durability proffered from super soldier-type serums, Abar's powers appear more like magic, with amorphous, reality-bending implications. Some of this might have been purely a production decision, as these powers were far easier to film on a low budget. Every time Abar does something superhuman, the camera cuts to an imposing close-up of his face, then cuts away to the intended target of his superior mind, letting the cinematic principle of the Kuleshov effect do the heavy visual
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Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Poster
What is this? See link below!
I’ve been thinking about new ways to use flamer bombs and tweaking to consider giving a character the Pauper Princes’ warlord trait (unquestioning loyalty on a 2+) and fearless relic. I doubt this will replace the standard Bladed Cog Magus with Single-Minded Obsession and Mind Control accompanying a flamer bomb that I use but it’s fun to craft. Let me know of you’ve tried this and, if so, how it worked for you over a number of games.
Pauper Prince Magus w/ Beloved Grandsire (Mind Control and Psychic Stim could be good with a familiar), Reliquary of Saint Tenndarc and a flamer bomb put within 3” of multiple units, if possible. Your bomb is now fearless and the entire blob has to be killed and your Magus basically has a 2+ FNP and is harder to snipe. On top of that, everytime they kill a flamer or you pass a wound off onto them, they get to flame something on a 4+, so you should get about 10d6 extra shots (avg 40) on any units in range. Or, you force units to move to get out of range, which could help control or force someone off of an objective or force them to move with heavy weapons. If they have to charge the bomb to kill it off, you get Overwatch (or a free interrupt if you use Psy Stim), your normal attacks, and potentially free flamer shots since they are pistols. Or you force them to back out of range and then charge back in, and there is always the potential it fails or they spend a command point on a a re-roll. Assuming you get to fire your flamers at a target on death, the total number of wounds that get through against T4 and T5 is about the same as using Single-Minded Obsession, but they don’t all have to go on a single unit. Or, if you decide to use rending claws when you die, you can re-roll hits if they are getting their cupt creed. So, there are pros and cons. I think taking them in a mixed detachment would work better however.
Another potential pro lies in flexibility with Auspex Scan. If you’re worried most of your flamer bomb will get Auspex scanned into a flamer firecracker, then bring down a unit of brood brothers, followed by your Magus (just in case they want to Auspex a character), then bring down your flamer bomb within 3”. If they Auspex scan you, you could still get flamer shots from half the cultists who die.
I may TRY it, even with different characters, but I don’t think it will replace my usual loadout. I’m just looking for other ways to use my flamer bomb, beyond kill-a-screen-and-die, like move-blocking and dictating t
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