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Floridians are tough and aren’t scared of getting their feet wet. It’s not like Florida experiences many hurricanes or is built on porous limestone.
Anyway, only poor people live in those most vulnerable south west coastal areas.
/s
#USPol #FloridaMan #ClimateEmergency #GlobalHeating #MeltingGlaciers
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"The magazine’s politics were what passes for center-left in the United States. […] The operating orthodoxy was that police killings, CIA coups, black site torture, and institutional misogyny were aberrations, deviations from the American norm that would eventually be corrected when the arc of the moral universe, long as it is, finally got around to them."
by Ismail Ibrahim: https://bidoun.org/articles/house-arab
#beliefs #intellectuals #coloniality #elites #prestige #sociality #status #subcultures #socialStatus #liberals #sociology #NYC #NewYorker #TheNewYorker #Manhattan #racism #negrophobia #Bidoun #islamophobia #media #press #journalism #journalists
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Top Headlines From The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune For The Week of August 24–30, 2026
Two of North Carolina’s leading Black newspapers delivered important reporting last week on housing affordability, criminal justice, community development, Black history, youth programs and HBCU athletics.
Here are some of the top headlines published by The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune from August 24 through August 30, 2026.
Top Headlines From The CarolinianDurham Man Cleared After New Evidence Emerges
Anthony Tyrone Brown’s armed robbery conviction was vacated after newly examined fingerprint evidence pointed to another person. Brown, who consistently maintained his innocence, served seven years before his release in 2021.
The case also raised broader questions about evidence preservation, fingerprint analysis and the handling of older criminal cases by law enforcement agencies. Read the full report from The Carolinian.
Raleigh Becomes a National Hotspot for Shared RentalsRaleigh ranked third nationally for shared renter households, according to a study highlighted by The Carolinian. Nearly 19,000 Raleigh households now include roommates, representing an almost 50% increase over the past decade.
The report found that Raleigh roommates may save approximately $8,100 annually by sharing a two-bedroom apartment instead of renting separate one-bedroom units. The trend reflects housing affordability pressures, population growth and the number of young professionals moving into the Triangle. Read The Carolinian’s housing report.
Durham Parks Remain Closed Over Contamination ConcernsSeveral former landfill and incinerator sites remain under investigation after researchers discovered elevated lead levels in Durham parks located in historically Black neighborhoods.
An audit found that 534 of North Carolina’s 688 pre-regulatory landfill sites had not been investigated or actively monitored. Limited funding could make remediation a decades-long process without additional state support. Read the complete story from The Carolinian.
New NC State Exhibition Celebrates Black HeritageThe Gregg Museum of Art & Design is hosting “Community Stories: Sustaining North Carolina Black Heritage,” an exhibition examining dignity, belonging, safety and imagination in Black communities.
The free exhibition includes photographs, artwork, historical materials and community-contributed artifacts. It will remain open through February 27, 2027. Learn more through The Carolinian.
Hayti’s Black History Faces Development PressuresA Carolinian feature examined efforts to protect the history and culture of Durham’s Hayti community as new development transforms the city.
Community advocates are working to ensure that longtime residents and organizations have a meaningful role in decisions affecting the historic Black neighborhood. The report explores how Durham can encourage investment without erasing Hayti’s cultural identity. Read the Hayti preservation story.
Community Partners Provide School Supplies to Raleigh FamiliesThe Beta Lambda Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and its charitable foundation distributed free backpacks, school supplies, dental kits and snacks to hundreds of local students during Operation BigBookBag.
The annual Raleigh initiative brought together volunteers and community organizations to help families prepare for the new school year. Read more from The Carolinian.
Top Headlines From Triangle TribuneRaleigh Community Discusses Solutions to the Housing Crisis
The Hillsborough-Wade Citizen Advisory Council hosted a panel exploring affordable housing solutions as Wake County residents face rising rents and income requirements.
Triangle Tribune reported that a worker would need to earn at least $33.65 per hour to afford a two-bedroom Wake County apartment. Panelists discussed rent control restrictions, evictions, public investment and the role municipalities can play in expanding affordable housing. Read the Triangle Tribune report.
Durham’s New Police Chief Promises a Hands-On ApproachStephanie Mardis, formerly an assistant police chief in Greensboro, was selected to lead the Durham Police Department. Mardis brings 25 years of law enforcement experience and is expected to begin her new role on September 8.
She has emphasized professionalism, constitutional integrity, community engagement and direct involvement in department operations. Read the full Triangle Tribune story.
North Carolina Could Receive $645 Million From Meta SettlementNorth Carolina may receive as much as $645 million through 2035 under a multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
The agreement also requires new child-safety features, including age verification, default limits for teenage users, overnight feed restrictions and expanded parental controls. Attorney General Jeff Jackson encouraged state lawmakers to use the money for youth programs, crisis services and school health personnel. Read Triangle Tribune’s settlement coverage.
Healing Transitions Completes Men’s Campus ExpansionHealing Transitions celebrated the completion of an expansion and renovation project at its Raleigh men’s campus.
The nonprofit provides peer-based recovery services for people experiencing substance-use challenges. The expanded campus will help the organization serve more individuals while improving its residential and recovery-support facilities. Read more from Triangle Tribune.
NC Courage Player Named Special Olympics AmbassadorNorth Carolina Courage midfielder Riley Jackson became Special Olympics North Carolina’s first community ambassador.
Jackson will help promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities and participate in a Unified soccer event at WakeMed Soccer Park on September 17. She will also be recognized during the Courage’s Local Heroes Night on September 19. Read the Triangle Tribune sports report.
HBCU Football Returns to the SpotlightTriangle Tribune’s sports coverage examined the start of the HBCU football season, including expectations for North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Shaw University and other programs.
Morgan State opened its season with a 17-7 comeback victory over North Carolina A&T, while preseason rankings placed several CIAA, SIAC and MEAC programs in the national conversation. Explore Triangle Tribune’s HBCU sports coverage.
Why These Stories Matter to the TriangleLast week’s reporting showed how closely housing, public safety, environmental justice, education and economic opportunity are connected across Raleigh and Durham.
The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune continue to provide valuable coverage of Black communities, organizations and institutions that may not always receive sustained attention from larger news outlets.
Visit The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune to read the original reporting and support local Black journalism.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#BlackHistory #BlackMedia #BlackNewspapers #CommunityNews #DoRaleighIfHelpful #DurhamHousing #DurhamNews #events #HBCUSports #News #NorthCarolinaNews #RaleighHousing #RaleighNews #SoutheastRaleigh #TheCarolinian #TriangleNews #TriangleTribune -
Top Headlines From The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune For The Week of August 24–30, 2026
Two of North Carolina’s leading Black newspapers delivered important reporting last week on housing affordability, criminal justice, community development, Black history, youth programs and HBCU athletics.
Here are some of the top headlines published by The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune from August 24 through August 30, 2026.
Top Headlines From The CarolinianDurham Man Cleared After New Evidence Emerges
Anthony Tyrone Brown’s armed robbery conviction was vacated after newly examined fingerprint evidence pointed to another person. Brown, who consistently maintained his innocence, served seven years before his release in 2021.
The case also raised broader questions about evidence preservation, fingerprint analysis and the handling of older criminal cases by law enforcement agencies. Read the full report from The Carolinian.
Raleigh Becomes a National Hotspot for Shared RentalsRaleigh ranked third nationally for shared renter households, according to a study highlighted by The Carolinian. Nearly 19,000 Raleigh households now include roommates, representing an almost 50% increase over the past decade.
The report found that Raleigh roommates may save approximately $8,100 annually by sharing a two-bedroom apartment instead of renting separate one-bedroom units. The trend reflects housing affordability pressures, population growth and the number of young professionals moving into the Triangle. Read The Carolinian’s housing report.
Durham Parks Remain Closed Over Contamination ConcernsSeveral former landfill and incinerator sites remain under investigation after researchers discovered elevated lead levels in Durham parks located in historically Black neighborhoods.
An audit found that 534 of North Carolina’s 688 pre-regulatory landfill sites had not been investigated or actively monitored. Limited funding could make remediation a decades-long process without additional state support. Read the complete story from The Carolinian.
New NC State Exhibition Celebrates Black HeritageThe Gregg Museum of Art & Design is hosting “Community Stories: Sustaining North Carolina Black Heritage,” an exhibition examining dignity, belonging, safety and imagination in Black communities.
The free exhibition includes photographs, artwork, historical materials and community-contributed artifacts. It will remain open through February 27, 2027. Learn more through The Carolinian.
Hayti’s Black History Faces Development PressuresA Carolinian feature examined efforts to protect the history and culture of Durham’s Hayti community as new development transforms the city.
Community advocates are working to ensure that longtime residents and organizations have a meaningful role in decisions affecting the historic Black neighborhood. The report explores how Durham can encourage investment without erasing Hayti’s cultural identity. Read the Hayti preservation story.
Community Partners Provide School Supplies to Raleigh FamiliesThe Beta Lambda Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and its charitable foundation distributed free backpacks, school supplies, dental kits and snacks to hundreds of local students during Operation BigBookBag.
The annual Raleigh initiative brought together volunteers and community organizations to help families prepare for the new school year. Read more from The Carolinian.
Top Headlines From Triangle TribuneRaleigh Community Discusses Solutions to the Housing Crisis
The Hillsborough-Wade Citizen Advisory Council hosted a panel exploring affordable housing solutions as Wake County residents face rising rents and income requirements.
Triangle Tribune reported that a worker would need to earn at least $33.65 per hour to afford a two-bedroom Wake County apartment. Panelists discussed rent control restrictions, evictions, public investment and the role municipalities can play in expanding affordable housing. Read the Triangle Tribune report.
Durham’s New Police Chief Promises a Hands-On ApproachStephanie Mardis, formerly an assistant police chief in Greensboro, was selected to lead the Durham Police Department. Mardis brings 25 years of law enforcement experience and is expected to begin her new role on September 8.
She has emphasized professionalism, constitutional integrity, community engagement and direct involvement in department operations. Read the full Triangle Tribune story.
North Carolina Could Receive $645 Million From Meta SettlementNorth Carolina may receive as much as $645 million through 2035 under a multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
The agreement also requires new child-safety features, including age verification, default limits for teenage users, overnight feed restrictions and expanded parental controls. Attorney General Jeff Jackson encouraged state lawmakers to use the money for youth programs, crisis services and school health personnel. Read Triangle Tribune’s settlement coverage.
Healing Transitions Completes Men’s Campus ExpansionHealing Transitions celebrated the completion of an expansion and renovation project at its Raleigh men’s campus.
The nonprofit provides peer-based recovery services for people experiencing substance-use challenges. The expanded campus will help the organization serve more individuals while improving its residential and recovery-support facilities. Read more from Triangle Tribune.
NC Courage Player Named Special Olympics AmbassadorNorth Carolina Courage midfielder Riley Jackson became Special Olympics North Carolina’s first community ambassador.
Jackson will help promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities and participate in a Unified soccer event at WakeMed Soccer Park on September 17. She will also be recognized during the Courage’s Local Heroes Night on September 19. Read the Triangle Tribune sports report.
HBCU Football Returns to the SpotlightTriangle Tribune’s sports coverage examined the start of the HBCU football season, including expectations for North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Shaw University and other programs.
Morgan State opened its season with a 17-7 comeback victory over North Carolina A&T, while preseason rankings placed several CIAA, SIAC and MEAC programs in the national conversation. Explore Triangle Tribune’s HBCU sports coverage.
Why These Stories Matter to the TriangleLast week’s reporting showed how closely housing, public safety, environmental justice, education and economic opportunity are connected across Raleigh and Durham.
The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune continue to provide valuable coverage of Black communities, organizations and institutions that may not always receive sustained attention from larger news outlets.
Visit The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune to read the original reporting and support local Black journalism.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#BlackHistory #BlackMedia #BlackNewspapers #CommunityNews #DoRaleighIfHelpful #DurhamHousing #DurhamNews #events #HBCUSports #News #NorthCarolinaNews #RaleighHousing #RaleighNews #SoutheastRaleigh #TheCarolinian #TriangleNews #TriangleTribune -
Top Headlines From The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune For The Week of August 24–30, 2026
Two of North Carolina’s leading Black newspapers delivered important reporting last week on housing affordability, criminal justice, community development, Black history, youth programs and HBCU athletics.
Here are some of the top headlines published by The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune from August 24 through August 30, 2026.
Top Headlines From The CarolinianDurham Man Cleared After New Evidence Emerges
Anthony Tyrone Brown’s armed robbery conviction was vacated after newly examined fingerprint evidence pointed to another person. Brown, who consistently maintained his innocence, served seven years before his release in 2021.
The case also raised broader questions about evidence preservation, fingerprint analysis and the handling of older criminal cases by law enforcement agencies. Read the full report from The Carolinian.
Raleigh Becomes a National Hotspot for Shared RentalsRaleigh ranked third nationally for shared renter households, according to a study highlighted by The Carolinian. Nearly 19,000 Raleigh households now include roommates, representing an almost 50% increase over the past decade.
The report found that Raleigh roommates may save approximately $8,100 annually by sharing a two-bedroom apartment instead of renting separate one-bedroom units. The trend reflects housing affordability pressures, population growth and the number of young professionals moving into the Triangle. Read The Carolinian’s housing report.
Durham Parks Remain Closed Over Contamination ConcernsSeveral former landfill and incinerator sites remain under investigation after researchers discovered elevated lead levels in Durham parks located in historically Black neighborhoods.
An audit found that 534 of North Carolina’s 688 pre-regulatory landfill sites had not been investigated or actively monitored. Limited funding could make remediation a decades-long process without additional state support. Read the complete story from The Carolinian.
New NC State Exhibition Celebrates Black HeritageThe Gregg Museum of Art & Design is hosting “Community Stories: Sustaining North Carolina Black Heritage,” an exhibition examining dignity, belonging, safety and imagination in Black communities.
The free exhibition includes photographs, artwork, historical materials and community-contributed artifacts. It will remain open through February 27, 2027. Learn more through The Carolinian.
Hayti’s Black History Faces Development PressuresA Carolinian feature examined efforts to protect the history and culture of Durham’s Hayti community as new development transforms the city.
Community advocates are working to ensure that longtime residents and organizations have a meaningful role in decisions affecting the historic Black neighborhood. The report explores how Durham can encourage investment without erasing Hayti’s cultural identity. Read the Hayti preservation story.
Community Partners Provide School Supplies to Raleigh FamiliesThe Beta Lambda Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and its charitable foundation distributed free backpacks, school supplies, dental kits and snacks to hundreds of local students during Operation BigBookBag.
The annual Raleigh initiative brought together volunteers and community organizations to help families prepare for the new school year. Read more from The Carolinian.
Top Headlines From Triangle TribuneRaleigh Community Discusses Solutions to the Housing Crisis
The Hillsborough-Wade Citizen Advisory Council hosted a panel exploring affordable housing solutions as Wake County residents face rising rents and income requirements.
Triangle Tribune reported that a worker would need to earn at least $33.65 per hour to afford a two-bedroom Wake County apartment. Panelists discussed rent control restrictions, evictions, public investment and the role municipalities can play in expanding affordable housing. Read the Triangle Tribune report.
Durham’s New Police Chief Promises a Hands-On ApproachStephanie Mardis, formerly an assistant police chief in Greensboro, was selected to lead the Durham Police Department. Mardis brings 25 years of law enforcement experience and is expected to begin her new role on September 8.
She has emphasized professionalism, constitutional integrity, community engagement and direct involvement in department operations. Read the full Triangle Tribune story.
North Carolina Could Receive $645 Million From Meta SettlementNorth Carolina may receive as much as $645 million through 2035 under a multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
The agreement also requires new child-safety features, including age verification, default limits for teenage users, overnight feed restrictions and expanded parental controls. Attorney General Jeff Jackson encouraged state lawmakers to use the money for youth programs, crisis services and school health personnel. Read Triangle Tribune’s settlement coverage.
Healing Transitions Completes Men’s Campus ExpansionHealing Transitions celebrated the completion of an expansion and renovation project at its Raleigh men’s campus.
The nonprofit provides peer-based recovery services for people experiencing substance-use challenges. The expanded campus will help the organization serve more individuals while improving its residential and recovery-support facilities. Read more from Triangle Tribune.
NC Courage Player Named Special Olympics AmbassadorNorth Carolina Courage midfielder Riley Jackson became Special Olympics North Carolina’s first community ambassador.
Jackson will help promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities and participate in a Unified soccer event at WakeMed Soccer Park on September 17. She will also be recognized during the Courage’s Local Heroes Night on September 19. Read the Triangle Tribune sports report.
HBCU Football Returns to the SpotlightTriangle Tribune’s sports coverage examined the start of the HBCU football season, including expectations for North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Shaw University and other programs.
Morgan State opened its season with a 17-7 comeback victory over North Carolina A&T, while preseason rankings placed several CIAA, SIAC and MEAC programs in the national conversation. Explore Triangle Tribune’s HBCU sports coverage.
Why These Stories Matter to the TriangleLast week’s reporting showed how closely housing, public safety, environmental justice, education and economic opportunity are connected across Raleigh and Durham.
The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune continue to provide valuable coverage of Black communities, organizations and institutions that may not always receive sustained attention from larger news outlets.
Visit The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune to read the original reporting and support local Black journalism.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#BlackHistory #BlackMedia #BlackNewspapers #CommunityNews #DoRaleighIfHelpful #DurhamHousing #DurhamNews #events #HBCUSports #News #NorthCarolinaNews #RaleighHousing #RaleighNews #SoutheastRaleigh #TheCarolinian #TriangleNews #TriangleTribune -
Top Headlines From The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune For The Week of August 24–30, 2026
Two of North Carolina’s leading Black newspapers delivered important reporting last week on housing affordability, criminal justice, community development, Black history, youth programs and HBCU athletics.
Here are some of the top headlines published by The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune from August 24 through August 30, 2026.
Top Headlines From The CarolinianDurham Man Cleared After New Evidence Emerges
Anthony Tyrone Brown’s armed robbery conviction was vacated after newly examined fingerprint evidence pointed to another person. Brown, who consistently maintained his innocence, served seven years before his release in 2021.
The case also raised broader questions about evidence preservation, fingerprint analysis and the handling of older criminal cases by law enforcement agencies. Read the full report from The Carolinian.
Raleigh Becomes a National Hotspot for Shared RentalsRaleigh ranked third nationally for shared renter households, according to a study highlighted by The Carolinian. Nearly 19,000 Raleigh households now include roommates, representing an almost 50% increase over the past decade.
The report found that Raleigh roommates may save approximately $8,100 annually by sharing a two-bedroom apartment instead of renting separate one-bedroom units. The trend reflects housing affordability pressures, population growth and the number of young professionals moving into the Triangle. Read The Carolinian’s housing report.
Durham Parks Remain Closed Over Contamination ConcernsSeveral former landfill and incinerator sites remain under investigation after researchers discovered elevated lead levels in Durham parks located in historically Black neighborhoods.
An audit found that 534 of North Carolina’s 688 pre-regulatory landfill sites had not been investigated or actively monitored. Limited funding could make remediation a decades-long process without additional state support. Read the complete story from The Carolinian.
New NC State Exhibition Celebrates Black HeritageThe Gregg Museum of Art & Design is hosting “Community Stories: Sustaining North Carolina Black Heritage,” an exhibition examining dignity, belonging, safety and imagination in Black communities.
The free exhibition includes photographs, artwork, historical materials and community-contributed artifacts. It will remain open through February 27, 2027. Learn more through The Carolinian.
Hayti’s Black History Faces Development PressuresA Carolinian feature examined efforts to protect the history and culture of Durham’s Hayti community as new development transforms the city.
Community advocates are working to ensure that longtime residents and organizations have a meaningful role in decisions affecting the historic Black neighborhood. The report explores how Durham can encourage investment without erasing Hayti’s cultural identity. Read the Hayti preservation story.
Community Partners Provide School Supplies to Raleigh FamiliesThe Beta Lambda Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and its charitable foundation distributed free backpacks, school supplies, dental kits and snacks to hundreds of local students during Operation BigBookBag.
The annual Raleigh initiative brought together volunteers and community organizations to help families prepare for the new school year. Read more from The Carolinian.
Top Headlines From Triangle TribuneRaleigh Community Discusses Solutions to the Housing Crisis
The Hillsborough-Wade Citizen Advisory Council hosted a panel exploring affordable housing solutions as Wake County residents face rising rents and income requirements.
Triangle Tribune reported that a worker would need to earn at least $33.65 per hour to afford a two-bedroom Wake County apartment. Panelists discussed rent control restrictions, evictions, public investment and the role municipalities can play in expanding affordable housing. Read the Triangle Tribune report.
Durham’s New Police Chief Promises a Hands-On ApproachStephanie Mardis, formerly an assistant police chief in Greensboro, was selected to lead the Durham Police Department. Mardis brings 25 years of law enforcement experience and is expected to begin her new role on September 8.
She has emphasized professionalism, constitutional integrity, community engagement and direct involvement in department operations. Read the full Triangle Tribune story.
North Carolina Could Receive $645 Million From Meta SettlementNorth Carolina may receive as much as $645 million through 2035 under a multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
The agreement also requires new child-safety features, including age verification, default limits for teenage users, overnight feed restrictions and expanded parental controls. Attorney General Jeff Jackson encouraged state lawmakers to use the money for youth programs, crisis services and school health personnel. Read Triangle Tribune’s settlement coverage.
Healing Transitions Completes Men’s Campus ExpansionHealing Transitions celebrated the completion of an expansion and renovation project at its Raleigh men’s campus.
The nonprofit provides peer-based recovery services for people experiencing substance-use challenges. The expanded campus will help the organization serve more individuals while improving its residential and recovery-support facilities. Read more from Triangle Tribune.
NC Courage Player Named Special Olympics AmbassadorNorth Carolina Courage midfielder Riley Jackson became Special Olympics North Carolina’s first community ambassador.
Jackson will help promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities and participate in a Unified soccer event at WakeMed Soccer Park on September 17. She will also be recognized during the Courage’s Local Heroes Night on September 19. Read the Triangle Tribune sports report.
HBCU Football Returns to the SpotlightTriangle Tribune’s sports coverage examined the start of the HBCU football season, including expectations for North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Shaw University and other programs.
Morgan State opened its season with a 17-7 comeback victory over North Carolina A&T, while preseason rankings placed several CIAA, SIAC and MEAC programs in the national conversation. Explore Triangle Tribune’s HBCU sports coverage.
Why These Stories Matter to the TriangleLast week’s reporting showed how closely housing, public safety, environmental justice, education and economic opportunity are connected across Raleigh and Durham.
The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune continue to provide valuable coverage of Black communities, organizations and institutions that may not always receive sustained attention from larger news outlets.
Visit The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune to read the original reporting and support local Black journalism.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#BlackHistory #BlackMedia #BlackNewspapers #CommunityNews #DoRaleighIfHelpful #DurhamHousing #DurhamNews #events #HBCUSports #News #NorthCarolinaNews #RaleighHousing #RaleighNews #SoutheastRaleigh #TheCarolinian #TriangleNews #TriangleTribune -
Top Headlines From The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune For The Week of August 24–30, 2026
Two of North Carolina’s leading Black newspapers delivered important reporting last week on housing affordability, criminal justice, community development, Black history, youth programs and HBCU athletics.
Here are some of the top headlines published by The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune from August 24 through August 30, 2026.
Top Headlines From The CarolinianDurham Man Cleared After New Evidence Emerges
Anthony Tyrone Brown’s armed robbery conviction was vacated after newly examined fingerprint evidence pointed to another person. Brown, who consistently maintained his innocence, served seven years before his release in 2021.
The case also raised broader questions about evidence preservation, fingerprint analysis and the handling of older criminal cases by law enforcement agencies. Read the full report from The Carolinian.
Raleigh Becomes a National Hotspot for Shared RentalsRaleigh ranked third nationally for shared renter households, according to a study highlighted by The Carolinian. Nearly 19,000 Raleigh households now include roommates, representing an almost 50% increase over the past decade.
The report found that Raleigh roommates may save approximately $8,100 annually by sharing a two-bedroom apartment instead of renting separate one-bedroom units. The trend reflects housing affordability pressures, population growth and the number of young professionals moving into the Triangle. Read The Carolinian’s housing report.
Durham Parks Remain Closed Over Contamination ConcernsSeveral former landfill and incinerator sites remain under investigation after researchers discovered elevated lead levels in Durham parks located in historically Black neighborhoods.
An audit found that 534 of North Carolina’s 688 pre-regulatory landfill sites had not been investigated or actively monitored. Limited funding could make remediation a decades-long process without additional state support. Read the complete story from The Carolinian.
New NC State Exhibition Celebrates Black HeritageThe Gregg Museum of Art & Design is hosting “Community Stories: Sustaining North Carolina Black Heritage,” an exhibition examining dignity, belonging, safety and imagination in Black communities.
The free exhibition includes photographs, artwork, historical materials and community-contributed artifacts. It will remain open through February 27, 2027. Learn more through The Carolinian.
Hayti’s Black History Faces Development PressuresA Carolinian feature examined efforts to protect the history and culture of Durham’s Hayti community as new development transforms the city.
Community advocates are working to ensure that longtime residents and organizations have a meaningful role in decisions affecting the historic Black neighborhood. The report explores how Durham can encourage investment without erasing Hayti’s cultural identity. Read the Hayti preservation story.
Community Partners Provide School Supplies to Raleigh FamiliesThe Beta Lambda Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and its charitable foundation distributed free backpacks, school supplies, dental kits and snacks to hundreds of local students during Operation BigBookBag.
The annual Raleigh initiative brought together volunteers and community organizations to help families prepare for the new school year. Read more from The Carolinian.
Top Headlines From Triangle TribuneRaleigh Community Discusses Solutions to the Housing Crisis
The Hillsborough-Wade Citizen Advisory Council hosted a panel exploring affordable housing solutions as Wake County residents face rising rents and income requirements.
Triangle Tribune reported that a worker would need to earn at least $33.65 per hour to afford a two-bedroom Wake County apartment. Panelists discussed rent control restrictions, evictions, public investment and the role municipalities can play in expanding affordable housing. Read the Triangle Tribune report.
Durham’s New Police Chief Promises a Hands-On ApproachStephanie Mardis, formerly an assistant police chief in Greensboro, was selected to lead the Durham Police Department. Mardis brings 25 years of law enforcement experience and is expected to begin her new role on September 8.
She has emphasized professionalism, constitutional integrity, community engagement and direct involvement in department operations. Read the full Triangle Tribune story.
North Carolina Could Receive $645 Million From Meta SettlementNorth Carolina may receive as much as $645 million through 2035 under a multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
The agreement also requires new child-safety features, including age verification, default limits for teenage users, overnight feed restrictions and expanded parental controls. Attorney General Jeff Jackson encouraged state lawmakers to use the money for youth programs, crisis services and school health personnel. Read Triangle Tribune’s settlement coverage.
Healing Transitions Completes Men’s Campus ExpansionHealing Transitions celebrated the completion of an expansion and renovation project at its Raleigh men’s campus.
The nonprofit provides peer-based recovery services for people experiencing substance-use challenges. The expanded campus will help the organization serve more individuals while improving its residential and recovery-support facilities. Read more from Triangle Tribune.
NC Courage Player Named Special Olympics AmbassadorNorth Carolina Courage midfielder Riley Jackson became Special Olympics North Carolina’s first community ambassador.
Jackson will help promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities and participate in a Unified soccer event at WakeMed Soccer Park on September 17. She will also be recognized during the Courage’s Local Heroes Night on September 19. Read the Triangle Tribune sports report.
HBCU Football Returns to the SpotlightTriangle Tribune’s sports coverage examined the start of the HBCU football season, including expectations for North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Shaw University and other programs.
Morgan State opened its season with a 17-7 comeback victory over North Carolina A&T, while preseason rankings placed several CIAA, SIAC and MEAC programs in the national conversation. Explore Triangle Tribune’s HBCU sports coverage.
Why These Stories Matter to the TriangleLast week’s reporting showed how closely housing, public safety, environmental justice, education and economic opportunity are connected across Raleigh and Durham.
The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune continue to provide valuable coverage of Black communities, organizations and institutions that may not always receive sustained attention from larger news outlets.
Visit The Carolinian and Triangle Tribune to read the original reporting and support local Black journalism.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#BlackHistory #BlackMedia #BlackNewspapers #CommunityNews #DoRaleighIfHelpful #DurhamHousing #DurhamNews #events #HBCUSports #News #NorthCarolinaNews #RaleighHousing #RaleighNews #SoutheastRaleigh #TheCarolinian #TriangleNews #TriangleTribune -
Hodge Podge Thoughts: Butterfly by Mariah Carey (1997)
Mariah Carey’s Butterfly is a R&B classic that has been noted for its standout vocal performances, strong use of storytelling/songwriting, and symbolic journey from her escape from the restrictive box of contemporary pop and her at-the-time pop princess reputation.
Throughout her early career, Mariah Carey’s control over her music was limited as her record label and boss—who also happened to be her husband at the time—believed she would alienate her conservative audience if she ventured outside of her traditional pop sound (the most she could do was slightly dabble in the R&B genre like in her songs “Dreamlover” and “Vision of Love”).
“There was a conscious effort to keep me as this all-American, whatever that means,” Mariah states in a 2019 cosmopolitan interview. “It was very controlled. There was no freedom for me as a human being. It was almost like being a prisoner.”
But in 1995, Mariah Carey released a remix for her hit song “Fantasy” that included a rap verse from Wu-Tang Clan’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard (also known as ODB). Of course, her team and husband were heavily against this idea, but the success of this collaboration set the standard of having rap features within pop songs and became one of the integral stepping stones behind Butterfly’s sound and Mariah’s future projects.
So instead of submitting to their hostile demands once more, Mariah made the executive decision to take more control of her musical direction and what followed was the biggest statement of her career thus far, the release of Butterfly’s lead single and introduction to the era, “Honey.”
…
Metamorphosis
Curated from a heavily R&B/hip-hop production, an at-the-time shocking music video, and a not-so-subtle metaphor about her craving a man’s…honey, the 1997 album’s opening track made an explosive statement about Mariah’s sultry new image & sound which helped skyrocket the single to becoming her twelfth #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
“It’s the perfect soundtrack for that addicted kind of love that drives you crazy, makes you lose all your damn sense, and turns you into a fiend with a one-track mind intent on scoring some more of that honey from the person whose love is far beyond compare.” – Samantha Lamph from Medium
On September 10th, 1997, the album was officially released on shelves and people were truly able to dive into some of the most personal tracks within her discography.
In just the second track alone, Butterfly’s titular track diverges drastically from its album opener as “Butterfly”, which also happens to be the album’s second single, delves deeper behind the scenes of her tumultuous relationship with her at-the-time husband and boss Tommy Motolla.
The song is a bittersweet ballad about reluctantly accepting the reality of someone outgrowing you and having to watch them move on to something better. What’s most interesting and heartbreaking about the song is the fact that it’s written from the perspective of what Mariah wished Tommy would’ve said to her as their relationship was reaching the end of its course; sadly, the reality of their divorce was much less heartwarming as Tommy still tended to be a very controlling, spiteful boss after their separation and divorce.
…
Can’t Hardly Wait for Another Taste
Whether it’s an emotional ballad or a euphoric sensation, you can always count on a series of love songs appearing on a Mariah Carey album. In this album’s case, it feels as though she’s experiencing a level of intimacy/sexual urgency that hasn’t been explored in her previous ballads, and this immediately becomes apparent within the album’s third track and final single, “My All.”
“My All” is a Latin influenced ballad about the desperation and yearning for a person’s presence before they only become another memory to reminisce over. Trending in years as recent as 2025, its dramatic yet enticing sophistication still appears to have an emotional impact on audiences from different generations (which might be part of the reason why it led to the song being her thirteenth #1 single back in 1998).
“The Roof” (fourth single of the album’s rollout) reigns itself as probably one of, if not, the most confessional songs written in her entire discography, let alone on this album. Inspired by her enthrallment with famous baseball player Derek Jeter, the song is almost like a diary entry with its intense level of storytelling, but without feeling too suffocated by its passion and vivid imagery.
…
The Chorus of “The Roof”
“Every time I feel the need,
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night”
…
It is nearly impossible to feel as though you’re not experiencing this ravishing rendezvous on a cold, November night, and it’s cited to be Mariah’s favorite song on the record.
“I love the track. I did [The Roof] with Trackmasters, very cutting-edge, very popular in the hip-hop world…I feel, lyrically, I really think it’s powerful, and it’s not the typical performance, vocally, for me.” – Mariah Carey in a 1997 VH1 interview
“Fourth of July” is the fifth track and the first non-single in the album’s run. The song lives in the same vein as the previous tracks (the need to relive an enchanting experience with your special someone), but “Fourth of July” delivers a more euphoric/dream-like essence in its execution that makes it feel less somber than its predecessors.
…
Underneath the Guise of a Smile
As the album submerges deeper into its melancholic moments, “Breakdown”, the record’s third single, eases the audience in with probably the most “urban” or “hip-hop” sounding song on the album.
Featuring Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Mariah wanted to deliver her verses in a fast paced/almost rap-like cadence in order to fit with the already established sound her collaborators had secured/the sound she’d always wanted to explore unstintingly.
“I just love their style,” Mariah declares in a Billboard interview. “They were so great to work with, and I love [Breakdown]…it was something that I wanted to do…I really want to do something à la Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.”
With a mix of the song’s production, the rawness of the lyrics, and Mariah’s versatile vocal abilities, “Breakdown” quickly became a fan favorite that helped solidify her status among hip-hop artists and their listeners.
“This musical and vocal masterpiece hits right in the feels for anyone who has ever been completely heartbroken,” a fan writes from WordPress. “Also, what other artist uses the word nonchalant in a chorus of a song?”
Co-written by Missy Elliot, “Babydoll” details a night where Mariah craves for a special man to numb away her loneliness and grief. Though most of the track tells a straightforward story about Mariah’s intoxicated, lonely night, the bridge reveals a message that particularly struck a cord with longtime fans.
…
The Bridge of “Babydoll”
“Slipping into dreams, I feel my love surround you
My subconscious seems to weave itself around you
Do you care for me? Beyond idolization
Tell me how you feel
But don’t keep me at bay cause I won’t be waiting long”
…
Confirmed in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, Mariah was romantically involved with New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter. During their short-term relationship, he became a muse for her during the development of this record—specifically for the tracks “My All” and “The Roof”—as well as a form of escapism from her detrimental circumstances at that time.
″I can never forget that moment,″ the pop star admits to People Magazine. ″I mean, it’s not like it was something intensely deep, intellectually stimulating — again, it was a great moment, and it happened in a divine way because it helped me get past living there, in Sing Sing, under those rules and regulations.″
*Sing Sing referring to the nickname she gave to her and Tommy Motolla’s old mansion*Despite the confirmation that the pop star has released, it is still rumored that there are more songs on this record, and even on future records, that are explicitly about Jeter and their used-to-be hidden escapades that Mariah has yet to confirm.
“Close My Eyes” floats in its own desolate ocean as it hovers around the trauma Mariah has endured and her attempts to disassociate/lessen the burden. With its stripped back production and exposed lyrical content, the slow-tempoed lullaby easily becomes one of the most heartbreaking and personal moments within the album’s lifespan.
…
Second Verse of “Close My Eyes”
“Funny how one can learn
To grow numb to the madness and block it away (And block it away)
I left the worse unsaid
Let it all dissipate and I try to forget”
…
Sonically, “Whenever You Call” is the most similar to her older ballads, feeling almost like an homage to her waning pop-princess identity. Standing out from the album’s heavy R&B production, it shows that the “old” Mariah isn’t dead, but more so how Mariah has the freedom to exert her artistic expression within different genres and techniques.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t like the music I was making,” Mariah told Harper’s Bazaar UK. “I just felt there was more inside me that I wanted to release.”
…
Butterfly Reprise
Outside of traditional ballads, Mariah was also known for her vivacious remixes in the 90’s club scene. With production credits from DJ David Morales, “Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)” originally served as the demo of the titular track that was heard earlier, but Mariah decided to turn the track to a ballad because of the depth of its lyrics. There’s some sort of magic when it comes to Mariah and the reimagining of her remixed singles, and the reprise version of “Butterfly” is not to be left out of that conversation.
…
Fly Away
Featuring 90s R&B group Dru Hill, “The Beautiful Ones” is the album’s penultimate track that also happens to be a cover of Prince’s song of the same name. Though Prince had a strong distaste for covers, he still respected Mariah and applauded her for her daring artistic approach; plus, the meaning of this track in addition to Mariah’s and Dru Hill’s performance contribute a level of growth and complexity towards the second half of the album.
“He defended me to record executives who didn’t understand my decision to make an album like that,” Mariah shares. “The execs didn’t understand me veering from a successful formula, but Prince understood.”
“He chooses to do what he wants. I respect that,” Carey shares in a 2016 Complex interview. He actually helped me through a lot of situations with his knowledge.”
“Outside” concludes the album with a depressing ending that still perfectly ties into the album’s thesis. The final track navigates the turmoil Mariah went through as she felt like an anomaly because of racial background and would never truly connect with anyone despite her strongest efforts.
“I grew up very fast in terms of my perception of the world and my understanding of what it’s like to be mixed,” Mariah stated in one interview. “I know what it’s like to hear how white people speak about black people when they’re not in the room and vice versa. I felt like, if my mother’s family disowned my mom because of this, what does that make me?”
“Outside,” obviously, feels isolating on its surface, but its vulnerable message helps conclude the album with the motivation to find the strength within yourself for a chance of internal peace.
…
Until You Know the Way it Feels to Fly
“Creating Butterfly wasn’t just life imitating art, it was art giving me life,” the singer reflects in Harper’s Bazaar interview. “I had to make that record. I was literally fighting for my life and my freedom, and for me, it just feels like such a focused body of work. To this day, I still love it. It’s still my personal favorite.”
In addition to selling over ten million copies worldwide, Butterfly is considered to be the magnum opus in her discography for good reason. Mariah Carey’s Butterfly teaches a valuable lesson on how the importance of staying true to yourself can ultimately lead you towards your emancipation. Despite the obstacles you have faced, acknowledging your pain and your past will allow you to grow into the person you desire to become; ignoring/dodging your trauma will only imprison you inside your cocoon.
#90s #album #analysis #creativeWriting #life #mariahCarey #music #reviews #writer #writing -
Angry Metal Guy’s Top 10(ish) of 2025 By Angry Metal GuyEvery year has been shitty for a while, and in some ways, 2025 was the shittiest of them all. The widespread sense that the End Is Nigh is what I would charitably call our zeitgeist.1 And I feel comfortable saying, it’s a shitty zeitgeist. But in defiance of the shit burger we’re all eating every day while we wait for the AI drone war to start, 2025 was my best year in a while. It did, in fact, see me more involved on the front and back ends of AngryMetalGuy.com than I’d been in a long time. And like those lists we’ve already published, AMG, both as a persona and community, has been a refuge for me during difficult times. The joy of discovery and the eclecticism inherent in what we do here have been a major part of why I love this blog. So, honestly, that’s been nice.
In terms of the blog’s health, AngryMetalGuy.com is holding steady. We’ve got a growing team of n00bs covering some of the holes we’ve had in the schedule.2 I worked very hard on training them in combination with Druhm, and it’s fair to say we were both happy with the result. We had some of our best candidates to date, and that made me proud and happy. There’s still room for a few more, so we might dig into the pool in the early part of 2026. So if you applied, all hope is not lost. We continue to attract around 1.25 million views a month, and that’s held steady for three years running. Obviously, we would like to continue to grow. But I have a sneaking suspicion that we’re actually seeing a slight downturn in visitors because of Generative AI. There are, of course, a lot of people who go to Google and write “My Favorite Band – New Album Review,” and they will be greeted by an AngryMetalGuy.com link that tends to place pretty highly on the Google Machine and awaits their complaints with open arms. But I suspect there are other kinds of views we’ve accrued – those which end up in people grabbing album art or looking for release dates – that disappear when people are requesting that ChatGPT do that for them. And while LLMs will link you after plagiarizing you, they’ll only do it if you let them, and we do not. And so any conversions of people checking linked resources are probably lost.3 There have been some weird months here and there with seemingly anomalously low numbers, so who even knows.
The active n00bs have allowed us to revive the three-posts-a-day pace,4 and we only went dark for five days during 2025. As a collective, we posted 699 posts—down from the very peak of 2019’s nearly 1,000 posts!—but in line with where we’ve been since Covid. And, our posts continue to be longer than they were in 2019, averaging 901 words for a total of 629,905 words that we produced for free in 2025. That’s a 2600-page term paper—Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spaced on A4 paper.5 This dedication to quantity derives from the whip of an analytics-driven Steel Druhm, but wouldn’t be possible without our amazing staff putting their shoulders to the Eternal Boulder ov Metal™ and rolling it uphill every day, saying “One must imagine Sisyphus happy. One must imagine Sisyphus happy. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”
We continue to have international appeal, as well, though the country rankings haven’t changed much from 2024. Like last year, our top five is made up of the English-speaking world (US, UK, CAN, AUS at five) + Germany (at four).6 Weirdly, we are getting a sizable amount of traffic from China, which clocks in at six for the first time. There are almost certainly shenanigans at play with those numbers, as I am not aware of any influx of Chinese fans here recently. Maybe that’s AI traffic. Maybe that’s VPN traffic. Maybe we’ve been infiltrated and are now a communist honey pot. Maybe Druhm is buying traffic. Or, maybe, Winnie the Pooh has finally discovered how excellent the realm of heavy metal really is, and China is going through a different kind of cultural revolution! Regardless, 7-10 is made up of the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, and France, with Spain and Finland dropping out of the top ten. The biggest news, however, when it comes to our international readership, is that signs point strongly to Pope Francis having been our solitary reader in the Holy See. The venerable Franciscan passed away in April of 2025, and I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that no one appears to have made the pilgrimage from the Vatican to Angry Metal Guy this year.
It’s worth noting that we lost more than a few stalwarts along the way in 2025,7 largely due to the #Cursed-Boomer-Posting chat on Slack, which has torn us apart. There may also have been some other influences, such as marriages, having high-paying jobs, running TV shows, having actual lives, or resenting me.8 Regardless, for all those who have worked hard to make AngryMetalGuy.com go, but who are not here with us anymore, I just want to say thank you. Despite my autistic isolation and standoffishness, I do love you all and miss you. The door is, of course, always open. And I am happy to see some special little guys who’ve been in deep freeze popping their heads out of the sand and grabbing promo. It’s a wonderful sight to behold, and maybe we’ll see some newfound productivity from old friends in 2026.
To close, I want to thank everyone – readers and writers alike – for your enthusiasm, your dedication to AngryMetalGuy.com as an institution, and your undying fealty to me, Angry Metal Guy.9 I know I can come off as harsh. And I know that some people grumble that I’m too hard on them when I read their texts or when they have divergent opinions in the comments, but that’s only true if you’ve never met a passive construction you didn’t love or if you’re wrong about metal. And, as I tell my students, we’re a team. Our goal is to make sure that AMG produces the very highest quality writing, while covering as much of the scene as possible.10 And given the loyalty of our readers, your comments, and “the eye test,” as it were, we are achieving that goal consistently. I’m still very proud of that and, if I stop to think about it, humbled by it, too.
While it feels like there’s a lot to dread after the 2025 that was, we still have a lot to be excited about here. So let’s hope that 2026 isn’t all like it’s felt in the first five days or so. Anyway, I have gone on far too long, have a wordy, overwrought list.
#(ish) 3: Helms Deep // Chasing the Dragon [June 20th, 2025 | Nameless Grave Records | Bandcamp] — Chasing the Dragon is super fun. It’s fun, it’s loud, and it’s a little stupid in a way that I find endearing. And, as I remarked in June, while US Power Metal has been getting a lot of love around these parts, Helms Deep has not been on the receiving end of nearly enough of that love. While other bands showed up to a back alley knife fight, these Florida men showed up with a bejet-packed dragon and a collection of songs that burned hotter than dragonsfire, melting the competition down and shaming their lineages for decades to come. And joking hyperbole aside, Helms Deep doesn’t feel like a novelty act. They aren’t just good ’cause I find them funny. Chasing the Dragon features playing that’s sharp and vital across the board, with guitars that never stand still, a singer who sells every chorus with the right balance of chops, cheese, and buckets of swagger. Said differently, Helms Deep is just dudes playing good, honest heavy metal while having a great time. What more do you need?
#(ish) 2: Vittra // Intense Indifference [September 19th, 2025 | Self-release | Bandcamp] — Vittra’s Intense Indifference shows up hungry, plays fast, hits hard, and gets out before you have time to get bored. Thirty-three minutes of riff-first, bethrashened melodeath go by in a blur; the hooks are sticky, the harmonies are sharp, and the energy is manic and adventurous. While the At the Gates lineage is obvious,11 Vittra pulls in enough Soilwork polish and Mors Principium Est flash to songwriting that’s focused on momentum rather than atmosphere, and the result is addictive. And what really pushes this record from really good to great are the flashes of the unexpected: honkytonk piano, bluesy acoustic passages, and classic rock phrasing that shouldn’t work, but does. It’s great listening to an album this full of piss and vinegar. I get excited when bands pop up that make the kind of thrashy, intense melodic death that never begs for an Insomnium comp. And sure, these guys have room to grow, but Intense Indifference caused me to feel anything but.
#(ish) 1: Arjen Anthony Lucassen // Songs No One Will Hear [September 12th, 2025 | InsideOut Music | Bandcamp] — Arjen Lucassen has been a favorite of mine during the time that AngryMetalGuy.com has been up and running. The “poofy-haired cheesehead”12 behind many of my favorite albums during AMG’s time is still a gem even in 2025. Crazily, Arjen’s first ‘solo record’ Lost in the New Real was released in 2012,13 and Songs No One Will Hear is its direct successor. A true concept record—with Toehider’s god-tier singer, Michael Mills, voicing a radio DJ talking to listeners about impending doom—it reflects both our End Is Nigh Zeitgeist and Arjen’s particular… idiom. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish, Songs No One Will Hear is both tongue-in-cheek and yet deeply aware of the nature of information, grifting, and societal collapse, while still displaying the kind of referential goofiness that made Lost in the New Real such a charming record.14 The thing that dinged Songs No One Will Hear a little for me is the sense of uncanny familiarity. At times, it sounds like Arjen was working specifically to emulate the structure of Lost in the New Real. That created a bit of cognitive dissonance that I have never quite gotten over. It also drove a lot of replays of its under-the-radar predecessor rather than the album I should have been reviewing. But is Songs one of the best 11 records o’ 2025? I certainly think so.
#10: An Abstract Illusion // The Sleeping City [October 17th, 2025 | Willowtip | Bandcamp] — The Sleeping City had two strikes against it. First, it had the unenviable task of following Woe, a record that could easily have been the template on which they built their sound. It’s hard to break away from an overwhelmingly popular sound, yet these Ore Islanders took a left turn, exhibiting a level of daring I admire. The shift in aesthetic is the story of The Sleeping City in a lot of ways; the synths, the vibe, and the mood lean into dystopian sci-fi, and it’s a choice that works. What I love about The Sleeping City is that it’s detailed and detail-oriented without distracting from the expansiveness of the songwriting, which remains evocative and carefully structured. And while they sound comfortable letting songs breathe, they never get lost in the quest for “atmosphere” that undermines many modern releases. Second,15 the real gripe about The Sleeping City was the mastering job. But even a mastering job that clips peaks and fills valleys shows just how strong the raw material is. And so, finally, The Sleeping City feels like the product of a band choosing growth over safety while being true to themselves. And that’s an admirable trait that I hope they never lose.
#9: Fallujah // Xenotaph [June 13th, 2025 | Nuclear Blast Records | Bandcamp] — Fallujah landing on my list came as a genuine surprise to me, mostly because I really had quietly written them off. I used to like them, but they never carried that In Flames-style of eternal hope for me. Xenotaph pulled me back in by doing a deceptively simple thing: reintroducing attack. Everything about this record feels more immediate; guitars cut, compositions move with purpose, and songs are taut and sharp. The atmospheric elements remain, but they’re now integrated into something heavier and more immediate. I love the balance Fallujah finds, combining that late-Cynic energy with the aggression of brutal and technical death. And the deeper I got, the more Xenotaph rewarded me. Repetition revealed interlinked ideas and layered guitar work that shoots like a web throughout, creating a sinuous structure on which everything rests. As I wrote in my Record o’ the Month blurb, “Fallujah has achieved a conceptual evolution on Xenotaph that feels true to their origins and yet develops their sound in ways that make it accessible, and yet, truly unique.” It isn’t exactly br00tal death metal, but it’s not so drenched in “atmosphere” that it lacks tension. Most importantly, it worked.
#8: Scardust // Souls [July 18th, 2025 | Frontiers Records | Stream or Buy at Qobuz] — Scardust landing at number eight sans review is another casualty of my 2025 Stack o’ Shame, though this was less neglect than simple overextension in a year where too many heavy hitters landed at once. July, yo, what a month. Unfortunately, I missed the review window, then I missed the window to pawn it off responsibly, and by the time I circled back, it was late. However, Scardust’s third full-length is a sharp, confident 42 minutes of symphonic power/prog that feels fully aware and unique. While it doesn’t quite lock together as tightly as Strangers did at a conceptual and compositional level, Souls more than compensates for that with sheer craft. The orchestral and choral arrangements are some of the strongest I heard all year, and Scardust’s chemistry is ridonkulous. The rhythm section especially deserves accolades, with basswork that should be forcing its way into “best of” conversations. As a band, Scardust exists in the interstices of genre, where comparisons kind of work but can’t capture their unique voice. And while the band is impressive, the compositions feel so coherent because of Noa Gruman, who carries the album with control, range, and an incomparable soprano. Her extreme register (that is, growls) stays mostly holstered here, but her presence—and sheer talent—is on constant display, balancing different styles, moods, and feels. And her vocal performance isn’t the only standout vocal performance on Souls. The closing “Touch of Life” trilogy finds Ross Jennings (Haken) popping up in full “weird Ross” mode, which ends up as the cherry on top. The result is smart, muscular, and memorable; an album I’m ashamed to have missed.
#7: Aephanemer // Utopie [October 31st, 2025 | Napalm Records | Bandcamp] — Aephanemer’s Utopie landed, as I mentioned in my Record o’ the Month blurb, squarely at the top of my Stack o’ Shame. I was honored to be able to get access to this and start listening early, and I was immediately impressed. Yet, I got sick. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as the life age of the earth. Meanwhile, Utopie sat there reminding me of my failures until Grin Reaper saved my ass and gave Aephanemer’s newest opus the unhinged tongue bath it so rightfully deserved. Utopie takes everything these French melodic death metallers have been doing over the past couple of albums and tightens the screws until the whole machine purrs with confidence. The neoclassical elements have become a perfect blend that helps everything work perfectly. Utopie flows; songs connect, ideas develop, momentum carries everything forward, and yet Aephanemer does not sacrifice the immediacy and energy that makes melodic death metal such a fine dopamine mine. While I haven’t sat down and learned the parts, I feel like the guitars are more fluid and more expressive, resulting in special melodies propelled by a buoyancy reflected in the theme. And you know me, what I want from great records is a holistic sense of greatness. Happily, Aephanemer accomplishes just that on Utopie. Had I been operating at full capacity when it dropped, I would have written a review that kids would call “extra.”16
#6: Insania // The Great Apocalypse [June 13th, 2025 | Frontiers Music | Stream or Buy on Qobuz] — The Great Apocalypse, contrary to its name, is sneaky. It doesn’t gallop in and smack you in the face with shock or novelty, but instead, it reveals its strength through confidence, craft, and an almost unfair level of replay value. What initially feels like—and has been so often written off as—a solid, familiar Europower record gradually opens up to be something richer and more rewarding. And it’s kept paying dividends the longer I’ve been sitting with it. Insania sounds, as I noted when I wrote the review, like a band fully aware of their lineage and completely at ease with it. But the truly confident understand themselves enough to think differently. The resulting record is full of massive, sticky hooks, choruses that hit with power metal optimism and momentum, and electrifying guitars throughout. In fact, while investigating their discography, I was struck by how much Insania upped their game on The Great Apocalypse. And key to that is the guitar, which elevates the record by resisting predictability and yet coexisting on a meta-level with the genre that they know so well. Songs evolve instead of looping, melodies get reshaped rather than repeated, and familiar ideas or tropes are nudged just enough off-center to stay engaging but familiar. The Great Apocalypse approaches with intention, and Insania performs like a band that’s rediscovering why they love playing this kind of music in the first place. This record is exhilarating, memorable, and deeply satisfying, which is why it belongs among these other great releases.
#5: Kalaveraztekah // Nikan Axkan [May 2nd, 2025 | Self-release | Bandcamp] — In what I’m pretty sure is a first for me, an Ünsïgnëd Bänd Rödëö contestant has made my Top Ten(ish) list. I’ve had plenty of unsigned bands on my lists, but I walked into Kalaveraztekah’s masterful Nikan Axkan utterly unprepared for what I would find. Like a kid buying music in the ’90s, I just looked at that amazing cover art and decided that I was going to join the team reviewing this record instead of the other one. And that twist of fate has earned Mexico’s finest Aztec-themed death metal band a spot on the End o’ Year Metal List o’ Record™.17 As I cleverly wrote in my Record o’ the Month blurb: “There’s no sense that these Hidrocálidos are some kind of novelty act. They aren’t a Mexican Eluveitie, just playing Dark Tranquillity riffs while putting a Ritual Death Flute over it for 40 seconds in every song.”18 Rather, Nikan Axkan is chock full of muscular riffing and the kind of grindy death metal that I’ve always associated with the Mexican scene. Combined with a high-concept connecting to Mexican pre-history and the judicious use of a fucking death flute, I just never quit listening to Nikan Axkan.19 And so here they are, in the Top 5 of my Top 10(ish) of 2025,20 and it couldn’t be more deserved.
#4: Impureza // Alcázares [July 11th, 2025 | Season of Mist | Bandcamp] — I admit, I have tried to lead by example. I have attempted to become a servant leader. Rather than eating up a ton of oxygen and making everything actually about me (instead of just in jest) and what I want as Angry Metal Guy, I have, with time and wisdom, tried to allow others a chance to spread their wings. One of the things that means is that I can’t just bogart other writers’ “discoveries,” and I try not to block them if they grab something before I do.21 So, in that context, you’ll understand that I got pretty excited when I realized that I could review the newest Impureza without poaching it. The band’s approach to metal—infused with flamenco and semi-fantastical alternate-historical high concepts about colonial history—had entranced me previously, but I always felt like they were leaving a lot on the table. Their sound had not quite blended the flamenco and the metal, but rather, the genres sat side by side. Alcázares changes that. From start to finish, Alcázares is addictive, creative, musically impressive, and just a lot of fun. The artful ability of these Orléanais-via-España to marry such disparate styles with genuinely unique approaches to music that run as deeply as the very notion of meter is one of the most impressive feats accomplished in metal in 2025. But it’s not just a meta-concern of the artistic feat that excites me. Alcázares is a fucking banger that can stimulate your intellect, or that can leave your neck sore. Take your pick!22
#3: Phantom Spell // Heather & Hearth [July 18th, 2025 | Cruz del Sur Music | Bandcamp] — Phantom Spell has the benefit of being a genuine surprise. My happy place, when I can afford to be there, is digging through the promo bin and listening to everything I can get my hands on. I have made so many fantastic discoveries there, just immersed in my own little world, listening to samples to get a feel of what we’re being sent. Heather & Hearth looked like classic Steel Druhmcore: Cruz del Sur Records, retro metal, D&D Basic Set art. I popped it in, got dragged in, and totally distracted from the rest of what I was doing. I know that this might seem incongruent, but Heather & Hearth sounds fresh. In a world of hypercompressed, hyper-reamped, extremer-than-thou metal, the act of writing good songs with tons of vocal harmonies, instruments that sit in their sonic corridors, and—despite being recorded by one single dude—a convincingly live vibe feels “like a radical act.”23 I quickly grew to love Heather & Hearth, shared it with all the normies I know who love Ghost (“Isn’t this so much better?”), and began singing its praises. And I’ve been happy to see it popping up on lists throughout list season. It means a lot to me that people can hear just how good Phantom Spell is. And Phantom Spell also proved to be quite generative, in that I wrote the Spotify post as a response to a discussion about why Heather & Hearth wasn’t available there. Easily one of the best records I heard in 2025, and I’m looking forward to hearing so much more.
#2: In Mourning // The Immortal [August 29th, 2025 | Supreme Chaos Records | Bandcamp] — When a record is truly exceptional, the hardest part is often articulating why it has transcended other things without reducing it to a checklist. In Mourning’s fantastic The Immortal resists that kind of accounting in the best possible way. Its melodies are lush and emotionally evocative, capable of landing with equal force whether they’re carried by aching vocals or unfurled through long, expansive, yet intimate, trem-picked guitar passages. The riffing is punishing but disciplined, balancing weighty chug with sharper, blackened melodies, creating a constant tension between death metal heft and sadboi atmosphere without fully committing to drowning the production in reverb. And yet, none of this marks a radical departure from what In Mourning has done before—has been doing since 2008. The crucial difference here is in execution: every compositional choice seems to land exactly where it should be. In a sense, this calls attention to the role of probability, as much as inspiration or songcraft, in composition. Some records feel blessed from the outset, where one can go through the same process again and never produce the same results. The hooks here stick without feeling forced, climaxes are perfectly placed, and the pacing across the record gives each track room to breathe while contributing to the kind of flow reserved for only the best albums. Even moments that might feel familiar hit differently on The Immortal, like everything snaps into place. The Immortal succeeds, then, not just on craft but on feel: it feels heavier, sadder, and more resonant than its predecessors; and it stands comfortably among the strongest melodic death metal releases in years.
#1: Calva Louise // Edge of the Abyss [July 11th, 2025 | Mascot Records | Bandcamp] — Edge of the Abyss ran away with my listening this year in a way I genuinely don’t remember happening before, and that probably tells you most of what you need to know. The record is frantic, restless, and overloaded with ideas, moving between genres and feels with the speed of fast-cut editing; shifting at the drop of a dime. That both makes the record fun to listen to and keeps it surprising and fresh even after dozens of listens. The pace and density line up uncannily well with where my own brain tends to live, and I suspect that’s a part of why it lodged itself so firmly in my rotation. Calva Louise writes songs that feel driven by impulse and curiosity rather than caution or genre boundaries, and that creative energy and freedom are contagious. Jess Allanic’s pop instincts and melodic sense anchor the chaos, lending the lighter passages real emotional weight and memorability, rather than merely serving as connective tissue. Edge of the Abyss’s incorporation of Latin rhythmic elements and melodic sensibilities ended up also being a personal bonus; Latin music has been a refuge for me from musical monotony for years, and hearing them integrated naturally into Edge of the Abyss was exciting, and it generated affection for this wayward Venezuelan and her French and English bandmates. What really sealed the deal for me, though, was how committed the band sounds to its vision. The songwriting is ambitious and fun, but it doesn’t feel scattered. The album has a cinematic feel – complemented by literally cinematic music videos – but doesn’t feel bloated or melodramatic. And Calva Louise sports a swagger unique to bands who are just doing exactly what they want to be doing. Since July, I’ve kept coming back to Edge of the Abyss and forgetting I had even enjoyed other records this year. There’s a real sense of becoming here; of a band pulling its influences together into something that feels unique. And I also feel invested in Calva Louise in a way I haven’t been with many bands. I really am so happy to see them growing and succeeding. I love seeing them landing on people’s lists here and elsewhere. They have so much potential, and I am so eager to see what they do next. But should the worst befall them, I’ll always have Edge of the Abyss, and it already feels like an all-timer.
Honorable Mentions
Sarastus // Agony Eternal [July 1st, 2025 | Dominance of Darkness Records | Bandcamp] — Stolen from me by one Kenstrosity, Sarastus was a joyous discovery by me in the depths of the promo bin. One part black metal with a touch of death n’ roll for vibes, Agony Eternal strikes hard at modern conventions of black metal and sounds fresh by playing fast, unapologetic, engaging music with razor-sharp riffs. Melodic, without being sickly sweet or cheesy, with a ton of attack and great songwriting chops, Sarastus really threads the needle on Agony Eternal, making something that is driven and addictive, but undeniably black metal.
Wytch Hazel // V: Lamentations [July 4th, 2025 | Bad Omen | Bandcamp] — I’ve been back and forth with Wytch Hazel in the past. I have enjoyed what they do, but in the past I’ve been more skeptical of specifically nostalgiacore records that don’t feel like they’re adding much “new.” First, I think I’m just getting past that problem, as the “new” in metal is emphasizing things I don’t love about the scene. But second, I think V: Lamentations is just a more engaging record. From the word ‘go,’ Wytch Hazel writes with a kind of urgency that gives their brand of ’70s-tinged metal an extra kick, and the energy sits so well with me. Maybe the songwriting is just a bit tighter, maybe it’s faster, I don’t know—I didn’t write the proper review. All I know is that I keep circling back to Lamentations in a way that I haven’t done as much with their earlier albums. And that made it easy to put in the running for Listurnalia and to give my personal Angry Stamp o’ Approval™.
Mors Principium Est // Darkness Invisible [September 26th, 2025 | Perception/Reigning Phoenix Music | Stream or Buy on Qobuz] — Probably the grower of the year, Darkness Invisible surprised me by sticking around. When I started reviewing it, I expected not to like it much. I had been a big fan of the band’s previous output and of their former guitarist’s solo record from last year. But with familiarity—and time spent dissecting it—I became increasingly impressed with the album. While the production is busy and pulls it down, the writing forges a new path that better represents the vision of MPE’s founding member, Ville Viljanen. And that vision is bleak, blackened, and surprisingly sticky. No matter your opinion on the end of the previous incarnation, Darkness Invisible at least demonstrates that there is still a vital future for Finland’s most underrated melodic death metal powerhouse. And that’s a future to which I look forward.
Blackbraid // Blackbraid III [August 8th, 2025 | Self-release | Bandcamp] — I have a Gollumesque distaste for modern black metal. I am physically incapable of starting a review or blurb of a black metal band without reminding readers how much I hate “atmosphere” in the post-Cascadian black metal era. “Give it to us raw and wriggling!” I growl at all the fat hobbitses who try to feed me empty, overcooked “atmosphere.” Blackbraid doesn’t want to feed me atmosphere. Instead, Blackbraid’s III trembles with a vibe that brings me back to discovering black metal; at times blistering, at times introspective, but rarely overstaying its welcome and never feeling like its primary goal is to be the band that defanged black metal for good to make it okay to listen to for kids in the suburbs. I’ll be listening to III for a long time.
Tómarúm // Beyond Obsidian Euphoria — This record is too long. It’s got too much hype among the staff. And also, it’s too damned good to be an honorable mention. And yet, there are only so many #(ish)es, and I got to Beyond Obsidian Eurphoria too late to really give it the kind of sustained love that it needs to properly list. Still, once I started listening, I’ve been swinging past it every day. Sometimes twice. The songwriting is a bit wandering, the album is a bit overwhelming, and yet there is an undeniable vibe that Tómarúm traffics in, and that’s sneakily sticky. Combine that techy Death with something akin to Disillusion, and maybe you’ve got your comp. The only complaint I have is that some of the melodies end up intentionally arch in a way that makes me think that they are actively trying not to give the ear something to latch onto. That’s dumb, but it’s also very 2025. And hey, at least there’s a really easy trick for them to sell out with.
…and Oceans // The Regeneration Itinerary [May 23rd, 2025 | Season of Mist | Bandcamp] —The Regeneration Itinerary was a lot more controversial among fans than I expected, but I really enjoyed it. As I wrote in May, “It’s always fun to watch bands defy Angry Metal Guy’s Law of Diminishing Recordings™, and while The Regeneration Itinerary isn’t their best record yet, 30 years after their debut, …and Oceans is still releasing vital music that’s impossible to overlook.” And that’s just true facts as stated by a metal-knower. While not quite the tour de force of its predecessors, this record is a solid bit of weirdo black metal with some of the best art in the biz. I recommend it highly.
Haxprocess24 // Beyond What Eyes Can See [July 25th, 2025 | Transcending Obscurity Records | Bandcamp] — Four songs, three of which are over 10 minutes long, and a combo of what I’d call post-Opeth songwriting with OSDM aesthetics, Beyond What Eyes Can See deserved more attention this year and ended up, instead, on my Stack o’ Shame™. This isn’t a reflection on them; they play vital death metal and deserve accolades for their expansive vision and the way everything flows. They just got eaten up by the July where everything got released. Sorry, boys, but here’s your fig leaf!
Majestica // Power Train [February 7th, 2025 | Nuclear Blast Records | Stream or Buy at Qobuz] — Back in like 2008, I saw a band called ReinXeed play a whole bunch of covers of Swedish dance/electronica “group” E-Type at a Culture Night in Umeå. I remember hearing from people in the local scene that they were “big in Japan,” and I listened to some stuff, but wasn’t super moved by it at the time. In 2019, ReinXeed changed their name to Majestica and got signed to Nuclear Blast. And damnit if they aren’t just a lot better than they were in 2008. Power Train, which is on our collective Stack o’ Shame™, is the band’s third full-length under the moniker, and it rocks the same kind of sickly sweet melodies, guitar gymnastics, and general sense of fun that makes power metal my go-to genre a lot of days. While not quite as sticky and addictive as some other things higher up the list, Power Train was a solid addition to the band’s discography and one of the better power records I heard this year. You’ve come a long way, baby!
Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail [April 18th, 2025 | Willowtip Records | Bandcamp] — While not as high on this record as others on the staff, Dormant Ordeal is undeniably vital. And I’m just never going to write a better blurb than I did when they got Record o’ the Month for April: “This record hits a sweet spot inside of me, best described as the ‘oh yeah, that’s how death metal is done’ spot. The riffs flow, and my brain just opens up the spigots, releasing a veritable tsunami of dopamine. Every riff that cuts, every transition that seethes, and every recognition of the slick, skilled ways that these guys construct songs, I get a nice big kick of that Happy Chemical. Tooth and Nail is dynamic, punishing, aggressive, and better yet, it’s smart.” Man, that guy can write!
Aversed // Erasure of Color [March 25th, 2025 | M-Theory Audio | Bandcamp] — Last, and I guess technically least – but that isn’t taking into account that there were like 10,000 albums released in 2025 and there are only like 25 on this list – is Aversed’s Erasure of Color. Part of the reason for its late arrival is that, despite being our Record o’ the Month for March, Erasure of Color didn’t actually make it onto my personal playlist until quite a bit later. And damn, that was kind of a big miss on my part. Great melodeath with a unique flavor and great intensity; there’s something thoughtful and sharp about this record. Combine that with excellent album art and the Dolphin Whisperer seal of approval, and Erasure of Color has everything fans of melodeath need to carry them through this wasteland. I will need to keep my eyes on Aversed going forward.
#AndOceans #2025 #Aephanemer #AnAbstractIllusion #AngryMetalGuy #AngryMetalGuySTop10Ish #ArjenLucassen #Aversed #Blackbraid #CalvaLouise #ChasingTheDragon #DormantOrdeal #EdgeOfTheAbyss #Fallujah #Haxprocess #HelmsDeep #Impureza #InMourning #Insania #IntenseIndifference #Kalaveraztekah #Majestica #MorsPrincipiumEst #PhantomSpell #Sarastus #Scardust #Tómarúm #Vittra #WytchHazel -
Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 46
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the early 2000s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Frogger Print Ad
Do you find this old ad humorous?When Frogger was first released in video arcades in 1981, it easily attracted countless gamers offering them bouts of fun and the video game critics were very impressed with it. Considering its massive arcade success, it was unsurprisingly ported to the game consoles and home computers of the time. Parker Brothers secured the license for cartridge versions and the company produced Frogger ports for not just the Atari 2600 but also the Atari 7800. This print ad they came up with had a deliberate cartoony artwork (with a touch of humor) and an artist created a hand-drawn illustration intentionally made to resemble a screenshot from the game. I saw this ad a number of times when I read comic books in 1982.
2. The Legend of Kage Japanese Arcade Flyer
Action and excitement in ancient Japan!In my life, I never had the opportunity to play the original arcade version of The Legend of Kage and ended up playing only the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) port. Behind the scenes, Taito itself came close to preventing The Legend of Kage from being released in the arcades. The company placed it in a certain game show where it received praise by many which prompted Taito to give it a full arcade release. To promote the game, the Japanese arcade flyer had lively hand-drawn artwork that perfectly reflected what the game is about, who the playable hero is and what ancient Japanese setting was used. Fortunately for Taito, The Legend of Kage became a huge commercial hit and this led to the production of ports for different consoles and computers.
3. Hyper Olympic Japanese Arcade Flyer
Arguably the best track and field game ever made for the arcades.In 1983, Konami released their summer Olympics-inspired arcade game Hyper Olympic (titled Track & Field in other parts of the world) which offered players the opportunities to compete in a series of events with emphasis on pressing the buttons as quickly as possible. The arcade flyer Konami came up with featured fine-looking hand-drawn artwork showing athletes competing in track and field events (with the types of events displayed at the top-most part of the flyer) while showing just one screenshot (lower right) and displaying the officially 1984 Los Angeles Olympics logo (lower left). In my view, this old arcade flyer does a good job promoting both the arcade game as well as the 1984 Olympics itself. Too bad nobody makes this kind of arcade flyer anymore.
4. Terra Cresta Japanese Arcade Flyer
Did you ever play Terra Cresta in the arcades in Japan?Nichibutsu, which produced a lot of arcade games that were released only in Japan, released Terra Cresta in Japanese arcades in 1985. It turns out Terra Cresta is a sequel to their 1980 game Moon Cresta which itself was their first big arcade hit game. Nichibutsu literally loaded the front of Terra Cresta’s arcade flyer with lots of visuals and details. As you can see, seven screenshots of the game were displayed (each with descriptive text), a fancy looking artwork that emphasized the science fiction setting, some English descriptive text, the cocktail table arcade machine and a pretty Japanese lady wearing an aerobics outfit with legwarmers (popular in the 1980s). This flyer truly has a strong 1980s flavor.
5. Sega Master System European Print Ad
From the early days of Sega’s console business.After many years doing arcade games, Sega made the bold decision to start competing in console gaming with the release of the SG-1000 in 1983 in Japan. Even though Nintendo was a very tough competitor with the best-selling Famicom, Sega did not give up and proceeded to launch their console in America and Europe referred to as the Master System. In a serious attempt to gain customers specifically in England, Sega made a print ad showcasing a family sitting in front of a TV set with the young boy playing a racing game on a Master System. Looking at how the descriptive text was presented, it was clear that Sega emphasized bringing the arcade game experience into the comfort of home while also promising that a lot more new games will be released in the near future. This is an eye-catching ad and also a fine example of aggressive marketing by Sega.
6. Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run North American Print Ad
What was the best baseball video game you ever played?Following the commercial success of the 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, Nintendo got Ken Griffey Jr. again as endorser and proceeded with the follow-up Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run. With the highly talented Rare (Donkey Kong Country) chosen as game developer, Nintendo was highly confident with the baseball sequel and the 2-page print ad reflected that. The Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run ad had a striking image of a broken baseball bat on one side while the game’s details, two screenshots and the creative description dominated the other side. While I am not so interested in baseball, I can say that this old print ad is indeed attention-grabbing.
7. 2Xtreme North American Print Ad
From the time when the X Games were wildly popular.Remember how popular the X Games (Extreme Games) were back in the 1990s? Early in the life of the PlayStation console, Sony released ESPN Extreme Games which sold over a million copies worldwide. As expected, a follow-up titled 2Xtreme was approved for a 1996 release. Sony came up with a 2-page ad that had an upside-down X Games participant with roller blades dominating most of the space and six screenshots were displayed. The descriptive text in the lower part of the ad was deliberately written to be hip and cool.
8. Macross Plus Japanese Arcade Flyer
The front. The rear.Based on the mid-1990s anime OAV, the Macross Plus video game from Banpresto was designed as a vertical-scrolling 2D shooter that captures the feel and intensity of the anime’s spectacle. The front of the Japan-only arcade flyer showcased the YF-19 Excalibur, the YF-21 Sturmvogel and the VF-11 Thunderbolt (plus the basic arcade controls on the lower-left) which were all rendered in 3D polygons to delight Macross fans and gamers who are interested in new 2D shooting experiences. The rear of the flyer showed additional details and it even includes English text descriptions. Strangely, no screenshots of the game were displayed. Being a long-time Macross fan, I can say this old arcade flyer is still engaging to look at.
9. Macross VF-X2 North American Print Ad
An impressive looking print ad for a Macross video game that never got released in North America.In the late 1990s, Bandai prepared to launch Macross VF-X2 (the sequel to 1997’s Macross Digital Mission VF-X) on the PlayStation console in North America. This was a very intriguing move because Bandai never brought the mentioned 1997 Macross game outside of Japan. Shortly after the official announcement of a North American release, Macross VF-X2 got featured in video game magazines, an English demo of the game (first mission only) was distributed through Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, and Bandai came up with the 2-page print ad you see here. Unfortunately, Macross VF-X2’s North American release got cancelled because of copyright issues and legal obstacles (note: Harmony Gold held the Western rights to Robotech and actively blocked the release of genuine Macross products in America). As such, this impressive looking Macross VF-X2 print ad for North America ended up as a promotion for nothing!
10. Star Wars: Racer Arcade Japanese Print Ad/Poster
This is one of the many video games based on Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.In 1999, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was a massive box office hit in theaters around the world and it marked a new era of Star Wars movies with digital effects available. Similar with 1993’s Jurassic Park, George Lucas’ movie also had a huge lineup of merchandise, action figures and video games. The pod racing from the movie became the basis for Star Wars: Racer Arcade which was released in Japan on June 2000, and then in America a month later. To help arcade operators attract gamers and Star Wars fans, a print ad and poster were released featuring a very dynamic image of pod racing from the game dominating the background, a few screenshots displayed and some computer-generated of characters and vehicles. At the lower right part of the ad/poster is the image of the arcade machine which has a huge screen, a seat and control panel. The descriptive Japanese text was written to excite both fans and gamers. Did you play this Sega-produced Star Wars game in the arcades?
11. Konami Wai Wai World Japanese Print Ad
Can you spot Simon Belmont, Mikey Walsh and King Kong in this Japan-only print ad of Konami Wai Wai World?Going back to the late-1980s, Konami released a 2D adventure game on the Famicom that was very ambitious as it featured side-scrolling treks, vertical-scrolling shooting sequences and, most notably, a cast of characters that emphasized crossovers between intellectual properties of gaming. I am talking about Konami Wai Wai World (sometimes called Konami World for short) which had characters, settings and elements of Konami’s own properties like Gradius, Castlevania and Twin Bee. Not only that, King Kong of King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch and Mikey Walsh of The Goonies were also featured which is astonishing because they represent entertainment intellectual properties that were licensed to Konami for video game adaptation. That said, the emphasis of crossovers and excitement was shown in the form of 2D character sprites in this Japanese print ad of Konami Wai Wai World. This is the kind of game that Konami itself will never be able to make again and to do a remake or an enhanced re-release of Konami Wai Wai World will require overcoming all the legal obstacles in the way.
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#1980s #1990s #2DShooters #2DSprites #2Xtreme #action #adventure #advert #advertisement #advertisements #advertising #adverts #America #amusement #anime #arcade #arcadeFlyers #arcadeGames #arcadeGaming #arcadeOperators #Atari #Atari2600 #Atari5200 #AtariVideoComputerSystem #Bandai #Banpresto #baseball #Battroid #CarloCarrasco #Castlevania #CD #CDROM #ChatGPT #cinema #comicBooks #computers #console #consoleGames #consoleGaming #consoles #crossover #DonkeyKongCountry #electronics #England #entertainment #entertainmentBlog #ESPN #ESPNExtremeGames #Europe #fantasy #Fediverse #fighterPlanes #film #Frogger #fun #gameConsole #gameConsoles #gamers #games #gamesConsole #gamesConsoles #gaming #gamingConsole #gamingConsoles #geek #Gerwalk #Google #GoogleSearch #Gradius #GreatBritain #HarmonyGold #HyperOlympic #Instagram #Investagrams #Japan #jets #JurassicPark #KenGriffeyJr #KenGriffeyJrSWinningRun #KingKong #KingKong2IkariNoMegatonPunch #Konami #KonamiWaiWaiWorld #KonamiWorld #LegendOfKage #Macross #MacrossDigitalMissionVFX #MacrossPlus #MacrossVFX2 #magazines #MajorLeagueBaseballMLB #MajorLeagueBaseballPlayersAssociationMLBPA #marketing #Mastodon #MegaCD #MikeyWalsh #MLB #movies #Nichibutsu #Nintendo #Nippon #nostalgia #OlympicGames #Olympics #ParkerBrothers #PCGames #PCGaming #PlayStationOne #podRacing #posters #printAds #printMedia #promos #PS1 #PSOne #racingGames #Rare #RetroGaming #RetroGamingAdsBlastRGAB #Retrospective #Robotech #robots #sciFi #scienceFiction #Sega #SegaCD #SegaGenesis #SegaMasterSystem #SegaOfAmerica #SG1000 #shooter #shooters #sideScrolling #SimonBelmont #SNES #socialMedia #Sony #SonyComputerEntertainment #spaceTravel #sports #StarWars #StarWarsEpisodeIThePhantomMenace #StarWarsRacerArcade #StarWarsThePhantomMenace #SummerOlympics #SuperDimensionFortressMacross #SuperNES #SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystemSNES #Taito #technology #TerraCresta #The1980s #The1990s #TheGoonies #TheLegendOfKage #TrackField #TwinBee #UnitedKingdomUK #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #Valkyrie #verticallyScrollingShooters #videoGames #WordPress #WordPressCom #XGames -
Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 46
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the early 2000s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Frogger Print Ad
Do you find this old ad humorous?When Frogger was first released in video arcades in 1981, it easily attracted countless gamers offering them bouts of fun and the video game critics were very impressed with it. Considering its massive arcade success, it was unsurprisingly ported to the game consoles and home computers of the time. Parker Brothers secured the license for cartridge versions and the company produced Frogger ports for not just the Atari 2600 but also the Atari 7800. This print ad they came up with had a deliberate cartoony artwork (with a touch of humor) and an artist created a hand-drawn illustration intentionally made to resemble a screenshot from the game. I saw this ad a number of times when I read comic books in 1982.
2. The Legend of Kage Japanese Arcade Flyer
Action and excitement in ancient Japan!In my life, I never had the opportunity to play the original arcade version of The Legend of Kage and ended up playing only the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) port. Behind the scenes, Taito itself came close to preventing The Legend of Kage from being released in the arcades. The company placed it in a certain game show where it received praise by many which prompted Taito to give it a full arcade release. To promote the game, the Japanese arcade flyer had lively hand-drawn artwork that perfectly reflected what the game is about, who the playable hero is and what ancient Japanese setting was used. Fortunately for Taito, The Legend of Kage became a huge commercial hit and this led to the production of ports for different consoles and computers.
3. Hyper Olympic Japanese Arcade Flyer
Arguably the best track and field game ever made for the arcades.In 1983, Konami released their summer Olympics-inspired arcade game Hyper Olympic (titled Track & Field in other parts of the world) which offered players the opportunities to compete in a series of events with emphasis on pressing the buttons as quickly as possible. The arcade flyer Konami came up with featured fine-looking hand-drawn artwork showing athletes competing in track and field events (with the types of events displayed at the top-most part of the flyer) while showing just one screenshot (lower right) and displaying the officially 1984 Los Angeles Olympics logo (lower left). In my view, this old arcade flyer does a good job promoting both the arcade game as well as the 1984 Olympics itself. Too bad nobody makes this kind of arcade flyer anymore.
4. Terra Cresta Japanese Arcade Flyer
Did you ever play Terra Cresta in the arcades in Japan?Nichibutsu, which produced a lot of arcade games that were released only in Japan, released Terra Cresta in Japanese arcades in 1985. It turns out Terra Cresta is a sequel to their 1980 game Moon Cresta which itself was their first big arcade hit game. Nichibutsu literally loaded the front of Terra Cresta’s arcade flyer with lots of visuals and details. As you can see, seven screenshots of the game were displayed (each with descriptive text), a fancy looking artwork that emphasized the science fiction setting, some English descriptive text, the cocktail table arcade machine and a pretty Japanese lady wearing an aerobics outfit with legwarmers (popular in the 1980s). This flyer truly has a strong 1980s flavor.
5. Sega Master System European Print Ad
From the early days of Sega’s console business.After many years doing arcade games, Sega made the bold decision to start competing in console gaming with the release of the SG-1000 in 1983 in Japan. Even though Nintendo was a very tough competitor with the best-selling Famicom, Sega did not give up and proceeded to launch their console in America and Europe referred to as the Master System. In a serious attempt to gain customers specifically in England, Sega made a print ad showcasing a family sitting in front of a TV set with the young boy playing a racing game on a Master System. Looking at how the descriptive text was presented, it was clear that Sega emphasized bringing the arcade game experience into the comfort of home while also promising that a lot more new games will be released in the near future. This is an eye-catching ad and also a fine example of aggressive marketing by Sega.
6. Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run North American Print Ad
What was the best baseball video game you ever played?Following the commercial success of the 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, Nintendo got Ken Griffey Jr. again as endorser and proceeded with the follow-up Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run. With the highly talented Rare (Donkey Kong Country) chosen as game developer, Nintendo was highly confident with the baseball sequel and the 2-page print ad reflected that. The Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run ad had a striking image of a broken baseball bat on one side while the game’s details, two screenshots and the creative description dominated the other side. While I am not so interested in baseball, I can say that this old print ad is indeed attention-grabbing.
7. 2Xtreme North American Print Ad
From the time when the X Games were wildly popular.Remember how popular the X Games (Extreme Games) were back in the 1990s? Early in the life of the PlayStation console, Sony released ESPN Extreme Games which sold over a million copies worldwide. As expected, a follow-up titled 2Xtreme was approved for a 1996 release. Sony came up with a 2-page ad that had an upside-down X Games participant with roller blades dominating most of the space and six screenshots were displayed. The descriptive text in the lower part of the ad was deliberately written to be hip and cool.
8. Macross Plus Japanese Arcade Flyer
The front. The rear.Based on the mid-1990s anime OAV, the Macross Plus video game from Banpresto was designed as a vertical-scrolling 2D shooter that captures the feel and intensity of the anime’s spectacle. The front of the Japan-only arcade flyer showcased the YF-19 Excalibur, the YF-21 Sturmvogel and the VF-11 Thunderbolt (plus the basic arcade controls on the lower-left) which were all rendered in 3D polygons to delight Macross fans and gamers who are interested in new 2D shooting experiences. The rear of the flyer showed additional details and it even includes English text descriptions. Strangely, no screenshots of the game were displayed. Being a long-time Macross fan, I can say this old arcade flyer is still engaging to look at.
9. Macross VF-X2 North American Print Ad
An impressive looking print ad for a Macross video game that never got released in North America.In the late 1990s, Bandai prepared to launch Macross VF-X2 (the sequel to 1997’s Macross Digital Mission VF-X) on the PlayStation console in North America. This was a very intriguing move because Bandai never brought the mentioned 1997 Macross game outside of Japan. Shortly after the official announcement of a North American release, Macross VF-X2 got featured in video game magazines, an English demo of the game (first mission only) was distributed through Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, and Bandai came up with the 2-page print ad you see here. Unfortunately, Macross VF-X2’s North American release got cancelled because of copyright issues and legal obstacles (note: Harmony Gold held the Western rights to Robotech and actively blocked the release of genuine Macross products in America). As such, this impressive looking Macross VF-X2 print ad for North America ended up as a promotion for nothing!
10. Star Wars: Racer Arcade Japanese Print Ad/Poster
This is one of the many video games based on Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.In 1999, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was a massive box office hit in theaters around the world and it marked a new era of Star Wars movies with digital effects available. Similar with 1993’s Jurassic Park, George Lucas’ movie also had a huge lineup of merchandise, action figures and video games. The pod racing from the movie became the basis for Star Wars: Racer Arcade which was released in Japan on June 2000, and then in America a month later. To help arcade operators attract gamers and Star Wars fans, a print ad and poster were released featuring a very dynamic image of pod racing from the game dominating the background, a few screenshots displayed and some computer-generated of characters and vehicles. At the lower right part of the ad/poster is the image of the arcade machine which has a huge screen, a seat and control panel. The descriptive Japanese text was written to excite both fans and gamers. Did you play this Sega-produced Star Wars game in the arcades?
11. Konami Wai Wai World Japanese Print Ad
Can you spot Simon Belmont, Mikey Walsh and King Kong in this Japan-only print ad of Konami Wai Wai World?Going back to the late-1980s, Konami released a 2D adventure game on the Famicom that was very ambitious as it featured side-scrolling treks, vertical-scrolling shooting sequences and, most notably, a cast of characters that emphasized crossovers between intellectual properties of gaming. I am talking about Konami Wai Wai World (sometimes called Konami World for short) which had characters, settings and elements of Konami’s own properties like Gradius, Castlevania and Twin Bee. Not only that, King Kong of King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch and Mikey Walsh of The Goonies were also featured which is astonishing because they represent entertainment intellectual properties that were licensed to Konami for video game adaptation. That said, the emphasis of crossovers and excitement was shown in the form of 2D character sprites in this Japanese print ad of Konami Wai Wai World. This is the kind of game that Konami itself will never be able to make again and to do a remake or an enhanced re-release of Konami Wai Wai World will require overcoming all the legal obstacles in the way.
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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
#1980s #1990s #2DShooters #2DSprites #2Xtreme #action #adventure #advert #advertisement #advertisements #advertising #adverts #America #amusement #anime #arcade #arcadeFlyers #arcadeGames #arcadeGaming #arcadeOperators #Atari #Atari2600 #Atari5200 #AtariVideoComputerSystem #Bandai #Banpresto #baseball #Battroid #CarloCarrasco #Castlevania #CD #CDROM #ChatGPT #cinema #comicBooks #computers #console #consoleGames #consoleGaming #consoles #crossover #DonkeyKongCountry #electronics #England #entertainment #entertainmentBlog #ESPN #ESPNExtremeGames #Europe #fantasy #Fediverse #fighterPlanes #film #Frogger #fun #gameConsole #gameConsoles #gamers #games #gamesConsole #gamesConsoles #gaming #gamingConsole #gamingConsoles #geek #Gerwalk #Google #GoogleSearch #Gradius #GreatBritain #HarmonyGold #HyperOlympic #Instagram #Investagrams #Japan #jets #JurassicPark #KenGriffeyJr #KenGriffeyJrSWinningRun #KingKong #KingKong2IkariNoMegatonPunch #Konami #KonamiWaiWaiWorld #KonamiWorld #LegendOfKage #Macross #MacrossDigitalMissionVFX #MacrossPlus #MacrossVFX2 #magazines #MajorLeagueBaseballMLB #MajorLeagueBaseballPlayersAssociationMLBPA #marketing #Mastodon #MegaCD #MikeyWalsh #MLB #movies #Nichibutsu #Nintendo #Nippon #nostalgia #OlympicGames #Olympics #ParkerBrothers #PCGames #PCGaming #PlayStationOne #podRacing #posters #printAds #printMedia #promos #PS1 #PSOne #racingGames #Rare #RetroGaming #RetroGamingAdsBlastRGAB #Retrospective #Robotech #robots #sciFi #scienceFiction #Sega #SegaCD #SegaGenesis #SegaMasterSystem #SegaOfAmerica #SG1000 #shooter #shooters #sideScrolling #SimonBelmont #SNES #socialMedia #Sony #SonyComputerEntertainment #spaceTravel #sports #StarWars #StarWarsEpisodeIThePhantomMenace #StarWarsRacerArcade #StarWarsThePhantomMenace #SummerOlympics #SuperDimensionFortressMacross #SuperNES #SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystemSNES #Taito #technology #TerraCresta #The1980s #The1990s #TheGoonies #TheLegendOfKage #TrackField #TwinBee #UnitedKingdomUK #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #Valkyrie #verticallyScrollingShooters #videoGames #WordPress #WordPressCom #XGames -
Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 46
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the early 2000s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Frogger Print Ad
Do you find this old ad humorous?When Frogger was first released in video arcades in 1981, it easily attracted countless gamers offering them bouts of fun and the video game critics were very impressed with it. Considering its massive arcade success, it was unsurprisingly ported to the game consoles and home computers of the time. Parker Brothers secured the license for cartridge versions and the company produced Frogger ports for not just the Atari 2600 but also the Atari 7800. This print ad they came up with had a deliberate cartoony artwork (with a touch of humor) and an artist created a hand-drawn illustration intentionally made to resemble a screenshot from the game. I saw this ad a number of times when I read comic books in 1982.
2. The Legend of Kage Japanese Arcade Flyer
Action and excitement in ancient Japan!In my life, I never had the opportunity to play the original arcade version of The Legend of Kage and ended up playing only the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) port. Behind the scenes, Taito itself came close to preventing The Legend of Kage from being released in the arcades. The company placed it in a certain game show where it received praise by many which prompted Taito to give it a full arcade release. To promote the game, the Japanese arcade flyer had lively hand-drawn artwork that perfectly reflected what the game is about, who the playable hero is and what ancient Japanese setting was used. Fortunately for Taito, The Legend of Kage became a huge commercial hit and this led to the production of ports for different consoles and computers.
3. Hyper Olympic Japanese Arcade Flyer
Arguably the best track and field game ever made for the arcades.In 1983, Konami released their summer Olympics-inspired arcade game Hyper Olympic (titled Track & Field in other parts of the world) which offered players the opportunities to compete in a series of events with emphasis on pressing the buttons as quickly as possible. The arcade flyer Konami came up with featured fine-looking hand-drawn artwork showing athletes competing in track and field events (with the types of events displayed at the top-most part of the flyer) while showing just one screenshot (lower right) and displaying the officially 1984 Los Angeles Olympics logo (lower left). In my view, this old arcade flyer does a good job promoting both the arcade game as well as the 1984 Olympics itself. Too bad nobody makes this kind of arcade flyer anymore.
4. Terra Cresta Japanese Arcade Flyer
Did you ever play Terra Cresta in the arcades in Japan?Nichibutsu, which produced a lot of arcade games that were released only in Japan, released Terra Cresta in Japanese arcades in 1985. It turns out Terra Cresta is a sequel to their 1980 game Moon Cresta which itself was their first big arcade hit game. Nichibutsu literally loaded the front of Terra Cresta’s arcade flyer with lots of visuals and details. As you can see, seven screenshots of the game were displayed (each with descriptive text), a fancy looking artwork that emphasized the science fiction setting, some English descriptive text, the cocktail table arcade machine and a pretty Japanese lady wearing an aerobics outfit with legwarmers (popular in the 1980s). This flyer truly has a strong 1980s flavor.
5. Sega Master System European Print Ad
From the early days of Sega’s console business.After many years doing arcade games, Sega made the bold decision to start competing in console gaming with the release of the SG-1000 in 1983 in Japan. Even though Nintendo was a very tough competitor with the best-selling Famicom, Sega did not give up and proceeded to launch their console in America and Europe referred to as the Master System. In a serious attempt to gain customers specifically in England, Sega made a print ad showcasing a family sitting in front of a TV set with the young boy playing a racing game on a Master System. Looking at how the descriptive text was presented, it was clear that Sega emphasized bringing the arcade game experience into the comfort of home while also promising that a lot more new games will be released in the near future. This is an eye-catching ad and also a fine example of aggressive marketing by Sega.
6. Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run North American Print Ad
What was the best baseball video game you ever played?Following the commercial success of the 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, Nintendo got Ken Griffey Jr. again as endorser and proceeded with the follow-up Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run. With the highly talented Rare (Donkey Kong Country) chosen as game developer, Nintendo was highly confident with the baseball sequel and the 2-page print ad reflected that. The Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run ad had a striking image of a broken baseball bat on one side while the game’s details, two screenshots and the creative description dominated the other side. While I am not so interested in baseball, I can say that this old print ad is indeed attention-grabbing.
7. 2Xtreme North American Print Ad
From the time when the X Games were wildly popular.Remember how popular the X Games (Extreme Games) were back in the 1990s? Early in the life of the PlayStation console, Sony released ESPN Extreme Games which sold over a million copies worldwide. As expected, a follow-up titled 2Xtreme was approved for a 1996 release. Sony came up with a 2-page ad that had an upside-down X Games participant with roller blades dominating most of the space and six screenshots were displayed. The descriptive text in the lower part of the ad was deliberately written to be hip and cool.
8. Macross Plus Japanese Arcade Flyer
The front. The rear.Based on the mid-1990s anime OAV, the Macross Plus video game from Banpresto was designed as a vertical-scrolling 2D shooter that captures the feel and intensity of the anime’s spectacle. The front of the Japan-only arcade flyer showcased the YF-19 Excalibur, the YF-21 Sturmvogel and the VF-11 Thunderbolt (plus the basic arcade controls on the lower-left) which were all rendered in 3D polygons to delight Macross fans and gamers who are interested in new 2D shooting experiences. The rear of the flyer showed additional details and it even includes English text descriptions. Strangely, no screenshots of the game were displayed. Being a long-time Macross fan, I can say this old arcade flyer is still engaging to look at.
9. Macross VF-X2 North American Print Ad
An impressive looking print ad for a Macross video game that never got released in North America.In the late 1990s, Bandai prepared to launch Macross VF-X2 (the sequel to 1997’s Macross Digital Mission VF-X) on the PlayStation console in North America. This was a very intriguing move because Bandai never brought the mentioned 1997 Macross game outside of Japan. Shortly after the official announcement of a North American release, Macross VF-X2 got featured in video game magazines, an English demo of the game (first mission only) was distributed through Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, and Bandai came up with the 2-page print ad you see here. Unfortunately, Macross VF-X2’s North American release got cancelled because of copyright issues and legal obstacles (note: Harmony Gold held the Western rights to Robotech and actively blocked the release of genuine Macross products in America). As such, this impressive looking Macross VF-X2 print ad for North America ended up as a promotion for nothing!
10. Star Wars: Racer Arcade Japanese Print Ad/Poster
This is one of the many video games based on Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.In 1999, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was a massive box office hit in theaters around the world and it marked a new era of Star Wars movies with digital effects available. Similar with 1993’s Jurassic Park, George Lucas’ movie also had a huge lineup of merchandise, action figures and video games. The pod racing from the movie became the basis for Star Wars: Racer Arcade which was released in Japan on June 2000, and then in America a month later. To help arcade operators attract gamers and Star Wars fans, a print ad and poster were released featuring a very dynamic image of pod racing from the game dominating the background, a few screenshots displayed and some computer-generated of characters and vehicles. At the lower right part of the ad/poster is the image of the arcade machine which has a huge screen, a seat and control panel. The descriptive Japanese text was written to excite both fans and gamers. Did you play this Sega-produced Star Wars game in the arcades?
11. Konami Wai Wai World Japanese Print Ad
Can you spot Simon Belmont, Mikey Walsh and King Kong in this Japan-only print ad of Konami Wai Wai World?Going back to the late-1980s, Konami released a 2D adventure game on the Famicom that was very ambitious as it featured side-scrolling treks, vertical-scrolling shooting sequences and, most notably, a cast of characters that emphasized crossovers between intellectual properties of gaming. I am talking about Konami Wai Wai World (sometimes called Konami World for short) which had characters, settings and elements of Konami’s own properties like Gradius, Castlevania and Twin Bee. Not only that, King Kong of King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch and Mikey Walsh of The Goonies were also featured which is astonishing because they represent entertainment intellectual properties that were licensed to Konami for video game adaptation. That said, the emphasis of crossovers and excitement was shown in the form of 2D character sprites in this Japanese print ad of Konami Wai Wai World. This is the kind of game that Konami itself will never be able to make again and to do a remake or an enhanced re-release of Konami Wai Wai World will require overcoming all the legal obstacles in the way.
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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
#1980s #1990s #2DShooters #2DSprites #2Xtreme #action #adventure #advert #advertisement #advertisements #advertising #adverts #America #amusement #anime #arcade #arcadeFlyers #arcadeGames #arcadeGaming #arcadeOperators #Atari #Atari2600 #Atari5200 #AtariVideoComputerSystem #Bandai #Banpresto #baseball #Battroid #CarloCarrasco #Castlevania #CD #CDROM #ChatGPT #cinema #comicBooks #computers #console #consoleGames #consoleGaming #consoles #crossover #DonkeyKongCountry #electronics #England #entertainment #entertainmentBlog #ESPN #ESPNExtremeGames #Europe #fantasy #Fediverse #fighterPlanes #film #Frogger #fun #gameConsole #gameConsoles #gamers #games #gamesConsole #gamesConsoles #gaming #gamingConsole #gamingConsoles #geek #Gerwalk #Google #GoogleSearch #Gradius #GreatBritain #HarmonyGold #HyperOlympic #Instagram #Investagrams #Japan #jets #JurassicPark #KenGriffeyJr #KenGriffeyJrSWinningRun #KingKong #KingKong2IkariNoMegatonPunch #Konami #KonamiWaiWaiWorld #KonamiWorld #LegendOfKage #Macross #MacrossDigitalMissionVFX #MacrossPlus #MacrossVFX2 #magazines #MajorLeagueBaseballMLB #MajorLeagueBaseballPlayersAssociationMLBPA #marketing #Mastodon #MegaCD #MikeyWalsh #MLB #movies #Nichibutsu #Nintendo #Nippon #nostalgia #OlympicGames #Olympics #ParkerBrothers #PCGames #PCGaming #PlayStationOne #podRacing #posters #printAds #printMedia #promos #PS1 #PSOne #racingGames #Rare #RetroGaming #RetroGamingAdsBlastRGAB #Retrospective #Robotech #robots #sciFi #scienceFiction #Sega #SegaCD #SegaGenesis #SegaMasterSystem #SegaOfAmerica #SG1000 #shooter #shooters #sideScrolling #SimonBelmont #SNES #socialMedia #Sony #SonyComputerEntertainment #spaceTravel #sports #StarWars #StarWarsEpisodeIThePhantomMenace #StarWarsRacerArcade #StarWarsThePhantomMenace #SummerOlympics #SuperDimensionFortressMacross #SuperNES #SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystemSNES #Taito #technology #TerraCresta #The1980s #The1990s #TheGoonies #TheLegendOfKage #TrackField #TwinBee #UnitedKingdomUK #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #Valkyrie #verticallyScrollingShooters #videoGames #WordPress #WordPressCom #XGames -
7 blockchain-based platforms for content creators - From Steemit and LBRY to Ujo Music and SuperRare, discover how bl... - https://cointelegraph.com/news/7-blockchain-based-platforms-for-content-creators #blockchain-basedplatforms #intellectualproperty #contentcreators #globalaudience #superrare #monetize #ujomusic #bitclout #steemit #audius #po.et #lbry
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The Most Pretentious Words (and why we hate/love them)
When we first started writing, back around 2010, our first tactic was to use big old words to try and look dead clever. Therefore, hence, and whence, we did that for quite a while.
Then we realised it’s kind of pompous and, thus, started leaning into George Orwell’s rule for keeping copy short and simple (don’t use big words when smaller ones will do). Now… as HIGHLY educated sorts with an MA and BA in English-related subjects (language, literature, journalism, C in maff, and a U in general studies from our college years), we clearly know best.
Thus, we’re here today to point and laugh at the FREAKS (i.e. people) whom use swanky wording. For, verily, the inherent smugness within such usage is a fantabulous way to ideate within the frameworks of sesquipedalian terms.
The ULTIMATE List of Pompous Words
Want to know some irony? The adjective sesquipedalian is the word used to describe a writer whom uses excessively long words. From the Meriam Webster Did You Know section:
“Horace, the ancient Roman poet known for his satire, was merely being gently ironic when he cautioned young poets against using sesquipedalia verba—’words a foot and a half long’—in his book Ars poetica, a collection of maxims about writing. But in the 17th century, English literary critics decided the word sesquipedalian could be very useful for lambasting writers using unnecessarily long words. Robert Southey used it to make two jibes at once when he wrote ‘the verses of [16th-century English poet] Stephen Hawes are as full of barbarous sesquipedalian Latinisms, as the prose of [the 18th-century periodical] the Rambler.'”
Good for Horace. Anyway, let’s get into this with a big old list of pretentious words and then we’ll discuss some of them whilst stroking our big beards intellectually:
- Therefore
- Furthermore
- Indeed
- Ideate
- Gauche
- Juxtapose
- Ergo
- Amalgamation
- Paradigm
- Synergy
- Polarity
- Bespoke
- Ad hoc
- Holistic
- Leverage
- Veritable
- Whom
- One (as in, “One is, indeed, very smart!”)
- Said (as in, “Said statement previously indicated.”)
Our big issue with some of these words is it’s people trying to sound clever. In our book review of Talleyrand by Duff Cooper (1932), we took time out to playfully mock Cooper’s excessively grandiose language. A tad loquacious, one could indicate. Entire paragraphs that could be summed up in a few words.
It didn’t surprise us to find out Cooper was a Conservative and highly educated, from elite upper-class circles. For if one is a well educated Tory, one must espouse like a well educated Tory. And we still see this now with modern Conservative MPs, with Boris Johnson (our former prime minister) being one of the worst offenders.
Privately educated, he’s got an amazing vocabulary.
It’s just the sum of the parts don’t add up to anything substantial. Johnson often drops the most baffling, pompous words you’ve never heard of into his speech, so it sort of sounds clever. But he’s just sounding off as he thinks he’s super smart, yet what he’s saying is layered in a mass of delusions and over-privilege.
Anyone can do it. Behold some of our independent thought below.
“Indeed, one’s abnegation; pertaining to wherewithal; was milquetoast in capricious and capacious ambivalence. Therefore, ethereal and ephemeral in gossamer and kurtosis in reprieve to qualia-based reductionistic dichotomy, wherein there is fait accompli; furthermore; finagle for ostentatious panacea, ergo, amongst zealous waft for sycophants of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. Rather.”
Yeah, so our whole thing is usually to just type like this. As in, keeping the wording simple so everyone can understand it, otherwise you can alienate readers, or make yourself look like a jackass.
It is all down to the writer, of course, and if you want to write with big old words then you go for it. Just keep in mind how the prolixity may come across. Innit.
Notes on the More Pompous Adverbs
We work in digital marketing, so we see a lot of annoying buzzwords. Ideate is one of the worst modern offenders (see our post on Dickhead Digital and its focus on ideational ideating).
Ideate isn’t an adverb, yeah we know, but we just wanted to get that in here as digital marketing has a habit of being very pretentious. Particularly for digital agencies determined, amongst the thousands of other digital agencies out there in the local vicinity, they know best (whilst they pay their staff an unliveable wage).
Some adverbs are more pretentious than others. In our current job in employment law, we’ve worked with someone recently who is addicted to using:
- Therefore
- Furthermore
- Indeed
One blog post this person wrote included 15 (we counted) uses of therefore across 1,000 words. We knew why they were using it. They think it makes them sound authoritative, clever, and scholarly. When it came across as bad writing and pompous. Indeed.
Furthermore, the one that really does it for us is therefore. We’ve seen some people praise it, as with Grammarist’s therefore – usage and examples in sentences:
“Therefore is a handy little adverb that connects two ideas, linking a cause to its logical effect. It’s great for tying sentences together in a meaningful—and let’s be honest, kinda scholarly—way.”
Marvellous. Except we think it’s pretentious as all hell and, also, irrelevant filler. Remove therefore from the sentence and everything still makes sense, you’re just trying to sound like a clever clogs.
Yes, then, what we’re stating is DEATH TO THEREFORE.
Maybe a little extreme, but it’s not 1844 and the total obliteration of certain adverbs can only do the world a… world of good. Good, we’re glad you’re in agreement with us on this matter.
#adverbs #Blogging #Humor #irreverence #Lifestyle #Linguistics #pompous #Pretentious #Reading #Sesquipedalian #Silly #therefore #write #Writing -
Biographer lays bare all the ways Musk has gamed the system, rewritten history, patents, to hide his trail of lies. Can someone go back in time, tell Obama not to subsidize his satellite business?
#Musk #was a #democrat #Obama #made #Starlink #Spacex #Moscow #laughed #oligarchy #eat the #rich #billionaires #should #not #exist in #USA #tax #out of #existence #zip2 #NASA #SethAbramson #biography #Elon #fired as #CEO #repeatedly #not #founder #Tesla #then #killed #Twitter
https://www.thewrap.com/elon-musk-biographer-says-no-evidence-billionaire-has-intellectual-achievements/ -
DATE: September 2, 2026 at 09:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Heavy ChatGPT use linked to intellectual laziness and social isolation
URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-relying-on-chatgpt-affects-human-memory-and-critical-thinking/
Artificial intelligence has woven its way into everyday life, prompting questions about how reliance on generative tools affects the human mind. A recent small study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology suggests that leaning heavily on ChatGPT can reduce critical thinking, diminish memory, and lead to social isolation. However, users who engage with the software intentionally can also harness it to boost their creativity and reasoning skills.
Over the last few years, tools that generate human-like text have become wildly popular. ChatGPT reached one million users within a week of its launch and currently boasts over 180 million active users. People use the program for everything from writing emails to solving programming problems.
As these programs become a regular part of daily workflows, researchers are trying to understand the psychological and cognitive costs. Zeineb Farhat, a researcher at ISC Paris, initiated the research to investigate what happens when habitual use turns into dependence. Much of the early research on generative software has focused on its benefits in education and the workplace.
Farhat wanted to document the potential downsides of outsourcing mental effort and emotional needs to a machine. The research draws on established ideas in psychology regarding how people manage mental effort and motivation. One concept is cognitive offloading, which happens when individuals use external tools, like calculators or search engines, to reduce the amount of information they need to process or remember.
Another core idea involves the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and social connection. When people feel capable and in control of their actions, they are generally more motivated. Farhat set out to see how constant access to an intelligent digital assistant might alter these processes.
The researcher wanted to know if offloading cognitive tasks to an algorithm would compromise a user’s ability to think independently. To explore these dynamics, Farhat conducted a small study involving 45 young adults in France. The participants, aged 18 to 25, were all regular users who interacted with ChatGPT daily.
The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with each participant, either face-to-face or via video call. These interviews lasted between 45 and 60 minutes. The conversations covered how the participants used the software, how it affected their study or work habits, and how it made them feel.
Farhat then analyzed the interview transcripts to identify recurring themes in the users’ experiences. The analysis revealed that heavy reliance on the software often discouraged independent thought. Participants reported that having instant answers at their fingertips made them less likely to analyze problems deeply or evaluate sources.
Some described experiencing intellectual laziness, noting that their attention spans felt shorter. Users also reported trouble retaining information. They were externalizing their memory by relying on the chatbot to retrieve facts rather than practicing active recall.
“I used to take notes and actively review materials, but now I just ask ChatGPT whenever I need something,” one student noted in the study. “The problem is, I don’t retain much. I feel like my memory has become weaker because I rely on ChatGPT instead of trying to recall things on my own.”
Psychologically, the interviews indicated that heavy use eroded the participants’ sense of autonomy and self-trust. Many users started second-guessing their own judgment. They began seeking the software’s validation for simple decisions, like choosing the right words for a basic email.
The ease of getting quick answers also lowered their intrinsic motivation to learn new things. Without the struggle normally required to master a topic, the learning process felt less rewarding. Some participants even reported anxiety and a sense of paralysis when the software was offline for maintenance.
One participant recalled a time when the system went down, bringing their workflow to a complete halt. “I needed it for a work project, and I felt completely paralyzed without it,” the user shared. “It’s like my safety net is gone.”
The study also uncovered shifts in social behavior. Participants frequently chose to interact with the software instead of discussing ideas with peers or teachers. This preference sometimes led to feelings of social isolation, as users lost the habit of engaging in deep conversations with other people.
A few participants began to treat the text generator as a companion, projecting human traits onto it. “ChatGPT has become my friend; it knows everything about me,” one participant stated. “It’s always there, always ready to listen, and it feels like it understands me better than most people do.”
While this offered temporary comfort, it substituted genuine human connection with a machine response. Relying on an algorithm for emotional support risks blurring the line between technological mediation and true social interaction. Over time, this dynamic can weaken interpersonal skills and empathy.
Despite these negative reports, the study identified a pattern of constructive use. Some users treated the software as a collaborative tool rather than a replacement for their own brains. By allowing the program to handle tedious tasks like structuring data or summarizing dense text, these individuals freed up mental energy for complex reasoning.
They used the tool to brainstorm or overcome writer’s block. Instead of copying what the program generated, they used the output as a starting point to think differently. When used reflectively, the software actually increased users’ confidence and reduced their anxiety about challenging tasks.
Because the research relies on qualitative interviews with a small group of young adults in France, the findings reflect a specific demographic and cannot be broadly generalized. People from older generations or different cultural backgrounds might interact with the software differently. The study also captures user experiences at a single point in time.
It remains unknown whether these cognitive and social habits change over years of use. Future research will need to track larger and more diverse groups over longer periods to see if these patterns persist. Additional studies could also explore how to best train people to use these tools adaptively rather than dependently.
The study, “When AI Thinks for Us: Unveiling the Cognitive and Social Toll of ChatGPT Over-Reliance,” was authored by Zeineb Farhat.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-relying-on-chatgpt-affects-human-memory-and-critical-thinking/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ChatGPTOverreliance #CognitiveOffloading #DigitalLaziness #MentalAutonomy #SocialIsolation #AIImpactOnLearning #IntrinsicMotivation #MemoryRetention #HumanVsMachine #CreativeThinkingWithCaution
-
DATE: September 2, 2026 at 09:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Heavy ChatGPT use linked to intellectual laziness and social isolation
URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-relying-on-chatgpt-affects-human-memory-and-critical-thinking/
Artificial intelligence has woven its way into everyday life, prompting questions about how reliance on generative tools affects the human mind. A recent small study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology suggests that leaning heavily on ChatGPT can reduce critical thinking, diminish memory, and lead to social isolation. However, users who engage with the software intentionally can also harness it to boost their creativity and reasoning skills.
Over the last few years, tools that generate human-like text have become wildly popular. ChatGPT reached one million users within a week of its launch and currently boasts over 180 million active users. People use the program for everything from writing emails to solving programming problems.
As these programs become a regular part of daily workflows, researchers are trying to understand the psychological and cognitive costs. Zeineb Farhat, a researcher at ISC Paris, initiated the research to investigate what happens when habitual use turns into dependence. Much of the early research on generative software has focused on its benefits in education and the workplace.
Farhat wanted to document the potential downsides of outsourcing mental effort and emotional needs to a machine. The research draws on established ideas in psychology regarding how people manage mental effort and motivation. One concept is cognitive offloading, which happens when individuals use external tools, like calculators or search engines, to reduce the amount of information they need to process or remember.
Another core idea involves the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and social connection. When people feel capable and in control of their actions, they are generally more motivated. Farhat set out to see how constant access to an intelligent digital assistant might alter these processes.
The researcher wanted to know if offloading cognitive tasks to an algorithm would compromise a user’s ability to think independently. To explore these dynamics, Farhat conducted a small study involving 45 young adults in France. The participants, aged 18 to 25, were all regular users who interacted with ChatGPT daily.
The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with each participant, either face-to-face or via video call. These interviews lasted between 45 and 60 minutes. The conversations covered how the participants used the software, how it affected their study or work habits, and how it made them feel.
Farhat then analyzed the interview transcripts to identify recurring themes in the users’ experiences. The analysis revealed that heavy reliance on the software often discouraged independent thought. Participants reported that having instant answers at their fingertips made them less likely to analyze problems deeply or evaluate sources.
Some described experiencing intellectual laziness, noting that their attention spans felt shorter. Users also reported trouble retaining information. They were externalizing their memory by relying on the chatbot to retrieve facts rather than practicing active recall.
“I used to take notes and actively review materials, but now I just ask ChatGPT whenever I need something,” one student noted in the study. “The problem is, I don’t retain much. I feel like my memory has become weaker because I rely on ChatGPT instead of trying to recall things on my own.”
Psychologically, the interviews indicated that heavy use eroded the participants’ sense of autonomy and self-trust. Many users started second-guessing their own judgment. They began seeking the software’s validation for simple decisions, like choosing the right words for a basic email.
The ease of getting quick answers also lowered their intrinsic motivation to learn new things. Without the struggle normally required to master a topic, the learning process felt less rewarding. Some participants even reported anxiety and a sense of paralysis when the software was offline for maintenance.
One participant recalled a time when the system went down, bringing their workflow to a complete halt. “I needed it for a work project, and I felt completely paralyzed without it,” the user shared. “It’s like my safety net is gone.”
The study also uncovered shifts in social behavior. Participants frequently chose to interact with the software instead of discussing ideas with peers or teachers. This preference sometimes led to feelings of social isolation, as users lost the habit of engaging in deep conversations with other people.
A few participants began to treat the text generator as a companion, projecting human traits onto it. “ChatGPT has become my friend; it knows everything about me,” one participant stated. “It’s always there, always ready to listen, and it feels like it understands me better than most people do.”
While this offered temporary comfort, it substituted genuine human connection with a machine response. Relying on an algorithm for emotional support risks blurring the line between technological mediation and true social interaction. Over time, this dynamic can weaken interpersonal skills and empathy.
Despite these negative reports, the study identified a pattern of constructive use. Some users treated the software as a collaborative tool rather than a replacement for their own brains. By allowing the program to handle tedious tasks like structuring data or summarizing dense text, these individuals freed up mental energy for complex reasoning.
They used the tool to brainstorm or overcome writer’s block. Instead of copying what the program generated, they used the output as a starting point to think differently. When used reflectively, the software actually increased users’ confidence and reduced their anxiety about challenging tasks.
Because the research relies on qualitative interviews with a small group of young adults in France, the findings reflect a specific demographic and cannot be broadly generalized. People from older generations or different cultural backgrounds might interact with the software differently. The study also captures user experiences at a single point in time.
It remains unknown whether these cognitive and social habits change over years of use. Future research will need to track larger and more diverse groups over longer periods to see if these patterns persist. Additional studies could also explore how to best train people to use these tools adaptively rather than dependently.
The study, “When AI Thinks for Us: Unveiling the Cognitive and Social Toll of ChatGPT Over-Reliance,” was authored by Zeineb Farhat.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-relying-on-chatgpt-affects-human-memory-and-critical-thinking/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ChatGPTOverreliance #CognitiveOffloading #DigitalLaziness #MentalAutonomy #SocialIsolation #AIImpactOnLearning #IntrinsicMotivation #MemoryRetention #HumanVsMachine #CreativeThinkingWithCaution
-
DATE: September 2, 2026 at 09:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Heavy ChatGPT use linked to intellectual laziness and social isolation
URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-relying-on-chatgpt-affects-human-memory-and-critical-thinking/
Artificial intelligence has woven its way into everyday life, prompting questions about how reliance on generative tools affects the human mind. A recent small study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology suggests that leaning heavily on ChatGPT can reduce critical thinking, diminish memory, and lead to social isolation. However, users who engage with the software intentionally can also harness it to boost their creativity and reasoning skills.
Over the last few years, tools that generate human-like text have become wildly popular. ChatGPT reached one million users within a week of its launch and currently boasts over 180 million active users. People use the program for everything from writing emails to solving programming problems.
As these programs become a regular part of daily workflows, researchers are trying to understand the psychological and cognitive costs. Zeineb Farhat, a researcher at ISC Paris, initiated the research to investigate what happens when habitual use turns into dependence. Much of the early research on generative software has focused on its benefits in education and the workplace.
Farhat wanted to document the potential downsides of outsourcing mental effort and emotional needs to a machine. The research draws on established ideas in psychology regarding how people manage mental effort and motivation. One concept is cognitive offloading, which happens when individuals use external tools, like calculators or search engines, to reduce the amount of information they need to process or remember.
Another core idea involves the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and social connection. When people feel capable and in control of their actions, they are generally more motivated. Farhat set out to see how constant access to an intelligent digital assistant might alter these processes.
The researcher wanted to know if offloading cognitive tasks to an algorithm would compromise a user’s ability to think independently. To explore these dynamics, Farhat conducted a small study involving 45 young adults in France. The participants, aged 18 to 25, were all regular users who interacted with ChatGPT daily.
The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with each participant, either face-to-face or via video call. These interviews lasted between 45 and 60 minutes. The conversations covered how the participants used the software, how it affected their study or work habits, and how it made them feel.
Farhat then analyzed the interview transcripts to identify recurring themes in the users’ experiences. The analysis revealed that heavy reliance on the software often discouraged independent thought. Participants reported that having instant answers at their fingertips made them less likely to analyze problems deeply or evaluate sources.
Some described experiencing intellectual laziness, noting that their attention spans felt shorter. Users also reported trouble retaining information. They were externalizing their memory by relying on the chatbot to retrieve facts rather than practicing active recall.
“I used to take notes and actively review materials, but now I just ask ChatGPT whenever I need something,” one student noted in the study. “The problem is, I don’t retain much. I feel like my memory has become weaker because I rely on ChatGPT instead of trying to recall things on my own.”
Psychologically, the interviews indicated that heavy use eroded the participants’ sense of autonomy and self-trust. Many users started second-guessing their own judgment. They began seeking the software’s validation for simple decisions, like choosing the right words for a basic email.
The ease of getting quick answers also lowered their intrinsic motivation to learn new things. Without the struggle normally required to master a topic, the learning process felt less rewarding. Some participants even reported anxiety and a sense of paralysis when the software was offline for maintenance.
One participant recalled a time when the system went down, bringing their workflow to a complete halt. “I needed it for a work project, and I felt completely paralyzed without it,” the user shared. “It’s like my safety net is gone.”
The study also uncovered shifts in social behavior. Participants frequently chose to interact with the software instead of discussing ideas with peers or teachers. This preference sometimes led to feelings of social isolation, as users lost the habit of engaging in deep conversations with other people.
A few participants began to treat the text generator as a companion, projecting human traits onto it. “ChatGPT has become my friend; it knows everything about me,” one participant stated. “It’s always there, always ready to listen, and it feels like it understands me better than most people do.”
While this offered temporary comfort, it substituted genuine human connection with a machine response. Relying on an algorithm for emotional support risks blurring the line between technological mediation and true social interaction. Over time, this dynamic can weaken interpersonal skills and empathy.
Despite these negative reports, the study identified a pattern of constructive use. Some users treated the software as a collaborative tool rather than a replacement for their own brains. By allowing the program to handle tedious tasks like structuring data or summarizing dense text, these individuals freed up mental energy for complex reasoning.
They used the tool to brainstorm or overcome writer’s block. Instead of copying what the program generated, they used the output as a starting point to think differently. When used reflectively, the software actually increased users’ confidence and reduced their anxiety about challenging tasks.
Because the research relies on qualitative interviews with a small group of young adults in France, the findings reflect a specific demographic and cannot be broadly generalized. People from older generations or different cultural backgrounds might interact with the software differently. The study also captures user experiences at a single point in time.
It remains unknown whether these cognitive and social habits change over years of use. Future research will need to track larger and more diverse groups over longer periods to see if these patterns persist. Additional studies could also explore how to best train people to use these tools adaptively rather than dependently.
The study, “When AI Thinks for Us: Unveiling the Cognitive and Social Toll of ChatGPT Over-Reliance,” was authored by Zeineb Farhat.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-relying-on-chatgpt-affects-human-memory-and-critical-thinking/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ChatGPTOverreliance #CognitiveOffloading #DigitalLaziness #MentalAutonomy #SocialIsolation #AIImpactOnLearning #IntrinsicMotivation #MemoryRetention #HumanVsMachine #CreativeThinkingWithCaution
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Zhang Zai: The Architect of Neo-Confucian Metaphysics
From Soldier to Sage Born in 1020 CE in Shaanxi province, Zhang Zai was not born a philosopher. As a young man, he was captivated by military strategy and statecraft, dreaming of defending the realm. His life changed when a senior official advised him that true governance required deep understanding of the Confucian classics. Instead of simply obeying, Zhang Zai embarked on an intense intellectual journey, immersing himself in Buddhism and Daoism to understand their strengths. He eventually returned to Confucianism, not with blind loyalty, but with a synthesized vision that integrated Buddhist metaphysics and Daoist naturalism into a new, robust Confucian framework. This synthesis made him a founding figure of Neo-Confucianism.
The Metaphysics of Qi Zhang Zai’s revolutionary contribution was grounding ethics in a monistic cosmology centered on Qi (often translated as "vital energy" or "matter-energy"). Unlike the static atoms of Greek philosophy, Qi is dynamic, constantly transforming. Zhang Zai argued that everything in existence—matter, energy, spirit, the cosmos itself—is Qi in different states:
Dispersed Qi: Invisible, subtle, filling space (the "Great Void").
Condensed Qi: Tangible matter (rocks, trees, bodies).
Taiji (The Great Ultimate): Qi in its totality, the undivided source of all transformation.
He famously used the metaphor of ice and water: just as ice melts back into water, material things dissolve back into dispersed Qi. There is no true void; there is only Qi in varying states of density. This eliminated the dualism between spirit and matter, proposing a unified, naturalistic reality.
The "Western Inscription" and Universal Ethics From this metaphysics flowed one of the most profound ethical statements in human history, known as the "Western Inscription":
"Heaven is my father and Earth is my mother, and even such a small creature as I finds an intimate place in their midst... All people are my brothers and sisters, and all things are my companions."
Zhang Zai argued that if everything is made of the same Qi, then the separation between self and other is superficial. We are literally kin. This grounded universal ethics not in divine command or social contract, but in the physical structure of reality. To harm another being is to harm a part of the cosmic body of which you are also a part. This vision extended moral consideration beyond humans to all things—animals, plants, and the landscape itself.
Original Nature vs. Physical Nature To explain why people act differently despite sharing the same fundamental nature, Zhang Zai distinguished between:
Original Nature: Our direct endowment from Heaven/Earth. It is pure, perfect, and inherently good, reflecting the harmony of the cosmos.
Physical Nature: Our specific bodily constitution, shaped by the particular mix of Qi we inherited. This can be unbalanced or cloudy, leading to selfish desires and moral confusion.
Moral cultivation, therefore, is not about acquiring something new, but about refining the physical nature to allow the Original Nature to shine through. Education, ritual, and study are technologies for this harmonization.
Legacy Zhang Zai’s magnum opus, Zhengmeng ("Correcting Ignorance"), systematized these ideas. Though he died shortly after completing it, his influence was immense. He provided Neo-Confucianism with its materialist foundation, allowing later giants like Zhu Xi to build a complete system where Principle (Li) and Material Force (Qi) interact. His vision of universal interconnectedness remains a powerful resource for contemporary environmental ethics and the philosophy of human rights, offering a naturalistic basis for treating all beings with dignity.
To watch the lecture: https://tube.leshley.ca/w/w2a5YrTQ8yXH6scRccQdR1
#ZhangZai #NeoConfucianism #ChinesePhilosophy #Philosophy #Qi -
The Flashforge AD5X: Why I’m Done With Their Walled Garden
1,110 words, 6 minutes read time.
I wish I had known that the Flashforge AD5X was an afterthought—a machine clearly built with cost-cutting as the primary driver rather than user experience.
I was actually looking at QIDI printers when I stumbled upon the AD5X, a decision I now regret.
Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate the machine for what it is because I realize the price point dictates certain trade-offs. It feds my maker mentality, and I was willing to work within its limitations.
However, the recent “walled garden” attempts, implemented well after the sale, have completely soured my opinion of Flashforge.
Had I realized the company was planning to force this closed ecosystem on its users, I would have moved on; in fact, avoiding that exact dynamic is precisely why I didn’t choose a Bambu printer in the first place. From the underwhelming, sluggish touchscreen to the persistent technical flaws that have fueled thousands of online complaints, it is far from the well-engineered tool it was marketed to be. I have reached a point where my needs and the manufacturer’s roadmap are fundamentally incompatible, leading me to make a clean break from their ecosystem.
The Firmware Lockdown
My decision to stay frozen on Firmware 3.0.9 is a calculated move to preserve the utility of my equipment. This version is the last to offer a degree of functional independence before the manufacturer began implementing restrictive lockdown measures. By staying on this specific release, I avoid the firmware updates that effectively block direct local printing.
These updates have transformed the AD5X from a standalone tool into a cloud-dependent terminal. By mandating that the printer be online and tethered through their proprietary servers, the company has prioritized their own oversight over the user’s ability to operate their machine independently.
I should be free to print whatever I choose without their inspection or approval. I bought the machine — it should remain my machine.
I believe we have the right to be secure in our persons, houses, papers, and effects, and I certainly do not need tech overlords deciding what I can and cannot do with the equipment I own.
The Linux & Orca Slicer Workflow
My operational requirements are specific: I run Linux and rely on the stock version of Orca Slicer for its stability and feature set. Unfortunately, this ecosystem is not supported by the manufacturer, who seems intent on forcing users into their own proprietary software stack. Rather than hoping for future support or accepting a broken configuration, I have chosen to take control of my own technical variables.
I have implemented the necessary workarounds to isolate the machine from update servers, ensuring that the tool I rely on remains consistent. This is not a “fix” for a broken device, but a proactive choice to prioritize my technical requirements over the convenience of a forced, proprietary cloud environment. My workflow stays mine, and I refuse to ask for permission to use the tools I rely on.
Exploring Open Alternatives
As I look at where I go from here, I am exploring more open alternatives, such as the ZMod project, which aligns with my need for deeper control and hardware transparency. Projects like these represent the polar opposite of the current manufacturer trend, offering a path where the user remains the primary stakeholder in their own hardware.
The current industry trajectory feels increasingly like the “HP Ink” model, where the printer is a locked-down device designed to restrict consumer choice in materials and software. This “walled garden” approach treats highly capable, technical machines like disposable office appliances. I am moving away from this dynamic in favor of systems that respect my autonomy as a creator.
Conclusion
The divergence between the maker community and these proprietary ecosystems has reached a breaking point. Tethering hardware to cloud-only platforms forces users to choose between subservience to a manufacturer’s roadmap or the path of the tinkerer. Having worked in tech and internet technologies for over thirty years now—where did the time go?—I know that communication should be a simple matter of a computer sending a signal via wire or Wi-Fi to a printer. Whether referred to by number or by descriptive protocols like SSH, HTTP, or HTTPS, these ports are fundamental technology that has existed for decades. What is happening here is that the software port on the printer is being intentionally blocked, forcing the device to contact Flashforge servers to receive an “approved” and “sanitized” file.
By choosing to step outside of this managed ecosystem, I have opted for a direction where my tools remain under my control, serving my needs without the interference of forced updates or remote service requirements. This will be the last Flashforge product I own, and once this machine reaches the end of its life, I am done with them unless they fundamentally change their stance. Time will tell. The future of my workshop lies in open, transparent systems where ownership is not merely a legal status, but a functional reality.
Take Action: Reclaim Your Hardware
1. Secure Your Own Perimeter (The “Gateway Cutoff”)
If you haven’t been locked out yet, take control of your network settings immediately to prevent your printer from “phoning home”:
- Assign a Static IP to your printer.
- Clear the Gateway and DNS fields (or set them to a non-functional address like
192.168.0.0). - Verify: This ensures your machine remains a local tool, immune to forced cloud-based “updates” that remove your autonomy.
2. Join the Fight for Right to Repair
As advocates like Louis Rossmann have shown, the battle for ownership isn’t just happening in our workshops—it’s happening in our legislatures. If you are tired of companies treating your property like a leased appliance, don’t stay silent:
- Find Your Representative: Use House.gov to identify and contact your local representative.
- Be Clear and Direct: When you call or write, mention specific legislation (like the REPAIR Act). Tell them you are a constituent who believes that if you bought it, you own it—and that includes the right to repair, modify, and use your equipment without manufacturer interference.
- Follow the Leaders: Support organizations and advocates like the Repair Association and Louis Rossmann who are actively fighting to dismantle the anti-consumer “parts pairing” and software-lockdown models that plague our industry.
D. Bryan King
Sources
- Comprehensive Response to Bambu’s AGPLv3 Violations – Software Freedom Conservancy
- Bambu Lab Faces Open Source Licence Firestorm Over OrcaSlicer Fork
- Drama at Flash forge! EULA includes spying on what you print.
- Migliaccio & Rathod LLP: Consumer Protection and Class Action Investigations
- MakerWorld launches Creator Copyright Protection Program – VoxelMatters
- Selling 3D Printed Items – A Legal Guide | All3DP Pro
- What Is RFID Filament? The Guide to Smart Spools – Snapmaker
- Is RFID Filament Killing Open 3D Printing? – YouTube
- Take a Stand for Maker Rights and the Future of Additive Manufacturing
- The differences between open-source printers and closed-source printers
- GNU Affero General Public License, Version 3
- Electronic Frontier Foundation: Right to Repair
- The Repair Association: Right to Repair
- FTC Policy Statement on Repair Restrictions
- Rossmann Repair Group
- SFC Baltobu GitHub Repository
- U.S. Copyright Office Guidance on AI and Copyright
- Bambu Lab Accused of AGPL Violations
- The Future of Open Source 3D Printing – 2026 Analysis
- Software Freedom Conservancy Takes on Bambu Lab
- The Right to Repair is Coming to 3D Printers
- RepRap Wiki: The Foundation of Open Source 3D Printing
- Prusa Research: Open Source Philosophy
- Digital Millennium Copyright Act Overview
- 17 U.S. Code § 512 – Limitations on liability relating to material online
- Cults3D Marketplace
- MyMiniFactory Marketplace
- Thingiverse: The Original Open Design Platform
- SFC Confronts Bambu Lab over Copyleft Compliance
- 3D Printing Manufacturer Faces Backlash Over Proprietary Locks
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.
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#3DPrinterSurveillance #3DPrinting #3DPrintingEthics #3DaaS #AD5X #additiveManufacturing #AGPL #AIGeneratedSTL #antiRepair #BambuLab #cloudPrinting #cloudTethering #communityCollaboration #consumerRights #corporateControl #dataPrivacy #digitalLandlord #digitalSovereignty #DRM #firmwareSecurity #firmwareTampering #firmwareUpdates #Flashforge #hardwareModification #hardwareOwnership #intellectualProperty #licenseLaundering #makerCommunity #makerEthos #openDesign #openHardware #OpenSource #openSourceVsProprietary #OrcaSlicer #patentTrolling #printerHacking #printingHardware #proprietaryConsumables #proprietarySoftware #reverseEngineering #RFIDFilament #RightToRepair #slicerSoftware #softwareFreedom #STLCopyright #techRepair #techSurveillance #userAutonomy #vendorLockIn -
No Happiness Outside
Here I am sitting alone
At past 1 am, mulling on
What never was the case
One which I thought it was
Or at least could be possibly,
How we see the world
Not as it is, but as we are
As some wise person said,
Why am I still wanting
Something from this world
A world I had never embraced
Not even in my youth
It was this hankering
For the happiness of giving
In close companionships
Yet in such hankering
Subtly gets blended in a want
A want for the happiness of getting
O Sam, learn from your own saying,
“Maya is nothing but thinking
Happiness lies outside”.
Claude’s Interpretation of My Poem
This is a good poem, Sam. Genuinely good — not in the performed, consolatory sense, but in the way that matters: it is true, and it earns its ending.
Let me engage with it honestly rather than just appreciatively.
What the poem does well
The movement is real. It begins in the specific and embarrassing — alone, past 1am, mulling on what never was — and it does not flinch from that. “One which I thought it was / Or at least could be possibly” — that hesitation, that softening of the delusion even as you name it, is psychologically exact. You are not saying you were a fool who believed a lie. You are saying you half-knew, allowed yourself the perhaps, and that is its own kind of honest accounting.
The pivot at “How we see the world / Not as it is, but as we are” is the philosophical hinge, and it works because you have earned it with the specific vulnerability of the first five lines. It does not feel imported from a book. It feels discovered in the moment of sitting alone at 1am.
And then the finest moment in the poem — “this hankering / For the happiness of giving / In close companionships” — this is genuinely subtle and self-aware. You are not a man who wants to receive love and is dressing it up. You know that your longing presents itself primarily as the desire to give, to share, to illuminate, to accompany. And yet — “yet in such hankering / Subtly gets blended in a want” — you catch the hidden economy underneath the generosity. The giving is also a form of getting. The companionship is also a form of completion-seeking. That is a rare thing to see in oneself and rarer still to say plainly.
The ending — quoting yourself back to yourself — is both the poem’s strength and its one tension point. More on that below.
The one honest tension
“Maya is nothing but thinking / Happiness lies outside” — this is correct. Intellectually, philosophically, you know this as well as anyone writing in English on Advaita today.
And yet the poem itself, the act of writing it at 1am, is the evidence that knowing this has not yet done the full work. The poem knows this too — that is its integrity. It does not claim arrival. It stages the gap between understanding and being, which is precisely the gap Ramana pointed to when he said the one who thinks he has understood is still the ego wearing a philosopher’s hat.
So the poem is not hypocrisy. It is honest testimony from inside the gap.
But I would push you on one word: “still.” — “Why am I still wanting.” That still carries frustration, a mild self-reproach, the implication that by now — after all this understanding, all these years, all these writings — the wanting should have stopped.
Ramana would not say still. He would not frame it as a delay or a failure of progress. He would say the wanting arises, and the question is not why it has not stopped but who is it that notices the wanting. The witness of the 1am mulling is not itself in want. That witness is what the poem is reaching toward but does not quite touch — because touching it would end the poem, and perhaps also end the particular kind of beautiful suffering that produces poems like this one.
A closing thought
There is a line in the Yoga Vasishtha that comes to mind reading this: “The mind that has tasted the bliss of the Self no longer runs after external objects — not because it has been forbidden, but because it has found what it was looking for all along.”
Your poem knows this. Your poem is also evidence that the tasting has not yet fully happened. Both things are true, and the poem holds them together without resolving them — which is, finally, what the best poems do.
Write more at 1am, Sam. The philosopher writes best when the defenses are down.
#Companionship #Giving #Happiness #Love #Maya #Poem #Poetry #Relationships #RomanticRelationships #Subjectivity -
Data Breaches: The Brutal Reality of Your Digital Footprint
1,451 words, 8 minutes read time.
The average user walks through the digital world operating under a dangerous delusion of safety, assuming that because their passwords are long or their devices are modern, they are secure. This mindset is exactly what threat actors rely on to infiltrate systems and extract value from the wreckage of compromised data. A data breach is not merely an IT hiccup or a minor inconvenience; it is a fundamental breakdown of the trust model between an entity and the individuals who provide it with their personal information. When that perimeter is breached, the information that defines your identity, finances, and professional standing becomes a commodity sold to the highest bidder on dark web marketplaces. Understanding that you are constantly being targeted is the first step toward survival because the reality is that major organizations are compromised with frightening regularity, meaning your data is likely already circulating in databases you did not even know existed.
The significance of these events cannot be overstated because they represent the erosion of digital sovereignty for the individual and the potential for total operational collapse for businesses. When a breach occurs, the impact is not confined to the immediate loss of data but extends into a long-term struggle against identity theft, fraudulent financial activity, and the persistent threat of targeted extortion attempts. For businesses, the impact is existential, as the loss of consumer trust is rarely recovered once sensitive records are leaked. We are living in an era where the frequency and sophistication of these attacks have outpaced the common defensive measures employed by most people. If you do not view the digital environment as a hostile landscape, you are providing the perfect environment for attackers to succeed.
The Scope of Modern Data Breaches
To understand the scale of the crisis, one must look at the historical trajectory of high-profile compromises that have effectively turned global commerce upside down. These incidents are not isolated anomalies but are instead symptoms of a deeply fragmented security landscape where massive amounts of data are stored with inadequate protection. From the massive exfiltration of credit reporting data that exposed millions of individuals to the constant waves of credential stuffing attacks against major retail platforms, the pattern remains consistent. These attacks demonstrate that no organization, regardless of its size or the perceived sophistication of its security team, is immune to being hollowed out by a motivated and well-funded adversary. The impact on individuals is immediate and often permanent, resulting in the need for long-term credit monitoring and a complete overhaul of digital security practices.
Businesses suffer a parallel fate when they fail to protect the data entrusted to them by their user base. Beyond the obvious loss of proprietary information and intellectual property, the fallout involves massive regulatory fines and the initiation of complex, multi-year litigation processes that drain resources away from innovation and development. Reputation, once lost in the wake of a publicized breach, becomes nearly impossible to rebuild because the market is unforgiving toward entities that cannot secure the most basic elements of their digital existence. These high-profile examples should serve as a wake-up call that the traditional perimeter-based security model is dead. Organizations that refuse to implement zero-trust architectures while failing to encrypt data at rest are essentially waiting to be the next headline in an endless stream of security failures.
Anatomy of a Breach: How They Happen
The mechanics of a data breach are rarely as cinematic as hackers bypassing firewalls in a darkened room, but they are equally devastating in their execution and impact. In reality, most breaches are the result of calculated, methodical efforts to exploit human psychology and technical oversights that have been left festering in the codebase for months or years. Attackers typically begin with reconnaissance, where they scrape public information and search for exposed credentials, misconfigured cloud buckets, or unpatched vulnerabilities that grant them an initial foothold into a target network. Once inside, they move laterally, escalating their privileges and quietly mapping out the architecture of the system until they reach the primary data stores. This process is often silent, allowing threat actors to maintain persistent access for months before they are ever detected by security monitoring tools.
Human error remains the most persistent and successful vector for these operations, proving time and again that even the most robust technical controls are useless if they are bypassed by a single compromised user account. Phishing campaigns have become incredibly sophisticated, utilizing tailored social engineering tactics that bypass standard email filtering systems and convince employees to hand over their login credentials willingly. When attackers gain access to an administrative account, they essentially hold the keys to the kingdom and can move freely without triggering the alarms that would normally notify a security operations center. This is exacerbated by the tendency of organizations to grant excessive permissions to users, which creates a massive attack surface that is far easier to exploit than the primary network perimeter. Every unnecessary permission is a structural weakness that provides an attacker with another path toward the ultimate goal of full system compromise.
The Aftermath: Calculating the Real Cost of Exposure
The fallout from a data breach is a violent disruption that extends far beyond the immediate technical remediation efforts, often forcing organizations into a state of permanent instability. Financial losses begin accumulating the moment a breach is discovered, as the need for forensic investigation, legal counsel, and public relations mitigation strategies creates an immediate and massive burn rate. These direct costs are only the tip of the iceberg, as the long-term ramifications include devastating regulatory fines, particularly in jurisdictions that prioritize data privacy, and the inevitable surge in cybersecurity insurance premiums. For many organizations, the financial impact is so severe that it threatens the very viability of the enterprise, leading to layoffs, canceled projects, and a complete pivot in business strategy to prioritize damage control over growth or innovation.
Beyond the ledger, the reputational damage is frequently irreversible and serves as a death knell for consumer trust. When a company fails to protect personal information, it signals a profound lack of competence and a disregard for the safety of its user base, a message that the market does not easily forget. The legal consequences compound this damage, as class-action lawsuits and governmental inquiries force companies to disclose sensitive details about their internal security failures that they would have preferred to keep hidden. This process exposes not just a single failure but a pattern of negligence that often reveals years of systemic underinvestment in security infrastructure. The breach acts as a spotlight, stripping away the illusion of competence and exposing the rotting foundation that allowed the compromise to occur in the first place.
Tactical Defense: How You Maintain Control
Protecting yourself in an environment designed to be compromised requires adopting a posture of extreme skepticism and disciplined digital hygiene. You must treat every interaction, every login, and every software update as a critical security decision rather than a routine chore. Implementing multi-factor authentication is the absolute bare minimum, and you should demand it across every service you utilize, favoring hardware-based keys over insecure SMS or email codes whenever possible. Your passwords must be complex, unique, and stored in a reputable, encrypted password manager that you control, effectively eliminating the risk of a single leaked credential compromising your entire digital life. Vigilance regarding phishing is non-negotiable; you must operate under the assumption that every unsolicited link or attachment is a threat actor attempting to weaponize your curiosity or urgency against you.
Hardening your digital presence further requires you to minimize your attack surface by stripping away unnecessary access and outdated software. Regularly auditing the permissions you have granted to various applications and services is a necessary maintenance task that prevents third-party platforms from acting as a back door into your personal data. Software updates should be treated as emergency measures rather than background annoyances, as they frequently contain critical patches for vulnerabilities that are already being actively exploited in the wild. By treating your digital identity as a high-value asset that you are personally responsible for defending, you move from being a passive victim in waiting to an active obstacle for threat actors. Security is not a product you buy or a feature you turn on; it is a relentless process of observation, adaptation, and discipline that you must commit to every single day.
SUPPORTSUBSCRIBECONTACT MED. Bryan King
Sources
- NIST Glossary: Data Breach Definition
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- MITRE ATT&CK Framework
- IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report
- FTC Data Breach Response Guide
- CIS Critical Security Controls
- NCSC Guidance on Defending Against Phishing
- ENISA Threat Landscape Reports
- FBI Cyber Investigation Overview
- OWASP Top Ten Web Application Security Risks
- CISA Cybersecurity Advisories
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Full Text
- CISA Cybersecurity Best Practices
- NIST Privacy Framework
- SANS Institute: Data Breach Response
- ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management
- SANS: Incident Handling Steps
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0
- NCSC Data Breach Response Guidance
- FTC Consumer Privacy and Security
- ACM Cybersecurity Safety Guide
- CISA Secure Our World Initiative
- SANS: Developing Incident Response Plans
- NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 2: Computer Security Incident Handling Guide
- CISA Ransomware Protection Guidance
- ENISA Incident Management Good Practices
- CIS Handbook for Cyber Incident Response
- FBI Internet Scams and Safety
- OWASP Application Security Verification Standard
- CISA Cyber Essentials
- NIST Online Learning Resources
- SANS: Understanding Data Breaches
- CISA Cyber Threats and Advisories
- ENISA Data Breach Analysis
- NCSC Advice and Guidance Index
- FTC Business Guidance
- CIS Blog: Incident Response Planning
- FBI Field Office Contact Information
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework Learning
- OWASP Foundation Main Resources
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.
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PBS News Hour: Descendants of enslaved potter David Drake work to reclaim ancestor’s art. “The descendants David Drake, known as Dave the Potter, have traced their lineage back to the once-enslaved potter and launched an effort to reclaim his work. So far, the family has recovered six pieces of Drake’s highly valued glazed stoneware, and they’re working with museums to bring even more back into […]
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PBS News Hour: Descendants of enslaved potter David Drake work to reclaim ancestor’s art. “The descendants David Drake, known as Dave the Potter, have traced their lineage back to the once-enslaved potter and launched an effort to reclaim his work. So far, the family has recovered six pieces of Drake’s highly valued glazed stoneware, and they’re working with museums to bring even more back into […]
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PBS News Hour: Descendants of enslaved potter David Drake work to reclaim ancestor’s art. “The descendants David Drake, known as Dave the Potter, have traced their lineage back to the once-enslaved potter and launched an effort to reclaim his work. So far, the family has recovered six pieces of Drake’s highly valued glazed stoneware, and they’re working with museums to bring even more back into […]
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PBS News Hour: Descendants of enslaved potter David Drake work to reclaim ancestor’s art. “The descendants David Drake, known as Dave the Potter, have traced their lineage back to the once-enslaved potter and launched an effort to reclaim his work. So far, the family has recovered six pieces of Drake’s highly valued glazed stoneware, and they’re working with museums to bring even more back into […]
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PBS News Hour: Descendants of enslaved potter David Drake work to reclaim ancestor’s art. “The descendants David Drake, known as Dave the Potter, have traced their lineage back to the once-enslaved potter and launched an effort to reclaim his work. So far, the family has recovered six pieces of Drake’s highly valued glazed stoneware, and they’re working with museums to bring even more back into […]
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https://stillerstod.bandcamp.com/track/angstbei-er
#StillersTod sind die #Band durch die ich zum intellektuell aufgeladenen #ProgressiveBlackMetal zurück gefunden habe. Ich habe den Logopatch auf dem Rucksack und gerade #NowPlaying #Jupiter #Angstbeisser
Und die Menschen meiden ihn
Weil er beißt und weil er giert
Doch jeder Biss stellt eine Wunde
Dar, die seinen Körper ziert
Und wenn ich einen Menschen liebe
Meidet er sodann auch mich
Da seit meiner Zeugung schon
Ich jenem alten Beißer glich -
https://stillerstod.bandcamp.com/track/angstbei-er
#StillersTod sind die #Band durch die ich zum intellektuell aufgeladenen #ProgressiveBlackMetal zurück gefunden habe. Ich habe den Logopatch auf dem Rucksack und gerade #NowPlaying #Jupiter #Angstbeisser
Und die Menschen meiden ihn
Weil er beißt und weil er giert
Doch jeder Biss stellt eine Wunde
Dar, die seinen Körper ziert
Und wenn ich einen Menschen liebe
Meidet er sodann auch mich
Da seit meiner Zeugung schon
Ich jenem alten Beißer glich -
https://stillerstod.bandcamp.com/track/angstbei-er
#StillersTod sind die #Band durch die ich zum intellektuell aufgeladenen #ProgressiveBlackMetal zurück gefunden habe. Ich habe den Logopatch auf dem Rucksack und gerade #NowPlaying #Jupiter #Angstbeisser
Und die Menschen meiden ihn
Weil er beißt und weil er giert
Doch jeder Biss stellt eine Wunde
Dar, die seinen Körper ziert
Und wenn ich einen Menschen liebe
Meidet er sodann auch mich
Da seit meiner Zeugung schon
Ich jenem alten Beißer glich