Monthly Archives: August 2017

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen review-in-progress – Polygon – Polygon

Posted: August 25, 2017 at 3:57 am

It was around the 20-hour mark that I realized I had been playing XCOM 2: War of the Chosen completely wrong.

You see, when youre playing a game for review theres an urge to see everything. Not in a completionist sort of way, mind you. But you want to make sure that you follow the game around all its twists and turns, scooping all of those nutty experiences out of the bottom of the jar. So in reviewing XCOM 2 two years ago I resorted to save-scumming meticulously saving my game before every battle and painstakingly retracing my steps when something went wrong on a mission.

Not only is that the wrong way to play War of the Chosen, but it very nearly spoiled the game for me. Thats because this time around the team at Firaxis is leaning into the pain and the hardship inherent in their game.

Im not saying that waging a guerilla war against a superior foe from the bowels of a beat up old airship was easy the first time around. But War of the Chosen has transformed XCOM 2 into a taught, nearly roguelike experience. Its simply not the same game anymore.

In War of the Chosen, death is not the end. I know that now, and thats why Im starting over from beginning.

[EDITORS NOTE: This is a review-in-progress highlighting Charlies thoughts on his first 20 or so hours with XCOM 2: War of the Chosen. That opinion and this text are not final and do not represent our final review. Well update this page with further thoughts as Charlie plays more of War of the Chosen and will add a score at that time.]

War of the Chosen is effectively a total conversion for XCOM 2, but the core of the original game is still there. This is clear from the opening cinematic, which leads into the games original opening CGI sequence and tutorial battle. What Firaxis has done is grafted a number of key additions onto an already excellent experience. The DLC fully delivers on its promise with new mechanics to learn, new factions to befriend and deadly new enemies to fight against.

There are the Reapers, a friendly group of ranged fighters that are focused on stealth. The starting character, named Elena Dragunova, comes equipped with a scoped carbine. Shes just as deadly as any Sharpshooter and stealthier by half. Shes able to take one or more actions, including shooting at and killing aliens, before she leaves concealment. Out of the box she is instantly the best recon fighter that XCOM has ever had. And thats before you get to level her up and gain new powers over time.

War of the Chosen boasts performances from no fewer than five members of the original cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Another new face is Pratal Mox. Hes the first member of the friendly Skirmisher faction that youll meet. The Skirmishers are genetically engineered humans, members of the Advent military that have defected and thrown in their lot with XCOM. Mox has a grapple that he can use to reach high places, or to pull enemies toward him for a vicious melee strike. His bullpup rifle is also able to fire twice in one round, making him a nimble flanker.

Over and above these new factions, where War of the Chosen excels is in bringing characters to the fore. Dragunova is voiced by Marina Sirtis, who played Counsellor Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Performing Mox is Michael Dorn, who played Lieutenant Commander Worf. In fact, War of the Chosen boasts performances from no fewer than five members of the original cast of TNG including Jonathan Frakes (Commander William T. Riker), John de Lancie (Q) and Denise Crosby (Security Chief Tasha Yar).

This isnt just a sentimental reunion for reunions sake. All of the actors do an excellent job of pushing the storyline forward.

Oh, by the way ... theres a much meatier story now.

The original XCOM 2 was a sort of race against the clock to prevent the Advent project from getting off the ground. But, truth be told, it never felt like all that much of a threat. Sure, the Avatar projects progress meter would move along every once in awhile, but it didnt feel like anything was really happening when it did.

This time, sitting on your heels is simply not an option. Every mission is important, and every mission has the risk of being especially deadly thanks to The Chosen.

In the Alien Hunters DLC, Firaxis dreamed up a set of powerful boss aliens that would harass players across multiple missions. In War of the Chosen, theyve amped that idea up a notch by borrowing from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordors Nemesis system.

As you do battle against The Chosen their skills improve, making them more and more dangerous over time. The result is that there are now four different timers ticking down, one for the Avatar project and one for each of the Chosen left alive. They are as aggressive as they are cunning, and I have absolutely grown to hate them, and thats something that I love.

War of the Chosen also introduces Bonds. When XCOM operatives go on missions together they grow closer, and formal Bonds allow them to grant each other perks during a mission. Of course, should a bondmate die or get captured (which is also a thing that can happen now, necessitating rescue missions) the survivor will receive an emotional scar that will decrease their combat effectiveness in the future.

As if that werent enough, theres also a new enemy type: The Lost, a zombie-like race of mutated humans that crop up in certain areas around the map. Some missions focus on The Lost, with Left 4 Dead-style last-ditch standoffs and running gun battles through the streets. At other times The Lost just get tossed into the mix randomly. Youll be trying to destroy an objective as quietly as possible to keep them from streaming onto the map, where they cause chaos by attacking Advent and XCOM forces alike.

All of these factors the new factions, the excellent voice acting, the soldier Bonds, The Lost and the new and dynamic mission types combine to create more drama than ever before.

But you wont see that drama if you coddle your soldiers with save-scumming, like I did. This time around, the games Iron Man mode which literally prevents you from saving the game on your own is absolutely necessary. Its the only way to be sure that theres the opportunity to lose the game.

I call it an opportunity because in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, fighting a losing battle might be just as much fun as fighting and winning. It will hurt and my favorite soldiers will die. But when Im done Ill have a much, much more interesting story to tell.

Originally posted here:

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen review-in-progress - Polygon - Polygon

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You say you want a revolution – Boulder Weekly

Posted: at 3:55 am

For journalist and author Don Lattin, the truth used to be simple, or at least it appeared to be. With capital T Truth as his professions first pursuit, Lattins spent a career diligently reporting his stories with a commitment to get at all sides of an issue. Until recently, he always wrote in the third person in hopes of providing expository and unbiased reports.

As a journalist, I am really kind of old school, Latin says. For most of my career, I was a dirty word because its not about me, its about the story.

But whether he likes it or not, Lattin acknowledges that the world of journalism is changing, and fast. Hes ber aware of the rise of the blog-o-shepre, click-bait content and opinion pieces, and he worries that, in general, journalism is becoming too egocentric.

I feel [first person reporting] is often self-indulgent, he says. At its heart, the job is to go out and do actual reporting, which is hard and expensive, but really important. So yeah, you could say I am actually concerned about the direction journalism is going.

It isnt just the macro-level changes that concern him, but specifically how the rise of pseudo-journalism might discredit the more controversial subjects of religion and psychedelics he researches. When dealing with the scientific legitimization of things like God and altered states of mind, it seems to him ever more important to maintain a line of objectivity.

Lattins latest book is a long-form investigation into the ongoing wave of scientific research and an epic attempt to offer in-depth coverage of the ongoing renaissance in psychedelic science. Changing Our Minds: Psychedelic Sacraments and the New Psychotherapy is in essence an unbiased look at the recent history and credible prospects for using MDMA, psilocybin and ayahuasca to treat mood disorders and promote spiritual well-being.

But what started out as a straightforward journalistic pursuit got complicated when he found the scientific community was wrestling with its own questions of objectivity.

In writing the book, I found that there is a debate going on in psychedelic scientific and journalistic circles about how open people should be in talking about their own experiences, especially if you are breaking the law, Lattin says.

As a writer, what I struggled with in this book was when to get in, and when to get out, in terms of my story because it can begin to feel too self-indulgent. You want to be in it, to help the reader connect, but if youre in it too much it becomes self-indulgent.

Ultimately I thought it was important for me to experience the drugs and sacred plant medicines and to include that as a part of the narrative, although in limited measure. In the book, I am asking people to tell me very intimate details about their lives about their addictions, diseases and psychological intimacies. I felt I had to sort of do the same.

Coincidentally or not, considerations of egoism are not just prevalent in the ethical considerations of researchers, but in the nature of psychedelic experiences themselves. In treating certain psychological diseases like, psilocybin-assisted therapy for addiction is that the drugs allow people to transcend their ego.

Scientists think the mystical state achieved by consumers while on psilocybin is, essentially, ego dissolution. That is to say that, by way of the drugs, you are suddenly connected to this bigger thing through which you obtain unitive experiences, a sense of oneness and feelings of gratitude and selflessness.

To be sure, it can go the other way too, as a portion of users report feelings of grandiosity reporting feeling like everything in the world is revolving around them. According to Lattin, to which side the cookie crumbles depends on and speaks to the larger question of the whole human search for spirit thing.

Its like that Beatles song, Revolution, Lattin says. You say you want a revolution? You know, that you want to change the constitution? He pauses to laugh. Well, you know, youd better free your mind instead.

Back in my day, when I first started thinking and experiencing psychedelic culture, that was the idea, anyway before you get involved in politics you need to become more enlightened yourself. Thats all fine and good, but you risk becoming a navel gazer who is too self-indulgent.

It will be interesting to see how the psychedelic community will evolve in that way whether our conversations about evolutions in consciousness will be big enough to consider how it might change our world for the better and not just our own minds.

Clarification and correction: In last weeks column, Star power, the author said the species had no genetic precursors and that there were no near-genetic relatives of the plant. Cannabis sativa has an inconclusive taxonomic organization and evolutionary history and no definitive claims can be made to that end.

Also, Cannabis sativa is not the only plant in existence to display its gender physically as written in the column.

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You say you want a revolution - Boulder Weekly

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I’m a founder of the Satanic Temple. Don’t blame Satan for white supremacy. – Washington Post

Posted: at 3:54 am

By Lucien Greaves By Lucien Greaves August 23 Lucien Greaves is co-founder of and spokesperson for the Satanic Temple, an international nontheistic religious organization advocating for secularism and scientific rationalism.

Soon after the violent white supremacist protests in Charlottesville this month, religious leaders and pious politicians began the usual drudgery of fitting the events into their preferred narratives.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) seized the opportunity to rail against secularism, declaring that the whole thing was but a symptom of a rampant evil that has been allowed to freely permeate public schools unmitigated by the moral corrective of compulsory Bible study.Some Christian leaders, such as Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., said little about the actual events in Charlottesville, but praised President Trumps bold and truthful statement at his news conferencethree days after the protest, which claimed many sides were to blame and that all sides harbored some very fine people. American Family Radio host Bryan Fischer blamed Democrats.

But the consensus among Christian leaders was that Satan was at fault. As Evangelist Franklin Graham put it: Shame on the politicians who are trying to push blame on President Trump for what happened in Charlottesville. Really, this boils down to evil in peoples hearts. Satan is behind it all. Premier Christianity, a popular news and culture blog from a Christian perspective, condemned both white supremacy and Trumps equivocating response to it as Satanic. Similarly, Morgan Guyton, director of the NOLA Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist campus ministry at Tulane and Loyola universities in New Orleans, saw in Charlottesville a manifestation of Satans power. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, denounced white supremacy as Satanism and devil-worship.

[The man who organized the Charlottesville rally is in hiding and too toxic for the alt-right]

As the co-founder of and spokesman for the Satanic Temple, Im naturally irritated by such comments. To many casual observers, there seems to be a tendency to view condemnations of white supremacy as Satanism as a triumph of progressive thought among prominent U.S. Christians. But such language is not harmless. It lets mainstream religions off the hook for some of the darker periods of American history, despite the deep connections between slavery and Christian theology. These leaders invocation of the eternal adversary as a scapegoat comes with darker implicit assumptions that should be confronted and rejected outright.

I identify nontheistically with a Miltonic Satan that defies all subjugation, exalts scientific inquiry and promotes Humanistic, pluralistic values. The Satan of Modern Satanism is a metaphorical icon for Enlightenment values. Satanism adopts a mythological backdrop that we feel is more befitting to modern culture than the monarchical, feudalistic, theocratic superstitions of old. The Satanic Temple, far from endorsing crass nationalistic tribalism, actively fights for individual sovereignty and secular values.

In allowing the colloquial use of Satanic to stand unopposed as a blanket term to describe all that is reprehensible and morally corrupt, one also tacitly affirms the implied opposite, that Christianity defines all that is just and morally sound. Correcting this assumption is more than a matter of embittered punitive nitpicking; its a matter of maintaining fidelity to historical facts so that we might more appropriately confront the dire issues of the present. Its a matter of undermining the destructive certainty of moral authority held by the superstitious.

[Only white people can save themselves from racism and white supremacism]

Slavery in the United States was traditionally and rather credibly, from a theological perspective justified on scriptural grounds. The Ku Klux Klan is as much a religious Protestant sect as the Taliban or al-Qaeda are Muslim. The doctrine of the Christian Identity movement, with its spurious scholarship and militant apocalyptic urgency, forms the ideological backdrop of virtually all white supremacist and extreme anti-government movements in the United States, the Anti-Defamation League writes.

Allowing Christian leaders to merely disown Protestant radicalization by fiat absolves them of having to confront the problem. Its one thing to disagree with the scriptural interpretation of a movement; its another to deny that the movement had any foundations in scriptural interpretations at all. Facing the problem of Protestant racism from within means acknowledging its existence and dedicating a certain amount of energy to maintaining a nonracist church, not merely claiming thatsuch elements exist only when politically convenient.

Its well past time we stopped allowing religious authorities to pretend that their doctrines have guided the rights revolution, when in reality, far too many of them traditionally stalled and crippled it. Without a moments introspection, we find American Christian religious leaders claiming the glory of the 1960s civil rights movement while simultaneously fighting to prevent and undo any advances in rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. As if theyve never been wrong, and failing to be corrected by those who know better, they carry on acting as if right is not defined by that which is equitable, increases happiness, or reduces suffering, but rather is defined by (their interpretations of) what is stated as such in their archaic, yet allegedly infallible, laws.

[White people think racism is getting worse. Against white people.]

Blaming Satan for any misdeeds, real or imagined, has never been a victimless crime. Moores words are the very stuff of witch hunts inspired by a guilty desire to purge ones own sins in a conflagration of the scapegoated other. In fact, Trumps own conspiracy scapegoating, his cozy relationship with deranged paranoia-mongers and his near unanimous support among evangelicals have all unquestionably contributed to the increasing flagrance of the racist right. Blaming Satanism for Charlottesville only adds fuel to the growing flames of conspiracist unreason while shifting responsibility from where it properly belongs.

Finally, it must be said that nothing could be more antithetical to modern nontheistic Satanism than racist ideologies. We embrace a large diversity of individuals from a wide spectrum of political and cultural backgrounds, but were all unified by our respect for individual rights and pluralism. It is axiomatic within Satanism that individuals must be judged for their own actions and for their own merits. To unfavorably relegate individuals into arbitrary categories, or to take credit for the achievements of another based upon a shared classification, is to defy the very foundational principles of our ethics. We simply have no place for simple-minded supremacist, nationalist ideologues, and its impossible to interpret our tenets otherwise.

Ironically, much of what Moore and other preachers of superstition claim to know about Satanism is derived froma mythology constructed from libels against minority out-groups by Christian majorities. Pagans and Jews were early victims of violent purges, their practices deemed Satanic and intolerable. Native Americans and black slaves were often suspected and accused of Satanic activity in Early America. The vision for a Christian Nation, persistently fought for by evangelical theocrats, with its refusal to accept cultural diversity, holds that there is but one right way to live our lives, one lifestyle for all households, only one acceptable religious outlook that should be dictated to the nation at large, one god for one people. Is it really so mysterious that some among them might decide theres a right race as well?

If were going to confront the violence in Charlottesville in any constructive manner, were going to have to do better than the Devil made them do it.

Read more:

As a psychiatrist, I diagnose mental illness. Also, I help spot demonic possession.

What the Pizzagate conspiracy theory borrows from a bogus satanic sex panic of the 1980s

The whole point of Confederate monuments is to celebrate white supremacy

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Wash Post column cheers Satan, jeers Christians – WND.com

Posted: at 3:54 am

WASHINGTON The venerated journalistic institution the Washington Post, which recently adopted the slogan Democracy Dies in Darkness, published acolumn Wednesday by a spokesman for the Prince of Darkness whoblamed Christianity for slavery and white supremacism.

The op-ed by Lucien Greaves, both a defense of satanism and an attack on Christianity, was headlinedIm a founder of the Satanic Temple. Dont blame Satan for white supremacy.

Although slavery was historically practiced by virtually every culture in the world and only stopped by Christians, Greaves revives the argument that blames it on Christians.

In the op-ed, the self-described co-founder of the Satanic Temple:

Greaves begins his piece by taking exception to what he terms a consensus among Christian leaders was that Satan was at fault for the violence and death in the melee between far-right protesters and far-left counter protesters earlier this month in Charlottesville.

Evangelist Franklin Graham had shamed politicians trying to push blame on President Trump.

Really, this boils down to evil in peoples hearts. Satan is behind it all, Graham said.

Greaves said he was naturally irritated by such comments because such language is not harmless.

It lets mainstream religions off the hook for some of the darker periods of American history, despite the deep connections between slavery and Christian theology, he said.

Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple

However, while asserting that slavery in the U.S. was often justified on scriptural grounds, Greaves failed to mention it was Christians who were responsible for ending slavery.

This is one of Satans oldest tricks, asserted pastor Carl Gallups, bestselling author of WND Books When the Lion Roars and The Magic Man in the Sky.

He still uses it so prolifically because it still works so well. It is the tactic of blaming others for that which you are actually, and so obviously, the guilty one, the pastor told WND.

He continued:While it is true that all manner of evil has been carried out in the name of Christianity and the Christian church, the fact of the matter remains neither the teachings of Jesus, the contextual Word of God, or the conduct and practice of true born-again Christians support slavery, white supremacism, or acts of abject terrorism and violence. The exact opposite is the truth.

Indeed, it was Christian activists who ledthe pre-Civil War abolitionist movement in America, as well as the campaign across the Atlantic led by parliamentarian William Wilberforce that brought an end to the slave trade in Britain in 1807.

Also unmentioned by the satanist was the Catholic Churchs long history of opposing slavery, including Pope Benedict XIVs condemnation of it in 1741, Pope Piuss demand for the end of the slave trade in 1815,Pope Gregorys condemnation of the slave trade in 1839 and the same by Pope Leo in 1888.

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) English politician, philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade

Greaves painted satanism as an enlightened and modern culture, as opposed to the monarchical, feudalistic, theocratic superstitions of old.

Calling modern satanism a metaphorical icon for Enlightenment values, Greaves maintained it actively fights for individual sovereignty and secular values and exalts scientific inquiry and promotes humanistic, pluralistic values.

However, even though such Enlightenment philosophers as Montesquieu and Rousseau did attack slavery in principle, Greaves neglects to mention it was only Christian groups that did the organizing and work that actually ended slavery.

Although most Christians in the mid 1700s did accept slavery as a fact of life, that changed entirely on both sides of the Atlantic in just one generation, thanks solely to Christian activism.

The abolitionist movement began in America when Quakers officially renounced slavery in 1754. By the 1770s, they were joined by evangelicals, Methodists and Presbyterians.

It became a mass movement in 1787 when the British Abolition Committee was established.

Abolitionists boycotted goods from slave plantations in the Caribbean, including up to 400,000 Britons who stopped buying rum and sugar.

According to a scholarly paper on the end of the slave trade by professor John Coffey of the University of Leicester, it was the Quakers and the evangelicals who were primarily responsible for the formation of the abolitionist movement, by building a broad coalition that included Whig and Tory politicians, Enlightenment rationalists, Romantic poets and sympathetic journalists.

In addition to attempting to blame slavery on Christians, the satanist Greaves also blamed all modern-day white supremacy in America on something the Anti-Defamation League, or ADL, calls the Christian Identity movement.

However, Greaves neglected to mention the ADL characterizes the group as a small, fringe cult of conspiratorial racists and anti-Semites whose adherents believe that white people of European descent are the descendants of the Lost Tribes of ancient Israel.

From the information provided by the ADL, the Christian Identity movement is not supported by any mainstream or prominent Christian leaders, groups or denominations.

Nonetheless, Greaves blames slavery on Protestant radicalization.

Spanish Conquistadors stopped the Aztec practice of using slaves for human sacrifice

He claimed, The Ku Klux Klan is as much a religious Protestant sect as the Taliban or al-Qaeda are Muslim.

Greaves said allowing Christian leaders to merely disown Protestant radicalization by fiat absolves them of having to confront the problem of slavery.

However, history shows slavery was actually abolished by those same Protestants the satanist blames, as outlined by Coffey.

What we are witnessing, Gallups told WND, in this ridiculous rant by a co-founder of the Satanic Temple is the spirit of Satan himself who is the father of all lies, deception, and wickedness and is also called the accuser of the brethren.

There could not be a more poignant illustration of this fact than this particular Washington Post article, the pastor observed.

History also refutes Greaves intimation that slavery was somehow a uniquely Christian institution and survived though the ages only because of its support.

As Fox News host Tucker Carlson pointed out (in the video at the top of this story) on Aug. 15, following the violence in Charlottesville:

Up until 150 years ago when a group of brave Americans fought and died to finally put an end to it, slavery was the rule, rather than the exception around the world. And had been for thousands of years, sadly. Plato owned slaves, so did Muhammad, peace be upon him. Many African tribes held slaves and sold them. The Aztecs did, too. Before he liberated Latin American, Simon Bolivar owned slaves.

Plato, iconic philosopher and slave-owner

Slave-holding was so common among the North American Indians that the Cherokee brought their slaves with them on the Trail of Tears. And it wasnt something they learned from European settlers. Indians were holding and trading slaves when Christopher Columbus arrived. And, by the way, he owned slaves, too. None of this is a defense of the atrocity of human bondage. It is an atrocity. The point, however, is that if we are going to judge the past by the standards of the present, if we are going to reduce a persons life to the single worst thing he ever participated in, we had better be prepared for the consequences of that. And heres why: 41 of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence held slaves. James Madison, the father of the Constitution, had a plantation full of slaves. George Mason, the father of the Bill of Rights also owned slaves, unfortunately. But does that make what they wrote illegitimate?

Gallups somberly reflected on the Washington Postcolumn, telling WND, The fact that a mainstream media publication has now aided the Satanic Temples distorted message to go worldwide is also an indication of the biblically prophesied demonic outpouring of the last days just before the return of Jesus Christ.

The pastor then shared in detail, just how and why he found the opinion pieceso timely:

This entire article, and the convoluted bluster that it aides in promoting, reminds me of the passage in Revelation that appears to speak of the times in which we are now living: Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.

Two thousand years ago, these words were prophesied in the book of Revelation concerning the last days: Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring those who keep Gods commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

The context of that passage defines the woman as a returned Israel. The rest of her offspring are obviously those who are born again Christians. Now ask yourself, who is it that Satan is most viciously attacking in these prophetic days?

It is none other than the prophetically revenant nation of Israel as well as born again believers and the true church of Jesus Christ, worldwide.

The article by Lucien Greaves does not surprise me in the least. Indeed, Satans time is short and quickly closing in. But, Ive read the end of The Book. I know who wins; and its not Satan or his minions.

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Wash Post column cheers Satan, jeers Christians - WND.com

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Court orders new trial in satanic sacrificial murder case – RT

Posted: at 3:54 am

Published time: 25 Aug, 2017 04:08

Kentuckys highest court has ordered a new trial in the infamous satanic killing case in which two men were convicted of sacrificing a 19-year-old woman and spent some 22 years in prison.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Kentucky vacated Jeffrey Dewayne Clark and Garr Keith Hardins convictions, ordering a new trial after DNA evidence from the 1992 murder was tested with modern technology.

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The new DNA analysis showed the single hair found on Rhonda Sue Warford wasnt Hardins and the blood-stained rag found in Hardins room, wasnt from a sacrificial ritual, but rather from Hardin cutting himself on a chalices jagged edge.

"This is such a glorious day," said Vickie Howser, Hardin's sister, to AP. "After 22 years, it is so about time for him to have a decent life. They took his life away from him for something he did not do."

Hardins girlfriend, Rhonda Sue Warford, was 19 when she left her home in Louisville after midnight on April 2, 1992. She was found dead 50 miles away in Meade County three days later with multiple stab wounds.

Hardin, and his close friend Clark, became the subject of the investigation after Warfords mother told police she believed the boys, and her daughter, were all involved in satanism.

READ MORE: Oklahoma woman fatally stabs daughter in throat with crucifix to rid Satan from her body

Other factors, like Hardins subsequent confession to the murder, and Clarks confession to helping Hardin move the body, were found to have little merit as they were given during parole hearings and were "insincere and contrived admissions, which are induced solely by the yearning to be free."

Hardins attorney, Larry Simon, said he expected Meade County prosecutors to try the men a second time.

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Court orders new trial in satanic sacrificial murder case - RT

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The Devil’s Cradle: The Story of Finnish Black Metal – The Gauntlet

Posted: at 3:54 am

The Devil's Cradle: The Story of Finnish Black Metal is the definitive history of one of the most uncompromising music scenes in the world: Finnish black metal. Based on over 50 interviews conducted by Helsinki-based journalist Tero Ikheimonen between 2014 and 2017, the book unravels the story of Finnish black metal from the late 1980s to modern times.

"Countless of books have been written about black metal over the years, but every time, the Finnish scene has remained merely a side note," says Ikheimonen. "It's an atrocity, since Finland has created some of the world's most renown underground black metal since the beginning; I wanted to fix that. This book is made for the maniacs all over the world."

To be released by Svart Publishing on November 1st, The Devil's Cradle features such bands as Beherit, Impaled Nazarene, Barathrum, Archgoat, Azazel, Diaboli, Darkwoods My Betrothed, Horna, Vornat, Thy Serpent, Wanderer, Urn, Black Dawn, And Oceans, Musta Surma, Alghazanth, Azaghal, Warloghe, Behexen, Clandestine Blaze, Satanic Warmaster, Ride for Revenge, Goatmoon, IC Rex, Charnel Winds, Cosmic Church, Saturnian Mist, Rienaus, and Abyssion among others.

"It was important for me to base the book on the experiences of true underground spirits - black metal musicians, zine authors, and tape traders," Ikheimonen says. "Many stories are told for the first time. I wanted to focus on the music, but not forget the darker side of black metal - all the violence, death, and destruction that have ravaged the Finnish scene. It was crucial to include the spiritual and psychological side of black metal, too. Satanism with all its different notions and the occult are present throughout the book."

The Devil's Cradle was first published in Finnish in September 2016 by Svart Publishing (titled Pirunkehto). The English translation features all the original content and two additional chapters. This edition will encompass 500+ pages and be presented in a hard cover. Chapter excerpts will be periodically revealed HERE.

MORE INFO: HERE!

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The Devil's Cradle: The Story of Finnish Black Metal - The Gauntlet

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Enter the Nihilist Tagline Writer – Digiday

Posted: at 3:54 am

Mark Duffy has written the Copyranter blog for 12 years and is a freelancing copywriter with 25-plus years of experience. His hockey wrist shot is better than yours.

Wherever hopelessness and meaninglessness exist, nihilism breeds. And these days, nearly nothing is as hopeless as the State of the Advertising Tagline. This generations tagline writers arent just writing meaningless taglines. Theyre writing worthless meaningless taglines.

Taglines used to give you real reasons to buy: The One Beer To Have When Youre Having More Than One; Nothing Sucks Like An Electrolux; Let Your Fingers Do The Walking; When It Absolutely Positively Has To Be There Overnight. These taglines didnt just increase sales, they launched and grew companies. They became part of pop culture.

Today? Nothing. And into this creative vacuum has crawled more meaninglessness: ad influencers, sponconners and branded Facebook puzzle posts a 1-year-old can solve.

Also, into this meaningless void comes the Nihilist Tagline Writer (NTW).

What does Be Legacy mean? Arent legacies talked about after someone dies? Therefore, Stellas slogan is, essentially, Be Dead. Pretty nihilistic already. Nietzsche believed to do is to be. But then, he went insane from staring too long into the abyss.

Again, this life insurance sellers motto is already pretty grim, considering the unspoken two words at the end of the line (to death). But the NTW believes the above paraphrasing of a Nietzsche quote makes for a more urgent call to action.

Perfection In Life? Via a ridiculously expensive instrument that pretends to measure time? The NTW posits that perfection in life is when nothing happens. No watch needed, then. (Nihilistic tagline stolen from Thomas Ligotti.)

Impossible is not nothing; it is everything. Athletics is nothing, workouts are nothing, sweat is nothing. You want to wear Adidas while achieving nothingness? Whatever floats your nothing-boat.

Its been said that there is only the self, and the self is always alone. You want to achieve harmony? Dont answer a hundred questions about your self. Just desire nothing, and be nothing.

Open Happiness. That is quite a something-ism. Imagine that: bottling happiness. HA HA HA! Is your name Genie? Maybe Coca-Cola put your name on some of its plastic bottles. But drinking from or rubbing the sugar water receptacle will not make your wishes come true. Unless, you wish for emptiness. (Nihilistic tagline inspired by Fuminori Nakamura.)

The NTW ends with one of the most successful propaganda campaigns in human history: the diamond engagement ring. What power the ring holds. And as every true nihilist knows, the love of power is the demon of mankind (Nietzsche). We also know that we come from darkness, and its where were heading.

Have a nice day.

NOTE: The NTWs sources include this video of 150 Nietzsche quotes and quotes tagged nihilism from Goodreads. The NTW used the font Propaganda for his taglines.

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Enter the Nihilist Tagline Writer - Digiday

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‘HEDONISM’ Search – XVIDEOS.COM

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Considering a weekend in Ibiza? Our guide to the White Isle tells you where to eat, sleep, rave, repeat – Mirror.co.uk

Posted: at 3:54 am

With just a few days to go until Conor McGregor faces off against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, it's no surprise that the UFC Fighter is thinking about how he would celebrate a victory.

And what better place to party than Ibiza?

It's no surprise that Conor has admitted he'll be jet-setting off to the White Isle to celebrate with family and friends, making the most of Ibiza's world-famous nightlife, super clubs, incredible sunsets and stunning scenery.

There's no denying that Ibiza is a bucket list destination that everybody needs to tick off.

And we're not just talking about those looking to party - the White Isle has something for everyone.

So if you have a spare weekend, you should seriously consider a whistle stop tour of of this beautiful Balearic.

Yes, it's synonymous with wild antics, all-night raves and extreme hedonism - and rightly so, as there's plenty on offer for hard partying people.

But there are other sides to Ibiza, too, where memories are made for everyone, young and old.

We've put together the ultimate guide to Ibiza including how to get there and where to eat, sleep, rave, repeat - or even just relax, if that's more your thing.

What's in our guide?

Hotel Es Viv - the art deco haven for health-conscious hedonists

Whichever way you turn, this hotel screams indulgence and style.

Always evolving to accommodate its health conscious, party-going clientele, Hotel Es Viv has perfected its mantra to pamper.

Last year the hotel introduced a wellbeing Balance package which included a 24-hour retox-detox experience. Now, to expand on this it has developed a new spacious gym and yoga/dance studio.

The idyllic art deco inspired hotel won the award for Best Hotel Interior in Spain at the International Property Awards 2016. It was also name Best European Hotel and Best Hotel under 200 rooms at The International Hotel and Property Awards 2016.

If the champagne and strawberries lifestyle is your vibe, then Hotel Es Viv is the place for you. More info here .

Ibiza Rocks Hotel - for the party-goers

Since opening in 2008, Ibiza Rocks Hotel has firmly cemented itself within the Ibiza clubbing community, offering a fresh approach to the partying landscape and serving up groundbreaking events to its loyal following.

More info here

Cafe Bondi it is a new concept in the San Antonio port area, serving meals and drinks that are as tasty as they are healthy and pretty.

From its wide terrace - with the port in view - you'll be able to enjoy all kind of breakfasts made using organic ingredients, as well as fresh fruit juices, homemade, protein packed milkshakes, healthy and traditional toasts and coffees.

More info here .

Simply put, this place is heaven on Earth. The service is magnificent, from the minute you walk down the steps and enter from the beach.

The restaurant has several terraces over different levels and all tables offer a picturesque view of the sea - with a creative cocktail menu also on offer.

The Mediterranean cuisine is done to perfection and caters for all allergies and dieting needs on request.

By night, the place is full of low lights in the trees and has a wonderful atmosphere with chill out music filling the air.

What's more, it also hosts weddings on the beach - Axwell, DJ and former member of Swedish House Mafia, got married here.

Located to the west of the island, near the area of Cap Negret, pencil this in as a must-see place.

Find more information here.

Built in 1901 and set in beautiful landscaped gardens, this converted Villa is the perfect location for an elegant mediterranean dining experience.

With spectacular views overlooking the Marina in San Antonio, Villa Mercedes is an outstanding venue and regarded by many as the jewel in San Antonio.

Kumharas is a restaurant situated in Cala de Bou, just a few metres from San Antonio Bay, and boasts one of the best views of the Ibizan sunset.

Each year it grows and evolves into a magical place where you can enjoy a menu rich in all kinds of cultures. There is also a relaxing chill zone to renew your energy. Find more information here.

A trip to the White Isle would not be complete without experiencing the world famous Cafe Mambo sunset.

This is the best place for an Ibzan sunset, as the crowds all gather and clap in unison to mark the setting of the sun.

Launched in 1994, in celebration of its 22nd anniversary this year, Caf Mambo has since been hailed for its party vibes and most memorable sunset strip in the heart of San Antonio, Ibiza.

True to its family values, the once small Ibizan house has since transformed into a major venue where you'll calibre of star studded names - including last years BBC Radio 1s 20th anniversary - but a laid back vibe, too.

And it is still a cafe.

It continues to operate throughout the day, serving breakfast from 10am and offering a wide lunch and dinner menu late evening, with fresh cocktails to complement the azure backdrop.

Where? Amnesia

When? Every Friday starting on May 19.

Who? Marco Carola | Joey Daniel | Leon | Marco Faraone | Miss Kittin | Jamie Jones | The Martinez Brothers & More

Music On returns to Ibiza for its longest season ever. In the sixth summer at Amnesia, Marco Carola and his flagship artists are delivering a frantic season of 21 dates, which kicked off in May.

Find more information here.

When? Every Sunday

Where? Destino

Who? Guy Gerber | Bill Patrick | Sven Vth & More

Each evening is comprised of two to three acts, evoking the atmosphere of the traditional Ibiza events where there are no headline acts and the artists have the freedom to play longer sets in a relaxed outdoor atmosphere

In the midst of the unique line-ups are some of the biggest names in the industry with appearances from Cocoon head-honcho Sven Vth who will be hosting his own night -, electronic musics rockstar DJ Harvey and the innovative Sci-Tec boss Dubfire.

The impressive melting pot of artists makes Rumors one of the most exciting and forward-thinking residencies this season. Find more information here.

When? Every Monday

Where? DC-10

Who? This years opening party is something not to be missed.

Seth Troxler, The Martinez Brothers, Tania Vulcano, Kerri Chandler, Jackmaster, Ellen Allien, Jamie Jones, Davide Squillace, Matthias Tanzmann, Sossa, Shonky, Clive Henry and Acid Mondays.

If thats not enough to whet your appetite then youll be glad to hear that Damian Lazarus, Marcel Dettmann, The Black Madonna, Dubfire, DVS1, Adriatique, DJ Tennis, Konstantin and Petar Dundov will also be joining the party.

Find more information here .

When? Every Sunday

Who? Solomun & special guests

Where? Pacha

Pachas flagship Ibiza night Solomun + 1 is making a big and bold return in 2017.

It all kicks off on Sunday May 28 and runs until October 15, which will be the very last party on the island this summer.

The concept is simple: the Diynamic label boss plays with a guest of his choosing.

This year, there will be even bigger and better production than ever before to make for a truly unique and immersive house and techno experience at the world famous Pacha.

Solomon +1 is a great opportunity to see the influential house and tech artist play in his natural environment with his closest musical friends.

Often featuring impromptu back to back sets, this really is the finest party in Ibiza and it has been for many seasons now.

Other artists joining Solomun throughout the year include:

Mano Le Tough | Patrice Bumel | me | Damian Lazarus | DJ Hell | Michael Mayer | John Talabot | Dixon | Dubfire | DJ Tennis | Joseph Capriati | Acid Pauli | Butch | Superpitcher | me | Sven Vth | Mind Against | Michael Mayer | Matthew Dear | Konstantin Sibold

More details here .

When? Saturdays

Where? Ushuaa

Who? Andrea Oliva | Groove Armada (DJ set) | Matthias Tanzmann | Maya Jane Coles | Raul Rodriguez | Tapesh

Fronted by Andrea Oliva, the 18-week residency will see Groove Armada and Maya Jane Coles return as brand regulars, as well as Nic Fanciulli, Joris Voorn, Klsch and Steve Lawler who are each set to uphold their ANTS family member status.

House gangsta DJ Sneak represents stateside talent that also sees Kim Ann Foxman and Lauren Lane on the bill, with island regulars Cassy, Matthias Tanzmann and Heidi also in attendance.

UK duo Eli & Fur and Circus boss Yousef are confirmed, while rising stars Solardo make their ANTS debut plus ANTS regulars Tapesh, Uner, Francisco Allendes and Raul Rodriguez.

More details here .

When? Fridays Where? H Ibiza Who? DIMITRI FROM PARIS | ARMAND VAN HELDEN | DAVID MORALES | TODD TERRY | SIMON DUNMORE | DJ PIPPI | BARBARA TUCKER (LIVE PA) | SHOVELL (LIVE ON PERCUSSION)

Glitterbox has announced the Ibiza 2017 season line-up for its new residency at H Ibiza, the brand new superclub by Ushuaa Entertainment.

The club formerly known as Space will be elevated to new heights, with a fresh new look and the most advanced sound and technologies on the island.

From May through September, H Ibiza will play host to the finest selectors from the global electronic music scene. Find more information here .

Exploring the magnificent coastline of Ibiza is an absolute must, so why not do it just before sunset on your own personal boat.

With Sunset Boats Ibiza, you can expect black MasterCraft 255v powercrafts designed to provide both a perfect day trip or cruise platform for up to 10 people, as well as having more than sufficient power for exhilarating rides and water-sports activities.

Theres no better way to experience the famous Ibiza sunset than pulling up alongside Cafe Mambo in your private boat accompanied by sets by world famous DJs.

See more here:

Considering a weekend in Ibiza? Our guide to the White Isle tells you where to eat, sleep, rave, repeat - Mirror.co.uk

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Living the Good Life: Is It Even Possible? – Patheos (blog)

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For He Had Great Possessions by Watts. Creative Commons

We are all seeking to come to terms with the meaning and nature of the Good, the good life, and how to attain it. What is your preferred means of pursuit? A few of the options from which to choose on the ideological smorgasbord conveyer belt are moralism, hedonism, and nihilism:

Moralism: The Good is the Law of Reason. The Good life is the undaunted pursuit of moral order and reason indifferent to pain or pleasure (ex. Stoicism).

Hedonism: The Good is Desire. The good life is the unrestricted pursuit of passion, whether mental or physical. One attains it by throwing off anything that would circumscribe or limit pleasure (ex. Epicureanism).

Nihilism: There is no Good. There is no ultimate meaning in the universe. There is no law of reason or moral order, though there is indifference toward pain and pleasure (ex. Extreme Pessimism). How can anything make a difference, when there is no difference to make? Apathy is all there is. Perhaps, as the Dude remarks in The Big Lebowski, nihilism must be exhausting (Click here). Perhaps it is more exhausting than moralism, hedonism, and other options available to us.

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) appears to me to be a combination of the first two options. It teaches that God will help us when we need him to live happy, fulfilled lives if we do whats right. The ultimate good appears to be pleasure as in happiness. A remote, deistic deity who keeps score helps us pursue happiness if we play by his rules, the laws of the universe that make it hum. While the MTD terminology was introduced around 2005 and addressed a generation of youth and their view of religion and spirituality, it still has a bearing on people of different ages. Just perhaps it can prove useful for a discussion of a young person of a much earlier age or epoch.

The rich young ruler in Jesus day may have been a card-carrying moralist, or perhaps a hedonist in disguise (Matthew 19:1-22). He came to Jesus and asked him, What must I do to be saved? Given that he asked Jesus what he should do, Jesus responded in kind: keep the commandments. Been there. Done that, the man replied. But one thing is left to do to be good, perfect and inherit eternal life, Jesus added: the rich young ruler was to go sell his possessions, give the proceeds to the poor to have treasure in heaven, and. come follow Jesus.

The rich young rulers question What must I do to be saved? might have been an attempt at self-justification, or an indication of a nagging sense that all was not well in his moral universe. In any event, he was pursuing the good life, as he defined it. Yet, he came to Jesus, possibly remotely open to Jesus redefining the meaning of the good life and how to attain it.

Immediately, Jesus asked him a counter question: Why do you ask me about what is good? After all, there was no one good except God alone (Matthew 19:17; cf. Mark 10:18). Either Jesus was discounting the rich young rulers affirmation of him as someone who knew the good, or was pressing the young man to take the affirmation all the way to the bank: that is, withdraw his life savings, place them at Jesus feet by giving away all his proceeds to the poor, and then follow Jesus so that he could be saved. Only the Goodthat is Godcould make such a daunting call and audacious claim. I believe the latter of these two possible reasons was the basis for Jesus question.

I also believe Jesus wanted the rich young ruler to collide with his approach to the good life, and realize there was nothing he could do to save himself. As Jesus responded to his own disciples following this encounter, when they asked him who could be saved if a rich man couldnt (who in their minds must have been good and affirmed by God because he was blessed with riches!), apart from God, it is not possible for anyone to be savedespecially the rich (Matthew 19:23-30). One must depend completely on Gods merciful and gracious call, respond, and follow.

Perhaps the rich young ruler went away so shaken that he became a nihilist, despairing of any meaning or hope of attaining the good life. Perhaps he realized that while he wanted his riches more than Jesus and eternal life, his riches were empty and void. As exhausting as nihilism is, perhaps its more honest than many other isms combined, including stoicism and epicureanism. If so, perhaps the rich young ruler and the rest of us who come to this realization are halfway to the truth of knowing what the good life is and how to attain it on the other end of despair.

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Living the Good Life: Is It Even Possible? - Patheos (blog)

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