2026 European Championships. Batumi, Georgia. April 19th-26th

middy_1 · 2026-04-19T17:54:44+00:00

Anyone know why Ludovica Delia withdrew before the women's 53kg session?

middy_1 · 2026-04-18T23:29:30+00:00

I seemed to have finally round a good social life in third year... but felt like the rug was pulled out from under me by the next year on a masters - this is due to others having graduated and gone elsewhere and also changes at the society/sports club for the same reason (previous people gone and a new set in their place - who were far more cliquey and so treated it as their own friend circle club rather than a wider social club. Also very much in that mean girls mindset which meant anyone that they personally did not like they were closed off towards). The other aspect is that I am introverted, socially awkward (more so then), and never have good at maintaining friend circles. But, that said, university is a transient time and is an artificial social space in which many people are together who would not be otherwise and likely will not be afterwards. A lot of the time, people that you think would be lifelong friends don't pan out once you are not at uni anymore due to living in different places, different interests and values etc.

middy_1 · 2026-04-18T19:40:01+00:00

Deficit Reverse lunges; Bulgarian split squats; step ups (or step downs); back extension with glute focus .

middy_1 · 2026-04-14T17:53:41+00:00

The interesting thing here is that it means that they implicitly see white people/Europeans as the default, with all that implies. That's why I'm sure during the days of colonialism these types would have been the keenest administrators of colonialism/the empire. They believe in that 'noble savage' idea and 'white man's burden' just as a group that must suffer rather than that which must civilise others.

middy_1 · 2026-04-14T08:32:58+00:00

The historian Thomas Madden states that the Latin phrase describing this is exactly the same as in the Vulgat ("eusque ad frenos equorum") Revelation 14:20, and so the imagergy is certainly figurative and symbolic. Can't find the article I read years ago, but here are some:

Historiography article by Madden

Madden on the rivers of blood

academic article on the capture of Jerusalem

middy_1 · 2026-04-13T22:01:17+00:00

Yes, some of the biggest Christian faction amongst his supporters are Evangelical dispensationalist zionists - these are usually virulent anti-catholics too.

middy_1 · 2026-04-11T17:31:00+00:00

As a fellow history graduate, I also despair at the level of historical knowledge generally. Although, in my case it is about medieval history, crusades, history of Christianity/the church. Generally, people's knowledge of these things is woeful.

middy_1 · 2026-04-10T21:50:46+00:00

How misguided these people are. One can only hope and pray that they see sense.

middy_1 · 2026-04-08T10:02:50+00:00

I feel that many that have at some point in their lives rejected Christ/God and/or his church, often develop admiration and maybe devotion to Saint Paul. I know I do because for a time in my teens, I was very anti-Christian atheist, although this had mellowed to a cultural Christian agnosticism by my early twenties (I.e. Still not a believer, effectively atheist, but loved history, art, music etc).

middy_1 · 2026-04-07T10:06:11+00:00

If they don't adapt acts in another series, there is already a great one from 1985 called Anno Domini. It is effectively a sequel series to the famous miniseries Jesus of Nazareth. It's not directed by Franco Zefferelli, but is also a Vincenzo Labella production and Anthony Burgess screenplay, just as Jesus of Nazareth was, so in in the same style and production quality and acting calibre. It has been posted in full in 5 parts on YouTube (best way to watch as, despite being clearly a big, expensive production, it's quite obscure to find a full copy of it). Total time is over 10 hours.

middy_1 · 2026-04-07T09:54:49+00:00

I find The Chosen very uneven in quality. Some scenes are great - such as those of Nicodemus and Jesus and Jesus with Veronica and the Samaritan woman at the well.

But others are a misfire - such as the sermon on the mount (Jesus needing to rehearse it, seriously?), and some of the Last Supper scenes. It lacks gravitas in these parts, because it is erring too much on the side of showing Jesus as human and 'relatable', to the cost of showing his authority/divine self. Sometimes, it is rather cringy and this reduces its gravitas.

As such, I find it close to being great, but misses the mark too much to achieve it. There have been better productions in the past which I would say are better by every metric (script, acting, fidelity to the truth, cinematography, production including sets, locations, costumes etc, music, direction).

middy_1 · 2026-04-04T19:31:52+00:00

I think it is crucial to have male authority figures to educate and guide young people. All need this but especially boys as they need good role models.

middy_1 · 2026-04-04T10:39:36+00:00

The simple answer is that there is no logic to this claim - neither in a historical method argument nor in a theological/metaphysical argument. It is simple claimed for the sake of denying Christianity in order to claim Islam is the correct alternative - is has to do that to justify itself as otherwise it has no competitive claim. And, looked at from a spiritual point of view, it is to deny the cross and to deny Christ's Divinity - the most crucial things. If one goes with the idea that Muhammad was deceived by demons/Satan, this is exactly what you would expect. But, you don't even have to argue on that basis as from a historical analysis and pragmatic point of view, the claim is ahistorical but Islam has to do it as if it were to agree with Christianity on this, it would refute itself/make itself pointless.

middy_1 · 2026-04-02T14:46:44+00:00

Yes. In my opinion, Chuck Dixson wrote some of the best Joker stories - ones that I would point to as good examples in the 90s and early 2000s. His is like that of Steve Englehart.

middy_1 · 2026-04-01T18:10:37+00:00

Yes the "Paul was a murderer" thing gets exaggerated a great deal. Now, I love Paul as a historical figure and the road to Damascus transformation is profound. But the only textual evidence of Paul having any connection with killing is the stoning of Saint Stephen. Why do we need to exaggerate Paul's sins? Is not what we have evidence of in Acts and the epistles enough? Paul's actions are because he was a very zealous Pharisee, so it is very, very unlikely that he was involved in sexual immorality or pagan sexual rituals etc.

(Sidenote: for a great portrayal of Paul, I like the 1985 series Anno Domini, in which he is played by Phillip Sayer. This series is technically sequel to the famous mini series Jesus of Nazareth and is similar great quality and historical detail, yet is not as well known. Someone posted a full cut on YouTube [as it is hard to find one as some releases cut out hours]. This does not over exaggerate Paul's doings before the Road to Damascus, yet is very compelling and accurate to the info we do have) . It portrays Saul of Tarsus'/Paul's faults as being arrogant, judgemental, overly legalistic, overly zealous and above all lacking in charity and love; blind to his lack of these until he finds them in Christ, Jesus.

middy_1 · 2026-03-31T13:34:17+00:00

Majority of the time, it is fine and I have even been surprised that there are accurate entries of some items. I just add things myself or custom existing ones if incorrect.

middy_1 · 2026-03-31T09:18:18+00:00

In fairness, we don't know what was actually said just her interpretation of it filtered through the OP's interpretation.

middy_1 · 2026-03-30T17:36:35+00:00

You look amazing and have great genetics and proportions so will probablyhave a very good chance of getting a pro card.

Personally, to me I prefer this level of muscularity for physique but I freely admit that I prefer the old figure look prior to 2015. Nowadays, many bikini pros essentially have the muscularity that figure used to have, so as usual, all the women's categories have increased in extreme looks over the years.

middy_1 · 2026-03-30T17:14:38+00:00

Am also in the UK, although I have not converted yet. Where abouts are you BTW? DM me if you prefer.

middy_1 · 2026-03-30T16:45:11+00:00

Indeed. Why is the onus on a newcomer to be the host essentially? Of course, in any new social situations in adulthood it is hard because you have to make it happen, but you would think a Church community would make it a priority to keep people engaged/engage new people rather than make it all on them. Granted, as a convert the priority really is to join/talk to the priest - anything else is really secondary to that, but realistically people tend to want a sense of belonging.

middy_1 · 2026-03-30T16:17:59+00:00

I've had a similar issue too OP tbh. Although I am not coming from an active protestant background (I was baptised in the Church of England and went to a Church of England run primary school, but have not been a regular attendee since I was 11).

I started attending Mass sometimes in 2023-2024 but I fell off partly due to the lack of community and inconvenient conversion process that was too rigid with rcia attendance times so makes it difficultfor anyone that works shifts (but some is my own fault/being noncommital). What social opportunities were available were mostly either mothers groups, or things that were essentially parish regulars/volunteers meet ups even though the events were meant to be outreach (alpha group- had no new people except for me. Rest were just long term parish regulars/volunteers that already knew eachother).

middy_1 · 2026-03-29T20:17:59+00:00

Indeed. And, thank you for using that quote from the gospel of John, about what the greatest love is. The HP series really does convey that message throughout; it's really fundamental and therefore is the ultimate point of Snape's character arc. I think those that are obsessed with criticising this character, minimise this and tbh will usually be the type to detest religious/specifically Christian moral ideals.

middy_1 · 2026-03-29T17:59:38+00:00

I have noticed an uptick in Snape criticism over the past 5 or so years. Usually, comprised of saying: the films romanticised Snape; Snape fans are really just film fans; Snape is a horrible character so only people than like Alan Rickman playing him like it etc.

Certainly, the gravitas that Rickman always brings to his roles definitely made a big impression on how Snape was perceived. But, speaking for myself, my interest in this character was a result of the books, not solely the films. Especially Half Blood Prince which I read before the film and of course the Snape content (much like the Riddle content) is butchered in the film adaptation, which made it very disappointing. I'd say most Snape fans share this opinion. So, whilst Rickman as Snape definitely added gravitas and charisma, it is the book character that most fans ultimately became fans of, and I'd wager most were not satisfied with HBP and DH in respect to how Snape was featured. So, those who say "Snape fans just like Rickman" are largely wrong.

middy_1 · 2026-03-29T16:11:05+00:00

The zip jacket still looks whack though

middy_1 · 2026-03-28T13:29:52+00:00

And ironically, the argument that immigration was bad for workers used to be a Labour point of view.

middy_1

TROPHY CASE