I just killed my twitter account. I had some good memories from the before times, but the change to allow the AI to do ANYTHING with your info, including private info, was just TOO much. There's privacy concerns, and then there's full on monetization of a person's existence! I couldn't stand by and pretend it would ever get better again, so... it's gone forever. Don't try to contact me there. I won't see it... ever again.

My bluesky address is trejaan.bsky.social. See you there!

Code Reward expiration date
(No code - Receive via the Internet) Mythical Pecha Berry Gift N/A
NE0R0T0MC0VER Neo-Kitakami Case for Rotom Phone N/A?
L1KEAFLUTE Cetitan 31st Aug 2024 - 06:59 PT
SWEET0RSP1CY 1x Sweet Herba Mystica OR
1x Spicy Herba Mystica 30th Sep 2024 - 06:59 PT
TEAMSTAR Revavroom 31st Oct, 2024 - 06:59 PT
SEEY0U1NPALDEA Chest-Form Gimmighoul 30th Nov, 2024 - 06:59 PT
WEARTERASTALCAP Terastal Cap 30th Nov, 2024 - 06:59 PT
SUPEREFFECT1VE Expert Belt 28th Feb, 2025 - 06:59 PT
G0TCHAP0KEM0N 30 Quick Balls 28th Feb, 2025 - 06:59 PT

Two new codes for Pokemon Scarlett and Violet:
Connect to the internet
go to Pokemon Portal
Go to Mystery Gift
Select Code/Password
Type in:
SH1NYBUDDY
NEWM00N1SC0M1NG
Enjoy!

OK, I don't remember the specifics, and I'm too lazy to look them up (if you want to, feel free), but off the top of my head... as I remember it all, this happened about 40 years ago:

Someone in Congress wrote a bill that said basically that EVERYONE in Congress should get a 100% pay raise. Their justification for this? “If we made that much money, we wouldn't be so tempted to take bribes!”

No joke. They actually said that! Try it yourself! Go to your boss and tell them, “I'm gonna need to be paid double so I won't be so tempted to rob this place blind!” and see how well that goes for you.

Anyway, they wrote the bill in such a way that unless it was voted down by the end of some random deadline (in this case, let's say July 1), it would become law.

So, these clowns spent their time until July 1 giving speeches, shouting about how terrible this was... it was a breach of voters' trust... what sort of pathetic wretch would support this... But then on the last day of June, they announced that they were taking the next day off.

They went home. July 1 came and went and the bill passed and raised the pay of everyone in Congress by 100%.

On July 2, Congress came back and UNANIMOUSLY voted down the bill. The bill that had just passed. The bill that it was too late to vote on. That bill.

Why? You ask.

So they could go on the campaign trail and screech, “I VOTED AGAINST THE PAY RAISE!!!!”

This is who they are. This is who they have always been. If you don't give them money, they have no use for you and you don't matter to them.

I TOTALLY spaced while writing the newest chapter (The Season of Two Fleets Chapter 104) and left out the ONE exchange of dialogue I had been looking forward to writing!

I just went back in and added it. It's just after they leave the harbor to go find a new chess set.

Enjoy!

I was just waking up and watched MandJTV's list of Mikey's favorite Pokemon of each type and decided to do my own list. This is just off the top of my head and There will be some headscratchers on the list to be sure. I chose the Top 5 of each type with my fave first and the rest in no particular order. That proved difficult on some Types that I consider trash (Like Bug or Poison or Fairy). Also, no repeats! And No multiples from the same Evolutionary Line! And this isn't my faves in terms of the most powerful from each type, it's more "Which do I most enjoy using" from each. Though, if one proved to be especially (surprisingly) useful, they'll probably be near the top of their Type.

So, with no further ado, here's my list:

Normal
Zangoose
Tauros
Eevee
Teddiursa
Type: Null

Fire
Entei
Arcanine
Sizzilipede
Houndoom
Incinaroar

Fighting
Lucario
Koriadon
Urshifu
Pangoro
Komo-o

Water
Carracosta
Barraskewda
Inteleon
Suicune
Vaporeon

Flying
Noivern
Rayquaza
Archeops
Braviary
Yvetal

Grass
Decidueye
Treeko
Flapple
Gogoat
Meowscarada

Poison
Muk (Alolan)
Toxtricity
Clodsire
Haunter
Roserade

Electric
Boltund
Vikivolt
Ampharos
Zeraora
Luxray

Ground
Garchomp
Groudon
Mudsdale
Flygon
Donphan

Psychic
Solgaleo
Malamar
Mewtwo
Kadabra
Grumpig

Rock
Tyrantrum
Lycanrock (Dusk)
Golem
Tyranitar
Garganacl

Ice
Baxcalibur
Aurorus
Calyrex (Ice Rider)
Chien-Pao
Cryogonal

Bug
Scyther
Golisopod
Araquanid
Volcorona
Caterpie

Dragon
Dragapult
Miraidon
Goodra
Hydreigon
Fraxure

Ghost
Polteageist
Chandelure
Annihilape
Ceruledge
Pallosand

Dark
Zoroark
Mabosstiff
Sharpedo
Zarude
Ting-Lu

Steel
Zacian
Orthworm
Corviknight
Kingambit
Zamazenta

Fairy
Xerneus
Dachsbun
Primerina
Iron Valiant
Tapu Koko


(As you can see, I'm not one of those 'GenOne is PERFECT and everything since then SUCKS' people.)

If I had to list my favorites in order of preference... that's gonna be hard, but here goes:

Zangoose
Boltund
Tyrantrum
Noivern
Carracosta
Solgaleo
Garchomp
Zacian
Decidueye
Lucario
Entei
Dragapult
Baxcalibur
Scyther
Muk (Alolan)
Polteageist
Zoroark
Xerneus

I found myself thinking last night about the time I went to Wolf Park (in Indiana... it was like my dozenth time there) with my current roommate Kurst. I was a sponsor of 2 wolves, so that meant that I got to go INTO the enclosures and meet the wolves in person. Kurst is very into coyotes (a fact that surprises NONBODY who knows him) and became a sponsor for the resident yote (Wild Bill) at the park so he could go in with him.

That first day, his inexperience meant he wore shorts, and you can't wear those when you go in with the animals. Shorts gives a clear line separating them from your skin and that makes the wolves obsess with grabbing them and pulling on them. So, he had to sit out the first day and watch as I went in to visit Tristan.

One of the things you learn before they take you in is that When you're in the airlock waiting for the inner door to open, you need to be DIRECTLY behind the person in front of you so there isn't a gap the wolves can use to sneak into the airlock. (They're not trying to escape, it's just a game for them: How long can they stay in the airlock before the keepers figure out how to get them back in the enclosure? Then, when the door is opened, the first person steps in and then immediately to the side, so the next person can come in immediately.

So, I was like the third person in the line (Nobody EVER goes in with the wolves alone.) and when it was my turn, I step forward and then to the side, and WHAM! These huge white paws are suddenly on my chest and Chetan (AKA Fluffy, mate of Tristan's sister Erin) is leaning in to smell my breath and to "muzzle greet" me. I instantly felt the tension in everyone else go through the roof, but I just started talking calmly to him saying, "Well, yes, I love you too. You smell that? I just had chicken for lunch. Sorry, I didn't bring you any." etc. And while I was doing that and he was licking my mouth, I reached one hand and pet him exactly correctly: Halfway up the shoulder (any higher and they might think you're trying to control their head... they don't like that)

After that, Chetan acted like he had claimed me and wouldn't let Tristin or Erin near me for the rest of the visit.

When Kurst and I were driving back to the hotel for the night, I said something he's never forgotten. I was quiet for a couple of minutes and then just blurted out, "I still taste wolf spit."

All part of the fun of visiting the wuffs!

For anyone playing Pokemon Sword or Shield who wants Victini but doesn't want to stare at nothing much happening on Twitch, the code for the Mystery Gift is:
W0rld22V1ct0ry

If Sucker Punch means the same thing as Cold Cock, does Cold Punch mean the same thing as Cock Sucker?

Also, shouldn't the word be palindromemordnilap?

In case anyone was interested, I have Covid. :(

I'm fully immunized and got the booster as soon as it was available, so it's been fairly mild so far... Cold-like symptoms: Coughing, sore throat, sneezing, mild fever, muscle aches, and just general feeling of BLAH! So much fun.

In case you're wondering, yes I'm sure. My roommate and I got tested on Sunday and got the results back on Wednesday. We're positive.

So, no new chapter for a few more days, at least.

I was at work, thinking of Pokemon (I've already admitted I have a problem). Something occurred to me. You know the old joke that Professor Oak can't even remember his own grandson's name? I suddenly realized: In the original Japanese, the term 'Gary' used for the professor was "Oji-san". Now that does translate as grandfather, but it's also used as an honorific for any respectable older man. So, Gary wasn't actually calling him Grandpa, it was more like sir.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ijocwhx8m.....r%201.wmv?dl=0

You could actually stream from that link, since the actual reading was done in the first hour. Afterwards, she was just chatting and answering questions. If you WANT to see that part, you'll have to download the video, or put it in your own Dropbox.

I'm sure you've seen the pic Rukis posted of Luther in his fencing gear. If you'd like to see the stream she did while working on it, here you go!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2pkm7o7tx.....tream.wmv?dl=0

If you try to stream it from that link it will stop after 1 hour. To see the full thing, you need to download it or put it in your own dropbox.

Rukis streamed herself reading the entirety of her story Dangerous Men last night. If you wanted to watch (and listen) but couldn't make it or forgot (or just wanted to watch it again, I recorded it! You can find it here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1vbhg4o0a.....tream.wmv?dl=0

I've played about 5 hours worth of it so far and gotten a feeling of what it's like so here are my thoughts so far:

First, I was REALLY looking forward to this since I'd discovered that the Pokémon in Isle of Armor scale in level with you, you can go from Wedgehurst to the Wild Area station, turn around and go back to Wedgehurst and go straight to Isle of Armor! That changes EVERYTHING and addresses every complaint I had about Sword and Shield. Play it that way and the game actually FEELS like Pokémon again!

I was hoping it would work like that in Crown Tundra and was therefore somewhat horrified when the first fight you come up against (the one you CAN'T avoid) is Peony and his TWO Level 70 rock/steel types! Yep! The entire DLC is Level Gated! If you cant catch level 60-70 Pokémon, there's not much for you here. It's definitely intended to be post-game content!

Fortunately, I've got several other games where my Pokémon are 80's to 100, so, I've been able to have some fun.

One of the first things you'll get to is a "Dynamax Adventure" where you choose one of three LVL 65 Pokémon to take on 4 Dynamax Pokémon in a row. You get to choose your second and third opponent, kinda the same branching system they used in Norman's Gym in Ruby/Sapphire. Every time you win, you automatically catch the Pokémon and can switch to using IT if you prefer (If you don't, one of your companions mights swap to it). . But, be careful! Two things to remember: 1st) You only get to have 4 on your side faint... during ALL FOUR fights. That means if one fights in all 4 fights, you lose. 2nd) the final fight is against Suicune! Once the adventure is over, you get to keep any ONE of the Pokemon you've caught.

Also, you'll run into Calyrex VERY early, and he's surprisingly polite and well-spoken. He asks you to help him re-inspire the people of the Tundra believe in him once more. So lot's of fetch quests there. And you'll also find sets of mysterious footprints which causes an old friend to show up and help you figure out that 3 legendaries were wandering around and once you find 100% of one's tracks, they can enter the data into their computer and find where the Legendary is! I've found 2 already. Won't spoil who they are, but I've always liked them.

I've also solved the first riddle and gotten into the first temple and caught RegiRock.

LOT's of older Pokémon are back as well, with TONS of Altairia and Jynx in the opening areas.

If you can hang with the big boy (and girls), I think you'll probably enjoy it. I have been and I plan to play more... which means the new chapter may be a few more days away. Sorry, but an addiction knows no limits!

PS
If you have the expansion pass, but still can't get there, quit the game, then highlight it on the Switch home screen and Press the + button. Then choose Update. That should get it downloading for you!

for the Hoenn cap Pikachu the code is
P1KAADVANCE

and for the Sinnoh cap it's
V0LTTACKLEP1KA

For a mystery gift, enter the codes

P1KACHUGET or
1CH00SEY0U

to get two Pikachu's with slightly different hats

WHY did it take me until yesterday to learn of the existence of the GREATEST (non-Rukis) COMICS CHARACTER OF ALL TIME??? That character of course is...

Jake Waffles!

He was originally one of the New Men, a dog man created by the High Evolutionary... who then tried to kill them all... and later joined The New Warriors. But none of that matters! His name is Jake Waffles!!!!!!

https://i.imgur.com/bvMkOne.jpg

I've been continuing that method I mentioned in my last journal about trading pokemon and then breeding the new ones so I can actually use them on my team. Right now, I've got 25 boxes full of pokemon (that's over 750 individual critters), 11 Level 100 shinies that I got from Twitch streamers (a couple of which, I'd be amazed if they weren't hacked... LVL100, shiny, with pokerus and perfect IV's...) and around a dozen others over LVL40... and 8 Master Balls!

All of this before I've EVER entered the third town (Motostoke)!

OK, so... I was playing a new game of Pokemon Sword this morning, and had a bit of a genius brainwave. I had over 100 pokeballs and had a nintendo account linked to my user, so I could do some trading. Normally, when I play pokemon, I make things harder for myself; because I only allow male pokemon on my team. (If I'm gonna be stuck staring at a pokemon's ass during every fight, I want that ass to be male. I'm sometimes TOO gay) But, with an eye toward trading, I started catching females too. This helps in a couple of other ways too, since the chance of winning anything in the daily Lotto is based on the total number of pokemon you have, not the number is species.

"BUT," I hear some of you say. "Don't you know that pokemon that you get in a trade are 'outsiders', and outsiders become difficult to control in battle even IN Gen 8?"

Well, voices in my head, here's where the genius part comes in. Since this IS Gen 8, the Wild Lands are completely broken. You can spend a few hours doing raids and collecting candies and all sorts of stuff to sell... and it's RIDICULOUSLY easy to get around without running into high level enemies who might wipe your team... (If you're really worried about that though, just catch either a Wooloo or a Nickit and put them as your lead pokemon. They can have the ability 'Run Away' which guarantees that you'll escape without problem. And as an added precaution, inside the train station, when you arrive in the Wild Lands, talk to the trainer by the door (the one with a Swinub) and they'll give you 5 Pokedolls. Those (plus the one you can find next to the clothes shop in Wedgehurst) can be used to escape from any (non trainer) battle.

OK, so it's easy to get around and you can get candies and crap to sell... what's so genius about that?

Well, there's a specific destination that you can get to as soon as you enter the Wild Lands. You know that bridge to the east of Motostoke... the one with the guy standing next to it who will basically say, "You will DIE if you cross this bridge! The pokemon over there are REALLY high level and will sweep your team!" (Ooh, scary!) Go across it. Then hug the wall to your right. At the beginning of the brick wall, you find a ball of some sort once per day (It can easily be an ultra ball... and at this point, you can't even buy Great balls). But, don't stop there. Go past the tree, then under the arch... keeping right up against the wall, none of the wild pokemon will even notice you, even if you aren't creeping. Go around the pond... there are 3 Pungent Roots to collect there every day and then keep going along the right hand wall. You'll quickly come to a den and then the Digging Brothers... and you'll already be able to see your destination.

Yep, the Nursery! Technically, you're not supposed to even know this one is here until after you win your third badge and come into the advanced part of the Wild Lands on your way to Hammerlocke. The only nursery you're SUPPOSED to know about until then is the one on route 5!

OK, so you can get to the nursery... big deal! It actually sorta is. Because Pokemon you get from breeding AREN'T considered outsiders and will remain loyal to you no matter their level in Gen 8. You can breed any pokemon and then use EXP candies on it to raise it to Level 100, and it will still follow your orders... even if you don't have a single badge! (told you the Wild Lands are broken!)

But, Tre! Isn't it a chore to figure out which pokemon to breed with the ones you caught? Don't you have to go to Bulbapedia or something to look up egg groups or whatnot? And Can't you only breed for the same species as the mother... so you can't get new pokemon of the same species as the male? Normally, yes... but one of the Pokemon I got while trading was a Ditto: the universal breeding partner! Put a Ditto in the nursery with ANY (non-legendary/mythical) pokemon (ultrabeasts aren't pokemon, shut up), and you'll get eggs for that species out of it...

And, the Ditto I got was from Germany... so every egg I'm hatching (and I'm hatching A LOT) is using "the Masuda Method"!

Basically, there are extremely rare pokemon called "Shinies" because they are differently colored than normal pokemon... that's the only real difference, but some players go NUTS over getting a shiny... since they ARE so rare... normally you have a 1 in 8192 chance of encountering one. (Meaning: you can play through a game entirely, several times, and not encounter a SINGLE shiny pokemon) There are ways built into most generations of the series that make the odds of getting one a bit more reasonable and the most common is The Masuda Method (named for long time game programmer Junichi Masuda). All you have to do is breed two pokemon from different real world regions/countries and it lowers the odds to 1 in 682.7 (in gen 8)!

Haven't gotten a shiny yet, but I've already gotten a male Sizzlipede, Arrokuda, Joltik, Noibat, Lapras and am breeding Axews right now. But it's only a matter of time!

BTW, the friend code of the account I'm using for this playthru is SW-1473-1577-6506. Feel free to say hi to The Duke, if you're around. ;)

Anyone who has been on one of  Rukis's streams will know  Conrock. He's a big fan of hers and has become a moderator on her streams (with me) and is one of my best friends. He has just started writing his own first novel! The first chapter is up here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/36496352/

Go show him some love!

Whenever you're reading any of my stories (or Rukis's either for that matter) change the name Cerberus to "Boaty McBoatface".

My favorite is when Major Foley is leading a counter attack during an enemy boarding:
"Then, with a battle cry of "Boaty McBoatface!", he led his marines to the boarding ramps and dashed across."

L is for Lion
I is for Ion
O is for On and
N... is just an N. Enjoy it.

The model of Farfetch'd in Gen 8 has a look on its face that clearly says, "Alright! I've put up with A LOT of shit over the years and right now, I am precisely DONE! Come at me, bro!!!