skidelf

[skidelf]

I’d like to offer one (1) commission giveaway of a 4-5″ diameter comic portrait embroidery, like one of the embroideries above, because it’s real darn neat to have hit the 10k followers milestone. 🤗🥰

If you’re interested:  (1) Gotta follow me bc that’s the whole point (2) Like and/or reblog this post, and reblogs count as 2 entries (meaning you could enter your name up to three times by both liking and reblogging ❤️✅ 🔁✅✅)

On Saturday, 21 March 2020, I’ll create a numbered list from all the likes & reblogs and use a random number generator to choose a winner. I’ll reach out to the winner via tumblr messages. 

Thanks again for following me. I’m glad you enjoy my comics embroidery 💖

[skidelf]

Pleasepleaseplease

[skidelf]

Here's hoping!

reblog and make a wish! this was removed from tumbrl due to “violating one or more of Tumblr’s Community Guidelines”, but since my wish came true the first time, I’m putting it back. :)

[skidelf]

[skidelf]

Ravin’ Girls S2 Ep.24: Dangerously Hipster Tendencies

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 24, where we cover Chapters 31-33 of The Dream Thieves!

The Dad-friend leaves town for a party and everyone goes crazy! Ronan uses his dream-keys to start the Pig and illegally takes Matthew back to their childhood home, Blue and Noah poke into all the crevices of Monmouth and get frisky on Gansey’s bed, and meanwhile the only bright spot for Adam and Gansey is an old guy talking about pigeons. Shannon talks about the car she wishes she could take out of her dreams, Nievita gets caught up in the physiology of ghosts, and we both give our picks for Gansey’s favorite Beatles’ song. Plus, you get DOUBLE the DEEP DIVE!

DEEP DIVE: PIGEONS!!! And… Sir Thomas Malory (from approx. the 12:01 minute mark to 25:11, depending on your player)

[skidelf]

AI does not understand “sexy”

Machine learning algorithms can uncover complex patterns in the data they see, making them useful for image recognition, predicting customer service questions, or recommending movies. They can even do a decent job at naming craft beers, kittens, or guinea pigs. But one thing it turns out they’re bad at? Understanding what humans find sexy.

I had my first sign that this was a problem when I trained a neural network to generate new Halloween costumes and saw its attempts at the “sexy” category of names - it came up with ideas like Sexy Gargles, Pretty zombie Space Suit, and Sexy the Spock. So when Scarlett O'Hairdye contacted me saying they were putting together an AI-themed burlesque show (yes you read that right), and asked me to train a neural network to generate possible names for the show… I knew the neural network was going to be in for a confusing time.

Now first let me talk about burlesque. If you’re not familiar with it, think feather boas, ruffled skirts, and fishnet stockings. These days, themed burlesque shows are all the rage, with names like “That Ass, Poor Yorick” “Star Trek: The Sexed Generation” and “Burl-X Files”. Scarlett provided me with 450 examples of existing shows and yes, the neural network proceeded to get very confused.

One thing it tried was making up words that sounded to it like sexytimes. It made no sense, but it was strangely adorable.

Booky Ampitions - A Stravaganza Starstox! A Burlesque 2 Booms A Shagack! SPOW! Holiday Fishing Glasties off! Moosters, A burlesque tribute Homper Gurder Burlesque Show Show! Thag Ag After Dark Woncerless! Boodnass Tronpboons if Mongerland Bonshows of thong Yes of Nevering Eightthows! MACTAON! A Nighty Boosh Burlesque! Deeptert! “Thawls of Vinderland II - A Burrrrs?! Burlesque Revue” BUR! The Sexed Garks of Burlesque Adventure

Sometimes the sexy-sounding words it generated were already other words. For some reason it was trying hard to make vases sexy. It has an even harder task ahead of it with its other favorite words, “warts” and “fart”.

My 2017 Farty Burlesque Adventure Vase Burlesque Revue The Warts of Burlesque! The Wonderland - March of Farty Fundraiser Teaks of Fame Legends Tree! A Burlesque Revue Vase Show Gourdraiser! Sex-Pone Cabaret Sticker Burlesque Burlesque Show The Pans of The Panners Burlesque Revie The Adomic Eso Space Scream Show The Hare and the Rare and the Mar Chas Burlesque Revue Farty Fasties: A Burlesque Show The Rank Show Vase & Show Vase Farts The Stripper Stripper Dave Burlesque Show Adventure To Burlesque Came Farts of Burlesque Revue Seattle Burlesque Show & Tangy Future and Warty For the Blue Door

Here I think it was trying to spell “boobs” or maybe “bombshells” but had a bit of an issue.

Burlesque Bonbs and Constray Burlesque Borbshells Burlesque Borbs and Monstrous Burlesque Show Bolbshells!

Other times it got the words right, but used them rather… unskillfully.

Sex Your Eye Out! The Parts and Burlesque Revue The Sexed Show The Pank: A Burlesque Revue Peepsing Tarts Burlesque Show A Hot Care Show! Well New Cheapless! The Sexies of Burlesque Revue The Hand Show Burlesque Show About Your Peek Show Derrierer: A Burlesque Show Cone With 9s Cabaret Derriere The Pants of Fame Burlesque Adventure

And the name that was chosen? May I present to you the first-ever AI-themed burlesque show: 

My Rear’s On the Sexy

If you are lucky enough to be in Seattle, WA on July 21, 2018 (and are over 21), you can experience some of the strangest sexytimes that technology has to offer. Tickets!

And if you’d like to join my mailing list, you’ll get some examples of what happened when I trained a neural network on burlesque show names - AND ice cream flavors.

[skidelf]

Listen/purchase: Ravin' Girls Episode 15: Full (Ritual) Circle by Ravin' Girls: A Raven Cycle Podcast

Ravin’ Girls Ep.15: Full (Ritual) Circle

Episode Summary:

Welcome to Episode 15, where we cover Chapters 44-48 of The Raven Boys!

Here we are, at the end of the first book of the Raven Cycle and the end of our first season of The Ravin’ Girls! Join us as the earth shakes, bad guys quake, animals stampede and visions take heed. Adam makes his sacrifice and gains a leafy new best friend and Ronan admits that Chainsaw is a cliffhanger ending--leading us directly into Season 2: The Dream Thieves. Oh, and Shannon drops a piece of knowlege that has Nievita questioning everything she thought she knew about their friendship. Revelations and new beginnings, indeed!

No Deep Dive, but we do have an informal discussion about the podcast and Seasons 1 & 2, starting at 56:12 (depending on player)

Subscribe at: https://ravingirls.podiant.co or wherever you get your podcasts, and please comment, rate, or review!

- - - - -

Next Episodes:

HIATUS-- We will be taking a short break between Season1: The Raven Boys and Season2: The Dream Thieves -- stay tuned to social media & subscribed to our feed for giveaways and announcements!

Past Episode Guide: https://ravingirls.tumblr.com/episodes

Follow Us:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ravingirls

Tumblr: https://ravingirls.tumblr.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ravingirls

WordPress: https://ravingirls.wordpress.com

- - - - -

Links to Articles, Websites, and Other Discussions:

Redrum, reference to Stephen King’s novel The Shining: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redrum

REDRUM scene from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining: https://youtu.be/FLjixsUEj5E

“Ditto” scene from “Ghost” https://youtu.be/wL0icPzCZOs

Why doesn’t Whelk notice that Adam seems to know Noah: http://emmerrr.tumblr.com/post/174024414179

The Wild Hunt: http://maggie-stiefvater.tumblr.com/post/129499160881/maggie-my-love-will-you-show-us-more-of-your

Horned man saves Gansey: https://www.flickr.com/photos/maggiestiefvater/21384728159/in/album-72157658805538906/

Vault liners: https://www.memorials.com/blog/why-do-cemeteries-insist-on-burial-vaults/

Survivor’s Guilt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_guilt

Deleted scene from TRK, Ronan in a suit: http://maggie-stiefvater.tumblr.com/post/153239570701/ive-often-been-asked-to-release-the-hundreds-of

Original end to TRB: https://substanceparty.tumblr.com/post/166625454538/maggie-stiefvater-shelfconsciouskatie

**MAGGIEWATCH**

Maggie has announced a few personal appearances over the next few months. As always, you can find those listed on her website at https://www.maggiestiefvater.com/appearances/

Announcements:

We will be taking a brief break between Seasons 1 & 2 (well, we won’t--but there will be a break in our release schedule!) Please keep an eye on our social media for announcements of when we will be back, and stay subscribed for teasers and other promotional information!

- - - - -

Acknowledgements: The Raven Cycle and all affiliated properties (The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and The Raven King) are copyright Maggie Stiefvater and Scholastic, Inc. The Ravin’ Girls reference these properties for the purpose of literary analysis. Intro and Outro music by Damiano Baldoni, used under CC Attribution License: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Damiano_Baldoni/Lost_Dinasty/

The original tracks have been edited for the podcast.

Ravin’ Girls logo and banner art © 2018 Mio Mäkijärvi, All Rights Reserved. Please visit  http://kojotei.tumblr.com/ for more information.

- - - - -

[skidelf]

100% me as a bird.

IT’S NAME IS FLOP

[skidelf]

Listen/purchase: Ravin' Girls Episode 13:Triskaidekaphobia by Ravin' Girls: A Raven Cycle Podcast

Ravin’ Girls Ep.13: Triskaidekaphobia

Episode Summary:

Welcome to Episode 13, where we cover Chapters 36-38 of The Raven Boys!

While 13 is generally one of Nievita’s favorite numbers, this episode feels very unlucky indeed. We take a dark ride through the confrontation between Adam and Robert Parrish and the immediate aftermath--and while we do cry, it’s possibly not as much as we thought we would. We tackle some pretty heavy topics such as the responsibility of Adam’s mom, Ronan’s expression of his pain and frustration, the protection that white privilege affords some of the characters, and how Gansey’s own parental emotional neglect may have played in to his responses (but does not excuse his victim-blaming.) Strap in, my friends… you know it’s a tough one when Whelk is the comic relief.

WARNING: These chapters deal with the direct result of domestic abuse. Please practice self-care while listening. We love you!

Subscribe at: https://ravingirls.podiant.co or wherever you get your podcasts, and please comment, rate, or review!

- - - - -

Next Episodes:

6/7/18-- Ravin’ Girls Episode 14, covering chapters 39-43 of TRB

6/21/18-- Ravin' Girls Episode 15, covering chapters 44-48 of TRB

Past Episode Guide: https://ravingirls.tumblr.com/episodes

Follow Us:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ravingirls

Tumblr: https://ravingirls.tumblr.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ravingirls

WordPress: https://ravingirls.wordpress.com

- - - - -

Links to Articles, Websites, and Other Discussions:

Story structure: https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/

Freud’s theory of the Id, Ego, and Super-Ego: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id,_ego,_and_super-ego

HIPPA privacy protections: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/488/does-hipaa-permit-a-doctor-to-discuss-a-patients-health-status-with-the-patients-family-and-friends/index.html

A post from Maggie about Adam and his recovery from abuse: http://maggie-stiefvater.tumblr.com/post/121382807521/hi-maggie-saw-that-adam-v-his-father-post-and

The likability of Gansey vs. Adam: http://maggie-stiefvater.tumblr.com/post/115211556436/i-am-always-surprised-to-see-how-much-hate-there

Maggie’s favorite bit of writing in the Raven Cycle: http://maggie-stiefvater.tumblr.com/post/128040788706/first-your-posts-are-amazingly-helpful-and

National Domestic Violence Hotline (online chat available): http://www.thehotline.org/

Help for friends and family of abuse victims: http://www.thehotline.org/help/help-for-friends-and-family/

RAINN (rape, abuse, and incest national network) (24/7 chat available): https://www.rainn.org/

What to do (and what not to do) if a friend is in an abusive relationship: https://nurselofwyr.tumblr.com/post/102127422584/selfcareafterrape-selfcareafterrape-i

Announcements:

We have an amazing new logo! Please visit http://kojotei.tumblr.com/ or https://twitter.com/tinlitheeum to see the artist’s other work, and please support them however you can! Thank you, Mio!

- - - - -

Acknowledgements: The Raven Cycle and all affiliated properties (The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and The Raven King) are copyright Maggie Stiefvater and Scholastic, Inc. The Ravin’ Girls reference these properties for the purpose of literary analysis. Intro and Outro music by Damiano Baldoni, used under CC Attribution License: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Damiano_Baldoni/Lost_Dinasty/

The original tracks have been edited for the podcast.

Ravin’ Girls logo and banner art © 2018 Mio Mäkijärvi, All Rights Reserved. Please visit  http://kojotei.tumblr.com/ for more information.

- - - - -

Tags: trc, the raven cycle, the raven boys, ronan lynch, maggie stiefvater, episode13, Ravin’ Girls: A Raven Cycle Podcast, ravin’ girls, raven cycle podcast, podcast, ya lit, literary analysis, trb, tdt, dream thieves, bllb, blue lily lily blue, trk, raven king, gansey, richard campbell gansey iii, adam parrish, blue sargent, noah czerny, gangsey, tw:abuse, content warning, domestic abuse

[skidelf]

Awww.... Thank -you- @substanceparty for finding these books! I love them too or I wouldn't have agreed to doing a podcast! I love you N! And thank -you- @alchemicalwords for being an awesome listener. I am glad I can bring some enjoyment to you. *S

This was the face of desperation, my friends. This was the cry of a drowning woman. This was one year ago today, when the seeds for the podcast were planted.

Thank you, *S, for rescuing me! 💙💙💙

(Ravin’ Girls: A Raven Cycle Podcast)

[skidelf]

(Found this little pendant today and it inspired Goblinweek day 2. Alice was not sure what to think. She wasn’t sure how to react. She wasn’t even sure if she COULD react. In fact, she wasn’t even sure her name was Alice. Actually, she was pretty sure it wasn’t. She had been playing hide-and-seek with some friends, and had tumbled out of the hedges into a well-maintained garden. This in itself was terrifying enough (all that... order... ugh!) but then.. Then some humans came along and started insisting they knew her. They grabbed her before she could get away, poking and prodding and chiding, talking over and ignoring her protests. “Alice, you will come inside this instant! The photographer will be here any moment!” “Honestly, your parents will be furious! Look at your clothes! You were supposed to be changed into your new frock ages ago!” “And what have you been doing? Are those twigs in your hair? Heavens above, but you’re hopeless, child.” And so, Alice went, or rather was dragged, kicking and screaming, into the house.  Even above all the ruckus, however, she could hear a chuckle from the bushes. And she was pretty sure she caught a glimpse of sunlight caught on a strand of golden hair. Things were even worse once Alice was forced inside. She was stripped down, given a (ugh...) bath, and her hair was washed and combed. It was no use protesting that she’d been working on the tangles for weeks. In fact, that merely made the woman brush more furiously. Her comfortable, loose fitting clothes were gone. The soft towel was nice, but it was quite temporary. Then Alice gaped in horror at the restrictive, frilly thing the woman began to force her into. She had heard of dresses, even seen them from afar, but never, ever had she been made to wear one. It itched, and pinched, and made it hard to breathe. And yet each time Alice protested, or tugged, or tried to loosen it, the woman scolded and smacked Alice’s hands away. Finally, Alice was lead to a stuffy room where an uncomfortable chair was waiting for her. “There, now, Alice. You look quite nice,” the woman said. “Sit down there, and smile while the photographer takes your picture.” Alice took the seat with trepidation. She looked up, and there was a strange contraption right in front of her. As she looked at it curiously, a man popped out from behind it. “Come, dear, don’t look so...” Startled, Alice jumped up, toppling the chair. She backed as quickly as she could away from the man.” “Alice, what on Earth is wrong with you? Fix that chair, apologize to the gentleman, and sit back down! And you will sit still and smile until he’s finished his work, or you will not be allowed to play outside for a week!” Terrified at the prospect of being trapped inside for an entire week, Alice did as she was told. She sat, on the hard chair, for what felt like hours. What magic have I gotten myself into? Alice thought to herself as she forced a smile. Surely I can’t look that much like this Alice child they think I am. My skin is green! My ears are pointed! And can’t they see my tusks?” Finally, the photographer was done. Alice was free to run back outside, where she hoped the real Alice would be waiting. The portrait is a family heirloom to this day. They say it somehow perfectly captured the young Alice’s mischievous nature. However, if you know just how to look, you can see through the glamour to the goblin underneath.

[skidelf]

(Ran across this pendant today, and it became the inspiration for the story below, which is my #goblinweek day 2 contribution)

Alice was not sure what to think. She wasn’t sure how to react. She wasn’t even sure if she COULD react. In fact, she wasn’t even sure her name was Alice. Actually, she was pretty sure it wasn’t.

She had been playing hide-and-seek with some friends, and had tumbled out of the hedges into a well-maintained garden. This in itself was terrifying enough (all that... order... ugh!) but then..

Then some humans came along and started insisting they knew her. They grabbed her before she could get away, poking and prodding and chiding, talking over and ignoring her protests.

“Alice, you will come inside this instant! The photographer will be here any moment!”

“Honestly, your parents will be furious! Look at your clothes! You were supposed to be changed into your new frock ages ago!”

“And what have you been doing? Are those twigs in your hair? Heavens above, but you’re hopeless, child.”

And so, Alice went, or rather was dragged, kicking and screaming, into the house.  Even above all the ruckus, however, she could hear a chuckle from the bushes. And she was pretty sure she caught a glimpse of sunlight caught on a strand of golden hair.

Things were even worse once Alice was forced inside. She was stripped down, given a (ugh...) bath, and her hair was washed and combed. It was no use protesting that she’d been working on the tangles for weeks. In fact, that merely made the woman brush more furiously.

Her comfortable, loose fitting clothes were gone. The soft towel was nice, but it was quite temporary. Then Alice gaped in horror at the restrictive, frilly thing the woman began to force her into. She had heard of dresses, even seen them from afar, but never, ever had she been made to wear one. It itched, and pinched, and made it hard to breathe. And yet each time Alice protested, or tugged, or tried to loosen it, the woman scolded and smacked Alice’s hands away.

Finally, Alice was lead to a stuffy room where an uncomfortable chair was waiting for her.

“There, now, Alice. You look quite nice,” the woman said. “Sit down there, and smile while the photographer takes your picture.”

Alice took the seat with trepidation. She looked up, and there was a strange contraption right in front of her. As she looked at it curiously, a man popped out from behind it.

“Come, dear, don’t look so...”

Startled, Alice jumped up, toppling the chair. She backed as quickly as she could away from the man.”

“Alice, what on Earth is wrong with you? Fix that chair, apologize to the gentleman, and sit back down! And you will sit still and smile until he’s finished his work, or you will not be allowed to play outside for a week!”

Terrified at the prospect of being trapped inside for an entire week, Alice did as she was told. She sat, on the hard chair, for what felt like hours.

What magic have I gotten myself into? Alice thought to herself as she forced a smile. Surely I can’t look that much like this Alice child they think I am. My skin is green! My ears are pointed! And can’t they see my tusks?”

Finally, the photographer was done. Alice was free to run back outside, where she hoped the real Alice would be waiting. The portrait is a family heirloom to this day. They say it somehow perfectly captured the young Alice’s mischievous nature. However, if you know just how to look, you can see through the glamour to the goblin underneath.

[skidelf]

Apparently it is #goblinweek . Here is yesterday's attempt at a goblin. I will link today's in a moment.

[skidelf]

Good people aren’t wealthy.

[skidelf]

Awesome! Super helpful, actually.

I hadn’t seen this infographic posted on Tumblr so I decided to post it here!

[skidelf]

Listen/purchase: Episode 4: No Object Permanence by Ravin' Girls: A Raven Cycle Podcast

Ravin’ Girls Ep.4: No Object Permanence

Episode Summary:

Welcome to Episode 4, where we cover Chapters 12-14 of The Raven Boys!

So, who’s a socially awkward shitbird? Well, all of the characters, really, but Whelk in particular. In this episode we discuss Ronan and Gansey as old marrieds, Whelk being a genuinely distasteful human, how no one in the town of Henrietta seems to possess object permanence, and how sometimes your first instincts to help a situation are the wrong ones.

DEEP DIVE: Dowsing and pendulums

WARNING: These chapters deal with the direct result of domestic abuse. Please practice self-care while listening. We love you!

Subscribe at: https://ravingirls.podiant.co or wherever you get your podcasts, and please comment, rate, or review!

- - - - -

Next Episodes:

12/7/17-- Ravin' Girls Episode 5, covering chapter 15 of TRB

and a

SPECIAL EPISODE RELEASE-- covering the Raven Cycle Holiday Short Stories on 12/21/17!

Follow Us:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ravingirls

Tumblr: https://ravingirls.tumblr.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ravingirls

WordPress: https://ravingirls.wordpress.com

- - - - -

Links to Articles, Websites, and Other Discussions

Dowsing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing

Complete translation of Georgius Agricola’s De re metallica: https://tinyurl.com/y8uwqwcr

Metallica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhT0g9jULpw

Dowsing tools in historical contexts: https://dowsers.org/dowsing-history/

Source of quoted poem by Samuel Sheppard: https://tinyurl.com/yb6fvvav

“How To Dowse” video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbwo0YCpV3E

Ideomotor Effect: http://www.critical-thinking.org.uk/psychology/the-ideomotor-effect.php

How to use a pendulum for divination: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Pendulum-for-Divination

Map dowsing techniques: http://discoveringdowsing.com/map-dowsing-techniques/

“Oh No Ross & Carrie” Dowsing and Pendulum episode: http://ohnopodcast.com/investigations/2014/1/1/ross-and-carrie-strike-water-dowsing-and-pendulum-edition

Coming Apart by Charles Murray (incorrectly identified in the podcast as a Sociologist, he is a Political Scientist): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/119020/coming-apart-by-charles-murray/9780307453433/

“Do You Live In A Bubble” quiz based on Charles Murray’s book: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/making-sense/do-you-live-in-a-bubble-a-quiz-2

National Domestic Violence Hotline (online chat available): http://www.thehotline.org/

Help for friends and family of abuse victims: http://www.thehotline.org/help/help-for-friends-and-family/

RAINN (rape, abuse, and incest national network) (24/7 chat available): https://www.rainn.org/

Maggie’s post about piracy and its effect on release of her other books:  http://maggie-stiefvater.tumblr.com/post/166952028861/ive-decided-to-tell-you-guys-a-story-about

**MAGGIEWATCH** Maggie’s tour dates for All The Crooked Saints: https://www.maggiestiefvater.com/appearances/

- - - - -

Acknowledgements: The Raven Cycle and all affiliated properties (The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and The Raven King) are copyright Maggie Stiefvater and Scholastic, Inc. The Ravin’ Girls reference these properties for the purpose of literary analysis. Intro and Outro music by Damiano Baldoni, used under CC Attribution License: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Damiano_Baldoni/Lost_Dinasty/

The original tracks have been edited for the podcast.