#30 day gravitation challenge

[feelingsofaithless]

30 Days Music Challenge {2024 Edition}

↪ Day 20: A song by an artist with a voice that you love → Gravitate – Melissa Bonny It's a rollercoaster, baby Yeah, it's the fucking road to Hell and back And I don't think you'll make it out alive Oh, oh yeah it would kill you to try

[robreyart]

Dance 24 x 30 in, Oil, 2016

The dance of galaxies is at once both fast, slow, and ever so graceful. It’s gravitational choreography challenges our every day concept of time. While our solar system races with a speed of 220 km/s (490,000 mph) in orbit around the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way is so vast that it still takes 240 million years to complete one orbit - far longer than humans have existed.

In about 4.5 billion years, long after we and the Earth are gone, the Milky Way is predicted to be joined by a new dance partner, the Andromeda Galaxy. As spiral arms swing wide with fluid vigor, they will gracefully collide and become one. Yet even in such a cataclysmic union, there is so much space between each star that the collision of individual solar systems is unlikely. Stars will simply slip past each other and begin a new gravitational dance.

Prints: https://robrey.storenvy.com

[pinkchampagne]

♡ 365 Soft ♡

Pink Champagne's Personal Development Plan

updated december 6, 2024

this is my version of 75 Hard, modified for a realistic approach to long-term personal development and self-improvement. though i was inspired by the structure of 75 Hard, this isn't a short-term challenge. i've organized this plan as a lifestyle blueprint that can be continued for longer than 75 days.

unlike a crash diet or a challenge intended to be started and stopped over and over again, this set of guidelines can be easily implemented into one's life, and here’s why:

i will not lie and say i don't care about physical appearance, but the focus of this strategy is to feel better and improve overall health. my plan explicitly outlines which foods to gravitate towards and which to cut back on. there are no bad foods; this is just what works for me.

crash diets and workout challenges might produce the superficial results you want, but implementing a health strategy that focuses on the big picture is more beneficial in the long run. i’m easing into it, allowing cheat days, and not setting a 75-day timeline. give yourself grace and celebrate your wins.

i love the basic concept and structure of 75 Hard, however, progress pictures are generally most helpful for those who are trying to improve their physical appearance. since this is a long-term plan prioritizing health over appearance, i replaced this section with one on consistency in general, focusing on routines and habits. i also added a self care section because that’s extremely important to me. i will continue updating this post.

with healthy habits comes a healthy body and mind. take care of yourself and you will reap the benefits, mentally and physically.

🫧 DIET

alcohol:

weekends only

never alone

water between drinks

no shots/shooters/bombs etc.

5 drink limit

be mindful of who you're with; do they encourage good habits/behavior?

cut back on the following significantly:

sugar

dairy

carbs

red meat

processed foods

caffeine

exceptions: feta, parmesan, greek yogurt, kefir, mayo, bacon, honey, matcha, celcius

notes:

begin taking marine collagen and chlorophyll for skin and hygiene

increase fruits and veggies: romaine lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers are my focus right now.

increase protein intake: chickpeas, peanut butter, eggs, black beans.

honorable mentions: oats, blueberries, avocado, sweet potato, carrots, broccoli, spinach, kale, white meat, kombucha

🫧 WATER

100 oz a day. i'm purchasing a brita faucet filter and a new water bottle to encourage this goal.

🫧 WORKOUT ROUTINE

mondays, wednesdays, fridays:

30 donkey kicks, each side

30 fire hydrants, each side

3x

tuesdays & thursdays:

30 second plank

30 second side plank, each side

30 crunches

3x

notes:

sometimes i do my ab workout on saturday or sunday as well to get a third one in.

i plan on working cardio and physical therapy exercises into this routine eventually.

i’m thinking of purchasing a home pilates reformer!

🫧 SELF CARE

skin

wash face twice a day + use zit stickers

rhassoul clay/charcoal/honey face masks

sheet masks

actually use my quartz roller

ice roller, gua sha, steamer

red light therapy!!

body

exfoliating body scrub

first aid beauty kp bump eraser for legs

glycolic acid for legs + under arms

pumice stones for feet

misc.

continue getting hair cut every month and a half

be more consistent with brow waxing

get rid of old clothes + build new wardrobe

🫧 KNOWLEDGE AND GROWTH

daily podcast playlist

personal development podcasts & youtube - listen to at least one ep/vid a day

date yourself instead podcast – lyss boss

hail yes podcast

hailey gamba on youtube

thewizardliz on youtube

tam kaur youtube + self obsessed podcast

books - 30 minutes a day

freedom is a constant struggle - angela davis

a people's history of the united states - howard zinn

i'm taking book and podcast recs!

🫧 CONSISTENCY

follow budget

follow morning, evening, bedtime, and weekend routines

meal prep for weekday lunches: couscous salad with chickpeas, feta, sundried tomatoes and white wine vinegar + lemon juice dressing

create & post content every day ♡

[rosesnbooks]

Astrology readings

STATUS:OPEN

disclaimer: i am not a professional! i have been reading about astrology for 5+ years and i do this for fun and to help people out in my own way

🌹basic birth chart reading (it will cover your character, how people see you, who you are when you're with the closest people + your hidden emotions, your communication style and how your mind works, how you behave when in love, and what you want from a partner, your ambitions and drive, ways to achieve more luck, things you're good at regarding your character and abilities and what you need to work on) €12 (4 pages)

🌹birth chart reading (contains all of the things mentioned in the basic birth chart, but it is more detailed) €15 (5 pages)

📖 romantic reading (what kind of a partner would be good for you, people you usually attract, what you want from love, and what you give in return) €6 (2 pages)

📖 personal development reading (your virtues, flaws and challenges you face, how you could work on some things based on your chart) €7 (2 pages)

❤️20% discount on Saturdays only for all the above-mentioned readings

❤️30% discount if i was recommended to you by someone whose reading i once did

× if you're interested, please follow these rules ×

🥀contact me via email rapkookie2@gmail.com, and let me know you're interested in a specific reading or DM me here

🥀send me your birth info! (date, place of birth, hour)

🥀wait for my answer and when i reply, send me the payment via PayPal.

🥀once i've received the money, wait a bit and you'll receive a reading. my assumptions are that it will take me a week most

🥀like/reblog this post!

🥀leave feedback after the reading

Extra info:

-please do not ask me to add anything extra to your reading, since i have clearly stated what i offer. also, do not contact me for a discount on any other day besides Saturday

-the romantic and personal development readings are naturally included in the birth chart readings because i cover these topics too. but, i know that it is pricey for many to pay for a birth chart analysis, which is why i included them as separate readings as well

-be respectful and patient! and a brief disclaimer: i am self-taught when it comes to astrology, so take everything i say with a grain of salt. that being said, i do have skills that i developed over the years (in my humble opinion)

-you'll notice that my readings tend to be more personal. i think that's just because of my sensitive nature, so i tend to gravitate toward personal topics. keep that in mind love, i only mean well

-no refunds! i put time and effort into the readings

💌Feedback💌

- which I received from people during astrology ask games when I analyzed their charts + feedback from paid readings

- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Looking forward to hearing from you!❤️

©rosesnbooks

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Uranus' moon Miranda may have an ocean beneath its surface, study finds

A new study suggests Uranus' moon Miranda may harbor a water ocean beneath its surface, a finding that would challenge many assumptions about the moon's history and composition and could put it in the company of the few select worlds in our solar system with potentially life-sustaining environments.

"To find evidence of an ocean inside a small object like Miranda is incredibly surprising," said Tom Nordheim, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, and co-author of the study published in The Planetary Science Journal.

"It helps build on the story that some of these moons at Uranus may be really interesting—that there may be several ocean worlds around one of the most distant planets in our solar system, which is both exciting and bizarre."

Among the moons in the solar system, Miranda stands out. The few images Voyager 2 captured in 1986 show Miranda's southern hemisphere (the only part we've seen) is a Frankenstein-like hodgepodge of grooved terrain quartered off by rough scarps and cratered areas, like squares on a quilt. Most researchers suspect these bizarre structures are the result of tidal forces and heating within the moon.

Caleb Strom, a graduate student at the University of North Dakota who worked with Nordheim and Alex Patthoff of the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona, revisited the Voyager 2 images. The team set out to explain Miranda's enigmatic geology by reverse engineering the surface features, working backward to uncover what the moon's interior structure must have been to shape the moon's geology in response to tidal forcing.

After first mapping the various surface features like cracks, ridges and Miranda's unique trapezoidal coronae, the team developed a computer model to test several possible structures of the moon's interior, matching the predicted stress patterns to the actual surface geology.

The setup that produced the best match between predicted stress patterns and observed surface features required the existence of vast ocean beneath Miranda's icy surface some 100–500 million years ago. This subsurface ocean was at least 62 miles (100 kilometers) deep, according to the study, and hidden beneath an icy crust no more than 19 miles (30 kilometers) thick.

Given Miranda has a radius of just 146 miles (235 kilometers), the ocean would have filled almost half of the moon's body. "That result was a big surprise to the team," Strom said.

Key to creating that ocean, the researchers believe, were tidal forces between Miranda and nearby moons. These regular gravitational tugs can be amplified by orbital resonances—a configuration where each moon's period around a planet is an exact integer of the others' periods.

Jupiter's moons Io and Europa, for example, have a 2:1 resonance: For every two orbits Io makes around Jupiter, Europa makes exactly one, leading to tidal forces that are known to sustain an ocean beneath Europa's surface.

These orbital configurations and the resulting tidal forces deform the moons like rubber balls, leading to friction and heat that keeps interiors warm. This also creates stresses that crack the surface, creating a rich tapestry of geologic features. Numerical simulations have suggested that Miranda and its neighboring moons likely had such a resonance in the past, offering a potential mechanism that could have warmed Miranda's interior to produce and maintain a subsurface ocean.

At some point, the moons' orbital ballet desynchronized, slowing the heating process so that the moon's insides started to cool and solidify. But the team doesn't think Miranda's interior has fully frozen yet. If the ocean had completely frozen, Nordheim explained, it would have expanded and caused certain telltale cracks on the surface, which aren't there.

This suggests that Miranda is still cooling—and may have an ocean beneath its surface even now. Miranda's modern-day ocean is probably relatively thin, Strom noted. "But the suggestion of an ocean inside one of the most distant moons in the solar system is remarkable," he said.

Miranda wasn't predicted to have an ocean. With its small size and old age, scientists thought it would likely be a frozen ball of ice. Any leftover heat from its formation was assumed to have dissipated long ago. But as Patthoff pointed out, predictions about ice moons can be wrong, as evidenced by Saturn's moon Enceladus.

Before the Cassini spacecraft arrived in 2004, many scientists thought Enceladus was a frozen ball of ice and rock. But it was actually harboring a global ocean and active geological processes. "Few scientists expected Enceladus to be geologically active," Patthoff said. "However, it's shooting water vapor and ice out of its southern hemisphere as we speak." Enceladus is now a prime target in the search for life beyond Earth.

Miranda might be a similar case. It's comparable in size and composition to Enceladus, and according to a 2023 study led by APL's Ian Cohen, it may be actively releasing material into space. If it has (or even had) an ocean, it could be a future target for studying habitability and life. However, Nordheim cautions that there's still too much we don't know about Miranda and the Uranian moons to speculate about the existence of life.

"We won't know for sure that it even has an ocean until we go back and collect more data," he said. "We're squeezing the last bit of science we can from Voyager 2's images. For now, we're excited by the possibilities and eager to return to study Uranus and its potential ocean moons in depth."

Revealing the secrets of Uranus' icy moons

Uranus' icy moons have fascinated scientists ever since Voyager 2 captured stunning images of them, and valuable data about them, during its brief flyby in 1986. This latest study, led by Caleb Strom and APL's Tom Nordheim, is part of a broader effort at APL to uncover the secrets of these mysterious moons and the unusual planet they orbit:

2023: A team led by APL's Ian Cohen reanalyzed particle and magnetic data from Voyager 2's flyby and found Uranus' moons Ariel and Miranda may both be releasing material into the space environment around Uranus, possibly through plumes.

2024: APL's Richard Cartwright used observations of Uranus' moon Ariel by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to conclude the moon may have a subsurface ocean that's replenishing its surface deposits of carbon dioxide ice—a topic he presented at the recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

IMAGE: Uranus’ icy moon Miranda, captured by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft on Jan. 24, 1986. Credit: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Caltech

[ryuichirou]

Replies

Short replies! As many as I can write in 30 minutes! Let’s goooooooooo

Anonymous asked:

Deuce should have put a ring on his mom if he didn't want anyone to flirt with her. she's free for picking

Yeah, by the time Deuce figures it out there’s going to be a line of people who want to put a ring on his mom, and I stand in this line too.

Anonymous asked:

Which anime characters do you love drawing the most?

This is such a difficult question to answer, I can’t pick 😭 Pretty much every title that we watch or read or play has a bunch of characters that I adore drawing, but I guess I gravitate towards characters with long hair and unusual hairstyles or outfits?? I also feel the urge to try to draw a character when they are out of my comfort zone, which doesn’t mean that I always do it or good at it, but I always have fun drawing stuff in a different art style (like the guys from Scott Pilgrim),with complicated outfits (like Barok van Zieks) or with mechanic parts (like Ortho!)… but the last one is pretty recent, I just noticed that I kind of enjoy drawing it. I guess I love a challenge? In a way? It’s just more fun that way.

By my comfort type of character and a default option would be a gloomy boy/girl in a hoody, my heart is always smiling whenever I draw this type.

Examples of some of my faves throughout the years (without twst): Levi (SnK), Ainosuke (sk8), Killua (HxH), Shiroba (DMMD), Apollo Justice (AA), Geto (JJK)… this is just a few of them.

I also still think that Prussia from Hetalia is our ultimate boy because I’ve been drawing him for about 15 years now lol

Anonymous asked:

Omg, your boob post,bless u... What would Riddle think of her childhood friend having those honkers though?? (Also, her burying her face in those tits or fondling them with curiosity lol)

Ahh thank you so much, Anon!! <3

I still giggle every time I think about how we ended up with poor Riddle being surrounded by busty girls, I swear it wasn’t intentional. But the more I think about it, the funnier and more Freudian it gets… what an aggressive way to heal mommy issues and an acute deficiency of tight hugs.

To answer your question, I think Riddle was kind of surprised when she saw Trey after being separated because she didn’t think boobs could get that big. Logically yes, it makes sense, but seeing it in person is different. Riddle always does her best to be proper and act like a lady, but I can imagine her eyes sliding down all the time during their first conversation. Trey would absolutely notice…

Riddle is indeed very curious, and it’s pretty obvious, but she would never talk about it or even ask to touch Trey’s boobs, but maybe one day… you know, for science… or Trey is just going to offer it herself lol save that girl, Trey.

Honestly? If Riddle could just bury her face in Trey’s chest for a minute or two, I think a lot of her tantrums would just… not happen. She would be so calm…

Alright, now Trey owes this to humanity.

blackbutlerfandomnerddomain asked:

Why do I deeply headcanon Night Raven Collage have orgies? I kind of blame you

😭Look at us being the worst influence on this fandom LOL

Ironically, I don't think we ever talked about orgies and such?

NRC might have a secret student society for orgies though...

Anonymous asked:

Eric Venue can get it though 🥵

And he did! That’s how we got Vil 🥰

hipsterteller asked:

Have you seen Vil’s father?! And why do I get a feeling you might be putting him and Trein together?

Yes, we have! He looks great, and based on everything we’ve seen and heard so far (as always, we aren’t watching the event just yet), he is everything we wished and expected him to be, so I’m very satisfied hehe.

I don’t know about your feeling though, do you want us to? 👀 Is it because of another certain stylish young man?

We don’t know who we’re going to ship Papa Schoenheit with though, only time will tell…

Anonymous asked:

just wanted to say i absolutely adore your Ortho x Vil stuff!

Thank you so much, Anon!! <3 I am very happy that you love them!

Anonymous asked:

Do ya think Sebek has fantasies ab breeding Malleus

Kind of talked about it here!

But also in general, I feel like Sebek has all kinds of dreams about Malleus, like he wouldn’t dare to actively fantasise about it, but his mind keeps showing him so many naughty scenarios that he finds it very difficult to look at Malleus after that sometimes…

Anonymous asked:

Do you guys ever think about how Floyd would try to breed Riddle?

Because he probably didn't understand how human bodies work at first (was probably taught but got bored listening)

Floyd probably like : Where the baby bump?

Then Riddle would be like : Baby bump? I can't have babies -

*insert small sad Floyd in eel form here*

Awwww, poor eel, he was so sure that he found his mate 😔 Keep trying, buddy, maybe you’ll get him next time. Or the time after that. Basically, just keep mating with him until you change his entire anatomy lol

We haven’t really thought about this specific theme, but we did talk about Floyd being in heat and being all over Riddle, so at least there’s that!

Anonymous asked:

Hello!!  Iirc, you guys don't read the TWST mangas or light novel right?  There's a bit in the new 4-koma manga I'd thought you'd like: Rook, Leona, and Idia have to paint something and then make it move with magic.  Rook paints himself about to shoot an arrow that always aims at Leona.  Then the Rook in the painting comes to life and terrorizes the Savanaclaw students, so Leona smacks Painting!Rook with his canvas where P!Rook decides to stay.  Leona's okay with it cause it means he doesn't have to paint anything.  Idia's just there to judge I guess.

(new head canon, Leona's a pillow princess)

Hi Anon! Yeah, I heard that they’re making a 4-koma manga, and even though we don’t read any additional twst material, I really love that they’re making it! I love 4-komas, they’re silly lol

The one that you described is golden and pretty in-character; god poor Idia who had to witness all that lol I love that just running around and shooting beast boys is pretty much Rook’s entire essence…

It also makes sense that Leona would do something like this omg, paint your own picture you lazy bitch 😭

(also not a headcanon, Anon, this is 100% factual)

Anonymous asked:

I….That anon was….personally offended by a headcanon? I’m so confused…

(related to this reply)

Maybe?? I don’t know, but they weren’t rude about it or anything, so I hope it’s all good.

Anonymous asked:

Jade can gaslight me all he wants…

Don't encourage him, Anon... he is already very ill-behaved.

Anonymous asked:

Jinx from Arcane looks like Idia’s long lost sister.

Don't know much about her other than her design and some bits and pieces of her story, but Idia with two pigtails would look very cute.

[catsteinbooks]

Good Omens 30 Day Challenge! (x)

Day 8: Favorite Angel (not Aziraphale)

Look at them! They're so darn cute!

Seriously, Muriel is sweet and kind. They're helpful and enthusiastic. They're lonely and the other angels look down on them and ignore them. They deserve a hug. Muriel's good heart, curiosity, and fascination with Earth are enormously endearing. They fear doing the wrong thing, like all the angels do (damn you, oppressive Heavenly bureaucracy), but when faced with a choice, they instinctively gravitate toward doing the right thing. When Crowley insists on being taken to Heaven, Muriel frets about it, but still helps -- because they see Crowley as Crowley, not as "a demon" like the other angels do. Metatron might call them "dim", but really they see so much more than most angels do. They see outside the system and the black/white thinking. Makes you wonder how they ended up a 37th level scrivener, doesn't it?

[nuuralshams]

13.04.2023 - Day 36/42

Our office is moving because the gvt is demolishing our current building, and my colleague packed and sent over my stuff at the office. Pictured is almost 4 years of meeting notes, to do lists and braindumps 💭 I also had a super productive day wrapping up my tasks because I'm going to be utilising my sick leaves from the medical certificate I got from the doctor for the remaining days of my cast :)

Ramadan Challenge 2023

Ramadan Day 22/30: What is something you always miss about Ramadan when it’s over? / What do you think you might miss this year?

Definitely the "spirit" of Ramadan, that feeling that motivates all of us to strive to do our best in terms of worship and also in terms of our character this month. The way you gravitate towards good deeds and to better your akhlaq, it's truly special during Ramadan and in sha Allah, it lasts with us after Ramadan too. And also, the way there's more focus on family and community as well.

As for this Ramadan, it's a different one indeed and selfishly speaking, I think I might miss being exempted from kitchen duties when I have to do it next year 😂 Also will definitely miss all this extra time and freedom I got for worship as well as leisure 🤍

[stormxpadme]

Whumptober 2023 | Scogan Bingo challenge MASTERLIST OF ALL MY WHUMPTOBER 2023 SCOGAN STORIES PLEASE NOTE: STORIES OF DAY 7 - 31 DOUBLE AS ENTRIES FOR THE SCOGAN BINGO CHALLENGE, ROUND 1 (SBC_005)

Day 1 - NOW THAT WE'VE LOST THE MOON (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Safety Net”, additional content for Whumptober 2023)

Day 2 - ALASKA ON MY MIND (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Thermometer”, additional content for Whumptober 2023)

Day 3 - SMOOTH IMPROVISING (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Make it stop.”, additional content for Whumptober 2023)

Day 4 - REFRACTIONS (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “I see the danger. It’s written there in your eyes.”, additional content for Whumptober 2023)

Day 5 - HAPPY FUCKING NEW YEAR (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Pinned Down”, additional content for Whumptober 2023)

Day 6 - A VARIANT OF HAPPINESS (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Made To Watch”, additional content for Whumptober 2023)

Day 7 - PICK YOUR BATTLES (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Alleyway”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Holding Hands”)

Day 8 - STILL ON THE CLOCK (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “'It's all for nothing.'”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Caresses and Kisses”)

Day 9 - NO GETTING TOO COMFORTABLE (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Mistaken Identity”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Pillows”)

Day 10 - REAWAKENING INSTINCTS (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Broken Phone”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Breaking The Rules”)

Day 11 - JUST TO BRING YOU BACK HOME (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Captivity”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Sneaking In/Out”)

Day 12 - IN THIS TOGETHER NOW (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Insomnia”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Facing The Darkness Together”)

Day 13 - SOME INNER FUCKING PEACE (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Cold Compress”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Yoga AU”)

Day 14 - FEEL WHAT I FEEL (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Flare”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Soulmate: You feel the same sensations your soulmate is feeling [pain, touch, sexual]”)

Day 15 - SUNDAY MORNING AFTER (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “I'm Fine.”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Hangover”)

Day 16 - ON THE WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND (Whumptober 2023 Prompts “Gurney/Flatline/'Don't go where I can't follow'”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Our Song”)

Day 17 - SWEETEST TEMPTATION (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Collar”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Dessert”)

Day 18 - OUR LOVE LANGUAGE DIALECT (Whumptober 2023 Prompts “Blindfold/Tortured For Information”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Impulse Shopping”)

Day 19 - TODAY WAS A FAIRYTALE (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Floral Bouquet”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Poppy [Red] - Pleasure”)

Day 20 - COLDNESS OF SPACE (Whumptober 2023 Prompts “Blanket/Found Family”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Sharing Fantasies”)

Day 21 - BASIC INSTINCTS (Whumptober 2023 Prompts “Restraints/“Don’t move.”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Sharing Coded Love Words”)

Day 22 - LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DUMB TO DO (Whumptober 2023 Prompts “Glass Shard/Vehicular Accident/'Watch out!'”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Honeymoon”)

Day 23 - LET'S BE BAD GUYS (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “'Who's there?'”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Bounty Hunters AU”)

Day 24 - MY EYES WHEN I COULDN'T SEE (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “If only I could dream in a little less colour”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Neighbors AU”)

Day 25 - FEEL I'M IN HEAVEN (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Storm”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Oral Sex”)

Day 26 - BATHE ME IN SIN (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “'You look awful.'”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Sex In The Shower/Tub”)

Day 27 - GRAVITATIONAL FORCE (Whumptober 2023 Prompts “Matches/Scars/'Let me see'”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Pick-Up Line”)

Day 28 - YOUR TASTE ON MY TONGUE (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Bloody Knife”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Flavored Condoms”)

Day 29 - WHAT IS WRITTEN IN YOUR HISTORY (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Troubled Past Resurfacing”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Dirty Talk”)

Day 30 - OPEN MY EYES FOR ME (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Bridal Carry”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “Image Prompt: Red BDSM/sex toys”)

Day 31 - MY SPIRIT'S SLEEPING SOMEWHERE COLD (Whumptober 2023 Prompt “Emptiness/Setbacks/"'Take it easy.'”, Scogan Bingo challenge Prompt “FREE”, Scogan Bingo challenge Halloween/Spooky-themed adoptables “9 - Back From The Dead”)

*******************************************************************************

@whumptober | @whumptober-archive | @scoganbingo

[e1ectrostatic]

30 Day Fictionkind Challenge Day 15

Q: How do you deal with kin-for-fun?

A: Eh... "Deal with" is a bit strong wording. I don't, really. I mostly just avoid them, I suppose?

They've muddied the waters with regards to the fictionkin community, that's for sure. It's hard to know for certain what someone means nowadays when they say they "kin" a character. Would they think I'm "taking things too far", or are they like me and just tend to use language and terminology associated with KFF?

It's impossible to know for sure, so I just tend to avoid socializing too much in spaces where KFF tend to congregate. I also choose to gravitate towards spaces geared towards alterhumans in general. If someone knows the term "alterhuman" and considers themself part of that community, they're probably a safe bet for pleasant conversation. Alterhuman conventions are also great to find like-minded folks.

When I do talk to kin-for-fun, I stay friendly, though, as long as they're friendly too. I've still had pleasant conversations with KFF about our experiences with fiction because they were understanding and accepting towards perspectives that differed from theirs. And on my end, it was interesting to hear about an experience that was different from mine, but was still an "alternative" way to engage with fiction.

I'll always feel like there's an invisible wall between us though, or "language barrier" so to speak. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy talking to people regardless of their experience as long as they're respectful, but it does feel nice knowing I'm among those that "get" me.

I also just wish misinformation on what fictionkin is wasn't so rampant. The sentiment that there's a barrier between us really just comes from the fact that misinformation has made the fictionkin community much harder to navigate. I'll always argue that KFF would be more than welcome in the general alterhuman community, as long as they're kind and respectful. There is terminology that better suits their experiences than "fictionkin", and I wish those terms (or just "alterhuman" in general) had more reach. That would help the community greatly. But I digress.

To sum it up, yeah I just avoid KFF, generally, and gravitate towards spaces geared towards alterhumans. I only interact with KFF incidentally, and am friendly as long as they're friendly too. I refuse to engage with those who are rude, toxic, or trying to troll. Blocklist 1,000,000 years no trial.

Eventually, I hope to have made a positive impact in combatting misinformation about what it means to be fictionkind. I guess writing my thoughts and experiences down like this is a good start.

[viperwhispered]

30 days of twst challenge - day 24: What club would you join?

So according to the wiki, these are the clubs we know of:

Spelldrive Club

Equestrian Club

Basketball Club

Track and Field Club

Film Research Club

Science Club

Pop Music Club

Board Game Club

Mountain Lover Club

Gargoyle Studies Club

Yeah I’d pretty much immediately gravitate towards board games. I’m not much for athleticism, and I do enjoy playing board games anyway, so I think it’d be right up my alley.

Just, maybe not joining the same table or game with Azul and Idia, because while I do take my games fairly seriously too, I’m not sure playing with these two tryhards would be necessarily enjoyable.

Alternatively, I could see myself joining / starting up a (yarn)crafts club or some sort of a fantasy reading club.

[bohemian-rhapsody-in-blue]

Beboptober Day 31: Pumpkinhead

Thanks, as ever, to @thestarlightsymphony for the prompt list…of what may as well be called Bebop-une at this point! I want to FINALLY finish all the Beboptober prompts—as out-of-season as this one may be!—so I can turn my energy to the lovely @bebopcrew’s 30-Day Writing Challenge for the month of July.

Fittingly enough, this fic is inspired by the work of @aldreantreuperi, one of the lovely admins of the Bebop Crew server—specifically, by THEIR final fanfic for Beboptober, taking place during Cowboy Bebop: The Movie—Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door and detailing how Jet carved Ed’s pumpkin mask and watched Ed construct her Halloween costume. I wanted to write some of that same scene from Ed’s point of view! Their fic, in turn, was inspired by @jetspikepub sharing the pictures from the brochure that came with the movie!

Also, tomorrow I’ll probably publish my collected Beboptober fics on AO3 and publish a link to them! (Update: Here’s the link!)

And with this, and after far too many months, I bid a fond farewell to Beboptober…

Ed strode into the Bebop’s storage bay decisively, Ein following closely beside her. They took a look around the area, piled high with sealed boxes, baskets, and crates, then immediately began searching through whatever was readily accessible. The two of them were on the hunt for anything that would make Ed the perfect Halloween costume—paired, of course, with the jack-o’-lantern that Jet, back in the kitchen, was carving out of the great big pumpkin he’d procured and that she’d already resolved to wear over her head. What was Halloween without a mask, after all?

She had carefully sketched out the design she wanted for the jack-o’-lantern’s face, and as Jet carved it, he’d sent her off to find other supplies for a costume. She was exultant with joy, already imagining running out into the streets of Alba City to trick-or-treat, snack on deliciously sweet candy, and see the big parade that filled the streets with big balloons and costumed revelers—a Halloween celebration the likes of which Ed had never before experienced.

But before she did all of that, she’d need a proper costume.

The first thing she gravitated towards was a huge sombrero with a wide brim. Ed liked the colorful pattern around the inside, but when she plopped it down onto her head, it promptly slipped right over her eyes. It took a bit of blind groping for her to get the thing off. No way would that work with the jack-o’-lantern mask she was planning. Farther into the storage bay, she discovered a pair of ruby-red stilettos that had probably belonged to Faye at one point. The heel of one of the shoes had broken off, and now the pair lay broken and discarded. But this didn’t stop Ed from slipping her bare feet into the shoes anyway and taking a few tentative steps, wobbly and uneven. However, it didn’t take long for her to kick the shoes off her feet, sending them sailing back into the oblivion of the storage bay. They probably wouldn’t have been much fun to trick-or-treat in, anyway.

She rifled through a few more boxes, some of which produced interesting finds—including a tie that looked like one of Spike’s, ballpoint pens that still had a bit of ink in them, some wires and cords that she’d have to remember to plug into Tomato to see if they fit, and the old holographic chessboard (she thought they’d lost it after her week-long chess game with the old chessmaster, Hex!)—but none of which were promising as supplies to use for her costume. She was about to give up and look elsewhere on the ship when Ein began sniffing at an old cardboard box, then barking at what he found. Ed bounded over and pulled out the object at the top of the box, and her face immediately lit up. “Great find, Ein!” she said, and the dog barked in appreciation.

Ein had uncovered an old piece of cloth, possibly some scrap material from an old blanket or jacket. Ed knew immediately what she could use it for: a cape! It was a dark turquoise color and would reach down to just past her bottom when worn on her back, and it was the perfect article to pair with her jack-o’-lantern mask to make practically any kind of costume she could imagine. And as a bonus, if she slung it across her back, it worked well for carrying the pumpkin when she wasn’t wearing it! She wasted no time in tying it around her neck and imagining its endless costume possibilities. Her imagination ran wild.

First, she drew the cape closely around her, grabbed one of the pens, and pointed it off in a random direction, shouting “Abraaaaa-cadabraaaa!” and “Alakazam!” in her most mysterious, commanding voice. She was Edward the Great, Edward the Mysterious and Powerful, master of the arcane magical arts, commander of the universe, bending the world to her whims….

But she quickly abandoned this idea, tossing the pen aside. The cape wasn’t quite long or dark or imposing enough to belong to a proper wizard or warlock; she was pretty sure real magicians wouldn’t have their skinny legs poking out from the bottom of it. Besides, while having magical powers would be fun, she wasn’t really sure she wanted to bend the whole wide universe to her whims. That would get pretty boring after a while. It was more interesting to see what life would bring her, where it would take her next. (Although having a bit of magic certainly wouldn’t hurt!)

Next, she adjusted the cape to flow behind her, clambered up to the top of one of the stacks of crates, and perched precariously on the edge, her fist poised high above her in a triumphant gesture. She was Super-Ed, defender of justice, savior of…uh, people who needed saving. There had to be a lot of those out there, right? And she could be the superhero they needed. “Up, up, and away!” she yelled out at the top of her lungs as she leapt off the top, feeling for a moment like she really could fly, like she had powers flowing through her veins.

Luckily, she was able to break her fall without hitting anything else in the storage bay or knocking over any of the crates. From there, she ran around the storage area as fast as she could, her cape flapping and fluttering behind her as Ein—her loyal superhero sidekick?—followed as fast as his stubby corgi legs would take him. In her imagination, she was flying across a bustling city, rescuing civilians, fighting bad guys—kind of like what Spike, Jet, and Faye did, but flashier. Not to mention more fun. “Shazam!” she shrieked as she leapt over boxes of random odds and ends. “To infinity…and beyond!”

At one point, she had the bright idea to grab the tie she’d found earlier and secure it over her eyes, just like the mask a real superhero would wear. She shut her eyes tight as she tied the knot in the back of her head; then, giggling madly, she set off in another run—and immediately crashed into one of the stacks.

Right. Real superhero masks had eyeholes.

After rubbing her lightly bruised shin and doing away with the makeshift superhero mask (it wouldn’t have worked with her pumpkin mask anyway), Ed pulled off the cape and sat for a bit in thought, going through her mental catalog of other suitable costumes—until, finally, she had it. She once again tied the cape securely around her neck, pulling the knot closed with a decisive, confident tug, and let it flutter behind her on her back. “Spooky, spooky vampire! A-ha-ha-ha-ha!” she said under her breath.

Then, she loomed over Ein—her face menacing, her hands with claw-like fingers poised on either side of her head, and pretending her teeth were long, pointy fangs. “I vant to suck your blooood!” she said in her best, slightly warbling, Dracula voice. Ein drew back and whimpered a little, his ears low on his head. Ed quickly snapped out of character, then gently pet his head to let him know she hadn’t really meant to frighten him.

The costume was perfect—perfectly spooky, for Halloween—and would fit right in with the masses of people trick-or-treating on Alba City. It was bound to bring in tons of candy, too. With this cape, she was fully equipped for what was sure to be the best Halloween celebration in the whole Solar System—or, at least, the best one she’d ever had.

“C’mon, Ein!” she exclaimed, and together the two of them ran back to Jet in the kitchen, crashing into things as was their wont. Ed was laughing, brimming with holiday excitement, ready to take this costume to the streets of Alba City. She couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.

Since she’d joined the Bebop crew, since she’d made these new friends that she loved with all her heart, she’d had so many adventures that she felt like they would never end. The world, in her eyes, was brimming with possibility and promise. Anything could happen.

Anything was possible.

[hollosene]

Details in "Terrain" by Ida Lissner (2024)

30 x 40 cm gicleé print

From an interview with Overstandard:

Ida Lissner, a Danish artist and sculptor, draws inspiration from mythology and folklore to delve into the philosophy and creative process behind her world-building endeavors. Residing in Copenhagen, she intertwines nature and nonhuman elements to construct new worlds that explore the complex relationship between humans and the natural world through the lens of technology.

"It's very simple, I like beautiful things with lots of detail." … "[My creative process] is very much a ping pong between analogue and digital processes, drawing a sketch or silhouette on paper – modelling in 3D on the computer – back to the paper – back to the computer – then slicing (preparing a 3D object for print) – mixing resin colour – mechanical preparations – printing (large sculptures take 2-3 days) – post processing – taking photos – editing photos. There’s of course something that comes before this, that is much more about inspiration, stories and aesthetics, something more abstract. At the moment I would describe my ideation process as 3D collages where I assemble roots, fungi, synapses, creatures — both dead and alive — in compact microcosms that become my sculptures." … "Ironically, today I gravitate more towards analogue media. I’m drawing more and more, and recently I got very obsessed with oil pastels, and now I enjoy the imperfections of my drawing skills. I think I needed the “digital years” to understand and develop my style and somehow find confidence in my visual universe, that once was a challenging language to “speak” but now feels like a natural extension of me" I’m trying to invite people to reconnect with something they might have forgotten, muted or deemphasised in their daily lives, something supernatural or more-than-human, that can invoke imagining, dreaming or remembering, like finding a little precious piece of amber on the shore just before sunrise." … "I was a nerdy but restless daydreamer that talked a lot and very fast. I was obsessed with insects and especially moths and butterflies, and used to collect caterpillars and study them, feed them, and experience their transformations. I had many hobbies and they were changing all the time. I remember being torn between wanting to be very good at one thing, but also wanting to learn everything (and lacking the patience to stay in the same for too long).  I loved fantasy and all things related to magic and nature, and I was always searching for precious things in nature or dreaming about something supernatural to happen. I invented many imaginary tools and skills to make life a bit more exciting, for example a special vision that would make washed ashore amber glow up with green light in the North Sea beaches, making the little chunks easier to find, or a common language that could enable humans and birds to communicate and share mutual interests."

[secretlywritingstories]

Week 30 is one of the most common summer holiday weeks in my country and it was also the week I returned from 3 weeks of holiday. It meant arriving at an office with just a couple colleagues - some who had just returned like me or some who were due to leave at the end of the week and begin their holiday.

It left everything feeling a bit liminal. We're on different contracts so I was doing 7 hours and a 30 minute lunch to make sure I wasn't actively eating into my flex time that I would rather spend when it suits me to take bigger stretches off. It meant I was often either the first person in the office or the last one to leave.

Those with more flexible hours came in late or left early, which made perfect sense because it wasn't very busy. It made sense because the majority of the orgaisation and collaborators were also on holiday. The lack of hustle and bustle was a chance to take it easy and ease myself into coming back to work.

It was a challenge to get back on a regular schedule having to be up early to go to work after three weeks where my sleeping schedule had been a bit up in the air and just whenever I felt like it. (Turned out that a 1 or 2 AM bedtime and waking up at 10 AM was what my body naturally gravitated towards).

Mostly, I'd been trying to get in early, so I wouldn't feel stuck around the whole afternoon. Thursday on my first back, I wanted to have a bit of a lie-in and arrived just around 9:30 AM at work, which meant would be leaving at 5 PM for a full days' work.

The last two hours of my work day, the whole office was just deserted. Such a strange thing to be faced with the open plane office where you almost always can hear someone. Typing on their computer, walking down the hall, using the coffee machine. Just little noises that fade into the background.

But still acclimating from being back to work after holiday, the quiet felt a little unsettling. On top of not being particularly busy and having a couple of task with no urgency, it was difficult to focus. Hours felt like they trickled pass, even as I tried to read or go on tumblr to fill the time in between staring at my tasks that I would have to stretch to fill the next two weeks.

Office spaces aren't meant to be empty like that. It echoes. The overhead light went dark because there hadn't been enough movement from me just sitting at my desk. Thankfully, it was bright and sunny outside and I yearned for the fact that we have no windows that can be opened.

Finally finishing work, I backed up, bounced down the stairs and into the warm sun. I need to remember to head down for fresh air on days like those. Maybe I'm meant to be a lil lizard on a rock in the sun, not sat at a screen for so many hours a day.

[jcmarchi]

Can AI Get Humans to Mars?

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/can-ai-get-humans-to-mars/

Can AI Get Humans to Mars?

Mars colonization has been a hot topic lately, and not just in the pages of sci-fi novels. Some researchers believe humans could live on the Red Planet someday. Many assert that artificial intelligence will be instrumental in reaching that exciting — albeit lofty — goal. What are some of the biggest challenges in getting humans to the planet and helping them live there? How will AI help? 

The Obstacles Preventing Mars Colonization

Life on Mars is a fascinating prospect. Humans have yet to go to the Red Planet, though NASA hopes to send astronauts there by the 2030s. Getting people to such a destination — particularly if they are not spaceflight professionals — will be quite a feat. What’s stopping us from achieving it now? 

Transportation Barriers

Many people take long flights on planes, but the longest are still less than a full day. Plus, lengthy commercial flights have Wi-Fi, streaming content and snacks to make the journey more enjoyable. 

The sheer distance is arguably one of the most challenging factors in getting to Mars. The trip between Earth and Mars is the shortest when both planets are on the same side of the sun. Even then, the journey is more than 34 million miles and could only happen every two years. Various groups are working on making the trip happen as efficiently as possible, and their estimates suggest it would take 6-9 months. 

Fortunately, humans have been interested in getting to Mars for a while, so this is a frequently studied area. Researchers could apply AI to analyze academic papers to see which methods are most often mentioned and seem most feasible. Such efforts could shorten the time required to identify promising options and invest time and other resources in them. 

Sustenance

If humans reach Mars, will they have enough food and water to survive there? Researchers are eagerly learning all they can to answer that all-important question. AI could play an important role in sourcing what people need to live on the planet. 

Some Mars rovers have AI features that further scientific exploration, expanding what we know about the planet. For example, some capabilities allow it to identify and investigate geological features without ongoing human input. Such actions could help the rovers find water sources and report the details to people on Earth. Artificial intelligence also helps the rovers move along the terrain, making research more productive. 

Participants at five Australian universities are also examining how to provide reliable food sources for humans going to or living on Mars. So-called farmbots are central to the project. These innovations are robots that grow leafy greens for people to eat in space. Algorithms also analyze people’s facial expressions and physiological responses to the foods. Separately, the researchers have created a digital twin that measures various suitability aspects associated with the consumables.

Potential for Serious Harm

Ongoing research also suggests trips to Mars could be dangerous for those who try them. Space radiation is one of the biggest threats, but there are also broader risks posed by how different someone’s experience on the Red Planet would be from life on Earth.

For example, Mars has a comparatively smaller mass, so its gravitational pull is lower than Earth’s. Scientists have recently discovered how that detail could affect people. They scanned the brains of 30 astronauts before and after they went to space. The findings indicated time away from Earth expanded their ventricles — the fluid-filled cavities that protect, nourish and remove waste from the brain. 

Additionally, the research suggested the expansion was significant in those who completed missions lasting more than six months. Although the ventricles contracted once the astronauts returned to Earth, they needed to take three-year breaks between flights for full recoveries. 

Another study examined how microgravity — which makes people appear weightless — could affect people, who would experience several months of it traveling to and from Mars. A group simulated microgravity’s effects by having participants spend 60 days in bed at a specific angle. The results indicated this experiment affected 91% of subjects’ gene expression, impacting everything from muscle function to the immune system.  

However, through avenues such as algorithms and simulations, artificial intelligence could help scientists pinpoint and reduce the most likely detrimental health effects, addressing those matters while minimizing adverse situations for people. 

How Has AI Furthered Mars Exploration? 

Getting humans to the red planet won’t be easy, but artificial intelligence has already enabled some promising breakthroughs. 

Looking for Signs of Life

Many people understandably think that one of the best ways to determine if Mars is safe for habitation is to learn about what has already survived there. Scientists could then use that compiled data to determine how feasible it is for humans to go to the red planet.

One team developed an AI system that is about 90% accurate in determining whether samples originated from living things. The technology works by identifying slight differences in molecular patterns. 

Although the group has applied their innovation to use cases beyond exploring the red planet, this application could help researchers estimate the chances of living organisms surviving on Mars. Such conclusions would answer important questions about human safety, the viability of growing crops on the planet and other essentials. 

Showing Which Areas Support Life

Once people learn what can survive on Mars, they must also figure out which areas support that outcome. Artificial intelligence could answer that question, too. A University of Oxford group collaborated with scientists from elsewhere to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to find areas most capable of sustaining life.

The group tested their approach in a South American desert, using aerial images from drones as the source material. It was 87.5% successful in finding indicators of life, compared to random searches that achieved that result less than 10% of the time. The researchers believe they could apply this solution to help Mars rovers find the areas most capable of sustaining life. Eventually, they want to create a database of indicators of life and habitability, using those to plan or expand missions. 

Expanding What Humans Know 

Rovers have moved around Mars and fed data back to researchers on Earth, but what else should happen before humans land on the planet? NASA teams are testing a six-foot-tall robot they believe will perform many of the same tasks people can in space. 

Those training this humanoid creation hope the bot will perform repairs during space missions. If all goes well scientists could use the robot to gather data beyond what rovers have provided. The more they know about the red planet before sending humans there, the safer and more productive it will be for everyone involved. Indeed, putting a humanoid robot on Mars is nowhere near the same as a person taking a trip there. But, hopefully, this one will increase learning enough to reduce the surprises associated with getting to that point. 

Finding Accessible Oxygen Sources

Mars has oxygen, but not enough for humans to survive by breathing. A significant research question, then, relates to how people could source the gas during their time on the red planet. 

A Chinese research group may have found solutions by using AI. Scientists have pondered the viability of using oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts to create the gas through electrochemical water oxidation. This team applied artificial intelligence to chemistry to find the most effective ways to make the OER catalysts with materials on Mars rather than needing to transport them from Earth. The technology analyzes 30,000 possibilities before making its conclusions. 

There is still a lot of work to do before researchers uncover the most suitable ways to provide oxygen to people on Mars missions. However, this achievement is a step in the right direction. 

AI Can Support Our Mars Aspirations 

Although people will not reach the red planet within the next few years, scientists are making impressive progress, learning the necessities of getting there and having as safe an experience as possible. Artificial intelligence will continue assisting researchers in work that will shape space exploration.

[catsteinbooks]

Good Omens 30 Day Challenge! (x)

Day 5: Favorite member of The Them

While all of The Them have their own wonderful traits, Pippin Galadriel Moonchild, aka Pepper, wins the title of my favorite. She's got a number of iconic lines, she's snarky and prickly, and she doesn't take anyone's shit. She's not afraid to be potentially "unlikeable" and that makes her very likeable indeed.

She's also not a girl who wants to be a boy, but rather a girl who wants to be herself without any gendered expectations from society, and I think that's an important thing to portray. Cis people suffer from strict gender norms too! I always gravitated toward the "tomboy" characters when I was a kid, for now-obvious gender reasons. Pepper does a great job conveying important messages with her insistence that she 1) should not be excluded or ignored for being a girl and 2) should be able to like the things she likes whether they're "girl things" or "boy things".

Also, she starts the battle with the horsepersons by stabbing War with a flaming sword, and how cool is that?