#Chain Rule for Differentiation

[sabs-studyblr]

13.11.2024 |

✅ chain rule review and exercises

✅ implicit differentiation review and exercises

✅ submitted an assignment for calculus class

today was all about calculus and i did around seven hours of math

to be honest, i had ap lang stuff to do but i didn’t get around to doing them because, you know, once that math hole sucks you in you can’t get outta there

but it was fun because i finally felt like i regained my confidence academically after rotting in bed because it’s fall break 🤩

anyways, i hope i’ll be productive tomorrow so i can post on here haha. i feel very unproductive when i don’t post here lol

[gnomeonamelon]

Hello! Part 2 of my designs: Thalia Grace and Nico di Angelo!

In honor of reading (/listening to) The Demigod Files for the first time, I decided to do the other Little 3: Greek Edition) next! For the sake of reference, Thalia is 27 chronologically/ 17 physically and Nico is 19 (I'll explain).

The rules I set myself to for these redesigns were explained in Part 1 where I did The Trio.

Notes Below (and a poll please I need help):

Thalia:

The ears probably need the most explanation here: I like the idea that becoming a hunter changes you more than simply immortality. They are made up of humans (demigod and mortal) and nymphs, so I threw traits in the blender- the humans become more nymph like, and the nymphs become more human like (always including their bond to a specific place/ thing in nature being broken).

The only other thing of significance I did that wasn't just design flavor was change her hair color from black to brown. I just thought the color worked well with her complexion and differentiated her from the others more.

I keep bouncing around with who should get Aegis after she becomes a hunter (I'm almost positive she never uses it again after TTC)

Nico:

When I was working through the seven total children of the Big 3 and their ages, I realized that I wanted to make it conceivable that any of them could've been the child of prophecy (or seen that way) at some point. I was able to do this fairly easily for everyone else but had to get more creative for Nico. Currently, I'm working with the idea that Nico and Percy are the same age, they have the same birthday.

Once Nico is introduced and Bianca joins the hunters/dies, no one knows who's going to fulfill the prophecy. This adds more tension as he is seemingly evil, and no one knows where he is most of the time. This would probably make everyone but especially Annabeth really suspicious. It would go back and forth for a while before eventually turning out to be Percy.

Ok! On to the actual design: I wanted to go with something different for Nico's outfit as he has a couple early in the series. My personal favorite of these alternates is the black trench coat, so I went with that. Combined with the heeled boots, curved, almost cutlass looking kopis, and cross the body sash for the sheath, he looks very piratey to me with his more formal shirt and pants all being 1940s inspired.

He also has a lot of elements that I at least always forget about. He has a chain belt in BotL that I have never seen in fanart before, so I wanted to include it. I also wanted him to wear his (now skeleton themed) armor since the poor boy needs armor if he's going to go to Tartarus.

It's hard to see at a distance, but there is a key embedded in Nico's sword. Given that the Underworld is described with prison/ door motifs (ex: The Doors of Death), I like the idea that underworld gods have different keys.

When fighting Melinoe, Nico finds (steals) a key that allows him to summon ghosts without the ritual (its criminal that the Ghost King didn't come back in this story).

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Royal Orders

Royalty usually seem weighed down by a lot of medals, badges, chains, ribbons and sashes but each of these little details means something. How can we write them accurately and create our own versions for our worlds?

What exactly is a royal order?

A royal order is an honour bestowed on a person by the monarch. A royal order is an exclusive reward for those who have provided exemplary service to the nation or monarch or are simply honoured by the monarch for any reason from being close personally. Royal orders can be granted to other monarchs, members of the Royal family or aristocracy or even commoners.

Rank and File

Most orders have certain classes with the order. The Monarch is always the head of the order, there's usually a Commander of the Order along with every me member being assigned into First Class, Second Class etc. Being a member of the order actually entitles the member to certain privileges, such as a member being able to request the use the home chapel.

Pomp and Circumstance

A royal order can be bestowed in a grand ceremony or even privately. Some royal orders, including the Order of the Bath and the Order of the Garter, include annual rituals of the recipients meeting all while wearing their acquired medals, sashes and accessories. Being a part of an order would entitle you to attend certain events.

Rules of Wearing a Royal Order

Orders can be worn at many events. Usually the whole ensemble is worn to Order-centric events such as an investment or a celebration. The sash or riband can be worn at White Tie events or even as part of military uniforms along with the star. Smaller badges and pins can be worn at black tie events.

Family Orders

Royal family orders are bestowed upon female members of the Royal family to wear at formal events. These are comprised of a diamond encrusted portrait of the current monarch (or any past monarch who granted them the order) worn suspended on a coloured ribbon.

Details of a Royal Order

Sash or Riband: The sash or Riband is the length of coloured fabric that lies across the chest, secured at the shoulder and hip. These can come in an array of colours to differentiate between each order.

Star: The Star is the diamond pin that is a fixed next to the sash. This will usually be encrusted in diamonds displaying the symbol of the order or the initials of the monarch.

Collars and chains: some orders come with chains of the order that are worn around the neck, usually displaying the symbols of the order. These are usually worn over a cape or with a military uniform.

Badges: Are pins worn at the shoulders usually depicting the symbol or motto of the order.

Medal: Some orders come in the form of a medal suspended on ribbon depicting either portrait of the monarch as worn in family orders or initials of the monarch or just the symbol of the order.

Cape/Cloak: Some orders call for a wardrobe change as well. Some orders require the members to dress in large heavy embroidered cloaks stitched with the insignia of the order. These cloaks were seen most recently at the English Coronation of Charles III.

Lists of Royal Orders for Inspiration

Order of the White Elephant (Denmark)

Order of Dannebrog (Demark)

Military Willem Order (Netherlands)

Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)

Order of St Catherine (Russian)

Order of St Olav (Norway)

Order of the Garter (UK)

Order of the Bath (UK)

Royal Family Orders of George V, George VI, Elizabeth II etc. (UK)

Royal Victorian Order (UK)

Order of the British Empire (UK)

Order of Merit (UK)

Order of Leopold II (Belgium)

Order of the Lion (Belgium)

[satancopilotsmytardis]

Drabble-A-Thon Prompt #7

Pairing: Shigadabi

Rating: General

Prompt: Freestyle!

Contents: Coffee Shop AU, Still villains, still quirks, excessive consumption of caffeine oh my fucking god.

Dabi’s day job is working at the local bakery and coffee shop. It’s not a great job and he can honestly say that he gets more abuse and feels like his safety is in more danger there than he does as an arsonist for hire at night. But whatever. It’s a job that requires him to be there starting at three-thirty in the morning to prep for the opening at six, with him arriving with maybe one other person to make sure their beans are ground fresh and all of their in-house pastries have been made and set out in the display case.

When the doors open at six thirty on the dot, there are always the regulars that he knows who come in and order the same thing each day, sometimes only differentiating their order by including something to eat if they know they’ll be working through lunch, or increasing the size of their drink if they know it’s going to be a long day. Those customers aren’t so bad. He knows their routines and is able to have set up the machines so that he can be certain their orders will come fast. The problem customers tend to start between seven and eight, when people who don’t normally come in stop by because they weren’t able to get coffee at home or at their regular place for whatever reason, and start to confuse them with a chain store. They aren’t one of those, and if he has to tell one more person that the owner doesn’t let them make seasonal drinks, then he’s going to burn down this place with himself inside. Those people tend to hold up the line, get rude with him, and generally cause him more annoyance than he usually wants to deal with. Still, by the last hour and a half of his shift, they’ve gone through the morning rush and he’s mostly just serving stragglers and making sure things are prepared and neat for the afternoon rush before he gets to leave and go to sleep. 

It’s a surprise when he gets a new regular and the kind of regular that he is. He appears out of nowhere one morning, asking for a double shot of espresso as soon as they open. It’s not a complicated drink, but what sticks out to him immediately is that he doesn’t say ‘to-go’ automatically like new customers tend to do. And he doesn’t want it to-go. He has it in one of their espresso cups and goes over to one of the three booths they have in the shop, taking a laptop out of his backpack and plugging it in, drinking his coffee while he taps away at it. He was the first one in the shop that day, and Dabi got distracted by his usual flow of work, so he’d all but forgotten about him. It’s not until he’s getting ready to leave that he really notices that he’s still in the corner. There’s no rule about loitering, and no one else has wanted the booth so far. The morning shift doesn’t usually get all that many people sitting down to take their coffee leisurely or work unless it’s the weekend, so he’ll leave it to the afternoon shift to kick him out if they need to. 

By the fourth day of him showing up at six-thirty on the dot, Dabi realizes that he’s going to be a regular. He always gets a double shot of espresso as soon as he comes in, and he always drops a thousand yen note into the tip jar, so Dabi doesn’t have a complaint to make about him going over and monopolizing the corner booth for the rest of his shift. But he does pay him more attention when, after about a week of coming in, he starts to get back up, returning the cup to him when there’s a lull in activity, and getting another double. He takes the fresh coffee back to his table and goes back to work on his laptop. During a particularly slow day, Dabi spends a few minutes watching him as he waits for the next wave of customers.

He’s probably twenty, probably has a quirk that’s centered on his hands because he wears gloves with one finger left exposed, and he could really use some chapstick. A good night’s sleep would probably do him a world of good too, because his skin is as pale as his long white hair that he wears loose around his face in messy waves. It mostly covers his face, but he’s seen ruby-bright eyes looking back at him whenever he orders his drink, his voice low and raspy like he smokes more than Dabi does but he doesn’t ever smell like smoke. 

He doesn’t think he’s going to say anything to him. Lots of his co-workers talk to the regulars, trying to make this place feel ‘homier’. They’re a little independent place, having a loyal base is the only way that they stay in business. But Dabi’s scars already make people weary of him. As long as he’s polite and doesn’t fuck up their orders, he hasn’t ever had a customer complain about him, and even though he still gets shit from some impatient pricks who don’t understand that they can’t make coffee brew any faster than the laws of physics allow, he doesn’t get nearly the amount of vitriol that other baristas do. He probably wouldn’t have ever said anything to him except his script for taking orders, but then one day the guy comes back for two rounds of additional espresso. That’s six shots in less than six hours. Dabi doesn’t know how he can just sit there and type with such calm, measured focus. His heart would be beating out of his chest, he would be sweating from that much caffeine. He thinks that maybe it’s a one-off thing. 

But it’s not. 

It’s like, now that he knows that he can get away with it, he’s eager to get his fix, because the next day he comes back to get the second round of shots barely an hour after he’s finished with the first. He holds that pattern for a couple of days, before he ups it to eight. He’s not going to overdose on caffeine in their booth with eight, and each time he comes up he puts another thousand yen into the tip jar so Dabi doesn’t cut him off, but holy fucking shit. He waits until the store is empty and then he selects three pastries, a blueberry scone, a cheese danish, and a plain croissant, and then goes over to his booth, setting the plate down by his laptop. 

The guy blinks and then looks up at him. “I didn’t order any food.” 

“I know, but I figured that if you have something in your stomach besides coffee, your heart might not explode.” 

“I can go–” 

“You don’t have to leave.” Dabi sits down across from him. It’s just the two of them in the shop right now, and he can keep an eye on the door from here. “Your money’s still good as long as you don’t die.” 

The guy hesitates for a second, but then he replies, “I think it’s still good if I do die too, it’s just a matter of if you want to rob my corpse before you call an ambulance to have my body taken away.” 

Dabi snorts. “I guess that’s true. Pastries are on the house if you tell me why you’re trying to drink yourself to death with stimulants before you’re thirty.” 

He considers him, and then reaches and picks up the croissant. “This is me cutting back on caffeine.” He admits. “I was drinking five or six energy drinks a day. Eight shots of your espresso is two-hundred milligrams less than I was drinking before. I checked all of the places around here, and this place had the best brew for me to use to try and lower my dosage.” 

“What kind of work do you do that you needed six energy drinks a day to deal with it?” 

“Not my job. I’ve had insomnia since I was five, I barely get three hours of sleep a week. Started drinking the caffeine to feel less like death warmed over when I was fifteen, and it’s definitely not been good for me. I’m hoping that I can get down to four shots a day, but I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m not doing as well as I wanted to.” 

“I can cut you off after two if you want.” He offers, “But you might be better off trying to stretch out your intake to make it feel like you’re having more even though you’re not. I can make you Americanos with a double shot instead, there’s more liquid in it, it might help your stomach at least feel like you’re getting an energy drink’s worth of fluid, even though the caffeine isn’t as intense.” 

He has red eyes on him for a second after that and Dabi reaches for the blueberry scone and brings it to nibble on the corner, just to hide that he’s surprised with himself for offering in the first place. 

“Okay. Thanks. I’m Shigaraki Tomura, by the way.” 

“Dabi.” Shigaraki doesn’t offer a hand, and he takes that as confirmation that his quirk has something to do with his hands. “So are you actually working over here?” 

“Sometimes. Most of the time I’m just playing games. My apartment is being renovated right now, so I can’t be there until sundown and then I’m just going back to not sleep for the rest of the night. I’d rather be out and around other people if that’s the case.” 

“Yeah? What do you get up to when you leave? Because we close at seven.” 

��I would be happy to show you if you’re that interested, Dabi.” 

It takes him a second to realize that this guy– Shigaraki Tomura– just asked him out. He doesn’t think he’s ever been asked out in his life. He didn’t think he ever would be, given the way he looks. “Are you asking me out?” 

“Only if that doesn’t make you uncomfortable. I know it's a faux pas since you’re working, and if you’re not interested I can go.” 

Dabi isn’t sure he’s ever been interested because he’s never been given the opportunity. But well�� he has no idea how many ‘normal’ life experiences he’s going to have before he figures out how to burn his father alive. He can certainly stand to give this one a try. “Not uncomfortable, just surprised. Sure, but I’ve gotta be back here at three-thirty in the morning, so you can’t keep me out past midnight. Three and a half hours of sleep is my minimum per day, not per week.” 

“I think I can work with that.” He smiles as he says it and Dabi sees a harried-looking business man coming toward the doors. 

“Enjoy the pastries and try not to vibrate out of your skin. If you’re serious about this, I’ll meet you here at eight?” 

“Sounds good.” 

Dabi goes back over to the counter and is ready for the next rush of customers, and when he looks up again, he finds that Tomura has already left. He goes over to retrieve the plate from the pastries, and finds another thousand yen tip, and a note scrawled on a napkin that has the other man’s phone number, in case something comes up. Dabi really hopes that his heart doesn’t decide to give out because of the caffeine today, because he’s kind of… actually looking forward to seeing him again tonight. 

Thanks so much for participating! If you'd like to join in, consider checking out my Ko-fi here!

[ghostreblogging]

Hello! Thank you for applying for teacher's position for Amity park's Casper high!

We have a very close knit little place here. So there are rules to follow! We will go on the rules of the workplace in the next email!

As you will be moving here. There is well a set of very very recommended set of rules. I mean you won't get arrested but please do follow them.

You see you will be living in vermillion row. And we have set you up in a little flat .

Anyways , make sure to print the following rules out. Or save it. Just anyhow. Make sure to memorize it.

Rule 1.

Fentons seem to be are a very nice family. Don't mind the screams of terror from the basement. They like us have many skeletons in their closet. It's rude to go looking.

Rule 2.

No matter what you do. Don't go out after dark. There are things that go bumping in the night. They like the dark better.

Rule 3

After dark don't open your doors. Keep your windows locked. As we said there are things out there. And they will take in any invitation to get in.

Don't listen. They will try every trick in the book.

Rule 4

When the sky turns a green shade please make your way to the nearest shelter. Most big buildings and residential properties have a shield built around them.

The biggest shields include:

The Amity park mall

The Fentonworks

Casper high school

Please stay till the sky turns back to normal

Rule 5

If you hear destruction or static. Please go to sheltered areas mentioned in rule 4. But as long as the sounds of destruction and static are far away, you are free to continue on your day.

Rule 6.

The dead don't stay dead. So make sure to bury any animals people you've killed. It is also in good faith to bury a corpse in the open. Don't call the cops. They can't do much.

Rule 7.

If you see a disconnected shadow. Please leave the area as soon as possible and enter a place with a shield or a highly populated area. But if you are unable to do so run towards it. It is not guaranteed but this will increase your chances.

Rule 8.

Although it is not necessary. Please make an offering to phantom. We literally don't appreciate him enough

Rule 9.

Please keep any important items and documents In a bag or a folder. Not a box.

Rule 10.

If you see people that are clearly not human, please ignore them. The ones that you can differentiate are either the weaker or older ones. Either way it's not a good idea to let them know you can see them.

Rule 11.

If you notice any technology glow slightly green or produce an eerie humming noise. Dispose or give it to the fentons immediately.

Rule 12.

Don't light fires near the local fast food chain.

[anime-simp-0]

when bakugo’s anti-villain s/o and him fight

i got this idea from the opposite version of this i did, bakugo’s anti-hero s/o. it really had me thinking how bakugo would react to someone who fits the anti-villain archtype; someone who has the noble goals but their means of attainment are evil.

well for starters, just like heroes have a ton of different sub-archtypes, so do anti-villains. in the most basic sense, i’m basing mine off of the concept that they have the right end-goal but not the right methods they are going about so i guess you could kinda consider them like mr. ferret boy draco malfoy. he, by nature, is evil. he has toxic traits and is overall a less then decent individual. however, if tiktok has shown anything, it is that people can still obsess over him. (sighs in dracotok)

regardless, in terms of bakubitch’s s/o, i dont think this makes them a bad person. just misguided. stain’s ideology was exposed to them at a vulnerable time and it just stuck and they turned in to a vigilante because no one had validly proven to them a better option. which led to constantly fooling around in the shadows and kicking ass but mainly for the purpose of catching twofaced hero’s that are actually really shady people, so all around a moral goal but not heroic action.

as to how bakugo would react to this, I think that it really depends on what stage Bakugo you are dating. Middle School? High school? Starting Hero? Experienced? And a large part of this differentiation is what he experienced at UA.

In middle school, he thought heroes were the good guys and they always did the right thing and he was going to be the #1. He was gonna be so perfect that they had no choice except to give him the title of perfection.

And then, UA happened. And he experienced the USJ and he saw firsthand what villains are like. Low level thugs, sure. But those villains didn't care if they killed everyone in that building. And then to see a monster so strong it could get hit by All Might at full force and not bat an eye. That's not even mentioning what happened at the summer camp. Not only was he kidnapped but had his life continuously toyed with for hours and the heroes took their sweet ass time to save him. All because they wanted to follow protocol, and he still managed to get away in the end. I don't think the protocol issues get any better with time either.

I think the older he gets, the more they piss him off. Because he's seen more. he's seen the damage wasting time can do. and i guarantee you there was a decision he makes in the future that costs someone their life because he decided to follow protocol and he never lets himself forget it. because that blood isn't on the commission's hands. it's on his. he was the one that made the call to listen to what the high and might's decided.

The experience also changes his definition of right and wrong. He starts to see everything through a different lens when it comes to why villains do what they do. Are they stealing from places because it's fun or the way they survive? Are they selling drugs because it's their hustle or because it's the only way they can provide. He also starts to see heroes in a different light as well. Are they saving people because they want to keep the city safe or because of publicity? Do they actually care about protecting individuals or is it about the money? And then you have the antivillains and antiheroes and all he can think is about the person who lost their life because he decided to follow the rules. But antiheroes and antivillains and vigilantes don't care about that kinda stuff. They don't have to follow the rules that they didn't sign up for. They don't have to go through the chain of command or rules and regulations. They have the freedom to do the right thing with no consequences ( unless they get caught that is ).

Truly though, I don't think you were aware Bakugo was a hero when you first started dating him, just like I don't think he was aware that you were a antivillain/vigilante. but i could totally see you both finding out because you were running from heroes after some shit and he managed to catch you and you both had a moment where you recognized each other and he couldn’t let you get caught so he let you go and stalled to buy you time. which, yea, lead to a pretty interesting fight. but you managed to talk and make it work. he made you promise to stop fucking around as long as he followed up on his end about taking care of the shitty heroes so you didn’t have to. having said that, i think that he also is still very strong in his beliefs that heroes are good. sure not all of them, but enough where being completely against heroes annoys the living shit out of him. so i think that many arguments would stem from you not liking some of the heroes he works with. whether that’s you doing the signature smart ass lines that make them uncomfortable or intentionally making it known you don’t like them.

hence why it was currently 1:32 in the morning and instead of being in bed with the hot headed prick you call your boyfriend, you were on the couch.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

the heated words from earlier still ring in your ears as you lay on the couch, looking out of the window and onto the city that lay below, glistening and active even at this time of night. a thin blanket was wrapped around your legs as bakugos shirt that was a few sizes too big left your legs exposed to the cold air in his apartment. you would have left after everything that was said but he had picked you up from your apartment and brought you to his earlier that day so now you were stranded and far too stubborn to ask for help from your friends, knowing they would want details you weren’t comfortable disclosing yet. instead, you decided to sleep on the couch and calm yourself by staring into the glass pane.

the details of your fight were still cloudy in your mind, but one thing was for sure. you both were not on good terms. after you made a backhanded joke about one of the heroes he had become friendly with, it was all over. it started with just about the one guy, then it became how you never liked anyone from his job, then it turned into you hating everything heroes and then, finally, bakugo said the thing that really set you off. “if you hate heroes so much, then do you even give a shit about me? if all heroes are so damn bad!” the things that came out of your mouth next were a mix of rapid fire insults and gabs at him, turning into a full out war of verbal assaults over something as simple as you not likely one of his work buddies.

it made you so angry, it almost made you cry. not because you cared. what? no! of course not! i mean, why would you, right? it’s not like the most important person in your life insulted you and one of the only things you truly believe in before having the audacity to ask if you even loved him-… oh wait… no. no, yea that is what made you cry. you sighed and rubbed your eyes, wiping away the tears before they had a chance to fall. you were angry at yourself. if only you hadn’t said anything. if only you didn’t snap back at him. if only you never said you didn’t like his new work partner. if only-

the sound of the bedroom door opening cause your attention before a bakugo, and frankly a quite grumpy and agitated bakugo at that, stepped out. but the sour expression faded off his face when he saw the tear that you hadn’t managed to wipe away.

“what do you want” you muttered before turning back towards the window and, as subtly as you could, wiping away the dampness from your cheek.

he went to speak multiple times before pausing with a slight growl and shuffling towards you. his sweats hung low on his waist and his hands were bunched up in his pockets as he flexed them, standing next to you on the couch.

“look…” he sighed. this kinda thing was never easy for him. he spent so much time condensing his feelings, being able to openly talk about them was weird on so many level that even after a year and a half of you two dating it still made him feel weird. “i.. shouldn’t have used your stuff against you… what you believe and support is what you do and… i can’t control that or change it. it’s just… i was pissed and wasn’t thinking straight… and i know that’s not a good enough reason to hurt you, i’m not saying it is i just…” he sighed again before taking a hand out from his pocket and rubbing his face “i know you love me, okay? i know that. you prove it everyday you deal with my hero shit or help with my cuts and scraps after a bad day or even just, fuck, staying. you didn’t leave. and i love you for that, okay? i do. i fucking love you with everything i have.”

your tempted to turn to look at him, to break and let a tear fall while you sit there but you don’t. he groans softly before taking his hand and lightly pressing his fingertips to your chin and turning your face towards him. “i’m sorry baby… i mean it. im sorry” he leans down and softly kisses your head before pulling away.

“don’t fucking do it again” is all you can manage before resting your head against him as his arms wrap around you.

“trust me, i don’t plan on it”

“i mean it katsuki” your voice was cold and sent a chill straight to his spine. “don’t question my love again. and don’t use my opinions against me. i love you enough to be with you even though you’re a hero but i love myself enough to walk away if I need to.” you paused and look up at him “don’t put me in a position where i have to be the bad guy. we both know i play the part too well.”

he nodded solemnly before taking a deep breathe. out of everything you had said to him in the last couple hours, that he knew was true. you were always labeled as a villain. not only by your peers but you family as well. when you manifested your quirk and it was far more powerful then anyone else in your family trees, they immediately wanted you to be a hero. to make money for them and be popular. and the second you said no, they turned on you so fast it gave you whiplash. you were so used to being put in positions where you had no choice but to be the bad guy. to do the non glamorous or even cruel thing to survive. he had become your safe space, but even he wasn’t foolish enough to believe you couldn’t live without him. hell, it was the other way around.

he had been laying in bed since you had had your fight, tossing and turning in the cold sheets and reaching for a body that wasn’t there, searching for warmth that was on a couch instead of wrapped in silk with him. he had tried to fight himself on it for hours now. but as much pride as he had, his ego crumbles before you. you mattered more than that to him. you mattered more then being right or proving a point. he needed you. you had become such an important part of him that the idea of you being gone made his heart stop. he was nauseous at the thought of opening the bedroom door and finding your things missing and shoes no longer by the door.

but right now with you in his arms, all he wanted to do was hold you. not for another minute or another hour. forever. he never wanted to breathe without you in his arms. he didn’t want to know what it felt like for you to exist without him. so he looked down at you slowly, his thumb rubbing back and forth against your skin as he held you against him. “I know…” he rested his head against yours, “i know.”

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

Dr. Leonardi might be twitter-addicted and annoying at times, but the science keeps probing him right: Covid causes T-cell depletion, which makes those affected more sick more often.

Abstract Irrespective of the underlying disease, patients treated with cluster of differentiation 20 (CD20) antibodies have a higher risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) long or severe infection, and there are pitfalls in this diagnosis. We herein report two patients with COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) during lymphoma remission. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NSs) were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-negative for SARS-CoV-2, and the virus was only detectable in the lungs. In patients with B-cell depletion, the early performance of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is important for diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia and ruling out opportunistic infections when any evidence of suspected viral pneumonia is observed on computed tomography (CT), even if the NS specimens are PCR-negative and they have no upper respiratory symptoms. In addition, blood tests with lymphocytopenia, BALF with decreased CD4/CD8 ratio, and increased neutralizing antibody titer suggested that not only low humoral immune responses but also CD4 T-cell depletion by bendamustine were associated with virus clearance. Even if neutralizing antibodies are adequate, we must be careful of prolonged COVID-19 due to CD4 T-cell depletion and low humoral immune responses.

[keycrash]

Sophist's Tarot depicts five of the 22 major arcana as thought experiments-- theoretical scenarios in philosophy, math, physics, psychology, and sociology that test our understanding of the world to interrogate the very edges of our knowledge. These exist almost as a folklore of science; stories of cats in boxes, women trapped in rooms, and ants on a string, but where morals would lie in fairytales, we instead find famous debate and fundamental principles of reality.

The Sleeping Beauty Problem asks: How should we understand our singular perspective within the realm of statistics and possibility?

The Knowledge Argument asks: What knowledge cannot be captured in language? Is sensation knowledge?

Schrödinger's Cat asks: How do we unite the rules that govern the smallest interactions and the rules that govern the world around us?

The Ship of Theseus asks: What constitutes the self-- its constituent parts, or an unbroken chain of continuity?

Boltzmann Brain asks: How do we differentiate reality from simulation? Can we be certain the past ever happened?

--

this was my first semester illustration thesis from senior year :) if you'd like a mini or full-size print in the future, keep an eye out!!

[noagskryf]

New level of love for maths achieved: being given a maths problem, getting so excited at the prospect of doing it, and getting so worked up that i ended up collapsing onto the desk.

To answer the question you, dear reader, want to ask: Yes, i did get to answer the question while lying on the floor trembling. The topic was differentiation, and i had to use the product, chain, and quotient rules all in one question and then draw a graph and then i can't remember what else because i did black out after all.

Also, i'm fine, and my mate managed to stop me from slamming my head against the desk. No further brain injuries occurred.

[hxdonist]

.::. I AM THAT I AM .::. ikarus ito

Citizen Profile Loading. . .

profile loaded. ERROR CODE 1F1N1T3FUN: Some Data Expunged.

.::. A SICKNESS UNDEFINED .::. basics.

NAME: IKARUS CAELUM ITO ALIASES: IK, IKKA, THE FOX OF EIGHT EYES, 1NF1N1T3FUN AGE: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OLD. [JANUARY 17TH] GENDER/PRONOUNS: CIS MAN HE/HIM SEXUALITY: PANSEXUAL // DEMIROMANTIC HUMAN // HOST: HUMAN OCCUPATION: DATA EXPUNGED - - - as far as you need to know, I am a friend. A netrunner and a braintrip cutter of the...shady variety. AFFILIATIONS: NANO ZILLA. And any gang, corp, or solo with the balls to think they can run with me.

.::. IT'S MY KINGDOM COME .::. going deeper.

PERSONALITY: CHARMING TO A FAULT, IKARUS DESIRES ONLY TO CORRECT WHAT HE PERCIEVES AS 'SOCIETAL WRONGS.' WHILE HIS BANNER SEEMS AT FIRST SOMETHING WORTH WORKING BENEATH HIS METHODS ARE MANIPULATIVE MUCH LIKE THE MAN HIMSELF. A HEDON WITHOUT CARE FOR THE 'WAY THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN' HE IS A GLUTTON FOR ATTENTION, POWER, SEX, DRUGS- ANYTHING THAT MAY FIRE THE SYNAPSE REQUIRED FOR PLEASURE- AND RIPS THROUGH THE THINGS THAT PLEASE OR ANGER HIM LIKE A MALICIOUS VIRUS WITHOUT DIFFERENTIATING WHICH IS WHICH. SELF-ASSURED TO THE POINT OF BEING COCKY TO THE EYES OF SOME, IKARUS' SKILLS ARE RARELY CALLED INTO QUESTION, AND HE PREFERS IT THAT WAY, HE WILL ONLY STAND FOR THE BEST IN HIS RANKS, SOURCING NEW MEMBERS THROUGH REGULAR 'TESTS' DEPLOYED ON THE NET BY 'THE FOX OF EIGHT EYES' AND REJECTING ANY WHO FALL SHORT OF STANDARD. DESPITE THIS, HE IS LOYAL TO THOSE WHO EARN IT, A DOGGED, STRONG-WILLED FRIEND TO HAVE IN ONE'S CORNER, DESPITE BEING A RATHER SLIPPERY ASSOCIATE IN ANYTHING TO DO WITH POWER.

AESTHETIC: WIRES COILING AND BLACK, BOUND LIKE CHAINS TO THE NET; ALIVE IN CODE || A FOX WITH TOO MANY EYES AND BROKEN, SPIDERING LIMBS. IT BECKONS TO YOU IN THE DARKNESS. || STATIC SOAKED SCREENS FROM YEARS PAST WATCHING WITH INTENT; THE GHOSTS OF WHAT WE WERE. || A REFINED BLACK SUIT SLICKED WITH BLOOD- UNBOTHERED YOU LIGHT UP A CIGARETTE- JUST ANOTHER NIGHT IN THE CITY.

KNOWN CYBERWARE: NEURAL UPLINK PORT STANDARD IN NETRUNNERS. HEADWARE RIG USED FOR ON-THE-FLY HACKING. SINGULAR PROSTHETIC ARM, MATTE BLACK CARBON AND RED LIGHTING ARRAY. IMPLANTED WEAPONRY LIKELY CONTAINI- DATA CORRUPTED. ERROR CODE: 2NOSY;)

HISTORY: CORRUPTED DATA RESTORED. BACKUP DRIVE CREATED. File Attached: FoxOfEightEyes.txt [TRIGGER WARNINGS: CHILD ABUSE, ANIMAL DEATH] [Mobile version of bio available in a google doc HERE] [hint: use the forcecode to skip the puzzle.]

.::. FROTHING AT THE MAW .::. connections.

CAT TO MOUSE; FOX IN YOUR HENHOUSE: The eponymous 'predator and prey' relationship- but who's who when the chips fall? Be you a Corpo burned by Nano Zilla, a gang member too foolish to determine you were being swindled before it happened, or even a Cowboy with your eyes on a pricy take- 1NF1N1T3FUN welcomes your attempts on his life- and recommends you come prepared.

FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT: An understudy/mentor relationship- a recently welcomed netrunner into the embrace of Nano Zilla and their base made in Dreamland, you followed the Fox of Eight Eyes and found its den to rest in the retrofitted depths of a once-bustling theme park; the skeleton of whimsy and fun now inhabited by the kind of people who treat the net as their playground. Ikarus only welcomes the best into his family, those willing to shirk the existing rules and demands of corporations and the government to seek building something greater- through technological subterfuge- he'll take you under wax wings, teach you to wind among the wires with the best of them- just make sure you know exactly what that means, when the time comes.

BITTERLOVER.EXE: The ever-present exes connection. Ikarus is a different man, in love. Dedicated to ideals and the ever-elusive 'better' his goals seem lofty- but oh, he always seemed to have time for you, and a carbon-steel fist that drives his crew so firmly was always soft in the quiet of a tiny apartment- but that was then. It's hard to recognize him now- you can't imagine you want to, because when push came to shove- Ikarus chose power over you. This is a connection for an ex who dated Ikarus recently, while he's headed and operated with Nano Zilla as an active anarchist/insurrectionist.

ISANYONEUP.MP4: You need help sourcing an illegal or otherwise damaging to your reputation braintrip and with some digging- you've found the editor who spun it. Sure, he wasn't the gunman that left your loved one dead in the dirt- wasn't the bastard who filmed the two of you having sex and sold it off after- but he knows who was, picking around in the BT with his editing software- he's said he'll help you, for a price- are you brave enough to take that offer?

ADDITIONAL CONNECTIONS

Childhood friends

Exes (younger than 19 years old/schoolkid ages)

Former coworkers (Ex Gestalt Bureau Corpo, abandoned his position at 23.)

Fellow Nano Zilla netrunners who work for/under him

corpos/ceos/high ranking officials he's got existing dirt on

Braintrip recorders/sellers who use his services as an editor

regular hookups

literally anything I'll take it all babyyyyyy

[science-lover33]

Exploring the Marvels of Biological Macromolecules: The Molecular Machinery of Life (Part 3)

Nucleotide Structure: The Building Blocks

Nucleotides, the monomers of nucleic acids, consist of three fundamental components:

1. Phosphate Group (PO4): Provides a negatively charged backbone for the nucleic acid strand.

2. Pentose Sugar: In DNA, it's deoxyribose; in RNA, it's ribose. The sugar moiety forms the framework of the nucleotide.

3. Nitrogenous Base: Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T) in DNA, and Uracil (U) in RNA. These bases are responsible for the genetic code.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The Repository of Genes

DNA is a double-stranded helical molecule, with each strand composed of a linear sequence of nucleotides. It encodes the genetic information necessary for an organism's development, growth, and functioning. The Watson-Crick base pairing rules—A with T and C with G

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The Repository of Genes

DNA is a double-stranded helical molecule, with each strand composed of a linear sequence of nucleotides. It encodes the genetic information necessary for an organism's development, growth, and functioning. The Watson-Crick base pairing rules—A with T and G with C—ensure DNA's complementary and faithful replication.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid): From DNA's Blueprint to Protein Synthesis

RNA plays diverse roles in the cell, including serving as a messenger (mRNA) for protein synthesis, a structural component of ribosomes (rRNA), and an adapter molecule (tRNA) that brings amino acids to the ribosome during translation. Unlike DNA, RNA is often single-stranded and contains uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).

Genome Organization and Chromosomes

Genomic DNA is organized into chromosomes within the cell nucleus. These structures enable efficient storage, replication, and transmission of genetic information during cell division and reproduction.

Replication and Transcription

DNA replication ensures the faithful duplication of genetic material during cell division, while transcription converts DNA into RNA, providing a template for protein synthesis.

Translation

The cellular machinery, composed of ribosomes and tRNA, reads the mRNA code and assembles amino acids into polypeptides during translation, ultimately forming functional proteins.

Genetic Code

The genetic code, a triplet code of nucleotide sequences (codons), dictates a protein's sequence of amino acids. It is nearly universal, with only minor variations across species.

Epigenetics

Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, regulate gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence, pivotal in development and cell differentiation.

Macromolecular interactions are the essence of cellular life. Within the complex microcosm of a cell, countless molecules engage in precise and choreographed dances, forming intricate networks that govern every facet of biology. These interactions, governed by the principles of biochemistry, are the foundation upon which life's processes are built.

Amino Acids: The Building Blocks

Proteins are composed of amino acids organic molecules that contain an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a distinctive side chain (R group). There are 20 different amino acids, each with a unique side chain that confers specific properties to the amino acid.

Primary Structure: Amino Acid Sequence

The primary structure of a protein refers to the linear sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain. The genetic information in DNA encodes the precise arrangement of amino acids.

Secondary Structure: Folding Patterns

Proteins don't remain linear; they fold into specific three-dimensional shapes. Secondary structures, such as α-helices and β-sheets, result from hydrogen bonding between nearby amino acids along the polypeptide chain.

Tertiary Structure: Spatial Arrangement

The tertiary structure is the overall three-dimensional shape of a protein, determined by interactions between amino acid side chains. These interactions include hydrogen bonds, disulfide bridges, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.

Quaternary Structure: Multiple Polypeptide Chains

Some proteins, known as quaternary structures, comprise multiple polypeptide chains. These subunits come together to form a functional protein complex. Hemoglobin, with its four subunits, is an example.

Protein Functions: Diverse and Essential

Proteins are involved in an astounding array of functions:

1. Enzymes: Proteins catalyze chemical reactions, increasing the speed at which reactions occur.

2. Structural Proteins: Proteins like collagen provide structural support to tissues and cells.

3. Transport Proteins: Hemoglobin transports oxygen in red blood cells, and membrane transport proteins move molecules across cell membranes.

4. Hormones: Hormonal proteins, such as insulin, regulate various physiological processes.

5. Immune Function: Antibodies are proteins that play a crucial role in the immune system's defense against pathogens.

6. Signaling: Proteins are critical in cell signaling pathways, transmitting information within cells.

Protein Denaturation and Folding

Protein Diversity: The vast diversity of proteins arises from the combinatorial possibilities of amino acid sequences, secondary structure arrangements, and three-dimensional conformations.

Nucleic acids, the remarkable macromolecules that govern all living organisms' genetic information, are life's quintessential molecules. These complex polymers of nucleotides play an unparalleled role in the storage, replication, and expression of genetic information, shaping the development, characteristics, and functions of every living entity on Earth. Let's embark on an exploration of the intricate world of nucleic acids.

Nucleotide Structure: The Building Blocks

Nucleotides, the monomers of nucleic acids, consist of three fundamental components:

1. Phosphate Group (PO4): Provides a negatively charged backbone for the nucleic acid strand.

2. Pentose Sugar: In DNA, it's deoxyribose; in RNA, it's ribose. The sugar moiety forms the framework of the nucleotide.

3. Nitrogenous Base: Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T) in DNA, and Uracil (U) in RNA. These bases are responsible for the genetic code.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The Repository of Genes

DNA is a double-stranded helical molecule, with each strand composed of a linear sequence of nucleotides. It encodes the genetic information necessary for an organism's development, growth, and functioning. The Watson-Crick base pairing rules—A with T and G with C—ensure DNA's complementary and faithful replication.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid): From DNA's Blueprint to Protein Synthesis

RNA plays diverse roles in the cell, including serving as a messenger (mRNA) for protein synthesis, a structural component of ribosomes (rRNA), and an adapter molecule (tRNA) that brings amino acids to the ribosome during translation. Unlike DNA, RNA is often single-stranded and contains uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).

Genome Organization and Chromosomes:

Replication and Transcription: DNA replication ensures the faithful duplication of genetic material during cell division, while transcription converts DNA into RNA, providing a template for protein synthesis.

Translation: The cellular machinery, composed of ribosomes and tRNA, reads the mRNA code and assembles amino acids into polypeptides during translation, ultimately forming functional proteins.

Genetic Code: The genetic code, a triplet code of nucleotide sequences (codons), dictates the sequence of amino acids in a protein. It is nearly universal, with only minor variations across species.

Epigenetics: Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, regulate gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence, pivotal in development and cell differentiation.

Macromolecular interactions are the essence of cellular life. Within the complex microcosm of a cell, countless molecules engage in precise and choreographed dances, forming intricate networks that govern every facet of biology. These interactions, governed by the principles of biochemistry, are the foundation upon which life's processes are built.

[the-least-undefinable-ordinal]

your pinned post says your open to math questions. May I ask you 2? one serious one silly(er)?

Do you apreciate the cube?

and

why does \int \frac{f'(x)}{f(x)}dx = \ln(f(x))+c (if I remembered the thing right)

1) I am hopelessly dependant on the cube, the one from my pfp is made of tungsten.

2) It follows from applying the chain rule while differentiating ln(f(x)) and using the fact that the derivative of ln(x) is 1/x.

Although, I think it's actually ln(|f(x)|), since ln isn't defined for negative numbers (at least not the integral definition).

[theresattrpgforthat]

THEME: Cyberpunk

Yes, I've seen your ask, @efangamez. Here's my (first) list of cyberpunk game recommendations!

24XX: Dire Pulse, by zebramatt84.

BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW – Only the Company stands between humanity and extinction. Help us reverse environmental collapse with Project Omega! Injured on the job? Unable to work? Our cutting-edge exoskeletal rig (Exo-Rig™) technology gets you contributing again. Sign up today! 

Enter a grim corporate future where humanity augments itself with neural interfaces, industrial exoskeletons and cutting-edge nanite technology. This is an original work loosely inspired by the The Surge series of video games by Focus Home Interactive. 

Standard of the 24XX Micro-game series, Dire Pulse is lightweight, easy to learn, and pay-what-you want. Your missions are dangerous and bloody, but rather than roll up a new character, your character gets regenerated by the Company in Exo-Rigs, which can be customized using the pieces of enemies that you’ll find never stop coming. If you like brutal, dystopian fiction with technology and massive creatures, this might be the game for you.

Balikbayan, by Rae Nedjadi.

It is the far future. Earth has been abandoned for generations. Humanity left for brighter stars, richer planets and shining colonies. To fuel their dreams of a better tomorrow, the humans turned to the Elementals and their magic. This magic is an invaluable source of power and labor. Machines were created to harness and enslave the Elementals . You were one of these Enslaved Elementals. You are machines that echo the legendary magic you once possessed. You and your friends are among the few who have managed to return to Earth. What remains of Earth’s cities is falling apart. The Corp won’t let go of you so easily either. But shining through the cracks is a magic that is ready to be reborn.

BALIKBAYAN is great for veterans ready for a more narrative experience, and perfect for people new to the hobby. Bring your dystopic post-Cyberpunk fantasies to life, revel in supernatural Filipino folklore, and dance along the threads between magic and technology.

If you’re interested in mixing fantasy elements in with your cyberware, you’ll want to check out Balikbayan. It can be played with or without a Game Moderator, and provides excellent advice for running the game either way. If you are newer to roleplaying games, or if your group doesn’t feel comfortable yet with a game that’s primarily narrative, you might want to have a GM for your first time playing this game. BALIKBAYAN uses a system called Belonging Outside Belonging, which does not rely on dice. Instead, it has a series of moves, called Strong, Neutral and Weak Moves. Strong moves require the use of a token and reflect success, Weak moves provide opportunities for failure and generate tokens, and Neutral moves move the story forward, without requiring or generating tokens. If you are interested in breaking free of the chains of your corporate overlords or burning yourselves out in the process, you should check out this game.

CBR+PNK (AUGMENTED), by Emanuel Melo (old version)

CBR+PNK (Cyber plus Punk) is a tabletop RPG for one-shot sessions in the cyberpunk genre. You play as a team of RUNNERS — mercs, criminals, activists living on the edge and running in the shadows of a gritty, ultra-violent world.

The game uses a minimalist version of the acclaimed Forged In The Dark system to produce cinematic action. No playbooks: characters are differentiated by their combination of approaches, skills and gear. Because it's more action oriented, there is no Downtime and Stress is relieved by a special action during the Run. There’s also some additional mechanics, called Cyberware and Glitches, which can add enhancements and complications to your play. 

CBR+PNK has a number of supplements available if you like customization, from nemeses, to heists, to extra rules. Both the player brochure and the GM handout are jam-packed with information, dice and rules. The old edition is no longer available, but the newest version, CBR+PNK: AUGMENTED, is available for pre-order thanks to a successful Kickstarter! 

FSG#4: Gay Crime, Sapphics Against Capital, by Evey Lockhart.

The everyday cruelty of petty market lords is a terrible enough thing to combat, but of course the rich assholes have magic too. Clues to the myriad death cults of capital lie nearly naked all around. It's safe to assume most folx with MBAs regularly sacrifice the poor not just as a source for wealth, but for immortality and other preternatural boons.

These are the queer women standing in the rich cultists' way. The time for direct political action is now. 

This is a deconstructed zine for use with the Troika! Tabletop Roleplaying Game featuring: 5 Backgrounds and a Modern Fantasy Microsetting, complete with an introductory assassination! Troika is a game system that allows for chaotic storytelling, both in narrative and in combat. It facilitates easy character creation and regeneration, should your character meet with a grisly end. 

The micro setting and assassination provided make this a great option for a one-shot. The playbooks are incredibly tongue-in-cheek, but may be a big draw for any queer-friendly table. If you like the idea of bringing revenge upon rich cultists, and if you’re interested in queer stories of resistance, this playset (and one of Evey’s other supplements, Cyber Explosions) might be worth checking out!

CY_BORG, by Free League Publishing 

The world is ending. Again and again and again and again and again….

A Nano-infested doomsday RPG about cybernetic misfits and punks raging against a relentless corporate hell. CY_BORG is a complete rules-light, rage-heavy tabletop roleplaying game based on and compatible with MÖRK BORG. Easy to play, easy to hack. It’s got quick and dirty character creation, an introduction to Cy (a megacity with neon cathedrals and a toxic industrial hell), and a d66 table full of headlines and plot hooks to get your characters invested from the get-go. 

CY_BORG is as modifiable as the tech it references; there is a plethora of rules and add-ons and supplements outside of the core rules - and even the core rulebook has optional rules that you can choose to add on or take away, depending on the kind of game you’re looking to run. The setting itself is gritty and unforgiving and dirty; with foes and villains attempting to thwart every step you take to bring down the rich and powerful. If you liked MÖRK BORG’s ruleset but want to bring it into the squirming, writhing future, then you should check out CY_BORG.

Repo Man, by Ziva McPherson.

In a poisoned world where illness and injury are the norm and corporate greed has reached a peak never seen before, a savior has emerged: CureCo. Led by the greatest medical minds in a century, CureCo has lifted us out of tragedy and answered our prayers with their artificial organs and miraculous cures.  But of course, everything comes with a price…and if you can’t pay it, CureCo sends the Repo Man to take back what’s theirs.

This is where your story begins. Your debts are due, and one way or another, CureCo intends to collect. Tonight. The Repo Man is on your trail, and you need to escape at all costs.

Repo Man is a cyberpunk horror zine game for 2 or more players inspired by Repo! The Genetic Opera. To play it, you will need 1 d6 per person and a copy of this game. Character creation is reliant on description: you’ll want to describe what you look like, a special skill or secret, and a thing they hold that is a reason for being hunted by CureCo, such as a replacement organ or a prosthetic. 

If you are looking for a game that combines the feeling of a clock running out with the creeping dread of something always catching up with you, Repo Man might be your cup of tea. Be warned however: in this cyberpunk hellscape, body horror and violence are all too common. You’ll want a robust set of Safety Tools at your side with this game, as with any good game table.

Boy Problems, by boyproblems.

It is many years into the future. A wealthy and powerful person (or persons) has claimed a rare and much sought-after prize: the “vault” of 200 unreleased songs from renowned Canadian pop artist, Carly Rae Jepsen. Hired by an anonymous sponsor, your team of highly trained individuals will raid a well-defended location to retrieve said item. From planning to set-up to execution, you will see this heist through to its completion, whether that be a success or failure. There will many twists and turns along the way, and don’t always trust the specialists by your side.

Boy Problems is a game whose mechanics are inspired by Lasers & Feelings, by John Harper. It’s been highly reviewed by a number of publications, so you might have heard of it already! There are roll tables for the GM to help you set up the plot in a few minutes, including some twists and turns that cause the players to alter their plans on the fly. The Quickstart has some great pieces of advice for folks who might be running a game for the first time. 

The creator has a Quickstart that is free. There’s also a paid option that gives you a larger, more fleshed-out game, and a Side-B supplement with new mechanics, new art, and three new heists! If you want an up-beat game that prioritizes problem-solving over combat, whether you want a one-shot or a multi-session storyline, and if you want a game with easy-to-learn rules and evocative playbooks, Boy Problems just might be for you.

Neon Black, by NotWriting.

Free an AI from their corporate prison. Hack a CEO's credit account. Rescue your friend's digital consciousness from a vending machine.Capitalism sucks. The rich are villains. Community rules.

Neon Black is a role-playing game about a community of poor people fighting back against tyrannical corporations and the indifference of the rich, as well as surviving in a dystopian city state. It’s like real life, but in this world you can kill the CEO’s, rob banks to pay rent, and help your friends do the same. You'll help your community, go on dangerous heists, explore artificial realities, and encounter friendly and nefarious machines. We play to find out if the community can survive amidst warring corporations, an unforgiving climate, and the negligence of the extravagantly wealthy.

This is a rulebook full of advice, albeit not yet accompanied with art. It’s built on the structure of Blades in the Dark, complete with Clocks, Playbooks, Scores and Downtime. It also comes with a chapter on Drugs, Hardware and Software, all must-haves for a Cyberpunk game. At its root, however, Neon Black is about community: your characters will face hard choices and be forced to make sacrifices for the good of the people they care about. Right now the game is still in beta, but it shows an immense amount of promise - and it’s perfectly playable in the stage it’s in right now! It also comes with some well-designed Playkits, available for free in the game description. I recommend that you check this game out!

[thegrimcaptain95]

In all seriousness if someone could please explain to me the concepts of differentiation and integration at A-Level level, with how to use the different rules and stuff (chain, quotient, product and the other two I can’t remember) that would be great please

Or if you can point me in the direction of someone or something that can ❤️

[unjest]

the mortally coiled magic system

ive been talking about this shit for AGES without actually explaining it so. this is me explaining it

the whole system is specifically how mortals perceive it btw. externals have a different relationship to "magic" due to being on an entirely separate plane of existence

Magic is based on the use and manipulation of natural energies know as Coil. Coil exists in literally everything, but not all of it can be easily used in magic.

that brings me to types of Coil- mortals tend to categorize Coil into a handful of different designations. Some mage guilds have their own categorizations depending on specialization/casting technique, but the most common + widespread categorization (which is also the most generalized) is the String System, popularized by the Empty Chain guild.

The String System separates Coil into Loop, Stitch, Tangle, and Thread. Loop and Stitch are usually the only types of Coil considered suitable for magic.

Loop (or "unbound" Coil) can be drawn from anywhere, but is particularly abundant in wind, and is therefore always available to a spell-caster in some form or another. It's often considered a "friendlier" source of magic, in that it takes to direction easily and willingly. Unlike Stitch, Loop drawn from different sources tends to act similarly, and can be used in ways unlike to their sources, with a near negligible amount of additional effort compared to keeping to the source's nature. The biggest downside to Loop is that it is comparatively weak- it takes a very large amount of Loop to preform a spell that would take only a small amount of Sitch, so Loop is typically used for small tasks, to supplement Stitchwork, or when suitable Stitch is unavailable/the spellcaster cannot use suitable Stitch for some reason or another.

Stitch (or "bound" Coil) is drawn from plants, water, flesh, fire, stone, and many other sources. Not all things contain Stitch, but things that are alive or have been alive always contain some amount of Stitch. Stitch is differentiated from Loop in that it is far more closely bound to its source, and cannot be inherently changed from its source. For example, Stitch drawn from water cannot be used in fire-magic, Stitch drawn from stone cannot be used in flesh-magic, and so on and so forth. Sometimes, things can be a bit arbitrary, and the lines can be blurred, but Stitch is, as a rule, set in its ways. Stitch is more powerful than Loop, and most mages will find a specific sort of Stitch-source that they specialize in and master wielding.

Tangle is the type of Coil associated with Soul, and it is (almost) always only found in "living" beings. While not impossible to use in spellcasting, albeit extremely difficult due to being even more stubborn than Stitch, it is wildly considered off-limits as a source. Some healers specialize in the repairing and retrieval of damaged or lost Tangle, but said healers are often shunned and called necromancers or cycle-breakers. There is one specific guild of mages known as Froggers who have mastered the art of snipping off tiny bits of their own Tangle, which can then be used like Loop with the power of Stitch. However, this means that all Froggers end up having extremely short lifespans due to literally breaking off bits of their life-force.

String was for an extremely long time considered completely unavailable to mortals. It's the start and the end of all Coil. Pure, free, uncontained magic. It was extremely plentiful at the beginning of the universe, but all String was quickly changed into the other types of Coil. String is inherently unstable, and it is believed if any String is formed, it is instantly converted into a more stable form. All magic of Eternal origin is actually String- the presence of String is enough to cause extreme fallout in the surrounding area. The most significant example of String is Noxa Krov's Crater, the site of the bog that eats. The undead are formed because of the high saturation of String in the bog's waters.

Actual spellcasting is varied from caster to caster. Spellcasting can be done with runes, somatic components, gestures, rituals, or even by just using sheer willpower. Different spellcasters can find different types of spellcasting easier or more challenging, but some types are inherently simpler (many mages start out with runes, due to there being several established scripts for runecasting) or always extremely difficult (will-casting is rarely done outside of a handful of isolated sects due to high effort is required for little reward compared to other methods). Experienced mages will typically stick to one or two casting methods they prefect for themselves, while newer mages tend to slapdash different methods together to make up for their shortcomings in any given method.

[hero-israel]

What do you think about Tamir Pardo and his recent words about apartheid?

I'm confused because according to pro-palestinian activists, apartheid is the fact that for Israelites and Palestinians the Israeli justice system has a different approach, so two legal systems. According to pro-israelis, there is no apartheid, because both Arabs and Jews live together and shame same public spaces. So it seems like both sides are using different definitions of what apartheid is.

Former Mossad director Tamir Pardo - who served in the Sayeret Metkal under Yonatan Netanyahu - said in September that he believes Israel is enforcing an apartheid system in the West Bank. High-ranking Israeli officials have been warning for years that such a thing could happen. Pardo is probably the most important to say that, by his estimation, they are there now.

Pardo didn't say that a mere four months earlier, in May, when he co-wrote this op-ed that I agree with down to the letter.

What changed in the administration of the West Bank in those four months? Nothing.

My perspective on the "apartheid" term is written in more detail here - and please read through the comments because it is fair to include viewpoints from an actual Israeli like @kwippo. Pro-Palestinians as a rule consider every inch of Israel to be "apartheid," that it is "apartheid" to have Yom Kippur be a bank holiday or for postage stamps to have a menorah on them. That is to be dismissed out of hand. I would not hesitate to stack 1949-armistice-line Israel's treatment of minorities favorably against literally any other country in the world.

The occupied West Bank has a differential system based on nationality, not race, because that's what happens during a military occupation. This distinction used to matter to certain people, and by "certain people" I mean the likes of Human Rights Watch, which spit fire at Israel all through their 2010 report but included a long aside about how the occupation of the West Bank is not apartheid. Once again, nothing changed since then in the administration of the West Bank. Not in the last four months. Not in the 11 years between that report and another by HRW that said "actually nevermind it's totes apartheid after all." Not to this day. So I reject using a change in terminology motivated not by any change in materially lived experience but rather by fear of the future and dissatisfaction in the lack of progress. The current parlance of the Extremely Online Left is to vindictively say that the very step that could make a 2-state-solution possible - having separate systems along the footprints of separate states - is somehow "apartheid," and the only thing that can stop this "apartheid" is to erase those very distinctions and erase Israel too.

The current ultra-extremist fringe government in Israel is saying - frequently - that they WANT to change the administration of the West Bank. That is scaring basically everyone who hears it who doesn't live in the West Bank already.

With all due respect to Pardo, he is still acting as a political figure in this context and political figures exaggerate to make their points. I love Joe Biden and am relieved every day that he is president, and in 2012 Joe Biden said the Republican Party - under Mitt Romney - wanted to put African-Americans "back in chains."