#Chinese medicine in Phoenix

[kambomex]

Chinese Medicine in Phoenix with Kambo

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[lewiscarrolatemybrain]

Reading about the cultural and social importance of bathing throughout Chinese history (because I am exactly the kind of person who spends hours reading about the cultural and social importance of bathing throughout Chinese history for no particular reason on a Tuesday night) and obviously now I'm imagining the sects all lowkey competing with regards to their public baths -- or at least the ones meant for visiting disciples and dignitaries.

The Jin are obviously doing The Most and being incredibly tacky about it. The floor of the bath is made of gold tile that dull super quickly and the whole tub needs to be frequently drained so the tiles can be deep cleaned and polished, and of course once they're shiny they reflect light up and through the water in a way that's actually really distracting. The bath bean has crushed pearls and seventy four different types of flowers in it. The benches are intricately engraved and inlaid with gems in places that pinch your butt when you sit on them.

The Nie have a natural hot spring that they have turned into their main public bath. The massive cavern houses a number of varying-sized pools, some of which interconnect and others of which are freestanding. The free standing pools are typically treated with different soaks to give the water various medicinal properties (most often for things like muscle aches or minor injuries, but also for skincare and such.) I imagine the Nie recipe for bath-bean would include animal fat and pancreas, making it very rich and cleansing.

Part of me wants to say the Jiang would just bathe in the lake but that seems cheap to me, so instead: Through a combination of well-placed pipes and clever array work, the Jiang bath house feels like a mini indoor rainstorm, with water falling in thousands of warm droplets from the ceiling above to fill the pools, which are more shallow that a typical bath would be. There are built-in overhangs you can sit under to get out of the "rain" while still being in the water. If requested the rain can be "turned up" and the lights dimmed, and cymbals crash so you feel like you're really standing out in a raging thunderstorm, which some people find incredibly soothing and others find terrifying. I can't think of anything unique for the bath bean other than lotus flowers but I do think, given the proximity to the river, that mud wraps would be a common treatment offered.

The Lan... probably have the worst public baths, actually. They may not even actually have a public bath at all. If they do have one, it's not meant to be a place of luxury or entertainment, although of course it would be tastefully decorated and comfortable. Rather they'd find some way to make public bathing less about socializing and more about silently meditating while pretending you aren't surrounded by other naked people. I guess the cold springs kind of sort of count as a public bath but not really. Bath bean smells distinctly medicinal, but obviously whatever is in it works, because the Lan all look Like That.

The public bath in Qishan stopped being a popular attraction when Wen Ruohan stopped having visitors, but for years their bath was one hell of a marvel. Massive, bronze statues of phoenixes would be heated until glowing-hot and then lowered into the stone tub, filling the air with thick steam. Patrons would sit around the room on their benches, sweating it out until the statues had cooled enough for the water to be safe to enter. If you wanted a cold bath, the adjoining room was also home to a massive bronze statue, this one of a dragon that sat in the center of the tub and poured cool water out of it's mouth. Bath bean was made with plant ash rather than rice or soybean powder, and the water was all treated with volcanic ash.

And, because I am Me, the Wei sect: I'm imagining a dark hall deep in the cave systems, the floor lined with man made in-ground pools of varying sizes not entirely unlike the Nie baths, however these pools aren't connected to an outside water source or each other. There are illusion arrays carved into the walls that send out glowing, ghostly shapes of fish and otters and other river creatures swimming through the air. The pools are filled through overhead pipes that pour water, oils, and herbal mixtures into the pool, and each pool has access to it's own set of labeled levers, so a person or group of people can customize their bath while they're having it, adding more cool water, hot water, or various add-ins. The bath bean is more of a paste due to the addition of a ton of collagen. (They get it from the kitchen's bone broth. The bones are not human, but that doesn't stop visiting disciples from scaring each other about it. Don't piss off the Yiling Louzu or you'll end up in the soap.)

[timetravellingkitty]

Mulan 2020 sucks lol

Written and edited by yours truly

So, Mulan 2020 happened. And I am disappointed. Seriously disappointed. It is utter garbage. I would genuinely prefer it if I watched Mulan II 5 times in a row, and that's saying something.

There is so much to talk about because this has so many issues. I don't think my brain can handle a movie as bad as this for some time. It is a disgrace to the original animated movie.

(Who cares about spoilers?)

And yes, I can and I will compare it to the original movie because it is a remake. It is totally valid to see where this fell flat and where the original succeeded. I'm not saying it has to be like the original cartoon, that is stupid. As I mentioned, it's to highlight the failures of this movie.

Besides, even if we forget the fact that it is a remake, this movie is still horrible.

INTRODUCTION

Mulan 1998 is a classic. It has great visuals, an awesome soundtrack, wonderful and compelling characters, a great message and a cool plot. It's just a great movie in general. It is an adaptation of The Ballad of Mulan, a Chinese legend. Both the legend and the animated movie are about a young girl named Mulan who disguises herself as a man to take her father's place in the army to fight back against an invasion.

As big of a success Mulan was, Chinese audiences thought some things were weird. For instance, having a dragon be a comic relief character, given that dragons are highly respected in Chinese culture. So of course, Disney decided to try another shot, claiming that they wanted to be more culturally sensitive, accurate and closer to the original ballad.

Mulan 2020 is a remake of the original animated movie, and was marketed to be more "accurate to Chinese culture and the Ballad". This claim is, of course, false, because they failed in that aspect. Say what you will about the cultural inaccuracies in Mulan 1998, but at least it was a great movie. Besides, Mulan 1998 didn't pride or market itself on being culturally accurate, the way Mulan 2020 did, so there's that.

CHANGES

I don't mind some changes. And honestly, if there's one thing I appreciate, it's that it isn't a carbon copy of the original (looking at you The Lion King 2019).

Li Shang's character is divided into two characters: Commander Tung and Mulan's love interest Honghui, apparently in light of the Me-Too movement. This is a dumb reason. Disney wasn't comfortable with a superior having a relationship with a subordinate? The hell? The romance between Shang and Mulan was only insinuated at the end, when Mulan wasn't even a part of the army anymore, so there's that. Also, Mulan gave her consent, so I don't know what they’re talking about.

Mushu isn't present in the movie. I can see why though. He contributed quite a bit to the soul of the animated version but a CGI dragon would be very distracting. Also, the director said that removed him to achieve a more realistic tone.

Grandma? No grandma. Mulan has a sister though, who only exists to mess stuff up.

The Huns are replaced with the Rourans and Shan Yu is replaced with Bori Khan.

Mushu is replaced with a phoenix, who acts as an emissary for the ancestors

There are no songs, except in the end credits, which isn't a bad thing. The instrumentals of the songs in the animated one play during some scenes (I'll talk about the music, don’t worry)

CHARACTERS

The characters in this movie are so boring. Our lead character Mulan lacks the charisma her animated counterpart had. She's utterly bland, uninteresting and poorly written. In the original, she knew she wasn't physically strong and that she couldn't solve her problems with her strength, so she used her intelligence and wit. She excelled by working hard and being strong willed and determined. This Mulan is a well rounded character.

Mulan in the live action is given Chi powers (Chi is a big part of Chinese medicine, in case you didn't know). Honestly, I wouldn't be as mad at Mulan being given superpowers, had they actually done this properly! Chi isn't like midichlorians, it's something that flows through everyone. Mulan is naturally born with dumb superpowers and has to hide them because as her dad says, " Chi is for warriors, not for daughters”. There is a problem:

It has been mentioned many times that Mulan needs to hide her superpowers otherwise she will be shunned and ostracised. Then why doesn't she get more repercussions everytime she uses her powers? The worst thing that happens is little Mulan getting looks of disgust when she uses them. On other occasions, when she is now a part of the army, she uses her powers in training and she doesn't get any backlash? What the hell?? Then why even bother in the first place?

The only way for this narrative to work is if Mulan got more repercussions for using her powers.

If I were to make the line "Chi is for warriors, not daughters," work, I would make it go something like this:

*At the end of the movie when Mulan comes home*

Dad: Didn't I tell you that Chi is for warriors, not daughters?

Mulan: "I am a daughter, but I'm a warrior too."

(Yes, I know this is similar to a scene in Avatar: The Last Airbender, but this would be better, tbh. Also, watch Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Let me compare the training montages from both movies.

In the animated one, there is an absolutely AWESOME montage of Mulan training side by side with her companions, slowly gaining their trust. She climbs the pillar with both medallions by using her wit, not by brute force. This Mulan worked hard. Besides, the fact that "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" plays over this is the only thing that makes it better (banger song, thank you Donny Osmond)

In the live-action, Mulan is supposed to lift up buckets and climb on top of a mountain. There are also other training scenes, but those aren't very important. In these scenes, she succeeds with the power of CHI. WHY? Mulan here just achieves her goal because she is oh so special. She didn't work to achieve her goal at all, because she is perfect. No struggling or development here at all.

Mulan in the animated version was more concerned about saving her father. Mulan in the 2020 version is a dumb patriot who can't even do patriotism right ("I know my place. It is my duty to fight for the kingdom and protect the Emperor") How very empowering.

In short, live-action Mulan can do no wrong. She has no flaws, no personality and no charm. Everything comes to her pretty easily, because MAGIC.

Li Shang's role in the live-action is divided between Commander Tung and Mulan's love interest Honghui, as mentioned before. Both of these characters are flat, dumb and boring. Tung exists to tell Mulan to cultivate her Chi and to train these idiots (and to offer his daughter’s hand in marriage to her, unaware that Mulan isn’t actually a guy, but eh). Honghui is there to be a stupid love interest, who gives us an “I am Spartacus” moment.

The witch is by far the most interesting character. She actually has more than one side to her, has SOME kind of depth and you can even feel sorry for her. She is supposed to serve as a foil to Mulan, given that both have similar powers. In case you've forgotten (which is something I wouldn't blame you for), she's an outcast who's now working with Bori Khan. Why is she an outcast? Because of her Chi. The witch has said many times that she could kill Bori Khan in a snap, then why doesn't she kill him? Because she needs acceptance? What the hell? She decides to pull out the whole "We're the same, you and I," stupidity to Mulan, and I can see that. It's just that the writers just didn't put much thought into it. “It’s too late for me” because you saw a woman leading an army of men? Also, why does she warn Mulan that Bori Khan is coming? Unless she's playing both sides, except her motivations aren't made clear enough for this to make sense. Finally, she dies for the dumbest reason. God, it just makes me so mad. She had so much potential, but no. They just had to mess her up.

Bori Khan? MORE LIKE BORING KHAN. Not much is there. His animated counterpart Shan Yu was scary and contributed to some of the darkest moments in the movie. This guy over here is just...nothing. That's all I have to say.

Mulan's sister is only there to mess up the meeting with the Matchmaker. What a stupid change. First off in the animated version, it's Mulan who messed up, because she isn't perfect. She fails at being stereotypically feminine AND masculine, but in the live-action, she literally pulls off a Spiderman cafeteria scene, and the blame is put on the sister. In the animated movie, this scene is groundwork for Mulan wanting to prove herself and going on a hero's journey, providing depth to her character, but in the live-action, she's perfect. What is the point? (I know this section was supposed to be about the sister, but eh). The sister doesn't provide anything else to the movie, so thanks! I hate it. Moral of the story: Girls can do anything boys can, as long as they have superpowers. If you are born special like Mulan, you can be respected, whereas if you are like the sister, you have no significance and in the end, you can just fit in and be irrelevant. Congratulations!

The live action group of guys Mulan met and befriended in the army lack the charm and comedic timing of their animated counterparts. That’s it. Seriously. I have nothing more to say about them, because they don't really have anything going on. I don't even know why they are included, because their contribution is nil, save for them blandly speaking lines from the animated version’s songs ("I don't care what she looks like, I care what she cooks like"), which is seriously cringe.

The dad is there to tell Mulan that Chi is for warriors. A shame, because I really liked the dad in the movie. He was a source of wisdom for Mulan, whose greatest honour was having her for a daughter. In the live-action, he just takes the sword that Mulan is given at the end of the movie. The mom is meh.

The emperor is also meh. At least he was wise and cool in the animated version, but here he just does bed sheet kung-fu.

Did I mention that the dynamics between the characters are unnatural, forced, awkward in a bad way and in no way indicates any chemistry between them? Oh yeah, I didn’t, until now. They don’t establish much when it comes to emotion.

Simply put, Khan (Mulan’s horse in the animated version) had more personality than all of these characters combined

PERFORMANCES

Liu Yifei as Mulan was a pretty terrible choice. She is just a block of wood, who has absolutely no range, and this isn't because of the writing. She is genuinely bad, and is regarded as one of China’s worst actors (I kid you not). She just can’t emote.

Jet Li as the emperor is meh. But hey, he doesn’t have much to do, so eh.

Jason Scott Lee as Bori Khan is fine. He doesn’t suck, but he lacks the command and authority of a character who is supposed to be intimidating, but I guess it has something to do with the writing of his character.

Donnie Yen is a martial art legend, but unfortunately, he doesn't have much range as an actor.

The best performance of this movie is that of Gong Li, who played the witch. Honestly, she is charismatic, charming and has an idea of what she is doing.

To save everyone’s time, simply put: most of the performances are bland and mediocre. Partly due to bad writing and partly due to most of the actors not being, well, good at acting.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL ACCURACY

So Disney went all “we like cultural and historical accuracy”, which is nice. For example, the Huns are replaced by the Rourans, a real tribe in China around the time Mulan was supposed to be alive. They also removed the hair cutting scene, because as iconic and awesome as it is, it doesn’t make sense. Chinese men wore their hair long too. You know what? I like these kinds of changes. I appreciate accuracy. If only Disney didn’t pride themselves on their accuracy when they got almost everything else wrong (They somehow got Mulan's house wrong lol). I don't know jackshit about Chinese culture so just go watch that Xiran Jay Zhao video it's very swag

THE BALLAD OF MULAN

In a surprising turn of events, this isn't accurate to the Ballad, like they had marketed it to be (I know, I’m shocked too). In a reference to the Ballad, Mulan is riding a horse and she sees two rabbits running side by side. She goes home and tells her family that she saw 2 rabbits, and she thinks that one was male and the other female, but she wasn't sure. This just misses the entire point of the Ballad.

Long story short, Mulan in the Ballad is actually a seamstress. She joined the army in her father's place. She defeats the barbarians and goes on a ten year long campaign with her friends, after which they meet the Son of Heaven (a sacred imperial title of a Chinese emperor). He offers her a high ranking position, which she refuses, because she just wants to go home. She returns home and her family welcomes her. Sometime later, her friends come to visit her, and they find out that she is actually a woman. The friends are shocked because she has been in the army for 12 years and in those 12 years, they didn't even realise that she was a woman.

Mulan then replies:

The male hare's feet hop and skip

The female hare's are muddled and fuddled

But when two hares are running side by side

How can you tell the male from the female?

Which is where the poem ends.

So, Mulan just going on, judging those rabbits like that makes absolutely no sense. The Ballad is about how no matter how different men and women look, when they live and fight amongst each other, who gives a damn about the differences? You know what would have made sense though? If Mulan got off her horse, went close to the rabbits, examined them, and then made the conclusion that one is male and the other is female. This would actually be sticking to the message of the Ballad. Also, why do they make it ambiguous as to whether she accepts the high ranking position? I assume for a sequel (yes, God save my soul). Here we can see another example of its impeccable accuracy to the Ballad.

THIS ISN'T EMOTIONAL AT ALL

Everything that made the original film good has been stripped away. Every moment that is meant to be emotional is very dull. For example, the scene where Mulan makes the decision to take her father's place in the army is supposed to be a very powerful scene. Mulan is risking it all just so her dad can be safe. She might be killed if discovered, and her family would be dishonoured.

When Mulan comes back from the Matchmaker, she has a moment of reflection while singing "Reflection". This is the beginning of her personal journey, discovering who she is. In this, after Mulan comes back from the Matchmaker, she doesn't have a moment of reflection. The army immediately shows up. Am I really supposed to believe that Mulan feels bad about this? That Mulan is really struggling?

When Mulan’s friends are singing, it suddenly shifts to the striking scene of the burnt village. This, in my opinion, is the best use of tonal whiplash. From this point on, things are getting serious, and the emotional weight of this tragedy is felt. In this, they just randomly show up at the village.​​ There is no seriousness (stop trying to tell me this movie is adult, mature and serious, it just looks like that on the surface).

Their attempts at being emotional are poor and unconvincing, and ultimately, the end product is an emotionless, soulless, depthless entity.

THE MUSIC

The director mentioned in an interview that she didn’t add songs into the movie because it is “unrealistic to break into song when you're in war”, and I don't think I’ve heard anything more false (apart from the concept of a flat Earth). Even I, who isn't going into war anytime soon, know this is false. They instead inserted instrumentals from the original film. Except, it's very weirdly placed. The instrumental for Reflection is placed when Mulan is fighting the Rourans after she reveals herself to be a woman. Like, there isn't any context. In the end credits, they had the original song "Loyal, Brave and True" sung by Christina Aguilera, which was nice. I don't really have much to say in regards to the music. The music is overall forgettable.

THE ACTION

The action may seem weird, but this kind of martial arts is a part of the Wuxia genre, which is what they were going for. Well, they failed. The choreography is bad, the CGI is bad, EVERYTHING is bad. Honestly, if you want a good Wuxia movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon exists. The action is here stupid and stiff.

OTHER DUMB STUFF

Why does Mulan take her armour off before going into battle? That is just stupid. Can't you just take the bindings off? Also, WHY OPEN YOUR HAIR-

Mulan really likes kicking spears (and pointy stuff in general). Seriously. It’s weird.

The CGI is okay I guess, I don't know. The phoenix in some scenes looks pink to me. There are some pretty visuals though.

It is very obvious that there is a green screen used in the scene where Mulan and her friends find the burnt village. And it looks bad. Pretty ugly. It looks bad. The green screen looks bad.

The war strategy is just weird. I can't really say anything about it in text form because how am i supposed to describe it, help- (she literally teleported behind the bad guys in the avalanche scene-).

I like how the animated film, which had a dragon as a comic relief and other silly stuff, is more mature than this.

For what joy does Mulan get another sword from the army? Also, shame the dad is all “oh look at the values written on the sword, they are honourable” even though in the original the greatest honour was having her for a daughter.

How was Mulan even able to tell the gender of the rabbits?

Why not just try to send a warning to the Emperor that the Rourans are coming to get him?

Why does Commander Tung let Mulan lead them-

I AM SO DONE

Well, I think I have said everything I wanted to about this movie. I know I havent talked about its controversies but honestly, I am done. I am so done with this. This document took 5-6 months of my life. I am kind of proud of this, and there isn't much I have done to be proud of. I did procrastinate on this a bit, and I had stuff going on, but finally, I am done. In the future, if I remember something, I'll add it here, but I think that is unlikely. I never want to watch or even go near Mulan 2020 again. It's horrible, and there is barely anything redeemable. I hate it here. It’s been reported that a sequel is in development. If it’s true, of course I’ll watch it, how else am I supposed to validate my self hate? I am also, of course, the resident “friend who suffers for everyone else’s entertainment”. If you want a live action remake of Mulan, Mulan: Rise of a Warrior exists. Go watch it, it’s free on YouTube with subtitles. I really liked it.

If you’ve somehow made it this far, thanks for reading. I congratulate you for putting up with whatever this is. I would also like to take a moment to congratulate myself for actually committing to this. It was painful yet fun to complain about this to the best of my ability. If anyone wants to add anything to this, feel free to do so. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m out. I have lost my faith in humanity, and I have other things to complain about.

[jedineedlove]

The Four Symbols

"According to the archaeological evidence, the concept of the Four Symbols may have existed as early as China’s Neolithic period (some 6,000 years ago). This is based on some clam shells and bones forming the images of the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger that were found in a tomb in Henan." "I Ching (易經), a Chinese divination text also known as the Book of Changes, traces the roots of the Four Symbols back to the beginnings of the world. It alleges that they were bred from the famous ring of yin-yang (陰陽), which instils order upon the chaotic spirit of Taiji (太極)."

Four Guardians, Four Gods, Four Auspicious Beast

Each corresponds to a quadrant in the sky, with each quadrant containing seven seishuku, or star constellations (also called the 28 lunar mansions or lodges; for charts, see this outside site). Each of the four groups of seven is associated with one of the four celestial creatures. There was a fifth direction -- the center, representing China itself -- which carried its own seishuku.

The four Symbols hold significant symbolic meaning in cosmology and culture. They represent harmony and balance od the universe. The represent the harmony and balance of the universe. Each symbol governing a specific direct , season and set of elements. The symbols are associated with the five elements theory, which is crucial in traditional medicine , Feng Shui, and astrology. The also represent the cyclical nature of time, as they are closely tied to the Chines zodiac and the twelve Earthy branches.

The Four symbols paly a significant role in Shines astrology particularly in the Chinese zodiac, each symbol is associated with the specific year within the 12-year zodiac cycle, along with the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) The combination of the symbol and the element determines the characteristics and destiny of individuals born in the particular year. The four symbol also influence their astrological systems, such as the Eight Characters (BaZi) and the Four Pillars of Destiny.

I thought I compare the LMK versions of them to the real mythology.

Vermilion Bird: Symbol of the South

Vermilion Bird aka Phoenix or Zhuniao, is the symbol of the southern direction. It is associated with the season of summer and represents the element of fire. It is the symbol of rebirth, immortality, and prosperity. It is also often associated with love, beauty, and passion.

Color- Red

Time of Day - Midady

Appearance: said to have chicken’s head, swallow’s chin, snake’s neck, fish’s tail, and five-color feather. ;or A mythical bird with colorful plumage and radiant feathers.

Its seven mansions are the Well, Ghosts, Willow, Star, Extended Net, Wings and Chario

Black Tortoise: The Symbol of the North

The Black Tortoise aka Black Warrior, Xuanwu is the symbol of the northern direction. Associated with the season of winter and element of water. Believed to bring protection and longevity. It is also associated with knowledge and wisdom and the control of water.

Color- Black

Time of Day- Midnight

Appearance: A giant tortoise with a snake wrapped around its back

 Its seven mansions are the Dipper, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Rooftop, Encampment and Wall.

Azure Dragon: Symbol of the East

Azure Dragon aka Blue Dragon or Qinglong, representing the easter direction. The ruler of the sky and is associated with the season of spring, the element of wood and is believed to being harmony and good fortune to those who embrace its energy.

Color: Blue- green

Time of Day - Dawn

Looks – serpent like body, deer-like antlers, fish-like scales and eagle-like claws.

The Azure Dragon as it is said that when the seven mansions in that area (Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, and Winnowing Basket) are joined up, they form the shape of a dragon

White Tiger: The Symbol of the West

White tiger aka Baihu, is the guardian of the western direction. Associated with the season of autumn and the element of metal. Believed to represent strength, courage, and protection. Its is also associated with the celestial guardian of the west a powerful deity known as Xuanwu

Color- White

Time of Day- Dusk

Appearance: a creature with a tiger's body and lions' mane.

the White Tiger, and its seven mansions are the Legs, Bond, Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, Turtle Beak and Three Stars.

it was held to be the God of War. In this capacity, the White Tiger was seen as a protector and defender, not just from mortal enemies, but also from evil spirits.

A symbol of force and army, and so many things entitled White Tiger in ancient China are related to military affairs. For instance, the white tiger banner in the ancient army and the white tiger image on the Commander’s Tally. In the Han Dynasty, the White Tiger was usually carved on the stone relief of a tomb door, or on the lintel of a tomb passage with the Azure Dragon, to ward off evil spirits.

This puts a lot together and I'm impressed with the details that the show animators and designers put into their character designs.

Also..

Yellow Dragon: Symbol of Central

Yellow Dragon aka Qilin the symbol if the Central direction, and is associated with the season Midsummer and the element earth.

Color: Yellow

--

Comparing them they share the colors with the stones and the yellow dragon (central) seems to correspond with the jade emperor's yellow stone. Once again love the show details.

Nearly forgot about this and left it in the drafts wanted to post this then completely forget them.

[demonslayedher]

Tengen's Favorite: Fugu

A.k.a., the pufferfish, a flamboyant way to flirt with death by tetrodotoxin.

"Sempai, you didn't!" you might be shaking your screens as a way to shake sense into me. "Sempai, I thought you wouldn't risk your life for Kimetsu Kitchen!" So you say, but I'd like to remind you that I am a bad cook and I could probably find less flamboyant methods of culinary death. But also I am here to educate, and guess what? This isn't my first time eating fugu. It's time to knock the flamboyance down a notch by telling you that fugu is more commonly consumed than you might think, as well as give you the details about Uzui Tengen's favorite food in a safe way.

Because yes, you should mind safety.

Cutting out the liver and other toxic organs is a very precise, very crucial process, so let's allow Hinatsuru to concentrate and ask our local fish-fan and poison expert to tell us more.

"Thank you for asking! Did you know pufferfish don't make this neurotoxin themselves? They get it from eating things like mollusks and bacteria, so I'll bet in the future raising these fish in farms with controlled diets will be popular. The tetrodotoxin, or TTX, blocks the passage of sodium ions into a nerve cell, thereby not letting signals to contract reach the muscles. Although there is no antidote, it's a poison humans can metabolize rather quickly, provided they have artificial respiratory assistance. The paralysis and all the other symptoms sure won't be fun, though!"

Thanks, Shinobu! Taisho Secret: Shinobu's goldfish is named Fugu.

She's right about the farmed fugu, and I've heard it said that people who can taste a difference between farmed fugu and wild fugu tend to prefer it farmed anyway. What's also important to note is that there are many varieties of fugu, and "torafugu" (tiger puffer) is the safest variety, and what is typically consumed. Although some people say the livers are the best part, they are typically rich people who wind up eating their words later on. Don't listen to them, they are dead.

We'll pause here to acknowledge the history, because not everyone who has ingested wild fugu has doomed themselves to consciously watching themselves suffocate over the course of a few hours. There are records of use their use in Chinese medicine, and even though Toyotomi Hideyoshi (one of the three great unifiers of Japan) formally banned their consumption and the Tokugawa shogunate upheld this ban, people continued to consume them anyway, especially in areas where the Tokugawa shogun was not popular. (I'd like to imagine some Uzui ancestors ate fugu out of spite.)

One region not especially privy to the shogunate was the Choshu domain, in modern day Yamaguchi prefecture. This domain played a major role in overthrowing the shogunate and establishing the Meiji government, and the first prime minister, Itou Hirobumi, was from Yamaguchi. The story goes that in 1887, it was on visit down at the very western tip of Japan's main island that he stayed at an inn and wanted fish, and the lady of the establishment had no fish to serve him except the illegal pufferfish. She decided it was better to risk what might look like an attempted assassination of the top guy in the country than to serve him a subpar meal.

Well, bam, it was so good that pufferfish was legal the following year! By my calculations and presumed dates that KnY takes place, that means it was already legal before Tengen was born. Sorry, buddy, you don't get to be that edgy.

As for how to eat it, the most iconic way is to eat it raw, sliced so thin that you can still see elaborate patterns on the dishes through the translucent flesh. This is called "tessa." It's often arranged in elegant patterns evocative of chrysanthemums, or on festive occasions, like a phoenix. It's most often a winter dish, but you can get it all year round. It has a very, very light, rather unflamboyant flavor, and is therefore typically eaten with a special variety of onions grown to accompany it, and other condiments like ponzu, citrus, and momiji-oroshi (grated daikon with chili pepper).

The main draw is the texture of the fish. As someone who enjoys sashimi, I did find the texture of tessa very, very nice when I recently got a chance to try it. The same meal also served the skin, and the flesh cooked into a rice porridge dish.

I wonder if Hinatsuru is almost done?

Not yet. Then let's talk about incidents and safety!

Basically, if you're not in Japan: DON'T DO IT. Heck, if you're in the European Union, it's illegal in the first place. There are very, ve-r-r-r-y slim opportunities of eating it in the United States after it is sourced from Japan, and although frozen tessa can travel, really, why bother eating in New York City? If you have that budget to spend, just fly to Japan. Anywhere else... just don't do it. The restaurant fatalities in recent years have primarily been in countries that don't have as stringent of a training and certification process as Japan. Japan also has a small handful of cases each year, but they don't usually end in fatalities because the accidental poisonings may not always be a large dose, and the victims received medical attention that got them through the crucial hours of paralysis. Also, those cases have typically been due to overconfident fishermen, not mistakes made by industry professionals.

But if you're in Japan----oh! It looks like Hinatsuru is done.

All of those examples? Things I have eaten in real life, often under the mistaken impression that "fugu" referred to two different kinds of fish (as happens sometimes), as there was no way I'd have eaten fugu without signing a waiver first, right???

No. Not at all. It is totally realistic to find yourself in a situation where you are served fugu without realizing what it is (though I imagine most tourists don't find themselves in these situations unless they have a guide who planned things without asking about dietary preferences). To demystify this fish a bit, there is so much fugu consumed without incident that you can get to a point where the possibility of poison doesn't even cross your mind. They sell it at a regular grocery story just down the street from where I live in a place that is not famous for fugu or anything like that. (Also, no one brings it up as much, but raw eel is toxic too! You never see it available for sale unless it's been precooked or specially marinated. Again, industry standards.)

Granted, I was still nervous about eating tessa, and the danger is still part of the thrill of fugu, though the industry stresses its merits as a tasty and (otherwise) healthy fish. I get the feeling that if Tengen lived in the Reiwa era, he'd find pufferfish disappointingly lower risk now than suits his thrill. Nonetheless, although I'll eat it if it's served to me, it is not something I go out of my way to eat.

But I will state it again: ONLY eat pufferfish that has been prepared by a professional in Japan. Otherwise, DO NOT.

[queensqewed0722]

Will I ever get over this drama? I just started rewatching from the first episode on Viki, with comments enabled. But I think it’s good to rewatch coz the first time, I was still overwhelmed by all the information even as I was keeping up with reading the subtitles. I also didn’t have any comments from other viewers on the other platform, which could sometimes help in understanding the context of a scene or dialogue better (especially since I’m not Chinese). Now, I’m more relaxed and able to take in the subtler parts, especially in the dialogues. I have the luxury of not paying attention visually all the time.

One good example of my having failed to catch the nuances during my initial watch is the part when Shen Li in her phoenix form asked Xingzhi (as the mortal Xingyun) what he was going to do in the market. I don’t know any Mandarin and the other platform I first watched this in didn’t give any side notes on such languange nuances so I had no idea of the double meaning behind the words Xingyun used in his reply.

Apparently, the words he used to say that he sells ginseng sounds almost the same phonetically as the words used to mean he was going to sell himself (i.e. prostituting himself). Hence, Phoenix Shen Li’s shock and initial disgust towards him. It made that scene doubly hilarious to me upon second viewing.

I’m also more appreciative now of Shen Li and Xingzhi’s initial interactions in their phoenix and mortal forms, respectively. I’m better able to understand now why Shen Li fell hard for him and how she grew on Xingzhi till she became very dear to him. His beloved, in fact.

As a phoenix in the mortal world, Shen Li was perceived as a chicken, albeit a weird looking one, an ordinary creature with little to recommend it in those days except as food for the people. She was one of the weakest creatures and her life very expendable. What a stark contrast from her life in the Demon Realm, where she is styled Lord of the Azure Sky, wielder of the powerful Red Plume Spear. She is a great general of their army, a princess for all intents and purposes. Here in the mortal world, she’s forced to rely on a sickly and impoverished mortal man for sustenance and protection.

As for Xingzhi, the disparity of his mortal life from his old life is even greater. He is poor and sickly Xingyun, living alone in a house quite far from the center of population. He’s forced to live on meager fare, whatever selling ginseng can bring him. And most of his small earnings go to his medicines. His body is frail so that it seems as if he can die anytime.

Yet in his true form, he is the last of the Ancient Gods in the Sky Above Heaven. He’s the most powerful being in the universe, and the lives of all three realms are in his hands.

As for why Xingzhi chose to live as a mortal in such state, it’s probably because he felt it would give him a more varied and intense experience of humanity and its challenges.

So here were these two beings, reduced to such circumstances, finding themselves living together and depending on each other. They got to know one another without the burdens and trappings of their positions, and it allowed their relationship to grow into something more authentic. In a way, one can say that this brief period where everything started between them was what allowed them to love each other just as themselves, as simply Shen Li and Xingzhi. Not as Lord Of The Azure Sky and The Divine Lord of the Sky Above Heaven and the Three Realms.

This initial arc goes on for several episodes before Shen Li finally returns to the Demon Realm and they meet again, this time with Xingzhi in all his understated glory as Divine Lord Xingzhi, and she as the Lord Of The Azure Sky. I think it was the perfect foundation for the relationship that they developed later on. It was a love so strong that it literally shook all the Three Realms and eventually led to the destruction of the Sky Above Heaven, ending the age of the ancient gods.

Some of the fans complain that the development of some arcs took a chunk out of the series, that some arcs were dragging and they saw little sense in it. For me, those viewers are probably the types who got used to the instant gratification that’s usually seen in Western dramas or those who don’t have the patience to finish reading a book. They always want to skip to the good parts and then they keep pestering other viewers with questions on why this happened or why that is so.

Anyway, whatever else these foolish viewers may say, TLOS will remain one the best CDramas ever. Almost all its characters, especially the ones who portray key roles, were well rounded and developed. And the execution of the story was top-notch, from the first time Xingzhi’s eyes fell on this weird chicken, until the end, when he and Shen Li return to the mortal world to live their life together happily and peacefully in that house where their love first blossomed.

[korallion]

Loose threads and various trivia from the Poppy War series that I can't stop thinking about

I'm writing this because I have very little time to write at the moment so I won't be able to fit all these elements into the Poppy War fic I'm writing but I still have to get it out of the system because the amount of detail is insane.

DrUgS!

Ancient Chinese medicine in general is full of hallucinogenic and poisonous plants that were dosed very carefully, but shamans used them to talk to the gods, and the most common ones were:

The fly agaric mushroom: the mushroom that Chaghan and Qara gave to Kitay and Rin for the anchor ritual.

The ephedra plant: it was generally drunk in the form of tea and I think it's the liquid from the flask Jiang gives Rin in the first book when he sends her to meditate in the forest since Rin describes its effects not as a high but more as the beneficial effects of the plant in question.

The datura plant: it's extremely poisonous and was used in small amounts for its powerful hallucinogenic effects and sometimes its flowers are a blue-violet so I think it's the famous blue powder that Chaghan carries around in a small bottle although I couldn't find anything claiming it was used in that form. On that note, one of the candidates for Chaghan's drug is also cannabis, which was also used by Taoist monks and nomadic peoples from which I assume Hinterlands are inspired and, although they are modern hybrids, there are blue variants of this plant so it could be an artistic license from Kuang.

Betel nut tree: as Shiro experiments on Altan and Rin rants that the introduction of the Speerly to opium was an idea of the Red Emperor to make them addicted to Nikan and that previously their people used the bark of a tree without specifying which one. I think this is the tree in question although in reality, it is the nuts that are consumed because in addition to being the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance after tobacco, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks, according to the World Health Organization, it energizing effects prevent fatigue and thirst so the famous fame of the Speerly warriors, at least those in Tearza's time, perhaps also stemmed from this as well as the brutal training regime and the legend of its origin is also very much linked to the Speerly eyes.

2.The Different Peoples of Nikan

I will only talk about Speerly and Hinterlanders otherwise I will never stop writing.

Speerly: As I mentioned above, the Tiwanese legend of the birth of the Betel Tree is linked to the inspiration for the red eyes of our phoenix warriors. According to the legend of the Paiwan tribe, one day a child with red eyes was born in a village, who killed any living thing with a glance. In the end Pali, this is the child's name, after finally integrating himself into the village and using the power of his eyes in wars between the other tribes, will be put to death after accidentally killing children but a friend of his notices that a betel nut tree was born on Pali's grave, the fruits of which are as wide and red as the boy's eyes that will protect the people of the village from then on. Now, what do you do with an intriguing legend about a red-eyed boy whose death essentially gave rise to a light drug tree? Apparently Kuang's answer was an entire red-eyed people reaching out to their murderous goddess via a drug of the colour of their eyes. I love this woman.

Hinterlanders: Rather than being one of a single people they are a sort of confederation of clans inspired by the Huns and the Mongols but I find it fascinating that many have light eyes and hair isn't an artistic license by the author to make them more 'shamanic' like most fantasy writers do because apparently a lot of ancient nomadic Asian ethnic groups had light eyes and hair. I used to think it was incredibly rare and more a thing of the descendants of peoples who lived near the Silk Road or the European border.

3.The Dragon

The Dragon is a Yao not a God.

I know Chaghan has already explained this, but many seem to forget about it, while I who had read Poppy War because I was in abstinence of Wuxia like MoDaoZuShi started shouting IS A FUKING Yao! and suddenly Nezha's whole speech about how it's not like Rin suddenly makes sense. Because Yao are often confused with Magical Beasts or Gods but Yao is a broad term for any animal, plant or even inanimate object that has gained spiritual awareness and magical powers. In this case, as Chaghan explained, an animal has absorbed the power of the Caves (if we want to speak in terms of theology or even Wuxia it would be Qi or even Mana if you prefer) which are one of those places where the veil between the two worlds thins and supposedly filled with the power of the real Rain Dragon and has become the 'Dragon'. But he is not a god because, as has already been said in the trilogy, true gods do not have material bodies. This can be confirmed in the story Vaisra tells Nezha about the shaman Yu who suggests that he has turned into the Dragon when in fact he may have been eaten and absorbed into the 'collection' of the Yao because in The Nine Curves River, a story by Kuang in the collection The Books of Dragons, she suggests the Yao existed before Yu's time because she makes no mention of Yu's legend but instead it is a fisherman who becomes the dragon in one of the versions.

The Dragon (Yao) is a Yinglong

The story of the Cave Dragon that Vaisra tells Nezha is inspired by the story of the legendary King Yu, founder of the Xia Dynasty who, according to the story, controlled the flooding of the Yellow River thanks to a Yinglong a very powerful water dragon that had lost its wings to kill a drought demon. This dragon is also related to the eels, through a connection that I honestly didn't understand, at least as Wikipedia explained it, and it relates back to how Rin sees him when he attacks the cave, because at least to me he reminds me of a giant eel.

Maybe the Yin sacrifice their children to the Yao

Okay I know, it sounds absurd, now I'll explain. Also in The Nine Curves River it is understood that it is set before the reign of the Red Emperor (the monks still operate) and the people of Arlong sacrifice the most beautiful people they can find in times of severe drought. Now there is no reference to anything like this in the era in which Poppy War is set but something may have changed when Yu was the one bound to the Yao in Dragon form, because in the story it is referred to that Yu would not allow anyone else to suffer, and in The Nine Curves River the Yao can cause an abnormal and prolonged drought until the sacrifice has been made but not in the times we are shown. So Yu did something that kept the Yao at bay for over a thousand years after his death or the Yin family sacrifice their children in secret. I have this theory that the Yin took it upon themselves to nurture what they thought was a God for the sake of their people after all forms of worship had been banned and, since in The Nine Curves River it is specified that the sacrificed people must go there voluntarily (perhaps a limitation imposed by the fact that even real gods cannot invade the minds of shamans unless the latter want them to and so a Yao who feeds on their power cannot go out and eat whoever they want whenever they want) the Yin Lords of the past would have piqued the curiosity of the sacrificable children to make them go to the Grotto voluntarily and the Yao would accept them as offerings and prevent the drought. So Vaisra knew that one of his sons would be eaten? Hell yes. Or at least he hoped that Yu's legend had some truth to it (knowing Riga) and that he would end up with at least one son turned into a Dragon to use for his revolution. As they say, be careful what you wish for.

Mingzha was not devoured by accident

Of course the whole theory above is dismantled when Nezha tells Yao that he was so hungry that he hadn't even thought of keeping Mingzha for himself and had devoured him straight away and that Nezha would go with him, presumably to do what Yu did (perhaps he had intuited something that is not told) to keep him at bay for so long. But hunger may not have been Yao's only reason for choosing to eat the child. Mingzha is presented to us with gold bracelets and anklets that are good luck charms for children, and so far nothing strange apart from the potential to be a heartbreak parallel for Nezha's handcuffs. But in The Nine Curves River the author implies that all Dragon sacrifices are marked with gold bracelets and anklets, so when the Yao chose Mingzha it was because he thought he was a sacrifice to be devoured.

The Red Emperor and Yu were like Nezha and Yin.

Me with a really crazy theory? More likely than you think.

So from what I understand even though it's not specified, the Yao doesn't eat all his sacrifices otherwise people like Yu and Nezha and the Fisherman wouldn't exist, even in legend. Maybe he plays with his food or maybe he has to give a fraction of his power in return, unfortunately we don't have enough elements to determine this but in Yu's legend there is a reference to the fact that the Dragon Province had become unlivable due to the currents and climate towards the end of the Red Emperor's reign, giving us a very specific time window in which to place the tale, which is strange in itself, but also makes a heavy implication (at least to me) that it was the Emperor's presence that made Arlong prosperous and, towards the end of his life, the work of his 'sacrifice' tapered off until Yu took his place.

Now, why do I think the Red Emperor was a Yin? Because Kuang loves to make us suffer and since Rin is Tearza's descendant it would make sense for Nezha to be a descendant of the Red Emperor but also for a few other reasons: Kitay says that the aunts and cousins of the Yin Clan were chosen as concubines of the Emperors and if the intrigue of the Harem didn't go out of fashion it wasn't just because of their beauty, women related to Kings and Emperors were a useful chess piece in political machinations. The coat of arms of House Yin is a dragon and speaking of historical reality the only ones who could wear the dragon on their robes or as a family crest were the Emperors and his family. Reference is made to the fact that there were no survivors of his lineage almost too insistently, just as there is no reference to Tearza's lineage until she calls Rin my blood. The Yin have the Imperial Seal that was thought to be lost. I'm pretty sure the Red Emperor is historically the equivalent of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, whose birth name was Ying Zheng and well . . . I know the Ying character and the Yin character are different but they sound similar and from a plot point of view the Red Emperor's remaining descendants could have hidden themselves by changing surnames but still one that had a resemblance to the one of origin or a side branch of the family, the possibilities are many. Lastly, he might be right about the Yin feeding their children to the Yao in Dragon form.

As for Yu, I think he was another yin descendant because, at least in the Italian version, Nezha seems to know that Yu is his ancestor.

That's all for now, at least until I find the rest of my notes. If any of this inspires you to write something I would love to have a little credit, even a small one, and oh. . .I definitely want to read it, or if you want to go in the rabbit hole with me don't be shy

[cheezekennith]

So uhhhhhh...welcome to my stupid blog!!!!

And i have a list of my ocs to you :)

GUM1

Jaden

K4RM4

Sam (my FNAF oc, and she is a human btw)

Hell madness (my first utau oc that is a Mary sue and a concept(

Akane (my toh/the owl house oc)

Medicine (my 2nd FNAF oc and she is an animatronic)

Willow (my welcome home parody oc)

Ludwig (my welcome home oc)

Yume-loid (my first utau oc)

Charolette

Henry (my fourth fnaf oc that is a carrion crow)

Jerry (my third fnaf oc that is saw whet owl)

Phoenix (my fifth fnaf oc that is a great gray owl)

Bobby (my sixth fnaf oc and is a tanuki)

Ella (my seventh fnaf oc and is a fairy)

Heres my shitty info of me :

my name is ??? Or eli

my birthday is august 24

im a filipino

i am half catholic and christian

I do speak filipino a little bit but speaking english is kinda easy for me

my race is half filipino, half chinese and spainish

im from the philippines

my zodiac and chinese zodiac is virgo and rabbit

im a female

my height is 5'3 tall

and im a multifandom artist

and i am straight and pansexual (yes I have a girlfriend and a boyfriend)

And also I have mild autism

I support LGBTQIA+

stuff i like :

fnaf

dawko

vocaloid and utauloid drawing

making utau covers

undertale/deltarune

kirby

splatoon

ghost and pals

owls

animal crossing

DNI if :

N3cr0ph1l3s

proshippers

p3d0ph1l3s

z00ph1l3s

NSFW

NSFW watchers (cuz i really hate them and they are really gross)

Racist

Transphobic

Homophobic

Lgbtqphobic

p0rn blog

Anti-christian

Muslim-phobic

Naz1$

Dawko haters

Touhou hater

Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-LGBTQAI+

Ghost and pals hater

art tracer and art stealer

Goanimate/vyond fan (the uttp ones not the regular ones)

Frans fans (plus do you know sans is older than frisk and also they are a child, that is Pro-Shipping and also pedophilia)

Vore and tickle, and inflation, kaa hypothesis, and DeviantArt k¡nk/F3t¡$h enjoyer

China-supporter

Russia-supporter

K¡nk/F3t¡$h blog

S3x¡$t

SSSniperwolf stan

YOU ARE FUCKING OUT OF THIS BLOG!

Fandoms im not interested (but if you like this fandoms i will respect your opinion) :

barney and friends

marvel

fortnite

goanimate/vyond

disney (a little)

M3G4N

Spongebob

Ok Ko lets be heroes

Gacha life

Sonic

Fandoms im up into :

dawko(youtube)/darkest desire

utauloid and vocaloid

fnaf

kirby

splatoon 1,2 and 3

ghost and pals

animal crossing

sander sides

the owl house

amphibia

Some fandoms I'm gonna get interested now :

Welcome home

Jacksepticeye

Markiplier

FPE or fundamental paper education

Touhou (I just took a break from it but I rarely post)

Fandoms/commnities i left :

Goanimate

Hazbin hotel

Helluva boss

Eddsworld

But some fandoms that I'm not interested in but I created an au :

Tf2

but please do not block me but warning my post contains⚠

Blood

and swearing

and bleeding

and only minors are in this blog but...... no 17+ accounts allowed cuz its disgusting but if your a 17+ account i will report you

Art trade : closed (but no fetish and nsfw because i hate it)

And plus I have bad spelling tho💀

And also I'm a dawktrap simp cuz ye cuz I like this dude cuz idk I'm simping on him.... *Dies of cringe*

Qna

Q1: (🇵🇭) : tagalog ka?/(🇺🇲) : you speak tegalog?

A : unfortunately i cant but i rarely speak filipino or tagalog, im still learning how to speak filipino cuz i havent spoken filipino since during the pandemic i still understand tagalog. and the fact english is my first language and filipino is my second language.

Q2 : how old are you?

A : no but my age is a minor

Main account : @cheezekennith

Alt account : @cheezeyidiot-1000

Putting *character* in places blog : @putting-oliver-in-places

My multifandom ask blog :

@ask-the-simmons-crew

My fpe au blog :

@ask-the-ffe-cast (which is formerly a putting *character* in places blog)

credit to @sweetpeauserboxes, @oligoweee and i dont the ghost and pals one this pinned post was inspired by @eminsunnytoons123

[mykingdomforapen]

courage of stars, ch3 | writer's commentary

Hello all! Thank you for coming back to chapter 3! This chapter is one I was so excited to share with people, as it introduces the characters to a new setting that the story will take place for a good chunk--and it's a setting near and dear to my heart. It also contains QUITE a lot of historical background, which I might take for granted as someone growing up with the stories but may be new to another reader, so I will try to explain succinctly. Without further ado, let's get into some notes!

***

“Little chicken cookies!” he gasped. “Kai zai,” Popo said, correcting his Cantonese pronunciation. “Not muscle cookies, silly boy.” “Kai zai,” Xiaoshi repeated, although his mind was entirely elsewhere.

If I had a writer's commentary for every bit of food that these characters eat in this story, we would be here forever, so I will resist doing that. However, I just want to shout out little chicken cookies. Little chicken cookies, aka 'kai chai paeng' (or kai zai, Cantonese romanization varies), are a very Cantonese biscuit. They're originally called 'little phoenix biscuits' but I have mostly heard them be referred to as chicken biscuits. They're crispy, lightly meat-flavored, and delicious, and they are generally popularly sold in a specific historical neighborhood in Guangzhou.

“Did you know, Xiaoshi?” she murmured. “That the moon has mountains?”  “It does?” Xiaoshi said incredulously. “Where? Can I see?”  “Not from here,” she said. “But it has many. One of them is so tall, it’s over half the height of Everest. Do you remember learning about Everest?”  Xiaoshi nodded, transfixed.  “What else?” he asked.  Cai Liangxing hummed.  “Did you know,” she said, “that the moon gets moonquakes?”  “Mooncakes?”  “Silly! Moonquakes!”

Shout-out to this episode of Radiolab for all their wonderful moon facts that I learned to include in this fic. But yes, these are true facts! I highly recommend giving that episode, and that podcast as a whole, a listen, as there are just some incredible thoughts on the moon and about human curiosity. I can't recommend it enough.

“What about the rabbit?” Xiaoshi asked. “Do you think they get scared from all the shaking?” “No,” she said assuredly. “They’re there to be with their friend. So that she is never lonely. They can be brave if it helps their friend.” 

The Chinese legend of Chang'Er is probably quite well known, but I'll give it a quick summary in case anyone is unfamiliar: legend has it that Chang'er, the wife of a legendary hero, was entrusted with magic pills that would make a human immortal, which were gifted to her husband. While he was away, a baddie came and try to threaten her into giving him the pills. In order to keep it from the hands of the baddie, she swallowed the pills and ascended to the moon, but she has no way of coming back home to her husband. Her pet bunny did come along though, to keep her company. Legend has it that the bunny is pounding medicine in order to concoct a pill that would reverse the effects and bring Chang'er back home to Earth. There's a shadow that is bunny-shaped on the moon if you look at it in its fullness. But this is also where Cheng Xiaoshi gets his nickname from his mother!

“Ah,” Qiao Ling said softly. “They probably didn’t want you accidentally slipping it to her.” “I guess,” Cheng Xiaoshi said, somber. “I wonder if it even helped.”

It is rather common in China that if a loved one receives a terminal diagnosis, the doctors will actually tell the loved one's family, but not the patient themselves. Then, the family will elect not to tell their loved one about the diagnosis, and instead take care of all of their health matters in a subtle way to not let their loved one know that they're actually dying. The belief behind this is that if the patient finds out that they're dying, the distress will only worsen their health, and so the family will take upon themselves the burden of the truth and do what they can to give their loved one an unburdened remainder of their days.

Peidi University

In Guangzhou, and perhaps in other cities of China but I only know about one city, older universities will also be a residential neighborhood. It's all still within campus, but there are apartment buildings and living spaces where professors, faculty, and retired staff live, right next to student dormitories and school buildings. They're usually a peaceful oasis within the city, because traffic is very controlled so there are very few vehicles driving in and out, and generally only residents and workers mill about. Retirees still have a lot of privileges on campus, and they can still access the food canteens. Peidi University, while fictional, certainly draws from real beloved places! They were also older places, long-established universities from the 1800s, so I do not know if for example the university that the trio attend in the show would have been the same setup. Theirs look a little more modern.

“And his hair was pitch black too!” another retiree piped up.  “I’m starting to think you don’t like my hair, Professor,” Lu Guang chided lightly.  “Oh, you know that I’m teasing,” she laughed. “You may look like Yang Xier, but you are still so genteel.” 

Yang Xier is the heroine of a Chinese modern opera called The White-Haired Girl. My memories of the storyline are very vague and hazy, but what I know of it is that this young girl's father was killed (?) in front of her by enemy soldiers and she ran and hid in a cave for years. The shock and trauma then turned her hair pure white, and eventually came out of the cave and fell in love with a kind comrade or something along those lines.

Professor Lu's story

I'm not ever going to claim to be an expert on the CR. It almost feels strange of me to even try. As I've mentioned in a previous commentary, I will not claim to aim for historical accuracy, at the same time, I drew Professor Lu's stories almost entirely from oral history and I don't typically exaggerate or make something up--after all, truth is generally far more intense than fiction. There is a possibility I misunderstood, or parts of history become compounded into one.

Professor Lu does serve as like the Exposition character in this chapter, as he does have the role of tell vs show. Indeed, university campuses were pretty dire places to be during the CR, especially for a professor, especially for a physicist. Students were really passionate about this birth of New China, really championed this cause, and then sadly were swept up in the movement. As Professor Lu mentioned re: Wang Dai, not every university student would turn against their professors, but certainly many did (and, just as Professor Lu mentioned, many of them have come to apologize for it later).

Professors and academics indeed were sent to 'reform camps,' usually if not always in the countryside, to work in the farms with physical laborers. Tea farms or mountains or bricklaying are examples of them. They could be there for a year at a time, or several years. They might be allowed back to their homes for major holidays but otherwise they're living in the camps.

One had to be extremely careful about what you say or do for fear of it being interpreted as anti-Party, and then you are going to get in big trouble. Even if your intentions were absolutely not anti-Party, you can still get in big trouble. It got to the point where there was for lack of better words rampant witch hunts--people fervently turning in their neighbors, or forced to denounce their spouses, or children manipulated into turning in their parents. Sadly, a lot of people died this way, whether by the crowds or by suicide.

I know anecdotes of people walking outside of the campus and there would be bodies hanging from the trees, or buildings set on fire, etc. And technically, things in Guangzhou were tame compared to other regions. It was much worse elsewhere.

A capitalist roader, which Professor Lu mentions at one point, is someone who was perceived to be trying to hold China back from its Revolution, or try to bring China back to the ways of ye olde capitalism. Basically, someone who was in the Party but seemed to capitulate to capitalist ways or systems.

The CR is a very dense topic, and I wrote to be anecdotal rather than historical, so I don't want to try and explain why any of it happened the way it did, but rather think of what someone like Prof. Lu would have lived through in his humble life.

Sun Yihan's Story

This is where I do fudge the timeline a bit, and that's mainly because of how young Lu Guang is. Sun Yihan and LG's Grandma hunting for frogs to stave off hunger would have happened during the early 60s, because at the time of the Great Leap Forward there was a nationwide manmade famine. People had so so little food, and so I know anecdotes of family indeed hunting for frogs at the university pond for extra bites to eat whilst pregnant, but that was around the early 60s. Lu Guang is quite young though, and I reckon his dad is born later than that. So this is a part where I muck up the timeline. That isn't to say that people wouldn't have been hungry in the late 60s or early 70s, because there was still some heavy rationing of food all the way up to like, the 80s so people didn't have all that much access too food (hence how in chapter 1, one of the characters mentions that they only have chicken once a year, and meat only about twice a week). There very well may have been frog-hunting as a mean to survive. But I want to be transparent about where my stories are coming from.

“Han Ge, your face is like Buddha,” little Lin laughed once. She wiggled her finger over Sun Yihan’s birthmark. “What if they chop your head off too?”

Buddhism wasn't really acceptable during the CR. Temples and Buddha statues were among the casualties of destroyed historical or cultural relics during the CR, hence little Lin's childish comment.

And, within that millisecond, Lu Tianbao was pierced with what he had long tried to forget. A memory that he never reopened, but instead let it rattle and howl like a ghost in a haunted hall. The memory of when he was ten years old when Japanese soldiers grabbed his uncle by the hair and dragged him to the edge of the Pearl River, where three other men shivered at gunpoint. They tied him with a rope to the doomed men, tight around the waist and only an arm’s width apart. 

We take another look back at the Japanese invasion of China here, with Professor Lu's memories. There was an incident where the Japanese soldiers tied Chinese men together, where one of those men could not swim, and then threw them all into the waters. The one drowning man dragged all of them down, and so they all drowned.

The Library

Book-burning and book-banning was, of course, prevalent in China's modern history. Western physicists would not have been smiled upon and would have likely been tossed into the refuse pile. Other banned books included Chinese classic novels, European novels...basically, anything that wasn't written by Mao or by Russian Communists were on thin ice. And while people were tasked to toss out those books, those who appreciated them would sneakily read them all beforehand. After all, no one's going to bother you when you've got the library to yourself.

Einstein's quote mentioned in the story is from a letter he wrote to someone, so frankly it is dicey how accessible that quote would have been to a Chinese person in the 70s. However, it was a good quote, and relevant, so I used it.

-

Gosh, that was a lot of notes, and I KNOW that I was purposely vague or brief. I don't mean to be blase as to dismiss anyone's desire to learn, but I want to emphasize I'm not the word of truth, and also I want to be mindful of how I explain things since the internet is quite public, and I would like to avoid causing trouble. But, I really hope that this adds to your reading experience. These historical and cultural contexts are going to be important for other aspects of this story, so I do appreciate you reading through this and hope that they all make sense. Happy to talk on DM if you have questions or want details! Thank you so much!

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Qin Yi: Nostalgic Dreams

Designer's Reflection: Nostalgic Dreams

Obtained: Vol. 1 Chapter 4 workshop

Rarity: SR

Attribute: Green/Fresh

Awakened Suit: Smile in Retrospect

Story - transcripts from Nostalgic Dreams

Chapter 1 - Growing Pain

Chapter 2 - Unending Night Rain

Chapter 3 - Metamorphosis

Story - summarized

Before Qin Yi was a renowned actor, he was a young boy nicknamed Jade by the troupe Master. But Master would beat and abuse the children in the troupe if he was even the slightest dissatisfied, whether with the performance or even his tea.

The only one to show any kindness was the star of the troupe, Li Chun. Jade looked up to Mr. Li ever since he saved the boy from the Master's wrath once. From then on, Jade adored and obsessed over costumes and the stage.

One day, he and his best friend, Monkey, got into trouble with the Master. Jade was beat and kicked first - when it was Monkey's turn, he cried out that it was all Jade's idea. Master didn't care what the truth was, but he threw Jade into the dark room anyway. No food, no water except for the cold rain seeping through the cracks.

Jade got sick from the two-day ordeal. When he was freed, Monkey came to give him medicine, remorseful and tearful. Eventually, Jade devised a plan for them both to escape the troupe and run away back to Monkey's family. They could start over and be brothers.

Except Jade had been pretending. He wanted revenge for being betrayed, so he got Monkey in trouble with the Master and rose in the troupe's ranks. Ever since that cold night in the dark room, he would do whatever it took to survive, and he would never trust anyone again.

Connections

-Ashley also got thrown into a dark room when she was younger. She tells of her mistreatment from her step-family in Meteoric Feather.

-Qin Yi/Jade says in this Reflection that he has no home to return to. In Pollia Mist Silk, you learn that he only had a mother and was living on the streets, so he ran away to get a better life.

-Qin Yi shares more of the trauma and abuse he faced in Out the Phoenix Palace. Master was exceedingly brutal to all in the troupe, only caring about what the members could do for him.

-This isn't Qin Yi's only betrayal. He uses Joy against Nikki in Vol. 1 Chapter 4, and in Flower In The Mirror, he promised to help a young woman escape an arranged marriage but didn't.

Fun Facts

-Besides changing his birthmark to look like a butterfly, Qin Yi/Jade uses other similar metaphors like "cocoon" and "metamorphosis." Butterflies do symbolize change, but usually it's a positive change.

-Monkeys are considered tricksters in Chinese mythology.

-After Jade's time in the dark room is over, Master says he is lucky to be alive. After Monkey gets sent to the dark room, we never hear from him again, implying his death.

[ciphenwriter21]

Arkham Echo Team Sparrow Bat-Computer Files #1 - Erica Davis/Sparrow

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

Sparrow

~~~~~~~

Real Name: Erica Ronda Davis

Occupation: Registered Delinquent (formerly), Gotham’s Grim Reaper (Vigilante)

Based in: Gotham City

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Height: 5 ft 8 in

Weight: 125 lbs

First Appearance: Batman: Arkham Echo Prologue, The Black Phoenix

~~~~~~~

Attributes

~~~~~~~

-Expert hacking and programming skills, as well as electronic repair and building, along with auto repair

-Avid and self-taught in various forms of fighting, including martial arts, boxing and street fighting, along with hand-to-hand combat

-Proficient in firearms and blades, especially concerning military, navy and martial weaponry

-Well-versed in Latin, Portuguese, Chinese and Military Phonetics

-Self-taught in First-Aid and medicine, as well as toxicology and forensics

-Mysteriously well-trained in deter and misdirect, as well as interrogation and investigation skills

-Skilled in espionage and evasion, being able to stay out of sight

-A formidable interrogator, using death threats in order to gain the information or things she needs

~~~~~~~

Psy. Eval.

~~~~~~~

-Suffers from a prolonged anxiety disorder, most likely a generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD or C-PTSD

-A personality disorder is a possible and likely diagnosis, but unconfirmed or unlikely

-Prone to anxiety attacks, mood swings and violent outbursts

-Anti-social for the most time, unless she is around her roommates or those she trusts

-Believes that any criminal, petty or super, willing to kill or hurt someone in an inhumane manner should be put down

-Has a long-standing fascination and obsession with avenging Jason Todd and her blood-related family

-Also has an obsessive compulsion to kill the Joker and any who hope to succeed him

-Chosen alias likely a link or homage to the late Robin

-Refuses to let anyone call her 'Eri' or 'E', due to its association with the most recently deceased

-Holds a burning hatred towards the Joker and Harley Quinn due to the prolonged torture and mistreatment they subjected her and Jason to for a year

~~~~~~~

Synopsis

~~~~~~~

Erica was the only daughter and youngest child to achieved and decorated Gotham City doctor, Steven Martin Davis. One night, a hit and run killed the doctor, his wife, Sarah, and eldest and only son, Erica's older brother, Brady. Ten-year-old Erica’s body was never found; however, in actuality, she had survived the incident and was picked up by the Clown Prince of Crime himself, the Joker. Since then, Joker forced Erica to hide her identity by dyeing her hair, wearing a specially-engineered gas mask (made to filter out toxins, debris and unclean air, including Joker's own toxins) and the like. She went by the codename, Spades and became a bit of an anamoly in and around Gotham. This went on for five years until she gave her true identity to the second Robin, Jason Todd.

Jason and Erica became fast friends and would continously meet up at random locations. Jason even revealed his true identity to her and unmasked in front of her. Erica promised not to reveal this information to anyone, even Joker, and kept that promise well. Their friendship then continued, with Erica becoming increasingly attached to him. Unfortunately, it didn't save Jason from his fate at Joker’s hand at Ma-Gunn.

Erica disappeared a month after Jason was taken. Both of them were exposed and subjected to unfathomable tortures and horrors by Joker and some of his other accomplices and even his enemies. After hearing the gunshot that killed Jason, Erica passed out and was rescued by a talented witch, Kiera Thorn. Erica then awoke, now with her own renewed sense of justice and only one mission --- kill the Joker, whom she was wanted, dead or alive, by…

She hid under the false name, 'Eri Davids', the name being an homage to her deceased friend. She then took work at the local grocery store as a service manager and front-end supervisor. She hid in plain sight in order to avoid being found by Joker or anyone else in association. That was, until, an old cold case was reopened...

~~~~~~~

[of-beasts-and-blood]

Character Intro

☘Basics: Name: Clifford Gu Pronunciation: Cliff-fird Gu Meaning: Clifford ~ "lives near the ford by the cliff" Gu ~ “to care for”  Birthday: May 1st, 1952 (Taurus) Age: 31 Gender: Male Pronouns: he/him Sexuality: Pansexual Siblings: None Mother: Diu Gu Father: Feng Gu Other Family: His father’s family live in America. Clifford has a grandmother, aunt and uncle, and their branches of family.  Languages: Cantonese, English, American Sign Language, Medical Latin Current Residence: London, England Hometown: San Francisco, California

☘

☘ Wizard Fun: School: Ilvermorny House: Pukwudgie Year of Graduation: 1970 Occupation: Botanist/Herbologist Pet: None. Unless his plants count? They’re living beings and he feeds and cares for them. Blood Status: Half-blood Patronus: A phoenix. Both a symbol of rebirth and his family’s crest, it feels fitting. He jokes that it’s a Mandrake though.  Boggart: A hospital hallway, lined with sick and dying patients who call for him and cling at him.  Amortentia Scent: Petrichor, citrus, strong chinese green tea, fresh nail polish. Wand type: Willow, dragon heartstring, 12 inches Affiliation: True neutral

☘ Appearance: Face Claim: Simu Liu Height: 6’0 Hair Colour: Black Eye Colour: Dark Brown Typical Hair Style: Neatly trimmed, often swooped over to one side. Sometimes it forms a little curl on his forehead.  Fashion Style: Well-tailored. Clifford has a sense of style from his childhood years of being dressed by his family, which has followed him despite himself. He’s just moved on from Zhongshan suits to simple sweaters, waistcoats and long coats. When he’s in his garden, he wears comfy clothes and a gardening apron as well as the ugliest wellingtons. He tends to dress in more muted colours normally, but wears bright and patterned socks to make up for it. He also wears ear cuffs and other decorations on his deaf ear.  Distinguishing Features: Incredibly easy aura. A hearing aid or jewellery on his right ear. Sometimes, dirt smears on his forehead when he’s been working and has only popped out of the house briefly. 

☘ Personality and Interests: Positive Traits: Gentle, steadfast, patient, hardy, non-judgemental  Negative Traits: Reserved, apologetic, detached, naive, self-deprecating, aloof Quick Facts: Can dance. Talks to plants. Has a full Healer’s qualification. Has studied a fair amount of non-magical medicine too. Can do non-verbal spells to an extent. Makes a killer broth. Is agile. Uses chalk boards to make notes in his home. Reads sci-fi books.  Hobbies: Gardening. Sketching plants. Spending time in Suavis Gardens.  Skills: Good at lying on paper. Bad at lying in person. Good with plants. Good with medical magic. Okay at non-medical magic. Good at playing the fool.  Theme song: “Plant Life” by Owl City

☘ Headcanons:

Voice: Warm af. His words come out a little swallowed sometimes due to his disability, but years of practice and speech therapy have helped him through the worst of it. 

Handwriting: While one is tempted to make Clifford’s handwriting the typical doctor’s mess, he actually has pretty neat handwriting. He writes a lot of notes about his plants, often curled around drawn diagrams of them, so he forms small, curled letters that are easy on the eyes. 

Clifford’s birth name is Chaoxiang, meaning “expecting fortune”. His mom chose his American name because it had a lot of nickname potential for him.

When Clifford was young, he never understood the true purpose of talking to plants. He didn’t understand the exchange of carbon dioxide. Instead, he thought they genuinely needed the verbal encouragement. Despite now knowing the truth, he still converses with his plants and encourages other inanimate objects while using them. 

Ask Clifford to draw a flower, and he’s great. It’s fully detailed and to scale and worthy of being in any of his botany books. Ask him to draw literally anything else? It’s terrible. The worst. This is the kind of man who would draw horses how they appear in old artworks. Awful. 

Once he and Enes became friends in school, Cliff became the worst person to get up to shenanigans with. Not only was he terrible at lying to teachers, but they also tended to believe he was innocent himself, leading to a remarkably low detention count. 

Cliff is surprisingly built. He lives a healthy lifestyle and probably exercises, because there is no other canon justification for him to be as buff as his FC. 

In another life, Clifford would’ve liked to go to a muggle university for a proper degree in botany. 

He isn’t sure where it came from, but Cliff has a love for independent sci-fi novels. Something about life on a spaceship reminds him of life at school. He also likes the guesses at what futuristic medicine could look like.

[easternmedicine12]

Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Arizona

Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Arizona

Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Arizona is one of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a form of healing that has been around for a few thousand years. In the last 60 years, countless studies and millions of dollars in research have scientifically proven the effectiveness of this practice. Eastern Medicine Center offers acupuncture therapy for back pain and numerous other issues, Herbal remedies, and other treatments at our clinic for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Scottsdale & Phoenix Arizona. 

Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine, filiform needles through the skin at specific points on the body with the intention of manipulating Qi (energy). The filiform needles are solid, as opposed to the hollow hypodermic needles most people are familiar with, and are usually made of stainless steel, but can also be gold or silver.

How Does it Work?

According to TCM, Qi flows through meridians, or pathways, in the human body. These meridians and energy flows are accessible through 361 acupuncture points in the body. Inserting needles into these points with appropriate combinations will bring the energy flow back into balance.

Most patients feel pleasantly relaxed and refreshed after an acupuncture treatment. Patients who were experiencing pain before the acupuncture session are often pleasantly surprised to find their discomfort greatly reduced after the treatment.

Arizona, known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, is also a hub for holistic healing practices like acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). As more people seek alternative approaches to healthcare, these ancient traditions are gaining popularity for their holistic approach to wellness.

Acupuncture, a key component of TCM, involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow, known as Qi. This ancient practice is believed to restore balance and promote healing. In Arizona, licensed acupuncturists offer a range of treatments for various ailments, including pain management, stress relief, and digestive issues.

One of the primary benefits of acupuncture is its effectiveness in managing chronic pain. Whether it's back pain, migraines, or arthritis, many individuals find relief through regular acupuncture sessions. By targeting specific points along the body's meridian pathways, acupuncture helps release endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and promotes relaxation, reducing pain perception.

Furthermore, Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Arizona is increasingly recognized as a complementary therapy for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. In Arizona, where stress-related disorders are prevalent, acupuncture offers a natural and non-invasive approach to promoting emotional well-being. By harmonizing the body's energy flow, acupuncture can alleviate symptoms of stress and improve overall mood.

Traditional Chinese Medicine encompasses more than just acupuncture. Herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and mind-body practices like Tai Chi and Qi Gong are integral parts of TCM. In Arizona, holistic health centers and TCM practitioners offer comprehensive treatment plans tailored to individual needs.

Herbal medicine, derived from plants, minerals, and animal products, is prescribed to restore balance and address specific health concerns. TCM practitioners in Arizona often combine acupuncture with herbal remedies to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Whether it's boosting the immune system, improving digestion, or supporting reproductive health, herbal medicine offers natural solutions for various health issues.

Dietary therapy is another essential aspect of TCM, emphasizing the importance of food as medicine. In Arizona, TCM practitioners educate clients about the energetics of food and its impact on health. By making dietary modifications based on TCM principles, individuals can optimize their health and well-being.

Mind-body practices like Tai Chi and Qi Gong promote physical, mental, and spiritual harmony. These gentle exercises, characterized by slow, flowing movements and mindful breathing, are suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. In Arizona, Tai Chi and Qi Gong classes are offered in community centers, wellness studios, and parks, providing opportunities for individuals to experience the benefits of these ancient practices.

In conclusion, Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Arizona offer valuable resources for promoting health and wellness in Arizona. Whether it's managing pain, reducing stress, or improving overall quality of life, these ancient healing traditions continue to enrich the lives of many in the Grand Canyon State. As interest in holistic approaches to healthcare grows, acupuncture and TCM are poised to play an increasingly significant role in Arizona's healthcare landscape.

[gldnhrt]

ronen rubinstein, pansexual, demi-male + he/they → isn’t that elijah james ullman? i’ve seen them hanging out with the phoenixes. i hear they’re forty-nine, but they’ve only been in alexandria for all his life. they seem to be empathetic & vibrant, but also anxious & self-critical. they have been reborn at least once already!

○ ′ 🔥  –––––––––––––––––––  001

𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄  elijah james ullman 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄  ej, eli, jaime ( his brother ) 𝐃𝐎𝐁  february 28, 1975 𝐀𝐆𝐄  forty-nine ( current life ) , second regeneration 𝐙𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐂  pisces 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑  demi - male 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐒  he/they 𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍  panromantic, pansexual 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍  alexandria, louisiana 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒  english, spanish, hebrew, chinese, vietnamese 𝐎𝐂𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍  doctor

○ ′ 🔥  –––––––––––––––––––  002

𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌  ronen rubinstein 𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑  dark brown 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒  blue eyes 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓  5′11″ 𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒  one on his left ear 𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐒  none 𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄  white shirts, button up, cardigans, suit & tie

○ ′ 🔥  –––––––––––––––––––  003

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘  mediator ( infp ) 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄  empathic, vibrant, imaginative, loyal, compassionate 𝐍𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄  anxious, sensitive, self-critical, unrealistic 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓  photography, hiking, baking, calligraphy, camping 𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 bottom 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒  sweets

○ ′ 🔥  –––––––––––––––––––  004

𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑  [ redacted ] ullman, nuerosurgeon 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑  blaise alexander ullman, cardiothoracic surgeon 𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒  ( one brother )

○ ′ 🔥  –––––––––––––––––––  005

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐋𝐒 will byers ( stranger things ) , elena gilbert ( the vampire diaries ) , peter parker ( spiderman ) , clay jensen ( 13 reasons why ) , lara jean song-covey ( to all the boys ) , lexie grey ( grey's anatomy )

○ ′ 🔥  –––––––––––––––––––  006

𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘

for a hopeless romantic, elijah james ullman always found the beauty in everything. his parents had met when they were both studying for medicine, fell in love, and excelled in their medical fields. their love story was one for the books. this was of course many centuries ago.

ej loved hearing about their love story, and he loved that they were still ambitious and love the work that they did, and he was the product of their love.

elijah james ullman was born into phoenix, just like his dad blaise. it was something that he always fear, realizing that when he died, a new version of himself would be born and his old self would be lost forever.

growing up, ej was one who was very in touch with his emotions. he was a vibrant child, who was very imaginative, but also sensitive. his parents worried though that their son would be taken advantage of with all his characteristics he showed.

ej was a daydreamer, and unrealistic paths ended up becoming something he dealt with a lot. becoming an older brother helped with realizing he had to become more realistic, that eventually he became very self-critical with things he did.

even with all that, being a phoenix was something he was good at. controlling his abilities, learning new ones. but one thing he didn't want was the memories that would one day come crashing in. he was afraid of the decisions he might have done in his past life. or maybe it was so good, he'd be sad of what he had lost.

as he got older, he decided that he wanted to follow in his parents footsteps, doctors, what was new? so he went to college for it, and took all the years for him to finally get his medical license.

for a long time he debated whether he wanted to be a brain surgeon like his father or a heart surgeon like his mother, but he discovered that he was good with kids. so he decided paeds was what he'd do. helping children of all kinds.

now that he was reaching his first half century, he finds himself wanting some change. maybe he's been wanting to find love like his parents, or maybe he feels being a doctor isn't for him. he's still figuring it out.

○ ′ 🔥  –––––––––––––––––––  007

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

TBD

[petloveradventures]

Skyward Healing: Harnessing the Power of Bird Medicine

Introduction:

In the intricate tapestry of nature, birds have long held a mystical significance across cultures. Beyond their graceful flight and melodic songs, many ancient traditions recognize the profound healing potential of birds, often referred to as "Bird medicine." This concept extends beyond the physical attributes of these winged creatures, delving into the realms of spirituality and holistic well-being.

Bird Medicine in Cultural Traditions:

Various cultures throughout history have woven birds into their folklore and spiritual practices, attributing them with unique healing properties. Native American traditions, for instance, hold a deep reverence for the symbolism of birds. The majestic eagle, associated with strength and vision, is often considered a powerful totem for spiritual guidance and healing.

In Chinese culture, the mythical phoenix represents transformation and renewal, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the ability to rise from the ashes. This ancient symbolism is deeply embedded in traditional Chinese medicine, where the phoenix serves as an emblem of rejuvenation and balance.

Birds in Ayurveda and Traditional Healing:

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, recognizes the significance of birds in maintaining balance and harmony within the body and mind. The concept of "Vata," one of the three primary doshas in Ayurveda, is closely associated with the qualities of birds – light, airy, and dynamic. Harnessing bird medicine involves aligning oneself with these natural energies to achieve optimal health and well-being.

Feather Therapy:

Feathers, the signature of birds, have been utilized in various healing practices across cultures. Feather therapy involves using feathers for energy clearing, chakra balancing, and promoting a sense of calm. The gentle touch of a feather is believed to stimulate energy flow and release blockages, facilitating physical and emotional healing.

Read more : -

Birdsong Therapy:

The melodic tunes of birdsong have a soothing and therapeutic effect on the human psyche. Birdsong therapy, a form of sound therapy, harnesses the healing power of these natural sounds to reduce stress, anxiety, and promote relaxation. Research has shown that exposure to birdsong can positively impact mental well-being, contributing to a sense of tranquility and connection to nature.

The Eagle's Gaze Meditation:

Incorporating the essence of the majestic eagle, the Eagle's Gaze Meditation is a practice rooted in Native American traditions. This meditation involves visualizing the soaring flight of an eagle, symbolizing clarity, focus, and a higher perspective. Practitioners believe that adopting the eagle's gaze helps to release mental burdens, promote inner strength, and enhance spiritual insight.

Connecting with Bird Spirit Guides:

Many spiritual traditions believe in the existence of spirit guides, with birds often being considered messengers from the divine. Those seeking guidance and healing may embark on a journey to connect with their bird spirit guides through meditation, dreams, or rituals. Each bird species is associated with specific qualities, offering personalized insights and support on one's spiritual path.

Environmental Conservation and Bird Medicine:

The concept of bird medicine extends beyond personal healing to encompass the broader ecological balance. Birds play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystems by controlling insect populations, pollinating plants, and contributing to biodiversity. As humanity faces environmental challenges, recognizing and respecting the healing power of birds reinforces the importance of conservation efforts to preserve these vital creatures and their habitats.

Conclusion:

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, reconnecting with the healing power of nature becomes increasingly important. Bird medicine, deeply rooted in cultural traditions and holistic practices, offers a unique avenue for individuals to tap into the rejuvenating energies of the natural world. Whether through feather therapy, birdsong meditation, or connecting with bird spirit guides, the wisdom of these winged beings provides a guiding light toward physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. As we gaze skyward, may we embrace the profound healing potential that birds bring to our lives, fostering a harmonious connection with the natural world and within ourselves.

Read more : - Whiskers and Wags: Innovative and Fun Dog Accessories

[earaercircular]

For this Limburg-based start-up, eggshells are worth gold

The Dutch food industry processes 30 million eggs every day. That leads to a large mountain of eggshells. Some of these are processed, but many dishes end up on the waste heap. This can be done differently, thought the start-up EGGXPERT from Limburg[1]. The company found a way to upcycle eggshells into skin care products and more.

In 2020, our chickens laid around 3.5 billion eggs for Dutch consumers, around two hundred eggs per person per year, according to WUR[2] figures. Unfortunately, it is difficult to remove all those eggshells from Dutch waste bins and recycle them. But there still remains a very large flow of egg waste from the food industry. And this is gold for EGGXPERT[3].

Chicken food

“Many companies that process eggs have no idea what to do with the enormous amount of shells,” says Rong Wang, specialised in biobased materials and one of the founders of EGGXPERT. “Small quantities are still processed into chicken feed or agricultural supplement. But these are relatively low-quality solutions that do not yield much.”

Egg membrane look like skin

The residual flows of eggs consist of two materials that are attached to each other: the membrane and the shell. Together with her co-founder Chang Liu, Rong developed a method to separate the two. You can make beautiful things with both materials. “The egg membrane lends itself very well as an ingredient in skin care products,” says Rong. “That may sound strange, but the membrane actually has similar properties to our skin. Both serve as protection against bacteria from outside. And the membrane contains natural substances that prevent skin aging.”

Chinese medicine

The positive properties of egg membrane have been confirmed by science for some time, says Rong. “But the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine were known long before science,” says Rong. “Eggshell membrane is called 'Feng Huang Yi' in Chinese[4], which literally means feather of the phoenix, the immortal bird from mythology. In the past, the membrane was eaten separately to reduce inflammation and sore throat. And it is still a valuable ingredient in traditional medicine. The fibrous connective tissue also serves as protection for wounds. The membrane prevents pollution and infections from entering the wound and ensures that there is less scar formation.”

Bioplastics and building materials

But the membrane is only a small part of the volume of the eggshell. That is why EGGXPERT is also investigating options for upcycling the hard shell. “The shell consists mainly of lime,” says Rong. “Lime’s origin nowadays mainly is mining. But with looming regulations, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to reduce their carbon footprint and look at bio-based materials. That is why we want to investigate whether it is possible to use lime from eggshells as an additive in the plastic industry. In addition, lime is suitable for all kinds of applications in the construction sector, which will also have to use more and more sustainable materials.”

Suntan

According to Rong, it is also possible to use the minerals in the shell in sunscreen, because it can also protect against UV radiation. “It would of course be fantastic if we could incorporate the membrane and shell into a product that has both a protective and caring effect.”

The eggshells are still processed on a small scale. EGGXPERT hopes to raise funding for 1.5 million euros in the coming months to set up a pilot factory that can process at least 50 tons of eggshells annually. Rong: “There is certainly no shortage of eggshells. It is now important to find parties who want to work with our environmentally friendly materials.”

Source

Teun Schröder, Voor deze Limburgse start-up zijn eierschalen goud waard, in: Change Inc, 13-11-2023, https://www.change.inc/circulaire-economie/voor-deze-limburgse-start-up-zijn-eierschalen-goud-waard-40560

[1] Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is bordered by Gelderland to the north and by North Brabant to its west. Its long eastern boundary forms the international border with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. To the west is the international border with the similarly named Belgian province of Limburg, part of which is delineated by the river Meuse.

[2] Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is the partnership between Wageningen University and the Wageningen Research Foundation. More than 7,600 employees, 13,100 students and more than 150,000 Lifelong Learning participants from more than 100 countries work and study here. They do this not only in Wageningen but all over the world. They do this in the field of healthy food and living environment with the help of their own research for governments and the business community. https://www.wur.nl/nl/over-wageningen.htm

[3] EGGXPERT is an innovative startup company founded in Maastricht, the Netherlands in 2017. We are associated with Brightlands Ecosystem, which is located in Brightlands Chemelot Campus. The company started with two pioneer founders, Dr. Rong Wang and Ir. Msc. Chang Liu, who have a background in regenerative medicine, biomaterials, biobased materials, and materials processing. https://eggxpert.nl/eggxpert-about/

[4] 凤凰衣; 鳳凰衣