#Date at the planetarium/space symbolism | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

katuschka · 28 days ago

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Stargazers

Jake Kiszka x f!reader 1.560 words

/#gvfvalentines2025 – watching the stars/

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, intended for adult readers. Any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental. Also, if you're under 18, go find some other entertainment elsewhere.

Warnings (are spoilers): disappointment, Valentine's dinner gone wrong, tension, tooth-rotting fluff, kissing, tears, descriptions of vast spaces, comfort

“Please, just stop it already. I’m here. We’re here. It’s a date. Could you at least stop making those faces?” Jake downed his glass of wine and huffed through his nose. Now it was him making faces.

I tried, but I couldn’t help it. No matter how much I tried to rationalize it and just enjoy myself, I felt disappointed. And – seeing his annoyed face and seeming lack of understanding – almost miserable. He took me to a fancy restaurant – something which I never insisted on. What I really wanted was to spend the day with him. One whole day. Just once! I made the plans, I bought the tickets! All he had to do was to show up. And he did not.

And thus we ended up eyeing each other sourly over a candlelit dinner. The food was delicious, but we lost our appetite.

“You know, I even took a day off,” I mumbled reproachfully, while trying to murder the caramelized pear with my fork.

Jake leaned back on his chair and started tapping his fingers on the table. Clearly, I was making him uneasy. Well, good…

“I already apologized. It was an emergency meeting.”

“Jake, you’re a rock musician, not a member of a war committee. And the planetarium was much more important than this.” I should have gone alone. If he can prioritize his own obsessions and hobbies, so should I. I had been making compromises all the time.

“I’m sorry, Y/N. I know I screwed up. I tried to leave, but they wouldn’t let me. And you know I’m not really into this kind of stuff.”

By ‘this kind of stuff’ he meant conventional romantic gestures, no doubt. The problem is that I never demanded it in the first place.

My eyes fell on the bouquet of blood red roses that lay on the table on my right. They were pretty, but I could do without them. What’s the point, anyway? What is it supposed to symbolize… to kill a flower? I already mourned how they would inevitably fade under my watch. Jake knew this about me, and therefore I knew it was a last minute, panicked purchase. “But that’s the point Jake. Me neither. I don’t need expensive wine, and I don’t need you to dress up like that… you look fantastic, by the way.” It made him smirk, but he refused to look at me, and my heart sank. I definitely didn’t want to make him feel like nothing was good enough for me. I just wanted him to understand. “All I wanted was to watch the stars with you,” I added mournfully.

The sentimental confession contained in that last sentence was like opening the door to all the feelings I had been trying to suppress all day or maybe even longer. I felt suddenly overwhelmed. “Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.” I left the table perhaps too quickly, but I didn’t want him to see me like that, on the verge of tears. I still wasn’t completely sure they were justified, because Jake DID try to make it right. He DID apologize, and made amends. I just still felt that way.

When I came back, composed enough to at least try to save the rest of the evening, I found our table already cleared and him standing next to it. I internally braced myself for another round of this passive-aggressive emotional fight, but he just smiled and offered me his hand.

“Are we leaving? What is this?”

“It’s a surprise. Just please, come with me.” He simply led me to his car, opened the door for me and soon we were on our way to god knows where. I asked him, but he wouldn’t tell me, just mumbled something about Josh ‘mentioning it once and then he remembered’… It didn't make much sense.

We drove for nearly an hour, leaving the city far behind, spending the whole time pretty much in silence. It was a pleasant kind of quiet, though. Jake was humming something that sounded a bit like Bowie and I just got lost in my thoughts. It was a clear, cloudless night and the muffled sound of the engine almost lulled me to sleep. I barely noticed that we exited the highway…

Jake suddenly stopped in the middle of some field road pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Confused, I watched him turn off the lights, unfasten his seatbelt and get out of the car. He obviously expected me to do the same, because when I didn’t move, he walked around the vehicle and once again opened the door for me.

“Jake…? You know, if you wanted to get rid of me, you could have just dumped me,” I tried to joke, but I think I must have looked and sounded alarmed, because he took and kissed my hand with a wicked smirk before he motioned to me to follow him outside the car.

“Nothing like that baby, I’m simply fulfilling your wish.”

I understood what he meant the moment I straightened and looked around… or looked up, to be more precise, since there was nothing around to look at anyway. The sight took my breath away. We were far away from the city lights, so light pollution was significantly lower here. There were almost no trees around. Above us only sky, as the wise man once sang.

Have you ever really looked at the night sky? I mean REALLY looked at it, as in trying to understand what you’re actually seeing… I’m pretty much a city girl, so my new and growing fascination with the Universe was based mostly on books and documentaries so far. I had seen the stars before, of course, but that was mostly just a few shiny dots on black nothing. The sea of wonders that was now extending above me took my breath away completely.

All those feelings I had had while learning about planets and supernovas, quasars and different galaxies, it was all multiplied now as I watched the indescribable vastness of space with mixed feelings of awe and happiness and dread…

“Jake…,” I whispered, “this is so beautiful.” My eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness around us, so when I looked at him, I could make out the outline of his profile, illuminated only by the tiny lights above.

“I knew you’d like it… oh! Wait a minute.” He let go of my hand and disappeared behind the car, only to return a moment later with binoculars and a blanket that he kept folded up under his right arm.

“It’s not much, but better than nothing. I tried it once…,” he tried to explain as he handed me the binoculars. “See the Pleiades there? We can see just seven of them with the naked eye, but try this.”

I did… and gasped. It felt almost like discovering a brand new reality. I must have spent a few whole minutes staring just at that one “tiny” spot.

We were not dressed for an outdoor trip like that and I felt my heels sinking into the half frozen, muddy road. I started shivering too. Jake unbuttoned his coat and wrapped us both in it before he spread out the blanket with one swish of his arm and threw it over us.

I leaned against him and rested my tilted head on his shoulder. It gave Jake an easy access to my exposed neck and he planted a soft kiss on my jugular, making me shiver again.

“It’s funny how many cute names those coincidental star clusters have… Seven Sisters. They’re so far away from one another and yet they truly look so close from here. Some people call them ‘Chickens’, did you know that?”

“No…” was all I managed to whisper back.

“Yeah, I think it’s all about making it less frightening and more familiar. When you name something ‘a flock of chicks’, you can forget that in reality, it’s a huge mass of deadly gasses in an inexplicably vast space… It somehow puts it on the same level with our daily reality, making it less irrelevant and mundane.”

It was exactly how I felt, and he was putting it to words. We were so tiny, so insignificant, and yet he meant EVERYTHING to me, simply because he was Jake. My Jake.

“I think it’s the same with love,” he continued. “Love and hate are complex, abstract ideas, hard to understand sometimes, and often scary. Yet the names we gave them, respectively, make the difference. Pronouncing ‘love’ feels like getting ready for a kiss. But hate? You huff the word through your nose with disgust. We embraced love. We write poems and songs about it, all of it only to disguise the fact that it's a frightening concept...”

“Do I frighten you, Jake?” I asked tentatively.

He kissed my hair and then pressed his lips on my earlobe. “No, not you. You’re real. I can feel your heartbeat. You have a face. And a name. Your mind is a home, and your soul the hearth.”

I didn’t even realize I started crying, not until I could taste the salty tear on my upper lip. Jake held me tight, with his arms wrapped firmly around my shivering body. I was no longer trembling because of the cold. “I love you, too.”

@thewritingbeforesunrise @fleet-of-fiction @writingcold @lvnterninthenight @its-interesting-van-kleep @takenbythemadness @edgingthedarkness @myownparadise96 @gvfstuddedmajesty @jazzyfigz @sanguinebats @josh-iamyour-mama @lyndz2names @wetkleenex-gvf @peaceloveunitygvf @cheersdannyx2 @fleetingjake @lizzys-sunflower @emojakekiszka @gvfmarge @Dayumclarizzel @lipstickitty @clownstarr @gretasfallingsky @musicislove3389 @i-love-gvf @psychedelectable @allof--mylove @sacredsparrow @scarabsinthestardust @ironlotus90 @seenoversundown

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transmascutena · 1 year ago

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i've been working on a big post about star/space symbolism in utena for a while now, but something i still can't quite get to fit is how different and seemingly incompatible it is between the different versions of the story. like in the show stars are pretty much entirely associated with akio, while in the movie they aren't. they even have a mostly positive connotation there. and maybe it's the difference between projected stars and real ones but like.. it's not like the real stars are a positive symbol when anthy talks about them in episode 33. and then the movie manga ends with utena and anthy on a date at a planetarium in the real world which just. seems so weird in context of everything else. idk maybe it's them sort of... reclaiming the symbol from akio? but i'm not sure i really think that works

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they-reap-what-we-sow · 3 years ago

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aaja nachle (dance with me)

on ao3

after knocking several times without response, eddie decided to let himself into buck’s loft with the key hanging on his keychain right next to the one for his own front door. it was patterned with cheetah prints, picked out specifically by chris, who’d gone with buck when they’d cut each other keys for their homes.

it wasn’t uncommon for members of emergency service crews to have keys to their team member’s houses, in cases of emergency and whatnot- but eddie and buck had exchanged keys a second time, a symbolic motion after they’d found themselves tumbling into a deeper relationship than they’d been pretending they’d had.

eddie dropped his bag on the floor by the entrance, and kicked off his shoes to join buck’s boots next to the coat rack. the lights were off in the main space, and the only light in the apartment came from the lamps buck had throughout his bedroom loft. in the semi-darkness, eddie picked his practiced way around the kitchen, snagging himself a beer and another for buck. the night sky outside the large windows glittered back at eddie as he took a second to stand at the windows and peer outside at the lights of LA scattered through the dark like distant stars.

when buck had taken christopher to the planetarium last weekend, while eddie was on an extra shift, the two had come back like encyclopedia brown and his mini-me on the whole universe, and eddie could listen to the two talk over his head for ours, just to see the excitement sparkle in their eyes. coming home to the two of them cuddled up on the couch, flipping through a huge book of constellations had easily become one of eddie’s most treasured memories

he climbed slowly up the staircase, and was treated to the sight of buck in his favorite shorts and hoodie, dancing gleefully to his reflection in the floor length mirror at the end of the floor. eddie watched delightedly as buck whipped his head around, his curls bouncing around the headphones that ran the soundtrack buck was performing to. buck spun around, and wiggled his arms around- moving to some unheard beat without a care for coordination and rhythm. eddie loved his boyfriend, but the guy’s sense for beat was not the greatest.

their first date had been a slightly disastrous event, the expectations of the night bending them both out of shape. but after buck had pulled them to a stop and awkwardly attempted to waltz around a street musician, eddie had burst into laughter, tucking his face into buck’s neck and breathing deeply, finally letting himself relax and enjoy the rest of the night with the person he loved most.

leaning against the wall, a fond smile spread across eddie’s face as he watched buck put on a concert for his mirror. the man attempted to move his arms to some recreation of some viral dance eddie had seen him practicing, and he had to bite his lips to stop himself from laughing out loud. the following hip thrusts though, were very well done- and eddie could speak from experience when he said buck had enough practice with those.

as buck finished his silent encore into his invisible mic, he executed a dramatic finale, spinning in a complicated step of moves, and eddie could barely follow as he quickly set the drinks aside to step into buck’s space and spin him into a dip to finish off his performance. eddie got the idea that the rest of the concert had been a prelude to this masterful portion, and he had enjoyed the rest of it as much as he’d liked seeing buck truly get into it.

buck panted lightly as he looked up at eddie sheepishly. he laughed softly as he hooked an arm around eddie’s neck and used the other hand to push back his headphones.

‘how long have you been watching?’ buck asked, biting his lip gently in that way that eddie knew he did whenever he was embarrassed.

‘long enough to wonder if we should get you onto dancing with the stars.’ the joke didn’t have the time to land, as eddie leaned into to press a long-awaited kiss to buck’s mouth.

their lips moved together in a familiar dance- this one smooth and practiced but never less passionate- until buck started biting at eddie, and eddie had to swing them back to standing before he lost his ability to stand.

one day, eddie would take buck out dancing properly. he knew his boyfriend would enjoy himself, and eddie’s favorite part would be watching buck have the time of his life.

#911 show #911 on fox #evan buckley #Eddie diaz #buddie #buddie fanfic #fanfic #krowabbey

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friendshipstates · 5 years ago

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Blind Date (Drabble)

As the last bell rings, Gentaro hears a knocking on the classroom door. The students filing past give the newcomer smiles and Gentaro turns to see his good friend, Sakuta Ryusei, standing there in a decent looking black button down shirt.

“Yo, Ryusei! What brings you back here? INTERPOL business?” Gentaro rises, performing the friendship handshake with Ryusei.

“Not this time, Gentaro. Miu asked me to help her with setting you up on a blind date.” Ryusei laughs. Miu had been very insistent on this.

“Well, you and I both learned we can’t say no to our Queen. I guess she’s already made the reservations and everything?”

“Yeah. You’ll be going to the Cascades tonight, and I’m to help you get a good suit for it.” Ryusei beckons Gentaro to the door. “Miu is absolutely certain that the person she picked is perfect for you.”

“She does know what makes me tick. All right. I’m in. Let’s go.” He grabs his briefcase and leaves the school grounds for a local tailor shop.

---

On the other side of Tokyo, Ami Mizuno looks up with a blink as her friends and teammates mention the Cascades. “Wait, our benefactor is sending me there on a date? You need to book a reservation at least four months in advance!”

“Yeah! I’ve been there once before. The food is amazing, and the view is fantastic.” Minako Aino says.

“Well of course you’ve been. You’re a pop star!” Ami looks off to one side. “So our benefactor booked us a meal in one of the fanciest restaurants around. What else did she do?”

“She sent us enough money to get you a makeover and a brand new outfit!” Usagi Tsukino says.

“Wait. This all seems excessive. What did I, or the guy she’s setting me up with, ,do to deserve such treatment?” Ami sputters for a moment before Makoto Kino puts a hand on her shoulder.

“Our benefactor said the man you’re meeting tonight is the best man she’s ever known, and he deserves a wonderful woman in his life.” Makoto says. “There’s still time to say no, if you don’t feel comfortable.”

Ami thinks for a moment. She may never get a chance to eat at the Cascades. And since this is a blind date, her date for the night is probably in the same predicament. He’s probably been put on the spot by the sudden nature of the date as well.

“All right, I’ll go. If this man is as wonderful as she says, maybe there will be more dates in the future.” Ami agrees and her friend cheer as they bring her downtown to get her hair and outfit just right.

---

Gentaro’s definitely out of sorts. While he wears a suit to work at the school, it’s never been one as fancy as this. A neatly tailored black three piece suit. Even the flame-painted sneakers are gone, replaced by a rather uncomfortable pair of new dress shoes.

On his lapel. he’s wearing the symbol Miu told him to wear. A little pin showing the Sun and the inner planets. His date is supposed to be wearing something similar.

As he scans over the crowd in front of the restaurant, he feels a gentle touch on his arm. Turning, he looks down and sees his good friend Ami, in a very fancy sapphire colored dress. The planet pin is resting on her right shoulder.

“Gentaro! You’re the one I’m supposed to meet tonight?”

“Ami! You look amazing!” Gentaro grins and offers his hand to take hers. He quickly scans up and down to see what changes they did to her. Her hair is tied in a neat bun, her face is perfectly made up, and the dress looks like it was magically made just for her. Then he notices the narrow heels she’s walking on and without a word, offers his elbow instead for support.

Their table by the window is all set up, giving them a view of the waterfalls and woods.

“So, before we get started...” Ami poses the question delicately. “Do you know this person that set us up?”

“She is one of my closest friends. I helped her get past some issues with an ex, and she saved my life too many times to count.” Gentaro explains quickly the story of him and Miu, leaving out certain details that he knows Miu wouldn’t want made public.

“And yet she picked me to go on a date with you? Why wouldn’t she ask to date you herself?” Ami picks up the menu as the waiter comes around.

“Sir, Madam, I am told that your entire meal has been paid for. A full five courses and as many drinks as you would like. Please, take your time. May I get you anything to drink?”

Ami and Gentaro both blink at Miu’s generosity and in unison they say “The house white wine, please.” Both of them have friends as designated drivers tonight.

“Very good. I’ll return in a moment.”

Ami and Gentaro realize how they said the same thing at the same time, and both laugh. “I guess she knew we were a... Best Match.”

“She seems to know that, but do you?” Ami asks.

“Well, I’m a teacher and you love learning. We both have a spiritual connection to space. And we both have our own heroic identities, which you’re better at keeping secret than I am.” He says the last part quietly, thankfully.

“It seems she does know what she’s doing then.” Ami smiles.

“She does. She always does.”

---

The Soup Course

“Wait wait...you used a plane to beat him?” Gentaro listens to the story in awe.

“Well, we had only the faintest inkling of how strong he was. He was using telekinesis to move the planes around, and we were losing ground. So we figured a way to blind him and make him lose control. Then he was whisked away and we never saw him again.” Ami takes her last spoonful of soup. “What about you and that space station you befriended?”

“Oh, Ex-Vee Two? I guess Usagi or Makoto told you part of that story. But here’s what happened...”

---

The Entree

Gentaro takes a good-sized bite of the shiitake mushrooms in his steak dish. “Huh, this reminds me of something, but I can’t place what it is.”

“I’ve had those moments. Like the thing you’re trying to remember is something you desperately want to recall, but there’s some kind of force that keeps it obscured from you.” Ami eats the lobster before her.

“It’s like it’s connected to a person. I don’t know if it’s a man or woman, but I know that I know them...” Gentaro says and Ami finishes the thought.

“And yet, there’s nothing there. No face, no name, nothing to latch on to.” Ami shivers for a bit. What could be out there that both she and Gentaro would know of this person, but not know them?

Thankfully, the conversation passes to lighter topics.

----

The Dessert Course.

When the waiter brings out the single slice of chocolate cheesecake, Gentaro gets an idea. He looks to Ami for permission and she nods. Gently, he slides a fork through the confection, and brings up the first bite for her to taste. As soon as she swallows the chocolate, she does the same, offering him the second bite. There’s no conversation at this point, just eye contact that seems to confirm they’ve both gotten over the initial awkwardness of dating a good friend.

When the dish is finished, Gentaro reaches for Ami’s hand and gently kisses it. Ami blushes, but doesn’t pull her hand away. She looks into Gentaro’s eyes again, and responds by pulling his hand close to her lips for a kiss.

---

When the date has ended, Ryusei serves as unofficial chaffeur, bringing Ami back to her house. Gentaro gets out and walks to the front step with her.

“I had a fantastic time, Ami. And I’d love to have more, if you’re willing.”

“Absolutely, Gentaro. How about next Tuesday night? We’ll go to the planetarium together, all right?” Ami remembers that Gentaro can be a bit thick sometimes, and might forget to ask her out, so she takes the initiative.

“It’s a date then.” Saying this, he leans down and brushes his fingers softly across her cheek, before placing a single kiss on her lips.

He pulls away after five seconds, and smiles that same smile that could melt the heart of any Shitennou, before excusing himself back to the car.

Gentaro gets back home and finds, to only a small amount of surprise, that Kazashiro Miu has let herself in. It should be expected. He gave her a key all those years ago.

“So, how did it go? Did I choose wisely for you?” Miu asks, without even an “Oops” of surprise.

Meanwhile, as Ami re-enters her house, she finds her best friends waiting for a report on how the date went.

And though neither of them knows it, at the same time, they say “It was perfect.”

#Drabble #Kamen RIder Fourze #Sailor Mercury

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thepatchworkcrow · 6 years ago

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A little something for the @2019grimoirecchallenge prompt on celestial energies.

A large part of my practice and spirituality revolve around my connection with stars. I have been fascinated with the night sky and space since I was a little kid, and I’ve always felt most “witchy” or “druid-y” while stargazing on a summer night, or realizing that a specific planet or constellation was overhead in the dead of winter.

It has always frustrated me to no end that there aren’t more books on the topic. Sure. We draw down the Moon or the Sun, but the stars are beautiful and powerful and good for something other than interpreting astrological information! Sandra Kynes wrote a really lovely book entitled Star Magic: The Wisdom of Constellations for Wiccans & Pagans which was sort of what really kicked my interest in incorporating stars into my regular practice. So here are some ways that I work with stars, and some ideas you may want to try.

Stargazing / Astronomical Knowledge: For me, the seasons are just as much about what stars I can see in the sky at a given time as they are about the weather and agricultural cycles. I follow NASA’s social media accounts, my local planetarium’s listings, and other stuff to keep track of things like meteor showers, which constellations or planets will be hanging out in the sky, eclipses, etc. I also take as many opportunities as possible to attend the planetarium’s programs. Last month I saw one about black holes. My boyfriend and I went to watch a documentary about Mars, and another about Saturn as date night ideas. It’s fun, you learn lots, and it deepens your understanding of the Universe, and your own local night sky.

Some stars have also been important for centuries and were named by ancient and medieval astronomers. Old alchemical texts suggest what these stars’ properties were and can provide another fun historical / scientific learning experience.

Drawing Down Star Energy: Just like one might draw down the Moon or Sun in ritual, you can totally draw down the stars, too! Some stars, as I mentioned above, were long associated with specific magical properties. You could find where they are in your night sky, and draw on them specifically for a particular spell. You could call, for example, on Polaris (The North Star) for guidance and clear direction. Maybe there’s a meteor shower situated in the constellation Orion; you could time your ritual so that you could draw on the warrior/hunter energies of that particular constellation to help you with a particular goal. Or, just let the silver, shimmery, peaceful light of the stars and the vastness of the Universe shine down on you and your energy.

Constellations / Star Symbols as Magical Sigils: I like to use the patterns of the constellations as sigils to charge my spells or to help myself through tough times. One I use a LOT is Orion; he represents for me a fighting spirit, perseverance, and is usually high in the sky when I’m at the peak of my seasonal depression episodes. It always felt like he’s been cheering me on, and so I will utilize that constellation pattern in work geared towards pushing through tough times. Some of the named stars also have symbols associated with them. I’ve used them in crafting sigils from time to time.

Making Tarot Spreads: I like to make tarot spreads to use based on the constellations as well. For this, I usually take into context the mythology behind the constellation as well as personal significance, and then come up with questions or information I’d want to receive from that particular energy. An example of one I made using the constellation Orion can be found here.

These are the specific ways I’ve been incorporating my love of the night sky into my practice. I’ve come across a book that reinterprets the constellations in context of The Mabinogion called Dark Land, Dark Skies: The Mabinogion in the Night Sky by Martin Griffiths. As a Druid, this book has been super exciting, because it makes for a sort of Celtic understanding of the constellations. It is a bit dense though as far as scientific language goes, so it’s been a slow read. It’s encouraged me to make up my own interpretations as well in relation to The Wylde Hunt- sort of a bit of creative fun! I’m also currently working on developing a sort of rune system using constellations, planets, and specific stars, but it’s not quite ready to be shared yet!

Do you work with stars? How do you bring them into your magical practice?

Happy Stargazing, Rachel

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aj-the-psycho · 6 years ago

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The Hour: A Sanders Sides Story - Chapter 5

LONELINESS AND TOGETHERNESS

TW: None

Summary: Patton and Logan went on their fifth outing. Damien is lonely.

AO3 Link

‘Uuuughhh… what is wrong with me?!’ Logan was going to meet Patton again in two hours. He wasn’t usually nervous. This was the fifth time they had these outings after all. So why was he nervous now? ‘This isn’t even a date.’ Logan told himself. Logan had told Patton at their first meeting in the coffee shop that he didn’t want a serious relationship yet. He didn’t want to force Patton into a relationship as it could end horribly. Plus, he didn’t want that end for himself either. They never went anywhere expensive, so there was no pressure there, but it’s always memorable. This time was Logan’s turn to pick the place. Of course he’s going to choose one of his favorites; The planetarium.

When Logan had told him that they were going to a planetarium, Patton was a bit worried. See, Patton wasn’t really the type of person that likes education-type learning where there are facts and lots of logic. Because of this, people always assume that Patton was stupid and shallow, but of course he’s so much more than that. Patton values learning greatly, it’s just that he learns by doing and not listening, so he doesn’t learn well from lectures or reading textbooks.

What he’s worried about most is that Logan often explain things verbally. That would make it more difficult for Patton to understand things. Especially, with space and planet stuff that he had very little interest in. He didn’t want Logan to think he’s stupid or that he’s bored when he wasn't paying attention. He didn’t want to let Logan down.

Remembering their past hangouts though, Patton became a little less worried. Logan always has a way of making almost everything more interesting. Patton doesn’t know what makes it that way, it just does. Logan has that charm about him when he talks about science or mathematical things that makes it interesting.

Now, two hours later, Damien stopped his car in front of the planetarium to drop Patton off. The planetarium was a magnificent building with cream glossy paint at the front and a dome structure a little bit to the back that’s so big it could be seen from the entrance of the building. There were massive planet statues at the garden of the museum to the left and right of the building, scattered throughout the museum grounds. It was a nice morning too. Not too hot or too cold, and not too sunny or too cloudy. Just right.

Patton was too nervous to actually appreciate his surroundings. Damien, ever the observant, noticed that his brother was shaking slightly. Patton was not moving to get out of the car.

“Pat, you’re fine. You’ve done this a few times before, it’s gonna be alright.” Damien said, wrapping his hand around Patton’s reassuringly.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.” Patton got out of the car and shut the door without looking back. It was peculiar sight to see Patton become a little stiff like that. Damien was amused rather than worried. He’d seen Patton like that many times during their middle and high school years. Patton always turn a little stiff whenever he’s scared or nervous, but mostly when he saw or interact his crush. Damien knew not to worry.

----------

Damien zipped out of the museum grounds and headed home. The drive wasn’t long, only seventeen minutes and twenty two seconds. Yes, Damien knew that because he was bored. He got his phone out and set a timer.

As children, Damien and Patton were always thought of as a unit. Patton was able to break out of that once they were in fourth grade. He was a very bright child and very social. He still is. He was able to find his own friends, while Damien was left behind. Of course, Patton always include him in absolutely everything, so Patton’s friends ended up adopting Damien as their friend too.

Now in their adulthood, their personalities are very different. Patton knew a lot of people and he has many friends even though not all of them were close friends. Patton was that one friend who’s always laughing and making jokes. Damien was different. He's the quiet type. Most people know him only as ‘Patton’s twin.’

“Hey, you know Damien Harvey?” they’d ask.

“Harvey? Oh, isn't that Patton's brother?” Another would answer.

“Yeah, he’s always alone,” they’d continue.

Yes, Damien was always alone. No, Damien do not like being alone. He always wished that he has many friends like Patton. He wanted someone to appreciate him and see past his cold exterior. At first, he wasn’t too excited when his parents told him about soulmates and he always thought he didn’t have one. He thought he was right to predict that he doesn’t have a soulmate when he didn’t get his hour on his nineteenth birthday. He didn’t mind and he didn’t care. Of course, part of him wished he wasn’t alone anymore. But he didn't think about it too much.

When he finally had his hour a few months ago, he was secretly thrilled. Finally, someone who could appreciate him, someone who he could depend on and for them to depend on him in return. But his hopes were crushed when he realized his match wasn’t even from the same country. Sure, that’s super cool that his soulmate was from an entirely different continent and speaks a totally different language than him, but it would take forever for them to find each other.

Damien was lonely. Damien didn’t like being lonely.

----------

Logan looked at his watch again for the sixth time in two minutes. He didn’t actually look at the time. He did that to give himself something to do other than wait for Patton nervously. When Logan spotted Patton at the museum entrance, scanning the place for him, he couldn’t help but think that Patton looked cute. He pushed the thought away and approached Patton.

“Hello again, Patton. Beautiful morning, isn’t it?” Logan said, standing next to Patton, looking neat and prim.

“Heya Logan!” Once he saw Logan, his nervousness seemed to melt away, replaced by his usual bouncy self. “Let’s start!”

“I thought, we should start at the stars section. They’re quite interesting.” Logan led the way to the section of the planetarium dedicated to constellations. It was a massive room with a high ceiling with many smaller sections for all the different stars and constellations. Everything inside were dark starting from the dark blue carpet that appear black, up to the black-painted ceiling. There were many small light bulbs put up here and there to simulate a starry sky. It was an incredible sight. “Let’s look at that one.” Logan pointed to their left.

They went into an area with horoscopes constellations painted on the wall with phosphorous paint, so they glow in the dark with the help of black light.

“When is your birthday Patton?” Logan asked, eyes still glued to the paintings on the wall.

“January twenty-fourth. Why?”

“You’re an Aquarius then.” The way Logan said it sounded more like a statement rather than a question. Patton just nodded in response.

“Well, did you know in the Aquarius constellation, the brightest star is called the Beta Aquarii,” Logan began his chatter. “It is actually a double star, which is one the reasons it’s the brightest in the constellation.”

“What’s a double star?” Patton asked, starting to get more interested.

“A double star is essentially two stars that appear as if they are a single star with the naked eye. But when you use a telescope, especially a strong one, you could see that they are in fact two stars.” Logan explained. “Another example of a double star is Sirius, part of the canis major constellation.”

“The Beta Aquarii is also known as Sadalsuud. In some mythologies such as the Egyptian, Persian and Islamic mythologies, the Sadalsuud is associated with to the rising Sun when winter has passed. It is said to be associated with luck or good fortune.” Logan continued his explanation while pointing to the referred star in the painting of the Aquarius constellation for Patton.

“Wow… I guess it makes sense since that basically means the return of warmth after cold.” Patton said with a smile.

“I didn’t think of that before. But yes, I supposed you are right.” Logan didn’t know Patton could be quite insightful.

Logan continued his chatter about Aquarius constellations. What they mean and symbolize, everything about it. That’s when Patton realized. This was why everything Logan say was interesting to him. How his eyes light up with excitement when he speaks about something he is passionate about. His lips slightly upturned, forming a ghost of a smile. How he gestured vividly that would never bore Patton. How his hushed, low voice would sound soothing to Patton’s ears. And how Logan would raise his voice just slightly as he gets more excited.

Most importantly though, he loves how Logan would relate everything he talks about to Patton. With the stars, Logan talked about Aquarius, Patton’s star sign. Last week, he talked about Patton’s coffee, saying how the first person who mixed coffee, chocolate, sugar and cinnamon must have been crazy. It was very thoughtful of him.

Logan was still talking about the stars, unaware of Patton's thoughts about him. Patton would look at the paintings and star diagrams, but he was much more interested in watching Logan talk. He likes it when Logan is at ease, relaxed. It made the whole atmosphere more entrancing and with the fake stars surrounding them, it felt magical and enchanting.

“Woah… that’s really cool, Logan.” Patton said once Logan finished what he was saying.

Patton truly didn’t know how he should feel about Logan. Since he was a child, he was always the type of person who falls for someone easily. However, something about Logan made him hesitate. It wasn’t because he didn’t like Logan or because Logan wasn’t interesting. Logan was smart, cool and he appear confident. But that’s the problem for Patton. He felt Logan was very much out of his league and that it was strange for the universe to set them up as soulmates.

Logan was watching Patton silently as he looked at the paintings of the constellations and stars. He had always avoided his emotions. He doesn’t hate his emotions, but he prefer to avoid them, because he didn’t know what to do with them, leaving him to be a little emotionally constipated. Something about Patton puts him at ease and he couldn’t help his feelings. The problem is he doesn’t know what he was feeling. He thought it’s cute how Patton would sometimes ask questions and make little comments. He couldn’t help but feel… something, he doesn’t know what.

“Would you like to move on to the planet and space exhibit?” Logan asked.

“Sure.”

----------

Damien is once again alone in the apartment. Patton had been out for almost three hours with Logan. At first, Damien had been cautious about Logan. However, Patton would talk about Logan a lot. He would tell Damien that Logan is this or Logan is that. Patton would always be happy and excited when he talks about Logan, too. So, Damien decided that Logan was good for his brother.

But now he’s lonely as ever, sitting on the sofa that felt too big just for himself. He’s not jealous that Logan got to hang out with Patton. No. He was jealous that they both found each other. He crave that feeling of wholeness, being with someone who actually wants to understand him, not forced to. He wanted something secure.

“It would take me a lifetime to go to Russia. Plus, I still have to find the guy once I’m there.” Damien said to himself, desperation and frustration lacing the words.

Damien reached into his front pocket, taking out a piece of paper that looked like it had been folded and opened over and over many times. Damien read over the page with his soulmate’s handwriting for the millionth time and traced the letters with his fingers lightly. The note is very brief, but it means a lot to Damien. It’s what gave him motivation when he’s down. It’s what calms him down when he’s angry or frustrated.

~~~

Remus Galanicheff (19)

Yes, I’m Russian. And yes, I can speak English.

See you whenever I’ll see you.

~~~

The note is so painfully short. Damien wished that it was longer.

“Who are you?” Damien muttered under his breath. He looked at the note and read it again. He flipped the paper and was surprised when saw something he had overlooked before. Another writing. It was small and a little faint, at the bottom of the paper. It was written in Russian, but it still gave Damien a little spark of hope and excitement.

терпение, дорогая

terpeniye, dorogaya

He took out his phone and typed the phrase for a translation.

When he read the translation on his phone screen, he had to read it again multiple times before the meaning registers. He stared at his phone screen willing the words to come alive and caress him somehow. How could a simple phrase mean so much? At moments of desperation like this, the words felt so painful, yet it was a reassurance. Damien laid back on the sofa and closed his eyes. He held the note close to his heart, repeating the small phrase in his head over and over.

Have patience, darling.

**********

I put Patton's (and by default, Damien's) birthday to be 24th of January instead of 15th of January. It's weird, but I counted the difference in day between Morality's b'day and Deceit's b'day and took the middle of it. (hope that makes sense?)

Sorry all my chapters are really short, that's why I try to update as soon as possible. I'm trying to write longer chapters without messing up the quality of the writing. As always, please leave comments.

---

Russian stuff: терпение, дорогая terpeniye, dorogaya [Have patience, darling]

терпение (terpeniye) could mean 'patience' or 'have patience' дорогая (dorogoy) could mean 'sweetheart' 'darling' or 'honey'

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precuredaily · 7 years ago

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Precure Day 052

Episode: Futari wa Precure Max Heart 03 - “Could this be fate? Porun and Hikari, twin souls!!” Date watched: 07 July 2017 Original air date: 20 February 2005 Screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/obI9dkR

but then I saw her face

I’m trying to remember if this series picks up once Shiny Luminous debuts but honestly I don’t think it does. Without a driving force like the Prism Stones in FW they just kind of take their time getting to stuff. This episode features more of Hikari wondering who she is, Nagisa and Honoka wondering who she is, Porun starts talking about how he’s going to awaken, all the non-mascot residents of the Garden of Light exposit about finding the Queen and cause trouble for Nagisa, and Seekun escapes again. Also in Dark Mansion, ~evil things~ are going on.

Obviously the boy is the same as Hikari, some kind of reincarnation of the Dark King, but they’re going to drag that revelation out for a long time. However, this is pretty much all we see of him this episode. He rides around on his tricycle and nearly falls down the stairs before Circulas catches him and delivers the above lecture. THE END, NOTHING WAS ACCOMPLISHED. Oh but the house musical theme is a more relaxed version of the Dotsuku Zone theme from FW, it’s nice.

I know subtlety in this show is pretty much nonexistent but I want to laugh at hos this bit of Nagisa’s opening monologue was done. She’s talking about how they need to collect the bits of the queen’s wills and her life and heart and the camera chooses to cut to a shot of Hikari when she says that.

Just in case there was any doubt.

As I alluded to above, Hikari’s role in this episode is to wonder who she is. While she’s in class, the rest of the students remember an elementary school trip to the planetarium and she has no idea what a planetarium or a field trip even are. Later she ponders this while staring at some flowers, bathed in light, and the Queen’s voice reassures her that Hikari knows all of this, that she knows so much more than anybody else, about the past and the future. This reassures Hikari. It’s also revealed that she’s made a few friends, fellow freshmen who recognize Nagisa and Honoka by reputation. They’ll go on to be supporting characters in this show but i think it’s a while before their spotlight.

More like All Stars but you’re close

Porun sneaks along with Nagisa to school because he feels a premonition and wants to awaken. Nagisa is not pleased and tells him to stay in the bag until they get home but he sneaks out while she’s at lacrosse practice and finds his way to Akane’s Tako Cafe, where he runs into Hikari. Cue more stares:

They exchange a few words but Porun runs off when Akane shows back up, and Hikari chases after him. Meanwhile Nagisa and Honoka are looking for the runaway Porun (while Seekun is also out and about, unbeknownst to them) and they find themselves face to face with a Zakenna, so they transform. Little do they know Hikari is nearby hiding and sees them.

This fight is also less impressive than some in the previous show. There’s a part where they perform a flying kick on the Zakenna but they’re moving so slow it feels more like they’re slowly being pulled in, and that’s symbolic of a larger animation problem in this and the last episode, but let me finish the summary first. The duo defeats the Zakenna, recover Porun, and turn home while Hikari tries to make sense of everything she’s just seen with a beautiful shot of her staring into a river.

If I had to assign this episode a numerical rating, I’d probably give it a 6/10. It progresses the story a tiny bit, pushing Hikari and Porun together and makes us wonder about Hikari, Porun, Seekun, and the rest of them, as well as that boy from Darkness. The gags with Elder, Wisdom, Seekun, Mepple, and Porun all being trapped at Nagisa’s place and hiding from her family are getting tiresome quickly. They only serve as comic relief to pad out the episode, unlike more purposeful character developing home life sequences from the last show. Also the animation in this one (and episode 2, I forgot to note) is somewhere in the realm of generally passable but frequently slips into bad. Just look at Hikari’s chicken legs here.

Faces lack detail, the eyes tend to be spaced a tad too far apart, and expressions just look blank. I made some budget observations about the latter half of FWPC but it looks like they tried to stretch all that budget across the entirety of Max Heart, with all new funds going towards the production of two movies (the first of which was originally going to be a FWPC movie but more on that in a week). I know there’s some particularly egregious episodes ahead of me so we’ll just have to see what happens. It’s not all bad, but it’s frequently bad enough at close range and/or for prolonged shots that it’s noticeable. Alright I’ve been saying I would talk about the new opening and ending themes so let’s talk about them! The new op, “DANZEN! Futari wa Precure (Max Heart ver.)” is a remix of the one from FWPC into a more rocky upbeat tune and Mayumi Gojo yells “MAX HEART” a lot. Where the original was a mix of piano and synth with a little trumpet for emphasis, the Max Heart remix is mostly electric guitar and brass with synth, plus a little bass guitar thrown in. The lyrics are the same (except for the added “MAX HEART”s) but it feels like a stronger song. That being said, I think I prefer the original.

The ending theme, “Murimuri!? Ariari!? IN ja nai~” by Mayumi Gojo and Young Fresh is a cute song about how it’s tough to be a schoolgirl, balancing love, studies, sports, a desire to eat lots of sweets (good thing they never met the a la Mode team!) and being Pretty Cure. Okay that one only applies to our protagonists but hey. It’s silly and peppy and as far as I can tell the beat is mostly a synthesizer and a drum machine with a little guitar thrown in. I like to envision that it’s the girls of the Sakura Class singing it together, and there’s one moment in the second version of the ending animation that features Natsuko, Kyoko, Yuriko, Shino, Rina, Honoka, and Nagisa (and later very notable character) sort of dancing along to it briefly in a precursor of the dance endings. But the first version that plays for... I don’t know how many episodes is mostly some still frames featuring various mascots or chibis of the girls in shenanigans with a box somewhere showing clips from the day’s episode. Very low budget. I’ll discuss the V2 when it comes up.

Oh real quick before I end this, here’s a cute picture of Honoka.

Lastly..... Pink Precure Catchphrase Count: 0. I don’t believe there were any “Arienai”s this episode, sadly.

Next time, an awakening!

#Precure #Pretty Cure #Futari wa Precure Max Heart #FWPCMH03 #PCD052

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objects-of-desire-astrolabe · 5 years ago

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#28 Final Script

How the value of the astrolabe has changed over its lifetime

In our modern-day, we have countless devices and applications at our fingertips which can provide us with instant knowledge on an infinite number of subjects.

But this technology has developed from a rich history of science and technological achievements, dating back to antiquity.

The astrolabe is a key scientific object which contributed to this development.

It is an astronomical instrument which was primarily used by astronomers and astrologers to analyse the skies, and apply this information to people and events on Earth. One astronomer claimed the astrolabe had thousands of possible applications.

Thus Rāmacandra Vājapeyin (Va –jap–e–in) declared that When you know the astrolabe well, you will know the universe like a fruit on the palm of your hand.

This starts to unravel the great value of the Oriental Museum’s replica Islamic astrolabe.

On first sight, it appears complex and almost intimidating with its intricate design and foreign symbols.

However, the value of this replica astrolabe is not only that it encapsulates a rich scientific history, but it is also a symbol of cultural hybridity, and how these objects can now be used as cultural connectors in our current day.

The value of the astrolabe has evolved greatly over the centuries.

It’s initial scientific theory dates back to the Hellenistic period in 150 B.C, when it was valued as a rotating star chart. This knowledge was developed by great minds such as the

Greek Claudius Ptolemy TOL-IM-E in 140 A.D, but the astrolabe we know today is believed to have been invented sometime before the late fourth century.

However, the fall of this roman empire begins the astrolabe’s history of hybridity. To use Homi Bhabha’s phrasing, it created a ‘third space’ as classical theory was transferred into Islamic culture.

Through Islam’s great reverence for knowledge and science, theories from antiquity in astronomy, mathematics, and medicine were developed and thrived.

Islamic art dealer Oliver Hoare remarked that ‘the ability of Islamic civilization to perfect what it inherited, is nowhere better expressed than in the astrolabe.’

Here it developed into the observation tool and elegant analogical computer which we know today.

It was an incredibly valuable instrument as it could produce a plethora of information. From everyday use to establish the time using a star or the Sun’s altitude or azimuth, to architectural purposes for determining the height of an object or building.

Travelling Islamic astronomers added further religious value to the astrolabe through adding markings for the five times of Muslim prayer and developing it so it could locate the qibla, the direction to Mecca.

Produced by Ḍiyāʾ al-Dīn Muḥammad for the Mughal Emperor Shāh Jahān (1648-1658)

When Islamic culture expanded into Asia and Europe, this continued the hybridisation of the astrolabe as it was readapted for each country.

This transfer of knowledge came to a pinnacle in Lahore, where the original of our replica astrolabe was created by Diya’al Din Muhammad, who was part of the great Lahore family.

Sreeramula Rajeswara Sarma (Sreer – am – ula) (Raj – es – wara) (Sar – ma) states ‘in the entire history of scientific instrumentation in the middle ages there has been no other family comparable to this one’. This due to the quantity produced with over 130 pieces, their artistic excellence, and the innovation of their design.

The intricacy and uniqueness of their pieces expanded the value of the astrolabe as a piece of collectable art, exemplified by many pieces being owned by nobility of the Mughal court of India.

When the astrolabe finally made its way back to Europe during the renaissance, its value shifted, it was still used by astronomers but it also became a prized possession and the subject of oriental fascination.

European aristocrats would purchase astrolabes for their ‘cabinets of curiosity’ which were a status symbol.

This idea contributes to Edward Said’s idea of oriental mythologizing Eastern and Islamic cultures as they were collected as mysterious objects opposed to being used for their designed scientific purpose.

It appears our replica astrolabe follows this hybrid tradition of acquiring the knowledge and adapting it for modern culture.

The piece was created in 2016 by ‘Hemisferium’, a specialist manufacturer in antique scientific instruments, who are based in Madrid

but it was modelled off an original by Diya’al Din Muhammad, created in 1647 in Lahore.

However, it is not a direct reproduction, but it was meticulously and thoughtfully updated for the current day. This process involved specialists in Islamic culture and technology, experts in calculus, and skilled designers to bring this piece to life.

Updates include inscribing diagrams of the Equator, tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the horizon directly on to the mater, the body of the astrolabe, instead of having this on the four plates which were housed in the mater of Diya’al Din’s piece.

The location has also been updated from Lahore’s latitude to Jidda (JED -A) in Saudi Arabia, as a buyer of the replica was from this area. Other updates include the 24-hour clock engraved on the outer rim or limbus and the addition of the Gregorian calendar.

The rete or net which rests on the surface of the mater and is engraved with star constellations has also been updated to reflect the stars new location in the 21st century.

Another update is the inclusion of a regula or ruler which saves the user complicated mathematical calculations to produce data which was originally performed on abacuses.

Much of the back of the mater has remained from the original, with similar scales of co tan gent, sine and altitudes to aid calculations.

The alidade, a rotating bar used to measure angles and determine directions, has been replaced to one more in keeping with this scale.

The whole piece is topped with a Throne or Kursi which allows a ring or Halqa to attach so the astrolabe can be held flat at eye-level.

Through these updates, the replica astrolabe is now able to perform these classical measurements and calculations but in a current context, which immediately makes the replica more practically valuable for a modern owner.

In a simplified description given by a British Museum Albukhary (AL – BU – Harry) curator, the astrolabe is operated by holding it flat, aligning the alidade with the suns direction, then using the engravings on the back of the mater to help point to a particular date and time. You then rotate to the front of the mater which will tell you more details, such as, where stars are at that time. You can also do this in reverse when you know a stars location.

However, the process to properly use an astrolabe still remains complex and it has always required an intelligent and mathematical user, which has continuously restricted their use to elite astronomers and astrologers.

Therefore, what is the purpose of replicating such an instrument? Especially in a world where technology has developed and simplified this process.

After discussing the value of this replica astrolabe with Dr. Samso who aided in its production, and Adler Planetarium curator Dr Raposo, I believe the astrolabe has taken on new value as an educational means.

In projects like Multaka-Oxford and the school programme at Durham’s Oriental Museum, scientific instruments, like the astrolabe, are being used as cultural connectors. They now signify how Islamic art, science, and culture has influenced innumerable aspects of our modern technology, science, medicine in cultures across the globe.

But most importantly, they help foster dialogues to tackle cultural prejudice and teach the importance of freedom of knowledge transfer between cultures and countries.

Thus, Hemisferium’s desire to ‘rescue these marvels of technology and make them available to the wider public’ is not only so they can be used and prized by astronomer enthusiasts, but they also make these objects more accessible to individuals and projects to continue this method of education.

29/05/2020

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surveysonfleek · 7 years ago

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415.

1. First of all, what do you prefer to be called? d.

2. What is your favorite form of creative expression? art. i love art galleries/museums.

3. How do you like your coffee OR if you don’t like it, why?: i hardly drink coffee coz it gives me jitters and stomach aches. i do love an iced coffee though.

4. What is the least desirable thing, in your opinion, to put on a pizza that you have heard of people actually eating?: tbh i’ve never had anchovies on a pizza. i wouldn’t mind trying it though.

5. Would you rather witness the beginning or the end of the universe?: beginning.

6. Describe your favourite pair of socks: those invisible socks, doesn’t matter what colour since they can’t be seen.

7. What is the current or last song you are listening/listened to, and does it have any special significance to you?: nah i just love the song.

8. Do you prefer rainbows or stars?: stars.

9. Describe the best day of your life NOT in terms of events, but in terms of your feelings: hmmm just being in love i guess.

10. Would you rather go to a planetarium or an aquarium?: aquarium.

11. Do you know the reason that 11:11 is considered to be auspicious?: no idea.

12. What decorations are hanging on your walls?: none in this room, just a corkboard pinned with random photos, ticket stubs etc.

13. What is your favourite planet in our solar system?: earth.

14. How do you express love?: being affectionate, doing nice things for them etc.

15. Do you consider yourself to be more spiritual or scientific?: in between tbh.

16. If you had a lava lamp, what color would you want it to be?: purple or pink.

17. Would you rather be able to revisit your past to simply re-experience a positive moment or revisit your past in order to change things and risk the consequences?: re-experience. i don’t wna change anything in case that changes things in the future.

18. Have you ever had a past-life regression or memory?: no.

19. What is your favourite holiday and why?: christmas. gifts, family and food + end of year.

20. Are you better with remembering dates or names?: ummm neither. faces i guess. with dates i’ll remember months and not actual dates lol.

21. What was your favourite book that you had to read for a class?: to kill a mockingbird.

22. What is your favourite number and why is it significant to you?: 7. it’s my boyfriend and i’s anniversary date.

23. Would you rather explore space or the ocean?: neither haha. i’m a bit scared of the unknown.

24. What prompted you to call the last person you called?: i forgot who i called last.

25. Star Trek or Star Wars?: neither.

26. Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter?: harry potter.

27. What is your favourite band and why?: i don’t have one.

28. What colour best resonates with your best friend(s)?: yellow? idk lol.

29. Where do you work and why do you work there?: at the casino. i only work there coz it pays well, i hate it.

30. Have you ever gone to a public karaoke facility, and what did you sing?: yep. it wasn’t really public, it was a karaoke bar with private rooms. i sang whatever.

31. What animal do you feel most connected with?: none haha.

32. Have you ever had “special brownies” or any other kind of “special” treat?: nope.

33. What book are you reading at the moment?: sometimes i lie.

34. What is the funniest thing that you have done at a fast food restaurant? umm at pizza hut the soft serve ice cream machine didn’t stop when i got my own ice cream lol. i was still a kid.

35. Do you enjoy listening to music that is sung in another language?: sometimes.

36. Quote the last movie you watched: idk lol.

37. Do you know more than just your sun sign (like your ascending sign or moon sign etc.)?: i have noooo idea.

38. Do you have any jewelery on you that holds significance, and if so, what is it and why is it significant?: my bracelet i guess. my boyfriend bought it for me after our eurotrip.

39. What is your favorite kind of cheesecake?: nutella.

40. Why did you last feel warm and fuzzy inside?: i was spending time with my boyfriend.

41. What band that no longer performs together do you wish would have a reunion tour?: idk tbh.

42. What band that IS still together do you wish would perform in your area?: boyz ii men.

43. Have you ever been in a band, and what role did you play in it?: no.

44. What has been the single most frightening experience of your life?: idk tbh.

45. Who is/was your favourite Spice Girl?: posh.

46. Do you prefer free verse or poetry set in a form?: neither.

47. In a hotel, would you choose to go in the hot tub, the sauna, the workout room, or the pool?: pool.

48. Imagine that you are exploring space. Who would you want with you and what would you want to explore, assuming you are not limited in any way?: my boyfriend i guess. cool date lol.

49. Have you ever astral projected?: no.

50. What is your favourite song by the group t.A.T.u?: none.

51. Describe what you envision as “paradise”: being in an all inclusive resort in a tropical place with my own private pool.

52. What element do you feel most connected to?: idk.

53. What is a cause that you feel very strongly about and why?: a lot. equality tbh.

54. What was your favourite class from the last year that you were in school?: omg no idea. i already forgot what subjects we did lmao.

55. What is a topic that you study independently for your own interest?: none.

56. Describe what you would want to wear if you were getting married, handfasted, or having some kind of “love celebration” or “commitment” ceremony between yourself and another? no idea. i’d need to plan this out properly.

57. What song do you want played at your funeral?: yesterday - leona lewis.

58. Would you rather alphabetize or put things in order according to numbers?: numbers.

59. What medication do you dislike the most?: anything with side effects.

60. Would you rather write a story or a poem?: story.

61. Do you believe in non-physical entities, and if so have you ever communicated with one?: no.

62. What invention or discovery do you think that the scientific community should focus on?: cure for cancer.

63. If you could go anywhere, where would you go and why?: the bahamas.

64. What skill do people often compliment you on?: my photography or desserts.

65. What are three facets of your personality or thinking patterns that you want to improve?: my laziness, motivation and being too comfortable.

66. What is your favourite symbol?: heart.

67. Name an unusual shortcut or file that’s on your desktop: idk lol.

68. What do you smell like right now?: nail polis, just did my nails.

69. You get to have a theme party of your choice, just for fun. What theme do you choose?: hmm 90s? lol.

70. Have you ever been in the depths of a cave?: yes i have.

71. How do you deal with the dark side of yourself?: think before i speak.

72. Name something that you can’t help but save: restaurant business cards.

73. What is your addiction?: smoking.

74. If you could wish something for three people, but not for yourself, who would the wishes be for and what would they be?: happiness for my entire family, success for my boyfriend and friends.

75. Would you rather send a message in a bottle or on a balloon?: balloon.

76. What did you dream last night?: i forgot.

77. What is one of your most frequent daydreams?: vacationing.

78. What is your favourite stuffed animal?: i don’t have one.

79. If you could have a conversation with any well-known figure of the past or present, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?: no idea. i’d have to make a list lol.

80. If you could bring anyone back to life, who would it be?: any of my grandparents.

81. Are you affectionate?: yes. 82. Name one thing that each of your best friends is really good at: my boyfriend is hilarious.

83. What are you a perfectionist with?: washing my car lmao.

84. Could you see yourself being able to carry on a long distance relationship?: tbh probably not. it would depend if it were temporary.

85. If you could be anything but human, including anything mythical, what would you be?: a fairy. or genie.

86. Have you ever meditated? If so, what is your method, and if not, what do you do to relax?: i nap to relax lol.

87. What is something about yourself that you feel no one else understands?: idk.

#survey #surveys #quiz #bored #questions

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marxpobert-blog · 6 years ago

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My 48 hours in Prague starts with a gaunt skeleton called Death. I am lost in the annals of time as I stand there along with millions of other tourists watching a spectacle right in the middle of the Old Town Square, one of the places to see in Prague. Death stands ready to toll the bell on the oldest functioning clock – the Astronomical Clock, one of Prague top attractions. He tells the other figures who represent Greed, Vanity and Lust that their time is up as well, but they refuse to budge. As the Twelve Apostles parade, the entire pageant is over in just 45 seconds.

There is romance and charm oozing all around but we have just two days in Prague. When the Bohemian king Charles IV became the Roman Emperor , the city apparently became a power centre.

Our itinerary of just 48 hours in Prague takes us into the heart of the city where we will get high on beer, say hello to Franz Kafka, go on a ferry ride, do a jig at the Dancing House and meet some golems in the night.

However if you are passionate about a particular aspect of Prague and you want to see it from an insider and an unique perspective then you must definitely sign up Withlocals and go for some amazing Prague private tours led by locals who share the same passion as you.

But first, let me tell you a story which revolves around one of Prague top attractions.

If you are like me, interested in the supernatural then you will love the story of the golem, a virtual symbol of Prague. I was in the Jew Town near the Old Synagogue , one of the places to see in Prague when I heard the tale.

In Jewish folklore, a golem refers to a statue that can be brought to life. The Golem of Prague was created by a Rabbi to protect the Jews from being attacked and killed. But the Golem slowly became a powerful monster. The Rabbi then decided to lock him up in the attic of the Old-New Synagogue and with his magical alchemic powers, he snuffed the life out of him until he became dust.But there are many twists to the tale.

Apparently one of the Rabbis brought him back to life , but another legend says that the attic is believed to be spooked even now, though the relics of the Golem were never found. But if you are walking anywhere in Prague at night, well, you may never know – the Golem may still be lurking somewhere in the dark.

I am just kidding. Prague is beautiful by day or by night. But if you have just two days in Prague then here are some of my suggestions on what cannot be missed.

A view of the universe through The Astronomical Clock

It is not just a show stopper but a mini planetarium in itself. There is the astronomical dial with the sun, moon and the universe, the zodiac circle with the stars and planets and a calendar dial too. A fascinating story talks of a prisoner, who was a rich noble awaiting his death sentence. But just before his conviction, he saw a sparrow caught in the jaws of Death. When the figure of the Skeleton opened its mouth, the sparrow managed to escape and fly away. And just then as the clock chimed, the noble was set free too by the Council of Prague. For many people, the Skeleton then became a symbol of hope.

Get charmed by The Old Town

There is more to the Old Town than just the Astronomical Clock. At the heart of the Old Town Square stands the Old Town Hall which is a fascinating monument. Climb the 70 metre tall tower and look at the 1000 year old skyline and you will understand why Prague is dubbed as the “The Golden City of Thousand Spires.” Several medieval homes in beautiful colours are stitched together and each one has its own story.

The names are fascinating as well – as you have the Gothic Cock House , the Minute House or you can be “At the Blue Goose or “At the Red Fox House among many others. If you have the time then head to the Tyn Church, the Baroque Church of St Nicolas, the Rocco Kinsky Palace, the Jan Hus Monument, Clementium, the Powder Tower, the Municipal House among others.

And if you like quirky museums , then visit the Museum of Historical Toilets and Chamber Pots, and the Sex Machines Museum, one of Prague top attractions.

A peek into history at the Jew Town

The Jewish Quarter , one of the best places to visit in Prague has been home to the community since the medieval era and you can visit about six synagogues here. The Old New Synagogue is the oldest while the most ornate is the Spanish synagogue, built in a Moorish style of architecture. Also visit the Franz Kafka monument, dedicated to the author. There is also a museum across the river, in the Lesser Town.

Stories and the Charles Bridge

Named after the Roman Emperor who laid the foundation stone, this is my favorite spot in all of Prague. Standing on this historic bridge, one of Prague tourist attractions and watching the ferries cruise down the Vltava River, I am lost in the atmosphere, filled with artists, street performers and musicians.There are thirty sculptures dotting the bridge and one of them is that of St John of Nepomuk.

He was apparently thrown into the river under the orders of the king as he refused to divulge the secrets of the queen who had confessed to him. Standing on 15 arches and pillars, the bridge took over 50 years to be completed.

There is one colourful wall that you would not want to miss, which is close by dedicated to John Lennon. If you have just 48 hours in Prague then Charles Bridge must be on the itinerary.

Lesser Town – an ode to beauty

Referred to as Mala Strana, one of the places to see in Prague this settlement lies across the river and it is the prettiest part of Prague. The Nicholas Church is the most popular church here but I would recommend the Carmelite Church.

The wax-coated wooden statue of Infant Jesus is one of the main attractions here as many tourists come to take a peek at the beautiful wardrobe of the little statue designed by Carmelite nuns. While you are here, head to the Petrin Hill , one of Prague top attractions where you can climb the tower to get some great views.

Prague Castle – which is actually a district

It is the largest castle complex in the world where the Bohemian jewels are hidden inside a secret room. You can spend an entire day here. Dating back to the 9th century, the entire castle complex has several churches, palaces, museums, gardens, halls, towers and other monuments spread over 70,000 sq metres of space.

The Church of Virgin Mary was the first to be built here, followed by the Basilica of Saint George and Basilica of St Vitus a century later. The towering St Vitus Cathedral built in the Gothic style dominates the entire castle complex with its magnificent architecture. This is one of the best places to visit in Prague according to me, if you have just 48 hours in Prague.

The 700 year young New Town

The youngest district of Prague dates to the 14th century. Walk around the Wenceslas Square , one of the places to see in Prague which was once a horse market. Head to the Dancing House popularly known as Fred and Ginger. The architect was apparently inspired by the dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. And before leaving the New Town, stop at Uflecku, one of Prague top attractions. It is believed to be one of the oldest breweries in the city which has been brewing beer continuously for over 500 years and it has over eight halls besides a garden.

Prague is a picture post card come alive and everywhere you go, there is a tryst with history which explodes in nooks and corners, while stories echo from the walls. I wish I had more than 48 hours in Prague but am sure that I would come back here. What are the best places to visit in Prague according to you ?

The post 48 hours in Prague – Beer, golems, dancing houses appeared first on Lakshmi Sharath.

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hmhteen · 8 years ago

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HMH Teen Teasers: WASTE OF SPACE by Gina Damico

WASTE OF SPACE by Gina Damico is unlike any book you’ve ever read. It involves: an intern whistleblower, a government conspiracy, reality TV, NASA, and the 10 teenagers at the center of it all. Told in epistolary format—that means records, documents, journal entries, phone and video transcripts, and more—the book follows each angle of the story as the reader, and the teenagers, get closer and closer to the truth about what really happened behind the scenes of the viral hit TV show Waste of Space...and why the government tried to cover up the truth.

You can read the first few chapters of WASTE OF SPACE below!

DV8

2375 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 91523

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Charles B. Wang International Children’s Building

699 Prince St.

Alexandria, VA 22314

May 7, 2017

To Who It Might Concern:

As per your request, enclosed are all relevant transcripts of recorded meetings, phone calls, email correspondence, raw video footage, edited-for-broadcast video footage, and confessional interviews used in the production (from development up until the glitch) of the reality television show Waste of Space. We apologize for the admittedly substandard quality of the transcripts; since you insisted on a rushed—some would say unreasonable—deadline, the task to type them up fell to an untrained intern who seems to have inserted personal commentary and conjecture in certain places. A more objective compilation is forthcoming.

We hope these documents will help you guys with your investigation, though we would be remiss if we did not insist yet again that we officially disavow any responsibility for the incident currently under investigation. Waivers were signed. Parents were informed, or so we thought.

This isn’t on us.

Sincerely,

Chazz Young

CEO, DV8 Productions

Author’s Note

Untrained intern here.

Shortly after my boss wrote the above letter, he instructed me to go down to the post office and mail it, along with the thick packet of documents that accompanied it. On the way, I was to ask his personal courier, Boris, to deliver to the office enough recreational drugs to “stop the heart of an elephant,” as the DV8 team was “super stressed.” Then it was suggested that, in honor of the people who were giving our company so much trouble, I stop by an Edible Arrangements store to buy a symbolic bouquet of “fruits with sticks up their asses.”

I did none of those things. The packet was not mailed. Fruit was not purchased, sarcastically or otherwise. I spoke to Boris, but about a different matter altogether. Drugs were acquired—but only for me, and only in the form of caffeine. The decision to become a whistleblower is not an easy one, and faced with the daunting task of tearing into that packet of documents and learning things I could not unlearn, I needed a pot of freshly brewed courage.

The account that follows is my attempt to ascertain what really happened in January and February of the year 2017—not what was reported in the news, not what was claimed afterward in the statements from all parties involved. The evidence I will present is composed of the files found in the aforementioned packet, plus several additional records unearthed over the course of my investigation (some of which were obtained through measures that were not, I admit, strictly legal). All documents are presented in their original states and are labeled with as much information as I could ascertain.

The full body of evidence calls to mind a jigsaw puzzle at a yard sale—some pieces are missing, some are bent out of shape, and some don’t make sense unless one can see the full picture. The truth may be out there, but I doubt anyone will ever be able to irrefutably prove what it is. All I can hope for is that my version is the closest.

Full disclaimer: Because I personally knew and/or met most of the witnesses, and as I was watching and listening from behind the scenes throughout many of the events described herein, it’s inevitable that some of my own judgments and criticisms will leak into this report. But I’ll do my best to keep my perspective to a minimum and to interpret the events in an unbiased manner. To that end, I will refrain from telling this story from my point of view, as it is not meant to be a tell-all. From this point forth I’ll let the evidence speak for itself.

I am not the story here. I, like each of you, was only a helpless witness.

When I accepted an internship at DV8, I knew it wasn’t going to lead to a Pulitzer. The network isn’t what you’d call “prestigious” or “groundbreaking” or “staffed by literate individuals,” but the road to a degree in journalism is fraught with despair, douchebags, and dead ends, and I was aware of and prepared for that. In today’s competitive job market (especially in an allegedly dying profession), I was ecstatic to land any internship at all. I vowed to throw myself into the inane, unending errands. I’d cheerfully fire off meaningless tweets, retweets, and “impactful hashtags.” I’d withstand indignities and humiliations galore, and after all that, I’d be on my way with six full credits and nary a look back at the eight months of hell I’d had to endure, all in the name of my education.

But then came Waste of Space.

And a different type of education presented itself.

—An Intern

July 11, 2017

***

Part I

Preproduction

Development

The year is 2017.

Things aren’t looking good for the future of space exploration. Things aren’t looking good for the state of reality programming, either. It is at this intersection of earnestness and stupidity that the idea for Waste of Space is born.

Naturally, it involves teenagers.

And so it comes to pass that in the midst of a rare Los Angeles thunderstorm, a dozen shadowy figures meet in the small hours of the morning at a secret and nefarious location: the Denny’s off Wilshire Boulevard. They take up two tables, eight urns of coffee, and five carafes of orange juice. The astrophysicists wittily order Moons Over My Hammy. The television executives order nothing.

The following meeting ensues.

Item: Transcript of audio recording

Source: Development meeting

Date: January 2, 2017

[Note: Due to the difficulty in identifying multiple voices, most speakers have been labeled with their organizations rather than as individuals; this format will be employed in several instances throughout this report.]

DV8: You’re okay with us recording this, right?

NASAW: We don’t know what “this” is yet.

Waiter: [off-mike] Who ordered extra hash browns?

[thirty seconds of unintelligible chatter, rustling, sound of plates being placed on table and silverware clanging]

DV8: All right. Now that you’ve got your breakfasts—

NASAW: Aren’t you going to eat?

DV8: We don’t have time to eat.

NASAW: Not even a bagel?

DV8: Especially not a bagel, Paleo doesn’t—forget it. Back to the matter at hand: our proposal. Chazz?

[sound of a throat clearing, then a chair scraping across the floor as Chazz Young, CEO of DV8, stands up to address the group]

Chazz: Ladies and gentlemen of science, I hate to break it to you, but astrophysics isn’t cool anymore. Sure, people embrace technology when it allows them to post photos of epic bacon-wrapped food items, but drag them into a planetarium and you’ll end up with desperate scratch marks on the walls. Funds have been cut, the man on the moon is several decades in the rearview mirror, and the youth of America continue to respond to the vast and impossibly boundless possibilities of outer space with an emphatic yawn.

NASAW: What about Cosmic Crusades? Cosmic Crusades is cool.

Chazz: Science fiction is cool. Science is not.

NASAW: But—

Chazz: Example: two different panels at Comic Con, one with the cast of a space movie franchise and one with genuine astronauts. Which do you think will be better attended?

NASAW: [unintelligible grumbling]

Chazz: Exactly. Likewise, we admit, people have grown bored with the repetitive nature of reality television. They can watch only so many bar fighters, spurned lovers, table flippers, bug eaters, bad singers, and cat hoarders before it all seems like stuff they’ve already seen before. The world is clamoring for something new! Otherwise they’ll have to turn off their devices and go read a book, and we simply can’t have that.

NASAW: Books aren’t bad!

Chazz: Books are the worst.

NASAW: [unintelligible grumbling]

Chazz: So. You need to drum up interest in the space program, and we need more eyes on more screens. Luckily, we’ve come up with a solution that we feel will be mutually beneficial to both of us.

NASAW: And that is?

Chazz: We want to take a bunch of teenagers and shoot them into space.

[choking noises]

Chazz: And put it on television.

NASAW: That’s—er—not possible.

Chazz: Why not?

NASAW: Aside from reasons that should be apparent to anyone with a functioning brain stem, it’s a logistical nightmare. They’d need to undergo months of training and health assessments. You’d need a ship big enough to accommodate a cast, crew, equipment—

Chazz: Oh, we’ll be faking it. The whole thing will be shot on a soundstage. You really think The Real Housewives of Atlantis was filmed at the bottom of the ocean? Please. Those women were so full of silicone they would have floated straight to the surface.

NASAW: But we thought this would be a purely educational endeavor. Didn’t you say you were from PBS?

Chazz: Yes! We lied. We’re from DV8.

NASAW: DV .º.º. 8?

Chazz: It’s a cable television network with several blocks of programming across multiple platforms, including streaming services, our own website, and every social media outlet there is. We’d like to cram all of them full of this.

[sound of coffee urns shakily hitting the rims of coffee mugs]

Chazz: Which is why we need you! Our first choice was obviously NASA, but they not so politely declined. So the low-rent version of NASA it is!

NASAW: I beg your pardon. We are the National Association for the Study of Astronomy and Weightlessness. We are not some piddling little administration—

Chazz: Which is exactly why we’d like you to be consultants. We’ll take care of the casting, the production, everything on that end. You, meanwhile, design a convincing space plane—

NASAW: [overlapping] Spaceship.

Chazz: —you tell us what all the rumbles and beeps and boops are supposed to sound like, and we’ll bring in the best special effects team money can buy.

NASAW: But won’t this seem like one big joke? With all due respect to your special effects, not even the major Hollywood movies can get it a hundred percent right. It’s going to look silly.

Chazz: People believe what they want to believe. Remember America’s Next Top Murderer? Viewers thought that victims were actually being picked off by a serial killer. The network had to start airing a disclaimer before each episode,saying, “No one’s really dying, you morons.”

NASAW: Are you serious?

Chazz: Well, I’m paraphrasing.

NASAW: I’m sorry, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this. It just doesn’t seem necessary. We’ve got a bunch of new initiatives in the works—

Chazz: Snore. Yawn. Coma. Let’s be real. Space is passé, and everyone knows it. But you still need a new generation to carry on that galaxy research gobbledygook, or your life’s work will be nothing more than a sham, right? [hearty laughter] So let’s get them excited. Let’s take a bunch of young, gullible, energetic, absurdly good-looking teenagers, stuff them into a space plane—

NASAW: [overlapping] Spaceship.

Chazz: —give them some bullshit training, and tell them they’ll be the first ones ever to set foot on Jupiter!

NASAW: You can’t set foot on Jupiter. Jupiter is a gas giant.

Chazz: You’re a gas giant! [sound of high-fiving] That’s what they’ll say. That’s what the kids will say. Comedy gold like that.

NASAW: But—

Chazz: Point is, this’ll get the youth of America high on space again. Audiences will watch those beautiful idiots floating out there in zero G and want to be just like them. They’ll buy space suits. They’ll buy that astronaut ice cream that tastes and looks and feels like Styrofoam. The merchandising possibilities alone are astronomical. Pun intended! [sound of more high-fives]

NASAW: Now, you listen here. I’ve raised teenagers, and if there’s one thing I can tell you about them, it’s that they do nothing but talk. All day long. On the phone, on the computer, to themselves. How do you expect to get a group of high schoolers in on a secret like this and not blab thirty seconds later about how lame and fake it is?

Chazz: Easy. We tell them it’s real.

[pause]

NASAW: You want to trick a group of kids into thinking that they’re actually being launched into space?

Chazz: Yes.

NASAW: You want them to think that they’re actually being torn away from their friends and family for months, undertaking a dangerous mission from which they actually might not return?

Chazz: Yes. Drama.

NASAW: But isn’t that cruel?

Chazz: “Cruel” is such a subjective word .º.º.

NASAW: Not in this case! The entire proposition is morally questionable! I’m sorry, but we—we can’t sign on to do something like this.

Chazz: Fine. Continue your recruiting efforts in the same way you have been. How’s that going for you?

[silence]

Chazz: Envision with us, for a moment: Plucky kids. Touching backstories. Plaintive piano music. They first set foot in the space plane. Their eyes light up. Our intrepit explorers are—

NASAW: Intrepid.

Chazz: Huh?

NASAW: The word you’re attempting to use is “intrepid.”

Chazz: Pretty sure it’s intrepit. Anyway, the mission commences. Lifelong friendships are formed. Bitter fights erupt. Maybe a slap or two. A slap in zero gravity—that’s never been done before! [sound of a pen scribbling in a notebook] Every eye in America will tune in to check on their new cosmic sweethearts. We’ll edit it down to a half hour each week, plus a live segment tacked on at the end of the show so the cast can wave to their furiously jealous friends in real time. We’ll air it online, too. Live stream, 24/7. Shove it into viewers’ faces until they can’t help but get swept up into it. And before you know it, their impressionable young minds will be putty in your hands. They’ll sign up in droves to join the Cosmic Crusades!

NASAW: That is a fictional movie featuring fictional space heroes.

Chazz: All the more reason to bolster their ranks! Point is, once this show airs, you’ll have an entire generation of walking, talking, floating space zombies begging to be a part of it, ready to do your bidding.

[sound of chairs scraping]

Chazz: We’ll give you some privacy to discuss.

[rustling]

NASAW #1: Has it really come to this?

NASAW #2: The worst part is, they’re right. We’ve tried so hard, reached out as much as we can, but we still haven’t connected with the voice of today’s youth. These .º.º. people, horrible as they are, do have the kids’ attention.

NASAW #3: It pisses me off! Sitting here across from these plastic, vapid nincompoops, having to listen to this claptrap. We’re scientists, for Galileo’s sake! People should be looking to us as golden gods of knowledge, worshiping us for our big brains and thick glasses! Why can’t anyone see that?

NASAW #4: I don’t know. But something has to be done. Something drastic.

[commotion]

Chazz: All right, time’s up. What do you say, nerds?

[long pause]

NASAW: [dejected] When do we get started?

Chazz: Casting begins next week!

Casting

Despite the assumed glamour of it all, the logistics of organizing a nationwide audition are tedious, daunting, and involve more screaming fits than one might think. Hundreds of phone calls, emails, contracts, and location deposits go into the organization of the Waste of Space Star Search (pun intended!), and within one breakneck week, all necessary casting and administrative personnel are marshaled and five lucky shopping malls across America are chosen as casting locations.

Thousands of teenagers show up. Each is photographed, given an applicant number, and paraded before a panel of network representatives. Those deemed attractive enough are admitted through to the interview phase, where casting directors interrogate them on the spot.

Not a single interview is recorded. DV8’s casting procedures are unconventional at best and impulsive at worst; this is by design, as will be described in the pages ahead. But this particular lack of content may be for the best. Many applicants are desperate, depressed, lonely, and/or starving for attention, the sorts of kids for whom the opportunity to be shot into space would be an improvement in their lives rather than a calamity. The fact that their audition interviews will never see the light of day will be, for many of the applicants in the years to come, a blessing in disguise.

Besides, the evidence that’s left is, in some ways, far more enlightening.

***

The following is a small compendium of documents featuring the applicants hat are eventually chosen as cast members on Waste of Space. Not all final cast members are represented in this selection, and not all documents are particularly relevant to the troubles that befall the show, but they are provided here to offer a bit of insight into the curious mindsets of those who would endeavor to audition for this particular reality program in the first place.

Item: Email

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: December 18, 2016

Dear Mr. Evans,

You probably don’t remember me, but we met last month at the “Leaders of Tomorrow” luncheon. I’m the one who lost out on the scholarship. No hard feelings, though! For the chair of the MIT Aerospace Engineering program to take note of my academic achievements and flight simulation skills and even go so far as to label me a “future astronaut”—that was reward enough. I am humbled and honored to have met you, and your vote of confidence means more to me than you can ever know.

Thank you again for your consideration. I hope our paths cross again one day—in space!

Item: Transcript of audio recording

Source: Chazz’s cell phone voicemail

Date Recorded: January 12, 2017

Hey Uncle Turd,

It’s me again. I know you think you can keep blowing me off, but guess what? Circumstances have changed. I think you’ll want to pay attention to me this time.

But first, let’s talk about how you declined to cast me last summer in Pantsing with the Stars—an egregious oversight, I think it’s now clear. I wept for the unwatchable drivel that you doomed yourself to produce without my tour de force personality in the mix. I can only assume that your foul, idiotic casting directors were felled by the brain-altering effects of a chlamydia outbreak. How else to explain their insistence on my absence? My appeal is boundless. My charisma is unmatched. My pores are impeccable.

And my middle finger is extended in their direction.

But you’ve got a chance to make it up to me. I heard about your new show. I want in.

And this time, I think you want me in too. Would be a shame if that video of you and Mom were to end up in Dad’s inbox.

Tell me when and where I should show up. Peace OUT.

Item: Post on Cosmic Crusades online forum

Username: LadyBalwayGalway

Posted: January 6, 2017

[excerpt from page 3 of 5]

.º.º. and if you freeze the frame at exactly eighty-three minutes and thirty-seven seconds, you can see that the gamma-ray missile that Fekawa Gooe sets up is NOT in fact aimed at the Intragalactic Senate, in fact it’s cocked at an angle of 52.6 degrees, which would in fact point it directly at Lord Balway Galway, WHO, if you’ll RECALL, stated during the Transnebula Peace Talks that his home planet of Gavinjia was sure to escape the conflict unscathed, so OBVIOUSLY the bombing mission was intended as a wake-up call to prove him wrong and send a TELEKINETIC message that .º.º.

Item: Online video

Username: the_entropy_within

Posted: January 8, 2017

[IMAGE: hands strumming a mandolin while words are spoken over the tuneless chords]

looking up at the sky /

and a thought floats by /

what if the galaxy /

is just a strawberry /

and all the stars we see /

are only flecks of seeds /

that get stuck in your teeth /

and increase carbon emissions /

and line the pockets of corporate America

Item: Social media account

Username: @BacardiParti

[collection of more than 2,000 photos, half of which are unprintable because they are blurry, the other half of which are unprintable because they feature underage nudity]

Informative as these documents are, there are two cast members in particular who warrant closer attention. They will emerge as the most crucial players in this chronicle for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that they personally provide a substantial volume of information about what occurs during production—both of them by way of personal video diary entries, also known in reality television parlance as “confessionals.” A small window into their pre-shooting mental states is provided in the following two documents.

(It’s also worth pointing out that both cast members choose to express themselves in the form of dispatches to their parents—symbolically in one case, and literally in the other. This is nothing more than a coincidence, but as their body of work will come to show, the bond between children and their absent parents is a complicated one, to put it mildly.)

The first is a clip from Nico’s personal GoPro video camera. Nico rarely captures himself in the frame of these videos; rather, he uses his words as a soundtrack for the often mundane images he is recording, which are mostly of wherever he happens to be at the time.

Item: Transcript of video recording

Source: Nico’s camera

Battery charge: 100%

Date: January 14, 2017

[IMAGE: Nondescript room. From the angle of the camera, it seems that Nico is seated at a large table at the center.]

Nico: [voiceover] Hi Mom. Hi Dad.

Um.

I did something stupid.

[The camera pans downward under the table, now pointing at his feet. They are rested on a skateboard, which he rolls back and forth.]

I don’t know why I did it. I don’t know how I did it. A lot of systems had to come together to make it happen. My legs had to push me here, my mouth had to say things, my eyes had to make contact with other eyes, my brain had to formulate thoughts, my hamster-size soul had to blow up to ten times its size and pretend to be a lion. And I can honestly say I don’t know how all those things worked in tandem to do what I did.

I auditioned for a reality show.

[pause]

Shit.

Saying it out loud makes me feel like throwing up.

[Nico gets up from the chair. Camera pans to window and holds steady on people walking down the sidewalk—a couple, then a woman pushing a stroller, then two men smoking cigarettes.]

It was like .º.º. like I couldn’t help myself. I’d heard that they were holding auditions at the Queens Center mall, so I told Diego that I was going there to see a movie with some friends—which he didn’t buy, by the way. “What’s wrong with movie theaters in the Bronx? Since when do you have friends in Queens? Why ride the subway for an hour for no reason? Are you out of your mind?”

All fair questions. Especially that last one.

But it was the weekend, and I pointed out that I can do whatever I want with my free time, and he washed his hands of me like he always does, so I went. Just to watch. Just to film the people in line. Figured they’d be an interesting crowd. When I got there, I saw the DV8 banner hanging across the entrance, and I thought, obviously I would never audition, obviously that is something for the otherninety-nine percent of the teenage population to embarrass themselves with, but when I went inside .º.º. I got in line.

Okay, in my defense:

You know how rough I’ve had it.

You know how miserable I’ve been.

(I know you don’t really know. But let’s pretend that you actually watch these videos. That for the past couple of years I have not been pouring the contents of my heart into a digital cache that I’d rather chuck under the B train than let anyone see. Let us pretend that the phrase “pathetic delusion” does not figure into any of this.

Because the thought of college feels like a five-ton block of concrete pressing on my back, and the thought of getting a job instead feels like the floor is rushing up to squish me against the ceiling. Like I’m trapped in a dungeon in a video game, with all these moving contraptions of torture trying to flatten me into a splat of pixels. Like no matter what I do, the future is going to crush me.

I wish you were still here. Diego’s all right, but legal guardian-slash-older brother is not the same as parent. And I don’t know why I thought that this show was the answer, but it was something different, a change, an honest-to-God decision in a haze of fuzzy, unknowable .º.º.)

[Camera pans away from window and focuses on a pair of vending machines in the corner of the room.]

Anyway. Back to the mall.

The line was so long, it wrapped all the way past the escalators and ended near Macy’s. I thought, obviously I’m not going to give them my name, obviously I’m not going to forge Diego’s signature on the waiver, obviously I’m not going to stand in that ridiculous line—

But the line moved fast, and before I could change my mind, my name was called. They brought me into a vacant store where they had set up screens to make little cubicles, like the kind they use in blood drives. There was a cameraman and an interviewer, a woman with a blouse that was cut so low I could see her bra.

(Sorry for that detail, Mom, but I couldn’t not notice. It was staring me in the face, and I’m a healthy adolescent boy.)

(Dad, it was bright turquoise with little rhinestones. You get what I’m saying.)

She asked me all sorts of awful questions, and I answered them. Told her my age, where I’m from, that I’m into skateboarding and shooting videos. To be honest, I don’t remember most of what I said, because it all went by so fast, and she kept nodding, so I kept talking—and also, you know, the bra. All I remember is that her face lit up like Yankee Stadium when I told her you were dead, and after that, it all felt like a done deal. That’s when the dread started, the feeling that this might actually happen. Like I’d stepped into a pool of sticky tar and it wasn’t going to let me go.

I mean that literally. They wouldn’t let me go.

They brought me into this break room, told me to wait, and closed the door.

[Camera pans to door handle. Hand reaches out to jiggle it.]

Locked.

They ducked their heads in about fifteen minutes ago and said that it shouldn’t be much longer, they’ll be reaching a decision soon.

Shit. Shit shit.

I mean, even if I do get cast, it’s not like I have no choice in the matter, right?

Obviously I can say no.

Obviously I’m not going to do it.

The final pre-taping document is another video, this time featuring cast member Titania. She is in a public restroom, aiming her phone camera at the mirror. She looks straight into the lens.

Item: Transcript of video recording

Source: Titania’s cell phone

Date: January 15, 2017

Titania: Remember Trackleton’s Guide to the Big Outdoors?

Cute little picture book that you bought for three ninety-nine at the ranger’s station. The pages were held together with a plastic coil. It had maps of Washington’s hiking regions. And it followed Trackleton, that charming, bearded outdoorsman, as he went on adventures.

His catchphrase was “Keep moving. Keep exploring.” Advice so good it became our family motto.

You read it every time we went camping, which added up to a lot of readings over the years. We used to snuggle into our sleeping bags, and you would read it aloud to us by the lantern light, as little black specks of bugs giving a shadow puppet performance against the walls of our tent.

[Titania’s reflection smiles.]

We loved that book. Patrick liked the colorful maps. Nathan liked to chew on the coil. Lily made up songs to go along with the words—remember how you used to tell her to sing quietly so the rest of us could still hear you read? As if that girl would ever stop singing.

[Her smile fades.]

I’ve been thinking a lot about that book lately. About Trackleton’s cheery optimism and can-do attitude. I hadn’t for years, not since it slipped out of Dad’s pack during the hike through the Columbia River Gorge. But after our last trip—the trip—it all came rushing back to me. I can’t get it out of my head. And I finally realized why.

It had only two rules: Keep moving. Keep exploring. Hard and fast, with no room for error. Don’t overthink them, don’t second-guess them, and everything will work out.

But life isn’t like that at all. Keep moving, and maybe you’ll succeed. Or not. Keep exploring, and maybe you’ll be happy. Or not. Do both, and they could lead to the best possible outcome.

Or do both, and they could ruin everything.

Keep moving, keep exploring.

I’d always thought it was good advice. The best advice.

But I’m not so sure anymore.

The applicants are impressive enough to warrant this response from Chazz Young, the CEO of DV8, delivered via an all-staff conference call.

Item: Transcript of audio recording

Source: Chazz’s cell phoneDate: January 16, 2017

Chazz Young: Hey guys! Chazz here.

So I’d like to bring the entire DV8 family up to speed on our new project. As mentioned at the companywide meeting last week, this project is going to be groundbreaking. It’s going to break, like, every ground that’s been put there since television started.

So over the past week we’ve been holding casting sessions in cities around the country, and—hang on a sec, before I go any further, we all need to give up some mad, mad props to the publicity department. Thanks to your commercials, press releases, and social media efforts, over ten thousand kids came out to audition! That’s a lot of hormones to shoot into orbit!

So as usual, we’re implementing the classic smash-and-grab casting technique our network has become famous for. Any of you out there who are new to the DV8 family, allow me to elaborate on our patented selection process. Back when we were a tiny fledgling network that didn’t know any better, we dragged out the audition process for weeks. We left no stones unturned, no cell phones untapped. We were thoroughly exhaustive in our attempts to pinpoint what potential castmates might do to one another.

But let us recall the season four finale of Alaskan Sex Igloo. We had thought, based on Saffron’s tendency to fly off the handle and start stabbing things, that she would break one of the icicles off the ceiling and use it to stab Khaleesi. We spent all season leading up to it, right? With foreboding music? And tasteful close-ups of the icicles? And Saffron’s confessional, where she talked about “getting her stab on”? It’s why we cast her. But for all of our efforts, look what happened—she and Khaleesi hugged and cried and shared a snow cone. With Jared. Jared was the one who was supposed to be so lonely and ignored that he left the safety of the igloo to seek the loving embrace of a grizzly bear!

But the bears never came. And no one got stabbed.

From that point forward, we decided to take a more hands-off approach. Now, rather than have the whittled-down pool of applicants come in for a final round of casting, we simply go with our gut reactions and finalize the cast based on their original, uncut interviews. In fact, we whisk them directly out of the auditions as soon as their parents or guardians sign the waiver! (Reminder to all employees: any questions from the press that contain the word “kidnapping” should be forwarded straight to the PR department.) And so we are proud to announce that we have already chosen the final ten cast members—only one week after auditions!

We’ve still applied the standard network reality casting percentages: fifty percent male, fifty percent female; sixty percent white, thirty percent ethnic, ten percent undetermined; balanced dispersal of ages from fourteen to eighteen; plus the four Golden Tokens: gay, foreigner, disabled, and orphan. And as per usual, we’ll be throwing all sorts of plot bombs and crazy situations at the poor bastards—with the new added twist of a live segment at the end of each episode.

Of course, we’ll still leave some things up to chance. Fifteen percent of the editing will be done on the fly, based solely on the relationships and developments that we’ll be monitoring closely over the course of each week. Who knows how it’ll unfold? Who knows where it’ll lead? Who knows what those hyperactive, questionably sane caricatures will throw at us?

I do: Drama.

A brief word about Chazz Young, CEO of DV8, walking innuendo, and overall trash barge of a human being.

The word that pops up most often when people attempt to describe Chazz is “exceedingly.” He is exceedingly tanned. His teeth are exceedingly white. He is exceedingly self-centered, as evidenced by his initiative to move the human resources department to the basement of DV8 headquarters so his twin puggles could have their own corner office. He is exceedingly arrogant, treating everyone involved in his television productions—cast members, crew, staff, and, yes, interns—as insignificant specks who exist solely to make his star shine more brightly. And he is exceedingly cocky, given the fact that he unilaterally declared himself to be the best candidate for on-air talent. Plenty of talented hosts have presented themselves to DV8 over the years, and although a lucky few manage to grab a sliver of airtime now and then, it’s Chazz’s vinyl face that you’re most likely to see whenever you tune in. Especially when it comes to something as high-profile as Waste of Space.

Which calls to mind another of Chazz’s qualities: he is exceedingly lazy. He thought that Waste of Space was going to be a home run no matter what, and that all he had to do was plug in the numbers to a tried-and-true formula that hadn’t failed him yet. But when someone as oblivious as Chazz Young stops seeing people as human beings, he might also stop noticing other details. Smaller details.

Important details.

Item: Transcript of audio recording

Source: Chazz’s cell phone

Date: January 9, 2017

Chazz: You nerds there? Ready to get this conference call party started?

NASAW: We’re here.

Chazz: Great. So let’s—[doorbell rings in background] oh, hang on a sec, everyone. Rock climbing wall delivery.

NASAW: You have your own rock climbing wall?

Chazz: Two rock climbing walls. LA’s an earthquake town, it’s important to always have a backup—listen, just talk amongst yourselves for a few minutes. I'll be right back.

[beat]

NASAW #1: I can’t believe we agreed to this. [sound of papers sifting] These people are certifiable.

NASAW #2: And irresponsible.

NASAW #3: Don’t forget soulless.

NASAW #4: [sighing] Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now. We signed the papers. We’re in this whether we like it or not.

NASAW #2: But look at these emails! They are hurling money at this thing. We’ve been trying to get this sort of funding from the government for years and received nothing—because apparently the money’s all wrapped up in television! I called to double-check the budget because I figured it couldn’t possibly be correct, but it is. The girl on the phone offered to throw in an extra million just because I asked how her day was going!

NASAW #4: How do they have so much money? They’re a television network!

NASAW #2: Two words: Chazz Young. I did some research on this guy. Got rich off his daddy’s trust fund, then used it to buy a struggling sports channel. He did an extensive overhaul, switched all its programming to trashy reality television, bumped up its online presence, and installed his own in-house production company to develop his own projects.

NASAW #4: What does that mean?

NASAW #2: It means that whenever a ridiculous idea pops into Chazz Young’s mind, he has the unlimited budget and power to make it into a show, air it on television, and spread it all over the internet, just like that.

NASAW #3: Let me see those figures. [sound of coffee being spit across the table] Jesus Christ! We could buy a brand-new shuttle for that kind of money! Plus fuel!

NASAW #4: I say we round up the lot of these dolts and send them into space.

NASAW #2: And I quote: “We will spare no expense on the visuals. None whatsoever.” They’re teaming up with a company called ImmerseFX—it makes video games or virtual reality or theme park rides, I don’t know what the heck it is—to handle the special effects. Which we’re supposed to keep quiet about, by the way, since they’re trying to pass this thing off as real.

NASAW #4: Psfff. Good luck.

NASAW #2: They’ve reserved the largest soundstage in the New Mexico desert, and they’re handing it over to us, keys and all. “Build a space plane inside!” they said. “Bounce it up and down! Make as much noise as you want!” The effects people will be out here for a few days to build the thing based on our designs—then after that, it’s up to us. All for the purpose of torturing these poor kids with ridiculous pre-written plot points—

NASAW #3: Pre-written? I thought this was a reality show.

NASAW #2: Ha! Reality, my ass. The only thing that’s real is the team of video editors they’ve got on call, ready to craft it into whatever they need it to be while we get to sit around with our thumbs up our posteriors, shaking a tin can with of a bunch of spoiled little fame whores sealed inside.

NASAW #4: But there’s a host onboard with them, right? Some form of adult supervision?

NASAW #2: Nope! [slightly hysterical laughter] The network people aren’t even going to be on set! They said they’d, quote, “rather be shot into the sun than spend three months in that shithole of a desert,” so they’ll be monitoring everything via live feeds, safe and cool in their air-conditioned offices in Los Angeles, and sending us their instructions. Instructions that, I might add, would be hilarious if they weren’t so blisteringly idiotic.

NASAW #4: [papers sifting] “Week number one: Asteroid Attack. Will require impacts against the walls of the space plane. Week number two: Spinning Out of Control. Will require a rotating video animation to be displayed in the space plane’s window.”

NASAW #2: And there’ll be more where that came from! The cameras onboard the ship will record six hours at a time, upload the video files to the main server we’ll have on-site, then automatically wipe the memory cards and begin recording again. It’s a process that can sustain itself indefinitely without any manual upkeep, which frees up even more time for them to dream up even more foolishness. And then there’s the list—the twenty-three-point list!—of consultants who are only a phone call away should we wish to contact them. Industrial Light and Magic, Pixar, a charter helicopter company, the Jim Henson workshop—

NASAW #3: Are you kidding me? Puppets? Do they want aliens?

NASAW #2: They might! They might want aliens!

NASAW #1: Enough. [sound of a coffee mug pounding the table] There is a clear path through all this.

NASAW #2: Yeah, right through to the unemployment office. Better get in line.

NASAW #1: You’re looking at this from the wrong angle. What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is an opportunity. A golden opportunity.

[pause]

NASAW #2: What are you proposing?

[sound of coffee being poured]

NASAW #1: We make their spaceship.

[sip]

NASAW #1: We make their show.

[sip]

NASAW #1: And then we make history.

***

WASTE OF SPACE is available on 7/11, but if you liked this teaser, pre-order it today by clicking the links below!

Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-MillionHudson IndieBound Powell’s

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surveyjunkie · 8 years ago

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1. First of all, what do you prefer to be called? Tasha. 2. What is your favorite form of creative expression? For me, it’s either blogging or painting. If I had any musical talent, it would be that. 3. How do you like your coffee OR if you don’t like it, why?: I take it with loads of flavored cream. 4. What is the least desirable thing, in your opinion, to put on a pizza that you have heard of people actually eating?: I guess anchovies...fish and pizza just don’t sound appetizing together. I’m also not big on putting chicken on pizza unless it’s chicken bacon ranch. 5. Would you rather witness the beginning or the end of the universe?: The beginning.

6. Describe your favourite pair of socks: They have the sailor moon bow on them.

7. What is the current or last song you are listening/listened to, and does it have any special significance to you?: I don’t even remember what it was. I can’t find my headphones :( 8. Do you prefer rainbows or stars?: Stars 9. Describe the best day of your life NOT in terms of events, but in terms of your feelings: Elation. 10. Would you rather go to a planetarium or an aquarium?: Aquarium. 11. Do you know the reason that 11:11 is considered to be auspicious?: No idea. 12. What decorations are hanging on your walls?: At home? There’s a couple of paintings I made, a framed Margarita recipe, and my Bachelor’s degree. 13. What is your favourite planet in our solar system?: Earth 14. How do you express love?: More through actions than words because I suck at talking about emotions. << 15. Do you consider yourself to be more spiritual or scientific?: Spiritual I guess. 16. If you had a lava lamp, what color would you want it to be?: Teal 17. Would you rather be able to revisit your past to simply re-experience a positive moment or revisit your past in order to change things and risk the consequences?: Maybe just re-experience a positive moment. I’m weird about the idea of changing things that have happened in the past, even though I have strong regrets. I feel like things wouldn’t be how they are now if I hadn’t had the unique experiences of the past. Idk. 18. Have you ever had a past-life regression or memory?: I remember when I first got braces, I told my mom that the feeling of having them felt familiar, even though I’d never had them before in my life. That’s the only indication I’ve had so far that I may have led a past life. 19. What is your favourite holiday and why?: Christmas. Family and food. << And eggnog/booze 20. Are you better with remembering dates or names?: Dates. I’m terrible with names. 21. What was your favourite book that you had to read for a class?: 1984. 22. What is your favourite number and why is it significant to you?: 7. It signifies my 7th year of life and the 7th grade, which were both great times for me.

23. Would you rather explore space or the ocean?: Space. 24. What prompted you to call the last person you called?: I missed her call so was calling her back. 25. Star Trek or Star Wars?: Wars. 26. Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter?: LOTR. 27. What is your favourite band and why?: I have lots of favourites, because I can’t choose just one. << 28. What colour best resonates with your best friend(s)?: Navy blue or white. 29. Where do you work and why do you work there?: I work in the research office at the local hospital because they offered me a position that is relevant to my bachelor’s degree and will look extremely good on grad school applications.

30. Have you ever gone to a public karaoke facility, and what did you sing?: I’ve been to one, but I didn’t sing 31. What animal do you feel most connected with?: My dog. 32. Have you ever had “special brownies” or any other kind of “special” treat?: Yep, I didn’t care for them. I just prefer to smoke it. 33. What book are you reading at the moment?: None. 34. What is the funniest thing that you have done at a fast food restaurant? Probably when I fell asleep on my food when I was drunk. 35. Do you enjoy listening to music that is sung in another language?:

Yes, especially Spanish 36. Quote the last movie you watched: “Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast” 37. Do you know more than just your sun sign (like your ascending sign or moon sign etc.)?: I’m not sure what that is 38. Do you have any jewelery on you that holds significance, and if so, what is it and why is it significant?: I have a couple of rings my mom bought for me on my birthday. One is a ruby ring which is my birthstone and the other has two small diamonds in it. 39. What is your favorite kind of cheesecake?: Peanut butter fudge 40. Why did you last feel warm and fuzzy inside?: Just cuddling with Josh.

41. What band that no longer performs together do you wish would have a reunion tour?: Pink Floyd.<< Yes. They came to my city back when I was in college and I was hoping my dad would take me, but he never did. I’m still salty as hell about it. 42. What band that IS still together do you wish would perform in your area?: Alt-J 43. Have you ever been in a band, and what role did you play in it?: Nope 44. What has been the single most frightening experience of your life?: I haven’t had anything too terrible. Most of them just involve minor car accidents, my car breaking down in the middle of the highway, or locking myself out of my apartment. They’re stressful scary things but I haven’t had anything that has caused trauma, which I’m thankful for. 45. Who is/was your favourite Spice Girl?: Baby Spice. 46. Do you prefer free verse or poetry set in a form?: It doesn’t matter to me 47. In a hotel, would you choose to go in the hot tub, the sauna, the workout room, or the pool?: The hot tub. 48. Imagine that you are exploring space. Who would you want with you and what would you want to explore, assuming you are not limited in any way?: I would want a bunch of trained astronauts with me. The idea of space freaks me out. << 49. Have you ever astral projected?: Say what? 50. What is your favourite song by the group t.A.T.u?: Probably “All The Things She Said” because that’s the only other one I know besides “They’re Not Gonna Get Us”.

51. Describe what you envision as “paradise”: Being on a boat in the middle of a lake with beer, a fishing pole, and good music. I think I may have been a redneck in another life, but I’m okay with that. 52. What element do you feel most connected to?: Water. 53. What is a cause that you feel very strongly about and why?: Keeping Planned Parenthood around. I just think low income women should have the same access to gynecological exams and life-saving procedures that rich women do. Defunding them is not going to stop abortion. 54. What was your favourite class from the last year that you were in school?: I really enjoyed Diversity and Health. I learned a lot about other cultures and how difficult access to healthcare is in other countries. I really think everybody should take that class. 55. What is a topic that you study independently for your own interest?: Politics or psychology, when I’m in the mood. 56. Describe what you would want to wear if you were getting married, handfasted, or having some kind of “love celebration” or “commitment” ceremony between yourself and another? A long white dress, probably lace with belled sleeves. 57. What song do you want played at your funeral?: "Tubthumping” by Chumbawumba. 58. Would you rather alphabetize or put things in order according to numbers?: Alphabetize 59. What medication do you dislike the most?: Antibiotics, they ruin my stomach. 60. Would you rather write a story or a poem?: Story. 61. Do you believe in non-physical entities, and if so have you ever communicated with one?: I don’t know if I do. I mean, I used to pray to God, but I’m not sure if that’s what you’re referring to. 62. What invention or discovery do you think that the scientific community should focus on?: I think they’re already focus on a lot of important priorities, like medical care, disease cure and treatment, etc. << Yeah. I work in medical research and I can tell you that we are extremely well funded.

63. If you could go anywhere, where would you go and why?: Anywhere? I’d go explore the west coast because I’ve never been there in my 24 years as a U.S. citizen. 64. What skill do people often compliment you on?: I don’t know. I don’t have any skills.<< 65. What are three facets of your personality or thinking patterns that you want to improve?: Social anxiety, self-doubt, hastiness 66. What is your favourite symbol?: $$$ 67. Name an unusual shortcut or file that’s on your desktop: There’s nothing unusual on my desktop, unless you think my Doge background is unusual, which if you do, FUCK YOU! Lol, just kidding. I don’t know. 68. What do you smell like right now?: Burberry Weekend 69. You get to have a theme party of your choice, just for fun. What theme do you choose?: 80′s! Even though it’s been done fifty billion times. I don’t care. 70. Have you ever been in the depths of a cave?: No 71. How do you deal with the dark side of yourself?: I listen to depressing music or watch fucked up movies. 72. Name something that you can’t help but save: Receipts. 73. What is your addiction?: Fries, pizza, online shopping 74. If you could wish something for three people, but not for yourself, who would the wishes be for and what would they be?: Health, happiness and money for everyone I love. << 75. Would you rather send a message in a bottle or on a balloon?: Balloon. 76. What did you dream last night?: I had a nightmare I was stabbed in the ghetto and ran to a guy in his car for help. I asked him to drive me to the hospital because I was bleeding a lot but he ended up taking me to the grocery store instead and made me wait for him to spend 10 minutes picking out fruit before he finally took me to the hospital. 77. What is one of your most frequent daydreams?: Quitting my job 78. What is your favourite stuffed animal?: My squirtle. 79. If you could have a conversation with any well-known figure of the past or present, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?: I really don’t know. 80. If you could bring anyone back to life, who would it be?: My uncle 81. Are you affectionate?: Yes 82. Name one thing that each of your best friends is really good at: Smoking pot. 83. What are you a perfectionist with?: Certain things at work. 84. Could you see yourself being able to carry on a long distance relationship?: I did it for 6 months. Granted, we were within driving distance, but it was still hard. 85. If you could be anything but human, including anything mythical, what would you be?: A unicorn. 86. Have you ever meditated? If so, what is your method, and if not, what do you do to relax?: I’ve done it a couple of times, it doesn’t really help. Usually breathing exercises and hot tea help. 87. What is something about yourself that you feel no one else understands?: I’m over analytical

#survey

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wikitopx · 5 years ago

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On the banks of the Garonne river, Toulouse has the nickname, “La Ville Rose”.

That’s because so many of the city’s great buildings are made with a pinkish brick, giving the cityscape a look that you can’t compare with any other city. Much of this architecture was funded by trading the city’s greatest commodity, woad, which was a blue dye used in medieval and renaissance textiles. Toulouse is now Europe’s aeronautical capital, with the largest space center in Europe, and where Airbus has its headquarters. Toulouse will attract curious minds with fascinating museums exploring the universe, prehistoric times, ancient art, the natural world, as well as art from the Gothic era to the impressionist. Discover the best things to do in Toulouse.

[toc]

1. Basilique Saint-Sernin

Completed in the 1100s, the UNESCO-listed Saint-Sernin Basilica may be the largest romanesque church in Europe. There’s also a large number of relics in the crypt, more than in any other church in France, and many were donated by Charlemagne to the abbey which stood on this site in the 800s.

Outside, the five-story brick tower is unmistakable, and as you look up you can see where construction was stopped in the 1100s and restarted in the 1300s from the shape of the arches.

You might also be surprised at Porte des Miégeville, with a precious Roman sculpture depicting Lazarus and Dives above the door.

2. Place du Capitole

It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping, sightseeing or painting the town red, during your break in Toulouse you’ll always be drawn back to the square in front of the city hall.

The city seems to be drawn towards this place, and the majestic pink palace in front of you is older than it looks. There are fragments going back to the 1100s, and if you walk around to the rear of the Capitole you can see the building’s renaissance donjon.

Go inside for a tour to gaze at the frescoes on the ceiling of the Salle des Illustres, and the heartwarming images in the Salle Gervais, where the 19th-century artist painted allegories of love, as this was the town hall’s wedding chamber.

3. Muséum de Toulouse

Not a museum about Toulouse, but France’s largest ethnological and natural history institution outside Paris: The Muséum de Toulouse presents more than 2.5 million exhibits.

If you have a thing for natural science you could immerse yourself in botanical, entomological, mineralogical, ornithological, paleontological and many other “logical” galleries for hours! Many of these collections were gathered by the most inquisitive minds of the 19th century.

This applies to the prehistory section, with Neolithic axes, a Mesolithic tomb and a bronze necklace from the Holocene epoch.

4. Foundation Bemberg

Hôtel dieuAssézat, the famous house of the B Foundation Foundation, is a miracle. This mansion was designed by Nicolas Bachelier, the most prestigious Renaissance architect of the city of Toulouse and took nearly 30 years to complete.

It was built for Pierre d’Assézat, who built his fortune on the woad trade, but was penniless by the time his plush palace was completed in 1581. The inner art gallery is also magnificent and was founded based on a collection by Georges Bprice, an extraordinary 20th-century patron of the arts.

It is difficult to choose outstanding paintings, but you have to see works by Venetian people like Canaletto, and French artists like Monet, Pierre Bonnard Matisse, and Cézanne.

5. Musée Saint-Raymond

Next to the Saint-Sernin Basilicas in Toulouse’s archaeological museum. As is often the case, the museum building warrants your attention; erected in 1523, it was a school for poorer students at the University of Toulouse.

The exhibits run from prehistory up to the year 1000 and deal with a host of Mediterranean civilizations, but with an accent on Gallo-Roman history.

6. Church of the Jacobins

This Jacobin monastery is the last word in gothic design in southern France. It was finished in the 1300s and is noted for its awesome dimensions, with a double nave and vaults that reach almost 30 meters.

The best is at the top, where you can see the palm tree, the tallest column with 22 ribs bent outwards to form the tunnel. You can see how it got its name, as this element has an arresting organic quality to it.

The ruins of Thomas Aquinas, one of the great thinkers of the middle ages, are also found in this church.

7. Cité de l’Espace

If there was ever a day out that could recapture your childlike sense of wonder, it’s a theme park all about space exploration. If you or your little ones are fascinated by the cosmos then you could devote a day to watching mind-expanding IMAX movies and planetarium shows.

Space travel geeks might hyperventilate when they set foot inside the actual Mir space station, which orbited the earth from 1986 to 2001. There’s also a life-size replica of the European Ariane 5 rocket, which has completed more than 70 successful missions since 2003.

8. Musée des Augustins

Taken from Musée Saint-Raymond, this attraction includes art and sculpture from the medieval period until the early 20th century. Once again, the building is an important ingredient, dating to the early-1300s and exemplifying the southern Gothic style.

The medieval religious sculpture in this museum is superb and was rescued from convents and churches that were being destroyed around the region in the 1800s.

The fine art collection is mostly from between the 1400s and 1700s, with works by an array of Italian renaissance artists, and Flemish and Dutch masters like Rubens, van Dyck, van Goyen, Cuyp and Jordaens.

9. Jardin Japonais

In Companies Cafarelli, some way north of the center is a park classified as a French “Jardin remarquable”. It has a Japanese garden, which is quite unusual with the southern latitude of the city of Toulouse and was inspired by the gardens in Kyoto between the 14th and 16th centuries.

The garden is full of symbols and is beneficial for meditation and rest, but it will help if you visit early when there are few people around. Cross the bridge across the pond to the island symbolizing paradise, and look down at the koi and the turtle.

There is a bust in the garden of Taisen Deshimaru, who founded many Sōtō zen dojos throughout France in the 70s.

10. Canal du Midi

Another UNESCO site the Canal du Midi is not just another waterway, but a mind-boggling work of 17th-century engineering; part of the 430-kilometer Canal des Deux Mers that linked the Mediterranean with the Atlantic.

Strictly speaking, the Canal du Midi is just the 240-kilometer-long waterway that begins in Toulouse and stretches to the Étang de Thau by the coastal city of Sète. It was ordered by Louis XIV and made by the genius Pierre Paul-Riquet, taking 15 years to complete. Walk or ride on the towpath next to its green waters, or check out the old locks on a cruise.

More ideals for you: Top 10 things to do in Strasbourg

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-toulouse-706476.html

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becauseeiloveyou · 7 years ago

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1. First of all, what do you prefer to be called? shu

2. What is your favorite form of creative expression? words (poems, novels...)

3. How do you like your coffee OR if you don’t like it, why?: hmm I don't drink coffee often but I like my coffee black and without sugar/milk

4. What is the least desirable thing, in your opinion, to put on a pizza that you have heard of people actually eating?: olives zzz

5. Would you rather witness the beginning or the end of the universe?: actually, the end

6. Describe your favourite pair of socks: I like basic black/white socks

7. What is the current or last song you are listening/listened to, and does it have any special significance to you?: shadow of the day. yes it does, my cousin intro-ed it to me (miss u)

8. Do you prefer rainbows or stars?: stars

9. Describe the best day of your life NOT in terms of events, but in terms of your feelings: no particular date that I'm thinking of right now, maybe the day my future career was kinda set

10. Would you rather go to a planetarium or an aquarium?: aquarium

11. Do you know the reason that 11:11 is considered to be auspicious?: no eh

12. What decorations are hanging on your walls?: in my actual house, that would be polaroids and photos

13. What is your favourite planet in our solar system?: earth?

14. How do you express love?: acts of service

15. Do you consider yourself to be more spiritual or scientific?: hmmmmmm, maybe spiritual

16. If you had a lava lamp, what color would you want it to be?: dark orange/mustard/brownish?

17. Would you rather be able to revisit your past to simply re-experience a positive moment or revisit your past in order to change things and risk the consequences?: re-experience

18. Have you ever had a past-life regression or memory?: nop

19. What is your favourite holiday and why?: christmas!!! gud fud + family time + nice decorations + nice songs + (would have been) nice season + joyyyy

20. Are you better with remembering dates or names?: dates haha

21. What was your favourite book that you had to read for a class?: to kill a mockingbird!!

22. What is your favourite number and why is it significant to you?: 2, good things come in pairs HAHAHA

23. Would you rather explore space or the ocean?: oceaaaaaan

24. What prompted you to call the last person you called?: zz we were late for a birthday celeb

25. Star Trek or Star Wars?: star treeeeek

26. Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter?: HPPPPPP

27. What is your favourite band and why?: THE SCRIPT

28. What colour best resonates with your best friend(s)?: yellowwwww

29. Where do you work and why do you work there?: still in school bruh

30. Have you ever gone to a public karaoke facility, and what did you sing?: whats a public karaoke facility lmao idts

31. What animal do you feel most connected with?: wolves HAHAHA

32. Have you ever had “special brownies” or any other kind of “special” treat?: ummmmm how do u define this? can't think of anything atm

33. What book are you reading at the moment?: nothing, I was about to start house rules (Jodi picoult) but exams are coming boo. just finished “kind of cruel- Sophie hannah”

34. What is the funniest thing that you have done at a fast food restaurant? uh I can't rmb lmao

35. Do you enjoy listening to music that is sung in another language?: why not

36. Quote the last movie you watched: last watched the foreigner but I don't remember any quotes LOL

37. Do you know more than just your sun sign (like your ascending sign or moon sign etc.)?: huh no

38. Do you have any jewelery on you that holds significance, and if so, what is it and why is it significant?: mm earrings are from a friend!!

39. What is your favorite kind of cheesecake?: not a fan of cheesecake, can't eat them anw

40. Why did you last feel warm and fuzzy inside?: been q long tbh

41. What band that no longer performs together do you wish would have a reunion tour?: DB5K HOLY FK

42. What band that IS still together do you wish would perform in your area?: THE SCRIPT

43. Have you ever been in a band, and what role did you play in it?: orchestra!

44. What has been the single most frightening experience of your life?: confrontations omg I hate confrontations

45. Who is/was your favourite Spice Girl?: didn't watch this

46. Do you prefer free verse or poetry set in a form?: poetry

47. In a hotel, would you choose to go in the hot tub, the sauna, the workout room, or the pool?: POOL BRO

48. Imagine that you are exploring space. Who would you want with you and what would you want to explore, assuming you are not limited in any way?: bff actly

49. Have you ever astral projected?: nop

50. What is your favourite song by the group t.A.T.u?: whats this band

51. Describe what you envision as “paradise”: serenity, nature, natural sounds

52. What element do you feel most connected to?: water

53. What is a cause that you feel very strongly about and why?: that everyone deserves a shot at life

54. What was your favourite class from the last year that you were in school?: er, maybe physio

55. What is a topic that you study independently for your own interest?: um idk eh anything that interests me at that point in time I guess

57. What song do you want played at your funeral?: uh yellow maybe

58. Would you rather alphabetize or put things in order according to numbers?: depends right LOL

59. What medication do you dislike the most?: not a fan of syrups

60. Would you rather write a story or a poem?: poem

61. Do you believe in non-physical entities, and if so have you ever communicated with one?: some I guess, and nope

62. What invention or discovery do you think that the scientific community should focus on?: cure for cancer

63. If you could go anywhere, where would you go and why?: everywhere

64. What skill do people often compliment you on?: nothing much hahahahah

65. What are three facets of your personality or thinking patterns that you want to improve?: I'm too lazy, too emotional sometimes and too idealistic uh

66. What is your favourite symbol?: star

67. Name an unusual shortcut or file that’s on your desktop: nothing uh

68. What do you smell like right now?: my shampoo I hope

69. You get to have a theme party of your choice, just for fun. What theme do you choose?: er geeks actually hahahahahah don't ask me why

70. Have you ever been in the depths of a cave?: yepppp

71. How do you deal with the dark side of yourself?: be alone

72. Name something that you can’t help but save: money HAHAHAHA

73. What is your addiction?: idk eh books?

74. If you could wish something for three people, but not for yourself, who would the wishes be for and what would they be?: huh don't make me do this, I'll just say happiness for everyone

75. Would you rather send a message in a bottle or on a balloon?: balloon

76. What did you dream last night?: lots of things I can't rmb

77. What is one of your most frequent daydreams?: exploring the world

78. What is your favourite stuffed animal?: duckkkkk

79. If you could have a conversation with any well-known figure of the past or present, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?: er can't rly think of one, but prolly an author

80. If you could bring anyone back to life, who would it be?: cuz

81. Are you affectionate?: not really eh 82. Name one thing that each of your best friends is really good at: LOL understanding me maybe

83. What are you a perfectionist with?: handwriting HAHA

84. Could you see yourself being able to carry on a long distance relationship?: I can eh

85. If you could be anything but human, including anything mythical, what would you be?: idk maybe I'd be a wolf

86. Have you ever meditated? If so, what is your method, and if not, what do you do to relax?: nope lel

87. What is something about yourself that you feel no one else understands?: everything hahahahah

#lifejournal

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theeverydaynarcissist · 7 years ago

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1. First of all, what do you prefer to be called? Tiffany, I suppose. I don’t really have a preference. 2. What is your favorite form of creative expression? I enjoying writing and curating my blog. 3. How do you like your coffee OR if you don’t like it, why?: I usually like it on the stronger side with a little cream and sugar. Sometimes (usually when eating sweets), I like to drink it black. 4. What is the least desirable thing, in your opinion, to put on a pizza that you have heard of people actually eating?: Oddly enough, I don’t care for pepperonis on pizza. I’ll eat them if I have to, but I don’t really like the taste or the texture. 5. Would you rather witness the beginning or the end of the universe?: The beginning. 6. Describe your favourite pair of socks: I don’t think I have a favorite pair of socks. My socks are quite boring. I have a fuzzy, thick pair that I wear in the winter, that I like, though. 7. What is the current or last song you are listening/listened to, and does it have any special significance to you?: I’m currently listening to Rich and Famous by Sara Phillips. It doesn’t have any special significance to me. 8. Do you prefer rainbows or stars?: Stars. 9. Describe the best day of your life NOT in terms of events, but in terms of your feelings: I can’t think of a day that I would classify as the best. 10. Would you rather go to a planetarium or an aquarium?: The planetarium. There’s one here in Chicago that I haven’t been to yet. I’d really like to go. 11. Do you know the reason that 11:11 is considered to be auspicious?: I have no clue. 12. What decorations are hanging on your walls?: I have two Harry Potter prints on the wall and a photo of my mother and aunt. 13. What is your favourite planet in our solar system?: Neptune is the prettiest, in my opinion. 14. How do you express love?: Affection, gifts, surprises, doing simple things to make life easier for my partner. 15. Do you consider yourself to be more spiritual or scientific?: Scientific. 16. If you had a lava lamp, what color would you want it to be?: I used to own a lava lamp. It was purple with glitter. 17. Would you rather be able to revisit your past to simply re-experience a positive moment or revisit your past in order to change things and risk the consequences?: There is very little in my past that I want to re-experience, so I guess I would change things. 18. Have you ever had a past-life regression or memory?: Not that I can recall. 19. What is your favourite holiday and why?: Thanksgiving. I enjoy cooking and eating food and spending time with my family. 20. Are you better with remembering dates or names?: I think I’m adept at remembering dates and names. 21. What was your favourite book that you had to read for a class?: In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote. 22. What is your favourite number and why is it significant to you?: I don’t have a favorite number. 23. Would you rather explore space or the ocean?: I’m terrified of both, but more interested in space. Plus, there are far fewer grotesque creatures in space. 24. What prompted you to call the last person you called?: I call him everyday. 25. Star Trek or Star Wars?: Star Wars. 26. Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter?: Harry Potter. I could not get through Lord of the Rings. It was incredibly boring. 27. What is your favourite band and why?: I don’t have a favorite band. I really like Alt-J and Mutemath, though. 28. What colour best resonates with your best friend(s)?: Blue for Dawn and Matthew and I’m not sure about Michael. 29. Where do you work and why do you work there?: I work as a nanny. I do it because I enjoy working with children and it gives me teaching experience I can use after I finish college and start working as a teacher. 30. Have you ever gone to a public karaoke facility, and what did you sing?: I have never sang karaoke and likely never will. 31. What animal do you feel most connected with?: I don’t feel connected with any animal. 32. Have you ever had “special brownies” or any other kind of “special” treat?: No. 33. What book are you reading at the moment?: I’m rereading the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, Packing for Mars, by Mary Roach, and A Rose for Her Grave, by Ann Rule. 34. What is the funniest thing that you have done at a fast food restaurant? I don’t think I’ve ever done anything funny at a fast food restaurant. 35. Do you enjoy listening to music that is sung in another language?: Not particularly. 36. Quote the last movie you watched: “It is written.” 37. Do you know more than just your sun sign (like your ascending sign or moon sign etc.)?: I do not. 38. Do you have any jewelry on you that holds significance, and if so, what is it and why is it significant?: Yeah, a gold necklace with the letter “m” on it. It’s my boyfriend’s initial. 39. What is your favorite kind of cheesecake?: I’m not a big fan of cheesecake. 40. Why did you last feel warm and fuzzy inside?: Maybe over the weekend. 41. What band that no longer performs together do you wish would have a reunion tour?: I have no idea.

42. What band that IS still together do you wish would perform in your area?: Alt-J or Violents (not really a band). 43. Have you ever been in a band, and what role did you play in it?: I was only in symphonic band in middle school. I played the flute. 44. What has been the single most frightening experience of your life?: Most of my childhood I guess. 45. Who is/was your favourite Spice Girl?: I didn’t have a favorite. 46. Do you prefer free verse or poetry set in a form?: I’m not a big fan of poetry. 47. In a hotel, would you choose to go in the hot tub, the sauna, the workout room, or the pool?: Maybe the sauna after a workout. 48. Imagine that you are exploring space. Who would you want with you and what would you want to explore, assuming you are not limited in any way?: Marc. And if I’m not limited in any way I’d want to explore Earth 2.0. 49. Have you ever astral projected?: No. 50. What is your favourite song by the group t.A.T.u?: I don’t have one. 51. Describe what you envision as “paradise”: Penthouse (paid off) in downtown Chicago with valet services, career I love with a six figure income, and sharing it with my favorite person. 52. What element do you feel most connected to?: None. 53. What is a cause that you feel very strongly about and why?: There are so many. Equality of every variety, mostly. 54. What was your favourite class from the last year that you were in school?: I’m in a children’s literature class right now that I really like. 55. What is a topic that you study independently for your own interest?: True crime. 56. Describe what you would want to wear if you were getting married, handfasted, or having some kind of “love celebration” or “commitment” ceremony between yourself and another? An Elie Saab black lace gown with a black lace veil. 57. What song do you want played at your funeral?: I haven’t really considered my own death and funeral, so I’m not sure. 58. Would you rather alphabetize or put things in order according to numbers?: It depends on what I’m organizing. Usually I do a combination of both. 59. What medication do you dislike the most?: Any sort of prescription painkiller. They make me nauseous. 60. Would you rather write a story or a poem?: A story. 61. Do you believe in non-physical entities, and if so have you ever communicated with one?: No. 62. What invention or discovery do you think that the scientific community should focus on?: Hm, I have no idea. Maybe something related to the medical field or something to combat climate change. 63. If you could go anywhere, where would you go and why?: Iceland. I’d like to visit the Blue Lagoon. 64. What skill do people often compliment you on?: How well I write. 65. What are three facets of your personality or thinking patterns that you want to improve?: I would like to procrastinate less, become less susceptible to jealousy and insecurity, and take care better care of my body and mind. 66. What is your favourite symbol?: An alinea. 67. Name an unusual shortcut or file that’s on your desktop: I don’t have any shortcuts on my desktop, aside from the recycling bin. 68. What do you smell like right now?: Vanilla sugar perfume. 69. You get to have a theme party of your choice, just for fun. What theme do you choose?: Harry Potter or Game of Thrones. 70. Have you ever been in the depths of a cave?: I have not. 71. How do you deal with the dark side of yourself?: I’m still learning to do that. Lots of self-reflection tends to be helpful. 72. Name something that you can’t help but save: I don’t like clutter so I don’t tend to save things. 73. What is your addiction?: Peach green tea from Starbucks. 74. If you could wish something for three people, but not for yourself, who would the wishes be for and what would they be?: Success and true happiness for Marc.

An infinite amount of money for my grandmother.

A girlfriend for Matthew that meets all his needs and wants. 75. Would you rather send a message in a bottle or on a balloon?: Balloon I suppose. 76. What did you dream last night?: I remember a blogger I like sending me messages and telling me all the things that are wrong with me and how I should change them to make people like me better. 77. What is one of your most frequent daydreams?: Being rich and being able to buy lavish gifts for everyone I love and care about. 78. What is your favourite stuffed animal?: I don’t have one. 79. If you could have a conversation with any well-known figure of the past or present, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?: That would require a bit more thought. 80. If you could bring anyone back to life, who would it be?: My mom. 81. Are you affectionate?: Only with one person. 82. Name one thing that each of your best friends is really good at: Matthew is very thoughtful and excellent at putting the needs of others before himself. He’s also a great crime stopper!

Dawn can succeed at anything she puts her mind too and has great work ethic.

Michael is a great debater and has the ability to see things from many different perspectives. 83. What are you a perfectionist with?: Everything, honestly. It’s detrimental in a lot of ways and I dislike it. 84. Could you see yourself being able to carry on a long distance relationship?: I’ve been in too many long distance relationships. I couldn’t do that again. 85. If you could be anything but human, including anything mythical, what would you be?: I’d like to be a well taken care of dog or cat. 86. Have you ever meditated? If so, what is your method, and if not, what do you do to relax?: I used to meditate during yoga. I should get back into that. 87. What is something about yourself that you feel no one else understands?: How deep my insecurities are and how fragile my ego is.

#personal survey #survey

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