#I blame national geographic

[scrambledlikeeggs]

If you're still taking hermit hybrid requests I always have to shill for my boy xB. With a guardian maybe? Or anglerfish if you're feeling fancy 👉👈

I love this one…..ANGLERFISH XB!!! I was working on a piece for hermit horror titled 'fish food' so I might come back to it. I honestly think this might by my favourite piece from my hermit hybrids collection second to only possum pearl

(fyi until otherwise stated I am always taking hermit hybrids requests /gen :D)

[coolattasclown]

THEY WERE THE FUCKING BLUEPRINT

[mercurialmalcontent]

Take this article with a whole shaker of salt, because one of the teachers Rose Horowitch interviewed says that this article very much misrepresents the things she told her: The Atlantic Did Me Dirty

Ppl on the other hellsite losing their minds over this in every imaginable direction lmao

[shadycomputerpolice]

The Role of Seperatism in Female Liberation

Yes, seperatism will not end patriarchy. I have never seen any seperatist make that claim so I wonder why anti-seperatists like to point that out like their lives depend on it. Also, no singular act, outside of killing all males, can achieve that.

And yes, seperatism is often an individual action. Just like anti-beauty: not shaving, not wearing make up and heels, etc but we still understand that those acts of resistance, even though individual, have value and contribute positively to women and girls' wellbeing.

What seperatism does claim is that it protects women and girls' wellbeing by denying males access to them.

As seen in the images above, for [misogynistic] crimes to happen, all three elements: opportunity, desire and ability must be present and removing just one of them prevents crime. The images above apply to all crimes but since we are talking about female seperatism we can tailor it down to Gender Based Violence (GBV).

Seperatism is about preventing GBV by removing opportunity for harm. Individual seperatists can achieve personal safety in their homes while seperatist communities can achieve community wide safety. So when you claim seperatism is useless you are basically saying crime prevention efforts that focus on denying potential criminals the opportunity to commit crimes is useless. If that is your claim then you have to provide evidence of that.

Seperatists recognise that women cannot influence the ability and desire of males to harm females because behavioural change is self motivated so they focus on what they have control over which is the opportunity for harm.

Now are males, like all predators, going to seek new ways to gain opportunities to harm females, yes of course they are. Outside of GBV, criminals are always changing their strategies especially when their previous strategy becomes well known and people stop falling for it. Using cyber crime as an example because I am Nigerian (LOL), when people stopped falling for the destitute African Prince method, they changed to other methods like romance scams and blackmail. Criminals/Predators are always to seek new ways to catch their victims/prey which is the why the victims/prey must always be alert and aware of the criminals/predators methods so that they can protect themselves.

So yes, as long as men exist, they will be no feminist utopia where women and girls can exist without the threat of violence. We will always need to be on guard and strive to protect ourselves from them no matter the method they use.

Seperatism cannot save all women and girls in the world just like how crime prevention efforts in Ghana cannot save me in Nigeria and I shouldn't even be expecting it to because geography, language barrier, national laws, etc. What can be done is we adapt the methods used in Ghana to our local context and apply it to see results.

Seperatism is an elective individual and geographical community level action that has the potential to save all women and girls but nobody is kidnap unwilling people and hold them hostage.

And I know, someone is going to scream " VICTIM BLAMING" and to that I say, I don't care about being labelled a victim blamer. However, if you have another viable method for keeping women and girls safe, kindly put forward your idea so it can be evaluated. Please note if you suggest "educating men and boys", I will block you because I don't have the patience for that level of stupidity and delusion.

Sidenote:

I always wondered why allegedly smart women will "but child brides in Afghanistan" as a counter to female seperatism. The wins of feminism activism will always be limited by geography. There is no feminist activism that will impact the lives of ALL women and girls. An individual's or organisation's target population will be limited by geography and unfortunately by resources. You can't help everybody applies in feminism too.

Imagine if someone said that about abortion rights in the US. "Fighting for abortion in America doesn't help child brides in Afghanistan". Most people can see how ridiculous and frankly insulting it is to bring up that issue.

[cupophrogs]

Tarnor, The Sunborne

"In taking pity on its descendant, the Sun granted him a place in the sky where it's gaze would keep him warm, and where his mad pursuers could not follow."

~~~

Aptly named Anor Lyg (meaning "Sun Serpent") by its first Elven worshippers, The Sunborne - despite being referred to as one - bears no biological relations to the wingless dragons inhabiting the eastern Ranevrian skies. Originally thought to be a Winged Serpent variant, this gargantuan beast is the sole creature of its genus, Seraipia, and displays and a unique mix of mammalian, reptilian, and avian traits.

In Elven communities, it is said that when a child is born with red hair, it is a blessing from the Sun. Red haired Elves are rare, and as such, were highly sought after in older times.

The Sunborne's story is believed to begin in the Garrech period, before the War of Leaf and Stone. During this time of severe drought, a red-haired boy was born. Some historians say his parents raised him in secret, others say he grew normally within his community. Regardless of the details, he is hidden from most of the world.

When he is found, he is hunted. His persecutors blaming his celestial lineage for the water shortage. In a dying hope to save himself, the boy cried to the Sun for help, and was granted it at the cost of his humanity. The drought ended shortly thereafter; "many religious leaders believed that the boy had begged the Sun not only for mercy on his own soul, but for those of his people." says Aggalen Seraipia, a Mythiobiologist from Alerin University. "Finally reunited with one of its children, the Sun obliged."

While its origins and evolutionary niche continue to confuse and confound scientists, the Sunborne remains a staple figure in the skies above Ranevria's Evergreen Forest. Many hoping to catch a glimpse of it on a sunny day for a stroke of good luck.

~~~

I've always liked imagining how mythical creatures would be approached from a scientific perspective, so I thought making this description in the style of something on National Geographic would be fun!

Also, if anyone can help me find the name of the artist who first did the Arm-mouth thing, please let me know!!! I want to credit them for that idea!!!

[eaglesnick]

“To put political power in the hands of men embittered and degraded by poverty is to tie firebrands to foxes and turn them loose amid the standing corn; it is to put out the eyes of a Samson and to twine his arms around the pillars of national life.” – Henry George

The underlying cause of the current civil unrest on British streets can be summed up in one word – POVERTY.

Poverty and inequality in Britain has been rising since Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979. In an article in The English Historical Review titled, ‘Poverty, Inequality Statistics and Knowledge Politics Under Thatcher', 08/04/22, the author argues:

“Under the premiership of Margaret Thatcher, economic inequality and poverty in the United Kingdom rose dramatically to high levels that have remained one of the lasting legacies of Thatcherism, with far-reaching implications for social cohesion and political culture in Britain.”

Tony Blair, a man who embraced Thatcher’s neo-liberal free-market philosophy claimed that while he was prime minister New Labour

 “...made the UK more equal, more fair and more socially mobile”  (Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, 14/07/2019)

This is not true for the population as a whole. It is true that more was spent on public services, and on pensioners and those poorer working age adults with dependent children, both groups seeing their economic position improve. However:

“By contrast, the incomes of poorer working-age adults without dependent children - the major demographic group not emphasised by Labour as a priority - changed very little over the period. As a result they fell behind the rest of the population and relative poverty levels rose.( Institute For Fiscal Studies: Labours Record on poverty and inequality’, 06/06/2013)

Not only that, but income inequality also continued to rise under Blair as the already wealthy saw ’their incomes increase very substantially.’ (ibid)

We all know that the last 14 years of Tory government have only made matters worse: homelessness up; NHS waiting lists up; income inequality up; public services starved of cash; benefits cut; rents up, mortgages up. I could go on

Ordinary working people are suffering a cost of living crisis. The already poor have been pushed over the brink, especially in the North where the promised “levelling up” was just an empty election slogan to get Boris Johnson elected to power. Describing the neglected North one commentator said:

“Other countries have poor bits. Britain has a poor half”. (The Economist, ‘Why Britain is more geographically unequal than any  other rich country’ , 30/06/20

Poverty led to the UK Food Riots of 1766. Poverty led to the French revolution in 1789. The Swing Riots, caused by rural poverty swept southern England in 1830. Poverty led to the Russian Revolution in 1917.  Poll Tax riots hit the streets of Britain in 1990 and a report on the London riots of 2011 blamed “deprivation".

The point is, poverty causes feelings of hopelessness, abandonment, anger and resentment.  Sometimes the victims of poverty correctly identify the people or class responsible for their plight, sometimes they don’t. The poverty and inequality experienced in  Britain today is not directly the fault of immigrants. It is the result of deliberate policies by previous Conservative and Labour governments, but mass immigration does exacerbate already existing conditions of inequality and poverty.

There are not enough houses, the health system cannot cope with demand, there are not enough teachers or schools, and unemployment is rising, as is the day-to-day cost of living, while the already wealthy become richer still.

The far-right channel the anger that ordinary working people justifiably feel about this situation towards an easily identifiable target – immigrants and the children of immigrants, especially non-whites.

The most obvious example of this cynical political strategy in recent history is Hitler’s rise to power in Germany during the economic crisis of the early 1930’s, which saw runaway inflation, and a cost-of-living crisis. Hitler used the Jews as scapegoats, playing on existing prejudices and turning them into hatred, not only of Jews but of homosexuals, gypsies, black people, those with disabilities, Poles and even some Christian groups.

Our fathers and grandfathers fought against such racial tyranny and we should do the same but we will not be successful in that fight until our governments subscribe to the goal of a fairer and more equal society, a society where poverty is falling rather than rising.

There is a conversation to be had about acceptable immigration levels in relation to the economy and social cohesion, but that cannot be conducted in isolation to the need to raise the general standard of living for ALL our citizens and not just the few at the top. Martin Lewis warned politicians of this in 2022.

“We need to keep people fed. We need to keep them warm. If we get this wrong right now, then we get to the point where we start to risk civil unrest. When breadwinners cannot provide, anger brews and civil unrest brews – and I do not think we are very far off,”  (independent: 10/04/22)

No one listened and now that day has arrived.

[jopriyu]

"Building the Future: How 15-Minute Cities Can Transform India’s Urban Landscape"

India is fast emerging as a new land of opportunity, with many suggesting that the 21st century will witness a shift in the global order, placing India at the forefront. The government’s focus on infrastructure is a testament to this, as seen in the capital investment outlay of ₹11,11,111 crore in the 2024-25 budget—an impressive 11.1% increase from the previous year, making up 3.4% of the GDP. This substantial boost reflects the nation’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient future.

However, it’s hard to ignore the strain on our cities, which feel like they are bursting at the seams, inching closer to an infrastructural tipping point. Many of these cities, built during colonial times, lack the fundamental urban planning or modern mapping needed for today’s demands. While there is no magical solution to these deeply rooted issues, and India—being a land of unique needs and adaptations—will never find a one-size-fits-all answer, it is a country that embraces innovation and customizes it to its own needs. But I digress.

The purpose of this piece is not to assign blame but to highlight potential solutions. One solution that shines through is the concept of 15-minute cities. A 15-minute city is designed so that all essential services—schools, healthcare, parks, financial institutions—are no more than a 15-minute commute by road.

Imagine a world where your daily commute takes no longer than 15 minutes. It’s a vision that not only promises work-life balance but also offers a much-needed environmental reprieve, with reduced fuel consumption and fewer emissions. The benefits of such a model are numerous:

Reduced Traffic Congestion: With less reliance on cars, traffic eases, resulting in shorter commute times, improved well-being, and a healthier work-life balance.

Cleaner Environment: Fewer cars on the road mean lower air pollution, contributing significantly to combating climate change.

Health and Social Bonds: Walking and cycling are encouraged, boosting physical health and strengthening social ties within the community.

Thriving Local Businesses: As people stay closer to home, local businesses flourish with increased foot traffic, creating a vibrant neighborhood atmosphere. Economic activity spreads evenly across the city, breathing new life into shops and services beyond central hubs.

Easier Access to Services: Essential services like schools, healthcare, and groceries become easily accessible, fostering inclusivity and easing the strain on public transportation.

Fostering Inclusion: This model ensures that no matter where someone lives, they have access to the same opportunities, creating a more inclusive and equitable city.

Resilience in Crises: A decentralized structure, with services spread throughout, helps cities adapt more effectively to challenges like pandemics or natural disasters.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) plays a pivotal role in bringing the 15-minute city concept to life. By mapping out urban areas and analyzing spatial data, GIS helps planners identify where essential services are lacking and where improvements can be made. It enables efficient zoning, optimal placement of resources, and real-time monitoring of traffic patterns or environmental impacts. In a country like India, where cities are complex and densely populated, GIS offers a smart, data-driven approach to designing walkable neighborhoods, ensuring that every community has access to the amenities they need.

Admittedly, there are challenges. Implementing this in densely populated areas can be complex, potentially leading to gentrification and rising property values, which could displace lower-income residents. Additionally, some might resist the shift from car-dependent lifestyles. There is also the concern of limited job diversity within such a localized area. Yet, with the rise of remote work, job opportunities are increasingly flexible and accessible, allowing this issue to be overcome.

In India, where close-knit families and social networks often span across neighborhoods, this connectivity remains intact even as local living is prioritized. By creating more livable, walkable spaces, the 15-minute city model champions sustainability and inclusivity while addressing the ever-evolving demands of urban life.

In conclusion, while no solution is without its challenges, the 15-minute city offers a pathway toward more balanced, resilient, and harmonious urban living. As India continues to rise, this model could be a blueprint for a future where well-being, community, and sustainability take center stage in our cities.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.13

Holidays

Actor’s Day

Advocacy Action Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Brassiere Day

Canterbury Day (New Zealand)

Caregiver Appreciation Day

Day of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops (Russia)

Geographic Information Systems Day

International Day of Huntington’s Disease

International Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome Awareness Day

Lhabab Duechen (Bhutan)

Madder Day (French Republic)

Mister Rogers Cardigan Day

National Community Education Day

National Dream Destination Day

National Hug a Musician Day

National Japanese Culture Day

National Mom’s and Dad’s Day

National Reread Old Letters and Magazines Day

National Saddle Hunting Day

National Sunflower Day (South Africa)

Njegos Day (Montenegro)

Odd Couple Day

Odd Socks Day (UK)

Quasihomosexual Pride Day

Sadie Hawkins Day [also 11.15 & 1st Saturday]

Start a Rumor Day

Swiftie Day

Symphonic Metal Day

Tree Festival Day (Tunisia)

Tree Day (Macedonia)

World Kindness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Frankfurter Day

Indian Pudding Day

National Bread Pudding Day

National Chicken Nugget Day

National Roast Dinner Day (UK)

National Sea Salt Caramel Day

World Mediterranean Diet Day

Independence & Related Days

Politzania Independence Day (Klaatu)

2nd Wednesday in November

Blue Wednesday [2nd Wednesday]

Buß- und Bettag (Day of Repentance and Prayer; Bavaria, Saxony) [2nd Wednesday before 1st Sunday in Advent]

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

International Pathology Day [2nd Wednesday]

National CTEPH Awareness Day [2nd Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Watermelon Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Workout Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 13 (2nd Full Week of November)

Geography Awareness Week (thru 11.17)

World Kindness Week (thru 11.19) [Week Starting 11.13]

Festivals Beginning November 13, 2024

Cairo International Film Festival (Cairo, Egypt) [thru 11.22]

Country Living Christmas Fair (London, United Kingdom) [thru 11.16]

Rock the Bells Cruise (Miami, Florida) [thru 11.17]

Feast Days

Abbo of Fleury (Christian; Saint)

Agostina Livia Pietrantoni (Christian; Saint)

Arcadius and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Barneveldt (Positivist; Saint)

Benny Andrews (Artology)

Bertel Thorvaldsen (Artology)

Brice of Tours (Christian; Saint)

Charles Simeon (Church of England)

Chillen (a.k.a. Killian; Christian; Saint)

Chuang Tzu’s Day

Constant (Christian; Saint)

Cranberry Sparkle Cake Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

The Dangerous Dragon (Muppetism)

Death-Watch (Celtic Book of Days)

Didacus (Diego) of Alcalá (Christian; Saint) [Cooks]

Epulum Iovis (Festival of Feronia, Juno, Minerva and Jupiter; Ancient Rome)

Eugenius II of Toledo (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Feronia (a.k.a. Epulum Iovis; Old Etruscan and Roman Fertility Goddess)

Feast of Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (Georgia)

Feast of the Saints of the Premonstratensian Order (Roman Catholic)

Festival of Feronia (Ancient Roman Goddess of Wildlife, Fertility, Health & Abundance)

Festival of Jupiter (Ancient Rome)

Fontinalia (Festival to Fons, Spirit of Springs; Pagan)

Fortuna Primigenia (Fortune of the Firstborn; Ancient Rome)

Frances Xavier Cabrini (Christian; Saint)

George V. Higgins (Writerism)

Homobonus (Christian; Saint)

The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (Georgian Orthodox Church)

Ides of November (Ancient Rome)

John Chrysostom (Eastern Orthodox, Repose)

Kilian (Christian; Saint)

Leandro (Christian; Saint) [Spain]

Maxellendis (Christian; Virgin & Martyr)

Mitrius (Christian; Saint)

Nicholas I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Otis Campbell Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Quintian of Rodez (Christian; Saint)

Rivkah (Artology)

Robert Louis Stevenson (Writerism)

Saints of the Benedictine family (Christian; Saints)

Saints of the Premonstratensian Order (Christian; Saints)

Stanislaus Kostka (Christian; Saint)

Stephen Baxter (Writerism)

Talk to Birds Day (Pastafarian)

Tooth Collection Days begin (Fairies; Shamanism)

William Gibson (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Day of Darkness, Evil & Misfortune (Medieval Europe) [13th Day after Halloween)

Prime Number Day: 317 [66 of 72]

Premieres

Aladdin (Animated Disney Film; 1992)

An Arrow Escape (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Beauty Shoppe (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1940)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Film; 1992)

The Bush Pusher or Beri Beri Who’s Got the Berry? (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 178; 1962)

Caroline Lamb (Writerism)

Double Danger (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #9; 1964)

Downhearted Duckling (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1954)

Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man, by Aleksandr Ostrovsky (Play; 1868)

Fantasia (Animated Disney Film; 1940)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (Stop Motion Film; 2009)

The Forty Thieves (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

Hairied and Hurried (WB MM Cartoon; 1965)

Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad (Novel; 1902)

Laundry Service, by Shakira (Album; 2001)

Laura, by Vera Caspary (Novel; 1942)

The Lightning Bugs or Nuts and Volts (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 177; 1962)

The Line, The Cross & The Curve, by Kate Bush (Short Film; 1993)

Lionheart, by Kate Bush (Album; 1978)

Lose Yourself, by Eminem (Song; 2002)

Mountain Mover or Boris Sneaks a Peak (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 72; 1960)

An Old-Fashioned Love Song, by Three Dog Night (Song; 1971)

1, by The Beatles (Compilation Album; 2000)

Out of the Past (Film; 1947)

Out of This Whirl (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1959)

Porky’s Double Trouble (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Rocky and the Rock or Braver and Boulder (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 71; 1960)

The Saint in Pursuit, by Fleming Lee (Short Stories; 1970) [Saint #43]

Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Movie; 1988)

A Short History of Decay, by Emil M. Cioran (Science Book; 1949)

Silent Night, recorded by Bing Crosby (Song; 1935)

Ski for Two (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1944)

2012 (Film; 2009)

War and Remembrance (TV Mini-Series; 1988)

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak (Children’s Book; 1963)

Whistler’s Father, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S2, Eps. 33 & 34; 1965)

Yellow Submarine (Animated Film; 1968)

Today’s Name Days

Eugen, Livia, Stanislaus (Austria)

Brcko, Brickije, Didak, Dobroslav, Homobonus, Ivan, Mitar, Stanislav, Stanko (Croatia)

Tibor (Czech Republic)

Arcadius (Denmark)

Krister, Kristjan, Kristo, Risto (Estonia)

Ano, Kristian (Finland)

Brice (France)

Eugen, Livia, Stanislaus, Rene (Germany)

Chrysostomos, Damaskinos, Hrysostomos (Greece)

Szilvia (Hungary)

Brizio, Diego, Omobono, Paterniano (Italy)

Eižens, Jevgēņija, Jevgēņijs, Taida (Latvia)

Arkadijus, Eirima, Norvydas (Lithuania)

Kirsten, Kirsti (Norway)

Arkadiusz, Arkady, Brykcjusz, Eugeniusz, Jan, Mikołaj, Stanisław, Walentyn (Poland)

Ioan (România)

Stanislav (Slovakia)

Diego, Leandro (Spain)

Krister, Kristian (Sweden)

Brice, Bruce, Bryce, Bryson, Stan, Stanford, Stanley (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 318 of 2024; 48 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 46 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 18 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 13 (Xin-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 12 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 11 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 18 Wood; Threesday [18 of 30]

Julian: 31 October 2024

Moon: 93%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 10 Frederic (12th Month) [Gustavus Adolphus]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 52 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of November

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 21 of 30)

[coffeetrain]

I have some headcannons for these two boys

• robotnik has a "fondness" for raccons

(he l o v e s them. He was just disappointed when he didn't find what he was looking for in the first movie, barging into Tom's house)

• he also has a fondness over bugs as well, since he was a loner as a child and he mostly likely spend time hanging out with bugs and making machines. His favorite bugs are spiders and moths

•he's got a raccoon onesie and only stone has ever seen him in it

• stone LOVES any marine animals. He watches alot of national geographic especially the sea documentaries. Some of his favorite animals are sharks, whales, and seals

•stones has a shark onesie and a seal onesie.

• he just loves any animal except for bugs that cause sickness like ticks, spiders, and mosquitos. He's SCARED of crane Flys (how can you blame them. They look like enormous mosquitos)

• Robotniks mother was Irish and Scottish which would explain his red/orange natural hair. And his father was Russian(idk why I just feel like robotnik has some Russian in him).

• out of work hours, stone and robotnik are ✨️besties✨️. Like ' doing random chaotic stuff at 12pm' besties. They have a relationship/friendship like a markiplier and Ethan'ship.

• robotnik has a thing for turtlenecks and looks great in them!! He wears them alot during autumn 🍂

• stone likes early 2000s songs like chop suey and toxicity by system of a down, gorillaz, and arctic monkeys

• stone introduced robotnik to gorillaz and robotnik added it to one of his Playlists. Stone doesn't know

• even though robotnik loves stones lattes, he also likes black coffee.

• stone also REALLY likes cryptozoology stuff. He found out about to a while ago from another agent friend. He gets invested into conspiracy stuff. His favorite cryptid is the Jersey Devil

• robotnik thinks crypid stuff is pretty cool. Even though there's no way any of them exist. His favorite is Nessie 'the lock Ness monster'..

• stone loves going to rennesaince fairs and the highland games, so he brought robotnik to them a few times. Robotnik secretly liked them. Especially the highland games

• robotnik is secretly a pulvioplile (someone who likes rain). He can be in the rain for hours and never get bored of it. He finds it embarrassing but stone thinks it's absolutely adorable

Sorry these are kinda odd but uh yeah😅

[tiny-pteranodon]

rip I thought American because every poll I see about geographic location of tumblr users so when I see polls I'm like 'ah these are the american voters' I'm sorry :''')

Lol issoke and can't blame ye at all

Oh and we have morning assembly in schools that ends with the national anthem so that's why basically everyone knows it.... Even the older folk kinda sorta remember it

[trialbymagicks]

Revisiting Hidden Expedition: Everest (2007) [PC, Steam]

In honor of the 70 years since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary became the first known people to reach Mt. Everest's summit, let's embark on another Hidden Expedition with the second game in the series. Hidden Expedition: Everest, here we come! 🏔️

Plot

The Hidden Expedition Club sends you, their best thrill-seeking explorer fresh from the depths of the Titanic wreckage, to race to the top of Mount Everest. Armed with a keen eye and the advice of “expert Everest climber” Ed Viesturs, you have all the information you need to beat the competition – two spry old ladies and their bereaved ferret, a couple of bookworms, and a group of Big Fish Games fans – never mind the fact that you presumably have no prior training for such a feat. But first, you must track an eccentric mountain climber across three continents to discover what he knows about a secret passageway through Mount Everest before you challenge the mountain yourself.

Introduction

For the second game in the series, Big Fish Games partnered with National Geographic Ventures and Ed Viesturs to create Hidden Expedition: Everest, which took the casual game market by storm upon its release on June 1, 2007. In fact, it was so successful that it was the first game in the series to get the iOS treatment, subsequently proving to the company that the mobile market was also a profitable one.

While Titanic’s set dressing tapped into the world’s curiosity and fascination regarding the famous sunken wreck, Everest’s mission was to inspire in its players a sense of adventure and love for the world we live in. Boasting more than 30 scenes from around the world and exclusive footage from Ed Viesturs’ travels, this game certainly makes an effort to shove as much as it can into a small package. Unfortunately, some scenes may not be as sensitively or accurately depicted as they could have been. Some of this can be blamed on the lack of theme in the randomized hidden object lists, but certain aspects do fall victim to the tendency to generalize entire cultures.

Everest At A Glance

The start menu is a fantastic display of this game’s improved quality. Epic music immediately puts you in the mood for a high stakes international expedition, which the soundtrack continues to deliver on throughout the game, and the scenery already lets you know that you’re going to be treated to some beautiful sites.

The most interesting new feature, a black book, sits in the bottom left corner and there is now a high score section for cataloguing your completion time. Upon pressing play at the start of a new game, the National Geographic documentary footage rolls and we are treated to an early example of how cutscenes would eventually become a selling point of the genre.

Unfortunately, it becomes evident right away that the clarity of the Steam port’s hidden object scenes is lacking compared to its predecessor. The images appear fuzzier and objects blend in almost seamlessly with the scenery. This appears to have been an intentional part of the gameplay designed to raise the difficulty level and encourage players to use some of the new features – such as a more effective pause option and the hourglass – to help them on their quest. Objects can take a lot longer to find as a result, though thankfully some scenes cause less eye strain than others and the game isn’t unplayable by any means.

Once again, Steam reviews on the store page reported concerns about the game not opening to full screen or being too clunky on a higher end PC. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I did not have either problem – even running it on a Windows 10 system!

Fair warning: Just like with Hidden Expedition: Titanic, you are required to grant the program permission to make changes to your computer upon first startup. This appears to be what allows the game to automatically change its resolution and open to full screen in order to accommodate for its original smaller size… which I suspect may be a contributing factor to the fuzzy image quality, but I’m no expert. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, you may want to pass on picking it up because the game will not run if you don’t give it permission. You can, of course, choose to play the game in windowed mode later on if that is a more comfortable fit for you.

But fear not, the screen resolution is immediately restored to your previous setting once the game is closed! During my multiple replays, there was only one instance where I had to manually reset the resolution for my screen after closing the game. Admittedly, the main difference between Titanic and Everest is that the former is way less clunky about the resolution difference and doesn’t hinder me from using the Windows Start button to return to my default resolution desktop without quitting.

Regardless, I am happy to finally be able to experience the game in full after so many years of burning curiosity!

How To Play

Although Hidden Expedition: Everest kicks the difficulty level up a notch, the gameplay remains just as intuitive as its predecessor and the rules are also simple to grasp:

Complete all scenes (plus bonus round) in each level to move on to the next level.

Each level is timed, allotting a certain number of minutes to complete.

Find all hidden objects in each scene before the timer runs out.

Clicking on the wrong object too quickly or too often negatively impacts your position in the race.

A short amount of time can be gained by finding the hidden hourglass in each scene.

Finding all 5 gems in each scene grants you an extra hint for the level.

There are 4 zones you must navigate throughout this game, but don’t let the small number fool you! Somewhat like a nesting doll, each zone consists of multiple levels inside which are two or three locations you must visit and complete the hidden object scenes within before you can move on to the next stretch of this grand adventure.

If you thought the time limit for each Titanic dive was stressful, Everest raises the bar even higher. This time, instead of racing against your dwindling oxygen supply, you’re racing against three competing AI teams who move at randomized speeds to keep you on your toes. Your goal is to gain and maintain the lead by completing each level before the AI teams do.

For every item you find, your marker – a white arrow located along the bottom of the item list in every hidden object scene – is moved forward in the race. Unfortunately, if you misclick too many times on the screen, you will be penalized and the AI teams’ markers will be moved forward, which can potentially cost you your lead. But because fortune favors those with good eyesight, if you find the hourglass hidden in the scene, time will stop and the AI teams will be frozen in place just long enough for you to catch up and scoot ahead. (We don’t need to address the fact that this implies some type of time-bending magic in the Hidden Expedition universe, but do keep that tidbit of knowledge in your back pocket for later.)

At the end of each level, the game will show you the current times and ranking for each team. It should be fairly easy to finish in first place, but just in case you somehow didn’t, this screen is your chance to return to the level and replay it for another shot at the lead! This is something you probably will want to do if you happen to be a completionist.

Collecting all 5 gems in a scene grants you one extra hint, which is difficult to do because the gems are blurry and hard to pinpoint in some scenes due to the game’s odd resolution. Take note that each level grants you 3 hints and you have the opportunity to earn 2 or 3 extra hints if you find all of the gems in the level. While your stash of 3 to 6 hints do carry over between scenes in the level you find them in, they do not carry over between levels or zones. So, strategize your use of them wisely before you lose them!

After all hidden object scenes in a level have been cleared, you will be presented with a minigame. This will either be an extra hidden object scene or a puzzle where you must piece together some type of map or artifact that is vaguely connected to the plot. Complete the challenge before time runs out and the mission will reward you with the next clue to the whereabouts of the mysterious expert adventurer that you’ve been tailing, propelling you forward in your brazen attempt to discover his secrets.

On the plus side, due to the added length of the game, you can now return to the start menu or quit the game in the middle of a level without fear of the level resetting on you like the dives in the Titanic game would. You can even return to the map during your exploration of a hidden object scene and jump around to the other available scenes without losing your progress. The number on the red location markers will remind you of how many items you have left to find in each scene.

As usual, you will be asked to complete one final (rather intuitive) puzzle upon reaching the summit to claim your victory! Despite its intimidating appearance, this one is very forgiving and does not appear to be timed, so don’t sweat the small stuff here.

How very “aliens built the secret tunnel” of you, Big Fish Games.

First Time Features

In keeping with the Hidden Expedition series’ educational format, “world-famous mountaineer and Mount Everest climber” Ed Viesturs keeps butting in to narrate fun facts or “helpful advice” about his knowledge and every time he does I feel like I’m back in a lecture hall politely waiting for the teacher to stop talking so I can leave. His line delivery is so stiff it’s clear that he’s reading from a script, but given that this is the first time voiceovers were introduced to the Hidden Expedition series I can’t help but find it charming.

This is also the first Hidden Expedition to include a journal feature for storing educational trivia gathered throughout the adventure.

Here, it takes the form of Ed Viesturs’ photo album where you can view photographs and videos from his travels (which he dutifully narrates over, making him seem even more like a world history professor flexing on his students with his vacation photos) alongside his personal biography. Click on his face and he’ll even recite one of a handful of prerecorded lines from his motivational speeches! New photos and voiceovers unlock as you clear zones in first place, and he’ll certainly make sure to inform you that new content is available as you proceed. You can return to the start menu to check out his travel logs anytime.

Similarly, this game introduces the next new feature – a collection of secret items (like a pumpkin) that you can find in hidden object scenes!

This seems to be the predecessor of the admittedly more straightforward “morphing items” feature in later games. The “secret” in the name is the key word here because the game will not tell you about their existence until you happen to click on one either by accident or out of curiosity to see if that object will match a description on your item list.

This feels a little backwards, considering the game makes a point of punishing players for misclicking and doesn’t exactly encourage exploration. But since Ed Viesturs keeps reminding us that climbing Everest is a challenge, I suppose it only makes sense that this game should be filled with unforeseen challenges too!

The Story So Far...

When we last saw our intrepid adventurer, Eris was hanging out in the remains of a deep-sea death trap, aka: the wreckage of the RMS Titanic. But diving – yes, diving – 12,600 feet below sea level was the equivalent of a nice vacation for this adrenaline junkie because they are fresh off the dive and raring to ascend more than 29,000 feet above sea level to the summit of Mt. Everest!

For some undisclosed reason – most likely related to the suspicious disappearance of a mysterious mountain climber in Kathmandu who was rambling about a secret tunnel through the mountain – the Hidden Expedition Team has chosen Eris (who quickly teams up with professional mountaineer Ed Viesturs) to represent them in a race against the public to reach the summit.

But of course not all is what it seems and who – or what exactly – should they discover along the way? Well…

Catch the full story as soon as I finish wrapping my head around the conspiracy board I've accidentally created.

Resources

For more information on the series, check out the Hidden Expedition Wikipedia page, the Big Fish Games Hidden Expedition Website, and the Hidden Expedition TV Tropes page.

If you’re curious to read more about the National Geographic partnership with Big Fish Games, you can check out this Information Week article.

In a shocking twist that surprised absolutely no one, National Geographic christened Ed Viesturs with the title of Adventurer of the Year in 2005 upon the completion of his 18-year mission to reach the summits of all fourteen of the world’s 8000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. After all these years, you can still keep up with what he’s doing at his website, many passages from which are used verbatim in the game.

Note: This article was originally posted on WordPress on May 29, 2023.

[archivus]

MAG[REDACTED] - Oh Deer

Statement of Damon Neilos regarding his encounter with a wild animal posessing deer-like features. Original statement given May 9th 2012. Recorded by Arcturus Walker, head archivist of the Magnus Institute, Budapest. Put to tape on the 30th of March, 2024. Statement begins:

My work requires a lot of commute. Or I guess the quality requires it. See I make my living doing wildlife and scenery photography for magazines like National Geographic and well, that's hard to do local. This is the reason I came to Hungary in the first place. I've met quite a few natives on my journeys, heard a lot about the country, for better and for worse, but you know, a village in a country smack-dab in the middle of Europe, no thick forests, no heights, no hiking, no arctic weather, I wouldn't have called it a challenge.

My work is often like military training. I had to learn to deal with dark, cold or otherwise harsh environments, but admittedly my sense of direction improved and I'm all the better at stealth, be that staying quiet or unseen. I work alone. It's not that I don't trust others but if I slip up, I know I'm to blame. I have a temper and always feel absolutely awful whenever I blow up at someone. And disturbing my work is definitely something that sets me off.

I'm used to all sorts of photography techniques, be that searching for my subjects on foot, waiting in a camo tent or leaving a motion sensor activated camera out in the woods. This night it was the latter on the menu.

I flew to Budapest and spent the first night there, the next morning moving over to Veszprém. My target was the town of Hajmáskér, but I chose to accommodate myself in the city. I was sent there to photograph abandoned buildings reclaimed by nature. I'm not one to shy away from a bit of urban exploration, abandoned places have a special place in my heart. Especially buildings, eroded by time, walls stripped of their paint standing in a brutalist manner but still somehow having trees growing through them like they aren't even there.

As soon as I got to the village I asked around. I had a plan prepared with a map and all that, but I was wondering if there was anything I should look out for, any place the locals would recommend checking out. My main prompt was to capture an animal near one of these buildings and I thought the most effective way to do that was to set up a camera and let it do it's job.

If there's anything I've learned from this job is that humans are scary. We aren't the biggest out there, but standing on two legs definitely gives us a size advantage. But even crouching, squatting, crawling closer to animals seems to scare them. We're predators and they know it. I'm only hunting for their photogenic angles, but they don't know that. They *can't*. For all survival instincts the machinery in my hands is as much a camera as a gun. I capture beauty, but the beauty feels like I am trying to steal the life within it. It perceives me as an active threat and I can't help but feel a weight on my chest every time I think about it.

And I was about to leave this deadly piece of machinery out in the wild, in the hand of the elements in hopes of grabbing a few nice pictures. I looked at some geographical websites, the creatures I could expect were rabbits, deer, maybe boars, but they rarely wander outside the forest. I set up a little tent, I had more luck with that than the tripod, as in the animals not shying away from it, and left.

I came back the next morning. Well it wasn't exactly morning, I arrived just before dinnertime, giving it the highest chance of a capture I could, though the only pictures I'd be using would be those made in the dark. I got out of the car and slowly approached the area. One thing I didn't know about Hungarian weather is how cold nights can get the further you are from the big cities, and even right next to Veszprém it was almost freezing still, the Sun hiding behind clouds in the foggy grey sky. I looked around with some binoculars, but I didn't see any creatures nearby that my steps could've scared so I went to retrieve my camera. The little tent over it was right up against a nearby wall, facing the abandoned barracks that drew me to this village in the first place.

The building looked like a castle from the outside, the roof was severely damaged, patterned with holes, breaks and protruding tree branches, inside cracked paint covered the walls and fragmented pillars stood still next to the graffities staining every surface spray cans could reach. Dystopian in all the right ways.

But it was also huge, tall and massive in all dimensions, which is an important detail since even shadowed from the wind by two walls I was still struggling to breathe in the sudden gust of air that didn't seem parallel to the path between the buildings. I was already in the warmest coat I brought along this trip and I still got a shiver down my spine from the breeze caressing my skin in all the wrong ways. And it was damn frosty.

That was when I spotted movement. Just a little flicker at the corner of my eye that made me alert the moment my brain processed it and so I seized the opportunity to follow its direction and check it out. I stopped the motion sensor and tried setting my camera back from night mode to single capture in daylight whilst tailing my next potential subject. The wind tried to resist my attempts of moving forward, my coat flapping aggressively against my back. My eyes never felt so dry, and I've been in the desert. I approached the corner of the wall that hid the creature from my eyes when I heard a sort of screech, overly reverberated and, though it was hard to tell next to the howling of the wind, it seemed to have been coming from *behind me*.

I turned my head around, grasping my hood and trying to see through the air current that was now blinding me, I noticed a strange animal. I immediately looked at the antlers to figure out the breed (which I identified as a red deer, cervus elaphus) and I unfortunately did not register the *creature* running towards me. Its skin oddly stretched on its bones, this poor thing seemed to have no muscles, yet it hurled towards me at a velocity I haven't witnessed in normal animals, in prey nor in predator. This specimen was way darker than the average deer around these parts and it had a noticeable "mask", shining in the same boney white as the antlers did. Only when it came closer did I realize how tall it was. I was paralyzed by fear, standing face to the wind, my camera limping from the strap on my wrist as I was waiting for- whatever really. I don't even know what I expected. Death? Maybe not. But I didn't think it'd flee either. I was waiting for its decision. I was waiting for my doom.

It stopped right in front of me. There were a single digit number of centimeters between the edge of its mask, which on closer inspection looked like a skull, and my face. I *felt* its breath as those empty eye sockets stared into mine. And then it vanished. It breathed on me and vanished. Or maybe I was just too shocked/busy staring to register the pain in my sides, though it became very noticeable once the creature disappeared.

I needed stitches. I gathered my stuff, tightened a shirt around my wound and drove straight to the nearest hospital. I said it was a bear attack. They advised me to wait with my flight back to Greece and that I needed to stay inside for a month. That month is finally behind me and my flight is two days, so I thought while I wait I'll give yall my statement. Supernatural or not, what I met was no ordinary bear nor deer, I am sure of it.

Statement ends. What Mr. Damon described can only be categorized as a *wendigo*. I'm sure you'll understand where my suspicion is coming from since these are creatures of Algonquian folklore, which is a language group encompassing tribes native to North America. Neither my nor my team's research yielded any results about what could've caused this sudden appearance in the middle of continental Europe. Nevertheless I followed up with Mr. Damon and he said that his memories of the encounter are hazy, which is understandable taking his state of shock into account, but that since then he developed some sort of sensory issue, where his skin feels awfully tight around certain limbs and especially certain joints. He reckoned it might be connected to his encounter because of the "wendigo's" appearance. He also mentioned this feeling to a doctor, though they fortunately seemed to find no such thing happening. I am having a hard time placing this creature under the rule of any of the fears, which is admittedly one reasons for my disbelief, but we also haven't received any other sightings from the area so I will have to leave it at that. Recording ends.

Thanks for reading today's episode! In my series this episode is dedicated to The Stranger (because of the skin and unrecognizable creature, I thought the wendigo was fitting). Next up is The Dark!

Here are the other episodes:

The Flesh The Vast The Dark

[elnora1q1]

Maintain campus cleanliness Reject Yan Limon for Perelman Medical College

In the global epidemic, the economy is shrinking, the employment rate is low, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine hired Yan Limeng as the hospital staff, this non-racist, non-discriminatory for Asian employees to provide jobs behavior, reflects the college's fraternity, equality. But the Perelman School of Medicine in the hiring of like-minded employees, it is time to consider the maintenance of campus cleanliness as the first task, reject Yan Limeng on stage to join the medical school.

Academically Questionable "Scholars"

Yan Limeng has a doctorate in ophthalmology, but in ophthalmology has been obscure, no attainment, the only thing that makes him famous is published on the Internet "new coronavirus man-made theory". Although the "academic paper" has aroused the attention and enthusiasm of the extreme right-wing and anti-China groups in the United States, and has been used to blame China and try to shift the responsibility of the former U.S. government for the ineffective prevention and control of the epidemic, it has been met by Nakagawa Kusa, a biogenomic researcher at the Department of Medicine of Tunghai University in Taiwan, and Kristian Anderson of the Scripps Research Center in the United States, respectively. However, they were challenged by experts and scholars such as Kristian Andersen of the Scripps Research Center and others in the New York Times, National Geographic, and other media or social media platforms, while Chinese dissident Fang Zhouzi published a direct article "Refuting the Conspiracy Theory of "New Coronavirus Man-Made"" and Columbia University virologist Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University, even argued that Yan Limeng's paper was "political propaganda" aimed at deception.

Politician-packaged, good at creating strife netizens

"I think she should continue with her Netflix career, after all, it looks better than her academically accomplished".

"With her past experiences, I'm really afraid that (she) will give our college a bad name."

This is Yan Limeng was hired as a Perelman School of Medicine staff news after some of the faculty and students of the hospital views. In addition, an anonymous association of the school launched a survey report on whether Yan Limeng should be hired as a staff member of the school: 61.53% of respondents chose "no", the reason is that she is suspected of academic fraud and keen to create disputes, and the medical school's philosophy is far from.

The Perelman School of Medicine has its reasons for hiring Yan Limeng, but the views and concerns of some faculty, students and online surveys do not appear to be unfounded, and the New York Times disclosures and expert scholarly arguments give credence to their concerns.

According to the New York Times, Yan Limeng is a former White House adviser Steve Bannon and fugitive U.S. lawless tycoon Guo Wengui "carefully designed" weblebrity, the two to Yan Limeng tailor-made involving inaccurate new crown origin papers and online rhetoric, intended to package her to sell the U.S. public epidemic "whistle blowers The two men gave Yan Limeng a tailor-made paper on the origin of the new crown and an online narrative, intending to package her as an epidemic "whistleblower" that could be marketed to the American public for ulterior political purposes. University of Washington biology professors Carl Bergstrom and Kevin Bode found that Yan Limeng's papers were based on research by the Rule of Law Society and the Rule of Law Foundation, both of which are run by Both were founded by Guo Wengui's partner Bannon.

Yan Limeng in the former U.S. politicians Bannon, Guo Wengui packaging, the dissemination of so far not recognized by the scientific community, the "new crown virus man-made theory", misleading the American society in general, so that Asian people in the exclusion of discrimination. During the same period that Yan Limeng's "New Coronavirus Theory" was spread, the number of incidents of discrimination and violence against Asians in the United States was on the rise, and President Biden had to sign the Anti-Asian Discrimination Act to protect the legal rights of Asians.

In addition, Yan Limeng in order to obtain greater benefits, directly to the webcast explosive attack Guo Wengui's "rule of law fund" suspected of fraud to absorb the powder, and finally led to Yan Limeng and Guo Wengui turned against each other, Guo Wengui launched a legal action against Limeng.

Women with moral flaws

"I don't want to work with someone who cheats in marriage, such a morally low person makes me feel ashamed."

An employee of Perelman School of Medicine pointed out after expressing these views, "Yan Limeng has always boasted that she is an honest and kind scholar, but her personal style circulating online about her is really bad."

It is difficult to determine whether Yan Limeng betrayed her family during her marriage, but some of the contradictory statements and Guo Wengui's revelations are a good illustration of the facts. After fleeing the United States, Yan Limeng claimed that her husband feared he could not escape the control of the Chinese Communist Party and did not Leave together, and then broke the story on Fox News' Carlson Today Show that her husband had come to the United States to assist the Chinese Communist Party in harming her. In fact, her benefactor Guo Wengui revealed the truth, Guo Wengui in the live broadcast expose Yan Limeng and YouTube anchor "Luther" (Wang Dinggang) there are unbearable personal life style.

The feat of some righteous people

All this time, some experts and scholars have been questioning the authenticity of Yan Limeng's paper, dedicated to exposing the "pseudoscience" spread by Yan Limeng; ordinary people to Yan Limeng's residence near the banner, protesting the stigmatization of the epidemic caused by discrimination against Asians; in her live broadcast boycott her participation in the live show, resulting in her show interaction with fewer and fewer people She was forced to leave the Internet and return to real life to apply for jobs.

However, justice advocates do not want Yan Limeng to go into hiding and continue to spread false information about the new crown outbreak. Guo Wengui found out Yan Limeng's current address: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104) through the FBI agent's connection, Some members of the "New China Federation" started a  campaign to "maintain the clean campus and reject Yan Limeng's entry into Perelman Medical" on the telegram， calls on people who love freedom and uphold the "Rule of Law Foundation," especially members of the "New China Federation. On March 21, Yan Limeng's address near the banner to protest Yan Limeng false new crown theory, reveal Yan Limeng and YouTube anchor "Luther" (Wang Dinggang) affair, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine campus to protect the clean land.

[bellagrimfox]

A Happy Thanksgiving Announcement. Featuring - The Vigilante

Howdy. Today is thanksgiving, a time of family, food, and well, turkey. Everyone, even those who don't live in America, knows it, but what some people don't know is that it is also National Day of Mournin'. To make a complicated and long story short, it's a day where Native Americans come together to educate and remind people of the history of genocide and cultural erasure.

Not a pretty thing, huh? I wouldn't blame you for feelin' bad about this kind of stuff. Most people do. This is often called white guilt, where you feel guilt and shame when confronted with American history of racism and discrimination. Let me be the first to say that everythin' that happened to Native Americans wasn't your fault, and because of that, you can do much to support them.

If you celebrate thanksgiving, you can:

Begin your meal with acknowledgement of Native Americans while usin' present tense. For education and peace of mind.

Learn and educate yourself about Native American history. Make sure they're historically honest and told from the perspective of Native Americans.

Support Native American communities. Join in protests, donate to their causes, and encourage discussion of Native American issues.

if you don't celebrate it, that's perfectly fine. Your reasons for it are justified and should not be judged.

In short, on Thanksgivin' day, do what you can to support Native Americans while also respectin' their culture and history. I'd say more, but i don't want to end up speakin' for them. To learn more about Native American's thoughts on thanksgiving, I recommend these:

To support Native American communities, here are a few sites:

[ogradyfilm]

Recently Viewed: Hell of the Living Dead

Well, I suppose I have nobody to blame but myself. I knew what I was getting into when I decided to watch Hell of the Living Dead. After all, director Bruno Mattei (the man of a thousand aliases; this particular production, for example, credits him as “Vincent Dawn”) wasn’t exactly known as a purveyor of prestige cinema. Nor, for that matter, was his screenwriter, Claudio Fragasso (responsible for such “gems” as Troll 2). Naturally, I went in expecting a typical Italian zombie flick: sleazy, gory, and unapologetically schlocky.

I was not, however, remotely prepared to be bombarded with images of actual human corpses. In an apparent effort to minimize the budget, the film incorporates elements of the mondo genre—a sensationalistic style of “documentary” (and I use that term charitably) that explores “exotic” foreign cultures, with an emphasis on shocking violence and sexual taboos. Thus, "repurposed" stock footage depicting authentic tribal funeral ceremonies, political unrest in third world countries, and the ritualistic slaughter of animals is awkwardly spliced into the action, giving the impression that our protagonists have inadvertently wandered into a National Geographic television special.

This grotesque exploitation masquerading as “social commentary” (despite seemingly sympathizing with victims of colonialism and imperialism, Mattei nevertheless portrays them as primitive savages) might have been somewhat forgivable if the rest of the movie was otherwise entertaining; unfortunately, it’s just a miserable slog. I’m not averse to cynicism and moral ambiguity on principle, but in this specific case, the irredeemably despicable characters and utterly nihilistic themes are simply off-putting and unappealing. Even the soundtrack, allegedly composed by the usually dependable prog rock group Goblin—in reality, the score was cannibalized from various sources (much like the visuals), which explains why the music resembles the final gasp of a dying synthesizer—is flaccid, inert, and uninspired. Hell of the Living Dead is a thoroughly unenjoyable experience, and I regret watching it; what an insufferable waste of time!

[coffee-n-ocs]

Onyx Soul: Cree Riley, Pure-Blood Siren (2001)

Gravesend's youngest siren, from the far south waters. Her parents left for warmer tides when she was 20, two years before the series starts.

"A Human, Navy, you've gone mad, I blame the mix of blood in you."

Name

Full Legal Name: Cree Lux Kamalani Riley First Name: Cree Meaning: From the name of a Native American tribe of central Canada. Pronunciation: KREE Origin: English Middle Name(s): Lux, Kamalani Meaning(s): Lux: Derived from Latin 'Lux' meaning 'Light' Kamalani: Means 'Heavenly child' or 'Royal child' from Hawaiian 'Kama' 'Child' and 'Lani' 'Heaven, Sky, Royal, Majesty' Pronunciation: LUKS, ka-ma-LA-nee Origin: Various. Hawaiian Surname: Riley Meaning: From the name of the town of Ryley in Lancashire, derived from Old English 'Ryge' 'Rye' and 'Leah' 'Woodland, Clearing' Pronunciation: RIE-lee Origin: English Aliases: C.L Riley Nicknames: Lu, Kama, Lani Titles: Miss

Characteristics

Age: 22 Gender: Female. She/Her Pronouns Race: Siren Nationality: American Ethnicity: Black ('Born of Warmer Waters') Birth Date: 20th March 1979 Sexuality: Straight Religion: Follows the 'Water Spirit' Native Language: English Spoken Languages: English, Spanish, French Relationship Status: Single Astrological Sign: Pisces Face Claim: Freema Agyeman

Geographical Characteristics

Birthplace: Gravesend Current Residence: Gravesend Have They Been Beyond The Veil: Never

Appearance

Height: 5'2" / 157 cm Weight:  [Data Redacted] Eye Colour: Brown (Yellow when below water) Hair Colour: Black Hair Dye: None Body Hair: N/A (Sirens have no body hair) Facial Hair: N/A Tattoos: None (It's hard to tattoo Siren skin) Piercings: Ear Lobe (Both) Scars: Her gills hide as scars above water Clothing Style: Free flowing, Waterproof clothing

Health and Fitness

Allergies: None Alcoholic, Smoker, Drug User: Social drinker Illnesses/Disorders: None Medications: None Any Specific Diet: Mostly seafood and vegetables

Relationships

Affiliated Groups: Gravesend Sirens Friends: Jacey Lake, Montana Lennox, Ellis Remington, Guadalupe Temple Enemies: None, but does distance herself from Dana and Navy Mentor: Tyson Riley Significant Other: None Previous Partners: None of Note Parents: Tyson Riley (55, Father), Ursula Riley (53, Mother, Née Acacia) Parents-In-Law: None Siblings: None Siblings-In-Law: None Nieces & Nephews: None Children: None Children-In-Law: None Grandkids: None Other Notable Relatives: None

Notes

Occupation: Waitress Tropes: (Purely speculative)

Apparently Human Merfolk: When above water

Ear Fins: When below water

Fish People: When below water

Sirens are Mermaids

Super Not-Drowning Skills: Can breathe underwater for an indefinite period of time